June 1983 Published monthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association December 10 Meeting Notice Day & Date: Location: Host Superintendent: Host Club Manager: Host Golf Professional: Green Chairman: Club President: Telephones: Superintendent: Club Manager: Golf: Lunch: Social Hour: Dinner: Program Special Notes: Thursday, July 14,1983 Tamarack CC, Locust Road, Greenwich, CT Gene Grady Tom Tuthill Paul Miner Daniel M. Bianca Gregorys. Fricke (203)531-8719 (203)531-7300 12 noon. Carts: $10.00 per person Caddies $12.00 plus tip 11:15 —$5.00 6 - 7:30 p .m . includes hors d ’oeuvres > 7:30 p .m . $22.00 tax, tips included Dr. A1 Turgeon Texas A&M University Supt.-Managers Tournament Return cards a must. ^ No Reservations; no meal. Directions: King Street to the end. Bear right on Locust Road. Club is on left. February 28,29March 1,1984 June 28 July 14 August 8 September 12 September September 20 October 13 November 1-3 November Westchester Classic Field Day at Cornell University Turf Field day U. of Mass Exp. Turf Plots, S. Deerfield Mass. Raindate: 6/23/83 MGCSA Summer Social, Fairview C.C. MGCSA Meeting - Tamarack C.C. MGCSA Annual Family Picnic Woodway Beach Club Poa Annua Golf Tournament Cortland C.C. Field Day MGCSA Meeting - Old Oaks MGCSA Meeting, Sleepy Hollow New York State Turfgrass Association Conference & Trade Show, Rochester MGCSA Annual Meeting MGCSA Christmas Party, Ridgeway C.C. 53nd Mass Turfgrass Conf. & Industrial Show Springfield Civic Center, W. Springfield, MA * Spfe^Ker Peter Pierson (right), of Edgewood Country Club and host superintendent Tim O’Neill at the Country Club of Darien meeting. Summer Social Day & Date: Location: Coming Events June 6-12 June 21 June 22 Vol. XIII, No. 5 Host Superintendent: Host Club Manager: Telephones: Superintendent: Club Manager: Social Hour: Dinner: Special Notes: Tuesday, June 28,1983 Fairview CC King St., Greenwich, CT 06830 Robert Alonzi Drew Campbell (203)531-8910 (203)531-6200 7:00p.m. Sign for cocktails 8:00p.m. $27.50 per person Tax, tips included Reservations to be paid in advance. Send checks to and cards to: MGCSA % Bob Alonzi, Fairview CC, 1241 King St., Greenwich CT 06830 Directions: From South: Hutchinson Parkway to King Street. Left off Exit. Club 3 miles on right. From North: Merritt Parkway to King Street. Right off Exit. Club 3 miles on right. Please return reservation card and check by June 24th. MGCSA News Publication deadline for Tee to Green is 21 days before the regular meeting. We had an excellent turnout for our May meeting at Tim O ’Neill’s Country Club of Darien. Tim had the course prepared in tip top condition in spite of all the crazy weather we’ve been having. Our speaker was Peter Pierson who described the recon­ struction work currently being done at the Edgewater CC in preparation for the Greater Hartford Open. Dennis Petruzzelli, assistant at Brae Bum C.C. covered Pierson’s talk and Dennis’s article follows. Some thing needs to be mentioned here about dinner reserva­ tions. The MGCSA arranges for return reservation cards to be printed and put in the hands of the membership prior to each monthly meeting. It is your responsibility to use them. At a recent MGCSA Board of Directors meeting the follow­ ing Class A applications were approved: Skip Cameron, Richard Struss, Lynn O’Neil, Robert Karp and Dick De Pen­ der. John Sundholm was reclassfied from Class A to C and Dave Heroian from Class B to Class A. I’d like to publicially thank Dennis Petruzzelli on the great job he is doing on the interviewing and articles he prepares on the host superintendents. Nice work Dennis. We welcome him as a Tee to Green staff writer. Be aware of the new “spikeless” golf shoes which are cur­ rently being marketed. The USGA reports that those shoes defi­ nitely cause more damage on soft, heavy type greens than do conventional shoes. The USGA has begun a two month study relative to the use of the shoes. — Pat Lucas Team Championship Net Results Edgewood C.C. to Host PGA Tournament EDITORIAL STAFF Pat Lucas, C o -E d ito r ............................Office 203-637-3210 Home 203-637-3939 Ted Horton, C o -E d ito r.........................Office 914-967-6000 Home 914-937-3613 Dennis P. Petruzzelli, Staff Writer . . . Office 914-946-1074 Home 914-835-2836 OFFICERS President .................Charles Martineau, Whippoorwill Club Office 914-273-3755; Home 914-273-9112 Vice-President . Peter Rappoccio, Silver Spring Country Club Office 203-438-6720; Home 203-431-3990 Secretary........................... Scott Niven, The Stanwich Club Office 203-869-1812; Home 203-629-2594 T re a su re r........... 