By Larry Gilhuly

    It is very common at this time of the year to meet with golf courses and discuss irrigation concerns, recovery from winter damage, the need to replace equipment on a regular basis, upgrading the maintenance facility and a host of other topics. While staff size is usually discussed, what has become apparent this summer in the Northwest Region (excluding Hawaii) is the difficulty superintendents are having in finding and keeping seasonal staff. The competition for labor with fast food outlets, Home Depot, Wal Mart, etc. is reaching epidemic proportions. This has been a persistent problem in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming. Earlier this year, a Web page update by the Northeast Region alerted everyone to the problems they were facing back East. I guess it just takes longer for those of us out West.
 
     On the turf front, creeping bluegrass (Poa annua var. reptans) continues to impress. This grass was viewed in Alaska recently and was significantly outperforming creeping bent in the shade. Note the photos of this intriguing Poa annua that has prolific seedheads, but an apparent resistance to pink snow mold in our area of the country. The photo with the two cores is creeping bluegrass (Poa annua var. reptans) on the left and Providence creeping bentgrass on the right. The green is mowed at 5/32" and is currently two years old. Is there a choice?