Turfgrass Management: A Short Course for Professionals

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Kristine Braman * Edward A. Brown * Robert Carrow * L. Paul Guillebeau * Wayne Hanna * Keith Karnok * Gil Landry * Paul Murphy * Gretchen V. Pettis * Owen Plank * Paul L. Raymer * Clint Waltz

Dr. Kristine Braman is a University of Georgia Professor of Entomology. Her research since joining the Georgia Station faculty in 1989 has explored the ecology and management of arthropod pests associated with turfgrass and woody ornamentals in the urban environment. The focus of Dr. Braman's research is the development of decision making guidelines for landscape pests which incorporate knowledge of the biology, behavior, and damage potential of the pests and those regulating influences due to associated beneficial arthropods.

Dr. Edward A. Brown, II is a Professor Emeritus at the University of Georgia.

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Dr. Robert Carrow is a Professor of Turfgrass Science in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at the University of Georgia and located at the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, GA. A native of Michigan, he obtained his BS (1968) and PhD (1972) from Crop and Soil Sciences at Michigan State University. He was a faculty member in turfgrass science at the University of Massachusetts (1972-76) and Kansas State University (1976-1984) before accepting a 100% turfgrass research position in 1985 from the University of Georgia. Dr. Carrow has co-authored three books: a) Salt-Affected Turfgrass Sites: Assessment and Management (1998); b) Seashore Paspalum: The Environmental Turfgrass (2000); and c) Turfgrass Soil Fertility and Chemical Problems (2001). He is co-editor of Turfgrass, Agronomy Monograph No. 32 (Amer. Soc. of Agronomy, 1992) and served in the Crop Science Society of America within the Turfgrass Science Division as Chair, Board Representative, and Associate Editor. Since 1993 he has served as Vice-President of the International Turfgrass Society for turfgrass scientists. Dr. Carrow is a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy.

Dr. L. Paul Guillebeau is a University of Georgia Professor of Entomology. His primary responsibility is the coordination of all pesticide programs. His work focuses on three broad areas: 1) reduction of pesticide risks, 2) pesticide policy and regulation, and 3) facilitation of integrated pest management. Dr. Guillebeau believes education is the primary tool for reducing pesticide risks. He is responsible for training about 30,000 pesticide applicators to safely use restricted-use pesticides. To meet this challenge, he uses a combination of written materials, web-based information, distance education, and live workshops. Additionally, his program trains a very large group of farm workers through the Worker Protection Program. Dr. Guillebeau also provides training and materials for nonprofessional applicators to help them reduce their pesticide risk around the home.

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Dr. Wayne Hanna, University of Georgia Professor, conducts research on the breeding, genetics, cytogenetics, molecular genetics and management of new grasses used for forage and turf. Some of his best know cultivars include: TifSport and TifEagle bermudagrass and TifBlair centipedegrass for turf and Tifleaf 3 pearl millet for forage. His research is concerned with the development and application of fundamental knowledge and principles essential to breeding, improvement, management, and utilization of grasses. Dr. Hanna's Research includes:
* Manipulation of apomixis to produce true-breeding hybrids
. * Studies on the effects of cytoplasms on agronomic characteristics.
* Evaluation of methods for utilizing germplasm from wild species
* Development of superior dwarf drought resistant pearl millet hybrids for the U.S.
* Development of superior bermudagrass and centipedegrass cultivars for turf.

Dr. Keith Karnok is the author of more than 250 publications related to turfgrass science. Dr. Karnok began his teaching and research career at Ohio State University where he taught both introductory and advanced courses in turfgrass management. In 1983, he joined the faculty in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences at he University of Georgia. Currently, he teaches four courses in turfgrass management as well as advises both undergraduate and graduate students specializing in turfgrass science. Dr. Karnok also advises the UGA Turf Club in addition to his on-campus teaching. Dr. Karnok also teaches a one-year certificate program, recognized by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America as a one year distance-based, certificate program. Prior to the development of the college credit program, Dr. Karnok, developed two continuing education (CEU) correspondence turfgrass programs, Principles of Turfgrass Management - Certified Turfgrass Professional and the Sports Turfgrass Management Certificate Course.

