Greenerside Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey May - June 1998 • Volume 21 Number 3 by Mary Thurn, Egypt Farms Questions about topdressing? The concept of topdressing is What is topdressing? In the con­ text of golf course green management, topdressing is the practice of spread­ ing a thin layer of sand or sand mix on the surface of a green. nothing new. It likely origi­ nated in the 1700s when grow­ ers applied compost to their gardens resulting in improved soil tilth and fer­ tility. In the early part of this century, golf course superintendents concocted their own mixes from locally available sources. More recently, topdressing has become as much a standard prac­ tice on high maintenance turf as fer­ tilization. In this issue Editorial............................................2 President's Message.........................3 GCSANJ News................................... 5 Lofts Seed awards record number of academic scholarships at Rutgers.... 14 New members welcomed................14 Cadence...........................................15 Fungicide injection technology.......17 Roth IRA brings new tax breaks.......18 Safe warning....................................19 Grass roots political action needed.. 21 Environmentally sensitive trufgrass management extension.................. 24 New Jersey State Golf Association launches web site.............................26 lying material. Ideally, topdressing should have a particle size distribution similar to the existing successful green. Newly constructed greens should be topdressed with similar mix used for construction. If the aim is to improve In the early part of this century golf course superintendents concocted their own mixes from locally available sources. the surface soil physical properties in a problem green, remember that the success of such a program will only be as good as the sand selected to topdress with. The sand should be uni­ form in particle size with most of the sand particles falling into the medium and coarse size fractions. Research has consistently shown that the coarse and medium size fractions are best for op­ timum physical properties in growing media. When the purpose is to improve the surface profile in a problem green, consider the following specification: Continued on page 4 Why topdress? The benefits of a well-managed topdressing program are many. However, the three main reasons for topdressing are: Thatch management. Topdressing • helps prevent the formation of a physi­ cal separation between the soil and the turf plants. Introducing a topdressing material into the thatch layer improves the microbial environment, which helps maintain an optimum balance between plant growth and decomposi­ tion. Smooth the putting surface. • Greens are kept smooth and fast with frequent light topdressings. • Modify surface soil characteris­ tics. Over time, proper topdressing ap­ plications can improve the physical properties in the surface profile to pro­ vide a better environment for turfgrass roots. Which topdressing? In order to select an appropriate topdressing, the superintendent must first determine the goals of a topdressing program. If the primary goals are to manage thatch and smooth out irregularities in grade, AND if the green is performing well, the area should be topdressed with a sand or soil very similar to the under­ GCSANJ Newsletter is published six times a year by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Editorial by Ken Krausz, CGCS Ken Krausz, Editor Newsletter Business Staff Ken Krausz, CGCS 201 599-8301 • FAX 201 447-0301 Contributing Writers Douglas Vogel, Brian M. Remo, Edward Walsh, CGCS, Shaun Barry Steven Malikowski, CGCS Please address inquiries to: Editor, The Greenerside 125 Crain Road, Paramus, NJ 07652 For Ad Placement: Judy Policastro (973) 379-1100 Art and Typography by Trend Multimedia 732-787-0786 • FAX 732-787-7212 Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey 66 Morris Ave., Suite 2A Springfield, New Jersey 07081 973-379-1100 • FAX 973-379-6507 Officers: Glenn Miller, President Ken Krausz, CGCS, Vice President Mike Mongon, Secretary Ed Mellor, Treasurer Paul Powondra, Past President Directors: District 1 John O'Keefe, CGCS Gary Arlio District 2 Vincent Bracken Patrick Campbell, CGCS District 3 Edward L. Mellor Ronald W. Luepke District 4 Gregg Armbruster John Carpinelli, CGCS Chapter GCSAA Delegate James C. McNally, CGCS Executive Secretary Judy Policastro Commercial Representatives Steve Chirip Shaun Barry © 1998 THE GREENERSIDE Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily express the opinions or policies of the GCSANJ Board and its membership. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Printed on recycled paper Keeping track of time It has been one of those weeks. You know the type; the kind of week that every time you turn around either someone needs your attention or something has gone wrong. It is one of those weeks that when you look back you wonder why almost nothing you have planned to do was com­ pleted. Your goals for that week were not met, yet you feel drained. This is the type of week that I have to look back on and find out why goals were not met. This is the time that I appreciate the value of my Daily Log Sheets. That title is not quite accu­ rate, I should change the title sim­ ply to Time Sheets (although doing that type of thing is the reason I don’t seem to get my goals met); maybe I’ll include that as one of my goals for next week. When I look back at all I have written down on my Daily Log Sheets I realize that a lot has been done this week and I feel a little better. A simple form that lists almost everything I do helps me to accomplish many things, most of all, keep organized. Many times I have had to go back to those sheets to verify dates I made phone calls, ordered items or put out fires (real fires or just the ordinary problems that occur). Noting the CALL BEFORE YOU DIG file number saved me big one time. It seems that if you hit a buried utility (in my case electric line) you receive a notice of violation and a bill for repair work months after the incident (in my case nine months later). It took me a while to find the Daily Log Sheets for the time in ques­ tion, but at the end our attorney was able to send a nice letter laying out all the facts including names of utility people I spoke to and times of those conversations. I have not heard any more about this incident; it may take another nine months but at least I document everything. Those sheets saved a lot of explaining and money that day. It feels good to vent my frustrations, writing this editorial is one of the goals that have been pushed back a little but now it is done and I feel better. Better because it is finished and better because it reminds me of how much I get done even when it does not seem like it. The season is starting and things are really beginning to grow. I have a greens committee meeting tonight so I better take a look at this past months Daily Log Sheets so I can report on all that has been done in the past month. I hope to see you soon, and if you use some kind of time sheet or diary I hope you will be able to note in it that you sent an article into The Greenerside before June 1, as that is the next deadline. President's Message Changes on the Board of GCSANJ Mellor to fill the position of treasurer, which Mike currently held. Because an election for a new District III director (to replace Ed) has not taken place at the time of this issue of The Greenerside, I will have to inform you of the results in the next issue. accepted the resignations of two fellow Board members. It is with great regret that your Board of Directors has Due to work and personal commitments, Joe Kennedy has regrettably resigned as GCSANJ secretary. Joe has been a dedicated Board member for many years. His in­ put and hard efforts will be missed. As per our By-Laws, any vacancy of an officer of this Association is to be filled by appointment of the president with approval of the Executive Committee. After much con­ sideration and with approval of the Committee, I have ap­ pointed Mike Mongon as the secretary. I have appointed Ed THE HUB OF GOLF CAR ACTIVITY IN THE TRI-STATE AREA PENNA - NEW JERSEY - DELAWARE SALES SERVICE LEASING GOLF CARS, INC. P.O. BOX 247 4180 SKYRON DRIVE BUCKINGHAM, PA 18912-0247 Phone: 215-340-0880 Fax: 215-340-1634 OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTORS FOR; Club Car Golf's Driving Force. CARRYALL DRIVE IT 70 WORK. Doug Larson has resigned as District IV director. He has moved from Riverton C.C. and taken the superintendent’s job at the Manufacturer’s Golf & Country Club in Oreland, Pennsylvania. Doug’s hard work over the past few years were a big asset to the Association. We wish him well and the best of luck. Gregg Armbruster from Medford Lakes C.C. was recently elected as the new District IV director. Calendar May 14 May Monthly Meeting, Spring Lake G.C. Host: Bruce Peeples. 