The Reporter - c.ymcdn.com · The Club at Flying Horse [email protected] ... he hated to...
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1 The Reporter The Reporter Volume 46, No. 3 June 2011
Transcript of The Reporter - c.ymcdn.com · The Club at Flying Horse [email protected] ... he hated to...
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The ReporterThe ReporterVolume 46, No. 3 June 2011
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As the ultimate sports “homer” I recently read a column in the local paper about fans booing the home team. The columnist was scolding Denver fans for booing a local athlete off the field after another poor performance. In summary, according to the author, we as sports fans (who support these players and teams with our disposable income) have no right to treat our hometown heroes in such a way. We should be loyal no matter what, even if our ace pitcher just walked his eighth batter leaving the bases loaded for the bullpen to cleanup.
This got me thinking, I wonder what it feels like to get booed by your own fans. It can’t be much different than hearing complaints from golfers, such as; the rough is too long, the cup on the fifth green is unfair; these greens are too slow/fast. As paying customers, golfers certainly have the right to voice their displeasure with something they encounter on the golf course (whether their complaint has merit is of course always debatable).
As professionals we should listen to these complaints. Consult with fellow staff members to decide if any corrective action is necessary. If not, file the issue away in the memory bank to use as an example of what we may encounter in future situations. For instance, maybe we shouldn’t tuck the pin behind the bunker on the fifth green on a day when a local senior group is having a leisurely golf outing. Such an issue isn’t much different than feeling angry about your teams cleanup hitter striking out with the bases loaded, again.
So next time things aren’t going my team’s way I won’t feel bad about letting them know I’m unhappy with a serenade of boos, they’re professionals. I also can’t take offense the next time I get a call from the golf shop informing me a golfer wants us to pay for a visit to his chiropractor because their back is sore from hitting out of our unplayable rough. Beause we’re professionals too.
2010 - 2011 Board of Directors
Interim PresidentDan Hawkins
The Club at Flying [email protected]
Secretary/TreasurerSteve Sarro
Vail Golf [email protected]
Immediate Past PresidentDave Cahalane
the Club at Bear [email protected]
Executive DirectorGary Leeper
DirectorsMarc Anzlovar
Desert Hawk Golf [email protected]
Matt BrewerRoaring Fork Club
Eric FoersterIronbridge Golf Club
Jordan McCormickMarianna Butte Golf Course
Ed RockettLone Tree Golf Course
Affiliate LiaisonsTravis Abitz, CSE
L.L. Johnson Dist. [email protected]
Jeff ElliottAgrium Advanced Technologies
In this issue...Director’s Corner.....................................................................................3
2011 MVT a Rocky Mountain high..........................................................3
A Golden Day..........................................................................................4
In My Opinion.........................................................................................5
2011 Industry Partners............................................................................6
Spreading the News...............................................................................7
Assistant Profile - J.D. Wise.....................................................................8
First the Seed.........................................................................................9
Member Spotlight - Jordan McCormick................................................11
Rules of Golf.........................................................................................12
Rick Phelps a Chip off the Old Block......................................................13
Affiliate’s Angle - Brandon Bollerud.......................................................14
Governmental/Legislative News...........................................................17
Annual Tournament Information...........................................................20
“Hearing the Boo Birds”By Matt Toepfer | The Omni Interlocken Resort
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Who are the golfers today? What do they want in a golf experience? Do we really know what our clientele wants? How do we get more people on our golf courses? These are all questions we should be asking ourselves on a regular basis to keep aligned with our customers, but the final question is the one I want to focus on. What is your course doing to attract new golfers? I’m not a marketing guy; however I do feel that all of us have a part to play in promoting our course and the game of golf.
Here in Loveland, our Golf Division is offering a program for fifth and sixth graders to play free when playing with a paying adult. Family golf is part of the target for this program and getting families on our courses is a key component for growth in the game of golf. Fortunately, we have a par three course and practice facility that is ideal for families, beginning players, and youth golf. Even if this offering isn’t available for you, consider what other options can be used for younger, beginning golfers: tee markers further down the fairway specifically for youth golf, special rates for kids, youth golf instruction or tournaments.
On June 21st the Golf Foundation of Colorado hosted a fund-raising tournament at CommonGround Golf Course. This is a great place to start supporting the future of the game of golf. The Foundation supports education through scholarships, research, and outreach. The venue for this tournament, CommonGround, is a great example of a golf course looking ahead and promoting youth golf. Other events at CommonGround include a junior outreach fundraising tournament and the Allied Golf Associations ‘Golf in Schools’ program promoting golf for P.E. classes in schools. The USGA has supported CommonGround for both course construction of the kids course along with financial assistance for junior outreach.
Marketing and sales are usually not a part of our responsibility as Superintendents. I assisted with the setup and sales at our booth at the Colorado Golf Expo and realized there is no reason why we can’t be involved in it. If I can have a positive impact on the promotion of my golf course, I am certainly going to get involved.
D irector’s Cor
ner
Jordan McCormick Superintendent| Mariana Buttes Golf Course
The future of our game…
2011 MVT a Rocky Mountain HighAt Colorado Springs Country Club, superintendent Tom Dimberio and equipment technician Gene Pascarelli are often mistaken for each other by the club’s members.
Although the two don’t look all that much alike, they do both sport thick goatees, and that seems to lend to the impression among some that they are one in the same. “A lot of people get Gene and
I mixed up, especially when I have a fuller goatee,” laughs Dimberio, a nine-year GCSAA member. “They call me Gene, ask me how things are going. I just smile and thank them for asking.” But those instances might be a thing of the past after Pascarelli stepped from the shadows a bit to accept the plaudits that have come with his winning of GCM’s second annual Most Valuable Technician Award, which is presented in partnership with Foley United. Before the official presentation of the award (and the $2,500 check that comes with it) at Colorado Springs Country Club, Pascarelli admitted he was humbled by the honor but appreciative of the increased recognition. “I’m the kind of guy who likes to fly under the radar,” he says. “I’m not used to this 15-minutes-of fame deal.” “So I was just very surprised and very grateful that Tom would think enough of the job I do to nominate me. I thought just making the final three was pretty super and I just never thought I would win the whole thing.
continued on page 7...
