Golfdom Summit photo parade part two

Clark Throssell, Ph.D., gives a presentation

A one-on-one meeting in action with Redexim

Having a bad round? Not when you see this on the ground.

Payne Stewart statue outside Pinehurst clubhouse

Summit supers and sponsors applaud Clark's talk

Kevin Stoltman (VP, Questex Media), Rees Jones, Ken Mangum, CGCS (Atlanta Athletic Club) and Chris Vernon (Jacobsen) prepare for golf

Blasting out of a bunker

The greens were fierce!

Golfdom Summit photo parade part one

Warming up for Pinehurst No. 2

Bob Farren, CGCS, greets Ken Mangum, CGCS

Handshakes all around after an amazing round on No. 2

Rees Jones delivers his keynote at the Golfdom Summit

Boardroom meeting with eager listeners

Golfdom EIC Seth Jones at the podium

Matt Hendren and Bill Irving at the evening reception

Tyler Otero, Brian Nettz and Steve Sarro at the evening reception

Emil Miller discusses the features on a Smithco sprayer to a superintendent

A room full of superintendents listens as Rees Jones makes his keynote address at the Golfdom Summit

Clark talking turf at the Golfdom Summit

Hopefully the photo shows up this time!


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Pat Roberts and Hendren

Last interview of the day...

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Day two of Goldom Summit winding down

Meetings, meetings, meetings... interviews, interviews, interviews... it's almost time to kick back, turn on the Jayhawks game, and celebrate an awesome start.

Pictured here, Tyler Otero of Trump National GC, Colts Neck, does a Golfdom TV interview.

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We are getting a ton of positive feedback

On the first ever Golfdom Summit...

"I don't need to see a pile of equipment sitting in the middle of a room, I can see it online. I like this better because you can actually sit down with everyone one-on-one. You know what I wish? I wish there were more vendors here to meet with."

-- Walter Pritchett, Hurstbourne Country Club, Louisville, Ky.

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Intelligent Use of Water Awards

Sitting less than a mile from one of the Great Lakes (Erie) it's sometimes hard to remember there are places in the world — places in this country — where water is much more scarce. There's no question our industry plays a huge role in the protecting this most precious resource.

The folks at Rain Bird understand that, too. That's why Golfdom and our sister publication Landscape Management supported Rain Bird's Intelligent Use of Water film competition earlier this year, and we plan to do the same with a new program, the Intelligent Use of Water Awards.

Rain Bird will award a total of more than $50,000 to projects that "use water efficiently, promote green spaces and are examples of sustainability." Individual projects can earn $1,500, $5,000 or $10,000. Simply put the contest is open to "anyone with a water conservation project in need of funding."

Entrants submit their projects to the contest website where the public votes on the projects it thinks are most important. As of this writing their are only six projects available to vote on, but since the contest just started, we don't think there will be so few projects to consider in the near future. You can vote on projects or submit your own here. Voting ends March 15, 2012.

According to the contest website: "Once a project is submitted it is made available for public voting, meaning anyone can anonymously cast their vote for their favorite project. All projects can be anonymously voted on by visitors (one vote a day per project, per individual user), and the projects with the most votes in each funding category will be awarded a combined $51,000 in grants to be used towards the completion of their winning project. Winners will be announced on World Water Day – March 22, 2011."

We'll do our best to check in on the contest during the next several months. So check back here periodically for updates. Let us know if you've entered the competition. We'd love to hear about the water project you think is worthy of some prize money.

Getting some serious business done

One of our sponsors just told me this is the best golf event he'd ever done... I said, "great, I need that comment on video!" And he smiled and said, "no way, I want this to be a secret!

I think the secret is about to get out!

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Rees Jones speaking at Golfdom Summit

Look for details in next month's issue of Golfdom!

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# 16

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Yep, this place is awesome

Having a blast, my caddie is awesome!

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At Pineurst # 2

Putting shame in the game... with my game.

Awesome course, crazy tough!

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Time is running out!

To nominate someone for the Herb Graffis Business Person of the Year award!

