September-October 2001 • Volume 24 Number 5 The Greenerside Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey GCSANJ annual meeting moves to Atlantic City The annual meeting of the Golf Course Superinten­ dents Association of New Jersey will be held at the Taj Mahal on Tuesday, December 11, 2001. The meeting will be held in conjunction with the New Jersey Turfgrass Association’s Turfgrass Expo. GCSANJ President Ed Mellor stated, “The annual meeting has not been tradi­ tionally well attended. This move is intended to make at­ tending the meeting convenient to members who will be at the Turfgrass Expo. This business meeting is our most im­ portant meeting of the year and if moving the venue will help the membership become more involved, it will be a huge success.” Highlights will include the annual election of officers and the presentation of our two prestigious awards, the Mem­ ber of the Year Award and the Distinguished Service Award. Steve Chirip, president of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association and GCSANJ commercial representative, said, Our Deepest Sympathies. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. GCSANJ is deeply saddened by the tragic events of September 11th and our prayers and deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families and all of those af­ fected. As we watch the events unfold, we continue to be moved by the countless number of heroic acts we witness. Below we have compiled a few ways we can all help: American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund Call: 800-435-7669 To donate blood, Call: 1-800-GIVE-LIFE September 11th Fund - United Way and The New York Community Trust have established the September 11th Fund. Your contribution will be used to mobilize re­ sources to respond to the urgent needs of victims and their families affected by these attacks. https://www.uwnyc.com/epledge/septl1.cfm “This seems to be a perfect fit, as NJTA and GCSANJ have common goals and members.” The meeting will be held in the Topaz Room and will This business meeting is our most important meeting of the year and if moving the venue will help the membership become more involved. start at 11:30 a.m. There will be a fee of $30.00, which will include a buffet lunch. You must sign up in advance so we can bring enough copies of the financial statements, last year’s minutes and reports. Check your mailbox for the reg­ istration form. In this issue Editorial......................................................... 2 President's Message...................................3 Member Profile...........................................4 GCSANJ News..............................................6 GCSANJ minutes.........................................12 2001 Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days.....................................................14 Ask the golf course architect..................... 16 Certification: What good is it?.................18 Dr. Bruce Clarke speaks on turf diseases 19 GCSANJ Newsletter is published six times a year by the Golf Course Superintendents Editorial Association of New Jersey Ken Krausz, CGCS Editor Newsletter Business Staff Chris Holenstein 973-627-3748 Ken Krausz, CGCS 201 599-8301 -FAX 201 447-0301 Contributing Writers Douglas Vogel, Brian M. Remo, Shaun Barry, Joe Kinlin 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: Ed Mellor, President John O'Keefe, CGCS, Vice President Pat Campbell, CGCS, Treasurer Bruce Peeples, CGCS, Secretary Ken Krausz, CGCS, Past President Directors: District 1 Gary Arlio Paul Dotti District 2 James McNally Chris Holenstein District 3 Roger Stewart, Jr. Mickey Stachowski District 4 Gregg Armbruster Brian Minemier Chapter GCSAA Delegate James C. McNally Executive Secretary Judy Policastro Commercial Representatives Steve Chirip Shaun Barry Assistant Superintendent Representative Brian Gjelsvik ©2001 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 End of summer ramblings What a year it has been so far! This is a crazy business that we have come to love, and that must be the reason that we are still doing what we do. If it were not for the beautiful sunrises, sunsets and natural settings in between I would have to think that a lot of us would be doing something else. Don’t get me wrong, like I stated, I love this business. My seven minute commute is enought for me. A lot of people would probably think I was nuts last week when I took off my shoes and socks and waded into the puddle on the eighth green to find the drain after getting 1.25 inches of rain. Maybe all that weather that we had this past spring and summer is why we had to cancel the 75th anniversary picnic. I hope that everyone en­ joyed the day whatever they were doing, as it turned out to be a beautiful one. The Krausz fam­ ily spent the day together; we had blocked out the calendar and made the best of it. The tree dedi­ cation was a beautiful event; you could feel the history at Crestmont C.C. The Pedrazzi family were wonderful hosts, and the tree that Haledon Nurseries donated is a beautiful Pin Oak. After the ceremony my family and I headed to Sunrise Lake and had our own picnic. I always say that everything happens for a reason, and the way I figure it, if we had not cancelled the picnic I would have had a great day, but nothing like the time I spent with my family. As we all know this can be a very volatile business. It can also be very rewarding. This week I heard of a couple of superintendents who are no longer at their posts. This makes me wonder if I made the right career move, but as I stated above, I love this business and everything happens for a reason. Fall is right around the comer and another season is almost over. Soon the aeration will be done and the leaves hauled away. I am looking forward to some down time and hope to see everyone at the annual meeting. President’s Message Ed Mellor, Superintendent, Colts Neck Golf & C.C. As I’m writing this President’s message, it’s August and New Jersey seems to be in a heat wave. I got to work about one hour before sunrise this morning and the temperature was already 80 degrees. Yesterday on my way home the thermometer at the bank on the comer said it was 105. For the first time this summer the Swim­ ming River Reservoir looks to be at least one foot low. The only saving grace the golf courses in New Jersey have, I thought, is that it is August and the days are getting shorter, and we tend to get more thunderstorms this time of year. If this were June we would be looking sourly at more drought restrictions. This is a topic that demands a great deal of time at each GCSANJ Board meeting. Month after month Mickey Stachowski of Fiddlers Elbow reports on the program and the stumbling blocks his committee on drought restriction encounter. It seems that the restrictions regarding how wa­ ter is allocated in New Jersey during a drought is a legisla­ tive matter. The restrictions were written in 1970 and haven’t been updated since. Mickey’s committee has been to Tren­ ton and has met with the DEP in an effort to rewrite the legislation to make it more equitable for golf courses. At this point, the GCSANJ seems to have hit it a brick wall with our limited resources. It is felt that perhaps a lobbyist is needed, however, this means considerable expense. It is also felt that this is not an Association burden, but one that could be funded by the golf course owners and the local golf associations. Please be aware that a letter may be sent to your golf course addressed to the ownership, soliciting their help in this matter. On another note, the GCSANJ Board of Directors has moved this year’s annual meeting from Hollywood Country Joseph M. Mercadante, Inc. 201-467-8622 GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION Millburn, NJ • PAVING • EXCAVATING • DRAINAGE SYSTEMS • TEE BUILDING • GRADING Club to N. J. Turfgrass Expo located at the Taj Mahal in At­ lantic City on December 11, 2001. Although the meeting has routinely been held at one of New Jersey’s premier golf clubs, it tends to have a very limited attendance. Hopefully GCSANJ Board of Directors has moved this year's annual meeting from Hollywood Country Club to N.J. Turfgrass Expo located at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City on December 11, 2001. by moving it to the Tuesday morning slot during the Expo it will generate more interest. Hope to see you there. Another educational meeting is being put together in place of the regularly scheduled November annual meeting. More details will be in your mailbox as soon as they be­ come available. Calendar Oct. 16,2001 GCSANJ Championship, Scotland Run Golf Course. Host Superintendent, Andrew Franks. Contact Judy Policastro at 973-379-1100. Nov. 29 Alliance