Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council | March/April 2010
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16 16 Cover Story
24 DEPARTMENTS 6 President’s Message
Highlights from the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the VTC Annual Conference
10 Editor’s Perspective
20 In Memory
12 VTF Report
The Turf Industry Loses Two Icons
24 Turf Talk Winter 2010: The Big Chill
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from Melissa Reynolds
8 Director’s Corner
from Tom Tracy, Ph.D. from Mark Vaughn, CGCS from Betty Parker
14 News from the VTC
Meet Your New VTC Leaders
26 Turfgrass Calendar 26 Index of Advertisers
Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Virginia Turfgrass Journal, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or VTC members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this bimonthly publication. Copyright Š2010 by the Virginia Turfgrass Council. Virginia Turfgrass Journal is published bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary to members of VTC. POSTMASTER: Send change of address notification to VTC, P.O. Box 5989, Virginia Beach, VA 23471. Postage guaranteed. Third-class postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Virginia Turfgrass Journal allows reprinting of material published here. Permission requests should be directed to VTC. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information. Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37068-0142, (615) 7903718, Fax (615) 794-4524. Deadlines are the first of the month prior to the following month’s publication. (Example: August 1 for the September issue.)
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President’s Message
Persistence into the New Decade “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States
By Melissa Reynolds, VTC President
elcome, all, to the New Year of 2010 and to the new decade. While the challenges of the past two years have been daunting in our industry, as well as for the VTC, the above message (which has hung in our Richmond, Virginia, office for over 15 years) is true and absolute in value. Having set the tone for this message, I’ll now give a little background in persistence. Jack Kidwell, my father and leader of our family business, Duraturf Service Corp., had a daughter who needed a job. She had no talent (had she been in sales?), no genius (foregone conclusion) and no education in turfgrass (U.R./Westhampton graduate in political science). He did recognize, though, that she had a dab of persistence and said, “After all, daughter, you are good with people, and you don’t know a stranger.” So, in May 1987, he took my “qualifications” and I on and sent me out to sell turfgrass for residences and a few school fields. His persistence, with encouragement for me, was not outdone by my persistence in learning from him. Admittedly, his daughter-student (C- at this point) gave him no short measure in frustration when quantifying the area of a baseball field presented mathematical problems for her: “Pop, it’s not square or rectangular. How do I compute the area?” His succinct reply: “C = pi R squared, divide by 4.” (Didn’t he know geometry was not my thing!?) Ah, grasshopper, you have much to learn. And, I am still here, twenty-two years later, learning and persisting. In 2008, the VTC board, recognizing both the coming industry hardships as well as the troubled economic outlook, began making operational budget changes to maintain sound financials going into 2009. The 2009 VTC Conference and Trade Show was fairly well attended, and the Council’s forecasted measures held the line. The next challenge that required all determination was planning and conducting the 2010 VTC Conference & Trade Show, a.k.a. “the 50th Celebration” of our annual event. Board and committee members worked “against the economic tide” with our dedicated vendors, members, suppliers and sponsors in determining to provide not only a successful Conference but to make the 50th memorable. As a board, we could have adopted the attitude that there was no way to overcome the negatives abounding in our industry and throughout our nation. We could have hunkered down and accepted less. Yet, resolve and determination led us and our partners to achieve the unimaginable — a successful 2010 Conference & Trade Show — following one of the worst economic climates experienced by many. There were 168 more attendees to this Conference over 2009’s attendance numbers! The Tuesday night 50th Celebration (sponsored by Gil Grattan’s Virginia Green Lawn Care) was very well attended (we were hastily expanding the ballroom seating just before and during the event!), with fourteen VTC past presidents present for the evening. Our council received uncountable positive reviews for this celebration’s outcome, as well as recognition for all the work accomplished in partnership with Virginia Tech and Leading Edge Communications. On top of all the prior conference planning, in early December, there was the loss of John Shoulders (retired Virginia Tech Extension Agronomist). The 2010 Conference & Trade Show was dedicated in his memory and to his life of service, one of tireless dedication and persistence. As we head into the coming year and decade, may we each maintain the path he so diligently paved for us.