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“A Golden Day”
On May 9, 2011, we were greeted with a beautiful, sunny day at the Applewood Golf Course which is set against the Rocky Mountain foothills. A brief break from the winds we have experienced the past several months. The 18-hole regulation course opened in 1961 and was designed by J. Press Maxwell, ASGCS, and measures nearly 6,200 yards.
Forty golfers played and congratulations to the following individuals:
1st place gross is Matt Whalen of Cheyenne Country Club—772nd place gross is Eric Strasheim of Fitzsimons Golf Course
1st place net is Josh Odgen of Aquatrols—652nd place net is Tim Klein of Syngenta
A big thanks to Ron Retzlaff of Arkansas Valley Seed who sponsored the event. Ron took home two of the three closet to the pins and Eric Strasheim took the other one.
After a great game of golf forty-two members attended the meeting conducted by Matthew Rusch, Superintendent on “Best Practices on Maintaining a Chemical/Pesticide Free Golf Course.”
The key points learned today is that Applewood Golf Course chemical/pesticide free, all natural blend granular fertilizers still applied, and is a certified Audubon course. Native grasses, fallen trees make excellent homes for wildlife, bird houses are home for all sorts of birds including the eagle’s nest on number six with three eaglets, and grass clippings provide mulch and food for wildlife. Water bodies are maintained and ponds are filled with carp and bass to control algae. The golf course is well maintained by ensuring proper mowing height based on the health of the greens, topdressing and verticuting program is completed on a weekly basis due to no use of chemicals. Matt and his staff have done an excellent job in course sustainability and conservation maintenance. A big thank you to Matthew for his excellent presentation!
By Kreg Renzelman, CGCS | Hyland Hills Golf Courses
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In My OpinionMother Nature’s not Happy with Colorado State Football:
By Dennis Lyon CGCS
Have you given much thought lately to the decline of the Colorado State University Football Program? Lakewood Golf Manager, Bill Jewell and I have had cheap season tickets to Rams Football for many years. By cheap, I mean we basically sit with the visiting team in the northwest end of the field. I like sitting with the Wyoming fans as they always sneak in a lot of alcohol. By the time the stadium beer is shut off, the Wyomingites are always willing to share their booze. On the down side, I was most insulted by a Minnesota fan. At this game Bill and I were surrounded by Minnesotans when the Rams were down by 40 points or so. At this juncture in the game, a visiting Gopher had the audacity to ask me if Colorado State Football was a Division I program. How rude. Fast forward to last season, I am still trying to forget the last two games when the struggling Rams got beat by a total of 93 to 10.
In reviewing the Colorado State Football exploits since 2000, their record is 64 wins and 71 losses. From 2000 through 2005 the Rams had a respectable record of 44 wins and 30 losses and five bowl games. From 2006 through 2010 their record sank to a disappointing 20 wins and 41 losses, with only one bowl invitation. What happened??? Well, Sonny Lubick got retired, partly because he hated to fire any of his coaches; he didn’t understand social media and didn’t win enough games. Steve Fairchild came on board in 2008. He made some needed coaching changes and brought in a bunch of new coaches, including a new head defensive coach from Duke. Has anyone ever heard of Duke Football? Anyway, starting in 2006, as the Rams went about their losing ways, CSU recruits came and went; some went to the NFL and a lot of players graduated. The band was always excellent. Trombone Suicide was often better than the football game. Check out YouTube if you don’t know what Trombone Suicide is. Anyway, Colorado State Football has been in a downhill slide for several years. Now wouldn’t you like to know what the heck is wrong with Colorado State Football? I have the answer.
In 2006, Colorado State got out of sync with Mother Nature and the universe. Against all advice and sound judgment, the Athletic Department replaced the football stadium playing surface. They turned their back on Mother Nature’s gift to mankind, Poa Pratensis, (Kentucky Bluegrass) and replaced it with artificial field turf, aka Poa
Plasticus Artificialis. Can you believe this happened at a land-grant university, complete with a College of Agriculture and a Horticulture Department with turfgrass professors? As the saying goes, “That ain’t right.” What makes matters even worse is the football stadium at the University of Colorado has real grass on its field, and not just the Cannabis variety.
So what’s wrong with Colorado State Football? The logical answer is Colorado State Football has the, “Curse of the Turf.” The CSU Athletic Department, got on the wrong side of the universe, ticked off Mother Nature and created all kinds of bad karma when it went from Poa to plastic. I fear the Curse of the Turf will forever haunt Rams Football until Mother Nature and Poa Pratensis are welcomed back to Sonny Lubik Field, with open arms.
At least that’s my opinion.
Sincerely,DennisDennis Lyon CGCSGCSAA Past President
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2011 Industry Partners
Supporting the organization and those businesses that support us.
Platinum PartnersThese sponsors have made the highest level of committment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Platinum level sponosor
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Please consider our sponsors when making purchasing decisions. Please support those who support your association by clicking their logo to visit their web sites and contacting your sales representative. These industry partners are dedicated to helping you run successful operations and be profitable businesses. For more information on the Industry Partner program, CLICK HERE.
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S p r e a d i n g t h e N e w s . . .S p r e a d i n g t h e N e w s . . .New MembersTyler Armstrong, Class SMasters Turfgrass Management
Misty Chapman, Class AFNew Energy Tech Co.
John E. Greene, Class DThe Ranch Country Club
David Hadley, Class I
Kenny Troutman, Class CPinehurst Country Club
David Weiss, Class AFDave Weiss Insurance Agency
Welcome Back....Rodney Jackson, Class AFHeadline Sports Inc.
