GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY (ISN 1054-0644) Is Published Monthly

©INSIDE: Learn i ng on ly / io Superintendent's guide to developing assistants / 32 I NOVEMBER 20171 I golfcourseindustry.comi 1

OLFi I COURSEikihi mTn\/ INDUSTRY

Strategies to grab resources you need for the course your members and players expect.

MUS-iiSS* ÏIV OWISNVT XSfV3 VtOVAi - HG 3'13203 M WVK3HD1003 2X3d HO^Oiaxa^ ■■■■I i®!il#|li Now available at GREENWORKS ÔSiteOne COMMERCIAL LANDSCAPE SUPPLY

OMMERCIAL GRADE

FUEL AND COMMERCIAL CLIENT ECO MAINTENANCE GRADE POWER FRIENDLY FRIENDLY SAVINGS

The Most Powerful Cordless Commercial Tools on the Market

Find out more at www.greenworkscommercial.com VOL 29 NO. 11 IN THIS ISSUE

COLUMNS 10 GAME PLAN Henry DeLozier: Learning to fly

20 OUTSIDE THE ROPES Tim Moraghan: A few words of thanks

26 DESIGN CONCEPTS Jeff Brauer: Golf s alt right hazard

38 IRRIGATION ISSUES Brian Vinchesi: Cadillac vs. Chevy

50 PARTING SHOTS Pat Jones: Travels with Jonesy DEPARTMENTS 4 TEEING OFF: Down they go 6 EDITORS NOTEBOOK: See it then, restore it now 48 TRAVELS WITH TERRY: Equipment ideas

49 CLASSIFIEDS 49 ADINDEX n Y, H L £ 22

FEATURES

Cover story Management 12 GETYOUR BUDGET INCREASE 32 THE SUPERINTENDENT’S GUIDE TO Strategies to receive the resources you DEVELOPING ASSISTANTS need for the course your members and Having trained 164 young men and players expect. women during his career, GCI’s Bruce Williams, CGCS, offers insight into the Construction bumps in the road assistants face on 22 REALLY OLD SCHOOL their career path. A New York course with an extensive, fascinating and complex history returns Industry to its architectural roots. 40 WE ARE ... ENTERING THE GOLF BUSINESS How does a 23-year-old entrepreneur Maintenance break into a relationship-based 28 INJECTING DIFFERENT THEORIES industry? He relies on a powerful turf Is the time right for your course to network. examine non-traditional ways to open and fill holes on premium surfaces? Agronomics 44 MAP TO SUCCESS Studying the results of reputable tests can help produce the combination needed for good soil management.

GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY (ISN 1054-0644) is published monthly. Copyright 2017 GIE Media Inc., 5811 Canal Road, Valley View, OH 44125. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without permission from the publisher. One-year subscription rate, $33 in the United States, $42 in Canada and Mexico, and $88 in other foreign countries. One year foreign airmail rate: $102. Two year subscription rate: $65. Single issue rate, $5. Subscriptions and classified advertising should be addressed to the Valley View media office. Periodicals postage paid at Valley View, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY 5811 Canal Road, Valley View, OH 44125. Canada Post: Publications Mail Agreement #40612608 Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 2012 3 TEEING OFF GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY Serving the Business of Golf Course Management DOWN THEY GO Vol. 29 No. 11 GIE Media, Inc. reen speed and tree removal. I stray from pressing superintendents about specifics 5811 Canal Road of both topics when visiting courses. Valley View, Ohio 44125 For starters, it’s annoying. How fast are the greens running? Are they running 11 Phone: 800-456-0707 or 12? What happens to turf health when they’re pushing Fax: 216-525-0515 13? Superintendents are pestered enough about green speeds by members I find it surprising they don’t start EDITORIAL running 12 miles per hour in the opposite direction of Pat Jones Publisher/Editorial Director [email protected] their daily interrogators. Mike Zawacki Editor [email protected] When it comes to tree removal, I find numbers don’t Guy Cipriano Senior Editor [email protected] work for somebody in my position. Ask a restoration- Terry Buchen Technical Editor at-large ready superintendent how many trees 96-year-old Bruce Williams Senior Contributing Editor Wicked Field Country Club is planning to remove, and you’ll often get the same deadpanned answer: not GRAPHICS/PRODUCTION enough. Golf Course Industry operates to help superinten Jim Blayney Creative Director dents perform their jobs - not lose them. I save tricky Caitlin McCoy Advertising Production Coordinator Guy Cipriano tree questions for architects, builders, green chairs, club Senior Editor ADVERTISING/PRODUCTION INQUIRIES presidents and arborists. Kate Pretzlav For most of October, I felt like an architect or builder, visiting nine private clubs in four [email protected] • 216-393-0229 states. Speaking with superintendents and club officials, in generalities, and scanning SALES storied land with my eyes, left me believing trees planted for the wrong reasons in the Russell Warner National Account Manager [email protected] • 216-393-0293 1950s, ’60s and 70s are being removed for the right reasons. Craig Thorne Account Manager The bulk of this work has occurred in this decade and it will continue into the next [email protected] • 216-393-0232 decade. As architect Ian Andrew tells us for this month’s story, “Really old school,” page Bonnie Velikonya Classified Sales 22, which examines the restoration work at venerable Knollwood (N.Y.) Country Club, [email protected] • 216-393-0291 tree removal conversations begin with agronomics before wading into aesthetics and strategy. I didn’t make it to eastern New York, home of Knollwood and dozens of other CORPORATE Richard Foster Chairman clubs removing trees as part of master plans, but I did swing through the western part of Chris Foster President and CEO the state. The trip included a visit to The Park Country Club of Buffalo, where Andrew Dan Moreland Executive Vice President has worked closely with longtime superintendent Scott Dodson on restoring a Harry Colt- and C.H. Alison-designed course that hosted the 1934 PGA Championship. James R. Keefe Executive Vice President With an elevated tee, colorful wetlands backed by Ellicott Creek, an approach flowing Christina Warner Audience Development Director into a contoured green, a restored flat-bottomed, grass-faced bunker on the left and a Michelle Wisniewski Production Manager wooden connecting bridge, Park Country Club’s par-3 13th hole is yardage guide cover Maria Miller Conferences Manager material. The hole has more tee space because of an optional tee sitting right of the primary Kelly Orzech Accounting Director tee. Tree removal opened an angle for the optional tee, which boasts a dramatic view of Irene Sweeney Corporate Communications Manager a spectacular golf setting. The view doesn’t exist without a chainsaw. Kevin Gilbride Business Manager, GIE Ventures The melding of agronomics and aesthetics will continue as restoration euphoria pro gresses. One of the materials guiding Aronimink (Pa.) Golf Club’s restoration, “See it Golf Course Industry is a member of: then^ restore it now,” page 6, is a 1929 aerial stored in a Delaware library collection. With Golf Course Superintendents Association of America a sizeable gap in my schedule between leaving Aronimink last month and a co-worker’s National Golf Foundation arrival at Philadelphia International Airport, I signed my literary life away to scour the Golf Course Builders Association of America glossy prints of the Hagley Museum and Library’s Dallin Aerial Survey Company collection. The Irrigation Association The jitters of conducting work research in a camera-filled room subsided once I found Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment 1920s and 1930s aerials of Philadelphia’s wonderful classic courses. The aerials depicted the clubs in their earliest and arguably most endearing forms. Trees encircled club property >bpa pan yet only in rare cases encroached golf grounds. The Dallin collection has been digitized. But there’s something exhilarating about wearing white cotton gloves while clutching black-and-white aerials of storied courses, especially when you know the images you are studying will help improve 21st century agronomics. I saved the tree-counting that afternoon for somebody else. I was too busy studying golf’s throwback future. GCI

4 NOVEMBER 2012 golfcourseindustry.com Irrigation /yqpv Turf 4-Land Outdoor Sustainable Sports Fields Golf ® +Landscape Management e Living Solutions Your Golf Solutions Provider

Ä7 »_autfiS»

Drainage Irrigation Products HDPE Products & Training Seed & Fertilizer

, ,, *'W; Erosion Control Bunker Solutions i ' ÌH e IBs® Follow us on V Tools & Maintenance Products social media: n V Ba © «

200+ Convenient Locations Nationwide Alabama / Arizo^£Arkansas California I Colorado I Florida / Georgia I Kansas I Louisiana / Mississippi I Missouri Nevada / New Mexico I North Carolina / Oklahoma I Oregon I South Carolina / Tennessee I Texas I Utah I Washington

wereomine. \ shop online, create quotes and manage jA Ewinglrrigation.com Register your Ewing account today! Irrigation & Landscape Supply BOOK

Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., is restoring Its bunkers to resemble the form Donald Ross intended when the course opened in 1928. See it then, restore it now

By Guy Cipriano

JOHN GOSSELIN PREPARED for a Hanse and Total Turf Golf Services a haven for superintendents, architects job interview in the mid-1990s by vis to return features of Donald Ross’s and builders looking to study past iting a Delaware library. Two decades original design, including more than imagery of Philadelphia, southern later, his current employer is using 170 bunkers. A black-and-white aerial New Jersey and northern Delaware a photograph from the collection he photograph preserved in the Hagley courses. The Dallin collection features studied as a resource for a significant Museum and Library’s Dallin Aerial more than 7,800 aerials, ranging from and swift restoration. Survey Company collection has aided Mid-Atlantic cityscapes to amusement Gosselin, the superintendent at the restoration. parks, captured from 1924 to 1939. Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Located 25 miles from Aronimink The number of golf course images Square, Pa., and his team are working in Wilmington, Del., the Hagley exceeds 500. Digitizing the collection with Philadelphia-based architect Gil Museum and Library once represented has increased access to the images,

6 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourselndustry.com ' ? X-

Aronimink Golf Club superintendent John Gosselin has studied Donald Ross sketches and old aerials throughout the restoration process.

level imagery and Ross sketches, to guide the restoration. Ross’s team completed the course in 1928. Studying the materials illustrated major differences between the 1929 and 2015 versions of the golf course. Greens, for example, were much larg er in 1929, and last fall and winter’s work resulted in the surfaces expand ing by 29,000 square feet, increasing shot options and potential pin place ments. “It’s like having another four or five greens depending on how big your greens are,” Gosselin says. Bunkers are biggest piece of the A digital option restoration. The pre-construction didn’t exist when course had 75 bunkers with 96,000 Gosselin started square feet of sand. Returning to the using the Dallin Ross bunkering will yield 200,000 . VW«*|« collection for square feet of sand when construc work purposes. tion concludes this winter. He prepared for “It’s really unique in Donald Ross’s his job interview portfolio because of the number of at Rolling Green bunkers and the style,” Gosselin says. Golf Club, where “It was pretty much the height of he worked from his career in 1928. It wasn’t early in 1996-2000, by his career when he was just getting studying negatives started. It wasn’t late. It was kind of from Dallin’s in the middle of his career. I was hop images of the Wil ing they would go back to what we which include photographs of Aron- liam Flynn-designed course. Gosselin, are doing now.” imink, Pine Valley, Merion and other who was working at nearby DuPont The number of bunkers and square Philadelphia-area gems. Country Club at the time, brought footage of sand are jarring. But Visiting the museum and library printed copies of the negatives to the because of improved infrastructure, in the digital age evokes memories of interview. Rolling Green officials men Gosselin says his crew spent about completing a college research project. tioned they had used three architects around the same time maintaining The grounds traverse a former indus in five years as part of its renovation bunkers this past season as it did be trial site along a soothing stretch of efforts. They were stunned to learn fore the restoration. Constructing the Brandywine Creek. When arriving Gosselin possessed copies of aerials bunkers - and giving them a Golden at the library, a visitor must register, from the 1920s and 1930s depicting Age look - required intricate tech provide details about the collection the course in the form Flynn intended. niques, and Hanse, Jim Wagner and they wish to scour, wear white gloves Gosselin noticed aerials of other Jaeger Kovich handled all the shaping. when sifting through boxes of glossy clubs, including Aronimink, during The project entered November prints and scribble notes in pencil. his visits to the library. As Aronimink ahead of schedule after intense work Surprisingly, cell phone photos of the begins a second fall and winter of last fall and winter. The changes aerials are permitted. A golf course construction, a poster-sized framed should spark architectural discussions history and architecture savant will aerial of the course in 1929 sits in the when the PGA Tour returns Sept. 3-9, relish a visit - even if it feels some maintenance facility conference room. 2018 for the BWM Championship, the what inconvenient in 2017. The club used the aerial, along ground- third leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 2017 7 NOTEBOOK

Tartan Talks No. 16

A Chicagoan, Cyclone and great pod cast guest.

