Turfgrass Matters Fall 2020

FALL 2020

INSIDE

President’s Report Equipment Manager Tips Rounds 4 Research Auction Stewards of the Chesapeake Recap Scholarship Applications

Conference Comes to You Program GCSAA Assistants Forum USGA Update MAAGCS Match Play US Women’s Amateur

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2

Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

President’s Message - Ryan Kraushofer Well here we are heading into fall of 2020 and what a year it has been…. From having no golfers on the course for well over a month, to being packed every day and having to turn people away. It seems to me that COVID-19 has helped the majority of golf courses at least increase revenue on the greens fee side of the business, if not across the entire operation. As all this extra revenue flows into the club, I’m sure a lot of us are thinking about some projects we would like to get accomplished to better the conditions of our courses, but will there even be time this year? Will rounds continue on this pace through the winter? I guess we will just have to wait and see once again.

I’m excited to see things are slowly returning to normal for MAAGCS. We just hosted our annual Stewards of the Chesapeake at The Elkridge Club, it was a sold out event with 120 players. We originally thought this had to be a tee time event, but the club received the OK from city and county officials to allow for a shotgun start, so long as everyone can still social distance before and after the event. While there was not a formal dinner after the event, it was huge step in the right direction. I would like to thank Landscape Supply for being the presenting sponsor again this year.

Ryan Kraushofer

Westminster National Golf Course westminsternationalgc@yahoo.com @GolfSuper2Gm

Shortly after the Stewards, I will be hosting our Annual Championship at Westminster National on November 4th at 10am. This event will crown the MAAGCS champion golfer of the year. Who has what it takes to beat three-time defending champion Jeff Rice of Oak Creek Golf Club? While we’re not the most exclusive club you have ever played, I can guarantee you a good time, so be sure to register!

Our golf events will wrap up on November 10th with our annual assistant superintendent event at Springfield Golf & Country Club. I urge all Supers to let your assistants have the day off and attend a networking event with their peers. It is partnered with the Virginia GCSA, and we will face off in a Ryder Cup golf match. Andy Wilson will lead a personal finance discussion, and Dean Graves and Chris Harriman are panelists. Wrapping up our event calendar for the year will be the Annual Meeting on December 1st at Rolling Road Country Club.

It’s hard to believe my two years as your President are coming to an end. Over the last two years we have continued to grow our First Green program, produce a recruitment video, hire an outreach ambassador, attend career fairs and promote our industry every way we could. As things slowly get back to normal and schools start to open back up, I know Dean Graves will be hitting the ground hard and picking back up where he left off, working with Baltimore County Public Schools and the University of Maryland on an amazing recruitment opportunity. It’s important that the association keep working on its recruitment efforts to attract the next generation of golf course superintendents. Plus, if golf courses are going to stay as busy as they are currently, then we’re going to need to find more help somewhere.

Finally, as I wrap up my final Newsletter as MAAGCS President I would like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way, especially the entire board. It’s been a great run, and I assure you the association is in great hands moving forward. Again, Thank You to all of our partners for sticking by us and supporting the association during the uncertain times of 2020.

Ryan Kraushofer MAAGCS President

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Managing Breakdowns - Anthony Lewis Equipment Managers Update The most effective way of managing breakdowns is by not letting them happen. Rigorous preventative maintenance, checking equipment after then before use, and being observant, cut early morning hiccups drastically. That being said, issues still come up and handling whatever problem on hand properly and in a timely manner keeps an operation moving seamlessly. I’d like to walk you through a recent equipment issue with a turbine blower and how it was handled.

Keep things moving- Our early morning goal in the shop was to connect a tractor to the Fairway topdresser. Three operators were assigned to backpack blow greens/tees, and judiciously blow fairways and rough with cart blowers following a rainy and windy night. We had not started the cart blowers before start time in preparation of connecting then testing our topdresser and sure enough, one had a no start condition right off the bat. First step was to quickly connect a jumppack for a boost. Nothin’. A daylight savings time 6 o’clock start is not conducive to diagnosing problems in the equipment courtyard so after confirming with a test light that voltage was 12.4 resting- we asked the operator to begin blowing greens ahead of mowers and to move the cart blower indoors.

Anthony Lewis Chevy Chase Club alewis@chevychaseclub.org

Communicate- After letting an Assistant Superintendent know we need additional time to diagnose the blower, but the operator can still do the critical part of his assignment, we get to work checking for the culprit of our no-start condition. The 15-amp run circuit fuse is blown and a quick replacement pops again soon as the ignition switch is rotated to run. While checking for obvious short circuits like frayed or pinched wires an Assistant Superintendent calls on the radio suspecting a form of fluid leak on the cart path near our practice green. Knowing it rained last night and wind leaves odd patterns on asphalt plus only handheld equipment is operating in that area I send Walter, our Assistant Equipment Manager, to investigate and touch base with the Assistant Superintendent while I find the problem with this blower.

