chips %pms OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE Founded in POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION VOL. 5, NO. 8 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 1999 PREPARING FOR TURF DORMANCY (DORMANT FEEDING) By Dr. Bruce J. A ugustin , The Scotts Co. Late fall is the time of the year to put the finishing turfgrass plants are storing sugars from touches on northern turf before winter. Cleaning up photosynthesis for future use, but not using them for the leaves and one last mowing are the obvious current leaf growth. chores to do before the snow falls. Often forgotten Fertilizing too early can lead to problems with is the very beneficial maintenance practice of late - winter injury. Turfgrass leaves and stems can become fall fertilization. succulent with extra water if turf is fertilized while R egularly spaced fertilizer applications the plants are still actively producing clippings in the throughout the growing season provide the late fall. Plant damage occurs when ice crystals form nutritional requirements for a healthy, quality turf from excess water inside the turf plant and the Fertilizer is commonly applied in early fall from crystals pierce the cell walls. late August to mid-September. The turf shows an Fertilizing too late on brown, dormant turf is not a immediate response to fertilizers applied in the practical maintenance practice. Turf does not readily early fall due to the optimum conditions that take up nutrients once it has reached this condition. typically exist for the cool-season turfgrasses. The turf roots become less and less active as the soil reaches the freezing point and hence the turf plant Late fall fertilization is not a maintenance receives very little benefit of fertilizer applications at practice that yields immediate results. It is a this time. Also nutrient losses to leaching and runoff step for the future - the spring! can increase since the turf is not intercepting them. The success of the late fall fertilizer application is Turf fertilized in the late fall is the first grass to due to nitrogen. This has been proven in university green up in the spring. The late fall fertilization tests. Depending on the budget and management provides a spring green-up without the usual flush program, fertilizers such as urea or other soluble of growth. An additional benefit of the late fall nitrogen sources are perfectly suited for late fall fertilization is that the early spring fertilization can fertilization. Burning and volatilization are of little be reduced by one half to three fourths pound of worry at this time of the year. Rapid uptake is nitrogen per 1,000 square feet without adversely important so that the nutrients are fully utilized prior effecting turf quality. This is particularly important to dormancy. Slow release nitrogen sources can be to those turf professionals who have to mow the used if the turf is growing on sandy soils where the properties they fertilize. (Continued on page 3) Proper timing of the late fall fertilizer applica­ tion is important. Applications should be made ......... after the grass has stopped producing clippings, but before it has lost its green color. • Election Results • Meeting Results Typically, these conditions occur in late November to early December when the daytime • One Opinion temperatures stay below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the ground is not frozen. During this time, the President’s Message....... OFFICERS & In place of the President’s Message, I have been asked to put together a brief DIRECTORS financial “State of the Union.” As most of you know by now, there was a $10.00 dues increase approved at last month’s elections for superintendents and affiliate members. This increase was necessary to meet the ongoing expenses associated TURFGRASS 1999 with running this organization. When Scott Schukraft took over the responsibility ASSOCIATION of secretary/treasurer, our finances were in complete disarray. Scott was able to PRESIDENT neatly organize our finances before handing me the responsibility of “balancing” the Jack Bird budget. I am happy to say that with the dues increase, our association is now both The Hideout organized and fiscally responsible. The preliminary 2000 budget shows a profit of $325, not a lot of room for error, but