CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 18 NO. 2 April 2012 May Meeting Mt. Airy Golf Club http://www.mountairycasino.com/golf/index.cfm Host: Andy Faist, GCS Speaker: Jim Nedin, TESCO May will bring us to Mt. Airy Golf Club (and Casino). For those who like to gamble as well as golf, the package that Mt. Airy is putting together for the PTGA will definitely get your attention, so keep your eyes open for the meeting notice. The club history goes like this….. The original Mount Airy Lodge opened in the early 1950’s and holds a place in history as the cornerstone of the legendary Pocono Mountain vacation retreats. Considered America’s premier “Honeymoon Hideway” for almost half a century, Mount Airy Lodge once had 890 hotel rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, skiing, snow- mobiling, hiking, archery, sports center and a variety of other recreational activities. Continued on Page 5 Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2012 I had forgotten just how many projects that were put on standby for the winter. It didn't take long for the golfers to remind me. The warm snap in March got everyone looking closely and wondering why the courses they had been playing in the south all winter were more ready than Elkview. I thought to myself that most southern PRESIDENT John Downer, Elkview C.C. courses even as close as Scranton never really closed. Right Kozar? As 570-840-0078 I write this little note, looking at last year’s calendar, we were snow VICE PRESIDENT covered until the 12th of April. You have to wonder why people can't Patrick Knelly, Sugarloaf Golf Club 570-384-4724 just appreciate the little gifts in life like early golf. TREASURER Greg Boring, Country Club of Scranton Be sure to make those aware in the higher up positions of the 570-587-4046 costs of earlier golf. Additional labor, sprays, fuel, electricity, irrigation SECRETARY and other materials. My entire budget needs shifting. I have heard Ray Wadell, Elmhurst CC that in southern PA a fellow super never had a budget for irrigation 570-842-4705 pump electricity in March. The cost this year was four thousand dollars. We find ourselves in the first month of operation - OVER BUDGET. DIRECTORS Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. 973-418-3468 Remember, take the time for your mental and physical health. Matthew Brown, Turf Equipment & Supply Plan a get away trip, and make it your goal. Be happy. Play golf. Go 484-357-6312 Patrick Healey, Scranton Canoe Club fishing. Go camping. Visit the beach. It’s going to be a long season. 570-378-2249 Thomas Height, Country Club of Scranton 570-237-0878 Gino Marchetti, Glen Oak CC. John Downer 570-586-5791 James Gurzler, Green Valley Landscaping 570-592-2473 __________________________ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF Editor’s Notes….. EDITOR Brian Bachman, Genesis Turfgrass, Inc. 484-661-6105 bbachman@genesisturfgrassinc.com Well, I’ll avoid the obvious and not talk about the weath- Managing Editor er….but what a relatively welcomed shot in the arm of the golf econ- Melinda Wisnosky omy that it has been. 570-388-2167 mmel500@aol.com As always, I will send my plea out for articles, information, etc. Editorial Committee Darrin Larkin that you all would like to see in the newsletter. It’s all our Association Matt Brown and newsletter, so if you think you have something for the benefit of PAST PRESIDENT the whole then pass it on. Rick Anglemyer, Water Gap CC 570-424-6391 Good luck to all as the season keeps accelerating at a furious pace….. Brian Bachman PTGA Office 309 Terrace Avenue 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. PagePage 3 3 Pocono Turfgrass Association 2012 Scholarships The Patterson Scholarship for Turfgrass Related Studies The Pocono Turfgrass Association is now accepting scholarship applications for the Patterson Scholarship. The dead- line for application is June 30, 2012. 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 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 application. 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 June 30, 2012. The following is a list of guidelines for all individuals interested in apply- ing 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, educational 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 application. Applications should be submitted to: John Downer Elkview C.C. 161 Country Club Road Greenfield Twp., PA 18407 Page 4 PTGA Membership Drives Superintendent’s Son Thinking of becoming a Named MVP PTGA Member?? Know someone who would Andy Faist, Jr., son of Mount Airy Golf Course Su- perintendent Andy Faist (who is hosting our May like to be a PTGA meeting), was recently named MVP for the cham- Member?? pionship game of the Canadian Cup Hockey Tournament in Montreal, Canada. The Pocono Turfgrass Association has revived some old initia- Andy Jr., who plays goaltender for the Wilkes-Barre tives to make your membership even more valuable than it Jr. Penguins Pee-Wee A team, led his team to a 4- already is by introducing two new membership drives: 3 overtime victory over the New Jersey Jr. Devils to close out the four-day tournament which was Drive #1: played over the recent President’s Day weekend. Any Class A superintendent member who joins the Associa- tion (with their paid dues and approved application, of The Wilkes-Barre Jr. Penguins Pee-Wee A team, course) will be able to attend the monthly meeting immedi- which consists of players ages 12 and 13, com- ately following their membership for FREE!!! petes in the Delaware Valley Hockey League. The team recently concluded their season finishing Please Note: Free meeting excludes the clambake in August second in their division, but were eliminated in the playoffs in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss. Drive #2: Any existing member who signs up 3 new members (with their Congratulations to both Andy and his son on a paid dues and approved application, of course) will be able successful season. to attend the monthly meeting of their choice (excluding the clambake) for FREE!!! Talk to any Board Member for additional details. Andy Faist, Jr. Page 5 Continued from Page 1 uses his history as an assistant at three different In the late 1970’s, resort owners developed the 18-hole clubs, including Glenmaura, to manage the 6500 Mount Airy Golf Club to add to the long list of resort ameni- yards of poa/bent greens, rye/poa tees, and ties. A premier golf course for its day, the eighteen holes of Heinz 57 fairways at Mt. Airy. Mount Airy were said to be designed after the 1966 Sports Illustrated article “The 