Rounds 4 Research

As many of you know, I am a graduate of Purdue University's Turf Science program, and currently serve on the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation's Board of Directors as its Vice President.  The sole purpose of the MRTF is to support turf research and education at Purdue University for the betterment in Indiana, the Midwest, and nationally.  Some of that research and information has been posted by both Greg and I here and here.  Again, I thank each and every one of you as a member of Elcona for your continued support of both the MRTF and Evans Scholars programs on an annual basis, helping support and grow the game of golf and the surfaces it is played on.

One new program that the MRTF is participating this year in is called Rounds 4 Research, which is ran by the Environmental Institute for Golf.  Member facilities donate rounds to be auctioned off online, and 80% of the proceeds raised are donated to a designated turfgrass foundation to further turf research and education.  More information on Rounds 4 Research can be found at www.rounds4research.com.

This year's auction includes packages at some exclusive facilities nationwide, including Bandon Dunes, many TPC courses, Pinehurst, Trump National, and the Greenbriar Resort to name a few. Here in Indiana, Elcona is a proud donor as well as the French Lick Resort, Pine Valley CC, Tippy Lake CC, Victoria National, and 13 other facilities.

From now until June 21, bidding is open on these packages and there are many great deals to be had. The auction is at www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=eifg.  If you like to travel and play different courses around the state and nationally, this auction can offer you a great deal and provide continued support to the turf programs across the country so they can continue to provide cutting edge turf research to turf managers like myself.

Ryan

A huge thank you....

As a golf course superintendent, I am always interested in the latest and greatest turf research projects that I can apply to my management strategy of the golf course here.  If you were not aware, as a member of Elcona, you play a vital role in turf research as well!  Each year, with approval from the Board of Directors, you are billed an annual donation to both the Evans Scholars Program and the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (based out of Purdue University).  The donation to the MRTF is directly applied to research funding activities both at Purdue and at sites across Indiana, such as Elcona.  Past studies include research on pre and post-emergent herbicide control of grassy weeds, preventative applications for certain fungal turf diseases, and white grub control programs.  More recently, we have been documenting any benefits of using a compost tea product on fine playing surfaces. 

Some of the current research projects that are ongoing at Purdue can be viewed here, and if you want any further information on a specific project, please let me know.  Greg posted another article on this subject in 2012, demonstrating some of the research that your contributions go toward.  I am one that loves to experiment on the golf course and find ways to implement any findings that research demonstrates to better our operation. 

Thank you for your participation and the role that Elcona plays in supporting turf research.  Your contribution does not go unnoticed!  Below are a couple of thank you letters from the MRTF and the Dean of the College of Agriculture, Jay Akridge, that I would like to share with you that echo my sentiments. 

Ryan