e m % pms OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE Founded in POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION VOL. 5, NO. 6 AUGUST 1999 THE NEW GENERATION OF FUNGICIDES OF MICROBIAL ORIGIN HERITAGE & COMPASS By now, most golf course superintendents in the slightly changed in the laboratory, azoxystrobin is best U.S. have applied or, at least, heard of the new described as a synthesized analog of a natural substance. fungicides, Heritage & Compass. What most Heritage can be taken up by roots and moved via people may not realize is that Heritage & Compass the xylem throughout the plant. When sprayed on represents a new generation of fungicides whose leaves, it penetrates and moves through the leaf, active ingredients are derived from a microbe. Use where some molecules enter the xylem and move of natural products as fungicides, however, is not upward in the plant from the point of uptake. entirely new in the turfgrass m arket. Because Heritage only moves upward from the point Cycloheximide, which was sold under the trade of uptake, it is not truly systemic and therefore it is name of Acti-dione, was used in the 1960’s and best described as being an acropetal penetrant. The ‘70’s on turf to control dollar spot, leaf spot, and fungicide provides disease control by interfering with other diseases. Cycloheximide was a by-product in respiration of sensitive fungal pathogens. It blocks the production of the antibiotic streptomycin. electron transfer in the cytochrome be complex and Streptomycin was derived from the bacterium thus it is single site specific. That is, it only blocks Streptomyces griseus. Cycloheximide was expensive one biochemical event, which means that the to produce and could be phytotoxic to turf, thus its probability for resistance to occur increases greatly registration was withdrawn in 1981. when compared to compounds with multi-site activity. Fungicides of microbial origin can be produced by Heritage is remarkably broad spectrum and is one fermentation (i.e., growing large quantities of a of the few turf fungicides with a diverse target list, desired microbe in an aerated vat) or the antifungal which includes both root and foliar pathogens as well properties of the microbe can be identified and as Pythium diseases. Its demonstrated target synthesized in the laboratory. Regardless of how the strengths include brown patch (and other products are produced, they must undergo the same Rhizoctonia diseases such as yellow patch and zoysia U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registration patch), summer patch, take-all patch, anthracnose, rigor that is required for all other pesticides. red thread, gray leaf spot, and Helminthosporium leaf spot. There is not a great deal of evidence, HERITAGE (AZOXYSTROBIN) however, that it is strongly effective against snow ZENECA molds or Pythium diseases as it is against the aforementioned diseases. Heritage's greatest known Heritage represents a new class of chemistry referred to generically as beta-methoxy-acrylates f i x t L t isPMrf'***** from ZENECA. The origin of the first identified compound (i.e., strobilurin A) was a fungus from • So me Pates to Remember the mushroom family named Strobilurus tenacellus. The common chemical name for Heritage is • Skytop Meeting Notes azoxystrobin. The strobilurin-based compound was stabilized by adding molecules to the structure to • Greenskeeper Piary ensure that it was not rapidly broken-down by solar radiation. Because the original compound was President’s Message....... OFFICERS How about this weather? How about the water bill? Restrictions are here, and I & hope we are doing our part in water conservation. We are doing hand watering, both DIRECTORS with irrigation and by hauling water to localized hot spots with the sprayer. Wetting agents are helpful to get the water down in the ground with shorter sets with sprinklers to prevent run off. Should you have some helpful hints or ideas, give us a TURFGRASS 1999 line. We’ll be glad to print them. ASSOCIATION The GCSAA’s 1999 Chapter Delegates meeting will be held September 10-12. We PRESIDENT will be sending Ronald Garrison, CGCS, as our representative. Key components of Jack Bird the agenda will be Professional Development, GCSAA candidates presentations for The Hideout the year 2000 elections, GCSA mission and visions, membership growth strategy, compensation and benefits survey coordination, Food Quality Protection