As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
This time around I contacted Ross Miller, Superintendent at Trump National's Championship Course in DC. I approached Ross because of his experience with irrigation design, installation, general drainage, renovation and overall managerial skills.
I'm going to say yes... end of discussion. Check out our review of "Pasture Golf"
Perhaps it's only within the circles in which I roll, but it seems more golfers are willing to try a less intense type of golf. This example below is an "extreme" version, but looks like fun, and thats the purpose of golf right?
The Buffalo Chip Classic, Pasture Golf benefitting Frontier Texas! This 4 minute video is a preview of the 2009 event at Fort Phantom Hill near Abilene. This event was inspired by a pasture golf event in Cuero, TX.
Recently a pissed off superintendent brought to my attention that industry organizations have made too many cuts to environmental research related to the effect of golf courses on the environment. "The future of golf relies on this kind of research" he said. "How are future superintendents suppose to know what to change if we don't understand why something happens, how do we even know if we are influencing changes in the first place?". I told him to donate some money to Turfhugger and we'll do our own studies... I haven't seen any come in yet! haha.
Regardless there's still lots out there, and perhaps we should look outside our industry for a look at the effect of golf courses on the environment.
The River Basins Research Initiative (RBRI) in SC, began in 1996 with two Furman University students studying a 3 km2 watershed, and has grown to become an interdisciplinary study of the Broad and Saluda River Basins that, since 1999, has involved more than 170 student participants.
With permission, I swiped the following post from the blog of Mike Kearns, Superintendent at Crown Isle Resort and Golf Community in Courtenay BC. I've been following Mikes blog closely in anticipation for more info of his Garry Oak project. Mike goes in to excellent detail of the project in his Case Study, as part of his Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program Certification. Thanks Mike and Judy for allowing us to spread the word of your efforts, find the whole case study after the jump!
Garry Oak meadow with camas lilies, Uplands Park (photo by Chris Junck)
This past week I've heard "I hate the word sustainability" from four different people - Two from our industry, one from my family, and an old friend. When Turfhugger started off we tried to clarify this term, you can find input from a number of people in the golf industry here. To continue our understanding, here's a video, followed by some clarification care of the Natural Step Program.
From Natural Step:
The earth is a naturally sustainable system. However, the accumulated impacts of human activity threaten our continued well-being. Research by an international network of scientists defined three basic conditions that must be met to maintain the essential natural resources, structures and functions that sustain human society. They also acknowledged that human action is the primary cause of the rapid degradation of nature. A fourth system condition addresses the social and economic considerations driving those actions and our capacity as human beings to meet our basic needs.
I've been sitting on this video (and that joke) for awhile, neither are getting any newer. I think this is an excellent environmental promo video on behalf of the Alberta Golf Industry Association, what are your thoughts?
Shimon Steinberg is chief scientist at Bio-Bee, a world leader in mass production of the world's best natural, biological control agents: bugs. (Beneficial bugs are replacing the use of chemical sprays in greenhouse vegetables and open field crops, producing pesticide-free food and eliminating hazardous exposure of millions of workers in third world countries.) These insects are shipped worldwide, where they go to work protecting thousands of hectares of greenhouses and open fields, in vegetables, field crops, fruit trees, ornamental plants and more.
"My dream is to narrow the gap even more by finding more robust and reliable good bugs we can mass produce or conserve in the field, as well as create more public demand for natural pest control and increase awareness among growers."Shimon Steinberg
Here's a good little example of what I am often referring to here at Turfhugger as "self sufficiency". Over the past several years, the Landscape Services team in Harvards Facilities Maintenance Operations group (FMO) has been transitioning its maintenance programs from conventional to fully organic methods. Composting food wastes in to fertilizers has helped Harvards University Operations Services (UOS) demonstrate basic sustainability principles at a not so basic facility.
We’ve all heard the saying “give a man a fish and he’ll eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for life”. The goal of this maxim is to demonstrate that a principled approach is long lasting and sustainable. Practices are simply there to help fulfill the principle. In golf course maintenance we are constantly asked to incorporate Best Management Practices, but if we do not understand and embrace the under-lying principle, the goal (or fish) can get away.
