Fall Aeration Schedule (2022)

Aeration alleviates soil compaction and the buildup of organic matter in the root zone by creating more air space in the soil profile. As grass grows, it naturally produces thatch below the surface, which consists of undecomposed leaves, grass stems, and roots. Over time, if we don’t do something about this organic matter buildup, the top inch of the greens becomes a sponge, holding water and resulting in poor playing conditions. The aeration process is performed by machines that produce holes in the soil and remove cores of unwanted thatch. Holes are filled with sand, which creates channels for improved water infiltration, gas exchange, and much improved root growth. This process is critical to keeping our greens healthy!

The following dates have been set aside for course aerification. Please note, all dates are subject to change due to weather. Anticipate approximately at least 14 days for recovery, based on normal weather conditions.

Little Bennett: September 6 (Front 9), September 7 (Back 9)
Poolesville: September 6 (Front 9), September 7 (Back 9)
Laytonsville: September 13 (Front 9), September 14 (Back 9) 
Hampshire Greens: September 14 (Front 9), September 15 (Back 9)

The MCRA is committed to taking steps to reduce our impact on the environment. Our golf courses are managed by superintendents who have completed extensive education and training regarding the use of water, fertilizer, and plant protectants. Below are a few links that may be of interest. We will continue to update our web site with new information throughout the year. Here are some of the things the MCRA already does to minimize our impact on the world around us.

Water conservation our Superintendents utilize Best Management Practices to conserve water: hand-watering of greens, tees, and sometimes fairways allows us to only water where the turf needs it, and NOT putting any water down in an area that doesn’t need it. Doing this and customizing computerized irrigation programs to target only the driest areas of the golf courses saved an estimated 30 million gallons of water in 2008 alone. Irrigation computer programs are modified each spring as we let the course dry down… we can identify the areas that are first to exhibit signs of drought stress and program only those specific sprinkler heads that cover those areas to be our “dry fairways” program, for example. We also continue to evaluate and monitor our irrigation systems… replacing sprinkler head nozzles with newer, more efficient designs that have higher distribution uniformity; once a year, we typically perform an irrigation audit of the systems by placing rain gauges across a green, for example, to make sure that when we irrigate ¼-inch of “rain,” that it is truly consistent. This ensures that when we apply irrigation to dry areas of the course, that it achieves our goal of using just the right amount of water, and reduces runoff and other potential sources of wasted resources.

Targeted fertilizer applications Using soil testing and monitoring nutritional levels of individual greens, tees, and fairways, applications of fertilizer are targeted to specific sites, instead of making widespread applications on the whole golf course. This reduces potential runoff of excess fertilizer, optimizes turf health, and saves an estimated $30,000 each year in fertilizer costs alone.

Low-maintenance or “native” areas over 10% of the 2500 acres of property maintained by MCRA is designated as a “no mow” area. These grassy areas are allowed to develop naturally, and promote a diverse wildlife habitat and reduce maintenance costs and fuel emissions of equipment.

Research MCRA has devoted the Executive 9 golf course at Needwood GC to environmental research. We are investigating biological/organic pest control, and evaluating warm-season grasses such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, and seashore paspalum, which traditionally require significantly less water, fertilizer, and pesticides to maintain. Studies are underway at Needwood and other golf courses in the system to help us understand what practices we can implement in our golf course system that would allow for acceptable playing conditions with less chemical inputs to the turf, and reduced maintenance costs.

Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses MCRA courses have partnered with this Audubon International advisory service, which helps golf courses develop effective conservation and wildlife enhancement programs. Little Bennett GC completed the certification program in 1998, making it one of the first golf courses in the State of Maryland to become a Certified Sanctuary. The other MCRA courses have all achieved certification in Environmental Planning, and will continue to work towards completing the program.

Groundwater Guardian Green Site Program MCRA golf courses are all designated by The Groundwater Foundation as Groundwater Guardian Green Sites because we have demonstrated a commitment to protecting groundwater supplies. Maintaining no-application buffer zones around streams and wetlands, properly disposing of spray rinsate, spoon-feeding nutrients instead of heavy applications of fertilizer, etc.

Use of organic fertilizer: The MCRA has committed to using more eco-friendly organic fertilizers on its courses. We treat our courses with an organic pasteurized poultry litter fertilizer as well as other naturally derived products, which improve the playing surfaces in a more natural way. The environmental benefits of these products include slow nutrient release from natural microbial breakdown and the availability of ten of the thirteen nutrients required by turfgrass for improved plant cell structure and vigor.

Continuing education The MCRA supports the continuing education of our Golf Course Superintendents. They attend local, regional, or national conferences each year to stay abreast of the latest research and trends in turf research. Many universities across the country conduct exhaustive turf research each year regarding the efficacy of plant protectants, the effect of certain cultural practices or traffic on turf health, shade- and drought-tolerance studies, etc. By keeping up with the research, our superintendents stay on the cutting edge of science and are able to do what’s best for the turf, the environment, and our customers.

