Blow you away

Get organized

Trade show time

A typical trade show, or better-than-expected attendance? We'll find out soon.

Ahh, crap!

a pitch for organic fertilizer

UMass prof talks turf at GIS

UMass assistant professor and plant physiologist Michelle DaCosta spoke to superintendents today about pre-conditioning turfgrasses. And she drew a large crowd. Pre-conditioning turfgrasses, she said, exposes plants to a mild form of stress that helps them withstand stress better later on. "Do it when the plant is actively growing," she advised.

Hamish

in the Cylex Signs booth

Big wheels keep on turnin'

in the Pomp's Tire booth

The daily grind ...

... at the Bernhard booth

Duck, duck ...

Turfgrass Talk Show at GIS spotlights wetting agents

By Marty Whitford / Golfdom Editorial Director

Wetting agents have earned their place in the golf market, according to the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America's (GCSAA's) Turfgrass Talk Show this morning at the Golf Industry Show (GIS) in Las Vegas.

Hosted by Thomas Nikolai, Ph.D., a turfgrass academic specialist with Michigan State University, today's Turfgrass Talk Show on wetting agents embodied "infotainment."

Although guests of the Turfgrass Talk Show varied in their use and support of wetting agents, all agreed it's more a question of when, where, how and how often to use the solutions.

Guests of GCSAA's Turfgrass Talk Show on wetting agents included:

* Rodney Tocco Jr., a research assistant and doctoral student at Michigan State University;

* Douglas Karcher, an associate professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas;

* Matthew Taylor, CGCS, director of golf for the Royal Poinciana Golf Club; and

* Michael Morris, CGCS, a golf course superintendent with the Crystal Downs Country Club.

"I haven't bought into the need for a full-blown wetting agent program yet, but we do use wetting agents on our greens during certain times of the year," says Taylor, who oversees 36 holes in Naples, Fla.

Taylor adds that wetting agents help combat localized dry spots and deal with drought conditions and related water-use restrictions.

Morris agrees, noting he is somewhat skeptical of some of the water- and money-savings claims made by some wetting agent manufacturers.

"On greens, wetting agents serve as a bridge between waxy sand coatings and water -- improving water droplet penetration," Karcher notes.

"To improve turf quality and playing surfaces, we can either water every day or cut back some on irrigation and use wetting agents," Karcher adds. "Some wetting agents have improved their residual so, in some cases, the need to apply them can be reduced from every two to three weeks to just a few times a season."

Tocco concurs that several applications of a wetting agent can help control localized dry spots and enhance soil moisture levels.

"Wetting agents clearly are one of the many tools we have to enhance turf quality," Nickolai concludes.

Too much K?

Frank Rossi challenged superintendents to think carefully about all the chemicals they apply and, more specifically, whether they're applying too much potassium on their turf. He's conducted studies on cool-season turf in New York that support ratcheting back on K. "It's a low-risk savings," he says.

Fighting back

An attendee fights back against disease pressure

Golfzilla

Oh, no. There goes Tokyo ...

Ride in style

As Asian company showcases a Rolls Royce golf cart

The Arysta folks are colorful

Standing out in a crowd

Direct Solutions race car!

Sent from my iPhoneCheck out the sweet ride at the Direct Solutions booth! The Impala SS is a race car simulator that makes you almost feel the wind in your hair. Seeing all the people taking a crack at being the next NASCAR star made Golfdom's own Seth Jones want his shot at being the next big star on the racing circuit and he will get his chance at 4:30 today. Stop by and watch Seth go the distance!

Jacobsen party

The Jacobsen party was a blast. First-class all the way. It really made an impact, which the company hasn't done at the golf show in years. There were plenty of international customers from Asia and Europe. A nice showing. To lighten the mood, there was plenty of talk about Elvis staying at the top floor of the Las Vegas Hilton back in the day.

Talk ranged from a superintendent managing seashore paspalum in Baja California to organic pesticide use in Ohio with an agronomist.

Plenty of optimistic folks despite the less-than-positive economic conditions. Very upbeat.

- John Walsh, contributing editor

GIS in full swing

So much action already today, and things just really gut busy for me tomorrow.

 - Went to a Phoenix UPI meeting, where they talked about changes to the company since the acquisition by UPI. Owen Towne raved about the possibilities of the company now that is was a UPI business. UPI has grown 29% in the last year. "It's still the same customer service," Towne told the group. "It's still Sharon doing our customer service. Only the last few letters of her email have changed."
- Popped into the Syngenta media reception, where Stephanie Schwenke, golf market manager, talked about Daconil Action. Bombed their boxing quiz that they gave everyone while I caught up with all of my media brethren. Chatted with Bob Goglia -- he golfed this weekend in Vegas with his 79-year-old dad.
- Saw about 100 supers I knew as I ran from one corner of the convention center to the other. Sorry that I had a cell phone attached to my ear!
- Got the Golfdom booth set up for tomorrow...

