Volume 40, No 5

December 2006

ANNUAL MEETING AT ROCK RIDGE CC
The results of the election of Officers
and Directors held November 1,
2006 for the upcoming year are as
follows:
President
Keith A. Angilly, Mill River CC
Vice President
Christian P. Mauro, Highfield CC
Secretary
Kimberly J. Heyl, Fenwick GC
Treasurer
John N. Garcia, The Patterson Club
Three Directors were elected to
serve two-year terms:

Paul Bonini – Watertown GC,
Scholarship & Research
Sean Flynn – Great River GC, Golf
Scott Ramsay – The Course at Yale,
Government Relations
Existing Directors and their
committee are as follows:
Donald Beck – Fisher’s Island Club,
Social & Welfare
Mark Mansur – Wintonbury Hills
GC, Education
Bruce Morse – Norwich GC,
Membership
Peter Hull – Turf Products Corp.,

Commercial Representative
Wayne Urban – Retired, Past
President
Other Committee Assignments
Bob Chalifour, Holliston Sand Co.,
Clippings, Editor
Heather Garvin,
Chas. C. Hart Seed Co.,
Clippings, Co Editor
The Board of Directors and
Members of the Connecticut
Association of Golf Course
Superintendents, wish to thank the
members of Rock Ridge CC, and
host Superintendent Peter Sermini
for hosting our annual meeting.

IN THIS ISSUE...
President’s Message....................2
Rock Ridge Results.....................3
Annual Meeting Collage............4
UCONN vs. NAVY Collage........5
Grasscatcher..............................6-7
Meet Bob Ruszala........................8
Where does the time go?............10
Pin Recipients............................11

December 2006

Connecticut Clippings

our monthly meetings. Our Invitational
and S&R tournaments were both well
attended and successful events.

Keith Angilly, President
The 2006 season was a very good one
for our Association. Despite rising costs
and shrinking budgets, our organization
remains very active and financially
sound. As a Board, we have tried to hold
the line on meeting costs, so that all of
our members would be able to attend
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@sbcglobal.net
Newsletter Editors
Bob Chalifour, CGCS (Ret.)
Heather Garvin
Newsletter Committee
Dave Basconi & Les Kenedy,Jr. Photography, John Garcia,
Edward Goodhouse, Ron Holcomb,
Mike Mooney 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
39 First Street
Groton, CT 06340

We have made significant changes in
running the Association finances. In
much the same way we used to have an
office in one of our member’s basement,
we have always had our financial
operation being take care of at the office
of whoever was the Treasurer at the time.
Now, the financial recordkeeping system
is centralized in the main office.
We are also erecting a firm wall between
Scholarship and Research and the
operating budget, insuring that every
dollar donated to S&R stays there. We
have also made significant improvements
to the website, developing relationships
with allied associations, and have
established an employment committee to
help clubs with there hiring practices.
Looking forward, I hope to continue to

Page 2

improve and strengthen the areas I have
mentioned. I would like to thank the Board
Members for their support throughout my
first year as President. We have had some
lively meetings and the exchange of ideas
that occurs makes our Association a better
one. I would also like to thank Les Kennedy
for stepping up to be our chapter delegate
to the GCSAA. Les has been a mentor to me
for all things GCSAA, and I appreciate his
help.
Finally, moving on to the more important
Kennedy, I would like thank Mary Jo
Kennedy for all of her efforts as our
Executive Secretary. She is the glue that
keeps everything in our Association
running smoothly.
Lastly, I would like to wish all of our
Members a Happy and Safe Holiday
Season!
Good luck,
Keith Angilly

December 2006

ANNUAL MEETING RESULTS
ROCK RIDGE GOLF COURSE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2006
1st Gross: Michael Dukette, HTS
Bruce Morse, Norwich GC
Al Adaskaveg, Rockledge CC
1st Net: John Wynne,
Green Solutions, LLC
Michael Lodice,
Gainfield Farms GC
Dennis Petruzzelli,
Metro Turf Specialists
2nd Net: Peter Sermini, Rock Ridge CC
Michael Moran, The Course at Yale
Peter Burnham, Heritage Village CC
Kicker #1: Scott Lund, Mill River CC
John Callahan, Cardinals, Inc.
Keith Angilly, Mill River CC
Bob Goglia, Syngenta
Kicker #2: Heather Garvin,
Bob Welch, Connecticut GC
Dennis DeSanctis, Syngenta

