Friday, January 28

Advice to Players from 1923

Below is a link to the weekly USGA Green Section Record. There are several interesting articles, but I especially like the "Advice to Players" from the 1923 Greens Section. I really like the part about replacing divots: "Don't neglect immediately and properly to replace the turf. A small sprinkling can, a canteen of water, and ordinary rolling pin, a package of grass seeds and one pound of dehydrated ostrich manure, added to your equipment, will reduce this obligation to a mere pleasure!"

Check it out here:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--January-28--2011.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=r7yMBDcSYIo

Thursday, January 27

An interesting view on the current state of golf and politics.

Below is a link to the official publication of the golf course owner's association.  This particular article is a great take on how golf has transformed from a sport to a political and environmental issue.


http://www.golfbusiness.com/article.aspx?id=1580

Tuesday, January 25

No more splinters!

I tested a product on the course last year called VinylGuard.  It is a durable, UV resistant shrink-wrap for bunker rakes, ball washer stands, hazard stakes and a myriad of other items.  The product tested great last year, and we decided to apply it to all of our bunker rakes to protect players and employees from those annoying fiberglass splinters.  Just another reason HMGC is the best in town, we are a splinter free club!

One of our newer rakes.  The handle is already showing wear and splinters.

A close up of the wear and splintering.

The vinyl comes in flat rolls.  Gary has applied spray glue to the handle and is sliding the tube over the rake.

The tube is pushed all the way to the head of the rake before shrinking.


An industrial heat gun does most of the work shrinking the vinyl to the handle.


Some additional vinyl printed with our bunker rake policy.

We are testing some hazard stakes with the vinyl this year.  The bottom stake has been covered.  If this holds up, we will do more next year.

Remember, the rake goes IN the bunker when you are done.

Scary New Water Legislation in Texas

I hope the local Army Corps of Engineers isn't reading golf publications these days. Some new rules affecting any Corps controlled bodies of water created a complete ban on submersible pumps like the one's we use in Ten-Mile creek to get our irrigation water. Click the Golf Course Industry link below to read the article.

Golf Course Industry

Thursday, January 20

Snowy Pictures

Nothing interesting to report today, but I took some snowy pictures of the course today.  See below this post for more interesting content over the past week.

The ice is hanging on.  Hopefully we won't have any damming issues in the spring.

#11 Green

15 Green.  The object at the bottom of the hill happens to be some table legs from a small table that I presume was dismantled and used to sled down the hill.

#14 Green.

Tell me where I'm standing.  First correct guess gets $5. 

Tuesday, January 18

The Beloved Rope and Stakes

I know how much you all love the yellow rope and stakes, but they continue to be an unfortunate necessity.  Being such a busy club, managing traffic is one of our biggest tasks every year as golf carts running undirected can do a great deal of damage in a short period of time when conditions are right.  Even foot traffic needs attention to spread the wear and tear on green surrounds and approaches.  We try very hard to make them look as visible as possible, which requires an annual 'dip' in the yellow paint.

Also, some of our green equipment has filtered into the shop for annual maintenance.  We are getting 2 new fairway units this year which will need little attention, but we are keeping 2 of the old units to get through the year and help with the vertical mowing duties.  Units are being disassembled, bearings, bedknives, and seals replaced, and units will be ground. 

The yellow rope monster.  About 4500 feet of rope is discarded and replaced each year.


Gary will clean, dip, and dry about 450 of these. 


Jason disassembling our old fairway unit for routine maintenance, oil change, and winter service.

Economic Impact of Golf

Below is a link to an interesting snapshot of the economic impact that golf has on a few states. Included in these numbers are the total number of courses, resulting revenue, jobs, and wages associated with our industry.

Politicians really like to pick on golf when environmental issues occur, but often back down when they realize the dollars and cents involved. Despite the decline in the golf industry, we are an industry with a significant impact. We provide entertainment, green space, sources for filtration of natural ground water, and oh yeah, lots of jobs and income.

Click on the Golf Course Industry link below to see the snapshot.  For a more thorough look, take a gander at http://wearegolf.org/ 

Golf Course Industry

Friday, January 14

USGA Green Section Update

This weeks USGA Green Section Record has a great update from the Mid-Continent region with some great information on frost. Not that it's an issue now, but when spring rolls around, I'm sure my usual frost battles will resume. Also, from the Mid-Atlantic, a little article similar to my blog, about just what the heck it is we do when the snow flies. Link to the article below:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--January-14--2011.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=7i6xf66pD6s

Thursday, January 13

Why it's important to have a voice in local politics.

