PUBLICATION OF THE CAROLINAS GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION CAROLINAS

greenMAY - JUNE 2015

In Through The Out Door: Thrall Returns On Bentgrass

Plus A Father and Son Slam Gehrisch is Supt. of Year

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President William E. Kennedy, CGCS Chechessee Creek Club CAROLINAS Bluffton, SC (843) 987-2740 green [email protected]

Vice-President David Lee Hope Valley Country Club COLUMNS AND DEPARTMENTS Durham, NC (919) 489-4308 4 President’s Message [email protected] 6 Executive Director’s Message Secretary-Treasurer P. Adam Charles 8 The Pat Jones Index The Preserve at Verdae 12 Turf Talk Greenville, SC (864) 676-1515 17 Headliners [email protected] 22 Assistant Superintendents Immediate Past-President W. Brian Powell, CGCS Column Old Chatham Golf Club 36 Local Association News Cary, NC (919) 361-1401 18 42 Industry News [email protected] 48 Members and Friends Directors Danny B. Allen 50 The Clean Up Lap Camden Country Club Camden, SC (803) 432-5450 [email protected] NEWS AND FEATURES John W. “Billy” Bagwell 18 Hope Valley Wrap Up Callawassie Island Club Okatie, SC (843) 987-2131 21 Assistants Gather at Poole [email protected] 23 Thrall Comes Back on Bentgrass Robert A. Daniel, III, CGCS RiverTowne Country Club Mount Pleasant, SC 30 Gehrisch Judged Best of Year (843) 849-2400 Ext 2417 23 [email protected] 31 Father and Son Enjoy Major Chris DeVane Journey Forsyth Country Club Winston-Salem, NC 32 Carolinas GCSA at GIS (336) 760-8191 [email protected]

W. Scott Kennon, CGCS Myers Park Country Club Charlotte, NC (704) 529-5393 [email protected]

Andrew S. Ramsey Cutter Creek Golf Club Snow Hill, NC (252) 717-6927 [email protected] 26 Charlie Spears Cherokee Plantation Yemassee, SC Published bimonthly by the Carolinas Golf (843) 844-9937 Course Superintendents Association [email protected] Cover photo: Executive Director: Tim Kreger Troy Thrall is back in Brian J. Stiehler, CGCS golf as the last man Highlands Country Club Carolinas Green: Highlands, NC growing bentgrass in Editor: Trent Bouts email: [email protected] (828) 526-5371 Columbia, SC. Design: Julie Vincent [email protected] Contact Information: Matthew Wharton, CGCS 103 Edgemont Avenue Carolina Golf Club P.O. Box 210 Liberty, SC 29657-0210 Charlotte, NC Phone: 800-476-4272 (704) 942-1370 [email protected] Fax: 864-843-1149 www.carolinasgcsa.org PRESIDENT Bill Kennedy, CGCS The First Big But Certainly No Sleeping Giant Post-patent

economic vitality of the Carolinas. Azoxystrobin.

Still, there is more to it than that. There are other great golf destinations and states with even more courses. I think what we enjoy today as an association is a legacy of past leadership and the culture those leaders left behind. Our boards of directors, past and present, do so much heavy lifting that goes unnoticed. We have exceptional research and teaching institutions in both states whose staff members go out of their way to collaborate whenever possible.

We remain the only chapter in the country to own our own headquarters building. Within that building works some of the most dedicated people we could hope for. You only have to look at how long each of Bill Kennedy, CGCS those staff members have been with us to Strobe™ 50WG know how much they care and, hopefully, Broad Spectrum Fungicide here are no other chapters in the how well we take care of them in return. country that currently compare to I think another factor in what sets us The first post-patent Tthe size of the Carolinas GCSA. apart is our willingness to think and act azoxystrobin is a wettable There may be bigger states but in terms progressively. We try new things – buying granule that prevents or cures of how golf course superintendents band that HQ, establishing Rounds4Research, over 27 turf diseases and over together to run an organization, we are the introducing an e-newsletter. 30 ornamental diseases. As a frontrunners. Two years ago one of your board members curative, it controls diseases Obviously it helps that we encompass Rob Daniel, CGCS suggested another that are already present when two states where, in most places, the new venture, a member-guest style event applied to turf. As a systemic climate is conducive to golf year round. to foster friendly completion between the preventative, the turfgrass will We have broad geographic diversity states. We found a date that was otherwise absorb the fungicide to control throughout both states and yet still find empty on our tournament schedule and fungal diseases, protect lawns, ways to benefit from the relationships and the Carolinas North South was born. We landscapes and golf courses. friendships that exist here. We seem to enjoy incredible support from our many Make Strobe 50WG a key part always find time or ways to help our fellow industry partners but the fact that this of your integrated disease members. We are happy when our peers event is backed by the big three equipment management program. do well and concerned when all is not well. manufacturers in collaboration is extra So why does it work? special. Only in the Carolinas!

One reason is the Carolinas are a Year one was a huge success and wonderful place to play golf. We still everyone who participated had a blast. have close to 900 courses across the We believe this event will be one we enjoy Innovation you can apply. two states. We have hosted some of for years to come and hope everyone who golf’s biggest events - the Ryder Cup, U.S. hasn’t had an opportunity to join in the fun Opens, PGA Championships, and many will put it on their calendars. Get connected: more. We host PGA Tour, Champions Tour and Web.com Tour events every There are many reasons why our For more information on our wide year. Those events and the interest they association continues to be a leader in the selection of turf and ornamental products, generate in our golf help drive the more industry and I am thankful to be a part of visit quali-pro.com or call 800-242-5562 than $5 billion the game is worth to the it. We may be a giant of an association but we are certainly not sleeping.

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Your No Show Would Soon Lead to No Show with all sorts of ideas and combinations of how to tweak the event format to make it even better.

In the days leading up to that meeting and after it, we sat in face-to-face meetings with some of our largest industry partners to get their input on what we can do to ensure the best possible experience for everyone. If we left any stone unturned it’s only because we broke the shovel getting there. We dig hard. The success of Conference and Show is not something we will ever take for granted.

On that note, let me say how grateful I am to everyone who responded to our Conference and Show survey. Your feedback is critical. But it’s also worth noting just how often the feedback from All this, and so much more, depends on Carolinas GCSA members continuing to turn up to one attendee or exhibitor contrasts to Conference and Show. that of another. Some folks want more time on the trade show floor, some f all the things I could say, and works if you are there - improving your want less. Some folks thought last have said, to our members in this knowledge in a seminar, broadening your year’s education program was full of Ocolumn there is one message that network at the golf championship and fresh material, some thought it was a matters most of all: Come to Conference expanding your product knowledge on little stale. For the record, 15 of the 25 and Show. the trade show floor. seminars offered last year were new. Some folks loved the food, some not so When you stop coming to Conference You might wonder why I am making a much. and Show, the phone in Liberty stops big deal over this when our Conference being answered by someone so quickly. and Show is so healthy, continuing to I don’t need to tell golf course That phone stops being answered by set two or three new records seemingly superintendents that you simply can’t someone who knows you or wants to every year. Well, the truth is that our please all the people (golfers) all the get to know you. The legislative issues event is among the last of a dying breed. time. But I can tell you we take our jobs that affect golf courses are left to the All across the country, regional events every bit as seriously as you take yours. legislators to make their best guess - like ours are running out of legs or just So we keep grinding to try and make sure without the best information possible. dropping dead because of the changing we please as many people as we possibly The researchers you know on a first name nature of the business world. That tells us can. All we ask is that you turn up. basis become people you remember but that the line between continuing to thrive rarely see anymore. and taking a dive is very narrow.

In short, when you stop coming to We do all we can to stay on the right side Conference and Show the pipeline of that line. Recently, 18 people spent five that fuels much of what makes you so hours around a – very large – table to lay good at what you do begins to dry up. I the groundwork for Conference and Show cannot stress enough just how important 2015. We studied survey results and Conference and Show is to the health feedback from last year’s show. We dug and vitality of your association and, by deep into the who’s who of educators and extension, your profession. But it only potential seminar presenters. We toyed

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TributeTotal_Golf_CarolinasGreen_April_8.5x11.indd 1 3/25/15 12:47 PM THE PAT JONES INDEX Pat Jones

Appreciating The Code Better than Cracking it

we have perfect white sand bunkers like Second, they wouldn’t tell me even if that?” or “How come our greens aren’t I asked them very, very nicely. That’s rolling at 14.5?” because of The Code. What, you ask, is The Code? Here’s the short version: When faced with the Augusta Syndrome, “What happens at ANGC stays at resist the urge to begin your response ANGC.” with, “Well, dumb-a..” Instead, take a deep breath, smile your biggest smile and For as long as I can remember, specifics say, “I could do that for you tomorrow. Do about the maintenance practices at you happen to have an extra $7.5 million Augusta have been shrouded in mystery. you could donate to the maintenance Sure, I hear whispers. I have plenty of budget? Oh, and we’ll need you to good friends who worked there 15 or make that same contribution every year. 25 years ago who will still only talk in Forever.” the vaguest of terms about what they were doing in the 1980s. Any time I hear people spouting off about what Pat Jones “It’s part and parcel of they “know” about the inner workings of Augusta, I automatically figure it s I write this, I’m stuck in my what makes Augusta is pure BS because no one who was office watching Masters coverage National the ultimate trusted enough to actually have accurate Aon my iPad, but there’s a glimmer information would ever violate The Code. of hope it might finally be warm enough golf club on the planet. People ask me why I don’t go to the to play golf up here in Yankeeland this Masters every year and the answer is weekend. I may suck harder than a Dyson It’s eccentric, charming simple: There’s no legitimate reason vacuum cleaner when I get out there but (other than fun) to go. It’s useless for at least I’ll see some green grass and blue and wholly in character someone in my business. The team there skies. I’m jazzed! for a place that defines can’t discuss what they do because of And I’m not alone up here. It seems like The Code. And, if they did, how relevant the horrendous winter combined with greatness in every aspect would their practices be to a typical Tiger actually showing up at Bobby Jones’ of its operation without working superintendent at a typical invitational “toonament” has a lot of folks facility with a $600,000 budget? ANGC thinking about golf. There is a buzz about ever explaining a damn is truly an operation “unlike any other” golf this season…and that’s a very good so it would be pointless to use their thing. thing to anyone” operation as a teachable example for 99 percent of the other courses out there. But, with that April buzz comes the inevitable headaches that I just made up the $7.5 million number. The Code used to make me crazy. As superintendents face annually in the days I’ve heard various figures about Augusta a (sort of) reporter, the idea that even and weeks after Jim Nantz says, “Hello National’s maintenance budget over the the smallest things like cutting heights friends…and welcome to the Masters.” years but I’ve never, ever asked Marsh were treated like state secrets drove I’m pretty sure I first used the term “The Benson or Brad Owen or anyone else on me bonkers. Why on earth shouldn’t Augusta Syndrome” in an article about the team there what the budget number I be able to talk with these top-notch 20 years ago but the phenomenon has really is. It’s not that I’m not curious…it’s professionals and share what they do? been around since TV golf coverage really simply completely pointless to ask. Why? Pretty frustrating for a guy who gets paid got going in the 1960s. to ask people dumb questions and tell First, comparing any two golf course interesting stories. You know what I’m talking about: Joe budgets is folly. Everyone does them Clubmember watches the Masters on TV differently and everyone’s circumstances But, as the years have gone by, I’ve grown and the following Monday walks up to and priorities vary pretty wildly, to see The Code in a different light. you on the course and says, “Why can’t particularly at clubs hosting big events. (continued on page 10...)

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Zoysiagrass Builds Turf Talk Sponsored by: Growing Support At the Golf Industry Show in They were first introduced to the U.S. San Antonio, TX I was talking starting in the late 1890s but recently Q:to several superintendents have become much more popular due about new warm-season grasses and to their excellent wear tolerance, slow zoysiagrass kept coming up. I’m certainly growth rate, improved winter hardiness, familiar with zoysiagrass as a lawn grass, salt tolerance, unique green color during but what about on golf courses? the summer and golden color during winter months (Figure 1). Zoysiagrasses Zoysiagrass is rapidly also have better shade tolerance than increasing in use throughout bermudagrass and lower fertility A:much of the southern region requirements. Zoysiagrasses are well- and transitional zone of the U.S. It is adapted for use on golf course fairways, being grown as far north as Indiana, up tees, bunker faces and collars as well as and down the eastern seaboard, in the lawns in hot and warm climatic zones. Mid-west and spreading. Zoysiagrasses, named after Karl von Zois, an 18th- Zoysiagrasses as a whole, however, century Austrian botanist, are warm- are very slow-growing grasses; thus, season grasses (2n=40) native to the they have slow recuperative potential Dr. Bert McCarty hot, humid Southeast Asia/South Pacific which is an important consideration in region including China, Korea, Japan and high traffic areas such as par 3 tees and Dr. Bert McCarty, Research northern Australia. greens approaches. This slow lateral and Extension Turf Specialist growth, however, is often an advantage at Clemson University, will (continued on page 14 ...) address any turf-related question in this column. Figure 1. Zoysiagrasses are rapidly increasing as a desirable turf species due to their shade tolerance, reduced inputs in terms of fertilizer and overall very attractive Write to him c/o: color and turf quality. Shown is a Zorro zoysiagrass fairway compared to Tifway bermudagrass rough. Clemson University, Department of Horticulture, Box 340375, Clemson, SC 29634-0375 or: [email protected]

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as zoysiagrasses are often planted on the perimeters of sand traps, golf greens and flower beds to greatly reduce or slow off-site lateral growth.

