THEGreenerside January - February 2004 • Volume 28 Number 1 Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Reinvesting in Your Golf Course By Ronald S. Cutlip Your club’s most important asset is the golf course. Older golf courses across the Northeast are feeling the pressure to keep up with their newer competitors, and that has recently led to an increase of renova­ tions and remodeling. Most courses over 20 year’s old face a variety of issues, such as outdated infrastructure and irrigation, water usage, drainage, overgrown trees, agronomic issues, turf problems, or just plain wear and tear on the tees, fairways, bunkers, and greens. Owners, managers and superintendents alike know course renovations do pay off financially in the long run, both on the course and in the clubhouse. “Since reopening after our renovation project, we have attracted new members and have heard nothing but positive comments from both club members and guests,” said Turgay Itez, Club Manager for High Mountain Golf Club in Franklin Lakes, NJ. “Everyone has expressed nothing but delight over the course improve­ ments.” High Mountain Golf Club was built in 1966 by the Mc­ Bride brothers, Frank, Joe and Nevin, on 148 acres of the Galenkamp dairy farm. Present-day owners David, Moira, Peter, and Terry McBride, themselves avid golfers with a passion for the game, have upgraded the family golf course to a first-class facility. Elliott Lewis, CGCS, superintendent at High Mountain, was 100-percent behind the renovation work. As he put it, “Ron Cutlip’s renovations corrected a myriad of maintenance problems due to the age of the original course.” He added, “For the size and scope of the project, things went very well. It’s like unveiling a totally brand new course.” The success of your renovation project all starts with a solid master plan. This plan creates a unified vision, defines the goals and wishes of the club, and schedules the different Continues on page 4 Questions to ask yourself before you break ground. Answering “yes” to one or more of the following questions indicates potential problems with your current course design and/or conditions: • Are your course hazards still in play? Improvements in golf equipment over the past 25 years have created better golfers. Is your course still a challenge to them? • Are playing conditions unsafe? Improper setbacks and alignments between features can create dangerous areas on your course. • Is your course uninteresting? Does the original design lack variety in length, par shot value and strategy? • Do you have drainage problems? Too much or too little water often cause courses to close, or contributes to poor turf growth and other problems. • In general, are your greens poorly designed and constructed? Wear and tear causes compaction, poor drainage, worn turf, and other problems. • Do you have problems growing healthy grass? This may be due to an inferior irrigation system. • Overall, do your tees, bunkers, greens and fairways look worn? • Does your course need practice facilities? You can improve overall attraction by adding, updating, or refurbishing the driving range, practice green and bunker, and instruction area. GCSANJ Newsletter is published six times a year by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Doug Vogel Editor Newsletter Business Staff Doug Vogel 973-696-6495 • FAX 973-696-8086 Greg Nicoll, CGCS 973-762-0914 • FAX 973-762-0612 Contributing Writers Brian Remo, CGCS, Shaun Barry Please address inquiries to: Editor, The Greenerside 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523 For Ad Placement: Ineke Pierpoint 1-866-GCSANJ1 Art and Typography by Trend Multimedia 732-787-0786 • FAX 732-787-7212 Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey 49 Knollwood Road Elmsford, New York 10523 1-866-GCSANJ1 • FAX 914-347-3437 Officers: John O'Keefe, CGCS, President Bruce Peeples, CGCS, Vice President James C. McNally, Treasurer Roger Stewart, CGCS, Secretary Ed Mellor, Past President Directors: District 1 Gary Arlio Paul Dotti District 2 Gregory Nicoll, CGCS Brian Remo, CGCS District 3 Mickey Stachowski Bill Murray District 4 Gregg Armbruster Brian Minemier GCSAA Chapter Delegate James C. McNally Executive Secretary Ineke Pierpoint Commercial Representatives Shaun Barry Tim Kerwin © 2004 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. From the editor’s desk Let it snow We never thought we were doing anything wrong when my friends and I slipped through the large gaping hole in the fence that allowed us to go sledding on the Preakness Hills Country Club. What harm could we possibly do? Then, one cold January day, a cursing, arm flailing maniac came and chased us away. Of course this man wasn’t a real maniac he was just the greenkeeper. He wasn’t just any greenkeeper either he was the legendary Artie Elmers. Artie was one of the best in the business but he just couldn’t run in the snow. He never caught us that day - or any other - but he got his point across. Go somewhere else. So we did. To the granddaddy of them all - the Montclair Golf Club. What a great tract. Moguls, contours, hollows, grade changes. Donald Ross truly was a