Is There a War Breaking out on Your Turf? Nematodes - the Enemy!
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The Official Magazine of the GCSAI l www.gcsai.org l December 2010 GREENSIDE is There a war breaking out on your turf? Nematodes - The Enemy! GCSAI & GCSAA Sign Agreement The Presidents Cup All the Action from Dromoland Castle Also in This Issue l The Irish Abroad l Tractor Tyre Profile l Course Feature - Hilton Templepatrick greenside magazine | December 2010 l Irish Grenkeeping Awards l Regional Reports1 l Trade News l The Wonder of Sand Dunes Greenside www.gcsai.org 2 Greenside Hampering Contents Irish Greenkeeping Awards 8 Nature on the Golf Course 10 Freedom of The Irish Abroad 12 GCSAI/GCSAA Agreement 16 Expression The Wonder of Sand Dunes 18 ou have just got over the shock of finding out how much your earnings have been The Wheel Deal 20 reduced as a result of the Irish government’s budget. Not only are your personal finances not as good as they used to be, but the club for whom you work, is Nematodes 24 Yfeeling the financial strain as well - their customers will probably not be dipping into their pockets as much as they used Course Feature – to. This will impact on the amount Hilton Templepatrick 30 budgeted for maintaining your course or sports pitch. Because Regional Round up 36 Course Superintendents and Head Groundsmen take pride in their work, Presidents Cup 43 I do worry about the effect of the budget on their morale amongst these GCSAI Charity Day 49 people around the country, as they are trying very hard to maintain their Trade News 54 course to a standard that is acceptable to their club, but, more importantly, to a standard that is acceptable to themselves. I see greenkeepers and groundsmen as artists - some are good but many more have exceptional talents. The course or sports ground where they work is their canvas whereby they can show case their artistic skills to the world, provided the resources are made available to them. Ask any serious groundsman “What means more to you - pride of work or how much money you can earn?” Like many artists, their answer will always be the former. Many groundsmen feel frustrated that they cannot be as creative as they used to be, when times were good, but others are also feeling the mental strain of being pressurised by their club, despite the shortfall in maintenance budgets, to maintain the same. How can you say to a painter “I want you to paint me a beautiful picture full of wonderful colours and tones. I will supply you with all the necessary items that you need - except green paint - my budget doesn’t stretch that far.” A tall order for an artist. Front cover photo by Alan Mahon Back issues of The views expressed in contributed REMINDER Greenside can now articles are not necessarily the views The deadline for be seen on the expressed by the editor of this publication. Editorial content and photographs receiving advertising GCSAI website: cannot be reproduced without prior and editorial is permission from the editor. www.gcsai.org January 21st 2011 3 greenside magazine | December 2010 News Dates for your Diary Rush Christmas Outing - December 17 GCSAI Annual Conference & Sportsturf Yes it’s this time of year again and as you read this snippet, Eddie Ireland - 2, 3 March 2011 Donlon is busy hanging the Christmas decorations, getting ready The GCSAI are delighted to launch Sportsturf Ireland. This event for the annual Rush Christmas outing. It takes place on Dec 17th will include the established GCSAI conference, expanded to with a shotgun start at 11am. The time sheet opens from 8th to 14th include a trade exhibition. Sportsturf Ireland 2011 will be held in December so you need to hurry as only the first 44 names booked Knightsbrook, Trim Co. Meath on 2nd and 3rd of March 2011. This get to play. event will be a show case for all involved in the Sportsturf industry. Contact Eddie on 087 2908199 between 1pm and 1.30pm. There will be educational seminars delivered by international and Irish speakers, including Professor James B Beard. There will be demonstrations and a trade exhibition featuring all the top brands in Harrogate Week - January 18 - 20, 2011 the industry. Booking forms will be sent out in the next few weeks. For more information contact Maria Behan at maria.behan@ calibresupport.ie or phone her on 087 7917789 This takes place from January 18 - 20, 2011 at the Harrogate International Centre, North Yorkshire. Discover what’s new in an ever changing, growing market. If your business is in Turf Management, the Groundscare Industry or Club Facility Manmagement then make it your business to attend Harrogate Week. With innovative product ideas it is your best opportunity to meet all the players in the groundscare industry under one roof. For general enquiries tel. 00441347 833830 or log onto www.harrogateweek.org.uk GCSAA Show - February 7 - 11, 2011 Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Club