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From the TurfNet NewsDesk

  • John Reitman
    Artificial Intelligence is rapidly creeping into almost every corner of the economy. Many industries lacking sufficient labor could benefit from machines that eventually can do the jobs of people. That certainly would be good news to many, including in the golf industry.
    There also are concerns with AI, and that the prospect of increased efficiency and the allure of bloated bottom lines in free market economies could result in decision makers siding with profit over people..
    In recent months, AI has been the target of Hollywood celebrities and recording artists claiming their work has been pirated without consent, and we've seen it in driverless cars. Just how AI will affect global employment markets and economies is not yet clear, but what is known is that machines that can do the jobs of people is a technology that is growing rapidly and will only move ahead faster
    According to a report by Goldman Sachs, AI could eventually shift as many as 300 million jobs to automation. Conversely, AI continues to create jobs, particularly in the tech sector.
    Golf turf maintenance is a business that in recent years has struggled to attract and retain staff and can potentially benefit immensely from AI. To that end, robotic mowers are slowly making their way into the market after first bursting onto the scene at the GCSAA conference in 2009 in New Orleans.
    Although robotic mowers on greens have been, to say the least, slow to catch on, they are making inroads more rapidly in other capacities, including out-of-play and common areas. And they are showing up at classic-era golf courses, like East Lake in Atlanta, and the Meadow Club near San Francisco. 
    The growing popularity of robotic mowers was readily evident at last year's Equipment Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky, where numerous manufacturers displayed their wares. There promises to be several robotic mower manufacturers, including Kress, Husqvarna, Toro and many others, exhibiting at the upcoming GCSAA conference in Phoenix.
    Longtime superintendent-turned consultant Matt Shaffer recently said he believes the labor situation in golf is at a near-catastrophic level and as such says AI could make deep inroads in golf in the next several years.
    The labor model constructed over the past several decades now is sustainable, he says.
    "Golf has gotten too specialized. When I first came up, most places didn't have all these assistants,” Shaffer said. "Now, everyone has two assistants, a spray tech, an irrigation tech and two mechanics. 
    "This has to change. The reality is this has to go robotic. There's no doubt about it.”
    There are other areas where savings can be realized, and some of that already is occurring.
    Frank Rossi, Ph.D., professor at Cornell University, believes AI will have more of an influence on how turf professionals work rather than replace them.
    "Long range, ultimately because of technology there might be some aspects of the job that require less labor,” Rossi said. "My gut is that won't be more than one-third of the workforce.”
    Those numbers lag just a bit behind economists' estimates that predict AI will affect as much as 40 percent of the overall global workforce by 2030.
    Among the areas where Rossi believes AI can best serve golf is in irrigation and helping turf managers develop spray programs.
    "Irrigation technology is likely the first place to start,” Rossi said. "That is at least as far as superintendents will let technology calculate their water needs.”
    There already are programs available, like Greenkeeper and Syngenta's ChatGTP, to help turf managers develop spray programs. 
    Such platforms will only increase in performance and efficiency over time as technology improves and more data are collected from more users.
    "It's all about interpreting what the machine puts out,” Rossi said. "I am seeing some research now that because more people are putting dumb (expletive) on the Internet, AI is getting dumber, not smarter.”
    As advancements continue over time, so will adoption of AI technology by superintendents.
    "We need a generational shift to occur,” says Rossi. "There are too many people too uncomfortable with how technology has become part of their day-to-day lives. Once digital natives, those who grew up on this stuff, come into leadership positions, you'll see that it will happen really quickly.”
     
