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IN THIS ISSUECOLUMNS12Outside the ropesTim Moraghan: Greensspeed? Slow it down!46Irrigation issuesBrian Vinchesi: Compliant orcomplacent?22Johnny TurfnerdJohn Kaminski:Documenting what you see51From Dodson, With LoveRon Dodson, Bill Love: Sustainablecourse makeover28The Monroe DoctrineMonroe Miller: GeoffreyCornish was one of us58Parting shotsPat Jones: Backfire34Design conceptsJeffrey D. Brauer: TreePlanting - Golf Course StyleDEPARTMENTSGame planHenry DeLozier: The art ofstrategy61054404565?Teeing offThe BullhornLettersThe WhiteboardTravels with TerryEquipment ideasClassifiedsAd indexCOVER STORY14TO HOST, OR NOT TO HOST?GCI's Tim Moraghan breaks downthe pros and cons of whether yourclub should host a big tournament.24What you can learn from California'ssupers.48managementSUPER MVPHone the key interpersonal skillsthat factor into hiring, advancement,compensation and retention.30WEST WATER USAGEAnalysisFEATURESPersonalWater & Irrigation42SHORT-CHANGED SCENARIOHow does a superintendent cope whena course is built on the assumption that40-50 percent of the water would comevia effluent, from adjacent home lots,but only a fraction have been built?Turf maintenanceTIME TO VENTMicro aerification proponents arebattling a reactive mind-set amongsuperintendents. But they hopeto a see a shift once the industryunderstands the benefits.36Turf healthTHE CURE FOR WHAT AILS YOUIndustry insiders take a look atencouraging new products andwhether they're final solutions forPoa problems.GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY (ISN1054-0644) is published monthly. Copyright 2011 GIE Media Inc., 4 0 2 0 Kinross Lakes Parkway, #201, Richfield, OH 44286. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means without permission from the publisher. One-year subscription rate, 33 in the United States, 42 in Canada and Mexico, and 8 8 in other foreigncountries. One year foreign airmail rate: 102. Two year subscription rate: 65. Single issue rate, 10. Subscriptions and classified advertising should be addressed to the Richfield office. Periodicalspostage paid at Richfield, Ohio, and additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send address changes to GOLF COURSE INDUSTRY 4020 Kinross Lakes Parkway, #201, Richfield, OH 44286. Canada Post:Publications Mail Agreement #40612608 Canada Returns to be sent to Bleuchip International, P.O. Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2
THE BULLHORNBefore last February's GIS show, wedecided to organize a "TweetUp" forour techie social media friends. Theidea was to bring together supers and otherswho are using Twitter, Facebook, etc., to meet,greet and give some recognition. Fun idea.but predictably not as simple as it sounded.You will not be surprised to learn the GCSAA has strict rules about doing promotions orevents on their show floor during their show.After much discussion with their wary butbemused staff, we decided the simplest thingto do was to go the "flash mob" route and dothe thing in a way that didn't violate their rules.Since GCI is.well, GCI.I had a visionof standing on the back of a flatbed truck inthe Las Vegas Convention Center parking lotdoing a re-enactment of thescene from "IndependenceDay" where the presidentgrabs a bullhorn, makes a impassioned speech and ralliesthe people of Earth to defeatthe alien invaders. We wouldTweet out the time and placeand our friends would flockto us and spontaneously sing"Give Peace a Chance." Hell, itmight turn into a movement!Well, the movement turnedout to be about three dozen folks who gatheredto witness our Super Social Media awardsunder the chilly, darkening Vegas skies. Myhopes of a Woodstock-like crowd massed infront of me - old-school Zippo lighters raisedin tribute - were a wee bit optimistic (althoughI think Justin Ruiz may have turned on hisiPhone flashlight app and held it up at onepoint). In the final analysis, when given theoption between shivering through an outdoorflash mob or heading to a casino, most folks willchoose the latter. Lesson learned. .but we'll beback next year with another TweetUp becauseit's still a cool idea.But, it wasn't a complete loss because I didget a bullhorn out of the deal. Yup, our marketing manager (the lovely, talented Irene Sweeney) found me one of those battery-poweredmegaphones to sate my "Independence Day"fantasy. It now sits in my office gathering dustand waiting