“I started using Carbotein this past winter because I was looking for a product to increase root mass. The greens look as good now as they ever have, and the roots are deep and a healthy white, so it has done just what I wanted it to.
We recently completed our spring aerification, and that was when we really could see an impact. Within three days of punching 5/8″ holes in them, the greens looked like they’d been done for a week, and after ten days you couldn’t hardy tell we’d pulled cores at all.
My assistant says this is the quickest he’s ever seen either bermuda or bent heal back, and he’s been in the business for close to a dozen years.
I can say for a fact this is the fastest we’ve seen recovery here, and my fertility program was the same as it’s always been except for the Carbotein. I believe it’s all the extra energy the plant had available to it that’s made the difference. It has helped even out my growth as well, and is affordable to use, so I’ve made it a regular part of my program.”
Nicklaus Lentz Golf Course Superintendent Raleigh Golf Association
Naples, Fla.-based Geoponics Corporation partners with new distributor, ProGrass, to offer earth-friendly turf products to Ireland and the rest of the European Union.
Ireland golf course superintendent Gerard McEvoy was facing bouts of flooding rain followed by droughts when he came across a solution with Geoponics products.
The founder of ProGrass, a supplier of soil and grass products in Europe, McEvoy sought to bring the results he enjoyed to other professional golf course and lawn managers, as well as to home owners.
“Because of the downturn in the Irish economy, we had to look for more cost effective products that didn’t reduce the quality of our playing surfaces,” said McEvoy, who was challenged by water management issues as a superintendent at Dunmurry Springs Golf Club.
“We wanted products that would help us move water through our soil profile after a rainfall event, so we used the Penterra and in dry periods we switched to HyrdraHawk,” he said.
The root of the expansion were the results McEvoy saw a little more than a year ago when faced with these moisture challenges.
“We have USGA spec bent grass greens, and, on some of our greens, I found it difficult to dry out the surface and move water through the root zone,” he said.
Ireland may have one night of heavy rain but then only get two to three inches over the course of the week, he said.
“We get a lot of moisture laden air being swept in over Ireland. I was looking for a product to help pull the moisture from the surface quicker and that’s what I came across with Penterra.”
No longer needing to spend the time and money brushing the dew from the greens everyday was just one area of savings, he said.
McEvoy quickly got the firm greens that golfers want—whether they’re at Dunmurry or one of Ireland’s approximately 400 other golf courses.
“Many of the courses here in Ireland are old courses with push up greens that have been top-dressed over time with sand. Some of these greens would hold onto the moisture in the winter and there would be black layer problems and anaerobic conditions. Geoponics products will give these superintendents another tool in their tool box to help tackle these problems,” McEvoy said.
Geoponics products also offer solutions to the challenges posed to the southeast of the U.K., which is facing drought conditions and water restrictions. Geoponics products, available to Ireland and the rest of Europe through the new Ireland-based distributor’s website, www.prograss.ie, can help the varying water management issues throughout the countries it serves. The company is directed toward homeowners and sport facilities.
Geoponics is an environmentally-friendly company supplying products to lawn and turf, garden and golf course managers using earth sciences to foster water, soil and plant health. The products are effective and offer cost savings.
Geoponics is very enthusiastic about the expansion to Ireland and the countries in the European Union through McEvoy’s decision for ProGrass to become a Geoponics distributor.
Geoponics Corporation is proud to have Louisiana-born and raised Eric Fry as a new technical sales representative working in Louisiana, Mississippi Alabama and Florida. Eric Fry has a unique interest and ability to see things on both a very small, close-up scale as well from a larger, bird’s eye view.
This is a great asset to Geoponics and its current and future customers, especially when it comes to the microclimates on the course and the larger scale environment.
Fry has 23 years experience in the golf course industry, beginning from a spray tech while still in school become a golf course superintendent, then as a multi-state territory manager and consultant, among other roles throughout his career.
