Official Publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey The greenersidE March - April 1994 • Volume 17 Number 2 by Martin Mantell, CGCS An old team comes back to town: Team Concept Maintenance We have all heard “tales of olde” when greenkeepers or section men were responsible for two or three holes and took care of most of the maintenance tasks for those particular holes. A few of you out even be old enough to remember when the practice was common, but we understand if you don’t care to admit it. ment, has been using the concept for a total of about six years at Hunt Valley and before that at Fowlers Mill in Cleveland. “The business community has been using programs like this for years; I’m surprised it hasn’t become more popular in the golf industry. there m“aIty de finitely has increased our productivity,” although he has an admittedly complicated method for tracking the effec­ tiveness of the program, but he feels it is necessary for the plan to work. Of course the teams are held responsible for a specific area of the golf course, and they must be for the program to work. “One thing is for sure, they definitely will let me know Continued on page 4 In today’s world of “POLITICALLY CORRECT” termi­ nology this latest rehash of an old practice is now known as TEAM CONCEPT MAINTENANCE. It has something of a new twist. Instead of pairing up on a “one man, one hole” basis, the crew is divided into teams that are each responsible for nine holes. Now I’ve heard of similar programs used at larger facilities, such as 27- or 36-hole complexes, but the idea of implementing such a program on your average 18-hole course took me by surprise. In the quest at our course to always try to do things better, to be more efficient or just more economical, we have adopted team concept maintenance for the coming year. The entire facility is going to try the team concept in one fashion or another. The Marshals will assist with policing the course for litter, the repair of ball marks, divots and replacing traffic control and hazard stakes. The maintenance teams will work with the golf shop teams and be rated together on a lot of the aspects to re-enforce ownership of the program. The model for this particular plan came from Pat Holt, CGCS, of the 27-hole Hunt Valley Country Club outside Baltimore. Holt, who has a background in business manage­ In this issue Editorial President's Message GCSAA NEWS GCSANJ NEWS Controlling summer patch Danger: Trees 2 3 5 8 13 15 Election results For the GCSAA Annual Membership Meeting election results, see page 5. What to do when faced with a DEPE violation 16 NJTA announces Hall of Fame Award Back nine 23 25 the greenerside GCSANJ Newsletter is published six times a year by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey Ilona Gray, Editor Newsletter Business Staff Ken Krausz Contributing Writers Douglas Vogel, Edward Walsh, Shaun Barry, Paul Powondra Please address inquiries to: Editor, The Greenerside P.O. Box 3672, Wayne, NJ 07474-3672 For Ad Placement: Judy Policastro (201) 379-1100 Art and Typography by Trend Multimedia 908-787-0786 • FAX 908-787-7212 GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY 66 Morris Ave., Suite 2A Springfield, New Jersey 07081 201-379-1100 • FAX 201-379-6507 Officers: Chris Carson, President Martin G. Mantell, CGCS, Vice President Paul Powondra, Secretary Glenn Miller, Treasurer David Pease, Past President Directors District 1 Ken Krausz, CGCS Joe Kennedy District 2 Vincent Bracken Ron Mend District 3 Fran Owsik Dennis Shea District 4 Wendell Beakley Pat Wall, CGCS Executive Secretary Judy Policastro Commercial Representatives Steve Chirip Shaun Barry ©1994 THE GREENERSIDE Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily express the opinions or pol icies of the GCSAN J Board and its membership. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Printed on recycled paper EDITORIAL Dallas by Ilona Gray The name of the city says it all. Superbowl Champions. Site of the 1994 GCSAA National Convention, and the spot where “The Greenerside” was selected as #1 in its category for Golf Course Superintendent state association newsletters. It’s great being recognized as being the top in the field. It says a lot about the standards used and the quality of the publication we know as “The Greenerside”. It is fitting, there­ fore, for the editor to thank all of the individuals who made the 1993 “Greenerside” # 1. First, it is our advertisers, for without their financial support, “The Greenerside” would be difficult for the association to support. Next, it is the individuals who donate their time and efforts and bring in great stories and photographs that make “The Greenerside” so readable. The GCSANJ lead­ ership team headed by President Chris Carson set the pace and standard to drive “The Greenerside” to the top. They perform the function ofboth coach and general manager. I also feel that those who read “The Greenerside” help make it special as well. As editor, I am acutely aware when a particular article is well received or is controversial, or just not up to the expected standard. I am aware of this and get the needed feedback from those who read “The Greenerside”. It also provides a great morale boost for those who contribute to the newsletter. We hear that the newsletter is read cover to cover by some, and that’s great. We also hear that it is most often found in the “reading” room in many superintendent’s offices, and that’s great too. This winter “The Greenerside” team took a hard look at the process of the making of “The Greenerside”. There was no video on the “Making of ‘The Greenerside’ ” and no documentary rights to sell to other association newslet­ ters. This was a serious attempt to ensure consistent and continuous improving quality to the newsletter. Ken Krausz, Paul Powondra and Chris Carson met at Echo Lake CC. They were joined by this editor, Tony Rosa of trendMULTIMEDIA and Dale Nieves and Judy Policastro of GCSANJ Headquarters in Springfield. Together the team reviewed the overall process from the conception of an article to the printing and distribution of the newsletter. We worked hard to smooth out the wrinkles, and it is our promise to you, the GCSANJ membership, that the 1994 “Greenerside” will be another winning volume. PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Communication - As requested One of the most impor­ tant goals your Board has is to encourage more members to get involved with our Association. A great step toward this goal has been our new fundraising activities, which brought together so many of our 400+ members for a common purpose. Beyond helping a lot of ill children, the excellent public relations value of this effort has been a real plus for GCSANJ (see especially January’s issue of “Golf Course Management”.) Communication is the most valuable tool your Board has in working towards our goals. We encourage input, sugges­ tions and comments from the entire membership, and we have received some excellent suggestions and support. The purpose of this message is to tell you about one idea that has been raised and to solicit your opinion about it. A number of our members have asked if GCSANJ can expand our benevolent activities to include relief for members in need. This is a topic that has been discussed a number of times at Board meetings over the past years, but we have never been able to get around certain specific problems—some legal and some philosophical. The current rising support of this idea from a number of members, coupled with the wealth of new options made possible by the establishment of our new Foun­ dation (an offshoot of our charitable initiative), has encour­ aged your Board to revisit this suggestion. An ad hoc commit­ tee has been formed to investigate all aspects and possibilities of benevolence and relief. Glenn Miller has volunteered to be the chairman of this committee. Issues that will be looked at include relief to unemployed members or members experienc­ ing other disruptions, and other topics that relate and are brought forward to the committee. Glenn has three other Board members working with him, and he will shortly be asking for your help and input. If you feel you can contribute to this initiative, I encourage you to become involved with these discussions. Glenn will be looking for your opinions, both pro and con, so if you feel strongly about the concept, what better way to let your feelings be known than to become involved with its development? By listening to all of your concerns, both for and against, this committee will bring to the Board informed suggestions. I would like to thank the members who have taken the time to encourage your Board to look again at this idea. This is exactly the kind of information that your Board is looking for ... we want to improve GCSANJ and need you to tell us where you think improvement is possible. As always, I encourage all members to let us know your ideas and concerns. By working together, we can make GCSANJ the best it can be! Chris Carson President, GCSANJ Calendar Mar.27 • NJPGA Golf Merchandise Show and Exhibition. Rutgers Athletic Center, Piscataway, NJ. Contact Fran Owsik, (908) 821-8899. April 5 April 12 • April Monthly Meeting, Cape May National GC. Low Gross, Low Net Tournament and Qualification Round for the 2-Man Net Team Championship. Contact Judy Policastro, (201) 379- 1100. May 10 • May Monthly Meeting, Fiddlers Elbow CC. Modified Stableford and First Round for the 2-Man Net Team Championship. Contact Judy Policastro, (201)379-1100. • USGA Regional Seminar. Holiday Inn, Taunton, MA. These seminars are open to all and are designed to provide infor­ mation of current interest on golf course maintenance and other golf related is­ sues. Contact James Farrell, USGA, (401) 295-5430. • Core Training Course.l:00-4:00p.m., Cook College, New Brunswick. 