Speaking of tomorrow... we'll be presenting our Herb Graffis Business Person of the Year Award to Paul Chojnacky tomorrow at 10:45. Come see Paul and say hi!

The rest of tomorrow's schedule:

 9-10 a.m. -- Anthony Williams, CGCS, CGM, environmental editor
10-11 a.m. -- Seth Jones, editor-in-chief
11 a.m.-12 p.m. -- Beth Geraci, senior editor
12-1 p.m. -- Matt Hendren, contributing editor
2-3 p.m. -- Joel Jackson, CGCS, contributing editor
3-4 p.m. -- Clark Throssell, Ph.D., research editor
4-5 p.m. -- Karl Danneberger, Ph.D., science editor

Feherty talks superintendents, 2012 GIS, and the mower he killed

Here's a little sneak preview of what you're going to get at the 2012 Golf Industry Show. Feherty is going to kill it at the Opening Session! Can't wait!

Checking in with Jacobsen's Withers at BTME

GIS Games

I'm getting revved up for the 2012 GIS! I thought I'd be ready for it, and here I am staring down Thursday, and there's still a lot to do before I leave for Las Vegas.

A couple cool things I'm looking forward to:

We're giving away an iPad at the Golfdom booth. You have to earn it, though. No random drawing. You have to be the best Wii golfer at the GIS. Best score at our booth walks away with the iPad. Bring your A-game.

I'm lucky to once again be participating in BASF's media charity event. This year we're doing "Superintendent Pyramid" which is based on some 1970s game show, I'm guessing. I'll Google it. Jeopardy! is the only game show I ever watch. But I'm looking forward to it. I've done well in BASF's games so far, knock on wood, dating back to when I won their Media Jeopardy game in 2008. I was a question away from being a "Thousandaire" last year. Fingers crossed I do well in Pyramid. Come by and see me do it, it takes place at the BASF booth (# 1860) at 3 p.m. on Thursday.

I'm also driving a race car simulator at the Direct Solutions booth. This is a first for me. It's also a competition among fellow turf media, for charity. I'll warn all those suckers: I drive an 8-cylinder Z28 everyday, and I like to drive angry, so they better bring their A-games.

OK, that's it for now. Hey, check out the photo of me playing Turf Jeopardy back in 2008! Ahh, that was a good day. I remember it well: "Who is Alan Shepard?" was the question that put me over the edge. Good times! (Watch me fall on my face at Superintendent Pyramid.)

Do You Have Weed Madness?

A madness of a different sort is about to begin.

FMC is hosting an NCAA bracket-style "Weed Madness" contest at the GIS to see what will prevail as the toughest weed in the land. You can vote at the GIS, or via FMC's Twitter feed. 

The details from the press release are below. I'll take Poa Annua and Goosegrass in my final four.

For the other madness? I'll take my Jayhawks, UK, 'Cuse and...... Marquette.

On February 29th and March 1st at the Golf Industry Show (GIS) in Las Vegas, FMC is hosting a "Weed Madness" contest by pitting 16 of the worst weeds in the country against one another to determine the Toughest Weed of 2012. Superintendents and Twitter followers (@FMCturf) can vote for the toughest weed in various match-ups over the two days.

One of the many cool things...

You might be able to nab at the Golfdom booth this year!

Hendren's Hyperbole -- Life on the Champions Tour

I normally do not read a lot of books -- who has the time? -- but if I decide to find the time to read a book I generally want a book about a golfer, or sports icon or possibly a story about some knuckle head who almost died climbing Everest. Two of my favorite books include Bo Knows Bo, written by Bo Jackson and Bud, Sweat and Tees, written by Rich Beem of the PGA Tour.  So when I was recently sent a book titled Inside, Outside, and On the Ropes, Life Lessons from Q-School & the Majors, written by Keith Gockenbach, I was intrigued.

The title of the book pretty much lets you know what the book is about but for a little more clarity the cover of the book states “For all golfers who wonder what it would be like to have the game, the goals, and the guts to try and make it on The PGA Tour’s Champions Tour…..” I think that is an accurate portrayal of the book in thirty words. Oh yeah, for what it is worth some guy named Fred Funk wrote the foreword.

