POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Founded in chips v OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION puns 1936 TURFGRASS association ! VOL. 2, NO. 1 JAN./FEB. 1996 history of site before establishment, number of THE AUDUBON PROGRAM..... members, golf course features, land features, water Karen Balchunas, Horticulturist features, wildlife information, wildlife enhancement projects, IPM, irrigation and water source(s), and public Karen Balchunas, Environmentalist/ involvement. They will also request a property map Horticulturalist at Huntsville G olf Club, sheds and slides, photographs and brochures from the course. Since each course has its own unique features, this some light on the Audubon Program developed information will help them prepare a report designed fo r g o lf courses in conjunction with the USGA. specifically for your particular course that will include Karen is very enthusiastic about the program detailed habitat resources and recommended and offers the following information.... suggestions for improvement projects to pursue. Please note, no restrictions will be placed on the golf course as a condition of participation in this program. The scenic beauty of Northeastern Pennsylvania has All decisions regarding the implementation of the drawn many tourists and developers to our area. suggestions given will be solely up to the individual Although this has improved our area economically, it has also dramatically reduced the natural habitat and golf course. The next step is getting started in the certification food sources of our native plants and wildlife. The process by establishing an outline of your objectives. Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf There are six categories that require certification in the Courses (ACSP) was designed to help Superintendents ACSP to become a “Certified Audubon Cooperative establish economically sound land and water Sanctuary”. These categories are: Environmental management practices that will help to promote and Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, preserve these natural resources that are the foundation Public,/Member Involvement, Integrated Pest of our environment. Many golf courses already provide Management, Water Conservation, and Water Quality natural sanctuaries and food sources, especially in areas Management. Help is available from the ACSP to attain where urban sprawl has all but eliminated the natural habitat. The ACSP wants to encourage and recognize certification in all the categories. Huntsville Golf Club is currently working toward those golf courses taking an active role in conservation. becoming a “Certified Audubon Cooperative They also encourage the establishment of IPM Sanctuary”. We are well on our way, with certification programs and protection of valuable water resources in four of the six categories required. We give much of through publications, telephone consultations, and on the credit for this to Colleen Sundholm, our previous site visits. They provide advisory information and Horticulturist, who took a proactive approach in increase public awareness about the positive bringing the ACSP to Huntsville. She encouraged our contributions the golf course makes to the environment active participation in the program, not only for the and the community. For information on becoming a environmental aspect, but for the public support and member of the ACSP simply contact the New York recognition of our conservation efforts as well. With Audubon Society at 518-767-9051 and request a the help and support of our superintendent, Scott registration form. Once you have filled out the Schukraft, Colleen was able to establish programs that registration form and paid the application fee, you will have brought us to this point. Scott is very positive receive a Resource Inventory Handbook and a one-year about the ACSP and has also taken a proactive approach subscription to “Field Notes”, a newsletter filled with in his implementation of IPM practices, Monitoring projects and ideas. The first step in the process is programs, Water Quality Management, and voluntary gathering data on the course. The handbook will ask specific questions on location, property acreage, reduction in water use. Continued on Page 6 elevation, date of establishment, R.R. 7, 7412 Sw artzs Rd. M o s c o w , P A 18444 • 717 -8 42 -12 80 President’s Message . ..... OFFICERS & A distant rumble disrupts the serenity of pre-dawn. A quick glance DIRECTORS reveals a flash o f yellow light and all is quiet again. As darkness yields TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1996 to morning light, a fresh and clean landscape appears. Large flakes of snow float feather-like through the air, unhurried, but determined. Winter has arrived in the Poconos and has been accompanied with changes that make our area a year round destination for vacationers. PRESIDENT G olf clubs have been stored and skis dusted off. The hustle and bustle Jeff Peters o f the Holiday Season has given way to the feather-like attitude of snow. Valley Country Club Emerald green is now virgin white. A golfer’s “fore” is replaced with the chirping o f chickadees and the call o f a jay. Footprints in sand traps give VICE PRESIDENT Ron Garrison, CGCS way to signs that a foursome o f white-tails were on the links the previous Glen Oak Country Club night. Nature has laid undisputed claim to the course for a brief time. SECRETARY/TREASURER Mike Vella Clinton C. C. * * ® „ J e ff Peters PAST PRESIDENT Hal Parr, Jr., CGCS Fox Hill C. C. DIRECTORS Kelly Kressler Southmoore Golf Course Stephen Stranzl Green Acres Golf Course Jim MacLaren Pro-Lawn Products, Inc. FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK. Jack Bird The Hideout, Inc. It’s back! Starting its second consecutive year, the Chips & Putts Scott Schukraft Newsletter is back, and it has expanded. With the success we had in Huntsville Golf Club 1995, we decided it was time to improve upon what we started. You w it notice an improved style, a little more color, and most importantly, a bi­ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF monthly issue. We have expanded to a bi-monthly publication to provide you, the members o f the PTGA, important news and events on a