Volume 47, No. 7
Oct./Nov. 2012
The Reporter
Dave Brown (Superintendent) and Jake Jacobs (Maintenance Tech. Three) Flatirons Golf Course
2011 - 2012
Board of Directors
President
Dan Hawkins
The Club at Flying Horse
dhawkins@flyinghorseclub.com
Vice President
Steve Sarro
Pinehurst Country Club
ssarro@pinehurstcountryclub.com
Secretary/Treasurer
Ed Rockett
Lone Tree Golf Course
edr@sspr.org
Immediate Past President
Dave Cahalane
The Club at Bear Dance
beardancegcmaint@msn.com
Executive Director
Gary Leeper
info@rmgcsa.org
Directors
Zach Bauer
Broadmoor Golf Club
zbauer@broadmoor.com
GCSAA Life Insurance
Did you know that GCSAA provides free life insurance and AD&D (accidental
death & dismemberment) as a part of your membership? GCSAA’s administrator,
SRA Benefits, brings members and their families quality insurance programs.
Eligibility
This benefit is available to all members who meet the following requirements:
• Are U.S. citizens (regardless of residence)
• Are non-U.S. citizens but are lawful permanent residents (LPRs) of the United States as
defined by the rules of the U. S. Department of State at the time of membership
• Are not in the Student, Affiliate Company or Technical Assistance Network membership
classifications
All eligible members are automatically enrolled into the dues term life insurance
group policy at no additional cost.
Benefits
•
•
•
Age 65 and under: $10,000
66-69: $5,000
70 and above: $1,000
Update beneficiary
You can change your beneficiary at any time by submitting the beneficiary form
to GCSAA. If you would like to verify your beneficiary information, contact Becky
Downing at 800-472-7878, ext. 3652. Beneficiary form »
For more information
Contact SRA Benefits to learn more about features, costs, eligibility, limitations and
renewability: Tel. 800-304-9852, ext. 298, Visit the SRA website (password: GCSAA) »
Eric Foerster, CGCS, MG
Ironbridge Golf Club
eric@ironbridgeclub.com
Jordan McCormick
Marianna Butte Golf Course
mccorj@ci.loveland.co.us
Griff Rainford
Cherokee Ridge Golf Course
rrainford@cherokeemetro.org
Matt Rusch
Applewood Golf Course
mrusch@applewoodgc.com
Affiliate Liaisons
Jeff Elliott, CGCS
Agrium Advanced Technologies
jefflelliott@yahoo.com
Judd Fitzgerald
Golf Enviro Systems
juddf@golfenviro.com
I
n this issue...
Director’s Corner - Steve Sarro..................................................................3
“Good to be Seen”.....................................................................................4
September Golf Outing..............................................................................6
Governmental/Legislative.........................................................................7
Affiliate’s Angle - Brian Keighin.................................................................8
Bow Hunting..............................................................................................9
Superintendent Profile - Zach Bauer.......................................................10
Lawn of the Dead?..................................................................................11
Assistant’s View - Kenny Troutman........................................................11
Rules of Golf............................................................................................12
In My Opinion..........................................................................................13
Technical Bulletin....................................................................................14
Golf Industry Show.................................................................................16
2012 Industry Parnters...........................................................................17
Upcoming Events - Education Seminar November 15............................18
2
C
orner
D
irector’s
Steve Sarro
Superintendent|Pinehurst Country Club
Let ‘em Know Your There!
As Paul Newman was addressing the Charlestown Chiefs
before a game in the movie Slapshot, he shouted, “let
‘em know your there!” He was mainly referring to some
lumber to the teeth, but he was getting the point across
to his team that each player needs to be involved to win
games.
Now, I don’t plan on cross checking anyone in the teeth
anytime soon, don’t take this to literal. However, as
members of any association, we should always reflect
on our level of involvement. There are numerous ways to
be involved in the association. We provide education,
golf outings, public relations, social events, government
relations, charity and scholarships. There are always new
ideas that are being presented that need legs of the
members to be successful. Maybe the greatest reason to
be a member of this association is the camaraderie and
friendships that are made along the way. Every meeting I
attend, I continue to learn more from the members I meet.
Lessons learned from stories and experiences of members
hold their weight in gold.
us grow.
Winter is approaching fast. Now is as good a time as any
to begin getting involved. A new board is working hard
to address concerns and goals for 2013. As much as the
association needs you, you need the association. Getting
involved at any level contributes to a greater success rate
for everyone. Let us know you are there!
Steve Sarro
Director of Grounds
Pinehurst Country Club
@pccturf
This was a tough year; drought, fires, tighter budgets, heat,
getting pulled in many directions, the list goes on. We can
all agree that we want to see the golf industry succeed
and it is troubling to hear how some superintendents or
golf properties are struggling. We all have problems, big
and small. That is why we have an association. It is our
opportunity to vent, discuss, share stories to help each of
3
“Good To Be Seen”
Roland (Rollie) Cahalane 1937 - 2012
by Larry Burks, Director of Golf | Pole Creek Golf Club
caring man who would take the time to help anyone in
need. I remember one instance when I had a problem
here at Pole Creek and he got in the truck and drove up
here to help me out. I am sure many of you have the same
kind of story and hope you reflect back on it many times
through your career.
The Cahalane Clan: Rollie, Dave, Craig and Kevin
Whenever anyone saw Rollie and said ”good to see you”
he always responded with “good to be seen”
Rollie Cahalane was a friend, mentor, father, coach,
husband, and all around GREAT guy! He was born on
December 16, 1937 to Ray and Elizabeth Cahalane in
Cheyenne, WY. Rollie graduated from St. Mary’s High School
in Cheyenne and attended the University of Wyoming in
Business and Accounting and made the decision in his senior
year to become a golf course superintendent. He retired
in 2001 from Inverness Golf Club where he spent 22 years
of his career. He was also a past president (1978) of the
Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents Association
(RMGCSA).