6 recer­ tification CORE credits are available for those already certified. Contact (908) 932-9801. Seating limited. April 8 An old team comes back to town Continued from page 1 if someone isn’t doing the job,” he said. “The optimum team size will be between 4 and 6 members depending on the time of year,” says Holt. He runs the program during the months when the course maintenance is relatively routine, and staffing levels are sufficient. I, however, have modified Pat’s plan to fit my particular circumstances. First, my club’s two nines are so vastly differ­ ent that it would be difficult to compare the results of the two teams. So, to this end, I am looking at rotating the teams to keep the chores a little more balanced. Secondly, my two teams may consist of three or less members for a large part of the season, so some latitude must be taken in choosing the tasks that the teams will be rated on. Some tasks will just have to be completed with the teams “lending” labor to one another. I envision the plan as working something like this: Each maintenance team would consist of a team leader (foreman) and one or more team members. The workers in team A head off for the front nine as team B heads off for the back. At least two of the team members each have a vehicle with a walking greensmower on a trailer. Each vehicle also has a cup cutting setup and trash can. As the teams spread out and begin to mow greens, they can change the cups before they move to the next green (if play is light). In our situation, with over 50,000 am rounds, we regularly change cups in play (we just carry an extra cup in the topdressing pail and don’t have to hold up anyone while the cup is changed). Once the greens have been mowed, the remaining cups can be cut, tees moved and serviced, and the traffic control straightened before break time. After break, one or more of the team members can be detailed to another area such as fairway mowing if needed, but generally the team would then return to the assigned nine and begin the trimming, bunker work or mowing for the remain­ der of the morning. Afternoon assignments would be adjusted each day as required (hand watering, bunker repair or other project work). The teams would switch nines every two to four weeks, which would allow us to see which team has a greater impact on the course. The department heads would have to check the progress constantly and assist the team leaders with adjustments to the daily program. At least once a week the progress of the teams will be audited using a simple but consistent form. The auditors will be varied occasionally to ensure a fresh pair of eyes is always looking at the product. I am fortunate in that I have a good relationship with the General Manager and Pro, so that I can use the ability that they have to look at the golf course differently than I do. And both the Manager and Pro Continued on page 12 P.O. BOX 680 ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY 07712 IN NJ (908) 774-4882 FAX (908)775-3288 OUTSIDE NJ (800) 242-7374 TEE TO GREEN ACCESSORIES, MAINTENCE & SAFETY ITEMS! YOUR NEW JERSEY MANUFACTURER WITH ONE STOP SHOPPING. FOR CATALOG AND PRICING INFORMATION CALL 800-242-7374 GCSAA NEWS GCSAA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING Elected as Officers by Wayne Remo President: Joseph G. Baidy, CGCS (Acacia GC, Lyndhurst, OH) Vice President: Gary T. Grigg,CGCS (Naples National GC, Here are the election results for the GCSAA Annual Membership Meeting held on February 7 in Dallas, Texas. 15,499 votes were available. New Jersey had 125 delegate votes and 2 proxy votes. New Jersey missed out on 43 additional votes because these individuals, although regis­ tered to vote, did not vote and did not assign their vote to a proxy. Please, next year, let’s try to make every potential vote be counted. It takes two-thirds of the available delegate votes to pass a By-Law, and this year the number was 3,516 to pass out of a possible 5,275. The delegates worked in a two-hour session to vote on the 15 By-Laws and the slate of officers and directors. 1 For golf course greens, tees and other fine turf areas. • Quick green up • Clear liquid-100% water soluble • Compatible with pesticides • Low burn potential • Organic Nitrogen • Does not leach or evaporate • Controlled release • Maintains rich green color The Grass is always Greener ENVIRONMENTAL!. Y SAFE on the GREEN-T side! PLANT FOOD COMPANY, lNC. Manufacturers of Fluid Fertilizers Hightstown-Cranbury Station Road Cranbury, NJ 08512 • 609-448-0935 800-562-1291 • FAX 609-443-8038 Directors: Naples, FL) Paul S. McGinnis, CGCS (Union Hills CC, Sun City, AZ) Bruce R. Williams, CGCS (Bob O’Link GC, Highland Park, IL) R. Scott Woodhead, CGCS (Valley View GC, Begrade, MT) Joseph Baidy appointed Tommy D. Witt, CGCS (Bent Tree CC, Dallas, TX), to fill the 1 year unexpired term of Gary Continued on page 6 Suppressing Poa Annua Seedhead... No other soil wetting agent suppresses Poa annua seedhead emergence while it helps to move water deeply and uniformly throughout the rootzone. Isn’t it time you give AquaGro a try? ... Another Reason To Use AquaGro. AQUATROLS The Water Management People 800-257-7797 From anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. GCSAA NEWS Grigg and Bruce Williams was appointed Secretary-Trea­ surer. By-Laws Approved at the Annual Membership Meeting Several By-Laws involved the establishment of authority to set dues for different classes. New Jersey voted “NO” on all By-Laws that would allow the Board of Directors to set the dues structure on any classification. BY-LAW #1: Updates the GCSAA’s office address and the addresses of its resident agents. It also changes the statement of the GCSAA purpose to be consistent with the wording in the proposed By-Law amendment #2. BY-LAW #2: Changes the statement of the GCSAA’s pur­ pose to match the wording in the proposed articles of incor­ poration. It also simplifies the definition of a golf course superintendent. BY-LAW #3: Allows the Board of Directors to establish membership qualifications and levels of privilege for all classes except classes AA, A, B, and C. This includes the dues. BY-LAWS #5 and #6 were defeated. BY-LAW #7: This By-Law creates a new non-voting class for educators and extension officers. It also allows the Board of Directors the option of restricting the level of privilege for affiliate members through standing rules. Honorary member­ ship becomes permanent unless revoked by the Board of Directors. Authority is also granted to the Board of Directors to lower retired members’ dues. Don’t Fall Into The Same Old Trap Call on Dallenbach - Pros In quality sand products - to supply all your course needs. White Trap Sand - Washed Sand Screened Top Soil - Crushed Stone 908-580-3910 DALLENBACH SAND CO., INC. BOX 333 • DAYTON, NEW JERSEY 08810 BY-LAW #8: The membership’s authority to establish dues for Classes AA, A, B and C is preserved under this By-Law. The vote on this was 4,232 to 1,043. The voting procedure to set the annual dues was changed from a voice vote to regular balloting, allowing all voting members who do not attend the annual meeting to have a voice through their voting delegate or proxy. The Board of Directors was authorized to set the dues structures for non-superintendent members. BY-LAW #9: This prohibits and provides for punishment for submitting false information on any membership application or dues statement. BY-LAW #10: The publication of the voting records will be required in a membership publication. BY-LAW #11: The Secretary/Treasurer position becomes an elected office rather than a presidential appointment. The nominating committee is required to present at least two EVERGREEN GOLF COURSE TURF COVERS Standard and Custom sizes Evergreen is the nation’s leading turf growth cover that’s used for: ✓ New course construction ✓ Longer, stronger root growth ✓ Winter protection of greens ✓ Early spring green-up ✓ Quicker seed germination For full Information call TOLL FREE 1-800-387-5808 COVERMASTER Covermaster Inc. 100 Westmore Dr.,11-D, Rexdale, Ont. M9V 5C3, Tel. (416) 745-1811, FAX 416-74-COVER (742-6837) GCSAA NEWS candidates for the Secretary/Treasurer position and at least one for the Vice President. All officers and directors shall be elected by a plurality vote. BY-LAW #12: This requires a two-thirds majority vote ofthe Board of Directors to approve the execution of a mortgage or loan document that would incur indebtedness of future Boards of Directors. BY-LAW #13: Bonds the Secretary/Treasurer’s position and makes it more like an officer than an operations administrator. BY-LAW #14: Changes the title of the GCSAA’s Chief Executive Employee from Executive Director to Chief Ex­ ecutive Officer (CEO). BY-LAW #15: The trustees of the Benevolent Fund shall be the President, Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer. A GATHERING PLACE IN DALLAS By Shaun Barry Things are bigger in Dallas and one of those things was our hospitality suite. Most of the associations in the Northeast contributed to its existence. It, however, was run by the Connecticut