THE GREENERSIDE January - February 7 996 • Volume 19 Number 1 Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Doing it his way for GCSANJ By Ken Kubik The Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey awarded Jack G. Martin the Distinguished Service Award at the New Jersey Turfgrass Expo on December 13, 1995. The D.S.A. is given in recognition of significant contributions to the GCSANJ through efforts dedi­ cated to the cause of improved golf turf and the advancement of the golf course superintendent profession. The D.S.A. was awarded for the first time in 1986, thus making Jack the tenth recipient of this lifetime achievement award. Jack has been the golf course superintendent at Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club in Westfield, New Jersey, since 1974. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Stockbridge, Jack served as an assistant golf course superin­ tendent to Pete Pedrazzi at Suburban Golf Club in Union and also to A1 Foster at Hackensack Golf Club in Oradell. Jack returned to Suburban G.C. in 1965 to become its golf course superintendent. Jack Martin has the distinction of being the only individual to serve as president of the GCSANJ for four years. His first term was for 1971 and 1972, and his second term was for 1980 and 1981. Jack was on the Board of Directors of the GCSANJ for 12 years. In addition to being president, he has also served as vice president and secretary of the Association. Jack has taken the podium on behalf of the golf course superintendents profession throughout his career. He has been a speaker at the GCSAA Convention in New Orleans on “The Politics of the Water Shortage.” He also addressed the New Jersey Water Policy Commission during the regional drought of the early eighties. Jack has been a guest speaker at turfgrass conferences sponsored by both Rutgers University-Cook Col­ lege and the University of Massachusetts-Stockbridge. Jack has also had articles published in the GCSAA’s “GolfManage- ment” magazine and the GCSANJ’s “The Greenerside.” His former assistants, who are currently golf course super­ intendents, include Jerry Schoonmaker in Massachusetts, Ed Walsh at Essex County Country Club, Tom Hamulak at Continued on page 5 Jack Martin (right), vintage about 1981, with Bob Ribbans of Forsgate C.C. In this issue Editorial President's Message GCSANJ News Ralph Engel, Mentor NJTA celebrates its silver anniversary The bright spot of the year gone by GCSAA News X-marks the spot Back nine 2 3 4 6 7 8 10 16 22 GCSANJ Newsletter is published six times a year by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Ilona Gray Editor Newsletter Business Staff Ken Krausz, CGCS Contributing Writers Douglas Vogel, Edward Walsh, CGCS, Shaun Barry Steven Malikowski, CGCS Please address inquiries to: Editor, The Greenerside P.O. Box 3672, Wayne, NJ 07474-3672 For Ad Placement: Judy Policastro (201) 379-1100 Art and Typography by Trend Multimedia 908-787-0786 • FAX 908-787-7212 GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 66 Morris Ave., Suite 2A Springfield, New Jersey 07081 201-379-1100 • FAX 201-379-6507 Officers: Paul Powondra, President Glenn Miller Vice President Ken Krausz, CGCS, Secretary Ron Mencl, Treasurer Chris Carson, Past President Directors District 1 Michael Mongon Joe Kennedy District 2 Vincent Bracken Patrick Campbell, CGCS District 3 Edward L. Mel lor Dennis Shea District 4 Douglass B Larson Steve Malikowski, CGCS Chapter GSAA Delegate Wayne Remo, CGCS Executive Secretary Judy Policastro Commercial Representatives Steve Chirip Shaun Barry © 1996 THE GREENERSIDE Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily express the opin­ ions or policies of the GCSANJ Board and its member­ ship. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Printed on recycled paper EDITORIAL Don't miss Orlando or the rest of Florida By Ilona Gray Florida is a cliché destination for tourists, and Orlando is the absolute center of the touring frenzy. Can millions of tourists be wrong? Is there a chink in the attrac­ tiveness of this location? “The Greenerside” went down early this year to check it out and can report to you that the convention site along International Drive in Orlando was well chosen by GCSAA. But if you stay only on this drive of glitzy hotels, fine restaurants and shows, you will miss some of the best Florida has to offer. I figure that the GCSANJ members so inclined could find their way to the fine golf courses in and around the Or­ lando area. Some may even chose to participate in the tour­ nament this year. With or without their significant other or family members, others may cruise the theme parks. Years ago that meant Disney World. Today theme parks in­ clude Sea World, Splendid China and Universal Studios. You have got to dig deeper to find some of the best in Florida. Sometimes you have to paddle your own canoe, and that is what “The Greenerside” recommends. To see Florida, get in a boat, preferably one without a power motor. Along Florida’s rivers and lakes you will see magnificent birds, turtles, alligators and, if you’re lucky, the manatee. These one ton creatures are distant relatives of the elephant, and they live in the estuaries and rivers in the central and southern portion of the state. They are an endangered species. When it’s cold, they go to the warm springs and the warm waters of the power plants. They hunker down, going out only to feed. One such spot along the St. Johns River near Orange City (about one hour from Orlando) is the Blue Springs State Park. On cold days you can count up to 90 manatees in and around the spring. That’s about 5% of all of them in the state. OK, it’s cold for us up here in New Jersey. Winter storms will provide spring soil moisture, but right now it’s not spring. “The Greenerside” recom­ mends that you, like the manatee, take the opportunity to get warm and get together for learning and just plain socializing. Orlando is the spot for the 1996 GCSAA Convention, and you have got to be there. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Reorganizing for '96 The year ahead promises to be a busy one for our Association. We say good-bye with many thanks for their service to Tom Grimac and Fran Owsik,and we welcome two new members to the Board, Doug Larson (District 4) and Ed Mellor (District 3). Some of the items we will be addressing this year will include presenting to the membership proposed bylaws revi­ sions, for the most part intended to get our membership classi­ fications in line with GCSAA’s, as required by our chapter affiliation agreement. Simply put, our A and B classifications will remain the same, while we need to change our B-l’s to C, which is GCSAA’s designation for assistants. Our commercial members will be changed to some other classification, as yet undetermined. Our children’s charity efforts are also expected to continue. While in 1995 GCSANJ focused on raising funds for Bob Leslie’s children’s education, our Association did not engage in a fall golf raffle as had been done the two previous years. This was in order to reorient the raffle timetable to Spring 1996, which would afford winners the opportunity to play during the summer/early fall if they wished. As before, donating clubs will set the rules as to precisely when the winners will be allowed to play. GCSANJ members will be solicited for their nominations of worthy children’s charities for us to support. The committee assignments for 1995 are as follows. If you find any of these committees of interest and you wish to serve, you are urged to contact the chairperson (italics). “Greenerside” newsletter Membership Field Day Bylaws Meetings & Speakers Scholarship & Research Government Relations Education Club Relations Ken Krausz Ron Mencl Joe Kennedy, Dennis Shea, Dave Pease Glen Miller, Ron Mencl, Wayne Remo Shaun Barry Dennis Shea, Ed Mellor MikeMongon Vince Bracken, Steve Malikowski Chris Carson Public Relations/Merchandise Pat Campbell, Ed Mellor Charity Ethics GCSAA Delegate Chris Carson Chris Carson Wayne Remo, Steve Malikowski On a personal note, I’d like to thank all those people who have come up to me to talk about trains since I wrote about my railroad watching adventures in California early last year. I was pleased to learn how many people are able to draw closer to their children by visiting such sites as Steamtown in Scranton, the Strasburg Railroad in Pennsylvania, or even local train shows. Of course, now I’ve started to combine my interest in railroads with a developing fascination with the Civil War. Let’s have a great 1996! CALENDAR February 5-11 February 7-8 February 8 GCSAA 67th Interna­ tional Golf Course Conference and Show, Orange County Conven­ tion Center, Orlando, Florida. Contact: GCSAA Fax 913-832-4420; Phone 800-472-7878. NJ Nursery Landscape Association’s Trade Show, Somerset, NJ. Contact: NJNLA Howard Davis 609-291-7070. Northeastern, PA Turfgrass and Grounds Maintenance School, Mt. Laurel Resort, White Haven, PA Contact: PTC 814-863-3475. Continued on page 18 GCSANJ NEWS TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR AWARDS by Sky Bergen Three members of GCSANJ were presented with 25-year- awards at the annual meeting held at Hollywood G.C. in November. Sky Bergen made the presentations to the three “C” members. John DeNora is a native New Jerseyan and is an owner of the Caldwell Tractor Company in Fairfield. He is an Army veteran of WWII and has been with Caldwell Tractor since 1963. Jim Pelrine is president of Wilfred McDonald Company. Originally from Massachusetts, Jim is a graduate of McGill/ Dunston University in Canada and is also an Army veteran. He joined McDonald as a sales representative in 1963. He is a part owner of Gambler Ridge G.C. in Cream Ridge. Phil Scott is a Massachusetts native and a Stockbridge (University of Massachusetts) graduate. He was a superinten­ dent at several New England courses before arriving at Bamm Hollow C.C. in 1967. Phil was at Bamm Hollow for 26 years and laid out and supervised construction of the third nine holes. He went to Greate Bay for two years and hosted three LPGA tournaments at the two courses. In 1995, Phil joined Storr Tractor Company as a sales representative. He is a past director of GCSANJ and also served as secretary. Please join me and “The Greenerside” in congratulating these gentlemen on their 25th anniversary with the GCSANJ. champions to make up the field. Each month, the opposing teams will play a match to see who goes on to the next round. These matches can be played anytime up to and including our monthly meeting. The final match is always played at our Championship Meeting. The defending team of Tom Grimac and Bob Prickett have never lost in this competition. This might be the year, and you might be the team to win the cup. Put April 25,1996, down on your calendar and show up at Cape May National G.C. It’s a lot of fun. GCSANJ FUN AT THE BARCLAY by Shaun Barry Once againHarryandRita Harsinopened their arms and the Barclay Hotel for the bene fit of the GCSANJ. Forthe fourth straight year, they have hosted our President’s Ball. Due to some scheduling conflicts, attendance was down, but each year the level of fun rises. Harry continues to hand-pick our enter­ tainment, and somehow he gets everybody to charge less than the going rate. We could use him in Washington, D.C. This affair is open to all of our members and usually happens in early November. We would love to see everybody attend. Look for the date to be finalized soon, and try to fit it into your schedule. You will not be disappointed. THE LESLIE CUP by Shaun Barry At our 1995 Championship Meeting we unveiled “The Leslie Cup.” This cup will be awarded annually. It goes to the winning team in our Two-Man Team Event. Fifteen teams will qualify at our April meeting. They will join our defending Left to right, Bob Prickett, Kathy Leslie and Tom Grimac on the occasion of the presentation of the Leslie Cup. Left to right, Pete Pedrazzi, Harry Harsin and Rita Harsin enjoying the 1995 President's Ball. GCSANJ NEWS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD GIVEN, MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD ANNOUNCED by Chris Carson for the Awards Committee On December 13, I had the privilege of awarding our Distinguished Service Award at the silver anniversary banquet of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association’s Turf Expo ‘95. There were a great number of excellent candidates brought forward for consideration this year by the membership, and the voting process was modified to include the thoughts of all past award winners and past presidents. This year, the DSA was awarded to the superintendent of Shackamaxon Golf and Country Club, Jack Martin. In the long history of GCSANJ, Jack is the only president to have served two terms: 1971-72 and 1980-81. His efforts during his tenures as president on organizing and professionalizing our Association have been recognized by many supporters of his nomination, as was his work on the water crisis in the early 80’s. Recently, Jack was instrumental Doing it his way for GCSANJ Continued from page 1 Bear Creek G.C. in Denver, CO, Jeff Crouse at East Orange G.C. in Short Hills, and Vincent Bracken at Fairmount C.C. in Chatham. Jack and his wife Penny have three children, John, Tracey and Kelly. They are grandparents five times over. Jack’s spare time is taken up by grandchildren, golf and the warmth of Florida. Jack Martin’s thirty plus years in the profession have been filled with his enthusiasm and energy for the betterment of the golf course superintendent’s lot in life. The song that best exemplifies Jack’s career is Frank Sinatra’s “I Did It My Way.” On behalf of the members of the GCSANJ, we congratulate Jack on receiving this most prestigious award. in the fund raising efforts to support the family ofBert Jones. For these reasons, and a long list of affiliated accomplish­ ments, Jack was given this, our highest honor. The process of nominating deserving people for the DSA raised the idea that we do not have a way of recognizing current members who are doing great work in support of GCSANJ’s mission. As a way of complementing the DSA’s award for lifetime service, the Board has voted to initiate a new award honoring significant current service, tentatively named the MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD. As chairman of the award committee, I hope all of our members will give thought to the nominating process next fall, as we will now be asking for your thoughts on both of these high honors. Construction and MORIE Golf Course Maintenance Materials Unmatched Quality and Service • Bunker sands • Root zone materials • Topdressings • Decorative stone • Crushed stone • Drainage materials • Fill Dirt • Top Soil The Morie Company, Inc. A South Jersey Industries Company Box 463, Woodbine, NJ 08270 800-732-0068 Fax 609/861-2234 Ralph Engel, Mentor By Dennis DeSanctis Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. When Ilona Gray contacted me and asked if I would write a short article about my friend and yours,Dr. Ralph Engel, I thought it would be an easy task. After a tremendous amount of soul-searching, I re putting into print one’s thoughts regarding a person who has passed on and is now laid to rest, is not an easy task. Not only did Ralph Engel mean a great deal to me, but I know he meant a great deal to all of you and to the industry that he so dearly served. Personally, I feel honored to have known Ralph Engel and to have shared many great experiences with him over the 20 years of our relationship. Two years ago, when Ralph retired from Rutgers Univer- sity/Cook College, I was asked to write a few words for “The Greenerside,” and, in reviewing my notes, I feel it is still pertinent to share these ideas with you. I believe those of you who knew Ralph will agree with my thoughts, and I hope those of you who never had the opportunity to meet him can appreci­ ate the following: It was January 1975 when I first met Ralph Engel at the Rutgers Winter Turf School. Of course, I was impressed meeting the professor I had heard so much about over the years: easygoing, mild mannered, a wealth of knowledge... He would always keep the Friday afternoon Turf class until 4:00 p.m. (no early dismissal!!). Boy, did that man love TURF!! I had the unique experience of being the only student to show up to play golf with him that winter (February) at a local alizgeo ltfha cot urse. I was occupying my mind with thoughts of keeping warm, enjoying his unorthodox swing and wondering why a man like this would want to play golf under these conditions. Ralph was talking turf from the first tee to the last cup on 18. Head down, he spoke ryegrass, pre-emerge, Cation Exchange, dandelion control, Low ‘N’ programs, and on and on and on. .. My conclusion then—this man loves what he is doing! My conclusion today—this man loves TURF, always did, always will! To me, that’s Dr. Engel in a nutshell: a man who enjoys what he is doing; a man who is very proud of his work (and rightfully so); a man who wants all of us to continue to work in this industry, making it grow into vistas we could never imagine possible. Thanks, Doc! You’ve taught us more than Turfgrass Science over the years—you’ve taught us that if we appreciate what we are doing, then life is an enjoyable experience. By Armand LeSage Stress: We can manage it, but can you? One of the highlights of theNew Jersey Turfgrass Expo ‘95 