S p r i n g 2 0 1 4

Volume 39, Number 1

MISSISSIPPI

VALLEY

GOLF COURSE

SUPERINTENDENTS

ASSOCIATION

NEWSLETTER

I N T H I S I S S U EThe Skinny ........................................... 1

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE ............ 2

EDITOR’S NOTES.......................... 4

Top Ten Turf Taunts ......................... 9

VENDOR SPOTLIGHT Rich Carlson, GreensPro, Inc. .......... 10

Getting the Word Out .................... 12

MVGSCA Opening Event ............... 14

MVGCSA Assistant’s Review ........ 16

Mizzou Update .............................. 16

Support the Arts ............................ 18

Keep it Green III ............................ 20

MVGCSA and SIGCSA Joint Meeting ......................................... 22

CALENDAR OF EVENTS............. 24

The SkinnySpring 2014

By Paul Hurst

T hought this would be a good opportunity to get you all up to speed on some goings on throughout the Valley. The Editorial Staff has opted out of the Course of The Quarter again this issue for the sake of variety. We felt that occasionally shaking up the format could be refreshing for our readers and those who look at pictures only. In light of that decision this article should help enlighten you on construction, meetings and future events going on throughout the MVGCSA.

(continued on page six)

P R E S I D E N T ’ S M E S S A G EPage Two THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

2014 MVGCSA Officers

President

Tim RoethlerOld Warson C.C. (314) 968-5236

Vice President

Mike NullNorwood Hills Country Club (314) 522-3552

Treasurer

Jim BufordSherwood C.C. (314) 846-8850

Chapter Executive

Brenda Morelock(636) 447-2466

Directors

Rob KickAlgonquin Golf Club(314) 962-3794

Greg ParkinsonTapawingo National Golf Club (636) 343-1262

Kris RickmanCrystal Springs Quarry Golf Club (314) 344-4448

Robert SchaffThe Falls Golf Club (636) 240-8200

Tim SchwierjohnPomme Creek Golf Course (314) 276-2992

Immediate Past President

Don HumphreyRuth Park Golf Course (314) 392-7769

Associate Directors

Rich CarlsonGreensPro (636) 326-4800

Ed EschbacherMTI Distributing (314) 803-6295

Assistant Liaison

Adam LewisOld Warson Country Club (314) 568-0575

Dan LloydMeadowbrook Country Club (636) 277-5361, ext. 220

Greetings to all. Another lovely spring in this resort location that we call St. Louis. We have certainly experienced several different angles of Mother Nature over the past few years.

2011 was the 4th hottest summer on record, followed by 2012 the 3rd hottest summer on record, followed by drought, flooding, a great summer 2013 followed by the coldest winter in 25 years 2014. Hopefully by the time you receive this our fairways will have snapped out of this long offseason. Those of you with bentgrass fairways, keep smiling, for now. Unfortunately, golfers seem to have short memories when it comes to the weather, but what can you do, “Correct me if I’m wrong, Sandy, but if I kill all the golfers they’ll lock me up and throw away the key” ~ Carl Spackler.

I am going to take this opportunity to get you up to speed on what the Board of Directors has been working on for you and for our industry. To begin, for those of you living under a rock, get on our website and check out the tremendous improvements undertaken by Tim Doll and Khris Rickman. We are continu-

ally adding and improving features to provide the most comprehensive online experience for our members. Take a second to visit your member profile page where you can update your contact info, access the online roster and make online dues payments. The website is there to serve the members so if you have any questions, comments, suggestions, etc., contact us at (www.mvgcsa.com/contactus) and let us know. For website

