Skip to main content

Hole Notes August 2026

Page 1

HOLE NOTES Autonomous Mower Maintenance Tanner Knudsen, CTEM MGCSA Scholarship Recipients Tritabaugh, Hemquist, Jones

Get to Know Em: Todd Angelstad

Grassroots Advocacy Matters Randy Robinson

Predicting Winterkill Dr. Bryan C. Runck


August HOLE NOTES The Official Publication of the MGCSA V. 61, #4 August 2026

FEATURES

4 8 14 20 2

PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE JOHN CAMERON, CGCS KRESS 236 MOWER MAINTENANCE TANNER KNUDSEN, CTEM GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY MATTERS RANDY ROBINSON 2026 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS TRITABAUGH, HEMQUIST, JONES


GET TO KNOW ‘EM TODD ANGELSTAD PREDICTING WINTERKILL BRYAN RUNCK, UMN FROM THE HIGH GRASS CHRIS AUMOCK

Board of Directors President: John Cameron, CGCS Vice President: Jason Scharfencamp Sec/Treas: James Westendorf Ex-Officio: Nikk Dickerson, CGCS Director: Wade Huesman Director: Reed Bohm Director: Dan Ament Affiliate Director: Brandon Young Affiliate Director: Chad Blank Executive Director: Chris Aumock MGCSA PO Box 2028 Maple Grove, MN 55311

30 38 44

Cover: Thursday morning at the TPC & the 3M Open Above: MGCSA Volunteers supporting the KPMG.

Event Calendar: MGCSA Championship 9/8 Pesticide License Recert Event 9/16 The Scramble 9/21 Wee One 10/5 MEGA Seminar 12/1-2

Hole Notes (ISSN 108-27994) is digitally published bi-monthly, 6 issues per year, by the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents’ Association, PO Box 2028, Maple Grove, MN 55311. Chris Aumock Publisher. Please send any address changes, articles for submission, advertising and concerns to chris@mgcsa.

3


PRESIDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE John Cameron, CGCS North Oaks Golf Club

I hope everyone is keeping their chin up after a challenging July! I’ve heard some horror stories from colleagues regarding extreme heat, drought, irrigation failures, and torrential rainstorms. I think we’d all take an average finish to August, as it would feel like a walk in the park compared to the extremes we’ve faced. There were a few mornings with conditions that were downright diabolical. The air was so thick you could feel the dollar spot growing in your own hair. Does anyone know if Daconil Action works 4

as shampoo? It definitely brought back memories of my internship at Chevy Chase Club in D.C.! We are all in this together, so hang in there. Those cool, crisp fall mornings and football season are right around the corner.

complete with world #1 Scottie Scheffler in the field. I was fortunate to attend both, and I was in awe of the conditions presented by both crews. The crowds were massive. I like to think most spectators were standing around debating plant growth regulator What a fantastic summer rates and wetting agent of professional golf here chemistries... but they were in Minnesota! Hazeltine probably just there to watch National Golf Club the best golfers on earth. successfully showcased Either way, seeing fellow their course for the MGCSA members and KPMG Women’s PGA common golf supporters Championship in late June, experiencing that level of and TPC Twin Cities hosted enthusiasm for the game the 3M Open during the was fantastic. North Oaks sweltering heat in July, Golf Club even had extra


excitement during the 3M Open as a gallery of familiar faces followed our very own member, Muzzy Donohue, as he competed. Congratulations to Chris Tritabaugh, Joe Rolstad, and their teams for delivering two exceptional events!

local community who were misinformed about our environmental practices. With this support or book, those conversations either turned into positive discussions or quickly settled concerns.

Beyond local use, these manuals give the GCSAA’s As an association, one of Advocacy and Stewardship the most valuable resources team the baseline data available to us is the facility they need to protect our Best Management Practices interests nationally every (BMP) manual. While it day, which is work that might be hard to see how is easy to overlook when a BMP directly impacts we’re immersed in our own your daily maintenance daily battles. I strongly routines, it serves as a encourage every facility to powerful educational take advantage of this tool. tool for our industry as You can learn more and a whole. I’ve personally get started on your manual used our BMP manual to through the GCSAA BMP educate members of our Planning Tool.

