CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 15 NO. 5 July 2009 Jack Frost National Blakeslee, PA Bryan Nuss, GCS July affords us the opportunity to play for the first time Jack Frost National Golf Course in Blakeslee, PA. De- signed by Terry LaGree and opened in 2007, Jack Frost National is currently managed by Billy Casper Golf. Bryan Nuss has been on board as the golf course superintendent since construction began in 2005. The course plays to par 72 and measures almost 7300 yards from the back tees. The championship tees have a course rating of 74.9 and a slope rating of 139. The course develops over 200 acres surrounded by acreage that is designed to be housing in the future. Prior to Jack Frost, Bryan was superintendent at Timber Trails in Pocono Pines, PA. Bryan has had to forgo an assistant this year due to budget cuts but small staffs are not new to him. Bryan has a summer crew of 9 and a winter crew of just 2. The shop at Jack Frost is about 5700 square feet and is heated throughout. One of the major issues with the site was an acidic soil. This soil had pH’s in the 4’s; chemical amending of the fairways was and still is a daunting task for the crew at Jack Frost. The amending of the soils has helped and Bryan is seeing an improvement in growing conditions. The course has 3.5 acres of Greens, 3 Acres of Tees, 40 Acres of Fairways and 65 acres of managed rough. The course is still maturing, but should prove to be a great venue for years to come. This month Mark Fine will be our speaker. Mark is a golf course architect out of Allentown, PA. Mark has authored many articles, some of which you have seen right here in our newsletter and also a book titled “Bunkers, Pits and other Hazards,” which, by the way, was selected by Grass Roots Inc. as their book of the year Continued on page 4 Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2009 First of all, I would like to thank Bryan Nuss for hosting our July meeting at Jack Frost National. Secondly, don’t forget that the clam bake is coming up at Elmhurst PRESIDENT C.C. Get your team together and come out for a great day. If you Darrin Larkin, Panorama Golf Course would like to contribute to our scholarship fund by being a tee sign 570-222-9260 sponsor, let me know. VICE PRESIDENT Rick Anglemyer, Water Gap CC 570-424-6391 Lastly, I would like to relay to everyone the passing of John “Chip” TREASURER Washburn. Although he wasn’t a member of the PTGA, he has been a John Downer, Elkview C.C. member of our community for many years. He worked at Honesdale 570-840-0078 C.C., Elkview C.C., and Sleepy Hollow G.C. “ SECRETARY Ray Wadell, Elmhurst CC 570-842-4705 DIRECTORS Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. 973-418-3468 Darrin Larkin Matthew Brown, Philadelphia Turf 215-340-5401 Greg Boring, Glen Oak C.C. 570-586-5791 Patrick Knelly, Sugarloaf Golf Club Editor’s Notes….. 570-384-4724 Thomas Height, Frosty Valley C.C. 570-275-4266 Chris Snopkowski, Wyoming Valley C.C. __________________________ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF EDITOR Jim Gurzler, George Schofield Co. July is here and the weather doesn’t seem to be as bad as nor- 732-433-5474 mal. Rainfall has been plentiful and temperatures have been mild, jim@gurzler.com bringing with it some pretty good conditions for players. Managing Editor Melinda Wisnosky June allowed us to revisit Blue Ridge Trail, and Duane Schell and 570-388-2167 Tony Barletta were once again great hosts of the PTGA. Thanks guys Editorial Committee Darrin Larkin for another great event. Matt Brown Past President The PECPA has released their “ Golf Course Water Resources Best Duane Schell, Blue Ridge Trail G. C. Management practices” handbook. This handbook details storm wa- 570-868-8113 ter management irrigation choices, and other topics to improve wa- djschell@epix.net ter quality and watershed habitats. See inside for more detailed in- formation on how to get your copy of this literature. August will again bring us to Elmhurst for our annual scholarship fundraiser, so try to keep August 17th free for a great day of golf and some wonderful food. PTGA Office R.R. 1, Box 219 Harding, PA 18643 Phone/Fax: 570-388-2167 Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of Jim Gurzler the author and/or person quoted, and may not represent the position of PTGA. Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission, as long as the true context is maintained. We would appreciate a credit line. Page Page 3 3 GOLF COURSE WATER RESOURCES BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA ENVIRONMENTAL COUNCIL: tion, stormwater and groundwater recharge. Such RE: RECENTLY PUBLISHED "GOLF COURSE WATER RE- credits can be created by installing BMPs such as for- SOURCES BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES" HANDBOOK - ested riparian buffers, wetlands and natural flood- FOR GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS plains. Each of the BMPs includes a detailed description of “The Golf Course Water Resources Best Management the practice, its associated environmental benefit and Practices Handbook includes 18 Best Management a local example of most of the recommended prac- Practices (BMPs) that can help you improve water tices at a golf course in the region with contact infor- quality and manage stormwater and storm events on mation so that superintendents can learn firsthand your property and enable you to be a better steward how to best install the practice. of the environment in your local watershed. The Handbook can be downloaded at: The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) and www.pecpa.org/gchandbook . LandStudies, Inc. developed the Handbook with the support of the PA Department of Environmental Pro- For additional information about the Handbook tection Growing Greener grant program. PEC and please contact: Land Studies were assisted by John Chassard, Director of Grounds at the Lehigh Country Club and Jeff Scott Van de Mark Broadbelt, President, Agrostis Golf Management. (412) 481-9400 Office svandemark@pecpa.org The handbook builds on BMPs developed by the GCSAA and the Environmental Institute for Golf and elements of the Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary Pro- gram for Golf Courses. The BMPs range from chemical and fertilizer storage and application practices to wetland and floodplain restoration practices that can improve water quality and flood control at your golf course. The Handbook describes how several of the recom- mended BMPs can generate environmental credits for developing environmental service markets including nutrient reduction, habitat creation, wetland mitiga- Page 4 Continued from Cover in 2008. Mark will be speaking on topics such as how to reduce maintenance costs, how to treat bunkers like hazards, and turf management plans. His firm is called Fine Golf Design and can be found on the internet at www.finegolfdesign.com Our sponsors this month are Turf Equipment Supply (Matt Brown and George Skawski) and the George Ley Co. Thanks to our sponsors in helping to keep our meetings reasonable for our members. The format for play this month will be the 4 man better ball tournament with a Pink ball tournament as well. We look forward to seeing you and remember, please register early to accommodate our boxed lunches. June Meeting Wrap up Duane Schell and Blue Ridge Trail hosted our June Lunch and Dinner were well received by the crowd meeting. The weather was great and the course was in as was the golf course. Duane and the staff at Blue wonderful shape. Dr. John Kaminski of Penn State Uni- Ridge Trail did a great job getting the course ready versity was our speaker this month and John brought his after the heavy rains just prior to our event. The blend- data on dollar spot control, as well as, nozzle selection. ing of the new nine holes with the existing 18 is well Dr. Kaminski also spoke on the benefits of early season done, and if you haven’t been able to make it to a control of dollar spot. There was also talk about resis- meeting, you should try to venture out here and see tant strains of dollar spot and methods to reduce inci- this wonderful layout. dence at your course. Check with Dr. Kaminski for more information if you couldn’t make it. He is the director of In an overzealous act of “Thinking Green”, I inadver- the two year program at PSU. tently recycled the results from the June meeting. My apologies to the winners of the skins, skill contests, and We had an exceptional turn out of 52 golfers and 54 tournament winners. total attendees for the event. The tournament was a modified scramble this month. Page 5 Don’t Tread Lightning Presented by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America What to do when lightning is detected on the golf course make a choice, treat those who are not breathing first - - those who are unconscious but still breathing will probably come out of it on their own. It always seems to happen when you are having the round of your life. The sky darkens, the wind picks up First aid should be rendered to those not breathing and the thunder begins to roll across the golf course. within four to six minutes to prevent irrevocable brain damage. Mouth-to mouth resuscitation should be ad- It’s tempting to convince yourself and your playing ministered once every five seconds to adults and once partners that there is enough time to finish your round, every three seconds to infants and small children. or at least a few more holes. If you play on, instead of seeking shelter, your great round could become the last However, if the victim is not breathing and has no pulse, round of your life. cardiopulmonary resuscitation is necessary, but should be administered only by persons with proper training. Every year more people are killed or injured by lightning You should also check for burns along the extremities than by tornadoes, floods or hurricanes. In fact, it's esti- and around areas in contact with metal, give first aid mated that in the United States, as many as 300 people for shock and then send for help. are killed by lightning each year. For more information regarding golf course manage- Because