President's Message Special Feature President’s Message . . . The Hidden Cost of Golf Carts O f it were up the USGA, no able-bodied golfer would ever take a golf cart again. In fact, the organization’s publication, G olfJournal, invites individual members to sign a pledge to never ride on a course unless absolutely required to. Enlistees—those who sign and mail in the USGA Walking Member Decla­ ration—receive a walking member golf-bag tag and the privilege o f requesting the gratis booklet “A Call to Feet: G olf Is a Walking Game,” which the USGA pub­ lished last year in conjunction with G olf Digest in support o f its walking campaign. On the cover is an illustration by well-known cartoonist Charles Schulz, an avid golfer himself, that shows the Peanuts character Charlie Brown happily pulling a manual golf cart. Inside, the booklet not only details the benefits o f walking, but also dumps on electric carts, referring to them as g o lfs “ scourge.” What follows is an eye-opening account o f golf carts’ many ill effects— drawn not only from the USGA ’s booklet, but also from a recent Wall Street Jou rn al article, “ There’s a Move Afoot to Spoil G olfs Good Ride,” which was written in support o f the U SGA ’s campaign. We hope you’ll find this piece more than a “ good read,” but rather a call to action—for your club officials who have the power to limit cart use and for all o f you who can get off your duffs and walk the courses you play, rather than ride. r should I say, First Lady’s M es­ sage? Yep, you guessed it: John’s not writing this; I am . . . me, his wife, Margaret. Pandora’s been asking for his message for weeks, but the nematodes are here and so is root pythium, hyperodes, and then there’s that huge member-guest. Perfect timing. I, on the other hand, have the summer off since my work schedule coincides with the school year, so I’m enjoying my kids and what I see o f my husband. (It still amazes me that both our children were conceived in the summer months.) Having more time on my hands than John, I thought I’d help him out by filling this space in the Tee to Green. I just hope he doesn’t think this is an “ I Love Lucy” thing for me to be doing. You know, when Desi comes home from the club and makes Lucy “ splain” to him the mess she got herself into now. And I’m not quite sure what wisdom I could share with any o f you. Al­ though, if there are spouses out there like me who read this column, we must have some stuff in common. You know, the part where they’re just working and sleeping. I’m always fond o f the times that John remembers that the kids and I are here—if he needs us. I like to think he comes home to visit during the day because he misses us, (continued on page 2) USGA Exposes the R eal Cost of G olf C arts—to the Game, the G olf Course, Club Operating Budgets, Physical Fitness I They inhibit your enjoyment of the golf course and the game. Players who ride between strokes can’t fully appreciate the quality and beauty o f the course, nor can they fully enjoy their round. G olf is a game o f rhythm, and its rhythmical character and the ability to concentrate are en­ hanced by walking. On the Senior PGA Tour where players can opt to ride golf carts, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player all choose to walk. There must be a reason. (continued on pa£fe 4) Also in This Issue (? ) Events t ^ e ^ n b ^ (3 ) Tuxedo CMWafpeaHosts Met Area Team (5 ) Area Supers Comment on Carts— and Walking as a Rule (? ) Members In the News (9 ) Met Two-Ball Teams Show No Mercy . / y j: ■' -T A '* ■ ,y . ^ President's Message (cont. 1) President’s Message . . . but I know better. It’s probably more because the bathroom at the shop is dirty and his coffee is kicking in. Or that it’s so hot he craves the air condi­ tioning. N o, the real value o f his home to him is the Weather Channel: 24 hours o f glorious weather coverage. You have to love the music on there too: great for napping. I’ve actually caught John humming some o f those ditties. Over the years I ’ve spent with John—coming close to 20 now—I’ve learned that his job is like a religion to him. He shows almost as much pride and joy in the part he plays in the scheme o f nature as he does in his children. Just about everyone I’ve met in this field feels the same way. You people are responsible for a large part o f the beauty in this world, and you take that responsibility seriously. If you’re lucky it shows in your work. If you’re even luckier, someone else will notice. It’s discipline at its best. Like the day Cal Ripkin set the record for playing the most consecutive baseball games. It’s basically getting up and going to work every day and staying until it’s done. Do other things