  • Velocity PM is registered for control of Poa annua, Poa trivialis and many broadleaf weeds.
    Golf course superintendents will get a chance to take their first look at the newest tool from Nufarm to manage Poa annua at the upcoming GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix.
    With the active ingredient bispyribac sodium, Velocity PM is a Poa transition tool for both postemergence control and seedhead suppression to support a transition program that is speedy, gradual or anywhere in between.
    Velocity PM has also been shown to substantially suppress the development and severity of dollar spot for up to several weeks following application.
    Velocity PM is registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for selective management of Poa annua, Poa trivialis and a host of broadleaf weeds in creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, dormant Bermudagrass and dormant Bermudagrass overseeded with perennial ryegrass on golf courses, sod farms and athletic fields.
    It also is labeled for use to control of common chickweed, sticky chickweed, white clover, large clover, hop clover, dandelion, henbit, lawn burweed, parsley-piert, plantain, broadleaf plantain, buckhorn plantain, swinecress, yellow nutsedge and yellow woodsorrel.
  • The Blitz stand-on blower (above) comes in two models with 26hp and 40hp gasoline powered engines. Among the blower's features is a high-performance suspension system (below right). For those who want maximum speed and efficiency when clearing leaves, sticks, clippings and more, Buffalo Turbine recently launched the Blitz stand-on debris blower. It is the industry's first stand-on blower, the company says.
    Key to the efficiency of the Blitz is the power of the integrated turbine blower. The Blitz is offered in two models: The Blitz BT-SB26 is outfitted with a 26hp EFI gas engine and the Blitz BT-SB40 is powered by a 40hp EFI gas engine.
    According to Buffalo Turbine, the Blitz stand-on models are 20% faster than the company's tow-behind units.
    Speed and operator comfort were the prime factors behind design of the Blitz, which has 360-degree rotation, nozzle control at speed and zero turn capabilities.
    The Blitz also is built with high-performance independent suspension, contoured lean pad and adjustable shock stand platform to help reduce operator fatigue. High strength LED headlamps allow for pre-dawn and evening convenience.
    The Blitz, which weighs in at 800 pounds, measures 95 inches in length and 48 inches with a height of 50 inches. 
  • Scott Bordner is on a mission to solve the labor crisis facing the golf industry, even if it takes being a little misleading to get help from his colleagues.
    The director of agronomy at the Union League of Philadelphia, Bordner (at right) is one of several involved in the Super Scratch Foundation. That is the non-profit organization that teams superintendents with top amateurs in high-profile amateur golf tournaments to raise money to fund scholarships for aspiring turf students. Much of the funding so far has come directly from clubs in the Philadelphia area and has benefitted students at Delaware Valley, Penn State and Rutgers. 
    Bordner and others want to take the program nationwide to help wannabe superintendents and golf courses on a wider scale. But expanding the reach of the Super Scratch Foundation requires buy-in from superintendents, club members and vendors far outside southeastern Pennsylvania.
    In an attempt to reach out, Bordner recently sent an email to nearly 80 colleagues under the heading "Job Openings." However, the contents of the email included an attachment about the work of the Super Scratch Foundation and a plea for input on how to expand the program.
    "I had to say it was about labor. That way, I knew everyone would open it," Bordner said. "If I'd said Super Scratch, nobody would have opened it."
    He received immediate input from a few recipients, but not as many as he had hoped to.
    "About 10 to 15 responded right away. I have pages of information," Bordner said. "I'm going to resend it to everyone who didn't open it."
    On that short list of 10 or so was Matt Shaffer. Now a consultant, Shaffer spent parts of five decades managing turf on some of the country's best golf courses including 15 years at Merion Golf Club near Philadelphia.
    Although he no longer is a boots-on-the-ground superintendent, Shaffer remains connected to the industry and is eager to help.
    "This could become catastrophic if nobody comes into this space," Shaffer said. "I've told guys, 'you better get ready to manage three or four clubs in the future.'
    "A.I. eventually will be able to do a lot of the jobs on a golf course. The obvious place where it will be beneficial is mowing. When that happens, one sharp superintendent will be able to manage three or four clubs. That's where golf is going."

