MAINTENANCE BRIEFS Iowa golf/ag alliance influencing policy By MARK LESLIE Members see group effort could serve as a model for the ES MOINES, Iowa — Combin- industry in other states, alliance ing monetary clout with "a huge as model for others Executive Secretary Mona Rae Bond Dgrassroots force," the Iowa from the moneyed replied simply: "Absolutely." Alliance of Environmental Concerns agribusiness as well Fort Dodge Country Club superinten- (IaAEC) and Agribusiness Association as the Iowa Golf dent Dennis Watters, the IaAEC of Iowa (AAI) are proving that the Course Superinten- president from 1995 to 1997, said: "I turfgrass and agriculture industries can dents, Professional Lawn Care and Sod think you have to look at it on a state- be a political power at the Statehouse Producers associations and various by-state basis. We're in a hot bed of here. other turf managers. agriculture here." In this hot bed of agriculture, Efforts in various states around the In Iowa's case, he said, "We needed a legislators have been known to cry country to affect legislation through vehicle to pull together everybody who "Uncle" when barraged by calls from had the same concerns: to ensure we TURF WEB '98 ANNOUNCED lobbyists have been few and generally TAMPA, Fla. — The Florida IaAEC and AAI members, who hail ineffective. Asked if the IaAEC-AAI Continued on page 14 Turfgrass Association has announced the dates of Turf Web '98 Conference GOLF AND THE ENVIRONMENT and Show. It will be held at the Tampa Convention Center, Sept. 16-19. Ca- N.C. State prof sino Night, an awards dinner, president's salute and other events are starts studies planned. to help Asians DISTINGUISHED SERVICE NOMINATIONS By MARK LESLIE LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Golf RALEIGH, N.C. — Citing the absence of scientific informa- Course Superintendents Association tion on turfgrass pests in Asia, an American professor has of America (GCSAA) is accepting undertaken what he hopes will be the first of many studies to nominations for the help golf course superintendents in that region. 1999 Distinguished "If we can show some success with this research, on future Service Award. Nomi- projects I hope there will be people stand- nations are due by ing in line saying they will help," said Dr. Sept. 1 on official Rick Brandenburg, a turf entomologist forms, available from at North Carolina State University here. the association by calling 800-472-7878. "The time commitment is actually very The award is presented to an indi- small." vidual who has made an outstanding The research is needed for many pests contribution to the advancement of because what is known in the United the golf course superintendent's pro- States can not always be extrapolated for fession. use in Asia, according to Brandenburg, Rick Brandenburg who discovered this fact on a trip to Singapore this spring. DELHI, NYSTA PARTNER His pioneering program targets the number-one pest in DELHI, N.Y. — The State University many Asian countries: the mole cricket. Some 25 superinten- of New York—Delhi and the New York dents in Hong Kong, The Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, State Turfgrass Association (NYSTA), China and Indonesia are sending mole crickets from their in cooperation with chapters of the Golf courses to Brandenburg. Course Superintendents Association, Continued on page 16 will present a golf course seminar with emphasis on new technology on Aug. 4. Turfgrass and equipment manager ses- Matchmaker, matchmaker sions will be included. To obtain a con- Making choices: It's an ference brochure or for more informa- Two GCSAA tion, people may call NYSTA at 800-873-8873,518-783-1229; fax 518-783- environmental 'watershed' ex-presidents 1258, or write NYSTA, P.O. Box 612, By RON DODSON Latham, N.Y. 12110. Have you ever heard the reference to "watershed" as a team in jobs critical point that changes a particular course of action, like search firm PA. STUDENTS GIVEN ALTERNATIVE a decision that created a turning point in history? STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn That use of watershed comes from its definition: "a ridge By MARK LESLIE State's two-year Golf Course Turfgrass of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different LOS ANGELES — Bruce Williams Jerry Faubel Management Program has worked out river systems, also called 'water parting'." A watershed Golf Course Superin- an articulation agreement with Penn may also refer to the region that drains into a river, river tendents Association of America (GCSAA) Past President College of Technology which allows system, or other body of water. So, the golf industry needs Bruce Williams has joined another former president, Jerry all graduates of the to take a look at watersheds for two reasons. Faubel, adding a West Coast presence to Faubel's Executive turf program to First, the industry needs to understand the environmen- Golf Search Inc. complete an asso- tal importance of watersheds in order to make good eco- Faubel first formed the "headhunting" company with famed ciate degree. The nomic and environmental decisions about developing and course architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Michigan State agreement allows managing the land. University Prof. Ken Payne in the early 1990s. Payne died in any certificate pro- Secondly, it has reached a critical point in making land- 1994 and Jones has retired, leaving Faubel running the gram graduate to management decisions where it must choose between the company solo. continue studies at the Williamsport status quo of golf course development and maintenance, "Over the years, I've been involved in helping a number of campus. By completing two semes- and that of sustainable development and management prac- superintendents find jobs that would be a good fit for them," ters and required classes, the student tices Williams said. "Retiring from the GCSAA board allowed me would be awarded an associate degree