suffer? Sure . . . some marriages and friendships do. Certainly your social life does. One release I’m glad my husband does find time for is the Met meetings, a time to commiserate with friends, play some golf, and just get away for a day . . . a change o f pace. Even though the summer sometimes seems to last forever, it’s really over in a blink o f an eye, and then winter is wonderful. It’s a time superintendents can use to recharge—and mend any relationships that may have suffered during the summer. So I guess the last bit o f advice—to superintendents and their families— from this First Lady, is to hang in there. It’s almost over—until next season, anyway! (Just cross your fingers that next month isn’t so busy for John, or we’ll have one o f the kids writing that one!) MARGARET O ’KEEFE Board of Directors President JOHN O’KEEFE, CGCS Preakness Hills Country Club Vice President EARL MILLETT Ridgeway Country Club Secretary JOHN CARLONE, CGCS Middle Bay Country Club Treasurer TIMOTHY MOORE Knollwood Country Club Past President JOSEPH ALONZI, CGCS Westchester Country Club MATTHEW CEPLO, CGCS Rockland Country Club ROBERT DEMARCO Powelton Club ANTHONY GRASSO Metropolis Country Club WILLIAM HEINTZ Hampshire Country Club DAVID MAHONEY Siwanoy Country Club DENNIS PETRUZZELLI, CGCS Lakeover National Golf Club DAVID P0LID0R St Andrew’s Country Club Upcoming Events RAY BEAUDRY Westchester Ford Tractor Executive Secretary INEKE PIERPOINT Meeting Reminders! Met Area Team Championship Qualifier, Final Round Monday, October 7 Pine Hollow CC, East Norwich, NY Host Superintendent: Gerry Kunkel Superintendent/Green Chairman Tournament Thursday, October 24 Old Westbury Golf & CC, Old Westbury, NY Host Superintendent: Phil Anderson Golf Event Met Area Team Championship Monday, October 28 Maryland Golf & CC, Belair, MD Host Superintendent: Donn Dietrich, CGCS ( 2) Tee to Green July 1996 Professional Events GCSA of New Jersey Turfgrass, Equipment, Irrigation, and Suppliers Field Day Tuesday, October 8 Rutgers University Golf Club/Stadium Complex Piscataway, NJ For further information, contact Judy Policastro at 201-379-1100. NYSTA Turf and Grounds Exposition Tuesday - Friday, November 12 - 1 5 Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, NY For further information, call 800-873-TURF. NYSTA Service School Friday - Saturday, November 22 - 23 SUNY Cobleskill, Cobleskill, NY For further information about this equipment service course for golf course mechanics, call NYSTA at 800-873-TURF or Larry Van De Valk at 518-234-5572. * Tee to Green Staff Editors DENNIS PETRUZZELLI 914-242-0706 TONY GRASSO 914-949-0375 Managing Editor PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Committee SCOTT APGAR BOB NIELSEN MIKE COOK TIM O’NEILL PAUL GONZALEZ BILL PERLEE PAT LUCAS STEVE RENZETTI TIM MOORE PAT SISK AL TRETERA Advertising Manager TONY GRASSO, 914-949-0375 TEE TO GREEN is published eight times a year by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437 Copyright © 1996 « Spotlight Met Area Team Championship Qualifier Travels to The Tuxedo Club B ringing us into the “ dog days o f summer” was the first round o f the Metropolitan Area Champion­ ships held at The Tuxedo Club in picturesque Tuxedo Park, NY. Hosting this event was the club’s golf course superintendent o f two years, Tim Garceau. A Gem in the Making Established in 1886, The Tuxedo Club was originally located in the path o f what is now the New York State Thruway—about 10 miles north o f its present location. To make way for this major thoroughfare, the club was forced to pick up stakes and move to its current site adjacent to the Sterling Forest. That was in 1955. Today, this hidden gem— a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design—plays to a Par 71 and its length is 6,693 yards from the Championship Tees. Stepping into the hub o f the club’s turf management activity—Tim ’s maintenance facility—more eye­ catching than any piece o f equipment are the rattlesnake skins mounted on the wall. Tim says that besides rattle­ snakes roaming the outer perimeter o f the course, there are black bear, which have, on a few occasions, wandered onto Tim ’s property— and into the garage o f his house, which backs up to a wooded area. In his tenure as superintendent, Tim and his longtime assistant, Chris Strehl, who came with Tim from Orange County, have undertaken many im­ provement projects, not the least o f which have been to rid the greens o f moss— ’’We’re about 95 percent there,” says Tim— and fairways o f poa, with an aggressive bentgrass renovation pro­ gram. They’re also in the thick o f restoring the course’s nearly 15 acres o f naturalized areas, which through the years, says Tim, have been overtaken