Act, and VICE PRESIDENT much more. I’m sure Ron will be bringing back lots of information for all of us. Gene Huelster Speaking of the Food Quality Protection Act, the GCSAA is asking Pocono Farms Country Club superintendents and others in the golf industry to take action to stop the EPA’s unreasonable and unfair implementation of this act. The EPA has begun this safety SECRETARY/TREASURER assessment, but is using “assumptions” and “models of pesticide” instead of real data! Tony Grieco, CGCS Two important classes of chemicals under the gun right now are Organophophates Silver Creek Country Club (such as Dursban) and Carbamates (Turcam). You may take action by writing, calling, or e-mailing your U.S. Representative in Congress to sign on as a co­ PAST PRESIDENT sponsor of H.R. 1592. This bill will help save valuable pesticides. Contact Carrie Ron Garrison, CGCS McKeel at 800-472-7878, Ext. 619 or e-mail at cmmckell@gcsaa.org, if you have Fox Hill Country Club any questions or need help in writing your letters. Great meeting last month. Thanks to Tom Williams and his staff at Skytop. Hope DIRECTORS to see everyone soon! Jack Bird Jason J. Barndt Berwick Golf Club From the Editor’s Desk..... Darrin M. Batisky Glen Oak Country Club As this is being written, we are in a drought emergency. This was announced as we were at Skytop on July 20. That evening and in the next day’s news there were Jim MacLaren thumbnail sketches of what could or couldn’t be watered that applied to the general Turf Partners, Inc. public. To get more specific as to our particular profession, we had to make phone calls among ourselves or access the PA DEP on the Internet. The regulations that Mark Eisele were available were written in 1991 with various amendments made along the way. Country Club at Woodloch Springs For those of you who availed yourselves to these regulations, I am sure you found it to be the most asinine, convoluted, confusing, complex, puzzling, and perplexing John Downer document known to man. Elkview Country Club Reading through the document, something jumped out; Syringe means a 15 minute cycle (most people don’t do a 15 minute irrigation event), you can syringe only heat sensitive grasses (poa and bent). Who doesn’t have poa on the fairways. CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF The regulations are to be enforced by the local constabulary who we all know can detect the difference between poa, ryegrass, bent and Digitaris sanguinalis. We could go on and on, but EDITOR do we want to? We all want to abide and comply to some sort of restriction, but let’s make it Jim MacLaren realistic. A suggestion for the future might be to put every golf course on a water meter and Managing Editor, when a water restriction is implemented, say for example, the state would say cut Melinda Wisnosky your consumption by 20%, then the onus would be on the individual to use the water R.R. 1, Box 219 as he/she sees fit. Maybe the next step would be 40%, etc. This way you could water Harding, PA 19643 whatever you wished whenever you wished, but you could prove conservation by 570-388-2889 meter readings and conserve your own water. Fax: 570-388-2167 In reality what should happen is a consolidated group of golf course superintendents (Allied Association of G.C. Superintendents which would include the Delaware, EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Susquehanna, and the Allegheny River Basins) should gather in Harrisburg with the Sankey Brum ley proper authority and hash this situation out once and for all. Tony Grieco, CGCS Let’s take the lead and be pro-active instead of re-active. Doug Witcraft Jim MacLaren 1999 MEETING SITES PHILADELPHIA TURF COMPANY 4049 LANDISVILLE ROAD, BOX 865 DOYLESTOWN, PA 18901-0865 OFFICE 215-345-7200 FAX 215-345-5132 August 16, 1999 Pocono Farms C.C. (Clam Bake) MATTHEW W. BROWN GEO R GE J. SKAWSKI, JR. Commercial Products Irrigation Products Gene Huelster Voice Mail Voice Mail 215-340-5401 215-340-5450 September 21, 1999 Eagle Rock Resort TORO, (changed) Doug Witcraft October 19, 1999 Bethlehem Golf Club Tom Wilchak I Century rain Aid I Your Link to Legacy Golf Irrigation Systems CENTURY COLF PROFESSIONAL * NJ/PA > PHIL DEMARCO tr 800-642-3706 Ir s in the Tag KOONZ Sprinkler Supply, Inc. Help your Affiliated Chapter receive up to $.50 per tag from qualified Turf-Seed, Inc. Tag Team™ or Tee-2-Green Corp. Penn Pals™ varieties or seed mixtures.