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Since 1979, Dr. Gil Landry has been responsible for the statewide development and implementation of Extension "Turfgrass Management" educational programming for the University of Georgia. This includes in-service training for county agents and turf industry professionals; writing publications and developing other educational materials; disseminating information through lectures and the news media; organizing and conducting conferences and field days; and providing advisory assistance on turfgrass problems and research needs. Dr. Landry has helped organize three professional associations, the Georgia Turfgrass Association (GTA) in 1986, The Georgia Turfgrass Foundation Trust, and the Georgia Sod Producers Association (GSPA) in 1991 and now serves as ex-officio/University Liaison to all. He also has worked closely with the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association (GGCSA), the Georgia Irrigation Association (GIA), and the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association (MALTA). Since 1990 Dr. Landry has been involved in bentgrass cultivar evaluations and additionally has National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) cultivar trials with tall fescues, bermudagrasses, zoysiagrasses, and buffalograsses. He is also the co-author of the Sports Turfgrass Management Certificate Course.

Dr. Paul Murphy, University of Georgia Professor, oversees a) Extension weed science education responsibilities in turfgrasses, grass roadsides, noncropland areas and forage crops; b) applied weed management research in turfgrasses, grass roadsides and forage crops, and c) teaching the weed science section of CRSS 3500, Turfgrass Pest Management. Some of Dr. Murphy's current applied research projects are to develop strategies for the control of problem weeds in my assigned commodity areas, annual bluegrass control in overseeded fairways, efficacy of herbicides for annual grass control in fine turfgrasses, and weed management in centipedegrass seed production systems. His Extension effort is devoted to serving as a technical resource on weed management to county Extension agents and to develop traditional and electronic weed management educational materials.

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Dr. Gretchen V. Pettis is an Extension Entomologist at the University of Georgia working in Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide programs. Her Extension emphasis centers on Integrated Pest Management programs for turf, ornamental and other urban pests. Of particular interest is determining decision making guidelines for landscape and nursery pests which incorporate knowledge of pest biology, behavior, and damage potential, as well as associated beneficial arthropods and proper timing of chemical applications. Dr. Pettis also develops and conducts educational programs in the areas of pesticide risk reduction and pesticide applicator training in conjunction with the State Pesticide Coordinator, Dr. Paul Guillebeau.

Dr. Owen Plank is an Associate Professor in the Crop and Soil Science Department at the University of Georgia. His appointment is 25% teaching and 75% Extension (Outreach). Annually, Dr. Owen teaches teaches "Principles of Soils" and "Soil Fertility." His Extension responsibilities are in the area of nutrient management in turf; he maintains a strong interest in the areas of Soil Testing and Plant Analysis.

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Paul L. Raymer - University of Georgia Associate Professor

Dr. Clint Waltz joined the University of Georgia turfgrass team in September 2001 as a Turfgrass Extension Specialist. Located at the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin, he has program leadership responsibilities in all turfgrass management areas, including turfgrass water management. Other state responsibilities include serving as ex officio board member for the Georgia Turfgrass Association (GTA), the Metro Atlanta Landscape and Turf Association (MALTA), and Georgia Sod Producers Association (GSPA). Additionally, he serves the golf course industry by serving on the Georgia Golf Course Superintendents Association (GGCSA) education committee and Water Task Force. Although his appointment is 100% extension, Dr. Waltz conducts research projects in many areas of turfgrass management. He is active in the evaluation of various turfgrass species to the environmental stresses of the Southeastern United States. These evaluations allow sod producers, golf course superintendents, athletic field managers, other turf professionals, and homeowners to make informed decisions about the adaptabilities of these cultivars. Other activities have included coordinating University Field Day events and the annual Georgia Turfgrass Institute.