The MGCSA has a great lineup of events scheduled for this fall, offering plenty of opportunities to catch up and play some golf with our peers. I was looking forward to the pesticide recertification course in September, but a major tournament conflict at our club means I’ll have to catch the next one. That said, I’m really looking forward to the UMN Scramble for Research as well as the Wee One Tournament. Both are fantastic events supporting crucial causes for our industry and community, so be sure to log on and sign up today!

MGCSA NEW MEMBERS - Jul/Aug 2026 Jacob Henry Frost Inc Affiliate Nathan Kahn Spring Hills EM Isaiah Harken UMN Class E 5


6


7


KRESS 236 AUTONOMOUS MOWER MAINTENANCE

TANNER KNUDSEN, CTEM NORTH OAKS GOLF CLUB The autonomous mower craze is really taking off. Every time I get into conversation with other Equipment Managers or Superintendents, the topic of autonomous mowers ends up being brought up. While these conversations usually just talk about if you have any, or have tried any, and how much do you like them, what usually gets left behind is, what do you need to do to maintain these machines? We have 3 Kress 236 mowers, at North 8

Oaks, maintaining our Clubhouse lawns, and our driving range/short game areas. They have been running nonstop since the first week of May. One of our mowers has logged over 1280 working hours and has traveled over 1570 miles while doing so. With the capability of mowing for 20 hours in a single day, it isn’t a surprise that they can rack up working time, but what is surprising, to me anyway, is what I have had to do to these mowers in that time… almost nothing.


9


Preventative maintenance is very simple on these mowers. They need to be cleaned of grass clippings, and the blades need to be checked/replaced about as often as a push mower gets an oil change (100150 hours). This is also a good time to check that the machine’s sensors are all functioning correctly. The front bumper has two magnets that contact sensors to let the machine know if it is bumping into any objects and cannot get free from them. This will send a trapped fault on the machine. The front tires also have sensors to let the mower know if it is lifted or if it has fallen into an area that it cannot climb out of due to the angle. The diagnostic page on the mowers display screen will show you if

the sensors are working properly. The other maintenance bugs you will deal with is getting your boundaries and borders set. This is an ever-changing process for us. When setting your boundaries, what works with the cart may not work with the mower. You will learn very quickly and will have to make changes as needed. After the major kinks get worked out, you will start to really see the benefits of having autonomous mowers in your fleet. The future of autonomy is here, and I can tell you from experience that the maintenance of these mowers is the easiest part of the process.

(Pictured is a mower “trapped” and a mower that has fallen out of a working boundary)

10


WIDESPIN™ 1550 BROADCAST TOPDRESSER

What makes us the #1 brand according to the NGF? The 1550 delivers a more even, more consistent spread meaning fewer passes, less disruption and more time for the next job. So easy to use, it gives you the confidence to nail your application every time. It even tells you the exact rate. Ready to up your game and maximize productivity? Nothing tops the 1550 Topdresser.

SEE IT IN ACTION

BOOK YOUR DEMO TODAY 800.679.8201

11


12


Email: turfguys@midwestdeeptine.com Phone: (952) 239-4153

Services: Sand Injection Deep Tine Aerification Topdressing Grinding Reels


WHY GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY MATTERS MATTER S RANDY ROBINSON GCSAA CENTRAL PLAINS FIELD STAFF

The future of golf course management is influenced by decisions made at every level of government. From water policy and environmental regulations to labor and tax issues, legislators make decisions that directly affect our profession. That’s why GCSAA Grassroots Ambassadors play such an important role. Effective advocacy begins with relationships. By connecting with local, state, 14

and federal lawmakers before issues arise, Grassroots Ambassadors become trusted resources who can provide real-world insight into the challenges and successes of golf course management.

make a meaningful difference. These conversations help policymakers better understand the environmental stewardship, economic impact, and professionalism that define our industry.

