Ed Rockett and Brian Temple at Lone Tree Golf Club

Volume 47, No. 5
August 2012
The Reporter
Ed Rockett and Brian Temple at Lone Tree Golf Club
2011 - 2012
Board of Directors
President
Dan Hawkins
The Club at Flying Horse
[email protected]
Vice President
Steve Sarro
Pinehurst Country Club
[email protected]
Secretary/Treasurer
Ed Rockett
Lone Tree Golf Course
[email protected]
Immediate Past President
Dave Cahalane
The Club at Bear Dance
[email protected]
Calling All Members...
RMGCSA Elections
It’s almost election time for the RMGCSA. Have you thought about becoming
more involved? Have you thought about taking your membership in new
directions? Do you have leadership qualities you would like to grow? Do you
want to see the RMGCSA go in a different direction? Serving on the Board is a
great way to answer all these questions. RMGCSA has four positions opening on
the board for 2012-2013. All positions are on a volunteer basis and require you
to devote time and personal involvement, which all lead to the betterment of
the RMGCSA. To view a detailed job description for the positions taken from the
RMGCSA bylaws, click on the link below:
DIRECTOR (pg. 4) and/or SECRETARY/TREASURER (pg. 5)
A listing with all the candidate(s) information will be sent out in September.
Please bring this with you to the Annual Membership Meeting October 11, 2012
to cast your vote. If you are a Class A, SM or AF member interested in running
for a board position, Click here, please submit your nomination by Sept. 4, 2012.
If you have questions, please contact a member of the nominating committee.
Executive Director
Dan Hawkins
[email protected] | 719-487-2631
Gary Leeper
[email protected]
Steve Sarro
[email protected] | 303-681-2226
Directors
Zach Bauer
Broadmoor Golf Club
[email protected]
Eric Foerster, CGCS, MG
Ironbridge Golf Club
[email protected]
Jordan McCormick
Marianna Butte Golf Course
[email protected]
Griff Rainford
Cherokee Ridge Golf Course
[email protected]
Ed Rockett
[email protected] | 303-790-1005
I
n this issue...
Director’s Corner - Ed Rockett...................................................................3
Tradition Brings out Support for Lyon......................................................4
Rounds4Research......................................................................................5
Governmental/Legislative.........................................................................6
Matt Rusch
Applewood Golf Course
[email protected]
Beat the Heat............................................................................................7
Affiliate Liaisons
Welcome Back Lou..................................................................................10
Boston Marathon.......................................................................................8
Lone Tree Annual Tournament..................................................................9
Jeff Elliott, CGCS
Agrium Advanced Technologies
[email protected]
2012 Legacy Scholarship Winner............................................................11
Judd Fitzgerald
Golf Enviro Systems
[email protected]
Will it ever go away?...............................................................................15
Technical Bulletin....................................................................................12
Superintendent Profile - Craig Cahalane.................................................13
Rules of Golf............................................................................................16
Entering New Ground..............................................................................17
Affiliate Angle - Craig Gershon................................................................18
Assistant Profile - John Smyth................................................................18
2012 Industry Partners...........................................................................19
Upcoming Event - August 21 Affiliate Cup Scramble..............................20
2
C
orner
D
irector’s
Ed Rockett
Superintendent|Lone Tree Golf Club
The Challenge...
I can remember back when, at a monthly meeting
for education and golf, we were always trying to
qualify for the L.L. Johnson shootout. I thought it was
pretty cool if you were on that list of individuals to
compete for lawn mowers and trimmers at the end
of every year. It was all about your wedge play and
putting back then, when Gary Hammerlund was the
official host for the event. I think I qualified for it one
time and was out after the first selected chipping
area which was usually played around the putting
green.
Four years ago, the RMGCSA took over this event
which is now called the “RMGCSA CHALLENGE.”
Now at each event, everyone that puts in $10
before the shotgun has a chance to qualify for
the year-end challenge, which is hosted usually in
September. Most proxys now are on all of the par
three holes at each event. A portion of that money
is paid out to the winners of each proxy. Now you’re
probably asking what happens to the rest of the
money? Depending on the participation at each
event, half of the money is paid out that day. The
rest of the money goes into a pot. At the Challenge
finals, $750 is taken out of that pot and is played for
by all qualifiers for the year. Usually the winner will
take home $300 and second through fifth is paid out
accordingly. For the rest of the pot, usually around
$1000.00, a check will be written by the RMGCSA to
the Golf Foundation of Colorado (GFCO). With more
participation, this number can increase greatly for all
who are involved.
Lastly, since the start of the Challenge, the
participation for the year-end has increased each
and every year. Knowing the popularity of this event,
it has brought more qualifiers to the finals with even
a gallery now. It has been proven, four years in a
row, that one of the qualifiers from the last event has
taken home the 1st place cash. So, it’s not too late
to go out to the next event to qualify and win, not
only the prize money for the proxy, but the year-end
challenge.
3
Tradition Brings Out Support for Lyon
by Lane Lyon
to see you here means so much to me.”
Lyon’s wife, four grown children and six grandchildren
attended the event with other family members. Funds
raised from the tournament will help pay for insurance copayments and mounting out of pocket expenses related to
his on-going recovery and rehabilitation.
The idea for the tournament was spearheaded by Gail
Godbey. “The day I got the call and heard about the
accident I said, ‘we’ve got to do a golf tournament,’”
Godbey said.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyon
For a game rich in tradition, once in a while golfers will come
together in response to something they would prefer not to
relive. The Dennis Lyon Tradition Golf Tournament, held July
16th at Meadow Hills in Aurora, celebrated the recovery of
a true friend to the golf industry.
“The good news I guess, the silver lining about the accident
is, it just made us all appreciate how much we love and
respect him even more,” co-organizer Ed Mate told a crowd
of 60 who gathered for the event.
Lyon, who is a past president of the Colorado Golf Association
and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of
America, was critically injured December 21, 2011 in an
auto pedestrian accident near his Murphy Creek home.
Witnesses told police a pickup truck, likely traveling over the
posted speed limit, hit Lyon from behind as he walked his
dog on a residential street. The driver stopped and called for
help. Dennis almost died from extensive blood loss, broken
bones and minor head trauma.
Godbey, along with Jewell, Mate and Lyon have held
annual “Tradition” golf tournaments since 2004. Each year,
teams dress in “turn of the century” golf garb – complete
with knickers and plaid socks worn by the men and long
dresses for the women. Attendance has ranged in numbers
– from just the four of them, to the biggest crowd this year.
“It just fell in to place,” Godbey said of the organizational
effort. “It’s a great fit, (for the Tradition tournament.”)
Dennis greeted each golfer and posed for a picture on the
Number one tee. “It just felt wonderful,” said friend Kathy
Jewell. “It’s just a good human feeling to know that we’re
there for each other.” Top finishers were Mike Osley and
Doug McNeil with a score of 73.
During closing remarks, Mate joked with the crowd about
what the group will do next year for the tournament. “Dennis,
don’t get into another accident.” A smiling Lyon answered
back with reassurance, “My dog and I will be very safe.”
Lane Lyon is Dennis’ oldest son and a freelance television
producer and news reporter in Denver.
Six months, several surgeries and countless hours of rehab
later, the 63 year old retired Aurora golf manager played
five holes of the tournament in his honor with son, Corey, as
his partner.
