CHIPS % PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE Founded in POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 VOL. 10, NO. 2 APRIL 2004 Notes & Such.... Volunteers are needed to work at Glenmaura National G.C. June 14, 16, 17, 18, and 19. Please call 570-457-8733 and ask for Andy or Mike. Did hyperoydes eat you alive ?? May Meeting: Schuylkill CC Host: Jim Rattigan, Golf Course Superintendent Got MOSS — This month’s tour swing brings us to a relatively untouched gem: Call Bill Rusk at Wild Schuylkill CC. The course is a Donald Ross Design built in 1921. It plays Pines. 6,888 yards from the tips and gets 9000-10,000 rounds per year. Schuylkill is a private club with 200 golfing members and 200 social members. Course Highlights: The greens are grassed with Schuylkill Poa Annua PSU Field Days - with some assorted bents seeded in over the years. Fairways/Tees are also August 1lth-12th... predominately Schuylkill Poa with some bent making a comeback. The course has been relatively untouched over the years so it still contains many of the original Donald Ross classic characteristics. Our Host: Jim Rattigan is a 2002 graduate of Penn State University with a B.S. in Turfgrass Science. Prior to graduation, Jim spent a year working as an intern at another Donald Ross gem, Aronimink GC in Newtown Square, PA. Prior to Aronimink, Jim spent 5 years working his way up the ladder at Schuylkill CC. He is currently with his girlfriend Rachel of 2 years, and sports a 2 handicap. In 2003 Jim qualified for the Nationwide Tour event in Hershey and enjoys playing as many courses as he can throughout the season. The most challenging part of his job is maintaining consistent conditions on such a wide variety of grasses. He has been the Superintendent at Schuylkill since 2002. He manages a crew of 6 full timers and 4 part timers. Most recent projects at Schuylkill include: tree work, winter recovery, and drainage. This is the first time Jim has hosted a Pocono Meeting, so let's show him some support! President’s Message Special “Thanks" to Chris Butler and Jim Rattigan for two great meetings to get our season off to a positive start. The courses were immaculate, the food was excellent, and the value of the days was priceless (that was a jab at you no- PRESIDENT Eric Reed, Valley C.C. shows). Also, thank you to our meeting sponsors: John 570-788-4277 W iblishauser from Bayer and Bob Seltzer from Fisher & Son. One Barley5@ptd.net small observation if I m ay....If is humiliating to have to call a VICE PRESIDENT Jason Barndt host club’s general manager on a Friday before the meeting and tell him that we have seventeen people signed up. Bear TREASURER John Downer, Elkview C.C. in mind, most courses are not interested in tying up their facility 570-840-0078 j_s_downer@juno.com for seventeen people, and we will certainly encounter difficulty in securing meeting sites at some point down the road. “What SECRETARY Duane Schell, Blue Ridge Trail G. C. do you want us to do?” you ask in a panic. You know who 570-868-8113 djschell@epix.net your neighbors or your clients are. If they are not active in this Association, then make the effort to try to get them to attend DIRECTORS Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. at least one meeting with you. It has also gotten popular for a 973-418-3468 few of you to sign up at the last minute. Out of respect for the Andrew Jubinski, Jr., host club, please let Melinda know of your desire to attend at Glenmaura National G.C. 570-457-8733 least three days in advance so she can give the host club an Jeff Koch, Wyoming Valley C.C. accurate number for which to prepare. 570-823-0740 Darrin Larkin, Panorama Golf Course Re ed 570-222-9260 CHIPS & PUHS STAFF EDITOR From the Editor’s Desk...... Charles Koennecker fertseedchem@aol.com Managing Editor My apologies for the delay in production of this issue. I am Melinda Wisnosky sure you wore a path to the mailbox while checking to see if it Editorial Committee had arrived yet. I could make excuses, but I w o n’t. We have Jim MacLaren Lee Kozsey had quite a busy spring. As you can see by the back page, Eric Reed lots of new faces occupy new places, (including yours truly) Hopefully, they can be sure to attend some meetings this year. Schuylkill CC was definitely a treat. A good time was had by all. I must say, Donald Ross definitely knew where to locate his bunkers. I have played many courses with three times the amount of bunkers and did not visit as many there as I did at Schuylkill. Of course, my sand game was left at Woodstone. So PTGA Office RR 1, Box 219 I will try to locate my sand game for our meeting at another Harding, PA 19643 Donald Ross gem, Elkview CC. John Downer and his crew are Phone/Fax: (570) 3 8 8 -2 1 6 7 planning to make those couple of extra miles you have to drive worth it. In addition to Elkview, Glenmaura is also hosting the NEPA Golf Classic for the Nationwide tour. Andy could still use a few 'W îy/ CMP brave souls to volunteer. It is truly a fun event to volunteer for. Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the Best of Luck to Andy, Mike and crew. Hopefully we can dry out author and/or person quoted, and may not represent the position of PTGA. Information contained in this publication by then! may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. See you at Elkview. W e would appreciate a credit line. ^ C h a rlie Ko e nne c ke r Managing Greens Under Stress by Stanley J. Zontek Director, M id-Atlantic Region, USGA Green Section Reprinted from the USGA Green Section Record 1988 May/June Vol 26(3): 1-4 Among the responsibilities of today’s golf course presence of frost, are examples of environmental superintendent, the need to maintain a good stand stress. of grass on putting greens is perhaps the most basic Generally speaking, any of these environmental or of all. Greens are the bread and butter of a golf mechanical stress factors will not cause the loss of course, and the reputation of a course and the grass by themselves, but when a combination of superintendent who maintains it is often determined stresses occurs at the same time (e.g., close mowing by the consistency of those greens. As long as the when it is too hot), the turf can be severely greens look good and putt well, golfers are inclined weakened, and may wilt and die. When this occurs to overlook other weaknesses on the course. If this on greens, it means an immediate public relations consistency fails for even a short time, though, the problem between the golf course superintendent superintendent will be criticized - and golfers can be and those who play the course. merciless in their criticism of even the least Following is a listing of some of the management significant flaw. factors the golf course superintendent can control Maintaining good putting green turf for most of to some degree as he manages his turf under the season is not as difficult as it once was. Science conditions of stress. Some may seem obvious, while has given us a better understanding of how to others are less obvious, but all of them are worth maintain closely cut, heavily trafficked turf, and considering in preparing for another period of well-timed practices such as aeration, topdressing, heavy summer play and the accompanying fertilization, overseeding, and other renovation work stresses. After all, loss of turf on greens is something can prepare the turf and the soil for the next period that every golf course superintendent and golfer of stress. With the coming of the summer stress wants to avoid. season, however, putting green management often takes on a meaning all its own: doing what is Managing Environmental Stress necessary to keep the grass alive under stress Fleat, moisture, disease, and nutrient stresses are conditions. key problems in maintaining healthy turf during the Turfgrass stress can be defined in a number of summer. Good management techniques can different ways. By the book, stress is the “strain or minimize these stresses, though sometimes the pressure causing a departure from the normal chemicals and materials used to prevent injury equilibrium." For the turf manager in the field, stress is cause stresses of their own. Following is a checklist of what causes the grass to wilt and die right before his management factors to consider for handling eyes, just like it did during the summer of 1987, the various environmental stresses. East's summer of despair. The turf on greens is • Syringe the turf occasionally to reduce heat and exposed to many elements that can cause stress. moisture stress. Applying the correct amount of The turf manager has little or no control over some water is the key to this program. Syringing is often of these factors, such as the amount of play a overdone, causing wet wilt and disease. Syringing is course receives, under what weather conditions this best done by hand, using trained workers with some play occurs, and whether the players wear spiked or good judgement, and applying water only to those spikeless shoes. Other stress factors are imposed by sections of the greens that require it. Fland syringing the superintendent himself. These include extremely is time consuming during the summer, but it is close mowing, the abrasion caused by turning necessary, given the demands of golfers today. heavy triplex mowers on the green perimeters and • Open up pocketed greens. Summer heat stress collars, deep vertical mowing, too much or too little problems are always more severe on pocketed irrigation, and misapplying certain chemicals. These greens, those partly enclosed by a dense stand of stresses can be broadly grouped under mechanical trees and underbrush. It is always hotter and more stress. humid in these pocketed areas, and the grass is The other category of stress the turf manager must always weaker because of it. Air circulation can be deal with is given the name environmental stress. improved by thinning out the extraneous trees and Temperature or humidity that is either too high or too underbrush near the green and pruning up the low, rainfall that is too much or too little, and the (Continued on page 6) Golf Course Turfgrass Turfgrass and Ag. Management Equipment Service Program Celebrates Technician Program Commencement Graduates