The Whiteboard

Golfin' on sunshine

It looks like the course owners are just trying to provide shade for golfers, but they're really out to catch some rays. The giant panels covering much of the south portion of the parking lot are one of two solar arrays designed to turn sunlight into free energy for Stevinson Ranch in Stevinson, Calif.

"People don't even realize what it is," says George Kelly, course owner. "They think it's just there for shade. But it really has been win-win."

The course started using solar power earlier this year, with a huge investment in the arrays that will eventually pay for themselves in saved energy costs. The setup in the parking lot provides energy to the clubhouse and electric cart storage, while the second installation near the 17th green powers the course's irrigation pump station.

"The key for us was the ability to finance this," says Kelly.

The whole project from installation to transition cost $960,000. And while a federal grant will rebate about 30 percent of that back to the course, the cost for responsible energy use seems steep.

But Kelly's taking a long view of the cost and the results of a solar-powered golf course.

"This time of year, we saved just in this month about $12,000 on our energy because of the solar panels, and our payment on them is about $10,000," he says. "That'll flip when we go into winter for now, but there's a high degree of probability that rates will go up over time. In seven years, when it's paid off, we'll be in a good position."

Though the array is contributing to the course's bottom line, Kelly says its impact is more about showing their commitment to making golf operate greener. "It really makes a statement for people who drive in here and haven't seen this kind of setup before," says Kelly. "The fact that we've made a major commitment says something about what we're trying to do."

My other car is a golf cart

If you're serious about your luxury golf carts, you may want to check out the newly-unveiled Garia Mansory edition, which premiered at the international motor show in Frankfurt this month.

The body of the high-end cart features carbon fiber – usually used in the motor sports and aircraft industries, and teakwood lines the cabin floor. Specially designed headlights, an air scoop and fender gills complete the design.

"When creating the Garia, we set out to build the best golf car in the world, teaming up with the most renowned suppliers in the automobile industry, and with the Garia Mansory Edition our connection to the automobile world is further strengthened," says Anders Lynge, designer of the Garia.

The car comes as a collaboration between Garia and Mansory, which customizes supercars such as the Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin and Bentley, and is available as both street legal and non-street legal.

We at the GCI Intergalactic HQ don't have all that far to travel between offices, but if someone felt like donating, it would make the trip that much nicer.

Roll Call

The Everglades Golf Course Superintendents Association (EGCSA) announce that Wayne Kappauf, CGCS,Island Country Club, Marco Island, Fla., has received the Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association (FGCSA) Presidents Award for Lifetime Service.

Florida Turfgrass Association Past President Darren J. Davis received the group's coveted Wreath of Grass award at the 59th annual FTGA Conference & Show.

PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla., announced the addition of David Downing as director of grounds and golf course maintenance, and David Diver, as lead superintendent.

Scott Main has been named superintendent of Kaluhyat and Shenendoah Golf Clubs at Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, N.Y.

Target Specialty Products announces Nick Inberg as its newest account representative serving the professional golf market in Texas.

Trojan Battery Co. appointed Mat Segal to senior vice president of global business development.

PrimeraTurf elected Jonathan Annas, a principal of Green Resource, to a three-year term on its board of directors.

 
Classics on the course

There was plenty of driving going on at Pebble Beach one weekend in August, but it had nothing to do with a tee. More than 200 Duesenbergs, Ferraris, Bentleys and Mercedes came to show off at the annual Concours d'Elegance.

Classic cars and concept vehicles filled several areas of the course, including the 18th fairway and practice putting green. The turf is strictly monitored by Chris Dalhamer and crew to make sure it isn't damaged by an errant tire and play can resume right away.

"In the weeks leading to the Concours, we try to make the fairway as healthy as possible. We then dry down the course to harden the turf so the tires won't sink or damage the grass and create an uneven surface," says Dalhamer. "Once you break the turf layer with a car tire, then there's a problem, so we keep a sturdy grass mat to support vehicles."

Once the turf is handled, the event kicks off to bring in crowds from around the world, including classic car aficionado Jay Leno. Charitable donations raised by the Concours d'Elegance now total more than $14 million.

 
Turf Diseases gets refreshed

 Facebook isn't the only superintendent-frequented website that got a recent redesign. Turf Diseases picked up a sleek new look for a blog of sharp insights into current trends in turf research.

The blog's turf pathologist authors have a lot to brag about, with U.S. regions from all over and even international turf issues represented regularly, compiling knowledge and resources for superintendents everywhere.

If you haven't seen Turf Diseases' new look, head to http://www.turfdiseases.org and see what's going on with turf all over the world – maybe you'll pick up some new ideas on how to protect your own.