We contacted Windy City-based archi

tect Michael Benkusky for a Tartan Talks

episode - and Benkusky delivered a And what about the Poa? podcast packed with goodies. The con Members at Sewickley Heights Golf Club are learning carefully constructed versation loops to many topics, including

Poa annua greens can generate a season-long buzz. bunker reduction, working on a Cold War The suburban Pittsburgh club reopened May 5 following an extensive missile site, and offering three- and six- greens renovation. The project, featured in the October 2016 edition of GCI (http://goo.gl/xtyEfq), involved installing the necessary infrastructure to hole options for time-crunched golfers. support high-quality Poa annua greens. An Iowa native, Benkusky learned the We returned to Sewickley Heights last month to visit superintendent Randall Pinckney, first assistant Corey Cheza, architect Jim Cervone and game playing and maintaining Donald greens chairman Ted Kotarsky, and to see how the rebuilt greens have Ross-designed Cedar Rapids (Iowa) handled their first season. Members granted the team at Sewickley Heights Country Club. We didn’t ask Benkusky a rare opportunity to develop the best possible situation for growing and maintaining Poa annua greens. Construction started Aug. 22, 2016 when a about his alma mater’s football resur crew from Aspen Corporation arrived on site. Optimism permeated as a dry gence - Benkusky majored in landscape fall and mild winter expedited the work, which involved coring, installing architecture at Iowa State, where he was drainage and irrigation, and laying sod on two greens per week. The club was aiming for a late-May unveiling, but the Western a member of the golf team - but we did Pennsylvania winter never turned nasty, giving Pinckney's team openings slip in a question about a World Series to fertilize and spray, thus increasing root sizes as spring approached. The celebration that has yet to end. Enter course reopened earlier than expected with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring World Golf Hall of Famer and Sewickley resident Carol Semple http://qoo.gl/x5PYry into your web Thompson. browser to hear the podcast. "Members were really crawling out of their skin to get back on it," Cervone says. "We knew early on that it was going to be sooner than what we originally told them, but I don't think anyone realized how early. It was really just a home run all the way around. I can't recall any major issues or anything along the way that might have given us pause to say, 'Oh, boy, we could be in trouble here.' It really went off without a hitch." Sewickley Heights is expected to exceed 25,000 rounds this year, a high total for a northern private course closed until May. "The members are seeing what they paid for right now and they are excited about it," Pinckney says. "I think the future of any golf course that wants to have good Poa greens is to do this. It's wonderful for a club to be able to shut down if you can get away with doing it. You can see the results."

8 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com BAY HILL IS ARNOLD PALMER’S VISION. YOU THINK WE TRKE THAT LIGHTLY?

hosts 50,000 rounds per year. It’s one of the only venues to host an annual, internationally renowned tournament without closing prior to the event, so Chris Flynn and his crew depend on Hauler® vehicles for the power and runtime to work around the clock. With a customizable bed design and a highly-functional dash—plus the Hauler PRO with its quiet 72-volt AC powertrain—the Hauler line delivers plenty of stamina to work as hard as Bay Hill’s crew.

See Bay Hill’s story at Cushman.com/GetReal.

• Looks for the simplest LEARNING explanation too soon • Functions on the surface • Gives up too soon. TO FLY The best way to become and remain an adaptive learner is to push for continuous improvement Henry DeLozier is a principal in the Global Golf Advisors by seeking new information and consultancy. DeLozier joined Global Golf Advisors in 2008 after knowledge. Effective methods nine years as the vice president of golf for Pulte Homes. He is a for self-teaching to become more past president of the National Golf Course Owners Association’s proficient at adaptive learning board of directors and serves on the PGA of America’s Employers include problem- and puzzle-solving; Advisory Council. breaking down new technologies or services to understand how they function and how they could be n-the-fly learning and and processes, you’re probably an adapted to other disciplines; and on-the-job training are effective OTF learner. observing new or different businesses unwritten required According to Candace Narie or technologies to understand how skills for today’s Thille, an assistant professor of they work and whether they are time-stressed and education at Stanford University, adaptable to one’s own field or understaffed superintendents,these characteristics golf make you professional discipline. Oprofessionals and club managers.comfortable with spontaneous or Zach Posner, managing director Some leaders are more comfortable experience-driven lessons called of the learning science platforms at than others with OTF and OTJ “adaptive learning.” Most jobs at McGraw-Hill Education, said he sees learning. They easily adapt and roll golf courses and clubs are a matter adaptive learning as an alternative with the punches, energized by the of constant adaptation, so learning for one-on-one coaching. “It’s a challenge of learning while doing follows in due course in many scalable way to personalize the and training in real time. Others circumstances. learning experience,” he told Chief are flummoxed by the frustration, Managers and superintendents Learning Officer magazine. Normally ambiguity and the unpredictability of willing to experiment with various corporate training is a one-size-fits- an unstructured process. options to reach a solution are natural all proposition, so finding ways to Regardless of your comfort level, adaptive learners. In some cases, personalize what you learn - and it’s important to both job security these agile thinkers will leave others teach - is a more effective learning and growth to improve as an OTF behind and confused as they inject option. and OTJ learner. We say that with new twists in order to find a solution To be sure, some things are confidence because we see nothing to an aspect of the problem slightly best learned from the book. The that will reverse the forces limiting different than the one they were first science behind effective agronomic the time and budget available to addressing. practices, chemical formulations and develop managers and their staff. So Those who are not comfortable accounting principles, for example, how do you improve as an OTF and learning on the fly may not analyze are not the best candidates for OTF OTJ learner? problems carefully or search for learning. Understanding the skills and multiple clues and parallels because But in the world of course and personality traits that make one a they don’t want to risk being wrong, club management, where time and spontaneous learner is a starting especially in front of other managers resources are limited, there is so point. If you are a relentless learner, or their staff. For them, the comfort much that is best learned at the feet one who pursues new information of historical and proven methods is and at the side of those who have and learns quickly from encounters less threatening than the ambiguity of spent years in the business. They with new problems and mistakes, the unknown. probably won’t hand you a manual you’re probably already pretty HR professionals observe that with 10 easy steps to mastering the comfortable with OTF learning. managers unskilled in learning on the task at hand. But if you pay attention Similarly, if you enjoy the challenge fly are described as: and open yourself up to learning on of unfamiliar tasks and clearly see • Doesn’t look under rocks the fly, you just might find new career the underlying structure in systems • Just sticks to the obvious opportunities. GCI

10 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com Achieve freedom from dollar spot Liberty National did

The grounds staff of Liberty National Golf Club, led by Superintendent Greg James (center)

“Our goal every day is to provide championship conditions,” says Greg James. 'With the upcoming Presidents Cup, and high expectations from members, Greg trusts Xzemplar fungicide to stop dollar spot. It delivers both immediate knockdown and residual up to 28 days. “I know BASF products work and that’s a big stress reliever.” For championship conditions, turn to Xzemplar fungicide for dolfar-spotless fairways. □-BASF Visit betterturf.basf.us to learn more. We create chemistry

Always read and follow label directions. Xzemplar is a registered trademarks of BASF. ©2017 BASF Corporation. All rights reserved. 12 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com Get Your BUDGET INCREASE Strategies to receive the resources you need for the course your members and players expect.

By Bruce Williams

ver the years it is often said by club of ficials that golf course superintendents are always asking for more staff, more equipment and more money. Superinten dents are trying to meet the expectations of their club Omembers or course players. Here are a few helpful tips with a strategy to communicate your needs that will lead to the success of the facility.

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 201? 13 COVER STORY

Key Points A thorough analysis to $2 million doesn’t create a increased play (and revenue) of the history and the warm and fuzzy feeling. should be an easy sell into Talk business and golf, not current condition of the added expense for maintenance turf golf course operation is HOW DECISION and upkeep. Spend 90 percent of your necessary. Start off with MAKERS THINK time preparing your budget a history of your opera My dad taught and about 10 percent of your tional budget in recent me that you must time selling your budget years. If it is helpful, understand how Grease the wheels up front you may even want to go people think to by getting a feel for what is back to pre-2007 before be successful. acceptable and what is not the recession. It should Never was this Commit your line items to be clear that belt tighten philosophy truer memory ing has taken place in the than when mak Be prepared for “no” and last decade. During that ing requests for relate the effect of not having same time, it is highly budget increases or doing something will have likely that the expec and equipment. on “expectations” tations of golfers have The golf course Develop long-term strategies risen. This may include operations de

Use comparative budgets overall manicuring, in partment is but from clubs yours aspires to creased green speed, one area of the be like lesser tolerance for pests overall club bud ¿NO and bunker perfection. get. Many clubs Remind people that all the Additionally, a review look solely at fat has been cut in the last of equipment purchas the golf course decade and now any cuts will go into the bone es should cover recent operations as an history. Is your facility expense item Prepare to “sell” your budget aware that the average with no revenue. Practice for a budget cost for a fleet of equip Believe me there presentation like you would ment is approximately is a connection between the UNDERSTAND THE for a job interview $1.5 million? The aver condition of the golf course PROCESS FOR BUDGET Use professional presentation age life expectancy of and green fees, guest fees, APPROVAL material (PowerPoint) that the equipment is 10 merchandise sales, and even To be successful, you need to may include financials with years and will vary by food and beverage revenues. be able to answer the following descriptors item and the number of If you don’t believe that, then questions about how things are Consult with other hours it is used. Other check the parking lot on a rainy done at your facility: department managers at factors include climate day and see how many meals • Who makes the decisions? your facility for insight and and whether equipment are served, or lose a few greens • Is it a process through the guidance is stored inside. Logic and see what happens to overall GM and then the board of would dictate that each revenues. All too often superin directors? Essentially, the year replacement equip tendents do not look at the big hierarchy at your facility ment costs would be picture of the club finances. and where the buck is even approximately $150,000. Of Sadly, many are not informed tually going to stop. course, there are leasing op of the overall financial condi • Is it first reviewed by the tions which are becoming quite tion of the club. They only club controller? Again, be popular. know their own budget. Here come familiar with the bath While there never seems are some factors to consider: that your budget will travel to be enough money for labor Profit or loss during the approval process. and equipment, there tends to Waiting list • Have you pre-sold your be money for projects. Projects Full membership budget by letting the powers are things near and dear to golf F&B sales to be know there are some ers as they see the immediate Pro Shop merchandise sales major expenses in the year DREAMSTIME

I satisfaction from a remodel or Cart revenue ahead? It’s best for your a bunker renovation. Somehow Practice facility revenue budget to be bomb free. ELNUR

a new irrigation system at close The connection between • Is your budget number ©

14 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com Snow mold’s unluckiest number.

TURFCIDE". 13 field trials. At least 94% control. 100% of the time. id at least

Recent field trials compared the performance of TURFCIDE, as part of AMVAC’s recommended fairway snow mold control program, to competitive programs. 940/0 control in

The results proved that the AMVAC program was not only more effective than the competition, but it also provided excellent snow mold control. In all 13 trials.

