Injured Coyote???

Over the past few months I have had a few calls about a coyote with an injured paw on the golf course.  The coyote’s front left leg seems to have sustained an injury or there was some kind of abnormality at birth.  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.  Yesterday he was seen on the seventh fairway.

The following is some blurry and choppy video shot of him around the golf course.  He runs with a limp.  You may also be able to notice his paw is permanently bent at a 90 degree angle.  Besides being a little braver and a little slower than a normal coyote there is no need for concern.  He is very healthy, has good mobility, and has never had an encounter with a golfer.  The video clip shows the coyote’s ability to climb up a rock and cross creeks.  I am encouraging him to stay and hunt as many gophers as he wants!

Politics and Golf

A little over a week ago I met with my local Member of the Legislature Assembly (MLA), Norm MacDonald, at Greywolf.  I invited Mr. MacDonald to Greywolf to discuss the implications of Bill M 203 in British Columbia.  The bill is currently before a special committee of the legislature.  The bill will ban all pesticides in the turf industry including those used on golf courses.   Putting greens on golf courses would be exempt for five years.  After five years no pesticides will be allowed on any areas on golf courses. 

During Mr. MacDonald’s visit I took the opportunity to discuss the benefits of the game of golf.  The fact that:

·         golf is played by 15% more people than the game of hockey in Canada

·         over 800,000 Canadians from outside B.C. come to B.C. to play golf (2009)

·         over one million visitors from the U.S. play the game of golf in B.C. (2009)

·         golf brings in 82 million dollars into the economy in the Kootenay region.

·         golf makes up 6% of all travel and tourism spending in the Kootenay region

·         60% of all visitors in the Kootenay region come from Alberta

I also discussed the need for plant protectants at Greywolf and in the turf industry in B.C.  If Bill M 203 becomes law, it will devastate the golf industry.  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.  This means golf courses in B.C. will not be able to survive or compete with golf course in Alberta, Montana, Idaho and Washington. 

Results of No Fungicides in Control Plot at Greywolf

100% Mortality on turf not sprayed by fungicides

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.  Also millions of dollars in direct and indirect spending and taxation would be gone from the community and government coffers.  Business taxes, property taxes, HST revenues, personnel taxes and revenues from “spin off” spending from golf courses would be eliminated.  Also money raised for charities by Greywolf would also be eliminated.

Mr. MacDonald’s visit also showed how well organized and well funded the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) has become.  It is a professional political lobby group that excels at fundraising and crafting a political message.  Unfortunately it does not have the scientific research or studies to prove that pesticides cause cancer.  It does however have an emotional argument.  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.  Golf courses use pesticides that are essential and not “cosmetic.”  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.  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? 

The golf industry must have a voice in the pesticide debate.  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. 

Being at the forefront of political debates is not what most superintendents enjoy.  Most superintendents would prefer to avoid the political arena.  But it is time for superintendents to take a more active role in local and provincial politics in British Columbia.  I encourage all superintendents in B.C. to invite their local politicians and MLA’s to tour their golf course facilities.  Use the opportunity to discuss the implications of Bill M 203 and demonstrate the environmental and economic benefits of their golf courses.    

Movie in the Mountains

Last night Greywolf hosted our first ever "Movie in the Mountains."  A unique experience for guests, members, and staff.  Rango was the feature presentation.   The movie was put on by Fresh Air Cinema.  The only cost for those who participated was a donation to Panorama Fire Department’s charity - Muscular Dystrophy Canada.   An estimated 400 guests took part.  Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and twenty minutes into the show a thunder storm blew in causing the cancellation of the event.  With the great turn out we will definitely be trying another movie night in the not too distant future.

Movie Screen next to first tee.

Movie screen being inflated

All Politics Are Local

There is no doubt that within the next five years British Columbia will have new pesticide legislation.  The NDP has introduced Bill M 203 before the legislature.  Liberal Premier Christy Clark has indicated she supports a cosmetic pesticide ban.   A crystal ball is not needed to see that changes are coming. 

I was thinking about changes to BC pesticide legislation as I was attending our Kootenay Chapter meeting of the British Columbia Golf Course Superintendent’s Association (BCGSA).  This meeting was a joint meeting with the Western Canadian Turfgrass Association (WCTA).  It was also the WCTA Traveling Annual Road Show which provided members with a chance to earn continuing education credits for  pesticide licenses and to meet with fellow turf managers.  Amanda Brown, a Regional Pesticide Officer from the Pesticide Management Regulatory Association (PMRA), spoke to the chapter about the PMRA’s evaluation process for pesticides and how the PMRA enforce their rules.

Jerry Rousseau WCTA Exec Director and Amanda Brown PMRA speak to BCGSA Kootenay Chapter

The discussion of pesticide issues was a prolific topic during the meeting and during the question and answer period with Amanda.   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.   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.   The proposed legislation that the RDEK supports would only allow pesticide usage on putting greens for five year. 

As the discussion about pesticide related issues went on I was asking myself questions.  Why would a local government support such legislation?  Have I done enough to put forward my side of the issue?