in Atlantic City was the Golf Course Superinten­ dents Association of America’s continuing educa­ tional seminar, “Personal Stress Management.” reaction to stress, warning signs of stress and how to relax. Stu­ dents broke into work groups and many lively discussions were presented to the group. This concept worked real well, with everyone being involved in the process. This was NJTA’s first attempt to provide an educational opportunity using GCSAA seminars. The attendance was an overwhelming 52 enthusiastic students. The class was alive with humor, experience, problems and solutions. If you have never taken this class at a conference or convention, please try to enroll; it will be to your benefit. In 16 years of attending GCSAA seminars (an average of four per year), this was the best class I’ve ever taken. The instructor, Dr. Bree Hays, displayed a genuine concern and care for each student in the class. Dr. Hays, who has earned advanced degrees in education, counselor education and coun­ seling psychology, is one of GCSAA’s most popular instruc­ tors. Students learned about good stress/bad stress, your body’s Bree Hays, Ph.D., has some close ties to New Jersey, she was bom in Newark. She also has fam­ ily in our beautiful state. This semi­ nar gave her the opportunity to visit with them. The New Jersey Turfgrass As­ sociation has already been working with GCSAA to have another semi­ nar at Expo ‘96 in Atlantic City. Please mark your calendar for December 9,1996. More details will be announced in the near future. I hope to see you there. NJTA celebrates its silver anniversary By Steve Chirip United Horticultural Supply At 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday we cut the ribbon at the Trade Show. Through the great work of Bob Dickison and his Expo The Taj Mahal was once again the site for the NJTA Expo. This was the 25 th anniversary of this great show. It began a day earlier this year as the GCSANJ held a one-day seminar in conjunction with GCSAA on “Perso Stress Management.” Over 50 superintendents and others were in attendance. Most stayed around after the meeting as the superintendents association sponsored a very nice cocktail party. The show was off to a great start. On Tuesday, set up for the Trade Show began, and, as anyone who helped knows, the cold weather was a big factor; just ask the guys trying to unroll frozen sod. Also the Education Committee, headed by Ed Milewski, began its always impres­ sive schedule of seminars with some of the finest speakers in the nation again coming to New Jersey to give excellent educational talks. Elvis put on a great show. nal All had a great time. The 25th Anniversary Banquet was a great success. Committee, over 200 booths were sold, an increase of 15% over last year. From what I hear Bob is looking to sell even more next year. Free food and drinks were available thanks to many of our exhibitors who sponsored these functions. The GCSANJ again had its putting green up and running. Continued on page 9 Tee & Green & In Between Whether your challenge is a dead­ line, a tee, a green, a fairway, a rough, or a bunker surround, we have a blend that fits your needs. We understand the variety of problems you face because we have spent a great deal of time listening to golf course superintendents. As a result, Tee & Green Sod offers the most complete product line available to the golf course industry— even a four-foot wide washed roll! Give us a call for information about our selection of products, and our unique harvesting and washing techniques. •Bentgrass •Bluegrass •Washed sod • Bluegrass-Ryegrass •Bluegrass-Fine Fescue 401/789-8177 • 401/789-3895 (fax) • PO Box 418, Exeter, RI 02822 By Mike Mongon The bright spot of the year gone by What do you get when you have a little moisture in The 25 Field Day ‘95 equipment demonstrations were done timely and efficiently and in a golf course setting. Larger turf equipment was displayed and demonstrated in the main arena. Dennis Shea missed his true calling as he handled the parking better than a professional valet service! The Masters of sunsCehirenem onies for the day, Leonard Forlenza (of Big Ridge Country Club) and Mike Mongon (of Arcola Country Club), did a great job keeping the day focused, fun, and drama filled, ground, 75 groups of people who care, a big open golf course and driving range, a committee and Board committed to a successful day... add a little and temperatures in the 70s, not to mention some 350 golf course supers, assistant supers, foremen, turf students and members.. .and what have you got? Field Day ‘95 sponsored by your friendly neighborhood Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey. Field Day ‘95 sported all of this and much more. From chipping competitions to door prizes—25 well run equipment demonstrations and 70 individual booths made for an exciting day for all. Field Day Co-Chairmen Joe Kennedy (of Green Brook) and Steve Malikowski, CGCS (of Cape May Na­ tional), did a wonderful job orchestrating this fine day, as did their committee ofDave Pease, Phil Scott, Dennis DeSanctis, Bob Carson, Mike Mongon, John Gasper, Shaun Barry, Peter McCormick, Dennis Shea, Clyde Ashton, Bryan Bolehala, Ron Mencl, Chris Carson, Judy Policastro and Steve Chirip. The votes are in and it's unanimous—Field Day ‘95 was a huge success. with the dramatic announcement of the not guilty verdict in the O. J. Simpson double murder trial. But this day belonged to the 75 commercial members and representatives who went above and beyond to offer the attendees of Field Day ‘95 up-to-date product information, samples of their companies’ products, catalogs and some nice conversation. Of course, when you talk about the success of Field Day ‘95, look no further than the host club, the Mattawang Golf Club, and Chip Kern, CGCS, of Shearon Environmental, who manages this fine course. Chip and his staff were instru­ mental in the set up and take down of the site and helped the whole day move smoothly. Food was not a problem as the Field Day ‘95 Concession­ aire offered an array of food and drink—so successful in fact, that the owner of the catering hall asked if he could do it again next year, just before he was whisked away in a stretch limo headed for Atlantic City. At least that’s what this reporter was told! The day, though, had a little confusion as witnessed by me—some attendees were seen “sneaking in.” This was, how­ ever, quickly rectified with a swift announcement that registra­ tion was “free.” Fran Owsik (of Tamarack Golf Club) and the GCSANJ merchandise booth were kept extremely busy throughout the day, and all registrants were given a leather coaster with the GCSANJ logo on top. Fran has done one heck of a job promoting our association through the many different merchan­ dise opportunities that he affords us. Chris Carson and Judy Policastro headed up the. enviable task of “the registration table” and remained busy throughout the day. The votes are in and it’s unanimous—Field Day ‘95 was a huge success. The planning of Field Day ‘96 is already under­ way. To those of you who couldn’t make it to Field Day ‘95— make it a point to support GCSANJ and its members and friends by attending Field Day ‘96 and remember: Commit­ ment + Participation = Success. For golf course greens, tees and other fine turf areas. • Clear liquid-100% water soluble • Quick green up • Compatible with pesticides • Does not leach or evaporate • Maintains rich green color ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE • Low burn potential • Organic Nitrogen • Controlled release The Grass is always Greener on the GREEN-T side! PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. Manufacturers of Fluid Fertilizers Hightstown-Cranbury Station Road Cranbury, NJ 08512 • 609-448-0935 800-562-1291 «FAX609-443-8038 ' ' / ' NJTA celebrates its silver anniversary Continued from page 7 This year was special though, with a large selection of antique equipment on display; we’ve come a long way. We would like to thank all those who donated equipment for this display. Our opening night was a hit. We knew it would be as we had filled our block of over500 rooms. Wednesday was another full day of seminars and trade show. That night was our gala event, the 25th Anniversary Banquet. This opened with all the past presidents and the Distinguished Service Award recipients being introduced. Throughout dinner the awards were handed out. Chris Carson introduced Jack Martin as the recipient of the GCSANJ’s Distinguished Service Award. Jack, as the only person to be president of this organization twice, was well deserving of the award. Then it was NJTA’s turn. Rutgers, the State University, got an award for its outstanding renovation of the stadium’s