They tend to develop thatch over time and are susceptible to several diseases, most notably rust, dollar Figure 2. As with most grasses, a variety of color and leaf textures are possible with spot, leaf spot and brown patch. Most the various zoysiagrasses. The two left plugs are Z. matrella x. Z. japonica, the center is improved zoysias have to be propagated Meyer (Z. japonica) while the two far right plugs are Chinese Common zoysiagrasses vegetatively and are extremely slow (Z. japonica) (courtesy Dr. Jack Fry, KSU). in becoming established if plugged or sprigged. Other disadvantages include slow thatch decomposition; poor growth (Table 1). These varieties vary widely best cold tolerance of the zoysias. on acid, compacted and perpetually in color, texture and establishment rate Although cold tolerant (50 percent kill wet soils; higher water requirements (Figure 2). Broadly speaking, two leaf at ~11°F, -11.6 C), it quickly loses color than most bermudagrasses; seedheads; types are used, the finer and coarser with slight frost. susceptibility to bermudagrass invasion; ones. The finer ones generally have better shade tolerance but less cold Zoysia japonica is the only zoysiagrass and possible severe damage by for which seed is commercially nematodes and hunting billbugs. tolerance compared to the coarser textured species. available. Current seeded cultivars Zoysiagrass, being native to coastal include Cathay, Compadre, Companion, areas which naturally receive heavy Coarser Leaf Types Compatibility, J-36 and 37, Ming, SR yearly precipitation, also tends to be Zoysia japonica Steud. 9150 and 9200, Sunrise, Sunstar, shallower rooting and is weakened This species, commonly called Traveler, W3-2, Zen 100-300, Zenith, when grown in soils low in potassium. Japanese, Chinese or Korean Common and Zoysia japonica. Important For maximum beauty, a reel mower lawngrass, was introduced into the vegetatively established cultivars of Z. should be used for cutting. U.S. as seed in 1905 from Kokai, North japonica include Belair, BK-7, Carrizo, Korea by Frank Meyer. It has a relatively Crowne, El Toro, Empire, Empress, GNZ, There are several species and varieties coarse texture; hairy, light-green leaves; Himeno, JaMur, Marion, Meyer (aka, of zoysiagrasses used for golf courses a faster growth (spread) rate; and the Z52 and Amazoy), Miyako, Palisades,

Table 1. Partial listing of current zoysiagrasses used for fine turf purposes in the USA.

PROPAGATION METHOD Zoysiagrass (common names) Vegetative Seeded Zoysia japonica (Japanese, Chinese, or Belair, BK-7, Carrizo, Crowne, El Toro, Empire, Cathay, Chinese Common, Compadre, Korean Common) Empress, GNZ, Himeno, JaMur, Marion, Companion, Compatibility, J-36 & 37, Meyer (aka, Z52 & Amazoy), Miyako, Ming, SR 9150 & 9200, Sunrise, Sunstar, Palisades, Royal, Serene, Southern Gem, Traveler, W3-2, Zen 100-300, Zenith, Sunburst, UltimateFlora, VJ, Y2, Zoyboy Zoysia japonica Zoysia macrantha Desv. (Prickly Couch) Icon, Nara — Zoysia matrella (Manilagrass) Cashmere, Cavalier, Diamond, Facet, L1F, — Rollmaster, Omni, Pristine, Shadow Turf, Zeon, Zorro Zoysia japonica x Z. matrella Z-3 — Zoysia tenuifolia (syn. Z. pacifica) common — (Mascarenegrass, Templegrass, or Korean Velvetgrass) Z. japonica x Z. tenuifolia Emerald, Geo, Pristine — Z. japonica x (Z. matrella x Z. tenuifolia) DeAnza, Victoria — Z. sinica (Seashore Zoysiagrass) — J-14 Other cultivars Links, Marquis —

14 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 Royal, Serene, Southern Gem, Sunburst, UltimateFlora, VJ, Y2, and Zoyboy (Table 1). Due to its superior cold tolerance, Meyer is a popular cultivar in full sunlight areas of the upper transition zone.

Finer Leaf Types Zoysia matrella (L.) Merr. Also called Manilagrass since it was introduced from Manila, in the Philippines, around 1911, this species produces a finer and denser turf than Zoysia japonica but is less winter hardy (50 percent kill at ~17°F, -8.3C). It has a similar brown patch tendency as Meyer but better shade tolerance (up to 60 percent continuous shade, up to 90 percent shade + trinexapac-ethyl) Figure 3. Zoysia matrella tends to have greatest shade tolerance of commonly used (Figure 3). zoysiagrasses. Shown is Diamond zoysiagrass under continuous 60 percent shade (background) compared to 90 percent shade (foreground). The use of trinexapac- Manilagrass resembles bermudagrass ethyl (left) improves turf grown under shade (courtesy Dr. Jeff Atkinson). in texture, color and quality and is recommended for a high-quality, high- maintenance turf where a slow rate of Miscellaneous Zoysias the University of California are DeAnza establishment is not a disadvantage. Zoysia japonica x Z. matrella and Victoria. These hybrids include El Most zoysiagrasses used on golf The only reported cultivar of this cross Toro and other experimental lines as courses are Z. matrellas due to their is Z-3 in Hawaii. It is medium-textured, parents, which provide them with faster finer leaf texture, excellent density and apple-green in color and forms a tight lateral growth than most traditional desirable shade tolerance. Cultivars mat. It develops less thatch than cultivars. Both also have a finer leaf currently include Cashmere, Cavalier, Emerald but somewhat more than El texture, although not as fine as Emerald Diamond, L1F, Matrella, PristineFlora, Toro. zoysiagrass. Shadow Turf, Zeon, and Zorro. I’ve previously discussed Diamond Zoysia tenuifolia Willd. ex Trin. Additional Zoysiagrass Cultivars zoysiagrass as a possible golf green Also called Mascarenegrass and Korean Much research is currently being putting surface in this article. L1F is velvetgrass, this species is the finest conducted on breeding and selecting another Zoysia matrella being evaluated textured, most dense, least winter additional zoysiagrass cultivars for as a putting surface. hardy zoysiagrass available. It has good the turfgrass sector. Vegetative wear tolerance but is extremely slow to zoysiagrasses being developed Zoysia japonica x Z. tenuifolia spread and develops excessive thatch, and evaluated include Compadre Emerald zoysia is a selected hybrid giving it a puffy appearance. It is mainly (Companion), JaMur, Links, Marion, between Zoysia japonica and Z. tenuifolia used as an ornamental grass ground Miyako, Omni, Royal, Serene, Ultimate, released in 1955 by the USDA, although cover, especially in rock gardens, due VJ, Zoy-Boy, and several numbered recent DNA fingerprinting suggests it to its unique clumping or mounding entries. A new turf-type seeded is possibly a cross between Z. matrella appearance. Since it also is the least zoysiagrass (Z. sinica Hance) also and Z. tenuifolia (syn. Z. pacifica). cold hardy zoysiagrass, Zoysia tenuifolia is being investigated for turfgrass Emerald zoysia and Meyer zoysiagrass is best adapted only to tropical and potential, especially in low-to-moderate were the industry standards until the subtropical climates. It is often seen maintenance saline areas. J-14 is a late 1980s. This hybrid combines the growing along roadsides and other low commercial variety of Z. sinica. Other winter hardiness, dark green color, maintenance areas in the Caribbean zoysiagrass species being investigated and faster growth rate of Z. japonica Islands. for turf use include Z. macrostaycha with the fine texture and density of Z. Franch. et Sav. and Z. korenia, tenuifolia. Other Z. japonica x Z. tenuifolia Zoysia japonica x (Z. matrella x Z. supposedly the most salt-tolerant selections include Pristine and Geo. tenuifolia). zoysiagrass species. Two cultivars released in 1993 from

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 15 TURF TALK

Authors note: Since the implementation References Patton, A. 2010. Selecting zoysiagrass of the Plant Variety Protection (PVP) Hinton, J.D., D. Livingston III, G.L. Miller, cultivars: Turf Quality and stress Act in 1970 and amended in 1994, C.H. Peacock, and T. Tuong. 2012. Freeze tolerance. Golf Course Management which provides patent-like rights to tolerance of nine zoysiagrass cultivars 78:90-95. breeders, developers and owners of using natural cold acclimation and freeze Patton, A. and Z. Reicher. 2007. plant varieties, most new zoysiagrass chambers. HortSci 47(1):112-115. varieties have been released or at least Zoysiagrass species and gentotypes differ exclusively grown by only one or select McCarty, L.B. 2011. Best Golf Course in their winter injury and freeze tolerance. growers. The term of the protection Management Practices. Prentice-Hall. Crop Science 47:1619-1627. expires after 20 years for most varieties covered under the amended act. Okeyo, D.O., J.D. Fry, D. Bremer, C.B. Unfortunately, one unintended response Rajashekar, M. Kennelly, A. Chandra, D. to the 1994 amendment in turfgrass A. Genovesi, and M.C. Engelke. 2011. is that developing and releasing new Freezing Tolerance and seasonal color of cultivars has become much more experimental zoysiagrasses. Crop Science restrictive in terms of releasing data or 51:2858-2863. showing research plots, often deleting the traditional independent third party testing. Some cultivars are tested through The National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (http://www.ntep.org).

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16 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 HEADLINERS

Gerdon, Grandfather Help Protect Grandaddy Trees

collected in the Northwest, and from the The regular Headliners column growing North Carolina population, have features media coverage of golf course multiplied into the millions. “I started maintenance issues and personalities, finding beetles everywhere I looked.” as part of an ongoing partnership with Syngenta Professional Products. The North Carolina’s agriculture department following is excerpted from a report in The used money from an unrelated pollution Charlotte Observer newspaper. settlement to start the Hemlock Restoration Initiative last year. The initiative has paid for Lari releases on state lands and this year will hire a coordinator to work with the public.

Dead hemlocks stand shoulder-to- shoulder with surviving trees on Hemlock By: Bruce Henderson Hill, a Lees-McRae College property in Banner Elk. “If it weren’t for the beetles, he granddaddy trees of North these would all be dead,” McDonald said. Carolina’s mountains are skeletons Instead, he said, many hemlocks show up Ton many slopes. Hemlocks that to five years of new growth. It was here, might have lived for 800 years can die in in 2003, that McDonald first released as few as five, victims of tiny, sap-sucking 300 beetles beside the Elk River. Each bugs. Gray hemlock stands pock the beetle lays 200 to 400 eggs, and each Great Smoky Mountains, the most-visited emerging larva will gobble about 235 national park, where 80 percent of the Golf course superintendent Pete Gerdon is adelgid eggs. oldest trees are dead. More than half of standing up for hemlocks at Grandfather Golf North Carolina’s forest hemlocks have and Country Club. Grandfather Golf and Country Club, died in the past 15 years. But there’s hope where the adelgid had been spotted amid the devastation. hemlocks. Researchers discovered in in 2001, was willing to bet on Lari. A 2006, several years into the infestation, $25,000 contract it gave McDonald The beetle Laricobius nigrinus, a native that the adelgids previously traced to financed a two-week beetle collecting of the Pacific Northwest known as Lari, Japan are also natives of the Northwest. trip to Seattle. Course superintendent feasts on the aphid-like insects called Because hemlocks there still thrive, Gerdon went with McDonald and came hemlock woolly adelgids. Lari’s proving McDonald knew, they must have native back a believer. The adelgid’s cottony ground is Grandfather Golf and Country predators. white egg sacs so covered hemlocks in Club in Linville, NC. The 14,000 beetles the Northwest that “they looked like they McDonald convinced Grandfather’s released there since 2008 have replaced had snow on them,” Gerdon said. But the directors to send him to Seattle for two the chemicals once used to control the voracious beetles kept the trees in perfect weeks in 2008 to collect Lari beetles. adelgid. Eighty-five percent to 90 percent trim. of the club’s hemlocks have survived, and Government agencies had studied Lari for many have put on growth spurts. six years, making sure it wouldn’t cause McDonald started shipping home 10,000 problems in its new territory, before Lari beetles a year and now sells them for “We’re back to the point where we approving releases in 2002. Fifty-nine $5 each. The country club, meanwhile, were before the adelgid hit,” said golf trips later, McDonald has released Lari saved $100,000 a year when it stopped course superintendent Pete Gerdon. “We in dozens of places in the Grandfather chemically treating its hemlocks and bring people in now, who know about region and as far west as Cashiers. switched to beetles. this problem, who are stunned” by the rebound. “I thought we were doomed,” he said of “Anything we can do that is the hemlocks. “The data kept telling us environmentally sound is a good thing,” Lari’s arrival in the North Carolina high we were doomed until about 2009, when Gerdon said. “And being able to control a country was the work of Gerdon’s friend the trees stopped dying.” McDonald pest without doing anything else about it Richard McDonald, a Watauga County says the nearly 150,000 beetles he’s is nice.” entomologist who set out to save the

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 17 NEWSGOVERNMENT RELATIONS

Green Section Event Covers Wide Range

arolinas GCSA members and other golf industry members heard Cabout everything from nematodes, pace of play, water supply and LeBron James at this year’s USGA Green Section regional conference at Hope Valley Country Club in Durham, NC in March. The broad-ranging program entertained and educated about 150 people at historic Hope Valley, designed by Donald Ross in 1926.

