New Jersey Golf Course Report

Vol. V, No. 4 

December, 1972

Editorial —The Federal Monday

Uptight Kloss

Every industry probably feels that 
the Federal Government is out to “sink 
its personal ship” in some way or an­
other. Yet the Recreation Industry 
may have firmer grounds than most to 
feel back-stabbed by the total lack of 
consideration shown by Congress in 
the form of the “Federal Monday 
Holiday.”

Last year, in a fit of patriotic effort, 
Congress set aside five Mondays 
throughout the year as Federal Holi­
days. Please note the distinction be­
tween Federal and National. In theory 
this move gave five guaranteed long 
weekends every year and eliminated 
the hit or miss bonanza the calendar 
would often provide in the form of two, 
three, and even four day weekends. On 
paper everyone would benefit, and 
some might even save money. Unfor­
tunately, a couple of things were not 
very well thought out.

First of all, there was no uniformity 
in acceptance of the law. Granted, a 
Monday Memorial Day received 100% 
compliance from all except those whose 
birthday still falls on the old holiday, 
the 31st. However, take the recent 
Columbus Day, October 9th. In New 
York 53% of the general businesses 
observed the holiday by closing, yet 
most stores, many area schools, and 
even the stock exchanges were open, 
but couldn’t get any mail. In Chicago 
only 10% took the day off, and in Los 
Angeles a very minor 6% quit for the 
day.

Now Monday is, has been, and has 
to be the one day the Recreation In­
dustry is off. In many ways it is our 
Sabbath, if that term can still include 
the proverbial “day of rest.” There­
fore if the industry is to work Mondays, 
the simplest result is a 13 day week 
with the hours and overtime pay that 
go with it. With electricians in New 
York on a four day week, who needs 
13 straight!

Then on top of this insult we lose 
most of our audience, who are also 
working. As a result, we must attempt 
to make a good guess as to how many 
customers we will have and therefore 
burden as few staff members as pos­
sible. A wrong guess either way makes 
for too many at the service of too few 
(expensive and undesirable for the 
staff), or too few serving too many 
(intolerable for the luxuriating cus­
tomer).

There is a solution — WHAT THE 
HELL’S THE MATTER WITH FRI­
DAY?!

by Jerry Kloss

“The majority is never right,” pro­
claimed Ibsen, and I think that applies 
to a lot of the guff people are telling 
each other about ecology nowadays. 
They’re all for pure air, crystal clear 
rivers, protection of wildlife and all 
that, but they simply don’t realize what 
the consequences would be if these 
wild dreams were fulfilled.

Pure air, for example. Sure, it 
would be nice if we had pure air. But 
at what cost? Freezing in the winter 
because you wouldn’t want to foul the 
air with chimney smoke? Eating raw 
meat because cooking requires gas or 
electricity that is produced by burning 
coal that fouls the air? I mean, if you 
really want pure air, stop breathing, 
right? You’re exhaling carbon mon­
oxide.

This knee jerk response to a vastly 
complicated problem is typified by the 
anguish of conservationists over the 
approaching demise of certain endan­
gered species. These species are so 
rare, some of them, that hardly any­
body has heard of them, and their total 
extinction would mean absolutely noth­
ing except for a vague moral feeling 
that this shouldn’t happen.

I’ll cite the example of the Devil’s 
Hole pupfish, the whole known pop­
ulation of which is something like 300, 
living in a pond of salty, 92 degree 
water about 50 feet below ground level 
in a cave spring called Devil’s Hole at 
Ash Meadow, Nev. They are minnows 
less than an inch long, descended from 
the Ice Age.

Okay, so it would be nice to have 
them around, but at what cost? If, for 
example, drilling wells in the area to 
irrigate farms producing food for 10,- 
000 families would so lower the water 
table that this pond would dry up and 
the pupfish would be extinguished, 
should we then stop drilling the wells? 
Some people would say yes, we should 
stop drilling the wells, even though 
they’ve never heard of the Devil’s Hole 
pupfish and even if they were told that 
these few minnows have nothing what­
ever to do with the food chain of the 
delicate balances of nature.

“But they have as much right to 
exist as you do, don’t they?” they ask. 
Sure they do, these inch long minnows. 
So does the malaria mosquito and the 
polio virus. It is said that Albert 
Schweitzer felt remorse for the bac­
teria he killed while sterilizing his scal­
pel. And that’s just plain silly, isn’t it?
Don’t get me wrong. I’m as much 
against oil spills and polluted streams 
as the next man. But I think it’s ridic­
ulous to dissipate the newly aroused 

concern over the ecology in projects 
either impossible to achieve or of little 
importance.