* Turf-Seed, Inc. and Tee-2-Green Corp. have pledged to contribute to your Affiliated Chapter and The GCSAA Foundation’s “Investing in the Beauty o f Golf Campaign. ” Just collect the blue tags* and send them to The GCSAA Foundation along with your name and your designated Affiliated Chapter. The staff at The GCSAA Foundation Irrigation supplier to the will do the rest. It’s that simple. Golf Course Superintendent Your Affiliated Chapter and The Foundation will split $.50 for every Turf-Seed variety or mix­ ture blue tag and/or $1.00 for every Tee-2-Green Penn Pals No one knows variety or mixture tag. This rebate offer could provide your Affiliated Chapter with the funds to sponsor scholarship pro­ irrigation like Koonz grams for turfgrass students or local and regional research. 800-77 2 -8 4 8 6 39 Waverly Avenue, P.O. Box 55 Call The GCSAA Foundation for more information at (8oo) 472-7878 ext. 465. Springfield, NJ 07081 A •Variety names must match qualified seed list. Mixture tags must carry a M 16 or M 16M prefix. Turf Seed product Blue Tags are redeemable for $.50 each, while Penn Pals™ product tags are redeemable for $1.00. Rebates will be split evenly between the Affiliated Chapter and T he GCSAA Foundation. Direct rebate offer to G CSAA Foundation, 1421 Research Park Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049. Ra in ^ B /rd GREEN-RELEAF. We would like to acknowledge Turf-Seed, Inc. TURT-SEEDJNC TEE2GREEN. and Tee-2-Green Corp. for their contributions through this philanthropic program. f GOLF W INNERS AT SKYTOP LODGE DISEASE SAMPLES Two Man Captain & Mate Send disease samples to: First Flight Second Flight 1st Tony Grieco, CGCS 1st Mike Condor Frances Mooreman John Chassard Willie McCausland 106 Buckhout Lab. University Park, PA 16802 2nd Mark Eisele 2nd Jim Carville 814-863-8327 Steve Whipple Jeff Siglin Closest to the Pin #8 Doug Witcraft #16 Ryan Batz Longest Drive #6 Ed Zimmerman #15 Tony Grieco, CGCS THANK YOU TO SKYTOP LODGE The Pocono Turfgrass Association would like to thank Tom Williams, Golf Course Superintendent; Jeff Siglin, Project Manager; and Ed Mayotte, General Manager; and all those from Skytop Lodge involved in making our day enjoyable. Even with the plethora of projects going on, the course played exceptionally well! The general consensus was, we should return in a couple years (maybe in September) to reap the fruits of their labors and enjoy the vistas of an autumnal day on the plateau of Skytop. GOLF CARS INC. LEASING * SALES • SERVICE PAUL SZYMANSKI SALES 4180 SKYRON DRIVE FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF OUR ASSOCIATION BUCKINGHAM, PA 18912-0247 From Tony Grieco, CGCS - Association Secretary 215-340-0880 OFFICE • 215-340-1634 FAX Our Association remains in good financial standing. I have spoken in the past of some imbalance of how money is received and spent in our Association. I have worked hard to correct these imbalances and insure a sound financial foundation for our future. Dues continue to be an issue. Recently, we have been robbing Peter to pay Paul. Paul thinks this is great, but Pe­ ter (our bread and butter guy) is really getting mad! To correct this problem, dues must be increased. Whether we do this in small increments annually or chunks every five years or so, is the only question that remains. Your opinion is important to us, so do not hesitate to let it be known. I Lee A. Kozsey I Senior Territory Sales Lead Cd Zeneca Professional Products 3710 Amherst Court Bethlehem, PA 18020-1356 Earthworks N atural O rg a n ic Products rs i on Telephone (610) 861-8174 P.O. Box 278K • 6574 S. Delaware Drive Mobile (610)730-9185 Martins Creek, PA 18063 Fax (610)882-9358 6 1 0 *2 50*9560 CD E-mail lee kozseyeAGNA Zeneca.com Voice Mail (888) 875-9990, X0163 Fax: 250*7840 CD oo ZENECA Joel Simmons CARRYALL A business unit of ZENECA Inc. soilfirst.com ^-0 7 DRIVE m O W O R I C ^ S . (Continued from page 1) weakness is dollar spot. It not only does not control dollar spot, but it can actually enhance this disease. Hence, Heritage must be tank-mixed with another fungicide whenever dollar spot is active. COMPASS (TRIFLOXYSTROBIN) NOVARTIS Compass is the trade name for the fungicide containing the active ingredient trifloxystrobin, a new strobilurin fungicide from NOVARTIS. Compass represents a major advance in harnessing the fungicide power of strobilurin chemistry and brings with it a new dimension in the effective control of turf diseases. Trifloxystrobin