Restrictive Pesticide Legislation Proposed

Heather Hansen, the WWGCSA lobbyist in Olympia, needs us all to get into the fight to halt a bill that would put massive restrictions on any spraying of pesticides.

Please read the details below from Heather, and please write of call your legislators and consider testifying against this bill in the Senate hearing Thursday.

Please call or e-mail your legislators and ask them to stop HB 2413 and SB 6397.

Tell them how this bill would affect your business. If possible, attend the hearing on Thursday January 26 at 10:00 in the Cherberg building, Room 4. Sign in opposed to SB 6397.

HB 2413—AN ACT Relating to protecting workers and other community members from pesticide drift.

The bill states: Pesticides may not be applied by airplane, air-blast sprayer, fumigation, or any other application method that poses a substantial risk of pesticide drift, within one-half mile of a child care facility, a residence, school or any person who is outdoors.

In addition, applicator making an application described above must provide written notice to child care facilities, schools, and residences within the buffer zone and to persons whom the applicator can reasonably determine will likely be outdoors within the buffer zone at any time during application.

Written notice must be given a minimum of twenty-four hours before the application.

Notice of the intended pesticide application must include:

1. Time, date, and location of the application;
2. Name, telephone number, and address of the applicator;
3. A list of the common and chemical names of all pesticides to be applied;
4. Telephone number of the Washington state department of health pesticide program;
5. Telephone number of the Washington poison control center;
6. A list of precautions related to drift that appear on the label of the pesticide to be applied;
7. The restricted-entry interval on the pesticide label and a statement that if the pesticide lands in an area, persons should stay out of that area for the restricted-entry interval and more.

To read the entire bill: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/2413.pdf

How to find your legislators: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx

Legislative e-mail addresses: https://dlr.leg.wa.gov/MemberEmail/Default.aspx

Legislative phone numbers: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rosters/Members.aspx

Capitol campus parking information: http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Parking.aspx

Capitol campus map: http://www.ga.wa.gov/images/campus-map.pdf

Golf Summit Concentrates on Issues

The annual Golf Summit conducted by the Golf Alliance of Washington will include two speakers discussing topics of key concern to superintendents and the leaders of the golf industry.

The Golf Summit will be Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Seattle Golf Club, with registration beginning at 8 a.m.

Boyd Montgomery of Toro will be on hand to discuss the EPA’s new Tier 4 compliance standards and what that means for superintendents and those who pay for golf course maintenance equipment. This issue could have a major impact on budgets in the coming years.

T. Howard Mains, the co-president of the Tactic Government Relations and Public Affairs, Inc., of Ontario, will discuss the pesticide ban issues in Canada, how it could impact the state of Washington and what the golf course industry in this state needs to do to prepare itself.

All the talks in the day-long seminar are aimed at the leaders of the golf industry, including representatives of course owners, club presidents, general managers, golf pros and superintendents. Click here to the latest agenda. The Golf Alliance of Washington includes the WWGCSA, the Evergreen Chapter of the CMAA, the Western Washington Chapter of the PGA, the WSGA and Larry Gilhuly of the USGA.

Registration is $50 and includes lunch. You can click here for online registration.

Contact Paul Ramsdell at mpsparks90@aol.com or 253-219-8360 for more information.

Calling on Superintendents to Help

Superintendents are needed to help out at the legislative reception, “Golf Gives to Washington,” that the Golf Alliance of Washington will conduct Monday, Jan. 30 in the Columbia Room at the State Capitol in Olympia.

The reception runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and is geared toward showing legislators and their staffs all the benefits of the game of golf in the state.

It would be great if a half-dozen or so superintendents were on hand to help convince the politicians that we are indeed stewards of the environment.

A key element would be a superintendent from a course recognized by Audubon International. Any supporting evidence, photos, PowerPoint presentations and such showing our stewardship of the environment would be wonderful.

Representatives of the club managers, golf pros and the WSGA will also be in attendance.

Paul Ramsdell, the executive director of the WWGCSA, is available for more information at mpsparks90@aol.com and 253-219-8360.

Equipment for Sale, or Free, at EG&CC

Everett Golf & Country Club has some mowers it is looking to sell, and other equipment it is ready to give away for free.

Four (4) Toro 1000, 11 blade greens mowers, $1,000 each. Two of them are from 1995, one from 1998 and one from 1999. All these mowers run great.

Twenty-five (25) Accuform rake heads (24 inches wide) for free. They are the old style, not tapered at the ends.

Five (5) tapered litter caddie cans for free (forest green).

If anyone is interested they can contact Thad Lalley or Mike Conklin at 425-353-7028 or e-mail them at mconklin@everettgolfcc.com.

