Divot Mix

The true links were moulded by divine hands. Links-land--the fine grasses, the wind-made bunkers that defy imitation, the exquisite contours that refuse to be sculpted by hand--all these were given lavishly by a divine dispensation to the British. -- Robert Hunter

Las Vegas courses conserve a billion gallons of water

Since 2001, Las Vegas area golf courses have converted more than 18.5 million square feet of grass -- about 425 acres -- to water-smart landscaped, target-style courses resulting in a 1 billion gallon per year water savings.

Eleven courses in Southern Nevada currently are in the midst of landscape conversions. Among them, Red Rock Country Club has converted more than a million square feet this year alone at its Arroyo and Mountain courses.

Spanish Trail Golf and Country Club is undergoing a major overhaul of the entire course, including turf removal, reshaping and improving ponds and moving irrigation lines, said GCSAA Class A superintendent Jon Valentine.

The city of Henderson has launched major landscape conversions at its municipal Wild Horse Golf Course, while the Angel Park Golf Club is in the midst of a 70-acre conversion scheduled for completion in 2008, said GCSAA Class A superintendent Bill Rohret. So far, he said, players are giving the changes "rave reviews."

"We don't hear any more complaints about balls being lost in the rough," Rohret said.

All local golf courses have on-site weather stations linked to their irrigation systems so irrigation schedules are based on daily weather conditions. These systems also monitor evapotranspiration, the amount of moisture given off by grasses and plants, so water is applied only as needed.

Most courses also use valve-in-head technology instead of typical residential and commercial systems with one valve for every five to 10 sprinkler heads. This provides them with greater control over watering run times and coverage.

Current drought restrictions subject local golf courses to water budgets, restricting them to 6.3 acre-feet of water per acre. (An acre-foot equals about 326,000 gallons.) Significant financial penalties are applied to any water used over budgeted amounts.

Once the irrigated acreage is measured, it remains fixed, creating an incentive for golf courses to convert unneeded turf to other styles of water-efficient landscaping. If a golf course expands its course by increasing the number of playing holes, a new irrigated acreage is determined.

To further extend their water savings, golf courses in Southern Nevada primarily use warm season grasses. Some municipal courses don't overseed, so the grass gets almost no water during the winter months and only about two-thirds as much as a cool-season grass, such as fescue, would require in the summer.

"Golf courses are the most judicious business about the way they use water," said Valentine. "We don't just set a timer and walk away. Water conservation is one of the biggest parts of what we do every day."

Golf courses, good wildlife sanctuaries

According to Science Daily, scientists have determined that golf courses, if managed properly, might also become important wildlife sanctuaries.

Professor Ray Semlitsch and colleagues at the University of Missouri-Columbia note there are more than 17,000 golf courses in the United States, and approximately 70 percent of the land they occupy is not used for playing. "These managed green spaces aren't surrogates for protected land and ecosystems," said Semlitsch, "but they can include suitable habitat for species native to the area. Golf courses could act as nature sanctuaries if managed properly."

For the full article, click here.

GCSAA and LPGA name Miller as tour agronomist

GCSAA and the LPGA have announced the hiring of John Miller, CGCS, as the first full-time agronomist for the LPGA.

Miller, a 24-year GCSAA Class A member, will assist LPGA tournament operations staff in developing consistent course conditions and serve as a liaison between the LPGA and the host facility golf course management team. He comes from the Golf Club at Yankee Trace in Centerville, Ohio, where he served 14 years as golf course superintendent and hosted the Nationwide Tour's Dayton Open from 1999-2003.

"John was chosen from a deep and highly qualified pool of candidates," said GCSAA Chief Executive Officer Steve Mona, CAE, a member of the LPGA Commissioner's Advisory Council. "We are pleased to offer this resource to the LPGA. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement that will ultimately showcase the value of GCSAA members to the game and elevate the platform on which LPGA tour professionals compete."

Miller is a member of the GCSAA staff, however, he will work closely with the LPGA staff and golf course superintendents at LPGA tournament sites. Among the desired outcomes is to facilitate the best and most consistent course conditions for all LPGA events, which feature the very best players in the world.

"We are excited to welcome John to the LPGA team," said LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens. "The LPGA and GCSAA have partnered to select a talented, experienced agronomist. With this appointment, we ensure the venues on which the LPGA stars compete are in the best condition for the players week-in and week-out. John also will play an integral role in selecting all future LPGA tournament venues. We sincerely thank the GCSAA for their partnership in selecting John."

Miller earned a bachelor's degree in agronomy from The Ohio State University in 1983. Prior to arriving at Yankee Trace, he served as superintendent at Indian Springs Golf Course in Mechanicsburg, Ohio, and London (Ohio) Country Club. Miller currently is serving on GCSAA's Standards/Bylaws Committee and previously served two years as vice chairman of the Education Committee. He also has served as a member of the Certification Committee. Miller is a member and past president of the Miami Valley GCSA and has served on the education planning committee for the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation. He also is a past president of Play Golf Ohio.

R&A releases Carnoustie wildlife publication

The latest in a series of publications highlighting the wildlife and habitats on Open Championship courses has been produced by The R&A in collaboration with Carnoustie Golf Links Management and the Scottish Golf Environment Group.

In addition to covering the course hole-by-hole, describing the flora and fauna that abound at Carnoustie, the brochure also draws attention to environmental issues such as water, waste and energy management. It also illustrates that golf and environmental organizations can work together to preserve the natural heritage for future generations.

The booklet is being distributed at The Open Championship this week and can be viewed and downloaded by clicking here.