d iO oA

i

CONNECTICUT

CLIPPINGS
Volume

35No. 2

N o r t h e a s t News Update
Dave Oatis, Director,
Jim Skorulski & Jim Baird, Agronomists
Superintendents in the Boston
Efforts were made to remove snow
region, western Massachusetts,
in order to expose the ice layer and
hasten melting. Darkening agents or
Vermont, and western Connecticut
report varying degrees of winter dam­
fertilizers were applied, and some
age to annual bluegrass on greens.
superintendents physically removed
Shaded turf, areas
ice.
of poor surface
Unfortunately,
in many cases,
drainage, and
The word around much
the damage had
areas where ice/
snow damming
already
o f central New England
occurred, and
occurred have
suffered the worst
annual blue­
and eastern New York
grass and per­
damage.
is not good as the snow
The same type
ennial rye­
of damage will
grass, (the two
pack recedes and
likely become
species most
evident on annual
prone to this
temperatures warm.
bluegrass fair­
type of winter
injury) suffered
ways as well.
The first indica­
extensive
injury.
tion of trouble became obvious in
mid-February and early March when
Golfers will ask plenty of questions
superintendents broke through heavy
as they learn of the damage and likeli­
hood of playing temporary greens.
snow and ice layers and detected a foul
smelling, anaerobic condition.
We will try to answer some of
Anaerobic conditions are never a
those most-likely asked questions.
good omen and signal the need to take
action.
(continued on page 4)

May, 2001
Safety First!
by Mike Mooney
Golf Course Superintendent
Pequot Golf Club

As a new year begins, everyone is
probably finishing up with his or her
equipment overhaul. As responsible
superintendents, we want to assure
that all equipment is in proper work­
ing order. This is to ensure the
longevity of the equipment as well as
the safety of the operator on the equip­
ment. I’m sure that the latter of the
two is of utmost importance to all.
There is no doubt that with the
hectic schedules and workloads of
superintendents today that some facets
of safety may be overlooked. Some­
thing so minuscule like a small safety
sticker on a piece of equipment has
the potential to cost the club tens of
thousands of dollars. It sounds absurd
until it happens to your club.
I have recently had an opportunity
to participate in a program offered by
the State of Connecticut, Department
of OSHA. We automatically feel that
OSHA is synonymous with poison.
The father away from us it is the
(continued on page 8)

Page 2 /

May, 2001

Connecticut Clippings

President's message
Brian Skelly, President

Brian Skelly
CAGCS President
Well, it finally ended. Winter held on
as long as it could, but spring is here.
For the first time in many years, most
of Connecticut had snow cover from
Thanksgiving to St. Patrick’s Day.
While this was great for keeping
golfers off the course, it might cause
some problems with winter kill, ice
damage, snow mold, desication and
more garbage on the course than we
have seen in many years. So aerate,
overseed, topdress, fertilize, and spray
— before long, this past winter will
seem like a bad nightmare.

CAGCS Board of Directors
President - Brian Skelly
Vice President - Jud W. Smith
Secretary - Dennis J. Houle
Treasurer - Les Kennedy, Jr., CGCS
Past President - Anthony Grosso

Committee Chairpersons
Education - Kim Heyl
Golf - John Motycka
Membership - Dan Rackliffe, CGCS
Scholarship & Research
Christian P. Mauro
Social & Welfare - Wayne C. Urban
Government Relations
Peter R. Pierson
Com. Rep. to Board - Skip Deubel

The new year has started off well for
CAGCS.
The National Convention was held in
Dallas, TX, this year, and the show and
educational courses were good. On be­
half of all CAGCS members, I would
like to congratulate Mike Wallace,
CGCS, on his election as Vice Presi­
dent of GCSAA and Tim O ’Neill,
CGCS, on his election to a two-year
term as Directer. They have both put a
lot of time and effort in and deserve the
success.
The New England Regional Turfgrass
Conference was again a success, wellattended, good talks, and a good equip­
ment show. The show keeps growing
and Providence is a great little city.
Again, thanks to Anthony Grosso
and Phil Neaton and the rest of the
committee for all their hard work.
Our March meeting was well
attended, as everyone is interested in
what is going to happen with the DEP
and the Water Diversion Act. The
recommendation from the DEP was for
courses to continue to operate the way

C o n n ecticu t

C lip p in g s is an
official publication of the
Connecticut Association of Golf
Course Superintendents
Newsletter Editor
Bob Chalifour, CGCS (Ret.)

