Thegrass ROOTS

The GRASS ROOTS AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WISCONSIN GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION VOL. XLIII ISSUE 4 JULY/AUGUST 2014 “I’ll make dollar spot pay.”

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Not registered in California. Always read and follow label directions. © 2011 BASF Corporation. All Rights Reserved. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER CONVERSATION THE GRASS ROOTS Chapter Updates...... 4 is the bi-monthly publication of the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association. No part of the THE GRASS ROOTS my be used without the ex- WISCONSIN SOILS REPORT pressed written permission of the editor. Managing Soil and Canopy Temperatures For EDITOR David A Brandenburg, CGCS Healthy Turf ...... 6 Rolling Meadows Golf Course PO 314 eresa, WI 53091 WISCONSIN PATHOLOGY REPORT [email protected] University of Wisconsin Snowmold Review ...... 10

TURFGRASS DIAGNOSTIC LAB Turfgrass Around e World ...... 14

WGCSA June Meeting at Brown Deer Park Golf Course ...... 18 2014 WGCSA OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS BADGER STATE TURF CLIPPINGS Front Row: Chad Harrington, Jim Van Herwynen, Jon Canavan, Josh Lepine. Back Row: Je Millies News and Notes From WGCSA Members ...... 24 Brett Grams, Je Barlow, Kevin Knudtson, Mike Bremmer, Joe Sell. (Not pictured Steve Wasser and Scott Bushman.) NOTES FROM THE NOER PRESIDENT DIRECTORS Perfect Day / Perfect Summer ...... 26 Chad Harrington Scott Bushman Autumn Ridge GC Fox Valley GC 335 Berge Street PO Box 38 Valders, WI 54245 Kaukauna, WI 54130 COVER STORY [email protected] [email protected] State Amateur At Ozaukee Country Club ...... 30 VICE PRESIDENT Jim Van Herwynen, CGCS Mike Bremmer South Hills Golf & CC Wisconsin Club EDITORS NOTEBOOK 1175 Fond du Lac Ave. 5835 N Shoreland Ave Fond du Lac, WI 54935 Whitesh Bay, WI 53217 Summer Has Gone Again ...... 38 [email protected] [email protected] TREASURER Jon Canavan Kevin Knudtson USGA GREEN SECTION Milwaukee County Parks Geneva National GC 9480 Watertown Plank Rd 2200 Petrie Rd. Damned If You Do, But Not If You Don’t ...... 41 Wauwatosa, WI 53226 Lake Geneva, WI 53121 [email protected] [email protected] SECRETARY EVENT SCHEDULE ...... 40 Josh Lepine, CGCS Je Barlow CGCS Maple Blu CC Waupaca CC 500 Kensington Drive 1330 Ware St. ABOUT THE COVER Bunkers are not a place for pleasure. Madison, WI 53147 Waupaca, WI 54981 [email protected] [email protected] ey 6th hole at Ozaukee Country ey’re for punishment and repentance. By omas Mitchell Morris, Sr. (Old Club plays 209 yards. Ozaukee CC VENDOR LIAISON PAST PRESIDENT Tom Morris) Golf Professional, Steve Wasser Je Millies, CGCS hosted the 2014 Wisconsin State Greens keeper, Golf Course Archi- John deere Golf Edgeweeod GC 1700 Peters Road W238 S9560 Kuzendorf Ct Amateur. tect, 1821-1908 Kaukauna, WI 54130 Big Bend, WI 53103 is quote by Morris gives golf course [email protected] [email protected] superintendents a smile as they Class C Representative CHAPTER MANAGER Visit our Website at consider golfer expectations when it Joe Sell Brett Grams comes to bunkers. Whistling Straits GC N9122 Virginia Dr. 1276 Meadowbrook Dr #1 Waupaca, WI 54981 www.wgcsa.com Cleveland, WI, 53015 [email protected] Email: [email protected] CHAPTER CONVERSATION********* Chapter Update By Brett Grams, Chapter Manager, Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association

ell according to my calendar we the board lead us into the next few years. Kohler. I challenge all members to take Ware now in the second half of the e WGCSA Board of Directors is hop- advantage of these events. ey are all growing season. I know many courses ing that everyone will take the time to planned and created for you and your fel- have seen quite a bit of varying weath- answer the survey as well as consider tak- low members with many costs oset by er. Cold and wet, warm and wet, and ing an active role in our association. If our generous vendor members. I hope now even hot and nally even some dry you would like to become more involved to see all of you at one of these quality weather. I hope all members are making please contact me as you can. Board and events at these great facilities. the best of the challenges thrown your Committee service can be rewarding In closing please balance the demands way. with the time required being as much or of the golf course with the opportunities e WGCSA phone calls and e-mails as little as you prefer. Please consider to spend time with family and friends. are always reduced in the summer as our sharing your time and working with fel- I hope you can take advantage of the members are busy with the golf course low members on our future. We will all warmer weather to accomplish your operations. However preparations are benet if we can get more member lead- projects on the course while enjoying the already under way for planning the re- ers involved! outdoors with those you love. maining functions of 2014 and starting to Please join us for the August 18th meet- anks for your dedication to your golf work on our 2015 season. e WGCSA ing at Brown County, the Wee One out- courses, our industry, and our associa- will celebrate our 85th Anniversary in ing September 15th, and mark your cal- tion! 2015. endars for the October 4th Couples event Please feel free to contact me with any Currently the board is working on a at Wild Rock GC in the WI Dells. ese questions or eort I may be able to help survey that will go out to each member. are the last of the golng events for the you with! is survey and the strategic planning year with December 3rd and 4th as the PH 920-643-4888 that was done earlier this year will help dates of our 49th Annual Symposium in Email [email protected]

WGCSA MISSION STATEMENT e Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association is committed to serve each member by promoting the profession and enhancing the growth of the game of golf through education, communication and research. WGCSA VISION STATEMENT e Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association is dedicated to increase the value provided to its members and to the profession by: • Enhancing the professionalism of its members by strengthening our role as a leading golf organization in the state. • Growing and recognizing the benets of a diverse membership throughout Wisconsin. • Educating and promoting our members as leaders in environmental stewardship. • Oering aordable, high value educational programs at the forefront of technology and service. • Being key to enjoyment and the economic success of the game of golf.

4 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 THE MOWER THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO SEE.

