In the 1967 film The Graduate, "Plastics" was seen, and rightfully so, as the economic opportunity of the future. Could this now be replaced with "Bioplastics"? Alan Berry, National Sales Manager of the XT-1 Golf Tee's and E-Stake/T-Stake products thinks so. He's not only carrying Biodegradable Tee's, but Sod Pins too! So I figured he could help us all understand these types of products better.
Watering The Rim Golf Club
Applying water to the golf course is the most important practice we perform every season. With limited storage, it is imperative that we make sure every drop is used properly. To ensure optimum efficiency when scheduling our irrigation events, we use evapotranspiration (ET).
ET is the combination of evaporation from the soil surface and the transpiration from the turf plant. The ET is the amount of water used by the plant in a 24 hour period accounting for wind, humidity, temperature and solar radiation. Our goal is to replace the amount water used in a single day.
ET is the combination of evaporation from the soil surface and the transpiration from the turf plant. The ET is the amount of water used by the plant in a 24 hour period accounting for wind, humidity, temperature and solar radiation. Our goal is to replace the amount water used in a single day.
Watering By ET - Part 2
In this article, I would like to discuss how to take all that information into the field, begin scheduling by ET and using it to your advantage.
Watering By ET
How many Superintendents have done some soil probing and general plant appearance observations and decided to not water their greens, tees, and/or fairways that night, only to come in the next day and begin turning on sprinklers on all over the golf course in order to irrigate a stressed plant?Top Ten Extreme Futuristic Eco Golf Courses
Snow and Wind Fence Resources
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| Wind and Snow Fence Fact Sheet BC Ministry of Ag, Food and Fisheries |
I'll be updating and re-posting this collection of web resources to help explain the science behind snow fence planning, the different styles and techniques of temporary snow fences. If you use snow fences please post your experiences in the comment section below or send us a note.
7 Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption on Golf Courses
Lets count them down from #7
Golf Courses Conserving Water by 30%
LCRA, as part of its ongoing efforts to work with its customers to use water more efficiently, held a drought response workshop for golf course managers on Thursday, Nov. 12 2009. The workshop featured Mark Esoda, superintendent of the Atlanta Country Club, who provided information on how Atlanta-area golf courses dealt with a severe multiyear drought that peaked in 2007. At the workshop, a regional panel of superintendents also discussed various topics, including their individual water conservation and drought response efforts, as well as associated costs and lessons learned. Some tips can be found in the University of Georgias Best Management Practices for Turfgrass guide.
Top 5 Ways to Reduce Sprayer Problems, Repairs & Downtime
Golf Course Sprayers - Top 5 Ways to Reduce problems, repair expenses & downtime.Turfhugger would like to thank Andrew Greess for creating this list and allowing us to post on our site. Andrew Greess is a nationally published Spray Equipment expert and President of Quality Equipment Spray, a manufacturer of sprayers for Golf Courses and Landscaping. You can reach him at Andrew@Qspray.com, or follow on twitter: AndrewGreess or find more tips at Spray Equipment Blog.
1. Use good filtration.
Filtration is the source of more spray equipment problems than any other component. Be sure your filtration is properly designed for your use and application. For example, if you are filling your tank from a pond, you may need more thorough filtration than if you are filling from a hose bib. From an operational perspective, technicians should be checking and cleaning filters frequently. A clogged filter will starve the pump, which will eventually result in pump damage. A filter that is missing or too coarse will allow particles through, possible clogging hoses, fittings, guns and tips.
Ballyneal Pheasant Sausage Recipe
Any excuse to show a video of Ballyneal...
Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club in Holyoke, where executive chef and gamekeeper Rich Cummings' signature dish, sauteed pheasant sausage, is the house specialty. And during the pheasant season (mid-November until Jan. 31), chances are Cummings shot the pheasant himself.
Ballyneal, which opened in 2006, is a hybrid golf club and hunting retreat, located in one of the most productive game bird environments in the country, the rolling plains of Phillips County about 2 1/2 hours east of Denver. Before hitting the links, members can bag a couple of birds.