for Environmental Concerns Annual Meeting and Seminar, Fiddlers Elbow Country Club. Contact Nancy Sadlon at 732-563-9252. Dec. 10 Dec. 11 GCSAA/GCSANJ Seminar, Managing a Multicultural Workforce.TrumpTaj Mahal. Contact GCSAA at 800-472-7878 GCSANJ Annual Meeting, 11:30 a.m., Topaz Room, Trump Taj Mahal. Contact Judy Policastro at 973-379-1100. Dec. 11-13 NJTA EXPO,Trump Taj Mahal. Contact NJTA at 732-821-7134 Jan. 16,2002 GCSAA/GCSANJ Seminar,Turfgrass Traffic Stress: Physiology and Manage­ ment. Rutgers University. Contact GCSAA at 800-472-7878 Member Profile 50 Years of Reminiscing By Dr. Paul Sartoretto Introduction by Joe Kinlin Assistant Superinintendent, Arcola C.C. For this issue of The Greenerside, we decided to give our readers a little history lesson. The following is a little something that Dr. Paul Sartoretto wrote about his experiences in our industry. “Dr. Paul,” to those who know him, has contributed tremendously to both what we do and how we do it with regard to chemical applications. He was a true pioneer in our field, as you will read in this article. Although “Dr. Paul” is a native of New Jersey, he has since retired and moved to the West Coast to be near family. So please read the following; I think you will enjoy what this great man has to share with us. My first GCSAA convention was in 1950 in Boston of all places! All the members attending gathered in the ball­ room of the host hotel for a group picture. The two products that were the hit of the show that year were DDT and 2,4-D. I have a vivid memory of myself standing beside my ex­ hibit, which was ajar of PMAS on a small table. Alongside it was a pamphlet describing its fascinating power of selec­ tively killing crabgrass in Bentgrass and protecting it against disease. 1 was naïve in this setting because I was an organic chem­ ist with a terrific invention discovered in the area of agronomy and pathology—an area I knew little about! PMAS’ selective crabgrass killing property was discovered accidentally in the fungicide test plot at the University of Rhode Island in 1946. Nevertheless, I forged ahead with my sale’s strategy: “Try a free gallon and you’ll be back for more. By the way, who is your favorite distributor? We haven’t appointed any yet, but you’ll be able to conveniently buy it through him.” That modest beginning launched Cleary “Try a free gallon and you’ll be back for more. By the way, who is your favorite distributor? We haven’t appointed any yet, but you’ll be able to conveniently buy it through him.’’ Chemical into this industry. There was one man in this industry that I admired and revered. He was O.J. Noer. Superintendents, distributors and professors all respected him and honored him. He was the best known and the most knowledgeable man in turf. He had a great collection of slides and visited more courses than anyone. O.J., with the cooperation of the agricultural col­ leges, brought order and continuity to the winter turfgrass conferences. He would line up a group of speakers who would chronologically travel to each conference without overlapping or conflicting with each other. I became one of the speakers on the circuit and I learned a lot from him. A few years later, Bill Cleary (our founder) brought his younger brother into the fold. He became an instant success as a salesman, as you older supers know. Later, he played a major role in the formation of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association. There was sufficient land on the Cleary prop- Continued on page 5 ARDOM BEARING GROUP The Complete Source for Bearing Power Transmission & Related Products • BALL & ROLLER BEARINGS • V-BELTS • SHEAVES • SPROCKETS • ROLLER CHAIN • COUPLINGS • MOTORS • REDUCERS Kenllworth, NJ 908-241-9200 South Plainfield, NJ 908-755-3000 Lakewood, NJ 732-370-2310 PLEASE CALL ONE OF OUR CONVENIENT LOCATIONS NEAR YOU! RALPH McGILLIAN Excavating Contractor Specializing in Lakes & Ponds Over 35 years experience in building new ponds, enlarging & redesigning existing ponds. Can get all DEP permits 609-655-2281 1 74 Plainsboro Road, Cranbury, NJ Member Profile Continued from page 4 erty to build a nine-hole golf course and a nine-hole pitch and putt. They served not only for testing but also public play to cover expenses. I mention this because, over the years, we hired many young men fresh out of school to run the course. Later they went on to become illustrious superinten­ dents. Joe Malikowski, fresh out of Rhode Island, built the course. He was followed by Paul Boiselle. We were fortu­ nate to have a succession of fine young supers: Danny Quast, Dennis DeSanctis, Chris Carson and Pat Campbell. It’s only natural that the care of the course would fall into the ca­ pable hands of Robbie Harris, son of Bobbie Cleary, presi­ dent of Cleary Chemical. Although Shaun Barry’s father was manager of Cleary’s product division and his brother Kerry is presently manager, Shaun was fascinated with the golf end of the business and it certainly paid off for him. My invention, PMAS, turned out to be the most effec­ tive selective crabgrass killer and fungicide for Bentgrass. However, I learned early on that it, as well as all other pes­ ticides, fell short of perfect control and best results could be obtained by mixing. I began preaching tank mixing pesti­ cides for better control. Being a chemist, I was able to de­ vise safe rules for mixing without encountering phytotoxic­ ity, much to the consternation of some pathologists. Dr. Houston Couch, well known for his oratory and much in demand as a speaker, was my adversary. Slowly, I built up a following of knowledgeable supers who were having good results mixing, and over the years they helped spread the word and the practice. Tank mixing gave the superintendent better control and made him look good. It also gave me a generous and unself­ ish image because I was recommending mixes that often included competitive products mixed with Clearys. I guess that’s the reason why you honored me with the Distinguished Service Award. Or was it for the accomplishment of intro­ ducing you to Liar’s Poker, with the embellishments of dip and double dip options? I am now 88 years old and still with my great wife Mary, who’s 85. We just celebrated our 63rd wedding anniversary and are planning a big bash for the 65th. After I suffered a stroke in 1997, we retired to Arcadia, California, to be near family. We have two daughters, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all living in the Los Angeles area. I’m still in touch with the Clearys two or three times a week, and I’m only a phone call away (626-446-1794, five cents a minute weekends!). Superior Performance. Ultimate Coverage. Cushman® SprayTek™ Dedicated Sprayers The number-one name in turf vehicles and SDI, the premier builder of spray equipment, have created the ultimate line of dedicated sprayers. Available in 175- and 300-gallon models, the SprayTek DS-175 and DS-300 are built on a ground speed governed Cushman Turf-Truckster chassis for unbeatable durability and even distribution. Superior spray characteristics and deep sump help maintain consistent application, even on hillsides. Plus, a low center of gravity and optional ROPS offer added stability and operator protection. For a dedicated sprayer that delivers, come in or call today. CUSHMAN TEXTRON TURF CARE AND SPECIALTY PRODUCTS Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. 19 Central Boulevard South Hackensack, NJ 07606 (888) 831-0891 www.wilfredmacdonald.com www.ttcsp.textron.com ASCU-SPRAY-1099 © 1999Textron Turf Care And Specialty Products All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. GCSANJ news LAKE MOHAWK RETURNS TO THE SCHEDULE By Shaun Barry Our July meeting was hosted by Eric Carlson and Lake Mohawk Golf Club. It had been a long time since our last meeting was held here, and Eric and the club were excited to be part of our schedule. Some of our southern members thought about flying here, but eventually they decided to drive. Maybe that is why so many courses in District 4 have been volunteering the last few years. They discovered how to avoid the long drive. As each member arrived you could feel a sense of calm coming over them. Looking at the lake with the mountain ridge back over your right shoulder and, with the tempera­ ture about 10 degrees cooler than what you are used to, it does reduce all levels of stress. Just before lunch we were treated to a fine presentation by Chris Markham of Go Wild! Natural Resource Management. He seemed to create a lot of Shearon Golf A division of Shearon Environmental Design Company Construction / Maintenance Restorations / Renovations Arboriculture Design Drainage Experts Custom Spray Applicators Certified Irrigation Installers 337 Route 31 