Published monthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

March 1981

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Vol. X I, No. 2

« S P E C I A 1 - “C O P , N G W Ith ....... | 8 S O E i J

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The response to our “ Coping With Less” article in last month’s issue of Tee To Green has been good. We’d like to thank
the following individuals who responded to our survey request:
i
Bob Alonzi, Fairview Country Club
W. Andy Androsko, Pratt-Gabriel Div., Miller Chemical &

Fertilizer Corp.
Mike Bavier, CGCS, Inverness Golf Club
Ted Horton, CGCS, Westchester Country Club
Joseph Lach, Bruce Memorial Golf Course
Frank Lamphier, Aspetuck Valley Country Club
Melvin B. Lucas, Jr., CGCS, Piping Rock Club

Pat Lucas, Innis Arden Golf Club
/j
Jay Mottola, Metropolitan Golf Association
Peter Rappoccio, Silver Spring Country Club
Bill Smart, The Powelton Club
Jim Snow, United States Golf Association Green Section
John Sundholm, The Greenrock Corp.
John Wistrand, Metromilorganite,Inc.
Ed Worthington, The Ed Worthington Company

The above individuals have contributed over 50 ideas to share with their fellow turf managers. Their ideas follow this
article. And that’s not all . . .
On February 5th, MGCSA President Mike Maffei appeared before the County of Westchester hearings of the Legislative
and Community Affairs Committee relative to drawing restrictions for the County. Mike’s presentation which he put
together with Tony Grasso, Dick Gonyea, and Londy Castarella is in this issue . . .
And more. An “ old Timer” who responded to our survey request was Uncle Ed Worthington. Ed’s report which is based
upon years of experience coping with droughts is printed in this issue . . .
And more. On February 2, Jay Mottola, Deputy Executive Director of the Metropolitan Golf Association sent a letter to
Green Chairmen and Golf Course Superintendents of member clubs. This letter contained a checklist on Coping with the
Water Shortage which is reprinted in the issue for any clubs who are not members of the MGA . . .
For those of us who attended the U.S.G.A. Green Section Regional Meeting at Westchester Country Club on February
19th, the Water Shortage was well covered by Jim Snow. Reprinted in this issue is the February 25th report on coping with
the water shortage which the USGA has sent to Newsletter Editors.
It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention. I have a hunch the above is only the beginning. When the Green
Industry applied its ingenuity to the problem, additional solutions will be found to Cope with Less. And we will continue to
bring them to you.
Pat Lucas, Editor
MGCSA SURVEY RESULTS

1.
2.
3.
4.

Minimum nitrogen, higher potash.
Higher cut on greens, tees, fairways.
Hold back on first watering to harden turf.
Establish priorities on watering, i.e., greens, tees,
approaches, landing areas, etc.
5. Use anti-transparents on grass and shrubs. (Experiment)
6. Advise membership now concerning water problems we
will be facing.
7. Watch herbicide-fertilizer application. Less amounts if
water availibility is in question.

8. More hand watering, less sprinkler use on greens.
9. Determine how much water you have to work with (ca­
pacities of lakes, ponds, etc.). Adjust watering program
to possibility of not having any rainfall to replenish
these amounts.
10. Omit fairway watering if necessary.
11. Capture rain water roof gutters, from club buildings for
filling spray rigs, cleaning, etc.
12. Get back to old time basics of golf course management,
i.e. old courses in Scotland, no water but still beautiful.

EDITORIAL STAFF
Pat Lucas, Co-Editor

Office 203-637-3210
Home 203-637-3939
Office 914-967-6000
Home 914-937-3613

Ted Horton, Co-Editor

OFFICERS
President........
Vice-President
Secretary ........
Treasurer. . . .

.......... Michael Maffei, Back O’Beyond, Inc.
Office 914-279-7179; Home 914-278-9436
........ Charles Martineau, Whippoorwill Club
Office 914-273-3755; Home 914-273-9112
Peter Rappoccio, Silver Spring Country Club
Office 203-438-6720; Home 203-866-4276
.. Sherwood Moore, Winged Foot Golf Club
Office 914-698-2827; Home 914-234-9469

Reprint permission is hereby authorized providing credit is given to
Tee to Green . . . unless author states otherwise.
Publication deadline to Tee to Green is 21 days before the regular
meeting.

