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From the TurfNet NewsDesk

  • John Reitman
    The folks who revolutionized the way superintendents relive soil compaction on golf courses are now offering their services to the residential and commercial turf and tree-care markets.
    DryJect recently launched Advanced Agro, a version of its soil compaction-relief service that uses a high-speed, water-based injection system to blast aeration holes through the root zone to fracture the soil and simultaneously fills holes to the surface with high volumes of sand or amendment. This allows users to relieve compaction, increase water infiltration, reach the root zone with oxygen and amend the soil with high volumes of material all at the same time while also leaving the surface smooth and immediately playable. 
    Current DryJect franchisees are bound to golf or sports turf. Advanced Agro will serve the commercial and residential turf and arboriculture markets.
    "We have a soils-first mentality," said DryJect president John Paddock. "If you build the soils, you have happy turf and happy trees. If you take care of everything below the surface, you will have the ability to take care of everything above the surface."
    DryJect worked with a local tree-care company in Arizona to develop the new service under the name Advanced Agro, which features a machine that is 2 feet shorter and a foot narrower than the original DryJect equipment. It also has the capability to deliver multiple products at once at the root or surface level for turf and tree care, Paddock said. 
    "The machine is set up for a 36-inch gate and an injection pattern that is 32 inches wide with eight injectors spaced 4 inches apart," Paddock said. "It gives us the ability to inject four products at the roots or surface and incorporate some things that the tree-care industry is looking for, such as nutrients, plant growth regulators or two dry products."
  • City-owned Balboa Golf Course in Los Angeles opened in 1954. Photo by golf.lacity.org Too much water in some places, not enough in others. Increasing negative publicity as a fallout from water use, chemical and fertilizer applications and a longing eye from those who look at golf courses and see what "could be." There is no doubt that a perfect storm has been brewing in California for some time, and some golf courses throughout the state could get caught in the maelstrom.
    Is California caught up in yet another drought similar to the one that reigned over the state from 2012 to 2016, or has this year been part of a longer event? Did recent storms that dumped unusual amounts of rain and snow for October do anything to alleviate those concerns of drought? With the state mired in what some consider a climate event that has been ongoing for two decades, one thing is certain, California is facing a water crisis of dire proportions. Many reservoirs built to collect surface water to feed the needs of nearly 40 million people are at a fraction of their holding capacity and the governor recently declared a statewide water emergency.
    The declaration does not call for mandated cuts in use, but does establish target goals that call for voluntary savings statewide of 15 percent compared with 2020.
    "That storm was really good. It didn't end the drought for us, but it certainly helped," said Tom Hsieh, whose company manages municipal Gleneagles Golf Club at McLaren Park in San Francisco. "It allows most of us to turn off the water for a little while here, and it gives us a little bit of hope that we will have a normal season; we don't know. This rain storm does not end the drought by any means. We're not going to be out of a drought until at least a year of normal, maybe two years of normal rainfall before they declare the drought over."
    California's water woes are at a confluence with another problem plaguing much of the state - a lack of affordable housing. A bill introduced into the California Assembly could make it attractive for some cities to convert municipal golf courses to high-density real estate.
    Assembly Bill 672, introduced in February by Cristina Garcia of California's 58th district in Los Angeles County, targets municipal golf courses as potential sites for affordable housing and open space, died in committee in April. However, the bill has been amended as of September 1 with changes, including an influx of public assistance and the elimination of certain zoning requirements. It is expected to make a return engagement in session in January as a two-year bill.
    "It doesn't matter, in every city in the state the most pressing issue everyone is talking about is affordable housing," said Craig Kessler, governmental affairs director for the Southern California Golf Association.
    "The problem golf has goes to public opinion. Land is precious and extra expensive. Golf encompasses acres of land in cities that cannot meet their housing needs."
    AB 672, in its newest form, makes available $50 million from the state's general fund "to provide grants to cities, counties, and cities and counties to incentivize making publicly owned golf courses in densely populated areas available for housing and publicly accessible open space," the bill states. It also removed zoning requirements and the need for an environmental impact statement in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act.
    The allure of a piece of that $50 million pie might be too good to pass up for elected officials looking to curry public favor by paving the way for more affordable housing and greenspace at the expense of what many in the public consider an extravagance for the privileged.
    "People love wide-open spaces in an urban setting," Kessler said. 
    "If you don't play golf, a 150-acre golf course doesn't do you much good, but a park does, even though we know golf courses are much more utilized than public parks."

    Municipal Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles serves the city's west side. Photo by golf.lacity.org In March, leaders from 191 cities and six counties comprising the Southern California Association of Governments voted for a plan to add 1.3 million new homes by 2029. Municipal golf might be considered low-hanging fruit, but it will not go very far in helping Southern California meet its housing needs. The City of Los Angeles owns seven regulation golf courses, three nine-hole facilities and two par-3 layouts.
    Hsieh, who has a background in local politics and public advocacy, says AB 672 is bad for golf and does not go far enough to accomplish its stated goals.
    "This bill concerns me a great deal," Hsieh said. "There are many other options to accomplish home-density goals, but instead this bill targets low-hanging fruit, and that's the golf industry; specifically the municipal and public golf industry.
    "I think the assembly member has ample ability to introduce or support measures that increase the housing density that we need in California to meet the housing needs, but it's obviously a little bit harder, because it has to go into existing neighborhoods, or rezone existing places."
    Hsieh points to legislation, such as Senate Bill 10, which was introduced by State Sen. Scott Wiener and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 21. SB 10 calls for increased high-density housing on existing transit corridors and provides bonuses for increasing density in existing structures.
    "In many ways, Assembly Bill 6-7-2 is in exact opposition to the stated goals of California to reduce emissions and to get people out of their cars.