Get your last-minute submissions in here.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 42 -- Buried, literally, in a bunker

I don’t know about you but for me golf is a sacred time reserved for me, my buddies and occasionally my dad when he can fit me in. It is a four to five hour vacation from normal life. No honey-do lists, no diapers to change, just a time to recharge my batteries. Golf is a time to hang out with good friends, enjoy a few cocktails and swear like a sailor.

At least that is what I thought until I discovered Sunset Hills Memorial Golf Park in Bellevue, Wash. Sunset Hills Memorial Golf Park is a cemetery that features a complete golf hole which allows committed fans of the game to be buried or placed in a permanent golf setting, the nation’s first golf-themed memorial park.

If you've been pondering nominationg someone for the Graffis award...

NOW IS THE TIME!!!

Only two days left to get your nominations in!

If you know someone who has been creative, insightful, daring, bold or just downright brilliant when it comes to getting the most out of the golf course, nominate them for the Graffis Business Person of the Year award! It's a short form to fill out. We're only accepting nominations until this Friday. Winner gets an all-expenses paid trip to the Golf Industry Show in Las Vegas as well as a feature story about them in an upcoming issue of GOLFDOM.

Nominate your candidate here: http://www.golfdom.com/awards/business-award

The benefits of turfgrass video

Great video from the folks at BASF about the benefits of turfgrass. Cool graphics, too!

Rocking the Irrigation Association show

Well, I'm not sure that I'm rocking the show, exactly, but I am here in San Diego checking out my first IA show. So far, so good.

If you're here and you want to talk golf with me, shoot me a note and we'll meet up! Text me at 785.550.2560 or direct message me (@golfdom) on Twitter. No kidnappers, please.

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See you at the Irrigation Show!

Golfdom will be on the ground in San Diego next week reporting from the Irrigation Show. Stop by and see us, we'll be at booth 1355 with our sister publication, Landscape Management.

Deadlines and Nitrozymes

Wow, I'm glad that's over. We just finished up a big Golfdom deadline. You guys are going to love our new issue, it's got a good variety. Very different than last month, when the whole issue stuck to one theme (Turf on Trial). This month, we're all over the place with Golfdom goodness.

I just got off the phone with Dick Duggan, superintendent at The Meadow at Peabody in Peabody, Mass. We were talking turf products. Dick likes using Turf Vigor from Lebanon Turf. And if you say it in Dick's Boston accent, you say it, "Turf Vig-ahhh."

He also dropped a new one on me: Nitrozyme from Growth Technology. "It's a good product, check it out," he told me. "If you don't try new things, how will you know?"

Well said, Dick, well said.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 41 -- I'm on Golfdom TV!

Hey everybody, here's the video I did while in Orlando checking out the RG3 Robotic Greens mower. I'm pretty pumped with the way it turned out! Seth tells me this video will be sent out in next week's Golfdom Insider, but he was cool with me posting it here first.

And no, that's not an illusion... my shirt always does that cool 3-D wavy effect, like you're stuck in the Matrix, when you look directly at me. That's just how I roll! (Seth has asked me to stick to the solid-colored shirts in the future. Jerk.)  

Golfdom contributing editor Matt Hendren, a superintendent with the city of Kansas City, Kan., flew to Orlando to take a look at an autonomous robotic greensmower and to talk with Sean O'Brien, the superintendent utilizing them on his greens.

Our cab got sideswiped in Louisville, yet neither of the drivers seemed even remotely upset. Impressive!

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GIE Day 2

It's been non-stop here today. Saw Toro's newest Z Master Commercial 2000 Series today, as well as Bobcat's new compact excavator. The day's winding down!

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Notes from the GIE and EXPO

Lots of action today at the GIE! Mowers and aerators galore!

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Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 40 -- My degree in RG3

Sean O'Brien, director of grounds, Hawk's Landing.

Last week I had the opportunity to take a trip to Orlando to Hawk’s Landing Golf Club as the guest of Precise Path Robotics to check out the RG3 robotic greens mower. The RG3 is the industry’s only autonomous, robotic greens mower and features the industry's best warranty on any greens mower. Look for more information in the November issue of Golfdom!

