MINNESOTA GOLF COURSESUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION

News & Articles

  • 27 Feb 2017 5:44 AM | John MacKenzie


    The Program: The Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents’ Association offers a scholarship program designed to assist children and grandchildren of Class AA, A, B, C, D, EM, Associate and Affiliate members. The MGCSA provides scholarships to students attending college or vocational programs at any accredited post-secondary institution. The program is independently managed by Scholarship America, a national non-profit student aid service organization. Awards will be granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, disability, national origin or financial need.

    Selection of Recipients: Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, potential to succeed, leadership and participation in school and community activities, honors, work experience, a statement of education and career goals and an outside appraisal. Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship Management Services. In no instance does any member of the MGCSA play a part in the selection. Applicants will be notified by the end of July whether they have been awarded or denied a scholarship.

    Eligibility: Applicants for the MGCSA Legacy Scholarships must be: children/grandchildren of Class AA, A, B, C, D, EM, Associate or Affiliate members who have been members of the MGCSA at least five years; High school seniors or graduates who plan to enroll or    students who are already enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or    vocational-technical school, and under 23 years of age.

    Awards: Three awards will be given to children and grandchildren of Class AA, A, B and C members. One award of $1,500 in the name of Joseph S. Garske will be given to the highest evaluated applicant. That award will be renewable for one year contingent upon full- time enrollment and satisfactory academic performance. One other  $1,000 award will be given to other qualified applicants from this group. One  $1,000 award will be available to children and grandchildren of Class D, EM, Associate and Affiliate members. These awards are not renewable. However, students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements. Awards are for undergraduate study only.

    Obligations: Recipients have no obligation to the MGCSA or its members. They are, however, required to supply Scholarship Management Services with current transcripts and to notify Scholarship Management Services of any changes of address, school enrollment or other relevant information. Except as described in this brochure, no obligation is assumed by the MGCSA.

    MGCSA_app.pdf

    Application Deadline:  June 1, 2017


  • 02 Feb 2017 8:32 AM | John MacKenzie

    The fight against the destructive emerald ash borer continues in St. Paul.

    This month the city cut down more than 300 ash trees at the Highland National Golf Course and 150 trees at Como Golf Course will be bought down this week.

    The city says ash trees in several neighborhoods will be cut down this year.

    "For 2017 there's been about 1,300 trees identified for removal that are either infested or in a structure removal plan," Clare Cloyd with the city of St. Paul said.

    The city plans to replant new trees at both golf courses.

    You may have noticed some green ribbons wrapped around trees in Saint Paul, those trees are not slated to be cut down. The ribbons are part of an awareness program on the dangers of the emerald ash borer. 

    Credits

    Joe Mazan


  • 29 Jan 2017 8:06 AM | John MacKenzie

    Minnesota farmers get their Nitrogen Smart certificates

    Agricultural advocates want to see farmers keep the ability to manage nitrogen.

    The Minnesota Ag Water Resource Center (MAWRC) and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association oversaw a series of December workshops called, “Nitrogen Smart.”

    This training program, through Extension, teaches the fundamentals for maximizing economic return on nitrogen investments while minimizing nitrogen losses.

    Next, MAWRC, as well as the Minnesota Department of Ag and University of Minnesota Extension, are sponsoring two conferences.

    The ninth annual “Nutrient Management Conference” will be held Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the River’s Edge Convention Center in St. Cloud.

    The other event is the third annual “Nitrogen: Minnesota’s Grand Challenge and Compelling Opportunity Conference,” which will be held Thursday, Feb. 16 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato.

    “Our state is likely to follow an example set by some other states, where they actually do require certification training in order to have nitrogen applied on your farms,” said Warren Formo, MAWRC executive director.

    “It’s coming, and so rather than let the state agencies dictate how that works, we chose to develop this partnership and begin to deliver a program to you that includes the fundamentals of nitrogen management in an educational format that you can use on your farms.”

    Formo said that most farmers don’t have a “real detailed understanding” of environmental water quality or “issues related to nitrates in the water,” per survey results.

    In addition, while humans have always farmed, most citizens in the United States today do not understand advanced soil chemistry.

    Many government groups want to regulate farming practices. They are responsible for levels of nitrates in the drinking water, runoff into Minnesota’s surface waters and nitrous oxide releases into the atmosphere.

    The Minnesota Corn Growers Association believes that if farmers have information, they will make the best decisions for rates of nitrogen and other fertilizers.