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©2012 Jacobsen, A Textron Company/Textron Innovations Inc. All rights reserved. WISCONSIN SOILS REPORT Managing Soil and Canopy Temperatures for Healthy Turf By Dr. Doug Soldat, Department of Soil Science, University of Wisconsin – Madison

eat stress comes into varieties, direct Indirect heat stress is a result of an imbalance grass grown in a growth chamber kept at Hand indirect. Direct heat stress injury between photosynthesis (making sugar) and 68 °F during the day and 95 °F at night died can occur when the canopy temperature is so respiration (burning sugar). Generally, res- quickly, while the same grass grown at 95 °F extreme that it kills the leaf or plant imme- piration increases as temperatures increase, during the day and 68 °F at night thrived. diately. Direct heat stress injury oen goes while photosynthesis peaks at about room From this we can conclude that nighttime hand in hand with drought stress. Plants use temperature and declines as temperatures lows are more important to managing heat evaporative cooling to dissipate heat. During warm. When temperatures get into the up- stress symptoms than daytime highs. Here’s drought stress, the plants close their pores per 80s, cool-season turf hits a break-even the bad news, according to CALS Scientist (stomata) and evaporative cooling shuts point where the plant is using sugar as fast Chris Kucharik (Department of Agronomy), down resulting in a rapid increase in canopy as it can make it. In the 90s, the plant is us- Wisconsin has become warmer by about temperature. Except for plants that aren’t wa- ing more sugar than it makes. At this point, 1.1 °F since 1950. However, during that pe- ter stressed, direct heat stress is a rare condi- it starts using its reserves and roots depth de- riod the number of days over 90 °F hasn’t tion. clines. is can only go on for so long until changed, but our nighttime lows have been Indirect heat stress is more common and the turf begins to thin. e moral of the story consistently higher (see Wisconsin’s Chang- harder to quantify. With direct heat stress, appears to be that heat kills, and you should ing Climate: Impacts and Adaptation, 2011). the plant either survived or did not. However, do everything you can to keep your turf cool. Going forward, we can expect this trend indirect heat stress occurs over a longer time But Dr. Bingru Huang and co-workers to continue and indirect heat stress will period and the symptoms can be dicult to (2004) taught us that it is more complicated probably become more prevalent in Wis- pinpoint, plants don’t die but simply weaken. than that. Her research showed that bent- consin. Renovation | Reﬁnement | Restoration

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6 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014

WISCONSIN SOILS REPORT ere are some strategies you can employ water temperature matters too. Ground- benet of having fans probably doesn’t to help keep your turf as cool as possible. water is quite cold, so when you add cold make sense for the majority of Wisconsin Dr. Beth Guertal has been conducting soil water to a cool dry soil, the soil will remain courses, I would encourage you to keep cooling studies involving fans and irriga- cooler for a large portion of the day. But them in mind for those problem greens. tion in the Alabama heat for well over a if you irrigate a dry soil in the aernoon Finally, remember that keeping soils dry, decade. Her results have shown that fans or evening, the soil is warm and transfers but safely above the wilt point at night and are far more eective than syringing for that heat to the water, which will retain it watering in the morning will be your best cooling turf. Syringing (a very light ap- into the night. erefore, the best time to bet to combat indirect heat stress. plication of water) can create a short-lived irrigate soil for managing heat stress is in decrease in canopy temperature as the the morning, when the dry soil has had References: water evaporates. It is most eective when time to cool to the minimum and the cold Wisconsin’s Changing Climate: Impacts done about two hours prior to the daytime groundwater will resist heating up until and Adaptation. 2011. Wisconsin Initia- high temperature. However, it does not re- later in the day. is is essentially what Dr. tive on Climate Change Impacts. Nelson duce the nighttime lows. For that we need Guertal and Dr. Han found in their latest Institute for Environmental Studies, Uni- to look to fans and irrigation timing. study (2009). However, they reported that versity of Wisconsin-Madison and the A substance with a high heat capacity irrigation timing didn’t matter if you are Wisconsin Department of Natural Re- resists changes in temperature. Another running a fan 24 hours. I highly recom- sources, Madison, WI. (available at www. way to look at it is a substance with a high mend reading the 2009 report for more wicci.wisc.edu) heat capacity will take a lot of heat to in- details. Guertal, E.A., and D.Y. Han. 2009. Tim- crease the temperature, and a long time While we don’t have the challenges of ing of irrigation for cooling bentgrass to cool down relative to materials with Alabama, I think fans are an underutilized greens with and without fans. USGA lower heat capacities. e heat capacity tool in tough growing environments. But Turfgrass and Environmental Research of air is essentially zero, which is why air they are out there, I still remember see- Online. Vol. 8, No. 7. is a great insulator. Water has a high heat ing my rst fan in the early 1990s near the Huang, B., J. Pote, and Q. Xu. 2004. Soil capacity relative to other substances. is 14th green at the Janesville Country Club, temperatures controlling creeping bent- means that soils with more air will cool and University Ridge has recently em- grass growth. USGA Turfgrass and Envi- down much quicker. e wetter the soil, ployed a number of fans to protect their ronmental Research Online. Vol. 3, No. the slower it will cool down. But irrigation new bentgrass greens. While, the cost- 18.

A fan on the 2nd green at University Ridge (photo: Adam Wepfer)

8 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 National Golf Graphics WISCONSIN PATHOLOGY REPORT University of Wisconsin Snow Mold Review By Dr. Paul Koch, Department of Pathology, University of Wisconsin – Madison

he summer of 2014 has been relatively low on stress for conducted at ve sites around the upper Midwest: Tumble- Tmost superintendents to date, though that’s not to say we down Trails GC in Madison, WI; Wausau CC in Wausau, WI; haven’t experienced our share of diculty (mainly heavy rains Marquette CC in Marquette, MI; Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, and ooding). e transition to fall is always welcome, how- MN; and Silver Bay CC in Silver Bay, MN. e trials were ever, and with that transition comes preparations for snow the largest since at least 2005, testing over 100 dierent fungi- mold. To help us prepare for this winter, let’s take a quick look cide treatments at the Madison, Wausau, and Marquette sites. back at the research results from 2013-2014. Pressure was highest at Wausau (mostly pink snow mold) and e 2013-2014 Wisconsin Snow Mold Research Trials were Marquette (mostly speckled snow mold), moderate at both Craguns and Silver Bay, and nonexistent at Madison. e full reports for each site, including pictures of each treatment, can be viewed at the TDL’s website (www.tdl.wisc.edu/results). In addition to the full reports, there were three key points ob- served from last year’s trials. Let’s look at each of these points in a little more depth.

1. Even under heavy pressure, you have lots of options. Average snow mold on non-treated plots over four replications at Wausau CC was 87.5% (Figure 1) and at Marquette CC was 95%. at is very heavy pressure. But despite this pressure, numerous treatments worked quite well at both loca- tions. At Wausau, over half of the treatments (56 of 108) sup- pressed disease by 85% of more. At Marquette, 35 treatments provided over 80% suppression while 6 treatments provided over 95% suppression. Many of these eective treatments include widely-known products such as Instrata, Interface + Triton FLO, Torque + 26/36, and QP Enclave. However, some newer products such as Lexicon performed well when mixed with other fungicides, and Turfcide 400 also performed well when mixed with Concert II. Bottom line, you should be able to nd a snow mold mixture that works for you and won’t bust your budget.