Three things learned from Hector Mejia

Last week while I was at Pebble Beach, I took an early-morning ride along with Hector, a member of the crew at Pebble for 15 years. Here are three things I learned from Hector:

1. To catch gophers, you need to read up. Hector was tasked with this duty at Pebble, and at first he had no success. But there's a library near his house, so he read two books on the little pests. Hector says there are two keys: you have to catch them on the first try, because after you start messing with them they'll stay hidden; and you need to set the traps when their burrow is fresh. That helps.

2. Celery is the worst vegetable to work on in the fields. You have to work in mud, and it doesn't matter if it's raining outside. (If you're working lettuce, you at least get a break when it's raining.) Plus, crates of celery are heavy. Think about that the next time you're chomping on some celery and peanut butter...

3. It takes getting robbed twice before you start to think you might die. Hector had a gun pulled on him twice while he worked at a liquor store. The second time, he asked the guy, "Are you serious?" and the robber unloaded a round into the ceiling to prove how serious he was. Shortly after that, Hector asked a friend if he could help him get a job at Pebble. 15 years later, he's still there, and he loves it. After all, there's no celery, and gophers never pack heat.

Graffis BPOTY part 3 -- future water savings at Pasatiempo

Here is part three, the final part of our three-part series with Paul Chojnacky, superintendent at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif., and the winner of the 2012 Herb Graffis Business Person of the Year award. In this final installment, Paul tells me about the efforts Pasatiempo is making to solve their water woes for the future.

Back from Pebble

I'm back from Pebble Beach... got some great photos, a couple great interviews. A big thanks to Chris Dalhamer and Jack Holt for the hospitality. Here's a shot of the crew before they went out on Wednesday morning.

Hole No. 7 at Pebble Beach is easily one of the most dramatic holes I've ever set foot on. Waves crashing all around on a short par three that drops down to the ocean... I got some great pics, will post them later.

I've got a couple things in the works, but right now I'm jamming on some GIS planning and paying a few bills! Stay tuned...

Sunrise at Pebble

Sent from my iPhone

Local celebrities at the AT&T

Sent from my iPhoneHere's a pic of me and Jack Holt, assistant super out at Pebble Beach, and the dogs. Everybody likes seeing the dogs roll by on the course, they're four-legged celebrities, right up there with Michael Bolton.

Jack said they've got a big crew of volunteers this week, including a few international helpers. If Jack looks familiar, it's because Golfdom profiled him in 2010. I'm hopeful to catch up with Jack, Chris and the crew tomorrow morning. Early to bed tonight!

I like dags

Sorry, I'm still quoting "Snatch" even after being back from London for two weeks now...

Ran into Jack Holt, the longtime assistant superintendent out here at Pebble. Nabbed a photo with him, I'll post it soon. It was the first time I've met Jack, very reassuring to hear he's been enjoying Golfdom consistently over the last year. Here's a photo of his dogs... I'll post a pic of all of us (me, Jack, the dags) together shortly.

One more day at the AT&T before I fly back to the land of Oz...

Me and David Feherty

Sent from my iPhoneJust ran into my pal David Feherty out here at Pebble Beach... You want to talk about crazy schedules, there is a good chance there are two of him, as many places as he gets to in a day.

Hmm, maybe a feature story with David in Golfdom? Whaddya think, would you read that? I would.

Exclusive: PGA, Mangum Recant Brush Damage Statements Made During 2011 PGA Championship

Mangum addresses the media during the 2011 PGA Championship.

If the glove does not fit, you must acquit.

Or, in this case, if you can’t prove the brush did the damage, you must take it back.

That’s what has been determined by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi, Delta Division. In a stipulation of dismissal filed by the court on February 1st, 2012, in a case of greens brush manufacturer GreensPerfection Inc. versus Atlanta Athletic Club, Ken Mangum, CGCS and the PGA of America, it was declared that the defendants “never determined and never intended to say that GreensPerfection brushes caused damage to any putting greens at the Atlanta Athletic Club in August 2011.”

That’s an about-face from what was stated at the PGA Championship, in both a press release and on live TV. In a press release issued by the PGA of America concerning the damage, it stated that, “damage is believed to be the result of a significant rise in the dew point at approximately 7:00 p.m., which caused the brushes on the mowers on those greens to stick in the grass and damage the turf.” In a live press conference broadcast on the Golf Channel on August 11th, 2011, Ken Mangum, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds, echoed that sentiment, saying, “the only answer I could come up with was that the humidity changed and the brush grabbed and dug into the green and caused the problem.”