“The advantage of being in the industry of the Golf Boom was that we were literally enjoying the benefits of technology both in equipment, irrigation systems, chemistry, etc. This was a time when getting a course to that next level could be obtained as long as the members were willing to support the budget,” Fry said.
He found the developments and creativity in new architecture as interesting as the developments being made in the operations methods. “The courses that Fazio, Nicklaus, Palmer, and RT Jones were designing were just so unique and stimulating to all levels of skill.”
Geoponics Corporation attracted Fry quickly because of his love for the game of golf, the courses, water management, the environment—the whole package, he said. “I get a charge on going to new properties that I have never seen to listen, learn and observe about the micro-climates and features the property has to offer.”
As a South Florida territory manager for about eight years, Fry worked in some of top cities for golf, including Naples, Sarasota, Ft. Lauderdale, New Port Richey and just about every place in between. He developed agronomic strategies to plan the year for turf and landscape maintenance, learning a great deal about protection from disease and insects as well as water management in an area the fluctuates between drought and saturated rainy seasons every year.
“Water management is probably the key factor that I learned the most about while working in Southwest Florida and why I chose Geoponics to champion. The company shows great conception, appreciation, and desire to teach people about the importance of water usage and its role in promoting healthy productive systems…Geoponics’ philosophy of using natural-based products to provide solutions for unique challenging conditions is an attractive one to support, he said.
As a former superintendent, Fry has been exposed to many of the same challenges that turf managers face. “As another set of critical eyes and an advocate of program planning, the consultative consideration I can offer is sound and unique. I was fortunate to have worked with some of the best superintendents in my area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was exposed to the Southwest Florida talent pool as well,” Fry said.
There’s another perk in being on the courses often. “I have always enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hunting, and bike riding… being in the woods and natural landscapes, so golf sparks that sensory need.”
Eric Fry is ready to listen to your turf and landscape challenges and offer suggestions if you’re looking for them. If you’ve yet to meet him, just keep an ear out for his hearty laugh and eye out for his genuine smile.
Matthew Thorpe of Green Earth Investments, a new Geoponics distributor in South Africa, applies Penterra at the first golf course in the region to use Geoponics, Randpark Golf Club.
Leaders of both organizations say it’s a joint venture that just makes sense.
Geoponics is an environmentally-friendly company supplying green products and services to lawn and turf, garden and golf course managers using earth sciences to foster water, soil and plant health.
Green Earth Investments was founded by brothers Julian and Matthew Thorpe with the aim of providing earth-sustaining, biological and non-chemical products for plants, humans, animals and fish.
“The aim of the company is to find a more environmentally friendly way of sustaining our golf courses by introducing products that won’t harm the environment. This is why we are so exited about the Geoponics products as it fits so nicely with our vision,” said Julian Thorpe of Green Earth Investments.
Geoponics is equally enthusiastic about the venture.
“I am so pleased and excited to have Green Earth Investments as a part of the Geoponics family expanding our reach to South Africa,” said Robin Wicker of Geoponics.
The first Geoponics product hit South Africa soil through Green Earth Investments earlier this month (January 2012) and was a great success.
Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa applied Penterra (www.Penterra.net), which immediately began doing what it always does– MOVING WATER through the soil while improving the growth and activity of aerobic micro-organisms necessary for a healthy soil profile environment.
The beneficial secondary effects to challenged areas such as localized dry spot were noticed rapidly and the course is beginning to save much needed water.
Not only is Randpark Golf Club improving the soil with Penterra, the course managers are adding a long term soil management to the turf and plants to make them healthier, and increase its disease and insect tolerance.
Randpark is the second longest course in South Africa and its use of Geoponics products while undergoing renovations and remaining playable is part of protecting that ongoing investment.
Green Earth Investments, similar to Geoponics, seeks to provide products that provide solutions while protecting the Earth’s resources—particularly one of the most valuable resources, water.
“We are always looking for new ways to do things more efficiently and with more care,” said Thorpe.