    The purpose of the Super Scratch Foundation is to provide scholarship assistance for turf students, like this group from Rutgers. Rutgers University photo Bordner's goal is to get as many of his colleagues as possible to approach their clubs about helping fund the foundation, and not just for the future of their own facility, but for the overall health of the game.
    "Reaching a private club is one thing. But what about that high school kid working on a muni course who has no idea what the Super Scratch Foundation is?" Bordner said. "How do we get to that kid and support him and help him pay for college?
    "We need our voice to be louder."
    He is hoping there are enough superintendents and interested club members out there who know people with a louder megaphone and who can help spread the word of the foundation and its goals.
    Shaffer (right) has accumulated many such contacts throughout his career.
    "I forwarded that email to all sorts of different people," Shaffer said. "I keep telling (non-superintendents) if you don't have anyone taking care of the golf course this is all going to go down the tubes. What's going to happen if there is no one to take care of the golf course? It's in everyone's best interest to help. Scott's doing the heavy lifting. I'm just opening doors."
    Bordner is in the right position to take on the challenge, says Shaffer.
    "Scott is in a prestigious job, and a job like that gives you a lot of leverage," Shaffer said.
    It also means you have to do what you can to promote the profession, Shaffer said. Besides helping spearhead the Super Scratch effort, Bordner is scheduled to teach a couple of environmental science workshops this year at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.
    "When it comes to promoting the industry, Scott's doing that," Shaffer said.
    "I always told my guys if you get a job like that and don't do anything to help the industry, don't say you know me, because I'll disown you."
  • Rounds played were up 3 percent through the first 11 months of 2023. By the looks of things, 2023 will have been another banner year for golf when Jim Koppenhaver and Stuart Lindsay give their annual State of the Industry report on Jan. 25 from the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.
    Rounds played for the year were up 3.6 percent through the first 11 months of 2023 according to the November edition of the Golf Datatech Monthly Rounds Played Report. That figure includes a 4 percent increase in play on daily fee facilities. Rounds played in November were up 8 percent compared with the same month in 2022.
    For the month, rounds were up by 2 percent or more in 37 states. Play was down in Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont. Play was roughly flat in both Alabama and Illinois.
    The biggest gains for the year, according to Golf Datatech, have been in New Mexico, where play was up 18 percent through the first 11 months of 2023, Delaware and Maryland (up 11 percent) and Ohio, where play was up 10 percent through November, despite the dip in play for the month.
    According to the annual report by Koppenhaver of Pellucid Corp. and Lindsay of Edgehill Golf Advisors, rounds played were up by 14 percent in 2020 and 5 percent in 2021. Although rounds were down slightly in 2022 (about 2 percent), they were up 2 percent vs. the weather while also gaining more than 300,000 additional players.
    Along with that growth has been a downward trend in the age of those taking up the game - a good sign for long-term growth. According to Koppenhaver and Lindsay, 80 percent of new golfers entering the game since Covid are under age 45 and half are under 35, with the average age of a new golfer being 36. The median age of female golfers, who comprise a little more than a quarter of all players, is down from 48 in 2015 to 37.
    According to Koppenhaver's Pellucid Corp. golf playable hours, a function of the number of hours in a day in which golf can be played, accounting for daylight hours and conditions such as temperature, wind and precipitation, was up by 42 percent in December. How that affected year-end data will be revealed on Jan. 25.
  • The latest offering from FuelPro Trailers can help tackle the largest of jobs. FuelPro photo For turfgrass managers who need to refuel vehicles on the fly, FuelPro Trailers introduced its FuelPro 990 trailer.
    The 990 is DOT compliant, and with a 900-gallon capacity, along with storage for tools, it allows users to refuel and service equipment on site more efficiently.
    Based in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, FuelPro is a division of NJF Manufacturing and has been a manufacturer of fuel trailers of varying sizes since 2011.
    The 990’s chassis is constructed from 6-inch, C channel steel. The tank is made from 7-gauge steel that is double welded to maximize durability.
    Each tank is built with internal fuel surge baffles and cross bracing for safety in transport and comes with a five-year warranty. Each also is built using two torsion axles with easy-to-lube hubs, electric drum brakes.
    Other safety and functional features of the tank include a fuel shutoff valve, lockable vented fill cap, tank pressure relief vent and an at-a-glance fuel gauge. A self-priming pump rated up to 25 gallons per minute is standard and runs on a deep cycle 12-volt marine battery. Fuel delivery system includes a 1-inch hose with auto-trip nozzle. That hose is available in lengths of 18, 30 or 50 feet and comes with an auto-retracting reel.
  • The decision of Suncoast Golf Center's owner to convert all nine greens to artificial turf was the most-read story on TurfNet in 2023. Suncoast Golf Center photo A new year brings renewed hope for better times ahead. It also is a time to reflect on the happenings of the previous 12 months.
    The past year brought significant change to the golf industry. Such changes include technological advancements designed to make turf management easier and more efficient. The year also was marked by sustained popularity of the game in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
    Much of what has occurred in the past year has been chronicled on TurfNet, which has listed the top 10 most read stories of 2023. Click on the headlines to read more.
    No. 10: Troon acquires Invited Clubs' third-party management business
    Troon, the world's largest golf course management company, expanded its book to more than 750 courses when it acquired  Applied Golf, which managed 13 courses in Florida, New Jersey and New York, and 18 contracts of managed courses from Invited Clubs (formerly Club Corp).
    No. 9: Owners find unique solution for struggling golf course
    The owners of a troubled executive course on Long Island that closed in 2020 threw caution to the wind when they converted the property to a nine-hole daily fee with a luxury apartment complex for senior citizens. The innovative plan by the owners gave what is now known as Heritage Spy Ring Golf Club an immediate and much-needed infusion of revenue.
    No. 8: Flooding comes with the territory at historic Country Club of Farmington
    When Scott Ramsay, CGCS, took the reins at the Country Club of Farmington in Connecticut, he figured the golf course, which lies in a flood plain where the Farmington River Canal once was located, might flood every eight to 10 years. The course in fact flooded four times in 2023, the last when the area took on 8 inches of rain in a few days in September.

    The Country Club of Farmington in central Connecticut lies in the Farmington River floodplain. CC Farmington photo No. 7: After 20-plus years in Kansas, Gourlay is moving on to Boise's Hillcrest
    The name Gourlay has been synonymous with Colbert Hills in Manhattan, Kansas for 25 years. As 2023 wound down, Matthew Gourlay, CGCS,who began working at the course in his teens when his father was superintendent there, announced he was leaving Colbert Hills for Hillcrest Country Club in Boise.
    No. 6: Ancient earthworks site could gobble up Ohio golf course
    Mound Builders Country Club in Ohio was built nearly a century ago on the site of an ancient Indian earthworks site that was erected 2,000 years ago as a lunar clock. The state supreme court decided the owner of the property - the Ohio History Connection - could cancel the club's lease on the property, potentially clearing the way for the OHC to open the site for public use.
    No. 5: Police chase comes to an end when suspect wrecks stolen spray rig
    In August, police were in pursuit of a Lincoln, Nebraska man for violating his parole when he crashed his vehicle.
    Rather than give up, the man stole a maintenance vehicle towing a spray rig from Jim Ager Golf course where Bill Kreuser is superintendent.
    The chase ended when the suspect crashed the rig into a police vehicle.
    No. 4: Sketchy past comes back to haunt superintendent
    Jim Watkins, who was working as superintendent at Rincon Municipal Golf Course near Savannah, Georgia, found himself out of a job after it was discovered that he had attempted to hire a hitman in 2011 to murder his brother over a dispute about their late parents' estate. Instead, the would-be killer was an undercover police officer.
    No. 3: USGA smart ball measures putting surface metrics
    Last February the USGA launched its smart ball, the GS3, that monitors turf and soil conditions.
    The by-product of seven years of research and development, the GS3 is outfitted with sensors, accelerometers and gyroscopes that collect more than 15,000 data points that provide superintendents with metrics on things such as green speed, surface firmness and smoothness.
    The GS3 is available from the USGA for $2,750 and includes one year's free subscription to the Deacon platform. Customers who renew the Deacon subscription will receive a new GS3 every three years.
    No. 2: Golf course owner-operator killed in accident
    On April 20, Adam Schloer died in an undisclosed accident while working at his Heritage Creek Golf Club in Bucks County, Pennsylvania near Philadelphia. After the accident, his brother established a gofundme account to help Schloer's family. To date, more than $43,000 has been raised.