more EDITOR timely basis. It was one of our stated goals and we are following through Scott A. Schukraft on our commitment. In this issue you will find a feature article on the 147 Hayfield Road Shavertown, PA 18708 Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, our 1996 meeting sites, and 717-675-3800 the latest news and views from the last few winter months. The PTGA Board o f Directors has been hard at work, and the flurry of activity (no EDITORIAL COMMITTEE pun intended!) has led to what we hope are several significant Hal Parr, Jr., CGCS improvements in the management o f the Association. Have any input? Jim MacLaren Mike Vella As always, new ideas, tidbits of information, or any items o f interest are Bill Lansdowne, CGCS always welcome. Mark McCormick Scott A. Schukraft POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION NEWS COMMITTEE CHAIRS -1996 At the October General Meeting of the Association, reaffiliation with GCSAA was voted on and approved. The Education Committee - Ron Garrison, CGCS Board of Directors will begin to address the issues required for Publicity/Public Relations - Hal Parr, Jr., CGCS reaffiliation. Golf - Jack Bird Sergeant at Arms/Nominating - Kelly Kressler Finance - Mike Vella The Allied Golf Course Superintendents Association of PA Membership - Kelly Kressler will be holding a reorganization meeting in early January. The GCSAA Affairs - Scott A. Schukraft purpose of the meeting is to discuss By-Laws, Dues, and Editorial - Scott A. Schukraft Direction. In the past the Allied Association provided Welfare - Jim MacLaren information on happenings in Harrisburg with Legislative Fund Raising - Steve Stranzl activity concerning Pesticide usage and other pertinent golf By-Laws - Hal Parr, Jr., CGCS course related items with our industry. An important word from Jack Bird, Chairman - Golf Committee,.. Our monthly meetings and golf outings are special to our organization. These meetings offer us an opportunity to talk shop, play a different golf course, bring back a little education and, perhaps, an idea or two for the golf course. A well organized meeting will make the Pocono Association look good in the eyes of the hosting superintendent and his/her golf club and its officials. The key to this success is control. In an effort to gain control, we are requiring an advanced payment for monthly meetings from all those attending. Meeting notices will be sent out well in advance with the following information: Date of Meeting Cost for the Day Location Directions Host Superintendent Speaker Time for Registration, Golf and Dinner ReservationDeadlines All reservations must be sent to thePocono Turfgrass Association with full names of those attending, even if it is for dinner only. Receipts will be available after each meeting. For those who cannot make it, a 48-hour notice of cancellation is required. Rebinding will be done after each meeting date. Advanced payments will help us have better control of dinner reservations, golf tee times, organizing the golf event, and selecting the prizes. With the cooperation of our membership, we will add another level of professionalism to our organization. PTGA’s By-Laws are currently undergoing revision through our By-Laws Committee, chaired by past-president Hal Parr, Jr., CGCS. This revision is necessary due to the reaffiliation with GCSAA. These revisions will create a balanced definition of membership classification and the necessary items GCSAA will require of Affiliated Chapters. They will not affect our commercial board seat. The proposed By-Law changes will be made to the membership as soon as possible. AND ON A FINAL NOTE..... .During the month of December, several GCSAA members were sent voting affidavits to register to vote with the Pocono Turfgrass Association at the GCSAA annual meeting. If you still wish to vote with the Pocono chapter, Jim MacLaren will be available to provide you with a proxy that can be used at the annual meeting. He also will have affidavits available to fill out. This will allow your vote to be cast with the Pocono Association in subsequent years. If at any time you wish to vote individually, these forms are also available to you through our voting delegate, Hal Parr, Jr., CGCS. DISEASE SYMPOSIUM...Rutgers Cooperative Extension is POCONO ROUNDUP offering an Advanced Turfgrass Symposium on Current NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE POCONO Concepts in Turfgrass Disease Management. The instructors, Dr. TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Noel Jackson, Dr. Robert Wick, Dr. Peter Demoeden, Dr. Robert A. Dunn, Dr. Bruce Clarke, and Dr. Bruce Martin, will discuss Nematodes, Anthracnose Management, Take-All Patch and Gray National Recognition Comes to Two Area Courses Leaf Spot. It will be held on the Cook College Campus on Huntsville Golf Club and Glenmaura National were recently cited February 27 and 28, 1996. For additional information contact in the December c95 issue of G olf Digest as two of the country’s Mr. Richard Buckley, Course Coordinator at 908-932-9271. This top new private clubs for 1995. In the survey conducted annually program is an excellent opportunity to meet and interact with by the magazine, the panelists rated Huntsville as the second best prominent turf pathologists and golf course superintendents. new private club in America and Glenmaura as the eighth. Can the Top 100 be far behind? IF YOU ARE HEADING TO ORLANDO ...The Allied G. C. Birth Announcement...,Congratulations are extended to Ron and Supts. Association of PA will be hosting a hospitality' evening at Amy Garrison on the birth of their son, Logan Graham. Logan the Omni Rosen Hotel on Friday, February 9, from 7:30 P.M. to was bom on November 10, weighing 8 lbs. 11 ounces. Ron is the 12:00 A.M. Stop by and have an enjoyable time with your Superintendent at Glen Oak Country Club. colleagues from PA. This will also be an evening to support the candidacy of Sam Snyder, CGCS, for GCSAA Director. SURVEY UPDATE... Any one interested in obtaining a copy of the Pocono Survey may do so by contacting Jim MacLaren at 717-443-7154. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 2430 MILWAUKEE ROAD POSTAGE CLARK SUMMIT, PA 18411 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.