RGGCSA - SuperNews Summer 2021

SuperNews OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE RIO GRANDE GCSA

June 2021 President Roy Johnson Vice President Glenn Denney CGCS Secretary / Treasurer Aaron Sunderlin Board of Directors: Paul Kerr Mac Blevins Mike Atkins Past President Jimmy Rodriguez Vendor Representative John King Chapter Executive Carol Cloud riograndegcsa @gmail.com

President’s Message Greetings, I hope this message finds everyone doing well and I am happy to announce that our first in-person meeting since the pandemic began is scheduled for Monday, July 26 at Los Altos Golf Course in Albuquerque. Thank you to David Salas for offering the venue for us to meet, I look forward to seeing everyone again!

With an expansion of programming in recent years to include STEM education, grassroots advocacy and professional development opportunities, the philanthropic organization of the GCSAA has returned to the name GCSAA Foundation to better reflect its wider scope.

Known as the Environmental Institute for Golf (EIFG), the organization was founded in 1955 as the GCSAA Scholarship & Research Fund and previously used the GCSAA Foundation name from 1995 to 2003. As the EIFG, the organization furthered environmental sustainability in golf by funding initiatives such as the Golf Course Environmental Profile, Rounds4Research and best management practices (BMPs), which helped establish golf course BMP guidelines for all 50 states.

Continued on next page

GCSAA Field Rep John Walker

Roy Johnson

RGGCSA President

President’s Message - continued I want to thank the following facilities for donating to R4R:

Black Mesa Golf Club

Riverview Golf Course

San Juan Country Club

Taos Country Club

I was able to participate in National Golf Day which took place virtually this year on May 10-12. In partnership with WE ARE GOLF, National Golf Day gives superintendents, course owners and operators, and others working in the golf industry the chance to advance, protect, and advocate for our industry. Over 250 virtual meetings were held with Members of Congress to advocate for the golf industry. I highly recommend attending this event if you have the chance.

Thank you to Mike Adkins, Superintendent at Twin Warriors Golf Club for participating in National Golf Day and advocating for our chapter and industry.

Thank you again to everyone for your support. Please, do not hesitate to reach out to me any time.

Regards,

Roy Johnson President, RGGCSA San Juan Country Club

Member Article

Golf Course “Hacks” Jimmy Rodriguez Golf Course Superintendent - Towa Golf Course Golf course hacks, we all have them. And no, I am not talking about the customers that play our courses. What I am talking about are the little things we do at our jobs to make some tasks easier. I guess in the modern world, some would say, can’t you create an app? Not in our tactile world of having to figure things out on the fly and other times having to think through a problem to come up with a solution. No apps used here!

Here are a few of my favorites:

“HACK #1” I love to broom my greens during the season to give the greens a “Flowbee” cut. We have a “Green Groomer” pull behind broom. The broom does an excellent job but requires a cart and is unable to quickly raise and lower the attachment. Also, the additional weight of the cart and the tires from turning sometimes marks the greens. The “HACK” we created solved all of these problems and also allowed us to use an old retired mower and gave the machine a new purpose. We created a broom machine. Advantages to this “HACK” were numerous. We can broom the greens in transport, so speed was not sacrificed along with no tire marks since smooth tires are on the triplex. The weight of the broom is so light the mower raises the broom and lowers so quickly with no more debris from the outside. The action for the operator is the same as mowing, so no training is involved. The best part is the cost. We built this for right at $100 dollars and the new push brooms used were the most expensive part of the build at $25 each. Here’s what the attachment looks like below.

“HACK #2” Ever try and take apart the little push on connectors at your pump station on hoses? I have always had a difficult time with them. This little “HACK” is so simple to use and the cost is “FREE”, yes “FREE”. We all have food service at our facilities of some kind. All you need is a very good strong fork. I bent back one of the two middle fingers of the fork and fashioned a tool that makes removal of these pesky connections a snap. Here is what the tool looks like and placement on the connector below.

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Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. Use safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) and water repellent, chemical resistant gloves when handling this product.

