Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
A BITTERSWEET
CHANGING o f the G U A R D S at the Virginia Tech Research Short Course of Independence Golf Club
May/June 2021
Plus,
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
on
VTC Board Member
RAY FUNKHOUSER
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | May/June 2021
12 16
22 DEPARTMENTS
14 Upcoming Events Field Day and Pollinator Garden Dedication and Road Show
6 President’s Message from Mike Skelton
6 Turfgrass Calendar 7 Index of Advertisers
16 Cover Story
8 Director’s Corner
A Bittersweet Changing of the Guards
at the Virginia Tech Research Short Course of Independence Golf Club
22 Feature Story Member Spotlight on VTC Board Member Ray Funkhouser
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D.
8 Virginia Tech Turf Team 10 Editor’s Perspective from Mark Vaughn, CGCS
12 VTF Report from Brandyn Baty
28 Industry News
For turf news & updates, follow TWITTER.COM/THETURFZONE Find this issue, Podcasts, Events and More: THETURFZONE.COM
4 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street, Suite 200 Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com EDITOR Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Michael Skelton (540) 718-4133
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO PLAY WITH
Vice President Phil Bailey, CGCS Isle of Wight County Parks & Recreation (757) 572-1981 Secretary / Treasurer Jimmy Viars, CGM Gloucester County Public Schools (804) 815-2779 Past President Scott Woodward Woodward Turf Farms (540) 727-0020
Neil Jones, Territory Manager – Virginia & Eastern NC njones@buysod.com • 910-975-0002
VTC DIRECTORS Wes Bray Sam Burris Ray Funkhouser Tony Montgomery Bruce Sheppard T.J. Skirsky Craig Zeigler VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. David McCall Ph.D. Dan Sandor, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 464-1004 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Brandyn Baty (757) 585-3058
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 5
President’s Message
Turfgrass Calendar
ALL SAME BOAT IN THE
Mark your calendar and save these dates! JUNE 17, 2021
VTC-Environmental Institute Road Show Ashburn (Northern Virginia)
Michael Skelton VTC President
S
pring has arrived and everywhere you look you see those in the turf industry out in full force. The sound of equipment running and the smell of freshly mown grass are just what we needed. But for some industries it has been a strange spring—for example, high school sports having football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, softball and baseball all at the same time. You all are amazing. There have also been many in the turf industry whose budgets have been drastically cut but still have to meet the high demands they were supporting before the pandemic. What is the answer? EDUCATION. It is key to success in making the hard decisions when you have to prioritize how best to use your budget to get the most out of your turf. Also there is nothing like being able to “Call A Friend/ VTC Member.” Remember we are all in the same boat. Your VTC Board is always working on how we can provide the education you need to ensure your success. Please take time to visit our website at vaturf.org to see the latest educational opportunities. Don’t forget one of your benefits as a member is free pesticide and fertilizer recertification. I wanted to share with you the success of the first ever Virginia Tech School of Turfgrass Ecology and Management (STEM) (Virtual Program). There were 34 students, and out of those, 12 have completed the process of becoming Certified Turf Professional (CTP). Those who have not yet completed all the requirements to become CTPs have until October 31 to sit for the exam. Lessons learned include the timing of the course; this year’s course finished up too late in the year. The schedule for the next class will be adjusted so the class ends before everyone gets busy in March, so be on the lookout for the next class to start in early November this year. A little back history is that this course replaces the previous VT Turf Short course. I would like to congratulate Sam Doak on his upcoming retirement. He has had a profound impact on the Virginia turf industry as an instructor on staff at Virginia Tech with the Agricultural Technology Program. The VTC will miss him as he was someone we knew we could call on to support our education programs. I’m sure all of you remember him teaching us how to calibrate spreaders or sprayers, and of course, one of our favorite areas: turf math. Sam, thanks for all you have done for us. You will be missed. Enjoy retirement and new adventures in Florida.
