ISSUE 1: 2017 / VOLUME 41 THEGREENERSIDE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY George Pierpoint IV Superintendent Harbor Pines Country Club Egg Harbor Township, NJ April 24,2017 Inaugural 'Civil War' Meeting EIFGEnvironmental Institute for Golf Rounds 4 Research COMPLETE THIS FORM & SEND TO GCSANJ OFFICE OR EIFG Rounds 4 Research Donation Form Auction Dates: May 1-7, 2017 Presented in partnership with The Toro Company. TORO The Environmental Institute for Golf is the philanthropic organization of GCSAA. Address: Zip Code: Web Site: State/Province: Fax: FACILITY INFORMATION Name of Facility: City: Business Phone: CONTACT PERSON FOR DONATION QUESTIONS Name: Phone: BUILD YOUR DONATION PACKAGE # of holes per round: □ 9 □ 18 □ 27 □ 36 # of golfers per round: □ Foursome (4 Golfers) □ Foursome (3 Golfers & 1 Member) □ Golf for 2 Please indicate additional items included in your package donation: □ Golf Carts □ Meals □ Hotel Please provide details for these additional items: Title: Email: Country: Please indicate any restrictions that apply to your package donation: □ Golf Appropriate Attire Required □ Blackout Dates: Please list any other details/stipulations/guidelines for your donation: □ Blackout Days/Times: What is the total value of this donation package? (Include total value of fees, etc.) $: How many of the above donation packages do you wish to donate? If your facility is associated with a management company, please provide their name: Opening bid amounts are automatically set at 1/3 of the estimated value. Please indicate if you would like to set the opening bid at an alternate amount: □ 1/4 of estimated value □ 1/2 of estimated value □ Other: To continue donating to future auctions, please circle the year(s) you would like to duplicate your donation: 2018 2019 2020 REDEMPTION CERTIFICATE □ I would like the EIFG to provide the necessary gift certificates. For validation purposes, a copy of this donation form will be attached to the gift certificates provided by the EIFG to the winning bidder. Please provide expiration date. If no expiration date is provided, it will default to one year from purchase date. □ I will provide the necessary gift certificates and will mail to the EIFG headquarters with this donation form. Expiration date for certificates: DONATION PROCEEDS Proceeds from your donation will benefit: GCSA of New Jersey GCSAA and the EIFG do not assume any responsibility whatsoever for the donation within the EIFG. Donor hereby expressly agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless GCSAA and the EIFG, and their officers and directors, from any and all claims including, but not limited to, injury, death and loss of property, including said donation, that may be sustained. Authorized Signature: Print Name and Title: Date: Environmental Institute for Golf • 1421 Research Park Drive • Lawrence, KS 66049 | Rounds4Research.com Questions? Call us at 800-472-7878. Fax this form to 785-832-4448 or email it to rounds4research@gcsaa.org E U S S I S I H T N I 5 6 6 8 9 11 13 14 15 16 23 24 30 31 President’s Message From Your Executive Director: Giving is Getting Calendar of Events Chapter Strategic Planning Session - Jeremy Hreben GCSANJ Through the Decades - Part Two - Ken Kubik How Is Your Relationship Doing? - James Cadott My Office: Colonia Country Club, Lance Rogers, CGCS Adoption: Our Story - Tom Weinert Crazy or Strange Things During Project Designs - Stephen Kay More to Golf Courses than Greens, Tees, Fairways - Matt Ceplo Strange Things During Construction - A. John Harvey The Good Life - Jesse Dowdy A Life Well-Remembered: Mary Lou DesChamps Patron Directory WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Richard West, Class B Charleston Springs Golf Course - North Robert Swanekamp, Class AF Kube Pak Growers Raynor Paulsen, Class C Beacon Hill Country Club Patrick O’Brien, Class C Arcola Country Club Elizabeth Holmes, Class C TPC Jasna Polana Jill Seymour, Class B Monmouth County Parks - Hominy Hill Golf Course Miguel Ortega III, Class C Preakness Hill Country Club John Meyer, Class C TPC Jasna Polana Richard Blanchard, Class B TPC Jasna Polana Bill Cimochowski, Class AF Seeton Turf Warehouse New Jersey Chapter GCSAA GCSANJ Newsletter is published four times a year by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Todd Raisch, CGCS, Editor Shaun Barry, Contributing Writer & Photographer Please address inquiries to: Editor, The Greenerside 25 US Hwy 46 West, Wayne, NJ 07470 Layout, Design, Ad Placement: Cece Peabody, Executive Director 973-812-0710 Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey 25 US Highway 46 West Wayne, New Jersey 07470 PH: 973-812-0710 • FAX 973-812-6529 Officers: Russell Harris, President Les Carpenter, Jr, CGCS, Vice President Jeremy Hreben, Secretary Joe Kinlin, Treasurer Gary Arlio, Past President Directors: District I - Tyler Otero District II - Jamie Devers District III - Tom Higgins District IV - Mike Tardogno At-Large Todd Raisch, CGCS • Jeremy Batz • Lance Rogers, CGCS • Anthony Hooks Rutgers Liaisons Dr. Bruce Clarke Dr. James Murphy GCSAA Chapter Delegate Bill Murray Executive Director Cece Peabody, M.A.T., C.M.P. Commercial Representatives Rob Johnson & Brian Gjelsvik Photos Inside This Issue Courtesy of Shaun Barry Cover Photo from Harbor Pines Golf Club, Egg Harbor Township NJ http://www.gcsanj.org VISIT OUR WEBSITE: gcsanj.org © 2017 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. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Russell Harris, Galloping Hill Golf Course As I write this, it is already the 21st of April, and the year seems like it is literally flying by! The weath­ er is warming, and the grass is growing - fast! The busy times are upon us once again. A few weeks ago the Board of Directors of the GCSANJ met with representatives of GCSAA for a strategic planning meeting, and I can tell you that we have an excellent group who are all very excit­ ed and dedicated to making our Association one for which you can be proud. We as an association have come up with some very bold plans for our future to ensure that the GCSANJ will not only be recognized as the foremost association in New Jer- sy golf, but the nation as well. It is truly gratifying to be a part of the long-held traditions and continuing to serve our membership. There is something special about the GCSANJ. I sincerely believe that we are indeed fortunate to have such a great, tight-knit membership, making our chapter both strong and unique among the oth­ er Associations I have seen. While I know things are busy especially now that the season is upon us, please do your best to keep involved in the Association whether its volunteer­ ing or just attending the meetings. We want to see and hear from you. After all, an Association is only as good as its members. And remember when you buy, try to support our Affiliate Members whenever possible. Without their generous support through­ out the years, none of our events would be possi­ ble. We have some great things coming up, beginning with one of our newest events on April 24th -- the newly minted Civil War at Harbor Pines Golf Club. This event is replacing our annual War at the Shore and we are excited to get this event going and start­ ing a new tradition for our members to enjoy. We also have plans to host some other fun summer ac­ tivities and golf events that I think you all will enjoy. Keep an eye out for those, and check the website for more information as it becomes available. One final note, please be engaged and active in our association. We, as an association, cannot stress enough the importance of an engaged membership. While the Board will work tirelessly to represent you with integrity and pride, we cannot in any way survive without the engagement and involvement of EVERY member of the GCSANJ. Our doors and phone lines are always open if you need anything, want to suggest something, or just want to catch up on the happenings of the association. Once again thank you for allowing me to serve you as your President and best of luck beginning your seasons at your respective facilities. Russel Harris Russell Harris GCSANJ PRESIDENT search: GCSANJ @GCSANJ1926 @gcsanj1926 (NJSUPER) www.gcsanj.org SIGN UP FOR FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS! MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MAY 31, 2017 Scholarships are only for GCSANJ members, spouses, and children - 2 year, 4 year, or graduate class. Application Evaluated on Criteria: Academics, Extra-Curricular Activities, Essay, Overall Presentation. Find Application On Website: Go to: The Foundation/Scholarship Application FROM YOUR EXEC DIRECTOR Cece Peabody M.A.T., C.M.P., Executive Director GIVING IS GETTING... Of course that sounds like an oxymoron** and it certainly could be. So many people have said it in different ways: • “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Winston Churchill • “For it is in giving that we receive.” St. Francis of Assisi • “Life isn’t about getting and having. It’s about giving and being.” Kevin Kruse • “Giving opens the way for receiving.” Florence Scovel Shinn It seems that every day someone is asking something ‘more of you’... to do one more thing at your job, to do one more task at home, to donate one more round, to attend one or two more meetings, to sponsor one more level, to be part of just one more committee, to train one more assistant, and so on, and so on. It can get to be tiring, upsetting, and even exasperating. But stop