    Under capitalism, farmers have a motivation to apply fertilizer correctly.

    The MAWRC wants to continue to help farmers manage nitrogen through Extension workshops.

    “The goal of these sessions is to help farmers gain a better understanding of how to manage nitrogen more effectively,” said Brad Carlson, University of Minnesota Extension educator and workshop presenter.

    “It’s an opportunity to talk through the data and research, and use that information to help reduce environmental impacts and reduce costs for the farmer.”

    Formo’s crew is keeping track of who is attending sessions and at what locations. To participants, the MAWRC will be sending out certificates and window decals with a “Nitrogen Smart” designation.

    They intend to notify participants every three years to update their voluntary certificates.

    “At this point, we’re trying to be proactive and preempt regulation,” said Formo. “We hope this becomes the recognized means by which the state would go through training for nitrogen management, when it becomes necessary.”

    Nitrogensmart.jpg (two column) The beautiful Redwood River during the late February 2016 thaw. Photo by Andrea Johnson.


  • 18 Jan 2017 9:57 AM | John MacKenzie

    From Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

    Nick Busse, Communications Principle

    I was recently cleaning out my garage and came across a container of a certain “environmentally safe” ice-melt product. I bought it years ago — long before I started working in the watershed world. At the time, I probably thought I was being a responsible consumer, buying some premium-quality pellets that could melt the ice on my sidewalk without creating needless pollution.

    What I know now is that there is no such thing. All road salt and deicer products create pollution. They’re bad for plants, animals, water quality — not to mention buildings, bridges, clothes and your front doormat.

    More to the point, salts and many deicers contain chloride, which is toxic to things that live in our rivers, lakes and wetlands. In Minnesota alone, 47 waterbodies and groundwater supplies are already known to be impaired for chloride. Most of this comes from the salt and deicers that MnDOT, cities and counties use to keep ice off of our roadways.

    Salting our roads is a deal with the devil. There’s no question that it cuts down on ice and makes it easier for us to get from point A to point B in the winter, but we pay a big environmental price for it. Chloride is virtually impossible to remove from a waterbody. In the spring, when the snow and ice melts and all that salty runoff washes down the stormdrains, it ends up in our rivers and lakes and stays there — permanently.

    It doesn’t take much salt to create a problem, either. Just one teaspoon of salt is enough to pollute five gallons of water forever. Do the math, and you’ll find that a single 10-pound bag of salt is enough to permanently pollute 3,000 gallons of water.

    In recent years, public works agencies have begun providing new training and tools to help their snow plow crews apply salt and deicer more efficiently. These “smart salting” techniques are helping to minimize the environmental impact of chloride without compromising safety on our streets and highways. Winter maintenance professionals in the private sector are also learning these techniques, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency maintains a list of smart-salting certified contractors.

    You can do your part to prevent chloride pollution by following these simple tips when maintaining your sidewalks and driveways this winter.

    Shovel and Scrape First

    A good chisel is a worthwhile addition to your ice-fighting arsenal.

    The best way to remove snow and ice is the old-fashioned way: with elbow grease. Shovel early and often during a snowstorm so that the snow doesn’t have time to become compacted and/or turn to ice. It might sound obvious, but the more snow you remove by shoveling or snow-blowing, the less ice you’ll have to deal with later.

    Also, if you’re finding that your old metal push shovel with the bent, rusted edges isn’t cutting it anymore, it might be time to add some new tools to your arsenal. Your local hardware store is likely to carry a variety of push shovels, scoop shovels, ice chisels and ice scrapers. There are many types of snow, slush and ice, so having a couple of different tools on hand never hurts.

    If It’s Too Cold, Don’t Use Salt

    After you’ve shoveled, chiseled and scraped, you might find some stubborn patches of ice still just won’t go away. If you can’t remove it mechanically and you must use salt or sand, you should consider a few things first.

    Throwing salt or sand on fresh snow is useless. Always shovel first.

    Before you do anything, check the temperature. Salt and deicers only work in certain temperature ranges. Traditional road salt (sodium chloride) doesn’t work below 15 degrees F. Other products made of magnesium chloride, calcium chloride or urea have different melting temperatures, but the bottom line is that if it’s too cold, none of them will work.*

    It’s important to note that winter weather in Minnesota follows a cruel, predictable pattern: the relatively warm temperatures during a snowstorm are typically followed by a big temperature drop. Unfortunately, this often renders salt and deicers useless. Read the label on your deicer product carefully to make sure it will work under the relevant weather conditions.