advertisement opportunities please contact Khris Rickman. This is a great opportunity as the website is speaking for itself, now averaging over 2700 visits per month. As for the financial status of the MVGCSA, we are on solid ground. Mike Null and Jim Buford have been busy forming and maintaining a budget that reflects the true operating costs for the MVGCSA in this ever changing business. The advertising money generated from the website will be used to continue to improve the website and offset operating costs. Directors Tim Schwierjohn and Greg Parkinson have worked countless hours assem-bling a great schedule of events; a special thank you to our vendors for their early com-mitments sponsoring our events. All events and sponsors can be viewed on our website. We have also started our new point system for membership participation. This system will select a “Superintendent Member of the Year”. For more details on the point system visit www.mvgcsa.com/2014-mvgcsa-points-system/ Those qualifying will be eligible to win a choice between a paid entry fee to the National Golf Classic at the GIS show in February or $350 in golf merchandise. Please make an effort to attend every event and show support to our association. If you are unable to attend, send another staff member. If you have any questions please contact Tim Schwierjohn or Greg Parkinson.

Thank you and please support our associate members who always step up to help our association.

(continued on page twenty-one)

Page Four THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

E D I T O R ’ S N O T E SThe Gateway Green

Volume 39, Number 1

The Gateway Green5026 Brittany Downs Drive St. Charles, MO 63304

Editor

Paul Hurst GreensPro 1 Williamsburg EstatesSt. Louis, MO 63131 (618) 920-6406

Director of Advertising

Mike Carron Meadowbrook Country Club 200 Meadowbrook Country Club Estates Drive Ballwin, MO 63011 (636) 277-5361, ext. 220

Art Director

Larry Torno Berkeley Design LLC 7400 Carleton Avenue St. Louis, MO 63130 314-727-3686

M aybe it is age but it seems more and more there are things I just don’t get. Bruce Springsteen, I just don’t get it. I mean I get the

fact he has a cool nick name, he plays for three hours and he is from New Jersey but the music has never resonated with me. Born to Run or Born in the USA, boring. Maybe it’s a coast thing where I’m just not cool enough to understand because I live in a fly over state.

Facebook, I really don’t get that. Do you really want an update of what I had for breakfast or a picture of the snow on my patio furniture? Do you really want a picture

of my family posing for pictures acting like we all get along and don’t have any problems? How about a picture of the third place medal one of my kids won at a random sporting event? My wife bought a sign for our house, “Remember as far as everyone knows, we are a nice normal family.” I get that; I will post that on the Facebook page I will never have.

Twitter, I am sorry man….I just don’t get it. #whohasthetime, #payattentiontodriving, #putyourphonedownforachange, #stoptakingpicturesofyourself, #blessed, #developing. Tweet, retweet,

avatar, following, followers……seriously man. I get this quote by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “So I am the only person here without all these electronic devices? And I am a free man, and you’re all slaves. You are slaves to your gadgets.” #rightonthemoneyben.

Finally, I don’t mean to offend….I just don’t get the NFL draft. This event appears to go on for months and is a celebration of guys who have accomplished absolutely nothing on an NFL field. It really is like watching

a weather forecast, except trying to predict how men will perform. I saw highlights of masses of people cheering, drinking, buying jerseys, waiting with baited breath on which athlete will bless their team. #theguyhasnotplayedadown.

Anywho, forgive my ramblings. The Gateway Green crawls slowly out of hibernation with what we at the Gateway Green World Headquarters deem as, not bad. My thanks as always to Mike Carron with his work with those that sponsor this magazine. Mike, we appreciate your efforts and thank you. Thank you as well to all the vendors who sponsor the Gateway Green. We ap-preciate your support. In this issue we have a Mizzou Update and a USGA Report that highlights the blog of one Joe Wachter at Glen Echo Country Club. Nice work Joe, I think you have a future in the newsletter business. We should talk. Rob Kick dishes more Kung Fu in his article about supporting the arts, Star Wars, The Karate Kid, technology and how one can go about giving back. Nice work as always Rob, you are a wordsmith. Thanks to Don Humphrey for his article on my man Richard Carlson. Nice work Don and Rich you can now no longer complain that you have not been featured in the legendary Double G. Chuck Gast and Larry Torno thank you as well.

