tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76663726022727165692024-02-18T19:34:10.921-07:00Greywolf Golf Course TurfcareDarren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-18564328843801139992012-07-30T22:40:00.000-06:002012-07-30T22:42:24.575-06:00Grizzly on #18 Green<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of my goals has been to take pictures of wildlife while
they are on the golf course. I like to capturing a picture of the animal while
highlighting the golf course. I have
always wanted to take a picture of a bear on one of our greens at Greywolf. I have seen plenty of bears on the golf
course, but never had the DSLR with me or the bear has never crossed one of our
greens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Tuesday July 17<sup>th</sup> I was able to check the “bear
on a green picture” goal off my goals list.
The best part is the bear was a Grizzly on our 18<sup>th</sup>
Green. The Grizzly that we captured was first seen on
the 6<sup>th</sup> green by a staff member about to mow the green. The Grizzly then moved across the 8<sup>th</sup>
green, through our parking lot, and onto the eighteenth hole. The Grizzly was a mid-size bear and we estimated
it to be about two years old. The pictures in
the slide show below are not great as it is challenging to get the camera
settings correct, while you are hold bear bangers, diving a Gator, and trying
to ensure guests and staff are safe. To
show you how fast a Grizzly can move I calculated it traveled an estimate .8 Km
in about eight minutes through some challenging terrain. From there the Grizzly moved across the
eighteenth green where we used bear bangers to keep it moving and scare it off
the golf course. I wish everyone kept his pace of play.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span> </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grizzly on #18 Green at Greywolf</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear Print in topdressing sand</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Something you do not see on tee sheet every morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com01981 Greywolf Dr, East Kootenay F, BC V0A, Canada50.44753041392206 -116.2474107742309650.445002413922062 -116.25234627423096 50.450058413922058 -116.24247527423096tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-25856473606258313022012-04-23T07:00:00.000-06:002012-04-25T20:54:36.326-06:00Its A Guy Thing<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of the unique experiences about working at Greywolf and
Panorama is that I get to run a Snow Cat in the winter. I must admit it is not for the extra pay
cheque. The reason I do it could be
chalked up to what I call a “guy thing.”
I get to crank the radio up while I drive a unique and large piece of
equipment</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7666372602272716569" name="_GoBack" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in a setting that is majestic. It is peaceful when you are 15km from civilization
surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery. It is an experience that I would not have at most other golf
courses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Occasionally we even use the Snow Cat to assist us with snow
removal on the golf course (click the link to see us <a href="http://youtu.be/WXYahR2hfPA" target="_blank">clearing a green with the Snow Cat</a>).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing Snow off of Nursery - April 20, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Friday we returned the Snow Cat to Mountain Operations
after clearing our sod nursery of snow. The following video was shot during the
2011/12 Nordic grooming season. Hope it
highlights why I do the job! </span><br />
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</div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com41981 Greywolf Dr, Invermere, BC V0A 1K5, Canada50.453022988850051 -116.2436771392822350.447967488850054 -116.25354763928223 50.458078488850049 -116.23380663928222tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-37522209784736161052012-04-21T08:16:00.000-06:002012-04-21T09:33:36.582-06:00Eight Weeks of Snow Removal<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There has been one mission for the past eight and half weeks
- snow removal. It has been a long,
slow frustrating process. The snow
removal process has involved the use of a skid steer, tractor, Snow Cat, and
Toro Polar Trac snow blower.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow #9 Greens Surrounds April 2, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There has been three goals with our snow removal
program. The first goal was to gain
access to all of our greens by clearing paths to them. This allows us to clear snow on the greens, gain
access to our Green Jacket tarps system, as well as vent under the tarping
system.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This year clearing paths was accomplished using a skid steer
as well as our John Deere tractor. These
two pieces of equipment required snow chains on all four wheels. The skid steer
is the primary vehicle for snow removal.
Because the cart paths are hard packed from Nordic skiing and venting
operations, a bucket rather than a snow blower was used. Our 55 HP John Deere tractor is used to clear
paths on steep hills as the skid steer has problems with traction in these
areas. The process is slow and
frustrating. This is because chains
break, machinery gets stuck regularly, and the large volume of snow impedes
progress. At times we have been digging
through over four feet of snow and therefore, only able to clear 400 to 500
yards of path in one day.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Challenges with Traction #18 Cart Path April 2, 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing Path to 13 Green March 26, 2012</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Challenges with Tire Chains - March 26, 2012</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Clearing the snow off the eight greens not protected by our
Green Jacket Tarp system, was the second goal of our snow removal program. The concern with these greens was the ice
layer that formed in December and January.
We have been monitoring these greens throughout the winter and in late
February some of our sample plugs caused us some concern. Therefore we started clearing greens the
first week in March. Clearing snow on
our greens has been accomplished through the use of Honda snow blowers and a
Toro Polar Trac Snow Blower. Some greens
have been cleared four times since the process started in early March. The following video link to <a href="http://youtu.be/t9PBHQGKwiQ">Youtube</a> highlights snow removal
on Cliffhanger (#6) and Mooseback (#16) (sorry cannot embed clip due to music copyrights).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbThUQfhrgegvWK4mFNFZc1OkCyqSMKijbMmLW4opG_gE_9eu3STXObQJl4dN-G0gSxj2AtHRAPgxpGteSYsYc5wT4SZ_gp0SRvj1Cr3D8LlfcgYdqAtPowsIBN8NWnYT88j-6WOv5D4/s1600/IMG_3643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbThUQfhrgegvWK4mFNFZc1OkCyqSMKijbMmLW4opG_gE_9eu3STXObQJl4dN-G0gSxj2AtHRAPgxpGteSYsYc5wT4SZ_gp0SRvj1Cr3D8LlfcgYdqAtPowsIBN8NWnYT88j-6WOv5D4/s400/IMG_3643.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Initial Clearing of #9 Green with Toro Polar Trac - March 22, 2012 </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Large amounts and
continued snowfall in March necessitated the use of our Snow Cat on the fourth
green (see video below). First the Snow Cat was used to remove all but
6” to 12” of snow. Then the Polar Trac
was then used complete the clearing operations on four.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/WXYahR2hfPA" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yfQzlu3mXtcWXTT-x6JKh4GCfpi8ZZsW-2aOnotyiW5dJsEmjfkPMugstVRrk6VgdqMCfb6cu55kuQGogUAaJfAUxCRBMZ7G_utf4oWh2HeZRcAgt3gMyuUPHhVuPkqTkurk3daizIs/s1600/DSC_0108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6yfQzlu3mXtcWXTT-x6JKh4GCfpi8ZZsW-2aOnotyiW5dJsEmjfkPMugstVRrk6VgdqMCfb6cu55kuQGogUAaJfAUxCRBMZ7G_utf4oWh2HeZRcAgt3gMyuUPHhVuPkqTkurk3daizIs/s400/DSC_0108.JPG" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing snow with Snow Cat - #4 Green - March 22, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The final goal of our snow removal program was to clear snow
off slopes where large volumes of runoff form on green surfaces. Greens such as number two and three are two
examples of this scenario. For these
large areas our Snow Cat has been used to remove snow. This is because it can move large volumes of
snow over long distances in a short period of time.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm-z00VO-DZHtD0HOGwJWfQb2u-cj1EAgGBVJOgKFU0GqPXbBxAeBSQ5S2W5iZ9u8e97Rpb7cPHAs5NOmpIi_vNotZhbqxjuGLOgrSCINwkOeAWiZNH-Dyvc7Y7egunRwDtVwqpP8lKU/s1600/IMG_3796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivm-z00VO-DZHtD0HOGwJWfQb2u-cj1EAgGBVJOgKFU0GqPXbBxAeBSQ5S2W5iZ9u8e97Rpb7cPHAs5NOmpIi_vNotZhbqxjuGLOgrSCINwkOeAWiZNH-Dyvc7Y7egunRwDtVwqpP8lKU/s400/IMG_3796.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing snow around #3 Green - April 5, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Yesterday was the final day of major snow clearing
operations (I hope). There are still
tees and small areas of cart paths to clear but the majority of work is
done. There is still plenty of snow on
the golf course, but Mother Nature will have to assist us in these areas.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I would like to thank Oakcreek Golf and Turf and Ryan
Schultz for loaning us a Polar Trac snow blower. They recognized<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7666372602272716569" name="_GoBack"></a> our
struggles with snow this year and stepped into help – Thanks.</span> </div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com01981 Greywolf Dr, Invermere, BC V0A 1K5, Canada50.453022988850051 -116.2438488006591850.447968488850051 -116.25371930065918 50.458077488850051 -116.23397830065917tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-33601687484143848632012-04-07T22:20:00.000-06:002012-04-07T22:20:00.176-06:00C Math Has Left the Building<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDdWROETSjSK-5Kx8R7Vp0AXQKQBFObaevDRKZ4_rAvZUmVJkICoAxMfoJ9Vo5hQfGCp6d2YJ3u53JaV9arlPWtHgWPxsC6LGxi-wd8kGXpEzrmIriraeQCxCwcCh_6FgGphNhkcwXYA/s1600/Colin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDdWROETSjSK-5Kx8R7Vp0AXQKQBFObaevDRKZ4_rAvZUmVJkICoAxMfoJ9Vo5hQfGCp6d2YJ3u53JaV9arlPWtHgWPxsC6LGxi-wd8kGXpEzrmIriraeQCxCwcCh_6FgGphNhkcwXYA/s320/Colin.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Friday I had to say farewell, good luck, and good bye to
a colleague and good friend. It was a
sad day for me because it was Assistant Superintendent Colin Matheson’s last
day at Greywolf. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have had the pleasure of working with Colin for nine years. Colin and I started working together at the
<a href="http://www.golfgolden.com/">Golden Golf and Country Club</a> in 2003. At
that time Colin was not in the turfgrass profession. He was studying engineering at the University
of Calgary. Like myself and many others,
Colin soon found that working outside and on a golf course was a passion.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrtKDOfxYyQwIOC8eq_jmbWg-GYsvFis56RTyo911FJCU3xUVPHaYd-oPpKMhElC1f6FUdv_W93Z2CQnTVEP35EpWUBtxoWmtU4oOeGqz1-joub3y0I-wNJ89YD4a6bCcL8VxQTIVTVw/s1600/Colin+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrtKDOfxYyQwIOC8eq_jmbWg-GYsvFis56RTyo911FJCU3xUVPHaYd-oPpKMhElC1f6FUdv_W93Z2CQnTVEP35EpWUBtxoWmtU4oOeGqz1-joub3y0I-wNJ89YD4a6bCcL8VxQTIVTVw/s320/Colin+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprayer Calibration with Luzzane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One of my fondest memories about Colin was when he discussed
dropping out of university and enrolling in Fairview Colleges Turfgrass program.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When he discussed changing the direction of
his post secondary education with his parents, his mother phoned me to discuss
what the career of a turfgrass professional entailed.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">She wanted to know if there was work in the
winter, if there were opportunities for a long term career, and wanted to
ensure this was not some short term endeavor so Colin could play more
golf.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I thought it showed great family
support that Colin’s parents would inquire and follow up on a change in careers.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Colin went on to attend Fairview College and
graduated at the top of his class with Distinction.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">When I left Golden in 2007, I quickly approached Colin about
working at Greywolf. He started at
Greywolf that spring as irrigation foreman. In 2008, Colin earned the position of
Assistant Superintendent because of his education, professionalism, and passion
for the business.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkvli6EQ-VoIm7II1luuZmzih1l645MOVewAjvoVMN063NwjeopwAcRlpfgWUWVH9nPzvTcTm66VXWCZrSQeRkQlYfGb6SY9VNNR0ovQIw9PS9AZZ9BQIYisXFPspV-8E_o_EGGQuNtw/s1600/Colin+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkvli6EQ-VoIm7II1luuZmzih1l645MOVewAjvoVMN063NwjeopwAcRlpfgWUWVH9nPzvTcTm66VXWCZrSQeRkQlYfGb6SY9VNNR0ovQIw9PS9AZZ9BQIYisXFPspV-8E_o_EGGQuNtw/s320/Colin+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modelling Ladies Visors During Frost Delay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">During the last five years at Greywolf, Colin has supported
myself and worked tirelessly for Greywolf.
