Turfgrass Matters Summer 2018

Summer 2018

INSIDE

President’s Report National Golf Day UMD Field Day Recap MAAGCS Match Play Rounds 4 Research Chesapeake Challenge USGA Report GIS Giveaway

Assistants Corner Letter from the Editor Dean Graves, CGSC GCSAA Report

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President’s Report – Michael Bostian Once again, summer in the Mid-Atlantic never fails to bring a surprise. Oppressive heat and humidity started off the month and was followed by breezy, arid and clear skies. At this point in July, many courses had not received any significant rainfall for over 20 days.

I talked with several colleagues during the low humidity wave and we simply could not believe how much water we were applying just to fall behind slowly each day. And then it happened, record setting rain moved in dumping over 10 inches over 5 days. A record setting rain total for the month of July had been set and now we all have juiced up green turf heading into August, a situation many of us are not really that comfortable with. Trying to avoid mowing soggy turf and keep up on sprays quickly became nearly impossible. There came a point in time where we had to get on turf sooner than we would like because we saw another wet week on the extended forecast. The good news is the temperatures are lower than average and wet wilt scenarios were able to be avoided on a grand scale.

I know there are a lot of demands on many of our members at high end facilities to produce top notch conditions regardless of what gets thrown our way. Many of us on the daily fee side of things can always use the excuse of labor or budget restrictions for falling behind and many times that is the case. The perfect conditions always seem a bit unreasonable to me, but I’d like to give a shout out to one team in particular.

Michael Bostian

Waverly Woods Golf Club @HeftyLeftyQue msboss4@hotmail.com

Stephen Britton, CGCS, and his team knocked it out of the park during the Quicken Loans event at the end of June. As I laid on the couch (crying into my pillow) trying to hide from the oppressive heat on my Sunday off, I could not help but be impressed with what I was witnessing on TV. That place was dialed in and the way the turf was sitting on the edge, but completely under control, under that kind of weather extreme was nothing short of remarkable. Hats off to you and your team sir!

© 2018 Loveland Products, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

It really doesn’t matter whether you have maintenance Mondays or are grinding through tee sheets playing beat the sheet, the daily grind is a tall challenge and it is much easier when you rely on your network of peers. My challenge to the members reading this message is to add someone to your circle. It can be a superintendent or another vendor that will give you the opportunity to have a sounding board to bounce ideas off of. No matter the situation you find yourself in someone has been in those shoes or at least knows of someone that has. I’ve enjoyed having a new rep on my property this season and he has helped reassure me that I am on a good path and that the same things are happening all over his territory, regardless of budget. Public or Private, we cannot get the job done alone. There is a ton of value relying on vendors and other supers whether its evaluating a spray mix, making appropriate grooming decisions or talking us off the ledge. A few cold soda pops or nice meal are never a bad thing either to help us hit the reset button and are always appreciated.

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Bayer, the Bayer Cross, Exteris and Stressgard are registered trademarks of Bayer.

Not all products are registered in all states. Always read and follow label directions. ©2017 Bayer CropScience LP.

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 3

WE ARE GOLF Celebrates 11th Annual National Golf Day in Washington, D.C. Record-High 230 Meetings with Members of Congress from 40 States Showcase the Game’s Benefits The fungicide that holds strong for many moons.

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Posterity delivers power that lasts, holding stronger for up to 28 days of dollar spot control, and setting a new standard for spring dead spot control. With Posterity, you can manage the toughest and most prevalent diseases with confidence.

Visit GreenCastOnline.com/Posterity to learn more or contact: Sam Camuso | 240-405-5069 | Sam.Camuso@Syngenta.com

#Time4Posterity ©2018 Syngenta. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your local extension service to ensure registration status. GreenCast,® Posterity,® the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective company.

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4

Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Golf industry leaders participated in a record-high 230 meetings with members of Congress representing 40 states to discuss the game’s economic, social and environmental contributions to society during the 11th annual National Golf Day on Capitol Hill on April 25th.