Given the opportunity to write an article about Rollie
I jumped at the chance. Rollie has always been a father
figure to me and I had the privilege of being included as
part of the Cahalane clan while growing up. I remember
him taking me to the hospital when I broke my collar bone
playing lacrosse and he missed Dave (his son) scoring the
winning goal. I also remember stealing all his Budweiser
from the fridge, although we always left him one. Rollie
gave me my start in the golf business so long ago I can’t
even remember the year, I must have what Rollie always
called “CRS”. It was only fitting that he ended up here
at Pole Creek working for me during retirement, although
I think he spent most of his time driving around and talking
to people.
Rollie was always involved in the community during his
retirement years up here in the Fraser Valley and decided
he would get involved in a flailing charity golf tournament
named “Heart of the Mountain Hospice”. He turned the
tournament around to become a very successful charity
tournament. Craig Cahalane and I heard that for the
2012 tourney they were going to honor Rollie for his 10
years of service to the tournament. Craig Cahalane and
I decided to make this golf tournament the biggest and
best they have ever put on! We ended up 168 players that
participated in the 2012 event and raised over $35,000
almost double from previous years. Thanks to all of Rollie’s
friends who donated auction items and participated in the
event in Rollie’s honor.
Rollie leaves quite a legacy behind him as all three of sons
are Superintendents around the state: Kevin Cahalane
“Telluride Golf Club”, Dave Cahalane “The Club at
Bear Dance” (born on April first enough said) and Craig
Cahalane “Pole Creek Golf Club”. He mentored so many
people in the golf business there are way too many to
name individually. We are all grateful to Rollie for all his
help and kindness and for being such a huge figure for all
superintendents. He was a friend to all! Please raise your
Budweiser and always think of our infamous “PARDS”!
GONE BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN!
Rollie’s career started at Cheyenne Country Club and
spanned a long tenure from Roxborough (Arrowhead)
through Four Lakes Country Club, Barteldes Company,
Columbine Country Club and Inverness Golf Club. Anyone
who knew Rollie would have to say he was a very kind
4
Roland (Rollie) Cahalane
Roland (Rollie) Cahalane 1937 - 2012
5
September Golf Outing
by Alex Kossel, Broadmoor Mountain Assistant Superintendent
A cold start to the morning greeted 60 RMGCSA members
with a discussion on the recent and ongoing renovations
at Flatirons Golf Course. With a current yardage of 6,782
(and growing) Flatirons was designed by Robert B. Harris
and opened in 1933. An overview was given by Greg
Martin, Don Clark, Eric Pollock and Dave Brown on how
they approached there reconstruction/renovation and
what worked and what did not. One of the topics covered
was the use of Eko Flo Bunker Binder which will protect
the bunkers from contamination as well as contribute to
a more effective drainage system. Previously having no
drainage in the bunkers before the renovation, they saw
big improvement and saved labor hours with this new
product. Continuing on with the topic of drainage, Don
Clark discussed the use of sump pumps to help aid in the
challenge of draining a relatively flat area.
Another renovation being done at the golf course is the
re-build of existing tees as well as the addition of several
new tees to the course. Some of these tees will make the
course play longer, and some will aid to the newer golfer
with a set of forward tees. After a fun day of golf, here are
some of the scores from the day….
1st place gross – Dave Brown – Flatirons – 70
2nd place gross – Jake Jacobs – Flatirons – 73
3rd place gross – Mike Fehr – Turf Equipment Source – 74
Challenge Results:
1st place – Tim Hallam – The Links Golf Course - $200
2nd place – Gary Leeper – RMGCSA - $150 - Donated to
The Golf Foundation of Colorado
3rd place – Eric Gustafson – Horizon - $100.00
4th place – Griff Rainford – Cherokee Ridge - $50.00
5th place – Mike Fehr – Turf Equipment Source - $25.00
6th place – Matt Rusch – Applewood Golf Course
7th place – Matt Whalen – Cheyenne CC
8th place – Lance Johnson – City of Westminster
9th place – Ed Rockett – Lone Tree
10th place – Matt Lombardi - Cherry Creek CC
RMGCSA would like to thank our sponsor Winfield Solutions,
and Superintendent Dave Brown and the Flatirons staff for
hosting this event!
Alex Kossel
Broadmoor Mountain Assistant Superintendent
alexjkosel@gmail.com
Closest to the pin #8 – Gary Leeper – RMGCSA -Donated to The Golf Foundation of Colorado
Closest to the pin #11 – Griff Rainford – Cherokee Ridge
Closest to the pin #15 – Ed Rockett – Lone Tree
1st place net – Matt Whalen – Cheyenne CC – 67
2nd place net – Brian Temple – Lone Tree – 68
3rd place net – Gary Leeper – RMGCSA – 68
After lunch the day ended with the RMGCSA Challenge
Finals at the back of the range. The Challenge raised over
$1500 in 2012.
6
Governmental/Legislative News
by Zach Bauer, Broadmoor West Superintendent
Labor and Immigration: Episode II
A few months ago I began a topic on Labor and
Immigration issues that are concerning to golf course
managers here in Colorado. I started with the H2B guest
worker visa program that is administered by the Federal
Government. This month I will talk about issues like E-verify,
Arizona’s ‘Show me your Papers’ Law, The Dream Act and
other federal attempts at the immigration issue. I know
these subjects are much debated within the political arena
and more often than not cause heated discussions among
Americans. I believe much of this is stemmed from the influx
of Latino’s in the country than any other nationality. But
to put into perspective there are as many Chinese and
Indians coming into America as there are Latino’s. But
historically with Latin America being our neighbors to the
south we see more each year. An interesting statistic from
the US Census Bureau says by 2030 the Hispanic population
in the United States will nearly double from 13% to 23% and
the white-Nonhispanic population will drop to 53%, down
16 points from 2012.
