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TurfTalk
Fall 2014
A publication of the New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association
2014 BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Dave Ousterhout, President
EJ Chea, Vice President
Rob Horn, Treasurer
Bernard “Sid” Chase, Secretary
DIRECTORS
Tom DiFonzo, CGCS
John Gabbeitt
Ryan Green
Jerome Lachance
J. Barrie Robertson
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Greg Boucher
IN THIS ISSUE
Omni Mt. Washington to Host
NE Superintendents
Championship
A
s many of you are starting to wind down your seasons, Dave
Ousterhout is gearing up to host this year’s New England Superintendents
Championship at the Omni Mt. Washington Resort in Bretton Woods on
Tuesday, October 7. Dave and his crew will be working hard to make the
course the best it can be and looks forward to hosting all the New England
teams.
This year’s team
representing
the
NHGCSA qualified in July at an
event hosted by
Jerry Lachance at
Rockingham
Country Club.
Representing the NHGCSA are:
Sid Chase
Mark Your Calendars……..…………2
New Members …………...………….2
John Winskowicz
Tom Rowell
Brian Thompson
New from UMASS. ………...………3
Randy Weeks
News from the GCSAA …………….5
Jerry Lachance
Schaolarhip Tournament……..……..7
Barrie Robertson
Jeff Brooks
Notice of Annual Meeting………….8
GCSAA Resources
and Deadlines ……………...……...10
Congratulations and Best Of Luck to You All!
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
2014 MEMBER MEETING
SCHEDULE
Contact Us
Dave Ousterhout
President, Board of Directors
[email protected]
401-639-9638
Kevin Doyle
GCSAA Northeast Field Rep.
[email protected]
Mobile: 816-807-3103
Mark Your Calendars!
Date
Event/Location
Host
January 27
Ski Day at Ragged Mountain Resort
Greg Ardine
Joy Jaworski
Administrative Secretary
NHGCSA
[email protected]
603-674-1163
February 9
Members & Friends Day at the Monarchs
NHGCSA
March 3 - 6
NE Regional Turfgrass Conference & Show
RI Convention Center, Providence
NERTC
April 16
Amherst Country Club:
Snow Mold Trials
Steve Wilson
WELCOME
NEW MEMBERS
May 27
Postponed
Joint NH/Maine Meeting
York Golf & Tennis
MaineGCSA
Kevin Breen
C-Assistant
Abenaqui Country Club
Fernando Fernandez, CGCS
A-Superintendent
Souhegan Woods Golf Club
Jeremy Ham
C-Assistant
RochesterCountry Club
Joshua Mays
C-Assistant
Eastman Golf Links
Mark Pendergast
AC-Affiliate
Read Custom Soils
Travis Potts
C-Assistant
Green Meadow Golf Club
June 16
Superintendents Invitational/
Gold Ball Tournament
Laconia Country Club
July 29
NE Championship Qualifier
Rockingham Country Club
Jerry Lachance
October 7
NE Superintendents Championship
Omni Mt. Washington Resort
Dave Ousterhout
October 16
Date Change
Scholarship & Research Tournament
Lake Sunapee Country Club
Michael Ross
November 13
Member Meeting & Annual Meeting
Pease Golf Course
EJ Chea
December 9
Annual Turf Education Conference
Holiday Inn, Concord NH
NHGCSA
Tom DiFonzo
Do you have an idea for a meeting topic or
member event?
Would you like to show off your course by hosting a
meeting or event? Let us know what you’re interested
in! Contact any board member or the Association office
directly. We’d love to hear from you.
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
RENOVATE OR RECONSTRUCT?
Jason Lanier
UMASS Amherst Turf Program
Email: [email protected]
Published on Turf Program
https://extension.umass.edu/turf
When turf performance deteriorates below an acceptable
level and cannot be improved through normal cultural practices, re-planting might be the next logical step. At this
point in the season we are within the ideal period for turf
establishment projects. In the case of existing turf areas,
there are two basic approaches to re-establishing the turf on
a site:
Renovation (less disruptive) – Process of replacing the turf plants on a site without making changes
to the soil or grade. Does not normally include total
removal of existing turf, but usually includes eradication of the existing stand with non-selective
herbicides or extended covering. May include some
superficial cultivation in the interest of promoting
seed-to-soil contact.