First Students The 45th Golf Course Turfgrass Management On March 6, 2004, the Turfgrass and Agricultural Program class graduated on March 6, 2004. Twenty- Equipment Service Technicians Certificate Program four students received their certificates at a graduated its first class of students. These students ceremony held at the Nittany Lion Inn. Dr. Bruce have completed four, eight-week sessions over a McPheron, Associate Dean of Research and period of two years during which time they have Graduate Education and Director of the studied both mechanical and non-mechanical Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station topics. addressed the graduates during the All of the eight graduates are employed in commencement ceremonies. The keynote speaker Pennsylvania at jobs they look forward to working. was Mr. Mark Kuhns who Is Director of Grounds at Two of the graduates returned to family farms, one Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ. is employed at a large farm, one is a mechanic at a Scholarship and award winners were as follows: John Deere dealership, and the remaining four Trans-Mississippi Golf Associatlon-Stephen Holmes, have returned to the golf course or turf equipment Seth Miller and Jesse Trcka; Penncross Bentgrass industry. Many of those seeking employment had Growers Associatlon-James Bezanson, Stephen multiple opportunities to choose from, another Holmes, Christopher Lare, Steven McGlone, Seth indicator that these graduates are in high demand. Miller, Christopher Penn and Jesse Trcka; Duff Shaw As a golf course superintendent consider Memorlal-Erlc Hummel; Myles Adderly Technical mentioning this program to those employees, either Report Writing Award-Seth Miller; PSU Alumni part or full-time, that you feel are excellent Outstanding Student Award-Seth Miller and Jesse technician candidates. Perhaps your course can Trcka; Zimmerman Memorial Award (sponsored by either wholly or in part sponsor the employee, who Lesco, Inc.) for Outstanding Turfgrass Student as returns to you as a more valuable technician selected by fellow classmates—James Bezanson. because of the additional skills gained. For more information on the Golf Course Turfgrass As a course employee, perhaps enrolling in this Management Program, please contact Heather program will gain you skills needed to advance in Treaster at 814-863-0129, email hgwl@psu.edu or your present position or position yourself strategically write to: Golf Course Turfgrass Management for a position that may become available. Program, The Pennsylvania State University, 456 Ag. Program course work includes topics in gasoline Sciences 8c Industry Building, University Park, PA and diesel engines, electrical and electronic 16802-3507. The application deadline Is March 1, systems, hydraulics, communications, inventory 2005 for the Fall 2005 term. control, machine maintenance and many additional topics relevant to the outdoor power equipment industry. Additional information about this program is available from Dr. James W. Hilton at the Penn State Agricultural Engineering Department, University Park campus. Phone Dr. Hilton at 814-863- 1817 or email jwh2@psu.edu. VERTI-DRAIN S 5 7 0 -6 0 2 -3 0 5 4 R0TA0AIR0N 8 0 0 -5 5 4 -4 8 6 3 Marc Shotzberger DEALERS S. CONTRACTORS FAX 5 7 0 -6 0 2 -3 0 5 3 T e rrito ry M a n a g e r Stu ll Equipment Company P ro fes sio n al Tu rf P ro du cts E S M Golf S upply Co . 201 Windsor Road A DIVISION OF H.V. INC. Pottstown, PA 19464 9 5 0 SATHERS DRIVE, PITTST0N TOWNSHIP PA 1 8 6 4 0 610/495-7441 800/724-1024 (ext. 153) SPECIALIST IN DEEP TINE AERATION Fax: 610/495-7510 Mobile: 215/880-1716 ,^-Q? STEPHEN MICHAEL www.stullequip.com mshotzberger@stullequip.com PTGA Membership Our current membership stands at 158 members. The EartHWorks breakdown is as follows. Natural Organic Products Joel Simmons 50 class A - Superintendents ( >3 years) P.O. Box 278K www.soilfirst.com 11 class B - Superintendents (<2 years) 6574 S. Delaware Drive Fax: 610-250-7840 Martins Creek, PA 18063 Phone: 610-250-9560 21 class C - Assistant Superintendents 800-732-TURF 4 class AS - Associate Members 47 class AF - Affiliate Members 10 class H - Honorary Members 15 class R - Retired Members fisher ison compì ine. 0 class D - Superior Products for theTurf and Horticultural Professional 0 class S - Student Members 0 class I - Inactive Members Bob Seltzer 165 N. Center Street * Fredricksburg, Pa 17026 610-704-4756 * Fax 717-865-4712 The membership numbers are up from the last two years. www.fisherandson.com In 2003 we had 139 members and in 2002 we had 143 members. Shearon Golf A division of Shearon Environmental Design SHEARON Penn State Survey Specializing In: Penn State has initiated a survey of putting green conditions in Pennsylvania. The objective of the survey is to evaluate putting green characteristics, such as green speed, surface Construction / Maintenance hardness, thatch depth, etc., and other non-agronomic factors like operating budget and determine which factors Restorations / Renovations are strongly correlated with one another. Over 70 golf courses will participate in the study, which