E-Verify
Federal Law requires all employers in the United States that
when hiring new employees they must ensure they are US
citizens or authorized foreign workers. E-verify is an internet
based program that allows employers to successfully
establish the legality of prospective employees to work within
the United States. This system obtains the information from
the I-9 form (employment eligibility form) and compares it
to information from the Department of Homeland Security
and the Social Security Administration. E-verify was started
after the initiation of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA).
Colorado’s E-verify law became effective on August 7th,
2006. Colorado does not require companies or employers
to administer E-verify during the hiring process and is only
used on a voluntary basis. There are seven states that
require Public Contractors to use the E-verify process
and Colorado is one of the seven states required to do
so. Arizona and Mississippi are the only two states that
have laws requiring all businesses to use E-verify. In March
of this year a Bill proposed in the Colorado House of
Representatives (House Bill 1309) that would make E-verify
mandatory for all businesses to administer. The Bill was
moved, with a 7-5 vote, from the Business Committee to
the House Agriculture Committee. The Agriculture industry
has been particularly in opposition to the E-verify system
that sites many inaccuracies within the system. The issue
with E-verify is not of partisan concern as many Republicans
and Democrats both support and denounce this new
regulation.
Arizona State Bill 1070
Also known as the famous “Show me you papers” Law has
become the focus of national and international attention
since 2010. This is one of the biggest anti-illegal immigration
laws to be enacted in the United States history. Currently it
is Federal Law that Aliens 14 years and older that are within
the United States for longer than 30 days must register with
the Federal Government. These Aliens must have these
documents with them at all times. SB 1070 has made
it an Arizona state misdemeanor to lack the required
documents. The most controversial portion of the law’s
requirements is that it gives Police officers the ability to check
the immigration status of anyone during a “lawful stop,
detention, or arrest”. Human Rights advocates challenge
that this Bill will promote racial profiling, while supporters
state that it will help with over 400,000 illegal immigrants
now estimated in Arizona. HB 2162 was signed a week after
the passage of SB 1070 with provisional amendments that
included “prosecutors would not investigate complaints
based on race, color or national origin”.
There have been many protests, boycotts and supporters
for Arizona’s new law. There has been majority support of
this law with up to 70% in favor and nationally the support
for this law is also high. This Law hasn’t been without its fair
share of lawsuits and since 2010 numerous cases have
been brought up in District Courts and The Supreme Court.
This has been one of only a few lawsuits that the Federal
Government has sued a state over a State Bill, The United
States vs. Arizona This Bill has also made it to the Supreme
Court and a ruling was issued this year on June 25th where
the Bill was upheld with a 5-3 majority vote but three of
its sections were preempted by federal law already. On
September 5th, 2012 US District Judge Susan Bolten, who
had originally granted a preliminary injunction, ruled in favor
for the Laws most controversial points to take affect. This will
officially give police officers the ability to ask anyone with
reasonable suspicion for there legalization papers. Arizona
believes as a state they needed new laws to protect its
citizens and deemed the Federal Government incapable
of delivering results on illegal immigration. Although at
a time when many are calling for smaller government is
this an important enough issue for citizens in this country
that the Federal Government should put their foot down
on illegal immigration? Which will bring me into another
debate; Should we just let illegals stay here legally?
DREAM Act
Since 2001 there have been many Bill introduced within
both the House and the Senate relating to legalization
of illegal immigrants. The most notable is the DREAM Act
(Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors) that
was first introduced by Dick Durbin (D) and Orrin Hatch (R)
in 2001. The DREAM Act has gone though changes over
the past 12 years but basically states that any illegal alien
residing within the United States is granted permanent
Continued on page 8...
7
Af fi l i ate’ s A ngle
Brian Keighin, President | Irrigation Technologies
was an old sand pro that didn’t move much quicker than
the senior members at Green Gables. Not exactly the
excitement that I thought it might be.
Brian Keighin | President
I was born in Boulder while my Dad was finishing his
graduate school studies. The family moved several times
around the mid-west and we finally found our way back to
Colorado just in time for me to start the 4th grade. I am the
youngest of three boys and all three of us still call Colorado
home.
I stumbled into the grass growing business by way of working
at the local country club, cleaning the tennis courts and
admiring the cool stuff that the maintenance crew would
get to do. When I turned 16, Bruce Nelson hired me to be
on the golf maintenance crew and my career path was set
in motion. The first piece of equipment that I got to operate
I rounded out my high school years working at the “Gabes”
and attending Metro State College after high school at the
wishes of my parents. I continued to work at Green Gables
in a seasonal, part-time capacity while taking the typical
general study courses at Metro. With some peer prodding I
applied for, and was accepted into, the turf management
program at Colorado State. Three years later I finished the
program and went to work for Bobby Murtaugh at Perry
Park Country Club as the assistant superintendent. I spent
three years on staff and enjoyed my time at the club.
My next stop was working as a project manager at Rodgers
Design. After eleven years in that capacity, I set off on my
own and formed Irrigation Technologies.
I have been fortunate to have tremendous support from
the RMGCSA network and attribute that support as a big
reason that I have been able to keep busy during these
tough economic times.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife of
twenty years, trying to keep pace with my 14 year old son
and 11 year old daughter and riding person-powered two
wheelers or internal combustion powered two wheelers.
Government/Legislative continued page 7...
residency if
• Lived in the United States for at least 5 consecutive
years
• Proove at the time of immigration they were under
the age of 16
• Required to be selected for the Military if male
• Receives a GED or High School diploma
• Be of good moral character
of America we’ve had immigration debates and issues that
the Government has dealt with and that can be a blessing
and a curse as many more people want to experience
our free market and entrepreneurial economic system.
With the influx of new people there comes new ideas,
new culture and a diverse population but there should be
a clear and defined path towards our illegal immigration
issue in the United States.