Going to check out the RG3 was my first of hopefully many assignments for Golfdom. It was a great trip and if you followed some of my posts form Orlando you already know Precise Path rolled out the red carpet. I had my own town car awaiting to take me to and from the airport! I realize I may be showing my cards here a little bit but I thought that was AWESOME! One of my favorite movies is "Made" featuring Vince Vaughn and it took everything in me not to rip off a scene from the movie and make sure to let all the ladies know, "I’m a tall drink of water and I need to stretch my *&#@ out!" as I climbed into my “limo.”

While in Orlando I got to go to dinner with the gentlemen from Precise Path and also had the privilege of attending a media session where I learned everything I could ever possibly want to know about Precise Path and the RG3. I also got to golf with the gents from Precise Path -- I was surprised that Golfdom was the only industry mag to take Precise Path up on their offer for golf! Let me tell those other mags, you guys missed a nice golf course, Hawk's Landing was sweet (although the weather was blustery that day) and you also missed my EAGLE!

At the end of the trip I received a diploma for completing RG3 University. I’m pretty sure the RG3 diploma is on the same level as an honorary degree from Harvard or Princeton so I am now being sought out by several Fortune 500 companies!

All joking aside, the trip was awesome and the RG3 is a great product and a glimpse into the future of golf course maintenance. Make sure to check out November’s issue for all the details, as well as next week's Golfdom Insider e-newsletter for a Golfdom TV interview I did with Sean O'Brien, director of golf at Hawk's Landing.

-- Matt Hendren

We're here in Louisville for the GIE and EXPO!

We're here and getting ready for the big show! Be sure and stop by our booth (# 3018) and say hello. Maybe you'll even see these two jokers -- Pat Roberts and Marty Whitford!

Kershasky joins Reinders Inc.

Reinders Inc. announced recently that Jerry Kershasky has joined the company to help serve the Chicago market. He will be a Territory Manager in the Soft Goods Business Group responsible for sales and product support.

For the past 37 years, Jerry has been the superintendent at Westmoor Country Club, a Championship 18 hole course in Brookfield, Wis. As superintendent he coordinated the effort in gaining membership approval and then supervising a major course renovation in 2008 that included an XGD drainage install and the fumigation and regrassing of greens.  He worked closely with Lohmann Golf Designs of Marengo, Ill. to establish a sustainable course design. This renovation project was instrumental in lowering the annual golf course operational budget.

Turk's Irrigation Tips

If you get Golfdom's e-newsletters, then you already received today's "Inside Irrigation" email. But if you didn't, below is what you missed!

You can subscribe to Golfdom's e-newsletters by clicking here.

Turk's Tips

An irrigation professional of 25 years shares his most valuable tips for maintaining problem-free irrigation systems.

By Seth Jones

Joe Turk owns and operates Turf Assist, which services golf course irrigation systems in San Diego, Palm Springs, Riverside and the Orange County area of California. He first started working on irrigation systems when he was only 17, and now, 25 years later, he finds himself busier than ever trouble-shooting systems on golf courses.

"I don't like making people feel bad when they mess up their systems," Turk says. "So I try to tell them, 'Hey, instead of doing this, next time, do this.'"

Turk says that the customers who do the below tips regularly are some of his worst customers, because he never has to visit their courses.

"The guys who do this, they have it going on," Turk says. "I never hear from them. That's fine with me, I'm impressed."

Back up your irrigation database

When was the last time you backed up your database? Stop reading and do it right now, you might thank me later. Guys get busy and they think their computers will take care of them. Then, the computer crashes and guess what -- the last backup was six months ago. The computer can't help you unless you back up often.

Check out this interview with your pal Seth!

I had a feeling it was going to be a good week for Golfdom, and this just caps it off!

Scott Morrison from TurfHugger.com contacted me for an interview on the Herb Graffis Business Person of the Year Award. You can read that interview right here:


http://turfhugger.blogspot.com/2011/10/herb-graffis-business-person-of-year.html

Thanks, Scott, for your interest in the award. Now, everyone, think of a worthy nominee, and go here to nominate them!

http://www.golfdom.com/awards/business-award

Borman to accept Carolinas DSA

It was just announced that Chuck Borman will accept the Distinguished Service Award at next month's Carolinas GCSA conference and show. It's a great gesture by the Carolinas to one of the great personalities in our industry.