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Virginia Turfgrass Journal is the official publication of The Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 Office: (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net PUBLISHED BY Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax: (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedgecommunications.com EDITOR Mark Vaughn, CGCS VTC OFFICERS President Melissa Reynolds Dura Turf Service Corp. (804) 233-4972 Vice President Frank Flannagan Belmont Golf Course (804) 501-5993 Treasurer Brian Vincel, CGCS Spring Creek Golf Club (434) 566-2580 Past President Rick Viancour, CGCS Golden Horseshoe Golf Club (757) 220-7489 VTC DIRECTORS Patrick Connelly Gil Grattan Vince Henderson Jeff Holliday, CGCS Rick Owens, CGCS Steve Slominski Steve Smith VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (Chair) Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Erik Ervin, Ph.D. Rajandra Waghray, Ph.D. Rod Youngman, Ph.D. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS Tom Tracy, Ph.D. (757) 681-6065 VIRGINIA TURFGRASS FOUNDATION Betty Parker (757) 574-9061
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Director’s Corner
We’ve Come A LONG WAY
Tom Tracy, Ph.D. VTC Executive Director
F
arms and rural communities were very much a part of the world in 1961, the year the VTC was organized. As part of the post World War II building boom, urban sprawl was present, but it was miniscule compared to the expansion of cities between 1960 and today. For instance, the population living in the Chesapeake Bay watershed more than doubled from 1980 to today. Fifty years ago, the turfgrass profession was still maturing. Golf course superintendents were known as “greenskeepers,” and the lawncare industry was barely a blip on the radar screen. One of the major differences between 2010 and the early days of the VTC is that a healthy environment — including clean rivers, lakes and bays — is no longer taken for granted. I want to devote the rest of this column to praise the work done by industry professionals in doing the right thing for the environment and to let you know your hard work is getting noticed by Virginia’s legislators. The Virginia Golf Course Superintendents Association is funding a Best Management Practices study and publication for the state. This work will be a valuable tool and will surely be used for many years. Florida has a similar publication that has been repeatedly used by legislators and regulators to develop rules and regulations that protect the environment and are fair to the industry. More and more lawncare operators are immediately removing fertilizers that inadvertently land on impervious surfaces. A state senator told me he felt like he was walking on popped rice when he visited constituents three years ago. The fertilizer granules left on sidewalks would crunch beneath his feet. He did not see (or feel) ANY fertilizer particles beneath his feet during his last series of outings. On February 1, 2010, this senator spoke before the Virginia Senate Agriculture Committee and praised the lawncare industry’s efforts at keeping fertilizers off impervious surfaces. The Scotts Company flew representatives from Ohio to Richmond to speak with legislators in late January. Senators and delegates were impressed with the progress that Scotts is making on environmental efforts, including their labeling practices, environmental stewardship and homeowner education. Many industry professionals visited their legislators to educate them about our industry. Held in the home offices of legislators, those meetings were extremely important. Too often, people who write laws that affect our livelihoods do not understand our profession. Yes, in fifty years, our state has grown, but the turfgrass industry has also grown and matured. We are concerned about the environment. We need to keep doing the right thing, and we need to constantly let decision-makers know about the value of our industry.
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Editor’s Perspective
It’s Time Again for
My Annual Predictions Mark Vaughn, CGCS Virginia Turfgrass Journal Editor
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ell, well, well. Here we are, entering a new decade, long removed from the apocalyptic fears of Y2K. When it comes to predicting the future, some people might as well be looking for weapons of mass destruction. Or forecasting the future of the stock market. Or trying to determine when NC State might have a winning athletic program. Luckily for readers of the VTC Journal, I have once again been able to draw from multiple clairvoyant sources. Using my connections with televangelists, Oprah, M.I.T. supercomputers, white witches and the crazy lady down at the end of my street — in combination with multiple viewings of O Brother, Where Art Thou this winter — I have developed a road-map for TwentyTen that is bulletproof. Warren Buffetlike. Better than a federal bailout. And I do it all, gentle readers, for free. But this may be the last year for the FREE part. Yes, budgets are tight here at VTC World Publishing Headquarters. Just like the airlines, we can’t afford to keep giving, giving and giving ad nauseam. C’mon, those bags don’t load THEMSELVES on the plane. Those peanuts aren’t donated by Planters. And those sticky, crumpled magazines behind the seats, just like this fine publication, don’t MAGICALLY appear. Oh, yeah, I almost forgot. The disclaimer: Names mentioned herein are purely fictional. Any reference to any persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. 2010 Prediction #1 Lobbing a grenade back into her husband’s camp, Elizabeth Edwards goes on the Tyra Banks Show to announce that SHE has a love child of her own. While refusing to name the babydaddy, she does express a fondness for the name Eldrick. 2010 Prediction #2 Innovative supt. “Sting (nematode),” utilizing webcams mounted at every green, turns his office into a giant control room and never leaves his climate-controlled surrounds. Except, of course, for his daily journey for a