The DREAM Act has been re-introduced in both the
House and Senate in almost every year since 2007
(2007,2009,2010,2011). The issue is clearly something that
many politicians are passionate about and it does cross
party lines as many on both sides of the aisle support the
DREAM Act. Despite having more deportations than prior
administrations President Obama decided in 2012 to stop
the deportation of young undocumented immigrants
that meet some of the requirements in the DREAM Act.
Supporters argue that the economic impact could benefit
the US deficit by 1.4 billion by 2020 and create nearly 2.3
billion in revenues. Opponents argue that the DREAM Act
promotes more illegal immigration, cheapens labor for
US citizens, promotes drug smuggling, and burdens the
economy.
References
DREAM Act:
As you can see that just a brief description of each of these
topics can create a brawling debate. Since the founding
http://dreamact.info/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DREAM_Act
http://www.immigrationpolicy.org/issues/DREAM-Act
http://adreamact.com/
E-verify:
http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-Verify
http://www.everify.com/
Arizona SB 1070:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona_SB_1070
http://www.azleg.gov/legtext/49leg/2r/bills/sb1070s.pdf
http://www.azleg.gov/alispdfs/council/SB1070-HB2162.PDF
http://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/
argument_transcripts/11-182.pdf
8
Bow Hunting
by Jake Falke, Superintendent |Aspen Glen Club
With eight species of big game and 22.7 million acres of
National Forest and BLM, Colorado is a land of opportunity
for a motivated bow hunter. However, it can also be very
intimidating when you are first trying to get started. It’s big
country, the game can be very spread out, and you have
a lot of competition from other hunters. So how do you find
a good hunting spot?
I grew up in Kansas bow hunting for whitetails. It was
great, but I always dreamed of hunting the mountains in
the western states. Elk and mule deer were at the top of
my list. I also wanted a bighorn sheep, but drawing such
a rare tag seemed almost impossible to me at the time.
Then in 2003 I moved to Colorado to pursue a career in golf
course management and I brought with me my love of bow
hunting.
When I first moved here I was lucky enough to have a coworker who was also a bow hunter and became a good
friend. He grew up hunting the area and shared some of his
spots with me. If you are lucky enough to find such a friend
and want them to invite you again, always keep their spots
a secret and let them know how much you appreciate it.
His help was key to my success the first couple of years.
What if you aren’t lucky enough to find someone that
is willing to help you out? I’ve found a number of good
spots of my own since then. Good locations can be hard
to find, and are closely guarded secrets among hunters.
Although hunters won’t give up specifics, they do often talk
about general areas such as a mountain range, a road, or
a hunting unit. These can be valuable clues. Your local
Division of Wildlife office can also be a good resource. They
usually aren’t specific either but will point you in the right
direction.
Once you’ve identified an area you want to investigate
it’s time to start looking at maps and checking it out on
Google Earth. Mainly I’m looking for terrain that will hold
elk, access points, and trails. Elk will seek out areas that
not only provide good habitat, but more importantly, get
light hunting pressure. I specifically look for areas that are
difficult to access due to the distance from roads and trail
heads, or rough terrain. Often the key to success in bow
hunting, like many other things in life, is to work harder at it
than most other guys are willing to. I also have a couple of
other spots that are the opposite. I think they are so obvious
that they are often overlooked by other hunters and get
light pressure.
Once you’ve identified some areas you want to look at, its
time to wear out some boot leather. No map or computer
program can replace seeing an area in person. The first sign
I look for is the sign left behind by other hunters. I want to
find the spots elk go to avoid hunting pressure. This usually
means hiking several miles or cutting through some rough
country. Then I start looking for good habitat that is going
to hold elk, deer and other game.
Much of the public land in Colorado can be hunted every
year with an over the counter archery elk tag. However,
to get an elk tag for a really good unit or to hunt any other
species of game, you need to apply for a limited permit.
The state does this through a drawing system that is similar
to a lottery. Every year you are unsuccessful in drawing
you earn a preference point that increases your odds of
drawing the next year. Some of the really good tags can
take many years to draw. So just like saving for retirement,
you should start early and put in every year if you want to
have a chance at one of these premium tags. We are
lucky in Colorado to have a guaranteed chance to hunt
elk every year while we wait to draw a really good tag. By
putting in for everything the state has to offer, I’ve had a
chance to harvest elk, a mule deer, a bear, antelope and
even fulfilled my dream of harvesting a bighorn sheep with
a bow. I still hold out hope every year for a mountain goat
or moose tag.
The success rate on elk for bow hunters in Colorado is
usually only around 15%. It’s probably even less on public
land. It’s big country, the game can be hard to find, and
you’re always at the mercy of what other hunter are doing.
However, if you do your research, spend the time scouting
and put in the effort to get off the beaten path, your odds
will go up significantly. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you in the
backcountry next fall.
9
Superintendent Spotlight
Zach Bauer, Superintendent | Broadmoor West Course
I was born and raised in
Canton, Georgia which
sits about an hour north of
Atlanta. I had always grown
up around the game of golf
as my grandfather was a
golfer and my father was a
pretty good amateur who
ended up going to college
on a golf scholarship.
I never thought I would take
this profession as a career
path, but almost 14 years
later, I am pretty happy how
it’s ended up. I started my
career at BridgeMill Athletic
Club when I was 17 years old.
I spent my time on a string
trimmer, bunker rake and luckily a JD 2653 that first summer.
After high school I attended Abraham Baldwin College in
Tifton, Georgia and received my degree in Environmental
Horticulture. Tifton is famous for its bermudagrass cultivars
that are developed at the Coastal Plains Experiment Station
next to the college. Maybe you heard of some…..TifEagle,
Tifdwarf, Tifway419. It was always fun to go over and see Dr.
Wayne Hanna working or ask him questions about breeding
new species.
someone from Georgia. Well, here we go, moving again.
I took an assistant superintendent position at Governors
Towne Club in Acworth, Georgia after my engagement. In
2006, I was contacted by Jordan McCormick, then the West
Course superintendent at The Broadmoor, and was asked if
I’d accept his assistant position. I jumped at the opportunity
to come back to Colorado and once again, I was moving.
