CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 21 NO. 1 March 2015 Penn State Team dominates 21st GCSAA Turf Bowl, places three teams in Top 10 Lawrence, Kan. (Feb. 26, 2015) - Penn State University placed three teams, including the champion four- some, in the Top 10 of GCSAA's 21st annual Collegiate Turf Bowl Competition presented in partnership with John Deere Golf, Feb. 26, at the Golf Industry Show in San Antonio. The foursome of Chris Marra, William Ellinger, Kyle Patterson and Alexander Bonini will return to State Col- lege, Pa., with the traveling trophy and a $4,000 first-place cash prize. Teams from Penn State also took 3rd and 9th place. Rounding out the top 10 were teams from the University of Maryland (2nd), Michigan State University (4th), Iowa State University (5th and 6th), Cal Poly Pomona (7th), Purdue University (8th) and the University of Arkansas (10th). This year 252 students on 69 teams from 33 colleges and universities partici- pated in the competition. The Turf Bowl challenged students from universities/institutions to identify turfgrass species, diseases, weeds and insects, as well as answer questions on mathematics, growth and development. The exam also allowed teams to collaborate for the case study portion and submit an essay that addressed business management facets of the golf course superintendent profession, while emphasizing the importance of communication skills. Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2015 Spring looks like it is beginning to show its face as the snow is finally beginning to fade away. We have experienced another brutal winter again this year in Northeast Pennsylvania. We can only hope that many of us came through the winter without too much injury, as PRESIDENT Greg Boring, CC of Scranton compared to last year. I hope that many of you had the opportunity to 570-587-4046 recharge your batteries and take advantage of many of the Educational VICE PRESIDENT opportunities over the winter. The start of the season is right around Gino Marchetti, Glen Oak CC 570-586-5791 the corner. TREASURER Patrick Healey, Scranton Canoe Club Your Board of Directors of the PTGA will be finalizing a 570-378-2249 meeting schedule at the end of March and will be publishing that SECRETARY schedule very soon. We hope to improve our educational Chris Moran, Honesdale CC 570-253-9094 opportunities at our meetings to enhance the value of attending. I want DIRECTORS to thank many of the vendors that have and continue to sponsor our Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. meetings and support our Association. I want to remind everyone the 973-418-3468 Corey Pries, Pocono Manor GC PTGA is accepting applications for the Patterson Scholarship at this 570-994-8270 Ron Garrison, Fox Hill CC time and will be until the June 30 deadline. Information about the 570-655-1065 Scholarship can be found on the website at www.PTGA.org. Jerry Decker, Elkview CC 570-282-3080 __________________________ I want to wish everyone the best of luck for the 2015 Season, CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF and if we can be of assistance to you in any way, please don’t hesitate EDITOR Brian Bachman, Genesis Turfgrass, Inc. to reach out to your Association. 484-661-6105 bbachman@genesisturfgrassinc.com Managing Editor Greg Boring Melinda Wisnosky 570-388-2167 mmel500@aol.com PAST PRESIDENT Ray Waddell Editor’s Notes….. 570-903-9571 And so another year of the newsletter begins while the golf season is itching to get started after this harsh winter. We’re all hop- ing for the snow to melt quickly and this cold weather to let up. I’m always looking for articles and pictures to put in our news- letter, so don’t be afraid to share. PTGA Office Forgive my PSU bias on the cover….I couldn’t help myself. 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 Brian Bachman 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 2015 Scholarships The Patterson Scholarship for Turfgrass Related Studies The Pocono Turfgrass Association is now accepting scholarship applications for the Patterson Scholar- ship. The deadline for application is June 30, 2015. The following is a list of guidelines for all individu- als 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, 2015. 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, educational achievement, and fu- ture 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: Greg Boring Country Club of Scranton P. O. Box 269 Clarks Summit, PA 18411 Page 4 PTGA Billing Changes for Monthly Meetings Attention all Members of the Pocono Turfgrass Association We, as your Board of Directors, have voted and approved the following changes:  All payments for our monthly meetings must be received before or on the day of the meeting. Credit will no longer be extended to any member or guest. We accept cash, check or credit card.  Dues must be paid in full in order to attend our monthly meetings. The above changes are necessary and long overdue to keep our Association operating efficient- ly. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to ask. Sincerely, Patrick D. Healey, Jr. Treasurer Page 5 Combination Fungicides By: Dr. Richard Latin, Purdue University Originally posted on turfdiseases.org During my seminars and workshops over the past year a frequent discussion topic involved “combination prod- ucts”, i.e., products that contain two or more active ingredients in a single formulation. The number of such prod- ucts has doubled over the past three or four years, and I suspect the number will increase to some extent in the fu- ture. Most contain two active ingredients, but some contain more–Instrata contains three, and one of the newest products introduced to turf markets (Enclave) includes four. To be sure, fungicide manufacturers have proprietary reasons for combining effective fungicides into a single prod- uct. However, there are some real advantages for turf managers. In combination products, more than one “target” inside pathogen cells are disrupted, thereby increasing the potency of the treatment (assuming recommended rates), and broadening the spectrum of activity (the number of diseases “controlled”). Furthermore, the single formula- tion is optimized to accommodate both (or all three or four) compounds in the product. Manufacturers recognize that many of our fungicide programs include tank mixes. They created such products to address the market need, and added value along the way. Continued on Page 6 Page 6 Continued from Page 5 The table included in this post lists 19 (there probably are more) combination products registered for use against a variety of turf pathogens. The table includes product names, the active ingredients in each product, and the equiva- lent tank mix products. Note that I only listed one of each equivalent product in the interest of saving space. Dr. Rick Latin is a professor of plant pathology at Purdue University and has been a member of the faculty since 1981. He earned is MS and Ph.D. degrees in plant pathology at Penn State University. Rick has research, teaching, and extension re- sponsibilities in the area of turfgrass disease management and recently authored the best selling textbook-- A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides. His current research activities focus on turf fungicides and factors that influence their performance. Page 7 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). March 2014 March Photo of the Month What a difference a year makes. This photo is courtesy of Bill Parr (Country Club of the Pocono’s). Last year CCP lost their equipment storage building to the heavy snow, and while this winter was exceptionally cold, Bill got a new building out of the disaster. March 2015 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 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Turf Equip. & Supply George Skawski 610.554.9366 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Michael Longyhore 610.390.8827 Lawn & Golf Matt Brown 484.357.6312 PLANT PROTECTANTS EQUIPMENT Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 607.768.0575 Aer-Core Stephen Thompson 610-972-5933 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 William Mast 610.327.3390 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 Lawn & Golf Matt Brown 484.357.6312 John Deere Brent Wood 570.499.1441 Turf Equip. & Supply Michael Longyhore 610.390.8827 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 George Skawski 610.554.9366 Lawn & Golf Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Finch Services Ted Zabrenski 484.614.6436 Syngenta Lee A. Kozsey 610.861.8174 SEED & SOD FERTILIZER 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 East Coast Sod & Seed Kevin Driscoll 609-760-4099 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Finch Services Ted Zabrenski 484.614.6436 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 Growth Products Craig Lambert 973-601-3303 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Lawn & Golf Matt Brown 484.357.6312 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 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 Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Lawn & Golf Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Support our Sponsors - They support us! POCONO ROUNDUP PTGA SCHEDULE April TBD PTGA Golf Meeting Congratulations! May PTGA/Central Golf Meeting Congratulations to Jim Rattigan on his new position Schuylkill CC with Plant Food Inc. as Territory Manager in the Southeastern U.S. June 1 PTGA Golf Meeting Scranton Canoe Club Also, congratulations to Willie Schneider, Jim’s for- July 6 PTGA Golf Meeting mer assistant at Schuylkill C.C. on his promotion to Glen Oak CC superintendent!! Belated Congratulations to Matt Brown on his new position with Lawn & Golf Supply. The PTGA would like to thank the following Vendors for sponsoring the Budget Discussion Meeting: Brian Bachman—Genesis Turf Matt Brown—Lawn and Golf Steve Chirip, Grass Roots Lee Kozsey, Syngenta Mike Longyhore—Turf Equipment & Supply Dave Schell—BASF Bob Seltzer—Fisher and Son John Vojick—Andre & Son Ted Zabrinski—Finch Services, Inc. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 309 TERRACE AVENUE HARDING, PA 18643 PHONE/FAX 570-388-2167 WEBSITE: ptga.org