California GCSA News

Download the air resources board vapor recovery advisory:

The California Turfgrass & Landscape Foundation, whose primary missionis to support turfgrass & landscape research at UC, is soon to launch and as promised there will be a website created and maintained to serve as “one stop shopping” for all turfgrass & landscape information in California – past, present, and future.

Download the post emergence rye grass report.

Any product with a CA Registration Number must be recorded in your monthly pesticide use reports! This includes adjuvants with a CA Reg. No. (ie. No Foam B, etc)

Superintendents that have changed jobs are required to notify the County of San Diego of the change and update their contact information.

Mechanics are considered handlers and must be trained as pesticide applicators.

If you have questions call (858) 967-8624 and ask for Inspector Veronica Anzaldo-Heredia.

USGA Green Section Regional Updates & Webcasts

Regional Updates

Northeast Region: Approaching the Eleventh Hour

Before long, spring cleanup mode will begin, however, the transition from winter to spring can be a source of concern for turf managers.
http://www.usga.org/course_care/regional_updates/regional_reports/northeast/Approaching-The-Eleventh-Hour—February-2010/

North Central Region: Sometimes, the Best Surprise is None at All

With course officials and golfers more easily accessible than ever, it is important to inform them of the potential for less-than-ideal course conditions for the start of the golf season. continue

The California Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association has updated the information for this year’s California Room, which will be held in our backyard! It will be at the Hilton Bayfront {new hotel directly south of the convention center} on Wednesday February 10, from 6:30 – 7:30.

For more information, go to http://www.californiagcsa.org/hospitality.html.

Dear fellow members,

The California Golf Course Superintendents Association is proud and excited to present our Annual California Room Hospitality Suite on Wednesday February 10, 2010. The location selected is the Hilton San Diego Bayfront conveniently located next to the Convention Center, the site of the GCSAA GIS conference and walking distance to the Gas Lamp District. Our gathering will be held at the “Vela” restaurant located in the Hilton hotel. This location offers ample floor space to accommodate the large number of Golf Course Superintendents and Industry Partners normally in attendance when held in our home state. Along with the beautiful décor and spacious facilities, the Vela restaurant also offers an outdoor patio with fire pits, heat lamps and seating overlooking the bay. Several bar locations will be set up as well as a buffet bar with a variety of heavy appetizers. The Hilton will provide a convenient and comfortable setting for industry peer networking and socializing.

The cost to secure a room to hold in upwards of 700 people for an event of this magnitude can be substantial. In order to secure this location there is a minimum fee of $38,750. When the cost of drinks and food is added up it can be a daunting task to raise the funds to pay for such an event. In past years this event has been complimentary for CGCSA members, wives or significant others who attend this event. The Hospitality suite was funded primarily by our industry partners who purchase sponsorships to pay for the costs. Unfortunately in this economic climate we will be unable to fund this solely by our fellow vendors. They have been very gracious in the past and we will be calling on them again to assist us by purchasing sponsorships that provide attractive advertising opportunities.
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The California GCSA invites your company to participate in our 2010 California Room Sponsorship Program. This is
a great opportunity to network with hundreds of California golf course superintendents.

Download the sponsorship and registration sheet.

The 2010 California Room sponsorship program offers six (6) different levels of monetary support. Sponsors will be given one (1) admission ticket for each $250.00 of support. Company representatives attending the California Room must be a member of one of the six regional California Golf Course Superintendent’s Associations or have an event admission ticket.
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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

The California GCSA are pleased to announce that we have recently established an arrangement with the Golf Yellow Pages to allow members to post used equipment for sale for free on www.turffinder.com. TurfFinder.com is a classifieds website (similar to craigslist) devoted to reselling used golf course equipment.

Instead of posting your used equipment via the submission form on CaliforniaGCSA.ORG web site, you will post your equipment for sale directly on Turffinder.com. continue