Since 2006, I have been at The Broadmoor and on the West
Course the entire time. It’s been great to be here for almost
seven years now and I have been given the opportunity
to witness the 2008 Senior Open, 2011 Women’s Open and
a renovation of the West Course. I’d also like to thank my
assistant Paul Hiller for his hard work and dedication while
putting up with me for the last two years.
When I’m not working, you can find me climbing, skiing or
checking out breweries around the state.
Zach Bauer
Broadmoor West Superintendent
After college, I took a second assistant superintendent
position at Atlanta National Golf Club. After a few months
though, I realized that it wasn’t the right place for me.
I then attended Kennesaw State University for business
the following year. In 2003, I needed some change in my
life. I started looking around for internships that would
take me out of my comfort zone in Georgia and put me
somewhere new. I took an internship position with Steve
Sarro on the East Course at The Broadmoor. It was a great
learning experience and still to this day I have many friends
and colleagues from my internship that year. When my
internship ended, I took another job as a second assistant
at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City, Maryland. I was there
for two years when, for some reason, I got engaged to
Dan Mills - (303) 669-0763
Gary Allen - (303) 669-0764
Jeff Elliott (720) 346-2297
Daryl Dinkel (970) 672-6240
Mark Hensley (970) 673-2907
Custom Fertilizer Formula
Custom Bulk Application
Fertigation Supplies
Complete Line of Chemicals
Golf Course Accessories
10
La
wn of the Dead?
How to resurrect your yard after a scorching summer
by Rusty Oetker of Soil Horizons, Inc., featured on page 42 in the Fall 2012 edition of Colorado Avid Golfer Magazine
Boy, what a difficult summer! Extreme heat with limited
moisture. How’s the lawn holding up? What can be done to
enhance the health of the turf going into the winter? That’s
the million-dollar question.
Probably the first thing to consider this fall is lawn aeration.
September and October are excellent times of the year to
aerate. Aeration will reduce soil compaction, improve water
infiltration, stimulate the soil’s microbial population and
increase soil oxygen levels. It will be like a breath of fresh
air. We’d like to have an even distribution of air-filled and
capillary (water) pore spores. Colorado soils (clay) exhibit
an excess of capillary pore spaces. So the inclusion of soil
aeration will help in increasing the air-filled pore spaces.
If there has been any turf loss this summer, this is an
opportunity to do some overseeding as well. Overseeding
can be done after aeration. Probably the choice of seed
is a high percentage of Kentucky Bluegrass. Seed at 1 to
2 lbs/1,000 square feet of seed. Be sure to keep the seed
wet after seeding. It will take approximately 10 to 14 days
to germinate.
As far as fertilizers, if a slow released fertilizer is applied, apply
in September at 1 lb N/1,000 square feet. Sources include
ureaform, sulfur coated urea, milorganite (natural organic),
IBDU and methylene urea. To determine this divide 1 by
the first number in decimal form (% nitrogen) on the fertilizer
bag. Multiply that by the square footage of your lawn and
then divide by 1000. This will provide the total number of
pounds needed to apply to your lawn.
Slow release nitrogen will cost more, but are safe to use when
properly applied and will provide extended feeding. This will
provide plenty of time for the nitrogen to be taken up in the
plant without any excessive growth. Most hardware stores
carry this type of fertilizer.
A couple of other options to consider are ammonium
sulfate (21-0-0) and urea (46-0-0). Both of these are quick
release nitrogen sources that have a higher potential for
some burning when misapplied and don’t last as long. If
used apply later in the season when growth has stopped.
Apply ammonium sulfate at 5 lbs/1,000 square feet and
urea at 2 lA lbs/1,000 square feet of product. Both will build
carbohydrates going into the winter, stimulate microbial
activity, increased root density and provide excellent color
and residual the following spring.
Assistant’s View
by Kenny Troutman, Assistant Superintendent| Pinehurst Country Club
The endless summer grind and heat
has given way to cooler weather and
project season! With the “beginning
of the end” underway it is time to trim
down the seasonal staff. The question
I would like to pose, how do we decide
on which employees stay and which
go?
In my experience, staff members with
the most seniority are typically the first
to be hired and last to be laid off in the fall. But what gives
an employee seniority? Is it time at the course, skill level,
or attitude? Most likely it is a combination of all of these
and other attributes. I feel an often overstated reason for
staffing with the same senior employees is, “Well, they are
the guys we have always hired on first.” Crew member
seniority certainly has its place on a grounds staff, but only
as long as seasoned employees still have the drive and are
invested in the operation.
I disagree with hiring based only on seniority for a simple
reason. For certain employees, seniority can lead to
entitlement which breeds complacency. Complacent
staff members drive down labor production and drive
up labor costs. Complacency can be a slow, growing
disease for your staff that gradually infects everyone to
certain level. Validating unsatisfactory employees work by
retaining them as your core group can hurt crew moral. It
also exposes you to the risk of losing quality crew members
who are waiting in the wings. Motivated employees help
you get the most out of your labor budget, which is the
ultimate goal.
The crew members that are the first hired and the last to
be laid off should be the core group of your crew. They
should set the tone and be a positive example for the rest of
your seasonal staff. A strong core group creates a culture
regulated by peer influence which acts as an unwritten
mission statement that a manager cannot duplicate.
I find this simple criteria useful for deciding who is a core
crew member. If a full-time position is to come available
would I hire this person full-time? If no, then I look at another
option. Strong employees, at the end of the day, are the
most valuable assets of our operations. Doing yourself a
favor and retaining the best employees is good for you
and the moral of your staff. Tough decisions have to be
made when deciding whether or not to demote a senior
employee, but they may be necessary to strengthen the
operation. If you feel your staff is not as good as it could be
I encourage you to shake things up. You may be surprised
at the talent and drive you find.