manageable. I am committed to not only VICE PRESIDENT making sure that we follow this budget, but that we do not ask for another dues Gene Huelster increase until every dollar spent has been gone over with a fine tooth comb. If you Pocono Farms Country Club have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me at my office (610-838-0934) or e-mail me (sbrg@ptd.net). SECRETARY/TREASURER Tony Grieco, CGCS Silver Creek Country Club Tony Grieco, CGCS Secretary/Treasurer PAST PRESIDENT Ron Garrison, CGCS Fox Hill Country Club DIRECTORS Jason J. Barndt Berwick Golf Club From the Editor’s Desk..... Darrin M. Batisky Glen Oak Country Club Another year has come and gone - this one punctuated by one on the severest droughts in memory. Then, as to be expected, it was broken by torrential rains that Jim MacLaren caused severe flooding at various locations. One such course had ten ton bridges Turf Partners, Inc. lifted off their pilings and washed downstream. Oh, well, another “typical” season the golf course. Mark Eisele Now the growing season is over, it is time to reflect and get ready to reload for the Country Club at Woodloch Springs new millennium. Getting prepared involves analyzing the past experiences and what worked and didn’t work, and what to do to make corrections. John Downer Hence, the list of “Bear, Buck, Doe, Show.” After the hunting season is the time to Elkview Country Club hit the show circuit and find out what is new on the horizon and how it may fit into your future plans. Also, it is a great time to meet new people and renew old acquaintances and share the trials and tribulations of their season. CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF Much has been written in other publications about the importance of putting EDITOR everything in perspective in relation to what is REALLY important in life. Maybe Jim MacLaren now is the time to reflect and analyze on how much time was spent on the relentless Managing Editor, pursuit of perfection in lieu of spending quality time with family and friends. Melinda Wisnosky As I write this, the new bulletin is about the sudden and tragic death of Payne R.R. 1, Box 219 Stewart, who was killed in a plane crash. He was devoted to the game of golf, and I Harding, PA 19643 hope he was also devoted to his family, which I am sure he was. 570-388-2889 The place of employment will survive, but let’s hold on to our REALLY important Fax: 570-388-2167 things in life - your loved ones, family and friends. AMEN. EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Jim MacLaren Sankey Brumley Tony Grieco, CGCS Doug Witcraft (Continued from page 1) leaching potential is high. Typically rates of one to two pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 l i- square feet are applied. cc: Other nutrients like phosphorus and potassium were assumed to be beneficial at this late time of the year, but the cold soil temperatures limited their uptake into the Earthworks rsi roots and proved of little added value for the following spring. If soil tests indicate Natural O rganic Products no P.O. Box 278K • 6574 S. Delaware Drive the need for phosphorus and potassium, they should be applied in late spring or early Martins Creek, PA 18063 fall when the turf is actively growing. 6102509560 CD Fax: 250*7840 C D soilfirst.com Joel Sim m ons oo Late fall (dormant) fertilization is a great management practice to provide a high quality turf. Plan ahead for healthy, high quality turf next year! I Lee A. Kozsey I Senior Territory Sales Lead Zeneca Professional Products 37 1 0 Amherst Court Bethlehem , PA 1 8 02 0-1356 Telephone (610 ) 8 6 1 -8174 Mobile (6 1 0 )7 3 0 -9 1 8 5 Fax (610) 8 8 2 -9358 E-mail lee. kozsey© AGNA Zeneca com Voice Mail (888) 8 7 5 -9990, X 016 3 ZENECA A business unit of Z E N E C A Inc. G O LF C A R S IN C . LEASING * SALES • SER VIC E VICE PRESIDENT: Gene Huelster, Pocono Farms PAUL SZY M A N S K I SA LES 4180 SKYRON DRIVE B U C K IN G H A M , PA 18912-0247 215-340-0880 O FFIC E • 215-340-1634 FAX SECRETARY/TREASURER: Tony Grieco, CGCS, Silver Creek C.C. ELECTED TO THREE YEAR TERMS: Mark Eisele, Woodloch Springs C.C. John Downer, Elkview C.C. Gary Phillips, Racqueteers Sports Complex INCUMBENT DIRECTORS: Jason Bamdt, Berwick C.C. Darrin Batisky, Glen Oak C.C. Jim MacLaren, Turf Partners PRESIDENT EMERITUS: Ron Garrison, CGCS, Fox Hill; C.C. I 'C e n t u r y R a i n a i d I Your Link to Legacy Golf Irrigation Systems CARRYALL S B L E G A C Y drive m o WORK.S B B . iK byHunter* CENTURY GO LF PROFESSIONAL ■ > NJ/PA > P H IL D E M A R C O » 8 0 0 - 6 4 2 - 3 7 0 6 SEPTEMBER MEETING VALENTINE & SONS EAGLE ROCK LODGE Turf and Landscape Supplies & Services Many thanks to Doug Witcraft and the staff at Eagle Rock. Except for the cold rain, a great time was had by all who attended. The nine holes in existence are a RICH VALENTINE a „/ ,«■*<« /« . great layout and were in excellent condition. Those who toured the next nine were impressed by its potential. Congratulations, Doug, and GOOD LUCK in your next n 777\ 71 204 Rodney Circle x Office: 610-525-5710 venture. You can’t keep a good man down. Bryn Mawr, Pa. Fax: 610-525-1480 Another Doug, Doug Linde, from Delaware Valley College gave a great presenta­ 19010-3730 Pager: 610-501-9891 tion on the various ways to suppress runoff and how it should be of concern. Golf Winners Seed, Fertilizer & Soil Erosion 1st Flight 2nd Flight Control Material for Is e e d W ayI Golf, Athletic, Landscape, Construction & M aintenance 1st Duane Schell 1st Willie McCousland DENNIS L. WAGNER Gary Gendimenico Mike Condur Territory Sales R epresentative 2nd Jack Patterson 2nd Tom Weinert S eed w ay 980 Loucks Mills Road Hom e Len Predtechenskis John Bodock York, PA 17402 Ph: (610 ) 92 1 -8 7 7 9 Ph: (800 ) 8 3 6 -3 7 2 0 Fx: (610 ) 92 1 -8 7 7 9 3rd Doug Linde 3rd Bob Cevetello Fx: (717) 848-2261 Email: greenthum b2@ aol.com Tom Wilchak Bob Hovell 3rd Flight Closest to the Pin 1st Dennis DeSanctis #2 Aaron Kramer Matt Brown #8 Jason Bamdt 2nd Chip Demmeck KOONZ Sprinkler Supply, Inc. Jason Witcraft Longest Drive 3rd Jim McGall Jim MacLaren Gene Huelster - 348 yards From Gene Huelster....... We are winding down another year, and what a year it was. As we enter a new millennium, let’s keep a positive approach to what is going on within the Pocono Turfgrass Association. We are trying to make it better for all of us. We need your help to continue with the forward progress that has been made already. So please, come up with some ideas for next year’s educational schedule, and we will try to ac­ commodate those ideas as best we can. If you are interested in taking a more hands- on approach, volunteer for a committee. Irrigation supplier to Have a great fall, and we’ll see you soon. Golf Course Superintendent PHILADELPHIA TURF COMPANY A EGYPT D ean S n yd er President 4049 LANDISVILLE ROAD, BOX 865 No one knows D0YLEST0WN, PA 18901-0865 FARMS E G Y P T F A R M S , IN C . OFFICE 215-345-7200 FAX 215-345-8132 irrigation like Koonz P .O Box 223 W hite Marsh, M aryland 211 6 2 MATTHEW W. BROWN GEORGE J. SKAWSKI, JR. 800 - 772-8486 Commercial Products Irrigation Products 39 Waverly Avenue, P.O. Box 55 Phone: 8 0 0 -8 9 9 -7 6 4 5 Voice Mail Voice Mail Local: 4 1 0 -3 3 5 -3 7 0 0 215-340-5401 215-340-5450 Springfield, NJ 07081 Pager: 8 0 0 -7 0 5 -0 4 3 0 Fax: 4 1 0 -3 3 5 -0 1 6 4 TORO, & R a in ^ B ir d A GREEN-RELEAF, ONE OPINION (Reprintedfrom 1997 U S A Today Subm itted by Sankey Brumley Because golf is a game that demands focus, Douglas wide. In Japan, where the group began, whole villages have Funkhouser, 39, has a serious handicap. Every time Funk- been obliterated to make way for new courses. Founder Gen houser sees a jackrabbit zigzag across the fairway, he’s jarred Morita is a classic conflicted boomer. Once an avid golfer, into thinking about all the chemicals the bunny must be in­ Morita retired his clubs out of concern for the harm caused by gesting from the greens. golf course development. Then he’s off on a tangent: Each of the nation’s 15,703 Quitting the game altogether is certainly one response to the golf courses (and still counting) consumes as much water as a golf vs. the environment conundrum. Not so long ago, such a city of 6,000; and nearly 10 million acres of the planet are radical solution would have appealed to boomers who rallied paved with pesticide hungry golf greens and fairways. around the “No Comprise” ethic of groups like Earth First! Concentration smashed, Funkhouser gathers his clubs and But now that that baby boomers are older, they have allowed heads home. “I know all the destruction is absurd, but how do that compromise might not