In the spring of 2009 and 2010 when Greywolf suffered devastating loses
due to ice damage, Colin worked relentlessly to get the course back into
condition for our guests. He could
always be counted on to work the long <i>(and
cold)</i> hours prepping the course for winter.
Colin understands that turf and weather do not know the calendar or a
clock. He is dedicated to his
profession.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The time has come for change and Colin has moved onto the
<a href="http://www.golfbc.com/courses/olympic_view">Olympic View Golf Course</a> in Victoria BC as Assistant Superintendent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Greywolf will miss Colin.
I will miss Colin. I will miss
him as a colleague and as friend. I wish
him all the best.</span><a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com01981 Greywolf Dr, Invermere, BC V0A 1K5, Canada50.452886365366119 -116.2435054779052750.45035886536612 -116.24844097790528 50.455413865366118 -116.23856997790527tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-35179941198263571172012-02-16T23:54:00.000-07:002012-02-16T23:54:27.545-07:00Thanks and Respect<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1ZHlXAuS98rB_LdCuyYM2gsYH-YxnsGxXyuJxVTigX2W7GGBx_OMSXF0JyqvyDZTBnxKt8Ut_BEgA8PuoSNUsK-MWMvrQlB5LfYI_2rAuBRRBN6XHVvfeOntP4LuaS8FZ2TaVN9O6_M/s1600/Irrigation+Pictures+774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1ZHlXAuS98rB_LdCuyYM2gsYH-YxnsGxXyuJxVTigX2W7GGBx_OMSXF0JyqvyDZTBnxKt8Ut_BEgA8PuoSNUsK-MWMvrQlB5LfYI_2rAuBRRBN6XHVvfeOntP4LuaS8FZ2TaVN9O6_M/s320/Irrigation+Pictures+774.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clearing Greens of Slush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Respect is earned not given" is one of the
oldest management sayings.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After nine years with the Greywolf Golf Course, Chad
Thomlinson has decided to leave for another opportunity. He will be taking over as General Manger and
Director of Golf at the Highwood Golf Club, in High River Alberta.
Chad spent nine years at Greywolf, one as Associate Professional and
five as Head Professional. In 2009, Chad
earned the position of Director of Golf. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdjqy1PeGgxYM3_dc46B3sN9svg6x-KwCw1gJ9UiOh8Mov8wOdC-X3Gf9hEx4GadyE7a02R-Rn9ojuMsOefLB2j6qv_ilzstEp5Kp0L9lXq_eH8Dgb48RnpcKuOakUpHCV9V87lL5fPA/s1600/Green+Sodding+2010+318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdjqy1PeGgxYM3_dc46B3sN9svg6x-KwCw1gJ9UiOh8Mov8wOdC-X3Gf9hEx4GadyE7a02R-Rn9ojuMsOefLB2j6qv_ilzstEp5Kp0L9lXq_eH8Dgb48RnpcKuOakUpHCV9V87lL5fPA/s320/Green+Sodding+2010+318.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delivering Sod to #8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Chad’s met the challenges that Greywolf presents head
on.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He did this while supporting his
team of managers, supervisors, and staff.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He fostered an environment where staff shared ideas, celebrated success,
and resolved problems as a team.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There
was no job that Chad would not do, whether it was working on the grease trap or
constructing a float for a parade.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He
worked with and alongside the staff.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I
personally will not forget the support Chad gave me when there were challenges
with our greens in 2009. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><a href="" name="_GoBack" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">He earned my respect then and continued to earn it every
day we worked together.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei3lxjlKwTpb444vxaoSKXOIL_-plyV_vGEpP6HrCOV0cHTxEawduW3S5NLM__H45WZm8Hhc38-3wqlN1mnF8tHtceKL_UUF5dizyT1n6D0Ha8zRn1H8sx33BEjewYGvY0rkYYUsKULo/s1600/DSC_0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgei3lxjlKwTpb444vxaoSKXOIL_-plyV_vGEpP6HrCOV0cHTxEawduW3S5NLM__H45WZm8Hhc38-3wqlN1mnF8tHtceKL_UUF5dizyT1n6D0Ha8zRn1H8sx33BEjewYGvY0rkYYUsKULo/s400/DSC_0054.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Managers Winter Meeting & Product Testing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wish Chad, Lori, Ruby and Mable all the best in their new endeavor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thanks Chad. </span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-39343868954811489732012-02-12T22:41:00.000-07:002012-02-12T22:41:14.888-07:00My Year in Social Media<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img height="212" src="http://golfsocialmarketing.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/social-golf-balls-copy1-300x200.jpg" width="320" />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It has been a little over a year since I started this
blog. In that year I have become a
social media convert. I was thinking of
this fact as I was sending tweets from a social media seminar at the 2012
<a href="http://golfsupers.com/calgary2012">Canadian International Turfgrass Conference</a> in Calgary.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I first started this blog after seeing a colleague’s blog <i>(<a href="http://www.kimberleygolfclub.blogspot.com/">Tim Foley at the Kimberly Golf Club</a>)</i>. I thought starting a blog would be a good way
to begin a conversation about what goes on behind the scenes in our turfcare
department. It would inform members and
guests about our maintenance practices. I could clearly see the utility of writing a
blog.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">After one year the end results are favourable (<i>In my opinion, and blogs are usually about
opinions</i>). This blog is cheap and
easy way to communicate with Greywolf’s guests.
I would encourage all
superintendents to start a blog, especially if you are at a club with a
membership. You can incorporate
pictures, video, web links, and voice clips into your blog. It is instantaneous, timely, and free
depending on your blogging platform. If
you are writing a newsletter you are essentially blogging anyway, so why not go
digital.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But there was a professional benefit to social media that I
did not anticipate. That benefit was the conversation and sharing of ideas with
other turf professionals. Writing my own
blog encouraged me to read other turfcare blogs. Many times I was looking at their formats. Other times I was reading and seeking
inspiration for my blog. Sometimes I was
“stealing” ideas for content. I<span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">consider
a blog especially if you are at a club with a membership. </span> now find myself reading other superintendents’
blogs at least once a day. These blogs
have lead me to communicate with a <a href="http://northlandgrounds.blogspot.com/?z">superintendent in Minnesota</a> about ice and to
follow the <a href="http://pheasantturf.wordpress.com/2012/01/30/ipm-intense-political-maneuver/">IPM practices of colleagues in Ontario</a>. I also get inspired by the environmental
efforts of other superintendents such as <a href="http://stonecreeksuper.blogspot.com/">David Phipps</a> in Oregon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My strangest transformation into the social media world has
been my adoption of Twitter. As a way
of spreading the word about my blog, I thought I would try Twitter. Other superintendents were using this
platform. Prior to starting a blog I
thought Twitter was an over-hyped social media platform that was used to
communicate trivial information. Six
months ago I could care less if a fellow superintendent was attending a
conference or applying foliar applying nitrogen to greens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But I now see Twitter’s benefits. Twitter is essentially a mini blog. Twitter allows me to share a thought, a link,
a picture or a short video instantly. I
can read the tweets of the people I follow during short breaks without
interrupting my day. It allows me to
quickly understand what is going on in the turfgrass universe and share my
turfgrass world with other professionals as well as members and guests.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The benefits of Twitter became apparent to me recently, during
a dialogue about melting ice on greens.
In mid January, an industry associate (<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/Mark_Jull">@Mark_Jull</a>) proposed the idea of
using a ground heater to melt ice on greens.
Ground heaters are used in the construction industry to thaw frozen
ground prior to excavation. Reid Soldan
(<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ReidSolodan">@ReidSolodan</a>), the Canmore Golf Club superintendent, decided to try one of
these ground heaters on his greens. Reid
arranged for a trial of one of these ground thaw units at his course. A conversation about the trial at Canmore developed on
Twitter. The merits of the ground heater
idea, its advantages and disadvantages then followed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I must admit I thought the idea of the ground heater was
very innovative and potentially a first in the turf industry. This thought was quickly refuted. Because the entire conversation about the
heater was on Twitter and therefore in a public and open forum, the staff at
the Edmonton Petroleum Country Club (<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/pclubmaint">@pclubmaint</a>) soon tweeted they were
already under way with a trial of a ground thaw unit. Using Twitter, they shared pictures and <a href="http://pclubmaintenance.blogspot.com/2012/01/ice-removal.html">blogposts</a> of their techniques and results.
