CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION www.ptga.org Founded in 1936 VOL. 21 NO. 3 May 2015 May Meeting Schuylkill Country Club Host: William Schneider Joint Meeting with Central May brings us to a joint meeting with the Central Penn Association at the lovely Schuylkill Country Club. Like many older clubs in the area, Schuylkill is loaded with interesting history and an association with famous golfers and celebrities. Originally designed as a 9 hole tract located in Pottsville by Willie Park in 1919, Schuylkill was reborn through a redesign of the original 9 and layout of a new 9 by world famous archi- tect Donald Ross on it’s current site in Orwigsburg. Why the move you ask? Well to get away from the prohi- bition era regulations in Pottsville of course. When walking through the clubhouse you may not see them, but there are hidden passageways and rooms designed during that prohibition era so that members could safely en- joy their liquor away from the eyes of the law. Today, one of their most prominent members, Dick Yuengling, can enjoy his beverages without fear of repercussion. Continued on page 5 Page 2 President's Message..... Officers & Directors 2015 What a difference a month makes. April’s cold temperatures have been replaced with some record heat for May. For those with damaged greens from winter like myself, it has been a welcome change. I would like to thank Gregg Kozar and Eric Duffy for hosting us at PRESIDENT Greg Boring, CC of Scranton Pine Hills Country Club last month. A great time was had by all and thanks 570-587-4046 to Dave Schell of BASF, we were able to gather a couple core credits for our VICE PRESIDENT Gino Marchetti, Glen Oak CC pesticide license. I would also like to thank our sponsors Grass Roots, 570-586-5791 Syngenta Professional Partners, and Turf Equipment and Supply for their TREASURER Patrick Healey, Scranton Canoe Club support. This month we will be joining our colleagues to the South from the 570-378-2249 Central Association at Schuylkill Country Club. I hope to see many of you SECRETARY Chris Moran, Honesdale CC make the trip down to experience a Donald Ross Classic Golf Course. 570-253-9094 The deadline for scholarship applications is right around the corner. DIRECTORS Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. Please check out our website at www.ptga.org for details as well as the 973-418-3468 Corey Pries, Pocono Manor GC application. We have revised the application for the scholarship this year to 570-994-8270 Ron Garrison, Fox Hill CC make the process a little simpler for applicants. I would like to thank Patrick 570-655-1065 Healey from Scranton Canoe Club for his work on the revised application. Jerry Decker, Elkview CC 570-282-3080 We continue to strive to improve attendance at our monthly __________________________ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF meetings. I know everyone is busy this time of year, but I find speaking with EDITOR my peers at these meetings is valuable. I am always able to come away with Brian Bachman, Genesis Turfgrass, Inc. 484-661-6105 new ideas that can benefit my facility. If you have an idea of how our bbachman@genesisturfgrassinc.com meetings can be improved, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I hope to see Managing Editor Melinda Wisnosky all of you at Schuylkill. 570-388-2167 mmel500@aol.com Greg Boring PAST PRESIDENT Ray Waddell 570-903-9571 Editor’s Notes….. The year is off and running…..but the rainfall is not. Luckily it’s early and hasn’t hurt us too badly yet. A big thanks to Shane Miller at Iron Lakes C.C. for his article this month. I always appreciate the input. Keep those pictures coming, and I’ll see you at Schuylkill. PTGA Office 309 Terrace Avenue Harding, PA 18643 Phone/Fax: 570-388-2167 Brian Bachman 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 Bees The Buzz about Honey Bees – by Shane A Miller Everyone has an opinion about bees. Some of these opinions are based upon facts and others emotion, the best in my mind are based upon both. I am the golf course superintendent at Iron Lakes Country Club in Allentown PA. In my time as a golf course superintendent, especially in recent years, I have heard several thoughts about bees. Many people are allergic to bee stings. Often when they see bees or bee hives they want them killed and removed ASAP. The year before I accepted the position at Tumblebrook Golf Club in Coopersburg, PA a golfer died in the parking lot shortly after being stung by a bee. I was told by upper management to kill any and all bees on the property. In recent times, the comments I am hearing have completely changed. Now, I hear “do you use that pesticide that is killing all the Honey Bees?” Well this is not a valid quest ion. I am not denying that pesticides have contributed to the decline in the Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Populations; however, the issue of European and Western Honey Bee Colony Collapse Disorder is much bigger than any one contributing factor. Colony Collapse Disorder The disappearance of the worker bee from a colony is now known as colony