Looking for information on the latest on managing dollar spot? How about an old article from GCM? You have easy access to both and so much more by accessing The Turfgrass Information File (TGIF) on gcsaa.org.
TGIF is the world’s largest specialized bibliographic database devoted to turfgrass science and management. TGIF’s goal is to provide quick access to published and electronic resources for users across the world and ultimately to all published materials reporting on aspects of turfgrass and its maintenance. TGIF is the result of a long collaboration between Michigan State University (MSU) and the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The Turfgrass Information Center at MSU continues to maintain TGIF, which now contains more than 300,000 records and is widely regarded as the most comprehensive turfgrass information resource in the world.
For GCSAA members, TGIF has long been a valued research resource and remains one of the most comprehensive ways to locate turfgrass literature beyond what general search engines can provide.
The roots of TGIF go back to the 1960s when MSU began collecting turfgrass literature. In 1968, the personal library of renowned turf agronomist O.J. Noer was added to MSU’s holdings. Noer is considered one of the pioneers of turfgrass science. He was the only three-time winner of GCSAA’s Distinguished Service Award (1952, 1959 and 1960). He received the USGA Green Section Award in 1963 and was named to the Wisconsin Golf Hall of Fame in 1985. He passed away in 1962, and his collection became the foundation for what would later become the Turfgrass Information Center and TGIF.
In the early 1980s, the USGA Green Section recognized that turfgrass research was expanding rapidly but was scattered among journals, reports and institutions worldwide. To address this problem, the USGA funded the creation of a computerized reference database. The project officially began in 1983, and the first record was entered into the database on Sept. 10, 1984.
Between 1983 and 1992, the USGA Turfgrass Research Program provided substantial support for the database’s development. During this period, TGIF systematically indexed turfgrass literature and made bibliographic information searchable electronically. By 1992, the database contained more than 25,000 records.
In 1997, TGIF became available on the internet, and in 1998, MSU Libraries launched an endowment campaign to ensure TGIF’s long-term sustainability.
The full history of GCSAA’s GCM magazine and its predecessors was first added to TGIF in 2007, and GCSAA members were given free access. To coincide with TGIF’s 40th anniversary in 2023, the database became publicly accessible.
In the TGIF database, you can find:
In the age of search engines and artificial intelligence, TGIF remains the top resource for turfgrass info.
“Compared to something like Google, TGIF offers more targeted and verified results,” Lisa Wick, GCSAA senior manager, e-learning programs, said.
To access TGIF and the full archive of GCM, visit https://www.gcsaa.org/facility/research-information/turfgrass-information-file.