PERSONALITY PROFILE

"The fairways are overgrown" he grave right now," Waynejokes. Another change Wayne has wit- nessed is the use of lightweight says. "Weused to be able to se~ the Fan of topdressing ... whole hole from green to tee. You Another major change on the m?wers on fairways and mowing can't .do that anymore. My philos- course is more to Wayne's liking. He farrways at shorter heights so that ophy IS to design a course by ground was one of the first in the state to they practically look like greens. features and not air features. Use tall adopt sand topdressing on greens. "The height of cut on fairways has grass and sand, not trees." He remembers learning about it at gone from 1.5 inches when I started And trees require a lot of mainte- ~he Wisconsin Golf Turf Symposium to four-tenths of an inch now" nance. Wayne hired arborists to be Wayne points out. "We're harvestu{g ill 1975, and he started doing it in clippings now, too," he adds. "That on staff for several years, but found 1976. "We still do it. It has really that they were always hired away.So firmed up the greens. It has made a really helps fairway maintenance." for the past four years he has hired a huge difference in how the ball Greens have also changed consulting arborist who reports on rolls," he says, adding that the tremendously. "We used to mow what needs to be done to the trees greens at Ozaukee are the original them at a quarter of an inch" he each year. The course crew does the soil-based greens. says. "Nowit's as low as a tenth of an actual work. . "The amount of play has inch. We used to be scared that our Wayne adds that the course was mcreased so much that we would greens might die. Todaywe maintain built in 1921 and designed by have had to have rebuilt all of those t~em right on the edge with very William Langford, a Scotsman. green.s i,~ it weren't for top- lit~leor no fertilizer, very little water, "They don't like trees on golf dressing, he explains. "We've skinned down to the bone and just courses. They like open farmland. ~chieved a sand build-up of 3.5 hours before death." He's probably turning over in his mches over 25 years." Ozaukee Country Club has seen

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aD 525 Industrial Drive, P.O. Box 530, Hartland, WI 53029-0530 Phone: 262-367-5000 • 800-356-6686 • Fax: 262-367-5551 E LEe T RON I CAL Lye 0 N T R 0 L LED P U .. PIN G S Y S T EMS Visit our website at: www.watertronics.com PERSONALITY PROFILE an increase in the bird population and hearing birds on the course, the spring. It has been as late as mid during Wayne's 35 years there. "I there are some things they don't July before we've gotten the course have always been proud that we like. Brown spots on the turf is one in the shape we want it to be. When were very proactive in the Audubon of those things. "In 1994 we made a you're dealing with Mother Nature, program," Wayne says. "Until the commitment with the board to use you can't turn the heat up." early 1990's, I never saw a bluebird IPM - to use pesticides as a last Another thing club members here. Now I see them all the time." resort," Wayne explains. "We have don't like? Earthworms. "It's Other changes include: more time had to modify this, to do some pre- irmnoral to kill earthworms," Wayne in the office doing paperwork, more ventive applications, because believes. "But members don't like to compliance reports to the state, and country club members do not like see the castings. And with shorter more Mexican labor. Also, there are brown spots. grass, they're more visible. We've more universities that offer turfgrass "It's the 'Augusta Syndrome,'" he tried to do things to drive them majors and more Extension turf spe- continues. "That's a very green down deeper, but it's been tough. cialists. "When I started, O.J. Noer, course, and they see it on TV. Or "We deal with expectations," Charley Wilson and the Green they golf in the south during the Wayne says of his profession. "If we Section guys were really in demand winter. About every seven years we do well one year, they expect better when problems occurred," Wayne really get clobbered with winter the next year. The closer we get to points out. injury. Winter problems are greater perfection, the more magnified the Balancing wishes of club than summer problems. We're close imperfections become." members ... to so it's cooler; we Enjoys the profession ... While club members enjoy seeing don't always get a quick recovery in In spite of the challenges and