    "Golf courses are Fortunately, during the pandemic we were able to showcase why golf is important from a holistic community point of view, beyond just affinity for the sport. This measure eliminates that opportunity. It eliminates it. And it contributes to urban sprawl. And it contributes to increased CO2 emissions. It's going to make people drive. Most golf courses are not in the center of a city. I think San Francisco is the only place that has them in the center of a city. It's an ill-advised, not thoughtfully crafted piece of legislation."
    Kessler said state golf associations are busily preparing a marketing campaign to educate the public on the merits of the game, namely public golf. With $50 million dangling in front of local leaders, that might be a tall order, especially in times of drought. Hopefully, recent weather systems that have dumped rain throughout much of the state and snow by the foot in the Sierra Nevada, which is critical to feed water supplies during spring thaw, continue and are not an anomaly, Kessler said.
    "We want to give golfers a reason to take a few minutes to make a call, or send an email," he said. "It's going to be a challenge, but I'm optimistic. It's bad policy that creates a lot of problems and doesn't address the problems it is designed to solve."
    "You can't hide a golf course in a drought, and you can't hide it when others covet it for other uses."
    Hsieh hopes the public and state officials see golf courses for what they are, valuable recreational outlets that played a key role during the pandemic, and that taking any of them away for high-density housing is misguided - at least in California.
    "Municipal golf courses are recreational outlets not unlike a softball field, or a public swimming pool, or tennis court, and we saw the benefit of open accessible public space like a golf course during the pandemic when everything else was closed and the safest way to recreate as a family was on a publicly managed golf course. Unfortunately, it took a pandemic to realize that," he said. "So, the whole trope that golf is an elitist sport and golf courses are not widely used is just not true. So, I think it's a misguided piece of legislation, and I hope the rest of the assembly sees it for what it is."
  • Registration is open for the 2022 University of Massachusetts Winter School for Turf Managers.
    The Winter School is a certificate program designed to present concepts essential to maintaining high quality turf, with emphasis on environmental stewardship, input reduction and fiscal responsibility. This comprehensive short course is designed for experienced professionals working in the golf, sports turf, LCO and parks and recreation industries. It also is ideal for those who want to advance in their career, but do not have the time or resources for a traditional two-year or four-year academic program.
    CLICK HERE TO APPLY
    Since the onset of the pandemic, the Winter School has made the transition from a full-time, in-person, six-week event to a 10-week virtual experience scheduled for Jan. 3-March 11, 2022. Instruction will be a combination of live and on-demand content. The routine schedule will feature live class time from 1-3:30 p.m. and 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 3:330-5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. On-demand content can be viewed as time allows for each attendee.
    Topics to be covered include: Fundamentals of Turf Management; Advanced Topics in Turf; Soil Science and Management; Turf Pathology; Turf Entomology; Weed Management; Irrigation and Equipment Management; Arboriculture.
    Winter School instructors will include Michelle DaCosta, Ph.D., Deborah Henson, Ph.D., Geunhwa Jung, Ph.D., Olga Kostromytska, Ph.D., Jason Lanier, Angela Madeiras, Ph.D., James Poro and Randall Prostak, all of the University of Massachusetts.
    Everyone who completes the program will receive a Certificate of Completion. Continuing Education Units also are available. Pesticide recertification contact hours will be offered. The UMass Winter School for Turf Managers meets continuing education requirements for licensed pesticide applicators in all New England states.
    Deadline for application is Nov. 19, and space is limited. All interested parties must apply and be accepted to enroll, and applications will be considered in the order received. All applicants will be notified via email of application status within one week of submission of a complete application, therefore please provide an active email address and check spam/junk folder, or contact us if not notified within one week. Payment is required within three weeks from the date of your acceptance email, and the deadline for all students to pay in full is Dec. 10.
  • When former golf course superintendent Jim Hill decided it was time for a change of scenery in his professional career, he opted for a line of work far less stressful than managing greens for demanding golfers - he started a business to assist other superintendents and entered the world of politics to help his local community.
    Hill, 52, currently is vice mayor of Sebastian, Florida, a still somewhat sleepy-ish town in Indian River County that has managed to avoid some of the unchecked growth so common in the state's coastal cities. In mid-November, he will be named the city's mayor, a title he has held so many times (at least five) since he was first elected to the Sebastian City Council in 2000, he admits he is losing count.
    "Right now, my title is vice mayor. If you wait a few weeks, I'll be the mayor again," Hill said. "I've probably been vice mayor eight times, and I think five times I've been named the mayor."
    Sebastian operates as a city manager-run town. City council, which determines long-range goals for the city, chooses a mayor and vice mayor from its body.
    "The city manager runs the day-to-day operations of the city," Hill said. "The city council oversees the city manager and establishes a long-term vision for the city. The city manager takes that vision and makes it happen."
    A 1997 graduate of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia, Hill was most recently superintendent from 2005 to 2008 at Pointe West Country Club in Vero Beach, Florida. He left the ranks of working golf course superintendents to start Innovative Drain Technologies, which specializes in clearing clogged drainage systems on golf courses.
    IDT provides no-dig clearing of sand, silt, sediment, rocks, roots and other blockages from drainage systems without the need for excavation. The system works through a high-pressure, bullet-shaped nozzle that uses water pressure to work through and clear blockages. Since Hill founded the company, it has expanded to offer video inspection of drainage systems and ground-penetrating radar services.
    Hill's next term as mayor, which runs for one year, will be his last. 
    "I don't have any intention to run again in 2022," Hill said. "To be honest, my business is doing so well, it takes up so much of my time, and I am traveling so much. I have focused the last 22 years of my life on the City of Sebastian; I think Sebastian is in good hands. I'll let the new guys take over and take control, and I will focus on business and family."
    The life of a politician - even at the local level - is not a lot unlike being a golf course superintendent. Both positions have constituents who criticize and praise your work.
    "The mayor takes a lot of complaints or praise from the public, does ribbon-cuttings and veterans memorial services," he said. "We take input from the public on what they would like to see happen.