SEE THE DATA. Visit amvac-chemical.com to learn more. of the trials. COVER STORY

limited by cost of living? overall maintenance plan? Educate yourself on out If so, calculate those in as side economic factors and well. In recent years, many how those influence your courses have moved to a proposed budget amount. sand topdressing program Z Z While there never seems to be • Have expectations of golf on fairways. Depending on w w enough money for labor and ers been calculated into your source of sand, the equipment, there tends to be money increased expenses? Don’t cost can add $100,000 per leave the customer out of year to your budget. With for projects. Projects are things near this equation. your zero-base budget, it is ana dear to golfers as they see the easier to make decisions on immediate satisfaction from a ZERO-BASE BUDGETING applying real costs to various All too often I see superinten programs golfers want. remodel or a bunker renovation.” dents increasing their budget categories by a multiplier like BUSINESS a GOLF the Consumer Price Index, The best way to sell a budget which might be 3 percent in a is to speak the language given year. However, costs for your employers understand. • Trailers for the rollers the common refrain of “Why items can vary greatly from year Most people in governance • Purchase price of two blow can’t you use your own people to year. For example, take the are smart business people who ers to remove clippings after and equipment?” is the normal cost of fuel. It could increase are also golfers. When selling rolling reply. The answer to that is by as much as 25 percent due your budget, never lose sight • Utility vehicles to pull the simply: “Would you prefer that to shortages and the world of what is important to people. trailers they do that work instead of economy. Water is a big-ticket Does your request make good • Fuel raking bunkers, mowing rough budget item for many facilities business sense? Know how to • Maintenance and fixing ball marks?” and usage will vary depending make your case. • Man-hours to complete the upon weather conditions and For example, I was asked to process X number of days ROI pre-determined water agency roll greens three to four times requested per week A common business term is pricing. per week a few years back. A • Administrative overhead Return on Investment or ROI. Many golf courses have la quick response was to calculate: cost added to the above Sometimes it costs money to bor as their highest budget • Purchase price of two side This is the way to present a save money. A recent con line item. Forward-thinking winder rollers business proposal. Of course, versation with Steven Tucker superintendents have a solid breakdown for their staff in Speaking in anticipation of the required business terms time to do tasks that have been can help a agreed upon by written main superintendent sell a budget to tenance standards. So, if your a membership, labor is in line, your overall board of directors budget should be fine. or owner. There are items the super intendent has no control over. If your budget includes admin istrative expenses for health insurance and such, then the controller would surely have an estimate of what that number will be for the year ahead. Again, increases of 10 to 20 percent are not uncommon and can really throw off a budget that used a 3 percent CPI multiplier. Have additional cultural DREAMSTIME

practices been added to your ©

16 NOVEMBER 2017 golfcourseindustry.com © DREAMSTIME the had course specific indicated is days chine, number and reduction which its year by the per their cost course lion. ings

pretty

Consider longevity

system

time year.

been

overhead would water to During of

and

percent, can which in

three an

the rough of easy

California,

If reduced

could cost the

irrigation hours that

the the or a 25 mow

team to would

close days recent

trade was and $200,000 mower

percent then new

calculate

efficiency fact be by

the

$1 a

from

increased golfcourseindustry.com reduced then

in increase week.

using visit that

was the the system $2 million system

rough value. at

labor

four

mil

ma told sav to the the the per his

of It

a a

would water the pump time of systems higher. my plants ter-saving courses flicting later there about converting for reduction emitters. managing

water With Nobody

best piping

weeding,

if and

will

station costs pay promising use

and

guess By

will

can

many recent done have

and

for

be knows on

the plants. strategies are NOVEMBER

grasses,

irrigation be

areas

may is

additional itself

that head

tight.

way, in in it pruning adopted regions, financed

what

will drought

10 be segments. overall

in expense Be installation

years, irrigation and surely

done

10 201?

such the

careful native

water years.

labor

low-

over

golf cost wa

and cost and but

be as as 1? A

at fairway Zero SEE In Percent (1-888-462-6822). Contact trademarks the All © 8 control AV-2015-TURFCIOE100WS follow and Syngenta II registered Corporation. 'AMVAC www.amvac-chemical.com Bayer

and fl.

2015 rights

AMVAC

Triton oz. 13 controlling

Banner CropSclence label

program and

AMVAC recommended

reserved.

Group

are trademarks

THE and

field owned directions. Concert Insignia

Competition MAXX registered your

AEP

Chemical Company. includes snow

AMVAC. by LP.

are logos

and

AMVAC

trials, Always of at

DATA.

AMVAC/AEP snow trademarks

trademarks

TURFCIDE BASF. Trinity

8.5 are Corporation.

Interface TURFCIDE, . snow

mold ft.

mold

Chemical read

Concert oz. are

Learn

TURFCIDE and

Visit

control mold

distributor

amvac- ^AMVAC than

program,

", amvac-

Control as

the

part chemical.com

call competition. chemical.com

proved of AMVAC

AMVAC

to at

. 1-888-60 be ’ s AER

recommended more to

learn

AMVAC effective

more.

COVERSTORY

• «M» MMi 1

2017 Budget Trends FINAL THOUGHTS

The average non-capital maintenance budget crept toward $800,000, increasing from Remember, the best superin $750,000 in 2016 to $798,200 in 2017, according to data from GCI’s recent State of the tendents are not always the best Industry research. Sixty-seven percent of private courses indicated they are increasing grass growers, but they surely their budgets in 2017. Only 12 percent are bracing for decreases. Forty-one percent of know how to get the resources private courses will operate in 2017 with budgets of $1 million or more. The West (37 they need for success. Conduct percent) and Northeast (34 percent) have the highest percentage of facilities with budgets yourself as a professional in of $1 million or more. your preparation and presen Labor, mowing and cultivation, and pesticide spending are the largest line items on tation of budget information. 2017 non-capital budgets, according to the research data. The average mowing and You only have one chance to cultivation budget increased to $45,646, with private courses spending $54,892. The needed resources. Make your average pesticide budget, which includes fungicides, insecticides and pre- and post- case. Follow up with previous emergent herbicides, increased from $51,680 in 2016 to $59,726 in 2017. Private successes when resources have facilities were projected to spend $78,026 on pesticides in 2017. Projected 2017 pesticide been provided and the results spending by region: $78,596 Northeast, $71,887 South, $52,828 Midwest and $33,857 that have been accomplished West. Superintendents are sales Projected water budgets provide the biggest discrepancy in 2017 budgets, with 306 people. We sell ourselves, our State of the Industry respondents reporting their facility doesn’t pay for it. The average budgets and our product. GCI water budget among the 117 facilities paying for it was $80,918 this year. Forty-two of those facilities spend $100,000 or more on water. Thirty-five of the 42 facilities spending Bruce Williams, CGCS, is GCI’s more than $100,000 on water are in the West. senior contributing editor.

TDR-12B: a 12 foot roller mower with independent Pro-Flex 120B (10 foot): the most popular contour deck float and the exclusive Pro Lift-NTurn ™ system rough mower, thanks to its cut quality, reliability & value

It is all about added value, both at time of purchase and over the long term. The simplicity and low operating cost of a multi-use utility tractor and a TDR-12B or a Pro-Flex 120B is your advantage. Requiring about half the horsepower of a similar width Tier 4 self-contained ride-on, directly translates to significant savings in ^PROGRESSIVEM TURF EQUIPMENT INC. fuel year-after year. You'll love your roughs all over again! (800)668-8873 (519)527-1080 fax:(519)527-2275 The Better Built Choice? www.progressiveturfequip.com [email protected] For over 20 years, professionals worldwide have relied on Progressive mowers, Find out why Progressive mower is ... The Better Built Choice™

18 NOVEMBER 2017 golfcourseindustry.com MORE LOCATIONS MORE PURCHASING OPTIONS We deliver Now with 39 Locations — a National presence providing By phone, in person or same-day or next-day delivery. using our simple and solutions for convenient online store. golf course MORE ADVISERS Providing enhanced industry MORE TRAINING experience, expertise and Specialized to your needs management solutions. with online CEU's coming this summer!

in MORE ways MORE PRODUCTS than one. Increasing our comprehensive line of quality, effective products and solutions.

»¿TARGET SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Learn How Our Certified and 800 352 3870 target-specialty.com Experienced Staff can Partner with You! OUTSIDE THE ROPES

multiple divots, an aversion to filling A FEW WORDS those divots, leaving broken tees strewn over tee boxes, dragging their cleats across greens, driving over (or OF THANKS kicking and even club-smashing) sprinkler heads, pulling out plant ings, breaking tree limbs, running over bunker rakes (as well as “No Carts” signs and ropes), using the Br ** ■ *> wH course as a garbage can, and think j Tim Moraghan, principal, ASPIRE Golf (tmoraghan@aspire- ing that we’re nothing but overpaid golf.com). Follow Tim’s blog, Golf Course Confidential at www. lawn mowers. 5 aspire-golf.com/buzz.html or on Twitter @TimMoraghan • Listening - and smiling - while someone suggests a better way to do anything connected with course efore it becomes politi maintenance. cally incorrect to utter the Will a shout-out from • Putting in hours of study, going to phrase “thank you” during Jim Nantz or Johnny seminars, meeting with sales reps, the season of Thanksgiving Miller make or break sitting in board meetings and volun and the holidays that fol your career? Do these big teering at any level. low, I’m going to use this platformshots to — hell, does anybody • Remembering - at all times - that Boffer my thanks to all of you and remind— actually know what a what we do is part of the great natu golfers of the many reasons that they superintendent does?” ral cycle, and taking extra caution should be thankful for their golf course not to harm the only environment superintendent. we have. Apparently, saying thanks is the thing you do it. Big problem or small, you • Being dedicated to your families to do. I’m assuming you’ve seen the GC- take care of it, which is a credit to (despite the demands of the job) and SAA’s new television campaign starring your resourcefulness. introducing your children to the golf a range of celebrities and professional • Marrying an understanding spouse, course environment. golfers thanking the superintendent. someone who tolerates your late • Adhering to, recognizing and sup That’s a great start, and we should all arrivals and early departures, and porting the traditions of this wonder be thankful for whatever recognition the last-minute realization that the ful game. We are the one industry we can get. family’s afternoon picnic will have that is not afraid to learn from those But do these luminaries even know to wait. who have gone before us what they are thanking the superin • Willingly sharing ideas, knowledge, • Fearing nothing. The golf tendent for? Will a shout-out from Jim and expertise with other supers, course superintendent is always Nantz or Johnny Miller make or break wanting nothing more than knowing ready and willing to do whatev your career? Do these big shots - hell, you’ve helped make someone else’s er it takes to get the job done. does anybody - actually know what a course better. superintendent does? • Accepting unjustified pay cuts to Given that this is the season of giving I do, and so on behalf of golfers every keep your job and keep the course thanks, I ask that you stop and consider where, here is a heartfelt thanks for all open in the face of a wide range of all the reasons you have to be thankful. you do. Which includes ... economic woes. And, very importantly, make the effort • Getting the golf course prepared and • Being able to laugh when someone to thank those around you - at work, at ready every day. Rain or shine. Hot quotes - for the 5,000th time - a line home, at play. and cold. Sunup to sundown. from “Caddyshack,” even though it’s I am thankful for every one of you, • Braving the elements and all the the worst possible representation of and what you do day in and day out. surprises Mother Nature has in her our profession. Thank you for everything you’ve done bag of tricks. • Forgiving the incredible stupidity, for me and my career. Thank you for • Serving as your club’s Mr. Fix It. ignorance and selfishness of golf upholding the unselfish spirit of our From turf to patio furniture, pump ers. As evidence I offer: Unraked profession and the genuine camaraderie stations to driveway plowing, if it bunkers, unfixed ball marks, carts off of our industry. It is unique, not only in needs fixing, cleaning or tending, paths, carts on tees, carts on greens, golf, but throughout the world. GCI

20 NOVEMBER 2017 golfcourseindustry.com Folia rs+ (The + stands for all the work you'll save when you apply them to your greens.)

