THEGREENERSIDE Fall 2009 • Volume 33 Number 4 Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey God Bless America Merry Christmas and Fairmount Country Club Chatham, NJ Photo Courtesy of Vince Bracken, Superintendent Met Team Championship PLAINFIELD CC IS OUTSTANDING/ WE DIDN'T WIN DARN! GCSANJ Team Finishes First New Jersey Chapter GCSAA GCSANJ Newsletter is published four times a year by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Jim Cadott, Editor Contributing Writer & Photographer Shaun Barry Please address inquiries to: Editor, The Greenerside 25 US Hwy 46 W, Wayne NJ 07470 Layout, Design, & Ad Placement: Cece Peabody, Executive Director 1-866-GCSANJ1 Printing by AlphaGraphics, Totowa, NJ 973-812-6600 • FAX 973-812-6601 Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey 25 US Highway 46 West Wayne, New Jersey 07470 1-866-GCSANJ1 • FAX 973-812-6529 Officers: Bill Murray, President Paul Dotti, Vice President Lance Rogers, CGCS, Secretary Chris Boyle, CGCS, Treasurer Mickey Stachowski, Past President Directors: District I Andy Schuckers Scott Bosetti District II Mark Griff Michael Campbell District III Jim Cadott Anthony DiBartolomeo District IV Jeffrey Staeger Wendell Beakley Rutgers Liaisons Dr. Bruce Clarke Dr. James Murphy GCSAA Chapter Delegate James C. McNally Bill Murray, Alternate Executive Director Cece Peabody, MAT, CMP Commercial Representatives Shaun Barry & Brad Simpkins © 2009 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. In this Issue President’s Message................................................. 4 Executive Director & Calendar................................. 5 A Visit to Pine Valley................................................. 6 10 Tips to Get Fiscally Fit.......................................... 8 Member of the Year -- Bill Murray............................. 10 Bamm Hollow Returns to GCSANJ Schedule........ 11 Liberty National Hosts the Barclays....................... 12 Research on Herbicide...for Bentgrass................... 17 The RTJ Turns 21....................................................... 21 Gates of Paradise Open for GCSANJ...................... 25 District & Member News ........................................... 28 Membership Application............................................. 33 Core Cultivation & Stressful Weather................... 35 Patron Directory................................................................38 Welcome New Members! Charlie Fultz, AF, Grigg Brothers Joseph Gentile, C, Colts Neck Golf Club Luke Hazley, C, Sea Oak Golf Club Coby Mattison, C, Rumson Country Club Richard Mattone, C, Navesink CC -- GCSANJ News EMAIL link -- gcsanjnews@gmail.com Do we have your current email address so you can receive notices about all our events? Send it to: execdirector@gcsanj.org with the subject “GCSANJ Email Address” COVER PHOTO Fairmount Country Club, Chatham NJ Photo Courtesy of Vince Bracken President's Message As I head into the second year of my presidency, Beginning this spring with an enjoyable round of I have come to appreciate even more the diversity of its people and the beauty that the state of New Jersey has to offer. golf in some of the most blustery conditions at the Wildwood Country Club on the shore in southern Jersey to watching the PGA pros play golf under the majestic skyline of New York City and the view of Lady Liberty at Liberty National Golf Club for the PGA’s Barclay’s Tournament, I have enjoyed every minute. The fall ended with trips to our association’s golf championship at the number 1 course in the world, Pine Valley Golf Club, in the southwest part of the state, and to what I believe is the best education seminars offered in this state (or any other) in the northwest mountains at Crystal Springs Resorts while playing golf at the Black Bear Golf Course. In between all of those events, I had the pleasure of visiting numerous facilities across this state, too many to name, but which I would like to thank and commend all of you for being gracious hosts and making us feel at home. It was a most memorable and enjoyable year for me, and I look forward to this coming year as equally inspiring. In these troubled economic times that we all face, I feel extra care should be given to keeping open lines of communication between the superintendent, greens committees and club managers. In the past few weeks it has been brought to my attention there is a growing trend for clubs to eliminate long time superintendents and replace them with less experienced and less expensive employees. Clubs are looking at any way to cuts costs and it is up to you to be aware of any ongoing trends and conflicts that may arise that could cost you your position. Making yourself accessible to all club committees, attending all club meetings possible, and keeping yourself visible to your membership are great ways to maintain a good relationship with your membership. Another solid idea is to keep improving yourself with continuing education while expanding your knowledge of modern business practices which could include communication seminars, computer training William Murray, Shark River Golf Club classes, understanding your irrigation system, and overall office efficiency. When you are a valuable asset to your club, you have a better chance of staying in your position. needs more dialogue, maybe in the form of committee work and future roundtable discussions. I welcome your ideas and thoughts. As you can see this is a serious subject that Please free to contact me as soon as possible if Your membership is important to this On behalf of the association I would like to wish all members and their families a Happy Thanksgiving and a most joyous Christmas season. association, and we hope that you make the most of the contacts, the information, and the networking. you have any concerns, if you would like to participate on a committee, and even if you just need to blow off some built up steam. We as an association can tackle this problem together before it takes a wrong turn. Bill Murray Liston io a responsof rom John Alexander, GC Supt. at Cranbury Golf Club, about bis recent posting i In the job employment I section of our website: “Youguys are thebest, the response \vn$ over whelming?" Visit the GCSANJ's website today! www.gcsanj.org 2 0 10 CALENDAR Check calendar for updates and signup info. WWW.GCSANJ.ORG • February 8-12, 2010: Golf Industry Show San Diego, CA www.gcsaa.org • May 3, 2010: Golf Classic Rutgers Turfgrass Research Fiddlers Elbow Country Club, Far Hills NJ www.njturfgrass.org New Jersey is once again Number 1! We won the MET team championship by one stoke on October 5th at Plainfield Country Club. Travis Pauley had the course in tremendous condition. Hats off to him! Scores as follow: Gross Teams Alexander 77 Kunesch Beakley 70 Granahan Swiatlowski 81 Ross Net Teams Boyle Murray 66 Know where this is**? Ask Kevin Driscoll..he was actually trying to hit the ball... Make the Most of ‘It'.. Cece Peabody, MAT, CMP Executive Director So, what’s the ‘it’? The ‘it’ I’m referring to is Your Membership in the New Jersey Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association. Are you making the most of ‘it’? Members join an organization for many reasons...and these reasons become your benefits for being part of this organization. You can be as involved as you want to be, and the more involved you are, the more you get out of ‘it’. Below are the published benefits of being a member of GCSANJ: • MEMBERSHIP in a statewide association that links golf course and turf management professionals, manufacturers and education- all with your best interests in mind. • EDUCATION through an array of seminars and continuing education courses. GCSANJ meetings can earn education/service units necessary to apply and retain Class A and Certification status. • FELLOWSHIP with golf and turf professionals through social events, the Annual Crystal Conference, roundtable meetings and monthly meetings, which include golf throughout New Jersey. • GCSANJ FOUNDATION • PUBLICATIONS - The Greenerside is filled with information including: names of your Board of Directors, President’s message, news on upcoming and past events, research articles, personal news, updates on current members, and great articles from members and a patron directory. • STEWARDSHIP of our environment and support for programs of turf research through our association and with our allied associations: AWC, NJGIC and the NJTA. • NETWORKING through our website. Send me a note with ONE thing you have done, ONE thing you have learned, or ONE thing you have seen that would not have happened if you were not a member of GCSANJ.... Email: execdirector@gcsanj.org A Visit to Pine Valley... On Monday, September 28th I had the wonderful opportunity to play Pine Valley Golf Club as part of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey’s monthly meeting.. .not bad. The experience was indescribable, and it’s inspiration made me feel like something needed to be written. As you travel through the unassuming hamlet of Clementon, turn at the Clementon Amusement Park and Splash World it’s hard to imagine you are a driver, 5 iron away from arguably the greatest golf course in the country....maybe the world. Oh by the way, that’s according to Charles Blair McDonald and Donald Ross, among others. In the New York Evening Sun from January 23, 1915 McDonald proclaimed. “Judging from what I have seen in it early stages and from the designs as I understand them, it will be the greatest course in America and will rank with the best abroad.” Imagine this praise came with only 11 holes complete from the founder and designer of the National Golf Links of America. Continuing down East Atlantic Avenue the concept of greatness becomes even more baffling as you search for the gilded pillars or the long entry drive straddled by century trees or the impenetrable iron gates.....instead you cross the old tracks of the Reading Railroad, traveled by George Crump from