Iowa Golf/Ag Alliance Influencing Policy
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MAINTENANCE BRIEFS Iowa golf/ag alliance influencing policy By MARK LESLIE Members see group effort could serve as a model for the ES MOINES, Iowa — Combin- industry in other states, alliance ing monetary clout with "a huge as model for others Executive Secretary Mona Rae Bond Dgrassroots force," the Iowa from the moneyed replied simply: "Absolutely." Alliance of Environmental Concerns agribusiness as well Fort Dodge Country Club superinten- (IaAEC) and Agribusiness Association as the Iowa Golf dent Dennis Watters, the IaAEC of Iowa (AAI) are proving that the Course Superinten- president from 1995 to 1997, said: "I turfgrass and agriculture industries can dents, Professional Lawn Care and Sod think you have to look at it on a state- be a political power at the Statehouse Producers associations and various by-state basis. We're in a hot bed of here. other turf managers. agriculture here." In this hot bed of agriculture, Efforts in various states around the In Iowa's case, he said, "We needed a legislators have been known to cry country to affect legislation through vehicle to pull together everybody who "Uncle" when barraged by calls from had the same concerns: to ensure we TURF WEB '98 ANNOUNCED lobbyists have been few and generally TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida IaAEC and AAI members, who hail ineffective. Asked if the IaAEC-AAI Continued on page 14 Turfgrass Association has announced the dates of Turf Web '98 Conference GOLF AND THE ENVIRONMENT and Show. It will be held at the Tampa Convention Center, Sept. 16-19. Ca- N.C. State prof sino Night, an awards dinner, president's salute and other events are starts studies planned. to help Asians DISTINGUISHED SERVICE NOMINATIONS By MARK LESLIE LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Golf RALEIGH, N.C. — Citing the absence of scientific informa- Course Superintendents Association tion on turfgrass pests in Asia, an American professor has of America (GCSAA) is accepting undertaken what he hopes will be the first of many studies to nominations for the help golf course superintendents in that region. 1999 Distinguished "If we can show some success with this research, on future Service Award. Nomi- projects I hope there will be people stand- nations are due by ing in line saying they will help," said Dr. Sept. 1 on official Rick Brandenburg, a turf entomologist forms, available from at North Carolina State University here. the association by calling 800-472-7878. "The time commitment is actually very The award is presented to an indi- small." vidual who has made an outstanding The research is needed for many pests contribution to the advancement of because what is known in the United the golf course superintendent's pro- States can not always be extrapolated for fession. use in Asia, according to Brandenburg, Rick Brandenburg who discovered this fact on a trip to Singapore this spring. DELHI, NYSTA PARTNER His pioneering program targets the number-one pest in DELHI, N.Y. — The State University many Asian countries: the mole cricket. Some 25 superinten- of New York—Delhi and the New York dents in Hong Kong, The Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA), China and Indonesia are sending mole crickets from their in cooperation with chapters of the Golf courses to Brandenburg. Course Superintendents Association, Continued on page 16 will present a golf course seminar with emphasis on new technology on Aug. 4. Turfgrass and equipment manager ses- Matchmaker, matchmaker sions will be included. To obtain a con- Making choices: It's an ference brochure or for more informa- Two GCSAA tion, people may call NYSTA at 800-873-8873,518-783-1229; fax 518-783- environmental 'watershed' ex-presidents 1258, or write NYSTA, P.O. Box 612, By RON DODSON Latham, N.Y. 12110. Have you ever heard the reference to "watershed" as a team in jobs critical point that changes a particular course of action, like search firm PA. STUDENTS GIVEN ALTERNATIVE a decision that created a turning point in history? STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn That use of watershed comes from its definition: "a ridge By MARK LESLIE State's two-year Golf Course Turfgrass of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different LOS ANGELES — Bruce Williams Jerry Faubel Management Program has worked out river systems, also called 'water parting'." A watershed Golf Course Superin- an articulation agreement with Penn may also refer to the region that drains into a river, river tendents Association of America (GCSAA) Past President College of Technology which allows system, or other body of water. So, the golf industry needs Bruce Williams has joined another former president, Jerry all graduates of the to take a look at watersheds for two reasons. Faubel, adding a West Coast presence to Faubel's Executive turf program to First, the industry needs to understand the environmen- Golf Search Inc. complete an asso- tal importance of watersheds in order to make good eco- Faubel first formed the "headhunting" company with famed ciate degree. The nomic and environmental decisions about developing and course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Michigan