genius! Greenkeeper Ed “Chief’ Nickelson never chased us either. It was a win-win situation. There is no moral in this self-patronizing story, only an hidden agenda. If Brad Klein decides to add sledability to the Top 100 Golf Course rating criteria I’m available for consultation. Sledingly yours, Football legends Tim Kerwin and George Toma lectured the editor on winter turf damage from sledding on golf courses. New GCSANJ Address 49 Knollwood Road Elmsford, New York 10523 1-866-GCSANJ1 Ineke Pierpoint - Executive Secretary Printed on recycled paper Please visit our website WWW.GCSANJ.ORG President’s Message John O 'Keefe, CGCS, Preakness Hills CC As you know, the USGA is the governing body of the game of golf. I think we as Superintendents can be considered the managing bodies of the golf course. We are responsible for maintaining the design integrity, daily conditioning, and virtually every facet of the golf course operation. During our daily rituals we may encounter many prob­ lems, some are easy and some can even require re-growth of the turf which takes time. Some problems we just do not have an answer for. It is these situations that often require outside help and the aid of research. Most times a fellow superintendent, an affiliate member, the USGA or consultants from turf programs can help a great deal. When research is needed it can be time consuming and very expensive. In the Tri-State area, we are fortunate to have many turf programs from universities that conduct great research studies to ad­ dress the problems we face. Right in our back yard we have Rutgers University, which many consider the finest turf research facility in the country. In 2004, Rutgers will be conducting research on four golf turf related projects. Tri- State Turf Research Foundation, GCSAA, USGA, GCSANJ, and NJTA are funding these projects. The Tri State Research Foundation is the only one of these groups who is funding all four of the Rutgers projects plus another research project being conducted by Dr. Frank Rossi at Cornell University. The Tri-State Turf Research Foundation was founded 13 years ago to fund turf research related to problems in the Tri-State area. It’s governing body is comprised of three representatives from the five area golf course superintendent associations: GCSANJ, Met GCSA, Hudson Valley GCSA, Long Island GCSA, Connecticut AGS as well as three from the MGA. Funding for Tri-State’s work comes from annual contributions in the amount of $2,500 from each association and donations from individual clubs. Thanks to many dedicated contributors over the past Premium Bentgrass 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: (609)299-0274 Joe and Anne Vasta Sales: 609-685-3817 decade, the Tri State Turf Research Foundation has funded over $300,000 in research projects or made contributions to other charitable turf related associations. This funding has provided solutions to many turf related problems. Our need for research continues to grow, especially with increased government regulations on water and pesticide use. We need other answers! So when you see that $175.00 donation request come across your desk, take a few minutes and make a donation. In New Jersey, we normally receive donations from about 50 of the approximately 300 clubs in state. I would love to see 100%. If every club in the Tri State contributed we would be able to sponsor an enormous amount of research. That research will go a long way to provide superintendents with the tools and information they need to be better managers of our golf courses. If for some reason you do not receive a donation request please contact our GCSANJ Executive Secretary, Ineke Pierpoint or your GCSANJ Representatives on the Tri State Board; Chris Carson, Steve Finamore or Gary Arlio. SHEARON GOLF A division of Shearon Environmental Design Company SHEARON Construction / Maintenance Restorations / Renovations Arboriculture Design Drainage Experts Custom Spray Applicators Certified Irrigation Installers 337 Route 31 • Hopewell, NJ 08525 ♦ (609) 466-0666 5160 Militia Hill Road • Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 * (610) 828-5488 Contact Charlie McGill • www.shearongolf.com Reinvesting in Your Golf Course Continued from page 1 phases of the construction process. Some of the issues that are considered during the master planning stage are: • Outdated and Eroding Infrastructure If your irrigation system is over 10 years old, it’s time to consider an update, or perhaps even a total change. Drainage patterns also change, particularly if housing and other new development has occurred around the course. Catch basins, drainage lines, creek banks, and ditches all need cleaning or replacement over time. • Wear and Tear of Features Tee surfaces become uneven after long-term use. Greens get compacted from equipment and foot traffic patterns, and this could lead to drainage and turf problems. New grasses improve playability. Maintenance can be reduced by planting grasses that are more disease, pest, and mutation-resistant. In addition, bunkers erode and change shape over time, so designing new bunkers and restoring and creating a variety of levels