It’s impossible, for example, to re­
turn our country to the America of 
100 years ago, with all of the bird and 
animal species of that period. For 
heaven’s sake, what if we had all of 
those millions of bison roaming up and 
down the Great Plains nowadays? 
They’d run right over the wheat fields 
of Kansas and Nebraska, and the price 
of bread would be something else.

To go back a little farther — say 
some 65 million years, when the dino­
saurs died out — what if an aroused 
citizenry had started a bumper sticker 
campaign to “Save the Brontosaurus” 
and had succeeded? We’d have a na­
tion of great, bellowing lizards rooting 
around the countryside and paying ab­
solutely no attention to the require­
ments of civilized life. They would 
cross the superhighways without rhyme 
or reason, hopelessly jamming traffic 
on holiday weekends. Short on brain, 
they would refuse to be trained for use­
ful work or show biz. Even Rudd 
Weatherwax, the patient trainer of half 
a dozen Lassies, would throw up his 
hands in despair.

Feel free to use these penetrating 
arguments next time you bump into a 
wild eyed conservationist at a patio 
party. And not too many tall, cool 
ones, now — you’ll get polluted.

Milwaukee Journal via  
Jim Latham — Milorganite

“Why Topdress?”

It is amazing that so many in turf 
maintenance answer this question with 
this statement “To smooth the surface” 
and feel that they have answered the 
question completely and correctly. It 
would be an unnecessary waste of 
money to topdress if smoothing the 
surface were the sole reason for doing 
so. There are other easier and more 
economical ways of smoothing a sur­
face than topdressing. There are much 
more important reasons to topdress 
turfgrasses.

The answer to “Why Topdress?” 
originates deep in the basic tenets of 
agriculture and anyone who manages 
fine turf would do well to learn the 
real reasons for topdressing and should 
become aware of the damage he does 
to the valuable turf entrusted to his 
expert care if he does not know this 
answer and does not observe the prin­
ciples involved.

The answer comes from the lab­
oratory of the microbiologist, from the 
rules for successful composting, from 
the time proven practices of the agron­
omists, from the findings of soil chem­
ists and physicists.

The answer, derived from these 
many sources, might be expressed in 
this way “To bury the dead and suc­
cour the living.” This abstruse answer 
demands explanation.

To better explain this statement let 
us agree to describe the cross section 
of turf from the top of the grass plant 
down to just below the main root mass 
as “The Growth Zone.”

Within this “Growth Zone” there is 
a complexity of life processes which 
are interdependent and upon which, to 
varying degrees, success or failure in 
turf culture depend. The processes 
are: physical growth of grass plants, 
often under adverse conditions; photo­
synthesis carried out by leaves which 
are constantly being mowed, sprayed 
and trampled; chemical reactions re­
lating to fungicides, fertilizers, herbi­
cides, and water borne minerals and 
other chemicals; biological reactions 
relating to the decomposition of dead 
plant and animal tissue; and to the 
microbiological population which in­
creases or decreases as conditions de­
termine. These, and other processes, 
must be properly maintained to insure 
healthy satisfactory turf and turfgrass.
Where does topdressing fit in this 

“Growth Zone” complex?

Topdressing is a prime requisite 
for the optimum functioning of the 
“Growth Zone.” These are the ways 
in which topdressing contributes to 
this optimum functioning.

(1)  It provides a physical separator 
to keep plant and animal residues from 
matting into an impervious mass which 
would be a barrier to passage of air, 
water, and chemicals, and which would 
be a serious deterrent to decomposi­
tion. 

(2)  It introduces a buffering agent 

to modify chemical reactions. 

(3)  It physically supports the plants 
to help absorb the shock of compacting 
factors. 

(4)  It introduces and supports mi­
crobiological activity so essential to the 
prevention of an undesirable amount 
of thatch. 

(5)  It builds up the soil surface 

slowly. 

(6)  It maintains a friability in the 
“Growth Zone” which assures a proper 
degree of porosity. 

(7)  It ultimately produces a soil of 

a sandy loam texture. 

Without proper topdressing exces­
sive thatch build-up, compaction, and 
the need of constant mechanical aerifi­
cation and thatch control become the 
rule. The old time “Greenskeeper,” 
although he did not know technical 
reasons for topdressing, certainly knew 
that good greens were those which were 
properly topdressed.

Research Review

by Wayne C. Morgan

“Nitrogen Nutrition of Turfgrasses”
One of our nations’ authorities on 
the nutritional needs of turfgrass is 
Dr. R. E. Schmidt of Virginia Poly­
technic Institute. His information with 
the above title was presented at the 
First International Turfgrass Research 
Conference at Harrogate, England, 
July 1969 and published in a proceed­
ings of these talks.

