2010-Youch!

For all you turfgrass managers out there, no matter on ball-fields, parks, lawns or golf courses, wherever, you have earned your money, every penny and more in 2010. Looking back at a spring of abundant moisture, consistent higher than average temperatures and less than average summer rainfall, and then add the traffic and you realize that there has been virtually no let-up of stress this growing season. With hardly any temperature relief at all and very few rain interruptions, no matter what your preparations were, the available funds you have, and the experience you have accumulated, 2010 will be one of those years not quickly forgotten. With the heat being such a destructive influence, Dr. Wendy Gelernter and the people of PACE Turf produced a video explaining the effects of heat on cool season turf comparing it to frying an egg on a stove. The video was designed to help explain to the public of the effects that summer’s heat had on their turf and why possibly there has been so much turf failure. She also explained, just like a fried egg, you can’t reverse the process after it is cooked! The good news being is that August is over and cooler shorter though still dry days are now here in September!

2010 is another reminder, like we didn’t know this already that Mother Nature is still in charge and we are at her mercy. Speaking with turf diagnostic people, they have told me that this has been their busiest year in the business. You name it, pythium, dollar spot, brown patch, summer patch, waitea patch, bacterial wilt, anthracnose and even copper spot have all showed up on stage to take a bow as agents of her rule. Those are just the diseases; we don’t even want to talk about multiple generations of ABW, bumper crop of crabgrass, the worry of things like water restrictions, or the fact that sometimes it just dies. Like every year, some have fared better than others, but everyone has felt the pressure. I stopped by to see a superintendent friend whose course has been hanging in there very well with the best of them and it looked like he was dazed and had melted into his chair, but he was not giving up! We toured the course, avoided many golfers, talked about his strategies and saw mostly success. But as he said, now is not the time to let down the guard. Jim Skorulski in one of his regional updates said it best, “you have to stay focused and be flexible to survive difficult weather periods.” A difficult season it has been! You don't have to go too far down the coast to find courses closed in August to renovate prior to more conducive growing weather in September.

You can’t help but wonder what may come next and why we do this to ourselves. A call to this business starts from the heart, and requires a total commitment. Luckily, September is here, and even though it can have its own problems, September has been known to lower blood pressure, save marriages and not to mention a few jobs. September could be viewed as Mother Nature’s gift to the industry and a time to heal. Probably on average the best recreation weather of the year, September is not just for the soul of the sod, but for the renovation of the mind and the regrassing of our own nerves. Moving forward…..I hope for everyone that work is fun again and that what was learned will not be forgotten!

2011 Turfgrass Conference and Show

Wow, has the summer flown by? As we head into the Labor Day Weekend and hoping Earl doesn't upset things, I can't believe September is here. I thought we should let everyone know that we have made some progress on our next show. The dates are March 7-10, 2011 and Providence is the place! This will be our 14th conference and show and we look forward to it and feel that it will be one of our best yet!

Our keynote speaker this year will be a local man from the Boston area that captained the 1980 Olympic Hockey Team that went on to win the gold medal. Mike Eruzione scored the winning goal against the Soviets in the 1980 Winter Olympics to advance them to the final game against Finland. Sports Illustrated voted the team's victory as the #1 sports moment of the century! Mike continues to be involved in Olympics in fundraising and as a broadcaster. He still affiliates with his alma mater (Boston University) and is active in many causes while residing in his hometown of Winthrop, MA with his wife and their three children. It has been 30 years since the Miracle on Ice, but the memory continues to motivate the belief that if you give it your best you just might finish on top!

Several seminars are being organized again for 2011 for Monday, March 7th. Tuesday will be another full day of USGA selected speakers and topics that are related to some of the challenges of 2010. Wednesday, will include several tracts for Golf, Sports Turf, Turf & Ornamentals, and Turf Equipment Technicians. Thursday will be the morning not to miss especially for turf agronomic topics as speakers will focus on pathology and best management techniques. The trade show will be open for 14 hours over the three days giving every attendee the opportunity to see each of exhibiting companies. The trade show is the biggest part of the event and we appreciate all the support the exhibiting companies provide to the show to help make it a true quality event. We encourage all attendees to spend some quality time on the trade show floor and see the latest in turf management equipment and products in the industry.

Even through this proplonged economic delay, we acknowledge everyone who continues to support the show and conference each year. The Turfgrass Industry continues to be sustaining these challenges, and those who participate in the conference and show only enhances their own position. So, please stay tuned for more information of the 14th Annual New England Regional Turfgrass Conference and Show. The website is http://www.nertf.org/.