TARS Update at July 15, 2012

The Travelling Annual Road Show or TARS as it's known to WCTA members, is a series of educational events that take place throughout the regions of BC each summer.  Often these talks are CEC point accredited but frequently topics range far beyond pesticide use.  Talsk have ranged from sprayer nozzle selection and calibration to using trained dogs to chase geese to errant golf ball liability to sustainable management practices and everything in between.

This year the TARS has taken a turn in direction and as the WCTA and BCGSA work more collaboratively, these seminars are being taken on by local superintendent chapters with the WCTA playing a more supportive role in sourcing speakers, helping with costs, CEC point accreditation and providing an update on the pesticide issue.

In other words, most of this year’s TARS events are not really TARS events at all.  In the past, TARS were usually held at golf courses but were open to all WCTA members.  With the help of the BC Superintendents Association, there will now be events designed specifically for golf personnel held at golf courses and some specifically for sportsfields/parks people held at sportsfield facilities.   

Three events have already been completed this season including Eaglecrest Golf Club in Qualicum Beach, Brent Shanley hosting, Redwoods Golf Course in Langley, Peter Szarka hosting and the Prince George Golf and Curling Club with Superintendent Murray Kutyn and Assistant Superintendent Adam Graham hosting.

Speakers varied at each event but turnout has been as good as it’s ever been which is expected to continue throughout the remainder of the schedule.          The next golf only events are: 

Tuesday, August 14 Bento’s Daylodge, Sun Peaks Resort, Kamloops, BC Host:  WCTA Vice President, Keith Lyall Speaker:  Scott Morrison, ‘Measure, Maintain and Monitor – The Tangible Results of Sustainability’ CEC points:  0.5 IPM

Please confirm your attendance with Keith by Friday, August 10th 250 819-0440 or klyall@sunpeaksresort.com 

Notes: -lunch is $15 -golf is available, contact Keith Lyall -Scott Morrison will be making an informal presentation Monday evening at 7:00pm on the GEO (Golf Environmental Organization).  Anyone interested needs to RSVP with Keith.

Monday, August 20 Cranbrook Golf Club Host:  BCGSA Kootenay Chapter President, Kevin Schiefner Speaker:  Scott Morrison, ‘Measure, Maintain and Monitor – The Tangible Results of Sustainability’ CEC points:  0.5 IPM

Please confirm your attendance with Kevin by Friday, August 17th at super@golfcranbrook.com 

The following two events will be run by the WCTA and are open to any WCTA member but are specifically targeted to our sportsfield/parks sector:

Thursday, August 30th (tentative) Nat Bailey Stadium, Vancouver, BC Host:  Tom Archibald Speaker(s):  Tom Archibald, Dr. Brian Holl CEC points:  TBA

September (exact date TBA) Blanchard Field, Victoria, BC Host:  Ken Hilchey Speaker(s):  Ken Hilchey, Dr. Brian Holl CEC points: TBA

Thanks and if you have any questions or comments, feel free to contact Jerry at exec.director@wctaturf.com