In formulating a nitrogen nutrition 
program for turfgrasses, all environ­
mental phenomena must be considered. 
For example, bermudagrasses do well 
in the semi-tropics and bentgrasses are 
adapted to the temperate regions. This 
discussion will be limited to the gen­
eral observations of nitrogen nutrition 
of those grasses that are manly used 
within the temperate region (the cool­
season grasses).

Ecological factors, both natural and 
imposed, influence chemical reactions 
within a plant. Symptoms of bad nitro­
gen fertilization management may be 
noticeable only after the turf has un­
dergone stresses. It has been observed 
on the author’s research plots that Poa 
Pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) L. re­
covery from summer drought was in­
fluenced by timing of nitrogen fertili­
zation. Plots receiving 6 lb. nitrogen 
per 100 sq. ft. were much slower to re­
cover when 2/3 of the nitrogen was ap­
plied in the spring than when 2/3 was 
applied in the fall.

Normally, under soil conditions, ni­
trate is the principal source of nitrogen 
utilized by higher plants. In order for 
nitrates to be reduced, enzymatic re­
actions must occur. Thus, nitrogen 
and carbohydrate metabolism are in­
teracting. Loss of energy appears to be 
especially true with high nitrogen and 
warm temperatures.

Both nitrogen assimilation and car­
bohydrate metabolism are influenced 
by environmental factors such as mois­
ture, pH, light, temperature, and ni­
trogen concentration.

Soil acidity influences nitrogen me­
tabolism in several ways; for example 
nitrate uptake increases with pH to 
about pH6, then decreases with further 
pH increase.

Nitrogen assimilation is dependent 
upon the carbohydrate reserves. Car­
bohydrates also furnish the substrate 
for respiratory release of energy.

The rate of nitrate and ammonium 
absorption has been shown to increase 
with their external concentrations up 
to a certain point. Nitrogen-starved 
plants high in carbohydrates absorb 
nitrate more rapidly than those grasses 
previously fertilized with nitrogen. The 
rate of nitrogen assimilation in the 

plant may act in regulating nitrogen 
absorption.

Increases in temperature generally 
increase nitrate uptake. Temperature 
also affect photosynthesis and respira­
tion. When temperature is increased, 
CO2 fixation increases to a point (then 
decreases with further temperature 
rise): respiration is stimulated, thus 
enhancing nitrogen assimilation and 
carbohydrate utilization. If respiration 
increases so that carbohydrate reserves 
are used faster than CO2 can be fixed, 
there will be less subsequent release of 
energy. This is what appears to limit 
cool-season grass growth when large 
amounts of nitrogen are made available 
during periods of high temperature.

Cool-season grasses preconditioned 
to maintain high carbohydrate content 
are better able to stand heat stresses. 
Bentgrass growth for 45 days at 88°F 
was seriously injured with heavy nitro­
gen fertilization but bentgrass that was 
preconditioned for 45 days at 76°F 
and 56°F did not show injury when 
switched to 88°F and fertilized with 
heavy nitrogen.

In formulating a nitrogen nutritional 
program one must consider seasonal 
root and top growth development, car­
bohydrate accumulation, and extreme 
temperature stresses. Bentgrass under 
almost uniform nitrogen supply has 
been shown to yield the most foliage in 
early spring followed by a sharp de­
cline. In late spring, foliage increased 
again, but then declined as hot weather 
persisted in July and August. Top 
growth did not increase with the ap­
proach of lower temperatures in the 
fall, but in fact continued to decrease, 
with the lowest yields given in October.
Underground seasonal growth of 
cool-season grasses differs somewhat 
from the top growth. Roots and rhi­
zomes of Kentucky bluegrass increased 
from December to May with much less 
root development thereafter.

NEW OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Skip Camaron ....................President 
Al Rathjens .............. Vice-President 
Phil Scott .......................... Secretary 
& Meeting Co-ordinator  
Ken Morrison ..................... Treasurer 
Jack Martin ......Program & Publicity 
Don Marshall ...................Newsletter 
& Field Day  
Paul Boiselle ...................Newsletter 
& Research  
Gene Tarulli ..................Membership 
Joe Flaherty ......................Education 
Bill Gaydosh....... Welfare & By-Laws 
Glen Gallion ............................... Golf 

TURF CLIPPINGS

President Jack Martin recently ap­
pointed Board Members, Don Mar­
shall and Paul Boizelle, to represent 
our chapter as delegates to the Nation­
al Convention and Show at Boston in 
January.

