November/December 2010 - Powered By The Paginator

November/December 2010 

VOL. 27/NO. 6

Official Journal of the Florida Turfgrass Association 

table of contents 

November/December 2010 

VOL. 27/NO. 6 

Cover Story 

Business Matters 

Landscaping 

The Stimpmeter: 

Friend or Foe? 

12 

Managing Up AND Down 

For Long-term 

Career Success 

18 

Transitioning to 

Florida-Friendly 

Landscape 

24 

More Features 

Recent Events 

FTGA 58th Annual Conference & Show Travelogue .......................................... 28 

Future Turfgrass Leaders 

2010 FTGA Scholarship Recipients ...................................................................... 34 

Honors & Awards 

Matthew R Taylor, CGCS Awarded Wreath of Grass ............................................ 36 

Departments 

Editor’s Corner ............................................................................................................ 6 

President’s Message ...................................................................................................... 8 

From the Executive Director ...................................................................................... 10 

Welcome New Members ............................................................................................ 11 

Index of Advertisers .................................................................................................. 38 

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Darren J. Davis 

PUBLISHER Leading Edge Communications 

MANAGING EDITOR MJ Plaster 

TECHNICAL ADVISOR J. Bryan Unruh, Ph.D. 

www.ftga.org 

4 florida turf digest • november/december 2010 

Cover photo courtesy of Darren J. Davis. 

The Florida Turfgrass Association (FTGA) 

serves its members in the industry through 

education, promotion and representation. 

The statements and opinions expressed 

herein are those of the individual authors 

and do not necessarily represent the views 

of the association, its staff, or its board of 

directors, Florida Turf Digest, or its editors. 

Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or 

FTGA members, does not constitute an 

endorsement of the products or services 

featured in this, past or subsequent issues of 

this bimonthly publication. Copyright ©2010 

by the FTGA. Florida Turf Digest, is published 

bimonthly. Subscriptions are complimentary 

to FTGA members. POSTMASTER: Send 

change of address notification to FTGA, 120 

East Pine Street, Suite 1, Lakeland, FL 33801. 

Postage guaranteed. Presorted standard 

postage is paid at Nashville, TN. Printed in the 

U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Florida Turf 

Digest, allows reprinting of material published 

here. Permission requests should be directed to 

the FTGA. We are not responsible for unsolicited 

freelance manuscripts and photographs. 

Contact the managing editor for contribution 

information. Advertising: For display and 

classified advertising rates and insertions, please 

contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 

206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, 

(615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

Editor’s Corner 

By Darren J. Davis, 

Editor-in-Chief 

On My Turf 

“TOOTING YOUR HORN” 

O 

nce upon a time, an elephant was floating 

lazily down a winding river when he 

spotted a mouse clinging for dear life to 

a drawbridge. As the elephant floated 

closer, the mouse dropped into the river from 

exhaustion. The elephant was raised in the area 

and knew the current was dangerously swift in this 

section of the river and that the mouse was in grave 

trouble. He sprang into action and set out to rescue 

the mouse. Unable to float under the approaching 

drawbridge, the elephant belted out a warning with 

his trunk. The drawbridge attendant heard the 

“horn” and raised the bridge just in time for the 

elephant to slide under and scoop up the mouse. 

Although panicked, the mouse was aware of the 

elephant’s valiant effort and was very grateful. With 

the mouse riding safely on the elephant’s belly and 

his strength returning, the two drifted down the river 

nonchalantly, becoming friends. After a while, the 

elephant spotted another drawbridge, but the 

elephant knew this one was just high enough that 

HE could barely squeak under it (no pun intended). 

Unfortunately, by the time the mouse realized the 

elephant was not going to use his trunk to signal the 

drawbridge attendant to raise the bridge, it was too 

late and the mouse bumped his head on the bridge 

and fell into the river. 

Rested and capable of swimming to shore, the 

bewildered mouse swam after the elephant instead. 

He asked his newfound friend why he didn’t blow 

his trunk like a horn to signal the drawbridge attendant 

so he also could have drifted safely under the 

bridge. The elephant looked at the mouse and 

said, “My friend, you will learn there are times in 

life that you just have to toot your own horn.” 

When I was 10 years old and warming the bench 

on the Pee Wee football team, my father told me this 

story. My father and I both believed that I deserved 

some playing time, but I didn’t know how to get the 

coach’s attention. My father used the fable to teach 

me that sometimes in life you do have to “toot your 

own horn” to gain attention. Many years have gone 

by since I was told the story and I am not a parent 

myself, but I have used the story on several occasions 

when mentoring young turfgrass professionals. 

At first glance, it may seem a contradiction that 

I emphatically believe that it’s better to be humble 

than haughty. Humility is a virtue with biblical and 

spiritual roots, and I can appreciate why in some 

cultures, it’s considered a core value. Early in life 

most are taught humility; in part, because as children 

or young adults, we have not honed our interpersonal 

communication skills, and our parents or 

mentors are aware that if we are perceived as conceited 

or arrogant, we will be less likely to develop 

successful relationships. The challenge many face 

is how to balance or merge humility with the need 

to promote one’s self in the workplace. Often, we 

are taught the value of “dressing to impress” and the 

importance of effective writing skills to gain attention, 

but there is very little instruction available on how 

to be effective at self-promotion. 

Understandably, the thought of “tooting your own 

horn” can be perceived negatively. However, if you 

think of it in terms of becoming more of who you 

are and bringing forward your most positive attributes 

with genuine pride and enthusiasm, “tooting 

your own horn” in the workplace is a method of selfpromotion 

that allows you to communicate your 

value and showcase your strengths to your employer. 

Turfgrass professionals sometimes fall into the role 

of the mouse, because of a mindset that our work 

will speak for itself. Times have changed! No longer 

can we take for granted that job security will be 

obtained in exchange for loyalty and hard work. 

In today’s unstable and unpredictable workplace, 

too often we fail to recognize the importance of 

self-promotion. Businesses are merging, restructuring, 

and many are downsizing. It is vital that our 

employers become aware of our accomplishments 

and our value to the business. It’s also important 

to let others within the organization know who we 

are and what we do. I have seen individuals develop 

an effective and productive relationship with their 

direct employer, but fail to extend their communication 

and self-promotion to others within the 

organization. In several instances when something 

happened to the employer, the dedicated employee 

became unemployed. 