1st round of the Leslie Cup. Low gross, low net and gross skins. Speaker: Dennis Watkins. Contact Judy Policastro, 973-379-1100 June 16 June Monthly Meeting, Royce Brook G.C. (West Course) Host: Joel Jacquemont, CGCS. 2nd round of the Leslie Cup, 4-man team event (you can pick your team or the committee will pick one for you). The two best total net scores from each team will be the team's score. Low gross, low net gross skins. Speaker: Dave Otis. Contact Judy Policastro, 973-379-1100 July 20 July Monthly Meeting, Montammy C.C. Host: Michael Miner. 3rd round of the Leslie Cup. Match play vs par. Low gross, low net, gross skins and a challange match of the GCSANJ and Met Boards (tentative). Contact Judy Policastro, 973-379-1100 August 6 Rutgers Turfgrass Field Day, 12:30 p.m. start. Questions about topdressing? Continued from page 1 Sand Classification Particle Diameter (mm) % Retained Gravel Very Coarse Sand Coarse Sand Medium Sand Fine Sand Very Fine Sand Silt and Clay >2.0 1.0 0.5 0.25 0.10 0.05 <0.05 0 <5% 10 - 30% 40 - 80% <20% <5% <3% Organic amendment? Using a topdressing with an or­ ganic component is a good way to add organic matter to the profile. New sand-based greens built to USGA specifications are, by their very nature, lacking in nutrients. In that case, it’s desirable to continue to add organic matter through topdressing. However, be aware that it is also possible to accumulate too much organic matter in the surface, resulting in a soft green that doesn’t drain well. How often? As a general rule of thumb, topdressing should be applied at least monthly during the growing sea­ son at a rate of 0.25 to 0.5 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet. Infrequent topdressing may result in the formation of alter­ nate layers of thatch and topdressing, a condition that no doubt has a negative effect on water and air movement in the soil. Problems? Improper topdressing techniques include: 1. Switching material. 2. Infrequent applications. 3. Inappropriate material (too fine or too coarse, for example). Any of the above can cause layers of sand to form be­ tween layers of thatch in a profile. Wherever there is an in­ consistency in the profile, water and air movement will be adversely affected. Consistency of material and management are key to avoid problems. Locate a reliable source and stick with it. Core aerification and filling with a good topdressing is good standard practice to disrupt any layers that may be forming. Testing? Most superintendents know the importance of fertility testing to determine levels of essential nutrients. Too often, however, the physical properties of a material are over­ looked. Make sure you know the physical properties of any material being considered as a topdressing. A lot of head­ aches and expense can be avoided by eliminating inferior material at the outset. An accredited soil physical testing lab can assist in determining the suitability of a topdressing. RALPH McGILLAN Excavating Contractor Specializing in Lakes & Ponds Joseph M. Mercadante, Inc. 201-467-8622 GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION Millburn, NJ 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 PAVING • EXCAVATING DRAINAGE SYSTEMS TEE BUILDING • GRADING GCSANJ news GCSANJ SCORES IN ANAHEIM by Shaun Barry At the recent GCSAA Golf Championship, some of our members played well enough to get their names on the leader boards, and some had their names at the top when play ended. Taking first place in the gross competition for the fifth flight was John Wantz, CGCS. His game has returned, and this time on a national level. Winning the sixth flight gross competition was Jeff Wetterling, CGCS, while Chip Kern, CGCS, took net honors in the eighth. Looking a little further into the scores, we find that Wayne Remo, CGCS, and his former assistant, Kevin Neal (and former GCSANJ member), were part of a team that took first place in the Net I division of the four-man two best ball event. Congratulations to each one of these winners, and I’m sure that if the rain hadn’t forced an early end to the tourna­ ment, we would have had more members leading their flights. I guess we can say, “Wait ‘til next year.” The last comment that I will make is that these results sure seem to indicate that you need to be certified to win at this event. Of course, I could be wrong! FAMILIAR FACES AT GCSAA CONFERENCE GCSANJ member and potential superstar Mike Mongon (left) poses with Earl Millett, president of the MET GCSA. Golf Turn-Key Construction Golf Course Construction Inc. 908-429-1400 TEE AND GREEN CONSTRUCTION DRAINAGE . RETAINING WALLS IRRIGATION . PONDS OTTERBINE INSTALLATION MEMBER OF NJ TURF GRASS ASSOC. & GCSANJ May Meeting host Bruce Peeples of Spring Lake G.C. GCSANJ news Steve Malikowski, CGCS (left), and Bob Dickison, CGCS, past president of GCSANJ and past winner of GCSANJ Distinguished Service Award. GCSANJ Board Member from District III, Ed Mellor. LIQUID FERTILIZER GREEN T (50% SRN) is better for you, your turf and the environment! Unlike those fast-release N fertilizers that can leach nitrates and threaten ground- water GREEN-T® (50% SRN) contains a patented, non-burning Triazone™ closed-ring formulation of slow-release nitrogen. It’s a far safer source of low volatile N for rich, lasting green color and reduced environmental risk. For best results, apply one of our N, P, K Complete GREEN-T Formulations. Available From PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. Your Liquid Fertilizer Experts 38 Hightstown-Cranbury Station Road Cranbury, NJ 08512 • 609-448-0935 800-562-1291 • FAX 609-443-8038 RIGGI Paving, INC. Call 201-943-3913 GCSANJ news The legend Pete Pedrazzi, Sr., CGCS (left), and Father of the Year and Somerset Hills finest, Bob Dwyer. (From left) Dennis Shea, Dave Oatis (USGA) and GCSANJ President Glenn Miller are discussing the problems caused by taking care of two golf courses at the same time—especially when they are 1,500 miles apart. (From left) Former GCSANJ Board member Tom Grimac, CGCS, and former GCSANJ Board member and the new superintendent at Manufacturers Golf & C.C., Doug Larson. 1998 candidate for the Board of GCSAA Wayne Remo (left) and his campaign manager and fellow GCSANJ member, Jim McNally. Joe and Anne Vasta JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. DESIGN AND CONSULTING GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION JIM BARRETT PRESIDENT P.O. Box 853 Montclair, NJ 07042 (201) 744-8237 Fax: (201) 744-0457 Premium Bent Grass Sod for Golf Courses Wide Selection Available A Third Generation Farm People you can trust—Quality you can count on 1107 Courses Landing Road Woodstown, NJ 08098 Business Phone/Fax: (609)299-0274 Home Phone: (609)299-3540 GCSANJ news HELP WANTED OBITUARY An Historical Preservation Committee is being formed. Its purpose will be to record the history of our Association and act as a liaison to other groups with similar interest. Every member of the GCSANJ is hereby deemed a member of the committee, and your help is greatly appreciated. If you have any old equipment, photographs, newsletters, literature and other such items that you feel may have historic importance, please call Doug Vogel of the Packanack Golf Club at 973- 696-6495. We are currently negotiating with Ken Kubik who is thinking of donating a circa 1959 greenkeeper to be the cornerstone of our collection. One last important note: Anyone who is currently in­ volved with building a new course, please remember to take lots of photos. Your construction techniques will be valuable history somewhere down the road. Historically yours, Doug Vogel It is with deep regret that The Greenerside has to report the passing of Raymond Korbobo. Mr. Korbobo was an honorary member of GCSANJ. He was 82. Mr. Korbobo was a professor in landscape design at Cook College, Rutgers University. He retired in 1983 and formed his own landscape architecture business, J.A. French Associ­ ates, specializing in the landscaping of golf courses. Anyone who had Mr. Korbobo as a professor enjoyed his presenta­ tions of specimen trees on golf courses. He graduated Rutgers in 1939 with a degree in landscape architecture. He also served in the cavalry during World War II. Surviving are his wife, the former Jeanne French; a daughter, Kathleen Moss, and a granddaughter. Our sympa­ thies go out to Mr. Korbobo’s family. Continued on page 10 You Can’t Get Healthy Plants From Sick Soil. Natural Organic Fertilizers 5-4-5; 5-1-10; 14-2-5 helps reduce wilt, builds soil and provides for better water holding capacity. Natural Organic Soil Conditioners KICK stimulates roots and opens tight soils. N-HANCE adds 12% calcium to build cell walls. Bio-Stimulants "THE POTENT-SEA PROGRAM" POTENT-SEA; POTENT-SEA KELP; POTENT-SEA PLUS reduces stress with over 60 trace nutrients, amino adds, vitamins and naturally occurring hormones No matter how much time and effort you put into your turf, you won't see results unless you have healthy soil. Our "soil first" program uses a natural, organic system of products designed to condition your soil, enabling your plants to get more of what they need. It biologically provides better nutrient mobility, water-holding capacity, and soil-buffering. You'll also notice a reduction in plant stress, resulting in an increase in disease and insect tolerance. You'll notice the difference. But more importantly, your plants will notice the difference. Earthworks Natural