+ A foliar spray and a soil spray in one mixture that creates far better results with half the number of applications + You get consistent growth rather than spikes and surges—less top growth for you and less stress on your turf

+ No watering-in is required + Denser stands and stronger root systems, make your turf more resistant to heat, traffic and pathogens + Independently tested nutrients and active ingredients that meet HPTA standards + It produces a firmer, more uniform surface for superior ball roll and a better playing experience

To find out more about Earthworks Foliars+ or place an order with your local distributor call 800-732-8873. Or email us at [email protected] for a free information guide.

ft »< » ■ r Ï

Earthworks^

Created with a deeper respect for the soil, A Deeper Respect and for the work you do every day

Cipri3110 ey Guy $cinatiug ext

22 NOVEMBER 2012 gblfcourseindustry.conj ill.

CONSTRUCTION

A holistic understanding of club history inspired super intendent Matt Neus last fall when the club embarked on cramming significant restora tion work into one offseason. The golf course at Knollwood, a club with a history extending to the 1890s, reopened earlier this year with fewer trees, bet ter bunkers, expanded greens and 1920s panache. In the case of Knollwood, a restoration meant delving deep into a fascinating and complex architectural history. “If you’re weren’t excited about this, then you don’t really care about golf history,” Neus says. “That’s to be 100 percent honest. There was a ton of excitement about everything.” The restoration process designed enough of the course when he became superinten ten “snowballs” once members started with the club hiring to be listed alongside Tilling dent in 2013 would have been see the results. And even after Andrew in the spring of 2010 to hast and Raynor as a designer unfamiliar to Tillinghast, Banks an extensive restoration, tree develop a master plan. Before of record. Combining his re and Raynor. removal remains a frequently clearing trees and expanding search with a drawing hanging Turf health and views im discussed topic at a private greens, Andrew needed to in the clubhouse and 1930s proved gradually, and Andrew club. determine the influence each aerials, Andrew accumulated says members began embracing “We still have a couple of architect had on the course. the necessary information to tree removal when clearing a areas and some greens that Knollwood’s original course, devise a master plan that would section of white pines behind have too much shade,” Greto which was designed by civil reintroduce the work of Raynor the 16th hole flipped a problem says. “We are trying to figure engineer Lawrence Van Etten and Banks to the membership. green into a playable surface. out ways to get more light on and opened in 1895, measured Master plans created in the Clearing trees and establishing them. It’s funny. I had a few 5,300 yards in 1924, a dis middle of the Great Recession fescue, yet keeping a few tow people who were like, ‘I don’t tance unsuitable for any private often led to delayed restoration. ering oaks, behind the eighth want to take anymore down.’ club of the era, especially one The club restored the 16th green green opened views of multiple And then I had a few people surrounded by elite classic in 2011 and third green in 2012 holes and fostered further trust who were like, ‘Take them all courses. before intense work stalled. between the restoration team down. We love it.’ We try to Harry Kelly Jr. acquired land Tree management became an and membership. keep a balance. We are not a owned by deceased member immediate focus when work “There were a few members links course. There’s still a lot Henry Evans. Kelly then ar resumed. Agronomic consider who thought it was sacrile of trees on our golf course. We ranged the sale of the land ations spurred the early part of gious to take out a tree,” club took them down as far as having to the club, giving the club the process. “The rule of thumb president Nick Greto says. “We the impact of getting the grass space to expand the course. is that if it’s a sunlight problem, treated it like a Band-Aid. We to grow where you wanted it Tillinghast visited Knollwood it goes,” Andrew says. “I always were going to do what we had to grow.” multiple times in the first half believed that to be your starting to do, and we just did it. I have Initially, Knollwood mem of 1925 before the club decided point.” members who were opposed to bers approved executing the to discontinue his services and Oak and pine trees are Knoll it and they are now like, ‘I don’t bulk of the work during a two- retain Raynor as the architect. wood staples, but the course even remember those trees.’ year stretch beginning last fall. Raynor died in 1926, leaving also included clusters of hick Now that they are gone, it looks But, after further exploring his associate Banks to oversee ory, maple and walnut trees. right. The health of the course options and costs, club leaders the completion of the project. Parts of Knollwood Neus was is so much better.” concocted a plan that would Banks, according to Andrew, responsible for maintaining Andrew says tree removal of condense the work into one

24 NOVEMBER 2017 golfcourseindustry.com fall. Members approved the bunker repairs. bunkers and how they play out is intact and not many people expedited timetable, and favor Subsurface rock forced An of the bunkers,” Neus says. “It get to say that. It’s a really, able weather allowed a team drew to devise crafty ways to wasn’t just a learning curve for really cool experience and it’s from GCBAA member NMP ensure bunkers drained and us, but it was a learning curve something that I don’t take Golf Construction and Neus’s diverted water properly. The for the membership as well.” lightly. Everybody should be crew to finish major elements restoration left Knollwood with Knollwood represents the very proud of this golf course of the project by the end of flat-bottomed, grass-faced bun third major project Neus has and this property because it is 2016. Neus adopted a “what kers, increasing the amount experienced in his career. He something special.” can we do to help” approach of maintenance around the worked at Wilmington (Del.) Working with a superin to construction. For example, hazards but easing the burden Country Club when Keith tendent who embraced the his team stripped sod from the on Neus’s crew when following Foster renovated the Rob historical aspect of the project 12th green and returned it to significant rain. ert Trent Jones Sr.-designed enthused Andrew, who relishes the surface after the NMP crew Improved bunkers bring ex course and served as an as restoring the work of Golden rebuilt the green. panded expectations, and Neus sistant superintendent when Age architects. Knollwood of Like most post-recession experimented with multiple Mike DeVries started work at fered the Ontario-based archi projects, bunkers represented rakes until finding one that Donald Ross-designed Siwanoy tect his first crack at working on a key part of Knollwood’s res satisfied members. The crew (N.Y.) Country Club. a course Raynor helped design. toration. Bunkers had not only now carries rakes with similari “It’s been pretty amazing for By showcasing its past, club become hazards to scorecards, ties to the ones members use to me when you get to be out there officials are protecting Knoll their condition threatened pol smooth footprints. Neus spent and say, ‘I’m literally main wood’s future. Andrew says a ished club heads. Knollwood more hours in 2017 training taining and playing the same well-executed restoration can joined the USGA in the 1890s, employees on fly mowing and golf course that Bobby Jones help a club remain viable in but it didn’t follow every golf raking techniques than previ once played,”’ Neus says. “This a competitive market such as rule in 2016. Poor construction ous seasons. course has not changed much. Westchester County, home to and contamination led to a lo “It took some time, but we Obviously, with agronomic Winged Foot, Quaker Ridge, cal rule permitting members are just about at the point practices ... speeds have gotten Sleepy Hollow and numerous to lift rocks from bunkers. As where everybody seems to be faster and so on and so forth. other celebrated courses. Knoll little as one inch of rain, Neus happy with the maintenance of But as far as the actual intent wood spent $1.1 million on the says, would require two days of the bunkers, how we rake the of the golf course, everything project, which also involved altering target lines and mov ing two bunkers on the fourth hole. One green that didn’t change much was the ninth, a Van Etten-designed complex Tillinghast, Raynor and Banks left in its original spot. “Over the next four or five years, I think we are going to gain more members with the work we have done because we are reinvesting in the golf course,” Greto says. “It’s not something that you can stop doing because all the other courses are constantly trying to improve themselves. When you stop trying to improve yourself, that’s when things get stale. It’s a competitive area. It’s rich in golf courses. There are some fantastic golf courses within a 10-, 15-mile radius. It’s unbe lievable. You have to do these things.” GCI

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 2017 25 DESIGN CONCEPTS

design crutch. To have strategic value, in most cases: GOLF’S ALT • One side should have a hazard and the other shouldn’t, or • One side should have a harder haz RIGHT HAZARD ard, the other an easier or different hazard, (deeper bunker on one side Jeffrey D. Brauer is a veteran golf course architect that warrants more concern than responsible for more than 50 new courses and more than 100 the other). renovations. A member and past president of the American • At the very least, sand bunkers on Society of Golf Course Architects, he is president of Jeffrey alternate sides should be: D. Brauer/GolfScapes in Arlington, Texas. Reach him at jeff@ • Staggered, which begins to sug jeffreydbrauer.com. gest a shot pattern.

hile the phrase has recently be come popular in the news, golf has always known it had an “Alt Right” problem. Specifical Wly, architects know that average golfers usually miss to the right, and typical ly have trouble escaping sand bunkers, so we need to come up with alternate hazards on the right side of greens and fairways, which I have always called alt right hazards. What they are talking about on Image 1 nightly news, I have no clue. I do know that when I see a green like the Hmm ... grass bunkers are easier on • Smaller and larger, most often one on the right, slow play is sure to average players, and harder on good with the small hazard on the cart follow. A sand bunker front right, cov players. That seems like a combination path side to improve circulation, ering most of the green, which sits at that should be used more often, espe which is problematic for most a steep angle. Its design makes it hard cially on the front right of greens. courses. to hit. You can be sure that many “C” Grass hazards also offer the ben Considering course difficulty and and “D” players will end up in the efit of flexibility, in that they can be speed of play, common sense says front right sand bunker, and many of mowed short for daily play, and then our designs should limit hard hazards those will take two shots to get out. allowed to grow for big events. And (sand and water) in areas where high generally, they don’t cost as much to handicap players miss often (short Image 1 - It slows play, which is build or maintain as sand hazards. right of the green). always a concern, and puts fear And a combination of different sand My last few renovations have been into average golfers. However, sand and grass hazards certainly provides public courses, with an emphasis on bunkers rarely trouble better players, more design variety (always a won speed of play, so I have been confront especially when they are as well derful thing) than yet another green ed by this question, and pondered my maintained as is typical today. Most with sand bunker left, sand bunker choices for alternate turf hazards. An often, they find that grass hazards right. other benefit of grass hazards is the offer a harder - or at least trickier Architects deride the penal style of pure visual variety that can be used. and/or more interesting recovery shot. architecture, where only good shots • Broad fairway chipping area Long grass reduces spin, and sloping will hit the green. If “bunker left, bun • Broad fairway height rolling terrain lies create problems. Fairway lies offer ker right” isn’t penal, I’m not sure • Sculpted fairway/rough chipping confusing choices between chipping what is. Even architects who tout the area and pitching. strategic style often fall back on this • Fairway with rough grass moguls

26 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com DESIGN CONCEPTS

interspersed • Grass bunker (rough) • Grass bunker (shaggy) • Grass moguls (rough) • Grass chocolate drop mounds • Large grass mounds Here are a few options in words and pictures: Of course, it’s not always necessary to punish golfers. On this hole, if they get past the “Hooters” mounds, the slopes kick them back on the green:

Image 2 - In this case, I used sand hazards to stop some shots from going to the rocks beyond, which is an appropriate use of “sand right” in fairway and green design, especially on longer shots.

Image 3 - A “standard” grass bunker, shaped just like a sand bunker, but turfed over at rough height. The depth alone makes this a formidable hazard. This is a depression, and needs a small catch basin in the bottom. Grass bunkers can surface drain.

Image 4 - Here, I use large grass mounds as hazards and helpers. If you clear the tops, it can kick you right on the green.

Image 5 - Grass hazards are great at creating shadows, and we consider sun angles when locating and shaping. This one is sharp enough for shadows, but gentle enough to machine mow.

Image 6 - A favorite use of fairway grass slopes is to create kick plates to slight green roll - either a way to allow a route to the green that doesn’t reduce spin or rolling - to require require a sand carry. perfect aim makes especially tricky, especially from a short fairway lie. Image 7 - On links-themed courses, It has even been suggested to me some grass bunker sand slopes can be that I work overly hard to sculpt the covered with native grasses, making ground around greens, and I could for a very difficult hazard, not to be really confuse golfers by leaving used often. a flat level lie somewhere around the green. It’s true, architects don’t Image 8 - A sculpted fairway grass force a lofted shot on to the green, have to design everything ... so often hazard doesn’t have to be deep or hopefully landing just on the green nature does the job for us so much steep. It just needs a slight bank to edge when the pin is close. Even a better. GCI

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 2017 27 MAINTENANCE

Injecting different theories Is the time right for your course to examine non-traditional ways to open and fill holes on premium surfaces?

By RickWoelfel

he maintenance rituals of aerification and top dressing are fixtures in the world of golf. Depend ing on their locales and annual budgets, superin tendents spend a few days each year punching holes in their greens with metal tines, or pulling cores with solid tines to improve airflow, break Tup organic material and maintain turf health. The process requires time and man hours. It can result in lost rev-

28 NOVEMBER 2017 golfcourseindustry.com © PHOTOS COURTESY OF DRYJECT when water with topdressing be going aeration eliminating are holes tines. punched to erence, extracted topdressing accelerates the progress. immediately dents intervals. is organic holes managers inches. and like lateral an says. make-believe operations. Dryject solid of nology crude stituting delphia, aerification. ing away must facilities, enue, Hatboro, Dryject,

What While “ Depending Superintendents a high-pressure

present Each

explosive-type

course alternatives a depth the created,

the

sand,

tine, “ close

’

The for mini-earthquake. it are comparison for down. particularly But to

interests shattering

’ For

the s 4-

has superintendent ’

cycles. s to

material

in Golfers Pa, powerful shot has break pulse tines. a

spaced because most

headquartered

to reducing says while the

of vice reopens.

may

in think

instance, the stretch where piqued holes

the

just

5-inch in process

There

between soil

on a

down, the after they

solid pulse

For

Jeff

past common

machine need is

between of

desire president to up soil outside then the

aerification/

going

are

the

material

to water

process,

that the water superinten

holes streams traditional

are

Broadbelt, the

even example,

using range. or is a conditions work are

adjustable the

tine, reaction produces

the some

for daily-fee may

punched

fact

layer

perhaps a

216

explor stream on. course ” water, deeper

’

s Phila might

lot

heavy tech filled depth holes

after

were

” sub as

that pref

solid is

core stay is

that to The

turf It

in of of in of is

’ of a a a s 6

superintendents Expediting virtually greens but time ence play and cally topdress the getting of nine superintendent a into a Not dressing

very little

It Because “ superintendents

bat,

’ have that

by in every s begin following ’ from

light

common

’

bit the not it re ” down afternoon,

hole.