I worked at GCSAA during Chuck's brief stint as the association's COO. You could always hear Chuck coming from about a mile away because he has this loud, booming voice, and he simply must greet every person he sees. "Hi Judy, how's it going? Dave, what's happening? Ed, how's the family?" And you'd hear this while he was on the other end of the wing!

My first impression of Chuck was, "Who is this loud guy we hired?" But then I quickly learned that the man can motivate people and get them working toward a common goal. The Carolinas very obviously benefited from these qualities.

Another thing about Chuck: great taste in cars. He's a Chevy muscle car fan, which I can appreciate.

Here's the press release, below. Congrats, Chuck, from all your friends at Golfdom!

Long-time golf industry administrator, Charles M. “Chuck” Borman, CAE will receive the Distinguished Service Award from the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association next month. Borman led the association as executive director for a decade over two stints beginning in the late '90s. Under his leadership the association experienced significant growth in membership, services and revenues. The Distinguished Service Award is the highest honor the 1,800-member association bestows.

Borman will be honored at a special presentation during the association's annual conference and trade show in Myrtle Beach, S.C. that runs Nov. 14-16. The conference and show itself tripled in size during Borman's administration, today providing more than 100 hours of formal education and occupying some 100,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space.

Wisconsin assistant wins Toro greensmower

A lot of assistant superintendents in the news lately, eh?

Here's a press release from Toro about an assistant superintendent winning a Toro Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid riding greensmower.

Two thoughts before I turn you loose on the release:

1. "Petrifying Springs Golf Course" is a great name for a golf course.

2. The other day I entered a drawing for a giant flat-screen TV at my local Dairy Queen. The very next day, DQ called me. "Mr. Jones, this is Amanda from Dairy Queen, I have good news," she said. I took a breath. "Yes?" "You entered our drawing... and you won a Dairy Queen hat! We'll re-enter your name in the drawing for the TV..."

Here's the release about Lori Stanek, who did way better than a Dairy Queen hat:

The crew at Petrifying Springs, including Lori Stanek, assistant superintendent, on the mower, and David Hassel, supervisor of golf conditions, to her left.

Toro would like to congratulate Lori Stanek, assistant golf course superintendent at Petrifying Springs Golf Course in Kenosha, Wis., on winning a new Toro Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid riding greensmower. The giveaway was part of Toro’s “Master the Greens U.S. Tour” equipment demonstration series hosted at golf courses across the country this summer.

“I attended the Master of the Greens tour because they were previewing the new TriFlex mowers from Toro. When I found out I won the mower I was in total disbelief,” recounted Lori Stanek. “This is a great opportunity for Kenosha County to have a quality mower.”

Higgins to Harrell's

News from Harrell's today, regarding Jeff Higgins, Ph.D., joining the company as VP of business development. 

I saw Dr. Higgins do a presentation years ago when he was with Pursell Technologies. His demonstration was energetic as well as entertaining... the guy has a gift for speaking.

Here's the press release: 

Harrell’s, manufacturer and supplier of performance-based turf and ornamental products is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Jeff Higgins to the Executive Team as Vice President of Business Development. He will lead Harrell’s efforts in customer education and manage national accounts for golf, turf and landscape markets. Higgins will report to Harrell’s President Dave Schermerhorn. He is joining Harrell’s from ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance where he served as the Director of Agronomy and was responsible for agronomics and maintenance of over 70 golf courses throughout the United States as well as all vendor relationships.

“ I have worked with Jeff over the years and am delighted to welcome him to Harrell’s,” said Schermerhorn. “This is an exciting time at Harrell’s as we develop innovative ways to better serve our customers. Jeff’s unique and extensive background, coupled with his deep understanding and knowledge of the turfgrass industry, will be an invaluable asset in our long-term efforts."

Hendo in Orlando....Take Three!

Getting ready to tee off at Hawk's Landing in Orlando. It is a beautiful course with some pretty sweet Bermuda greens that were mowed by a robot this morning!

My only complaint is the wind is blowing like I'm back in Kansas! Oh well, here goes nothing!

-- Matt Hendren

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Hendo In Orlando Take Two!

Matt Hendren here again live from Orlando!

Just finished having dinner with Jason Zielke, President and COO of Precise Path Robotics.

