CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 16 NO. 2 April 2010 Bethlehem Golf Club Tom Wilchak, Superintendent April marks the start of our golf season and our an- nual trip to the Lehigh Valley looking for warmer weather. Tom Wilchak will host the Pocono Turfgrass Association at this popular club. Tom has been at Bethlehem Golf Club for 16 years and is now the General Manager and Superintendent for the course. Prior to Bethlehem Golf Club, Tom worked at Kennett Square Country Club and at Fiddlers Elbow in New Jersey. William and Dan Gordon were the architects of the 7,017 yard course. The golf course is a Par 71 layout with a slope of 73.6 and a course rating of 127. In addi- tion to the 18 hole regulation course, there is an execu- tive 9 hole course on the other side of the road as well as a practice area. The practice area recently underwent some improvements, including a covered hitting area. Other improvements at the club during 2009 included the installation of a Rainbird decoder system to con- trol both courses and a new cart barn. Tom manages a staff of 40 in the summer and has a full time winter crew of 12. The staff maintains 200 acres that encompass both golf courses and the practice area. The courses have 4 acres of greens, 4 acres of tees, and 35 acres of fairways. There are 100 acres of rough. Rick Fletcher of the Cleary Chemical Company is scheduled to give a talk on using chemistry properly. The talk will cover tank mixing, identification of pests, proper calibration, and disease management strategies. GCSAA credits and PA DEP credits are available for those who attend. Rick is scheduled to speak before dinner; so even if you can’t sneak away for the whole day, please make an effort to get out and network before the season really kicks in. Atlantic Irrigation has agreed to sponsor the meeting. Thank you very much to Ken Givens and Mike Ya- russi for their generosity. We will have a blind draw two man tournament which will be a 6 hole scramble, 6 hole better ball and 6 hole alternate shot format. This year the Golf Committee has made a great attempt to vary the format, looking to strengthen the networking opportunities for attendees. The PTGA is also looking to enforce the registration deadlines, so please get them in on time. The Golf Committee is very lenient on cancellations, so if you think you are coming, go ahead and register early. If the need arises, cancel your registration. Just an as FYI fact, the Gordons have also done work at Saucon Valley-Grace Course, Mahoning Valley, Edgewood in the Pines, Frosty Valley, and Whitford CC; the Gordons have also done renovation work at Brook- side CC, Buck Hill CC, Manufacturers’ CC, Saucon Valley-Old Course, and Lehigh County Club, to name a few. Anyway, enjoy the spring and get your clubs ready for some fun. Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2010 Just a few short weeks ago I had 17” of snow on the ground. Now it’s pushing 89 degrees. The flowers are blooming, trees are already starting to leaf out and the spring peepers are at full crescendo. Half of my course is under water, while the other half is screaming for a drink. It really is April, right ? PRESIDENT Rick Anglemyer, Water Gap CC 570-424-6391 The Board has come up with some fantastic meeting sites and interesting games to play. I encourage you to make as many meetings VICE PRESIDENT John Downer, Elkview C.C. as you can. This year should prove to be fun for everyone. Our 570-840-0078 Education Committee has been hard at work securing some great TREASURER speakers for your pleasure. I personally enjoy seeing new and old faces Ray Wadell, Elmhurst CC alike, and hearing how everyone’s year is shaping up. 570-842-4705 SECRETARY So in closing, May is on it’s way and we should brace ourselves for Patrick Knelly Sugarloaf Golf Club 570-384-4724 whatever Mother Nature is going to throw at us. Good luck, and keep DIRECTORS it out of the deep stuff. Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. 973-418-3468 Matthew Brown, Philadelphia Turf 215-340-5401 Rick Anglemyer Greg Boring, Country Club of Scranton 570-587-4046 Thomas Height 570-237-0878 Gino Marchetti, Glen Oak CC. Editor’s Notes….. 