    A gofundme account has been established to benefit Adam Schloer's wife and daughter. No. 1: Florida golf course owner/superintendent opts for consistency of artificial turf greens
    When Ben Best bought the nine-hole Suncoast Golf Center in Sarasota, Florida in 2014, there was almost as much bare soil as there was turf on the greens. In all those years, Best, also the superintendent at Suncoast, was never able to duplicate the same conditions during the tourist season that he produced in summer, leading him to eventually convert all nine greens to synthetic turf for the sake of consistency.
     
  • CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. Mitchell Savage, CGCS at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado, has been named the recipient of the GCSAA's 2024 Excellence in Government Affairs Award. 
    Savage, at right, is recognized for his advocacy efforts on several issues in Colorado in conjunction with the Rocky Mountain GCSA, Colorado Golf Association, Colorado Section of the PGA and Mile-High Chapter of the Club Management Association of America.
    The Excellence in Government Affairs Award is presented annually to a chapter, superintendent or coalition for outstanding advocacy or compliance efforts in government affairs. Savage will receive the award Feb. 1 during the Government Affairs Session at the  GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in Phoenix.
    Savage served on the Rocky Mountain GCSA board and previously led its government affairs committee. Today, he still works closely with the Colorado Golf Coalition and has played a key role in the drive to maintain uniform state-wide pesticide regulations in Colorado.
    The award recognizes Savage's proactive approach in advocating for state control of pesticide regulations and for being an influential voice in the Colorado golf industry. Having testified numerous times before state legislative committees in Denver, he always shows up fully prepared with a succinct message and several examples that support his efforts on behalf of the Colorado golf industry.
    "I am incredibly honored that my peers from Rocky Mountain GCSA thought that my efforts on behalf of our association and coalition were worthy of a nomination for this award," Savage, said in a news release. "Winning this award reaffirms that the work we are doing in the state of Colorado with our golf coalition is making a difference and hopefully serving as a model for others to follow in advocacy efforts around the country."
    A 2019 winner of GCSAA's Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award, Savage is paired with Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) as part of the Grassroots Ambassador Program. In his work as a Grassroots Ambassador.
    He remains active on behalf of the golf industry in issues regarding regulations affecting pesticide use and availability.
    "Our profession is doing some amazing things with advocacy, and I am excited and honored to be a part of the industry-wide efforts," Savage said. "There will never be too many people on the team, and there is always a need for more individuals to answer the bell and stand up and advocate for the golf course management profession."
    Previous Excellence in Government Affairs Award winners:
    2023 - Kenneth Benoit Jr., CGCS
    2022 - Cactus and Pine GCSA
    2021 - California Alliance for Golf
    2020 - Peter J. Gorman
    2019 - Robert Nielsen, CGCS
    2018 - Jack MacKenzie, CGCS
    2017 - Rory Van Poucke
    2016 - Hi-Lo Desert GCSA
    2015 - Florida GCSA
    2014 - Anthony L. Williams, CGCS
    2013 - Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents
    2012 - Jay Nalls
    2011 - P.J. McGuire, CGCS
    2010 - Carolinas GCSA, Michael Crawford, CGCS (Advocacy); Richard Gagnon (Compliance)
    2009 - Tim Hiers, CGCS, The Old Collier Golf Club, Naples, Fla.
    2008 - Michael Maffei, CGCS, Morefar Golf Course, Brewster, N.Y.; Peter McDonough, GCSAA Class A superintendent, The Keswick (Va.) Club; Richard Staughton, CGCS, Towne Lake Hills Golf Club, Woodstock, Ga. (Advocacy)
    2007 - Douglas C. Lowe, CGCS, at Greensboro Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., Georgia GCSA
    2006 - Michael A. Stachowski, superintendent at the Golf Course of Concordia in Cranbury, N.J. (Advocacy); Patrick Blum, superintendent at Colonial Acres Golf Course in Glenmont, N.Y. (Compliance)
    2005 - Craig A. Hoffman, superintendent at The Rock Golf Course on Drummond Island, Mich.; Stephen A. Kealy, CGCS at Glendale Country Club in Bellevue, Wash.; Kenneth N. Lallier, CGCS at The Quechee Club in Hartford, Vt. (Advocacy); Sean A. Kjemhus, golf course superintendent at Stewart Creek Golf and Country Club in Canmore, Alberta (Compliance)
    2004 - Mark Esoda, CGCS at Atlanta (Ga.) Country Club; Jim Husting, CGCS at Woodbridge (Calif.) Golf and Country Club (Advocacy); Francis J. “Bud” O’Neill III, CGCS, formerly of Wild Quail Golf and Country Club in Wyoming, Del.; Peter Pierson, recently retired superintendent from Pequabuck Golf Club in Cromwell, Conn. (Compliance)
    2002-2003 - Dean Graves, superintendent at Chevy Chase (Md.) Club (Advocacy); Joe McCleary, CGCS at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, Colo. (Compliance)
  • The Aquatrols Co. is a result of the merger of Aquatrols and the turf division of Precision Laboratories. Aquatrols and the turf division of Precision Laboratories have merged to form The Aquatrols Co. This merger brings together the respective portfolios of soil surfactant and adjuvant products. 
    The Aquatrols Co. will continue to offer the full line of Aquatrols and Precision Laboratories soil surfactants, as well as Precision Laboratories tank mix adjuvants, colorants and additives. VerdeLNX, a line of advanced nutrient products, will be added to the portfolio this year. 
    "We're excited about the opportunities this presents for our customers," said Erick Koskinen, director of sales for The Aquatrols Co.
    "We have a unique opportunity to expand these industry-leading brands with our significant investment in marketing and R&D" says Casey McDonald, director of marketing and portfolio management.
    The Aquatrols Co., owned by Lamberti SpA, will benefit from new state-of-the-art manufacturing and vertically integrated technology sourcing. The headquarters of the turf business will remain in Paulsboro, New Jersey, while manufacturing and warehousing will move to Kenosha, Wisconsin, home of Precision.
    Precision Laboratories LLC will continue to operate independently with a focus on servicing the global agriculture market.  
  • The Birds and Bees Protection Act, which prohibits the use of neonicotinoids on turf in New York, will go into effect in 2027. Utah State University photo Superintendents in New York are losing a valuable tool in the fight against insect pests in golf course turf.
    Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, Dec. 22 signed into law legislation A.7640/S.1856-A, known as the Birds and Bees Protection Act. The legislation is intended to protect pollinators by restricting the use of neonicotinoids containing clothianidin, imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran or acetamiprid on turf; coated corn, soybean and wheat seeds in agriculture; and outdoor ornamental plants. The law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2027. The three-year delay allows for "sufficient time for innovative research on alternatives and the development of more cost-effective products that are less harmful to the environment. After this period, the use of neonicotinoids will be subject to science-based evaluations and waiver provisions to assist farm and agriculture operations in the transition to this new program," according to Hochul's office.
    In October, Tom Kaplun, superintendent at North Hempstead Country Club in Port Washington, as well as vice president of the New York State Turfgrass Association and government affairs chair for the Long Island GCSA, told TurfNet that he had hoped science would prevail and the measure would be amended to grant an exemption for use on golf turf.
    "Golf courses in New York State were very disappointed to see the governor sign the Birds and the Bees which will take away imidacloprid from us at the end of 2026," Kaplun said. "Superintendents associations around the state in conjunction with GCSAA, the New York State Turfgrass Association and the New York Green Industry Council have worked tirelessly over the last few years to demonstrate the integral role imidacloprid plays in battling white grubs and the ways in which we use it while minimizing any potential risks. We applauded the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for making imidacloprid restricted use in 2023. The same was signed into law in California this past year and applauded by the Natural Resource Defense Council. But in NY, the steps taken by the NYS DEC, the governing body of pesticides in NYS, were not enough for environmental groups like the NRDC."
    Kaplun explained how hard he and his colleagues throughout New York have worked to develop and follow science-based best management practices for use of neonicotinoids and other pesticides and fertilizers in the quest to be responsible environmental stewards.
    "While we are all united in our efforts to protect pollinators and keep the environment as safe and clean as possible there are many misconceptions surrounding neonictonoid use that are just not true," Kaplun said. "It is disappointing that sound science was not used in this decision making for continued use on golf courses and that legislators continue to drive decision making and policies that should be left to the NYS DEC. Golf course superintendents and industry professionals in NYS will continue to work with legislators and the governor's office to demonstrate that protecting NYS's natural resources and environmental stewardship is at the forefront of our decision making while managing the vast green space and outdoor activity that golf allows for so many in NYS."
    Neither the New York legislature nor the governor shared that view.
    "By signing the Birds and Bees Protection Act, New York is taking a significant stride in protecting our kids, environment and essential pollinators," Hochul said in a news release from her office. "This law underscores our commitment to fostering a thriving ecosystem while we prioritize sustainable farming and agricultural practices."
    Legislation A.7640/S.1856-A was sponsored by Assemblymember Deborah Glick and State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal.
    "Limiting toxins that pose adverse effects and health risks is an essential step forward to stop poisoning the environment and create a healthier New York," Glick said in a news release. "I applaud Governor Hochul for recognizing the importance of our pollinators and our environment and signing the Birds and Bees Protection Act."
  • This year's Super Scratch Invitational raised $30,000 to help fund scholarships for turfgrass students. Photo by Tim Kelly via X Anyone who has spent any length of time in the golf business has heard it said over and over: "I didn't know you could grow grass for a living."
    Since 2020, a group of superintendents have been busy trying to close that gap by introducing the profession to kids and raising money to help those interested in a turf career offset the cost of their college education through the Super Scratch Foundation.
    "We're in an industry where nobody knows what we do unless we tell them," said Scott Bordner, Director of Agronomy of the Union League of Philadelphia. "It's about going to high schools and telling them what we do. Then, with the cost of education, we have to try to help these kids and make it as easy as possible for them. When you see that Augusta National has to post an ad for internships, that's a sign that something has to be done."
    The Super Scratch Invitational pairs golfing superintendents with top level amateur players in a tournament format played at Huntingdon Valley Country Club, the club in suburban Philadelphia where Tim Kelly is superintendent. Huntingdon Valley was the home of The Lynnewood Hall Cup, an amateur event played at the Philly-area club from 1901 to 2010. The tournament was the second-oldest amateur event in the country behind only the U.S. Amateur when it was retired 13 years ago.
    "A bunch of better players had a desire to bring an amateur tour to Huntingdon Valley," said Tim Zurybida, a longtime member at Huntingdon Valley who is a former Philadelphia superintendent and currently director of agronomy for the National Links Trust in Washington, D.C. "There are scores of pro-ams across the country, but to our knowledge no one had a superintendent paired with a top-rated amateur."
    The Super Scratch Invitational raised $1,500 for turfgrass scholarships in its first year in 2020. Today, the event has raised more than $50,000 in scholarship funds for turfgrass students attending Penn State, Rutgers and Delaware Valley University. This year's event in November raised $30,000 for scholarships for turf students.
    "As the tournament took off after that first year, we were able to raise a lot more money," Zurybida said.
    The foundation will start a new scholarship this year that honors the memory of Grady Breuer, the son of Michael and Jenna Breuer who died in April at age 2 from the effects of a rare birth defect.
    The invitational includes a tournament for amateurs only and a best-ball event for amateur-superintendent teams. The top teams get to pick which schools receive the funds. Entry fees cover all tournament expenses, so all funds donated by the more than two dozen vendor sponsors go toward scholarship funds.

