President's Message Special Feature Spring Update on Modern Golf Course Maintenance: MetGCSA Activities Are We Doing More Harm Than Good? U R fs Dr. C. Richard Skogley, Professor Emeritus of Plant Sciences, Makes a Strong Case for Returning to a Grass Roots Approach to Golf Course Maintenance ’d like to begin this President’s Message by welcoming everyone to the start of an all-new season. Win­ ter and, so far, the spring have been exceptionally mild. We’re entering into the season a lot sooner—and with a lot less stress—than last year. Let’s hope it continues. After all, we’re due for a good one. Many people are starting off the season in a new position. We listed 10 “Members on the Move” in the last issue of Tee to Green. In this issue, there are 11 others (see page 3), with still more on the way. Good luck to all who have made a move to better themselves, both finan­ cially and professionally. I wish you every success. I’d also like to welcome our new members—several of whom are listed on page 3—and several superintendents, who aren’t Met members yet but are new to the New York/New Jersey area. They are Bob Miller of the yet-to-becompleted Country Club of Purchase; Len Berg who has come from Chicago to Canoe Brook Country Club in Sum­ mit, NJ; and Lew Quick, who has been hired by Anglebrook Country Club in Somers, NY, in time to see this course through the planning and construction phases. Welcome and good luck to all of you. (continued on page 2) I uring my nearly 40 years as a turfgrass agronomist, I have seen radical changes in golf course maintenance methods, and many of the changes, in my opinion, have not been good agronomics. I am convinced, as I continue to visit golf courses and talk with superinten­ dents and golfers, that we have lost our perspective about the game of golf and the turf conditions necessary to play the game. I’m also convinced that somewhere in our quest for perfection—for faster greens and greener, blemish-free tees and fairways—we’ve unwittingly created a host of new maintenance challenges and, worse, hard-to-conquer turfgrass ills. To me, the solution is simple: We must back off from our current levels of maintenance. For superintendents whose practices are frequently—though not always (see page 4)—^driven by their members’ expectations, this suggestion is probably tough to swallow and even harder to imagine selling to a membership. To aid your communications, I’ve put down a few of my thoughts on our current maintenance practices—and their consequences. If nothing else, I hope they’ll help you put things in perspective for members whose demands for perfec­ tion, in the end, will cause the golf course more harm than good. Grass Growing Made Difficult not poa annua. They persisted with few During the first half of the century— problems and for good reason: These before fairway irrigation and large golf are the grasses that grow naturally in course maintenance budgets—colonial, the acidic, infertile, light-textured soils creeping, and velvet bentgrasses and of the Northeast. And because golf fine fescues were our primary species— Courses applied minimal (continued onptye 4) D Also in This Issue ( 2 ) Fund Established for Leslie Family ( ? ) Season Kicks Off With a Day at the Bay ( 3 ) National Tourney Notables and Other ( ? ) Member News (10) ( 4 ) Sherwood Moore’s Surprising Perspective on Who’s for Today’s Demand for Perfection ^ Next Stop: Bedford Golf & Tennis News From the National ReallyResponsible \ J ) Are You a Crisis Manager Handy C|ip. and. Save Sheet With Dates— and Names— to Remember President's Message (coni. 1) Spring Update on MetGCSA Activities atFairview. That’s August 2. Tony Grasso is exploring several options for our annual Family Picnic; we’ll keep you posted. And as you may know from the schedule published last month, we’ll be celebrating the holidays early this year: The Christmas Party is planned for December 2 at Metropolis. The Board of Directors, along with all their committee members, have worked very hard to provide the mem­ bership with a full slate of events this Com m ittees Hard at W ork season. Many thanks to all of you All our monthly meeting sites have been serving on the board and in the commit­ finalized. The November Business tees, and special thanks to those mem­ Meeting, which as of last issue was still bers who volunteered their club for our to-be-announced, is now scheduled for events. November 14 at Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, CT. We’ve even lined Give ’ Em a Hand up all our speakers—and though we’re Congratulations also to the Tee to Green still fine-tuning the program specifics for staff for producing a newsletter that our 1996 Winter Seminar, we’ve set the ranked runner-up in Category #1 (see date. It will be January 10. And we page 10) of the GCSAA’s recent can’t forget our Professional Turfgrass Chapter Publications Contest. We should all be proud to have a publica­ Field Day, which the committee has tion that’s recognized as one of the planned for October 17, again at Westchester Country Club. country’s best. JOE ALONZI, CGCS On the social calendar, we’re sched­ uled for another poolside Summer Social President Stari tfNrtct«* New IRS Status The IRS has finally approved our asso­ ciation’s long-awaited status as a non­ profit organization. We are now officially known as “MetGCSA.” Though you won’t see any change in the way the association operates, we’ll gain a tremendous tax advantage, because our scholarship and research fund—and similar earnings—will no longer be considered taxable income. President JOSEPH ALONZI, CGCS Westchester Country Club Vice President JOHN O'KEEFE, CGCS Preakness Hills Country Club Secretary JOHN CARLONE, CGCS Middle Bay Country Club Treasurer EARL MILLETT Ridgeway Country Club Past President TIMOTHY O'NEILL, CGCS Country Club of Darien MATT CEPLO, CGCS Rockland Country Club ANTHONY GRASSO Metropolis Country Club WILLIAM HEINTZ Hampshire Country Club DAVID MAHONEY Siwanoy Country Club TIMOTHY MOORE Knollwood Country Club DENNIS PETRUZZELLI, CGCS takeover National Golf Club DAVID P0LID0R St. Andrew’s Country Club Notable Notes JOSEPH STAHL Metro Milorganite MetGCSA Loses Member to New