SuperNews OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIO GRANDE GCSA
November 2021 President Roy Johnson
Member Article
Let’s Not Forget What We Are Here For Glenn Denney CGCS
Vice President Glenn Denney CGCS
Golf Course Superintendent - Alto Lakes Golf and CC
Secretary / Treasurer Aaron Sunderlin
Let’s not forget what we are here for. That was one of the many quotes my recently retired Director of Golf would always use at our monthly greens committee meetings.
Board of Directors: Paul Kerr Mac Blevins Mike Adkins Past President Jimmy Rodriguez Vendor Representative John King Chapter Executive Carol Cloud riograndegcsa @gmail.com
GCSAA Field Rep John Walker
Of course, many ideas flow from these members, who, like all golfers are born stupid. So, that one line would usually shut down the unrealistic ideas of the direction of golf and golf course conditions. That is one of the many qualities that I did truly enjoy with working with Don Bryant for the past 18 years at Alto Lakes Golf and Country Club. He had a very good balance of the game (the reason we are there), the course needs (had great respect for the turf industry), and the needs of the golfers (fantastic instructor and tournament organizer). We have to deal with a multiple number of personalities here with 2400 members from every handicap imaginable, we have architects, merchandisers, water experts, turf experts, pro baseball players, ex general managers, builders and multiple multi-millionaires (who are actually the easiest to deal with). And Don had a way of getting on level with everyone of them and could get them focused on what we are here for. The game of golf. Greens committees seem to want to be in control, from traffic control, tee times, language, handicaps, tournament formats, golf shop operations and carts. Continued on Page 4
Thank you Roy! We appreciate your participation and service! Please welcome Roy Johnson as your new Austin Turf & Tractor representative. You can contact Roy at: roy.johnson@austinturf.com or 505-710-3477 Congratulations on your new position!
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Continued from Front Cover - Let’s Not Forget What We Are Here For, Glenn Denney CGCS
So Don could take their ideas and turn it around to the efficient function of a well run tee sheet to putting out on the 18th and still make them think that it was their idea. I hope if you haven’t had the opportunity to work alongside a very professional Professional I hope you get to. Even just a couple of weeks ago, we had a devastating Elk fight on #1 green. The green was a complete wreck. I called Don early because we had a member tournament that morning (of course), and he came to inspect. So he simply went to the first tee and told the tournament group how to play around the mess, knowing we could get it fixed in a couple of hours. And sure enough, with a pitch fork, lots of sand, roller (4 times) the green was playable and the tournament (though not that serious) did not have to alter any play. That’s the thing I want to hit home of his point. We all have ideas of what each day should bring to the golf course. From aerification to fertilization to daily set up to the amount of traffic we must put up with. The point of our whole lively hood is taking care of a game.
And that game is something some take so seriously they dedicate their entire live to it. In a way we all have from Professionals to Superintendents to Suppliers. So, with all that said. I am glad we have all chosen to do what we do and just remember to not forget.
“What We Are Here For.”
Follow our GCSAA Field Rep Johnny Walker on Twitter! and Follow us! @RGGCSA
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Kyler Smith
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The RGGCSA returned to action with an event at Los Altos Golf Course in July. We had a great turnout and a fun day of education and golf. David Salas of the City of Albuquerque and the team at Los Altos made us all feel welcome on a beautiful summer day. Brian Cloud provided education with a talk titled: Safety and Compliance in the Golf Course Maintenance Workplace. The talke earned attendees GCSAA continuing education points. Jason Tomko of Los Alamos was the lucky 50/50 pot winner. After lunch, we headed out to the golf course on the beautiful Los Altos links. Thanks to our sponsors, hosts and attendees for making it a great day in ABQ!
Happy Golf Winners at Los Altos!
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Mike Adkins was our Annual Meeting host at Twin Warriors Golf Club in October. The picture above show him (R) receiving a plaque of appreciation from RGGCSA President Roy Johnson. We had an outstanding day thanks to our hosts, our sponsors and everyone who attended. And thank you to our speakers who both gave great educational talks: Andrew Martin - BASF, Turf & Ornamental Sales and Jonathan Dowell, Ph.D. with Hydro-Sphere, Inc. The meeting included elections for the 2022 Board of Directors. Anthony Wright will join the Board in 2022. The Board is still looking to fill positions, so please contact the RGGCSA office if you have a desire to serve the association. We need you!
Following the Annual Meeting, education and lunch, we headed to the outstanding Twin Warriors Golf Club for a beautiful afternoon of golf. All who participated enjoyed a fun event with prizes and refreshments thanks to our generous sponsors. Even with the challenges of 2021, the chapter hosted two in person meetings. We look forward to a full and safe schedule in 2022! See you all there!
Twin Warriors Champions: (L) Anthony Wright, Lucy Castaneda, Anthony Garcia
2nd Place:
(BL) Aaron Sunderlin, Paul Tratechaud, Robert Gonzales
3rd Place:
(BR) Henry Martinez, Glenn Denney, Paul Kerr, Johnny Walker
Proximity Winners: (Top L) Paul Tratechaud (R), (Top R) Anthony
Garcia (R), (Bottom L) Lucy Castaneda (R), (Bottom R) Robert Gonzales.
Rio Grande GCSA BMP Focus The RGGCSA published the Best Management Practices Manual in 2020. It is a resource for Golf Course Superintendents to understand and utilize industry standard Best Management Practices in many environmental and operational aspects of the work they do to make golf courses in New Mexico sustainable. In each 2021 issue of the Super News, we will focus on specific chapters of the document.
To read New Mexico’s “Best Management Practices” and to learn more about GCSAA’s BMP program, visit www.gcsaa. org/bmp. The document is also available on the RGGCSA website: Click Here
United States Golf Association WEST REGIONAL UPDATE
Bermudagrass Thrives Under a Heavy Hand
Brian Whitlark Senior Consulting Agronomist Overseeding bermudagrass with perennial ryegrass often results in thin or bare areas after the ryegrass dies the following summer. These thin or bare areas typically will require six to eight weeks – or more – to recover in July and August. Sometimes the damage is widespread, and sodding is needed to reestablish the bermudagrass prior to overseeding again in the fall. Historically, aggressive cultural practices such as vertical mowing or aeration are omitted in the thin areas to avoid severing stolons in hopes they will “tack down.” The thought is that severing the aboveground stolons would hamper recovery. However, from time to time we learn a great deal from “happy mistakes.” During one course visit this year, several very thin areas were fraze mowed to prepare for sodding. Unforeseen circumstances did not allow the course to sod these areas and, lo and behold, in a period of two to three weeks the bermudagrass had recovered faster in the fraze mowed areas than adjacent thin areas that had not been fraze mowed. Removing the thick organic layer in the top 3/4 inch of the soil exposed underground rhizomes and stems and expedited growth and recovery. Results from the aggressive fraze mowing practice were shared with other courses facing similar weak areas during subsequent course visits. Several superintendents have since reported enhanced bermudagrass recovery and density through fraze mowing, flail mowing or aggressive vertical mowing in thin areas. It’s already early September and time is running out to heal thin or bare bermudagrass areas prior to overseeding. Rather than throwing fertilizer at these areas and waiting for recovery, conduct aggressive thatch reduction practices to encourage new bermudagrass growth. The thatch and organic matter reduction will also help with fall overseeding. When you observe thin or bare bermudagrass areas next summer during the transition process, consider a more aggressive thatch and organic matter reduction or elimination process to expedite bermudagrass growth rather than relying on fertilizer and spot watering.
This area was fraze mowed 12 days prior to taking the image in preparation for sodding. The previously bare area saw surprising recovery and did not require sod after all.
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