In order to understand how important watersheds are, the opportunity to spend my spare time in other activities. in landscape technology with an em- however, we need to know a little about ecology. An ecosys- This was the perfect match for me." phasis in turfgrass management. tem is a community (of plants, or animals, or even human Saying that he and Payne had hoped Williams would join People may contact Rich Weilminister beings) together with its environment of soils, waters and them after proceeding through the GCSAA chairs, Faubel at Penn College at 717-320-8038, or other elements on which the organisms depend for sur- added: "We thought Bruce would be an excellent partner. All George Hamilton at Penn State at 814- Continued on page 19 of a sudden he moves [from Chicago] to the West Coast and 865-3007. Continued on page 21 MAINTENANCE it's difficult to use them to their American scientist lends research aid to Asian supers maximum effectiveness when you don't understand the pest that well. Continued from page 13 and draft specific management SEE COMMENTARY, PAGE 17 ceptible stages of develop- Not only are Asian species of programs for their control in ment." "We have to be able to target mole crickets mostly different about a year. "We do not see year-round Mole crickets are most sus- those life stages. If, indeed, we from those in the United States, "It's kind of a riddle right now reproduction in the U.S., even in ceptible to control measures find out that in certain parts of Brandenburg said, their species as to what's taking place," said southern Florida," he said. "I when they first hatch. "They are, Asia their eggs are being laid and life cycles probably vary con- Brandenburg, referring to one don't know if the report of year- more or less, susceptible to every- and hatched almost year-round, siderably from Singapore to Asian species that appears to have round reproduction is perception thing —pesticides, biological con- it's going to present quite a chal- southern China and Hong Kong. almost continuous reproduction or reality. Until we know that, trols, etc.," Brandenburg said. lenge to develop sound pro- He intends to identify the spe- as opposed to the annual life cycle it's difficult to target any con- "But no matter how good the grams." cies, monitor their life cycles, seen in the United States. trol strategies to the most sus- products to control the pests are, Brandenburg has provided the Asian superintendents with all the collection equipment — vials, preserving materials and self-addressed boxes. They will collect the mole crickets in June, ship them to North Caro- lina State in July, and repeat the procedure every other month. "We'll have to sample for a whole year before we feel com- fortable with what's taking place," Brandenburg said. "We have a lot of research informa- tion, but we don't know what we can apply to Asia from our find- ings here. The key to success is understanding the biology of the pest." Asked if this kind of test can be performed on other pests, Brandenburg said: "It can be. In some situations, all we need is a little bit of preliminary informa- tion to give us guidance on what will work and what won't... You're going out on a real thin limb assuming that if some- thing works here, it will work there. But if we can narrow that down, we've made a big step forward. "The same would be true with When your greens are seeded with L-93, golfers will go other pest and disease problems. If there is a reasonable feel for through almost anything to reach them. environmental conditions, it can help with forecasting and help superintendents planning the tim- ing of control measures. All those At Sand Barrens Golf Club, you'll find 25 spot, gray snow mold tools help superintendents do acres of sandy waste standing between you and brown patch. their job better and help them and the greens. But once you get past the So it requires less from being caught off-guard with sand, you're rewarded with the greenest, fungicide in certain problems. The soil pests are al- most uniform putting surfaces ever created. conditions than most ways the greatest challenge. As a new course, the Sand Barrens needed other creeping bentgrasses. They're hidden and catch you by a hardy, dense turfgrass that would establish Its upright vertical growth and surprise a lot of times." and green-up quickly. That's why they chose aggressive establishment helps prevent spike to cover their five acres of greens with Lofts' marks. And it's been ranked #1 overall best Brandenburg said he hopes L-93. performing creeping bentgrass variety for scientists in the United States the past two years. who have contacts in Asia will L-93 features improved resistance to Call Lofts Seed work with superintendents there numerous turfgrass diseases such as dollar So the next time your greens, tees or with similar research. fairways need seeding, give L-93 a try. toll-free at "One of the things I've been You won't believe how many golfers will 1-888-LOFTS CO L-93 vs. COMPETITION most impressed with is the Asian come out to watch it perform. Overall Turfgrass Quality Ratings www.turf.com superintendents' zeal and desire 1996 NTEP Trials, Putting Greens for more information," he said. "L-93's grow-in performance "They realize they are working surpassed all of my expecta- in a vacuum in many areas. If we tions. Its quickness of can find ways to facilitate get- establishment and ting them information, most of upright growth us in the industry would be happy to do so. We learn a lot more habit are quite from this end, too. It gives us a impressive" more complete picture of these Steve Malikowski, Where Great pests as to how they survive un- Golf Course Superintendent der different environmental con- The Sand Barrens Grass Begins Turfgrass Quality Ratings: 9 = Ideal Turf Clermont, NJ ditions. LSD = 0.2 "Without a great deal of cost Page 8 or effort from people on either end, it will help us develop a nice database."