Philadelphia to Atlantic City in the early 1900’s when his interest in the property was born. Then, very simply, you to come face to face with the kind greeter in his 12x12 hut. Sitting directly “across the street” is the Pine Valley Police Station and Town Hall set amongst the pines in a small white and green building...that’s it. From the way undersized parking lot you again look for the perfectly manicured walkway leading to the clubhouse.. .it doesn’t exist. Instead pick a sandy As a Golf Course Architect, I have been blessed to have walked many of the wonderful, highly regarded courses throughout the US and abroad...this was my 1st visit to Pine Valley. Suddenly the broad morass between great and greatest became clear. This place with its secluded charm, simplistic elegance and powerful string of golf holes simply surpasses anything else out there. ...arguably the greatest golf course in the country... maybe the world. path through the pines worn by the feet of Crump, H.S. Colt and the many others that have graced the grounds. Make sure you look to your left as you will be crossing directly in front of the 1st tee. A few more steps and slight turn to your left you get your first glimpse of the rugged, strategically staggering style of Pine Valley looking back down the throat of the 18th hole. Certainly enough to get your blood flowing in anticipation. I will not raise your blood pressure with a hole by hole diatribe or outline the intricate strategy that belies the player looking in at a 200 yard approach on the sweeping 12th hole or the engulfing natural landscape of the sandy par 3 third or the brute strength of the par 3, 230 yard uphill 5th or the power of Hell’s Half Acre on the 7th or the mesmerizing ridgeline running across the 6th asking for a bite to be taken or the hit it in the bowl 17th or the 250 yard carry from the back right tee on 18 or the broad reaching green contours on the 2nd that force you to step back and question your own eye sight. I won’t go into any of that because quite honestly, no justice would be done. It has to be your eyes that see the pine scrub and windswept sand scattered about, your feet that walk along the deceptively wide ribbons of fairway, and your golfing spirit that is inspired by this very special place. Robert McNeil The Northeast Golf Company GCSANJ Championship at Pine Valley Memorable Looking for a New New Year's Resolution? Here are 10 tips to help you get “Fiscally” Fit Most of us make a couple, if not several, New Year’s resolutions each year and more often than not those resolutions include watching what we eat, getting more exercise, and becoming physically fit. The problem is: physical fitness is only half of the answer to a healthy and happy future. The other half is “fiscal” fitness - making sure we, our families and our loved ones are financially secure regardless of what happens in the financial markets. And that’s where most of us could use a little help. Tip #5 - The time you spend planning for the eventual distribution of your assets is every bit as important as the time you spend planning for their accumulation. Will your assets be subject to income and estate taxes at your death? Tip #6 - As you sow, so shall you reap. A sound charitable giving strategy cannot only help you reduce taxes and increase current income - but it can also help others live fuller and more productive lives. Like physical fitness, the first step in becoming fiscally fit is taking the time to develop a long-term plan based on your personal goals and objectives. The second step is having the discipline to stick with your plan—especially when the going gets rough. If putting your fiscal house in order is one of your resolutions for the new year, consider these simple but effective 10 tips for fiscal fitness. They might just put you on the road to the fiscal fitness you desire. Check Your Fiscal Fitness Today! Tip #7 - Disability insurance can restore more than just your monthly income. It can help restore life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Have you ever stopped to consider how much is riding on your income? Tip #8 - It’s been said that “the greatest use of life is to spend it on something that will outlast it." Life insurance creates an instant legacy. With the simple stroke of a pen, you can help make - and keep - your family’s hopes and dreams for tomorrow a reality. Tip #1 - A secure financial future begins with planning. It is only realized, however, when your plan is implemented and maintained. Do you have a written financial plan that takes into account your objectives, risk tolerance, and investment time horizon? Tip #2 - The steady accumulation of wealth depends on careful money management. Do you know where your money goes each month? Do you spend more than you earn? Tip #3 - By reducing your income taxes, you can increase your income. Are your savings income tax- deductible? Is the interest you’re earning income tax- deferred? Are you taking advantage of all the IRS- approved tax deductions you can? Tip #9 - Avoid credit card debt. Quietly and over time, you will end up paying twice, or even thrice, for something you no longer want or desire. Write up a budget and stick with it - you’ll be glad you did. Tip #10 - Draft or update your will. Without a valid will, the government - and not your loved ones - will decide how (and when) your assets are ultimately distributed following your death. Not all of us are good at keeping our New Year’s resolutions. But with a little effort and a little discipline, this year could be different. By adopting these 10 tips for fiscal fitness, you can put yourself and your family on the road to a secure financial future. And that’s a journey worth taking. Tip #4 - Saving for retirement begins today with what you’re currently earning; not tomorrow, with what you hope to earn. Are you putting aside a portion of your current earnings for retirement? James K. Woods Smith Gatta Gelok Horner Townsend & Kent syngenta Comprehensive disease control starts with the essentials. Embrace a new agronomic philosophy and take control of turf disease with The Turf Essentials™ from Syngenta. This group of proven combination fungicides features an array of active ingredients and multiple modes of action that allow you to create outstanding conditions efficiently and effectively. Contact Lee Kozsey to learn more about Syngenta products. Phone: 215-796-0409 lee.kozsey@syngenta.com www.turfessentials.com 02009 Syngenta Syngenta Professional Products, Greensboro, NC 27419 Important Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using these products. Concert*. Daconil ULTREX*. Headway*, Instrata*. SuperWeatherStik*, The Turf Essentials, and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. TheTURF ESSENTIALS The Fredco Group Landscaping Contracting & Golf Course Construction Featuring Essex County Country Club Skilled Craftsmanship Since 1980 Call 973.777.3044 ♦Site Work ♦Sport Facilities ♦Landscape Design ♦Laser Grading ♦Custom Stone Work ♦Golf Course Renovation ♦New Course Construction Bill Murray is named Member of the Year by Jim Cadott Bill Murray seemed to be the only person surprised when he was named the Member of the Year by the GCSANJ at Crystal Springs on November 11. But then again, Bill is not one to seek out accolades for himself when it comes to all the hard work and time a President is required to put in during his term. to attend every function from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. And to do this, Bill had to use his own vacation or personal time to leave work, and pick up a majority of the cost himself. There are a few negatives when working for a government run system, but this was never an excuse. The President of the GCSANJ is asked to do many things, make many decisions, and be present at many events. And with the job demands that everybody faces, these extra duties are very difficult to accomplish. It can almost be said that every past President could be named Member of the Year. But with Bill, he seemed to fit the definition of going above and beyond to advance the association. Starting his first year, Bill shook off any nervous feelings and hit the ground running. He, along with the rest of the executive board and Cece, brainstormed the GCSANJ give back program for 2009. They all knew money would be tight for everybody, so Bill and the BOD wanted to cut the cost at Crystal Conference, while also giving a conference package away in a raffle. But this was not just any raffle. Your name went into the hat with every event you attended, motivating more member involvement. The same raffle was used for a free conference package give away to the GIS in San Diego in February. Once again, member involvement was the key to winning. And with all the give back programs, the GCSANJ still operated in the black for 2009. And you could still say that these are things that Bill or any other President could accomplish with a good BOD. But it was the little things that set Bill apart this year. Our President made it a point I believe Bill really showed us something when he decided to play the District 3 outing as “Willie McTavish, Irish greenskeeper”. And what Willie did was pass out ribbons that signified our support against cervical cancer that the wife of one of our members has been dealing with. Whose idea? Willie's! Who purchased and folded the ribbons, Willie! This was an act of kindness that Bill took upon himself to do. And at Crystal, you noticed the wrist bands that tells everybody what the GCSANJ thinks about all cancer to all women. Once again, Bill's doing. Along with all his other duties, Bill also is an active member on the GCASNJ Foundation, helping our charity branch make the proper decisions for all. It seems you will see Bill everywhere for another year as he continues his presidency, so congratulate him and even ask him, “how can I get involved?” I am sure he will let you know. I Congratulations again, Bill! Bamm Hollow Returns to