Divot Mix

No athletic game affords such opportunity for cool calculation or such occasion for self-examination and self-castigation as golf. -- John L. Low, 1903

Golf to be included in Canada Games

The Canada Games Council has announced the sports for its 2013 Canada Summer Games, and golf was selected as an official sport of the games.

"The Royal Canadian Golf Association is honored that the CGC has selected golf for both the 2009 and now 2013 Canada Games. As the national sports organization for golf in this country, the RCGA truly believes that the Canada Games provides our high-performance golf athletes across Canada with a major benchmark for excellence," said Jeff Thompson, RCGA managing director of player and program development.

For the 2009 Canada Games, the host province of Prince Edward Island selected golf as its host choice" sport. For the 2013 Games, golf was selected based on meeting set sport selection criteria.

New chemical storage reporting deadline approaching

A new Homeland Security anti-terrorism rule was adopted in 2007 providing the federal government with the authority to secure chemical facilities and other entities to protect against the threat of terrorism.

Facilities that exceed screening threshold quantities of a range of chemicals have until Jan. 22, 2008 (or within 60 calendar days of coming into possession of any such chemical at the corresponding quantity) to complete an online Top Screen questionnaire available through the DHS Web site.

A list of over 300 common chemicals, or chemicals by concentration in some cases, is included in a document called Appendix A. Exceeding the screening threshold quantity means a facility owner/operator must complete the on-line assessment in order to determine a facility’s security threat classification.

It is expected most golf facilities will not be effected by the new rule but GCSAA urges all golf facilities to review the list of chemicals in Appendix A to see whether any chemical STQ is exceeded. For example, if a golf facility posesses ammonium nitrate (used as a fertilizer), at an STQ of 2,000 lbs, or propane at an STQ of 7,500 lbs, they must complete the assessment. Phosphorus is also included in Appendix A, however, this type of phosphorus – white phosphorus (as determined by its Chemical Abstract Service number) – is a flare- and smoke-producing incendiary weapon or smoke-screening agent and is not used on golf courses.

Any facility that manufactures, uses, stores, or distributes a chemical listed in Appendix A at or above the STQ listed must complete the Top Screen questionnaire by Jan. 19, 2008 or face stiff DHS penalties and inspections. 

DHS will review the Top Screen submittal and determine which of four risk-based tiers to categorize the facility. Tier status will then dictate regulatory requirements including the need to prepare a Site Security Plan and whether the facility will be subject to DHS audits and inspections.

To learn more about the DHS Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards and review Appendix A, visit http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/laws/gc_1166796969417.shtm. For further assistance, please contact Carrie Riordan, GCSAA director of information and public policy, at 800-472-7878, ext. 3610 or criordan@gcsaa.org.

NOAA Updates U.S. Drought Forecast

Some drought relief is anticipated in parched sections of the United States, but for many areas drought concerns are expected to persist or intensify from January through March 2008, according to the latest U.S. Drought Outlook from NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

Drought conditions are predicted to continue in the Southeast from Alabama to the Carolinas. Also, there is the potential for drought to develop along the eastern Gulf of Mexico and in Florida and over the western Plains from northern Texas into southwestern Nebraska.

"In spite of a number of winter storms that affected the nation during the first two weeks of December, much more rainfall is needed to bring wells, lakes, and reservoir levels back to normal in many areas of the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and parts of Florida," said Douglas LeComte, drought specialist. "Over the last year or two, the precipitation deficits in these areas have been measured in feet rather than inches."

Meteorologists continue to forecast below average precipitation for the southern tier of the nation and above average precipitation over the Pacific Northwest, Great Lakes and Tennessee Valley for January through March. Drought conditions should improve in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware, as well as over the Pacific Northwest. Intermittent beneficial rain and snow is expected over the next couple of weeks for California and Arizona, but improvement might be short lived since below average precipitation is expected for the rest of the season. 

Overall, the country is likely to see warmer than average temperatures over the next three months. "However, there will be fluctuations of warm weather and more typical winter weather throughout the season," said Mike Halpert, deputy director NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

Rain Bird wins Tournament of Roses Sweepstakes Trophy

Rain Bird was awarded the Sweepstakes Trophy for its 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade entry, Preservation Celebration.  Given to the float entry deemed the most beautiful by a panel of expert judges, the 2008 Sweepstakes Trophy win marks the 11th time in 12 years that Rain Bird has been awarded for its Rose Parade float entry, and the 7h time the company has won the parade’s top honor.

Preservation Celebration paid tribute to the central role that water plays in sustaining all of the Earth’s inhabitants. In accordance with the 2008 Rose Parade theme, Passport to the World's Celebrations, and Rain Bird’s steadfast commitment to The Intelligent Use of Water, the 55-foot long, 32-foot high float captured the intimate relationship between water and life by celebrating India’s rich heritage of weaving water into the fabric of its cultural celebrations.

It dazzled parade-goers with more than 1,500 gallons of flowing recycled water cascading over eight waterfalls in a brilliant display to highlight the company’s corporate philosophy of promoting environmental preservation through The Intelligent Use of Water.

"As has been the case with all of Rain Bird’s previous floats, Preservation Celebration focused on bringing awareness to the central role that water plays in sustaining all of the Earth’s inhabitants," said Dave Johnson, director of corporate marketing.  "We always set out to make a dramatic impact with every one of our float entries, and are delighted to be recognized by the Tournament of Roses judges as we continue to bolster awareness of the need to use water more efficiently through the world’s most watched parade."

On board the float were Jack Hanna, director emeritus of the Columbus (Ohio) Zoo and Aquarium and host of Into The Wild, and Walter Crawford, founder and executive director of the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis.

The float was built by Fiesta Parade Floats, and designed by renowned float designer Raul Rodriguez. It featured a trio of majestic Bengal tigers, whimsical monkeys, and spectacular albino peacocks among the waterfalls and lagoons in a jungle of exotic flowers, vines and gardens.

A behind the scenes look at the making of Rain Bird’s 2008 Sweepstakes winning float entry is available by visiting Rain Bird’s YouTube page at http://www.youtube.com/RainBirdCorp.

Because Green Matters calendar photos selected

Project EverGreen asked Americans to take pictures of their favorite green spaces, and hundreds accepted the challenge. Winners of the photography contest are featured in the second annual Because Green Matters Calendar.

 The winners were:

• Mark Feist of Washington, D.C., for January
• G. Mike Shoup of Brenham, Texas, for February and November
• William Cornelius of Clinton, Iowa, for March
• Mindy McQueen of Kingwood, Texas, for April and May
• George Kurland of Branson, Mo., for June
• Tim Malooly of Plymouth, Minn., for July
• Doug McCarty of Peoria, Ill., for August
• Bruce Ford of Akron, Ohio, for September
• John Matthews of Harrogate, Tenn., for October
• Andy Cole of Greenville, Mich., for December

"Outdoor green spaces shape a community or family’s culture," said Den Gardner, executive director of Project EverGreen. "The winning entries ranged from photos of athletic fields, golf courses and public parks to beautiful lawns and gardens. It is great to see the beauty of these spaces through the eyes of the photographer."