Recycling: MCRA does not only recycle cans, bottles, and waste paper. We also recycle waste motor oil, fryer oil from the kitchens, used tires, scrap metal, etc., and work with a local company to properly dispose of waste fuels and antifreeze. We continue to look at ways we can be greener and more protective of the world around us!

http://online.wsj.com/... - great article about golf course wildlife from the Wall Street Journal.

http://www.gcsaa.org/news/researchEnvironment.aspx - a report from Golf Digest magazine about Golf and the Environment

http://www.eifg.org/ - the home page of the Environmental Institute for Golf, whose mission is to strengthen the compatibility of the game of golf with our natural environment.

http://acspgolf.auduboninternational.org/ - home page of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses. Little Bennett GC was one of the first courses in the state of Maryland to become certified in this program, and our other courses are in the second year of the certification process. These other courses have already been certified in Environmental Planning, and this year hope to achieve certification in Water Conservation, and Chemical Use Reduction and Safety!

http://www.groundwater.org - home page of the Groundwater Foundation. All 9 MCRA courses have earned the Green Site designation!

http://www.eifg.org/programs/GCRPfullreport.pdf - volume 1 of the Golf Course Environmental Profile, assembled from extensive surveys of the country’s superintendents.

http://www.eifg.org/programs/EIFG_GCEP_Vol_2.pdf - volume 2 of this report, focusing on water conservation.

http://www.eifg.org/programs/GCSAAnutrientsurvey_fullreport.pdf - volume 3 of this report is about nutrient use and management on golf courses.

http://www.pestfacts.org/ - home page of the Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment (RISE), a not-for-profit web site that provides science-based information about the responsible use of pesticides to manage the threat these pests pose to human health and safety.

http://www.usga.org/Content.aspx?id=26125 – link to the environmental programs page on the USGA web site. Browse around this site to find a ton of interesting information about golf rules and golf course maintenance!

Job Posting: Assistant General Manager

The Montgomery County Revenue Authority (MCRA) has an opportunity to join a dynamic team!  MCRA was created in 1957 as an instrumentality of Montgomery County and a public corporation.  The MCRA has two primary functions, one is to operate self-supporting public facilities, and the other is to finance public facilities.  On the operations side, the MCRA directly manages the Golf Course System (of 9 golf courses) and operates the Montgomery County Airpark.

MCRA’s Montgomery County Golf (MCG) division has an opening for an Assistant General Manager.  The golf course location is TBD at one of our 9 courses and will be commensurate with experience and training needs.

The Assistant General Manager assists the General Manager (GM) with the day-to-day programs and operations of a multifunctional recreational facility that includes an 18-hole or more golf course with customer support, driving range, practice area, food & beverage (F&B)/snack bar, and pro shop management.  This position typically involves assisting the GM with the design, implementation, and management of a wide variety of recreational, sporting, cultural, and revenue-generating programs serving the needs of golfers; including the responsibility of the total operation in the absence of the GM, program administration, budget management, and staff supervision. The Assistant GM’s daily operations exercise the use of independent judgment, problem solving, staff management and program operations.  In addition, opportunities for golf instruction in the MCG Golf Academy may be available to Assistant GMs with a particular golf background.  Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Establishing a strong report with management, team, and customers.
• Instructing and managing daily operations including but not limited to starter, cart, pro shop and F&B staff.
• May review and approve employee time sheets, leave requests and scheduling - establishing, supervising, and implementing effective work schedules.
• Carrying out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with MCRA policies and applicable laws. 
• Training employees in applicable service work areas; plans daily/weekly assignments and directing work.
• Appraising performance by encouraging good work, coaching areas in need, rewarding great work and facilitates progressive disciplinary actions for employees who need additional support in correcting performance.
• Addressing complaints and resolving general problems while escalating non routine issues or concerns.
• Supervising and operating an effective tee time schedule in point of sale (POS) system.
• Coordinating and completing contracted group outings and events.
• Helping to supervise expenses and revenues with special focus and emphasis on driving revenue and controlling bottom-line expenditures. Utilizing the Metolius Golf system.
• Assisting in providing accurate monthly and annual budget submissions as the need arises and/or is requested.
• Maintaining and saving accurate financial records to assure compliance with audit and divisional needs.
• Providing a team management environment by coordinating weekly, monthly, and/or quarterly staff and safety meetings.
• Emphasizing the importance of MCRA Core Values and customer service with staff members to ensure patrons are greeted and treated in a pleasant and professional manner.
• Ensuring all print and electronic media like brochures, flyers, ads, sales/specials, and electronic posts are accurate, current, and posted.
• Assisting with inventory and ordering of pro shop merchandise and supplies.
• When scheduled to work, completing daily opening, closing and cash management.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Proven interpersonal skills; ability to work well within a team environment and under pressure, adhering to frequent deadlines and juggling multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Knowledge of word processing software; spreadsheet software; inventory software; payroll systems; and internet software.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Must be able to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to sit.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outdoor weather conditions.

MCRA is seeking qualified applicants who reflect and understand our CORE VALUES of a Genuine Smile, Do Anything Attitude and Deliver Excellence. MCRA is a fast-paced, high-energy organization with an ambitious agenda and staff that is highly motivated.  Qualified applicants may possess any combination of education and experience enabling them to successfully perform the responsibilities of the position. Preferred qualifications are: Typically has 2+ years of professional golf or hospitality experience in a supervisory position.  Must be able to functionally use MS Office Suite programs.  Experience using LightSpeed POS, PayCom, Metolius, and/or 1-2-1 Marketing is a plus.  Qualified candidates must also have excellent organizational and good verbal and written communication skills.

TO APPLY: Submit your resume and salary requirement to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or by mail to: MCRA, 101 Monroe Street, Suite 410, Rockville, MD 20850; Attention: Human Resources.  MCRA is an equal opportunity employer.