the GCSANJ Schedule by Shaun Barry Matt Dobbie called me to discuss the long­ drive contest at Pine Valley. He had hit a monster drive during qualifying at our Toms River meeting. He was hoping to compete against the other bombers in our association. Since this is our Championship meeting there is a lot going on so we always arrange to have it early in the day. Historically only the committee members who had qualified tried and they became the winners. This however also meant that these fellow would donate their winnings to the foundation. Tree-Tech continues to donate $600 to this event every year and good things are achieved. Matt was pleased to know that the money went to the foundation but he still thought we should have a true long drive contest. This led to a further conversation and within a week Bamm Hollow was going to host a roundtable discussion on aerification and that would be followed by a long-drive event. Both events were open to everyone. Since we had Dr. Jim Murphy speaking and facilitating the meeting we had over 30 people in attendance. People listened and every supt in attendance got a chance to speak or ask questions. It really worked out beautifully. Many thanks to Dr. Murphy for doing such a great job. The long drive part of the day went well also. The conditions were not good. It was raining slightly and there was a breeze in their face. In spite of this, 9 fellows stepped up to be judged. Bantering was encouraged and that happened naturally. Matt Dobbie was the key to keeping things light with his humorous comments as he waited for his turn. Being the host he allowed himself to be last and nobody was safe. He even picked on himself. There were lots of long drives hit but Darrell and Matt weren't able to keep any of their 6 shots in the fairway. The final 4 turned out to all be young guys. Strange how that happens.... We did end up with one winner but all of these gentlemen can kill it. Now we just have to figure out how to get a chiropractor at this event next year because nothing is held back on a couple of these swings. Continued on page 12 East Coast & SEED SOD 596 Pointers Auburn Road • Pilesgrove, NJ 08098 www.eastcoastsod.com BENTGRASS SOD Greens Height • Tee/Fairway Height FESCUE Fine • Blue/Fine • Tall BLUEGRASS Regular • Short-Cut INSTALLATION AVAILABLE CALL KEVIN DRISCOLL 609-760-4099 cell 856-769-9555 office 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 Bamm Hollow... The winners are below. Their qualifying distance is in parenthesis and their final score follows that. • Ryan Oliver (284)-275 • Coby Mattison (265)-257 • Richard West (250)-253 • Fred Parcells (254)-231 We will do this again in 2010 and maybe Matt will keep one in the fairway so he can challenge for the title of “Long Drive Champion of the Year”! In closing we need to say thanks to everyone at Bamm Hollow. The food and service were great and the help they gave us running the contest was big-time. The only thing missing were the cameras and next year I expect to see the Golf Channel capturing this event to share with the world. Now if Matt is there again maybe it will also be on Comedy Central.... OOPS! In our last issue we printed the names of the companies and people who donated money to help support the volunteers during the USGA's Boys & Girls Championships held at Trump National. Unfortunately we missed listing Barry Kronman from JADA for his generous contribution. We apologize for that over-sight. Liberty National Hosts The Barclays I would like to start by saying thank you to everyone involved in helping to make The Barclay’s Golf Tournament a success here at Liberty National. To all the sponsors, we could not have done it without you. Your support was the reason we were able to have over a combined 100 employees and volunteers each day of the week. You helped feed, house, dress and transport all of our volunteers the entire week. To all of the volunteers, with your help we were able to have the golf course in excellent condition. We had a few days of rain during the week and without you we would not have been able to have those impeccable conditions that are required for this event. To Brian Gjelsvik, thank you for all of your help organizing the hospitality tent for everyone to enjoy. It was greatly appreciated. The Tournament was a huge success with it coming down to the final putt on the 18th green on Sunday to decide the winner. It was a great way to start the FedEx Cup playoffs and we couldn’t have made that happen without all of your support. Thank You!!! Greg James Golf Course Superintendent Thanks to everyone who helped make the event a success! The RTJ Turns 21... Sometimes you work very hard at a project and The GCSANJ Foundation organizes and runs this things just don't work out the way that you hoped. This year's RTJ fits into that category. event now and lots of time and effort went into preparations. We knew the economy would be an issue but we still were hoping for 25 teams. We ended up with 15. Of those 15, two were affiliate teams from Morris Golf and Vic Gerard Golf Cars. That means they brought a team and were also hole sponsors. This was a new opportunity and it was big help. Without them and the amazing support that we continue to get from our sponsors it could have been a bad year. Metedeconk however gets our biggest thank- you because they did not charge us for their 80 player minimum. We had 60 players but if we had to pay for 20 people who weren't there we would have been very seriously in the red with our finances. We were looking at losing money and we made a small profit. Thanks to each one of you who were able to make this possible. by Shaun Barry Ryan Oliver and his staff presented us with a firm fast golf course that was fair to everyone. It really is an experience not to be missed. The course was in absolutely amazing condition. We need your help to make this a successful Here are the sponsors that helped make the day a success. We truly could not have done it without you. Thanks once again for your never-ending help. future schedules. You and your team won't be disappointed. event so once the date is announced, please put it on your calendar so you can try and work around the date when you are planning your Hole Sponsors: • Bayer Environmental Science • Grass Roots • Morris Golf • Sambol Family Foundation • Storr Tractor • Vic Gerard Golf Cars Patrons: • Aquatrols • Atlantic Irrigation • James Barrett Associates Inc • Colonia CC • Fiddler's Elbow CC • Pebble Creek GC • Red Sky Associates • Spring Lake CC • Syngenta • Wilfred MacDonald In the Gross competition Rumson CC defeated Burlington CC on a match of cards. They both shot 144. In 3rd place was the team from Metedeconk with a 148. The winning team was Jim Cross, Brian Gaffney, Bill Hurley and Andrew Veasey. On the net side, the team from The NJTA (Rick Krok, Ken Mathis, Darrell Marcinek & Rolf Strobel) won with a 126 total. In second place was the GCSANJ Foundation (Shaun Barry, Jim Cadott, Fred Rapp & Lance Rogers). Their total of 131 edged out the team from the GCSANJ (Wendell Beakley, Tony DiBartolomeo, Bill Murray and Mickey Stachowski ) who had a 135. The longest drive was hit by Jamie Devers (Canoe Brook) and the closest to the pin winners were Rich Kelsey (Old Oaks CC) 5ft 3ins and Brian Minemier (Burlington CC) 14ft 2ins. Brian also won the superintendent low gross with an 80 while Wendell Beakley was low net superintendent with a 70. NJ Competes and Wins Against the Area's Best by Shaun Barry As the scores came in it looked like NJ would be Ever since the MET Team Championship was created NJ has fielded a team. There were some years when only 3 or 4 players out of 8 would actually make it to the course. Work and other issues in contention. When Chris Boyle and Bill Murray posted a 66 we knew we would be 1st or 2nd. That 66 was the lowest score of the day by 3 got in the way but that has changed in recent years. Part of the reason is where this event has been played. If you start at Aronimink followed by Fishers Island, Bethpage Black, Winged Foot and this year it was at Plainfield CC. These are some of the best golf courses in the world. With this increased interest in the tournament and because NJ did not win in 2008, we had a special qualifier at Forsgate. We were looking for three players to add to a nucleus of a team that has won twice and finished 3rd and 4th in the last 4 years. We want to win this event every year so we look for the best golfers. They are the ones who should best be able to handle a tough course under tournament conditions and pressure. Sean Ross, Jim Swiatlowski and Ian Kunesch qualified with John Alexander being the first alternate. Tom Grimac ended-up in the hospital so John became part of the team. Associations attended... from the Mid-Atlantic to Albany to Cape Cod. We were all set until the night before the event. Lance Rogers called me to cancel. He was needed at work. Could I get a replacement? He even suggested that I replace him. Although I could have I wanted NJ to win so I chose to ask our alternates. Jim Cross was next but I was away from my office and I didn't have his cell number. My next choice was Dennis Granahan. He answered and was quite pleased to join the team. We were ready to go and have some fun. There were 12 associations in attendance. They came from the Mid-Atlantic to Albany and Cape Cod. They were not disappointed. Travis Pauley had prepared my favorite Donald Ross course so it could have hosted a US Open. It was immaculate and when someone as good as Lee Kozsey 5 putts a green you know they are quick. I was taking pictures and everyone that I spoke to was in awe. shots. Wendell Beakley and Dennis Granahan had a 70. These were two of only 4 scores that were under par. The other two however belonged to CT who were two time defending Champions. When we added John Alexander and Ian Kunesch's gross 77 ( they started 4 over after 5 holes) and Sean Ross and Jim Swiatlowski's Gross 81, NJ was the winner