Vol. 1, No. 9

Published monthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

MGCSA NEWS:
June was a busy month with several meetings with neighboring
associations. It was another good turnout at Westchester Hills.
Lonnie had the course in excellent shape. The rain held off until
all the golfers had finished. The highlight of the business meeting
was the approval by the membership of the group term life
insurance for $1000.00. Well done job by Ron Boydston, Welfare
chairman. Please if you haven’t sent in your application do so at
once. It’s already paid for. Those interested in additional term
insurance at the group rate contact Jim Morrissey.
Jim Latham was our speaker at the June meeting and gave his
usual informative talk with slides on things happening around the
country. The boys are wondering if Milorganite is being shipped
to Vietnam.
Our early June meeting was quickly followed by a joint
meeting with NJGCSA at the Suburban Golf Club. Jack Martin
had his poa paradise in excellent shape. Our MGCSA golf team
went down to defeat for the first time to the Jersey boys. Jim
Fulwider was the only one to win any points. We had a good
turnout from MGCSA. One couldn’t miss all the flowers and
shrubs by the tees and clubhouse. Jack says one man maintained
all the flowers throughout the course. Congratulations to Ray
Hansen on his recent promotion to Manager of Essex County
Country Club. It didn’t take Ray long to catch D.S.M.
Roger Harmony is taking it easy after his recent illness. He
thanks everyone for dropping him a note or call. He plans to see
us all at Bedford.
Westchester County will be in the National golf spotlight the
next few weeks with the Westchester Classic, USGA Jr. Girls
Championship along with the USGA Womens Amateur. The US
Open is coming back to Winged Foot in ’74.
We would like to welcome Andy Androsko’s new Cooperative
Extension Agent —Marty Gottlieb. Marty was a summer assistant
a few years back so I am sure many of you will remember him.
The hyperodes was again quite active in the Westchester area.
It would be good to have a little seminar on various control
methods tried in our area. The turfgrass weevil has received a lot
of publicity so certainly more people should be aware of this
problem. The recent Golfdom magazine had an article by Scott
Cameron “Getting the Bugs Out” .
EDITOR’S NOTE: “It’s a girl”

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE:
1 Toro 5 gang roughmaster (4 blade reels)
piteumatic tires w/rear rollers
complete w/roughmaster frame
Used only 1 season
Gus Powell 203-TO9-6477

July, 1970

MEETING NOTICE

Date:
Place:
Host:
Golf:
Lunch:
Business Meeting:
Cocktails:
Dinner:
Program:
Coming Events:
August 5:
August 5:
September 17:
October 15:
November:
December 12:

July 23,1970, Thursday
Bedford Golf & Tennis Club
Stanley Priest “Fireman of the Year”
12 noon “Superintendents Championship”
Grill Room
6 P.M.
7 P.M.
7:30 P.M.
Speaker: Andy Androsko, “Pesticides”
Old Oaks Golf Club
Rutgers Field Day
Silver Springs
MGCSA Invitational Golf Tournament
Scarsdale Golf Club
Host: E. Wood, 472-0174 (Tel. Change)
Apawamis
Christmas Party-Green Tree Country Club

Membership Committee:

A
A
A
A
A

We would like to welcome
Melvin B. Lucas Jr.
David Vince
Robert S. Tosh
Eugene M. Grady
Edward Consolati

the following to MGCSA:
Garden City Golf Club
Millbrook Golf & Tennis C.
Rockrimmon C.C.
Tamarack C.C.
Birchwood C.C.

B
B
B
B

Robert Osterman
Ronald Demkovich
Lynn O’Neil
Pete Bass

The Golf Club at Aspetuck
Bonnie Briar
Roi+inrr
C' C*
Hauppauge C.C.

C
C
C
C
C
C

John Wistrand
Nick Marino
William R. Somers
Leonard S. Mailloux
Joe Schnieder
George Grossman

Metro Milorganite Inc.
Ace Lawnmower Service
Somers Turf Supplies
American Bio Turf
Halco Chemical Co.
J.P. Harris Well Contractors Inc.