all turf field. Next the NJTA’s most prestigious award, the Hall of Fame Award, was given to Dr. Bruce Clarke. Dr. Clarke’s accomplishments while at Rutgers made him a very worthy recipient of this award. The evening was then turned over to our entertainment. The Fred Bevan Show Band had everyone up and dancing. Then the star of the Legends Show, one of Atlantic City’s longest running shows, Elvis, put on a great show. All had a great time. The 25th Anniversary Banquet was a great success. Chris Carson introduced Jack Martin as the recipient of the GCSANJ’s Distinguished Service Award. Jack, as the only person to be president of this organization twice... With bad weather predicted, the last day of the show was still well attended. Once breakdown began everyone knew they had been at one of the premier turf shows in the country. Dr. Richard Caton, Bob Dickison and the NJTA Board deserve a lot of credit for putting this great show together. Earthworks Natural Organic Products A "SOIL FIRST” PROGRAM • REDUCE WILT •WON’T BURN • WATER HOLDING CAPACITY • BETTER NUTRIENT MOBILITY •SAFETY OF APPLICATION • SOIL CONDITIONING NATURAL ORGANIC FERTILIZERS: 5-4-5 • Helps reduce wilt and builds soli. 14-2-5 • Builds water holding capacity. NATURAL ORGANIC SOIL CONDITIONERS: KICK • Stimulates roots and opens tight soils. N-HANCE • 12% needed calcium to help build cell walls. BIO-STIMULANTS: POTENT-SEA • Reduces stress with over 60 trace nutrients. POTENT-SEA PLUS • Sea kelp and fish meal together. Golf Turn-Key Inc. Construction Golf Course Construction TEE AND GREEN CONSTRUCTION DRAINAGE . RETAINING WALLS IRRIGATION . PONDS OTTERBINE INSTALLATION 908-469-7782 MEMBER OF NJ TURF GRASS ASSOC. & GCSANJ For a free catalog and a list of distributors please call: Earthworks PO box 278K, Martins Creek, PA 18063 800 732 TURF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE ENDORSES PROACTIVE ADVOCACY PROGRAMS The Government Relations Committee of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) met at association headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas, Oct. 6-7 to review government relations program activities and imple­ mentation of the 1995-96 business plan. The committee discussed ways in which GCSAA could help members become more proactive and improve their effectiveness in dealing with government issues. A major theme was how the association could help members influence changes to laws and regulations, rather than just adapting to changes. The GCSAA Board of Directors agreed with the committee’s recommendation to register the asso­ ciation and appropriate staff as lobbyists in order to advocate positions on legislative issues in Con­ gress. The committee also supported taking ad­ vantage of opportunities to use the grassroots, or member superintendents as voters, to influence government decisions. A campaign was set in motion to encourage GCSAA members to ask their senators and representatives in Congress to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to address a problem with the Worker Protection Standard (WPS). GCSAA NEWS GCSAA SEMINAR ON TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT by Chris Carson On November 14 and 15, a two-day GCSAA seminar was held in East Brunswick. Attended by 16 people, the subj ect was Basic Principles of Turfgrass Management and was taught by the distinguished professor, Dr. Nick Christians. Dr. Christians led the participants through some very basic theory and review, and went over certain calculations that we frequently use on the golf course. Though on the surface this topic may seem too rudimentary for superintendents, the discussion that developed from review­ ing basic turf information was more advanced, and the partici­ pants were well pleased with the seminar. GCSAA Seminars Coming Soon To Your Area Reel Mowers and Grinding Methods March 7, 1996 Farmington, Connecticut (Code #921) Basic Turfgrass Botany & Physiology March 7-8, 1996 Farmington, Connecticut (Code # 853) GCSAA Register Today! Call 800/472-7878 For a more detailed description of seminars, with dates and regis­ tration forms, please refer to your GCSAA Professional Development Catalog 1995-96. You may also reference your monthly issue of Golf Course Management. Watch your mail for reminder post­ cards highlight­ ing seminars in your area! The WPS became an issue for GCSAA when an Interpretative Guidance Work Group deter­ mined that WPS should cover the portion of golf courses where sod, ornamentals and trees are grown for replacement purposes as these plants would normally have “commercial value.” Prior to this interpretation, golf courses enjoyed an excep­ tion to WPS because the regulation covers only agricultural workers, and the requirements do not apply when plants are grown for other than com­ mercial or research purposes. In addition, the 11-member committee rec­ ommended that GCSAA expand its influence by participating in coalitions, including the Alliance for Reasonable Regulation; the Coalition ofOccu- pational Safety and Health; the Grassroots Endan­ gered Species Act Coalition; and a coalition to support environmental audit legislation. GCSAA already is active in Responsible Industry for a Continued on page 11 GCSAA NEWS Continued from page 10 Sound Environment, an alliance of specialty pesticide manu­ facturers and user groups. Members of the Government Relations Committee are: Chairman Dave Fearis, CGCS, Blue Hills Country Club, Kansas City, Missouri; Vice Chairman R. Scott Woodhead, CGCS, Valley View Golf Club, Bozeman, Montana; Jan Beljan, Fazio Golf Course Designers Inc., Jupiter, Florida; Thomas Hoogheem, Monsanto Company, St. Louis, Missouri; Kenneth A. Flisek, The Club at Nevillewood, Bethel Park, Pennsylvania; George Frye, The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, Kiawah Island, South Carolina; William “Tim” Hiers, CGCS, Collier’s Reserve, Naples, Florida; Timothy Long, Barton Creek Club & Conference Resort, Austin, Texas; Frank “Bill” Shirk, CGCS, Queenstown Harbor Golf Links, Grasonville, Maryland; Tim Maniscalo, DowElanco, India­ napolis, Indiana; Kevin Clunis, CGCS, JP Golf Management Company, Mahtomedi, Minnesota; and Tedson Firster, Palo Verde Shores, San Pedro, California. STANDARDS/BYLAWS COMMITTEE PROPOSES AMENDMENTS The Standards/Bylaws Committee of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCS AA) conducted its annual meeting on Oct. 8 at the association’s headquarters in Lawrence, Kansas. The committee recommended that the GCS A A Board of Directors place 12 bylaws changes on the ballot of the annual meeting. One of those changes will also require an amendment to the articles of incorporation. The bylaws amendments recommended are: • Permit a special meeting of the Board of Directors to be conducted by a telephone conference call. • Remove the bylaws language that suggests GCSAA would not indemnify a GCSAA director for simple negligence. • Provide the proper procedures in the event of the dissolu­ tion of the association, including provision for the distri- Continued on page 12 SPECIAL OFFER! TEST DRIVE A DUAL Call us for a FREE three-day tryout in your workshop.* □ We’ll bring the machine right to you and pick it up. □ No charge. □ Your chance to precision grind your reels on the world’s best spin grinder. * Subject to scheduling and machine availability. EXPRESS DUAL Storr Tractor Company 3191 US Highway 22, Somerville, New Jersey 08876 908-722-9830 GCSAA NEWS Continued from page 11 bution of assets in accordance with state and federal laws. • Allow a member of the Board to waive the 10-day written bylaws. • Remove Class C members’ voting privileges. • Require all Class A and B membership applicants that reside in the United States, except Alaska residents, to be members of an affiliated chapter, beginning July 1,1997. • Permit voting delegates and proxies to vote on issues • • notice of a Board meeting. Identify the generic rights and privileges of membership in GCSAA. Provide for enforcement of the Board of Directors Code of Ethics. • Require all chapters to execute an affiliation agreement and establish disciplinary procedures for violations of the affiliation agreement and code of ethics. • Modify the procedures to be followed in amending the relating directly to the modification of annual dues. This change would also require an amendment to the articles of incorporation. Voting on the proposed changes will take place on Febru­ ary 10, 1996, during GCSAA’s International Golf Course Conference and Show to be held in Orlando, Florida. A two- thirds majority vote is required for adoption. Members of the Standards/Bylaws Committee are: Chair­ man Joseph G. Baidy, CGCS, Acacia Country Club, Lyndhurst, Ohio; William Neal