Golfdom, March 2017

The Turf Doc THE PAST AND THE FUTURE MERGE In the past the future was something that you were told was years or decades off But it seems the future is tomorrow KARL DANNEBERGER PH D Science Editor Man and machine I nnovation came in two forms this year at the Golf Industry Show GIS in Orlando The first form was at the Opening Session Tuesday night when retired golf course superintendent Paul Latshaw received the Old Tom Morris Award I try not to miss this presentation when GCSAA recognizes one of its own As I listened I couldnt help but reflect on Latshaws innovation and impact on how we manage golf course turf and golf itself Latshaw created and perfected the idea of volunteer superintendents at professional golf tournaments It was the 1978 PGA Championship when he sent the word out for volunteers Seven heard the call The volunteer superintendent idea has evolved into an army at all major tournaments He embraced the concept of fast and firm greens as a true test for professional golfers At the 1988 Masters where Latshaw was superintendent the greens came under intense player criticism because the greens had been hardened to the texture of a table top so the balls wont hold After hearing Latshaw speak at the Old Tom ceremony I think he might have taken criticism from professionals as a compliment Latshaw was first to mow fairways crosscut with walk behind mowers for a national golf event during the 1997 U S Open at Congressional Considered over the top by many at the time and discontinued the reason behind the practice to neither damage nor influence the playability of the rough due to the turning of multiplex mowers changed rough maintenance We tend now to mow in a push pull pattern tee to green in part to protect the edges of the rough from the wear of turning mowers to use blowers in tournaments to fluff up the rough as well as to give added attention to how we irrigate and fertilize roughs I still see remnants of the walk behind mowing at old golf courses with narrow fairways where they mow a fairway clean up pass with a walking mower So many Latshaw innovations come to mind from collar mats to hand rolling to managing greens on the edge via the art of watering These are just a few of the innovations that have raised golf to a new level of maintenance and playability which has not gone unnoticed by golfers Some of the changes have not come without criticism The increased work hours required and amount of hand labor needed often is associated with this higher level of management Latshaws impact and influence will continue In attendance at the GIS awards session besides Latshaw were 170 golf course superintendents and assistants with professional lineage to him His philosophy of golf course management permeates the golf industry through his mentoring The second form of innovation occurred the following day on the GIS trade show floor Walking through the booths you couldnt help but notice how technology is changing the golf business Much like the car show How Its Made Dream Cars on the Velocity Channel where a few workers control robots that assemble the cars the technology and innovation I saw on the floor will change the landscape of golf course management Editors note Some of these innovations are featured in this issue on pages 15 23 and pages 38 39 A sampling of those innovations ranged from lighter and more powerful batteries that will power turf equipment to mowers and sprayers guided electronically without an operator to computer software that can monitor just about anything from a superintendents computer notepad or smartphone Could the future superintendent manage a course with only a few technicians and fleet of computer programmed and guided equipment In the past the future was something that you were told was years or decades off But it seems the future is tomorrow It will be fascinating to watch the innovation of golf course management represented by Latshaw merge with the technological advancement of the industry Karl Danneberger Ph D Golfdoms science editor and a professor at The Ohio State University can be reached at danneberger 1@ osu edu 34 Golfdom March 2017 Golfdom com