Colleagues and friends,

It's my pleasure to personally invite you to this year’s LaFontaine Golf Outing. As the former Executive Director of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation, I’m proud of the work we've done together to support the Turf Program at Michigan State University.  This golf outing is part of the continuing efforts to fund Graduate Student work in the program, work that is so vital to the success of the department and the turfgrass industry.

In addition to a relaxing day on the links, this event is a chance to network with some of the great colleagues in our industry and to discuss the future of the program at MSU. We’re all excited to be back amongst friends, celebrating and supporting turfgrass research. I hope you will have a chance to join us!

Gordie LaFontaine

Past President, Executive Director - Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

DETAILS

$125 Per Golf Registration (includes continental breakfast, box lunch and awards/cocktail hour after golf)

$1,000 Corporate Sponsorship (includes foursome)

$150 Tee Sponsorship

$1,250 Lunch Sponsorship (includes foursome)

$250 Breakfast Sponsorship

$500 Cocktail Hour/ Prizes Sponsorship

Format: Scramble with Skins

SCHEDULE

8:00 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start

Box Lunches provided

3:00 - 4:00 (approx.) Social Hour comments by Mr. Gordon LaFontaine and members of the MSU Turf Team

Recent publications from the turf industry as well as newsletters from the Michigan State University Turf and Landscape Extension have been recently released.  The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is proud to share recent news and support these exceptional turf related programs at Michigan State University and turf related organizations throughout our industry. 

Michigan State University Extension News Turf & Landscape Digest

Featured Events Plant Quest 2021 - “Nearly Natives—Plants of Merit with Deep Roots” 5/17 Plant Quest 2021 - “Smart Landscape Trees and Shrubs for Midwest Gardens”5/24

Current News Stories

Oak Wilt Awareness Month in Michigan

The best sampling procedures for accurate oak wilt testing

Smart waterfront plants to enhance your shoreline

MSU turf students expand skills through spring internships

Smart lake gardening; Planning your nearshore garden

On behalf of the Michigan Golf Alliance, we invite you to join us on the Capitol Lawn Thursday, June 3 for the “Economic, Environmental and Human Impact of Golf in Michigan”. The Michigan Golf Alliance is happy to resume our long standing legislative day event. This socially distanced presentation will be held under two tents on the Capitol Lawn. As we all know, golf is much more than a game. The business of golf benefits our state both economically and environmentally. In addition, the Michigan Golf Alliance wants to show how the golf industry is a leader in charitable giving and outreach programs for all generations. We are inviting you to RSVP for one of the program presentation time slots below as well as an additional time to meet that day with members of the Michigan Golf Alliance.

Learn More

Turfgrass Disease Update with Dr. Joe Vargas for May 7, 2021

Dr. Joe Vargas joins Dr. Kevin Frank to discuss current turfgrass disease activity.

Weather Update with Dr. Jeff Andresen for May 11, 2021

Cool, frosty conditions persist but a gradual warming is on the way.

Join Us For One Of The Best Events Of The Year! The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is excited to announce the date for one of our favorite events of the year, the LaFontaine Golf Outing.  Join us on Wednesday, June 23rd at Coyote Preserve Golf Club in Fenton, Michigan for a great day of golf while helping us raise funds for the Graduate Student Assistantship Fund. Scramble Format with Skins 8:00 a.m. Registration & Continental Breakfast 9:00 a.m. Shotgun Start Box Lunches provided 3:00 - 4:00 (approx.) Social Hour comments by Mr. Gordon LaFontaine and members of the MSU Turf Team Corporate, Tee, Breakfast, Lunch, cocktail hour and prize sponsorships available. $125 per golfer (includes continental breakfast, box lunch and awards/cocktail hour after golf)

Learn More & Sign Up

Join the MTF Board

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is currently seeking candidates for the Board of Directors to represent Sports or Institutional Turf. Interested candidates should contact Dan Lucas, head of the Nominating Committee.

We would also like to thank Kelly Rensel (Great Lakes Loons) for the tireless work, dedication and the knowledge he shared during his time as a Board Member with the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation.

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation is a non-profit organization which arose from the need for better turfgrasses and better methods of turfgrass maintenance. Since its incorporation in 1957, the MTF has achieved success in fulfilling these needs through research and education. Located at the Robert W. Hancock Turfgrass Research Center on the Michigan State University campus, the MTF continues its success in these areas by working closely with the University.

MTF members are representative of homeowners, golf courses, seed, sod and stolon growers, municipalities, parks and recreational areas, school boards, landscape contractors, lawn maintenance contractors, custom lawn applicators, athletic associations, cemetery associations and other facets of the industry.