Be sure to take your own seasonal staff member inventory
and enjoy your winter!
11
Rules of Golf...
Scoring 101
A tough scoring lesson was learned at high school regional qualifying
by Pete Lis, CGA Director of Rules and Competitions
two signatures--one from his marker
(the person assigned to keep his score)
and his own signature. Although many
do it anyway, it is NOT the responsibility
of the player to add up the hole-byhole scores and write down any totals
(front 9, back 9 and 18). That is the
responsibility of the committee.
The CHSAA State Boys’ High School
Championships (October 1-2) electrify
the fall golf season in Colorado. Some
of the best young golfers in the state
survived one of 11 regional qualifying
tournaments to earn an invitation to
compete for an individual 3A, 4A or 5A
state high school title. If three or four
players from the same school qualify,
they are also playing to earn their
school a team state title as well. These
regionals are a very exciting and stressful
time for teams, coaches and parents.
Every player wants the opportunity to
play for a state title, and for some it will
be the biggest golf championship they
ever play in. There is a lot of pressure
on these kids, both during and after
the round, and one player at regional
qualifying learned a difficult lesson
about a player’s responsibilities in the
scoring area after the round. Imagine
the surprise when the score posted on
the scoreboard was 30 strokes higher
than he shot.
Just like all stroke play championships, it
is the player’s responsibility to assure that
the score he turns in has 18 individual
hole scores (i.e., a score in each box
for the 18 holes on the course) and
In this case, the player went into the
scoring area after he completed his
round with his marker to review all of the
scores. After he handed in his card and
left the scoring area it was discovered
that instead of a bogey 5 having been
recorded in the box for the 18th hole, a
35 was written there instead. 35 was the
number that his back nine total would
have been having made a 5 on hole
18. According to the Rules of Golf, Rule
6-6b states “After completion of the
round, the competitor should check
his score for each hole and settle any
doubtful points with the Committee.”
Rule 6-6c goes on to say that “no
alteration may be made on a score
card after the competitor has returned
it to the committee.” And finally, Rule
6-6d says that “the competitor is
responsible for the correctness of the
score recorded for each hole on his
score card. If he returns a score for
any hole lower than actually taken,
he is disqualified. If he returns a score
for any hole higher than actually
taken, the score as returned stands.”
The purpose of this Rule is to put the
responsibility on the player to make
sure he is informing the committee
of his score, and he must do this in
a timely manner. He needs to confirm
that his marker has written down all of
his hole-by-hole scores and verify that
they are accurate before the player
leaves the scoring area. In this area
is where any Rules disputes should be
resolved, once the player leaves the
scoring area after he has handed his
card to the committee, it is considered
returned and he is responsible for
anything written or not written on it.
In this situation the player was not
disqualified because he did not sign
for a score lower than he had actually
taken, but instead had to take the 35
that was written down for the 18th hole,
thus increasing his score by 30 strokes.
Unfortunately, this kept him from
playing in the state championships this
year, but I am sure he will never leave
the scoring area until he has verified
every hole-by-hole score, and he’ll
leave the math to the committee.
12
In My Opinion
As a longtime member of GCSAA
I
have
great
respect
and
commitment to my professional
association. GCSAA has done
many wonderful things during
my career. However, one issue I
have been concerned about for
many years is the association’s
inability, and/or unwillingness,
to promote the value of Class A
membership status and the value
of Certification. Although there have
been some modest efforts made at
promoting Class A and Certification they
have, in my opinion, been pretty unsuccessful.
Why has GCSAA not done more to promote the value
of Class A status and Certification? I believe GCSAA
is committed to the value of all members, especially
superintendents, whether Class SM, Class A or Certified.
GCSAA likes receiving dues from all superintendents and
the value of all qualified buyers at the Golf Industry Show
is financially very important. To strongly promote the value
of Class A status or Certification is to some degree made at
the expense of other members. In my opinion, one of the
last things GCSAA wants to do is upset some members and
have them drop out of the association. Actually I don’t
blame them and although I believe to take the risk and
by Dennis Lyon, CGCS| GCSAA Past President
strongly promote Class A and Certification would be good
for the profession and eventually GCSAA, this will probably
never happen.
I also feel in some way, the letters CGCS for Certified
Superintendents has run its course. Most people outside of
the industry have no clue what CGCS means. In addition,
many golfers and others in golf do not appreciate the value
of qualified superintendents in maintaining golf’s playing
fields and the superintendent’s impact on the quality of the
game they value so much. You are probably wondering
where this article is going. The following are my thoughts.
I suggest the RMGCSA and its members start promoting
the professionalism and value of superintendents by doing
the following. If you are a Class A member of GCSAA
and RMGCSA start using the title “Professional Golf Course
Superintendent,” when corresponding with others, on
business cards, on score cards etc. If certified, use the title,
“Certified Professional Golf Course Superintendent.” We
are after all professionals, why not promote the fact? If you
are a Superintendent Member, you might be a professional
in every sense of the word; however, I am suggesting the
term “professional” be limited to Class A members. At least
that’s my opinion.
Sincerely,
Dennis Lyon
Certified Professional Golf Course Superintendent (retired)
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13
Technical Bulletin
Warning SPONGE
by Matt Lombardi, Director of Grounds | Cherry Creek Country Club and Judd Fitzgerald, Sales Manager | Golf Enviro Systems
I hope you all got my little joke in the sub head? On my
travels I see and hear a lot of issues, but the water thriving
sponge has been the most interesting and alarming issue
I have seen yet. If you have not heard about sponge yet
than this article is for you. I co-wrote this with Matt Lombardi
(Director of Grounds - Cherry Creek CC) who experienced
sponge last spring and had on-the-job training. He will
explain what to look for and how to treat. So in the spirit of
puns, lets dive on in and, as the doctor says, no glove no
love!
weren’t sure what had caused it but further investigations
lead us to a clogged y-strainer due to sponge. We then
checked our probe and the growth that had accumulated
was unbelievable!