of the generally open areas with scattered ment practices, contact your local superintendent or individual trees, golf courses are dangerous places dur- the GCSAA at (800) 472-7878 or www.gcsaa.org. ing a thunderstorm. A lightning bolt will take the shortest route between the cloud and the ground, which means that a golfer standing in the middle of a fairway or hud- dled under a tree is a prime target for a strike. However, there are several safety measures you can take to avoid being hit by lightning: Key points: Seek shelter at the first sign of a thunderstorm. If the course's warning system sounds, take cover. If possible, get off the golf course or go to a des- ignated lightning shelter. Do not stand under a lone tree. This is where most people are injured or killed. Stay away from water. Stay away from your golf clubs. If your shoes have metal spikes, take them off. Move away from your golf cart. If stranded in the open, go to a low place such as a ravine or valley. First aid If a player in your group is struck by lightning, the person is no longer carrying any electrical current, so you can apply first aid immediately. The golfer will be burned and have received a severe electrical shock. People who have been apparently "killed" by lightning can be revived if quick action is taken. If you must Page 6 Looking for Volunteers! Elmhurst C.C. is looking for volunteers for their Northeast Classic scheduled for August 27-30. They will be shorthanded that week and will certainly need some help. Please call Ray Waddell at 570-842-4705 to offer your assistance. It will be greatly appreciated! A moment of Humor Golf can bring out your darkside http://www.spike.com/video/star- wars-shoot/2996496 Join the PTGA at PNC Field for an enjoyable evening hosted by Turf Equip- Check this site out when you have a moment! ment supply. Contact Matt Brown for more information about the event on August 6th at 7PM. Space is limited to the first 100 members and their immediate families so register early for this great night out. The game will be a contest between the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs and the Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees. Page 7 Chips & Putts PATRON SPONSORS AERIFICATION AND OVERSEEDING IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Atlantic Irrigation Joe Jaskot 973.445.9418 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Turf Equip. & Supply George Skawski 610.554.9366 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 710.933.5801 Matt Brown 484-357-6312 EQUIPMENT PLANT PROTECTANTS Aer-Core, Inc. Dennis DeSanctis 610.608.3181 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Turf Equip. & Supply Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 George Skawski 610.554.9366 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Syngenta Lee A. Kozsey 610.861.8174 FERTILIZER Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 SEED & SOD Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 East Coast Sod & Seed Kevin Driscoll 609.760.4099 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 GREEN AND TEE SUPPLIES Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 TOPDRESSING / SOIL AMENDMENTS Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Blue Ridge Peat Farms Gene Evans 570.443.9596 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Support our Sponsors - They support us! PTGA MEETING SCHEDULE POCONO ROUNDUP POCONO ROUNDUP 2009 Golf Schedule Congratulations! Congratulations to Patrick Knelly and his wife Michelle August 5 Rutgers Turfgrass Field Day on the birth of their son Evan Michael Knelly. Evan Hort Farm II, New Brunswick NJ joined the PTGA on May 29. All are doing well. August 12 Ohio State University Oops! Congratulations to Chris Thomson on taking the Turfgrass Field Day Columbus, OH position of Golf Course Superintendent at County Club Aug 17 Elmhurst Clambake of the Poconos. I inadvertently listed Chris Young as the superintendent, Chris Young is the Superintendent Sept 15 Huntsville Golf Club at Port Jervis CC in Port Jervis, NY. Oct 15 Glenmaura National Championship Mike Darby has the taken the position of Golf Course Superintendent at Eagle Rock Resort. Mike had been the assistant to Bobby Brown prior to becoming super- intendent. Good Luck to Mike in his new position. Local Tournaments Looking for something different this winter? Northeast PA Classic Elmhurst CC The Canadian Golf Course Superintendents Associa- Moscow, PA August 27-30th tion has invited their U.S. comrades to the 43rd Annual Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and The Barclays Fed Ex Cup Playoff Show February 26 to March 2, 2010, in Toronto, ON. Liberty National Jersey City NJ August 27– 30th See the website for more info www.golfsupers.com POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION R.R. 1, BOX 219 POSTAGE HARDING, PA 18643 NAME & ADDRESS Locations in NY, NJ, PA, CT Ph 973-379-9314 Fax 973-379-6504 Contact Fred Rapp Mike Yarussi Ken Givens Suppliers of all your irrigation needs ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.