Troubleshoot- The wireless pull-behind blower has a pretty simply run circuit. Inputs and outputs run through the wireless control module that is powered when the ignition is in the on position and diagnostic codes are able to be read by flashing lights. Unplugging the module and rotating the ignition switch to on does not blow the fuse… which tells us no wires between the switch and power source to the module have failed. It would be easy to guess the module has an internal short, but it is important to note the module can throw trouble codes and is “smart” from a diagnostic sense. No trouble codes are flashed because the 15-amp fuse (on my third one by now) blows before and codes or normal illumination can happen. A glance at the wiring diagram shows a run relay which simply powers the module. I replaced the relay with one of the handful we keep in stock and wallah, the blower fires right up. I did not cut the relay open after the fact, but they are capable of shorting to ground internally which would blow the fuse.

By that point Walter is back after touching base that there is no oily substance on the pavement, but we will still confirm after sunrise and our blower is ready to be towed to the operator out on the course. We strive to never have an issue, to catching and resolving it before start time, to diagnosing and repairing with a part in stock in that order. Keeping things moving, communicating with Managers, and making sensible diagnostic steps can make your daily operations run much smoother. Something to keep in mind and even practice during the upcoming Winter months!

Turfgrass Matters | Fall 2020 5

Stewards of the Chesapeake at Elkridge Country Club Tuesday, October 27, 2020 - Recap The annual Stewards of the Chesapeake was contended at Elkridge Club and it was a spectacular event. The field was sold out with 120 players and Ralph Meola and his team had the golf course in immaculate condition.

The four person shamble format made for a fun afternoon and some great scoring. Coming in first were former champions Jeff Snyder, Scott Wunder, Chris Fernandes and Mike Bostian with a total of 118, two best ball net, a one-shot margin of victory over defending champions Scott Furlong, Corey Haney, Mark Kingora and Mike Augustine. The third place team with a 121 was made up of host superintendent Ralph Meola, his father Ralph Meola and assistant superintendents Erik Bosley and Jeff Mellin.

A highlight of the afternoon was when Tyler Eastham, MAAGCS Chapter Executive made a hole-inone on the par three 8th hole, his last swing of the day on his last hole of the day.

Rob Larson, Ryan Kraushofer, Matt Kessler The Stewards of the Chesapeake event was established in 2000 by the MAAGCS to develop a primary source of funding to support local research projects, support environmental A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO ALL OF OUR EVENT SPONSORS! efforts, and government relations as they pertain to the golf A SPECIAL THANK YOU GOES OUT TO ALL OF OUR EVENT SPONSORS! Presenting Sponsor industry. The tournament has also provided a great opportunity for MAAGCS members to invite their club or Presenting Sponsor company officials to participate in the event for the preservation and improvement of both the game of golf and our environment. The tournament has raised over $200,000 since its inception, and proceeds benefit the Maryland Association of Green Industries (MAGI), various Universities, Supporting Sponsors the GCSAA and other groups supporting environmental Champions: Mike Bostian, Scott Wunder, Jeff Snyder, Supporting Sponsors issues, such as theYOU Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

RESCHEDULED ROUNDS 4 RESEARCH AUCTION SELLS OUT OF ALL ROUNDS SAVE THE DATE National program has raised more than $1.7 million since 2012 The 2020 Rounds 4 Research fundraising program to support turfgrass studies, Tuesday, December 10th, 2020 administered by the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), sold out of all 997 rounds of

donated golf and yielded nearly $265,000 in its July online auction, marking the first time all rounds were sold since the program launched in 2012. The EIFG is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA.

MAAGCS Annual Mee>ng & Elec>ons

SAVE THE DATE

Tuesday, December 10th, 2020 MAAGCS Annual Mee>ng & Elec>ons

The auction was originally scheduled for April 27-May 3, but was postponed to July 20-26 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And while the number of rounds donated and the amount of total funds raised were also affected by the pandemic, the results of the rescheduled auction show the game and program remain popular.

“We are delighted with the results of the 2020 auction, and it exceeded our expectations in light of world events,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. “Rescheduling it was the right thing to do, and we knew some courses would no longer be able to make donations. However, the fact that all rounds sold and we greatly exceeded our goal is evidence of the popularity of golf in today’s world and the strength of the R4R program.”

The MAAGCS grossed over $2,500 for its items. “With short notice, we were very pleased with the generosity of our members in the COVID era,” said David Norman.

The top bid was $280 for a foursome at Westfield Golf Club in Clifton, VA.

