"If you hit it out of bounds twice you should get a discount." -- David Feherty, at the 1998 Ameritech Senior Open

GCSAA trade show available live on the Web

This week the biggest event in the golf course maintenance world is taking place in San Diego, but even if you aren't able to attend GCSAA's Conference and Show, you can still experience it thanks to an Internet broadcast hosted by Nick Federoff, national syndicated green industry expert and talk show host.

The Green Industry Talk Show will be broadcast on the web Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.

You can hear the broadcast by visiting http://www.tgits.com and clicking on the GCSAA logo.

Climate Diagnostics Center works for better forecasting

Everyone looks at the weather forecast, but golf course superintendents are among the many whose professional futures can depend on what the weather does.

For them, the work of scientists at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Diagnostics Center to improve the quality of weather forecasting is important.

Like the weather forecasters who rely on their interpretation of the causes of past and current weather conditions to make weather forecasts those scientists conduct research on the causes of past and present climate conditions to support NOAA’s capability to predict future climate conditions.

They develop and apply state-of-the art scientific methods, called climate diagnostic techniques, to analyze observations and models of climate variability and change. The methods are similar to the way a doctor applies expert analyses of observations and lab tests to arrive at a medical diagnosis.

Except CDC scientists conduct expert analyses of their patient--the Earth’s climate--to diagnose the causes of observed climate conditions. They analyze variables such as atmospheric temperatures, precipitation, winds and ocean conditions, employ climate models as aids in their diagnoses and apply their expert knowledge of naturally recurring atmospheric and oceanic features, such as El Niño – Southern Oscillation, to develop an understanding of how climate conditions may change and why.

It's part of NOAA's mission to develop improved climate assessments and predictions that contribute to the nation’s economic and environmental security, and these capabilities are important to the nation's economic and environmental security. CDC provides the capabilities to better understand and predict climate variations, including extreme events such as major droughts, floods and El Niño – Southern Oscillation events — all of which have enormous economic, societal and environmental impacts.

For more on the work of the Climate Diagnostics Center and how it has changed weather forecasting, visit the online NOAA Magazine.

Coalition to draft environmental lawn care guidelines

Next month, San Antonio, Texas will host a coalition of business, government and environmental groups that are joining to help educate consumers about how their lawn care practices affect the environment.

Organized by the Lawns & Environment coalition under the auspices of the Center for Resource Management, the ultimate goal of the conference is to adopt "Environmental Guidelines for Responsible Lawn Care and Landscaping."

The meeting will be March 14-17 at the Historic Menger Hotel and will include GCSAA among the groups attending and offering input into the draft. Others in attendance include: the U.S. EPA, USDA, The Scotts Co., Toro Co., National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Professional Lawn Care Association of America, Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, San Antonio Water System, Businesses for the Bay/Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, and Agronomy and Horticulture Services.

Topics for discussion include how best to educate the consumer on the proper use of pesticides and fertilizers, how to conserve water and how to protect wildlife while maintaining a healthy and attractive home landscape.

Conference participants will have opportunities to voice their opinions and provide recommendations concerning the proposed environmental guidelines and how best to educate and motivate consumers to adopt these practices in home yards and landscapes.

The conference is open to individuals and organizations active in lawn care and landscaping activities and their associated environmental issues.

For more information or to participate in the San Antonio conference contact: Paul Parker, Nancy Nelson. For more on CRM, visit http://www.crm.org.

Sousa recounts life-threatening heart attack

Manny Sousa, superintendent for 14 years at Poppy Hills Golf Club, one of the courses used for the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, certainly knows what it means to get ready for a major professional tour event. But on the eve of last year's tournament he had a heart attack that he says changed his life.

In his story in the Monterey Herald, reporter Dennis Taylor tells the story of how Sousa's life was saved because one of Poppy Hills' staff members, Lupe Orozco, had forgotten his safety goggles that day, and had to return to the maintenance facility to retrieve them.

There, he found Sousa in the midst of a heart attack. Thanks to the work of paramedics and doctors, he survived, but with a new approach to the stress of his job.

According to the story, "Life, in general, is better, he says, because he's learned not to sweat the small stuff. Stress still happens -- it's a big part of his job -- but Sousa says he now takes a few minutes to relax whenever he feels the onset."

That's probably good advice for everyone.

For the complete story, visit: The Monterey Herald

Chicagoan takes 2004 GCSAA Golf Championship

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- Tommy Robinson, golf course superintendent at Ravinia Green Country Club in Riverwoods, Ill., shot a final round 3-under-par 68 to win the 54th Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) National Golf Championship conducted at five San Diego - area golf courses, Feb. 9-10.

Robinson carded a 36-hole total of 3-over-par 146, two strokes better than Al Pondel, CGCS at Rockford (Ill.) Country Club, and Mike Stieler, golf course superintendent at Riverbend Golf Club in Madera, Calif. Robinson recorded a 6-over-par 78 at Maderas Golf Club yesterday and followed it up with his 68 at Delmar National Golf Club today. Robinson competed in his 27th GCSAA championship and is a two-time USGA Amateur qualifier.

The GCSAA Golf Championship, presented in partnership with The Toro Co., featured more than 600 competitors. Next year's event will be held in Orlando, Fla.

The championship is conducted simultaneously with GCSAA's International Golf Course Conference and Show at the San Diego Convention Center.