“I spent 51 days in three different hospitals,” Lyon told
supporters. “Without my family, friends and all of you,
I wouldn’t be here today. So, I want to say thank you.”
Lyon was overcome with emotion when close friend and
co-organizer, Bill Jewell, presented him with a $5,000 check
from the Wee One Foundation, a generous sponsor of the
event.
“You may not know what this means to me and my family,
Lyon told the group. “You all mean a great deal to me and
Ed Mate, Dennis Lyon, Bill Jewell
4
ROUNDS FOR RESEARCH 2012
To benefit ALL RMGCSA members through the Golf Foundation of Colorado for turfgrass research, scholarship, and advocacy
WE NEED EVERYONE’S SUPPORT!!!
By now you should have received the announcement
via email that the RMGCSA is actively participating in the
Rounds4Research program sponsored by the Environmental
Institute for Golf. This program is a great way to help raise
funds for OUR chapter and to support OUR local interests
with the monies that we receive via this program. However,
the only way this program will work is with your support!
The way the program works is very simple. We are asking
each facility to donate one twosome or one foursome of
golfers to our cause for the remaining 2012 season and for
the 2013 season. Your donation is then put up for public
auction at www.biddingforgood.com . 80% of the proceeds
from a winning bid will go directly to the GOLF FOUNDATION
of COLORADO, RMGCSA’s charitable arm.
For those of you who are not familiar with the GFCO,
GFCO’s mission statement is “uniting people to support
golf and enhance the environment where the game
is played.” GFCO’s purpose is “to raise monies for the
support of education and research in turfgrass and related
golf course amenities, to raise monies for scholarships for
individuals pursuing or interested in a career in golf course
management or other academic fields, to raise monies for
charitable and philanthropic activities that support golf
course management professionals and their families, to
raise monies for other non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations.”
When you sign up, you can specify any restrictions, times,
etc., that you may want to express. The easiest and fastest
way to sign up is via this link, donate now. MAKE SURE TO
CHECK THE “GCSAA CHAPTER” BOX AND TYPE IN “RMGCSA”.
This is very IMPORTANT as it will ensure that the monies
generated will go to RMGCSA’s charitable arm, GOLF
FOUNDATION of COLORADO. Also make sure that your pro
shop staff is made aware of this program so that when the
auction winner presents themselves at your facility, their
round can be honored.
To recap the process, do the following;
1. SIGN UP! at this link, donate now.
2. Make sure you fill out the form in its entirety along with
any restrictions that your facility may have.
3. Make sure to CHECK THE “GCSAA CHAPTER” BOX AND
TYPE IN “RMGCSA”.
4. Notify your pro shop staff of this program so that when
the auction winner presents themselves at your facility,
their round can be honored!
5. PLEASE HAVE YOUR DONATION IN BY AUGUST 31, 2012!
This will ensure that your facility will be included in this
fall’s upcoming auction.
This program is a great way for all RMGCSA members to
benefit directly with the proceeds raised. Many other GCSAA
local chapters around the country are participating. Last
year, one chapter on the east coast raised over $8,000 for
local turfgrass research that directly benefited its members!
Don’t forget to sign up to bid on the web site too! To
register, click here. The auction will be conducted on
www.biddingforgood.com early this fall! Also check out the
Rounds4Research website at www.rounds4research.com
for more information on this great program!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact
Gary Leeper at the RMGCSA office, 303-255-9611 or contact
any of the RMGCSA Board members.
5
Governmental/Legislative News
by Zach Bauer, Broadmoor West Superintendent
Labor and Immigration: Episode I
Let’s face it, the topic of immigration is a hot button issue
these days across America, but this issue is not new to us
as Americans either. I could talk about almost every major
ethnicity in this country today and go into detail about
the influx of each nationality, their struggles and triumphs.
Today we are seeing an influx of immigrants from Mexico
and Central America; similar to the Irish, Italian and Eastern
European immigrants of the 1800 and 1900’s. Many states
are implementing new immigration laws to ease burdens
on how they feel immigrants, or illegal immigrants, are
using resources and taking jobs from American citizens.
Immigrants from Latin American countries are the main
focus of politicians and everyday Americans but, I bet
most of you didn’t know that the amount of immigrants
from China and India almost equals the amount of Latin
American immigrants. In the next two issues I am going
to try my best to discuss the H2B visa program, the new
E-Verify system being implemented in some states and
Arizona’s new immigration laws. How could any of these
new laws affect us here in Colorado? Does Colorado
need, and do we want, immigration reform? I’ll try my best
to go into detail about this hot button topic and try to rustle
any feathers along the way.
H-2B Visa Program
The H2B Visa program has been a tremendous advantage
for us in the golf maintenance industry, especially here in
Colorado. What the H-2B program allows us to do is hire
a qualified, temporary, seasonal labor workforce for the
golf season and, when the snow starts to fly, these workers
go back to their country. Not only do golf courses require
these workers, but many other industries, like seafood and
timber, require them as well. Many times these jobs are
difficult, low paying jobs that demand good workers. Many
business owners have expressed to the government that
numerous times throughout a season American workers
quit due to the lower pay and difficult conditions of these
jobs and thus have a tendency to face shortages of local
workers. The H-2B Visa program is a good alternative for
these businesses and many proponents of the program
state that it helps build jobs for full-time American workers
as it promotes a successful business with higher profits. This
program has been under scrutiny by the Department of
Labor (DOL) since 2010.
In January 2011 the DOL issued new wage regulations for
H-2B employers and were supposed to go into effect on
January 1st, 2012. This was then pushed back to October
1st, 2012 due to the DOL being prohibited by Congress
from using any funding to implement the rule last year.
The new wage regulations could increase wages by 40%
in the green industry. This increase in wage rates would
also require increases to all other equally skilled American
workers that the DOL has not accounted for. This wage
increase can snowball from here as it not only increases
payroll costs, but workers’ compensation, overtime wages
and benefit costs as well.
Also on the list for the program is the comprehensive rule
that was issued in February 2012. This was slated to go into
effect in April of 2012 but was directed by a federal district
court not to implement this new ruling. The comprehensive
rule has four major components that would require the
following:
1. Employers to pay their workers ¾ of their wages
for each 12 week period even if they do not work
because of weather or other events.
2. Employers to pay all transportation and housing costs
3. Employers still have to recruit American employees up
to 21 days prior to the H-2B’s start date, even though
the H-2B employee is already hired and all associated
costs have been paid.
4. One last stipulation required is when an H-2B worker
does not show up for work and a supervisor is forced
to perform that workers task for the day, under the
new rule the H-2B worker is now paid the same rate as
his supervisor by the employer for the work performed.
On June 14th of this year, Senator Richard Shelby - R of
Alabama presented an amendment to exclude funding
to both the H-2B Wage and Comprehensive rules that the
DOL has previously issued. The amendment passed 19-11
with both Republicans and Democrats voting for the delay
of funds. Proponents of the H-2B program call for less
regulations on a system that could close businesses and
cost American jobs.
The National Guest Worker Alliance (NGA) deems the
H-2B program as the “ultimate tool” for undercutting
American workers and leaving the guest workers under
the program vulnerable to exploitation from employers. A
report presented by the NGA and written by Pennsylvania
State University’s Dickinson Law School reports on H-2B
reform here: Leveling the Playing Field. I feel that it is best
to look at both sides of the argument when determining
a solution to a problem. In the past few weeks in late July,
the DOL issued penalties and fines in excess of $240,000 to
a Walmart based seafood processor for back wages and
forced labor. I feel that we need to respect these guest
continued on page 7...