by undesirable plants and weeds. Among Tim ’s other pet projects are to gradually restore all the course’s bunkers and make sorely needed drainage improvements. “ There’s a lot o f rock on this course,” says Tim. “ So much, in fact, that we’ve seen quite a few pieces o f aerification equipment leave here in pieces.” Smoothing the way for these—and other—maintenance activities are Tim’s two greens chairmen, Pat Madarano and Jay Mottola, executive director o f the MGA, who Tim praises as “very supportive and knowledgeable.” Equally committed to his own staff, Tim says he believes in a well trained, involved crew who knows precisely what needs to be done—and why. “ My guys have a great sense o f pride and look to each other for the motivation needed to do the best job possible,” says Tim. The Road to Tuxedo Accepting the position at The Tuxedo Club the winter o f ’94, Tim took a somewhat circuitous route into turfgrass management. credentials with some tournament experience. He accepted another assistant’s position—this time back East at Ridgewood Country Club under then superintendent Ed Walsh. “ I signed on just in time to work the 1990 U.S. Senior’s Open that the club was hosting,” remembers Tim. “ Helping prep for a major tourna­ ment was an excellent experience,” he continues. “And working under Ed really helped prepare me to be a superintendent.” Tim’s first superintendent’s position came in the winter o f 1992, when he landed the post at Orange County G olf Club near Middletown, NY. “At Orange,” says Tim, “ there was more hands-on management. I had to learn to do more with less than I had been accustomed to at the other clubs I ’d worked for. It really helped me round out my experience.” Professional— and Personal— Pursuits “ The MetGCSAis a first-class organization. It’s well run and has its priorities in the right place. ’’ Born and raised in Wood-Ridge, N J, he worked his way through Bergen Community College, earning an associate’s in business management in 1979. He continued his schooling at Colorado State University, completing a bachelor’s in Landscape Management in 1981. His first job out o f school was as a horticulturist for Chemlawn, where he was promoted to manager o f the lawn care division. Four years after his promotion, Tim decided it was time for a change and opted to pursue work in an area that, after college, had become a strong interest: golf. He landed an assistant’s job at Plum Creek G olf and Country Club in Castle Rock, CO , where he stayed for two years before looking to beef up his Today, in addition to managing the golf course at Tuxedo, Tim sits on the Board o f Directors o f the Hudson Valley G olf Course Superintendents Association and represents them on the board o f the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation. Tim is also a member o f GCSAA— hoping to become certified this coming year—and the MetGCSA, which he touts as a first-class organization. “ The Met is well run and has its priorities in the right place,” says Tim, who cites the scholarship program as an excellent example o f how Met members support one another and their families. A family man, himself, Tim enjoys spending time with his wife o f 10 years, Mariane, and two children: Austin, 6, and Sarah, 4. Among Tim’s favorite pastimes are cross-country skiing, softball, camping, rock climbing, hiking—and, o f course, a good game o f golf, which you all no doubt enjoyed at The Tuxedo Club on August 5. M ICH A EL H. C O O K JR. ALPINE, the Care o f Trees Tee to Green July 1996 ( 3 ) Special Feature (cont. 1) The Hidden Cost of Golf Carts Far less turf-destroying compaction. And fewer unrepaired ball marks on greens, a less obvious consequence o f They beg for cart paths. The paved paths that courses build to accommodate golf golf carts. If this last one sounds farfetched, carts intrude on the game’s pastoral consider this: A player hits the ball to beauty and bring to mind the asphalt the green. The ball touches down on jungle we come to the golf course to the front o f the green and rolls to the escape. No great course, with the middle where the pin is located. The exception o f Pebble Beach, has a com­ player then drives the cart to either the plete network o f paved cart paths. And left or right side o f the green and sinks a with good reason. Can you imagine Augusta National with a river o f concrete putt, never walking back to the front o f the green to repair the mark the ball along each hole? made initially. In addition to detracting from a course’s natural beauty, they deflect balls They’re not the economic boon they’re into places they ordinarily would not purported to be. Most clubs consider golf have gone and can create Rules o f G olf carts