ISSN 2312-6558

International Turfgrass
The Newsletter of the International Turfgrass Society
January 201713th International Turfgrass Research Conference Quickly
Approaching
by Dr. Bruce Clarke, ITS President
Director, Center for Turfgrass Science,
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ USA
The 13th International Turfgrass Research Conference (ITRC) that will be held at the Hyatt Regency
Hotel in New Brunswick, NJ USA from 16-21 July, 2017 is quickly approaching.
Conference and Hotel Registration is Open
Conference and Hotel Registration (http://www.turfsociety.com/itrc2017/?p=reg) is now open.
Discounts for conference registration are available until 30 April; however, many of the technical tours andspecial events have limited capacity so register early to ensure that you receive your first choices.
Conference Highlights at a Glance
Turfgrass Industry Session
There will be a special Turfgrass Industry Session Sunday afternoon, 16 July just prior to the evening
welcome reception. This event will feature a brief mixer followed by a 1-hour session highlighting recent
advancements in the turfgrass industry.
Continued on next page
The May edition of International Turfgrass will be
the last before the 2017 ITRC. If you plan on seeingsome of the very popular sights in the surroundingarea, some ticket sales are available 3-4 months inadvance. For best availability you may need to buy
your tickets that soon. Save some money and join
ITS. If you don’t know if you are a member, then
go to http://turfsociety.com/test/ismember.php and typein your email address that you used when first registering
for ITS, and you will receive an instant response if you
are in good standing.
Also, if you have any newsworthy stories orinformation for readers of International Turfgrass, I
hope you will consider submitting an article for the next
newsletter in May 2017.
I hope you enjoy the very good articles in this edition.
Sincerely,
Nathan R. Walker

International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

In this Edition• 13th International Turfgrass Research
Conference Sponsors• Zoysiagrass Symposium during ITRC in 2017
• State Turfgrass Groups Support ITRC
• Japanese Society of Turfgrass Science Fall
Annual meeting• Ten new fact sheets about turfgrass winterstress management• Pre-Conference ITRC Tour• Post-Conference ITRC Tour• Dr. James Watson Celebration• Student competition and travel award• ITS Membership Application• Order form for past proceedings and journals• ITS Board Members

Click here to join ITS
Page 1

Opening Reception

Poster Sessions

The Conference itself will kick off with an
opening reception on Sunday night with a Mardi
Gras theme. The reception is something that theentire family will want to attend and will feature a
Dixieland band, jugglers, card tricks, and plentyof Mardi Gras beads. This is an opportunity tosocialize and just sit back and enjoy a night of music,
drinks and hors d’oeuvres. This will be followed
by a week packed with educational and social
opportunities (http://www.turfsociety.com/itrc2017/
pdf/Preliminary-Meeting-Schedule.pdf) that willallow you to re-engage with old friends and networkwith new acquaintances from all over the world.

Posters will be displayed on Monday, Tuesday
and Thursday (17, 18 and 20 July) and, for the firsttime at an ITRC, one-minute, rapid (oral) summaries
will be presented by poster authors prior to eachposter session. To entice meeting attendees to meetposter authors and discuss their latest findings, lightrefreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be provided ateach poster session.

Keynote Presentations
Keynote addresses will be presented on
Monday morning, 17 July by internationallyrenowned scientists focusing on the conference
theme “Meeting the Challenges of a Changing
Environment” Dr. Timothy Colmer (University ofWestern Australia) will discuss “Managing water
use by warm-season turfgrasses in a drying climate.”
Dr. William Meyer (Rutgers University, USA), will
present “Breeding improved cool-season turfgrasses
for stress tolerance and sustainability in a changing
environment.”
Dr. Jerry Hatfield (National
Laboratory for Agriculture and the Environment,
Ames, Iowa, USA) will talk about “Climate impacts
on crops and turfgrass: Building effective adaptation
strategies.” Dr. Christine Hawkes (University ofTexas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA) will discuss “Canthe plant mycobiome serve as a tool for improving
grass stress resistance?”

Student Oral and Poster Competition and TravelAwardsA Student Competition will be held at the 13thITRC to showcase some of the exciting, cutting edge
research that students are conducting (see article
on page 17). In addition, Student Travel Awards
are available on a competitive basis (deadline is 31
January;
http://turfsociety.com/itrc2017/#studenttravel-awards).
Dr. James Watson Celebration
ITS will host an evening program on Monday,
17 July highlighting the many contributions of Dr.
James Watson, one of early leaders of ITS and apioneer in the turfgrass industry (see article on page16). Come listen to Dr. James Beard (President
and Chief Scientist of the International Sports Turf
Institute, Inc.), Dr. Paul Rieke (Professor Emeritus,
Michigan State University) and others reflect on Dr.
Watson’s accomplishments and the founding of ITS,
and socialize with other attendees at the receptionthat follows this special event.
Technical Tours and a BBQ Dinner

Oral Paper Sessions
A draft of the scientific program is available
at the conference website (http://www.turfsociety.
com/itrc2017/pdf/Preliminary-Meeting-Schedule.
pdf); however, the final program with the actual date
and time of each presentation will not be released
until the majority of manuscripts have been accepted.
The current plan is to have oral sessions on Monday,
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (17, 18, 20 and 21July). Every effort will be made to limit the numberof concurrent sessions. Each oral session will include
an invited presentation, as well as volunteered
presentations that fit within the session theme/
category.
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

A full day of technical tours is planned for
Wednesday, 19 July highlighting the extraordinary
range of turf venues in the New Jersey/New York City
region. There are six tours from which to choose:
1) The United States Golf Association Museum /Testing Facility and Baltusrol Golf Club (the host
location for the 2016 PGA Championship).
2) The Red Bull Arena (home of the New York Red
Bulls Major League Soccer Team) and Bayonne Golf
Course, called “the most audacious golf course in theworld” by Sports Illustrated Magazine.
Continued on next page
Page 2

a cocktail reception, an American-style BBQ, andan opportunity to informally view research plots at
the Rutgers Turf Research Facility at Hort Farm 2 inNorth Brunswick, NJ. Brief, YouTube videos of theresearch trials will be accessible during the evening
via free wireless internet. Wednesday night’s BBQ
will have a ‘Beach Party’ theme and live music, so
dress casually and be ready to have a great time under
the stars.
Twilight Dinner Cruise of the NY/NJ Harbor andStatue of Liberty
The USGA Museum / Testing Facility3) The Met Life Stadium Practice Facility (Hometo the New York Giants and Jets American Football
Teams) and Yankee Stadium (home of the world
famous New York Yankees and the New York City
Football Club of Major League Soccer).
4) Tuckahoe Sod Farm (one of the largest and mostsuccessful sod farms in the USA) and MonmouthPark Racetrack (the site of the 2007 Breeders Cup,
one of the premier horse racing events in the world).

