THEGreenerside May - June 2004 Volume 28 Number 3 Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey THE CRESTMONT COUNTRY CLUB , Site of the 2004 New Jersey State Open 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 Writer Shaun Barry Please address inquiries to: Editor, The Greenerside 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523 For Ad Placement: Ineke Pierpoint 1-866-GCSANJ1 Art, Typography and Printing by AlphaGraphics, Wayne, NJ 973-692-9090 • FAX 973-692-9032 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 Chris Boyle, 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 The Golden Benefit Have you ever struck gold? I recently did in the dunes of the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on the eastern end of Long Island. The gold came in the form of free admission to the sold out 2004 U.S. Open. All I had to do was produce my GCSAA Gold Card at the USGA Will Call booth. They even provided complimentary tickets for my two 12 and under children. Thank you USGA! Have you ever been to the Masters? The toughest ticket of all sports is free to those who flash a GCSAA Gold Card. Thank you too Augusta National Golf Club! The gold card could be the single greatest benefit of membership in the GCSAA. Take advantage of it. If you never have, prepare to use it in 2005. The 87th PGA Championship is coming to the Baltusrol Golf Club on August 8-14, 2005. Show your gold card and you are in. But wait a minute - there’s more. Host superintendent Mark Kuhns CGCS will be providing a hospitality tent to all superintendents and friends who will be attending the tournament. Beverages and food will be provided by vendors. Pick up a commemorative program. Enjoy comfortable seating while catching up with friends. Did I mention celebrity guests? All for free. Don’t miss this golden opportunity. Staking my claim, The editor and his bodyguard drank $29 worth of lemonade at the 2004 U.S. Open held at the Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. The beautiful par 3 no. 8 hole of the Crestmont Country Club Classic bunker edging guards the 4th hole. Photo's courtesy of Peter Pedrazzi, golf course superintendent of the Crestmont Country Club. On the cover: Inset: www.gcsanj.org President's Message John O ’Keefe, CGCS, Preakness Hills CC TIME. Yeah, yeah I know what you’re thinking... more advice on using time wisely from one of those people wasting your time by asking you to read some lame concept of efficiently managing time. But no, it’s not what you’re thinking. This time of year is the time to use YOUR time wisely, not your work time but the time you take for yourself. From the home office in Wayne, New Jersey. Top eight things you can do to take time for yourself during the stressful time of the season. 8. Wear non-golf clothes. My wife and kids are always making fun of my wardrobe, all my shirts have some sort of golf related logo or name on them. You’d be surprised how much less you think about work when you’re wearing a funky tee shirt of some kind. 7. Just as all good money management people advise to “pay yourself first”, you should take care of yourself first as well. We as parents usually find that very hard to do, but the better care you take of yourself the more you will be able to care for your family. Wear sunscreen, take your vitamins and get plenty of rest. 6. Take your spouse out to dinner, even if it’s at 4:30 be­ cause you have to be in bed by 9:00. You know the old saying, “if mama ain’t happy then nobody’s happy”. Relationships take time and effort. I’ve found that those supermarket flower departments are really handy too. 5. Ask your kids about their day, they just might answer you. Just a moment ago my oldest daughter was going to kindergarten, now she is beginning her last year of college. I know everyone says stuff like that, but it really does all happen in a blink of an eye. 4. Call someone. Two weeks ago I got a call from a college roommate that I haven’t heard from in over 20 years. He is doing well, didn’t need money or a kidney, was just thinking about me after all these years and wanted to say hello. 3. Touch base with a fellow superintendent. We’re all in the same boat and two on a paddle are always better than one. You can just shoot the breeze or get a suggestion for a problem you have. 2. Network. Read Bruce Williams’ article in this issue of the Greenerside for great tips on how to take steps to build professionalism as well as gain knowledge. It’s a great way to meet new people too. 1. 2004 Crystal Conference and Golf Classic, November 3rd, 4th and 5th. A great opportunity for golf and educa­ tion. Great speakers with information on everything from preparation and renovation for a Major to Earthworm Control. GCSAA CEU as well as NJ, NY & PA Pesticide Credits available. Come on out and enjoy the camaraderie. 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 In this issue From the editor's desk..........................................2 President's Message ............................................ 