an economic necessity, but how problems. And though strict use o f paths will eliminate the wear on a course, many really sit down and add up the real costs o f operating carts? you end up, as we just mentioned, with First, there’s the cost o f keeping a another problem: slowed play. They bog down play. Carts slow play if they fleet o f carts: the purchase or lease price, carry more than one player each or are maintenance, labor costs (salary, insur­ They’re damaging to the turf. Think about confined to paths. In fact, a recent ance, possibly pension) o f employees how much better your course would be USGA Pace Rating Survey shows that it if carts weren’t allowed. There’d be no who handle the carts, fuel, a building to takes more time to play a round o f golf house the carts, the construction and unsightly tire tracks running across the riding a cart restricted to paths than it repair o f cart paths, and the purchase o f turf. Fewer worn and damaged areas. They strip the sport of any fitness benefits. does to hoof it across the course. Because the lion’s share o f golfers now ride rather than walk their courses, whatever fitness benefit the game used to provide has ceased to exist. “ The cartbound golfer might just as well be home on the sofa, watching the pros play on TV,” writes the Wall Street Jou rn al article author Frederick Klein. “A full-sized course measures about 3^2 miles. That’s a good walk if done briskly,” notes Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the head o f the Cooper Clinic Sc Aerobics Center, a fitness, sports-medicine and medical-research complex in Dallas, TX. In an interview with Wall Street Jo u rn al’s Klein, he further endorses walking versus riding by saying, “ The better and faster golfers play a round on foot, the more they’ll benefit physically.” Tee & Green & In Between VVhether your challenge is a dead­ available to the golf course industry- line, a tee, a green, a fairway, a rough, or a bunker surround, we have a blend even a four-foot wide washed roll! 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 • Bentgrass result, Tee • Bluegrass-Ryegrass & Green Sod offers the • Bluegrass • Washed sod • Bluegrass-Fine Fescue most complete product line G 111NS0D —I ncorporated 401/789-8177 • 401/789-3895 (fax) • PO Box 418, Exeter, RI 02822 (4 ) Tee to Green July 1996 stakes, ropes, and signs. Some courses also buy insurance against theft and casualty. Another large drain on club coffers are golf course maintenance costs related specifically to cart damage. Additional seed, fertilizer, and soil are required to repair cart-worn areas; aerification is required to relieve compaction on green approaches where carts cross. Com ­ pacted areas are generally also more prone to weeds and, therefore, may require extra— and costly—chemical applications. Another common conse­ quence o f compaction: less water needs to be applied more frequently, adding not only to irrigation costs, but also labor costs since hand watering is frequently required. Then there are the labor costs involved in managing cart traffic. Those stakes, ropes, and signs must be moved every time fairways and areas surround­ ing greens and tees are mowed—or when wet weather dictates that the stakes, ropes, and signs be moved to redirect traffic. It’s interesting that in other countries where golf is extremely popular that game survives without income from carts. Take Scotland for instance: There might well be fewer carts in the entire Supers Comment on Their Clubs’ Cart Policies—and Walking as a Rule Joe Alonzi, CGCS, Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY walk—particularly the early morning players. But we really almost encourage “ I think the U SGA walking program has carts, here, by equipping them with merit and could work. I, myself, like to things like windshields and shields for walk. And we have a fair share o f your bags, which make playing comfort­ members who walk—even on our West able in inclement weather. Course, which has a lot o f steep hills. “ But then, we’re not alone. In many I’m convinced that if you could get parts o f the country you can’t play golf people to walk here, you could get them without a cart. The intent is to speed to walk anywhere. up play. But if you’ve got cart paths, “At Westchester, anyone taking a cart you actually slow the game down. And still has to take a caddie. We have more people do almost as much walking in than 100 caddies for both courses. I that situation since they’ve got to chase suppose to really encourage walking, the balls they hit on the opposite side o f though, clubs would have to provide the fairway from where the cart is added incentive, like making it more parked. expensive to take