JOB OPENINGS:
Sunningdale Country Club
18 holes
Automatic irrigation
House available
Contact: Greens Chairman —Mr. Jim Stotter
Prestige:

Metropolitan Golf Course
45 Holes
Send Resume to:
General Manager
!2 W. 55th Street
New York, N.Y. 10019

Editorial Staff

Editor in Chief
Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff

Garry N. Crothers
Harry Nichol
Edward Horton
OFFICERS

President,
Vice President,
Secretary,
Treasurer,

John Madden, Pelham C. C.
Office PE 8-2730, Home NE 6-6662
Fred Scheyhing, Mt. Kisco C. C.
Office Mo 6-2254, Home 232-3983
Edward Horton, Winged Foot G. C.
Office OW 8-2827, Home 835-1181
A1 Tretera, Fenway G. C.
Office 472-1467, Home 327-2637
BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jim Fulwider, Century C.C.,
Dom DiMarzo, Oak Lane C.C.,
Harry Nichol, Elmwood C.C.,
Garry Crothers, Apawamis Club,
William Caputi, Hampshire C.C.,

Office 761-0400
Home WH 9-4613
Office 203-389-0850
Home 914-273-8955
Office 592-6608
Home 356-8582
Office 967-2100
Home 967-1404
Office 698-6131
Home 835-4361

Not copyrighted. I f there is good here, we want to share it with
all chapters - unless author states otherwise.

Beware of “Satchmo”

A. J. Powell, Jr., Turf Specialist
Hopefully not everyone has had a “Satchmo” visitt his turf
operation. But chances are good that “Satchmo” has appeared
but was not recognized. “Satchmo” , by my definition, is an
out-of-town peddler with a “satchel full” of “more gifts than a
gift shop” . For a minimum order of $67.00, your wife'will
receive a new pop-up toaster or knife sharpener. And along
with your pocket knife, pen and pencil set and billfold, you can
have a choice between a $17.00 briefcase or your very own
manicure set.
Think again before you bind yourself in such a deal. Why is he
so generous and your local dealer so stingy? Is he trying to steal
your business or is he only concerned about the quality of your
turf operation? O f course, all of his gifts to you and your wife
would not make you feel obligated to him on a return trip. O f
course, he would not hint around you, your boss, or laborers that
you had accepted these gifts. O f course, he would not try to
increase that minimum order on the next return trip. To be so
generous, he must be considering you as very influential among
your peers and associates.
What is your first impression of Satchmo? Suppose Satchmo
visits a golf course. Inside his satchel of gifts he also carries a 674
page notebook that describes products for the club house ranging
from salt to floor wax, products for the golf pro ranging from
kilties to marshmallow centered driving range balls, and products
for the superintendent ranging from axle grease to chelated iron.
Many of his products are similar to those you are presently using,

but without the actual label you may never recognize them. Many
of his products are “ fantastic new discoveries” packaged for your
convenience. Hopefully, he comes to you first instead of trying to
soft-sell one of your mechanics on the type of tube sealant he
needs or your boss on the very recent discovery of “Poa Out” for
complete Poa annua eradication. Very often his “bag” is
name-tossing. John Brown uses six tons per year of his liquid
mow and Pebble Run saves $20,000 annually in labor by using his
liquid sand that never needs raking.
If you have time, take a look at his products and judge their
worth yourself. Always compare his delivered cost with that of
your local dealer. Very often, Satchmo will be able to do no more
than read his company’s advertisements about the products in
question. Play the Agronomist part and question the correctness
of the advertisements. Put him on the spot, and he may never
return. Although you have been very successful with a cheaper
product, he may list 25 reasons why his product is better. Is a
free coin purse any reason to switch from a good product to one
that you are not familiar with?
Hopefully, you will feel that Satchmo is disrespectful since he
is trying to sell you a miracle product. Soil microbes or soil
enzymes boxed and ready to mix with fertilizer or water are
often sold with astounding assurance that they actually cure soil
problems of plant food availability, soil structure, and
permeability.
Another product often misrepresented is the surfactant. No
doubt, surfactants have been successful for special use situations,
but general use to solve fertility or management problems is
unfeasible. By decreasing water surface tension, surfactants have
been used to relieve puddling in depression areas, to increase
infiltration or decreases water run-off on small knolls, and to
decrease dew formation. Therefore, know your needs and buy
these materials accordingly. The percent surfactant in a material
and its residual nature should be considered when comparing
prices.
Satchmo practically always promotes liquid fertilizers. He
knows that a good turf operation has labor problems and a
pressure sprayer. He often stresses that the phosphorus in liquid
fertilizers are very soluble and therefore quickly available. Also
the liquid material offers foliar feeding and penetrates deeper into
the root zone areas. Do you believe these suggested advantages?
Concerning phosphorus availability, most granular phosphates
are in an available form when applied. However, with either a
liquid or granular phosphorus material, if there is complete
soil-phosphorus contact, usually 30% or more of the phosphorus
is fixed in unavailable forms within a short time. Experiments
conducted to date show that usually the same crop responses are
obtained with liquid and solid fertilizers when equal amounts of
nitrogen, phosphate and potash are applied.
Liquid fertilizers have helped from the labor standpoint for
many turf growers because they can be applied through a sprayer.
Many liquid fertilizers can be mixed with pesticides that are
routinely applied. The actual effectiveness of liquid fertilizers
does not differ greatly from that of granular fertilizers. Before
purchasing, compare the cost of liquid versus granular materials
that give the same amount of plant food. If the cost of the liquid
material is greater, then assess whether the extra cost is worth the
handling advantages.
Your local salesman and distributors might not appear to be
Santa Clauses, but they are interested in your turf operation.
Being, concerned is their “bread and butter” and they must give
you good service or lose your business. “Satchmo” on the other
hand, may only be interested in one or a few purchases because
his margin of profit is high and he is not required to consult with
you weekly or daily. As professional turf growers, work as closely
as possible with your local dealers. And the next time that
“Satchmo” visits your turf operation, ask him to accompany you
to the next professional turf meeting. His response might amaze
you.
Reprinted from:
The Agronomist
Univ. of Md.
April 1970
& Conn. Clippings