Jersey Shooting adly for Bob Leslie, his family— ting to know him last fall when we played golf at Shinnecock Hills in the eastern and all who knew him in the MetGCSA—Bob happened to be end of Long Island,” says Scott. “I truly enjoyed his company.” in a Montclair, NJ, post office Like all manufacturer’s reps, Bob when a thief decided to gun down him promoted his products for large usage, and four others. but he didn’t wear out his welcome by If you knew Bob Leslie, you were fortunate. Bob was a hardworking, yet overselling. That’s one of the many things about Bob that made him special. casual sales/technical rep for W.A. Cleary Chemical Corp. of Dayton, NJ. He knew his stuff, enjoyed his job, and Apawamis Superintendent Jeff Scott conveyed this to his customers. We will miss you, Bob. May you rest summed Bob up best, calling him “a regular guy. I had the pleasure of get- in peace. By now, you’ve nil received a letter requesting that you contribute to a fund established to aid the Leslies and help support the college educations of Bob’s young daughters: Jennifer, 3, and Christine, 10 months. Again, we urge you to be asgenerous as possible. Please send all checks to the MetGCSA/Bob Leslie Fund, 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, N T 10523-2819. S (2 ) Tee to Green March/April 1995 Executive Secretary INEKE PJERPOINT Tee It Cratt Staff Editors DENNIS PETRUZZELLI TIM MOORE 914 - 592-7829 914- 242-0706 Managing Editor PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Committee SCOTT APGAR BOB NIELSEN MIKE COOK TIM O'NEILL PAUL GONZALEZ BILLPERLEE PAT LUCAS STEVE RENZETTI ALTRETERA Advertising Manager DENNIS PETRUZZELLI 914 - 242-0706 Photographer DOMINIC RICHICHI TEE TO GREEN k pubimhod eight tim et i year by the Metropolitan G o t Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road, Elmeford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437 Copyright 0 1 9 9 5 Notable Notes Met Golfers Storm Leader Board in Monterey fter several years of inclement weather, we were blessed with sun­ ny skies and 80-degree temps for this year’s GCSAA Golf Champi­ onship on California’s beautiful Mon­ terey peninsula. The Met was proudly represented, with the following competitors posting winning scores: A most of whom are also MetGCSA members: • James McNally of Greenrock Corp., North Tarrytown, NY • Wayne Remo of Rock Spring Club, West Orange, NJ • Ed Walsh of Essex County Country Club, West Orange, NJ • Mark Antonacdo (NJ member) In the Third Flight (1 0.1 -1 2.7 ) category, Ed Walsh won second place gross. In the Fourth Flight (1 2.8 -1 6.5 ) category: • Dennis Flynn of Brae Bum Country Club, Purchase, NY, won first place gross • Tim Powers of Pound Ridge Golf Club, Pound Ridge, NY, won first place net Placing second in the Net Division of In the Championship Flight, Division B, John • Steve Renzetti won seventh place Carlone of Middle Bay Country Club, net the Frank Lamphier Team Competition Oceanside, NY, placed third. were MetGCSA Team #3 members: In the Fifth Flight (16.6-22.0) category: • Tim Powers of Pound Ridge Golf In the First Flight (5.8-7.8) category, Scott • Scott Stark of Fenway Golf Club, Club, Pound Ridge, NY Scarsdale, NY, won third place net Niven of The Stanwich Club, Green­ • Tim O’Neill of Country Club of wich, CT, won sixth place net. Darien, Darien, CT In the Senior II (57-64 years) category: • Steve Renzetti of Wykagyl Country • Frank Lamphier of Aspectuck Valley In the Second Flight (7 .9-10 .0 ) category: Club, New Rochelle, NY Country Club, Weston, CT, won third • Rick Schock of Wee Burn Country • Larry Pakkala of Woodway Country Club, Darien, CT, won fifth place gross place gross Club, Darien, CT Placing Third in the Net Division, were • Lcs Kennedy of Country Club of WaterCongratulations to one and all! New Jersey GCSA Team #1 members, bury, Waterbury, CT, won fifth place net Gina Gatto is a new crew member at Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY. Previous position: Superintendent, Mike Dukette, Class CS, Pro-Lawn Fallsview Resort & Hotel, Ellenville, Products, Inc., Stafford Springs, CT NY. Mike Marino, Class B, Willow Ridge Tony Girardi is the new superinten­ Country Club, Harrison, NY dent at Rockrimmon Country Club, Dave Pijncnburg, Class C, Greenacres Stamford, CT. Previous position: Assistant superintendent, Woodway Corp., West Redding, CT Country Club, Darien, CT. Scott Spiewak, Class B, Siwanoy Lcs Kennedy is the new superinten­ Country Club, Bronxville, NY dent at Country Club of Waterbury, Patrick M. Walker, Class AS, Angels Waterbury, CT. Previous position: Trace Golf Links, Sunset Beach, NC Superintendent, Oak Lane Country Club, Woodbridge, CT. Members on the Move Jim Medeiros is the new superinten­ Larry Dodge is the new superintendent dent at Wannamoisett Country Club, Rumford, RI. Previous position: at Oak Lane Country Club, WoodSuperintendent, Golf Club of Avon, bridge, CT. Previous position: Superin­ Avon, CT. tendent, Essex Fells Country Club, Essex Fells, NJ. Mike Miner is the new superintendent Scott Ferguson is the new superinten­ at Montammy Golf Club, Alpine, NJ. dent at Mahopac Golf Club, Mahopac, Previous position: Superintendent, Connecticut Golf Club, Easton, CT. NY. Previous position: Assistant superintendent, Brae Burn Country Dave Polidor is the new assistant Club, Purchase, NY. superintendent at St. Andrew’s Country New Members Club, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Previous position: Assistant superinten­ dent, Lakeover National Golf Club, Bedford Hills, NY. John Ruzsbatzky is the new superin­ tendent at Country Club of Farmington, Farmington, CT. Previous posi­ tion: Superintendent, Suburban Golf Club, Union, NJ. Gregg Stanley is the new superinten­ dent at Hudson National Golf Club, Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Previous position: Superintendent, Rockrimmon Country Club, Stamford, CT. Bob Zaletsky is the new assistant superintendent at Burning Tree Country Club, Greenwich, CT. Previ­ ous position: Second assistant, Green­ wich Country Club, Greenwich, CT. Birth Congratulations to newly hired St. Andrew’s Assistant Superintendent Dave Polidor and his wife, Carolyn, on the birth of their