Precise Path is the inovator of the RG3 robitic greens mower. The RG3 is the industry's only autonomous robotic greens mower.

Tomorrow I will get a full demonstration of the RG3 in action along with the privlege of playing Hawk's Landing Golf Club, who has been using the RG3 for the past nine months.

Stay tuned for additional post about the RG3 and Hawk's Landing Golf Club!

--Matt Hendren
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Hendo in Orlando!

Greetings Hyperbole fans! It is me, Matt Hendren of Hendren's Hyperbole coming to you live from Orlando! I am here covering a story for Seth since he just added baby number two to the Jones family.

So far everything is going great. I got to make a new friend on the flight. I met Doug the salesman. So I got that going for me anyways. I also got to big time it when I got to Orlando, just like Vince Vaughn did in MADE! The picture is of my driver Steve! How do you like me now?

Stay tuned all week for updates from Orlando.

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Get ready for a big week!

This is the calm before the storm...

This week Golfdom will be bringing you tons of great content. We'll have contributing editors on the ground at both the C-5 turf science meetings in San Antonio as well as at a robotic greensmower demo in Orlando... we've got two e-newsletters ready to go out... and we've got the new issue right here for your reading pleasure!

Check out that cover and try to tell me that's not the best cover in the industry this month, maybe even THIS YEAR!

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 39 -- A little help in the office

What if I told you I had a way to reduce the amount of time you have to spend in your office completing the dreaded -- I mean, required -- paperwork that comes with managing a top notch golf course? Would you be interested? I think I have found a tool that might just do that! It’s called a secretary!

All joking aside, there is a software program called ManagerPlus that can limit the amount of time spent in the office and make managing your maintenance division a breeze. ManagerPlus claims to "…effortlessly and rapidly handle an unlimited number of preventive maintenance schedules for all of your grounds management activities.”

ManagerPlus can track the following aspects of any golf course maintenance facility; scheduling, fuel/oil, work orders, sub assets, depreciation, purchase orders, repair histories, tools, tires, parts inventory, warranty tracking and fuel tracking.

What really caught my eye about this program is the Chemical Applications Manager. It allows you to fill out required chemical tracking reports electronically! Required chemical application information can be complied by chemical or area within application dates. You will have to agree this tool would be a great asset to any chemical application program. Wouldn’t it be great to have chemical application history at your fingertips?

Check out the program at www.managerplus.com.

Shoot me a comment and let me know if you use ManagerPlus or a similar program. Does the use of the program really save you time?

-- Matt Hendren

BackedByBayer.com re-launches

Bayer announced the re-launch of its professional products website, BackedByBayer.com. The newly designed site, which focuses on pest management, turf and ornamental, golf course and vector control professional products, will incorporate new user-friendly features.

Highlighted features include an interactive Resource Library of video and audio from industry professionals and customers. The library will also include downloadable resources such as product guides, labels, material safety data sheets (MSDS) and white papers. Webinars from the Bayer Beyond the Basics series will also be added to the website as an ongoing resource for golf course superintendents.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve the user experience for Bayer customers,” said Camille Gipson, Marketing Communications Manager for Bayer. “Exciting new features and enhanced tools make BackedByBayer.com not only an exceptional resource for information but one that is easy to use. We have made improvements such as mobile optimization and sortable search results to make sure our site is accessible and relevant.”

Golf Digest's shout-out to supers

Nice bit in the new issue (Nov. 2011, Bubba Watson on the cover) of Golf Digest.

In the Editor's Letter, Golf Digest Editor-in-Chief Jerry Tarde gave his 'birdie of the month' to superintendents. He wrote:


"As natural disasters ravaged the country this summer -- from Hurricane Irene and flooding in the East to fires in Texas and extreme heat all over -- maintenance crews labored countless hours to get our courses back to playable. And most (superintendents) have done it with the tighter budgets brought on by a slumping economy. They deserve patience, time and our appreciation."

Hear, hear, Jerry!

Some pics from Green Start Academy

The grounds of Bayer Environmental Sciences Research Center in Clayton, N.C.

Assistant superintendents get ready to tour Bayer's research center grounds, comprising 281 acres.

