CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 15 NO. 3 May 2009 Berwick Golf Club Berwick, PA Superintendent Jason Brown Originally founded in 1920 as a nine-hole property to be built on the Kocher farm, the club was moved to the lar- ger Evans farm on Martzville Road. Additional land was purchased until the current 18-hole layout was com- pleted in 1959. The club rests in the hands of Jason Brown, a Rutgers graduate who has been at Berwick for 6 years. Prior to Berwick, Jason worked at Fox Hill, Shawnee and Stone Hedge. Pat Moran is the assistant at Berwick. He is also a Rutgers grad who previously worked at Fox Hill and Irem Temple. The current club sits on 125 acres in the Berwick Valley. There are 2 ½ acres of greens, 2 acres of tees and 21 acres of fairways for the fulltime crew of 5 to care for. Jason has the help of three seasonal workers to help polish the course for play. Berwick is a par 71 layout with a slope rating of 124 and course rating of 69.6. The course plays 6,539 yards from the tips. J Franklin Meehan the architect of record for Berwick Golf Club also had his hand in other clubs in PA. J Franklin Meehan was the designer at such well-known clubs as Springford, Sandy Run, and Ashbourne. He was also involved in North Hills where he was instrumental in the choosing of the land, routing of the course, and gathering the members of the club all while running the club during its formative years. Although men- tioned in the book by Geoffrey Cornish and Ron Whitten, “ The Architects of Golf,” there is no great biogra- phy for this man who had quite a hand in Pennsylvania golf architecture. Brookside in Allentown was also a club that J. Franklin Meehan had a hand in as well,. While playing Berwick, take a look around and see if you notice any similarities. This month Dave Doherty of I.S.T.R.C. will be our speaker. Mr. Doherty, president of the International Sports Turf Research Center has set out to develop a better understanding of the physical properties of sand- based greens, push-up greens, and athletic fields. I.S.T.R.C. was started in the spring of 1991. Working with hundreds of courses throughout the U.S., including 6 of the top 10, I.S.T.R.C. has built a strong database of information and knowledge. Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2009 Just a few points this month….. First of all, I would like to thank Andrew Dumas, CGCS, for hosting the April meeting at Silver Creek Country Club. Sorry I couldn’t make it. PRESIDENT Darrin Larkin, Panorama Golf Course Secondly, we are in the process of getting the member directories 570-222-9260 printed and distributed. They should be out soon. VICE PRESIDENT Rick Anglemyer, Water Gap CC And finally, up north at least, it seemed like it was still March all the 570-424-6391 way through April and the first part of May was early April. Although TREASURER we are still getting some cold mornings, we are warming up nicely by John Downer, Elkview C.C. the afternoon. That’s not only helping grow out of winter damage, but 570-840-0078 we are starting to get some better play, also. I don’t know how much SECRETARY the economy will hurt us this year, but we don’t need weather chasing Ray Wadell, Elmhurst CC 570-842-4705 away golfers too. DIRECTORS Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. 973-418-3468 Matthew Brown, Philadelphia Turf 215-340-5401 Darrin Larkin Greg Boring, Glen Oak C.C. 570-586-5791 Patrick Knelly, Sugarloaf Golf Club 570-384-4724 Editor’s Notes….. Thomas Height, Frosty Valley C.C. 570-275-4266 Chris Snopkowski, Wyoming Valley C.C. __________________________ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF Another spring is here and summer has shown what could be EDITOR ahead already. Those early 90 degree temps have awakened irriga- Jim Gurzler, George Schofield Co. 732-433-5474 tion systems in the Poconos. jim@gurzler.com Managing Editor The golf season is also in swing, and we had a pretty good turn Melinda Wisnosky out in April. Let’s see that the attendance remains good as we have 570-388-2167 some excellent courses on the schedule this year. Please take note Editorial Committee that you must have a handicap card to be considered for the MET Darrin Larkin Matt Brown Team Championship this year. Also, meeting attendance will play into the team makeup, so try to make as many meetings as possible. Past President Duane Schell, Blue Ridge Trail G. C. 570-868-8113 I hope that everyone is enjoying the more normal weather and djschell@epix.net getting ready to celebrate the first holiday of the season. Have a safe and healthy Memorial Day, and I hope to see many of you at Berwick. PTGA Office Jim Gurzler R.R. 1, Box 219 Harding, PA 18643 Phone/Fax: 570-388-2167 Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of 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 April Showers By David A. Oatis, Director May 1, 2009 Up until a week ago, it was shaping up to be a cold spring, and cool weather diseases still were prevalent. Cool season brown patch was visible on greens at a number of courses in the southern portion of the region, and, based on weather data, much of the region was a week or so behind normal. However, the recent heat spell stopped the progression of that disease and we now are back on track in terms of the norm for growing degree days. That will probably change this week as the start of May is bringing cooler temperatures and rain. Cool season brown patch might become active again. We also are getting into the window where waitea patch may become active, and the two diseases can be confused. Many courses in the southern part of the region have already applied preemergent herbicides, and those that have not should do so very soon. Annual bluegrass weevil (ABW) populations appear to be moderate, al- though populations are very high in selected areas. Treatment for adults in the central and southern portion of the region should be made very quickly if they have not yet been done. Scouting