The Cut - The AGCSA's Weekly E-Update - 13 Aug 2010

 

Welcome to this instalment of The Cut, the AGCSA’s weekly email update. In this week’s edition we roll out the webcasts from the recent Gold Coast conference as well as lock in some dates for the upcoming AGCSA Water Management Review workshops to be held in eight locations around the country. Enjoy the read... 

2010 conference presentation webcasts now available

Starting yesterday the AGCSA has rolled out the series of webcasts recorded at the recent 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference. All fully registered and day delegates were sent an email late Thursday containing a link and user name and password details to gain access to a total of 17 presentations which were recorded during the Gold Coast event. 

As mentioned in last week’s edition of The Cut, nearly 12 hours worth of sessions were videoed by Brisbane-based company TR Vidcom as part of this year’s conference. The webcasts require no special software downloads and are simply accessed through a user name and password protected link. Upon logging in, a screen showing all presentations appears from which you can choose which presentations to view. Each webcast includes video footage of the speakers well as their PowerPoint presentation. You can view the presentations as many times as you like. (Please note the webcasts do not include question time at the end of each presentation due to poor audio quality). 

As part of the recordings, two presentations outlining HAL-funded turf research projects – Matt Roche’s ‘Final results of warm-season grass trials (HAL Project TU05001)’ and Andrew Peart’s ‘Evaluating new bentgrass cultivars (HAL Project TU08002) – are available for viewing regardless of whether you attended the conference or not. These two presentations can be accessed by clicking here. 

For those AGCSA members and non-members who didn’t attend this year’s conference, you can purchase access to all webcasts or individual day sessions (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday – see list below). As a special offer, if you purchase access to all webcasts the AGCSA will also include a copy of the 174-page 26th Australian Turfgrass Conference Proceedings. Prices are as follows:

Access to all 17 presentations
AGCSA members: $330
Non-members: $440

Individual day sessions
AGCSA members: $110 per day session
Non-members: $165 per day session
NB: Upon purchasing you will be sent a link as well as user name and password details to access the webcasts.

The individual day sessions include the following presentations: 

Tuesday

• A life on the Links (Euan Grant)
• Home Depot Center – Los Angeles (Kyle Waters)
• Disaster Recovery Forum (Paul McLean, Phil Saikaly, Bruce Stephens, John Geary)
• 2010 AGCSA Distinguished Service Award (Les Burdett)
• Water Management Forum (Mike Smith, Rob Savedra, Richard Kirkby, Daryl Sellar)

Wednesday

• Environmental Considerations Constructing Machrihanish Dunes (Euan Grant)
• Restoration of Playing Surfaces at Royal Melbourne (Richard Forsyth)
• Green Speed Research - Balancing Budgets, Turfgrass Health and Customer Satisfaction (Dr Thom Nikolai)
• 2009 AGCSA Excellence in Golf Course Management Award (Andy Hugill)
• Black Fungus 1 – Couch Disease Forum (Gary Dempsey, David Scaife, John Odell, Jyri Kaapro, Dr Percy Wong)

Thursday

• Managing Golfer Expectations (John Geary)
• Managing for Peak Performance (Andy Hugill and Mark Parker)
• USGA Course Rating and Handicapping System (Ian Read)
• Green Speed Forum (Dr Thom Nikolai, Euan Grant, Richard Forsyth, Tim Hicks, Andrew Langford-Jones)

For more information about the conference webcasts or to purchase access please contact Lyndel Conway at the AGCSA or call (03) 9548 8600. The AGCSA is also keen to get your feedback on the webcasts and this can be directed to either Brett Robinson or Simone Staples. 