There were even a few old fashion phone calls to discuss their results
and try to get tips about the process. Then,
as trials were under taken at Canmore and later at Kananaskis, more photos and
thoughts were shared, the technique of ground heating was refined and the
results discussed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Social media was used for a conversation about a turf
management idea, its implementation, and the refinement of the technique. Twitter did not come up with the idea. Twitter did not drive the technique. Twitter did solve the problem. That was done by the hard work of fellow turf
professionals and trial and error. Twitter and the blogs it referenced broadened
the conversation. Twitter did this in
140 characters or less. It did not cut
into any ones already busy day. It
brought turfgrass managers together. It
did this quickly, instantly, and over a large part of the country.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I guess you could say this introverted superintendent is a Twitter convert.</span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com11981 Greywolf Dr, Invermere, BC V0A 1K5, Canada50.452995664184826 -116.2437200546264650.450468164184826 -116.24865555462647 50.455523164184825 -116.23878455462646tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-91445366447666004252011-12-20T16:11:00.000-07:002011-12-21T08:25:55.942-07:00An Experiment in Ice Removal<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sorry for the length and delay of this post. It has been a busy time at the golf
course. Yes, we do get busy in
winter! There are only three of us on staff
through the winter and there is a lot to do.
While writing this I also discovered there is need for a few other blog
posts relating to why we aerate late in the season, why ice build up on greens
is worrisome, and what keeps the Turfcare Department busy in the winter. But in order to shorten an already long blog
post, I will try to get around to these topics in the New Year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ice formation on the surface of greens is never good and my
collective experience with ice at Greywolf has not been positive. As I reported previously, we have a thin layer
of ice that has formed on our untarped greens (8 of our 19 greens). The ice layer formed as the result of two rain
events in late November and early December.
The ice varies between 3mm and 6mm in thickness. Although not very thick, I believed ice
covers most of the surfaces on our untarped greens. I believed this because after each rain event
we went out and dug snow pits on the greens in order to examine the turf. We also pulled out a few turf samples to
measure the thickness of the ice (<i>See my
last two posts</i>). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On December 7<sup>th</sup> we undertook an experiment to see
if we could clear the ice from the surface of the 10<sup>th</sup> green. The
goal was to clear the ice and not cause any damage to the turf. Another goal was to see if our sampling
program was correct in predicting the amount of ice coverage on the untarped
greens. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3pLgf5fHNNkPi_u7Jh7L9H_mDRAHCV-QdozS38yFL-O2FU_1L8U6lkzbA1YzL67vPgsRKyZU1q-6mOj_1bvNmqsxZMo5JLfno5_yVV7bez67DgD-NFm7TzlY_62XBDaLnAYRoJniSEc/s1600/IMG_3555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3pLgf5fHNNkPi_u7Jh7L9H_mDRAHCV-QdozS38yFL-O2FU_1L8U6lkzbA1YzL67vPgsRKyZU1q-6mOj_1bvNmqsxZMo5JLfno5_yVV7bez67DgD-NFm7TzlY_62XBDaLnAYRoJniSEc/s320/IMG_3555.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assistant Superintendent Colin Matheson starting snow removal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwFlPIuyjSh8X_9Sc-INPBaKbbEWTwxmvyuE44ta1uGo83UucCrqH7EKVNeEoau-Eq2eiLbbX51M1xwVcWotLAzdeWGOmFIt4ZZKjqsNq4JTtpWev3uZjothoW8sDDzhvdit_kkFxH4c/s1600/IMG_3557.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNwFlPIuyjSh8X_9Sc-INPBaKbbEWTwxmvyuE44ta1uGo83UucCrqH7EKVNeEoau-Eq2eiLbbX51M1xwVcWotLAzdeWGOmFIt4ZZKjqsNq4JTtpWev3uZjothoW8sDDzhvdit_kkFxH4c/s320/IMG_3557.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Removal on 10</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The advantage of experimenting on the 10</span><sup style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> green is that it is right next to the Turfcare Facility and clearing a path to the green was not difficult. On December 6</span><sup style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> we cleared a path in preparation for snow removal on the green. On the morning of December 7</span><sup style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, Assistant Superintendent Colin Matheson and I began removing the snow from the green with walk behind snow blowers. The snow depth averaged 13” and removal took approximately three hours.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINBbep4kNdAPt-xxRn5LW25SRrf2-8Jq2B41AuA8f4sHLkz7ssjXWmfWVP-b-3mUZrOY0iPLRM_CIp-mdgSu5m3h4JR0ZFM6PHZ_sCOuDxzMLmJ-lxpJmxLeu7T6_RpTcvVNaTgInPSY/s1600/IMG_3571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINBbep4kNdAPt-xxRn5LW25SRrf2-8Jq2B41AuA8f4sHLkz7ssjXWmfWVP-b-3mUZrOY0iPLRM_CIp-mdgSu5m3h4JR0ZFM6PHZ_sCOuDxzMLmJ-lxpJmxLeu7T6_RpTcvVNaTgInPSY/s320/IMG_3571.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Towing Aerator to 10 Green</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We then moved our aerator onto the green. This required us to tow the aerator with our
tracked John Deere Gator. We then took the
aerator, which had talon or star tines installed on quad blocks (</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">that is 60 solid aerations tines</i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">) and attempted
to chip or fracture the ice off the green surface. We experimented with different depths of
aeration to try and find the optimal way to remove the ice. We soon discovered that no matter what depth
we set the aerator, we could not fully break through the ice. To improve the chances of success we also
tested several spots by running the aerator over them multiply times. In some instances we ran the aerator over the
same spot four times. The following
video shows some of the work and the results.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/8QlXrkFakIA" width="640"></iframe>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In terms of ice removal the experiment was not
successful. During aeration small chunks of turf were
removed from the green. After aerating
some spots multiple times, we discovered that only 15 to 20% of the surface was
exposed. Also in the fifteen minutes the aerator was in
operation over 10% of the aeration tines (<i>7
of 60</i>) had fallen out due to strain on the mounting system. The aerator was tested to the limits of its
design. Because of our limited success
in fracturing the ice, the amount of turf that was being removed and the strain
on the aerator we stopped the experiment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFhEtL-WIr1WzZwDgfnCeG4bFvUZegSjYO5IpwgBAeN1QWwo4nDdSTDPUXNy3AvOnttNL8h8Vc-2WxhvKMk_LUXm4bZl__P-cAYDNqFQNagrtNq1sVjC73BewyWCpREvEONRfLojpqcM/s1600/Ice+Removal+10+Contrast.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFhEtL-WIr1WzZwDgfnCeG4bFvUZegSjYO5IpwgBAeN1QWwo4nDdSTDPUXNy3AvOnttNL8h8Vc-2WxhvKMk_LUXm4bZl__P-cAYDNqFQNagrtNq1sVjC73BewyWCpREvEONRfLojpqcM/s320/Ice+Removal+10+Contrast.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The results after three aeration passes - Bottom of photo no aeration - Top three passes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our experiment proved two facts. By removing the snow we proved our hypothesis
about ice coverage from our sampling program was correct. The green surface on the tenth green was 95%
covered by a thin layer of ice. We also discovered
that we had caused more ice by walking on the greens in order to inspect them. After the green was clear of snow we could
see individual ice foot prints that were over an inch in thickness. Even though we had waited for two to three
days after the rain to collect and remove samples, I believe the snow we were
walking on was still saturated with water and by compacting it we had caused
thicker ice to form where we walked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another observation we made after clearing the ice was that
the thin layer of ice strongly adhered to the surface of the green. There are several reasons for this. First, the green surfaces had aeration holes
left over from late season aeration.
When the ice formed on the surface, the ice essentially installed
“footings” or “pilings” into the aeration holes in the root-zone of the greens
helping the ice to adhere to the surface.
Also as a sound agronomic practice, the greens had been allowed to grow
out in preparation for winter. The
height of cut had continually been raised during September and October. The longer leaf blades helped the ice bond to
the surface of the greens (<i>An analogy
would be if you had to remove ice off of your head – it would be easier to remove
it off a bald scalp rather than long hair?
Sorry to all the mullets out there</i>). The type of ice also influenced
removal. Although the ice we have is
thin, it is clear and dense.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So what can be done to mitigate the damage at this time of
year? Not much. I believe our best course of action is to
remove the ice as early as we can in the spring. We are a month and a half into a five and
half month winter season. There is the
potential for more rain. My hope lies in
the fact that the ice is thin and there are about 10% of the leaf tips poking
through the surface. After speaking with
Jim Ross at the <a href="http://www.oldscollege.ca/ptrc/home.html">PTRC</a> we are hoping the ice fractures enough from natural causes
and there is enough gas exchange along the surface of the exposed leaf tips to sustain
the winter. I am also hopeful these are
our eight healthier greens and that they went into winter in a hardier state. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The final conclusion from our experiment is that ice removal
after the fact and in our climate is very difficult and risky. </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7666372602272716569" name="_GoBack"></a></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0Panorama Dr, Panorama, BC V0A 1T0, Canada50.4583706 -116.23846650.4533161 -116.24833650000001 50.4634251 -116.2285955tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-42076615365283061082011-12-04T22:15:00.001-07:002011-12-06T06:57:12.053-07:00More Rain = More Ice<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More rain equals more ice.
Not the most earth shattering statement. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More rain fell on the golf course on Sunday and Monday. The rain resulted in an ice layer covering
the surface of all eight untarped greens.