3 The missing link: communication....................... 4 Calendar................................................................. 5 GCSANJ NEWS......................................................6 GCSAA NEWS...................................................... 15 A day at the U.S. Open..................................... 23 The missing link: communication By Brad Fox It’s the end of the day and I’m spread out on my recliner thinking about how my day went and all I can remem­ ber is “Brad, how often does your staff fill the divots” could be used to perform tasks much more beneficial to the membership such as double- cutting of the greens or roll­ ing the greens is even more frustrating. But how does one convey this message? or “Brad, why do we have so many divots”? This is very frustrating to me as a young superintendent who delegates every Monday, on which the club is normally closed, to divot repair to fairways. And to calculate the man-hours that The answer is simple. Again my recliner comes in handy along with a few Bud Lights. I brainstorm this idea of a “Divot Fill Party.” This idea would consist of the membership coming out and physically filling divots one by one. I thought this was Continues on page 5 syngenta The difference between is simple. a good course and a great course With a portfolio of products unmatched in the industry, Syngenta is a necessity for every great course. From herbicides to fungicides to growth regulators, we have everything you need to maintain healthy, green turf. Contact Lee Kozy at 1-610-861-8174 or 1-215-796-0409 to learn more about Syngenta products. Banner®, Banner MAXX'“, Barricade®, Daconil®, Heritage®, Medallion®, Primo MAXX™, Reward®, Subdue MAXX'“, Touchdown®, Trimmit®, and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using these products. ©2004 Syngenta. Syngenta Professional Products, Greensboro, NC 27H19. www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com The missing link Continued from page 4 a very beneficial topic as well educating our membership on an issue I believe is taken for granted. So, how does this idea proceed? This is where our club professional, Mark Mahon, took over. We debated what type of format it would consist of. I knew even if we attempted one hole, my word would get out. So based on the turnout we would later determine how we would set it up. Mark in­ stituted a sign up sheet in the pro shop several weeks before the date we set. Both he and I were very anxious anticipat­ ing what exact turnout would show. We selected a Monday evening; a date the club was closed from 6-8 pm. On Monday, June 7, my Assistant Superintendent Tammy Banks premixed and prepared divot mix material along with the necessary utensils to fill divots. As the members gathered near the practice facility, I gave a brief demonstration of the reasons why we were meeting. At the end the evening, twenty three members had enjoyed emptying eight EZ GO loads of divot material to the front nine fairways. I provided a post briefing expressing the exact intent of this meeting. The meeting was not intended to help make Brad’s job easier but rather to COMMUNICATE the etiquette of golf, replacing your divots. Brad Fox, is the Golf Course Superintendent of the New Jersey National Golf Club in Basking Ridge. Calendar July 29, 2004 Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day, Golf and Fine Turf, Ryders Lane Hort Farm II Contact: NJTA 732-821-7134 September 13, 2004 Monthly meeting, Pine Valley Golf Club, Clementon, New Jersey Host: Rich Christian October 12, 2004 GCSANJ Championship, Ballamor Golf Club, Egg Harbor, New Jersey Host: Michael Miller November 3-5, 2004 2004 Crystal Conference and Golf Classic, Crystal Springs Resort, Hamburg, New Jersey Host: Craig Worts Don't Settle For Average Turf, Make It Better With BASF. Insignia FUNGICIDE Emerald FUNGICIDE We don’t make the turf, we make it better with a comprehensive portfolio of innovative products that offer extraordinary performance and value. Insignia fungicide provides long-lasting control of key diseases for up to 28 days while suppressing dollar spot. Emerald*1 fungicide delivers unprecedented dollar spot control for weeks with a single application. And our other proven fungicides, herbicides and insecticides offer tremendous efficacy and efficiency that will make a meaningful difference in the quality of your turf. Raise the bar. Contact Bob York at 413-283-9675 or yorkr@basf.com. www.turffacts.com. Always read and follow label directions. ©2004 BASF Corporation. Insignia and Emerald are registered trademarks of BASF. All rights reserved. BASF PROFESSIONAL TURF We Don’t Make The Turf. We Make It Better. BASF GCSANJ news Obituary William R. (Bill) Riley It is with great sadness that the Greenerside has learned of the passing of our senior- most member, William R. Riley, on May 14, 2004 at the age of 91. Riley joined the GCSANJ in 1938. He was a second generation green keeper having learned the trade from his father