Not limited by design features meant to preserve brand identity, Android is an Operating System (OS) adopted by major smartphone manufacturers such as Motorola, HTC, Samsung and LG. Created by Google, the Android OS can be found in phones and tablets that resemble iconic BB’s and Apple designs, mash-up designs (i.e. flat-screen with slide-out keyboard), and new concepts altogether like dashboard computers in cars. Imagine what a stock Android OS could do for a mower or sprayer; fuel conservation and the IPM reporting process would be made effortless.
A Sustainable Golf Course
Last December I posted the following piece on my blog. The piece took a look at many of the practices we had put into place to create a sustainable golf course. Scott asked me the other day to give an update on how our efforts went this season. First, the original post for your reading enjoyment. In the next couple days I will post on how things went this past season; what worked, what did not and what we learned.
The word sustainable has been gaining popularity and momentum in the golf course business for a few years. Sustainability and sustainable practices have been discussed multiple times on this blog and I am proud to say we practice sustainable turfgrass management at Northland. Recently, as I have written blog posts and articles I have been thinking about what, exactly, it means to "practice sustainable turfgrass management".
The word sustainable has been gaining popularity and momentum in the golf course business for a few years. Sustainability and sustainable practices have been discussed multiple times on this blog and I am proud to say we practice sustainable turfgrass management at Northland. Recently, as I have written blog posts and articles I have been thinking about what, exactly, it means to "practice sustainable turfgrass management".
Lean & Green - Golf’s future
"One issue may not have been discussed, at least not in the vain of increased environmental management concerns, since the 1980s. The source of this concern? The game’s fervent embrace of equipment technology, especially the golf ball. The ball is going so far now, golf architects – if they ever get a chance to design a new course again – must be making their courses 15-25% longer and wider. "
Golf Course Industry Magazine : Lean & Green: Golf’s future
Consider Going "Blue" in Your Effort to Go "Green"
Let Sleeping Peat Lie - Joe Jemsek
Joe Jemsek has contributed to Turfhugger before. In his latest post Joe discusses renovation work at a Chicago area course where old peat bog construction caused for an unsteady ground.
When I was first asked to participate in the remodel of the 6th tees at Long Beach Country Club, I questioned why it had become such a priority to the club. But after my first inspection I quickly realized the tees had as much contour as the greens at the club. I also noticed that the tee were lined players left of the fairway directly into hazard.
When I was first asked to participate in the remodel of the 6th tees at Long Beach Country Club, I questioned why it had become such a priority to the club. But after my first inspection I quickly realized the tees had as much contour as the greens at the club. I also noticed that the tee were lined players left of the fairway directly into hazard.
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| View from previous back tee |
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| View of back tee after |
N Cycle of pHish Ponds on Golf Courses
With a growing trend towards dedicating water features as wildlife habitat, turf staff must now find ways of balancing the aesthetic value of a water feature with the challenge of a hazard while preserving the ecological integrity of the pond.
Learning the basics of pond chemistry can help turf staff understand how flora, fauna and human influences play an intricate part in the nitrogen cycle. Here's a basic review.
pH is perhaps the most complicated chemistry topic when it comes to understanding water chemistry. pH is the measurement of free hydrogen ions in water as measured on a logarithmic scale of 1 to 14, with 7 considered neutral. Ponds should be between 5.5 and 8.5, the ideal range is 7.0 and 7.4.
High pH readings indicate that more hydrogen ions have bonded and are part of a molecule, primarily water molecules. Low pH readings indicate more free ions in the water.
Learning the basics of pond chemistry can help turf staff understand how flora, fauna and human influences play an intricate part in the nitrogen cycle. Here's a basic review.pH is perhaps the most complicated chemistry topic when it comes to understanding water chemistry. pH is the measurement of free hydrogen ions in water as measured on a logarithmic scale of 1 to 14, with 7 considered neutral. Ponds should be between 5.5 and 8.5, the ideal range is 7.0 and 7.4.
High pH readings indicate that more hydrogen ions have bonded and are part of a molecule, primarily water molecules. Low pH readings indicate more free ions in the water.
Best Management Practices for Golf Courses Video Series
Created by The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, with help from Auburn University and financial assistance from the EPA, this two part video series discusses the Best Management Practices on golf courses. It's a great overview, basic, but informative.
Organic Golf Architecture
While the term sustainability has different meaning to different people, a sustainable approach to golf course development begins through an “organic approach” to golf architecture.
It was legendary American building architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) who coined the termed “organic architecture”. Wright emphasized harmony between architecture and the natural world through design approaches which are sympathetic and well-integrated with the environment.
#9 Cypress Point Club at Monterey, California. Laid out by legendary golf architect Alister Mackenzie, the design of Cypress Point is extremely sympathetic and well-integrated with the environment. Gas vs Electric vs Solar Assisted Golf Carts
This is awesome...