Richard Parker, Class SMFox Hill Country Club
Member News...Doug White with L.L. Johnson Dist. lost his battle with cancer on June 23rd. The family sends their thanks for the love, support, and prayers. More information to follow via email.
It’s been a real treat...it’s been nice to have people come by and congratulate me and thank me for the work I do at the club.”
Pascarelli has worked as a golf course equipment technician for nearly 40 years, the last 13 of those at Colorado Springs Country Club. He came upon the career almost by accident. While working as a crew member at the nearby Broadmoor Resort, “I made the mistake of fixing something I was operating one day and that was the end of it for me,” he explains. “The superintendent came up and said, ‘I think I’d rather have you working in the shop.’” In nearly 20 years at The Broadmoor, Pascarelli advanced to a position where he supervised equipment maintenance for all three of the resort’s golf courses as well as the equipment used by the general grounds staff. When the superintendent at the Broadmoor left to take the same job at Colorado Springs Country Club, Pascarelli soon followed. In his nomination, Dimberio cited Pascarelli’s overall work at the
club - from budgeting to safety and environmental stewardship - as the reasons he wanted to single out his equipment tech for recognition. “I just felt that Gene deserved to be recognized,” he says. “The guys that work out on the golf course hear compliments from the members for the way the golf course looks and plays, but he never hears those being behind the scenes.” he continues. “I think this contest kind of shows what he does and how important his role is around the club.”
Scott Hollister ([email protected]) is GCM’s editor-in-chief.
Gene Pascarelli, technician at Colorado Springs Country Club, is the winner of GCM’s second annual Most Valuable Technician Award. Watch Video
2011 MVT a Rocky Mountain high continued from page 3...
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I became interested in golf course maintenance at a young age. When I was 16 I began working on the grounds crew at Shining Mountain Golf Club in my hometown of Woodland Park, Colorado. A property originally know as Fujiki Golf and Country Club, Shining Mountain has changed hands many times over the years, and struggled financially, but I am very grateful for the time I spent there. My enjoyment of working outdoors, and the camaraderie of being part of the crew, developed into an interest in the science, and the how’s and why’s of maintaining a golf course.
To be honest, it was a few years before I even knew that you could go to school for something like turfgrass management. The longer I worked on a golf course, the stronger I felt that after high school I wanted to pursue my interest in the profession. Colorado State University seemed like the natural fit for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. I learned a great deal, and had the pleasure of meeting many great friends in the industry, a number of whom I still stay in contact with today.
While in college I completed my first internship at The Broadmoor in 2005, during the grow in year of the Mountain Course, and in 2006 I spent a summer on the east coast at The Country Club in
Brookline, Massachusetts. After completing my degree, I went to work at the Ironbridge Club in Glenwood Springs, Colorado as the Second Assistant Superintendent. I really loved living in the mountains and being able to take advantage of the great skiing, hiking, and camping in the Roaring Fork valley. In my third season at Ironbridge I moved into the First Assistant role, and am very thankful for the opportunities I had and the experience I gained while working there.
In 2010, I moved to Scottsdale, Arizona after accepting a position as Assistant Superintendent at The Estancia Club. Living in Arizona was very different than anywhere I’d lived before, and it certainly took some adjustment. Everything from overseeding, to irrigating with effluent water, and managing bentgrass greens in temperatures well over 100 degrees was a challenge and a great learning experience all wrapped into one. I’ll never forget asking our head irrigator how the greens were doing, and getting the response with a very concerned sigh, “very dry!”
Most recently I’ve had the opportunity to return to the Broadmoor as the Assistant Superintendent on the East Course. I couldn’t be more excited to be back in Colorado, and once again be a part of the special atmosphere at the Broadmoor. Of course, we are in full swing with preparation for the U.S. Women’s Open and I have once again found myself in a great learning environment, and working with a lot of great people. I am excited to see many of you who are coming to volunteer during tournament week, and I am thankful for the camaraderie that I continue to experience in our great industry.
Assistant ProfileAssistant ProfileJ.D. Wise, East Course Assistant Superintendent | The Broadmoor
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First the SeedBy Ryan Jeffries | Columbia Seeds
I always get asked the question “How do you harvest seed and where is it grown.” There are a few cool-season turfgrass production areas in North America for turf; Oregon (eastern and western), eastern Washington, Idaho, northern Minnesota, southern Manitoba and western Alberta. I am mainly going to talk about western Oregon and eastern Washington. These are two of the bigger production areas that Columbia Seeds deals with.
Grass Seed Variety BreedingBefore any variety is planted, it first has to be developed by a plant breeder. The breeder can work for a seed company, university or be an independent researcher. The selection and breeding cycle takes about seven years on average to develop a variety. A breeder may keep collections or germ plasma around for a number of years to have a pool to draw from. Breeders look for a number of things when selecting a variety; seed yield, color, disease and insect resistance, leaf texture, density, local stress and wear tolerance to name a few.
The variety is owned by the breeder and/or land grant university where the genetics came from while the seed dealer (which Columbia Seeds is considered) licenses the marketing/production rights. Once the breeder gets to the stage of releasing a variety to a seed dealer, breeder seed is produced in small fields. The breeder maintains small fields to insure genetic purity and reduce outside contamination. From the breeder seed stock, we get foundation seed which the growers use to produce a seed crop that gets sold in the marketplace. Using foundation seed, the growers can produce certified or uncertified seed. Certified seed just assures a minimum purity and germination standard. Uncertified seed can be as clean or cleaner then certified seed.
ProductionWhen a seed dealer contracts with a grower to produce their proprietary variety, the contract usually lasts for three years. In Washington under irrigation, fields are produced as an annual; it is just a one year contract. Seed companies will keep a variety in
production (in most cases) for five to six years in conjunction with a NTEP cycle, some maybe longer depending on market acceptance or exceptional performance. Seed lot sizes can be up to 55,000# (cleaned seed) on most species. Farmers will send their seed samples into a seed testing lab to determine seed purity and germination.
