Archives: Seminars

November 10, 2020 1-3:00 pm

Rob J. Richardson, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Specialist, Aquatic and Non-Cropland Weed Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Whether ponds serve as visual focal points for your property or an irrigation source, aquatic weeds can interfere with the appearance and use of the waterbody. Proper management techniques can keep these weeds at bay and allow full use of your water body. This seminar will give superintendents a complete overview of how to manage their aquatic resources including water quality, aquatic plant identification, and integrated best management practices for control of the major aquatic weed problems. Specific instruction on the newest aquatic herbicides, use of aquatic herbicides in irrigation sources, and management of marginal areas will be emphasized. An overview of relevant rules and regulations that apply to management of aquatic resources will also be covered.

November 9, 2020 1-3:00 pm  

Jim P. Kerns, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

E. Lee Butler, Extension Coordinator of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

This workshop will focus on the most important aspects of developing a fungicide program while trying to keep this topic fun. Given the plethora of fungicides on the market, the workshop will present an historical overview of the development of fungicides. The presenters will cover the factors that govern fungicide performance such as fungicide rates, timing, post-application irrigation, and how fungicides move on and within the plant. The workshop will then move into diseases that are difficult to control such as root diseases, dollar spot, and nematodes. Finally, the presenters will deliver an overview of diseases observed in recent years.

Each attendee will have the option to use a worksheet the presenters have developed to assist them in putting together a strong fungicide program for both bermudagrass and creeping bentgrass. The presenters will instruct attendees how to use the worksheet and will also offer attendees the opportunity to submit the fungicide worksheets for the presenters to review. The presenters plan to leave 15 to 25 minutes for questions and other topics.

This seminar will deliver an understanding on what fungicides do and how they work, as well as how they move on or within a turfgrass plant. Attendees will also learn to develop a fungicide program based on data and science rather than a calendar.

November 5, 2020 1-3:00 pm

L. Bert McCarty, Ph.D., Professor of Turfgrass Science, Clemson University

Agronomic, cultural and pest management strategies for managing and controlling major weed pests on golf courses are the focus of this seminar. Topics to be covered include weed biology, herbicide mode-of-action, application timing, effective products, new products and PGR use. The emphasis will be on integrated weed management that includes herbicides, weed life cycles and cultural control options. A special emphasis will be on herbicide resistant weeds, how to identify them and management options to prevent and/or manage such biotypes.

This seminar will help attendees understand the importance of weed biology and life cycles for successful management of turfgrass weeds; how to manipulate turfgrass agronomic and herbicide practices to prevent weed population shifts to more difficult-to-control or herbicide resistant weeds; and make informed decisions on weed control based on the latest research and experiences of the presenter and attendees alike. There will also be a review of the latest information on Poa annua management in warm- and cool-season turfgrasses and an outline of the degradation and transfer processes affecting potential herbicide movement and breakdown. The seminar will also cover the use of PGRs for foliar suppression, improving putting speeds and turf quality, as well as common herbicide misapplication problems and prevention of herbicide/weed resistance using actual field case studies.

November 4, 2020 1-3:00 pm

Tyler G. Bloom’s, Tyler Bloom Consulting, Nescopek, PA

Securing top talent in today’s environment is getting harder and harder. Learn strategies on how to find, develop and keep great employees and rise above the labor crisis. These strategies will inspire you to change the way you recruit, hire and lead your employees with surprising results.

This seminar will help you perfect your workplace culture and leverage the power of community, educational, and government networks and programs. Attendees will also learn techniques to harness the value in under-tapped labor pools like veterans, retirees and people with disabilities, and implement thoughtful, unique and digital job advertising techniques.

November 3, 2020 1-3:00 pm

S. Bruce Martin, Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of Turf Pathology, Plant and Environmental Sciences Department, Clemson University, Pee Dee Research and Education Center, Florence, South Carolina

Jim P. Kerns, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, Jay, Florida

Old Tom Morris may not be as old as King Arthur, but he too cast his followers on a quest for a goal, a grail, that has proved elusive over centuries, the pursuit of the perfect golf course grass. For golf course superintendents, the search will likely never end, but science constantly brings new clues to challenges old and new. In this forum, three experts in their field discuss and explore answers to the ailments affecting warm-season turfgrasses including bermudagrass, zoysiagrass and paspalum. They will also detail avenues for promoting optimal conditioning.

The roundtable format allows each presenter to weigh-in with their unique perspective on key issues that influence the health and performance of warm-season turfgrasses. Attendees will have the opportunity to pose questions to these presenters who draw from decades of experience in some of the game’s most concentrated regions in the world. From Florida to the Carolinas, they have talked, walked and worked with superintendents at the far ends of the budget spectrum and all parts in between.

