Archive for August, 2009

By Brendon Reaksecker, Bonita GC

"Beat the Heat" at Del Mar Race Track was a great break from the rigors of summer turf management. It was nice to see Jim Brown come out of retirement and join in on the fun. Mark you calendars for Wednesday, August 26, 2009. The Board plans on having a meeting that day in Cardiff. After our Board meeting, not “bored” meeting, Teddy, we will mosey over to the track. We hope you can make it and remember to invite your crews, family or friends, as this is a social networking opportunity for all. We meet at Level 3 of the Stretch Run between sections 3,4 and 5.

Brad Monroe from Cuyumaca College has assembled a Turfgrass Advisory Committee to help give input and direction regarding the Golf Course/Sports Turf Major curriculum and learning objectives. As you all know the industry has changed considerably since the programs inception during the early 80’s. This is our opportunity to get involved at the college level and help produce students that will be future assets to our courses. Education is always important, but it is hard to justify sending an employee to night classes if the learning is not directly applied or beneficial to the club when they return to work the next day. Last Friday we had an open discussion about enrollment, course offerings and learning objectives. I will keep you posted on the outcome of these meetings. The Turf Management and Golf Course/Sports Turf Management course offerings are postponed until Fall of 2010. continue

Vista Valley CC on August 3, 2009:

Closest to the Pin
#3 Glen Bradley = 18”
#12 Paul Brown = 4’ 10”

1st Place Low Gross
Score of 59
Paul Zaremba
Ed Espinoza
Dan Yury
Brian Schnese

1st Place Low Net
Score of 30
Ken Newcomb
Gary Vasquez
Shane Roth
Tim McGuire

Skins Game Carry Over
$600.00 cash

Today marks a historic day for the IGCEMA and our industry as the IGCEMA launches registration for the first ever Virtual Trade Show. Starting today we will begin our journey to March 18th, when we open the trade show to attendees all over the world.

The Virtual Trade show was originally conceived to bring more Equipment Technicians the ability to attend a trade show, as well as Superintendents who normally didn’t make the trip to attend. With the Virtual Trade show in development over the last year we have taken advice from many manufacturers to help enhance the experience. continue

To give you insight on how this article comes about, it started with GCSAA sending the GCEP water news release to a database of environmental journalists, which includes this reporter. After contacting GCSAA for background, GCSAA then put the reporter in touch with key experts such as Greg Lyman, those quoted in the article and others not quoted. The reporter then did research, interviewed contacts, made a site visit to Atlanta, the verified the research with others in the field. The result is the article below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/science/earth/06golf.html?_r=1&hp

Come "Beat the Heat" at the Del Mar Racetrack next Wednesday afternoon, August 12, 2009. This will kick-off a series of social networking gatherings open to all members and their friends/families/crew members through the end of track season. No RSVP, no invoices or reimbursements to your club, just good old fashion hanging out. Wednesdays at the track there is no cost for admission, free program, ½ price beers, free seating and music near the fountain after the races. We plan on meeting at Level 3 of the Stretch Run, aka Grandstand, in sections 3/4/5. Hope you can make it out to the track Wednesday afternoon.

By Brendon Reaksecker, Bonita GC

"Just for Fun" at Vista Valley was definitely no MEXICO excursion, but a great day with friends’ none-the-less! The event was a four-man scramble and the course was in great condition. The new improvements and work on the blue tees was noticeable and enjoyable. For those not in attendance you missed the distribution of Volume 1 of FORE, later to become known as the INFOREMER, dated May 1984. It was very fitting that Ronald F. Nolf was our President at the time. I’d like to thank new member, Ed Mower from Lubemaster/Certified Labs for sponsoring the reproduction of this historical keepsake of our Association. continue

From the California GSCA:

Below is information from GCSAA regarding this issue. It is extremely important that golf courses that are in these 8 counties know that if this lawsuit is successful, and if their facility has been designated as a “habitat” for these endangered species, then they will not be able to use those pesticides that have been designated by the EPA on their property, without proper buffer zones. I have attached some information regarding the specific pesticides in question for your review as well as the actual case brought against the EPA. It does not matter if you have any of these endangered species or not on your property; if your property has been designated as a habitat, then you will be affected.

We need individuals to respond and to let EPA know just how this will affect their operations. More later will come as to when/where/ and just to find out about how to find if your facility has a designated habitat.

ACTION ALERT

• California Endangered Species Lawsuit
• (EPA vs. Center or Biological Diversity a.k.a. Goby 11)
• Comment Deadline: August 17, 2009

The U.S. EPA has been sued by the Center for Biological Diversity (an environmental activist organization) in federal court regarding the failure of EPA to properly “consult” with other federal fish and wildlife agencies when registering pesticides as to whether these products may affect endangered species in certain areas of California (which consultation is required by the Endangered Species Act). continue

This is a reminder of the August 1 deadline for all small fleets to report their in-use off-road diesel vehicles to ARB. The preferred method for reporting is using the online reporting system (DOORS) https://secure.arb.ca.gov/ssldoors/doors_reporting/reporting.php

Instructions for using paper forms to report are also available on this web page.Note that if you have entered your fleet data in DOORS, but not selected “Request Review” in DOORS, your data is not yet submitted. You must request a review prior to 11:59 PM on August 1, 2009, to meet the deadline. The option to request a review is on the second dropdown menu immediately after logging in to DOORS; it is the very last option below “Enter fleet data online”. Requesting review sends your information to ARB staff; they will review the data and assign Equipment Identification Numbers (EINs) to your fleet. EINs must be placed on your vehicles within 30 days of receiving your EINs. continue

With the new world of water restrictions and the reality of all water supplies shrinking in years to come, we have come to a turning point in our industry. Which way will we go? The answer is simple, our practices and expectations must change. The timing could not be worse as we are in the mist of the worst recession the country has seen since the early 80’s. As people cut back their discretionary spending, the golf industry struggles for profits and member retention. Now you throw mandatory water restrictions on top of that, and here we are facing our greatest challenge in recent memory.

In May of this year the SDGCSA Board created a new committee called the “Water Resource Committee.” As the junior member of the board this was also my first board meeting in my newly appointed position. To my surprise, our new President Brendon Reaksecker asked if I would like to chair this new Water Resource Committee. As daunting as the task seemed, in the back of my mind it was the reason I wanted to be on the board in the first place. Be careful what you wish for right? I accepted the position and began assembling our committee. Knowing that I am far from an expert in this field, the goal was to enlist experienced Superintendents and the best water experts in our region. continue