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. 1st 64 Innis Arden 2nd 64 Woodbury 3rd 65 Old Oaks Pat Lucas Chet Rice Edgewood Country Club in Cromwell, Connecticut will play host for the Greater Hartford Open of the professional golfers tour. A fourteen year lease has been agreed upon, effective next year. Superintendent/Co-owner Peter Pierson explained their cur­ rent plans at the past MGCSA meeting at the Country Club of Darien. Edgewood is a public golf club on the outskirts of Hartford. Peter Dye was hired to help redesign and update the Match ^ of Larry Pakkala 1 Cards Bruce Venson^ j Mark Millett Lowell Schulman EGYPT *ARMk I WHfTE HARSH MO. | 301- 335-3700 EGYPT FARMS EXCLUSIVE! a h 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. PRODUCTS ANTI-FREEZE KLENZER PRODUCTS TRW PRODUCTS 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. LUBRICATING EQUIPMENT THE REICHERT COMPANY *Green and tee construction materials and mixes conforming to U.S.G.A. specs are also available. D ISTRIBUTED BY: THE TERRE CO. (201) 473-3393 WETTING AGENT PARTS CLEANERS 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. METRO-MILORGANITE, INC. (914) 769-7600 TRQ RAE BATTERIES FRAM-WIX FILTERS Sterilized Top D ressing 203-637-2958 WAGNER SEED CO., INC. (516) 293-6312 2 MAIL P.O. BOX 273 RIVERSIDE, CT. 06878 layout to challenge the golf professional as well as the weekend golfer. Characteristic of Mr. Dye’s work; pot bunkers, rolling terrain, numerous mounds, railroad ties and also incorporating stadium roughs into the existing property. Many trees were re­ moved to make way for the new designs. Nine holes are to be massively reconstructed, including eight greens and six fair­ ways. The golf course remains open for play during construc­ tion as redeveloped areas will gradually be opened for play upon completion. Funding for this project was made possible by Edge wood, local Jaycees and various lenders. All are looking forward as 1984 draws closer. — Dennis Petruzzelli Update on “S u b d u e ” S ystem ic Fungicide Our thanks to Bob Lippman o f Westchester Turf Supply for fo r­ warding this article to us. —Pat Lucas Subdue, manufactured by CIBA-GEIGY, is a systemic fun­ gicide. It controls Pythium and Phytophthora pathogens in the soil, but primarily from inside the plants, through root uptake. However, Pythium and Phytophthora, being soil-borne dis­ eases, are not as serious a resistance risk as the air-borne dis­ eases that attack some agricultural crops, and then are spread by the wind. The soil-borne pathogens of Pythium and Phytophthora do not readily move from one location to another (from one golf course or nursery to neighboring ones). This diminishes greatly the possibility of resistant strains spreading fast over wide areas. 1. Do not let disease pressure build up before applying Sub­ due. Treat with Subdue when conditions encourage the onset of Pythium or Phytophthora. Use Subdue as a preventive rather than a curative treatment. (When you see symptoms, disease populations are already high.) 2. Be diligent about all other good cultural practices. 