Scouting and monitoring for early signs of pests is the foundation of any IPM program. It's important to be aware of all the contributing factors. I recently spoke with Justin Ruiz, CGCS from the Rim Golf Club in Payson, Arizona about scouting, "using growing degree days to anticipate insect pressure has been the back bone of my Integrated Plant Management Program".
The following is Ruiz's presentation from the 2009 GCSAA innovative superintendent session. "I took a section from our IPM program and explained our approach to the anticipation and control of Billbugs on our course".
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
I met Tom Mead back in October, a well known golf sustainability consultant/ turfgrass expert from Traverse City Michigan. Later that month Tom wrote one of our most popular posts to date - 7 Ways to Reduce Energy Consumption on the Golf Course.
Tom is widely known in the golf industry for his sustainable turfgrass practices and work at well-known courses like Sand Hills, Whistling Straits and Pacific Dunes. He's a former superintendent who has been in the golf business for 36 years. With a focus on urban infill projects and the development of sustainable golf courses, Toms become one of my "go to" guys when I'm looking for info. His extensive experience which comprises planning, permitting, construction, grow-in and renovations, includes stints at Crystal Downs Country Club in Frankfort, MI, as well as collaborations with course designers Tom Doak, Tom Weiskopf, Jay Morrish and Arthur Hills.
I always love when I show up at a club and they have an electric Workman ready for me. So quiet, so nice. One of the draw backs to electric vehicles are the weight of the batteries, which gives Hydrogen a leg up. However, Hydrogen is notoriously expensive and production can be energy intensive itself. I think there's promise, and so do others as just back on October 30th Toro became one step closer to make this a reality:
"Toro caught the attention of ATK’s Center for Energy and Aerospace Innovation (CEAI), based in Ronkonkoma, New York. Toro’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology (CATT) will assist in designing two operational machines based on the Toro Workman chassis and similar to what the company successfully demonstrated in New York." - Press Release
We'll follow up with a hands-on review of this technology and product. In the mean time check out this promo video by Toro and some background info after the jump.
Pictured here is Yamaha's
"Poo-Powered" Methane
Golf Cart
Golf Digest claims 78% of golfers worldwide prefer to walk, while in America that number is only 51%. That's a huge potential market of minimally athletic athletes, it's no wonder golf carts are literally everywhere.
One of the greatest environmental accomplishments of the golf industry was the conversion from gas to electric powered carts. In fact, golf carts are revered in electric vehicle circles as being the gateway to a new mode of affordable and efficient transportation, an accomplishment that golf is seldom recognized for.
There's been a few other tweaks to golf carts including Roof-Top Solar Panels, and the possibility of Bio-Diesel, Methane Power and even Hydrogen! But besides the normal cart design there's only a few options.
In our first look at the future of golf carts, we'll going to review two designs that are both radically different from a typical cart and both currently available.
All eye's are on the preparation of Monday's NFL game between the Vikings and Bears at TCF Stadium, home of the University of Minnesota's Golden Gophers. While there's lots of concern with when play will return to the Metrodome, due to this, and the logistics of TCF hosting this game, here at Turfhugger we are going straight to the environmental aspects of this location, and as you'll see there's a lot going on at TCF Stadium.
As of September 9th 2009, the TCF Bank Stadium was the first LEED certified collegiate or professional football facility in the US. LEED Certification of TCF Bank Stadium was based on a number of green design and construction features, including:
A 50 percent reduction in the use of potable water for landscape irrigation.
A storm water management system that allows rain water to be captured into a comprehensive underground filtering system outside the stadium, where it is harvested, filtered and drained into the Mississippi River.
Steel for the stadium is 90 percent recycled and was fabricated primarily in Minneapolis.
A reflective roof to reduce heat island effect.
Paint, carpet, sealants and adhesives that are low in volatile organic compounds, which can aggravate health problems.