Advocacy doesn’t require a significant time commitment. Responding to GCSAA Action Alerts, attending legislative events, or inviting an elected official to your facility can

Every ambassador strengthens GCSAA’s voice. By staying engaged and sharing our story, we help ensure that decisions affecting golf course management are based on facts


and informed by those who know the profession best. Recently, I had the opportunity to join Brett Hetland, CGCS, at Brooks Golf Club to host State Representative Jacob Bossman, who also serves as Regional Director for U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. We began with introductions and a discussion using GCSAA’s advocacy talking points, sharing how legislative issues impact our daily operations. Representative Bossman was engaged throughout the visit, and conversations with the golf professional staff and food and beverage manager highlighted the significant economic impact of the facility.

A course tour showcased the environmental stewardship and Best Management Practices, including wetland buffer strips, prairie areas, and the partnership with the local Nature Center, which hosts monthly bird walks at Brooks. We also demonstrated the technology behind modern golf course management, including our irrigation system, maintenance facility, and remote pump station monitoring.

this reinforce the value of the GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador Program and the importance of building relationships with elected officials through education and open dialogue. Our collective voice is strongest when each of us participates. Grassroots advocacy isn’t just an opportunity—it’s a responsibility that helps protect and advance our profession for the future.

If you are interested in Although scheduled for getting involved with the two hours, the visit exGrassroots Ambassador tended well beyond that, program, please reach out reflecting the quality of the to me at rrobinson@gcsaa. conversation and Represen- org. tative Bossman’s genuine interest. Opportunities like 15


Silver Bay Exposure Host Superintendent Norma O’Leary, CGCS, let us spend the day on her course for a great dya of golf and networking. As always, we have to say thank you to all of the event sponsors and attendees for helping us host another great NE Exposure event.

16


Superior Tech Products® Leading Edge Turfgrass Solutions Golf Courses | Sport Fields | Parks

smooth healthy consistent

greens

952-546-3678

www.stproots.com stp@stproots.com

* Liquid & Granular Fertilizers * Organic Fertilizers * Post Patent Pesticides * Aerification Tines & Bedknifes * Natural & Artificial Turf grooming equipment. * Rollers for Cutting units

GolfCo

P O

17


18


Golfers wield clubs. But you have weapons of your own.

See our ever-growing line of tools and accessories to enhance your course including Accuform™, HiO®, FusionCast® and Miltona.

ParAide.com © 2022 Par Aide Products Co.

19


2026 Par Aide Joseph S. Garske & MGCSA Legacy Scholarship Recipients

Thank you to Par Aide for their continued support of the Garske & Legacy Scholarship Programs! 20


Joseph S. Garske Scholarship Recipient: Olive Tritabaugh Olive Jo Tritabaugh was born on Friday, June 13, 2008, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth. Those of you with a keen memory will remember that it was Friday of the 2008 US Open. There’s some irony in the fact that having our first child allowed me to watch almost every hour of TV coverage, when I normally would’ve been too busy with work. Olive graduated from Chanhassen High School in May and will begin college at the University of Wisconsin–Madison on September 2. At Madison, she plans to study psychology and Spanish, with the goal of becoming a bilingual therapist or psychiatrist. Her path reflects a longstanding passion for helping others and a desire to make the world a better place. Growing up with a golf course superintendent dad comes with some benefits. For example, I had the chance to introduce Olive to Rocco Mediate, one of the chief protagonists of that 2008 US Open. For Olive, my profession gave her a chance to show how helpful she could be. At just three years old, Olive was scooting around the perimeters of the Northland

CC greens on her balance bike, pointing out “bad grass” (Poa). In 2016, with their school off during Ryder Cup week, she and her sister Penny helped keep our staff and volunteers well stocked with snacks and drinks. When we told the girls Hazeltine would be hosting a second Ryder Cup, Olive said: “Do you think my college will have the week off during the next Ryder Cup?” Unfortunately not. In time, Olive would join our turfgrass team at Hazeltine, spending five summers tending to the course, and continuing to let me know when she saw bad grass. Olive may not be following in my footsteps, but the years we spent together on the course gave us memories neither of us will forget. Lindsay and I are deeply proud of the person she has become. With her passion for helping others, Olive is already well on her way to making the world a better place. 21


