Two-Hour Seminars
.2 education points, $40 member, $60 nonmember
Monday, Feb. 7
10 am - Noon
Avoiding Equipment Washing Hassles
Kathy Antaya, CGCS, Consultant, Kathy M. Antaya LLC
(595-01) Equipment washing is a necessary part of golf course maintenance. In this seminar, you'll review golf course equipment washing rules, regulations, methods and systems. An emphasis will be placed on practical solutions that reduce water use and protect water quality, as well as:
- A critical review of your facility's equipment washing habits
- Learn the rules and regulations of equipment washing and understand how they protect water quality
- Explore some traditional and non-traditional methods for cleaning equipment
1 - 3 pm
An Energy Efficiency Snap Shot: The Golf Course
Andrew Staples, President, Golf Resources Group
(602-01) Supported by The Golf Resource Group's sustainability call to golf: "It's time to build smarter golf!" this two-hour seminar will highlight five areas of immediate energy efficiency gain on your golf facility:
- pump station efficiency
- central control programming efficiency
- water use efficiency
- utility demand charge reductions
- renewable energy solutions
These "Snap Shots" will begin to address how the most important areas of your golf course including the architecture of the course, the water delivery system and the management of energy costs will affect the long term health of your facility.
Tuesday, Feb. 8
10 am– Noon
Poa Control Anonymous: A Support Group for Superintendents Chasing the Holy Grail of Poa-Free Golf Courses
Ronald N. Calhoun, Ph.D., Turfgrass Research/Extension Specialist, Michigan State University
(608-01) Annual bluegrass [ABG] can be found anywhere human disturbance is present making it one of the most cosmopolitan weeds in the world. Golf course superintendents have developed various strategies for preventing, diminishing, or eliminating ABG from their golf courses. However, due to variations in ABG biology, differences in climatic conditions, and other factors, success in one location does not always translate to success in another location. In this seminar, Dr. Calhoun will briefly summarize various ideas and program elements from various regions of the U.S. Participants should come armed with their own successful and not so successful testimonials. Groups will be separated by region for an exchange of ideas, encouragement, commiseration, and planning for the upcoming season. Regional summaries will be digitized and distributed to seminar participants immediately after the conference.
1 – 3 pm
Colorscapes with Impact
Dean Bemis, Owner, Rough Designs
(630-01) Learn the fundamentals of great colorscape design that Dean has gleaned over the last 22 years. You will learn which flowering annuals work best under a variety of environmental conditions and return home with the confidence to plan your own stunning golfscapes!
Thursday Feb. 10
1 – 3 pm
Using Your Computer: Simple Steps for a Secure System
Stephen Crocker, MCSE, MCDBA, MCT, A+, Security+, Database Administrator, GCSAA
(607-01) Protect yourself, your data and your computer with these simple steps. Topics to cover include virus protection, spyware/malware, social network security and web browser security.
1 – 3 pm
Using Your Computer: Simple Steps for a Secure System with your laptop
Stephen Crocker, MCSE, MCDBA, MCT, A+, Security+, Database Administrator, GCSAA
(615-01) If you're traveling with your laptop, why not use it in your seminar and keep the documents you create in class? Simply register using code number 615-01!
Friday, Feb. 11
8 – 10 am
Survival of the Fittest: Bermudagrass vs. Winter
Bud White, Director, Mid-Continent Region, USGA Green Section
(609-01) This seminar will detail the winter kill of bermudagrass in the winter of 2010 and the factors that lead up to the worst winterkill year since 1989. We will look at key reasons damage occurred, what made damage worst and what preventions were used to reduce damage. We will also detail steps to take in the late summer fall to significantly reduce winter kill and Spring Dead Spot.
1 – 3 pm
Fine Tuning Your Foliar Program
Roch E. Gaussoin, Ph.D., Professor of Agronomy and Horticulture/Extension Specialist, University of Nebraska
(579-01) Liquid applications of nutrients to turfgrass are a routine management practice. Learn about advances in foliar fertilizers and begin to develop a customized foliar program for your facility by working through the following questions:
- When is it appropriate to use a liquid vs. soluble product?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of foliar vs. soluble vs. granular?
- What proportion of your program should be granular vs. foliar and vice versa?
- What are additional documented benefits of foliars besides nutrition, and how can they best be used in your program?