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Five Guys cheeseburger, at which time he monitors the course through his iphone. Sadly, “Sting” loses his job at the Hard Rock Club mid-season to a regional agronomist. Pressed for comment, Club President Harry “Stimp” Meter simply replies, “There’s an app for that.” 2010 Prediction #3 Master officials (yes, there had to be a Masters prediction) are outraged when non-participant Tiger Woods brings his “Girls Gone Wild Revue” to town and sets up shop directly across Washington Rd. from Magnolia Lane, causing a massive traffic jam. “Hey, didn’t we go through this with John Daly and his memorabilia tour last year?” grumbles Chairman Billy Payne. 2010 Prediction #4 Unemployed supt. and underwear bomber Trey “Poa-Boa” Triademefon is foiled in his attempt to attack the headquarters of the National Golf Foundation. Cleverly disguised as the Fruit-of-the-Loom banana, Triademefon walks through the front door straddling 100 pounds of plastic explosives, only to be busted by unemployed golf pro and security guard Tripp Leftwich. As Trey is dragged away by local authorities, he screams, “Something had to be done before these Einsteins get on their open-a-golf-course-a-day drug again.” 2010 Prediction #5 Tim Finchem is forced to resign as PGA Tour Commissioner when questionable comments surface regarding “he who cannot be mentioned.” A distraught Finchem goes on Letterman and declares, “Whaaa… All I said was that our prize bull has been castrated by the media, costing me and my boys millions. It’s not like I pulled a Harry Reid, for God’s sake!” 2010 Prediction #6 Sarah Palin is named as the new Tour Commissioner in July. Moving swiftly, she declares the Ryder Cup off-limits. “By golly, we’re just not going to compete against those Socialist
countries. Besides, I can’t see them from my house. You betcha — they’ll be sorry they messed with the U.S. of A.” Calendars of the new Commish sell swiftly at tour events, recouping some of the income lost by “he who cannot be questioned.” 2010 Prediction #7 Reality TV ventures deep into the turf world when four summer interns at a well-known facility allow cameras into their living quarters and onto their Workmans. High drama strikes “Grubworms” as the four realize they will have to get up at FIVE A.M. each morning. “Who lives like THIS!!!” screams Bancroft Aldridge III. “My college advisor always arranged my schedule so my first class was at 11. On a TUESDAY.” 2010 Prediction #8 Tech weed scientists Shawn Askew and Jeff Derr, always ahead of the curve, market Taraxacum officinale var. ‘Sweet Southside,’ a flavorful dandelion selected from the unkempt roughs of economically battered Southside Virginia golf courses. “Imagine if you will, golfers playing the front nine,” waxes Askew. “About the seventh hole, they start to get hungry. They wander over to the rough and pick a little Sweet Southside, with probably a little broadleaf plantain and some wild violet. The next hole, they notice mushrooms growing in the rampant infestation of fairy ring. Realizing that not a drop of pesticide has gone on courses selling golf for $20, they gather up their cache, wash it in the men’s room sink at the turn, add a little Newman’s Own and, wahhlaa… a totally organic, FREE lunch.” “This could save golf in Southern Virginia,” exclaims Derr. “This has the potential to be bigger than ‘Blacksburg Sensimilla.’” Well, that’s it for another year. Time to take a little break, recharge the batteries and get ready for twenty’leven. Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
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VTF Report
SVTA DONATES
$5,000
IN SUPPORT OF TURFGRASS RESEARCH Betty Parker VTF Manager
The
Virginia Turfgrass Foundation met once again for its annual Research Proposal meeting on January 18, in conjunction with the 2010 VTC Turfgrass Conference. It is always a long meeting, and the seven board members, along with our Secretary/Treasurer and our fundraising chairman, patiently worked their way through the agenda. One of the topics that was discussed was the need for research that would provide credibility for maintenance programs being used in the turfgrass industry and that are being challenged by current legislation to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. We will continue to question you about your concerns, and the researchers at Virginia Tech will channel their efforts if and when they know of topics that we would like addressed. Please contact any of our board members, or call the office of the VTF at 757-574-9061.