Joseph S. Garske Scholarship Recipient Eddie Johnson I plan to become a Financial Advisor. My expectations are to help others by positively impacting families lives by gaining financial independence. I also hope my career helps me build a network of connections with companies that may need the support of a financial advisor. I chose my major because of the opportunities it brings. Additionally, the concept of letting money work for you and using strategy to enhance its value was appealing to me. I plan to graduate with a high GPA, then find work with a firm that will help me set up my future for more success. Later in those years I would like to establish a stable job in a large city that will allow for a lifestyle that makes me happy. I carry the values of hard work and selfdetermination as I have funded my own mutual fund since I was 10 years old. I have the ability to anticipate and recognize patterns which I feel will allow me to find success in the stock market and the net worth of those I work with. Thank you to Par Aide and the MGCSA for this recognition and conutined support. 22


MGCSA Legacy Scholarship Recipient: Molly Jones Molly is a student at the University of North Dakota, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration and is double majoring in Marketing and Human Resource Management, with a minor in Leadership. She expects to graduate in May 2028.A 2025 graduate of Benson High School, Molly has already built a strong foundation in leadership, creativity and communication. She also completed dual-enrollment coursework in digital marketing through Minnesota State Technical and Community College.

Leadership is an important part of Molly’s story. She serves as Vice President of At UND Housing and Dining, Molly works as a Marketing and Graphic Design Risk Management for Alpha Chi Omega at UND, helping support safety training, Assistant. She creates social-media content, promotional graphics, and photo preparedness and accountability for fellow and video materials for campus campaigns members. In high school, she was active in student leadership and athletics, including and events. Her work has helped serving as captain of three varsity strengthen engagement and support sports teams and holding leadership attendance at campus activities. roles in Student Council and Business Professionals of America. Molly has also gained professional marketing experience through freelance Through her double major, professional work with Syngenta Professional experience and campus involvement, Solutions. In that role, she supported Molly continues to develop the skills and email campaigns, social-media graphics, character that will serve her well in her print materials and outreach initiatives. future career. The support of the MGCSA The experience strengthened her will help her continue pursuing her appreciation for collaboration, clear communication and consistent messaging. educational and professional goals. 23


MGCSA Legacy Scholarship Recipient: Addison Hemquist Addison Hemquist is the daughter of Arik Hemquist, Territory Manager for Reinders. Addison was a 2025 Magna Cum Laude graduate from White Bear Lake High School. In high school, she was a National Honors Society Member, logging over fifty hours of volunteer work in her community. She also ran on the girls track and field team for four years, serving as a varsity captain her senior year. Addison is starting her sophomore year at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is pursuing a major in finance with a minor in accounting. She completed her first year with a 4.0 GPA and earned Dean’s List honors for both semesters. This summer, Addison is working as an office assistant at Tolerance Masters, supporting daily operations, managing data entry, and handling document scanning to keep records organized and up to date. Thank you to Par Aide, the Garske family and the MGCSA for sponsoring this scholarship and helping support Addison’s academic success.

24


Elk River, MN • 763.441.1100 www.plaistedcompanies.com

GOLF Topdressing Sands & Mixes

Our Sands meet USGA guidelines and are available with green pigment. Custom mixes can be blended for your individual needs using our 4-bin computerized Accublender.

