I chips %puns O FFICIA L PUBLICATION OF THE Founded in POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 VOL. 3, NO. 7 SEPTEMBER 1997 A FEW THOUGHTS FROM of the existing stand has to be of a longer duration. Henceforth, we may need to look at a total kill THE REVEREND JIM.... (Roundup or Finale) or higher rates of PGR Editor’s Note: The Reverend? Most o f you will know him products, such as Primo, and adjust the time of as James “The Peddler ” MacLaren. I am not quite sure application for enhanced duration of suppression. how he received the nickname, but fo r whatever reason, it Using PGRs at higher rates will cause some has stuck here at Huntsville. We always look forward to discoloration of the poa, but who cares! These his visits as we know his blessing will provide a moment o f higher rates will give a much more extended good fortune. - Scott A. Schukraft. suppression time, hence less competition for the new seedlings and higher sales volume for your sales Now that the fairway overseeding time has almost representative. Or how about this scenario: do your come to it’s conclusion, it is time to review normal overseeding procedures, then wait 4-5 days. observations during this time of “Celebration.” Now apply the PGR! The new seeds will probably not have germinated yet, so the PGR will not be an In the past, the reasons for overseeding were issue on the new guys. Even if the new guys straight forward - to improve the stand of the fairway emerged, they have not yet formed gibberlins, so the turf. Lately, this practice has evolved to include the PGR will not affect them anyway. aforementioned, but also to change the species of grass to bluegrass or bentgrass. The reason for this Or how about this wild idea from a “loco” change is the invasion of “Ryegrass Blast” peddler: do the overseeding, wait 4-5 days, then (Pyricularis grisea) in the route #22—#222 corridor apply Roundup or Finale. As the Roundup/Finale is from the Reading area through the Allentown- beginning to work (4-5 days), the seedlings will Bethlehem-Easton area to the New Jersey border. begin to emerge (4-5 days or longer). Hopefully, the For those overseeding to improve their existing trauma of discoloration will be less traumatic to your stand, the practice has remained the same for many patrons. years. It has been successful, but some of the procedures necessary to change the species can also Of course we must include the old standby, apply for enhanced success in a straight renovation. Prograss. Follow the label, and you can’t go too far astray. Many factors need to be addressed when changing species. Local observations/information has indicated that no new bluegrasses have exhibited any shorter First and foremost, which species will be chosen germination time in conjunction with a quality turf - bluegrass or bentgrass? ratings. As with any overseeding procedure, choose (Continued on page 3) Changing from rye/poa to bentgrass means your customers will have to accept a lower height of cut. What will the time frame be? One season or many? How many seasons? Will new maintenance equipment/practices need to be implemented? ♦ S em in ars In changing to bluegrass, academia has recommended much more drastic measures to be ♦ E d u ca tio n a l Programs successful in the conversion. Due to extended time ♦ Calendar of E ve nts of germination of bluegrass, the need for suppression OFFICERS President's Message. & DIRECTORS Well, it looks like we made it through another tough golf season. Now we must start thinking about the upcoming fall renovation projects, leaf clean up, winterization 1997 and educational seminars....Vacations, seeing our families, hunting, fishing, and TURFGRASS PRESIDENT everything else we seem to put aside. Why is that....? ASSOCIATION Ron Garrison, CGCS The end of the season also brings with it the thoughts of your winter equipment Fox Hill Country Club maintenance programs. Not being very mechanically inclined, we will be rehauling everything we can the next five months or so, unless someone can get us a 2% loan on VICE PRESIDENT $300,000. What do you think Parker, can you do it for us...? Jack Bird The Hideout, Inc. The 1997 Clam Bake was a big hit once again. Paul Weiss and his staff really did a great job getting the course and food out to us in excellent fashion! Thanks, Paul. SECRETARY/TREASURER Mike Vella I am looking forward to our next meeting at Paupack Hills and the joint meeting Old Kinderhook Golf Club with the Philadelphia Superintendents. Rumor has it, we are going to have some sort of competition with the visitors. Knowing a few of the superintendents from Philly, PAST PRESIDENT they are going to be tough to beat. I