CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 21 NO. 6 August 2015 August Meeting Country Club of Scranton Host: Greg Boring, GCS Our annual clambake and scholarship fundraiser tournament takes us to one of Northeast PA’s truly historic and beautiful golf courses in the Country Club of Scranton. The Club, started in 1896, was originally located in downtown Scranton on the site of Marywood University. In 1926 they moved sites to their current location with the 18 hole course being designed by Walter Travis. With an extensive membership of over 600, the 18 hole course could not meet the demands of the mem- bers, so in 1989 a new 9 holes (The Falls), were constructed under the architectural supervision of Mi- chael Hurzdan. Known for its difficult, sloping greens, CC of Scranton has hosted many tournaments over the years; four PA State Amateurs (the most recent being just last month), the Senior PA State Amateur, a PA State Open, US Open qualifiers, and the Anthracite Open, which boasted players such as Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, and Gene Sarazen. As with most of the established courses in our area, the fairways, greens, and tees are all a poa/bent mix. The course plays to a par 72 at 7,000 yards from the tips and is protected by 62 bun- kers. The 27 hole property boasts 4 acres of greens, 4 acres of tees, and 44 acres of fairways. Continued on page 7…… Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2015 August has arrived and many of us are diving into aerification mode. It is a busy time of year for all of us. Several Superintendents I have spoken to this week are either completing their aerificaiton or have already done so. Before you know it football season will be around the corner, and we PRESIDENT will be irritating members with frost delays. The Fall is a time for Greg Boring, CC of Scranton 570-587-4046 the turf to recover as well as a time for us to recover. VICE PRESIDENT Gino Marchetti, Glen Oak CC The summer for a Golf Course Superintendent can be as 570-586-5791 demanding a position that anyone can possibly imagine. It is TREASURER Patrick Healey, Scranton Canoe Club not uncommon for many of us to work 12-14 hour days. We go 570-378-2249 weeks or even months without a day off. This schedule takes a SECRETARY toll on us physically as well as mentally. It also takes a toll on our Chris Moran, Honesdale CC families. I had an unfortunate reminder recently of what we 570-253-9094 sacrifice because of what we do. We take our health and our DIRECTORS Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. families for granted, and we tell ourselves we will take some time 973-418-3468 with families and ourselves in the off-season. I’m as guilty of this Corey Pries 570-994-8270 as probably anyone. The fact is no one knows what tomorrow Ron Garrison, Fox Hill CC will bring. Do your jobs to the best of your ability but also take 570-655-1065 Jerry Decker, Elkview CC time to spend with those who are important in your life. You 570-282-3080 never get that time back. __________________________ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF EDITOR Greg Boring Brian Bachman, Genesis Turfgrass, Inc. 484-661-6105 bbachman@genesisturfgrassinc.com Editor’s Notes….. Managing Editor Melinda Wisnosky 570-388-2167 mmel500@aol.com Clambake time already!! The season is quickly moving PAST PRESIDENT Ray Waddell by. I hope everyone is doing well and having a successful year. 570-903-9571 Please send me some pictures!!!!!! I know you have them….. Hope to see you at Scranton for our largest annual meet- ing. 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. Page 3 Thank You!! The Country Club of Scranton would like to thank the sponsors and all volunteers for their generosity during the 2015 Pennsylvania State Amateur. PagePage 3 4 Summer Patch Blisters Kentucky Bluegrass Lawns By: Dr. Peter Dernoden via Turf Diseases.com….August 7, 2015 Having had mild summer weather in 2013 and 2014, diseases like summer patch have not been a big problem in the last two years. Summer patch is mostly a disease of Kentucky and annual bluegrass and creeping red fescue. It was the heavy rain storms and high temperatures in late June and July that brought summer patch back to the forefront in 2015. Summer patch was once known as Fusarium blight and dubbed the SOB disease (Summer Oblitera- tion of Bluegrass) by Professor Patricia Sanders at Penn State in the late 1970’s. In the early 1980’s, Dr. Richard Smiley at Cornell discovered that the causal agent was a darkly pigmented fungus that at- tacked roots and stems and not a species of Fusarium. It was not until 1989, when Dr.’s Peter Land- schoot and Noel Jackson at the University of Rhode Island, found the real culprit, which turned out to be a previously undescribed fungal pathogen, which they named Magnaporthe poae. The most important environmental factors required for summer patch development are for soils to be very warm (≥ 75oF) and wet. Generally, summer patch does not become evident in lawns before mid-July in the mid-Atlantic and usually appears during hot sunny weather following heavy rain events. Summer patch is most severe on sunny, ex- posed slopes or other heat-stressed areas such as those adjacent to sidewalks, driveways and south fac- ing sides of homes and other buildings. Thunderstorm deluges that result in standing water often are associ- ated with extreme damage to turf. Saturated soils ab- sorb and hold more heat and are more deficient in oxygen compared to well drained soils, which pro- motes colonization and infection of roots and stem bases by the pathogen. Symptoms of summer patch in Kentucky bluegrass ini- tially appear as wilted spots or bronze-colored spots, Continued on Page 5 Page 5 Continued from Page 4 not unlike dog urine damage. There are no diagnostic leaf lesions, but on close inspection, you are likely to find that leaves die-back from the tip and are bleached white. Affected areas soon turn white, tan or straw-brown. In severe cases, patches increase in size