Mike Skelton VTC President
JUNE 24, 2021
Virginia Tech Field Day Virginia Beach
DECEMBER 6 – 9, 2021
Horticulture Short Course Henrico
JANUARY 2022
Legislative Day Richmond
JANUARY 2022
Mid Atlantic Turf Expo Glen Allen
FEBRUARY 14 – 16, 2022
Come to the Bay Virginia Beach
Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) 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, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright © 2021 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. 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, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37064-3394, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524. Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)
6 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
For event news & updates, visit www.vaturf.org
Index of Advertisers Agronomic Lawn Management.......................31 www.FertilizerWithALM.com
Burlingham Seeds.............................................25 www.burlinghamseeds.com
Buy Sod, Inc........................................................ 5 www.buysod.com
Carolina Green Corp.......................................31 www.cgcfields.com
Collins Wharf Sod Farm.................................... 7 www.collinswharfsod.com
East Coast Sod & Seed....................................31 www.eastcoastsod.com
Fisher & Son Company, Inc............................... 3 www.fisherandson.com
GreenCor..........................................................23 Home Field Fertilizer / Meadowspring Turf Farm................................21 www.meadowspringturf.com
Kesmac..............................................................11 www.brouwerkesmac.com
Leading Edge Communications.......................27 www.LeadingEdgeCommunications.com
Luck Ecosystems................................................30 www.luckecosystems.com
Mid-Atlantic STIHL..................Inside Front Cover www.stihldealers.com
Modern Turf, Inc................................................. 7 www.modernturf.com
Progressive Turf Equipment Inc........................27
COLLINS WHARF SOD 410-334-6676
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Smith Seed Services........................................... 7 www.smithseed.com
Tall Fescue, HGT Kentucky Bluegrass, Innovation Zoysia, Iron Cutter Bermuda, Bentgrass, Specialty Grows
Smith Turf & Irrigation....................... Back Cover www.smithturf.com
Sod Solutions....................................................17 www.sodsolutions.com
Southeastern Materials....................................29 soematerials.com
The Cutting Edge of VA....................................21 www.tce-va.com
The Turfgrass Group.........................................13 www.theturfgrassgroup.com
Virginia Sand & Stone........................................ 9 www.virginiasand.com
Weed Man.......................................................31 www.weedmanfranchise.com
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 7
Virginia Tech Turf Team
Director’s Corner
Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-5807 askew@vt.edu
PLANTING
SEEDS
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
MY
last column focused on our outreach to elected officials and other key persons across the state. These persons pass laws and regulations that affect all of us. Distributing flowering pollinator seed packets was a critical part of last month’s outreach. Here are just a few of the positive comments sent to me by members of the General Assembly about the seeds. Happy Easter! We got the seeds today and will plant them Monday (Senator Emmett Hanger) Thank you very much (Delegate Bill Wiley) Thank you for sending them and thanks for all that you do! (Delegate Tony Wilt) Thank you for the warm offer – we look forward to receiving the information [about the VTC Environmental Institute] and planting them outside the Delegate’s home (Office of Delegate Elizabeth Guzman) Thank you for the seed packets, and I look forward to reviewing the additional details of the VTC Environmental Institute (Senator Ghazala Hashmi) Just wanted to pass along my sincere thanks for the packet of seeds. We are fortunate to live in such a lovely, temperate climate, and these [seeds] will help add to the beauty of our wonderful state. I appreciate you taking the time to send them. (Senator Bill DeSteph) Thank you so very much for the seeds! They arrived just in time for my planting of wildflowers. I really enjoy watching the honey bees go to work! (Delegate Hyland “Buddy” Fowler) Thank you so much for sending me seeds to plant. I’m not much of a green thumb but I will give them a try! Hope all’s well with you and the association. (Delegate Mark Keam) Thank you. Delegate Bulova appreciates the hard work of the VTC Environmental Institute. He knows that it is important. (Office of Delegate Bulova) Space does not allow me to include comments from the Mayor of Virginia Beach, the Virginia Butterfly Society, an elementary school principal, a high school science teacher, and many others. Your VTC Membership and your tax-free contributions to the VTC Environmental Institute enable us to continue working for you! Thank you.