    *Just to add a layer of complexity, the temperature range for deicers refers to pavement temperature, not air temperature. You’ll have to guesstimate unless you want to buy a fancy temperature gun.

    Use Sand to Provide Traction

    If you have a walkway covered in ice and it’s too cold for your salt or deicer product to work, you might be better off using sand.

    Sand doesn’t melt the ice. Its job is to sit on top of the ice to provide traction. This makes it safer to walk or drive across icy pavements. Use it sparingly, however, as sand is also a pollutant. Much like road salt, it gets washed into stormdrains in the spring and ends up adding sediment to rivers and lakes. You can help prevent this by sweeping up leftover sand and saving it for re-use.

    It’s worth noting that mixing sand and salt together is practically useless, as they serve completely different purposes. Sand only works if it sits on top of the ice. If it’s warm enough that the salt is working, then the sand isn’t doing anything besides sitting on wet pavement.

    If You Must Salt, Use as Little as Possible

    If you’ve cleared away all the loose snow and ice and it’s warm enough for the salt to do its job, then go ahead and apply it. Just remember that more salt does not equal faster melting — just more pollution and wasted money.

    To avoid using too much salt or deicer, try to apply the proper amount of product for the size of the area you’re treating. There’s an easy way and a hard way to calculate this.

    First, the easy way: shoot for a 3-inch spread between salt granules. That’s it. Try taking a few measurements initially to see how far your spread is; afterward, you’ll learn to eyeball it. If you can create a good spread pattern and memorize what it looks like, it will help you ensure that you use a reasonable amount of deicer every time. If you’re willing to spend $10-$20, a hand spreader can make the job a lot easier.

    If you want to be even more exact, try to apply the equivalent of 4 pounds of salt or deicer per 1,000 square feet of pavement. Use a tape measure to figure out the square footage of the area you’re treating and then use this ratio to calculate how much salt or deicer you should use for that area.

    And remember: If it’s a warm day and the sidewalk is wet, don’t use any deicers. The sun is already doing the job for you, and throwing salt onto the ice isn’t going to hurry the process; it’s just going to send deicer down the stormdrains.


  • 18 Jan 2017 7:47 AM | John MacKenzie

    Plan to attend the 2017 Golf Industry Day On The Hill program on March 9th.  The golf industry in Minnesota has a track record to be proud of. Besides hosting numerous national golf events including the PGA Championship, both Men’s and Women’s Opens, and the 2016 The Ryder Cup, the business of golf annually generates over 2.3 billion dollars in revenue and employs 35,000 individuals in the state. Do you want to help ensure our industry remains strong and vital in the future? Attend the 2017 Golf Industry Day on the Hill!

    Only constituents have the power to open the legislative door and get the message heard.  Your vote and your voice are what matter to your legislature.  Without your support the Golf Allies are left in the hallway and cannot carry the message of, “the good story of golf”, as well as any legislation we need to have passed into law.

    This day will focus on telling the good story of the golf industry including a request to support a Bill providing equitable water allocation upon golf courses in exchange for conservation and drought management efforts.

    Golf Industry Day on the Hill is your chance to tell your elective officials your story about the issues you face every day. Recently, the golf industry has been involved in conversations regarding phosphorous fertilizer, a license plate initiative, and limiting unfair taxation and actually impacted law supporting our goals.  With your support of these initiatives, we have set the wheels in motion to change other requirements such as the curious PLT law and also reduce the impact of other ridiculous rules being proposed by state agencies including a potentially industry challenging plumbing rule change. 

     We need YOU to be part of the conversation!  Besides the introduction of a Bill to change water allocation rights, the DOH affords industry the opportunity to toot it’s own horn with the following messages:

    • ·      Economic impact: $2.3 billion annual economic return to the state's economy, 35,000 jobs annually, charitable gift generation is ????
    • ·      The Ryder Cup, one of the largest sporting events held.  Watched by 500 million people around the world, economic impact $140 Million in Minnesota 
    • ·      Environmental Stewardship; 21,000 acres of pollinator habitat, wildlife corridors, native plants, natural water features and wetlands
    • ·      Green, green space; carbon sequestration, oxygen generation, sound abatement, solar/glare reflection, dust collection
    • ·      The Communities' largest rain garden; storm water management, pollution abatement, groundwater recharge, erosion control

    The process is very easy.  Simply register using this link and arrangements will be made for you to visit your legislatures along with a team of other golf industry supporters.  You just need to show up.  A package of information will be prepared for you to distribute along with the message that golf is good for the state of Minnesota.  The DOH Committee starts the day with a short program introducing you to what you can expect from your legislatures and how the process works.