be such a bad thing. “The normal you fight the Tiger Woods phenomenon?” ponders the Palm course in midlife is for people to moderate,” says David Wolf, Desert, CA resident. “If you want to compete in business, golf a consultant who specializes in the consumer habits of boom­ is how you make a lot of contacts. ers. “There is more give-and-take in the mature mind. Funkhouser’s conundrum - can you be a golfer and also Recognizing boomers’ zest for conciliation, the USGA is care about the environment? - is becoming common as more researching strains of turf that requires less water and fewer pes­ baby boomers get in the swing. According to the National ticides than the emerald carpets displayed in televised golf matches. Golf Foundation, boomers account for the bulk of the nation’s “Golfers are going to have to accept more brown turf, accept less 24.7 million golfers, with Tigermania winning converts every day. than perfection,” says Kimberly Erusha, a director of education for For years, golfers could get away with the comforting belief the USGA. that the game was compatible with nature. After all, courses And the Sierra Club is encouraging a score card system in seemed nothing more than big, groomed meadows. which golf courses would make public their management hab­ More recently, new boomer-duffers weaned on green poli­ its, then be rated on their efforts to protect the environment. tics, have come to see that argument as “greenwash.” The organization also advocates that new courses be re­ “If you are a conservationist and you play golf, there is no stricted to previously degraded sites such as quarries, landfills way around the fact that you’re a bit of a hypocrite,” con­ and mines, says Mark Massara, director of the Sierra Club’s cludes Steve Nagle, a golfer who works to protect the dwin­ California Coastal Program. dling bighorn sheep in Palm Springs, CA, where battles sizzle Boomers seem to be most taken with solutions that let them over courses planned in the species’ canyon habitat. have their golf and be good Earth stewards, too. Others argue that turning golf into an environmental issue In Palm Springs, self-described “baby boomer hacker” Na­ is creating a bogyman that doesn’t exist. gle says he will continue to play golf, but boycott courses that In Carmel, CA, for instance, environmentalists are fighting encroach on areas where bighorn sheep roam. “I just can’t see Canada Woods North, a golf course and resort proposed by the need to invade the habitat of a threatened species so I can resident Clint Eastwood. “(Golf courses) make an easy tar­ chase a white ball around.” get,” responds Michael Hurdson, a golf course architect and consultant, and environmental plant physiologist. “Years ago they may have had more adverse impacts, but that is old news. A lot could actually be said that a golf course could improve a habitat.” But others see menace beneath the manicured fairways. “A golf course looks like a wild place,” says David Dilworth, a 44-year old golfer who opposes another Carmel course, slated to be built on an ancient Monterey pine forest. “But if you look closer, you realize it’s more like a big green billiard ta­ ble. Totally manufactured.” Such realizations have given rise to the Global anti-Golf Movement, a loose-knit outfit that battles environmental and cultural ravages caused by golf course development world­ D iary o f a G reenskeeper SUNDAY V E R T !-D R A IN D E A L E R S ^C O N TR A C TO R S 71 7 -2 0 S -9 O O 4 B 0 0 -5 5 4 -4 0 6 3 FAX 7 1 7 -2 8 S -9 Q 2 3 firs/)1 ' 4:00 A.M.: Returned pro’s phone call from last ESM G olf S upply C o. night. Boy, what a mouth! Can’t take a joke. Greensmower A D IV IS IO N O F H .V . IN C . 