Irma visits the Southeast

Hurricane Irma recently wreaked havoc on the Caribbean and Florida before weakening and heading up through Georgia and Alabama.  I paid a visit to coastal Georgia and South Carolina a week after the storm to see if it was a repeat performance from last year's Hurricane Matthew.

Thankfully, it only took a short time to see that things were not as bad here as it was last year after Matthew. That being said, there were still plenty of trees on the ground and many coastal facilities took on some storm surge.  One week after the storm rolled through the Hilton Head area, it was almost business as usual.  There were a few trees down in the area. Every course that I went to was open for play and things seemed pretty normal. I didn't get to visit every course on the island but there were no piles of brush and logs lying about like there was last year.

Further south down the coast. in the Savannah area, there was much more damage to courses from both wind and water.  One of the courses I went to still had water on several acres of the back nine as a result of storm surge coming up through the river that runs next to the property.  A large collection of pumps had been brought in to get the water off the course since the flood waters covered the onsite pumps causing them to fail.  There was also considerable bunker damage to the property thanks to the quick rising flood water.  Fortunately, there was no structural damage and the maintenance facility remained dry.

The St. Simmons Island area seemed to be the hardest hit area in my region. There were hundreds of trees down on the island golf courses and some flood damage to one of the courses.  I visited the King and Prince Golf Course and got a tour from Assistant Superintendent JB Workman.  There were trees down everywhere you looked but a week into the clean up the mess was now mostly in the rough areas.  Tree crews were busy removing hanging limbs but it was amazing to see that no houses were hit on this heavily-wooded property.  The club hoped to be open within a week even though many stumps and logs will take some time to be removed.  This is the second year that this area has had major tree damage.

I spoke to many superintendents throughout Georgia, South Carolina and Alabama and most felt pretty lucky compared to the damage in Florida.  There was widespread tree damage in all three states with most courses reporting anywhere from a few trees to 50 trees on the ground.  I hope everyone can get through the remainder of hurricane season without any more problems.  This area has had plenty of weather-related obstacles over the past three years.  Hopefully, 2018 will have a quieter storm season that what we've seen lately.

JB Workman stands next to some of the storm debris on the King and Prince Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Georgia, a week after Hurricane Irma.

Congressional visit in Alabama's 2nd District

It was just a few months ago that I met with superintendent Ben Anderson in his office to get to know him better and talk about some of the programs that GCSAA has to offer.  He had only been at Arrowhead County Club in Montgomery for a few months but he had a long "to do" list of projects to accomplish on the course.  During our conversation, I mentioned that I was having trouble filling the 2nd District Grassroots Ambassador position in Alabama.  We talked about the program for a time and I left the job description and application with him.  After a few days, Ben notified me that he had talked with some of the club leaders and was interested in becoming the Grassroots Ambassador with Congresswoman Martha Roby in the 2nd District of Alabama.  Ben sent his information to Michael Lee at GCSAA headquarters and was enrolled in the Ambassador training class.

I was contacted by Michael Lee a few weeks ago and informed that Ben had arranged a meeting at his course with Rep. Roby's Legislative Director Mike Albares who works in the DC office.  While many GR Ambassadors struggle to get appointments with lawmakers or their staff, Ben set this meeting up on his first try.  I contacted Ben to see if he would like me to join him for the meeting and he agreed to have me join in on the lunch meeting at Arrowhead.  We agreed to meet in Ben's office an hour before the meeting to make sure we covered all of the talking points we wanted to share with Mr. Albares.  Everything was set for our August 17 visit.

Mike Albares arrived right on time and Ben and I met him at the front door of the clubhouse.  As we walked in to find our table, we did our best to describe our work responsibilities and past experience in the golf industry.  Mike explained that he's not a golfer but he would like to give it a try when the time was right.  We helped ourselves to the lunch buffet and returned to the table where we jumped right into the meat of our conversation.  We started with the H-2B program and what it means to many of the golf courses in the country.  We then had a good conversation about fixing the clean water act and what water means to a golf course superintendent.  The topic of water led to many other discussions including irrigation management, Best Management Practices and the 50 by 2020 initiative, labor, the EPA and Ben's goose management practice of using a remote controlled boat to chase the birds out of the ponds at the course.  It was clear that Mike had a good understanding of our discussions since he grew up in the 2nd district and is keenly aware of the amount of agricultural land that lies within the district.  He also said to be sure to stop by the fourth floor of the Cannon Congressional Building the next time we were in D.C.

Many thanks to Ben for putting this meeting together.  I truly feel as though we've made another valuable ally on Capitol Hill as a result of this meeting.