Broadbelt

done those

component recovery lightly instantaneously,

taking

early

work grain the having necessary. topdressing.

sand

for

for a

holes

examine could holes ’ morning

s core on

for equivalent of

out

you a afterwards, residue

a to times

will says.

their stretch

big

sand

filled superin aeration. theoreti

open shut

the There right by

maybe

” differ

aerification “

hours is

front

gets top left. just

the

are

a for lot off

of to

is a key

consideration you pore The porous ufactures ucts be The non-capillary increases hances strengthens amendments. creating the amendments, tendents (water) sand, sand-sized retain

methods.

For as

root look of

space, particles amendment

much

the

moisture

Buffalo example,

moisture ceramic

pores

at system

remainder PPC to

particles disease

mixture

39 as

(the

root add when

percent 90

Grove, and are (air) Green to

particles) retention material Profile to

of systems, material,

the

consists 74 resistance.

of 35

that 95 the

pores.

being

Ill.,

material,

Grade, capillary

percent sand golfcourseindustry.com percent soil percent

plant. might

Prod man

that

and and un

en the

“ or to of

If a

within products, per that trum plant to terial). by Mirimichi lant amendment Nutri-Release, ash carbon decomposition heat pyrolysis makes structure is while you bon ture, the that premium other amendment, factures from that hold using through they them, soil ficer Green around factures. ized compaction enhancer away all der It

hold In which a ’

They 1,000 Mirimichi “

content.

can

very at

to kinds

’

a product addition amendment.

re a when

portion liquid ’

”

water, carbon

the Web re

it,

has the

50/50

downward air, also ” its them

a content microscope,

What simulate the ’

things, not s

Broadbelt

” we 500 when

rate

hold

filled,

them that

square

porous

Green chief

CarbonizPN, (utilizing Broadbelt

pore

roots water a

says. optimizing

added they

of company

Because Cowden product. NOVEMBER organic very it mix necessarily make

organic

but

It years,

blend available as and

has you of (Biochar)

to water,

has

micropores

markets used

which, of like

has and Green

structure, a

a operating

are water as manufactures and reduces three “ can feet. porous the not

CarbonizPN,

The ’ broad-spec a water ” organic “ to this re drainage

crystalized a

a says.

permanent

half-life in the Mirimichi a

needed.

they

biostimu very

’

adds. the

describes nutrients so

sieve. chemical compost t fertilizer

left but extreme 201? the very

“

The

tandem,

soil process

crystal- It extract

ounces manu among

manu

drains

tightly to ability giving called needs struc

and as a

sand/

once with

does have

high

car pH. soil ma two

and

low soil the

So, of

an 29 by in ” of

MAINTENANCE

Hole history share that sentiment. “I think it’s a tool to be used The idea of punching holes with depending on what the superin water is not a new one. The technology was developed in tendent’s desire is,” he says. “I Sweden and later became the think it would be a mistake to property of Land Pride, a division say that (core aeration) is un of Great Plains Manufacturing. necessary or that solid tining In 2000, Peter van Drumpt is unnecessary or that DryJect and Chris des Garennes could replace either of those purchased the technology, along with the patent that went with it things.” and other necessities, and then Based on his experience, making alterations so it would be Tritabaugh doesn’t believe the both reliable and commercially DryJect method will render viable. Thus, DryJect was born. core aeration or solid tining It’s possible to treat 18 holes obsolete. Instead, he considers in a single day, depending on it just another tool in a super the number of DryJect machines being used on the job. Typically, intendent’s turf toolbox. two or three machines can “I think it can in the right complete the task, but perhaps situation, but I think it would Superintendents are exploring alternatives to traditional four are needed depending on be unfair to limit (a superinten aerification, including substituting powerful streams of water for the size of the greens being dent’s) tools,” Tritabaugh says. tines via a DryJect machine. treated. “It doesn’t mean one is particu larly better than the others, but have a significant impact on the ture down there. When that ing the process. Instead, the I think in the right situation soil profile, Cowden says. becomes anaerobic and your holes are filed with 100 percent certain ones are better.” “You’re putting organics, biology can’t survive, thrive or sand. “We’re able to get the ex Tritabaugh hasn’t relied on you’re putting long-chain car reproduce, then you get a dead act same sand that was in the pull-core/solid-tine practices bon, you’re putting biology into thatch layer and everything root zone when the greens were at Hazeltine in recent years, the soil profile,” he says. “And below it just dies away.” built in 2010,” he says. “From but he hasn’t abandoned them then with the liquid biostimu The process is catching on a spec standpoint, it’s the same either. “We’ve done some dif lant, you’re actually feeding the with superintendents through thing that’s already in there.” ferent methods on a couple biology that you’re putting into out the country. Chris Trita- Some have raised the ques of our greens,” he says. “Is it the soil. So, it’s kind of a one- baugh, completing his sixth tion of whether DryJect will a tool we want to use in the two punch.” season as the superintendent supplant traditional aeration future? It could be, but it’s not The structure of the crystal- at Hazeltine National Golf Club as a standard industry practice. a part of our standard cultural ized carbon, which Cowden in Chaska, Minn., which hosted Tritabaugh doesn’t necessarily practices.” GCI describes as resembling a hon last year’s Ryder Cup, first used eycomb, holds air in some of its DryJect in October of 2015 and pore spaces, thereby allowing in May and October of 2016. He improved air circulation in ar used it again this past May. An eas where organic material may other treatment was scheduled have accumulated over time. for Nov. 1. “That becomes kind of a “Our greens have gotten a home for all the biological ac lot better since we started do tivity,” Cowden says. “All the ing it from a firmness stand microbes have a place to go into point,” Tritabaugh says. “They these pores. They’re protected, weren’t bad, but in my opinion, they can reproduce and help they perform now just as well as keep the soil biology alive. Hav they did when they were new.” ing an aerobic root zone is just Tritabaugh and his team do as important as having mois not use an amendment dur-

Stronger root zones are a potential byproduct of non-traditlonal aerification methods.

30 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com TALKS

Join Superintendent Radio Network for

its monthly “Tartan Talks” podcast series

examining the work, ideas and careers of

American Society of Golf Course Architects

members. Podcasts are available through

www.golfcourseindustry.com, iTunes and

GCI’s bi-weekly Fast & Firm enewsletters.

SUPERINTENDENT Billy Bunker RA-DI-O N-ET-WOR-K Method Durable • Linerless • Guaranteed MANAGEMENT THE

Woic^

32 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com decade ago, the future was dim for

up and coming assistants.

With the economic downturn and

the reduction of golfers, we saw the

market shrink. Things have changed,

and we are back to the situation of

demand outpacing supply of quali

fied applicants. Many factors con

tribute to this. For example, many

superintendents employ multiple as sistant superintendents. And while superintendents are working later into life, the industry is trending toward hiring younger assistants and superinten dents who are attractive at a more affordable price.

Now it is imperative superintendents develop their assistants and have a plan to attract the right people, train them properly and retain them or have a plan for secession. This will not happen without a concentrated effort to nurture people along. Having trained 164 young men and women during my career, I can offer insight into the challenge areas assistants face in pursuit of their career.

LISTEN AND OBSERVE just to manage it properly with In the first few days and weeks on the resources we have. When the job, assistants should observe someone starts to think that they the inner workings of the staff. own the property, it is usually the See how people work together end of their run at that facility. and what skills they possess. Know what the members want There are reasons the superin and what the budget can afford. tendent has systems in place and Setting priorities is important don’t try to change anything in and make sure that the assistant your early weeks. Once you know and superintendent are in sync how things operate and are man with parallel goals and priorities. aged, it may be time to ask more questions but take those first NO WHINING weeks to observe. All too often young assistants want to talk about things like IT’S NOT YOUR GOLF COURSE not having enough resources. Remember that it is not your Welcome to the world of being a golf course and we are there golf course superintendent. Golf

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 201? 33 MANAGEMENT

courses want people who are • How do you make problem solvers and those as your team better? sistants who can make do with ASSISTANTS THROUGH THE AGES what they have. High-budget LET THE clubs are much easier to man LEARNING BEGIN here once was a time when the supply of assistant age than those with minimal You may have the de superintendents was small in comparison to the manpower and equipment. gree, but you surely job openings. During the late 1950s, as soon as Learning how to manage golf don’t know it all. students graduated from college, they almost courses with minimal and The position of as instantly had an assistant superintendent job optimal resources will serve an sistant superintendent lined up and highly likely they would become a assistant well throughout his or is just the beginning of superintendent within a year or two. We must her career. a career odyssey that remember that there were many courses being built and will take your book there were only a handful of colleges offering bona fide PATIENCE science and put it into turfgrass science curriculums. So, you are the new assistant practical, real-world TAnother factor of that era was that we saw a changing of at a golf course and you want application. Your first the guard to the science-based golf course superintendent to clean house with the staff. years as an assistant as compared to the previous generation of practitioners who There are many factors that will probably tell you knew the “art of green keeping.” A whole new set of mentors make a good employee. Think more about what you came on the scene and often these kingpins of their regions of things like loyalty, depend didn’t know rather knew how to pass along the art of greenkeeping along with ability and trustworthiness. than all you believed As unemployment goes down, you knew. the science base of our industry. there are less people who are As we have entered the 21st century, we have seen many willing to take on a golf course GROWING GRASS IS changes. A downturn in golf adjustments have been made maintenance position. Instead THE EASY PART to have the supply of college graduates meet the current of thinking about chopping Without a doubt, grass demand ... which is much less than it was a half-century heads, I tend to encourage as growing is the number ago. Unfortunately, that trend has now caught up with the sistants to develop their staff one thing that we do. industry and there are not enough qualified graduates to fill the best they can. Inspired As an assistant, that the many vacant superintendent positions. Therefore, it is leadership along with training part has been learned extremely important to attract and retain our next generation will do wonders for morale and in turf school and on of superintendents for the industry to survive. productivity. the job at previous At one point, the hourly wage of an assistant places of employment. superintendent was not much more than the hourly worker. GOAL SETTING Here are areas most In some cases, assistants were put on salary and if they Assistant superintendents assistants lack formal calculated their true hourly rate (figuring all their 12-hour should set and review their training in: days), they were once again barely making more than goals on an annual basis. Some • Hiring the hourly workers on the staff. Thank goodness many questions to contemplate • Interviewing courses now see the true value of a qualified assistant and during that self-reflection • Training compensate their assistants accordingly. include: • Problem solving • What skills have you learned • Recordkeeping in the past year? • Purchasing • What skills do you need to • Scheduling learn in the upcoming year? • Green committee fer to help with bookkeeping LEADERSHIP • Have you sat down with the meetings and budgeting. If you are not Be smart on your career path superintendent to agree on • Board meetings learning those things, then and pick your jobs and men these goals? • Budgeting it might be time to look for tors wisely. There is a reason • What are the goals for the To advance in your career, other opportunities. It may great superintendents tend golf course in any given you will need to learn these take several years to hone all to develop programs for in year? skills. Speak with your super those skills, but make sure you terns and assistants. Those • What can you do to take the intendent so you can learn are progressing so you will be superintendents are the people golf course to the next level? from him or her. I am sure ready when the time comes who feed the industry with • How do you become the most superintendents would to interview for a golf course new talent. Lastly, when you indispensable employee? love to have an assistant of superintendent position. become a superintendent, be

34 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com sure to develop and train your share with assistants was that that job. No job is too small to 6:10 a.m. The assistants assistants properly. As we all “leadership is best defined by and when your co-workers see needed to lead the team and improve, it only makes the managing people with optimal you pitching in, you will soon get out on the golf course to industry stronger. results with a high level of know that there is mutual get the job done. Be a part of a We all must learn how to enthusiasm and acceptance.” respect. This may be the most management team that sets the lead. From our mentors we When assistants grasp this con important factor to doing your example rather than showing learn valuable leadership skills, cept, they can build a strong, job well. up five minutes after the crew but we can also learn ineffec effective team. is out on the course. tive leadership skills. I may SET THE EXAMPLE Be a helping hand and assist have learned more about how RESPECT During the hiring process, I the team with any of its needs not to manage and lead people A title of assistant superin always outlined my expecta that will best allow for being from poor examples, as it made tendent does not equivocate tions for my assistants. If the ready for a quick start in the me promise to not be a poor to having the respect of your staff started at 6 a.m., then I morning. Are machines fueled? leader. co-workers. Respect is earned. expected my assistants to be Are tools put away? Is the build Leadership by intimidation Meet and get to know your en there 15 to 30 minutes early ing organized? Again, set the is a good example of that. If you tire staff. Work alongside them to open the buildings, stage example and don’t be the first intimidate your people so they and don’t be afraid to help the equipment and go over person out the exit gate. are afraid of losing their job, it them with their tasks. Simply the plan for the day. At 6 a.m. will have short-lived results and put, shoveling alongside some instructions for the day were NETWORK end up in high turnover rates. one earns a lot more respect given by the assistant and the Getting to know your team The best quote I could ever than watching somebody do turf team rolled out by 6:05 well is important. However,

Were You Featured In This Issue?