But lack of membership shouldn't keep the rest of us from enjoying game birds. "You can do anything to a pheasant that you'd do to a chicken. Marsala, for example," says Cummings. "Or fingers."
WARNING
This video contains "I'm on a Doak" soundtrack
Not appropriate for children or those who can't appreciate the genius of Tom Doak
This video contains "I'm on a Doak" soundtrack
Not appropriate for children or those who can't appreciate the genius of Tom Doak
Ballyneal Golf and Hunt Club in Holyoke, where executive chef and gamekeeper Rich Cummings' signature dish, sauteed pheasant sausage, is the house specialty. And during the pheasant season (mid-November until Jan. 31), chances are Cummings shot the pheasant himself.
Ballyneal, which opened in 2006, is a hybrid golf club and hunting retreat, located in one of the most productive game bird environments in the country, the rolling plains of Phillips County about 2 1/2 hours east of Denver. Before hitting the links, members can bag a couple of birds.
But lack of membership shouldn't keep the rest of us from enjoying game birds. "You can do anything to a pheasant that you'd do to a chicken. Marsala, for example," says Cummings. "Or fingers."
Integrating Food and Golf
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Strong's Farmer's Market Tomato Salad with ahi tuna, Spanish anchovies, chives and lemon basil from VR Farms created by executive chef Craig Strong at Studio, Montage Laguna Beach. LEONARD ORTIZ, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
The 1 1/2-acre parcel close to the clubhouse is fully planted. But Romano has big plans. Pointing to the hills to the west, he said 15 acres will be planted with grape vines and fruit trees including olive trees. There will be a greenhouse to grow winter tomatoes. And within the course, he plans to create "gathering pockets," areas with a few fruit trees and a small seating area. Places where people can sample some fruit, take in the view and escape for a little while.
Check out their Menu.
Breakers Resort Making Efforts Towards Sustainable Golf and Food
The Breakers Palm Beach has been at the forefront of the hospitality industry with its spectrum of environmentally-friendly initiatives (integrated in public areas and back-of-house), which conserve resources, protect the environment, and contribute to the health of hotel guests and associates. The Resort earned Green Lodging Certification by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in September ‘06, as Palm Beach County’s first hotel to receive the designation for partnering in this voluntary state initiative.One of the pioneering green hotels in the state of Florida, the entrepreneurial Breakers Palm Beach has developed property on site to cultivate a variety of micro greens, herbs and other naturally harvested ingredients. This sustainability initiative complements the resort’s long-standing partnership with local growers, while cultivating its reputation as a sanctuary of green cuisine.
World Food Day is Tomorrow, What Does This Mean For Golf?
Imagine for a second your working at a golf course in the 1920's-50's... Currently there are a few farmhouses within site, maybe a nearby village, workers are locals, and resources in general are pretty much plentiful.
Fast forward to 2010 and your once lonely golf course is now in the heart of an urban environment. Besides fulfilling the original function of your golf course (recreation, social club and local employment) it is now expected to do all of that at 2010 standards, be a wildlife sanctuary, sequester carbon from the atmosphere, filter storm water run-off and provide the best possible conditions with no waste by-products released to the environment (pesticides & fertilizer residues, carbon emissions, garbage, golf balls).
Superintendents are expected to guide golf courses to fulfill these functions and become a sustainable entity within the community. This move towards self-sufficiency and conservation of resources is not only new to the industry, but to our urban populations in general.
Tomorrow is World Food Day, meant to bring attention to how we grow, distribute and eat our food. I'll be spot lighting a few golf courses providing food on their menu's that come from their very own soil. This trend is not restricted to high-end clubs, resorts clubs, urban clubs or rural Ma & Pa Public courses, it is a method of providing fresh, healthy food at an effective price point that everyone will enjoy.
Food Inc. may be an unflattering look at the corporate controlled food industry, but it helps frame the reality of where our food comes from and the effect on people and the environment.