for a minute and turn your thinking around.... think about what you are actually getting out of doing that one more thing....by doing one more thing at your job, you’re learning a new skill to advance your career; by doing one more task at home, you’re helping ease a burden someone else has; by donating one more round, you’re helping a foundation or a group to reach a goal; by sponsoring one more level, you’re gaining more com­ pany recognition and helping the chapter or group meet financial goals; by joining one more committee, you’re strengthening your skill sets, gaining leadership skills, and contributing to the overall goals of the association; by training one more assistant, you’re paying it forward with the expertise you’ve learned in the business. You may not think so at the time, but you should feel a sense of satis­ faction for the role you have played in the giving. We all might love to travel the world, or live quietly on the beach enjoying sun and have no worries, but that proba­ bly won’t happen. So, while we have the chance to, why not give as much as we can while we can... in all the small ways we can. We certainly get back way more than we ever give. And we won’t even know when all that giving comes back to us...just believe that it will, and that it does. Okay...don’t believe it? Well, here’s a small example...the next time someone gives you a hug - you will just have been thanked for something you have given someone else. ** two seemingly contradictory words are used together for effect. 2017 CALENDAR Check calendar for updates and signup info. “The Civil War” - NJ North vs South April 24, 2017 • Monday Harbor Pines Country Club Egg Harbor Township, NJ May 8, 2017 • Monday Rutgers Turfgrass Research Golf Classic Fiddler's Elbow Country Club Bedminster, NJ May 17, 2017 • Wednesday Members Social Event Top Golf, Edison NJ GCSANJ Foundation Shootout June 19, 2017 • Monday Rumson Country Club Rumson, NJ International Turfgrass Research Conference July 16-21, 2017 Rutgers University July 25, 2017 • Tuesday Rutgers Research Field Day - Golf & Fine Turf Hort Farm 2, N. Brunswick, NJ August 8, 2017 • Tuesday District I & II Rolling Greens Golf Club, Newton, NJ August 15, 2017 • Tuesday District III Jumping Brook Country Club, Neptune NJ Chapter Championship September 11, 2017 • Monday Arcola Country Club, Paramus, NJ September 26, 2017 • Tuesday District IV Burlington Country Club, Mt. Holly, NJ October 12, 2017 • Thursday Pro/Super Nine & Dine Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, NJ October 23-24, 2017 • Mon/Tues CanAM Cup Baltusrol Golf Club & Canoe Brook Country Club December 5-7 2017 • Tues - Thurs Green Expo Turf & Landscape Conference Borgata Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, NJ 2018 Curtis Cup: June 8-10, 2018 Quaker Ridge Golf Club Scarsdale, NY Visit gcsanj.org for Details and Registration forms Congrats to Les Carpenter, CGCS MGA Arthur P. Weber Environmental Leader in Golf Award GCSANJ STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION - by Jeremy Hreben, Indian Springs Country Club What is a mission statement, a vision statement or even a strategic plan­ ning meeting? er. We don't just want a seat at the dinner table...we plan to sit at the head of the table. This will not hap­ pen overnight. It will take years of dedicated public outreach and educa­ tion. Rest assured though, the Board will be working tirelessly to this end. I would like to thank the members of this great association for giving the Directors the opportunity to serve you and a chance at improving GCSANJ. I would also like to thank the current and past board members for the time, dedication and effort they all have given our association by represent­ ing us in a devoted and professional manner. I've always thought those were terms for Fortune 500 companies, organiza­ tions who want to turn a profit, not small non-profits such as GCSANJ. Boy, was I in for a rude awakening. With the help of Kevin Doyle, GCSAA NE Region Field Staff Representative, and Steve Randall, GCSAA Chapter Outreach Director, your Board of Di­ rectors conducted a strategic plan­ ning session in late March on behalf of the Association. I was skeptical for sure, but kept an open mind. We set aside five hours of undisturbed brain­ storming. The goal was to revisit our mission statement and strategic plan­ ning outline previously completed in 2006. This new gathering was well overdue considering most associa­ tions and companies complete this process every two to three years. We first went through a SCOR anal­ ysis. We evaluated our Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities and Risks as a board and for the Association. Lists were made for all categories. From those lists, items were then prioritized. Those at the top of each list were then used to help identify a mission statement, a vision statement and action items needed to achieve short and long-term goals. Expecta­ tions were raised for all. So, what is a Mission Statement? It is defined as “a formal summary of the aims and values of a company, or­ ganization, or individual.” A Mission Statement answers “What business are we in?” and “What is our business for?” Going forward, the Mission Statement will be used as a guide for everything we do. I was very proud of the dedication, determination and enthusiasm ev­ eryone attacked this task with. It was not an easy negotiation. There was passionate discussion, parsing each and every word. However, we came to a final conclusion that we are hon­ ored to present and hope our mem­ bers will appreciate. “The Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey exists to serve the golf course superintendent by advancing the profession, offer­ ing professional development and fostering relationships for all mem­ bers.” This Mission Statement encompasses everything we do for our members. It is the backbone of the Association. The Board stands by this Mission Statement and will do everything in our power to execute it. Our next task was to create a Vision Statement. Defined as “an aspiration­ al description of what an organization would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future”, our vision created an aggressive and lofty goal for the Association. “The Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of New Jersey strives to be the state and regional leader in the golf industry.” I am sure we can agree that the most vital component of each of our prop­ erties is the golf course. We are the stewards of that component. We plan to work in conjunction with our allied associations to show them, club members and course patrons the im­ portance of our presence and our val­ ue to our properties. No longer will we stand in the shad­ ows of our peers, the golf profession­ al, the controller and the club manag­ GCSANJ THROUGH THE DECADES - by Ken Kubik, Grass Roots PART TWO 1931: Seventy-five turf managers enjoy equipment demonstrations, turf plot tours and cama­ • raderie during first field day sponsored by New Jersey Experiment Station in New Brunswick, NJ. New Jersey greenskeepers establish rapport with the Golf Greenskeepers Association of Great Britain. They exchange technical bulletins, trade magazines and agronomic techniques. 1941: A survey on New Jersey golf course labor wage scale sent to members reveals that the • average pay is 50 cents/hour. The association treasurer reports there is $325.86 on deposit in the bank. 1951: John Anderson, the founding father of the association is made a Life Member of the as­ • sociation. He had left the state three years earlier for a job in Virginia. John had been both president of the New Jersey and National Associations during his professional career. Ed Casey, Baltusrol Golf Club, GCS is the president of the New Jersey Greenskeeping Superintendents Association. Nick Florio, GCS Somerset Hills CC wins the association golf championship at Homestead CC where Mel Lucas, Sr. is the GCS. 1961: Association dues are raised to $15/year. The association golf championship is held at • Spring Brook CC where Lew Wortman is the GCS. Plainfield CC hosts the NJSGA Open. It is the 40th Anniversary of the event. 1971: The GCSANJ Invitational is won by the Oak Hill Golf Club Team led by Dave McGhee, • GCS. It is played at Navesink Country Club, Paul Bozelle is the GCS. The Association Management Cor­ poration is retained to manage the NJGCSA to provide better personal service and help professionalize the NJGCSA. Jack Martin, GCS Shackamaxon, is the President of our association. Harry Harsin is the NJGCSA Golf Champion. He wins the championship at Montammy CC where Mike Leary is the host GCS. 1981: Ed Walsh, GCS the Ridgewood CC, is editor of the “Greenerside” which is awarded the • GCSAA Overall Best Newsletter. Shawn Barry wins the GCSANJ Commercial Golf Championship. Statewide drought puts a critical pinch on NJ golf courses. Water use restrictions are initiated for NJ golf courses. GCSANJ representatives Jack Martin, GCS Shackamaxon CC, and Jim Gilligan, GCS Be- dens Brook GC, lobby the Governor’s Water Task Force to ease water restrictions to state golf courses. 