814 Hilltop Road

The national campaign is supported by a $50,000 donation from The Toro Co. The program has raised more than $1.7 million since it began.

SAVE THE DATE

DULEDCatonsville, MD 21228 ROUNDS 4 RESEARCHTuesday, December 10th, 2020 SAVE THE DATEOF - Tuesday, December 1, 2020 N SELLS OUT ALL ROUNDS MAAGCS Annual Mee>ng & Elec>ons MAAGCS Annual Meeting

gram has raised more than $1.7 million Rolling Road Country Club814 Hilltop Road Hosted By Chris Fernandes

Catonsville, MD 21228

Research fundraising program to support turfgrass studies, Hilltop Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), sold814 out of allRd. 997 rounds of Catonsville, MDthe 21228 elded nearly $265,000 in its July online auction, marking first e sold since the program launched in 2012. The EIFG is the zation of the GCSAA.

814 Hilltop Road

Catonsville, MD 21228 ginally scheduled for April 27-May 3, but was postponed to July OVID-19 pandemic. And while the number of rounds donated and the ds raised were also affected by the pandemic, the results of the n show the game and program remain popular.

Host: Chris Fernandes

with the will results ofatthe 2020 andMAAGCS it exceeded our expectations mee0ng be held Rolling Roadauction, Country Club.

Vice President Chris Event Overview ost.

Featured in the day be educa0on, business mee0ng, nts,” GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said. it scholarship wasMAAGCS the right This year’ s thewill annual meeting willthe be annual held“Rescheduling at Rolling Road Country Club.

Vice President Chris Fernandes will play host. ards and elec0ons.

Be on the lookout for more informa0on and instruc0ons to knew some courses would no longer be able to make donations.

Featured in the day will be education, the annual business meeting, scholarship presentations, golf awards and elections. Be on CS weekly email. sold and we greatly exceeded our goal is evidence of hat all rounds the lookout for more information and instructions to register in the MAAGCS weekly email. f in today’s world and the strength of the R4R program.”

Turfgrass Matters | Fall 2020 7

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8

Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

U.S. Women’s Amateur When the global COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the country in early April of 2020, the great pastime of golf faced a lot of uncertainty. At Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, we had a big challenge to face in hosting the USGA Women’s Amateur, scheduled for the beginning of August, just four short months away.

After deciding to temporarily reduce staff and freeze all large-scale work, the entire Greens & Grounds Department at Woodmont Country Club was left with eleven full-time managers to continue growing grass and maintaining the property. New procedures and safety protocols were quickly put in place- the management team practiced social distancing, wearing masks and gloves, and wiping down every piece of equipment with disinfectant before and after using it. With the impending tournament in mind, the management team spent sunup to sundown keeping up with the daily applications and agronomic schedule put forth by the Director of Golf Courses and Grounds, Ryan Severidt, CGCS. When asked if he thought there would be a chance to host this prestigious event in August back in April, Ryan stated, “Things were up in the air in April; no one knew what was going to happen with anything. But with a strict safety contingency plan between the whole Woodmont team, we were able to weather the storm and protect our health, while continuing to groom the golf course in the months leading up to the tournament.”

With thirty days left, “the only thing we could do was continue communication with the USGA and local government officials. The USGA and Woodmont Country Club pitched a plan to the county government to put in place protocols to be able to run a safe Championship for everyone, such as single tee time starts, longer times between tee times, reduction in USGA and golf course staff.” For the event, participants would only be allowed to bring two family members and mandated to stay in one hotel.

Speaking with USGA Senior Director of Championships, Shannon Rouillard, about the impacts of COVID on tournament plans, she stated, “As we know, the pandemic effected different areas of the country more severely than others. With that, it was important for us to obtain approval from the state of Maryland and county of Montgomery to even conduct the event, and we are so thankful for their partnership throughout it all. During this time, we had also made the decision that it was not realistic for us to conduct qualifying all over the country, which would have put additional strain on our Allied Golf Association partners. Therefore, we pivoted and looked to create an all-exempt field using criteria that resembled what a typical field would look like. As our planning efforts continued, the USGA also decided that for the safety of all involved, we would conduct COVID testing for everyone onsite; certainly a big but worthwhile undertaking. This was a monumental task across many departments and in partnership with Woodmont Country Club.”

On top of the uncertainty surrounding clearance from state and county officials, as the tournament start date approached, the area endured a recordsetting heat stretch that saw 90-plus degree temperatures, extreme humidity and frequent afternoon showers for the last three weeks of July. The greens and tee surfaces drained very well, but poor growing environments in select fairway areas created difficult management obstacles. The 5th, 15th and 17th fairways were suffering from wet wilt in low lying areas, thanks to the frequent showers and extreme heat and humidity. Then, Tropical Storm Isaias stormed up the Atlantic Coast.

