OUTSIDE THE ROPES Tim Moraghan, principal, ASPIRE Golf (tmoraghan@aspire-golf.com). Follow Tim’s blog, Golf Course Confidential at http://www.aspire-golf.com/buzz.html or on Twitter @TimMoraghan NOT-SO DIRTY DOZEN M any of us were lucky to grow up in the industry with researchers and scientists who have become legends, among them James Beard, Joe Duich, Joe Vargas, and Paul Rieke. We owe these gentlemen and their legions of research assistants a huge debt of gratitude for what they’ve done to advance turf over the past three decades. So who are the next grass gurus? Is there a new generation of scientific wun- derkind getting ready to set the standards? Indeed there is. As I’ve attended turf conferences, regional meetings and research field days, I’ve met and listened to a new crop of talented young agronomists who soon will be changing our world. Some of them might not yet be known to you, but they— and their research—won’t stay under covers for long. Here is a list of 12 up-and-comers to keep your eye on, men and women work- ing in soils, turf, weeds and other disciplines critical to our profession. Apologies to the many others not on this list, and thanks to you all for working hard to make our lives, and work, better in so many ways. Dr. Aaron Patton – Purdue University, Department of Agronomy ajpatton@Purdue.edu 765/ 494-9737 Research Interest: Weed Biology and Control Turfgrass Extension. Current projects include warm season turf grass germplasm evaluation and prod- uct evaluation of biopesticides. Comment: New-wave pesticide re- search will result in a wider variety of safe products, which besides improv- ing turf will reduce the pressure on superintendents. Dr. Dara Park – Clemson University, Horticulture Department darep@Clemson.edu 843/ 319-4957 Research Interest: Turf grass, Soil & Water Quality and Quality in Turf grass Systems Comment: The use and dispersal of effluent water on golf course and land- scape turf grass can only grow. Work like this will keep us better informed on how to use effluents wisely and effectively. Dr. Doug Soldat – Wisconsin University, Department of Soil Science djsoldat@wisc.edu 608/ 263-3631 26 FEBRUARY 2013 golfcourseindustry.com Research Interest: Evaluation of use of biosolids for improving the economics and environmental sus- tainability of sod production. Identify water and nutrient management strategies to promote healthy turf grass and minimize the loss of water and nutrients from the root zone. Comment: It all starts with a prop- erly functioning rooting zone. Dr. Michelle DeCosta – University of Massachusetts, Stockbridge School of Agriculture mdacosta@psis.umass.edu 413/ 545-2547 Research Interest: Drought Stress and Low Temperature Stress physiolo- gy of Cool Season Turf grass. Irrigation management and water use. Comment: With winter golf on the rise—for which we can thank or curse “global warming”—preventing winter turf decline will lead to more golf and more golfers. Dr. Gerald Henry – University of Georgia, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences gmhenry@uga.edu 706/ 542-2461 Research Interest: Crop and Soil Sci- ences. Monitored MSMA leaching po- tential in Bermudagrass. Performance testing of sports fields for assessment of player safety and field playability. Comment: Golf isn’t the only area of turf grass research. Other types of playing fields need better study. And sports field management could offer other career opportunities for us. Dr. Stacey Bonos – Rutgers University, Department of Plant Biology and Pathology bonos@aesop.rutgers.edu 848/ 932-6367 Research Interest: Developing improved pest resistance and stress tolerant turf grasses for conservation and environmental enhancement in the Northeast. Turf grass breeding for disease resistance and salt tolerance in various turf grasses species. Comment: The more we can make turf resistant to wear and tear, the more golf—and other games—we can play. Dr. Jim Kearns – North Carolina State University, Department of Turf Grass Science Jkerns0@gmail.com 608/ 516-8917 Research Interest: Turf grass pathol- ogy. In four years at University of Wisconsin the focus was based on disease of cool season turf grasses, in particular dollar spot and snow molds. There will be a shift in research focus once settled into the NC State Univer- sity system. Comment: Jim brings a wealth of cool-season turf grass disease experi- ence to the Carolinas, where there remains a large percentage of creeping bent grass. Dr. Kelly Kopp – Utah State University, Plants, Soils and Climate Kelly.kopp@usu.edu (MORGAHAN continues on page 50)