1991: Ken Krausz, GCS Paramus GC is the chairman of the Public Committee, which is formed • to help members deal with unique problems faced by public golf. The Audubon Cooperative Sanctu­ ary for Golf Courses is established. Dave Pease, Monmouth County Park System is president of the GCSANJ. Ian Kunesch, GCS Rolling Greens GC is the GCSANJ golf champion. The tournament is held at Alpine CC where Steve Finamore is the GCS. Ed Walsh, GCS at the Ridgewood CC wins the GCSANJ Distinguished Service Award. Ed is the youngest GCSANJ/DSA winner to date. 2001: The GCSANJ 75th Anniversary Tree Planting is held at Crestmont CC, Peter Pedrazzi, Jr. • GCS. The tree is dedicated in honor of the small group of greenskeepers that met at Crestmont CC un­ der a big tree next to the barn to hear John Anderson, GCS Crestmont CC lecture on the need to join together for the common cause. The 62nd Senior PGA Championship is held at the Ridgewood CC. The GCS is Todd Raisch, CGCS and the winner is Tom Watson. This tournament probably is the first to solicit sponsorships to provide a hospitality area for Grounds Department Volunteers and industry guests. The GCSANJ goes online. Steve Kopach, GCS Mountain Ridge CC develops the first website for the GCSANJ. Steve’s efforts result in him winning the GCSANJ Member of the Year. Plans for an association 75th Anniversary cruise around Manhattan are aborted due to the tragedy of 9/11. GCSANJ THROUGH THE DECADES - by Ken Kubik PART TWO 2011: The GCSANJ joins forces with the NJTA at EXPO in Atlantic City. Paul Dotti is the pres­ • ident of the GCSANJ. Northern New Jersey GCS's suffer extreme winter damage on annual bluegrass greens. Plainfield CC, Travis Pauley GCS hosts the Barclays, which is shortened to three rounds due to Hurricane Irene. The tournament is won by Dustin Johnson. Tremors from an earthquake centered in Washington DC are felt at Plainfield CC during the tournament. Article edited by Ken Kubik credits also to Doug Vogel for initial historical research. About Our “Civil War” Event Superintendent Host: George Pierpoint IV I come from a golf family. My grandfather Al Durland was the superintendent at Stony Ford golf course in Goshen NY. My Dad, George, was a superintendent for 42 years retiring from Ardsley Country Club and my Mom, Ineke, was the executive secretary for HVGCSA, MetGCSA as well as GCSANJ at one time. I started at Harbor Pines in September of 2006. I came from Middletown NY, where I was the superintendent at Orange County GC since 1997. I have been married to my beautiful wife Jennifer since 1995. We have 3 handsome young men. My oldest son Travis is 20 and serving in the Marine Corps and is currently stationed outside of Seattle, Washington. My middle son Logan is graduating high school this spring and will be attending Rowan University this fall with the goal of becoming a physics teacher. My youngest son Ryan is cur­ rently a freshman keeping busy with his friends and school. I would like to thank the Gurwicz family for their support the last 11 years as well as that of the manager Alan Greenman. Most importantly, thanks to my wife for putting up with me and keeping the family going while I am at work. HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP DOING? by James Cadott, Pebble Creek Golf Club Have you ever asked yourself, “How is my relation­ ship with my boss?” Meaning the one person who is responsible for my employment...or unemployment. This is a tricky question to answer since we all have different employment structures. Many superinten­ dents answer to a board member or members, while others answer to a general manager or public offi­ cial. I answer to an owner (Ray Longobardi) of a daily fee, privately owned golf course without a general manager or even a PGA pro on the staff. This chain of command is very direct and clear, which I would think could help myself answer the question, “How is my relationship with my boss?” Back in 2013, I would have answered this question with a confidently strong response. I feel that I do my job well, since the golf course is busy with steady, reg­ ularly returning customers. The budget is on the low­ er end of the scale, and we seem to accomplish more with less. But in the Fall of that year, my relationship with not just the owner, but everybody involved with Pebble Creek Golf Club, would be tested to the max. In September of 2013, I experienced the beginning of a crisis that I hope nobody in this industry will ever have to experience. On September 9, some Get tougher turf up here. way, some how, enough glysophate found its way into the spray tank, and was applied to 2 acres of turf...or ten greens and approaches. Nobody realized this occurred until a couple of weeks later, when that “look” started to appear. Even at this time, I had some others look at the greens and we figured it was a residual growth regulator effect. As the greens continued to decline, I knew something was very wrong. A tissue test later, and it was confirmed that glysophate, albiet a small amount, was the culprit. My first thoughts were of confusion, anger, and helplessness...a great combination! I called two peo­ ple, Dave Pease, and Joe Kennedy of Grass Roots, to help figure this whole thing out. Once a timeline of what happened, and what will happen, was set, I sat down with the owner of the golf course and ex­ plained the situation. It reminded me of the movie scene in Titanic when the boat designer told the girl (Kate Winslet) ...”Yes Rose, she will sink”.... Yes Ray, they are going to die. It would be an understatement to say that this would be the ultimate test of our re­ lationship. Divanem'“ nematicide delivers excellent turf quality through proven, broad-spectrum control including sting, ring, lance, and root- knot nematodes. The innovative formulation moves quickly into the soil where nematodes are most active and provides drought tolerance and quicker recovery from stress. Get stronger, healthier turf from the ground up. Visit GreenCastOnline.com/Divanem to view trial results. By controlling nematodes » ■ ■ 1 down here. #NematodeKnowledge 2017 Syngenta Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Some products may not be registered for sale or use in all states or counties. Please check with your state or local extension service to ensure registration MW 1LGG7011_Divanem_7.5x4.875 02/17 status. Divanem is a Restricted Use Pesticide. Divanem, GreenCast, the Alliance Frame, the Purpose Icon and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company Divanem Nematicide syngenta HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP DOING? Continued from previous page So I have thought about this crisis many times over the last few years, and a number of things come to mind....personalities, character, timing, support, communication, and even a little luck. But the most important revelation I took from this was that my re­ lationship with Pebble Creek was saved not because of the rapid recovery of the greens after, but of the strong foundation that was built the prior 13 years of my employment before. I guess this would be the part where the personalities and character mesh to­ gether. I was hired in the Spring of 2000, and ever since then I feel like I have done a very good job han­ dling the craziness of a daily fee golf course, and this helped build confidence towards myself and subse­ quently strengthened the owner/employee relation­ ship. But like any other boss, Ray would still ques­ tion some things. And this is where support from your colleagues comes in. I was fortunate to have Dave and Joe make site visits whenever necessary, and speak with Ray about what was going on with the golf course. So when this crisis unfolded, these were the guys that I leaned on not just for agronomic advice, but emotional support also. I trusted these guys, so whatever was said by one person was said by all, and that helps tremendously. At times, I even offered for Ray to speak with Dave or Joe without me being present, just to show that we were all on the same page. The best advice Dave gave throughout was ..’just throw yourself on the sword’. No matter what hap­ pened, he would say, you are the captain here and it happened under your watch. Ouch! But I think it worked, and I believe it showed Ray that I took full responsibility, but also I will do whatever is neces­ sary to fix the situation. At the same time, we kept pounding away at the recovery effort. Joe recom­ mended Dr. Gordon Kaufman to set up the agro­ nomic program and we all agreed. Several site visits later, progress was being made. Timing was important because this crisis happened at the end of the season. You can also throw luck in there also. We were able to close the greens by No­ vember 1 and keep them closed all winter. We were able to borrow green blankets from Due Process (thanks Tony), and along with purchasing our own, we covered all the greens. Continued on page 18 For more than 30 years, Growth Products has brought superintendents bright ideas and the latest nutritional technology. Find the perfect fertilizer, chelated micronutrient, or natural organic solution from our comprehensive product lineup. Ik Visit us online at www.GrowthProducts.com . I (800) 648-7626 today! or call Soil Amendments & Rooting Stimulators Biological Fungicides Liquid Fertilizers Chelated Micronutrients Call Your Local Rep Today! Craig Lambert Cell: (917) 416-4588 Phone: (800) 648-7626 www.GrowthProducts.com Companion, Essential and Nitro-30, are registered trademarks of Growth Products., Ltd. How bout the m cowboys Proud assistant at Somerset hills Carl always for me looking out My office... Family!! Past president plaque Essential tools nearby ADOPTION: OUR STORY by Tom Weinert, Plant Food Company It was a mid-November day in 2011. The weather was nice in the low 50s and I was on my way to visit Baltusrol Golf