6
Beat The Heat
Come June, the heat of the summer and infrequent natural rainfall can wreak havoc on turfgrass in
our high desert climate.
by Scott Ellis, Assistant Maintenance Supervisor, South Suburban Golf Course
Most lawns in Colorado consist of Kentucky bluegrass
or some other species of cool-season turfgrass. By
cool-season we mean that the optimum growing
temperature for these plants is between 60-75
degrees, With the mercury frequently soaring into the
90’s and above, stress to the turf causes problems
such as thinning, increased weed pressure and
disease.
4. Perform an irrigation audit. Irrigation is a great tool,
but like anything, it needs to be maintained. Check
your sprinkler heads to make sure that there are no
clogged nozzles, and if you have rotating heads, look
to see that these are turning and adjusted properly.
What to do? Think of spring as the time of year to
nurture that great stand of grass and summer as the
time to help it survive. Here are some tips to help your
lawn beat the summer heat,
5. Avoid excess fertilization. Even if it looks as though
your lawn may need a shot of fertilizer during the
summer, avoid this as summer applications will
cause a flush of tender growth that will struggle in
the summer heat. If you must fertilize, organic based
fertilizer rather than synthetic will give a natural slow
release and avoid flush growth.
1. Raise your mowing heights. Lawns cut at a height
greater than three inches will develop deeper root
systems and dry out slower than those mowed more
closely. A taller canopy of grass also helps to shade
the soil and prevents weed seeds from germinating
6. Hold off on other lawn care practices. Practices
such as de-thatching, seeding, and herbicide place
unneeded stress on the turf and are best left until the
fall when the temperature drops and the grass can
better recover from injury.
2. Mow more frequently. A great rule of thumb is to
never remove more than 1/3rd of the leaf material
when you mow as this causes undue stress to the
plant and can make it more susceptible to disease.
Cool-season turf in Colorado will also naturally slow its
growth rate as temperatures rise above 80 degrees,
so the grass may not need cut as often.
We all know that the summers in Colorado can take
a toll on our turf, but hopefully these tips will help you
to have a lawn that your neighbors will envy.
This article appeared in the June 2012 issue of
Colorado Avid Golfer Magazine.
3. Water deep and infrequent. Applying one to one
and a half inches of water to a Kentucky bluegrass
lawn three times per week rather than smaller
amounts on a daily basis will help to develop deeper
roots and allow the canopy to not hold excess
moisture which can result in disease outbreaks.
Government/Legislative Update continued from page 6...
workers and, until the U.S. government can come up with
a set of good guidelines, we are forced to contact our
representatives and inform them of how we feel about this
issue. There are inherent pros and cons to both sides of the
H-2B issue and we need to look at every one of the issues
and base our decisions on what is best for your company
and how we ultimately face the labor issue in this country.
Here are contacts for your Colorado representation in
congress
Mark Udall - Senator
Michael Bennet – Senator
List of all Colorado U.S. House of Representatives
References for this article
National Guest Worker Alliance
GCSAA - Legislative Action Center
Richard Shelby, Senator AL
7
Boston Marathon
by Bill Ludington | CycleWorks
Mile four felt like mile 18. Mere seconds after guzzling down
cups of water at a fluid station I was parched. My legs felt
like they had been pounded by a meat tenderizer.
Bill Ludington
You know it’s too hot to be running when you see a spectator
on the sidelines of your marathon being treated for heat
exhaustion.
That’s exactly what I saw on Monday April 16 when I ran the
Boston Marathon in near 90-degree heat. Before the race,
organizers sent out a flurry of worrying emails, urging runners
to drink up and slow down, and reminding us that it was
all about the experience -- not the race -- even going so
far as to encourage relatively inexperienced runners to sit
out and wait until next year. More than 4,000 took the offer
but it had taken me four years battling through injuries to
qualify for Boston. I had logged countless miles, soldiered
up the steepest of hills and skipped out on scores of social
engagements. And besides, I had already bought the
2012 Boston Marathon jacket. I couldn’t possibly wear it in
public only to have to admit to friends, family and complete
strangers that I didn’t run the race.
I often felt like I wasn’t going to make it, but to give up would
be to give up on my fellow runners. What really moved me
was the complete kindness of strangers. There really is no
other race like Boston. From friendly neighbors who brought
out their garden hoses to spray us, to kids offering licorice,
sponges soaked in ice water and high-fives, to the drunken
Boston College kids cheering and offering beer, everyone
seemed to be with me. So I plowed through mile after mile,
one foot in front of the other, my muscles aching with each
step, my head pounding with the worrying signs of heat
exhaustion, driving forward through Hopkinton, Ashland,
Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton, Brookline and
finally Boston. Onward.
I saw runners carried off in stretchers and later found out
that more than 2,000 participants received some sort of
medical attention during the race. But as I saw people drop
out, I grew stronger in my resolve. When I finally crossed the
finish line, I clocked in at 3:57, more than 36 minutes behind
my PR. But I didn’t care. I was so proud of myself and my
fellow runners. I was in awe of the race and everyone who
played a part. The nearly four hours that I spent sweating,
overheating and bordering on collapse? They were awful,
miserable and painful. But they were also humbling,
enlightening, revealing and in the end, inspiring. Sometimes
it takes a terrible, no good race to remind you exactly what
it means to be a runner.
Next is Ironman Canada in August, hoping the Boston
experience will get me through 140.6 miles with a bit less
pain.
The temperature was already pushing 80 and it wasn’t
even 10 a.m. I was sweating. The thought of 26.2 miles was
daunting. I tried my best to calm my nerves at the starting
line but hearing svelte runners talk about the infamous
Heartbreak Hill, and the bajillion marathons they had under
their belts, was intimidating.
I drowned out the chatter with my iPod Shuffle and took
off too quickly, logging an implausibly fast seven minutes,
15 seconds for the first mile. I thought I could keep it up but
each mile took me longer and longer to complete. I would
run for what felt like hours and I’d look down at my watch to
see only six minutes and three-fourths of a mile had passed.
Ouch! I’m constantly analyzing my pace and projecting
how fast I need to go to come in under three hours and 30
minutes. That was a losing battle in Boston. I couldn’t keep it
up. The heat was punishing, my body ached and I was only
a few miles in. It was depressing. I was cooking in the sun.
8
Lone Tree Annual Tournament
by Zach Bauer, Broadmoor West Superintendent
On Mon., July 23rd the RMGCSA rolled into Lone Tree Golf
Club for its annual tournament presented by Colorado Golf
and Turf. Lone Tree Golf Club opened for play in 1985 and
Arnold Palmer was the designer behind this par 72 layout.
Superintendent Ed Rockett and Assistant Superintendent
Brian Temple had the course in great condition for the
annual event. Ed and Brian had the greens rolling perfectly
for the tournament and tested every one of us throughout
the day. In all there were 55 golfers that took part in this
year’s annual tournament.
Our educational speaker for the event was Daniel Ramos
of D.H.R Construction Inc. Mr. Ramos is quite the educator
when it comes to building and renovating golf courses. Mr.