"He makes friends with everybody" Friendly. Renown in the turf industry. Innovator. Best grass trip to the Purdue turf conference in the 1960's when he was grower. Young at heart. Fun to be with. Curious. A good golfer. working in Nebraska. "He asked his boss if he could go, and the These are words Dan Quast uses to describe Wayne Otto. Currently boss said 'sure;" Dan tells. "So he flew and took other trans- the owner of DHDTree Products, Dan has known Wayne since 1973 portation to get to Purdue. He stayed at a hotel. And when he got when he became superintendent at the Country Club. back he submitted all of his expenses to which his boss replied, "He just came down to see me one day," Dan recalls. "From 'I said you could go. 1 didn't say I'd pay for it:" that time on we've been friends. Wayne's the type of person who Dan has traveled to a lot-of turf conferences with Wayne. He makes friends with everybody. Everybody who meets Wayne likes has also gone to Scotland with him. "We played 16 rounds of golf him. He claims that, back in the old days, we met for lunch 105 in 15 days, and we walked them all," Dan recalls. "We visited all straight Saturdays. Jim Latham was there, too. We'd sit around of the classic golf courses and looked at all the great architecture. and drink beer and talk about turf all afternoon. That was a great He enjoyed Scotland so much because, over there, there aren't any part of his life. trees on the courses, They think are crazy to have trees "He's well renown and well respected in the turf industry - not - that isn't golf. just here in Wisconsin, but allover the country," Dan continues. "Everywhere we'd go, he'd get out his pocket knife and cut a "He loves the profession. He loves to grow grass. He seems to little piece of the turf," Dan continues. "He wanted to see not, always be the first one to try new things - an innovator. I can only what was on top of the ground, but what was under the remember back when sand topdressing was introduced into the ground, too. We're standing on the 18th green at St. Andrews and business. Wayne was one of the first to start a sand topdressing he's cutting out a piece of the turf. I told him, 'You're going to program which later became the standard for taking care of golf get us thrown into jail one of these days: greens. And Wayne was one of the first people in the country to "Then we went down to the Masters one year. He did the same be certified by the GCSA.He's always up-to-date on what's. hap- thing on a fairway," Dan recalls. "A policeman came up to stop pening in the industry. .. him. I thought we'd get thrown out and never be able to come ~'I guess the bottom line is, Wayne is the best grass grower back again. He had to put that piece of turf back, that'sfbr sute, that I've ever met," Dan 'continues. "And I said thatback 20 years "He always was a good· golfer, and he always .,enjoyed th~ ago, ~oo.He has the best looking and-fastest greens a~d the best game," Dan says. "A lot of superintendentsndonlt. fairways. And it isn't "by" accident because the soils thereat "I know how old Wayne is but, when ..I look~t him, h'~Just Ozaukee Country Club are heavy. But he finds a way to do it." seems young. He's young at heart. He's active. He's ready togo. One of Dan's favorite stories about Wayne goes back to before He's just a fun guy to be with. You're'always happy to, see Wayne/', he even knew him. He remembers Wayne telling about his first Dan concludes. ...,