    "There is a lot of negative stuff, just like you see in national politics. If someone disagrees with you on one thing, suddenly you are inept and corrupt, all the things you hear about politicians, suddenly you're that person. The difference is, you go to the same church and grocery store as these people, so when negative things are said about you, it sticks to you a little more because you see them in the community."

    Jim Hill's IDT uses ground-penetrating radar to locate lost greens perimeters and clogged drain outflows. In more than two decades serving his community, Hill believes he has made a lasting impression on Sebastian, which has a population of about 25,000. Tucked between cities where growth has run amuck, Sebastian and Vero Beach (population 16,000) still have a hint of Old Florida charm about them. That feeling is lost in Palm Bay to the north (population 112,000) and Port St. Lucie (pop. 190,000) to the south.
    The road connecting the town to Interstate 95 looks the same today as it did two decades ago. There has been commercial growth, mainly retail shops and restaurants, along the Indian River (Intracoastal Waterway) to provide services to residents and help attract tourist dollars.
    "When I came here, (State Road) 512 was four lanes, and you'd see some stores pop up on it. I want to keep it that way," he said. "We've been able to keep Sebastian a cool place. We've built up the riverfront, we've developed the airport to help build the tax base, we've developed parks, but we've been able to keep it a small place that is very cool."
    Hill's background in golf has helped the city develop its own IPM program and ward off attempts from those who have promoted pesticide and fertilizer bans.
    "We just finished establishing an IPM program that took two years to complete," Hill said. "We've had some fairly boisterous environmental groups push for fertilizer bans and pesticide bans and talk to us about water use. 
    "My degree is in environmental horticulture, so I have been able to look at these issues through a scientific eye and make recommendations based on that knowledge. I have been able to convince the majority of the council that those bans are not beneficial in the long run and that we are doing the right things. 
    "We developed a program that is specific for Sebastian, our stormwater issues, parks and wetlands, and we put it into a published IPM that people can look at and read the data. You can talk to people 'til the cows come home that you are doing the right thing, but until you have documentation for them to look at, it is hard for them to listen to you."
    So, will Hill miss local politics when he steps away to focus on family and business?
    "I've gotten out of it what I went into it to get," he said. "I love my community. It's a nice city with a vibrant riverfront district that still has that small-town feel. And we've been able to keep it that way."
  • California is coming off its second-driest year ever in 2020. Photo by James Hempfling California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency on Oct. 19, but stopped short issuing any use-reduction mandates. The move by the governor came after voluntary conservation efforts continue to fall far short.
    Newsom also authorized California’s water regulators to ban practices, such as hosing off public sidewalks, and directed the Office of Emergency Services to fund drinking water as needed. 
    Today’s announcement extends drought emergencies, already declared in 50 counties, to the eight remaining counties where conditions had thus far not been deemed severe enough. They are Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Imperial, San Francisco and Ventura counties. 
    Under the proclamation, local water suppliers must begin preparing for the possibility of a dry year ahead.  
    Data released Oct. 19 by the State Water Resources Control Board showed that year-over-year water use in California was cut 5 percent in August compared with the same month last year. The state had sought cutbacks of 15 percent.
    The current reductions in water use are on top of conservation that has continued since the last drought. In 2020, Californians were already using about 16 percent less water in their homes and businesses statewide compared to 2013, according to the state water board.
    August was the hottest and driest month on record in California, according to the governor’s office.
    With nearly 90 percent of the state under extreme drought, last year was the second driest on record in California, and reservoirs statewide are at an average of 60 percent of capacity, according to the board.
    State officials have said water providers south of the San Joaquin River Delta might be cut off from water from the State Water Project, which collects surface water and transports it throughout the state via a system of canals and aqueducts.
  • SiteOne recently launched a new line of Lesco ride-on spreaders and sprayers for a variety of applications.
    The new Lesco 100, 200, 300 and 600 Applicator models boast an all-stainless steel frame and coated Peerless transaxle to resist corrosive granular chemicals.
    The 100 model features a low center of gravity for improved stability on sloped terrain, and the 200 can be used to apply dry or liquid materials and features a dual setting spray system with 3-foot and 10-foot settings for multiple applications. It also has a narrow width of 35.5 inches making it easy to navigate around tight spaces.
    With zero-turn drive and a variable spray system, the 300 model delivers coverage widths of 2, 4, 6 or 8 feet. Two liquid spray tanks provide a total capacity of 24 gallons for up to 2.2 acres of coverage.
    As the largest model in the lineup, the 600 model provides 20 percent more liquid and granular capacity. It offers 12-foot spray coverage, plus a pivoting front axle with a low center of gravity for improved performance on uneven terrain. 
  • By Pat Jones: I have to admit that the idea of selling pre-packaged divot mix made me scratch my head at first. After years of carefully tracking what got bought and used at golf courses, it just was not on my radar.
    But it was very much on the minds of superintendents and sports turf professionals, and Jeff Stahman knew it.
    TurfMend was born in 2017 when Stahman helped a friend with a problem.
    "Another superintendent called me and said, 'I can't get my divots to grow and I need your help.' I gave him my formulation that I'd developed over the past 15 years in the industry," Stahman said. "He called me back in a couple of days and said, 'This is amazing and maybe you should sell it.' I'd never thought about it before either. But that was the moment."
    Stahman, an Idaho native, is an experienced turf pro who has managed or worked at a half-dozen facilities around the Northwest and even at a Ritz-Carlton course in the Cayman Islands for a while. But he had always been curious about the science side of the business, and he had earned his research chops while earning a degree at Kansas State. He even ran some turf trials in New Zealand during a study abroad tour back in the day.
    Just a few years ago, Jeff was at a crossroads and was faced with a decision of whether to try and remain in the golf industry, or pivot into something else. He and his wife Amy moved to eastern Washington and he "gulped hard" and took a position with a city parks department. "It was tough to give up being a superintendent, but if I had been working at a golf course I never would have been able to build TurfMend in my spare time."