13. Consider sprigging Zoysia grass in fairway areas prone to
wilt and moisture loss.
14. Use wetting agents for more uniform water profile.
(Experiment)
15. Keep nitrogen on the 3-4 pound rate per year.
16. Program or apply irrigation in dawn to early a.m. hours.
17. Use soil probe to determine water need.
18. Cut less area as fairway — shorter and narrower.
19. Insist on water person timing all moves.
20. Cut down nozzle size if possible.
21. Educate water person as to desirability of “ skipping” low
fairway areas.
22. Use herbicides only if needed (can reduce roots).
23. Educate your membership, write a special newsletter and
follow up articles laying it on the table as to what will
happen.
24. Re-evaluate all your water requirements.
25. Reduce number of rounds of golf allowed on days of
stress.
26. Allow for the maximum recovery time of a turf area be­
fore use again.
27. Develop a crisis management program.
28. Water 5-10 minutes daily between 5 and 7 a.m.
29. Use sewage effluent for water source.
30. Night watering only.
31. Less frequent mowings.
32. Begin watering as late as possible in 1981.
33. Consider mowing at night to reduce stress.
34. Water in daytime to be able to supervise and observe
better.
35. Conserve, adjust watering down to base minimum.
36. Use mulches on plant materials.
37. Erect wind barriers where needed.
38. Seek additional water sources (drains, ditches, wells,

ponds, marginal water, roof systems, air conditioner
water, etc.).
39. Meter useage.
40. Improve efficiency of system (fix leaks, relocate heads,
check nozzles, train waterman).
41. Minimize spring nitrogen applications.
42. Aerate turf areas this spring to establish good roots and
ensure good water infiltration.
43. Keep turf “ hardened” prior to summer by irrigation as
infrequently as possible during the spring.
44. Irrigate at night when possible — less wind, lower temper­
ature, less evaporation.
45. Check soil moisture and depth of roots before deciding to
irrigate and then irrigate only to depth of roots.
46. Reduce or avoid other stress factors (insects, diseases,
weeds, good traffic control and good drainage.)
47. Consider using more organic fertilizers and less inorganic
fertilizers to lower salt index and reduce need for fre­
quent and copious watering.
48. If watering is prohibited, consider pump house renova­
tions and improvements.
49. Communicate with and inform local golf associations,
such as P.G.A., M.G.A., etc. on what effect altered
maintenance programs will have on playing conditions.
50. Read April, 1981 issue of Golf Course Management.
51. Pray for frequent rains.
FROM THE PRESIDENT:

On February 3rd, I received a call from Tony Grasso in­
forming me of a meeting to be held in White Plains on Febru­
ary 5 concerning the water situation. This was a joint meeting
of the Legislative Committee and the Community Affairs
Committee of the County Legislature. The purpose of the
meeting was to receive input from various industries in the
county on how to handle water restrictions in the Spring.
Since this is an obvious problem being faced by our industry,
we decided to make a statement before this body on behalf of
the golf course superintendents in Westchester county. What
this Committee was interested in learning was the overall
scope of our industry, our financial impact on the commu­
nity, size of labor force, etc. In order to get a feel for that
information, Tony, Dick Gonyea, Londy Castarella and my­
self got together February 4 to come up with some average
figures on club budgets and labor forces to incorporate into a
statement. Following is the text of the statement presented
before the legislators.
The Legislators seemed to be impressed by our presentation
and feedback from them is good. Not only did we make a pre­
sentation but other leaders from the “ Green Industry” as
well. The main point we all tried to make is that there should
be an equal distribution between all industries. No one indus­
try should suffer more than others. Mandatory controls now
prohibit use of public water on golf courses; however courses
with their own wells and ponds face no restriction.
Two informal meetings between leaders of the Green In­
dustry and the Cooperative Extension have also been held in
preparation for a possible joint statement to be prepared by
the Green Industry as a body if necessary.
I urge all Superintendents in Westchester County to write
to their County Legislator and let them know how water

