CHIPS & PUTTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE Founded in POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 1936 VOL. 14, NO. 8 November 2008 The winning team from Connecticut is shown above, they are, from left to right….Sean Flynn, Chris Mauro, Mike Dukette, Kevin Collins, Ward Weichette, Eric Desteffano, Eric Morrison and Matt Quinn. The MetGCSA Chanmpionship Winged Foot Country Club Folks, On behalf of the MET Golf Course Superintendents Association, Blake Halderman and myself, we would like to extend a warm thank you to you and your association for sending a team to participate in this year’s MET Area Team Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club! By all ac- counts this year’s event was absolutely fantastic, from the golf course to the food; Winged Foot went above and beyond! Matt was telling us that the greens were about 2 feet faster for our event than for the US Open back in 2006; so if any of you didn’t three putt out there, then I’d be thinking about turning pro! How great were those greens!! Please join me in congratulating Matt and his staff for a job well done! The course was in tip top shape and could not have been any better! Congratulations to this year’s repeat winning team from Connecticut! I have attached a copy of this year’s winners for your newsletters. Please also join us in thanking our platinum sponsors who allowed us to get all the great prizes and extras for this year’s event! Thanks to Agrium Advanced Technologies, Aquatrols, BASF, Bayer, Care of Trees, Syngenta and Toro for their continued support. They continue to step up each and every year, and we appreciate all they do for our event! Thanks again and we are looking forward to seeing you all in 2009! We’ll send information on next year’s event when we have the details worked out. Regards, Andy & Blake Page 2 President’s Message....… Officers & Directors 2008 The winter months are here again and the snow is already covering the ground (at least up here in the north). The season flew by for me this year. It seems all I had time to do was cut grass. But now the grass has shut down, it's time to take advantage of all the educational opportunities. With the economy struggling like it is, knowledge is our greatest asset. How can we stretch our resources to get the most PRESIDENT bang for our buck and stay within budget? How many budgets will Darrin Larkin, Panorama Golf Course 570-222-9260 have to be reduced this year? So don’t miss the chance to learn about new products and new management strategies. GCSAA VICE PRESIDENT Rick Anglemyer, Water Gap CC members shouldn’t forget to get their PDI points either. The GCSAA 570-424-6391 puts the ball in our court to keep our transcripts current. TREASURER John Downer, Elkview C.C. We will be having the Elk ski day again the Friday after the 570-840-0078 Woodlands meeting in Wilkes-Barre. That’s good for 0.1 PDI points too, SECRETARY by the way. So please plan on attending that event. Even the non- Ray Wadell, Elmhurst CC 570-842-4705 skiers enjoy the day. DIRECTORS Steven Chirip, Grass Roots, Inc. In closing, on behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to wish 973-418-3468 everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Hope to see Matthew Brown, Philadelphia Turf everyone soon. 215-340-5401 Greg Boring, Glen Oak C.C. 570-586-5791 Patrick Knelly, Sugarloaf Golf Club 570-384-4724 Darrin Larkin Thomas Height, Frosty Valley C.C. 570-275-4266 Chris Snopkowski, Wyoming Valley C.C. __________________________ CHIPS & PUTTS STAFF EDITOR Editor’s Notes….. Jim Gurzler, George Schofield Co. 732-433-5474 jim@gurzler.com The first snowstorm of the season wreaked havoc on some areas Managing Editor by leaving over 20” for some in our area. Luckily, the weather turned Melinda Wisnosky more normal and it melted quickly. Snowflakes have flown again 570-388-2167 since the first storm, and the weather folks say this winter could be a Editorial Committee snowy one. Darrin Larkin Matt Brown Luckily gas prices have eased a bit before the holidays to free up some money for those presents we all look forward to giving (and Past President Duane Schell, Blue Ridge Trail G. C. receiving)! But, keep in mind that half of the $700 billion bailout 570-868-8113 money for the banking industry is gone with no talking-head on any djschell@epix.net news network telling us where! Because of the trickle down effect, it will be best to be prepared for the powers-that-be to ask for budget cuts this coming season. Think now about how to accomplish your goals and maintain the conditions that are expected. Don’t forget to communicate where and how these cuts will affect what the player sees. I think with the coming season that expectations will be PTGA Office lower if proper explanation is done beforehand so no one is sur- R.R. 1, Box 219 prised. Harding, PA 18643 Phone/Fax: 570-388-2167 All the best this Thanksgiving; leave a little pumpkin pie for me when I stop by. Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and/or person quoted, and may not represent Jim Gurzler the position of PTGA. Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission, as long as the true context is maintained. We would appreciate a credit line. Page 3 The weather is changing, leaves are falling, and there is still work to do By Keith Happ, Senior Agronomist October 30, 2008 The weather patterns are changing, with colder temperatures predicted for the early fall! This change in weather will promote more rapid leaf drop and, for some, it is a welcome event. That is, if there is enough labor available to clean up the debris. It is important to remove leaves from golf course turf. Fall is the time when the turf is acclimating to environmental change and preparing for winter conditions. If the turf is buried under leaves it could be severely damaged due to lack of sunlight and winter diseases, such as snow mold. This will be a problem in the spring. The question con- cerning leaf removal that is presented most often is, "should the leaves be collected and removed, or can they be mulched and incorporated into the soil? If the leaves come down over an extended period of time and the area in question is mowed repeatedly in an attempt to mulch the leaves as they fall, then mechanical damage could occur. If it rains, the damage could become much more pronounced. The area may not tolerate layering the leaf mulch into the profile. Simply put, there are no simple answers to the question and several methods of leaf removal may be needed. One area may tolerate grinding the leaves while in another, leaves may need to be collected and hauled away. Golf course operations are using all methods of removal with success. Leaves are raked, vacuumed, mulched, blown, and even composted. The labor force available for cleanup greatly impacts the options available for complet- ing a necessary process, and it is far better to remove the leaves in the fall rather than waiting until spring. With the colder temperatures also come questions about fertilization tactics. First and foremost, work from a posi- tion of knowledge. Soil testing provides information on sufficiency ranges of nutrients in the soil. Deficiencies can be corrected in the fall. Sound and basic fertilization tactics lay the foundation allowing fine tuning strategies to be productive. Don’t push top growth at the expense of plant development. Significant root development can be promoted as the plants begin the hardening process. Proper fertilization can, in effect, be an anti-freeze for the turf as it enters a dormancy period. A good rule-of-thumb is to administer applications while the turf is grow- ing. To be as effective as desired, even the so called dormant treatment needs to be applied before the turf stops growing (both above and below ground) and before the soil freezes. As mentioned in our last update, select from the many educational opportunities available this fall and through the winter season. It is all about what you don’t know. Filling the knowledge gaps will make a difference and the effort will be worthwhile. Always remember, the Mid-Atlantic Region agronomists are part of your agronomic support team. It you have a question or concern, give us a call or send an e-mail. Stan Zontek (szontek@usga.org) or Darin Bevard (dbevard@usga.org) at 610-558-9066 or Keith Happ (khapp@usga.org) at 412-341-5922. Page 4 New Twist to 15th Chapter Delegates Meeting Delegates experience New Orleans; engage in discussions Desiring to give members as much information as possible about the upcoming conference and show, GCSAA took its 2008 Chapter Delegates meeting to New Orleans, Oct. 24-26. A total of 97 of the 100 GCSAA affiliated chapters were represented. “We knew there was some concern about New Orleans’ ability to host conference and show,” GCSAA President David S. Downing II, CGCS said. “We felt the best way to address that was by hosting the delegates in New Or- leans. Various association activities have been held there since Hurricane Katrina, so we were confident the dele- gates would be impressed by what they saw.” Not only did the meeting break ranks by moving from its traditional Lawrence/Kansas City region, but it also in- cluded a two-hour tour of the city and a briefing from local officials on the recovery from storms during the past two years. “I thought it was great that we got to see the city,” first time delegate Gary Myers, CGCS said. “I appreciate that we saw everything. There are still some areas that need to be rebuilt, but from the standpoint of attending Confer- ence and Show, everything was fine. I did not hear any delegate say New Orleans would not be a good place for us. It should be a great event.” The agenda for the meeting was developed by GCSAA Vice President Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS. His focus was on pre- senting a complete picture of New Orleans, providing in-depth discussion on Chapter Effectiveness and giving at- tendees a look at the future of the association. The meeting also afforded attendees to hear GCSAA Chief Execu- tive Officer Mark Woodward address the delegates for the first time. Woodward, who took over in July, shared his vision for the association. He touched on the following topics: • The importance of chapter effectiveness. • The need for member engagement on the chapter and national level. • Building relationships to advance the association