Tennessee Turfgrass - April / May 2018

April/May 2018

The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

Fine-Tuning PGR Applications Using Growing Degree Days and Base Temperatures Plus, Spotlight on Roger Frazier,

Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award Winner

20 The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS April/May 2018

FEATURED ARTICLES

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Cover Story — Fine-Tuning PGR Applications Using Growing Degree Days and Base Temperatures

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Spotlight On — Roger Frazier, Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award Winner

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Industry Initiatives — Training and Education Keep Turfgrass Strong

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DEPARTMENTS From the TTA President, Jason Pooler

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From the TVSTMA President, Martin Kaufman

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From the ETGCSA President, Pat Rose

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Industry News: Award Nominations Due

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Thank You TGCSA Sponsors

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University of Tennessee Turf Team

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Calendar of Events

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Index of Advertisers

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

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The Official Publication of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association, the Tennessee Valley Sports Turf Managers Association and the Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

Tennessee Turfgrass is the official publication of The Tennessee Turfgrass Association 400 Franklin Road Franklin, Tennessee 37069 (615) 465-6339 info@ttaonline.org www.ttaonline.org Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editor Dr. James Brosnan TTA OFFICERS President Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms, Inc. (731) 642-3092 Vice President Doug Ward Belle Meade C.C. (615) 292-6752 Secretary/Treasurer Chris Sykes Tellico Village (865) 458-5408 Past President Theo Lankford Kormac, LLC (615) 519-2701 Executive Director Melissa Martin Tennessee Turfgrass Assn.

(615) 928-7001 TTA 2018 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ryan Blair, CGCS Bart Cash Cal Hill Joe Hill Jeff Kuhns Timothy Long Bill Marbet Jason Sanderson Darren Seybold Ryan Storey Paul Webb Scott Wicker TTA ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Bill Blackburn Dr. Jim Brosnan Dr. Brandon Horvath Lynn Ray Jeff Rumph, CGCS Dr. Tom Samples Dr. John Sorochan Dr. Wes Totten

From the TTA President

Jason Pooler

Tennessee Weather:

Changing

Seasons

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pring, where are you? That is the question that I asked myself while I worked on a Boy Scout service project one snowy, cold April day. However, the following next week was in the 70’s midweek and no rain for five consecutive days. We were just hoping for more than two days in a row without rain.

Despite this wet, unpredictable spring, we know what summer brings (drought). You have to LOVE Tennessee weather.

Change tends to be the norm for turf professionals. We see different things everyday on our sod farms, ball fields and golf courses. The economy, the weather and innovative technologies make us look at different ways to gain more for less.

I spent four days at the end of March at the Future Farmers of America (FFA) State Convention with many of the young men and women who will become the

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s s i o n of i m e h

the T e n ne ssee Tur fg r a s s A s s o c i at

ion

To promote the turfgrass industry through education, scholarship and research.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

From the TTA President future of our industry. The Tennessee Turfgrass Association is the proud sponsor of the Turfgrass Proficiency Award that is presented each year at their annual state convention. More than 3400 students attend this event each year and just seeing their excitement gave me chills.

Whether you are a member of TTA, TVSTMA or TGCSA, your active support of the turf industry is what makes each association successful. I would like to encourage each and every one of you to become involved with your local FFA chapter, school or community. After all, they are our future.

Do you, your family or friends shop at Amazon? I am going to bet you do.

Amazon has a special program for 501(c)3 organization where they donate a percentage of sales to qualifying organizations.

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TTA as your charity, each time you are ready to shop, just go to smile.amazon. com, log into your account and shop!

Don’t forget to put on your calendar August 30, 2018. This is the Turf and Ornamental Field Day in Knoxville at the UT Ag Research and Education Center.

We will be there and hope to see you there. This is a great event where you learn a lot, earn continuing education and TN pesticide points.

I hope that everyone has a productive and healthy summer!

TTA is a qualified organization and it’s simple to designate TTA as your charity when shopping at Amazon. All you must do is go to smile.amazon.com and choose Tennessee Turfgrass Association. You do not have to download any software or anything like that. After you have designated

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Happy Growing!!

