Turf Magazine - February, 2009

NORTH FEATURES

12th Annual New England Regional Turfgrass Conference and Show

Turfgrass managers continue to rely on the advancements of turfgrass science, education and networking to maintain the highest quality of turf possible to meet the high demands of the day. This year will once again welcome the participation of all green industry professionals to hear the latest in turf news, education and research. Come and meet other professionals and take advantage of the more than 350 booths of the most modern equipment available to the turf industry.

For complete show information, visit www.nertf.org.

Trade Show Hours:
Tuesday, March 3: 4 - 7 p.m. with reception
Wednesday, March 4: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., new live auction at 4 p.m.
Thursday, March 5: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Conference Agenda

Tuesday, March 3
USGA A.M. Session Moderator: Mr. Bob Ward, executive director, RIGA
Ballroom A

9 a.m. Welcome from the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation & USGA
Mr. Bill Morton, CGCS, president, N.E. Regional Turfgrass Foundation, Inc.

9:10 - 9:45 a.m. The USGA Museum’s Golf Course Architecture Archive
Mr. David Normoyle, assistant director, USGA Museum, Far Hill, N.J.

9:45 - 10:30 a.m. Golf Equipment Technology Update
Mr. John Spitzer, assistant technical director, USGA Research and Test Center, Far Hills, N.J.

10:30 - 11 a.m. Golf Associations, Tournaments and the Golf Course Superintendent: Making it a Team Effort
Mr. Joseph Sprague Jr., executive director, Massachusetts Golf Association, Norton, Mass.

11 - 11:30 a.m. Learning Online: Resources for the Green’s Committee and Superintendent
Ms. Kimberly S. Erusha, Ph.D., USGA Green Section, Far Hills, N.J.

USGA P.M. Session Moderator: Mr. Bill Morton, president, NERTF

1 - 1:05 Welcome
Mr. David Oatis, director, USGA Green Section

1:05 - 1:35 p.m. The Moeller Chronicles: Observations from Afield
Mr. Adam Moeller, agronomist, USGA Green Section, Easton, Pa.

1:35 - 2:10 p.m. Organic Matter: Should it Matter?
Dr. Roch Gaussoin, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Neb.

2:10 - 2:45 p.m. Grassing and Regrassing: Has the Time Come?
Mr. David Oatis, director, USGA Green Section, Easton, Pa.

2:45 - 3:15 p.m. Survival Strategies: Producing a Good Golf Course in a Tough Economy
Mr. Jim Skorulski, senior agronomist, USGA Green Section, Palmer, Mass.

Sports Turf Seminar

1 - 5 p.m. Making Sense of Soil Tests
Dr. Jason Henderson, University of Connecticut
Sponsored by NERTF & NESTMA

3:15 - 4 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Mr. Greg Gumbel
Sports broadcasting professional

4 - 7 p.m. Trade Show Grand Opening and Reception

Wednesday, March 4

9 - 9:45 a.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Cutting-Edge Insect Control for Golf Course Managers
Dr. Dan Potter, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.

Sports/Grounds (Ballroom B/C) Successful Solutions for Failed Fields
Dr. Norm Hummel, Hummel & Co., Trumansburg, N.Y.

Landscape: T & O (Ballroom D) Insect Issues in the Landscape
Dr. Stanley Swier, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.

9 - 10:30 a.m.
Mechanics (Ballroom E) Small Engine Maintenance
Mr. Scott Robinson, TMI, Inc.

9:45 - 10:30 a.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Impact of Nozzle-Type, Application Timing and Fungicide Resistance on Dollar Spot
Dr. John Kaminski, Pennsylvania State University

Sports/Grounds (Ballroom B/C) Managing Low-Budget Sports Fields
Mr. Michael Andresen, CSFM, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa

Landscape: T & O (Ballroom D) The Worcester Asian Long-Horned Beetle Crisis
Mr. Bob Childs, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass.

10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Trade Show/Lunch

10:30 - 11 a.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Golf Course Design to Enhance Playability and the Environment
Mr. John Harvey, RGB Group, Parsippany, N.J.

Sports/Grounds (Ballroom B/C) NESTMA Meeting: Working Lunch & Roundtables
Landscape T&O (Ballroom D) Weeds in the Landscape
Dr. Andy Senesac, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, Long Island, N.Y.

10:30 - 12 p.m.
Mechanics (Ballroom E) Electrical Troubleshooting
Mr. David Labrecque, TPC, Inc.