I hope you enjoy this issue. If you enjoy please let us know. If you don’t “get it” I am always in need of people who are motivated and love to write. #youcanhavethisbattleaxe. See you next time. n

#youcanhavethisbattleaxe

One of the oldest Clubs in the St. Louis District, dating back to 1911, St. Clair re-opened this May with some well

needed updating. Superintendent Jeremy Klotz and former Assistant Corey Maer have had their hands full since last August. This original Langford design now boasts expanded 007 greens, new cart paths, improved drainage, impactful tree removal and a new irrigation system. The bunkers have also been completely redone, redesigned and some removed. Kye Goalby, son of Masters Champ Bob Goalby, was the point man behind the design of the renovation. Jeremy Klotz had this to say about the whirlwind that the last 6 months has been, “The entire renovation experience has been inspiring. Kye Goalby’s architecture matched Langford’s very well and watching the construction areas progress from bare soil to a playable golf course in a very short period was amazing. We are still a work in progress but we were only closed for less than ten months, two of them being snow covered. Homogeneous turf, draining bunkers and an irrigation system that actually works has been the highlight of my experience after the construction.

The St. Clair grounds crew did an amazing job removing

168 trees, double verti-drain coring and core aerifying the

greens plus hand watering over five acres of sod daily.

Overall, St. Clair is in a much better position and the

membership is very proud of the legacy they have created.”

This June 6th through June 8th St. Louis Country Club will be hosting the 38th Annual Curtis Cup. The Curtis Cup

Match is a biennial international women’s amateur golf compe-tition between eight-player teams from the United States and Great Britain and Ireland. The Curtis Cup Match consists of six foursomes (alternate-shot) matches, six four-ball matches and eight singles matches over three days of competition El-len Port, six time USGA Champion and two-time Curtis Cup Team member will serve as captain for the USA Team. St. Louis Country Club is no stranger to hosting major golf events. They have hosted the 1921 U.S. Amateur, the 1925 U.S. Women’s Amateur, the 1947 U.S. Open, the 1960 U.S. Amateur and the 1972 U.S. Women’s Amateur. The Golf Channel will be televis-ing this event. Tim Burch, Golf Course Superintendent of St. Louis Country Club had this to say about the event, “We are really looking forward to hosting this International golf event. It’s a wonderful opportunity for St. Louis golf fans to come out and cheer on the best U. S. women amateurs, while they try to regain the Cup, on one of our countries historical treasures of a golf course. It promises to be a fun, “free to the public” tournament everyone is welcome to be a part of.”

Page Six THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

(continued on page eight)

The Skinny Submitted by Paul Hurst

CURTIS CUP @ ST. LOUIS COUNTRY CLUB

ST. CLAIR COUNTRY CLUB RENOVATIONS

Page Eight THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

In August 2018 Bellerive Country Club will play host to the 100th PGA Championship. I had the opportunity recently to

tour the golf course with Super John Cunningham and observe the progress. This is an understatement, John and staff has been incredibly busy since the 74th Senior PGA Championship last year. There have been some significant changes to a few entire holes but the bulk of the work has focused on bunkering and how grass selection impacts the way hazards come into play. Tree removal and improvement of vistas has also been a focus. Cunningham explains, “Shortly after the 2013 Senior Championship we started a renovation that should be (finger crossed) wrapped up in the next 60 days. All greenside and fairway bunkering surrounds were reshaped, new drainage and bunker sand has been installed.” He goes on, “The grassing schemes around all of the bunkers have been modified with most all of the turf around the bunkers now being zoysia grass. During the bunker renovation there were 8 new chipping pockets or collection areas that were designed and installed around greensides that are also zoysia grass. Holes #3 and #11 were completely renovated with the pond on #3 being doubled in size and the fairway, green surround and pond layout all being renovated on #11. The fescue lined creek and pond banks were also re-graded and re-grassed in zoysia to make the hazards come more into play. There were also some tee renova-tions accomplished on hole #’s 6, 9 and 15 allowing for more teeing area and realignment and a synthetic tee line installed at the driving range.” At the conclusion John reflected, “I think the renovations to the golf course will really accentuate the course design and scale of the golf course”.