But Rodney Lingle, CGCS at Memphis CC and owner of GreensPerfection Inc., manufacturer of the brush being used at Atlanta Athletic Club, refused to believe that his brushes could have caused such damage. In a statement sent exclusively to Golfdom, Lingle states, “After the statements made at the 93rd PGA Championship, we felt a responsibility to our current customer’s concerns, as well as potential customers, to make sure they knew our product was safe and effective. GreensPerfection brushes are incapable of damaging any greens in the way represented by the defendants,” the statement reads. “According to the official court document, the defendants never determined that GreensPerfection brushes caused damage to any putting greens at the Atlanta Athletic Club and the brushes are still in use at The Atlanta Athletic Club and have been since the PGA Championship.”

Chojnacky part 2 -- less irrigated turf

Goldom TV -- Paul Chojnacky, Part 1

Here's part one of three videos we did with Paul while we were out at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif. In part one, we talk about Paul's use of goats to clear the canyons at the course.

I'll post parts two and three tomorrow... those are both about water savings, something every superintendent can appreciate!

TPC Scottsdale's environmental effort

Jeff Plotts, TPC Scottsdale, hosts this week WM Phoenix Open.

It's time for the WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale. The largest spectator golf event in the world is also now trying its hand at being the most environmentally friendly event ever. This story from PGATour.com details the efforts, which includes a goal of diverting 90 percent of tournament waste into recycling and composting facilities.

In a quote from the story, Plotts tells PGATour.com, "It's our environmental responsibility to continue to find ways to conserve natural resources and protect the environment, and we are hopeful that local golfers and tournament fans will embrace these types of green efforts in their own lives. We applaud the efforts of Waste Management and the Thunderbirds to reduce landfill waste, and look forward to supporting the Zero Waste Challenge in partnership with TPC Scottsdale employees and tournament fans during this year's Waste Management Phoenix Open."

Good luck to our friend Jeff Plotts and the crew at TPC Scottsdale... we'll be looking forward to seeing how the effort plays out!

But I don't even know how to skate!

From the new ESPN the Magazine, page 77...

Plant health -- or lack thereof

I try to avoid looking at it. Because every time I see it I am racked by guilt. Every day when I arrive to work, there it is -looking forlorn and woefully neglected: My plant.

It started as a vibrant, hot pink petunia. Now, it's not much of anything. Just look at it. I haven't seen the semblance of a flower in months. And just last week I cut nearly all of its stems and leaves off.  It seemed only right. They all had evolved to brown crisps. "Help me!" the plant seemed to be saying. I suppose I could have watered it a little more. OK, a lot more.

My tragic neglect of the plant has given it a staunch following. People around here check up on it daily. They leave shaking their heads. Because despite my desperate attempt to resuscitate it, the plant never shows marked improvement. In fact, I'm not convinced it's still a flowering plant. But those in the know assure me it's definitely not a weed.

I will continue to work hard to bring it back to life. All I can do is keep watering it, I guess. Unless you have better advice? I welcome your feedback. Help me help my plant.

Introducing the winner of the first ever Herb Graffis Business Person of the Year award...

Mr. Paul Chojnacky, superintendent of Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif.!

Congrats, Paul! Read all about it here: http://www.golfdom-digital.com/golfdom/201201?#pg1

Yep.

Sent from my iPhone

Party peopplllllllllllle!

Sent from my iPhone

Dinner at the BIGGA 25th anniv party -- meat pie!

Sent from my iPhone

York Minster

Sent from my iPhone

London calling

Well, my BTME experience is over. Feels like it just started!

The 25th anniversary dinner last night was great. Good food, good company. Jacobsen sponsored the event and was kind enough to invite Goldom to the party as their guests, so thanks to them, or, as everyone says over here , "cheers!"

We're on our way to London now before our flight out tomorrow morning. We made a quick stop in York, which was also an amazing place... The size of the cathedral there, wow.

I'll post a few pics from the event, the York minster, etc., now...

Sent from my iPhone

BTME in full swing

This day has gone by too fast... got two Golfdom TV interviews, stopped by a few other booths and investigated into what they have that's new and exciting... saw an interesting survey of golfers that showed some results that might surprise supers... met with GCSAA pals and interviewed Rhett Evans about future of the GIS show.

Not much time to blog now, I'm off to the 25th BTME anniversary party! More soon...

Hendren's Hyperbole: No Shame in Turf

Question of the day: What do funeral services, weather forecasting and golf course and turfgrass management have in common?

According to an article written by Greg Voakes on www.guyism.com, they are the top online bachelor degree programs you should be ashamed of.

Thanks a pant load Gregg. Good lookin' out! Where does writing brutal, idiotic articles for a smut online magazine rate on your list? What, an article on 101 ways to please your woman or 30 days to great abs was already taken?