Immediately following the ITS Quadrennial
Business Meeting and the Graduate Student Awards
Presentations on Thursday, 20 July, attendees willboard buses for a night on the town featuring a
Twilight Dinner Cruise of the NY/NJ Harbor andStatue of Liberty, with awesome views of the New
York City Skyline, great food and dancing. This is aonce in a life-time event that your entire family will
want to see.

5) Central Park (the iconic green space on Manhattan
Island) and the American Museum of Natural History/Hayden Planetarium (one of the world’s pre-eminentscientific and cultural institutions renowned for its
exhibitions and scientific collections).

The views from the cruise
Special Zoysiagrass Symposium

The Great Lawn at Central Park6) The Bronx Botanical Gardens (a National Historic
Landmark and one of the greatest botanical gardens
in the world , with its diverse landscape and extensive
collection of plants and gardens).
Be sure to “register early” for the conference
since many of these tours will fill up quickly andspace will be limited. The day will conclude with
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

The last day of the conference will include oralpresentations and a Zoysiagrass Symposium Friday
morning (see article on page 6 ) showcasing invited
speakers who will give a world-wide perspective on
this important and underutilized turfgrass species.
Optional Events (Additional charges may apply; see
online registration form for details)•

Wine and Cheese Tasting, Zimmerli Art Museum,Rutgers University - Tuesday, 18 July (19:0022:00)(http://www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.
edu/)
Continued on next page
Page 3

•Night at Citi Field Major League Baseball Park,
New York City - Tuesday, 18 July (16:30-23:30)(http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/ballpark/)

PPL Park (home of the Philadelphia Union SoccerTeam), as well the iconic Liberty Bell, Independence
Hall, local museums, and Longwood Gardens.

•

Rutgers Turfgrass Breeding Program Tour –Friday, 21 July (13:00-17:00) at the Rutgers Plant
Science Research and Extension Farm, Adelphia,
NJ(https://turf.rutgers.edu/facilities/adelphia.
html). This tour will take place at the end of
the ITRC. Come see the largest cool-season
breeding program in the world, and hear about
the latest advances in turfgrass breeding. Buses
will leave from and return to the Hyatt. Thereis no additional charge for this tour, but preregistration is required.

A Post-Conference Tour had previously beenplanned for Miami, Florida; however, due to therecent Zika outbreak in southern Florida, this 4-day
tour will be redirected to the beautiful mountains ofAshville, North Carolina (see article on page 14).
Asheville is a city in western North Carolina’s Blue
Ridge Mountains known for its vibrant arts scene
and historic architecture, including the dome-topped
Basilica of Saint Lawrence. Participants will stayin the brand new Village Hotel at the world famous
Biltmore Estate (America’s largest house). The tour
will include visits to several top-tier golf courses, aswell as plenty of time for sightseeing in the nearby
River Arts District. On the last evening, enjoy a Pub
Crawl and sample the dizzying array of beer (> 100
local varieties) that Asheville offers. What a relaxing
way to unwind after the 13th ITRC. Additional
details and the cost of both tours are provided on
the ITRC Website (http://www.turfsociety.com/
itrc2017/?p=home).

Bring the Family
Accompanying persons with have a full range ofenjoyable activities to choose from during the week of
the conference (http://www.turfsociety.com/itrc2017/
pdf/Accompanying-Persons-Tours.pdf) including: atrip to Longwood Gardens (one of the world’s great
gardens and a former summer estate of Pierre duPont), the Bronx Zoo (one of the largest zoos in the
United States), the Liberty Science Center (a stateof the art science center with an IMAX theater), theCamden Adventure Aquarium (home to the largest
collection of sharks on the East Coast, hippos, blue
penguins and the longest shark bridge in the world),
the American Museum of Natural History /Hayden
Planetarium, and even a day trip to the beautiful
white sand beaches of Point Pleasant, NJ.
Outstanding Pre- and Post-Conference Tours
A Pre-Conference Tour will take in the sitesof Washington, DC and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
during a 5-day trip that will provide a mix of history,
fun, and of course turfgrass. Hotel accommodations
will be in close proximity to the Nation’s Capital,
the Lincoln Memorial, and a myriad of museums
including the Smithsonian in Washington, DC (seearticle on page 11). There will be plenty of time forsightseeing and visits to turf-related venues that will
include the newly renovated National Mall, the Grass
Roots exhibit at the National Arboretum, the National
Botanical Gardens, Congressional Country Club, andNational Park (home of the Washington Nationals
Major League Baseball Team). In Philadelphia,
participants will visit Lincoln Financial Field (homeof the Philadelphia Eagles American Football Team),International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Excellent Sponsorship Opportunities are Still
Available
More than three dozen companies andorganizations including Syngenta, Bayer, Aquatrols,
the USGA, BASF, TORO, DLF, PGG Wrightson
Seeds, Ocean Organics, and the New Jersey Turfgrass
Association / Foundation have already become major
supporters of the 2017 ITRC (http://www.turfsociety.
com/itrc2017/?p=reg%20-%20sponsors#sponsors)and plenty of excellent sponsorship opportunities
are still available(http://www.turfsociety.com/
itrc2017/pdf/ITRC-Sponsorship.pdf). So show yourorganization’s support of turfgrass research andbecome a 2017 ITRC Sponsor today!
So, REGISTER TODAY (http://www.
turfsociety.com/itrc2017/?p=reg) to attend one of
the largest and most comprehensive gatherings ofturfgrass professionals anywhere in the world. Learn
about the latest discoveries in turfgrass science andget inspired by the scientific sessions, field tours,
and stimulating discussions. Share your researchwith colleagues from throughout the world, andmeet friends, network and see all that the New York
City/New Jersey area has to offer. I look forward toseeing all of you at the 13th ITRC in July!
Page 413th International Turfgrass Research Conference Sponsors
To become an ITRC Sponsor see (http://www.turfsociety.com/itrc2017/pdf/ITRC-Sponsorship.pdf )Legacy Premier Sponsor

