The Whiteboard

This winter’s big numbers

We thought the last two summers were the ones to remember, but that’s only because we didn’t know what was coming for the winter of 2011. Regardless of what the lack of a solid winter throughout much of the country means for golf, the season just kept breaking records with temperatures and conditions that kept the heat on turf – more than a dozen major cities hit new all-time highs through the month.

Accuweather.com compiled a list of some of those astounding numbers. Here’s a look at March 2012:

The ‘Heat Wave’ of March 2012, By the Numbers

9 The number of consecutive days that Chicago, Ill., has broken a record high, from March 14 to March 22. Eight of those days saw the mercury climb above 80 degrees, which is normal for mid-June.

93 The temperature swing that occurred over the course of just nine days in International Falls, Minn., from a low of minus 14 degrees on March 9, to a high of 79 degrees on March 18. Also, 10 straight days of new record highs (March 13 to March 22).

26 The number of inches of snow that melted over the course of just seven days in Caribou, Maine, from March 15 to March 22, thanks to the unusual warmth. Also, 18 inches of snow was still on the ground when the first record high fell on March 18 (64 degrees).

32 The gap, in degrees, between the old and new record high on March 21 in Marquette, Mich. The new record high was 81 degrees, obliterating the old record of 49 degrees. The margin of defeat was so great that the low temperature that day was even higher than the old record high temperature.

21.2 The temperature departure (in degrees fahrenheit) from normal for the month of March thus far in Winnipeg, Canada. This occurred despite temperatures having dropped below zero for four days early in the month.

1921 The last year it was above 80 degrees in Boston before March 28 of any given calendar year. In reaching 83 degrees on March 22, this came to fruition for the first time since March 21, 1921.

86 The new all-time record high temperature for March in Detroit, Mich., set on March 22. In fact, a new all-time high temperature was set two days in a row, with the mercury first climbing to 84 degrees on March 21.

60 The average low temperature in Chicago, Ill., from March 17 to March 22 of this year. Such low temperatures, about 30 degrees above normal, are more typical for mid-June.
 

From the Feed

GCIMagazine @GCIMagazine
Heard the odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot now are lower than two aces in the same round of play. Which would you rather have?

Joe Jemsek @jemsekgolf
Mega Millions, would buy my own golf course and make every par three with funnel style greens for the hole-in-ones!

Join the conversation on Twitter @GCIMagazine!
 

Gangway!

Do you have any large swaths of turf about, oh, 40 yards wide that need to be cut regularly? A record-breaking mower coming from Jacobsen might fit the bill, even if it doesn’t fit in your shop. The J96-OVRKILL will operate 96 22” reels in two rows: 64 reels up front and 32 below the driver. The mower will be powered by a 550 HP, V-12 big block engine.

“Our customers are looking for ways to save time, and the J96-OVRKILL gives them the opportunity to cut all fairways in one pass,” said Ric Stone, VP of Sales for Jacobsen.

When an operator is done with a fairway, they simply lift the massive wings of the J96-OVRKILL as they rise some 60 feet in the air. Stabilizer bars strengthened with titanium keep the mower from tipping over during transport.

The engineers at Jacobsen realized that the J96-OVRKILL wouldn’t be able to fit in most maintenance sheds, so they included an integrated cover that expands over the entire machine with a push of a button.

And if you believed any of this, we’ve got a course in Antarctica to sell you as well! Happy April Fool’s!
 

A pill a day

Cancer affects everyone, and golf course industry professionals are on the front lines in dealing with several types. They’re also among those continuing to get information out there on health, cancer prevention and survival.

Dana Garmany, former CEO of Troon, appeared on NBC Nightly News in March as part of a story on fighting cancer recurrence. In his interview, Garmany shared how he has been taking an aspirin daily for the past 10 years at his doctor’s recommendation to prevent heart disease. Now the routine might be able to help him prevent another battle with colon cancer, for which he was diagnosed and treated.

According to the story, people who take aspirin have a 15 percent lower risk of dying of cancer and a 38 percent less chance of developing colorectal cancer.
 

Take a picture

Most superintendents just brought home small knickknacks from the Golf Industry Show. Steven Merkel of Landscapes Golf Group, LLC, in Lincoln, Neb., got some original art to bring back to his course. His name was drawn from those who participated in the Arysta LifeScience booth drawing.

“Based on participation and interest, this is the second year in a row to offer golf course superintendents the opportunity to win an original painting,” says Michael Maravich, turf and ornamentals marketing and product manager. “We handed duplicate prints to all attendees at the show, but the one-of-a-kind, framed piece was certainly the grand prize.”

Arysta commissioned Lawrence J. Churski, known for his outdoor scenes, to complete the rendition of the fifth hole at Red Rock Country Club Mountain Course in Las Vegas.