I am glad I dropped a lot of cash and time EARNING a degree I could be ashamed of. What a joke. This is what Greg had to say about a golf course and turfgrass management degree. “Golf course and turfgrass management sounds like the most boring online bachelor program ever. If you yearn literally to watch grass grow, deal with old rich people who smell funny and have bad attitudes, and water/mow the lawn, this is definitely for you.”

The really bad thing about this article is that people really feel this way about our industry. For example, about ten years ago I was at my wife’s work Christmas party when I found myself ditched by my wife, so I was stuck carrying on a conversation with the spouse of one of her coworkers -- you know, the worst possible Christmas party scenario. During the conversation the guy asks me what I do for a living and I tell him I'm a golf course superintendent.

Sharp Park Golf Course Stays Alive

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday not to close the Sharp Park Golf Course, much to the dismay of environmentalists who claim the course endangers frogs and snakes on the course.

The board's vote upheld San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee's December veto of an ordinance that would have closed the course and made it national parkland, meaning golf would be forbidden.

On Tuesday, Supervisor John Avalos, who wrote the ordinance, garnered 6 votes in support of closing the course; he needed 8. Though the course gets a reprieve for now, it's not home free entirely; the case is headed for trial in federal district court this July. Until then, however, golfers know for certain they can tee off all they want.

New PACE Turf Video Explores Turfgrass K

PACE Turf has released a new video educating superintendents on just how much potassium turf really requires.

In the video, Dr. Micah Woods, chief scientist of the Asian Turfgrass Center, describes research he performed on sandy soils from around the globe. Woods deduced that the amount of potassium used on golf course turf is actually more than plants require.

The Dr. Woods video is the first in a PACE series called “Interviews with the Experts". Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rMM-4XJ5dA. 

Fungicide Found in Popular Brands of Orange Juice

It appears fungicides have a new use -- orange juice additive.

Coca-Cola Co. has alerted the Food and Drug Administration that fungicide was found in its orange juices Minute Maid and Simply Orange, as well as in an unnamed orange juice manufactured by one of its competitors.

Coke notified the FDA Monday after low levels of the fungicide carbendazim were discovered in the juice. Carbendazim is used to control mold on orange trees in Brazil, which exports orange juice to the United States.

According to the FDA, Coca-Cola Co. found fungicide levels up to 35 parts per billion, much lower than the 80 parts per billion the Environmental Protection Agency says raises concerns. Even so, something about the thought of fungicide in our O.J. doesn't sound very appetizing.

Email from Sandy Queen, GCSAA VP

The GCSAA has been busy lately, as I've seen a few emails from my friends at 1421 Research Park Drive these past couple of days...

I just got a nice email from Sandy Queen, current VP of the GCSAA and the GCSAA golf tournament director, asking if I was going to play in the tournament this year and reminding me that the deadline to register had been extended. It was a broadcast email to all the participants in last's years tournament.

At the end of the email he asked that if I was not going, if I could email him and let him know why.

I just emailed him and told him my three big concerns:

Golfdom TV -- Syngenta Business Institute

We have a new Golfdom TV video we're set to debut here in a couple of days via the Golfdom Insider e-newsletter... for those of you loyal blog readers, here it is in advance!

The video is taken at the Graylyn Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., and is about the 2011 Syngenta Business Institute, what the seminar is like, and how superintendents can get involved in 2012.

Thanks to Stephanie Schwenke, golf marketing manager for Syngenta, for taking the time to be interviewed on camera. And thanks to everyone at Syngenta for having me there, even though I wasn't able to stay for the duration of the program!

Golfdom EIC Seth Jones had the good fortune of being invited to this year's Syngenta Business Institute at Wake Forest University. He checks in with Stephanie Schwenke, Syngenta's golf marketing manager, to discuss the event and how superintendents can get involved.

BIGGA on my mind

I'm getting emails and phone calls about the Golf Industry Show. Which is great, because I'm PUMPED for this year's GIS.

But before I can get really worked up about the GIS (I just booked my flight yesterday), I've got to get ready for the BIGGA show in Harrogate, United Kingdom, baby! (Doesn't have quite the same ring as 'Vegas, baby!' but oh well.)

This will be my first trip to the BIGGA Turfgrass Management Expo (BTME). Keep an eye out for some coverage here on the blog the week of January 23rd.

If you've been to the BIGGA show and have any advice for me, I'm all ears, shoot me an email. If you will be at the BIGGA show and would like to meet up, drop me a line and we'll make it happen.

Meanwhile, stay tuned and see what kind of trouble your pal Jonesy can get into across the pond. It's Golfdom at the BIGGA show... and it's going to be exciting, I promise.

Jacobsen adds dealer

Jacobsen today announced a new dealer for the sale of its equipment in the Maryland, Virginia and Delaware areas.

