This is a list of my favourite apps for use in sports turf.
Claire Keane
Today's Document

pixel skylines

shark vs the universe

#extradirty

Kaledo Art
"I'm Dorothy Gale from Kansas"
noise dept.
Show & Tell
Peter Solarz

ellievsbear

Product Placement
Not today Justin

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TVSTRANGERTHINGS
Monterey Bay Aquarium

if i look back, i am lost
Mike Driver
Sweet Seals For You, Always

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@knowlesjonathan-blog
This is a list of my favourite apps for use in sports turf.
Why IPM - The relationship between IPM and sustainability at South Moor Golf Club.
Neil Irvin level 4 NVQ student of Myerscough College, discusses the potential of IPM.
"I believe the idea of the integrated turf management policy appears at first to be another pointless government backed legislation giving more work to already stressed green keepers & grounds men up & down the country until you actually realise the benefits you can achieve from thinking your way around a problem instead of taking the normal easy way out (tractor mounted spraying).
Relationship of IPM and sustainability.
Matthew Moffatt, Level 4 Sports Turf student at Myerscough College discusses IPM and sustainability.
Matthew states:
IPM and sustainability I believe is a relationship that does work. However if you were to ask that question to a group of sports turf managers, the view would be split.
Those against it would argue about the time and cost to implement it, and that no amount of pests and disease in their turf is acceptable. Whilst, those who agree with it, do acknowledge that its does takes time to establish and implement, and that man-hours are precious in today's economic climate, but in the long term it does save and make it sustainable.
Ultimately it all boils down to education and showing doubters that it does work.
I recently asked a fellow turf manager about IPM and his reply was “it's just the new buzzword, it won't last long” ambassador mentality we have to change.
Sports Turf IPM on the Isle of Man
Level 4 student at Myerscough College and Head Groundsman Alan Harrison shares his views why an IPM policy for school sports pitches make sense.
Alan states:
St Ninnians Lower School is a newly built facility (opened September 2012) in Douglas in the Isle of Man. It is built over tiers with grass banks leading down to purpose built pitches. The pitches were made up of sand/soil profile and laid over drains at 5m centres. This is the flagship school on the Island and if I introduce the Integrated Pest Management Policy here and it shows to work then a role out to the other facilities could be achieved. I believe that a good policy could greatly reduce the outbreaks of Red Thread that have been noticed the 2 years in autumn. There is scope because of the banks a problem with surface water runoff and therefore contamination of water courses to add buffer zones where pesticide use is prohibited. As a government department I also think that we should be promoting best practise techniques and using this prominent site would be the best way to achieve this.
Integrated Pest Management Considerations for Groundsman Rob Eason
Rob Eason is the Head Groundsman at The Dragon School, Oxford, England. As shown in the images, this is a superbly maintained facility with an emphasis on excellence. Rob is currently undertaking his Level 4 NVQ in Sports Turf Management and drafting a policy for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) looking at the advantages and disadvantages. As part of his development he has kindly submitted a rationale for maintaining the sports turf in an integrated approach.
Rob says:
My goal at Dragon School is to produce healthy turf. Healthy turf is important at the school where I have 850 pupils playing on just 2.5 hectares six out of seven days a week, including matches.
Furthermore healthy turf is vital so that the quality of surfaces stay at their best for matches. One method of producing the healthy turf is to practice (IPM).
IPM combines all available pest management methods to produce the healthiest grass when possible. IPM doesn’t want to kill pests, but to maintain pest populations at levels where I can control. Pesticides are part of an IPM program, but need to be selected and applied responsibly by myself and staff so that I avoid health risks to the operator and the environment.
An example of this is to display a Garden Chafer Beetle Trap on the fields so the trap can catch adult beetles and give myself a warning of chafer grub activity.
Pest management control practices in an Integrated Pest Management program include:
soil management
grass selection
cultural methods
biological controls
physical (weeding) or mechanical removal (scarifying)
exclusion through prevention and sanitation
pesticides (herbicide, systemic, insecticide)
Proper soil management is important at the Dragon School; healthy sports turf areas require healthy root systems. Many turf problems can be identified to soils that are excessively wet, dry, acidic, or alkaline, prone to compaction and full of debris. Soils with a pH of between 6 and 7 are desirable. Outfield and fine turf areas can suffer at Dragon School because grasses are grown on soils that are poorly drained due to the Cherwell River and a high water table. The school’s turf areas require water and oxygen so that they can survive and recover well against the demands of regular wear.
The @MyerscoughColl Sportsturf Technical Webinar Programme is out! Booking at http://www.tinyurl.com/myform2011
Congratulations to Thomas Flavelle TORO Greenkeeper of the Year!