Stamp your Passport to Profitability with the information and innovations you will only find at the 2011 GCSAA Education Conference and the Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Florida, USA. This event, which takes place from 7 - 11 February 2011, is just the beginning of your journey, as you will return home with a wealth of knowledge that will put you well ahead of the competition. Attending the conference and show places you at the forefront of what is happening in the global golf community and provides you with the tips and tools necessary to make the greatest positive impact on your bottom line. When you make plans to attend the 2011 GCSAA Education Conference and the Golf Industry Show, you are setting the course for: • Seminars that provide timely and comprehensive industry information • The chance to interact with experts in your field • Innovative products that cut maintenance costs • Unparalleled product discounts on the show floor • Opportunities for onsite equipment and product comparisons • Sessions that offer solutions to your biggest agronomic and business challenges Set your course for success in the golf course management industry - find out more at www.gcsaa.org/conference. www.gcsai.org 4 Education Report s I write this article, plans for the organisation of the conference/ trade show, which will take place Ain March, in Knightsbrook Golf Hotel and Country Club, are well under way. A lot of hard work by your executive committee has culminated in what will eventually be known as the Golf Industry Show, and the only one that will be dedicated to fine turf managers in Ireland. The renowned Dr James B. Beard, among many others, will be giving talks, and there will be a full ‘trade show’ Patrick O’Byrne (centre) receives his Student of the Year floor, in order to visit the many suppliers presentation from Harold Lawlor and Robert McDermott to our industry. It promises to be a great show, so make sure that you attend. Watch out for more details on our website www.gcsai.org Two motivational days, aimed at deputy superintendents and young greenkeepers, will have taken place, by the time that you read this, so a full report will be in the next issue of Greenside. Bobby Barenbrug/STRI seed trial Open Day was held in Druids Glen GC on the 16th September, with a superb McDermott turnout of GCSAI superintendents and non affiliated groundsmen. The Irish Links Initiative held an annual ‘get together’ in Lahinch Golf Club on the 13th October, and by all Foxrock accounts, it was well supported. Lahinch Club Captain, Eugene Gilligan, welcomed the delegates and outlined Golf Club the agenda for the day. The group was split into three groups before setting out to view the three work stations set up on the links. All in all it proved to be a great success with the links Superintendents. Congratulations to all involved. On the 8th November last I had the privilege of attending the National Botanic Gardens, where the current crop of budding Greenkeepers had their graduation ceremony. I was in attendance to present the Student of the Year trophy, which was won by Patrick O’Byrne from the Island Golf Club. Congratulations to Patrick and I wish him every success in his career. If you would like to contact me please do so: Tel: 086 2627839; 01 2065136 Email [email protected] or [email protected] 5 greenside magazine | December 2010 News IISS launches Club Playing Surface of the Year Awards volunteers whose dedication and endeavours have long gone unnoticed - until now. We in association with Leinster GAA and Barenbrug hope that the awards will encourage others to get involved in the maintenance of GAA The Irish Institute of Sports Surfaces (IISS) has unveiled a new awards scheme surfaces and raise standards of sports turf to recognise and reward the high standards of groundsmanship achieved by care even higher. Our thanks to the Leinster Ireland’s volunteer GAA groundsmen. Council of the GAA and Barenbrug for their support.” Seamus Howlin, chairman of the Leinster Council of the GAA, adds: “All our players begin their sporting careers with their local club - the heart and soul of the GAA. Good playing conditions are essential for the development of players’ skills and their enjoyment of the game, hence anything that encourages and promotes the development of our pitches is to be supported. Leinster GAA is happy to be associated with the awards - we wish the IISS the very best with the project and also welcome Barenbrug’s involvement.” Neil Pettican, Barenbrug area manager for Ireland, concludes: “I’m delighted Barenbrug is supporting this important initiative. Ireland is a key market for us and we’re looking forward to helping improve standards further by raising awareness of the importance of correct grass seed selection Celebrating the creation of the new Playing Surface of the Year Awards are, from left, Donal in achieving quality surfaces.