During our spring preventative maintenance of our pump
station 2 years ago, the technician noticed some growth
on some metal parts that hung in our wet well. He scraped
it off before we could examine and identify what it was.
We then wanted to come up with a way to monitor any
growth that may occur in our wet well in the future. We
took a 2 foot piece of 2” metal square stock and drilled
a hole in the top. We then attached a chain and hung it
from the rafters above the wet well. We periodically would
check it when we were in the pump house and for the first
few months we did not notice any growth. That summer
we had several weeks of rain in the beginning of July and
we never had checked the probe or had to run irrigation.
When we finally irrigated, we had a pump failure. We
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Technical Bulletin continued from page 14...
We then researched ways to control it and reached out to
Ed Rockett (Lone Tree GC) who I heard had been dealing
with it for some time. He had used straight chlorine and
poured it into his wet well. The chemical controls were not
economical but appeared to be safer to turfgrass. We
purchased a 55 gallon drum of chlorine for about $250 and
began to treat our wet well by slowly pouring it in while
running some irrigation to get the chlorine into our irrigation
lines. After this was complete, we put several gallons into
our wet well and let it “marinate”. After about a day, the
sponge turned black from the normal color of brown-green.
Once the y-strainer was clean and we began to irrigate, we
noticed that many of our irrigation heads seemed like they
had lost pressure. We found that the rock screens below
the drive were up to 75% clogged and began the long
process of checking every sprinkler head and cleaning the
rock screens.
Currently, we monitor the probe in our wet well often, no
matter the weather. We also try to treat the wet well and
irrigation lines every 3-4 weeks with about 15-20 gallons of
chlorine. It has seemed to work pretty well but occasionally
we still find clogged rock screens.
Thank you Matt, this is one of those occasions I can say
“Glad not to be you”! Following up Matt’s experiences, I
did a little research on what Sponge is and what to expect:
Although sponges are animals, they are included in this
manual because they are sometimes mistaken for aquatic
plants or algae. Sponges are multicellular animals consisting
of masses of cells embedded in a gelatinous matrix. The
matrix is bound together by minute, spine-like structures of
calcium or silica called spicules and spongy organic fibers
called spongin. Although most of the more than 5,000
known sponges are found in marine environments, 150
species live in freshwater. Freshwater sponges are pitted
with pores and often are yellow, brown or greenish. Sponges
filter large volumes of water through their pores, capturing
tiny particles for food. Freshwater sponges vary in size from
a few millimeters to more than a meter across. All species
have a free-swimming, microscopic larval stage, but are
attached (sessile) as adults. They are widely distributed in
well-oxygenated ponds and streams where they grow on
plant stems, pieces of wood, and other submersed objects.
They will overwinter in a dormant state (called gemmules),
but are most commonly seen in summer or fall. They may
be lobed, composed of finger-like projections, or quite
irregularly shaped and are robust enough to be picked up
without falling apart, unlike many kinds of algae.
Bryozoans
Bryozoans are tiny colonial animals that are fairly common
in lakes and streams with suitable habitat. Different species
form colonies that range in appearance from delicate wispy
moss-like growths to basketball-size gelatinous masses.
Each colony is made of many individual creatures called
“zooids.” Zooids are microscopic cylindrical creatures with
a mouth, digestive tract, muscles, and nerve centers. The
zooids are covered by a protective matrix which may be
delicate, hard, or gelatinous depending on the species.
They feed by filtering tiny algae and protozoa through
a crown of tentacles (lophophore). Bryozoan colonies
grow by budding from the adult zooids. New colonies will
establish from a free-swimming, microscopic larval stage
or by growth of dormant spore-like “statoblasts.” Most
Bryozoans live in salt water, and of the 20 or so freshwater
species found in North America, most are found in warmwater regions attached to plants, logs, rocks and other
firm substrates. The forms most likely encountered in the
northwest are translucent, brownish-gray, jelly-like masses
that look like they have little black dots embedded in them.
This seems to be a growing issue as of late and more guys
than you might think have dealt with this. On a side bar,
one of my colleague’s just
recommended dropping 1 to 2
chlorine tablets in the wet well
every few days while monitoring
the growth on a piece of metal
like Matt recommended. Reach
out and see what your fellow
Sup’s are doing!
Matt Lombardi – Director of
Grounds – Cherry Creek CC
Judd Fitzgerald - Sales Manager
– Golf Enviro Systems
15
Where surf meets turf:
Join us in San Diego for the 2013 Golf
Industry Show
About the show »
About the Golf Industry Show
Feb. 6-7, 2013
San Diego, Calif.
San Diego Convention Center
The Golf Industry Show is an innovative trade show designed
for owners and operators of golf facilities and golf course
management professionals. Featuring the largest exhibit
floor in the industry, the event combines education,
networking and solutions for golf course superintendents,
equipment
managers,
owners/operators,
general
managers, chief operating officers, and architects and
builders.
The Golf Industry Show is presented by GCSAA and NGCOA,
along with participating partners the American Society of
Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), the Golf Course Builders
Association of America (GCBAA), the United States Golf
Association (USGA), the National Golf Foundation (NGF),
the International Golf Course Equipment Managers
Association (IGCEMA), and supporting partner the Society
of Golf Appraisers (SGA).
Education conferences
Along with the show, GCSAA and NGCOA will be
presenting their annual education conferences – both
GCSAA’s Education Conference and NGCOA’s Annual
Conference will be held Feb. 4-8, 2013.
Show objective
The objective of the Golf Industry Show is to provide the
golf and club management industries with a dynamic,
progressive trade show event that provides unparalleled
networking opportunities and hands-on access to
golf course and facility management solutions for the
professional members that GCSAA, NGCOA, GCBAA,
ASGCA, NGF, USGA, IGCEMA and SGA serve.
Highlights in the show’s history
2005: The Golf Industry Show is a combination of the
GCSAA International Show and the NGCOA Trade Show.