Superintendents Association, and they did a great job! The large number of those attending did stress the supply of food and beverages, but everyone left smiling. Most people were surprised by the SIZE of the room. Historically we have been in a hotel suite, but this time we gathered in a large meeting room. It allowed everyone to move about freely, and many old friendships were renewed. Its purpose was fulfilled, and everyone who attended looks forward to gathering again in San Francisco. COMING SOON! SV-2322 SV-3422 UTILITY TRUCKS 340 MAIN AVENUE, CLIFTON, N.J. 07014 201-365-6801 JACOBSEN TEXTRON Jacobsen Division of Textron. Inc 23 HP KUBOTA • 34 HP FORD 2,200 LBS CAPACITY • POWER STEERING 4 SPEED HI/LOW RANGE 5TH WHL ATTACHMENTS GCSANJ NEWS COMMERCIAL NEWS by Shaun Barry In August 1994, we will send out a form to all commercial members. We will be asking for the names of any C member with a desire to be a Commercial Director on the Board. The office would have a two year term. The names will be placed on a ballot and mailed for a write-in vote. The results will be announced at the GCSANJ Annual Meeting. A Culver Lake GC Finch Turf Equipment Inc. Khlar Holthouse B-l Wildwood G&CC Gus Steiger Samuel Baird, Jr. C Jon M. Johnson Jay McKenna Ray Remien John T. Roussey C B Janis Tettemer Darrin Batisky B-l Arcola CC (reinstated) C Greenway Group (reinstated) C Grass Roots Turf Products B-l Green Brook CC Stormy Acres (reinstated) Leisure Village West GCSANJ 1994 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE NEW MEMBERS Shaun Barry Welcome to the following new members of the GCSANJ: C Bruedan Corp. Peter Siegel Sean McHugh A Golf Corp. Alex Treece C Trenton Ford New Holland Check your calendars and clear the following days for the GCSANJ 1994 Tournament. Remember: when you plan to attend one of these monthly meetings, please arrive at least 30 minutes before the first scheduled tee-off time. Compliance is Sterilized Top Dressing 1-8OO-899-SOIL (7645) FAX (301) 335-0164 Our top dressing is formulated especially for your area to specifications recommended by leading universities and testing laboratories. EXCLUSIVE! All materials are thoroughly mixed and sterilized by indirect heat in our special process. The sand particles are actually coated with a mixture of top soil and peat humus for a completely homogenous mixture that will not separate during handling and spreading. Computerized blending of soil mixtures for a superior growing medium. Green and tee construction materials and mixes conforming to specifications are available. Custom on-site soil blending and testing with a portable computerized blender to meet your speci­ fications are available. FEATURES. Wide 100" Mowing Width. Progressive. Selective, All-Wheel Drive. Independent Full-Floatin/'Pivoting Reels. Easily Adjustable Height of Cut. Choice of Onan 24 hp Gas or Kubota 22 hp Diesel Powered Engine. BUNTON 5-GANG FAIRWAY MOWER Double Eagle EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC. 285 Dayton Jamesburg Road Dayton, New Jersey 08810 • (908) 329-9292 GCSANJ NEWS necessary to be part of the tournament. Handicap cards will be required for each meeting. The November Election Meeting is T.B.A. April 12 Cape May National G.C. Monthly Event: Low Gross - Low Net Special Event: 2-Man Net Team Champi­ onship Qualification Round. Matches will be played at our monthly meetings, so please consider this before attempting to qualify. Fifteen teams will be qualified. The defend­ ing champions will be exempt if they remain a team. Single Elimination Tournament. $10.00 per person entry fee. June 16 July 12 Special Event: 1 st Round 2-Man Net Team Championship Essex Fells C.C. Monthly Event: Match Play versus Par Special Event: Quarter-finals 2-Man Net Team Championship Crystal Springs G.C. Monthly Event: ABCD Net Best Ball. Teams will be picked blindly and the team must play together. Special Event: Semi-finals of 2-Man Net Team Championship May 10 Fiddlers Elbow C.C. Monthly Event: Modified Stableford August Site T.B.A. Continued on page 11 Since 1923 Geo. Schofield Co., Inc. P.0. BOX 110, BOUND BROOK, NEW JERSEY 08805 PARTAC GOLF COURSE TOP-DRESSING • Bunker Sands • Construction Sands/Blends • Topdressings • Construction Gravels • Cart Path Materials • Landscape Materials • SUPRGRO Construction Blends and Topsoil Customized blends available with our new mobile blending equipment. ★ U.S.G.A. specification products. ★ (908) 356-0858 AMERICA'S PREMIUM TOP-DRESSING HEAT TREATED AVAILABLE IN BULK OR BAGS PLUS GREEN & TEE CONSTRUCTION MJXES, WHITE TRAP SANDS, CART PATH & DIVOT REPAIR MIXES AND MUCH MORE! DISTRIBUTED IN NJ. BY: FARM & GOLF COURSE SUPPLY HOWARD SCOTT, 215^83-5000 FISHER & SON CO. FRANK FISHER, 215-644-3300 GRASS ROOTS TURF PRODUCTS KEN KUBIK, 201-361-5943 TURF PRODUCTS CORP. ERNIE RIZZIO, 201-263-1234 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION KELSEY PARK, GREAT MEADOWS, NEW JERSEY 07838 908-637-4191 Dave Southard, Superintendent, Bellevue Country Club, Syracuse, New York "WITH DACONIL 2787, WE'VE HAD NO PROBLEM WITH LEAF SPOT." Spring comes late in central New York, and Dave Southard, course superintendent at the Bellevue Country Club in Syracuse, knows he can count on plen­ ty of moisture and cool temperatures. “That means Leaf spot,” Dave says. “Then we go right from Leaf spot to Dollar spot to Brown patch to Snow mold.” That’s why, when the last snow melts in mid-April, Dave begins a season-long program of turf protection that centers on Daconil 2787® Flowable Fungicide from ISK Biotech Corporation. “I don’t think we have more Leaf spot problems than other courses, but we do seem to have a longer time during which you have to control it,” Dave explains. “We spray fairways, tees, and greens about every two weeks for a six- or seven-week period.” Bellevue Country Club is an 18-hole Donald Ross course, built in 1916. Much of its character comes from the course’s rolling, woodsy terrain. In fact, the trees create some moisture problems on greens, tees and fairways. “We’re trying to thin out the trees a little, but we’re really overplanted,” Dave admits. “Many parts of the Fairways, tees and greens "I always come back to Daconil." course are slow to dry out in the morning. Early or late in the year, when the sun is low in the sky, there are parts of the course that really don’t get any sun at all. The trees cut down on air circulation, too. And that increases disease pressure.” You might say Daconil 2787 is the cornerstone of Dave’s turf management program. While he sometimes uses other products, he always comes back to Daconil 2787 for dependable disease control, and to avoid resis­ tance. As Dave puts it: “For 23 years, it’s been one of the basic products I use. It’s very cost-effective, and quite dependable.” Have you got a Daconil 2787 success story? Tell us about it. If we use your story in an ad, we’ll donate $100 to your favorite charity. Write Jackie Tengler, ISK Biotech Success Stories, 5885 Landerbrook Dr., Suite 215, Cleveland, OH 44124. Always follow label directions carefully when using turf and ornamentals plant protection products. ® Registered trademark of ISK Biotech Corporation. The cornerstone of your turf management program. GCSANJ NEWS Continued from page 9 GCSANJ 1993/1994 SCHOLARSHIPS Monthly Event: Qualify for District Team that will compete for District Championship at our Championship. The six best gross scores will qualify. Special Event: Qualify for Flighted Long Drive Contest. Finals will be held at our Championship. September 27 Echo Lake C.C. Monthly Event: The Invitational Tourna­ ment October Montclair G.C. Monthly Event: Championship Special Event: Finals of 2-Man Net Team Championship by Dennis Shea The GCSANJ recently awarded the 1993-94 scholar­ ships. The recipients of this year’s awards are Brian Feldman, William Gilligan and Brian Remo. Brian Feldman is presently enrolled at Rutgers Cook College in a four-year program. He has maintained a 3.7 cumulative and is found on the Dean’s List every semester. Brian has worked at Metedeconk, Fort Monmouth and, most recently, at Spring Lake CC under the tutelage of Bruce Peeles. William Gilligan is a Delaware Valley College four-year program student. Bill gained his early field experience and some valuable insight from his father when Jim Gilligan was at Bedensbrook CC. He continued to amass experience while Continued on page 12 It's outperforming some well-known competition with its dense, upright growth and attractive color! Construction Golf Inc. Turn-Key Golf Course Construction To learn more contact: Lofts Seed Inc. Chimney Rock Rd. Bound Brook, NJ 08805 (908) 356-8700 • (800) 526-3890 908-469-7782 TEE AND GREEN CONSTRUCTION DRAINAGE . RETAINING WALLS IRRIGATION . PONDS OTTERBINE INSTALLATION MEMBER OF NJ TURF GRASS ASSOC. & GCSANJ GCSANJ NEWS Continued from page 11 working at Cherry Hill CC during the construction and transition periods of the course. Our third recipient, Brian Remo, was also inspired to pursue a career in turf by his father, Wayne Remo. Brian is completing his four-year program at Delaware Valley Col­ lege and attained solid field experience under Wayne at Rock Spring CC. We wish all three recipients the best and will look forward to their joining the ranks in the near future. GCSANJ GETS SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION The January 1994 issue of “Golf Course Management” reported in detail on GCSANJ’s contribution to Project F.A.I.T.H. The