•

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FIRST AID

PRECAUTIONS •

•

Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. Use safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) and water repellent, chemical resistant gloves when handling this product.

Do not contaminate water during application or when cleaning equipment.

IN CASE OF SPILL OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY, CONTACT CHEMTREC 1-800-424-9300.

If on Skin: Wash with soap and water. Consult a physician if any irritation persists If in Eyes: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes and continue to rinse. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

If Ingested: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Call 911 or a physician for treatment advice.

Have the product label with you when calling a doctor or going for treatment.

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Avoid getting in eyes or on skin. The use of safety glasses with side shields (or goggles) and water repellent gloves when handling this product is recommended.

•

Do not contaminate water supplies during application or when cleaning equipment.

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KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN FIRST AID If on Skin: Wash with soap and water. Consult a physician if any irritation persists.

If in Eyes: Rinse with clean water for 15 minutes. Remove contact lenses after the first 5 minutes and continue to rinse. Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

If Ingested: Rinse mouth. Do not induce vomiting. Call 911 or a physician for treatment advice.

Have the product label with you when calling a doctor or going for treatment.

If Ingested: Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Call 911 or a physician for treatment advice.

Have the product label with you when calling a doctor or going for treatment.

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30 gallons (113.52 liters)

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Golf Course “HACKS”, Continued from previous page “HACK #3” When doing sod repairs on greens, the use of small sod extraction tools is a must. The hexagon tool you can buy is really great for one or maybe up to four plugs but when you have a bigger area, matching up the sides gets a bit tricky. We bought a square sod plug tool from R & R but found the side to be too shallow to remove the plug in one pull. We ended up using again “Free” old bedknives to extend the sides to the depth of the hexagon cutter and the problem was solved. We welded the bedknives on and they can be easily sharpened and last forever. See photos below.

“HACK #4” Ever try spot treating small weak areas on your greens with Bentgrass seed? I have never found a spreader out there that works well. When aerating an Andersons spreader does a fantastic job for the entire green but when I just want to spot treat, not so much. So here is another so simple to use idea and again the cost is “FREE”. We use spice and parmigiana cheese canisters to sprinkle the Bentgrass seed. The parmigiana cheese canisters also work very well with most size seeds we use for small areas that need attention. The lid can act as a regulator depending how far you open. Here is my line up of seed applicators that solved this issue for us below.

“HACK #?”

So, those were a few of mine but I would be willing to guess you also have some “HACKS” out there you may be willing to share with the membership. If you do, I encourage all to send one in to help us all out in the future. We will include them in the next newsletter that will go out to the association.

Stay Safe and I hope to see all of you soon at an in-person meeting when the association can do so.

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

Women's Golf Day is an event celebrating girls and women playing golf and learning the skills that last a lifetime.

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Five women share their unique paths into the golf course management industry, discuss the challenges they’ve faced, and pass along career wisdom.

For Women’s Golf Day 2021 on June 1, GCM partnered with John Deere Golf to spotlight women working and thriving in golf course management.

Here, in their own words, five women share their career journeys, discuss challenges and lessons learned, offer advice to fellow women in turf, and suggest ways the industry as a whole can foster more inclusive work environments.

Lucy Castaneda

Golf Course Superintendent

University of New Mexico North Course

Albuquerque, N.M.

I started playing golf when I was 11, and in 1981, I was looking for a summer job.

My dad said, “Why don’t you go work at the pro shop at UNM?” The pro shop didn’t have any openings, but the pro did mention that the maintenance department might be hiring. Sure enough, they were, and Al Kline, superintendent at the time, hired me as a part-time greenkeeper. From there, I got on full time as a greenkeeper, then a lead, then an irrigation tech, and then as an assistant supervisor.

In 2006, I was promoted to an assistant superintendent. Once, while in that position, I disciplined one of our workers with a verbal warning, then a written warning. We had a meeting with the then-superintendent, and at the end of the meeting, the superintendent tore up the written warning and no action was taken.

I felt like I had no authority. I was in charge of about 10 guys at the time, and for a while after that, I didn’t have a leg to stand on, because they all knew what had happened. They tried to get me fired, but I thankfully had a director of golf who saw things differently.