Chairs: Wayne Allen leaves Shacka- 
maxon C.C. on November 1st for Chi­
cago where he assumes his duties as 
Golf Course Supt., Green Acres Coun­
try Club . . .

Dennis Wagner resigns as Supt., 
Homestead Golf Club . . . Dennis 
Shuster leaving the Playboy Club to 
return to Playboy’s Wisconsin Opera­
tion . . . applications and resumes now 
being accepted . . .

Oliver Rogers, former (long time) 
(L.M. Retired) Supt., Forsgate C.C. 
observed shaking hands with old 
friends at the Field Day Equipment 
Show — Oliver wears his retirement 
well ... he looks terrific.

Care to see a great landscaping ef­
fort? Why not stop by Braidburn C.C. 
and take a look. Supt. Lea Carpenter 
has outdone himself. Armed with his 
“own” Vermeer Tree Planting Ma­
chine, he’s planted literally hundreds 
of trees . . .

Art “Cushman” Schipski recuperat­
ing at home after a recent bout with 
surgery . . .

Twas a girl for the Phil Pelrin 

family . . .

Supt. Pat Campbell will be host to 
the U. S. Amateur Public Links Cham­
pionship Tournament to be held at his 
course (Flanders Valley) during Sum­
mer 1973 . . .

Don Marshall and Ed Nickelsen en­
joy an equal challenge in that they will 
host U. S. Women’s Open this coming 
Summer, also.

The “Toms River Trio”: Jack Or­
mond, Jim McCormick and Heiny 
Fritschka told us it only took them two 
hours to locate the Playboy Club after 
driving North to find it, but they spent 
four hours and fifteen minutes trying 
to find their way out of Playboy’s 
“tiny” parking lot after arriving. Think 
that’s bad? Hear about our V.P.? 
Seems he forgot his “key” — had to 
drive all the way back to Caldwell to 
pick it up.

We all agree host Supt. Dennis Shu­
ster had done an unusually fine job 
despite “labor union” type situations, 
etc. Given time to season — the Play­
boy Club Course could become one of 
the area’s finest.

Sabby DeFalco’s lovely daughter, 
Rosemary, is now teaching 5th grade 
in the Tenafly School System . . .

New Arrivals: Dave (Oak Hill) Mc­

Gee passing out “It’s a boy” cigars 
. . . The Tony Rippel’s new daughter, 
Danielle Marie weighed in at 7 lbs. 
10 ozs. . . . “Grandpa” Floyd (Harkars 
Hollow) Staatz tells us he and Grand­
ma Staatz are grandparents for the 
fifth time; a little boy, Vincent, 3 lbs. 
2 ozs.

Mrs. Joseph Flaherty Sr. recovering 
from recent surgery; Joe Sr. reports 
she’s doing fine.

Sunrise Valley, Morris County’s new 
golf course, right on schedule; the 
front nine has been seeded.

Bey Lea’s Jim McCormick will leave 
for Montana early in November with 
two hunting companions . . . They will 
be hunting wild goats and Mule Deer 
at Deer Park National Forest.

Commercial Mover: Sam Horst

Telephone 201 - 763-6636

turned in his Agway cards . . . he’s now 
driving a Chipman Chemical Wagon; 
“station,” that is.

Jim Tosco accepts promotional move 
to North Carolina where he will con­
tinue to represent O. M. Scott. Jim 
and his family will be moving into their 
new home (Lexington, N. C.) around 
Christmas time.

Ted Roberts reports the “tunnel” 
that will afford his membership pas­
sage under new Highway 24 from the 
North to South courses will be opened 
shortly (Long last! ! !)

Joe (Mt. Tabor C.C.) Grivalsky 
recovering from foot surgery at St. 
Clair’s Hospital, Denville, N. J. . . .
Bob and Ethel Wiley recently re­
turned from their annual fall pilgrimage 
to New England where they enjoyed 
nature’s best color show . . .

Koonz and Peirson, Ltd. 
Supplies to the Fine Turf Industry 

697 VALLEY STREET 

MAPLEWOOD, N. J. 07040 

William F. Koonz 

Hubert L. Pierson

GREEN HILL TURF SUPPLY INC.

Complete Turf Supplies 

R.D. 2, BOX 330, FREEHOLD, N. J. 07728 

Jim Roach 

201-462-2349 

Frank Carman 

GREENS • TREES • FAIRWAYS • LAWNS • TENNIS COURTS  

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North Jersey   
201-469-1070

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South Jersey  
609-228-1696

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