Hopewell, NJ • 08525 (609) 466-0666 www.shearongolf.com Lake Mohawk was the perfect location for many of our District I members. Eric Carlson receives our 75th flag from Ken Krausz, CGCS. interest and had to answer many questions. During our delicious lunch we were given a very pleas­ ant surprise. We were graced by the presence of a GCSAA legend. Sherwood Moore, CGCS, decided to return to the course and see how many changes were made since he had worked here so many years ago. He had a beautiful black and white photograph showing him mowing the first fair­ way. The conditions looked great and while there have been many changes made to the course, he seems to only have aged just a few years. He looked great, and perhaps that can be attributed to the wonderful lady who was with him at our meeting. It seems that Marie has always been with him, and I think that her love and respect and support have kept both of them so young. Sherwood took a cart to tour the course and to watch some golf, but for some strange reason he only got to see Skip Cameron play. What Sherwood missed was some really great golf. Lead­ ing the way with a gross score of 71 was new member Tom Continued on page 8 When you spend 87 years listening you pick up a few tips. To all of us at Toro, there is no better source of information for our product designers and distributor professionals than people like you. When we are able to listen to your ideas, address your concerns and answer your questions, we are better able to make products that get the job done. And get it done right. We're proud of our long-standing history, but were most excited about the future. After all, with a relationship we both can count on, who knows how far we’ll go? Storr Tractor Company 3191 Highway 22, Somerville, NJ 08876 908-722-9830 TORO www.toro.com GCSANJ news Continued from page 6 Henderson. Chris Markham had hurt his hand and couldn’t shake hands at lunch, but he somehow managed to shoot a 75. Mr. Brian Remo had a net 68, which tied him with Byron Johnson, but Brian won on a match of cards. Because of all of the affiliates that have donated money toward the prizes at our monthly meetings we do have lots of skills contests. Many thanks to them because their gener­ osity really does add lots of fun to every meeting. The com­ pany that sponsored the contest will have their name after the winner’s name. Winners in the closest-to-the-pin contests were Dennis DeSanctis (Wilfred MacDonald—this really did happen!) - 3 ft. 7 inches; Phil O’Brien (Finch) - 5 ft. even; Peter Siegel (Koonz) - 5 ft. 9 inches; Jim Gurzler (Torsilieri) - 3 ft. 8 inches and Brian Minemier (A.T. Sales) - 7 ft. 4 inches. Collecting a prize for their long drives were Dick Neufield (Floratine), Keith Kraham (Syngenta), Steve Kopach (Koonz), P. O’Brien (Country View), Mark Wittlinger (Cen­ tury Rain Aid) and Jack Martin (Wilfred). These were great drives but the best contest was in the women’s long drive event (Storr). It was an actual head-to-head contest that took three holes to find a winner and the pressure was enormous. Finally Nancy Sadlon edged out Marie Pompei by less than a yard. Our skins contest also was amazing. Paul Dotti had an eagle and was three under par after 6 holes. He unfortu­ nately had gotten to the club after registration had closed, so he was not able to enter. What a shame! There were lots of people who did enter, and they added to the lore of our As­ sociation. T. Henderson was not to be outdone by Paul, and he had his own eagle and so did C. Markham. (Bad hand? I guess it’s nice to be young.) Three eagles at one meeting! John Farrell had no eagles but he did have 2 skins. With 1 skin each we find Kevin Driscoll (I told you this was going to be amazing), P. O’Brien, John Fenwick and J. Gurzler. Following our special guest at lunch, we were privileged to have a GCSANJ legend at dinner. Mr. Pete Pedrazzi started his career here, and he has many fond memories of that time in his life. He seemed quite happy speaking about how things were and how they have changed so much. He is a very wise man who has seen and can remember so much. If you listen you will learn. Having spent just one day here it is easy to see why these two great men wanted to return. Eric and his staff had the greens moving very quickly (what an understatement), but they were perfect and the course itself could not have been in better condition. Everyone at the club did a great job, and we really felt like we belonged. Thanks again and let’s not be strangers. Aerate, amend and topdress - play in 1 hour on a smooth surface The only machine in the world that injects high volumes of dry material. Before you buy, contract your greens aeration to us. Tired of drill-and-fill and time-consuming greens aeration? The new Land Pride Dryject™ injects soil amendments or topdressing so fast you can aerate, amend, and topdress in one pass. You’re back in play in 1 hour on a smooth putting surface. Adjust injection depth from 2” to 10” deep. Aerate and inject up to 8 cubic feet of amendment per 1000 sq. ft. at 10,000 sq. ft. per hour. Now, for about $15K, you’ll have unequaled versatility for injecting both dry and liquid materials. Easy operation. No maintenance headaches. LAND PRIDE DryJect Available exclusively from Advanced Agro Technologies, Inc., Wayside, NJ 1-800-270-TURF E-mail: turf@epix.net FRIENDS GATHER AT THE BEDENS BROOK CLUB By Shaun Barry Through the years we have had a great relationship with our neighbors in the Philadelphia Association. Many of our members are also members of their association and vice versa. Part of this good feeling comes from the joint meet­ ings that we have had for as long as I can remember. This year was no exception, and judging by the size of the field we may have found the perfect month and the perfect loca­ tion to host this event. Benny Peta volunteered The Bedens Brook Club, and 126 of his closest friends attended. Mr. Peta is a very popu­ lar person in both associations, but his roots are in Pennsyl- Continued on page 9 GCSANJ news (Left to right) Winners at the NJ-Philly Joint Meeting:Tim McBrearty,John Betts, Jeff Wetterling and Tom Tuttle. Continued from page 8 vania. He currently is the vice-president of the Philly Asso­ ciation, which means he gets to find meeting sites and make all of the arrangements for the day (I believe he is looking forward to being president and thus losing this responsibil­ ity). As a result, this was a Philly meeting, and if you were there you know what a good job Ron Gorniak and his com­ mittee did in running the tournament. The food was truly extraordinary (and was partially sponsored by John Fowler of Syngenta—thanks, John) and the staff was very, very friendly. These people like Benny and it showed. Out on the course it was more of the same. Benny, Tod, Sean and the whole crew did a great job. They are very tal­ ented, and they worked very hard for the conditions to be so good. This is obviously a major reason why it is ranked in the top 20 of courses in New Jersey, and they should be proud on a daily basis. Once I started playing I thought that I was in the middle of a great book that was written about Continued on page 10 Hardgoods - 973-473-3393 Nursery - 973-473-2749 Fax - 973-473-4402 To Keep Your Turf Free from Disease & Insects TERRE Co has the Turf & TURF SINCE 1925 SUPPLIES THE PRO’S CHOICE Grass Seed Fertilizers Insecticides Nursery Stock Fungicides Herbicides Mulches Tools Stone Soil Ties Ornamental products that perform 206 Delawanna Ave Clifton NJ 07014 GCSANJ news Continued from page 9 Ireland. It is called, “A Terrible Beauty.” The beauty part came from the hard but wonderful challenge of a course that was in perfect condition. The terrible part exists only in my world, and that is because I started play by making a 12 on my first hole. The really bad part was that it happened so quickly and easily and I was not shocked. The serious (a.k.a. talented) golfers played better than I did, and they also had a great time, but remember that none of them had a 12. Most of the field was involved in a friendly match against the opposing association. As happens so of­ ten, New Jersey was crushed by Philly. They had 35 points to our 25, but no clubs were thrown and everyone enjoyed the competition. We also had prizes for individuals and the winners were pretty evenly divided. Closest-to-the-pin winners were Jeff (NJ) Wetterling (A.T. Sales) - 5 ft. 8 inches; Greg (PA) Hewitt (Finch) - 6 ft. 4 inches; Doug (PA) Bice (Koonz) - 17 ft. 9 inches and Steve (PA) Stephens (Torsilieri) - 13 ft. 8 inches. Taking long drive honors were Mickey (NJ) Stachowski (Storr); Chris (PA) Ward (Century Rain Aid); Charlie (NJ) Clarke (Syngenta); Andy (PA) Drahan (Country View) and Lou (PA) Amadio (Wilfred). Andy (PA) Drahan led all players with a 75. Ian (NJ) Kunesch had just played in the NJSGA Open, but he had to settle for a 79 here. He was joined at that number by Tony (PA) Grieco and John (NJ) Farrell. John (NJ) Alexander led the net tournament with a 69. Following him were Charlie (PA) McGill - 73; Tom (NJ) Grimac - 74; and John (NJ) Betts - 74. Chip Kern was the only winner of 2 skins. Continued on page 11 JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. GOLF COURSE IRRIGATION DESIGN AND CONSULTING JIM BARRETT PRESIDENT P.O.Box 853 Montclair, NJ 07042 973-744-8237 Fax 973-744-0457 President Ed Mellor shares our 75th flag and a smile with host superintendent Benny Peta. GCSANJ President Ed Mellor poses with Philly's President Don Brown after a very successful joint meeting. Joe and Anne Vasta Premium Bent Grass Sod for Golf Courses People you can trust—Quality you can count on A Third Generation Farm 1107 Courses Landing Road Woodstown, NJ 08098 Business Phone/Fax. (856)299-0274 Sales - Chip Presendofer Toll Free: 888-442-2322 GCSANJ news Continued from page 10 A. Drahan, Jason Buccino, Tom Tuttle, J. Betts, Dennis DeSanctis and Tim McBrearty had 1 each, and the rest of us had zero but we did have a great time. Ed Mellor and I were part of a very happy group that just did not want to leave. Darkness did chase us away, but before we left we all had to thank Benny one more time for all that he did for the meeting so it would be such a success. It also has occurred to me that the course is in New Jersey and Benny is a member of GCSANJ, and since the field was limited maybe we would try and meet here again sometime soon. Sounds good to me. I will keep you informed how Benny feels about my idea. TREE PLANTING CEREMONY, OR QUERCUS PALUSTRIS VAR, GREENSKEEPERI By Chris Holenstein On Sunday, July 15, 2001, under high blue skies at the Crestmont Country Club, a distinguished group of men and women dedicated a tree to the rich history of 75 years of greenskeeping. The assembled persons gathered “next to the barn” to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey and sym­ bolically planted a sturdy Pin Oak very near to the spot where the idea for the Association first took root. In honor of the small group of greenskeepers who met there on September 14, 1926, this modern group of golf course superintendents, their families and friends joined together to affirm the lon­ gevity and vigor of their ideals. Hosted by Superintendent Peter Pedrazzi, Jr., and joined by Crestmont Country Club Greens Committee Chairman Sandy Schoenbock, the group first listened to a welcome address by GCSANJ President Edward Mellor. Then GCSANJ history specialist/superintendent Douglas Vogel regaled the group with association lore, and Shaun Barry directed the efforts to photo-memorialize the event. GCSANJ Vice President John O’Keefe, Past President Ken Krausz and superintendents Joe Ciccone and Pete Pedrazzi, Sr., joined in the ceremony. The tree itself, donated by Carl Quazza of Haledon Nurs­ eries, stood silently, as if preparing itself for the day 75 years hence, when it might cast shade on another gathering of su­ perintendents dedicated to the ideals of professional improve­ ment, educated environmental stewardship and membership cooperation. President Mellor and Vice- President O'Keefe lead the ceremonies at the tree planting. The Pedrazzi family poses in front of the newly-planted tree that celebrates the 75th anniversary of our Association. Part of our GCSANJ family gathers at Crestmont C.C. to be part of the tree planting ceremony. C C I Course Contractors, Inc. Golf Course Construction & Improvements Dennis Shea Division Manager P.O. Box 158 Mt. Freedom, NJ 07970 800-936-2652 • Fax: 973-895-5578 Member GCSAA and NJGCSA GCSANJ minutes The Board of Directors of GCSANJ has been working hard all year! The March 22nd meeting of the GCSANJ Board was called to order at 12:30 p.m. by President Ed Mellor. Sky Bergen sent a letter announcing his retirement. The members of the Board spent a couple of minutes reminisc­ ing about all that Sky has done for this Association. Clyde Ashton sent a letter thanking GCSANJ for the The Greenerside was congratulated for its “best in cat­ holiday basket. egory award.” Mickey Stachowski reported on the Pesticide Use and Reduction Act. Mickey also proposed joining forces with other groups for hiring a lobbyist. Brian Minemier will con­ tact two lobbyists who expressed interest in working directly with us. There was some discussion about holding the invita­ tional on a Monday, that that may hurt attendance. It was decided to keep that date, as Shackamaxon is an excellent Your Trees Deserve the Best of Care! All Phases of Tree Care: Residential and Commercial BARTLETT BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS www.bartlett.com Local Offices: Denville Lebanon Ridgewood S. Plainfield 973-983-1840 908-735-6619 201-444-0002 908-561-9440 site; they are celebrating their 75th anniversary and a deci­ sion needed to be made. The GCSAA election results were announced. Bruce Peeples gave an update on the survey. It was noted that Vic Gerard Golf Carts and Scott McNally’s Quality Irrigators sponsored the GCSANJ na­ tional championship golf shirts. GCSANJ will send a foursome to the Club Managers “Make a Wish” tournament as well as the New Jersey Turfgrass Foundation Golf Classic. GCSANJ will purchase a brick for the GCSAA 75th pro­ gram. www.GCSANJ.org. The GCSANJ web site is up and running: A letter was sent to all members asking for volunteers to attend local PAC meetings. These meetings are part of the statewide water shed committee. The response has not been good. District 4 will be having a winter meeting with five speakers lined up. John O’Keefe met with Bob Dickison and Steve Fahl of the New Jersey State Golf Association to discuss continued cooperation between our groups. John also met with Charles Borman, director of the Carolinas superintendents associa­ tion, to discuss how their association handles activities. Dave Pease reported on the Finance Resource Commit­ tee plan of action. The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m. The June 14th meeting of the GCSANJ Board of Direc­ tors was called to order at 12 noon by President Ed Mellor. Mickey Stachowski gave a report on the search for a lobbyist. The District 1 & 2 meeting is set for Rolling Green. The District 3 meeting is set for Toms River and the District 4 meeting is set for Towne and Country Golf Club. The Invitational is set for Shackamaxon and the Cham­ pionship will be held at Scotland Run. The GCSAA Delegates Meeting is scheduled for Sep­ tember 12-16th. Jim McNally will be attending as National Delegate and John O’Keefe will be attending as a commit­ tee member. Mark Kuhns, superintendent at Baltustrol, an­ nounced his intention to run for director of GCSAA. The survey results are out to the members who partici­ pated. Paul Dotti reported that the GCSAA educational semi- Continued on page 13 GCSANJ minutes Continued from page 12 nar on Turfgrass Traffic Stress will be held at Rutgers on January 16, 2002. The Member of the Year and Distinguished Service awards will be presented at the annual meeting at Expo. Gregg Armbruster is looking into changing the putting contest at Expo to a golf simulator. Ken Krausz reported on the progress of the picnic and The web site is now using a different format with some the dinner cruise. minor changes. Dr. Bruce Clarke updated us on field day plans; Bruce Peeples will attend a committee meeting. The search for a new dean is ongoing. Bruce is contemplating a turfgrass economic survey and the impact of the drought. GCSANJ will assist when necessary. There is a new Rain Out Shelter being constructed at the hort farm. Five new faculty mem­ bers have been hired, as Rutgers is continuing its commit­ ment to turfgrass. The enrollment in the four-year program needs to increase. GCSANJ will forward $1,000 to the Alliance for Envi­ ronmental Concerns as part of an effort to hire State Street Associates as a lobbyist. GCSANJ interviewed State Street Associates to formulate a game plan for our water restric­ tion problems. The meeting was well received. This was the second lobbyist we interviewed. The meeting was adjourned at 3:00 p.m. The July 12th meeting of the GCSANJ Board was called to order at 12:34 p.m. by President Ed Mellor. There was some discussion as to the financial status of the Water Alliance. It is “treading water.” There was discussion about hiring a lobbyist; funding and alliances with other organizations were discussed. GCSANJ wants to be sure that the decision made is the right one, as the water issue is so important to the industry. It was reported that Knickerbocker C.C., Sand