Jason Pooler Tri-Turf Sod Farms 2018–2019 TTA President

From the TV STM A President

Vision

Martin Kaufman

for STMA S

pring is here, taxes are done and spring sports are coming to a close, along with the school year! As you prepare for summer schedules, please plan for TVSTMA Field Day at Ridley Park in Columbia, Tennessee on July 25th.

This will be a day to see it, touch it, do it and talk about it with our Commercial Sponsorships. Please email sectres@tvstma.org to make sure you have a spot to showcase or to announce your attendance.

Please go to TVSTMA.org and check out TVSTMA Classifieds for Resumes and Job Postings as well as the events calendar including Board conference calls or in-person meetings.

If you haven’t already, NOW IS THE TIME to begin filling out STMA Field of the Year, or FOY Awards. They are due on August 1 this year, and you must keep records and gather photos all year. In addition, you must use the Playing Condition Index, PCI to submit your application. The PCI is being updated, streamlined and digitized. So if you haven’t used in a while, please check it out.

Please read the instructions (http://11luuvtufne6f2y33i1nve di-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/FOYInstructions.pdf) carefully and then download the application (http://11luuvtufne6f2y33i1nvedi-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/ wp-content/uploads/2017/11/2017-FOY-Application.doc).

Additionally, the STMA PCI is required for the Field of the Year program; however, only the scores need to be transferred to the application – the full PCIs do not need to be attached.

Go to http://11luuvtufne6f2y33i1nvedi-wpengine.netdna-ssl. com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/STMA-PCI_WorksheetOnly.pdf for the PCI assessment form.

Download “10 Tips for Preparing a Winning Submittal” for some ideas on how to get started (http://11luuvtufne6f2y33i1n vedi-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ 10-Tips.pdf).

One more subject needs to be highlighted. Please recognize that the Certified Sports Field Manager program is growing in

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TN. The late Bobby Campbell was the first CSFM in TN. The following is current list of CSFM’s and their locations. If I have missed you please email me at Martin.Kaufman@ABM.com.

Bryan Ogle, CSFM........................................................Knoxville Byran Farris, CSFM...................................................... Columbia Connor Schutzman, CSFM............................................ Nashville James Bergdoll, CSFM............................................ Chattanooga Larry Berry, CSFM....................................................... Cleveland Martin Kaufman, CSFM................................................ Nashville Neil Cathey, CSFM...................................................... Lewisburg Ryan Storey, CSFM....................................................... Nashville Stephen Crockett, CSFM............................................ Union City Thomas Garner, CSFM............................................Pigeon Forge TJ Brewer, CSFM.......................................................... Memphis Finally, please recognize the service of James Bergdoll, CSFM as the National STMA Director Representative for Parks and Recreation. James is a good friend coming to us from Elizabethtown, Kentucky and serving the city of Chattanooga. Thank you, James!

James Bergdoll, CSFM is the Director of Park Maintenance for the City of Chattanooga (TN) Department of Public Works, a position he has held since 2015. Bergdoll oversees the maintenance and operations of over 100 public spaces throughout the City of Chattanooga, including 84 parks, 35 miles of greenway, multiple youth sports association facilities and 2 golf courses.

He holds a MS in Sports and Recreation Administration from Western Kentucky University and a BS in Turfgrass Science from Purdue University. Prior to serving the citizens of Chattanooga, Bergdoll oversaw the design, construction, and operations of Elizabethtown (KY) Sports Park. He also gained industry experience at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, Baltimore Orioles Spring Training, Indianapolis Indians, Purdue Athletics (Golf & Sports Fields) and Hanover College. Bergdoll has been

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

James Bergdoll

a member of the STMA since 2004, serving on several different committees, and achieved CSFM status in 2013. Bergdoll is a Past President of the Kentucky STMA, and is currently a member of the TVSTMA and APWA.

Vision for STMA First and foremost, my vision for STMA is to continue to help colleagues in the industry work towards having high quality athletic fields that are safe, play extraordinary, sustainable, and are aesthetically pleasing. I see the STMA as part of continued insight into sustainable management practices along with using new technologies to facilitate better stewardship of the earth. Lastly, my vision for the STMA involves the continued awareness of the work that sports turf managers take part in and increasing recognition of the profession. From a Parks and Recreation standpoint, it is important to educate the general public and its leaders on the importance of sport field management and how it positively impacts those that use public facilities, primarily our youth.

