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One big golf show
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New tools, software, equipment… heck, a giant golf ball that doubles as a restroom — the Golf Industry Show trade show floor has it all. GCM readers will soon be scouring the trade show in Anaheim in hopes of finding that next great product to help a superintendent do a better job. Though a comprehensive guide of the newest and best products available from the industry would help readers plan an efficient route through the aisles and aisles of booths, it’s nearly impossible to amass the volume of information and products that will be on display from more than 1,200 exhibitors Feb. 22-24 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
What we’ve come up with instead is an abridged version of that guide based on the buzz we’ve picked up on here at headquarters. Here’s a glimpse of some cool new gadgets and equipment you’re likely to run into on the show floor. If you’ve still got time at the end of your day, stop by GCM’s booth, No. 2000, to check out our redesigned look.
1) A solar-powered washroom installment from CabanaCan Ltd. resembles a golf ball and is designed to function in any remote location as a permanent facility for waste and washroom needs. Each unit contains two washrooms and can connect to the sewer through four possible methods: a 300-gallon holding tank, up to a 5,000-gallon holding tank, a city sewer or a field septic system. Several components of the unit, including the shell, skylights, holding tank, fresh water tank, interior walls and the floor, are made of plastic. Other features include a pump, a vent and lifting pipe combination, an RV toilet, a sink, accessories, solar panel with an adapter and battery, hardware and custom-built door hinges. Contact CabanaCan Ltd., (www.cabanacan.com), or visit booth 9043.
2) Novozymes Biologicals Inc. is displaying two new products at this year’s show: its MYCOtabs and Irrigation Solupaks. MYCOtabs 20-10-5 offers a slow release feeding of vital nutrients in a pre-measured 21-gram fertilizer tablet. It’s designed for belowground installation to eliminate washouts, and contains added mycorrhizae for increased water and nutrient uptake. The company’s Irrigation Solupaks provides a dry rooting stimulant also packaged in pre-measured water-soluble packs. The product promotes rapid growth and regeneration of roots, seedlings, cuttings and transplants. It’s designed to minimize stress during installation and transplanting due to poor environmental conditions. Contact Novozymes Biologicals Inc., 800-342-6173 (www.novozymes.com), or visit booth 5219.
3) Rain Bird Golf Division is announcing its 351B Rotor Series for short-throw coverage for tee boxes and other small turf areas on golf courses. The series is powered with rugged gear drives and a nozzle design that allows controlled and uniform precipitation from 18 to 55 feet, the company says. It provides full-circle and part-circle operations in one unit and includes an adjustable left- and right-side trips for easy installation without turning the case. The unit comes standard with the company’s Memory Arc, which returns the rotor to its original arc setting. Contact Rain Bird Golf Division, (www.rainbird.com/eagle351b), or visit booth 2212.
4) SoftScape, a new mulch product from Mulch Manufacturing Inc., will be on display in Anaheim this month. The product’s color is designed to last an entire season, and it covers more area, the company says. Made entirely from virgin forest products, the lightweight and environmentally safe SoftScape is shaved into ribbons of wood in similar size and appearance to a pine needle. Cut in lengths of four to six inches, the mulch is colored, forced into the fibers of the wood using a high pressure technique, and fed into a hot air dryer that kills any pathogens or weed seeds. Available in sienna, chestnut or golden hues, SoftScape is said to last an entire season without fading. Contact Mulch Manufacturing Inc., (www.mulchmfg.com), or visit booth 8334.
5) Entering the U.S. market for the first time is Maredo BV, a turf equipment manufacturer. The company offers three categories of products that will be on display at this month’s exposition: power unit tools, greensmower tools and tractor tools. The patented power unit is a mini tractor with various attachment options such as edgers, scarifiers, aerifiers, Vib-spikers, collecting brushes, sod cutters and overseeders. The greensmower tools fit into a frame that attaches easily to the major triplex greensmowers, the company says. Its tractor tools include a scarifier and a Vib-spiker with working widths of 44 and 64 inches. Maredo BV’s Vib-Spiker is designed for its spikes to be driven into the soil mechanically with spikes separated into different sections. Each section is mounted with a bearing onto a notch on the main shaft. Each section rolls over the ground, and when the main drive shaft is activated, a vibration on top of the rolling action hammers the spike into the soil. Turf can be penetrated up to 1 ¼ inches for the power unit and greensmower tools and 2 ½ inches for the tractor version at mowing speed, the company adds. Contact Maredo BV, (www.maredo-bv.com), or visit booth 9316.
