Electronic GCM magazine, from GCSAA

It should be of no surprise to the superintendents of the future that as time goes by, the level of technology open to us is expanding rapidly. The World Wide Web is making sure we have access to information at lightning speeds now. Anything is just a click away.

Blogging is also becoming more and more popular. It's a way to stay up on current affairs in a relatively small community (the greenkeeping one). Although the level of professionalism is getting higher and the demands are shooting upwards. To stay up to speed with current changes I feel we need to keep our finger on the pulse and try our hardest not to miss a beat. Even when we are on the go, traveling, or even sitting at lunch. The ability to check on our colleagues opinions and blogs is at hand.

The GCSAA has added to the equation. In July 2009 they launched the full version of the magazine on line, and now making the GCM magazine available from you iPhone is the next step. To help the GCSAA learn if this online communication tool is going to be a popular one why not visit the official blog spot of GCSAA's Golf Course Management magazine. And help take our industry to the highest accolades. By supporting our industry, expanding your own knowledge and helping to teach others what we know. Brings awareness to our industries continual growing trends.

Thanks to Scott Hollister, of GCSAA for the latest news on the official blog spot.

Summer 2010, takes me to a golf course with some great history. Over 100 years of golfing memories, Aronimink Golf Club is the place of these memories. To mention just a few, PGA Championship 1962 won by Gary Player, Senior PGA Championship 2003 won by John Jacobs and the AT&T National is to held at Aronimink both in 2010 and 2011.
Located in Newtown Square Pennsylvania, this isn't the original site. Moving many times before settling at it current location. Founded back in 1896, Aronimink was moved to Newtown Square in 1926. Scottish Golf Pro Donald Ross (born 23 November 1872, died 26 April 48 aged 75) was one of the most significant golf course designer in the history of the sport. Here creating the 7,152 yard, Par 70, 18 holes and was known for saying

"I intended to make this my masterpiece, but not until today did I realize that I built better than I knew"

The course layout has remained for the most part as Mr. Ross had designed it, with small changes to bunkers (totaling 101) and changes to a few tees. Some of the tee modifications are being put in place for the up coming AT&T National tournament. The name Aronimink originates from an Indian chief who once lived in the small framed farm house that became the clubhouse. His name was spelled slightly differently, Arronomink. He was from the Lenape tribe. The name in Indian means 'by the beaver dam'. More history of Aronimink can be found here.

I am looking forward to becoming part of the history of Aronimink Golf Club and gaining tournament experience. One of my main goals for my internship is to get first hand experience in the preparation of such a competition as the AT&T National. More specifically I am looking forward to:

• Working with a huge work force, who have one common goal
• Tapping in to the knowledge of some highly qualified superintendents
• Learning new method, that can only be obtained with such a large crew
• Networking, broadening my horizons and making great contacts
  
• With any luck gaining the trust of the superintendent, to have serious responsibility

One of the most noticeable benefits to my internship is to be it's start date. Starting in early March, as the spring is just starting and the work load for the summer is in it's planing phase. With the AT&T tournament starting June 28, I will already have had over three full months to get used to the course, it's layout and specific needs of individual holes and greens. I hope to offer the superintendent, Mr. John Gosselin my full professionalism which I feel he can utilize with myself already being on site for so long.

After my interview and visit to Aronimink I have great confidence in this being a wonderful experience. A club with a friendly membership and supportive management. This is to be the first large tournament I have worked at and with any luck I will also get to know some of the players. A truly great, all round experience.

With new/ traditional bunker designs. Do you think, Extra work...?

When do you consider renovating your bunkers? Answer, normally when your membership would like a change. Quite often on an old course the end goal may be to re-create the original design form as log ago as 100 years. When cultural practices were very different to how they are these days.

By recreating original designs, does an architect think of the ramifications to the labor intensity the new design will have upon an already busy work force?

By creating such designs, certain commonly used machinery is now no longer an option for maintenance, such as a flymo. The hours of labor can be multiplied by as much as 4-5 times. At great added cost, the need of plant growth regulators (PGR's) may be useful so you are able to maintain the desired look for longer. A better trained crew is then needed for the new techniques required. All of which take time to establish, and sometimes goes without thought of how you are to get there. The finished article can be dramatic and add some real charm, creating in the true name, a HAZARD.

UGMO Sensors

For those of you who have had dealings with under ground sensors, you may agree they can be a good tool to utilize.... but when it comes to aerification, you have to know where they are, before you break them or rip them out of the ground.
So how do you relocate them quickly and easily? One method I adopted at The Los Angeles Country Club, was to find two fixed points (maybe not a tree as they can be removed, or fall over) that are in line with your sensor(s), line them up with a tape measure and make a note of the distance to one of those points from the known location of the underground sensor, say an irrigation head or quick coupler around the green. Making good notes or taking photos is the best way for someone new, to be able to find them in a timely manner.

The Start of BLOGGING

It's the second semester at The Pennsylvania State University for me and one of our new tasks is to create this blog spot. The prospect of creating this blog spot will be an exciting undertaking, on which I will be posting some what regularly, what is going on both here at PSU and more on my next intern position at Aronimink Golf Club, PA.