Dr. Milt Engelke made a stop at Bellerive C.C. in early May for an impromptu zoysia summit. I was not able to attend

but Bill Maynard from St. Albans took some great notes:

The Skinny(continued from page six)

q The 1970 zoysia looks better than the 1990 – 2012 zoysia.q Patch disease is related to phosphorus overload and

late Fall N.q Higher thatch means weakly rooted.q Core Aerification for zoysia is vital.q Macro pore space is needed.q Active and well fed microbes can help reduce organic

build up.q Team zoysia to launch at the GIS Show 2015

In case you missed it the MVGCSA sponsored the first of two Equipment Managers Meetings. The first one was held at

Bellerive C.C. and the next will be held this fall at Sunset C.C. Bellerive Head Mechanic Chris Rapp and Super John Cunningham have been spearheading this cause for golf course mechanics in the Valley. If you have any questions or would like to attend the next meeting contact Chris @ mechanics@bellerive.net.

If you can believe it, KIG enters the third year of garnering support for the Turf Program at the University of Missouri.

On May 8th several members of the MVGSCA Board attended a thank you BBQ celebrating the donation of a spray rig to the Turf Team at South Farm. That same evening we wished John Haguewood goodbye and celebrated his efforts in work-ing directly with Dr. Xi Xiong; Thank you John for your efforts, contributions, and best of luck with your new job. KIG III rolls forward with our support and effort remaining vital to the success of the Turf Program. Please join us for the KIG Trivia Night held Friday, July 25th at the St. Ann Community Center. Ask your friends, members, customers, employee’s, relatives or family to come out and support a cause that helps us all put food on the table. Please forward on the email invite or put the hard copy of the invite in your Pro Shop.

(continued on page nine)

ZOYSIA SUMMIT

MVGCSA EQUIPMENT MANAGERS MEETING

KEEP IT GREEN TRIVIA NIGHT

BELLERIVE RENOVATIONS

Page Nine THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

How many times throughout your career have you heard a

comment or a question from a golf-er/member that made you want to stop in your tracks and give them the LOOK and ask, “What did you just say?” Or more justifiably, snap back with a sharp return comment that would likely make an enemy but would be deserved and most importantly…gratifying.

Well, to keep the Top Ten coming, here are the top ten questions/comments heard in the trenches!

1 0. “When are you going to sharpen those mowers and finally start cutting some grass?”

9. While viewing a triplex mower during a Green Committee meeting, it was stated, “Looks like your gonna need some new tires for that machine. The tread is completely gone”.

8. “So tell me, how nice is it to have every Monday off since the club is closed?”

7. “With all the money we have in our budget, weather shouldn’t be a factor at our course.”

6. “I see you installed fans for the golfers, when are we gonna get fans over at the tennis courts?”

5. “Can you actually go to college and get a degree to become a Superintendent?”

4. “I really think we should start posting the stimp meter readings every day for the greens.”

3. “I know we don’t actually open until 7 but can we go ahead and get started 15 minutes early?”

2. “I know we just got 2 ½ inches of rain but you’re gonna let carts go today right?”

And the #1 most ridiculous comment made…

“You know, I was watching the Masters this past week end, so why can’t we…”

This list could go on and on! I’m sure you have a couple of other good zingers, so why not send them my way (chuckgast@sbcglobal.net) and we may do another Top Ten on this topic.

Here’s hoping for a decent summer. Stay cool comrades! n

Top Ten Turf Taunts... Say What??Submitted by Chuck Gast

The Skinny(continued from page eight)

Warm season grasses have taken it on the chin throughout the Valley. Depending on the variety of grass, location

and microclimate, damage has ranged from slow to come out to major devastation measuring in acres. Transition zone problems have certainly reared their head again this Spring. Todd Ellis, Superintendent at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, states, “Ninety Five percent of our Zoysia is healthy but any Zoysia that was weak going into the Fall was ham-mered….particularly low and shaded areas. Any Bermuda, it is just dead and the further you go south into Kentucky and Tennessee the worse the damage gets.”

