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 From the News Desk...Grassroots learningby John ReitmanThe learning center for golf turf management students at Mesquite High School in Chandler, Ariz., has sat for about three years without a name. That doesn’t bother the program’s administrator, Rob Foley. He’s just happy to provide students with a place where they can get a leg up on a career that is central to the state’s economy. “Maybe I’ll get around to naming it one day,” said Foley, a teacher coordinator who grew-in the school's turf management program four years ago and oversaw construction of the learning center in 2006. The unnamed outdoor classroom isn’t really a learning “center” so much as it is a single golf hole, and a very short one at that.  At 75 yards, the hole consists of nine tee boxes grassed with 328 Bermudagrass all hitting into a single TifDwarf putting green. Although used by the school’s golf teams, the primary purpose of the hole is to serve as a training ground for students in Foley’s turf management class. In fact, Foley’s inaugural class designed the hole with help from golf course architect Gary Panks and local superintendents Gregg Thomas from Mesa Country Club and Seth Koch of Kokopelli Resort. To this day, Foley still hangs onto the original blueprints drafted by his students.
“I just think this is an interesting program. You don't see this at the high school level," said Koch, explaining why he felt the need to get involved with Foley's venture. “I think it's great that kids can get an inside track on this, to see what it's all about before going to college. “That he built the hole and the kids are maintaining it is a great opportunity for them." The hole features an elevated green, greenside bunker, desert terrain and wash going through the hole. “Rob has done a great job with this. It turned out really nice,” said Thomas, who has continues to help by donating product and labor. Taking the golf hole from concept to reality was not easy for Foley. And it hasn’t exactly been a walk in the park to keep it funded and operational since it opened.  The idea for an outdoor facility on which to teach his class came to Foley, an admitted golf fanatic, after he built a putting green in his back yard. It dawned on him, while tending his own greenspace, that it was never too early for those who might be interested in a career in golf to begin learning the ins and outs of turf maintenance.
“I saw so many opportunities,” he said. “It seemed like a natural progression on campus. I recognized the impact this could make on students. That’s why I enjoy it so much.” The program, which itself is only four years old, is open to Mesquite students in 10th grade and above. And Foley has produced about 50 “graduates” in that time. The students, there are 12 enrolled in the class this year, are responsible for daily maintenance of the center from tee to green, including mowing the green and tees, making necessary equipment adjustments, raking the bunker, applying topdressing and performing all upgrade projects. Not every graduate represents a success story, Foley cautioned. As is the case with many teens, some lack the work ethic required to succeed after high school. In fact, two Mesquite graduates who had been hired by a local golf course recently were dismissed from their jobs for lack of performance, Foley said. “It’s not all a silver lining,” he said. “I would like to send every kid to a golf course and they end up being this amazing worker. But that is a rarity.” Before launching the program, Foley had to sell the idea to school officials. Administrators were enthusiastic about such a program and the eventual construction of a golf hole. Then-principal Dominic Marchiando recognized the benefit of offering turfgrass management studies to Mesquite’s students. But Foley’s background left him unprepared to teach such a program, so he took a few courses under David Kopec, Ph.D., at the University of Arizona. He followed up with more coursework at Arizona State University East Campus and Mesa Community College to become certified to teach turfgrass management at the high school level. Those who threw their full support behind launching the program and building the hole include Marchiando, who retired in 2007, and his successor, Cecilia Peterson. There were concerns, however, that others might not view the golf hole in the same light, Foley said. Foley recalls that Peterson, who gave the OK for construction of the hole, was concerned about an age-old problem plaguing golf courses – vandalism. “I told her that’s just part of it,” Foley said. “In fact, today I went out there and there were sand castles on the green.” The existence of the hole means no more three-month vacations for Foley, who also hires one student to help manage the property throughout the summer. Although payroll definitely is not a budget concern for Foley, keeping the center operational can be a challenge for him and the Mesquite Public Schools District.  Foley estimates that it takes about $2,000 per year to maintain the facility. Almost all of that is eaten up in the way of replacement parts for equipment. And it all comes by way of various fundraising events, including a golf tournament, selling concessions at Mesquite High football games and performing gift wrapping services for donations during the holiday season at a local golf clothing and equipment store. Pretty much everything else Foley needs is donated either by suppliers or superintendents like Koch and Thomas.
For example, Desert Reflections, a Scottsdale-based golf course construction firm, donated its services to build the facility four years ago. All irrigation equipment for the project also was gifted to Foley. Hunter Irrigation donated equipment, including all new valves. And both Hunter and Desert Reflections donated pipe leftover from construction of the Tom Lehman-designed Encanterra in nearby Queen Creek, Ariz. Koch and Thomas provided the seed to grow-in the hole. They continue to supply Foley with product, such as overseed, fertilizer and plant growth regulators on an annual basis, grinding and aeration services and they also drop in occasionally to conduct workshops for the students. The same thrifty approach used to secure construction services, infrastructure and materials also was needed to acquire equipment. One walk-behind greensmower, a John Deere 220, was secured through a trade-and-barter deal, while he paid $500 for a Toro Greensmaster 1000 coming off lease from a local golf course. He would like to buy a third mower, but there is no room in the budget for that right now. Marchiando contributed enough from the school’s budget to build a small storage shed to house the equipment. Thomas remembers learning about the proposed project through staffers at the Cactus and Pines GCSA Chapter. He feels duty-bound to help as much as possible on projects such as this. “I thought it was something that we should be involved in as an association and me personally,” Thomas said. “That’s part of our duty to help others when they need it.” With an extensive background in construction, Thomas helped first by consulting on the project. The flat terrain immediately received a much-needed facelift from a construction project nearby. “I went over and looked at the property. It was flat,” Thomas said of the proposed hole location. “Well, there was a huge construction project across the street, and I got them to dump their dirt in there. Then we formed the green, and I helped with some shaping, gave them some sand, seed, fertilizer and other tools to get started. We also helped them install their herringbone drainage. We wanted to do it to USGA specifications.” Foley does not underestimate the role of those who have helped him implement his program and build and maintain the short hole. In fact, if he had to pay for fertilizer and seed and reel sharpening, which Thomas donates in-kind, Foley said his budget would be double to three times its present amount. “Without the help of so many people,” he said, “this would not have been possible.” Thomas considers his role more of a duty than that of being a Good Samaritan. “It’s really nothing when you’re buying 40,000 pounds of seed every year,” Thomas said. “The amount of seed and fertilizer I give him I could almost sweep off the floor.” 
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In other news... Bayer consolidates professional, consumer divisions Jacqueline Applegate to oversee both segments; Josh Weeks to retire in November. Posted: 09/09/2010 Read more » July heat keeps many golfers at home Rounds played at private clubs, daily fee facilities drops 5 percent. Posted: 09/08/2010 Read more » Study examines spring pre-stress fertility programs Research finds no correlation between biostimulant applications before spring core cultivation and recovery. Posted: 09/02/2010 Read more » Aquatrols, TurfNet present Water Week The series of five Webinars is aimed at helping superintendents manage water and soils more efficiently. Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » News and people briefs Registration opens soon for Irrigation Show, Briggs & Stratton elects new chairman, FMC taps new director for professional solutions division Posted: 09/01/2010 Read more » Complete news index » |
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