April / May / June 2011
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April / May / June 2011 table ofcontents 2011agsa board of directors AGSA SPRING MEETING................................15 President DUANE SHARPE Blackhawk Golf Club 5111 RR 255 Spruce Grove, AB T7Y 1A8 in every Phone: (780) 470-4799 issue [email protected] PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ................................ 4 vice President TERRY SHINKEWSKI CGSA REPORT ............................................ 7 The Canal at Delacour Golf Club Box 20 ATRF REPORT ............................................. 8 Delacour, AB T0M 0T0 Phone: (403) 590-4108 SUPERINTENDENT PROFILE ...........................12 [email protected] DATES TO REMEMBER..................................17 ON THE MOVE ............................................18 SECRETARY-treasurer MIKE JOHNSON Pine Hills Golf Club NEW MEMBERS ..........................................18 Box 1811 Rocky Mountain House, AB T4T 1B4 Phone: (403) 845-5328 [email protected] cover Photo: DIRECTOR DUSTIN ZDAN Elbow Springs Golf Club Connaught Golf Club 2802 - 13th Avenue SE Site of AGSA Championship Medicine Hat, AB T1A 3P9 Phone: (403) 529-1009 [email protected] to advertise in this newsletter contact: BARB: (403) 912-0130 DIRECTOR JOHN FABER Next Issue: September 30, 2011 Springbank Links Golf Club 125 Hackamore Trail Deadline: September 1, 2011 Calgary, Alberta T3Z 1C2 Phone: (403) 202-2031 [email protected] alberta golf superintendents association Box 10261, Airdrie, AB T4A 0H5 Past President JASON CLOUSTON Phone (403) 912-0130 Olds Central Highlands G.C. Fax (403) 948-9527 Box 13, Site 1, RR 2 Olds, AB T4H 1P2 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (403) 556-1661 Website: www.albertagsa.com [email protected] eXecutive DIRECTOR BARB ALEXANDER Box 10261 Airdrie, AB T4A 0H5 Phone: (403) 912-0130 [email protected] 3 President’sMessage ell, it is encouraging to be looking out my window at My first few months as president have been full of exciting Wsun and enjoying temperatures in the mid-twenties. adventures. In the month of April, I was fortunate to Summer has arrived in Edmonton and with some recent participate in The National Allied Golf Association Golf timely rains turf is in full gear ahead. It is really hard to give Lobby Days. We split into groups and informed politicians a report for Alberta as weather patterns from town to town about the benefits of the golf industry to Alberta, made them have been so variable. As an example, fires are burning out aware of our Environmental Stewardship and IPM Practices of control in the North and bridges are floating away in the and also briefed on the equality of property taxes for golf south. My golf course just outside of Edmonton has received courses in the province. Most were receptive to our message 40 mm of rain since May 20th and, in contrast, Priddis and appreciative of our efforts. The highlight of the day was Greens just outside of Calgary has received over 250 mm! a 45 minute meeting with Premier Ed Stelmach. NAGA has We all have unique challenges to face day to day depending been hosting golf lobby days in provincial capitals across on where you are that makes our job so specialized. I hope Canada over the past three months. that everyone’s turf is happy at this point in the season, however, I know we all have different battles to overcome. I Our first meeting of the year took place at Pine Hills Golf wish everyone the best over the next three months. Club in Rocky Mountain House. Mike Johnson should be commended for having the course in great spring condition with some of the best greens I have seen this year. Carol Bubar was our guest speaker who briefed us on the Weed Control Act including additions of new restricted and noxious weeds. One pesticide point in Regulations was gained by Algae Problems members present for her talk. We had 51 members and 21 industry representatives golf in the afternoon in what turned There is a registered solution. out to be a great day. Thanks to all who attended and we hope to see you at Elbow Springs on August 8th for our AGSA Championship. I would like to thank those of you who donated sports books in support of the Slave Lake Golf Club. Polydex Leard Robertson (superintendent) is leading a campaign to Ionic Copper help re-stock the library that was lost during the fires in Effective, Easy to use May. I will be dropping off a box of books on behalf of the AGSA for Leard in the upcoming week. The ever popular Challenge Cup is scheduled for July 25th and 26th at The Springs and Eagle Ranch Golf Courses in Advanced Water the Windermere Valley. Look for some new exciting changes Solutions this year. We are close to capacity for teams again. If you have not registered and would like more information, please contact Barb in the AGSA office. This is a great event for team Todd