3. it is recognized that there is potential for resistance to develop to Subdue. Therefore, it is recommended that every fourth spray to turf, or every fourth soil drench application to or­ BANOL. TAKES THE WORRY OUT OF PYTHIUM. namentals, be made with another registered fungicide. That is, use Subdue three times and then use an alternate chemical. Subdue is very disease specific. In turf it controls only Pythium species; and in ornamental plants it controls only Pythium and Phytophthora species. It is therefore important that the pathogen be identified prop­ erly. For instance, in turf the only sure way to identify Pythium is under a microscope. Other diseases can cause symptoms that look like Pythium damage. Therefore, be sure Pythium or Phytophthora is the culprit be­ fore coming to any conclusions about resistance to the product. Im portant Notice The Metropolitan Golf Association has made available for its member clubs a gratis handicap for Golf Course Superin­ tendents. Starting with this year’s MGCSA Championship, all par­ ticipants MUST have a MG A, Club, or Connecticut State Golf Handicap, or they will not be able to participate in the following Tournaments: 1983 MGCSA Individual Championship All future MGCSA Invitationals and Greens Chairman Championships. Please establish a handicap for these tournaments. — MGCSA Golf Committee S cholarship A pplications The Scholarship & Research Committee is now accepting ap­ plications for the 3rd Annual MGCSA Special Scholarships. To qualify for a scholarship, applicants must be MGCSA members or their dependents. Applications accompanied by a resume must be received by July 75, 1983. We hope to make our selec­ tions by August 15, 1983. Please mail to Michael Maffei, Back O’Beyond, Inc., Fed­ eral Hill Rd., Brewster, NY 10509. If you have any questions, contact Mike Maffei or Bob Alonzi. New systemic action BANOL Turf Fungicide works in a lowcost program of prevention to eliminate the potential turf devastation of Pythium blight. Or BANOL can be used to stop Pythium once it starts. Of course, prevention is best! BANOL has longer residual, up to 10-21 days, for less fre­ quent applications and addi­ tional savings in labor, fuel and equipment. BANOL doesn’t wash off like contact fungicides. Your irrigation program can be continued for good turf health and appearance. And BANOL is compatible in a tank mix with many other fungicides and insecticides. For more information contact: DAVID J. SYLVESTER A R E A S A L E S R E P R E S E N T A T IV E T U C O A G R IC U L T U R A L C H E M IC A L S 31 1 C A R R IA G E D R IV E , K E N S IN G T O N , C O N N E C T IC U T 0 6 0 3 7 2 0 3 /8 2 8 - 8 9 0 5 CHEMICALS SUPPLIES W H E N Y O U 'R E IN A T O U G H S P O T .. SEED FERTILIZER BOB LIPPMAN WESTCHESTER TURF SUPPLY, INC. HOME (914) 248-5790 BUSINESS (914) 277-3755 PfIRTflC TOP-DRESSING FOR QREENS THflT'LL SUIT YOUTORTEE! The Standard of Excellence in Golf Course Top-Dressing, Heat Treated, Made to the Most Modern Specifications, and pH Balanced. Also Available: High- l"ndÄcoSlSc,Ä“s for Tees & Greens. Wftttllll DISTRIBUTED IN WESTCHESTER A FAIRFIELD BY: JAMES CARRIERE & SONS/J&B TRUCKING 914-937-5479 DISTRIBUTED ON LONG ISLAND BY: JAMES MAXWELL/MAXWELL TURF, INC. 516-265-3580 The best in tu rf s u p p lie s — LESCO 100% Sulfur-C oated F ertilizers, g o lf course accessories, chem ica ls in clu d in g a highly effective pre-emergence crabgrass and poa annua control ★ Lescosan (Betasan — Registered TM of Stauffer Chemical Co.) (800) 362-7413 In Ohio Available from: Lakeshore Equipm ent & Supply Co. “ Home of LESCO Products E quipm ent E xchange For Sale: 7 Toro used fairway units. Good condition. Wanted to Buy: 5 gang set of Toro rough mowers. Contact: Pat Lucas, Innis Arden G.C. 203-637-3210 (office) or 203-637-3939 (home) LESCOSAN * (800) 321-5325 Nationwide M G C S A M em b ers’ W ives . . . For those of you who missed our last meeting announcement in Tee to Green, our past two meetings have been held at mem­ bers’ homes; the April 30 meeting at Kim Alonzi’s home for a pot luck dinner, the May 12 meeting at Mary Pat Millett’s home for a dessert and coffee get-together. Talk of future get-together sites and functions includes dinner out on the town, a night at the movies or perhaps a play, an evening learning a new craft or listening to a speaker discuss such topics as interior design, landscape architecture, antiquing, cooking gourmet style and