The business affairs and the activities of the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation are governed by a Board of Directors composed of twelve (12) members plus the Executive Director. The Board of Directors is composed of representatives from each of the following organizations or groups:

Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association (4)

A Commercial Turfgrass Supplier's Representative

A Cemetery, Park, Sod or Sports Turf Representative

A Lawn Care Representative

A Lawn Maintenance Representative

A Lawn Applicator Representative

At Large Representatives (3)

Register today for our online golf auction benefiting turfgrass research. Some of the best Midwest and Michigan golf courses are up for grabs starting April 25th!

The MTF would like to thank our newly registered TeeTimes4Turf golf courses, superintendents and others for their support of the MSU Turf Program.  Course donations can be accepted all the way through the end of the auction on May 9th.

The Foundation appreciates all courses participating in this years event and thank those who are part of the process.  Registering your course can be done quickly online or with a printable form mailed back to the Foundation.  Click a link below and join the list of supporters!  

ONLINE FORM

PRINTABLE FORM

Register today for our online golf auction benefiting turfgrass research. Some of the best  Midwest and Michigan golf courses are up for grabs starting April 25th!

The Michigan Turfgrass Foundation extends congratulations to our recent 

2021 MSU Student Scholarship Awardees:

Ms. Payton Perkinson – The Norman Kramer Scholar Award

Mr. Colin King – The Kenyon T. Payne Outstanding Student Award

Mr. Keith Koch – Sports and Commercial Turf Award

The MTF is also pleased to congratulate the following students for their exemplary efforts during the interview process and recipients of scholarship funding.

Mr. Spencer Cole

Mr. Clayton Hoekwater

On behalf of the MTF the Scholarship Committee Congratulates all awardees.

Mr. Dan Lucas

MTF Scholarship Chairperson

MTF 2020 Annual Meeting Minutes 

2020 LaFontaine Golf Outing

Membership Report 

By-Laws Committee Report

Research Committee Report

TT4T Committee Report

2021 Annual Meeting Agenda

Executive Director Report

MSU Turf Team Update, Weather Update with Dr. Jeff Andresen, October 13th, 2020

Dr. Jeff Andresen joins Dr. Kevin Frank to update current weather conditions across the state of Michigan. (Click the image for video)

The MSU Turfgrass Virtual Field Day was presented by the turfgrass science team on September 23rd.  The recordings from both sessions are now available to view online.

Michigan Turfgrass Foundation

 Lawn Care and Athletic Fields Virtual Field Day

1. The long term evaluation and comparison of naturally enhanced sand textured athletic field root zones. Dr. Thomas Green and Dr. Trey Rogers
2. Identification and management of summer diseases on home lawns. Dr. Joe Vargas and Nancy Dykema
3. Best management practices weed control research. Dr. Thom Nikolai.
4. Long term fate of fertilizer applications. Dr. Kevin Frank
5. Turfgrass species evaluation under minimal maintenance practices. Dr. Kevin Frank

Golf Turf Virtual Field Day

1. Latest management strategies for brown patch and crown rot anthracnose, including fungicide resistance issues. Dr. Joe Vargas and Nancy Dykema
2. Evaluation of the long-term soil physical and chemical properties of a variable depth putting green. Dr. Thomas Green and Dr. Jim Crum
3. Best management practices weed control research. Dr. Thom Nikolai
4. Effects of different soil testing interpretation philosophies on creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass putting greens. Jackie Guevara and Dr. Kevin Frank

Dear MTF , Turfgrass Virtual Field Day -  Tomorrow September 23, 2020 Lawn and Atheltic Turf at 9 a.m. and Golf Turf at 11 a.m.

MSU Turfgrass Virtual Field Days The MSU Turfgrass Virtual Field Days will present the latest research information from the turfgrass science team. Attendees will gain insight into the latest management recommendations for controlling pests and optimizing turfgrass performance.  Lawn Care and Athletic Fields Virtual Field Day The long term evaluation and comparison of naturally enhanced sand textured athletic field root zones. Dr. Thomas Green and Dr. Trey Rogers Identification and management of summer diseases on home lawns. Dr. Joe Vargas and Nancy Dykema Best management practices weed control research. Dr. Thom Nikolai. Long term fate of fertilizer applications. Dr. Kevin Frank Turfgrass species evaluation under minimal maintenance practices. Dr. Kevin Frank Golf Turf Virtual Field Day Latest management strategies for brown patch and crown rot anthracnose, including fungicide resistance issues. Dr. Joe Vargas and Nancy Dykema Evaluation of the long-term soil physical and chemical properties of a variable depth putting green. Dr. Thomas Green and Dr. Trey Rogers Best management practices weed control research. Dr. Thom Nikolai Effects of different soil testing interpretation philosophies on creeping bentgrass and annual bluegrass putting greens. Jackie Guevara and Dr. Kevin Frank

Register