Newsletter Committee
David Basconi, John Garcia,
Heather Garvin, Edward Goodhouse,
Mike Mooney, Ron Holcomb
and Jud W. Smith

The Clippings is open to all
commentary. Please send your
comments to Bob Chalifour,
Newsletter Editor, 39 First Street,

they have been (for the near future,
even if they do not have a permit) until
the DEP comes up with a plan, some­
time this year.
Just don’t make any new changes to
your water use without applying for a
diversion permit. The DEP seems to
want to work with us without nailing
anybody.
For this, we can thank Peter Pierson
and his committee for all their hard
work, and for showing our willingness
to cooperate. Nice job!
After a one-week delay (due to soak­
ing rains), we had our first golf outing
at New Haven Country Club. Jim
MacDonald and his staff had the course
in great shape. Despite a bad weather
report, the rain held off and it was a
nice day for golf—though you could
tell it was the first time on the course
for many of us. Thanks to Jim and
New Haven CC.
We have a great schedule lined up for
the rest of the year as Kim Heyl and
her committee have done a fine job.
However, we still need sites for NEXT
YEAR and the following years, so vol­
unteer your clubs.
Please consider hosting a CAGCS
monthly meeting or event. Cut out and
return the form on page 2 and send it
along to the CAGCS office. It is
never too early to think of next year
and beyond.
Finally, I would like to announce
that
“W E HAVE M O VED!"

CAGCS now has its own office at
27 Lucy Street in Woodbridge. After
many years of operating out of a little
office located in the basement of the
Streeters’ house, it was decided that it
was more practical to find a regular
office. This new site will give us

May, 2001

Page 3

Connecticut Clippings

New offices for CAGCS
more space and enable us to hold
committee meetings at the office. On
behalf of all of us at CAGCS, I would
like to thank John and Pauline for all
those years of allowing us to use their
home for business.
Luckily, we were able to keep the
same telephone numbers and mailing
address. Nothing has changed, except
for the physical location.
The hours of operation will remain
somewhat the same (9:00 a.m. to 3:00
p.m.) as they have in the past. If there
is no one in the office, leave your mes­
sage on the answering machine, and
Mary Jo or Pauline will get back to
you as soon as they can. Here are the
directions to the office so plan on visit­
ing.
Have a great season with light rain
every night, no humidity, temps be­
tween 50° and 80°, golfers obeying all
the rules, Green Chairs agreeing with
everything you say and do. Does that
seem like too much to ask?

Take a minute and fill in the card
below, cut it out, and send it to the
office. Sites are needed for next year’s
schedule.

Directions to CAGCS Office
27 Lucy Street
Woodbridge, CT 06525
From Merritt Parkway North & South:
Take exit 59. Take left off the exit.
You will go approximately 1/4 mile
(through a few short lights). Take left
on Lucy Street.
From Rt. 95 North & South: Take exit
47 (downtown New Haven, Rt. 34).
This is an expressway with three exits.
Stay on this expressway to the end.
Stay straight through approx. 6 or 7
lights. At the end when you have to
take a left or right, take a right. This is
Ella Grosso Blvd. (Rt. 10). Cross Rt.
34 and stay on Ella Grosso Blvd. for
approximately 1+ mile to Whalley
Avenue. Take a left on Whalley Ave.
and continue through Westville center.
When you get to the fork of Rt. 63 &
Rt. 69, bear right on Rt. 69. Go under
overpass, through a few short lights
and take a left on Lucy Street.
We are #27 (third floor) on the righthand side. The building sits back a
little, so when you see Amity Meat
Center on your left, our building is
directly across the street.

We o ffe r Design/Build services or
ju s t design, w hat ever serves our
c lie n ts best.

• Golf course design.
• Go\f course assessment
and enhancement programs.
• Grading & drainage.
• Ponds & water features.
• Planting design.
• Deck and patio design.
MEMBER SINCE 1997
C O N N E C TIC U T A SSOCIATIO N O F
G O LF C O U R S E S U P ERINTEND EN TS

2 0 0 D epot s t. • Chicopee, MA • 01013
Phone 413.592.1300 Fx41 3.59 2.95 90
E -M ail: Rob\anddes@ao\.com

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Y es, I am interested in hosting a C A G C S monthly meeting. Please indicate your preference
below, by either indicating the month you wish (April, May, June, July, Aug., Sept, or Oct.) on
the blank line or circle the specific event.

2002
2002 Invitational
2002 S & R
Annual Meeting

Future

2003

2002 Invitational
2002S& R
Annual Meeting

Invitational
S& R
Annual Meeting

Name
Affiliation____________________________________________
I would like more information about hosting a monthly meeting.
Please contact me. Tel. N o .___________________________
(Cut along dotted line and return to: C A G C S, P. O. Box 3678, Woodbridge, CT, 06525.