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
8 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdiva, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3900 adelpozo@vt.edu Jeffrey F. Derr, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station 1444 Diamond Springs Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23455 757-363-3912 jderr@vt.edu Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D. Virginia Tech 420 Smyth Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-2951 goatley@vt.edu David McCall, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 435 Old Glade Road Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9598 dsmccall@vt.edu Dan Sandor, Ph.D. Virginia Tech 170 Drillfield Dr. 411 Price Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-9775 dsandor@vt.edu WITH SUPPORT FROM: Thomas P. Kuhar, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Dept. of Entomology 216 Price Hall 170 Drillfield Drive Blacksburg, VA 24061 540-231-6129 tkuhar@vt.edu
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Editor’s Perspective
IT’S
TIME
No
doubt in your lifetime you’ve spoken that phrase or had it spoken to you by someone else or the voice in your head. It might have been when your mom told you the school bus was coming down the street and you headed out to the end of the driveway for your very first day of school. It could have been when the coach told you that you were up next in your initial Little League baseball game. Maybe it was right before you decided to retaliate against the bully who’d made your life hell for the last month. Could it have been in college when you decided to switch majors? Maybe it was when you’d had enough of the dream job you really couldn’t stand anymore. Or when you made the decision to finally quit the habit you’d known for so long wasn’t good for you. Maybe it prompted you to take that much deserved vacation after waaayyy too many hours at work. Or pushed you to finally get involved in an organization you knew needed your time and energy. For some, it was uttered during an awful time. Every time I replay “Saving Private Ryan” I think about the men on those landing craft waiting to face the hell of German machine gun fire and almost certain death. Many times, it’s before a gut-wrenching decision like putting down a long faithful animal companion, or worse, putting an elderly parent suffering from Alzheimer’s into a facility. And tragically for some, it’s the moment when they decide there is no way out. But also, it precedes some really joyful times in life. How about when you were standing in the vestibule at the church with your minister right before the wedding ceremony? If you have offspring, no doubt you heard it from your spouse before that frantic trip to the hospital. And in a flash, it pops up again when you’re walking that offspring down the aisle for her wedding. Maybe it’s as simple as waking up on Christmas morning as a kid and rushing downstairs to the tree with your sister. Or standing on a mountaintop in Colorado with your buddies, anticipating the first run of the day. The one thing all these moments have in common is a leaving of something old and beginning something new. Many times, the old is comfortable, safe. It is difficult to give up. Yet you know it should be done. This is where I find myself today.
10 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor
For the last 25+ years or so, I have been involved with this publication. At first, it was just a little blurb for the “Around the Commonwealth” section of what was a very sparse few page foldable publication of the VTC. It eventually evolved into a longer column of ramblings with the editor moniker attached to it. As I have said many times, I was and am no more of an editor than an Olympic swimmer. The good folks at Leading Edge have made this magazine happen for years, and under the guidance of talented individuals like Liz Nutter (God rest her soul) and our current editor/magician Julie Holt have continued to deliver timely and quality information to our membership every other month. As with most decisions to get involved with a group/organization, you start out with the idea of what “I” have to contribute. As the years go by, you realize you’ve received more than you could ever give. I will forever be grateful to Dr. David Chalmers for prodding me to take a chance and say “it’s time” all those years ago. I’ve met many folks from Virginia and beyond that I would have never crossed paths with otherwise. Maybe because my ugly mug was at the top of the column, many strangers approached me like we were friends. You’ll never realize what those kind words meant to a guy from a part of the state many see as an afterthought. So yes, like my literary heroes Mike Royko and Jack McClenahan, the moment has come for me to again say “it’s time.” As stated above, the VTC Journal will not miss a beat. And no, I’m not retiring, or dying. Well, yes I am eventually, but not in the very near future so far as I know. And look around you. There’s plenty of folks with plenty to say and plenty of ways to say it. Is that a good thing? I’ll let you decide. I admit I’ll miss the perks of the job, such as the HUGE, REALLY HUGE salary and the VTC jet. And of course, the VTC time machine which made the annual predictions column like shooting fish in a barrel. I’d say something cheesy in closing, like “be nice to each other,” but that’s already the case in this great industry. So, I guess I’ll end with what Curly Bill told Wyatt Earp: well…..bye.
