Penn State Turfgrass

Duff Shaw Classic Set for December 12th

2011-10-27T11:50:00.000-04:00

Duff Shaw Classic set for December 12 at North Ranch Country Club. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of Southern California (GCSASC) will hold its 20th Annual Duff Shaw Classic December 12, 2011at North Ranch Country Club in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Duff Shaw Classic is the fundraiser for the association’s benevolent fund that has raised nearly $900,000 to benefit GCSASC members and

Musser Turf Foundation Launches Website

2011-10-05T13:44:00.000-04:00

Original Press Release The Musser International Turfgrass Foundation has launched a website, www.musserfoundation.org, to make information about the group’s mission and graduate student award program easily available to all interested parties. Frank Dobie, the general manager/superintendent of The Sharon Golf Club (of Ohio) and president of the Musser Foundation Board, said the site will

Dean Graves talks about Chevy Chase Club

2011-07-06T10:17:00.001-04:00

Dean Graves, graduate of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program, talks about the history and tradition of the Chevy Chase Club near Washington, D.C. Dean is among the most respected superintendents in the country and plays a large roll in the training of future golf course superintendents. Dean is currently mentoring Mitch McPhilomy on his 6-month internship as part of the 2-Year Program.

Internship Visits: Round #6

2011-06-29T19:26:00.001-04:00

It's hard to believe that we are at Round #6 of internship visits for the students. One thing that I have learned from past visits is that it's best to group the student by geographic region so that visits are easier in terms of travel. While I did my best to do this in 2011, I feel that I am going to end up with about 3 more trips on average than what I would consider manageable typical. In any

Internship Visit: Round #5

2011-06-26T06:14:00.001-04:00

After an exhausting week at the U.S. Open, I had a couple of days back on campus to catch up on research activities and the daunting task of clearing out built up email (can't we find another form of communication that is better than email?). The time at home quickly flew by and I was off again to the Philadelphia region to visit a couple of golf courses that were having some trouble on their

Dr. Fidanza Promoted to Full Professor

2011-06-25T10:34:00.001-04:00

Dr. Mike Fidanza was recently promoted to the rank of Professor, and is located at the Penn State Berks Campus, in Reading, PA. He received his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Penn State, and his Ph.D. at the University of Maryland. "Dr. Mike" was in research and development for a major plant protection company from 1995 to 2000, and has been at Penn State Berks since 2000 where he holds a

Internship Visit: Round #4

2011-06-14T23:03:00.001-04:00

Visit #7: Mitch McPhilomy @ Chevy Chase Club This week kicked off with a visit to an intern at Chevy Chase Club in Chevy Chase, MD. Just off a plane from FL, I hopped in a car and drove straight to the club where I met with Dean Graves (2-Year Alum) to talk about the progress of intern Mitch McPhilomy. Mitch brought with him to the club a diverse and extensive amount of experience. Having worked

Internship Visits: Round #3

2011-06-07T10:39:00.001-04:00

June is generally my busiest month with the most travel for the entire summer because of internship visits and the summer of 2011 is no exception. Over the next 5 weeks I will be making trips to 9 students interning at various golf courses around the country. This week's visit takes me to Atlantic City and Northeast PA to visit 3 students. Visit 4: Stephen LePella @ Galloway National This trip

Internship Visits: Round #2

2011-06-03T10:55:00.002-04:00

You may have read that my first internship visit started last week with a trip to visit David Serra in Germany. After that long trip, I now have a series of trips that take me on a much more local journey to visit a group of students in various cities. This week's 2-day trip took me over to Pittsburgh to visit Todd Dilla at Oakmont Country Club and then down to the Washington, D.C. region to

2011 Internship Visits Begin in Germany

2011-05-29T12:12:00.001-04:00

If you have been following the enhancements that I have been initiating within the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program (aka, The 2-Year Program), then you know that the enhancement of the 6-month internship program has been a top priority. Students now complete an "Internship Preparation" class which helps prepare them for all aspects of the internship including selecting the right golf

Graduate lands job at Putnam National

2011-05-10T11:59:00.000-04:00

Mahopac, N.Y. –Putnam National Golf Club, a New York, daily-fee 18-hole championship golf course owned by Putnam County and operated by RDC Golf Group (RDC), announces that Brian Gallagher has been named golf course superintendent. Gallagher comes to Putnam National from the private Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, N.Y., where he served for six years as senior assistant golf course

Penn State Alum behind the scenes at the Golf Channel

2011-05-06T13:52:00.000-04:00

Darren Davis (2-Year class of '91) of Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples speaks with Jeff Bollig of the GCSAA about the production of Golf Channel media. gcsaa_id=407