makes play easier, as well as improving aesthetics. • Trees Can Be A Problem Celebrating 75th Anniversary fisher & son company, inc. The “Green Industry” Supplier SUPERIOR PRODUCTS FOR THE TURF & HORTICULTURAL PROFESSIONAL RANDY RIDER AL PHILLIPS 856-478-6704 302-242 6848 EarthWorks Natural Organic Fertilizer www.fisherandson.com Too much shade on greens and tees make growing grass dif­ ficult. Additionally, the root system of trees robs vital water and nutrients from the soil. Thus, a club may need to sacrifice some trees for the greater good of the course. • Outdated Design Adding tees and bunkers keeps the course competitive for all levels. Greens may need a redesign to accommodate suitable pin placements for today’s faster surface speeds. Bunkers may be added for strategy, direction, and aesthetics. • Stiffer Competition Flashy new courses open around you constantly. If you’re starting to lose play or members, it may be time to give your course a makeover. “It’s simply a matter of keeping up with the times, said Lewis.” “Keeping the number of rounds up is important,” says Pat Lawler, the Club Pro at High Mountain, “but so is providing our members with an exciting golf experience.” Improvements made at High Mountain include: • Tee surfaces were either added or expanded, doubling what previously existed (for example: #3, a par three hole, had less than 2,800 sq. ft.; the new tees have been expanded to over 7,000 sq. ft.); multiple placements were added, lengthening the hole by building new tees further back and serving a wider variety of player abilities. • Two hundred yards were added to the course length, raising it from 6,700 yards to 6,900 yards. This will help the course meet the challenges of new technology and advancements in players’ equipment. • Fairway grading and drainage were dramatically improved for both playability and maintenance. • The new addition of fairway bunkers and moundings added excitement and a new strategy to the course. • A new, double-row irrigation and pump system was cre­ ated to replace the original 38-year-old single row manual system. This has improved turf quality and soil conditions throughout the course. • New greenside bunkers and moundings were constructed around the existing greens, which were preserved because of their unique contour and large size. • A 4,500-square-foot addition was built onto the mainte­ nance facility. • The pond was expanded and creek bank restoration was implemented. • The old dairy farm’s stone walls were saved and re­ stored. • Continuous cart paths were added to extend the season and allow play during wet conditions. • Overall improvements reduced maintenance headaches, eliminated unfair or unsafe playing conditions, increased the Continues on page 5 Golf Course Continued from page 4 speed of play, and greatly enhanced the course’s image. As an architect, I look at an existing golf hole and ask myself, What does this say to the golfer? What impression does he get as he prepares to tee off, as he studies the lay of the golf hole, slopes, doglegs, fairway, bunkers, and green? In many situations, I can either use the existing land and features, and build upon that framework for the renovation design, or I can completely start from scratch. I present options to the club so that they can make the best decision, choosing between making their course new and dramatic (with moundings, bunkers, and grade changes), or restoring the course’s original design along with its historic gran­ deur. When a course renovation is completed, it should challenge the golfer, enticing him to play it over and over again. Golf Course Architect Ronald S. Cutlip, a 4 year member of the GCSANJ, currently resides in New York City with his wife, Cheryl, captain of the Radio City Rockettes. U.S. Silica’s Golf Sand Capabilities Have Grown • Custom Blends • Divot Mixes • Pro White™ Bunker Sand • Sure Play® Root Zone Mixes • Sure Play® Drainage Media Our Products Meet USGA Recommendations Trust U.S. Silica for expertise and technical support when selecting either construction or maintenance materials. Our top-dressing sands, root zone mixes and drainage stone are easy to apply and maintain. call toll free 800-257-7034 wvuw.golfsand.com • E-mail: sales@ussilica.com U.S. SILICA COMPANY 9035 Noble Street Mauricetown, NJ 08329 Building on a Legacy - the Stockbridge/UMass Turf Program Alumni rally to honor golf management icon, Joseph Troll By Paul E Miller, CGCS Good things are meant to happen, and it’s amazing how pieces fall into place when the time is right. A case in point is our campaign to raise funds to build a new building at the UMass Amherst turf research facility in South Deerfield. While the idea for a new building was first floated by Dr. Troll and others many years ago, it wasn’t until this past year that the need, the university’s commitment, and our willingness to pitch in all came together. Everyone in the business knows the history of the turf program in Amherst, and it all started in 1927 when Prof. Lawrence Dickinson started the country’s very first college- level course in turfgrass management and science. His “Winter School for Greenkeepers and