by 1 shot. 12 team. because they won this team will represent us again in 2010. You can't break-up a winning What a great victory and In addition to the victory Dennis DeSanctis Jr. and Lee Kozsey won in the sponsor division. Paul Strani also won the closest to the pin prize on the 3rd hole with a shot to 8ft 2ins. Paul also was the only person in the field who had an eagle. He didn't win anything for making a 2 on a par 4, but he has a memory that he will never forget. Congratulations to all and good luck in 2010! RTJ Invitational At Metedeconk National Plant Food Company’s pHusion Change Soil Calcium levels.....Fast! Calcitic Lime & Gypsum ■ pHusion Organic Acid impregnated on calcium pelletized products work FAST■ pHusion Organic Acid contains sugars and carbon to feed soil microorganisms ■ Available as “Reacted” pelletized Calcitic Limestone or Gypsum ■ Works up to 4 TIMES FASTER than conventional limestone or gypsum products ■ Dissolves into soil with irrigation or rain ■ Low dust and FAST ACTING. Which pHusion product to use? pHusion Reacted Calcitic Limestone pHusion Reacted Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) Soil Conditions: Deficient in Calcium Soil pH is below 6.2 and needs to increase Soil Conditions: Deficient in Calcium Soil pH is above 6.2 and does not need to change Application: S5-15 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. Application: 5-15 lbs. per 1,000 sq. ft. Available as 125 SGN Available as 150 SGN The Liquid Fertilizer Experts www.plantfoodco.com 800.562.1291 Dick Neufeld 973-945-6318 Brad Simpkins 609-209-2150 Tom Weinert 914-262-0111 Research on Herbicide Proves It Effective for Bentgrass Removal from Kentucky Bluegrass Selective removal of bentgrass from Kentucky bluegrass is a common challenge for many superintendents. Though many products through the years have shown various levels of effectiveness in controlling bentgrass, recent research indicates that one of the newest herbicides on the market can deliver up to 95 percent control to affected bluegrass. Tenacity® (mesotrione) is a herbicide registered in 2008 for golf courses and sod farms and federally registered for commercial applicator residential use in 2009. State registrations for residential use are pending. Tenacity was discovered by a Syngenta scientist who observed fewer weeds growing under his bottlebrush plant (Callistemon citrinus). Its active ingredient mimics the natural herbicidal compounds in root exudates of the bottlebrush plant. It is a pigment inhibitor resulting in a “bleaching” of the new growth of target weeds. In practice the susceptible species turn white which, while a great indicator of efficacy can be a bit startling the first time an applicator uses the product (Figure 1). It is safe on all cool season grasses except creeping bentgrass, when used as directed. Evaluation at multiple locations have shown good to excellent control of creeping bentgrass, nimblewill and windmillgrass in Kentucky bluegrass and other cool season grasses and good to excellent control of a laundry list of broadleaf weeds and crabgrass and foxtail. The herbicide offers both pre and post activity, depending on species. Another unique property of Tenacity is safety at seeding. Applications at planting for safety on Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue have shown excellent results in research trials. Work at other Universities has shown control, albeit inconsistent depending on application timing, for annual bluegrass. Following is a brief summary of work conducted in Nebraska for removal of creeping bentgrass from Kentucky bluegrass and suggestions for rates and timing for optimal control. Roch Gaussoin, PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dean Mosdell, PhD, Syngenta Professional Products A research experiment was conducted in 2004 at the John Seaton Anderson Turf and Ornamental Research Center near Mead, NE to evaluate Tenacity for creeping bentgrass removal from a Kentucky bluegrass stand and to evaluate the use of methylated seed oil (MSO) and non-ionic surfactant (NIS) for improved herbicide efficacy. A mixed stand of creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass surrounding a creeping bentgrass putting green was used to determine the efficacy and potential creeping bentgrass injury from Tenacity applications. The 3’x6’ plots were sprayed with a CO2 driven backpack sprayer equipped with an 8002V flat-fan nozzle on 13 May and 3 June for split applications and 3 June for single applications. No visible injury to the Kentucky bluegrass was observed throughout the experiment. Within 10 days of each application, plots treated with Tenacity had white new growth developing from creeping bentgrass plants. The bleaching symptomology remained for approximately 3-4 weeks following application. During the summer months there was increased Kentucky bluegrass cover in the plots due to the spreading of Kentucky bluegrass into the previous creeping bentgrass occupied patches. However, creeping bentgrass did return to the experimental area during the cooler autumn climate forming a dense turfgrass stand composed of a mixture Kentucky bluegrass and creeping bentgrass. Although, the creeping bentgrass was not completely controlled, the stand was comprised of more Kentucky bluegrass than found at the beginning of the experiment. It should also be noted that no Kentucky bluegrass overseeding was done during the trial. In general, higher rates of Tenacity provided greater control of creeping bentgrass regardless of adjuvant (Figure 2). Using NIS or MSO both appeared to respond similarly. A trend of greater long-term control with the use of a NIS compared to MSO did appear to be present, but the trend was not significant. Research on Herbicide ...continued Roch Gaussoin, PhD, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Dean Mosdell, PhD, Syngenta Professional Products Table 1. Fall applications of Tenacity for selective removal of creeping bentgrass from Kentucky bluegrass. Treatments applied in 2005 and data shown from September 2006. All Tenacity treatments were significantly different from the untreated control but not from each other. University of Nebraska-Lincoln Rate oz/acre Applications Timing Untreated 4 4 J 6/4 4 ¡X 3X 2X 2X/1X 4X 9/7;9/14 9/7;9/14:021 9/7;9/14 9/7;9/14;021 9/7;....... ;9/28 Creeping Bentgrass 65 percent 3 percent 0 percent 3 percent 3 percent 5 percent Figure 1: A severe infestation on a greens surround was indentified in 2005 to further refine recommendations for successful use of Tenacity for selective removal of creeping bentgrass from Kentucky bluegrass. The area was comprised of approximately 65 percent creeping bentgrass mixed with an unknown blend of Kentucky bluegrass cultivars. The greatest control was seen from fall applications in various split and rate configurations, including rates higher than used in 2004 (4-6 oz/Acre). All treatments were applied with an NIS. Initial applications were applied on September 7 and sequential applications every 14 days thereafter. Data on bluegrass photoxicity and bentgrass control were taken every two weeks after the initial application and the following spring when the results were the most dramatic (Table 1; Figure 3). All Tenacity treatments resulted in 95 percent control (or greater), and produced no visible phytotoxicity to the Kentucky bluegrass. As with the work described previously the plots were not overseeded with Kentucky bluegrass which, in all likelihood, would have resulted in even greater reduction in creeping bentgrass. For many superintendents, Tenacity could be an exceptional tool for the selective removal of creeping bentgrass from Kentucky bluegrass. Fall applications are recommended for greater efficacy and overseeding should be done if bentgrass infestations are high and the loss of the bentgrass would result in significant stand loss. Figure 2 below: Figure 2. Control of Creeping Bentgrass from Kentucky Bluegrass Using Tenacity (University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2004) Figure 3. Fall applications of Tenacity for selective removal of creeping bentgrass from Kentucky bluegrass. Photographs taken in the spring following tenacity application University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2006. Figure 3 above: Distributed By: grass roots Golf Division: 973-252-6634 Lawn & Sports Turf Division: 973-252-5455 www.GrassRootsTurfOnline.com Manufactured By: The Liquid Solutions Company Liquid fertilizers, Micronutrients & Natural Organics Craig Lambert Northeast Sales Manager Phone/Fax: 973-601-3303 Cell: 917-416-4588 www. GrowthProducts. com clambert@growthproducts.com www.GrowthProducts.com 800-648-7626 Depend on Harrell’s for the latest technology and innovation. The Newest Advance in Wetting Agents. 