2 - 2:45 p.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Alternative Turf Species for the Golf Course
Dr. Leah Brilman, Seed Research of Oregon, Corvallis, Ore.

Sports/Grounds (Ballroom B/C) Environmentally Responsible Insect Management for Sports Turf and Grounds Managers
Dr. Dan Potter, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.

2 - 3 p.m.
Mechanics (Ballroom E) Computer Tools Available for Equipment Technicians
Mr. Richard Brownlee, MyTurf (Toro.com)

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Relationship Between Cell Wall Components and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Dollar Spot Resistance in Agrostis Species and Cultivars
Dr. Scott Ebdon, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass.

Sports/Grounds (Ballroom B/C) New Insecticide Products for Sports Turf
Dr. Stanley Swier, University of New Hampshire, Durham, N.H.

3:15 - 4 p.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Case Study on Problem Greens
Dr. Norm Hummel, Hummel & Co., Trumansburg, N.Y.

Sports/Grounds (Ballroom B/C) Improving Wear Tolerance of Grasses for Sports Turf and High-Traffic Areas
Dr. Leah Brilman, Seed Research of Oregon, Corvallis, Ore.

4 - 5 p.m.
Show Auction (Trade Show Floor, Hall D)

5 - 6:30 p.m.
Conference Reception

Thursday, March 5

7:30 - 8:45 a.m.
Research Breakfast-Turf Research in New England

9 - 9:45 a.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Avoiding Lyme Disease Through Deer Tick Prevention
Dr. Thomas Mather, University of Rhode Island

Lawn Care/Landscape (Ballroom B/C) Kentucky Bluegrasses for Heath and Drought Tolerance
Dr. Leah Brilman, Seed Research of Oregon, Corvallis, Ore.

9:45 - 10:15 a.m.
Golf (Ballroom A) Research-Based Recommendations and Strategies of Dollar Spot
Dr. Geunhwa Jung, University of Massachusetts

Lawn Care/Landscape (Ballroom B/C) New Insecticide Products in the Landscape
Dr. Stanley Swier, University of New Hampshire

10:15 -11 a.m. 
Golf (Ballroom A) A Survey of the Fungicide Resistance Spectrum of Anthracnose in New England
Dr. Nathaniel Mitkowski, University of Rhode Island

Lawn Care/Landscape (Ballroom B/C) How to Avoid Lyme Disease Through Deer Tick Prevention
Dr. Thomas Mather, University of Rhode Island

9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Trade Show

Keynote Speaker

Greg Gumbel
March 4, 3:15 p.m., Ballroom A

Greg Gumbel’s standout work in the busy world of sports broadcasting has made his fact, name and voice as familiar as any in the industry. Considered one of the best in sports television, in the fall Greg teams with Dan Dierdorf to call the NFL play-by-play action across the country.

Prior to returning to the booth in 2006, Greg successfully completed his second season as the host of CBS’ Emmy award-winning show The NFL Today. He hosted The NFL Today on CBS from 1990 to 1993 and The NFL on NBC. Greg was also the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS Sports’ coverage of the National Football League from 1998 to 2003. In that capacity, he called the thrilling action at Super Bowl 38 in Houston and Super Bowl 35 in Tampa. He is the first network broadcaster to both call play-by-play and host the Super Bowl. He hosted the Super Bowl 26 in Minneapolis, Super Bowl 30 in Tempe and Super Bowl 32 in San Diego.

When the NFL season winds down, Greg has seen tours of duty at Chicago’s WMAQ-TV, ESPN, the Madison Square Garden Network, CBS Sports, NBC Sports and now, again at CBS.

His play-by-play resume includes the NFL, the NBA and college basketball, Major League Baseball and the College World Series Championship, as well as having been the voice at various times for the New York Yankees, the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Seattle Mariners.

As host, he has covered the NFL and college football, Major League Baseball, the Daytona 500, the World Figure Skating Championships, the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, and the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Greg has also served as the prime time anchor for the record-setting 1994 Olympic Winter Games from Lillehammer, Norway.

Seminars

Monday, March 2

1. Maximize Turfgrass Disease Control with Proper Application Strategies
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructors: Dr. John Kaminski and Dr. Michael Fidanza (Penn State University)

Reduced control of common pests has been experienced with some of the usual pesticide application techniques. Combine this with concerns over increased pesticide state and federal use limits and skyrocketing costs of chemicals and fuels makes it more important than ever to maximize the effectiveness of pesticide applications. In this hands-on seminar, attendees will discover ways to improve both your bottom line and your pest control.