The meeting also saw veteran superintendent and Carolinas GCSA past- president Bill Anderson, CGCS receive the USGA Green Section’s Ike Grainger award for 25 years of volunteer service to the USGA Green Section committee. Anderson spent the first part of his career at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, NC and now serves as agronomist for the Carolinas Golf Association.

One of the speaker’s at this year’s conference Henry DeLozier, a partner with Global Golf Advisors, a consulting firm with about 2,700 golf clients worldwide, told attendees that most golf course superintendents need to reshape the way Bill Anderson, CGCS received the Ike Grainger award from the USGA Green Section’s they perceive their own roles in the game. Patrick O’Brien. You control the value of your club. You Superintendents are the “franchise player” are vitally important to the value of your at their facility, DeLozier says, which club and all the property around it. When makes them extremely valuable. The the golf course condition is poor the value issue, he points out, is that many don’t of the facility and the homes around it is realize it. DeLozier drew a parallel between damaged.” superintendents and LeBron James. “You want to know something that I know, that DeLozier also urges superintendents I sometimes think you guys overlook,” to “stick up for golf” because too many DeLozier says. “You control the franchise people are talking the game down. “Golf value of your clubs. Do you know that? is in as much trouble as we let it be in,” You are the franchise player – pick your he says. “Or it’s as strong as we make favorite team, if it’s LeBron, if it’s Kobe… it.” His point being that superintendents, you are the franchise player.” like everyone in the game, have a role in devising solutions and creating a DeLozier says he is “reluctant to say product that is appealing to their target superintendents are the most important demographic. people” at their club because there are many key people at every facility whose About 90 golfers competed the day roles are important. “But nobody joins a before on Hope Valley’s 1926 Donald club because the hot dogs are good,” he Ross design that is maintained by golf Henry DeLozier of Global Golf Advisors says. “Nobody buys a home at the club course superintendent and Carolinas addresses the audience at the annual USGA when the golf course looks like the devil. GCSA vice-president David Lee. Green Section conference.

18 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 Host superintendent David Lee with new USGA Green Section Charles Sheffield from Croasdaile Country Club and David Bowbliss southeast region director John Foy. from Pinehurst Resort.

FLIGHT ONE FLIGHT THREE Gross Gross 1 - 68 Tim Kreger, Carolina GCSA 1 – 75 Brannon Goodrich, Carmel Country Club Jeff Whitmire, Williamsburg Country Club Dan Richardson, Carmel Country Club

2 – 73 Ryan Hull, Methodist University Golf Course 2 – 80 Tommy Clark, Linville Ridge Golf Club Mark Miller, Methodist University Golf Course Chris DeVane, Forsyth Country Club

Net Net 1 – 72-3-69 Rhett Baker, Palmetto Golf Club 1 – 78-13-65 Les Bailey, CGCS Tri-State Pump and Control Craig Harris, Greenville Country Club – Matthew Carver, Tri-State Pump and Control Chanticleer 2 – 80-10-70 Adam Charles, The Preserve at Verdae 2 – 78-5-73 Nick Price, Sunset Country Club Pate Kincaid, Greenville Turf and Tractor Scott Martin, CGCS Corbin Turf and Ornamental FLIGHT FOUR Gross FLIGHT TWO 1 - 80 Dave Dettmer, CGCS Green Resource Gross Tim Davis, Cabarrus Country Club 1 – 75 Brian Green, Lonnie Poole Golf Course Jim Kearns, North Carolina State University 2 – 84 Jesse Cigary, The Peninsula Club Tyler Herman, Smith Turf and Irrigation 2 – 78 Steve Neuliep, CGCS Etowah Valley Country Club Mac Frye, TransGolf Net 1 – 87-22-65 Quinn Elliott, Chapel Hill Country Club Net Jamie Newton, Dataw Island Club 1 – 78-8-70 Chuck Connolly, Greenville Country Club - Riverside 2 – 86-17-69 Bill Kennedy, CGCS Chechessee Creek Club Kyle Traynham, Willow Creek Golf Club Corey Hall, Chechessee Creek Club 2 – 82-11-71 David Lee, Hope Valley Country Club CLOSEST TO THE PIN: George Frye, TransGolf No. 2: Tim Kreger, Carolinas GCSA No. 6: Dan Richardson, Carmel Country Club No. 12: Bill Kennedy, CGCS Chechessee Creek Club No. 18: Dave Dettmer, CGCS Green Resource

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 19 ASSISTANTS Christian Drake

Four Investment Tips For Future Success

do this properly the most important they want is the most successful way to thing is to know yourself, inside and stand out in your career. out. Knowing yourself requires you to understand what inspires you and drives 3. Invest in relationships: Everyone you to achieve something with passion knows how important networking is day in and day out. today. But, the key is to network in the right way. Building a strategic and vast First, learn what drives you personally network will allow you to successfully and then you can begin to focus on a establish and reach the goals in your more detailed career investment plan. career. Career mentors are among the most influential people in our lives and In my opinion there are four very providing the proper time and attention effective and beneficial investments to those relationships will speak volumes you can make to become a successful in our future. assistant superintendent: 4. Invest in your personal life: Balance 1. Invest in your strengths: Become in life can be a huge factor in your Christian Drake increasingly aware of things you are success. Being able to keep a strong naturally good at and build on those skills and manageable balance between work s assistant golf course and facets. For example, many younger and life is something you will hear many superintendents we are often assistants are well versed in social veteran superintendents say contributes Aresponsible for the success of media while others have perfected the to their success. Engaging in new our own careers. It is our job to build art of networking face to face. Both are activities allows you to broaden your and develop our personal strengths and phenomenal career qualities, but each experience and appreciate new types of gifts. These are the attributes that can requires an investment of time and effort ideas and interest. give us a competitive edge in personal to improve and develop. The overall key is development and industry exposure. to identify the strength you believe you are Overall, an investment is time and energy Job knowledge, networking and being best at then invest in fine tuning that skill. spent in the hope of a future benefit. influential are all huge essentials in career Investments we make in our careers as development. But, in the end, all of those 2. Invest in knowledge: Never stop assistants will help lay a foundation for factors require a personal commitment learning. In an ever-evolving industry we continued success as superintendents to manage and invest in your career the must continue to strive to know the goals in the future. Working and investing right way. and ambitions of the people we serve in to better ourselves and broaden our order to always stay ahead of the curve. experience will make us better people on On the surface it may sound simple, but Being proactive can help you to achieve and off the golf course. making an investment in your career your goals as an assistant much quicker requires you to know how to best invest than anticipated. Providing people with - Christian Drake is assistant golf course your time, money and resources. To what they want before they know what superintendent at Highlands Country Club in Highlands, NC.

Some of the attendees who played golf at the latest assistant superintendent gathering at Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, NC.

20 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 NEWS

Assistants Head to The Dunes Next

forming their own advisory committee “Sometimes it feels like the needs of to coordinate opportunities specifically assistants can get overlooked,” he says. tailored to assistant superintendent “I know I’ve benefited from the chance to needs. meet and bounce ideas around with guys I might not have met otherwise. There In February, more than 20 assistants are a lot of assistants these days who attended a two-day event at Lonnie Poole can sometimes feel frustrated while they Golf Course at North Carolina State wait for opportunities to move up. So University in Raleigh, NC. The event was events like this are good to help us in the presented in partnership with Green meantime.” Resource. Assistants played the golf course on the “The event was a great networking first day, socialized over a hot dog and opportunity,” says Matt Jones, senior hamburger dinner that night then spent assistant superintendent from Old three hours in an educational session the Chatham Golf Club in Durham, NC. following morning. “The speaker, Chris Hitch, who gave the workshop on marketing and branding “Dr. Hitch did a wonderful job. I think yourself, was excellent. He did a great more people need to hear what he had job engaging everyone and getting us to say,” Harris says. “He touched on a involved.” lot of things that will help assistants but Dr. Chris Hitch I think a lot of superintendents would arolinas GCSA assistant golf Those sentiments are echoed by Wilson benefit from hearing him too.” Hitch is course superintendents will head Harris, who is assistant superintendent to director of NC State’s General H. Hugh to the Dunes Golf and Beach Club golf course superintendent Brian Green Shelton Leadership Center. He talked to C at Lonnie Poole. Harris also serves on the in Myrtle Beach, SC in August for their attendees about creating their own brand next networking and education session. eight-member assistant superintendent as assistants to help sell themselves to That venue will continue the string of advisory committee. prospective employers. top notch sites they have enjoyed since

INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION

Thank You Green Resource for Your Lonnie Poole Golf Course Support of the Carolinas GCSA Raleigh, NC Assistant Superintendents February 9 and 10

The Dunes Golf and Beach Club Myrtle Beach, SC Building a Foundation for the August 31-September 1 Future of Our Industry

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 21 From his Knees to Last Man Standing On Bentgrass in Columbia From his Knees to Last Man Standing On Bentgrass in Columbia by: Trent Bouts

ife in the golf industry literally brought Troy Thrall Lto his knees in 2013. Burned out, ticked off and fed up, he quit the only thing he knew and went laying tile for a friend. He’d pretty much done it all up until then. Pro, superintendent, general manager, even course owner, he’d chewed each of those bones at some point over nearly two decades but in the end the game spat him out.

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 23 Troy Thrall has rapidly improved the quality of the bentgrass surfaces at The Windermere Club but knows summer heat will ramp up the test.

“I swore off the golf business,” he says. “I felt like it When he started last August 3 the mercury topped was something that had run its course.” But then his knees 100 degrees with an overnight low of 82. That was all the started to hurt. “A year laying tile sucks,” he explains. “If reminder he needed to know that while he may be off his someone ever sees me kneeling again they need to shoot knees he was on a grass that had brought so many other me.” superintendents to theirs. And, by his own admission, his There was some heartache too. previous experience on bentgrass was limited to putting. Thrall had grown up in golf and was raised in part by From a maintenance perspective it was “Zero.” locker room attendants and assistant pros. Before a long “I was flying by the seat of my pants,” Thrall says. commute to work in northern California his parents would “I found this relic of a spiker at the shop so we pulled it drop him at their country club at 6am. “The cleaners had out and got it going and we spiked the heck out of them to unlock a door to let me in,” he says. “I’d hang out there religiously. We did all we could to give ourselves a fighting all day then get picked up at 7pm. Golf is all I’ve really chance. ” known.” On arrival three greens had barely 60 percent grass So in 2014, he started poking around again, looking for coverage and the rest were about 90 percent with the worst a way back in. Eventually he found one but it wasn’t exactly loss around the fringes and slopes. Dollar spot was rampant the front door. Really, it was more like walking in through on the ageing Crenshaw and Penncross mix. Thrall found the exit that everyone else had tromped out of. While they one hose on the property, a leaky 40-ft. thing with a broken were now off growing ultradwarfs, Thrall would become the nozzle. “Talk about feeling like the one-legged guy in a butt- exception at The Windermere Club, maintaining the only kicking contest,” he says. bentgrass greens left in Columbia, SC. Not surprisingly, there were a lot of nights when sleep

24 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 was hard to come by. “There was a lot of self doubt in those “Jeffery would always start each day telling us that we first 90 days,” Thrall says. “It was the only time in the past were going to make the golf course better that day,” he 10 years when I questioned what I was doing. I’d heard says. “Even it was a small improvement, it didn’t matter. the bentgrass horror stories. I knew the nightmares could We were going to do something to make it better. His other happen.” big message was that it’s all about the greens. You focus on So Thrall “leaned heavily.” He first called Chris the greens, then the greens and then the greens. Get them Williams now with Helena Chemical Company. Williams right and the end-user’s focus narrows. They become less managed bentgrass when he was across town at Spring interested in the other stuff.” Valley Country Club. “Two or three days later he just Last fall, Thrall began inter-seeding with A1-A4 showed up,” Thrall says. The two rode the course for hours. bentgrass and repeated the process this spring. He started Soon after, Derek Oglesby of Corbin Turf and Ornamental double-cutting and rolling. “The only thing we can bring to Supply, who had maintained Crenshaw in Memphis, TN the table at the moment is to have the best greens in town,” made a similar visit in response to a call from Thrall. he says. On a mid-April morning in the clubhouse two “I mean, I was guessing basically,” Thrall says. “Most long-time members, women, tell Thrall he’s on right track in of the research over the past 10 or 15 years has all been that regard. “The greens have never, ever, looked this good. geared to the ultradwarfs. So Chris and Derek’s input was Truly,” one tells him. invaluable. They confirmed that we were on the right track “I’m not naïve enough to think there won’t be periods by just concentrating on the very basics. They both said we of stress,” Thrall says. “It will get crazy at times I know. But needed a starting point, we needed to establish a baseline three good aerifications a year and getting the irrigation and work from there.” system working properly makes a big difference. I don’t Thrall also “picked at” former boss and Carolinas think I have to be intimidated by these greens. We have a GCSA past-president Jeff Connell, now at Fort Jackson Golf plan now. So let’s see what we can do.” Club on the eastern side of town. Thrall was an assistant to Time will tell whether The Windermere Club’s Connell at Columbia Country Club and says he will always determination to retain its bentgrass greens is a smart be thankful for two philosophies he carried away from that business move or costly stubbornness. Owner and developer time. John Bakhaus grew up on bentgrass greens at Idle Hour

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 25 SEEKING SUPREMACY ON YOUR COURSE? TifGrand bermudagrass reigns over all other golf course grasses.