Arrowhead CC Superintendent Ben Anderson with Representative Marthy Roby's Legislative Director Mike Albares on the 18th green at the club.

Say goodbye to Nemacur

Our industry scored an important victory a few years ago when the EPA agreed to give a three-year extension for the use of remaining Nemacur on hand at golf facilities. The three-year extension ends on October 6.  We found that many courses had a significant amount of Nemacur in inventory three years ago when we did some informal polling of courses in the region.  This means that until October 6, you can still use the product according to label directions on your course for nematode control.

After October 6, you cannot use the product for any reason anywhere on your property and any remaining product would be considered a hazardous waste in the eyes of state and federal regulators. It is imperative that we, as an industry, follow this timeline and abide by the end use date to ensure a good working relationship with the EPA on any upcoming issues that we may face.

So, if you're sitting on a few thousand pounds of Nemacur, you have the rest of the season to use it up, trade it with another course, or sell it. After October 6, it will cost you money to dispose of it.  We need to make sure that on October 7, there is no more Nemacur left at any golf course in the United States.  I think Nemacur has been in use as long as I've been in the industry and it has worked well for courses here in the south but there are suitable replacements available now and their potential environmental impact is far less than that of Fenamiphos.

How were you first exposed to golf?

I think most of us can remember the first time we hit a golf ball or grabbed a club and took a swing.  Chances are it was because someone else put the club in your hands or told you to try to hit the ball.  If you grew up in a household of non-golfers like I did then you certainly needed some prodding from someone else.

This question was thrown around the room at the recent North Carolina Golf Day before the coalition got on the bus and headed to the capitol.  Some people got their first taste of golf because they were a caddie at a young age, others were exposed to golf because they worked at a course either in the clubhouse or out on the maintenance staff. A few of our group learned from family members.  It was interesting to hear the different stories as the 12 members of our group shared their golf beginnings. My story was a bit different and it's due in part to the winter weather in Michigan.

January in Michigan is usually pretty cold.  There's not much outdoor activity going on unless you are a skier, ice fisherman or you just like being cold.  When you're in ninth grade physical education class the focus turns to indoor activities like swimming, dodge ball and calisthenics.  There was one week during that January when the gym teachers had rubber mats set up on the gym floor and large tape squares on the walls that were our targets.  We were told to hit the wiffle balls into the squares on the wall.  After a few demonstration swings from our instructors we were turned loose to try to hit the squares.  I believe my first club was a seven iron but I can't be sure.  It took several swings to get the ball up in the air and even more to consistently hit the target on the wall.  I didn't know it that day but by life was forever changed.  A seed had been planted in my head that took a few months to germinate.  That happened when the gym class got to go to the nearby driving range for a field trip once the weather warmed up that spring.  I couldn't believe how much fun it was to hit balls at the range and how much farther they flew than the wiffle balls we learned with in the gym.  That summer I bought a 3 wood at Montgomery Ward and practiced with wiffle balls in the back yard, I was hooked.  Now, nearly 50 years later, I still love to play golf.

If I had not been handed that 7 iron and told to hit wiffle balls against the gym wall in ninth grade I probably wouldn't have spent my entire professional career around the game of golf.  Who knows what I may have done for a living but I'm pretty happy with the way everything turned out.

When was the first time you were exposed to golf?  Should we try to get golf as part of the physical education curriculum in public schools?  How can we get more people to take that first swing?

Golf Day in North Carolina

May 24 was Golf Day in North Carolina. The game had many representatives on hand to share golf's story with state lawmakers in Raleigh. There were representatives from the Carolinas GCSA Board, the Carolinas Golf Association, Carolinas CMAA, PGA, NGCOA, ASGCA and GCSAA. There was an even dozen of us, including Chris Valauri, the North Carolina lobbyist for the Carolinas chapter. Our message this year was simple and clear: Highlight the economic impact that the game of golf has on the state of North Carolina. We had several copies of the newly completed economic impact study to share with state officials with whom we would meet throughout the day.

I made this trip a year ago, and as a result of last November's elections, we would be meeting with many new faces at the capitol. Roy Cooper defeated incumbent Pat McCrory in an extremely close election for governor and brought with him a new set of cabinet members. One of those new cabinet members is Anthony Copeland, secretary of commerce for the state of North Carolina. He and his staff would be the first group we would meet with that morning.