Ramos began D.H.R. in the early 1980’s and became widely
known for golf course concrete and cart path work. After
an acquisition of another golf course company in the early
2000’s, D.H.R. is now a full service golf course renovation
company. Mr. Ramos discussed the advantages of
being a great communicator while going through the
renovation process as the superintendent is one of the key
personnel during this time. So don’t be afraid to speak up
if something doesn’t fit with maintenance practices!
This year’s winner for Low Net was Lance Johnson, CGCS
with a 72 after a scorecard playoff. Rick Phelps of PhelpsAtkinson Golf Design held strong with a 72 for 2nd Low Net
and title of Affiliate Champion. But taking this year’s overall
prize of 1st Gross was Ed Rockett with a 75. Congrats Mr.
Rockett on a hard earned win, although we all know you
had the home field advantage! And here are the winners!
#7 – Matt Whalen – Cheyenne CC
#10 – Brett Walton – Colorado Golf and Turf
#13 – Lance Johnson – Legacy Ridge & Heritage Golf Course
1st gross – Ed Rockett – Lone Tree Golf Course – 75
2nd gross – Richard “Grif” Rainford – Cherokee Ridge Golf
Course – 79 -scorecard playoff
3rd Gross – Dave Brown – Flatirons Golf Course – 79
4th gross – Jake Jacobs – Flatirons Golf Course – 79
1st net – Lance Johnson – Legacy Ridge & Heritage Golf
Course – 72 – scorecard playoff
2nd net – Rick Phelps – Phelps-Atkinson Golf Design – 72 –
AFFILIATE CHAMPION
3rd net – Ron Retzlaff – Winfield Solutions – 72
4th net – Matt Whalen – Cheyenne CC - 72
In an unprecedented turn of events, Brett Walton and
Lance Johnson both returned their $50 closest to the
Pin winnings back to the association. Wait, What? Yes,
you read correctly, Brett and Lance gave their winnings
back! A huge thank you to these two gentlemen on their
philanthropic gestures to the association.
A big thank you to Colorado Golf and Turf for hosting this
event and another big thank you to Ed, Brain and Dave
Tooley for letting us enjoy Lone Tree Golf Club for the day.
See everyone at the Affiliate Cup!
Closest to the pins –
#3 – Dwight Staats – Highland Hills Golf Course
Dan Mills - (303) 669-0763
Gary Allen - (303) 669-0764
Jeff Elliott (720) 346-2297
Daryl Dinkel (970) 672-6240
Mark Hensley (970) 673-2907
Custom Fertilizer Formula
Custom Bulk Application
Fertigation Supplies
Complete Line of Chemicals
Golf Course Accessories
9
Welcome Back Lou
by Dennis Lyon, CGCS
*Lou Haines was elected as an Honorary Lifetime Member of the association by our board.
On behalf of our Board of Directors, it is
with pleasure I welcome Lou Haines
back to RMGCSA as an Honorary
Lifetime Member.
Lou has been
absent from our association for
a number of years and is happily
living a semi-retired life with his wife
Gloria in Pagosa Springs, CO. Lou
has three successful daughters from
his first marriage and two wonderful
grandchildren.
As one of the “old-timers” in our association, I remember
when Lou was on the GCSAA Board of Directors in the late
1970’s. There might be a few other old-timers around who
remember when Lou ran for the GCSAA Board. We all wore
pink ribbons which said, “Gentlemen Prefer Haines.” The
saying “Gentlemen Prefer Haines” was, at that time, part
of a television commercial marketing ladies stockings. As
I recall, Lou’s campaign ribbon showed a leg from the
knee down with his “Gentlemen Prefer Haines” tag line.
We all wore the ribbon during his campaign at the GCSAA
conference. When Lou got elected to the GCSAA Board it
was not however, due to his clever ribbon. It was because
he was an idealist and a great leader.
Lou graduated with a degree in turf management from
Colorado State University in 1966 and was hired as the
assistant superintendent at Denver Country Club on June
6th, 1966. He was hired by his dad Jim Haines who had been
the superintendent at Denver Country Club for many years.
Lou was promoted to superintendent at Denver Country
Club in 1968 when Jim retired. Lou served as president of
the RMGCSA in 1972. His dad Jim was one of the founding
members of our chapter and was president for all but two
years from 1939-1951.
Lou left Denver CC for Keystone in 1977 and was
superintendent during the construction and operation of
the Keystone Ranch Golf Course. Lou left Keystone in 1980
and started his own company, Professional Turf Services,
a construction and management company for the golf
and turf industry. Haines later got very involved in the use
of porous ceramics in putting green construction. He was
a pioneer in this area and spent many years traveling the
country teaching a 6 hour seminar on the use of porous
ceramics in golf green construction.
In preparing for this article I asked Lou to share some
thoughts about his career and his experiences growing up
at DCC (Denver Country Club). What follows are the results
of our discussion:
LYON - What does being selected as an honorary lifetime
member of RMGCSA mean to you?
HAINES - To me, once you are a superintendent you just
kind of remain a superintendent. So being a member, once
again, plugs me back into the mainstream of information of
the profession and “back into the fraternity”. It is a privilege
to be included with a great group of people who have
previously been given this honor.
LYON - What are your thoughts on the superintendent
profession now and how have things changed during your
career?
HAINES - I have had the unique opportunity to see the
evolution of the profession through not only my time in the
business but, to an extent, through my Dad’s time as well.
He was truly a visionary and began predicting in the 1940’s
that the ‘greenkeeper’ position would evolve into the
executive level and would be occupied by many college
graduates. That was a very radical view back then. I have
had the great pleasure to observe the fruition of his vision.
LYON - What was it like growing up and living at DCC with
your father as superintendent? Any funny stories?
HAINES - We moved into the house on the 14th hole at DCC
when I was 14 years old. Dad had already been at DCC for
32 years. I had quite a ‘backyard’ to play in and attitudes
continued on page 11...
GS
&
GOLF
SPORT
SOLUTIONS
www.golfandsport.com
Providing Quality Materials For
Construction, Renovation &
Maintenance.
USGA ProTour Sand
Bunker Sand • Topdressing
Stabilized Cart Paths
Root Zone Blends • Dried Sand 303-961-0092
StaLok® Bunker Liner & Pathways
Eric Pollock
10
Congratulations to our 2012 RMGCSA Legacy Scholarship Winner
The Rocky Mountain Golf Course Superintendents
Association is proud to award Darcy Fitzgibbons, (daughter
of John Fitzgibbons, Member since 1985) the 2012 Legacy
Scholarship Award. Darcy will use the $2500 scholarship this
fall as she continues her college experience at Colorado
State University in Fort Collins, CO. She was one of ten
applicants who qualified for this scholarship.
Welcome Back Lou continued from page 10...
were much more lax back then. I roamed the grounds with
my pellet rifle and thinned out the squirrels and magpies
and used to play golf off of my Vespa motor scooter. Dad
had the geese at the lake trained to come up to the yard
for their corn when he whistled…and, yes, one wound up
on the dinner table every now and then.
LYON - Any thoughts on your experience as a GCSAA
Board Member?
HAINES - I really enjoyed my years as Director and
Secretary Treasurer. I learned a lot, made a lot of new
friends and was hopefully able to give back something to
the profession that I grew up in.
LYON - Anything else you might want to share?
HAINES - As you know, I spent a number of years traveling
the country and teaching a six hour seminar to turf
professionals. The seminar was GCSAA certified and
•Thermal Blue Texas Hybrid
•RTF© Tall Fescue
•Legacy© Buffalograss
In my opinion, Lou Haines is a historical gem and an
individual who has made significant contributions to our
chapter, our association and our profession.