The most recent addition to the famous “Tif” (Tifton) series of bermu- dagrasses developed by the University of Georgia turfgrass breeding program (Tifway, TifSport, T10, TifEagle and TifDwarf), TifGrand was bred to outperform its predecessors. Exceptionally fine bladed and dense, it provides a soft yet resilient surface that provides unsur- passed wear tolerance. TifGrand also requires less fertilizer to main- tain its deep-green color, and its extensive root system gives it superior drought resistance and cold tolerance. Even more impressive, nine years of university testing proved that TifGrand thrives in both full sun and moderate shade. In fact, its performance in limited sunlight is a key reason that TifGrand makes an excellent choice for courses with partly shaded fairways, tees and/or roughs. All these superior qualities and genetics have propelled TifGrand to the top spot among a rapidly growing number of demanding golf course superintendents. Available throughout the Carolinas and Vir- ginia from Buy Sod, certified TifGrand bermudagrass has set a new standard for premium bermudagrass.

www.buysod.com | 866-428-9763 The Professionals’ Source for Superior Selections and World-Class Service

Buy Sod VarietieS: Golf Putting Greens: Bentgrass and Champion Dwarf bermudagrass Bermudagrass: TifGrand, Celebration, Patriot, TifSport, Tifway, T10 • Zoysiagrass: Zeon, Empire, El Toro, Meyer Paspalum: SeaStar, SeaIsle Supreme • Centipedegrass: TifBlair, Common • St. Augustinegrass: Raleigh Bluegrass: Tournament, Bella Blue • Fescue/Blue Blends: John Deere Select Club in Lexington, KY. He loves their vertical growth Paying it and lack of grain and in a private club market that SEEKING is over-saturated since the recession is banking on Forward bentgrass being a differentiator. SUPREMACY The club had close to 400 members in the late ‘90s To Say but now that number stands at 135. Daily-fee play has been helping to pay the bills, but only a little. At least Thanks ON YOUR up until now. The 1987 Pete Dye course saw just 13,500 rounds in 2014 but is up 30 percent year-to-date. “And that was with a bad-weather February,” Thrall says. Dr. Amer Samdani with COURSE? “We’ve been packed with Masters’ play (early April).” Jalen Castle after her “The word is getting out,” Bakhaus says. “You get spinal surgery. TifGrand bermudagrass reigns over a wonderful putting surface for 10 months of the year. The ball rolls straight up and for two months you all other golf course grasses. play defense. And no one wants to play much golf in Troy Thrall, golf course superintendent at The Columbia in July and August. They’re a special treat Windermere Club recently rallied golf industry support for a The most recent addition to the famous “Tif” (Tifton) series of bermu- when they’re good…if you can live with the cost of golf tournament benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children. dagrasses developed by the University of Georgia turfgrass breeding keeping them healthy.” Thrall lent a hand as a thank you for the work of the Shriners program (Tifway, TifSport, T10, TifEagle and TifDwarf), TifGrand was Hospitals in helping his goddaughter Jalen Castle, 12, in her That latter point is not lost on Thrall. For two and efforts to overcome scoliosis and continue her promising bred to outperform its predecessors. Exceptionally fine bladed and half years until the summer of 2011 he was a co-owner golf career. dense, it provides a soft yet resilient surface that provides unsur- and operator of Hidden Valley Golf Club in Gaston Even after a year of wearing a full torso body brace 12 passed wear tolerance. TifGrand also requires less fertilizer to main- south of Columbia. “I never worked so hard in my life, hours a day, only coming out of the brace to practice or tain its deep-green color, and its extensive root system gives it just to make sure my employees pay checks cleared every second Friday,” he says. When a buyer paid play golf, the curve in her spinal cord had increased from superior drought resistance and cold tolerance. enough for everyone to “get all of our money back” 34 degrees to 58 degrees. Doctors had told the family that Even more impressive, nine years of university testing proved Thrall says “it was like making money.” “To be able to paralysis was possible as the curve approached 70 degrees. that TifGrand thrives in both full sun and moderate shade. In fact, its make good on $500,000 in personal guarantees was a Initially, surgeons said Jalen’s only option was to have nine vertebrae removed and have what remained of her spine performance in limited sunlight is a key reason that TifGrand makes major relief.” fused with titanium rods. She was told she would never play an excellent choice for courses with partly shaded fairways, tees So when he examines potential improvements golf again. and/or roughs. and purchases at The Windermere Club today, he has a sharper take on the difference between a want and a The family researched alternatives and came across All these superior qualities and genetics have propelled TifGrand vertebral body tethering where the curvature is corrected to the top spot among a rapidly growing number of demanding golf need. “I know what it’s like to write those checks,” he says. by a cable attached to the affected vertebrae allowing the course superintendents. Available throughout the Carolinas and Vir- body’s growth potential to correct the curvature naturally. ginia from Buy Sod, certified TifGrand bermudagrass has set a new As a result, he is neither shocked nor moved to Doctors in Philadelphia told Jalen she could play six weeks complain when he considers how his challenge today standard for premium bermudagrass. after the surgery. compares with the way things once were. Digging through old payroll and budget records he found She underwent the surgery early April and was already that the club once had 16 people on the golf course two and half inches taller by the time she reached the maintenance staff. That number stands at six today recovery room. The golf tournament Thrall helped with was including an equipment technician. Budget is half of a means of “paying it forward.” what it was back then. “One of my members and a retired superintendent Larry But like most of his kind, Thrall is more fueled by Brantzeg reached out to me as member of the Shriners and the challenge than frustrated. It takes him back to the The Masonic Lodge,” Thrall says. “Through his connections first day he gave up his button down shirt in the pro and contacts not only has the Shriners, Masonic Lodge shop at The Members Club at Wildewood and walked and the Order of the Eastern Star made arrangements to in the next day in shorts and boots at the maintenance cover the cost of Jalen’s surgery, they have also promised to facility. “I wasn’t making anything as an assistant pro,” secure all of her health care costs until the age of 21. Pretty he says. “And the only thing I liked about the job was amazing group of people that without any hesitation and teaching and you didn’t get to do much of that.” through the game of golf have helped turned the bleakest of situations into one of great promise.” | By contrast he could see that maintaining the golf www.buysod.com 866-428-9763 Jalen is the highest ranked junior in the state in her The Professionals’ Source for Superior Selections and World-Class Service course offered a chance to “make progress.” “I don’t know if it’s an ego thing but it feels good to think you’re class of 2020, and as 7th grader this year earned First Team making something a little better,” he says. “Even if it’s All-State in the AAAA classification playing for White Knoll Buy Sod VarietieS: Golf Putting Greens: Bentgrass and Champion Dwarf bermudagrass replacing a sprinkler head. You stand back and, ok, High School. Money generated through the golf event will Bermudagrass: TifGrand, Celebration, Patriot, TifSport, Tifway, T10 • Zoysiagrass: Zeon, Empire, El Toro, Meyer that’s working now. Subtle little victories as small as be forwarded to the general operating fund for Shriners Paspalum: SeaStar, SeaIsle Supreme • Centipedegrass: TifBlair, Common • St. Augustinegrass: Raleigh that add up and in the end they mean something.” Children Hospital of Greenville. Bluegrass: Tournament, Bella Blue • Fescue/Blue Blends: John Deere Select carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 27

HEADLINERS

Second North South Around the Corner South last year 30 ½ to 23 ½.

One of the distinguishing features of the event is that it is presented in partnership with the three major equipment manufacturers and their distributors: Jacobsen, Tri-State Pump and Control; John Deere, Greenville Turf and Tractor, Revels Turf and Tractor; Toro, Smith Turf and Irrigation.

“The fact these three traditional competitors come together behind this event for the good of the industry is a testament to why golf is such a significant player in the economic well-being of the Carolinas,” says Carolinas GCSA executive director Tim Kreger. “These companies and their representatives understand that a strong industry is going to benefit everyone in Steve Shand from The Cliffs at Walnut Cove plays to the green at last year’s North South the long run.” watched by Jeff Robinson of Greenville Turf and Tractor and Paul Brandenburg, CGCS from Furman University Golf Course. Competition consists of 27 holes of match play across Texas scramble, ailed by some as the best for the 72-man field was strong. captain’s choice and four-ball formats superintendent golf event they with seven flights of 12 competitors. Each had ever competed in, the The North South is contested by teams flight will consist of three two-person H of 36 Class A or SM members from Carolinas GCSA North South heads into teams from the respective states. In its second playing at Myers Park Country each state on a first-come basis. Host 2014, competitors received a logoed Club in Charlotte, NC early May. No superintendents will again be Carolinas Titleist golf bag. This year’s tee gift is a doubt inspired by feedback from last GCSA director Scott Kennon, CGCS and shoulder bag from Wenger, makers of the year’s inaugural event, early registration Tyler Goff. The challenge was won by the Swiss Army Knife.

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 29 NEWS

Gehrisch Humbled By Award Focus

Golf course maintenance staff members at Highlands Falls Country Club with the congratulatory banner they prepared for their boss Fred Gehrisch, CGCS.

when he got back to the golf director. Gehrisch is the first winner from course maintenance facility the Carolinas in the 15-year history of the at Highlands Falls Country award which is presented in partnership Club in Highlands, NC. There, with Syngenta. his staff had prepared, signed Fred Gehrisch, CGCS with his Superintendent of the Year and hung a heartfelt welcome TurfNet wrote of his win: “Throughout award presented by Syngenta’s Stephanie Schwenke. banner congratulating him on his career, Gehrisch, 45, has undertaken the award. several civic-improvement projects that red Gehrisch, CGCS is no shrinking help improve quality of life for residents violet but he admits to getting a “That meant even more to me I think,” he of Highlands and portray the club in a Flittle red in the cheeks at all the says. “For my guys to go to that trouble was positive public light. Recently, he won fuss over his 2014 Superintendent of an emotional thing for me.” the praises of his members for helping the Year award from TurfNet. Gehrisch spearhead a project to convert an was one of 10 finalists gathered at the The first few weeks after his award otherwise forgotten meeting room in the TurfNet booth during the Golf Industry was announced were “a little clubhouse into a museum dedicated to Show in San Antonio, TX. Among them uncomfortable.” There was a veritable the history of the club and architect of were celebrated industry veterans - Paul flood of congratulatory texts, emails, the golf course, the late Joe Lee.” Latshaw from Muirfield Village; bold phone calls, handshakes and pats on experimenters – Mark Hoban from the back. Then the club took out a full Gehrisch also spearheaded efforts to Rivermont Golf and Country Club in page advertisement in a local magazine establish a croquet facility at the club Alpharetta, GA; and rising stars - Nelson celebrating his award. Eventually the that has attracted new members and Caron from The Ford Plantation in focus began to ease off. given older members incentive to remain Savannah, GA. even though they play little golf anymore. “I’m starting to get comfortable with it For many years, Gehrisch, a graduate “Any one of those (10) guys would have but it’s taken a while,” says Gehrisch, who of Ohio State University, has had a love been a worthy winner,” Gehrisch says. was nominated for the award by some for tackling projects outside the normal “I’m humbled to be included in that club members and several colleagues. “I realm of his superintendent duties, and group. To be honest, I was blown away to don’t know who they were but obviously I has been fortunate to have a membership hear my name called out as the winner. am very grateful.” that understands his passion. That’s really why I didn’t have a whole lot to say during the presentation. ” A major benefit that comes with the “We all get dirty here,” Gehrisch says. award is an all-expenses-paid trip for two “There’s no such thing as ‘it’s not my As surprised as he was on the trade to Ireland, which Gerhisch will take in job’ here. Picking up a wrapper on the show floor at GIS, Gehrisch says he was October with his wife Lynn Delgado, who floor is just as much my responsibility as even more affected by the welcome is also Highlands Falls’ member services someone who works in the clubhouse.”