Mark Vaughn, CGCS
V T F Re po r t
M
arch 27, 2021 was a great day to be at the Kingsmill Resort’s River Golf Course! We had perfect spring-time weather to kick off the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation’s inaugural Run the Fairway Outdoor Living Festival. We saw 170 registered participants come out to run-walk-jog this challenging yet beautiful fairway course, overlooking the James River. Our race director at Colonial Sports created the 5k and 10k route options and Gym Guyz in Williamsburg managed the Mini Fun Run on the 18th fairway. Overall, the feedback about the event and courses was positive, leaving participants excited to come back next year. The Outdoor Living Festival portion of the event highlighted the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Team and the many consumer friendly demonstrations they provided as well as vendors related to landscape, outdoor living and more. Our goal for the event was to create something new that could bring awareness of the environmental and health benefits turfgrass provides, while raising funds to support turfgrass research. Without the support of the VT Turfgrass Team and our many vendors, sponsors, and the volunteers from the Rotary of James City County Satellite Club on-site, we could not have had the success that we did. With the combined excitement from both the run and the festival, we had approximately 500 people join us throughout the day! Sending a huge thank you to our sponsors Virginia Green, Dominion Energy, The Optimal Service Group of Wells Fargo, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Colonial Sports, Gym GuyzWilliamsburg, Custom Gardens, Budget Blinds, BASF, Buy Sod, Joint Caddie, Harris Teeter, UPS Store-Williamsburg, Virginia Living Magazine, Towne Bank, Titan Rx Tall Fescue, Kingsmill Resort, Bennett’s Greek Nursery, Easton Outdoors, Davey Tree, Colonial Soil & Water Conservation District, Savand Photography, Courtnay Gilmore Realtor of Howard Hanna, Murawski Photography, Fred Smith Realtor of Liz Moore & Associates, Target Williamsburg East, Home Depot-Williamsburg and Kathy Keene Broker/Realtor of Keene Woods Realty. The Virginia Turfgrass Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization. Any fundraising we do and any donations we bring in go to support the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Team and their turfgrass research project needs. We manage an endowment to ensure research has funding for the future. With the support of the industry and now consumers and non-industry corporations, we look forward to future events and outreach opportunities that allow us to grow research throughout the commonwealth and beyond. If you have an idea or would like to have an event at your golf course or location, give us a call and let the VTF help!
12 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
THE GRADES ARE IN and the Head of the Class is:
National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) 2013 – 2017 National Bermudagrass Test Final Report NTEP No. 18 – 14
NTEP TRIALS FINAL REPORT CARD VARIETY
FINAL GPA
FINAL GRADE
TifTuf
93%
A
Iron Cutter
80%
B
Tahoma 31
73%
C
“Based on NTEP’s latest test cycle 2013-2017 for all Bermudagrass comparative testing at 20 locations over the 5 year trial period. (Page 201, Append ix Table)”
www.THETURFGRASSGROUP.com
Upcoming Events
11 th Annual
HRAREC Turfgrass Field Day plus Pesticide Recertification THURSDAY, JUNE 24, 2021 Virginia Tech • Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center 1444 Diamond Springs Road • Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Virginia Tech in conjunction with the Virginia Turfgrass Council will be hosting a turf field day on June 24, 2021 at the research station in Virginia Beach. Pesticide recertification credits will also be available for categories 3A, 3B, 5A, 6, 8, 10, and 60. For additional information on the tour contact:
Or for preregistration information:
Jeffrey Derr, Virginia Tech (757) 363-3912 jderr@vt.edu
Tom Tracy, VTC (757) 464-1004 virginiaturf@gmail.com
Preregistration information can be found at the events page of the VTC website www.vaturf.org Please preregister so we have an accurate count for lunch. PREREGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR LUNCH AND FOR THE PESTICIDE RECERTIFICATION CLASS. SCHEDULE: 7:30 am – 8:00 am Registration for Pesticide Recertification Class and Tour
The trials will be informative for golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, lawn care professionals, landscapers, parks and recreation employees, extension personnel, and others in the turf industry.
