Sessions and Forums

Sessions are listed by date and time offered during the conference.

Wed., Jan. 30

Trends in Contemporary Golf Course Architecture
1 – 3 p.m.
W304AB

This popular session features the current President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects, Steve Forrest, ASGCA moderating a panel of leading ASGCA architects as they comment on today’s pertinent issues regarding new golf course design and remodeling. Central to the discussion will be the consideration of the specific needs of the various golf course user groups. How do architects meet the needs of everyone, ranging from touring professionals to the vast array of amateur participants? How can features such as tees, bunkers, and greens be crafted to make the game fun and enjoyable for everyone? Forrest will also invite attendees to direct questions to the panel.

Post-Storm Tree Restoration for Golf Courses
1 – 3 p.m.
W304E

The difficulty of restoring the golf course from a severe storm or hurricane can be an overwhelming task for any superintendent and his/her staff. In addition to cleanup and debris removal, extra care must be paid to the state and condition of the trees, one of the most valuable resources of any golf course. With experience in managing many severe storm events in south Florida and the Caribbean, the speaker will present strategies in tree care to prepare for these unpredictable natural occurrences prior to, immediately after, and throughout the year—strategies that can reduce unnecessary storm damage and permit the course to return to pre-storm operations in less time.
Presenter: Jeremy Chancey, director, International Society of Arboriculture, Landscape and Arboriculture Consultant, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Sao Paulo, Brazil

Quality of Cut—A Turf Equipment Technician’s View
2 – 4 p.m.
W304H

This program, presented by turf equipment technicians with over 50 years of combined experience, will cover quality of cut issues, and how to diagnose and correct them. In addition, the do’s and don’ts of cutting unit setup, as well as tips and tricks of cutting unit maintenance will be presented. Come join us for an interactive presentation that will answer your cutting unit questions!

Pump Houses: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
3 – 5 p.m.
W304F

Today’s modern golf course irrigation systems are engineering marvels distributing uniform precipitation and providing precise control of where, when, and how much is applied. But these irrigation systems are only as reliable as their water source. While specification and construction of pump stations are typically scrutinized, the actual construction of the pump house and its supporting infrastructure do not receive the same critical analysis. This session, presented by the Irrigation Association, discusses all the key elements required for proper pump house design and construction. Hear from the experts on all the crucial aspects that should be considered from wet wells to electric supply to construction materials.
Moderator: Bob Dobson, Middletown Sprinklers

You Asked For It…You Got It!
3 – 5 p.m.
W304ABC

Join us for a dynamic session that will address the top challenges facing today's golf course superintendent. That's right; we asked you to help build this engaging session by telling us what challenges you face and then we asked you to vote on those hot topics. The votes have been tabulated and speakers identified for the topics you selected. Discover the hot topics this session will offer!
Chairperson: P. Andrew Rideout, CGCS

Multi-Course Companies: What You Always Wanted to Know
3:30 – 5 p.m.
W304G
Presented in partnership with NGCOA

Make plans to attend a unique educational session at the 2008 GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show entitled “Multi-Course Companies: What You Always Wanted to Know.” Open to all in the golf course management profession, this session will address a variety of topics including multi-course company goals, organizational structures, employment and advancement opportunities, and the philosophy of buying and selling properties. Listen to multi-course company executives as they explore the multi-course facet of the golf industry and dispel the myths.

The session is moderated by Ted Horton, CGCS, and the panel consists of:

• Keith Hanley, Executive V.P. of Operations for EAGLE Golf
• Ron Jackson, CEO of Meadowbrook Golf/IGM
• Bill Rehanek, Sr. V.P. of Billy Casper Golf
• Jeff Spangler, Sr. V.P. of Science and Agronomy for Troon Golf

Thurs., Jan. 31

Innovative Superintendent Breakfasts
Thurs., Jan. 31
6 – 6:30 a.m.
Room W311AB
Presented in partnership with BASF Corporation

Join your colleagues for a hot breakfast buffet before attending the highly popular Innovative Superintendent I Session on Thursday and again before the Innovative Superintendent II Session on Friday.