30 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 NEWS

Father and Son Achieve Their Own Grand Slam

In between that first His Dad took up golf to help his career Masters and Martin with Shakespeare Monofilament. He Kaymer’s win last July, loves it like his son does but “Dad’s happy they watched Tiger win to break 90,” Herzberg says. “He plays the British Open at Royal right-handed but does everything else Liverpool in 2006 and left-handed. I think he would have been then Rory win the PGA a much better player as a left-hander. Championship at the But he’s played more great courses than Ocean Course in 2012. I ever will. Royal Birkdale, Chambers Bay, It was only as they were Hazeltine, Burning Tree. He’s played so walking off the course many.” after the Friday round at Kiawah that the idea of While the Herzbergs haven’t raised a father-son grand slam any silverware or had their names occurred to them. etched into the history of the game in completing their grand slam, the journey “It just kind of hit us speaks to so much that is good about then,” Herzberg says. the game. It has provided a stage for the Gil Herzberg delivered an early Father’s Day gift to his Dad, “My Dad turned to me two to strengthen their bond and build David, with framed mementos from their grand slam and said, ‘Well, I guess memories as the son grew from boy to we need to go to the U.S. man alongside his father. Open.’” So, two years ill Herzberg was 12 when his later, they did. Herzberg even bought Herzberg remembers the deafening roar father, David, packed him in the the tickets. “I thought after all that when O’Meara rolled in his winning putt. car and drove him to Augusta G time I probably should finally pay for He remembers the carnival atmosphere National for the final round of the 1998 something,” he laughs. “I think all fathers at Royal Birkdale. “Oh my God, the British Masters Tournament. Herzberg had and sons find their niches. For my brother Open is like the state fair compared to barely picked up a club at that point. He’d and my Dad, it’s cars. For me and my the Masters,” he says. “Everybody’s there maybe played a nine or two at a little Dad, it’s definitely golf.” whether they like golf or not. It’s amazing par three course on Lake Murray. But he the number of people they fit on the golf fell in love with the game that Sunday in The Herzbergs joined Columbia Country course for that event.” Augusta and has been on the golf road Club around the same time as the ’98 ever since. Masters and the timing could not have He also remembers watching the field at been better for a kid suddenly enamored Kiawah and thinking how dramatically Mark O’Meara drained a lengthy birdie with the game. He played every chance golfers have changed since ’98. “Back then putt on the 18th hole that year to claim he could get and at 15 started working there were a lot of short, fat white guys his only Masters. Herzberg and his Dad, on the golf course maintenance staff. and Tiger was the exception,” Herzberg by contrast, have gone on to complete Herzberg also discovered he could play says. “Now McIlroy, Kaymer, Dustin the grand slam over a special journey better than most kids his age and as a Johnson, they are all athletic like Tiger. It’s that would be the envy of any golf-loving high school freshman made the third been amazing to see that progression.” father and son. They tied the bow on their round of the South Carolina Junior big four when they walked among the Plenty of other things have changed over Match Play narrowly losing to eventual sand and the wiregrass at last year’s U.S. that nearly 20-year stretch. For one, “we champion Matthew Bryant, now playing Open at Pinehurst No. 2. weren’t drinking beer together” at the ’98 on the PGA Latinoamerica Tour. Masters, Herzberg laughs. “But we do “It wasn’t something we set out meaning He studied political science in college, now. And we’ve played a lot of fun golf to do,” says Herzberg, 29, now assistant thinking he might become “some kind of together. Some fathers and sons you see superintendent to Mitchell Wilkerson, lawyer” but golf’s grip was tight. Today, are best friends. I wouldn’t say that my CGCS at Moss Creek Plantation in he works his tail off like every assistant Dad and I are like that. Neither of us is all Bluffton, SC. “But I am really fortunate to superintendent worth his salt and loves that talkative. But the time we do spend have had the chance to share moments it. He dreams of one day owning his own together is really precious. It means a lot like those with my Dad. It feels like a course. to be able to look back and say I’ve been pretty big blessing.” to all the majors with my Dad.”

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 31 GOLF INDUSTRY SHOW

Campaign Highlights Role Of Game’s Unsung Heroes

olf course superintendents might not be the “unsung heroes of the Ggame” much longer. A concerted marketing campaign leveraging some of the biggest names in golf is bringing a new and favorable spotlight to the profession. The campaign, devised by GCSAA’s new director of communications and media relations Craig Smith, was unveiled at the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio, TX in February

The “thank a golf course superintendent” campaign features a montage of clips from Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy, Michelle Wie, Nick Faldo, Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell, Matt Kuchar, Johnny Miller, Davis Love, Nick Price, Colin Montgomerie, Jason Day and Karrie Carolinas GCSA director Matthew Wharton, CGCS receives his social media award from Golf Webb, all thanking superintendents. Course Industry editor in chief Pat Jones.

A key component of the campaign is approaching Wharton about how to start making an impassioned plea to GCSAA actually driving golfers to thank their accounts.” chapter executives to get behind this superintendent by going online to deliver year’s Rounds4Research auction from Wharton received his award from GCI their message through the GCSAA June 8-21. He spoke to about 60 chapter editor in chief and publisher Pat Jones website. Anyone over the age of 21 who leaders at a special meeting early in the at a presentation ceremony on the posts a message of thanks will be eligible week on behalf of the Environmental trade show floor. Fred Gehrisch, CGCS to win a trip for two, including airfare, Institute for Golf which now administers from Highlands Falls Country Club in lodging and tickets, to the 2015 PGA the online auction to raise money for golf Highlands, NC was also honored on the Championship. The sweepstakes kicked turfgrass research. trade show floor when he was named off April 1 and closes May 31. TurfNet Superintendent of the Year. See Earlier in the week, Kreger teamed with This year’s GIS saw several Carolinas story page 30. Steve Hamilton, CGCS from The Dunes GCSA members’ names in lights Golf and Beach Club, Chuck Connolly Wharton and Gehrisch were among a including that of board member Matthew from Greenville Country Club’s Riverside strong contingent of Carolinas GCSA Wharton, CGCS from Carolina Golf Club course and Todd Armstrong of Smith members at the annual education in Charlotte, NC. Wharton won “Best Turf and Irrigation to finish second in the conference and trade show. About 180 Overall Use of Social Media” in Golf shamble at GCSAA’s golf championship. members and guests registered for the Course Industry magazine’s annual Super Rhett Baker from Palmetto Golf Club was annual Carolinas Night at GIS celebration Social Media Awards. the best Carolinas GCSA finisher at T-15 presented in partnership with Jacobsen. in the weather-shortened championship “Twitter propelled Wharton into a The party deep in the heart of San with a round of 78. Baker’s round was as realm he didn’t know existed, one Antonio’s spectacular River Walk district up and down as the mountains in which where a superintendent in Charlotte was a highlight of the week. the championship was played. He made could interact with peers in the United just four pars in a round that included an Carolinas GCSA executive director Tim Kingdom and Australia,” GCI wrote of eagle, four birdies, a triple bogey and a Kreger says having so many people Wharton’s success. “He uses Twitter to double bogey. Billy Lewis from Dormie register for the event “so far from home” inform members of frost delays and cart Club was next best with a round of 81 was testament “to the strength of the restrictions, and he’s been introduced to to finish T-25. Retired Carolinas GCSA Carolinas GCSA community.” Kreger new techniques with the potential to help member Don Tew won the super senior was also “on stage” during the week Carolina Golf Club. Now, colleagues are gross division.

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carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 33 GOLF INDUSTRY SHOW

Max Morgan, CGCS from National Golf Alan Corbin of Corbin Turf and Bob Farren, CGCS from Pinehurst Resort, Fred Yelverton, Management and Mike Bankert from Myrtlewood Ornamental Supply. Ph.D. of North Carolina State University and Bill Golf Club Samuels, CGCS from Biltmore Forest Country Club.

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34 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 Carolinas Night at the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio, TX

Shelly Urish of GCSAA with Wood Britton, Russ Britton and Graham McElveen Brooks Riddle from Yeamans Hall Club and Rick Henderson of of Mirimichi Green Express. Greenville Turf and Tractor.

Kevin Redfern from The Governors Club

Georgianna and Nathan Welch of Teresa Wade of Experience Green receives a birthday surprise from Troy Sanders from Crowfield Golf AgStone Carolinas GCSA executive director Tim Kreger. and Country Club.

Chancy Welker from Seabrook Island Club and wife Angela with son Mary Beth and Todd Lawrence, CGCS from TPC at Wakefield Matthew. Plantation

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 35 LOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS

Eastern NC lunch. The chicken and mac and cheese of the few days that the sun has made were awesome. an appearance lately. The Coastal Plains region has seen its fair share of rainfall and In April, we convened at Belmont Lake overcast skies in the past few weeks. Our Preserve Golf Club in Rocky Mount. A turf desperately seeks some dry, sunny special thanks to David Coley and his weather. My mood seeks it just as well. staff for hosting the event. Jim Schultes of A.C. Schultes spoke on understanding The Coastal Plains GCSA finished off wells and pump stations. Great 2014 with its year-end golf tournament at information was shared with us. Shadowmoss Plantation Golf Club across the Ashley River in Charleston. Wayne The Eastern NCTA has so much to be Stonaker and his crew did a fabulous job thankful for. We are grateful for the with the course and the conditions were support of our renewing sponsors and ideal. We appreciate their hospitality. new sponsors for 2015, and everyone Following our round, we had a good that supported our recent fundraising ol’ southern pig pickin’. Tom Player, of tournament in May at Timberlake Golf Carolina Eastern Molony, and Steven Club in Clinton, especially lead sponsor Terrell, of Tri-State Pump and Control Smith Turf and Irrigation. Thanks to tackled the “pickin’ duties” and deserve Austin Allison and his staff for having the a big thank you for all they did to prepare Dr. David Hardy talks fertility to Eastern course in great condition. We are off to the meal. NCTA members. a tremendous year, better than last, we think. We have more sponsors than ever Your board has planned and is actively before. planning for several noteworthy events for this year. In February we revisited an Our next meeting will be at Reedy Creek old favorite, Yeamans Hall Club, for our Golf Course in Four Oakes, to be hosted meeting. A few years have passed since by superintendent Roger Olmstead we have been out on this course and it on June 18. We plan to have Mickey did not disappoint. As always Brooks McCord of McCord Golf Services and Riddle and staff did an excellent job. Safety speak on how to develop a golf The meeting was generously sponsored course safety program. In July, we have by Smith Turf and Irrigation. Marty our annual family night at a Morehead Bahen and Jay Johnson of STI were on City Marlins baseball game. This event is site demonstrating some of the new scheduled to be hosted by Andy Ipock, equipment offered by Toro. Eastern NCTA president Stanley Elliott, superintendent from The Country Club CGCS presents an association flag to host of The Crystal Coast, and sponsored by In late March, we returned to the now superintendent Josh Purvis. Vandemark Farms, on July 16 and will be familiar Seabrook Island Club for our a great opportunity to relax and spend gathering, sponsored by Tri-State Pump The Eastern NCTA met for a very time with our families. and Control. Steve Terrell was back informative meeting in March at Carolina without the pig, but with Jacobsen Colours Golf Course in New Bern. Thanks We would like to thank all of our 2015 equipment for our inspection. to general manager Ken Gerhardt and golf sponsors and invite all of our members course superintendent Josh Purvis and to our next few meetings. Please visit This year’s calendar is coming together their staff for hosting the event. Dr. David our website at www.encta.org and our nicely and we are excited about the Hardy, Dr. Kristin Hicks and Dr. Weimin Facebook page for more dates and upcoming events. I look forward to seeing Ye, all of the agronomic services division information on our 2015 schedule. each of you at as many of our meetings of the North Carolina Department of as possible, as we continue to support Agriculture and Consumer Services, Stanley Elliott, CGCS, Cypress Landing Golf our local association. Our success spoke to us on how to best interpret Club (252) 378-5743. depends on your participation. Until we soil, tissue, water and nematode tests. I meet again, here’s to perfect conditions would like to personally thank them for and great golf. taking time out of their busy schedules Coastal Plains to help further our education. For those Charlie Spears, Cherokee Plantation (843) who missed the meeting, you missed an I see the light. The sunlight. As I sit 844-9937. excellent learning session and a great preparing this article, I am missing one