Organic Products For a free catalog of our turf products and a complete list of distributors please call 1 (800) 732 TURF Earth Works • PO Box 278K, Martins Creek, PA 18063 Since 1923 MATERIALS FROM THE EARTH'S CRUST Geo. Schofield Co., Inc. P.O. BOX 110, BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY 08805 • Bunker Sands • Construction Gravels • Construction Sands/Blends • Cart Path Materials • Landscape Materials • Topdressings • SUPRGRO Topsoil STABILIZER Blending Customized blends available with our new mobile blending equipment. U.S.G.A. specification products. (732) 356-0858 The One and Only. HERITAGE—An Ounce of Prevention... HERITAGE is a highly flexible fungicide that exhibits both preventative and curative activity against most turfgrass diseases, plus the following advantages: • Improves turf quality • Controls brown patch, Pythium, take-all patch, summer patch, anthracnose and snow mold • Reduced risk to environmental resources • Low risk toxicological profile • Low rates, extended spray intervals • Novel mode of action Once you learn about the powerful, preventative protection and its fit with your best management practices, you’ll agree that it’s time to change the course of your turfgrass disease management program, with HERITAGE. For more information, contact your authorized Zeneca Distributor or call Zeneca Professional Products Toll Free at 1-888-617-7690. www.zenecaprofprod.com Comparative Disease Spectrum Provided by Turfgrass Fungicides ZENECA Professional Products Always read and follow label directions carefully. HERITAGE is a registered trademark of a Zeneca Group Company. Aliette is a trademark of Rhône-Poulenc Ag Company. Banner Maxx, Sentinel and Subdue are trademarks of Novartis Corporation. Bayleton is a trademark of Bayer Corporation. Daconil is a trademark of ISK Biosciences Corporation. Chipco is a trademark of Rhône-Poulenc. Eagle is a trademark of Rohm and Haas Company. Prostar is a trademark of AgrEvo. Rubigan is a trademark of DowElanco. ©1998. Zeneca Inc. Changing the Course of Disease Control GCSANJ news Continued from page 8 BETTER LATE THAN NEVER by Shaun Barry Sometimes things get past me. Ok, many times, but when that happens I do try to make amends. It seems that last year Peter McFarland of Alpine The Care of Trees donated $300 toward the District I meeting held at Arcola C.C. Since I didn’t attend, this note is late. We really do appreciate these special things that our friends in the commercial end of the business do to help. This is not the first time Alpine has given a donation. They, along with Tree Tech, have been very active with this kind of help. Thanks go out to everyone who has helped, and if I have missed someone’s generosity, please let me know. It is not intentional, and it will be rectified. NEW CLOTHING LINE READY by Ed Mellor Our 1998 clothing line is in! The GCSANJ now has an agreement with Southern Corporate Promotions. Southern has a full range of clothing with our logo. Members of GCSANJ can now order any number of styles of hats, shirts, sweaters, coats and more. Distribution of Southern’s catalogs started at Expo ‘97, and I will continue to have catalogs at all our functions. The price list should be included with your catalog. This list, however, is a little misleading. The lowest price listed for any particular item is the price we have agreed to, no matter the quantity you order. Also included with your catalog should be an order form. Please make a copy of this order form each time you order. If you use the order form it makes it easier for Southern to process the orders. HIGHLIGHTS OF GCSANJ BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS The following are the highlights from the Board meetings of January 20, 1998, February 26, 1998 and March 19, 1998: President Glenn Miller called the January meeting to order at 12:15 p.m. at AAMC headquarters. Glenn introduced Jim Gilligan who along with Ned Lippman from Rutgers University are developing a series of management workshops, the first being held on March 19. The Board of GCSANJ was asked to support this series, at no cost to the association. The Board felt this was a good topic and valuable to the membership. It was announced that GCSANJ member Abe Hemsley of Passaic County Golf Course passed away. Ken Krausz will look into where a donation in memory of Abe is to be sent. Mike Mongon reported that financially GCSANJ is right on track according to this year’s budget. Mike stated that he would look into breaking some line items into more detailed accounts so as to better track where money is being spent. Mike will also look into investing in a growth fund. In GCSAA news, Mike Mongon stated that GCSAA would absorb hosting charges if GCSANJ wanted to create a web site. The Board was interested in this and instructed Mike to investigate further and bring back a report. A committee of Mike Mongon, Doug Larson, John O’Keefe and Ken Krausz was formed to investigate this. Jim McNally reported on the upcoming conference and show. Jim also stated that GCSANJ would have six teams play in the golf championship with GCSANJ absorbing the en­ trance fees for those teams. Joe Kennedy reported that on February 24 there will be a managers meeting at Canoe Brook. There will be a panel discussion with golf course superintendents. This meeting will help relations between the two groups. John O’ Keefe submitted a list of new member applicants. These members were accepted for membership. John also stated that he will create an information package outlining membership application procedures. Vince Bracken reported that there was a two-day seminar in conjunction with Rutgers at Fiddlers Elbow. There was also some discussion about the GCSAA - Etonic leadership series; Vince felt that there was too much work involved for a minimal return. Gary Arlio reported that the scholarship money was sent to the respective colleges. Ed Mellor handed out the new catalogs from Southern Golf and noted that GCSANJ will recieve 20% of all money spent on clothes. Ed requested that anyone ordering anything from Southern should let him know so he can be sure that we get our 20%. There was discussion on getting C members more in­ volved in the association. John O’ Keefe stated that the “Met” golf course superintendents association has a C member on its Board with no voting privileges and a list of responsibilities. This will be discussed more at the next meeting. Continued on page 11 GCSANJ news Continued from page 10 Dr. Bruce Clarke relayed there was a research symposium on January 14 & 15 and that 70 people attended. He gave Ken Krausz a copy of the proceedings and offered that any of the reports could be printed in The Greenerside. Dr. Clarke gave us an update on the turfgrass learning center. John O’ Keefe reported on the last tri-state research meet­ ing. It was discussed and appproved that due to the national conference in February, we try having a meeting by way of a conference call for our February Board meeting. That confer­ ence call was scheduled for February 26 at 11:00 a.m. The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 p.m. The February meeting of GCSANJ was called to order by President Miller at 11:00 a.m., February 26, 1998. Glenn read a letter from Doug Larson informing us that he was resigning from the Board as he has accepted a new job in the Philadelphia area. Ken Krausz reported that Ray Korbobo passed away. Ken Krausz reported that The Greenerside was judged first place in its category in the GCSAA Newsletter Contest. He noted that Brian Remo represented GCSANJ at the News­ letter Editors Forum at the national conference and accepted the award. Mike Mongon reported that Bill # 906 allows municipali­ ties to set their own decible levels for noise ordinances. Mike has been asked to sit on the Alliance of Environmental Concerns. The Board felt this was a good choice. Steve Chirip reported that the golf schedule has been set for the year 1998. Steve also reported that the NFL Golf Classic at Upper Montclair will be held in early June, and that Bob Dickison is looking for volunteers. Steve also stated that The Shop Rite Classic will be held at Marriott Seaview Resort and that John Boyer is also looking for volunteers. GCSANJ Continued on page 12 34 or 38 HP Kubota 7 or 11 - Bladed Reels Flash Attach System Joy Stick Lift / Lower 2 or 4 Wheel Drive New Design! Wilfred MacDonald Inc. 2 Terminal Road Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 (201)804-1000 THE "NEW" JACOBSEN LF 3400/3800 FAIRWAY MOWER! The Professional's Choice on Turf JACOBSEN TEXTRON GCSANJ news Continued from page 11 will assist in coordinating these efforts as both superinten­ dents already have their hands full in producing these tourna­ ments. GCSANJ will help by establishing a contact person for each tournament and contacting the membership when a system is put in place. Vince Bracken reported that there were 90 attendees for the seminar at Fiddlers Elbow and that there were 12 table-top vendors. Vince requested that the profits from the table-tops be donated to Rutgers University. That request was tabled so we can formulate a responsible game plan for donations toward research. The conference