William F. Riley, the distinguished super­ intendent of the Crestmont Country Club. Bill was an early pioneer of applying sci­ ence to the art of greenkeeping. He was the first in New Jersey to use the chemical 2- 4,D for weed control and developing boom type sprayers for its application. He was also among the first wave of green keepers to install green, tee and fairway irrigation on his golf courses. Riley was highly respected amongst his peers and was elected to serve them by filling the positions of Secretary, Treasurer and in 1961-1962 as President of the GCSANJ. He went on to serve on the Executive Committee of the GCSAA from 1962-1964. A scratch golfer, Riley won the GCSANJ Championship a record 7 times. Many old meeting announcements would wryly remark, “come and try to beat defending champ Riley.” Bill Riley’s professional career included golf course superintendent of the Crestmont C.C. 1939-1947, the Bellevue C.C. (NY) 1947-1951, and the Essex Fells C.C. 1951-1979. He also held the position of General Manager of Essex Fells from 1964-1979. Riley is survived by his wife Rhoda, sons Richard and William, five grandchildren and nine great-grand children. I 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 2004 season begins at Sea Oaks G.C. By Shaun Barry The GCSANJ tries to open its monthly meeting schedule in the southern part of our state. The thought is that it should be a little warmer and the courses might be a bit further along in the growing process. It also gives us a chance to visit District IV so we can get to tour one of their many extraordinary courses. 2004 was no exception because we were invited to have our April meeting at Sea Oaks Golf Club. Rolf Strobel had worked with Ken Mathis during the construction phase. Soon after Rolf took over from Ken he stated that he wanted to host a meeting. April 29, 2004 fit all of our schedules and we sent out our notices. It turned out to be a small day for attendance but anyone who made it there had a wonderful day. Assistant Professor Dr. Albrecht Koppenhofer from Rutgers University gave a very thorough update on all of his grub work trials. It was the kind of timely information that will help all of our superintendents and makes attendance at these meetings so important. Dr. Koppenhofer stayed for the lunch which was sponsored by Bayer ES so he could answer any additional questions. He seemed quite busy and I think he was pleased with the number of people interested in his work. As usual, we were finished with lunch and our speaker with nothing to do so we forced ourselves out onto the golf course. The field was split into two divisions and Doug Fraser (71) and Harry Harsin (86) were the gross winners. The net winners were Peter VanDrumpt (67) and Mark Peterson (70). We also had a blind draw for ABCD teams. John Alexander, Charlie McGill, Chris Zelley and Fred Rapp won with a net total of 292. Continues on page 8 Oceangro 5-5-0 Organic Granular Fertilizer With 2% Calcium & 2% Iron low dust economical low burn potential now offered in blends Produced by The Ocean County Utilities Authority 732-269-4500 ex 8331 www.ocua.com 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 GCSANJ news Continued from page 7 In the skills contests I believe we had the best 4 closest to the pin shots in my memory. There have been better indi­ vidual shots but as a group they were extraordinary. These holes were sponsored by A.T. Sales, Helena, Jacklin Seed and Storr Tractor. Brian Ruhl (1 ft 6 inches), John Farrell (1 ft 10 inches) and Bruce Bailey (2 ft 11 inches & 4 ft 11 inches) won these events. The long drive contests were sponsored by Bayer ES, Jacklin Seed, Reed & Perrine and The Terre Co. Bill Murray (0-14 handicaps), Steve Malikowski (15-49 handicaps), Jason Jackson (all handicaps) and Shaun Barry (55 years plus) were the winners. Jon Barlok had two skins and Bruce Bailey, Ed Casteen, John Farrell, Tom Grimac, Mark Peterson, Brian Ruhl and Ron Simpson had one each. Joe Kennedy might have been a big winner but he lost his Wilson Staff sand wedge early in the round and I think it affected his play. If you have found his club please let Joe know because he will never be the same person that we know and love. Bruce Peeples CGCS ended the evening with a pre­ sentation of GCSANJ plates to three members for their 25 years of membership. It was the highlight of the day for me because I was one of those receiving a plate. To be linked together with Alan Beck and Fran Owsik is quite an honor especially when you hear what these two gentlemen have done and what they have meant to the association. Our day did end much too quickly but not before we got a chance to thank Rolf and his staff for the wonderful conditions that they provided for us. This course could have hosted any tournament but we were glad that it was us en­ joying their hard work. We will return when they ask and I hope it is soon. PARTAC GOLF COURSE TOP-DRESSING 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! DISTRIBUTED IN NJ. BY: FARM & GOLF COURSE SUPPLY 215/483-5000 FISHER & SON COMPANY 610/644-3300 CALL 201-943-3913 GRASS ROOTS TURF PRODUCTS 973/361-5943 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION 973/263-1234 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, NEW JERSEY 07838 800-247-2326 / 908-637-4191 GCSANJ news The GCSANJ goes public and loves it By Shaun Barry If there is ever a GCSANJ Hall Of Fame for hosting the most monthly meetings I would have to believe that Monmouth County would be right up there near the top of the list. 2004 would turn out to be another example of their generosity. Dave Pease was asked to see if perhaps Charleston Springs GC would be able to spare 18 holes for our May meeting. Mr. Pease presented our proposal and it was ap­ proved. The only question was “which course would we use?” The North course hosted one of our Annual “C” Championships which meant that many of our members had not played it and the same could be said for the South Your Trees Deserve the Best of Care! course. Ron Luepke was asked and he checked with Jeremy Schaefer at the North course and Bill Murray at the South course. The answer was the same from both fellows. Their course would be ready. I am not sure how the decision was made but we got to play the North course. It turned out to be a great choice but I know that the same would have been said about the South if it had been chosen. The North course is the older of the two courses and it has matured beautifully. The fairways were wonderful without a single area of concern and the rough was thick, consistent and unfriendly but not unfair. The greens were amazing because they all putted as if they were the same green. These great conditions led to some excellent scoring. John Farrell (75) took low gross honors from Bill Murray (75) on a match of cards. Jim Cross was third with his 77. Continues on page 10 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 All Phases of Tree Care: Residential and Commercial BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS SCIENTIFIC TREE CARE SINCE 1907 Local Offices: Denville 973-983-1840 Lebanon 908-735-6619 Ridgewood 201-444-0002 S. Plainfield 732-968-0800 www.bartlett.com EarthWorks Natural Organic Products www.fisherandson.com GCSANJ news Continued from page 9 The low net contest was not as close with Bill McAteer smoking the field with a 62. Ron Simpson’s fine 65 did get him into second but only after a match of cards with Rolf Strobel (65) who took third. A.T. Sales, Jacklin Seed, The Terre Co and Wilfred MacDonald sponsored our closest to the pin contests. Taking advantage of their kindness were Bill McAteer (9 ft), John Farrell (15 ft 9 inches), Glenn Miller (4 ft 8 inches) and Bill Murray (4 ft 11 inches). In the long drive contests our sponsors were Coombs Farms LLC, Reed & Perrine, Storr Tractor and Wilfred MacDonald. The big hitters from their group were Fred Blaicher, Mike King, Harry Harsin and Jim McNally. Proving that skill, luck and timing are important in golf as well as in life, Ed Casteen, John Farrell, Mike King, Ken Mathis, Bill McAteer, Bill Murray and Jeremy Schaefer won a skin each. Bruce Peeples CGCS presents our flag and plaque to Ron Luepke for hosting the May meeting at the Charleston Springs Golf Club. Specializing in sand, stone and soils MITCHELL PRODUCTS □ GC-500 treated topdressing □ TriCure soil surfactant □ Crushed quartzite hunker 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 Mark Mungeam joins Dave Pease and the talented staff who work for the Monmouth County Parle System. We continued with a fine dinner created by Russ Pecchia and sponsored by John Farrell and Lebanon Turf products. This was followed by the educational part of the meeting. Dave Pease took the podium and he proceeded to introduce and thank all of his superintendents and co-workers. They de­ served his praise because this team knows how to grow grass and Dave was never better because he was speaking from the heart. Mark Mungeam was the architect on this course and he was our guest speaker. He described the challenges creating this masterpiece. His history lesson was thoughtful and very helpful. Having just played his course gave us the opportunity to better understand the decisions that led to the final product. You could also see and hear the respect he had for the efforts that Dave, Ron and their staffs put forth during construction and now the maintenance part of this project. We echo this sentiment and extend our sincere thanks to all of our friends in Monmouth County. STC Storr Tractor Company Distributors of Commercial Turf Care Equipment Proud Supplier of Toro Commercial Equipment & Irrigation TORO Count on it. 3191 Route 22 ■ Somerville, New Jersey 08876 www.storrtractor.com 908-722-9830 GCSANJ news The Ridgewood Country Club hosts the Invitational By Shaun Barry New Jersey is blessed with many wonderful golf courses and I am not really sure how people are able to rate one over the other because I know that I can’t. I do however know that there are