The highlight of this meeting is always the review of the turfgrass research proposals being presented by our lofty VT turfgrass research team. They somehow manage to bring things to our level and are always enthusiastic about their work. We are thankful not only for their expertise, but also for our ability to continue to endorse their projects for funding through the combined sources of the seed law monies and the money contributed by you, the turfgrass industry. We would like to say a special thank you to the Shenandoah Valley Turf Association for their continued support of these projects, as well as the enormous support of the VTC through their outstanding efforts each year with the annual Turfgrass Research Tournament. This year, the board of directors for the Virginia Turfgrass Foundation endorsed $58,386 in new projects and $14,085 for ongoing projects for a total of $72,471. Those projects include:
“Improving Chemical and Biological Management of Moss on Golf Putting Greens” VT Researchers: Shawn D. Askew, Ph.D., and David S. McCall Estimated Cost: Year 1 $12,500 (funded this year) Year 2 $13,000 Total $25,500 “Cultural and Physiological Impacts on Brown Patch Severity and Weed Encroachment in Tall Fescue” VT Researchers: Jeff Derr, Ph.D., and David S. McCall Estimated Cost: Year 1 $32,000 (funded this year) Year 2 $33,280 Total $65,280 “New and Novel Chemistries and Timing Options for Managing Annual Bluegrass Weevil and Masked Chafers in Turfgrass” VT Researcher: Rod Youngman, Ph.D. Estimated Cost: One year $8,503 (funded this year) “Biochar as a Remediation Tool to Enhance Turfgrass Establishment and Persistence on Disturbed Soils” VT Researcher: Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D. Estimated Cost: Year 1 $5,383 (funded this year) Year 2 $5,441 Year 3 $5,797 Total $16,621 “Organic Matter Dilution Programs for Sand-Based Putting Greens in Virginia” Researchers: Erik Ervin, Ph.D. (VT) and Brandon Horvath, Ph.D. (UT) Estimated Cost: Year 1 $7,586 Year 2 $11,500 Year 3 $10,085 (funded this year) Total $29,171 “Evaluation of Unique Zoysiagrass Varieties for Low-Input Virginia Turf Areas” VT Researcher: Erik Ervin, Ph.D. Estimated Cost: Year 1 $5,000 Year 2 $4,000 (funded this year) Total $9,000
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News from the VTC
Meet Your 2010 VTC Leaders
PRESIDENT Melissa Reynolds Dura Turf Service Corp. Richmond, VA (804) 233-4972 duraturfservice@ verizon.net
VICE PRESIDENT Frank Flannagan Belmont Golf Course Richmond, VA 23228 (804) 501-5993 fla20@co.henrico. va.us
TREASURER Brian Vincel, CGCS Spring Creek Golf Club Charlottesville, VA (434) 566-2580 bvincel@spring creekliving.com
PAST PRESIDENT Rick Viancour, CGCS Golden Horseshoe Golf Club Williamsburg, VA (757) 220-7489 rviancour@cwf.org
DIRECTORS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Tom Tracy, Ph.D. Virginia Turfgrass Council P.O. Box 5989 Virginia Beach, VA 23471 (757) 464-1004 Fax: (757) 282-2693 vaturf@verizon.net
VTC ADVISORY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Patrick Connelly Landscape Supply, Inc. Richmond, VA (804) 754-3590 Fax: (804) 343-1484 pconnelly@land scapesupplyva.com
Rick Owen, CGCS Laurel Hill Golf Club Lorton, VA (703) 674-6934 rickjowens@ yahoo.com
Gil Grattan Virginia Green Lawn Care Richmond, VA (804) 285-6200 gil.grattan@ virginiagreen lawncare.com
Steve Slominski Herod Seeds, Inc. Richmond, VA (540) 760-8873 steves@herod seeds.com
Vince Henderson County of Henrico Parks & Rec. Glen Allen, VA (804) 727-8213 hen14@co. henrico.va.us
Steve Smith Specialty Turf Services Chester, VA (804) 796-1498 scsmith@ cwtg.com
Jeff Holliday, CGCS Salisbury Country Club Midlothian, VA (804) 794-8389 jholliday83@ msn.com
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Mike Goatley, Ph.D. (chair) Virginia Tech, CSES Dept. Blacksburg, VA (540) 231-2951 goatley@vt.edu Shawn Askew, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA (540) 231-5807 saskew@vt.edu Jeffrey Derr, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Hampton Roads Agricultural Research Station Virginia Beach, VA (757) 363-3912 jderr@vt.edu Erik Ervin, Ph.D. Virginia Tech, CSES Dept. Blacksburg, VA (540) 231-5208 ervin@vt.edu Rajandra Waghray, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Extension (retired) Manassas, VA (703) 331-5732 devandra@juno.com Rod Youngman, Ph.D. Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA (540) 231-9118 youngman@vt.edu
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Event Spotlight
Among the 50th Anniversary Celebration’s VIP guests were many VTC Past Presidents, including: (front row, left to right) Lee Dieter (1970–71), Jack Kidwell (1972–73, father of 2010-2011 VTC President Melissa Reynolds), Janet Rogers (1999), Jack McClenahan (199192), Sheldon Betterly (1968-69) and Louis Brooking Jr. (2002-03); (back row, left to right) Rick Viancour (2007-10), Lin Diacont III (1993–94), Peter Connelly (1986-87), David Fairbank (1983), Brook Parker, CGCS (1995–96), Richard Fisher, CGCS (1988-89) and Sterling Caudle, CGCS (1997-98).