Club. My wife sent a text message as I was walking into the appointment. It was a very different text than I have ever received before. She asked me a question about a conversation we had with friends three weeks earlier on a Sunday af­ ternoon. As a good husband I said, “I remember”, when really I was a little unsure of what we had been talking about three weeks prior. But as I read the words of the next text spring up on my phone, I suddenly remembered exactly the conversation that she was referring to. You see, a friend of ours was over the house that day and was talking about foster care and encouraged us to get involved. On that day my response was “Sure, that sounds like a great thing.” I never intended to carry through on the conversation. But, here I was, in shock, read­ ing that text message from my wife. It read ”Well, I'm bringing home a baby.” My own response was, “Okay.” That day was the beginning of a five-year journey of fostering and adopting quite a few chil­ dren. The first couple of weeks that Kyra was with us, I was not too excited about holding her, because I was afraid of getting attached and hurt. I was not over­ ly excited about going through the process all over again with a six-week old child. At that time, I was 43 years old and my life was cruising along quite nicely. I really did not want to be inconvenienced with rais­ ing more children. We already had four children and, my goodness, the thought of being 60-years-old and going to my daughter’s graduation was unthinkable. Sometimes, God has different plans for us than what we choose. It is awesome to watch how these chil­ dren have changed me in so many ways. Since November of 2011, there has been a total of II children come through our home. Two of them we have adopted. Kyra, who is now 5, came into our home at six-weeks-old. Sammy, who is now 4, came to us at eight-months-old. Our youngest, Kalli, who just turned one on December 22nd, came to us December 23, 2015. She is still in the foster care system and we hope to adopt her in the next year. Kalli is a biological half-sister of Sammy. The others have all returned home to their biological parents. We have had no control over what happens to them after they leave us, although we were able to make them feel safe and loved for a period of time. We have kept in contact with several of the children, and it is wonderful to see when their story has a happy ending. I hear a lot of people tell me we are doing amaz­ ing things for these children, but it is the exact opposite. I am amazed how these children have changed our family dynamic and have made us rethink our priorities in life. I’m writing this to encourage anyone who has thought about fostering or adopting, to step out and invest in a life that you could change forever. Nothing in life worth having comes easy, howev­ er, in the end, it is so worth it. The day we adopted Sam at the courthouse. ‘CRAZY’ OR ‘STRANGE’ THINGS DURING PROJECT DESIGNS by Stephen Kay, Golf Course Architect, LLC Kingdom of Bhutan I was approached by a non-golfing member of a club I was doing a Master Plan for in the mid-1980's who was the Presidents of ‘People to People Sports' - a non-profit that helped Third World Nations in sports (for instance they would pick up the expenses for ath­ letes to go to the Olympics). He asked if I was willing to design a golf course for the Kingdom of Bhutan (north of India, south of Tibet just to the east of Mt. Everest for free but they would pick up all expenses). Two months later I was 1.5 miles up (air was pretty thin) where the stars at night are unbelievable. They had a golf course but with ‘browns' and golf holes that crisscrossed each other (talk about unsafe). The greens had been rototilled with used motor oil mixed in (so nothing would grow). I stayed for two weeks, came up with a 9 hole layouts (only about 60 acres) and we build one hole - green complex with two sand bunkers and two tees. Then back in the USA I did a construction drawing for the remainder of the course, and they were mailed to them from the Unit­ ed Nations via ‘diplomatic pouch”. I went back the next year to see the completed product and met a PGA pro who People to People Sports sent there to coach a team for the Asian Games (they badly want­ ed to beat China, which they did). And talk about a small world. The PGA pro was Carl Marinello whom I had never met or heard of before, but it turned out we were both from Whitestone, Queens; we knew a lot of the same people but we had never met, yet we meet half way around the world. Original ‘Brown” when I got there. Layout plan I drew while there. The seed was donated by Lofts and the two walk­ ing greens mowers by Jacobsen. Irrigation (all quick couplers) and all other mowers came from India. (Where, by the way, the first golf course was built outside of Great Britain - the Royal Calcutta Golf Club by the British troops in 1829.) BHUTAN under construction Tee under construction. Soil heavy clay but no sand to amend; used saw dust and disking in then rototiller - got it about 9 inches deep. One year later Golf Pro Carl giving lesson - note green in distance THERE'S MORE TO GOLF COURSES THAN GREENS, TEES, AND FAIRWAYS - by Matt Ceplo, CGCS, Rockland Country Club crickets, beetles, spiders, and cater­ I remember a number of years ago pillars, to name a few. debating with a fellow superinten­ dent and friend GCSAA's proposal to change our job title from golf course superintendent to property manager. At the time, I thought, no, our prime responsibility is, and always will be, managing greens, tees, fairways for the game of golf. In fact, we won't be in business for very long, nor will we stay employed, if golf is not our main focus. John came at least once a month, and I would tag along with him, soak­ ing up his vast knowledge. I became what he called his “grasshopper.” Like most people, we have planted flow­ ers for nectar and pollen. We focused a great deal on the butterfly and not so much on the caterpillars. But of course, if you don't have caterpillars, you won't have butterflies. Because of this and the fact that caterpillars are also a valuable food source for birds, it was a no brainer to try and encourage them. The remaining 32 percent of the bird's diet is made up of fruit or ber­ ries from dogwoods, holly, mulberry, wild grape, Virginia creeper, poke- weed, and Viburnum. We made sure to add these plants to our landscape. I discovered that bluebirds eat more insects than fruit while fledging be­ cause insects have a lot of protein that the young need to grow. So any­ thing we could do to encourage in­ sects became a priority. This is when things became interesting, and com- plex—especially when it came to the caterpillars. The Beginning of a Butterfly Habitat A significant inspiration in my journey to create an insect and wildlife habitat was John Lampkin. John was not only involved in the Rockland Audubon Society, but also an accomplished pi­ ano player and teacher, author, cross­ word puzzle designer (he has a few in The New York Times), photographer, and butterfly guru. Quite an impres­ sive resume! The day we met, he was asked to come and photograph purple mar­ tins that had taken up residence by our pond. When he saw the habitat we had created, he asked if he could come back and do a butterfly count. As they say, the rest is history. And while I still believe that is true, since becoming Audubon certified, my perspective has changed some­ what. I now see that, as stewards of the environment, there are opportu­ nities to manage and cultivate areas beyond the golf course as well. The areas I'm referring to are those that are out of the range of play and just waiting to be cultivated into ar­ eas attractive to a variety of native plants, insects, birds, and wildlife. At Rockland Country Club, our mem­ bers welcome these areas, recogniz­ ing their value in providing food and habitat for our wildlife. Our mead­ ows, wild flowers, and wooded areas are actually quite beautiful. The Awakening of Our Out-of-Play Areas Building a wildlife habitat at Rockland began with a few bluebird houses. The bluebird, which is the New York state bird, likes open space, making golf courses a prime habitat. Though a native species, bluebirds are rela­ tively scarce, so helping them thrive will, undoubtedly, provide good pub­ licity. Once we provided the bluebird with a nice house to nest in, we turned our attention to what they eat. Interest­ ingly, 68 percent of a bluebird's diet is made up of insects: grasshoppers, One day, John spotted a couple of spicebush butterflies. They, actually, are quite common and we regular­ ly saw several every time John was here. When I asked him what their host plant was, I was a bit embar­ rassed when he said, “Why it's spice- bush, my little grasshopper.” John pointed to a small wooded area to the right of our 12th hole where there was a large patch. On further inspection, several of the spicebush- es were being strangled by oriental bittersweet and burning bushes, both invasive species. Over the next several months and, now, at least a couple times a year, we go into that area with a machete and chop away these pesky plants to allow the spicebushes to grow. The spicebush is a good plant for pollinators, and many birds and small mammals eat the berries it produces. Once an area that we would blow leaves into during the fall, it is now a great habitat for all kinds of wildlife. THERE'S MORE TO GOLF COURSES THAN GREENS, TEES, AND FAIRWAYS - Continued from previous page Keeping the Natural in Natural­ ized Areas Think about this: There are 33 different kinds of grass skipper butterflies that, no surprise, use grasses as their host plant. These native butterflies’ prime food source are true native grasses such as blue stem, panicum, Indi­ an grass, switch grass, tridens, side oats gramma, and broom sedge. Lucky for us, it is a pretty common plant and one that just sprung up when we stopped mowing sev­ eral areas a number of years ago. Now we encourage this particular milkweed whenever we can. It’s a great plant for many of our pollina­ tors, as well, and has a sweet fra­ grance when in bloom. variety to any of the others. Just look back at your seventh grade earth science book to see, again, that the little guys get eaten by the bigger guys that get eaten by the even bigger ones, and the cycle goes on. So if you are trying to encourage bluebirds, hawks, fox (20 percent of a fox's diet is com­ posed of insects), owls, or other wildlife to visit or make your prop­ erties their home, don't forget the little guys . . . our insects. A grass that is common in golf course native areas is fescue. Ironically, most fescues are not a native grass. We have two native fescues in our area (F. obtusa— Nodding Fescue, and F. rubra— Red Fescue, the latter a host plant for Sachem and Indian Skipper). I would bet that your “native” areas are not these. Most of the grasses we use in our lawns are brought over from Europe and aren’t na­ tive either. That means they’re not an attractive food source for our native butterfly caterpillars. Over the years, here at Rockland, we have added native plantings to provide food for our butterfly cat­ erpillars. Most of the common but­ terflies have more than one host plant, which explains why they’re common. Some of the more rare butterflies have very specific preferences, which explains why they’re rare. Monarchs, for instance, have evolved to lay eggs only on milk­ weed. Technically, any milkweed variety will serve as a host plant to Monarch butterflies, but I, per­ sonally, have found caterpillars only on our common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. As far as I can tell, Monarchs seem to prefer that It fits in a native, perennial mead­ ow area, but as the name implies, it does come across as a weed and, as a result, has been “weeded out” of most highly visible or well- groomed areas. With milkweed— the Monarch’s breeding ground— becoming scarce, Monarch populations, too, have been de­ clining. Fortunately, we have been able to showcase the milkweed’s importance in the landscape and rarely, if ever, hear members com­ plain about it. Here is a suggestion for preserving milkweed on your course: If you find milkweed in your grassy fields and you’re getting complaints about it, don’t spray it! Just cut it down be­ low the height of the grass, and let the grass hide it. It will grow back, and the new leaves will provide a good, tender food source. The more I research plants, the more I am finding out that our na­ tive species are here for a reason. Everything has a purpose. Nature doesn’t just happen; it has evolved over centuries for reasons we are just now starting to understand. With that said, we would all do well to do everything possible to encourage and maintain natural­ ized areas for our insect friends. How Naturalized Areas Enhance the Game of Golf If I've heard what I'm about to say once, I've heard it a million times: “Matt I'd love to start building natural habitats like yours, but my membership just doesn't care about the environment. They don't care about butterflies or bluebirds. They just want to play golf.” To that I say, “Of course they care. They just haven't thought about it” As long as golf is played out­ side, the environment will be one of the most important aspects of the game. In my opinion, it makes golf the greatest game ever played. I have yet to hear someone com­ plain about the fox that ran across the fairway or seeing the bald ea­ gle soar overhead. We are blessed to be able to get outside and enjoy all of nature's splendor. In fact, nu­ merous studies have shown that natural beauty can elicit feelings of awe, relieve stress (even if you've just double-bogeyed the last hole), reduce inflammation, boost our immune systems, improve mental health, and stimulate anti-cancer proteins. Now if that's not a case Continued on page 19 HOW IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP DOING? Continued from page 12 This gave us a bit of a breather and some time to for­ mulate the Spring opening plan. I have to say here that I do believe the situation may have been tremendously different if this event occurred in June, July or August. Of course Spring came slowly in 2014, and every­ body was trying to be patient. But I knew that this would not satisfy Ray, as he was beginning to be concerned with rounds, revenue, outings, and repu­ tation. This became the toughest stretch of my ca­ reer, and it was beginning to show. I have to admit, there were a couple of times when a customer was trying to be funny and made a joke about the course, and I was ready to pounce...fortunately, cooler heads and de-caf coffee prevailed. I noticed something else also, and that was that the owner had my back on this. Ray would explain to the customers that the golf course would be up and running soon and he nev­ er put the blame on anybody. What was said in pri­ vate might be a different story, but that was ok. And speaking of private, your personal relationships can also be affected in these situations. My wife and family had my back also, and even made trips to the golf course to check progress as we went along. We all know each other's families here at Pebble Creek, and this seems to add a more human touch in the employer/employee relationship. By the middle of May, the greens were open and no outings or tee times (reduced rates) were cancelled. The Summer rolled in and just a little public relation patchwork remained. What happened was behind us, and logistics were improved so it may never hap­ pen again. Was everybody happy?...never. I realized we lost revenue in the Fall and early Spring, and did what we could to make up for the loss by trimming the budget where we could. But through it all, Ray never complained to me about revenue, or even the cost of recovery. I believe that he saw the effect this crisis had on me, and how hard the team was trying to put it back together as quickly as possible. I think most superintendents portray themselves as com­ mitted professionals who are extremely passionate about their career. Continued on next page Harrell’s Growing a Better World9 The Harrell's Tissue Calculator Let us develop a foliar prescription program designed for your specific turf needs. Based on your individual leaf tissue analysis, we'll design a customized treatment program using Harrell's MAX® foliar nutritionals. Trial and error applications can be costly and inefficient. The Harrell's Tissue Calculator delivers optimal results you can count on - for the best playability, durability and beauty. Call your sales representative today. JOSH KOPERA JEN SCHNEIDER jkopera@harrells.com jschneider@harrells.com (201) 213-8693 (732) 284-0895 YOUR RELATIONSHIP... Continued from previous page MORE TO GOLF COURSES Continued from page 17 Not only did I “wear it on my sleeve”, but so did my fellow colleagues who helped along the way. Dave Pease, Joe Kennedy and Grass Roots, Dr. Gordon Kaufman, Tony Hooks, Tim Mariner, and everybody who attended the Beakley outing in the Fall of 2013 showed not only me (I already know), but also Ray and Pebble Creek Golf Club the quality of people we have in the golf course business in New Jersey. So, relationships? We are all different and sit at dif­ ferent levels of employment, so my only advice would be to build your relationships in life so when they are tested, they will be strong enough to help you man­ age any adverse situation you may encounter. Remember that a strong relationship takes a good amount of work, but a relationship that is strong enough to survive a crisis, comes more naturally than anything else. SEND US PHOTOS OF YOUR GOLF COURSE! • YOUR FAVORITE HOLE • YOUR CLUB HOUSE • A REALLY UNIQUE GOLF SHOT • GORGEOUS SCENERY for cultivating visually pleasing naturalized areas, I don't know what is! And by the way, you can have a great golf course and manage it in an environmentally responsible way. In fact, the two go hand-in-hand. In an era of environ­ mental activism and awareness, what owner, mem­ ber, or green chairman would want you to manage their golf course any differently? Why not get the environmental ball rolling on your golf course by inviting a local Audubon group to come to your club and conduct a bird count. Find out where and who is involved in your watershed and in­ vite that group to do a water study. The North Amer­ ican Butterfly Association (of which I am a member and have learned a lot from) is based in Morristown, NJ. Google them and ask if someone from the local chapter would like to do a butterfly count on your course. This group is always looking for new spots to survey. By pursuing these initiatives, you will learn a great deal and, at the same time, demonstrate to members and the community that golf and golf courses can set the standard for developed landscapes. In the end, as large land managers, we all have a great opportunity and responsibility to manage our “total” properties in a way that maintains the balance of nature and establishes a welcoming habitat for the plants, insects, and animals around us. We want to customize our website to showcase our members' courses. Send all photos to: execdirector@gcsanj.org Thanks! Thanks to Pandora Wojick, John Lampkin, and Sharon Wander for their contributions to this article. Coombs Sod Farms BENTGRASS SOD LLC Kevin Coombs Cell (856) 542-4178 kevin@coombsfarms.com 84 Route 77, Elmer, NJ 08318 Office (856) 358-4763 www.coombsfarms.com AG Enterprises STAFF UNIFORMS STAFF SHIRTS / PARTS Outerwear • Sweat Shirts ‘T-Shirts • Shorts • Sun Helmets Hats • Rain Suits • Work Boots • Logo Ball Washer Towels Embroidered or Screened Logo Rick Gordon © 201-488-1276 • Fax: 201-489-5830 Email: Merrick160@aol.com • www.agenterprisesonline.com 160 Overlook Avenue • Hackensack, NJ 07601 REALIZE ANUEW. SUCCESS. Anuew™ Plant Growth Regulator slows vertical growth, is labeled for most managed turf areas, and now offers the first EPA approved label containing Growing Degree Day (GDD) model application Instructions. FIRST EPA APPROVED LABEL WITH GDD MODEL APPLICATION track iton GREENKEEPERAPP.COM FEWER CLIPPINGS REDUCED DRY WEIGHT Dykema and Vargas | Michigan State Univ. 2014 | Penncross Creeping Bentgrass Applied: 6/6 | Results: 6/19 THIS IS OUR TURF Fisher&Son COMPANY, INC. Supporting golf, lawn, landscape, turf, and property professionals since 1928. 