    Now, after four years of building the business from scratch, Stahman and his wife Amy (who works for a  manager of a landscape company) have reached the point where they have made a leap of faith: They quit their jobs, moved to Indiana and are now focused 100 percent on TurfMend.
    I caught up with Jeff recently while he and Amy were on their way to Oregon's Willamette Valley to discuss future strategy – to learn more about TurfMend and why it is such a good fit for more superintendents and turf pros in today's changing industry.
    PJ: Once you decided to commercialize TurfMend, what were the big challenges from the product-development side?
    JS: When you make something out in the field you don't have to worry about packaging and shelf life and such. How hard could it be, right? So, we started out with a mixture and packaging I thought would work…and it didn't. We failed over and over and over again. You fail until you get it right.
    The biggest issue was the packaging. The material didn't have enough holes to "breathe" or it had too many and would dry out. That problem alone probably should have bankrupted us but Barenbrug believed in us. James Schneider, their U.S. executive, said "If you're not failing, you're not learning." Boy did we learn a lot.
    PJ: Tell me about the products.
    JS: Our first product was a USGA-spec sand, peat moss and grass seed mix. It works exactly like it should but shipping it a long way can be expensive. So, product number two is an OMNI-listed compost, peat moss and grass seed. It's much lighter. That's been a game-changer for us.
    PJ: How do the products differ in terms of performance?
    JS: Very little, but some clubs prefer the sand-based product because they feel it's less dusty. We've had good feedback and performance-wise they both work. Some people say the compost holds moisture better and may germinate a little quicker. It's a personal preference.
    PJ: This is kind of a niche product. What has helped you get the world out?
    JS: We had two universities reach out and order out of the blue yesterday and they both found us through Twitter. Turf Twitter and social media have been really important for us. I admit I wasn't a fan of Twitter before, but Peter McCormick from TurfNet convinced me to do it. And he was right. He's been a tremendous resource for the company and for me personally.
    PJ:  So bottom line: If I am a pro turf manager who has always just mixed up my own stuff, why should I buy this instead?
    JS: First, it's a consistent formulation. Second, we use Barenbrug, Jacklin and Tee-to-Green varieties so we have access to the best seed around. Finally, it's a massive time saver because you don't have to mix it. You cut open a bag and you're good to go.
    Most often in golf, it's being used to fill divot bottles in the cart barn. The cart attendants just open a bag and refill the bottles. Even if you have a divot crew, there's no guesswork anymore. It's all done for you and it's going to be the right seed.
    One obvious problem we see a lot with homemade mixes is contamination from the wrong seed getting used. Ours are clearly labeled so any member of the crew can pick a bentgrass mix for bent areas and a ryegrass mix for rye areas or whatever. It's ready to go and it's always going to be right.
    PJ: Who else is using TurfMend besides golf course superintendents?
    JS: Professional landscapers, property management companies, colleges/universities, school districts, municipalities, and sports fields managers. In addition, homeowners make up a large portion of our customers as well. They are using our smaller 8 pound bags to fix dog spots in their yards and fill bare spots.
    PJ: How do landscapers use it?
    JS: Lawn care operators often tear up a little turf with their tires, so they'll keep a bag of TurfMend in the trailer and throw some down.  Any place they need a quick fix. Also repairs for dog spots is huge. We found the compost version fixes urine damage very quickly because it neutralizes the pH of the soil.

    PJ: Ball field managers are also digging it.
    JS: When I was in golf, I was hopelessly ignorant of sports field management and how complex it is. Baseball parks, soccer complexes, high school football stadiums. They are amazing with small crews and no budgets but they love TurfMend.
    I've learned a lot from seeing how even a single-A head groundskeeper with a really modest budget finds value in TurfMend. For example, they can apply it anywhere, accurately, with a drop spreader because it's so dry, so they can put it around home plate, the mound or anyplace where there's wear and tear.
    PJ: How important is it that you can provide a seed variety that matches what they have?
    JS: It's very important, particularly with bent. Again, Barenbrug has been great about allowing us to work with their different varieties and their Yellowjacket seed coating really stands out. It's a great technology that helps with germination and prevents melting out and pythium during the summer, especially in the Midwest and east coast.
    PJ: What is the usual response when people hear about TurfMend the first time?
    JS: Obviously, some people still say they prefer to do it themselves. But more and more understand the value of having a consistent blend with their bentgrass. Or they just can't justify the labor cost of mixing it anymore.
    PJ: You and Amy just quit your jobs and moved 2,000 miles to commit full-time to this business. What makes you confident enough in TurfMend to do that?
    JS: We have seen exponential growth in 2021. Big-name customers are reaching out to us due to word of mouth and we are at the point where the company can no longer be managed as a side gig. We decided it was time to either commit 100 percent to this or simply give up on our dream. It was an easy decision really: we're not giving up, we're going all in. 
    PJ: How do you hope this will develop and what it will mean for superintendents and other turf pros?
    JS: I also think supers are starting to realize the value of something they can throw in the cart barn, particularly when you consider the cost of labor and the desire for consistency. More of them are doing the math and figuring out we're more than worth it.
    It's Twitter and word of mouth. There's a buzz and I feel like people a realizing we're onto something here. We're also getting some attention from good turf distributors who realize it's a smart thing to recommend to customers who are choosy about their bentgrass varieties.
    PJ: So, final thoughts . . . why try TurfMend?
    JS: We're made in America. We have great seed partners on our team. I'm a former golf course superintendent who's taking a leap of faith and starting a family-owned business. And we're genuinely passionate about the value of TurfMend. Give us a try."
  • Anyone who listened in on Craig Kessler's TurfNet webinar on government relations heard about the next issue coming down the line from a government agency that could have an effect on the golf industry.