Innovative Superintendent Session I
6:30 – 8:20 a.m.
Chapin Theater

Don’t miss this opportunity for the best peer-to-peer education the conference has to offer. These superintendents have great ideas and techniques, and they are ready to share them with you. Attendees of this session can expect to walk out of this popular session with new tools to enhance their facilities.
Chairperson: Bradley Minnick, CGCS

• You Do WHAT with your Stimpmeter? – Michael D. Morris, CGCS
• Building a Personal/Professional Website – Michael Heustis
• Communication to Meet Members' Needs – Darrin Batisky
• Modifying Physical Properties on Existing Greens — A Superintendent’s Experience – Dean Piller
• This is Our House—Hosting a Golf Course Open House – Jed Spencer, CGCS

Opening Session
9 – 10:45 a.m.

Presented in partnership with Bayer Environmental Science

Passion. History. Humor. Emotion. You’ll experience all that and more at the GCSAA Opening Session. There is no better way to start your day than hearing from some of the most accomplished individuals in the golf industry.

Highlighting the event will be the presentation of the 2008 Old Tom Morris Award to World Golf Hall of Fame member Greg Norman. Known affectionately as “The Shark,” Norman will also deliver a must-see keynote address to attendees. One of the most dominating players on the world golf scene, Norman has used his acumen, energy and amazing people skills to diversify his success through his position as CEO of Great White Shark Enterprises. He has gained acclaim through his interests including course design, golf development, turf, production, merchandising and licensing. An advocate of the golf course superintendent and the golf course as an environmental asset, he has served as chair of the Environmental Institute for Golf since 2003.

On the course, Norman’s 66 career wins—including 20 on the PGA Tour and two British Open titles—earned him induction into the hall of fame in 2001. He was the dominant player from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, ranking as the top player in golf for 331 weeks. He has 29 top-10 finishes in major championships.

The Opening Session will also include the presentation of GCSAA’s Distinguished Service Awards and various other honors for those who have achieved success in their careers. It promises to set the perfect tone for the week.

In The Moment…The State of Public Golf
1 – 2:30 p.m.
W311AB

This is an opportunity for those within or curious about the public/municipal arenas to discuss challenges and hear topics pertinent to their facilities. This engaging session provides networking opportunities and the ability to hear peer-to-peer experiences regarding this environment. A question-and-answer period following the panelist presentations will provide for additional discussion.
Chairperson: Roger “Mark” Ruff, CGCS

• What to Do When your Budget has Gone Bust? – Thomas Lavrenz, City of Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• Promoting Public Golf and Balancing Golfer Expectations with Maintenance Costs – Dennis Lyon, CGCS, City of Aurora, Colo.
• The Municipal Superintendent: What is it REALLY Like – Sean McHugh, CGCS, Shawnee Hills Golf Course, Bedford, Ohio

Career Forum: Superintendents & General Managers
1 – 3 pm

Presented in conjunction with CMAA

Learn about the following topics:

• Adding the General Manager Title to Your Superintendent Role
• What Makes a General Manager Tick?!
• How to Transition from Superintendent to General Manager

Moderator: Joe Perdue, CCM, CHE, academic advisor, Club Managers Association of America; associate professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Speaker: Mr. Michael Leemhuis, CEO and General Manager of the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland

Zoysiagrass Forum
1 – 3 pm
W311C

The American Zoysiagrass Association will again be hosting its annual Zoysiagrass Forum to discuss the best management practices for all varieties of Zoysiagrass. Come learn what your fellow superintendents do to enhance their golf courses with Zoysiagrass. Or bring a question or management problem for discussion by our panel of experts and the audience.

Founded at the GCSAA 1992 Conference and Show in New Orleans, the Zoysiagrass Forum is designed to be an independent, unbiased voice for superintendents using Zoysiagrass or those desiring to use it. Universities as well as high-profile golf courses and their superintendents will be featured.
Moderator: Frank Whitbeck, president, American Zoysiagrass Association
Presenters: Kenneth Ault, superintendent, Rivercut Municipal Golf Course, Springfield, Mo.
Hank Wilkerson, Ph.D. University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Ill.
Kevin Morris, director, NTEP, Beltsville, Md.
Aaron Patton, Ph.D. University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark.