Solstice and the Snow is Gone!

Two things that are linked - the weather and golf course superintendents.   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.  Can our team apply a liquid fertility application or is it going to rain?  Do we have enough heat to dry topdressing sand?   How is the temperature affecting our growing conditions?

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.  I am hoping the summer solstice signals an improvement in the weather.   It is difficult to grow grass without sunlight and heat.   A quick look back at the spring shows some of the weather challenges we have had in the last few months.  These include:

·         A mean temperature of 9.8 for the month of June.

·         A mean temperature of -.7 for the year.  (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)

·          Only four days in 2011 with a day time high over 20 degrees.  (This includes the summer solstice which was 21.1)

·         22 days with measurable rain since we opened 35 days ago.

·         June 14^th was the date our last snow pile left the golf course.  I must admit this was a large pile from clearing greens but we have had snow on the golf course 10 days ago.  I believe it would have been with us until July but the rain has helped eliminate it.

·         A 45 minute frost delay today.

Snow On Third Hole - We Borrowed A Sign from the Ski Hill

Is the Bubble About to Burst?

Last Thursday we were notified of a “problem” by golfers on the 14^th fairway.  When we got to the area we discovered the largest turf blisters or bubble I have seen in my career.  The bubble was caused by an irrigation break on the fairway pipe loop.  The break was the result of a compression coupler that failed.  These types of repair fittings often fail and are no longer used by our staff due to their high failure rate.  The break has been repaired and most of the turf on the fairway has returned to normal.  We will roll the sod that is uneven early this week.

Irrigation Break and Blister on #14 Fairway - Scott and Andrew at Break Location

Blister Profile - at least 18" High

Scott Standing on Blister

The problem fitting

Yes the bubble did burst.  But not by natural causes.

A Time to Sow. A Time to Reap

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.  For many superintendents there are other benefits.  Being able to take your dog to work is a hidden benefit.  For the past nine year I have fully reaped those benefits.

But as superintendents we also deal with the laws of nature - biology, chemistry and physics.  Superintendents challenge nature but we understand that nature always wins.   We understand that everything has its time.   There is a time to sow - There is a time to reap.

For me, May 21^st was one of those days.  The forces of nature caught up to my dog and best friend Mickey.     

He was three weeks short of 15 years old and led a long life.  He had been with me for nine years and had three owners.  All of whom loved and cared for him deeply, none more so than myself.   I was introduced to him at the Pinebrook Golf and Country Club by Tania and her family.  The decision to take Mickey took seconds when Tania asked if I wanted him.   He moved to the Golden Golf and Country Club with me in 2003, where he began the life as a golf course dog.  He went to work with me every day and was often there when I was not in attendance.   He moved with me to Greywolf in 2007.   He was the only sticking point when I took the job at Greywolf.   We were a package deal and I would not have left Golden if he could not join me on the course at Greywolf.   I thank Peter for hiring us and my fellow managers and the owners for accepting us. 

Mickey was always by my side whether riding in my cart, in the Snowcat, or just walking around and inspecting the golf course.  He was trained not to walk on the greens, tees, fairways or in the bunkers.  Not for any particular reason.  He was just that smart.  His life can be summarized by chasing thousands of balls and fetching millions of sticks.  He chased every wild animal we met.  Deer, elk, moose, bears, skunks, and squirrels.  He lost all three encounters with the skunks.   When he came across a porcupine while hiking Mt. Gorman, he knew enough to stay away.  I thank him for that.  The encounters with the skunks are also forgiven.   Squirrels were his nemesis.  He stopped 100% of the deadly squirrel attacks that we encountered.  He was the toughest dog in the world if he could see the ass of whatever he was chasing.  If he could see the teeth of the challenger, his courage quickly faded. 

Members and guest knew his name better than my own.  I do not blame them – he was smarter, better looking, and better behaved.  I will now be known as the guy, rather than the guy with the dog by many guests.

He has been through every aspect of a superintendent’s life and my life.  He has been a part of nine golf course crews.  He stopped one burglary.  He was older than nearly all of my nieces and nephews.  He has seen friends and family move on and depart.  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.  At the end of those days all he wanted was a tennis ball.  In 2009 he broke his leg and I carried him up and down stairs for a month as he healed.  I would have done it for longer if needed. 

Mickey saw the morning fog part on the golf course and the sun rise over Mt. Paradise.  He saw the view of 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.   Good times and bad he has been by my side.         

On Saturday May 21^st we went for one last trip around the golf course.  At the end of the work day he told me it was time.  The cancer had advanced too far.  He gave me six months I did not know we had.   With the help of our vet, I put Mickey down.  It was quick, painless, and humane.  It was also very difficult.  When he returns from the crematorium he will move to his final resting place on the golf course.  He will always be a part of the golf course.

To all those who have been part of his life and helped me look after him I thank you.

To all the friends, staff, members and guests who have written me notes and stopped me to offer there condolences - thank you.   

I look for him daily.  I am inexplicably thankful for having him in my life and I miss him.

The forces of nature stop for no one.

There is a time to sow.  There is a time to reap.