Reprints enable you to reuse your article and simply place it into the hands of your target audience. Having been featured in a well-respected publication adds the credibility of a third-party endorsement to your message.

Give yourself a competitive advantage with reprints.

800-456-0707 [email protected]

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 2017 35 MANAGEMENT

one must look outward as an reps • You want to do things assistant and develop an appro • Know your USGA agron your way priate network of friends, asso omist • You are not advancing ciates and influential people. If • Stay in touch with fellow and learning you want to make it to the top alumni • Your list of goals has been of your field, then work on get • Communicate with uni achieved ting to know people who will versity professors and • You are watching other influence your career? researchers peers advance while your • Do you belong to your local Networking doesn’t just career is stagnant chapter? happen. You need to have These comments are • Are you an active member a plan. The most qualified for your typical assistant of your local chapter? person does not always get wanting to advance to a • Do you attend meetings? the job, but the best net superintendent. They may • Do you exchange business worked person will surely find simple. Both the assistant and not fit for those who are “ca cards? more opportunities. the superintendent will know reer assistants,” a category of • Have you utilized Linke- when it is time to move on to industry professionals becom dln? DECISIONS another golf course or onto ing more common today than • Have you made a list of An often-asked question from a golf course superintendent ever before. GCI everyone who can help you assistants is, “When will I job. The signs are simple: with your career? know if it is time to move on?” • You think you know more Bruce R. Williams, CGCS, is GCI’s DREAMSTIME • Interact with commercial The answer to that question is than the superintendent senior contributing editor.

TURF & SOIL DIAGNOSTICS

accredited labs providing performance testing for greens, jr tees, bunkers and fairways

www.turfdiag.com 855-769-4231

• Our labs provide performance testing for greens, tees, bunkers and fairways. • Our evaluations provide insight into material properties and course conditions. • Our reports offer sound scientific data to aid vvt<. ' ■■■ ■ '■ renovation, maintenance and «B; management decisions.

36 NOVEMBER 2017 golfcourseindustry.com Follow us @RainBirdGolf

Find a smarter way to renovate

When Atlanta Athletic Club was looking to upgrade their Highlands course to single-head control, they reached out to Rain Bird for fresh ideas. Thanks to an insightful plan to keep their pipe network and install new rotors and 1C System™ control, they renovated their irrigation for a third of the cost of a new system. This kind of innovative thinking from Rain Bird is helping them protect their budget and defend their turf.

Visit rainbird.com/DefendYourTurf to see the full story of Atlanta Athletic Club's intelligent renovation investment.

RjUN&B/RD IRRIGATION ISSUES

not necessary and portray the system CADILLAC VS. as a Cadillac. Two weather stations as opposed to one, although today maybe as opposed to none; soil moisture sen CHEVY sors; five remote radios versus two or three; iPads versus radios; brass quick

Brian Vinchesi,the 2015 Irrigation Association Industry coupler swing joints versus PVC; Achievement Award winner, is President of Irrigation Consulting, lightning disconnect systems and Inc., a golf course irrigation design and consulting firm with bunker irrigation systems. offices in Pepperell, Massachusetts and Huntersville, North The same can be said for the pump Carolina that designs golf course irrigation systems throughout station. Two or three main pumps ver the world. He can be reached at bvinchesi@irrigationconsulting. sus three or four mains; a jockey and com or 928-433-8922 or followed on twitter @bvinchesi. a pressure maintenance pump versus just a pressure maintenance pump; back up soft starters versus across the have been talking a lot about the triple row a Buick and a five-row (fair line; computer touch screen or just a high cost of irrigation systems way in and out) a Cadillac. So, unless touch screen; premium efficiency mo and I am at it again this month, you have an in and out system on your tors or standard; web-based monitor hopefully this time to belie some fairways, you have room to spend ing, radio or hard wired? The list can misconceptions. As discussed, a even more money. Isolation is another go on and on. bit last month, most irrigation designersarea where you can differentiate. Iso Depending on your course and your Itry and provide a golf course irrigationlating greens and tees is basic as well clientele, you may not consider these system that meets the needs and wishes as the fairways laterals. Isolating quick choices as options. You may view of the course maintenance staff. That couplers is stepping up. Mainline iso some of them - or most of them - as a comes with a price. Price is dependent lation per hole is a Cadillac; isolation necessity. The point is there are many on many factors, but mostly the number every two to three holes is a Chevy. places where you can reduce costs and of sprinklers. The number of sprinklers Isolate nine and nine, and we’re back many features that can also add cost then determines pipe size, pump sta to the Suzuki. to an irrigation and/or pump system. tion capacity and how large the control Control systems can also vary, To get what you want, you need to system needs to be. Optional items such although not all manufacturers have become a salesman. Optional features as sensors and lightning protection then varying levels of control systems need to be explained as to why they add to that cost. available. I will pick on Rain Bird are important for your golf course. You develop a design based on your here as it easily illustrates my point. For example, a five-row system with needs and present the price to the Cirrus, Nimbus and Stratus central ins and outs on the fairways might be board or owner, and they say it is too control systems: basically Suzuki, needed as you are tight on water and expensive. No surprise, but then they Chevy, Cadillac, respectively, subject it will save substantial water or your say: “We don’t need a Cadillac system, to interpretation. The more features, customers like hard, firm fairways we just need a Chevy.” The system the more capacity. The more levels, and lush, green rough - you cannot proposed, though, is already a Chevy. the more expensive and the more do that with a double row system that How do you convince them of that? powerful. Fittings are another good waters both at the same. Your course But what is the difference between a example. For PVC, basic is PVC may have steep, grassed bunker Cadillac, a Chevy and even a Suzuki solvent weld cement or gasketed; faces that without separate irrigation irrigation system? Chevy ductile iron; Cadillac epoxy have to be hand watered daily. Your A base irrigation system will be coated inside and out ductile iron or system may be difficult to ground, or sprinklers and swing joints, pipe and mechanical joint. HDPE pipe, Suzuki in a high lightning area, and require fittings, controls and wiring. The all saddles; Chevy a combination of enhanced grounding. fairway sprinklers will help define the saddles and fabricated fittings; Cadil Every course is different as is every “car” level and it will vary substan lac a combination of saddles, molded driver. What is a Cadillac to one tially with geography. A wall-to-wall fittings and compression fittings. course may be a Chevy to another or a system in Vermont is a Cadillac while Of course, there are many other Ferrari to some. The irrigation system in Arizona it’s a necessity (Suzuki). A pieces of irrigation equipment that features need to match the course and Suzuki is single row fairway system in can be part of an irrigation system the needs of the turf management many places, a double row a Chevy, a that many professionals would say are staff. GCI

38 NOVEMBER 2012 golfcourseindustry.com EXPLORE THE NEW DIGITAL EDITION

Redesigned for optimal viewing, no matter how you look at it. www.golfcourseindustry.com

GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY INDUSTRY WE ARE...ENTERING THE

i 1 <

Swisher By Guy Cipriano

How does a

23-year-old entrepreneur break into a

relationship-based industry?

He relies on a powerful turf network.

ith the average age of end likely occupied by Penn State graduates. users hovering around 50 The network is especially and distribution-sales re powerful in a situation like Swisher’s. His presence in the lationships spanning de golf industry stems from a 2014 cades, the golf industry presents enormous classroom discussion about plant nutrition. The mention challenges for a 23-year-old entrepreneur. of a technology invented at Hunter Swisher understands his plight. Penn State capable of alter ing fertilization strategies in That’s why he’s relying on an enormous turf trigued Swisher. While writing network - and a personal connection to a paper about the technology, Swisher discovered patents for somebody managing a 300-acre golf facility it in Penn State’s IP office. The - as he begins an unconventional entry into technology never reached the commercial market. A belief the market. in the technology’s ability to Swisher is the CEO of Phospholutions, a soil amendment pos maximize nutrient usage con sessing Rhizosorb. Phospholutions, the way Swisher describes it, vinced Swisher to explore its helps increase root depths. His personal roots are a stark contrast commercial potential. to many others in the business. Swisher has never worked on a golf Swisher contacted Dr. Mark course and he just recently started playing the game. Gagnon, who coordinates en But he’s a Penn Stater. Swisher grew up in State College, the trepreneur programs for Penn Phospholutions CEO Hunter delightful central Pennsylvania borough surrounding the sprawling State’s College of Agriculture Swisher has worked closely campus. Swisher earned a plant science degree from his hometown Sciences, about creating a busi with superintendent Rick university last December. His hometown university happens to ness around the technology. Pagett on testing the soil amendment at the Penn State boast a sterling turfgrass reputation. Gagnon referred Swisher to the Golf Courses. The 23-year-old Penn State has an 88-year-old turfgrass program with more than university’s Small Business De Swisher launched his business 1,800 graduates, including many who lead the agronomic opera velopment Center. The SBDC after receiving entrepreneurial tions at facilities with seven-figure maintenance budgets. Best in help Swisher develop what he CIPRIANO

support as a Penn State county. Best in state. Best in region. Best in nation. Best in world. calls “a general business” plan. GUY student. Name a category of golf facility, and superintendent offices are Realizing he needed to prove

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 201? 41 INDUSTRY

the amendment worked in sion of the classroom. More and commercial development, and Pagett to observe roots the field, Swisher approached than 100 students have worked present research opportunities under trying conditions. Pagett a family friend, Penn State on the crew during his decade for students and faculty mem then applied the amendment Golf Courses superintendent as superintendent. Training bers. If somebody affiliated on the front nine holes of the Rick Pagett, about performing and retraining students are with the university wants to Blue Course - Penn State’s trials. Wearing T-shirts and tasks Pagett and assistant su test a product or collect data, championship venue - this shorts on a 60-degree day in perintendents Scott Martell Pagett, who teaches a turf year. The season included a December 2015, Swisher and and Gabe Menna willingly grass business management wet spring, mild summer and Pagett aerated the amendment perform in leadership roles at class at Penn State, says they dry start to the fall. into a practice green adjacent to a university-operated course. simply need to contact him Swisher’s discovery came at the sixth hole on Penn State’s Dozens of their former em beforehand. “I feel that we are a fortuitous time. Penn State White Course. Pagett, a veteran ployees are now working as a great opportunity, not just for hired Dr. Eric Barron as presi superintendent and Penn State superintendents or assistant Hunter, but for anybody else, dent in 2014, and Barron made graduate, then offered Swisher superintendents; others use whether they are in ag, hotel/ providing support for students one of his first turf lessons. “I principles acquired while work restaurant management or any and faculty members with a de convinced him at that point to ing at the golf courses, such as other department, to come sire to bring an IP to the public start taking pictures and docu the importance of rising before out here and do whatever they domain a priority. menting what you are doing,” sunrise, in non-golf careers. want,” he says. * In addition to the SBDC, Pagett says. The courses, a massive Trials on the practice green Swisher received support from Pagett views the 36-hole swath of greenspace between increased in 2016 and a swel Invent Penn State and Pennsyl Penn State facility as an exten campus structures, housing tering summer allowed him vania Technical Assistance Pro-