call meeting was adjourned at 12:08 p.m.. President Glenn Miller called the March 19 meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. at Manasquan River Golf Club. It was announced that Ed Lipman, Sr. passed away; our condolences go out to Mr. Lipman’s family. Joe Kennedy resigned as secretary of GCSANJ after years of dedicated service. The Board will have to fill Joe’s position. John O’ Keefe stated that the membership roster is almost complete and should be to the printer by March 31, 1998. Dr. Bruce Clarke stated that Rutgers hired a new patholo­ gist, Dr. Faith Ballanger. GCSANJ welcomes Dr. Ballanger. The turfgrass field day is set for August 6 at 12:30 p.m.. GCSANJ will become a “par sponser” for the Rutgers Turfgrass Research Golf Classic. The need to get the GCSANJ Foundation back into operation, as it has been dormant for a while now, was discussed. Glenn Miller stated that Tony Gordon has resigned from Madison G.C. and that the Club Relations Committee will meet with club officials from Madison. Mike Mongon submitted a report on options concerning the setting up of a web site for GCSANJ. Mike has been in contact with GCSAA as they would absorb the basic hosting charges. Mike and his committee will continue to research this as we want to make sure that this web site works well for GCSANJ. John O’ Keefe had a meeting of the Membership Commit­ tee and submitted a report with suggestions for changes in membership procedures. Some discussion followed, and it was decided that the Board members read the suggestions and bring back any further comments at the next Board meeting. The next Board meeting is scheduled for April 21,1998, at 8:30 a.m. The location would be Harbor Pines GC prior to the GCSANJ April meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m. Join The Revolution. The New Aercore™ Aerators Have Arrived Revolutionary ideas often take simple forms. Consider john Deere’s latest revolutionary products—the Aercore 1000 and Aercore 1500. 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CT 06419 e-mail: 73652.1220@compuserve.com metro milorGanite inc. Golf Course Supplies Main Office: 365 Adams St. Bedford Hills, NY 10507 1-888-217-1039 Toll Free Depend On Us For Four Season Solutions United Horticultural Supply SR 1119®, Providence® & Dominant® Creeping Bentgrass roots inc. Champion GQ® Perennial Ryegrass For information call United Horticultural Supply (732)296-8448 and ask for Gerald Fountain, Tom Hughes, or Rich Baker 1470 Jersey Avenue 1-2-3 North Brunswick, NJ 08902 SR 1119, Providence, Dominant, and Champion GQ are Registered Trademarks of Seed Research of Oregon, Inc. roots 1-2-3 is a Registered Trademark of roots, inc. Lofts Seed awards record number of academic scholarships at Rutgers Lofts Seed, Inc. awarded academic scholarships to 28 students at the Rutgers Turfgrass Annual Alumni Awards Banquet. This was the highest number of recipients ever since the scholarship fund was established. Marie Pompei, technical agronomist with Lofts Seed, pre­ sented the scholarships during the banquet at the Cook Cam­ pus Center on November 1, 1997. Students receiving scholarships were: Jeffrey Coffman, Shawn O’Sullivan, Michael Feldman, Christina Miller, Gre­ gory Wilson, Melissa Mohr, Michael Holtman, Jason White, Chun Lin Wang, David Mack, Stacy Ann Bonos, Robert Stephens, Christine Kubik, Jim Morales, Saulius Vaiciunas, Paul Follet, Russell A. Duncan, Jr., Andrew Wheeler, Pedro Perdomo, Theodore Kuleba, Pradip Majumdar, Daniel Warne, Lane Tredway, Jim Willis, Jennifer DiMarco, Justin Dorman, Robert Wolverton and Josh Honig. Since 1983, the Peter Selmer Loft Fund has awarded over 150 scholarships to students studying turfgrass science at Cook College of Rutgers University. The fund was estab­ lished in memory of Peter Selmer Loft, former chairman of Lofts Seed, Inc. It has been enhanced by royalty donations from turfgrass varieties developed at Rutgers University. Recipients of the award are either graduate students or undergraduate students who are studying turfgrass or have a proven interest in turfgrass science. Awards are based on academic excellence and financial need. New Members Welcomed The following new members have joined GCSANJ: Tom Arlotta Indian Spring Golf Club Charles Baker Sweeny Seed Company William F. Baumert Spring Lake Golf Club Robert A. Fields Finch Turf Equipment Co. Stephen Fritsch New Jersey National GC Steven Grimler Somerset Hills CC Joe Guarino Hendricks Field GC Chris Hunt Wilfred MacDonald Inc. Christopher Lynch Great Bay Resort & CC William Murray Shark River GC Mike Pelrine Wilfred MacDonald Inc. Bruce Rickert, CGCS Medford Village CC Jean Scott Zeneca Professional Products Thomas Tucci Rossmoor Golf Club Class B Class AF Class C Class AF Class B Class C Class C Class AF Class B Class C Class AF Class A Class AF Class B The Greenerside and GCSANJ welcome these new members! Beat Summertime Heat AQUATROLS SOIL SURFACTANT The MOST effective tool to TREAT and PROMOTE THE RECOVERY of turf under stress due to water repellency. For Information About AQUEDUCT Or Other AQUATROLS Products, Call: (800)-257-7797 by Brian M. Remo Cadence While watching ESPN the other night, I happened to see one of the funniest commercials I have ever seen. It was advertising for The Weather Channel (another one of my frequents while surf­ ing the tube). I don’t know if all of you have seen this or any of the other new “Weather fans, you’re not alone ” commercials that they are playing lately, but this one caught my atten­ tion. A man rushes into a local pub shaking off the remnants of what seems to be a torrential rainstorm outside. His clothes are soaked, his head is dripping, and the newspaper he was using in place of the pink umbrella that his wife keeps in the car but would not be caught dead carrying was nothing more than a folded spitball. He has had a long day. He is tired. The cold, wet, bleak penetrating annoyance of a rainstorm was just the straw the camel needed to put him into a wheelchair, and he is fed up. He has finally found the solace of the warm barroom, sighs in dis­ gust and exclaims, “I hate the rain.” A small man is sitting by himself at the bar watching a Doppler Radar Report. He turns around slowly, casting an evil stare at the visitor and re­ torts, “Well, maybe the rain hates you!” The soaked gentleman looks confused, notices the sudden silence that has fallen over the establishment and asks for clarification, “Excuse me?” The small man continues his ranting, “Well, maybe the rain hates you, huh? Did you ever think of that? Where would we be without the rain? It irrigates crops! Replen­ ishes the soils! Fills rivers, lakes and streams! I love the rain!” At this point, other locals have congregated to re­ strain the small man who has been closing in on the new­ comer, threatening to punctuate his monologue with a right cross to the rain hater. Others try to calm the small man down by reasoning with him. “Just let him go. It’s not worth it, Harry!” Another man approaches the stranger and advises him, “Look, man, you just better leave.” The Continued on page 16 unipar MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS CONSTRUCTION AND UNIPAR sands, blends and mixes offer builders and superintendents a complete line of golf construction and maintenance products to better manage operating costs, optimize turf care programs and enhance overall course presentation. Every UNIPAR product is produced in a statistically controlled industrial environment for superior performance and predictable results. • Root Zone Mixes • Bunker Sands • Top-Dressing Sands • Drainage Media Unipar® sands, blends and mixes are produced at our facilities in New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia and are available through our network of local distributors. For additional product information and availability contact: Unimin Corporation 258 Elm Street, New Canaan, CT 06840 USA Customer Service: 800-243-9004 Fax: 800-243-9005 Cadence Continued from page 15 commercial fades to black as The Weather Channel’s new slogan appears across the screen: Weather Fans, You’re Not Alone. I thought that the commercial was fantastic, and I almost fell off the recliner from laughing so hard. However, from a golf course management standpoint, I feel if I were the direc­ tor of this little skit, I may have one or two amendments to the script: Just as the stranger turns to leave the barroom, he is stopped by one man who has abruptly risen from his seat to launch a counterattack upon Harry the Rainlover. He is a well-built man of medium height, wearing a GCSANJ jacket, Khakis and duck boots. The hairs he hasn’t pulled out yet are tousled upon his head. He is also tired, wet and fed up, but he seems to have no problem finding the enthusiasm to return the favor of piece-of-mind-swapping with Harry. The super puts his arm around the stranger, looks up and retorts, “The rain hates me, huh? You’re telling me that there’s a possibil­ ity that the rain might hate me? No kidding! I’ve just spent the last two weeks preparing 160 acres of precision mowed turf for 144 golfers who each had a piece of my butt for break­ fast because the greens aren’t playable! I just saw my