First there was Juno, then Lelia & Mario has just finished doing his thing. But what are these things I hear you ask? Although sounding like a 1970's cabaret act these are the names of the snow storms that have swept over New England this past week. Two thing's, I'm all for people taking ownership of certain thing's, but naming storm's? I suppose in the world of hurricanes it's the done thing but we've had three snow storms in a week and the 'naming committee', I'm sure there is one, had better be ready to keep the rather dubious honour of naming storm's after erstwhile plumber's (or ineffective Italian footballers??!!) and alike. But of more importance to me it's meant the university has been closed for three day's. Very annoying indeed but I can understand the reasoning when with each storm there has been about 2-3 feet of snow.
This has meant a change in our program for the week has our schedule includes guest speakers and lectures. So despite all the disruption we've had the usual mix of pathology , soil science, physiology, weed science + the added bonus of a golf course Superintendent & golf course architect. First up was Mr Bill Spence who is the Superintendent at Brookline County Club in Boston. Now Bill has been at the helm for more than 30 years and has hosted US Open 's, Ryder Cup & US Amateur event's , in addition to previously being in charge of Pebble Beach & Kansas City CC where a certain Mr T Watson was a rather well known member. It was fascinating to hear him speak on the, familiar it has to be said, daily struggles with managing the agronomic needs of the golf course with the equally important needs & demands of the golfer's. But one of his most important and well used skills was good communication. Now this is something that has become a more relied upon trait for many a greenkeeper, being it speaking to a golfer on the course or addressing a conference audience. It was also interesting to hear Bill say how, in a traditional Greenkeeping way, he enjoyed nothing more than insisting he was right & 'discussing' this point til the end..!! But over time he had realised that there where easier ways to get your point over..
Next up was Mr Tim Gearish , golf course architect. He took us through the history of golf course architect's , citing the importance of how generation's had been influenced by previous experience of working with or seeing design features that architect's had used. Also of importance was the role that Scottish link's played in this design evolution & the importance, in both a design & historical sense, of some of the original British link's & heathland course's. Quite literally the history of golf & Greenkeeping. It was also noted, as is becoming a trend, that using the land that nature provided was the ultimate design goal & that would lend the golf course to be a better fit with the surrounding land than forcing the surrounding land to fit with the golf course.
Some of the week has also been spent looking into ways of minimising or reducing the effects of Winter kill on golf courses. It's been an insight into how course's try to deal with what can well be up to 4 months of snow & ice cover, and the resulting damage that inevitable occurs. And also how short the golfing season can be. Grass species selection, covers and fungicide & fertility application's along with Spring time renovation techniques all play a part in determining how much damage or how quickly surfaces can can restored. As does the major uncontrollable factor, mother nature herself. So as we in the midst of the sixth largest snowfall year on record, who knows what will be waiting under the snow covers round these part's, hopefully something green..
As for Turf School only 10 days left, I'm sure there be plenty squeezed in.
Away from Turf School, it's been a mix of lots of snow, local micro brews, hot table Paninni (easy now, it's a sandwich shop serving, hot Paninni's, to eat at a table..!!)
and I attended my second ice hockey match. Just as brutal as the first. Great...
No comments:
Post a Comment