Category: Golf and Turf Tips

Learn about the SDS format that replaces current MSDSs and prepare to train your team

Federal OHSA requires employers to train workers on the new labels elements and safety data sheets format to facilitate recognition and understanding.

Here is the “Microsoft Power Point” presentation used as part of the Marine Corps Order on the conversion from MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) to SDS (Safety Data Sheets). I thought this would provide some information for those of you who haven’t seen it.

Thanks,

Ryan A. Wood
Superintendent
Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course

Resources:
The GCSAA has an employee training record that can be downloaded and modified as needed to document the training you’ve held with your employees.

GCSAA – Southwest: Hawaii course uses innovative design to offer fun alternative to golfers

by Jeff Jensen-GCSAA Southwest Regional Representative

Jensen-thumbnailAs I travel throughout the Southwest to varied allied golf organization meetings, the topic of player development is the most frequently discussed issue in the industry. What can facilities, superintendents, PGA professionals and allied golf organizations do to attract new players (both young and old) to the game?

While I can site numerous player development programs around the country, one of the best and most creative hails from the Aloha State.

Located on the North Shore of Kauai, The Prince Golf Club at the Princeville at Hanalei Resort is one of the country’s top golf and resort destinations. Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., the course is annually rated among the Top 100 Courses in America by numerous publications, including Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and GolfWeek.

The course recently underwent a $5 million renovation, and, in an effort to provide a fun and fast alternative to the traditional 18 holes, the resort designed an innovative par-three layout.

The Mini Prince opened in April of 2013, and was carved out of The Prince’s world-class 13-acre practice facility, utilizing its practice greens and bunkers. Behind this innovative design is the management and golf operations staff including Derrick Watts, the GCSAA Class A director of agronomy at the Prince. Watts, the past president of the Hawaii GCSA, enhanced the existing practice greens and expanded them into six complete par-three holes that serve as part of the driving range for most of the day and are then transformed into a six-hole course in the late afternoon.

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GCSAA chapter delegates focus on the future

…I really sensed optimism and a clear vision for the future. The work done in the past is having an impact. Superintendents have respect and are at the table. Now we have to figure out how we build on that momentum for the future.”
— Bob Nielsen, CGCS at Bedford (N.Y.) Golf and Tennis Club

2013-chapter-delegatesThe annual GCSAA Chapter Delegates Meeting (Oct. 1-2) took on a decidedly different appearance this year, as the focus was not so much on the current state of affairs, but more on the future of the association and the profession.

“We were intent on getting feedback on what the profession would look like in the future, targeting the range of 2020 to 2025,” GCSAA President Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS, said. “It became obvious to the board through our discussions with those in the golf industry, including members, that the profession is experiencing rapid change. Superintendents are being asked to do more, and the tools and resources we use to do that job are changing. Just look at what is happening with technology. The game of golf may not be changing much, but how we manage it is.”

Peering into the crystal ball

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New Assistant Specialist, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, CTAHR, UH Manoa

Zhiqiang Cheng, Ph.D., is the new Assistant Specialist, Department of Plant and Environmental Protection Sciences, CTAHR, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI.

Dr. Zhiqiang Cheng is a scientist working on the biology, ecology, and management of turfgrass and urban landscapes, as well as on soil ecology, and environmental bio-indicators. Dr. Cheng obtained his Ph.D. degree (Environmental Science) from The Ohio State University (OSU), and worked in the Department of Entomology at OSU prior to joining University of Hawaii at Manoa. Dr. Cheng has over 10 years of research experience in the ecology and management of turfgrass and urban landscapes. He has given presentations in many international and national conferences, meetings, and workshops. Dr. Cheng has been managing the Soil Ecology Lab of Agroecosystems Management Program at OSU since September 2008. He has also been working closely with the industry. For example, he has conducted research projects in collaboration with TruGreen Chemlawn Company, and MTD Corporation, respectively. Further, Dr. Cheng is one of the founding members of the Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS), and has been serving on the Awards Committee of AESS since 2009. In addition, Dr. Cheng serves as peer-reviewer for many premium scientific journals, including Pest Management Science, Journal of Nematology, Journal of Forestry, Compost Science and Utilization, Applied Soil Ecology, and more.

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Advanced Drip Irrigation Design/Installation Seminar

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“Advanced Drip Irrigation Design and Installation Seminar” and installation techniques is scheduled for Tuesday, July 23rd for Irrigation Designers and Contractors.

The schedule is as follows:

  • Advanced Design Class to start at 10:00 AM and run till Noon on 23 July, 2013
  • Free Lunch (Noon to 1:00) prepared by our gourmet in-house Chief Steven
  • Advanced Installation techniques from 1:00   3:00 which will be both class room and hands on instruction.