    On Saturday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law Assembly Bill 1346 that orders the ban on the sale of new gasoline-powered equipment under 25 horsepower. The new law, which requires all lawn equipment to be zero-emission, includes all small off-road engines that power generators and lawn equipment such as mowers, blowers, chainsaws and pressure washers.
    The California Air Resources Board has begun working on a rule to implement the ban as early as 2024. Gas-powered generators must be zero-emission by 2028.
    AB 1346 was authored by Assemblyman Marc Berman, who represents California's 24th district that includes parts of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties and much of Silicon Valley. 
    Proponents of the bill say it will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the country's largest state. According to the bill's author, there are 16.7 million small engine-powered tools in California. 
    Others say using zero-emission equipment is cost-prohibitive. The National Association of Landscape Professionals, said the zero-emission commercial-grade equipment landscapers use currently is prohibitively expensive and less efficient than the existing gas-powered lawn mowers, leaf blowers and other small machinery, costing at least twice as much. The association also said, for example, a three-person crew will need to carry 30 to 40 fully charged batteries to power its equipment during a full day's work.
    The state has set aside $30 million in the current budget to fund a rebate program to entice users to exchange their existing gas-powered equipment for battery or plug-in replacements.
  • Allentown Municipal Golf Course in Pennsylvania. Photo by Chris Reverie If a song title were used to define the work schedule of golf course superintendent for the past 19 months, a Beatles classic like Eight Days a Week, or Hard Day's Night, might be appropriate.
    "My job was always 24-7 before Covid," said Anthony Williams, CGCS at the TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. "Now, it seems like it's 25-8."
    From record play, Covid and quarantines, unparalleled labor challenges, inflation, supply chain issues and golfer demands that conflict with all of the above had made the past year-and-a-half a series of hurdles worthy of an Olympic performance.
    Supply chain issues have plagued many industries (drive past a new-car lot sometime), and golf is not immune. A shortage of parts, components and microprocessors, not to mention increased cost of fuel have made getting resources from A to B harder for just about everything and everyone. That includes grass seed, which is famously in short supply.
    When Chris Reverie, superintendent at municipal Allentown Golf Course in Pennsylvania, looked into buying seed this year, he figured it would be more expensive than the $1 per pound or so he was accustomed to paying in the past. What he was not ready for was a price that was up exponentially, from a final cost of about $2,000 to $7,000.
    "I thought 'Holy cow! That's not possible,' " Reverie said. 
    "The shortage of seed is affecting everyone."
    Difficulty in acquiring parts and components is just as difficult.
    Reverie still is awaiting delivery on a new utility vehicle.
    "We ordered it in November," he said. "And it's still not here."
    All around the country the stories are similar, only the names have changed.
    "Equipment manufacturers are dependent on the supply chain even when it is working perfectly," said Steve Agin, superintendent at Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, California. "Now, when you don't have two or three components, they can't finish manufacturing something. Some equipment we ordered in the third quarter won't be here until May."
    It is not all bad news. Many golf courses are seeing record amounts of play, including Ruby Hill, located about 40 miles east of Oakland.
    Agin found unexpected help throughout the summer when he hired high school students who balked at an eight-hour schedule, but were able to work five hours a day doing detail work that would otherwise go unfinished.
    "Five years ago, you'd stomp your feet, and that's for you; but now I need you, so I have to make it fit," Agin said.
    "We're all in the same boat. You have to be flexible. Those who are not are going to have a hard time."
    Arcis, the company that manages Ruby Hill, is reinvesting in many of the better-performing properties in its portfolio.
    "We had a good year for golf, and now weddings are back up and running. We've had good growth in membership, as well," Agin said.
    "Their approach, in properties where it makes sense, is to invest to make the golf course better."
    In the Dallas area, where play is at a fever pitch at the Four Seasons, Williams is feeling the pressure to make sure conditions match demand at the property's resort and member courses, even if he does not always have the help he needs.

    Ruby Hill Golf Club in Pleasanton, California.   "The labor issue is as crazy as I've ever seen it," said Williams, who has been a superintendent for more than 30 years. "The labor pool that was already small is almost dried up. There are a lot of people in the (Dallas-Fort Worth) Metroplex, but not a lot of them want to come to work at 4:30 in the morning. You have to pay $16 to $18 for entry folks, or you're not going to have any entry folks. And then, you have to raise up your experienced workers.
    "We're doing budgets now for next year. The price of everything is going up. You can't find parts, so when a mower goes down and you need a specific part, you can place an order, but they can't give you a guarantee when you'll get it."
    When ordering fertilizer, Williams said some sales reps can only guarantee bids up to 14 days out, because of fluctuations in price.
    "Before, you just tried to get the best deal. Now, you're trying to forecast," Williams said. "In six months, who knows what the cost and availability will be like. It's unprecedented."
    Golfers are not much interested in labor shortages, or problems associated with availability of parts. They want a great golf course.
    Williams recently achieved the title of master greenkeeper through the British and International Golf Greenkeeping Association, in part to satisfy his quest to make himself the go-to expert at the Four Seasons. 
    "Business is good. We're doing a zillion rounds, but how do you keep the course in excellent condition with all this play?" Williams asked. "There is more work than ever, and way less labor available, but the expectations are the same.
    "You have to present yourself as the expert, and qualify yourself as the voice for whatever is necessary. Just when you think you've seen it all, something new comes along that you never envisioned would happen."

    TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas in Irving, Texas. He also established an organic garden near the clubhouse that has been a hit with members. He even has gone so far as to organize a garden party for members.
    "We are golf people working for a hotel," he said. "You have to show expertise and criticality. Where guys get into trouble is when they think too small. Never compromise the vision. Adjust, but show progress - even in crazy times. If you do that, you're going to stand out. You have to get off the mower and preach this story every way you can."