When I wrote my last post a week ago there were only three greens with an
ice layer. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ice on the greens
varies in thickness from 3mm (.11”) to 5mm (.19”). The grass crowns are completely covered on
all eight greens and only 20% of the leaf tips are protruding through the
ice. The ice on the greens is clear and
very difficult to visually detect. When
the snow is removed, we can still see the aeration holes on the greens and the
surface appears to have very little ice accumulation. It is not until you place your hand on the
surface of the greens or take a sample out of the greens, that the ice layer
can be detected. We took samples out of
three greens so we could measure ice thickness at the shop. I have included a video update and a few
pictures.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dtMcO0SnTaw" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVCJJUJRX5hSozOIJ8ml8Apv0S_Mz6Oj5EnFqkm8SbDcIZj3yrCPjxE4qpnKaJT2dMbMlJJLeqYf18VEGHHCjMF-JcXc77NRBwneMHenLtXkSwz13I9X7buEd7xchabV5xSUpivqS8uk/s1600/IMG_3515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmVCJJUJRX5hSozOIJ8ml8Apv0S_Mz6Oj5EnFqkm8SbDcIZj3yrCPjxE4qpnKaJT2dMbMlJJLeqYf18VEGHHCjMF-JcXc77NRBwneMHenLtXkSwz13I9X7buEd7xchabV5xSUpivqS8uk/s320/IMG_3515.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 mm Ice Thickness #4 Green</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjZbRpyD6yKmspVwghJh8n16t7I5HVIMErzehvhV7AEKPUP5wUWyI0iqDin1ucsUY8MVZBr1AK3B130d4INzwT3jp5fWi316NVmk4Jh1oOUGWJG01ye0XN9iVYeVEoaLGSIpScAAMIDc/s1600/IMG_3534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjZbRpyD6yKmspVwghJh8n16t7I5HVIMErzehvhV7AEKPUP5wUWyI0iqDin1ucsUY8MVZBr1AK3B130d4INzwT3jp5fWi316NVmk4Jh1oOUGWJG01ye0XN9iVYeVEoaLGSIpScAAMIDc/s320/IMG_3534.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice Sample from #15 Green</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The question is -- how should we deal with the ice? There are two choices - remove the ice now or
monitor turf health and ice levels and remove the ice in early spring. None of the choices are good.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Removal now means ploughing paths to all eight untarped
greens, chipping the ice with an aerator, and then putting the snow back on the
greens to provide insulation. During
this process there could be more snow and sudden temperature drops that would
make the process more difficult and potentially expose the greens to low
temperature kill. Also if historical
weather patterns for our region occur there could be more rain in January or
February resulting in more ice. If we
were to attempt this process, I estimate it would take between two and three
weeks to complete.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Removal of the ice layer in the spring means there will be
more snow to move. It also means we only
have to deal with the ice once as we usually do not form ice from rain after
February. The danger with leaving the
ice until spring is that any damage to the greens could already have occurred
and our efforts would be futile. Also we
risk breaking winter hardiness of the greens and exposing the greens to unexpected
low temperature kill from extreme spring temperature drops. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Again, none of the choices are good. With the current ice thickness (minimal), the weather volatility at this time of year, and the fact that the eight untarped greens are our stronger greens, I
am in favor of waiting until spring to remove the ice. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As always I will discuss</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> with the </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7666372602272716569" name="_GoBack" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">team and
formulate a plan. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">More to follow. </span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com01981 Greywolf Dr, Invermere, BC V0A 1K5, Canada50.439959999646945 -116.249256134033250.434903499646943 -116.25912663403321 50.445016499646947 -116.2393856340332tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-23702095298366077862011-11-28T11:16:00.000-07:002011-11-28T11:16:26.400-07:00Light Up Parade<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Saturday was Invermere’s annual Light Up Parade.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Greywolf crew were in charge of
constructing this year’s float.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We went with a village-in-mountain theme.
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The float managed to capture third in
the float judging competition.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Best part about the small town parades is all the ribbons say first. So we are telling everyone we finished first in the village in the mountain category!</span><br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F113199713347067600627%2Falbumid%2F5679918421161736689%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCNK_7Mm6kYP3Tw%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There were a lot of people who helped. Thanks to all and a special thanks to Chad, Colin, Shevonne, and Talia as
well as the rest of the staff who participated in the parade. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The Christmas and ski season is upon us.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0902-922 7th Ave, Athalmer, BC V0A 1A0, Canada50.505893953077006 -116.0290145874023450.495795953077007 -116.04875558740234 50.515991953077005 -116.00927358740235tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-140938845022980732011-11-27T22:01:00.001-07:002011-11-28T07:56:02.608-07:00The Things That Keep Me Up At Night<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">There are two things I worry about in the winter --- snow mold
and the formation of ice on our turf. Ice
is never good for a golf course. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On Monday Greywolf was blanketed by another
deep snow fall, the second heavy snowfall of the winter. By Monday evening there was 41 cm (16") of settled
snow on the golf course. But on Monday night
the warm weather caused rain instead of snow.
I estimate that from Monday night through until Tuesday night over 3 cm
(1”) of rain fell on the golf course. By
Wednesday morning the rain and warmer temperatures caused the snow to settle to
the 27 cm (11”) mark at the shop. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3RvwY3APh2NoH7hSED3KKl45PknTKEjxO8qyfIsaRvG87SP6TzrPlv-OnJRZY5CBdtH-vy4QBRYPpKQcSygnqsDlyHupdXsTlar2nQkzYPmEhyphenhyphen3d9DBeGp0uwASsPMZcEhLfoJ5Fpyw/s1600/IMG_3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3RvwY3APh2NoH7hSED3KKl45PknTKEjxO8qyfIsaRvG87SP6TzrPlv-OnJRZY5CBdtH-vy4QBRYPpKQcSygnqsDlyHupdXsTlar2nQkzYPmEhyphenhyphen3d9DBeGp0uwASsPMZcEhLfoJ5Fpyw/s320/IMG_3452.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">35 cm (14") of Snow on #4 Green</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Thursday and Friday we began to
inspect all eight of our untarped greens.
We inspected these greens for ice and snow depth. The snow depth on the greens ranges from 27
cm (11”) on the lower holes to 35 cm (14”) on the upper holes. The forth and tenth greens had a thin
layer of sheet ice which is a concern. The sixth green had some ice formation. The
remaining untarped greens showed little to no ice build up. This was surprising. The following video was shot while I
inspected the sixth green, Cliffhanger.
Apologies for the rough quality of the video and audio. There was a lot of wind as a storm moved in. </span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/xwPzkUG-pLg" width="560"></iframe>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I am worried about the fourth and
tenth greens, but I was surprised that the other six greens were not covered in
ice. I believe the lack of ice build up
may be due to several factors including:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-top: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Depth of snow cover so far</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Aeration holes that were left on greens allowing water to run into root zone</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';">
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The insulating factor of the snow and some
residual heat in the green surface</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">With the weather forecast, it is
raining as I write this and there is more snow rain in the forecast until
Thursday, I have made the decision to hold off on any form of action regarding ice
on our greens. We will wait<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7666372602272716569" name="_GoBack"></a> to see what the weather does over the next five days, then
meet with our management group, and discuss the options. Stay tuned. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">On a positive note with all the
snow on the mountain, <a href="http://www.panoramaresort.com/sites/all/assets/images/content/media/PDF/11_24_2011_-_Panorama_Opening_Early.pdf">Panorama</a> will be opening early on December 5<sup>th</sup>.</span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com01981 Greywolf Dr, Invermere, BC V0A 1K5, Canada50.445726742798612 -116.2538909912109450.443198742798614 -116.25882649121094 50.448254742798611 -116.24895549121094tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-32551484397426452652011-11-17T23:46:00.010-07:002011-11-18T06:28:18.470-07:00Tarp Time Lapse and Explanation<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have been a little late in adding this post to the blog. The tarp crew, consisting of seven to ten staff this fall, installed all 11 <a href="http://www.greenjacket.com/">Green Jacket</a> tarps from October 24 to October 30. If weather conditions are right, the tarps can be installed in three days. But frost and poor weather prolonged the installation this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The following video shows the tarp installation process. It is a time lapse of the tarp installation on #2 and #12 greens this year. The second video, put together in 2010, details the tarp installation process and was put together for our ownership group, members, and guests.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F8WX7gkwfBQ" width="560"></iframe>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT23e1YPQwdwZ_mK_bfVvBPw7K24TiuvqhXdcX9O3KjDLgzxZiFEMP6nvv8YLbilI4bA7j1dGor6v2sX8s2y5ZOncK47vVD9rR4ta0QXCreN4UQdhQv9U5UhyCQDEYWb2rPLtepkx99UQ/s1600/IMG_3300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT23e1YPQwdwZ_mK_bfVvBPw7K24TiuvqhXdcX9O3KjDLgzxZiFEMP6nvv8YLbilI4bA7j1dGor6v2sX8s2y5ZOncK47vVD9rR4ta0QXCreN4UQdhQv9U5UhyCQDEYWb2rPLtepkx99UQ/s400/IMG_3300.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 2011 Tarp Crew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com11981 Greywolf Dr, Invermere, BC V0A 1K5, Canada50.440069328326175 -116.247797012329150.435012828326172 -116.25766751232911 50.445125828326177 -116.2379265123291tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-45958824838375531822011-11-11T06:03:00.002-07:002011-11-11T06:07:54.978-07:00Golf Course Superintendent Delivers His Own Son<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The forces of nature define the job of golf course superintendents and the ability to improvise, adapt, and react is what makes a successful superintendent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom Altmann, superintendent at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and former superintendent at Greywolf, knows these facts apply not only to our jobs but more importantly to life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On October 8<sup>th </sup>Tom and his wife Melissa had to adapt to the forces of nature, when they delivered their son, Logan, in the cab of their pickup truck.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story is best told by Tom and Melissa and has been highlighted in the local paper (<a href="http://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/pdf/vol8issue43.pdf">The Columbia Valley Pioneer</a>) and <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/radiowest/2011/10/31/invermere-baby-born-in-pickup-truck/">CBC radio</a> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Hit the link to CBC radio to hear Tom and Melissa tell the story).</i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><img height="296" src="http://www.cbc.ca/radiowest/assets_c/2011/10/for%20website%20logan-thumb-553x411-135058.jpg" width="400" /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The story starts w</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ith Melissa expecting to deliver on November 11<sup>th</sup>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But five weeks before their due date, Tom and Melissa were camping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was October 8<sup>th</sup> and the couple’s wedding anniversary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melissa started to feel some mild contractions but thought it was false labour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be safe the couple decided to go to the local hospital in Invermere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> <br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When they arrived at the hospital, Tom and Melissa were told that the contractions were the ”real deal” and that it was time to head to the hospital in Cranbrook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their newborn was on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with most deliveries in the local area, the plan was to head to Cranbrook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom scrambled to pack a few things and arrange for a babysitter for their four year old son Myles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom then went back to the hospital and picked up Melissa for the drive to Cranbrook in their Ford pickup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The couple was relaxed and excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melissa’s labour had not progressed too far along.