Barrens G.C. and Tavistock G.C. are on the 2002 schedule. Roger Stewart and Paul Dotti are exploring getting an all-day education seminar in November. Ken Krausz noted that the picnic was cancelled due to a lack of advance sign ups, but that the tree planting ceremony at Crestmont C.C. was still on. The meeting was adjourned at 2:45 p.m. Are Your Ponds Greener Than Your Fairways? Pond Management Services • Algae/weed control • Aeration • Grass carp • GPS/GIS mapping • • Wetland permits • Dredging Environmental audits 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. ★ Contact us for a free quote! pH Princeton Hydro, LLC 80 Lambert Lane Lambertville, NJ 08530 Phone 609.397.5335 Consulting and Engineering Services for Water and Wetland Resources (732) 356-0858 2001 Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Days By Shaun Barry August 1-2, 2001, found the staff at Rutgers hosting all members of the turfgrass industry at their an- nual Research Field Days. August 1 was dedicated to lawn and landscape, while August 2 was for members of the golf course industry. Over 250 people attended the lawn and landscape sec­ tion. This was held at Adelphia, where much was to be seen and learned. Most of the attendees were from New Jersey. Even though it was a busy time of the year, they realized how important this university is to the future of the industry. I am sure that many of those in attendance will bring others when they get the chance next year. The golf course section also was well attended. There was a nice contingent from the USGA along with a busload of superintendents from Long Island. We also had a large number of superintendents from Pennsylvania. Between these two groups they almost had as many superintendents in attendance as we had from New Jersey. It just goes to show how many people have graduated from Rutgers, and how many people recognize what a great contribution Rutgers is giving to our profession. The final count for this day was around 200 people, so that gives a two-day total of 450. It seems that they picked up about 30 people each year for the last ten years. This program is one of the best in the world, and it should be something that you should not miss. From left: Jim Snow, Dave Oatis and Chris Carson are part of the large group of attendees at the Rutgers Field Day. Jim Baird (left) and Bob Dickison discuss the trials at the Rutgers Field Day. Earthworks - The Complete Biological Soil Management Company With the right soil, you can grow anything. Even your reputation. We start with the soil first and all of our products are agro- nomically formulated. We can provide you a comprehensive soil testing program, a full line of liquid bio-stimulants and the most complete line of Natural Organic Fertilizers available anywhere, Replenish. You can find out more by calling 800-732-TURF or look us up on the web at www.soilfirst.com. Dr. Bruce Clarke is the center of attention at the fungicide trials during the Field Day. (Left to right) Steve Chirip, Ken Kubik and Chris Carson prepare to view the trials at the Rutgers Golf Field Day. Earth Works Natural Organic Products Introducing The Replenish Line Of Natural Organic Fertilizers Dr. Plumley discusses the results from all of her trials. Call Century for Solutions Golf Course Irrigation ❖ Pump Stations Controller Board Repairs/Replacements ❖ Fountains/Lighting and More At Century Rain Aid, we have been working with golf course superinten­ dents for more than 25 years helping them solve irrigation problems. Your local Century Golf specialist can help you replace a few rotors, update your existing system or plan new construc­ tion. Century represents the industry's leading manufacturers and we offer a wide range of solutions to meet your budget and renovation schedule. HUNTER GOLF With Hunter rotors, valves and central control systems you can achieve reliable, water-efficient irrigation throughout the course. PUMP STATIONS An updated pump station can solve many site problems. Your local Century Golf rep can help you design and install a cost-effective pumping system. FOUNTAINS, CLUBHOUSE LIGHTING Water features and landscape lighting can enhance your course. Talk with your Century Golf rep for ideas on making your site more attractive year-round. BOARDTRONICS CONTROLLER BOARD REPAIRS Replace worn or outdated boards for Toro® and Rain Bird® controllers. Fast 48-hour repair service: 888-855-9132. Century has the solutions . . . call today for an on-site consultation. Hunter Golf Pump Stations Water Features BoardTronics Repairs Hunter GOLF Century Rain Aid More Than 160 Branches Coast to Coast 800-642-3706 www.rainaid.com email: rainaid@raina Controller Board Repairs and Replacements 888-855 Ask the golf course architect By Edward M. Beidel, Jr., ASGCA, RLA Vice President and Director of Golf Services Daft-McCune-Walker, Inc. Towson, Maryland the remodeling program will be achieved. Below, I will dis­ cuss several of the most important variables. First, there must be consideration of the course’s finan­ cial resources. Many private clubs have an annual capital So the facility owners or members have made the deci­ sion to remodel the golf course and a golf course archi­ tect has devised a Mater Plan. Now, the question is how fast can or should we implement the plan? An aggressive remodeling program usually describes an implementation phase consisting of one-to-two- years of construction. In contrast, extended remod­ eling programs encompass longer periods of time, anywhere from three years to infinity, depending upon the complexity of the master plan. Many factors, in addition to the plan itself, require consideration when deciding how aggressively Specializing in sand, stone and soils PRODUCTS MITCHELL GC-500 treated topdressing TriCure soil surfactant Crushed quartzite bunker sand Manufactured topsoil / compost Crushed stone and rip rap Green divot sand and mix Green waste compost Complete line: Root zone, tee & divot mixes, dry sands, drainage stone MITCHELL PRODUCTS Millville, NJ 856.327.2005 Fax: 856.327.6881 Email: dmitch67@aol.com Sometimes, in order to keep up the number of rounds during construction, courses will offer reduced fees to offset the less than optimal playing conditions. improvement fund. The advantage of such a fund is that the members have already set aside a certain amount of money each year dedicated to upgrading the facility. When such a fund is available, this may negate the need to seek addi­ tional financial support from the members. This, in turn, lessens the possibility that the remodeling project will be sidelined by a negative membership vote. When financial resources for the remodeling project are based on the rev­ enue from the improvement fund, this amount will dictate the speed of the remodeling project. If there is no capital improvement fund or if the amount is considered insufficient to support the scope of the project, several revenue support streams might be considered. If the facility is private, an additional source of revenue may be a special assessment or dues increase on the part of the mem­ bership. For public courses, and perhaps some semi-private facilities, increased greens fees may be an additional source of revenue. All of these are potential avenues to pursue, de­ pending upon the enthusiasm of the membership for the re­ modeling project. Another consideration is the owner’s/ club’s loan history and loan capability, which may provide suitable capital for the project. Obviously, the more work­ ing capital available, the more aggressively the project can be pursued. A second important consideration when determining the speed of the remodeling project is revenue depletion. As a result of golf course reconstruction play is often disrupted. In an aggressive plan, the course may be closed entirely or, more likely, half the course is closed for a two-year period (outward nine the first year and inward nine the second year). Thus, the course that pursues an aggressive program faces decreased revenues (from fewer rounds) during a time when working capital is most necessary. In contrast, an extended program may allow the course to remain open (through the use of temporary greens and tee boxes), but the overall dis­ ruption (noise and inconvenience of construction equipment, Continued on page 17 Ask the golf course architect Continued from page 16 detours and temporary features) will be experienced for a much longer period of time. Sometimes, in order to keep up the number of rounds during construction, courses will of­ fer reduced fees to offset the less than optimal playing con­ ditions. Finally, it must be noted that decreased revenue re­ fers not only to fewer greens fees collected but also the domino affect that fewer rounds has