Well it’s been another trying summer for Golf Course Superintendents and Sports Turf Managers alike. The weather, as usual has been unpredictable at best. Some areas have been too wet; many areas have been too dry, yet still people that utilize your turfgrass areas demand perfection. Many times their own yards are either full of weeds or so brown that you cannot tell where the driveway ends and the lawn begins yet these are the same people that, on your facility, can spot a crabgrass plant or a brown spot at 50 yards.

So why do we put up with all the stresses of growing turfgrass? Because our cubical is outside. We do not have to sit in a sealed office building listening to the drone of an air conditioner or pumped in white noise. We do have many duties that we have to perform inside, but when the things fall in place, and you are outside on that utility vehicle right after sunrise, the morning mist is hanging in the air and all seems right with the world, you remember why you got into this profession in the first place. Say, is that my beeper?

The Moisture in the soil is the number one element keeping your soil in good health. Remember that the balance of air within the soil profile is hinged upon the water that displaces it.

A soil in good tilth consists of 50% solids, 25% air spaces and 25% water. Rain or irrigation water will temporarily fill all of the voids in the soil. Depending on the porosity of the soil or its capacity to hold water, good soils will drain in about an hour. This is gravitational water and will move down into the soil profile. Normally, it will take about an hour for gravitational water to move down after it is applied to turfgrass areas.

The soil will then be at "field capacity", which means that the soil is holding all of the water it can after the gravitational water has drained into the profile.

As the turfgrass plant uses the water held in the soil, which is at "field capacity", air begins to fill the voids occupied by the water, allowing the root system to take in oxygen. As water is used up in the "field capacity" range, it can be noted on the Moisture Sensor meter. The field capacity readings should be recorded for the one, two, three and four inch depths in the profile to determine the range of moisture when the soil is at "field capacity".

When the meter indicates less then 25%, it means that there may be still moisture in the soil, but the plant roots cannot retrieve it, since it is too tightly held by the soil particles. Water should be applied at this point.

I know that this newsletter is about turfgrass; however everyone who gets it must be somewhat computer literate because you are reading this on your computer! So I just want to pass along the following information about computer viruses. I have been reading lots of posts on message boards about them and wanted to offer my insight as I get lots of mail from people I do not know ever day and have to open the messages.

First of all, get a good virus software. I recommend Norton, however I don't usually have it turned on. I just use it to scan my computer once in a while to be sure I am "clean".

So, how do you never get a virus? Well use some common sense rules and NEVER stray. Rule # 1, Never open attachments. If I get an attachment from someone, I respond and tell them to send the message in a text format only. I know you may like attachments and if so, save it to a disk and then scan it for viruses before opening it.

If you ever suspect you have a virus, send yourself some mail. If you also get back an extra attachment or an additional letter, run your virus scan.

Another good idea is to get a second hard drive. With a second hard drive you can put all your data on that drive and if I virus strikes, it usually goes after the "C" or main hard drive. If your data is stored on a second drive, many times it will not be affected.

Third, use web based email. There are many free services that allow you to view your mail on the web and use their computer to do so. If you do this, you will never download the mail onto your computer in the first place and prevent the viruses from getting into your computer. To check into this, call your Internet Service Provider and ask them about checking your mail online. The nice feature of this is that not only will you stay virus free, but you can check your email from any computer.

Good luck surfing the web and remember to keep a Poa-annua free green or sports field and a virus free computer.

I am very proud of many of the recent events that have happened regarding Turf-Tec's products. The following endorsements have recently occurred:

The reason why we receive these kinds of endorsements and the fact that our tools have been successful is because they give easy to understand, meaningful results and are built to last.

I am very proud of our accomplishments so far, but I still feel that we are still on the very edge of knowledge as far as turfgrass health is concerned. I build our tools to give the Superintendent and Sports Turf Manager piece of mind. If you know your turfs overall health, which includes soil water, air, infiltration, compaction, pH and root growth, you can rest easier at night knowing that you will never be in for a big surprise the next morning. In the words of my father, "If you do not know the health of your turf, you better not go away on a long fishing trip".