represents about Arboriculture 10% of the total golf courses in the state. The survey will be concluded in the fall of 2004 and results will be published in Design early 2005. The results will help golf course superintendents and golfers better understand the what conditions are Drainage Experts required in order to maintain fast green speeds and how their golf courses compare to golf courses within the same Custom Spray Applicators economic status. The study is being funded by the Pennsylvania Turfgrass Certified Irrigation Installers Council, Greater Pittsburgh Golf Course Superintendents Assoc., Mountain and Valley Golf Course Superintendents Assoc., and the Philadelphia Assoc, of Golf Course 337 Route 31 ■ Hop 5160 Militia Hill Road ■ Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 Superintendents. For more information please contact Dr. Contact Charlie McGill at (609) 466-0666 or George W. Hamilton at 814.865.3007 or Bob Raley at (610) 828-5488 • www.shearongolf.com 814.777.3007. Pfiff- 6 (Continued from page 3)(Con- tinued from page 3 ower branches of the remaining specimens. negatively to what are usually considered mild Without a doubt, good air circulation is critical in herbicides or moderate rates of certain types of allowing the turf to transpire and cool itself by fertilizers. If in doubt, spray during the cooler releasing moisture through its stomata. Providing evening hours or defer treatments until good air circulation is also helpful in drying the temperatures moderate, when the turf can green to minimize disease and algae problems. tolerate the applications better. If crabgrass or Therefore, anything that can be done to improve other weeds must be treated during the summer, air drainage in the vicinity of golf greens should consider hand picking rather than using herbicides. receive high priority by the green committee. Though time consuming, it may be better than • Control diseases. Many turf diseases become dealing with burned grass. Misapplications can be active when the weather is hot and humid and the especially devastating during stressful weather. turf is under stress. A good example is Summer Applying the wrong rates or allowing overlapping Patch (Magnaporthe poae), a disease of Poa (which essentially doubles the intended rate) is a annua and one where disease severity is directly common cause of turf injury during hot weather. If related to the degree of stress experienced by the you’re not confident about important applications, Poa annua. Controlling this and other diseases consider using foam markers or application dyes during the summer is particularly important, as turf for spray applications, or switch to granular lost from disease activity at this time of year will be formulations and drop spreaders if necessary. slow to recover. To prevent this from occurring, If fertilization is deemed necessary, keep rates in compress your preventive fungicide spray schedule the light to ultra-light spoon-feeding range. Soluble if necessary, be sure to make an accurate fertilizer sources containing N-P-K plus diagnosis of the disease if symptoms are observed, micronutrients seem to work well at rates as low as and use curative rates of the most effective yet 1/16th or as high as one-quarter pound of actual least phytotoxic fungicide labeled to control that nitrogen per 1,000 square feet per application. disease. Also, be sure to alternate materials or Non-burning, low-nitrogen-content natural organic tankmix contact and systemic fungicides when fertilizers can also be used to good advantage, but appropriate for broad spectrum disease control keep the rates low, in the range of one-quarter and to reduce the potential for fungal resistance pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Keep in problems. mind that more fertilizer can always be added if it is Do not apply pesticides, fertilizers, or combinations needed. If excess fertilizer has been applied, of products that have the potential to burn the turf. though, nothing can be done but live with the Cool-season grasses under heavy stress often react consequences. Grass Roots, Inc. Lee Kozsey Territory Sales Representative Syngenta Professional Products grass roots Mount Freedom, NJ 07970 1248 Sussex Turnpike f W O ga M ^ O Syngenta Crop Protection, Inc. ^ , , c/o Mt. Ridge Business Park 1 'O ^ *1 *• ■ 3710 Amherst Court Steve Chinp Units A -1&2 Bethlehem, PA 18020-1356 CHUCK DeANGELO Technical Sales Rep. Randolph, NJ 07869 Tel. 610-861-8174 ----------------- SALES------------------ Fax 610-882-9358 GOLF CARS, INC. (973) 418-3468, Mobile Mobile 215-796-0409 (570) 839-3399, PA Office www.syngenta.com 570-457-7420 OFFICE MAIN OFFICE 215-340-0880 (973) 361-5943, NJ Office 570-499-2216 CELL MAIN FAX 215-340-1634 (973) 895-1388, NJ Fax lee.kozsey @syngenta.com 570-457-3279 FAX 4180 SKYRON DRIVE DeAngelo46@aol.com BUCKINGHAM, PA 18912-0247 Service ♦ Technical Support ♦ Quality Products • Layout and Design • Typesetting It’s every player’s responsibility... • 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 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 your g o lf course superintendent