golf course, in the best condition of its 75 year existence, turn into a snorkel park in a matter of hours. My sand traps are now 60 individual bodies of water with enough room to dock a cigarette boat. My fairways have so much water on them that there’s an undertow. I’ve got trash pumps runnin’ like you read about and not enough guys on squeegees. The god forsaken geese think that heaven has come to rest on my 2nd fairway, and, oh . .. don’t get me started on the goose topic. You love the rain? You love the rain? Well, go right ahead and love it all you want, tough guy, but when I come into your office with a tanker truck and start pumping out agua like some Tennessee Valley Authority Project picked your desk as site of the year for Swamp and Bog Magazine, you can tell me then about your crops and soil replenishment!” Once again, the screen fades to black and states: Weather Fans, You’re Not Alone . . . But You’re Not Playing My Course! Hardgoods - 973-473-3393 Nursery - 973-473-2749 Fax - 973-473-4402 TURF SINCE 1925 SUPPLIES THE PRO’S CHOICE Grass Seed Fertilizers Insecticides Nursery Stock Fungicides Herbicides Mulches Tools Stone Soil Ties To Keep Your Turf Free from Disease & Insects TERRE Co has the Turf & Ornamental products that perform Merit Bayleton 206 Delawanna Ave Clifton NJ 07014 Fungicide injection technology for improved root disease control by Bruce B. Clarke, James A. Murphy, Margaret E. Secks, Pradip Majumdar Department of Plant Pathology and Plant Science, Rutgers University Patch diseases, caused by ectotrophic root-infecting fungi, are among the most difficult diseases to con­ trol in warm- and cool-season turf. Although often effecite, foliar applications of turfgrass fungicides are ex­ pensive and must be used throughout the growing season at high rates to attain commercially acceptable levels of dis­ ease suppression. Transport studies indicate that most fungi­ cides applied to the foliage for patch disease control are re­ tained in the foliage or thatch layer and only reach the root zone in low concentrations. The objectives of our field in­ vestigations were: 1) to compare the efficacy of surface and subsurface applications of azoxystrobin (Heritage) for the control of patch diseases; 2) to assess the impact of injection hole spacing and depth on fungicide efficacy; and 3) to de­ LET US WORK FORE YOU! As NJ's most complete horticultural enterprise, DuBrow's offers many services to assist you in making your property the best it can be. Clubhouse & Course Land Renovations Specimen Shade & Ornamental Trees Clubhouse Grounds Management Property Enhancement Seasonal Color 973-992-0598 duBROW'S termine whether fungicide injection could be used to reduce fungicide rates. Studies were conducted from 1996 to 1997 on a bentgrass (Agrostis palustris) fairway naturally infested with Gaeumannomyces graminis var. Avenae, the incitant of take- all patch, and a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) turf arti­ Azoxystrobin provided good to excellent summer patch control when applied as either surface or subsurface treatments. ficially inoculated with Magnaporthe poae, the casual agent of summer patch. Azoxystrobin was applied as either sur­ face or subsurface (1.9, 3.8 or 7.6 cm injection depth and 2.5 x 2.5 cm or 5.0 x 5.0 cm injection hole spacing) treatments using a CO2 powered sprayer (1,000 L H2O ha -1 @ 10.5 to 22.5 Mpa), respectively. Azoxystrobin was applied in May, late June and late July @ 0.6 kg ai ha -1 in 1996 and 0.3, 0.45 and 0.6 kg ai ha-1 in 1997. Treatments were arranged at each site in a randomized complete block with four replications. Azoxystrobin provided good to excellent summer patch control when applied as either surface or subsurface treat­ ments. In 1996, the 2.5 x 2.5 cm injection spacing (all depths) provided disease suppression equivalent to surface applica­ tions. At the 5.0 x 5.0 cm spacing, however, only the 1.9 cm treatment was as effective as the foliar sprays. At a second site in 1997, disease pressure intensified and subsurface treat­ ments were generally more efficacious than surface applica­ tions. Compared to the 5.0 x 5.0 cm injection spacing, dis­ ease control was improved 60% at the 2.5 x 2.5 cm spacing (all depths) and was greatest when fungicides were injected to a 1.9 cm depth. When fungicide rates were reduced to either 0.3 or 0.45 kg ai ha-1, excellent disease control was obtained (90% and 91%, respectively) with subsurface in­ jection (1.9 cm depth; 2.5 x 2.5 cm spacing), but only fair control (69% and 54%, respectively) with surface treatments. In the absence of fungicide, water injection significantly de­ creased disease severity in 1991 but not 1997. Similar re­ sults were obtained in the take-all patch control study (year 1 = fall 1996 to spring 1997). Although disease suppression decreased at the 3.8 and 7.6 cm depths, the 1.9 cm treatment was as effective as the foliar treatments. Take-all patch con­ trol attributed to subsurface applications was independent of injection spacing. Thanks, Uncle Sam: Roth IRA brings new tax breaks to retirement savers by James K. Woods, Registered Representative with the Berger Financial Group, L.L.C. Mr Woods specializes in personal, investment and insurance planning. The Roth IRA, one of the most exciting retirement in­ novations in years, delivers new tax-savings oppor­ tunities to millions of Americans. Available since January 1, 1998, this new IRA could permanently alter the way you tackle retirement investing. All IRAs let you defer taxes on the earnings you accu­ mulate during your buildup years. All IRAs have the same contribution limits—$2,000 for individuals, $4,000 for mar­ ried couples. And new withdrawal features allow greater ac­ cess to retirement savings for qualifying reasons such as a first home purchase or college expenses. What makes the Roth IRA so appealing is that it lets you escape—not just defer—taxes on your retirement earnings. The Roth Withdrawal Advantage Roth IRA contributions are not tax deductible, but when it comes to withdrawals, they offer a significant advantage. For Ordinary (traditional) IRAs, you owe taxes on all the accumulated earnings you with­ draw—both dividends and increases in value. Al­ though you may be in a lower tax bracket in retire­ ment, the taxes due on Ordinary IRA withdrawals can Equipment for All Your Turf Management Needs Featuring Quality John Deere Products Plus, Many Other Name Brands! FINCH TURF EQUIPMENT, inc. WESTMINSTER, MD 410-848-7211 • 410-876-2211 1127 Littlestown Pike (Rt. 97N) Westminster, MD 21157-3005 Servicing Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia NORTH WALES, PA 215-661-0390 404 Elm Avenue • North Wales, PA 19454 Servicing Pennsylvania and New Jersey Pans Order Number 1-800-78-DEERE still take a big bite out of retirement savings. With Roth, however, you’ll never owe tax on your in­ vestment earnings—either while they accumulate or when you withdraw them (as long as you follow the withdrawal rules). Instead of just deferring taxes on earnings, Roth elimi­ nates them. So when you retire, you’ll have more spendable income, with nothing off the top for Uncle Sam. Of course, Roth IRA withdrawals are subject to certain rules. Contributions to a Roth are always available for tax- free withdrawals. But for earnings to be tax-free, the account must have “aged” for at least five years and you must be at least 59 1/2 or meet one of the other qualifications for a tax- free distribution. Who Is Eligible? There are also rules that govern participation, but the majority of Americans are eligible to open a Roth IRA. Single participants with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $95,000 or less can make a full $2,000 Roth IRA contribution; mar­ ried couples must have an AGI of $150,000 or less. Phase­ outs set in above these levels, and individuals with AGIs of $110,000 or more and couples with AGIs of $160,000 are not eligible for the Roth IRA at all. However, these higher- income individuals might want to give their adult children or grandchildren the money to open their own Roth IRA. These accounts could provide money for college expenses or give the account owner a significant head start on tax-free retire­ ment investing. Continued on page 19 Safe warning from Chevron U.S.A. Products Company Warning! Filling metal gasoline cans placed on plastic surfaces creates fire danger. Recently several fires have resulted at Chevron service stations as a result of customers filling metal portable gasoline containers (gas cans) placed on plastic sur­ faces. The fires have involved a gas can in the back of a pick-up truck with a plastic bed liner. The insulating effect of the plastic surface prevents the static charge generated by the gasoline flowing into the gas can from grounding. As the static charge builds it can create a static spark between the gas can and the fuel nozzle. When the spark occurs in the flammable range in the gasoline vapor space near the open mouth of the gas can, a fire occurs. How to fill a gas can to minimize the danger of fire • Use only an approved container. • Do not fill any container while it is inside a vehicle, a vehicle’s trunk, pick-up bed or on any surfaces