2. Multiple active ingredients are required under heavy disease pressure. is is not a new or novel point, but rarely is it illustrated as well as it was in Wausau last year. Interface at 3.0 oz per 1000 2 applied with Triton FLO at 0.75 oz per 1000 2 provided excellent suppression at Wausau last year, allowing only 3.8% disease. However, taking away the Triton FLO completely caused the protection to break down as Interface applied alone at 3.0 oz per 1000 2 yielded 62.5% disease. But it’s not as if the Triton FLO was doing all the work in the mixture, as Triton FLO applied alone yielded 31.3% disease Figure 1: Disease pressure at Wausau CC averaged (Figure 2). e same thing was seen with Torque + 26/36. nearly 90% in non-treated areas and was nearly 100% Together the mixture had only 1.8% disease, while Torque ap- in this plot in 2013-2014 plied alone had 33.8% disease and 26/36 applied alone had 71.3% (Figure 3).

10 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 Coursewide Con dence.

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www.aquatrols.com WISCONSIN PATHOLOGY REPORT 3. Snow cover alone isn’t enough to cause snow mold. As mentioned previously, our Madison site was basical- ly free of snow mold despite being only 2 hours south of Wausau. It wasn’t due to lack of snow cover, as Madison approached a record for consecutive days with at least 1 inch of snow cover (over 90 days). Why the lack of disease despite prolonged snow cover? While several factors likely played a role, the primary impact was likely due to colder surface temperatures under snow cover at the Madison site relative to Wausau and Marquette (Figure 4). Despite colder air temperatures at both Marquette and Wausau relative to Madison, the surface temperature was signicantly colder for most of the winter at Madison. Snow mold fungi cannot grow when temperatures are well below freezing, and a deep snow cover will provide enough Figure 2: e mixture of Interface and Triton FLO at Wausau CC in insulation to maintain or increase surface temperatures to 2013-2014 provided excellent disease suppression while either fun- near freezing (and allow for disease development). But a gicide applied alone provided very poor protection. shallow snow cover will not insulate the surface well, lead- (Figure originally appeared in the August, 2014 issue of Golfdom.) ing to lesser amounts of disease during exceptionally cold winters like those experienced last year.

ese trials are an important part of the research and extension program here at the University of Wisconsin, and provide you with unbiased information regarding the ef- cacy of a wide range of fungicides. is research would be impossible, however, without the generous support of our host facilities. I would like to extend a huge thank you to the superintendents at each host facility for their spec- tacular hospitality: Marc Watts of Tumbledown Trails GC, Randy Slavik of Wausau CC, Craig Moore of Marquette CC, Matt McKinnon of Cragun’s Resort, and Norma O’Leary of Silver Bay CC. Without their support our extensive snow mold research program would not be possible. Figure 3: e mixture of Torque and 26/36 at Wausau CC in 2013- If you have any questions regarding these trials or about 2014 provided excellent disease suppression while either fungicide snow mold management in general, please don’t hesitate to applied alone provided very poor coverage. contact me at [email protected] or 608-262-6531. (Figure originally appeared in the August, 2014 issue of Golfdom.)

Figure 4: Surface temperatures under snow cover at Tumbledown Trails GC in Madison, WI; Wausau CC in Wausau, WI; and Mar- quette CC in Marquette, MI throughout the winter of 2013-2014. (Figure originally appeared in the August, 2014 issue of Golfdom.)

12 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 JG Sullivan

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Vertis QCA Cyan Magenta Yellow Black 1300 19th Street, Suite 200 East Moline, IL 61244 44573 E-Cut TURFGRASS DIAGNOSTIC LAB Turfgrass Around e World By Bruce Schweiger, Turfgrass Diagnostic Lab Manager, O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility

y the time you read this the summer more give when players collide, slide, trip, the TDL, well not much except I had two Bwill be on the downside. Most of the fall, dive or are taken down. Natural turf German Turfgrass professionals spend major summer events at your course and is not perfectly level like articial turf, so three weeks in Brazil watching the games around the world will be over. e two the ball may not always bounce perfectly. and making tours of the stadiums. Brazil biggest events will have ended one on is adds to the skill levels of the players may have been the host but the pictures I July 13th and the other on July 29th. e the excitement of the fans. receive from my friends could have come second biggest is e World Cup which Futbol, for those that do not understand from almost anywhere in Wisconsin the was won by Germany over Argentina in it, can be like watching paint dry, but for last few weeks. 120 minutes of pure futbol. is year the purist this years games were excellent. In years past I was fortunate enough to USA seemed to catch World Cup Fever e semi nal game between Germany make a few visits to Germany and make with many more people talking about the and host Brazil was an Americans dream friends in the Turfgrass industry. On happenings. World Class futbol should with a score of 7-1. As we all know scor- one trip I had a meeting with Chris- be near and dear all turf manager’s hearts. ing in futbol is not that easy and the games toph Seiler, the Field Manager for the Unlike baseball and American football, are usually very low scoring. For those of FC Colonge Soccer Club in the rst di- world-class soccer is NEVER played on you that are not huge futbol fans try to vision of the Bundesliga (Germany’s top articial turf. FIFA (the governing bod- think of it as a baseball game where both league). My counterpart Sabina Brait- ies of Futbol, sort of like the R&A and pitchers pitch a 1 or 2 hitter or a football meier had asked me to accompany her USGA) mandates that futbol shall only be game the ends aer a great defensive bat- to RheinEnergieStadion to assist in their played on natural turf. Natural turf has tle 3-0. So what does this have to do with eld maintenance.

14 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 AANNEEWW CHCHAAPPTTEERR ININTTUURRFF

Matt Kinnard 262.720.0251 [email protected] www.pro-turfsolutions.com TURFGRASS DIAGNOSTIC LAB On another trip to Germany I had the op- ese visits drove home the realization portunity to spend an aernoon at Leverku- was that turfgrass no matter where we grow sen Golf Club as the guest Ulf Dieckmann, it is really all the same. e issues we deal the golf course superintendent. with here are much the same as the issues At this time I had been making visits like dealt with all around the world. e TDL this almost my entire career but I was a little has been receiving some worldwide notice. apprehensive as to what would happen. e With the conferences attended by Drs. Kerns day was exactly like any other day If I had and Koch and a few friends I have a made not know better I would have thought I was around the world we are being noticed. Pe- in Wisconsin touring the course with one riodically we receive emails with pictures of you. Disease control was the major top- and even microscope pictures asking for our ic and we had a very enjoyable time trying assistance. to understand what product he was using Ok back to the TDL. Well the year started and what those products were called in the out very slow with most of the samples com- back home. Finally we reverted to chemi- ing from outside Wisconsin, but things have cal names, the discussion was much simpler. picked up. Last month the telephones and e very interesting thing was the lack of social media was a blaze with dollar spot. It chemicals they had to chose from and the seemed to come all at once and with a ven- restriction they had on their use and tim- geance. e month of June brought rain and Divot repair tool for a soccer pitch, ing. is was for me a glimpse of what could wet conditions. I had many samples and same as the one you carry except come into our world and has come New calls about various leaf spot issues and on the much larger. England states and Canada. Our tour also lawn care side we saw asccochyta appear all mer Patch and Take-all-patch. He and an looked at wear areas, methods to overseed, around the state almost overnight. With all intern are attempting to isolate the fungus driving range tee management, aerication the rains wet wilt was seen on many courses and start work on a quick detection method (which Germans also despise) and fertility. with not much we could do. We needed dry that could possibly become a detection kit. In Leverkusen their winters are much dier- weather and all we received was more rain. is project requires many replications and ent then in Wisconsin, their temperatures Late June until now the rains have faded we are asking you to send us any possible will hover between 30F and 45F. A heavy some and the heat and humidity comes and sample so we can put them in their experi- snow may be 2-3 inches and melts in days. goes and the root pathogens are starting to ment (thank you to those that have already On this trip for us it was overcast and mist- be seen. Take-all-patch and summer patch responded). Dr. Koch has so kindly oered ing almost everyday. ey will battle with are starting to show up in samples at the lab. my services at TDL Diagnostician to exam- active Microdocium Patch for up three to Dr. Koch has been sending out the word ine every sample and provide you with a di- four months. Many of the best treatments for that we are doing a research project on Sum- agnosis, before they enter the project. Microdocium Patch are not available in Ger- many so they have some interesting ways to obtain some control. is was eye opening especially when we toured the course you could look o in the not too distant landscape and see a Bayer sign from the manu- facturing facility. adv grassroots 2011.pdf 1 2/4/11 11:18 AM