mean their President and V.P. play more golf in Jeff Peters, CGCS one week than most of us play all year! Valley Country Club Our meeting in October is scheduled at Split Rock Resort and the new nine. Don’t DIRECTORS forget to get to this meeting and cast your vote for new board members!! Kelly Kressler Southmoore Golf Course We are still in search of more host club$ for the 1998 meeting schedule. Please contact Jack Bird if you would like to host a PTGA meeting next year. Stephen Stranzl Green Acres Golf Course One thing I must comment on. Please make your best effort to prepay for each monthly meeting. It really allows the host club and the PTGA to plan and operate Jim MacLaren much more efficiently. ALSO - NO CASH! We would like to eliminate any cash Turf Specialty, Inc. payments. Write a check, please1 Thomas Wilchak Thanks need to go out to all the PTGA members for another great year - from our Bethlehem Golf Club monthly meeting attendance records, to the PTGA Board for hanging in there, to ALL our sponsors for donating as always, to all our critics for helping us make this Scott Schukraft association better, to all the monthly educational speakers, and to our executive Huntsville Golf Club secretary, Melinda Wisnosky, for doing more and more each month! We are still moving forward, and we will only continue to get better with all your CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF continued support. EDITOR Scott A. Schukraft Thanks. 147 Hayfield Road Until next time, Shavertown, PA 18708 717-675-3800 Fax: 717-675-0564 E-Mail: sasgolf@epix.net Ronald C. Garrison, CGCS EDITORIAL COMMITTEE President Jim MacLaren Mark McCormick Jeff Peters, CGCS George Skawski f i t , Jonathan Suitch m Paul Weiss Managing Editor, Melinda Wisnosky DECEMBER 9-11 - New Jersey SEPT. 16,1997 Philadelphia OCTOBER 1977 Turfgrass Expo ‘97, Trump Taj Mahal Paupack Hills Golf and Country Club Split Rock Country Club Hotal, Atlantic City, NJ Greentown, PA Lake Harmony, PA Sponsored by the New Jersey Turfgrass Mark Monahan, CGCS, Host Supt. Scott Seidel, Host Superintendent Association Speaker: Dr. Peter Landschoot, Penn State DECEMBER 9-12 - Ohio Turfgrass NOVEMBER 4-6 - Penn State Golf Foundation Conference and Trade Show, OCTOBER 6,1997 - Turf Conference, Nittany Lion Inn, State Columbus Convention Center, MET Area Team Championship College, PA. Contact Peter Landschoot, Columbus, OH Country Club of Darien Dept, of Agronomy, 116 ASI Building, Darien, CT University Park, PA 16802, Tel. - 814- Tim O’Neill, CGCS, Host 863-1017 or PTC -814-863-3475. OCTOBER 7,1997 - NOVEMBER 5-8 - New York State PTC Valentine Tournament Turfgrass Association Turf & Grounds Huntsville Golf Club Exposition, OnCenter, Syracuse, NY, Lehman, PA Tel. - 518-783-1229. Keynote speaker Scott A. Schukraft, Host Supt. will be Joe Theismann, Super Bowl quarterback for the Washington Redskins and ESPN football analyst. Sterilized Top Dressing especially form u lated for your a re a to specifications reco m m en d ed by leading universities and testing laboratories. EXCLUSIVE WITH EGYPT FARMS: All materials are thoroughly mixed and sterilized by indirect heat in our special process. The sand particles are actually coated with a mixture of top soil and peat humus for completely homogenous mixture that will not separate during handling and spreading. COMPUTERIZED BLENDING of soil for a superior growing m edium . CUSTOM ON-SITE SOIL BLENDING AND TESTING w ith a portab le co m p uterized blender. Green and Tee construction materials and mixes conforming to your specifications are also available IBM andjiar ex CROWN III •B u n k e r S and « S p h a g n u m Peat • L im e a n d G y p s u m • N a t u r a l W a lls t o n e s F iiT e r r a i r Ù f f in w oodace LANDSCAPE t ORNAMfNIAL FERTILIZER R & R Country Club tUAHAKTEED WnACHttin f AATJ PB G G JC T S a ¿y rcA u ■c v n CONSTRUCnON PROOUCTS INC Milorganite TèrroBond TerroFlow February 2-8, 1998 WINTERGBEEN Anaheim Convention Center Egypt Farm s Trade Show: February 6-8 P.O. Box 223 White Marsh, MD 21162 (410) 335-3700 • (800) 899- 7645 (Continuedfrom page 1) quality varieties and adjust your suppression procedures to better enhance Resumé Writing your success! Made Easy Some other rambling thoughts: If you plan to overseed again in the spring, why It is important for the growth of any If you are one of the many who would not use Embark as your growth association to have its qualified members like to go for a new position but just suppresser and get the double whammy remain active in the governing decisions can’t face the prospect of writing your of poa seedhead suppression. Also, for of its future. I strongly urge anyone who