It’s too late to start “tooting your own horn” when 

you’re in crisis mode, because, like the mouse in 

the story, you might find yourself bumping your 

head. The time to communicate your value to 

your employer is today. In this issue, you’ll find an 

excellent article, “Managing UP and Managing 

DOWN for Long-term Success” by Lyne Tumlinson 

that addresses many of these same thoughts. Be 

sure to give it a read. ❂ 

6 florida turf digest • november/december 2010

Florida Turf Digest is the 

official publication of the 

Florida Turfgrass Association 

120 East Pine Street 

Suite 1 

Lakeland, FL 33801 

(800) 882-6721 or 

(863) 688-9413 

Fax: (863) 688-9610 

info@ftga.org 

www.ftga.org 

Published by 

Leading Edge Communications 

206 Bridge Street 

Franklin, TN 37064 

(615) 790-3718 

Fax: (615) 794-4524 

info@leadingedge 

communications.com 

FTGA Executive Director 

Pete Snyder 

pete@ftga.org 

FTGA Marketing & Events Coordinator 

Heather Russo 

heather@ftga.org 

FTGA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

President 

Mac Carraway 

SMR Farms, LLC 

(941) 708-3322 

mac.carraway@smrfarms.com 

Vice President 

Armando Campos, CCA, CTP 

Nutrient Technologies, LLC 

(407) 610-7563 

acampos2009@cfl.rr.com 

Secretary/Treasurer 

Mac Briley 

City of Ocoee 

(407) 905-3100 

abriley@ci.ocoee.fl.us 

Immediate Past President 

Gregory A. Pheneger 

John’s Island Club 

(772) 231-1700 

gregp@johnsislandclub.org 

florida turfgrass association • www.ftga.org 

7

President’s Message 

OFF AND 

RUNNING 

By Mac Carraway, 

FTGA President 

As 

the incoming president of the Florida 

Turfgrass Association, I feel like I have 

about 30 seconds to stop and reflect 

on the coming year and what needs to 

be done. As you know from reading this excellent 

magazine, life in the turfgrass industry is a fast-moving 

and challenging proposition these days, and the 

FTGA is right in the thick of things. A few of the key 

drivers for our efforts this year, most of which will 

be familiar to you, are… 

• Defeating Amendment 4 at the ballot box in 

November: This job-killing special-interest nightmare 

of a constitutional amendment is still poorly 

understood and is a clear and present danger 

to all of the green industries. This amendment 

requires a voter referendum on each and every 

change in any community’s comprehensive plan— 

a prescription for economic stagnation. If you liked 

the recession, you’ll love Florida in the post-A4 

world. Please “Vote No on 4,” and encourage 

others to do the same. 

• Bringing science and common sense to the table: 

Some local governments, under pressure from 

highly organized activists, have embarked on a 

journey of demonizing turfgrass and turfgrass 

management—in other words, our way of life. So 

far, they have been pretty successful—but the time 

is always right to push back. Using arguments that 

are contrary to a broad body of research and 

exploiting emotional reactions from those who 

might be looking for a principled discussion, these 

activists want to eliminate managed turf from the 

urban landscape. Often lost in the discussion are 

the facts that turfgrasses create clear environmental 

benefits; that our industries, taken together, are 

responsible for game-changing management practices 

and products that have reduced irrigation 

and improved water quality in Florida’s interior 

and coastal waters; and that the real culprits that 

remain are overwatering and overfertilizing, best 

addressed by education and research, both of 

which are at the core of the FTGA’s mission. 

• Growing the FTGA: From the first time I attended 

a Conference & Show, I could tell that there was 

something different about the FTGA. Our longtime 

Editor-in-Chief Darren Davis calls it the “passion.” 

It is an urgent desire for the FTGA to continue its 

legacy of education and research, to take on our 

opponents in vigorous advocacy, to strengthen the 

critical relationships represented on our board of 

directors and in the membership it represents, 

and maybe best of all, to put on a relevant and 

enjoyable Conference & Show, where we all can 

network, catch up with old friends and make new 

ones, learn, celebrate our industry, and yes, even 

have a little fun (unless you are the Conference 

& Show chairman, like your new Vice President 

Armando Campos — NO FUN FOR YOU 

ARMANDO). Accomplishing these objectives takes 

a couple of basic elements. First and foremost is 

YOU. Active and passionate membership is the 

thing YOUR association needs most from you. I 

hope you will always find the time to keep up with 

what the FTGA is doing, and to support us with 

your time and money—which is the perfect segue 

to the second basic element, which is fund raising. 

As you know, we live on the net income from dues, 

Conference & Show and Turf Seminars. Please 

support these efforts and encourage others to 

join and support us as well! 

I cannot end this conversation without saying 

thank you for the very humbling opportunity to 

serve you this year. While many of you may not know 

me or may not know me well, I will pledge to you a 

year of effort and listening. If you have something 

you would like to share with me, please send me 

an e-mail at mac.carraway@smrfarms.com, and put 

IMPORTANT FTGA BUSINESS in the subject line. 

While I do have a day job like the rest of you, I will 

do my best to respond to you in a timely way. 

Finally, I want to thank my predecessor, Greg 

Pheneger, for an excellent year as your president. I 

will repeat what I said at our recent annual meeting, 

which is that Greg conducted his year with class and 

enthusiasm, proving himself a leader and friend to 

all of us in this great association. Many thanks also 

to those other FTGA presidents I have served with on 

the board—Jay McCord, Matt Taylor, Darren Davis 

and Todd Himelberger. It has been my privilege. 

Talk to you soon. ❂ 


FTGA Directors 

Jan Bel Jan 

Jan Bel Jan Green Designs 

(561) 371-0397 

beljanj@bellsouth.net 

Eric A Brown, Ph.D. 

Massey Services, Inc. 

(352) 514-9233 

eric@turfgrassdoctors.com 

Robby Clemenzi 

Bayer Environmental Sciences 

(352) 494-2552 

Robby.Clemenzi@Bayer.com 

Darren J. Davis 

Olde Florida Golf Club 

(239) 353-4441 

darrenjdavis@aol.com 

William T. Hiers, CGCS 

The Old Collier Golf Club 

(239) 593-8522 

thiers@theoldcolliergc.com 

Todd J. Himelberger 

DuPont Professional Products 

(941) 685-6793 

todd.j.himelberger@usa.dupont.com 

Al Hoffer 

Al Hoffer’s Termite-Lawn-Pest 

(954) 753-1222 

al@alhoffer.com 

Mark Kann 

University of Florida 

(352) 591-2678 

mkann@ufl.edu 

William Lanthier 

Golf Ventures 

(772) 486-1701 

blanthier@golfv.com 

John Mascaro 

Turf-Tec International 

(850) 580-4026 

john@turf-tec.com 

Betsy McGill 

Florida Sod Growers Cooperative 

(863) 675-2144 

flsodgrowers@aol.com 

Matt Shook 

Harrell’s Fertilizer 

(863) 687-2774 

mshook@harrells.com 

Frank Warden 

The TORO Company 

(850) 776-6925 

frank.warden@toro.com 

Kevin Wasilewski 

Syngenta Professional Products 

(863) 644-1467 

kevin.wasilewski@syngenta.com 

Stacie Zinn 

Environmental Turf, Inc. 

(863) 452-6595 

stacie@environmentalturf.com 


9

From the Executive Director 

Building 

“Mo” 

By Pete Snyder, 

FTGA Executive 

Director 

FTGA 

has momentum— 

we have “the buzz” 

back. That’s what 

most attendees at 

this year’s Conference & Show have said. Certainly 

the numbers would support the “mo” label. 

Late registrations made planning difficult. Still, 

rooms were a sellout, despite increasing our allotment 

twice. Trade Show booth space was a sellout. 