GCSAA's Greg Lyman speaks about sustainability.

We're baa-aaaaack!

Hello loyal Golfdom readers. Sorry for the unannounced silence last week.

We have a good excuse, though.

Senior editor Beth Geraci was out in the field covering the GreenStart Academy, hosted by John Deere and Bayer, in North Carolina. The event hosts assistant superintendents from around the country for three days of education, networking and brain storming. Speakers included such industry figures as Bob Farren, CGCS, Henry DeLozier, Greg Lyman, Stan Zontek and Lane Tredway. Beth has a notebook full of stories from the event, and we'll be sharing them soon.

Where was I? I was firmly planted at Lawrence (Kan.) Memorial Hospital awaiting the arrival of my second child. I'm happy and proud to report that my son, Boyd Atticus Jones, arrived Wednesday at 6:24 p.m. He weighed 8 pounds 4 ounces and was 20.5 inches long.

I meant to get back to work on Friday, but we were so busy checking out of the hospital, getting the car loaded, getting mom her first decent meal in three days... and overall just remembering what it's like to have a newborn... that I let that idea sail.

But I'm back in the office now!

American Vanguard talks PCNB

Last week I left off with a short story on PCNB and what the lifting of the stop-sale meant for the industry.

This week I caught up with Bill Kuser, director of investor relations for American Vanguard Corp., manufacturer of PCNB. Here's what insight he gave me on where PCNB is currently:

"The court ruled that the stop-sale order by the EPA against that product was inappropriate, it was basically overturned, legally.

That being said, the roughly 12 or 13 months PCNB was off-line, it was due for re-registration and relabeling. The EPA put that on hold while the product was on hold. It has now been necessary, even though we have a legal right to market PCNB, the reality is we have to have these registrations and the proper labels on the containers before that can go out (with the product). We've been working with the EPA diligently to make up for lost time with regard to amending and reissuing the new labels, so the product can go out into the field.

Bottom line: the stop-sale has been legally overturned, we are simply now waiting for the EPA to issue our new amended labels. That process is virtually complete, we're just waiting for them to finalize it. PCNB will be back in the marketplace very shortly for all its major applications. It's a safe and effective product -- always has been -- and it is unfortunate that it wasn't available to users over the last 12 or 13 months."

PCNB's Return

Last month American Vanguard Corp. announced that the stop-sale placed on PCNB fungicide had been lifted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. But superintendents already were forced to work without the product last winter, and availibility of the product this year is unclear.

“This has been a long and trying process which appears to be coming to a conclusion. We are now focused on working with the U.S. EPA to get our amended end-use labels for PCNB products issued as quickly as possible, so that we can return to the market,” Eric Wintemute, chairman and CEO of American Vanguard, said in a statement released by the company. “We are also grateful to our customers for their continued support and patience throughout this ordeal and hope to be in a position to meet their needs in the very near future.”

Rob Golembiewski, Oregon State University turfgrass specialist, said he was at an assistant superintendent’s workshop recently, and news of the lifting of the PCNB stop-sale had not spread yet.

“I think (PCNB) is pretty darn popular. I think there are a lot of good products to control pink and gray snow mold, but for the cost – and in this economy – it’s one of the most effective,” Golembiewski said. “Last year when we lost PCNB, a lot of superintendents had to look for alternatives, and they also had to worry about balancing their budgets. Is it the only product? No. But I guarantee people will integrate it right back into their programs once it becomes available.”

Bruce Cline, superintendent at Gladstone (Mich.) Golf Club said he did pretty well for himself last year without the use of PCNB, and will probably continue the same program this year.

Dow AgroSciences announce new personnel

Dow AgroSciences recently named Andy Kaler to the position of product manager for the U.S. Turf & Ornamental (T&O) business division.

In his new role, Kaler will execute the portfolio marketing strategy and implement product launches, marketing research and communication plans. In 2008, Kaler was hired as a T&O sales representative covering Ohio, Michigan and western Pennsylvania.

He is replacing Patrick Bell, who was recently named product manager for the U.S. Fungicides and Specialty Crop herbicides business. Bell has been with Dow AgroSciences since 2005.