Horizon Distributors, Inc., a full-service distributor of landscape and irrigation products, has announced its expansion into the mid-Atlantic territories with the acquisition of the Jacobsen product line from G.L. Cornell Company.   

“Horizon has a proven business model based around customer satisfaction. We are confident they will make significant strides in this market due to this commitment to customer service, highly experienced personnel and dedication to the golf and turf market,” said Ric Stone, Jacobsen’s Vice President of Sales.

To golf in the GCSAA tournament, or not to golf in the GCSAA tournament?

The deadline for registering for the GCSAA golf tournament (AKA the National Championship and Golf Classic) is this Friday.

I played in my first tournament last year, after years of wanting to attend but being unable to (only a handful of GCSAA staff people go to tournament, and I wasn't one of them.) And I have to tell you, it was a classy event. The courses in Palm Beach, Fla., were great, the rooms at PGA National were nice, the registration gifts were cool (I still wear the Bolle sunglasses) and the company was excellent, a tremendous group of people. I had fun.

But by the end of the ensuing GIS, I was just done. Toasted. Wore out. Adding the golf classic made it for a looooong trip to the GIS last year. I'm looking forward to Las Vegas this year, but I'm not looking to making the trip too long for my family, my calendar and my liver, to handle.

I still love ya GCSAA, but you will have to go it without my sorry high-handicap ass this year. I'm sure you won't miss my golf, but you might miss my golf registration fee.

Take the Golfdom poll: What primary reason keeps you from going to the GCSAA tournament? The poll is right over there in the top right column -----> There you go. Go ahead, click an answer. Click any answer. I promise we won't laugh. It's anonymous, after all.

Can they take 10?

Pinehurst Resort is launching a web series tomorrow, called "Take 10 Challenge," taking two regular Joes and putting them through the Pinehurst Golf Academy to see if they can shave ten strokes off their games in four days. Here's the preview of the series:

 

Hmm... looks like it could be fun. Here's the press release:

Two men. Four Days. Ten strokes. With famed Pinehurst No. 2 as the backdrop. 

That is the scenario facing Bill Friese and Mike McClanahan in Pinehurst Golf Academy’s “Take 10 Challenge,” a weekly web series that launches today with a teaser video at www.pinehurst.com/take10. The first of six full, weekly episodes will be posted to the site on Wednesday mornings, beginning tomorrow, January 4. 

Positive thoughts to our friend Dennis Lyon

After a nice long holiday break (the entire office closed down for over a week!) we're back in action.

I was shocked to see this sad news on GCSAA.org about our friend Dennis Lyon, who was hit by a truck while walking his dog. Thankfully Dennis survived... you can send him your positive thoughts via his CaringBridge site here.

Hang in there, Dennis!

Check out the December issue

Hey everyone,

We're still here, it's just been a busy time this week -- trying to get out from under a PILE of receipts and expense reports, and then the double whammy yesterday... my five-year-old has a mild case of pneumonia. YIKES! She's doing better right now, but yeah, this week has been a mess.

The Golfdom office is officially closed next week, but I'll still be around here and there, trying to get caught up on some things while the office voice mail is saying, "We're closed this week! Woo-hoo!"

In the meantime, here is the December Golfdom, if you haven't seen it hit your mailbox yet. It should be there any day now, I've received mine already. Check out Clark's piece on painting greens, good stuff there!

-Seth

'Tis the Season?

I was at a course last week, hanging with the superintendent. He got stopped three, maybe even four different times by members. Not to ask about the new irrigation system, or how the late aeration was working out for him, or even about his day... but to ask about the gift baskets.

Yes, the gift baskets, as in the Christmas gift baskets. Turns out the women's club made a pretty nifty gift basket for all of the crew that came with fresh cookies, hand warmers, gloves and a gift card to the local grocery store. The golfers kept asking, "Did you hand out the gift baskets?" "What did the guys think of the gift baskets??" "The cookies were fresh, you have to hand out the gift baskets!!!" (The super was patient, but had to chuckle about the stress that these gift baskets were causing.)

Gift baskets are nothing new, I know I'm not breaking any news here ("We landed on the MOON!!!") but it did make me wonder what you guys do for your staff when the holidays roll around.

So, a new poll. Check it out and vote, let me know how you and your course handle the holidays.

Hendren's Hyperbole! -- Episode 45: So What, Tiger?

Professional golf in December has always been kind of a joke, and I don’t think this December is any different than any other except for the fact Tiger managed to win a golf tournament. I am referring to the Chevron World Challenge, of course. It was big news for all of a day. Jones asked me what I thought about it the other day, so I thought I'd share some of my thoughts...