Conversations with Senate, House of Representatives, Executive Branch and federal agencies’ directors coincided with the release of the new U.S. Golf Economy Report, conducted by TEConomy Partners. It shows $84.1 billion in activity was directly driven by golf in 2016, a 22% rise from $68.8 billion in the 2011 report. The industry supported $191.9 billion in total annual activity, including 1.89 million jobs and $58.7 billion in wages and benefits. Demonstrating golfers’ and businesses’ commitments to charity, $3.94 billion was raised in 2016 through tournament as and other golf activities.

The fourth report since 2000 to measure golf’s impact, research encompassed golf course operations, tourism, real estate, supplies, tournaments, associations, charitable events, capital investment and other commercial segments.

Produced by WE ARE GOLF – the coalition of the game’s leading associations and industry partners – National Golf Day brought together heads of golf organizations and companies from throughout the U.S. “Golf is healthy and we continue to collaborate on ways to have a positive impact in America,” said Steve Mona, CEO of World Golf Foundation and administrator of WE ARE GOLF. “Meeting with many powerful lawmakers and influencers helps educate people about golf’s numerous benefits, grow participation and preserve the game’s legacy for future generations.”

The WE ARE GOLF agenda centers on golf course owners and operators receiving tax relief from natural disasters, labor policies, physical fitness legislation, tax reform, and environmental sustainability and conservation.

MAAGCS President Mike Bostian works with GCSAA President Darren Davis on the National Mall

“Golf is a lifetime sport. It teaches values to the young and helps the season golfer stay physically fit. Nebraska boasts some of the most diverse and beautiful golf destinations in the world,” said Senator Debra Fischer (R-NE). “On National Golf Day, we celebrate our love of the game and renew our commitment to ensure Americans can continue playing for generations to come.”

Golf ambassador and social media influencer Paige Spiranac joined the WE ARE GOLF contingency to promote health and wellness derived from playing. An 18-hole round equates to a four- to five-mile walk and up to 2,000 calories burned.

Highlight exhibits in the Rayburn Office Building foyer included golf lessons and swing analysis for Congressional Members and staff from Michael Breed, former PGA Teacher of the Year and SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio host, and Deb Vangellow, LPGA Teaching Professional. A closest-to-the-pin contest and Srixon / Cleveland Golf “Republicans vs.

Democrats Putting Challenge” created spirited Eric Snelsire of Bayer competition along with support from aboutGolf, GOLFTEC, Titleist and other industry brands.

The second annual Community Service Project on April 24th featured 175 participants focused on beautifying and preserving the National Mall in Washington, D.C. GCSAA members led other golf industry leaders who volunteered to lay sod, rake, edge, overseed, aerate, brush walkways and spruce gravel pathways across 18 projects from the Capitol Building to the Washington Monument. The four hours of “roll-up-your-sleeves” work saved the National Park Service nearly four months of labor.

For those unable to make it to D.C. to celebrate National Golf Day, Topgolf partnered with WE ARE GOLF to conduct free, fiveminute lessons at each of its 37 U.S. locations (excluding Las Vegas).

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 5

University of Maryland Field Day Summary- 2018

MAAGCS Match Play Presented by Syngenta

Record Attendance for the University of Maryland Field Day Dry conditions, warm temperatures, and moderate humidity created picture perfect July weather conditions for 170 attendees at the University of Maryland Turfgrass Field Day on Wednesday, July 18.

The event provided turfgrass managers from the golf course, sports field, and lawn/landscape industries to get a first-hand view of the turfgrass field research conducted by the UMD turfgrass research team. In addition to attracting turf managers throughout the state, there were also several regional technical representatives in attendance. At registration visitors could view posters on nutrient management guidelines for turfgrasses in Maryland, reading and comprehension of pesticide labels, selecting the proper personal protective equipment, and even new research on developing wild-flower areas in urban landscapes. Dr. Angus Murphy, Department Chair of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture at University of Maryland welcomed the crowd, then Dr. Joseph Roberts, Turfgrass Pathologist offered thanks to the UMD Turfgrass Science Research Farm Crew and the Sponsors.