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Josh Kopera 201-213-8693 jkopera@harrells.com North Jersey www.harrells.com Alfie Gardiner 267-784-4407 agardiner@harrells.com Central & South Jersey Eric Stern 516.659.3320 estern@harrells.com Central & South Jersey FUNGICIDE Insignia You've got enough to worry about. But Insignia® fungicide can give you up to 28 worry-free days — at least when it comes to preventing summer patch, take-all patch and bentgrass root dysfunction. Just apply Insignia at a soil temperature of 65 degrees, and don't worry! For more information, contact Ted Huhn at theodore.huhn@basf.com or (443) 206-1095. betterturf.com Always read and follow label directions. Insignia is a registered trademark of BASF © 2009 BASF Corporation All rights reserved BASF The Chemical Company Essex County Country Club Plays Host Many thanks to Jaso n Thompson Pavelec Brothers Golf Course Construction, Inc. Pond Construction Bridge Work Walls Renovations New Construction Irrigation Asphalt Paths & Lots Paving Stones 973-667-1643 www.pavelecbrothers.com Glenmoore, Pennsylvania P: 610.942.3809 F: 610.942-9556www.gelcogolf.com Rick Gordon Renown golf course irrigation, renovation, construction and award-winning service through­ out New England and the tri-state areas STAFF UNIFORMS STAFF SHIRTS/PANTS Fleece Lined Jackets / Sweat Shirts / T-Shirts / Shorts / Hats Visors / Rain Suits / Rubber Boots / Logo Ball Washer Towels Embroidered on Screened Logo Email: Merrick160@aol.com www.agententerprisesonline.com 201-488-1276 Fax 201-489-5830 160 Overlook Avneue Hackensack, NJ 07601 Who Are These Members?? Take a guess...send an email to execdirector@gcsanj.org Who are they? I think it's stuck to your tongue! Cowboy Fan Blondie still has some hair... the other kid doesn't have so much Leslie Cup Teammates Stanley Cup Teammates Is that Dennis the Menace? Golden Memories Board Members Rumor has it... they still have sno cones and cotton candy once a year! Nothing else to do up there in the mountains. SynaTek The Turf Solutions People and distributor Manufacturer of golf, turf and ornamental products including: Liquid & Dry Fertilizer Grass Seed Soil Amendments erosion Control Hydroseeding Our products keep your business growing 888-408-5433 www.synateksolutions.com Souderton, PA DOWNES TREE SERVICE, INC. WOODCLIFF LAKE, HAWTHORNE NEW JERSEY We are a full service tree company specializing in Golf Course enhancement. Our expertise ranges from plant health care, tree removal and pruning to tub-grinding, roll-off container service and mulch installation. Since inception in 1983, Downes has focused on the care and maintenance of commercial and residential properties. (201)573-9209 • (973)238-9800 FAX (973)238-0222 RALPH McGILLAN Excavating Contractor Specializing in Lakes & Ponds Over 40 years experience building new ponds, enlarging & redesigning existing ponds. Can get all DEP permits 609-655-2281 Fax 732-446-1177 24 Conover Road, Millstone Twp, NJ 08535 PARTAC® TOP-DRESSINGS GOLF COURSE America's Premium Heat Treated Top-Dressings 800-247-2326 www.PARTAC.com Fax 908-637-8421 LANGAN ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES Langan provides expert engineering services to golf clubs, including: • Pump house design and permitting • Water allocation permits • Pond dredging permits • Stream restoration design • Drainage studies and design Technical Excellence Practical Experience Client Responsiveness www.langan.com Contact: Brian Blum, CPG, Associate 201.398.4538 The Gates of Paradise Open for the GCSANJ by Shaun Barry When you drive over to the superintendent's office at Pine Valley GC, you see a sign with Rick Christian's name at the top. His name has been there for over 20 years. Beneath his you will see the names of Adam Wilkins, Jim Nietubicz, Jason Hart, Adam Thomas and Jason Abner. These are his assistants. That might seem like a lot of assistants, but this is the number one golf course in the world and that requires lots of hard­ working and qualified people. These fellows don't sit in an office all day. They lead by example because that is what they have seen Rick do. Having that many eyes looking at turf means nothing gets overlooked for very long. Definitely a recipe for success. This normally happens at dinner, after we have played, but Rick couldn't stay for dinner and we knew what to expect. We weren't disappointed. Rick did speak to the group and you could tell how pleased he was that he was able to once again host his peers. We headed out to our golf bags where we met our newest best friends. That would be the famous “Pine Valley Caddies.” Immediately after introductions and a few instructions we were on our way to enjoy an “opportunity of a lifetime.” Rick had opened his doors to us in 2004. At that time he told us he would try and do so every 4 years. He is a man of his word, so in 2009 we got to experience that success once again. It is hard to believe but the course is even better then it was in 2004. I don't know how to improve on a world number one ranking but they have done it. Congratulations and thanks to you Rick and all of your staff. I can't imagine how many hours you and they put in every day of the year. We started registration early in case any of the long­ drive qualifiers got there in time to compete. They didn't, so all of the $600 that Rob Finnesey and Tree Tech donated will go directly to the GCSANJ Foundation. Rob, thanks for your annual donation that now goes back over 10 years. You are very generous and it is truly appreciated. Once people started arriving they were greeted by Wendell Beakley, Kevin Driscoll, Ken Mathis, Phil O'Brien and Cece Peabody. John Hyland tried to get there to help, but his knee was so painful he had to cancel at the last minute. He was always there to help. We lost a great friend and I will miss him very much. Rick gave up his spot in this event so someone else could play. He however did join us for lunch and received his plaque and flag from President Murray. New Jersey Supers return to play the coveted course at Pine Valley...thanks to Rick Christian. It is a day that none of us will ever forget. The course was in perfect condition and each hole left an indelible mark on your soul. I am sure I saw camels crossing the sand on number 7 when we reached “Hell's Half­ Acre.” It is just a massive bunker. When we played number 10, I am pretty sure Kevin Driscoll was still trying to get out of the DA. A rescue team was dispatched for him a few hours later and they saved him. Rick did need a load of sand to repair the damage but things are now back to normal. Yes, I am joking about these sightings, but I know we all left Pine Valley with many wonderful “real” memories. There just is nothing like it in the world. Once play was completed it soon became apparent that some players must have had better caddies than others. That had to be the reason for so many high scores. It couldn't have been that our golfers were playing a course with a 153 slope rating and doing it on a windy day. Fortunately we didn't play from the back tees because the slope is 155 and that is the highest slope possible. The low score of the day was posted by Jay Antonelli. His score was low by 4 shots over Bill Lynch and Joe Owsik (must be something about working at Vic Gerard Golf Cars). Jay's fine play (77) earned him a victory among the affiliates and he was awarded the Dr. Paul Sartoretto Cup. Joe Owsik's 81 was the low The Gates of Paradise...continued by Shaun Barry gross score amongst the superintendents and he won the Sherwood Moore Cup. Not to be outdone, John Carpinelli had a net 68 to win the Henry Indyk Cup. The complete list of flight winners is listed below: Championship Flight- Gross ( Supt. Only) Joe Owsik-81 Jim Cross-82 John Alexander-83 (MC with John Garger) A-Flight-Net (Supt Only) Mike Brunelle-72 Bill Murray-76 B Flight-Net (Supt Only) Jim Cadott-70 Glenn Miller-72 C Flight- net (Supt Only) Mark Kuhns-72 Tom Tucci-75 Affiliate-Net (Affiliates Only) Shaun Barry-69 (MC) Rob Finnesey-69 John Carpinelli won the long drive contest sponsored by Aer-Core Inc.. This was on number 18 and he hit it so far his ball almost ran through the fairway. The 4 par threes were all sponsored by Ched Baker from Agrium Advanced Technologies. Not only did he sponsor these, he was the actual meeting sponsor. His donation went towards the wonderful lunch at Pine Valley, the excellent dinner at Pine Hill and it also helped with the prizes. Ched, thank-you and everyone at Agrium who helped make this happen. (FYI he also decided not to play to open another spot.) Winning those closest to the pin contests were Jim Woods (2ft 9ins), Phil O'Brien (3 ft 10ins which may have been the best shot hit all day because this was on number 5 and it was directly into the wind), Mike Mylet (6 ft even) and Wendell Beakley (6ft 1in). Jim Cadott was the only player with 2 skins and with one each were Wendell, Paul Dotti, Steve Malikowski and Phil O'Brien (yes he made the putt on number 5). Mark Kuhns CGCS and GCSAA President was asked to address the group and he did a very nice job of discussing current affairs at GCSAA. It was a fitting end to an amazing day. No other superintendent association gets this opportunity and we can be very thankful for it. For those of you who missed this meeting, you can hope that Rick stays for another 30 years and maybe this invitation will happen again. Rick, please thank everyone at the club for allowing us to enjoy such a special experience and the entire GCSANJ thanks you because we know that it would never have happened without you. Hopefully your generosity will inspire clubs everywhere to open their doors when the local associations come to them. It is with deep regret that we make note of the passing of John Hyland. He was a true friend of GCSANJ and he will be missed. OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BERGEN COUNTY, NJ BEGAN IN 1998... When Robert McNeil, Golf Architect was hired by the Bergen County Department of Parks to develop a Comprehensive Enhancement Plan for each of the County’s four Municipal Golf Courses. “The Plan” for Bergen County started out as a big idea that would bring the County to the next level of Municipal Golf. The Results - 3 new courses which include several new holes, over 160 new tees and more than 150 new bunkers. The renovations also included new cart paths, irrigation and drainage systems and national recognition as Golf Inc.’s Best Renovation in the Country runner-up Award in 2004. Robert’s strategy with each golf course is to deliver a challenging and memorable experience for players of all levels and he takes that goal seriously. To learn more about how the services and experience of Robert McNeil and The Northeast Golf Company can help your Club realize it’s vision for the future, call our office at 401-667-4994. We welcome the call and a new relationship. broadVISION CAREFULTHOUGHT HANDCRAFTEDDESIGN Robert McNeil can be reached on 401.667.4994 • email:design@northeastgolfcompany.com To learn more about our work go to http://www.northeastgolfcompany.com Wm.Stothoff COMPANY. INC. Wells & Pumps Celebrating our 124th Year ► Family owned