Helping Golfers Pick Up The PACE
Pace Turf has done a great job with educating golfers on turf management practices, check out their whole list of videos here.
From their video selection:
From their video selection:
Aeration is a common practice on golf course greens, and although it has benefits, it can also disrupt golf play. In this video, Dr. Larry Stowell explains to golfers what aeration is, why it is conducted, and how it is almost always a worthwhile practice, despite its downsides.
Trump the "Artist" is "Rich so it doesn't matter"
Speed the video up to 7:00 to see Trumps reaction to environmental criticism, and Jonathan Smith from the Golf Environments Organisations (GEO's new website is up too, check it) position. Heres some background on the golf project which unfortunately is giving golf a bad name in Scotland.
Top Golf Coach Preaches Sustainability
I've covered Dixon Golf before, but never the players they sponsor. This article highlights how Jeff Ritter, recently named one of the sports best young teachers by GolfDigest, also teaches his students about sustainability.
From the Press Release:
... and just for laughs, heres a little video showing Jeff shooting the cover for his book "Your Kid Ate a Divot!"
From the Press Release:
"Aside from being a professional instructor at ASU Karsten Golf Course, Ritter is also sponsored by Dixon Golf, the first eco-friendly golf company. Dixon Golf provides Ritter and his students with golf balls in the hopes of increasing the awareness of sustainable golf.
“We could not be more proud of Jeff,” Dixon Golf CEO William Carey said. “Being named to this list just shows that Gold Digest saw in Jeff what we see, which is a young coach who exemplifies a holistic approach to golf and life.”
... and just for laughs, heres a little video showing Jeff shooting the cover for his book "Your Kid Ate a Divot!"
"Use of biological products growing among turf pros"
Golf Course Industry Magazine, among many others, recently released a review of a Lebanon Turf Surevy and the Use of biological products growing among turf pros. Awesome.
This is exactly the kind of info our industry needs to spread around and be proud of.
From the Golf Course Industry Magazine article:
This is exactly the kind of info our industry needs to spread around and be proud of.
From the Golf Course Industry Magazine article:
"According to survey respondents, 51 percent currently use biological products as part of their normal turf fertility program; 45 percent said they expect to increase their use of biologicals in the next two years.
Sixty-six percent use biologicals as a complement to traditional fertilizer products, while 31 percent said they are experimenting with these types of products. Less than 1 percent said they use biologicals exclusively.
“The research confirms the momentum building for bionutrional products and the growing belief in their benefits,” said Dave Heegard, general manager of LebanonTurf.
Ninety percent of respondents said they consider biological products either essential (30 percent) or moderately important (60 percent) to their fertility programs.
In addition to improved plant health and appearance (53 percent) and environmental friendliness (35 percent), 12 percent indicated “cost-effectiveness when compared to traditional fertilizers” as an “important” benefit of bionutrition.
Tees and greens are the areas where most biological products are being applied, although 21 percent said they also use biologicals on fairways.
Ninety-five percent of those responding said they were either very satisfied (31 percent) or mostly satisfied (64 percent) with the results they achieved with biological products."
Sixty-six percent use biologicals as a complement to traditional fertilizer products, while 31 percent said they are experimenting with these types of products. Less than 1 percent said they use biologicals exclusively.
“The research confirms the momentum building for bionutrional products and the growing belief in their benefits,” said Dave Heegard, general manager of LebanonTurf.
Ninety percent of respondents said they consider biological products either essential (30 percent) or moderately important (60 percent) to their fertility programs.
In addition to improved plant health and appearance (53 percent) and environmental friendliness (35 percent), 12 percent indicated “cost-effectiveness when compared to traditional fertilizers” as an “important” benefit of bionutrition.
Tees and greens are the areas where most biological products are being applied, although 21 percent said they also use biologicals on fairways.
Ninety-five percent of those responding said they were either very satisfied (31 percent) or mostly satisfied (64 percent) with the results they achieved with biological products."
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