Speaking about the delay, Rouillard noted, “Tropical Storm Isaias wiped out what should have been Day 2 of stroke play. Due to the 2.64 inches of rain that fell at Woodmont, our set-up plans were adjusted using alternate tees to make up for the loss in firmness in the course.”

The staff worked overtime to mitigate damage. We focused all our resources on drying out these compromised areas while at the same time making sure everything else maintained sufficient moisture. Mobile TurfBreeze fans and stationary turbine blowers were running 24-hours a day leading up to tournament. During the tournament, the fans were moved and stored away every morning before tee times, and at the end of the day they were put back in the compromised areas. Local volunteers, including interns from other area golf courses, industry sales reps, and even a college professor, chipped in the extraordinary effort to ready and maintain the course for a nationally televised event.

“Things were changing almost daily,” said USGA Agronomist, Elliott Dowling. “We all hoped we would be able to conduct this Championship because we know how important it is for the Amateur players.”

Dowling commented, “We enter every championship striving for firm and fast conditions. A firm golf course allows for ground game and aerial shots, and it really shows good architecture. Firm, dry grass and soil is healthier than wet, waterlogged soil, so we know the turf will be healthier if we can control moisture.”

“A word that is often thrown around in golf is “consistency.” We know you can’t have that every day, especially for a championship with the duration of an Amateur Championship. We try to get the course dialed in and maintain those conditions as best as possible knowing that wind, humidity, rain etc. are likely to change conditions daily.”

Daily lunch meetings held between the USGA Agronomist, Shannon Rouillard, meteorologists, the Golf Course Director, Superintendent and Managers debriefed and communicated course conditions, expectations, and weather patterns. Hole distances were changed daily and communicated to the golf course management team, as well as daily stimp and Trufirm readings.

In this “decision-making room”, Trufirm and stimp readings played a big part in deciding the next day’s course setup and goals. “We set a stimpmeter goal and tried to maintain that throughout the Championship,” said Elliott. “We often have greens that are intentionally faster or slower than the others to compensate for hole locations or general green difficulty. We don’t have eighteen greens with the exact same firmness or stimpmeter readings. If we can control the moisture, we often have some greens a little firmer or more receptive depending on hole location or architecture. Same is true for the stimpmeter.”

Coordinating details with the USGA and the NBC Sports/Golf Channel turned out to be easier than it had been for any other tournament in recent memory. With no significant number of fans or spectators present, there was no need to put up gallery stands, which could’ve further affected areas in the rough.

The main role we played with the broadcast personnel was only to coordinate where they could not drive with their lifts and camera towers.

Turfgrass Matters | Fall 2020 9

Setting up the golf course for a televised Championship event proved stressful at first, but once the butterflies were out and the carefully orchestrated plans were being executed, everyday became easier. The hours between the maintenance start time of 5:00 am and tee times off of the first hole at 7:30 am, provided ample time for the maintenance crew and volunteers to mow greens, approaches, tees and fairways, hand-rake all bunkers, and put in the last final touches before presenting an excellent product to the players and the viewers.

“Years of planning go into the set-up for a USGA championship. From determining heights of cut for all the grasses, yardages, hole locations, etc…the process does not happen overnight. It is truly a partnership between the club and the USGA in getting a course properly prepared to conduct our national championships,” said Shannon Rouillard.

MAAGCS Annual Championship The amount of moisture received in2020 the prior days finally proved useful, as no additional set-up on the greens surfaces was needed, making things a lot less stressful. On mornings that we did not mow, due to rainfall from the night prior, we drug the dew off fairways with employees walking a hose down each side. Normally, this operation is done with two carts pulling the drag hose along the fairways but to avoid unwanted visible tire marks throughout the length Register at www.maagcs.org of our rough , we used a selected group of staff members and volunteers to perform this task, while a smaller group would squeegee the approaches.

After morning assignments and a staff breakfast sponsored by participating vendors, everyone was free to go until reporting back for evening work at 4:30pm. Much of the staff and volunteers took the opportunity to watch the tournament from a distance, enjoying the unprecedented views given by social distancing practices.

Going into the weekend, filling divots became easier as more players were eliminated from competition. After the first two rounds of stroke play, the field was narrowed down to thirty-two players. Match play became single elimination after 18 holes of golf, and it was down to the final two. Defending champion Gabriella Ruffles was aiming to become the first to repeat the championship since Danielle Kang achieved it in 2011. She was up against seventeen-year-old Stanford-committed Rose Zhang.