Bunker Sands Our bunker sands are always washed and screened. Choose from: •Plaisted Bunker Sand •Plaisted Pro Bunker Sand Blend •700 Best Signature 100% Crushed •900 Best Signature 100% Crushed

Natural Tan Natural Tan Off White White

Golf Construction Sand Mixes

Our mixes all use USGA sand and a combination of fine grade peat and screened black dirt. Chose one of our popular mixes or we can custom blend one. •USGA Coarse Gravel - A great bridging rock used as a drainage layer. •Construction Sand & Peat Mixes - 50/50, 60/40, 70/30, 80/20, 85/15, 90/10 •Construction Sand & Black Dirt Mixes - 50/50, 70/30, 80/20 •Construction Sand/Peat/Black Dirt Mixes - 1-1-1, 60/20/20, 70/20/10, 80/10/10

Cart Path & Road Base

•3/8” with fines river rock •Class II buff limestone or red rock •Class II, III, IV crushed granite •Class 5 gravel •Recycled concrete, crushed asphalt, conbit

Bagged Products

•Dry topdressing sand •Dry tournament topdressing sand •Dry green topdressing sand •Dry early-green black topdressing sand •Dry 70/30 green divot mix


COMPLETE SOLUTIONS WITH CONSISTENT, RELIABLE SERVICE, EVERY DAY.

new turf technology MTI is focused on driving innovation in the

Maximize the beauty and playability of your course with MTI’s turf solutions. Our comprehensive range of reliable equipment, backed by more than 70 years of industry expertise and support, helps you maintain pristine landscapes. Offering the top brands in the industry, we provide the tools and support you need to create safe, inviting, and sustainable outdoor spaces.

Contact us today for an on-site product demonstration or to learn more.

golf industry by facilitating the adoption of new technology in the market. as technology continues to reshape the golf business, we are investing in solutions that imrpove efficiency, reduce labor challenges, and deliver, consistent, highquality results. contact us today to find out how our dedicated technology team can support your golf course.

MTIDISTRIBUTING.COM I INFO@MTIDISTRIBUTING.COM I 888.537.2484 GOLF, SPORTS FIELDS & GROUNDS EQUIPMENT & IRRIGATION I LANDSCAPE CONTRACTOR EQUIPMENT

26


LAKE CITY EXPOSURE The Jewel Golf Club hosted 44 of us for our SE golf event! Thank you to our host Lucas Grieves, and the team at The Jewel for a great day of golf, food, and camaraderie! Thank you to all of our sponsors and the members who took another day off the course!

27


North Links Exposure

Thank you to our host Superintendent Zac Painter and North Links Golf Course, and all of our attendees and sponsors for another successful SW Exposure Golf Event!

28


GOLF’S FINEST TURF COVERS

IMPERMEABLE + AFS ClEAR PERMEABLE BLACK PERMEABLE

PROTECT GROW ACCELERATE W

WINTERKILL FASTER EARLIER PREVENTION RECOVERY PLAYABILITY

THE WINTER TURF REVOLUTION STARTED HERE

30 YEARS OF TURF SUCCESS

REAL COURSES. REAL CONDITIONS. REAL RESULTS.

See the Field Reports.

Real Stories. Real Differences.

GreenJacket.com 888-786-2683

29


GET TO KNOW ‘EM TODD ANGELSTAD

Golf Course Superintendent Emerald Greens Golf Course

30


PUBLIC/PRIVATE Public #HOLES 36 and 3-hole short course. FT EMPLOYEES: 1 SEASONALS: 5 YEARS IN THE POSITION: 8 months YEARS IN TURF INDUSTRY: In and out of it for 45 years. CAREER/JOBS: Rochester GCC, Mississippi National, Kenyon CC, The Summit GC, The Jewel GC TURF SCHOOL: Anoka Tech ROUNDS PER YEAR: 100,000 ACREAGE: Property - 300+ Greens - 5 Tees - 3 Fairways - 24 MASTER PLAN WANT: We could really use a rebuild of the bunkers. to make them more manageable to maintain. This pace hosts so many golf outings, because the venue can hold 400 and we have 36 holes.