resumé, GCSAA might be able to help. crabgrass control, you could choose is willing to spend a little extra time in Their career development department Dimension to be applied after the exchange for the opportunity to work will critique a resume you have written germination of the desired specie as with his colleagues in enhancing the pro­ free of charge - or, for a minimal $25 fee, Dimension will give you post emergence fessional image of Superintendent to will help write your resume and provide control. consider being a candidate. a master copy and five laser-printed Election of Officers and Board of Di­ copies on high-quality paper. For $30, As with any procedure, it is wise to rectors will be held during our October you can have an electronic version. take soil tests and follow the meeting at Split Rock. The Nominating recommendations to get your soils in the Committee is currently accepting names Better still, just $5 more will get you a best possible condition for success, and of people willing to serve on the Board. custom-written cover letter with several again choose quality seed. If you’re Please contact me at 717-788-4277 after areas for you to personalize. going to the aggravation of a renovation securing permission from the candidate procedure, there is no sense putting to have his name placed on the ballot. In an industry where openings at good birdseed in the ground - you can’t take it Nominations will also be accepted from clubs attract hundreds of candidates, it’s up! And of course, make sure you get the floor before the elections are con­ critical that your resume and cover letter good seed to soil contact, even if you ducted. present a positive -and distinctive- first have to drive nails in a pallet and drag it Our current slate of candidates are: impression. behind your tractor to scarify the surface, as some people have done. President Ron Garrison, CGCS For further information, Some, and most of these thoughts, are call: not recommended by anyone, including Vice President the author. They are intended to make Jack Bird 800-472-7878, Ext. 421. you THINK! Secretary/T reasurer Scott Schukraft Jim MacLaren Kelly Kressler O f f ic e * H o m e P h o n e T O P DRESSING w h i t e H a v e n 7 1 7 -4 4 3 -9 5 » « BUNKER SAND Board of Directors (2) I N F I E L D MI X C E R T IF IE D & CU LTIVATED Jim is a sales representative for Gene Huelster Turf Specialty , and more Tony Grieco, CGCS HUMILL BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS, IN C . importantly - co-editor o f “Chips W H I T E H A V E N , PA . 1 8 6 6 1 - 9 6 7 4 & Putts.” Jeffrey A. Peters , CGCS Nominating Chairman POTTING SOIL SO IL MIXES G E N E EVANS, O W N E R PRO FE SSIO N A L EN G IN EE R *TirfSaits & Consultation © ANDRE & SON, INC. TURF KING PRODUCTS SPECIALTY TURF Jim MacLaren Sales Representative I N C. Serving 'flu Area Since 1914 Office: (717) 443-7154 J O H N V O J IC K 2 M ill S treet 717-278-1131 W ork M ontrose , P A 18801 14 James Place Pager: (717) 978-5649 717-222-971 2 Res. 7 1 7 -2 7 8 -3 8 3 5 FAX White Haven, PA 18661 Fax: (717) 443-7015 P*#s SUPERINTENDENTS GCSAA Dues 96% REAP BIGGER Vacation 94% AND Chapter Dues 90% BETTER BENEFITS Seminars/Tuition 90% WITH EMPLOYMENT Facility Privileges for Family 89% The Pocono Turfgrass Association CONTRACTS Holidays Patterson Scholarship is awarded 76% annually to second year two year Sick Leave 70% When raise time rolls around - or if students and fourth year four year Medical Insurance 67% you’re negotiating your benefits package students. One applicant is chosen as the Life Insurance 65% at a new job - you may want to join the recipient of the scholarship and given Company Vehicle 64% growing number of superintendents honorary membership to The Pocono throughout the country who are lobbying Turfgrass Association for that calendar for bigger and better benefits with em­ year. ployment contracts. Requirements for consideration are: Among the many perks, aside from the typical vehicle and house, are: GROWTH ♦ Applicant must be a second year £ & PRODUCTS student in a two-year program, or a Tom C. Weinert, Jr. fourth year student in an Technical Sales Representative • computer Professional Liquid Fertilizers. Micronutrients & Natural Organics undergraduate program in a • cellular telephone and pager P.O. Box 1259 turfgrass related major. • office assistant White Plains. NY 10602 Phone / Fax: (717) 839-2636 GCSAA. NAA & PLCAA Main Office: (800) 648-7626 • golf package: balls, gloves, shirts, ♦ Applicant must submit in writing and one set of clubs why he or she feels that he/she • signing bonus and quarterly bonus should be considered for the program scholarship. • health club