and operated by 6 generations of Stothoff ► Dedicated to providing superior solutions ► State-of-the-art equipment ► 24 hour service, 7 days a week Our goal is to provide the best and most reliable well and pump solutions from the industries premier manufacturers. Let our 124 years of well drilling and servicing experience work for you. Contact us at 908-782-2717 or visit us on the web for a detailed listing of our services www.wmstothoffco.com 110 River Road Flemington, NJ 08822 908-782-2717 Have experience. Will travel. If you're looking for some help on your course, consider the Stores-on-Wheels. We can deliver agronomic expertise, top brands and more straight to your course. Call us at 1-800-321-5325. We can help with whatever job you have in mind. www.JohnDeere.com/golf gcsaa PLATINUM PARTNER John Deere GOLF GCSANJ Member news District I & II The GCSANJ Returns to Essex County District I & II waited a long time to have their meeting but it was worth the wait. Jason Thompson and Essex County CC hosted this event and it was a first-class day from start to finish. Weather conditions were a bit of a challenge but not as much as the greens. They were so fast that the lines on the greens were sliding off.... Ok that may be a bit of an exaggeration but there were many putts that turned into chips. It was not easy but it was terrific and everyone enjoyed themselves. I would enjoy playing this course every day of the week and never get bored. Les Carpenter (80) and Cliff Moore (82) took low gross honors and Vince Bracken (71) and Shaun Barry (72) led in the net division. Jamie Devers and Tim Christ (welcome back Tim) were long drive winners. Closest to the pin contests were sponsored by Aer- Core Inc and Wilfred MacDonald. Thank-you Dennis and Mike. You are always there for us. Winners included Mike Campbell (9ft 0ins), Kevin Driscoll (42 ft 10 inches...he is still putting I think), Enrique Lainez (41ft 9ins) and Mike Pelrine (3 ft 2ins). There were only 4 skins winners and they were Les Carpenter, Jamie Devers, Joe Kinlin and Ian Kunesch. Jason please extend our sincere thanks to everyone at the club for making this such a special day. The food and the service could not have been any better and the professional staff made us feel welcome. It was a day we will never forget. I District IV All Roads Lead to Burlington CC District 4 closed out the GCSANJ 2009 meeting (schedule with their Championship and it was a winner. They (aka Wendell) asked Brian Minemier to host the event and he does not know how to say no when it comes to our association. He loves this industry and all of his friends who are part of it, so Brian said yes. The course was wet from 2 days of rain but it was in beautiful condition. We were able to lift, clean and place on the fairways but it really wasn't much of an issue. On the greens there were no issues at all. If you picked the correct line and speed, you made the putt. They were so good, even average putters became great putters but then they were called sand-baggers. Oh well, I am sure putting those greens was worth the abuse. Phil Juhring is a new member and he has lots of game. Harrell’s donated the low gross prize and Phil won it with a fine 77. On a match of cards with Mark Peterson (3rd) and Sean Ross (4th), Mr. Minemier's 82 took 2nd place. Plant Food donated the 1st place net prize and that was won by Shaun Barry. He did chip and putt beautifully for a 63 (he is that sand-bagger that I was just talking about). Unfortunately the GHIN system will not accept this score because it is too late in the season but I will check his handicap very carefully in 2010. Steve Hesser's 66 took 2nd place and this was the first net prize that he has every won. Rolf Strobel's 67 placed him 3rd but if he had made par on the the last two holes he would have been in sand­ bag territory. All four of the closest to the pins were sponsored by Helena Chemical. Walking away with these prizes were John Borek (4ft 4ins), Rich Hendrickson (6ft 7ins), Bill Murray (17ft 4ins), and Clark Weld (5ft 10ins). Turf Equipment and Supply Co. sponsored 2 of the long­ drive contests and the other two were covered by Floratine Continued on pg 29 GCSANJ Member news District IV..continued Phil Juhring and Brian Minemier collected the two remaining prizes. There were only 4 birdies that held-up. With 1 skin each we have Brian Lescrinier, Bill Murray, Sean Ross and Clark Weld. We had lots of sponsors but there are two that haven't been mentioned yet. They are Mitchell Products and Seeton Turf Warehouse. They need to be separate from the main body of this article because they each gave $500 to this meeting. Dave sponsored lunch and Lance sponsored hors-d'oeuvres. They, like all of our other sponsors, don't have to do this at all. They could just show-up and play golf like the rest of us, but they choose to support their association. Now of course they could just be doing this to stop Wendell from calling them but I think it must be that they want to help. Congratulations to Wendell and Jeff Staeger for helping District 4 be so active and for your dedication to our association. Last but definitely not least thanks to Brian and everyone at Burlington CC. There are many courses that make us feel welcome, but very few feel like home. Schuckers and Tichenor to Attend Syngenta Business Institute Congratulations to Andy Schuckers and Frank Tichenor, who were selected as two of 25 golf course superintendents to participate in the Syngenta Business Institute, a unique, educational program. The Syngenta Business Institute is sponsored by Syngenta in conjunction with Wake Forest University’s graduate school of business and will take place Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 in Winston-Salem, N.C. The role of the golf course superintendent involves not only agronomic but also business manager responsibilities. Syngenta has worked with Wake Forest to develop a program that will focus on business management in the areas of financial management, leadership and effective communications, and negotiation skills. Superintendents from across the country were nominated by either their state GCS associations or the Syngenta Golf Advisory Team. Schuckers and Tichenor were selected from a talented pool of superintendents based on an application process that reviewed their educational background, industry achievements, and an essay. Schuckers, CGCS, is the superintendent at Meadows Golf Club in Lincoln Park, and has worked in the industry for more than 20 years. He earned his turfgrass management degree from Penn State University. Tichenor is the superintendent at Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, and is working to complete his certified golf course superintendent status. He graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in golf turf management. I the game. The more we can get to play this game and stick with it, the better for all of us in the golf course industry. This program wanted to certify 700 facilities in the first year. Certified facilities offer the Get Golf Ready in 5 days for $99. In less than one year 1,425 facilities applied and 1,118 were certified. 69% of these facilities were public and 19% were private. Please go to GetGolfReady.com for more details. The participating facilities report 17,000 participants and of these who played golf, they played the game 8.1 times. Very good news and we hope it continues to prosper. Enough of that....how bout the induction. The inductees for this year were: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Christy O’Conner, Jose’ Maria Olazabal and Lanny Wadkins. The ceremonies were about 2 hours and moved along pretty quick. They were all touching and moving in a way, however, I was really touched by Jose’ Maria. He was truly honored and owed a lot to his parents, who were there and Seve Ballesteros, who sent over a video. Lanny Wadkins talked about his brother Bobby and how they were very close and played a considerable amount of golf together and how he owed him a great deal for his success. Well, that was it for the ceremonies and we were off to the Gala reception. The reception was in the Hall of Fame and was pretty cool. We hung out with Kevin Cook, writer for Sports Illustrated and author of Tommy’s Honor: The Story of Old Tom and Young Tom Morris. Kevin knew a good amount of people and introduced us to a few. Footnote: Kevin and a friend are the ones who brought all of Lanny Wadkins’ memorabilia from Texas to the Hall of Fame. All the dignitaries from the GCSAA were present and of course that included our own GCSANJ member and GCSAA President, Mark Kuhns. Food and cocktails were outstanding and I was amazed to see the famous people of golf act so ordinary and pleasant. In the end....a very good experience with a good friend. Hall of Fame Induction 2009 at World Golf hall of fame by Lance A. Rogers Back in September I received an invitation to the Hall of Fame Induction at the World Golf Hall of Fame. I have driven by the World Golf Village a number of times, however, I never stopped in to see what the facility had to offer. With this in mind, I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity. Then I thought...who would be the perfect comrade to travel with? Hmmm. You guessed it...Ken Kubik! This guy is smooth and knows a lot of dignitaries, you know...the important people. Ken was down at last year’s Induction and this previous experience would prove to be beneficial. Ken accepted my invite, we made the plans and now the day was here and we were off. This was going to be a short trip, leave Sunday and be back on Tuesday. As is par for the course; we get down to Florida and its not much warmer there than here. World Golf Village is only about 45 minutes south of Jacksonville with only 2 or 3 turns...easy! We check in and where do we go first? Where else but the Caddyshack. Who’s it owned by?? Of course, Bill Murray and his 5 brothers (not the GCSANJ President). Food was great and it was the