Research Solutions: Science for Your Course
2 – 4:30 pm
W303ABC

You won’t want to miss this opportunity to stay on top of the leading turf management research information, find answers to common golf course problems and gather practical information to take back to your facility. This session will feature current research findings including three GCSAA research projects funded by The Environmental Institute for Golf. There will be an opportunity for a five-minute question-and-answer session at the end of each presentation.
Chairperson: Kirk Hardin

• Water Quality on Golf Courses: Updates and Trends – Stuart Cohen, Ph.D.
• Stormwater Retainment for Irrigation – Water Quality, Cost, Benefits and Conservation – Kevin Frank, Ph.D.
• Turf Blankets: Uncover the Possibilities – Michael Goatley, Ph.D.
• Deep-Tining and Sand or Inorganic Amendments for Greens – Elizabeth Guertal, Ph.D.
• Managing Moss in Putting Greens – J. Scott McElroy, Ph.D.

Research projects presented by Cohen, Guertal, and Frank were funded through The Environmental Institute for Golf

Assistant Superintendent Session and Reception
2 – 5 pm
Presented in partnership with Syngenta Professional Products and The Toro Company

New this year, we’ve recruited a panel of well-known superintendents to explain career strategies they’ve used for success. You’ll learn tips that will help you transition from assistant to superintendent no matter which facility type you’re targeting. You’ll also get to hear some innovative practices from fellow assistants – ideas you can implement at your own facility. Ample Q & A time after the presentations is planned, with a networking reception following.

The Changing Face of Golf Forum
3:30 – 5:00 pm

Explore new ideas for player development in non-traditional areas for your facility with case studies and ideas from an innovative entrepreneur and avid golfer who currently operates a culturally diverse organization.
Moderator: Sandy Queen, CGCS, Overland Park Golf Club
Keynote Speaker: Rafael Martinez, Publisher/chief executive officer of
The Green Magazine

Fri., Feb. 1

Innovative Superintendent Breakfasts
Fri., Feb. 1
6 – 6:30 a.m.
Room W311AB
Presented in partnership with BASF Corporation

Join your colleagues for a hot breakfast buffet before attending the highly popular Innovative Superintendent I Session on Thursday and again before the Innovative Superintendent II Session on Friday.

Innovative Superintendent Session II
6:30 – 8:20 a.m.
Chapin Theater

Are you looking for innovative topics that are shaping our industry? This session may be early, but you won’t want to miss this opportunity to gather some of the best information the education conference has to offer. Takeaways from the presentations can be implemented when you return to your course.
Chairperson: Mr. William R Fach, CGCS

Self-Inflicted Motivation – Jim Harris, CGCS

Good Old-Fashioned Animal Control – Doug Vogel

Using a Greenhouse to Enhance You and Your Facility – Gary Shetler, CGCS

Sand Bunker Renovation – Charles Carey Spence Jr.

Using Vegetable Oils as Diesel Fuel Replacement: Theory and Practical Application – Christopher S. Gray Sr.

GCSAA IPM Exam
1 – 4 p.m.

The IPM Exam was developed to fulfill requirements for GCSAA Class A status. Class A members are required to show proof of a pesticide license or successfully complete the GCSAA IPM Exam. Testing can also be done throughout the year with an approved local examination proctor. In order for your name to be placed on the examination roster, you must register and pay the examination fee (link to pdf of Reg form A-2). A study guide will be mailed to you after your registration has been processed.

Sat., Feb. 2

Prayer Breakfast
7:30 – 8:30 a.m.

Open to all faiths, this breakfast provides a break from your daily activities while offering encouragement and a morale boost. Enjoy complimentary coffee and pastries during an inspirational presentation.

Coffee Talk with the Experts—The Latest and Greatest in Turf Management
8:30 – 11 a.m.
W303ABC

Presented in partnership with John Deere Credit

This session is jam-packed with leading topics shaping the turf management industry. Join us for a cup of coffee, a wealth of agronomic information, and the chance to get your questions answered by an esteemed panel of experts.
Chairperson: James Murphy, Ph.D.

Weed Management – Fred Yelverton, Ph.D.

Nutrient Management—New Philosophies, Technologies and Regulations – Kevin Frank, Ph.D.

Biostimulants: Promises, Promises, But Do They Deliver? – Keith Karnok, Ph.D.

Turf Disease Management: Are You Using All of the Tools in Your Toolbox? – Bruce Clarke, Ph.D.

What We Now Know About Poa trivialis– Zac Reicher, Ph.D.