Premier Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Student Oral/Poster Comp

Student Travel Sponsors

Technical Tour Dinner Sponsors

Pre-Conference Tour Sponsor

Session Sponsor

ITRC Supporter
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 5

Zoysiagrass Symposium Speakers and Panelists Set forInternational Turfgrass Research Conference
by Jack Fry, Ph.D.,
Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS, USA
There is worldwide interest in zoysiagrass(Zoysia spp.). In 2015, an International Zoysiagrass
Symposium was held in Okinawa, Japan withspeakers from Japan, Korea, China, and Australia.
Interest arising from this gathering led to an informal
meeting of those involved with zoysiagrass research
and management at the Golf Industry Show in San
Diego in 2016 at which individuals from elevencountries attended.
We will continue building on this interest byholding a half-day zoysiagrass symposium on themorning of Friday, 21, July 2017 at the International
Turf Research Conference (ITRC) in New Brunswick,
NJ USA. Invited speakers will provide a worldwide
view of zoysiagrass research, use, and culture. In
addition, a panel including industry professionals willoffer their perspective on zoysiagrass management.
Before and after the symposium, and during a onehour break, attendees will have an opportunity toview posters and interact with others conducting
research on Zoysia spp. Those presenting researchon zoysiagrass at the ITRC in an oral session earlier
in the week have the additional option to create aposter for viewing during the symposium, and thosepresenting a poster earlier in the week can show
their poster again during the symposium (there is noneed for these authors to submit an additional title
summary).

Titles and presenters:
Implications of Zoysia Species, Distribution and
Adaptation for Management and Use of Zoysiagrasses
Don Loch, The University of Queensland, Brisbane,
Queensland Australia
Evaluation and Breeding Zoysiagrass using Japan’s
Natural Genetic Resources
Masumi Ebina, Forage Crop Genome Unit, Instituteof Livestock and Grassland Science, Tochigi, Japan
Zoysiagrass Use and Culture in Europe
Simone Magni, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Occurrence, Distribution and Introduction of Zoysia
spp. and their Management and Current Use inAustralia
Peter McMaugh, Turfgrass Scientific Services,
Carlingford, New South Wales Australia
Zoysiagrass History, Utilization, and Improvement in
the United States
Aaron Patton, Purdue University, West Lafayette,
Indiana USA
Molecular Advances in Zoysiagrass Development
Ambika Chandra, Texas A&M AgriLife Research,
Dallas Texas USA

Industry panelists who will share their experiences
and perspectives on zoysiagrass are:Speakers will give 30 minute oral presentations
Tim Bowyer, Ph.D., Patten Seed Company, Lakeland,
covering material contained in manuscripts that will
Georgia USA;be published as part of the ITS Conference.
David Doguet, Bladerunner Farms, Poteet, Texas
If you have questions, contact Jack Fry (USA) USA;at Kansas State University: email jfry@ksu.edu or Jim Prusa, Sky72 Golf, Incheon, South Korea;
David Stone, The Honors Course, Ooltewah,
call 785-532-1430.
Tennessee USA.

International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 6

State Turfgrass Foundations/Associations in U.S. Support the ITRC
by Clark Throssell
As most of you know, the United States
is hosting the International Turfgrass Research
Conference (ITRC) in New Brunswick, NJ USA
from 16-21 July 2017. This is the first time an ITRC
has been held in the U.S. since 1993. To showcase
the turfgrass industry in the U.S. and to make sure
all participants have a great experience, the ITRC
Sponsorship Committee is reaching out to state
turfgrass associations /foundations for financial
support.
Financial support from state turfgrass
associations/ foundations will be used to help defray
the cost of students attending the 13th ITRC or toprovide general support for the conference. The
ITRC Sponsorship Committee has asked university
scientists in the U.S. to ask their state turfgrass
association/foundation for a donation to support the13th IRTC.
To date, university scientists in over 35 states
have been contacted and the response has been very
positive. Already several foundations/associations
have made a financial commitment to support the
ITRC and many more are considering the request.
The two sponsorship opportunities that theSponsorship Committee is encouraging state turf
association/foundations to consider include:

ITS. Contributions can be provided for the generalpool of applicants to support student travel, or can be
designated for a specific student to receive funding
from a state turfgrass association /foundation. As an
ITRC student travel sponsor:•

The organization’s logo will be listed on theconference website as a student travel sponsor,
and will be listed on all conference registration
panels indicating the organization’s name and thenumber of students supported.

2. ITRC SUPPORTER: $500 - $1,000 U.S. This
contribution will be used to provide general supportof the ITRC.
•As an ITRC Supporter, the organization’s logo
will be listed on the conference website as an
ITRC supporter.

If a student(s) from your university/institution
will be attending the 13th ITRC, please consider asking
your state turf association/foundation to become aStudent Travel Sponsor. They will be supporting
the professional development of a student and will
receive recognition for their support. Alternatively,
please consider asking your state turf association/foundation to become an ITRC Supporter to help
advance turfgrass science in the U.S. and around theworld.