By now many of you may have noticed that the name of my employer has changed. ABM purchased GCA Services.

I still serve in the capacity of Regional Grounds Support Manager for ABM in the Education Division specializing in Service Delivery under the Center of Excellence program. Thank you for the privilege to serve TVSMA and the Sports Turf Industry. Please join me in lending a helping hand to anyone interested!

Martin Kaufman, CSFM, CPSI 2018 TVSTMA President

From the E TGCSA President

Pat Rose

Join us for

some fun in 2018!

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opefully the arrival of spring has given you a break from the miserable weather we endured this past winter. The board has put together an exciting slate of events for 2018. If you don’t already have the schedule, you will find it in this publication. As always, the purpose of our meetings is fellowship and education. Funds raised in the process allow our association to give back to the state and local turfgrass community. We do this

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annually in the form of scholarships and research funding. Your participation in meetings is critical to our ability to meet our goals each year. We have amazing sponsors, but we need your help to grow our association and make a greater impact in East Tennessee. So, dust off your clubs and join us for some fun in 2018! And… don’t be shy about your golf game! We use a format that is just as much fun for beginners as it is for the pros like Gary Weller.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

If you have an exciting topic or speaker you would like to see at a meeting, please share those thoughts with a board member or email them to info@tgcsa.net. We are already looking for new and relevant issues to schedule in 2019.

See you this spring!

Patrick P. Rose President, ETGCSA

Indus try News

Award Nominations Due! It is time again to recognize the people and places that make Tennessee Turfgrass a vibrant and successful community.

TTA Professional of the Year

2018 TTA Environmental Stewardship Award

Do you know an outstanding turfgrass professional in Tennessee who deserves the recognition of his or her peers? If so, now’s the time to let the TTA know who you believe should receive one of the association’s highest honors — the TTA Professional of the Year Award — at the TTA Annual Conference and Trade show this coming January.

Nominees will be reviewed by the TTA Awards & Scholarship Committee, which will make a recommendation for approval by the TTA board of directors.

The Tennessee Turfgrass Association (TTA) would like to recognize outstanding contributions by individuals, organizations, businesses, educational institutions and agencies for successful projects or activities designed to improve the environment through wildlife-habitat preservation, water and resource conservation and reduction, and educational outreach. Through our Environmental Stewardship Award, we can create greater knowledge and awareness of environmental and conservation practices and projects by members of TTA who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to environmental protection and improvement.

The TTA Awards Committee, consisting of highly regarded TTA professionals, will independently judge the entries. Our Environmental Stewardship Award will be presented at the TTA Awards Ceremony at the 2019 TTA Annual Conference.

2018 TTA Sports Field of the Year Award Tennessee Turfgrass Association (TTA) recognizes that sports field managers make personal and professional contributions to our industry and to the organizations/athletes that they serve.

Therefore, the TTA would like to distinguish athletic fields across the state with the Sports Field of the Year Program. Through this program, we are able to greatly further one main element of our mission: To gain acknowledgement for the professionalism of our members. This year, based on the results of the judging, the following awards may be presented at the TTA Awards Ceremony at the TTA Annual Conference in January 2019: • TTA Professional Sports Field of the Year • TTA Collegiate Sports Field of the Year • TTA High School Sports Field of the Year • TTA Municipal Sports Field of the Year The TTA Awards Committee, consisting of highly regarded TTA professionals, will independently judge the entries. Winners will be notified in November.

2018 TTA Golf Course of the Year Award Tennessee Turfgrass Association (TTA) recognizes that golf course superintendents make personal and professional contributions to our industry and to the organizations/golfers that they serve. Therefore, the TTA would like to distinguish golf courses across the state with the Golf Course of the Year Program. Through this program, we are able to greatly further one main element of our mission: to gain acknowledgement for the professionalism of our members.