On May 24th Eagle Scout Candidate Bryan Ritchie,

son of MVGCSA member Rob Ritchey, unveiled his Military Monument in front of City Hall in Dardenne Prairie, Missouri. Bryan raised nearly $20,000 for this project that in his words was, “meant to show honor to those in all five branches of the U.S. military, both past and present, for their bravery, dedication, service, and sacrifice. It is important to me for my community to come together and show our appreciation for whatthese service men and women do for us. Our freedom is not free.” Nice job Bryan and nice job Rob and Lynn Ritchie for raising a fine young man. n

ZOYSIA AND BERMUDA WOES

BRYAN RITCHIE

superintendent to salesman seemed to be the right choice. Rich told me that he got in the chemical

sales market at the right time, it was the early 1990’s and the local golf boom was in full swing. He said that

once he was in sales he enjoyed the opportunity of seeing around 150 different golf courses versus being a superintendent of one course. Outdoor Equipment Co. was the major supplier to golf courses at that time and Rich had a good territory, sales were good and life was grand. Rich spent a total of 13 years working for Outdoor and later it was known as U.S.Turf. In 2002, U.S.Turf was struggling and Rich made the move to Supreme Turf Inc. The golf course supply business was evolving at this time and after 2 years at

Supreme Turf, Rich moved on to Turfgrass Inc. After 6 years at Turfgrass Inc. and with the threat of Turfgrass being bought out by a big company, Residex; Rich, Paul Hurst, Jeff Baxter, Mark Slaughter and Tyler Fishel formed GreensPro in 2010. To put it in a word the guys that run GreensPro are “PROFESSIONALS”. Rich has 25 years in chemical sales and

he is one of the nicest guys that I have had the pleasure to know in this business. The guys at GreensPro have been around the St. Louis area for a long time, and I have always been an advocate for supporting local companies that help to support the local superintendents. The company’s world headquar-ters are in Fenton Mo. and they offer a full line of golf course maintenance supplies. Rich is currently serving as Associate Director on the MVGCSA board. n

F or this issue of the Double G, the vendor spotlight shines on Rich Carlson, Sales

Representative and part owner of GreensPro Inc. Although I have known Rich for about 25 years I did not know much about his background and how he got his start in the turf business. Rich told me he was born in Belleville and grew up in the little southern Illinois town of Pinckneyville. His first step into the turf business was when he was 16; he applied for a sum-mer job on the grounds crew at the local 9 hole track, Southwestern Lakes G.C. The course was in a rebuilding stage of adding six holes to the existing course and eliminating three holes that were going to be mined for coal. He said he really liked working on the course and he learned a lot about golf course maintenance from the bottom up. In 1982 his summer golf work took him to another local course, Perry County C.C. Rich was attending Belleville Area College and was taking classes in computer programming, but he still kept his summer job in golf maintenance. In 1984 Perry County C.C. started con-struction of a second 9 holes, and Rich was asked to become a full time employee to help oversee the construction and irrigation installation. After one year as a full time crewmember, Rich moved up to Assistant Superintendent and in 1988 he was promoted to Golf Course Superintendent. Talk about meteoric rises, and I thought he was just another pretty face! After two years as Superinten-dent Rich was offered a chemical sales position at Outdoor Equip-ment Company. It was 1989 and Rich decided that the move from

Page Ten THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

Seeing GreenSubmitted by Paul Hurst

V E N D O R S P O T L I G H T

Rich Carlson, GreensPro, Inc.

To put it in a word the guys that run GreensPro are “PROFESSIONALS”. Rich has 25 years in chemical sales and he is one of the nicest guys that I have had the pleasure to know in this business. The guys at GreensPro have been around the St. Louis area for a long time, and I have always been an advocate for supporting local com-panies that help to support the local superintendents.

