A better than expected attendence at the 2009 GCSAI Annual Conference was held on 4th & 5th March at the Knightsbrook Hotel and Golf Club in Trim Co. Meath

AGM
The Annual General meeting of the GCSAI took place on Tuesday 3rd March 2009 in the Knightsbrook Hotel (Hugh de Lacey Suite) at 6.00pm

For the first time the conference was broken into three sections with each having a theme and relevant speakers and topics.  They were:

Section 1:  ‘Building For The Future’ included Mr Barry McElroy, Course Superintendent, Dun Laoghaire Golf Club speaking on the club’s relocation, Mr Conor Kretsch, Environmental Scientist gave a presention on the Irish golf course ecosystems project, Mr Stuart McColm, Course Manager, Castlestuart Golf Club gave his view on ‘links to the future’ and Mr Gordon Shepherd talked on social responsibilities for today’s superintendent.

Section 2:  ‘Is Your Management Sustainable?’ was based around presentations from Mr Tim Lobb, Architect on golf course design, Dr Thomas Watschke, Professor Emeritus of Turfgrass Science presented on managing turf without plant protection products, the vastly knowledgeable and entertaining Dr Joe Vargas, Michigan State University talked on environmental stress and Mr Trevor Myles, Pesticide Control Service gave a pesticide usage update.

Section 3:  ‘Reality Or Theory?’ included presentations from Dr Michael Foxe, Agronomist on evaluating approaches to sustainable management, Mr Henry Bechelet, Turfgrass Agronomist, STRI talked about the Disturbance Theory and Dr Joe Vargas, discussed ‘Pesticides: perception versus reality’.

Ample time was given to each section for discussion and Q&A.

Following the banquet on the Wednesday evening delegates hadthe pleasure of RTE Sports Commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh who thrilled the audience with his stories and encounters. Live band Morning Dew once again performed traditional Irish music in the bar.

SPEAKERS  (In Alphabetical Order)

• Mr Henry Bechelet, Turfgrass Agronomist, STRI
  

• Dr Michael Foxe, Consultant Agronomist

• Mr Conor Kretsch, BSc, Environmental Scientist

• Mr Tim Lobb  B. Sc (Horticulture), SAGCA, EIGCA

• Mr Stuart McColm, General Manager, Castle Stuart Golf Club

• Mr Barry McElroy, Course Superintendent, Dun Laoghaire Golf Club

• Mr Trevor Myles, Pesticide Control Service

• Mr Gordon Sheperd, Director of Global and Regional Policy, WWF International

• Dr Thomas Watschke, Professor Emeritus of Turgrass Science

• Dr Joe Vargas, Professor of Plant Pathology, Michigan State University