Rick Sall: innovator and leader in the Valley.(SUPERINTENDENT PROFILE)

Greens cut at .060? Is that possible and still have turf left? Absolutely, and superintendent, Richard Sall is doing it. It s no surprise to a lot of industry folks here in the desert. Rick has long been known for being innovative, and a risk taker (calculated of course!). Ask any Hi-Lo member who is the most cutting edge of superintendents and it always is Rick.

Rick didn't set out to become a golf course superintendent. His plan was to be a park manager. He majored in Park Management at Ohio State. While working as an intern at the School Of Natural Resources, a policy decision was made that park managers would be required to carry a gun. This was absolutely unacceptable to Rick and he decided to change paths. He went back to school and studied turf management. Rick then worked at several Ohio courses and gained experience.

Rick first carne to the Palm Springs desert area at the urging of friend and schoolmate Greg Letsche. During his visit, Greg introduced him to Ross O'fee, then superintendent at The Springs CC, and the director of Golf Course Operations at Mission Hills CC, Wayne Conrad. While playing a round of golf with Greg, Ross, and Wayne, Rick was offered a position on the Palmer Course at Mission Hills, working for Wayne. Rick returned home and considered making a major move. After flying out of the 80 degree February weather, and returning to 20 below in Ohio, there was nothing left to consider! A month later Rick headed for the California sunshine.

Rick recalls starting at Mission Hills and riding along with Roger Compton, fellow superintendent of the Mission Hills Resort Course. Roger was driving down the middle of the fairway instead of staying on the cart-path and Rick wanted to know why. Roger pointed to the wildly blowing fronds of the palms planted in the rough along side of the cartpaths and explained the danger of falling crowns. (They can crush you.) Rick is grateful to Roger, who made him feel welcome, and often helped him out. Roger in turn would like to thank Rick for the many fun hours spent at Rick's party condo at Mission Hills. The story is that the irrigation on the driving range was turned on for several hours, until it was nice and sloshy. Then the guys would water ski behind a utility vehicle! After a short stay at Mission Hills, Rick was offered the superintendent's position at Canyon County Club and the Canyon Hotel course. It was an interesting and challenging position, in that it had one private and one public course.

In 1989, Rick went to Tamarisk CC. During his 13-year stay, he spearheaded some major projects, including a renovation of the irrigation system, pump station, lakes, and cartpaths. He converted many turf areas into landscape with color, including a cutting garden for members.

One of his benefits was a house next to the maintenance shop, probably the only home provided to a superintendent in the Palm Springs area. Rick enjoyed being accessible to staff and members and did not find it a problem. He also had a home on the Colorado River and was able to get away during the off- season.

Sting nematode was accidentally discovered on his course, which was then quarantined. This in turn caused a major testing operation of all courses in the area, where 13 more courses tested positive. All are still quarantined to present day. Because of the quarantine, any soil or underground plant parts must be transported to an approved waste site at a considerable expense. Because of this, Rick researched various ways of overseeding that would reduce the amount of clippings hauled off. Back then, most courses were scalped heavily before overseeding, and tens of thousands of dollars were spent on clipping removal. Rick is known for thinking outside the box and trying untested practices. He was one of the first in the Valley to use Diquat to burn off the thatch instead of physically cutting and removing. He helped expedite a special use ...