membership 1 • multiyear guaranteed maintenance ♦ Applicant must include what he or budget with inflation increases G LEGACY” olf I r r i g a t i o n she feels his/her contribution to the • multiyear employment contract with turfgrass field will be. buy-out/resignation clause • once-a-week golf round with green Your Link to Legacy ♦ Applicant must submit a letter of chair or other committee member endorsement from his/her employer Golf Course • all expenses paid for superintendent in the turfgrass field. This endorsement may come from an and family to attend GCSAA’s na­ Irrigation System s tional conference, show, and golf employer from an internship tournament program. ♦ Applicant’s request for To request a free sample employment consideration and his or her employer endorsement must be contract that can be customized to fit your needs, contact GCSAA Career De­ ¡Century Rain Aid I submitted TOGETHER on or before velopment Department at 800-472-7878, December 31, 1997. Ext. 421. ♦ Applicants requesting consideration With or without employment contracts, for the Patterson Scholarship should the following percentage of members re­ send requests to: Call Century today port that these benefits are paid by their employers. for an on-site consultation. The Pocono Turfgrass Association c/o Melinda Wisnosky How do your benefits stack up? 147 Hayfield Road Shavertown, PA 18708 BENEFITS: 800 - 347-4272 E N JO Y GCSAA COLLEGE ■T / X * P U ER TO GUIDE V A LLA RTA TO THE GOLF COURSE co ^ Rajn^B / rd, W H ILE E A R N ­ MANAGEMENT PROFESSION Irrigation Equipment & Design Irrigation System Service & Support IN G 1.2 C E U s This new and exclusive publication pro­ « *■ i r -j K O O N Z Sprinkler Supply, Inc. vides a concise profile of each turf man­ KOONZ 29WT m N^T 070*1 agement program offered by two-and four- The Professional Golfers’ Sport Psy­ (800)' 772-8486 (201) 379-9314/FAX (210) 379-6504 chology Program is going to Puerto Val- year colleges and universities. Information larta, Mexico! Researched with PGA is provided on faculty, special research and members, this two day school has just laboratory facilities, types of degrees of­ opened to certified golf course superin­ fered, number of hours required for a de­ tendents. 1.2 CEUs have been approved gree, internships required, career place­ by the GCSAA for credits toward certifi­ ment assistance, tuition costs and much cation renewal requirements only. more. Classes will be held from 7:30 A.M. to The GCSAA College Guide is organized 2:30 P.M. on December 10-11, 1997. into four sections: Reduced rates of $90/dbl (if reserved by October 27) are available at the Marriott Section One - describes the profession and CasaMagna resort. Enjoy golf and div­ role of the golf course superintendent ing in your free time. Call 800-228-9290 for accommodations. The two day school is taught by Dr. Natalie Newton. Section Two - provides examples of course The fee for GCSAA certified members is offerings for two- and four-year programs. $300.00. To register, please call 609-463-1997, Section Three - in-depth profiles of U.S. Ext. 1, or fax 609-463-1010. PGSPP is institutions offering two- to four-year turf- designed to improve play ability and en­ grass programs. hance communication and management skills. Section Four - geographical listing and MID-ATLANTIC Bring along the pro! PGA members chart of turfgrass programs. \ 53M \P M E N r attending the school are certified as PGSPP instructors. The cost for PGA C O R P O R A T IO N members, including certification in To order, call the GCSAA Bookstore toll- P .O . B O X 1 5 8 , R O U T E 2 9 , C O L L E G E V IL L E , PA 1 9 4 2 6 PGSPP and a teaching handbook, is free at 800-974-2711. $375. This school is approved for 13 _____ R o b e r t A . V a il, III ,T \ j \ Territory M a n a g e r PDP for PGA members. Price of the GCSAA College Guide is - ^ (6 1 0 )4 8 9 -1 4 0 0 $18.00. Fax: (6 1 0 ) 4 8 9 - 9 4 7 8 • Layout and Design • Typesetting It’s every player’s responsibility... • Mac/IBM desktop publishing interface . Æ & h . • Laser color separations Repair ball marks i n n l • Scitex® electronic photo retouching Replace or fill divots 31 New Hill Street, P.O Box 507 • Full electronic prepress services Rake bunkers Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0507 • Foil stamping, embossing 717-822-8181 • Complete bindery including FAX: 717-823-3579 saddlestitch and perfect binding A message fro m your g o lf course superintendent a n d GCSAA H~> First Flight Last Jack Patterson (+8) 1st Gary Phillips (-9) M e e tin g Notes Rick Patterson Chip Presendofer 2nd Hal Parr (-8) Blue Ridge G olf and Clambake Bill Smith Closest to the Pin #8 Stan