and may become cres- cent-shaped or remain circular. Fully developed patches generally range from 6 to 18 inches in diameter. In closely cut Kentucky bluegrass, a yellow or bronze-colored halo may be seen at the outer periphery of patches. Healthy turf (usually tall fescue in mixed stand) may persist in the cen- ter of patches, producing rings or frog-eye symptoms. Depressions in turf called “crater pits” are common. Patches may coalesce, and large non-uniformly shaped areas of turf can be de- stroyed within a two week period. Many lawns consist of mixes of Kentucky bluegrass and tall fes- cue. Since tall fescue is resistant, if not immune to summer patch, symptoms in mixed stands usu- ally are diffuse and circular patches are not seen. Page 6 July Meeting Results 1st Place Ed Cimoch, Ian Kunesch, Chris Boyle & Jonathan Budzaik 2nd Place Russell Hauenstein, Jerry Decker John Vojick & Jeff 9th Place Ron Garrison, John Polak, Shaun Barry & Steve Chirip Longest Drive Les Lear Closest to the Pin Jason Brown 6’5” Shaun Barry 8’2” Skins Les Lear Jerry Decker Page 7 Continued from page 1…. Since 2009, shortly after Greg’s arrival at Scranton, the course has undergone some major renovations and improve- ments. In the fall of 2009 all the greens had new drainage installed via the XGD system. In July of 2011 the Club em- barked on a major renovation project that included the complete rebuilding of all 62 bunkers on the 18 hole course, the re-contouring of some fairways, construction of some for- ward tees, and the addition of 2.5 acres of tightly mowed greens surrounds/collection areas as seen in the picture on the right. Oh, and I can’t fail to mention that Greg and his crew have also overseen the removal of more than 2,500 trees through his years there, as well. Since our last visit to Scranton, the driving range has been completely renovated alsol. All of these renovations have now led to CC of Scran- ton now being ranked in the top 100 classical golf courses in the United States. Greg, an Ohio State grad who interned at Oakmont, has been superintendent at CC of Scranton since January of 2008 coming over from neighboring Glen Oak CC after a stint of 3 years as superintendent there. Before that, he spent 2 years as the assistant at Preakness Hills CC in NJ and 3 years as an assistant in Florida. As you can imagine, this sizeable property takes a size- able staff to keep it in tip-top shape. The in-season crew of 35 has 4 employees with Turf degrees, including his assistant Shane Sullivan, along with long time employee and now equipment manager Charlie Saxe. I certainly hope you have the opportunity to get away and play this course and catch up with some peers as the season quickly continues. Page 8 GOOD NEWS!! The PTGA is now accepting SAME DAY credit card payments for our monthly meetings. Page 9 MORE BIG NEWS!! PTGA is now on twitter: @PoconoTurfgrass Photo of the Month We all see interesting things every day….wildlife (like bald eagles and bears), strange turf problems (like a lightning 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 for everyone to enjoy (or laugh at). August Photo of the Month Yup…..it rained a lot in late June and early July. Here are some un- welcome new ponds as a result. Thanks to Brian Cross at Mahoning Valley CC for sharing!! Chips & Putts PATRON SPONSORS AERIFICATION AND OVERSEEDING Aer-Core Stephen Thompson 610-972-5933 IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE William Mast 610.327.3390 John Deere Brent Wood 570.499.1441 Air2G2 Saturated John Downer 570-840-0078 Turf Equip. & Supply George Skawski 610.554.9366 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Michael Longyhore 610.390.8827 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Lawn & Golf Matthew Brown 610.933.5801 PLANT PROTECTANTS Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 EQUIPMENT Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Aer-Core Stephen Thompson 610-972-5933 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 William Mast 610.327.3390 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Air2G2 Saturated John Downer 570-840-0078 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 John Deere Brent Wood 570.499.1441 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Lawn & Golf Matthew Brown 610.933.5801 Lawn & Golf Matthew Brown 610.933.5801 Turf Equip. & Supply Michael Longyhore 610.390.8827 Syngenta Lee A. Kozsey 610.861.8174 George Skawski 610.554.9366 Finch Services Ted Zabrenski 484.614.6436 SEED & SOD Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 FERTILIZER Finch Services Ted Zabrenski 484.614.6436 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 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Lawn & Golf Matthew Brown 610.933.5801 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Lawn & Golf Matthew Brown 610.933.5801 Plant Food Co., Inc. Tom Weinert 914.262.0111 TOPDRESSING / SOIL AMENDMENTS Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Blue Ridge Peat Farms Gene Evans 570.443.9596 GREEN AND TEE SUPPLIES 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 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Lawn & Golf Matthew Brown 610.933.5801 Genesis Turfgrass Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 John Deere Brent Wood 570.499.1441 Lawn & Golf Matthew Brown 610.933.5801 Support our Sponsors - They support us! Page 11 PTGA SCHEDULE POCONO ROUNDUP Condolences Aug 31 PTGA Clambake Scranton CC July hit our Association and brotherhood Sept 22 PTGA Golf Meeting hard. Our condolences go out to: Elkview GC Jeff and Nardi Koch on the passing of their Oct 6 PTGA Golf Meeting son Louis on July 26. Fox Hill CC The family of Matt Kachurak, an employee at Blue Ridge Trail, who passed on July 24. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION R.R. 1, BOX 219 POSTAGE HARDING, PA 18643 POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 309 TERRACE AVENUE HARDING, PA 18643 PHONE/FAX 570-388-2167 WEBSITE: ptga.org NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.