Dr. Fidanza Awarded USGA Grant for Fairy Ring Management

2011-04-08T11:01:00.000-04:00

Michael Fidanza, associate professor of horticulture at Penn State Berks, was awarded a grant from the United States Golf Association for a project titled "Evaluation of an Inorganic Soil Amendment to Reduce and Manage Fairy Ring Symptoms in Turfgrass." The primary objective of this project is to evaluate an alternative approach to conventional fungicide use for the reduction and control of

Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research Inc Endows $300,000

2011-02-28T12:44:00.002-05:00

Penn State turfgrass research and education will get a boost as the result of a recent gift to the College of Agricultural Sciences. Pennsylvania Turfgrass Research Inc. gave the college $300,000 to establish an endowment -- the Pennsylvania Turf Research Innovation Fund -- that will provide financial support for studies to address important issues facing the turf industry, while creating

Obama to Speak at Penn State

2011-02-03T11:45:00.000-05:00

Check out live coverage of President Obama as he addresses the students, staff, and faculty on the main campus of Penn State. JOIN THE LIVE CHATVISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV

2011 2-Year Program Internships Secured

2011-01-25T16:16:00.001-05:00

View 2011 Internships in a larger map Above is a map of where the Penn State Golf Course Turfgrass Management Students will be doing their internships this summer. This year's class will be conducting internships at golf courses throughout the United States. This 6-month internship is an essential component of the 18-month Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State. Students will be

Alumni Breakfast in Orlando

2011-01-11T09:43:00.000-05:00

2011 PSU Alumni Breakfast Thursday, February 10th, 2011 at 8:00AM Rosen Centre Hotel Signature 1 Room (First Floor in back across from ballroom) Breakfast will be $25/person **RSVP BELOW**Dear Fellow Alumni, As the New Year begins we look forward to meeting again at the GIS event in Orlando this year. As you can see above, the breakfast information is listed for you to mark your calendars

New Maintenance Facility Opened at Merion

2010-12-21T10:39:00.000-05:00

Matt Shaffer (2-Year Program, Class of 1974) recently moved into his new maintenance facility at Merion Golf Club. The facility, designed with the intention of being more green, boasts some unique aspects including: Radiant heated floors in the mechanics area which uses recycled oil from the properties equipment as well as cooking oil from the Club's kitchen. A wet lab where the crew can conduct

Penn State Student Named Inaugural Trans-Miss Vickers Scholar

2010-12-15T09:12:00.001-05:00

Lawrence, KS, Trans-Miss Penn State University student Ernie Bendzak has been selected as the first Vickers Award winner among 16 students earning 2010 scholarships from the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association (TMGA). Bendzak, age 27, will receive an $8,000 scholarship to further his education in the Turf Management Program at Penn State. He also receives a sculpture of Old Tom Morris – the

2-Year Alumni Map Updated

2010-12-06T14:19:00.000-05:00

As many of you may have been aware of (and more likely most of you not so aware of), the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program had been slowly building it's alumni map on google. The process was taking a LONG time since each entry had to be loaded manually. We were just about through the letter "D" in the alphabet when one of our alumni (Ron Hall, class of '91) informed us of Google Fusion.

Turfgrass Science Division Responds to GCSAA Research Cuts

2010-11-25T14:33:00.001-05:00

Below is a copy of a letter submitted to James Fitzroy (current President of GCSAA) on behalf of the Turfgrass Science (C5) division of the Crop Science Society of America. The letter is in response to the ongoing "hold" in funding for turfgrass research and the more recent termination of the Research Director Clark Throssell. ****************************November 23, 2010James R. Fitzroy, CGCS

Penn State Alum Awarded $3.8 Million Grant

2010-11-23T04:14:00.000-05:00

Dr. Chandra earned her Ph.D. degree in Agronomy from The Pennsylvania State University in 2007 working under the direction of Dr. David Huff on a fascinating interaction between smut which causes male buffalograss to develop female sex organs. This kind of sex change is known as induced hermaphroditism and Dr. Chandra's work provided the first molecular mechanism for understanding the underlying

Internship Visit #5

2010-11-06T09:58:00.000-04:00

It's the last round of internship visits and this trip takes me to Chicago and Wisconsin to visit three students at two different locations. The first stop is back to Medinah to visit two students working with Curtis Tyrrell and then a quick stopover in Milwaukee before heading up to Whistling Straits. Justin Gladhill @Medinah Country Club (#13) A trip to Medinah each year is always one that I

Frank Dobie Recognized by GCSAA

2010-10-18T13:43:00.003-04:00

Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) member Frank Dobie, superintendent and general manager at the Sharon Golf Club in Sharon Center, Ohio, has been selected to receive the 2011 GCSAA Col. John Morley Distinguished Service Award. Frank, pictured above, gives Penn State students a tour of his maintenance facility prior to the 2009 Cutter Cup. Dobie, a 52-year GCSAA member,

Internship Visit #4

2010-10-16T16:30:00.001-04:00

It is definitely long overdue and now that the students are back on campus, I am taking the heat for not posting these earlier. In any case, here is the summary of the fourth internship visit which took me out to Denver and then back to North Carolina where I visited a total of 3 students. Dustin Weeks @ Denver CC (Stop #10) Being a pathologist, I have a thing about sending students out to the

Penn State retains the Cutter Cup.