Zelinski Big Z 8’6” , John Menapace 10’9” One hundred-plus golfers/clam eaters Dean Snyder found their way to Blue Ridge Country Closest to Pin #18 . Club. Paul Weiss, Jr. and Terry Last Pete Beblavy (-4) Esposito 4 ’3”, Bill Smith 5’8-l/2” Steinmetz had everything ready for a Tom Swanson terrific day. Paul had the course in tip­ A1 Himmelwright, Sr. Closest to the Sprinkler #9 top shape, with beautiful greens and Dave Reinert A1 Himmelwright, Sr. fairways, and sand traps that didn’t want you to leave once you were in them. Second Flight Shortest Drive #9 Terry certainly made my job easier by Jim Vedomsky, Jr. (-4) Tony Stranzl having everything ready for us. It’s not Jim Vedomsky, Sr. easy putting together a golf tournament, Alex Patullo Thanks again to Paul for hosting us, and special prizes, and a menu that was fit for Dave Huttie the entire Blue Ridge Country Club for a a king. Paul and Terry, along with their fantastic day. respective staffs, really made it an 2nd Ron Garrison (-3) enjoyable day. We would also like to Kelly Kressler Jack Bird’ Golf Committee thank the membership and club officials John Chassard for the use o f their golf course and Tony Grieco facilities. The format for the day was captain and Last John Menapace (Even) % i î crew. We had three flights with three Frank Ciampa teams winning per flight. We did not get Tom Suiman all the team players’ names, because they were not put on the score cards, but we Jim Carlo >UARIUS. IRRIGA TÌON SUPPL Y, INC. do have the teams’ captains. (In future, Third Flight please write all players’ names on the Jason Bamdt (Even) score cards.) I added a little twist by having the 1st, 2nd, and last places win. 2nd Joel Simmons (+1) Mark Reed Thompson Here are the flight winners and special COMMANDER contest winners: Jack Zwick GOLF COURSE HEADS John Wendorf & CONTROL SYSTEMS GCSAA £WATERTRQ!\!!CS EDUCATION SEMINARS GOLF COURSE PUM PIN G TURFGRASS STATIO N S 11/4/97 Turfgrass Stress Management - MANAGEMENT PROGRAM Syracuse, NY AQUARIUS 11/ 6- IS YOUR RELIABLE SOURCE Applications are now being accepted 11/7/97 Writing Successfully for FOR ALL YOUR for Penn State’s Two-Year Golf Course Business & Publications - GOLF PRODUCT NEEDS. Turfgrass Management Program for the Somerset, NJ class beginning in September 1998. WITH FIVE LOCATIONS 11/18- 11/19/97 Golf Greens: History, Theory, There is an application fee of $35.00 and TO SERVE YOU. Construction and Maintenance- the deadline is December 31, 1997. Ap­ Garden City, NY plications can be obtained by calling 814- Hawthorne, N.J. 201-423-0222, 863-0129 or by writing to: Golf Course S. Plainfield, N.J. 908-753-5200, Turfgrass Management Program, The Dover, N.J. 201-366-2366, 12/8/97 Maximizing Teamwork - Conshohocken, PA 610-941-6662, Atlantic City, NJ Pennsylvania State University, 221 Ag. New Castle, DE 302-328-3326 Sciences and Industries Building, Univer- 9 POCONO ROUNDUP The Annual Joseph Valentine Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at the Huntsville Golf Club in Lehman, PA on NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE POCONO October 7, 1997. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Turf TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Project at Penn State University. Contact John Chassard (610- 967-4643) or Todd Struse (215-884-2590) for more information. Applications for the 1998 Environmental Steward Award are Anyone interested in assisting with the preparation of the course available from the August issue of Golf Course Management, on the day of the event, please contact Scott Schukraft, GCSAA Online (www.gcsaa.org), affiliate chapter presidents, Superintendent at 717-675-3800. program sponsors and the GCSAA service center (800-472-7870). Applications must be received by October 31, 1997. We would like to welcome the following new member: Michael Petrilak, Class A Huntsville Golf Club, along with eight other award winners, will be presented with the 1997 Environmental Partnership Award at the Seventh Annual Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment on October 9, 1997, at East Mountain Inn in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Doug Witcraft has accepted the grow-in and maintenance We are soliciting PTGA Meeting Sites for 1998. What better responsibility at Eagle Rock Resort in Hazleton, PA. Welcome back way to show off your course than to host a PTGA meeting for to the Superintendent Ranks, Doug! all your fellow PTGA members. Please contact Golf Chairman, Jack Bird at 717-698-6384. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 2430 MILWAUKEE ROAD POSTAGE CLARK SUMMIT, PA 18411 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.