two-page article carried a photo of Steve Chirip presenting a check to Linda Ludvick. F.A.I.T.H. is a non-profit group based in Piscataway, NJ specializing in providing physical fitness for the special needs of children suffering from cancer. The 1993 GCSANJ program resulted in a donation of $20,000. The October Annual Championship at Deal CC, hosted by Superintendent Angelo Petraglia and General Manager Jozsef de Kovacs, raised $6,000 through a longest drive contest and commercial signage. A raffle spon­ sored jointly by the GCSANJ and the Manasquan Elks Lodge #2535 raised another $14,000. The raffle awarded 32 prizes of a round of golf for four at the several participating clubs. The January/February “Greenerside” had reported on addi­ tional details. It is encouraging to get so much attention for such a worthy cause. Team Concept Maintenance Continued from page 4 play often enough that someone will always be able to audit. The results of the audits will be discussed with the entire staff at regular intervals. The key to a program like this is the natural competitiveness that is created when two groups of co-workers are rated and compared to each other. Monetary rewards aren’t needed, in fact they have proven to create unhealthy competition. Recognition or perhaps a pizza party to the winners will keep things down to earth. I know that I will be pressed to abandon the plan as soon as I feel I’m losing my grip on the operation when the weather gets too bad, or half the crew goes on sabbatical, but I’m willing to commit the plan to writing, which I believe is imperative if you wish to keep any plan like this on track. Patience and perseverance will be the watch words if the program is to get a fair chance. Pat Holt concurs, “Into the second year you will begin to see results. During the first year you’ll scratch your head a lot as you try to work it out.” Looks like I’m in fer a lot a scratchin’. Look for more on this subject from Pat Holt in “Golf Course Management” coming in the near future; also Larry Gilhuly in the May/June 1991 “Green Section Record”. SERVING THE TURFGRASS INDUSTRY OF THE GARDEN STATE JOSEPH M. MERCADANTE, Inc. PAVING, EXCAVATING Millburn, NJ 201-467-8622 KEN KUBIK (201) 361-5943 • DRAINAGE SYSTEMS • TEE BUILDING • GRADING An integrated approach to controlling summer patch by Bruce B. Clarke, Ph.D. Rutgers, The State University New Brunswick, NJ Summer patch is one of the most destructive diseases of cool-season turf in North America. Prior to 1984, it was an unidentified component of the disease Fusarium Blight. Sum­ mer patch has been reported on annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue. SYMPTOMATOLOGY In mixed stands of annual bluegrass and bentgrass main­ tained under putting green conditions, patches are circular and range from 1 to 12 inches in diameter. As annual bluegrass yellows and declines, bentgrass species frequently recolonize patch centers. On fairways, rings or patches may not develop. In such cases, symptoms may appear as diffuse patterns of Construction and MORIE Golf Course Maintenance Materials Unmatched Quality and Service • Bunker sands • Root zone materials • Topdressings • Decorative stone • Crushed stone • Drainage materials • Fill Dirt • Top Soil Morie The Morie Company, Inc. A South Jersey Industries Company Box 463, Woodbine, NJ 08270 800-732-0068 Fax 609/861-2234 yellowed or straw-colored turf that are easily confused with heat stress, insect damage or other diseases. Infection commences in late spring when soil tempera­ tures stabilize between 65° and 68°F. Symptoms develop during hot (86° to 95°F), rainy weather or when high tempera­ tures follow periods of heavy rainfall. Patches may continue to expand through the summer and early autumn and are often still evident the following growing season. MANAGEMENT Chemical Control Systemic fungicides, such as fenarimol (Rubigan), propiconazole (Banner), triadimeton (Bayleton) and the ben­ zimidazoles (i.e., Tersan 1991, Fungo 50 and Cleary 3336), have proven to be most effective when applied at label rates. Applications should commence on a preventive basis in late Continued on page 15 Pro-Lawn TM Products you need, people you can count on. Whatever your turf-management needs. • FERTILIZERS • CHEMICALS • TURF SEEDS • NATURAL BASE ORGANIC FERTILIZERS • HYDROSEEDING & EROSION CONTROL PRODUCTS • CUSTOM MIXING • SUSTANEtm • POLYON Pro-Lawn has a turf-management expert in your area. Lake Hopatcong, NJ Craig Lambert 201-663-3368 Langhorne, PA Ingred Kem 215-750-1732 Jacobstown, NJ Brad Simpkins 609-758-7620 The future of turf management Introducing the First Complete Line of Potassium Nitrate-Based Turf Products. Supported by Research You’ve read the studies. A desirable ratio of potassium and nitrogen makes stronger turf requiring less maintenance. You know this is a higher ratio of potas­ sium to nitrogen than you’re applying now. Controlled-Release: the Key But what choice have you had? Controlled-release materials are the basis of advanced turfgrass fertility programs. And until now, controlled-release potassium nitrate has not been available. Now K-Power’s MultiCote® controlled-release coating allows you to apply the benefits of potassium nitrate-based fertilization across your entire program: Greens Grade, Fairways, even Combination products. K-Power® Builds Stronger Turf K-Power’s potassium helps turf plants better regulate water levels in their tissue and increase cell wall thickness. The plant is better able to resist temperature and drought stress as well as fungus and insect attacks. Without costly chemical treatments. Stiffer leaves support the golf ball for better shot­ making. Even if you mow a little higher. Clippings are reduced because K-Power’s desirable ratio of potassium to nitrogen reduces the rate of leaf growth. And the low salt index of chlorine-free K-Power potassium nitrate makes it one of the safest turf fertilizers available. Unique Formulas The Greens Grade line includes the only ammoni­ ated homogenous products that combine the benefits of methylene urea and potassium nitrate. The Fairway Blends provide a unique 50/50 ratio of controlled-release nitrogen to controlled- release potassium. For the growth and green-up you need. When you need it. Trial Programs Contact your distributor for more information on K-Power and the world’s most perfect trial program. Or call us at 1-800-227-2798. ©1993 Vicksburg Chemical K-Power, MultiCote and the Sergeant K character are registered trademarks of Vicksburg Chemical. (It’s about time.) Danger: Trees by Ilona Gray Preventive pruning generally eliminates most winter storm damage. Without the ounce of prevention, however, a harsh winter can wreak havoc on trees. Ice build up and the cold can combine to weaken older trees or bend and even break some tree limbs. On any golf course trees add beauty and difficulty to the game. They are great immovable obstacles to the player and provide a tranquil vista while contemplat­ ing the game. Picture a golf course without any trees and you immediately get my point. It pays to take good care of such key features of the course. Players and Greens Committee members recognize the value of specimen trees and the overall role they play on the course. The one thing a tree should not be, however, is a danger to a player or to the people who work on the course, This spring inspect the trees on your course to insure that there are no limbs about to come crashing down on someone, or trees that are so weakened that they could fall in the next storm. How to you know by looking? Some will be obvious, while others may require an expert opinion from a professional arborist. A weakened tree may need pruning, addition of fertilizer or to be removed. These decisions are best made by an expert. Need an arborist? Check the patron page of “The Greenerside” or contact the Arborists Association of New Jersey by calling their president, Paul Blejwas, at (908) 583- 0002. The New Jersey Chapter of the Interna­ tional Society of Arboriculture can also be a source for an expert on tree care. Contact them through Harry P. Banker at (201) 731-0594. Controlling summer patch Continued from page 13 spring or early summer when the maximum daily soil tem­ perature exceeds 60°F for four to five consecutive days. Soil temperatures should be monitored at a two-inch depth during the warmest part of the day. Fungicides should be repeated two to three times at 21- to 28-day intervals for best results. Efficacy is enhanced when products are applied to 4 to 5 gallons of water per 1,000 square feet. Post-treatment irriga­ tion has not been shown to increase disease control and may, at excessive levels (i.e., 1/2 to 1 inch of water), actually decrease fungicide effectiveness. Cultural Control Because summer patch is a root disease, cultural practices that alleviate stress and promote good root development will reduce disease severity. Since low mowing enhances symp­ tom expression, avoid mowing turf below recommended heights, particularly during periods of heat stress. In the Northeast, symptoms are less apparent when golf greens and fairways are cut at or above 5/32 and 3/8 inches, respectively. Summer patch is most severe on poorly drained, com­ pacted sites. Aerification over a period of several years should reduce compaction and decrease the incidence and severity of this disease. Spring and spring plus fall aerification schedules are more effective than fall aerification in reducing disease