2010-10-12T14:39:00.002-04:00

The Cutter Cup came down to the wire as the final group of the day finished out the 18th hole. A win by Penn State on the final hole of the day was the point that resulted in a 2.5 to 2.5 halve and the retaining of the cup by the Nittany Lion team. This year's event, hosted by Penn State alum Larry Napora, was played at Firestone Country Club near Akron, OH. Coming off a tough loss for the Penn

Graduate Student Profile: Kyung Han

2010-10-09T09:31:00.002-04:00

Mr. Kyung Han recently began the Master of Agronomy program at Pennsylvania State University under the direction of Dr. John Kaminski. Kyung is from Mechanicsburg, PA and has a B.S. degree in Turfgrass Science from Pennsylvania State University (Class of 2008). As an undergraduate, he completed internships at Pine Valley Golf Club and White Beeches Golf and Country Club. Kyung has received

Spikes staffers honored by league

2010-10-05T13:30:00.000-04:00

State College Spikes general manager Jason Dambach, and sports turf manager Matt Neri have each been named winners of season-ending awards handed out by the New York-Penn League. Dambach has been named the winner of the 2010 Robert F. Julian Community & Baseball Service Award, while Neri has been named the league's Groundskeeper of the Year. Dambach and Neri were selected for their respective

Four Penn Staters Win GCSAA Scholarships

2010-09-16T13:29:00.000-04:00

Ernie Bendzak at Winged Foot Golf Club The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) has awarded scholarships to 17 college students as part of the GCSAA Scholars Program administered by GCSAA's philanthropic organization, The Environmental Institute for Golf. Penn State students received 4 of these awards totaling $6,000. The Penn State Award winners were: Mike McNamara,

Beaver Stadium celebrates 50 years

2010-09-08T13:00:00.000-04:00

By Jeff Rice (Centre Daily Times) Joe Paterno remembers his then-boss, Penn State football coach Rip Engle, telling the coaching staff that university president Eric Walker had decided to move Beaver Field from the west end of campus to a site on the northeast side to make way for a new graduate school. “You can’t let him do that Rip,” Paterno recalled telling Engle. “It’ll ruin Penn State

Graves earns national environmental award

2010-08-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

Dean Graves, certified golf course superintendent at Chevy Chase (Md.) Club, has been selected by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Board of Directors to receive the 2011 GCSAA President's Award for Environmental Stewardship. The award will be presented during the 2011 GCSAA Education Conference at Celebrate GCSAA! presented by Syngenta, Feb. 8. Celebrate GCSAA! is

Meredith named Manager of the Year

2010-08-24T12:32:00.000-04:00

PORTLAND, MAINE -- Eastern League President Joseph McEacharn is pleased to announce Shaun Meredith of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats has been named the winner of the 2010 Eastern League Diamond Pro Sports Field Manager of the Year Award. It is the first time that Shaun has won this award, which is voted on by Eastern League field staff and umpires. The 2010 season marks Meredith's second

Turf Loss Advisory from the USGA

2010-08-01T17:23:00.002-04:00

Periodically, USGA agronomists of the Mid-Atlantic region send letters to member courses on extraordinary weather conditions and turf loss related matters. The weather experienced the summer of 2010 has prompted this letter. Our goal is to alert golfers and turf managers alike that this extended period of heat and drought followed by heat, humidity and thunderstorms has caused, and probably

Internship Visit #3

2010-07-29T19:32:00.000-04:00

In my third round of internship visits, I made it to four golf courses in the Philadelphia region. The trip occurred between 14 and 17 June and included official internship visits to students working at Pine Valley, Bidermann, Aronomink, and Philadelphia Cricket Club. The trip also included a visit to alumnus Matt Shaffer at Merion Golf Club. Charlie Kerr @ Pine Valley (Stop #6) I have to admit

Wet wilt and heat-related injury produce turf loss on putting greens in PA

2010-07-26T17:12:00.003-04:00

The unusually hot, dry weather occurring over an extended period in June and July have led to severe turf losses on putting greens in numerous locations around the state. Much of the damage can be traced to a phenomenon known as wet wilt. Wet wilt occurs when very high (>90oF) soil temperatures and low oxygen levels (due to wet soils) cause impairment of root function. The consequence of this