Welcome back Lou, on behalf of all RMGCSA members
please know that “gentlemen and women, still prefer
Haines.”
By, Dennis Lyon CGCS
LEY TURF
AL
50
LI
th
A N N IV E R S I T Y
TT
2012
L E TO N , C
O
•Blue Rye, 1/2”
1962
MPN
CO Y
•Low Grow Bluegrass, 1/2”
GREEN V
Premium Quality Sods
covered soils management and specialized root zone
development and performance. I am quite proud of
helping to develop some new approaches in these areas
and am happy to report that greens that have been built
to the specifications that I developed are performing
extremely well. My true passion remains in this area of
pursuit but my “passion” for airports has long passed.
Thanks to you and the RMGCSA for bestowing this honor
on me.
Celebrating 50 years of
business in Colorado
•100% Sand Based, Penncross,
Dominant X-treme, 100% Rye
•Delivery & Big Roll Sod Installation
Call for more info, call Joe Wilkins III
303 798-6764
[email protected]
www.gvt.net
d es
ign • consult • map • as
sess
11
Technical Bulletin
by Tim Bone | L.L. Johnson Dist. Co.
Drought years are hard on golf courses as well as all turf.
What can be done to help save water but also maintain
quality? Water savings is a relative term when it comes
to golf. Most try to measure usage from year to year and
look at savings that way. If the weather was consistent
and plant water requirements never changed that could
be effective, but what happens if you compare just last
year to this year? The requirements are much different and
therefore the total amounts used are very different. Try to
look for changes that save water within the irrigation cycle
that can add up over time to total gallons saved, not a
blanket statement of total water savings based on the
plant and seasonal requirements that change from year to
year. We’ll look at three main areas that you focus on when
doing an audit to improve sprinkler performance. Sprinkler
performance is measured by its distribution uniformity (DU)
and is the relationship of the driest areas within the sprinkler
pattern to the average areas within that sprinkler pattern.
Nozzle performance is then measured within its own arcs as
well in relation to the other sprinklers. Sprinkler nozzles, static
and dynamic pressures, and flow all have to work together
to achieve the highest DU possible.
Sprinkler performance is not just connected to sprinkler
models and manufacturer specs but relies on sprinkler
maintenance. One of the easiest and most overlooked ways
of improving DU is the leveling of the sprinkler head itself.
I witnessed an audit where a well-known local designer was
showing a course that had just gone through a renovation
how important head leveling is. Tests on the sprinkler DU
were run before, and after, the head was leveled. While
the leveling adjustment made to the sprinkler was less than
5 degrees, the DU change was up to 5%.
Another simple yet overlooked area of savings can be the
nozzle. Sprinkler nozzles are designed to turn pressure and
velocity into the sprinkler’s radius or throw. Most nozzles
have some component to direct the water through the
nozzle making the droplet sizes needed to achieve their
DU. It could be fins at the mouth of the nozzle or inserts or
fins in the throat of the nozzle. Whatever the design, their
purpose is the same, direct the flow of water through the
nozzle creating the droplet sizes that form the sprinklers
pattern. Over time nozzles can wear or break. This can lead
to a change in the droplet size and water not reaching the
intended target. If the droplets are too big they don’t go
as far and, when they are too small, they drift.
When we take into account the relationship of all the
sprinklers in the pattern and how an area of turf is affected
by all the sprinklers that cover it, small changes can have
dramatic effects. Bigger nozzles that put out more gallons
can be a way to improve dry areas, however bigger is not
necessarily the better alternative and can lead to more
inconsistent sprinkler performance. It is the entire relationship
of all the nozzles within the sprinkler and the relationship to
the adjacent sprinklers that can make the difference. If
you have an aging system your DU could be improved up
to 10%-20% just by changing worn nozzles and having the
correct nozzle sizes.
Whether your irrigation system is a looped or a herringbone
design, lateral pressures are where the most efficient
changes can be made. Sprinklers are attached to the pipe
with a given flow based on the pipe size. Lateral piping
flows should be governed to velocities of 5 feet per second
or less in a herringbone design. Herringbone designs laterals
have a single source of water to the sprinkler. Looped
laterals can have more than one source and have two
sources of water to the sprinkler. You can have double
the standard flow in a looped design as long as it doesn’t
exceed the flow of the source, or sources supplying it. For
example, a 2” lateral with a single source that is not looped
can have 40 gpm of flow, whereas in a looped system a
2” loop could have 80 gpm. The source could be a single
pipe with a flow greater than 80 gpm or two, 2” pipes with
flows of 40 gpm each. Often the flows in these areas are
adjusted up to shorten the water time window to get more
water down in less time. But what is really happening when
we do this? When we increase the flows greater than 5
feet per second, friction losses also increase. This causes
pressure loss that affects sprinkler performance and its DU.
When we combine this with a bigger nozzle to try and make
up for the loss of performance, the flow rates increase
and the pressure loss increases making the DU worse. It
is possible then to have a low pressure condition within a
“flow zone” that doesn’t give you a low pressure discharge
fault at the pump station but could go unnoticed out in
the field with your program running. Designers, consultants
and manufacturers spend countless hours measuring DU
and selecting the best possible sprinkler and nozzles for an
area. There are a number of programs designed to give
you results on possible changes before they are done in
the field, so you can see the possible effect before you
implement the changes.
The last item is mainline pipe sizing. Again all pipe flows are
governed by the 5’ per second standard and should have
flows accordingly. While laterals can be looped and their
flows can be doubled to reflect this, mainlines distribute the
water to these particular areas as directed by the design
and should not have their flows increased. When these flows
are changed for one area it can have drastic effects on the
other areas in the system hindering the system’s ability to
balance the flows and causing lower pressure areas within
the main. This can lead to surges in the mainline that not
only give us inconsistent dynamic pressures, but can have
adverse effects on the piping as well.
Inconsistencies and fluctuations in pressures are the biggest
causes of wet and dry spots. So wet and dry spots are then
measured by DU. This means that to get the driest area to
continued on page 13...
12
Superintendent Spotlight
Craig Cahalane, Superintendent | Pole Creek Golf Club
Cahalane Family: Rollie, Dave, Craig, and Kevin
I pretty much grew up around the golf course, but at the
time I never thought I would wind up spending everyday on
one. Instead, the ski industry was what I envisioned for my
future. As a kid, my memories of the golf course were riding
around in a tractor at Four Lakes CC with my dad, Rollie, and
then evenings spent with him at Columbine CC checking
on the irrigation. From grade school through high school my
second home was Inverness GC where my father finished
his career of 22 years as a golf course superintendent.
Sadly, he lost his battle to brain cancer recently and he will
be greatly missed by his family and many friends in the turf
industry.
When I was thirteen I took my first summer job as a caddie
at Columbine CC. At the age of sixteen I chose to work
in the cart barn at Inverness GC. For reasons only known
to them, my brothers Kevin and Dave encouraged me to
work in the cart barn instead of for my dad in turf
maintenance. I suspect they might have worn out our
welcome. After high school I put off college to follow my
passion for skiing, where I spent eleven winters competing
for the Winter Park Freestyle Ski Team. In the summer of
1993, I went to work for my brother Kevin at Telluride GC
where I was exposed to turf maintenance for the first time.