for my next boondoggle or an alieninvasion, whichever comes first.Yet, the dusty bullhorn serves a purpose. Itspresence on the shelf next to me is a reminderthat GCI has what used to be called a "bullypulpit." By virtue of the fact that we print andmail 25,000 copies of this thing every monthand some percentage of y'all accidentallyread it, we are not dissimilar to the preachersof old who briefly command the interest ofotherwise sleepy Sunday parishioners withfire-and-brimstone tirades. We have both theopportunity and the obligation to lead throughour words and, hopefully, create change.We try to lead on issues. Last month, everyword of the entire issue screamed "it's time toget serious about managing water resources."We try to educate. I thought Gary Grigg'sJune article on the 10 characteristics of great'superintendents should be required readingfor every turf student. We pickat the scabs of controversialproblems like bacterial wilt.We've talked a lot about jobsand the plight of unemployedsuperintendents and the manyqualified assistants who are"stuck" with no way to moveup. We document what's going on in the market withresearch like our State of theIndustry report and the Ratingthe Industry study that rankedhow supers view suppliers. We also shine abright light on things that matter, like skincancer, substance abuse, depression and - ona brighter note - awesome groups like the WeeOne Foundation, Rounds4Research and theWives of Turf.This is the time when we figure out how touse the bullhorn for next year. We begin planning our 2013 editorial coverage by talking to alot of you guys. Mike Zawacki and I reach out tosupers and others who we know will give us theunvarnished truth about what we do well andwhat we can do better. During that process lastmonth, Mike was talking story ideas with TimMoraghan and Tim commented that we are atour best when we're out ahead of the marketand dealing with the big topics still bubblingunder the surface. Sage advice, thought I.So what's your story? What's bubbling underthe surface of your world that you think wemight be crazy enough to cover? What's thenext big thing that deserves attention now? Letme know. The bullhorn awaits. GCIGOLF COURSEINDUSTRYServing the Business of Golf Course ManagementVol.24No. 8GIE Media, Inc.4 0 2 0 Kinross Lakes Pkwy, 2nd floorRichfield, OH 4 4 2 8 6Phone: 8 0 0 - 4 5 6 - 0 7 0 7Fax: 3 3 0 - 6 5 9 - 0 8 2 3EDITORIALPat J o n e sPublisher/Editorial directorpjones@gie.netMike ZawackiKyle BrownEditorAssociate Editormzawacki@gie.netkbrown@gie.netJim BlackBruce WilliamsContributing editorContributing editorSALESR u s s e l l WarnerMartha CorfmanNational accountManager, booksmanager330-523-5366330-523-5385Maria MillerTed S c h u l dConferences managerAccount manager330-523-5373216-236-5937J o d i ShipleyBonnie VelikonyaMarketing coordinatorClassified drea V a g a s , Creative directorHelen Duerr, Production directorHeidi Clevinger, Production coordinatorCORPORATE STAFFRichard Foster, Chairman and CEOChris Foster, President and COODan Moreland, Executive vice presidentKevin Gilbride Business manager, GIE VenturesKelly Orzech, Director, accountingMelody Berendt, Circulation directorIrene S w e e n e y , Marketing Communications ManagerGolf Course Industry is a member of:Golf CourseSuperintendentsAssociation of AmericaNational Golf FoundationGolf Course Builders Association of AmericaThe Irrigation AssociationResponsible Industry for a Sound Environmentmm
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So trueYou continue to amaze with your great take on using thecommunications of today's world ("Anti-Social Behavior," April 2012).Love the last line, it's so true: "If you don't figure that out, the guywho takes your job certainly will."Half the people in a recent poll think Facebook will not be aroundforever, duh. But something new will keep coming out, and thosewho stay abreast will succeed. Great writing and great vision on thefact that people want "a little taste of everything."Ill I ELDJeff R. Wendel, CGCSExecutive DirectorIowa Turfgrass InstituteTo r e a d t h i s c o l u m n , e n t e r bit.ly/PmkaQ6 into your W e b browser.One more timeFOB, BEHUTIFULTUKFProvides Outstanding Controlon Kyllingas and Sedges,PLUS knocks-outbroadleaf weeds!Fewer weeds mean less competition,allowing warm-season turf to thriveLower use rates make it aneconomical choiceLess maintenance battling weedsThanks for posting