Studying Grass to Save Gas

2010-07-20T11:36:00.005-04:00

Longwood Gardens and Penn State’s Turfgrass Program recently teamed-up to study several grasses and grass mixtures for use in reduced mowing situations. The project was initiated by Mr. Shawn Kister, Grounds Division Leader at Longwood Gardens (Penn State Turfgrass Science/Agronomy, class of 1995), as a means of reducing mowing and gasoline costs, yet still having an aesthetically-pleasing

Pythium spp. selectively attacking Poa

2010-07-16T10:47:00.000-04:00

In an old post on the Turf Disease Blog, I briefly mentioned a strange Pythium problem that has shown up over the last few years. A few superintendents in the New York Met and select regions in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast may have heard me speak about this at a local conference, but for the most part this problem is not a widespread problem. I will make this disclaimer: we have very limited

Turf grad loved working on soccer field

2010-07-16T10:35:00.003-04:00

It's not unusual for someone to love puppies, chocolate or summer. Nor is it strange for someone to love listening to the Beatles, receiving presents or going to the beach. However, it is a bit peculiar for someone to love what Erick Landis does. He fell head over heels for ... turf. The recently graduated Turfgrass Science major began his love affair with grass at the tender age of 12 in

Turf insect update from Danny Kline

2010-07-12T21:29:00.002-04:00

Last week I received several reports of green June beetle activity. I’ve also had some reports of May/June beetle activity. Current weather conditions are very conducive for many insect species. Billbugs, May/June beetle grubs, and green June beetles all prefer hot dry weather. Unfortunately, all of the preventive controls normally associated with white grub control are not very effective for

When lawns turn brown in July, the best thing to do is…….nothing.

2010-07-06T15:11:00.004-04:00

Most Pennsylvania homeowners are seeing parched, brown grass as they step out their front door this first week of July. The lack of appreciable rain over the past few weeks coupled with low humidity and high temperatures have set the stage for a long, tough summer for lawns. The best thing to do for your lawn right now is leave it alone…..don’t walk on it, don’t play on it, don’t mow it, and

Internship Visit #2

2010-07-04T10:27:00.001-04:00

My second round of internship visits was conducted between Jun 8-11 and included stops at the Kittansett Club, Winged Foot Golf Club, and Glenmaura National Golf Club.The trip took me from State College towards Boston, back to NY, through NE Pennsylvania and then back to State College. Read more about the students' and see photos from the clubs below. Martin Sorensen @ The Kittansett Club (Stop

2-Year Alum Prepares Course for AT&T National

2010-07-01T05:00:00.002-04:00

This week the PGA Tour rolls into Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., for the AT&T National. According to a June 25 Philadelphia Daily News story, superintendent John Gosselin (2-Year Turfgrass Program, Class of 1987) is scrambling to clean up the course after a severe storm hit last Thursday. There was no turf damage, but the storm downed several trees and left a wake of debris

Turfgrass Deemed Largest ‘Crop’ in Chesapeake Bay Watershed

2010-06-30T16:26:00.003-04:00

A recently released report from the Chesapeake Stormwater Network entitled The Clipping Point: Turf Cover Estimates for the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and Management Implications, indicates that turfgrass may be the largest single ‘crop’ in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, exceeding total individual acreage for row crops, pastures, or forages. Although the report has not been published in a

Visiting the Interns: Trip #1

2010-06-29T13:09:00.000-04:00

As many of you are aware, a major component of the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program (the 2-Year Program) is the six months of on-the-job training that the students complete between their first and second year. As part of the internship, I travel to each course to conduct a mid-season evaluation to assess the progress of the internship and to offer suggestions to enhance the remainder of

Insect Update from Danny Kline, June 24

2010-06-24T10:06:00.002-04:00

Last Friday, we recovered our first northern masked chafers from our black light trap. Last night, we collected 33 chafers from the trap. The heat and humidity is allowing them to quickly develop and populations will soon peak. Japanese beetles, and oriental beetles were also found in our pheromone traps early this week. It's now time to put out preventive grub treatments. Putting down

PA Turfgrass Council Donates $130,000 to Turfgrass Program

2010-06-17T16:40:00.002-04:00

The Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC) is a non-profit organization who's mission is to raise funds to support education and research activities of Penn State's Turfgrass Program. Since its inception, the PTC has donated approximately $2,000,000 to Penn State, and this year, the organization gifted $130,000 to the Program. In his thank you letter to PTC President, Mr. Thomas Bettle, Dr. Peter

Insect Update from Danny Kline

2010-06-09T15:39:00.003-04:00

Right now, Pennsylvania golf course superintendents are seeing the first generation of annual bluegrass weevil adults emerge. In samples taken yesterday we had mostly 5th instar larvae, some pupae, and some teneral adults (adults that have just emerged and are white, since the blood has not fully entered their wings causing them to turn a darker color). We are also seeing many May/June beetles

PSU Grad Student Wins GCSAA Essay Contest

2010-06-07T16:09:00.000-04:00

Chase Rogan, a first-year graduate student working towards his MS degree in turfgrass nutrition at the PSU Center for Turfgrass Science, has won the Golf Course Superintendent's Association of America (GCSAA) 2010 Student Essay Contest. His first-place essay, titled 'Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program: Making Golf Courses Greener,' earned Chase a $2000 scholarship from the Environmental

Weed of the week: Common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.)