Page Twelve THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

Getting the Word OutSubmitted by James F. Moore, Director, Green Section Education

MAY 15, 2014

Historically, golf course superintendents have not been the best communicators, especially to golfers who arguably

are their most important audience. For a number of reasons, today’s superintendents are some of the best communicators in the industry. Some of the improvement is a direct result of the concerted efforts on the part of educators. For at least the last 20 years, it seems like every golf course management education conference featured speakers who emphasized the importance of superintendents working on their communication skills, and the dangers associated with poor communication techniques. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has also worked hard to give superintendents a myriad of education opportunities to help them improve their communication skills. One of the most exciting and effective communication tools that has been embraced by superintendents is the blog. The ability to easily add text, photos, links, and video with just few minutes of editing fits perfectly into the superintendent’s busy schedule. Managing the database of subscribers is essentially maintenance-free thanks to well-designed blogging software that allows users to easily subscribe or unsubscribe. And, most blogging sites offer free or extremely low-cost subscription options making it possible for even the very low-budget course to present a highly professional image. As a means of emphasizing the effectiveness of communicating via blogs, over the coming weeks this update will feature some of the best blogs in

the Mid-Continent Region. This update features the Glen Echo Country Club Golf Course Maintenance blog. Joe Wachter, CGCS, is the Managing Director of Grounds and Landscapes of “the oldest club west of the Mississippi” and the only course in the world to host Gold Medal matches in the Olympics (you will have to visit the blog to find out the year in which the

matches took place.) This blog includes excellent photos and video and is frequently updated, all keys to making it interesting and informative. Visit Joe’s blog at http://geccgcm.blogspot.com If you have a blog or know of one that you feel does a great job and you would like to see it featured here, please send the link to the blog via email to Jim Moore at jmoore@usga.org. n

One of the most exciting and effective commu-nication tools that has been embraced by superintendents is the blog.

Today’s superintendents are some of the best communicators in the industry.

http://geccgcm.blogspot.com The golf course maintenance blog at Glen Echo Country Club is an excellent example of great communications.

Page Fourteen THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

The MVGCSA Opening EventThe MVGCSA Opening Event was held in Mid April at Forest Hills Country Club. Superintendent Scott Reynolds, Kolby Armbruster, Jesse Perez and staff had the golf course in great shape coming off a very expansive renovation over the past few years. Thank to those who attended and GreensPro, Agrium and MTI for sponsoring the event.

Pat Gray, Wes Mathany, Eric Bickel, Jeff Keeven

Scott Werner, Adam Lewis, Matt Finnerty, Eric Parker

Glen and Jerry Keeven

Scott Reynolds, Kolby Armbruster, John Cunningham

Rob Kick, Rich Carlson, Tim Schwierjohn

Matt O’Dell, Ryan Jerome, Dave Pini, Rob Ritchey

Kenny Morgan, Don Humphrey, Matt Garland ,Stan Erb

Page Sixteen THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

MVGCSA Assistants’ ReviewSubmitted by Dan Lloyd

Mizzou UpdateSubmitted by Joseph Schneider

So far in 2014 the MVGCSA Assistants have had two events, with several more yet to come. The Assistants

Golf Tournament was hosted by Algonquin Country Club on April 14th - thanks to Rob Kick for offering an excel-lent course to play. We had a solid turnout and a great day despite the cold, windy, and rainy weather. Thanks to all who attended and to sponsors Keeven Brothers, Supreme Turf, GreensPro, Agrium Advanced, and Turfwerks for making it all happen. New this year the MVCGCSA Assistants have an event series offered to them called “Assistants Shop Talk”. These events will rotate to different courses and will provide an opportunity to see other facilities, meet fellow Assistants, talk shop, and when possible take a quick tour of the course. We plan to have two or three of these each year in addition to one or two assistant roundtable discussions. The first of these events was hosted at Sunset Country Club by Nick Zerr and crew. The focus of the discussion was shop renovation and organization, but broader conversations included main-tenance practices, equipment, and professional improvement amongst others. It was certainly a valuable experience and I encourage all Assistants to make an effort to attend when possible. We plan to meet again sometime this summer. Since it is difficult to get away from the course at that time, we will arrange everything ahead of time and wait for when a rainy day is forecasted to schedule the event. For this reason it may end up being short notice so keep an eye on your email. n

The University of Missouri turf management program led by Dr. Xi Xiong is experiencing change this spring.