The success of the Myerscough College 'Year of the Apprentice' continues with a prestigious accolade for Advanced Apprentice Greenkeeper Thomas Flavelle. On Monday 17 September he was awarded TORO Student Greenkeeper of the Year. Following the two days of technical interviewing and examination, Thomas was found as the clear winner, as his technical know-how and personality ‘wowed’ the judging panel. The fantastic prize of an eight week study tour in the USA with a visit to the GCSAA in San Diego begins at the start of next year for Thomas.
A selection of slides from today's webinar discussing Root Zone Technology - The USGA Specification for Golf Green Construction. The object was to understand more about soil water action in root zone, bridging factors and construction materials.
Key terms:
Cohesion, adhesion, capillary rise, gravitational water, evapotranspiration, gradation curve, root zone material, perched water table, drainage spacing equations, 2 layered and 3 layered systems.
Theses links were issued in the webinar
To view a calendar of upcoming webinars, please visit here
Cultural Practices Webinar: Aeration, Scarifying, Verti-Cutting and Grooming
A brief overview of the slides from today's webinar. Object of the session was to improve our understanding of aeration and join up sub-surface, surface and scarifying related tasks for managing a sustainable healthy sports turf.
A great session, some really good input from the attendees, who will all be receiving their certificates tomorrow.
Next Webinar is next Tuesday on Root Zone Technology: USGA Specification.
Book on at http://www.tinyurl.com/myform2011
The Debrief From Today’s Technical Seminar.
Scheduled as a soil micro-biology seminar, but with a surprise! Following introductions and a coffee greet, the day kicked off with "interpreting a soil chemistry analysis". Martin Ward (Managing Director of Symbio), didn’t mince his words when explaining the benefits of having the skills to analyse a soil analysis. Nutrient proportions in ppm, base saturation, the relevance of soil pH, cation exchange capacity and calculating inputs were discussed. In the afternoon session, an exclusive video showed us the workings of the soil food web. This fascinating footage captured the microscopic ecosystem of fungi, beneficial bacteria, nematodes, protozoa, arthropods and mycorrhizae all in a soil community beneath our sports turf surface in almost real speed.
Again, without mincing his words, Martin Ward explained the detriments of a chemically managed sports turf. The methods, advantages and research findings of Myerscough College student Josh Webber for appliying organic based nutrients through composted teas onto the sports turf surface engaged everyones attention following lunch. The highlight of the day was the top secret method for biologically controlling (eradicating) root-feeding nematodes. A number of delegates were seen scribbling note after note at this point. Of course, to find out this treatment you will need to come to a Technical Seminar – next one 16 February at Wynyard Golf Club.
For more updated information on Myerscough College Technical Seminars in Sports Turf go here
Number 2 Technical Seminar - Soil Microbiology
At Cold Ashby Golf Club tomorrow will be a full day Technical Seminar on soil science, presented by Symbio's Managing Director Martin Ward. This follows last months successful irrigation seminar in the north east.
This technical seminar is aimed primarily at level 3 with the focus on the soil micro-biology and how this knowledge can be applied into greenkeeping for improved playing surfaces and prevent diseases and disorders.
Places are now full, but for those interested in coming to a future event please visit here. The next Soil Science Technical Seminar is scheduled for Wynyard Golf Club, Tees Valley on 16 February and there are still a few remaining places. Following that there will be an afternoon lecture on soil chemistry at Rotherham Golf Club on 22 February.
BTME 2012 - Review of Thursday - BIGGA was Best in Show
Many visitors will say Thursday is the quiet day, understandable, majority of the people have been and gone during the week and with the imminence of the close down, you'll catch many exhibitors clock watching - fair enough. But, Thursday does have its merits. The seminars are more intimate and relaxed affairs, I found that you can tour around with a certain, efficiency, find specific people to have a face to face chat. Without the bustle, it's less of an effort and you seem to get more out of it.
The highlight wasn't the latest graminicide wanting to start a new gang/club (nothing like the Gingerbread men club - honestly), or even the latest top-dresser that can apply dressing so lightly that the particles actually disappear into a parallel universe where golfers don't even see or notice the change in the playing surface. But best in show stand, was the 100 years of BIGGA display - I read everything, and was drawn in by every photo. Reminding us that Greenkeeping is a profession with a long esteemed history, and the greatest admirers of greenkeepers are great people themselves. F.G Hawtree was the real catalyst for the professionalism and education of the modern day greenkeeper, sure Tom Morris has his place, but in terms of developing the sports turf industry, it must be Hawtree. Think of the impacts and developments in golf and wider sports turf BIGGA has had. I just wish I had taken some photos of it!
To top if off, meeting up with an old friend, who is passionate about greenkeeping and grasses keeping the enthusiasm going on the park and ride bus to the car!
A great day Thursday and It'll be Thursday in 2013!
BTME 2012 - Myerscough B14
Tomorrow afternoon will mark the close of 2012 Harrogate Show and I'm preparing to take to the stand for the day. Firstly by checking which hall to go to (hall B) and then checking which stand (B14). I'm planning on catching up with a few colleagues Wendy O Brien, Vinny Price, Stewart Brown and my good friend Andy Owen.