This year, based on the results of the judging, the following awards may be presented at the TTA Awards Ceremony at the TTA Annual Conference in January 2019: • TTA Private Golf Course of the Year • TTA Public Golf Course of the Year The TTA Awards Committee, consisting of highly regarded TTA professionals, will independently judge the entries. Winners will be notified in November. T

Visit our website at ttaonline.org for all award criteria and make your nominations by August 1, 2018.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Cover Story

Fine-Tuning PGR Applications Using Growing Degree Days and Base Temperatures

By Barry Stewart, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Mississippi State University, and Ethan Flournoy, Assistant Superintendent, Deerfield Golf Club

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very year in my plant science course, we start by talking about some of the factors needed to grow a plant. Sunlight and water are the two at the top of the list. Next someone will mention soil, and it never fails that hydroponics are brought up. The plants can grow in soil or hydroponics as long as the right nutrients are provided along with support so that the plants can present their leaves

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to the sun. Eventually a student thinks of air being needed for CO2 and O2.

We then begin to look for that final factor. The one that does not immediately come to mind is the correct temperature.

Outside of the winter months, we tend to forget about the profound effect temperature has on plants and their physiology.

In the past two years, we have undertaken several experiments at Mississippi

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

State University to examine the effects of temperature on warm-season grasses, as well as the effect of temperature on plant growth regulator (PGR) response. One of the ways agronomists quantify temperature is by modeling heat accumulation, often termed “growing degree days� or GDDs. The GDD unit is one of the most frequently modeled indicator of heat accumulation.

GDDs are used by agriculturalists to predict when distinct growth stages of plants will occur, such as days until flowering or days until maturity (Miller et al., 2001). GDDs are defined by McMaster and Wilhelm (1997) as the amount of heat energy received by the plant for a given time period. Growing degree days are calculated by averaging the daily maximum and minimum air temperature and then subtracting the base temperature for the plant being grown. Base temperature is the temperature at which plant processes do not progress.

In the turfgrass industry, GDD models have gained favor for optimizing plant

growth regulator applications (such as Green Keeper App and others), but they have historically been used to predict plant growth and development, such as seed-head production, disease outbreak, weed emergence, etc. By using GDD models, input timings can be based more on the needs of the plant as opposed to a calendar-based approach. This is not a new idea, but the prediction of base temperatures for different grasses has been limited to only a few studies.

A critical factor in using any heat model is the determination of an accurate base temperature (Arnold, 1959). If a base temperature used in the calculation of GDD

is off by 2°C, then the total accumulated GDD can vary by as much as two calendar weeks (Unruh et al., 1996). It is very important to note that base temperature can vary between species and growth stages (Wang, 1960). Base temperature may even vary between cultivars and biotypes, which makes it all the more important for predicting plant growth regulator (PGR) applications, so as not to overregulate and also to help optimize turf health/performance.

Research conducted at Mississippi State University examines the effects of temperature on warm-season grasses as well as the effect of temperature on PGR

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Cover Story

Bermudagrass base temperature

Data collection Clipping yield was collected every three days, using scissors and a guard cut to desired height. The collected clippings were dried and then weighed. TifEagle was maintained at 0.5" while Latitude 36, MSB285 and Tifway were maintained at 0.75".

Base temperatures For GDD models in turf, the Celsius temperature scale is used. This makes work in cool-season grasses easy since the base temperature is assumed to be 0°C. So, the daily GDD that is equal to the average daily temperature is simply the daily high + the daily low divided by 2.

For warm-season grasses, we know that some impairment in growth happens around 10°C (50°F). Growing degree day models for corn, another warm-season grass, have been well researched, and a base temperature of 50°F is used as well, so 10°C is probably a good guess at the base temperature for bermudagrass.

After conducting the experiment in the SPAR units, we generated graphs for all 16

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018

The SPAR Soil Plant Atmosphere Research Units on MSU’s North Farm.

Ethan Flournoy and Wayne Philley record data from the SPAR unit experiment.

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photo

We determined the base temperature for the following hybrid bermudagrasses: ‘MSB-285’ (experimental cultivar), ‘Latitude 36’, ‘TifEagle’ and ‘Tifway’ (Photo 2). Bermudagrass was grown in 3:1 sand to soil mix (87% sand, 2% clay and 11% silt), with gravel at the bottom of each pot.

Each pot had a hole drilled in the bottom to allow for drainage. Irrigation was provided three times per day using a halfstrength Hoagland’s nutrient solution.