first time I had a cheeseburger pizza. The next day we walked the entire village, did a little shopping and of course stopped by the “Caddyshack” for a Bloody Mary. Later that day we went to the Get Golf Ready in 5 Days program update. You may have read in the Greenerside that the GCSANJ has committed $1,000 for the next 3 years to this wonderful cause. The mission is to grow the game by bringing new & former adult players into the game in a fun, fast, affordable way with focus on player retention. The GCSANJ, along with others, believes its important to get more people playing GCSANJ Member news Congratulations to Wendell Brooke. and AJ Beakley on the birth of their daughter, Here's a happy man! Moving Ahead To Serve You Better TORO A Toro Partner YOUR FRIENDS AT... TURF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY COMPANY 888-384-8676 • www.turf-equipment.com Class C Tourney at Architects Club District IV at Burlington Country Club by Shaun Berry old times except now Jack and Phil were playing for the south. We played at Lakewood and Fran got the chef to make a beautiful spaghetti dinner just like old days. There were lots of great hugs and laughs even though the games are not quite what they used to be.... well not for most of us. Jack is 82 but he shot a 39 on the front and was low man. No wonder his team won once again. We all left with a true understanding of how lucky we are to have had such a wonderful opportunity and we will do this again in 2010 and onward. Thanks Mr. Montecalvo for establishing such a great tradition. The Spaghetti Open Back in 1973 things in the GCSANJ were quite different. The state organization really was dominated by the superintendents and the clubs in the northern part of the sate. At that time Jack Montecalvo and Roy Griffiths were the only two southern members who attended any of the meetings because the farthest south that they were held were Trenton CC and Bamm Hollow. After a while Jack invited Phil Scott to bring down a few superintendents to play golf, have dinner and establish friendships. Not only did they play at Woodcrest CC where Jack was superintendent but many other sites like Merion. If they played near Jack's house everyone returned there for some good Italian cooking. Jack and Rose were the perfect hosts and interest grew. In 1978 Jack took a job in MD and for the next 8 years this gathering was just a fond memory. Jack did return and when he went to his first GCSANJ meeting he met Jack Martin. Jack's first statement wasn't welcome back to NJ Jack but rather it was .....” Montecalvo, when are you having the Spaghetti Open again?” Since that time there have been years when 8 guys showed-up to play and other times it was 20. In the beginning it was just Jack playing with the guys from the north. As it got larger Jack invited his neighbors and then it became a north vs the south event. Adding the likes of John Carpinelli, Tom Grimac, Brian Minemier and Bob Prickett made the south a perennial winner on the course but friendship was the real winner. In recent years this event stopped to exist because everyone just got too busy. Even the lure of Jack's home-made meatballs and sausage was not able to get people out to be with their friends. Fortunately one fellow does not take no easily. Fran Owsik has tried each of the last three years to get this going again and this year he was successful. He contacted Jack Martin and Phil Scott and they decided it was time to leave NC and head north to see old friends. It was like Host Matt Dobbie Long drive champ...Ryan Oliver Tough Year Agronomically Core Cultivation and Stressful Weather: A Deadly Combination by Adam Moeller, USGA Green Section are usually still available, and annual-type Poa annua germination is generally low. Golfer activity also is low at many courses because mid/late August is a traditional vacation time for many families. Coring during hot weather, however, can cause serious mechanical injury and may actually stimulate turf diseases that thrive on plant stress (i.e. summer patch and anthracnose). Ultimately, mid/late August coring offers the most benefits of all the non-traditional coring times...but has the highest risk. A Brutal End to August Starting back in May and continuing throughout the season, superintendents were forced to deal with excessive rainfall that never appeared as if it would stop. As a result, root growth seemed to be shallower than normal leading into July and August, and while the turf appeared healthy, it clearly was weakened by the excessive rainfall. Thankfully, anticipated hot and humid weather patterns were sporadic and relatively short lived through July and early August. Mid/late August weather patterns are typically warm but not overtly stressful (Figure 2). However, temperatures in mid/late August this year were anything but typical. Figure 2 Monday, August 17th was the hottest day of the year in many locations throughout the Northeast Region. Unfortunately, it was also a very popular date for coring putting greens. As a result, the heavy topdressing and abrasive brushing required to backfill cultivation channels pushed a lot of weakened turf plants over the edge. In some instances, however, the stretch of unrelenting heat and humidity over the next ten days resulted in a slower death of turf on putting greens. Adequate root zone moisture immediately following coring is essential to avoid rapid desiccation injury. Continued on page 36 Core cultivation (Figure 1) is a great way to rejuvenate putting greens and improve long term turf and to performance adequate maintain drainage and soil oxygen levels. Most golfers, however, hate the process despite the thoroughly documented benefits which root zone modification, thatch include: removal/management, improved gas exchange, increased drainage and rooting, compaction relief, and alleviation of root zone layering. As a result, superintendents and course officials try to balance agronomy with golf course politics and perform core cultivation in a manner with the least invasive impact on the golf calendar. Figure 1 Core Cultivation Timing Traditional coring times (for golf courses with cool-season turf) have been in late April/early May and early September each year. Superintendents and course officials have pushed the coring schedule earlier and well beyond these traditional dates over the past decade in response to the demand for flawless conditions from April through October. Mid/late August, late fall, and early spring now are common times golf courses core cultivate greens, all of which have advantages and disadvantages. Golf is a game of risk and reward and the maintenance of golf course turf is similar. Coring in late fall or early spring, when soil temperatures are low, often yields a very long recovery time because growth is minimal compared to mid/late May. If late fall cultivation holes remain open over the winter until turf growth resumes the following spring, the probability for annual-type Poa annua invasion and desiccation injury increases. Golfer activity might be low enough, however, to entice superintendents and course officials to roll the dice and risk the potential turf injury and annual-type Poa annua invasion. Mid/late August coring is advantageous at many facilities because it usually results in rapid recovery since soil temperatures are warm and the turf is actively growing. Recovery is typically complete by Labor Day, seasonal workers Core Cultivation and Stressful Weather: A Deadly Combination by Adam Moeller, USGA Green Section Optimizing Grass Growing Microenvironments Excessive moisture combined with high temperatures heat up the soil and can cause direct high temperature injury to turf. This year, the heavy rains experienced in many locations easily infiltrated the recently cored surfaces and saturated the soil profiles. The heat, high humidity, and low soil oxygen combined to be lethal to many putting greens across the Northeast Region. Thus, cultivating weakened turf during high temperatures produced mechanical injury and disease activity at some courses. Other courses escaped injury during cultivation but experienced turf loss when the process was followed by additional rainfall and continued high temperatures. After analyzing and discussing the situation with numerous superintendents and turf professors, a few common issues were identified. Poorly draining root zones or those with • excessive moisture holding capacity in the upper profile was the biggest similarity of all the golf courses with damage. Putting greens with limited sun exposure • and/or air movement also seemed to be injured more severely. Not surprisingly, damage was worst on Poa • annua turf due to its intolerance to weather extremes and shallow rooting nature (although some creeping bentgrass was injured as well). Finally, turf on putting greens may have been • weaker than normal due to the wet spring which limited rooting somewhat, increasing the likelihood for mechanical injury from coring and summer patch disease. Turf loss, especially on putting greens, can evoke a firestorm of questions from golfers and course officials determined to place blame on a particular aspect of the maintenance regime, golf course, or superintendent. In most instances, however, the cause is multi-faceted. Ultimately, identifying all of the causes is necessary to prevent against similar problems in the future. Removal of trees that are having negative impacts on sunlight and/or air flow are necessary to minimize this type of injury in the future. Putting greens grown in shaded microenvironments are prone to numerous turf problems including: poor rooting and wear tolerance, lower carbohydrate (energy) reserves, reduced density, Poa annua invasion, and root zones with lower oxygen that remain wet longer. Bottom line, there is no superintendent, maintenance practice, construction method, or product that can overcome this most basic yet critical physiological requirement. Adding fans into select