collapse disorder (CCD). This phenomenon has been happening without the history of apiculture (bee keeping). It has been referred to as spring dwindle, disappearing disease, May disease, autumn collapse and fall dwindle disease. It was not named Colony Collapse Disorder until 2006 when the numbers of disappearing bees in the North American colonies used in agriculture drastically increased. Similar losses were seen in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Northern Ireland Assembly has had the greatest losses reported at over 50%. This disorder is of great economic concern because it is estimated that of $200 billion of crops worldwide are pollinated by honey bees. Continued on page 6…... PagePage 3 4 Pocono Turfgrass Association 2015 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 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 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. 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 individ- uals 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, Applicants must include a letter of endorsement from their PTGA relation with their application. For a copy of the application, please go to the Pocono Turfgrass Association website at: ptga.org Applications should be submitted to: Greg Boring Country Club of Scranton P. O. Box 269 Clarks Summit, PA 18411 Page 5 Continued from Page 1 Known for it’s fast, undulating greens, Schuylkill C.C. has hosted many events over the years, including the 1980 Philadelphia PGA Championship. Walter Hagen also graced the links at Schuylkill. The par 3’s here are know as the signature holes and will grant you a memorable experience. The course is maintained by Superintendent Willie Schneider, a Penn State Grad. He’s been at Schuylkill for 19 years and was former superintendent Jim Rattigan’s assistant for the past 10 years. When Jim moved on this spring, Willie got the well deserved opportunity to manage this 6,857 yard track. Willie is assisted by Brad Leh- man and together with their crew of 4-5 full time and 5-6 seasonal employees they keep this course in great shape. Over the years, improvements and upgrades have been made to the 3 acres of greens, 27 acres of fairways, 2 acres of tees, and 56 bunkers. There have been 4 greens rebuilt (not #16 of course….that’s where warring Indian tribes buried their dead). It should be a great day, and I hope to see you all there!! Page 6 …..Continued from page 3 The cost of renting bees as pollinators is now costing American farmers 20% more due to this disorder. Contributing Factors to Colony Collapse Disorder All of the mechanisms of CCD and the reasons for its increased prevalence remain unclear and should be further investigated. Some of the purposed contributions of CCD include: pesticides, primarily neonicotinoids; infections from Varroa and Acarapis mites; malnutrition; loss of habitat; climate change and the change in bee keeping practices. In 2006 the Colony Collapse Disorder Working Group based in Pennsylvania State University was established and pointed out many patterns but drew no conclusions. In a survey done in 2007 most beekeeping hobbyists believe that the decline was due to starvation or lack of wildflowers, while most commercial beekeepers believe the decline is due to Varroa mites. The Varroa mite is a parasitic pest found in high numbers in the hives affected by colony collapse disorder. The current scientific consensus is that no single factor is the cause of CCD, but the some of these factors in combination or synergistically responsible for this disorder. Neonicotinoid Insecticides In the 1980’s Shell and in the 1990’s Bayer began the development of a new classification of insecticide that is chemically similar to nicotine. These chemistries became known as neonicotinoid. Neonicotinoids are far less toxic in birds and mammals than the previously used organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. The neonicotinoid family includes acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid and thiamethoxam. Imidacloprid is the most widely used insecticide in the world. In agriculture, corn production for example, each seed kernel is coated with enough clothianidin to kill 80,000 bees. They are then planted with a machine that works pneumatically creating a dust that is carried to adjacent fields, prairies and forests contaminating natural habitats for bees. Continued on page 7….. Page 7 Continued from page 6….. To some this is condoned by increased yields of crops to feed the world. However agriculture isn’t to take all the blame, the green industry uses imidacloprid as a powerful tool against white grubs. White grubs are Japanese Beetles, European Chafers, Masked Chaf ers, June Beetles, Green Beetles and many other Scarabs that feed on roots of turf. Neonicotinoids are also the most powerful tool we have to fight against the emerald ash bore that is rapidly destroying the population of ash trees in America. Neonicotinoids are powerful tools in managing insect pest and much safer than the chemistries they have replaced. There are many steps that we can take to minimize the impact