Golf Course Foreman” started a level of practical instruction that continues today, and one that has been blueprinted in similar schools throughout the United States and abroad. The success of Prof. Dickinson’s program was that he focused on having his students understand the practical solutions to the range of turfgrass problems that arise on a golf course. Over the years, many prominent leaders in the turf industry (including Eliot Roberts, Joseph Troll, Robert Carrow, and Geoffrey Cornish) have made significant contributions to the UMass turf program, establishing it as a leading teaching and research program. These and other nationally known educators have inspired hundreds of graduates to assume leadership posi­ tions throughout the industry, as superintendents of prestigious golf courses and as managers of other fine turf areas. As Geoff Cornish recently wrote in his history of the UMass turf program for the book A Commonwealth of Golf­ ers, published by the Massachusetts Golf Association: “It is not possible to catalog all of the accomplishments of those who have attended UMass’s turfgrass programs and have gone on to maintain and enhance the golf courses of this na­ tion and other countries. Their contributions to the excellence 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 174 Plainsboro Road, Cranbury, NJ of the greenswards of golf are impressive. Without them and those who have graduated from programs at other universi­ ties, the playing fields of the game would never have reached their present state of excellence, providing the turf the golfer wants. This includes the nearly 400 courses that take up more real estate in Massachusetts than all fruit and vegetable crops combined.” We as individuals and as an industry now have an op­ portunity to give something back to the program that got us started and which continues to benefit us today. Geoff Cornish, for example, set an example for us to follow with his own extremely generous commitment to the turf building and for maintaining it into the future. There is strength in numbers, and we should all pitch in to help make this building a reality. It starts with each of us pledging our own financial support, and also committing matching gifts from our clubs. What we invest in today will reap benefits to us at each of our golf facili­ ties tomorrow and it will also show the university that we are behind this program 100%. When we invest, the university will follow, and our actions will speak louder than words. Our first goal is to raise the funds necessary to build the teaching, research and storage building at the turf plots. The establishment of an alumni advisory board will insure our continued involvement in the years to come, identifying areas for research topics, giving feedback in those areas that are most important to us in the industry. We are on track to have a building in place by the end of 2004, and it will be an opportunity to celebrate Dr. Troll’s years of service. We will be hosting a breakfast to honor Joe and others during the turf conference and show on March 3, and as part of that gathering we will be dedicating the turf research plots in Joe’s name. Between now and then, we can come together as a group to show our support for this project. A list of all donors to the turf building will be available at the conference, and there is plenty of time for each of us to get on board before the end of February. For information on how you and your club can be involved, you can call me or one of the other turf captains, or you can make your gift to the Turf Building Fund online at: www.umass.edu/development. The history of the turf pro­ gram at UMass is one we have all benefited from, but an even stronger future for the program is one we can make together, regaining our place as the premier teaching and research turf program in the country. The definition of legacy in Webster’s dictionary is “some­ thing handed down from an ancestor, predecessor or from the past.” Joe Troll spent his life preparing us in all facets of golf course management. His rewards have been watching the tal­ ents of those students prepare courses for U.S. Opens, Ryder Cups, State Opens, and routine member guest and invitational. Doing something in his honor is long overdue, and now is the time for us to share in this legacy. A Few “Hard Core” Facts The Toro ProCore Aerator 648 ■ Just One Toro Procore 648 can do all your greens in one day. ■ Wheels set within the 48” wide coring head so that wheels don’t run over cores making clean up easier and faster. ■ Designed for Maximum Productivity delivers a true 4” hole. ■ Variable hole spacing and speedier aeration with its wider coring head. ■ 50 - 300% more productive than any other machine out there. TORO Count on it. We’ll let you be the Judge. Suppliers of Commercial Turf & Irrigation Equipment Storr Tractor Company 3191 Route 22 • Somerville, New Jersey 08876 Serving the Industry Since 1945 908-722-9830 By Shaun Barry A dream comes true In December 2003 I started a journey that I had made many times in my mind. Approximately 23 hours of actual flying time (and 16 time zones) later I was in