18 Best Holes in the United States.” So come on out...play some golf, enjoy some camaraderie, and have a chance at taking With the decline of Pocono mountain tourism in the 1980’s home a lot more than just the 50/50 money. and 1990’s, Mount Airy Lodge would eventually go into fore- closure in 1999. As the original hotel and much of the prop- erty fell into disrepair, the golf course would remain open as bank management companies sought a buyer for the prop- erty. In 2004, the property was purchased by Dunmore business- man, Louis DeNaples, with the ambition of redeveloping Mount Airy into a casino/resort under Pennsylvania’s newly approved gaming laws. Over the next several years, the entire original Mount Airy Lodge was demolished and subsequently replaced with the new Mount Airy Casino-Resort. Opening in 2007, the four-star resort includes a casino with 2500 slot machines, casino table games, a 188-room hotel, spa, restaurants ranging from cas- ual to high end Italian and steak house….and of course the original golf course. The early stages of development of the $412 million Mount Airy Casino-Resort project saw little attention directed to- ward the golf course, as focus was understandably on the revenue generating foundations of the casino and hotel. Recent years have seen a firm commitment by manage- ment to invest in the golf course and bring it back to its origi- nal glory as Mount Airy Casino-Resort once again seeks to establish itself as a premier resort destination in the Poconos. Since 2010, the Mount Airy Golf Club has seen the installation of a new irrigation system, re-surfacing of cart paths, exten- sive tree work, new equipment purchases and an increased maintenance budget. Construction of a new clubhouse is underway and will be completed by the beginning of the 2012 season. Plans are in place for bunker renovations and the construction of new practice areas to replace the original ones which were lost during the Casino/Hotel road construction. Mt. Airy is overseen by Golf Course Superintendent Andy Faist, who has been there for 5 years. Assisted by Dio Alva- rez, they supervise an in-season staff of 9 on the par 71 golf course and another 4 just for the casino landscaping. Andy, originally from the New England area and a UMASS grad, Page 6 Vendor’s Views By: John Vojick First I would like to thank Brian for moving the idea to print as well as last month’s segue to today. Well, you have to go with the obvious; the winter that wasn’t and the weather that it is. The 2011 season filled with epic rainfall amounts left for a lot of winter play and early season play, maybe not in some private ends, but certainly from owner operator courses. It is a recoup of many lost events and league nights gone. Now to get that winter wear back into desired conditions. Are these ball marks going to heal...gotta roll the cart ruts...should I aerify earlier...carts still need service. These were just a couple of thoughts I’ve heard getting around and visiting. Things are starting to bloom and fly right now, literally fly. The signs for the soon-to-be applications are eve- rywhere and need to be prepared for and most likely recalculated. Is my application rate of pre-emergent enough? Do you move it up for 30 days more in duration? What’s the cost,? Do you have enough, maybe split applications. This is just one thought of what will most likely be a season of recalculating with the start it has been given. I mentioned the idea of this column of thoughts to Brian and felt it would be as it is so named “Vendor’s Views” …. a fun and informative way for the vendors to contribute some of the things we find, see and hear. To our future contributors it is an open forum. Articles can come from any corner of your life, i.e., how your seminar was, the fun you have coaching your kids or just about anything. We just ask that it be kept as a view, not a sales tool. So to whomever chooses to go next, let Brian know and homework is due to him by the 23rd of the month. Photo of the Month We all see interesting things every day….wildlife (like bald eagles and bears), strange turf problems (like a light- ning strike), an employee who stayed out too late the night before, etc. So if you have a great photo, send it to me (bbachman@genesisturfgrassinc.com) and share it with everyone to enjoy (or laugh at!). April Photo of the Month This photo was submitted by Patrick Knelly from Sugarloaf Golf Club. Any- one who knows Patrick knows that he’s always looking to do things in a new, creative, and of course, money saving way. I’ll have to check the child labor laws on this one... Chips & Putts PATRON SPONSORS AERIFICATION AND OVERSEEDING Aer-Core Ryan Davidheiser 610-310-3925 IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 John Deere Brent Wood 570.499.1441 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 PLANT PROTECTANTS EQUIPMENT Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Aer-Core Ryan Davidheiser 610-310-3925 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Turf Equip. & Supply Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 George Skawski 610.554.9366 John Deere Brent Wood 570.499.1441 Finch Services Ted Zabrenski 484.614.6436 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Syngenta Lee A. Kozsey 610.861.8174 FERTILIZER Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 SEED & SOD Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Finch Services Ted Zabrenski 484.614.6436 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 TOPDRESSING / SOIL AMENDMENTS GREEN AND TEE SUPPLIES 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 Blue Ridge Peat Farms Gene Evans 570.443.9596 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 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 John Deere Brent Wood 570.499.1441 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 25th PTGA meeting @ Berkleigh Congratulations to Aaron Giordano on Speaker: Matt Shaffer, stepping into the Assistant Superintendent Merion CC position at Wyoming Valley CC. May 14th PTGA meeting @ Mt. Airy Speaker: Jim Nedin, As a service to TESCO our members and a way to June 19th PTGA meeting @ Terra say thank Greens GC you…..all PTGA Speaker: Dr. Landschoot members will Jo Dow hn PSU receive their ner own bag tag to PT Me GA proudly display. mb er POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION R.R. 1, BOX 219 POSTAGE HARDING, PA 18643 POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 309 TERRACE AVENUE HARDING, PA 18643 NAME & ADDRESS PHONE/FAX 570-388-2167 WEBSITE: ptga.org ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.