State agreement allows managing the land. University Prof. Ken Payne in the early 1990s. Payne died in any certificate pro- Secondly, it has reached a critical point in making land- 1994 and Jones has retired, leaving Faubel running the gram graduate to management decisions where it must choose between the company solo. continue studies at the Williamsport status quo of golf course development and maintenance, "Over the years, I've been involved in helping a number of campus. By completing two semes- and that of sustainable development and management prac- superintendents find jobs that would be a good fit for them," ters and required classes, the student tices Williams said. "Retiring from the GCSAA board allowed me would be awarded an associate degree In order to understand how important watersheds are, the opportunity to spend my spare time in other activities. in landscape technology with an em- however, we need to know a little about ecology. An ecosys- This was the perfect match for me." phasis in turfgrass management. tem is a community (of plants, or animals, or even human Saying that he and Payne had hoped Williams would join People may contact Rich Weilminister beings) together with its environment of soils, waters and them after proceeding through the GCSAA chairs, Faubel at Penn College at 717-320-8038, or other elements on which the organisms depend for sur- added: "We thought Bruce would be an excellent partner. All George Hamilton at Penn State at 814- Continued on page 19 of a sudden he moves [from Chicago] to the West Coast and 865-3007. Continued on page 21 MAINTENANCE Gainesville designated a certified sanctuary GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Gainesville registered the golf course as a member of Country Club has achieved designation the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Sys- as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanc- tem, he informed the membership of the tuary" by the Audubon Cooperative Sanc- project and several members came for- tuary System (ACSS). Gainesville Coun- ward offering assistance. try Club is the 19th golf course in Florida "I was amazed at the amount of support and the 137th in the world to receive this I received from the members. I encour- honor. age all golf clubs to participate in this "After reading all of the guidelines for program," said Keens. The Gainesville certification, I realized we were already Country Club Homeowner's Association doing much of what was required for full was especially supportive, he explained, certification," said Gainesville superin- and donated a wooden sign announcing tendent Buddy Keens. In 1997, when he the certification. Alaqua Lakes joins Audubon Sanctuary System LONGWOOD, Fla. — The new Alaqua tive or indigenous plants, but also as a Lakes golf community here has been ac- role model for existing and future golf Maintenance at The Habitat at Valkaria encourages wildlife of all sorts. cepted as an Audubon International Sig- course developers in central Florida," said nature Cooperative Sanctuary facility. Michael Moser, club operations manager The community features the Tom Fazio- for the developer, Taylor Woodrow Com- The Habitat earns full certification designed Alaqua Lakes Golf Course, which munities. MALABAR, Fla. — The Habitat at must meet requirements in the areas of encompasses 170 acres of the property and "We're thrilled," said Tom Spence, land Valkaria, owned by Brevard County and environmental planning, outreach and which will open on Sept. 15. The 7,100-yard development manager for Taylor maintained by International Golf Main- education, wildlife and habitat manage- par-72 semi-private course will boast a teach- Woodrow. "The Audubon Signature Pro- tenance (IGM), has earned full certifica- ment, integrated pest management, wa- ing facility and golf academy. gram is an important effort that promotes tion by the Audubon Cooperative Sanc- ter conservation and water-quality man- "Alaqua Lakes is a pristine piece of conservation measures which provide tuary System (ACSS). agement. property and we intend to make certain large-scale developers with a more envi- "They're very good," said ACSS staff "We try to create more habitat than the golf course serves not only as a nur- ronmentally sensitive approach to land ecologist Joellen Zeh about IGM. "They already exists for a variety of native birds turing habitat for wildlife, birds and na- management." have created a lot of habitat and pro- on the course," said The Habitat's super- tected a lot of habitat. They plan on cre- intendent Bob Marshall. "Along with the ating a bald cypress wetland area ... and help of assistant superintendent Lyne are putting a lot of effort into getting rid Walker Page, we managed to achieve of exotic species and planting native veg- certification by limiting the use of chemi- etation on the property." cals and creating a safe environment for The Lakeland, Fla.-based IGM, she many of our endangered species of birds." added, is "very committed to getting all These birds include the scrub jay, bald the courses they manage to get certified." eagle and sand hill crane as well as cardi- To become fully certified, a property nals and great blue herons.