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But about thirty minutes down the road, the forces of nature and a very bumpy road, started to speed the delivery process along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The contractions were increasing in speed and intensity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melissa told Tom to call 911.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The operator swiftly put them through to an ambulance which was on its way back from Cranbrook to Invermere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The vehicles were only minutes away from each other and they made arrangements to meet in the parking lot of the Fire Valley Restaurant in Canal Flats to transfer Melissa to the care of the paramedics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was 10:00PM.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything in the small town of Canal Flats was closed for the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Tom and Melissa waited for the ambulance, Melissa got out to stretch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were a couple more contractions and Melissa realized their new born was on the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melissa got back in the truck and within moments and with the help of Tom, Logan Altmann made his arrival into the world. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As Tom took Logan into his arms he assured Melissa their new born was breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Logan started to cry,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom checked his airway and patted him on the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom told Melissa “we’ve got a happy, healthy boy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom reached into his overnight bag and grabbed the first thing that he found.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then proceeded to wrap Logan up in a clean pair of boxer shorts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tom admits there was a range of emotions for both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom says he and Melissa were pretty “white in the face” at the start of delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then after the magnitude of the moment sank in there was pure joy and a serene calmness when it was just Melissa, Tom, and Logan under the star filled skies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Moments later the ambulance drivers walked up behind Tom and asked “What do we have here?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tom turned around and replied, “A boy!” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Both Logan and Melissa then proceeded via ambulance to Cranbrook where they were both given a clean bill of health.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The job of parenthood, not unlike the job of superintendent, requires the ability to adapt, improvise, and react to what nature presents us with – but the job of parenthood is a lot more important and has more challenges.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welcome to the world Logan <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ford</i> Altmann and congratulations to Tom, Melissa, and Myles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-4255522895592005282011-11-03T06:00:00.006-06:002011-11-03T06:00:10.899-06:00Greywolf’s Own Video Auteur<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dan Kytic is <a href="http://www.greywolfgolf.com/">Greywolf’s</a> and <a href="http://www.panoramaresort.com/">Panorama’s</a> own amateur cinematographer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His work continues to improve with each new video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of his most recent works can be seen in the YouTube video that is attached.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This video has over 77 separate shots taken during the fall of 2011.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am particularly fond of the shots of the greens mowers and rollers at the start of the video, but I am somewhat biased. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XTSyCvKroTY" width="560"></iframe></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dan was Greywolf’s 2011 “Summer Star” and was recognized for his positive attitude and willingness to help out where ever needed. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This recognition was well deserved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The management team could always rely on Dan to help out in any department whether in the Golf Shop, as an Equipment Coordinator, or as an on-course Player’s Assistant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dan is the type of employee other staff members want to work with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He handled every customer interaction with poise and professionalism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He carries this passion and dedication to the rest of his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it is his other pursuits of mountain biking, skiing, videographer, or golf you know it will be carried out with a passion for life and a smile on Dan’s face. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This passion for learning and going the extra mile is demonstrated in Dan’s video.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He has inspired me to try and get some of my video clips meshed together with some semblance of order and quality but that may be wishful thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stay tuned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For some reason Dan also gave me some credit in his film.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I loaned him some camera clamps and chatted with him about his video.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were others that did much more and I learned more by chatting with Dan than I ever gave back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But thanks Dan, nice work on the video and belated congrats as<a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a> the “Summer Star.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be staying in tune with your <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/danthechamp1000">YouTube channel</a> for upcoming winter videos.</span>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-41593402510411184102011-11-02T06:47:00.002-06:002011-11-14T22:34:37.026-07:00A New Addition to the Crew - Mulligan<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Usually at this time of year golf course across Canada are reducing the size of their crews. This is no different for the Greywolf Turfcare Department. The seasonal staff are now gone, remaining senior staff are finishing up last minute outdoor jobs, and the snow is now falling (these facts also mean I can get back to regular blog posts!).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But there has been a recent addition to the Greywolf Turfcare crew. A couple of weeks ago I adopted a new dog from a rescue organization called <a href="http://www.globalanimallovers.com/">Global Animal Lovers</a> (GAL’s for short). After much debate amongst my nieces and nephews as well as the crew, the name Mulligan or Mulli for short was settled upon. I personally wanted to name her Fore – just so I could yell it out on the golf course and watch the reaction of golfers! Common sense prevailed.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaseU_bHsUbJZKpqIfAJ14oIY7-8hhY9oOZsCQ-dqGxLTICBpp7Z9LKhFIRigF5nrJoMZ8Aza2dExatqOOhu8lX34fY9RIdZq5EeR18Y3-CaFaQOD10QvV_6R-yR_lJGMi9oyn8Fm5tk/s1600/Mulli+on+Six.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" ida="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaseU_bHsUbJZKpqIfAJ14oIY7-8hhY9oOZsCQ-dqGxLTICBpp7Z9LKhFIRigF5nrJoMZ8Aza2dExatqOOhu8lX34fY9RIdZq5EeR18Y3-CaFaQOD10QvV_6R-yR_lJGMi9oyn8Fm5tk/s320/Mulli+on+Six.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mulli on Cliffhanger</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mulli is a Border Collie between the ages of one and two years old. She was rescued off the Peigan Reserve near Pincher Creek. Mulli is adapting to Greywolf and loves to be around the crew and the golf course. She is a changed dog from four weeks ago when I first brought her to <a href="http://www.panoramaresort.com/">Panorama</a> on a trial bases. If you are a squirrel or a deer beware! She is friendly to everyone else. She now believes the golf course is her personal territory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is still a lot of work to do with Mulli and patience will be required from members, guests, and myself as I train her on proper golf course behaviour. Currently she does not understand the different areas of the golf course and loves sand. This means there is a tremendous amount of playing in sand traps right now. Unless she can learn how to drive a Sand Pro, this behaviour will have to be corrected by opening day 2012. Mulli is also very fond of boots, shoes, socks, and gloves and is forcing the crew and myself to become neater around the shop. She also took a liking to my leather recliner at home - the joys of a young dog!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mulligan is also pleased that her sibling, Payton, has been adopted by our Head Pro, Gavin and his girlfriend, Paula. There are regular walks with the both dogs along Toby Creek and the thirteenth hole.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following video is one I put together to thank the volunteers at GAL’s. Yes, the music is sappy but I spent five months searching for the right dog and thanks to their efforts, I found one. They rescued Mulli, spayed</span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, vaccinated, cleaned her up, and brought her from Alberta to Invermere. Global Animal Lovers is made up of volunteers dedicated to rescuing animals, stopping over population of pets through spay and neuter clinics, and providing animals with homes. So you will have to forgive the sappiness factor but I want to thank them for all they have done.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6Jyq7YN3JJg" width="420"></iframe></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-29379248256707449132011-09-27T21:32:00.001-06:002011-09-28T06:43:42.080-06:00Dead or Alive<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tabled, prorogued, “dead on paper” – these are terms I have been trying to understand over the last few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of these terms have been used to describe Bill M-203 – the “Cosmetic Pesticide” bill before the BC Legislature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter which term is used, they all mean the same thing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bill M-203 will very shortly die as a point of procedure in the B.C. legislature.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyN0MpWJ0WRS2WrBhcTTtWqmQ5CdIxs_jxT89kLwyOy_6fzlbMVPCVuZW3VyMf8rAwtAF2QAeRFjmw3V2frviY_jsDAII4nbu68SGGmcV7XkubfmO8ySUPtVjCsnaewk0c7Bp82EgS4Y/s1600/law-gavel-scales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyN0MpWJ0WRS2WrBhcTTtWqmQ5CdIxs_jxT89kLwyOy_6fzlbMVPCVuZW3VyMf8rAwtAF2QAeRFjmw3V2frviY_jsDAII4nbu68SGGmcV7XkubfmO8ySUPtVjCsnaewk0c7Bp82EgS4Y/s400/law-gavel-scales.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So is the issue of pesticide legislation in BC dead or alive? The issue of pesticides in B.C. will not end with the bill “dying on paper.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The special committee that was struck to study pesticides usage in B.C., as a result of the introduction of Bill M-203, will move forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The committee will resume meetings in the next few weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The committee could simply re-introduce Bill M-203.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All indications are they will study the issue, hold public consultations, and look at other legislation from across Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, a new pesticide bill will be introduced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This could happen as early as this falls sitting of the legislator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most likely it will occur during the spring 2012 session of the legislature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Premier Clark has committed the Liberal party to passing some form of pesticide legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The NDP is in favour of pesticide legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is rare that the government and opposition agree on an issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they agree on pesticide legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The question is what form it will take and when will new legislation be introduced?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last Wednesday I had a discussion with Rob Fleming, MLA for Victoria-Swan Lake, Environment Critic for the NDP in B.C. and a member of the Special committee studying pesticides in B.C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was very complimentary of the work that the golf industry in B.C. has done regarding the pesticide issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our message that golf courses and superintendents are environmental stewards and only use pesticides when needed is being heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that pesticides are heavily regulated and studied by Health Canada and the plant protectants we apply are used by licensed applicators is resonating with those willing to listen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the politicians are listening to our message, Mr. Fleming believes that new pesticide legislation will be reintroduced in the spring of 2012. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The question is what turf managers and golf industry professionals should do with this short reprieve regarding the pesticide issue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should we wait until new legislation is introduced?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>React to it or be proactive?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lead or follow?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our message is powerful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are Canada’s most popular sport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is not hockey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Golf is good for the environment and the economy of B.C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our golf courses are massive contributors to charities and local community organizations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our industry is proactive, responsible, and leaders in environmental protection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This message needs to be heard by more residence and politicians in B.C. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The golf industry in B.C. reacted slowly to Bill M-203.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our critics defined the issue and defined our industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stumbled. </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now that we have been given more time and we have started to speak up about the pesticide issue, what should we do? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I believe the answer is clear - lead.</span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-10719780864237916922011-08-17T14:42:00.000-06:002011-08-17T14:42:50.817-06:0054 Days Without A Frost Delay - New Record<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday we had the first frost delay of late summer, a 1.5 hour delay that caught everyone but Greywolf staff off guard. August 16th is late for our first frost of the summer. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was just discussing with a few members and staff that the summer of 2011 has seen a period of 54 days without a frost delay (The last delay was on June 24th). That is the longest period without a frost delay in the last five years. There has been frost during these 54 days, but the turfcare team has been able to move around the frost without delaying tee times. In fact, July was the first calendar month, in my five seasons, at Greywolf where there was not a frost delay. (I fondly remember the nearly two hour delay on Canada Day in 2009!) </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frost on Turf</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A couple of other weather and frost notes: </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">• Last night the temperature was 1.3 <sup>o</sup>C. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above freezing with the humidity and other weather factors, frost set up on the turf canopy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">• As a general rule, the turfcare crew scouts the golf course for frost whenever the temperature gets lower than 4 <sup>o</sup>C at night. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">• This summer, the high temperature has not broken 30 <sup>o</sup>C at Greywolf. Our highest recorded temperature has been 28.3 <sup>o</sup>C on July 7th. Although there is still lots of summer left!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will try to write another post soon about why it is essential to stay off frost and the damaged caused by walking on turf that is covered with frost. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until then, lets hope we see another 54 days without frost!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-6445411786810896932011-08-13T01:00:00.000-06:002011-08-13T01:00:29.029-06:00Moose on #14 and #15<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday we had a moose on the golf course. It was first sighted in the pond on #11, moved over to the pond on #15 and then crossed the green on #14. The irrigation was off the night before, and the green was firm when the cow walked across. Luckily there was no damage.</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching 14 Green</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trot across 14 green</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No damage on the green.</td></tr>
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</div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-23489604697265181712011-08-11T10:35:00.000-06:002011-08-11T10:35:13.251-06:00Injured Coyote???<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the past few months I have had a few calls about a coyote with an injured paw on the golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coyote’s front left leg seems to have sustained an injury or there was some kind of abnormality at birth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coyote was first noticed in the spring when we were removing the tarp off of thirteen green and has been seen around the golf course several times since the spring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday he was seen on the seventh fairway.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The following is some blurry and choppy video shot of him around the golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He runs with a limp. You may also be able to notice his paw is permanently bent at a 90 degree angle. </span>Besides being a little braver and a little slower than a normal coyote there is no need for concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is very healthy, has good mobility, and has never had an encounter with a golfer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The video clip shows the coyote’s ability to climb up a rock and cross creeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am encouraging him to stay and hunt as many gophers as he wants!</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/u7-sbH8dAh0?hl=en&fs=1" width="425"></iframe></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
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</div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-60390346729881188562011-08-02T20:55:00.001-06:002011-08-02T20:57:21.612-06:00Politics and Golf<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A little over a week ago I met with my local Member of the Legislature Assembly (MLA), Norm MacDonald, at Greywolf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I invited Mr. MacDonald to Greywolf to discuss the implications of Bill M 203 in British Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bill is currently before a special committee of the legislature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bill will ban all pesticides in the turf industry including those used on golf courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting greens on golf courses would be exempt for five years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After five years no pesticides will be allowed on any areas on golf courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">During Mr. MacDonald’s visit I took the opportunity to discuss the benefits of the game of golf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">golf is played by 15% more people than the game of hockey in Canada</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">over 800,000 Canadians from outside B.C. come to B.C. to play golf (2009)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">over one million visitors from the U.S. play the game of golf in B.C. (2009) </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">golf brings in 82 million dollars into the economy in the Kootenay region.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">golf makes up 6% of all travel and tourism spending in the Kootenay region </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">60% of all visitors in the Kootenay region come from Alberta</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I also discussed the need for plant protectants at Greywolf and in the turf industry in B.C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Bill M 203 becomes law, it will devastate the golf industry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first winter after this bill becomes law, the fairways and tees at Greywolf and many other clubs will be killed due to snow mould.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means golf courses in B.C. will not be able to survive or compete with golf course in Alberta, Montana, Idaho and Washington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuE-W09_8DBMXSKGd9QEKns2iV_qsfF4t6GerI3mnvA8Lya3BA9Gqle0n50AEpMCUQ1X5fC6fwwx2SMNRR8L5wEmoqSPv1e3n8YYEnctGX9OMoWkBC0WINuHd_ppNRgTHF3X5zuH6NkU/s1600/DSC_0010-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuE-W09_8DBMXSKGd9QEKns2iV_qsfF4t6GerI3mnvA8Lya3BA9Gqle0n50AEpMCUQ1X5fC6fwwx2SMNRR8L5wEmoqSPv1e3n8YYEnctGX9OMoWkBC0WINuHd_ppNRgTHF3X5zuH6NkU/s400/DSC_0010-1.JPG" t$="true" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Results of No Fungicides in Control Plot at Greywolf</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgDEtV0TCLCbkNegiRX9Sl83VBMndAs1fl9n-cNAG3SiOe3kw2aWzCpzAg-uGMJXJPem_f78w_Hg3MhhJH7_EeWBzuLvzsSCjAnqUdkQ5dwgTMbGcc1GMbp7_89CTh-kb7xeT6dP3qCY/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmgDEtV0TCLCbkNegiRX9Sl83VBMndAs1fl9n-cNAG3SiOe3kw2aWzCpzAg-uGMJXJPem_f78w_Hg3MhhJH7_EeWBzuLvzsSCjAnqUdkQ5dwgTMbGcc1GMbp7_89CTh-kb7xeT6dP3qCY/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">100% Mortality on turf not sprayed by fungicides</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. MacDonald, Assistant Superintendent Colin Matheson, and I toured Greywolf and discussed the fact that there are eight full time jobs and 60 season jobs that would be at risk if Bill M 203 were passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also millions of dollars in direct and indirect spending and taxation would be gone from the community and government coffers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Business taxes, property taxes, HST revenues, personnel taxes and revenues from “spin off” spending from golf courses would be eliminated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also money raised for charities by Greywolf would also be eliminated.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mr. MacDonald’s visit also showed how well organized and well funded the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has become.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a professional political lobby group that excels at fundraising and crafting a political message.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately it does not have the scientific research or studies to prove that pesticides cause cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does however have an emotional argument. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We discussed this and the fact that the majority of products used in the golf industry were developed for the agriculture industry and that they are stringently tested by over 300 scientists at Health Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Golf courses use pesticides that are essential and not “cosmetic.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The exclusion of the agricultural industry from this bill is a sign that those opposed to pesticides cannot prove their argument through the use of scientific fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If pesticides cause cancer would it not be prudent for the CCS to lobby the government to eliminate pesticides in agriculture crops before eliminating them on turfgrass?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The golf industry must have a voice in the pesticide debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The emotional argument that has been used by the other side of the debate must be countered with scientific fact and the economic impacts of this bill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being at the forefront of political debates is not what most superintendents enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most superintendents would prefer to avoid the political arena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is time for superintendents to take a more active role in local and provincial politics in British Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I encourage all superintendents in B.C. to invite their local politicians and MLA’s to tour their golf course facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use the opportunity to discuss the implications of Bill M 203 and demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of their golf courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-52555352886219062752011-07-17T17:30:00.000-06:002011-07-17T17:30:08.664-06:00Movie in the Mountains<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night Greywolf hosted our first ever "Movie in the Mountains." A unique experience for guests, members, and staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rango was the feature presentation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The movie was put on by <a href="http://www.freshaircinema.ca/events.php">Fresh Air Cinema</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only cost for those who participated was a donation to Panorama Fire Department’s charity - <a href="http://muscle.ca/">Muscular Dystrophy Canada</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An estimated 400 guests took part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and twenty minutes into the show a thunder storm blew in causing the cancellation of the event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the great turn out we will definitely be trying another movie night in the not too distant future. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uox93fiLudAL7BPNa92CcZtIvmrGY78F91iZue2NPV_UQFzMPLDd85P1FnTdYESl4Pgm-o4reUEFpqHx5G6tRzfVx_mI2ebBirPiGYCbdOMOCkLFyzaRMav3GdLVMUgH5LvLD7ZMarI/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0uox93fiLudAL7BPNa92CcZtIvmrGY78F91iZue2NPV_UQFzMPLDd85P1FnTdYESl4Pgm-o4reUEFpqHx5G6tRzfVx_mI2ebBirPiGYCbdOMOCkLFyzaRMav3GdLVMUgH5LvLD7ZMarI/s320/DSC_0020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Movie Screen next to first tee.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Movie screen being inflated</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqe2fl5YHhFQKsEnitFrN_IS4l1WCF2ypvOcKv-7oK7dAVRyeWBrRhkv795xo7hiZUX71eWN3QiH-tbtzXVnxmDDqrL2NUl-GspddEEyuVENs2q7ckD20CcxmilQpgiXjdP5416duUZ4/s1600/DSC_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqe2fl5YHhFQKsEnitFrN_IS4l1WCF2ypvOcKv-7oK7dAVRyeWBrRhkv795xo7hiZUX71eWN3QiH-tbtzXVnxmDDqrL2NUl-GspddEEyuVENs2q7ckD20CcxmilQpgiXjdP5416duUZ4/s320/DSC_0021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The concession</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pajamas - not sure if they meet dress code</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB-aoKVK3lDhDzImm20uEQnfBR7pDsO1ZAUhlE6c_WoWOE3bpJ3Wmu4uIomiNjpMt3CxS8ibn5603yioNQazyXbhYif7RGEqHa1U01TNoq0-JQyZJJ1GGx2zmFDLk6ft3IwA7UunSbMs/s1600/DSC_0078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB-aoKVK3lDhDzImm20uEQnfBR7pDsO1ZAUhlE6c_WoWOE3bpJ3Wmu4uIomiNjpMt3CxS8ibn5603yioNQazyXbhYif7RGEqHa1U01TNoq0-JQyZJJ1GGx2zmFDLk6ft3IwA7UunSbMs/s320/DSC_0078.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pano Pete and friends</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeADBMTVIhc7DGvgHkBTIN3zcHx-F9rUFuEiHzteyHHx4nzPY1F_4GHYAnOF9iU2m_ZKTr4jOteVQAtQiUhpo6UVngHZIjKnMY1YuIBDSzM_I-qJbt293oav6fsERZxTKWVHbBDOljvqA/s1600/DSC_0117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeADBMTVIhc7DGvgHkBTIN3zcHx-F9rUFuEiHzteyHHx4nzPY1F_4GHYAnOF9iU2m_ZKTr4jOteVQAtQiUhpo6UVngHZIjKnMY1YuIBDSzM_I-qJbt293oav6fsERZxTKWVHbBDOljvqA/s320/DSC_0117.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crowd finds their viewing spots</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6G-6lN7sS-ePQDcTK7KmRnyMxAx1k51wiIjwfHr9ECEsvhGZ2Ftsab9YB-WSzm5oGOxR8JvBZBsgmw5LrF6hY8yuzl5M2tHi_Rh5pY2ue3hpK4lC-dwQHSWDbriB3XNmTns46QU7bN4/s1600/DSC_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6G-6lN7sS-ePQDcTK7KmRnyMxAx1k51wiIjwfHr9ECEsvhGZ2Ftsab9YB-WSzm5oGOxR8JvBZBsgmw5LrF6hY8yuzl5M2tHi_Rh5pY2ue3hpK4lC-dwQHSWDbriB3XNmTns46QU7bN4/s320/DSC_0121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The projection trailer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSvkrzzet1Gd19xvh0NMDsuEzFgjmiVCcxMGBNWmB5gso0vPovd2_r60D8rl1UYtfGZnTsWhTE4zTltYJ1c3QONo9sS6dBFQIW2mgCTDNBtb7Xso9mV6iUnw2GnwDljutO2ridcBdQVc/s1600/DSC_0165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgSvkrzzet1Gd19xvh0NMDsuEzFgjmiVCcxMGBNWmB5gso0vPovd2_r60D8rl1UYtfGZnTsWhTE4zTltYJ1c3QONo9sS6dBFQIW2mgCTDNBtb7Xso9mV6iUnw2GnwDljutO2ridcBdQVc/s320/DSC_0165.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Previews</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZCpyXy-QucPV1ASfZSxNmhgRHif5_VneZzwPrQFISnMK_t0VC8NpfOe3h_-5ozJpLs1P9keFZB5NLc13Ad0xkP5M0oQTMZQevFqlOCm1WDb5_4g75dYT-6A0EU6qiq_s60xO-irhu6k/s1600/DSC_0189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOZCpyXy-QucPV1ASfZSxNmhgRHif5_VneZzwPrQFISnMK_t0VC8NpfOe3h_-5ozJpLs1P9keFZB5NLc13Ad0xkP5M0oQTMZQevFqlOCm1WDb5_4g75dYT-6A0EU6qiq_s60xO-irhu6k/s320/DSC_0189.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showtime</td></tr>
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</div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-17536297237271556272011-07-04T00:16:00.000-06:002011-07-04T00:16:51.930-06:00All Politics Are Local<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no doubt that within the next five years British Columbia will have new pesticide legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The NDP has introduced Bill M 203 before the legislature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liberal Premier Christy Clark has indicated she supports a cosmetic pesticide ban.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A crystal ball is not needed to see that changes are coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I was thinking about changes to BC pesticide legislation as I was attending our Kootenay Chapter meeting of the <a href="http://www.bcgsa.com/">British Columbia Golf Course Superintendent’s Association</a> (BCGSA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This meeting was a joint meeting with the <a href="http://www.wctaturf.com/">Western Canadian Turfgrass Association</a> (WCTA).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also the WCTA Traveling Annual Road Show which provided members with a chance to earn continuing education credits for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>pesticide licenses and to meet with fellow turf managers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amanda Brown, a Regional Pesticide Officer from the <a href="http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pest/index-eng.php/">Pesticide Management Regulatory Association</a> (PMRA), spoke to the chapter about the PMRA’s evaluation process for pesticides and how the PMRA enforce their rules.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRu7MQn2Nr1K0JYXNAVAD6rrAjbdm-SsDO3ZUnj3BK2x80egKnu1UGGaBn6FE3oBiA7kODPoT1pgA9V2O5b_CsB4vzwheQrbwOWpedwwiMeZxQGLlgfK3tcQMpOpGuyFTKwTRaHE5ze0/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigRu7MQn2Nr1K0JYXNAVAD6rrAjbdm-SsDO3ZUnj3BK2x80egKnu1UGGaBn6FE3oBiA7kODPoT1pgA9V2O5b_CsB4vzwheQrbwOWpedwwiMeZxQGLlgfK3tcQMpOpGuyFTKwTRaHE5ze0/s400/IMG_0730.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerry Rousseau WCTA Exec Director and Amanda Brown PMRA speak to BCGSA Kootenay Chapter</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The discussion of pesticide issues was a prolific topic during the meeting and during the question and answer period with Amanda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fact that the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) had written a letter of support regarding Bill M 203 was also a source of frustration for all local superintendents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was surprising to many members that the RDEK would support legislation that would severely impact the business of golf and the spin-offs that the golf industry provides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The proposed legislation that the RDEK supports would only allow pesticide usage on putting greens for five year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As the discussion about pesticide related issues went on I was asking myself questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would a local government support such legislation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have I done enough to put forward my side of the issue? </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">The answer to my first question is “all politics are local” - one of the oldest political adages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon reflection the answer to the second question is no.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have been involved in the pesticide debate for years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have written letters to the provincial government regarding pesticide issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have lobbied the PMRA about re-registration of particular pesticides in Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have attended meetings of environmental groups and the Canadian Cancer Society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have written the federal government and the provincial government regarding pesticide issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I support my local, provincial and national turfgrass associations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All these efforts are behind the scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are letters, emails, and listening to the other side of the debate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These types of activities must continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But are they enough?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a politician at the local level is it’s just another letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just another email in the inbox.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have I put a voice to my side of the issue?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All politics are local.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Until now I have missed the biggest opportunity to influence the process that I am given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must talk to the person I help elect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not influenced the political narrative about my golf course, my industry and about pesticides.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I do not tell my story, who will?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The elected officials need to hear about the health benefits of the game of golf, how my facility is a steward of the environment, and how I only use pesticides when required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do they know that I use products that the federal government scientifically tests for safety or that I host research trials at my facility to aid in fungicide research?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All these points have been made by our associations at the federal and provincial levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Few of us are making this point at the local level where all politics take place.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If the current legislation were to pass, my facility will shut down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most golf courses in BC will be dramatically affected by the proposed legislation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I work in a competitive industry where golfers can vote with their dollars to play another golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If conditions are not favourable in BC, golfers will go to Alberta, Montana, or Washington.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The local economy, the tax base, and the spin-offs the golf industry provides to our communities will be gone.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How did my local government come to support pesticide legislation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not speak up at the local level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was busy running my golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I now realize that if I do not speak up, soon I will not have a golf course to run and there will be plenty of time to think about what I should have done during the pesticide debate.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have I done enough?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should my MLA, MP, and RDKE board members be expecting a call and a request for a face to face meeting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All politics are local – A phrase I must not forget and I encourage you to think about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></span>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-31470923581539223132011-06-24T20:58:00.000-06:002011-06-24T20:58:44.373-06:00Solstice and the Snow is Gone!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Two things that are linked - the weather and golf course superintendents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a superintendent I am always watching the weather on the course, looking at the forecast for the day and the week, and checking the weather history for each day, month, and year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can our team apply a liquid fertility application or is it going to rain?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we have enough heat to dry topdressing sand?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How is the temperature affecting our growing conditions?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is no doubt this spring has been a challenge for all superintendents in our region--late snow melt, not a lot of heat and plenty of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am hoping the summer solstice signals an improvement in the weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is difficult to grow grass without sunlight and heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A quick look back at the spring shows some of the weather challenges we have had in the last few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These include:</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A mean temperature of 9.8 for the month of June.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A mean temperature of -.7 for the year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(I will try to post when the average moves above 0 for the 2011 but we are now halfway through the year and we still have a mean temperature below 0)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only four days in 2011 with a day time high over 20 degrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(This includes the summer solstice which was 21.1)</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">22 days with measurable rain since we opened 35 days ago.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">June 14<sup>th</sup> was the date our last snow pile left the golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must admit this was a large pile from clearing greens but we have had snow on the golf course 10 days ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe it would have been with us until July but the rain has helped eliminate it.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A 45 minute frost delay today.</span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10wv62eWPNiqtwNVRZZEO1N7h2zPatwsATczB_a2xvU3HRQoreZCd1ON2sKJkbM3GvnYjE_yN565f2-xkGzPOuq_aA44QZposA2RDXQRlOZzIK9lkHMJNIJ8Qc6xKqFevmbC414GObiY/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10wv62eWPNiqtwNVRZZEO1N7h2zPatwsATczB_a2xvU3HRQoreZCd1ON2sKJkbM3GvnYjE_yN565f2-xkGzPOuq_aA44QZposA2RDXQRlOZzIK9lkHMJNIJ8Qc6xKqFevmbC414GObiY/s400/IMG_0626.