Connecticut Clippings
Closest to the Pin #5: Sean Flynn,
Great River GC
Closest to the Pin #9: Skip Deubel,
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Closest to the Line: Bob Chalifour,
Holliston Sand
Longest Putt #7: Bob Chalifour,
Holliston Sand
Longest Putt #2: Dennis Petruzzelli,
Metro Turf Specialists
Longest Drive: Sean Flynn,
Great River GC

THE WORD GREEN
IN GOLF
By the USGA Green Section Staff
A good deal of confusion surrounds the
use of the word green in proper golf
terminology. Should one use “green fee”
or “greens fee?” Is it “greenkeeper” or
a “greenskeeper?” Exactly what area
does the word “green” pertain to on a
golf course? And is it the “USGA Green
Section” or the “USGA Greens Section?”
Green is a noun and has two proper golf

Page 3
meanings. The first meaning is chiefly
of Scottish origin. It simply defines all
territory of a golf course, or all areas
outside the confines of the clubhouse.
Thus, it can be used in relation to all
outdoor areas of a golf course. The second
meaning, most readily known to modern
audiences, means the area of short grass
surrounding a hole, i.e. the putting green.
This area is generally mown and rolled to
the smoothest possible texture. In keeping
with the first meaning, a greenkeeper is
someone whose responsibilities entail
maintaining all areas of the golf course
outside the clubhouse. The term was
changed to golf course superintendent in
the United States several decades ago.
In most cases of using the word green
in golf terminology, the use should be
singular. Green fee, greenkeeper, green
committee, and USGA Green Section are
all correct uses. One final word on this
subject. Green, in proper golf terminology,
does NOT refer to any particular color
found on a golf course. It only applies to
areas or regions of a golf course.

CAGCS Annual Meeting - Rock Ridge CC - 11/01/06

UCONN vs. NAVY - September 30, 2006

December 2006

New Members
Ethan Caldwell, Class C
Willimantic Country Club
William Goewey, Jr., Class SM
Sharon Country Club
Michael Zwick, Class C
Ellington Ridge County Club

Condolences
Condolences to Cindy Johnson on the
passing of her father Everett Richard
Johnson.

Congratulations
To Cynthia & Eric Morrison on the birth
of their daughter, Shelby Ann Morrison,
born on 9/13/2006 7 lbs.. 7 oz.

Best Wishes
Best Wishes and a speedy recovery to
Steve Curry on his recent surgery.

A Special Thank You!
To Bob Lippman, Jr. of Westchester
Turf Supply, winner of $250.00 from
the Scholarship and Research Tournament raffle, who generously donated his
winnings back to the S & R Scholarship
fund.

Connecticut Clippings

Calendar
Tuesday, January 23, 2007 CAGCS Winter
Seminar, Hawthorne Inn.
February 19-24 GCSAA Conference &
Show, Anaheim, CA.
March 5-8 NERTC, Providence, RI.

Note
SEND YOUR SAMPLES to Support
Dollar Spot Research
Funded by the New England Regional Turfgrass Foundation, Syngenta
Crop Protection and the United States
Golf Association, researchers at the
University of Connecticut are investigating various aspects of managing
dollar spot. Research will focus on
improving fungicide efficacy through
the proper selection of nozzle-types
(see the June 2006 issue of GCM for
more information) as well as through
unconventional application timings.
In addition to developing improved
management strategies, researchers
will seek to determine the importance
and scope of pathogen resistance to
fungicides commonly used to control
dollar spot. To participate in this
component of the project, please send
dollar spot samples from fairways
and/or greens to the University of
Connecticut (dollar spot samples
submitted during the study will not
be charged a diagnostic fee).

Page 6

UCONN Turfgrass Disease
Diagnostic Center
c/o John Kaminski
University of Connecticut
1376 Storrs Road, Unit 4067
Storrs, CT 06269
For more information on this research project or disease diagnostic
services at UConn, please contact
John Kaminski (860.486.0162, john.
kaminski@uconn.edu).

CAGCS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President – Keith A. Angilly
Vice President – Christian P. Mauro
Secretary – Kimberly J. Heyl
Treasurer – John Garcia
Past President – Wayne C. Urban
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Education – Mark B. Mansur
Golf – Sean Flynn
Membership – Bruce Morse
Scholarship & Research
Paul Bonini, CGCS
Social & Welfare – Donald Beck
Government Relations
Scott Ramsay, CGCS
Commercial Rep to Board
Peter Hull
Class C Rep to the Board
Peter Gorman