31


EQUIPMENT WANT: All of it! We got like 98 bunkers out here, which are pretty extreme, which i saw lot of hand work. We would like to get a couple of reel mowers running again for the tees. I’m working on getting the reels set to get those cleaned up and run it until the machine gives you a problem. A greens rollers is on my list, so I can speed up the greens, but at least theres grass on there. DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE I’m immune to golf balls. I’m pretty fearless MEMORY/FUNNY STORIES when I’m out there, but in 40 years the only FROM YOUR TURF CAREER? one who has hit me was my wife. I wore Titleist in my knee for 3 days. I’ve just never been hit. WHAT IS A CLASSIC MOVIE YOU Fury, thats the best! RECOMMEND TO OTHERS:

32


FAVORITE VACATION SPOT:

Palm Desert, for a while we made it 30 years in a row, then my son started playing golf in the winter, so we ended up in Texas s and places watching him. Its high on our list start going there again. We are high school sweethearts so we’ve been going since.

FAVORITE TASKS:

Greenskeeper kind of stuff. Today, I was watering with Vivax, and just going out and doing my own syringing. I like working evening out the wet/dry areas. I just like solving the problem, if we are actually going to solve something here, then thats good.

LEAST FAVORITE TASK:

You would think I would say digging irrigation heads, but I’m kind of a grunt, so maybe something that takes too long. Like being stuck mowing fairways.

33


HAVE YOU PLAYED ANY All of them. The Old Course at St. Andrews. FAMOUS GOLF COURSES: I got the photos on the stone bridge. Hue Island, Kohler, and most recent was at French Lick, but it must be played in the most brutal conditions. Pebble Beach. I rolled in there New Years Day and just rolled in and asked if I could play, and nobody was there so they let me out to play. WHO IS IN YOUR FOURSOME: Boo Weekley, my son, and it would have been fun to play with Arnie. WHATS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE I get advice everyday. The biggest thing is YOU’VE RECEIVED IN YOUR take the advice and run with it. You don’t have to know everything, just find that guy with the right advice. You don’t have to grind away at it if it doesn’t work for you. Listen to the people you respect, and the guys who have been successful for years and years, you have to listen to them because they’ve been doing it for all those years.

Listen to the full conversation with Todd on the HOLE NOTES PODCAST! Available on many of your favorite podcast sites!

34


SEPT 1 - DEC 15, 2026 At SiteOne®, we have all the turf maintenance products you need, including top agronomic brands like LESCO®. And if you stock up on game-changing products between Sept 1st and Dec 15th, you can take advantage of Extended Payment Terms, our Partners Program, and and our Rebate Program.

Visit SiteOne.com/EOP for a complete list of offers, dates & terms. Available September 1, 2026.

PLUS GET UP TO

4X POINTS on eligible

*Visit SiteOne.com/EOP for exclusions

products*

Not a Member? Sign up for free and learn more at SiteOne.com/Partners


Our first Pesticide Recertification event is happening in September! Join us for an MDA approved, golf-focused recertification event at TROE center, featuring education from the UMN turf team, Ken Rost, and the MDA.

36


37


UMN RESEARCH PREDICTING WINTERKILL

GOING FROM IN-GREEN SENSORS TO THE CAUSES OF DAMAGE

Bryan C Runck GEMS Informatics Center University of Minnesota

38

Winter damage is one of the most difficult things to manage on a golf course because, by the time you can see it, much of the evidence for what caused it is gone.

different winter, and while we can currently make educated guesses about what caused the damage, we’ve never had the data to pinpoint what exactly happened.

You walk by a green in April and find dead turf. Was it crusted snow and ice that formed during a February thaw and refreeze? Was it saturated soils in a low spot of the green? Or was it exposure to wind where snow blew clear in January? Each is a

It’s this problem - teasing apart the causes of winter injury - that the WinterTurf project is solving. Data for Predicting Winter Damage Over the past six years,

you’ve partnered with us to collect data that we never had before: 327 golf courses, 23 winters of historical surveying, on-course sensors, global satellite data, and over 1,600 course-season observations of what the winter did and whether the turf survived (Figure 1). Helping Machines Learn Agronomy The major challenge we’ve faced now that we have a


robust dataset has been that machine learning models don’t understand plants well. Typically, these models are built using purely “data-driven” approaches, where all of the data is fed directly into the model, and then the model figures out what does and doesn’t matter.