98 percent of the construction waste from the site was recycled.
A 30 percent reduction in indoor potable water use.
Research at the University of Minnesota has revealed that road salt used throughout the winter is making the state's lakes and rivers saltier, which could affect aquatic life and drinking water. The research indicates that better training of snow plow drivers and more judicious use of road salt could help lessen the impact and save the state money.
The researchers studied 39 lakes, three major rivers, 10 tributaries and numerous observation wells, and the results are alarming. They found that approximately 70 percent of the road salt being applied in the metro area is retained in our watershed. The university researchers recently reported their findings to the Local Road Research Board. Nearly 350,000 tons of sodium chloride, commonly referred to as road salt, are applied for de-icing in the Twin Cities metro area every year.
They are huge water wasters, take up valuable land, uncontrollable use of natural resources and create pollution run-off - no I don't work for the New York Times and am writing about golf courses, I'm talking about big feed lots!
Now straight-up, I'm not a fan. But none-the-less, feed lots are a reality of our food systems and they have to deal with real environmental issues, more so than the golf industry.
Last year Stoney Point AgriCorp of Melissa, Texas, was an Environmental Stewardship Award Winner by the National Cattlemens Beef Association. What does this have to do with golf? Well what caught my attention is how they've chosen to use the solid waste and run-off from the dairy operation as a "nutrient rich" source of irrigation for sod growing.
Stoney Point partnered with a turf-grass company to use nutrient-rich water from its retention ponds to irrigate 35 acres of turf-grass. A portion of the nutrient-rich manure is also used to improve top soil. Use of manure in a joint venture with Hope Agri-Products to compost and bag organic matter for sale in many retail stores. They also implemented grass filter strips to reduce sediment run-off.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
Keith Martin is the Superintendent/Keeper of the Greens at Machrihanish Dunes, the newly GEO Certified, no pesticide, lot's of sheep, real links golf course. Keith has contributed a few times to Turfhugger, here and here, and the golf course has received no shortage of praise for it's environmental practices, here. Check out his blog here.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
I recently asked Pat Jones "Who is Pat Jones?", to which he replied: "I’m just an accidental tourist in the golf/turf business. Ended up in this crazy thing completely by chance 25 years ago and never left".
Well I guess some accidents happen for a reason as Pat's career grew from overseeing communications and fundraising at GCSAA headquarters, to creating Golfdom magazine, starting a consulting service for golf/turf companies, Flagstick LLC, and serving on several corporate and non-profit boards, including the Musser Turfgrass Research Foundation.
I know Pat as editorial director of Golf Course Industry magazine, where he runs and contributes articles, blogs, videos and his award-winning “Parting Shots” column each month. Pat's unique perspective offers up hope and a dose of reality, enjoy and please share your thoughts in the comments section.
This Web Based App for all Smart Phones or Mobile Devices seems very useful if you know you want to spray a BASF product. It'll guide you from soil temp = disease options = BASF product options. This would be a really great resource if it included other identification, scouting tips or cultural methods associated with selected pest. Product description and Video courtesy of BASF below.
BASF Turf Disease Control—the newly launched Web app from BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals, gives U.S. golf course superintendents immediate access to free, comprehensive disease control program recommendations specific to Northeast, Midwest, Transition and Southern regions and turf types. In addition to helping superintendents control known diseases, the app helps predict diseases based on the time of year or, in the case of the Southern region, based on soil temperature. It then recommends fungicide applications, timing and rates from Kyle Miller and Kathie Kalmowitz, Ph.D., the BASF Professional Turf & Ornamentals Technical Specialists who developed the disease programs. Visit www.basfturfdiseasecontrol.com to use the app or www.basfturftalk.com to learn more.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
I first met Chris when I audited his golf courses operations for the Ontario IPM Accreditation Program. Four years later, Chris is now a regular contributor to Turfhugger and I am no longer an Auditor - So no conflict of interest here!
His time at the Raven Golf Club at Lora Bay (a High-end, semi-private golf club located in Thornbury Ontario) allowed him to experiment with turf varieties, bring the course to full Audubon Certification and become one of the first IPM Accredited golf courses in Ontario.
