The Whiteboard

Energy in the air
In terms of going green, many clubs are looking down, working on soil and water conservation; in Melrose, Mass., they’re looking up.

The Melrose Park Commission is starting a feasibility study, funded in part by the state, to determine whether wind energy can be harvested at the best possible place in town for a wind turbine: near the No. 11 and No. 18 holes at the Mount Hood Golf Course.

“It was pretty much the only location in town where it would work,” says David Shakespeare, chairman of the Melrose Energy Commission. “The initial idea was to power the clubhouse and security lighting.”

But as technology has improved and a larger turbine is plausible, the plan for the club to power itself grew into a contribution to the town.

“Originally it just seemed kind of cool if we could do it,” says Shakespeare. “But as we looked at it, the economics works out a lot better, and we started thinking, ‘Maybe it makes sense to maybe power some schools as well.’”

In addition to the clubhouse and security lighting, the turbine project, with a large 900kw tower, could provide power for six schools in Melrose.

Though an earlier test showed the course with too little wind to be feasible, site assessments have confirmed enough wind at the location. One FAA study checking interference with airport radio communication later, Melrose is ready to move on to the feasibility study through the Commonwealth Wind Incentive Program, offered by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The feasibility study will only cost the park commission $4,250 through the program, five percent of the total cost, thanks to the incentive program.

“Assuming we pass the feasibility study, we’d then apply for a construction grant,” says Shakespeare. After that, the town would look into purchasing and financing options for the turbine.

Though Shakespeare hasn’t received any negative feedback directly from golfers or town residents, the idea of wind turbines making use of the open air near a club is both gaining ground and picking up opponents. In Milton, Mass., the Granite Links Golf Club is suing the town to stop construction of a wind turbine on town-owned land near the course.

Shakespeare expects to hear more discussion once the feasibility study is completed. Until that point, the project is up in the air.

Expect the unexpected
While the recent reconstruction project of renovating all 18 greens, greens complexes, tee complexes, and bunkers at Bald Head Island Club in Bald Head Island, N.C., was an impressive task, the most notable part was the discovery of three Civil War-era skeletons buried under the No. 7 green.

Bones!?!?

That’s right, confirms superintendent Steen Wansley.

“Rocks, shells from previous tropical storms, burnt wood from a Civil War fort... those were all things we expected to find,” Wansley says.” But three skeletons were probably the one thing we didn’t expect to find in that old subsoil.”

The skeletons are still being investigated by the state’s archaeology department in Raleigh and will be returned back to their original resting place, near a slightly moved No. 7 green.

ROLL CALL
Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, director of golf course and grounds at Boca Rio Golf Club in Boca Raton, Fla., was elected president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

James B. Hyler Jr. , Raleigh, N.C., has been elected to serve a second one-year term as president of the United States Golf Association.

Valent Professional Products announced that Heath Lowery has joined the company as territory manager in the South Central region.

The Hawaii Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America named Ka’anapali Golf Courses’ Craig Trenholme its 2010 Superintendent of the Year.

Ric Stone joined Jacobsen as vice president of sales and is responsible for leading sales efforts in North, Central and South America as well as customer service and parts support.

Tod Blankenship, CGCS, Emily Merewitz and Alexander Putman each were awarded $5,000 postgraduate grants by GCSAA as winners of the 2010 Watson Fellowship Program.

Paul Foley, executive director of the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA), announced his retirement effective the end of February. He is replaced by Justin Apel, assistant executive director.
 

Get a Life
GCI’s quest to spotlight peoples’ lives outside of turf

WHO:
Armand H. LeSage, a man who carried two business cards at GIS 2011; one for his role as president of LeSage Consulting, and one for all his other roles – as a professional actor, working in theatre from his home at Lake Arrowhead, Calif.

HIS LIFE OUTSIDE OF TURF:
Almost by accident, Armand got his start on the stage when Chuck Marra of the Lake Arrowhead Repertory Theatre Company told him to audition for a part. Since 2006, he’s traded walking turf for treading the boards with the company and other projects, both on stage and in video production.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN ACTOR?
“It’s given me a whole new outlook on life. It gives me purpose. If I didn’t have my wife and the theatre, I’d be lost.”

HOW IS ACTING LIKE WORKING WITH TURF?
“In acting, you have to prove yourself every time you walk on stage. You know you’re only as good as your last performance. It’s just like that. You’re only as good as your last mowing. You’ve got to go out and put your show on every day. I’m doing what I want to do and I like that – but I don’t have to get up at 5 a.m. to cut the grass.”

FAVORITE STAGE ROLE:
He’s had several stage roles during the past few years, and while he loved playing Dr. Scott of “Rocky Horror” and Dr. Seward of “Dracula,” his favorite (and most recurring) character is Fezziwig of “A Christmas Carol.” “I just love Fezziwig. He can be so jolly and fun, and he can dance on stage – I like that.” Fezziwig is so dear to Armand that his actor’s e-mail address is afezziwig@aol.com.

CHECK OUT HIS WORK:
“Minnie and Bert,” a short play featuring Armand and his wife, Mary-Justine Lanyon, can be found on YouTube by searching for “Armand LeSage.”

WHERE YOU CAN SEE HIM NEXT:
Armand is a part of the company’s “Cabin Fever” show to finish the winter, and he hopes to land a role in the August production of “The Sunshine Boys.” He can also be heard on Restless Republic Radio on KCAA, and in a few independent films during the last year.