a cart or limiting carts “ I enjoy walking, but I’m not crazy to people with medical problems. about pulling or carrying my bag— “ The problem is, few clubs are willing particularly after a 12-hour workday. to see the expense side o f carts. All they I’ll admit it: On those days, what I’d see is the bottom line.” really rather do is grab a cart and go .” Tim Moore, Knollwood Country Club, Elmsford, NY Tim O’Neill, CGCS, Country Club of Darien, Darien, CT “ The USGA ’s campaign is a nice effort, but unfortunately, carts have become part o f the game. And let’s face it, some courses aren’t conducive to walking. “At Knollwood, we have 55 caddies, and a good number o f members do “At our club, we have about 60 carts and a relatively small pool o f caddies. We rely a lot on high school and college kids during the summer months. That means in April, May, September, and October, when we Still (continued on page 6) country than there are at one American resort; yet, the golf courses there aren’t on the verge o f closing down. Is it any wonder that playing golf in Scotland is more enjoyable and less expensive? They’re dangerous. There are many accidents each year, where those riding golf carts are severely—or fatally— injured. They cost caddies their jobs. . . . and golfers the benefit o f a player-caddie relation­ ship. This is a unique alliance in sports that shouldn’t be abandoned. After all, a player’s caddie is the only one who may give the golfer advice. (How many golf carts can help you read greens?) And having a caddie allows a player to concentrate more on golf by tending to the housekeeping chores o f raking bunkers and replacing divots. The results o f the USGA ’s year-long “ Call to Feet” effort might sound disappointing—to date, only 8,000 o f the U SGA ’s 650,000 members have enrolled—yet John Morrissett, the official in charge o f the program, is not daunted. “ Most o f the people we’ve heard from are very supportive o f our program,” he says. “And those who aren’t—some club owners and pros have called accusing us o f trying to take money out o f their pockets— I think have misunderstood the program’s intent. We’re not seeking to have carts banned. We’re just trying to see to it that players never be forced to ride. In the end, that’s all we can realistically hope for.” End Note If you’re interested in becoming a USGA Walking Member or finding out more about the Walking Member program, send your queries to: Walking Program, United States G olf Association, P.O. Box 708, Far Hills, N J 07931-0708. To receive a copy o f the booklet “A Call to Feet: G olf Is a Walking Game,” send a self-addressed, stamped letter­ sized envelope to the same address. Tee to Green July 1996 ( 5 ) Special Feature (cont. from pg. 5 ) Supers Comment on Their Clubs’ Cart Policies—and Walking as a Rule get a good amount o f play, we have few caddies to accompany those who might like to walk but don’t want to carry their own bag. “ I f a club wants to encourage walking, I feel it has to be committed to a strong caddie program. It’s probably also a good idea to raise the price o f carts. Here, golf carts are cheaper than taking a caddie, so there’s no real incentive to walk rather than ride. “ Unfortunately, carts do a lot o f damage to the course and require a lot o f extra labor. When you add up all the costs, clubs probably don’t generate anywhere near the revenue they think they do from cart fees. “We all know areas o f the course that get a lot o f cart traffic show signs o f wear-and-tear and suffer from compaction. These high-traffic areas also tend to wilt more easily when it’s hot, requiring a lot o f extra attention and labor-intensive hand watering. Then, too, there’s the time-consuming process o f putting up and taking down ropes and stakes needed to contain cart traffic. But few people recognize all this. “At the risk o f slowing up play a bit, I wish my club were more committed to cart paths— to spare the course, particularly during wet weather. Either that or invent a cart that will do for the course what Softspikes has done for our greens.” Bob Alonzi, CGCS, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY “Winged Foot is already practicing what the USGA program preaches: We are strictly a walking course. Members can take carts for medical reasons only, but when a cart is required, so is a caddie. We have a strong caddie force o f 120, but we’re fortunate: Being centrally located makes the club easily accessible to caddies. “ I advocate a no-cart policy prima­ rily because o f the damage carts cause. They’re particularly bad for old courses like Winged Foot, which was built before carts were introduced in the ’50s and, therefore, wasn’t designed to (6 ) Tee to