Our group gathered around the large conference table on the fourth floor of the State House, and we were soon joined by Copeland and three members of his staff. Everyone offered brief introductions and spoke about their role in the game of golf. It was clear that Copeland and his staff understood the economic significance of golf in the state as each of them shared a story related to the game. Brian Powell, CGCS and past president of the Carolinas GCSA, gave a presentation based on the findings in the new economic report. He was followed by Del Ratcliffe, a multiple course owner in the Charlotte area, who also spoke about golf and the North Carolina economy. Following a discussion about economic impact, Copeland read the Golf Day Proclamation signed by Governor Cooper and presented it to Brian Stiehler, CGCS, government affairs chairman for the CGCSA. After sharing a few more stories it was time to head to our next meeting.

Our group rode the elevators up a few floors to our meeting with the Commerce Committee of the North Carolina State Senate. We took our seats around the left side of the room as members of the committee made their way into the room. At precisely 11 a.m. the gavel sounded and the meeting got underway. Senator Rick Gunn, an avid golfer, got the meeting started by introducing our group and each individual by name. Senator Gunn spoke about his passion for golf and read aloud the proclamation. Following presentations highlighting the importance of golf to the N.C. economy, several senators asked questions or made statements indicating that they understood the significance of golf to the state. At this point the committee got to work on a proposed bill before them, as our group watched the government process at work before heading to our lunch meeting.

We walked several blocks to a local law firm, where we gathered in a conference room on the 17th floor to have our lunch. This was a good chance for everyone to relax for a few minutes, review the day's events and discuss events that lay ahead. After a few minutes we were joined by political consultant Paul Shumaker, who shared many interesting facts about the political process, polling and how to run a successful campaign for political office. Shumaker has managed the campaigns of many notable federal and state politicians and offered a wealth of knowledge on the process and analysis of elections. It was truly fascinating. His understanding of the demographics of the state and how that translates into votes was amazing, and he got plenty of questions from our group.

After lunch the group met with the NC General Assembly to officially recognize Golf Day and later with Lieutenant Governor Dan Forrest to further discuss golf and the economy in the state. It was at this point that I had to leave to attend a meeting at the NC State research facility on the south side of Raleigh. Golf Day was a well organized and effective event that demonstrated two important points: Golf is a significant business entity in the state, and the Carolinas chapter is a very strong advocate for its members and the industry as a whole.

Finally, there was one important piece missing that day. Tim Kreger, Carolinas GCSA executive director, had suffered some health issues a few days before the event and was unable to attend. He is a huge part of everything that happens with the CGCSA, and his spirit, energy and passion were missed. Tim and his family are in our thoughts and prayers and I look forward to seeing him back at full speed again in the near future.

Secretary of Commerce Anthony Copeland presents Brian Stiehler, CGCS,
with the proclamation that May 24, 2017, is Golf Day in North Carolina.

Brian Powell, CGCS, gives a presentation on golf's impact on the North Carolina economy to the NC Joint Commerce Committee as Senator Rick Gunn looks on.

A neophyte's view of Washington D.C.

I had my first opportunity to attend National Golf Day this year and it was quite an experience.  Not only do I have a greater understanding of how our government works but I also came away with a positive feeling for the district and the people who live and work there.

First of all, the business end of the meeting:.  I had three congressional meetings and four senate meetings with my regional delegation from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.  The delegation consisted of Tenia Workman, Wally Gresham and Lydell Mack from Georgia, Billy Bagwell and Chuck Connolly from South Carolina and Bob Farren, CGCS, from North Carolina. Everyone did a great job speaking with the staffers and staying on topic asking for support on this year's three key initiatives, H-2B visas, the Clean Water Act fix and the PHIT Act.  During the course of the seven meetings, I got the chance to visit all three buildings on both the senate and house side of the hill.  While wandering through the buildings, you wind up seeing many famous politicians and news reporters. At that point, you realize that you are in the middle of the political world.  At the end of the day, my feet were tired but it felt great to tell our story to the lawmakers and really be involved in the political system.

Perhaps the most rewarding time in DC happened the day before when our group had over 100 volunteers working on the National Mall's lawn.  We were divided into work groups with different assignments ranging from cleaning and straightening park benches to mowing, aerating and seeding the turf "panels" that make up the mall.  I worked with GCSAA Vice President Darren Davis, CGCS, on adjusting the Rain Bird 900 Series' heads that irrigate the panels.  The work of adjusting the heads was second nature to us since we've done it most of our professional lives, but when you lifted up your head and saw the Washington Monument to your right and the U.S. Capitol to your left, it gave the simple task a great deal more significance.  I think everyone involved with the project came away with a great sense of pride and accomplishment.