570-586-5791 Patrick Healy, Scranton Canoe Club 570-378-2249 __________________________ Well, spring is here, and the temps have already bro- CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF ken the 80’s, which is amazing after the tough ending to the winter. EDITOR Winter injury has reared its ugly head again this year on some proper- Jim Gurzler, George Schofield Co. 732-433-5474 ties, showing how widely different our area is. We are heading down jim@gurzler.com to the Lehigh Valley in April to enjoy the warmer weather at Bethle- Managing Editor hem Golf Club, and I know Tom will have the place ready for us. Melinda Wisnosky 570-388-2167 The economy seems to be getting a little stronger. Hopefully, Editorial Committee budgets will have seen the last of the cuts. Remember that meetings Darrin Larkin Matt Brown are a great place to enjoy time with others who do the same thing you do and can share war stories, successes and failures, so that Past President everyone may grow stronger. The Education Committee is making a Darrin Larkin, Panorama Golf Course 570-222-9260 strong attempt at getting DEP and GCSAA education points for each meeting, except the clambake, so the meeting will be a valu- able addition to your education opportunities this year. Make it a point to get to a meeting this year. Matt Brown is heading up the Golf Committee this season. Let him know what you think. Matt and the rest of the BOD are here to PTGA Office R.R. 1, Box 219 steer the Association as the members desire. Make your voices heard Harding, PA 18643 to Board member with any questions, concerns, or applause. Phone/Fax: 570-388-2167 Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of Anyway, enjoy the spring, because summer isn’t far off. 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, Jim Gurzler without special permission, as long as the true context is maintained. We would appreciate a credit line. Page Page 3 3 ft2 When It Comes to Topdressing Fairways: More is Better Preliminary data from a two year University of By Jim Skorulski, Dr. Jason Henderson and Nathaniel A. Miller Connecticut field study shows that application rate has over the native sandy loam soils. A control plot that a greater impact than sand particle size distribution in received no topdressing applications also was in- meeting fairway topdressing objectives. cluded. The plots were rated for turf quality and color. Percent cover was determined, along with soil mois- F or years, golf course superintendents in the Pacific Northwest have benefited from sand topdressing on wet and poorly drained fairway and rough areas. ture content, firmness, and temperature. Dollar spot incidence and earthworm castings also were meas- ured as they occurred. The data were collected The sand applications, over time, firmed the wet sur- weekly through the 2008 growing season and biweekly faces for improved maintenance and playability. through the 2009 season. Data from the 2008 season Other benefits observed from topdressing included a will be discussed, as the 2009 data is currently being reduction in earthworm castings, improved rooting, collected and analyzed. earlier spring green-up, and a possible reduction in water use. Golf courses across North America have Turf Quality, Color and Cover turned to fairway topdressing in hopes of achieving The data analysis indicates that fairway topdressing similar benefits. But, as the program gains in popular- positively influences turf quality, color, and cover. The ity, there remain some unanswered questions, such increase in turfgrass quality appeared as an overall rate as what are the effects of sand type and response, with plots receiving higher rates of application rates on the success of the topdressing generally getting higher quality program? An ongoing field study… is ratings despite the type of sand applied. starting to shed some light Topdressing rate also had the largest impact An ongoing field study funded by the on turfgrass color throughout the season, but USGA Grant-in-Aide Research Program on the impact of sand type was most noticeable during initial spring and Tri-State Research Corporation at and application volumes on green-up. Plots receiving the most sand had the University of Connecticut (UCONN) is soil physical properties, the greatest color response during the 2008 starting to shed some light on the impact season. Turf cover data were collected just of sand type and application volumes turfgrass quality, prior to the next topdressing application. on soil physical properties, turfgrass qual- earthworm castings and Greater turfgrass cover was observed on ity, earthworm castings, and turf disease. plots topdressed at higher application rates. The project is being completed by Dr. turf disease. Sand type showed no effect on turfgrass Jason Henderson and Nathaniel Miller on cover when the data were collected at the creeping bentgrass fairway plots at the UCONN end of the month. Plant Science Education and Research Facility in Storrs, CT. The objectives of the experiment were to: 1) Soil Moisture determine whether particle size distribution and/or ap- Soil moisture content in the top two inches of the root plication rate will affect color, turfgrass quality, zone profile was impacted by both sand type and ap- turfgrass