December 2006
What Are Those Rings?
By Keith Happ, Senior Agronomist
December 1, 2006
Calls have been coming into the Pittsburgh office questioning the appearance
of yellow rings on fairway turf and greens.
The symptoms have been reported on a
wide variety of close-cut golf course turf.
As has been stated many times, the best
way to get to the bottom of the issue is to
send a sample to a diagnostic laboratory to
confirm the exact cause of the problem before any corrective procedures are enacted.
The yellowing rings observed in the
Pittsburgh area are Rhizoctonia cerealis,
also known as Rhizoctonia Yellow Patch or
Cool Season Brown Patch. This particular
organism is a fairly common occurrence at
this time of year, and the recent cool, moist
weather provides perfect conditions for
this organism to proliferate. The disease
symptoms can occur suddenly and can be
damaging to Poa annua. Efforts should be
made to control the infection in important
play areas before we get to winter weather
as damaged turf will be slow to heal.
Most superintendents have or are about to
implement measures to control winter diseases such as pink (Microdochium Patch)
and gray (Typhula spp) snow molds.
Most of the products used to control snow
molds will also offer control of Cool Season Rhizoctonia.
As always, if the Mid-Atlantic Region
agronomists can be of assistance, contact
Stan Zontek (szontek@usga.org) or Darin
Bevard (dbevard@usga.org) at 610-5589066 or Keith Happ (khap0p@usga.org) at
412-341-5922.

Connecticut Clippings

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December 2006

MEET BOB RUSZALA
Look around the room when you
visit the Nor’easter Hospitality Get
Together at the GCSAA Conference in
Anaheim, CA. People are conversing,
eating, drinking, sitting and standing.
What a great place to go and socialize.
One person however is doing all that
and a lot more.

Connecticut Clippings
The payment of the Nor’easter room
is based upon the amount spent. At
Orlando which had a large crowd there
was a discrepancy as to the amount of
liquor sales. The hotel rep claimed that
our group was below their quota by a
few hundred dollars and would have
to pay a whopping $2,500 more for
the room. Undaunted, Bob challenged
the rep, and was able to show that
the bartenders were skimming. “Just

Meet Bob Ruszala our host
chairman. As you enjoy the evening
greeting old friends and meeting
new ones, Bob is watching out that
the hotel meets its’ obligations. Is
the room adequate (you never know
exactly how many will attend) is
the food served as ordered, are
there enough servers, are there
enough bartenders, and oh yes, are
the bartenders skimming?
Now five years into this, the
seasoned golf course superintendent
(22 years) of Hickory Ridge GC
in Amherst, Massachusetts has
contacted the Hilton hotel in
Anaheim. The Nor’easter room is
planned way ahead of the event
and ready to go. Back in August
when no one wants to think about
anything but their golf course, Bob
is on the phone negotiating with a
hotel rep to organize a get together
for nine golf course superintendent
associations.
A couple of years ago the UMASS
Stockbridge alumnae decided to host
a similar event. Oops, conflict, not
anymore. Chairman Bob straightened
that out. Bob has assured me that the
UMASS event will be held from 5-6PM
and the Nor’easter will be 6-10 PM.
Both will be held in the Hilton, GCSA
headquarters hotel on Thursday,
February 22, 2007

Page 8
In addition to the nine associations
that contribute proportionately to the
Nor’easter Room several companies
have signed on as Friends to help with
the expenses. This is an expensive
endeavor, partly due to the 27 1/2 %
taxes and gratuity that is added to the
bill. If you wish to contribute please
contact Bob Ruszala at Hickory Ridge
GC.
Bob, on behalf of everyone, thank
you for all your work and diligence,
in making the Nor’easter Room a
premier event.
Participating associations are:
Connecticut Association of GCS
Golf Course Managers of Cape Cod
GCS Association of New England
Long Island GCS Association
Metropolitan GC Association
New Jersey GCS Association
Northeast GCS Association
Rhode Island GCS Association
Vermont GCS Association

look at the wad of bills that they are
claiming as tips”, Bob exclaimed! Paper
work from past Nor’easter functions
were enough to pull in the reins on
this potential expensive problem. Bob
went on to caution the hotel rep that
their employees by not using cash
registers were probably costing them
thousands of dollars each year. Who
else would have thought to bring
along a paper trail?

Corporate Friends Contributing are:
BASF
Bayer
Harrolds
Syngenta
Toro

December 2006

Connecticut Clippings

The Board of
Directors of CAGCS
would like to wish all
members and their
families a happy,
healthy and safe
holiday season!

Page 9

December 2006

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO...
CAN IT BE 10 YEARS ALREADY?