Reconstruction (more disruptive) – Involves wholesale removal of existing turf on a site in conjunction
with tilling or other soil cultivation, at least to the
depth of the root zone or deeper. Frequently also includes addition of soil amendments, addition of topsoil, and/or changes to grade.
In straightforward terms, if renovation
compares to remodeling an out-of-date
kitchen, reconstruction is like rebuilding the whole house. Renovation is
most appropriate when turf has deteriorated due to stress, pest damage or unadapted grasses, but the soil and overall
growing environment remain generally
suitable. A general guideline is to renovate when 50% or
more of the turf is composed of undesirable grasses or weeds.
Renovation is a great opportunity to more closely match grass
species and varieties to site conditions.
When there are ongoing problems that go beyond just the
plants present, a full-scale reconstruction may be warranted.
A decision to take on a reconstruction project should be carefully considered; as in is it necessary to start from scratch? In
modern medicine, for example, there is an effort to better tailor patient treatments to precisely fit the severity of the condition. When health problems are dire or life threatening, there
is more opportunity to gain from major intervention. When
issues are less severe, however, major intervention may be
less appropriate because there is smaller opportunity for benefit. In other words, the risk of net harm is increased when the
degree of intervention is greater than what the problem truly
requires.
Decisions to ‘open’ the soil in a turf system, as is the case
with reconstruction projects, should always be approached
cautiously. Cultivation can damage soil structure, introduce
the possibility of soil erosion, and stir the ‘seed bank’. At the
same time, cultivating the soil provides opportunities not typically available in a perennial turf system including ability to
incorporate fertilizer and soil amendments, improve drainage,
and alter the grade. In other instances, digging may be required to remove boulders or buried debris, or to install physical infrastructure such as irrigation system components.
Therefore, in the majority of circumstances complete reconstruction should be based on identifiable need or, from a
strictly agronomic perspective, treated as a last resort.
Compared with renovation, reconstruction is more expensive,
time-consuming, labor intensive, and functionally and aesthetically disruptive. When circumstances or budget do not
permit a justifiable reconstruction, a renovation approach will
most often yield measurable improvement.
Continued on next page...
3
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
Renovate or Reconstruct
Continued from last page...
Even in situations where the means
and need for reconstruction exist,
opting for renovation first may at
best have satisfactory results and at
least buy some time (perhaps multiple seasons) before the larger investment of funds and energy in a
wholesale reconstruction project.
While we’re on the subject of establishment, don’t forget the additional
option of seeding into an existing,
living stand. Late summer is a perfect time for overseeding, which
often involves seeding into established turf in the interest of repairs
or maintaining adequate density. Other times the goal is to gradually introduce different grass species or cultivars and alter the stand
composition over time; this process
is sometimes referred to as interseeding.
NEED PESTICIDE
NOTICES?
Pads of 50 available. $8 each.
Contact the NHGCSA at
nhgcsa@comcast. net
Congratulations
Greg Boucher,
assistant superintendent at Manchester Country
Club, welcomed a
new son, Miles
Jerome, to the family earlier this
summer. Congratulations to the
whole family including his wife
Stephanie and son Patrick.
Thank you to all of our members
who have renewed their membership for the 2014-2015 year. Your
support of the Association is
greatly appreciated.
If you have not yet renewed your
dues, please do so to avoid being
left out of the membership
directory.
If you need to change your status
or update your contact information,
please contact Joy Jaworski at
[email protected] or call her at
603-674-1163.
SCHOLARSHIP
INFORMATION
Do you know a New
Hampshire resident that is
enrolled in turf-related
studies who could benefit from a scholarship? The
NHGCSA annually awards scholarships from $500 $2,000 to those that meet the eligibility requirements
and criteria for selection. Applicants will be evaluated
based on academic achievement, extracurricular and
community involvement, leadership, outside employment and an original 500-word essay relating to person achievements and scholarship worthiness.
MUST BE POSTMARKED BY SEPTEMBER 30
Applications can be found online at
www.nhgcsa.com or by calling the NHGCSA at
603/674-1163
4
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
NEWS FROM THE GCSAA
Kevin Doyle
GCSAA Grassroots Network - Building our Grassroots Army
Advocacy is one of the most powerful ways to impact public policy. Successful association advocacy
and lobbying efforts depend upon establishing strong relationships with elected officials. Ad hoc advocacy makes it hard to build strong, long-term relationships with elected officials and have a positive impact
on policy decisions.
The GCSAA Grassroots Network is a new, dedicated group of GCSAA members who want to engage in the association's
government relations efforts.