and its members. Continued on Page 5 Page 5 Continued from Page 4 • GCSAA and The Environmental Institute for Golf’s role as a leader in ensuring golf’s compatibility with the envi- ronment. • The role of the GCSAA member now and in the future. Special attention was paid to sharing tactics with delegates how they could help their chapters to become more effective. A report on the extensive work of the Chapter Relations Committee, chaired by GCSAA Past President Tim O’Neill, CGCS was presented. The committee identified four key elements to enhancing chapters: Strategic Planning GCSAA Field Staff Executive Paid Leadership Sharing of Resources with other Chapters Peggy Hoffman and Peter Houstle of Mariner Marketing and Management facilitated a session focused on chap- ter effectiveness that explored means to increase volunteer participation, enhance communications, activate memberships, improve management and engage in strategic planning, all on the chapter level. The key take- away was research indicates that more people volunteer if they are directly asked, and are offered opportunities that are ad hoc or short term in nature. The delegates heard several presentations and engaged in discussions regarding member programs and ser- vices. Topics included: Industry efforts to grow the game, focusing on the role of GCSAA and its members. Membership growth and retention efforts. GCSAA’s financial picture. Marketing, outreach and advocacy activities. The importance of data for GCSAA and member input, including member needs. assessment, compensation and benefits report, and golf course environmental profile project. GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show. A staple of every delegates meeting, the opportunity to meet the candidates and discuss issues of importance was also conducted. Based on the discussions, financial issues were leading area of interest. Downing, Woodward and GCSAA Man- aging Director of Finance Cam Oury presented the association’s financial picture as being strong with no debt, valuable assets and a solid cash reserve. Although revenues will be lower in 2008 than 2007, association leaders indicated expenses were being managed down appropriately. Delegates also asked for assistance in communi- cating issues during tough economic times. Staff will provide support to help members in this area regarding Con- ference and Show attendance and in sharing their value and the importance of golf course maintenance in light of budget cuts. “I appreciate the delegates taking their personal time to meet in New Orleans,” Woodward said. We rely on them to be the conduit to chapters. We also need them to give us feedback. The one item that was very clear to me is that when member financial challenges are great, the opportunities and the need to assist our members are at their greatest. We live by the mantra that ‘Members Matter Most’ and I would contend they need us more than ever right now, and we need them as well because it is truly a partnership.” Page 6 2008 MET Area Team Championships Winged Foot Golf Club West Course – Par 72 October 27, 2008 Team Scores Par 288 Score 1st Connecticut AGCS 288 2nd Philadelphia AGCS 291 3rd MET GCSA 301 4th GCSA of New Jersey 303 5th Central New York GCSA 304 6th Long Island GCSA 306 7th Pocono TGA 307 8th Mid-Atlantic AGCS 311 9th GCSA of New England 313 10th Central Penn GCSA 314 T11th GCMA of Cape Cod 320 T11th Hudson Valley GCSA 320 13th Michigan GCSA 321 T14th Northeastern GCSA 326 T14th Rhode Island GCSA 326 Skill Events Closest to the pin hole #3, sponsored by Syngenta Brian Minemiar – GCSA of New Jersey 4’ 3” Closest to the pin hole #7, sponsored by Bayer Dennis Desanctis – Syngenta 3’ 5” Closest to the pin hole #10, sponsored by BASF Jason Werbalowsky – Hudson Valley GCSA 3’ 7” Closest to the pin hole #17, sponsored by Toro Chet Walsh – Philadelphia AGCS 10’ 1” Long Drive Net Division sponsored by The Care of Trees Sean Flynn – Connecticut AGCS Gross Division sponsored by Agrium Adv. Tech. Paul Dotti – GCSA of New Jersey Hickory Stick Long Drive, sponsored by Aquatrols Chris Butler – Pocono TGA Individual Gross Chet Walsh – Philadelphia AGCS Score of 78 Sponsorship Team Winner Kevin Collins and Kevin Seibel from Aquatrols Score of 70 Two Man Team High Score Gross Dave Lipmann – Hudson Valley GCSA Score of 90 Net Nick Burchard and Jerry Noons – Rhode Island GCSA Score of 81 The Pocono Team was Eric Reed, Duane Schell, Steve Chirip, Chris Butler, Greg Boring, Tom Height, John Downer and Paul Brandon Page 7 Happy Thanksgiving to All and a & a Safe Beginning to the Holiday Season From the Board of the PTGA From the Desk of Pat Vittum Date: October 22, 2008 Category: Insects Subject: Acelepryn™ Insecticide We just received word that Acelepryn™ (chlorantraniliprole) received registration in Massachusetts last week. This is indeed exciting news for turf managers. I believe Acelepryn™ is now registered in all six New England states. We have tested the material for at least three years and have found it to be very effective against white grubs (European chafers, oriental beetles, and Japanese beetles). Our field trials indicate that the product is most effective when used as a preventive