After eighteen holes of match play, Zhang was ONE up on Ruffles until the twenty-second hole. Ruffles hit a Birdie/Eagle on the twentieth and twenty-first holes to tie it up. Zhang regained the lead only one time after this point… up until the thirty-eighth hole where Ruffles missed a short two-foot putt that broke the tie in the second playoff hole to give Zhang her first U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.

When asked about how she would describe Woodmont and her most memorable moment of the tournament, Zhang stated, “My biggest memory of the tournament was my third shot on 18 where I hit a really close pitch shot from 57 yards in the left rough. It was that shot that really got me back into the match and continued into extra holes.”

2158 Littlestown Pike When asked which hole was her favorite hole on the North Course at Woodmont, Westminster, Rose stated, “I really love the course at Woodmont. The conditions were pure fromMD 21158 and Open Divisions) fairway to green. The impact of the turf felt nice and it(Superintendent presented some tough Annual Championship challenges for the players. My favorite hole is number 17 because that 2020 holes reallyMAAGCS gave me so many opportunities during my matches and wasWednesday, the crucial hole forNovember most of 4, 2020 them.”

Register at www.maagcs.org In appreciation to our staff and volunteers, the USGA allowed us to take pictures with the Robert Cox Cup, which has been around since 1896. Seeing the 124-year-old Cup, we were reminded that, despite all the turmoil and uncertainty that 2020 has brought, the tradition of the annual U.S. Women’s Amateur and the great game of Golf has gone on. And we were all honored to have been a part of it.

2020 MAAGCS Annual Championship

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 - Register at www.maagcs.org Event Overview

2020 MAAGCS Annual Champ

Register at www.maagcs.

2158 Littlestown Pike Westminster, MD 21158

The MAAGCS Annual Championship is being hosted by MAAGCS (Superintendent and President Ryan Kraushofer at Westminster National Golf Course.

2158 Littlestown Open Divisions) Pike Westminster National Golf Course is an 18 hole golf course Westminster, MD 21158 surround by the beautiful farmland and rolling hills Carroll County (Superintendent and Open Divisions) Maryland. The course is a par 71 and measures 5900 yards in Hosted Superintendent length. Along with its friendly staff, Westminster National Golf Ryan Kraushofer, Course is said to be the best valued golf course and the best Wednesday, November 4, 20202158 Littlestown Pike MAAGCS President maintained golf course in Carroll County.

Westminster, MD 21158 The golf event will crown the MAAGCS champion golfer of the (Superintendent and Open Divisions) year. Your three-time defending champion is Jeff Rice of Oak Creek Golf Club. Get your games in shape for this fun day. As Wednesday, November 4, 2020 always this will be a spectacular event with networking and fun competition.

Hosted Superintendent Ryan Kraushofer, MAAGCS President Entry Fee

Members Golf & Awards Reception - $50 Awards Reception Only - $30 Non-Members Education, Golf & Awards Reception - $75 Awards Reception Only - $55 10

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Match Play Championship presented by Syngenta The Finals are Set!

The MAAGCS Match Play Championship presented by Syngenta finals have been set! Team Immigrant Invasion, Craig Snowden and Nicholas McGuiness of Robert Trent Jones Golf Club will face off against Strokes Gained Sippin’, Andrew Puddester of Crofton Country Club and Mike Esh of Bay Hills Golf Club. The is the first trip to the finals for both teams, good luck!

A special Thank you goes out to Sam Camuso of Syngenta for sponsoring the event.

For all players that competed in the event, please forward any pictures you took during your matches to Tyler Eastham and Joe Haskins so we can feature them in our communications. teastham@gmail.com Matthew Stout, Tom Gosselin, Ed Gasper, Mark Jewell at The Elkridge Club jhaskins@renditionsgolf.com

Turfgrass Matters | Fall 2020 11

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

VGCSA Assistants Forum Partners With MAAGCS Springfield G&CC Hosts November 10th

MAAGCS Assistants Forum Partners With VGCSA Springfield G&CC Hosts November 10th

VGCSA Assistants Forum Partners With MAAGCS VGCSA Assistants Forum Partners With MAAGCS

Springfield G&CC Hosts November 10 Springfield G&CC Hosts November 10thth

VGCSA Assistants Forum Partners With MAAGCS Springfield G&CC Hosts November 10th

MAAGCS is excited to host another first class event for the assistant superintendent members at Springfield Golf and Country Club VGCSA is excited hostNovember another assistant superintendent members at in northern Virginia on to Tuesday, 10th.first The class event isevent partneredfor withthe the Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association, featuring assistants from Virginia. th Springfield G&CC in northern Virginia – SAVE THE DATE – Tuesday, November 10 . The event is

The forum provides with an opportunity to receive first with a fun and competitive day of golf,assistants allowing partnered with assistants the Mid-AtlanKc AssociaKon of class Golfeducation Coursealong superintendents, featuring them to build relationships. This is an important aspect of the association and the future of golf as a whole. The golf match will be a from MD and DC. Ryder Cup format, pitting VGCSA against MAAGCS.