Attendees were divided up into two groups and taken on rotations around the different research plots by Dr. Joseph Roberts and Dr. Tom Turner before flip-flopping loops. Turfgrass Field Days have a tradition of offering a wealth of information on the latest in turfgrass management, and this year did not disappoint. The tour consisted of six main starting stations with simultaneous presentations taking place every 30 minutes across a 3 hour tour.

For those interested in disease management, the disease loop began with seven different trials performed this year on fairway height creeping bentgrass. Dr. Roberts opened the station offering information on new chemistries available for dollar spot and brown patch control while graduate student Cody Beckley shared results from the 2nd year of his work focusing on integrating organic amendments into traditional integrated pest management programs. Over the past 2 years, Beckley has been researching various compost amendments (i.e., solid composts and foliar applied extracts) for reducing dollar spot in creeping bentgrass and he offered valuable recommendations for managers considering these alternative fertilization sources in the future.

In addition to fairway turf, putting green trials included evaluations of fungicide programs on common diseases as well as practices to reduce summer stress. Some of the highlights of the 5 greens trials presented included pre-mixed products to control Pythium root rot and 6

Eight Teams vying for their first Match Play Championship!

Attendees gather in groups to observe UMD research plots

brown patch disease, foliar applications for brown patch, season-long programs for summer diseases and turf quality, evaluating new and old chemistries for dollar spot control, and vermicompost tea applications for mitigating summer stress. Of all of the trial areas observed on field day, disease was the most plentiful on greens height creeping bentgrass, where in most cases, brown patch and dollar spot were the most prevalent diseases. All of the trials presented useful recommendations for limiting putting green disease issues in the region.

On the grass selection and management loop, Dr. Tom Turner began by discussing the results of the 2013 NTEP Bermudagrass and

The third installment of the MAAGCS Match Play Championship has been underway since April 9, with 32 teams battling for the chance to call themselves champions! All but eight have been eliminated, each of which are looking for their first MAAGCS Match Play Trophy. Round two saw the exit of the two former champions, “Grip it & Sip it” and “Defenders of the Cup” while three teams “Golf Czars”, “Brother from Another Mother” and “Water Dogs” are making their return to the elite eight for the second straight year. It has been another successful event making way for MAAGCS members to network with their fellow colleagues while playing some competitive golf around the region. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Syngenta and to everyone who participated this year. Good luck to the remaining teams!

Michael Bostian @HeftyLeftyQue Jun 27

No score card picture here. “Meat Sweats” got smoked today by the nice guys “Brother From Amother Mother: at Hayfields CC @realjoehaskins@MidAtlGCSA

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Continued on page 10 Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 7

Rounds 4 Research Auction Raises Record $312,663 for Turfgrass Studies

USGA Green Section Report – Paul Jacobs

National program has raised more than $1 million since 2012 The 2018 Rounds 4 Research fundraising program to support turfgrass studies, administered by the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), sold more than 1,330 rounds and yielded nearly $313,000 in its May online auction, making it the most successful in the program’s history. The EIFG is the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA. The Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association was the leader among more than 70 GCSAA affiliated chapters and turfgrass

organizations that received proceeds from the auction to support turfgrass research at the local level. MAAGCS raised over $4,100, an increase over the prior year with Trump National Golf Club - DC winning “high bid” honors followed by TPC Potomac.

“We are thrilled that Rounds 4 Research had its most successful year ever,” said Rhett Evans, GCSAA chief executive officer. “This is a wonderful program that allows golfers to help support the future of the game while playing the courses they love.

The national campaign is supported by a $50,000 donation from The Toro Co. The Golf Channel, Golf Advisor and GolfNow provided promotional support. Over 60 golf course management companies donated more than 350 rounds to the auction, including Billy Casper Golf, ClubCorp, Marriott Golf, the PGA Tour TPC Network and Troon Golf.

