Katrek and Maginnes on Tap

Brian Katrek and John Maginnes chat about everything in the world of golf on XM Channel 92 and Sirius 208. They debate topics, take calls from listeners and discuss the events of the day with players, professionals, and media members. 

Recently Brian and John interviewed me to ask about my role with the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and my position at Olde Florida Golf Club. 


Darren’s Interview on Katrek & Maginnes on Tap

Olde Florida Golf Club is "For the Birds" ... Literally, not Figuratively

Five years ago, at the start of the 2013 winter golf season, we installed a Purple Martin house at Olde Florida Golf Club. The house was located behind #2 championship tee next to the lake that separates holes two and ten. In our first winter with the house, we successfully fledged three Purple Martins. In 2014, the house was field to capacity and over a dozen Purple Martins were fledged. Therefore, prior to the 2015 season we added an additional house.  

One of the two Purple Martin houses behind #2 tee

Purple Martins migrate each winter to South America. However, they remain incredibly faithful to their colony (nesting) sites each year, often returning to the United States about the same date. This has been the case at Olde Florida with both houses being fully utilized each year. 

Purple Martins are quite friendly and prefer to nest in close proximity to people, which make golf courses a perfect location for the bird! Interestingly, Purple Martins are the only bird species that is totally dependent on human supplied nest boxes. Qualities that make the martins desirable are they nest in colonies and have fascinating social behavior. Their vocalizations are also quite beautiful, they are extremely graceful in flight and they consume vast quantities of insects.

The Purple Martin houses at Olde Florida are lowered for the summer to avoid damage from strong winds. 

This video of the Purple Martins was shot at sunrise this morning Wednesday, March 21, 2018

"Passion Play" Golf Course Management, March 2018

It's truly humbling to have been elected the 82nd President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

It's a tradition that the cover story in the March issue of Golf Course Management be on the incoming President. This is a link to the story: "Passion Play."

Cover photo shot on the practice green 

Montana Pritchard, who is based in West Palm Beach, Florida www.montanaphoto.com shot the photos on November 16.

Below are a few that were not selected.

Mr. Kukk, Club President and I

Inside my office at the golf course operations facility 

On hole 12 with Matthew Klein, one of my assistants

USGA Specification Greens at Olde Florida Golf Club

In 1992 we constructed the greens at Olde Florida Golf Club to specifications established by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Although we resurfaced the greens in 2000 to a new grass variety, TifEagle, the original subsurface was not changed.

#2 green at Olde Florida Golf Club, January 2018

The greens at Olde Florida are still performing well today. This link will provide you with an understanding of the USGA construction method.

Hurricane Irma Still Creating Challenges at Olde Florida

Last week, with the assistance of an outside contractor, we removed several dozen dead pine trees at Olde Florida. The pine trees died as a result of damage sustained from Hurricane Irma. When Irma moved through Southwest Florida on the evening of Sunday, September 10th, her powerful winds broke off numerous large branches, snapped trunks and shifted trees, disturbing the root system. 

When a pine tree receives severe physical damage it becomes extremely susceptible to pine bark beetles and borers. The insects usually enter the tree at eye level and above, and once they infect the tree, tiny holes, dribbles of sap or little dried mounds of sap can be seen on the bark. 

Pine Bark Beetle/Borer Damage on a Pine Tree at Olde Florida 

Pine Bark Beetle/Borer Damage on a Pine Tree at Olde Florida 

The pine bark beetles and borers rapidly attack weakened trees killing them. When this happens, it is best to remove the infested tree(s) quickly so the insects do not move to nearby trees. The dead trees can also pose a safety hazard for golfers. 

Once the insects attack a tree there is nothing that can be done, but on healthy trees, bark sprays with an insecticide can reduce the incidence of attack. My staff has, and will continue making bark sprays on specimen pine trees that border our golf holes. Unfortunately, we will probably lose a few more trees at Olde Florida, but I am hopeful that the worst is behind us. 

Darren J. Davis, Candidate for President of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve on the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) Board of Directors since 2012.

GCSAA is the professional association for the men and women who manage and maintain the game’s most valuable resource - the golf course. Since 1926, with a focus on golf course management, GCSAA has been the industry's top professional association. It provides education, information and representation to its nearly 18,000 members in more than 72 countries. 

Today, I find myself humbled at the thought of becoming the 82nd President of the GCSAA. The following is a link to my Candidate video and a Questionnaire  that provides some background information. 

The mission of GCSAA is to serve its members, advance the profession and enhance the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game. I embrace this mission and I look forward to continuing my service to GCSAA members, promoting the profession, and with help from our allied associations, help grow the game of golf.  

The Shortest Day of the Year .... and Why it Matters

Today, December 21, is the winter solstice and that means it’s the shortest day of the year for those living in the northern hemisphere. Technically speaking, the winter solstice is when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, or 23.5 south latitude. Non-technically speaking, it's the day when the sun rises and sets to our south at the lowest angle, and it marks the first day of winter.

Because the earth orbits around the sun on a tilted axis, between September and March the entire northern hemisphere gets less exposure to sunlight. Because of our location, it’s not a coincidence that these months coincide with the seasonal influx of residents to Southwest Florida and the play at Olde Florida Golf Club is at its peak.

In basic terms, for turfgrass to thrive it needs sunlight, the correct amount of water, adequate fertilizer and a good soil structure. Of these needs, the one that is least in our control is sunlight, which is why an understanding of the earths rotation and the winter solstice is vital.

Also influenced by the angle of the sun are air and soil temperature. Bermudagrass, the turfgrass that comprises the playing surfaces at Olde Florida, is a warm season turfgrass. That means it grows best when the average daily temperatures are above  75°F.  In addition, soil temperature, as influenced by air temperature is also important to the growth of bermudagrass. Soil temperatures above 65°F are required for significant growth, and the optimum soil temperature for root growth is around 80°F.

Since the duration and intensity of the sun's rays (and air and soil temperature) is out of our control, it is extremely important to have plant health peaking on this day and do everything in our control to maintain plant health for the next 60 days. By March 1, the nighttime temperatures have increased, the sun is high enough in the sky and  the days are long enough that sunlight essentially becomes a non-factor.

Hole 9 (pictured above) is the southernmost hole at Olde Florida Golf Club. The hole plays from east to west, so the sun rises to the southeast of  the tee and it sets to the southwest of the green.  On the day after the winter solstice, the angle of the sun will continue to shift slowly to the north until the sun rises to the east of the back 9 holes at Olde Florida.