36 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 LOCAL NEWS

Blue Ridge This year for its community work, the Thanks to all of the vendors who donated Blue Ridge TA has chosen to work with prizes and concessions for this event. the Surry County Habitat for Humanity. Your support is very much appreciated. We feel this is a part of our region that we have not yet reached. This will be a Mid-April our joint meeting with the great way to help a fantastic organization Palmetto TA was scheduled at the Pee by pitching in and helping a family in Dee Research and Education Center in need. Details will follow on how our Florence, followed by golf at the Country members can join in. Club of South Carolina, and as usual we expected superintendent Bo Cooper We would like to welcome 2015 new would have the course in great condition. committee members: president, Erik This is always a great event with a big Guinther, CGCS, from Roaring Gap turnout. In the next issue of Carolinas Club; vice-president, Nick Raby, from Green we will report on how we fared Oak Valley Golf Club; and secretary, against the Palmetto’s big hitters like Clay Joel Whitley, from Mountain Glen Golf “get you some” Dubose, CGCS from the Club. We look forward to leading our Tradition Club. This association challenge organization to advance and advocate gets pretty fierce sometimes. Snow at Oak Valley Country Club will soon be for the entire green industry in northwest a distant memory. North Carolina. As everyone already knows, the weather has been a little trying for us all. As we stand on the doorstep of another We would like to encourage anyone Hopefully, Mother Nature is beginning to season, the Blue Ridge TA is looking in our area to become involved in our show us a little favor and ease the burden forward to continued growth and association. We have a great group just a bit. enrichment within our community, and that we hope will continue to grow and another fantastic season for managing flourish. I encourage all of you to try your best turf. We are all ready to say goodbye to to make it to our association meetings. winter for another year. Hopefully, some Nick Raby, Oak Valley Golf Club The Midlands TA has one of the largest of the snow we saw will soon be a distant (336) 409-9095. territories of all of the local associations memory. in the Carolinas. Some of the venues are nearly a three-hour drive for some We have several great events planned Midlands members, making it difficult to have for the coming year and we started the large turnouts at all of the events. We year in mid-April with the first annual The Midlands TA met for our first get- understand that it is asking a lot for Blue Ridge TA versus the Piedmont together early March at The Windermere members to travel that far for a day GCSA match play event at Bermuda Run Club in Blythewood, SC with Troy Thrall of meeting and golf. With that said, Country Club. We anticipate reporting as our hosting superintendent. Bill the board tries to schedule events at our victory over the Piedmont guys in Anderson, CGCS agronomist for the locations that are scattered throughout the next edition. Our next event is our Carolinas Golf Association, gave a very our territory in order to minimize travel third annual spring classic May 19 at informative presentation on the purpose for everyone. Please take advantage Oakwoods Country Club in Wilkesboro. of the CGA and the turf advisory visits if a meeting is scheduled in your area that he performs. It is a service to use in This year’s “Anthony Durham Putt Putt and also encourage other local industry times of crisis for corrective ideas, as well Classic” will be in June, at Tiki Time Mini professionals to do the same. as a means of generating a long range Golf in Wilkesboro, with the exact date plan for your club. It is very affordable In closing, an apology for a mistake in the to be announced. Family night with the and I highly recommend utilizing this last article, Happy Taylor is back home at Hickory Crawdads will take place in July, benefit. Hartsville Country Club. The article listed again with the date to be set soon. him at Spring Valley Country Club. The first golf outing of the year is always Finally, the big Blue Ridge TA match fun but sometimes painful. We were Mike Holt, CGCS, Santee National Golf play event against the Western NCTA blessed with a beautiful day to remove Club, (803) 378-3274. will be contested in either September the rust, which had formed on many or October. We are looking forward to irons as well as some elbows and backs. competing with a great group of guys, Troy and his staff did an excellent job and once again taking home the cup. preparing the golf course for our play.

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 37 LOCAL NEWS LOCAL NEWS

Triangle Kim Clark, who is the local association winning team will trumpet the results director for the Carolinas GCSA, gave in the next issue. It was sure to be a us a quick update on what is currently tremendous day of golf and camaraderie. going on with the Carolinas GCSA. A big We all are grateful to superintendent thank you to her for what she does to Scott Fallon for hosting the competition. help the local associations. After lunch Lee Butler of NC State gave us the latest We have all been looking forward to our news in turf pathology. Thanks to Lee May fundraiser, an annual event, which for pulling double duty as our treasurer- has been and always is one of our most secretary and speaker for our conference. important functions. This year, we are We finished our afternoon with Dr. Travis grateful to have the pleasure to a great Gannon of NC State talking to us about day at Sedgefield Country Club’s Dye Course in Greensboro. Kim Clark from the Carolinas GCSA with Joe factors that affect pesticide fate and York from North Ridge Country Club. behavior. The Triangle TA would like to If anyone in the Piedmont GCSA has thank all of our speakers for taking their a son or daughter about to head off to valuable time to share their knowledge college or if you are a turf student, do not with us. forget to submit a scholarship application Our annual Bob Mashburn scholarship and essay to John Crowe, superintendent fundraiser was scheduled for early April at Jamestown Park. All the information at Duke University Golf Club and we were that needs to be submitted can be found anticipating a big success again this year. on our website at www.pgcsa.net. We hope to have details on the results in Daniel Knight, Sedgefield Country Club the next issue of Carolinas Green. (336) 643-4941. Our Durham Bulls family night has been locked in for May 31. It is a free event for members and their families. Look for the North-South posting on the Carolinas GCSA website. Old man winter was certainly a buzz kill Rodney Moss, River Ridge Golf Club (919) ... standing halfway outside your pro shop NC State’s Lee Butler, Rodney Moss from 906-2082. door all winter shaking his grizzled, age- River Ridge Golf Club and Chris Pearson of freckled fist at golfers ... “Hey, you kids Green Resource. Piedmont get the heck off of my lawn.” Hopefully The Triangle TA held its annual pesticide everyone has now begun to enjoy the conference at Prestonwood Country Club The Piedmont GCSA kicked off our riches of the vernal equinox, including in Cary in February. David Dalton was year with our spring education seminar but not limited to nostrils full of that our host superintendent. As always the early March at Colonial Country Club in wonderful spring aroma of fresh cut venue was outstanding. The lunch was Thomasville, where we were hosted by grass. delicious. The education was top notch, superintendent John Dawson. We would The curmudgeon referenced earlier, informative and on point. like to thank all of our speakers, Brad Boyd of the North Carolina Department old man winter, tried his best to foil the Dr. Charles Peacock of North Carolina of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, and North-South TA inaugural pesticide State University started us off, speaking Britt Baker and Dr. James Rutledge both conference, but our board was on IPM strategies for warm-season of Bayer CropScience. We are also most relentless and succeeded in a successful cultivars. He was followed by Dr. Shawn appreciative to Dave Swanigan of Bayer rescheduling in March. Big shout out Askew of Virginia Tech who updated for sponsoring the event. The seminar to board member Scott McArthur from us on the latest research in turf weeds. was very informative and I believe Cleveland Country Club who actually had Before the lunch break, Bill Anderson, everyone took home some valuable to schedule the speakers twice. Scott was CGCS agronomist from the Carolinas information. so distraught that he lobbied the board Golf Association gave us an update from to replace the event with a Caddyshack his organization. He discussed how the We were scheduled to kick off the cosplay (costume) ball. He even got CGA staff goes to courses and provides competitive events for our association for fitted for his gopher costume before services, such as providing course ratings 2015 in April at Bermuda Run Country cooler heads prevailed. On the off chance and what is involved in doing so. Club, with match play competition any North-South TA members think a against the Blue Ridge TA. I am sure the Caddyshack costume party is a good

38 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 LOCAL NEWS idea, please email Scott McArthur about Upstate signing his petition.

All nonsense put aside, the event was a great success and well attended. A huge round of applause to Chad Tulloch and all the staff at Firethorn Country Club for working hard to give us a great venue in just a short amount of time. Our slate of speakers included Travis Gannon, Lee Butler and Justin Nawrocki of North Carolina State University, and Bill Anderson, CGCS now Carolinas Golf Association agronomist.

Special thanks to all of our speakers for taking time to travel to Charlotte and offer us such great education and insight. We were able to offer both turf and ornamental pesticide credits as well as GCSAA continuing education units. Kyle Traynham from Willow Creek Golf Club, Bill Morton of Smith Turf and Irrigation, Mark Also during our pesticide conference the Rodgers of Vereens Turf Products and Mills Grant of Carolina Fresh Farms won the Upstate TA sporting clay teams title. association officially unveiled its new website, www.northsouthta.org. When you have time, please visit the site and Our latest meeting was held at Harris let us know what you think. You may Springs Sportsman Preserve, where easily access our calendar of events, print Department of Natural Resources officer membership applications and see all of Corey Drennon spoke to us about legal our gracious sponsors. ways to control Canadian geese and coyotes. After lunch we headed out for a Upcoming events include our fundraiser heated battle on the sporting clays course. to benefit the turfgrass program at The team of Kyle Traynham, Bill Morton, Central Piedmont Community College. Mills Grant and Mark Rogers won the The CPCC program is very beneficial to team title. Congratulations to Pate Kincaid our members as it is a source for interns for barely edging Alan Corbin for the and assistants. This event is our best- overall championship. Mr. Corbin did win attended and most fun event of the year. a free one-hour lesson by shooting lights It will be played as a four-man captain’s out on the last two stations. This was our choice so get your teams together first time doing the sporting clays. With all and let’s raise some money for a great the positive comments, this will definitely program. Mark your calendars for June 18 become an annual event. at Birkdale Golf Club in Huntersville. At press time we were looking forward to Thanks everyone and remember, a bit of the Hamrick Cup at The Cliffs at Walnut grass stain does not a ruined pair of pants Cove and our regional education session make. Until next time. Upstate TA sporting clay champion Pate in partnership with the Carolinas GCSA Kincaid of Greenville Turf and Tractor. at Thornblade Club. We also had a skins Rick Henderson, Greenville Turf and Tractor game scheduled in April at Crosswinds (864) 419-4907. The Upstate TA would like to give a special Golf Club, one of the best par three thank you to all of the vendors who have courses you could ever play. Our next sponsored us this year. Without your event is the member-member tournament support, our association would not be able at Oconee Country Club on May 21. to have great events and philanthropic endeavors. Make sure you go out of your David Greene, Hejaz Shrine Golf Club way to let our sponsors know how much (864) 630-1885. we appreciate each of them.

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Low Country

RBC Heritage tournament for the PGA Tour immediately after the Masters. The Heritage has always been a very popular event here in the Low Country, popular enough that schools in Hilton Head and in Bluffton are closed on Thursday and Friday, due to traffic concerns. Hope all of you wore your plaid.

The Low Country GCSA’s annual bowling tournament was once again very Part of the great turnout at the Low Country GCSA bowling tournament. successful. We had close to 60 people attend with 12 teams participating. Congratulations to the team winners, Andrew Frischen, Russ Bisbe, Eric Schleicher and Chris Crawford. We are looking forward to seeing everyone again next year, including the winners in defense of their title.

I would also like to announce the winners of our annual association championship, which was hosted by Palmetto Dunes Robert Trent Jones course. Scott Martin, CGCS won our A flight, Matt Scott Martin, CGCS of Corbin Turf and Dungan captured the B flight, and Travis Ornamental Supply and Matt Dungan and Woods took the honors for the C flight. Travis Woods from Palmetto Dunes Resort Congratulations guys. All of our players were winners in the Low Country GCSA golf thank Adam Cribbet, superintendent at championship. the Jones course and his team, for the great experience and playing conditions. Keep up the good work and thanks for having us. Kyle VanDenBerg with Clyde Johnston and Gil Herzberg at the groundbreaking for The First To all the Low Country members, the Tee project in the Low Country. board plans to move the pool tournament The time of year has finally come. As I and social at Cheap Seats on Hilton Head write this, all the golf courses in the Low Island to June with the exact date to be Country have been preparing for two of announced. At this event, we raise money the busiest weeks we have in our area. for the First Tee project on Hilton Head The first week was “Masters week.” Every Island this summer. The construction crew golf enthusiast, whether he or she is on is on schedule to break ground in May vacation or a club member, had to have and if you would like any information on been out playing golf before sitting down the First Tee project, please contact Kyle to watch the first major of the year held at VanDenBerg at kvandenberg@mosscreek. Augusta National. com. We had several members attend a groundbreaking ceremony for the project During Masters week, Hilton Head Island in April. Thanks and please keep checking and all of the unique golf courses in your email for a set date and we hope to the Low Country were extremely busy see you there. preparing for tee times from sun-up to sun-down. We are honored that Harbour As I mentioned in my last article, our superintendent director Jamie Mathews, Mike Heckman Town Golf Links again hosted the annual