    Huntingdon Valley Country Club has a long history with amateur golf. Photo by Tim Kelly via X "The funds go to the administration at the schools, and they decide which students they think need it," Bordner said. "We give it to the schools to use at their discretion, because they know the students and know their needs better than we do."
    Soon, the invitational expanded beyond the Philly area and attracted teams from Chicago, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and Florida, Bordner said. Future plans include possible regional qualifiers with the final events played at Huntingdon Valley.
    "As more funds come in, we can have more dedicated scholarships," Bordner said.
    That includes the scholarship that will be named for Grady Breuer, who suffered from hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a birth defect that affects blood flow through the heart and resulted in impaired brain function due to oxygen deprivation. Grady died on April 30, five months short of his third birthday.
    Through social media posts by Grady's father Michael, the assistant superintendent at Bandon Dunes Resort in Oregon, the turf world was able to follow along through the many struggles in Grady's short life, including numerous surgical procedures. Throughout the ordeal, Breuer's family received an outpouring of support from followers across the country, most of whom he has never met, including those involved with the Super Scratch Foundation on the other side of the country.
    "With how his life impacted me and so many others, we thought it was a great way to try to help people who had a tougher road to get into this industry," Bordner said. "We thought this was a natural fit. We can help his legacy carry on and help others get their education at the same time."
    The Breuer family was surprised at how the foundation chose to honor and remember their son.
    "This came from out of the blue," Michael Breuer said. 
    "I don't have a lot of words for it. It's difficult; he's gone, but his legacy will live on and impact others. That's incredible. We're humbled by the outpouring of support and blessed by this industry for the gestures of so many."
  • H. James "Jim" Loke, CGCS, Montreal-born career superintendent who pushed the agronomic envelope at upper-echelon clubs in northern Ohio and central Pennsylvania, passed away December 12 after a 23 year battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 77.
    After graduation from Ohio State in 1970 with a degree in turfgrass science, Loke worked at Scioto Country Club, Oakwood GC and The Ohio State University GC before taking the assistant position at Firestone Country Club in Akron. He worked his way up to the superintendent position at Firestone and went on to host seven televised PGA events, including the 1975 PGA Championship and the World Series of Golf.
    From Firestone he went to Quail Hollow Resort in Painesville, OH, where he hosted several other PGA Tour events and US Open qualifiers. After Quail Hollow, Loke moved to the Lancaster, PA area to build and grow in Bent Creek Country Club, where he pioneered the use of fertigation and also maintained Poa-free putting surfaces.
    He served as president of the Northern Ohio GCSA and the Central Pennsylvania GCSA chapters and on seven different GCSAA committees and two Ohio Turfgrass Foundation committees over the years. He received the Distinguished Service Award from GCSAA in 2008.
    A life-long hockey player and youth/high school hockey coach, Jim was also an early and active TurfNet member who played on the first TurfNet team in the Golf Course Hockey Challenge in 1999.
    "I met Jim soon after I started TurfNet in 1994," recalls Peter McCormick. "He was an early adopter in every way. Jim was serious about his craft but also friendly and approachable. He was one of the most inquisitive and studious superintendents I’ve ever met."
    Loke was noted for his intensive Poa eradication processes, pioneering the use of the glyphosate dabber and incorporating periodic "staff crawls" of shoulder-to-shoulder, on the knees hand-weeding of any rogue Poa plants that might have taken root in the greens at Bent Creek.
    "I visited Jim at Bent Creek one October afternoon many years ago, and we took a drive around the course late on that stunning, bluebird-sky day," McCormick said. "The golf course absolutely glowed, with the precision of the stepcuts and the uniformity of the playing surfaces almost jumping off the turf. I remember thinking at the time that it can't get much better than this."
    For many years Loke hosted a small-group afternoon "think-tank" session at the fall Penn State turf conference. "During a break in the conference schedule, when others might be heading for the bar, Jim's invited group would meet in a private room to review the current state of the industry and brainstorm what might be coming next," McCormick recalled. "He invited me to sit in one year. I remember Frank Dobie (Sharon Golf Club) and Todd Voss (Double Eagle Club) being there. It struck me as unusual at the time, but was an indication of Jim's inquisitive nature and desire to share his thoughts and learn from others."
    John Colo, an Ohio native now at Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club in Florida, first worked for Loke at Quail Hollow and followed him to Pennsylvania for two stints at Bent Creek in the mid-late '90s.
    "I am the man I am and the superintendent I am today in part due to having worked for Jim Loke," Colo said. "He was demanding and a taskmaster, but working for him was a great experience for me."
    McCormick laments having lost contact with Loke about ten years ago. "Jim had significant health issues and had retired from Bent Creek," he said. "For some reason we drifted apart and lost contact. I regret that now. Our mutual friend Gordon Witteveen used to say that if you don't work at relationships they soon go away. He was right."
    Jim is survived by his wife Karen, daughters Julie and Kristin and granddaughters Margo & Layla.