The program has raised more than $1,095,000 since launching in 2012.

MAAGCS Defeats ESAGCS at the Chesapeake Challenge for Second Straight Year!

It was another fantastic day at Queenstown Harbor and John Anderes and his staff had the River Course in excellent condition for the annual Ryder Cup style event, the Chesapeake Challenge.

to the group was for each individual to develop a relationship with a dermatologist and get check-ups regularly. These check-ups can help with early detection and treatment.

Before the matches began, Nicole Harriman gave a presentation on the importance of skin care and taught the group how to recognize, prevent and treat various conditions that may arise during normal work conditions for superintendents and their staff. A key message

Following Nicole’s presentation was the traditional BBQ lunch and trash talk before the matches.

After a win that included a presidential playoff in 2017, MAAGCS was poised to defend the Trophy for the first time in many years.

With four matches remaining, both teams were

Chesapeake Challenge Group Photo 8

tied with 9 points apiece. While one match was halved, MAAGCS was able to come up victorious in the final three matches. ESAGCS finished with a total of 9.5 points and MAAGCS finished with a total of 12.5 points and their first successful title defense since the events inception.

A special thank you goes out to all of the players, Todd Cowing, Joe Haskins and to the Queenstown Harbor staff for coordinating the event.

After a relatively slow start to the season, which was largely characterized by cool temperatures and plentiful rainfall, summer has certainly arrived. The quick transition from a wet and cool spring to hot summer conditions presents several management challenges. The following points highlight management practices to keep in mind as we enter the heat of summer: Water Management – Regular applications of wetting agents will help alleviate localized dry spot (LDS) and improve moisture uniformity. When LDS develops, trying to maintain uniform soil moisture becomes very challenging and often results in over irrigating adjacent areas. Wet conditions during extreme heat can be lethal to turf. The USGA article, “Factors to Consider When Developing a Wetting Agent Program,” explains the use of wetting agents and their benefits in greater detail. Maintaining appropriate soil moisture is critical during periods of hot weather.

Excessive moisture will elevate soil temperatures whereas too little will cause drought stress. In addition to making sure all employees are on the same page regarding hand watering technique and the quantity of water to apply, calibrating moisture meters can also help improve moisture uniformity and avoid moisture-related turf stress.

Paul Jacobs USGA Green Section Agronomist

Turf Health – Cloudy, cool weather and wet soil conditions this spring were not favorable for root growth. If your turf has weak roots, it will be critical to implement defensive management practices during hot weather. Raising mowing heights, switching to smooth rollers, and reducing mowing and rolling frequency can be the difference between healthy turf and turf loss when stress levels rise. Other cultural practices, such as topdressing and venting, should be implemented with caution. Performing these practices before periods of stress can be beneficial, but performing them during periods of stress can be counterproductive. If turf health is in question and stress levels are high, it may be better to play it safe. A few days of slower-thannormal green speeds can eliminate the need for a long recovery process.

Disease Pressure – As expected, disease pressure from dollar spot and brown patch has been high. Anthracnose has been no stranger either, especially where mowing heights and fertility levels are low. Although unfortunate for most, periods of high disease pressure present a great opportunity to evaluate the disease resistance of newer turf varieties. Even under high disease pressure, and with no fungicidal control, many new grasses have been performing very well. If you are considering a regrassing project, speak with your regional USGA Agronomist to learn which varieties are performing well in your area and determine the potential return on investment from establishing a newer variety.

As we enter the peak of the golf season, pressure mounts to provide playing conditions that meet or exceed expectations. Performing aggressive management practices that provide great playing conditions is acceptable only when turf can handle it. However, when turf is under stress, turf health should hold top priority. We still have a long season ahead of us.

Chesapeake Challenge — Bill Reil, ESAGCS President Mike Bostian, MAAGCS President Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 9

Two Events Remain to Increase Your Chances at Winning the GIS Giveaway!