2010-06-07T11:57:00.002-04:00

Common groundsel is one of the most prevalent weeds found in flower beds, around building foundtions and fence posts, and in lawns during May and June in Pennsylvania. This weed grows best in moist, fertile soils; but also persists in poor quality soils and in waste areas. Common groundsel is an erect, branching, annual weed that grows to a height of 5 to 10 inches in non-mowed areas. This

Penn State Alum Prepares for Memorial Tournament

2010-06-01T22:24:00.000-04:00

This week the PGA Tour returns to Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, for the Memorial Tournament. CGCS Paul B. Latshaw, director of golf course operations, has the course in great shape. Latshaw is a 22-year GCSAA member with a bachelor's degree in Agriculture Science and certificate in Golf Course Turfgrass Management from Penn State University and a master's degree in

Michael Fidanza Receives Berks Outstanding Researcher Award

2010-06-01T16:31:00.003-04:00

Dr. Michael Fidanza, a member of Penn State's Turfgrass Program located at Berks Campus (and Courtesy Appointment in Dept. of Crop and Soil Sciences) recently received the 2010 Penn State Berks Outstanding Researcher Award during the commencement breakfast on May 15, 2010. This award recognizes one full-time faculty member each year for excellence in academic research, creative activity,

Weed of the week: Yellow hawkweed (Hieracium pratense Tausch)

2010-05-22T12:18:00.007-04:00

While driving through Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania last week, I noticed patches of yellow flowers blooming in many lawns, cemeteries, and other low maintenance turf areas. At first glance these flowers looked like dandelions, but upon closer inspection, I noticed they had all the characteristics of yellow hawkweed.Yellow hawkweed is common in lawns that are under-fertilized, acidic,

E.H. Griffith Endowed Scholarship Awarded to Penn State Turfgrass Science Student

2010-05-19T06:43:00.004-04:00

The Penn State Turfgrass Program is pleased to announce the first annual E.H. Griffith Endowed Scholarship award. This scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving Penn State Turfgrass Science student nominated by the faculty at Penn State. E.H. Griffith, Inc. recently created an endowment at Penn State, the proceeds from which will be used to fund this annual scholarship. E.H.

PTC Awards Scholarships

2010-05-14T14:14:00.001-04:00

On Thursday, May 6, 2010 the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Council (PTC) Awarded scholarships to three outstanding graduating seniors in Penn State's undergraduate turfgrass science major. The $2,000 scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement and leadership potential. This year's recipients included Devin Rickabaugh (pictured above), Nick Gialloreto, and Brandon Anderson. The students

Weed of the week: Daisy or annual fleabane

2010-05-09T21:35:00.007-04:00

Daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus) is a common, and fast-growing broadleaf weed found in Pennsylvania lawns and other low maintenance turf areas. This species is a member of the aster family, and has an annual life cycle - germinating from seed in early spring, flowering in early to mid May, and dying at the end of the growing season. Its common name comes from the belief that dried plant material

Turfgrass Disease Update

2010-05-05T09:59:00.000-04:00

Although the Northeastern United States has not had the considerable amount of rain that the people in Nashville have experienced, the late evening thunderstorms followed by temperatures continuing to climb towards 80F are prime for diseases. Now that The Masters is over and The Players Championship is about to begin, golf is in full swing. With the high maintenance requirements for golf

Turf insect update from Danny Kline

2010-04-28T22:17:00.001-04:00

Annual bluegrass weevil larvae were found in Maryland earlier this week. This means we will probably begin to see larvae in some areas of Pennsylvania next week. Seven different superintendents have agreed to send two soil samples to Penn State per week, starting next week. A salt extraction technique will be used to draw larvae from the soil so they can be counted and developmental stages

Weed of the week: Roughstalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis)

2010-04-23T15:59:00.004-04:00

Roughstalk bluegrass (Poa trivialis) is one of the top three perennial grass weeds in Pennsylvania. Every spring I receive reports of yellow-green patches of roughstalk bluegrass invading lawns, golf course fairways, and sports fields, and this year in no exception. Three samples were sent to my office last week, and I’m sure more will arrive in the coming weeks. Roughstalk bluegrass is