Baker, CGCS, Riviera Country Club, Pacific Palisades, California; Charles H. Cross Jr., The Meadowbrook Club, Jericho, New York; B. Russell Dooge, CGCS, Grand Waikapu Resport, Golf & Spa, Inc., Wailuku, Hawaii; Michael Kurt Fabrizio, CGCS, Sapphire Lakes Coun­ try Club, Sapphire, North Carolina; Paul E. Mechling, CGCS, Toledo, Ohio; Robert V. Mitchell, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, West Virgnia; and Kenneth A. Sakai, CGCS, Nitto America Company, Los Angeles, California. An artificial anchor for real grass Reprinted from Business Week/October 16, 1995 Ross C. Little has taken an intense interest in the University of Utah’s Running Utes football team this fall. Not in whether they win or lose, but in how the grass beneath their feet holds up. Utah’s Rice Stadium is the most challenging and conspicu­ ous venue yet for a new kind of turf made by Little ’ s company, SportGrass Inc. of McLean, Virginia. SportGrass is real grass planted on a synthetic base. The base is a woven fabric with polypropylene blades sticking up, as in a sparse shag carpet. Sand is poured over this to the tops of the blades, and then natural grass is planted on top. The base protects and anchors the vulnerable “crowns” of the grass, where the blades meet the roots. The aim is to lessen the wear on natural grass, which players say produces fewer injuries than artificial turf. The result? “So far, so good,” Utah Grounds Department Supervisor Susan Pope said after the Running Utes’ first three home games. The natural grass was sheared off in some places, she says, but there weren’t any divots or tom-up areas that are hard to restore. New grass quickly took hold, she says, thanks to the protection of the artificial base. Little hopes many more stadiums, golf courses and other grassy spots will use SportGrass if it survives Utah’s full season in good shape. In memoriam On December 11, 1995, one day before his 85th birthday, James (Leo) Cleary died at his home in Whiting, New Jersey. Leo was well-known, well-liked and a true supporter of the golf course superintendent and the turfgrass industry. Leo came to work for his older brother, William Cleary, founder of the W. A. Cleary Chemical Corporation, in 1950 as a salesman. Leo’s territory covered the whole United States, and during his tenure with W.A. Cleary Chemical he made many friends nationwide. It was through Leo’s efforts that the New Jersey Turfgrass Association was founded on January 27, 1970. He served as chairman in 1970 and president in 1971. Leo was honored by being inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 1977. Leo is survived by his wife, Grace, and three children. Ecological restoration: Its success all depends By Nancy P. Sadlon, President Sadlon Environmental - Golf Division & Colleen Sundholm, Associate of Sadlon Environmental You’ve made a commitment to be a part of the conserva­ tion initiative of the golf industry. Congratulations! You’ve put up a nest box and had some success, the out of play area behind the 8th hole has been left UN-mown, and you have chosen to plant three native plant species as part of the club’s beautification program. You’re working with an IPM program from tee to green and you reduced your water use. You’ve been recognized by the ACSP for your efforts, but, the natural area is not looking as good as you had hoped and expected. The native plants are losing a competitive battle with the vines that seem to love their location. You wonder if there isn’t more you should do or if you should be implementing specific management strategies for these natural areas. The answer is yes. But the specifics of what you should do all depends. Leaving areas unmanaged essentially allows natural suc­ cession to occur. It has been a long-time false perception that the natural succession process is a linear process which results in a predictable aesthetically pleasing environment. Contrary to this belief, there are selective physical and biological factors which change the rate and species composition of succession. These include soils, nutrient availability, light and competition from ornamental and non-native species. It is only with detailed knowledge of the ecology and function of a community (both the existing community and the community desired) can we begin to make decisions on appropriate management. Ecological restoration in the purest sense must be guided to a specific end. Restoration of native communities does not come easily Continued on page 14 Hardgoods - 201-473-3393 Nursery - 201-473-2749 Fax - 201-473-4402 To Keep Your Turf Free from Disease & Insects TERRE Co has the Turf& Grass Seed Fertilizers Insecticides Nursery Stock Fungicides Herbicides Mulches Tools Stone Soif Ties Ornamental products that perform 206 Delawanna Ave Clifton NJ 07014 Ecological restoration Continued from page 13 and, unfortunately, there is no cookbook recipe for success. Maximizing the potential of any site requires a detailed look at the physical characteristics of the site. Some critical decisions must be made regarding the desired community structure that will produce an aesthetically pleasing and habitat rich environ­ ment. A strong knowledge of the elements of the ecosystem, its functions and interactions are critical to success. In other words: Letting nature take its course is not enough! ” The Society for Ecological Restoration defines ecological restoration as “the process of intentionally altering a site to produce a specified historic ecosystem. The intent of the work is to emulate the natural structure, function, diversity, and dynamics of a defined, indigenous ecological system. ” 1 The Department of Landscape Architecture at Rutgers University is currently doing research regarding variations in old field succession. This research experiment has evaluated the effects of three resource interventions including 1 ) soil acidifi­ cation with elemental sulfur intended to lower nutrient avail­ ability, 2) germination site reduction by bark mulching, and 3) RANSOMES 300 THE MOST PRODUCTIVE FAIRWAY MOWER FEATURES: 116" cutting width 5 floating heads 7 mph cutting speed 4 wheel drive 38 hp Kubota diesel EIGHT ACRES PER HOUR Double Eagle EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC. 285 Dayton-Jamesburg Road Dayton, New Jersey 08810 • (908) 329-9292 lowering light levels with shade cloth structures. Information gathered from this research is valuable to the success of future restoration efforts. As noted in the abstract: “Thisproject demonstrates that very distinct communities can be established in early succession. Landscape restoration and meadow establishment studies may begin to manipulate starting conditions for plant establishment to enhance the success of management strategies. ”1 There has been much written about the opportunities that exist on golf courses to preserve native habitats for wildlife and plant life preservation. The golf industry has stressed the importance of taking part in such an initiative for its value in reinforcing a positive image of the golf course environment. To truly make a contribution to preservation of native communi­ ties, golf courses must be willing to do more than just stop mowing areas of the course and planting a few native species. The golf industry has a tremendous opportunity to make a significant contribution to the knowledge base of restoration ecology by investing some of its resources into the detailed evaluation of native habitats of importance to the site and the region within which it is located, followed by implementation of appropriate management strategies recommended by restora­ tion experts, and lastly the documentation of the success and failure of various management programs aimed at achieving specific restoration goals. If you would like assistance in this regard and would like to further your commitment to the preservation of quality native communities please contact my office. Sadlon Environmental would like to help you in your restoration initiative. For more information contact us at (908) 687-8808. 1 “Wetlands Restoration in the Mitigation Context”Restoration and Management Notes - Vol. 9 No. 2 Winter 1991. 