Social Event at The Green Turtle in Mt. Airy & MAAGCS Annual Championship at Waverly Woods!

The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the GCSAA is giving away a chance for a MAAGCS Superintendent Member to attend the 2019 GIS in San Diego, CA. * All Superintendent members that have paid their 2018 MAAGCS dues will be eligible to win. Each superintendent member will automatically have one (1) ticket in the “pot” for just being a member in 2018.

Participation Reward Superintendent members can earn up to a total of 5 tickets in the “pot” by attending any of the eligible events. The eligible 2018 events to increase your odds of winning are listed below:

The Fine Print ∙ The drawing for the Superintendent winner will be held on Nov. 14th 2018. ∙ The winner will be notified that day and will be asked to attend the Annual Meeting at Argyle Country Club to accept their award. The winner should also be present at the joint reception in San Diego/ ∙ Winner will not receive any fees until MAAGCS has confirmation that registration for GIS 2018 has been completed. ∙ Stipend for GIS is transferable to any Superintendent member of the winner’s choice.

Assistants Corner – Matt Harvey Welcome to Summer! This season has been interesting regarding the weather, being extremely dry for a few weeks and then transitioning to an immense amount of rain. Having these consistently rainy days has given me some time to reflect on one of the most important aspects of the golf course- communication and interaction with members, golf committees and owners!

Being an assistant can be very demanding and lead to busy days that don’t always allow for opportunities to mingle with others throughout the day. I feel, when I am out on the course, that having small interactions with members can have a significant impact in my growth and the positive reinforcement of our efforts. It has become part of my practice to always take the opportunity to introduce myself, ask their name (and do your best to remember it), and make small conversation when appropriate.

I was recently repairing a sprinkler head next to a green, and the material removed was piling up quite large. I quickly moved out of the way so the group of golfers could hit their second shot on to the green. When they arrived to the green, the giant hole in the ground sparked their curiosity and provided a fantastic opportunity for me to discuss the irrigation system. In turn, it also keeps the members informed with what updates are being made to the course and they can see the product of our hard work.

The Winner will receive $2,000.00 to go towards attending the Golf Industry Show ∙ $500.00 for Airfare ∙ $500.00 for Registration ∙ $500.00 for Hotel ∙ $500.00 for Education and Per Diem

Matt Harvey Cattail Creek Country Club matt@cattailcreekcc.com

Additionally, conversations like this help to build rapport and provide members feedback about the course, whether its room for improvement or positive feedback. It also holds us, the assistant superintendents, accountable since we can be put on the spot. These moments of truth provide opportunity to demonstrate our knowledge as to what is going on or to respond to any questions/ concerns the members or owners may have.

UMD Field Day continued Zoysiagrass evaluation trial. Having information over the past 5 years on various cultivars of bermudagrass and zoysiagrass was a highlight considering the recent winterkill issues on warm season grasses in the state during the winter/spring of 2018. Attendees across the industry were particularly interested in winter hardiness and disease activity of these cultivars over the past few years, as many individuals were considering new establishments at their respective locations.

Following the warm season grass portion of the afternoon, attendees were able to see current results from 9 different cool-season grass trials established over the last several years. Whether interests focused on fescues, bluegrasses, or even ryegrass, there was plenty to observe in the cultivar trials supervised by Dr. Turner. Attendees were even able to see the newly developed cool-season drought trial under the recently constructed rain-out shelter where Kentucky bluegrasses, tall fescues, and perennial ryegrass had been covered for 50 days and irrigated according to digital image analysis. Regardless of the interest in cool and/or warm season grass selection, managers in attendance received first-hand knowledge of cultivars that are available for seeding new 10

areas in the coming year.

During the final hour, management oriented projects were also covered, with a particular focus on new organic tools for weed and disease control. Dr. Mark Carroll presented the first year of a multi-state organic weed control trial where reductions in clover were observed. Graduate student Joe Doherty also discussed some of his newly developed research examining cultural tools to enhance the establishment of biological controls to limit brown patch disease in perennial ryegrass.