    It is super simple and super effective, but only if you show up and support the golf industry at the Day On the Hill.


  • 16 Jan 2017 6:21 PM | John MacKenzie

    Supporters of the golf course at Fort Ridgely State Park have scheduled a public rally Jan. 19 at the Fairfax Community Center starting at 7 p.m. 

    As part of the event, State Rep. Tim Miller will release information on the pending bill that will have been introduced at the legislature, allowing the City of Fairfax to lease and operate the golf course at Fort Ridgely State Park.

    Miller will talk about the bill and how he sees the effort will proceed. 

    There will likely be hearings in February before the House environment and natural resources committee. 

    There will be an opportunity for golf course supporters to sign up for a bus trip to attend these legislative hearings and perhaps testify. This legislation has bipartisan support in the legislature.

    The rally will also give supporters of the golf course the opportunity to make a pledge commitment to the Friends of Fort Ridgely /City of Fairfax to acquire the necessary equipment to operate and manage the golf course as well as the clubhouse. 

    Later in the spring, there will be an opportunity to purchase season passes, once the legislation passes.

    This legislative effort is an attempt to give Minnesota citizens a chance to be involved in this impactful decision. 

    The Fort Ridgely golf course is one of the oldest in southern Minnesota, celebrating its 90th year in 2017. The unique course winds through the prairies and ravines above the Minnesota River valley. Nearby is the historic Fort Ridgely museum and battle site. For generations, the golf course has exposed its users to the unique nature and history of the region, while driving attendance at the state park.

    The golf course was successfully renovated with grass greens in 2006 at the cost of $2.1 million. It is an existing public recreational asset that will be destroyed through the proposed conversion to prairie grass. This conversion and loss of this recreational destination, would dramatically reduce state park attendance and create a negative economic blow to the City of Fairfax, other surrounding communities and Nicollet County. The Fairfax Community Center is located at 300 South Park Street. 

    For more information, call Marcia Seibert-Volz, Fairfax city administrator, at (507) 426-7255. 

    The public is encouraged to attend.


  • 13 Jan 2017 5:49 PM | John MacKenzie

    If you're a forester in northern Minnesota, chances are you've already entertained quite a few questions about just how cold it will need to be before overwintering emerald ash borer (EAB) larvae begin to die. Here's a brief overview of EAB winter physiology and results of some current research that should help to explain that although our cold climate may help slow the rate of population expansion, it won't be enough to stop the spread of EAB.

    Like many insects, overwintering EAB larvae are able to survive in climates with subzero winter temperatures using the strategy of supercooling, or the ability to lower the freezing point of a liquid. To lower the freezing point of their internal fluids, different insects produce a variety of specialized sugars, alcohols, or antifreeze proteins during the winter months. These compounds allow insects to endure subzero body temperatures far below where their internal fluids would normally freeze. Once insects become seasonally acclimated to the cold, temperatures below this supercooling point are required before significant portions of a population begin to die.

    So what is the supercooling point for EAB larvae, you might ask? Several recent research projects have provided somewhat different answers. Research in China within EAB's native range has indicated that the supercooling point for EAB ranges from -9.4°F to -15.5°F. In North America, research from Ontario, Canada has indicated the supercooling point might be as low as -23°F. Perhaps of greatest interest to us, though, are the results of research carried out right here in Minnesota. In an experiment where EAB-infested logs were kept outdoors for the winter near Grand Rapids, Minnesota, researchers from the U. S. Forest Service and Minnesota Department of Agriculture found that the supercooling temperature for the Minnesota EAB population was about -13°F. Based on these results, a model was created that predicts that about five percent of EAB larvae should die when temperatures reach 0°F, 34 percent at -10°F, 79 percent at -20°F, and an impressive 98 percent should die at -30°F. ¹

    Though ambient air temperatures as low as -30°F might not be a rare occurrence in northern Minnesota, it is important to keep in mind that not all EAB larvae will experience that same -30°F within a tree. In addition to insulation provided from the outer bark, larvae overwintering at the base of trees below the snow line will be especially well-insulated. It may take prolonged periods at a certain ambient temperature before temperatures beneath the bark will ever drop to the same level.