restrictions are going to hurt their club. We do not want to be
forgotten as new regulations are drawn up.
Statement — February 5,1981
I would like to begin by presenting you a brief idea of the
scope of the Golf Course Industry. There are approximately
45 golf courses in Westchester County employing approxi­
mately 2,500 people. These employees are involved in the
maintenance of the golf courses, as well as in the pool and
tennis operations, food service operations, and administrative
services of the Club. Club budgets total in excess of 75 million
dollars for maintenance and overall club operations. This
figure does not include capital outlays for equipment, prop­
erty renovations, or building renovations. Also involved are
approximately 12 firms employing 350 to 400 people
supplying our golf course maintenance needs for chemicals,
fertilizers, irrigation supplies, and equipment sales and
service. This water crisis will affect them not only on golf
courses but throughout the “ Green Industry.”
A cutback on water allowance will have a far reaching im­
pact on golf courses and club operations. We could be faced
with layoffs on maintenance crews due to reduced work loads
on the golf course from reduced mowing and reduced irriga­
tion work. Seasonal job availability for students could drop.
A decrease in club income from reduced greens fees, cart in­
come, pool and tennis revenues, and food service operations
could also lead to reduced staffs. It is possible that if the golf
course is not as green and not as attractive, people will not
play as much or host as many guests. There would also be an
impact on State and Local Sales Taxes due to reduced use of
the golf courses.
Our greens and tees desperately need water to survive. On
our 45 golf courses, the greens represent a 15.4 million dollar
investment and would require an approximate 5 million dollar
expense to get them back in shape after a season with no
water. This cost includes expenses for sod, fertilizers, top­
dressing material, water, labor, and the loss of the greens
while the renovation work was being performed and the
greens were being brought back to a high playing quality.
Our fairways would also suffer without water but can be
renovated at much less cost than greens; and with water con­
ditions the way they are, we would have to face the likelihood
of not having fairway water. We recommend however, that
golf courses with their own water supplies be allowed to use
that water as they see fit while the supply lasts.
All of our area Golf Course Superintendents hold Asso­
ciate or Bachelor degrees in Plant & Soil Science with some
also holding a Master’s degree and realize how important it is
to manage water properly. Many of us are using wetting
agents to conserve water and power. Wetting agents are
materials that permit our water applications to stretch out
over a longer period of time. This not only reduces the
amount of water that we use, but reduces the amount of elec­
tricity we must use to operate our pumps. Our experience also
shows that the overuse of water causes turf diseases and a
poorer turf requiring large expenditures to combat these
problems. It is to our favor to be water conscious and to use
water properly. Golf courses are also converting to newer,
more efficient irrigation systems even to the extent of using
mini-computers to make sure water is being applied in the
most efficient manner.

What we are striving for is equal treatment with other in­
dustries in the allocation of water. We feel we are a very im­
portant industry to the community in providing a clean,
pleasant environment in which to live. We would also be
willing to appoint a representative from our industry to assist
you in reaching a decision on water allocation.
I would like to close with a statement from a leading
University figure studying the effect of living plants — trees,
grass, crops — on the environment which says that 1 acre of
“ Green” provides enough clean air to sustain two people for
1 year.
Thank you.
Michael Maffei
President, M.G.C.S.A.

Gentlemen:
The enclosed thoughts and suggestions on “Turfgrass
Maintenance During the Water Crisis” are being sent to a few
Turfgrass Associations in the Northeast to do as they wish.
I f there are any errors or useful additions, please bring
them to our attention as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Ed Worthington
Ed Worthington corp.
TURFGRASS MAINTENANCE DURING THE
WATER CRISIS
1.
Raise height of cut on all mowers to obtain additional
shade provided by the longer grass blades which will help to
conserve soil moisture.
a. On golf courses, notify the membership that SLOW
greens are the order of the day until the crisis is past.
b. Keep all machines off the grass during hot afternoons
to reduce tire wilt, machine damage, etc.
c. Adjust mowing schedules so that no more than lA of
the length of the grass blade is removed at every mowing. This
will reduce shock to the plant.
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2.
Your long range problem will be to retain as much soil
moisture as possible under your turfgrass areas. In a water
crisis, a good long SOIL PROBE can be an important piece
of test equipment. Use it daily to check localized dry spots
and to find how far down is your drought zone. Start as soon
as you can in the spring and try and keep it at least 1 foot
from the surface. Dry soil works up towards the surface —
reducing your ground moisture reservoir. When it reaches the
root zone, your grass is in trouble. Water applied to a turf­
grass area tends to move horizontally with very little vertical
penetration until the thatch and ground is thoroughly wet and
surface tension is reduced. Methods by which this can be ac­
complished are as follows:
a. Use a spiker at least once a week just before a rain or
set up your sprinkler and use it right after spiking. The water
will find a path down the spiker slits through the thatch zone
and charge up the ground underneath with moisture.
b. For real problem areas, use an aerifier and work the
water into the holes with a hose or sprinkler. Another method
would be to use a verticutting machine with 1" spacing on the
knives and soak thoroughly with your sprinkler. Check with
your soil probe on all operations.
c. Use a soil penetrant (wetting agent) to help your verti­
cal movement of water through the mat or thatch and
ground. Start early and use as directed. Chemical wetting
agents, by reducing surface tension, enable water to work
down in the soil increasing the soil water reservoir or to help
the water work up to the grass root zone as needed.
d. Useful tools for working on localized dry spots

