Predatory ground beetles and billbugs were two groups of beetles commonly collected from pitfall traps in 2011 in northern Utah turfgrasses. Both are active beetles that rarely fly; however, predatory ground beetles are beneficial insects and billbugs are pests of turfgrasses.
October 31, 2011
October 12, 2011
U works to develop salt-resistant grass for winter
Minnesota’s climate hits all extremes, leaving little more than brown grass on the roadsides come spring. But researchers at the University of Minnesota are working to discover which grass best survives the salty, humid, icy and construction-prone roadsides of the state.
Brett Troyer, erosion and stormwater management engineer for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, said the agency approached the University’s Department of Horticultural Science in 2009 with the problem.
“We always had a problem with salt-tolerant sod on our roadsides,” Troyer said.
Eric Watkins, assistant professor of horticultural science, told MnDOT about new varieties and seed mixes, Troyer said.
October 5, 2011
The transition
by: Bryan Vice
The day I graduated Morehead State University with a degree in golf course management, I knew that it was only the beginning of a wonderful career. My career path outlook was that I would work at two or three different courses as an assistant superintendent, move up the GCSAA qualifications, land a superintendent position and work at a couple golf courses before I officially retire. But for me, it didn’t work out that way.
My first assistant position came at Andover Golf and Country in Lexington, Ky. I worked there for a total of seven years as an assistant, under two superintendents at the same golf course, and had many failed interviews before I landed my first superintendent position at Juniper Hill Golf Course in Frankfort, Ky. Don’t get me wrong, through those seven years, I worked for two qualified superintendents. One was focused on details and maintaining the golf course and the other had a construction/renovation background that led to a lot of projects. So working for two different superintendents, I felt I could really combine what I learned from each of them to give me a great advantage in my career. Also, I felt career-wise I was ready to step up and move on to the new challenge.
My first assistant position came at Andover Golf and Country in Lexington, Ky. I worked there for a total of seven years as an assistant, under two superintendents at the same golf course, and had many failed interviews before I landed my first superintendent position at Juniper Hill Golf Course in Frankfort, Ky. Don’t get me wrong, through those seven years, I worked for two qualified superintendents. One was focused on details and maintaining the golf course and the other had a construction/renovation background that led to a lot of projects. So working for two different superintendents, I felt I could really combine what I learned from each of them to give me a great advantage in my career. Also, I felt career-wise I was ready to step up and move on to the new challenge.
October 4, 2011
Reinventing the bunker… again.
by A.J. Lepley
The evolution of the bunker has just reached a new plateau. Better Billy Bunker is hitting the market with a new method to redefine how bunkers are done. But this isn’t the first time this has happened, as the name Better Billy Bunker implies.
According to Todd Jenkins, former golf professional and PGA member and now vice president of Better Billy Bunker, along with bunkers come special concerns and obstacles. These problems have been addressed in many different ways over the years.
History
Originally, bunkers were pretty straightforward. The basic system was to dig a hole and fill it with sand. While soil bases had better luck with natural drainage to some extent, clay and harder pan bases had drainage problems, which lead to contamination and erosion. Some courses still utilize this basic method if the conditions permit, due to the cost-effective nature of the operation.
An alternate method is the “impervious base” method, which utilizes a hard, drainage-free bottom (like concrete). This does help with contamination of the sand, but the obvious problem was drainage. The impervious nature of the base prevents any drainage at all, which caused them to fill up like swimming pools. This causes erosion problems as well as the obvious issues with your sand hazards turning into water hazards following a rain.
“Good bunkers are all about drainage, regardless of the method you use,” Jenkins said.
Which brings us to the original Billy Bunker.
October Trades Reviews
Cherrington Rock Pickers feature a truly innovative one-step seedbed preparation screener for an absolute perfect new seedbed. Screen depth is adjustable from 1 to 6 inches deep, and they remove stones from one-half, three-fourths or 1 inch to 10 inches in diameter. The oscillating sifting screen is powered off the tractor’s PTO. The loading paddles convey the soil and debris onto the screen, the screened soil is returned to the seedbed, while everything larger than the selected, and easily changeable, screen hole size is retained in the hi-lift hopper. The optional powered roller can be attached ahead of the screener for tilling the compacted soil before screening, often times eliminating a need for an earlier tilling pass. Rock picking and seedbed preparation have changed and Cherrington Screening design will reduce labor and improve seed germination results.
Cherrington Enterprises
701-952-0226
www.cherrington.net
John Deere Golf adds reel and bedknife grinders to offering
John Deere Golf today announces the launch of a new family of reel and bedknife grinders under John Deere’s Frontier Equipment brand name. Models available include the Frontier RG5000 Manual Spin and Relief Reel Grinder, RG5500 Semi-Automatic Spin and Relief Reel Grinder, BG1000 Manual Bedknife Grinder and BG1500 Semi-Automatic Bedknife Grinder. The grinders provide precise reel and bedknife maintenance, ensuring turf professionals have the tools available to provide a premium quality of cut every single day, across a wide range of course conditions.
Featuring integrated tooling decals that allow for quick and efficient setup, the Frontier Reel and Bedknife Grinder line is the perfect complement to John Deere Quick Adjust 5 and Quick Adjust 7 cutting units. All models are also capable of providing a precision grind on reels and bedknives from any manufacturer.