800-262-2127 • FISHERANDSON.COM Oceangro 5-5-0 Organic Nitrogen Fertilizer With 2.5% Calcium & 2.5% Iron Anuew NUFARMINSIDER.COM ©2017 Nufarm. Important: Always read and follow label instructions. Anuew™ is a trademark of Nufarm. PRIMO MAXX® is a trademark of a Syngenta Group Company. Nufarm Grow a better tomorrow. ♦ Slow release, soil building ♦ Non-burning ♦ Economical Produced by The Ocean County Utilities Authority (732) 269-4500, ext. 8331 ♦ www.oceangro.com Trump National Golf Club BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY Dear Industry Partner, Trump National Golf Club - Bedminster is the proud host of the 2017 U.S, Women's Open which will be contested this July 10-16th. Our Grounds Department will host a hospitality area for volunteers, staff, visiting Golf Course Superintendents and Industry dignitaries. Meals will be served, as well as beverages and snacks in this facility. Housing also has to be provided for volunteers who are coming from outside the area. We are soliciting financial support from our Industry Partners to help fund the cost of this event. These funds will ensure those that have volunteered their time and energy are well fed, clothed and made comfortable while here. The sponsorship levels are: Platinum - $10,000 Gold-$7,500 Silver - $5,000 Bronze - $2,500 Patron - $1,000 The publicity for our sponsors will be professionally handled in such a way that all sponsors will get the greatest benefit for their appreciated support. Please note on your check that this is a donation to Women's Open Hospitality and make payable to: GCSANJ Attn: Cece Peabody 25 US Highway 46 West Wayne, NJ 07470 Any proceeds left after expenses will be donated to foundations associated with the turfgrass industry. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this special event please contact me at: Rwagner@trurnpnational.com Direct: 908-212-0221 Cell: 908-392-2378 Thank you for your consideration of sponsorship support. Respectfully, Robert J. Wagner Director of Grounds-Trump National Golf Club 900 Lamington Road, Bedminster, NJ 07921 (908) 470-4400 Fax (908) 470-4500 And Nematode Detection Service Plant Diagnostic Laboratory Insect Identification provides accurate and timely plant diagnoses: ♦ Disease and Insect Pests ♦ Plant and Weed Identification ♦ ♦ Fungus and Mold Identification ♦ Nematode Assay ♦ Virus Testing ♦ Fungal Endophyte Screening ♦ Pesticide Resistance Screening ♦ Other Services Available by Contract http://njaes.rutgers.edu/plantdiagnosticlab/ or caII 732-932-9140 or email clinic® njaes.rutgers.edu Mailing address: P.O. Box 550, Milltown, NJ 08850-0550 Physical location: Ralph Geiger Turfgrass Education Center 20 Indyk-Engel Way, North Brunswick 08902 Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Soil Testing Laboratory performs chemical and mechanical analyses: ♦ Landscape - fertility, suitability, topsoil evaluation ♦ Farm - fertility, pre-sidedress nitrate, full farm ♦ Organic Media - greenhouse media, compost ♦ Sports Turf - fertility, sand-based root zone ♦ Technical - permeability and ecological ♦ ♦ Individual / Specialized Tests Irrigation Water - pH, salts, nitrate-nitrogen, phosphorus, iron http://njaes.rutgers.edu/soiltestinglab/ or call 848-932-9295 or email soiltest@njaes.rutgers.edu 57 Rt. 1, New Brunswick, 7:30 am to 5 pm weekdays. Double 'D' Turf, LLC Specialized Drill & Fill and Deep Drill Aeration Services for Golf Courses and Athletic Fields in NJ, PA, NY, CT, MD, and DE. New Jersey’s Distributor for: JRM Inc. Innovative Turf Technology Providing a Large Selection of Tines, Bedknives, and more to the Turf Industry. Dennis DeSanctis, Sr. 732-241-7378 Dennis DeSanctis, Jr. 732-580-5516 • Turf Pride • Woodbay • SMG Industries • Galaxy Turf Tires • TurfTime Equipment DoubleDTurf.com STRANGE THINGS DURING CONSTRUCTION - by A. John Harvey Celtic Manor In the early 1990's while I was working with Rob­ ert Trent Jones, Sr., ASGCA, and Roger G. Rulewich, ASGCA, with Robert Trent Jones Companies based in Montclair, NJ and Fort Lauderdale, FL, we began the design process for two golf courses at Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Gwent, Wales. the newest golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The Resort's golf courses and its exten­ sive practice facility also serve as the home for the Welsh Golf Federation. During the site investigations of the property initi­ ated with local authorities and engineers, we came across some real interesting and historically signifi­ cant features involving the Roman Empire. Today, both the Roman Road and Coldra Woods golf courses are part of a three-course resort fa­ cility in Southern Wales. The Roman Road course was aptly named when, during construction of this championship caliber, 18-hole, par 70 course, remnants of an old Roman road were found which now serves as a portion of a cart path. The con­ struction of a par 3 necessitated clearing about two acres of a unique “ancient woodland” forested area that had never been cleared by man. Only a few such areas remain in the U.K. and are high­ ly protected. A quarry was also found that was one of the sources used by the Romans to supply stone for constructing the fort, spa and coliseum in the nearby Town of Caeleon and for local road building. The course was routed along the crest of a broad hill and provides wonderful panoramic views of the surrounding Welsh countryside. The Coldra Woods Course is a continuous 18- hole short-course layout, consisting of par 3 and par 4 holes. The layout skirts around a large ridge and earthen landform that once was the site of a Roman Military training encampment and fortifi­ cation overlooking the Rivers Usk and Severn. A portion of the course also was constructed within valuable farmland classified as “3A land.” This land is some of the most productive and level farmland in Wales. Because of this natural phenomenon, only subtle grading was allowed to construct the golf course features in case the government ever decided to turn the soil over to grow crops during times of war or famine. Every year the Welsh Open is held at the resort. The facility was selected to host the Ryder Cup in 2010 that was played on Image of the stone quarry found on-site that was used by the Romans to supply raw material for their construction ef­ forts. Image of a greensite on the Roman Road Course overlooking the River Usk Valley towards the Town of Caeleon. THE GOOD LIFE - by Jesse Dowdy, Assistant Superintent, Liberty National Golf Club When I got into this business at age 16, I never would have guessed that 18 years later I would still be in it. Enjoying what I do day in and day out is something that makes me feel lucky to have found the right career for myself so early in life. Al­ though it started as only a job at first, I quickly realized that I was going to put the time in and work my way through the ranks. To be honest I had never played or knew anything about the game of golf. I grew up playing other sports and riding dirt bikes. By age 23 I had already worked at top level clubs- Plainfield Country Club, Winged Foot Golf Club, Au­ gusta National - and had just landed an Assistant position at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City. I couldn't be happier working the crazy hours that so many of us in the industry do. Now at 34 years old, we’ve hosted 2 PGA Tour Playoff events at Liberty, and with the 2017 President’s Cup just around the corner, I’m still having fun, learning every day, and looking for­ ward to the future. Some of my focus has changed over the last few years since getting married in 2012 and having 2 daugh­ ters (Mackenzie 3 and Aubrey 1). Most of you reading can attest that priorities change a little as we get older. I believe having a life outside of work is only possible for me because of the people I have worked with over the years and the product we have produced. Having a great crew that I trust allows me to schedule time off each week for everyone. My time off allows me to spend more time with my family which we love spending at the race track whenever we can. If not spectating some