Many educational sessions were packed beyond 

capacity. Additional seating had to be added to both 

lunches and to the Corn Boil. After-hours activities 

had Curly and Larry joining “mo,” but that’s a different 

issue (what happens at the C&S stays at the C&S). 

We issued over 625 badges, of which less than 175 

were for exhibitors, students and academics—suggesting 

that more than 450 active turfgrass professionals 

took part in our activities. Thursday’s allattendee 

lunch had well over 600 people, who also 

packed the Trade Show floor for its initial hours. 

True momentum is based on continuous improvement 

and making sure that we are meeting or 

exceeding the expectations of all industry sectors 

and categories of FTGA membership. We intend 

to survey attendees again this year to see what 

worked and what could be made better. Once compiled, 

the survey results will be shared with the 

FTGA membership. 

Momentum is also measured in FTGA membership 

numbers. Modest gains were made in 2010, 

but they fell short of the bar we set. We met the 

new member goal, but membership retention was 

down to about 84% versus an earlier lofty 96% 

retention rate goal. Clearly we need to improve 

our value proposition. 

Over the past year, the Membership Services Committee, 

under the leadership of Mac Briley, the 

FTGA’s newly elected secretary/treasurer, developed 

an entirely new membership structure that the 

FTGA board of directors approved at the June 

board meeting. 

Under the new structure, both corporate and 

individual memberships will be available. Previously, 

all memberships were individual and moved with 

the individual from job to job. 

Individual membership categories have been 

revised. The “Active” and “Associate” (out-of-state 

members) memberships remain as they always have 

been at $190 per year. However, the “Affiliate” (an 

employee of an active or associate member) member 

charge has been reduced from $90 to $75 per year. 

During the Annual Meeting at the C&S, a new 

“Technician” member category was voted into our 

bylaws. It will also be $75 per year. The “Student” 

membership category will remain at $35 per year, 

and the “Retired” membership category will be 

reduced from $50 to $35 per year. 

Corporate membership (wherein the membership 

will be held in the corporate or organizational 

name) will be priced at $190 per year for one person. 

The next four employees from a corporate/ 

organizational group will be priced at $75 per year 

each. Employee six and beyond will be priced at 

$50 each per year. 

Corporations will also be able to take advantage 

of “Partner Recognition Sponsorship” (PRS) plans, 

which provide up-front, all-inclusive pricing for all 

FTGA offerings—from FTGA memberships and 

event participation, to FTGA advertising and sponsorships. 

These plans are ideal for the company that 

is looking to budget a year’s worth of programming 

at once. 

There are five different PRS plans (bronze, silver, 

gold, platinum and diamond) that range in price 

from $3,500 to $30,000 per year for discounts that 

range from 10% to over 20% for the more robust 

plans over a la carte pricing. In addition, discounts 

will be offered for up-front payments in whole or in 

part. Each plan offers a menu of opportunities within 

the price-value range from which a corporation 

may choose. 

New membership categories and pricing are half 

of the FTGA’s value proposition. We are intent on 

providing superior value to our existing benefits, 

while adding new membership benefits, such as 

Sam’s Club memberships and hotel and rental car 

discount programs. Stay tuned. The “mo” will 

continue to build. ❂ 


Welcome New 

FTGA Members! 

Keith Andrews 

DSG Fleet Solutions 

John Brown 

NewLife Turf, Inc. 

Dr. Max Brown 

Eco Verde Technologies, Inc. 

Billy Browning 

Harrell’s Fertilizer 

Chad Chrissman 

Village of Wellington 

Jack Conroy 

Monsanto Company 

Jason Craft 

The Sanctuary Golf Club 

Brian Darby 

Unique Turf, Inc. 

Tony Davis 

Solid Waste Authority of 

Palm Beach County 

Michael Gans 

Pathway Holdings 

Vinnie Inguaggiato 

Solid Waste Authority of 

Palm Beach County 

Gary L. McCall 

Manatee County 

Kevin Meredith 

Key Plex 

Keith Montgomery 

Select Source 

Christopher Neff 

Timuquana Country Club 

Darryl Rejko 

Links Systems 

Kevin Sheaffer 

Dow AgroSciences 

Elizabeth Smith 

Resource Partners Enterprises, LLC 

Andrew Taylor 

McCall Service, Inc. 

Geoffrey Vaughan 

Village of Wellington 

Steven Williams 

Knight Management, Inc. 

Kym Wood 

Parkway Research

Cover Story 


By Darin S. Bevard 

Editor’s Note: In Florida, the busy winter golf season is upon us, and at most courses, green speed is again a topic of daily conversation. Green 

speed, and the pressure to continually provide faster and faster greens, can be a source of great trepidation for golf course superintendents. Whether 

or not to measure green speed can also produce apprehension and anxiety. Since its inception, the Stimpmeter, the tool used to measure green 

speed, has created lively debate. In 2007, my club president issued a directive that I would begin using the Stimpmeter on a daily basis. Up to 

this point in my career, I was of the opinion that the Stimpmeter was my “foe,” and the command from my employer, who is a very hands-off 

individual, surprised me and truthfully produced a considerably amount of stress for me. However, after several seasons of daily use, I now 

consider the Stimpmeter my “friend.” Recently, I came across an article written by USGA Agronomist, Darin Bevard. The article was published 

online in the October 29, 2010, Green Section Record Vol. 48 (21) and addresses the question, “The Stimpmeter: Friend or Foe?” As the author 

depicts it, it can be a love/hate relationship. I have learned to not intervene in issues of love or politics with my friends and peers, but I found 

the author spot on in his analysis and thought others might benefit from his analysis and opinions. 

The 

love/hate relationship 

between 

golf course superintendents 

and 

the Stimpmeter continues, but could 

this tool actually be your best friend? 

Ever since the USGA completed development 

of the Stimpmeter in 1976 and 

the tool was made available to superintendents 

and course officials in 1978, 

controversy has ensued. Definitely, the 

Stimpmeter changed the way golf greens 

are compared. In the 1930s, Edward 

Stimpson invented the tool that would 

eventually become the Stimpmeter, 

designed to monitor green speeds on a 

golf course to improve its consistency. 

It seems that the modern Stimpmeter 

frequently is used to see who can produce 

the fastest greens, and these speeds 

are now a point of comparison (and 

often envy) from golf course to golf 

course. Many superintendents refuse 

to “Stimp” their greens, shunning all 

things Stimpmeter. In fact, I once saw 

a Stimpmeter planted in a five gallon 

bucket of concrete. Talk about making 

a point! But what if the Stimpmeter 

could be used for good, as a weapon 

against excessive green speed? Perhaps 


13

Cover Story 

the superintendent who pulled the 

weapon from the concrete could experience 

Camelot. Well, probably not, but 

read on. 

First, it is important to recognize what 

that Stimpmeter number represents. 