some golf course that I just love play­ ing and I got the chance to do that at the recent GCSANJ Invitational Tournament. Our host was Todd Raisch CGCS and The Ridgewood Country Club. Todd has been part of this event for years and has been asked to hold this tourna­ ment for the last three years. The first opening was 2004 and we couldn’t wait for the time to come. We knew that it would be great and it was. The club treated us like we were royalty from start to finish. Lunch and dinner easily could have come from a 4 star restaurant. The food was so good it “almost” took my mind off of the course that we were about to play or had just played. The club treated us like we were royalty from start to finish. Lunch and dinner easily could have come from a 4 star restaurant. Yes it was the course that was the true star of the day. Todd and his staff did an extraordinary job. The only bad lie that I got was when I was in the trees or the water. Speaking of trees, I believe that there are over 300 less of them since the last time we played here. Their removal seems to have Continues on page 13 Your Total Source For Used Equipment S A L E S.B.I. TURF Innovative Equipment & Services Toro Workman 3200 200gl Spray Tank $7,995 Toro Model No. 07200 Hours: 1700 Commercial Equipment Off- Lease Equipment Turf Services Irrigation Supplies S.B.I. Turf has over two million dollars of previ­ ously owned Husqvarna, Polaris, Scag, Jacobsen, Cushman, Ryan, Ransomes, Toro, John Deere and EZ-GO equipment. We offer an extensive parts and irrigation inventory for all equipment sold Sales. Service. Parts. 1-866-765-8873 Fax: 207-396-5386 Web: www.sbiturf.com GCSANJ news Continued from page 12 opened the course up to more sunlight and airflow. These changes will allow this beautiful course to remain healthier and it has made it more playable for most of us who play this great game. GCSANJ President John O'Keefe thanks Todd Raisch CGCS and the staff of the Ridgewood Country Club for the great hospitality during the Invitational. a smart and safe shot and would leave me with a nice little wedge to the hole. He however FLEW the ball 256 yards and had a 15 foot eagle putt. This is not possible but he did it without swinging really hard. In addition to that part of the story it was his first round of golf since last August. A broken hand put his golf on the back burner. (I wonder if I took some vitamins ...lots of vitamins...? Ok I am back but it was a wonderful dream). Besides this shot there were other teams that played well and scored well. The host club took third place with a net best ball of 4 score of 124. Joining Todd on this team were Fred Marcon, Gregg Boron and Robert Kobel. Glenn Miller, Richard Graham, Tom Hassel and Jim Snyder got Manasquan River CC into second place with a fine score of 121 but it wasn’t good enough. Defending their 2003 Continues on page 14 PARTS* SERVICE* SALES* RENTAL Bobcat of North Jersey Totowa NEW! 201 Maltese Drive Totowa, NJ 07512 973-774-9500 Flanders 278 Old Ledgewood Rd. Flanders, NJ 07836 973-691-5790 Introducing the Toolcat 5600 Utility Work Machine. Visit our new facility, demo a machine, & ask about special financing while you're here! Equipped with AWS, AWD, 1500 lift capacity, 2000 lb. hydraulic dump and travels at 18 mph. 877-9Bobcat The team from North Jersey Country Club retains the Invitational Cup. (L to R, Bob Papa, Cary Edwards, Arlio and Ed Lapadula. Before I get to the teams that actually played well enough to win ( of which we were not one of them ) I did want to thank Mr. Paul Dotti for showing me something that I had never seen. Paul, Roger Stewart, Tim Christ and I were coming to the end of our round. Paul’s ball was 255 yards from the center of the green. He chose the same club that I would have chosen. He took out his 5 iron. This would be GCSANJ news Continued from page 13 victory was the team from North Jersey CC. Gary Arlio, Ed Lapadula, Cary Edwards and Bob Pappa blended shots for an excellent total of 118. They left with the trophy and I think they want to keep it in 2005 so come on out and enjoy a beautiful day and see if you can prevent this team from making it three in a row. I also hope that when Todd gets to read this brief sum­ mary of a wonderful day he will know how much we ap­ preciate everything he and the club did for us. Our thanks go to everyone at Ridgewood. Every person that we met was happy and helpful and it made a very special club and a special day even better then our expectations. Birth announcement Meghan Fowler wants everyone to know that her baby sister, Makenna Frances Fowler, was born on May 10, 2004. She weighed 7 lbs 15 oz’s and was 20 1/2 inches long. The proud parents are Cynthia and Dave Fowler. Dave is the superin­ tendent of the Bunker Hill Golf Club. When you need Rapid Recovery... AQUATROLSAQUEDUCT SOIL SURFACTANT • Promotes fast turf recovery • Eliminates Localized Dry Spot (LDS) • Reduces wilt • Doesn't need to be watered in • Won't burn turf • Money Back Performance Guarantee For