Green July 1996 accommodate them. “ In my opinion, if carts are allowed, cart paths must be provided. Usually, members aren’t aware o f the damage golf courses suffer from carts, and it is difficult to communicate that carts cause compaction, which, in turn, causes a host o f other turf problems. “Although the U SGA ’s walking campaign will have some impact, most golfers will continue to ride because o f comfort. If clubs make it mandatory to take a caddie with a cart, I believe it will help to encourage walking.” Tony Grasso, Metropolis Country Club, White Plains, NY “ Everyone is under the impression that all the revenue carts generate is pure profit. But if people stopped to con­ sider all the money spent to accommo­ date carts, they might think differently. For instance, in ’86, Metropolis built a large cart building for nearly $100,000. Each o f our 60 carts costs about $4,500 a piece. Then there’s the electricity to charge them, and the salaries o f the three guys in the cart building required to manage and maintain them. “ On the course, we have some Macadam paths, which were expensive to construct and now to maintain. We put in artificial surfaces around the tee boxes to spare these areas from compac­ tion. Then there are the ornamental plantings we put in—and now have to maintain—to keep carts in certain areas. “ Even with all that, we still get a lot o f cart damage—worn and compacted areas around tees, greens, at the ends o f cart paths. All this takes time and money to repair. “We do discourage carts, and I’d say 90 percent o f our younger members take caddies and walk. Most o f our senior members will take carts—and those who come in after 4 p.m., when no one’s on the course, and want to get in a quick 18. “ I think the U SGA ’s walking pro­ gram is a great idea. Walking is the only way to play golf. 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Working toward certification since 1991, Westchester is only the third in New York and the 74th course in the nation to receive the honor. “Westchester Country Club has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property,” says Maria Briggs, staff ecologist for the Audubon Society o f New York. “ To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree o f environmental quality in a number o f areas,” explains Briggs. These categories include: Environmental Planning, Wildlife & Habitat Manage­ ment, Public Involvement, Integrated Pest Management, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management. “We are proud to have reached this status and look forward to maintain­ ing—and further enhancing—our Audubon program,” says Westchester Superintendent and MetGCSA Past President Joe Alonzi. Good work, Joe! Congratulations on Two Counts! Steve Renzetti, o f Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY, has doubly good news: He was recently designated a Certified G olf Course Superintendent by the GCSAA. And he and his wife, Angela, recently had a baby boy. Austin William was born July 15. Congratulations on both counts, Steve! SOD • SEED • FERTILIZER PAVERS • WALLS 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 VACUUM COOLED SOD • BIG ROLLS GROWERS OF IMPROVED BLUEGRASS BLENDS MIXTURES FESCUES i BENT GRASS Harmony Organic Fertilizers Expedite • Spyker TOPSOIL 444 Elwood Road • East Northporf, NY 11731 (516) 368-8022 • Fax: (516) 368-80 3 2 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 C om paction? P oor D rainage? P oor Grow th? The Problem lies in the soil. The Answer lies with Earthworks. Ponds/Lakes The Deep Aerification Specialists. Serving the Northeast since 1988. * Verti-Drain Deep Tine * Floyd/McKay Deep Drill * Floyd/McKay “Drill & Fill” EARTH WORKS, INC. ( 2 0 3 ) 6 9 8 - 0 0 3 0 or 1 - 8 0 0 - 8 1 5 - 1 1 1 3 Patrick Lucas, CGCS Erik A. Zars (Ï) Tee to Green July 1996 Asphalt PO. Box 484 Old Greenwich, CT 06870-0484 203-869-8808 914-234-0092 Scorecard Met Two-Ball Teams Show Little Mercy D OWN TO la n d s c a p i n g A fter two seasons o f friendly camaraderie and close matches, the MetGCSA Two-Ball Championship has turned into a competition o f brutality. A strong majority o f the matches have been won by a wide margin. Little respect has been given to defending champions and teams o f stature. Bob DeMarco o f the Powelton Club and Gary Arlio o f North Jersey Country Club is our first finals team. Tim Garceau o f The Tuxedo Club and Ernie Steinhofer o f The Nevele Hotel & Country Club will face off with The Stanwich Club’s Scott Niven and Woodway Country Club’s Larry Pakkala to determine the other finalist. Here’s a recap o f the slaughtering: Round One • Gary Arlio, North Jersey CC, and Bob DeMarco, Powelton Club, clipped our defending champions