To overcome this problem, we’ve built models that incorporate the best of machine learning with knowledge of how a plant responds to its environment and acclimates during the fall in preparation for winter. We also built into the models what we know about the mechanisms This didn’t work for winter driving winter damage damage though because to explicitly account it’s caused by both the for freeze-thaw cycles, winter conditions that a saturated soils, high light turf stand is exposed to and low temperature, and the hardiness of the among others. turf itself.

Models to Forecast Winter Damage The results from all of this data and machine learning are encouraging. Tested against winters the model had never seen, it ranks damaged course-seasons above undamaged ones about 75% of the time. We also asked whether all of this work with the in-green sensors was worth it, or could we have only used satellite data? And what we found was that the in-green sensors

Figure 1: Damage observations combining historical damage surveys and end-of-season surveys

39


improved classification and forecast skill to over 81%, but because we had fewer observations, that skill was unstable across model configurations. What is causing damage? In addition to classifying courses and forecasting damage, we also built a model to infer the mechanisms causing it.

Figure 2. Inferred dominant mechanism of winter damage for A) North America and B) Europe. These are not able to be directly ground truthed with the datasets we currently have acquired and will be a focus of future research.

40

Going back to the early work of James Beard out of Michigan State University, we’ve known for a long time that winter damage is caused by a mixture of abiotic and biotic factors. Our attribution models currently reflect this for abiotic factors alone (see Figure 2), and while preliminary, illustrates where future work is headed.

What comes next? As scientists, we’ll of course always say we need more data, but in this case, the models show that’s true. We need more observations of winter damage at the same sites we put in-green sensors so that we can continue to increase our forecasting skill. Our current modeling work shows


that in-green sensors are the way to get accurate in-winter forecasts that will be able to reliably recommend specific actions to mitigate damage before it happens. Right now, a particular weakness is that we don’t have the data to fully validate our attribution model (displayed for a course in Figure 3). We’re further expanding our remote sensing pipelines to help with this and doing more analysis of the weekly surveys, but without more in-green

direct measurement, we’re limited in what we can do. Sign Up

current winter injury risk and recommendations for what you can do. See an example in Figure 4.

If you’re interested in helping make these systems better, there are three ways to join.

Second, you can request to host a sensor and donate to help us maintain and expand our fleet. Our large USDA grant funding this First, you can sign up for work ends in August of our pilot that will send 2026, so we’re running regular reports to you on a shoestring budget about your golf courses’ while we write grants for winter risk: https://z.umn. additional federal funding. edu/interest-survey Each in-green sensor costs roughly $4,500 to We will be providing manufacture along with regular forecasts sent to staff time to maintain the peoples’ emails about your fleet and generate reports.

Figure 3. Damage risk graph through a winter for a single course.

41


Every bit helps, and those interested can contact Eric Watkins at ewatkins@umn.edu about how to make a contribution. Lastly, we’d like to thank the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crop Research Initiative under award number 2021-51181-35861 and the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association who have supported this work in the past. Without those past investments, we wouldn’t be to this point and every winter we’re one more closer to consistent forecasting of winter damage.

Figure 4. Example of WinterTurf regular report that superintendents can sign up for here: https://z.umn.edu/winterturf-signup.

UMN TURF BLOG 42


43


FROM THE HIGH GRASS This past February, after our National Hospitality event in Orlando, and after a few extra conversations with members, I was still awake around 11:30 (This is very late for me!). As I laid down to sleep, I heard something outside, but thought it couldn’t possibly be the unmistakable sound of a chainsaw? Sure enough, what looked like a 3-man crew were cutting down a tree along the road, just in front of the hotel. I had so many questions!

11:30 PM. I don’t know the usual schedule in Florida, but that can’t be the norm! Can you imagine firing up a chainsaw near midnight with your course’s neighbors. I might actually side with the neighbor (only this once) on that midnight call to the police.