    As a consultant at his own Aspire Golf, Tim Moraghan visits a lot of golf courses. He also meets with many members and green committees. He works to educate those from the administrative side of the operation just how challenging course maintenance is in times of record play and record labor shortages, including why three people on a maintenance team cannot maintain by hand more than a dozen acres of bunkers each day.
    He suggests superintendents use hard numbers, not vague terminology, during the budgeting process.
    "Everyone needs more money for staff, but clubs don't want to pay for that," Moraghan said. "If you're not going to pay for it, then what do you want, and what can you give up.
    "One thing I learned from the best guys in the business was to know your numbers. Know how long something takes, know the cost per ounce, the cost per gallon, how much everything costs, because they understand numbers."
    When the pandemic struck it exposed the cracks and imperfections in every industry, not just golf. For example, some suggest the semiconductor industry, which has brought many associated markets to their knees, is not expected to ramp back up to pre-covid production levels until 2023. Many in golf believed that 2021 would be the year to rebound out of Covid. The reality is no one know when issues affecting golf, such as labor, supply chain will, if ever, rebound.
    "Everybody is battle weary," Williams said. "We thought 2021 would be the rebound year, but it was really just an extension of 2020. Now it looks like 2022 is going to be the crucible, where all this stuff is going to come home to roost, where the stress is going to max out, and where the financial piece is going to start dropping. We thought we were in a marathon, but now it looks like we are in an ultra marathon."
    And what about that 25-8 schedule?
    "We have to be better than ever," Williams said. "As an agronomist, I'm excited for the challenge. As someone with a wife and a family, I'm not sure how I'm going to make that work."
    First in a multi-part series
  • Bayer won its first court decision amid a seemingly endless trail of allegations that its non-selective herbicide Roundup is to blame for causing cancer in thousands of litigants.
    In a decision that left both sides claiming victory, a Los Angeles jury ruled against plaintiff Destiny Clark, who claimed that Roundup was to blame for the Burkitt's lymphoma that killed her son, Ezra, attorneys said Oct. 5. According to court documents, Ezra Clark was 4 years old when he was diagnosed in 2016 with Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
    Destiny Clark said her son often accompanied her when she applied Roundup to the family residence. She sued Bayer for failing to adequately warn her of the cancer risks of using glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup.
    Roundup has been blamed for causing non-Hodgkins lymphoma in thousands of people since Bayer bought Roundup's maker, Monsanto, in 2018 for $63 million.
    "While we have great sympathy for Ezra Clark and his family, the jury carefully considered the science applicable to this case and determined that Roundup was not the cause of his illness," Bayer said in a statement.
    An attorney for Clark said they will consider an appeal.
    "We're disappointed for the boy and his family," Fletcher Trammel, an attorney for the defense said in published reports. "We have multiple Roundup cases set across the country over the next year and look forward to trying them."
    In 2020, Bayer settled more than 100,000 of those cases for $11 billion, and set aside another $4.5 billion for potential future settlements, that currently count in excess of 30,000 additional claims. So far, four trials have been decided by jury. The Clark case is the first to be decided in Bayer's favor. According to Bayer, about 90 percent of all lawsuits originated in the consumer market.
    Bayer won its first court decision amid a seemingly endless trail of allegations that its non-selective herbicide Roundup is to blame for causing cancer in thousands of litigants.
    In a decision that left both sides claiming victory, a Los Angeles jury ruled against plaintiff Destiny Clark, who claimed that Roundup was to blame for the Burkitt's lymphoma that killed her son, Ezra, attorneys said Oct. 5. According to court documents, Ezra Clark was 4 years old when he was diagnosed in 2016 with Burkitt's lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
    Destiny Clark said her son often accompanied her when she applied Roundup to the family residence. She sued Bayer for failing to adequately warn her of the cancer risks of using glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup.
    Roundup has been blamed for causing non-Hodgkins lymphoma in thousands of people since Bayer bought Roundup's maker, Monsanto, in 2018 for $63 million.
    "While we have great sympathy for Ezra Clark and his family, the jury carefully considered the science applicable to this case and determined that Roundup was not the cause of his illness," Bayer said in a statement.
    An attorney for Clark said they will consider an appeal.
    "We're disappointed for the boy and his family," Fletcher Trammel, an attorney for the defense said in published reports. "We have multiple Roundup cases set across the country over the next year and look forward to trying them."
    In 2020, Bayer settled more than 100,000 of those cases for $11 billion, and set aside another $4.5 billion for potential future settlements, that currently count in excess of 30,000 additional claims. So far, four trials have been decided by jury. The Clark case is the first to be decided in Bayer's favor. According to Bayer, about 90 percent of all lawsuits originated in the consumer market.
  • The event formerly known as the Golf Industry Show went virtual out of necessity in 2021. Even if next year's version of what is now called the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show returns in-person, the virtual side is here to stay.
    GCSAA chief operating officer Bob Randquist, CGCS, said this year's virtual show filled a longstanding void of bringing education and information to golf course superintendents who for one reason or another have been unable to attend the show. Offering a virtual experience next year and beyond is more about filling that need for members than it is a response to a global pandemic.
    "One thing we talked about over the years is how to best serve our members who cannot afford to attend for a variety of reasons, such as cost reasons, commitment reasons," Randquist said. "A virtual show affords the opportunity to do that."
    The 2021 GIS that was scheduled for Las Vegas was canceled because of the pandemic. A virtual show was held in its place Feb. 2-4 with the platform open to visitors until March 6. The event attracted about 9,500 attendees, and from that group, there were nearly 47,000 views of 88 educational sessions. Although transitioning to a virtual-only format in 2021 was a necessity, an in-person show is the preference of the GCSAA and its members.
    "We were pleased with the (virtual) show," Randquist said. 
    "Our conference surveys showed that our members were pleased with the show, but it also indicated a strong preference for a physical show."
    The survey says attendees also want a shorter show.