It takes a week or less to get the results back on the purity and three to four weeks to obtain a germ or fluorescence on perennial ryegrass. We can ship seed with a TZ (Tetrazolium – a quick biochemical way to get a germ; usually in three days) in place of waiting for a germination test.
Oregon Seed ProductionIn western Oregon, there is an area called the Willamette Valley. The Willamette Valley is known as the “Grass Seed Production Capital of the World.” It runs from Portland down to Eugene nestled between the Cascade Mountains and Coastal Range. The weather is ideal for grass seed production in that the rainy season runs from November to May then dry-arid weather from June to October. They do not get those afternoon thunder storms like we have here in Colorado. Thunder storms and high winds wreak havoc on a grass seed production crop. Currently in this area there are approximately 350,000 – 375,000 aces under production for cool season grasses. This includes turf and forage. Just three short years ago it was around 450,000 – 500,000 acres. That shows you how things have changed. Today a lot of those acres have been replaced with wheat. The Willamette Valley does not have enough heat units to grow field corn, so wheat (spring and fall planted) is something farmers can grow with good success.
DLF - International Seeds Research Farm - Corvallis, OR
Oregon State University Seed Lab - running a purity, crop, inert, weed and noxious weed exam on tall fescue. Corvallis, OR
continued on page 10...
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“First the seed” continued from page 9...
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“The only whole in the green should have a flag in it.”
Carl Pollock303-910-1610
11352 Cottontail Lane Parker Colorado 80138Phone: 303-910-1610 Fax: 303-284-0646
Email: [email protected]
www.dryject.com
DryJect of Colorado21st century aeration
Today growers are getting paid around $8.00/bushel in Portland. At those prices it is very profitable for them to grow it. Other crops grown in the valley for rotational purposes are things like, beans and corn (for canneries), other vegetable crops, other cereal grains, mint and clovers.
Grass seed is planted on 12” to 24” centers. Most grass grown in the valley for seed production is seeded on 15” row centers, depending on the make of the drill and if the ground is irrigated.
Most crops are planted in the fall except fine fescue and tall fescue, which are spring seeded. Most of the Willamette Valley is non-irrigated; it is Oregon. Hard fescue is the first crop to get swathed, sometime around the third week of June.
Wheat harvest Doerfler Farms - Aumsville, OR Doerfler Farms planting Palace perennial ryegrass in the fall. Aumsville, OR
Primary perennial ryegrass a few weeks before swathing. Doerfler Farms - Aumsville, OR
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Member SpotlightJordan McCormick, Superintendent| Mariana Butte Golf Course
I began my career enjoying the life of recreation that the Fraser River Valley offers working at Pole Creek Golf Club for Larry Burks. After a few years of ski bumming and ‘living the life’, I decided to pursue golf maintenance and move back home to Fort Collins and enroll in the Colorado State Univeristy Turf Program. During my school years I worked at Ptarmigan, did internships at the Stockfarm and Breckenridge, and graduated in 2000 with my Bachelors of Science in Landscape Horticulture/Turf Management.
For my first ‘professional’ job in the industry I was off to Sandia Park, New Mexico to be the Assistant Superintendent at PaaKo Ridge Golf Course. After two years in the Land of Enchantment, I returned to Colorado to begin a seven year stint at the Broadmoor. At this point my learning experiences moved into the fast lane; Freddy Dickman allowed me to lead a team on the West Course and
I learned a great deal about how to be a leader, manager, and politician. Not realizing at the time how vital
multiple roles are to a Superintendent, Freddy guided me through the process and gave me
freedom to make mistakes and earn my own successes; thanks Freddy.
In September, I began a new endeavor as the Superintendent at Mariana Butte Golf Course in Loveland. Although golf courses always provide new challenges, the biggest challenge I have now is to learn how to be a
good father to my two step-daughters: Haley (10) and Lauren (4). My new wife
Danielle gives me the support I need to feel confident in this lifelong adventure.
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U.S. Open week has arrived! This year’s national championship will be contested at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. Undoubtedly the USGA will set up Congressional to provide a stern test as it hosts its third U.S. Open (1964, Ken Venturi, 1997, Ernie Els).
The U.S. Open is known as the most demanding test in the game—challenging golfers’ patience and intestinal fortitude as much as their golf skill. One aspect of the U.S. Open that is not often discussed is the number of interesting and sometimes bizarre rulings that a U.S. Open site produces—rulings that you don’t typically see during a regular week on the PGA Tour.
One of the first of such rulings that comes to mind is the infamous, “double chip.” We all remember T.C. (“Two Chips”) Chen who fell victim to this embarrassing mishap in the 1985 U.S. Open at Oakland Hills. During the final round of that year’s Open, Chen found his ball in the notoriously deep U.S. Open rough and in an effort to firmly, yet softly extract the ball he hit the ball once at impact and a second time as his club
followed through. It is a not a coincidence that this occurred during the U.S. Open as thick rough and lightning fast greens create the perfect opportunity to hit this dubious shot. Sean Micheel did the same thing at last year’s U.S. Open at Pebble Beach as he attempted a shot out of the thick rough surrounding a greenside bunker.
While this shot is somewhat rare, the ruling is actually simple and straight forward. Rule 14-4 states, “If a player’s club strikes the ball more than once in the course of a stroke, the player must count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all.” Note that the rule is not titled “double hits” as most people tend to think. The rule is the same whether you strike the ball twice, or even three or four times—simply add one for the misfortune. Since this is a one-stroke penalty it applies to both stroke and match play competition.