son, Nicholas Flynn, on January 26. Tee to Green Marcti/April 1995 ( 3) Special Feature (coni, from pg. 1) Modern Golf Course Maintenance quantities of lime, fertilizer, and water, these grasses thrived. All grasses perform best—and build healthier root systems—when soils are moist but not wet. Other, equally criti­ cal factors to the health of turf—parti­ cularly on greens—is mowing less fre­ quently and at greater heights of cut. Up until the ’70s, greens were main­ tained at a more realistic 1/4H—and mowed no more than every other day. Since the introduction of thinner bedknives, greens have been scalped below l/s " and mowed daily, which continuously wounds the plant and, just as bad, adds to root-damaging soil compaction. These practices stress even our improved bentgrass varieties. The end result: higher expenses for maintenance of weaker turf that’s more susceptible to disease. Soil management is another area where I think we fail. A good soil is dynamic— with a vast host of microorganisms present. Most of these organisms are valuable, playing a key role in organic Renowned—and Now-Retired—Superintendent Sherwood A. Moore Explains Why TV Golf May Not Be Entirely to Blame for Golfers’ Escalating Expectations I ( 4) Tee lo Green March/April 1995 D e L ea S od F arms Serving the New York area with the finest Sod and service for over 60 years FORKLIFT SERVICE Soil Af/smanagoment Who’s Really Responsible for Today’s Demand for Perfection? n many of my talks and in a few arti­ cles I’ve written, I’ve admitted to something few of you out there will want to hear: It’s that superinten­ dents, themselves, may have actually contributed to today’s demand for picture-perfect conditions. I speak from experience. I’m one of them. While at Winged Foot 35 years ago, we started mowing tees with walkbehind greens mowers—without the request of members or golfers. Back in the early ’50s, I, along with only a few others in the country, began spraying fairways for disease control. Once golfers got a taste of these practices, they expected—then de­ manded—them. The same goes for automatic irriga­ tion systems. First, we were happy with green and tee irrigation; then after World War II, fairway irrigation was a must. Today, most courses in the Met area have irrigated roughs. And if they don’t, superintendents are lobbying hard for them. Elaborate irrigation systems have become status symbols—for the superintendent and the member—who, in the scramble to keep up with the “Jones’s,” strive for golf courses that can be kept wall-to-wall green, year-round. S O D . S E E D . FE R TIL IZ E R P A V E R S . W ALLS Ironically, competing demands on our water supply may soon bring us back to where we started, with limited areas irrigated. And many of our elaborate irrigation systems will be little more than buried dollars doing no one any good. (But that’s another story.) Still another area where we, superin­ tendents, may have helped lead golfers’ expectations astray is with green speed. Again, this has turned into a competi­ tion among superintendents and then members to achieve the fastest greens on the block—or even in the country— all at the expense of quality turfgrass. One of the most positive changes to come down the pike is the breeding of turfgrasses that, among other things, are drought-, insect-, and disease-resistant. But let’s make sure we manage these properly and not go, as the late Profes­ sor Dickinson would say, “beyond the range or limits of tolerance.” There’s no doubt that superinten­ dents, as well as golfing members, should become more tolerant to imperfections. Maybe then we can return to good turf management—that doesn’t rely on so many chemicals and artificial soil mixes with all of the amendments needed. SHERWOOD A. MOORE, CGCS VACUUM COOLED SOD • BIG ROLLS GROWERS OF IMPROVED MIXTURES FESCUES & BENT GRASS Harmony Organic Fertilizers Expedite • Spyker TOPSOIL 444 Elwood Road • East Northporf, NY 11731 (516) 368-8022 • Fax: (516) 368-8032 1-800 244-7637 (BIG SODS) 1-800 344-7637 (DIG SODS) 696 Route 25A • Miller Place, NY 11764 (516) 821-1414 • Fax: (516) 821-1144 i P.O. B o x 484 O ld G r e e n w ic h , C T 06870-0484 203-869-8808 914-234-0092 matter decomposition, nutrient availabil­ ity, moisture relationships, and last but certainly not least, disease suppression. Until recent years, our greens were constructed of soil, possibly modified with sand and organic matter. These greens were “composted”—not “topdressed”—once or twice a year, usually following aerification. Composts were usually prepared on each course; some were prepared commercially. Applying this composted material no doubt rejuvenated the flora and fauna of the soil, keeping our soils alive—and well. Today, we topdress with sterile sand—even build greens with sand. I can’t picture a dynamic, complete soil environment under these conditions. I also can’t help but feel that this new, less healthy soil environment has contributed to the increased incidence of a host of soil-born diseases—i.e., root diseases, such as Pythium—that were once rare. To combat these diseases, we apply fungicides that are efficacious in the soil. But they’re probably equally effective in doing away with the soil’s desirable • Reducing the use of fungicides, which microorganisms. So we have to ask ourselves: Are we creating an imbalance might alter the quantity of soil microor­ that is only compounding our problems? ganisms, by making curative, not preventive applications • Composting rather than topdressing Getting Back to Basics to replenish the soil’s microorganisms All management practices are interre­ • Avoiding early spring fertilization and lated. If one practice isn’t sound— whether it’s mowing, fertilizing, liming, limiting summer rates, which has the aerifying, topdressing, rolling, watering, advantage of suppressing poa annua Golfers can—and will—continue to or chemical applications—it eventually enjoy the game of golf with less than diminishes the positive effect of all wall-to-wall-green perfection. After all others. It is my firm belief that to reduce our there was a time, not all that long ago, ever-increasing problems, we must adopt when that was the norm, not the