of these chemistries on honey bees. Bee-coming a better Environmental Steward Before all the concern of colony collapse disorder and the mounting scientific evidence that neonicotinoids are a contributing factor, imidaclopri (Merit, Bayer) was a staple to my agronomic programs. I have always practiced integrated pesticide management (IPM). This is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. A key phrase in this definition is current, comprehensive information. I have compiled, studied and altered pest management programs utilized. A few of the alterations in the agronomic programs used are as follows: weed management, time of applications, pollinator habitats, and alternative chemistries. There are many turfgrass weeds: dandelions, white clover, speed well and ground ivy that provides forage for pollinators including honey bees in turfgrass. These weeds should take priority in management over grubs or insects. Timing of insecticides should be looked at closely before any applications. The timing should be done in a way that is highly effective on the pest with least effect on beneficial insects. Applications should be done in the morning and watered Continued on page 8…... Page 8 Continued from page 7….. in before honey bees and other pollinators begin to forage for pollen. Environmentally sensitive areas including wildflowers are more preferable when available for honey bees. This addresses the concern of bee keeping hobbyists reducing starvation and increasing natural habitats. Many of the major chemical companies in the world are working diligently at developing new tools to use to protect our crops from pests. The anthranilic diamide chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn, Syngenta) is a very effective white grub chemistry and less harmful to pollinators. We the green industry also has the use of some curative chemistry to use on locations that are not treated preventively. There are ways we can manage key insect pests and greatly reduce the negative effect s on honey bees. Conclusion So getting back to that question that I deemed invalid in the introduction, “Do I use that pesticide that is killing all the honey bees?” Hope- fully you now know that there is more to the loss of honey bees than just pesticides, and yes, I used neonicotinoid insecticide. I cannot rewrite history; However, I can write the next chapter. At Iron Lakes Country Club we have switched to Acelepryn as a preventive white grub tool. We have removed all the turfgrass weeds from the fairways and adjacent turf. Most importantly, Iron Lakes Country Club is part of Operation Pollinator. Operation Pollinator was created more than 10 years ago and is committed to establishing pollinator habitats in North America and Europe. You too can help change the plight of the world’s pollinators. I encourage you to learn about pollinators and plant wildflowers! Disclaimer Reference in this publication to any specific commercial product or the manufacture is for general information and not intended to be an endorsement. Works Cited 1.Doug Richmond, Ph.D. & Aaron Patton, Ph.D. Neonicotinoid insecticides and pollinators: What’s all the buzz about? Golf Course Management p.86-95 2.United States Environmental Protection Agency. EPA’s review of the European Food Safety Authority’s conclusions regarding Continued on page 9…... Page 9 Continued from page 8….. studies involving the neonicotinoid pesticides (www.epa.gov/oppfead1/cb/csb_page/updates/2013/efsa- conclus.html). Accessed March 1, 2015 3.Bayer CropScience United States. Bee Health( www.bayercropscience.us/Our- Commitment/BeeHealth?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium= desktop&utm_term=Neonicotin oid&utm_content=Bayer%20Bee%3A%20Neonicotinoids%20L earn%20About%20Our%20Bee%2 0Care%20Program%20Promoting%20Bee%20Health%20for%20 25%20Years&utm_campaign=in secticides_pesticides) Accessed March 1, 2015 4.Syngenta. Operation Pollinator ( www.operationpolli nator.com/ ) Accessed March 1, 2015 5.National Geographic. The Plight of the Honeybee (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130 510-honeybee-bee-science-european- union-pesticides-colony-collapse-epa-science/) Accessed March 1, 2015 Page 10 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). May Photos of the Month This past winter was just as hard on physical structures and irrigation heads as it was on turf. I know lots of you had swing joints and heads to fix as a result of the significant frost heave. Thanks to John Chassard at Lehigh C.C. for these pic- tures!! 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! PTGA SCHEDULE POCONO ROUNDUP May 19 PTGA/Central Golf Meeting CONGRATULATIONS! Schuylkill CC Congratulations to Rick Anglemyer on his new po- June 1 PTGA Golf Meeting sition with TESCO. Rick will be selling hydroseed- Scranton Canoe Club ers in the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and D.C. re- gions. July 6 PTGA Golf Meeting Glen Oak CC Aug 31 PTGA Clambake Scranton CC Sept 15 PTGA Golf Meeting Mt. Laurel GC Oct 6 PTGA Golf Meeting Fox Hill CC 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.