Research technician and M.S. student John Haguewood (center) has graduated and is moving to a career in industry research. He will now be representing the companies Macrosorb and SMS Additives in a technical support role. Additionally, he is heading to Jamaica to marry his fiancée, Nicole Doerr.

Brett Loman (left) will now serve as research technician for the program. Brett is from Houston, MO, and previously worked for Ryan Lawn & Tree Company in Kansas City.

Joseph Schneider (far right) of Jackson, MO, who has been working as an undergraduate assistant for the turf management program, is beginning his Ph.D. training under the advisement of Dr. Xiong this May.

Ph.D. candidates Steve Song and Natalie Pan (right) are hard at work and busier than ever, as they recently had a baby girl named Ziying Sharon Song. n

Support the ArtsBy Rob Kick, Algonquin Golf Club

Page Eighteen THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

Recently, I was thumbing through my favorite trade magazines as I do from

time to time (yes I do have favorites) and I came across an interesting article written by Tim Moraghan for Golf Course Industry. In his article he raised the question, “Has science killed the art of growing grass?” I sat and thought about that for awhile. Has it? Has science taken all the fun out of growing grass? Has it made life too easy? Do we even need to go out on the course or can we just manage from our computer screen or through our favorite turf app? Have we lost our ability to be in touch with the nature of our turf grasses? I will be the first to admit that science has certainly made things easier for me. I would guess science has made things easier for all. Through science, and the development of certain technologies we have the ability to accomplish tasks more efficiently and effectively. We have thousands of tools instantly at our finger tips. We can network with other professionals in our industry almost as fast as we can think of ideas to express and questions to ask. I’m still waiting for the light saber to come out and it would be totally sweet to have a holodeck in my shop, but I do think the instruments we have at our disposal are incredible Just think back over the last decade…what types of prod-ucts are we using today that weren’t even a thought 10 years ago? Controlling your irrigation system by cell phone or tablet you are (that’s right, a Yoda reference) you know you are, or at least you have the ability to. Think about this…the original IPAD was released on April 3, 2010. Do you use one for work? Science and Technology are not just tablets and laser beams though. What are the use rates for common pesticides in your storage facility as compared to 10 years ago? My guess is you’re using 10 ounces or less per acre on specific chemistries and definitely less in general all around. In fact, I’m willing to bet almost every single phase of your job has become more efficient, more effective, quicker, less expensive or in some specific way easier over the last decade. Now… please do not misunderstand me. You can have all the tools in the world; if you don’t understand how to use them what good are they? Enter the art of growing grass. I think

there is an art to it and I dare say the St. Louis area is probably one of the plac-es on earth where you better be a Picasso to get through the crazy seasons. But you guys all know this. You know the art. You