Be Sure to Vote for Yaz

Yaz, a 2-year-old black lab owned by Ty Whitaker, the assistant superintendent at The Golf Club at Echo Falls, graces the month of June in the 2012 Dog Days of Golf calendar put out by the GCSAA.

That automatically makes Yaz a candidate for Lebanon Turf’s Dog of the Year. In voting held at the Golf Industry Show at Las Vegas, the winning dog will be rewarded with $3,000 for the WWGCSA, $500 for Yaz and $500 for the local humane society.

Be sure to stop by Booth No. 900, the Lebanon Turf booth, to vote for Yaz when you’re in Las Vegas.

Check Out Job Posting Page

Two new jobs have been listed on the job posting site in the past few days, so check it here— if you haven’t been there recently.

WCTA Offers Unique Symposium

The Western Canada Turfgrass Association is offering a “State of the Game” symposium at its annual conference, set this year in Victoria, B.C., from Jan. 21-24.

All members of the WWGCSA and NTA are invited to attend at the same conference rates offered to WCTA members.

More information on the show is available by clicking here.

The event at the Victoria Conference Center is expected to draw more than 750 golf and sports turf management professionals and there will be more than 85 exhibitors at the Trade Show.

“One of our goals at this year’s show is to bring all sectors of the golf industry together under one roof to discuss the many issues affecting everyone who derives their livelihood from the game,” said Scott Mitchell, the president of the WCTA.

Among the scheduled speakers are Dr. Frank Wong, Dr. Rob Golembiewski and Richard Zokol, a member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.

Jerry Rousseau, the executive director of the WCTA, is available for questions at exec.director@wctaturf.com or 604-869-9282, or you can check out the web site at www.wctaturf.com.

A Question for Superintendents

As we prepare for another year of legislative battles, and also prepare for the Golf Alliance of Washington’s legislative reception on Jan. 30, it’s time to gather some information.

If superintendents can contact Paul Ramsdell at mpsparks90@aol.com or 253-219-8360 with the number of veterans who work on your staff, either full time or part time, that will help us in promoting all the positive aspects of golf in the state of Washington.

Thanks for your assistance.

Golf Industry Show Approaching

Deadlines are nearing to register for the golf portion of the 2012 GCSAA Education Conference and the Golf Industry Show, which will be held Feb. 27–March 2, 2012 in Las Vegas.

The conference and show kicks off Feb. 24–26 in Palm Springs with the popular GCSAA National Championship and Golf Classic tournament. Besides golf, this event is an opportunity to network with your peers, take in an education session, and soak in the beautiful scenery while enjoying the renowned courses. For more information on the tournament, visit www.gcsaa.org/conference/tournament.

The Education Conference and Golf Industry Show during the week of Feb. 27-March 2 includes some of the most highly acclaimed education in the industry. With more than 600 total hours of education in one place and more than 180,000 net square feet of exhibit space, this is the ideal event to get everything you need for a successful year in one place.

For more information or to register for the conference and show, visit gcsaa.org/conference.

Indian Summer's Ruiz Honored

Justin Ruiz, the superintendent at Indian Summer Golf & Country Club in Olympia, has been designated as a Master Greenkeeper by The British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association.

He is the 59th recipient of the honor worldwide and believed to be the first in the state of Washington.

The certificate is awarded to those who have reached the highest standards of greenkeeping and golf course management. It is gained through both formal and informal training and via a two-part examination.

Overlake Certified by Audubon

Overlake Golf and Country in Medina has been designated a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

Overlake is the 13th course in Washington and the 845th in the world to receive the designation from Audubon International.

Cory Brown, an assistant superintendent at Overlake, led the detailed environmental effort to obtain the sanctuary status and is being recognized for Environmental Stewardship by Audubon International.

“Overlake Golf & Country Club has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program,” said Jim Sluiter, staff ecologist for the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Programs. “They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property.”

Scott Stambaugh, the superintendent at Overlake, oversaw the group of staff members needed to complete the rigid requirements to achieve this status.

“I can’t say enough about their willingness to not only fulfill their short-term requirements in their respective categories, but also how they have really taken a big-picture view of all our programs and practices and how we can continue to improve our operations to be better stewards of the land.”

Equipment From Overlake For Sale

Overlake Golf and Country Club has some equipment for sale. Contact Chris Thornton, the assistant superintendent, for more details at 425-454-1841 or cdthornton59@yahoo.com.

All of this equipment still runs and still is being used by Overlake.