exception. a more grass roots approach to golf I’m not suggesting we go back to course maintenance, focusing not on achieving picture-perfect turf, but rather golfs beginnings in Scotland, where on meeting the optimum requirements courses relied solely on Mother Nature to determine the conditions. But we of our hardiest grasses. That means: • Maintaining low to medium fertility should be striving to achieve a middle ground, one that will aid us in returning and soil pH, which allows the hardier our courses to a more natural, environ­ native grasses to thrive over the less mentally friendly—and consequently, desirable poa annua • Keeping the soil on the dry side, when healthy—state. DR. C. RICHARD SKOGLEY possible, to encourage the growth of a Professor Emeritus, Plant Sciences deeper root system and, ultimately, a University of Rhode Island healthier grass plant Tee & Green & In Between AA/hether your challenge is a dead­ available to the golf course industry— line, a tee, a green, a fairway, a rough, even a four-foot wide washed roll! or a bunker surround, we have a blend Give us a call for information about our selection of products, and our unique that fits your needs. We understand the variety of harvesting and washing techniques. problems you face because we have spent a great deal of time listening to golf course superintendents. As a result, Tee & Green Sod offers the most complete product line • Bentgrass • Bluegrass • Washed sod • Bluegrass-Ryegrass • Bluegrass-Fine Fescue -INCORPORATED - 401/789-8177 • 401/789-3895 (fax) • PO Box 418, Exeter, RI 02822 Tee to Green March/April 1995 ( 5 ) Spotlight Met Golf Season Kicks Off With a Day at the Bay he 1995 season kicked off April 27 with the Met’s first-ever Softspikes meeting held at the windswept Middle Bay Country Club in Oceanside, NY. According to our host, John Carlone, there are 35 clubs in the country that have banned metal spikes. aI feel it makes sense that we, as superintendents, try an outing with Softspikes so we all can experience the pros—and cons, if there are any. I’ve played my last 20 rounds of golf—since September of last year—with spikeless shoes with no big change in my game. The Met Tourna­ ment Committee and board were 100 percent behind my idea. Who knows, it may become a trend at future meetings. After all, Softspikes could become a superintendent’s best friend.” But that’s not the only surprise John had up his sleeve. He set up a $15,000 hole-in-one contest for the course’s challenging Hole #7—a 190-yard, par 3. Had anyone been lucky enough to make this hole-in-one, they would have shared $5,000 of the $15,000 prize with the Met’s Scholarship Fund. On the par 3 Hole #12, there was yet another prize-winning opportunity. One of the club’s pros teed off with each foursome, awarding two sleeves of balls to all who were able to land their drive on the green closer to the pin than his. T A Changed Course The Middle Bay you see today is quite different from the course that was built in 1931. In 1955, the club sold some of its land to the still-operating Oceanside High School. That meant seven new holes had to be created—numbers 7 through 13. Architect A. H. Tull was hired to construct what are now the course’s “water holes.” Then in 1970, Hal Purdy was called in to reroute and reconstruct Holes #1 through #6 to accommodate an all-new clubhouse. Several of the old greens and tees were retained—just renumbered. “The best thing about the new course,” says John, “is that we gained one par 3 and one par 5 in exchange for two par 4s, so par remained 72.” Some of the more recent changes, (¿ ) Tee to Green March/April 1995 which John has directed in his nine-year tenure at the club, include the installa­ tion of perimeter irrigation around all greens and fairway bunkers, a two-year project completed in 1993. In ’92, mounds were built around #11 fairway to give it definition and separate it from adjoining holes. Then between ’87 and ’90, the club rebuilt every bunker and constructed several new tees under the direction of Golf Course Architect Dave Posdethwait, who had promised club members that he’d “take a flat, featureless piece of land and attempt to give it some charac­ ter.” Fill was obtained by digging one new pond along the 13th hole and enlarging the ponds along Holes #2, #6, and #9. The project required 121/2 acres of sod and 750 tons of sand in addition to gravel, drain tile, etc. Newport), where he started playing golf when he was 11. He played junior and high school golf and then college golf at the University of Rhode Island (URI), against—and alongside—current tour players and Rhode Island natives Billy Andrade, Brad Faxon, and P. H. Horgan III. Originally John, too, had dreams of becoming a touring pro, but he felt he didn’t have the financial backing or sharp-skilled game. “If I could do it all over,” he says, “I would have spent more time practicing and less time partying in my teen years.” With the help of Dr. Skogley, now Professor Emeritus in URI’s Plant Sciences Department, John become increasingly interested in turf. He spent many hours working for Dr. Skogley on URI’s turf farm, while working toward a B.S. in Turf Management. In 1982, John did his placement On the Turf Track John was raised in Portsmouth, RI (near training at Westchester Country Club in Creeping Bentgrass It's outperforming some well-known competition with its dense, upright growth and attractive color! To learn more contact: • Putting Green Quality • For Use On Greens, Tees or Fairways • A Rutgers University Release m g Lofts Seed Inc. "LOFTS -J Chimney Rock Rd. Bound Brook, NJ 08805 (908) 356-8700 • (800) 526-3890 INTRODUCING NEW ADVANCED SPRAY-DRY DACONIL ULTREX FUNGICIDE • Mixes fast, won’t settle out and won’t clog nozzles. • Improved control of tough Brown patch plus equally exceptional control of 14 other major turf diseases and algal scum. • Virtually dust-free, low-foaming formulation makes handling easier. • Pours completely out of the bag, so there’s no waste or need to rinse bags before disposal. ISK BIOSCIENCES' ISK Biosciences Corporation Turf & Specialty Products Division 1523 Johnson Ferry Rd., Suite 250 Marietta, GA 30062 Always follow label directions