cover, disease incidence and earthworm ac- plication rate. Generally, the coarser the sand, the less tivity; 2) quantify the effects of particle size distribution water was retained. Similarly, the higher the topdressing and topdressing layer depth on moisture retention, soil application rate, the less water was retained in the up- temperature, and resistance to surface displacement per profile. The only exception to these trends was in (firmness); 3) use resultant data to make recommen- September 2008 when moisture levels were very high dations to improve the practice of fairway topdress- and both the fine and medium textured sands retained ing. more moisture than the coarse sand and control plots. The experiment was initiated in July of 2007 when the Surface Firmness initial sand treatments were applied. Sand treatments A primary reason fairway topdressing programs are im- were applied on a monthly schedule through Novem- plemented is to firm the surfaces, improve playability, ber of 2007. Treatments were reinitiated in May of and minimize course closure following heavy rains. Sur- 2008 and continued monthly through November of face firmness was measured in this study using a proving 2008. Coarse, medium, and fine-textured sands were ring penetrometer. A sand type and application rate included in the experiment with application rates at effect was observed in April and May. 4ft3 per 1,000 ft2, 8 ft3 per 1,000 ft2 and 12 ft3 per 1,000 (Continued on page 4) Page 4 (Continued from page 3) The severity of the infection was reduced by sand top- dressing. The highest application rate of 12 ft3 per The rate effect showed that treatments receiving 1,000 ft2 had significantly lower dollar spot counts than higher rates of topdressing were firmer than the lower plots receiving the low and medium application rates rate and control treatments. The rate effect was not and the control. significant from June through October. The sand type effect continued into June with the fine sand and The results of this short two-year field study are prelimi- USGA sands showing greater firmness than the coarse nary, but none-the-less are encouraging and support sand treatments. The sand type effect from July and the benefits of fairway topdressing programs. Fairway August showed that the fine and USGA sands were not topdressing is not for every golf course. It requires a significantly different from the control. The coarse sand long term commitment and investment that, over treatment was less firm than the control, fine sand, and time, can improve playing conditions. Dr. Henderson USGA sand treatments from July through October. sums up the initial finding well in the following quote, “The good news is that the majority of responses ap- Earthworm Castings and Dollar Spot Incidence pear to be related to application rate rather than Sand topdressing did reduce earthworm castings on a sand type, which could result in a significant cost sav- measurement date in November 2008. Significant dif- ings associated with sand purchases.” Additional in- ferences were observed based on application rates. formation regarding this study can be found at http:// The plots receiving the 8 and 12ft3 per 1,000 ft2 had sig- www.turf.uconn.edu and http://usgatero.msu.edu/. nificantly lower earthworm castings than plots receiv- ing the low application rate and the control. Plots Jim Skorulski is a senior agronomist for the Green Sec- receiving the low application rate of 4ft3 per 1,000 ft2 tion’s Northeast Region; Jason Henderson, Ph.D., assis- had significantly lower castings than the control. tant professor, turfgrass and soil sciences, and Nathan- iel Miller, M.S. candidate, department of plant sci- Significant differences in dollar spot incidence were ence, University of Connecticut. recorded on the plots in October 2007 and June 2008. Page 5 Preventative shouldn’t just be for Disease Management By Jeff Allen, Atlantic Irrigation J ust because it’s cool outside doesn’t mean you can’t spend some time prepping your irrigation con- breaker and provides another layer of protection your valuable central equipment. trol system for the upcoming Season. Here are a few suggestions for things you can do during the off season Ground to make sure your irrigation system is ready to go in A Ground is conducting connection between an elec- spring. trical circuit and the earth or other large conducting body to serve as an earth thus making a complete The Computer electrical circuit. In the middle of the Summer the Irrigation Central Grounding is such an important ingredient of an irriga- computer can become one of the single most impor- tion system, but is often taken for granted. The only tant pieces of equipment at your facility and yet it is situation