In 2007, the university decided to privatize the golf course maintenance department and brought in Mountain West GolfScapes to take over, which is who I work for now. In 2009, my current boss, John Mondragon, offered me the superintendent position at the UNM North Course. What I learned from the employee-disciplining incident is that you have to stand your ground when you know you’re right, and doing so can lead to positive outcomes.

Being a manager isn’t easy. You have different personalities, moods, behaviors, personal lives and attitudes to deal with. In watching my past bosses — I’ve had seven — I picked up a little something from each of them about managing a crew, such as how to communicate; praise good work; give positive, constructive criticism; be a good listener; be a good delegator; and lead by example.

Most of my bosses were great delegators and were not afraid to share what they knew. I think that’s the way it should be with anyone who is in charge, man or woman. The more your employees know, the better it is for all of you. Don’t fear that someone is trying to take your job; fear that you may fail at yours because your team isn’t all on the same page.

I’ve learned so much on the job, but I’ve also attended conferences, online training, GCSAA training, Rio Grande GCSA seminars, free webinars, superintendent meetings and networking events.

Continued on next page

Continued from previous page And sometimes I’ll just call another superintendent for advice. There’s always someone who knows more than you do, so take advantage of their knowledge and always continue to learn.

I’m where I’m at today because of devotion, dedication, responsibility and hard work. It wasn’t easy, especially with all life can throw at you. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. I started chemotherapy in January 2017, and I decided to take the longer route for the treatments so I could continue to work, which really helped me not to dwell too much on what I was going through. Sometimes I could only work six hours a day, and my boss and my employees were very supportive. My wife was my main support system. She went to every treatment, surgery and appointment with me. She is a true blessing. My last chemo treatment was in March 2018, and I am proud to say that I am now cancer-free.

I’m still enjoying my journey in the golf industry, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it, even going through cancer. The experience changed my whole outlook on life. I began to live more, appreciate family more, treasure my friends, and never take a moment for granted. I also learned to be good to people, because you never know what they’re going through.

If there is any advice other women in turf can take from my story, I’d say that it’s to love what you do, and to live life to the fullest.

Editor’s note: Hear from Castaneda about how water that’s used to cool buildings on the University of New Mexico campus gets a second life as irrigation for the North Course in Doubling use in the desert.

Click here to read the entire GCM article and see the stories of all of these great women.

1429 South Camino del Pueblo Bernalillo, NM 87004 Tel: 800.528.4290 Fax: 830.693.7791

Sales sales-newmexico@austinturf.com Service service-newmexico@austinturf.com Parts parts-newmexico@austinturf.com

Welcome!

New and Returning members!

We appreciate your membership and participation!

Marland Singleton - Horizon Golf Course Henry Martinez - Albuquerque Public Schools

Alan Ashton

Scott Park Golf Links

David Blewett - City of Roswell Valentin Avila - City of Roswell Members! Please send us your photos! We would love to include them in our newsletter welcomes.

Tyler Marcotte Sandia Golf Club

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Rio Grande GCSA

In April, the chapter hosted the first Virtual Education Meeting. As the chapter has not been able to host in-person events, the virtual option was implemented and well recieved by those who participated. At the first event, Brian Cloud reviewed the BMP Manual produced in 2020 by the RGGCSA. The focus of the presentation was on the practical ways for Superintendents to utilize and adopt the principles and practices within the manual.

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In April, Michael Lee - GCSAA Manager of Goverment Affairs provided Advocacy Training during the chapter’s Virtual Education program.

The information was very useful for Grassroots Ambassadors as well as all members. Thank you Michael for a great session. Click on the program cover above to view the presenation information.

Click here for a link to the video presentaion

NM Online CEU Courses Now Available!

Each course is approved for 1 NM CEU:

• • Free online CEUs are exclusively available to • Harrell’s customers who have registered at myHarrells.com.

• • As an exclusive and free benefit to our custom• ers, you can receive CEUs by completing any of our approved learning modules.