GCSAA and NGCOA merged their trade shows into the
annual Golf Industry Show, beginning in 2005 in Orlando.
That inaugural event was ranked the 82nd largest trade
show in North America that year by Tradeshow Week 200.
2006: Hurricane Katrina forced the 2006 Golf Industry Show
to move from New Orleans to Houston, and then because
of a scheduling conflict, the organizers moved it again to
Atlanta less than four months out.
2007: CMAA joined the Golf Industry Show in 2007, helping
set an attendance record during the event at the Anaheim
Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. A three-year best
number of 9,697 qualified buyers (those who are part of
the purchase process) in attendance were greeted by
a record 981 exhibitors covering a record 291,250 square
feet of exhibit space. The total attendance of 23,109 was
an all-time high and surpassed the 2006 figure in Atlanta
by more than 4,000.
2008: In 2008, The Orlando show set records in a variety
of categories. Overall attendance fell just shy of 26,000
at 25,737 to surpass the previous high established in
Anaheim. In terms of qualified buyers 10,553 walked the
floor, eclipsing the mark set in Anaheim. The trade show
itself was the largest ever with 965 companies represented
with exhibits covering 300,900 square feet.
2010: The United States Golf Association (USGA) joined the
Golf Industry Show as a participating partner in 2010. Prior
to the show, CMAA announced it would not be continuing
its partnership after 2010.
2011: For the 2011 event in Orlando, the show was joined by
two new partners, the International Golf Course Equipment
Managers Association as a participating partner, and the
Society of Golf Appraisers as a supporting partner.
16
2012 Industry Partners
Platinum Partners ($3000+)
These sponsors have made the highest level of commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Platinum level sponsor
Gold Partners ($2000 - $2999)
These sponsors have shown their commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Gold level sponsor
Silver Partners ($1000 - $1999)
These sponsors have shown their commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Silver level sponsor
Bronze Partners ($500 - $999)
These sponsors have shown their commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Bronze level sponsor
Supporting the organization and those businesses that support us.
Please consider our sponsors when making purchasing decisions. Please support those who support your association by clicking
their logo to visit their web sites and contacting your sales representative. These industry partners are dedicated to helping you
run successful operations and be profitable businesses. For more information on the Industry Partner program, CLICK HERE.
17
RMGCSA Winter Educational Seminar
Thurs., Nov. 15, 2012 | 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Hotel | 15500 E. 40th Ave. | Denver, CO 80239 | 303-371-9494
0.7 Education Points pending approval
8:30 AM - 8:45 AM
Welcome/Introductions
8:45 AM - 10:15 AM
“What’s Up with the Bugs?”
Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University
Updates on insects (and worms) that are found in Colorado Golf Courses. Whitney Cranshaw is a professor and Extension Specialist of Entomology
at Colorado State University. Since 1983 he has been working with insect problems associated with horticultural commodities in Colorado and has
particularly enjoyed working with the Green Industry groups.
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
BREAK
10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Managing Multiple Generations
Danielle McCormick, Service Through Strategy Consulting
Understand how to use generational differences to unleash talent and achieve higher levels of engagement of employees. Identify generational
styles, reduce the amount of generational stereotyping on your team, assist with generational conflict by learning how to explain different
generations, and stop wasting time trying to change generational mindsets. Danielle McCormick began her career in the hospitality industry
fourteen years ago. She has worked for organizations such as The Broadmoor, Forbes Travel Guide, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Wyndham and Buca di Beppo
in various leadership roles. For seven years, she was responsible for creating and facilitating training programs for The Broadmoor.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
LUNCH
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Emerging Diseases
Ned Tisserat, Colorado State University
Emerging diseases, management practices of anthracnose, take-all patch, and many others. Ned Tisserat received his B.S. from Colorado State
University, his M.S from Texas A&M University and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in plant pathology. Ned is currently an
extension specialist and professor of plant pathology in the Department of Bioagricultural Sciences and Pest Management at CSU. His research
interests include necrotic ringspot, Ascochyta leaf spot and snow mold diseases of turf, and diseases of ornamentals
2:30 PM - 2:40 PM
BREAK
2:40 PM - 4:00 PM
H-2B Guest Worker Program
Ron and Sue Bowen, Labor Solutions
An explanation on how the H-2B Guest Worker program can bring in legal foreign workers to supplement your workforce - current and proposed
rules. Labor Solutions helps landscapers, golf courses, stone quarries and concrete companies go through the process of aquiring certifications and
approvals from the US government to bring in foreign workers to supplement their workforce when they cannot find US workers to do the work.
They both have an unbridled passion for golf. As members of Pelican Lakes Country Club in Windsor, CO they avidly play golf three-four days a week!
Registration form must be received by November 12, 2012 (Mail, fax or register online)
q Members $99
q Members after 11/12 $125
Employer: _____________________________________________
q Non-members $150
Phone: ________________
q Non-members after 11/12 $175
Address/Zip: _________________________________________
Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ _____ Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ ______
Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ _____ Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ ______
Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ _____ Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ ______
Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ _____ Name: ________________________________ q Member q Nonmember $ ______
AMEX/VISA/MASTERCARD #: _______________________________________________ Exp. ____/____ CVC Code: _________ Grand Total $ _______________________
Signature: _______________________________________________________
Name on Card: _______________________________________________
Return to: RMGCSA | 3030 W. 81st Ave. | Westminster, CO 80031 - NO REFUNDS AFTER November 12th | Phone: 888-576-4272 or 303-255-9611 | Fax: 303-458-0002 | info@rmgcsa.org | www.rmgcsa.org
18
Calendar of Events...
November 15, 2012
Education Seminar - Crowne Plaza - DIA
February 6, 2013
RMGCSA Chapter Hospitality - Double Deuce, San Diego
Monday: The bank’s Scramble. Thursday: Member/Guest Tournament. Guess you are fertilizing Wednesday.
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