CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 15 NO. 7 September 2009 Huntsville Golf Club Shavertown, PA Mark McCormick, GCS September is special as this month our regular meeting brings us to a new destination, Huntsville Golf Club in Shavertown, PA. Mark McCormick, Golf Course Superintendent, along with Scott Schukraft, General Manager, will open the doors and welcome the Pocono Turfgrass Association to their facility. This Rees Jones course was constructed back in 1992 and has grown into a course that will challenge your skills. Additionally, this month, our speaker will be Mark Kuhns, CGCS, and the current GCSAA president. Mark will be up to speak to our Association on the state of the national association and golf in general. This should be a great opportunity to hear about those topics and what you can expect to see from the Association going for- ward. Huntsville Golf Club not only puts golf foremost for their members, but also keeps the environment in the fore- front as well. Huntsville was established as a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in the fall of 1996 and has continued to be recognized every two years for maintaining those ideals. Huntsville was built by Rees Jones on 473 acres of rolling terrain with many scenic vistas of the Back Mountain area. The course has ample tee grounds that can stretch the course to 7402 yards. Hopefully, Mark will be feel- ing generous and forget where those black tees are when we come to enjoy the facility. Huntsville has been afforded many accolades since it opened. Some awards include: #2 Best New Private Golf Course in America in 1995, Golf Digest, Dec. 1995 issue: #6 in the USA in the category of “Design Variety” in 1997, Golf Digest, May 1997 issue: #6 Best Course in Pennsylvania in 1997, Golf Digest, May 1997 issue: #23 in America’s Top 100 Best Modern Courses/1997, Golfweek and in 1997 the Mid-Atlantic Regional Environmental Steward Award given by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Mark McCormick has been at Huntsville since construction began in 1992. He is a Penn State graduate with previ- ous experience at the PSU golf courses, Castle Pines Golf Club in Colorado, and Settindown Creek Golf Club in Continued on Page 3 Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2009 There are just a few points I want to bring up this month…... First, our election meeting will soon be here. If anyone is PRESIDENT interested in serving on the Board of Directors, contact any of the Darrin Larkin, Panorama Golf Course current Board members. 570-222-9260 VICE PRESIDENT Secondly, anyone interested in applying for one of our Rick Anglemyer, Water Gap CC 570-424-6391 scholarships should start the process soon. TREASURER John Downer, Elkview C.C. And last, John Downer is looking to organize a Wine Tour to the 570-840-0078 Finger Lakes region. Anyone interested in that should contact him for SECRETARY more information. The trip would be open for wives and significant Ray Wadell, Elmhurst CC others.” 570-842-4705 DIRECTORS Darrin Larkin Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. 973-418-3468 Matthew Brown, Philadelphia Turf 215-340-5401 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. __________________________ Well, football season is here. Favre is back, no, wait, yes, CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF no...yes, he is back. The weather is great for grass growing and EDITOR many are longing for the days when the grass will slow down. That Jim Gurzler, George Schofield Co. 732-433-5474 will be soon enough. Hopefully, you made it through to Labor Day jim@gurzler.com without many incidents in this tough economic year. The weather Managing Editor will soon be filled with reports of frost warnings and then the snow will Melinda Wisnosky be coming down on Saturdays and you will long for the summer just 570-388-2167 ended. Editorial Committee Darrin Larkin Matt Brown Thanks again to all the Clambake sign sponsors for their sup- port. You will see the Scholarship application in this issue. The dead- Past President Duane Schell, Blue Ridge Trail G. C. line is October 31, 2009. Please contact Rick Anglemyer with your 570-868-8113 application. Remember, there are two scholarships, one in a turf djschell@epix.net major and one in a non-turf area. The meetings have been well attended, and this is a great thing. Do not forget to include those meetings in your GCSAA re- cords. Even though our talks haven’t qualified for education points, those meetings do count toward the required service points. PTGA Office On the topic of meetings and education, would anyone be R.R. 1, Box 219 Harding, PA 18643 interested in a half day seminar the night before the Woodlands? If Phone/Fax: 570-388-2167 parties are interested, the PTGA can put together a program with Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of Penn State’s blessing. Send along ideas for topics or speakers and the author and/or person quoted, and may not represent we can get started on this seminar. Enjoy the cooler weather. the position of PTGA. Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, Jim Gurzler without special permission, as long as the true context is maintained. We would appreciate a credit line. Page Page 3 3 Continued from Page 1 Georgia. Assisting Mark with the course are William Misson and Casey Sheehan. Both are Penn State graduates who have been at the club since 2004 and 2008, respectively. They manage a summer staff of 21 and a winter crew of just 3. They are charged with maintaining the 3½ acres of greens, 2½ acres of tees, 25 acres of fairways and the 50 acres of maintained rough. From those back tees previously mentioned, the course has a slope rating of 141 and a course rating of 75.3, so it will be a great venue to have our MET Tournament Qualifier, which will be a Stableford scoring system. Be sure to bring your handicap card as those without it won’t be eligible for the MET team selection process. A quote from Rees Jones, “This course will reward excellent shot making, yet it will not overly penalize a poorly played shot.” I plan to put this to the test! Thanks also to Brent Wood of John Deere Golf and Paul Brandon of Finch Services for sponsoring this month’s meeting. It is sure to be a good one, so keep the date open. The finishing hole at Huntsville Page 4 Pocono Turfgrass Association 2009 Scholarships The Patterson Scholarship for Turfgrass Related Studies The Pocono Turfgrass Association is now accepting scholarship applications for the Patterson Scholarship. The deadline for application is Octopber 31, 2009. The following is a list of guide- lines for all individuals interested in applying for the scholarship: 1. Applicant must be in his or her final year of study or a recent graduate of a two- or four-year turf related program. 