Speed of green is discussed all of the 

time. For example, “My buddy played 

golf over the weekend, and he said the 

greens were rolling 14.” They probably 

weren’t. Green speeds are regularly 

mentioned on golf telecasts. However, 

when golfers are asked what the number 

represents or how it is obtained, there is 

silence. For the record, the Stimpmeter 

value is the average distance the ball rolls 

when released from the fixed point on 

the tool. Preferably, a virtually flat area 

on a green is selected. Three balls are 

rolled from the Stimpmeter, and the 

average ball roll distance is marked. A 

second set of three balls is then rolled 

from the marked spot in the opposite 

direction of the first roll, and the average 

is again noted. The two averages are 

added together and divided by two to 

establish the distance of ball roll in feet 

and inches (e.g., greens are rolling 10' 

6"). Thus, the Stimpmeter reading is not 

a speed at all. It is a distance. However, 

in the golf lexicon, this number is equivalent 

to the speed of the greens. 

Many superintendents do not use the 

Stimpmeter for fear of having to post 

green speeds (not recommended) or 

having to manage their greens to a 

number rather than in the interest of 

healthy turfgrass. These are valid concerns, 

but they can actually be addressed 

better by using the Stimpmeter, rather 

than not using it. Golfers (of which 

I am one) are a fickle bunch. The 

perceived speed and quality of greens 

is often more affected by a particular 

golfer’s experience on a given day 

rather than the actual condition of the 

greens. Common comments include, “I 

didn’t putt well today. The greens were 

slow.” Or, “I made everything today, the 

greens were just the way I like them.” 

In terms of green speed, knowing the 

speed of greens helps to remove emotion 

from the equation when evaluating 

the condition of the greens and ultimately 

the performance of the golf 

course superintendent. 

A big problem for golf course superintendents 

is golfer desire to have faster 

greens. Many times, the current speed 

of greens is not even considered. Rather, 

the greens just need to be faster, faster, 

faster. This becomes a contentious issue 

and can lead to problems. What if the 

greens are already pretty fast for daily 

play? Generally, as green speeds increase, 

so does the chance of stress to the turfgrass. 

How fast is too fast? The answer 

varies. Some facilities have the available 

resources to maintain very fast greens 

consistently, but most have to establish 

a reasonable daily speed target that is 

obtainable given available resources and 

grass composition, with the understanding 

that some portions of the growing 

season are not conducive to faster 

greens. Do not be fooled. Available 

resources are a big factor in maintaining 

green speed. 

In recent years, golfers have trended 

towards more consistent daily green 

speeds without severe peaks and valleys, 

depending upon the day of the week. 

The practice of ramping up green speed 

for the weekend through aggressive 

grooming and maintenance, and then 

backing off during the week, creates 

more problems with green speed. Consider 

your average golfer. On Saturday, 

this golfer tees off during the morning 

hours and putts on greens that were 

just prepared for play. During the week, 

this same golfer may not tee off until 

after work, when the greens have been 

growing all day. If the greens were 

ramped up for the weekend, the disparity 

in speed for weekend and weekday 

play can be dramatic. This leads 

to complaints of inconsistent or slow 

greens during the week. Maintaining 

consistent, well-paced greens on a daily 

basis is becoming more common. 

So how does the Stimpmeter fit into 

this context? The Stimpmeter provides 

knowledge, and knowledge is powerful. 

The first step to this process is to determine 

a reasonable daily green speed, 

taking into account the parameters of 

your individual golf course. Once this 

standard is established, efforts can 

be geared towards maintaining the 

standard. Keep in mind that if the 


Cover Story 

standard is reasonable for your golf 

course situation, by definition, the health 

of the turfgrass will not be compromised. 

Some understanding of stressful times 

of the growing season for your area is 

required, as well. Stimpmeter readings 

should be taken frequently to monitor 

green speed. This is an extra chore. With 

the knowledge of the actual speed, an 

educated conversation can be conducted 

about the greens. Similar areas should 

be tested by the same person to eliminate 

variability in measurements. So 

long as all parties involved know the 

standard, posting of green speed is not 

necessary or recommended. If a golfer 

complains about slow greens, the answer 

may be as simple as explaining that the 

green speed has been the same for 

several days. Perhaps the greens are 

slower. Knowing this fact provides the 

opportunity to explain the factors that 

are affecting speeds. Maybe the greens 

were not rolled in the interest of time, 

or a heavy irrigation or rainfall occurred 

that prompted mowing to be skipped. If 

you do not know the actual green speed, 

your performance may be evaluated 

based upon the whims of a golfer who 

had a bad day rather than the actual 

conditions that are present. 

If you are one of the fortunate few 

who do not receive pressure for faster 

greens, count your blessings. For most, 

green speed is one of the biggest points 

of comparison between golf courses. In 

fact, for some, speed of greens and their 

overall condition is the biggest factor in 

the evaluation of golf course conditioning. 

Using the Stimpmeter to measure 

green speed provides an opportunity 

to educate golfers about what is being 

achieved on the greens on a daily basis. 

This solution may not be necessary for 

everyone, but the Stimpmeter can take 

the guesswork out of daily green speeds. 

How can the speed of greens be discussed 

if you do not know how fast they 

are? They cannot. In this regard, the 

Stimpmeter is definitely your friend! ❂ 

Darin S. Bevard is a senior agronomist from 

the USGA Mid-Atlantic Region, where green 

speed is a regular topic of conversation, as 

it is throughout the golf industry. 



By Lyne Tumlinson, Career Lift, LLC 

T 

his summer was certainly a 

tough one for Florida turf 

managers with the continuing 

economic challenges complicating 

the specter of job security. No 

one should be surprised if you are a 

little grumpier these days! 

Twenty-first-century careers—not 

only in the turf business but throughout 

the entire business community—have 

become adventures with a new map for 

careers, including challenges with coworkers. 

The basic principles for career 

success remain the same, however, 

with a few fresh twists to maneuver 

on the way. 

Here’s a quick review of some best 

practices in “managing UP” to those 

you report to and “managing DOWN” 

to those who report to you, with an aim 

of keeping the peace in your workplace 

and building success. As you read, if 

you find yourself thinking you’ll adapt 

these practices when you have time, 

things will never improve. Make the time 

starting today: Try setting 10 minutes 

each morning to do just one thing differently. 

Then give yourself time to 

practice and learn. Let’s get started! 

Principle #1: The Platinum 

Rule will serve you better 

than The Golden Rule. 

Remember the Golden Rule? “Do unto 

others as you would have them do unto 

you.” This implies that other people 

would like to be treated the way that 

you would like to be treated, with the 

assumption that all people are the same. 

For better results, try The Platinum 

Rule: “Treat others the way they want to be 

treated.” The Platinum Rule accommodates 

others’ individual preferences. 

The focus shifts from “this is what I 

want, so it must be good for everyone” 

to “let me first understand what they 

want, so I can deal with others on their 

own level.” 

The Platinum Rule is key to developing 

positive relationships for both managing 

UP and managing DOWN. Check 

out just some of the benefits: 

Learning patience with others 

Develop patience by asking questions to 

dig deeper and better understand your 

customers and employer. If you begin by 

assuming they are rational people, they 

may just prove it to you as you learn 

about their expectations and needs. 

Gain the “What can I do for you 

today?” attitude to welcome feedback, 

open communication channels and put 

a smile on your employer’s face. 