So Tiger managed to beat 17 other golfers, which did not include the top four players in the world, at a track he had already won at four times before and just happens to benefit his foundation……so what?!? So what if every golfer in the field had a higher world golf ranking than Tiger. So what if Tiger sank a 6-foot putt on the 18th for a one stroke win over Zach Johnson. Isn’t that what Tiger is supposed to do? Can someone please explain to me how Tiger’s world ranking jumped from 52nd to 21st with one win?

You don't know me!

I'm on a top secret mission for Goldom today. I'm in my second airport of four for the day. I've got my hat and my sunglasses on. 

I'm off to a good start. The hotel had a stretch limo waiting for me this morning.

I'm undercover, baby.

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Riding in style with Senior Editor Beth Geraci

This is how we roll when we're in South Beach. When we're offered a ride in a Ferrari, who are we to refuse?

Taking care of bid'ness

It's been an awesome couple of days in Cleveland! I always enjoy my time up here...

Thanks to everyone who filled out our survey. Wow, we got a lot of great feedback! 

We spent part of the day talking about our covers... What did YOU think of our covers thi year???

Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

David Phipps checks in with Golfdom TV

My Mexican beer of choice

My 18-pack of Miller Lite promoted... Chivas, from Guadalajara, Mexico?!?

Check out the box! I never thought I'd be able to buy an 18-pack of beer in KANSAS that promoted a Mexican soccer team. Sweet!

But then, just as I was really getting excited, I tried entering their contest to win something, free soccer tickets, who knows what? ...AND the web address wouldn't work. What the?!? Then I looked closely at the rules... The contest ended three months ago!

Great. So, what you're telling me is, I bought old leftover beer from Mexico? 

Aye, caramba.  

I sent my senior editor to Miami

And all I got was this photo of Dennis Rodman!

Golfdom senior editor Beth Geraci is down in Miami on assignment for our sister publication, Landscape Management magazine. Apparently The Worm is Beth's neighbor. The Worm was chilling out at her resort, killing time until his tee time with none other than... Michael Jordan.

Toro acquires Graden greens rollers

The Toro Company today announced it has acquired the Graden greens roller product line, which includes the GSR 1200 greens roller. The acquisition provides entry into a new product category and broadens Toro’s offering to golf customers worldwide. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“This acquisition fills an important product gap in our core golf business and helps further strengthen our offering in the greens care category,” said Darren Redetzke, vice president of Toro’s Commercial Business. “Rolling greens has become an important agronomic practice for golf courses that improves the health and playability of the greens. By leveraging our brand strength and extensive global distribution, we are well positioned for growth in this new segment.”

Graden’s other turf maintenance product lines, which include zero-turn mowers, verticutters and sand injectors, were not associated with this acquisition.

Do you blog?

The question was raised at the Syngenta Business Institute -- do you keep a maintenance blog? Several hands went up -- almost a third of the room said they did. A discussion followed about why maintenance blogs are useful.

Bill Davidson, CGCS, told the room that his blog on the maintenance at the Country Club of Naples had developed a cult following among members. His blog can be found here.

The best line was from Jim Alwine, superintendent at Stockton (Calif.) Golf and Country Club. When asked if many people read his maintenance blog, he smiled and said, "My Mom loves it."

2011 Sygenta Business Institute class

Check it out... see who you know!

Stand in your corner

The room splits into different generations at the Syngenta Business Institute... Notice almost evryone in this group is a Gen X, very few baby boomers...


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Live from the OTF

We're checking out a few new products at this year's show and are about to hear about new heat-tolerant bluegrasses. We'll see what they say.

Syngenta Business Institute week

Hello to all of you out there in the Golfdom...

I'm in Winston-Salem this week, attending the third annual Syngenta Business Institute. We're at the Graylyn Conference Center -- the second largest house in the great state of North Carolina (second to the largest house in all of America, the Biltmore). Tomorrow morning the classes begin. We've been told to be ready, so all of the superintendents -- approximately 30 -- listened, and called it an early night. Class starts tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. The first class is "Financial Management."

I'll have lots more this week from the SBI. Stay tuned!

The weather outside isn't frightful

Just chatted with a GM/superintendent in Pennsylvania... they're enjoying better weather here in early December. In fact, he told me they had as many rounds of golf today as they had in the entire MONTH of December 2010.

"But nothing can make up for what we had in April and September," he said.

Here in Lawrence, Kan., yesterday it was nice to see my friend Bill Irving's course, Lawrence CC, on the front page of the paper. The story was about how nice and mild the weather has been lately. 

Meanwhile, I just got off the phone with Clark Throssell... he's experiencing better weather in Billings, Mont. right now -- to the tune of 30 degrees!

