Winter 2012-13 Volume 37, Number 3 COURSE OF THE QUARTER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY Come Play a Bit of History GOLF COURSE Cloverleaf Golf Course SUPERINTENDENTS By Paul Hurst ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER IN THIS ISSUE COURSE OF THE QUARTER Cloverleaf Golf Course ....................1 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ............2 EDITOR’S NOTES..........................4 SUPERINTENDENT SPOTLIGHT Bob Kane, Rolling Hills Golf Course ............................................8 VENDOR SPOTLIGHT Ed Eschbacher, MTI Distributing ...10 Dr. Miller’s Musings ......................12 ho knew? Just off of Fosterburg Road in Alton between Shop Tour Summary ......................12 Highway 255 and Highway 140 sits a very significant part A Letter from Brenda Morelock ....12 Wof St. Louis Golf History. Cloverleaf Golf Course is the Turfgrass Science ..........................14 oldest family owned and operated 18-hole course in the St. Louis Trees and Drought .........................16 area. In fact, it was one of only five area golf courses built Dear Santa ....................................18 between 1931 and 1951. (continued on page six) Assistant’s Memo .........................22 CALENDAR OF EVENTS.............24 #14 Green Page Two THE GATEWAY GREEN Winter 2012-13 2012 MVGCSA Officers PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE President ow, I cannot believe it is December already and another year is coming to an Don Humphrey end. I hope everyone has enjoyed a great fall growing season, albeit a bit on Ruth Park Golf Course the dry side. (314) 392-7769 W First thing, I would like to thank all the members who helped to make the 2012 Vice President Green Cup a big success. We raised over $8,000 for scholarships and turf research. Tim Roethler Congrat’s to the Bellerive team of John Cunningham, Jon Prange, and Kyle Hahn Old Warson C.C. (314) 968-5236 as Green Cup Champs for 2012. At the Annual Meeting the MVGCSA board presented Xi Xiong and Lee Miller with checks for $9,000 each, for the University Treasurer MENTAL of Missouri Turf Programs. RON ED VI U Jim Buford N CA E T Much of the money donated I Sherwood C.C. H O C N R (314) 846-8850 to Mizzou was raised through N A E E S T Chapter Executive donations made to the “Keep it E W R O R 2012 Y K Brenda Morelock Green” fundraising initiative. A W E (636) 447-2466 Thanks to everyone who helped T A in supporting, “Keep it Green”. G S A Directors GREEN V G C Rob Kick Paul Hurst and Rob Kick are M Algonquin Golf Club working on the 2013 version of (314) 962-3794 “Keep it Green” and they hope CUP Mike Null to top the $15,000 dollars we Norwood Hills Country Club raised this year. (314) 522-3552 At the annual meeting, KEEP IT GREEN Kris Rickman Kris Rickman, Tim Schwier- Crystal Springs Quarry Golf Club (314) 344-4448 john and Rob Kick were reelected as board members, and the MVGCSA board extended an honorary membership to retiring member Bill Ashby. Robert Schaff The Falls Golf Club As we head into the winter season, this is a great time to take advantage of edu- (636) 240-8200 cational seminars in the local area. The GCSAA 2013 Education Conference is in San Tim Schwierjohn Diego and the MVGCSA board will host a hospitality night. Brenda will send out details Pomme Creek Golf Course and information soon. (314) 276-2992 Looking toward 2013, the MVGCSA Board is always looking for any superintendent Immediate Past President that would like to host a monthly meeting, and we are explor- Chad Carpenter ing ways to improve member participation at monthly meetings, Forest Park Golf Course which seems to be an issue. (314) 863-8788 One last thing, this year the MVGCSA Board made a decision Associate Directors to reduce mailing cost and send out notices electronically. For Ed Eschbacher any member that did not receive e-mails this year, we apologize MTI Distributing (314) 803-6295 and we are working to remedy this problem. If you are not re- ceiving e-mail notices from the MVGCSA, please contact Brenda, Jeff Keeven Missouri Turf, Inc. or any board member and we will try to make sure you get (636) 240-6344 on the e-mail roster. Assistant Liaison Thank you and Happy Holidays, Adam Lewis Old Warson Country Club (314) 568-0575 Don Humphrey, President Sean Prenger Greenbriar Hills Country Club (314) 280-4085 Thank you and please support our associate members who always step up to help our association. Page Four THE GATEWAY GREEN Winter 2012-13 The Gateway Green EDITOR’S NOTES Volume 37, Number 3 eason’s Greetings to all in the Valley. The not so