Thankfully I was still able to quickly fall asleep, but I was fascinated by this for some reason. We pride ourselves on our flexibility, and getting the job done, but what The next morning, the tree circumstances would was gone, with barely a lead to a tree removal at scrap of debris left behind. midnight? Was this a result I had to wrap my head of poor communication, around the whole thing; poor planning, or just a they cut down an entire regularly scheduled event? tree and fully cleaned it I remember the handful of up by morning, while times that I pushed myself starting the project at and the course tasks into a 44

corner and had to proceed on a less desirable path like this. Maybe it was the only option. I can imagine this year has led to many instances where you just had to get it done, somehow, and some way. I don’t envy the challenges you all faced over the last few months, and commend you all on pushing forward and getting the job done despite mother nature’s efforts against you. Despite the recent weather, many of you still took the time to attend our Summer Exposure events. Over the last few years, I continually repeat the importance of leaving your property, and taking the day away for yourself, your


crew, or for learning from other courses’ efforts. We appreciate the continued strong support of our summer Exposure Golf events. Please keep getting off your properties during the season!

we will be celebrating our Centennial with some great golf experiences for you all. Stay tuned for more details!

our members want to share an editorial, comments, pictures, etc., I have plenty of plans to utilize your own messages and thoughts.

Speaking of the Centennial, some things have already been finalized, other plans This year saw us back at La are scheduled, and ideas are Cross Country Club for the taking form. I am excited 4th annual Border Battle to begin sharing some of with Wisconsin GCSA, our thoughts and ideas in where we took the trophy the coming months. For home for the 3rd time! We now, the basics are that we made other summer stops will kick off our Centennial at Alexandria Golf Club, year at this year’s MEGA North Links Golf Course, Seminar on December Silver Bay Golf Course, 1st and will close out the and The Jewel Golf Club. Centennial year at the 2027 Thank you to our hosts at MEGA. all 5 events: Greg Willman, Donnacha O’Connor, Zac Thankfully, the Centennial Painter, Norma O’Leary, planning hasn’t led me CGCS, and Lucas Grieves. to any midnight shifts All of these events met or (yet), but it has been very exceeded my attendance interesting to look back projections. Thank you to through our archives, our all our member participants history, and put together and vendor sponsors some meaningful ideas and for another successful content to share with you Exposure Golf series. I all. I am always looking for am excited to share our new ideas or thoughts on schedule for next year, as the Centennial, so if any of

2027 is not that far away, and Labor Day is just around the corner, even though it may not be the same deadline that we are all used to. I suggest we select a new holiday marker for the later Fall season change; like Positive Thinking Day on September 13th. Then we can all positively think that the season is actually winding down! Or maybe it’s September 22nd, and National Ice Cream Cone Day. You know what, I think that’s the day. Get yourselves an ice cream cone on the way home that day and remember that all of the impending winter tree work can be done during the daylight, and overnight tree removals shouldn’t be necessary.

45


> > > Turf & Golf Course Management

at Anoka Technical College

Make a career out of your passion for golf and the outdoors with affordable options offered fully online.

Turf & Golf Course Management AAS degree

for students looking to develop the technical skills > > > Designed needed to maintain turfgrass environments along with the

Program offered completely online

management and organizational skills necessary to advance your career.

> > > Prepares students with the technical skills to work in several Turf & Golf Course Technician diploma

different areas including, but not limited to athletic fields, golf courses and parks.

Faculty experts with industry experience

Learn More at AnokaTech.edu/TurfandGolf

Make the outdoors your office

46

©2023 Anoka Technical College, an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer and educator and a member of Minnesota State. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Disclaimer, Non-Discrimination Statement, Student Consumer Information such as graduation rates and median debt, can be found here: anokaramsey.edu/disclosures. This document is available in alternative formats to individuals with disabilities by calling the Minnesota Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-627-3529. 230057AT


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Hole Notes August 2026 by Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents Association - Issuu