range from $100 to $300. Be careful,though. Some of the bargain-basement-brand modems are not completely com-patible to the Hayes standard.

The computer and modem (the hard-ware) cannot get you into the TGIF bythemselves. You must also have theprogram or software that makes themodem dial and connect to the com-puter at MSU, and allows you to searchand download information from theturfgrass file. The program that accom-plishes all this is called Vueport. Vueportwas written specifically for the TurfgrassInformation File, and is the only com-munications program that will performproperly when using the TGIF. It canbe run from a floppy disk or hard disk,

and is extremely easy to install on yourmachine.

ConclusionAs you can see, for a relatively small

investment in hardware and software,the golf course superintendent canliterally put this extremely powerfultool at his fingertips. Using the TGIF,his management decisions can be basedon research and agronomic fact. Inaddition, a rapidly growing number ofsuperintendents are using personal com-puters to help them schedule preventivemaintenance of equipment, prepare andmonitor budgets, and more accuratelymonitor their pesticide programs. Yourclub will find this new tool will pay foritself in a very short period of time.

The fee schedule for using the TGIFhas not been determined, but it will beavailable shortly. It will be a nominaland reasonable charge, especially con-sidering the size, power, and flexibilityof the database. For additional infor-mation about the USGA TurfgrassInformation File, contact one of thefollowing:

1. Your regional USGA Green SectionAgronomist (see the list on the insidecover of the GREENSECTIONRECORD).

2. The Turfgrass Information Centerat Michigan State University: Phone(517) 353-7209.

3. The United States Golf Association,in Far Hills, New Jersey: Phone (201)234-2300.

Impressions of a Summers Tourwith the Green Sectionby SHERWOOD A. MOORE

WORK for the Green Section?What if I can't answer people'squestions? How about the

planes to catch, the miles to drive, andthe reports to write, and what aboutfinding all those golf courses and hotels?Can an old dog teach new tricks? Whywould they want me?

These were just a few of my thoughtsand apprehensions when I was ap-proached by the USGA Green Sectionand asked if I would be interested inassisting them by calling on golf coursesin 1987 as part of their Turf AdvisoryService. After giving it some thought,though, I felt that my more than 50 yearsof experience in golf course manage-ment, along with having been the

Sherwood A. Moore was superintendentat Winged Foot Golf Club during threeUS. Open Championships, in 1959,1974,and 1984. He is a past President of theGolf Course Superintendents Associa-tion of America. In 1987, he received theUSGA Green Section Awardfor distin-

guished service to golf through workwith turfgrass.

6 USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

superintendent at three U.S. OpenChampionships, would be of value tosomebody along the way. It would alsobe an exciting challenge and a great wayto climax my career.

So began a four-month adventurethat took me to 60 golf courses inMassachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania,Ohio, Nevada, Utah, and California.I must admit that I approached everyclub nervously, wondering if I wouldbe accepted as a representative of theGreen Section. These apprehensionswere quickly put to rest, however, assoon as I met with the superintendentand officials at each club, and we beganto share our experiences in turfgrassmanagement.

My respect for golf course super-intendents and the job they do wasreaffirmed from the beginning. FromMassachusetts to California, regardlessof their ages or the budgets they workedwith, the superintendents with whom Ivisited were eager to learn, enthusiasticabout their work, and knowledgeable.The same could be said about many ofthe superintendents in my generation,but it was apparent from my travels thattoday's superintendents are taking good

advantage of the many educationalopportunities in turfgrass science andgolf course management that weren'tavailable when I was starting in thebusiness. It was very gratifying to seehow they're putting their knowledge towork, and how they've grown in statureat their clubs and in the game.

Golf itself appeared to be in goodshape, based upon my observations.Many private clubs had full member-ships and long waiting lists, and playwas up at both private and publicfacilities. Correspondingly, the goodfinancial health of the clubs was reflectedin the steadily increasing budgets for themaintenance and upgrading of their golfcourses. Despite this rosy appearance,though, I saw considerable rebuildingand remodeling of the clubhouse facili-ties at some clubs at the expense ofmuch-needed golf course renovationwork. I'll admit to a bias on the subject,but how can the board of directors atany club neglect golf course drainage,irrigation, and equipment in favor ofmauve carpeting and designer lockers?Needless to say, in every such case Iencountered, the urgent need to followthrough with critical programs and

. ""._'" .-:!Jutl.i:,(Top) Flowers add color to this tee at the Shawnee Country Club, in Lima, Ohio.

(Above) It's dry in July, but gabion work should stabilize the banks when water flow is heavyduring winter and spring. Willow Creek Country Club, in Sandy, Utah.

projects was stressed in my writtenfollow-up report. Operating, capital,and special project budgets cannot beignored if a high-caliber course is to bemaintained. Boards of directors shouldremember that the condition of the golfcourse has a direct impact on the successor failure of the clubhouse operation.

