Published by the M etropolitan G olf Course Superintendents Association President's Message Special Feature Supporting Our Strongest Assets Tim O'Neill Takes the Helm as MetGCSA President P ovember 14 marked the election o f the M etGCSA’s 20th presi­ dent, Tim O ’Neill, into office. Larry Pakkala formally turned over the reins at the Annual Meeting held at Apawamis Country Club. “ Having worked at a neighboring course for nine years, I know Tim, and I ’ve seen what he can do,” says Larry o f his successor. “ H e’s hard-working, knowledgeable, and always professional —precisely the skills we need in a presi­ dent. I have no doubt he’ll do a fabu­ lous job.” Superintendent o f Country Club o f Darien in Darien, CT, Tim has served on the MetGCSA Board o f Directors since 1984. In his climb through the chairs, he’s headed numerous commit­ tees, including the Tournament C om ­ mittee, the Membership Committee, and the Scholarship & Research Com ­ mittee. H e’s also played a consistently active role in the Christmas Raffle, Met Team Championship, and Field Day committees. Most recently, Tim’s rofessionalism and camaraderie. These words describe what I be­ lieve are two o f our association’s greatest assets. And during my term as president, I will do all I can to help preserve—and promote— the camaraderie and professionalism that clearly distinguish the MetGCSA in our industry. Our association has had a long his­ tory o f success—and successful mem­ bers, who through their professional conduct, expertise, and involvement have helped elevate our industry among the golfing community. Consider, for a moment, who we currently have among our ranks: There are the presidents o f three o f the indus­ try’s most highly regarded associations: Steve Cadenelli (Metedeconk National G olf Club, Jackson, N J) o f the GCSAA, Larry Pakkala (Woodway Country Club, Darien, CT) o f the Tri-State Research Foundation, and Mike Maffei (Back O ’Beyond, Brewster, NY) o f the New York State Turfgrass Association. We also have an impressive number o f members— too many to list here— who are honored with invitations to speak at local and national conferences and who are chosen for media inter­ views. We have Leo Feser Award winners— most recently, Ted Horton, now o f U.S. G olf Properties in Manassas, VA, and Mary Medonis o f (continued on page 4) N Tim O’Neill, CGCS, the MetGCSA's newly elected president. accepted a position on the Tri-State Research Foundation’s Executive Committee. Tim also brings three years’ service as secretary and two years as vice presi­ dent to the MetGCSA (continued on page 4) Also in This Issue ( 2 ) Seminars, Conferences, and Ski Club Outings Starting in 1992 ( 3 ) Sizing Up the MetGCSA: A Year-End Account ( J ) New Guide to Golf Course Architects ( 7 ) The MetGCSA Makes the Winner's Circle. . . Class B Outing Results ( 3 ) A Worthy Fund-Raiser. . . Member News ( 7) Super Seeks a Mechanic ü .£ 5 É i i \ £ Board of Directors New York Turf and Landscape Association Seminar: Public Relations on PesticideRelated Issues Tuesday, January 7 Alex and Henry’s Restaurant, Scarsdale, NY MetGCSA Winter Seminar Wednesday, January 8 Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY Registration begins at 8 a.m. The featured speaker is Timothy Manisalo, director of communications for DowElanco. A fee of $30 covers the seminar and dinner. To make reservations, contact Carrol Muller at 914-636-2875 or Frank Claps at 914-834-9393. Among the topics to be covered: patch disease, putting green bentgrass evaluation, risk and financial management, pond reclamation, and a variety of environmental issues. For further information, contact John Carlone at 516-766-1838. President TIMOTHY O'NEILL, CGCS Country Club of Darien Vice President JOSEPH ALONZI, CGCS Fenway Golf Club Secretary JOHN O'KEEFE, CGCS Preakness Hills Country Club Treasurer This seminar offers practical techniques for running GCSAA Seminar: Environmental Considerations in Golf Course Management an environmentally sound golf course operation. Monday-Tuesday, January 13-14 Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Cromwell, CT For further information, call the GCSAA at 800472-7878. EARLMILLETT Ridgeway Country Club Past President LAWRENCE PAKKALA, CGCS Wood way Country Club JOHN CARLONE Conference Middle Bay Country Club Professional Turf and Landscape Conference Wednesday, January 15 Westchester County Center White Plains, NY This conference will feature talks on the “care and feeding” of turf, trees, and shrubs. Among