2 0 2 W O O D W A R D H ILL R D „ E D W A R O S V I L L E . P A 1 B 7C W didn’t show up until I had mowed five greens. I would have S P E C IA L IS T IN D E E P T IN E A E R A T IO N fired him, but I would have had to finish the greens myself. Club manager called, asked us to remove the fence along the WILLIAM SMITH front lawn so his party could park on the grass. A discussion ensued. Played nine holes with pool manager. He likes bingle, bangle, bongle. It takes him three to get on a par three, but he gets his bingle. Hate that game. Went home. Jerry Purcell, C 1 D Club manager called, said we forgot to take down the fence. P U R C E L L & ASSOCIATES Told him we didn’t forget! House chairman called. Wife and IR R IG A T IO N S Y S T E M S - P U M P S T A T IO N S I discussed, again, an unlisted phone number. Napped on hammock. Can’t wait for Monday. D E S IG N , C O N S U L T IN G & M A N A G E M E N T G JP 85@ A O L 29 Holly Drive (215 )2 3 0 -1 9 1 1 Hatboro, PA 19040-1504 FA X (2 1 5 )2 3 0 -1 9 1 1 OCTOBER MEETING BETHLEHEM GOLF CLUB Thank you, Tom Wilchak and the staff at Bethlehem Golf Club for hosting our AER-CORE. Inc. Specialized Turfgrass Aerification October Meeting. The weather turned out lovely for an autumn day and the course played, as usual, in its impeccable condition. It is hard to believe the amount of grass on the course for the amount of play they receive during the year, not to men­ For Service or Demo Please Call: tion the drought. Good job, Tom! The mayor should give you the keys to the city. ( 610) 458-0890 Bob Eichert Bill Rahling GOLF WINNERS Two Man Scramble 1st Place with a 68 2nd Place with a 69 3rd Place with a 73 Gary Phillips Dan Kelleher Tony Grieco, CGCS Chris Phillips Marty Kelleher Kelly Kressler UARIUS. IRRIGATION SUPPLYrINC. Closest to the Pin C h o o s e T h o m p s o n M fg . L o c a l #4 Dan Kelleher #14 John Bodock C o u rse s w ith B ra s s H e a r #8 Gary Phillips #6 Tony Grieco, CGCS D riv e s in c o n ti n u a l u s e S in c e 1 9 4 0 'S C a ll fo r referen ces PA 1 8 0 0 -9 8 9 -7 3 7 4 NJ 1 8 0 0 -9 2 2 -0 7 1 7 • Layout and Design • Typesetting I t ’s e v e ry p la y e r ’s r e s p o n s ib ilit y ... • Mac/IBM desktop publishing interface • Laser color separations ■ Repair ball marks Jf • Scitex® electronic photo retouching ■ Replace or fill divots 31 Hill Street, P.0. Box 507 • Full electronic prepress services Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0507 • Foil stamping, embossing ■ Rake bunkers 570-822-8181 • Complete bindery including FAX: 570-823-3579 saddlestitch and perfect binding A message fro m yo u r g o lf course superintendent a n d G C SAA Pa# 7 BEAR, BUCK, DOE SHOW (TIME) November 9 - 1 1 , 1999 January 11 - 13, 2000 Penn State Golf Turf Conference Eastern PA Turf Conference & Tradeshow State College, PA King of Prussia, PA November 9 - 1 1 , 1999 January 25 - 26, 2000 New York State Turf & Grounds Exposition Virginia Turf & Landscape Show Syracuse, NY Richmond, VA November 15-18,1999 January 27, 2000 West Virginia Turf Conference & Trade Show NE PA Turf School & Trade Show Morgantown, WV Wilkes-Barre, PA December 7 - 9 , 1999 February 9 - 1 1 , 2000 New Jersey Expo Western PA Turf Conference & Trade Show Atlantic City, NJ Monroeville, PA January 3 - 5 , 2000 February 1 4 -20, 2000 Maryland Turfgrass 2000 GCSAA Golf Course Conference & Show Timonium, MD New Orleans, LA GCSAA Education Human Resource Management T hursday, N ovem ber 18, 1999 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Pocono Ram ada Inn Pocono-L ake H arm ony, P ennsylvania M em ber Fee: $140; N onm em ber Fee: $210 C ontinuing Education Units: 0.7 Code: 00R S030-03 Brought to you by the Pocono TGA and GCSAA Sponsored by Textron Turf Care And Specialty Products For more information TEXTRON or to register, TURF CARE ANO SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Mm CUSHMAN JACOBSEN contact RANSOMES RYAN S u l (800) 472-7878 POCONO ROUNDUP NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION CONGRATULATIONS! To TODD MOYER (Lake Naomi/Timber Trails) Winner of the DELTA GUARD VOLKS WAGON BEETLE BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT Below is Todd Moyer accepting the keys to the Volkswagon Beetle he won in the drawing for Delta Guard, the new insecti­ Congratulations to Eric and Becky Reed on the birth of their cide by AGRE VO. daughter, Megan. Presenting the keys to Todd is Shaun Barry, our AGRE VO representative. NIKE TOURNAMENT COMING TO GLENMAURA NATIONAL G.C. Congratulations and Good Luck to Andy Jubinski, Jeff Koch, and the crew at Glenmaura National on being selected as the future site for the NIKE Tournament in June 2000. More on this later! CONDOLENCES 1 Our sincere condolences go out to Parker Biery and his family on the death of his wife Margaret. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 147 HAYFIELD ROAD POSTAGE SHAVERTOWN, PA 18708-9748 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.