Finally, a shout out to the people of D.C. I tried to strike up conversation with the D.C. denizens whenever I could: at lunch, in the hotels or with any of the number of people who shuttled me around the town during my stay.  The district has a certain vibe to it and it's reflected in the people who call this area home.  You really never know who's sitting next to you.  After being in the city for only a few hours. while I was having lunch at Old Ebbitt's Grill, I struck up a conversation with the three people sitting next to me.  They were soaking wet having just participated in the "Science March" on the mall.  After some quick introductions. our conversation quickly turned to climate change and global warming.  I could feel the confidence and passion in their speech as we had our spirited discussion for about half an hour.  As my new friends got up to leave one of them said, "thanks for the great discussion, you know your stuff."  I handed him one of my business cards and told him thank you for the great discussion!  He apologized for not having a card to give to me but said he'd send me a note later.  Sure enough, that evening, I got an email from him with some articles to read on climate change. I did a Google search for his name since he seemed to know so much about climate change.  It turns out that for 10 years he was the head of the EPA's climate change section and the lead U.S. author on the Paris Climate Agreement.   You just don't know who's sitting next to you when you're in D.C.

I look forward to getting a chance to make this trip again. It was truly a tremendous experience and I would encourage everyone to get involved in advocacy on behalf of our profession and the game of golf.  It's time and effort that really does pay off for our industry.

First ever Golf Day in Alabama

For many months, dozens of people have been putting together the pieces that would make up Golf Day in Alabama 2017.  We had partners from the Alabama Golf Association and the Dixie Section PGA on board and ready to go spread golf's good news to our state lawmakers in Montgomery.  We picked that date of April 11 because it was the week after the Masters and it fit well with everyone's busy schedules.  We made arrangements to meet with the Lieutenant Governor Kay Ivey to discuss the economic and environmental importance of golf in the state.  Our meeting was at 1 p.m. on Golf Day, April 11.  Everything was set for Golf Day in Alabama 2017, what could possibly go wrong?

Well, for many months here in Alabama. our Governor Dr. Robert Bentley has been under fire for spending state money to hide a relationship he had with a staff member and the impeachment process had begun.  Who knew months ago that on April 10, he would plead guilty to two misdemeanor charges and resign as governor just hours before Golf Day in Alabama 2017.  That would have caused plenty of problems for our event all on its own but at 6:05 p.m. on the 10th, the very person we had a meeting with in 18 hours would be sworn in as the new governor.  Needless to say, Kay Ivey couldn't meet with us on the 11th since she was now the new Governor of Alabama.

When I awoke in my hotel room on the morning of April 11, I knew that there was work to be done. Our months of planning were now a smoldering pile of debris!  I made my way to the State House to see how much of the day we could salvage.  I started in the office of my local Congressman, Chris Pringle, on the fourth floor.  He hadn't arrived in Montgomery yet since the House didn't go into session until 4:30 that day because the impeachment process was supposed to be happening that morning.  I got sent up to the 5th floor to meet with the Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon who also wasn't in his office but his assistant Maggie made sure that we would be recognized on the floor of the house during the late session.  While I was in his office, I tried to find someone else to meet with that day since Kay Ivey was now governor.  Maggie helped me get a last minute meeting with Alabama Secretary of Commerce, Greg Canfield at 11 a.m.  Things were beginning to look a bit brighter.

I made my way over to the Commerce Building a few blocks west of the state house well before my 11 a.m. appointment and headed up to the 7th floor.  There, I was met by Deputy Secretary of Commerce Angela Till.  In a day filled with chaos, Angela was a welcome return to normalcy.  She spent nearly 40 minutes talking with me about everything about the economy in Alabama.  Then at about 11:20 a.m., Greg Canfield arrived having just spent the last 90 minutes with the new governor Kay Ivey.  I got to speak about the economic aspects of golf in Alabama and had a really great meeting with Greg.  Finally. our message was being heard as we talked about jobs, BMPs and the game of golf's role in the state economy.

Somewhere around 5:45 p.m., the members of the Alabama Golf Alliance were recognized by Speaker McCutcheon as we sat in the gallery above the house floor.  It was indeed Golf Day in Alabama, even though just about everything that could go wrong did.  Even so, there were new relationships created, a greater awareness of the impact of golf by the state house and senate and we had greater resolve than ever to make Golf Day in Alabama 2018 bigger and better.  Just in case you're in Montgomery next year, it will be on April 11. That sure seems to be our lucky day!

The floor of the Alabama State House on the evening of April 11th where the members of the Alabama Golf Alliance were recognized as part of the first ever Golf Day in Alabama just hours after the new governor was sworn in.