"A new report, by the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP), a multi-agency program led by the Toronto and Region Conservation, is shedding new light on the energy efficiency of gas, electric and solar-assisted golf carts. The report, released today, determined that gas carts were on average over three times less fuel efficient than an electric golf cart. In real terms, the difference in fuel economy between a gas and electric golf cart is similar to that of a Hummer H3 SUV and a Toyota Prius Hybrid car. Findings show that electric carts have 85 per cent lower fuel costs and produce one-quarter of the emissions of gas carts. STEP also determined that a solar-assisted golf cart isn't the only solution when looking to reduce air pollution and cutting greenhouse gas emissions."
Ohhh.... keep reading you'll like this...
"A solar-assisted cart might obtain an energy savings of 12 per cent over a conventional electric cart which is much less than manufacturer claims of 30-50 per cent. More importantly the study found that the energy consumed by the carts varied greatly, indicating that other factors relating to cart condition (e.g tire pressure, new bearings) or driver behaviour may be more important than the solar panels in determining overall energy consumption. The report concludes that a well-maintained electric cart, free of mechanical problems may offer better energy and financial savings than the purchase of solar panels."
The full report is after the jump...
"A new report, by the Sustainable Technologies Evaluation Program (STEP), a multi-agency program led by the Toronto and Region Conservation, is shedding new light on the energy efficiency of gas, electric and solar-assisted golf carts. The report, released today, determined that gas carts were on average over three times less fuel efficient than an electric golf cart. In real terms, the difference in fuel economy between a gas and electric golf cart is similar to that of a Hummer H3 SUV and a Toyota Prius Hybrid car. Findings show that electric carts have 85 per cent lower fuel costs and produce one-quarter of the emissions of gas carts. STEP also determined that a solar-assisted golf cart isn't the only solution when looking to reduce air pollution and cutting greenhouse gas emissions."
"A solar-assisted cart might obtain an energy savings of 12 per cent over a conventional electric cart which is much less than manufacturer claims of 30-50 per cent. More importantly the study found that the energy consumed by the carts varied greatly, indicating that other factors relating to cart condition (e.g tire pressure, new bearings) or driver behaviour may be more important than the solar panels in determining overall energy consumption. The report concludes that a well-maintained electric cart, free of mechanical problems may offer better energy and financial savings than the purchase of solar panels."
What To Do With A Broken Down Golf Cart? Drink It!
We're all about recycling and reusing materials here at Turfhugger. That broken down golf cart can usually be used for parts, but once it's reached the ultimate in deterioration and finds a final resting spot, you've got to wave goodbye, raise a glass, and say "cheers"!
Two versions to this drink, enjoy.
Two versions to this drink, enjoy.
Learn How to make a broken down golf cart shot. For more Liqueurs How-To Videos & Articles, visit WonderHowTo.
Smartphones for Supers - Blackberries
What do Smartphones have to do with environmental stewardship and sustainability on golf courses? Everything. Being aware and controlling resource use at the touch of a button, sending/receiving info to consultants, government bodies, and club management decision makers can help get things done quickly and affectively.In Turfhugger's 3 Part Series on Smartphones for Supers we'll look at the three top players - Apple, Blackberry and Android options. (okay, maybe four part if someone can convince me that Windows worth looking at! haha.)
A quick review of the functionality of the device and App's will help give Super's some help in deciding what is the best product for them.
Let's start with Blackberry.
A quick review of the functionality of the device and App's will help give Super's some help in deciding what is the best product for them.
Let's start with Blackberry.
The Best-Laid Plans
From an article in Club and Resort Magazine:"Oregon Golf Course Superintendent David Phipps has helped develop a detailed online IPM plan template that can be customized to fit the maintenance needs of any golf course property.
David Phipps, Golf Course Superintendent at Stone Creek Golf Club in Oregon City, Ore., has helped to develop a free, comprehensive Integrated Pest Management system template that allows fellow superintendents to create a customized IPM plan for their own site specifications.
Calling an IPM plan the cornerstone of environmental stewardship, Phipps believes an effective plan maximizes the use of natural methods to control pests. The template covers topics including turfgrass cultural practices, composting, pest population definition, action thresholds and pesticide specifications.
The IPM plan template has been available for a year, and to date, more than 200 superintendents have registered to take advantage of the service at the website, GreenGolfUSA.com.
Read more here The Best-Laid Plans
Swedish Scientists say Golf is Good for Biodiversity
The question seems heretical until you start looking into the research being done on golf courses and biodiversity. Writing in the journal Ecosystems, two Swedish scientists found that a large majority (63 percent) of the 200+ golf courses they studied in the UK “were found to have ecological values similar to or higher than nature-protected sites” such as forest areas, state parks, and biological preserves. They concluded that “golf courses play an essential role in biodiversity conservation and ecosystems management.” This is no anomaly. Other studies have found that golf courses can provide ideal ecological niches for a variety of species, that they are often a reservoir for bumblebee populations, and that “green keepers can contribute greatly to conservation by providing . . . habitats for endangered local species.”