  • News and people briefs

    By John Reitman, in News,

    Mack named Georgia Superintendent of the Year
    Lydell Mack, CGCS (right) at Big Canoe Golf Club in Jasper, has been named Superintendent of the Year by the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association. Mack's award, presented in partnership with Corbin Turf & Ornamental Supply, was announced at the association's annual awards banquet during a three-day event at The King & Prince Beach and Golf Resort on St. Simons Island, earlier this month.
    Alabama names Superintendent, Assistant of the Year
    Hunter Salts, director of agronomy at Vestavia Country Club in Birmingham, (above at right) was named the recipient of the Alabama GCSA Superintendent of the Year award.
    Russell Wallace of Greystone Country Club in Hoover (right below) was named the association's Assistant Superintendent of the Year.
    Both awards were presented at the association's annual meeting Dec. 1 at Pine Tree Country Club in Birmingham.
    Sipcam Agro expands with acquisition of Odom
    Sipcam Agro is expanding its capabilities in North America with the recent acquisition of the Odom Industriesis, a Waynesboro, Mississippi-based chemical formulating, packaging and warehousing company.
    The acquisition includes Odom's two operating facilities and a large storage warehouse with 320,000 square feet of combined production and warehousing space on 40 total acres in Waynesboro, Pachuta and Shubuta, Mississippi. The company was founded in 1989 by Donald Odom, Sr. and W.R. Odom, Sr., and will be operated by Sipcam Agro Solutions, a susidiary of Sipcam Agro USA.
    Based in Durham, North Carolina, Sipcam Agro is a manufacturer of fungicides, herbicides, plant growth regulators, bio stimulants and plant nutrition products and is an affiliate of Sipcam Oxon in Milan, Italy.
  • PBI Gordon recently named Phil Brandt as national business coordinator and added Eric Steffense and Jamie Zakary to its staff as sales representatives.
    Steffensen is PBI-Gordon's new North Carolina sales representative. He is responsible for leading sales initiatives and providing technical expertise for the company's golf, landscape, professional lawn care and agricultural customers in North Carolina.
     
    Prior to joining PBI-Gordon, Steffensen worked with SiteOne Landscape Supply Co. in Charlotte. A graduate of the Penn State turfgrass program, Steffensen previously held sales positions with Arborjet/Ecologel and Sigma Organics.
    Zakary is PBI-Gordon's new sales representative for Alabama and Georgia. He is responsible for managing all sales functions, developing new customers and business opportunities, and providing technical knowledge to PBI-Gordon's golf, professional lawn care and agricultural customers in that region.
     
    Zakary brings more than 25 years of professional turf industry experience to PBI-Gordon. Zakary, who graduated with a degree in agronomy and soils from Auburn University, most recently served as a territory manager for JRM, and before that held sales positions with Simplot and Harrell's, and served as the director of agronomy for Troon Golf.
    Brandt joined PBI-Gordon in 2020 as a warehouse manager. In his new role as national business coordinator, his responsibilities include:
    > Development and leadership in the field forecasting process.
    > Partnering with the legal department to oversee contract compliance and systems management.
    > Managing PBI-Gordon's sales data platform for the sales team.
    > Leading the fulfillment process to ensure accurate agreements and deliveries.
    With more than 20 years of experience in operations and warehouse management, Brandt previously worked for Mid America Merchandising, Alphabroder and Pacific Sunwear of California before joining PBI-Gordon. 
  • Perhaps nothing so far off in the future has been met with so much emotion than the recent joint announcement by the USGA and R&A on pending regulations on the golf ball.
    The rollback of golf ball technology designed to reduce distance has been met with furor by many recreational golfers and embraced by many of the game's best players, most notably Rory McIlroy.
    The plan for the rollback that will go into effect in 2028 is to reduce hitting distance for what the announcement called the "long-term stability of the game." 
    The USGA and R&A predict a loss of 10-15 yards per club for professionals, low-handicappers and long hitters, and 1-5 yards per club for everyone else. 

    Making it harder to get the ball on the green for the average golfer might not be the best thing for growing the game. Photo by John Reitman Some say that is a big deal, while others dismiss it. The truth depends on who you ask and who you’re talking about — tour pros who bomb it off the tee, or amateur players seeking ways to squeeze every possible yard out of every shot.
    According to one golf industry professional with an eye for golf course design and hosting play at the highest amateur level, the rollback goes too far for some golfers and not far enough for others.
    "I don't like it. It doesn't do enough to decrease distance for professional golfers, and anything that hurts the average golfer is not good," said golf journalist, architecture expert and founder of the Golfweek's Best raters system Brad Klein, Ph.D. "This isn't like the anchored putter where it affects only professional golfers. This affects everybody."
    At age 69, Klein says Mother Nature already is taking distance from his game faster than the USGA can. Losing additional yardage could change the game dramatically for older players who historically prop up the game's numbers from a participation standpoint. 
    "I used to be comfortable playing from about 6,800 yards. Now, I'm comfortable at about 5,800," he said. 
    "I figure with the changes to the golf ball a golf course will play 125 yards longer for me. The cat's already out of the bag, because so many courses are not relevant for the elite tour player."
    Klein, who was instrumental in starting the old Golfweek's SuperNEWS magazine, said he doesn't anticipate the rollback having much of an effect on superintendents, but said the rollback could have varied effects on course design.
    "New golf courses are designed to play at 7,500 to 7,800 yards," he said. "That's not going to change, but I think there will be a little less pressure to lengthen golf courses for anyone doing a renovation in the next three to four years."
    Taking distance away from the casual golfer is not good for a game that is trying to attract new players of different ages and cultural backgrounds as Baby Boomers gradually cycle out. 
    "I worry about that, but that's down the road," Klein said.
    Klein believes more should be done to change how the ball performs for the game's best players.
    "They're not changing ball performance at high speeds, and they're not changing equipment or physicality,” he said. “It doesn't go far enough."

    While casual golfers struggle with lost distance, elite tour players likely will be able to overcome such losses.
    "The reality is (USGA and R&A) don't know what the effect will be, because they don't have the ball yet," Klein said. "If the distance deteriorates for tour pros, I think what will happen is they'll just learn to swing harder. If it were up to me, I would have encouraged the ball manufacturers to develop a ball whose performance deteriorates at a certain ball speed, maybe 170 miles an hour. That would force tour players to gear back their swing."
    Some professional tour players were outspoken about the rollback, while others had a different view, including McIlroy, who spoke out on social media saying: "I don’t understand the anger about the golf ball roll back. It will make no difference whatsoever to the average golfer and puts golf back on a path of sustainability. It will also help bring back certain skills in the pro game that have been eradicated over the past 2 decades."
    With the growth and stability of the game paramount and much more reliant on daily play at the grassroots level than tour golf, some see opinions like McIlroy's as a bit out of touch.
    "Of course distance is a factor," Klein said. "To be so dismissive is a bit flip.
    "There's nothing wrong with collaborating to change the game. The USGA and R&A have been doing it for 120 years. But if you do it, you have to get it right. What they've done here is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute."
  • The goal of the Syngenta-Spiio partnership will help turf managers make data-driven agronomic decisions. Spiio photo Syngenta and Spiio have entered into an agreement that pairs the latter's cellular, wireless soil-sensing technology with the former's portfolio of solutions for turfgrass managers, irrigation experts, parks and rec managers, tree-care companies and landscaping professionals.
    The partnership will help professional turf managers "evolve toward a future of precision agronomy and data-driven decision-making that complements the existing range of tools and services from Syngenta," according to a news release.
    Spiio's cellular, wireless sensors continuously monitor soil moisture, temperature and salinity and streams data to a cloud platform, allowing turf managers to create more precise agronomic programs across the course. It also simplifies hyperlocal data collection and analysis without time-consuming, manual measurements. It also complements existing Syngenta tools including precision weather forecasts, disease and insect models, as well as turf growth models. 
    "Our combined strengths in technology and agronomy will enable turf managers to make smart agronomic decisions for a better golfing experience for their players, while providing hyperlocal soil data to complement existing weather and modelling services provided by Syngenta," said Mike Parkin, global head of Syngenta Professional Solutions. "This solution aligns with our vision of creating a more sustainable future for golf."
    The cellular, wireless Spiio sensors continuously monitor the soil moisture, temperature and salinity and stream data to a cloud platform, allowing turf managers to create more precise agronomic programs across the course. The Spiio technology simplifies hyperlocal data collection and analysis without time-consuming, manual measurements. It also complements existing Syngenta tools including precision weather forecasts, disease and insect models, as well as turf growth models, according to the release. 
    "Once customers can access Spiio sensor data from their phone across the entire property, they can quickly identify areas of concern and receive notifications and agronomic alerts before conditions become critical," said Henrik Rosendahl, CEO of Spiio. "They can also track specific data trends over time and provide greater efficiency with better reporting and strategic planning. By collaborating with the Syngenta agronomic and research teams, we’ll be poised to create even more robust agronomic algorithms and recommendations in the future."

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