more. We’d like to meet once a month on the evening of the sched­ uled MGCSA meetings so that we might share some common interests and get to know one another, not to mention to have lots of fun. Our May 12 meeting was devoted to selecting persons inter­ ested in assuming chairperson, secretarial and editorial respon­ sibilities and to discussing future meeting cites and plans. We also discussed ways to promote the Summer Social on June 28th and how we might help out at the annual MGCSA Family Picnic that is held each August. One of our major concerns, however, is to find a way to encourage more MGCSA members’ spouses to become involved in our meetings. We hope you will join us on July 19th for dessert and coffee and to share some ideas. (We couldn’t schedule on the regular meeting date for July.) Betty Wistrand will demonstrate how to make upholstered picture frames. If you wish to make a frame yourself you can purchase a kit at any craft store, preferably the 5" x 7" size, and bring it along with scrap fabric, fabric glue and scissors. We hope you will come . . . we would really like to see you. When: July 19 at 7:30 p.m. Where: Home of Kim Alonzi 75 Angus Road North, Greenwich, CT RS VP: Kim Alonzi — 203-531-1930 Betty Wistrand — 203-625-0319 Michele Lucas — 203-637-3939 — Pandora Wojick, Ladies Editor " 300 South Abbe, Elyria, OH 44035 For Sale: 3 used Jake fairway units with frames. $1,500. Want to Buy: Used sand trap edger. Contact: Joe Auresto, Banksville G.C. 914-234-9869 For Sale: 1975 bean sprayer. 300 gallon tank, 20 gal. min. pump with electric hose reel, 200 feet of Vi inch hose & bean spray gun, also includes 2 year old Homelite 100 gal. min. pump with suction & filler hose. $2,800.00. Contact: Tom O’Neill O ’Neill Tree Care 203-655-7865 (office) or 203-655-7865 (home) C.C. of New Canaan Meeting Birch: With birch leaf miner, Dr. Davis feels you should con­ sult a professional arborist for good pest control. Flowering cherry: Leaf spot is a common problem with the flowering cherries and again, for good disease control, Dr. Davis suggests you consult a professional arborist. Crabapple: As always, when choosing a cultivar, look for the most disease resistant type. Common to us is crabapple scab, which usually appears at about the same time as dollar spot. Benomyl would be useful as a foliar spray. Dogwood: Common pests to the dogwood are the borers in older trees. Spray the bark of the trunk in mid-May and again in mid-June with lindane. Another problem with dogwood is leaf spot, especially in cool, wet spring weather. A fungicide sprayed at bud bread and again, 10 days later, should be benefi­ cial. Firethorn: Spray for scab before berries appear with a benomyl or chlorothalonil fungicide. Hawthorn: Spray for leaf blight in the springtime just after bud break. This should help any defoliation which might occur when disease is most prominent in July and August. Hemlock: As scale has become a major pest of the hemlock, Dr. Davis recommends consulting a professional arborist for control. For effective pest control, scale must be treated in the early stages with a dormant oil spray in early spring. Maple: Salt damage is a problem for the maples, particularly the sugar maple. Oak: There appears to be a wilt fungus attacking oaks which is similar to the Dutch Elm Disease. However, this has not been seen in our area as of yet. Cankerworms can be a problem in The MGCSA was pleased to have distinguished arborist, Dr. Spencer Davis as the featured speaker at our April monthly meeting at the Country Club of New Canaan. Dr. Davis is a member of many arborist societies in the country and has re­ cently retired from Rutgers University, having taught arboricul­ ture for the past 35 years. As Dr. Davis pointed out at the top of his address, as Golf Course Superintendents, we are turf grass professionals. As he also noted, in our role as Golf Course Superintendent, “Turf Grass Professional,” when it comes to the management of trees and shrubs on our courses, we should consult a professional the arborist - when