2 Hartman et al. “Design + Values: Variations in Old Field Succession” Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture Conference Proceedings CELA 1992. Vol. IV. RALPH McGILLAN Excavating Contractor Specializing in Lakes & Ponds Over 30 years experience in building new ponds, enlarging & redesigning existing ponds. Can get all DEP permits (609) 655-2281 74 Petty Road, Cranbury, NJ Introducing New Daconil Weather Stile™ Fungicide. It Outsticks The Flowable Competition For Top Disease Control. High magnification microscopy shows it. And laboratory wash-off studies, too. New Daconil Weather Stik fungicide sticks and stays like the competition can't. So when other fungicides might wash away you can continue to count on Daconil Weather Stik for control of major turf diseases on both warm and cool season grasses. That includes Brown patch, Leaf spot, Melting out, Dollar spot, Anthracnose, Rust, Red thread, and Snow mold. Plus control of most ornamentals plant diseases and algal scum, too. In addition, Daconil Weather Stik can be tank-mixed with a wide range of turf and ornamentals fungicides, so you can also count on it for broad-spectrum support of your systemics, as well as disease resis­ tance management. Remember, there's never been a documented case of disease resistance to a Daconil brand fungicide in over 25 years. And Daconil Weather Stik is more con­ centrated than prior formulations, so you'll have fewer jugs to get rid of, too. Which simply says from better protection to easier disposal, Daconil Weather Stik is the right flowable choice for you. ISK Biosciences Corporation, Turf & Specialty Products, 1523 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 250, Marietta, GA 30062. ISK BIOSCIENCES' Always follow label directions carefully when using turf and ornamentals plant protection products. ™ Trademark of ISK Biosciences Corporation. MARKS THE SPOT By Ed Walsh As I write this column, we’re in the second United States government shut-down in the last month because the Democrats and Republicans can’t get together on a budget. Now, on the surface, that seems to be stat because, as we all know, the two parties very rarely ever agree on anything. The funny thing is just what happens when the government does, in fact, close down. If you’ve been following this comedy of errors you’ll notice that when they can’t agree on spending and do close things down, they tell all employees to stay home. In other words nobody comes to work. You would think that’s the prudent thing to do but did you notice that when they come back to work, everybody gets paid for the time they missed during the shut-down. I looked at this situation from a number of angles and still wasn’t certain that I was seeing what I was seeing, so I decided to ask my staff at ECCC what they thought. Not one person could understand it either, but, not surprisingly, they all liked the idea and asked if it would be considered when a budget impasse was reached at the club. Still being confused, I calledW ayne Remo (Rock Spring), Greg Vadala (Montclair G.C.) and Joe Ciccone (Francis Byrne G.C.) to ask their opinions. Wayne hung up on me without even an answer, Greg didn’t respond at all and Joe just laughed. I sort of figured Wayne and Greg thought I was nuts and my question didn’t deserve a response, but Joe did give me his opinion when he finished laughing. Now realize that Francis Byrne Golf Club is owned and us qoupoe rated by Essex County, so Joe knows a thing or two about government operations. He tried desperately to explain why government works the way it does and even gave some legitimate examples, none of which I could understand. Well, I am certainly no closer to an answer on why our government does what it does now than when I started this exercise, but it did provide some value. I’ll be rooming with Malikowski in Orlando at the GCSAA golf tournament, and I usually can’t figure out why he says and does some of the things he does either. Maybe this year will be a little less confusing than usual. am P.O. BOX 680 ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY 07712 IN NJ (908) 774-4882 FAX (908)775-3288 OUTSIDE NJ (800) 242-7374 TEE TO GREEN ACCESSORIES, MAINTENCE & SAFETY ITEMS! YOUR NEW JERSEY MANUFACTURER WITH ONE STOP SHOPPING. FOR CATALOG AND PRICING INFORMATION CALL 800-242-7374 What Can The Reelmaster 5100-D Do That No Other Mower Can? Ask It Yourself. All mowers make noise. The Through the ClipACE™ 5100-D holds conversations. It tells function the 5100-D talks to itself and you where problems are. It even talks to itself with a brain called ACE™ (Automated Control Electronics) that keeps the 5100-D working instead of being worked on. automatically adjusts reel speed according to forward speed. This gives you a higher quality of cut over a wider variety of turf conditions without With the ACE hand-held lifting a finger. diagnostic tool the 5100-D The 5100-D tells you the status of is built so well, over 40 major electrical you’ll seldom need ACE. But on the components. And the rare occasion you do, you’ll be ACE Data Log™ lets you pinpoint glad it’s there. We’ll bring one over. intermittent problems without Then the three of running back and forth to the shop. us can talk. Storr Tractor Company 3191 Highway 22, Somerville, N.J. 08876 908-722-9830 Celebrating Our 50th Year of Service to the Turf Industry, 1945-1995 TORO and Reelmaster are registered trademarks and ACE, Data Log and ClipACE are trademarks of The Toro Company. © 1993 The Toro Company. No. 94-240-T. Sixth Annual Turfgrass Graduation ceremonies This year’s awards and scholarship banquet was held at the Douglass Student Center in New Brunswick, NJ and was attended by over 200. This is a real testimony to the strength of the turfgrass interest in the state. Dr. Richa rd Caton, executive director of the New Jersey Turfgrass Asso­ ciation was the master of ceremonies for the evening. Ned Lipman and Steve Langlois presented the Rutgers certificates to the 1995 classes. At the banquet, Dr. Richard Hurley (Lofts Seed) distributed $30,000 in scholarships and grants to stu­ dents and Rutgers researchers. Four students were presented with scholarships by Tho­ mas Ritchie, president of the Rutgers Turfgrass Alumni Asso­ ciation. The Distinguished Alumni Award was presented to Dr. Lou Vasvary. Dr. Bruce Clarke announced two new members of the Rutgers turf team: Dr. James White (endophyte identification specialist) and Dr. Michael Richardson (turfgrass physiology and ecology). Since 1923 Geo. Schofield Co., Inc. P O. BOX 110, BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY 08805 • Bunker Sands • Construction Gravels • Construction Sands/Blends • Cart Path Materials • Topdressings • Landscape Materials • SUPRGRO Construction Blends and Topsoil Customized blends available with our new mobile blending equipment. ★ U.S.G.A. specification products. ★ (908) 356-0858 CALENDAR Continued from page 3 February 27-28 Advanced Turf Manage­ February 28 February 28 March 7 March 7-8 ment Symposium: Current Concepts in Turfgrass Disease Management. Cook College Office of Continuing Education. Contact: 908-932-9271. GCSAA Regional Seminar: Maximizing Turfgrass Disease Control, Suffern, NJ. Contact: GCSAA Fax 913-832-4420; Phone 800-472-7878. New Jersey Landscape ‘96. Meadowlands Convention Center. Contact: Skip Powers 201-664-6310. GCSAA Regional Seminar: Reel Mowers and Grinding Methods, Farmington, CT. Contact: GCSAA Fax 913-832-4420; Phone 800-472-7878. GCSAA Regional Seminar: Basic Turfgrass Botany & Physiology, Farmington, CT. Contact: GCSAA Fax 913-832-4420; Phone 800-472-7878. JOSEPH M. MERCADANTE, Inc. PAVING, EXCAVATING Millburn, NJ 201-467-8622 DRAINAGE SYSTEMS • TEE BUILDING • GRADING Cross-fire format to be featured in GCSAA Environmental General Session Leaders from the world of golf, representatives of envi­ ronmental activist groups and governmental agency officials will offer solutions to environmental chal­ lenges during the Golf Course Superintendents Associatio services, Florida Department of Agriculture and Con­ sumer Services • William “Tim” Hiers, CGCS, Collier’s Reserve Country n of Club in Naples, Florida • Tom Hoogheem, field environmental operations director, America’s (GCSAA) Environmental General Session. Arthur R. Miller, Harvard law professor and legal editor of ABC TV’s “Good Morning America,” will act as moderator of the session, which will take place February 8,1996, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Building on a scenario presented by Miller, panelists will explore one of the golf industry’s most critical issues: golf courses and the environment. Miller’s signature “Socratic dialogue” format, used on his public television programs, will stimulate the discussion. Because of the diversity of the participants, the unrehearsed debate will feature a variety of viewpoints. Scheduled to take part are: • Rich Budell, assistant director, division of environmental Monsanto Co. in St. Louis, Missouri • Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., Hurdzan Golf Course Design in Columbus, Ohio • Todd Miller, executive director, North Carolina Coastal • • Federation Pam Porter, executive director, Wisconsin Environmental Decade Frank Rossi, Ph.D., assistant professor, environmental management of