Brett Garrard, product manager for chlorpyrifos insecticides, has accepted the position of T&O sales representative in the eastern district, replacing Kaler. Garrard began his career in 2005 as a sales representative in the T&O business, covering New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. He also has served as communications manager for the Coastal Crops business and U.S. Launch Specialist for rice, tree nut and vine herbicides.

Gil del Rosario has been named T&O sales representative for southern California. Previously, del Rosario served as a sales representative covering central Kansas and northern Illinois with experience in the corn, soybean, alfalfa and Range & Pasture markets. He also served as a market developer in Central Illinois and a sales specialist in the western district.

In the Northwest, Greg Webster has been named sales representative serving the T&O market in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Webster replaces Bill Miller, who is retiring after 43 years with Dow AgroSciences.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 38 -- the future of weed control?

Check this out! The WeedSeeker Sprayer manufactured by Rittenhouse. The WeedSeeker uses optics to sense if a weed is present and only sprays the weed! No more driving all over the course hunting down those pesky broadleaf weeds. That is some crazy stuff! The Weedseeker will detect weeds over gravel, grass, pavement, and cart paths.

I am sure you are asking yourself “Yeah right, how does it work.” Here is the skinny, when a weed enters the WeedSeeker’s sensor field of view and detects a different color pattern it signals a spray nozzle to deliver a precise amount of herbicide to the weed.

That is awesome! Where was this futuristic, Sci-Fi beast back in the day when I was working my way up the ladder as a spray jockey?

The only negative aspect I can see is the cost. The 80-inch model runs $9,900 and the 120-inch model costs $13,755. Don’t worry; I'm sure the cost will come down in the future just like flat screen televisions did.

Check it out for yourself…http://www.rittenhouse.ca/asp/Product.asp?PG=9001187

What do you think of this idea?

-- Matt Hendren

New logo for National Alliance for Accessible Golf

The National Alliance for Accessible Golf (Alliance) today introduced the next generation of its branding with the unveiling of a new logo. The new logo more accurately reflects the current focus of the Alliance, specifically on education, training and funding to benefit the inclusion of individuals with disabilities in the game of golf.

The origins of the Alliance itself dates back to the early 1990s and emerged from a series of six annual meetings, the Forums on Accessible Golf. Officially formed in the summer of 2001, the Alliance is represented by major golf organizations in the United States, organizations that provide services for people with disabilities and others who advocate for the inclusion of people with disabilities into society. The mission of the Alliance is to increase participation of people with disabilities in the game of golf. Individuals with disabilities will enhance their quality of life as they become actively engaged in the social fabric of their community through participation in the game of golf.

2011 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition in photos

The 2011 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition is over, and everything I've heard about the event was that it was a wild success. Looking at these photos, I'd have to agree! Looks like a blast. I'm putting this event on my calendar for next year in Sharpie marker. (The only reason I didn't go this year is because we're expecting the arrival of our second child any day now!)

Thanks to everyone who voted in the Green Industry Award competition... the film "Water Ways" took the gold and the $6,000 prize in that category. Great film, it was well deserving of the honor. Below that's a photo of (left to right) Dave Johnson, Rain Bird's director of corporation marketing, "Water Ways" creator Jall Cowasji, Kevin Stoltman, vice president, Questex Media (AKA my boss) and Jack Hanna, renown environmentalist and animal expert.

Click after the jump to see the complete release and a BUNCH of photos (thank you Dan Jacobs) from the evening as well as the full rundown of who won what.

Rain Bird's fourth 2011 Intelligent Use of Water Film Competition honored three short films as the winners of the competition at a screening event on September 20. Held at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills, California, the event was presented by Rain Bird and event partners The Chronicles Group, Film L.A., Denver Botanic Gardens, Southern Nevada Water Authority and Questex Media Group.

Chris Erickson talks Kansas State turf school

Here's a new Golfdom TV video that went out with yesterday's Golfdom Insider e-newsletter. It's me and Chris Erickson, superintendent at the Crosby at Rancho Santa Fe, talking about turf school (in this case, Kansas State). This month's Golfdom has a turf school theme, so we were playing off that theme.

This video might not solve all your turf problems, but it's a good chance to catch up with Chris and see what's going on out in San Diego! And the course sure is gorgeous.