carefully when using turf and ornamentals plant protection products. ™Trademark of ISK Biosciences Corporation. AG-A695 Rye, NY, and after graduating in 1983, he worked as an assistant superintendent at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. Two years later, John accepted his current position as superintendent at Middle Bay. Soon after becoming a superinten­ dent, John also became an active participant in the MetGCSA. He’s been on the Met board since 1986, chairing several committees and, in 1993, assuming responsibility as the Met’s secretary. John’s also been actively involved in the GCSAA. Since 1991, he’s served on the Election Committee, the Education Committee, and now the Tournament Committee. John’s also been on the speaking circuit, talking at three national conven­ tions and numerous regional confer­ ences. Most recently, he spoke on computer use in the golf course industry at the NYSTA conference in Suffem, NY, this past February. ttI feel I’ll always be part of the industry and direction in which it is going,” says John of his numerous industry involvements. A High Quality of Life John’s favorite pastime—aside from golf—is surf casting off Montauk Point, for bluefish in the summer and striped bass in October. This winter, while vacationing in Central Florida at Lake Okeechobee, John made an impressive catch: an 8-pound, 2-ounce bass. Winter is also the time John and his family enjoy skiing—mainly in Waterville Valley, NH, where he and his parents own a townhouse. Though John, like many superinten­ dents, cites “the politics” of the job as wearying, he feels his job allows him and his family a “high quality of life.” “I get to spend time with my family during the winter months,” he explains. V A L L E Y V IEW METRO MILORGANITE, INC. For a HEALTHY ADVANTAGE over SEASONAL PROBLEMS WE OFFER a WINNING LINE UP: Milorganite Emerald Isle, Ltd. • • • • Aqua&eat a, '. 1À ¥ Pana Sea Pana Seâ Plus SAND-AID THATCH-X .tJ»c Country Club * i c » l W a te r T f ® FERTILIZERS TOP DRESSINGS BIOSTIMULANTS SEED PESTICIDES GOLF COURSE ACCESSORIES Rick Apgar Scott Apgar Joe Stahl Métro Milorganite Inc. DEPEND ON US FOR FOUR SEASON SOLUTIONS (914) 666-3171 Fax (914) 666-9183 365 Adams Street, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 “Spring, summer, and fall I’m at work a lot, but I’ve been able to combat the long hours by bringing my family with me on the course summer evenings.” John and his wife, Leslie, of seven-and-ahalf years have two children—Emily, 4 x/2, and David, 2 x/2—and another on the way, due to arrive in August. Reflecting on the future, John says, “I’ll always have the burning desire to play golf at a professional level. Who knows, maybe I’ll turn pro at age 50 and get on the Senior Tour.” John has qualified for two Met Opens but never the MetGCSA Two-Ball competition— until this time. “If we didn’t qualify this year,” he says, “my partner, Tim O’Neill (CC of Darien), would have surely dumped me.” Well, John and Tim are looking for­ ward to their first round match, and everyone had a great day at the bay. SCOTT C. APGAR Metro Milorganite, Inc. WHOLESALE GREENHOUSES 229 Smithridge Rd. 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Prompt delivery Experienced in country club needs Quality plants and service We contract grow specialty plants New Guinea Inipatiens Geraniums Inipatiens Marigolds Many Other Annuals Perennials Hanging Baskets Tee to Green March/April 1995 ( j) Spotlight Superintendent/Manager Tourney at Quiet, ‘Old’ Bedford Golf & Tennis T he Met’s May 9 Superintendent/ want to tear it down; the other half Manager Tourney will be held at would like to refurbish it,” says Bob. Bedford Golf & Tennis, a sleepy “I, personally, hate the thing. It’s little club that’s been a longtime falling apart, and it’s an eyesore. I say resident of Bedford, NY. Opened in burn it.” Harsh words for a guy who’s hell­ 1891 as a lawn tennis club, it soon added a nine-hole course, becoming bent on preserving other aspects of the course—like its wildlife. Though not a Bedford Golf & Tennis in 1893. registered participant in the Audubon It wasn’t until the 1920s that the club decided to secure an additional 60 Cooperative Sanctuary Program, Bob acres and add a front nine to the course has a strong wildlife program in place. He has numerous bluebird boxes under the direction of Golf Course around the course, with “an average of Architect Devereux Emmet. The most vivid reminder of the club’s 55 to 60 fledglings per years,” he boasts. “At first, a member monitored early days is the original clubhouse, the boxes,” says Bob, “now my crew which still stands next to a pond on Hole #10. It’s now vacant and accord­ and I do the rounds.” ing to our meeting host, Superintendent Bob’s course is also home to hawks, an abundance of deer and smaller Bob Nielsen, decaying. animals and birds, and of course, the Officially on the town’s historical dreaded Canada goose. record, this building, which most Though man’s best friend is sup­ recently was used as a “snack bar” for skaters, is the source of much contro­ posed to be the dog, Bob claims that when it comes to goose control, the versy at the club. “Half the members The Golf Course Superintendent's Choice. The Bunton Triplex G reensm ow er is no ordinary reel mower. You'll know that the instant you see the clean, consistent cut it delivers on your course greens, tees, collars, and approaches. It's equipped with all the features that golf course m aintenance professionals want in a riding greensm ow er and more. ponds’ snapping turtles are far more helpful than his own chocolate lab. “The only way to get my dog to even notice those geese is to throw a tennis ball into the middle of the pond,” laments Bob. Changes and Golf Challenges In Bob’s four years as superintendent, he’s overseen several renovation projects. Last year, the club built an additional equipment storage facility and reroofed the maintenance facility. New cart paths were put in around Holes #4, #5, #6, #9, and #11, and last fall, Bob and his crew began reconstructing three men’s tees: #1, #6, and #9. By meeting time, you’ll be able to tee off from the all-new #1 and #6. Also accomplished in-house in 