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow On Third Hole - We Borrowed A Sign from the Ski Hill</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">With the cool wet weather we have had small outbreaks of Fusarium (Pink Snow Mold) on the collars and on some of the greens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have not applied any fungicides to date and we have chosen to fight the disease outbreaks by reducing fertility and keeping the greens as dry as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to the lack of fertility as well as the poa annua going to seed, the greens have a green/ yellow look to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as we see a streak of sunshine in the forecast we will increase the fertility on the greens and they will darken up quickly.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV8BRoyvdkV1b1QEZmo7D4QSk5gAQl6n9tLhmokD34QsqPjwKXrrFVzNnhfCYohgrXjcb-_UMltAanAsv5aGTmR_5BR0AJnvvjz2WLPHMJ-VEcpLFRDD0KlzwkVYVLHxF8yUwOTh-UYo/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnV8BRoyvdkV1b1QEZmo7D4QSk5gAQl6n9tLhmokD34QsqPjwKXrrFVzNnhfCYohgrXjcb-_UMltAanAsv5aGTmR_5BR0AJnvvjz2WLPHMJ-VEcpLFRDD0KlzwkVYVLHxF8yUwOTh-UYo/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Example of Fusarium on #11 Green</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s hope the start of summer began with the Solstice.</span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0East Kootenay F, BC, Canada50.453023146037211 -116.2438491756591950.024282646037207 -117.04601117565919 50.881763646037214 -115.4416871756592tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-31103295241773751932011-06-06T05:00:00.005-06:002011-06-06T19:08:21.323-06:00Is the Bubble About to Burst?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last Thursday we were notified of a “problem” by golfers on the 14<sup>th</sup> fairway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got to the area we discovered the largest turf blisters or bubble I have seen in my career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bubble was caused by an irrigation break on the fairway pipe loop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The break was the result of a compression coupler that failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These types of repair fittings often fail and are no longer used by our staff due to their high failure rate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The break has been repaired and most of the turf on the fairway has returned to normal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will roll the sod that is uneven early this week.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOfZVj9n9SdvmDG8j1vESEwEyGc11k_3IRyHjdH_x-4LNOm4D62FYFMvJ-lqAHLpMw_FeHaa-CgaaTuNbYJqeHr-TfvFAnkS52R__9L4npBNOIetXUjxLdYbAwnPf5b0BvATxF18yKN4/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJOfZVj9n9SdvmDG8j1vESEwEyGc11k_3IRyHjdH_x-4LNOm4D62FYFMvJ-lqAHLpMw_FeHaa-CgaaTuNbYJqeHr-TfvFAnkS52R__9L4npBNOIetXUjxLdYbAwnPf5b0BvATxF18yKN4/s400/IMG_0581.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Irrigation Break and Blister on #14 Fairway - Scott and Andrew at Break Location</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blister Profile - at least 18" High</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Vjo0JiOuFXiHNPfgFrCTFyrjHrbok5ElqBf75iytGd9mLqTp5vq8dYlqf-HAgXVMxfLYRo0mePKRbXC62l1fqO54Xmd_OHdwJDtOKWDnYOUr1EydpdIXxTaZPtLc8nDdSY8vRFqOw7Q/s1600/IMG_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Vjo0JiOuFXiHNPfgFrCTFyrjHrbok5ElqBf75iytGd9mLqTp5vq8dYlqf-HAgXVMxfLYRo0mePKRbXC62l1fqO54Xmd_OHdwJDtOKWDnYOUr1EydpdIXxTaZPtLc8nDdSY8vRFqOw7Q/s400/IMG_0584.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scott Standing on Blister</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxc35TdKKGviohz1NCHcjcXUa85FcLgixN6bMIqHc7Z7kT-i7-df6WnRoGkfIcEduPdUNzfi-zmZO03o-ysGEvKNq4UwWZPxxhuO2kYqnuDiVDw7QMML3OdzqLX-_UxPB8BrC9AJHe28/s1600/IMG_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjxc35TdKKGviohz1NCHcjcXUa85FcLgixN6bMIqHc7Z7kT-i7-df6WnRoGkfIcEduPdUNzfi-zmZO03o-ysGEvKNq4UwWZPxxhuO2kYqnuDiVDw7QMML3OdzqLX-_UxPB8BrC9AJHe28/s400/IMG_0593.JPG" t8="true" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The problem fitting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes the bubble did burst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But not by natural causes.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O0l8rAsvNPg?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O0l8rAsvNPg?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-23616380082529008422011-06-05T20:45:00.001-06:002011-06-06T05:01:05.064-06:00A Time to Sow. A Time to Reap<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Working outside, watching things grow - whether it is the grass on the golf course or the people that I work with are a few of the benefits of being a golf course superintendent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For many superintendents there are other benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being able to take your dog to work is a hidden benefit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the past nine year I have fully reaped those benefits.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But as superintendents we also deal with the laws of nature - biology, chemistry and physics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Superintendents challenge nature but we understand that nature always wins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understand that everything has its time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a time to sow - There is a time to reap.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For me, May 21<sup>st</sup> was one of those days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forces of nature caught up to my dog and best friend Mickey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWeVSaonNUq3yluwhpcl4xFkHBIo1HftstS5WmvkOA6D215sdnhvnQYCC2HFD4Yl-s90HJ9yaF9Zc6ijj9qrDj9PlLEjE7FW6AAk8iDh3LhF5stZmtfzFmIKJn_p1LKOvUJISBRdZEQY/s1600/DSC_0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWeVSaonNUq3yluwhpcl4xFkHBIo1HftstS5WmvkOA6D215sdnhvnQYCC2HFD4Yl-s90HJ9yaF9Zc6ijj9qrDj9PlLEjE7FW6AAk8iDh3LhF5stZmtfzFmIKJn_p1LKOvUJISBRdZEQY/s320/DSC_0007.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He was three weeks short of 15 years old and led a long life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been with me for nine years and had three owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of whom loved and cared for him deeply, none more so than myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was introduced to him at the Pinebrook Golf and Country Club by Tania and her family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The decision to take Mickey took seconds when Tania asked if I wanted him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He moved to the Golden Golf and Country Club with me in 2003, where he began the life as a golf course dog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He went to work with me every day and was often there when I was not in attendance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He moved with me to Greywolf in 2007.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the only sticking point when I took the job at Greywolf. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were a package deal and I would not have left Golden if he could not join me on the course at Greywolf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thank Peter for hiring us and my fellow managers and the owners for accepting us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mickey was always by my side whether riding in my cart, in the Snowcat, or just walking around and inspecting the golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was trained not to walk on the greens, tees, fairways or in the bunkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not for any particular reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was just that smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His life can be summarized by chasing thousands of balls and fetching millions of sticks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He chased every wild animal we met.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Deer, elk, moose, bears, skunks, and squirrels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He lost all three encounters with the skunks. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he came across a porcupine while hiking Mt. Gorman, he knew enough to stay away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thank him for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The encounters with the skunks are also forgiven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squirrels were his nemesis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stopped 100% of the deadly squirrel attacks that we encountered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was the toughest dog in the world if he could see the ass of whatever he was chasing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he could see the teeth of the challenger, his courage quickly faded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoRFIHT9SOovDMS2Ml5CllubkdyOMFj5XsmAvIChTrStcTUXlzmTMGvaVu9nwx2BheKMR01kXc8qBDwcaEsni0ssTkgf8_tw4j1L7g7uSyVjw-XlGcROhkINwXiNbycttBHvoyEHEUNY/s1600/DSC_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOoRFIHT9SOovDMS2Ml5CllubkdyOMFj5XsmAvIChTrStcTUXlzmTMGvaVu9nwx2BheKMR01kXc8qBDwcaEsni0ssTkgf8_tw4j1L7g7uSyVjw-XlGcROhkINwXiNbycttBHvoyEHEUNY/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" t8="true" width="212" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Members and guest knew his name better than my own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do not blame them – he was smarter, better looking, and better behaved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will now be known as the guy, rather than the guy with the dog by many guests. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">He has been through every aspect of a superintendent’s life and my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been a part of nine golf course crews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stopped one burglary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was older than nearly all of my nieces and nephews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has seen friends and family move on and depart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has attended staff functions and seen the tough days of a superintendent---greens dying, staff leaving, and the never ending challenges of mother-nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of those days all he wanted was a tennis ball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2009 he broke his leg and I carried him up and down stairs for a month as he healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have done it for longer if needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mickey saw the morning fog part on the golf course and the sun rise over Mt. Paradise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> He saw the view of </span>a thousand peaks at the top of Panorama and sat with me when as the fire went out and the sun set over the peaks of Monument mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good times and bad he has been by my side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9WWeZjaeChgXbdrrXsQ86m7SFKiAMQab0xBICiZfbD1E_6p95BM2TV_Jdze_-XAV_SbbS9jVjF0_vzxjGXiQbBA2eZ54cg9o4_6qDCR7RKFPODz0sy_9eE0IWRfDbVgLthRQD_BDaWw/s1600/Mickey+and+I+at+Summit+Lift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9WWeZjaeChgXbdrrXsQ86m7SFKiAMQab0xBICiZfbD1E_6p95BM2TV_Jdze_-XAV_SbbS9jVjF0_vzxjGXiQbBA2eZ54cg9o4_6qDCR7RKFPODz0sy_9eE0IWRfDbVgLthRQD_BDaWw/s320/Mickey+and+I+at+Summit+Lift.jpg" t8="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Saturday May 21<sup>st</sup> we went for one last trip around the golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of the work day he told me it was time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cancer had advanced too far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave me six months I did not know we had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the help of our vet, I put Mickey down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was quick, painless, and humane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was also very difficult.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he returns from the crematorium he will move to his final resting place on the golf course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He will always be a part of the golf course. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To all those who have been part of his life and helped me look after him I thank you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To all the friends, staff, members and guests who have written me notes and stopped me to offer there condolences - thank you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I look for him daily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am inexplicably thankful for having him in my life and I miss him.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The forces of nature stop for no one.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is a time to sow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a time to reap.</span></div>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7666372602272716569.post-23313344841018801322011-05-18T23:10:00.000-06:002011-05-18T23:10:19.411-06:0016 Hours Till Opening<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LRtqSxPdX-Q?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LRtqSxPdX-Q?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Darren Reddekopphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15802041627618582027noreply@blogger.com0