form of motorsport, I enjoy being out on track doing trackdays on my EBR 1190RX. Most of the trackdays I do are in Millville, NJ, at New Jersey Motorsports Park. “Going 150+ MPH into turn one really helps to clear the mind from work.” I think it is important for everyone to find a balance between work, family, and fun. Too much of one can really affect the others. Over the years I have found multiple golf course guys that are also into motorcycles. It is nice to be able to meet up with other people in the industry at the race track and have some fun, clear our heads, and bond over a common hobby. It is very easy to get overwhelmed with the daily grind of a golf course job. That is why I feel it's important to have an outlet or a hobby that you can enjoy. Find something outside of work that you love to do and make time to do it. STRANGE THINGS DURING CONSTRUCTION - by A. John Harvey Berkshire Valley On a more local note, when I was with The Roger Rulewich Group, the consulting team of the RBA Group and the RRG was awarded the contract to design a championship caliber, 18-hole golf course to be the most recent addition to the stable of courses owned and operated by the Morris County Park Commission. The site selected for the course was an abandoned sand and gravel pit in the northwest portion of the County. The property was fallow for twelve years prior to the start of course construction in 2000. During active mining, siltation ponds were created by wet excavation and dragline mining. During mining operations, not only were these ponds used to collect profitable material from wet excavations, they were also used to capture soil and sediment to prevent it from leaving the site and entering the adjoining pristine Rockaway River. Over time, these excavations became colonized by opportunistic, invasive wetland and transitional vegetation. The design team prepared a comprehen­ sive development package from site feasibility to construction inspection for this golf course and practice facility on four hundred acres of challenging, yet dramatic property in northern New Jersey. Our team evaluated all of the environmental constraints including wetlands, buffers, floodplains, soils, vegetation, endangered species, water quality, groundwater, zoning, and utilities. Based on these constraints, we obtained the required permits and came up with several layouts. Final design plans and construction documents were then prepared for the continuous course layout to include a clubhouse, maintenance facility, halfway house, pump house, and rain shelter. Due to the aggressive mining of the previous land use, we had to import 230,000 cubic yards of recycled fill material to supplement earthwork volumes and shaping needs. We incorporated one of the more unique historic landmarks in the area, the stone ruins of a building that once housed the Ringling Brothers first traveling circus elephants in America, into the par 3, 12th hole to serve as part of the wall containing the tee complex. The hole plays over the Rockaway River and related wetlands corridor to a green complex bordering the river and a waterfall created as part of iron mining operations in the late 1800s. Incidentally, it was recently announced that Ringling Brothers/Barnum & Bailey will cease circus entertainment operations in May of 2017. The challenge of this project was to balance the opportunities and constraints of this property and weave a golf course layout around the property to take advantage of the spectacular scenery without compromising the ecosys­ tem that encompasses the development, while at the same time creating a strategic sequencing of playable holes that are both enjoyable and memorable. Photograph of the building ruins along the 12th Hole. The hole plays as a 120-190 yard par 3. Colored Graphic Rendering of the 12th Hole at Berkshire Valley with tees positioned alongside the elephant building playing to the green on the opposite side of the Rockaway River. 2017 Shop Tours: Tuesday, February 23rd Liberty National Golf Club, Jersey City. Host: Greg James Skyway Golf Club at Lincoln Park, Jersey City. Host: Matt Castagna GCSANJ NEWS 2017 Nor'Easter Ski Day by Jeremy Batz After getting rained out in 2016, the VTGCSA again hosted the Nor'Easter ski day and race at Killington Mountain in Vermont on February 16th. After finishing 5th in 2015, team GCSANJ had high aspirations for the upcoming race and were represented by Mike Tardogno (Greenbrier Oceanaire), Clark Weld (Hidden Creek), Scott McBane (Galloway National), Robert Wagner (Trump Bedminster), Keith Bennett (Grass Roots), Josh Kopera (Harrell's), Jeremy Batz (Trump Colts Neck), Mike Paluzzi (Wild Turkey and Cascades), and Captain Jeremy Hreben (Indian Spring). Heavy snow throughout the week created perfect, powdery conditions throughout the mountain but also slowed down the race track, which may have played to our advantage. Led by Robert Wagner with a time of 33.37, the team finished in 3rd place, losing only to the two moun­ tain teams, Vermont and the Northeastern GCSA. We finished well ahead of the MET team (4th) and Long Island (5th). Not bad for a bunch of flatlanders! Post race après ski was again held at The Wobbly Barn where a nice spread and drinks were served. While team NJ took home no individual or team hardware, a raucous cel­ ebration was had following our 3rd place announcement. Hope­ fully the tradition continues in 2018 and team NJ can continue working its way up the leader board. Special thanks to Dennis De- sanctis Jr. for securing our lodging in 2016, which carried over to this year due to last year's rain out. Anyone looking to sponsor or participate in 2018's event please contact Captain Jeremy Hreben. grass roots New Jersey Chapter GCSAA GCSANJ Individual Results Robert Wagner Keith Bennett Mike Paluzzi Clark Weld Mike Tardogno Josh Kopera Scott McBane Jeremy Batz Jeremy Hreben 33.37 34.75 34.78 35.78 37.03 37.62 37.84 41.77 50.71 (snowboard) Website http://goo.gl/21beQy We carry a full line of turf maintenance supplies from the leading manufacturers in the industry. Products include: plant protectants fertilizers, grass seed, tools, golf course accessories, soils, topdressing, mulches, adjuvants, and much more. We Pride Ourselves in > Customer Service Technical Support Quality Products Follow & Tweet Us www.facebook.com/GrassRootsTurf www.twitter.com/GrassRootsTurf Grass Roots Turf Products www.griturf.com Address: 4 Middlebury Blvd., Suite 7, Randolph, NJ 07869 Phone: 973-252-6634 - Email: sales@griturf.com The Liquid Fertilizer Experts & Perfectionists Like You. New Jersey Team: Tom Weinert: Dick Neufeld: Tom Pepe: (914) 262-0111 | tweinert@plantfoodco.com (973) 945-6318 | dneufeld@plantfoodco.com PLANT (609) 751-1372 | tpepe@plantfoodco.com FOOD Rich Sweeney, CGCS: (609) 580-0402 | rsweeney@plantfoodco.com COMPANY, INC. The Liquid Fertilizer Experts Connect With Us Today: 800-562-1291 www.plantfoodco.com MAXIMUS Deep Aeration and Instant Fill The revolutionary new contracted service for BY DryJect 9" to 11" DEEP Now you can aerate and fill 9" to 11" deep without lost or discounted rounds Even better, the MAXIMUS Deep-Aeration, Instant-Fill Service is only 1/2 the cost of alternative technologies After MAXIMUS treatment After Drill and Fill ■ About 1 hour per green. Inject about 2.5 tons of ■ sand per hour. ■ Minimal surface disruption ■ No lost or discounted rounds ■ Allows you to change your root zone anytime at low cost ■ Closer 5" x 6" spacing Contact Dennis Granahan (917)617-8827 MaximusAeration.com YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR THE SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR SUCCESS. With locations in reach of every jobsite, a wide breadth of inventory and an innovative customer experience, we are the leading source for green industry supplies and services. Our world-class team of over 2,500 industry experts is focused every day on meeting the unique needs of every customer. We know your business, challenges and expectations better than anyone else, making us a true partner in your success. 800.SiteOne | SiteOne.com SiteOne LANDSCAPE SUPPLY Wayne Remo (862) 209-8243 Chad Mathieu (914) 539-5675 Shawn Reynolds (401) 486-9133 Frank Jacheo (732) 489-1442 A LIFE WELL-REMEMBERED: MARY LOU DESCHAMPS - Eulogy [Abbreviated) given by Danielle Centalonza, Mary Lou's Granddaughter Good Morning. For those of you who I have not had the plea­ sure of meeting yet, my name is Danielle Centalonza, the eter­ nally proud granddaughter of MaryLou DesChamps. To most of you she was Mrs. D or MaryLou, but to me, for the past 33 years, she was Nana. I know that anything I say in her honor today will never do her the justice of who she was, as she was the most remarkable human being I've ever known. At 5 feet tall and about 100 pounds, always dressed to the nines, nev­ er without her makeup, French manicure, perfectly coiffed hair and earrings in place, you'd think she was this delicate little lady, but we all know that while she may have been physically petite, on the inside, she was fierce and determined, and her heart was the size of the Heavenly sky. Being a proud granddaughter means a lot of things: I admired her work ethic and determination in making the company as successful if not more so than how my grandfather left it 27 years ago, she had an open door policy with her employees where they could come to her as a friend or a mother figure in­ stead of their boss and she would lend a helping hand to them, no questions