www.alaturfgrass.org Alabama Turfgrass Association 
 
Member e-newsletter April 2009
Greetings!
A big thank you to everyone who participated in the Mole Cricket Classic tournament last week at Lakewood Golf Course.  And a speacial thanks to Simon Parkin and his staff for hosting the event at their beautiful course. We were successful in raising money for ATRF and hope that figure will increase with everyone's particiation at the Poa annua Classic on the 20th.
 
We have received about a 10% response rate to our membership survey that was sent out last month.  We are aiming for 25%.  If you have 5 minutes - you can complete the survey and help your organziation better serve you.  Changes have already been made to the Conference and Tradeshow due to the responses we have received thus far.  Your input counts - so please let us what you think!  If you haven't taken the survey already, we encourage you to do so via our website, www.alaturfgrass.org.   
 
See you at the Poa annua Classic on the 20th!
 
Pat White, Southern TurfCare
ATA President
 
POA ANNUA CLASSIC
FarmLinks Golf Course
Sylacauga, AL 
Monday, April 20, 2009
 
   
Schedule of Events:
8 AM   Registration
9 AM   Education Session - How to Effectively Manage Your Facility in Down Economic Times by Jeff Higgins, PhD, ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance
11 AM  Lunch
12 PM  Golf Tournament 
 
Directions:
From Birmingham - take Highway 280 SE to Childersburg.  At the 2nd light in Childersburg, turn right onto County Road 8. Travel 11 miles until it dead ends in Fayetteville.  Turn right onto County Road 2 and the entrance will be on the left.
From Montgomery - Take US 231 N to Sylacauga. At the junction of US 231 and US 280, turn left onto Highway 280. Go approximately 2 miles to the first traffic light and turn left onto County Road 2 and travel 9 miles to the entrance on the left.
 
Registration: 
$85 - Seminar, lunch & golf tournament
$40 - Seminar & lunch only
$150 - Tee sign sponsorship
 
Register on-line or contact the ATA Office:
1-866-246-4203 (toll free)
334-821-3800 (fax) 
 
 
ATA ANNUAL SPONSORS
  
Gold Sponsors
Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial
Kilpatrick Turf
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
 
Silver Sponsors
Agrium Advanced Technologies
John Deere Landscapes
NaturChem
Syngenta T & O Products
 
Bronze Sponsors
Bayer Environmental Science
DuPont Professional Products
Harrell's, Inc.
Humphries Turf Supply
Regal Chemical Company 
Southern States 
 
 

Upcoming ATA Events 

Poa Annua Classic
April 20          FarmLinks Golf Club, Sylacauga, AL
                     How to Effectively Manage Your Facility in Down Economic Times, Jeff Higgins, PhD, ValleyCrest 
 
Auburn University Turfgrass Field Day
July 23          Auburn University Turfgrass Research
                    Unit, Auburn, AL
 
New Beginnings Work Day
TBA    Gulf Coast Youth-Reach, Summerdale, AL
 
Annual Conference & Tradeshow
Oct. 20-22       Auburn University Hotel &
                      Conference Center, Auburn, AL
 
 
Take the Membership Survey
 
All ATA Members are encouraged to participate in the membership surverys posted on the ATA website, www.alaturfgrass.org.  Please note there are two surverys - one for turfgrass managers and one for our supplier members.
 
Thanks for supporting the Mole Cricket Classic
 
The Mole Cricket Classic was held at Lakewood Golf Course on the beautiful Mobile Bay. A special thanks to our speaker, Dara Park, PhD, from Clemson University for a fabulous presentation on water conservation.  Congratulations to the winning team: Brian Aaron, CGCS, Mark Cleveland, Kevin Goolsby and Tim Orton.  And a big thanks to our sponsors:
  Agrium Advanced Technologies
Agromax
Aquatrols
Beard Equipment Company
Cleverdon Farms
Dow AgroSciences
DuPont Professional Products
Eagle One
Ewing Irrigation, Golf & Industrial
Floratine, SE
FMC
Fore-Par Group
Harrell's, Inc.
Kilpatrick Company
Jerry Pate Turf & Irrigation
John Deere Landscapes
NaturChem
Phoenix Environmental Care
Pinhigh Compound-JESCO Products
Red Bay Sand Company
Regal Chemical Company
S & S Pumpworks
Southern States
Syngenta
 
Benefit for Lindsay Datema
 
Lindsay Datema, wife of Jared Datema, Assistant Superintendent at Ballantrae Golf Course, was diagnosed in November with stage 4 Melanoma.  Jared and Lindsay have three small children and are traveling back and forth while Lindsay is in Houston receiving treatments.  A Draw Down Fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, April 17th at Oak Hollow Farm in Fairhope at 6:30 pm.  Tickets are $100 and includes dinner for two and entertainment. Raffle items and silent auction donations are needed and can be sent to: Benefit for Jared & Lindsay Datema, 11564 Champion Road, Fairhope, AL 36532.  Questions? 251-990-3996 or benefitforjaredandlindsaydatema@yahoo.com. 
 
 
Clean Day Waste Pesticide Collection
 
The Clean Day Waste Pesticide Collection Program is scheduled for May 14th for Autauga, Bullock, Coosa, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, Montgomery and Tallapoosa counties. Unusable and unwanted pesticides must be disposed of according to label instructions.  It is illegal to bury, burn, or dump a pesticide.  State sponsored waste pesticide collections provide a means to remove these wastes and help pesticide users comply with the law while ensuring the safety of the environment.
In order to participate in the program, pre-registration is required with your local county agent. For more information, contact Kathy Smith at 334-240-7242 or 800-642-7761 ext. 7242.