Australia. I expected to be surprised and amazed but not while I was still on the plane. It turns out that any airline other than Qantas must be sprayed for insects. The flight attendants open all of the overhead compartments and then walk down the aisle while spraying everything and every­ body with a pyrethroid. There were no exceptions and no complaints. I wondered what kind of reaction there would have been if this had happened in New York. Lots of lawyers would have been real busy. The country is really an amazing place. The cities are modem and full of energy and cell phones. Approximately 1/2 of their 20 million citizens live in four cities. In a country that is as big as the USA this means that there is lots of open land. You can see 5-10 miles sometimes without seeing a building. They have lots of farms but very few bams. With their weather it is ok to keep animals and machines outdoors. Expect to see lots of Kangaroos, Emus, Koalas and lots of Continues on page 12 Royal Sydney golf course superintendent John O'Dell poses with his on course transportation. 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 This horse drawn plough and scoop were the only mechanical aids used in the construction of Alister Mackenzies Royal Melbourne Golf Club. GCSANJ news 2004 Winter "Shop" tour a big success!! By Bruce Peeples, CGCS A large THANK YOU goes out to the three hosts of the inaugural GCSANJ maintenance “shop” tour. Mark De­ noble of Shackamaxon Golf & Country Club, Chris Carson of Echo Lake Country Club and Mark Kuhns, CGCS of Baltusrol Golf Club did an excellent job in making us feel right at home. They opened their respective facilities to any and all prying eyes and each one passed “the test” with fly­ ing colors. Sixty-three people, including superintendents, assistants, green committee chairmen, and staff had great weather and three terrific sites to look around in and ask questions about. The facilities were each in different stages of upgrading and it was interesting to see the various ideas and ways of making a safe, efficient working environment for staff and equipment. Krispy Kremes, four foot subs and homemade cookies also seemed to be a hit at the different locations! Roger Stewart CGCS from TPC at Jasna Polana, had suggested the idea of the shop tour and it looks like we may have a success on our hands! Mark Denoble was our first stop at nine in the morning. He and Glenn, their equipment technician, immediately started showing us plans and giving tours of their yet to be completed expansion project. It’s going to be a great upgrade to his operation. It was interesting to see the use changes recently put into place for various portions of the existing buildings for increased efficiency. Because of the close loca­ tion of his maintenance facility to the clubhouse, Mark had to keep the esthetics of the addition in the forefront of any planning. I’m sure Mark and his staff will be pleased when warmer weather permits him to complete such an exciting undertaking. Let’s hope we get a return invitation to see the final results! Chris Carson was just returning from teaching duties at Rutgers University when we arrived for the second leg of the tour at Echo Lake. His staff, including Wayne, the equipment and building manager and Ian, the assistant superintendent, Continues on page 10 The Pure Spirit of Golf Broad Vision • Careful Thought • Hand-Crafted Design Our team, led by principal golf course architect Robert McNeil, is a visionary group of professionals with proven creative and technical abilities. Through renovation and new construction, we’ve created exciting courses that remain true to our client’s expectations. It would be a pleasure to collaborate and explore the pure spirit of golf on your next project. (732) 747-1888 • e-mail: design@northeastgolfcompany.com • www.northeastgolfcompany.com ROBERT McNEIL GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT GCSANJ news Continued from page 9 had been ready and greeted us warmly. Chris’s facility is one that recently completed adding space onto an existing structure. He and his staff obviously are very aware of the advantages in having a clean, efficient work environment. It is something to be proud of and I’m sure Chris and his staff are. One came away from our second stop with many notes on improving our own operations! Mark Kuhns, CGCS, took time away from his busy schedule to act as a tour guide for the brand new maintenance area. Wow! There is no doubt that they now have a “state of the art” facility that compliments such a great, traditional golf course as Baltusrol. The equipment repair shop, pesticide application building, wash station area, equipment storage areas, office and residential sections are “all the way things ought to be.” Mark and his staff have a terrific place from which to direct all the maintenance operations from. It was quite special to be given such a cordial welcome and be al­ lowed the opportunity to visit such an operation. "DryJect Aeration/ Sand Injection is tremendous. There's nothing else like it." Paul B. Latshaw, Superintendent, Muirfield Village Golf Club Let us aerate, amend, and have your