The fuel that runs the engine in any long-term relationship is communication. And sometimes the best words to communicate are as simple as "thank you."

The golf course maintenance staff at the Lake Merced Golf Club. How often do you acknowledge the efforts of the staff at your course?

At Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, California, we recently recognized our hard working maintenance staff with a nice article in our monthly newsletter distributed to the entire membership. The article acknowledged a fact that escapes many members - that our maintenance crew includes many fine employees who have spent a lifetime of service at our club. Our superintendent has been with us for 45 years; our first assistant for 26 years; and the majority of their crew have been at Lake Merced more than 15 years. That is quite a record, but their achievements are not measured in years, but by the daily dedication they devote to tending our golf course. These are extremely hard working folks, and they face a variety of changing and challenging conditions every day of the week. As I have explained to more than one member when discussing course conditions: our crew has to battle Mother Nature and she never takes a day off! And yet, day in and day out, our golf course is in superior condition.

Read on to see the impact of this simple yet effective effort at Lake Merced.

  A Mid-Atlantic Regional Update
by Stanley J. Zontek, director

I recently drove a few miles along the Skyline Drive in southwestern Virginia to speak at a golf course superintendents association Year End meeting. Normally, in late October the Appalachian Mountains are ablaze in fall colors. If anything, the colors were disappointing.  Is this a reflection on this year's weather? The answer is yes. 

This is also a disappointing year for many golf courses. The weather had an impact on the health and survival of golf course turfgrass, and the extended period of heat, punctuated by times of wet weather and drought, affected most all plants. In the case of the trees along Skyline Drive (and probably on your golf course and in your neighborhoods), leaves were dropped early and with less color, mostly due to the drought. Early leaf-drop is a defense mechanism for trees.  In the case of turfgrass, it is summer dormancy; or, depending upon the species, even death to that plant. Poa annua is, after all, annual bluegrass, and this summer's weather helped remind us of that fact. Read Stan's suggestions for fall tree care

Evaluating Bermudagrass Cultivars for Traffic Tolerance and Recuperative Ability

by Bradley T. Williams, Dr. Jason K. Kruse, Dr. J. Bryan Unruh, and Dr. Jerry B. Sartain

Bentgrass Management and the Summer of 2010

Recording Now Available

The past summer proved very difficult for bentgrass greens all across the country and particularly for those in hot climates. This webcast provides important insight for both superintendents and non-superintendents regarding what happened and how best to avoid problems in the future.

You can view the recording of this webcast free of charge by clicking on the link that follows. No recording key is required. Although we request your name and e-mail we do not use this information for marketing purposes.

View the webcast recording. 

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