Being part of the GCSAA Grassroots Network gives you the opportunity to:
-- Learn about legislative and regulatory issues affecting the golf course management profession
-- Learn about GCSAA's advocacy activities
-- Actively participate in the association's government relations efforts
-- Communicate with your legislators about issues critical to the golf industry
-- Learn about upcoming GCSAA Grassroots Network events
-- Become part of a movement standing up for the golf course management profession and golf industry
Individuals in the GCSAA Grassroots Network also have the opportunity to serve as a GCSAA Grassroots Ambassador.
GCSAA will give its Grassroots Ambassadors personalized
training on building relationships with Members of Congress.
Ambassadors Update by State:
Massachusetts: 4
Connecticut: 5
New Jersey: 1
New York: 5
There is still a great need for more support of this program
from all northeast states. If you have any questions regarding the program, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kevin can be reached at
[email protected]
mobile:816-807-3103
GET INVOLVED!
Would you like to host a member meeting at your
facility?
Are you interested in becoming a board member?
Contact us: [email protected]
5
2014 SCHOLARSHIP TOURNAMENT TO BE HOSTED BY
LAKE SUNAPEE COUNTRY CLUB
This year’s NHGCSA Scholarship &
Resesarch Tournament will be held at
Lake Sunapee Country Club with host
superintendent Michael Ross.
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
Tech Tips
According to the club’s web site:
“The course was designed by Donald Ross, the ‘Father of American Golf Course
Architecture’, in the late 1920’s. Considered a Ross gem, the course routing reflects
his design excellence: at Sunapee very little walking is required from one green to
the next tee. And true to the Ross
design philosophy, the c"ourse can
take care of every class of golfer".
Fair but challenging, each golf
hole presents a different problem.
One is never bored when confronted by the subtleties of a master
such as Ross.
From Gary McNicholas, equipment operations manager at Manchester Country Club:
"When seating oil seals, putting a
thin coat of grease around the
spring will help prevent the spring
from coming unseated when the
new seal is installed."
In recent years, Sunapee benefited
from an extensive improvement
plan that restored many of the original 1920's features. Significant
tree removal returned sweeping
fairway and mountain views. Greens regained their expansive character. Long buried bunkers were unearthed. And the course now boasts four sets of tees per hole.
The improvements are a sublime testament to the marriage of classic golf with contemporary play.”
We hope you’ll join us Thursday, October 16 in supporting young men and
women with their educational endeavors in the turfgrass industry by participating in the tournament. Proceeds go toward our scholarship fund.
More information will be coming shortly.
If you would like to support the tournament and the scholarship fund with a
donation or sponsorship, please contact Joy Jaworski at the NHGCSA office.
Email: [email protected] or Call: 603-674-1163
In this feature we will be sharing
tips and tricks that others have
found helpful. If you have a tip or
trick that you or your equipment
tech use, and would like to share
it with the membership, please
send it to Greg Boucher at
[email protected]
6
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
UMass Offers a Turf Management Short Course
Starting October 29!
For professionals including landscapers, lawn care personnel, municipal and private groundskeepers and others wishing to receive in depth-training on the care of
turf in the landscape.
OCTOBER 29 - DECEMBER 11
Twice weekly from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm
Every two years, UMass Extension offers its popular Green School, a comprehensive 12-day certificate short course for Green Industry professionals taught by
UMass Extension Specialists and University of Massachusetts faculty.
THREE SPECIALTY TRACKS ARE OFFERED FOR THE GREEN INDUSTRY
* Landscape Management
* Turf Management
* Arboriculture - specifically geared toward professional arborists
Location: Holiday Inn, 265 Lakeside
Ave., Marlborough, MA.
(This course will not be offered again
until 2016.)
This is an excellent course and it qualifies
for the full 18 hours of credit required to
renew your certification.
PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, AS SPACE IS LIMITED!
Deadline for applications is October 24, 2014.
Designed for landscape professionals, lawn care specialists, arborists and other horticultural practitioners wishing to gain an understanding of plant care fundamentals and strategies and their relation to environmental quality. Green School attendees learn
about sustainable methods of plant selection, plant
maintenance, and pest and nutrient management which
lay the foundation for environmentally-appropriate decision-making. Through in-depth discussion of up-to-date
techniques, participants develop an understanding of how
proper management practices can minimize impact on
precious natural resources such as soil and water.