Jim McNally, Greenrock Corp., and Wayne Remo, Rock Spring Club, after 19 holes. While a tough match, the M cNally/Remo team cruised to last year’s finals. • Bob Alonzi, Winged Foot GC, and Joe Alonzi, Westchester CC, had the “ tag team” brother act working in their whipping o f Ron Demkovich, Westchester County GC, and Tony Savone, Q uaker Ridge GC, 4 & 2 • Tim M oore, Knollwood CC, and Todd Polidor, H eritage H ills CC, simply had too much experience and knowledge o f the local conditions and customs o f Bedford, thereby destroying the rookie team o f Jim Calladio, Milbrook Club, and Tony Girardi, Rockrimmon CC, 5 & 3 • Dave Mahoney, Siwanoy CC, and Dennis Petruzzelli, Lakeover N ational GC, birdie blitzed their way to a 7 & 6 victory over Dom DiMarzo, Sunningdale CC, and Fred Scheyhing, Mount Kisco CC. • Scott Niven, The Stanwich Club, and Larry Pakkala, Woodway CC, buoyed by Scott’s 71 and Larry’s final birdie, steamrolled Joe Camberato, Sleepy Hollow CC, and Bob Nielsen, Bedford G olf & Tennis, 9 Sc 7. • Dennis Flynn, Brae Burn CC, and Peter Rappoccio, Silver Spring CC, had little trouble with the strong gross team o f Peter Bly, Brooklawn CC, and John Gallagher, Race brook CC, 4 & 3. • Tim Garceau, The Tuxedo Club, and Ernie Steinhofer, The Nevele Hotel & CC, quickly disposed o f the snake-bit team o f John Carlone, Middle Bay CC, and Tim O ’Neill, C C o f Darien, 4 & 3. • Tony Grasso, Metropolis CC, and Greg Wojick, Greenwich CC, defeated Steve Renzetti, Wykagyl CC, and Scott Tretera, Elmwood CC, 3 & 2 in one o f the few back-and-forth matches. & g o lf c o u rs e c o n s t r u c t io n G reens, tees a n d bunk er s E xcavation o f all ty pes P o n d s / lakes D rainage S to n e w alls / M a s o n r y A sphalt /C ar paths , e t c . The Quarter Finals The onslaught continued with the following outcomes: • Bob DeMarco and Gary Arlio showed no respect in destroying Bob and Joe Alonzi 6 & 4. This swaggering team then had the brashness to fax all o f Westchester, proclaiming their victory. • Dave Mahoney and Dennis Petruzzelli set up Tim Moore and Todd Polidor on a very tough and “ dry” Stanwich course, dispelling them 4 & 2. • Scott Niven and Larry Pakkala cooled off slightly in their 3 & 2 victory over Dennis Flynn and Peter Rappoccio. • Tim Garceau and Ernie Steinhofer continued their blitz in a 4 & 3 win over Tony Grasso and Greg Wojick. In the first semi-final match, Bob DeMarco and Gary Arlio didn’t lose a hole and destroyed Dave Mahoney and Dennis Petruzzelli 6 & 4. Had it been a boxing match, it would have been called a TKO at the turn. It appears the gloves have been taken off in this year’s two-ball matches. Some interesting notes are that two o f the three teams remaining qualified in the 14th and 15th seed. They also have a strong Hudson Valley flavor. Inquiries are being made! DAVE MAHONEY Siwanoy Country Club C o n ta c t D a vid G riffin P.O. B o x 719 H a rris o n , N .Y 1 0 5 2 8 Tel 9 1 4 .5 7 6 .7 6 9 3 Fax 91 4.576.4106 METRO MILORGANITE, INC. For a HEALTHY ADVANTAGE over SEASONAL PROBLEMS WE OFFER a WINNING LINE-UP E m erald Isle. Ltd. $ A EGYPT FARMS Sentinel MsdSff WHlTt MARSH. MO The SECC» Andersons GOLF COURSE SUPPLIES Rick Apgar Scott Apgar Joe Stahl (914) 666-3171 Fax (914) 666-9183 365 Adams Street. Bedford Hills, NY 10507 DEPEND ON US FOR FOUR SEASON SOLUTIONS Tee to Green July 1996 ( jf ) PATRON DI RECTORY Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. ft AgrEvo U SA Company David J. Sylvester 311 Carriage Dr., Kensington, CT 06037 860-828-8905 f t Emerald Isle, Ltd. Almstead Tree Co. Inc. Kevin Wyatt 58 Beechwood Ave., New Rochelle, NY 10801 800-427-1900/914-576-0193 f t E /T Equipment Co. A LP IN E, the CARE o f TR E E S Excellence in Tree Care NY: 914-948-0101 NJ: 201-445-4949 CT: 203-847-1855 f t Fleet Pump & Service Group A1 Preston’s Garage Gary Shashinka Massey Ferguson Tractors 203-924-1747 f t Glenmore Landscape Service Argento & Son Inc. f t Grass Roots Inc. ft ft TBS Maintenance and Improvement James Barrett Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 99 150 Main St., Ogdensburg, NJ 07439 John Farrell: 201-209-0088 Jim Barrett P.O. Box 853, Montclair, N J 07042 201-744-8237 Tony Bettino: 914-949-3362 Black Top, Stone Work, Landscaping, Excavation 102 Fulton St., White Plains, NY 10606 f t Tee and Green Sod f t James Carriere & Sons, Inc. Bruedan Corp. f t The Cardinals, Inc. f t LESCO, Inc. f t The Scotts Company Long Island Compost Corp. David A. Frechette Flowtronics PSI Pumping Stations 203-528-7362 Jeff Frank Screened Compost, Blackgold Divot Mix, Topsoil 516-878-0652 Dar Par Sales f t Metro Milorganite Inc. D&S Montco/Surf-Side/Zap! Defoamer Floratine Products, Nova Tee, Flymo, Douglas