The New England Regional Turfgrass
Conference and Show is preparing
to celebrate its 10th annual show this
upcoming March. Over this time much
has happened all over the world on grass
and especially in the world of golf. Tiger
Woods had turned pro in 1996 and won his
first major event at the April 1997 Masters,
since then he has won 11 more majors!
Quite an achievement we all agree! After
86 years the Red Sox finally did it in 2004!
The U.S. finally won another Ryder Cup in
our own backyard at The Country Club in
Brookline. The roars of Justin Leonard’s 75
foot clinching putt and the memories Payne
Stewart’s last major public appearance will
always accentuate that great event in 1999,
and ease the pain of Ryder Cup shutouts
since!
But, here in New England since the
first New England Regional Turfgrass
Conference and Show in 1998, certainly we
have much to be proud of and to applaud!
First, we have one of the most successful
Regional conferences and trade shows in
the United States. Our show is among the
top three regional events, if not the best in
the country. Each year we receive many
compliments from several individuals who

Connecticut Clippings
attend many shows across the country to
tell us that N.E. is the best! The quality
of our education conference program
continues to attract individuals across the
northeast and outside the region. Our list of
past keynote speakers is like a list of who’s
who that has a connection to teamwork on
grass! And the list of memorable events
over the 10 years associated with the show
is priceless.
The question that comes to my mind is:
how has the Conference and Show helped
the turfgrass industry in New England?
Here are three ways I feel, you may have
more! First, with 10 years of promoting,
networking and educating of the industry
at the show, turfgrass professionals have
been informed, taught, and shared a lot of
information over these years. All of the top
educators and many of our best colleagues
in the industry have shared valuable turf
management information to thousands
of our peers. Second, the trade show has
allowed companies across the globe to
display their goods and again thousands
of industry professionals have taken
advantage of the opportunities on the
trade show floor. These same companies
have sponsored many of our events to help
expand the list of spotlighted activities
that occur during the show. The list
includes our trade show lunch and early
morning refreshments, to our keynotes
and receptions, as well as others. Not
to mention all the sponsors of our silent
and live auctions. With many generous

Page 10
donations they have helped to make these
events a true success. Thirdly, with the
proceeds of all our conference and show
activities going back into the industry
in the form of funding research projects
and related needs; the turfgrass industry
has seen a renewed commitment of the
universities towards their turf programs.
We have seen new hires at UConn, UMass
and URI in turf to replace open positions or
to create new ones! School administrators
have been involved and are interested in
our activities. Hundreds of thousands of
dollars have been directed at the schools for
several research projects that have helped to
benefit turfgrass managers in many ways.
University support seems to be increasing
in many ways including more diagnostic
capabilities, turf intern placement, field
day promotion, information exchange and
more and more.
So, ten years has gone by quickly, but not
without success. The best part of it all
has been the friends we have made along
the way, and the ability to help make the
industry better. Thank you all for your
support, commitment, and suggestions.
Let’s all enjoy where we have come from,
but continue to keep our eyes on the
horizon together as more opportunities
come our way! You know it’s what Tiger
will be doing!
Gary Sykes

December 2006

Connecticut Clippings

Page 11

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEW LIFE MEMBERS AND OUR 2006 PIN RECIPIENTS
The following have been members of our Association
for 30 years and are our new “Life Members”.
Peter D. Burnham, Class A
David J. Sylvester, Class Commercial
Receiving 25 year pins:
Joseph W. Bunk, Class A
Receiving 20 year pins:
Shawn Donovan, Class Commercial
Dan Rackliffe, CGCS, Class A
Walter C. Varni, Class Commercial
Allen A. Woodward, Class C
Receiving 15 year pins:
Lawrence Barrett, Class A
Jonathan Case, Class A
John A. Creevy, Class C

Kevin R. DeVaux, Class C
Paul Jamrog, Class A
Gerald Mills, Class C
Terrence D. Mish, Class Commercial
Jud W. Smith, Class A
Lori Spielman, Class Commercial
Paul Wollenberg, Class C
Jonathan Zuk, Class A
Receiving 10 year pins:
Keith A. Angilly, Class A
Kevin P. Kelley, Class A
Michael Marino, CGCS, Class A
Peter L. McCormick, Class Commercial
Greg Moore, Class A
Eric S. Morrison, Class A
Lindsey Munger, Class SM
Richard J. Schock, Jr., Class A

December 2006

Connecticut Clippings

Page 12

A-OK Turf Equipment
Articulator Dealer, Granden, TyCrop, Blec
Wiedenmann, Therrien
Conventry, RI 02816/Michael D. Cornicelli
(401) 826-2584 - Fax (401) 826-3749

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.
Seed, Fertilizer, Turf Supplies
Exeter, RI 02822
Al La Prise
(401) 884-2097 - (800) 527-3898