We are excited to announce new courses were just approved in New Mexico!

Earn credits anytime, anywhere!

Understanding Pesticide Labels Managing Flea Beetles Weed Control Mosquito Management Nematodes Xylella Leaf Scorch

If you are also interested in earning GCSAA points or need help with specific category information please use the filters found at harrells.com/education, or email us at educationsupport@harrells.com .

Click for info

United States Golf Association WEST REGIONAL UPDATE

Worst Winter in 20 Years Brian Whitlark

Senior Consulting Agronomist Turf recovery in the mountains is slow in spring, but these images from April through June of 2019 show that turf eventually returned to acceptable playing conditions.

Golf courses in areas such as Lake Tahoe and Flagstaff, Arizona, endured a winter that did not deliver a consistent snow “blanket” which helps to insulate and hydrate turf in winter dormancy. A mix of rain, snow and freezing temperatures resulted in thick ice that persisted for months on some golf course surfaces – from late November through April in some cases. In this update we will review the areas most damaged, the turf varieties experiencing the most damage, whether courses could have prevented the damage and how courses are working to recover – acknowledging that it will likely be mid-June until conditions are closer to golfer expectations.

Courses experienced the most damage in the following areas: • • • •

North-facing slopes and shaded areas Closely mown turf on tees, fairways and approaches Low areas or poorly drained areas Higher-cut turf in roughs was generally spared

The turf variety experiencing the most damage: • This is an easy one – Poa annua experienced the most damage by far. This is no surprise and is consistent with previous years. However, Poa annua also has the greatest potential to fill in bare areas.

• With the deep and persistent ice cover, even Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass were not immune to damage on north-facing slopes and shaded areas.

Could courses have done more to prevent the damage?

• The short answer is no. In fact, several superintendents with years of experience managing turf in these severe conditions revealed that they deployed more preventative measures than ever! Yet they still had severe and widespread damage.

Road to recovery: • Imagine walking a marathon, that is about the pace of turf recovery for courses in these high altitudes. Freezing nights and soil temperatures that won’t reach the mid-50s until early June will inevitably delay turf recovery.

• Countless labor hours have already been spent clearing snow to improve sun exposure and thaw the frozen ground.

Continued on next page

Loren Dunlap

Kyler Smith

(505) 463-8280

(505) 206-8790

ldunlap@winirrigation.com

ksmith@winirrigation.com

Continued from previous page • Shallow, solid-tine aeration on a tight spacing with three or four passes over damaged areas in fairways helps speed perennial ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass seed germination and maturity.

• Permeable seed germination blankets, tarps or even large rolls of Visqueen plastic sheets taped together are effective at warming the soil and expediting seed germination and maturity.

• Dark-colored fertilizer products and painted kiln-dried sand are already being applied to increase soil temperatures.

• Courses are seeding perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and even chewings fescues to encourage recovery.

• Applying sand on top of seed is generally more successful than mulch. Multiple sand applications speed germination and recovery.

• Daytime irrigation cycles are essential to encourage germination. This practice may require delaying course opening but is essential to maintain adequate surface soil moisture.

• Light, frequent vertical mowing helps to encourage recovery and improve turf density.

Finally, observations from winter turf damage in 2019 revealed that Poa annua seemed to recover faster than anything else, likely from the robust seed bank stored in the soil. The images above were captured from April through June in 2019 on a course that experienced winter damage. While recovery was slow, the combination of Poa annua in the soil and seeded perennial ryegrass allowed this course to regain acceptable standards by June. Capturing images on a weekly basis can be very helpful to demonstrate recovery this year and for use in future years if similar winter damage occurs again.

At this point, courses are using all the necessary tools to expedite recovery, but the freezing nights and cold soil temperatures will remain a limiting factor. Golfers arriving to these fine courses from other climates are encouraged to show patience and know that damage at your course is likely similar to that experienced at neighboring courses.

Best wishes to any courses affected and please do not hesitate to contact the USGA agronomists in the West Region for more information. Through a Course Consulting Service visit, we can help you develop a detailed recovery plan specific to your course.

Course Consulting Service