Day- and night-time temperatures (in Celsius) for the different chambers were 20°C/12°C, 25°C/17°C, 30°C/22°C, 35°C/27°C and 40°C /32°C.

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photo

response. The Soil-Plant-AtmosphereResearch Facility at MSU is ideal for this type of research (Photo 1). Its Plexiglas® chambers allow approximately 95% of photosynthetically active radiation to pass through, a notable improvement from previous research conducted in artificially lit growth chambers. Air circulated within the SPAR chambers can be cooled and/or heated to within a fraction of a degree of the desired temperature.

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Cover Story

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y = -66.4318 + 6.5375x - 0.1014x2; r2 =0.58

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Figure

the bermuda cultivars tested. The graph for Tifway will be used as an example (Figure 1). As the temperature decreases to near the base temperature, the data becomes somewhat unreliable. To overcome this, temperatures are chosen near but above the likely base temperature, and then regression modeling is used to estimate the base temperature.

In the Tifway example, it appears that 11°C is the base temperature. These data are preliminary since our total analysis is not finished, but at this point, we may conclude that the base temperature for bermudagrass is just slightly higher than 10°C. From this curve, we can also calculate an optimal temperature for growth; that appears to be 27°C (80.6°F) for this example. We hope to be able to determine a coefficient for growth potential for each of the bermudagrasses tested. This may allow the prediction of clipping yields as temperatures change and also calculate how well our PGRs are regulating growth.

When growth regulation declines and actual yields begin to match predicted yields for a given temperature, reapplication of a PGR would be warranted.

Once the base temperature is calculated, a separate experiment must be conducted to determine the reapplication interval.

For creeping bentgrass putting greens, Kreuser (2015) has determined the reapplication interval of Primo (Trinexapacethyl) is 200 GDDs. This summer, Dr. Eric Reasor (a new member of the turf team at Mississippi State) will be conducting experiments to determine the reapplication intervals of several PGRs on ultradwarf bermudagrasses. Given that Primo has a greater rate of growth suppression in bermudagrass greens, it may be a logical conclusion that the reapplication will be longer than 200 GDDs. Reapplication varies drastically with what base temperature you decide to use.

According to work conducted by Ethan Flournoy (Flournoy, 2017) using temperatures from 2016, if Primo was applied on March 1 using a 10°C base temperature, 300 GDDs would be accumulated on April 22. On the other hand, if a base temperature of 13°C is used, 300 GDD would not be reached until May 10, quite a difference!

Clipping yield, g m-2

Tifway

Temperature, ˚C

The clipping yield by temperature curve for Tifway bermudagrass.

The best fit curve crosses the X-axis near 11°C in this example, and that would represent the base temperature.

As another example, if Primo were applied on July 1, 2016, with a 10°C base temperature, 300 GDDs would be reached on July 17. With a base temperature of 13°C, 300 GDDs would be applied on July 20.

You can tell two things from these examples. One is that during cooler temperatures, a reapplication interval based upon time rather than GDD models means it’s possible to over- and/or under-regulate the turf. Another thing that you should notice is that the error in base temperatures (the difference between 10°C and 13°C) can make a huge difference in predicting reapplication intervals in cooler temperatures.

This is why, during cooler parts of the year, we should apply PGRs less frequently than a calendar-based schedule, such as application every 14 days. We also should apply less product during cooler parts of the year due to the decreased metabolism of the plant. During hot parts of the summer, the application interval using GDD models may lead to PGRs being applied more frequently.

One way to track GDD is by using the Greenkeeper App, available for free from the University of Nebraska. This tool will be quite valuable for those looking to finetune their PGR applications. As these models evolve, the area of the growth curve beyond the optimal growth temperature will be examined, and the effects of “heat stress” will be quantified. The effects of natural rainfall and sunlight intensity may someday also be included, as may the effects of mowing and clipping removal.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

This will be an exciting area of research for a number of years, and the results should lead to more efficient use of PGRs by superintendents and more consistent playing conditions for the users of golf courses and athletic fields. T

References Arnold, C. Y. 1959. The determination and significance of base temperature in a linear heat unit system. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 74:430-445.

Flournoy, E. T. 2017. Temperature effects on warm and cool season grass species and cultivars. MS Thesis, Mississippi State University.