other than the ground. This includes pick-up trucks, sports utility vehicles, vans and others. • Remove the approved container from the vehicle and place it on the ground a safe distance away from the Recently several fires have resulted at Chevron service stations as a result of customers filling metal portable gasoline containers (gas cans) placed on plastic surfaces. vehicle, other customers and traffic. • Keep the nozzle in contact with the can during filling. • Never use a latch-open device on the nozzle to fill a • Follow all other safety procedures including “No Smok- portable container. mg. Please share this information with your friends and neigh­ bors so they can help to prevent fires. PARTAC TOP-DRESSING GOLF COURSE Thanks, Uncle Sam 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 IN N.J. BY: FARM & GOLF COURSE SUPPLY FISHER & SON COMPANY 610/483-5000 GRASS ROOTS TURF PRODUCTS 973/361-5943 610/644-3300 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION 973/263- 1234 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, NEW JERSEY 07838 908-637-4191 Continued from page 18 Transferring Assets to a Roth IRA There’s one more important feature you should know about: If your AGI is less than $100,000—for both single and joint filers—you can move existing IRA assets into a Roth IRA. Yes, you’ll owe taxes (but no penalties) on the accumulated earnings and any deductible contributions you convert. But for 1998 conversions only, the tax liability will be spread out over four years. The converted assets then grow tax-free and are tax-free when withdrawn as well, as long as you follow the withdrawal rules. Is the Roth IRA a good choice for you? The only way to find out is to make some projections and crunch the numbers for your own situation. Many investment advisers have soft­ ware available to do just that, or they can point you toward one of the Internet sites that has a Roth IRA calculator. But no matter what your circumstances are, new IRA options and rule changes make 1998 a great year to re-examine your re­ tirement planning strategy. The One and Only. HERITAGE An Ounce of Prevention... HERITAGE is a highly flexible fungicide that exhibits both preventative and curative activity against most turfgrass diseases, plus the following advantages: • Improves turf quality • Controls brown patch, Pythium, take-all patch, summer patch, anthracnose and snow mold • Reduced risk to environmental resources • Low risk toxicological profile • Low rates, extended spray intervals • Novel mode of action Once you learn about the powerful, preventative protection and its fit with your best management practices, you’ll agree that it’s time to change the course of your turfgrass disease management program, with HERITAGE. For more information, contact your authorized Zeneca Distributor, or call Zeneca Professional Products Toll Free at 1-888-617-7690. www.zenecaprofprod.com Anthracnose1 (Colletotrichum graminicola)on 80% Annual Bluegrass, 20% Perennial Ryegrass Pythium Blight (Pythium aphanidermatum) on Perennial ryegrass Dr. Don Scott, Purdue University, 1995 1 Also isolated from plots: 2 species Rhizoctonia; 3 species Pythium; and several species Phytophthora. US 67-95-P354 Dr. John Watkins, University of Nebraska, 1996 USNP-96-P030 Brown Patch (Rhizoctonia solani) on Colonial Bentgrass Summer Patch (Magnaporthe poae) on Kentucky Bluegrass Dr. Pat Sanders, Penn State University, 1994 US 66-94-P356 Dr. Bruce Clarke, Cooke College, Rutgers University, 1994 US 66-94-P362 ZENECA Professional Products Always read and follow label directions carefully. HERITAGE® and DACONIL® are registered trademarks of a Zeneca Group Company. Aliette® is a trademark of Rhône-Poulenc Ag Company. Banner®, Sentinel® and Subdue® are trademarks of Novartis Corporation. Cleary's® is a trademark of W.A. Cleary Chemical Company. Eagle® and Fore® are trademarks of Rohm and Haas Company. Prostar® is a trademark of AgrEvo. Rubigan® is a trademark of Dow AgroSciences. ©1998. Zeneca Inc. Zeneca Professional Products is a business of Zeneca Inc. Changing the Course of Disease Control Urgent memorandum: Grass roots political action needed! Editors note: As a member of the media, I receive all sorts of press releases, GCSAA updates, environmental issues and the like. For the past three weeks my fax machine has been full of updates on the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). There have been faxes from Rise, GCSAA, NJTA, AEC and more. This new act will be examining pesticide tolerances. The EPA is conducting some of the pesticide evaluations based on assumptions and not scientific fact. After reading as much as I can on this issue, I have found that the following Memorandum from AEC and NJTA sums up the problems we face and serves as a vehicle to have our voices heard. our parks and golf courses weed and fungus-free, and our rights-of-way safe will be lost. If FQPA implementation continues in this manner, sooner or later virtually all pesticides and pesticide uses will be jeopardized. EPA’s current efforts to meet the strict requirements of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) repre­ sent cause for concern. Please note the following: Problem: The new FQPA law substantially changes the way pesticides are evaluated scientifically for their health effects. With no transition time, EPA has the task of re­ evaluating more than 9,000 pesticide uses for safety within ten years, with the first 3,000, including most organophos­ phate and carbamate insecticides, subject to an August 1999 deadline. EPA is deciding which pesticide uses (or tolerances) will remain available and which won’t. Arguing that it must meet the short deadlines imposed by the FQPA to set pesticide tolerances, it appears EPA is using unrealistic, theoretical assumptions, rather than real- world data from farmers, businesses, public health officials and others about how they actually use pesticides to protect their crops and us. If FQPA implementation continues in this manner, sooner or later virtually all pesticides and pesticide uses will be jeopardized. From wormy apples in agriculture, to cockroaches in the kitchen and crabgrass choking the lawn, Americans in every walk of life will miss the benefits of effective pest control. Economic and environmental impacts: Because EPA is not implementing FQPA fully and fairly, valuable pesti­ cides will be unnecessarily lost, threatening farm products, business operations and public services. For example, able to choose from a wider array of pesticides, foreign growers will enjoy a competitive edge over U.S. farmers. Fewer pest control products will mean less conservation tillage, less Integrated Pest Management and more pest resistance. Pest control products that keep our homes clean, our hospitals and public buildings free of rats and cockroaches, Solution: We need you for FQPA! We need you as part of the grass roots support being led by the combined forces of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association and the New Jersey Alliance for Environmental Concerns. We need you to write to your representatives in Congress and in the House of Representatives. Following for your reference is a sample letter to these representatives prepared by AEC and NJTA. We encourage you to use this letter for ideas and to draft your own letter that reflects how EPA’s current efforts will personally impact you or your business. AEC/NJTA Sample Letter The Honorable Senator (Lautenberg or Torricelli) United States Senate Washington, DC 20510 The Honorable Representative (Your District Representative—Andrews, LoBiondo, Sarton, Smith, Roukema, Pallone Jr., Franks, Pascrell Jr., Rothman, Payne, Frelinghuysen, Pappas, Menendez) United States House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Dear Senator/Representative: Right now, under the Food Quality Protection Act, the Environmental Protection Agency is considering canceling uses of a number of protective pesticides that the Alliance for Environmental Concerns (AEC) and the New Jersey Turfgrass Association (NJTA) members either sell or Continued on page 22 Urgent memorandum Continued from page 21 apply. The AEC is a nonprofit organization that represents New Jersey’s pesticide applicators. We are an organization dedicated to the dissemination of scientific and factual information about pesticides. We feel there is reason for great concern for the reassessment decisions currently being made by EPA. Our understanding is that EPA is basing its decisions in order to meet FQPA requirements on worst-case theoretical assumptions. It is not seeking real-world, practical infor­ mation from farmers and others such as our members on actual use. When there is need for more and better data, FQPA permits EPA to ask for that data and the additional time to secure it. Initially at risk are a number of insecticides that have been used safely and effectively for years on nearly all the nation’s food and fiber crops. Many also are used in and around homes, golf courses and public buildings to control disease-carrying vermin. This threatens consumer health and safety. So, not only are farmers and their ability to provide bountiful crops affected, but EPA’s rush to judg­ ment is going to hit our members’ businesses. The Alliance for Environmental Concerns and the New Jersey Turfgrass Association strongly request that you urge EPA to use real-world data to implement the Food Quality Protection Act fairly and fully! Our members would greatly appreciate it. Sincerely, (Your name) NOW YOUR #1 CHOICE FOR FAIRWAY IRRIGATION Thompson Golf The Thompson Series Gear Drive Rotors Call for Reference of LOCAL Courses with these Brass Gear Drive Rotors in CONTINUAL Operation since the 1940’s * Tri-nozzle in line for even water distribution. * Stainless steel and brass gears are repairable and ONLY REPAIRABLE GEAR DRIVE IN THE INDUSTRY warranted for seven years. *Near perfect “CU” Coefficient of Uniformity, requires less run timer per station. Best distribution pattern available on the market today. 