is a key to controlling this pest, and it is easy to do if you just take the time. Installing pitfall traps in the early spring in areas near traditional ABW activity is a good idea. However, a simple soap drench can identify populations in just a few minutes. Drench before you apply to determine whether an application is necessary; drench afterwards to determine the level of control. With concerns over resistance to the pyrethroid class of insecticides, using a soap drench is cheap insur- ance. Most of the courses I visit have already made at least two growth regulator applications for suppression of seed heads. Thus far, control looks to be much better this year than it was a year ago. However, both annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass populations are off color in many areas. This may be partially due to the growth regulator applications, but the cool weather and recent frosts also are major factors. Now is the time of year when bentgrass is affected by cooler temperatures, and mechanical injury often is confused with leaf spot infections. Most of the time, the damage dissipates and the color improves with a few days of consistently good growing weather. Minimizing mechanical wear in the short term is a good idea. Soil temperatures are not yet warm enough to justify preventive summer patch applications in most areas of the region, but monitor soil temperatures carefully because proper timing is very important for effective control. The window of application is right around the corner. Congratulations! John Downer of Elkview C.C. and Tom Height of Frosty Valley C.C. have both achieved the rating of certified Arborist. New Maintenance Facility at Mt. Laurel in White Haven Page 4 April Results from Silver Creek: The April meeting was an overwhelming success as Andy Dumas opened his course to us again for our first meeting of the season. The course was in fine shape and 46 souls ventured out to enjoy the weather, camara- derie, and fun that Silver Creek Country Club had to offer. Thanks also to Rudi Huber of Aquamaster for his talk on water qual- ity. Thanks also to Atlantic Irrigation and Lawn and Golf for sponsor- ing our meeting this month. As reported by the Golf Chairman, the following results took place at our tournament: Winners: 1st Place - Jerry Decker & Russell Hauenstein 2nd Place - John Downer & Matt Fronzak Skins: Andy Dumas & Brian Bachman #17 Paul Brandon & Corey Pries #4 Closest to the Pin: Chris Tarletski 7' 6" Jerry Decker & Russell Hauenstein #18 Longest Drive: Tom Height Marty Andrews & Marty Lawler #16 Dr. Joe Barrett & Dale Maleckie #2 Tom and Tom #12 (Sorry we don’t have your last names. Please send them along, and I will see that you get your proper credit in a future issue of “Chips and Putts”). Page 5 Is Molasses the Recipe for Reduced Thatch? Molasses. It’s the perfect ingredient for tasty cookies but the jury is still out on its ability to reduce thatch. So says Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D. and Larry Stowell, Ph.D. of PACE Turf, the member organization known for translating research into practical turf management recommendations. Molasses has actually been used for decades in agriculture for a variety of purposes, including as a nutrient (it contains sulfur, potash and trace minerals) and as a “sticker” that helps pesticides adhere to leaf surfaces. But molasses is also frequently touted as having the ability to control thatch on golf course turf. Gelernter says, “The theory is that when applied to the soil on a seven- to 10-day schedule, the sugars in molasses promote the growth of microorganisms. These microbes then supposedly feed on the organic matter in the thatch, breaking it down so that thatch depth is decreased. As a result, the claim is that one or more aerifications can be deleted from your turf management program.” Stowell says there is some logic to the use of molasses—the application of high concentrations of sugars can stimulate microbial growth. But Stowell says a few questions should pop into your mind when you hear claims that molasses reduces thatch. These include: Are all microbes equally good? Do the sugars from molasses have the ability to selectively promote the growth only of microbes that are good for turf growth? Or are all microbes —including fungi that cause diseases— equally stimulated? Is high microbial activity necessarily a good thing? Since anaerobic soils (soils that have low levels of oxygen) are a problem, especially on golf course greens, is it wise to encourage the growth of more microbes that will suck even more oxygen out of the root zone? Where is the data? Though there have been a few articles published on the use of molasses as a thatch re- duction tool, results have been inconclusive and/or disappointing. Bert McCarty and his research team at Clem- son University showed in 2006 that weekly applications of molasses, made over a period of two years, had no ef- fect on thatch depth for Crenshaw bentgrass, but that it was beneficial when used on A-1 bentgrass. More re- cently, a study conducted at Pennsylvania State University by David Moody, Max Schlossberg and Mike Fidanza concluded that there were no differences in organic matter decomposition between untreated turf and turf treated with molasses (the product I-MOL). The authors did note that treated turf showed a decrease in lignin and cellulose (both constituents of plant cells), but found that these results were “inconclusive, warranting addi- tional investigations.” Finally, and most importantly, does molasses allow you to delete aerification procedures? Stowell says, “We hate to say this, and we long to be proven wrong someday, but you should always be wary of products that claim they are good substitutes for aerification and topdressing. It is hard to imagine how the many benefits of aerification and sand topdressing — from oxygen movement, to water movement, to production of even and firm surfaces, to disease reduction, to salinity