With this year being the year of the Dragon Apprentice, there is a lot of good news for getting involved as an Apprentice Greenkeeper. An Apprenticeship is a fantastic modern way to achieve qualifications while earning. These days it's not just for school leavers, that would be age discrimination, it's for all ages up to retirement, who need qualifications. The best news is the amount of education funding that can be accessed as an Apprentice Greenkeeper or Groundsman, it's around £3000 towards tuition and assessment - all good news!
Progression on to higher education has never been as accessible in sports turf. The popular Foundation Degree online, is a fantastic course of quality teaching and learning materials. I remember the first year of it's inception and how it was welcomed as highly innovative in the industry for education and training, ten years on and it's still the number one online Sports turf degree programme! Of course the part time and full time foundation degree is a popular choice to, with fantastic opportunities for students to take internships at some of the worlds greatest sporting venues.
I understand there has been a high volume of visitors to the show so far and a very busy B14 stand. It's great to have a positive January - perhaps it is because of the year of the Dragons' / entrepreneurs / Apprentices??!
Come on... visit the stand.
Number 1 Technical Seminar - Irrigation
Tomorrow marks the start of the new Technical Seminars for 2012. With the support of the prestigious Wynyard Hall & RainBird UK; Myerscough College will be hosting a GTC Approved specialist Irrigation seminar for greenkeepers of the north east region.
The aims & objective for the day include the principles of the hydrologic cycle, evapotranspiration and mathematical analysis as well as the practical application. There will also be a career development stand and advice with information on courses and qualifications, whether short courses or a full blown BSc with Hons! Successful attendees will certificated and acquire BIGGA accredited CPD points.
For news of future seminars and more information visit http://www.myerscough.ac.uk/?page=blog-view&blogID=360&postID=140
Today's Webinar - USGA Spec.
Today's root zone technology webinar was attended by 13 participants from around the UK. During the 2 hour live online session the aspects of the USGA spec, the theory of the soil physics of how it works as well as the advantages and disadvantages was discussed. Raising questions that many installed systems can and do fail to perform. Everyone passed the informal online assessment, so congratulations and thank you to the participants. Now looking forward to next month on irrigation calculations.
A Review of Better Lawns By H. B. Sprague 1940
A little while ago, I started to review some older sports turf text books and like the books the review was getting a little dusty, so I’ve decided to share it with The Turfgrass Post.
Dr. H B Sprague
While historically insightful, some might say that a good deal has changed in the sports turf industry since and they may be out of context. Nevertheless, these are worthy reads for any student of sports turf and provide good background knowledge. For the first review, here is a brief overview of the 1940’s Better Lawns technical textbook. The author, Dr. Howard Sprague, worked at Rutgers University as Professor of Agronomy, in 1974 he was awarded the prestigious USGA Green Section Award, and is noted as instrumental in starting the University Turfgrass program, as well as a pioneer in the study of Poa annua and the cultivation of acid soils for fine turf.
The 200 page book contains impressive turfgrass technical knowledge for the time. Many ecological principles that cross into sportsturf management are abundant.
Here are my notes I made on my first read: Excessive amounts of nitrogen fertilisers, stimulate top growth to the expense of root development, close mowing restricts root development. He discusses how bentgrass can withstand mowing below 1-inch, but root development is restricted and so too is the health. Close mowing in the spring time is also mentioned and deplauded; as close mowing in the spring is identified as particularly harmful, since root development is limited by removal of top-growth leading to the grass being limited to utilise soil resources for the growing season. Close mowing is also mentioned as restricting root development, ability to obtain moisture and nutrients from the soil, and the capacity to withstand heat, drought, disease and insect attacks. The limited root growth of putting greens, bowling greens, tennis courts and is the reason such careful management is needed in contrast to the lawn.
Initial heavy seeding, produces such competition between the plants, that there is little opportunity for any to develop strongly, until many have died in the struggle. This accounts for slow development of vigorous healthy sod, in comparison with thinner sowing rates.
Sprague more or less concludes his discussion with a master stroke- For continued vigour and growth, three essentials are identified as fundamentals- 1) adequate leaf area to receive sunlight 2) supply of adequate moisture 3) a supply of carbon dioxide. By Controlling the mowing height, in turn controls the leaf area, and adequate root development and soil moisture levels. Thirdly carbon dioxide is abundant and inexhaustible in the atmosphere.
What a fine concise message to take away. Three simple statements that pin all the principles together. And you only have to remember the first two! I’m sure this technical manual for the time was a precursor for the outstanding Turfgrass Science and Practice By J. Beard of 1974.