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16 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 TURFGRASS DIAGNOSTIC LAB In an eort to make this a more attrac- dred samples. University Ridge Golf Course on October tive oer Dr. Koch is oering my services Now before I started rambling back to 7th. free of charge, yes free! If you have a sus- the number one event in the Turfgrass Keep your chins up the Wee One Outing pected sample just go to our web page, tdl. world, e WTA Summer Field Day at is just around the corner and that marks wisc.edu and ll out the form under com- the OJ Noer Research Facility. By the time the end of the summer golf season. mercial sample submission and send the you read this the event will have passes, Congratulations to Michael Boettcher at sample to me and I will diagnose it and but I want to thank all that attended! My Miller Park for a very successful hosting send you a report. prediction is that it will be another huge of a futbol match on July 16th. e rst As long as we are asking for your samples success. Every year I have always looked match ever at Miller Park between Swan- please remember the rust project from forward to this event to see old friend sea City of the English Premier League last year is being conducted again this (many of them are now really old), make and Chivas of the Mexican league was year. We need rust samples from your many new friends, nd out what is going played the night of July 16th. ese are course, your yard, your neighbors yard, on around the state and get a glimpse of two top clubs in soccer and played a great the park down the street, anywhere you where the newest and greatest research match and the eld looked good and held can nd rust please send it to us. Again is leading the industry. If you missed it up excellent. As we waited for the stands go to our website, tdl.wisc.edu and look that is too bad but the good news is there to clear the grounds crew was out mark- on the right side for Rust Project, click on is another one next year. Put it on you ing and lling divots immediately. From it, print o the form, ll it out and enclose calendar now, it is always the last Tuesday the number of ags they use to mark the it with your rust samples that you send to in July. divots there were not too many. As the us. If every member sent us three samples If you did miss WTA Summer Field Day, world watched Miller Park presented an- that would be outstanding and get us well then hopefully you can make the WTA other great impression of the level of turf- on our way to our goal of over ve hun- Fall Golf Outing, being held this year at grass management to the world.

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Yamaha Golf and Utility 952-890-5541 800-352-2779 Fax: 952-890-2914 Paul Eckholm 952-463-5499 [email protected] Tom Bjornberg 612-718-8491 [email protected] Greg Stoeger 920-629-9114 [email protected] WGCSA June Meeting At Brown Deer Park By David Brandenburg, Golf Course Manager, Rolling Meadows Golf Course

e WGCSA Tournament Meeting was held at the historic the original Hanson course remains. Brown Deer Park Golf Course. e course was designed in 1929 Tim Wegner our host for the day started at Brown Deer Park in by George Hanson is well known for hosting the Greater Milwau- 2002 aer 4 years as a superintendent at Blackwolf Run in Kohler kee Open later named the U.S. Bank Championship from 1994- and as an assistant Merrill Hills Country Club. Tim started at UW 2009. Madison to obtain a accounting degree like his dad and uncles Brown Deer Park hosted the states rst major national amateur but his summer job at Brown Deere Park and his enjoyment of championship when the USGA Amateur Public Links came to the outdoors led Tim to obtain Bachelor of Science in Soil Science town in 1951 and returned in 1966 and 1967. Although some re- from UW Madison. design work was done by Roger Packard and Andy North in 1991 Bob Smail, Water Supply Specialist from the Wisconsin DNR was supposed to be our speaker for the day but he had to cancel. e group had round table discussions before lunch to learn from each other rather than from a speaker. An abundance of rain had the course a little wet and little roll could be found from tee shots. Luckily the rain stopped so we could play the challenging layout. Carts had to stay on the paths which made “cart golf” the goal of the day. Despite the being on the wrong side of most holes the course was a joy to play and the greens were very chal- USE MILORGANITE TO RELIEVE lenging to for our group. We said more than once I would hate to putt on these greens when they are dry. e wet conditions did not stop Phil Davidson and Scott STRESSED TURF Bushman from shooting 73s. Scott won the annual tournament again due to a playo scorecard starting with the ~IMPROVE COLOR & DENSITY~ hardest handicap hole. anks go out to Golf Course Superintendent Tim We- Use Milorganite mixed with sand (eg. 50/50 by volume) gner, Head Golf Professional Scott Evans and the rest of as a topdressing on thin spots on greens. Apply weekly the Brown Deer Park sta for inviting us and providing a until the turf has recovered. great venue for our tournament meeting.

Partnering with: is plaque on the 10th tee marks Tiger Woods pro debut at the course when he played in the Greater Milwaukee Open. Despite mak- 1-800-279-2341 1-800-785-3301 ing a hole-in-one on the 14th hole, he nished 08-270 aug12 tied for 60th and took home $2,544 in earn- 1-800-287-9645 www.milorganite.com ings.

18 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 Contact your Burris representative. Gary Huenerberg (608) 751-0074 Joe Baert (847) 417-4238 WWW.burrisequipment.com WGCSA

BROWN DEER EVENT WINNERS

A FLIGHT Gross - Scott Bushman (73) Net - Jon Canavan (66) B FLIGHT Gross - Paul Schaefer (81) Net - Je Millies (74) AFFILIATE FLIGHT Gross - Stacey Gasner (72) Net - Dave Kloss (63)

FLAG EVENTS Closest to the Pin Hole 5 - Phil Davidson Long Drive Hole 6 - Matt Lohmann Longest Drive Hole 12 - Eric Leanord Closest to the Pin Hole 14 - Eric Leanord Long Putt Hole 18 - Scott Bartosh Above: Bob Lohmann putts out on the Par3 14th hole.

Below: Jon and Nate Stahl tee o on hole 14.

20 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 WGCSA

Le: Scott Bushman won the tournament in a scorecard playo with a score of 73. Right: e Par416th Hole Plays 371 Yards. Below Le: 485 yard Par5 4th Hole Below Right: 557 Yard Par5 18th Hole with the historic clubhouse in the back- ground.

