Time and location:  Fridays, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., for 14 weeks beginning 25 August 2006 (Calendar below) at the University of Florida Fort Lauderdale Center (Map and directions available).

Objectives:

(1) to survey golf course and sports field operations based on history, case study, and interview/lectures involving knowledgeable experts; (2) to study environmental practices and problems in the care of golf courses and sports fields, such as aerification, drainage, and irrigation; and (3) to develop as a class an information resource for solving golf and sports turf management problems.

Prerequisites:   An introductory course or experience in turfgrass culture is strongly recommended.

Recommended readings:  Various books and readings will be available in the library and/or in my office.  Examples include:

J. B. Beard.  1973.  Turfgrass: Science and Culture.  Prentice Hall. (ISBN: 0-13-933002-X). http://vig.prenhall.com/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,013933002X,00.html      James B. Beard. 2002. Turf Management for Golf Courses, 2nd edition. Ann Arbor Press. (ISBN: 1-57504-092-1). Now available from John Wiley & Sons, http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1575040921.html      L. B. McCarty.  2001.  Best golf course management practices.  Prentice Hall.  (ISBN: 0-13-088359-X). http://vig.prenhall.com/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,013088359X,00.html      L. B. McCarty and G. Miller.  2002.  Managing bermudagrass turf:  Selection, construction, cultural practices, and pest management strategies. John Wiley & Sons.  (ISBN: 1-57504-163-4).  http://www.wiley.com/cda/product/0,,1575041634,00.html      Puhalla, Jim, Jeff Krans, and Mike Goately. 1999  Sports Fields:  A manual for design, construction and maintenance.  John Wiley & Sons, Inc., http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1575040700.html      G. L. Schumann, P. J. Vittum, M. L. Elliott, and P. P. Cobb.  1998.  IPM Handbook For Golf Courses.  John Wiley & Sons.  (ISBN:1-57504-065-4).  http://www.wiley.com/cda/product/0,,1575040654,00.html      A. J. Turgeon.  2001.  Turfgrass Management.  Prentice Hall.  (ISBN: 0-13-027823-8).  http://vig.prenhall.com/catalog/academic/product/1,4096,0130278238,00.html

Other activities:  In addition to frequent short field trips and demonstrations, there will one all day (7 a.m. to 4 p.m.) field trip, to view bermudagrass sprig and plug production and to visit a commercial soil testing laboratory.

Instructors:  Dr. Philip "Call me Phil" Busey.  Office: 141 Forman Building. Phone: 954-577-6337 or FAX 954-475-4125.  If I do not answer, leave a message.   Better yet, contact me by e-mail turf@ufl.edu

Consultations:  By appointment (preferably) and drop-in (if I am available).  Available usually Friday before class, for short visits, and other times by appointment if possible.

Suggestions:  You are encouraged to attend all classes and participate actively in discussion.  There will be several field trips, and it would be appropriate to take notes and carry a camera in most cases.

Grading:  The course grade will be determined from a combination of class participation, homework assignments, quizzes, presentations, plus a final exam.  Grading: A=90%+; B+=85-89.9%; B=80-84.9; C+=75-79.9%; C=70-74.9; D+=65-69.9; D=60-64.9%; E=less than 60%.

Academic honesty:  As a result of completing registration, every student has also previously signed the following statement:  "I understand that the University of Florida expects its students to be honest in all their academic work.    I agree to adhere to this commitment to academic honesty and understand that my failure to comply with this commitment may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from the University."

Schedule:  The calendar of activities (below) will be flexible to new opportunities.  We will try to have two full guest lectures, and possibly other appearances which could include a panel discussion.  We will make several short visits to area golf and sports turf installations, and attempt to do one full-day field trip.  Lectures and demonstrations will be thematic.

"Managing wear and tear" plus photoquiz, "Comes alive" by guest lecturer:  John Mascaro, President, Turf-Tec International

Soil physics for golf and sports turf:  the soil texture triangle, particle size distribution, relationship to compaction and drainage.  Overview of golf course and sports turf construction.  The USGA Green specificiation.

Introduction to student computer laboratory area, library resources.

"Information resources," how to find information from experts, books, online resources.  How to stay organized.  

As time allows:  "The physics and chemistry of golf and sports turf management," soil physics, turfgrass thermodynamics, physics of water, physics of golf ball roll, physics of mowing, physics of electricity, movement of irrigation water in pipes, pesticide and nutrient mobility and leaching.

Soils (continued).

As time allows:  "Principles of uniform application," overview of sprays, granules, and others methods of distributing materials onto golf and sports turf surfaces.  Calculation and calibration calibration workshop. Sprayer calibration, Numbers and units in golf and sports turf management.

Sports Turf Tour: Miami Dolphins Training Facility, Davie, FL.

Pest Management (continued):  diagnosis, IPM, and sprayer calibration

Essentials of Golf and Sports Management