turfgrass, Department of Horticulture, University of Wisconsin-Madison • Curt Spalding, executive director, Save the Bay in Provi­ dence, Rhode Island Continued on page 20 Providence & Dominant Creeping Bentgrass Ryegrass Champion On Course Professional Turf Fertilizer West Coast Affiliate SEED RESEARCH OF OREGON, INC. P.O. BOX 373 DAYTON, NJ 08810 800-522-4769 Committed to providing reliable, dependable service and the best In quality lawn and garden products. For information call Twin Light at 800-522-4769 and ask for Gerald Fountain. New books available from GCSAA highlight history, environmentalism The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) and Sleeping Bear Press, publisher of fine golf books, have teamed up again to offer two new books, each focusing on a different aspect of golf. The fill this elegant volume. Captions include Jones’ own state­ ment as well as those of many of his colleagues. Elements of Jones’ private life, including outings with friends and family, iarslst o are featured. The Detroit News says “Life and Times of Bobby Jones,” f takes a look back at the life and accomplishments of one of the game’s most versatile players, while the second illustrates golf courses as positive environmental assets for the future. “Life and Times of Bobby Jones—A Portrait of a Gentle­ man” by Sidney L. Matthew, chronicles the remarkable expe­ riences of the man who at age 28, won golfs Grand Slam and then went on to help design and build one of the most renowned courses in the United States—Augusta National. Along the way, Robert Tyre (Bobby) Jones Jr. made films in Hollywood, designed and produced golf clubs for Spalding, served as an officer in World War II, and established the world’s best golf tournament for the spectator and player alike. Hundreds of photographs, many never before published, is “The golf book of the year, if not the decade.” The second new book, “A View from the Rough,” features distinctive images by Mike Klemme, considered by many to be the best golf landscape photographer in the business today. Klemme is known as the photographer for Abraham’s “Grand Slam Golf’ and “Golf Resorts of the World.” In “A View from the Rough,” Klemme’s photos capture elk, deer, eagles and other wildlife thriving on some of golfs top courses. The photos are enhanced by captions and state­ ments from individuals in the golf world as well as in the environmental community. In a recent Golf Course Management magazine article about this book, Klemme writes, “The evidence, it seems to me, is clear. Golf is good for the environment—and I have the photographs to prove it. You can see for yourself in my new book, ‘A View from the Rough.’ ” The “Life and Times of Bobby Jones” and “A View from the Rough” are both available from the GCSAA Bookstore. Orders can be placed by calling (800) 97GCSAA. Authors of both books will be participating in book signings at GCSAA’s 67th International Golf Course Confer­ ence and Show to be held in February at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. GCSAA Environmental General Session Continued front page 19 The Environmental General Session will begin at 5:30 p.m, Thursday, February 8, with the presentation of GCSAA’s prestigious Environmental Steward Awards and the announce­ ment of the association’s new environmental programs and initiatives. This session, one of many featured at GCSAA’s 67th International Golf Course Conference and Show being held February 5-11, will be presented in the evening so as to not interfere with other conference and show events. Helping make the event possible are GCSAA partners Ciba Turf & Ornamental Products, Jacobsen Division of Textron, Lebanon Turf Products and Rain Bird. PARTAC TOP-DRESSING GOLF COURSE AMERICA'S PREMIUM TOP-DRESSING HEAT TREATED AVAILABLE IN BULK OR BAGS PLUS GREEN & TEE CONSTRUCTION MIXES, WHITE TRAP SANDS, CART PATH & DIVOT REPAIR MIXES AND MUCH MORE! DISTRIBUTED ZN N.l. BY: FARM & GOLF COURSE SUPPLY 610/483-5000 GRASS ROOTS TURF PRODUCTS 201/361-5943 FISHER & SON COMPANY 610/644-3300 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION 201/263- 1234 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, NEW JERSEY 07838 908-637-4191 By Dr. Bob Cruising the interstate Well it’s really not officially the “Interstate Highway System.” The government knows this vast net­ work of 54,726 bridges, more than 15,000 inter­ changes and 45,530 miles of concrete as the “D w ight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways.” I figure the defense comes from traffic congestion. No nation could invade the northeast corridor because the traffic volume would slow it down to a crawl. The highway system has done much for the economy, but it has done an awful lot for the golf industry, and this should not go unnoticed. This highway system has changed totally the way Ameri­ cans live, work and play since it was first built some 40 years ago. In total, the system consumed land the size of Delaware and soil about two and one-half feet deep across the entire state of Connecticut. When it first began, there were few if any elaborate environmental impact assessments. Today making minor improvements takes years of planning and millions of dollars. The system changed our way of living because it permitted us to live further and further from the urban centers which were once home and workplace for a majority of Americans. Today, we “commute.” Displace­ ment into the suburban • area brought the urbanites into contact with nature on a more regular basis and opened the potential for lo­ cal golf courses and parks as recreation centers. If you lived and worked in Brooklyn, golf would be an unlikely hobby. Living and working in subur­ ban New Jersey, it is available and accessible. The interstate system also made it possible for vacationers to travel further and further in the same time and in much greater safety and convenience. This has facilitated the great Continued on page 22 IF YOU WERE A TREE . . . WHO WOULD YOU TRUST? Over 70 Years of Excellence in Tree Care Golf Course Programs Better Than PAR OUR GOAL IS TO PRESERVE YOUR TREES! ALPINE the CARE of TREES (201) 445-4949 Back Nine ARE YOU DRINKING YOUR COFFEE BLACK? New Jersey is known both as “The Garden State” as well as the most urban state in the nation. The ups and downs of the farm produce industry over the past five years were recently reported. Down in actual dollars and, therefore, much greater impact if you consider inflation, are greenhouse/ nursery products from $254 million in 1989 to $235 million in 1994. This crop leads the state. The next in line is horses with a value staying about flat around $91 million for 1994. Dairy animals come in next with cash re­ Sterilized Top Dressing 1-800-899-S0IL (7645) FAX (301 )335-0164 Our top dressing is formulated especially for your area to specifications recommended by leading universities and testing laboratories. EXCLUSIVE! All materials are thoroughly mixed and sterilized by indirect heat in our special process. The sand particles are actually coated with a mixture of top soil and peat humus for a completely homogenous mixture that will not separate during handling and spreading. Computerized blending of soil mixtures for a superior growing medium. Green and tee construction materials and mixes conforming to specifications are available. Custom on-site soil blending and testing with a portable computerized blender to meet your speci­ fications are available. ceipts totaling $46 million for 1994 down from $51 million in 1989. More of us must be drinking our coffee black? GOLFING ON A DUMP SITE? Not inNew Jersey. California leads the nation in the landfill sited golf courses with 11 already operational. “The Greenerside’s” favorite is “Industry Hills” located at Industry, California. Florida comes in second with five courses including “Mangrove Bay GC” in St. Petersburg. Only seven other states use dump sites for golf courses with one or two in each state. 