the topics to be covered: tree diseases, IPM, turf disease control with composts, and Xeroscaping. The event is sponsored by the New York Turf and Landscape Association and the Long Island Gardeners Association of Nassau County in concert with Cornell Cooperative Extension. For further information, call 914-636-2875. MATTHEW CEPLO Westchester Hills Golf Club W ILLIAM HEINTZ Hampshire Country Club MICHAEL MONGON Areola Country Club TIMOTHY MOORE Knollwood Country Club JEFFREY SCOTT Social Calendar Apawamis Club Ski Club Outings Thursday, January 9 at Jimmy Peak, MA Thursday, January 30 at Windham Mountain Thursday, February 20 at Stratton Mountain ALLAN TRETERA All those attending should meet at the main lodge at 9:30 a.m. For further information, call Jeff Scott at 914967-2100, ext. 149. Turf Products Corp. Executive Secretary JAN RUSSO Too to Green Staff Tools of the Trade Editors Guide to Golf Course Architects TIM MOORE EARL MILLETT 914 - 592-7829 914- 948-5876 Managing Editor PANDORA C. WOJICK f you’re on the lookout for a reputable golf course architect, here’s a source that may aid you in your search: the 1991 A m erican Society o f G olf Course Architects (ASGCA) Membership Directory. The 120-page directory offers valuable information on each o f its 111 Associate and Regular members from the U.S. and Canada. Among its features: a map showing the location o f ASGCA members; indi­ vidual member data, including a listing o f each architect’s professional and personal background and design philosophy and strategy. The directory also covers key points to consider when remodeling a golf course. You can receive the directory by mailing a $5 check to The American Society o f Golf Course Architects, 221 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60 6 0 1 . I Editorial Committee TONY BAVIELLO MATT CEPLO PAT LUCAS MARY MEDONIS MIKE MONGON DENNIS PETRUZZELLI Advertising Manager M A H CEPLO 914- 948-5023 Photographer DOMINIC RICHICHI TEE TO GREEN is published eight times a year. Copyright © 1991 the M etropolian G olf Course Superintendents Association. ADDRESS: P.O. B ox396, Mamamneck, NY 10543. (J ) Tee to Green November/December 1991 Notable Notes Clippings Lend a Helping Hand Met Membership Continues to Grow s you may have heard, fellow superintendent and MetGCSA member Ted Horton has a son who was badly burned in an acci­ dent on October 25. He is feeing months in the hospital and years o f rehabilitation and reconstructive surgery. Because the cost o f such care is pro­ hibitively high, several association mem­ bers have initiated a fund drive to ease the H ortons’ burden. A mailing was sent last month, de­ tailing how you might help. I f you haven’t received the notice and would like to respond to this worthwhile fund­ raising effort, you can contact either Bob Alonzi o f Winged Foot G olf Club (9 1 4 -6 9 8 -2 8 2 7 ) or Richie Marcks o f Fairview Country Club (2 0 3 -5 3 1 8 9 10). For those who would like to write to the Hortons, their mailing addresses are: A Chris Horton Brooke Army Medical Center Burn Unit - Ward 14A Fort Sam Houston, T X 7 8 2 3 4 -5 0 0 0 Mr. & Mrs. Ted Horton 715 Stadium Drive Box 1199 San Antonio, T X 7 8 2 1 2 New Members Paul Gonzalez, Class B, Brae Burn Country Club, Purchase, NY. George Gorton, Class CS, Turf Products Corp., Enfield, CT. Winston Grey, Class B, Wee Burn Country Club, Darien, CT. Ken Kubik, Class CS, Grass Roots T u rf Products, Union, NJ. Ernest Rizzio, Class C, Turf Products Corp., Mountain Lakes, NJ. Members on the Move Ted Horton, formerly o f Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY, recently accepted a position with U.S. Golf Properties in Manassas, VA. His new mailing address and phone number: 9 5 4 0 Center Street, Suite 300, Manassas, VA 2 2 1 1 0 , 7 0 3 -3 3 0 -5 3 0 0 . Births Morgan Evan to Dave and Leslie Dwinell, September 30. Dave is superintendent at St. Andrews G olf Club in Hastings, NY. Kristen to Tim and Jennifer O’Neill, October 28. Tim is superintendent at Country Club o f Darien, Darien, CT. Congratulations Speaking Engagements Five MetGCSA members spoke at the NYSTA T u rf and Grounds Exposition held November 5-8 in Rochester, NY: Steve Cadenelli o f Metedeconk National G olf Club, Jackson, N J; Mike Cook o f Alpine Tree Care, White Plains, NY; Greg Wojick o f Greenwich Country Club, Greenwich, C T ; Dr. Joseph Neal o f Cornell University; and Dr. Patricia Vittum o f the University o f Massachusetts. Pat Lucas o f Innis Arden G olf Club, Old Greenwich, C T , is scheduled