On Tuesday evening, Conference attendees filled the ballroom where the 50th Anniversary Celebration event was held. Sheldon Betterly, 1968-69 VTC President, was one of the program’s first speakers, paying tribute to the late John Shoulders, former turfgrass Extension specialist at Virginia Tech and one of the founders of both the Virginia Turfgrass Council and the Virginia Turfgrass Conference.
One of the tradeshow’s consistently most crowded — and clearly popular — booths was that of Herod Seeds. Dining together at the tradeshow lunch on Wednesday were (left to right) Tim Kreger (executive director of the Carolinas GCSA), George Fisher and Steve Smith (Smith Turf & Irrigation), and Lester George (George Golf Design).
Presenters for the evening’s video program included: (left to right) Dr. Richard Schmidt, Virginia Tech, now retired (who spoke about turfgrass research developments in the 1960s and 1970s); 1980s — Dr. Jack Hall, Virginia Tech, now retired (1980s); 2000s — Dr. Mike Goatley Jr., Virginia Tech (2000s); the evening’s emcee — Jack McClenahan; and Dr. Dave Chalmers, Texas A&M, formerly Virginia Tech (1990s).
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Event Spotlight continued
Highlights from the
VTC’S 50TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & MARKETPLACE… What a Celebration!
With
the exception of one sad note, the 50th anniversary of the VTC Annual Conference & Marketplace was a rousing success. Held January 18–21 in Fredericksburg, the event not only attracted 20% more attendees than last year, but it also filled the tradeshow hall with vendors from around the country. The only missing member of the regular Conference crowd was John Shoulders, former turf Extension specialist with Virginia Tech and one of the event’s founders; Shoulders unexpectedly passed away on December 9, before being able to attend his 50th Conference. Appropriately, the Conference was dedicated to Shoulders’ memory, and during the entire four-day event, attendees were heard frequently relating their experiences with the beloved former VT professor. After the first two days of education (skillfully organized by the turf team at Virginia Tech and Patrick Connelly, chair of the VTC’s Programs & Education Committee), attendees gathered for a special Tuesday
evening program to celebrate the Conference’s 50th birthday. After an opening tribute to Shoulders, attendees were treated to an entertaining and educational walk down memory lane, featuring a video that touched on world and national events of the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, with accompanying live presentations on key turfgrass research developments for each decade. In a nod toward the industry’s future, the evening’s program ended with announcements of this year’s scholarship winners. At Wednesday’s VTC business meeting, this year’s award winners were honored (see page 18), and elections of new directors were held (see page 14 for the full slate of VTC leaders for 2010). Next year, the 51st VTC Annual Conference and Marketplace will again be held at the Fredericksburg Expo Center. Definitely mark your calendars for January 17–20, 2011! The photos on these pages were taken by Tony Montgomery, Eddie Coutras and Liz Nutter.
The VTC sincerely THANKS THE MANY GENEROUS SPONSORS of the 50th Annual Virginia Turf & Landscape Conference and Marketplace! Agrotain International BASF Bayer Environmental Science Cleary Chemical Egypt Farms Fredericksburg Dept. of Economic Development & Tourism Grigg Brothers Harmon Turf Services Harrell’s Fertilizer Howard Johnson’s Fertilizer Knox Fertilizer Co.