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Above: Host Superintendent Tim Wegner

Above Right: 359 Yard Par4 9th Hole

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22 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014

BADGER STATE TURF CLIPPINGS News and Notes From WGCSA Members By Matt Kinnard, Pro Turf Solutions

Career Moves pen to be familiar with this particular Mom a surprise birthday party at home. igh Cli Golf Course in Sherwood, piece of property as I was once the su- Steve and Kate weren’t able to get to the HWI hired a new golf course super- perintendent at RRH. According to hospital in time for a 2:58 a.m. birth, but intendent this year. Rodney Lesnick Nick, he applied for a job with yours with the help of rst responders from became the curator of the 18-hole track truly when he was sixteen and in my in- the City of Pewaukee, Kate and Brynn in April and hasn’t looked back. Rodney nite wisdom decided not to hire him. were completely healthy aer the deliv- got his start working on a golf course at Hard to believe, I know, but he got over ery at home. At birth Brynn weighed age 15 at the Oshkosh golf course, Wes- it. We happen to be good friends now 6lbs 14 oz and was 19” long. She joins thaven. His Dad and Uncles worked and Nick quite clearly did all right for her older sister Aubrey Grace in this there as kids, so, how bad could it be? himself. He graduated from the Rut- growing family. Steve is the Superin- As it turns out, being on the course was gers University Turf Program early this tendent at Bluemound Golf & Country the perfect job for Rodney from the very spring and completed a two-year intern- Club in Milwaukee. Congratulations beginning. With Jim Hall as your boss, ship at Galloway National Golf Club in Steve and Kate! how could it not? New Jersey. Rodney graduated from Oshkosh West Nick is a real turf nerd and it’s apparent Walking Down at Aisle High School in 1997, then attended to me now, that’s all he and I talk about. Eagle Creek Golf Course Superinten- Anoka Hennipin Tech and worked at Until writing this article I had no idea he dent, Andy Noll, married his bride, e Links at Northfolk in Ramsey, MN has three wives, all named Carol, seven- Tanya Rae Ritchie, at a park in Seymour, from 1997-2003. Before taking this job teen children and still nds time to sing WI with their closest friends and family at High Cli, Rodney had a nine-year in a mariachi band. In all seriousness, in attendance on May 10. Andy initially run as the Assistant Superintendent at congratulations Nick! met Tanya while she was his daughter’s Royal St. Patricks Golf Links in Wright- daycare teacher and the rest is history. stown, WI. Birth Announcements Andy isn’t the only one with a turf back- He is married to his high school sweet- Jered Kamin, Superintendent at e ground; Tanya has a degree in horti- heart, Sarah, and they have two daugh- Legend at Bergamont in Oregon, WI culture and turf management as well as ters; Emma, 5, and Alexa, 10 months. and his wife, Amanda, had their rst nutrition and human development. e Rodney enjoys playing golf when he child earlier this summer. Ryan Al- happy couple is planning a hunting and can, but with kids, the rounds went len Kamin was born on June 17. Ryan shing trip during the winter o-season down and the handicap went up. Not a weighed in at 8lbs 9 oz and 21” long. down south for their honeymoon. Con- problem though, as he just enjoys being Congratulation to new parents, Jered gratulations! a dad right now and focusing on his new and Amanda! job. Congratulations Rodney! Please call or email me with any sig- Steve Houlihan’s wife, Kate, received nicant news or happenings around the Nick Bannach was hired as the golf one of the best birthday gis a mom state so we can spread the good news. course superintendent at Rock River could ask for, a baby girl. On May 23, I can be reached at matt@pro-turfsolu- Hills Golf Club in Horicon, WI. I hap- Kate’s 30th birthday, Brynn Anne gave tions.com or (262) 720-0251

24 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014

NOTES FROM THE NOER

Perfect Day / Perfect Summer By Tom Schwab, Manager, O.J. Noer Turfgrass Research and Education Facility, University of Wisconsin-Madison

his has to be the most perfect sum- followed by a trade show around lunch Turf Diagnostic Lab manager Bruce Tmer for growing grass with moder- time. Six golf turf presentations and a Schweiger gave a great presentation on ate temperatures, adequate soil mois- sports turf meeting were featured in the fertilizer spreader and speed calibra- ture, and low disease pressure for most aernoon. tions. In addition to putting down the areas of Wisconsin. e grass has stayed In the morning general turf presenta- correct amount of nutrition, he talked green all summer and golfers have been tions, Dr. Doug Soldat presented infor- about the economics of what misappli- happy. It was also a great summer for the mation on how to select grass seed to get cations cost. He also talked about sev- annual WTA Summer Field Day. Large the best results for given expectations. eral common mistakes applicators make crowds descended on the OJ Noer Facil- He said you get what you pay for when that can be bad for the turfgrass and ity for the big educational event put on buying from reputable seed dealers. But environment. One lawn care attendee by the UW-Madison turf professors, stu- he warned that when buying seed on the mentioned that he will have his employ- dents, and sta on July 29th. ere were internet, you may get terrible seed that ees re-calibrate their ride-on units more 221 attendees, 35 more than last year, is very expensive. He also talked about oen because of what they learned from and 59 vendor representatives working how to read a seed label, and how to Bruce. 28 booths at this year’s show. choose the best variety for dierent uses. Factors aecting weed control was an- It’s hard to know why so many more Another presentation was by the newly other important subject that attendees showed up this year but I’m guessing at- hired UW Extension entomologist PJ Li- enjoyed. Scott Gilbertson from Reinders tendees heard about the great education esch. PJ talked about tree and shrub or- and Je Schmidt from PBI Gordon pre- being oered and realized they couldn’t namental applications. Many attendees sented good information about weed aord to miss the event. ey were not commented that it was nice to have edu- life cycle, application timing, product disappointed. cation beyond turfgrass, because they all formulation, environmental factors, Education came in the form of six deal with more than turf in their daily and application equipment that all aect general presentations in the morning activities. weed control results.

Le: Bucky is always present for WTA Field Day

Below: Bruce Schweiger gave a clinic on how to get more accurate spreader applications

26 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 NOTES FROM THE NOER Great information was also shared by Dr. Paul Koch and Dr. Both the morning and aernoon education made it worth every Chris Williamson on rust management for home lawns and Japa- penny to attend Field Day. Everyone we heard from said it was nese beetle life cycle and control. All the morning sessions were one of the best ever. All attendees le Field Day with numerous top notch and that led up to another form of education by way of ideas to put into practice back on their own landscapes. I hope the ever popular trade show. you were able to attend. And I hope the perfect weather continues is year there were 28 companies represented that helped at- through the fall. tendees with all their commercial questions. Exhibitors had information on seed, chemicals, equipment, nutrition, putting green materials, irrigation supplies, and more. Note the list of the Field Day Exhibitors, listed here, and show them your support for helping bring Summer Field Day and all its education to you every year. Following lunch and the trade show came the aernoon golf turf research tour at Noer and an o site meeting for sports turf managers which was held at Oregon High School. e golf turf tour included education on: •Winter Damage and Recovery in Chicago-land. Presented by Dr. Ed Nangle from the Chicago District Golf Association •Reduced Risk Management of Dollar Spot. Presented by Dr. Paul Koch •Water Volume and Nozzle Impact on Dollar Spot Develop- ment. Presented by Mr. Bruce Schweiger •Dollar Spot Research Roundup. Presented by Dr. Paul Koch •Potassium Requirements of Putting Greens. Presented by Dr. Doug Soldat e Water Volume and Nozzle Impacts On Dollar •Cooling Turf with Fans and Irrigation. Presented by Dr. Doug Spot Plots Were Very Popular. Soldat

THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 27 NOTES FROM THE NOER

2014 WTA SUMMER FIELD DAY EXHIBITORS

A A T A A C B P E BASF B B E C S E D C S DHD T T P D A S F F/S GJ H S H D J W T J D L P T S P G S P T S P C O R S S S T S V S T A W S S Top: P.J. Liesch, the new State Extension Entomol- ogist, sharing his knowledge on managing insect pests in ornamental trees and shrubs.