1. STUDENT TRAVEL SPONSOR: $ 2,000 U.S.
per student. This sponsorship will provide funding
for students to attend the ITRC. This is a greatContact Clark Throssell at clarkthrossell@opportunity to help support a future leader in the bresnan.net if you should have questions about state
turfgrass industry! Each sponsorship will pay for one turfgrass foundation/association sponsorship of thestudent’s travel expenses to the meeting along with 13th ITRC.
conference registration and a student membership toInternational Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 7

2016 Fall Annual Meeting, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japanby Yoshi Ikemura1 and Hideaki Tonogi2
1

Shizuoka Prefectural Research Institute of Agriculture and Forestry
2
International relations committee
Director, Japanese Society of Turfgrass Science

The Japanese Society of Turfgrass Science(JSTS) 2016 fall annual meeting was held in Obihiro,
Hokkaido, Japan on September 23-25. Obihiro is in
the southeastern region of Hokkaido, and the climate
has warm summers and very cold winters. We enjoyed
the fine weather it was neither too warm nor too cold
during the fall annual meeting.
The morning session on the first day at the fallannual meeting had four separate meeting groups.
These groups included golf courses, ground coverplants, school turf, and parks. For the afternoon
session, the general meeting and keynote lectures
were held. The keynote lecture speakers and theirtitles were as follows:
Welcome message by the president of TokachiMainichi Press at Tokachi Millnnium Forest
At Memuro Park, there are dozens of big Japaneseemperor oak trees. Some of the trees are over 350
years old and as old as the history of the developmentin Hokkaido. However, these heritage trees are indanger because of environmental changes causedby the park improvement construction including
planting turf. The trees and the turf, their coexistence
is a challenge.

2016 fall annual meeting in Obihiro,Hokkaido
Mr. Hiroshi Tezuka, Senior vice-president of Japan
Golf Management Association, “Approaches to golfcourse revitalization”
Dr. Yoichi Ohara, AGE Research Institutes, “Turfgrass
research and education in Hokkaido”.
Ms. Midori Shintani, Tokachi Millennium Forest,“Contribution by culture of green and gardening”.
On the second day of the meeting, we visited
turfgrass sites around the Obihiro area and these wereas follows: 1) Obihiro Forest Park, 2) Memuro Park, Earth Garden at Tokachi Millennium Forest3) Tokachi Millennium Forest, 4) Park Golf site at
Makubetsu-cho, and 5) Tokachi Ecology Park. 		
Continued on next page
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 8Tokachi Millennium Forest has beautiful
award-winning gardens. The Forest was establishedon the idea of “carbon offset,” an environmental
conservation activity to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. The Park golf site was invented in
Makubetsu-cho, Hokkaido. All you need to playpark golf is one club, a ball and a tee. Everyone fromchildren to elderly people can enjoy this community
sport. It is becoming very popular in the Hokkaido
area specially, so now it has spread to of all Japan
including Okinawa, the southern part of Japan.

Park golf which was invented in Makubetsu-cho,
Hokkaido.

On the last day, we played golf at Tokachi
Country Club as technical tour. The next JSTS
meeting will be held in Tokyo City University fromMay 19th to 21th in 2017.

Ten new fact sheets about turfgrass winter stress management
by Maria Strandberg
STERF, Sweden

The Scandinavian Turfgrass and Environment
Research Foundation (STERF) and the Canadian
Turfgrass Research Foundation (CTRF) have createdand published ten central fact sheets with practicaladvice and recommendations related to turfgrass
winter stress management. The fact sheets cover thefollowing topics:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Acclimation and winter stresses - What is killing
our greens?
Grass species and varieties for severe winterclimates
Preparing golf greens for winter survival
Winter protective covers - Usage of wraps toimprove winter survival of golf greens
Anoxia. When to break the ice?
Winter work on golf greensWarm spells during the winterSpring stresses - The difficult transition into a
new growing seasonsRe-seeding and spring recovery from winterinjuries
Winter play on summer greens.

International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

This is the first outcome of ready-to-use
research results based on a joint research anddevelopment programme and research collaboration
between STERF and CTRF. All fact sheets areavailable on
http://www.sterf.org/sv/library/fact-sheets-winter-survival

STERF and CTRF have identified ‘WinterStress Management’ as a high priority area of
research and development for the period 2014-2020.
The ultimate goal of this joint research programmeis to provide the golf industry with information andtools to minimize turfgrass winter damage. Basedon the programme, STERF and CTRF are taking aninternational lead in directing and supporting turf
grass winter stress management and research for the
next five years.
Winter injuries are a significant economic
burden for golf courses in the Nordic countries andCanada. About 70% of the golf courses in the Nordic
Continued on next page
Page 9countries suffer from winter damage every year, andthe associated average annual costs per golf course
are an estimated €35,000-40,000. Winter damage
also has great environmental implications, as reestablishment of dead turf in spring increases the needfor energy, fertilizer, pesticides and irrigation water,
with concomitant risks of leaching and surface runoff.
Because of the economic and environmental impact,
golf course superintendents throughout Scandinavia
consider ‘Winter Stress Management’ to be the mostimportant of STERF’s thematic areas for research anddevelopment. A similar level of prioritization can be
anticipated in Canada and other countries with similar
climate conditions.

The extent of winter damage is a result ofcomplex interactions between turf grass plants anda number of environmental factors. International
and interdisciplinary projects are therefore needed
to develop guidelines. An equally importantconsideration is that these guidelines are efficiently
communicated to golf course superintendents andother turf grass managers.
The research programme and information
about on-going research projects within winter stressmanagement can be found at www.sterf.org.