greens and tees each ready to play in about an hour. Exclusive patented technology injects amendments into the root zone while shattering compacted layers and aerating 4" and deeper. No cores. No disrupted play. No lost revenue. Superintendents who DryJect do it year after year. It's that good, that effective, and that easy. Seeing is believing. Call today for a free DryJect demonstration. DryJect The only way to aerate, amend and play in 1 hour Chris Collins 610-212-0656 Peter van Drumpt 732-922-4737 www.dryject.com We appreciated the feeling of professionalism and friendliness throughout the day from our hosts and their staff. A thank you, as well, to Shaun Barry for doing his usual standout job of being the official GCSANJ photographer! Everyone outdid themselves in making a cold winter day into an event we can all learn from in order to improve our own operations throughout the year. Bruce Peeples, CGCS, of the Spring Lake G.C., is the unof­ ficial GCSANJ Krispy Kreme liaison. Birth announcements Lance and Jaqui Seeton welcomed Kristina Noel into the world on Dec. 27, 2003. She weighed 9 lbs and 6 oz’s and was 20 l/2” long. She joins her sister Jenna Grace and makes this family a happy foursome. Father Lance is the President of Seeton Turf Warehouse. Brian and Frances Remo had a baby boy on Jan. 27, 2004. Jack Remo entered this world at 6:23 pm weighing 8 lbs and 8 oz’s. He was 21” tall. Mom is recovering quite nicely and Dad is enjoying being the father of two boys. Justin will take some time before he makes a judgment about his new brother. Coupled with Brian’s new job it has been a very amazing time in his life. Thank You On behalf of MAVERIC and the Veterans Admin­ istration I would like to extend our greatest ap­ preciation for all of those who have so willingly and generously contributed toward our organization and its efforts. Without your commitment and support our success would not be possible. To learn more about MAVERIC or how you too can be a part of our success by making a contribution, contact: Driving Range and Learning Center at Lyons Vet­ erans Administration Robert Valentino, Marketing Director (908) 647-0180 ext. 6884 • (908) 604-5850 fax Moving America’s Veterans to Employment and Residence In the Community. From the archives Ask Willet Wilt Think 2003 was wet? This classic Willet Wilt ap­ peared in The Greenerside in 1984 and reminds us that maybe there is some truth to weather patterns cycling through every 20 years - Editor Question: How wet was it this summer? A.R., Happy Valley Rest Home, Knee Deep, N.J. Answer: It was so wet that at one course they issued life jackets for any golfer who wanted to attempt the back nine. A neighboring course saw so much rain that the course su­ perintendent had a sign to keep their rowboats in the rough. The bunkers had become water hazards. This year, before a golfer got a starting time, he had to find out how the tides were running. When the wind kicked up you could see whitecaps on the fairways. The caddies were doing laps in the traps before they went on their loops. How wet was it? It was the first year lifeguards had to split their time between the golf course and the club pool. The turf grass roots this year were higher out of the ground than the grass blades. The Olympic Diving Trials were held on Your Trees Deserve the Best of Care! the fourth hole of a central Jersey golf course. You want to know wet! This year you had to apply stickers to the soles of your shoes so you wouldn’t float off the greens when you tried to cut them. This was not a year for chemicals that had to be watered in, this was a year for chemicals that had to be flooded in. One of the biggest sellers this year was pontoons to replace tires on golf carts. I asked one course superintendent, “When are you planning to open the course?” His reply was, “as soon as the tides recede.” At golf outings they stopped playing closest to the pin and started playing closest to the puddle. The guy who would win the longest drive was the one who could get his ball to skip across the water the best. When you turned on the pumps this year it wasn’t to irrigate the course, it was to drain the bunkers. A greens chairman told a superintendent, “you have to adapt to this wet weather,” so he developed webbed feet and grew gills. The only insects that were a problem were the ones that could swim. If you wanted to find a dry spot on the course, you had to stand on top of a bridge. One golfer had to come off the course after twelve holes because his oars Continues on page 12 RIGGI PAVING, INC. Asphalt and Concrete Construction Paved or Stone Pathways Fully Insured CALL 201-943-3913 All Phases of Tree Care: Residential and Commercial BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS SCIENTIFIC TREE CARE SINCE 1907 Local Offices: 973-983-1840 Denville 908-735-6619 Lebanon Ridgewood 201-444-0002 S. Plainfield 732-968-0800 www.bartlett.com From the archives Continued from page 11 broke. There is no such thing as casual water when you are up to your neck in it. W.W. If you want to relive the exciting moments of this season, purchase Willet Wilt’s newest book The Summer of