Center: Bruce Schweiger discusses research results.

Bottom: Representatives from Soil Solutions dem- onstrate their air injection machine to alleviate soil compaction.

28 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 Solutions & Supplies for the Green Industry W227 N6225 Sussex Road | Sussex, WI 800.782.3300 | www.reinders.com COVER STORY State Amateur At Ozaukee Country Club By David Brandenburg, Golf Course Manager, Rolling Meadows Golf Course

zaukee Country Club was a perfect host for the 113th OWisconsin State Golf Association State Amateur Tour- nament. Ozaukee was designed by the Chicago team of Bill Langford and eodore Moreau with construction nishing in 1922. According to the clubs website the course, the clubhouse and all related equipment was provided for around $300,000. Ozaukee has a long history of tournament golf and has hosted the Amateur in 1926, 1942, 1962 and 1989. e course also hosted the Western Open in 1929 which was won by Tommy Armour. Playing around 6,750 yards the course isn’t long by current standards but par is well protected by tree lined fairways, thick rough, large undulating greens with steep green banks. To enter the 72 hole stroke play event players need have a handicap index of 9.4 or less, be one of the approximately 41 exempt players or qualify at one of the 9 qualifying tournaments. Players must qualify in the district of their home course unless providing a good reason why they cannot do so. 168 players make the eld with a cut aer 36 holes to allow the top 70 players and ties to play for the championship. Four days of championship play will provide for the true state champion and winner of the Sinnissippi Cup. e cup e par ve 5th hole plays 548 yards uphill to a green well received its name from the rst championship in 1901 when protected by bunkers. the amateur was played at Sinnissippi Country Club which is now the Janesville Country Club. While players compete for individual honors WSGA member clubs with three qualiers compete for the Yule Cup awarded to the low club aer the rst 36 holes of play. 2014 WSGA Amateur Championship Qualing Sites DISTRICT #1A: e Golf Club at Cedar Creek, Onalaska DISTRICT #1B: New Richmond GC, New Richmond DISTRICT #2: Wausau CC, Wausau DISTRICT #3: Oakwood Park GC, Franklin DISTRICT #4: Cherokee CC, Madison DISTRICT #5: South Hills G&CC, Fond du Lac DISTRICT #6A: River Club of Mequon, Mequon DISTRICT #6B: Washington County GC, Hartford DISTRICT #6C: Watertown CC, Watertown

30 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 From Reservoir to Rotor... Rain Bird has you covered.

Lush fairways and manicured greens can also be highly To learn more, contact your local sales rep today! water-e cient. Every Rain Bird product is a testament to that Kevin West Dustin Peterson Outside Sales Outside Sales truth. From water-saving nozzles to highly e cient pumps to (708) 341-1687 (309) 314-1937 leading-edge Control Technology, Rain Bird products make the [email protected] [email protected] most of every drop, delivering superior results with less water. Jason Westmoreland Keeping the world and your golf course beautiful. Inside Customer Support That’s The Intelligent Use of Water.™ (888) 907-5535 [email protected] COVER STORY

WSGA Director of Rules and Competition Bill Linneman was quot- ed by Gary D’Amato in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as saying the “winning score will be well above par”. e rst day it looked as though Bill would be proven wrong when Robbie Ziegler shot a four under par 66 and held on to stay 3 under par aer 36 holes. On day three reality set in and Linneman was proven correct as Alex Gaugert won the 72 hole event with a total score of 6 over par 286 beating three day leader Robbie Ziegler who nished at 8 over par. e Yule Cup was won by Hawks Landing by two strokes over Brown Servicing the professional Deer Golf Club 442 compared to 444. In news reports and talking to golf, lawn care, landscape the players I knew the course and its conditions were very well re- and sports turf markets ceived. Some of Bill Linneman’s pin placements were cursed under the breath of some players but overall this old course showed it can still Proudly representing the challenge the states best players. following Brands…

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32 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 COVER STORY Member 9 With Brett Hosler

1. First Vehicle? 1964 Chevrolet Impala that I bought in high school. It had a 283 that I built into a 327. 2. Favorite Piece of Golf Course Equipment? As much as I love my topdressing and large fertilization equipment like the Toro ProPass, MH-400 and Vicon Spreader, I’d have to say that my favorite piece is an old, 5-gang, cement-lled roller. I’m not sure who made it or what year it was purchased but we have plans to refurbish and install a hydraulic ram li system and use as a greens roller. 3. 18 Hole Handicap? 12ish 4. Current Vehicle? 2014 Mitsubishi Evolution MR; I’ll never not own a turbocharged car aer driving this one. 5. Favorite TV Show? Mostly car related shows or MLB and NFL games. I like to follow the WRC and professional sports. 6. Favorite Pro Sports Team? Milwaukee Brewers 7. Favorite Main Course Meal? A good pizza or large porterhouse. I can’t decide between the two. 8. Pets? I have a seven-year-old Siberian Husky named Kane. 9. Favorite ing About Working In Golf Industry? Knowing that what we do provides happiness for those who have a passion for the game of golf. It’s the greatest game on earth. I can think of no greater professional success than to have those with discerning tastes think we have been successful.

e Ozaukee Country Club Maintenance Sta.

THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 33 COVER STORY

Brett Hosler joined Ozaukee Country Club in 2008 as an assistant superintendent under Colin Seaberg. Brett said he learned a Ozaukee Country Club lot from Colin and continues to hold him in the highest regard. Grounds Maintenance Brett took over as golf course superintendent in May of 2013 as has Managers loved it so far. Hosler’s previous work included and assistant superintendent at Brett Hosler - Golf Course Superintendent Evansville Country Club in Evansville, IN where Brett spent time Karl Wehausen - Assistant Superintendent with transition zone grasses and conditions. He started in the industry as a college student at the University of Kentucky working Bryan Fenney - Assistant Superintendent as a seasonal at the Pete and P.B. Dye designed Kearney Hill Golf Links. Dan Dommer - Equipment Manager Although Hosler hated getting up early he enjoyed being outdoors and had a tremendous amount of respect for the superintendent. Mark Bednarek - Horticulturist Aer graduating with a BA in Psychology in 2002 Brett continued his education at Eastern Kentucky University where he graduated with distinction with a AS in Technical Agriculture in 2003. When I asked Brett what the challenges of Ozaukee Country Club Le: Mowing (Top) and divot lling (bottom) on the layout he said “Wanting to spend two million a year on the golf 392 yard par4 3rd hole. course and having less than that to work with. Ozaukee is a won- derful property/golf course; having to follow legendary and great Top Right: Hand watering on the 416 yard par4 7th superintendents such as Wayne Otto and Colin Seaberg is a bit hole. daunting. I’m fortunate to have an excellent sta.” Brett was quick to recognize his full time and seasonal sta members as the ones who make Ozaukee what it is. Bottom Right: e challenging 188 yard par3 16th Congratulations to Brett and the entire sta for providing a great hole is well protected by water and sand. tournament course for the 113th State Amateur Championship.