Oh! And they hosted a number of high profile events including the 2007 Telus World Skins and the Wayne Gretzky Classic.
Chris lives in Collingwood Ontario with his wife Nada and three children Holly, Ben and April.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
Many of you hardcore Turfhugger readers remember Darryl James, our "Irrigation Guru". Darryl's had a busy year in Ontario Canada, providing courses in the Greater Toronto Area with Irrigation, Agronomy and Tree management solutions. When Darryl's not representing his company Arbor Turf Solutions, he's taking good care of his wife Robin, who's expecting a baby within the next month.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
Turfhugger has hosted a few posts (here, here and here) by Daivd Phipps, Superintendent of Stone Creek Golf Course near Portland Oregon. Phipps has been featured through GCSAA.TV numerous times for his environmental efforts, he's been recognised with numerous awards and we went to him for some tips on talking to the media about environmental issues.
One major tenant of "sustainability" that seems to be missing from most descriptions of the term in our industry is the concept of becoming self-sufficient. Why is this an important concept? By sourcing materials locally or even within our own property lines, we reduce dependency on the resource intensive transportation, production and extraction of materials. Perhaps the greatest opportunity accessible to all golf courses is composting.
Furthermore, for Island golf courses who find themselves surounded by a "money moat", the cost (economically and environmentally) to import materials is significantly higher than a golf course within the mainland web of highways. One course that has adopted composting practices as a means of managing wastes, improving aesthetics, reducing outward expenditures and creating the perfect size and consistency for use in turf is Gorge Vale Golf Club on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.
I've been lucky enough to have a tour of the property (take your own here) and decided to interview Golf Course Superintendent Scott Wheeler for more info on his Composting Program.
A Sustainable Golf Course 2010 Update:
Last week I posted on how we have worked to make Northland Country Club a sustainable golf course. The post was written and posted on my blog last winter and I wanted to go through each item and give an update on what we learned this season, what worked and what we may have had to change.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
Turfhugger has hosted a couple posts (here and here) by Joe Jemsek, the Chicago area Golf Course Architect whose designs reach beyond our industries expectations to consider sustainability as a principle, not a catch phrase.
While many criticize Apple’s products for their limited keyboard options, iJunkies reply “just turn it in to landscape mode”. Other points of criticism include lack of customizable themes, basic camera and Apps are only available through iTunes. Despite what hang-ups you have over Apples products, you can’t argue against their durability and lightweight making them not get in the way, and sometimes that’s the best feature of all. Apple has done a great job promoting its App’s as they do have the largest collection of all the smart-phones… for now.
Some of the “not yet Android” Apps for supers include:
Ok, I will explain the process from the beginning. You can skip ahead if you already know the basics.
First off a degree day is a unit you can calculate using a base temperature and a maximum threshold temperature. Some insects or weeds (poa) can have different min and max temps for calculation.
Example would be Masked Chafers have a lower max temp than billbugs. This temperature is important only when the high for the day is greater than the threshold.
These parameters are the limits of that insect or plant’s active development. That is what we are trying to measure so we can anticipate optimum stages to control with either cultural or chemical practices.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come. A list of Top 50 of the Last Ten, Next Ten will be coming soon too!
In the mean time lets start with a NEW interview with Ken Cousineau, Executive Director of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. Check out our 2009 interview with Mr. Cousineau here.
Although this Monster Elk pic was taken at the Fairmont Banff Springs,
we had to show just how big these guys can get!
I wanted to do a special post on our current status about Elk on our property because it has been an issue for some time. The three years that I have been on property I have not seen such a problem. We have been pretty successful in keeping the Elk off of the property. We have had problems with breaks in our perimeter fence that has allowed access to many herds of Elk.
As we roll through the first year of this decade I've asked two standard questions to a few key players in our industry. I wanted to know their thoughts, from their unique role and perspective, on what we saw over this last ten years and what to expect in the ten to come.