to speak at the Eastern Pennsylvania Turf Conference held January 8 in the Valley Forge Convention Center, King o f Prussia, PA. His topic: “The Ins and Outs o f Deep Aerification.” Peter Rappoccio, superintendent at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridge­ field, C T, recently ran his first New York City Marathon, finishing in the top third. Way to go, Peter. You Tell Us Have you had a baby, run a marathon, won an award, changed jobs, given a speech, been interviewed by the media, or done something else that’s the least bit newsworthy? Give us the scoop. Call Social & Welfare Committee Chairman Jeff Scott (9 1 4 -9 6 7 -2 1 0 0 , ext. 149) with any notables about yourself—or a fellow member. I f you don’t tell us, who will? n 1991, MetGCSA membership rose 9 percent, from 336 to 356. H ere’s a look at how each mem­ bership category has grown, along with stats on GCSAA memberships, pesticide licenses, and certification. The 1991 Membership Committee, consisting o f Chairman John O ’Keefe (Preakness Hills C C ), Dennis Flynn (Brae Burn C C ), Byron Johnson (Terre C o.), Steve Kopach (Mountain Ridge CC) Earl Millett (Ridgeway C C), Mike Minor (Connecticut G C ), and Mike Mongon (Areola C C ), assembled the statistics. I Membership Activity During 1991, there were: • 10 new Class A members; 6 were reclassifications from Class B • 14 new Class B members • 4 new Class C members • 5 new Class AS members • 1 new Class CS member • 1 new Class D member • 1 new Class B L member • 5 new Class C L members How Many Are GCSAA Members? • 91 percent o f Class A members are also GCSAA members; that’s up 3 percent from last year. • 32 percent o f Class B members are also GCSAA members; that’s down 11 percent from last year. How Many Have Pesticide Licenses? • 94 percent o f Class A members have pesticide license numbers listed in the MetGCSA database. • 59 percent o f Class B members have pesticide license numbers listed in the MetGCSA database. Who’s Certified? • 33 percent o f Class A members are certified; that’s up 3 percent from last year! IGP C5T NOTE Due to a printer’s error, the Field Day Exhibitor insert was left out o f last issue. But never fear; it’s here— in this issue. Again, we encourage you to show these exhibitors the same support they showed us during our field day. Tee to Green November/December 1991 ( 3) Special Feature (cont. 1) Tim O'Neill Takes the Helm as MetGCSA President Silva to develop a master plan for ; helm. Serving him equally well, how­ Though working with a sole propri­ ever, is his 11 years o f experience as a etor—and solo decision maker— may be course renovations, which have in­ cluded a major drainage project and turfgrass management professional. unthinkable to some, Tim found it an extensive tee and bunker reconstruc­ Tim got his start in the business in interesting— and quite pleasant— tion. “W e’ve come a long way from a experience: “Mr. Auchincloss was Pawtucket, R I, where he was born and farm,” says Tim. raised. “When I was in junior high genuinely concerned with improving Now, Tim ’s looking toward yet school, I worked as a caddy at the the course, and as soon as he saw what I another professional challenge: the Pawtucket Country Club to earn a little could do, he was very supportive o f MetGCSA presidency. “I ’m excited spending money,” says Tim. But cad­ whatever I suggested.” Apparently, he about my new responsibility, and I look dying provided him with more than was also very involved: “I f we were forward to the challenges ahead,” says pocket change: It gave him the oppor­ digging a ditch,” Tim says, “he’d be Tim , whose plans for the association— tunity to get acquainted with— and then right there with us.” like he, himself—are nothing short o f interested in— turfgrass management. In 1986, Auchincloss sold the club ambitious (don’t miss his president’s “When I turned 1 5 , 1 started work­ to the membership, and for the first message). ing on the grounds crew at Pawtucket,” time in his career, Tim reported to a Tim and Jennifer, his wife o f four green chairman. Under the club’s explains Tim, “and by the time I grad­ uated high school, I knew I wanted new— and more conventional— commit­ years, live in Norwalk, C T , with their two children, Justin, 2 , and Kristen, to pursue a career as a golf course tee system, Tim has gotten the goborn October 28. superintendent.” ahead for some major capital improve­ T IM M O O R E Tim ’s first mentor— and source o f ments. The year the course was sold, he Knollwood Country Club