It was also the first time since 1980 that all three Cahalane
brothers lived under the same roof and it made for a pretty
interesting summer. After coming of age at 21, I decided to
forgo skiing and I enrolled in classes at Fort Lewis College in
Durango, CO. As luck would have it, my brother Dave was
the assistant superintendent at Tamarron GC in Durango
(now Glacier Club), where I spent summers working for him
and Erik Evans. Thanks to brotherly love, I was able to stay
on during the winter months to assist with snow removal.
Upon Dave’s departure for a another position in 1998, I was
promoted to irrigation tech., and then after graduating
with a business degree, I was promoted to 2nd assistant
superintendent, at which point I decided to stay in the
turf business. I was hired in 2001 by Wade Vecchio CGCS
as the assistant superintendent at Cotton Ranch GC in
Gypsum, CO. The year-and-a half I spent with him was a
great experience. He was a great tutor and mentor and
continues to be a good friend. After Wade’s departure in
the fall of 2002, I was able to realize my dream and was
promoted to superintendent.
In 2006, I was afforded the opportunity to accept the
position of superintendent at my favorite golf course, Pole
Creek GC, in Winter Park. Time spent in my favorite ski town
led to meeting my best friend and wife, Kristen and we were
wed in 2008 on the practice tee at Pole Creek GC. We
now have a 22 month old son, Fletcher, who is the highlight
of our days. My love for skiing is satisfied with coaching at
Winter Park in the winter months.
It has been a real honor to be part of the team here at Pole
Creek from Larry Burks (Dir. of Golf), Mary Moynihan (Golf
Shop Mgr), JT Thompson (Head Pro), and Sarah Marty (F&B
Manager) that make an operation like this a pleasure to
work for. I do look forward to going to work every day, not
many can say that! A big thanks goes out to Troy Iacovetto
(Asst. Supt) and Clint Iacovetto (Equip. Manager) and the
entire maintenance staff for making my life a lot easier.
I also want to give a huge thank you to my brothers Kevin
and Dave and, of course, my dad for all the help they have
given me.
Technical Bulletin continued from page 12...
improve up to the average area, a particular head would
need to water a percentage more, thus creating more wet
areas.
All these things added up can give you an overall DU for
your course. These little percentages added up over time
are where the savings can start to be calculated. A 10%
improvement in DU per night can be as little as 5000 gallons
or as great as 50,000 gallons depending on the areas, but
added up over an entire irrigation year, several nightly
cycles can be saved.
These are simple, yet very time consuming areas to help
improve DU. But what is a good DU compared to a bad DU?
An older sprinkler system can have a DU in the 70% range
and be considered good and a newer system could have
the same DU and be considered poor. It is the potential of
the system that then dictates when design changes are
needed and when it’s time to hire a consultant or designer.
Water is a finite resource that is only going to be restricted
more in the future. Thus, course conditions and golf as a
whole is dependent on the availability and the ability to put
out water as efficiently and timely as possible.
13
Please contact Randy Hamilton at 303-260-9984
[email protected]
www.profileproducts.com
Will it ever go away?
by Larry Aylward, Editorial Director | Superintendent Magazine
The “it” refers to golfer expectations
for near-perfect conditions. These
conditions have been prevalent for
several years and impact every
type of golf course: private, semiprivated, daily fee, municipal
and
resort.
Superintendent
magazine recently asked its
readers, “What is the biggest
problem you have managing
your golf course?” Of the five
choices listed, 39 percent of
superintendents who responded
selected
“golfer
expectations
for near-perfect conditions” as the
top choice. There’s a compounding
facet to the golfer expectation problem — golf course
maintenance budgets, which have decreased over the
past several years. Thirty-three percent of superintendents
said their maintenance budgets are lower this year than
they were in 2011, according to Superintendent research.
Fifty-three percent said budgets are the same as last year.
Alas, superintendents don’t have the money they once
did for maintenance, including hiring the people to do
the work. And with consumers watching their discretionary
income closely in this still-challenging economy, it’s not a
good time to raise rates so golf courses can beef up their
maintenance budgets. John Miller, a member of the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of America’s field
staff in the Great Lakes region and a certified golf course
superintendent, believes golfer expectations for nearperfect conditions will always be a problem. “It’s people
buying a product. They want the best product for the
money they’re spending,” Miller explains. “The higher the
level of the club, the higher their expectations will be.”
world has long recognized the benefit of developing a
comprehensive business plan with specific goals and
objectives for their company and its employees. The plan
clearly states the role of each person in the organization,
with specific performance criteria provided so that there is
no misunderstanding about the expected outcome. How
many golf courses can say they have a plan like this for the
routine maintenance of the golf course? … Developing a
set of maintenance guidelines for the golf course will clarify
maintenance priorities and keep the entire organization
moving in the right direction.”
With maintenance standards, superintendents can identify
the most important facets of the golf course to the players.
Then they can reduce money allocated to areas of the
course that don’t impact golfers’ expectations as much.
“You start looking at things like spending $20,000 on flowers
around the golf course and whether or not that money
would be better spent somewhere else,” Miller says. “Or
maybe you learn that you only need to spend about $5,000
on flowers to have a little color here and there.” Creating
maintenance standards requires participation from the
owner, general manager, green committee, board
of directors, golf pro and others, Miller says. It’s not just
something for a superintendent to figure out; it’s important
for all people running the facility to agree on maintenance
standards. The most important areas — greens, tees and
fairways — will probably rank at the top for most all golf
courses; other areas may be ranked differently. “If you
have to cut $20,000 out of the budget, then you look at
the bottom of the list for things to cut,” Miller says. “And you
work your way up the list.”
Aylward, editorial director for Superintendent magazine, has been covering golf
course management for 15 years.
Superintendents can also help temper golfer’s expectations
by implementing the U.S. Golf Association Green Section’s
maintenance standards, Miller says. In an article in the
Green Section’s Daily Record, Pat Gross, director of the
Green Section’s southwest region, wrote: “The corporate
15
Rules of Golf...
The CAN-DO Rules
In a world of CAN’T and DON’T Rules, golf offers a few CANS on the course
by Ed Mate, CGA Executive Director
Here is a list of a few CAN do rules that
might surprise you:
Your ball lies is in the rough just off the
fairway in a tough lie, but when you
address the ball you are standing on a
sprinkler head. In taking relief you CAN
drop the ball in the fairway if it is within
one club length of your nearest point
of relief.
Let’s face it, rules are not fun. In fact,
rules are “anti-fun.” Rules are what
prevent us from running with scissors,
diving in the shallow end and making
right turns on red when pedestrians
are present. When parents leave a list
of rules for the babysitter they don’t
usually include, “let them stay up as
long as they want, eat as much candy
as possible and play football in the living
room.” At best rules are perceived as a
necessary evil designed to protect us
from ourselves rather than something
that might actually benefit us.
Long before the first rules of golf were
recorded in 1744 our innate human
attitude toward these pesky particulars
had undoubtedly already taken a
negative slant. There is, however, a
different, “glass half full” perspective
toward the rules of golf that might
improve your attitude and even save
you a few strokes.
Your ball lands on the green and spins
back onto the fringe. Your ball made a
ball mark on the green that is on your
line of play. You CAN repair the ball
mark on the green.
In playing a stroke from the fringe
toward a slippery hole location, you
CAN leave the flagstick in the hole to
help serve as a back stop.