Both of these will be advanced classes and will assume the participates have had some experience in drip irrigation design and/or installation. Please plan to attend whichever class best suits your needs, but you’re also welcomed to attend both classes.

Location:

    Pacific Pipe Classroom
    1255 Kuala Street
    Pearl City, HI 96782
    Tel: 455-8700
Space is limited to 25 people, so please RSVP as soon as possible to Allan at 380-4527 to reserve your spot.

Support — It’s A Two Way Street By Larry Gilhuly

Larry Gilhuly is Northwest Director, USGA Green Section

View the gallery

The word support is one that forms the foundation of the USGA Green Section. Through our Turf Advisory Service we support golf course facilities to be the best they can be while keeping budgets in mind. Through our Green Section web page and Record we support the entire golf industry with up-to-date information on virtually every facet of golf course maintenance. Through our research program we have supported the funding to create most of the grasses found on golf courses in Hawaii. However, one of our personal favorite supports to the golf industry is when we are allowed to travel to portions of our region to provide regional educational conferences.

Golf in Hawaii and on the Mainland has changed rather dramatically in the past 5-7 years with economic factors being the driving force. At the same time, the USGA has also felt the pinch of reduced funding to conduct various programs that have been a staple of the USGA Green Section. One of those programs that have been significantly impacted was the regional conferences that were held on an annual basis. Historically, these programs have been primarily targeted at golf course superintendents with most of the program focused on golf course maintenance topics. However, with a need to outreach more into the entire golf industry and discuss the major topics of water use, economic sustainability, pace of play, and rules the USGA focused all of our regional programs in 2013 on these topics. That is why the regional conferences held on the four major islands during the first week of April were so critical. It was not only the content of the meeting to support the golf industry in Hawaii that was important. It was also the return support from those in the entire golf industry on each island that was of equal importance. The USGA needed to see if their outreach efforts were being felt in Hawaii by producing surveys of those in attendance to determine if their message was getting out to the PGA, club managers, golf association officials and volunteers to the game. As you will see, the support through attendance at these meetings came through loud and clear!

The Hawaii regional conferences were not in any way a singular effort by the USGA Green Section. While we put together the program, these conferences were a combination effort of all of the golf associations in the state. The Hawaii Chapter of the GCSAA, HSGA, Aloha Section of the PGA, HSWGA, HSJGA and the local chapter of the CMAA were all instrumental in getting the word out to their constituents. The following shows the total amount in attendance for each island and how each group added to a very successful show of support from the entire golf industry.

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Ness Turf Equipment officially launched

On March 28, 2013, Ness Turf Equipment officially launched as a branded division of Hawthorne Pacific.

Located at 91-220 Kalaeloa Bld. in Kapolei’s Campbell Industrial Park, Ness Turf’s new name and location allows us to build upon our proud 50-year heritage of providing ag and turf solutions for Hawaii and the neighbor- islands. Ness Turf Equipment also services Guam, American Samoa and Saipan.

Ness Turf Equipment has a dedicated staff supporting nearly a dozen major brands, including Toro, Toro RLC, eXmark, Club Car, Morbark, Land Pride, Garia, Harper, Berhard Grinders offering sales, parts and service for golf courses, sports fields, and state and federal municipalities.

Additionally, Ness Turf Equipment supplies a dealer network with the Toro RLC (residential and landscaper equipment) and eXmark lines.

Every year since 2005, the company has been named one of Hawaii’s top 250 businesses by Hawaii Business magazine.

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Field Day | Evaluation of Dismiss, Roundup & Salt for Weed Control in Seashore Paspalum

You are invited to a seminar/field day to see the results of 3-herbicide tests involving Dismiss, Roundup and salt on goosegrass, crabgrass, postrate spurge, creeping indigo, dollarweed, horseweed, nutsedge, and purslane in a seashore paspalum lawn. Although the results were inconsistent, you may still find the information useful and interesting.


Date: March 28, 2013 (Thursday)
Time: 10:45 to 12:00 pm
Place: UH-Maui College (UH-MC) Agricultural Greenhouse & Lawn. Across the Maui Arts & Cultural Center near the recycling center on Wahine Pi’o Avenue. Park in the lot next to the new science building with the vertical windmills on its roof top.

Hawaii Dept. of Agriculture Pesticide categories will be offered for categories 1a, 3, 6 & 10.

Deadline to register is March 27 (Wednesday) to reserve your handouts for this event. You can register by email ([email protected]) or by calling the Cooperative
Extension Service at 244-3242 x230. Please provide your name, company & telephone number should we need to contact you of any changes to this event.

Mahalo to: Ann Emmsley and William Jacintho of UH-MC for making this test and field day possible.