1992 and 1993 was the renovation of the bunkers on 10 of the course’s holes. “A lot of work,” says Bob, which no BUNTON 22" and 26" (Ì REENSMO WERS W hen it com es to greens m ainte­ nance, the Bunton 22" and 26" walkbehind greensm ow ers are rapidly becoming the industry standard. BUNTON TRIPLEX GREENSMOWER BUNTON EXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED BY Westchester Ford Tractor, Inc. Meadow St. Goldens Bridge, NY 10526 Phone #: 914-232-7746 Tee to Green March/April 1995 one would deny is an understatement. Two other changes that were Mother Nature’s doing—not Bob’s—were the felling of two grand old trees on the course. A large cottonwood—“at least 150 years old,” says Bob—snapped in half the summer o f ’92, landing to the left of the third green and forever changing the strategy of the hole. But to Bob, the loss was a blessing in dis­ guise: “With the tree gone, sunlight can reach the green, so it’s much healthier now than ever before.” That same year, no more than a month later, a tornado uprooted a 150year-old oak tree and stripped branches off surrounding trees that had protected a dog-leg left. “Mother Nature certainly helped out the short hitter,” muses Bob, “and now, good players can hug the corner a lot tighter, which makes for more birdies.” Speaking of good players, you’ll have to be an especially good shot to make par on what the pro and Bob finally agreed was the course’s signature hole: #5, a 18 8-yard, par 3. Making this hole particularly challenging are an elevated tee; a green all of 3,500 square feet, sloping severely back to front and cut into the side of a hill; and a small pot bunker protecting the front. Bob also offers fair warning about Hole #7: “This 390-yard par 4 plays 430-plus yards. It’s all uphill.” himself, and by then, his growing family, as a crew member at Bedford Golf & Tennis. As confusing as this may sound to you, it’s at least as confusing to Bob, who had trouble remembering when, in all this tangle of employment and schooling, he took a break to earn a certificate in turfgrass management from UMass’s Winter School. He finally calculated that it was in 1986, which is also the year he became the club’s assistant superintendent as well as a convert to the field of turfgrass manage­ ment. “What really clinched it for me,” says Bob, “was working for a local tax accountant one warm, sunny March day. I knew I couldn’t make a living working inside a stuffy office.” Bob worked as assistant to longtime Superintendent Terry Boles for five years, before assuming the position as superintendent in 1991. Gain (entrai control o f any existing controllers regardless of make or manufacturer. Each COPS-Universal radio field unit has up to 42 stations per field unit. Ideal for retro-fitting parks, median strips, school grounds, and golf courses. COPS-Universal lets you change any field controller into a field satellite and manage your entire sys­ tem from a central PC. COPS-Universal offers: • Communication by repeating or direct radio. (No new controllers or communi­ cation wire.) • Unlimited programs, unlimited start and run times to meet all your water manage­ ment needs. • Freedom to use valves as you choose, regardless of hard-wiring constraints. For a personal demonstration, contact: Steve Smith or J. Anderson at (203) 878-0658 [«Ml P.I.E. SUPPLY CO. PIPE & IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT SUPPLY COM PANY {B u c k n e r' Superintendent by Day, Accountant by Night This time of year, Bob is superintendent by day, accountant by night, no doubt helping put his two sons through private schools. His youngest, Matt, is a sixth grader in the local St. Patricks School, while his oldest, Bobby III, is a sopho­ more at Brunswick School in Green­ wich, where he’ll be playing varsity football. Bob and his wife of 16 years, Jane, live in Bedford about a mile from the club. “Close enough,” says Bob, “but Last Stop: A Career in Turfgrass Management Bedford Golf & Tennis has been Bob’s just far enough away.” In the village first and only stop in the golf course both he and his wife have called home industry. After graduating high school for most of their childhood, Bob has in Bedford in 1977, turfgrass manage­ been a volunteer fireman since 1979 ment was probably the farthest thing and, not surprisingly, the fire depart­ from his mind. He enrolled in SUNY, ment’s treasurer. He’s also been in­ Oneonta, where he thought he’d like to volved with St. Patricks School’s major pursue a degree in Physics. That lasted a fund-raiser—a carnival—for the past year. He left SUNY and worked three years, lending a helping hand and, numerous day jobs while pursuing first of course, managing the funds. an associate’s at Westchester Commu­ Bob’s dream for the future: taking a nity College and than a bachelor’s in lengthy trip “down under”—to Austra­ Tax Accounting from Pace University, lia, that is. which he completed in ’92. For now, “throw another shrimp on In addition to working as a plumber, the barbie,” ’cuz May 9 we’re off to landscaper, manager of a wholesale Bedford Golf & Tennis. nursery, an estate, and finally a movie SCOTT C. APGAR theater, Bob also helped support Metro Milorganite, Inc. TiimnOir ( 800 ) 243- 75821 CHOICE OF BENTGRASSES -Maintained at 5/32” and 1/4”Penncross*Providence*Pennlinks 3-Way Fairway Blend Pallets or Big Rolls Washing Service Available High Fine Fescue Mix Versatile Blue-Fescue-Rye Mix Low-Cut Blue-Rye Available Farm Inspection Welcomed Tee to Green March/April 1995 ( ? ) National Notes News From the National A Quick Take on the 1995 Elections and Gala Superintendent Reception W ho’s Who on the New GCSAA Board The February 27 GCSAA Annual Meeting closed with Gary Griggs, CGCS, the new GCSAA president. Gary of Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples, FL, succeeds Joseph Baidy, CGCS, of Acacia Country Club in Lyndhurst, OH, who will continue to serve on the board for the next year as immediate past president. Other newly elected officials were Vice President Bruce Williams, CGCS, of Bob O’Link Golf Club in Highland Park, IL, and Secretary/Treasurer Paul McGinnis, CGCS, of Union Hills Country Club in Sun City, AZ. Reelected as directors