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Page 4

May, 2001

Connecticut Clippings

Nor t he a s t News Update
( c o n tin u e d fro m p a g e 1)

What caused the injury?
A straight forward question that,
unfortunately, does not have an easy
answer. The damage observed in the
field is limited primarily to annual
bluegrass and perennial ryegrass most
likely caused by a form of cold tem­
perature injury, better known as crown
hydration injury.
The damage is related to the ice, and
probably occurred during one of the
weather events where warmer tempera­
tures were followed by an abrupt tem­
perature drop and ice formation.
The process is complex, but it
involves water freezing in open spaces
around individual plant cells in the
crown portion (growing point) of the
plant. The ice crystals forming around
the plant cell pull water out of the cell
causing dehydration inside the cell.
The process causes irreversible dam­
age to cell membranes and death to the
individual cells. A hardened plant can
tolerate this condition, but once a
plant loses hardiness (a natural occur­
rence in late winter) individual cells
lose the ability to combat the dehydra­
tion process and severe injury can
occur. The process is still not fully
understood.

Did the ice and
heavy snow pack
suffocate the turf?
The anaerobic or anoxic condition
under the ice would lead one to this
conclusion, but it is unlikely.
Scientists have shown that annual
bluegrass can tolerate a solid ice layer
for 40 to 60 days without harm.
However, the toxic cyanide, hydro­
gen sulfide, and carbon dioxide gases
trapped below the ice can lower a
plant’s cold temperature hardiness
leaving it more susceptible to the in­
jury described above. The gases may
be a result of plant respiration and de­
composition of damaged plant tissue.
Therefore, it is our feeling that steps
should be taken if possible to remove
impermeable layers of ice once the an­
aerobic condition is detected and/or the
ice has been in place on annual blue­
grass at or about 60 days. Creeping
bentgrass can tolerate ice cover for
100 days.

Should the snow and ice
have been removed
earlier in the winter?
This is a loaded question, but it is
our feeling that it is generally not a

M

Would geotextile covers on
our greens have prevented
this type of damage?
Absolutely not! Perforated covers
alone would have had no effect on the
type of winter injury that occurred
this season since they provide little or
no insulation and do not prevent hy­
dration of the plant.
The covers are helpful for prevent­
ing desication from wind and will be
useful in hastening the recovery.
There are more extensive covering
systems being used further north with
good success, and some promising
new covering materials are making
their way into management programs
to combat this problem.

What effect does shade
have on winter injury?
Annual bluegrass populations are
always higher in shaded areas, and
since that grass species is most sus­
ceptible to cold temperature injury, it
is likely that damage in those areas
(continued on page 11)

Owen Regan

GOLF IRRIGATION SERVICES, inc.
P.O. Box 505,103 McCracken Road, Millbury, MA 01527
Art de Atienza

good idea to do so; especially in the
colder interior parts of the region
where low air temperatures can
become lethal. A layer of snow pro­
vides excellent insulation to the turf
and can prevent some of the freeze/
thaw cycles that are responsible for
the loss of cold temperature hardiness
and the damage itself.

508-756-5903
Fax 508-757-8626

IRRIGATION SYSTEM SPECIALISTS

A T Sales Associates, Ltd.
1787 Olde Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, Rl 02865
Tel
401-465-8066
Fax
401-729-8163
Pager 800-592-0675

May, 2001

Page 5

Connecticut Clippings

New England Regional continues to be a success!
by Gary Sykes, Executive Director

PARTAC
GOLF COURSE

New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation

TOP-DRESSING

The opportunity to view and talk
turned and said, “This is what I want to
with local sales representatives is a
do. I want to make a $5,000 donation
benefit that no other show can provide
to your Foundation, and I want to
for turfgrass managers in New England
make it in Scott Niven’s name to be
and surrounding areas.
used as a scholarship. I want to show
The bottom line is that the New
that we have a lot of appreciation for
England Re­
his hard work
gional Turf­
and his pro­
grass Confer­
fession.
ence and
Please
Show contin­
involve Scott
ues to be a
in the selec­
success! It is
tion process
still growing
of the recipi­
in interest
ent. Can you
and atten­
do that for
dance. To
me?”
all those who
“Absolutely!”
attended
was my reac­
between
tion. We are
plowing and
currently set­
traveling
ting up a pro­
through the
cess
to award
Executive Board o f the New England Turfgrass Assoc.
snow, we
two
scholar­
(L-R) Philip Neaton, Mark Richard, James Conant,
know that
ships, one in
Eric Newell and Bob DiRico
the show is
2002 and the
good for you or else you wouldn’t have
other in 2003 at the University of
been there.
Rhode Island for $2,500 each. Scott
Each show has its own highlight,
graduated from the University of Rhode
and this show probably would have
Island in 1976.
been remembered most for its weather
Way to go Scott!! Hard work does
challenge. Because of this year’s key­
get noticed.
note speaker, Jim Nantz from CBS
The conference program comments
Sports, it will have something else for
have been fantastic and the Foundation
everyone to associate this year’s suc­
will continue to focus on the highest
cessful event with.
quality educational speakers in the
industry. Best of all, it provides
While I had the opportunity to escort
Mr. Nantz around the show floor to
research with the funding it needs in
New England. This helps the industry
visit sponsor booths and to sign auto­
graphs, we were talking about his
as a whole in many ways and into the
future.
home course in Connecticut, The
Stanwich Club.
The 5th New England Regional Turf­
As he was remarking about how
grass Conference and Show will be
held March 5 - 7, 2002.
much he appreciated the hard work his
superintendent, Scott Niven, CGCS,
If anyone has a long-range forecast
put into making The Stanwich Club so for that week, please call the show
well conditioned, he suddenly stopped,
office!

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May, 2001

Connecticut Clippings

Page 6

If anyone has past issues of the
Clippings that they would like to
donate or photocopy for our library,
please contact Bob Chalifour (860/4454688).

Grass
Catcher

* * * * *

GHO
June 25 - July 1
Condolences to Mike Chrzanowski on the passing of his father; Mark
Loper on the passing of his father, Jim
and Jan MacDonald on the passing of
Jan’s mother; and to the family and
friends of Tom Pelletier, former super­
intendent at Richter Park GC, who
passed away on March 24th.

Welcome new members
Glen Dube - Class B
Oak Hills Park Golf Club
John Garcia - Class B
Crumpin-Fox Club
Marc Muhlack - Class C
Old Lyme Country Club

* * * * *

Tom Rodden - Class A
Glastonbury Hills Country Club
J.Lawrence Rustici - Class Commercial
Sawtelle Bros., Inc.
Dan St. Laurent - Class A
Putnam Country Club
* * * * *

Joe Rustici, Elmridge GC, reports
that the State Tourism Division has
excluded golf courses from its tourist
information brochure. However, there is
a separate info sheet listing public golf
courses with addresses and telephone
numbers.

CAGCS is again a Blue Sponsor of
the Greater Hartford Open at the TPC
at River Highlands in Cromwell, CT.
With our sponsorship of the GHO, we
receive two parking tickets, a quantity
of daily passes (good for one day only)
and ten sponsor badges.
The ’’Will Call” trailer will be at the
Millane Nursery Garden Center on R t
99 in Cromwell. Parking passes and
sponsor badges should be signed out
and returned after use, so someone else
can use them.
Your CAGCS membership card or
your GCSAA membership card should
be good for admission at all public ac­
cess gates.
* * * * *

* * * * *

Congratulations to Michael
Wallace, CGCS, on his election as Vice
President of GCSAA, and to Tim
O’Neill, CGCS, on his election to a
two-year term as GCSAA Director.
Congratulations to Barry Petrasko
on his upcoming retirement from South
Pine Creek GC. Barry and his wife,
Joyce, are having a house built in
Jupiter, FL, and will move there this
summer.

USGA Recommended Sands
Topdressing ~ Divot Mix

CAGCS members participating in the
CT Lung Assoc. Golf Privilege Card:

All members are urged to return their
information sheets to the CAGCS of­
fice with any changes and/or correc­
tions.

Airways, Blackledge GC,
Blue Fox Run, East Hartford,
Twin Hills, Pequot, Sleeping Giant,
Putnam, Fairchild Wheeler,
Fox Run @ Copper Hill, Goodwin,
Grassmere, Laurel View,
Miner Hills and Rolling Greens.

Root-Zone Mixes
Bunker Sand & Pea Stone

cdfoU iston cSand (lo., (Jtia.

CAGCS 2001
Membership Directory

* * * * *

Deadline for the July issue of the
Clippings is June 8th.

onnecticut
c Mulch

Tiffi Road ~ Slatersville, R I02876
Covering ground since 1978

AUGro Compost
A llG ro Mixes

(401) 766-5010
Fax (401) 762-4976

Business Address
1300 East St.
Suffield, CT. 06078

Mailing Address
1515 North Stone St.
W. Suffield, C T 06093

Telephone
(860) 623-2987
Fax 292-1047

May, 2001

Page 7

Connecticut Clippings

Dogs of Summer

Upcoming Events

Meet AJ (Auggie, Jr.), the pup (now 60 lbs) that adopted Jud Smith, supt. at
Orange Hills CC. AJ enjoys riding in a golf car and helping to run Orange Hills.
A mixed breed of lab, Rhodesian Ridge Back and pit bull, AJ has all the papers
(New Haven Register, Waterbury Times, Hartford Courant.)
AJ and Auggie get
along fine. Auggie, by the
way, is also a Rhodesian
Ridge Back who was aban­
doned along with his sister
and left in a box in a tene­
ment house in West Ha­
ven. Auggie at 90 lbs. is
still top dog around the
house and course.
Aside from taking Jud
to the course every day, AJ
also takes Jud along to
obedience school. We all
know he needs that. The trainer said that he is bright and tough, but did not say
too much about Jud.
Give a dog, cat, bird a new leash on life. Call the Connecticut Humane
Society in your area and give them a visit. If you need references, please call AJ at
Orange Hills. The procedure is painless and easy and may be a very inexpensive
way to rid your course of unwanted guests such as geese, mice and moles. For
your convenience, the Connecticut Humane Society has four locations. Give them
a call now. (Newington 860/594-4500; Bethany 203/393-0150; Westport 203/2274137; New London 860/442-8583)
Auggie and AJ are two fine examples of good animals that can be found at the
pound.

CAGCS Monthly Meeting
The Connecticut Golf Club
Mark G. Fuller, CGCS

June 18

(Editor s Note: Rhodesian Ridge Backs were bred to hunt lions.)

New Haven CC Golf Results
April 17th

TEE

&

A ugust TBA

CAGCS Family Day
Septem ber 24

CAGCS Monthly Meeting
Hunter Golf Club
Keith Angilly, Host Supt.
O ctober 1

Scholarship & Research Tournament
Torrington Country Club
Edward Goodhouse, Host Supt
O ctober TBA

Superintendent/Assistant Tournament
Tower Ridge Country Club
Scott Ramsay, Host Supt.
Long Putt #9 - Grenert 24’ 10”
#17 Howland 13’ 8”

3rd Net - Anderson/Wydra
Nolan/Ladd - 62

Long Drive - Anderson, C.
Closest to Line - Johnson, E.

Closest to pin #2, Ladd 23’
#12 Griswold 35”

Kickers: Mauro-Wozniak
Wynne-Deubel

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Sports Field Renovations and Maintenance

S O D
—IN C O R PO R A T E D —
P. O. Box 418
Exeter, Rhode Island 02822
D avid W allace
Telephone: 401/789-8177

July 23rd

CAGCS Monthly Meeting
The Farms Country Club
Paul Sabino, Host Supt.

2nd Net - Welch/Fuller
Grenert/Beaudry - 62

1st Gross - Dukette/Weischett
Morrison/Pierson - 65
1st Net - Ramsay/Smith
Stent/Kennedy - 62

July 10

CAGCS Annual Invitational
Hop Meadow Country Club
Michael Wallace, CGCS

Fax: 401/789-3895

__
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Page 8

Connecticut Clippings

cW m [Q U A T R O L S
Adding Science to Surfactants

Innovation,
IfltCCJVittj}

Product Research,
a n d A Money Back

March, 2001

The inspectors are not
on a witch hunt.
They are there to help you.
"Safety First"
(continued from page 1)

demonstrating that your club is serious
frame offered for
repairing any
and proactive about safety for its
employees. This speaks volumes to
issues is very
those who come to work for your club.
flexible and ne­
It was indicated to me that if Federal
gotiable.
Soit surfactants fro m Aquatrofs OSHA did happen to conduct a review
My visit with
a
company you can count on.
at my club and found any infractions
the consultant
that they would be considerably much
was extremely
more lenient. In some instances, even
informative and
waving all fines due to my proactive
proactive. I was
decision to partake in the safety
given ample
program.
time to rectify
* * ♦ # SOILPENETRANT
As superintendents, we are just more
any unsafe situ­
than stewards of the environment, we
ations. The con­
(800) 257-7797 / (856) 751-0309 / Fax: (856) 751-3859
are responsible for the safety and well­
sultant informed
www.aquatrols.com
being for every individual that reports
me that the visit
to our maintenance building in the wee
is really
hours of the morning to work on our
designed to protect the employer just as
better — the “out of sight, out of
course. It is simply the right thing to
much as the employee. “Our attempt is
mind” mentality.
to make your club virtually bullet-poof
do.
I can honestly say that this program
In Connecticut, you can find out
in the event you receive a visit from
needs some recognition. Some good
more
on this safety program by calling
Federal OSHA.”
features of the program are that it is
860/566-4550. Those of you not in
I was informed that Federal OSHA
voluntary and completely free.
Connecticut may find that their particu­
begins their fines at $7,000 for each
The safety consultant program in
lar sate offers a similar program. The
infraction. Suppose you have a triplex
Connecticut is offered and supported
program is worth considering. I urge
without a waming/safety label on each
through tax dollars. Okay, so it’s not
you to take advantage of this free, no
unit, your club is looking at a fine
technically free, but there are no addi­
risk program.
starting out at $21,000. For the cost of
tional out-of-pocket expenses for your
three stickers that the unit came with,
club.
you could purchase a brand new trip­
The process is quite simple. You call
lex— maybe even with some bells and
the state OSHA and request a safety
whistles!
consultant visit. A safety consultant
For those of you
visits your club, provides you with a
who did the quick
presentation of the program, and with
math, it is quite
your permission will conduct a walk­
simple. Those who
through of your premises with you.
deal with low bud­
The consultant will make recommen­
gets know very well
To celebrate G C SAAs 75th Anniversary
dations with regards to safety issues
that money doesn’t
that may have been overlooked. Of
talk, it screams! An­
For more information
course, it is your responsibility to fol­
other benefit provid­
contact the GCSAA Service Center
low up and amend any safety issues
ed by this service is
at 1-800472-7878
that may have been discussed. The time
mV

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May, 2001

Wa t e r D iv ers io n
by Bob Chalifour, Editor

At our March 20th meeting, Denise
Ruzika, Assistant Director of Inland
Water Resources for the CT DEP, gave
information the Water Diversion Poli­
cy Act. Enacted in 1982, CT Public
Act 82-402 required permitting of water
diversions in excess of 50,000 gallons
in a 24-hour period.
If you registered before July 1,1983,
you are o.k. or grandfathered. Any
changes to this, then you must get a
permit.
If you are purchasing water from a
private or municipal entity, then they
are responsible for registration or per­
mit.
Now, 17 years later, Commissioner
Arthur Roche, admits that the depart­

Page 9

Connecticut Clippings

ment did not do a good job of follow­
ing up on those that did not register on
time.
Carla Feroni, Compliance Division,
stated that they want to give those not
in compliance a fair and equal chance to
be permitted. The recommendation is
to obtain the services of a qualified
firm to file for a permit. This service
does not come cheap — prices range
from $5,000 to $16,000. In 1983, it
was free—just register with the depart­
ment.
Compliance officer, Feroni stated
that the commissioner wants to work
with the industry and will sponsor a
seminar this Fall in conjunction with
the Water Institute, the University of
Connecticut, CAGCS and the CSGA.
The seminar will be developed to aid
those that need to meet compliance
regulations. For now, do not expand
any diversion without a permit.

Upgrade Your Existing Sprinklers
With Low-Cost Hunter Retro-Risers

Any questions, call 860/424-3853 for
information.

What should you do?
Ruzika recommends obtaining the
services of a consulting engineer to get
a permit, install totalizing meters to
record withdrawals, irrigate efficiently,
develop best management practices,
become informed, request a permit.
CAGCS members working on Best
Management Practices for Water with
the DEP are Heather Garvin, Peter
Pierson, Tim O’Neill, Bill Dest, John
Ruzsbatsky and Steve Rackliffe.
There are three subdivisions that
include storage management and
technology, water quality, and water
quantity.

isit golf's best known courses and you
will often find worn, inefficient
sprinklers that have been in the ground for
years, mainly due to the disruption and
expense to replace them. Until now.

V

Hunter Golf introduces the new RT Retro
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Toro® models 630,730,760 and the
discontinued 660.
Your staff can pop out old Toro® internal
mechanisms and replace them with
efficient Hunter gear-drives within minutes.
The Toro® body with flange remains
undisturbed during the change-out and no
digging is required.
See your local Hunter Golf distributor for a
complete update on reliable Hunter rotors,
valves and control systems.
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mBiscom

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East Hartford, 888-522-9182
Golf Hdqtrs: Milford, 877-878-0658

Page 10

Connecticut Clippings

May, 2001

U sh erin g in a New Era in GCSAA H istory
by Tim O’Neill, CGCS
GCSAA Director

A Gala 75th Anniversary Celebration is Under Way

GCSAA’s International Convention
and Show gets better all the time. My
personal highlight this year, of course,
was the annual meeting, where I was
elected to a two-year term on the
GCSAA Board as a director.
Many, many thanks to all CAGCS
members for your support—and to
John Streeter and Peter Pierson, in par­
ticular, for all they did on my behalf.
I am, of course, looking forward to
my continued involvement on the na­
tional board and am happy to report
that I will serve again this year as the
Membership Chairman and will
assume a new post as Chairman of the
75th Anniversary Resource Group.
GCSAA already has many plans

brewing for a grand 75th anniversary
celebration, which began at the confer­
ence and show in Dallas and will con­
tinue right through to the 2002 confer­
ence and show in Orlando, FL.
Among the celebration’s special
offerings and events:
* A special dues rate of $75 is now
in effect for new members of GCSAA.
The offer is good through the next
show in Orlando. For more informa­
tion, contact GCSAA at 800/472-7878
or call me at the CC of Darien 203/
655-9726 ext. 222.
* Two days of activities, programs
and ceremonies are planned for Septem­
ber at the headquarters building in Law­
rence, KS. All GCSAA members are

encouraged to attend the event. Chap­
ters will be asked to find ways to send
as many representatives as possible.
* A life-size bronze statue of Old
Tom Morris has been commissioned
and will be unveiled at the September
celebration.
* GCSAA plans to build a brick
walkway surrounding the new statue at
headquarters and is sponsoring a "buy a
brick” program. This program allows
you to purchase bricks for $50 with
your name inscribed—and eternally
etched into the history of our organiza­
tion.
* A golf ball collection drive has
been started by encouraging members
to donate three balls with their club's
logo. One ball will be displayed while
two others will be auctioned on E-Bay
to benefit The GCSAA Foundation.
Editor's Note: More information
from Tim regarding other GCSAArelated issues will appear throughout
the year.

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May, 2001

Connecticut Clippings

N o r t h e a s t News Update
( c o n tin u e d fro m p a g e 4)

will be most severe. The shade reduces
a plant’s photosynthetic ability and
thus limits its cold temperature hardi­
ness in late fall. Thus, a shaded plant
will always be more susceptible to
this type of injury as compared to a
plant growing in full sun.

What can we do to prevent
this from reoccurring
in the future?
Steps can be taken to reduce the
chance of injury from cold temperature
and ice, but it probably will never be
prevented entirely if you have large
populations of annual bluegrass.
Correcting poor surface drainage,
eliminating shaded environments, and
establishing more tolerant creeping
bentgrass will help reduce the extent
of the injury.
Proper cultural practices to allow
the turf to gain maximum cold tem­
perature hardiness, the use of new cov­
ering systems, and snow and ice re­
moval programs all can help reduce
the injury as well. However, it should
be noted that there are no guarantees.

How long will the recovery
process take?
The rate of recovery will depend
upon the weather and temperatures
this spring. Damaged greens, particu­
larly where the damage is located in
the primary cupping areas, should be
closed and temporary greens used until
the turf has regained density. Playing
on the damaged greens during the
recovery slows recovery and prolongs
the duration of surface disruption.
Moving to temporary greens, how­
ever distasteful it may seem is your
best means to initiate a rapid and suc­

cessful recovery effort.

Recovery Programs
The recovery process requires several
basic steps.
V Evaluate the extent of the dam­
age
V Determine a plan of action to
complete the recovery
V Communicate the plan with the
Green Committee or Owner
V Procure the necessary materials
for the plan.
Communication is critical through­
out the recovery process. Golfers need
to understand the need to play tempo­
rary greens, your decision to choose
seed or sod, the use of covers, the
starting date for the recovery program,
the added labor anticipated for the re­
covery work, the anticipated date of re­
covery, etc.
Use digital images or pictures to il­
lustrate the extent of the damage that
has occurred to help prepare golfers
and avoid surprises. Images also are
helpful in highlighting your efforts in
removing snow and ice and in reesta­
blishing turf.

When should you start?
It is true that bentgrass
seed will not germinate
until the soil tempera­
tures reach 50°F. Initiat­
ing efforts before that
point is questioned by
some; however, initiat­
ing recovery work early
(when soils are workable)
will make sure seed is in
place should warm

Page 11
weather arrive early. The cultivation
work also may help the soils warm
more quickly.
Finally, clear plastic 4mm covers
can be installed over the surface to ar­
tificially elevate soil temperatures and
obtain earlier germination. The clear
plastic material should be removed
once the seed germinates. Geotextile
covers can be applied at that point to
try to maintain higher soil tempera­
tures and avoid desication.
Seed can be pregerminated to get an
early jump when soils are cool. Sev­
eral pregermination systems have
been developed for this purpose, and
information concerning those systems
is available through our offices.
Primed bentgrass seed may also be­
come available from local suppliers.
It too can reduce time periods for seed
germination in cold soils.

In conclusion
Winter damage is not that unusual
in the Northeast. Regrettably, damage
occurs somewhere in the region just
about every year, and for some, it is
the single biggest challenge we face
in this part of the country. Winter in­
jury is never easy to accept and the re­
covery can be painfully slow in a cold
spring. Please feel free to contact our
offices if you have any questions con­
cerning the winter injury or while de­
veloping a recovery program.
(Additional information Dr. Danneberger,
Ohio State Univ. (hcs.osu.edu/karl)
and look up USGA.org.

CAGCS thanks these patrons fo r their continued support o f our association
A-O K T u rf E quipm ent
Articulator Dealer
Coventry, RI 02816
Michael D. Comicelli
(401) 826-2584

E gypt Farm s, Inc.
Sterilized Topdressing, Greensmix
Bagged Topdressing & Divot Mix
Dean Snyder
(800) 899-7645 FAX (410) 335-0164

SIM P L O T P A R T N E R S
Joe Stahl (203) 209-6951
Jim Wierzbicki (860) 424-7250
Danbury Warehouse (800) 889-8215
Division of Simplot Turf & Ornamental

A T Sales
Premium Sod for Golf Courses
Lincoln, RI 02865
Owen Regan
(401) 465-8066

G lenm ore L andscape Service
Glenn S. Moore
98 Hack Green Road
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
(914) 764-4348

Sisis T u rf E q u ip m en t
Golf Course Maintenance Machinery
Championship Turf Services
N. E. Manufacturers Representative
Michael Flowers (800) 562-5860

A llen 's Seed, Inc.
693 South County Trail
Exeter, RI 02822
A1 La Prise
(401) 884-2097 - (800) 527-3898

G reenacres C om pany
Dave Pijnenburg
Irrigation Contractor
75 Codfish Hill Rd.,Bethel, CT 06801
(203) 748-0558

SO D C O , IN C .
Bentgrass
High Fescue, Blue/Rye/Fescue,B/R blends
Unrolling Services
Matt Faherty (800) 341-6900

A nderson T u rf Irrigation , Inc.
5 Cronk Rd., P. O. Box 7036
Plainville, CT 06062
Jesse J. Anderson, Jr.
(860) 747-9911

Jam es C arriere & Sons, Inc.
7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573
Bill Carriere
(914) 937-2136

Sound B each S ervices, Inc.
d/b/a White Contractors
Golf Course Construction & Renovation
P.O.Box 484, Old Greenwhich, CT 06870
James E. Morris, Jr. (203) 869-8808

A ven tis E n v iro n m en ta l S cien ce
311 Carriage Drive
Kensington, CT 06037
David J. Sylvester
(860) 828-8905

L E SC O , Inc.
Strongsville, Ohio 44136-1799
(800) 321-5325 FAX (800) 673-3030
Mike Donahue (860) 668-0821
Mike Dukette (860) 684-6242

Steven W illan d , Inc.
4 Production Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
Mark Ericson - Gary Mathis
(203) 775-5757

C. R. I. S., LLC
Golf Course Irrigation
923 Woodtick Road
Wolcott, CT 06716
Chris Carney (203) 879-2362

M etro M ilo rg a n ite, Inc.
Depend On Us For Four Season Solutions
Danbury, CT 06810
(203) 748-GOLF (4653)

Tee & G reen Sod
P. O. Box 418
Exeter, RI 02822
Dave Wallace
(401) 789-8177

The C ardinals, Inc.
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
Accessories & Maintenance Supplies
John Callahan
(860) 673-3699

NORTHERN P rofessional Turf Products
Winfield Nursery, Inc.
Nursery Stock & Turf Care Products
West Suffield, CT 06093
Sean Moran (860) 668-5225

Terre C om pany of N J, Inc.
Byron Johnson, Jr.
Office (973) 473-3393
Home (203) 748-5069
FAX (973) 473-4402

C h am p ion sh ip T u rf S ervices
Precision Laser Leveling
Custom Aerification-Overseeding
Sisis Turf Equipment
Michael Flowers (800) 562-5860

Partac Golf Course T o p -D ressin g
Great Meadows, NJ 07838
(800) 247-2326 (908) 637-4191
Bill Carriere (914) 937-2136
Joe Bidwell (860) 651-8555

Tom Irw in, Inc.
Chemicals, Lebanon Fertilizers
Earthworks Organics
Rick Giverson
(413) 237-7007 (800) 582-5959

The C has. C. H art Seed Co.
P.O. Box 9169, 304 Main Street
Wethersfield, CT 06129-0169
R. Sibley ~ R. Holcomb ~ P. Bednarczyk
(860)529-2537 & (800)326-HART

R. F. M orse & Son, Inc.
ParEx Fertilizer - Power Equipment
West Wareham, MA 02576
Carl Wallace
(508) 295-1553

T uckahoe T u rf Farm s, Inc.
Golf Course Turfgrass Sod
www.tuckahoeturf.com
Skip Deubel
(800) 243-7582

C raig S chreiner G o lf A rch itects
Golf Course Master Planning
368 W. Liberty St., Suite 2
Wauconda, IL 60084
(847) 487-5313 www.csgolf.com

S .B .I. C o n n ecticu t
Wallingford, CT 06492
Brett Armstrong-George Gorton
Mark Grenert~Larry Rustici
(203) 265-2872

T u rf P roducts C orporation
157 Moody Rd., P. O. Box 1200
Enfield, CT 06082
John Ferry ~ Mark Loper
(203) 763-3581

D & S
Floratine Biostimulants, Amino
Acid Complexes, Soil Amendments
Trion Lifts and Accessories
Dave Basconi (203) 250-TURF

S aw telle B roth ers, Inc.
65 Glenn Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
Mark Grenert
(800) 999-TURF

W estch ester T u rf Supply, Inc.
25 years serving the fine turf profession
Bob Lippman, Sr. ~ Bob Lippman, Jr.
Office (845) 621-5067
FAX (845) 621-7180

Earth W orks, Inc.
Custom Deep Aerification Service
West Wareham, MA 02576
Carl Wallace
(800) 815-1113

Shaw nm ark In d u stries, Inc.
Specialty Products & Service
Warwick, RI 02888
Matt Howland (24 hours a day)
(401) 295-1673 (www.shawnmark.com)

W inding B rook T u rf Farm , Inc.
240 Griswold Road
Wethersfield, CT 06109
William Seccareccia
(860) 529-6869 or (800) 843-0232

T rap S an d - Partac T o p d ressin g -D rain ag e Ston e

Sco tt T re te ra -E m ie S te in h o fe r-S co tt A p g ar