development. Summer patch is stimulated at high soil pH. Therefore, for best results, maintain soil pH between 5.5 and 6.0 with the application of ammonium sulfate or a slow- release nitrogen source such as sulfur-coated urea. Irrigate deeply and as infrequently as possible without inducing drought stress. Conversion of golf areas from annual bluegrass to bentgrass will further reduce disease incidence. Reducing Fungicide Rates The use of fungicides to control summer patch can be reduced through the implementation of good cultural practices such as aerification, raising the height of cut and fertilizing with acidifying nitrogen sources. Although cultural manage­ ment practices may take two to three years to reduce disease severity, they represent an environmentally sound means of improving turfgrass vigor and reducing fungicide rates 25 to 50%. The integration of acidifying fertilizers and systemic fungicides has also been used on golf greens to effectively control summer patch and increase the population ofbentgrass 11 to 20% over a three year period. This research was supported by the Golf Course Superinten­ dents Association of New Jersey, the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation, the New Jersey Turfgrass Association and the Rutgers Center for Interdisciplinary Studies for Turfgrass Research. What to do when faced with a violation by DEPE by Doug Mampe, Ph.D. Originally published in the NJ PCA’s “Pest-O-Gram ”, Feb­ ruary 1994. This article has been reviewed and edited by John Orrok, Enforcement Division, Pesticide Control Program, NJ DEPE and further modified by Ilona Gray to include golf course situations. When the DEPE visits your office or inspects the golf course because of a complaint or a routine inspection, there is the possibility that you may receive an Administrative Order or Notice of Prosecution. This notice will be based on allegations which show that you may have violated some provision of the state’s Pesticide Control Regulations. Ad­ ministrative Orders are sent for license suspensions, revoca­ tions and pesticide embargo or impoundment actions. No­ tices of Prosecution are sent for the vast majority of violations and may contain a monetary penalty or charge for sampling conducted during the investigation. There are differences in your legal rights of appeal between Administrative Orders and Notices of Prosecution. In most cases though, the Bureau of Pesti­ cide Compliance is willing to meet with you informally to discuss the charges before any formal court action takes place. Whenever the DEPE in­ vestigates a claim brought by the public, perhaps the owner of neighboring prop­ erty, they will request cer­ tain documents from you that are pertinent to the in­ vestigation. The best de­ fense in such cases is a good offense. That means you should have your activities well documented. Your ap­ plication records should be complete. You should be Ask For It... The Micro-Bio Program from ROOTSinc. will help you create the healthiest possible environment for your turf. The combination of Agri-Plex® For-X® and ironROOTS® will: • Increase uptake and translocation of water and nutrients in your turfgrass. • Provide you with a fully chelated package of essential micronutrients. • Improve root mass and color with less top growth. ... It Works For information on the Micro-Bio Program contact your ROOTSinc. distributor or call (203) 787-5472. A Division of LISA Products Corp. 24 Science Park, New Haven, CT 06511 •ROOTS and IronROOTS are trademarks of USA Product» Corporation "I save an hour or more a day on maintenance time." "Before, it was almost impossible to see what I was doing, let alone repair it. Now everything is right where I can see it . . . sitting down!" "I never want to work without a TRION LIFT again!" Ed Ward Golf Course Mechanic THE ONLY LIFT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR GOLF COURSE EQUIPMENT The TRION™ LIFT will pick up all 3- and 4-wheel golf equipment up to 4,500 lbs. NO ADAPTERS ... NO ADJUSTMENTS ... NO HASSLE Distributed by Sleepy Hollow Turf Management For Information call (717)456-5172 Sleepy Hollow Turf Management Trion Lifts, Inc. • P.O. Box 697 • Greeley, CO 80631 RR #2 Box 81 Delta, PA 17314 Faced with a violation by DEPE able to verify that the necessary notification was provided, and read the labels of the pesticides used to make sure you were in compliance. If your records are complete, and you did everything right, the investigation may end there. Obviously, if you violated a regulation or can’t document everything you did, the investigation will proceed. In some cases, however, your version of what took place might differ from that of the complainant or, you have a different interpretation of the regulations or label wordage than does the DEPE. Or, the facts are insuffi­ cient to draw conclusion. Then you might feel wrongly accused. So what do you do? If the notice that you receive is an Administrative Order for license suspension, revocation or pesticide embargo, you must send a written request to the DEPE within 15 days to be granted a formal administrative hearing. If you do not request this hearing, the order against you would become final and effective without you being able to exercise your rights of appeal If the notice you received is a Notice of Prosecution, you do not have the legal right to an administrative hearing. If you disagree with the violation and refuse to pay the penalty, the SAVE TIME • WATER • MONEY Get your course on AXIS the Amercian made porous ceramic. Incorporate AXIS into the root zone Aerify or Rototill • Increase the gas exchange in the soil • Resist compaction • Increase water holding • Increase percolation AGRO-TECH 2000, Inc. Exclusive distributor of Break-Thru a non ionic wetting agent Agroroots/Marine-Cro organic biostimulants AXIS a diatomaceous earth soil amendment 908/922-4743 215/598-3132 case will be referred to the State Attorney General’s Office which will then file a Notice in the Supreme Court for collection of the penalty or sampling fee (whatever was stated in the original Notice of Prosecution). It is here, in the lf the notice you received is a Notice of Prosecution, you do not have the legal right to an administrative hearing. Supreme Court, that your rights for formal “Due Process” will be exercised. Keep in mind that most penalties issued for pesticide violations are considerably less than the $3,000 maximum allowed by law. If you fail to pay, for instance, a $600 penalty for a licensing violation, the Attorney General’s Office will withdraw that “Offer of Settlement” and usually seek the maximum $3,000 when filing the collection action in the Supreme Court. However, with either a Notice of Prosecution or Admin­ istrative Order, the DEPE’s Bureau of Pesticide Compliance is usually willing to grant you an informal conference before the case goes through the more formal process. (Don’t forget, you must still request a hearing, when entitled, within 15 days.) During such a conference, you will have an opportunity to tell your side of the story again and to discuss label or regulation interpretations. When granted such a conference, bring all of the records which are pertinent including labels if necessary. Since this conference is informal, it is not recommended that you bring legal counsel with you. You might consider bringing another golf course employee who has first hand knowledge of the situation, or a third party who has had experience in dealing with similar situations. Be prepared to make your case based on the facts at hand, and don’t hesitate to question an interpretation, which in your opinion is inappropriate. In some cases, the DEPE has recon­ sidered proposed actions and sometimes either dropped them or reduced the charges. But it is up to you to make your case to the DEPE. Finally, when requesting a conference be patient so that the DEPE can complete its investigation. There is no point in having a conference when all of the facts are not in. To request a formal hearing and/or informal conference after a violation has been issued to you, write to: William Dargay, Enforce­ ment Manager, DEPE, Bureau of Enforcement Services, CN 422, Trenton, NJ 08626. Please include your business name and the log numbers from the Notices in your correspondence. What to expect from winter’s wrath by James Murphy Extension Specialist in Turf Management Rutgers Cooperative Extension Most of us have experienced relatively mild winter weather during the last decade. In contrast, the winter of ’93-’94 has and, as I write, contin­ ues to provide cold temperatures and some form of frozen precipita­ tion. Snow cover protects turf from win­ ter desiccation and traffic-induced in­ jury; however, winter diseases are favored under snow cover. For this reason, diseases such as pink and gray snow mold are treated with preventative fungi­ cides prior to snow fall. The potential for desiccation is greatest when the soil is frozen and the turf is exposed to strong drying winds. Many areas in New Jersey have not only received snow, but freezing rain and sleet. There is little evidence to suggest PAVELEC BROS. Golf Course Construction Co. Inc. 98 Evergreen Avenue Nutley, NJ 07110 Specializing in all phases of Golf Course Construction Field Drainage/Landscaping Excavation Tony Pavelec (201) 667-1643 Emil Pavelec (201) 939-6182 that short, temporary ice cover can result in serious injury to turf. Most problems asso­ ciated with ice cover occur when