serving a twoyear term on the board are David Fearis, CGCS, of Blue Hills Country Club in Kansas City, MO; George Renault III, CGCS, of Burning Tree Club in Bethesda, MD; and Thomas Witt, CGCS, of Wynstone Golf Club in North Barrington, IL. Newly appointed to the board is Connecticut superintendents associa­ tion member and past president, Michael Wallace, CGCS, of Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury, CT. Mike will serve the remaining year of Paul McGinnis’s term as direc­ tor—a position he vacated when elected secretary/treasurer. Six Associations Sponsor ‘Super’ Reception On February 24, the MetGCSA joined five other superintendent associations— Connecticut, Hudson Valley, MidAtlantic, New Jersey, and Rhode Island—in hosting a superintendent reception in one of the San Francisco Marriott’s hotel ballrooms. For two hours, more than 300 superintendents and GCSAA board members and staff passed through the ballroom, enjoying hors d’oeuvres and the opportunity to discuss convention happenings—from election strategies to equipment displays. Business aside, this gathering provided a much-needed break from the hectic convention week schedule and an ideal opportunity to socialize with superintendents and their spouses from other areas. Woodbridge Country Club Superin­ tendent and Met member John Streeter did an impressive job orchestrating the event, which no one can deny was a huge success. That means there just may be a “next time,” for those of you who missed this year’s reception. TIM O ’NEILL, CGCS 1995 Conference Delegate Tee to Green Earns National Recognition T he Tee to Green was recognized in the GCSAA Chapter Publications Contest as a runner-up—along with GCSA of New England’s The Newsletter—in Category 1: “Publications edited and produced primarily by practicing member golf course superintendents who work as editors/publishers without pay as a service to the profession.” Work Smarts The Folly of Crisis Management n the heat of the season, it’s often tough enough to see your way through the crushing number of priorities in your cue, much less give your crew members the individual attention they need—and deserve. If this rings true for you, you’re not alone. Management consultant Ferdi­ nand Fournies, who’s counseled manag­ ers in some of the country’s leading corporations, has found that 80 percent of American managers fail to practice the hands-on management they preach. The consequence: “If you usually talk to people only when they screw up, there’s a danger they’ll start messing up just to get your attention,” he cautions. Fournies cites the example of a man­ ager who complained that one of his employees would routinely charge into his office at 11 a.m. every day to ask about a problem he could have easily handled himself. Fournies’ advice to the boss: Pay more attention to the employee. Stop by and speak with him in the morning; praise him regularly for work well done; and ask if the employee has a problem he could help him with. At the end of three weeks, the employee’s bothersome check-ins with the boss had ceased. “The problem is that too many managers have a reactive mentality,” says Fournies. “They don’t manage on a daily basis to maintain or improve performance. If you had a BMW, you’d be sure to get it serviced regularly. In business, most of us don’t think that way about our people.” Fournies adds, “Too many managers say to me, T wish people would stop bothering me and do their damned jobs.’ But they forget that sorting out subordinates’ problems is what a manager gets paid to do.” A final point: Management is largely intervention, notes Fournies—the things you do to deny people the op­ portunity to fail. If you’re on the phone, rifling through papers on your desk, or meeting with the general man­ ager, you’re technically not managing. Says Fournies: “Keep track of the minutes you actually spend with subor­ dinates; that’s the time you’re earning your managerial stripes.” I Clip-and-Save Sheet Your Complete 1995 Meeting/Event Guide March 15 Siwanoy CC Bronxville, NY Business Meeting Dave Mahoney April 27 May 9 June 12 July 17 Middle Bay CC Oceanside, NY Two-Ball Qualifier John Carlone, CGCS Bedford Golf & Tennis Bedford, NY Superintendent/Manager Tournament Bob Nielsen Fairview CC Greenwich, CT Invitational Tournament Rich March, CGCS Salem GC Association North Salem, NY Met Area Team Champ Qualifier, First Round Alumni Tournament Bob Bruce August 2 Fairview CC Summer Social Rich Marcks, CGCS August 21 M ount Kisco CC Mount Kisco, NY Poa Annual Golf Tournament Fred Scheyhin£f, CGCS Sept 12 Metropolis CC White Plains, NY Met Area Team Champ Qualifier, Final Round Tony Grasso Oct 5 Huntsville GC Shavertown, PA Met Area Team Championship Scott Schukraft Oct 10 Burning Tree CC Greenwich, CT Superintendent/Green Chairman Tournament Bill Perlee Oct 17 Westchester CC (Oct 18 is Rye, NY rain date) Professional Turfgrass Field Day Joe Alonzij CGCS Nov 14 Wee Bum CC Darien, CT Business Meeting Rick Schock Dec 2 Metropolis CC White Plains, NY Christmas Party Tony Grasso 1995 Committee Chairmen at Your Service T his is your guide to the MetGCSA’s committee chairmen. They’re here to serve the association—and you—so please feel free to contact any one of them with questions or comments. We’ve provided their numbers, below, for your convenience. Awards Tim O ’Neill, CGCS, CC of Darien 203-656-0600 Education Will Heintz, Hampshire CC 914-698-6131 Membership John Carlone, CGCS, Middle Bay CC 516-766-1838 Field Day John O’Keefe, CGCS, Preakness Hills 201-694-0260 • Matt Ceplo, CGCS, Rockland CC 914-359-5346 • Joe Stahl, Metro Inc. 914-666-3171 Communications Government Relations • Will Heintz, Hampshire CC 914-698-6131 Social and Welfare Long-Range Planning Tournament Bylaws • Tim Moore, Knollwood CC 914-592-7829 • Dennis Petruzzelli, CGCS, Lakeover National GC 914-242-0706 Tim O ’Neill, CGCS, CC of Darien 203-656-0600 Scholarship and Research John O’Keefe, CGCS, Preakness Hills CC 201-694-0260 Tony Grasso, Metropolis CC 914-949-0375 • Dave Mahoney, Siwanoy CC 914-961-8698 Tee to Green March/April 1995 < 0 PATRON DI RECTORY Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. AgrEvo USA Company David