    Next year's show is scheduled for Feb. 5-10 in San Diego. Although that includes a full five days of events, the trade show will cover just two days (Wednesday and Thursday) and will be preceded by a two-hour kickoff on Tuesday. 
    "We have talked about, prior to Covid, how to compress the show, so people don't have to be there as long," Randquist said. "The challenge is how to squeeze it all into three days. The trade show floor will be open Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. We expect people to get in, meet people and get down to serious business the next two days."
    In the event a physical show goes off as planned, there will still be a virtual component, but it will not be held on the same schedule as the live event. A secondary virtual show would be held over a 32-hour period Feb. 23-24, and the education will differ from that offered in the live conference.

    Anthony Williams, CGCS, John Cunningham, CGCS, and Carlos Arraya, CGCS, at the last live Golf Industry in 2020  in Orlando. Photos by John Reiitman "It will be a good balance for superintendents, assistants, equipment managers and others who don't have the ability to go to a physical show," Randquist said. "The extended on-demand viewing that was available during the virtual show was one of the more popular aspects. A virtual show (next year) will have a period of on-demand viewing for people to consume."
    And although the GCSAA is planning for an in-person show, nothing is certain. The severity of the spread of Covid cases is on the decline in California, but a lot can change between now and February. If Covid conditions in California were to worsen, another all-virtual event could be on tap again.
    "Obviously, we are monitoring that closely," Randquist said. "We are staying in touch with convention center staff in San Diego."
    Current protocols in place by the California Department of Public Health require proof of a Covid-19 vaccination, or a negative Covid test within 72 hours for all indoor events of 1,000 people or more. The department will revisit those protocols Nov. 1. 
    Reports of new Covid cases in California have been steadily dropping for four weeks. That is a statistic the GCSAA is monitoring closely. Randquist said the GCSAA is waiting until Nov. 1 before announcing any further information on a live show, including whether the association is prepared to tell members they must be vaccinated or show proof of a negative test to enter their own education conference and trade show.
    "Those discussions are still going on within our board. I wish I had an answer, but those questions are part of our contingency plans," Randquist said. "We have regular board video conferences, and those discussions will occur soon. It is on our schedule, but we have not staked out a position on that at this point."
    Even if the California Department of Public Health does not ratchet down protocols for dealing with the pandemic, requiring a vaccine or negative test might not be a moot point by February. 
    On Sept. 29, U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-California) introduced the U.S. Air Travel Public Safety Act, that if passed into law also would require all passengers on domestic airline flights to either be fully vaccinated, have recently tested negative for Covid-19 or have fully recovered from the virus.
    In the event Covid conditions worsen, another all-virtual event could be in the offing.
    "Yes, we are talking about contingency plans," Randquist said. "If the pandemic were to worsen, or the California Department of Health edicts become more severe, we could go all-virtual. We don't plan on that based on what we are hearing, but we would be foolish not to plan for that."
    A wholesale move of the physical show is not part of any contingency plan.
    "No, the logistics are impossible. That is not part of any consideration we have," Randquist said. "It's not feasible. It is impossible to find a place large enough that is available. Those places already are booked up."
  • Glenwood Golf Club, the oldest public course in Richmond, Virginia, will be converted into a 290-home development. The message has been loud and clear for quite some time: Golf courses are mere playgrounds for the well-to-do, and the public would be better served if the land on which they are located would be repurposed for the greater good. High-density and affordable housing, green space and commercial real estate often are solutions to golf course acreage that are thrown about.
    From 2006 through 2020, 2,162 golf courses closed nationwide (624 opened or reopened). After nearly a century of service to golfers in Richmond, Virginia, Glenwood Golf Club is the next 18-hole property facing closure. After a redevelopment plan was approved by county officials, Glenwood will be converted to a nearly 300-home residential community with public green space. But it is likely not the kind of transformation that will satisfy many of the game's vocal detractors.
    Open since 1927, Glenwood is the oldest public golf course in Richmond. With prime tee times going for $30-$40, it hardly is a retreat for Richmond's well-heeled residents. Eventually, however, it will house some of them. 
    The Glenwood story conflicts with the recent trend of public outcry to transform recreational venues for the elite into park space and real estate for use by common folk. Glenwood has weekend morning green fees of $29 for walkers, or $41 with a cart. According to plans submitted to the Henrico County Planning Commission, the project will have 290 single-family homes priced between $300,000 and $400,000. 
    Godsey Properties originally submitted plans in February to Henrico County commissioners to buy the property from owners Harry Griffin and Frank Adams and convert Glenwood into a 320-home development. The initial plan was rejected by the commission, which eventually approved a revised proposal in July that included just 290 homes and lot zoning changes. 
    The owners bought the property in 1996 for $4.5 million. The land today is assessed by the county for a value of $1.32. Godsey Properties has agreed to buy the parcel for $3.5 million, according to published reports.
    The plan also includes preserving existing trees, walking trails, a park and playground, two pavilions and retaining existing ponds. A stream that runs through the golf course will separate two phases of the project.
    The developer anticipates the project will be completed in 2027.
  • Between issues related to water-use and restrictions, BMPs and pesticides, employee and guest safety as it relates to a global pandemic, labor and wages, guest workers, wetlands management, zoning, and positive and negative PR related to sustainability issues, there are countless opportunities for golf course superintendents to practice government relations work.
    On Oct. 4, Craig Kessler (right above) and Kevin Fitzgerald (right below), director and assistant director of governmental affairs, respectively, for the Southern California Golf Association, will present a free TurfNet University Webinar titled The importance of government relations and advocacy in golf.
    CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
    In this Webinar, Kessler and Fitzgerald will discuss the many opportunities golf course superintendents have to practice government relations and why doing so is important. This and all TurfNet University Webinars are sponsored by Brandt.
    A former attorney, Kessler has spent the past 11 years as the director of government affairs for the SCGA and before that he was the executive director of the Public Links Golf Association of Southern California. That background adds up to many years of experience working on labor issues and public affairs, including nearly a quarter century of government relations and advocacy on behalf of golf. Kessler is especially passionate about defending the merits of municipal golf.