“Bedknives receive more wear and tear than any other component on a reel mower, and a dull or improperly sharpened bedknife can cause a variety of cut quality issues,” said Brad Aldridge, product manager, John Deere Golf. “No matter what front and top angles work best for the golf course, whether it’s factory specifications or another preference, the Frontier BG1000 and BG1500 can handle the job.”
The topic of whether to only spin or both spin and relief grind a wheel can often lead to a lengthy debate. No matter what method is preferred, both the RG5000 and RG5500 Spin and Relief Reel Grinders are engineered to meet customer needs. Both grinders feature a standard auto-indexing relief grind system for returning reels to factory specifications.
John Deere
www.JohnDeere.com
AccuPro 210 is Broyhill’s answer to your dedicated sprayer needs. The new 27-hp Kohler version provides plenty of power with their 5-speed manual GM transmission. It’s loaded with options that include spray controllers, foam marker, spray gun kits, motorized ball valve kits to control flow and much more, and 15’ or 21’ booms are available.
For more information regarding the Broyhill’s complete line of turf sprayers, vacuums, utility vehicles, trap rakes and general grooming equipment, call 1.800.228.1003 ext. 34,
email: sales@broyhill.com or visit www.broyhill.com
New versatile outdoor adhesive can apply from below freezing to hot desert temperatures
NORDOT Adhesive #34P-4 can be applied to a dry or damp surface at any outdoor temperature and humidity in which a mechanic can work. It is particularly useful in cold weather when installations and repairs usually stop because, to our knowledge, no other adhesive can be used for installations from hot desert temperatures down to
below freezing. After curing, NORDOT Adhesive #34P-4 has outstanding durability, both above ground and under water.
Further information is available from: Synthetic Surfaces Inc.,
Tel: (908) 233-6803; Fax: (908) 233-6844; email: info@nordot.com;
Web: www.nordot.com.
With the introduction of newer and foldable ROPS, Westendorf Manufacturing has responded with an Easy-Off Cool Cap tractor canopy that can be removed or re-installed in just seconds without the use of tools. Westendorf Cool Caps provide comfort, UV protection and added value to your tractor or lawn mower.
The Easy-Off Cool Cap provides protection from the sun’s harmful rays or an unexpected rain shower. This designer canopy has a distinctive, ergonomic shape with a clean automotive finish. The Cool Cap, available only from Westendorf, has a patented high-gloss iso-ceramic finish that provides a durable, UV-resistant finish that minimizes sun fading. The Westendorf Cool Cap is available in many colors, with custom colors also available.
In addition to the Cool Cap being built to look good, items like the Easy-Off mounting bracket and quick-release spring lock ensure functionality and versatility. Like all the Westendorf products, the Cool Cap Cap’s design was based on customer feedback. Remove the canopy to mow under low trees or for additional overhead clearance. Re-install the canopy quickly in hot or rainy conditions.
For more information, visit the web site at www.loaders.com.
Soil sampling, testing and amendment application
by Doug Tinkham
Doug is the superintendent at The Shoals Golf Club at Muscle Shoals, Ala.and can be reached at DTinkham@rtjgolf.com
Gone is the day when the golf course superintendent had to be an expert in every field. Technology has made it impossible to be successful without the help of a few good experts. Just as I no longer feel comfortable sticking my hand into a pump station control cabinet containing fuses bigger than my arm, I’m not ready to make major soil chemistry decisions without the help of a good soil scientist – especially growing Bentgrass in the Deep South.
Working with an expert in soil science has several advantages. At The Shoals, we have worked with Steve Ninemire of the Ninemire Group since inception. Not only has working with the same person given us an invaluable history, it gives us another set of eyes to examine the data and draw conclusions based on what we see in the field and in the lab. Regardless of who processes your soil samples, consistency is the key to recognizing the trends. We have been sampling and tracking our greens since 2003, and have included saturated soil or paste tests every three weeks for the past three years. The saturated soil tests have given us a pretty fair window into the effects of our maintenance practices. The monthly addition of calcite calcium, gypsum, humic acid, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium can become very efficient and accurate with real time testing. An agronomic fertility plan is developed over the winter months based on the values found in the existing soil and the amount of nutrients required by the plant.
Gone is the day when the golf course superintendent had to be an expert in every field. Technology has made it impossible to be successful without the help of a few good experts. Just as I no longer feel comfortable sticking my hand into a pump station control cabinet containing fuses bigger than my arm, I’m not ready to make major soil chemistry decisions without the help of a good soil scientist – especially growing Bentgrass in the Deep South. Working with an expert in soil science has several advantages. At The Shoals, we have worked with Steve Ninemire of the Ninemire Group since inception. Not only has working with the same person given us an invaluable history, it gives us another set of eyes to examine the data and draw conclusions based on what we see in the field and in the lab. Regardless of who processes your soil samples, consistency is the key to recognizing the trends. We have been sampling and tracking our greens since 2003, and have included saturated soil or paste tests every three weeks for the past three years. The saturated soil tests have given us a pretty fair window into the effects of our maintenance practices. The monthly addition of calcite calcium, gypsum, humic acid, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium can become very efficient and accurate with real time testing. An agronomic fertility plan is developed over the winter months based on the values found in the existing soil and the amount of nutrients required by the plant.
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