Weed of the week – Creeping speedwell

2010-04-12T09:21:00.003-04:00

Creeping (or slender) speedwell (Veronica filiformis Sm.) is a low growing, spreading plant that produces blue and white flowers from April to May in many Pennsylvania lawns and grounds. A member of the figwort family (Scrophulariaceae), creeping speedwell is a perennial which overwinters in a vegetative state, and apparently does not produce viable seed. This weed grows in dense mats and

2-Year Alumnus Prepares Augusta for Tiger's Return

2010-04-07T04:58:00.000-04:00

Owen readies Augusta to test golf's greatest It’s Masters week in the world of golf, and all eyes are on Augusta (Ga.) National GC and the course preparations being overseen by its Class A member Brad Owen [Penn State Golf Course Turfgrass Management Alumni]. Great weather should bookend forecasted scattered thunderstorms on Thursday, as sunny skies and highs in the 90s lead up to sunshine, 70s

Weed of the Week: Bittercress

2010-04-06T18:17:00.004-04:00

Bittercress is one of the first broadleaf weeds to appear in PA lawns during early spring. A member of the mustard family (Cruciferae), it can act as a winter or summer annual, or as a biennial. This weed can overwinter in a vegetative state, or it can germinate from seed during cool, moist conditions. Bittercress is a prolific seed producer, and can produce several generations during a single

Be on the lookout for annual bluegrass weevil adults

2010-04-05T16:53:00.002-04:00

By Danny Kline, Project Data Specialist, Entomology Dept. Golf course superintendents in central and western PA should be on the lookout for annual bluegrass weevil adults. Adults were observed at Bucknell C.C. late last week, and with the warm temperatures over the weekend, more adults should be on the move. Other monitoring sites in Western PA and West Virginia have reached or exceeded the

Golf Turf Management Class of 2010!

2010-04-05T13:11:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to Penn State's Golf Course Turfgrass Management graduating class of 2010! On March 6, students within the program received their certificates in front of friends and family at the traditional graduation ceremony at the Nittany Lion Inn. Families, friends and faculty gathered on Saturday to celebrate the 2010 graduating class. Guests were greeted with a slide show of images

Forsythias are blooming and thoughts turn to...crabgrass

2010-03-31T14:29:00.005-04:00

Crabgrass is the number one weed problem in Pennsylvania lawns, and can turn your picture-perfect turf into a real mess by late summer. Fortunately, crabgrass can be controlled if you choose the right herbicide and apply it at the correct time of year. Crabgrass begins as seed that germinates in spring or early summer, makes vegetative growth through the summer, and produces a large crop of

Moss is Greening-up in PA Lawns

2010-03-24T15:01:00.004-04:00

Moss is one of the first plants to green-up in Pennsylvania lawns during early spring, and many homeowners consider it an annoying weed. Many different species of moss can grow and persist in home lawns. Unlike seed-bearing plants, mosses produce spores that can be wind-blown from one area to another and germinate to form thread-like structures called protonemas. The protonemas will produce buds

8 Steps to an Easy Field Facelift

2010-03-22T12:43:00.006-04:00

by Jeffrey T. Fowler, Penn State Cooperative Extension In the last 15 years I have been called to countless athletic fields to lend some advice to the athletic field manager, school custodian or the school board member that wanted a "better" field for the young athlete in their district. After a few stops with the similar answers, I realized that many people were forgetting the basic steps

Penn State Takes Two Spots in Top 10 at GCSAA Turf Bowl

2010-03-15T08:00:00.028-04:00

The Penn State Turfgrass Program finished in 5th and 9th spot out of the 67 teams competing in this year's GCSAA Collegiate Turf Bowl in San Diego, CA. Due to the generosity of John Deere, the top ten teams earned cash prizes ranging from $300 to $4000. The two teams from Penn State finishing in the top 10 earned a total of $1000 for the Turf Club. Iowa State took home the 1st place trophy.

Mark Kuhns Says Farewell at GCSAA

2010-03-13T08:00:00.005-05:00

Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, completed his term as GCSAA’s 73rd president, Feb. 12, 2010, at the association’s annual meeting in San Diego. He will serve on the GCSAA board of directors as immediate past president until the February 2011 annual meeting in Orlando. Kuhns, who was first elected to the board of directors in 2003, has been the director of grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield , N.J.