Understanding others’ differences 

• Diversity is about more than skin color, 

ethnic group or what college you 

attended. Cultural differences are 

also found among personality types, 

management styles, regional origins 

and other factors. 

• Whether managing up or down, the 

key to positive relationships is to 

accept that we all have different 

strengths and to find ways to utilize 

them for everyone’s benefit. 

Motivating your workers (who 

then make you look good) 

If applicable, update your management 

style from “Command” (issuing detailed 

orders and expecting them to be followed, 

no questions asked) to more 

Randy Hunt, General Manager and CEO, Milburn Golf & Country Club: 

“Stan George, CGCS, golf course superintendent at Prairie 

Dunes made my day every morning by coming into my 

office and asking me, ‘What can I do for you today?’” 

That question demonstrated his attitude of service and 

being there for the goals of the overall golf facility, which 

went a long ways with me.” 


“Collaborative” (taking others’ ideas for 

how to achieve your goals into consideration) 

for a better response from 

your employees. 

Realize that when an employee follows 

your orders without question, you 

may get the short-term desired results, 

but you give up the possibility of longerterm 

commitment, creativity and productivity 

from that person. Instead, 

when you share the goal of the assignment 

and listen to their ideas for carrying 

it out, you will see them engaged 

in the work, feeling acknowledged and 

a valuable part of the team. 

There are, of course, exceptional situations 

when military style Command 

leadership is needed to implement decisions 

quickly. Feel free to ask questions 

and start discussion about leadership 

and management styles for individual 

situations. 

Using the Platinum Rule, you can 

work with your employer, customer 

or employee on the end goal. For an 

employer, think of focusing on what the 

person above him or her wants—is it 

bottom-line profit, more players, better 

environment or simply to avoid surprising 

questions from the public? 

As an employer, realize that your 

employees need to be acknowledged, 

to be heard, to have their point of view 

honored—whether or not you agree 

with them. 

Principle #2: Communicate, 

communicate, communicate! 

When you’re working your heart out, the 

need to explain why you’re doing what 

you’re doing can feel like a redundant 

step that takes time. It’s tempting to 

think that your work should speak 

for itself to your customers and your 

employers. That may be the case when 

the turf looks good, but when times get 

hard, it’s a bit late to start creating an 

atmosphere of trust and get those folks 

behind you. 

If you’re behind in developing 

open communication lines with your 

employer(s), here are some survival 

tactics for you to get a quick start: 

William Irving, Golf Course Superintendent, Lawrence Country Club: 

“Communication is the key to ‘managing up.’ No matter 

how busy I am, I make sure to go by our GM’s office one 

to two times a week to give him a heads up about what’s 

going on out on the course. It’s not fair for him to be 

surprised by learning about turf issues from others, and 

I also want the opportunity to share the good along with 

the bad!” 

• Build communication based on the 

channel he or she works with best— 

whether a note on the desk, an e- 

mail, a text message or phone call 

(or voice mail). 

• If you hear negative rumors about you 

or your work, go directly to the source 

and clear it up. Yes, it is your job to 

start the process. Stay cool, stick with 

the facts and be professional. 

• Build a positive relationship with your 

employers and all their organizational 

allies. Again, the more people you 

can educate about what you do and 

why, the better. 

• Never say anything negative about 

your employer. If they find out, you 

are the troublemaker, no matter 

what the context. 

• Idea: Share your professional development 

plan, include educational 

seminars you plan to attend, the costs 


19


William Irving, Golf Course Superintendent, Lawrence Country Club: 

“This week, as we began fertilizing, the weather shifted, so the process 

was stopped. The next day, the guys picked up the process and 

routinely began again at the same point, causing the first green to 

get a double dose of fertilizer. They came to me (almost immediately) 

with apologies for the mistake, obviously worried that I would go 

off on them about it. But what good would that do? 

“Mistakes need to be acknowledged and corrected immediately in 

order to improve performance, but then let it go. Don’t keep score! 

Continually look for positive accomplishments, in order to praise as 

much as criticize. Building up those who report to you and helping 

them to grow makes the team perform better—and they’re the ones 

who make me look good as I answer to the members and my own boss!” 


and what you expect to learn. Then, 

detail how the knowledge gained 

will directly apply to the goals of 

the business. 

Principle #3: Make it your 

goal to reduce stress both 

UP and DOWN. 

The secret to success is in building relationships 

based on the other person’s 

goals. By helping someone else fulfill 

his or her needs, whether employer or 

employee, you will be a step closer to 

your own success. For managing up, 

think in terms of daily challenges your 

employer faces: Who are they answering 

to, and how can you make them look 

good? In the same way, help your 

employees make you look good by 

clearly communicating your expectations 

and recognizing their contributions 

to the team’s success. 

Either way, take personal responsibility 

for the outcomes of your every 

decision and action. If you’ve said or 

done something wrong or uncalled 

for, own up to it and apologize. If 

you are put into a vulnerable position 

because you admit your blunder, focus 

on and share your competencies (skills 

and abilities) with a specific plan to 

avoid that slip-up in the future. 

In summary, for success in managing 

UP or managing DOWN, focus on the 

goals of the overall business, not only 

the pieces of the puzzle that are your 

responsibility. If you understand the 

entire budget and operational goals, you 

can determine where your work fits into 

the big picture. Finally, communicate 

your willingness to work with the team 

for overall success, and your agronomic 

prowess will speak for itself. ❂ 

Lyne Tumlinson is doing business as Career 

Lift, LLC. Lyne formerly worked in the 

turfgrass industry as GCSAA Director of 

Career Services. Currently, she coaches golf 

course superintendents and other professionals, 

helping them achieve 21st-century career 

success. For more information, contact her 

at 785-331-6003 or lyne@career-lift.com.

Landscaping 

By Betsy McGill, Executive Director, Florida Sod Growers Cooperative 

If 

you sell, install or care for 

turfgrass in communities 

governed by homeowner or 

property owner associations, 

you’ve probably already fielded questions 

from customers about Florida- 

Friendly Landscaping and different turfgrass 

varieties generated by last year’s 

revisions to what’s now known as the 

“Florida-Friendly Landscape Ordinance” 

(State Statute 373.185). 

This ordinance was originally adopted 

in 2001 to require the state’s water management 

districts to create model landscape 

ordinances for water conservation 

that could be adopted by municipalities 

and counties within their district. That 

version of the ordinance encouraged 

using Xeriscape principles and stated 

that no covenants or deed restrictions 

created after 2001 could prohibit 

a homeowner from installing a 

xeric landscape. 

2009 revisions by the Florida legislature 

replaced Xeriscape with “Florida- 

Friendly Landscaping” and made it illegal 

for any covenant or deed restriction, 


egardless of when it was enacted, to 

prohibit the use of Florida-Friendly 

Landscaping. Covenants that required 

St. Augustinegrass, for example, can be 

successfully challenged by homeowners 

who prefer a different variety—or no 

grass at all. 

The changes have left many HOAs 

struggling with the daunting task of revising 

their governing documents to comply 

with the statute while still encouraging 

attractive landscapes that support 

property values. And while homeowners 

are happy to have more choices, most 

are unsure about how one turfgrass 

differs from another and what best fits 

their needs. 