VGCSA VGCSAisisexcited excitedto tohost hostanother anotherfirst firstclass classevent eventfor forthe theassistant assistantsuperintendent superintendentmembers membersat at MAAGCS Assistant Superintendent Board Representative Alejandro Baiocchi of Woodmont Country Club is working with Josh Peters th VGCSA is excited to host another first class event for the assistant superintendent members at Springfield Theevent eventisis of SpringfieldG&CC G&CCininnorthern northernVirginia Virginia––SAVE SAVETHE THEDATE DATE––Tuesday, Tuesday,November November10 10th.. The th. Thefeaturing Springfield Golf &G&CC CountryinClub to put together a great event.

TheDATE education segment will be personal Wilson, of Springfield northern Virginia – SAVE THE –of Tuesday, November 10finance, event isAndy the associaKon and the future partnered with the AssociaKon of Course superintendents, featuring assistants partnered with theMid-AtlanKc Mid-AtlanKc AssociaKon ofGolf Golf Course superintendents, featuring assistants whopartnered is a Certified Financial Planner, and co-founder of Lighthouse Wealth Management.

Andy will be speaking on the topic of retirement with the Mid-AtlanKc AssociaKon of Golf Course superintendents, featuring assistants from MD and DC. from MD and DC. planning including guidance, review of a typical financial planpiMng and how it isVGCSA structured, the value of educational savings against MAAGCS. from MD andinvestment DC. accounts, and the importance of estate planning. There will also be a panel discussion, featuring Dean Graves and Chris Harriman.

Josh Peters Alejandro Baiocchi Dean Graves, CGCS Andy Wilson

Chris Harriman

Josh Josh Peters Alejandro Baiocchi Dean Graves, CGCS Peters Alejandro Baiocchi Dean Graves, CGCS The forum provides assistants with an opportunity to receive first class educaKon along with a Andy Wilson Josh Peters Alejandro Baiocchi Josh Peters Alejandro Baiocchi fun andMatters compeKKve day of golf, allowing them to build relaKonships. This is an important aspect Turfgrass | Fall 2020 13

The forum provides assistants with an opportunity to receive first class educaKon along with a

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Rich Sweeney, CGCS (609) 580-0402 rsweeney@plantfoodco.com

www.plantfoodco.com | 800-562-1291 Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Conference Schedule Tuesday, Feb. 2

• Opening Session 11AM - 12PM • Education Power Hour: Lightning Round Learning 12 - 1PM • Education Sessions 12 - 4PM • Trade Show Opens at 12PM with 24-hour access

• Education Power Hour: Turf Solutions: Everything but the Kitchen Sink 1 - 2PM • Education Power Hour: Equipment Managers Session: Tips and Tricks for Your Maintenance Facility 2 - 3PM • Education Power Hour: Government Affairs: State of Policy and Politics in 2021 3 - 4PM • Equipment Managers Reception 3 - 4PM • EIFG/GA Reception 3 - 4PM

Wednesday, Feb. 3

• General Session 11AM - 12PM • Celebrating Certification 12 - 12:30PM • Chapter Management Session 12 - 1PM • Education Power Hour: Labor Session: Strategies for Pushing Through Adversity 12 - 1PM • Education Sessions 12 - 4PM • Grassroots Ambassador Academy 1 3 - 4PM

• Education Power Hour: Stories of Success: Journeys to Leadership 3 - 4PM • Ladies Leading Turf Reception 4 - 5PM • EXCEL Leadership Reception 4 - 5PM • Trade Show 24-hour access

Register at www.gcsaa.org

Thursday, Feb. 4

• General Session 11AM - 12PM • Annual Meeting 12 - 1PM • Education Power Hour: Key Insights to Help You Make the Right Choice 12 - 1PM • Education Sessions 12 - 4PM

• Education Power Hour: Taking Steps Towards Emotional Wellness – A Beginning 1 - 2PM • Education Power Hour: Why Didn’t I Think of That? Ideas that Make an Impact at Your Course 2 - 3PM • Grassroots Ambassador Academy 2 3 - 4PM • Education Power Hour: Turfgrass Talk Show 3 - 4PM • Closing Celebration 4 - 5PM • Trade Show 24-hour access

MAAGCS Schedule of Events November 4., 2020: Wednesday - MAAGCS Annual Championship, Westminster National Golf Course, Westminster, MD November 10, 2020: Tuesday - MAAGCS/VGCSA Assistants Forum & Ryder Cup, Springfield Golf and Country Club, Springfield, VA December 1, 2020 - Tuesday - MAAGCS Annual Meeting, Rolling Road Country Club, Catonsville, MD February 2 - February 4, 2021 - Golf Industry Show Virtual 2021 February 17, 2021: Wednesday: MAAGCS Education Seminar, Turf Valley Resort, Ellicott City, MD Turfgrass Matters | Fall 2020 15

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Thank You, 2020 MAAGCS Partners!