where grounding is not important is in a man- amazing how poorly treated they can be. In some ual quick coupler system. Two wire, decoder, wireless, cases Weed eaters get better attention. Now is the all require proper grounding. Please refer to the manu- perfect time to take your Irrigation Central to either facturer’s recommendations for the exact specs. To the Clubs IT person or to a professional and have it begin, all grounds need to be tested and those thoroughly cleaned. Do not do what I did a few results (resistance to ground) need to be years ago and use the shop’s air compressor to documented. This testing needs to be blow out a dirty PC. The tower had never been done twice a year. This test will meas- cleaner but now needed a new motherboard be- ure the ability of that ground to ac- cause of the condensation in the compressor. cept a surge, either lightning or Back up the data base- nothing is worse than power and pass it harmlessly to an realizing on a hot Saturday morning earth ground. If that energy cannot fol- when you lose you computer to low the path of least inductance then it a surge or something that will expend itself inside the controller. This you have no back up. test is done by using a megger, the tradi- Put a copy on a thumb tional three point meter, or a clamp on drive or a CD, and put meter. Either style will give you an accurate it in a safe place. Get reading. in the habit of doing this a Here are specific locations where the ground- couple times a year to make ing needs to be checked. sure you have the most current The Irrigation Central computer needs to be data base. Go through the data grounded to the Irrigation interface so they both base and make sure that the changes maintain the same potential. Typically this is nothing that have been done out in the field have been pro- more than attaching a #6 copper wire to the Com- grammed in the computer. Are the nozzles correct, are puter’s metal chassis and the ground connection on the arcs of the sprinklers correctly programmed, is the the interface. Also of importance is making sure the hydraulic tree correct? Do you have areas where due irrigation interface is also grounded to earth. What is to piping restrictions you have poorly performing heads the interface grounded to? Typically all hard wired that could be limited by adjusting the flo manager? control systems are wired back to the central and pass Winter is the perfect time to make all these tweaks you through a surge protection device and lead to the don’t get to do during the season. field Interface. Are the leads connecting the interface Do you have a UPS battery backup device protecting (MIMI, FIU) to the ground outside clean and tight? Is the computers power supply? These units protect the the ground grid that handles the interface and wire computer by maintaining the voltage during spikes paths coming back to the shop accessible? The wire and brown outs, they also provide a limited amount of coming from the interface connecting to the ground running time during power outages. The UPS operates rod needs good metal to metal contact. This is an off a rechargeable battery that, depending upon the ideal place to start in examining those connections. If size, gives you a limited amount of time to safely shut- they are mechanical (connected with a bolt or nut) down the system. Another positive step would be in- they need to be taken apart, cleaned and put back stalling a primary surge protector on the electric circuit together. An alternate solution to having to check that the computer is on. This unit gets wired in at the (Continued on page 6) Page 6 (Continued from page 5) ing grid that typically includes copper clad ground rods those connections regularly would be to exothermically and plates. To measure the effectiveness of this ground weld (ie Cadweld) that connection insuring a perma- grid have the resistance tested with either a Megger or nent positive contact. This holds true with all grounding clamp on meter. connections. Again, look at the way the ground wire is attached to Does the interface support multiple wire paths? Are the rod. Ideally the rod has a grate covering a sleeve they all working? Now is the right time to diagnose and over the top of the rod to allow inspection and moisture make sure everything gets repaired before the season to reach the rod. If the rod has a clamp or mechanical gets underway connection, again remove thoroughly clean and reat- Field Splices- Take the time to mark or label valve boxes tach the connection or use a exothermic type of con- as to what they contain. Make it as easy as possible to nection. identify what those boxes contain. Being able to drive This article just skims the surface of some very involved