the ice thaws and water accumulates in low spots with poor subsurface drainage. The sub­ merged crowns of the turf plants may ab­ sorb enough water to reduce their cold- hardiness. Extensive damage can occur with re­ peated freezing and thawing of these submerged plants. Exposure to a long period of ice coverage is rare, although this year may prove to be an exception, particularly in low-lying areas shaded from the sun by trees or buildings. Annual bluegrass will be more susceptible to kill under such conditions than Kentucky bluegrass or creeping bentgrass. Work by Dr. J.B. Beard (1964) showed that annual bluegrass could tolerate ice cover up to 60 days at -26°F; however, after 90 days of exposure substantial kill of annual bluegrass did occur. Low temperature stress will be most severe on annual bluegrass turfs. The specific temperature which will kill turf is related to the time of season and level of hydration in the plant tissue. Dr. Beard showed that annual bluegrass which was allowed to harden in late fall required a 5-hour exposure to 0°F temperatures before substantial kill was observed, whereas substantial kill would occur at 10°F in early spring prior to spring greenup. Annual bluegrass is particularly prone to low temperature kill on poorly drained sites where submerged crowns become hydrated. Generally, low tem­ perature kill is not a problem when an adequate snow cover is present because the snow insulates the turf from harsh low temperatures. If a prolonged ice cover is a concern, you should identify those areas of greatest importance and risk. Once identified, a partial removal of a thick ice cover may be advisable. Solid sheets of ice should be fractured to allow air to enter below the ice sheet. Of course, putting greens are of the greatest concern for many superintendents, but it is probably impractical to remove ice or snow from all greens. Therefore, select greens located in low-lying areas and having poor surface drainage (bowl- or saucer-shaped). Greens surrounded by trees should also be evaluated since these will be the slowest to thaw. If removal of ice is impossible, and you anticipate signifi­ cant turf loss, plan ahead for your turf renovations. Estimate the area of turf needing repair and begin developing labor and material budget requirements. Identify sources of seed or sod. Also, consider whether this “renovation” provides you an opportunity to introduce a new species or cultivar that may be better adapted. by Ilona Gray Three men and a deer Just like the movie, “Three Men and a Baby”, these three men found a group of deer in trouble this winter and took some independent action. This winter was harsh and particularly tough on the wildlife in New Jersey . Paramus, New Jersey, is located one-half mile from the intersection of Routes 4 and 17 and less than ten miles from the George Washington Bridge. This is the heart of Bergen County, a heavy traffic area renowned for its shopping centers. It all began when Bill Baselice, Kevin Hallock, and Lou Schwarz noticed what Bill called “newly planted azaleas that had been reduced to the size of carnations.” Deer were observed des­ perately feeding on the small azaleas early in the morning at day break, again around 10 a.m. and just before dusk. These three employees of Paramus Golf Course, an 18-hole public course, rec­ ognized the need for forage for these deer and took immediate action. They contacted a local horse feed sup­ plier who advised them to purchase about 150 pounds of“S weet T ena”, a Purina horse feed product, and a salt lick. He cautioned them that they would have to provide fresh water for the deer because the feed will make them thirsty. Water was provided by breaking the ice on the pond on the course with a sledge hammer every day. This commitment and effort was cheer­ fully accepted by the three men. Bill, Kevin and Lou now could observe the deer chowing down three times a day and gained the satisfaction that they had helped these animals make it through this tough season. This act of wildlife conservation prompted them to look for other ways of protecting wildlife in this urban area. They built a wood duck box, which at this time has remained unoccupied. 9 1 6 4 4 495 New Rochelle Road - Office 2B 4 9 9 Bronxville, New York 10708 3 7 This spring, however, should bring some interesting tenants. Seed and suet are likely to be the next steps for these conser­ vationists. Ken Krausz, Superintendent at Paramus, just back from Dallas, Texas, said, “These fellows did it all on their own, and I’m really proud of them.” Golf courses often serve their communities in a double duty capacity as a habitat for wild­ life and as a golf center. A small wooded area in Paramus serves as the only habitat in this community for large mammals such as deer. This is the same area that last year had a small, lost black bear who also arrived around day break. It consists of Arcola CC, an 18- hole private club; George Washington Cem­ etery; Ridgewood CC, a 27-hole private club; Bergen County College; Orchard Hills GC, a 9-hole public club; and Paramus GC. Separated by a roadway is the Bergen County Park. This land totals about 1,000 acres which, this winter, made for crowded conditions for foraging animals. The Poly-S difference: a unique multiple coating system. Each Poly-SiM particle is manufactured using a com­ puter-controlled, two-tier coat­ ing process that allows nutri­ ents to be released steadily and safely by controlled dif­ fusion through the polymer Boating. Thus the rate of re­ lease can be regulated over a pre­ programmed period of time over a wide variety of weather conditions—providing higher nitrogen analysis than SCU products with less sensitivity to temperature than fertilizers coated with poly­ mer only. It is the most efficient—and cost-effective— turf fertilizer technology ever developed. For more information about Poly-S fertilizers and their performance advantages, con­ tact your Scott Tech Rep. Or call 1-800-543-0006. marks the spot by Ed Walsh, CGCS About every three or four years, I Spend a couple of days with my good friend, Ken Mangum, and his family just before the GCSAA Golf Tournament and Convention. The Mangums live just outside Atlanta so I usually visit them when the convention is in New Orleans, Houston, Dallas or Orlando. I’ll spend a few days, just short of the time when folks would normally ask me to leave, and then we will travel to the tournament site together. Sometimes this is done by car while other times (this was one of those other times) we will take a plane. When we drive we generally stop a few times to play at some really outstanding golf courses along the way. We were supposed to do just that this year and play Shole Creek in Birmingham, Alabama, and a new Nicklaus course in Jack- son, Mississippi. Well, things didn’t work out as planned so we decided to fly to Dallas on Friday and play Preston Trails. Now, this wasn’t so bad, but it did give us a little more time to just hang around in Atlanta. It’s when you don’t have anything planned that things happen. It was just one of those uninterrupted moments when Ken started to tell me about his Green Committee at his last club. The Idle Hour Country Club, in Macon, Georgia. You’re probably trying to figure out just what I am getting at by this time, and maybe what I am about to tell you won’t be as funny to you as it was to me, but Malikowski thought it was pretty funny when I told him, so here goes. Seems Ken had a Green Committee made up of regular folks with some pretty unusual names, you see. As an ex­ ample, his chairman’s name was Duck Swan. Now that’s his real, honest to God name, Duck Swan. Now suppose Ken’s on the course, and he calls out to Duck. I guess if you’re a hunter you look up but if you’re a golfer you throw yourself on the ground anticipating a ball coming your way. I know that’s what I would do. Now it doesn’t stop there either. His Assistant Chairman’s name was Low Wall. I am not kidding. His name was Low Wall. Now Low Wall wouldn’t be so unusual if you didn’t have a chairman named Duck Swan. Hey, you think it stops there? No way. The committee had two brothers named King and Wormy Solomon. Try those on for size. King and Wormy, and we are not close to the end. Another member was Castex Conners, while yet another was Pink Persons. We are going from fairy tales to rock and roll with these names, and I am telling you they are LEGIT. I read them, with these two eyes (remember it’s my hearing that’s bad, not my sight) from the Idle Hour Membership Directory. Now I am almost in tears with these names, but the best is yet to come. The Ladies Golf Chairperson’s name was Airawana Bradley. I don’t know what the name sounds like to you but to me it sounds like something that was found in abundance at Woodstock in 1969. At this point I had to look through the entire roster, and I am glad I did because the names kept on going. Seems there were a few doctors at the club with some descriptive names too. How about a gynecologist with a name like Dr. Handberry and a dentist named Toof Boone. The last is my personal favorite (rock and roll again): Dr. Fleetwood Maddox. I hope I was able to put these names in a humorous light, because that’s just what they seemed to me. I also hope none of these folks ever see this column. I don’t know, maybe they would think Malikowski or Prickett or Grimac or Walsh were funny names too. NAW. At least not Prickett, Grimac or Walsh. Rules of Golf by Doug Vogel