appropriate. Further in his address, Dr. Davis made some observations and recommendations for disease and pest control for various trees and shrubs. Dr. Davis used the Tree, Shrub, and Flower Pest Control Leaflet (328-1) issued by the Cooperative Exten­ sion Service of Cook College, Rutgers University as a guideline. Following are some of the recommendations which were made: Andromeda: Lacebugs seem to be a problem, but can be con­ trolled by spraying the lower surface of the leaves when the pest appears. Malathion, diazinon or carbary 1are suggested as effec­ tive. Azalea: Petal or flower blight occurs when the shrub begins to flower. One application of fungicide using a back pack blower should do the job. Ash rust: Doesn’t pay to use pesticides in this case. In most instances, there is alternate host as a contributing disease factor. 5 TORO GREENSMASTER 7 0 ' PROFFESIONAL PARKMASTER GROUNDSMASTER 72 SAND PRO WORKMASTER SPRINKLERS PVC PLASTIC PIPE PIPE FITTINGS AUTOMATIC CONTROLLERS ROGER MORHARDT JIM BURNS MARK LOPER DICK YOUNG (203) 748-4446 (203) 528-9608 products corporation spring, so an appropriate pesticide should be applied. Pachysandra: A chelated iron should be applied for iron defi­ cient yellowing leaves. Pine: When planting pine, look for disease resistant cultivars. In particular, stay away from Austrian pines, a prime target for Diplodia blight. Rhododendron: Flower blight can be a problem, but an appli­ cation of fungicide as flowers begin to bloom should help. Rose; A weekly program of insecticide and fungicide is rec­ ommended starting in late May for good pest control. Yew (Taxus): Remember that yew do not like wet feet so avoid excess soil moisture. A pertinent comment which Dr. Davis made regarding tree and shrub care was to stay away from injection systems for pest control and feedings, as there can be problems associated with this method. One other comment he made of interest was to eliminate any tree you find which has a root fungus. The disease is too rampant to control at this point. The best solution for healthy trees and shrubs, as it is in turf, is to utilize good cultural practices in a consistent manner. If you have a problem and you are not getting the results you antici­ pated from your cultural program, don’t overreact and try a radi­ cally different approach in treatment. Take a harder look at the problem and, if necessary, consult an outside professional for a second opinion. This can only hasten a solution to our problems regarding trees and shrubs, as well as turf. — Gerry Kunkel, Westchester Country Club Support Our Advertisers M G A 1983 Rules of G olf Q uiz (continued) u m m m « m ir a i C O R PO R A T IO N 1049 SOMERSET ST . SOMERSET. N J 08873 • (201)247-8000 1IIF 9IBE wetting agent For flowability buy SURF-SIDE. SURF-SIDE maintains the cor­ rect blend at 80% active ingre­ dient, flows at 35 ° F, has improved solubility, better foam control, and is the only product on the market directly related to the bulk of the published re­ search work over the past 20 years ZAP! DEFOAMER GRANULAR SURF-SIDE C O R P O R A TIO N _ 15. In stroke play, a player strikes his ball from the tee into a large area of extremely heavy rough. He finds his ball and de­ cides to play it. He swings at the ball, but does not dislodge it. He then calls the ball unplayable and decides not to drop it be­ cause the heavy rough would again leave the ball unplayable. He returns to the tee and drives again, taking the appropriate penalty. A. Player must use the options of dropping the ball. B . Player has proceeded properly. 16. A ball lands in a bunker and embeds. The player believes that the ball has been damaged on the previous shot and wishes to lift it to examine it. He announces his intention to his fellowcompetitor, lifts the ball and finds that it is not unfit for play. A. When the ball is replaced, it must be re-embedded. B . Player is not allowed to lift a ball in a hazard. C . When the ball is replaced, it is not required to be re-embedded. 