Adam's blog ("Plum Perfect," June 2012). Many ofus have said this to ourselves and our staffs. Sometimes we even listento our own words. It's a message that bears repeating over and overand over!Dave Davies, CGCSTPC StonebraeHayward, Calif.What a great article ("Plum Perfect," June 2012) full of truth. I'mglad I had my first child 8 years after being a superintendent or Imight not have had enough trials and tribulations to realize whatis really important in my life. It's not those 18 holes of golf I relentlessly tried to make picture perfect every day and every moment I wasthere.I hope many people in our business read this article and realize thecourse will always be there, but our time with loved ones and familypasses by us every day. That grass has no feelings or appreciation forwhat we do, and it never thanked me or told me I was the best like mywife and son do. So who really deserves the attention we, as superintendents, focus our energy and time on?Scott GilesSuperintendentGreencastle Golf ClubGreencastle, Pa.To r e a d t h i s c o l u m n , e n t e r bit.ly/LYXIh6 i n t o y o u r W e b b r o w s e r .Bullseyepk' / Goncionconponabon. \ n Eni piovre - (he net ! Co i n pa nv800.821.7925 I pbigordon.com/katanaBob Lohmann's article, "Design it forward" in the June issue of GCI was right on target.Let's not get so caught up inthe idea that moving tees andeliminating hazards will keepcourses economically viable.A well-designed golf course with strategic features will keep golfersinterested, challenged and, most importantly, playing. "Playability"does not mean bland.We are in such a stressful economic time for most courses and, ofcourse, we need to be cognizant of the "time" and "difficulty" issues
that are a definite reality today. The worry,however, is that "the baby will be thrownout with the bath water". reducing goodcourses to a shadow of what they oncewere. It is so important that a golf architect at least review design changes, as Bobstates in his article, so that courses retainGo WestEditor's Note: Thefollowing article waswritten in responseto GCIs specialJuly Water Issue,especially BruceWilliam's piece, "AnLA Story." Enter bit.ly/MEqP9w into your Web browser tocheck out the July issue's digital edition.In the many of the Western states privateparties can "own" water, both surfaceand ground. These waters can and quiteoften are separated from the land thatthey may be on. In the West, just like inthe old cowboy movies, people fight overwater rights. No one can take this propertyright that is owned by you based upon thegreater good as perceived by another. Youruse can be regulated based upon seniorityand or appropriations, but I am unaware ofany takings or condemnation of water rightsin the West.Now, each state has its own set of laws,rules and regulations. Here's a wild one foryou. If my memory serves me right, in the1990s there were only eight adjudicatedbasins in California. If you were not in anadjudicated basin, you could drill a wellfor any use by paying a nominal fee. Ithink it was about 50 and there was noapproval process. You just showed up atthe county offices, paid your fee and leftwith a permit. There were some recordingand reporting issues- location, drilling log,perforation detail, sealing the surface - andan inspection. Does this surprise you? Itshocked the hell out of me. you couldn'tdo that in most of the other states out here.I had just kind of assumed that Californiawould be the most restrictive. Wrong.I have a working knowledge of waterrights based upon my time in the Westand some development experience alongwith knowing some of the big private water"players." These water guys are a lot likeoil guys. They can make literally millions orpossibly billions or they can go bust if theybuy into a downturn. It's really interesting.Armen SunyOwnerSuny GolfColorado Springs, Colo.their strategic value.That, coupled with the concept thatwomen want shorter, easier courses is not,I believe, connected to a real understandingof how women think and what they want.Editor's Note — We made a slight faux pasin editing Jeff Brauer's May c o l u m n ("Design formaintenance," page 20). in the subsection aboutgreens surrounds, the wording should be "6 feetbetween the green and bunker for turning," andVictoria Martz, ASGCAVictoria Martz Golf Design Inc.Jacksonville, Fla.not "6 inches." We recognized too late that thatwould be one heck of a tight t u r n on a mower.