Kreuser, W. C. 2015. Effective Use of Plant Growth Regulators on Golf Putting Greens. USGA Green Section Record.

Vol. 53 (7) April 3, 2015.

McMaster, G.S., and W.W. Wilhelm.

1997. Growing degree-days: one equation, two interpretations. Ag and For. Meteo.

87:291 – 300.

Miller, P., W. Lanier, and S. Brandt, 2001.

Using growing degree days to predict plant stages. Ag/Extension Communications Coordinator, Communications Services, Montana State UniversityBozeman, Bozeman, MO. Unruh, J.B., R.E. Gaussoin, and S.C. Wiest. 1996. Basal growth of temperatures and growth rate constants of warmseason turfgrass species. Crop Sci. 36:997-999.

Wang, J.Y. 1960. A critique of the heat unit approach to plant response studies.

Ecology 41(4):785-790.

Spo tligh t

Spotlight on

Roger Frazier

T o m Sam ples Prof ession al o f t he Year

The

Tom Samples Professional of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious and highest recognitions bestowed on a Tennessee turfgrass professional by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. This award recognizes an individual who has shown outstanding devotion of time, talent and energy to the turfgrass industry. It is awarded to individuals who have given of themselves through the years for the betterment of the turfgrass industry.

This award was named after Dr. Tom Samples who has devoted his time and career to the turfgrass industry. Dr. Samples has been a professor at the University of Tennessee for 30-plus years working predominantly in extension. His efforts have touched countless individuals working in golf, sports turf, sod production and lawn care in all of Tennessee’s 95 counties.

The most recent recipient of this award is Roger Frazier, superintendent at the Marriott course, Cattails at Meadowview in Kingsport, Tennessee.

When Roger Frazier talks about his career, it is obvious that it is one that has brought him great joy and a fair share of

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Mr. Frazier accepts the award at the TTA Conference.

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Spo tligh t challenges. But what you’ll also notice right away is his positive outlook and thankfulness for the opportunities he has had as a golf course superintendent.

He speaks fondly of those early mornings on the course when the sun is just coming up. “It’s a joy,” he says. When you’ve been on the job for over four decades, and you can still say that the work is fulfilling and enjoyable, it’s probably safe to say you’ve found your calling.

His career began after he concluded his service in the Navy, when he attended a two-year program at Lake City Community College. Upon graduation in 1976, he began work as the assistant supervisor at Sea Island, and a year later was offered the supervisor position at a 9-hole course in Somerset, Kentucky with the promise of an expansion to a full 18-hole course.

After four years the course still only had nine holes, and Mr. and Mrs. Frazier, along with their three children, were looking to get a bit closer to their families.

They settled back in Johnson City, Tennessee, where he worked as supervisor at Johnson City Country Club for 13 years

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before accepting his current job at Cattails at Meadowview, where he’s worked for the last 21 years. Mrs. Frazier worked as a Registered Nurse. Mr. Frazier recalls that those were wonderful years, raising their children. It was during that time that he came to appreciate the flexibility of his line of work.

In the early years, the Fraziers’ schedules made family life pretty interesting.

“I worked early mornings, and my wife went to work at 3:00 pm. We had to tag team during those years,” he shares. He was able to help with homework and dinner, and says he never missed a game or school event.

It was this family friendly culture and the unique challenges on the job that kept Mr. Frazier content and fulfilled in his profession for so many years. “Working in a transition zone, we were blessed by challenges on both sides since we grow both warm and cool season grasses,” he explains.

He reminisces about his most memorable professional hurdles. He remembers the exact temperature of the coldest day

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

in his tenure as a golf course supervisor (-24º) in January 1984, on Super Bowl Sunday. “We didn’t have winterkill that year because there was a layer of snow to insulate and protect the grass. It wasn’t quite that cold in 2014, but we lost our bermudagrass and zoysiagrass that year because there was no snow cover.”

It seems clear, however, that Mr. Frazier takes the good and the bad in stride and is making a remarkable impact on the industry and others following in his footsteps.

When asked what wisdom he would pass on to the next generation of turfgrass professionals, his first reply is “stay off of Facebook!” He was only partly joking.