Another ruling to look for in this year’s open is balls failing to remain at rest on the slick U.S. Open greens. As the USGA shaves down the Congressional greens to create a turf condition as near as possible to concrete, it is inevitable that some balls will move even after they come to rest. The ruling in this situation depends on whether or not the player has addressed the ball. For example, let’s say a player marks and lifts his ball on the putting green and replaces it. As the player is preparing to play the next stroke, and before he has addressed it (grounded his club and taken his stance) the ball starts to roll down a slope off the green and into
the thick rough. Since the player did not cause the ball to move (had not addressed it) the ball would be played as it lies with no penalty (other than the fact that the player went from a putt from the green to a pitch from deep rough). Now, if the player had addressed the ball there would be a penalty of one stroke and the player would be required to replace the ball on the green.
One thing is for sure this week—it won’t be busy as usual for the players or for the officials! Here’s hoping that great shots, not unusual rulings take center stage this weekend as we crown the 2011 U.S. Open Champion. Enjoy, and Happy Father’s Day!
Rules of Golf...U.S. Opens Test Players…and The Rules!
By Ed Mate, CGA Executive Director
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Like father, like son. Thirty-one years ago, Coloradan Dick Phelps became president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, an organization which dates back to 1946.
Earlier this month, appropriately in Colorado, Dick’s son Rick Phelps assumed the presidency of the same trade group, which now includes about 170 members.
Dick and Rick Phelps thus became one of a handful of fathers and sons who have each served as the leader of the ASGCA, with the most famous being from the Jones family (Robert Trent and sons Rees and Robert Trent Jr.). Other past presidents include such notables as Pete Dye, Arthur Hills and Jay Morrish.
“Dad introduced me (at the recent ASGCA annual meeting in Westminster), and it was a fun, emotional evening,” said Rick Phelps, who owns Evergreen-based Phelps-Atkinson Golf Course Design. “It was obviously a very special evening for me, and it meant a lot to my dad too.”
Fittingly, Rick hearkens back to his dad’s heyday as a golf course architect when he speaks about what will be his main area of emphasis during his year or so as ASGCA president.
“The biggest thing growing up with dad was he worked his way into a niche of
(designing) affordable public courses (especially in Colorado, such as Foothills and Indian Tree),” Rick said. “He almost established a new market for himself -- public golf at reasonable rates. My deal as president is to point out that the golf industry needs those kinds of facilities.”
Noting that in recent decades an emphasis was placed on opening very challenging courses that draw attention on “best-of” lists put together by national golf publications, Phelps believes layouts that
are both affordable and enjoyable for average golfers often are given short shrift.
“If all the golf course supply in the U.S. were stacked up like a pyramid, the affordable facilities would make up the base,” he said. “But now we’re building too many on top without having the support below. So we need to build up the base again. That’s my main push -- to get that story out. The average golfer -- maybe toward the beginner level -- doesn’t need the challenge of Blackstone and Murphy Creek (golf courses) when they’d have just as much fun at a place like South Suburban.”
Like his dad‘s work, many of Rick Phelps’ designs in Colorado fall into the affordable public golf category. Among the 44-year-old’s credits are The Broadlands in Broomfield, Antler Creek in Falcon, Devil’s Thumb in Delta, South Suburban’s Family Sports in Centennial, the Creek 9 at Kennedy in Denver and the Silo 9 at West Woods in Arvada.
But, like many others in the golf industry, course architects are enduring challenging times with the glut of courses, and the economy being what it is. Very few new golf courses are opening in the U.S. these days, and in fact more courses are closing than opening. The National Golf Foundation projects that between 2010 and 2020 there will be a net decrease of 500-1,000 courses in the country.
The problem is that while the number of golfers in the U.S. declined slightly from 1990 to 2009, according to the NGF, more than 100 new courses opened in Colorado during that period, according to CGA records. So it’s no wonder why new construction has now virtually reached a standstill domestically.
“It’s obviously challenging for each of us individually,” Phelps said of the very competitive business of golf course design in America. “There’s so little work and jobs out there. China and Korea are the only places where new construction is strong. For our Society, the effect has yet to be seen. We haven’t lost that many members. Some are hanging on by doing renovation projects. It shows you how passionate we are about our profession that in some cases we’re willing to sacrifice family finances. Thank goodness many of our spouses work.”
Rick Phelps a Chip Off the Old Block New president of American course architects emphasizes affordable golf
By Gary Baines - May 27, 2011
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• Kentucky Blue• Tall and Fine Fescues• Salt Tolerant Ryegrass• Bentgrass• Wildflowers• Native Grasses
Contact a sales representative today.Glenn LedallStephanie MurninDave RadyDavid Moore, Sales ManagerDon Hijar, Owner/Manager
PO Box 100 • 605 25th Street • Greeley, CO. 80632(800) 782-5947 • (970) 356-7002 Fax (970) 356-7263
[email protected] • www.PawneeButtesSeed.com
A f f i l i a t e ’ s A n g l e
I never thought I would be able to visit some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world and get paid to do so. I’ve definitely taken the road less traveled to get where I am today, but I wouldn’t change any of the challenges I’ve faced along the way.
I was born in Colorado but I’m a huge Green Bay Packer fan. I graduated from Columbine High School in 1998. After high school I attended College at Denver Tech where I earned my degree in Electronics Engineering. I started my first job at 15, working at a lumber yard through most of my teen years but landed a position at Eastman Kodak as a lead technician. I found that going to school during the day and working the graveyard shift was not the lifestyle I wanted to live. My next stop was at NCR where I performed maintenance on ATM’s, self checkout machines and Kiosks. The question I am always asked when sharing my work history is “How much money is in an ATM?” Just know that there are many security protocols in place to ensure one will never get to the $30K to $100K inside. I loved that job but I was working 90-100 hours a week and was on call 24hrs a day every other week. It was fun but not conducive to start a family.
In May of 2006, I was hired on at L.L. Johnson. It’s the perfect mix of travel and office time. I cover anywhere from Trinidad to Rapid City, South Dakota and from Burlington to Grand Junction, however most of my work is between Ft. Collins and Colorado Springs. I have made many friends while traveling and I thank those who have entrusted me to help with their needs. There are few things more gratifying than walking away from a satisfied customer. More than any other benefit, L.L. Johnson was the best career choice for my family.