more information about Dispatch or other Aquatrols products, contact Kevin Collins at (609) 841-2077 or kevin.collins@aquatrols.com AQUATROLS GCSAA news Networking By Bruce R. Williams, CGCS As we develop our careers it is increasingly important to manage a set of contacts that become a part of your network. Remember that for job seekers it is often not just what you know but whom you know as well. Taking that a step fur­ ther it can also be not only whom you know but whom they know as well. Let’s make a list of all the people that can help you in your Career. It is not necessary to use names but for this exercise we will use positions to indicate areas to develop contacts. Adams Earth Organic Soil Amendment PROVEN PERFORMANCE WITH 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 ♦ Fellow superintendents ♦ Former employers ♦ General Managers ♦ Golf Professionals ♦ Golf Association staff ♦ Local distributors ♦ Manufacturer’s representatives ♦ Educators ♦ Researchers ♦ USGA agronomists ♦ Media ♦ Golfers ♦ Neighbors ♦ Relatives ♦ Former classmates ♦ Alumni from your school ♦ Seminar instructors ♦ Golf Course Architects ♦ Consultants ♦ Headhunters ♦ Regional Agronomists for Management Companies ♦ GCSAA staff Continues on page 16 People you can trust. Quality you can count on. Vasta Farms Premium Bentgrass Sod for Golf Courses • 1107 Courses Landing Road Woodstown NJ 08098 609-685-3818 sa/es 856-299-0274 voice 856-299-6494 fax A Third Generation Farm Joe & Anne Vasta GCSAA news Continued from page 15 Now that you have a list of potential network opportu­ nities it is time to develop a strategy to build and cultivate relationships with as many people as you can. I will try to provide a few tips that I have learned, over the years, to help you cast a wider net in developing rela­ tionships. Business Cards Be certain to have professional business cards with you at all times. Keep your information current. The great­ est value is not in handing out your business cards but in exchanging them to develop new contacts. The exchange of business cards alone will not ensure the memory of your encounter. Follow up with an e-mail or a note to set you apart from the crowd. Working the Room Set a goal of making a certain number of contacts at any meeting or function you attend. If there are 100 people at a meeting it is reasonable to assume that you might walk away with 5-10 new contacts depending on the type of function. Target people that are leaders or influential in the industry. Most people are not interested in talking to you for 1/2 hour but surely will give you 3-5 minutes of their time. The Elevator Speech A long time ago I had a mentor that taught me about the “elevator speech”. He indicated that if you got on an Continues on page 17 RG The Reynolds Group Inc Engineers Landscape Architects Land Surveyors Planners 626 No. Thompson Street Raritan, N.J. 08869 Fax 908-722-7035 email: difi@reynoidsgrp.com ph 908-722-1500 " DryJect Aeration/ Sand Injection is tremendous. There's nothing else like it." Paul B. Latshaw, Superintendent, Muirfield Village Golf Club WE OFFER COMPLETE GOLF COURSE MEASUREMENT SERVICES BY A LICENSED LAND SURVEYOR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE USGA AS stated in "The USGA Handicap System" manual. 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 GCSAA news Continued from page 16 elevator and were going up five floors, what would you say in that short time frame to sell yourself to someone? We should all have a speech, prepared in ad­ vance, that would allow us to make a con­ nection with anyone. When someone says hello and asks what you do for a living you should have a quick reply that would be interesting and memorable. Although I call this an elevator speech it is more applicable at social functions, out on the golf course, in the locker room, etc. When introduced to members or guests, at my golf course, I like to reply “Hi, my name is Bruce Williams the golf course superintendent here and I hope I make your game more enjoyable with the conditions that you see today.” This usually leads to further conversation. The goal is to make a lasting impression. Continues on page 18 TERRE Professional Turfgrass Products Proudly Supplying Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Since 1960 PROXY Primo maxx GROWTH REGULATOR FOR TURF The TERRE Co. (973) 473-3393 206 Delawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014 P T C 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. GCSAA news Continued from page 17 Six Degrees of Separation In The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell talks about the origin of this phenomenon. He describes how a large group of people ultimately became connected to one an­ other by just a few, surprisingly connected individuals who provided a common link. Gladwell talks about how there are pivotal people in any network of connected individuals who know a lot of other people. Connect with those who are connected. When I meet people I try to find out what we