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

Sodco, Inc.
P.O. Box 2 Slocum, RI 02877
Sodco.net
Sean P. Moran
(800) 341-6900

Aquatrols Corp. of America
Innovative Products for Effective
Resource Management
Kevin P. Collins, N.E. Territory Mgr.
(609) 841-2077
A. T. Sales Associates
Premium Sod for Golf Courses
Lincoln, RI 02865
Owen J. Regan
(401) 465-8066 - cell
Bartlett Tree Experts
66 Wooster Heights
Danbury, CT 06810
Matt Flanagan, Arborist/Rep.
(203) 744-1400 x 17
Bayer Environmental Science
Dave Sylvester (860) 828-8905 - Servicing
Litchfield, Middlesex & Fairfield County
Jim Santoro (508) 272-9590
Servicing Eastern Connecticut
C.R.I.S., LLC
Golf Course Irrigation
P.O. Box 6194
Wolcott, CT 06716
Chris Carney (203) 879-2362
The Cardinals, Inc.
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies
John Callahan
(860) 673-3699
Championship Turf Services
Precision Laser Leveling
Custom Aerification-Overseeding
Sisis Turf Equipment
Michael Flowers (800) 562-5860
DGM Systems, llc
Office (401) 647-0550
David (401) 742-1177 Manny (401) 524-8999
Your New England Specialty Products
Distributor - www.dgmsystems.com
D & S - Floratine
The Best Value for
Plant and Soil Strength
Dave Basconi
(203) 250 - TURF

Glenmore Landscape Service
Glenn S. Moore
P.O. Box 890
South Salem, NY 10590
(914) 533-5554
Greenacres Company
Irrigation Contractor
Dave Pijnenburg
75 Codfish Hill Road, Bethel, CT 06801
(203) 748-0558
Harrell’s Turf Specialty
Jim Wierzbicki (860) 424-7250
Joe Stahl (203) 209-6951
Customer Service (800) 228-6656
The Chas. C. Hart Seed Co.
Wethersfield, CT | Roy Sibley,
Paul Bednarczyk, Heather Garvin
(860)529-2537 or (800)326-4278
Quality Since 1892
James Carriere & Son, Inc.
Bill Carriere (914) 937-2136
Trap Sand Partac Top Dressing
Const Mixes
Decorative Stone
Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Professional Ground-water and
Environmental Engineering Services
Office in Shelton & Farmington
Rob Good (860) 678-0404
LESCO, Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1882
(800) 321-5325
(856) 692-8217
Metro Turf Specialists
Customers Our top Priority
Dennis Petruzzelli, CGCS (203) 948-4941
Shawn O’Sullivan (516) 216-0731
Customer Service (203) 748-Golf (4653)
Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing
(800) 247-2326 Fax (908) 637-8421
Bill Carriere (914) 937-2136
Joe Bidwell (860) 651-8555
Jim Wierzbicki (860) 424-7250
R. F. Morse & Sons, Inc.
ParEx Fertilizer - Power Equipment West
Wareham, MA 02576
Carl Wallace - Tom Gresh

Steven Willand, Inc.
4 Production Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
Mark Osborn - George Corgan
203-775-5757
Syngenta Professional Products
Bob Goglia
Ste#261, 1131-0 Tolland Tpke.
Manchester, CT 06040
(860) 716-0315
Tee & Green Sod, Inc.
5/32 “bentgrass, 1/2 bluegrass sod
rough, tee and fairway sod; installation
Wayne Rice (401) 641-2972
Dave Wallace (401) 789-8177
Terre Co.
206 Delawanne Ave. Clifton NJ
(973) 473-3393 FAX (973) 473-4402
Byron Johnson
Home (203) 748-5069
Tom Irwin, Inc.
Turf Management Products
Knowledge & Experience You Can Trust
Rob Larson
(508) 789-0059 - (800) 582-5959
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Golf Course Turfgrass
www.tuckahoeturf.com
Skip Deubel (860) 306-8883
Office: (800) 243-7582
Turf Products Corporation
157 Moody Rd., P.O. Box 1200
Enfield, CT 06083
John Ferry - Mark Loper
(800) 243-4355
The Turf & Pond Connection
Joe Stahl (203) 209-6951
Jeff Stahl (203) 858-4136
Office (203) 426-7055
Depend On Us For Four Season Solutions
Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. - Serving the
Golf Turf Profession for over 30 years
Bob Lippman, Jr. - Dave Lippman
Office (845) 621-5967 Fax (845) 621-7180
Email: westturf@suscom.net