Figure 1. Ten new fact sheets about turfgrass winter stress management are available at http://www.sterf.org/
sv/library/fact-sheets-winter-survival

International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 10Pre-Conference Tour, ITRC 2017
Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA USA
July 11 – 15, 2017by Dr. Mike Agnew, Syngenta
Dr. Michael Fidanza, Penn State University
Dr. Nancy Agnew, Longwood Gardens
Overview
The Nation’s capital, Washington, Districtof Columbia is home to the United States’ mostsignificant buildings, National parks, museums,
monuments and memorials. The city is rich in artsand culture and has a vibrant restaurant scene. Bothreflect the eclectic nature of America’s heritage.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about theextensive turf and grounds renovations just completed
on America’s Front Yard, the National Mall; visit the
U.S. Botanic Garden; observe turf exhibits at the
National Arboretum; and visit Nationals Park, homeof the Washington Nationals’ Major League Baseballteam. This is the nation’s first LEED certified ballpark
that boasts cutting-edge game presentation and fan
experience. Time has been allotted for attendees to
explore Washington, DC’s significant and historicsites by day and to enjoy DC arts, culture, andrestaurant scene by night. (Visit https://washington.
org/ for Washington, DC tourism information.)Independence National Park Sites, and at the epicenterof Philadelphia’s restaurant scene. (Visit http://www.
sheratonphiladelphiasocietyhill.com/)
Transportation
Attendees should plan to arrive in Washington,
DC by Tuesday July 11, 2017. Washington, DC isserved by Reagan Washington National Airport,
Washington Dulles International Airport, and theAmtrak train station at Washington, DC Union
Station. Hotel check-in is at 3:00 PM (early arrivals
can check bags at the front desk). All transportation
during the pre-conference tour is included in the tour
package. This includes coach transportation to allorganized tour sites, transportation from Washington,
DC to Philadelphia, PA and transportation to the
ITRC Conference Hotel, the Hyatt Regency in New
Brunswick, NJ.

We will be staying at The Jefferson Hotel, Itinerary
Washington DC. (Visit http://www.jeffersonhotel.
com/) Conveniently located north of the White House Tuesday, July 11, 2017
Hotel Check-In. Early arrivals can check their bags
and The National Mall.
at the front desk and are at leisure to explore historic
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known as the Washington, DC.
Birthplace of the Nation, is where the Founding
Fathers debated, drafted and signed the Declaration Welcome Reception and Dinner. To be held at The
of Independence and, eleven years later, wrote the Jefferson Hotel.
U.S. Constitution. The Independence National Park
Sites including Independence Hall, The Liberty Bell Wednesday, July 12, 2017
Center, The National Constitution Center, Carpenter’sHall, Franklin Court and many others are located Depart for tours of sites in DC.
here. Philadelphia is home to several modern sports
complexes, is a significant arts and cultural center, • The National Mall, located at the heart ofWashington, DC, is considered America’s
is known as America’s Garden Capital, and has one
Front Yard and serves as the world’s window toof the hottest restaurant scenes in the country. (GoAmerica. The park is home to some of our nation’sto www.visitphilly.com for Philadelphia, PA tourism
most recognizable monuments, memorials andinformation.)
important events. The National Mall has 1,000
We will be staying at the Sheraton
acres of greenspace and hosts 33 million visitors
per year. This has caused significant wear and tear
Philadelphia Society Hill Hotel in the heartof Philadelphia’s original city, steps from The
Continued on next page
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 11

on the once-grassy lawn which extends from the
Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol Building. •In response, the National Park Service has justcompleted a massive restoration project. The
turf restoration project was designed to create ahealthy and water efficient landscape. All aspectsof this restoration will be discussed on our tour by
a representative from the National Park Service.

National Museum of Natural History, islocated on the National Mall and is one of 19
museums managed by the Smithsonian Institution(Go to http://si.edu/ to learn more.). Attendees
will be provided a behind-the-scenes tour thatgives unparalleled opportunities to hear directlyfrom the Natural History Museum’s renowned
scientists and curators as they walk you throughcollections not on view to the general public andupdate you on their latest research and fieldwork
conducted around the globe.

Lunch at the National Museum of Natural History(or similar venue). Lunch vouchers will be provided.
Afternoon and evening to explore Washington,
DC on your own OR University of Maryland Turfgrass
Field Day (1:00 pm to 7:00 pm) with barbeque dinner.
Return transportation to the hotel (pick-up at the
National Mall).
The National Monument•

The United States Botanic Garden, locatedadjacent to the U.S. Capitol, was establishedmore than 200 years ago by President George
Washington whose vision for the capital city of
the United States included a botanic garden thatwould demonstrate and promote the importanceof plants to the nation. Established by the U.S.
Congress in 1820, the U.S. Botanic Garden is oneof the oldest botanic gardens in North America. A
45-minute guided tour of the U.S. Botanic Garden
Conservatory will be followed by an opportunity
for attendees to visit the adjacent National Garden
and Bartholdi Park.

••

For those interested, arrangements will be made toattend the University of Maryland Turfgrass Field
Day in College Park Maryland. This biennial
field day highlights turfgrass research conductedat the University of Maryland and will include a
Barbeque dinner at the research site.

Thursday, July 13, 2017
Depart for Tours of Sites in DC and Philadelphia, PA
This is moving day!
•

The U.S. National Arboretum’s Grass Roots
Initiative is a four-year, in-depth look at thescience behind “Turfgrass,” this familiar, but
often misunderstood, landscape plant. Grass
Roots is an interactive display at the arboretum
and a cooperative initiative of the U.S. National
Arboretum, USDA-ARS, and the National
Turfgrass Federation, Inc.

•

Nationals Park, home of the Washington
Nationals Major League Baseball team. The
grounds manager will provide a guided tour of
this outstanding modern sports facility.

The United States Botanic Garden
Continued on next page
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 12Independence and U.S. Constitution were both
debated and signed inside this building.
The Liberty Bell Center. View the bell thatbears a timeless message: “Proclaim Liberty
Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants
thereof”. A must see location when visiting
historic Philadelphia.
Visits to Philadelphia’s Sports Complexes••
Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.
•

Arlington National Cemetery is a lasting tributeto the men and women who made the ultimate
sacrifice while serving our nation. This hallowed • Talen Energy Stadium, a state-of-the-art 18,500seat Major League Soccer stadium, serves as
ground is where more than 400,000 United Stateshome to Philadelphia Union.
service men and women and their family members
are laid to rest.
Visits to Philadelphia’s Cultural Centers (http://
withart.visitphilly.com/)
and(http://www.
avenueofthearts.org/)•

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a landmark
building with a world-renowned collection.
Climb the steps and have your picture taken withthe statue of Rocky.

•

Rodin Museum is a unique ensemble of BeauxArts architecture and a formal French garden inwhich to experience the sculpture of AugusteRodin, the Museum was designed by Frencharchitect Paul Cret (1876–1945) and Frenchlandscape designer Jacques Gréber (1882–1962).

