Turf

74 FROM THE ROUGH regulators on the fairways, tees and greens. And that keeps the seedheads down and mowing frequency down." Waitea patch has been kind of a bugaboo disease on bluegrass. "I normally can control any diseases with light applications of preventative fungicides," Baty said. "And the last couple of years the Waitea patch has creeped in and been a tough one to control. But it's under control now." CHANGING TIMES Doing more with less is a familiar refrain for many superintendents since the 2008 recession. "Expectations have remained real high," Baty said. "Yet our budgets have plummeted. Our membership dropped from 500 members to 300. Now we've crept up to about 350 members. So the budget went from $800,000 a year to $600,000 a year. "The hardest thing has been trying to maintain the quality with fewer resources and keeping positive. You know I haven't had a raise in a long time. My crew hasn't had a raise. So it's been a tough few years." Being resourceful is important superintendents. "Try to think outside the box," Baty "Don't be afraid to use new techniques new chemicals to try and reduce or reduce water. That's what we thinking about. How we can reduce and still have the same quality that looking for?" Baty recommends taking GCSAA and attending as many conferences possible. "Don't be afraid to talk with other superintendents," Baty said. "Some superintendents are afraid to ask But I've never had a problem with you learn a lot from other superintendents." Baty likes to organize small social gatherings with local superintendents winter roundtable meeting each "I've been putting those on for central Oregon," he said. "We talk problems and have a nice lunch." Bend Renovation Crews work on removing a group of trees along the fairway of the first hole at Bend. SUPER SPOTLIGHT

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