Our Discontent. You can reserve your copy through Ken Kubik, Mt. Freedom, N.J. Willet Wilt, a well known Greenerside columnist during the Ed Walsh era, now hangs out in Florida with prominent retired New Jersey Superintendents. A dream comes true Continued from page 8 other strange animals on the side of the road and sometimes in the road. Australia is also blessed with some wonderful golf courses. My main reason to travel to Australia was to play Royal Sydney and Royal Melbourne. These are a couple of the courses designed by Alister MacKenzie and I am sure that he would be quite happy how they have stood the test of time. I wasn’t able to meet with the superintendent at Royal Melbourne but John O’Dell at Royal Sydney could not have been nicer. He alone was worth the trip. John met me at the clubhouse and he arranged for my round. He gave me his clubs, found a pair of shoes to wear, treated me to lunch and gave me a book on the history of the club. We also spent an hour talking about the course, what problems he faces and how he resolves those problems. I felt right at home. My journey ended too soon but because of John and some unfinished business with Alister MacKenzie, I will return. There are a lot more wonderful people to meet and golf courses to play. Shaun Barry, the GCSANJ bon vi vant, is a technical repre­ sentative for Bayer Environmental Science. Since 1923 MATERIALS FROM THE EARTHS CRUST Geo. Schofield Co., Inc. P.0. BOX 110, BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY 08805 Specializing in sand, stone and soils MITCHELL PRODUCTS • Bunker Sands • Construction Sands/Blends • Topdressings • SUPRGRO Topsoil • Construction Gravels • Landscape Materials • STABILIZER Blending • Cart Path Materials Customized blends available with our new mobile blending equipment. ★ U.S.G.A. specification products. ★ (732) 356-0858 □ 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 836.327.2005 Fax: 856.327.6881 Email: dmitch67@aol.com EXPO 2003 photo gallery Brian Lescriner and Rolf Strobel checking out the exhibits on the trade show floor during EXPO. EXPO General Chairman Bob Dickison CGCS and Enrique Lainez enjoying the sights and sounds of the Grand Reception. Jim Baird of the USGA and Jeff Kent of the Atlantic City C.C. enjoy a break between speakers. Chris Carson presents USGA Green Section director Jim Snow with the New Jersey Turfgrass Hall-of-Fame Award. Pete Horran of Lapinski Landscaping and Glenn Miller of the Manasquan River C.C. receive the 2003 NJTA Environmental Steward Award from President Marie Pompei during Expo. Both men were involved with helping the green industry deal with drought emergency issues with state officials. NJTA President Marie Pompei presented Mickey Stachowski with the 2003 Environmental Stewardship Award for his tireless work on the drought issues facing our industry in Trenton. PTC PHILADELPHIA TURF COMPANY 4049 Landisville Road, Box 865 Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone: 215-345-7200 Fax: 215-345-8132 Toro Irrigation Heads, Controllers, & Valves Buckner by Storm Brass Products Flowtronex Pump Stations Carson & Ametek Valve Boxes Kennedy & Nibco Valves Wire, Electrical, & Grounding PVC Pipe & Fittings Ductile Iron Fittings Four Salesperson Team Six Support Person Team Annual Service Training Authorized Independent Service Agents On-site Technical Training TORO Count on it. Toro Reel Mowers, Rotary Mowers Sprayers & Spray Technologies Aerification Products Utility Vehicles & Attachments Large Selection of Parts Demonstration Units Nine Salesperson Team Fourteen Serviceperson Team Shop & Road Service Package Programs Leasing Options On-site Service Training Service Seminars & Continuing Education Courses Largest supplier of turf and irrigation equipment in Eastern PA, Southern NJ, and Newcastle County, DE. Equipment & Irrigation, Parts, Sales, Service you can count on. PARTAC TOP-DRESSING GOLF COURSE AMERICA'S PREMIUM TOP DRESSINGS HEAT TREATED AVAILABLE IN BULK OR BAGS PLUS CONSTRUCTION MIXES FOR GREENS & TEES, WHITE BUNKER SANDS, CART PATH & DIVOT REPAIR MIXES AND MUCH MORE! Professional Turfgrass Products Proudly Supplying Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Since 1960 PROXY GROWTH REGULATOR DISTRIBUTED IN NJ. BY: FARM & GOLF COURSE SUPPLY 215/483-5000 FISHER & SON COMPANY 610/644-3300 GRASS ROOTS TURF PRODUCTS 973/361-5943 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION 973/263-1234 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, NEW |ERSEY 07838 800-247-2326 / 908-637-4191 The TERRE Co. (973) 473-3393 206 Delawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014 ADVANCED AGRO TECHNOLOGIES, INC. DryJect, Axis Peter van Drumpt - Chris desGarennes - Chris Collins (732) 922-4743 THE CARE OF TREES Arboriculture Firm Wayne McCormick (201)445-4949 AQUATROLS Soil Surfactants Kathy Conard (609) 239-1248 A T SALES ASSOCIATES, LTD. Sod Sales & Installation Chip Presendofer - Owen Regan (888) 442-2322, (401) 465-8066 BAYER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Plant Protectants Shaun M. Barry (732) 846-8173 JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. Irrigation Design & Consulting Jim Barrett (973) 364-9701 BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS Top Dressing, Divot Mix, Cust. Mix Gene Evans - Chuck Evans (570) 443-9596 BOHM'S SOD FARM Growers of Premium Golf Turf David Bohm (800) 624-1947 CLEARY CHEMICAL CORPORATION Turf & Ornamental Chemicals Bryan Bolehala (732) 329-8399 ALAN G. CRUSE INC. Golf Course Materials Alan Cruse - Jim Cruse (973) 227-7183; Fax (973) 227-1984 EARTHWORKS NATURAL ORGANIC PRODUCTS, INC. Organic Fertilizer Joel Simmons - Tina Woolverton (610) 250-9560 EAST COAST SOD & SEED Bentgrass,Fine Fescue,Tall Fescue, Bluegrass Sod, Installation &Turfgrass Seed Kevin Driscoll (609) 760-4099 EGYPT FARMS INC. Soils Steve Chirip - Dean Snyder - Dave Cammarota (800) 899-7645, (410) 335-3700 2004 Patron Directory E/T EQUIPMENT CO. John Deere Golf &Turf/Sales & Service Dick Neufeld - Kevin Collins - Tom Fallacaro (914) 271-6126 JOSEPH M. MERCADANTE, INC. Golf Course Construction/Paving Joseph J. Mercadante - Robert T. Mercadante (973) 763-2300; Fax (973) 763-2321 FERTL-SOIL TURF SUPPLY Golf Course Supplies,Topdressing & Divot Mixes Marty Futyma - Cathy Futyma-Brown (908) 322-6132 FINCH SERVICES INC. John Deere Golf & Turf Products Jon Barlok - Southern NJ. Fred Blaicher - Central N J. Paul Brandon - Branch Manager (215) 661-039 FLORATINE PRODUCTS GROUP Soil Analysis, Foliar & Soil Amendments Rich Hendrickson - (609) 714-1151 Eric Hanisko - (732) 841-2584 GOLF CARS, INC. Golf Car & Utility Vehicle Jon Schneider, John Czerwinski (215) 340-0880 GRASS ROOTS, INC. Distributor of Golf Course Maintenance Supplies Ken Kubik - Keith Kubik - Jay McKenna (973) 361-5943; Fax (973) 895-1388 JOHN DEERE GOLF & TURF Fred Blaicher, III (800) 875-8873 REES JONES, INC. Golf Course Design Rees Jones (973) 744-4031 KOONZ SPRINKLER SUPPLY, INC. Irrigation Distributors to Golf Willliam F.Koonz,Sr. (973) 379-9314 LEBANON TURF PRODUCTS Fertilizer John Farrell (800) 532-0090 LEON'S SOD FARMS Sod Diane Leon (908)713-9496 LESCO, INC. Manufacturer and Supplier to the Green Industry Craig Lambert - (973) 663-3368 Greg Moran - 800-321-5325 Tim Reinagel - (800) 321-5325 METRO TURF SPECIALISTS Customers Our Top Priority Scott Apgar, Ernie Steinhofer, Dennis Petruzzelli, Scott Tretera Office - (888) 217-1039; Fax (203) 743-0458 MONTCO PRODUCTS CORP. SURFSIDE WETTING AGENTS Liquid, Granular, Pellets ZAP! Defoamer Bob Oechsle/Montco Products (800) 401-0411 NATIONAL SEED Grass Seed & Seeding Supplies Ken Griepentrog - George Rosenberg - Barry Van Sant (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, Green Sand Divot Mixes, Bunker Sands, Cart Paths, Golf Hole Targets, Turf Blankets Jim Kelsey (800) 247-2326, (908) 637-4191 PAVELEC BROS. GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION CO. INC. Golf Course Construction/Renovation Anthony Pavelec,Jr. (973) 667-1643 PENNINK ARRIMOUR GOLF INC. Golf Course Construction, Renovation & Irrigation Tom Ristau - Rick Shriver, Irrigation - Brian Ruhl (215)914-2490; Fax (215) 914-2493 PLANT FOOD CO. INC. Fertilizer Supplier Ted Platz - Michael Jancer - Brad Simpkins Tom Weinert (609) 448-0935, (800) 562-1291 E-mail pfc@plantfoodco.com REED & PERRINE SALES INC. Fertilizer, Seed, Control Products Chris Zelley - Keith Haines - Chuck Reynolds (800) 222-1065, Ext. 16 WILFRED MacDONALD, INC. Turf Equipment Tim Kerwin - Chris Hunt - Mike Pelrine (888) 831-0891 RIGGI PAVING INC. Asphalt, Concrete Frank S.Riggi,Jr. (201)943-3913 RALPH McGILLAN EXCAVATING L.L.C. Lakes & Ponds Ralph (609) 655-2281 SADLON ENVIRONMENTAL Environmental Consultant Nancy Sadlon - John Sadlon (732) 560-9377 GEORGE SCHOFIELD CO., INC. Sand, Stone, Soil Supplier Wes Perrine - Adam Geiger (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 SIMPLOT PARTNERS Suppliers of Fertilizers, Seed, Protectorants and Specialty Products to the Golf Course Industry Fran Berdine - (845) 361-4105 Alfie Gardiner - (610) 278-6762 (800) 228-6656 STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Turf and Irrigation Equipment Blair Quin - Rick Krok - Bruce Wild (908) 722-9830 WILLIAM STOTHOFF CO., INC. Well Drilling, Pump Sales and Service David C. Stothoff- Bill Snyder (908) 782-2714; Fax (908) 782-4131 SYNGENTA PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS Chemical Manufacturer John Fowler - Lee Kozsey (610) 861 - 8174 Cell (215) 796-0409 (610) 998-2896 THE TERRE CO. OF NJ INC. Grass Seed, Fertilizer, Plants, Chemicals, Top Dressing Dennis DeSanctis, Jr. - Byron Johnson - Bob Schreiner - Pat O'Neill (973) 473-3393; Fax (973) 473-4402 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION Golf Course Supplier Buddy Rizzio - Ron Lake - Jim Dempsey (973) 263-1234 TURFNET/THE GOLFWEEK GROUP Publications, Information Services Peter L. McCormick (800)314-7929 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 INC. Golf Course Supplies Bob Lippman, Jr.- Bob Lippman,Sr. - Dave Lippman (845) 621 -5067; Fax (845) 621-7180 KOONZ Sprinkler Supply, Inc. Supplier of irrigation and turfgrass products to the Golf Course Superintendent For more information call: 973-379-9314 39 Waverly Avenue P.O.Box 55 Springfield, NJ 07081 Rain Bird Floratine Invested In The Wonder