asked. She believed in her company and those who wanted to learn the business and succeed. She always made time for her family and even at short notice, she would clear her calendar just to spend time with my mother and I. While my Nana took Storr Tractor Company to great heights and could have used that money to live a lavish life, she in­ stead chose to put it back into the company so her employ­ ees were not only happy at home, but felt at home when they were in the office and knew they had a secure job to come to each day. She would do everything that she could for those who were loyal to her. It truly made her the happiest when she could bring bliss to others and that didn't stop with her family. She had extended her generosity to her employees, and even perfect strangers, who she knew needed a helping hand. My Nana truly was an angel of the living and a fairy godmother making dreams a reality for so many, those who would never have had those opportunities on their own. To name a few of her philanthropic efforts, in addition to supporting causes close to her heart, she supported a local police officer who had been diagnosed with cancer, following up with him often and sending flowers and cards of encouragement to him when in the hos­ pital for surgery and becoming dear friends with him over the years. You see, his background hit home as my grandfather was a police officer for the Boonton Township Police Department before he led Storr Tractor Company and my Aunt Lise passed away from a long battle with cancer so she was determined to help him and better his quality of life as he reminded her of her family; she helped a family struggling to pay off student loans so they could get back on their feet; she lent a hand to one of my best friends with her flights for my bachelorette party and wedding as she was touched by her efforts to be there during the most important days of my life; she took care of the medical bills for people with terminal illnesses, many of whom she never knew, but was touched by their story and knew she needed to help; she set up a scholarship in my grandfather's name to help amputees like my grandfather get a college education and had a golf tournament in his honor to help raise the funds to go to that scholarship; she set up a foundation in my Aunt's name to to those in need whether it was to pursue the Arts like my Aunt did or to help them ease their burden of debts. As her granddaughter, I have countless wonderful memories with my Nana over the years and never questioned her love for me as she showed it in so many different ways. When she broke her hip 3 years ago at the airport when headed to Italy with Storr Tractor Com­ pany, she didn't let that setback take away from everything that she was. Her determination was stronger than ever, as my wedding was just 4 months away and she wanted to be able to walk down the aisle during our ceremony and dance at our wedding reception. Would you know it, that's exactly what she did. She got better and was the most beautiful woman at my wedding, with that charming smile and was able to walk on her own just like she did before this incident happened. That's how much I knew she loved me, as she worked so hard to get better so she wouldn't miss being a special part of my wedding, just like I had hoped. Nana, you touched the lives of countless people, and the crowd of loved ones in attendance all yesterday and here this morning is a true testament to how many people are better just for knowing you. I will deeply miss all our week­ end visits, holidays and vacations together, and your cook­ ing, especially those turnips that you always made sure were perfect for me on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most of all, I will miss just spending time with you, sitting in your living room and just catching up on everything. Those moments will stay in my heart for the rest of my life and while I know that you're at peace and reunited with much of our family in Heaven, it's going to take a very long time to find closure on not having you just a phone call away. I love you with all of my heart and miss you more than words can say. Thank you for enriching my life and always making sure I knew how much you loved me. You were the most wonderful Nana to me and I will be forever grateful for our close bond. Thank you for changing so many lives and making me the proudest granddaughter. Thank you for being the best mother to my Mom, who in turn has been the best mother to me. Thank you for being such a loving mother-in-law to my Dad. Thank you for being the welcoming and loving grandmother that my husband never had until he met you. Thank you for being the loving companion to Paul, who has always been and will always be family to us. Thank you for being the wonderful boss and friend to all your hard-working employees. Thank you for being a helpful hand to so many in need. May God bless you always and may you continue to watch over us as our guardian angel. We miss you more than you know and you will never be forgotten. You will remain in our hearts forever and be an impossible legacy to follow. PATRON DIRECTORY New Jersey Chapter GCSAA FISHER & SON COMPANY, INC. Distributor of Golf & Turf Products Rob Johnson Fertilizer, Seed, Horticultural 110 Summit Drive, Exton PA 19341 Ph: 800.262.2127 Rob: 215.475.7998 rjohnson@fisherandson.com GRASS ROOTS, INC. Golf Course Maintenance Supplies Ken Kubik: 973.418.7035 Keith Kubik: 973.418.7034 Jay McKenna: 973.418.7036 Office: 973.252.6634 GROWTH PRODUCTS, LTD. Manufacturer/Distributor Matthew Grassi/ Nicole Campbell Fertilizers, Micronutrients, Organics, Fungicides 80 Lafayette Avenue White Plains, NY 10603 Ph: 800.648.7626 Fx: 914.428.2780 questions@growthproducts.com HARRELL’S LLC Josh Kopera: 201.213.8693 jkopera@harrells.com Jen Schneider: 732.828.0895 jschneider@harrells.com harrells.com Ph: 800.282.8007 NUFARM AMERICAS, INC. Bryan Bolehala 102 Blackberry Drive Milford, PA 18337 Cell: (201) 874-8060 bryan.bolehala@us.nufarm.com Cam Copley 2104 Countrywood North Road Raleigh, NC 27615 Office: (630) 442-4882 cam.copley@us.nufarm.com A.G. ENTERPRISES Staff Uniforms Rick Gordon Ph: 201.488.1276 Fx: 201.489.5830 merrick160@aol.com agenterprisesonline.com BASF PROFESSIONAL & SPECIALTY SOLUTIONS Plant Protection & Plant Health Products David Schell Lexicon, Xzemplar, Honor, Insignia & Emerald Ph: 410.800.8762 david.schell@basf.com BAYER Plant Health Products Jeffrey Weld Pesticides 2 T.W. Alexander Drive Research Triangle Park, NC 277092014 Ph: 914.419.9384 Fx: 877.492.1897 jeff.weld@bayer.com DOUBLE ‘D’ TURF, LLC Turfgrass Aeration Specialist Dennis DeSanctis, Sr. Dennis DeSanctis, Jr. Drill & Fill, TurfPride, JRM Tines 86 Bergen Mills Road Monroe Twp, NJ 08831 Ph: 732.241.7378 Fx: 732.446.0708 dennis@doubledturf.com dennisjr@doubledturf.com DRYJECT NEW JERSEY Dennis Granahan 7 Seagull Lane Lincroft, NJ 07738 Ph: 9176178827 dryjectnj@comcast.net FINCH SERVICES/LACORTE EQUIPMENT Paul Brandon 419 Industrial Drive North Wales, PA 19454 Cell: (215) 266-9161 pbrandon@finchinc.com PLANT FOOD COMPANY “The Liquid Fertilizer Experts” Dick Neufeld: 973.945.6318 Tom Weinert: 914.262.0111 Tom Pepe: 609.751.1372 Biostimulants & Other Products for Premium Turfgrass www.plantfoodco.com Ph: 800.562.1291 PFC@plantfoodco.com SYNATEK Leah Gendron 737 Hagey Center Drive, Unit A Souderton, PA 18964 Ph: (267) 203-1620 Fx: (267) 203-1613 lgendron@synateksolutions. com SEETON TURF WAREHOUSE Brian Gjelsvik 25 Roland Avenue Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Ph: 8562731402 briangjelsvik@seetonturf.com SITEONE LANDSCAPE SUPPLY Providing the Products & Expertise That You Need & Trust Agronomic Sales Representatives: Frank Jacheo: 732.489.1442 flacheo@siteone.com Chad Mathieu: 914.539.5675 cmathieu@siteone.com Wayne P. Remo: 862.209.8243 wremo@siteone.com Shawn Reynolds: 401.486.9133 sreynolds@jsiteone.com STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Commercial Toro Turf & Irrigation Equipment Blair Quin, Steve Bradley, Rick Krok 3191 Highway 22 Branchburg NJ 08876 Ph: 908.722.9830 Fx: 908.722.9847 kindyk@storrtractor.com SYNGENTA Manufacturer Lee Kozsey Plant Protectants Lee: 215.796.0409 lee.kozsey@syngenta.com TOTAL TURF GOLF SERVICES Greg Hufner 1965 Byberry Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Ph: 215.426.0554 gregh@totalturfservices.com WILFRED MacDONALD, INC. Turf Equipment Bill Luthin Glenn Gallion Mike Pelrine 10 Maple Avenue, Unit 303 Pine Brook, NJ 07058 Ph: 888. 831 0891 Fx: 973.487.1333 sales@wilfredmacdonald.com Advertisers & Patrons Appreciate Your Support. TELL THEM YOU SAW THEM IN THE GREENERSIDE Contact them directly for your needs... TORO. Count on it. WHAT Greensmaster® greens mowers with EdgeSeries™ reels. MATTERS Members and guests raving about your greens. MOST Compliments from the Greens Committee. What Matters Most to You Matters Most to Us. Greensmaster® Greens Mowers. We know that consistency, trueness and the appearance of your greens has a direct impact on player satisfaction, as well as your reputation and that of the golf course. That's why we equip Greensmaster walkers and riders with Toro's innovative DPA cutting units and EdgeSeries reels, to help you deliver a fantastic quality-of-cut and superior after-cut appearance, with the added benefits of exceptional durability and reduced operating expense. Visit: toro.com/Greensmaster STC Storr Tractor Company ©2017 The Toro Company. All rights reserved. Branchburg, NJ 908-722-9830