management, etc. etc. — could be replaced by the application of any single product.” Continued on page 6 Page 6 Continued from Page 5 “The bottom line,” says Gelernter, “The data is currently inconclusive on the use of molasses or molasses based products for reduction of thatch. While some other products, such as CPR and Thatch-X, have shown promising results, they should not be used as substitutes for management techniques like aerification and sand topdressing.” Additional turf management topics are available to members of PACE Turf on the organization’s website at: www.paceturf.org. PACE Turf is a membership organization that provides research, education and information services to the turf management community. Founded in 1993 by Wendy Gelernter, Ph.D. and Larry Stowell, Ph.D., the PACE Turf mission is to generate and share independent and objective agronomic information among turf professionals so they may develop management programs that are effective, practical and scientifically sound. Fine-Tune Your Irrigation System To Save Money and See Better Results Golf Course irrigation systems offer convenience in protecting your landscape investment. The proper irrigation system allows you to enjoy your plants and turf, keep it healthy and beautiful while you water efficiently, and save time and money. With some simple practices and new technology, existing irrigation systems can be made more efficient, lower- ing your water bill, reducing run-off and eliminating waste. Water-wise habits will result in a healthier landscape, in addition to conserving water. The Irrigation Association offers these water-saving tips to maintain and update automatic irrigation systems: 1) Adapt your watering schedule to the weather and the season. Familiarize yourself with the settings on your irri- gation controller. Adjust the watering schedule regularly to conform with current weather conditions. 2) Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system. “Scheduling” accounts for the type of sprinkler, sun or shade exposure, and the soil type for the specific area. The same watering schedule should almost never apply to all zones in the system. 3) Inspect your system monthly. Check for leaks, broken or clogged heads, and other problems, or engage a certified irrigation professional to regularly check your system. Clean micro-irrigation filters as needed. Continued on page 7 Did you know… COOLING Front lawns of just eight average houses have the cooling effect of about 70 tons of air conditioning. The average home size central air unit has only a 3 to 4 ton capacity Page 7 Continued from Page 6 4) Adjust sprinkler heads. Correct obstructions that pre- vent sprinklers from distributing water evenly. Keep wa- ter off pavement and structures. 5) Get a professional system audit. Hire a professional to conduct an irrigation audit and uniformity test to make sure areas are being watered evenly. This can be especially helpful if you have areas being under- watered or brown spots. The Irrigation Association main- tains an online list of IA Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditors. 6) Consider “smart” technology. Climate or soil mois- ture sensor-based controllers evaluate weather or soil moisture conditions and then automatically adjust the irrigation schedule to meet the specific needs of your landscape. Learn more at http://www.irrigation.org/swat/homeowners/. 7) Install a rain shutoff switch…inexpensive and effec- tive. Required by law in many states, these money- saving sensors turn off your system in rainy weather and help to compensate for natural rainfall. The device can be retrofitted to almost any system. 8) Consider low volume drip irrigation for plant beds. Install micro irrigation for gardens, trees and shrubs. Mi- cro irrigation includes drip (also known as trickle), micro spray jets, micro-sprinklers, or bubbler irrigation to irri- gate slowly and minimize evaporation, runoff and over- spray. 9) Water at the optimum time. Water when the sun is low or down, winds are calm and temperatures are cool - between the evening and early morning - to re- duce evaporation. You can lose as much as 30 percent of water to evaporation by watering mid-day. 10) Water only when needed. Saturate root zones and let the soil dry. Watering too much and too frequently results in shallow roots, weed growth, disease and fun- Locations in NY, NJ, PA, CT gus. Ph 973-379-9314 Fax 973-379-6504 Best advice for a healthy, drought- and stress-tolerant Contact Fred Rapp landscape: use less water. These tips will help keep Mike Yarussi more money in your wallet instead of sending it down Ken Givens the drain. Suppliers of all your irrigation needs Irrigation Association • www.irrigation.org 6540 Arlington Blvd. Falls Church, VA 22042 • Tel: 703.536.7080 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 June 24 Eagle Rock Welcome New Members! John Kaminski, Penn State July 21 Jack Frost National Lance Ernst, Turf Equipment & Supply Co. Mark Fine, Fine Golf Design Donovan Hickman, Indian Hills Golf Club Aug 17 Elmhurst Clambake Thomas Mazar, Wyoming Valley C.C. Sept 15 Huntsville Golf Club The Longest Delayed Result in any national open Oct 15 Glen Maura National Championship championship occurred in the 1931 US Open at Toledo, Ohio. George von Elme and Billy Burke tied at 292, then tied the first replay at 149. Burke won the second replay by a single stroke after 72 extra holes. The Longest Hole in the World is the 7th hole (par 7) of the Sano Course at the Satsuki Golf Club in Japan. It measures a long 909 yards! Exceeding POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION R.R. 1, BOX 219 your expectations. POSTAGE HARDING, PA 18643 Every day. One hundred and thirty dedicate d peo ple with the NAME & ADDRESS best parts, pro d- ucts and service for the green in- dustry Turf Equipment and Supply Phone: 215-345-7200 Fax: 215-345-8132 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED. Web: www.turf-equipm ent.com