I was married to my best friend, Tabatha in 2004. We met when she was 16 and I was 17. Even at that young age we knew there was a strong, lasting bond between us. In February of 2007, we were given the great joy and pleasure in life by having a baby girl, Jocelyn. Tabatha and Jocelyn are the best things that have ever happened to me. The greatest feeling in the world after a long day is to come home and have my four year old jump into my arms and
yell “Daddy’s home!” Jocelyn is a type one Diabetic with Celiac’s disease, but you would never know with her high energy and love of life. I was finally able to take her out on the course for the first time this year. Her favorite part is to chase the geese off the greens while I’m trying to putt!
My true passion is philanthropy. I have been fortunate to help about 100 different non-profits raise money for their causes over the last 12 years. Listening to stories of extraordinary people overcoming disease, disability and despair helps put my bad days into perspective. If I have one message to pass on it would be that you can have everything in life you want if you help enough people get what they want along the way.
Brandon Bollerud - Irrigation ServicesL.L. Johnson Distributing Company
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Then forage tall fescue, chewings fescue, creeping red fescue, turf type tall fescue, perennial ryegrass and creeping bentgrass with colonial bentgrass being the last crop to get swathed around the middle of August. Dirt weights vary greatly depending on field conditions, moisture availability and even variety with average seed yields around 1,500 lbs/acre of clean seed. Most of the bigger farms will have their own cleaning plants. They will start cleaning at harvest going into the following spring or as demand dictates.
In the past field burning was a practice the Oregon grass seed farmer used to control weeds and remove straw stubble. Those days are dwindling because of environmental issues. Field burning is still used in the Silverton Hills area because of hard fescue needs and the hilly terrain. The farmer will get a call from the county agent saying they can burn today and have a few hours to get started.
Below is a quick rundown on planting rates and yields; yields are after clean out. Seeding rates double if no till planted.
• Fine Fescue’s fields can last from three-ten years. Seeding rates average about 7#/A for seed production. Most fields are fertilized two times a year. The average yield for fine fescue’s are 1,300#/A.
• Tall Fescue fields can last as long as 10 years. The average seeding rate is around 8#/A. Growers will fertilize tall fescue fields around three times a year. The average yield is around 1,500#/A.
• Perennial Ryegrass yields decrease after three years. The grower will seed ryegrass around 8#/A. The average yield for perennial ryegrass is 1,500#/A. On average they will fertilizer
perennial ryegrass four times a year. • Kentucky Bluegrass is not grown in the Willamette Valley. It
needs to vernalize (experience freezing temperature for a period of time) for a seed crop and the valley doesn’t get that cold for it to happen. It can be grown in eastern Oregon.
Doerfler Farms is one of the bigger seed farms in the Willamette Valley. They farm around 18,000 acres east of Salem. As you can see they have a lot of equipment; 30 combines, numerous tractors and 18 windrowers.
Doerfler Farms has five to six harvest crews. Each crew has five combines and the combine crews are dedicated to a particular species. They have one sidehill crew made up of five plus combines and the other 20+ are conventional combines.
Doerfler Farms raises perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue and colonial bentgrass. They also have five cleaning plants on the farm dedicated to each species. They can clean, bag, blend and ship seed right off the farm.
“First the seed” continued from page 10...
Windrowing Talladega Tall Fescue. Doerfler Farms - Aumsville, OR
Field burning Rhino hard fescue. Doerfler Farms - Aumsville, OR
Kevin, Amy Phelan Doerfler and Kent Doerfler are third generation owners of Doerfler Farms. Aumsville, OR
Doerfler Farms combine crew harvesting Presidio perennial ryegrass. Aumsville, OR
Doerfler Farms side hill combine crew harvesting Rhino hard fescue. Sublimity, OR
continued on page 16...
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They are one of the few farms or seed companies in the valley that has a state of the art automated stacker/palletizer.
Washington Seed ProductionThe main production area is around the Columbia River. There are two parts in this area that we refer to in the seed business; lower and upper basin. Columbia Seeds primarily works in the lower basin, which is around the Tri-Cites area of Richland, Pasco and Kennewick. It is a different kind of seed production compared to the Willamette Valley. All of this ground is irrigated and produces Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and hard fescue.
With the irrigation these growers use liquid and dry fertilizer for seed production. The weather is drier than the Willamette Valley in Oregon. The growers have more options as far as planting crops. They can grow potatoes, onions, field corn, wheat, beans and corn for frozen food. Most of the fields are on a four year rotation; year one is bluegrass or some other grass, year two is onions or potatoes, years three and four vary. The input costs are a little more than down in Oregon but yields are a little better. They will harvest a few weeks ahead of the Willamette Valley. This year there is 11,000 certified acres in production in the state of WA. 95% of that is Kentucky bluegrass. In 2009, there was 31,000 certified acres in production. Most of the farms in this area send their seed to a processing plant for cleaning and storage.
Below is a quick rundown on planting rates and yields; yields are after clean out.
• Hard Fescue seeding rates average about 4#/A for seed production. Most fields are fertilized six times a growing season. The average yield for hard fescue is 1,900#/A.
• Perennial Ryegrass is seeded at 8#/A on average. The average yield for perennial ryegrass is 2,100#/A. On average they will fertilizer perennial ryegrass eight times a growing season.
“First the seed” continued from page 15...
Unloading Jamestown IV chewing fescue bulk befoer cleaning. Doerfler Farms - Aumsville, OR
Cleaned perennial ryegrass Doerfler Farms - Aumsville, OR
Palletizing perennial ryegrass blend. Doerfler Farms - Aumsville, OR
Field cultivation for Rubicon kentucky bluegrass. RMunn Farms - Prosser, WA
Rubicon kentucky bluegrass. RMunn Farms - Prosser, WA
Windrowing Yankee kentucky bluegrass. Cleaver Farms - Hermiston, OR
continued on page 18...