    Though a substantial number of EAB larvae are likely to be killed by winter temperatures each year, what is most concerning are the more cold-tolerant individuals that are more likely to survive. Over time, these more cold-tolerant larvae could begin to represent a greater portion of the reproductive population. This will not actually lower the existing supercooling point of EAB larvae, but it could eventually result in a population with a lower average supercooling point. While frigid winter temperatures may be an added benefit for now, we should not allow the cold to give us a false sense of security when it comes to actively managing Minnesota's ash resource.

    ¹ Venette, R.C. & Abrahamson, M. (2010) Cold hardiness of emerald ash borer , Agrilus planipennis: a new perspective.


  • 13 Jan 2017 7:21 AM | John MacKenzie

    On January 12th, 2017, at the MGCSA Annual Meeting held during the Northern Green in Minneapolis, the Minnesota Golf Course Superintendents membership made several decisions:

    New Board Members Elected; President Erin McManus, Vice-President Brandon Schindele, Secretary/Treasurer Matt Rostal, Incumbent Directors Jamie Bezanson, Todd Kranz, Mike Manthey, Scott Thayer, Jesse Trcka and Tim Fleegel, new Directors Matt Cavanaugh, Eric Ritter and Justin Bicek.

    Accepted By-laws changes as recommended by the GCSAA and MGCSA Board of Directors changing category SM to B, creating an Equipment Manager Class with dues set at $75 per year and the reduction of Student Membership fees from $70 to $0.

    The remodeled Northern Green was both refreshing and disappointing.  Changes will be made to the format for 2018.  The revisions include a return of the Beer and Pretzel Social Event as well and a one-day registration for Tuesday programs.  Mark you calendar for an earlier than normal event to begin on January 2nd, 2018.  The date change takes place as the city of Minneapolis is setting up to host the 2018 Superbowl.

  • 10 Jan 2017 3:55 PM | John MacKenzie


    MPR, Dan Gunderson.  Moorhead, MN 

    The rusty patched bumble bee has become the first bumble bee in the United States to be listed as an endangered species.

    Twenty years ago the bee was abundant in 28 states, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but since the 1990s the population has declined nearly 90 percent.

    "Our top priority is to act quickly to prevent extinction of the rusty patched bumble bee. Listing the bee as endangered will help us mobilize partners and focus resources on finding ways right now to stop the decline," said Tom Melius, Midwest regional director for the agency.

    The Fish and Wildlife Service says Minnesota is one of just 13 states where scattered populations of the rusty patched bumble bee are still found.

    "Addressing some of the threats that the rusty patched bumble bee faces from pesticide, to exposure to diseases, to habitat loss will certainly help a wide variety of other native pollinators," said Sarina Jepson, endangered species program director for the Xerces Society, which has advocated for listing the bee for nearly a decade.

    Many endangered species are found only in remote areas, but that's not the case with the newly listed bumble bee.

    "Rusty patched bumble bees are also found in urban areas in the Twin Cities for example, so people have rusty patched bumble bees visiting their back yard so that's kind of unusual for an endangered species," said Jepsen.

    The Fish and Wildlife Service says a combination of habitat loss, disease and parasites, pesticide and climate change likely contributed to the population decline.

    The agency will develop a plan to protect the rusty patched bumble bee, but it says the public can help by planting native flowers, limiting pesticide use and leaving native habitat where bees can overwinter.


  • 05 Jan 2017 8:50 AM | John MacKenzie

    Pesticides; Certification of Pesticide Applicators

    EPA is updating the existing regulation concerning the certification of applicators of restricted use pesticides (RUPs) in response to public comments received on the proposal and based on extensive stakeholder review of the existing regulation and its implementation since 1974. The final revised regulation will ensure Federal certification program standards adequately protect applicators, the public, and the environment from risks associated with use of RUPs. The final rule will improve the competency of certified applicators of RUPs, increase protection for noncertified applicators using RUPs under the direct supervision of a certified applicator through enhanced pesticide safety training and standards for supervision of noncertified applicators, and establish a minimum age requirement for certified and noncertified applicators using RUPs under the direct supervision of a certified applicator. Recognizing EPA's commitment to work more closely with Tribal governments to strengthen environmental protection in Indian country, the final rule will provide more practical options for establishing certification programs in Indian country.

    More information can be found here.

    According to Joe Spitzmueller, MDA Manager, Facility, Licensing and Emergency Response Section Pesticide and Fertilizer Management Division, "Nothing new for impacts from what we have already seen; again we think private applicators will be affected the most by this new rule. "


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