up and see what exactly is in the ground will not only topics and is meant to make the reader aware of a few help you but also Staff who may not know the system all basic preventative maintenance steps that need be that well. done on a regular basis. Accomplishing these tasks in the off season will give you some peace of mind when Controllers you entire the growing season and may help prevent Take a leaf blower and blow all the debris, dirt, dust, some catastrophic event from happening. The few ba- spider webs, and mouse nests out of the box. In loca- sic steps previously mentioned are by no means any tions where there is a chronic mouse problem it will pay guarantee of preventing or eliminating surge related to bring in the faceplates and cables. Turn off the damage but are just merely suggestions as ways to pre- power, do anything you can to make it a less inviting vent it. The simple steps covered above can be easily environment for them. Going back on a regular basis to done in house while the system is winterized. There are inspect and blow out the boxes may help as well as other significant parts of your irrigation system that need leaving poison baits and traps. to be inspected and maintained on a regular basis, Look in the controller and find where the bare copper such as sprinkler head rotation and proper operation, ground wire attaches to the controller chassis. Loosen it, as well as to perform regular maintenance on your take it off and clean off the wire and connection point pump station. Also, take advantage of your friendly so that there is good metal to metal contact. This will Irrigation Salesperson. They are there to help you be as insure a good clean connection for the ground wire. successful as possible and can be a great source of Quite often the last time these get inspected is when information. And who knows, they may even have the controller is installed. This should really be done something you would want to buy. twice a year. Making sure the connection is clean should be a annual, if not bi annual event. On the other Jeff Allen is golf sales for central and southern New Jer- end of the bare copper wire leaving the controller sey with Atlantic Irrigation. ground lugs should be some combination of a ground- Chips & Putts PATRON SPONSORS AERIFICATION AND OVERSEEDING IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE Aer-Core Ryan Davidheiser 610-310-3925 Turf Equip. & Supply George Skawski 610.554.9366 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Matt Brown 484-357-6312 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 710.933.5801 PLANT PROTECTANTS Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 EQUIPMENT Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Aer-Core Ryan Davidheiser 610-310-3925 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Reel Sharp Brian Grebeldinger 845-597-7738 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Turf Equip. & Supply Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 George Skawski 610.554.9366 Syngenta Lee A. Kozsey 610.861.8174 FERTILIZER SEED & SOD Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 East Coast Sod & Seed Kevin Driscoll 609.760.4099 Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 TOPDRESSING / SOIL AMENDMENTS Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 GREEN AND TEE SUPPLIES Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Blue Ridge Peat Farms Gene Evans 570.443.9596 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Geo. Schofield Jim Gurzler 732-433-5474 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Support our Sponsors - They support us! PTGA SCHEDULE POCONO ROUNDUP April 19 Bethlehem Golf Club Host Tom Wilchak Best Wishes Best Wishes go out to our April Meeting host Tom May 26 Pocono Manor Wilchak of the Bethlehem Golf Club. Tom underwent Host Cory Preis back surgery in early April. June 21 Stone Hedge New Ownership Host Mahoning Valley CC in Lehighton PA has new ownership. The Lehigh Gas Company has purchased July 19 Glenbrook CC the club and retained Jeremy Jones as Director of Host Jeff Feick Operations for the facility. The club was founded in 1927 by Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company and Aug 16 Elmhurst CC was private until 2005, when it was purchased by Host Ray Waddell Oliver Angelus, who had purchased the club in 2005. Sept 20 Pine Hills CC Welcome Host Eric Duffy Welcome to Kevin Taggart, Superintendent at River- view Golf Course in Easton PA. Kevin is the brother of Oct 7 Valley CC Steve Taggart at Shawnee Inn and Resort. Welcome Host Eric Reed, CGCS Kevin. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION R.R. 1, BOX 219 POSTAGE HARDING, PA 18643 NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.