inspiration— was Les Kennedy Sr., who hired noted G olf Course Architect Brian was then Pawtucket’s golf pro and superintendent. Working alongside President's Message (cont. from pg. 1) Tim was another budding turfgrass professional: the ju n ior Les Kennedy, now o f Oak Lane Country Club in Woodbridge, C T. Tim continued to work summers at Pawtucket as he pursed a B.S. in turf­ work we have cut out for us: Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY, grass management from the University for their article “Employee Safety on the • For the Tournament Committee: o f Rhode Island. When he graduated in G olf Course.” Investigating ways to keep our meetings 1979, he accepted his first position as from becoming cost prohibitive— espe­ And though I could go on, I ’ll end assistant superintendent at Greenwich cially in an economy that’s prompting with the member who is probably the Country Club, under then superinten­ budget cuts. most esteemed superintendent o f our dent Paul Caswell. • For the Government Relations Com­ time: Sherwood Moore. In 1989, “I ’m thankful to Paul, o f course, for mittee: Staying on top o f and putting Sherwood was the first superintendent his professional guidance, but also for our best foot forward in handling the to win the GCSAA’s highest honor, the encouraging me to participate in the ever-increasing number o f environmen­ Old Tom Morris Award. He also hap­ MetGCSA,” notes Tim. “The M et’s tal issues. pens to be a past president and, now, a fueled my professional development and lifetime member o f the MetGCSA. • For the Social Committee: Encourag­ offered me a lifetime o f friendships.” ing the membership’s regular participa­ After two years at Greenwich, Tim tion in our social functions. We Have Our Work Cut Out for Us moved on to his first—and current— • For the Scholarship & Research I feel fortunate to have had the oppor­ superintendent’s position at Country Committee: Deciding how to allocate tunity to work with some o f these peo­ Club o f Darien. When he started in funds earmarked for scholarship and ple as a board member for eight years— 1981, he reported to the club’s sole research. The number o f qualified and now, again, as president. But as proprietor, Edgar Auchincloss, who had much as I ’m looking forward to work­ applicants make for some tough choices. the 18-hole course built on what was ing with the same familiar faces, I ’m also • For the Communications Commit­ once his family’s estate. eager to attract new talent— to keep that tee: Continuing to produce a highDesigned by G olf Course Architect quality publication and encouraging professionalism and camaraderie going, A1 Tull, the course was completed in more members to contribute to the Tee well beyond my term as president. 1957 for an amazingly low $ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 . to Green. We have a lot o f challenges ahead— “He prides himself on being able to • For the Membership Committee: enough for the entire membership to convert the estate to a private club for take part in. So c’mon, pick up a shovel Tracking the M et’s fast-growing num­ that sum,” Tim says with a smile. and dig in. Here’s a look at some o f the ber o f members. Can you believe we Supporting Our Strongest Assets ( 4) Tee to Green November/December1991 Special Thanks to Our 1991 Professional Turfgrass Field Day Exhibitors As a special thank you to the exhibitors who helped make our field day a success, we've put together this directory sheet with their names, phone numbers, and areas of specialty. W e hope you'll save this sheet and, when the opportunity arises, show these contractors and suppliers the same support they showed us during our field day. Alpine Tree Care, Inc. Tree care service 203-847-7777 A1 Preston's Garage Massey-Ferguson tractors 203-924-1747 American Society of Irrigation Consultants Irrigation consultants 603-436-4205 Aquatrols Corp. of America Wetting agents 800-257-7797 Atlantic Irrigation Irrigation products 203-348-4884 Ciba-Geigy Corp. Manufacturer of pesticide products 201-530-4252 CM Equipment Corp. Turf equipment 516-751-8556 DeLalio Sod Farms, Inc. Sod growers 516-368-8022 DowElanco Manufacturer of pesticide products 201-376-7290 EARTH WORKS Deep aerification services 203-698-0030 Eastern Land Management Inc. Landscape contractor 800-926-GREEN Feldman Brothers Turf equipment 203-443-3530 Glenmore Landscape Service Landscape & irrigation contractor 914-764-4348 Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc. Turfgrass