TURF TRIALS THAT WILL BE SHOWN INCLUDE:
8:00 am – NOON Field Tour of Turf Plots and Pesticide Recertification
• P reemergence and Postemergence control of grasses, sedges, and broadleaf weeds
Noon – 1:00 pm Lunch
•V ariety trials for tall fescue, St. Augustine, zoysia, low maintenance areas
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm Pesticide Recertification Class resumes
• Insect management
•D rought tolerance in turfgrass cultivars • Pollinator garden
COST (INCLUDES LUNCH): VTC Members: All Events Free Non-members – $25 for the tour or $60 for the day. Join the VTC and attend for $85
14 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
Join Our ROAD SHOW C E L E B R A T E T H E E N D O F 15 M O N T H S O F I S O L A T I O N
Social Time VTC-Environmental Institute Update Legislative Trends – Virginia and National L O C A T I O N : Lost Rhino Brewing Company 21730 Red Rum Drive, Suite #142 • Ashburn, VA 20147 DATE:
JUNE 17, 2021 TIME: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm RSVP Needed P H O N E O R T E X T : (757) 681-6065 E M A I L : virginiaturf@gmail.com Complimentary Food and Beverages Courtesy of Our Sponsors
SPONSORED BY
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 15
Cover Story
A BITTERSWEET CHANGING of the
GUARDS at the Virginia Tech Research Short Course of Independence Golf Club By David McCall, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Turfgrass Pathology
T
hose keeping watch from afar of the transformation at Independence Golf Club’s (IGC) short course into a hustling and bustling living research lab have likely been impressed with progress made in just a few years. For those of us watching from “inside the ropes”, it has been nothing short of amazing. What started as an interesting concept and loads of sprigs from around the country in May 2017 has turned into a robust outpost for the VT Turf Team. While many have played vitally important roles in the successes of the facility, none come close to matching the efforts of Jordan Booth. It is bittersweet to say that Jordan has accepted a position with the United States Golf Association (USGA) as a Southeastern Regional Agronomist, which has long been a career aspiration of his. His last official day as a member of the VT Turf Team was May 9, 2021. However, Jordan will continue to work toward completing his dissertation research with support from the USGA, while juggling his new responsibilities. Jordan has accomplished a lot with the VT Turf Team in a relatively short amount of time.
16 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
Congratulations to Jordan Booth on his new position.
Cover Story continued
Jordan has maintained a dual role as Research Associate and Ph.D. student since 2018, where he has been directly involved with approximately 75 field research trials, played a vital Extension role to many of you, and built a national reputation for his work with
Research and educational events at IGC
18 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
ultradwarf bermudagrass winter management. In fact, Jordan was recently named a Dr. James Watson Fellow, one of the nation’s top awards among Turfgrass Science graduate students and presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Welcome back to Virginia Tech! Travis Roberson is right at home conducting and sharing research and collaborating with the VT team.
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Cover Story continued
Joran has also made the most of his time during pandemicrelated travel restriction by building an impromptu growth chamber in his garage, in place of weekly trips to campus, to assist with his cold-acclimation studies. Jordan has spent much of the last three years evaluating ways to reduce cold-related injury on both ultradwarf bermudagrass and on hybrid bermudagrasses used on golf course fairways and athletic fields. We have learned a lot from these efforts but the scope is much wider than this. Here is a sampling of the projects that Jordan has assisted with (with primary collaborator in parenthesis): • numerous fungicide efficacy studies on both warm-season and cool-season grasses at IGC and several other locations in Central VA (McCall)
• spring dead spot epidemiology and management (Hutchens and McCall) • NTEP putting green performance evaluations (Goatley) • “bluemuda” establishment and management (Goatley) • annual bluegrass weevil monitoring and management (Kuhar, McCall, and Del-Pozo) • annual bluegrass and goosegrass management (Askew, Brewer, and Peppers) • semi-dormant zoysiagrass herbicide sensitivity (Askew and Craft), • PGR effects on plant physiology (Zhang)
A U NI QU E PA R T N E R S H IP At Independence Golf Club, a unique partnership exists
between the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences researchers and industry professionals that helps make these memorable moments on the putting green. The unique agreement allows research to be conducted on an active golf course, with true feedback on playing surface quality — a rarity in the field. A few years ago, researchers from Virginia Tech were approached by Giff Breed, owner of Independence Golf Club that houses an 18-hole championship course and a 9-hole par 3 course, about using warm-season grasses at the course instead of the northern grasses typically used in the region, making work much easier for course superintendents in the hottest months. “Not a whole lot was known about how these are going to respond in this part of the country. Warm-season grasses in varied climates were new to everyone and Giff was curious about how it would respond. It naturally evolved into trying out as many different grasses as we possibly could,” said David McCall, an assistant professor in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and member of the research team. While creeping bentgrass remains the norm for most putting greens in Virginia, Independence is demonstrating how well-managed bermudagrass putting greens can play firm and fast during some of the heaviest play periods, desirable traits amongst golfers. The Virginia Tech researchers have used a variety of methods to keep ultradwarf bermudagrass alive in the winter, which include regular installation and removal of blankets and plant growth regulators, chemicals that slow plant growth.