have in common. It is amazing that I rarely find someone that I have nothing in common with. Usually we are familiar with a certain golf course, a city, an individual, a hobby or something else. Without probing you can ask a few ques­ tions to find common ground and expand into those areas of mutual interest. Points to Consider ♦ Don’t wait until you’ve lost your job to start networking. ♦ If you are clueless in the field of networking then get a mentor. ♦ Be prepared and consider every day an opportunity to meet and connect with new people. ♦ Don’t get caught without them (business cards that is). ♦ Don’t use a silly sounding e-mail name like “Macho Man” or “Time For Hemp” as it will gain attention but not in a positive manner. ♦ Don’t be arrogant and listen as much as you talk. Continues on page 20 U.S. Silica's Golf Sand Capabilities Have Grown 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 www.golfsand.com Email: sales@ussilica.com U.S. Silica Company 9035 Noble Street Mauricetown, NJ 08329 Come Visit Us On-line! www.gcsanj.org “The website has a lot of great links and it’s an easy way to keep in touch with local fellow superintendents.” Brad Sparta, Ballyowen Golf Club GCSAA news Continued from page 18 ♦ Don’t monopolize someone’s time. Five minutes is a good limit at an initial introduction and there is a difference between following up and becoming a pen pal. ♦ Dress to impress and look as good or better than everyone Since 1923 MATERIALS FROM THE EARTHS CRUST Geo. Schofield Co., Inc. P.0. BOX 110, BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY 08805 • Construction Gravels • Bunker Sands • Construction Sands/Blends • Cart Path Materials • Topdressings • Landscape Materials • SUPRGRO Topsoil • STABILIZER Blending Customized blends available with our new mobile blending equipment, ★ U.S.G.A. specification products. ★ (732) 356-0858 else in the room or at the meeting. Without saying a word you are sending a message by your attire when meeting someone. ♦ Don’t be shy. It may not be easy for some but, with prac­ tice, you will learn how to be assertive and make yourself known to others. ♦ Always be truthful and never embellish your qualifica­ tions. Overstating yourself will end up giving you a tag of being dishonest. ♦ Serious relationships develop over time. They endure because you work at it. Most people have little use for a person who uses you for what he wants and then drops you like a hot potato. ♦ Remember to repay the favor to those who have helped you. Take time to help the newcomers and youth of the industry. Extend your hand to them and be sincere. Continues on page 21 Armstrong Industrial Hose Products, LLC Golf Course Hose Syringe Hose WE MANUFACTURE YOU BUY DIRECT YOU SAVE $$$$ Clear or Green Available Order with or without our high quality brass fittings CALL US FOR ALL YOUR HOSING NEEDS 1-800-275-6547 609-883-3030 www/.armstrongindustrialhose.com GCSAA news Continued from page 20 In closing, it is easy to see why networking is so com­ plex. There is a lot to be considered. Nobody grows up with a networking gene in his or her DNA. It is a learned skill. By following some of the tips I have provided you too can get "connected”. While I have never thought of making new contacts as merely a lead for a job search, I can tell you that it has been the most enjoyable part of my career. I am one of those individuals who truly feels that the most important thing to me, over the last 35 years, is not what I have ac­ complished but the people that I have met along the way! Bruce R. Williams CGCS, superintendent of The Los Angeles Country Club, is a past president of the GCSAA. £ C C I No fuel. No fumes. No noise. The Jacobsen E-Walk and E-Plex" electric, precision-cut greens mowers. Revolutionary, ultra-quiet walk-behind and triplex greens mowers deliver tournament quality results without uttering a sound. It's a perfect solution for early morning maintenance near homes along the fairways and next to greens. There’s no gas to spill, no hydraulic fluids to leak, no emissions and best of all, no noise. And the E-Plex and E-Walk costs only pennies a day to operate thanks to a convenient rechargeable battery pack. Whether you choose the E-Walk with a 22 inch cutting width or the E-Plex with its 62 inch cutting width you'll be getting an 80% parts commonality with other quality Jacobsen greens mowers. Plus you get the industry's best warranty programs and parts access from CustomerOne™ Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. 