The following changes and additions to the By-Laws, prepared by the
By-Laws Committee and reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee
are hereby submitted and recommended to the membership for adoption:
Article II, Section 1
Paragraph 5 Class C. Commercial Member. Any individual of good
character and employed by a reputable commercial
concern, and who is sufficiently interested in our
profession to work for the benefit of the Association,
shall be eligible for Class C. or Commercial Member.
No company, corporation or commercial concern may be
represented by more than one individual.
Paragraph 6 A Class C member may not vote or hold office nor attend
the business meetings of the Association, and total
Class C membership shall not exceed one third (1/3)
of the total Class A and Class B membership.
Article III,
Section 1

Section 2

Section 4

Every applicant for Class A, Class B or Class C member­
ship shall present an application in writing on forms
provided by this Association. All applications shall
be signed by the applicant, and that applicant shall
be endorsed for membership, upon said application, by
at least two (2) regular members in good standing.
Each applicant shall have been present at at least two
social meetings prior to the consideration of his ap­
plication for membership. No non-member may attend
more than three social meetings within the period of
one year, and must be invited and accompanied by a
regular member in good standing. A "social meeting"
shall be defined as any time other than when the formal
business of the Association is transacted, during the
course of a regular or special meeting of the associ­
ation.
Membership applications shall be passed upon by the
Executive Committee and favorable or unfavorable rec­
ommendations shall be made to the membership in the
next regularly scheduled Tee To Green publication. The
same recommendations shall also be made known to the
members at the next regular or special meeting. Members
wishing to vote unfavorably on any prospective member
shall do so in writing to the Executive Committee with­
in ten days following announcement of the recommendations
of the Executive Committee at a regular or special meet­
ing of the Association. In the event that four or more
regular members in good standing choose to vote unfavor­
ably on any prospective member, the Executive Committee
shall review the application in question and announce its
findings to the membership and to the prospective member
without delay. At the next regular or special meeting
of the association, final disposition of rejected ap­
plications shall rest with a majority vote of the mem­
bership. In the event of rejected applications, re­
applications shall be made as outlined in Article III,
Section 3.
Any member who at any time shall change his status of
employment shall have his membership reviewed by the
Executive Committee for possible re-classification. All

reclassifications shall be voted upon according to pro­
visions outlined in Article III, Sections 2 and 3. Ap­
plications for reclassification shall receive priority
over new applications. The date of receipt by the sec­
retary shall determine priority.
Article V,
Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Article IX,
Section 1