But there was no mistaking his earnest advice to those coming up in the business.

“There’s always a lot of new this and that, but there’s a reason we have those tried and true basics — they’ve been successful. There’s a lot you can learn from older guys. Talk less, listen more.”

Those are great words of wisdom for turfgrass and life. Thank you, Mr. Frazier, for your contribution to our industry and your decades of hard work! T

In dustr y Ini tiat ives

Training and Education Keep Turfgrass Strong

In

all turfgrass sectors, a welltrained and educated workforce means a thriving community and prosperous business for the individuals who work hard to make our industry great.

It is the commitment to staying informed of new techniques, products and research that guarantees the best processes and results on our golf courses, sports fields and lawns and green spaces.

As the turfgrass industry continues to evolve and improve, it is essential that we hold ourselves and each other accountable for not only continuing our own education and training, but also for encouraging each other and the next generation of turfgrass professionals to meet the high standards we strive for ourselves.

Create and Foster A Pipeline Because Tennessee has such a strong foundation in agriculture, it is a natural fit for our high school students who are involved in FFA and other agriculture programs to be introduced to turfgrass as a job opportunity well before they join the full-time workforce. Having students exposed to the basics of careers in turfgrass is the start of building a labor force with all levels of training and experience.

Some students may choose to pursue undergraduate or graduate degrees in turfgrass management, while some elect to complete two-year programs at trade or vocational schools. Still others gain knowledge through on-the-job experience. It takes all levels of skill and certification to maintain a strong workforce.

Certifications and Continuing Education A quick look back at research from just 24

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018

two years ago will reveal that turfgrass is an industry that changes fast. From new products and processes to all the curveballs Mother Nature can throw at us, we can never be stagnant in this field.

From association and regional conferences to workshops and field days, there are a multitude of opportunities to stay informed, and it is vital that we absorb and pass on that information to benefit ourselves and each other. This shared knowledge results in a collaborative, and therefore flourishing, community.

Beyond the Research You have probably heard of “soft skills”, but maybe didn’t give much thought to how they might help you grow and succeed in your career. While much of our work in turfgrass is scientific and labor

intensive, business and interpersonal skills also matter. Understanding your work from the consumer’s point of view can only improve your standards of turfgrass management. Considering the golfer, sports team or business or home owner who will use your product or service goes a long way toward helping you provide the result they seek.

Marketing, customer service, business management… these are all skills that can make or break your business, regardless of how well you have mastered the “hard skills”.

Even though our schedules are demanding, and sometimes training and education take a back seat to accomplishing today’s tasks, we should never forget that like turfgrass, we have to be fed and nourished to grow. T

Don’t Miss A Great Opportunity To Learn and Recertify!

UT’s Turf and Ornamental Field Day August 30, 2018 • 7:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

East Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center 3215 Alcoa Highway • Knoxville, Tennessee To pre-register online and for more information on available accommodations and Continuing Education points, please visit tiny.utk.edu/TurfFieldDay.

Sav e the Date!

Annual Conference & Tradeshow January 7 –9, 2019

•

Embassy Suites

•

Murfreesboro, TN

TENNESSEE TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION • TENNESSEE VALLEY SPORTS TURF MANAGERS ASSOCIATION • Tennessee Golf Course Superintendents Association

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Thank You TGCS A Sponsor s

2018 Industry Partners —

Thank you for your support!

Gold Partners

Silver Partners

Bronze Partners

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

The Turf grass Team at the Univer sity of Tennessee Scott Boyle Communications Coordinator The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-6730 sboyle1@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @Scott_CPO José Javier Vargas Almodóvar Research Associate II Turf & Ornamental Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-7379 jvargas@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTweedwhisperer Greg Breeden Extension Specialist, The University of Tennessee 2431 Center Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7208 gbreeden@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @gbreeden1

Jim Brosnan, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Weed Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-8603 jbrosnan@utk.edu tnturfgrassweeds.org Twitter: @UTturfweeds Frank Hale, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 fahale@utk.edu ag.tennessee.edu/spp Brandon Horvath, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

2431 Joe Johnson Drive Knoxville, TN 37996 (865) 974-2975 bhorvath@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @UTturfpath

Tom Samples, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Extension The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 252 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2595 tsamples@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @tnturfman

William Dan Strunk, Ph.D. Research Associate I The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-2988 wstrunk@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @WDanStrunk

John Sorochan, Ph.D. Professor, Turfgrass Science The University of Tennessee 2431 Joe Johnson Drive 363 Ellington Plant Sci. Bldg.

Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7324 sorochan@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @sorochan

Alan Windham, Ph.D. Professor, Entomology and Plant Pathology The University of Tennessee 5201 Marchant Drive Nashville, TN 37211-5201 (615) 832-6802 https://ag.tennessee.edu/spp/ Twitter: @UTPlantDoc

John Stier, Ph.D. Associate Dean The University of Tennessee 2621 Morgan Circle 126 Morgan Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-4561 (865) 974-7493 jstier1@utk.edu turf.utk.edu Twitter: @Drjohnstier

The Tennessee Turfgrass Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee Turfgrass Magazine, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or Turfgrass Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright © 2018 by the Tennessee Turfgrass Association.

Tennessee Turfgrass is published bi-monthly.

Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee Turfgrass allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Turfgrass Association. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org

Calen dar o f Events July 16

ETGCSA July Meeting Blackthorn Country Club Jonesboro, TN

July 25

TVSTMA Field Day Ridley Sports Complex Columbia, TN

August 6

ETGCSA August Meeting Brainerd Golf Course Chattanooga, TN

August 30

UT Field Day Turf & Ornamental East TN AgResearch and Education Center Plant Sciences Unit

September 18

MTGCSA September Meeting Soil, Plant and Pest Center Ellington Agricultural Center Nashville, TN 37211

September 20

MAGCSA Bushwood Classic Jackson Country Club Jackson, TN

October 23

ETGCSA S&R Tournament Council Fire Country Club Chattanooga, TN

October 29

MAGCSA Scott McNeer Golf Tournament Spring Creek Ranch Memphis, TN

November 6

MTGCSA November Meeting Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club Hendersonville, TN

In dex o f A dvertiser s Buy Sod........................................ Inside Back Cover

Mid Tenn Turf, Inc............................................ 9, 30

Smith Seed Services............................................... 9

BWI Companies...................................................... 7

Mid-Atlantic STIHL, Inc......................................... 17

Smith Turf & Irrigation.......................................... 23

Carolina Green Corp.............................................. 30

NewLife Turf, Inc.................................................. 29

Southeast Turf Maintenance.................................. 5

Covermaster, Inc..................................................... 7

North Georgia Turf Company, Inc......................... 12

Sur-Line Turf, Inc................................................... 19

FMC Professional Solutions.................................. 29

Profile Products....................................................... 3

Syngenta Turf.......................................................... 9

GrassMasters Sod Farm................................... 5, 11

Progressive Turf Equipment, Inc........................... 25

Tri-Turf Sod Farms................................................ 11

Greenville Turf & Tractor, Inc................. Back Cover

Raven Golf Construction, Inc................................ 19 RD Murphy, LLC.................................................... 28

Turf Mountain Sod................................................ 28

www.buysod.com

www.bwicompanies.com www.cgcfields.com

www.covermaster.com

www.fmcprosolutions.com

www.grassmastersindiana.com www.greenvilleturf.com

Jackson Sand........................................................ 19 www.jacksonsand.com

McCurdy Sod Farms................................................ 5 www.mccurdysodfarms.com

www.midtennturf.com www.stihldealers.com www.newlifeturf.com www.ngturf.com

www.profileproducts.com

www.progressiveturfequip.com

www.rdmurphy.com

Regal Chemical..................................................... 21 www.regalchem.com

www.smithseed.com www.smithturf.com

www.southeastturf.com www.surlineturf.com

www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com www.triturfsod.com

www.turfmountain.com

Turfgrass of Tennessee........................................ 27 Winstead Turf Farms...................Inside Front Cover www.winsteadturffarms.com

Sigma Organics, Inc.............................................. 27 www.SigmaTurf.com

Digital Marketplace Scan the QR code: Download your favorite QR reader to your phone and scan the code to learn more about these companies.

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TENNESSEE TURFGRASS April/May 2018 Email TTA at: info@ttaonline.org