Please patronize these outstanding companies which support the profession!

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Pocono Turf Ruppert Nurseries

Turfgrass Matters | Fall 2020 17

MAAGCS Accepting Scholarship Applications

Deadline is November 20, 2020: MAAGCS Scholarship - Child of Member Scholarship Every year, MAAGCS awards scholarships to very deserving students and we are looking forward to helping out more exemplary students this year. Please find below the link for the scholarship applications. Scholarship applications must be postmarked or E-mailed by November 20, 2020. Applications can be E-mailed to jfuhrman@golfclubsr.com. If you should have any questions, please feel free to call or E-mail MAAGCS Chapter Executive Tyler Eastham at Midatlgcsaa@gmail.com or 757-329-3577.

MAAGCS Scholarship 1. Applicant must have completed at least 1 year as an employee of a Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents (MAAGCS) member.

2. Applicant must be enrolled in at least one class in a turfgrass management curriculum. Note: Online turf programs are also eligible.

3. In order for the applicant to be considered for the scholarship, he/she must completely fill out the application form, satisfying all of the REQUIREMENTS as described below.

• Complete APPLICANT’S QUESTIONNAIRE • Transcripts from all institutions attended in the last 5 years must be submitted with application • Applicant must secure a RECOMMENDATION FROM A SUPERINTENDENT that he/she has worked under OR a college ADVISOR from his/her particular college.

4. Past recipients of a MAAGCS Scholarship may reapply.

5. All applications must be completed, submitted, and emailed or postmarked no later than November 20, 2020.

6. Finalists may be interviewed by the MAAGCS Education Committee via phone. Scholarship recipients will be asked to attend the MAAGCS Annual Meeting.

MAAGCS Child of a Member Scholarship 1. Applicant must be the child of a Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents (MAAGCS) member.

2. Applicant must currently be enrolled in a college or university.

3. In order for the applicant to be considered for the scholarship, he/she must completely fill out the application form, satisfying all of the REQUIREMENTS as described below.

• APPLICANT’S QUESTIONNAIRE • TRANSCRIPTS from all institutions attended in the last 5 years must be submitted with application • COLLEGE ADVISOR RECOMMENDATION form must be delivered to the appropriate ADVISOR with a request that the forms be completed and returned on time.

• FRESHMAN in college have the option to provide a letter from a work supervisor, coach or mentor if they have not had the time to establish a relationship with anyone in their department. This applies to freshman in college only.

4. Past recipients of a MAAGCS Scholarship may reapply.

5. All applications must be completed, submitted, and emailed or postmarked no later than November 20, 2020.

6. Finalists may be interviewed by the MAAGCS Education Committee via phone. Scholarship recipients will be asked to attend the MAAGCS Annual Meeting.

Visit www.maagcs.org/Scholarships/ to access the applications

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Conference Comes to You Program

A Joint Virtual Event with CGCSA November 2 - December 18 - Registration Open!

SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE: MAA2020 This fall, MAAGCS is proud to partner with the Carolinas GCSA in an online conference to satisfy members’ ongoing education needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Known as Conference Comes to You, the program will deliver 30 distinct seminars scheduled - one a day - over 30 weekdays, starting November 2.

There will be a one-week break over Thanksgiving.

Using a tailored Zoom platform, the two-hour seminars will be presented live each day at 1 pm EST by some of the leading researchers, scientists, and experts in their field. All seminars will carry GCSAA education points, and MAAGCS has arranged for pesticide and nutriend recertification credits thru MDA. As official partners with the Carolinas GCSA in this effort, MAAGCS members will receive designated member pricing for every seminar, discounted from $70 to $40 per program. The discount code for VGCSA members is MAA2020.

In addition to first-class education, our members will also be eligible to share in $30,000 worth of cash giveaways. A total of 82 prizes – ranging from $100 to $2,500 - will be drawn, live on the Carolinas GCSA Facebook page at 1 pm EST on December 21. Each seminar you take qualifies you for one entry. The more seminars you take, the more chances you have to win. To validate your entry, you must watch a series of brief messages from our Industry Partners.