Rollers, Trion Lifts Dave Basconi: 203-250-TURF Bob Oechsle/Tom Hunter Box 404, Ambler, PA 19002 800-401-0411 Peter L. McCormick 21 Brandywine Rd., Skillman, N J 08558 800-314-7929, FAX 908-359-3389 f t Turf Products Corp./TORO George Gorton, Irrigation/Al Tretera, Equipment P.O. Box 1200, Enfield, CT 06083 800-243-4355/203-763-3581 f t Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing f t Turf Products Corporation Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ 07838 Jim Kelsey: 800-247-2326/908-637-4191 Bill and Joe Carriere: 914-937-2136 DeLea Sod Farms P.I.E. Supply Company Bluegrass, Fescues, Rye, Bentgrass Long Island Grown, Vacuum Cooled 800-244-7637/516-368-8022 Chris Weimann 243 Woodmont Rd., Milford, CT 06460 203-878-0658 Down To Earth ft Eastern Land Management Inc. ft .../ Frank Amodio 229 Smithridge Rd., So. Salem, NY 10590 914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050 f t Westchester Ford Tractor Inc. Turf & Ornamental Products Richard Cooke, 914-883-5881 Mike Dukette, 203-684-6242 Earth Works, Inc. Bruce T. Moore Sr., CCLP 246 Selleck St., Stamford, CT 06902 203-316-5433 Ernie Rizzio/Buddy Rizzio 47 Howell Rd., Box 296, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 201-263-1234, FAX 201-335-2491 f t Valley View Wholesale Greenhouses f t Pro-Lawn Products, Inc. July 1996 Byron Johnson Jr. 206 Delawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014 Office: 201-473-3393 Home: 203-748-5069 f t TurfNet Associates, Inc. Rick Apgar/Scott Apgar/Joe Stahl 365 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-666-3171, FAX 914-666-9183 Tee to Green Tom Marmelstein Fertilizer, Fungicide, Growth Regulators 516-679-1961 f t The Terre Company of New Jersey, Inc. Dominic A. Richichi/John Richichi Golf Course & Tennis Supplies, Outdoor Furniture 914-946-1743, FAX 914-946-0796 Ray Bowman, President White Marsh, MD 21162 800-899-7645 (SOIL) John E. Callahan 166 River Rd., Unionville, CT 06085 860-673-3699 Seed, Fertilizer, Control Products, Equipment Greg Moran: 914-331-4869 800-321-5325 DAF Services Inc. Egypt Farms, Inc. Owen Regan/David Wallace P.O. Box 418, Exeter, RI 02822 401-789-8177 Bill and Joe Carriere 7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573 914-937-2136 The Soil Aerification Specialists Patrick Lucas/Eric Zars, Old Greenwich, CT 06870 800-815-1113, FAX 203-698-1920 <9> Golf Course Construction and Renovation P.O. Box 854, Suffield, CT 06078 Kevin Sullivan: 860-528-7344 Barenburg/Garfield Williamson Division All Phases of Golf Course Construction David Griffin 914-576-7693 ft Sullivan’s Construction Service Inc. Dave Pijnenburg Irrigation Contractor 203-748-0558 DeBuck’s Sod Farm ft Bruce Pye 23 Route 206, Augusta, NJ 07822 201-579-5656 f t Greenacres Company Premium Quality Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue Blends Leonard/Valeri: 914-258-4131 ft f t Steven Willand, Inc. Tim Marcoux/Ed Santalone 620 Commerce St., Thornwood, NY 10594 800-878-8873 Mike Gesmundo/Ron Shapiro Chester, NY 800-535-1500 ft Stephen Kay/Ron Turek/Doug Smith 495 New Rochelle Rd., Bronxville, NY 10708 914-699-4437 Ken Kubik Jay McKenna 201-361-5943 Atlantic Irrigation Specialists Inc. & • John Apple/Ray Beaudry Meadow St., Goldens Bridge, NY 10526 914-232-7746 ft Rhone-Poulenc Co./CH IPCQ Greg Hutch r 877 Yellowbank Rd., Tbrhs föver, NJ 08753 908-929-4657 • 4 Robert Baker Jeff Rogers 1320 Mountain 860-668-5225 SAV-A Thomas 360 Adams^St., 914-666-8202 Horticultural-Irrigation Supplies Jim Hespe: 203-531-7352 1081 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831 f t Stephen Kay, Golf Course Architects Glenn S. Moore 98 Hackgreen Rd., Pound Ridge, NY 10576 914-764-4348 Blue Ridge Peat Farms Inc. ft 3 Donald Tiedemann 100 Calvert St., Harrison, NY 10528 914-835-3801 Topdressing, Peat, Humus, & Potting Soil Gene Evans 717-443-9596 ft 65 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA 01843 21 E. Dudley Town Rd., Bloomfield, CT 06662 800-999-TURF f t Shemin Nurseries Inc. John Ferrucio 425 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 914-271-6126, FAX 914-271-6146 Turf Equipment: Parts and Service Louis Argento: 914-949-1152 1 Prospect Ave., White Plains, NY 10607 ☆ f t Sawtelle Brothers Inc. William Middleton Safe, Natural, Effective Soil & Turf Products 800-628-4769 Nursery, Inc Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. Bob Lippman Sr./Bob Lippman Jr. P.O. Box 198, Lincolndale, NY 10540 Office: 914-248-7476 Mobile: 914-649-0303 . ft 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 CT 06093 14 ft Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Chris Santopietro 2 Terminal Rd., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 201-804-1000 •Ù Denotes MetGCSA member