THON Live Stream

2010-02-19T19:43:00.002-05:00

For the next 46 hours, students at Penn State will be dancing to raise money to fight Pediatric Cancer. This year the Penn State Turf Club even got involved and helped to raise money for the cause. To donate to support THON, visit https://secure.ddar.psu.edu/Thon/ and be sure to give your donation in the name of the Turf Club. Live Broadcast by Ustream.TV

Featured Alumni: John Kelly

2010-02-08T08:00:00.001-05:00

John Kelly Superintendent of The Kittansett Club in Massachusetts talks about his experience at Penn State and what the future holds for those interested in getting into the turfgrass industry. Q: Was there a particular experience or two during your time in the Penn State Program that has had significant influence on your career? A: Dr. Waddington

Dr. Heller's Career Highlighted

2010-01-30T14:24:00.000-05:00

As many of you know, Dr. Paul Heller recently lost his battle with cancer. The faculty at Penn State appreciate all of the efforts by various groups in highlighting Paul's accomplishments and would like to share some of these here. From TurfNet: The moment seemed out of character for Paul Heller, Ph.D., except maybe to those who knew him best. As an entomologist at Penn State University,

2010 Internships Secured

2010-01-26T05:00:00.006-05:00

View 2010 Internships in a larger map Above is a map of where the Penn State Golf Course Turfgrass Management Students will be doing their internships this summer. This year's class will be conducting internships at golf courses throughout the United States. This 6-month internship is an essential component of the 18-month Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State. Students will be expected to

Paul Heller (May 11, 1948 - January 18, 2010)

2010-01-24T13:08:00.000-05:00

Paul was born in Wooster, OH, on May 11, 1948 to Robert and Mabel (Haas) Heller. He attended the Wooster Public Schools, graduating from Wooster Public High School in 1964. He received his Ph.D. in entomology from Ohio State in 1976, M.S. in entomology from Ohio State in 1972, and B.A. in biology from Malone College in 1970. Paul was a professor of entomology, having joined The Pennsylvania

Penn State Goes to England

2010-01-16T14:07:00.000-05:00

If you have been following the changes within the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program (the 2-year program) at Penn State, you know that one of the new initiatives is to increase the number of international students within the program. In an effort to accomplish this, Penn State will be recruiting at a few upcoming international conferences. This week, I will be traveling to England to

Featured Alumni: Matt Shaffer

2010-01-07T13:44:00.000-05:00

Between hosting the 2009 Walker Cup and preparing for the 2013 U.S. Open, Matt Shaffer, golf course superintendent at Merion Golf Club, sat down with us. Mr. Shaffer discussed his feelings about Penn State's 2-Year turf program and the turfgrass industry as a whole. "A great education boils down to those that teach you! I know some other colleges use superintendents and while that sounds

Six Month Turf Internship Video

2009-12-31T08:00:00.002-05:00

Penn State students enrolled in the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program train and learn from some of the best superintendents in the industry at top courses across the globe. Past students within the Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program have completed their on-the-job training at Augusta National Golf Club, Castle Pines Golf Club, Merion Golf Club, Oakmont Country Club, Baltusrol Golf

Visiting Superintendents in Dallas

2009-12-29T14:13:00.000-05:00

As part of the Certificate Program's initiative to expand and formalize its internship program, I try to get out and visit as many golf course superintendents as possible around the country and world for that matter. These visits allow me to discuss the goals and expectations of our internship program with potential employers and also learn about unique internship programs that many turfgrass

Semester Comes to an End

2009-12-06T11:52:00.003-05:00

The 2-year turf students ended their semester in the past week and they are now off enjoying a brief period of rest prior to returning to Penn State on January 11th. During this time, I have been busy wrapping up research reports, editing manuscripts and putting the final touches on the classes for the spring. My first fall semester of classes went better than expected and the summer

Daniel Ely Gross (Class of 1995) Passes

2009-12-05T10:21:00.003-05:00

Daniel Ely Gross, 36, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Dec. 1. His spirit and legacy will live forever in those at the center of his world, wife Andrea (Ankeles) Gross and the joy of his life, son Carson, 2. Dan lived for his family, believing "it was the little things he shared with them that made him realize how great life was." He possessed a rare commitment to his professional career, but

Thomas "T.J." LaPlante Jr. (Class of 1992) Passes

2009-11-29T10:12:00.002-05:00

LaPlante, Thomas Jr. "T.J." Age 46 of Union, New Jersey (formerly from Minnesota) passed away 11-16-09. Survived by wife, CathyAnn; son, Colton; daughter, Cierra; parents, Tom and Barb; brothers, Jim and Kevin (Michelle); mother-in-law, Ann Burke; brother-in-law, Tom Burke Jr. (Rachel); many other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews and friends. Preceded in death by Tom Burke Sr. and grandparents.