has very favorable human and environmental safety profiles. The very broad and balanced spectrum of activity of trifloxystrobin delivers excellent control of important turfgrass diseases including brown patch, leaf spot, anthracnose, summer patch, pythium, gray leaf spot, and many others. Furthermore, its powerful disease control, combined with excellent safety to turf, will be labeled for all turfgrass species and all application areas. Compass is a mesostemic fungicide with locked-in properties. This new type of activity is characterized by a high affinity of the fungicide to the waxy layers of the plant surface, (translaminar activity) and novel redistribution properties. This unique combination of features brings long-lasting, weather-protected disease control to turf. Trifloxystrobin is a mesostemic fungicide that delivers effective disease control. The locked-in behavior of Compass on plant surfaces is clearly different from that of contact fungicides. Compass is not translocated in the vascular system of the plant, as are systemic fungicides. The outstanding disease control effects of trifloxystrobin are brought about by unique redistribution properties and translaminar activity. Furthermore, Compass is strongly associated with the wax layer and is effectively locked onto the plant’s surface. This forms a secure reservoir of fungicide that provides long-lasting, weather-protected disease control. The lock-in properties that Compass exhibits defines a new class of fungicides: MESOSTEMIC. What is a Mesostemic Fungicide? A mesostemic fungicide is one that has a high affinity with the plant surface and is absorbed by the waxy layers of the plant. It redistributes at the plant surface by superficial vapor movement and redistribu­ tion. It penetrates plant tissue, has translaminar activity, but there is little or no transport within the vas­ cular system of the plant. COMPASS MESOSTEMIC ACTIVITY => SURFACE REDISTRIBUTION: Compass is redistributed locally on the surface of the turfgrass plant. => PENETRATION of WAXY CUTICLE: Compass has a high affinity with the plant surface and is absorbed by the waxy layers of the plant. => TRANSLAMINAR ACTIVITY: Compass penetrates plant tissue using translaminar activity, but there is little or no transport within the vascular system of the plant. => VAPOR PHASE REDISTRIBUTION: Uniquely, Compass redistributes on the plant surface and adjacent blades by limited vapor movement and re-absorption. CAUTIONS WITH HERITAGE, COMPASS Strobilins (Heritage & Compass) are subject to the possibility of development of insensitivity (resistance), as with most modern fungicides. Measures should be taken to preserve the benefits that they offer in the long term. These measures should include, alternating or mixtures of fungicides that are not cross-resistant, limiting the number of sprays in a growing season of common chemistry, using the product in a preventative schedule, and following agronomic practices that help reduce disease pres- ED ITO R’S NOTE: The Editor acknowledges Dr. Peter Dernoeden and Dr. Mike Agnew fo r their information in compiling this article. D iary o f a G reenskeeper FRIDAY UARIUS. In at dawn and fell over the barn dog before I could snap on the light. Friday is the day we do everything! Assistant late again; sometimes I wonder about him. He CUSTOMER SERVICE IS wouldn’t even hold still when I had to cut the bubble gum OUR #1 PRIORITY out of his hair. Got mad ‘cause I cut his head band. This is PA 1 8 0 0 -9 8 9 -7 3 7 4 the day I was going to spray because I missed last Friday NJ 1 8 0 0 -9 2 2 -0 7 1 7 that should have gone on the Friday before that. Maybe Monday. Maybe by Monday the cutworms will have turned into moths and flown away. Looped around the course in the pre-dawn light and saw four joggers, a mushroom picker, PARTAG GOLF COURSE PA R T A C PEA T two ball hoppers in the pond, three members walking their TOP-DRESSING C O R P O R A T IO N Kelsey Park dogs, an old Italian lady picking dandelions and a partridge Great M eadows, NJ 07838-9721 in a pear tree. Threw a rock at the last mentioned. I love the 1-800-247-2326 course early in the morning; so peaceful, quiet, and tranquil. I think I’ll call the Local (908) 637-4191 State Police and have these people arrested for disturbing the peace. Lady member Fax (908) 637-8421 stopped to ask why we have brown dry spots on #2 fairway. Explained to her that there were rocks just below the surface and it dried out. She asked who put the rocks there. VERT1-ORA1IM D E A LE R S 71 7 -2 B S -9 0 0 4 & CONTRACTORS 0 O O -5 5 A -4 S 6 3 FA X 7 1 7 -2 8 S -9 Q 2 3 TURF MANAGEMENT ADVISORY D C W Consulting 8 / 1 / 9 9 E S M Golf S upply C o. A D I V I S IO N O F H .V . IN C . 