Rules of Golf C.C. *NOTE: Before going on vacation, Greens Chairman Ilona Gray demanded an additional nine holes be submitted to the Rules of Golf C.C. Hole #19 Q. Dennis DeSanctis purposely refuses to identify a ball as his. Ed Walsh casts an evil eye at him as the partially visible orange and black letters “acobsen extron” can be seen on the ball in the 8" grass 3 yards off the left side of the tee. What can Ed do in such a case? Hole #20 Q. During a round, may Pat Campbell apply chalk to the face of an iron club in order to obtain more backspin? Continued on page 21 Rules of Golf Hole #21 Hole #24 Q. A practical joker removes the flagstick from the hole and sticks it into the putting green some distance from the hole. Steve Chirip and Shaun Barry play toward the flagstick and not the hole. Do they have the option to replay? Hole #22 Q. During the Sherwood Moore Cup, Fran Owsik’s group went into the clubhouse after nine holes and watched Championship Wrestling on television for 45 minutes. Then the group resumed play. Should the group be penalized under Rule 6-7, Undue Delay or Rule 6-8, Discontinuance of Play? Q. Does Shaun Barry, as referee of a match, have authority to declare an area of ground under repair during the match? Hole #25 Q. Carl Quazza’s ball rests in the fork of a branch of a tree. Carl climbs the tree to play his next stroke. The branch bends under his weight. Although the ball has moved relative to the ground it has not moved relative to the fork. Is the ball deemed to have moved? Hole #26 Q. Is a man-made reservoir a water hazard? Hole #23 Hole #27 Q. Dr. Rich Hurley plucked a daisy and marked the position of his ball with it. Is this permissible? Q. Jim Pelrine’s ball comes to rest 3 yards off the left side of the tee against an abandoned ball. What is the procedure? See answers on page 22. On Course Professional Turf Fertilizers • Commercial Turf Developed to meet the highest standards in turfgrass management • Golf Courses • Athletic Fields • Cemeteries • Corporate Parks West Coast Affiliate SEED RESEARCH OF OREGON, INC. P.O. BOX 373 DAYTON, NJ 08810 800-522-4769 Committed to providing reliable, dependable service and the best in quality lawn and garden products.For more information call Twin Light at 800-522-4769 and ask for Gerald Fountain (former Superintendent at Trenton Country Club) Rules of golf... answers by Doug Vogel Rules of Golf C.C. Hole #19 A. Ed has the right to be satisfied about the identification of a player’s ball. If Dennis has dishonestly not identified his ball, Ed may refer the dispute to the Committee. The Committee would be justified in imposing a penalty of disqualification. Hole #20 A. No. Not even if his greens are like pool tables. Hole #21 A. No. In equity, the Dynamic Duo must accept the resultant advantage or disadvantage. Hole #22 A. Fran’s group would be disqualified under Rule 6-8a, Discontinuance of Play. They would have been penalized anyway because they were seen carrying foreign objects onto the course. Hole #23 A. Yes, however, it is advisable to mark the position of a ball with something that might not be blown away. Hole #24 A. Yes, but will he? Hole #25 A. The ball is deemed not to have moved since it did not move in relation to the fork of the tree in which it was lodged. Strong quality nursery stock goes a long way. Hole #26 A. Yes, but is a man-made reservoir politically correct? Hole #27 A. An abandoned ball is a movable obstruction. Jim may remove it without penalty. A victory for Jim, sort of. BENTGRASS SOD Washed & With Soil All sod is guaranteed 100% NO QUESTIONS ASKED! • Poa annua, weed and disease free • You won't find a higher quality of bentgrass sod available for putting greens and tees • Maintained as a putting surface at our farm STORMY ACRES has relocated to NEW JERSEY! LIQUIDATION OF ALL CONIFER NURSERY STOCK! Call for Details & Pricing • Penncross, Pennlinks, Providence and Southshore • Lowest height of cut 1/8"-5/32." • Brushed-verticut-topdressed etc. • All sod is grown on a sand base • Future layering is eliminated. • Least amount of thatch in industry for washed bentgrass sod, which eliminates future problems of puffiness, scalping and the need for heavy topdressing application. Stormy Acres Forrest Lane * Carneys Point, NJ 08069 * (609) 299-5109 Baltusrol receives NJTA’s Recognition Award for 1993 Baltusrol Golf Club and Joseph Flaherty were recipients of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association ’ s Recognition Award for their outstanding work in hosting the 1993 U.S. Open Golf Championship. The Recognition Award is presented annually to a person, persons or organization in grateful recognition for conscien­ tious efforts toward better turf, thereby contributing to the beautification of facilities, a greener world and a more attrac­ tive environment in New Jersey. NJTA Recognition Award recipients are selected annu­ ally from among those individuals and/or organizations that have performed in a distinguished manner in the design, implementation or presentation of projects in which turf is the primary focus. Joe Flaherty is pictured here accepting the award on behalf of Baltusrol. Baltusrol is perennially ranked as one of the best golf courses in the world. NJTA and the citizens of New Jersey rightfully recognize Baltusrol and Joe Flaherty for their outstanding efforts. NJTA announces Hall of Fame Award The New Jersey Turfgrass Associa­ tion is pleased to announce the recipient of its annual Hall of Fame Award. Bob Dickison, golf course superin­ tendent at Upper Montclair Country Club, was inducted into the New Jersey Turfgrass Hall of Fame and is pictured here receiv­ ing a plaque commemorating the occa­ sion from Dr. Richard Hurley, immediate past president of New Jersey Turfgrass Association. Pictured from left to right are Dr. Hurley; Hall of Fame recipient, Bob Dickison; and Dr. Richard G. Caton, ex­ ecutive director of NJTA. The award was given at the annual Hall of Fame Dinner Show held in connection with NJTA’s annual Turfgrass Exposition. The educa­ tion program and trade show were held at the Taj Mahal Casino Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey, in December 1993. The Hall of Fame Award is presented annually to a person in recognition of a continuing lifetime commitment of dedica­ tion, service and achievements contributing to the advance­ ment of the turfgrass industry of New Jersey. Continued on page 24 What’s in a name? by J. (Dr. Bob) Gray Poa pratensis L. is the Latin name for Kentucky blue­ grass. It’s not from Kentucky, and it is really not “blue”. Not blue like the flag blue, but maybe to some a little blue in the green. The “L” at the end of the name means that it was named by none other than Linnaeus, the founding father of modem taxonomy. Taxonomy is the science that classifies plant species, species into genera, genera into families, etc. But what’s in a name? Poa is the name of a genus or group of species. It literally means “grass” in Greek. Perhaps because Poa is so common a grass or so representative of all grasses it was given that honor. “Pratensis ” refers to the slender creeping rhizomes that make Kentucky bluegrass such a popular choice in lawns, golf courses and pastures. But that’s a digression. Back to Poa. There are over 200 species in the genus Poa and about 65 of them are native to the United States. Poa pratensis, however, is thought to have originated from Eu­ rope. Maybe we should call it English Bluegrass? But I don’t think so. But what do they call it over there? Regardless, we got it right when we refer to English and Italian ryegrasses. The English ryegrass is Lolium perenne L. and the Italian ryegrass is Lolium multiflorum Lam. Lam refers to another famous early scholar of plant taxonomy, Jean Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, Chevalier Lamarck, or Lam for short. Lolium is an old Latin name for darnel, which is not some high tech polyester fabric but rather an old French word for weeds. Now not all turf type grasses, of course, come from Europe. Zoysia japónica you may suspect comes from Japan. It could have come just as easily from the Philippines or Korea. When species travel, they don’t carry passports. The origin of the word, Zoysia, however, is clear. The genus was named after Karl von Zois. But I don’t know who he was or why he was so honored. Another important turf type grass is Agrostis stolonifer- ous or creeping bentgrass. The word “Agrostis ” is also from the Greek. It refers to “agros” or the field. Modem words like agriculture, agronomy, agrarian and agrostology (the science of grasses) have agros as their origin. The word grass itself is likely derived from the ancient Aryan (India) word ghra. It’s not a big leap to more modem words like grain, green, grow and to the Latin word for grass, “gramen”. So what’s in a name? If it’s a name like Lamark, it could be dozens of letters! But for the name of a few key grass species, the origin of names is fun and part of the learning process. Our thanks to Dr. James Murphy, Turf Specialist, Rutgers University, for reviewing and correcting this article. • Golf Courses • Estates • Athletic Fields • Commercial • Floating Aerators • Custom Built Pumping Systems AQUA-FLO, INC. 320 Basin Road • Hammonton, NJ 08037 (609) 561-1777 1-800-524-0895 (outside NJ) 4155A Westfax Drive • Chantilly, VA 22021 (703) 968-7081 NJTA Hall of Fame Award Continued from page 23 NJTA Hall of Fame recipients are individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of turfgrass science, research, education or industry and have supported or served NJTA in an exemplary fashion for extended periods of time. Bob Dickison has over thirty years of distinguished service in his chosen profession and has dedicated countless hours of service to NJTA and his community of Verona. Bob is a past president of NJTA and has been appointed as chairman of NJTA’s annual Expo for the fourth consecutive year. Back Nine 500 MUGS Don’t miss the GCSANJ booth at the NJ PGA Merchan­ dise Show and Exhibition being held on Sunday, March 27th, between 10am and 4 pm at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, NJ. 500 free mugs will be given out to the first 500 to visit the booth. The mugs have the GCSANJ logo and address and statement, “We Keep Golf Green”. THE SUPREMES Ladies golf hits a new level of play when Supreme Court Justices, Sandra O’Conner and Ruth Ginsburg, go out as a twosome. The two justices are among the 5 million women golfers in America. In the last five years 40% of all new golfers have been women. OWNER RETAINS RIGHTS TO LOST BALLS A judge in Vancouver, Canada, ruled that balls driven into a lake may not be lost forever. They still belong to the original owner. The Mayfair Lakes Management Corporation main­ tains a contract with a scuba diving company to recover balls lost in its lake. These balls are valued at $ 19,137 per year. The retrieval of these balls by an enterprising teenager prompted the trial. He was accused of“stealing” the course’s water balls, but the judge held that the balls belonged to the original owners and not the course. The course is now considering requiring a waiver from golfers relinquishing ownership of balls lost in the lake. TWINS SEPARATED AT BIRTH? It was (in the words of Yankee immortal Yogi Berra) like deja vu all over again. Meeting for the first time in a midtown New York City restaurant, Ilona Gray (editor of “The Greenerside”) and Monroe Miller (editor of “The Grass Roots”, the Wisconsin Golf Course Superintendents newsletter) swapped editorial trade secrets and life histories. Both are graduates of land grant agricultural colleges, both are celebrat­ ing their 25 th wedding anniversaries this year and both spouses have science backgrounds. RALPH McGILLAN Excavating Contractor Specializing in Lakes & Ponds Over 25 years experience in building new ponds, enlarging & redesigning existing ponds. Can get all DEP permits (609) 655-2281 17 Stockton Drive, Cranbury, NJ STORR TRACTOR CO. 1385 Lakeland Ave. Bohemia, L.I., N.Y. 11716 516-589-5222 3191 U.S. Highway 22 Somerville, N. J. 08876 201-722-9830 PATRON DIRECTORY AGREVO Manufacturer of Fine Turf Chemicals Shaun M. Barry (908) 846-8173 FERTL-SOIL TURF SUPPLY, INC. Topdressings, golf course supplies Marty Futyma - Cathy Futyma (908) 322-6132 AGRO-TECH 2000, INC. Axis/Break-Thru/Agroroots Peter Van Drumpt - Chris Des Garennes Rich Brandel, (609) 275-3995 FINCH TURF EQUIPMENT INC. John Deere Turf Distributor Sam Baird - Dennis Wagner - Tom Wojcik - Ray Finch, (800) 78-DEERE LONGO INDUSTRIES Electric motor, Pump repair, Sales Bob Tai - Jeff Bessemer (201)539-4141 RALPH MCGILLAN EXCAVATING Lakes & Ponds Ralph McGillan; (609) 655-2281 JOSEPH M. MERCADANTE, INC. Paving, Excavating, Cart Paths, Tee and Trap Construction, Golf Course Construction Joseph Mercadante - Robert Mercadante (201) 467-8622; FAX (201) 467-8419 MRRO MILORCANITE, INC. Turfgrass Supplies Rick Apgar - Scott Apgar - Joe Stahl (914) 666-3171; FAX (914) 666-9183 MONTCO PRODUCTS CORPORATION Soil Wetting Agents Bob Oechsle; (215) 836-4992 SEACOAST LABORATORIES, INC. Fertilizers, Grass Seed Gerald Fountain; (800) 522-4769 SHEARON ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN Golf Course Design and Construction Chip Kern (609) 466-0666; (215) 828-5488 STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Turf Maintenance Equipment, Irrigation Mary Lou Deschamps - Gene Tarulli - Paul Granger (908) 722-9830 WILLIAM STOTHOFF CO. INC. Well & Pump Service David C. Stothoff - William E. Snyder (908) 782-2717 STULL EQUIPMENT COMPANY Industrial Turf Equipment John Barrow - Charlie McGill (800) 724-1024 ♦ NATIONAL SEED COMPANY Lawn Seed Ken Griepentrog - George Rosenburg - Sky Bergen; (908) 247-3100 SWEENEY SEED COMPANY Turfgrass Seed Jeffrey Shockley - Andrew Sweeney (215) 275-2710 FISHER & SON CO. Turf & Hort. Supplies Alan Phillips - Frank Fisher - Mike Fisher (609) 478-6704 FLANAGAN'S LANDSCAPE-IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR, INC. Landscape Irrigation Conduction Robert J. Flanagan - Roger P. Flanagan, Jr. - Christine Flanagan (908) 469-7782 GOLF CARS, INC. Club Car Golf Cars and Utility Vehicles, Sales, Service, Leasing Jon F. Schneider, Genl. Mgr. - John A. Czerwinski, Rep. - Linda Wunsch- Szymanski, Sis. Mgr. (215) 340-0880; FAX (215) 340-1634 ALPINE, THE CARE OF TREES Complete tree care Michael Cook; (201) 445-4949 AQUATROLS CORP. OF AMERICA Manufacturer of Water Management Products. Andy Moore - Phil O'Brien (800) 257-7797 ATLANTIC MILLS INC. Tee Accessories, Towels, Detergent Peter Donnelly - Jack Brady - Laura Irving (908) 774-4882 JAMES BARRETT ASSOCIATES, INC. Irrigation Consulting & Design Jim Barrett; (201) 744-8237 SKY BERGEN Sales to the Professional Turf Industry S.J. Bergen, Jr.; (201) 635-6469 BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS Topdressing, Sand Gene Evans; (717) 443-9596 BRUEDAN CORP. Yamaha Golf Cars/Yamahauler Peter Siegel - Michael Gesmundo (800) 535-1500 CIBA-GEIGY CORP. Turf and Ornamental Products Randy Moser, (215) 343-5654 Michael Oleykowski, (609) 267-8041 ALAN G. CRUSE INC. Golf Course Materials Alan Cruse - Jim Cruse; (201) 227-7183 DE BUCK'S SOD FARM Sod Farm Leonard M. DeBuck; (914) 258-4131 DISPRO DISPLAY PRODUCTS CORP. Sign and Display Manufacturing Jerry Baine; (908) 988-5400 DOUBLE EAGLE EQUIPMENT CO., INC. Professional Turf Equipment Clyde Ashton - Stan Stevenson Jerry Pearlman; (908) 329-9292 EGYPT FARMS, INC. Greens Topdressing, Construction Mixes, Bentgrass Sod Jeff Lacour - John Strickland - Dean Snyder (410) 335-3700; (800) 899-7645 E-Z-GO/TEXTRON, INC. New & Used Golf Cars & Turf Equip. Tom Sauer, Branch Mgr.; John Myers, No. & Cen. NJ; Paul Proter, So. NJ (609) 586-4000 GRASS ROOTS, INC. Golf Course Supplies Ken Kubik - Ginny Kubik - Jay McKenna (201)361-5943 P & P EXCAVATING INC. Excavating, Ponds & Lakes Bob Laner (201) 227-2030; (201) 227-2819 TARGET ENVIRONMENTAL CO. INC. Environmental Consultants/Contractors Mark Hartman - Linda Crane (609) 692-7575 REES JONES, INC. Golf Course Design Rees Jones; (201) 744-4031 STEPHEN KAY, GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS Master Planning, Renovation, New Course Design Stephen Kay - Ron Turek (914) 699-4437; FAX (914) 699-4479 KOONZ SPRINKLER SUPPLY INC. Distributors Turf Irrigation William F. Koonz, Jr. (201) 379-9314 LEBANON TURF PRODUCTS Fertilizer Manufacturer-Grass Seed Alan Kulibaba - Chris Zelley (800) 233-0628; NJ (201) 329-4011 LEON'S SOD FARMS Sod Samuel Leon; (908) 996-2255 LESCO, INC. Manufacturer & distributor of Green Industry products Greg Moran - Lance Seeton (800) 321-5325 LORS SEED INC. Grass Seed Company John Morrissey - Dr. Richard Hurley - Mary Beth Ruh; (800) 526-3890 PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION Top-Dressing & Construction Mixes, Golf Hole Targets, Turf Blankets Jim Kelsey; (908) 637-4191 TEE AND GREEN SOD INC. Bentgrass, fine fescue and ryegrass sod blends, washed sod David Wallace; (401) 789-8177 PAVALEC BROS. GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION CO., INC. Golf Course Construction Tony Pavelec; (201) 667-1643 Emil Pavelec; (201) 939-6182 PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. Manufacturer of Fluid Fertilizers Ted Platz - Anthony "Rip" Rippel (609) 448-0935; (800) 562-1291 FAX (609) 443-8038 PRO-LAWN PRODUCTS INC. Professional Turf Seed, Fertilizer & Chemicals Craig Lambert; (201) 663-3368 Ingrid Kern; (215) 750-1732 Brad Simpkins; (609) 758-7620 GEO. SCHOFIELD CO., INC. Topdress, Bunker Sands, Construction Materials Supply Kevin Schofield - Robert Carson - Thomas Casmer (908) 356-0858 THE SCOTTS COMPANY - PROTURF DIV. Turf Fertilizers, Growth Regulators, Seed & Protectants; Fran Berdine, (914) 361-4105 Steve Rudich, (215) 253-4003, Jim George, (800) 543-006 TERRE CO. OF NJ. Seed, Fertilizer, Nursery Stock Byron Johnson - Bryan Bolehala - PatO'Neil (201)473-3393 TURF PRODUCTS CORP. Golf Course Supplies Ernie Rizzio; 334-6684 Buddy Rizzio; 335-5499 Ron Lake; 875-8246 (201)263-1234 ♦ WA CLEARY CHEMICAL Turf & Ornamintal Products Bob Leslie - Mike Bandy (800) 524-1662 WILFRED MCDONALD, INC. Turf Equipment Specialists Dennis DeSanctis- Blair Quin-Mike Pelrine (201) 365-6801 STEVEN WILLAND INC. Turf Equipment Distributor Mark Ericson - Bruce Pye - Bill Rapp (201) 579-5656 ♦ New Patrons for 1994 Baltusrol • Bedens Brook • Canoe Brook • Shackamaxon • Spring Brook • Timber Trails and others . . . What do the superintendents of these prestigious golf courses have in common? They use the services of . .. KOONZ SPRINKLER SUPPLY ... the smart choice for all your irrigation needs Service Excellence • Complete inventory • Service assistance and technical support . 25 years experience KOONZ Sprinkler Supply, Inc. Quality Product lines Distributors of RAIN BIRD® HUNTER® WEATHERMATIC® Sprinkler Equipment 39 Waverly Avenue • Springfield, N. J. 07081 (201) 379-9314 Branch Offices: Wall Township • Toms River • Hackensack