December 16, 2020 1-3:00 pm         

Gina D. Rizzi, President of ARCUS Marketing Group and Radius Sports Group, San Francisco, California

Yes, that’s right – these three things have something in common. BMPs! Another BMP talk? C’mon, we’ve been talking about this stuff for years now. True. And it matters. It makes a difference for our courses, our industry, our communities and the environment. But this talk, well, it’s different.

This installment of BMP HERO!Bees, Buffers, and Bourbon shows why this effort is so critical – not only for golf course operations and environmental stewardship, but also for community and government relations. By the end of 2020, all 50 U.S. states will have published BMP guides. Superintendents have an opportunity to build on the national and state efforts, now at the facility-level.

While superintendents are being good environmental stewards and working toward optimal performance standards, green roofs and urban gardens are gaining recognition worldwide for the community value they provide – golf course superintendents play a leading role within this story. Golf courses positively impact communities through providing ecosystem services like pollinator and wildlife habitats, stormwater management, and reduction in the urban heat island effect. We will explore the current needs across our communities that the industry helps address through effective BMP adoption, communication and engagement.

And the Bourbon? Not just a catchy title … what a BMP story! For added fun, we will take a quick stroll down the bourbon trail correlating key BMPs that make a whiskey a bourbon and why these are crucial for quality, credibility and continuity. Assuming many of you will be in the comfort of your own home, tastings are at your discretion.

Expect an enjoyable, entertaining, and educational session.

November 6, 2020 1-3:00 pm       

Paige E. Boyle, Ecology, Utah State University

Earthworms are generally considered beneficial organisms; on golf courses, however, earthworms can cause issues with turf growth and management. Earthworm control is difficult because earthworms remain one of the most poorly understood groups of soil macrofauna and no pesticides are currently labeled for earthworm management. Turf managers usually rely on cultural practices to mitigate casting, with limited or varied efficacy. This presentation will cover earthworm biology, ecology and various management options. 

Information presented in this class will help attendees understand earthworm ecology and environmental conditions that favor casting, learn cultural management options for suppressing casts, and understand the effects that certain turfgrass pest management options may have on earthworms.

November 13, 2020 1-3:00 pm       

Jim T. Brosnan, Ph.D. Professor of Turfgrass Weed Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee

This seminar will provide an overview of herbicide resistance within Poa populations of golf course turf. There will be a focus on the current status of resistance in Poa populations of golf course turf. This will include different types of resistance, modes of action, downstream consequences and more. Attendees will learn how resistance can evolve as a result of weed management decisions made on the golf course and strategies to mitigate resistance within Poa populations on greens, tees and fairways.

November 16, 2020 1-3:00 pm         

Adam Moeller, Director, Green Section Education, USGA, Easton, Pennsylvania

Bunker construction methods and sand selection have never been more complex or costly. This seminar will discuss the most important aspects of bunker construction and sand selection, so you can determine the best methods and sands for your course. Liner options for bunkers and their potential benefits and challenges will be a specific focus during this seminar.  

Attendees will examine the critical factors that impact bunker performance including surface drainage, internal drainage, and design. There will also be discussion on the advantages, disadvantages, and relative costs of various bunker liners including novel materials such as Better Billy Bunker, Capillary Concrete, Matrix, Bunker Solutions, etc.

November 19, 2020 1-3:00 pm         

Ben A. McGraw, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Turfgrass Science, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania

The annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) remains the single most destructive insect pest in most regions in eastern North America. Though once a pest solely in the New York City metropolitan area, the weevil has slowly expanded its range to more southern, western, and northern regions. First reports of ABW damage have been documented in Kentucky, Arkansas, and Wisconsin in the last three years. Meanwhile, superintendents that have dealt with the insect for three or more decades are now experiencing difficulty in controlling the insect due to insecticide resistance and extreme weather events.

The seminar will present an overview of ABW management, with a focus on the biology of the insect as it relates to management, scouting techniques, and control options. Chemical controls, though limited, will be discussed in depth so that attendees can confidently develop a successful management plan. The latest research that is being conducted at Penn State University will be discussed. The talk will cover the impacts of climate on insecticide efficacy, emphasize the use of management practices that may lessen chemical insecticide use (cultural controls) and frequency, and discuss future threats.

November 20, 1-3:00 pm         

Travis W. Gannon, Ph.D., Associate Professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina

Pesticides are commonly used to manage weeds, insects and diseases on the golf course. While pesticides are one component of comprehensive pest management programs, it is imperative for managers to understand how to optimize pesticides without adversely affecting human or environmental health. Attendees will gain a better understanding of pesticide fate and behavior and how to devise best management practices to minimize off-target pesticide injury and maximize pest control. This seminar will cover best management practices to minimize off-target pesticide movement and injury and discuss specific cases of off-target herbicide injury as well as cases where the desired turf was injured.