2. The applicant must be a member of the Pocono Turfgrass Association, employed by a member of PTGA, or an immediate family member of a member of PTGA. 3. The applicant must submit, in writing, why he or she would like to be considered for the scholarship. The essay should include what he or she feels their contribution to the turfgrass field will be. 4. Applicants must include a letter of endorsement from their PTGA relation with their ap- plication. The Pocono Turfgrass Association Scholarship for Non-Turf Related Studies The Pocono Turfgrass Association is now accepting applications for a non-turfgrass related field of study scholarship. The deadline for application is October 31, 2009. The following is a list of guidelines for all individuals interested in applying for the scholarship: 1. Applicant must be in his or her final year of study or a recent graduate of a two- or four-year non-turf related program. 2. The applicant must be a member of the Pocono Turfgrass Association, employed by a member of PTGA, or an immediate family member of a member of PTGA. 3. The applicant must submit, in writing, why he or she would like to be considered for the scholarship. The essay should include information pertaining to field of study, educa- tional achievement, and future goals with respect to utilization of his or her education. 4. Applicants must include a letter of endorsement from their PTGA relation with their ap- plication. Applications should be submitted to: Rick Anglemyer Water Gap Country Club PO Box 725 Mountain Rd. Delaware Water Gap, PA 18327 Page 5 Clambake Round Up Once again our Annual Clambake was hosted by Ray Waddell and Elmhurst Country Club. The event, as popular as ever, was well attended by golfers looking forward to great food and a fine golf course. This year the clambake took place the week prior to the Nationwide Tour Northeast PA Tournament, so we got a sampling of what the pros had in store for them. The golf was competitive, and on a match of cards the group of Mike Zellner, Joe Sellers, and Bob Seltzer beat out the group of Matt Fronzak, Jack Sudlesky and Gary Phillips, Sr and Gary Phillips, Closest to the Pin on the 13th hole and Synatek was kind enough to donate one more skill prize which was given out on the 15th hole and won by Fred Krispin. Gary Phil- lips, Jr. taught his golf ball a lesson on the Long Drive hole and was awarded lond drive for the Clambake. Although money was put forth for skins, none were awarded as our talented field knocked each other out on each birdie and all 8 eagles. Thanks again to Ray Waddell for hosting the clambake and doing such a wonderful job. Thanks also to the meeting sponsor Chuck DeAngelo of Club Car. Thanks also to all our tee sponsors for making this event a wonderful success yet again. Jr from Elmhurst. The low score was a remarkable 59. Placing in a respectable 3rd place was the group of Chris Butler, Ted Zabrisky, Dave Huttie, and Tom Hut- tie representing Allentown Muni. Skill prizes were awarded to John Downer for Closest to the Pin on the 9th hole, Joe Barrett was Page 6 Thank you! ….to all the sponsors of this year’s Clambake. Because of your contributions, it was another great event for our scholarship fund! Aer-Core, Inc. Andre and Son, Inc. Aquatrols Atlantic Irrigation BASF Turf and Ornamental Bayer Environmental Sciences Blue Ridge Peat Farms Central Clay Products Inc. Cleary Chemical Elkview Country Club Finch Services Fisher and Son Floratine Fox Hill C.C. Genesis Golf Car Specialties 888-384-8676 - www.turf-equipment.com Golf Cars Inc. Golf Cart Services and EZ-GO Grass Roots Helena Chemical John Deere Golf Lawn and Golf Lebanon Chemical Mitchell Products Onsite Portable Toilets Panorama Golf Course Phoenix Environmental Care Plant Food Premier Turf Solutions PSC Quality Materials/Geo. Schofield Schlegel Golf Course Design Seeton Turf Synatek "The Turf Solutions People" Syngenta Turf Equipment and Supply Page 7 A Night with the Yankees! Thanks to Turf Equipment Supply for another great night at the ballpark in Moosic. Somewhere around 80 folks showed up to enjoy the night provided by TES as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees took on the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. The Yankees came away victorious, with a 6-0 win, as did those who attended this fun filled night. Yankees 6 Iron Pigs 0 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 2009 Golf Schedule Congratulations to Mike Darby, superintendent at Ea- gle Rock Resort in Hazleton. Mike takes over for Bobby Sept 15 Huntsville Golf Club Brown who has gone on to start his own business. Speaker: Mark Kuhns, CGCS Oct 5 Lehigh Country Club A job well done to Ray Waddell for hosting his second Ed Zimmerman Benefit Tournament Nationwide Tour Event. The course looked great and the players enjoyed the course as well. Oct 15 Glen Maura National PTGA Championship Quotes of the Month Nov 10-12 Penn State Turf Conference State College, PA "Happiness comes when your work and words are of benefit to yourself and others." Buddha Nov 10-12 GCSANJ Crystal Conference Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg NJ Golf appeals to the idiot in us and the child. Just how childlike golf players become is proven by their fre- Dec 8-10 NJTA Expo quent inability to count past five. ~John Updike Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ Jan 12-14 Eastern PA Turf Conference Valley Forge PA PTGA has a facebook page. Go there and find pic- tures, discussions, and other goings on throughout the area. 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.