• 2006 Toro Workman 1110 gas utility carts manual dump bed (4 of them) 1400-1600 hours – $1,500 each/obo
• 2004 Air Drag blower – $500/obo
• 2004 John Deere 3245C rough mower 3079 hours – $8,000/obo
• 2003 John Deere 3235B fairway mower 1794 hours – $5,000/obo
• 1999 John Deere 220A greens mowers w/trailers (3 of them) – $1,000 each/obo
• 1999 John Deere 220A greens mower no trailer (1 of them) – $800/obo
• 1999 Toro greens aerifier – $2,000/obo
• 1998 Jacobsen Greensking IV triplex 3,300 hours (includes a 1995 unit for parts) – $1,500/obo
• 1995 Toro fairway aerifier – $500/obo (needs work)
• 1989 Smithco sweeper – $2,000/obo

Key Dates For The Coming Months

Besides the Winter Chapter meeting Jan. 9, there are some other keys dates in the coming months for the WWCGSA.

Jan. 24—WWGCSA Board meeting, The Plateau Club, 1 p.m.

Jan. 30—Golf Gives to Washington, a Golf Alliance of Washington legislative reception in Olympia, 5 p.m.

Feb. 7—Golf Summit, a Golf Alliance of Washington educational conference that will include a Tier 4 talk by Boyd Montgomery of Toro at Seattle Golf Club.

March 21—WWGCSA Spring Meeting, Indian Summer

Also, here are some key conference dates:

Jan. 21 - 24—Western Canada Turfgrass Association annual conference, Victoria, B.C.

Feb. 27 - March 2—GCSAA National Education Conference, Las Vegas

WTLS Rated a Success

With more than 60 more people signing up for classes compared to last year, the 2011 version of the Washington Turf and Landscape Show would have to be classified a success.

The number of seminars taken increased from 798 to 918, a jump of 15 percent. None of this would have been possible without a great bunch of volunteers. John Leslie of Tapps Island, and Michael O’Connell, formerly of Glendale, were a great help in administrating the educational classes and the trade show, respectively. Jim Myers, Steve Link, Tracey Hawkins and Vern Rollins were big helps at the registration desk. Greg Hall, David Wienecke, Steve Link and Marcus Harness helped out as moderators of various seminars.

Thanks to everyone for helping out and attending, and see everyone next year.

Myers Offers Updates From GCSAA

Jim Myers, the president of the Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association, recently attended the Chapter Delegates meeting at GCSAA headquarters.

Numerous programs and topics were discussed, including value of membership, the field staff program and member standards.

Click here to read the full report filed by Myers, the superintendent at The Plateau Club in Sammamish.

Toro Greenmaster For Sale

A 1996 Toro 1000 Greenmaster is for sale for $2,500. It has minimal hours and has been used just residentially, but has been professionally maintained.

Contact Paul Ramsdell, the WWGCSA executive director, at mpsparks90@aol.com or 253-219-8360 for more information.

Wienecke, Link Become WWGCSA Officers

David Wienecke, the superintendent at Chambers Bay Golf Course, is the new vice president of the Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association, and Steve Link, the superintendent at Skagit Golf and Country Club in Mount Vernon, is the new secretary/treasurer.

President Jim Myers, out of The Plateau Club in Sammamish, made the announcements that complete the naming of WWGCSA officers for 2011-2012. Greg Hall, of Fairwood Golf and Country Club in Renton, assumes the role of Past President. The vice president and secretary-treasurer are appointed by the president and then approved by the Board of Directors. Click here for your 2011-2012 Board of Directors.

Wienecke oversaw the course conditions during the 2010 U.S. Amateur held at Chambers Bay and is working with the USGA to prepare the University Place course for the 2015 U.S. Open. That will mark the first time the U.S. Open has been played in the Northwest.

Myers Elected President of WWGCSA

On a stunning afternoon for golf in October, the annual meeting of the Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association drew 60 golfers and 24 others for lunch at Chambers Bay Golf Course.

Before the sunny skies and warm weather enticed all the golfers, the WWGCSA held its annual business meeting. At that meeting, Jim Myers, the superintendent at The Plateau Club in Sammamish, was elected president in a vote of the membership. Scott Stambaugh of Overlake Golf & Country Club in Medina was elected to a three-year term on the Board. Marcus Harness of Overlake was elected to the assistant superintendent position and Carl Taylor of Western Equipment was re-elected to the affiliate position on the Board.

Included in the business meeting was an update on Chambers Bay by Board member David Wienecke, the host superintendent for the day.

GHIN Handicap Club Back in Business

The Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Washington State Golf Association are ready to offer handicaps to superintendents and members of their crews at reduced rates.

The rate for a GHIN handicap for a superintendent will be $18 and for members of their crew it will be $15.

Just e-mail a list of names of people who want to establish a handicap, or move their current handicaps to the WWGCSA Golf Club to Paul Ramsdell at mpsparks90@aol.com, or contact him at 253-219-8360 for more information.