a n d G C SAA i p ^l (Continued from page 6) If the greens begin to thin and you feel they are In trouble, consider aerating the turf. That's right, aerate. Though It may seem Inconsistent to aerify while at the same time trying to avoid turf stress, there Is usually more to gain than to lose. Aeration helps a soft, wet soil dry out, and allows oxygen back into the root zone TORO. where It Is so badly needed. It also Improves water infiltration Into tight, compacted soils, and relieves the effects of isolated dry spots. Very often, the turf begins to improve within a few days after T U R F E Q U IP M E N T aerification. As a precaution, use small tines, and do not let the MATT BROWN green dry out too much. Solid-tine aerification or deep spiking MOBILE: 484-357-6312 may also be of help in this situation. Consider applying hydrated lime when conditions warrant. For IR R IG A T IO N example, when algae becomes established on the surface of the GEORGE SKAWSKI greens and cannot be controlled with fungicides containing MOBILE: 610-554-9366 maneb, a light application of hydrated lime sometimes does the EMAIL: g.skawski@philyturf.com trick. Consider hydrated lime also when a green takes on an acidic, musty odor (ominously referred to as the smell of death), usually during periods of hot, humid weather As with aerating greens under severe stress, something may be gained by sweetening the surface of the soil with a light application of not more than one pound of hydrated lime per 1,000 square feet. This Is an old remedy that can still be used to good advantage. Be careful. While light rates of hydrated lime have little effect on the grass, heavier rates can burn. Finally, communicate with the people at your course. Discuss the situation with the green committee chairman, president, golf professional, course administrator, general manager, or anyone else who has a need to know. Begin the conversation by saying something like, “Gentlemen, we will have a problem if things continue as they are . . . That should get their attention. No one likes a surprise, especially finding dead greens that only a few days before were fully turfed and In beautiful condition. Tell them the story In clear, concise terms. People tend to be Office & Home Phone Top Dressing understanding if they know the facts. After all, no matter how White Haven 570-443-9596 Bunker Sand good a job a golf course superintendent does, he cannot control Fax 570-443-9590 Infield Mix the weather. Without a doubt, weather extremes remain the number one stress factor on golf courses today. Blue Ridge Peat Farms, Inc. White Haven, PA 18661-9674 When the Weather Breaks . . . When the period of stress Is over, assess the condition of your golf Potting Soil Gene Evans, Owner course. Count your losses and analyze what you think caused the Soil Mixes Professional Engineer problems your course experienced. After all, there Is nothing like a prolonged period of stress to bring out whatever strengths and weaknesses exist on the course. You may determine the greens need more and deeper aeration, that a better irrigation system Turf Sates & ConsuCtation * v needs to be Installed, or that trees need to be removed from around pocketed greens. ANDRE 8c SON, INC. TURF KING PRODUCTS & Also, use the experience in a positive way to determine which CONTRACTED SERUICES practices need to be altered and which programs should be Implemented to better manage turf when It is under stress. Rest JOHN V0JICK V0ICE/FAX 1.888.887.3770 EXTN 671 . . . . . . O TnrrT assured, summer heat, with its associated stress-related problems, CELLULAR 1.607.768.0575 2 MILL STREET will occur again. RESIDENCE, V0ICE/FAX 570.222.TURF MONTROSE, PA 18801 P*# 9 POCONO ROUNDUP NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE POCONO FOOTBALL CAMP ?? TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION Ron Jaworski has assumed management NEW SUPERINTENDENTS in the AREA !! responsibilities at Edgewood in the Pines under the watchful eye of Bob Price. •Bobby Brown is now at Eagle Rock Resort •Jason Brown is tending Berwick CC WOW------Hope that’s all !!!!!!!!!!!!! •Mark Brown has taken over Glen Oak CC YES, they are brothers!!! Riverview GC in Easton (Brian Bachman) is set to open in July or August. Another •Mike Salinetti is the new super at Country Blaukovitch wonder !! Club of the Poconos. •Joe Champion is the new "man in Blue Ridge Trail has commenced charge” at Hideaway Hills. construction of their new nine. •Derrick Hudson (formerly asst. supt. at Wyoming Valley) is now at Bellewood. POCONO TURFGRASS MEETING SCHEDULE •Matt Cook took over at Windsor Heights. June 16 Elkview C.C. •Jason Barndt is now assisting Chris Butler at July 13 Panorama Golf Course Woodstone. August 23 Great Bear G. & C.C. •Cory Pries (former Assistant at Fox Hill) is September C. C. of Scranton now at Towanda CC. October Wyoming Valley C.C. POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION c/o MELINDA WISNOSKY POSTAGE R.R. 1, BOX 219 HARDING, PA 18643 TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION NAME & ADDRESS ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED.