■*

The Loss Of An
Old Friend
Canton Looses A Gem

charmed the local tee to green set for
more than seven decades, and was not
just a business to Walter Lowell and his
family, but home as well, will not open
this season, or ever again. Walter and
his family this week closed on a deal
to sell the property to a local developer
who plans to have the first businesses
in the new Shoppes at Farmington
Valley up and running by Christmas.
Walter and his family will now move
out of that "Cozy New England home­
stead", still standing from the days of
the original listing, and begin the pro­
cess of golf withdrawal. "We're hoping
to be able to do some travelling", says
Walter, well known not just for his
decades as a respected Connecticut
Section PGA pro, but for the millions
of home made, second to none, cara­
mels he's cooked up over the years.
"We'll do things we've thought about,
but can't do when you have a business
that's open seven days a week."

H a v e I got a real estate deal fo r you. A
"Cozy New England homestead nestled
in the foothills o f the Berkshires. An
ideal home for the sportsman, naturalist
and country gentleman. A gushing brook
stocked with glistening trout empties into
the crystal waters o f Cherry Pond, which
forms the lower boundary" o f the property,
which includes a fourteen room colonial
style farmhouse, a barn with grain stor­
age bins, and chicken coops and hog pens.
"Meadows and cultivated fields stretch
away to the eastward and there is soil suit­
able for the profitable growth o f all crops,
tobacco, corn, potatoes, buckwheat, clover
and such crops that have been grown with
unusual success ". These are just a few of
the many highlighted features o f this two
hundred sixty acre estate in Canton, Con­
If anyone deserves to take a breather
necticut, as advertised in 1918.
it's Walter Lowell and his wife, Phyl­
The description of the property when lis, who, along with his brothers and
it was sold for the last time in the twen­ their daughter and son in law, made
tieth century gave no hint of how this Canton Golf Course a true family
piece of land, which eventually found business. The landscape along route
itself bordered by route 44, would es- 44 in Canton will change drastically
tabish itself as a western Connecticut now. Gone will be one of the most
landmark into the twenty first. That fascinating golf holes in New England,
listing attracted one James E.B. Lowell the sixth at Canton, where the second
to the property and in 1931 he and his shot lands on an elevated green, blind
son James built a golf course on those to the golfer, who didn't know until he
meadows and cultivated fields. For all climbed the hill where the flight of his
of the ensuing years it has stayed in the ball finished. The last time I made that
climb my ball was six inches from the
Lowell family,?, until this week.
hole. And the seventh, with another
Canton Golf Course, a nook and green almost blind from the tee, a
cranny filled nine hole set of links that

MAY ?

8 3*2

*

sharp right turn past a row of trees
on the right, where it sits sinisterly
guarded by a pond. Every hole, from
the first tee tucked behind the old red
barn, to the tree guarded ninth green,
straight downhill from a tee a hundred
and forty yards up and away, it's a golf
course who's every little turn, every
tiny nuance, will remain vivid in the
mind's eye.
Thanks for all the memories and great
golf Walter and Phyllis and family. You
didn't just close a business this week,
or just another golf course. This week
we said farewell to a wonderful old
friend.
With a comment from the sports
world, I'm Scott Gray. (WTIC AM
NewsTalk 1080)

In This Issue...
The Loss Of An Old Friend
Canton Looses A Gem ................. 1
President's M essage..................... 2
I'm Almost Ready......................... 3
Soil Salts Only Affect Coastal
Regions...True or False?..............4
Of Special N ote............................5
Gr asscatcher................................ 6-7
Mosquito Fact Sheet.................8-9
Lamb or Lion?.............................. 10
One Step Forward-Two Steps
Back.................................................11

M a y , 2003

' y ,i mmmm v

+

C onnecticut Clippings

P age 2

mmm v m — ncm r ic « » . m ’x m gm .-M *~x*m rm iW M i % rx ‘jM.-wmau*vmmsnmmr«

The P r e s i d i S M esst*ge

Jud W. Smith, President

A CHANGE
OF SEASONS
A

reporter called m e the other day
and asked a few questions for an
upcom ing newsletter. The m ain
one w ent som ething like th is...
."W hat is the biggest thing golfers
w ill notice this spring, com ing out
of a w inter like this past?" The
possible answ ers are num erous,
you know, disease, desiccation,
suffocation, ice dam age, etc. But
Connecticut Clippings is an official
publication of the Connecticut
Association of Golf Course
Superintendents
P.O. Box 3678
Woodbridge, CT 06525
Mary Jo Kennedy
Telephone 203/387-0810
Toll Free Tel: 888/561-7778
Fax: 203/387-7866
e-mail: cagcs@noreaster.net
Newsletter Editor
Bob Chalifour, CGCS (Ret.)
Newsletter Committee
David Basconi, Fleather Garvin,
John Garcia, Edward Goodhouse,
Ron Holcomb, Mike Mooney,
Mark Mansur and Jud W. Smith
Newsletter Designer
Marysia Brejwo

www.cagcs.com
The Clippings is open to all
commentary. Please send your
comments to:
Bob Chalifour, Newsletter Editor

the answ er I gave w as th is... "T h e
biggest thing golfers will notice is
the length of tim e betw een their
last round of golf in the fall and
the first round in the spring,"
(providing
they
d id n 't
head
South for the w inter of w inters).
W hat a difference a year makes!
Do you rem em ber last w inter?
You really didn 't have to close
the course, w et areas were non­
existent, irrigation system s w ere
charged earlier than one could
recollect and talk of drought
restrictions were in the air.
This past w inter was one o f those
old time N ew England ones.
The
kind we used to have much more
frequ en tly than we do now. Snow
fo r Thanksgiving, Christm as, N ew
Years, M artin Luther King, Jr. Day,
Valentines Day, Presidents Day,
W ashington's Birthday, St. Patrick's
D ay... you get the point. Let's not
fo rg et snow in April and could it
possibly b e.... a big one in M ay????
I f you got things sprayed before the
w hite stu ff flew , you were lucky.
Everything top-dressed ? ? ?
Well
alm ost everything.
W inter is over; spring is here or
rather alm ost here.
April has
been like an engine that is ju st not
quite turning over. The chill in the
spring is not like the chill in the fall,
especially after the w inter of '03!!
Enough already, send a little heat,
operative word is a little! Fiow
about a gentle, sm ooth, transitional
spring/sum m er sequence?
It w on 't be long before w e will
w ish for the sn ...,w ell, it m ight
take a little longer to wish for the
stuff this summer. I hope we get
the irrigation breaks fixed before
things get toasty.. Speaking of

w hich, how did your
system s fare this w inter?

irrigation

Okay, enough about the w eath er....
Thank you in advance to all w ho are
hosting m eetings this year: K evin
Bengtson, John Ruzsbatzky, CG C S
John G allagher III, Paul Sabino, Greg
Stent, K evin D 'A m ico, C G C S John
M otycka and K im H eyl.
It also should be noted that Peter
Pierson, K evin Balocca and m yself
are w orking w ith the DEP, DPFF,
D PU C , O PM and O EM and other
state branches on the C onnecticut
D rought
Preparedness
and
Response Plan.
We have gotten
additional assistance, support and
input from M et/C A G C S m em bers
G lenn Perry, Tony G irardi and
Scott N iven.
There w as a round
table discussion organized by the
Irrigation A ssociation chaired by
G lenn M oore.
This w as a very inform ative and
effective m eeting. Representatives
from various industries w ere there,
lining up on the sam e side of the ball
so to speak, addressing w ater usage
concerns and drought preparedness.
As inform ation becom es available w e
w ill provide it to you. The various
branches of the State G overnm ent
involved w ith these issues have been
very helpful and cooperative w ith
us. We look forw ard to continued
support.
At this point, I'll close, hope you
all are w ell, I believe w e're on the
upside of a w eather pattern and as
Frank Sinatra once s a id ..."th e best
is yet to com e and babe w on 't it be
fin e "...
Peace,
Jud

M a y ;2003

Connecticut Clippings

Almost
I'm A Ready

Page

Last year I noticed numerous clubs providing sun screen for golfers
use. With the number of skin cancers being treated this is a good
idea. Now along comes West Nile Virus and the dreaded mosquito
that carries it.

by Bob Chalifour

W hat a winter - serious damage
to many golf greens throughout
the state and region. Mostly Poa
- yet still devastating to those
affected. With diligent care you
will bring those greens back.
Farther north they deal with
this on a fairly regular basis. You
know the routine to bring those
greens back into better condition
than ever, I don't need to repeat it
here, (see related article)

We along with other outdoor enthusiasts not only have to watch
out for sun damage, but now also mosquitos (see related article)
looking for a free lunch. So here I am ready to go - golf bag, clubs,
sunscreen, soft spikes, hat, neutral colored clothing and insect
repellent. Could someone please find me a golf ball so that I can tee
off? Oops, almost forgot, sunglasses that allow me to see my golf
ball in 15 feet of water. Just what I needed. Have a great season you
deserve it.

Pictured left:
John
Ruzsba
CGCS, with
Joellen Zeh from
Audubon Inter­
national, speaker
at the March 25,
2003 meeting.

Like most golfers, I use that term
loosely, I am ready to hit the
links. My new golf bag, won at
last years CAGCS Scholarship
and Research Tournament at
Shennecossett GC is looking
good. Loaded with those old sort
of reliable clubs.

Siliiplot

mmmm

Delivering
Total Solutions

Agronomic expertise to develop
customized programs to meet
your every need
Wide product selection
National purchasing power
Innovative products
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Contact Simplot Partners:

Jim Wierzbicki
Joe Stahl

(860 ) 424-7250
(203 ) 209-6951

www.simplotpartners.com

JACKLIN.

P o L Y o rv'

[ature

ie

M a y , 2003

C onnecticut C lippings

P age 4

m m m w M m K am m itm m ,

Soil Salts Only Affect
Coastal Regions...
True or False?

for
salt
management
problems
- presenting a new challenge for many
turf managers.

Colleen Tocci, Aquatrols

There are three types of salt affected
soils. They are saline, sodic and salinesodic soils. A saline soil has a high
enough level of soluble salts to affect
plant growth. Typically you will see a
white crusty appearance at the surface
of the soil, a burned leaf or stunted
rowth of grass. These symptoms,
owever, are not always visible. In
this soil type, the salts attract water,
making less water available to the
plant causing salt induced plant water
stress (physiological drought). Shoot
and plant tissue damage may occur as
well as plant nutrient deficiencies.

False!
Salt related problems in turf have been
a factor for some time in many parts
of the country. They are, however,
becoming more of an occurrence in
geographic areas that may not have
been affected in the past.
While
some "salts" are essential nutrients to
plants, high levels of salts can become
detrimental to plant growth. When
evaporation is greater than rainfall or
irrigation amounts, salt levels build up
in the soil. Salts also build up in soils
because of the use of poor drainage, a
high water table or poor quality water.
Poor water quality can result from
natural salts in wells, use of effluent
water or salt water intrusion.
Nationwide water conservation efforts
have increased the need for golf
courses to turn to non-potable water
for irrigation - particularly wastewater
(effluent, recycled or grey water).
Increased use of effluent water sources
has resulted in a greater potential

What Should I Look For?

Sodic soils are high in exchangeable
sodium and appear hard and lumpy
when they are dry. Water infiltration,
especially in finer textured soils, is
usually poor. In addition, pH levels
are usually high in these soils and
plant nutrition imbalances may occur.
Poor soil penetration can result which
inhibits water movement through the
soil.
The third type of salt affected soil is
saline-sodic. As noted by the name,

these soils exhibit a high level of salt
and exchangeable sodium. This is a
frequent condition seen in turfgrass
management. Soils of this type may
physically appear satisfactory but
plant growth may be inhibited. The
problems manifest themselves in this
soil type in the same way as saline soil
- especially in the reduction of water
available to the plant. Saline-Sodic
soils suffer all the symptoms of both
conditions above and are the hardest to
manage. Due to poor water penetration
caused by sodium, the ability to leach
and manage the high soluble salts is
severely reduced. Salt levels can build
up rapidly in these soils even if water
quality is not extreme.
What Can I do?
As there are different types of salt
affected soils, there are different
ways to treat them.
Saline soils
require leaching of the excess salts.
Historically, this has been achieved
with additional irrigation to "flush
the salts away." By applying large
volumes of water and allowing it to
drain through the soil, you may be
able to reduce the level of salts. As
stated earlier, water conservation is a
key element in turfgrass management
today, reducing the desirability of
this option. However, if this tactic is

Solve the Water Management

.

May,2003

Connecticut Clippings

employed, the use of an effective soil
penetrant will help the applied water
to penetrate and leach the salts below
the rootzone. In addition, fertilization
programs may be modified to correct
nutritional imbalances.
In both Sodic and Saline-Sodic soils,
the sodium must be addressed
aggressively. Sodium easily attaches
itself to the soil particles, negatively
affecting
soil
structure.
This
damage to soil structure reduces
water penetration, percolation and
drainage. Soluble salts start to build
in the rootzone and the turf becomes
stressed.
The only way to displace the sodium
and rebuild soil structure is to increase
the calcium in the rootzone. When
soluble calcium is available in the
rootzone, the calcium can displace
the sodium on the soil particle. The
sodium, along with other salts, can
then be leached away with a leaching
program.
Typical calcium programs include
gypsum applications if pH's are high,
and lime applications if pH's are low
(below 6). Recently, injectable and
sprayable grades of these products
have been introduced into the market
to help in the application of these
products. While these products are

"tried and true," they are slow to
solubilize calcium into the system.
Consequently, the effect of the calcium
on modifying the soil structure is slow.
Using a product that improves the
solubility of calcium can enhance its
availability in the soil, maximizing the
displacement of sodium that has built
up. The calcium will help to rebuild
the soil structure while the sodium and
other displaced salts are leached away
from the rootzone.
While high levels of salts in soils may
not totally prevent you from growing
turfgrass, you will need to modify your
turfgrass management techniques.
You must find techniques which will
allow you to move water through the
soil and release the "excess salts" from
the rootzone.

Of Special Note

Page 5
Dr. Howland was the only emergency
Doctor in the emergency room at
the time. The first patient suffered
a massive heart attack, while the
second suffered cranial bleeding
which caused the patient to go into
shock after a blood build-up placed
added pressure on the brain.
Emergency Medicine Director Dr.
Stephan M. Becker as reported in
the Taunton Gazette stated. "In my
17 years here , I've never witnessed
something like this, where you have
such critical emergencies occur
sim ultaneously".
Both patients survived and have
been released from the hospital.
Dr. Howland a CAGCS Scholarship
Recipient, is the son of member Matt
Howland

Dr. Shawn A. Howland, while
working in the emergency room at
Morton Hospital and Medical Center
in Taunton, Massachusetts is credited
with saving the lives of two patients.
Two patients suffering life-threating
medical emergencies simulaneously
is very unusual.

BUILT TO LAST ConVault s patented system protects your fuel within a steel primary tank wrapped in a 3 0 mil poly liner,
reinforced within a six-inch concrete vault. Over 3 3 ,0 0 0 ConVault remain in service today without a single system failure.

Connecticut Golf Courses with Convault Fuel Storage
ALLING MEMORIAL GOLF
BLACK HALL GOLF
CANDLEW OOD LAKE CLUB
CLINTON COUNTRY CLUB
C.C. OF AVON
C.C. OF NEW CANAAN
C.C. OF WATERBURY
C.C. OF FARMINGTON
CRESTWOOD PARK
EAST MOUNTAIN GOLF
DARIEN C .C.
FARMINGBURY GOLF
FARMS COUNTRY CLUB
FENW ICK GOLF
GRASSY HILL C.C.
GREAT RIVER GOLF
HARBOR VIEW
HOP BROOK GOLF
HOPMEADOW C.C.
HUNTER GOLF
INDIAN SPRINGS
INNIS ARDEN
MADISON C .C.
NEW HAVEN COUNTRY CLUB
OAK LANE C.C.

OLD LYME C.C.
PINE ORCHARD C.C.
PINE VALLEY GOLF
PORTLAND WEST
PORTLAND GOLF COURSE
PUTNAM C.C.
QUARRY RIDGE
ROCKLEDGE GOLF
ROCK RIM M ON C.C.
SHENNECOSSETTGOLF
SHUTTLE MEADOW
SILVERMINE GOLF
SILVER SPRINGSC.C.
SOUTHINGTON C.C.
TASHUA KNOLLS
TIMBERLAND GOLF
T.P.C. AT RIVER HIGHLANDS
THE PATTERSON CLUB
TUMBLEBROOKC.C.
WAMPANOAG C.C.
WASHINGTON CLUB
WATERTOWN GOLF
WETHERSFIELD C.C.
WESTWOOD GOLF
WOODBRIDGE C.C.
WOODWAY C.C.

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Connecticut Clippings

May, 2003

Page 6
CONNECTICUT

Grass

ASSOCIATION OF
GOLF COURSE
*
SUPERINTENDENTS

iL k L ä M
Walter Lowell and family on the
passing of his brother James Lowell.

New Members
Jay Martin; Class C
Madison Country Club

Correction

Justin Rice; Class C
Madison Country Club

The author of "H ow Do You Live
Your Dash", Linda Ellis, was
inadvertently omitted from the
poem which was published in our
November/December 2002 issue.

Bob York; Commercial
BASF

April - Featured Walter and Phyl­
lis Lowell, and Dana and Heather
Garvin.
Thank you Scott Gray WTIC AM
Newstalk 1080 for permission to print
your commentary.

CAGCS Board of Directors
President - Jud W. Smith

For Sale

Congratulations

ÌÀL.

Vice President - Wayne C. Urban

To Nancy & Mike Marino on the
birth of their son Kyle. He was
born Christmas Eve and weighed a
healthy 81bs.

97 National Model 84, Excellent
Condition, $3,500.00. Contact John
Gallagher III, Superintendent Race
Brook CC, 203/795-9497

Mike Moran on his promotion to
Golf Course Superintendent at Yale
GC

GOVT- RELATIONS

Secretary - Keith A. Angilly
Treasurer - John Motycka
Past President - Brian Skelly
Committee Chairpersons

To receive a report of the Advi­
sory Committee on Potential Best
Management Practices for Golf
Course Water go to the following
Website www.ctiwr.uconn.edu for
the Connecticut Institute of Water
Resources.

Matt and Joanne Gomez on the birth
of their son Gregory
Michael Wallace, CGCS formerly at
Fairview Farm GC is now at Sims­
bury Farms GC

Education - John Ruzsbatzky,
CGCS
Golf - Heather L. Garvin
Membership - Christian P. Mauro
Scholarship & Research
Kimberly J. Heyl

O f Special Mention

Drew Cummins formerly at CC of
Avon is now at Red Tail GC, Devens, MA

Golfdom, a premiere golf magazine
distributed to our industry has
recent articles about CAGCS mem­
bers.

Condolences

Social & Welfare - Kevin Balocca

March -Featured Donald Beck, Su­
perintendent Fishers Island Club

John Wynne on the passing of his
father.

Government Relations
Peter R. Pierson
Commercial Rep to Board
John E. Callahan

P rofession al T u rf P rodu cts Division
N o r t h er n

Connecticut
Mulch
Distributors, Inc.

W

K

in f if x d

D

iv is io n

1320 M ountain Rd.
W est Suffield , C T 06093
P h o n e : (8 60) 6 6 8 -5 2 2 5
Fax: (860) 668-5714

j

N u r s e r ie s , In c .

Ih m I

Covering ground since 1977
Business Address
70 Mullen Road
Enfield. CT. 06082

Mailing Address
1515 North Stone St.
W. Suffield, CT 06093

Telephone
(860) 698-9579
Fax 698-9581

(860)741-1017

JO E T R O S K Y
S a l e s R e p r e s e n t a t iv e

C d ! Thone
(860) 604-6454

May,2003

Connecticut Clippings

Page 7

C A G C S 2003 SC H ED U L E O F EV EN T S

Indian Hill Country Club

May 6

Kevin Bengtson
Superintendent

Best Ball of Twosome Shamble - 40% hdcp
*May 27

Race Brook Country Club

John Gallagher, III
Superintendent

Low Gross/Low Net Blind Partners
1st round of CAGCS Championship
(1st round Two-Man Team Championship)
*June 23

Country Club of Farmington

John Ruzsbatzky, CGCS
Superintendent

Low Gross/Low Net by Flight
2nd round of CAGCS Championship
(leaders will be paired together)

The Farms Country Club

July 14

Paul Sabino
Superintendent

CAGCS Invitational
Best Ball of foursome - 80% hdcp
** August 5

Westwoods Golf Course

Kevin D'Amico, CGCS

ABCD Mixer, Best Ball of Four & Hotball 80% hdcp Superintendent
Committee will make foursomes.
September 6

Lake Compounce
CAGCS Family Day

‘ ‘ September 16

Skungamaug River Golf Club

John Motycka
Superintendent

Superintendent/Assistant Championship
Best ball of Twosome - 90% hdcp
President's Cup /McLaughlin Trophy
October 14

Wampanoag Country Club

Greg Stent
Superintendent

S & R Tournament
Scramble
November 5 or 12

Fenwick Golf Club

Kimberly Heyl
Superintendent

Annual M eeting
9 hole Scramble ABCD
* Qualifiers for New England Team Championship
** Qualifiers for Met Team Championship
The combined rounds of the two tournaments will be used in each case.

USGA Recommended Sands
Root-Zone Mixes
Topdressing - Divot Mix
Bunker Sand & Pea Stone

Est. 1975
Residential

Commercial

GOLF CART ASPHALT PAVING
A io lT iito n ¿ S an d
Tifft Road - Slatersville, RI 02876
Bob Chalifour, CGCS (Ret)
860/908-7414

Plant
401/766-5010
Fax 401/762-4976

Low impact paving
FAHAN PAVING, LLC
Chris Fahan
Box 1181
Redding, CT 06875

(203) 938-3735

CT Lie# 00554746

C onnecticut C lippings

May, 2003

r#*U‘t r

M O S Q U IT O
FACT SHEET
H o w many species o f mosquitoes are
there?
There are currently 48 species iden­
tified in Connecticut, 150 in North
America and over 3000 species world­
wide.

P age 8

%

Where do mosquitoes breed?
A mosquito's lifecycle has four stages
- egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Mosqui­
toes need water to breed since all mos­
quitoes spend their larval and pupal
stages in water. Therefore, mosquitoes
can always be found around water.
This is why it is important to prevent
stagnant water from standing around

Do all mosquitoes bite humans?
No. Of the 48 species in Connecti­
cut, less than half are considered
pest species to humans and live­
stock.
Why do mosquitoes bite humans?
Mosquitoes do not actually "bite"
humans; they "feed" on them. Fe­
male mosquitoes require protein
to produce their eggs and obtain
this protein from the blood of hu­
mans and other animals.
Do male and female mosquitoes both
feed on humans?
No. Since male mosquitoes do not lay
eggs, they do not require protein. Only
the female mosquito requires a source
of protein to produce her eggs.

your home and apply a larvicide to
areas where stagnant water cannot be
removed.

food for birds, dragonflies, or spiders.
Others succumb to the effects of wind,
rain, and drought. Those that don't
may persist for as long as 2-3 months
and adults that hibernate can live as
long 6-8 months.
Where do mosquitoes go during the win­
ter?
Mosquitoes are cold-blooded crea­
tures and do not generally bite in
temperatures below 50F. In Con­
necticut, some adult mosquitoes
become inactive with the onset of
cold weather and enter into hiber­
nation before the first frost. Other
mosquitoes die in the fall but have
winter-hardy eggs, which hiber­
nate as embryos.
How do mosquitoes spread disease?
Only in the last century has it
been known that mosquitoes are
capable of spreading disease. The
diseases are often viruses that are
picked up by the mosquito when
it feeds on an infected host. When
the mosquito then feeds on another
host, it can then spread the virus.
What type o f diseases can mosquitoes
carry?

How long do mosquitoes live?
Most adult mosquitoes wind

earthworks • 1hecomplete biological boil Management company
fr fv p k e n

A.

LANDSCAPE

ARC HITE C T /

W e o ffe r D esign/B uild s e rv ic e s or
j u s t d e s ig n , w h a t e v e r s e rv e s o u r
c lie n ts b e s t.

• Golfcoursedesign.
• Golf course assessment
and enhancement programs.
• Grading & drainage.
• Ponds & water features.
• Planting design.
• Deck and patio design.
MEMBER SINCE 1997
CONNECTCUT ASSOCIATION OF
GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS

1160 Bay St. Springfield, M A 01109
Phone 413-214-6990 Fx4 13 -214-6969
email: Roblanddes^aol.com

mm

W ith the right soil, you
can grow anything.
Even y o u r reputation.
W e start w ith th e soil first and all o f o u r products
a re ag ro n o m ically fo rm u late d . W e can pro vid e you
a c o m p re h e n s iv e soil testing p ro g ram , a full line o f
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May, 2003

Connecticut Clippings

Mosquitoes are known to have carried
diseases such as malaria, yellow fever,
dog heartworm, and viral encephalitis.
Mosquitoes do not transmit AIDS.
How can mosquitoes be controlled?
Mosquitoes around the home can be
reduced significantly by minimizing
the amount of standing water avail­
able for mosquito breeding. Residents
are urged to reduce standing water
around the home in a variety of ways.
Source reduction activities include:
*Dispose of tin cans, plastic containers,
ceramic pots or similar water-holding
containers that have accumulated on
your property.
*Empty standing water from used
or discarded tires that may have ac­
cumulated on your property (e.g. tire
swings).
*Drill holes in the bottom of recycling
containers that are left out of doors.
*Clean clogged roof gutters on an an­
nual basis, particularly if the leaves
from surrounding trees have a ten­
dency to plug up the drains.

*Turn over plastic wading pools when
not in use.
*Turn over wheelbarrows and do not
allow water to stagnate in birdbaths.
Change water in birdbaths and wad­
ing pools on a weekly basis.
*Aerate ornamental pools or stock
them with fish.
*Clean and chlorinate swimming pools
that are not being used. Be aware that
mosquitoes may even breed in the
water that collects on swimming pool
covers.
Why are mosquitoes able to survive pesti­
cide spraying?
Pesticides such as resmethrin are de­
signed to kill adult mosquitoes within
5-30 minutes of contact. Contact is
more reliably achieved after sunset
and overnight when most mosquitoes
are airborne. When contact is made,
insecticides such as resmethrin are
approximately 90% effective so some
mosquitoes do survive spraying. It is
not designed to kill mosquito larvae so
non-adult mosquitoes will not be af­
fected and new hatches of adults may
need to be addressed.

Page 9
How can I protect myself from mosquitoborne diseases?
The best way is to avoid being bitten
by mosquitoes. This can be accom­
plished using personal protection
while outdoors when mosquitoes are
present. Examples of such protective
measures are:
*Wear shoes, socks, long pants, and a
long-sleeved shirt when outdoors for
long periods of time, or when mosqui­
toes are most active.
*Use mosquito netting when sleeping
outdoors or in an unscreened structure
and to protect small babies when out­
doors.
*Consider the use of mosquito repellant, according to directions, when it is
necessary to be outdoors.
Where can I go for more information?
*DEP's Mosquito Information Line at
(860) 424-4184 (Recorded Message)
*DEP's Mosquito Management Pro­
gram at (860) 642-7239

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Connecticut Clippings

May, 2003

Lamb or Lion?
By David Oatis, Director; and Jim
Skorulski and Jim Baird, Agronomists
Updated 4-4-03
The warm er tem peratures and rain
throughout the Region continues
to melt remaining snow, remove
ground frost, stimulate new growth,
and make golfers and m aintenance
crews itchy to get back out on the
golf course. Reports are that many
golf courses remain too wet as snow
and frost leaves the ground. Resist
the tem ptation to open the greens if
they are too wet or frost remains, as
this will cause significant damage
to turf roots and the soil. M ost golf
courses in the Northeast Region
will be opening late this spring.

Winter Injury
The extent of winter freeze injury
also becom es evident as the snow
recedes. The damage appears spo­
radic through Canada, the southern
New England region, western New
York, and even in the New York City
metropolitan area. One of the most
frustrating aspects of winter freeze
injury is the inconsistency in which
it occurs. One golf course can expe­
rience severe injury, while another
just down the road will not. This is
not uncom m on, and is understand­
ably a difficult concept to convey to
golfers. Its occurrence is dependent

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on specific weather events that
create thick ice layers, m ultiple
freeze-thaw cycles, or subject the
turf to rapidly dropping tem pera­
tures. Weather conditions can vary
considerably from golf course to
golf course depending on location,
elevation, and microenvironments.
Grass species also vary, and those
m anaging annual bluegrass will
always be more susceptible to this
type of injury.
W hat has becom e increasingly
apparent and a real surprise is
that there is a substantial am ount
of desiccation injury on putting
greens in the N ortheast Region.
Everyone remembers the frequent
snow storms this winter, but many
courses cleared off in January, and
this left succulent turf exposed to
cold, harsh, drying winds. If the turf
on the knolls and higher areas expe­
rienced thinning while the lower ar­
eas are fine, chances are desiccation
injury is your problem.

Recovery
If your golf course is damage free,
consider yourself fortunate and
carry on with regular spring duties.
Those who have or suspect damage
have a m uch bigger task ahead that
should begin now by opening the
lines of communication. Use new s­
letters, Web sites, meetings, the lo­
cal sports page, or any m eans to get
the word out. We also have excel­
lent w ritten m aterials that describe
the damage and discuss recovery
programs in detail, and we will be
happy to make those available for
your com m unication efforts. Do not
make promises that can not be kept.
It is always nice to hear optim istic
opening dates in early spring, but
back peddling on those dates as a
result of a cold spring is painful.
Develop a recovery plan. Use tem ­
porary greens where damage is
extensive. Closing damaged greens
provides the only opportunity to
complete the cultivation and seed­
ing w ork that is required, and al­
r %r

m

Page 10
lows the young plants to establish
w ithout injury from traffic. Keeping
the greens open during their recov­
ery extends the painful process long
into summer, and sum m er perfor­
mance suffers dramatically.
The details for specific recovery
program s are too many to discuss
here. However, feel free to call us
and we will be happy to discuss
various options or ideas that will
m ake the process as rapid and pain­
less as possible.
Finally, w inter dam age is a weatherrelated phenom ena. It is usually not
related to any one specific practice
that was or was not im plem ented
during the previous fall or w in­
ter. Yes, there are things that can
be done to hopefully reduce the
probability or severity that w inter
freeze dam age will occur, but the
damage will happen, despite your
best efforts, when w eather condi­
tions are right for its occurrence.
Unfortunately, unfair judgm ents are
made on a superintendent when, in
reality, there was nothing that could
have been done. Instead, accept the
dam age for what it is and w ithhold
any judgm ents until the recovery is
complete!
Turf A dvisory Service Subscription
D on't forget to subm it your pay­
ment for a Turf A dvisory Service
(TAS) visit by M ay 15 to receive a
$300 discount off the regular cost
of a half-day ($1,500) or full-day
($2,000) visit. Keep in mind that
paym ent for at least one visit by
M ay 15 ensures the same discount
for subsequent visits requested
throughout the 2003 season. If you
would like more inform ation on the
TAS in the N ortheast Region, con­
tact us at 610-515-1660.
N ortheast
Region
Green
Sec­
tionDave
Oatis,
Director
doatis@usga.org, Jim Baird, A grono­
mist jbaird@ usga.org, Jim Skorulski,
Agronom ist jskorulski@ usga.org.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

May,2003

Connecticut Clippings

One Step Forward—
Two Steps Back

Solving the Puzzle
Damage patterns observed on many
greens this spring are atypical, in
that turf located on sloped areas and
knolls has in many instances been
damaged more severely than turf
located in poorly drained depres­
sions. Annual bluegrass continues to
be the most damaged turf, especially
where it is growing in fall and winter
shade.

By David Oatis, Director, and Jim Skorulski
and Jim Baird, Agronomists

Updated 4-23-03
Ju st when it looks like the annual
bluegrass shows signs of new life the
weather changes and back it slides.
So goes the roller coaster with win­
ter-damaged annual bluegrass on
golf courses this season. Determin­
ing the extent of damage following
a winter injury event is difficult.
Plants suffering crown tissue dam­
age often provide false hope until
the green color from the chlorophyll
fades away.

Reports from the field vary widely.
Some superintendents report that
turf that was cleared of snow and
ice, even in late winter, fared more
poorly than turf in areas where the
snow or ice was not removed. This is
a clue that exposure to cold tempera­
tures alone may be behind the injury.
Others report that cleared areas per­
formed better than those left covered,
in which case the damage likely re­
sulted from crown hydration injury
or suffocation. Another interesting
observation is that annual bluegrass
survived at several locations where
there were wrinkles in the green's
covers. Did the wrinkle create addi­
tional air space
that provided
insulation
to
buffer against
cold tempera­
tures, or per­
haps
prevent
suffocation?

Plants also may suffer partial dam­
age from freeze events. Roots are
compromised leaving the plants
susceptible to desiccation and even
direct cold temperature injury. This
seems to be the case at many golf
courses where annual bluegrass has
taken a turn for the worse in recent
weeks.

WÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊÊM

BannerMAXX

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Contact Bob Goglia at 1-860-646-3235 to learn more about Syngenta products.
Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using these products.
© 2 003 Syngenta. Syngenta Professional Products. Greensboro, NC 27419.
Banner*. Barricade“. Daconil*. Heritage", MAXX*. Medallion*. Primo", Subdue*,
and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company.

www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com

M U PV M M i 1 ihifT irBTWx

Trying to piece
the clues to­
gether is often a
frustrating task
that may not
produce
any
resounding an­
swers. Winter
injury remains
a very compli­
cated issue that
is
controlled
by
weather
events,
grass
varieties, grow­
ing
environ­
ment, surface
contouring and
exposure, etc.
Often, there are
no simple an­
swers. Multiple

Page
forms of winter injury ranging from
direct cold temperature kill and/or
desiccation on more exposed areas,
to crown hydration and suffocation
to turf located in lower depressions
can occur on the same greens. Do not
lose sleep trying to develop an expla­
nation of what may have occurred.

Recovery
Efforts are underway to cultivate,
seed, and fertilize damaged areas.
Fortunately, most golf courses we
have visited have closed damaged
greens. This is always an unpopu­
lar decision, but offers the quickest
route to a successful recovery. Some
seed has already begun germinating
from earlier spring seeding work
on covered greens, which is a good
sign.
Keep the damaged areas covered
to boost the soil temperatures and
prevent desiccation of the young
seedling turf. Irrigate the seeded
areas to keep the seed and seedling
plants moist. Light, frequent appli­
cations of balanced soluble fertilizers
will push the young seedling plants.
Light topdressing should be initiated
soon after the seedlings emerge. Ad­
ditional seeding work will likely be
required in areas where recovery is
slow. Use the least disruptive means
to seed those areas so as not to dam­
age seedling plants already in place.
Mowing heights should be up, and
the mowers equipped with smooth
rollers.
Patience, patience, patience. It
sounds like a broken record, but it is
a necessity following severe damage.
Yes, revenues will be down. Golfers
will understandably grumble and
pressures to open damaged areas
will be felt. But the recovery will
progress at its own weather-dependent speed. You can help push it
along to an extent, but it will take
time. The more patience that can be
given to the spring recovery effort
will pay off dividends in the sum­
mer and beyond.

May, 2003

Connecticut Clippings

Page 12
vm

A-OK Turf Equipment
Articulator Dealer
Coventry, R I02816
Michael D. Cornicelli
(401 826-2584

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

Shawnmark Industries, Inc.
Specialty Products & Service
Warwick, RI 02888
Matt Howland (24 hours a day)
(401) 295-1673 (www.shawnmark.com)

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

Egypt Farms, Inc.
Sterilzed Topdressing, Greensmix
Bagged Topdressing & Divot Mix
Dean Snyder
(800) 899-7645 FAX (410) 335-0164

SIMPLOT PARTNERS
Joe Stahl (203) 209-6951
Jim Wierzbicki (860) 424-7250
Danbury Warehouse (800) 889-8215
Division of Simplot Turf & Ornamental

Glenmore Landscape Service
Glenn S. Moore
98 Hack Green Road
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
(914) 764-4348

Sound Beach Services, Inc.
d/b/a White Contractors
Golf Course Contruction & Renovation
P.O. Box 484, Old Greenwich, CT 06870
James E. Morris, Jr. (203) 869-8808

Bayer Environmental Science
95 Chestnut Ridge Rd.
Montuale, NJ 07645
Jim Santoro (508) 272-9590
Dave Sylvester - Fairfield County (860)
828-8905

Greenacres Company
Dave Pijnenburg
Irrigation Contractor
75 Codfish Hill Rd. Bethel, CT 06801
(203) 748-0558

Steven Willand, Inc.
4 Production Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
Mark Osborn - Stephen Glynn
(203) 775-5757

BioSafe Systems
Manufacturers of ZeroTol
TerraCyte, OxyGROW & Green Clean
Glastonbury, CT
John Wynne (888)273-3088

James Carriere & Sons. Inc.
7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573
Trap Sand - Partac Topdressing - Drain­
age Stone
Bill Carriere (914) 937-2136

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

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

Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Professional Ground-Water and
Environmental Engineering Services
Headquarted in Trumbull, CT
Rob Good (203) 452-3100

Terre Co.
206 Delawanne Ave. Clifton NJ
(973) 473-3393 FAX (973) 473-4402
Byron Johnson
Home (203) 748-5069

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

LESCO, Inc.
Strongsville, Ohio 44136-1799
(800) 321-5325 FAX (800) 673-3030
Mike Dukette (860) 684-6242

Tom Irwin, Inc.
Chemicals, Lebanon Fertilizers
Earthworks Organics
Rob Larson
(508) 789-0053 (800) 582-5959

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

Championship Turf Services
Precisioin Laser Leveling
Custom Aerification-Overseeding
Sisis Turf Equipment
Michael Flowers (800) 562-5860

Metro Turf Specialists
Dennis /Scott T. /Ernie /Scott A. /Tim
Danbury, CT 06810
Customers, Our Top Priority
(203) 748-GOLF (4653)

The Chas C. Hart 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

Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing
Great Meadows, NJ 07838
(800) 247-2326 (908) 637-4191
Bill Carriere (914) 937-2136
Joe Bidwell (860) 651-8555

Dahn Tibbett Golf Services
Laser Leveling of Tees, Drainage,
Bunker, Tee & Green Construction
20 Clark Lane, Marshfield, MA 02050
(781) 837-3503 FAX (781) 834-2392

R. F. Morse & Sons, Inc.
ParEx Fertilizer - Power Equipment
West Wareham, MA 02576
Carl Wallace - Brett Armstrong
Mike Donahue (508) 295-1553

D & S - Floratine
All Your Needs for
Plant and Soil Health
Dave Basconi
(203) 250 - TURF

Sawtelle Brothers, Inc.
Wallingford, CT - Lawrence, MA
Serving New England Since 1932
George Gorton - Mark Grenert
(800) 999-8873 (www.sawtellebros.com)

Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Golf Course Turfgrass Sod
www.tuckahoeturf.com
Skip Deubel
(800) 243-7582
Turf Products Corporation
157 Moody Rd., P.O. Box 1200
Enfield, CT 06083
John Ferry - Mark Loper
(800) 243-4355
Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
Serving the Fine Turf Profession
Bob Lippmai>Bob Uppman, Jr. - Dave Lippman
Office (845) 621-5067
Fax (845) 621-7180
Winding Brook Turf Farm
240 Griswold Rd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
(860) 529-6869 (800) 843-0232