In the article linked below, there's what looks to be a minor victory for golf courses in Connecticut.  Last October, I met with a series of superintendents from Connecticut at a GCSAA meeting that were discussing the impact of the new water regulations on their golf courses.  They were all terribly worried about the new regulations and were amassing grass-roots efforts to make sure they were considered.  It looks like they have at least created an atmosphere of compromise.  The decision by the state legislature to deny a proposal by the state Department of Environmental Protection should also buy more time to sort out the right balance between environmental sensitivity and economic success.  In our industry, we need to be ever diligent in what politicians are up to.  The economic viability of golf will always be overlooked unless we have people reminding politicians of the economic impact of golf and the REAL environmental impact.

The article is linked below:

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/DEP-to-make-more-compromises-on-stream-flow-regs-929234.php

Wednesday, January 12

A great voice in the golf maintenance industry has a new forum!

One of the most prominent, funny, controversial, and just plain interesting voices in the world of golf maintenance is Pat Jones, editor in chief of Golf Course Industry magazine. He has launched a new website and blog that will no doubt be loaded with tons of current information and interesting viewpoints. Check it out.

Jonesy's World: The New GCI Site is Live!: "I'm pleased to report that the new Golf Course Industry site is now live and functioning quite nicely, thank you. Love to hear what you thin..."

Tuesday, January 11

Winter work continues

As the snow is flying, the staff is still busy working on our equipment.  Right now, the Toro equipment is in the shop getting new hoses, bearings, bedknifes, and will soon be sent to the other end of the shop to be ground, sharpened, and backlapped.

I have two posts today, and I realize that people like the pictures, but below this post and pics is a major legislative victory for people in my line of work.  Check it out!

The underside of a reel with the bedknife removed.  All the bearings will be replaced in the rollers and reels, a new bedknife will be installed, and the unit will be trued and sharpened.

One of our older tee mowers getting some new hydraulic lines to prevent leaks (hopefully!)


Dave adjusting a fresh bedknife to the reel.


Meanwhile, all course benches are being disassembled.

Our homemade bench supports get scraped and painted.

All bench slats getting a fresh coat of paint and being replaced as needed.

Governor Strickland signs S.B. 51 and 'Ohio Turfgrass Week" is born!

After almost 6 years of political wrangling and testimony in front of the state legistlature, Governor Ted Strickland signed SB 51 into law.  This is an amendment to the Ohio Revised Code 5.2239 making the last week in May 'Ohio Turfgrass Week'.

Thanks to the many educators and professionals that put time and effort into getting this bill passed.  The turfgrass industry means billions in wages and revenue to the state, and this is our road to making sure we let Columbus know.  We are a responsible industry of green professionals and our lawns, golf courses, landscapes, and athletic fields make a big difference in the economy and the environment.

A few details and the official state legistlare page for SB 51 are below.

http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=128_SB_51

As a side note - In a few weeks, I will be visiting Columbus on behalf of the turf industry and our legislative district to participate in 'Turfgrass Advocacy Day'.  Professionals from golf courses to landscape professionals will spend the day with our respective representatives to develop relationships and gain the respect that our industry deserves.  Relationships like these are becoming more important year-to-year as environmental regulations and laws are regularly affecting our business.  Pesticide, water, and energy use regulations are already wreaking havoc with golf courses on both coasts and are surely headed our way.  It's best we stay active and involved.

Monday, January 10

Green Section Record - Greens Covers

Below is a link to the first USGA Green Section Record of 2011. The top article/video relates to what superintendents in the southern US must deal with during winter time to keep their bermuda greens playable. Massive covers are used to keep greens healthy and playable and must be taken on and off as the season goes on. Thankfully, we don't have to deal with these!


http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--January-07--2011.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=wBA4WkONH0k

Tuesday, January 4

Hank Working the Geese on the Golf Course

You've all seen my Cattle Dog Hank riding around in the back of my cart at various times during the season.  In the winter, Hank does a great job clearing the Canada Geese off the course.  Since he started coming to work with me, we have greatly reduced the amount of nesting pairs that return year to year.  We walk the creek once or twice a day through the winter to try and keep them off.  I took a really crappy video with my point and shoot camera today of Hank doing his thing on #12 tee. 



Here's a link to some interesting Canada Goose information:  http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/lifehistory

Happy New Year and An Interesting USGA Green Section Update

First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It's great to be back. A superintendent doesn't like to be too far from his course for very long, but it was nice to visit home and family for a few days. The blog and pictures should be back in full force over the next week, as I am having some technical issues with my camera at the moment.

In the articles linked below, there is a very interesting look at how the USGA is relating putting green performance across golf courses. The 'Pyramid' is a great visual of everything that we think about when trying to get the greens 'up to speed'. Take a moment to look at it and read their reasoning. While I don't typically subscribe to everything the USGA has to say, they always have some interesting points.

Also, included in this update are articles related to the upcoming Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Florida and updates on current environmental research efforts.


http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--December-17--2010.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=z9Tq_adwFJA