20 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
“Management and cultural practices during the summer are critical to set ultradwarf bermudagrass putting greens up for long-term success,” Booth said. “We’re looking at fertility programs, aeration, cultural practice management, and fungicide programs to best prepare the turfgrass for dormancy, which is the plant’s natural defense system and its best defense system against the cold. These programs are also critical to providing desired playing conditions for the game of golf.” The use of warm-season grasses could also benefit smaller golf courses with limited budgets that typically use native soil greens without internal drainage. Ultradwarf bermudagrass, despite a less-than-stellar perception, could be easier for these golf courses to maintain during the stresses of summer, providing high-quality putting greens while not requiring nearly as much water and other inputs as bentgrass greens during warm months. “This group is showing that you can have championship-caliber golf with bermudagrass greens in Richmond,” Goatley said. “It’s not just possible and, in some cases, these may even be the best playing conditions in Richmond proper.” The work of Virginia Tech researchers impacts how golfers can approach their game in the region. When a golfer takes a putt and watches it drop into the hole, it won’t just look like a championship moment. It will be on a championship-caliber surface.
Excerpted from “Fore: A unique partnership exists between Virginia Tech and a Richmond golf course” in Virginia Tech Daily, written by Max Esterhuizen.
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Jordan is not leaving us “high and dry” by any stretch. He will aid with the transition to his successor, Travis Roberson, who officially began on May 10. With so many projects underway, there are sure to be some bumps along the way. However, we feel that Travis is uniquely qualified to step into this role and hit the ground running. Travis completed his Masters degree in the McCall lab in 2018, where he conducted an intensive research project focused on early detection of drought stress of creeping bentgrass. In addition to his graduate research, he has been involved with testing a variety of disease management solutions. Travis understands the inner workings of our program and has since spent time working at a golf course and with irrigation installation. These combined experiences will pay dividends as he continues to build his own research program with a focus on improving irrigation efficiencies across maintained greenspaces.
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Travis and his wife, Jamie, already live in the Richmond area. As with Jordan, Travis will collaborate on many research projects with his VT Turf Team colleagues from campus, the Hampton Roads AREC, and our many industry partners. We look forward to seeing the next phase of research at the Independence Golf Club’s Turfgrass Research Short Course that Travis will bring. Please be sure to welcome Travis (travislr@vt.edu) back to the VT Turf Team and ask to stop by for a tour if you’re nearby. The ultimate accomplishment when one leaves a position is to be able to say that things are in better shape than the day they started. In this case, Jordan far exceeded these expectations early on and has built the Virginia Tech Turfgrass Research Short Course into a top-notch turfgrass science test bed. The entire VT Turf Team is indebted to Jordan for what he has helped build for our future successes. We wish Jordan well in his new career with the USGA and look forward to many more future collaborations. If you know Jordan, please take a minute to send a congratulatory note on this new position (jordanbooth@vt.edu).
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 21
Feature Story
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ON
VTC Board Member Ray Funkhouser V TC
Board Member Ray Funkhouser has been a great asset to the turfgrass
industry for many years. He may be retired, but his years of serving and advocating for turf professionals continue through his work with the VTC Board. We sat down with Ray to talk about work, life, and family – you’re sure to learn something from this stalwart member of our organization!