The key to successfully guiding your 

turf business through this transition boils 

down one thing: educating yourself so 

you can educate your customers. 

Understand what 

the statute says 

A good place to start is with the statute 

itself, which can be found online at 

www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes (in the 

Search box for 2009 statutes, type 

“373.185”). It’s relatively short, and it’s 

helpful to understand exactly what it 

requires and to be able to direct an 

HOA board member or customer to 

the statute. 

Learn what Florida- 

Friendly Landscaping is— 

and what it isn’t 

While there’s a considerable amount 

of confusion about what constitutes a 

Florida-Friendly Landscape, one thing 

is clear: Florida-Friendly Landscaping 

does not mean “no turf.” There is no 

“list of approved grasses,” so if an association 

or customer asks what’s suitable 

for their community, focus on three 

things: site conditions, usage and expectations, 

and responsible care. Florida- 

Friendly Landscaping stresses matching 

plants to site conditions and caring for 

them responsibly, so any turfgrass that 

is suitable for the site and can be maintained 

with a reasonable amount of 

care is appropriate. 

Learn about new grass types 

and how to care for them 

It’s critical that you make a special effort 

to learn about newer varieties, their benefits 

and drawbacks, and how to care for 

them correctly. Treating zoysia grasses 

the way you’ve always handled St. 

Augustine can be a recipe for disaster; 

responding to a customer inquiry with 

a vague answer or blank look will probably 

mean a lost sale. 

Take advantage of opportunities for 

continuing education; for proprietary 

grasses (like Empire, JaMur or Ultimate 

Zoysia), consult the licensing companies 

and the farms that produce them for 

more specific information. 

Think you can’t afford seminar fees 

or the time away from work? Balance 

these costs against just one “job gone 

wrong,” and you’ll quickly see that investing 

in education now will more than pay 

for itself by preventing costly callbacks 

to deal with problems. 

Manage customer 

expectations 

One of the best ways to ensure a happy 

customer is to manage their expectations. 

For example, while bahia is certainly 

inexpensive, tough and able to 

survive on little care, it does have drawbacks. 

Bahia’s open growth habit can 

invite weeds and will not have the same 

dense appearance as a Floratam St. 

Augustine lawn. And when the rain stops 

or the weather turns cool, bahia and 

zoysia grasses will turn brown or yellow 

as a natural protection mechanism. A 

customer who doesn’t anticipate this may 

apply more irrigation water or fertilizer 

to restore the green appearance, undermining 

the benefits he sought or costing 

you valuable time making site visits 

for “dead grass.” 

Promote responsible 

care of landscapes 

Lawns have been unfairly criticized for 

“wasting water” and requiring huge 

amounts of fertilizer and pesticides to 

survive. As scientific studies prove otherwise, 

care recommendations (like the 

watering frequency for new turf establishment 

and fertilization needs) have 

evolved in response to better information 

and environmental concerns. Make 

it a priority to get certified in Green 

Industries Best Management Practices 

and keep up to date on the latest trends. 

Don’t let your business be one of those 

that reinforces the negative image 

of turf. 

Carefully chosen and responsibly 

maintained turfgrass is not just Florida 

Friendly; it’s an asset to Florida’s environment, 

providing a long list of scientifically-proven 

benefits including filtering 

pollutants from water, preventing erosion, 

providing oxygen and holding onto 

carbon. Be sure your customers know 

that they can be Florida Friendly and 

still enjoy their lawn, and be sure to educate 

yourself so that your business 

will thrive as a valuable resource to 

your customers. ❂ 


25

Recent Events 

FTGA 58th Annual 

Conference & Show 

Family Travelogue 

Live music at the Opening Reception. 

W 

ow, just WOW! If you missed 

this year’s Conference & 

Show in Orlando, you really 

blew it. This was the best 

C&S extravaganza I have ever attended— 

outstanding presentations, more people, 

more sponsors, more networking opportunities, 

more fun in general and specifically 

designed to include family members. 

The mood was decidedly upbeat. 

Mrs. FTGA (Lillibelle) and I loaded up 

the turfgrassette twins (Fifi and Fiona) 

and headed up the Turnpike to Orlando 

at oh-dark-hundred on Wednesday. The 

SUV overflowed with DVDs, snacks, sleeping 

bags, floats and all manner of justin-case 

items that Mrs. FTGA just knew we 

couldn’t live without. As we approached 

the hotel entrance, the three Sleeping 

Beauties sprang into action. Mrs. FTGA 

unloaded the twins’ beach bags, while I 

checked in and unloaded the SUV. 

While they enjoyed the sun and fun, I 

attended my morning workshop. By the 

time I arrived, there was a standing-roomonly 

crowd. Still, I was able to absorb all 

the great information presented over the 

next couple of days. Each day, I would 

meet up with the family for networking 

events. The girls got a kick out of meeting 

all of Dad’s friends and colleagues 

who made them feel right at home. 

While I attended lunch and the Trade 

Show, the rest of the family went on an 

excursion to the outlet malls. BIG mistake 

and big dent in my wallet! The high point 

for the girls was the outing to Disney. 

Their second favorite event was the Corn 

Boil-luau night around the pool, followed 

by the live auction benefitting the Florida 

Turfgrass Research Foundation (FTRF). 

They had never seen a live auction, and 

they marveled at how anyone could talk 

that fast. Mostly they giggled at all the ugly 

Hawaiian shirts, snapping photos on their 

cell phone to post on their Facebook 

page. Who knew that an FTGA C&S would 

turn into a memorable family vacation— 

something the girls would brag about on 

Facebook. We’re all planning to return 

next year for an encore, and we hope to 

meet up with you and your family. ❂ 

Greg Pheneger talks with Dwight Kummer. 

Darren Davis with his Leading Edge Angels. 


A crowd begins to gather around Herman "Thunderfoot" Weaver. 

Jan Bel Jan makes the Wreath of Grass presentation. 

President Greg Pheneger performing one of his last official duties at the Prayer 

Breakfast/Annual Meeting/Awards Ceremony. 

Immediate Past President Todd Himelberger swears in the new Executive Committee. 

Executive Director Pete Snyder updates 

attendees on the state of the FTGA. 

Matthew R. Taylor, CGCS, shows off his award while his family 

looks on. 

Greg Pheneger passes the gavel to incoming 

President Mac Carraway. 

President Mac Carraway accepts a check from 

Scott Wells in his father's memory for the FTRF. 


29

Recent Events 

A discussion between vendor and attendee at the Trade Show. 

The new FTGA officers perform the ceremonial ribbon cutting to open the Trade Show. 

This year’s Trade Show was mobbed, which I'm sure delighted the exhibitors. 

Attendees gather information at the Trade Show. 

Attendees stop by the SMR Farms booth. 

Mac Carraway accepts a check from Golf Agronomic Supply and 

Handling for the FTRF. 

Below: Darren J. Davis and Ralph White exchange ideas at the Trade Show. 

Below: Large equipment at the Trade Show. 


Recent Events 

The Corn Boil all-you-can-eat buffet was never ending. 