NuFarm Americas Quali-Pro Southern States Cooperative Specialty Turf Services Virginia Green Winfield Solutions
A Special Thanks to Our Celebration Sponsor! Virginia Green Lawn Care
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continued Event Spotlight
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2010 VTC AWARD WINNERS
The VTC Award
R.D. Cake/Silver Tray Award
Mike Goatley Jr., Ph.D., Virginia Tech (shown above with Steve Glass, VTC Past President, left)
Sterling Caudle, The Tides Inn (shown above with Rick Viancour, 2008–2009 VTC President, right)
VTC President’s Award
VTC Lifetime Membership
Patrick Connelly, Landscape Supply Inc. (shown above with Rick Viancour, 2008–2009 VTC President, left)
Dave Myers, Woodberry Forest School (retired) (shown above with Steve Glass, VTC Past President, right)
2010 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Larry S. Jones Memorial Scholarship >> Brian Stokes, Virginia Tech Thomas B. Hutcheson Jr. Memorial Scholarship >> Holly Willgruber, Virginia Tech Robert Ruff Sr. Memorial Scholarship >> Logan Horne, AT student, Virginia Tech
W.S. “Bill” Connelly Memorial Scholarship >> George Aschmann, Virginia Tech Louis & Ginger Brooking Turfgrass Graduate Student Scholarship >> Derik Cataldi, Virginia Tech
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Louis & Ginger Brooking Turfgrass Graduate Student Scholarship >> Sajeewa Amaradasa, Virginia Tech VGCSA Scholarship >> Bradley Perkins, AT-Turf student, Virginia Tech Golf Course Builders Assn. of America Scholarship >> Brett Stowers, Virginia Tech
Event Spotlight continued
ALSO, THANKS TO OUR MARKETPLACE EXHIBITORS! (We’re Showing Just a Few of Them Here)
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In Memory
Bob Ruff Jr., CGCS Golf Course Superintendant at Two Rivers Country Club fter a long bout with cancer, Bob Ruff Jr. passed away on March 3, 2010. The Virginia Golf Course Superintendants Association graciously gave the Journal permission to publish the following write-up on Ruff from the VGCSA website, posted when he was named winner of the prestigious Distinguished Service Award for 2008 by the VGCSA. Born and raised in Roanoke, Ruff got his start in the turfgrass business working summers during high school for Buddy Crouch at Hidden Valley Country Club. He was a student at Ferrum College 1969–71, and then transferred to Virginia Tech in the fall of 1971. During this time period, Ruff worked summers at Roanoke Country Club. In 1972, he committed to enter aviator training after graduation from Virginia Tech; however, with the Vietnam War ending in early 1973, he was released from his military obligation. Ruff earned his BS in Agronomy in December 1973. Upon receiving his degree, Roanoke CC elevated Ruff to assistant superintendent, and he remained there through 1975 under the tutelage of George Short. Then he got his break to be in charge, moving
A
over to the Chatmoss Country Club as superintendent. He stayed there through 1978, when Wintergreen Resort came calling, hiring him for the longest tenure of his career, some 21 years. While at Wintergreen, Ruff helped build a name for the resort, attracting the State Amateur, USGA qualifying rounds and other major events. Ruff was aware of the spectacular Tom Fazio project, Two Rivers Country Club near Williamsburg in the late 1990s. This high-profile project presented a great opportunity for Ruff, and he accepted the position of superintendent in 1999. Two Rivers became one of the most successful golf developments in the state, and Ruff’s care of the immaculate course kept members and guests happy. In 2007, Ruff was promoted to Director of Maintenance: Golf, Grounds and Clubhouse. In 1981, Ruff earned his certification from GCSAA, and in 1983 he served as president of the Virginia Turfgrass Association (VTA) based in southwest Virginia. He was elected president of the Virginia Turfgrass Council (VTC) in 1984–85, later earning the VTC’s Presidents Award in 1986. That same year, he served as president of the Virginia
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Turfgrass Foundation. Over the years, he served on many committees for GCSAA. After winning the VGCSA award, Ruff remarked, “In some small way, I hope I have helped instill my passion for the golf maintenance profession over my 34 years to the greatest bunch of assistants, peers, cohorts and friends. Virginia has been a great place to work, and my colleagues have offered the support and caring required to survive in this sometimes difficult profession.” Ruff was married for 35 years to his high school sweetheart, Susan, who kept encouraging him when times were difficult on the job. They have two daughters, Emily and Katie.