on the golf course sup­ port facilities. Fewer rounds of golf means less money spent in the bar and the restaurant, as well as the pro shop. If these facilities provide substantial support to the overall opera­ tion and financial health of the course, the long-term disrup­ tion of these revenue streams that would result from a more extended remodeling plan, may dictate the need for a more aggressive strategy. As noted above, noise and inconvenience of construc­ tion illustrate a third important variable when deciding the speed of the reconstruction project. Disruption to the play­ ers was noted above. Any time the course is shut down, there is a risk that patrons may find another course and never re­ turn, even when the facility re-opens. If only nine holes are available, players also may decide to go to a different course. For private clubs that have reciprocal agreements with other clubs, this is less of an issue. However, for public courses, closing down half the course or the entire course may not be possible, particularly in an area where there are other attrac­ tive alternatives. Again, an extended plan may result in more minimal disruption at any one time, but yet be compounded over the sheer number of years that the course is under con­ struction. Players may tire of yet another routing or another temporary tee. Furthermore, disruption to the course’s staff also merits some thought. Under an aggressive plan, the extensive scope of the work and the relatively short time constraints usually dictates awarding the entire project to outside contractors rather than having the work or portions of the work done by in-house personnel. Alternatively, when a plan is extended over a number of years and the scope of each yearly project is small, existing course personnel may be called upon to perform many of the reconstruction tasks. Thus, in addition to all the duties of keeping the course open and providing satisfactory playing conditions, personnel must often per­ form the additional duties of golf course reconstruction. If this extended project encompasses only several years, the burden to the staff may be manageable. However, as the number of years increases, the additional demands may cre­ ate staff burnout and a higher rate of personnel turnover. A fourth consideration is whether the professional per­ sonnel involved in the program (golf course architect, con­ tractor) will remain available for an extended remodeling program. Major golf course construction companies may not be interested in an extended implementation program, even if each yearly construction phase is part of a larger master plan. For those companies, even small projects require ma­ jor commitments of time, personnel and geographic loca­ tion but yield a smaller profit margin. In contrast, an aggres­ sive implementation takes on the scope of work usually as­ sociated with new course construction, and major compa­ nies have the equipment and personnel necessary to com­ plete the project within the construction deadline. Larger companies, with their extensive resources, are the “insur­ ance policy” for the course, having the knowledge and per­ sonnel necessary to “fast-track” the project. The real suc­ cess of the project is re-opening on time and, obviously, the more resources available, the more likely that this will hap­ pen. If limited funds dictate an extended program, the best alternative may be to use an established, yet qualified local Continued on page 18 PROVEN PERFORMANCE WITH Adams Earth Organic Soil Amendment AND Liquid Fertilizers some formulations include: • 0-0-25 w/Sulfur • 12-3-12 50% SRN & Micros 20-3-3 20% SRN & Iron • 18-3-6 50% SRN & Micros Sugar Cal 10% • 20-0-0 50% SRN PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. The Liquid Fertilizer Experts 38 Hightstown-Cranbury Station Rd. • Cranbury, NJ 08512 Toll Free: (800) 562-1291 • Fax: (609) 443-8038 E-Mail: pfc@plantfoodco.com Visit our Website @ www.plantfoodco.com Ask the golf course architect Continued from page 17 contractor who is comfortable working under the direct su­ pervision of the golf course architect. This requires the golf course architect’s commitment to provide frequent on-site consultation to the construction staff. Furthermore, it requires the course or club secure a commitment from the golf course architect to maintain his/her involvement throughout the extended implementation program. Because the golf course architect and contractor will be working together over an extended period of time, a good working relationship is vi­ tal. Accessibility to materials as well as other construction costs is a final area of consideration. If an extended imple­ mentation is being considered, there should be some assur­ ance that the materials purchased will be uniform across the years of the project. Varying the root zone mixes for tee boxes and greens, particle gradation of bunker sands, gravel backfill for drainage components will complicate mainte­ nance practices, which in turn will be more costly to the facility. Varying the materials also will change the playing conditions across the holes of the course, which many play­ ers will find unacceptable. Although variety in golf design and shot selection is a proper goal, variety in agronomic conditions is not considered a positive aspect of the course. Finally, extended implementation often is more costly in terms of contractor and construction costs than an aggres­ sive plan. For example, contractor mobilization costs in an aggressive plan occur once. In an extended plan, they occur yearly. Thus, like paying interest on a loan, you end up pay­ ing more for the advantage of spreading your payments out over time. In summary, among all of the variables discussed here, those related to project financing are probably paramount. Inconvenience to player and club personnel is another im­ portant consideration. Similarly to taking off a Band-Aid, one quick pull produces a lot of discomfort but it is over in a short period of time. In contrast, the gradual removal re­ sults in less intense pain at any one moment but stretches out the Band-Aid removal process over a longer period of time. In the end however, both methods achieve the same result. It sometimes is just a matter of the individual’s, or in this case, the course facility’s, tolerance level. For further information, contact Ed Beidel at Daft-McCune- Walker, Inc. at 410-296-3333 or email Ed at ebeidel@dmw.com. Daft-McCune-Walker, Inc. is a multi­ disciplinary firm of golf course architects, land planners, landscape architects, civil engineers, environmental profes­ sionals and surveyors. Certification: What good is it? By Randy Dayton, CGCS Having recently completed the Golf Course Super­ intendents Association of America’s requirements for re-certification, I have had ample opportunity to consider the values of being a certified golf course super­ intendent and the reasons for working toward that title. It is easy to come to the conclusion that the GCSAA has oversold the program in some regards. Earning the title will not guarantee your future success or safeguard your career. Then again, neither will a degree in agronomy. Both, how­ ever, will open doors that might otherwise remain closed. Like a college degree, certification does enhance your perceived value in the eyes of employers. The GCSAA feels that adding the “CGCS” designation to your name says you’ve gone the extra mile to become the best superinten­ dent you can. It says you are not satisfied with what you learned yes­ terday, last year, or last decade, but instead, that you strive to remain up-to-date with industry practices and technol­ ogy. It says you are willing and able to take advantage of any development or procedure available to keep your golf course in the best condition possible. That perception (and fact) can make the difference in a job interview. The GCSAA has done an excellent job of promoting the certification process within the industry, and many em­ ployers are now aware of its significance. Prospective em­ ployers often show a preference for certified applicants and often make certification a requirement of available positions. You can expect that to be the case more often in the future. Even so, there are aspects of certification that (at present) do not achieve some of the GCSAA’s loftier claims. Com­ pensation surveys, for instance, have repeatedly demon­ strated that certified superintendents earn (on average) more than their non-certified colleagues, but becoming certified will not automatically guarantee an increase in your salary. Likewise, you may not immediately earn the respect and Continued on page 22 Dr. Bruce Clarke speaks on turf diseases Basal Stem Rot Anthracnose (ABR) is a common stress