include an aerifier with two tines about 8" apart and a handle
to hold on to while your foot pushes the tines about 3 Vi " into
the sod. The same idea is an air water aerifier connected to a
garden hose with pointed tines that have a couple of holes in
them for the water. Finally, a tree root irrigator used by
arborists which is connected to high pressure sprayer hose can
be useful to force water into compacted soil or for deep pene­
tration of water or solutions.
3.
At the turfgrass or playing surface, we have already
listed mowing practices to reduce stress and shock at the be­
ginning of this article. To reduce transpiration or evaporation
loss, the following suggestions may be helpful:
a. Spray the turfgrass area with a liquid hydrostatic
sticker which inhibits water loss and protects against dessication. It also retards moisture loss on trees, shrubs, etc. Also,
it guards against summer scald and winter kill. If this material
or a green turfgrass paint is used, be sure and remove all
screens in your sprayer; use tepid water in your tank solution
and clean your sprayer, thoroughly, immediately after use.
b. To repair or not to repair machine damage, localized
dry spots under drought stress is a good question. Instead of
chewing up the area and reseeding, it may be better to spray
the area with a green turfgrass pain and wait until late
summer for renovation. On par 3 golf tees, reseed as needed
with a fine leaved ryegrass until late summer when a good tee
mix should be substituted to form a permanent sod.
c. Mulches on non-playing turfgrass areas can provide
additional shade to reduce moisture loss. However, what you
use and how much can be a tricky business. Hay mulches may

introduce undesirable weed seeds. If applied too thickly, lack
of sufficient light will kill the turfgrass underneath or cause
disease problems. The right amount of straw would be better,
as all you want to do is to provide some additional shade,
keep weeds down and to let light, air and water down to the
turfgrass. Still better, may be plastic netting or woven
materials that will accomplish the same purpose but make
sure they don’t cause more problems than they are worth.
d. Watch your fertilization program carefully. Keep
your potash levels up but be careful about your nitrogen. If
you have been using slow release products, remember that N
will be released from this type of fertilizer of the ureaform
type that was applied up to several years ago. So go easy. If in
doubt, use a water soluble type in a sprayer and keep checking
your bucket clippings on greens. It may even help to not use
your buckets on your greenmowers on a water crisis.
e. In high altitude areas, look out for Spring Kill (Wet
Wilt) in late April and May. Beautiful sunny days with a
breeze from the North together with low humidity and a cold
wet soil can spell disaster. Again, a hydrostatic sticker that
retards moisture loss can be very useful during this period.
Otherwise, if your pipes are connected, syringe your greens
from noon to 3 p.m., just as the fellows down in the valleys
must do with their poa annua in July and August. No water?
Get your sprayer or tank truck and fill up somewheres. Then
apply to those greens exposed to the northern, low humidity
breezes as a syringing operation. Follow the same procedure
for syringing poa annua if water is curtailed in your area.
4.
Chemical applications of pesticides during stress periods
requires planning. Here are some suggestions in a water crisis:
a. Fungus diseases can be a problem during any stress
period. Maintain your fungicide schedule even though heights
of cut on your mowers have been raised. Use only enough N
to help control dollar spot. Check your pH readings and try
to stay around 6.5.
b. Insects may become a real problem. Start early on an
insecticide program and keep at it. For hard to wet insects,
use a spreader-sticker with your insecticide.
c. Herbicides — personally, I never would use them

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during any stress period.
5. If your water supply may be cut off or reduced, now is
the time to think about where you can get water that is safe
for turfgrass and how to get it where you want it. Keep your
eyes open for any items that might be useful. An old
abandoned sprayer might be repaired to hold water. Make
sure you have a small pump with suction hose, strainer and
discharge hose — long enough to reach from yo^r lake, pond,
stream, etc. to your water carrier, s1 Id your irrigation sys­
tem be cut off.
6. Finally, keep up on long range weather reports for your
area and keep a daily weather diary. Record also, soil probe
moisture depths around the course, etc. Good luck and if all
else fails, gather together some good Indian friends and hold
a Rain Dance.
Ed Worthington

WATER SHORTAGE

Directed to: Green Chairmen/Golf Course Superintendents
With the start of the golf season only a few months away, the
time is now to start planning. The water shortage is a fact and
although it will affect each club differently, we hope no club
will be caught unprepared. Dating back to as early as June,
1980 some clubs in the metropolitan area, especially in
Northern New Jersey, have been faced with restricted water
use and unless things change rapidly almost every area golf
course will be effected in some way during the 1981 season.
Although we are not experts in agronomy and preparation
at each club will be different, we feel going through the
following check list of important points might be helpful:
1. Review the entire club for water use, plan to conserve
wherever possible, and correct wasteful situations immedi­
ately. Check everything from leakey faucets to major supply
lines.
2. Know what your sources of water supply are and, more
importantly, know who controls them. (Remember: during
shortages clubs may even be restricted from using their own
wells or other private sources. This is already the case in New
Jersey.)
3. Do you know who will determine water restrictions in
your area and how to contact them?
4. Do you know what effect you might have in fighting
watering restrictions? (Remember your golf course is an
essential part of your club operation and you probably have a
substantial investment to protect, especially in tees and
greens.)
5. Are you prepared budget-wise for the possibility of
having to pay a premium price for water or to pay for extra
chemicals, seeds, supplies, etc., to help prepare your course
for dry conditions?
6. Be sure your club is represented at USGA Green Section
Conference at Westchester Country Club on February 19th.
Although the original agenda doesn’t specifically address the
Water Shortage, we have contacted the USGA and they’ve
indicated that the topic will be discussed. This will also be a
good time to exchange ideas and learn what’s happening at
other clubs.
In the coming months the MGA will keep a close watch on
the situation and try to help in whatever way we can. If your

club has any specific problems or questions or if you have
some ideas that might be of help to other clubs, please contact
the MGA office. We plan to address this issue in a March
Newsletter and would appreciate any input that you feel
might be helpful.
Best wishes for a successful and productive year.
Jay Mottola
Deputy Executive Director, MGA