Water management workshop dates, venues confirmed

As mentioned in last week’s edition of The Cut, the AGCSA will be hosting a series of eight Water Management Review Workshops from late-August to mid-October. AGCSA environmental agronomist John Geary has now finalised dates and venues for the workshop and a registration form will be available on the AGCSA website and in The Cut next week. The dates and venues for the workshops are:

Western Australia
Perth – Cliftons Training Facilities – Tues 24 Aug

New South Wales
Port Macquarie – Port Macquarie Community College – Tues 31 Aug
Ballina – Wollongbar Institute of TAFE - Wed 1 Sept
Batemans Bay – Eurobodalla Adult Education Centre – Wed 8 Sept
Albury/Wodonga – Wodonga Institute of TAFE – Thurs 9 Sept
Sydney (this will be held in conjunction with the NSWGCSA October meeting) – Castle Hill Country Club – Tues 19 Oct 

Queensland
Brisbane – IT Training Solutions – Thurs 2 Sept

Tasmania
Launceston – TAFE Tasmania (Alanvale Campus) – Wed 29 Sept

These invaluable workshops are FREE for all AGCSA members and will help superintendents develop a water management plan through the AGCSA’s Water Management Review template. The workshops will be held in computer labs at local TAFE and community colleges so numbers will be limited. Members of the AGCSA Accreditation Programme will earn three (3) Continuing Education Points for attending the workshops. For more information email John Geary or call (03) 9548 8600.

Click here to find out more about the AGCSA Water Management Initiative and the Water Management Review.

Russell takes on dual role following GCSAWA AGM

Bunbury Golf Club superintendent Des Russell has been appointed to the dual role of vice-president and secretary following the GCSAWA’s Annual General Meeting at the start of the week. Russell takes over the VP role from Brad Anderson who moves back down to a general committee position. One new face joins the committee in the form of Secret Harbour assistant superintendent Paul Needham who replaces Brad Sofield who steps down committee after a decade of valuable service. The full GCSAWA committee for the coming year is:

• President: Darren Wilson (Wembley Golf Complex)
• Vice president/Secretary: Des Russell (Bunbury GC)
• Treasurer: Craig New (Lakelands GC)
• Committee: Brad Anderson (Sun City CC), Simon Bourne (Cottesloe GC), Glenn Cross (Mt Lawley GC), Paul Needham (Secret Harbour) and Geoff Kirk (Total Turf).

Forty-five members attended the AGM which was held at the new driving range function centre at Wembley Golf Complex. Michael Dennis from Royal Perth Golf Club won the Toro Cup while Niel Graham from Pinjarra golf Club won the stableford event.

Kingswood GC to host ASR scheme field day

Kingswood Golf Club course superintendent and AGCSA member Terry Ford contacted The Cut earlier this week to inform that his club is inviting golf industry people to inspect the aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) system which is under development at the south east Melbourne club. The field day will be held on Thursday 16 September with Terry conducting a tour of the facility and explaining how the stormwater is handled prior to injection underground, how it is injected and how the quality of the recovered water is managed. Project manager Norm Seaton and consultant Zac Sibenaler of Australian Groundwater Technologies will also be on hand to describe the requirements for a successful ASR system and the staged evaluation needed to confirm the requirements are met.

This will be a highly informative field day and registrations can be directed to Terry via email, Kingswood general manager Heath Wilson or call (03) 9551 1670. Bookings are essential.

Click here for more information about the Kingswood GC ASR field day.

Bookshop special - 2010 Conference Proceedings

It has only been a few months since the 2010 annual conference on the Gold Coast but the many and varied presentations that formed part of the programme continue to create plenty of debate and discussion within the industry. If you missed the event, the AGCSA also has copies of the Proceedings for sale. Over 174 pages, the proceedings include summaries of the various presentations that were made on the Gold Coast, including keynote speakers Dr Thom Nikolai (green speed authority from Michigan State University), Euan Grant (head greenkeeper, Turnberry) and Kyle Waters (Home Depot Center complex , Los Angeles).

Given the wealth of material provided in the proceedings, it is a veritable steal at just $44 for AGCSA members or $55 for non members. The AGCSA has copies of the proceedings in stock and can ship immediately so to order you copy contact Lyndel Conway or call (03) 9548 8600.