THE GRASS ROOTS MAY/JUNE 2002

PERSONALITY PROFILE frustrations that come with the job, long ago that 1 was one of the When he's not working or playing I'm convinced that Wayne has loved young pups." golf, Wayne loves to work in his being a golf course superintendent. There are fewer superintendents garden of flowers and ornamentals. "1look forward to one day after the over the age of 50 compared to And he and JoAnn recently bought next. 1 really like the business and when Wayne started in the busi- a camper and traveled to Florida. the golf course," he says. "There's no ness. "Sometimes the course "That is something 1 thought I better place in the world at 5 or 6 in doesn't have confidence in the older wouldn't like, but 1found out 1did," the morning - the smell of fresh air, guys anymore," Wayne believes. "At he admits. birds chirping." a certain age they feel no one will As the interview winds down, I He has also enjoyed being steal you from the course anymore. ask Wayne if there's anything else involved in the industry. Wayne was The most power you have on the job about him that other superinten- president of the WGCSAfrom 1977- is the first day." dents may not know. He thinks for a 78. He was president of the Midwest After the last day of his job at moment and then answers: "My Regional Turf Foundation in 1983. Ozaukee, Wayne hopes to do some wife says that one thing she admires He's been a director of the O.J. Noer consulting. "1don't like that word," about me is that 1 talk to everyone Research Foundation since 1989 he says. But he feels he has some- the same way - from the guy in a bar and a Green Committee member of thing to offer. He'd like to be able to to the president of the board. 1have the USGAsince 1991. He served on help superintendents work through to. 1don't know any other way. Here the WTAboard in the late 80's and turf problems instead of seeing them I am. What you see is what you get." early 90's. He has helped with the be fired. Wayne, 1 think most golf course Wisconsin Golf Turf Symposium for Loves the course for golf, too... superintendents would say that at least 25 years. He has given talks, Wayne is an avid golfer who loves what they see is just great. They hosted tournaments and partici- to see different courses. He and Rod wouldn't have you any other way. pated in turf studies. Johnson have been taking an annual And my son, Andrew, thinks so, 1ask Wayne why he has been so golfing trip for years, and he went too. As we pull away from the involved. "Giving something back," on a golfing expedition to Scotland course he says, "Those guys he answers. "There are two kinds of with Dan Quast (see sidebars). "The (Wayne and Karl) were real nice to people - givers and takers." Wayne best trip 1 ever had was going to me. 1 couldn't believe they'd be is a giver. Scotland in 1985," Wayne admits. that nice to a kid."* "1enjoy being involved," he con- "St. Andrews. That's where it all tinues. "The association with others started. 1actually wanted to stay in in the profession keeps you current. Scotland." You've got to get out and see what Wayne explains that the golf everyone else is doing. And the courses are more natural in BayerEf' people are great to be with. 1have a Scotland. Fairways are mowed 12 friend in the grocery business who times a year. "Wemow greens more can't believe how friendly golf than that in one week," he quips. Agriculture Division course superintendents are. We "And with their cool, cloudy, mar- have friendly competition. In the itime climate, there are no trees on grocery business, it's cut-throat." the courses," he adds with a smile. Gardens & Professional Care Wayne also feels the need to be His annual golfing trips on the educated. The Wisconsin Golf Turf way to the GCSA annual meeting Symposium is one of his favorite John Turner every year since 1987 are work, Field Sales Representative ways to do this. "Whether it's talking according to Wayne. "My wife says in a huddle or listening to a formal it's a vacation." Sorry Wayne, 1think presentation, 1 always get some 1agree with your wife. Bayer Corporation ideas of what to do or what not to Wayne's wife, JoAnn, has her own do," he says. ''I'm always learning." medical transcription business. 40 W 665 Campton Woods Drive Because he's been a Wisconsin They have three children between Elburn, IL 60119 golf course superintendent for 35 the two of them. Wayne's stepson, Phone: 630-443-7807 years, Wayne is well known in the Fax: 630-443-7839 Erik, is a golf course superintendent Voicemail: 888-242-4200 state. "It's changing though," he at Lincolnshire Country Club in admits. "Now 1go into a room and Extension: 3201 Crete, . His daughter, [email protected] look around and say, 'Who are all of Camille, lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. these people?' It doesn't seem that Wayne also has a son, Wayne, Jr.

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stopped by a skin cancer-screening booth at the sunburn lasts only a few days, and a tan fades. But the IGCSAA National Convention this year. I did this underlying damage remains. The injury accumulates over because, as my co-workers remind me daily,I am getting the years with each successive exposure to the sun. One older. I'm noticing little spots on my skin and was curious of the booklets poked fun at the term "healthy tan" as if some of these may be early signs of skin cancer. I've being a contradiction in terms. worked outdoors for my whole career and have rarely, Hundreds of thousands of Americans are diagnosed until recently, worn sunscreen. This, I would venture to each year with skin cancer. The good news is that it is one say, is a typical story for many of you. Even now I don't of the most curable and also preventable forms of cancer. wear it enough because it weakens during the day or I get Twokinds of skin cancer are most common: basal cell car- too busy to reapply when it washes off.There are as many cinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Those cancers usu- excuses as there are sunscreens on the shelf. ally occur on skin that is exposed to the sun, and, if I'm writing this article to ask you to please wear more caught early,they are easily treated. sunscreen, make it available to your employees, espe- A third kind of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, is ciallyget your kids in the habit of wearing it, and consider much less common but far more deadly. It is fast- wearing more long sleeved shirts and long pants. People spreading and can kill within months of its first appear- do seem to be more aware of skin cancer of late because ance. Melanoma can be cured if it is diagnosed and I notice many more full brimmed hats and sunglasses treated when the tumor is thin and has not deeply than I used to see. invaded the skin. However,if melanoma is not removed at Yes - sunglasses are important too, because skin cancer can even start in your eyes. That is why doctors recommend wearing sunglasses that block out at least 99% of both Ultra VioletA and IN Brays. Allthe facts stated in this article are directly from three booklets that I picked up at that cancer-screening booth. The booklets are "What You Need To Know About Melanoma," from the National Cancer Institute, "Skin Cancer, The Bare Facts" by W.R.Spence, l\1D, and "For Every Child Under The Sun," from the Skin Cancer Foundation. Another fact from the booklets is that the sun is the cause of at least 90% of all skin cancers. Thus skin cancer Everything To Make Your is preventable by taking several precautionary obvious steps of using sunscreen and covering up more. Another Course Beautiful fact is that the average person receives 50 to 80% of their lifetime sun exposure by the age of 18 - except for Turf Seed • Fertilizers • Repair Parts guess who? One example is people in the green industry Golf Course Accessories • Equipment that make a livelihood in the sun. Because the average person sees more sun early in lifetells you why it's impor- tant to teach kids good sun-protection practices. It's just as important as wearing seat belts or not playing with fire. Although it's not as obvious since effects from the sun may not be apparent for 20 to 30 years. Damage to the skin from sunburns or tanning accumu- lates over years. Did you know tan skin is a sign of damage? Tanning is the skin's protective response from getting further damage. However,permanent damage has 800 - 321- 5325 already been done by the time the tan develops. Skin can repair some of the superficial changes, which is why a LESCO is a registered trademar1