growing environments with poor air circulation should also be considered. The improvements to putting green turf as a result of fans have been well documented and revolve around promoting soil drying, reducing leaf wetness duration, and improving plant wear tolerance. Removing trees and/or brush to improve air flow should be attempted first but pocketed greens or those located in sensitive areas (i.e. near property lines) may not allow aggressive removals and therefore become excellent candidates for fans. Improving Drainage Improving drainage is vital to minimizing the potential for similar problems in the future. Rebuilding poorly draining greens to sand-based root zones will yield the most improvements in internal drainage. If resources or putting green closure issues eliminate rebuilding as an option, installing sand­ bypass systems is the next best solution. Drill and fill aeration can also enhance drainage capabilities, especially when performed multiple times and combined with sand-bypass systems. Seasonal core cultivation and light, frequent sand topdressing continue to be the most reliable approach to long term modification of the upper root zone profiles. Increasing the amount of sand in the upper profile through coring and topdressing improves the balance between air-filled and capillary porosity, which leads to better soil oxygen and drainage. Deep tine aeration also should be considered on poorly draining greens. This practice can alleviate compaction, improve drainage and soil oxygen, and encourage deeper rooting. Continued on page 37 Core Cultivation and Stressful Weather: A Deadly Combination by Adam Moeller, USGA Green Section The importance of providing good drainage and good growing environments far outweighs just about everything else at the golf facility. After all, the golf course is the primary asset at every facility, and protecting it through various improvements is necessary if turf loss is to be avoided. Figure 1. Core cultivation is a highly valuable management practice used to improve root zone and putting green performance, quality, and reliability. Figure 2. Average August temperatures compared to temperatures in August, 2009. Data acquired through http://www.wunderground.com/. Figure 3. (Below) The aggressive and abrasive nature of coring and sand topdressing to backfill the cultivation channels can have serious detrimental impacts to turf health if stressful weather patterns are experienced during or immediately following the procedure. Without the ability to control moisture in the upper profile, similar turf problems will arise in the future and surface playability is going to suffer. Improving drainage will give superintendents more control over moisture levels in the root zones. The ability to control moisture in the upper profile of root zones does not guarantee success but it unquestionably minimizes the impact weather extremes create on putting green turf! Incorporate a Backup Date into the Calendar Core cultivation is usually scheduled well in advance to accommodate for planning of the golf calendar. Once the date approaches, however, a superintendent can be faced with a difficult dilemma if unfavorable weather is forecasted. Core as planned and risk reduced benefit or potential turf injury; or, postpone the date knowing the golfing schedule may not be open until after the turf is dormant, which will not provide enough time for recovery until growth has resumed in the spring. Incorporating one or more backup dates 1-2 weeks after the scheduled date to account for unexpected weather (including rain), equipment failure, or inadequate turf health is essential for every coring program. This will give the superintendent the ability to make a better decision and it will ensure that coring is performed during the most appropriate time with the least risk for problems. Losing putting green turf always prompts a thorough evaluation of the maintenance programs. In some instances, providing a backup coring date may be the only adjustment needed while others may need large scale drainage projects or tree removals to improve growing microenvironments. Either way, the problems experienced this year exposed a weakness in the golf course and/or maintenance programs which hopefully will stimulate corrective measures in the future. All too often drainage installation and tree removals are in response to turf problems. Those projects just do not inspire excitement and positive feedback compared to something like a bunker restoration or building a new tee complex. New Jersey Chapter GCSAÀ AER-CORE, Inc. Dennis DeSanctis, Sr. William D. Mast Stephen P. Thompson Turfgrass Aerification & Equipment Sales 1486 South Hanover Street Pottstown, PA 19465 Ph: 610-327-3390 Fx: 610-327-0581 ddesanctis@aer-core.com A.G. ENTERPRISES Staff Uniforms Rick Gordon Ph: 201-488-1276; Fx: 201-489-5830 Merrick160@aol.com www.agenterprisesonline.com ALAN G. CRUSE INC. Golf Course Materials Alan Cruse, James Cruse, Geoffrey Drake 460 Horseneck Road Fairfield, NJ 07004 Ph: 973-277-7183 Fx: 973-227-1984 AQUATROLS CORP. OF AMERICA Kevin P Collins Surfactant Mfg. Innovative Products for Effective Resource Mgt. 1273 Imperial Way Paulsboro NJ 08066 Ph: 609-841-2077 Fx: 845-228-1728 Kevin.Collins@aquatrols.com ATLANTIC IRRIGATION SPECIALTIES Irrigation Supplies & Services Fred Rapp, Jeff Allen, Ken Givens Rain Bird 39 Waverly Avenue Springfield NJ 07081 Ph: 973-379-9314 Fx: 973-379-6504 frapp@atlanticirrigation.com BARTLETT TREE EXPERTS Tree & Landscape Care Wayne S. Dubin 98 Ford Road, Suite 3E Denville, NJ 07834 Ph: 973-983-7511 Fx: 973-983-9699 wdubin@bartlett.com BASF Plant Protectants Ted Huhn 2819 Blue Ball Road Elkton, MD 21921 Ph: 443-206-1095 Fx: 410-398-8244 theodore.huhn@basf.com Shaun M. Barry Cell: 908-962-8544 Fx: 732-846-8113 sbarry1947@me.com BLACK LAGOON POND MANAGEMENT Pond Management Chris Borek Ph: 609-815-1654 Fx: 609-585-0525 www.blacklagoon.us 2009 Patron Directory BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS Soil Mixes for Gofl Courses Gene Evans Divot, Topdressing - Bunker 133 Peat Moss Road White Haven, PA Ph: 570/443-9596 Fx: 570/443-9590 DOWNES TREE SERVICE, INC. Tree Care and Removal Kevin Downes, Vanessa Wermert All phases of tree work 65 Royal Ave, Hawthorne NJ 07506 Ph: 973-238-9800 vanessa@downestreeservice.com DRYJECT, INC. Golf Aeration Equipment Peter Van Drumpt Chris des Garennes 307 Lincoln Avenue Hatboro, PA 19040 Ph: 215-444-0310 Fx: 215-444-0797 peter@dryject.com chris@dryject.com DUPONT PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS Karen Hartman Manufacturer - Acelepryn, Provaunt 30300 Charles Barnes Road Westover, MD 21871 Ph: 410-202-6848 Fx: 866-511-5484 karen.hartman@usa.dupont.com FERTL-SOIL TURF SUPPLY Golf Course Supplies, Sand & Soil Mixes Marty Futyma, 201-306-7466 Cathy Futyma-Brown, 908-930-8022 514 Martin Place Scotch Plains NJ 07076 Fertl-soil@hotmail.com F. M. BROWN'S SONS, INC. Seed Company Marie Pompei Seed and Seeding Supplies PO Box 2116, 205 Woodrow Avenue Sinking Spring, PA 19608 Ph: 800-345-3344 Fx: 610-678-7023 mariepompei@fmbrown.com FREDCO GOLF Golf Course Constrauction Mark Tortoriello Renovations/Hardscapes/ Landscapes/Materials 315 Howe Avenue Passaic NJ 07055 Ph: 973-777-3044 Fx: 973-777-3066 GRASS ROOTS, INC. Golf Course Maintenance Supplies Ken Kubik: 973/418-7035 Keith Kubik: 973/418-7034 Jay McKenna: 973/418-7036 Ryan Burbridge: 973/418-7038 Joe Kennedy: 973/445-8139 Office: 973/252-6634 JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. Jim Barrett Irrigation Design, Consulting, GPS PO Box 155, Roseland NJ 07068 Ph: 973-364-9701 Fx: 973-364-9702 jba.irr@comcast.net LACORTE EQUIPMENT Golf & Turf Equipment Bruce A. Pye/Gale Stengoist Sales & Service John Deere Golf & Turf Ph: (973) 862-9853 Fx: (631) 591-3447 BruceP@Lacorteequipment.com MONTCO PRODUCTS CORP. Surfside Wetting Agents Liquid - Granular - Pellets ZAP! Defoamer Information: Bob Oechsle Ph: 215-836-4992; 800-401-0411 Fx: 215-836-2418 NATIONAL SEED COMPANY Grass Seed Supplier Ken Griepentrog George Rosenberg, Barry Van Sant Seed & Seeding Supplies 18-B Jules Lane New Brunswick NJ 08901 732-247-3100 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION Premium Top-Dressing Green Sand Divot Mixes, Bunker Sands, Cart Paths, Turf Blankets, Golf Hole Targets Jim Kelsey, sales@partac.com Ph: 800-247-2326 Fx: 908-637-4191 www.partac.com PAVELEC BROTHERS GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION Tony Pavelec Julianne Venezia New/Renovation Projects 308 Washington Avenue, Rear Nutley, NJ 07110 Ph: 973-667.1643 Fx: 973-667.6599 julianne@pavelecbrothers.com www.pavelecbrothers.com PLANT FOOD COMPANY “The Liquid Fertilizer Experts” Dick Neufeld (973) 945-6318 Brad Simpkins (609) 709-2150 Tom Weinert (914) 262-0111 Biostimulants & Other Products for Premium Turfgrass www.plantfoodco.com Ph: (800) 562-1291 PFC@plantfoodco.com PRIMOS PRODUCTS Turf Products Distributor Rich Hendrickson, Will McIlvaine Floratine Products, Gro-Power Products, CTI Times & Analync Soil Analysis PO Bx 321, Medford NJ 08055-0321 Ph: 609-714-1151 Fx: 609-714-1151 primosprod@verizon.net WE ENCOURAGE GCSANJ MEMBERS TO SUPPORT GREENERSIDE ADVERTISERS AND PATRONS. RALPH McGILLAN EXCAVATING LLC Lakes & Ponds Ralph McGillan 24 Conover Road Millstone Twp, NJ 08535 Ph: 609-655-2281 RIGGI PAVING, INC. Asphault, Concrete, Pavers PO Box 2214 Cliffside Park, NJ 07010 Frank J. Riggi, Jr. Ph: 201-943-3913 Fx: 201-944-4465 STEPHEN KAY • DOUG SMITH, GOLF COURSE DESIGN, LLC Golf Course Architecture Stephen Kay Master Planning, Bunker Restoration Remodeling, Consultation Ph: 609/703-3300 Fx: 609/965-9174 StephenKgolf@aol.com STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Toro Turf & Irrigation Equipment Blair Quin, Rick Krok, Steve Bradley 3191 Highway 22 Branchburg NJ 08876 Ph: 908-722-9830 kindyk@storrtractor.com www.storrtractor.com SYNGENTA Manufacturer of Plant Protection Products Lee A. 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