After the formal field day activities, attendees enjoyed BBQ from Smoke’s On U, steamed crabs, and beer underneath the big top tent. Before and after the field tour, attendees visited with local vendors’ booths and saw some equipment. We would like to thank the Maryland Turfgrass Council and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents for assisting with registration. Our vendors included Bayer Crop Science, PBI-Gordon, Turf Equipment and Supply Company, Crop Production Services, Finch Services, BASF, Landscape Supply Company, Genesis Turfgrass, Helena, Textron Golf, Luck Ecosystems, Syngenta Crop Protection, SiteOne Landscape Supply, and Smoke’s On U for the fabulous barbeque. Not only was field day a great opportunity to see the research plots in action, but it is a great opportunity to take a little break and network as well. Thank you to everyone who attended and best of luck the rest of the season!

Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

In relation to communication, I highly encourage that if you haven’t attended a Greens Committee meeting that you should go. Ask your Golf Course Superintendent if you can attend a meeting to meet members and see what goes on behind the scenes. Maybe your supervisor is put in a situation where they have to respond quickly and seeing how they are able to “think on their feet” is a good way to learn how to interact in those scenarios.

Overall, don’t be afraid to initiate a conversation with members, owners or Greens Committee members! The more they understand how we do things on the golf course, the better informed everyone is.

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 11

Letter from the Editor – Tyler Bloom Dear Members, Who’s ready for football season? I am sure nerves have been tested with the quick changing weather patterns in the Mid-Atlantic this season. We couldn’t buy an inch of rain for the first part of July after being soaked for the majority of May and June, and now we’re back into a wet pattern as I write this article. As the French would say, C’est la vie (that’s life)!

My on site visits from our vendors and colleagues have at times been more therapy sessions than agronomic discussions. According to my wife, my cell phone usage has been off the charts this year. Good thing for unlimited text, call and data usage.

Here’s a few thoughts about the 2018 season: •

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Tyler Bloom Sparrows Point Country Club @tbloom_SPCC tbloom@sparrowspointcc.org

Impact: The impact we have on our profession through the GCSAA, National Golf Day, First Green Programs, Stewards of the Chesapeake, Rounds for Research and the BMP program should not be overlooked. The rewards of improving our industry for the future growth of the game, and building relationships within our community serves a bigger purpose in our daily roles.

Priority issues within our region such as labor and immigration continue to be at the forefront. Thanks to Scott Furlong and others for bringing awareness about the H-2B Visa program in the golf industry to Capitol Hill early this summer.

•

Fatherhood: Our first daughter, Lennon Grace, was born on April 18th. Kudos to the veterans in the industry, who have navigated through this journey before. My respect has gone up a whole new level for you as I have only 3-months into this new role. My wife (Jayme) and I appreciate the many well wishes from everyone.

•

Bermudagrass: As soon as I was jumping off the bermudagrass bandwagon, I was back on it in late June. Steve McDonald provided a very detailed presentation at University of Maryland in late-June about the management of the newer bermudagrass varieties.

Commitment was one of the recurring themes Steve touched on to develop programs to optimize conditioning.

•

Tiger: The buzz around the golf world picked up during the Open Championship. To see Tiger in the mix on Sunday afternoon in a major championship sent positive vibes across the industry. I know not everyone is a big fan, but the energy he brings to the game is unlike anyone in the modern age.

•

Quickens Loan National: Congrats to the agronomy team at TPC Potomac for putting on another wonderful tournament. Steve Britton and his staff put together incredible conditions during a tough stretch of weather.

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MAAGCS Family: I would be remiss if I didn’t take a moment to recognize another loss from our local industry. I would like to send well wishes to the Davisson Golf Inc. team on the loss of Kim Walker. Kim was instrumental in the development of their team, business and customer relationships for over 20-years. I was fortunate to build a strong relationship with Kim due to her inherent bias as a “Dundalk girl”. There was never a favor to big or too small to ask from Kim to assist in our operations.