Arlington National Cemetery•

Walk onto Lincoln Financial Field and observea state of the art stadium that play host to thePhiladelphia Eagles football, collegiate football,concerts and more.

Congressional Country Club was constructed in•
1924 as place where Members of Congress could
meet with businessmen. Today is a world classgolf course that has played host to US opens, andPGA tour event.

Barnes Foundation holds one of the finest
collections of post-impressionist and earlymodern paintings.

Saturday, July 15, 2017

Arrive at the Sheraton Philadelphia Society Hill
Free morning to explore Philadelphia.
Hotel.
Dinner on your own. Dining options will be provided.

Lunch on your own.

Friday, July 14, 2017

Afternoon departure for The Brandywine Valley,
Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Visits to Philadelphia’s Independence National Park
•
Sites
•

Independence

Hall.

The

DeclarationofBrandywine River Museum of Art is renowned
for its vast collection of the Wyeth family ofartists, the Museum features galleries dedicatedContinued on next page

International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 13to the work of N. C. Wyeth, Andrew Wyethand Jamie Wyeth. The Museum’s outstanding
Heritage Collection is a cross section of Americanart, with a special focus on artistic practice in the
Brandywine valley. In summer 2017, an exhibition
entitled, Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect will bring
together both well-known and rarely seen works
that reveal the subjects that continually inspired
Wyeth and the evolution of his imagery. Attendees
will be offered a guided tour of the exhibition
and Andrew Wyeth’s studio. (Go to http://www.
brandywine.org/museum for more information.)•

Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great
gardens. Longwood Gardens is the living legacyof Pierre S. du Pont, inspiring people throughexcellence in garden design, horticulture,
education, and the arts. From the intricate
fountain systems, to the meticulous gardens, to thearchitectural grandeur, awe-inspiring discoveries
await at every turn. Years before it was a publicgarden, the land on which Longwood Gardens
stands was home to the native Lenni Lenape
Indian Tribe and Quaker farmers. Since then, theland has undergone significant transformation
to become the magnificent property that is
enjoyed by more than a million guests eachyear. (Go to https://longwoodgardens.org/ formore information.) Attendees are free to explore
Longwood Gardens on their own during the lateafternoon. Dinner will be provided at Longwood
Gardens and attendees will have the opportunity
to view the magnificent fountain and light showsin the gardens after dark.

Sunday, July 16, 2017
Depart Philadelphia on bus for New Brunswick, NJ
for the ITRC.
For additional information contact Michael Agnew’at Michael.agnew@syngenta.com.

Post-Conference Tour, ITRC 2017
Asheville, NC USA
July 21 – 26, 2017by Dr. Lane Tredway, Syngenta
Dr. Jim Kerns, North Carolina State University

Overview

Itinerary

Asheville is a city in western North Carolina’sBlue Ridge Mountains. It’s known for a vibrant arts
scene and historic architecture, including the dometopped Basilica of Saint Lawrence. The vast 19thcentury Biltmore estate displays artwork by masters
like Renoir. The Downtown Art District is filledwith galleries and museums, and in the nearby River
Arts District, former factory buildings house artists’studios.

Friday, July 21, 2017 (optional night):
Travel Day; Optional hotel night at additional cost($270 per night).

Saturday, July 22, 2017:

Morning – Travel Day. Afternoon at leisure; optional
outdoor activities at Biltmore estate for those arriving
early. Welcome reception and dinner at the Inn on
Participants will stay on the Biltmore estate Biltmore Estate.
in the brand new Village Hotel. Nestled in Antler
Hill Village just steps from the Winery, Village Hotel Sunday, July 23, 2017:
occupies a central-to-everything location near quiltlike farm fields that stretch along the banks of the Full day at The Biltmore Estate, including tour of theFrench Broad River. The hotel is close to shopping, Biltmore House, a private group lunch, and tour ofdining, exhibits, and an exciting range of outdoor the Gardens.
activities.
Continued on next page
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 14

Monday, July 24, 2017
Bus trip to Cashiers, NC to visit Wade Hampton
Golf Club and Highlands Country Club. Optional
accompanying person’s tour – shopping and lunch in
Biltmore Village.

The Biltmore House•

The Biltmore House, also known as America’s
Largest Home, is a 250-room French Renaissancechateau built by the Vanderbilt Family in the late
1800s. Get a close look at original art by PierreAuguste Renoir and John Singer Sargent. Marvelat magnificent 16th century tapestries, a Librarywith 10,000 volumes, a Banquet Hall with a 70foot ceiling, 65 fireplaces, an indoor pool, and abowling alley. Almost all of the priceless objects
that you will see throughout the house are from
George and Edith Vanderbilt’s original collection.

•

The Gardens at Biltmore Estate were designedby America’s foremost landscape architect,Frederick Law Olmsted. From the beauty of
the Italian Garden to the breathtaking trees in
America’s first managed forest, Biltmore’s lush
landscape is a living tribute to Olmsted’s genius.
Our horticultural experts continually work topreserve the original vision for the gardens andgrounds, including our Rose Garden that features
more than 250 varieties.

•

Cashiers is a 1.5 hour drive from Asheville andis located in the heart of the Nantahala National
Forest. This is the only temperate rainforest on
the east coast of North America, averaging over
100 inches of rain per year, which presents someunique challenges for golf course managers.

•

Wade Hampton Golf Club is often referred toas “Tom Fazio’s Masterpiece”. The course wasnamed as the “Best New Private Course for 1987”
by Golf Digest magazine, and is one of only threecourses built in the last fifty years to be currently
ranked in their top 20 courses in the United States.
When we visit they will be in the early stages ofa major reconstruction project. We will discuss
their extensive tree inventory and management
program, management of their naturalized
fescue areas, and tour their new irrigation water
treatment facility featuring acid injection andreverse osmosis.