related disease. This fungus resides in the thatch, and dur­ ing stressful conditions in the summer an outbreak is very likely. ABR attacks both poa and bent and the results are When soil temperatures are cooler, the pathogen lays dormant on the outside of the root system; once soil temperatures warm up the symptoms can take up to 6-8 weeks to appear. generally a yellowing and thinning out of the turf. Condi­ tions that favor the development of the disease are any me­ chanical damage to the turf such as double cutting or roll­ ing, low fertility, consistently wet soils and compaction. Dr. Clarke mentioned that the use of soft spikes has had posi­ tive effects in reducing the incidence of this disease. Cul- Continued on page 20 By Mike McCullough, NCGA Agronomist While many of the NorCal superintendents attended the Media Day at Wente Vineyards on April 12, I attended the Novartis Crop Protection Turf Dis­ ease Seminar at Round Hill Country Club in Alamo. Dr. Bruce Clarke, extension turfgrass pathologist at Rutgers Uni­ versity, was the featured speaker. I thought that a brief recap of the diseases covered by Dr. Clarke would be beneficial to those who missed this excellent program. Summer Patch is a disease that many superintendents encounter each year. This root disease can become a prob­ lem in the same areas on the course every year. Conditions that favor the development of the disease symptoms are hot and humid conditions, excessive soil moisture, low mowing heights, soil compaction and poor drainage. When soil tem­ peratures are cooler, the pathogen lays dormant on the out­ side of the root system; once soil temperatures warm up the symptoms can take up to 6-8 weeks to appear. Cultural con­ trol measures include reducing compaction and providing the turf with better growing conditions (i.e. raising the height of cut). Try to adjust the soil or rhizosphere pH to 6.0. Fer­ tilizing with ammonium sulfate or SCU’s products has shown some success in the suppression of summer patch. How­ ever, be careful when applying these products since there is a potential for foliar bum, especially when warm weather is imminent. Many of the newer fungicides have been effec­ tive in controlling the fungus (i.e. Heritage and Compass). Dr. Clarke recommends watering the chemicals in after an application has been made. This practice moves the product into the root zone where it could be utilized effectively. Reed Perrine Fertilizers • Grass Seed • Control Products MAIN STREET • TENNENT NJ 07763 SALES, INC. Your Partners For Total Control CLEARY 800-222-1065 ext. 5 Chris Zelley • Matt Anasiewicz * Keith Haines * Greg Mendina RIGGI PAVING, INC. Asphalt and Concrete Construction Paved or Stone Pathways Fully Insured CALL 201-943-3913 Dr. Bruce Clarke speaks on turf diseases Continued from page 19 tural practices that help in reducing the disease are increas­ ing mowing heights, reducing mowing frequency, not aerifying or topdressing when ABR is active and reducing soil moisture. A preventative fungicide program is essen­ tial. Start the spray program two weeks prior to stressful summer conditions and continue the program until more fa­ vorable temperatures exist. Low Nitrogen applications throughout the disease season can help in turf recovery. It is important to alternate the chemistries of the fungicides when controlling this disease. Many superintendents will tank mix N and fungicide applications. A couple of the new diseases on the turf horizon are Bentgrass Dead Spot and Gray Leaf Spot. Bentgrass Dead Spot is a relatively new disease that should grab the atten­ tion of superintendents that have new bentgrass greens. It was originally found in 1997 in Maryland and most recently found last year in Missouri, the Carolinas and Texas. The disease prefers greens that are less than six years old and are built with large amounts of sand. Full sun locations and hot and dry weather also favor the development of the disease. The diseased areas get no larger than 3 to 4 inches and look Bentgrass Dead Spot is a relatively new disease that should grab the attention of superintendents that have new bentgrass greens. very similar to dollar spot or cutworm damage. The disease is easy to identify as the black fruiting bodies of the fungus are very prominent and can be seen with a small hand lens. The damage generally takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal after an infection has occurred. Any efforts to re-seed in these dam­ aged areas are futile as the fungus releases toxins that delay germination. Balanced fertility has provided some relief of Continued on page 21 PROformance Golf Sands U.S. Silica offers quality construction and maintenance products: • Pro White™ Bunker Sands • Sure Play™ Top Dressing Sands • Sure Play™ Root Zone Mixes • Sure Play™ Drainage Media U.S. Silica Golf Sands áre offered from 12 locations throughout the United States including New Jersey. Our products enhance the beauty of your course, reduce maintenance and meet all USGA recommendations. U.S. Silica is the name to trust for quality material and superior PROformance. For more information, call U.S. Silica Company toll free at (866) 321-SAND or e-mail at sales@ussilica.com Visit us on the web at www.golfsand.com © 2001 U.S. SILICA Dr. Bruce Clarke speaks on turf diseases Continued from page 20 the disease. Avoid stress or mechanical injury, excessive traf­ fic and dragging in topdressing treatments. Some of the newer bentgrass cultivars have shown some resistance to the disease. Chemical control measures include the DMI fungicides on a curative 5-7 day interval. Gray Leaf Spot is a foliar disease that affects St. Augus­ tine, perennial rye, annual rye and to some extent tall fes­ cue. According to some local sources, GLS is commonly found on St. Augustine in Southern California. No GLS has been reported on perennial rye in California as of yet. The disease can occur in the spring and continue until fall. Usu­ ally the disease occurs in July, August and September when air temperatures consistently reach 70-80 degrees Fahren­ heit. The disease favors young stands of turf with overseeded areas being the most susceptible. Rough areas that are cut above 2.5 inches develop the most severe infestations. Drought-like conditions predispose the turf for infections of GLS. Researchers at Penn State have developed a disease predictor model that will alert superintendents when condi­ tions favor GLS. Culturally you should: avoid irrigating at dusk, do not use PGR’s or herbicides during the hottest sum­ mer months, mow only when the turf is dry and remove clip­ pings as frequently as possible. Summer fertilization is not recommended. The newer fungicides will control GLS, which is known to be a prolific spore producer. Currently there are no resistant cultivars of perennial ryegrass. Some of the newer tall fescue varieties have shown some resis­ tance to GLS. For a copy of Dr. Clarke’s notes, please contact me at (831) 625-4653 or e-mail your request to me at mike@ncga.org. Editor's Note: While surfing the GCSAA web site, I noticed this article about Dr. Clarke and felt it was worth reprint­ ing. PARTAC TOP-DRESSING GOLF COURSE PRESTIGE TREES Landscape Nursery LLC 732.446.7888 25’ Evergreens 30’ Shade Trees Don’t Cut-Transplant Course References 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 NJ. BY: FARM & GOLF COURSE SUPPLY 215/483-5000 GRASS ROOTS TURF PRODUCTS 973/361-5943 FISHER & SON COMPANY 610/644-3300 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION 973/263- 1234 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, NEW JERSEY 07838 908-637-4191 Golf Course Specialists Certification: What good is it? Continued from page 18 adoration of your employer and peers when you become certified, and the grass in your care will still die on occa­ sion. Over time, however, certification will increase your earn­ ings potential and will improve the perception of profes­ sionalism you receive from the people with whom you work. In addition, today’s golf market is highly volatile, and you can find yourself unemployed on a moment’s notice. If that happens, you need every competitive edge you can find to secure a new position as quickly as possible — certification can be a “difference maker” in that situation. It can also be a difference maker if you decide to relocate to another region of the state or country where you have no established pro­ fessional reputation. Again, the “CGCS” designation says “professional,” and that’s frequently what a prospective employer needs to hear. The cost of certification is very reasonable, especially when compared to similar programs in other professions (such as the PGA). The application fee is $200, and the com­ plete set of study materials for