From the Turf M.D.: Frost delays

We never know what will get a reaction and what won't. Karl and I were chatting about this just the other day.


For example, frost. I'm pretty sure the dinosaurs had to wait to tee it up on frosty mornings. Nothing new here. And yet, we've gotten a lot of positive feedback to the below "Puttin' Down Roots" email newsletter that went out earlier this week, about frost.


If you didn't see this hit your email inbox, you can always subscribe here. Karl Danneberger, Ph.D., and Clark Throssell, Ph.D., send out good info twice a month in their respective email newsletters, "Puttin' Down Roots" for Karl and "On the Green" for Clark.


Here is this month's Roots:

Frost is a common reason for morning tee time delay. The reason for the delays is the damage that can occur from foot or equipment traffic to the turf when frost is present. Generally speaking, nice fall golfing days and frost go hand-in-hand. With more frost days expected, this is a good time to look at the conditions favorable for frost.

Frost occurs on clear cold nights when turfgrass plants re-radiate heat (exothermic reaction). As the plant loses heat to the atmosphere the plant leaf cools. If the plant temperature is cooler than the air temperature then moisture from the atmosphere will condense on the leaf. If the leaf temperature drops below freezing then the water freezes and frost forms. This will occur even if the air temperatures are slightly above freezing. At this time of the year it is not uncommon to have frost form even if the air temperature is in the mid to high 30s.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 44 -- Maintenance blogs

This past week, over the Thanksgiving holiday, I was just wasting some time surfing the internet -- you know, checking out the Golfdom Daily as I am sure you do quite often -- and I started thinking about the pros and cons of maintenance departments keeping a maintenance blog to help keep members and the public aware of what is happening on the course.

I’ll just start off by saying personally I think the pros by far outweigh the cons. It makes sense to me that by keeping an updated blog about what is happening from a maintenance perspective members and especially greens committees would be less likely to constantly hound you about what is going on and what projects are in the works. Another positive aspect is that superintendents from other courses in your community could check out your blog and possibly use the information you are posting as inspiration for projects at their course. To build on that idea, if a super is having problems convincing the powers that be about a certain project your success story posted on your blog might just be enough to tip the scale in their favor.

As far as cons go I think the biggest issue would be time. Keeping up a blog doesn’t have to take a lot of time but it does take time nonetheless and as a fellow super I know how valuable time is. Even though you have complete control over what is posted on the blog I could see how posting projects and information about your club for the world to view might also be considered negative by some.

Overall, I think the positives by far outweigh the negative regarding a maintenance blog. Shoot me a quick comment and let me know what you think and let me know if you currently have a maintenance blog or are planning on starting one.

-- Matt Hendren

Twin Gifts for Michigan State University’s Turfgrass Information Center

Good news from our friends at Michigan State --

The Turfgrass Information Center, a unit of the Michigan State University Libraries, has received two generous donations to support digitization work.

The first gift was a challenge grant from the O.J. Noer Research Foundation, promising to match gifts before December 31, 2011, up to a total of $5000. And, when the matching gift was announced to supporters, the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents Association immediately pledged $5000 to meet the challenge.

“Both organizations have our sincere thanks,” said Pete Cookingham, head of the Turfgrass Information Center. “We’re also grateful to other supporters who are still responding. We now hope to exceed the original challenge by several thousand dollars!”

PCNB press release

This press release came out last Wednesday, just as I was escaping the office for my Thanksgiving holiday...

American Vanguard Corporation today announced that the United States Environmental Protection Agency has approved certain registrations for the company’s pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) product line for all major commercial uses. As a result, with today’s action the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Amvac Chemical Corporation is once again permitted to sell PCNB into the golf course turf, potato, cotton, ornamental bulb and cole crop markets domestically. Amvac continues to work with the EPA on labeling for other uses.

Hendren's Hyperbole! Episode 43 -- My Summit experience

Every now and then you get the opportunity to be a part of something great whether it is by design or it just so happens you are just in the right place at the right time. This past week I had one of those opportunities present itself. Last week I had the pleasure to be a part of the first ever Golfdom Summit.

I realize that to some of you it may sound like I am blowing up the skirt of Golfdom, and to some extent I am, but for those of you who know me, know that any form of praise from me has to be deserved and the Golfdom Summit was one of the highest marks of my golf course maintenance career.

The first ever Golfdom Summit was held at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C., and featured a unique educational experience that combined boardroom/case studies with one-on-one meetings. There were also plenty of networking opportunities including playing historic Pinehurst No.2. Pinehurst No. 2 is one of many courses on my bucket list so I was able to kill two birds with one stone. (Next on my list, Whistling Straits!)