Turfgrass Science Division Responds to GCSAA Research Cuts

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.

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November 23, 2010

James R. Fitzroy, CGCS
GCSAA President

Dear Mr. Fitzroy,

Scientists, educators and extension specialists within the Turfgrass Science (C5) division of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) have a long-standing and mutually beneficial partnership with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Members of C5 are keenly aware of the financial pressures faced by many in today’s economy which is challenging the viability and sustainability of programs and organizations. Like the member-driven GCSAA, state supported Universities are facing significant budget reductions and elimination of programs.

Members of C5 recognize that education is arguably the most important GCSAA member benefit; much of the education is done in concert with C5 members. At the 2011 GIS in Orlando, 48% (51/107) of the seminars and 52% (312/600) of the instructional hours will be provided by C5 members. Moreover, the education provided is research based, applied and focused on the golf industry.

Most of our members, either directly or indirectly, have received research funding from a state GCSA or GCSAA. Through this research, our members have improved playability, functionality, and environmental sustainability of golf courses across the United States. This research is used to: (1) educate future golf course superintendents in the classroom, (2) enhance stewardship of current golf course superintendents via education by C5 members at the GIS and (3) articulate the value of golf courses to legislators and regulators.

The purpose of this correspondence is to express the concern of the C5 Executive Committee on behalf of the C5 membership regarding the current and future status of GCSAA’s research program given the recent departure of Dr. Clark Throssell. We value Dr. Throssell as an educator, researcher and colleague; during his tenure at GCSAA he was a trusted and highly effective liaison between GCSAA and academia. Although we do not purport to know GCSAA’s financial details, we were surprised that GCSAA chose to dismantle its research program as a cost-saving measure.

It is important to state that the same economic problems faced by GCSAA are putting increasing pressure on members of C5 to obtain extramural research funding. Until recently, funding from GCSAA and USGA has enabled C5 members to address research issues valuable to GCSAA and its members. A move by GCSAA to de-emphasize research is likely to encourage C5 members to pursue research funding opportunities in areas less relevant to golf. If this trend continues, we will not be able to provide research-based education for the GCSAA and its members, as well as for the next generation of golf course superintendents.

We have been encouraged by our members to engage in a conversation about the role of C5 within GCSAA and to understand how GCSAA plans to “offer a research program by leveraging our relationships with instructors and others…” We are invested as an industry in golf turf research and believe that research is paramount to the future of golf.

We look forward to your reply.

Sincerely,

Brian Horgan, Ph.D.    Anthony Koski,Ph.D.    David Williams, Ph.D.

 James Murphy, Ph.D.    Mike Richardson, Ph.D.

CC: Rhett Evans, GCSAA Interim CEO

Penn State Alum Awarded $3.8 Million Grant

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 parasitically induced hermaphroditism in any organism. Dr. Ambika Chandra joined The Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Urban Solution Center in September, 2007, as an Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Breeding and Molecular Genetics.

USDA grants $3.8 million to AgriLife Research and Extension in Dallas for turf improvement

(Media-Newswire.com) - DALLAS – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $3.8 million grant to the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Dallas and others for developing, improving and commercializing drought and salinity tolerant turfgrasses.

The Dallas center, which is a part of the Texas A&M System, and four other universities will cay out a five-year study to improve drought and salinity tolerance in five species of grasses for the southern U.S., according to USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which awarded the grant.

The turfgrass grant was among 28 totaling $46 million awarded to programs in 19 states, according to USDA.

“The specialty crop industry plays an enormously important part in American agriculture and is valued at approximately $50 billion every year,” said Roger Beachy, NIFA director. “These projects will be key to providing specialty crop producers with the information and tools they need to successfully grow, process, and market safe and high-quality products.”

The grant will fund a five-year collaborative project led by Dr. Ambika Chandra, the principal investigator and associate professor of turfgrass breeding and molecular genetics at the Dallas center. Scientists from North Carolina State University, Oklahoma State University, University of Georgia and University of Florida will also participate in the study.

Dr. Ambika Chandra Awarded $3.8 million grant from USDA (full story)

Internship Visit #5

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 look forward to.  Penn State 2-Year Alum Curtis Tyrrell has a great internship program and the modifications to course #3 over the past year are major reasons why students were drawn to the course this year. When I arrived at the course, I met with Curtis briefly and then headed out onto the course with Justin.  I was amazed at the changes to the course and the progress made so far to getting things completely grown-in.  One area that Justin focused on with me was the working of the new SubAir system that was installed in the greens.  I had seen the SubAir work in the past, but the suction they were getting was pretty impressive.  In the photo (right), Justin was trying to demonstrate this by holding a piece of paper over one of the outs.  You can see the paper being pulled by the suction.

Chris Funke @ Medinah Country Club (#14)
Although I make every effort NOT to send two students to the same location, the stars just aligned right for Curtis in 2010.  (I spoke with him later this year and told him not to expect this in the future) Chris, who had been spraying earlier in the day took me on a tour of the back nine.  Among the highlights of the tour was the completely rebuilt #15th and the lack of the famous "Sergio Garcia" tree on the 16th.  The 15th hole was redesigned from a rather boring straight away par four into a risk/reward reachable par 4 with a pond front right.  As for the 16th, the famous tree where Sergio hit is miraculous second shot to the green from was removed.  I think that Medinah has "plenty" of trees, however, and could probably stand pulling out a few more!  Overall, the internship experience at Medinah is a strong one and is highly recommended for any student.

Ryan Brooks @ Whistling Straits (#15)
My final visit (this is always a bittersweet time in the summer) was to see Ryan at Whistling Straits.  Ryan is one of two students who returned to their previous course for the summer.  In his case, a family back home and the 2010 PGA Championship were big draws pulling him back.  One of the concerns about going back to the same course is the ability to perform new and "internship-like" tasks.  Fortunately, golf course superintendent Chris Zugel understands this and gave Ryan the opportunity to complete a variety of tasks during the summer and leading up to the PGA.  One thing that stood out to me this year was the overall health and greenness of the turf.  Apparently the season had been a good one for growing grass and the traditional links-style expected at Whistling has been muted by the lush green fairways.  Regardless, the PGA ended up being a great event and most people will remember it for the grounded club in the "bunker" by Dustin Johnson.

Click play to see more photos from the final round of internship visits.