17. In stroke play, a player takes a drop for an embedded ball. Before dropping, he cleans up the area where his ball will land by removing leaves, twigs and loose soil. A. Player has proceeded properly. B . Player has incurred a one-stroke penalty. C. Player has incurred a two-stroke penalty. (Answers on page 11) S u perintend ent B iography — Bob Alonzi Fairview Country Club by Dennis Petruzzelli, Assistant Superintendent, Brae Burn Country Club The June meeting of the Metropolitan Golf Course Superin­ tendents Association will be held at Fairview Country Club, Greenwich, Connecticut. The Host Superintendent is Bob Alonzi. Bom and raised, until the age of twelve, in a suburb of Rome, Italy, Bob came to America and continued his education in the Port Chester School System. In order to have some spending money, he worked as a caddie at Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich. In addition, he was offered part-time work on the grounds crew which entailed mowing their “enormous” greens on weekends. After working a number of years part time, Bob joined the grounds crew full time for two seasons. He thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors and became infatuated with working with na­ ture. To gain further knowledge in golf course management, he enrolled in Rutgers Fine Turf Management Program (today’s Short Course). Upon completion of the course a slight detour via Draft of the United States Army put a damper on immediate plans. After serving Uncle Sam, Bob accepted the Superintendent Position at Rye Golf Club in Rye. A few years later another move followed to Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich. Of his eleven years at Burning Tree three and a half were spent as General Manager-Golf Course Superintendent. Although Bob found the General Manager role quite interesting, he desired to return to his first love, working with nature and is now enjoying his fifth year as Superintendent at Fairview. “Total dedication to one’s work” was Bob’s reply when asked about the important ingredients of success, “and equally impor­ tant are education and practical work experience.” Bob finds the personal rewards achieved through accom­ plishments and change the most fascinating things about his work. “It is a wonderful feeling to see areas I have developed and modified blossom into maturity.” Many superintendents experiment with various ideas in hopes of a perfect formula. Bob has chosen to work with TUCO Chemical Company using their “TGF” and “RZ” products with urea and iron at varying rates. His projects have included reno­ vation of a number of fairways with “Round-up,” stripping fair­ ways to lessen Poa Annua population, use of growth retardants to suppress Poa Annua and toying with different sources of nit­ rogen and application at varying rates and times. To combat stress and pressure, Bob opts for seclusion and walking the golf course in an evening. He finds that playing a round of golf is extremely refreshing. What makes Bob Alonzi so happy; what makes him tick? He says it’s a positive attitude - the result of great happiness at home with his wife and children and a zest for his job. As hobbies Bob likes bowling, woodworking, a good game of poker, refurbishing old golf course equipment and - you guessed it - playing golf. Bob, his wife Kim, their three daughters and son reside in Greenwich in a house which he built himself. NOTE: I’d like to thank Bob for his time and wish him an excel­ lent season. —Dennis Petruzzelli Leaders in the field of lawn seed, chemicals, fertilizers, and golf course maintenance supplies. 24 Hour service 7 days a week. John P. Callahan Coppermine Road, Farmington, CT 06032 Telephone (203) 677-7054 Manufacturers of golf flags, flag poles, putting cups, ball washers, and personalized products for the golf course. 220 East 4th St. — Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613 Phone 319-266-2638 Quality golf course accessories made in Iowa and sold throughout the world. and t SUPPLy 6 6 ERNA AVENUE P. O. BOX 9 MILFORD. CONNECTICUT 0 6 4 6 0 TELEPHONE ( 2 0 3 ) 8 7 8 - 0 6 5 8 Soya!