Virginia Turfgrass Journal: Can you share a little bit about your career path? Ray Funkhouser: I came into the turf industry about halfway through my professional career. My entire career has been involved with the crop protection chemical side of the business. I started off on the agricultural side, working with a number of crops, starting with the fruit crops here in Virginia and moving over to a lot of the agronomic crops. Then I had the opportunity to move over to the specialty side, which included turf, which was always an area of interest for me. VTJ: How big of a change was that to go from the agricultural side and move into turfgrass? RF: Very easy to do – it’s kind of a natural transition because there’s so many similarities between the two. We’re dealing with plants, we’re dealing with a lot of botany and how plants grow, how they function, how they thrive and the threats that can attack them. So it’s really dealing with just a little bit of a different crop of the end result of what you’re trying to accomplish, but many of the techniques are very similar. VTJ: Where did you start with your education? What made you decide to go into this field and what route did you take from there? RF: When I was coming out of high school, I knew I wanted to have a job where I could use science on a daily basis, and particularly on the plant side. Growing up, I was one generation removed from the farm that my father grew up on, but my family went back to that farm often. So I was surrounded by a lot of agriculture, and I liked that field. I decided to go to Delaware Valley College, which is now Delaware Valley University. I was originally accepted as a horticulture major, but I knew I needed to go on and get an advanced degree. Specifically, I wanted to get into the agricultural crop protection area. I was very fortunate to get an internship at American Cyanamid at the end of my freshman year in college. They had a big agricultural research farm in Princeton, New Jersey. I interned that summer in the insecticide screening department. It was exciting because I was in the industry and saw some numbered compounds there that years later, actually I saw make it to the marketplace as commercial products. Then another summer I was with the US Forest Service working on a gypsy moth research project that was a USDA project, based out of Cornell University, and I was stationed in the field. We were gathering tremendous amounts of data on the gypsy moth. I was very fortunate coming out of college to have had some experience in the industry. VTJ: How would you advise new turfgrass managers on how to get their feet wet in all of the areas that are necessary to be in this field?
22 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
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RF: Don’t limit yourself to one particular idea or image that you may have of what you want to do. Be open for opportunities that may arise to learn about all different aspects of it. I’ve run across many people, in fact most people, when they settle into the main part of their career where they spend most of their years, that was not where they started. That was not where they thought they wanted to be, but they looked at opportunities and learned as much as they could about the different aspects of it, whether it’s the agronomic end of it, whether it’s the equipment end of it, whether it’s just even weather conditions – there are many different areas. You never know what door may open for you that can be very, very gratifying to you. VTJ: You’ve spent a lot of time volunteering your expertise and your time for industry associations like VTC. Why is that so important to you? RF: I don’t necessarily look at it as ‘volunteering,’ but rather investing. I think it’s an investment in your career, and it’s also an investment for the industry. There are a lot of things that 24 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
need to happen for an industry to grow and survive, and it’s when people come together and invest their time, efforts and talents for the good of everyone, is how an industry grows and moves ahead. VTJ: Now that you’re retired, what are you doing with your time? RF: Well it seems now I’m as busy as I’ve ever been. You get involved supporting a number of things in your life that are important to you. I’m still involved very actively with the alumni association at Delaware Valley University, I think they keep me around to help them remember some of the history. I served as president of the alumni association and one of the very rewarding things was serving on the board of trustees of the school for a number of years. Church always takes a fair amount of time and commitment, trying to do things there. My wife and I teach Sunday school and every once in a while they need somebody to fill in to deliver a message and I’m happy to be able to help out with that when it comes up.