40 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 LOCAL NEWS

has put together our annual pro and super TETAC but mostly we just enjoy a day of golf. tournament at Wexford Plantation Golf Handicaps are all over the place. However, Club set for May 11, with a noon shotgun the fun factor is 100 percent guaranteed. start. The format is six holes each of I would like to thank Carolinas Green for alternate shot, best ball and captain’s the opportunity to share news from the Our golf tournament for the last two years choice, with modified tee shots, which proud members of the Turf Equipment has been at Arcadian Shores Golf Club. is the same format as last year at May Technicians Association of the Carolinas. The course has been beautiful both years River Golf Club. Your board is currently In short, the superintendents are growing and we plan to return this year. Thank working on more details for our education the grass, while the members of TETAC you to the hardworking staff at Arcadian meeting in June and our annual par three are working to ensure that the equipment Shores for the many enjoyable days we tournament in July. Please sign up for all is ready to cut the grass. That is a very have had and look forward to spending events through the Carolinas GCSA by brief description, of course. Those of there. contacting Kim Clark. us in the golf industry know that there is much more going on behind the In closing, I would like to ask for prayers My meet-a-member this issue is Mike scenes. However, at the end of the day, for several TETAC members, who have Heckman. Mike got his start as a laborer superintendents and mechanics are suffered misfortunes this year, and for at Red Wing Golf Club in Minnesota, working together to achieve one common their families. Ken Becker, from Cape Fear where he grew up. He enrolled in the goal, “the beautification of our golf Country Club in Wilmington, NC was University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he courses.” injured on the job while dragging fairways. earned a bachelor of science degree in Ken’s tractor came to an abrupt stop turf and landscape management. During This time of year, those of us on the sending him into the steering wheel. the school months, he worked at Quarry board of TETAC are working diligently on Oaks Golf Course and assisted with preparations for the educational seminars Gregory Adams from Crooked Creek Golf the university’s turf research facilities. we present in November for the Carolinas Club in Fuquay-Varina, NC was involved He spent his last two college summers GCSA Conference and Show in Myrtle in a head-on collision with another vehicle interning at Bearpath Golf and Country Beach, SC. Each year our goal is to offer which crossed over the center median and Club in Minnesota and then at Long Cove classes that will further enhance our struck him. Yours truly also joined that Club on Hilton Head Island. education in the turf industry. We are unfortunate group when driving back to always open for suggestions on what the club shop after making a repair on the Upon graduation, Mike returned to topics seem relevant and important for course. A truck slammed into the back Minnesota as the assistant at Bearpath technicians in our field of work. Feel of a utility vehicle I was driving. Please Golf and Country Club. During his two free to speak to any of the TETAC board remember these men and their families in years in Minnesota, Mike also volunteered members as ideas come to you. your prayers. at TPC Scottsdale to assist with the Waste Management Phoenix Open. In 2012, TETAC also puts together a golf Thank you so much once again for he moved to South Carolina, specifically tournament for our members during the providing the opportunity to share some to work on Moss Creek’s South Course week Myrtle Beach week. I can assure you, news about TETAC and its members. Until renovation as the first assistant. He is now it is more about fellowship and laughter next time my friends, enjoy the warmer the first assistant at Long Cove Club, and than it is about skill. Don’t get me wrong, weather in front of us and God bless. the treasurer of the Low Country GCSA. In we have a few guys who can give some of his free time, Mike enjoys playing golfing, the superintendents a run for their money, David M. Johnson Jr., Rivers Edge (843) traveling and supporting his Cornhuskers 446-1720 and Minnesota Wild.

Nate Stevely, Chechessee Creek Club Growers of: Bermuda (843) 247-7028. TifDwarf • TifEagle • TifGrand Tifway (419)-Cer./Reg. Zoysia Cavalier • Palisades • Diamond Certified/Registered Turf Grown on MB fumigated soil John M. Brown: 803-263-4231 • [email protected]

P.O. Box 212 • 2024 Willow Swamp Rd. • Norway, SC 29113 • newlifeturf.com

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 41 INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS

John Deere Marks Mower Milestone warehouse in Benson, NC for raw parts and finished goods. The 500,000th unit will be on display at several upcoming local events including the Carolinas GCSA’s North-South Challenge at Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, NC on May 4. The vent is presented in partnership with the three big equipment manufactures through Revels Turf and Tractor and Greenville Turf and Tractor – John Deere, Smith Turf and Irrigation - Toro; and Tri-State Pump and Control - Jacobsen. Registration for that is event is now open at carolinasgcsa.org

Institute Readys For Applicants

Applications are now open to golf course superintendents for the 2015 Syngenta Business Institute in Winston-Salem, NC from December 7-10. The institute offers business curriculum in financial management, managing generational and cultural differences, delegation skills, effective communication, and John Deere’s Tim Manton, business unit manager, golf equipment products; Ronnie Johnson, global director, commercial mowing and negotiation tactics. Applications are due by August 18. golf equipment platform; David Knight, global director, turf and About 25 superintendents are chosen from an average of more utility platform engineering, Turner Revels, president, Revels Turf and Tractor; Tim Merrett, vice-president, global turf and utility platform; than 80 applicants each year. Syngenta partners with Wake Michael Koppen, product line marketing manager; and Rosalind Fox, Forest University School of Business to provide the education. John Deere Turf Care factory manager; with the 500,000th unit manufactured at the Fuquay-Varina facility. To be considered, candidates must complete the application, which includes an essay on why they should be selected, The John Deere Turf Care team has built 500,000 golf and relevant professional experience and educational background. commercial mowing machines. The John Deere Turf Care team To learn more and apply, visit GreenCastonline.com/SBI. has built 500,000 golf and commercial mowing machines. Conference and Show John Deere recently marked a manufacturing milestone with the completion of the 500,000th unit built at the Turf Care Planning Under Way factory in Fuquay-Varina, NC. The unit, a John Deere ZTrak mower, rolled off the production line nearly 30 years after the first unit was produced at the facility in 1997.

“It was a wonderful moment for everybody,” says Revels Turf and Tractor president Turner Revels. “We’re very proud of this milestone and the fact it has been achieved right here in the Carolinas. We’re also very grateful to all of our customers in the golf and turf business who have been so loyal over the years. ”

The Revels family business formed in 1961 when Charles Revels partnered with a colleague to form Stone and Revels Repair Service in Fuquay-Varina in 1961. Turner Revels, son of Charles Left: Ben Barnes from Blowing Rock Country Club and Carolinas GCSA Revels, joined the company in 1974 after graduating from Elon director Billy Bagwell from Callawassie Island Club. Right: Adam Charles College. In 1981, the company began calling on golf courses in makes a point during the Conference and Show planning meeting. central and eastern North Carolina. When John Deere entered the golf market in 1986, Revels Tractor Company was chosen Members of the Carolinas GCSA Conference and Show as one of the original distributors. planning committee recently spent a day on initial preparations for the 2015 event in Myrtle Beach, SC from November 16- Today, the Turf Care facility produces 10 different models of 18. Committee chair and Carolinas GCSA secretary-treasurer commercial mowing and golf equipment that are distributed Adam Charles from The Preserve at Verdae in Greenville, SC throughout North America and exported to more than 100 led the meeting at Myers Park Country Club in Charlotte, NC. countries. The Turf Care facility occupies more than 335,000 The committee of 18 spent five hours formulating this year’s sq. ft. of office and manufacturing space on Highway 55 in program including choosing presenters for the education Fuquay-Varina and operates a 320,000 sq. ft. distribution seminars and general sessions.

42 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 INDUSTRY NEWS

Superintendents At NC Ag Day John Deere Names Award Winners

Christian Drake and Brian Stiehler, CGCS flank Rep. Roger West during a visit to the State Capital for NC Agricultural Awareness Day.

Golf course superintendents were well represented at the North Carolina Agricultural Awareness Day in Raleigh, NC in March. Among those stepping forward for golf, superintendents and the Carolinas GCSA were current director Brian Stiehler, CGCS and Christian Drake, both from Highlands Country Club in Highlands, NC. They met Governor Pat McCrory, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler and various State Representatives. Golf is a significant player in the North Carolina agricultural industry which is major player in the state’s economy

Turner Revels of Revels Turf and Tractor with Tom Hannigan, golf sales Lovell Renews Certification manager for John Deere Golf, and Larry Adcock of Revels Turf and Tractor. Congratulations to Matthew Lovell, certified golf course superintendent at Rumbling Bald Resort, Lake Lure, NC on Revels Turf and Tractor took home the Bronze Dealer Award at completing the renewal process to maintain his elite status with John Deere Golf’s annual distributor awards ceremony at the the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Lovell 2015 Golf Industry Show in San Antonio, TX. The company’s has been at Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure since 2000. A Larry Adcock was named a Distinguished Sales Managers of 22-year GCSAA member, he initially achieved his certification the Year. Rick Henderson of Greenville Turf and Tractor was in 2010. Only about 1,500 golf course superintendents named a Sales Person of the Year. worldwide currently hold top-level status as a certified golf “At John Deere Golf, our foundation is serving our customers’ course superintendent. needs, and we couldn’t do that without our distributors, sales managers and salespeople,” says David Plaster, North American Dion Joins Solitude sales manager, John Deere Golf. “We’re honored to recognize these sales leaders who represent John Deere’s dedication to the golf industry.” Solitude Lake Management welcomes Ross Dion, fisheries scientist. Dion, based out of Solitude’s North Carolina office, has a bachelor of science from Virginia Tech and has three years of lake and pond management field experience. He is a licensed aquatic pesticide applicator in both North and South Carolina.

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Event Generates Support Money

Part of the field for the recent fundraiser at The Warrior Golf Club.

A host of Carolinas GCSA members were among golfers who tournament to raise money for the family. “Mike was able to raised more than $8,000 to support a fellow golf community organize the whole thing in about 30 days,” says North-South member whose wife is battling terminal illness. Marty Storie Turfgrass Association president Rick Henderson, of Greenville is a longtime staff member at The Warrior Golf Club in China Turf and Tractor. “This is truly a great industry in which we Grove, NC. His wife Leslie is battling pancreatic cancer. Warrior work.” golf course superintendent Mike Marsh organized a golf

Rounds4Research: Time to Donate

Time is ticking away for Carolinas GCSA members to ensure To date, the Carolinas GCSA has committed more than their facility is part of this year’s Rounds4Reesarch auction $250,000 to research projects in the Carolinas. “This is running June 8 to 21. “We really need our colleagues to take a research on subjects that directly impact how we do our jobs few minutes and secure a tee-time donation at their earliest at superintendents,” Ramsey says. “That’s good for us and opportunity,” says Rounds4Reserach committee chairman and it’s good for the facilities we work for. Everyone wins with association director, Drew Ramsey from Cutter Creek Golf Club Rounds4Research. We just need one person at each facility to in Snow Hill, NC. “So far support has been way below what we take a few minutes and secure a donation.” have seen in the past and certainly below what he had hoped for.” Ramsey and fellow Rounds4Reserach committee members At press time, fewer than 100 of the roughly 900 courses in Matthew Wharton, CGCS from Carolina Golf Club, Brian the Carolinas had committed a tee-time for the auction to raise Stiehler, CGCS from Highlands Country Club, Billy Bagwell from money for turfgrass research. Ramsey adds that early donations Callawassie Island Club and Charlie Spears from Cherokee help build interest and anticipation amongst prospective Plantation, have made personal phone calls to more than bidders. “We know that a lot of bidders like to plan their buying 200 fellow superintendents in recent weeks looking to secure strategy in advance,” he says. “So while we can take donations donations. “We’re very hopeful that these folks we’ve called or right up to the auction means we might not get the maximum left messages for will invest a little time and make sure their return on that donation.” course is on that list of donors when the auction opens in June,” Ramsey says.

44 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 INDUSTRY NEWS INDUSTRY NEWS Insects can really hurt a golf course. But not as much as a lack of funds.

Chinch Bug

Japanese Beetle Grub

The Environmental Institute for Golf is helping GCSAA chapters raise funds for turfgrass research, and you can help. All you have to do is donate a round to our online auction. The funds raised will go to agronomic studies, awareness, scholarships and other education programs. Donate today. Visit rounds4research.com.

Auction Date: June 8-21, 2015 Questions? Contact Mischia Wright, Associate Director, EIFG 800.472.7878, ext. 4445 • [email protected]

Presented in partnership with The Toro Company.

Rounds carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 45 Research 46 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 Superintendent Image Campaign

The Carolinas GCSA greatly appreciates the support of the following companies in promoting awareness and appreciation of the role of golf course superintendents.