Article 'x il,
Section 1

There is hereby created and constituted a Benevolent
Fund, which shall be maintained by yearly additions from
membership dues. The purpose of this fund will be to aid
a sick or distressed member or a member of his immediate
family, or provide insurance or retirement protection for
the membership. The Benevolent Fund shall be administered
jointly by the Welfare Committee chairman and the Associ­
ation Treasurer, or in their absence or disability, the
Executive Committee.
The Benevolent Fund shall be replenished in March-of each
year to the sum of $500.00 and shall be deposited in a
reputable Bank, the choice of which shall be approved by
the Executive Committee. Allocation of necessary monies
to maintain the Benevolent Fund at its prescribed level
shall be constituted at each annual meeting. Allotted
monies shall be provided by the general funds of the As­
sociation. Such allocation shall be subject to a major­
ity vote of those regular members in attendance at an
annual meeting, provided a quorum is present. If during
the course of operation in any calendar year, the fund
should be depleted to less than $300.00, it shall be im­
mediately replenished in increments of $100.00. The fol­
lowing March, it shall be replenished to the prescribed
level of $500.00.
Money allocated to the Benevolent Fund shall be used only
for benevolences herein stated, unless or until so voted
otherwise by an affirmative vote of at least three fourths
(3/4) of the total regular membership, and then only after
written notice has been given to all members at least (30)
days prior to such action.
The Executive Committee shall annually appoint a Nomina­
ting Committee which shall consist of at least three mem­
bers of the Association, and will be appointed ninety (90)
days prior to the annual meeting. Said Committee shall
prepare a nominating list of one nominee for each office
to be filled at the annual meeting, and shall present the
list to the members in writing at least thirty (30) days
prior to the meeting. In the event of unforeseen circum­
stances, such as strikes or personal tragedy, presentation
of the nominating list to the membership at the last reg­
ularly scheduled monthly meeting shall be considered as
valid notice.
Twenty (20) regular members in good standing shall con­
stitute a quorum at regular or special meetings of the
Association. Proxy votes shall be considered as valid,
provided they are in the secretary's hands prior to the
meeting. The number of members or proxies required for
the annual meeting quorum shall be one third (1/3) of
the regular members in good standing.

Damage Potential

Many trees are now defoliated due to the activity of
cankerworms. We are hopeful that a modest crop of leaves will
form enabling trees to regain some of their lost vigor. Usually
deciduous trees can be defoliated for a year or two before
permanent damage is likely. With evergreens, quite frequently one
defoliation results in severe tree damage the following winter.
Home gardeners and communities should be alert to Gypsy moth
larvae. This pest can be more of a problem than was the
cankerworm. Cankerworm is cyclical and coulc^ very well be at a
low population next year. Gypsy moth which is just building up
in many areas will likely continue until natural controls become
effective. These natural controls may be a decrease of food as the
host plants are consumed by the caterpillars, birds, small
mammals, also predators, parasites and various viruses. Gypsy
moth bulletin is available from the Agricultural Division, P.O.
Bldg., Grand St., White Plains, N.Y. 10602. Walter Androsko —
Cooperative Extension Agent.
Cankerworm Subsides —Gypsy Moth Now a Problem

Homeowners throughout Westchester are relieved at the
decline of cankerworm after several weeks of a severe leaf
defoliating activity. Cankerworms are now reaching the end of
their larval cycle. They are dropping to the ground to pupate and
will emerge this Fall and next Spring as moths to lay eggs, it is
not possible to predict the severity of the cankerworm problem
next year based upon this year’s experience. Cankerworms are
cyclical. In past years, periods of severest activity have been
followed by a dramatic decline as natural factors, predators,
parasites, and pathogens become a factor in control. It is
impossible to predict whether we have reached the peak of the
cycle although certainly this was one of the heaviest infestations
we can recall.

elevators for buildings, the modern car lift, and many other
applications of the same principle.
Early experimenters and hydraulic devices used water as the
working liquid (hence the word “hydra” - meaning water), but it
was not long until water was replaced by oil as a more practical
fluid. Water freezes and promotes rust, but oil does not.
Most early applications of hydraulics were in various types of
jacks and hoisting units where the movements were relatively
slow and piston distances short. The term “hoist oil” became
quite common, describing the fluids (of rather varying
characteristics) used in hydraulic hoists. The demands placed
upon them were fairly low, and thus almost any “non-water”
fluid would suffice.
Eventually equipment builders applied the hydraulic cylinder to
other uses such as pushing, pulling, crushing, leverage boosting,
etc., on graders, excavators, farm tractors and trucks, besides
industrial machines of all kinds. These frequently required longer
travel and snappier action and the fluids often could not take the
higher pressures and operating temperatures imposed by these
more severe services without breaking down.
In very recent years new applications have developed where
rotary motion and hammering motion have been produced by
high pressure hydraulic fluid. These are still harder on the
working liquid than the familiar cylinder-piston type of usage
where the action is just in-and-out thrust.