Toro GDC vs. Rainbird IC
There's been some talk on LinkedIn, our Comment Section and in emails about the RainBird IC System. So as we prepare some follow up to this post by Darryl James, let's watch a little video explaining the differences between the Rain Bird IC and the Toro GDC.
Warning, this video is extremely biased. It's actually kinda funny, especially when he gets in to the "They were first..." section, hilarious.
Check out the Rainbird IC System and the Toro GDC for yourself.
Warning, this video is extremely biased. It's actually kinda funny, especially when he gets in to the "They were first..." section, hilarious.
Check out the Rainbird IC System and the Toro GDC for yourself.
What is Geothermal?
I'm currently working with a client on a project to totally "green" their facility. We're exploring many options, including Geothermal heating and cooling for the clubhouse. Here are a few basic videos describing the concept, return on investment (ROI) and the installation process.
Greens Clipping Management
One of the main arguments or apprehensions I hear about collecting clippings for composts is that its difficult to get them from A to B. "Garbage Cans of clippings are too heavy and look terrible", "We use walk behind mowers, to drop off clippings at central compost areas is too time consuming", I hear these justifiable concerns all the time. It's kinda bizarre really, clubs will spend thousands of dollars on wash-pads to protect water sources form clippings but then you'll see a pile of clippings dumped in the brush right beside a pond or stream.
So what is the solution? I think this will work for some...
So what is the solution? I think this will work for some...
Establishing Natural Areas from Construction with Architect Mike Nuzzo
"We let the native areas come back naturally without irrigation. Typically irrigation is installed to establish the perimeter and then abandoned after grow-in. Using the irrigated method causes the grow-in to be thicker than the native environment and is a continual maintenance battle to thin out."
This statement demonstrated 3 things to me...
This statement demonstrated 3 things to me...
America Recycles Day
In 3 Ways to Celebrate America Recycles Day on the Ecospheric Blog, three simple ways to recycle (besides recycling) are reviewed in celebration of this little known day of advocacy.
Bugs 'n' Jugs Webinar Series - Lebanon on TurfNet
Beginning Nov. 15, TurfNet and LebanonTurf will present a week of archived Webinars focusing on the benefits of bionutritional products in a fertility program. Entitled “Bionutrition: From Bugs ’N Jugs to Mainstream Fertility” the five-part series will include a 30-minute, pre-recorded Webinar each day through Nov. 19.
No registration is required to view this series, and each presentation, once released, will be available indefinitely for on-demand viewing on TurfNet.com. The schedule includes...
Goats of Pasatiempo Golf and Country Club
Paul Chojnacky discusses the challenges of eradicating non-native species from the barrancas (canyons) at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, CA.
Winter Maintenance on Irrigation Components
Intelligent Use of Water Competition by RainBird
Turfhugger is all about conserving water, and we've featured many projects that accomplish this quite well. In the RainBird Intelligent Use Of Water Competition you can submit and nominate projects that go beyond standard practices and win BIG. You could win the funding you need to make a project a true success! Currently there are NO GOLF PROJECTS, let's change this.
Find & vote on the project you want funded.
Register now, create a project, get involved.
"heard about every joke one could imagine because of the goats"
Kensington Golf Club in Canfield Ohio is an 18 hole facility with driving range on just about 300 acres, so there is lots of grass out there. Superintendent Sean Novotny says "What we use the goats for is to eat all the foliage down so that we're not in there with weed eaters and gas powered motors, to basically reduce our carbon footprint on the environment".
And the goats aren't just saving the golf course a lot of time, they're also saving them a lot of money.
"We've saved a couple of thousand dollars if not more just on labor costs and fuel costs just by having the goats taking care of these naturalized areas to where we wouldn't have to,". The goats were purchased at a livestock auction in Middlefield, Ohio, for $50 each, and they have been working at the golf course since the spring. Employees say they have heard about every joke one could imagine because of the goats being there.
"We've saved a couple of thousand dollars if not more just on labor costs and fuel costs just by having the goats taking care of these naturalized areas to where we wouldn't have to,". The goats were purchased at a livestock auction in Middlefield, Ohio, for $50 each, and they have been working at the golf course since the spring. Employees say they have heard about every joke one could imagine because of the goats being there.
Machrihanish Dunes - The Black Sheep of Golf
In many circles black sheep might be shunned, Not at Argyll’s ground breaking Machrihanish Dunes Golf Course on the Mull of Kintyre.