application. We have seen very good control of grubs with applications as early as late May. Acelepryn™ also works very well against annual bluegrass weevils in some situations, but we are still refining the best strategy. Right now it appears that an application at the same time as a traditional spring adult treatment (after Forsythia full bloom and before dogwood full bloom), coupled with a follow up application of indoxacarb (Provaunt™) about three weeks later works very well in most places. While I have not conducted field trials on other turf insects, all indications are that Acelepryn™ is very effective against many other insects as well, including billbugs and chinchbugs. One other interesting piece of information ... Acelepryn™ is in a new class of chemistry (anthranilic diamides), which interferes with the movement of calcium ions during muscle contraction. The receptor site on insects happens to be much more sensitive to this molecule than are mammals, so the active ingredient has a very low toxicity to mammals. In fact it is my understanding that the EPA did not re- quire DuPont to include a signal word (in this case,"Caution") on the label. The times, they are a' changin' indeed! Submitted by: Dr. Pat Vittum DISCLAIMER - As always, it is the responsibility of the applicator to verify the registration status of any pesticide BEFORE applying it. Different states have different regulations as well. Trade names of materials are provided for informational purposes only and do not substitute for a thorough and careful reading of the label and application according to label instructions. The author and the University of Massachusetts are not liable for any consequences of any pesticide recommendations. Mention of any trade name is not to be considered endorsement of a product Chips & Putts PATRON SPONSORS AERIFICATION AND OVERSEEDING IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Atlantic Irrigation Joe Jaskot 973.445.9418 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Lesco Brent Wood 570.499.1441 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 710.933.5801 Turf Equip. & Supply George Skawski 610.554.9366 Matt Brown 484-357-6312 EQUIPMENT PLANT PROTECTANTS Aer-Core, Inc. Dennis DeSanctis 610.608.3181 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Finch Services Andy Jubinski 610.213.8597 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Turf Equip. & Supply Matt Brown 484.357.6312 Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 George Skawski 610.554.9366 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Harrell’s Josh Kopera 201.213.8693 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 FERTILIZER Lesco Brent Wood 570.499.1441 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 PBI/Gordon Corp. John Patten 609.970.1546 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Syngenta Lee A. Kozsey 610.861.8174 Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Harrell’s Josh Kopera 201.213.8693 SEED & SOD Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 East Coast Sod & Seed Kevin Driscoll 609.760.4099 Finch Services Andy Jubinski 610.213.8597 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 GREEN AND TEE SUPPLIES Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Harrell’s Josh Kopera 201.213.8693 Rich Gdovin 570-278-1131 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Lesco Brent Wood 570.499.1441 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 TOPDRESSING / SOIL AMENDMENTS Andre & Son, Inc. John Vojick 570.278.1131 Rich Gdovin 570.278.1131 Blue Ridge Peat Farms Gene Evans 570.443.9596 Fisher & Son Bob Seltzer 610.704.4756 Genesis Turfgrass Jim MacLaren 570-443-7154 Brian Bachman 484.661.6105 Grass Roots, Inc. Steve Chirip 973.418.3468 Harrell’s Josh Kopera 201.213.8693 Lawn & Golf Chris Butler 610.933.5801 Partac Peat Corp. Jim Kelsey 800.247.2326 SynaTek Mike Zellner 484.357.9197 Support our Sponsors - They support us! POCONO ROUNDUP PTGA MEETING SCHEDULE Got any announcements or information you would like to share with your friends in the PTGA? Send them along to Jim via email at Jim@gurzler.com or Melinda Want to host a meeting in 2009? Contact a board at mmel500@aol.com member and express your interest and what month you would like. Penn State in the Rose Bowl Jan 1 on ABC Ohio State Turf Conference Ohio State is looking like a Sugar Bowl participant on December 8-11, 2008 the 2nd of 2009. Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus,OH Rutgers needs to get one more win at this time to be NJTA Turfgrass Conference and Show eligible. Atlantic City, NJ December 9-11, 2008 Eastern PA Turfgrass Conference and Show Valley Forge, PA January 6-9, 2009 New England Regional Turfgrass Show March 2009 See website www.Nertf.orf in Dec for more info Exceeding POCONO TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION R.R. 1, BOX 219 your expectations. POSTAGE HARDING, PA 18643 Every day. One hundred and thirty dedicate d peo ple with the NAME & ADDRESS best parts, pro d- ucts and service for the green in- dustry Turf Equipment and Supply Phone: 215-345-7200 Fax: 215-345-8132 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED. Web: www.turf-equipm ent.com