The Big Easy is Back – See for Yourself
Believe it or not, we have already started planning for the 2009 Golf Industry Show (www.golfindustryshow.com) and as part of the planning, my team and I visited New Orleans at the end of June to check out some potential venues for meetings and our annual BASF Distributor Appreciation event.

Kellie Mathas of USA Hosts New Orleans took us around to all the venues and sites we were interested in seeing. Prior to the trip, I was not quite sure what to expect given the hard road NOLA has had after Hurricane Katrina. I was in New Orleans in September of 2007 and it still seemed to be in recovery mode. And, as you may remember, GIS was supposed to take place in NOLA in 2006, but that show moved to Atlanta following the hurricane.

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Weather gives turf managers a disease pressure break in Georgia
Last week the weather in the Southeast appeared to be gentle enough to provide a little “breather” for turf managers. Specifically, following several hot and humid days, the night time temps dipped into to mid to low 60s allowing Bentgrass to catch a little break.

According to Weather Underground, the record low temp in Athens for July 18th was recorded in 1967. The temp then was 60 degrees. Last night in Athens the temps dipped to 63 degrees, so we’re getting some nice relief for turf in this area. I’ve seen Bentgrass greens this summer looking as good as I can ever remember. Guys are really having a nice stretch this summer, conditions wise. Who knows what next week might produce.

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2008 a low pest pressure turf maintenance season in North East
The earlier hot weather conditions have faded to great grass growing weather. The hot temperatures have been short lived. Many turf maintenance professionals are using fungicides but spray intervals are not being shortened to accommodate high disease pressure. At the Central Penn GCSA meeting yesterday there was a general feeling that 2008 has been a moderately easy turf maintenance season so far.

Customers see success with Insignia and Trinity fungicides
I’ve received positive feedback from many of my customers. One golf course superintendent called to say that he used his first ever Insignia fungicide fairway spray on the Fourth of July weekend and loves it!

A distributor called to say Insignia plus a phite performed outstandingly. He has been working Insignia + phites and has gained the seal of “quality disease control” approval from many happy customers.

Another golf course superintendent said he tried Trinity fungicide at 1oz and, “LOVES Trinity”.

In general, BASF is receiving very positive feedback from distributors who are selling our pest control products for Take-all patch, Summer patch and Anthracnose turf diseases.

My Territory is seeing everything from low humidity to severe storms and flooding
The last few weeks have been somewhat typical for June. It has dried out as fast as it was too wet. A weather pattern of low humidity along with some windy conditions dried things in the lower part of my territory. Unfortunately, Indianapolis and areas south of Indy were hit hard by storms that led to severe flooding. At least one golf course superintendent we know of around Columbus, Ind., lost everything in his home.

Tough golf times make it challenging to spend coin on mild turf diseases
Disease pressure on fairways has been limited to dollar spot and the severity is low to moderate. Greens have seen other disease pressure such as anthracnose, summer patch, waitea patch, and other secondary diseases. Altogether, there is a feeling of very tough times in the golf business.
Most golf course superintendents are really pushing spray intervals, using less preventative sprays, and overall taking a good hard look at their input costs. Of course, there are exceptions.

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