34 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 COVER STORY

Future WSGA Amateur Championship Sites 2015 - Erin Hills, Erin, Host Superintendent - Zach- ary Reineking 2016 - North Shore Golf Club, Menasha, Host Su- perintendent - Scott Schaller 2017 - Oconomowoc Club, Oconomowoc, Host Superintendent - Dustin Riley

Top: e tucked pin on the par3 200 yard 14th hole shows how challenging tournament golf can be.

Top Middle: e green bank on the Par4 449 yard 13th hole shows the penalty for missing a green at the Langford and Moreau layout.

Bottom Middle: e Par5 15th hole plays 497 yards from the back tees.

Bottom: Ozaukee has a number of beautiful plant- ings as shown by this one between the 2nd and 7th tees.

THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 35 COVER STORY

Editors Note: Below is part of the rst correspondence from Brett didn’t prevent him from playing our course almost daily. My Hosler, Golf Course Superintendent, Ozaukee Country Club to the grandfather, James W. Hosler, my grandmother Dorothy M. membership when he took over as interim superintendent. e let- Hosler and my father Kirk Hosler were members of OCC in ter highlights his appreciation for Ozaukee Country Club and its the late 1960’s. My father actually bought his rst set of clubs, rich history. Wilson Stas, from Bobby Brue in December of 1967. I’m un- sure as to how well they worked out for him as he was only able Dear Membership of Ozaukee Country Club, to win two runner-up trophies from a couple dierent club I’d like to reintroduce myself to you all as I was promoted to events during that time. Around this time, my parents had interim superintendent of the Ozaukee Country Club on May just met and actually had one of their rst dates over dinner 11th of this year. My name is Brett Hosler, I want to thank at our club. My other grandfather, Gerald Gruen, was among those responsible for providing me with this opportunity. I’d other great things, one time mayor of Glendale. My 3rd great also like to thank Colin Seaberg for hiring me as his assistant grandfather, Henry ien, founded iensville. None of this, in 2008. of course, means that I will be a great superintendent. My I was born in Cedarburg Wisconsin in 1979. Shortly thereaer ability, knowledge, work ethic, and leadership proven to our and continuing throughout my life, I have moved all over the membership over this season provides an opportunity to con- Midwest and have lived in a variety of dierent places. In the vince. Expect the course conditions you’ve seen over the past past, when people would ask me where I was from, I usually few years. Expect what members of our club deserve. didn’t know what to say…I’m home now. I fully expect to continue the tradition of what makes our golf My family history at OCC and in this area is deeply rooted. course so unique and admired by so many. I’m honored to My great grandfather, William F. Schanen was a prominent have been given this opportunity and hope to meet more of attorney in Ozaukee County and longtime member of OCC you over this season. ank you for the opportunity to gain beginning in the mid 1920’s. He provided legal services for your trust. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] if our club during that time. He never took social security and you have any questions or comments and I’ll get back to you never retired. Although an absolutely horrendous golfer, it as soon as I can.

Top: e par5 2nd hole shown from the tee and from the green plays 505 yards from the back tees.

Mowing on the 10th hole. is 435 yard par 4 is protected by a bunker and water on the right side of the green.

36 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2014 Greener longer.

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Always read and follow label directions. Green Lawnger is a registered trademark of BASF. © 2013 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved. APN 13-BU-TO-0013 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK Summer Has Gone Again By David Brandenburg, Editor, e Grass Roots

ome summers go fast and others go really fast. is one I would Grants including a $1,500 grant to Jacob Schaller, son of Scott Ssay went really really fast. is is probably tied into the spring and Joan Schaller. Jacob will attend UW Madison and major in we never had followed by a wet and cool beginning to summer. business. e weather maps on page 40 show most of us were cooler and e grant was established in honor of Garske the founder of Par wetter for the past 30 days. Aide company and is funded by Par Aide and administered by the eyond that summer provided some great grass growing condi- Environmental Institute For Golf, the philanthropic organization Btions along with dollar spot growing conditions. We achieved of the GCSAA. good disease control where we treated but in our rough and es- e program assists children of GCSAA members to fund their pecially the “rst cut” of rough we have dollar spot on our dollar educations. e grants are based on community service, leader- spot. Temperatures and dew points were just perfect to start leaf ship, academic performance and a written essay. Congratulations wetness at dusk and extend it late into the morning allowing the Jacob! pathogen to thrive. **********

**********

Tom Schaller, Retired Superintendent of North- brook Count Club in June, 2003 as host of a WGC- SA meeting. ( e Grass Roots File Photo)

Sadly we have to pass along longtime WGCSA member Tom Schaller passed away at the age of 76 on June 13th. Tom was the Golf Course Superintendent of Northbrook Country Club for 37 years retiring in 2007. Tom got his start in the golf business working with his dad Hans and brother Fritz at Shorewood Country Club. Readers can look up Tom’s history in Volume XXX Issue 3, May/June 2001 of e Grass Roots at the Turfgrass Information File. When Hans and Fritz built Northbrook Country Club in Luxemburg in 1969 Tom stayed on as Golf Course Superin- tendent until his retirement. Tom’s nephew (Fritz son) Scott Schaller is the current superintendent at North Shore Country Club in Menasha.

*********

GCSAA Recently awarded 5 Joseph S. Garske Collegiate

38 THE GRASS ROOTS JULY / AUGUST 2013 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK Congratulations as well to Gary Tanko, Golf Course Superinten- dent at Sentry World Golf Club for renewing his Certication with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

********* Club and Resort Business recently featured a story reminiscent of the movie Caddyshack. At Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY a caddy was arrested for assault aer he attacked the caddy master over money lost in a soda machine. In the movie caddy Tony D’Annunzio asks fellow caddy Danny Noonan for a coke when Danny was lling in for Lou the Caddy Master. When Tony realized the price of coke went up to 50 cents he said “Well I ain’t paying no 50 cents for no coke.” and Danny replied “Oh then you ain’t getting no coke. Know what I’m talking about?” e next scene the two boys are outside ghting. Fortunately in the real life story the caddy master will be okay and only suered a split lip. e entire story of adults ghting over a soda seems crazy to me.