• Selecting nozzles that reduce spray drift while increasing spray coverage
• Identifying the importance of application volume, spray pressure and nozzle types
• Developing techniques to minimize the acreage of pesticide-treated turfgrass on your golf course

Half-day seminar: 0.35 EPs (GCSAA)
Four recertification pesticide credit hours for all New England states: 3B, 10, Pvt, CL

2. Computer Training-Basic MS Excel 2003 (Level 1)
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructors: New Horizons Computer Learning Center

Microsoft Excel software is widely used in the turfgrass industry for creating spreadsheets, organizing budgets, maintaining inventories, compiling mailing lists along with other personal uses. This seminar is designed to help those interested in learning the basics of Excel, including setting up worksheets, formatting cells, editing content and using formulas and functions that are available by this very popular management software.

Half-day seminar: 0.35 EPs (GCSAA)

3. Science and Philosophy of Foliar Nutrients
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructors: Dr. Roch Gaussoin (Univ. Neb.) and Mr. Gary Grigg, CGCS MG (Grigg Brothers)

Attendees willbecome better consumers as they learn about the many existing and new foliar products on the market to make better choices by:

• Learning to read labels effectively
• Building a fertility program that works
• Understand the pros and cons of tissue testing

4. A Photography Class-Hands-on Learning for Dummies and Smart Folks
8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Instructor: John Johnson (J2 Golf Marketing)

Seminar attendees will learn the nuts and bolts behind great photographs and how photography skills can be used to improve your job and enhance your career. John Johnson has been giving this seminar to GCSAA members for many years to help educate superintendents on how the proper use of cameras can be a useful tool in promoting their position and needs around the club and in their personal lives. Attendees are encouraged to bring their digital cameras to try their newly acquired skills and have the instructor critique their photos.

Six-hour seminar: 0.55 EPs (GCSAA)

5. Computer Training-Advanced MS Excel 2003 (Level 2)
1 - 5 p.m.
Instructors: New Horizons Computer Learning Center

This seminar is designed for those who have some experience with using Microsoft Excel and want to become even better to improve the quality and accuracy of spreadsheets. Creating and using spreadsheets are some of the most useful software tools available to turf managers. Budget organizing, inventory records and mailing lists are all some of the best uses of Excel software to help in the workplace This seminar is recommended for those who are already users of Excel and would like to further their abilities with this software by learning how to work with large worksheet, linking worksheets, customizing Excel and list management help among many other functions that the software is capable of doing for you.

Half-day seminar: .35 EPs (GCSAA)

6. New Weapons for Old Weeds
1 - 5 p.m.
Instructor: Dr. R. Scott McElroy (Auburn University)

New herbicide modes of action, as well as new herbicides using traditional modes of action, have recently entered the turfgrass market. This seminar compares new herbicides and techniques with traditional products in respect to:

• Mode of action, turfgrass safety and weeds controlled
• Human safety, potential for environmental contamination and economic cost
• How the new products and techniques can fit into your weed management program throughout the year

Half-day seminar: 0.35 EPs (GCSAA)
Four recertification pesticide credit hours for all New England states: 3B, 10, Pvt, CL

7. Turf Insecticide Mode of Action and Resistance Management
1 - 5 p.m.
Instructors: Dr. Patricia Vittum (UMass) and Mr. Charles Silcox, Ph.D. (DuPont)

Pesticide management is a critical part of turfgrass management at most golf courses in the U.S. Attendees will develop a solid base for making good pesticide use decisions by learning to:

• Increase the effectiveness of chemical applications while minimizing disruption to the environment
• Understand the mode of action of the most common turf insecticides
• Develop strategies to slow the development of resistance in target insects

Half-day seminar: 0.35 EPs (GCSAA)
Four recertification pesticide credit hours for all New England states: 3B, 10, Pvt, CL

8. CPR/AED Training
1 - 5 p.m.
Instructor: American Safety Training

A recreational facility, because of the many individuals that visit it and with the activity involved, can potentially be a prime place for a tragic event, like a heart-attach victim. Many facilities have now made the commitment to be prepared before an event occurs with training and equipment that could save the life of a victim before emergency responders can be reached. Procedures for administering CPR and using an AED unit will be taught in this seminar with a two-year certification certificate given at the end of the seminar. With just a few precious minutes to act if an event occurs, this seminar could mean the difference between life and death of a friend or a co-worker. Make your facility a safer place to work and play.

Half-day seminar: 0.35 EPs (GCSAA)