Wade Hampton Golf Club•The Gardens at Biltmore Estate
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Highlands Country Club, founded in 1928, isthe premier, family-oriented private club in the
North Carolina mountains. It is steeped in richhistory and tradition, starting with its Donald
Ross designed golf course. The club’s founders,
including the Colonel Robert P. Jones (Bobby
Jones’ father), had engaged the well-known
Scottish architect to carve a golf course out of theContinued on next page
Page 15

beautiful Appalachian Mountains. We will discuss
management of their creeping bentgrass greenswith significant nematode, Pythium root rot, andPoa annua pressure, as well as creeping bentgrass
fairways and Kentucky bluegrass roughs, andcreeping bentgrass croquet courts.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017
Morning tour of Biltmore Forest Country Club,
Asheville NC, return by lunch, afternoon at leisure.
Evening Pub Crawl in Downtown Asheville•

The Biltmore Forest Club
Biltmore Forest Country Club has played a• On our evening Pub Crawl, we will have thesignificant role in the distinguished social history
opportunity to sample the dizzying array of beerof Asheville and the Carolinas. Mrs. Edith
that Asheville offers. From hoppy IPAs to dark
Vanderbilt was instrumental in acquiring the land
stouts, the city’s breweries keep beer flowing likefor the town of Biltmore Forest from the Biltmore
mountain water. Boasting more breweries per
Estate in 1920. Included was a site for a country
capita than any U.S. city, roughly 100 local beersclub, and construction began the following year.
can be enjoyed in Asheville. Asheville was first
The club has undergone many changes andnamed Beer City USA in 2009 and has swept therenovations over the years with the most recent
competition almost every year since.
being a 6.4 million dollar restoration of the golfcourse, including new ‘A-1’ creeping bentgrass
greens and ‘Zeon’ zoysiagrass tees and fairways, Wednesday, July 26, 2017: Departure Day
all established by sod, and an 1.8 million dollar
For additional information contact Lane Tredway atrestoration of the clubhouse.
lane.tredway@syngenta.com.

Dr. James Watson Celebration: Monday, July 17, 2017by Gwen Stahnke
Walla Walla Community College, Walla Walla, WA
Dr. James Watson was one of the early leadersof the International Turfgrass Society (ITS) and an
integral part of turfgrass research throughout his
entire life. In recognition of his many contributions
to turfgrass research, the ITS will host an evening
program on Monday, 17 July 2017 from 17:30 18:45 in the conference hotel (Hyatt Regency). This
program was designed to highlight who Dr. Watson
was and his many contributions to the industry
today, future research, and his promotion of student
educational opportunities.
We are honored to have Dr. James B. Beard,
President and Chief Scientist of the InternationalSports Turf Institute, Inc. and Professor Emeritus of
Turfgrass Science, Texas A & M University give a
brief overview of how the ITS was founded and thehistory of Dr. Watson’s involvement in the ITS over
the years. Dr. Paul Rieke, Professor Emeritus ofMichigan State University and Dr. Kimberly Erusha,
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017Managing Director of the USGA Green Section also
will speak about Dr. Watson and his involvement in
the USGA Turfgrass and Environmental ResearchCommittee.
Continued on next page
Page 16

Mr. Dana Lonn, Director of the Center for
Advanced Turf Technology with the Toro Company
will speak about the Watson Fellowship Award, anda member of Dr. Watson’s family will give a brief
tribute to Dr. Watson. The celebration will end withsome comments from Dr. James Murphy of Rutgers
University, who as a student benefited greatly from

Dr. Watson’s guidance and commitment to turfgrass
research.
Please join us to honor the legacy of Dr.
James Watson. There will be light hors d’oeurves andrefreshments available for the attendees to mingle
and visit with each other after this event.

Student Competition and Student Travel Awards for the 2017
ITRC
by Paul Koch
University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI(Application Deadline for Travel Awards: January awards). The application must include any abstracts
to be presented at the 2017 ITRC, a 1-page personal
31st, 2017)
statement stating how attendance at the meeting will
A new Student Competition will take place at help the applicant achieve their career goals, and athe 2017 ITRC. Competitions will be held for both signed statement from their major advisor verifying
oral and poster presentations and entrants will be that they study turfgrass science and that they are
divided into four broad categories: Pest Management currently in good academic standing at their respective
Strategies, Turfgrass Physiology and Soil Health, institution.
Genetics and Breeding, and Environmental Aspects
To be eligible for a travel award applicantsof Turfgrass Management. The top 3 contestantsmustbea current student studying turfgrass sciencein each category will receive a complimentary ITS
at the time of the 2017 ITRC and must be planning
student membership and a modest cash prize.
to present (oral or poster) at the 2017 ITRC.
In addition the Student Oral and Poster Applicants will be judged based primarily on theirCompetition, there will be multiple awards available personal statement, the quality of their abstracts, andto support student travel to the 2017 ITRC. Applicants their involvement and leadership at their respective
will be divided into those from the United States and universities. Applicants who have entered the Student
those from the international community, and the Competition will receive priority for an award over
top award from each applicant pool will equal the those who have not.
approximate full cost of attending the meeting (airfare,
The completed application should be saved as
lodging, registration, modest meal allowances).
Additional awards will provide partial travel support a single PDF file and emailed to Paul Koch (plkoch@and the amount and number of awards given will wisc.edu) by January 31st, 2017 at 11:59 PM. Award
recipients will be notified on approximately Marchdepend on the number of qualified applicants.
1st, 2017. Questions regarding the application
To apply for a student travel award, download process or the Student Oral and Poster Competitionand completely fill out the 2017 ITRC Student Travel should be directed to Paul Koch at plkoch@wisc.edu
Award Application available from the ITRC website or 608-262-6531.
(http://turfsociety.com/itrc2017/#student-travel-

International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 17

INTERNATIONAL TURFGRASS SOCIETY
MEMBERSHIP/PAYMENT OF DUES

Please Use Autofill:
Name: 						Address:

Affiliation:

City: 					State:
Postal Code:Country:
Phone: 				Fax:
E-Mail:
PLEASE CHECK MEMBERSHIP TYPE DESIRED:
Regular Membership Fee (2014-2017)$325.00 USD