Despite the occasional difficult weatherconditions, I was favorably impressedby the fine condition of the courses Ivisited. This is not to say that it was alla bed of roses, though. I saw disease,insect, drought, flood, and soil prob-lems, and just as many concerns aboutPoa annua and what to do with it asever. Something could always be changed,corrected, or improved upon. It seemedthat my reports were just as long for thecourses that were in immaculate condi-tion as for those with a multitude ofproblems.

One problem that took me completelyby surprise was the antiquated, inefficientirrigation systems at many courses -from the water source to the pump-house to the lines and heads. True, therewere instances of golf courses with

MAY/ JUNE 1988 7

In contrast to the tree-lined Ja ir ways oj the East, golf courses in parts oj the West takeadvantage oj the beauty oj their terrain and native vegetation. Jeremy Ranch CountryClub, in Park City, Utah.

excellent systems, but a great manymore were deficient in one or more ofthese categories. In many cases the watersource was simply too small to provideadequate reserves for periods of dryweather. One club had only two feet ofwater remaining in its small irrigationpond, with the better part of the summeryet to endure. All fairway irrigation hadbeen curtailed so that the greens couldbe kept alive, and all that could be donewas to hope that the drought would endsoon. A similar episode had occurredseveral years ago, but all thoughts ofenlarging the pond at that time had beenwashed away with the next heavy rain-fall. Expanding ponds or seeking othersources of water is a costly and unpopularexpense, but how many near-disastersdoes it take to get some action? Myreport to the club was to the point.

Other facets of irrigation systemswere not much better. I was amazed atthe number of systems that are notpressurized, and at the number of pumpsthat should have been retired long ago.Equally poor was the layout of manysystems, including inefficient line loca-tion and poor spacing of the sprinklerheads and quick-coupler valves. Thesedeficiencies could be found throughoutthe country and at courses that use fullyautomatic, quick coupler, or primitivehose-and-sprinkler systems.

One of the key prerequisites for grow-ing fine turf is an efficiently designed

and installed irrigation system. It isdifficult to maintain top-quality turf inthe hot, humid, or droughty conditionsof various parts of the country, and theproblems multiply when they are coupledwith the tremendous increase in playand golf cart use today. Add to this aninadequate, poorly designed irrigationsystem and you have the potential forsome real difficulties. Thus, with de-mands for water for all purposes in-creasing each year, it is critical thatgolf courses place the modernizing oftheir irrigation systems high on theirpriority list.

Of course, a great irrigation systemcan't maintain good-quality turf all byitself. It takes the knowledge, judgement,and experience of a good superintendentto make the calls and push the rightbuttons. Though overwatering continuesto be a major problem on many golfcourses, I was happy to find that manysuperintendents are learning to refinetheir water management techniques.

The topic of budgets was a popularone during my travels, especially as itrelates to some of the labor-intensiveprograms like triplex mowing of fair-ways and hand mowing of greens. Oneclub official asked me what is going tohappen to some of the modern super-intendents accustomed to today's highmaintenance operations if the economydives and budgets are cut to the bone.My response was that they will adapt,

the same way and perhaps even betterthan my generation did during the yearsof lean budgets. I was amazed at theexcellent turf conditions produced bysome superintendents who worked withsmall budgets and a dearth of equipment.

My travels reaffirmed my view thatthere is an important place for the GreenSection Turf Advisory Service visits inthe field of turf management. One of thegreatest benefits I see is the exchange ofideas and experiences.

After a few weeks on the road, I foundmyself telling superintendents and clubofficials about the successful practicesand programs I had seen at other coursesin previous weeks. Examples includedvarious adaptations developed for fair-way triplex mowing, the use of plantgrowth regulators, the wide use of peren-nial ryegrasses, and contour mowing -not just for fairways but for greens andtees as well.

These practical ideas and experiences,along with finding out what is new inturfgrass research and equipment de-velopment, were eagerly sought out bysuperintendents and officials alike, andwill be incorporated into their mainte-nance programs as soon as feasible.

Another great benefit of the TAS visitis to help tip the scale in favor of capitalexpenditures, such as a new maintenancebuilding, the purchase of new equip-ment, the installation of cart paths ordrainage systems, or upgrading irri-gation systems.

The job of the superintendent of thefuture is not going to be any easier,especially'with environmental issues ofsuch great concern. Pesticide controlsand regulations are bound to increase,requiring more restraint and profes-sionalism than ever before. Water re-strictions and good water managementwill be even more important, so thesuperintendent had better learn to useit efficiently. Learning how to recruitand handle labor will be an importantpart of his training, and he must learnhow to take advantage of computers inthis information age. The next fewdecades will be exciting and challenging,but I know that the golf course super-intendent will meet the challenge, andthe Green Section will be there to help.

I greatly enjoyed the opportunity totravel the country for the Green Section,visiting so many fine golf courses andmeeting so many nice people. It was arewarding and fulfilling experience, aswell as an educational one, for me.Indeed, I found out that an old dog canteach new tricks, and learn a few alongthe way, too.