/ In every edition, SIXunrivaled columnistsdeliver t i m e l yTIM MORAGHANViews from a legend ofchampionship set-upand challengingopinions about thel issues and ideas¡ X that matter to you.PAT JONESTells it like it isTERRY BUCHENReal-world ideas andtips from around theglobeMONROE MILLERCommon senseand uncommonwisdomBRIAN VINCHESIThe global guru of golfirrigation designGOLF COURSEWhat otherpublicationdoes that?INDEPENDE
IJTIf you're just looking forWcut-and-paste online newsiconsisting of a few headlines/lifted from a half-assed Googlesearch, don't look here. GCI sf newly redesigned website andour new Firm & Fast e-newsletterALWAYS contain originalContent like guest columns, bonusresearch features, snappy editorialvideos and think pieces that put thek news into perspective.J L Unlike others, our contentO L always has that great K V . new car smell.
THE WHITEBOARDA new traditionT columnist and industry legend Dennis LyonA has been on the mend in recent months aftersuffering serious injuries as, while taking his faithful poochPutter for a walk during the last holiday season, he was hitby a truck.We're thrilled that Dennis is expected to make a fullrecovery, even with the significant medical expenses thathave built up. Fortunately, one of the perks of the golfindustry is that a helping hand is never too far away.As involved as Dennis has been with the Colorado GolfAssociation (as a past president, for starters), it's no wonder they wanted to help him out. He, along with colleaguesEd Mate, director of the Colorado Golf Association; GailGodbey, secretary and Bill Jewell, golf manager for the cityof Lakewood, Colo., have run a "Tradition" tournamentsince 2004, in which some players wear turn-of-the-century golf attire and use a limited selection of clubs.This year, the Tradition made a slight change, renamedin honor of Dennis Lyon, raising money to help him withmedical expenses with a round at the Meadow Hills GolfCourse in Aurora."We had 60 people participate," says Anne Bley,director of finance for the CGA. "There were architects,superintendents - Dennis had touched usall in some way. He's helped us so muchover the years. He's just the kind of guyyou want to do something nice for."Besides just the players, his whole family showed up for the occasion, includinghis children and grandchildren. Dennishimself only played a few holes, sincemuch of his time was spent catching upwith people who had been cheering himCheckout our photoslideshow of Dennis withsome of the players in the"Dennis Lyon TraditionTournament" at bit.ly/GCILyonMH.The tournament itself raised 5,000 in net proceeds, with an additional 5,000 providedby The Wee One Foundation. After the round, the playershad lunch, including several of Dennis's favorites like hamburgers and cole slaw, and visited."During lunch, some kind words were spoken by severalpeople," he says. "That just meant a lot to me."With this kind of backup, Dennis will be back to form inno time at all, we hope."I was so seriously injured, and people have just been sokind to me," he says. "I know I'll keep getting better."SAND SWAP AT MUIRFIELDor the first time in its 121-year history, the HonourableCompany of Edinburgh Golfers at Muirfield has sourcedits bunker sand from outside the East Lothian grounds. In anhistoric move brought about by dwindling home-grown supplies, the club opted for a new, free-draining sand supplied byHugh King & Co.The venue began the significant sand-exchange program inMarch swapping materials in all 148 of its on-course bunkersand three practice bunkers."We have always used native sand," said Colin Irvine, coursemanager at Muirfield. "Before we moved over to Hugh King'ssand, we quarried sand off the course but the supply wasrunning out and we were beginning to get inconsistencies.ItFon in his recovery."It was just wonderful to me," hesays. "There were so many colleaguesand friends and family members thatplayed."MU1RFIELDmeant sand in some of the bunkers was blowing away whileothers weren't draining as well as we liked, so we decided todo an exchange."The landmark swap was made 16 months ahead of the 16thrunning of the Open Championship at Muirfield. More importantly, the sand had to win over the support of the membersof the renowned club."It had to be free-draining and it had to be the right colour,"Irvine explained. "We tried quite a few types of sand and workedwith Hugh King to come up with a sand type that we liked andthe members would like. In fact, a lot of people haven't evennoticed the change, which is great. As far as I am concerned,no newels good news."
get a bullhorn out of the deal. Yup, our market-ing manager (the lovely, talented Irene Swee-ney) found me one of those battery-powered megaphones to sate my "Independence Day" fantasy. It now sits in my office gathering dust and waiting for my next boondoggle or an alien invasion, whichever comes first. Yet, the dusty bullhorn serves a purpose .