Sustaining Membership Fee (2014-2017)$1000.00 USD

Student Membership Fee (2014-2017)$150.00 USD*PLEASE INDICATE METHOD OF PAYMENT:
Check** 			PayPalBank Wire Transfer, please contact cisarturfdoc@gmail.com for instructions & account information* Student member must have confirmation letter from major faculty advisor.
** To avoid heavy collection fees, only checks from U.S. affiliated banks will be accepted.
Please make check payable to: International Turfgrass Society.
MAIL OR E-MAIL THIS COMPLETED FORM, ALONG WITH 1) YOUR CHECK OR 2) YOURPAYPAL INFORMATION OR 3) THE WIRE TRANSFER INFORMATION TO:
Dr. John Cisar
Treasurer, International Turfgrass Society
10400 NW 23rd St.
Plantation, FL 33323-2027
USA
Email: cisarturfdoc@gmail.com
Check here, if you do not want your information to be listed on the ITS Website or Newsletter.

International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Page 18

INVOICE AND ORDER FORM for INTERNATIONAL
TURFGRASS SOCIETY PROCEEDINGS AND
JOURNAL

Please Print Clearly:
Name: __________________________________ Affiliation: ____________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
City: __________________________ State: ______________________________
Postal Code: __________________Country: _____________________________________
Phone: ____________________ Fax: ______________________
E-Mail: ______________________________
Volumes 1-8 are now free to Members; shipping costs of $30-60 must be paid, however.
Members
Non-members
1st Proceedings 1969 England$0.00$15.00nd
2 Proceedings 1973 Virginia, USA
Out of Printrd
3 Proceedings 1977 West Germany
Out of Print
4th Proceedings 1981 Guelph, Canada$0.00$30.00th
5 Proceedings 1985 France$0.00$45.00th
6 Proceedings 1989 Japan$0.00$55.00th
7 Journal 1993 Florida, USA$0.00$65.00th
8 Journal I 1997 Australia$0.00$120.00th
8 Journal II 1997 Australia$0.00$50.00th
Supplement to 8 Journal$0.00$12.00th
9 Journal 1 & 2 2001 Toronto,$100.00$195.00
Canada* (includes CD-ROM)
10th Journal, 1&2 2005 Wales*$200.00$200.00th
11 Journal, 1&2 2009 Chile*$300.00$300.00$15.00 per book
Mailing and handling (subject tochange)nd
2 and 3rd Proceedings are no longer available *9th, 10th, &11th
Total amount
Journals are 2 books - $30 mailing and handling fee applies
TO AVOID HEAVY COLLECTION FEES, ONLY CHECKS FROM U.S. BANKS OR U.S. AFFILIATED BANKSWILL BE ACCEPTED. MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: INTERNATIONAL TURFGRASS SOCIETY.

American Express Credit Card (NO OTHER CARDS CAN BE ACCEPTED)
Name as shown on the card: _______________________________________________________________
Card Number: ___________________________________________ Expiration Date: _________________
Signature: _____________________________________________________________________________
Mail or Fax completed Order Form with check or credit card information to: Dr. Erik Ervin, Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University 339 Smyth, CSES Department Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0404
USA Fax: (540) 231-3431
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Revised Aug 2010

Page 19

Officers

ITS Board Members 2014 - 2017

President
Bruce Clarke
Rutgers University
Dept of Plant Biology andPathology
Foran Hall/Cook Campus
59 Dudley Road
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
USA
PH: +1 848 932 6295
clarke@aesop.rutgers.edu

Treasurer
John Cisar
11400 NW 23rd St.
Plantation, FL 33323-2027
USA
PH: +1 954 257 5500

HistorianRichard Gibbs
STRI
St Ives Estate
Bingley BD16 1AUUK
PH: +44 (0)1274 565131
MOB: +44 (0) 7880 738881
FAX: +44 (0) 1274 561891
richard.gibbs@stri.co.uk

Vice-President
Don Loch
University of Queensland
St. Lucia
Queensland 4072
Australia
PH: +61 7 3824 5440
MOB: +61 407 679 340
d.loch1@uq.edu.au

Secretary
Mike Fidanza
Pennsylvania State University
Berks Campus
111 Luerssen Building
Reading, PA 19610
USA
PH: +1 610 396 6330
fidanza@psu.edu

Past President
Liebao Han
Institute of Turfgrass Science
Beijing Forestry University
No.35 Qinghua East Road
Beijing, 100083
China
PH: +86 (10) 6233 7982
hanliebao@163.com

Austria: Ulrike Pitha
China: Shuxia Yin
Germany: Fritz Lord
Italy: Simone Magni
Norway: Trygve Aamlid
Sweden: Maria Strandberg
USA: Gwen Stahnke

Canada: Tom Hsiang
China: Zhaolong Wang
Germany: Wolfgang Praemassing
Japan: Hideaki Tonogi
Spain: Diego Gomez de Barreda Ferraz
United Kingdom: Ruth Manncisarturfdoc@gmail.com

President ElectMaria Strandberg
STERF (Scandinavian Turfgrass &Environment Research Foundation)
Box 84, SE-182 11 Danderyd
Sweden
PH: +46 (8) 622 15 27
MOB: + 46 70 620 17 87
maria.strandberg@golf.se

Directors
Australia: Don Loch		
Chile: Alejandra Acuna
Denmark: Mogens Toft Jensen
Greece: Nikolaos Ntoulas
New Zealand: Alan Stewart
Switzerland: Otto Weilenmann
USA: Jim Murphy

Newsletter Editor
Nathan R. Walker
Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology
Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK 74078
Tel. +1 405 744 6830
E-mail: nathan.walker@okstate.edu
Visit the ITS Website here
Become a member here
International Turfgrass Society - January 2017

Please send comments, feedback, and turfgrassnews articles for future issues to the editor.
If you know any non-members, new faculty, staff,
and new personnel involved in turfgrass research
who might be interested in joining ITS pleaseforward their e-mail address to me and I will send acomplimentary copy of the next Triannual issue ofInternational Turfgrass.
The deadline for submissions for the next newsletter
is April 15, 2017
Page 20