Turfgrass Extension
Overview: 2011
Clint Waltz, Ph.D.
Extension Turfgrass Specialist
The University of Georgia
Turfgrass Extension Specialist
Freddie C. (Clint) Waltz Jr.
 Turfgrass Water Conservation
 Maintain www.GeorgiaTurf.com
 Cultivar & Species Evaluation
 Turfgrass Fertility
 Turfgrass Pest Management
 Industry Support
Extension Turfgrass Specialist
Responsibilities
 Sod / Turfgrass Production
 Golf Courses
 Professional Lawn Care
 Sports Turf
 Turfgrass Water Issues
 County Agent Support
Extension Turfgrass Specialist
Publications – Extension / Industry
 BMPs for Landscape Water Conservation
 Water Stewardship Act
 EPA WaterSense Program – Cobb Co.
 Annual Pest Control Recommendations
 Annual Sod Producers Inventory Survey
Report
 WCIP
Water Stewardship Act
 SB 370 & HB 1094
 Passed March 2010 – Signed June 2010
 Create a “Culture of Conservation”
 Establishment of BMPs
 BMPs for Landscape Water Conservation
 Provision for water restriction
 Preemption – ‘Good Cause’
Water Conservation
Implementation Plan
WCIP
 Seven Sectors & Interagency Team Leaders
 Electric Generation – EPD
 Industrial and Commercial – P2AD
 Public Supply, Operation & Indoor Use - DCA
 State and Government Agencies – P2AD
 Public Supply, Outdoor Use - UGA
 Agricultural - UGA
 Golf Course UGA
WCIP
 Golf Course
 Develop goals,
benchmarks/milestones
 Specialist written with
assistance from industry
Annual Sod Survey
Objective
1) Determine inventory levels
 first 5 months of the year
 assist producer with pricing
2) Monitor price changes and other factors
 Freight rates & other delivery charges
 Market segments for product
Outreach
Electronic Education
www.GeorgiaTurf.com
 In-depth
 Science based
 Dynamic
 Environmental and Water Issues
 Soil Testing
 One-stop shop
 County Agents, professionals, & general public
Outreach – Electronic Ed.
Turfgrass Management App
 Platforms
 Apple
 Droid
 Blackberry
Turfgrass Calculator App
 Spring 2011
 Peer Reviewed
Extension Turfgrass Specialist
Turfgrass Research Field Day
 Biennial Event
 2008 - 1,000 attendees
 2010 – 800 attendees
 Huge Success
 Consider the economy on turfgrass industry
Colombian Golf Federation
Activities
 Education – 2-day workshops
 3 consecutive years
 Bogota & Cali
 Golf course managers
 Site visits
 Owners and greens committees
Applied Research
Extension Turfgrass Specialist
Applied Research
 Cultivar Evaluations
 NTEP (4)
 Independent companies
 Soil Moisture Sensors
 Fertility
 Presentations – CSSA / ASA,WSSA,
European Turf Conference, & others
USGA TruFirm
Equipment Needed
 Simple & easy to use
 Highly portable / lightweight
 No damage to greens
 Data
 logged
 easy to read / understand
 Applied to all areas of the golf course
USGA TruFirm
Data
USGA TruFirm
Penetration (inch)
Firmness
0.39
0.37
0.35
0.33
0.31
0.29
0.27
0.25
Saturday AM
Sunday AM
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 CG
Hole
USGA TruFirm
0.39
3.9
Penetration (inch)
Firmness
Penetration
3.7
0.37
y = -0.1759x + 6959.6
R² = 0.9752
3.5
0.35
3.3
0.33
3.1
0.31
y = -0.06x + 2394.63
R² = 0.91
Prior to Tournament Week
2.9
0.29
0.27
2.7
0.25
2.5
Tournament Week Prior to Watering
Rain
Irrigation/Rain
1 2
3
4 5
6
S M TW
Sampling Days
T F
S S
Service
Societal
Societal
 CSSA / ASA
 Various committees
 Co-chaired symposium committee
 Judging & presiding
 WSSA
 SERA-IEG 25 – Turf
 Elected officer
 Coordinated & hosted annual meeting
College
 Griffin Campus
 Technology & Telecommunication – Chair
 IT Specialist Search and Screen Committee - Chair
 Other committees
 Turfgrass Maintenance Building & Research Green
 Specialist Tier 1 and 2 Committee
Search & screen committees
 Associate Dean for Extension
 Assistant Dean for Extension
Department
 Search & Screen Committees
 Turfgrass Weed Scientist – Chair
 Endowed Environmental Turfgrass Teaching
Professorship
 Cotton Specialist
 Cropping Systems Agronomist
 Faculty Review Committees
Important Dates in 2011
Southeastern Turf Conference – May 2
Turfgrass Institute – December
For other local programs contact your CEA
Thank You
Visit
www.GeorgiaTurf.com