Creighton building by bringing club managers, club professionals, 403-830-5959 presidents and superintendents together for a competitive yet social gathering. Acid Injection • Seaweed Extracts Barb Alexander, Jason Clouston and I are working with 4 DUANE SHARPE STRATHMORE, ALBERTA Superintendent, Blackhawk Golf Club Suppliers of Chairman James Beebe and the 2012 CGSA Conference Quality Turfgrass Committee. We are currently assisting the CGSA with - Kentucky Bluegrass Sod - solidifying a theme, key note speakers and general sessions. Please mark your calendars in advance for the Regular & Fairway Cut, new conference dates of Sunday, February 5th to Thursday Small Roll & Big Roll February 9th, in Calgary. - Fine Fescue Sod Paul Dodson from Silver Springs Golf & Country Club - Bentgrass - USGA has been selected as Alberta’s nomination for the CGSA sand-based Superintendent of the Year Award. The AGSA has put together a nice package with many letters of support for - Contract Grow Available Paul. We wish you the best of luck! Finally, I would like to report that the AGSA remains in a strong financial state with nearly 200 members and (403) 235-TURF (8873) continued support of our events from industry affiliates www.eaglelaketurf.com throughout the province. Over the next few months we will be working on building a strong relationship with NAGA who is structuring a provincial entity. They will provide financial and professional support – readily available for any issues relating to golf, such as potential pesticide bans and taxation issues. This is an exciting step for Alberta golf courses. Keep an eye out for further information coming this year. We supply high quality products in conjunction with expertise and exceptional service. notice of Meeting Distributors of: DATE: Monday, August 8th, 2011 LOCATION: Elbow Springs Golf Course Calgary, AB HOST SUPERINTENDENT: Pat Johnson 9:00 am Registration, Coffee 9:30 am AGSA Meeting Dress Code in Effect Clark’s Supply & Service Ltd. 124 Orchard Way 11:00 am Lunch Strathmore, AB T1P 1R8 12:00 pm Golf – Cross Over Start Phone 1-866-224-8873 Dinner and Prizes will follow golf. or 403-901-0018 **The Low Gross and Low Net winners will win a trip to the CGSA Fall Field Day in September in Prince Edward Island. Check out our web site for all the lines we carry! www.clarkssupply.com 5 JAMES BEEBE report Alberta Director CGSA CGSA t has been a very busy and active time at CGSA over the issues that come up in your community or municipality. Ipast few months. Committee meetings have been ramping Reporting issues such as pesticide bans, or water restrictions up and the Conference Coordinating Committee has been and/or water taxation issues will help the committee to busy preparing for the Canadian International Conference ensure proper advocacy strategies are in place. and Trade Show that will be held February 5-9th 2012, in Calgary. The Conference will have more than 40 speakers The CGSA Fall Field day is quickly approaching and you from across North America discussing topics pertinent to won’t want to miss registration as it is sure to sell out. The the ever changing dynamic of the Golf Course Management CGSA Fall Field Day is being held in PEI at the Dundarave industry. We will also be more than 100 exhibitors at the Resort on September 18th and 19th. The popular two-ball 9 trade show and there will be numerous social events for hole tournament will be held on Sunday September 18th and delegates giving them the opportunity to see old friends and the CGSA championship will be held on Monday September expand professional networks. 19th. CGSA members can look forward to the release of the The Board of Directors and staff of CGSA welcome your new web site in the first week of July. The professional feedback and suggestions to help make the CGSA a stronger development committee has worked with CGSA staff and voice in the golf industry. web site developers to give this web site a fresh new look. The new site should be easier to navigate, and has been built to be more interactive, streamlining member’s ability to find archived resources. Now that the provincial and federal Golf Lobby days are in the books, all reports from representatives attending these meetings indicate a high level of success. CGSA was a major partner in the development of this National Allied Golf Association (NAGA) initiative on behalf of all Golf Course Superintendents across the country. Relationships with Members of Parliament, Senators and numerous Ministers and Deputy Ministers as well as government staffers should bode well for the golf industry in the future as the industry faces challenges that require government assistance. The consulting lobby group Impact, that helped organize this event and got NAGA in the door with politicians, will be providing a summary report of all provincial and the federal Golf Lobby Day initiatives.