    Kessler's background includes experience as a USGA committeeman, chairman of the Los Angeles Golf Advisory Commission, member of the Ventura Golf Advisory Group, member of the Los Angeles County Junior Golf Foundation Board of Directors and the First Tee of Los Angeles advisory committee. He has worked closely and regularly with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, one of the country's largest utility providers, on establishing water use regulations.
    All TurfNet University live Webinars and archived recordings are free for everyone.
  • John Steiner, left, accepts the Minnesota GCSA Distinguished Service Award from chapter president Scott Thayer. Photo by Jack MacKenzie via Twitter Customer service, continuing education, staying up to date with current practices and methods, a strong code of ethics and displaying a passion for science. Those are just a handful of the traits that have helped John Steiner, CGCS, accomplish what few in this business have - on-the-job security at the same location for parts of seven decades.
    Steiner, 69, has worked at White Bear Golf Course in Dellwood, Minnesota every year but once since 1967, including as a caddie, member of the crew, assistant superintendent and finally as head superintendent for the past 42 years. The only interruption in his service at White Bear came when he spent the summer of 1969 working for his uncle Jimmy Hines on the crew at the former Desert Air Golf Course in Palm Desert, California.
    "I've just always tried to give golfers what they want, and that is the best possible product that I can produce. I try to be receptive to the things they want," Steiner said. "I've also always tried to be trustworthy. That has gone a long way. I've always had a good rapport with a lot of the members. When you love what you do, it's pretty easy."
    Steiner recently was the recipient of the Minnesota GCSA Chapter's Distinguished Service Award. 
    During Steiner's 54 years at White Bear, a 1915 Donald Ross design, much has changed in the turf business, namely the ever-changing demands of golfers, the problems that arise as mowing heights go down and the equipment and products they use to manage the turf.
    "It has become a lot harder as the years go on," Steiner said. "And it seems to keep getting harder as golfer demands go up."
    In the 1970s, Steiner was mowing roughs with a five-gang unit and fairways with a seven-gang Toro Parkmaster.
    "The changes in equipment and irrigation have been the biggest changes," Steiner said. "I've seen a lot of change over the years."
    Being a successful superintendent . . . for more than 40 years . . . at the same place . . . requires relying on science. In Steiner's case, it means much more.
    Steiner keeps up with current technology and management practices through continuing education, networking, seminars and even trusted sales reps.
    When faced with an unknown disease that threatens to wipe out wide areas of turf, most golf course superintendents are pretty content to carve out a sample and send it off to an expert for analysis.
    The key word is "most."

    Since Steiner graduated from Minnesota in 1976 and became superintendent at White Bear in 1979, he has spent a significant amount of time peering at slides through a microscope, attempting to diagnose one of those diseases that nag at greenkeepers.
    "I did it simply because I wanted to," Steiner said. "I wanted to be good at it, and I didn't want to be dependent on someone else for the information."
    To many of his colleagues, he is known as Dr. Steiner.
    Many of those same colleagues have used him as their turfgrass pathologist - helping to diagnose diseases on the golf course.
    "I've chatted with a number of people about things over the years," Steiner said. "There are people who called and bring things over, turf samples with disease on them."
    He places the samples in a plastic bag to hold in moisture then stores them overnight in the service bay at the golf course to keep them out of air-conditioning. He usually has plenty of material for the microscope by the following day.
    "I think one of the most outstanding attributes that makes John deserving of this (MGCSA Distinguished Service) award is the respect he has among his peers," former White Bear Yacht Club general manager Linda Carroll said recently in Hole Notes, the publication of the MGCSA. 
    Steiner credits Carroll and current White Bear GM Chris Nathlich for supporting him throughout his career and late University of Minnesota turfgrass science professor Don White, Ph.D., for mentoring him early in his career and helping grow his love for science. 
    Although looking at living organisms that attack and kill turf might seem like work, it is a labor of love for Steiner.
    "The thing with pathology is I just always loved it. I studied forestry pathology and plant pathology, and I love looking through a microscope at disease," Steiner said. "I've learned a lot about mushrooms, and mycology is a major passion of mine. Fungi and bacteria are the causes of most plant diseases. I've spent a lot of time grabbing everything I could find and looking at it through a microscope."
  • Yale Golf Course, routinely ranked among the country's top campus layouts, will get a facelift, courtesy of golf course architect Gil Hanse. The intent is to restore the course to its original design that was created by Seth Raynor and Charles Blair Macdonald.
    Yale would not comment on the cost or timetable with the project, but it is believed to carry a price tag of about $25 million, according to The New Haven Register. That includes $15 million for the renovation and $10 million for maintenance endowment, according to the newspaper.
    The past year-and-a-half-plus has been tough at Yale Golf Course. The No. 1 campus golf course in the Golfweek's Best list, Yale was closed in March 2020, but a small crew was kept on to maintain the course and complete projects. 
    The course opened briefly in the fall of 2020 the finally reopened this year in April.
    The Register said Yale settled on Hanse because of his experience restoring Macdonald and Raynor layouts.
    Although the timeline for the project has not been made public, Yale is poised to host an NCAA Division I regional next May.
    When Yale reopens, it will do so as a daily fee.
  • Target Specialty Products recently launched Turf Fuel Infinite, a low use rate soil surfactant that includes multiple ingredients formulated to provide consistent soil moisture throughout the profile, promote better stress management and faster recovery. 
    Turf Fuel Infinite, which contains two chemistries called DiuTuron and Templar, is safe for use on cool- and warm-season turf from tee to green.
    DiuTuron is a patent-pending polymer technology that Target says improves the residual effectiveness of the product in the soil. Templar reduces heat and drought stress by enhancing the plant's natural defense mechanisms, the company says. 

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