Your ball comes to rest in a lateral
water hazard. After determining
where the ball last crossed the margin
of the hazard you discover there is a
large tree impeding your next stroke
if you drop within two club lengths
of this point. You CAN drop a ball on
the opposite margin of the hazard
equidistant from the hole which might
give you a clear shot at the hole.
ball unplayable and replay the stroke
(under stroke and distance penalty)
and try the three-footer again.
Your ball comes to rest short of the
green on a wet golf course and has a
clump of mud on the back of the ball
right where your club will strike the ball.
Your fellow competitor’s ball is behind
yours and he asks you to lift your ball
as it interferes with his line of play. You
CANNOT (sorry) clean off the mud,
but you CAN reposition the ball when
you replace it so the mud does not
interfere (you CANNOT, however, “tee
up” the ball by placing the mud on
the underside of the ball). Okay, this
one has two CANNOTs and one CAN...
maybe it’s a bad example :).
These are only a few CAN DO rules that
came to mind. There are hundreds of
others--you just have to change your
perspective. But please don’t get
carried away and start running around
with scissors!
On a very fast green you miss a threefoot putt and the ball rolls off the green
into a bunker and comes to rest in
an elk footprint (hey I am sure it has
happened). You CAN declare the
16
Entering New Ground at CommonGround
by Tracy Richard, Director of Agronomy CGGC
Since opening in 2009 CommonGround has hosted two
CGA Championships (Men’s state Match Play ’10 and
Men’s state stroke play ‘11), and two CWGA Match Play
Championships, ’10, ‘11. This should come as no surprise
knowing that the golf course is owned and operated by
both organizations. In addition to growing the game of
golf, junior development and other programming, hosting
tournaments is a big part of the mission at CommonGround.
So when Mike Davis Executive Director of the USGA
stopped by in the summer of 2011 to evaluate the golf
course as a possible companion course for the 2012 US
Amateur, schedules were changed to accommodate the
visit. With the approval of the board that oversees the golf
course operations at CommonGround and an agreement
with Cherry Hills Country Club, the 2012 US Amateur site,
it was official. Hosting state championships is one thing,
being a part of a national championship is something else
entirely.
First order of business was to construct some new teeing
grounds and add a few strategic improvements. These
changes added about 200 yards to the golf course along
with a new bunker on hole 11 and mounding on hole 18.
The CommonGround maintenance staff did the irrigation
and rough grade of the features in the fall of 2011. Eric
Iverson of Renaissance Golf Design (Tom Doak’s firm)
finished off the work and the sod work was completed in
September of 2011.
Striking a balance with the USGA for the golf course
set up has been relatively easy. They have not asked
CommonGround to push the envelope too far or make
sweeping changes to mow lines or the width of the golf
course. They have been out to the golf course several
times starting late in 2011 and this summer to monitor our
preparations. It has been very clear what they would
like to see, while recognizing CommonGround is a
public facility that caters to the everyday golfer, not the
best amateur players in the world. Ultimately the USGA
decided on the golf course length and the hole locations
for the tournament days. Their recommendations for
green speeds and mowing heights have been taken into
account and will be implemented where possible. The
level of detail the CommonGround staff has put into the
preparations has increased significantly based on the
discussions with the USGA over the last 12 months. The golf
course is open until the day before practice rounds begin.
It has been amazing to be a part of the discussions
relating to all the logistics that go into an event of this
caliber. Parking, transportation, volunteer coordination,
evacuation plans, food service, temporary office trailers,
ecology (fancy term for trash removal), refreshment
stations on course, caddies, driving range operations,
signage, security….. The USGA leaves nothing to chance;
it has been quite the learning experience for everyone at
CommonGround.
All of us at CommonGround are honored to be the
companion course for the 112th US Amateur Championship.
We hope to be a great compliment to Cherry Hills Country
Club and, now that we’ve covered this new ground, we
look forward to what might be around the corner.
A special thanks to Bobby Martin and his staff for all their
hard work leading into the championship and all of those
who have volunteered to help at CommonGround.
Roland “Rollie” Cahalane 1937-2012
Rollie Cahalane, lost his battle to brain cancer. He outlived his initial prognosis by a longshot due to his tenacity, his character and his sheer will to live. He has played his final 18, and
is now in the clubhouse most likely visiting with old friends and family.
Rollie’s career as a Superintendent spanned 40 years, and he was an honorary lifetime
member of RMGCSA. He started his career at Roxborough Park (Arrowhead Golf Club),
and had stops at Four Lakes Country Club, Park Hill, Columbine Country Club, ending his
career with a 22 year tenure at Inverness Golf Club.
Rollie loved being a Superintendent, and he left quite a legacy as his three sons (Kevin, Dave
and Craig) also became Superintendents. Mostly, he cherished the many relationships he
forged in the industry over the years. His upbeat attitude and outgoing personality will be
missed by all.
17
Affiliate’s Angle
Craig Gershon, President | Rocky Mountain Pump and Controls
In the darkness of the wet, dreary
pump station vault, I laid my tools
out and prepared for the worst with
this repair job. Reaching for the
valve, I was shocked to encounter
a brown slithery snake coiled
around the bonnet of the Cla valve.
Shocked, I nearly jumped out of my
skin. As I reached for my flashlight
Craig Gershon | President and made my way through the
cobwebs, I almost hit my head on
the top of the vault. This type of adventure has become
commonplace in my life as a pump station technician.
I have had many exciting outdoor experiences.
The path I’ve taken to starting my own business in the
turf industry has been a challenging and simultaneously,
rewarding journey. My career began with being a
newsprint man with The Wall Street Journal for Dow Jones
and Co. Inc. During that time I received my BA in Chemistry
from Metro State College. After 14 years, my brother-in-law,
Jay Folk of Arapahoe Pumping Systems, approached me
about working with him in the golf business. After nearly 17
years in the ever-changing pump station field, I’ve worked
everything from Cla valve electromechanical controls to
PLC operated VFD pump stations.
In May of this year, through God’s leading, I felt that I had
the experience, skills and desire to tread the unknown
territory of founding my own pump station service business,
Rocky Mountain Pump and Controls, which is now in full
swing. Though getting started was a difficult task, I have
the full support of my family consisting of my wife and four
children from the ages of 14 to 22. This year, I became
a proud grandpa to little Rylan! My lovely wife Becky
does more than function as RMPC’s bookkeeper and
administrator; she both encourages me and lends an ear
when I run into tough problems in the field. We are very
excited to be serving you as we look forward to many
more adventures ahead.
Being a top-notch pump station technician requires
persistence and patience combined with the precise
knowledge of the field. Reinforced by my love of the job
and my supportive family, I am thankful to God for this
opportunity. I strive daily to be the best service technician
Colorado has to offer, even if that means having to deal
with spiders and snakes.
Assistant Spotlight
John Smyth, Assistant Superintendent | Ute Creek Golf Course
Growing up in a small town
outside of Longmont had its
advantages and disadvantages.
The disadvantage was that is
took forever just to drive into
town to go grocery shopping,
go to school or meet up with
John Smyth
friends.
But the advantages
are why I am now doing what we all do on a daily basis.