1995 NEW COURSES IN NEW JERSEY The magazine Golf Market Today recorded two courses built or under construction in New Jersey for 1995. These included Ramsey Country Club, Ramsey, a private course that is adding nine holes to create an 18-hole course, and White Oak CC in Franklin Township. It will be a daily fee 18-hole course. WHAT WILL THE NEXT CENTURY BRING? Here are some statistics that compare life in 1900 with today. The impact of modem health practices and low cost food is clear. Life expectancy was 47.3 years in 1900 versus 76.3 years today. No wonder social security was originally set to pay off at age 65. Only a few were expected to collect! Infant mortality was 100/million live births versus 8.7/million today. Average com yield was 26 bushels per acre versus 135 bushels today. And hold on to your wallets: the Gross National Product of the US in 1900 was 18.5 billion dollars in today’s dollars versus 6.7 trillion dollars today. What’s your guess for the year 2100? Cruising the interstate Continued from page 21 migration of snowbirds that move each winter from the crisp air of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania down 1-95 to the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida. Once warmed again, these snowbirds are ready for a round or two of golf. Come the spring, they migrate in reverse and come back home with their clubs. So as 1996 progresses, give some thought on how the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways has expanded the opportunity for golf not just here in New Jersey, but throughout the land. President Eisenhower was an avid golfer, and, maybe, just maybe, he had something else on his mind when he pushed so hard to get the new highways built. PATRON DIRECTORY AGR-EVO USA CO. Manufacturer of Fine Turf Chemicals Shaun M. Barry (908) 846-8173 AGRO-TECH 2000, INC. Ax is/B reak-Th ru/B iosafe Peter Van Drumpt - Chris Des Garennes Rich Brandel, (800) 270-TURF ALPINE, THE CARE OF TREES Complete tree care Michael Cook; (201) 445-4949 AQUA-FLO, INC. Irrigation Equip. Distrib. Phil DeMarco - Jerry Purcell (609)561-1777 AQUATROLS CORP. OF AMERICA Manufacturer of Water Management Products. Andy Moore - Phil O'Brien (800) 257-7797 ATLANTIC MILLS INC. Tee Accessories, Towels, Detergent Peter Reitmeyer-Jack Brady - Laura Gammel (908) 774-4882 JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. Irrigation Consulting & Design Jim Barrett; (201) 744-8237 BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS Topdressing, Bunker Sand, Construction Mix Gene Evans; (717) 443-9596 BRUEDAN CORP. Golf Cars Peter Siegel - Michael Gesmundo (800)535-1500 • BAREN BRUG USA/GARFIELD WILLIAMSON DIVISION Turfgrass Seed Supplier John Farrell, Scott Mearkle (201)209-0088 ALAN G. CRUSE INC. Golf Course Materials Alan Cruse - Jim Cruse; (201) 227-7183 DE BUCK'S SOD FARM Growers & suppliers of golf quality turfgrass sod Leonard M. DeBuck; (914) 258-4131 DOUBLE EAGLE EQUIPMENT CO., INC. Professional Turf Equipment Clyde Ashton - Jerry Pearlman (908) 329-9292 E/T EQUIPMENT COMPANY John Deere, "Distributors of Quality Turf Equipment" Bernie White Tom Fallacaro; (914) 271-6126 EARTH WORKS, INC. The Soil Restoration Specialists Patrick Lucas, CGCS - Erik Zars (800) 815-1113; (203) 698-0030 EGYPT FARMS, INC. Greens Topdressing, Tee Divot Mix, Construction Mixes, Aqua Aid Wetting Agents, Bunker Sands, Shaws Fertlizers Gary Ackerson - Dean Snyder - Ray Bowman; (410) 335-3700; (800) 899- 7645 Fax (410)335-0164 FERTL-SOIL TURF SUPPLY, INC. Suppliers of Golf Course Supplies, Top Dressings, and Construction Soil Marty Futyma - Cathy Futyma (908) 322-6132; Fax (908) 322-6332 FINCH TURF EQUIPMENT INC. & John DEERE ALLIED PRODUCT Sam Baird - Ray Finch - Michael McLaughlin (800) 875-8873; FAX (215) 721-2833 FISHER & SON CO., INC. Turf & Horticultural Supplies Alan Phillips; (609) 478-6704 FLANAGAN'S LANDSCAPE-IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR, INC. Building Greens, Tees & Irrigation Robert J. Flanagan, Sr. - Roger P. Flanagan, Jr. - Christine Flanagan (908) 469-7782 GOLF CARS, INC. Club Car Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles, Sales, Service, Leasing Jon F. Schneider, Genl. Mgr. - John A. Czerwinski, Sales - Linda A Szymanski, Sales Manager (215) 340-0880; FAX (215) 340-1634 GRASS ROOTS, INC. Golf Course Supplies Ken Kubik - Jay McKenna - Keith Kubik (201)361-5943 REES JONES, INC. Golf Course Design Rees Jones; (201)744-4031 STEPHEN KAY, GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS Renovation, Master Planning, New Course Design Stephen Kay - Ron Turek - Doug Smith (914) 699-4437; FAX (914) 699-4479 KOONZ SPRINKLER SUPPLY INC. Distributors Turf Irrigation William F. Koonz, Jr. (201)379-9314 LEBANON TURF PRODUCTS Fertilizer Manufacturer-Grass Seed John Wiblishawer - Chris Zelley Alan Kulibaba (800) 233-0628; NJ (215) 639-1334 LESCO, INC. Manufacturer & distributor of green Industry products Greg Moran - Lance Seeton (800)321-5325 LEON'S SOD FARMS Sod Grower Samuel Leon; (908) 996-2255 LOFTS SEED INC. Grass Seed Company John Morrissey - Dr. Richard Hurley - Mary Beth Ruh; (800) 526-3890 LONGO INDUSTRIES Electric Motor/Pump Repair/Sales Bob Tai - Bob Clader (201)539-4141 RALPH MCGILLAN EXCAVATING Lakes & Ponds Ralph McGillan; (609) 655-2281 JOSEPH M. MERCADANTE, INC. Paving, Excavating, Cart Paths, Tee and Trap Construction, Golf Course Construction Joseph Mercadante - Robert Mercadante (201) 467-8622; FAX (201) 467-8419 METRO MILORGANITE, INC. Turfgrass Supplies Rick Apgar - Scott Apgar - Joe Stahl (914) 666-3171; FAX (914) 666-9183 MONTCO/SURF-SIDF/ZAP! Wetting Agents & Zap! Defoamer Bob Oechsle; (800) 401 -0411 (215) 836-4992; Fax (215) 836-2418 • MUNTHERS SPRAYING SERVICE INC. Complete Golf Course Turf Spraying Larry Munther; (201) 540-9764 NATIONAL SEED COMPANY Lawn & Specialty Seeds Ken Griepentrog - Sky Bergen - Barry Van Sant; (800) 828-5856 P & P EXCAVATING INC. Excavating, Ponds & Lakes Bob Laner (201) 227-2030; (201) 227-2819 PART AC PEAT CORPORATION Top-Dressing & Construction Mixes, Golf Hole Targets, Turf Blankets & More Jim Kelsey; (908) 637-4191 PAVALEC BROS. GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. Golf Course Construction Anthony Pavelec; (201) 667-1643 PENNINK ARRMOUR INC. Golf Course Restoration & Construction Tom Ristau;(215) 659-6411 Fax; (215) 659-9317 • RHONE-POULENC/CHIPCO Turfgrass Chemical Manufacturer Greg Hutch; (908) 929-4657 PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. Manufacturer of Fluid Fertilizers Ted Platz - Anthony "Rip* Rippel (609) 448-0935; (800) 562-1291 FAX (609) 443-8038 PRO-LAWN PRODUCTS INC. Professional Turf Seed, Fertilizer & Chemicals Craig Lambert; (201) 663-3368 Ingrid Kern; (215) 750-1732 Brad Simpkins; (609) 758-7620 GEO. SCHOFIELD CO., INC. Golf Course Materials, Topdress, Rootzone Bunker Sand, Gravel & Landscape Materials. Kevin Schofield Robert Carson - Thomas Casmer (908) 356-0858 RIGGI PAVING INC. Asphalt Paving & Concrete Contractors Frank S. Riggi, Sr. - Frank S. Riggi (201)943-3913 SEACOAST LABORATORIES/TWIN LIGHT FERTILIZER & SEED COMPANY Fertilizers, Grass Seed Gerald Fountain, Richard Baker; (908)438-1300 THE SCOTTS COMPANY - PROTURF DI V. Turf Fertilizers, Growth Regulators, Seed & Protectants; Fran Berdine, (914) 361-4105 Steve Rudich, (610) 253-4003, Jim George, (800) 543-0006 SHEARON ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN Golf Course Design and Construction Chip Kern (609) 466-0666; (215) 828-5488 STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Turf Equipment, Irrigation, Environmental Products & Service Phil Scott, Paul Granger, Dr. Karen Plumley; (908) 722-9830 WILLIAM STOTHOFF CO. INC. Well Drilling & Pump Repairs David C. Stothoff - William E. Snyder (908) 782-2717 STULL ENTERPRISES T/A STULL EQUIPMENT COMPANY Industrial Turf Equipment John Barrow - Charles V. McGill, Jr. (610) 495-7441 SWEENEY SEED COMPANY Turfgrass Seed Jeffrey Shockley - Andrew Sweeney (215)275-2710 TEE AND GREEN SOD INC. Sod Supply and Installation. Owen Regan - David Wallace (401)789-8177 THE TERRE CO. OF N.J., INC. Golf Course Supplies Brian Feury - Byron Johnson (201)473-3393 TURF PRODUCTS CORP. Golf Course Supplier Buddy Rizzio - Ron Lake - Jim Dempsey (201)263-1234 WA CLEARY CHEMICAL CORP Turf & Horticulture Chemicals Bryan Bolehala - Mike Bandy (908) 329-8399 WILFRED MCDONALD, INC. Turf Equipment Specialists Dennis DeSanctis- BlairQuin - Mike Pelrine (201)804-1000 STEVEN WILLAND INC. Turf Equipment Distributor Mark Ericson - Bruce Pye - Bill Rapp (201)579-5656 • New Patrons for 1996 What do the superintendents of these prestigious golf courses have in common? They use the services of... KOONZ SPRINKLER SUPPLY and SERVICE EXCELLENCE • Complete inventory • Service assistance and technical support • 30 years of service to the golf industry QUALITY PRODUCT LINES Distributors of: • Nightscaping • NDS Drainage Products • ADS Drainage Products Keeping the golf world greener.™ CONTROLLED AIRSTREAMS GAS & ELECTRIC FANS PORTABLE, PERMANENT, OSCILLATING Superior Aquatic Management Systems MASTER DISTRIBUTOR Fertigation Solutions To Grow On KOONZ Sprinkler Supply, Inc. Golf Division • 201-379-9314 39 Waverly Avenue, P.O. Box 55, Springfield, NJ 07081 • 201-379-9314 Fax 201-379-6504 2479 Yellow Springs Road, P.O. Box 433, Devault, PA 19432 • 610-647-1604 For sales information in Northern New Jersey/Southern New York State please call Bill Koonz, Jr. or for Southern New Jersey/Eastern Pennsylvania sales please call Robb Werley