To: Newsletter Editors
As part o f the Green Section's effort to provide useful
information for golf course maintenance programs, enclosed
is an article which describes some o f the steps which can be
taken in anticipation o f the water shortage this year. Please
feel free to use all or part o f this information in your publica­
tion. Credit to the USGA Green Section would be apprec­
iated.
Sincerely,
James T. Snow
Agronomist, USGA
COPING WITH THE WATER SHORTAGE
Each year it seems that some region of the country is faced
with a shortage of water. If the problem becomes critical
enough and water use restrictions are imposed, one of the
first uses to feel the axe is golf course irrigation. Notwith­
standing the fact that the golf industry generates millions of
dollars in goods and services and employs thousands of
people, golf course irigation is considered a recreational use
of water in most states and therefore is placed low on the
priority list during a water shortage. The limits placed on
course irrigation in any particular area may vary from volun­
tary conservation to mandatory restrictions to a complete ban
on all water uses. In each instance, short-term and long-term
management programs must be thoughtfully designed in
order to ensure the best possible survival of existing turf
areas.
Following are some thoughts on how to make best use of
existing water resources and how to condition turfgrasses for
drought conditions.
The Irrigation System
A well-designed, correctly installed and properly utilized
automatic irrigation system provides the best means of con­
serving water. Water savings of 40% to 75% have been docu­
mented on golf courses which converted from a manual to an
automatic system. However, regardless of the type of irriga­
tion system available, it should be operating at peak efficien­
cy and steps should be taken to increase its efficiency if the
situation permits. — Repair all leaks.
— Check nozzle size as it relates to available pressure and
resulting coverage.
— Check for nozzle wear.
— Where necessary, relocate heads to improve water
distribution.
— Use half-circle sprinklers where applicable.
— Check pump performance and other pumphouse
systems.
Irrigation Practices
Proper use of the irrigation system is one of the most im­
portant factors in conserving water. Preparing turf for hot

summer weather requires that little, if any, irrigation water be
applied during the spring. Encourage the turf to establish a
deep, fibrous root system in the spring by allowing the soil to
become dry between rains and/or irrigation sessions.
— Before irrigating, use a soil probe to determine existing
soil moisture and rooting depth.
— Apply water as uniformly as possible, depending on soil
conditions and plant needs.
— Apply water only as fast as the soil can accept it. To
avoid puddling and runoff, use short, repeat cycles or else
cultivate the soil (core, slice, spike) to improve water infil­
tration.
— Irrigate when there is little wind and when the tempera­
ture is relatively low . . . usually at night.
— Hand water critical areas if it can prevent overwatering
adjacent areas.
— Constantly monitor the system to ensure that all heads
are operating as they should be.
Cultural Programs
To paraphrase an old cliche, “ a healthy turf is a drought
resistant turf.”
— Aerification — aerate (core) turf areas during the spring
in order to relieve soil compaction, promote root growth and
improve water infiltration (note: concerns about Poa annua
encroachment after spring aerification are of secondary im­
portance when drought stress may place the survival of the
turf in jeopardy).
— Cultivation — spike and/or slice turf areas when
weather permits throughout the season so that good water in­
filtration is maintained.
— Wetting agents — a wetting agent should be used during
the spring, and at lighter rates during the summer, to promote
good water infiltration through thatch and soil, improve soil
water retention and prevent dew formation. It is normally
used on greens and collars, but can be beneficial to most turf
areas.
— Fertilization — use relatively low rates of nitrogen fer­
tilizer. A lush, fast-growing turf uses more water and is more
susceptible to injury from other stresses. Coordinate applica­
tions with predicted rains or apply during light rains.
— Diseases and Insects — avoid turf damage from
diseases and insects by utilizing a proper pest control
program.
— Weeds — apply herbicides in the spring for weed con­
trol only if large numbers of weeds are present (broadleaf) or
can be anticipated (crabgrass). If spraying must be done,
spot-treat the worst areas rather than making a blanket
application.
— Cutting height — if possible, raise the cutting height
and reduce mowing frequency on tees, fairways and roughs.
It is unlikely that much benefit will be derived from raising
the height on greens already cut at 3/16" - 1/4. "
— Thatch control — if excessive thatch is a problem, then
thatch control measures (aeration, spiking, slicing, verticutting) and wetting agents should be utilized on a regular basis.
— Overseeding — on turf areas composed primarily of
Poa annua, plans should include overseeding during late
summer or early fall with a more drought tolerant grass
species. Turf areas which cannot be irrigated during the
summer will likely require renovation during the fall.