seed, fertilizers, chemicals, & supplies 201-361-5943 Grassroots Environmental Technologies Co. Isolite products 914-666-8467 Hoechst-Roussel Acclaim herbicide 201-569-0100 ISK-Biotech Corporation Daconil 2787 800-525-1500 JPF Distributors Pest control products 203-262-1463 L. DeLea & Sons, Inc. Sod growers 516-368-8022 Lebanon Turf Products Manufacturer of fertilizers & pesticide products 717-273-1685 LESCO, Inc. Turf equipment, fertilizers, chemicals, & supplies 800-825-3726 Lofts Seed Inc. Seed supplier 800-526-3890 Magovem Company Jacobsen, Cushman, Ryan turf equipment 203-348-8211 Metro Milorganite Inc. Turfgrass seed, fertilizers, chemicals, & supplies 914-666-3171 Mobay Corporation Manufacturer of pesticide products 800-344-2146 Monsanto Company Manufacturer of Expedite weed control product 215-871-0362 New York State Turf and Landscape Association 914-636-2975 New York State Turfgrass Association 800-873-TURF Nor-Am Chemical Company Manufacturer of pesticides 203-828-8905 O.M. Scott & Sons Fertilizer, seed 800-221-1760 Par Aide Products Company Manufacturer of tee and green supplies 612-779-9851 P.I.E. Supply Co. Buckner irrigation products 203-878-0658 Rhone Poulenc Agricultural Chemical Company Manufacturer of pesticide products 908-929-4657 Rick Apgar Sales Company Agricultural supplies 914-666-5774 Rohm and Haas Company Agricultural chemicals 716-223-6956 Roots, Inc. Root growth enhancer products 203-786-5295 SAV-A-TREE Tree care service 914-666-8202 Seacoast Labs Manufacturer of granular fertilizers & pesticides 800-522-4769 Shamrock Turf Deep aerification services 716-624-4221 Shemin Nurseries Inc. Landscape supplies 203-531-7352 Skyline Grinding Mobile grinding service 516-423-7350 Sodco, Inc. Sod cutting equipment 401-294-3100 Steven Willand, Inc. Ransomes mowing equipment 201-579-5656 Tee And Green Sod Inc. Sod producers 401-789-8177 The Terre Company of NJ, Inc. Turfgrass seed, fertilizers, chemicals, & supplies 201-473-3393 Trius, Inc. Turf equipment 516-935-2600 Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc. Sod producers 800-243-7582 Turf Products Corp. Toro irrigation and mowing equipment 203-763-3581 Turf Products Corporation of New Jersey Turfgrass seed, fertilizers, chemicals, & supplies 201-263-1234 Turf Specialists Corp. Specialized turf services 516-981-1118 Turfcon Turfgrass consultants 215-343-1319 Uni-Lock New York, Inc. Manufacturer of concrete walls and pavers 914-278-6700 United States Golf Association 201-234-2300 Westchester County Cooperative Extension County agent 914-682-3072 Westchester Ford Tractor Ford tractors and mowing equipment 914-232-7746 Westchester Turf Supply Turfgrass seed, fertilizers, chemicals, & supplies 914-248-7476 Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Turf equipment 201-471-0244 Wittenberg Distributors Inc. Bunton mowers 800-964-9000 Wood Bay Consulting Group Greens roller 403-468-4378 'M now have 11 membership classes? • For the Education Committee: Pro­ viding meaningful educational opportu­ nities for our membership— particularly at our monthly meetings. Strong Support is the Solution How well we meet these challenges will depend on your participation: your ideas, suggestions, and, ideally, full in­ volvement in one o f our 12 committees. I ’d like to thank those who have al­ ready contributed greatly to the associa­ tion— through their years o f service on the board. First, I want to thank Larry for the leadership he’s provided these past two years. The MetGCSA has benefited tremendously from his ex­ perience and enthusiasm— and will continue to profit from his guidance as past president. I ’d also like to thank those coming off the board for their hard work and dedication: Dan Breton o f Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, C T; Tony Grasso o f Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, NY; Bob Lippman o f Westchester Tu rf Supply in Lincolndale, NY; and Past President Scott Niven o f The Stanwich Club in Green­ wich, C T. New additions to the board will be Will Heintz o f Hampshire Country Club in Mamaroneck, NY; Mike Mongon o f Areola Country Club in Paramus, N J; and A1 Tretera o f Tu rf Products Corp. in Enfield, CT. With our hard-working board mem­ bers— new and old— and the involve­ ment o f our entire membership, I ’m confident we’ll enhance the fraternal atmosphere and professionalism that have come to be our hallmark. Happy Holidays to one and all, and I look forward to serving you in the coming year. T IM O ’N EILL, CGCS President / iifr ie c t t79tac^