Roundup vs Glyphosate?

Golf course superintendents are well familiar with trying to save money. However, what they might not be familiar with is the growing trend of generic brands. Course managers can still produce well-manicured golf courses by purchasing generic or post-patent pesticides.

Based on a recent Golf Course News survey of 400 readers, 59 percent say they buy generic pesticides. Because in general, generic herbicides will always be cheaper than brand ones. Some course managers tout a savings of 10 percent of more by using generic products.
But when something is cheaper, is it as effective?

Well, it is not quite as easy as it looks.

Pesticide suppliers are saying there are more than one factor that goes into buying different product versions. And, there are pros and cons to the generics available on the market.

Here on some suggestions on buying name brand vs. generic pesticides

• Know what you’re buying and how to apply it correctly. Have you used the product successfully in the past?

• If you need technical support, find out what support is offered or available before buying and using the product. The level of product support requires research, such as with branded products. Companies that only sell generic products might not be capable of supporting you as much as companies who produce generics and branded products or just branded products. There are various levels of support to consider: manufacturer, distributor and formulators. Ask the company selling generics if it will provide performance guarantees.

• Cost is an important factor. However, if a product doesn’t perform well and there are no performance guarantees, the result is no monetary savings, and you’ll incur additional costs by having to purchase more product along with the labor costs to reapply. Cost is easy to compare once you understand and compare a product’s active ingredient. The main cost drivers are: quantity of active ingredient in the container as a total percentage and the quality of support from the manufacturer that is going to be offered.

A common myth is that generics don’t perform as well as branded products. However, to receive EPA registration, the active ingredient in generics must have the same technical merit as the current manufacturer branded product. Check the formulation. Sometimes generics are formulated slightly different than the branded product, therefore, you must read the label carefully to make a direct product comparison.

A little research and background knowledge may be the trick for savvy pesticide buyers. Because in the end, the biggest decision operators and superintendents may face is whether or not saving money is really justified.

The Number's Game

Rounds are down nearly 10 % from this time in 2007, according the National Golf Foundation. Let’s look at some other current numbers from the NGF:

• There are 31,548 golf courses in the world
• There are 119 courses where golf courses exist
• North America has 59 % of the total worldwide courses
• Europe has 19 % of courses worldwide
• Asia has 12 % of courses worldwide
• Other countries have 10 % of the total worldwide courses
• There are an average of 50 golf ranges that open in the U.S. each year
• There are an average of 50 golf ranges that close in the U.S. each year
• In 2007, 113 new courses opened
• In 2007, non-traditional courses (executive or par-3) accounted for 43 % of the total closures closures, but only 20 % of the total U.S. supply
• During peak hours at Chelsea Piers Golf Club in Manhattan (the most expensive range in the nation) it costs 28 cents per ball
• There were 600 million range balls hit in the U.S. in 2003
• Left-handed golfers make up 7.4 % of the golfing population
• More than 20 years ago, left-handed golfers made up 5.6 % of the population

You Can Lead Your Course To Water...

Golf Business Magazine questioned 669 golf leaders about what they felt was the predominant environmental issue impacting the golfing industry. The survey reported that 77 percent of respondents felt water management topped the list. What I found was that these golf leaders do have reason to worry...
Did you know that a golf course can use as much water in a year as a small town? And in places where water is scarce, such as the ever popular and dry Las Vegas, golf courses make up more than 25 of the 100 biggest water users in the state.

Other findings show that courses in the United States each use 300,000 gallons of water a day on average.

According to the United Nations Environmental Programme's 2007 report, it is possible that by the year 2025, nearly 2 billion people on the planet will be living in absolute water scarcity conditions, while the majority of the world’s population will be living in under water stress.

Some have even dubbed water as "the new oil."

There may be hope. At least that is what some are saying.

More and more courses have opted for more expensive water conservation technologies, irrigation systems, and drought-resistant grass. Specifically, many experts are saying that the answer is in recycling water and growing hardier varieties of grass. Suggestions have been made to use substitutes of layers of synthetic soil. For example, there is a product on the market called Fytofoam which is a unique amino-plastic substrate material and readily absorbs water and nutrients and most importantly, retains them. In fact, it also retains at least 37 percent of air for vital good grass growth.

The following is what the USGA has to say about water conservation. They have provided best management practices for golf course irrigation below.

"Best Management Practices for water conservation could be described as the combination of proper plant selection and cultural maintenance practices that provide adequate turf quality for the game of golf while minimizing water use."

These could include:
· Selecting low-water-use turfgrasses, groundcovers, shrubs and trees for use on the course.
· Providing adequate levels of nutrients to the turf, including a balance of potassium and nitrogen, while avoiding excessive levels of nitrogen.
· Using mulches in shrub and flower beds to reduce water evaporation losses.
· Adjusting mowing heights to the ideal levels, depending on species and seasonal water use characteristics.
· Using soil cultivation techniques such as spiking, slicing and core aerification to improve water infiltration and minimize runoff during irrigation or rainfall events.
· Improving drainage where needed to produce a healthier turf with better root systems that can draw moisture from a larger volume of soil.
· Limiting cart traffic to paths to minimize turf wear and limit soil compaction.
· Cycling irrigation sessions to ensure good infiltration and minimize runoff.
· Root pruning trees near critical turf areas to prevent tree root competition with the turf for moisture and nutrients.

In short, you will see that all these studies popping up are showing that if courses continue the way they are going, there simply won't be enough water to go around in the long run. Can you imagine a world where golf courses are prohibited? But, golf is getting better at innovations and adapting to the challenge of conserving water. We'll see what happens.

Find The Right Employees For Your Course

According to the About.com website, the top ten reasons that people quit their jobs are:

1. Company is experiencing a downward spiral.
2. Relationship with your manager is damaged beyond repair.
3. Life situation has changed.
4. Values are at odds with the corporate culture.
5. Stopped having fun and enjoying your job.
6. Company is ethically challenged.
7. Behaved in ways that are considered improper.
8. Burned your bridges with your coworkers.
9. Stress level is so high at work that it is affecting your physical or mental health.
10. Are challenged.

(Strangely, there isn’t anything listed about lack of compensation?)

Looking at a recent National Golf Foundation report, golf facility turnover is nearly 20 percent. Some experts have something to say about that.

Michael J. Kenney, for example, joined the PGA of America in 1997 and specializes in employment services consultation. With more than 40 years of business experience with the golf industry and Fortune 10 corporations, Kenney has much expertise on why anyone would want to work for your course.

Also, remember the PGA of America offers the expertise of nine regional PGA career consultants, who provide a structured and logical approach to assist in your search for a new golf professional. These employment experts are organized across the United States and have a good understanding of the regional nature of the industry and the national perspective. The career consultant’s objective is to guide you through the selection process and make it as easy as possible.

“Finding the right replacement for your departing golf professional can be tedious and time-consuming process,” says Kenney.

“This generation of employees tends to place importance on being treated fairly, paid appropriately, have interesting and challenging work and enjoying a positive work environment. Absent these characteristics – they quit. Unlike their parents who would “tough it out” and “try to make the best of it,” the coming workforce is very ready to move on to other opportunities. And to some extent, older employees are adopting those same basic tenets.”

In short he says, “employer loyalty is dead,” he continues.

Click here to see what Kenney has to say in “Hiring The Right Golf Professional Made Easier.”