| Stephen Tucker, founding member and CEO of the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association (IGCEMA.org) has decided to step down from his post so he can focus more on his family and career. Tucker is hoping to remain active within the Association, he just feels he isn't able at this point to give the Association the attention it requires. “In being a volunteer CEO, the job is a lot to take on when making decisions for the future of the IGCEMA, and I believe the membership needs someone who can dedicate more time than I can to get the tasks ahead of us accomplished,” Tucker said in his announcement. Visit IGCEMA to read the statement and find out more about the association. From ClimateWatch Magazine, a product of NOAA, comes the recap of the Summer of 2011. The verdict: HOT! You can see from THIS graphic, record heat was the norm for both day and nighttime temps - especially across the south where many experienced 30 days or more of over 100-degree heat. Four southern states, Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana all tallied their warmest summers on record. As a matter of fact, TX and OK recorded the hottest summers on record - ever - since record keeping began in the late 1800s. So what is a guy who has to mow fairways in the blazing heat to do? Eric Kulaas, a.k.a. The Militant Mechanic, keeper of the TurfTech blog, posted THIS fabrication to his blog that is a must-do this winter in your shops. Just don't paint it pink or put little bunnies with hats on it - your operator may not like that too much..... Welcome to Turf Disease Central! No, I'm not talking about your fairways... Turfdiseases.org was launched in 2009 as a site dedicated to “Updates for professionals by professionals.” Hosted and updated by industry professionals and university professors, this is a ?must-bookmark' site for anyone involved in the care of turf. Since the original post, “Patch-a-rama in Kansas,” the site has devoted itself as “...a way to utilize social media and other social networking tools to provide timely updates for golf course superintendents.” Turfdiseases.org underwent a major redesign overhaul and it looks great! It features timely updates, research, disease profiles and images, and of course, blogs from around the country (like GCI !) Next time you have a few minutes, check in to Turfdiseases.org -- you'll not be disappointed. Over in Scotland, the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship is taking place Sept 29 to October 2 over three courses that make up the origins of golf: The Old Course, Carnoustie Golf Links, and Kingsbarns. The Dunhill is a pro-am event of world renown and the Greenkeepers have been getting ready for the spectacle. Carnoustie Golf Links has regular updates on getting the course in shape HERE. To see how things are shaping up on The Old Course, find out HERE. Kingsbarns, considered to be the 'baby' of the three was nevertheless hosting golf in the 1700's. It is a spectacular layout along the North Sea. Visit their site HERE and you might find yourself parroting Tony Korologos from the Hooked On Golf Blog, “Pebble who?” We have yet another instance of a superintendent talking to his grass. Doug Ayres of Corral De Tierra Country Club in California was seen last August having a little chat with his putting greens. Not only was I intrigued by the question he asked and subsequent answer, but also by Doug's maintenance regimen overall. Eavesdrop HERE. |