Recently I spoke with GEO Certified Machrihanish Dunes Superintendent Keith Martin to discuss what life is like as the Black Sheep of golf and why this particular breed was chosen for Mach Dunes.
"These black sheep are Machrihanish Dunes’ first flock of Hebridean sheep, recruited as part of its ongoing commitment to managing the course through environmentally friendly maintenance practices.
Native to the west of Scotland, Hebridean sheep are a breed of small black sheep which are hardy and thrive on the rough grasses found amongst the dunes.
Goats Love Monarch Dunes
Goats are helping to trim the grass at Monarch Dunes Golf Course in Nipomo.
"The goats have been loving it," says Tom Elliott, golf course superintendent. "Every time we see them, we come out in the morning and they're so happy to see us and they've just been as happy as can be, because the grass out here at the Monarch Dunes is the best, best quality grass on any golf course around."
"The goats have been loving it," says Tom Elliott, golf course superintendent. "Every time we see them, we come out in the morning and they're so happy to see us and they've just been as happy as can be, because the grass out here at the Monarch Dunes is the best, best quality grass on any golf course around."
Natural Mowers Getting the Boot, It's a Shame.
Last year out-and-back.net posted a piece on "Golf Industry Layoffs?"
From Out and Back
"It's a Shame": The Original Greenkeepers from outandback on Vimeo.
Martin Kaufmann of Golfweek has filed a rather disheartening piece from Wales on a movement at Pennard Golf Club to remove grazing animals from the golf course.
“For a first-time visitor like me,” Kaufmann writes, “The cattle were an amusing quirk to a tremendous old links. And since none of my shots landed in a cow patty, I could laugh it off. But I can see how it would quickly get old for members. Bennett would love to have the cattle removed from the course and tear down the electric fencing that encircles the greens.”
To say that the ruminants add amusing quirk isn’t wrong, but there’s more to it than that. The animals are part of an established linksland ecosystem–take them away and the place changes. The horses, sheep and cattle eat like crazy, which is one of the reasons why Pennard has superb links turf in the first place, and their manure provides a source of natural fertilizer to keep it healthy.This 2-minute short shows the beneficial effects of grazing animals on links golf courses. Set in Wales at Pennard, Southerndown, Clyne and Aberdovey. Beautiful courses.
From Out and Back
"It's a Shame": The Original Greenkeepers from outandback on Vimeo.
Demands For Faster Greens Can Be Counter Productive
GCSAA Sustainable Moments - Snags and Woodpiles on the Golf Course
Tim Hiers, CGCS at The Old Collier Golf Club, explains why it is beneficial to wildlife to keep snags (AKA "Cavity Trees", "Widow Makers") and create woodpiles on the golf course.
Colony Collapse Disorder, is Imidacloprid the Culprit?
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| Image by Lela Dowling |
To the average “Joe” bees are more of annoyance then vital link in the food chain. Without the honey bee one third of the food produced would be in jeopardy. Bees are trucked around the countryside to farms and orchards to accomplish pollination on a mammoth scale.
These important insects are fast becoming in major peril due to what scientist are calling Colony Collapse Disorder or CCD.
Eco-Facilities: BMP Manual - Iowa Waste Reduction on the Golf Course
The Iowa Waste Reduction on the Golf Course manual is a great example of a regional specific guide to waste management on the golf course. The guide is fairly basic, but goes beyond the usual golf oriented material to describe the proper disposal methods of waste products we find on courses.
Gary Player - "Outside of nature is good for the inside of a human being"
In this interview at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, Gary Player declares that the "outside of nature is good for the inside of a human being".
Mach Dunes Receives GEO Certification, 1st in Scotland!
Turfhugger.com would like to congratulate one of our newest contributors, Keith Martin of Machrihanish Dunes (Check this post), who just received full Golf Environment Organisation (GEO) Certification. Congrats! First in Scotland and one of the very few to meet this standard in the world.
Here is GEO's Press Release on Mach. Dunes.
From the Verifiers (Carolyn Hedley) Certification Report:
My visit to Machrihanish Dunes has confirmed that even in the most sensitive of sites such as this SSSI designated area, this golf development not only protects the special habitats in which it exists, but enhances and improves the ecological value of the area while at the same time providing a wonderful natural links golf experience for visitors.
Robotic Turf Staff Always Show Up On Time
We've seen a rapid improvement in turf maintenance vehicles over the last few years. Electric mowers are becoming more popular because of their quiet, consistent reel speed and the rising cost of fuel. Some companies are looking at going even further and offering a robotic product that is pre-programed to mow at particular heights, speeds, patterns and frequencies. Efficiency is a good thing, but how far down this path do we want to go especially when robots are notorious for causing job losses. Here's a list of machines most likely to replace or at least help turf staff in the future.
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