1120 Goffle Rd, Hawthorne, NJ 07506 800-922-0717 fax 973-238-0912 Franklin Rd, Dover, NJ 07801 973-366-2355 fax 973-366-6809 2259 S. Clinton Ave, S. Plainfield, NJ 908-753-5200 fax 908-753-0685 862 East Main Street Norristown PA 1800-989-7374 fax 610-277-9765 AQuarius Irrigation Supply, Inc. Legacy Golf Control water, labor and energy costs with a Legacy irrigation system. Century is your local distributor with a complete line of rotors, valves and controllers. With Irrigation Supplies from CENTURY RAIN AID Sprinklers • Valves • Controllers • Fountains • Pump Stations • Controller Service Repair Golf course superintendents like yourself are making plans to get their courses in top shape for the new season. And irrigation is at the top of their lists. Century golf professionals can show you how to maintain a highly-playable course, and can help solve any irrigation or drainage problems. They can also show you what's new in clubhouse landscape lighting, water features and more. Call today for a FREE catalog and on-site consultation: 800-347-4272. Controller Board Repairs Call Century when you need controller board repairs for Rain Bird and Toro golf controllers. Replacement boards can be shipped within 24 hours. Call 888-855-9132. SyncroFlo Pumps An efficient pump station can solve many irrigation problems. Century now offers the Aqua Master Fountains Improve water quality with an aerating fountain. Century can also show you how SyncroFlo Eagle Series, the premier system for golf courses. SyncroFlo, Inc. to create water features from existing streams or ponds. Century Rain Aid www.rainaid.com 800-347-4272 Now Serving These Major Markets: Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada. CENTURY GOLF PROFESSIONALS - NJ/DEL/MD • PHIL DEMARCO • 800-642-3706 •JOE PORCELLO 800-642-3706 Environmentally sensitive/sustainable turfgrass management extension outreach by James D. Willmott and Mary T. Eklund Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Camden County Situation: Public concern regarding environmental quality has raised questions about the risks associated with turfgrass fertilizers, pesticides, water use and clipping disposal. How­ ever, turfgrasses largely enhance environmental quality— especially when proper species/cultivar selection, establish­ ment and maintenance practices are employed. This program seeks to address environmental and health concerns by in­ creasing awareness and adoption of sustainable turfgrass management practices by the public and commercial horticul­ turists. Goal: To increase the adoption and practice of environmen­ tally sensitive, sustainable turfgrass management practices through applied research and demonstration projects and extension outreach to commercial turf managers and the public. Key Projects: Low maintenance turf demonstration. Seventeen top per­ forming cultivars, in New Jersey trials, were established, September 1997, in 3x5 ft. (with 4 replicates) in randomized complete block design. The following were planted: Koelaria macrantha; 3 cultivars of hard, chewing and tall fescue; 1 cultivar of buffalograss; 3 cultivars of perennial ryegrass (added to demonstrate higher mowing needs) and 3 cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass. Each will be evaluated for perfor­ mance under low maintenance and for mowing requirements. Demonstration is located on the property of Rutgers Coopera­ tive Extension of Camden County and will be used for P.O. Box 418 Exeter, Rhode Island 02822 phone: 401-789-8177 fax: 401-789-3895 Owen Regan pager: 800-592-0675 Chip Presendofer pager: 800-983-3430 commercial and public educational meetings. Evaluation of mowing practices on the occurrence of beneficial arthropods and earthworms in tall fescue turf. In cooperation with Shrewsbury. Predatory arthropods help prevent pest outbreaks in turf. Additionally earthworms pro­ mote thatch breakdown, enhance soil physical properties and improve turf growth and ecology. Mowing practices alter turf microclimate including temperature and humidity. Also, clip­ ping return should increase biological activity associated with decomposition and greater numbers of predatory arthropods. Tall fescue will be evaluated at a 1-inch and 3- inch mowing height and with and without clippings returned. Populations of ants, spiders, ground and rove beetles and earthworms will be measured. Evaluation will be conducted 1998 through 2000. Evaluation of Turf for Orchard Floor Management. Turfgrasses reduce weeds and pests when established in commercial orchards. This study is evaluating Koelaria macrantha and three cultivars of each: hard, chewing and tall fescues. Established, in a peach orchard, in October 1996. Future Projects: Evaluation of seedbed modification for improved establishment of Koelaria macrantha including phosphorous and nitrogen fertility and organic amendments. Lofts Seed presents royalty check to Rutgers University Dr. Richard Hurley, executive vice president of Lofts Seed, recently acknowledged the company’s com­ mitment to turfgrass research at Rutgers University by presenting its annual royalty check. The check, which totaled $822,522.49, was presented to Dr. Reed Funk, Dr. Bill Meyer, Dr. Dan Rossi and Dr. Bruce Clarke of Rutgers University, and to members of the turfgrass research program. The presentation took place at the Rutgers Horticultural Farm II. “Our relationship with Rutgers has been so rewarding for both Lofts and the university turfgrass research program. Rutgers continues to be a leader in turfgrass development, and Lofts Seed is glad to be part of that effort,” commented Dr. Hurley. UNTIL NOW, AN UNDULATING COURSE WAS AN ARCHITECT'S DREAM AND A MOWER'S NIGHTMARE. INTRODUCING THE NEW TORO CONTOUR 82 ROTARY MOWING DECK FOR THE GROUNDSMASTER 3000 TRACTOR. • Four individual cutting chambers with 22 inch blades articulate independently up to 20 degrees allowing the deck to wrap over hills or flex up a bank. • Adjustments in 1/4 inch increments allow fine-tuning the height of cut between one and four inches. • Rear discharge with semi-recycling action for excellent clipping dispersal and after-cut appearance. Storr Tractor Company 3191 Highway 22 Somerville, NJ 08876 908-722-9830 Groundsmaster 3000 features 33hp liquid cooled Peugeot diesel (two or four wheel drive) or a 45hp gasoline fueled Ford engine. Additional attachments: rotary broom, snowthrower, debris blower, enclosed cab and a variety of cutting decks. TORO Form No. 97-150-T ©1997 The Toro Company New Jersey State Golf Association launches web site The New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) an­ nounces the launch of their new web site at www.njsga.org, for the start of the 1998 golf season. The non-profit group, which has been preserving the honored another way to keep individual golfers informed about the game,” reports Steve Foehl, executive director of the NJSGA. The NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Program will also receive coverage within the site. The Caddie Scholarship Program has awarded in excess of $2,225,000 to qualified recipients over the last 50 years. The site will provide eligibility information and a print and mail application form. The site aims to be a hub of information for New Jersey golfers and will provide hot links to a number of other popular golf sites. This includes links to many informative and enter­ taining golf-oriented sites as well as key PGA, Senior PGA and LPGA tournaments such as the U.S. Open, Ryder Cup and U.S. Women’s Open. The NJSGA site was created by Motherboard Media, an interactive advertising agency based in Red Bank, New Jersey. For further information, call Stephen Foehl of the NJSGA at 973-338-8334 or Douglas Crichton of Motherboard Media at 732-741-5793. traditions of the game since 1900, has chosen the Internet as one more way to enhance their service to the game and to statewide golfers. Golfers and other visitors to the site will find a 1998 monthly schedule of championship tournaments and other events for the entire season. The site also offers a list of the 225 member clubs affiliated with the NJSGA as well as golf news, local area weather and e-mail links to the NJSGA staff. Most importantly, the site will be used to provide faster, easier access to print and mail entry forms and tournament results. The first tournament of the season will be the 15th Mid- Amateur