********* e Country Club of Beloit was recently purchased by Hendricks Commercial Properties. e club opened in 1909 as a 9 hole layout designed by Tom Bendelow. e second 9 followed in 1927 and was designed by Chicago architect Stanley Pelchar. Hendricks Commercial Properties is owned by Diane Hendricks also owner of ABC Supply. Aer the sale is nalized work to be done includes a new clubhouse and pool as well as upgrades to the golf course itself. is should be good news for Superintendent Don Ferger and his sta as funds have been tight for a number of years.

********* More than once I have said I should write a book about my Retired Wisconsin State Golf Association Executive experiences in the golf industry and the people I have met. e Director Gene Haas contributed the drawing above downer is most readers would not believe some of the things I highlighting Bruce Worzellas coming retirement. (Gene have seen over the years. Well instead of writing a book maybe can be reached at [email protected]) I can write a episode for the new country club soap opera Mem- bers Only ABC is working on. e show will feature story lines on the sta and the “elite members” of the club. Originally called e Club the show is said to star Natalie Zea, Luke Mitchell and Michael Landes and has been given a 13 episode pickup for the coming television season. e show will center on the powerful and wealthy Holbrooke family.

********* Some golf purists are not to sure about recent editions to the industry to draw in younger players. e golf board single rider board was named the best new product at the 2014 PGA Show and is ready to hit the market. Players can carry H E R F O R T N O R B Y their bag on their back or strap it on to the car- G o l f C o u r s e A r c h i t e c t s rier. With 4 wheel drive the board can cruise the course at 11 miles per hour. Phone: 952.361.0644 Fax: 952.361.0645 e-mail: [email protected] web: www.herfortnorby.com

THE GRASS ROOTS JULY3.25” / AUGUST x 5” 2013 39 WGCSA 1/4 page 2/13 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Coming Events!

Monday September 15th, Wee One Fundraiser, Pine Hills CC, Sheboygan Tuesday October 7th, WTA Fundraiser, University Ridge GC, Verona Saturday October 4th, Couples Outing/Party, Wild Rock GC, WI Dells Wed and ur Dec 3rd-4th , Turfgrass Symposium, American Club, Kohler (CHANGED DATE) February 21-26, 2015, Golf Industry Show, San Antonio, TX

We had a chance to test drive one at Rolling a lot of operators have been feeling. Meadows and I must say it fun and safe but once Although soccer balls are used most players the novelty wears o will it bring more players to walk from shot to shot and many take power the course? carts. e other phenomenon receiving a lot of press I am sure many golfers will play foot golf and and attention is Foot Golf. Where a soccer ball this should increase revenue and the clubs that and foot replaces a golf ball and club. Played with invest in the game but I have my doubts we can a 21” cup and a No. 5 size soccer ball the game convert a foot golfer into a regular golfer. may be a way to bring new players to golf courses and ll in slow times on the tee sheet. ********* In many cases a 18 hole foot golf course can t Most of you will receive this July August issue on a 9 hole golf course and the greens are not a bit into September. I apologize for that and used. sometimes life and my real job get in the way of Organized by the American Foot Golf League e Grass Roots. Many thanks to our writers who more than 130 courses have participated and make this and must read and one of the best turf more are on the way. publications in the country. e idea is for foot golfers to intermix tee times e Wee One, WTA Fund-raiser and Golf Turf Rolling Meadows PGA with regular golfers or to oer foot golf only Symposium are fast approaching. Be sure to take Professional Jeremiah times and tournaments. To date some tourna- these opportunities to support the industry and Homann get ready to ments have attracted 100s of players. build camaraderie with others in the business. ride. Bringing paying customers to courses strug- Be sure to take time to enjoy the fall season and gling to make ends meet could reduce the stress colors. USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD Damned If You Do, But Not If You Don’t By Bob Vavrek, Senior Agronomist USGA Green Section, North-Central Region.

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e all go through life learning how to do things. You could Wsay we are programmed for action. As a turf manager, you make decisions and take action every day. You hire, you re, and you promote personnel. If the grass grows, you cut it. When a sprinkler leaks, you x it. When grass wilts, you water it. A good superintendent spends a great deal of time learning how and when to do the right things on the golf course in a timely and e- cient manner. However, I would argue that great superintendents have an additional skill that is far more dicult to learn. e way It’s going to be a busy Men’s Day this aernoon. How long I see it, great superintendents have a knack for knowing when to do nothing. would you wait before mowing a waterlogged green? It is ere are times when the best course of action is to not take any a dicult concept for turf managers to learn, but some- action at all. Can you choose the lesser of two evils? Do you have times doing nothing is the correct course of action the moxy to not run fairway sprinklers the night aer a brutally Imagine trying to explain to an owner or club president why you hot aernoon because your experience tells you that a Pythium need to close a green and play a temporary because you didn’t outbreak is likely to occur and any water applied will only spark do something? at’s a scary double whammy that can double and spread the disease? Are you willing to lose some turf to wilt your troubles. Fair or not, human nature leads us to be far more and then defend your lack of action? sympathetic to one’s misfortune if one takes action, even if it’s the ere are plenty of other examples of when doing nothing is wrong action. the best approach, and it is not a skill you are likely to learn in Every turf manager needs to learn the intangible skill of when Turfgrass 101. For example, you wouldn’t mow so greens aer to leave well enough alone. Standing pat is hard to do when the last night’s rain. But what if it is Men’s Day? Will the greens be mantra of “more is better” inuences many decisions. rm enough to mow by noon? You don’t brush topdressing into For example, there is nothing quite like winterkill injury to put- the green aer a stretch of hot, stressful weather. But what if it is ting greens that drives a superintendent to excess. e damaged a cool aernoon and the greens are bumpy? You don’t remove ice greens at some facilities are spiked and seeded, slit-seeded, verti- from greens when a cold snap is predicted, even though every cut and seeded, aerated and seeded, as well as fertilized three or course around you has red up snow blowers. But what if ice has four times before soil temperatures even approach the 55° to 60°F been present on your Poa annua greens for 50 days? Will turf die threshold needed to initiate bentgrass seed germination. As soon if you don’t, or will turf die if you do? e correct action is rarely as grass begins to sprout, the process is repeated just to ensure black or white and more like shades of gray. everything that can be done has been done, even at the cost of Doing nothing is a dicult choice to make because someone slowing the rate of recovery. with limited understanding of the situation may associate a lack No doubt, we are programmed to do something, even at times of decisive action with being lazy or incompetent. Conventional when doing less is actually doing more. wisdom would say that there will be fewer repercussions if some- Lucky ones won’t have to learn the hard way when not to do thing goes awry because you took action versus taking no action. something. Perhaps as an intern or assistant superintendent, you will be fortunate enough to have a mentor whoseexperience be- comes your experience. When you nd yourself wondering why you were told not to do something you think you should, ask questions, don’t argue, and listen. Listen and you may begin to understand one of the more dicult concepts of turf management to master: When to stop, when to back o, and when to wait and see. e key is to listen. To paraphrase an old cowboy proverb, “You can’t learn a thing when you’re talkin’.

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