The good, the bad and the UGLY—worst (L) and best (R) 

Hawaiian shirts. 

Best Hawaiian shirts go to Jan Bel Jan and 

Ralph White. 

Darren J. Davis and Jan Bel Jan catch up at the Corn Boil. 

Live auction benefitting the Florida Turfgrass 

Research Foundation. 

Eddie Coutras, Darren J. Davis and Jan Bel 

Jan exchange a few moments of levity. 


Future Turfgrass Leaders 

2010 FTGA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 

HONORED at the Conference & Show 

By Stacie Zinn, Chair, FTGA Scholarship Committee 

E 

ach year, FTGA honors deserving 

students at the University 

of Florida and Florida Gateway 

College (formerly Lake City 

Community College) with scholarships 

to further their education in the turf 

sciences. Take a look at this year’s recipients, 

as these young people will someday 

assume leadership roles in the turfgrass 

industry. Congratulations to the 2010 

FTGA scholarship recipients! 

University of Florida 

Col. Frank Ward Memorial 

Scholarship — $1,500 

Col. Frank Ward personally awarded 

the first scholarship named in his honor 

to a University of Florida student at the 

10th annual Turfgrass Management 

Conference. As a retired Army colonel, 

Ward served two terms as president of 

the FTGA, from 1956–1958. He also 

edited the first FTGA newsletter. In 1960, 

he established the Wreath of Grass 

award, and in 1963, he received the 

award, Ward’s efforts were instrumental 

in establishing the FTGA as a force in 

the turfgrass industry in Florida. 

Bradley Thomas Williams 

A 2009 recipient of the FTGA’s 

Max J. McQuade Scholarship, we 

are once again enthusiastic to 

award Bradley Thomas Williams an 

FTGA Scholarship—this year, as the 

recipient of the Col. Frank Ward Memorial 

Scholarship. Williams is working 

toward his master’s degree in environmental 

horticulture. His master’s thesis 

examines traffic tolerance and recovery 

rate of eight bermudagrass cultivars, 

under the guidance of Assistant Professor 

Jason Kruse. He has taught turfgrass 

labs to undergraduate students at UF, 

delivered several guest lectures and is 

an active member of the Turf Club. 

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree 

in soil science from the University of 

Wisconsin. He has spent seven summers 

working on golf courses, has interned 

with the USGA Green Section, and upon 

graduation, he intends to pursue a career 

in golf course management here in 

Florida. Williams’ application included 

three glowing letters of recommendation. 

John Foy of the USGA Green Section 

said of Williams: “During our time 

together I was very impressed with 

Bradley’s desire to expand his knowledge 

about all aspects of Florida golf 

course and turfgrass management and 

in turn, enhance his potential for a 

successful career in the industry.” Dr. 

Kruse said, “Given his broad interest in 

turfgrass management, and his interest 

in advancing the science of turfgrass 

management through his research, I 

feel that Brad represents the type of 

graduate student that is deserving of 

recognition.” And finally, UF’s Professor 

Emeritus of soil fertility and turfgrass 

nutrition Dr. Jerry Sartain said of 

Williams, “It is always a pleasure writing 

recommendation letters for good students, 

thus this letter is a joy to write. I 

have known Brad for approximately 

two years and have come to respect 

him very highly.” 

Florida Gateway College 

James L. Blackledge Memorial 


This award was established in 1983 in 

memory of James L. Blackledge (1905- 

1983) for a Florida Gateway College 

student majoring in golf course operations. 

A Kansas native, Blackledge came 

to Florida in 1929 where he pursued a 

turfgrass career, included landscaping, 

golf course superintendent, industry 

sales, private business, agronomist, consultant, 

advisor and industry leader. He 

helped organize the Florida Turf Association 

(now the Florida Turfgrass Association) 

and was the first Wreath of 

Grass recipient in 1960. Serving two 

terms as president of the FTGA, 

Blackledge was a pillar of the FTGA 

and the Florida turfgrass industry and 

serves as a role model to aspiring 

turfgrass professionals. 

Douglas Faller 

Douglas Faller was born in 

Winter Haven and is studying 

turf management at Florida 

Gateway College with the intention of 

becoming a Florida-based golf course 

superintendent. During the school year, 

he works in golf course maintenance at 

Haile Plantation Golf & Country Club. 

His summer internship this year was at 

Cardsound Golf Club on Key Largo. He 

also participated in prep work for the 

Jack Nicklaus Memorial Tournament 

at Murifield Village in Ohio. An active 

member of Florida Gateway’s FTGA 

Student Chapter, Faller attended our 

conference last year in Palm Beach 

Gardens. Scott Scamehorn, superintendent 

at the prestigious Mountain 

Lake Club in Lake Wales where Faller 

had his 2009 summer internship, said 

of him, “His work ethic is outstanding. 

I feel confidant that Doug will be an 

asset to the turf management profession.” 

And Joseph Holden, CGCS, 

superintendent at Haile Plantation 

said Faller is, “most times, my go-to 

man who gets the job done.” 


Hans Schmeisser Memorial 


In 1981, the Hans Schmeisser scholarship 

was established just one year 

after his death. Born and educated in 

Germany, Schmeisser landed in the 

U.S. in the 1920s to develop the landscaping 

at Everglades City. While there, 

he designed and built his first course, 

one of the first golfing facilities in 

Florida. As one of the nation’s leading 

golf course superintendents and designers, 

he was involved in designing and 

building or remodeling more than 

30 courses throughout his career. 

Schmeisser was instrumental in establishing 

the first Association of Golf 

Course Superintendents. He served as 

president of the South Florida GCSA 

and taught turfgrass management at 

Palm Beach Junior College. In recognition 

of his contributions, he was 

awarded the GCSAA Distinguished 

Service Award posthumously. 

Stephen Denvir 

Stephen Denvir was born in New 

Jersey and grew up in Florida. 

He’s studying to become a golf 

course superintendent and has a special 

interest in grow-in renovations here 

in Florida. Denvir is an avid golfer and 

serves as secretary of the Florida Gateway 

College Turf Club. He’s worked at 

Riviera Country Club in Coral Gables, 

Spessard Holland Country Club in 

Melbourne Beach, and this summer, 

he interned at Trump National in 

Bedminster, New Jersey. The youngest 

of seven children of a retired firefighter 

and his wife, Denvir said in his application 

that he was trying to win this scholarship 

as a gift to his parents for all of 

their financial support. 

General Scholarship — $1,000 

The FTGA reserves the right to award 

one General Scholarship to a student 

studying turfgrass at Florida 

Gateway College. 

Bradley Quackenbush 

Bradley Quackenbush was born 

in Winter Haven and is studying 

turf management at Florida 

Gateway College. He plans to pursue 

a career as a golf course superintendent 

in Florida after graduation. During the 

school year he is employed at Haile 

Plantation. He has worked in turf maintenance 

at Champions Gate, near 

Orlando, and at highly ranked Winged 

Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New 

York. This summer his internship was at 

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge 

in Orlando. Quackenbush’s superintendent 

at Haile Plantation, Joseph 

Holden said he has an “outstanding 

work ethic, professionalism and experience,” 

and “he has great potential 

and will go far making a fine golf 

course superintendent.” ❂ 


35

Honors & Awards 

MATTHEW R. TAYLOR 

Awarded Wreath of Grass 

By Darren J. Davis 

E 

stablished in 1960 by Col. 