Harvesting Corsair Kentucky bluegrass. RMunn Farms - Prosser, WA
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Governmental/Legislative NewsGovernmental/Legislative NewsP ro v i d e d b y S co tt E l l i s
GCSAA has partnered with the PGA of America in support of the Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative, which strives to achieve greater diversity and participation in the game and business of golf. The goal is to increase spending by golf industry companies with minority- and women-owned suppliers of infrastructure goods and services (not specific golf products), while at the same time growing participation from these same consumer segments.
About The Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative:
HistoryThe motivation for creating The PGA of America’s Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative began with the first ever “Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Forum” held in conjunction with the 55th Annual PGA Merchandise Show in February of 2008. Facilitated by National Diversity Solutions (NDS), a leading certified minority-owned strategic sourcing and supply base optimization company, the event explored the business case of “The Power of Supplier Diversity in a Global Golf Economy”. Attendees included Joseph P. Steranka, CEO, The PGA of America, PGA of America Officers and Earnie Ellison, Jr., Director of Business and Community Relations, The PGA of America, as well as some of the leading minority- and women-owned business owners in the United States.
Based on a powerful business case that shows a definite correlation between the projected increase in minority population, the overall buying power of this growth market and its potential to affect the game and business of golf, The PGA of America’s Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative was officially launched the following
year in conjunction with the 56th Annual PGA Merchandise Show.
In 2010, at the 57th Annual Golf Industry Merchandise Show, the Initiative and its suppliers had an increased presence and further integration into the event.
Most recently, the “Diverse Supplier Forum” was held in conjunction with the 92nd PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. Forum events included a luncheon, a recap of Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative highlights and an overview of exciting new additions to the Initiative presented by Joseph P. Steranka, CEO of The PGA of America. Inaddition, Initiative M/WBE suppliers were able to interact directly with golf industry decision makers. Executives from prominent industry organizations, including the CMAA, GCSAA, NGCOA, the WGF and others participated and voiced their support for the Initiative.
The Opportunity, Goals and StrategiesThe PGA of America believes that an effective supplier diversity program will increase interest in golf which, in turn, can lead to greater participation. The minority community is projected to control about 25% of U.S. buying power by 2012; this projection, coupled with the increase in minority population, represents a great growth opportunity in these emerging markets for the golf industry if approached strategically.
The goals of the Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative are threefold; 1) Increase the number of minority- and women-owned businesses “invested” in golf, 2) increase the volume spend of
GCSAA supports Supplier Diversity Initiative
continued on page 19...
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58th AnnuAl Rocky MountAin RegionAl tuRfgRAss confeRence And tRAde show
P r e m i e r e l o c a l - R e g i o n a l t u r f s h o w Rese rve today fo r a p r ime booth loca t ion extended conference and trade show hours sponsorship opportunities
Recogn i t ion i n t he con fe rence gu ide and webs i te free trade show admission and parking
december 6-8, 2011crowne Plaza diA | denver, coRocky Mountain Regional turfgrass Association
7995 e. Prentice Ave., ste. 100 | greenwood Village, co 80111 | 303-770-2220 | 303-770-1614 fax | [email protected] | www.rmrta.org
• Kentucky Bluegrass seeding rates are around 6#/A. Since there is a big difference in bluegrass varieties the yield range can be 700#/A to 1,700#/A. Most growers will not grow the lower yielding varieties and like to be somewhere around 1,000#/A or higher.
I would like to thank RMunn Farms, Cleaver Farms and Columbia River Seed for providing the pictures from the lower Columbia River basin.
Market ReportI will take this opportunity to give you a quick run down from our prospective of market conditions. With the cooler and wetter than normal weather in OR/WA, the crop is a few weeks behind. This
can be made up between now and pollination time. If not it could be a late crop and historically late crops equal smaller crops. As our dollar weakens, it makes our seed prices more attractive to move our seed overseas; Europe and Asia are big markets for North American seed these days, especially in Europe where a lot of their land is used to grow crops for feeding the population. I post on our website a market report about every 30-45 days. Feel free to view our reports at www.columbiaseeds.com
ConclusionThat is a quick overview of how grass seed is brought to the marketplace from the Pacific Northwest. A lot of money and time is spent in bringing quality seed products to you and the market. In grass seed production, seed dealers compete with other commodities for the production acres. Historically grass seed has been one of the higher paying crops for growers but lately it has not been. I have included a lot of pictures, they tell the story.
“First the seed” continued from page 15...
Cleaning line for Kentucky bluegrass. Columbia River Seed - Plymouth, WA
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Chip off the Old Block continued from page 13...
Your local Horizon stores:Aurora: CO 14777 E 35th Place | 303.576.0050
Littleton: 4971 S. Rio Grande Street | 303.934.3200
Your local Horizon Golf Group Associates:Nick DiLorenzo: 303.598.4728 or
Eric Gustafson: 303.434.7934
i r r i g a t i o n | s p e c i a l t y | l a n d s c a p e | e q u i p m e n t
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800.PVC.TURF | HorizonOnline.com
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Horizon offers on-the-job expertise for agronomy issues, water conservation, greens management, ongoing course maintenance and more. In fact, our golf course pros all boast backgrounds in golf course design, maintenance or management, and offer the products, materials and down to it straight talk that you need–from start to finish.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
Phelps said that five to seven years ago his firm did 70 percent new construction and 30 percent renovations. Now 80 percent of the work is renovations. Currently, Phelps-Atkinson is doing anything from work on a single bunker for one course to an extensive renovation at another.
While he believes business will bounce back some, Phelps said he greatly doubts it will ever return to the go-go days from 1982-2002. “We will probably never see that again in our lifetime.”
A big part of what the ASGCA has done in recent years is devoted
to educating the public about not only the economic value of golf courses to communities, but how they’re part of the social fabric of those communities and how they play key environmental and open-space roles.