The curriculum, which emphasizes a systems-based approach to plant care, is based on current research and focuses on environmental stewardship, Best Management
Practices (BMPs) and integrated pest management (IPM).
In addition, Green School is helpful for people preparing
to take the following professional certification exams:
* Massachusetts Certified Arborist (MCA) offered by the
Massachusetts Arborist Association
* Massachusetts Certified Horticulturist (MCH) offered
by the Massachusetts Nursery and Landscape Association
* Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional
(MCLP) offered by the Massachusetts Association of
Landscape Professionals
To register online or to print out a registration form, go
to http://extension.umass.edu/landscape/greenschool
For more information or to have a registration form
mailed, contact UMass Extension at 413-545-0895 or
[email protected].
7
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
DATE CHANGE
Scholarship and
Research Tournament
October 16th
See Page 7.
ANNUAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
Mark your calendars for the Annual NHGCSA Education Conference. This
year’s conference will be held on Tuesday, December 9 at the Holiday Inn
in Concord NH.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting of the NHGCSA will be held on November 13 at Pease
Golf Course. If you or someone you know would like to be considered for
a board position, please contact Dave Ousterhout: [email protected]
Sponsorship
Opportunity
If you would like
to help make the upcoming
Scholarship and Research
Tournament a success, please
consider becoming a sponsor.
Hole Sponsor
Food
Auction Item
Raffle Donation
Other giveaway item
Contact the NHGCSA at
[email protected] or call
603-674-1163
8
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
Resources and Deadlines
U.S. House passes H.R. 5078
Upcoming
GCSAA Web Casts
Bill will prohibit the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers
from expanding their regulatory authority to almost any
body of water in the U.S.
Sept. 25: Soil Physical and Chemical Properties – The Analogy
Webinar
1. The U.S. House passed H.R. 5078 Tuesday, September 9th. Final Roll Call Vote on H.R. 5078 was 262
yeas; 152 nays; and 17 not voting. 35 Democrats supported the bill.
Oct. 8: Today's Turf is Creeping
Bentgrass
Oct. 23: Grow Your Own! The
Value in Veggies
Oct. 30: Reducing Poa annua on
Your Golf Course
Nov. 5: Developing Engaging
Presentations in Half the Time
Nov. 6: Pace of Play: What you
can and can't control
Nov. 13: Niche Applications of
Warm-Season Grasses in the
Northern Tier of the Transition
Zone.
Water Survey
Coming Soon
As part of the second
phase of the Golf Course Environmental Profile, GCSAA will be releasing its Water Use survey this
fall.
The water survey will be followed
by four other topics that will be released between 2015 and 2017.
2. To support the vote, the GCSAA sent an H.R. 5078 letter
from the CEO, Rhett Evans, to the full House, 28 chapters sent individual
letters to the House, and almost 300 individuals sent 400+ letters to the
House through our action alert. THANK YOU for having your voice heard
on this vote - it made a difference!
3. In conjunction with the vote, GCSAA's Communications Team pushed
out a press release letting the world know we joined the Waters Advocacy
Coalition. It gained some traction. Received mention in The Hill, which is a
must read on Capitol Hill. Mention was also in the Energy & Environment
Overnight section of The Hill. We were mentioned on Fox & Friends yesterday morning as well as the Herman Cain show in Nashville.
Action now turns to the Senate. This will be a much harder lift, plus President Obama issued a veto threat earlier this week on this bill. We'll let you
know how you can be helpful moving forward to get this to the finish line.
Chapters: Research
Proposals due Oct. 1
Apply Now for the
2014 ELGAs
Proposals for the 2014 Research
Grant Program will be accepted
through Oct.1. GCSAA offers funding, through the EIFG, for new research projects that will benefit superintendents and the golf courses
they manage. GCSAA encourages
chapters to work with university
scientists to submit proposals for
applied agronomic, environmental
and regulatory research.
Applications are open until Sept.
30 for the 2014 GCSAA/Golf Digest Environmental Leaders in
Golf Awards, which recognize superintendents and golf courses for
their commitment to environmental stewardship.
This year's awards, presented in
partnership with Syngenta and
Rain Bird, feature new criteria for
the contest.
9
NHGCSA TurfTalk
Fall 2014
Thank you to our 2014
Sponsors and Advertisers.
Your support is greatly
appreciated.
PLATINUM
SILVER
BRONZE
NHGCSA
PO Box 784
Auburn NH 03032
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