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Feature Story continued
But a lot of my time is spent with track and field. I’ve been involved in track and field continuously since 1965 when I was a freshman in high school. I went out for the track team and never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that all these years later I would still be as active as I am as an athlete, an official, and an administrator. It has brought a lot to my life, I think it’s helped with my professional career as well. I guess being an athlete it helps you direct your time. You set goals, you have a certain time to do it, schedule it, so you don’t have a lot of time to waste to be able to get everything done. I’ve been fortunate enough that track and field has taken me around the world to a number of places I know that I would have never been able to go on my own. As a result, just like with the industry, you meet a lot of people and friends. I’ve met a lot of people from different countries that are involved in track and field and they have become lifelong friends as well. VTJ: I see that you and your wife are celebrating your 49th wedding anniversary this summer? RF: June 3rd it’ll be 49 years. We got married two weeks after I graduated, undergrad, before I started as a full-time graduate student, going for my master’s degrees. I certainly owe her a lot with the things I’ve been able to accomplish with my job. I was on the road a lot and she has always been very supportive of what I’ve done, what has been important to me. It wasn’t a job I had, it was a lifestyle. It’s all wrapped in – you’re never off the clock, so to speak. There’s always people that call that have issues and problems, whether it’s with a clogged sprayer or whatever. You take that time – it’s a lifestyle, and I’ve been very fortunate that way. I am officially retired from that, but I still think I’m able to contribute to the industry and hopefully others will continue to do the same because we have some very brilliant people involved in the turfgrass industry.
VTJ: Knowing that you’ve lived this lifestyle and been in the industry and really embraced all the parts of it, while maintaining your family life, what would your advice be for younger turfgrass managers or professionals about being involved in the industry, but also having a little balance there with family and outside interests? RF: I think it’s very important to have balance, to have outlets, to have something so you’re just not totally, totally focused on one 26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL May/June 2021 www.vaturf.org
thing all of the time. I have seen people that have gotten into that, and you can get burned out. You have to look at what life is all about, certainly family is very important. A lot of what we do is so that we can provide for our family. Again, I’ll go back to my very first boss that hired me into the industry. He said this involves the whole family. He not only interviewed me, but interviewed my wife so that she had an understanding of what this career was going to be and what it could be, and that it was a decision that we made as a family and I think that’s very important. I’m a big proponent of staying active, which helps you with your health. And when you’re healthier, you have more energy, you can accomplish more. So that’s where the track and field has always been very important to me, fitting that in. Sometimes people say that, “Well, I just don’t have time in the day to work out.” Or “I can’t do that because it takes time away from my family.” The way I always put it to them, that time you take each day, whether it’s to exercise or work out or whatever, that’s an investment in yourself, BUT it’s your family that’s going to benefit from the interest that’s generated, the energy that you get—you’re going to have more time, more energy with them to be active. So they’re the ones that are going to benefit by that investment that you’re making in yourself on a regular basis. VTC would like to thank Ray Funkhouser for his years of dedication to the industry and the Council. To hear our full conversation with Ray, check out our podcast on THETURFZONE.COM. You can subscribe at Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Industry News
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Anita’s educational background is in horticulture at Virginia Tech. She has worked at production nurseries, in public gardens, as a hort specialist for intellectually and physically challenged adults, and as an adjunct instructor at Germanna Community College. “I was first employed by DCR as a part-time interpreter at Caledon State Park in King George County and later loved my time as the Chief Ranger there,” Anita says. “Among other things, I was involved with invasive species management and establishing native garden areas.” From that position, she moved to the Division of Soil and Water Conservation where she helped develop the nutrient management program for state lands in response to 2007 legislation from the General Assembly.
This was the beginning of the urban nutrient management program. Anita has spent the last 12 years at the Department of Environmental Quality as a biosolids permit writer. Now, Anita says, “I’m delighted to rejoin the nutrient management team at DCR!” Anita’s unusual claim to Virginia Fame comes courtesy of holding a rather surprising role early in her career. “While working as an electronics technician at Dominion’s Bath County Pump Storage Station, I lived in Goshen, Va. Through a series of unlikely events, I was appointed as the Town’s mayor, the first woman to hold the position, in 1985 when I was 28 years old.” The 1935 municipal water system had been cited often by the Virginia Department of Health. The Town and its people came together in applying for a federal Community Development Block Grant with huge assistance from the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission. In order to qualify for the grant, Goshen needed to bring its entire water system within Town boundaries. The Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors was most helpful in the process of allowing Goshen to expand the boundaries. This quadrupled Goshen’s land area and tripled the population. The grant was awarded on Anita’s first application, and Goshen’s water system was brought into compliance. “I won the next election, but was unable to fulfill the entire term due to my course workload at Virginia Tech,” Anita shared. “That was my only foray into politics!” A term well-served, indeed!
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | 31
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