Late Fall Fertilization of Lawns

2009-11-24T12:51:00.002-05:00

This November, turf managers and homeowners will be making late fall fertilizer applications with the hopes of improving turf vigor, color, and recovery from winter injury next spring. The main purpose of late fall fertilization is to enhance spring green-up without the excessive growth that often accompanies early spring fertilization. This green-up often will last into mid spring, so an early

New Jersey Considers Fertilizer Restrictions for Turf

2009-11-18T19:01:00.002-05:00

A draft of New Jersey Senate Bill K204_0037 was recently released to the public, and contains language similar to legislation adapted by some Midwestern states concerning restrictions on phosphorus fertilization of turf. However, the bill (in current form) goes further than restricting phosphorus applications, and includes proposals to regulate nitrogen rates and for mandatory certification of

Graduate Student Profile: Michael Shelley

2009-11-17T19:03:00.003-05:00

Michael Shelley, a 2008 graduate of the Turfgrass Science program at Penn State, has started the pursuit of a Master's Degree in Soil Science. Under the direction of Dr. Andrew McNitt, he will be studying various aspects of safety and playability of synthetic and natural turf systems. Penn State has recently partnered with FieldTurf, and Michael will be involved in constructing numerous

Graduate Student Profile: Chase Rogan

2009-11-03T18:53:00.003-05:00

Chase Rogan began his pursuit of a Master of Science degree in Agronomy this fall under the guidance of Dr. Max Schlossberg. His undergraduate work in Turfgrass Science was completed at Penn State in 2007. Chase has nine years of work experience on three different golf courses, getting his start at Meadville Country Club in 2001. Upon graduation, he completed a summer internship abroad at

Graduate Student Wins Award for Penn State Research

2009-10-28T19:09:00.001-04:00

Presently a PhD student at Cornell, Dave Moody (MS Soil Science Penn State, '07) won 2nd place in the NE Branch of the American Agronomy Science Meeting Graduate Student Oral Paper Competition this July. The presentation of his Penn State research, titled 'Predicting Repellency Indices of Hydrophobic Sands Using Ninety-degree Surface Tension Data' was one of two dozen delivered by MS and PhD

Graduate Student Profile: Jing Dai

2009-10-25T19:06:00.002-04:00

Ms. Jing Dai earned her BS degree in Agronomy from China Agricultural University in 2004. Jing then moved to the Pennsylvania State University to characterize the salinity tolerance of annual bluegrass and earned her MS degree in Agronomy (under the direction of Dr. David R. Huff) in 2006. Currently, Jing is a Ph.D. candidate in Agronomy (under the direction of Dr. A. J. Turgeon) at Penn State,

Graduate Student Profile: Tanner Delvalle

2009-10-22T19:07:00.001-04:00

Mr. Tanner Delvalle (class of 2008) recently began a Master of Science degree program at Penn State (under the direction of Dr. Pete Landschoot) looking at the effects of fairway mowing frequency and dew removal programs on fungicide efficacy for dollar spot control. The main objective of the study is to determine if increasing mowing frequency on golf course fairways increases or decreases

Leaf Spot Look-alikes

2009-08-19T20:12:00.002-04:00

Posted by Pete Landschoot If you're seeing brown spots and melting-out on your ryegrass of late, keep in mind that there are other late-summer leaf spot diseases of perennial ryegrass besides gray leaf spot. I recently observed a case in central PA in which a contractor suspected gray leaf spot was taking out his newly-seeded perennial ryegrass. In fact, the disease turned out to be a

Penn State Turfgrass Science Student Wins Watson Scholarship

2009-03-27T20:14:00.001-04:00

Posted by Andy McNitt Mr. Nicholas Gialloreto (Senior Turfgrass Science) was presented with the prestigious Watson undergraduate scholarship at the Sports Turf Manager's Conference in San Jose, CA. Nick has extensive experience in the turfgrass industry. He started out in Golf Turf but has since made the switch to athletic field management and has worked for both the single A affiliate of the

Turfgrass Science Student Wins GCSAA Essay Contest

2009-03-16T20:16:00.000-04:00

Posted by Andy McNitt Mark Brotherton won the 2008 Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Student Essay Contest. Mark is from Oak Ridge, N.J. and was a fourth-year undergraduate student at Penn State University when the award was granted. Mark won the first place scholarship of $2,000 for his essay: "How Well Do You Know Your Topdressing Sand?"

Joe Duich Named Penn State Distinguished Alumnus

2009-03-10T20:30:00.001-04:00

By Kendra Confer, PSU Ag Science News UNIVERSITY PARK -- Joseph M. Duich, professor emeritus of turfgrass science in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, was recently selected by the university's board of trustees to receive the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award, the university's highest award for an individual. As a faculty member in agronomy at Penn

Students Win Turf Bowl Competition

2009-03-10T20:17:00.001-04:00

First place 4-year team from left to right: Matt Elmore, Nick Gialolreto, Tanner Devalle, and Nick Leviere. At this year's National Sports Turf Manager's Associations National Conference in San Jose, CA all three of Penn State's Competitive Student Teams placed in their divisions. One four-year turfgrass science team placed first and a second placed third out about 30 competing teams from