Under Cover

       To clear the snow off your greens, or not, seems to be the question on most Superintendents  minds right now here in the Mid-Atlantic. The discussions about how long has the turf been under cover and is there an ice layer are the main concerns. As with any turf management processes, there are always different points of view. For some, the fear of mechanical damage is a concern . The other edge of the sword is whether there is damage from being under snow. So what do you do?
The old school answer of spreading Milorganite, is probably a thing of the past, with the concerns of too much nitrogen. Currently, the use of colored topdressing, is the most prevelent answer. Today, I heard one I had never heard before, sunflower seeds.
       So the problem is one that has not been an issue for years. With another polar vortex in the long range forecast, it will be an interesting couple of weeks.



WJC

S-NO-W

       Here in the Mid-Atlantic,we are just about to get another few inches of snow this morning,after a week where some areas got over 20 inches! To say people have had enough is an understatement. While we are all focused on snow clean up and school closings, I can't help but start to worry about how this is going to effect the golf industry. It seemed the second half of 2013 was better for some of the clubs that had been on the financial bubble. Over the past bunch of winters, while play is minimal, there is still income to help pay the bills. Occassionally, there is a super warm weekend, where clubs have had packed courses. This winter, you have no golf, no people coming in to eat and bills to pay, so things might get interesting. I know I have written about it before, that the golf industry in this area was once considered an 8 month season, but that slowly changed. The weather has been milder over the winters for the most part. Sadly, I think this is something to keep and eye on as this winter plays out.
       One other side effect, of this winter of discontent, is how it will impact all the new bermuda grass. More and more facilities have been using bermuda grass,in many areas here in the Mid-Atlantic,including driving range tees, and some fairway applications. Hopefully, as spring finally arrives and temperatures start to rise, we will not see any effect from such a brutal winter!

                                       

WJC

 

GIS 2014

       The Golf Industry Show 2014 is now in the record books. While some guys had to return to Philadelphia earlier than planned to try and do some emergency cleanup from the ice storm, the majority of attendees I spoke with were really enjoying Orlando. Now to put it in perspective, we have had an AWFUL winter here in the Mid-Atlantic and to be in Florida for a record high temp for February is something that we might not want to gloat to our wives at home about!
       Arriving on Tuesday for the annual Toro business meeting, the week began on a high note. Much of the meeting was discussions about Toro's 100th anniversary. Starting with a video of customers and their feelings and experiences with Toro that was really well done. The high light for me being Matt Shaffer of Merion Golf Club saying 'I have the best Toro Salesman in the world". With lots of grief to come from other Reps, it is really tough to put into words how much Matt's words were appreciated!
       The trade show on Tuesday was really busy. I would say there was a lot of buzz in our booth regarding the new automatic transmission Workman HDX and the new Toro Infinity irrigation head.
To me you know a new product has a bright future when the comments are "it makes so much sense, why hasn't someone done this yet?".
       The Pennsylvania Allied room on Wednesday night was a great time as always! It was really good to see some people that I have not caught up with in a while. Add in few other receptions and it was a full week of  great events.
       Now on the social media angle, I was really impressed with Aquatrols use of hosting Golf Course Industry Magazine & Turf Republic's Tweet Up event on Wednesday. Many people commented on the traffic by their booth. It is still in it infancy but the use of social media is absolutely going to play a bigger and bigger roll in the Turf business in the future.

Hope everyone had a safe trip home!




The Toro Company 100th Anniversary hat that was being given away in the booth

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You are So Lucky!

        For most of us heading to the Golf Industry Show here in the North Eastern US, and for the most part, anywhere but the deep south, you get the same reaction when people hear you are going to Florida, "You are so Lucky!". When you can get to 80 degree weather and morning temps have been in the single digits here in Philly, I am up for going anywhere warm! The sad part is the majority of your time, this upcoming week, is spent inside a convention center or a hotel, unless you are one of the smart ones and have a golf event set up.
     So what is the National all about (Yes, that what it will always be to me...)? I know for me, it is a chance to see some of Toro's new equipment and an opportunity to pick the brains of some of the Marketing Managers and Engineers. It is a chance to see what my competition has new and to see if someone has come up with a game changer. Really, the highlight of the week, is probably the Pennsylvania Allied room. It is where you get to see a lot of people you might not have seen for a while and end up usually with some good laughs.
       The thing that most interests me this year is to see the impact of social media. More and more people in the golf industry are starting to get involved.It will be cool to see how it keeps growing, especially the events that are tied specifically to social media at this GIS.

Hope to see you in Orlando!



WJC