19 Centra, Boulevard South Hackensack, NJ 07606 (888) 831-0891 www.wilfredmacdonald.com JACOBSENA Textron Company www.jacobsen.com ©2003 Jacobsen, A Textron Company Course Contractors, Inc. Golf Course Construction & Improvements Dennis Shea Division Manager P.O. Box 158 Mt. Freedom, NJ 07970 800-936-2652 • Cell 973-945-5938 Fax: 973-895-5578 Member GCSAA and NJGCSA For a free demonstration of the E-Walk and E-Plex greens mowers or other Jacobsen equipment come see us or give us a call. 2004 Patron Directory TUCKAHOE SAND & GRAVEL CO, INC. Golf Course Maintenance & Construction Material, Bunker Sands, Root Zone Mixes,USGA Gravels Lorenzo Romano - Ron Carusi George McRoberts 800-922-7263 Fax: 609-861-3671 TURF PRODUCTS CORPORATION Golf Course Supplier Buddy Rizzio - Ron Lake 973-263-1234 UNITED HORTICULTURAL SUPPLY/VERDICON Grass Seed, Fertilizer, Crop Protection Gerald B. Fountain Cell: 877-697-1199 Ofc: 732-296-8448 WESTCHESTER TURF SUPPLY Golf Course Maintenance Supplies Bob Lippman, Jr. - Dave Lippman 845-621-5067 Fax: 845-621-7180 WILFRED MacDONALD, INC. Turf Equipment / Irrigation Tim Kerwin - Bernie White Steve Kopach 888-831-0891 ADVANCED AGRO TECHNOLOGIES/DRYJECT DryJect, Axis, Break-Thru Peter van Drumpt Chris des Garennes Chris Collins 732-922-4743 ALAN G. CRUSE, INC. Golf Course Materials Alan G. Cruse James A. Cruse 973-227-7183 AQUATROLS Manufacturer of Root Zone and Water Management Products Kathy Conard 609-841-2077 BAYER E.S. Shaun M. Barry 732-846-8173 EAST COAST SOD & SEED Bentgrass Sod, Short Cut & Reg. Bluegrass Sod, Tall Fescue Sod, Installation & Turfgrass Seed Kevin Driscoll - 609-760-4099 FERTL-SOIL TURF SUPPLY Golf Course Supplies, Topdressing & Divot Mixes Marty Futyma - Cathy Futyma-Brown 908-322-6132 FINCH SERVICES, INC. John Deere Equipment, Irrigation & Supplies Fred Blaicher - John Barlok 800-875-8873 FISHER & SON CO., INC. Superior Products for the Turf & Horticultural Professional Al Phillips - 856-478-6704 Randy Rider - 302-242-6848 Mike Oleykowski - 609-267-8041 FLORATINE PRODUCTS GROUP Biostimulants, Soil Amendments, Soil Testing Richard Hendrickson 609-714-1151 GOLF CARS, INC. Sales & Service of Golf Car & Utility Vehicles John Czerwinski - Jon Schneider 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 JADA CORP. The Water Experts David Kronman - Barry Kronman 973-762-8002 www.jadacorpnj.com JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. Irrigation Design & Consulting Jim Barrett 973-364-9701 LEBANON TURF Fertilizer Company John Farrell - Dennis Smith 609-404-3143 LEON’S SOD FARMS Sod Diane Leon - Rudy Wedle 908-713-9496 LESCO, INC. Manufacturer & Supplier to the Green Industry Craig Lambert - 800-321-5325 John Fitzgerald - 800-321-5325 John Fenwick - 800-321-5325 METRO TURF SPECIALISTS “Customers, Our Top Priority” Ernie Steinhofer - Dave Conrad Scott Apgar - Gary Rehm 888-217-1039 - 203-748-GOLF metro@metroturfspecialist5.com MONTCO PRODUCTS CORPORATION SURFSIDE WETTING AGENTS LIQUID - GRANULAR - PELLETS ZAP! Defoamer Information: Bob Oechsle 215-836-4992 800-401-0411 NATIONAL SEED Grass Seed & Seeding Supplies Ken Griepentrog - George Rosenberg Barry Van Sant 732-247-3100 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION Premium Top-Dressing & Construction Mixes, Green Sand Divot Mixes, Bunker Sand, Cart Paths, Turf Blankets Jim Kelsey 800-247-2326 908-637-4191 PHILADELPHIA TURF CO. Toro Turf & Irrigation Equipment Thomas Drayer - Mike Hartley 215-345-7200 PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. 38 Hightstown-Cranbury Station Road Cranbury, NJ 08512 Ted Platz 609-448-0935 POCONO TURF SUPPLY CO., INC. Distributors of Chemicals, Fertilizers, Seed & Supplies Doug Larson - NJ Sales Cell: 609-335-0106 Fax: 609-646-8528 DPLll@vertizon.net RALPH McGILLAN EXCAVATING Lakes & Ponds - Ralph PO Box 544, Cranberry, NJ 08512 609-655-2281 RIGGI PAVING, INC. Asphalt & Concrete Construction PO Box 2214, Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 Frank J. Riggi, Jr. 201-943-3913 SBI TURF Turf Services & Used Equipment Jen McDonald Courtney Thompson 866-765-8873 SHEARON GOLF Golf Course Design, Construction & Renovation Charlie McGill - Jim Waitkus 609-466-0666 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 STEPHEN KAY, GOLF ARCHITECTS Golf Course Design Stephen Kay - Doug Smith 609-965-3093 STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Turf and Irrigation Equipment Blair Quin - Rick Krok - Bruce Wild 908-722-9830 SYNGENTA Plant Protectants Lee Kozsey - Bethlehem, PA 215-796-0409 TERRE COMPANY OF NJ Distributor of Pesticides, Fertilizers, Seed and Plant Material Dennis DeSanctis, Jr. - 732-580-5514 Byron Johnson - 201-321-2009 Pat O’Neil-201-321-2007 Bob Schreiner - 201-321-2008 Office-973-473-3393 THE CARE OF TREES Total Tree Care Services Brian Nadriczny - Mike Cook 201-445-4949 THE NORTHEAST GOLF COMPANY Golf Course Design Robert McNeil, President & GC Architect Traci McNeil, Business Manager 732-747-1888 A day at the U.S. Open Host Superintendent Mark Michaud guarding the 18th green. Somewhere in the Shinnecock Hills crowd was Brian Minemier and Gregg Armbruster. The flag flies at half-staff in honor of President Ronald Reagan. Only the TV tower was taller than the Shinnecock Hills fescue. John Hyland and interns from the Baltusrol Golf Club enjoying the tournament conditions next to the 13th hole. Officer Joe Bolton of the Suffolk County Police Department being escorted to the 15th tee by his security detail. 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