I would get extremely bored during summers with no
school and being stranded out in what felt like the “middle
of nowhere”. So, I would hit golf balls all day long in my
back yard, ride my bike, play baseball and do stupid things
I probably shouldn’t have been doing. But it’s what made
me fall in love with the outdoors. At the age of 14 I was asked
to mow 35-40 yards a week with my uncle. I immediately fell
in love with the business. I remember looking at my uncle
and telling him that this is what I wanted to do for a living
and, of course, he looked at me like I was crazy. Two years
later I accepted a seasonal position at Twin Peaks Golf
Course in Longmont and after doing some research, at the
age of 16 I knew I wanted to major in turf management.
After completing my turf degree at Colorado State University
and working summer jobs at Sunset Golf Course and Fort
Collins Country Club, I accepted a position as the second
assistant at the Sanctuary Golf Course. Even though I was
there for only two years, the experience and knowledge
I gained was extremely valuable. After leaving Sanctuary
and working at other golf courses, I’ve found a home at Ute
Creek Golf Course in Longmont. I am back where I started
and almost five years later I still love it. Of course, I have to
take this opportunity to thank some people for guiding and
mentoring me over the past 15 years. I won’t name them
because the list could go on forever. But, thanks to all who
have helped me along the way.
In my free time I enjoy playing golf, fly fishing, hiking and
spending time with my family. My wife Lane, my son Kellan
and my dog Kane (a 140 pound yellow lab) are the joy’s
in my life. Life couldn’t be better! I just recently finished
another semester of school and received my EMT. I am in
the process of pursuing a volunteer firefighter position. So,
what happens next? Who knows! I’m focusing on trying to
enjoy every minute of every day. I always hear people that
say time flies by and I will look back at memories as they
were yesterday. For me, time does fly by and I can’t wait
to see what the next 15 years has in store for me.
18
2012 Industry Partners
Platinum Partners ($3000+)
These sponsors have made the highest level of commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Platinum level sponsor
Gold Partners ($2000 - $2999)
These sponsors have shown their commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Gold level sponsor
Silver Partners ($1000 - $1999)
These sponsors have shown their commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Silver level sponsor
Bronze Partners ($500 - $999)
These sponsors have shown their commitment to the RMGCSA by becoming a Bronze level sponsor
Supporting the organization and those businesses that support us.
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.
19
Affiliate Cup Scramble August 21, 2012| Pole Creek Golf Club
Event Sponsored by
6827 Pole Creek Rd 51 | Tabernash, CO 80478
Opened: 1985
Superintendent: Craig Cahlane
Assistant Superintendent: Troy Iacovetto
Designer: Denis Griffiths
Greens/Fairways Grass Type: Bent/Poa and Kentucky Blue Grass
Pole Creek Golf Club is one of the few public 27-hole courses in Colorado and the only one in Grand County. Pole
Creek’s 7,107-yard course meanders through lush fields replete with native wildflowers, drastic elevation changes, vast
bent greens and water challenge shots over two ponds and five lakes.
Details:
8 a.m. Check in | 8:30 a.m. Meeting | 10 a.m. Shot gun
Format:Scramble (Affiliates have the opportunity to create a team of RMGCSA members and compete against other affiliate lead
teams. If participants do not have a handicap, they must submit average score and a handicap will be estimated. Each team will be allocated 60%
of the total team handicap and will require two drives from each player be utilized. For those individuals that are not on a team, you can still play
individual stroke for net prize, or you can ask to be placed on a team if available.)
Directions:
Take I-70 West to Exit 232 onto U.S. 40, then follow U.S. 40 to Winter Park. Pole Creek is 11 miles beyond
the town of Winter Park as you continue on U.S. 40. Through Fraser and Tabernash. Turn left at the 220 mile marker on to
County Rd. 5 for 1 1/2 miles to our sign and turn right on County Rd. 51 follow the signs to Pole Creek.
2011 Winners: 2011 - Team Agrium Advanced Technologies
2010 - Team Simplot Partners
2009 - Team Golf Enviro, Inc.
“My, Long, Strange Golf Trip”
*1 CEU
From catching a private jet with Nick Price to interviewing John Daly at Hooters, Seth Jones has led an interesting career in golf.
Golfdom’s editor-in-chief will share stories -- some funny, some scary, all true -- about his career as a journalist who
specializes in covering superintendents, yet has taken a few detours with Tour pros, movie stars and rock stars along the way.
Jones promises that very little will be learned other than that he has an ability to be at the right place at the right time, and the
end result is a good story.
Seth Jones, a 14-year veteran of the golf industry media, is Editor-in- Chief of Golfdom magazine. A graduate of the University
of Kansas School of Journalism and Mass Communications, Jones began working for Golf Course Management in 1999 as
an intern. Over the next 12 years he worked his way up to senior associate editor of the magazine, penning numerous cover
stories along the way. Jones was named the editor-in-chief of Golfdom in December of 2010. In his professional career he has
won numerous awards, including a Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association first place general feature writing award
and a TOCA first place photography award for his work covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Jones is a member of both
the Golf Writers Association of America and the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association.
Registration form must be received by August 14, 2012 (Mail, fax or register online)
* GHIN’s must be active on day of the registration deadline, GHIN’s may not be changed or added after the deadline which includes the day of the event
*Guests and Non-members must be involved in the golf industry*
 Scramble Team $280  Members $70  Non-members $100  Meeting Only $ 25
Team Name or the team you will play on: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Name: ___________________________________ Company: ________________________________ GHIN#___________ Handicap ______ Average Score _______ $_________
Name: ___________________________________ Company: ________________________________ GHIN#___________ Handicap ______ Average Score _______ $_________
Name: ___________________________________ Company: ________________________________ GHIN#___________ Handicap ______ Average Score _______ $_________
Name: ___________________________________ Company: ________________________________ GHIN#___________ Handicap ______ Average Score _______ $_________
AMEX/VISA/MASTERCARD #: __________________________________________________ Exp. _______/________ CVC Code: _________ Amount to charge $ _____________
Address/Zip: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Phone: ________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________________________________________________ Name on Card: ___________________________________________________
Return to: RMGCSA | 3030 W. 81st Ave. | Westminster, CO 80031 - NO REFUNDS AFTER AUGUST 14th
Phone: 888-576-4272 or 303-255-9611 | Fax: 303-458-0002 | [email protected] | www.rmgcsa.org
Growing Green Since 1936
20
Calendar of Events...
August 21, 2012
Affiliate Scramble Cup - Pole Creek Golf Club
September 18, 2012
RMGCSA Challenge - Flatirons Golf Course
October 11, 2012
Annual Meeting - Broadmoor West
November 14, 2012
Education Seminar - TBA
February 6, 2013
RMGCSA Chapter Hospitality - Double Deuce, San Diego
Monday: The bank’s Scramble. Thursday: Member/Guest Tournament. Guess you are fertilizing Wednesday.
Sure hope your distributor has it all in stock.
New in 2012!
Horizon is the new distributor for
Profile Golf Products
Horizon’s Golf Group
Horizon offers on-the-job expertise for greens management, water conservation, ongoing course maintenance,
agronomy issues and more. In fact, our golf course pros all boast backgrounds in golf course design, maintenance
or management, and offer the products, materials and straight talk that you need–from start to finish.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you.
800.PVC.TURF | HorizonOnline.com
irrigation | specialty | landscape | equipment
Your local Horizon stores:
Your local Horizon Golf Group Associates:
Aurora: 14777 E 35th Place | 303.576.0050
Littleton: 4971 S. Rio Grande Street | 303.934.3200
Nick DiLorenzo: 303.598.4728 or
21
Eric Gustafson: 303.434.7934
The Edge You Need