THE GRASS ROOTS MAY/JUNE 2002 TURF PROS

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THE GRASS ROOTS MAY/JUNE 2002 • JOTTINGS FROM THE GOLF COURSE JOURNAL J. 1. Case: Wisconsin Industrialist By Monroe S. Miller, Golf Course Superintendent, Blackhawk Country Club

any times, on the pages of this Campbell, retired president of M journal, I have written of the Case Corporation. For an after- pride we should feel in Wisconsin noon and evening last fall, Cheryl for our long history of manufac- and I toured the Case historical turing farm machinery and turf sites in Racine with Mike and equipment. Wellknown are the sto- Karen, and spent some fascinating ries of the Jacobsens of Racine, the time with Mr. Campbell visiting Toro plant in Tomah, and John about this great Wisconsin com- Deere's facility in Horicon. Other pany with worldwide operations. smaller companies make golf Like Cyrus McCormick and John course equipment from Port Deere, Jerome Case was an immi- Washington to Cameron and many grant to the Midwest. All three towns in between. came from their places of birth in To those of my generation and the east. Case left New York in older, we also have felt pride in 1842 - he was 23 years old then. He living in the home state of Allis was a farm boy from Williamstown, Chalmers, Van Brundt and Case. New York, the youngest of four Although Oliver tractors were sons in the family that also Jerome Increase Case, 1818-1891. made in Iowa, the company name- included three sisters. As with so sake was an engineering graduate In 1937, the state of Wisconsinchose him as many leaders and inventors I have the outstanding Industrialist, joining Hamlin of the University of Wisconsin - read about (John Muir and John Garland in Literature, Robert M. LaFaliette Madison. All the histories are inter- Burroughs come immediately to in Politics and Frederich Jackson Turner in esting, but none more so than the mind), Jerome spent much time as History. company started by Jerome a child reading. His education Increase Case. amounted to brief terms at a rural In my youth, I always loved Case school at times of the year when tractors. A neighbor had a smooth the farm work load was lighter. He running model SC, unique for its read what he could get his hands unusual steering assembly and on - the Bible, almanacs and from classic grill. An uncle bought a western New York, the Genesee Case 300 new and I envied him for Farmer. it. I was still young when I drove it At that time in our history, grain towing a load of hay from his farm (wheat, oats, barley, rye) was sep- to ours, a distance of probably arated from the straw by manual seven miles. The trip included a flailing. Jerome saw an ad for a run the full length of main street - threshing machine in the Genesee Lincoln Avenue - in my hometown. Farmer called a "ground hog" Heady stuff for a kid! I wonder how thresher and talked his father into many other kids of that era fell in attending a demonstration of the love with a Case VACor a Case 200 machine. It was powered by a while mowing roughs with a set of horse tread. Wheat was fed in one Jacobsen Fairway Blitzers? end and the whirling cylinders sep- I credit Mike Handrich for arated the grain from the straw. inspiring me to learn something Both fell to the ground at the oppo- about the Case Company and its site end. The ground hog allowed founder, Jerome Increase Case. for a production of 100 - 200 Retired Case IH president and Racine The green committee chair at bushels a day, exponentially more Country Club Green Committee Chairman Racine Country Club is Edward J. than possible by hand flailing. Ed Campbell.

:l' THE GRASS ROOTS MAY/JUNE 2002