J. Sylvester 311 Carriage Dr., Kensington, CT 06037 203-828-8905 Almstead Tree Co. Inc. Kevin Wyatt 58 Beechwood Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10801 800-427-1900/914-576-0193 f t ALPINE, the CARE of TREES Excellence in Tree Care NY: 914-948-0101 NJ: 201-445-4949 CT: 203-847-1855 A1 Preston’s Garage Gary Shashinka: 203-924-1747 Massey Ferguson, Sales & Service Shelton, CT 06484 Argento & Son Inc. Turf Equipment: Parts and Service Louis Argento: 914-949-1152 1 Prospect Ave., White Plains, NY 10607 f t Atlantic Irrigation Specialists Inc. Gerald O’Hara/Ed Santalone 620 Commerce St., Thomwood, NY 10594 800-878-8873 f t Blue Ridge Peat Farms Inc. Topdressing, Peat, Humus, & Potting Soil Gene Evans 717-443-9596 f t Bruedan Corp. Mike Gcsmundo/Ron Shapiro Ez-Go & Yamaha Vehicles 800-535-1500 Ciba Turf & Ornamental Products Primo, Banner, Subdue, Pennant Mike Oleykowski NY/NJ: 609-267-8041 Steve Sears CT: 413-283-7877 f t DAF Services David A. Frechette Irrigation Specialists 203-528-7362, FAX 203-528-0051 f t Dar Par Sales Golf Course & Tennis Supplies Outdoor Furniture Dominic A. Richichi 914-946-1743, FAX 914-946-0796 ft D & S Floratine Products, Nova Tec, Flymo, Douglas Rollers, Trion Lifts Dave Basconi: 203-250-TURF DeLea Sod Farms Joel Millcr/Vmnie Sasso 444 Elwood Rd., East Northport, NY 11731 800-244-SODS/516-368-8022 f t Down To Earth All Phases of Golf Course Construction David Griffin 914-576-7693 f t Earth Works, Inc. The Soil Aerification Specialists Old Greenwich, CT 06870 203-698-0030 f t Eastern Land Management Inc. Bruce Moore Golf Course Renovation & Construction 203-924-7272 Eden Farms LLC (Wholesale Nursery) Frank Buschini/Marshall Condon 947 Stillwater Road, Stamford, CT 06902 203-325-3445, FAX 203-325-4206 Egypt Farms, Inc. Topdressing, Construction Mixes, Bunker Sand, Computerized Soil Blending White Marsh, MD 21162, 800-899-7645 (SOIL) @ Tee to Green March/April1995 Emerald Isle, Ltd. ft Bill Middleton 2153 Newport Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103 800-628-GROW/313 -662-2727 ft ft E /T Equipment Co. John Fcrrucio/Bcmie White 425 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 914-271-6126, FAX 914-271-6146 ft Feldman Brothers Inc. David Feldman/Joe Schneider Turf Maintenance Equipment 800-527-3898,203-443-3530 ft ft Fleet Pump & Service Group Donald Ticdemann 100 Calvert St., Harrison, NY 10528 914-835-3801 ft ft Glenmore Landscape Service Glenn S. Moore 98 Hackgrecn Rd., Pound Ridge, NY 10576 914-764-4348 ft ft Grass Roots Turf Products Inc. Ken Kubik P.O. Box 336, Mt. Freedom, NJ 07970 201-361-5943 ft ft Greenacres Company Irrigation Contractor 266 Newtown Tpkc., Redding, CT 06896 Dave Pijnenburg: 203-938-8618 ft Hawthorne Bros. Tree Service Inc. ft John Hawthorne/Charles Siemcrs 5 Center St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 800-235-7035 James Barrett Associates, Inc. ^ Golf Course Irrigation Design & Consulting Jim Barrett: 201-744-8237 Montclair, NJ ft ft James Carrierc & Sons, Inc. Bill and Joe Carrierc 7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573 914-937-2136 ft ft LESCO, Inc. Seed, Fertilizer, Control Products, Equipment Greg Moran: 914-331-4869 800-321-5325 ft ft Loft’s International Golf Development Division John Farrell 2202 Hangar Rd., Ste. 170, Allentown, PA 18103 201-267-8358 ft ft Metro Milorganite Inc. Rick Apgar/Scott Apgar/Joc Stahl 365 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-666-3171, FAX 914-666-9183 ft Mid Westchester Landscaping, Inc. Greg Porteus: 914-739-5800 Excavation, Blacktop, Hydrosceding, Wet Well Installations ft Mon tco/Surf- Side/Zap! Surfactants & Dcfoamers Box 404, Ambler, PA 19002 Bob Occhslc: 215-836-4992, FAX 215-836-2418 ft ft Nassau Suffolk Turf Services, Inc. Frank Marra Turf Supplies & Equipment Rentals 516-286-1052, PAGER 516-278-4766 ft Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ 07838 Jim Kelsey: 800-247-2326/908-637-4191 BUI & Joe Carricre: 914-937-2136 ft ft Pro-Lawn Products, Inc. Richard Cooke Turf & Ornamental Products 914-883-5881, FAX 914-883-5943 Rhone-Poulenc Co./CHIPCO Greg Hutch 877 Yellowbank Rd., Toms River, NJ 08753 908-929-4657 SAV-A-TREE Thomas Marino 360 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-666-8202 Shemin Nurseries Inc. Horticultural-Irrigation Supplies Jim Hespe: 203-531-7352 1081 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831 Stephen Kay, Golf Course Architects Renovation, Master Hanning, New Golf Courses 495 New Rochelle Rd., Office 2B Bronxville, NY 10708,914-699-4437 Steven Willand, Inc. Bruce Pye 23 Route 206, Augusta, NJ 07822 201-579-5656 Tec and Green Sod, Inc. Bentgrass, Fescue, Rye, Sod Blends, Washed Sod P.O. Box 418, Exeter, RI 02822 Owen Regan/David Wallace: 401-789-8177 The Cardinals, Inc. John E. Callahan 166 River Rd., Unionville, CT 06085 203-673-3699 The Scotts Company Steve DiVito: 203-723-5190 Tom Marmelstein: 516-679-1961 The Terre Company of NJ, Inc. Byron Johnson Jr. 206 Delawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014 Office: 201-473-3393 Home: 203-748-5069 TurfNct Associates, Inc. Peter L. McCormick 21 Brandywine Rd., Ski11man, NJ 08558 800-314-7929, FAX 908-359-3389 Turf Products Corp./TORO George Gorton, Irrigation/Al Tretera, Equipment P.O. Box 1200, Enfield, CT 06083 800-243-4355/203-763-3581 Turf Products Corporation Ernie Rizzio 47 Howell Rd., P.O. Box 296 Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046,201-263-1234 Valley View Wholesale Greenhouse Frank Amodio 229 Smithridgc Rd., So. Salem, NY 10590 914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050 Westchester Ford Tractor Inc John Apple/Ray Beaudry Meadow St., Goldens Bridge, NY 10526 914-232-7746 Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. Bob Lippman Sr./Bob Lippman Jr. P.O. Box 198, Lincolndale, NY 10540 Office: 914-248-7476 MobUe: 914-649-0303 White Contractors Golf Course Construction & Renovation P.O. Box 484, Old Greenwich, CT 06870-0484 James E. Morris Jr.: 203-869-8808/914-234-0092 Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Dennis DcSanctis/Chris Santopietro Rt. 17 & Terminal Rd., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 201-804-1000 f t Denotes MetGCSA member