Frank Ward, the Wreath of 

Grass is the Florida Turfgrass 

Association’s most prestigious 

award. It was established to honor and 

recognize individuals who have shown 

exemplary leadership in the association 

and in the turfgrass industry. Each recipient, 

beginning with James L. Blackledge 

in 1960, has worked tirelessly to advance 

the goals of the association and the 

industry and serves as a role model and 

mentor for those who will follow in his 

or her footsteps. The award is presented 

annually at the FTGA Conference 

& Show. 

This year, the FTGA presented 

the coveted Wreath of Grass award to 

Matthew R. Taylor, CGCS, our colleague 

and friend. Matt’s wife Tracy, and children 

Alli, Jordan and Ashton were in the 

audience when Jan Bel Jan presented 

the award. I must admit that I beamed 

with pride to see my long-time friend 

inducted into such an elite group 

of recipients. 

An FTGA past president and Wreath 

of Grass recipient herself, Jan was a 

perfect choice to present the award. In 

her presentation Jan told the audience, 

“Those who know him know he is committed 

to his profession by the way he 

always does his best and always expects 

the best of those who work with him. His 

continual learning shows commitment to 

himself—he is always working to improve 

himself, even if it means stepping out 

of his comfort zone.” She added, “Our 

honoree seeks no titles, no approval. 

The job well done has been his reward. 

Because of this, I believe he has been 

under-appreciated.” 

As is often the case, I was sitting next 

to Matt during the FTGA Annual Meeting. 

As Jan paused at this point in 

her presentation, Matt who was truly 

unaware that he was soon to be the 

recipient of the award leaned over and 

asked me, “Do you know who Jan is talking 

about?” His humility almost made 

me smile, but not wanting to give away 

the surprise, I remained straight faced 

and whispered, “No, I have no idea.” 

On stage, Jan continued, “He so freely 

gave, and gives, of his ideas, his time 

and intensity thru his years in the turf 

business. We have often marveled at his 

ability to organize and motivate people 

to participate in FTGA events. His 

respect for the sponsors of FTGA and 

of their support for turf research has 

made those sponsors stronger allies of 

the association.” 

Just prior to asking Matt (who by the 

way, did not know that his wife and children 

were in the audience behind us) to 

join her on stage to accept the award, 

Jan finished by stating, “He is a man of 

confidence, confidence borne of trying 

to do things right. He is a man of strong 

opinions and modest words. Some say 

he is a character; I say he is MAN of 

character, willing to stand up for the 

people and things in which he believes, 

yet he is self-effacing.” 

Since his childhood, Matt has resided 

in Florida. A graduate of Lake City Community 

College (now Florida Gateway 

College), Matt is a Certified Golf Course 

Superintendent. Adding to his titles 

of CGCS, devoted husband and father, 

Matt has found time to serve our 

industry in many leadership capacities. 

As well as serving as president of the 

FTGA, he has served as president of 

the Florida GCSA and the Everglades 

GCSA. Even as a past president of 

the FTGA, he continued to serve for 

several years on the association’s 

board of directors and still serves as the 

Education Committee chair for the 

Wreath of Grass recipient, Matthew R. Taylor, flanked by Mac Carraway (L) and Greg 

Pheneger (R). 


Everglades GCSA. Matt works actively 

at the state and local level on several 

annual educational events. A strong 

proponent and advocate of the positive 

relationship between golf and the 

environment, the Golf Course Superintendents 

Association of America 

recognized Matt’s efforts by presenting 

him with the National Environmental 

Steward Award. 

Matt has built a career in the turfgrass 

industry over the past two decades. 

Upon graduation from Lake City Community 

College, Matt accepted the assistant 

superintendent position at Colliers 

Reserve in Naples, working under Tim 

Hiers. A past Wreath of Grass recipient 

as well, Tim describes Matt as a “driven 

manager, disciplined, focused and 

smart.” He added that Matt has “allocated 

a lot of that time, talent and 

energy to the FTGA, which has been a 

blessing to all in the business. I hope 

that other young professionals will 

attempt to model what Matt has done 

and is doing.” 

After several years of tutelage under 

Hiers, Matt accepted his first golf course 

superintendent position at the Bonita 

Bay East Golf Club also in Naples, and 

for the past 10 years, Matt has served 

as the superintendent at the Royal 

Poinciana Golf Club, where he is adored 

and appreciated by his membership. 

I couldn’t agree more with both Tim 

and Jan’s descriptions and praise of Matt. 

I am honored to call Matt a friend and 

feel fortunate to have him as a peer. 

From all of us in the profession, I want 

to publicly thank you Matt, for your selfless 

and tireless work towards ensuring 

our future in the turfgrass industry. ❂ 

Jan Bel Jan presents the Wreath of Grass to 

Matthew R. Taylor, CGCS. 


37

Index of Advertisers 

Aerification Plus ...................................... 26 

www.aerificationplus.com 

The Andersons, Inc. ................................ 16 

www.andersonsinc.com 

Barenbrug USA .......................... Back Cover 

www.barusa.com 

BASF........................................................ 5 

www.basf.com 

Bay Breeze Farms .................................. 11 

www.celebrationturf.com 

Bayer .................................................... 33 

www.bayerprocentral.com 

Country Club Services ................................ 7 

www.countryclubservices.net 

Dow Agrosciences, LLC ............................ 20 

www.dowagro.com/turf 

Dupont Professional Products .................. 11 

www.proproducts.dupont.com 

Environmental Turf, Inc. .......................... 38 

www.environmentalturf.com 

Grigg Brothers .................. Inside Front Cover 

www.griggbros.com 

Harrell’s Custom Fertilizer ............................ 3 

www.harrells.com 

Humate International ................................ 21 

King Ranch Florida .................................. 37 

www.kingranchturfgrass.com 

NewLife Turf, Inc. ........................................ 9 

www.newlifeturf.com 

Pasteuria Bioscience .............................. 27 

www.pasteuriabio.com 

Pike Creek Turf ........................................ 21 

www.pikecreekturf.com 

Quali-Pro................................................ 17 

www.quali-pro.com 

Roberts Supply, Inc. ................................ 16 

www.maruyama-us.com 

SipcamAdvan............................................ 7 

www.advanllc.com 

SMR Farms, LLC........................................ 9 

www.smrfarms.com 

Southern Agricultural Insecticides, Inc. ...... 38 

www.southernag.com 

Syngenta .......................... Inside Back Cover 

www.greencastonline.com 

Texas Sod Leasing .................................. 32 

www.texassod.com 

The Turfgrass Group .......................... 15, 31 

www.theturfgrassgroup.com 

Unique Turf ...................................... 22, 23 

www.uniqueturf.com 

Wood Bay Turf Technologies .................... 35 

www.woodbayturftech.com

November/December 2010 - Powered By The Paginator

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?