Reduce Other Stress Factors
Avoid placing turf under any unnecessary forms of stress.
A healthy, vigorous turf is much more likely to survive the
drought if other stress factors can be reduced or eliminated.
— Cart and foot traffic — distribute traffic across the turf
as uniformly as possible. Eliminate traffic on important play
areas when possible by keeping carts on paths, banning cart
use on certain days or weeks during the season, and by care­
ful traffic monitoring.
— Drainage — good drainage, even during a water
shortage, is a pre-requisite to good turf. Turf in poorly
drained areas is usually shallow-rooted and weak. Work on
drainage installation any time weather permits.
— Weeds, Insects, Diseases — as noted above, eliminate
competition and injury from weeds, insects and diseases by
following proper pest control programs.
— Trees — trees can weaken turf by preventing good air
circulation and creating excessive shade, and tree roots can
compete with turf for available moisture and nutrients. When
possible, improve sunlight penetration and air circulation by
thinning trees or their branches. Root prune tees near tees and
greens to reduce moisture stress in these areas.
— Wind barriers — though not practical in most in­
stances, the establishment of wind barriers near exposed sites
can help to reduce evapo-transpiration water losses.
Establish Priorities
When water use is restricted to a certain quantity, based on
either a percentage of previous use or on an absolute quantity
per facility, it usually becomes necessary to set priorities with
respect to which areas of the course will receive the specified
allotment. When this occurs, the following priorities are
usually established.
1) Greens and collars
4) Landing zones
2) Tees
5) Other fairway areas
3) Approach areas
6) Roughs
Investigate New Sources o f Water
When water rationing is imposed, it is often those golf
courses which utilize municipal or public water supplies that
are hardest hit. Therefore, it usually pays a golf course to

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TOP-DRESSING
We screen out oversized particles and "dust" to give you a
uniform product, with water stable aggregates, heat sterilized,
analysis 75% sand by weight, with balanced organic content
and balanced water retention and drainage.

establish alternative sources of water for future use. Among
the options are:
— Creating new ponds or enlarging existing ponds and
reservoirs to hold large quantities of water which can be
diverted from streams, well, catch basis or other bodies of
water.
— Digging wells to supply water directly to the irrigation
system or to existing ponds or reservoirs.
— Dredging existing ponds, canals and reservoirs in order
to increase their capacity.
— Investigate using sewage effluent for irrigation
purposes.
— Collect and funnel runoff water, water from air con­
ditioners, shower water and pool water into existing ponds.
Conclusion
Of critical importance in dealing with a water shortage is
the advance planning which must be done to ensure that the
best can be made of a bad situation. The golf course super­
intendent and course officials should agree ahead of time as
to the best program to follow. Club members should be fore­
warned about the kinds of restrictions that might be placed
upon them as the season progresses and they should under­
stand that turf losses will inevitably occur should water use be
severely curtailed. When it comes to dealing with the golfer
and his course, the best policy is one of no surprises.
The explanations for some of the above recommendations
are necessarily brief and not all of the guidelines apply equally
to all golf course situations. For more information on any of
these recommendations, please contact the nearest USGA
Green Section regional office.
NOTES
If you attended the GCSAA Conference in Anaheim and
wish to apply for New York credit for pesticide re-certifica­
tion, please contact Mike Maffei who is drawing up the roster
to send to Albany. Mike needs your name, address, and Pesti­
cide Applicator ID number. Please do so by March 15.
U of Mass Conference attendess — sign the roster at the
meeting. Please include your ID number.

Shemin Nurseries,
Inc.

GREENHOUSE * NURSERIES

Horticultural Distributors
Distributors of
•E V E R G R E E N S
• TREE STAKES
• FLOWERING TREES • R A ILR O A D TIES
I • SHADE TREES
• MULCHES
•G R O U N D COVERS
• CO NTAINER
M A TE R IA L
• FENCING
• T U R F CHEMICALS
• F IR & PINE BARK
| • HO LLYTO NE
• GRAVELS
• GRASS SEED
•SPRAYING
EQUIPMENT
•A R B O R IS T SUPPLIES
• A-D-S-DRAINAGE SYSTEMS

DISTRIBUTED BY:

JAMES M A XW ELL/M A XW ELL TU RF, INC.
516-265-3580
ON LONG ISLAND

JAMES C A R R IE R E & SONS/J&B T R U C K IN G
914-937-5479
W e s tc h e ste r ; r o c k l a n d , p u t n a m ,
DUTCHESS & FAIRFIELD COUNTIES

W eath er
TRUE TEMPER TOOLS
TU R F M AIN TE N A N C E SUPPLIES
HO M ELITE CONST. EQUIPMENT

Lawn Sprinkler Systems
Safe-T-Lawn
Lawn Sprinkler Systems

SHEMIN NURSERIES, INC.
1081 KING STREET, BOX 64, GLENVILLE STATION
GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT06830
(203)531 7352

Imatic.