December 2, 2020 1-3:00 pm           

Gina Rizzi, President of ARCUS Marketing Group and Radius Sports Group, San Francisco, California

What makes someone a badass leader? It is not being uncompromising or intimidating. It is operating with passion and living authentically. Red-hot, badass leadership is stoked by purpose, compassion, and authenticity. The question is how do we ignite these qualities within ourselves? And within our teams? 

Each year 70,000 strangers travel across the globe to Black Rock City, Nevada, to erect a fully autonomous, off-the-grid temporary city – using pure ingenuity, imagination and collaboration. This is Burning Man. And it sets the bar for creating community under extreme conditions.

This global cultural movement imparts dramatic personal growth, inspiration and a sense of humanity based on 10 guiding principles: Radical Inclusion, Gifting, Decommodification, Radical Self-Reliance, Radical Self-Expression, Communal Effort, Civic Responsibility, Leaving No Trace, Participation and Immediacy.

This seminar demonstrates how these 10 principles can be applied in the workplace to spark authenticity, collaboration and innovation. Building on “You Know You’re a Badass – What does Everyone Else See? And Why Does it Matter?” presented at the Golf Industry Show and state conferences nationwide – Badass Leadership! brings the authentic fire and flair of Burning Man to the virtual classroom.

Especially in a year like 2020, it’s time to harness the power within toward greater self-awareness and positive relationships with others in order to lead like a Badass to generate empowerment and drive productivity.

December 3, 2020 1-3:00 pm          

Bill D. Kreuser, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Turfgrass Extension Specialist, Agronomy and Horticulture, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska

Doug J. Soldat, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

This seminar will discuss Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) for use on cool-season, fine turf. Specific attention will be given to multi-year research results on how to use growing degree days (GDDs) to schedule PGR applications for consistent shoot and seedhead growth suppression as applied to creeping bentgrass, annual bluegrass, and Kentucky bluegrass.

Attendees will learn the different classes of PGRs and how they work to affect cool-season turf growth. Instruction will also include how and when to use PGRs for improving turfgrass health, while avoiding negative consequences of PGR overuse.

December 4, 2020 1-3:00 pm  

Doug J. Soldat, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Wetting agents are one of the most important tools in a superintendent’s toolbox. They are also one of the most misunderstood and mysterious tools. This seminar will focus on what we know and what we don’t know about wetting agents and the differences among the vast array of products on the market. By the end of this seminar, you will feel more confident in your ability to select wetting agents and how to employ them to improve soil water management.

Discussion will cover the terminology and fundamentals of wetting agents and hydrophobic soils, the different classes of wetting agents and which situation each product class is best used for. You will learn to read and understand independent research reports to help you make good economic and agronomic decisions regarding wetting agent selection and use.

December 10, 2020 1-3:00 pm

Gerald (Lee) Miller Jr., Ph.D. Associate Professor and Extension Turfgrass Pathologist, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri

Soilborne turfgrass diseases are particularly difficult to diagnose and manage because the pathogens subversively infect and damage roots well before plant symptoms arise. This seminar will describe the soil environment in correlation with the biology and epidemiology of the pathosystem of soilborne diseases infecting cool-season turfgrasses. The course will also explain the crucial aspects of each disease cycle, highlighting where disease control measures can most effectively impede pathogen development.

Participants will learn to identify when a soilborne disease may be the cause of turf decline, understand the biology and life cycle of pathogens that infect roots of cool-season turfgrasses, incorporate specific cultural practices into a management program that will reduce the incidence or severity of the most common soilborne turf diseases, and select the most effective fungicide for a soilborne disease and apply it in the most efficient manner to maximize control. 

December 17, 2020 1-3:00 pm

Brandon Horvath, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Turfgrass Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennesee

John E. Kaminski, Ph.D., Professor, Turfgrass Management and Director of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania

Frank S. Rossi, Ph.D., Associate Professor at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

This session will be a focused discussion on the challenges associated with maintaining high performance cool-season turfgrass surfaces. We will discuss diseases, cultural practices, best management practices, and more to help you get more out of your cool-season turf surfaces. Bring your questions and enjoy a lively discussion.

You will learn about new chemistries and how to best employ chemistries, BMPs and other practices to help your turf achieve its full potential. You will also have the chance to discuss disease and turf management challenges in your area, and hear what these three experts would do to manage those challenges.