the test costs $370. Re-certi­ fication is required every five years, at a fee of $150. There are also a variety of seminars required to earn the Continuing Education Credits for certification or re-certifi­ cation. Each is accompanied by a fee, of course, and those can add up to become one of the program’s primary costs. With the implementation of the Professional Development Initiative, there will be a number of new means for earning CEUs, and not all of them will require attending a confer­ ence or taking a class. When the PDI kicks in during 2003, however, certifica­ tion requirements will change. The GCSAA Certification Committee is in the process of redesigning the certification test, and the goal is not to make it easier, so now is the best time to consider working toward certification. The decision is yours, but the basic fact is this: becom­ ing certified can help your career prospects, and will never work to your detriment. Reprinted with permission of the South Texas GCSA. Complete Tree and Shrub Care by Professionals At SavATree, we pride ourselves on our ability to provide quality care for your trees and shrubs. Our team of certified experts and professional crews can design a maintenance program to help promote health and vigor all year long. Some of our services include: • Artistic & Maintenance Pruning • Storm Damage Prevention • 24-hour Emergency Service • Safety Audits • Plant Health Care Programs • Construction Damage Prevention • Cabling / Bracing • Tree Removal / Stump Routing • Support from 11 Branch Locations • Lightning Protection Call Today To Arrange Your Complimentary Consultation! (609) 924-8494 (201)891-5379 (908)301-9400 Southern, NJ Northern, NJ Central, NJ SavATree The Tree and Shrub Care Company 2001 Patron Directory ADVANCED AGRO TECHNOLOGIES, INC DryJect, Axis Peter van Drumpt - Chris desGarennes - Chris Collins (732) 922-4743 ALPINE THE CARE OF TREES Arboriculture Firm Bobbie Carlos - Wendy A. Riehm, Designer (847) 394-4220 AQUARIUS IRRIGATION SUPPLY, INC. Wholesale Irrigation Supplies David Beausoleil - Reneé Muré - Joe Jaskot (973) 423-0222, (800) 922-0717 AQUATROLS Soil Surfactants Phil O'Brien (856) 573-9795 AT SALES ASSOCIATES Premium Sod for Golf Courses Chip Presendofer - Owen Regan (215) 886-6011, (401) 465-8066 ATLANTIC MILLS INC. Course Accessories Jack Brady - Diane Hill - Bill Vogel (732) 363-9558 AVENTIS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Plant Protectants Shaun M. Barry (732) 846-8173 JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. Irrigation Design & Consulting Jim Barrett (973) 364-9701 BAYER CORPORATION Chemical Mfg. Jeffrey Weld (973)208-2418 BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS Topdressing - Construction Mix - Sand - Potting Soil Gene Evans (717) 443-9596 BOHM'S SOD FARM Growers of Premium Golf Turf David Bohm (800) 624-1947 CENTURY RAIN AID Hunter Golf Phil DeMarco (800) 642-3706 CLEARY CHEMICAL CORP. Turf & Horticulture Chemicals Bryan Bolehala (732) 329-8399 ALAN G. CRUSE INC. Golf Course Materials Alan Cruse - Jim Cruse (973) 227-7183; Fax 973-227-1984 COUNTRY VIEW, INC. Design, Renovation, Construcation & Root Zone Mixes Scott A Bills (732) 560-8000; Fax (732) 560-0535 E-mail cvi560@aol.com DuBROW'S NURSERIES INC. Certified Landscape Architects,Ground Management Michael Branch - William Mulvaney (973) 992-0598 EARTHWORKS Natural Organic Fertilizer & Soil Conditioners Joel Simmons - Dave Geyer (800) 732-TURF EGYPT FARMS INC. Soils Steve Chirip - Dean Snyder - Dave Cammarota (800) 899-7645, (410) 335-3700 E/T EQUIPMENT CO. John Deere Golf & Turf Distributor Dick Neufeld - Tom Fallarcaro - Kevin Collins (914) 271-6126 FERTL-SOIL TURF SUPPLY Golf Course Supplies,Topdressing & Divot Mixes Marty Futyma - Cathy Futyma-Brown (908) 322-6132; Fax (908) 322-6332 FINCH TURF EQUIPMENT John Deere Equipment Dennis DeSanctis - Bob Fields - Fred Blaicher (215)661-0390 FISHER & SON CO., INC. Agronomic Products for the Turfgrass Professional Alan Phillips - Mike Fisher Mike Oleykowski (610) 644-3300 www.fisherandson.com GOLF CARS, INC. Golf Car & Turf/Utility Vehicle Sales Jon F. Schneider-John A.Czerwinski (215) 340-0880 GO WILD! NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Wildlife Consulting, ACSS Certification Consulting Christopher J. Markham (973) 726-0995 GRASS ROOTS, INC. Distributor of Golf Course Maintenance Supplies Ken Kubik - Keith Kubik - Jay McKenna (973) 361-5943, Fax 873-895-1388 REES JONES, INC. Golf Course Design Rees Jones (973) 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. Irrigation Distributors to Golf William F.Koonz,Sr. (973)379-9314 LEBANON TURF PRODUCTS Fertilizer,Seed,Mulch,Control Products John Farrell (800) 532-0090 LEON'S SOD FARMS Sod Farm Samuel Leon - Diane Leon Berger Irene Leon (908) 713-9496 LESCO, INC. Manufacturer and Supplier to the Green Industry Craig Lambert - (973) 663-3368 Brad Simpkins - (609) 758-7620 Greg Moran - Tim Reinagel - (800) 321- 5325 WILFRED MacDONALD, INC. www.wilfredmacdonald.com Turf Equipment Chris Hunt - Mike Pelrine -Tim Kerwin (888) 831-0891 RALPH McGILLAN Lakes and Ponds Ralph (609) 655-2281 JOSEPH M. MERCADANTE, INC. Golf Course Construction/Paving Joseph J. Mercadante - Robert T. Mercadante (973) 467-8622; Fax (973) 467-2225 METRO MILORGANITE, INC. Barley Straw, Echo Chlorothalonil, Biobarrier, Golf Course Supplies Scott Apgar - (914) 282-0049 Ernie Steinhofer - (914) 760-6112 Office - (888) 217-1039, Fax (203)-743-0458 MITCHELL PRODUCTS Treated Topdressing,TriCure Surfactant, Construction Sands & Mixes Dave Mitchell (609) 327-2005 MONTCO PRODUCTS/SURFSIDE Surfside Wetting Agents & ZAP! Defoamer Bob Oechsle - (215) 836-4992 Information/orders - (800) 401-0411 NATIONAL SEED NJ Grass Seed Distributor Ken Griepentrog (732) 247-3100 P&P EXCAVATING INC. Excavating, Ponds & Lakes Bob Laner (973) 227-2030, (973) 227-2819 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION Premium Top-Dressing & Construction Mixes, Golf Hole Targets,Turf Blankets & More Jim Kelsey (800) 247-2326, (908) 637-4191 PAVALEC BROS. GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. Golf Course Construction Anthony Pavelec (201)667-1643 PENNINK ARRIMOUR GOLF INC. Golf Course Construction Restoration & Irrigation Tom Ristau - Brian Ruhl - Rick Shriver (215) 914-2490, Fax (215) 893-4767 PLANT FOOD CO., INC. Fertilizer Supplier Ted Platz - Anthony Rippel (Rip) Tom Weinert (609) 448-0935, (800) 562-1291 E-mail pfc@plantfoodco.com REED & PERRINE SALES INC. Fertilizer, Seed, Control Products Matt Anasiewicz - Chris Zelley (800) 222-1065 RIGGI PAVING INC. Asphalt, Concrete ???? Frank S.Riggi, Jr. (201)943-3913 SADLON ENVIRONMENTAL Environmental Consultant Nancy Sadlon, John Sadlon (732) 560-9377 ♦ SAVATREE/SAVALAWN Tree, Shrub and Lawn Care Paul Carbone - Northern N.J.- (201)891-5379 Craig Decker - Central NJ. - (908) 301-9400 Chuck Bakker, Southern NJ. - (609) 924-8494 GEO. SCHOFIELD CO., INC. Golf Course Maintenance & Construction Materials Adam Geiger - Wes Perrine (732) 356-0858 ♦ SEETON TURF WAREHOUSE A Distributor of Golf Course Maintenance Supplies Lance Seeton - (856) 802-1713 Steve Rudich - (610) 253-4003 Mark Coffey - (609) 653-6900 SHEARON ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN Golf Course Design and Construction Chip Kern (609) 466-0666, (215) 828-5488 SIMPLOT PARTNERS Fertilizer, Seed, Protectants, BiologicaIs Fran Berdine-(845) 361-4105 Alfie Gardner - (610) 278-6762 (800) 228-6656 STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Turf and Irrigation Equipment, Environ­ mental Products & Services Fred Rapp - Blair Quinn (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 Bob Fetzko - Charlie McGill (800) 724-1024 SYNGENTA Turf Products John Fowler (610) 998-2896 TEE AND GREEN SOD INC. Sod Supply and Installation Owen Regan - David Wallace (401)789-8177 THE TERRE CO. Grass Seed, Fertilizer, Chemicals,Top Dressing Byron Johnson - Bob Schreiner - Pat O'Neill - Peter Glanvill (973) 473-3393 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION Golf Course Suppliers Buddy Rizzio - Ron Lake - Jim Dempsey (973) 263-1234 TURFNET ASSOCIATES, INC. Information Services for the Golf Course Industry Peter L. McCormick (800)314-7949 UNITED HORTICULTURAL SUPPLY Fertilizer, Grass Seed, Chemicals Gerald Fountain - Richard Baker - Keith Lord - Tom Hughes (732) 296-8448 Rich Bernard - (609) 414-9185 WESTCHESTER TURF SUPPLY Accuform Rakes - Miltona Turf Tools, Pesticides, Fertilizer, Seed Bob Lippman,Sr.- Bob Lippman,Jr. (845) 621-5067, Fax (845) 621-7180 ♦ New Patrons for 2001 KOONZ Sprinkler Supply, Inc. Irrigation supplier to the Golf Course Superintendent No one knows irrigation like Koonz 800-772-8486 39 Waverly Avenue, P.O. Box 55 Springfield, NJ 07081 Rain Bird Green-Releaf