In Memor y continued
John Shoulders, Extension Turfgrass Specialist,Virginia Tech
J
ohn Francis Shoulders, of Blacksburg, Virginia, died on December 9, 2009, at age 89. His unexpected passing came just a few weeks shy of the 50th anniversary of the VTC Annual Conference, an event he was instrumental in creating five decades ago. In 1952, Shoulders accepted a position as the first Extension Pasture and Forage Specialist at Virginia Tech, which also included work with turfgrass. As the demand for more educational work with turf increased, Professor Shoulders assumed the newly created position of Extension Agronomist in turfgrass management. Although not a Ph.D., he was affectionately called “Dr. Shoulders� by many who knew him. As a turfgrass specialist, Shoulders made significant contributions in both forage and turfgrass management. He introduced the 12-month Forage Program to farmers across Virginia and worked to improve both yield and quality of forages for livestock. He initiated and directed the Virginia Tech Turf Field Days and the Virginia Turfgrass Conference for 20 years prior to his retirement. He also organized and conducted the Turf Management Winter Short Course at Virginia Tech for several years. He was active in National and International Professional Societies, having served as chair of the Turfgrass Division of Crop Science Society of America and Secretary of the International Turfgrass Society.
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He was a Fellow in the American Society of Agronomy and also in the Crop Science Society of America, and he was a recipient of a Distinguished Service Award for the National Association of County Agricultural Agents. Shoulders was a member of the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church for more than 57 years, serving as a deacon and elder and in numerous other capacities. Surviving is his wife of 67 years, Ruth Shaffer Shoulders.
A Tribute to John Shoulders Thirty-three years ago, my dad was asked to become the superintendent at Holston Hills Country Club in Marion, VA. We had a family landscape nursery and installed new lawns and such, but we had no golf course experience. Dr. Shoulders spent a full week there, showing us the basics. He stayed at the house with us, had breakfast and dinner with us and lunch at the club. As a 14-year-old, I was so impressed with him and his willingness to teach and share that I decided he was a man I wanted to emulate. I grew up working on the course and graduated from Virginia Tech with my Agronomy degree, and I have stayed in the turf and landscape business in Virginia for 32-plus years. Dr. Shoulders was the embodiment of Ut Prosim: That I May Serve. The best I can do is hope to pass on to the next generation what he passed on to me — that true Hokie spirit and attitude of giving as has been given to me. Rest in peace. — Jeff Williams Herod Seeds
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Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
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Turf Talk
By Chris Hartwiger and Pat O’Brien, USGA Green Section [Editor’s note: Although this story was written about winter conditions across the Southeast, it contains helpful information for any turf manager who has experienced icy conditions this past winter.]
M
ost of the Southeast experienced a prolonged period of temperatures that were 15 to 20 degrees below average during the first two weeks of January. Many cities have not seen this duration of cold temperatures in decades. Because many courses have converted from bentgrass to an ultradwarf bermudagrass, the topic of winter injury to bermudagrass putting greens has been much talked about this winter. In this article, we will review what we observed in the region and lingering questions.
Observations A standard recommendation in the region is to cover bermudagrass putting greens any time temperatures are scheduled to fall below 25°F. The arrival of cold air was forecasted accurately, and superintendents with covers deployed them on either January 1 or 2. Figure 1 shows the duration and extent of the cold air in the Southeast. Temperatures fell to or below 25°F for almost 14 consecutive days. In fact, this 14-day period was the 8th coldest 14-day period in Birmingham since records have been kept. Most courses kept the covers on for at least 12 or 13 consecutive nights. The consistently cold temperatures kept the labor requirement to a minimum, as there was no need to put on and remove the covers each day. As forecasted temperatures began to dip below 10°F and the number of days with lows below 25°F began to mount, superintendents began to contemplate extra protection. Numerous courses in the Memphis, TN, area have double covers that were used for several days. Another idea used successfully was to apply either pine straw or wheat straw
and then put the covers over the top. This technique was helpful on shaded greens and/or putting greens with north-facing slopes. Both double covers and straw plus a cover creates a boundary layer of air that has tremendous insulation properties to help keep the heat in a putting green rootzone. Superintendents at several courses without protective covers decided to turn on the irrigation water in subfreezing temperatures to ice their putting greens. Some superintendents with covers decided to freeze a thin layer of ice over their covers. We have no idea whether these techniques were effective, but they do raise interesting questions reviewed in the next section.
Lingering questions and comments 1. We know covers help to retain heat in a putting green when deployed as described above. Based upon research at Mississippi State University in the mid-1990s, Dr. Mike Goatley (now at Virginia Tech) observed
that for temperature retention, there was not much difference regardless of what the cover material was made of. However, there is a larger benefit when two covers are used. 2. Research in Canada in the mid-1990s and published in the September/ October 2000 Green Section Record (“Winter Protection of Annual Bluegrass Greens”) confirmed that a straw layer underneath a cover provides improved protection. See http://turf. lib.msu.edu/2000s/2000/000911.pdf for more information. This confirms field observations seen for many years in the region. 3. More questions than answers remain for icing the putting greens. Theoretically, there is some potential for heat retention, but there is no research data to confirm or deny this concept. Most courses that used this technique did so because they did not have any covers and they used icing as a last resort. We discussed the concept of icing with several turfgrass scientists, and they agreed that concluding
Figure 1. Weather data for Birmingham, AL, for the period of January 1–14, 2010.