have the art. You can’t read about the art man you just need to live it. You guys are like Miyagi with chopsticks after a fly. So what’s my point, right? You know there is one in here somewhere. If we are all artists or aspire to be, we all need paint, canvas and brushes to realize our vision. Wouldn’t better paint be nice? Wouldn’t a better brush, canvas, broom, aerator or application rate make it better? I think it would. Who helps us figure all this stuff out? Who keeps up with the science? Who answers our questions with regard to new technology? Who supports the art with science? Universities do. All across the country university staffs are busy year after year looking into all the questions and assumptions and state-ments made by us and our vendors to try and help us make the best choices. They encourage us and aid us in finding the newest, latest and greatest technology to make our jobs less worrisome. But here’s the rub…we’re expensive. Every member of our association in one way or another has used information gathered from universities to sell a prod-uct, spray a chemical or roll a green. Big companies often hand over large sums of money to run batteries of test on their prod-ucts so that they can pass the findings on to us. The MVGCSA has asked our membership for study ideas on several occasions and passed those options along to the University of Missouri Turfgrass Department. Mizzou has been very good about listening to our questions and helping us find answers. In a matter of days, you all will have or will be receiving a letter and an invitation to the “Keep it Green III” Trivia Night in support of the University of Missouri’s Turfgrass Department. Please find a way to support the program, wheth-er inviting friends to enjoy the trivia night or donating items or cash to be used for the auction or in support of KIG III. Seriously give it some thought … “Has science killed the art of growing grass?” Or has science come together to improve your art. I believe the latter…if you do, join us July 25th at 7 p.m. at the St. Ann Community Center. n

Has science killed the art of growing grass? Or has science come together to improve your art?

Page Twenty THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

The 2014 Keep it Green charge has shifted gears to KIG Trivia Night to be held on July 25th. Rob Kick, Paul Hurst and committee have done an outstanding job strengthening the program, and coming up with new ideas to generate the money needed. The money supports our industry and promotes local research by University of Missouri for you the members. For more information, you guessed it, go to the website. The MVGCSA Assistant Superintendent Liaisons, Adam Lewis and Dan Lloyd, have continued their success with an Educational Event hosted by Sunset Country Club and the Assistant Superintendent Golf Event hosted by Algonquin Golf Club, and are now planning another Educational Event for the fall. If you have interest in hosting or helping, please contact Adam or Dan. Assistants, get involved.... The 2014 Green Cup will be held at Old Warson Country Club this year. If you haven’t signed up your team yet, do so now by registering online at “http://www.mvgcsa.com/the-green-cup/” or by emailing Brenda at mvgcsa@gmail.com. For other opportunities to contribute to our ongoing effort to pro-mote turf research and scholarship please contact Rob Schaff.

Thank you for your time. We, the board, will continue to serve in the best interest of the membership. This challenging, changing and rewarding industry is our livelihood. Get involved and get the most out of it by giving back. Your time and efforts are greatly appreciated. I will end with a quote from Horace G. Hutchinson “If profanity had an influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is.” Good luck with the season, and remember that in life, work and your game, keep calm and chive on.

Tim Roethler, President MVGCSA n

Page Twenty-One THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

President’s Message(continued from page two)

“If profanity had an influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is.”

— Horace G. Hutchinson

GATEW

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Page Twenty-Two THE GATEWAY GREEN Spring 2014

The MVGCSA and SIGCSA Joint Meeting The MVGCSA and SIGCSA gathered on May 18th at Gateway National Golf Links for a joint meeting. The event’s featured speaker was Bill Maynard CGCS from The Country Club of St. Albans. Nice work by Steve Leach and his staff for having the golf course prepared mid-morning on a Monday. Thank you as well to the event sponsors: AgroLogics, Brookside Agra and Heartland Turf Farms.

Chris Hilmes, Rob Kick, Bill Maynard, Roger Phillips

Steve Leach, John Hayne, Nick Kennon, Jeff Olson

Chad Carpenter, Don Humphrey, Lee Redman, Dave Pini

May Council, Ben Scanio, Don Humphrey, Kenny Morgan

Jon Strautz, Matt Finnerty Tom Keeven Sr. Tom Keeven Jr.

Tim Gamma, Wes Mathany, Scott Eberhardt, Chuck Gast

Tim Roethler, Tom Brown, Josh Gaebe, Tim Schwierjohn

C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

5026 Brittany Downs Drive St. Charles, MO 63304

June 16thGreen Cup at Old Warson Country Club www.mvgcsa.com

August 15thCardinals Watch Party and Putting Contest www.mvgcsa.com

September 8thEducation/Golf @ Winghaven Country Club www.mvgcsa.com

October 20thClosing Event at Crown Pointe Golf Course www.mvgcsa.com