When artist and Golf Course Superintendent Brad Pearson of Holdrege Country Club, Nebraska began work on the statue of Old Tom Morris for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America's 75th anniversary, he knew it would ultimately end up on display at the association's headquarters.

What he didn't know is that another casting of the monumental bronze icon would someday gaze over the Old Course at St. Andrews where Old Tom Morris practically invented greenkeeping.

But thanks to a gift from GCSAA to the British Golf Museum, that's exactly what has happened. The statue has been installed in the lobby of the museum, and according to Sam Groves, assistant curator, he's overlooking the Old Course, "…just as Tom would have wanted."

An additional casting of the statue graces the entrance to the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, Fla.

Starting in September 2002, I have been honored to be allowed to submit a new monthly feature to Golf Course Management Magazine called the "John Mascaro's Photo Quiz". The feature will follow a similar form of the one that my father used to publish for over 20 years in the same publication. It will offer a photograph of a problem area and then you can try to guess the answer. The correct answer will appear in the back of the magazine. It will be informative as well as fun. If any of my newsletter readers ever come across anything different or out of the ordinary, please let me know. If I use the photograph in the magazine, you will get full credit!

The Sports Turf Managers Association adds an online store to their website. Now you can order official STMA merchandise, hats, shirts and accessories right from your computer.

Visit http://www.sportsturfmanager.com and click on "online Store".

Turf-Tec Now Offers Online Ordering

As of today, Turf-Tec International now offers online ordering to our website.  If you want to order by credit card we have a secure server that will aid you in making any purchase and we accept MasterCard, Visa, Discover card and American Express.

To try this feature out click here: http://www.turf-tec.com/orderform.html

As September 11^th approaches, I think we all feel a sense of anticipation as well as a reminder of the kind of world we now live in. I was looking through the USGA Green section record and found the following article in the June 1943 issue. It reminds us that the Golf Course Superintendents of this county have stepped up to the plate on many occasions before and we should be proud of our heritage. During World War II, our nation implemented a food production program and the Golf Course Superintendents were there to lend a hand. Also keep in mind that whatever our nation has to endure in the future, we will always stand strong if we stand together.

Many golf clubs are streamlining their turf maintenance work into the nation's food production program in successful and ingenious ways. In Metropolitan New Jersey, for instance, 3 miles from the nearest railroad station, the Baltusrol Golf Club under the able management of Major R. Avery Jones is keeping up its two rambling courses, running a farm and garden, and maintaining a stable with six horses - all with half its former grounds staff. Members, according to reports, thoroughly enjoy the 3-mile trip between the railroad station and the club in horse-drawn station wagons. That this rustic method of transportation is practical as well as enjoyable is evidenced by the fact that on each of the three days on the Memorial Day weekend, more than 100 members were transported to and from the club. And so golf goes on and Major Jones "keeps 'em swinging."

Between the two courses and a safe distance from even the wildest golf shots, several fields, each from 3 to 6 acres in size, have been fenced in. In one there are 30 Herford steers; in a second, 10 Guernsey heifers; and in a third, 30 Southdown sheep. Naturally a 3-acre field offers 30 steers little but fresh spring water and a place to exercise. However, the stock is fed each day, morning and evening, with clippings from bunkers and rough, and greens when chemicals are not being used on the latter. According to Major Jones, the stock follows the truck up to the big trough from which they are fed and line up for the meal in perfect order. Apparently the members derive genuine satisfaction from the knowledge that their club is contributing to the country's food program, as well as from the picturesque touch furnished by the stock roaming the club's fields.

Major Jones plans to sell the steers about November; the heifers, when they drop their first calves; and the lambs in about August; thereby disposing of the stock before the green food supply runs out. Meanwhile, 9 acres have been devoted to field corn and alfalfa, nearly 2 acres to garden crops, and 40 acres to hay and clover to be used for fattening the steers for market.

Last winter Major Jones kept his grounds staff together by having them build stables for 8 horses and cut 200 cords of wood for the members. Much of the farm work was done by the men before the golf season opened.

The above was reprinted from the USGA Green section record, June 1943 issue.

I also want to invite all of you recipients of this newsletter that if you wish to contribute any information that you find interesting or exciting, please send it to me and I will include it along with crediting its source.

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