Gold Club Syngenta Geoponics Corp. Larry Feller, Sales Rep. Agri-Business Technologies, Inc. 3415 Radio Road #105 5155 River Road • Smyrna, SC 29743 John F. Davis, Territory Manager Naples, FL 34104 Phone (843) 693-2187 1744 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. Suite C Phone (239) 261-6500 [email protected] Charleston, SC 29407 Fax (239) 692-8653 Steve Dorer, CGCS, Sales Rep. Phone (843) 766-3231 Jennifer Seevers, Coastal Carolina 2000 Parliament Place • Apex, NC 27502 Fax (843) 766-8715 [email protected] Phone (919) 943-0360 [email protected] Brad Driggers, Western Carolina / Upstate [email protected] [email protected] Arborguard Tree Specialists Gantt Martin, Piedmont / Triangle Tri-State Pump & Control, Inc. Barry L. Gemberling [email protected] Al Wilson, Owner/President Senior Corporate Arborist for The Carolinas Eddie Foust,Midlands / Upstate 1162 Chastain Road • Liberty, SC 29657 6350 Royal Celadon Way [email protected] Phone (864) 843-8100 P O Box 26767 • Charlotte, NC 28221 Fax (864) 843-6373 Phone (704) 578-5662 Greenville Turf and Tractor [email protected] Fax (704) 688-7238 Lon Fleming, President [email protected] 701 Sandy Springs Road Piedmont, SC 29673 Silver Club Cardinal Chemicals, Inc. Phone (864) 527-1050 E-Z-GO Terry J. Kallam [email protected] 1451 Marvin Griffin Road Sales and Marketing Manager Augusta, GA 30906 P.O. Box 368 • Kinston, NC 28502 J.K. Morro, Inc. Dennis Brouillard – North Carolina Phone (252) 523-1181 Ext. 3127 Thomas P. Porter, Owner Phone (336) 209-1833 Mobile (252) 559-0329 124 Palos Verde Drive [email protected] [email protected] Mooresville, NC 28117 Mike Lehman – North & South Carolina Phone (704) 928-9839 Phone (704) 519-5406 Coastal Floratine, Inc. Fax (704) 660-0371 [email protected] Jeffrey A. Fitcher, President/Owner [email protected] David Dudek – North Carolina P. O. Box 30267 Phone (919) 600-4311 Myrtle Beach, SC 29588 Nufarm [email protected] Phone (843) 215-6652 Cam Copley, Southeast Regional Sales Mike Nelms – South Carolina Fax (843) 215-0593 Manager Phone (706) 836-6081 [email protected] 2104 Countrywood North Road [email protected] Raleigh, NC 27615 Chris Dyer, Regional Sales Director - East CS Trading LLC Phone (630) 442-4882 Phone (336) 880-0684 Distributors for [email protected] [email protected] ADVANCED TURF TECHNOLOGY SISIS /DENNIS Revels Turf and Tractor Flowtronex WOODBAY Products Turner Revels, President Mike Bartley, Regional Sales Manager Ian D. Camp, Partner 2217 North Main Street 5218 Drake Cove Road Paul Stephens, Partner Fuquay Varina, NC 27526 Huntersville, NC 28078 106 Chandler Court • P. O. Box 510 Phone (919) 552-5697 Phone (704) 453-3876 Liberty, SC 29657 Toll Free (800) 849-5469 [email protected] Phone (864) 843-5972 Fax (919) 557-3749 Fax (864) 843-5974 [email protected] Howard Fertilizer [email protected] Trey Warnock, Director of Sales Smith Turf & Irrigation 5426 Huntwell Commons Lane Green Resource LLC Steve Smith, President Charlotte, NC 28226 Jonathan B. Annas, Owner Brent Miller, Sales Manager Phone (704) 756-7175 Robert G. Herring, Director, Sales & Todd Armstrong, Sales Manager Fax (704) 544-9214 Marketing P.O. Box 669388 • Charlotte, NC 28266 [email protected] P O Box 429 • 5204 Highgreen Court Phone (704) 393-8873 Colfax, NC 27235 [email protected] The Andersons Turf & Specialty Group Phone (336) 855-6363 [email protected] Ray Saseen, Territory Sales Manager Phone (336) 215-5368 [email protected] 4561 Lucerne Lane • Lilburn, GA 30047 Fax (336) 297-9763 Phone (404) 580-3564 [email protected] Fax (770) 972-1512 [email protected] [email protected]

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 47 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

CLASS C – Assistant Superintendent Jorge Alcantara-Nava, Grandover Resort, Greensboro, NC Logan McKean, Providence Country Club, Charlotte, NC The Carolinas GCSA would like to recognize our conference and show partners for David Rogers, Masonboro Country Club, Wilmington, NC their generous support of the conference Mike Schultz, Willow Creek Golf and Country Club, Greer, SC and show. The support offered through Carl Michael Shelton, Forest Lake Club, Columbia, SC these partnerships allows Carolinas GCSA members to enjoy an extensive array of Carson C. Turner, Waterfall Club, Clayton, GA member benefits throughout each year. CLASS AS - Associate Monday Golf Championship Michelle R. Rumph, Seabrook Island Club, Johns Island, SC SMITH TURF & IRRIGATION THE TORO COMPANY CLASS AF - Affiliate PNC EQUIPMENT FINANCE TCF EQUIPMENT FINANCE Christopher Frank, Trinity Turf, Inc., Winston Salem, NC Monday and Tuesday Seminar Education Class AFCorp1 – Corporate Membership SYNGENTA Landscapes Unlimited, LLC, Fuquay-Varina, NC Tuesday Seminar Luncheon Dana Grode, Landscapes Unlimited, LLC, Fuquay-Varina, NC GOLF AGRONOMICS Mitch Hock, Landscapes Unlimited, LLC, Lincoln, NE QUALI-PRO Brett Lacey, Landscapes Unlimited, LLC, Augusta, GA Exhibit Hall Plant Designs C.T. Shaw, Landscapes Unlimited, LLC, Leland, NC MCPHERSON GREENHOUSES Class AFCorp – Affiliate Corporate Member Tuesday Carolinas Night at the Beach TRI-STATE PUMP & CONTROL Dirk Hessman, Ewing Irrigation, Canton, GA Lee Satterfield, ProPump and Controls, Inc., Nichols, SC Wednesday Fellowship Breakfast CORBIN TURF SUPPLY Wes Reeves, ShowTurf, Ridgeland, SC NEW LIFE TURF Sean Shaw, ShowTurf, Ridgeland, SC Wednesday General Session Michael Craft, Tri-State Pump and Contol, Inc., Liberty, SC On Site Communications Jon Johnson, Tri-State Pump and Control, Inc., Cottageville, SC RADIOS FOR GOLF Carthage, NC VERTEX STANDARD Brad Modjewski, Tri-State Pump and Control, Inc., Mark McCaughan, Turfgrass, Inc., Winston Salem, NC Sporting Clay Event BAYER CROP SCIENCE LP CAROLINA FRESH FARMS Wednesday Buffet Luncheon COASTAL FLORATINE, INC. ARMOR TECH 27-Hole Challenge JOHN DEERE GOLF REVELS TURF & TRACTOR CAROLINAS GREENVILLE TURF & TRACTOR DIVISION SHOWTURF Refreshment Breaks HARRELL’S, INC. MBCC Parking Sponsor Excellent Service. CARDINAL CHEMICALS CAROLINA FRESH FARMS Proven Products. BAYER CROP SCIENCE LP Great Pricing. Welcoming Sponsor GREEN RESOURCE Bulk Aggregate Golf, Inc. is your Student Turf Bowl PRECISION LABS, INC. industry partner and one source for all your USGA sand, gravel and Distinguished Service Award Dinner J.K. MORRO, INC. crushed stone needs since 1980. KNOX FERTILIZER COMPANY Technology Station SUNBELT RENTALS, INC. MODERN TURF NUFARM AMERICAS, INC. Trash Can Wraps www.bulkagg.com/golf/carolinas.html VANDEMARK FARMS, LLC CALL US TOLL FREE 1-877-BULK-AGG E-Newsletter GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY Bulk Aggregate Golf, Inc. - Carolinas Division | P.O. Box 1410, Vass, NC 28394 | 910-379-4889

48 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 WELCOME NEW MEMBERS OUR FRIENDS

Preston Arbogast has been promoted from assistant golf Kyle Oakes, formerly with Birchwood Country Club, Nashville, course superintendent to golf course superintendent at NC is now golf course superintendent with Falling Creek Prestonwood Country Club, Cary, NC. Country Club, Kinston, NC.

Mark Benton, formerly with Sea Trail Resort and Golf, Sunset Adam Russ, formerly assistant golf course superintendent with Beach, NC is now account manager with Tri-State Pump and Kings Grant Golf and Country Club, Fayetteville, NC is now Control, Inc., Leland, NC. assistant golf course superintendent with Highland Country Club, Fayetteville, NC. Patrick Conner has been promoted from assistant golf course superintendent to golf course superintendent at Washington Alan D. Smith, CGCS formerly golf course superintendent of Yacht and Country Club, Washington, NC. grounds with Riverside Cemetery, Appleton, WI is now golf course superintendent with Eagle Creek Golf Club, Moyock, NC. Kevin M. Haslam, formerly assistant golf course superintendent with Forsyth Country Club, Winston Salem, NC Bart Stephens, formerly with The Rock at Jocassee, Pickens, SC is now assistant golf course superintendent with Greensboro is now assistant golf course superintendent with The Reserve at Country Club, Greensboro, NC. Lake Keowee, Sunset, SC.

Shaun Kerr, formerly assistant golf course superintendent with Troy M. Thrall, formerly general manager-golf course Legacy Golf Links, Aberdeen, NC is now golf course superintendent superintendent with Charwood Country Club, West Columbia, with Gates Four Golf and Country Club, Fayetteville, NC. SC is now golf course superintendent with The Windermere Club, Blythewood, SC. Matt Marlow, formerly sales representative with Howard Fertilizer, Orlando, FL is now sales representative with Helena Christopher R. Varrell has been promoted from assistant golf Chemical Company, Knightdale, NC. course superintendent to golf course superintendent with Aberdeen Country Club, Longs, SC. Steven R. Neuliep, CGCS formerly golf course superintendent with Silver Fox Golf Course, Etowah, NC is now golf course superintendent with Etowah Valley Golf Resort, Etowah, NC.

CERTIFIED GOLF COURSE BUILDER

RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION EXPERTS IN THE CAROLINAS FOR 23 YEARS

GREENS-REBUILD, RESURFACE, NEW BUNKERS-NEW, REBUILT-LINER OF CHOICE APPROACHES, SURROUNDS - REGRADE, SOD TEES-ADD, EXPAND, LASER FINISH DRAINAGE-IMPROVEMENT, ADDITIONS CART PATHS-REPAIR, REPLACE-CONCRETE IRRIGATION-BRIDGES, WALLS, PONDS SODDING, SPRIGGING, HYDROSEEDING

SHAPEMASTERS, INC. The Carolinas GCSA extends sincere sympathies to the PO BOX 11128 family and friends of long-time member Dale Hanna of Green SOUTHPORT, NC 28461 Resource following the death of his son Furman “Mitch” Hanna, Office: (910) 278-1434 / Cell: (910) 443-1966 31. Mitch Hanna was killed in a road accident near Conway, SC Email: [email protected] early January.

carolinasgcsa.org CAROLINAS green 49 THE CLEAN UP LAP

What Doesn’t Go Up Shedding Pounds It has to be one of the By the time you read this, your staff at the Carolinas GCSA biggest goofs in the history headquarters in Liberty, SC will be about half way through an of the Golf Industry Show. extended weight-loss challenge. The 90-day challenge comes Hobnobbing over nibbles with fringe benefits beyond walking away with a leaner physique. and drinks nearly 700 feet There’s a $300 prize for the body that sheds the greatest above San Antonio in the percentage of weight. Local association coordinator Kim Clark Tower of the Americas admits she took a little step backwards during a recent visit to sounds like fun. And that Philadelphia for some medical care: one Amish-made apple was the plan for the GIS dumpling and an authentic Philly cheese steak. opening night reception. But someone didn’t do their research. Like of the Irish As TurfNet’s Superintendent of the Year, Fred Gehrisch, CGCS The wait to get to the top from Highlands Falls Country Club, receives an all-expenses- of the tower was so long paid trip for two to Ireland. He’s never been before but is better that many people turned prepared than most novices for a visit to the Emerald Isle. away as soon as they saw Gehrisch underwent a comprehensive initiation in the Irish love the long, long line ahead of of life and all things fun during the 1996 Olympic Games in them. Steve Shand, above, Atlanta. A buddy of his was a chaperone for the Irish athletes from The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Asheville, NC was one of and included Gehrisch on some of the post-competition revelry. them. Some who toughed it out took well over an hour to get to At one point Gehrisch even enjoyed a pint with the Irish Prime the top – where it turned out space was severely limited. Here’s Minister – or Taoiseach - of the day, John Bruton. some numbers that someone at GCSAA should have crunched in advance: It’s a Reel Thing The tower has three elevators that can hold between 12 to 15 Hats off to Jacobsen’s media folks in Charlotte, NC for a little people at a time. To load one elevator, deliver everyone to the top fun on April Fools’ Day with their press release announcing and return to the bottom for the next group takes 5.5 minutes. So the “world’s first invisible walking greens mower.” “Leveraging that’s a maximum of 45 people every 5.5 minutes. At that rate, advanced cloaking technology from Textron, the new TotalEclipse it takes just over two hours to get 1,000 people to the top. More is unlike anything seen (or not seen) in the history of turf than 14,000 people attend GIS. maintenance” the release proudly announced. Better still, the release arrived in our email box accompanied by two photos of the “TotalEclipse 2000 – a mower that is completely invisible to Ask a Simple Question the naked eye.” See for yourself below, well, you know what we It helps to have friends in all the right places, even airport mean. lounges. Joe Stewart is one such friend of the golf course superintendent. Stewart met Carolinas GCSA executive director Tim Kreger through the Association Executives of North Carolina. He was also lucky enough to win one of four donated Carolinas GCSA logoed golf bags during one AENC golf event. Then this happened as Stewart waited for a plane recently. He takes up the story:

Dude next to me sees logo on my bag and asks, “Are you a golf course superintendent?”

“I might be,” I said.

“Is it a hard job?” he asks.

“How’s your yard look compared to the last golf course you were on?” I said.

“I see what you mean,” he says.

50 CAROLINAS green May - June 2015 THE CLEAN UP LAP

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