MAAGCS benefits from your participation. A portion of each registration fee paid for by a MAAGCS member will come back to the chapter. So, the more seminars you take, the more our chapter “wins.” Registration and complete conference information is available NOW through a purpose-built website, instructions and a link to register are available on our website and in our digital newsletter.

More than three dozen chapters like ours, plus BIGGA, the British International Golf Greenkeepers Association, have become official Conference Comes to You partners.

“This platform benefits everyone involved, and the more people who participate the more benefit there will be for everyone,” Carolinas GCSA president, Brian Stiehler, CGCS, MG from Highlands Country Club in Highlands, NC, says. “We see many visitors from across the country and overseas at our traditional Conference and Show each year. So, in these extraordinary times, when we can’t be face to face, it made sense for our conference to go ‘see’ them.”

EVENT LINEUP (1-3 pm, all events) Nov. 2 - The Benefits of Oxygen: How to Maintain Oxygen Levels in our Root Zone, Dave L. Doherty Nov. 3 - Holy Grail – Warm-Season Turfgrass, S. Bruce Martin, Ph.D., Jim P. Kerns, Ph.D., J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. Nov. 4 - Talent Acquisition and Recruitment Strategies, Tyler G. Bloom Nov. 5 - Advanced Weed Management – Warm Season, Bert McCarty, Ph.D. Nov. 6 - So You’ve Got Earthworms!, Paige E. Boyle, Ph.D. Nov. 9 - Putting the “Fun” in Fungicides: Fungicide Program Development and Dealing with Bugs and Crud in Cool-Season Turf, Jim P. Kerns, Ph.D., Lee Butler Nov. 10 - Aquatic Plant Management – An Introduction to Keeping Your Ponds Free of Unsightly Plants and Algae, Rob J. Richardson, Ph.D Nov. 11 - Mindful Greenkeeping in Stressful Times, Paul MacCormack Nov. 12 - Advanced Weed Management – Cool-Season, Fred H. Yelverton, Ph.D. Nov. 13 - POA Resistance – The Ins and Outs and Dos and Don’ts, Jim T. Brosnan, Ph.D. Nov. 16 - Bunker Construction – How to Avoid Digging Yourself into a Hole, Adam Moeller Nov. 17 - Advanced and Cost-Effective Management of Insect Pests of Warm Season Turf, Rick L. Brandenburg, Ph.D. Nov. 18 - Fertilizers – Getting the Right Form and Function, Beth A. Guertal, Ph.D., Grady L. Miller, Ph.D. Nov. 19 - Annual Bluegrass Weevil Master Class: Proactive Management for Ever-Changing Environments, Ben A. McGraw, Ph.D Nov. 20 - Understanding Pesticide Behavior to Optimize Applications and Minimize Collateral Damage, Travis W. Gannon, Ph.D Nov. 30 - The Challenge of Managing Nematodes in Turf, Bruce Martin, Ph.D Dec. 1 - Plant Growth Regulators for Fine Warm-Season Turf, Jim T. Brosnan, Ph.D. Dec. 2 - Badass Leadership! The Power of Purpose, Compassion, and Authenticity, Gina D. Rizzi Dec. 3 - Plant Growth Regulators for Fine Cool-Season Turf, Bill D. Kreuser, Ph.D., Doug J. Soldat, Ph.D. Dec. 4 - Fundamentals of Wetting Agents, Doug J. Soldat, Ph.D. Dec. 7 - Making Herbicides Work and Why They Sometimes Fail, Travis W. Gannon, Ph.D., Bert McCarty, Ph.D. Dec. 8 - Getting to the Root of Managing Soilborne Diseases – Warm Season Turfgrass, Jim P. Kerns, Ph.D. Dec. 9 - Bugs in a Jug: Understanding Natural Products for Turf, Joseph A. Roberts, Ph.D. Dec. 10 - Getting to the Root of Managing Soilborne Diseases - Cool-Season Turfgrass, Gerald (Lee) Miller Jr., Ph.D Dec. 11 - How Much Shade is Too Much Shade? Mike D. Richardson, Ph.D. Dec. 14 - Bentgrass Selection Management, Dan Dinelli, CGCS, Derek Settle. Ph.D. Dec. 15 - Management of Ultradwarf Bermudagrass, Jared R. Nemitz, Nelson J. Caron Dec. 16 - BMP HERO! Scene 1: “Bees, Buffers and Bourbon”, Gina D. Rizzi Dec. 17 - Holy Grail – Cool Season, Brandon J. Horvath, Ph.D, John E. Kaminiski, Ph.D., Frank S. Rossi, Ph.D. Dec. 18 - The ‘Other’ Essential Elements, and Some that Might Be, Beth A. Guertal, Ph.D Turfgrass Matters | Fall 2020 19

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