Divot Mix

After a course has been completed, it should have extra good care. Golf courses are like babies—they require a great deal of attention, especially in their early days. Upkeep that is properly provided for in the preliminary stages of the finished course is invaluable. Nothing later on can take its place. -- Charles Banks, golf course architect

Fifth World Scientific Congress of Golf set for 2008

The fifth World Scientific Congress of Golf will be held in Phoenix, March 24-28, 2008. As with previous congresses, three primary areas will be covered--the golfer, the golf course, and equipment. The congress will run concurrently with the LPGA Safeway International.

Research concerning the golfer (which includes golf psychology, golf injuries, golf pedagogy and/or learning golf.), golf equipment and technology, and the golf course/turfgrass management is being solicited by the organizers. Intent to submit a paper must be received by Nov.15, 2007, followed by a complete six-page maximum length paper by Dec. 15, 2007 (electronic submission only).

Reviewers will return comments by Dec. 30, 2007 and revisions will be due by Jan. 15, 2008.  All papers accepted for presentation will be subsequently published in a hardbound volume of conference proceedings due for publication and distribution by the start of the conference.

Research may also be presented in poster format but will not be published in the conference proceedings.  Those intending to present a poster at WSCG V must submit an abstract for consideration by Jan. 15, 2008. In addition, pre-conference workshops in all three subject areas will be conducted March 24.  Proposals for workshops must be submitted by Nov. 15.

August rounds played falter

Rounds fell 2.7 percent nationwide on a same-facility basis in August 2007 vs. August 2006, according to a survey of over 2,100 golf facility operators. As a result, the year-to-date total is down 0.8 percent through August. The premium public segment is slightly positive.

Severe weather in the Midwest was the primary cause for the drop in U.S. rounds. However, five of 11 NGF climate regions were actually up slightly. But the Lower Midwest, hardest hit among regions, was down 8.6 percent. South Central that has the poorest performance year-to-date, even though the area had a relatively good August.

Rounds Played, 2007 vs. 2006
Source: NGF/Allied Golf Associations

Public facilities fall into one of three categories based on peak season weekend green fees with cart: Premium (High) - Above $70; Standard (Middle) - $40-$70; Value (Low) - Below $40 Region 10 includes Hawaii; Region 11 includes Alaska.

Rain Bird takes water conservation back to school

Rain Bird has teamed up with Stefanie Saccoman, Ph.D. at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, to design an elementary school curriculum that presents students with the opportunity to explore the critical role water plays on Earth in the same manner that scientists and engineers do in the field, through research and experimentation.

Free to download at http://www.rainbird.com/iuow/community/curriculum.htm, and geared for use by students in grades 3-6, the Explorations Into Water teaching curriculum is ideal for educators and/or parents to use as an engaging resource to teach students about the need for water conservation, the properties of water and the importance of water conservation in an easy-to-understand, educational, fun and interactive way.

The curriculum is well organized, self-explanatory and easy for teachers, parents and students to use for related course work, projects or research in natural history, ecology, biology, physics and chemistry.

The curriculum includes projects that integrate science with art; data gathering, observation, and inference; analysis of physical matter; in-class demonstrations that can be presented by teachers for students; and at-home projects that illustrate scientific principles in a manner that is understandable and meaningful to school-aged children.

"Focused on motivating students to think about the part each person plays – and the actions they can take in using and conserving water, each lesson includes demonstrations, experiments and classroom activities that enable students to learn about water management, conservation and preservation by linking abstract ideas and scientific concepts through fun, hands-on activities," said Saccoman.  "As students work their way through the curriculum, they will discover the critical role water plays on planet Earth and how to manage it locally and globally to ensure a safe, clean water supply for future generations."

The program is the most recent example in the company's history of creating programs and initiatives to boost education and awareness pertaining to The Intelligent Use of Water. For more on The Intelligent Use of Water, visit http://www.rainbird.com/iuow/.