6) Bayer Environmental Science is introducing its recently EPA-approved Armada fungicide for use on ornamentals. Armada fungicide is a broad-spectrum substance approved for control of foliar diseases of ornamental plants and trees. Applied as a foliar spray, the product can combat anthracnose, black spot, downy mildew, leaf spot, powdery mildew, rust and scab, the company says. Use rates range from 3 to 9 ounces per 100 gallons of spray solutions. It can be applied at 14- to 28-day intervals. Contact Bayer Environmental Science, 800-331-2867, or visit booth 4019.
7) On display at the Golf Industry Show in Anaheim is Profile Products LLC’s DryJect aerification service for golf course greens, tees, fairways, sports fields and landscape areas. The patented technology uses water to fracture the soil while injecting large amounts of dry materials into the soil, the company says. Profile says its DryJect program allows users to topdress, aerate and amend in one operation; achieve deep root injection of various materials to change the profile of soil; and reduce potential lost revenue by minimizing downtime on the playing surface. The company also will be promoting its porous ceramic product, which, when combined with the DryJect system, it says produces the agronomic benefits of permanent, balanced soil porosity and the ease of core-free aerification. Its porous ceramic products — Greens Grade for sand-based root zones and Field & Fairway for native soil — now come in an emerald color designed to blend in with turf. It is said to improve root zones by adding pore space, increasing soil oxygen and resisting soil compaction. Contact Profile Products LLC, 800-207-6457 (www.profileproducts.com), or visit booth 5216.
8) Covertech Fabricating Inc. is launching its Bubble Tarp system, a large sheet of plastic air pockets designed specifically for covering greens to protect them from winter elements. The insulated tarp system features 5/16-inch bubble in either a 12-foot by 100-foot tarp or a 4-foot by 300-foot roll. A woven material to complement the bubble tarp is available as an option. Contact Covertech Fabricating Inc., 800-837-8961 (www.covertechfab.com), or visit booth 626.
9) Jacobsen, a Textron Co., announces improvements to its all-electric walking greensmower, the E-Walk. The E-Walk now features a redesigned electronic control unit to simplify functionality options, the company says. Operators can adjust the settings for reel speeds and mow speeds on the fly by selecting them from menu options on an LCD screen. A new D-handle design also has been added to the company’s in-command control system. Finally, both motors that power the reels and drive the traction system have been redesigned to be more durable, the company adds. Each motor features enhanced weather sealing and more efficient heat dissipation, which extends the working time for the mower without compromising quality of cut or performance. Contact Jacobsen, (www.jacobsen.com), or visit booth 6200.
10) Bernhard & Co. Inc. will be showcasing its modified Express Dual and Anglemaster grinders at the show. The machines now feature membrane key panels for increased operator ease of use and safety, the company says. The panels include a color-coded machine function, digital indication of grind angles and LEDs that indicate switch and motor status. Contact Bernhard & Co. Inc., 888-474-6348 (www.bernhard.co.uk), or visit booth 2036.
11) Divot Dog Inc. is launching a new divot repair tool that reduces labor costs and halves the time a typical golf course maintenance crew spends filling divots on tee boxes, fairways, blemished greens and driving ranges, the company says. Users can fill divots without coming into contact with fertilizer or seed. The Divot Dog works by filling the canister, replacing the rubber cap and executing the repair. Little pressure on the spring-loaded release arm is needed before the downspout is opened and fertilizer and seed are released to fill in the divot. Users can control the flow by varying the length of time that pressure is applied. The Divot Dog is available in a variety of colors. Contact Divot Dog Inc., (www.divotdog.net), or visit booth 8330.
