The GTI Advisor 13(12)

Fall leaf cleanup at Islington Golf Club

Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Advisory Reports

From the Editor

Final Issue of 2008

This is the final issue of the GTI Advisor publication year - our 13th year of publication. We will send out any important information updates to our subscriber list over the winter months. We hope the move to the new GTI website and format change introduced this year has continued to make the GTI Advisor a valuable information source for turf professionals in Canada and beyond.

The GTI will have an exhibit at a number of conference trade shows this coming winter including the OGSA Conference in Toronto in January, GCSAA Conference in New Orleans in February and the CGSA Conference in Halifax in March. If you are attending any of these conferences, please drop by the University of Guelph booth and say hello. As always, we welcome you comments and suggestions for how we can improve the GTI Advisor as well other GTI programs and services. Send you comments to me at robwith@uoguelph.ca.

2007 GTI Annual Research Report Now Online

The 2007 GTI Annual Research Report is now posted online. We experience some technical issues that delayed posting until now but you can find the 2007 report along with all of the GTI and University of Guelph (prior to the formation of the GTI) Annual Reports dating back to 1980 by following this link. The researchers are making their final observations and crunching data from the 2008 season and we hope to have the 2008 report posted early in the new year.

"Going Green on the Green" Student Turf Conference and Job Fair

Each year as part of the Associate Diploma in Turfgrass Management first year Turf Communications course, students organize a one day educational conference for students and turf professionals. The theme of the 6th annual conference is Going Green on the Green and the conference is scheduled for Friday, November 21st at Victoria Park East Golf Club in Guelph. Interested turf professionals are invited to attend - you can access the invitation by following this link.

For the first time, a job fair sponsored by the student run Turf Club will be held as part of the conference. This will give employers a chance to meet potential interns as well as graduating students looking for more permanent employment. If you are interested in participating in the job fair, please contact Jeff Marissen or indicate your interest in your conference invitation RSVP. We hope to see you there.

2009 Internship Postings

We have an excellent group of first year students who are already applying for internship positions across Canada as well as in the U.S., Caribbean and Europe. Although the number of available interns is limited, we encourage potential employers to get their postings to us as soon as possible - preferably before the end of the fall semester which this year is the last week of November. For tips on how to attract good interns to your facility, check out this excellent article from the GCSAA. If you are available, I would also encourage you to participate in the Job Fair that is being held in association with the student run Turf Conference on November 21st (see above). Internship postings can be emailed to me at robwith@uoguelph.ca or faxed to 519-766-1704. For more information about the internship program, please check out the Internship Employer Letter.

Golf Irrigation Technician's Course - Irrigation Fundamentals 101

Once again we will be offering a special early spring course for irrigation techs and anyone else interested in polishing up their irrigation system maintenance and operation skills. Led by former Glen Abbey Golf Club and VandenBussche irrigation specialist Dean Cormack, the course will be held at the GTI on the weekend of April 18-19, 2009. the course provides a comprehensive overview of irrigation from soils to system troubleshooting. All equipment and refreshments are included in the $295 registration fee. For more information about the course and to reserve a spot for you and/or your irrigation tech, please follow this link.

2009 Turf Managers Short Course Registration Open

The 40th offering of the Turf Managers’ Short Course (TMSC) at Guelph will be held this coming February. Management and staff can benefit from this program by attending the Turf Managers’ Short Course, being held at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute February 2 to 27, 2009. In this highly valued four-week certificate program, students will learn about a variety of issues facing today’s professional turf manager. Sessions explore topics relating to soil, the value of irrigation, disease and pests, landscape and turf management practices and other helpful insight leading to superior turf care.

“The ongoing success and longevity of this certificate program is an indication of its importance to turf care in Canada and abroad,” according to Rob Witherspoon, Director, Guelph Turfgrass Institute.

“The combined expertise of both industry and academic instructors makes the Turf Managers’ Short Course a unique learning experience for individuals in the turf business,” adds Steve Fleischauer, Manager, Program Development, Office of Open Learning, University of Guelph. “Students are ensured that they are getting the most current science and turf techniques available.”

Interested individuals can learn more about TMSC 2009 and its unique classroom experience by visiting www.open.uoguelph.ca/turfmanager or by calling 519-767-5000.

New Publisher for Greenmaster

The CGSA is pleased to announce that it has entered into a five year agreement with Naylor, North America’s leading media and events partner for associations, for the production of the Association’s GreenMaster® magazine, the official publication of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA). In addition to the publication of GreenMaster® magazine, Naylor will also be responsible for the publication of GreenMatter™ news, the CGSA Membership Directory and the publication of several on-line, web-based products and tools to improve the communication capabilities and products offered by the CGSA.

“The Board of Directors and staff are very excited about the possibilities associated with this new contract and we look forward to working with Naylor and their staff”, said CGSA President, Bob Burrows Master Superintendent, AGS, and CGCS. “Our expectation is that this new partnership will move us forward into the next generation of communication options and opportunities and put the association in the position of being able to meet and exceed the needs of a broad spectrum of members.”

Naylor is the pre-eminent publisher of association-based magazines in North America. It currently publishes print and online media for over 500 associations throughout Canada and the United States, including the prestigious Club Manager magazine for the Club Managers Society of America.

“We are very proud to partner with CGSA,” said Robert Phillips, Naylor’s Group Publisher. “CGSA is a remarkable organization with great leadership that works diligently to advance the profession of golf course management. We are excited to work with them to produce GreenMaster® magazine, and look forward to developing informational products that will fulfill the needs of their members.”

Ken Cousineau, CAE, Executive Director of the CGSA stated, “This new contract gives us the financial return on our investment that we had hoped for and provides us with a wealth of experience and resources. Its stature in the publishing industry also provides us with a proven entity that can meet the needs of our advertisers and industry supporters while addressing the expectations of our members with respect to the delivery of accurate, timely information.”

The Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) represents over 1,500 individuals involved in the profession of golf course management in Canada. Its mission commits the Association to excellence in golf course management and environmental responsibility through the continuing professional development of its members. CGSA provides a variety of member services and annually hosts the largest golf course management trade show in Canada.

Naylor is the leading provider of print and online media and event management solutions for associations in Canada. and the United States. Naylor currently provides specialized turnkey services to over 500 associations in 85 industries throughout North America.

Out There on the Internet

Upscale curb appeal goes green - A dyeing service for dying lawns.

Turfgrass Industry Calendar