Championship at Deal Golf & Country Club, May 4- 6, 1998. “We see this site as a great service to our member clubs and Red lights, blue lights: What to do, what to do? By Lt. Ken Krausz Editor's Note: This article was first printed in Hot Spots,” the newsletter of the Paramus Fire Department. You are driving down the road when you see it! In the mirror are the flashing lights of an emergency vehicle. After your stomach does a flip-flop, you ask yourself what do I do? How do I react? Fire engine, ambulance, police cruiser or even a volunteer responding in their own vehicle, your response should be the same. In most situations you should safely and calmly check the traffic around you, turn on your turn signal, pull to the right as if you were to park and STOP your vehicle. Many people pull toward the right and slow down a little. This action is not safe because the emergency vehicle now has to swing out to the left and also pass the slow moving vehicle on its right. You must pull to the right and come to a full and safe stop so the emergency vehicle can pass without having to worry about the moving vehicle on its right. Many people have also been known to stop in the lane that they are traveling in, which is obviously an unsafe practice. If you are traveling in the opposite direction and see an emergency vehicle traveling toward you, check traffic, turn on your right turn signal and stop until the emergency vehicle passes you. After the emergency vehicle passes, make sure to check the traffic before you pull out, since many times there are two or three emergency vehicles driving behind each other. Not check­ ing the traffic before you pull out creates an unsafe condition. Different situations call for different reactions. On the highway you may have an emergency vehicle approaching in the right, center, or left lane, or even the shoulder. If you are in the center lane and the emergency vehicle is in the right lane, obviously you would not pull into that lane. The shoulder of a highway should always be free of traffic. If emergency vehicles cannot travel to the scene because all of the lanes and the shoulder are blocked by traffic, valuable time and possibly lives may be lost. Please remember that volunteer personnel have to make it around town in their own vehicles. These vehicles deserve the same respect as other emergency vehicles. When you see a vehicle with blue lights on, please respect these volunteers. If you see emergency personnel responding in an unsafe manner, let us know as everyone must be accountable for safe driving. Remember that the people in these emergency vehicles are your friends and neighbors. Please let them help you. AGREVO USA CO. Mfg. Plant Production Products Shaun M. Barry (732) 846-8173 ALPINE THE CARE OF TREES Tree Service Peter J. McFarland (201)445-4949 AQUATROLS Specialty Chemical Company Phil O'Brien - Andy Moore - Colleen Tocci (609)751-0309 ATLANTIC MILLS INC. GOLF DIV. Tee to Green Accessories Jack Brady - Abner Garcia - Anna Drainsfield (908) 363-9558 JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. Irrigation Consulting & Design Jim Barrett (973) 744-8237 BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS Top Dressing - Construction Mix - Sand - Potting Soil Gene Evans (717)443-9596 • BOHM'S SOD FARM Growers of Premium Golf Turf David Bohm (800) 624-1947 BRUEDAN CORP. Golf Cars Mike Bruedan - Peter Siegel - Mike Gesmundo (800) 535-1500 CENTURY RAIN AID Irrigation Equipment Phil DeMarco - Joe Porcello (609) 561-1777, (800) 642-3706 CHIPCO/RHONE-POULENC Chipco 26GT, Chipco Aliette Signature, Ronstar Greg Hutch (732) 929-4657 WA CLEARY CHEMICAL CORP. Turf & Horticulture Chemicals Bryan Bolehala - Mike Bandy (908) 329-8399 CONCRETE STONE & TILE CORP. Concrete Paver Manufacturer Maryanne Nolan - Kevin Murphy (201)948-7193 ALAN G. CRUSE INC. Golf Course Materials Alan Cruse - Jim Cruse (973)227-7183 • DAVISSON GOLF, INC. Distributor of Turf Products Jeff Lacour - Tim Davisson - Ken Braun (800)613-6888 • DeBUCK'S SOD FARM Sod Leonard DeBuck - Valorie DeBuck (914) 258-4131 DOUBLE EAGLE EQUIPMENT CO., INC. Distributot Jerome Pearlman (908) 329-9292 Patron Directory • DuBROW'S NURSERIES INC. Certified Landscape Architects, Wholesale Tree Grower, Ground Management Michael Branch - William Mulvaney (973) 992-0598 LESCO, INC. Manufacturer & Distributor of Products for the Green Industry Craig Lambert - (973) 663-3368 Brad Simpkins - (609) 758-7620 Greg Moran - Tim Reinagel (800)321-5325 EARTH WORKS NATURAL ORGANIC PRODUCTS Organic Fertilizers and Bio-stimulants Joel Simmons (800) 732-TURF EGYPT FARMS INC. Topdressing & Construction Mixes Steve Chirip - Gary Ackerson - Dean Snyder (800) 899-7645 E/T EQUIPMENT CO. Distributors of Quality Turf Equipment - John Deere Dick Neufeld - Tom Fallacaro (914) 271-6126; Fax (914) 271-6146 FERTL-SOIL TURF SUPPLY Golf Course Supplies, Chemicals & Topdressings Marty Futyma - Cathy Futyma-Brown (908) 322-6132; Fax (908) 322-6332 FINCH TURF EQUIPMENT, INC. Sales of John Deere & Allied Turf Equipment Tom Wojcik - Bob Kaufman - Bob Fields (215)661-0390 FISHER & SON CO. INC. Superior Turf and Horticultural Products Alan Phillips - Mike Fisher (609) 478-6704 FLANAGAN'S LANDSCAPE-IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR, INC. Robert J. Flanagan, Sr., - Roger P. Flanagan, Jr. -Christine Flanagan (908) 429-1400 GOLF CARS, INC. Distributor of Golf Cars & Utility Vehicles Jon F. Schneider - John A. Czerwinski - Paul H. Szymanski (215)340-0880 GRASS ROOTS, INC. Golf Course Supplies Ken Kubik - Keith Kubik - Jay McKenna (973)361-5943 REES JONES, INC. Golf Course Design Rees Jones (201)744-4031 STEPHEN KAY, GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS Golf Course Design, Master Planning Stephen Kay - Doug Smith - Ron Torek (914) 699-4437 KOONZ SPRINKLER SUPPLY INC. Distributors Turf Irrigation William F. Konz, Jr. (973)379-9314 LOFTS SEED INC. Grass Seed Co. Kevin Driscoll - MaryBeth Ruh (800) 708-TURF WILFRED MacDONALD, INC. Turf Equipment Dennis DeSanctis - Blair Quin - Mike Pelrine (201)804-1000 RALPH McGILLAN EXCAVATING Lakes and Ponds Ralph (609) 655-2281 JOSEPH M. MERCADANTE, INC. Golf Course Construction, Paving, Excavating, Cart Paths, Tee & Trap Construction Joseph Mercadante - Robert Mercadante (973) 467-8622; Fax (973) 467-8419 METRO MILORGANITE, INC. Golf Course Supplies Joe Stahl - Scott Apgar - Gary Rehm (888)217-1039 MONTCO/SURFSIDE (MONTCO PRODUCTS CORP.) Turfgrass Wetting Agents Bob Oechsle, (215) 836-4992 Tom Hunter, (215) 766-0420 Information: (800) 401-0411 NATIONAL SEED COMPANY Lawn & Specialty Seeds Ken Griepentrog - Sky Bergen - Barry Van Sant (800) 828-5856 NOVARTIS TURF & ORNAMENTAL Primo, Banner Maxx, Sentinel, Subdue Maxx, Barricade Mike Oleykowski (609) 267-8041; Fax (609) 267-5011 P & P EXCAVATING INC. Excavating, Ponds & Lakes Bob Laner (201) 227-2030, (201) 227-2819 PARTAC 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 LEBANON SEABOARD CORPORATION Fertilizer, Control Products, Chemicals, Seed John Farrell (800)532-0090 Ext. 331 PENNINK ARRIMOOR INC. Golf Course Renovation & Construction Tom Ristau (215) 659-6411; Fax (215) 659-9317 • LEON'S SOD FARMS Sod Samuel Leon (908) 996-2255 PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. Manufacturer of Fluid Fertilizers Ted Platz - Anthony "Rip" Rippel (609) 448-0935, (800) 562-1291 Fax (609) 443-8038 RIGGI PAVING, INC. Asphalt Paving & Concrete Contractors Frank S. Riggi,Jr. (201) 943-3913 • SADLON ENVIRONMENTAL Environmental Consultant Nancy Sadlon, John Sadlon (732) 560-9377 GEO. SCHOFIELD CO., INC. Golf Course Material Supplier Adam Geiger - Wes Perrine - Tom Casmer (732) 356-0858 THE SCOTTS CO. - PROTURF DIVISION Fertilizers, Turf Protectants, Seed & Growth Regulators Fran Berdine, (914) 361-4105 Rich Bernard, (908) 904-1306 Steve Rudich, (610) 253-4003 (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 & Services Fred Rapp - Phil Scott (908) 722-9830 WILLIAM STOTHOFF CO., INC. Well Drilling, Pump Sales and Service David C. Stothoff - Bill Snyder (908) 782-2717; Fax (908) 782-4131 STULL EQUIPMENT COMPANY Turf Equipment and Supplies John Barrow - Charlie McGill (800) 724-1024 SWEENEY SEED COMPANY Grass Seed, Fertilizer, Chemicals Andrew Sweeney - Desri Pursell - Charles Baker (610) 239-8770 TEE AND GREEN SOD INC. Sod Supply and Installation Owen Regan - David Wallace (401)789-8177 THE TERRE CO. Golf Course Supplies & Plant Materials Byron Johnson - Bob Schreiner - Pat O'Neil (973) 473-3393; Fax (973) 473-4402 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION Golf Course Suppliers Buddy Rizzio - Ron Lake - Jim Dempsey (201)263-1234 UNITED HORTICULTURAL SUPPLY Fertilizer, Grass Seed, Chemicals Gerald Fountain - Richard Baker Keith Lord - Tom Hughes (732) 296-8448 STEVEN WILLAND INC. Turf Equipment Supplier Mark Ericson - Bill Rapp (201)579-5656 New Patrons for 1998 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 RaIn BIrd Keeping the golf world greener.™ PlantStar INCORPORATED Fertigation Solutions To Grow On CONTROLLED AIRSTREAMS Tempest GAS & ELECTRIC FANS PORTABLE, PERMANENT, OSCILLATING Superior Aquatic Management Systems MASTER DISTRIBUTOR 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