Gypsy Moth Pose a Threat

Gypsy moth larvae is a hairy caterpillar, slate colored body
with a double row of blue spots, followed by red spots. The
caterpillar, when mature, is from IVi to 2Vi inches long and is a
ferocious feeder. Gypsy moth has escaped notice in many areas
due to the more obvious activity of cankerworms. Gypsy moth
activity is of more concern in the localities where it is a problem
than was cankerworm. Gypsy moth prefer oaks, willows, poplars,
speckled alder, basswood, apple, gray birch, and river birch. Less
favored but eaten are cherries, elm, hickories, chestnut,
hornbeam, maples, sweet birch, paper birch, yellow birch,
sassafras, black tupelo, and larch. Older larvae will eat native
pines, spruces, white cedar and beech. The species disliked by the
larvae are black walnut, butternut, ash, catalpa, flowering
dogwood, holly, yellow poplar, locusts, sycamore, red cedar, and
balsam fir.
Gypsy moth larvae have been noted in localities throughout
Westchester. The problem may not be as extensive at this time as
was cankerworm but where it is a problem, it may be worse than
the cankerworm problem. Gypsy moth will likely continue and
increase its feeding for the next three weeks. Where the problem
is localized, it is advised that Carbaryl (Sevin) be applied. In most
cases the services of professional arborists will be necessary so
that the material can be applied throughout the large trees where
the problem exists.

A Bit About Hydraulics

by Phil Tracy
The principles of hydraulics which were discovered centuries
ago by the illustrious men of old obviously are still working
today. It was while Archimedes was taking a bath in a too-full
bath tub that he reasoned out his famous “law” which says, “A
body placed in^water is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight
of the displaced liquid.” This observation led eventually to the
building of ships of steel instead of wood, and a few other
important modern day inventions.
Then it was Pascal who discovered the principle about
enclosed hydraulic systems which developed into his law, namely,
“A pressure exerted on one part of an enclosed system is
transferred equally to all parts of that system.” This law led in
turn to the invention of the barber chair, the old style hydraulic

This valve part was corroded by acid products produced by fluid
oxidation. Such corrosion can be prevented by using a fluid that is
resistant to breakdown under prevailing working conditions.

Truly today’s hydraulically operated equipments require a
high quality working fluid. It is just as important a part of the
machine as the pump, the piston, the hose, valves and seals. It
must be as far ahead of the old type hoist oil as today’s newest
car is ahead of the horseless carriage. Many owners and operators
today still think of hydraulic oil as being the least important and
thus buy the cheapest crankcase oil (often re-refined oil which is
cheaper yet) or order from their fuel oil dealer who may fill their
can from a No. 2 fuel oil tank. How foolish to pay out thousands
for the very latest machine and then jeopardize that investment
by using the cheapest hydraulic oil for the sake of a few cents per
gallon.
The properties most important to look for in the specs of a
good hydraulic oil are: proper viscosity according to instruction
manual, high lubricity, foaming resistance, oxidation resistance,
water rejection, low-temp thickening (know as the pour point)
and freedom from chemical change. Ask your lubricant supplier
to check out these characteristics before you buy.
And speaking of change.........the importance of frequent
drainage of the entire system cannot be overemphasized. Hard
working hydraulic oils (even the best) eventually break down and
can cause extensive acid corrosion to vital parts. Depending on
individual operating conditions, naturally, it is well to keep alert
to the condition of the oil in the hydraulic system, have it tested
on a regular basis, if possible, or at least give the machine the
benefit of the doubt and make seasonal hydraulic oil changes a
normal part of your maintenance schedule. The oil is the least
expensive part of that costly machine, and the easiest to change.
Far easier and less expensive to change, certainly, than even a
minor repair or overhaul which could be avoided by better oil
changed oftener.
(For Permission To Reprint, Contact Phil Tracy)

Edward C. Horton, Secretary
145 Crotona Avenue
Harrison, New York 10528

,

£ LUCAS tm
CITY GOLF CLUB
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crrr. NY 11530

Opoi 8-5 daly; Sat. till 12 or by App’t
Call RO 9-6400
21 lodford Roarf, PloosoRtville, N.Y.

ROTAVATOR
Rem ington.

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