“The reality is, we are a tiny organization of about 170 compared to the PGA or the Golf Course Superintendents,” Phelps said. “For our size, we have a relatively loud voice, but we can’t do a significant marketing campaign. Instead, we work closely with allied associations and participate in their meetings and help steer the game in the right direction.”
spend with these companies, and 3) leverage the above to increase participation rates in golf among people of color and women.
The Initiative intends to accomplish these goals by; 1) Leveraging the PGA brand to bring recognition to current diverse suppliers of The PGA of America and its championship events, 2) create a certification program to qualify minority and women owned businesses for the golf industry, 3) leverage the PGA Merchandise Show to introduce these companies to the broader golf industry and 4) engage other industry leaders in the value of a supplier diversity program.
The PGA of America has retained National Diversity Solutions, LLC (NDS) to facilitate the Golf Industry Supplier Diversity Initiative. The processes and methodology used by NDS to register, assess and qualify M/WBE companies will help ensure that potential golf industry suppliers meet or exceed the high-performance standards set by The PGA of America. All M/WBE companies endure a vetting
process. Upon successful completion they are awarded the designation of “2009 PGA Qualified Diverse Supplier.”
Once this designation is earned, the “PGA Qualified” M/WBE suppliers are promoted by The PGA of America to the golf industry as quality suppliers of golf industry-related goods and services.
The PGA of America will continue to lead this initiative as it looks to allocate a portion of the organization’s spending with qualified M/WBEs. By championing a coalition of industry leaders to help drive this initiative, The PGA of America asks that their strategic partners do the same to lead the golf industry down this progressive path.
Governmental/Legislative continued from page 17...
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July 12, 2011 Annual Tournament at Mariana Buttes Golf Course
Registration form must be received by July 7, 2011 (Mail, fax or register online)qMembers/Member Guests $60 q Non-members $100 q Meeting Only $ 25
Employer: ____________________________________________ Address/Zip: _____________________________________
Name: ______________________________________________________________ GHIN#_____________ Handicap _____ q Memberq Guest $ _______
Name: ______________________________________________________________ GHIN#_____________ Handicap _____ q Memberq Guest $ _______
AMEX/VISA/MASTERCARD #: ____________________________________________________ Exp. ____/____ CVC Code: _________ Total $ _____________
Signature: ___________________________________________________ Name on Card: ____________________________ Phone: ___________________Return to: RMGCSA | 3030 W. 81st Ave. | Westminster, CO 80031 - NO REFUNDS AFTER JULY 7th
Phone: 888-576-4272 or 303-255-9611 | Fax: 303-458-0002 | [email protected] | www.rmgcsa.org
Golf: Mariana Butte Golf Course701 Clubhouse Drive | Loveland, CO 80537Superintendent: Jordan McCormickOpened: 1992Staff: Winston Howe III, PGA Head ProfessionalDesigner: Dick PhelpsGreens Grass Type: Bentgrass/Poa AnnuaFairways Grass Type: Perennial Ryegrass/Poa Annua
Less than an hour’s drive from Denver, Mariana Butte is a world away from big-city blues. Mariana Butte is a premier, 18-hole course featuring soaring elevated tees, challenging holes that border the rushing Big Thompson River, and breathtaking vistas of the Rocky Mountain Front Range. Repeatedly chosen as one of Colorado’s favorite courses, Mariana Butte is the perfect place to relax and rediscover the good things in life.
*Must be checked in by 7:00 a.m. or your spot will be given to someone on the wait list* Details: 7:00 a.m. | Check-in/Meeting 8:30 a.m. | Shot-gun
Format: Individual Stroke Play for Class Trophies
Directions: From northbound I-25 go west at exit 255 (Hwy 402). Go west for 6.5 miles and turn north on Wilson Ave. Go 1.25 miles west on 1st Street and tunr north on Rossum Dr. to the clubhouse
“GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION IN HAWAII”
Mark is currently remodeling the 18 hole Leilehua Golf Course on the island of Oahu. This tree lined island favorite was built in 1949 and was in need of a full upgrade. The project includes remodeling of all tees, bunkers, greens and cart paths and removal of 130 large trees. Mark’s presentation will take you through the design and construction process of the new course and discuss problems and solutions encountered along the way
Mark Miller is a local Coloradoan, raised in Boulder and Ft. Collins. His career in Golf Course Architecture began in 1989, taking him to Honolulu, Hawaii where he worked for the international design firm of Belt Collins. He began doing business independently as Miller Design in 1999. Throughout the past 22 years Mark has worked on many courses in the Hawaiian Islands, throughout the Pacific Rim, and the U.S. Mainland including Alaska, California, Nevada, Washington, Virginia and Florida.
You will need to make your reservation by July 7, 2011. No exceptions. No walk-ins permitted. Because of golf course policies there will be no “after the deadline” reservations accommodated. A wait list will be in place for those that wish to play but missed the deadline. We will call you to confirm that you have made the tournament once we are notified of a cancellation. Slots made available by cancellation will be filled only from the wait list on a first-come, first-served basis. Non-members and guests must be involved in the Golf Industry. They will not be eligible for hole prizes.
Event sponsored by:
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Calendar of Events...July 12, 2011 Annual Tournament - Marianna Butte Golf Course-Click here to register
August 10, 2011 Affiliate Scramble - Raven at Three Peaks Golf Club, click to register
August 19, 2011 Assistant’s Outing - Willis Case Golf Course
September 1, 2011 RMGCSA Challenge - South Suburban Golf Course
October 3, 2011 Annual Meeting - Ptarmigan Golf Course
Only John Deere Golf offers both a full selection of golf maintenance equipment and soft goods from top name brands. Plus advice on how to pick the best of each for your course. Call us today.
Equipment Sales: Colorado Golf & Turf, Littleton, CO: 303-761-3332
Agronomic Sales: Contact your local John Deere Landscape Branch
Think Ahead.
See how equipment and agronomics can work together.
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