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 13

Getting to Know... Dean Graves, CGSC FUNGICIDE

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Golf Course Manager Chevy Chase Club | 1999-Present How did you get started in the industry?

Dean Graves, CGCS MAAGCS Past President Golf Course Manager Chevy Chase Club | 1999-Present deang@chevychaseclub.org

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University of Delaware BS Agriculture Business, minor Plant Science Pennsylvania State University Golf Course Management

At the age of 14 I started cleaning clubs, running carts, and picking range balls at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. I did so for eight years then worked at Wilmington CC on the Green Department while going to U of D and PSU.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?

Teaching/mentoring interns and young assistants to become Superintendents.

What advice would you give young assistants and superintendents about advancing in their career?

IF you have a passion for the golf course management profession, don’t mind the LONG hours, and stresses of summer and managing people you will be successful. Be persistent and enduring and the jobs will open. Good people get good jobs.

How has the MAAGCS played a role in your career?

Being involved with the MAAGCS has been rewarding. From being a committee member, Board of Director member and eventually the president was awesome.

Building the education, starting the March meeting, being part of the Stewards formation and have them still being timely make me feel part of a successful team.

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 15

GCSAA Report – Chase Rogan Landseer changing perception, one storybook at a time Cover more ground with the TR Series.

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Delphine Tseng is the Founder and President of Landseer Communications & Consulting. Landseer is a company comprised of passionate writers, artists, engineers, and innovators who strive to tell the stories and connect the dots, to break the myth and encourage the next generation of independent thinkers, all within the context of golf. In a nutshell, their design team makes creative storybooks for golf courses.

At this year’s National Golf Day, Delphine met Craig Kirby, founder of Golf. My Future. My Game., an organization that helps raise awareness of the values, camaraderie, lessons and opportunities that golf offers, particularly within underrepresented communities of color. Together, the two of them recognized an opportunity for collaboration.

Now, several months later, they are pleased to share that Landseer’s work “Fauna, Flora, and Fun! A Nature’s Guide for Golfers” will be introduced to all D.C. public libraries coming August. This same publication was handed out to spectators at the recent Quicken Loans National at TPC Potomac. In fact, Delphine has interacted with more than 15,000 spectators over the last several years, over 2,000 just last week! As she travels to tournaments, she distributes coloring books that are custom-made for the hosting golf course and local wildlife. Delphine and I connected over the phone, and here is what I learned:

Chase Rogan GCSAA Field Staff Mid-Atlantic Representative chaser@gcsaa.org 800-472-7878, ext. 3609

Delphine launched her golf career working at a local golf club, Edison Club in NY, and for Audubon International (AI). As her experience accumulated, she saw a need for helping superintendents tell their environmental stories. “Superintendents are humble and don’t have a lot of time to brag, so I wanted to brag for them,” Delphine says. Back in college when Delphine was studying to be a civil engineer but also loved playing golf, friends would call her a hypocrite because she was an environmentalist and golfer. But over time she realized these two attributes were not mutually exclusive.

Over her years in the industry, anytime she has gone to a golf course, superintendents have been willing to share test results and data illustrating the course’s clean water or wildlife inventory, but she wondered how she could communicate these things to the public in a more digestible context. So, she started to develop storybooks. While AI was great work, she knew she needed to move on to start Landseer and take her passion to the next level. The relationships she cultivated through AI have still proven beneficial, and the industry has been extremely receptive to her vision and goals with Landseer as her company continues to grow.

When Delphine met Craig Kirby, he instantly loved Landseer’s books and thought he could leverage his relationships to get the book in to D.C. libraries. Fast forward to present day, and this aspiration has become a reality. Delphine would also like to find a way to give attendees of First Green field trips a take-home storybook to help spread golf’s message and give kids something to remember the day by.