12) The commercial division of The Toro Co. is unveiling its new ProCore Processor, designed to process aeration cores for large turf areas. In one operation, the unit can sweep, process and disperse aeration cores to help return the course to playable conditions in less time and with less stress to the operator and the turf, the company says. By hitching the ProCore Processor behind a three-point aerator, the unit is ready to aerate and process in one pass. Its 70-inch processing width allows it to handle the full width dispersion of processed material. Aeration cores are broken into fine particles through the ProCore’s 35-hp Briggs Vanguard engine for even distribution on the playing surface. Contact The Toro Co., (www.toro.com), or visit booth 4200.
13) Redexim Charterhouse Inc. is unveiling a new heavy-duty model of its Verti-Quake rotary decompactor. The new Verti-Quake 3822 can work at depths up to 15 inches with little to no surface disruption, the company says. Its blades are designed to cut cleanly through soil to create a wave action that shatters compacted areas and opens up the subsoil. Also new to the model is the direct drive system and individual shear bolts that are popular features on the smaller models, the company adds. Contact Redexim Charterhouse Inc., 800-597-5664 (www.redexim.com), or visit booth 2336.
14) A new hydraulic fluid developed to eliminate turfgrass damage will be introduced by BASF at the show. Plurasafe EnBio TCS hydraulic fluid is the first water-free lubricant that provides lubricity to eliminate turf loss when leaked, the company says. It can replace hydraulic fluids based on mineral and vegetable oils, which can kill turfgrass and harm the environment, BASF adds. The product is completely biodegradable and environmentally friendly. Contact BASF, (www.basf.com/plurasafeenbiotcs), or visit booth 2200.
15) Aquatrols has introduced a new surfactant technology, Dispatch Sprayable, which it says offers better control of water and more efficient use of fertilizers and applied chemicals. Designed to manage water across large turf areas for superintendents who don’t inject fertilizers and other formulas, Dispatch Sprayable facilitates a reduction of water use even at reduced ET replacement rates, the company says. The product also is said to enhance penetration and uniform movement of other turf management products. Flexible spray rates and application options are available. Contact Aquatrols, 800-257-7797 (www.aquatrols.com), or visit booth 1619.
16) The Kestrel 4500 Pocket Weather Tracker from Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters offers wind direction, crosswind and digital compass details in a 4-ounce hand-held device. By pointing the 4500 in the direction of the wind, the reader instantly displays wind speed and direction in degrees and cardinal compass points, both of which can be saved for later review, the company says. The unit also can calculate crosswind, headwind and tailwind with a few points and clicks, and a digital compass can be used to display forward heading. Both magnetic North and true North displays are available with adjustable declination/variation. Every measurement at variable time intervals is logged and stored by the Kestrel 4500. A capture button instantly stores a snapshot of current values, and graphs can be viewed on screen or uploaded to a PC with an optional serial or USB interface. Also incorporated into the device are a thermometer, hygrometer and barometer with readouts of heat index, wind chill, wet bulb, dew point, altitude and density altitude. A tripod vane mount is an optional accessory. The Kestrel 4500 comes in two variations: one with a backlit display for outdoor applications and one with a reduced brightness red-filtered backlight. Carry cases also are available. Contact Kestrel Pocket Weather Meters, 800-784-4221 (www.kestrelweather.com), or visit booth 9307.
17) The Toro Co.’s irrigation division is bringing its new Golf Decoder Control system to GIS this month. The new control system is an expandable network of buried decoders available in two versions — a PC-based system with a 3,200-station capacity and a stand-alone unit with a 200-station capacity. Consisting of a central control unit and input and output decoders, the GDC system communicates with the central unit to perform irrigation activity. Using Toro’s SitePro central control system software, version 2.2, the PC-based system includes map interface, T.Map, plus optional modules for hand-held radio control and weather stations. The stand-alone system features 10 watering programs, a diagnostic program to test decoders and irrigation schedules, a real-time clock and non-volatile memory to retain information if a power outage were to occur. A latching solenoid function features a waterproof design that’s compatible with all of Toro’s commercial and golf valves and VIH sprinklers. Contact The Toro Co., 800-664-4740 (www.toro.com), or visit booth 4200.
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