2 0 2 W O O D W A R D H IL L R D . . E D W A R D S V I L L E . P A 1 B 7 0 4 Average minimum soil temperatures are good indicators of a variety of plant rela- S P E C IA L IS T IN D E E P T I N E A E R A T IO N tionships/stresses. We track average minimum temperatures and compare them to W ILLIA M SMITH seven day norms and thirty day norms (thirty years of data). The result of this effort is a comparison of conditions today with thirty years of data for a site. For instance, we have exceeded average minimum soil temperature norms for the past thirty days by 6.9+ degrees at some sites in CT, Eastern PA, and DE. Some sites in KY, MA, NJ, and VA are 5.1+ above the norm. However, coastal SC is only 2.5 degrees above normal. A E R - C O R E , In c . Specialized Turfgrass Aerification This variance from the norm has intensified many warm season diseases/problems in areas where they may not be typically experienced. (Editor’s Note: I f anyone needs weather data fo r a specific site to fortify the fact For Service or Demo Please Call: that your grass experienced premature plant senescence, contact Dennis Watkins at DCW Consulting (570-775-6653). The pertinent data can be supplied fo r your site 1 800 823-7267 - - Bob Eichert Bill Rahling fo r a nominal fe e . • Layout and Design • Typesetting I t ’ s every player’ s re s p o n s ib ility ... • Mac/IBM desktop publishing interface • Laser color separations ■ Repair ball marks • Scitex® electronic photo retouching ■ Replace or fill divots 31 Hill Street, P.0. Box 507 • Full electronic prepress services ■ Rake bunkers sl 8 l # Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0507 • Foil stamping, embossing 570-822-8181 • Complete bindery including FAX: 570-823-3579 saddlestitch and perfect binding A message fro m your g o lf course superintendent a n d G CSAA MEETING DATES TO REMEMBER Joseph M. Duich Endowment Tournament Eastern PA Turf Conference & Trade Show Tuesday, October 5, 1999, Saucon Valley C.C. January 11-13, 2000, Valley Forge, PA 25th Annual Western PA Turfgrass Tournament Northeastern PA Turfgrass & Grounds Maintenance School Monday October 11, 1999, Fox Chapel G. C. January 27, 2000, The Woodlands, Wilkes-Barre, PA 23rd Annual Joseph Valentine Memorial Golf Tournament Western PA Turfgrass Conference & Trade Show Monday, October 18, 1999 Gulph Mills G. C. February 9-11, 2000, Monroeville, PA Penn State Golf Turf Conference November 9-11, 1999, University Park, PA Close at Hand GCSAA Seminars 10/4/99 Protecting Natural Resources on the Golf Course Syracuse, NY 11/18/99 Human Resource Management jH J White Haven, PA 12/6/99 Maximizing Job Satisfaction Atlantic City, NJ 12/14/99 Bentgrass Summer Stress Management for Cool/Humid Regions Baltimore, MD 12/15/99 Personal Stress Management Baltimore, MD 1/11/2000 Turfgrass Ecology Mars, PA 3/7-8/2000 Physical Problems of Turfgrass Soils: Identification & Correction Valley Forge, PA 3/14/2000 Turfgrass Stress Management Sunnehanna, PA Dean Snyder J im M a cL a ren A EG YPT President Office: (570) 443-7154 FARM S EGYPT FARMS, INC. P.O. Box 223 FAX: (570)-443-7015 White Marsh, Maryland 21162 w Pager: (570)-978-5649 Phone: 800-899-7645 Mobile: (570)-650-4982 Local: 410-335-3700 Pager: 800-705-0430 Fax: 410-335-0164 POCONO ROUNDUP NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1 1 M EM ORIÅM WELCOME! We are saddened to announce the passing of William “Bill” Smith on July 13. Bill was co-owner of E & M Golf Supply. He We would like to welcome the following new members to our died suddenly while on vacation in Wildwood, New Jersey. His Association: wit and wisdom will be missed by all. Our sincere condolences go out to his wife and family. John T. Ames, Class AF, Stihl, Inc. Kevin Driscoll, Class AF, Lofts Seed, Inc. Patrick J. Ziagos, Class B, Shadowbrook Golf Course Vietnam Moving Wall August 18-24, 1999 Tannersville Elementary Center Life i f a grindstone. Whether It g rin d s us down or Polishes us up depends on us. Never th in k of the future, It covues soon enough. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 147 HAYFIELD ROAD POSTAGE SHAVERTOWN, PA 18708-9748 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.