24 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL March/April 2010 www.vaturf.org
Turf Talk continued
whether icing is effective is problematic. Questions, concerns and comments include: • Should an ice cover be used for one event (i.e., a single night) or for multiple nights in a row? Researching a topic like the influence of an ice cover on winterkill protection is difficult because so many variables besides temperature are involved. • Is crown hydration a concern? Crown hydration is not a good thing for any turfgrass experiencing cold temperatures. If icing is used multiple days in a row, the freezing and thawing of the ice can lead to crown hydration. As crowns become hydrated, the temperature at which they could become injured will increase. Crown hydration may be enhanced if the soil is frozen at the 2" level and doesn’t thaw during the day. The melting ice will have nowhere to go except for some surface drainage.
• What is the best thickness of ice for prevention of injury? This is a difficult question to answer, and attempting to answer it brings in confounding questions regarding what the temperature of the ambient air above the ice coating is and how long the temperature stays below freezing. • Because irrigation systems are not uniform, will there be an impact on injury/no injury? We do know that uniformity is variable and any resulting ice coating will be variable, too. As the calendar moves closer to March, we will know much more about any winter injury. In the meantime, it might be a good idea for superintendents to take a few plugs from questionable greens and place them indoors in a sunny window. In three or four days, you should know if you’ve got live grass. Please do not hesitate to contact either Pat O’Brien (patobrien@usga.org) or Chris Hartwiger (chartwiger@usga.org) with any concerns about your golf course.
Photo 1. Icing for winter injury protection: A viable alternative to covers or a technique of last resort?
Journal of the Virginia Turfgrass Council
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Index of Advertisers
Calendar of Events
Turf Industry Events
A.R.M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 www.armva.com
April 13
June 16
August 3
Pesticide Recertification Fairfax, VA
VSTMA Field Day Collegiate School Richmond, VA
RPGMS Equipment Demo and Tradeshow University of Richmond Richmond
May 25 Pesticide Recertification Staunton, VA
June 7 VTF Research Golf Tournament Wintergreen, VA
June 15 Pesticide Recertification Williamsburg, VA
June 22 Turfgrass Field Day and Pesticide Recertification Virginia Beach, VA
August 31– September 1
July 20
Virginia Tech Turfgrass Field Days Blacksburg
Pesticide Recertification Fredericksburg, VA
July 26–30 PTPI Summer Convention & Field Days (Turfgrass Producers International) Sheraton New York Hotel New York, NY
January 17–20, 2011 VTC 51st Annual Turf & Landscape Conference and Trade Show Fredericksburg, VA
Bayer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.bayerprocentral.com Cape Fear Turf Farm . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover www.capefearturffarm.com Collins Wharf Sod . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 www.cwsod.com Dura Turf Service Corp. . . . . . . . 23 E & S Soil and Peat . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.eandssoil.com East Coast Sod & Seed . . . . . . . . . . 7 www.eastcoastsod.com Egypt Farms, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 www.egyptfarms.com Ernst Conservation Seeds . . . . . . . . . 26 www.ernstseed.com Jacklin Seed, A division of Simplot . . . . . Inside Front Cover www.jacklin.com Kesmac/Brouwer, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . 13 www.kesmac.com Lanscape Supply, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 23 www.landscapesupplyva.com Luck Stone Specialty Products . . . 7 www.luckstone.com Mid-Atlantic Sports Turf . . . . . . . 11 Modern Turf, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 www.modernturf.com Oakland Plantation Turf Farm, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 www.ncturfgrass.com Oakwood Sod Farm, Inc. . . . . . . . 22 www.oakwoodsod.com Precision Laboratories . . . . . . . . . 21 www.precisionlab.com Quali-Pro . . . . . . . . . . . . Back Cover www.quali-pro.com Texas Sod Leasing . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 www.texassod.com The Turfgrass Group . . . . . . . . .3, 25 www.theturfgrassgroup.com Titan Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 www.titanturf.com
26 | VIRGINIA TURFGRASS JOURNAL March/April 2010 www.vaturf.org