(914)937-4644

MEETING NOTICE:

Date:
Place:

Thursday, March 26th
Westchester Hills Golf Club,
Ridgeway Rd.,
White Plains, NY 10605

Host
Superintendent:
Club Manager:
Golf Professional:
Club Pres.:
Telephones:
Lunch:
Program:
Directions:

Mark Millett
John O’Brian
Kevin Morris
Tom Hart
Superintendent: 914-948-5023
Clubhouse: 914-948-5020
12 noon
Panel on Water Conservation
1-287 to Westchester Ave., go left
on Brian Ave. To North St. Go left
on North St. Then make right on
Ridgeway and Club is on left.

COMING EVENTS

March 26
April 16
May
June 23
June 24

MGCSA Meeting, Westchester Hills
MGCSA Meeting, Blue Hill Golf Club
MGCSA Meeting, Quaker Ridge G.C.,
Green Chairman/Superintendent Meeting
MGCSA Meeting, Century Country Club
Superintendent/Manager Meeting
Univ. of Mass. Field Day, So. Deerfield

July
August 25
August 26
August

MGCSA Meeting, Edgewood C.C.
MGCSA Family Picnic
Univ. of R.I. Field Day, Kingston
MGCSA Joint Meeting with Hudson
Valley, Waccabuc Country Club
September 24
MGCSA Invitational Elmwood C.C.
November
MGCSA Annual Meeting
November 16 - 19 N.Y.S. Turfgrass Assoc. Conference &
Trade Show, Albany
FOR SALE
Used Buckner Model 8286 (Febeo Model 86) gear driven
irrigation sprinklers. All in working condition. Variety of
nozzle sizes available. Large quantity available.
Sprinkler alone:
$10.00 each
Sprinkler w/casing & cover:
$15.00 each
Contact Mike Maffei, Back O’Beyond, Brewster
Phone 914-279-7179
POSITON WANTED
Seeking a responsible position as a Golf Course Super­
intendent or Assistant Golf Course Superintendent.
Education: State University of New York at Delhi. Associate
Degree in Applied Science, Ornamental Horticulture.
Previous Golf Course Experience.
Please contact:
Benjamin A. Cox, 26 Main St., Brockport, N.Y. 14420
716-637-3878

We Can Perform All
Your Tree Maintenance Needs!!
Give us a SHOT
Our prices will fit you to a TEE
You’ll be treated in a FAIRWAY
Don’t put your budget in a HOLE
Join our CLUB of satisfied clients
We’ll save you lots of GREEN
Try us, get your head out of the SAND (trap)
And this isn’t just FERTILIZER either.

Hawthorne Bros. Tree Service, Inc.
P.O. BOX 368, BEDFORD HILLS, NEW YORK 10537
9 1 4 - 6 6 6 — 7035

This month, we’d like to thank:

Egypt Farms
Grass Roots
Hawthorne Bros. Tree Service, Inc.
I & E Supply
J. Carriere
Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co.
Montco Products
O.M. Scotts
Partac Peat Corp.
Shemin Nurseries
Warrens Turf Nursery
Westchester Turf Supply
for helping make this issue of Tee to Green possible.

POSTION WANTED
Year-round Golf Course Work
A.A.S. in Turfgrass Management, Stockbridge School of
Agriculture. Previous Golf Course Experience.
Please contact:
Peter Lewis, 181 Union St., Springfield, Vt. 05156
802-855-2930

POSTION WANTED
Assistant Superintendent’s Position

Graduating in May, with a B.S. from the University of Rhode
Island. Plant and Soil Science Major with Turf Management
Specialization. Over five years greens crew experience under a
MGCSA Superintendent, plus four years part-time work at
URI Turf Research Farm.
Please contact: John C. Lensing
208 Weldin Hall
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI 02881
(401)789-9801

