USGA Green Section Education Program

It’s All About the Economy! Good Ideas to Help You Tighten Your Belt

Fri., Feb. 6
10 am – Noon

Moderator: Ty McClellan, Agronomist,
Mid-Continent Region

Water, Water Everywhere

Darin Bevard, Senior Agronomist, Mid-Atlantic Region

Be aware: The hidden costs of overwatering can cost you in more ways than one.

Overcome Your Infatuation with Base Saturation – Does It Make Sense to Apply All That Calcium?

Brian Whitlark, Agronomist, Southwest Region

Base saturation is being used to make fertilizer and soil amendment recommendations and define where calcium applications may be helpful for turf growth. Understand these ratios to ensure that unnecessary applications are avoided.

The Cost of Making Wind

Patrick O’Brien, Director, Southeast Region

Is blowing hot air burning through your wallet? The surprising numbers involving the installation and annual operational costs of fans.

Naturalized Areas: Beauty and the Beast

Jim Skorulski, Senior Agronomist, Northeast Region and John Foy, Director, Florida Region

Developing naturalized areas brings many benefits to the golf course, but beware – maintenance-free it is not!

Presentation of the 2009 Green Section Award

Pipe Dreams — Do Water Conditioners and In-Line Pipe Devices Really Work?

Pat Gross, Director, Southwest Region

A perspective on the usefulness of in-line pipe devices for water treatment.

Form vs. Function: The “Wow” Factor Can Be Costly

Keith Happ, Senior Agronomist, Mid-Atlantic Region

With ever-changing economics, it is more important than ever to cost out maintenance procedures while still meeting golfer expectations. This presentation offers suggestions on mowing tactics and the economics of preparing the playing surface.

What the Inorganic Soil Amendments Really Have to Offer

Bud White, Director, Mid-Continent Region

New products are constantly being introduced in the marketplace. What can be expected from inorganic soil amendments used in the field — new construction and daily maintenance.

With a Good Mechanic, It Will Run Forever

Chris Hartwiger, Senior Agronomist, Southeast Region

Having a good mechanic is vital to any maintenance operation, but keeping equipment past its useful lifespan can bust a budget and prevent the mechanic from focusing on quality-of-cut issues.

Bunkers: Can Your Golf Course Afford Them?

Jim Moore, Director, Construction Education

It’s expensive to construct and maintain bunkers to the very high standards many golfers desire.