Hunger in children is real. Sophie's Story Sometimes children, like Sophie, get so hungry will change they'll eat anything, even bugs! the way You can change that by think helping Feed the Hungry provide a month of meals dbout to children like Sophie for world only $6. Learn more of Sophie's hunger. story by visiting www.feedthehungry.org/ sophie

LeSEA Global FEEDiHUNGRY A full life feels good. (877) 769-9267

42 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com OINSIDE

gram. Swisher participated myriad regions, conditions in Happy Valley LaunchBox, and soil types. And then Strategies forecefve the t resources you need for the an accelerator program that there’s the complex task of |course your, members ond payers expect required him to participate establishing relationships in a nine-week entrepreneur with users and distributors ial bootcamp, the Summer twice his age. Swisher spends Founders Program and Ben his days making phone calls, Franklin TechCelerator. A visiting superintendents and $10,000 grant through the working to develop distribu Summer Founders Program tion channels. He’s attended allowed Swisher to use the multiple trade shows, includ summer of 2016 to focus on ing the Golf Industry Show in his business without obtain Orlando and GIE+EXPO in ing a part-time job or taking Louisville, this year. classes. “The hardest thing in the After numerous discus turf business is that it’s a very sions with business experts mature industry and it’s re and Pagett, Swisher decided ally a relationship-based busi to make turf the starting mar ness,” he says. “For me, tap ket for Phospholutions. The ping into that is really hard. I product launched commer don’t have a turf background. cially in June, a month after I have a very high technical Put MORE a demonstration ceremony plant science background, on the fifth green of the Penn but I have never worked at State White Course attended a golf course. I have learned by Barron. The ceremony the lingo and picked it up. INFORMATION marked the first time a sitting It’s been a pretty big learning Penn State president visited experience for me.” the course during Pagett’s The process, Swisher says, tenure as superintendent. is a “slow moving one,” but in their hands! Phospholutions was applied he speaks enthusiastically via a Dryject machine at the about the potential for Phos ceremony. Dryject President pholutions in turf. Appeasing John Paddock, a former golf results-seeking investors is Give your assistant course superintendent, is a a key part of beginning any Penn State turfgrass science business, and identifying ag superintendents a free alum. ricultural applications, thus Trials have expanded to expanding the market for other golf courses, and Penn Phospholutions, represents subscription to Golf Course State ties are helping Swisher a long-term goal. Swisher has connect with superinten recently started working with dents in multiple regions. a sugarcane producer who Industry. We're here for your “The reputation of the turf manages 5,000 acres near the program at Penn State and Everglades. being able to leverage that “It’s unique because most entire staff! I’m a Penn Stater helps,” he people start in ag and prove says. “There are a lot of Penn there that their product Staters across the nation at works, and then there’s a Email [email protected] or some pretty high-end clubs.” side market for turf,” Swisher Swisher realizes he needs says. “We have actually taken visitgolfcourseindustry.com/subscribe more than the Penn State the reverse approach because name to break into the turf turf is more of a high-end ap market. He must prove Phos plication. That can help get pholutions can boost roots in me get going.” GCI GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 2017 43

tests the

Simmons produce

for

soil

help combination Joel

By Studying results reputable needed management. can the good

I t'S 9 AGRONOMICS

hen one the root zone, and when both examines a work well together, the soil multitude provides a nice home for the of soil data, proliferation of beneficial Wtrends appear. biology.We see howChemistry affects things change and how they physics, which affects soil biol impact the success of the ogy, and it is this biology that people we have so much re is so important in mobilizing spect for. Over the many years nutrients, digesting carbon of consulting with clients, we into forms that microbes can have realized just how impor use as energy, promoting good tant this process is, but we also water management and creat realized that this data is a road ing checks and balances for map and not a report card. pathogens. This is the heart of With a good soil report, you what biological soil manage can always work through the ment is all about. hard-to-explain and find the To clarify, CEC is the cation road that your map wants you exchange capacity of a soil and on. Perhaps one of the hardest tells us how big the soil is. The lessons that we’ve learned over higher the number, the bigger the years is just how reactive the soil, and generally, the sand-based and sand-modified more clay that soil has which soils, or low CEC soils, really will allow the soil to hold are and this has lead us to re significantly more nutrients. thinking how we go about our On a high CEC soils, we can soil testing protocols. modify the soil chemistry to Having good soil testing affect the physical profile of data shows us the direction that soil, not by changing clay your fertility program would into sand, but by simply floc benefit from if taken. Think culating the soil particles and of it as the data that your through chemistry, move the doctor reviews after doing soil colloids apart just enough blood work. It’s quantitative to let more air and water information that shows us the move through the soil profile. chemical make-up of the soil. The process is known as the It also gives us an idea as to base-saturation model and this the physical or even biological concept of affecting physics nature of that environment. with chemistry is not without These tests follow a true base its critics. You will hear many saturation model for the stan academics say that this can’t dard soil tests, but we also work, but I can tell you assur combine that information edly, as can hundreds of our with the data from both the clients, that it does work on water-soluble paste extracts higher CEC soils, and in fact, and water tests. I have been seeing just that for Good soil management close to 30 years. w combines a working part- Regarding low CEC soils, | nership between chemistry, sand-constructed or sand- physics and biology. Chem- modified soils, especially ones | istry addresses the nutrient below a CEC of 6, very little | balance, physics dictates how nutrient can be held in the © air and water move through soil profile making fertility

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 201? 45 AGRONOMICS

management difficult. The we know that the soil cannot Perfect timing good news here is that these provide it. Fall is a good time to conduct soil soils can change very quickly, One of the most important tests of our course. but the bad news is that these observations that the paste soils can change very quickly. extract can provide is an un Fall is a good time for superintendents to perform testing for many reasons. What we have learned by derstanding of how high the So we asked Turf Soil & Diagnostics Sam Ferro and Mike Tollner to weigh in on some soil testing insights. looking at low CEC soil tests level of sodium and bicarbon over the years, and by talking ates are in that soil profile. Why is fall such a good time for superintendents to conduct soil tests on with the turf managers who Both typically come from the their turf, and what sorts of things should they be testing? manage those sites, is that irrigation water and can easily Project planning and changes in maintenance practices are usually imple base saturation is not the best accumulate in the root zone mented in fall, so they are established and in place for use the following season. tool for managing these types causing plant stress. Because Topdressing sand can be tested before aeration for particle size compatibility of soils. Instead of studying with existing root zone material or with previously tested sands. Aeration plugs of these potential excesses, can be collected and sent for organic matter content testing. Diagnostic core the data of what is on the soil we suggest that turf managers testing can be performed to help superintendents with budget prep, project colloid, via the standard soil run water tests a few times per planning or changes in cultural practices that they may want to implement test, experience has shown us season. I would contend that for the following season. Most golf course budgets are prepared at this time that by managing the soluble the concerns of excess sodium of year, and testing can help provide needed support and guidance for data, as seen on the water- and bicarbonates may be the project planning. soluble paste extract test, we first limiting factor in any turf

On average, how long does it take to get results back from a testing facility? have been able to build pro manager’s fertility program, Depending on the type of testing performed, test results are usually reported grams that work effectively and that everything else may to customers within a few days to a week after receipt of the samples. There and provide the long-term fall in line behind these limi are a few tests that take longer to perform. Superintendents may want to success that superintendents tations when trying to reduce discuss this with the testing facility, so they aren’t expecting results before are looking for. plant stress. testing is complete. The water-soluble paste Bicarbonates seal the soil extract test is a soil test, and surface preventing air and What can the results tell the superintendent, or how can the results influ ence fall actions, such as fall feeding or aerification? the lab uses the same soil that water from moving into the Nutrient deficiencies can be corrected if nutrient testing is performed with it would use for the standard root zone easily. Soil biol enough time left in the growing season to make applications of fertilizers, colloidal soil test. The differ ogy needs air and water to prior to the onset of cold weather. Roots of turf plants can still uptake nutrients ence is that instead of using survive, and when either is well into late fall, although it is always advantageous to fertilize while plants a strong acid, Mehlich 3, to limited, microbes are affected are actively growing. literally rip all the nutrients and can die off in isolated Test results could affect aerification practices in a few ways. If test data shows off the soil colloid, it uses de areas. Microbiology produces the need for a reduction in thatch, superintendents may choose to use a larger ionized water as the extract byproducts know as globu tine for core aerification. Also, coarser sands may be used to fill holes after ing solution which is much lin, which helps to keep the core aerification if test data shows too high of fine sand content in the upper gentler on the soil and pulls soil colloid moist and friable. portion of the soil profile. off, theoretically, just the nu When bicarbonates seal off How does a superintendent determine where to take the samples? trients that would solubilize oxygen and water movement Sample collection procedures vary based on the properties being tested, type in the presence of water like to those areas, the soil dries of material tested and location of the material during sampling. Sampling rain or your irrigation water. out and becomes hydrophobic. instructions should be obtained from the testing lab or soils consultant prior On these low CEC soils, This leads to localized dry spot to sampling. Tools for sampling may include cup cutters, soil probes, shovels, because there is not much (LDS) conditions and can be a bucket and sample bags. It is usually a good ideal to divide putting greens nutrient being held on the or other features into subsampling areas based on topography or directional very difficult to manage. The units. The sample submitted to the lab should be a composite of numerous soil colloid, we are looking water-soluble paste extract is randomly collected subsamples. Sampling depths are often in the 4-inch to for nutrients that are mobile. the best tool to evaluate just 6-inch range, although they may be deeper or shallower depending on the We can then evaluate that how much bicarbonate there is testing to be performed. data and build a soluble based in the soil profile and help us program using both granular build programs to stay ahead What common mistakes should you avoid when taking soil samples? soluble products (like gypsum of this concern. A common sampling mistake is to only take a sample from one location and assume this represents the entire green, bunker or fairway. Composite samples or K-mag) and a good carbon The paste extract can also taken from multiple locations provide a better picture of course conditions. based liquid product line show us, very effectively, just Common mistakes when sending in samples to the lab include: not sending (feeding both the plant and how soluble sodium is in the enough material to perform testing, improper sample packing/labeling and soil microbes) to help the root zone. Often, we see so not including paperwork (sample submittal form). plant get what it needs when dium at moderate levels on

46 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com SU PERM rive® Your Essential Turf Tool! the standard colloidal soil test, but when shown great success in making changes i ' ■ " ■ . • : 'c '| we run a paste extract, we can see that with our client’s soils: our Monitoring sodium is highly soluble. This can lead Testing Protocol. In this program, we to sodium induced wilt stress; a phenom select a couple of sites to monitor with enon that occurs in soils when sodium the paste extract and we run those tests is high and can be identified on the soil once a month. As an example, on sand tests when the percentage of sodium constructed golf course greens we run I IriÊi ’ S becomes higher than the percentage of paste extracts on the same two greens •-* ■ \ -J potassium. In this situation, the sodium every month. Because these low CEC can rush into the plant cell and dehydrate soils can change so quickly, this program it. You may see wilt and assume that it allows us to stay ahead of the curve, moni is environmental and that the soil needs tor sodium and/or bicarbonate build up; water, but too often it is a chemical wilt see when nutrients like phosphorous or and water may not help at all since it is calcium are falling short or catch if over often the source of the sodium. Again, the applications have been made which can paste extract is our best tool to monitor throw off the balance of other nutrients. this issue and stay ahead of it especially This monitoring program is especially as we move sodium and bicarbonates ac valuable as we move into the hot stressful cumulate in the soil, as seen on the paste summer months. extract tests, and then hearing from the On low CEC soils, which are very superintendents that they’re fighting LDS common in sports turf, the water-soluble and wilt-stress problems on those sites, paste extract test is our primary data we knew we needed to build a solution. stream. This provides us the information Almost 10 years ago, Earthworks devel we need to see what nutrients may or may oped the Kick Rinse In program designed not be available to the turf and helps us to remove the sodium and bicarbonates build a soluble program to reduce plant from the soil’s root zone. It starts with stress. calcium in the forms of gypsum and Cal It also helps us stay ahead of the curve Vantage, which knocks the sodium and/ when it comes to sodium induced wilt or bicarbonates off the soil colloid. That stress or localized dry spots caused by is followed by Kick, a humic acid product, high bicarbonates. These sand-base soils which grabs (or chelates) the recently do not have much in the way of buffers removed excesses and keeps both from like organic matter that can help seques re-attaching to the soil colloid. Then a ter some of the built-up salts. We know penetrant surfactant pushes all of this out that a good carbon-based fertility pro * the secret to of the soil root zone. Immediately after gram can provide these needed buffers. rugged sports turf. the Kick Rinse In, and before irrigation, Through years of soil testing and thou SUPEPthrive Features potassium sulfate is applied, because sands of reports, many run on the same • Unique vitamin solution with kelp if not, the sodium and bicarbonates in sites for over 20 years, Earthworks has • Non-toxic ingredients • High economic value the water will replace what was just built premium products like the Replen removed, but potassium can fill those ish line of dry fertilizers, a complete Soil SUPEPthrive Benefits liberated colloidal sites with something First Foliar line of liquid fertility tools • Restores plant vigor more beneficial. This is one of the main and soil amendments like Renovate Plus, • Promotes chemical balance reasons potassium is so important in a to help you manage even in the toughest • Cultivates greener leaves good turf program. conditions. Always Ahead in Sodium and bicarbonates are not Most importantly, we have learned Science and Value unique to sand based low CEC soils; they that we are always learning. By study can easily be an issue on high CEC soils ing quality soil data, we can help turf as well, but sodium and bicarbonates are managers, for whom we have so much much more aggressive on sand because respect, make both their jobs and lives a The 0*^“^ Vitamin Solution there are fewer buffers in those soils little richer. GCI like silt, clay or organic matter. These Visit our New Website! observations led Earthworks to build Joel Simmons is the founder and president of www.SUPERthrive.com another very important program that has Earthworks. n * (800)441-8482

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 201? 4? Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG, is president of Golf Agronomy International. He’s a 41-year, life member of the GCSAA. He can be reached at 752-5G1-???? [email protected]. Travels with Terry TURNING BOARD TRANSPORT BRACKETS

Globetrotting consult ing agronomist Terry he greens mower high-density lightweight white plastic Buchen visits many golf turning boards with easy-carry cutouts measure 24 courses annually with inches by 96 inches and were acquired from www. his digital camera in Tprecisionusa.com at $90 each. They are attached to 10 Club hand. He shares helpful Car CarryAll Turf 2 vehicles using metal brackets. Two of ideas relating to main tenance equipment from the easy carry cutouts slide over the metal brackets with the golf course superin the weight of the turning boards holding them in place. tendents he visits - as The front bracket is approximately 10 inches by 2 inches by well as a few ideas of l^-inch thick flat steel. It has a “U” shaped groove welded his own - with timely at the top and it is bolted to the round tubing guard on photos and captions that explore the chang the right-side bumper. The rear bracket is bent at an approximately ing world of golf course 45-degree angle. It measures approximately 3 inches by 2 inches by management. 14-inch thick and it is bolted to the top of the rear bed. Two turning boards are carried on each turf vehicle. The scrap flat metal steel was in inventory. It took about two hours to build the first set of brackets and less time for the remaining brackets. Steve Thomas, director of golf course maintenance, and Hector Borrayo, equipment manager, at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast, Calif., are very creative.

CART PATH CURBING RAMP

his 60-inch by 12-inch by 4-inch high porta ble wooden ramp is great for the two 2001 Toro Greensmaster 3250-D triplex greens mowers Tto go over cart path curbing quickly and easily with out damaging the front and rear rollers and bed- knives. These two units mow mostly tees and some approaches, and they drive at an angle when ap proaching the ramp going in either direction. The wooden framework is screwed together and cov ered with V2-inch thick regular grade plywood that will be replaced with marine-grade plywood when the need aris es. The 1-inch square tubing brackets measure 6 x/i inches by 19 inches with three 11-inch pieces, respectively, on either side be hind the operator’s seat. They are bolted and pinned to the mow er’s existing frame with a 2-inch by Vs-inch thick steel plate. Mate rials cost about $40 and it took about three to four labor hours to build the framework and to build the ramp. John Nachreiner, di rector of agronomy, Tyler Gullickson, assistant superintendent, Doug Price, equipment manager, and Vicente Sandoval, head me chanic, make up the very efficient team at the Shady Canyon Golf Club in Irvine, Calif.

48 NOVEMBER 201? golfcourseindustry.com CLASSIFIEDS

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS BRANCH ENTREPRENEUR - Natural Lawn Care FLORIDA Florida Golf Resorts/ Partnership Courses & Developments Interested in partnering with an established Natural Lawn Care BUYING OR SELLING? Company to provide clients in Leaders in Exclusively Marketing and your city with Natural Lawn and Selling Golf Real Estate Landscape Care? - NATIONAL- Contact Alec McClennan today to GOLF ^MARINA start the conversation • Patented IMPERMEABLE Reinforced Winter P RO P E RT I E S GROUP™ [email protected] or Cover Turf Protection System. • PERMEABLE Reinforced Grow-in Covers 216-570-5346 (cell). increase healthier turf growth. Gregory M. Oehler, mba Find out how the Green Jacket System [email protected] can make a difference for your turf. 716-308-2834 FOR SALE Call 888-786-2683 or email [email protected] COLDWE See Research at6reenJacket.com BANKER ŒCOMME« Discount Small Engines & Parts SEEDS Small engines & parts MILLER MANAGEMENT from Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, ASSOCIATES Tecumseh, Robin and more. NATIVE SEEDS The Carolinas and TN brokerage leader www.smallenginesuppliers.com Largest supplier of native seeds CONFIDENTIAL COURSES east of the Mississippi. Over 400 Also, look up your own parts AVAILABLE and buy online at species of grass and wildflower www.mmagolf.com www.smallenginepartssuppliers.com seeds for upland to wetland [email protected] sites. Bioengineering material for 828-775-7765 Place a GCI Classified Ad riparian areas and erosion control. Contact Bonnie Velikonya Contact ERNST SEEDS today. at 800-456-0707 www.ernstseed.com - 800/873-3321 View Classifieds online at [email protected]. www.golfcourseindustry.com

AD INDEX

ADVERTISER WEBSITE PAGE ADVERTISER WEBSITE PAGE

AMVAC amvac-chemical.com 16,17 Greenworks Tools greenworkscommercial.com 2

BASF Corporation betterturf.basf.us 11 Jacobsen jacobsen.com 52

Better Billy Bunker billybunker.com 31 Plantation Products superthrive.com 47

Earthworks earthworksturf.com 21 Progressive Turf Equipment progressiveturfequip.com 18

Ewing Irrigation Products ewingirrigation.com 5 Rain Bird rainbird.com/defendyourturf 37

E-Z-Go/Cushman cushman.com/getreal 9 Residex ta rget-specia lty.com 19

Feed The Hungry feedthehungry.org 42 SlpcamRotam sipcamrotam.com 51

First Products lstproducts.com 35 Turf Diagnostics turfdiag.com 36

golfcourseindustry.com NOVEMBER 201? 49 PARTING SHOTS

doubleheader with a trip up to Erin TRAVELS Hills and then down to Louisville for the Kentucky Turfgrass Council Conference at the GIE+EXPO. Erin WITH JONESY Hills was a spectacular setting for one of the best meetings I’ve ever been part of. The folks from BASF simply wanted to learn more about what you guys are thinking. As facilitator, I did what comes naturally to me: I asked Pat Jones is editorial director and publisher of a dozen smart supers a zillion dumb Golf Course Industry. He can be reached at questions. I’ll keep the details confi [email protected] or 216-393-0253. dential but the fundamental answers, predictably, came back to trust, good relationships, staying on top of details, eople always ask, “Where just know how to get the job done. embracing innovation and having fun. do you come up with ideas There’s not much we haven’t seen Once again, I emceed the KTC for columns?” The problem over the years.” Conference in Louisville. I got to is often not so much hav They bought the ad not to drum up hear Josh Pope tell The Greenbrier ing an idea, it’s having too business, but to give more back to the story firsthand, which was moving, many ideas about too many topicsassociation.With and good people like the spectacular and funny all at once. Ptoo little time and space to writeAspen it all. Golf team on board, there’s no And, just when I think I know every So, to condense a bit and cover a lot doubt GCBAA will get even better as one, I found out what an awesome of ground in this space, let’s look back golf continues the great rebuild era. human Paul Vermeulen of PGA Tour at a few months that involved too OK, now for October.. .1 finally Agronomy is. Not only is he good at many planes, trains and automobiles. made it to Iowa to give a speech I’d his job, he’s just good people. I’ll start in August with an event promised to do in early 2016. The Finally, I was back in Raleigh for I didn’t even attend ... the GCBAA Iowa GCSA group was terrific and I the 12th Green Start Academy. This Summer Meeting in Charlotte. You learned Randy Robinson is steering remarkable event, hosted by John can review our coverage online, but that ship in the right direction. I’m Deere and Bayer, has now benefitted I have to share an important adden impressed with the group and with more than 600 aspiring turf profes dum. For the third straight year, a how many young folks are part of sionals. The networking is top-notch, GCBAA member company bought the their leadership. Keep it up! but the wisdom offered by folks like GCI auction package - a full-page ad. Next was an invitation from the Bob Farren, Tyler Otero, Lukus Har What was shocking this year is that Koch Agronomic Services folks to vey, Andy Morris, Mike Stevens and the ad was bought by the Aspen Golf visit FarmLinks. We had some fun Pat Finlen was just astounding. folks. This is hilarious because they (golf and fishing!) and shared insights I met one more person from whom get the majority of their business via with each other. The biggest thing I’m I learned much. I was gobsmacked by word of mouth (because their work is beginning to understand about Koch Grant Murphy, the associate super consistently excellent) and advertis - and particularly the Polyon product intendent of The National Golf Club ing is pointless. So, I got Donnie and line - is how effective it’s been for of Canada. His presentation on how Ronnie Adkins on the phone and three decades. Yet there are still some to get the best (not the most) from asked them to explain themselves. folks who balk at the initial higher people was just outstanding. And he “We’ve had a saying since we got cost or who get distracted by nitrogen added this for attendees: “You are the into this business in 1982: ‘One stabilizers or other similar technolo people who will drive change in the call does it all.’ You get a certified gies. The bottom line (and I say this future. You have been called to be golf course builder with 35 years of as someone who’s been studying these leaders. Lead with pride, integrity and experience and a certified irrigation products for 30 years), enhanced ef authenticity.” installer. You don’t have to call nine ficiency fertilizers are still a bedrock Every assistant can benefit from people to get things done. We have part of this business and Koch is doing advice like that. Make sure the best a wealth of experience and our team an excellent job of stewarding the and brightest young turfheads you is former supers, architects, heavy technology for the future. know apply and attend. It’s absolutely construction guys and other folks who The next week of October was a a winner. GCI

50 NOVEMBER 2012 golfcourseindustry.com J î

■ O THE MATH

Endow 2SC = Great Value

SipcamRotam’s Endow 2SC provides 2.5x more azoxystrobin than Heritage® TL and 4x more than Heritage® in every gallon of Endow. You can have high performance turf at a great value. It’s simple math.

Endow 2SC Fungicide

©Sipcam Agro USA, Inc. Endow is a trademark of Sipcam Agro USA, Inc. Heritage is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Always read and follow label directions.

Sipcam www.sipcamrotam.com 877.898.9514 THE BEST CHOICE IS NOT HAVING TO CHOOSE.

UTILIZE THE INDUSTRY’S WIDEST FAIRWAY CUT The new Jacobsen® HF600— designed for every cut.

With the unique ability to quickly transition between three, four or five mowing reels, the new Jacobsen HF600 offers unprecedented versatility and precision. Now, a single mower can flawlessly tackle expansive fairways, trim bunkers or perform scalp downs. With a legendary quality of cut and an industry-leading 138 inches of mowing width, there's no other choice for mastering every corner of your course.

Learn more about the HF600 at www.jacobsen.com or call 1.888.922.TURF. JACEJBSEN