GCSAA NEWS:
Michael R. Bavier, CGCS, Superintendent of Inverness
Golf Club, Palatine, Illinois was elected President of
GCSAA. James A. Wyllie, CGCS, was elected to the position
of Vice President. Robert W. Osterman, CGCS, was ap­
pointed by Mike Bavier to serve as Secretary-Treasurer for
1981. The two new directors elected during the membership
meeting were Eugene D. Baston, CGCS, and Riley L.
Stottern, CGCS. Continuing their terms on the board as
directors are Paul Boizelle, CGCS, Edward Dembnicki,
CGCS, and James W. Timmerman, CGCS.
A Bylaw change was approved during the Annual Meeting.
The amendment to Article VI, Section 1 changed the terms of
office for directors from three years to two and removed the
restrictions on their eligibility for re-election.
The change means that, in the future, three directors will be
elected each year instead of two. The amendment also pro­
vides a six-month grace period for officers or directors who
cease active employment as golf course superintendents. It is
important to note that, although the bylaw was changed at
the Anaheim meeting, the two directors elected at that
meeting will serve three years as provided under the old law.
A1 Caravella, Superintendent of the Brae Burn Country
Club received his GCSAA 25 year pin at the Anaheim
Convention.
FIVE RECEIVE GCSAA CITATIONS
Citation of Performance Awards are given each year to
recognize the outstanding efforts of a select few golf course
superintendents in hosting major golf tournaments. Award
recipients are chosen according to guidelines established by
USGA and GCSAA. Sherwood A. Moore of Winged Foot
Golf Club received the award for the Senior Open which was
held in Mamaroneck on June 26-29, 1980.

Something To Think A b o u t. . .
In nature there are neither rewards nor punishments, there are
consequences.

The best in tu rf s u p p lie s —
LESCO 100% S ulfur-C oated F ertilizers,
g o lf course accesso ries, ch e m ica ls in clu d in g

LESCOSAN *

30 1-3 35-3 70 0

a highly effective pre-emergence crabgrass
and poa annua control
★ Lescosan (Betasan — Registered TM of Stauffer Chemical Co.)

(800)
321-5323
Nationwide

Available from:

Sterilized Top Dressing

(800)
362-7413
In Ohio

Lakeshore Equipm ent & Supply Co.
“ Home of LESCO Products”
300 South Abbe, Elyria, OH 44035

EGYPT FARMS EXCLUSIVE! a ii top
dressing ingredients are thoroughly mixed and
sterilized by indirect heat in our special pro­
cess. 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 spread­
ing.

Egypt Farms top dressing is formulated especially for the transition
zone to specifications recommended by the United States Golf Associ­
ation, Texas A&M , Penn State, North Carolina, and the University of
Maryland.
Many years of research and testing by these leading universities have
produced a soil mixture for superior growth; to maintain the best bal­
ance of percolation; to resist compaction; for good aeration; and for
the retention of usable water and nutrients in the growing medium.
*Green and tee construction materials and mixes conforming to
U.S.G.A. specs are also available.
D ISTRIBUTED BY:
METRO-MILORGANITE, INC.
(914) 769-7600

THE TERRE CO.
(201) 843-6655

WAGNER SEED CO., INC.
(516) 293-6312

Pat Lucas, Editor
87 Tomac Avenue
Old Greenwich, Conn. 06870
First Class

MR MELVIN B LUCAS JR
PIPING ROCK CLUB
LOCUST VALLEY
NY 11560

BEARD
COLLECTION

rass roots
tu rf products, inc.

You can't grow GRASS w ithout ROOTS
BERT JONES

KEN KUBIK
( 201 )

7 C o tta g e S tre e t
P o rt C h e s te r, N Y. 10573

( 201 )

361-5943

686-8709

(914)937-5479
(914)939-2766

and £ SUPPLy, IOC. I M F

wetting
agent

66 ERNA AVENUE
P. O. BOX 9
MILFORD. CONNECTICUT 0 6 4 6 0
TELEPHONE (203) 8 T 8 -0 6 5 8

D istributor of:

• Peerless Pumps
• Pump Controls & Control Valves
• Pipe, Valves & Fittings
Sales & Service

TRAP SAND
PARTAC TOPDRESSING
SCREENED TOP SOIL
SCREENED CLAY
FOR TENNIS COURTS
& BASEBALL DIAMONDS
• SAND FOR BUILDING
& CONSTRUCTION
• TRAP ROCK
• GRAVEL

SPREADABLE
GRANULAR #37

B L E N D [80] A h ig h ly effe ctive
w e tte r & spreader on surfaces,
th e re fo re re q u irin g m ore c o n ­
tro l in the m anner and fre q u e n ­
cy o f a p p lic a tio n .
BLEND

Sflgal (Cnarh frin itim i

•
•
•
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[30]

BLEND

[37]

M ild , c u ltu ra lly c o m p a tib le s u rf­
actants. O ur choice for im prov­
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tee. M ost e ffe ctive in m at and
th a tch. These blends p ro m o te
th a tc h d e c o m p o s it io n , a id
spring greenup o f bents, ro o t
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surfactants to im p ro ve snowm old and de sicca tio n pro b le m s.
S U R F -S ID E [SA] N o n io n ic
spray a djuvant.

D E F 0 A ME R

Controls
Foam
MONTCO PRODUCTS CORPORATION
BOX 404 AMBLER, PA. 19002