Christmas issue of the Gateway Green awaits you as our country aimlessly The Gateway Green drifts toward the Fiscal Cliff. If you don’t mind I will inject my 5026 Brittany Downs Drive S St. Charles, MO 63304 two part solution to solving our economic woes in this great country. Editor Edict 1 – Spend what we take in, Paul Hurst period. We all live and work within a bud- GreensPro get as should this country. Edict 2 – If tax 37 West Southcrest Circle Edwardsville, IL 62025 rates do go up the money should not (618) 920-6406 go to our government. Questionable accountability in my mind Director of Advertising means no more money. Funds raised by increasing tax rates will go back Mike Carron to each filer as a tax credit and must be spent on products solely made Meadowbrook Country Club 200 Meadowbrook Country Club and profited on here in the United States. Economy fixed, sales tax revenue raised and people Estates Drive making stuff again. Sound like board member or a golfer with my armchair solutions right? Ballwin, MO 63011 In the immortal words of my better half, “All you gotta do is……” (636) 277-5361, ext. 220 Art Director Anywho…If you are reading this you survived the Mayan Apocalypse, another Watergate with Larry Torno a Mizzou athlete, the hockey strike, Gangham Style and the sight of anyone you know who Berkeley Design LLC 7400 Carleton Avenue sported a Movember moustache. The Movember thing could gain some traction as another St. Louis, MO 63130 way to raise funds for our improving and ever aspiring Turf Program at Mizzou. Always be 314-727-3686 wary though of pictures that get shared across Al Gore’s internet (See Brett Favre, Greg Odom, Anthony Weiner, etc.). Thanks are do again this Quarter for all those that contributed this edition of the Gateway Green. President Don Humphrey has penned his usual President’s Message and a fine article about Ed Eschbacher from MTI. Nice work Don and welcome Ed as a member of the MVGCSA Board of Directors. Tim Gamma has stepped up this month with an article on how our trees and shrubs have fared the last two years with our increasingly hot and dry weather. Thanks a bunch Tim; we appreciate what you do for the MVGCSA. Dr. Lee Miller has a new title for his article and a new picture as well. As Editor, I have allowed these changes because now Lee is locked in to write three articles per year for life. We may need to work on your negotiation skills Lee. John Haguewood, research specialist for Xi Xiong, survived the Lake Event to bring us a nice summary of what is happening at Mizzou. Good stuff John and best of luck filling the shoes of my man Dan Lloyd. Bob Kane from Rolling Hills Golf Course up in Godfrey has some great answers to what is happening with public golf. Bob, insightful answers that certainly shed light on the type of facility you are managing. Finally, Rob Kick brings the gas again with a letter to Santa. Dialed in again Rob, despite your battle with writer’s block, we like the cut of your jib. Each year I rank those most qualified to take over as Editor of the Gateway Green, and Rob, you are now ranked #1. Whenever you are ready you can have this battle axe. Mike and Larry you are not forgotten, thanks for your efforts as well. Thanks For Reading and Supporting, Paul Hurst, Editor thanks Page Six THE GATEWAY GREEN Winter 2012-13 Cloverleaf Golf Course (continued from page one) brief history according to a pamphlet put together Cloverleaf sits on 100 acres, has three sets of tee’s A for Cloverleaf’s 75th Anniversary. “The Gabriel’s and plays 5,721 yards from the tips. Water comes into purchased the property in 1913 and established the play on several holes, fairways are tree lined and there Gabriel Dairy Farm. The family lived in a large house are 13 bunkers. Phillips, an accomplished player himself where #1 tee now sits and the current clubhouse was the describes his property as fit for beginners and retiree’s. dairy barn. The family home was built in 1849 as an inn He explains, “The front nine is more open and you can for travelers during their long journeys to Alton. According to bomb away with the driver. The back nine requires more history, Abraham Lincoln slept in the Southwest bedroom. In the late decisions off the tee and is really more of a shot maker’s nine.” 1920’s Paul Gabriel got the idea of turning the dairy farm into a golf No matter how either nine plays people love it as rounds have course. On Memorial Day 1931, Cloverleaf Golf Course was opened.” ranged over the years from 35,000 to 50,000. The family survived the Depression by putting their customers (continued on page twenty) first.