Delphine is quick to credit her husband, Andrew Wilson, Director of Agronomy at Bethpage State Park, as a great resource and supportive partner through this whimsical journey she finds herself in the middle of. In fact, she just finished up a piece for Golf Channel International, an experience that she doesn’t take for granted. She also credits Kevin Doyle, GCSAA Field Staff in the Northeast for his collaboration as Landseer has grown.

If you are interested in creating a storybook for your golf course, take a look at her existing book (http://bit.ly/2KPK5DL), check out her website (landseercc.com), find her on Twitter (@VoixdeDelphine & @LandseerCC), or via email (delphinetseng@landseercc.com). The process for developing a storybook is smooth, and only requires some conversation and sharing of golf course photographs.

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 17

Thank You, 2018 MAAGCS Partners!

Please patronize these outstanding companies which support the profession!

Platinum

Your Source for Quality Wetting Agents

Gold

Silver

Alban Tractor Co. Inc. Collins Wharf Sod Dow AgroSciences Fisher & Son

Bronze

Central Sod Farm Davisson Finch Services

Many factors can affect a golfer’s game, but a soggy course shouldn’t be one of them.

Firm Up™ is a soil penetrant that keeps the game going by firming the soil surface and reducing wet spots on fairways. It improves vertical and horizontal water movement in soil, while enhancing irrigation efficiency and decreasing water usage. To improve soil, turf health and quality while managing water consumption, contact your local Helena representative or authorized dealer for more information on Firm Up.

Lebanon Turf Mid-Atlantic DryJect Oakwood Sod PondHawk by Linne Industries

Graden Growing Solutions Harrell’s

Tom Adams Southern VA & Outer Banks, NC (804) 337-2232

Rain Bird Sunbelt Synatek

Luck Ecosystems Newsome Seed

Pocono Turf VGM Club

Jeff Synder Northern VA & Maryland (540) 686-2560

helenaprofessional.com | Learn more at helenaprofessional.com, featuring more information on Helena products and services.

Always read and follow label directions. Helena and People...Products...Knowledge... are registered trademarks and Firm Up is a trademark of Helena Holding Company. ©2018 Helena Holding Company. HPG0718P

Save this Date – Thursday September 20, 2018 MAAGCS Social Hour — 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm The Green Turtle Sports Bar & Grill, Mt. Airy, MD

The MAAGCS will be hosting a Social Hour at The Green Turtle Sports Bar & Grill in Mt. Airy, MD on Thursday, September 20, from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm. This is also the first round of the Tour Championship, the culminating event of the PGA Tour Playoffs for the FedEx Cup. All MAAGCS members are encouraged attend for drinks, appetizers and camaraderie. As always, it should be a great time and plenty of fellowship with your colleges.

There is no official registration for this FREE event so please bring your assistants, mechanics and any staff members.

Save this Date – Wednesday, October 24, 2018

MAAGCS Annual Championship – Waverly Woods Golf Course 2100 Warwick Way, Marriottsville, MD 21104 MAAGCS President Mike Bostian will host this year’s Annual Championship at Waverly Woods Golf Course. This is a spectacular event with networking and fun competition to determine the 2018 MAAGCS Champion Golfer. Jeff Rice of Oak Creek Golf Club is the defending champion. Don’t miss the final golf event of the year!

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents

Turfgrass Matters | Summer 2018 19

Annual MAAGCS Platinum Sponsor • 2017 Stewards of Chesapeake Presenting Sponsor 2018 Stewards of the Chesapeake Presenting Sponsor • Annual Assistants Forum Sponsor Traditional GIS Social Sponsor • Annual Local Chapter Sponsors

Why?

Because we are obsessed with earning your support and satisfaction.

Bo Jumbercotta: 571-388-8008 Scott Orndorff: 301-458-5625 Rich Jones: 301-708-6077

Casey Shartzer: 703-853-4562 Patrick Connelly, CEO: 804-640-8872 Kevin Connelly, VP: 540-537-9449

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One Team, Many Solutions Your full line vendor for Golf Course Maintenance Equipment and Golf Irrigation. www.turf-equipment.com 800.827.3711

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Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents