President's Message A Fresh S ta rt. . . One More Time Special Feature The Inside Scoop on Inorganic Soil Amendments Former Cornell University Associate Professor Dr. Norman Hummel Offers Expert Advice on Several Inorganic Amendments on the Market Today ust as school is wrapping up for the kids, our season is shifting into high gear. Spring is kind o f like the beginning o f our school year. . . . A new class o f employees, perhaps new equipment or new grooming techniques or products to get accus­ tomed to, and a whole new set o f demands to deal with. After the lengthy, snowy winter, a lot o f us are scrambling to finish projects we’d hoped to complete before the start o f the season. But with a little luck, we’ll be back to our old routine again soon. Mowing, spraying, watering, and grooming the course—tasks that may seem tedious to some are almost enjoyable to me. I like the routine. It feels safe— and far better than dealing with those unpredictable and unex­ pected hydraulic leaks on a green, disease problems, or labor or club relations trials. While it’s natural to let these small setbacks drive us crazy, years in the business have taught me that we all would do better to focus on the big battle and not let those little fights drag us down. J One for All and All for One On a more uplifting note, I recently attended the retirement reception for Bob Phipps o f Shorehaven Country Club, and I came away from the affair feeling both thankful (continued on page 2) S uperintendents seeking to resolve a variety o f turfgrass woes—every­ thing from soil compaction to excessive moisture loss—are turn­ ing their attention to the new-andimproved inorganic soil amendments on the market today. To help you sift through the grow­ ing number o f choices, Dr. Norman Hummel, now o f Hummel & Co., Inc. in Trumansburg, NY, reviews four o f the newer inorganic amendments out there—offering insight into the benefits and, yes, limitations o f each. Also included in the mix is the stillpopular—and more economical— amendment option: good ol’ sand. (See also the accompanying piece “ Five Superintendents Share Their Firsthand Experiences With Inorganic Soil Amend­ ments” for actual accounts o f inorganic amendment successes and failures.) Calcined Clay Calcined clays have been available as soil amendments for several years. They’re very porous clay aggregates that have been shown to increase the total poros­ ity o f soils—and the water retention o f sandy soils. Because the aggregate is medium- to coarse-sized, calcined clays seem to be as effective as sand for modifying soils. There is, however, one caveat: While they will hold a large quantity o f water, research has consistently shown that the water is held so tightly that it’s unavail­ able for plants. Among the better-known calcined clay products on the market: Profile and Turface. Calcined Diatomites Calcined diatomites are naturally oc­ curring minerals derived from diatoms and processed to varying degrees. They’re very porous, coarse aggregates that are touted to improve the physical properties o f the soil, though there has been little research (continued on page 4) Also in This Issue (D Coming Attractions (8 ) Winged Foot Invitational Promises a Doubly Good Time ( D Superintendent-Manager Tourney Set for Silver Spring (? ) Gypsy Moth Update (? ) Inorganic Amendments: Accounts From Five Supers Firsthand© Siwanoy Golf Results . . . including FirstRound Two-Ball Matches President's Message (cont. 1) A Fresh S ta rt. . . One More Time and proud. I’m thankful that I have friends and family, as Bob does, who I can count on in a time o f need. And I’m proud to be part o f an association whose members are truly supportive o f one another. So many attended the reception, and more sent their good wishes and donations along to Bob. I was told repeatedly by the members o f Shorehaven and the committee that organized the reception how impressed they were with the M et’s responsiveness. Scott Schukraft, superintendent at Huntsville G olf Club in Pennsylvania, also did us proud. A close friend o f Bob and Diane’s, Scott spoke from the heart—and with great poise—when presenting our gift to Bob. The whole affair was a celebration o f Bob and his great love for our busi­ ness—a true success story both at work and in life. We’re discussing the possibility o f holding a golf tournament in Bob’s behalf during the summer or fall. We’ll keep you posted as plans evolve. Free Advice and Support Also in the spirit o f support and concern for our members’ welfare is our asso­ ciation’s Club Relations Committee. Chaired by Middle Bay Superintendent John Carlone, the group consists o f our executive board and several past presi­ dents and is designed primarily to aid clubs in conducting a professional search for a new superintendent. Our objective is to ensure that clubs adhere to hiring practices that allow everyone a fair shot at the job. As a safeguard, no member o f the Club Relations Committee can accept an offer from a club the committee is consulting with. If a member is inter­ ested in a position, he must excuse himself from the committee before any consultations take place. Another function o f the committee is to consult with superintendents who may be struggling with a political or turf-related issue at their club and want an impartial, third-party viewpoint or advice. Composed o f many veteran superin­ tendents, the committee offers a tremendous pool o f knowledge and expertise that any association member— or club—should feel free to draw from. And the price is right: These consulta­ tions are provided free o f charge. Superintendents or clubs who would like the committee’s assistance should contact John Carlone at 516-766-1838. JO H N J. O ’K EEFE, CGCS President Board of Directors President JOHN O’KEEFE, CGCS Preakness Hills Country Club Vice President EARL MILLETT Ridgeway Country Club <\prrptan/ 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 POLIDOR St Andrew’s Country Club RAY BEAUDRY Westchester Ford Tractor Executive Secretary INEKE PIERPOINT Upcoming Events Tee to Green Staff Meeting Reminders! Superintendent/Manager Tournament Thursday, May 23 Silver Spring Country Club, Ridgefield, CT Host Superintendent: Peter Rappoccio, CGCS Invitational Tournament Tuesday, May 28 Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY Host Superintendent: Bob Alonzi, CGCS Educational Event 1996 Turfgrass Research Field Day UMass Turfgrass Research Facility South Deerfield, MA Wednesday, June 5 Turf researchers will offer updates on their ( 2) Tee to Green May 1996 current research projects. Among the many topics: golf spike wear tolerance, ecology of ants in turfgrass, Japanese beetle control, and grasses for fairway use. There will also be equipment displays and demos. For further information, contact Thom Griffin at 413-545-3066 or Mary Owen at 508-8920382. Special Event DATE CHANGE: Rematch of LIGCSA/MetGCSA Softball Game Rescheduled f o r . . . Tuesday, June 11 After a 26 to 10 rout, the Met team needs your support! Call Dave Mahoney at 914-961-8698 or Scott Apgar at 914-282-0049 for details. Editors DENNIS PETRUZZELLI TONY GRASSO 914-242-0706 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 Superintendent-Manager Tourney Returns to Silver Spring East Ridge Middle School student who will be joining his brother at Fairfield Prep next year, enjoys both Pop Warner football and basketball. Aside from attending his sons’ many games and matches, Peter is in his second year as president and coach o f the Ridgefield Pop Warner League. He is An Early Start in the Business also on the Board o f Directors o f the Ridgefield Scholarship Group, which Peter’s golf course experience began at distributes $20,000 annually to collegean early age. At 15, he joined the grounds crew at Fairview Country Club, bound Ridgefield high school students. working through the course’s construc­ And as if all that’s not enough, Peter is a Change, Change, Change member o f the Ridgefield Republican tion phase alongside others who also Town Committee. Since we played our last round o f golf at went on to become superintendents: Silver Spring five years ago, Peter has Though he’s no longer a marathoner, Bob Alonzi, Bill Gaydosh, and the late worked with Architect Geoffrey Cornish Gene Grady. Peter has four marathons under his belt, including New York and Boston. Now, After graduating high school, Peter to enhance— and restore aspects o f—the 67-year-old course’s original Robert enrolled in St. Francis College in Maine, he keeps fit by running locally. White design. Peter’s wife o f 20 years, Birdie, is a completing a BA with a minor in busi­ H e’s installed cart paths, rebuilt 38 o f ness and education. Quickly realizing he registered nurse in the Ridgefield School System. was better suited for a career in golf the course’s 68 bunkers, restored all TIM O ’N E ILL, CGCS greens to their original size and shape, course management, Peter returned to Country Club o f Darien Fairview. and most recently rebuilt two tees. Using 1,500 cubic yards o f fill, he Working under then superintendent constructed a new tee 35 yards back Ted Jozwick—who Peter credits with his from the 13th green, transforming the interest in becoming a golf course su­ METRO MILORGANITE, INC. hole from a 50 0 -yard Par 5 to a more perintendent—he received a two-year For a HEALTHY ADVANTAGE over SEASONAL challenging 535-yard Par 5. In addi­ degree in T urf Management from Rut­ PROBLEMS WE OFFER a WINNING LINE-UP tion, Peter more than tripled the size o f gers and was elevated to assistant super­ his practice tee, bringing it from 5,000 intendent. That was in 1975. Three square feet to 16,000. “ The new twoyears later, Peter accepted the superin­ Emerald tiered tee is large enough,” he says, “ to tendent’s position at Silver Spring. Isle. Ltd. rotate the markers without returning to Life Beyond Silver Spring the same spot for at least three weeks.” EGYPT Three years ago, Peter also rebuilt his Though managing the course obviously FARM S keeps Peter plenty busy, he still finds maintenance facility, which involved Sentind time to serve the association he once led. renovating two existing structures and constructing a new storage building—all MetGCSA president in 1985 and 1986, m m m Peter has always juggled numerous during the height o f the season. committee responsibilities and actively Though this presented a challenge that Peter probably wouldn’t want to repeat, participated in association events. Andersons Right now, Peter’s serving on five the final product has been well worth Met committees and co-chairing, along the extraordinary effort. He now has a with Mike Maffei, the Nominating separate storage area for pesticides, Milorganitè Committee—a responsibility he’s fertilizers, and other bulk materials; a accepted for the past five years. separate pesticide fill/mix and clean Despite the magnitude o f Peter’s area; and an upgraded staff area with professional duties, he somehow finds new lockers and offices. GOLF COURSE SUPPLIES time to keep pace with his sons—Peter, This spring, Peter and his crew have Rick Apgar Scott Apgar Joe Stahl 17, and Tim, 14—and their activities. also been involved in the landscaping (914) 666-3171 Fax (914) 6 6 6 -9 18 3 Peter, a student at Fairfield Prep, is and finishing touches o f an extensive 365 Adams Street. Bedtord Hills. NY 10507 involved in both wrestling and football clubhouse renovation. Peter’s worked DEPEND ON US FOR FOUR SEASON and also beginning the time-consuming closely on the project with Silver SOLUTIONS process o f choosing a college. Tim, an Spring’s Club Manager o f 12 years, fter a five-year hiatus, the Superin­ tendent-Manager Tournament is returning to Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, C T—and is being held, interestingly, on the exact same date as it was in ’91: on May 23. Hosting the event is the club’s longtenured superintendent and property manager, Peter Rappoccio. In his 19 years at Silver Spring, Peter has gener­ ously offered his club for numerous Met meetings. This will be his sixth. Robert Sommer. “ I’ve always enjoyed working with Bob and feel very fortu­ nate to have him as a manager,” says Peter, who at the same time acknowl­ edged the club’s head golf pro o f 11 years, Stan Garrett, as being equally great to work with. Profile Tee to Green May 1996 ( 3 ) (ctrompa. 1) Special Feature The Inside Scoop on Inorganic Soil Amendments conducted to evaluate their true value as soil amendments. New research at Ohio State Univer­ sity is showing the value o f using cal­ cined diatomites in sand-based root zones. Experimenting with the Eagle Pitcher Corp. product, AXIS, the researchers have found that calcined diatomites increase the total porosity o f a soil, water retention, and rooting. They’ve attributed this rooting response to a greater oxygen diffusion rate or gas exchange where the product has been blended into the sand. While more research is needed to examine the long-term performance o f this product, it does appear to have some merit. Another calcined diatomite widely used by area superintendents is Isolite. Clinoptilite Zeolites Zeolites are naturally occurring porous minerals with low bulk densities and a very high cation exchange capacity. high-traffic areas. Research at Michigan State Univer­ One o f the advantages o f this amend­ sity has shown tremendous improve­ ment is that it can be sized to your ment in high-traffic areas where crumb specifications. Up to this point, all research on zeo­ rubber has been used as a topdressing. lites has focused on their performance in They did not see the same effect, how­ ever, when the rubber was incorporated sand-based root zones. Here, zeolites into the soil. have been shown to increase water Final assessment: While crumb rub­ retention without affecting the infiltra­ ber should not really be considered a tion rate. Since the cation exchange sites on zeolite have a high selectivity for soil amendment, it may prove effective potassium and ammonium ions, zeolites as a topdressing. in a sand-based root zone will reduce Sand their leaching losses. Ecolite is a zeolite produced by Wes­ I don’t have to tell you: Sands are the tern Organics. Like the other inorganic most common and least expensive soil amendment used for improving the amendments, more research is needed physical condition o f a soil. The on the long-term performance o f addition o f large quantities o f a uni­ clinoptilite zeolites. form sand in the appropriate particle Crumb Rubber size range will improve the aeration Crumb rubber is ground up tires made porosity, the infiltration rate, and the into a product that can be used to compaction resistance o f a soil. improve the resiliency o f the turf in The key to success when modifying a The Biggest, The Freshest, The Best in Plants V alley V iew Annuals & Perennials Ornamental Grasses Hanging Baskets Flowering Tee Markers for Outings Flowering Patio Containers Servicing Country Clubs Since 1980!!! Valley View Wholesale Greenhouses 229 Smithridge Road South Salem, NY 10590 (914) 533-2526 (914) 533-2050 fax (Î) Tee to Green May 1996 soil with sand is that you add enough sand into the soil so that the sand grains come in contact—or bridge—with one another. It is then, and only then, that you will create the beneficial large pores between the sand grains. Very uniform sands in the medium through coarse size ranges—0.25mm 2.0mm—are most effective for modify­ ing soil. The coarser and more uniform, in fact, the better. The sand particle size and the uniformity o f the sand will define how much sand is required to improve the soil. It’s wise, therefore, to work with a physical testing labora­ tory to determine the suitability o f the sand and the minimum amount o f sand necessary to improve the soil. Final Note The proper use o f inorganic amend­ ments can have a positive impact on soil physical properties. Your best bet is to experiment with some o f these newer products in a few o f your problem areas and then monitor them closely to see if they produce the effects the manufac­ turers promise. If you have any major renovation projects that involve soil modification, however, I would strong­ ly recommend that you seek the advice o f a soil testing lab and consultant. DR. NORM AN H U M M EL Hummel & Co. Inc. NOTE: Watch for Dr. Hummel’s commen­ tary on organic amendments in an upcoming issue of Tee to Green. Five Superintendents Share Their Firsthand Experiences With Inorganic Soil Amendments “ Last summer’s weather taxed these tees to the point where I knew I needed to get some deep holes into the soil profile and then backfill them with a course material to provide for contin­ ued surface drainage and, just as impor­ tant, air exchange. “ It seemed the only piece o f equip­ ment capable o f doing what we needed was the Floyd-Mckay Drill ’n Fill. Contracting for the equipment was easy enough; the harder decision was what material to use for backfilling. “With the high population o f dense fines close to the soil surface, I knew I needed to have the column filled with a relatively course material. That’s why I finally settled on Profile, a calcined clay material that is not only coarse, but also known to increase the porosity o f soils. “ On July 10 o f last year, we had Steve Humphreys, Dutchess Country Club Earth Works treat eight o f our problem Pougkeepsie, NY tees. By July 2 7 , 1 could already see “We have several older tees on the improvement in the general health o f course that were pretty severely com­ the tees’ turfgrass. By the season’s end, pacted. The soil mixtures contain a seven o f the eight tees had shown variety o f particle sizes with a large amount o f fines. Rooting, drainage, and marked improvement: They had better general vigor o f the grass was poor. The color, a healthier root structure, and improved water and air movement. soil was just plain anaerobic. Better still, they came through the “We had tried Verti- Draining and winter with no damage and good conventional hollow core aeration without much success. The compaction growth. “ In June, we’ll treat the tees again was so bad that the Verti-Drain couldn’t penetrate more than three or four inches. and then monitor their progress.” T hough sand is still the leading soil amendment option among superin­ tendents, more and more are experimenting with some o f the newer products on the market. Here, five area supers offer insight into two inorganic soil amendments: Profile, a calcined clay, and Isolite, a calcined diatomite. (See accompanying piece, “ The Inside Scoop on Inorganic Soil Amendments,” for Dr. Norman Hummel’s review o f these and other inorganic amendments.) Though there are those who report visible improvement in their turf, not all, you’ll see, give these products rave re­ views. The final word on introducing a new amendment into your soil: Look— very carefully— before you leap. Peter Pierson, Pequabuck Golf Club Pequabuck, CT “We’ve experimented with two soil amendments: Isolite and, more exten­ sively, Profile. “ In 1993, we applied the Isolite, a calcined diatomite, to improve the moisture retention in two problem areas. The first was the apron o f #16 green adjacent to a bunker. The second was a droughty area near #10 green’s walk on/walk off accesses. “ Before the applications, we aerified these areas with 1/2" hollow coring tines. Then we applied the Isolite with a drop spreader. Trying to get the Isolite— which is made up o f relatively large particles—into the aerifying holes o f the closely cut apron was difficult at best. We had to resort to working the mate­ rial in with floor brooms from the shop. On the walk on/walk off areas, where we keep the grass higher, the particle size didn’t present a problem. Though we did see some improvement in these areas, we found Isolite’s large particles troublesome enough to avoid using the product again. “ In 1994, when we wanted to im­ prove the water-holding capacity o f some o f our droughty tees, we turned to the calcined clay Profile. We double aerified the tees, using l/2" hollow coring tines, then (continued on page 6) Tee to Green May 1996 ( 5 ) Special Feature (coni. 5) Five Superintendents Share Their Firsthand Experiences With Inorganic Soil Amendments ; applied the Profile to the tees’ surface at a rate o f 400 lb s./l,0 0 0 sq. ft. Next, we verticut the cores and Profile, which blended the two materials into a nice topdressing for the tees. “ This process has yielded good re­ sults. Because the Profile helps keep moisture available to the plant roots, we’re able to keep the tee surfaces drier. And that, in turn, allows them to better withstand the stress o f heavy play. “ On several other tees, we used this same process, applying Profile at the lower rate o f 200 lb s./l,0 0 0 sq. ft.— with equally good results. “ In our most recent Profile applica­ tions, we targeted our #8 Green. Built about 30 years ago, this green is small— just over 4,000 square feet—and has a high silt content. To make matters worse, this green slopes severely on the front half, leaving only the back half for pin locations. In an attempt to improve the soil quality o f the green, we had Earth Works run the new Floyd-McKay Drill ’n Fill Aerofier on the green in May and, again, in October o f last year. “ Each time, we filled the one-inch holes with a mixture o f 50 percent Pro­ file and 50 percent 8 0 /2 0 topdressing (by volume), which we combined using a small electric-powered cement mixer. In late November 1995, we covered the green. At that time, the drill holes were still visible. When we removed the cover the end o f March, we were surprised to see the drill holes were still noticeable. “ Lesson learned: We’ll drill again, but not as late in the year. I suspect that the wet and cold October and then the even colder winter slowed the healing process even more than usual. “We do, however, see improvements in the green. Water percolation is im­ proved—the spring rains put that to the test— and the green is far softer to walk on, which indicates that we’ve alleviated the compaction. HOT TIP: “ For the past three years, I’ve also found Profile useful in retarding germination o f the divot mix I prepare for use on the course. All I do is mix one gallon o f Profile with four gallons o f 8 0 /2 0 topdressing and one to two pints o f bentgrass seed— again, using a cement (? ) Tee to Green May 1996 Aerofier to introduce a mixture o f sand and Isolite into the soil profile. “ The percentage o f Isolite we used ranged from 10 to 50 percent, depend­ ing on the severity o f each green’s condition. Basically, the more fine textured the soil, the higher the percent­ age o f Isolite we used. Bob Welch, Rock Ridge Country Club “ Each hole, we hoped, would act like Newtown, CT a drywell, with the Isolite absorbing the “At Rock Ridge, we have small, nativemoisture from the surrounding soil and soil tees that get a lot o f traffic. As you the sand aiding evaporation. can imagine, many o f them were suffer­ “ Unfortunately, with last summer ing from severe compaction, which naturally affected the health and vigor o f being the driest in 50 years, we weren’t able to see any significant improvements the turfgrass. in the turf. “ Rather than leap into total recon­ “ One observation, however, was that struction, in the fall o f ’94, we stripped the sod on three o f our most problematic in the mixtures where we used a higher tees and rototilled the top eight inches o f percentage o f Isolite, it took the turf an soil. Next, we added Profile at 200 lb s./ unusually long time to grow over the aerification holes. In fact, on our three 1,000 sq. ft. and rototilled it into the worst greens, it took almost a full two root zone mix. After leveling and months for the holes to fill in. grading, we sodded the surface. “ Observing the greens this spring, “We had used Profile in the past on they appear to be slightly drier. We’ve isolated dry spots on some o f our tees been able to play them sooner after a and seemed to have some success with rain, which is definitely a step in the the product, so we had high expecta­ right direction. tions. But now, two seasons later, only “ Right now, we’re planning to con­ one o f the three tees—the ladies’ tee with tinue to do one drill and fill and two the least amount o f traffic—seems to be conventional aerifications each year.” at all improved. And I’m wondering if our early success with those dry spots was Dennis Petruzzelli, Lakeover National Golf Club due more to our cultural practices than Bedford Hills, NY to the Profile. “ Our recently built, USGA-spec’ed “ Needless to say, I’m not terribly pleased with the results and don’t plan to greens are an 80-percent sand/20percent peat mix, with native soil collars. use the product again.” Because no barrier was placed between the green and collar areas, the dry, sandy Jud Smith, Orange Hills Country Club greens act as a wick and absorb all the Orange, CT moisture from the surrounding soil. “ Here, at Orange Hills, we’ve been “ To try to encourage moisture working to improve the porosity, infiltra­ retention in the collars, I decided to tion rates, and drainage o f our heavily trafficked native-soil greens, which range amend the soil with Profile. In ’94 and ’95, we aerified the collars four times from 40 to 70 years old. each year, brushing a heavy Profile “ Since 1993, we’ve deep drilled all our greens each spring and Verti-Drained topdressing into the holes. “ Last season, we did see a decline in them each fall, adding a conventional the wilt, but I’d have to say it’s still a aerification right before stress time. problem. Installing a mist system to “We topdressed after each o f these supplement our two-speed green/bank aerification procedures, but no matter irrigation heads, may be our only how hard we tried, we couldn’t com­ solution.” pletely fill those aerification holes—not B IL L PERLEE, Burning Tree CC until the spring o f ’95 when we decided PAT LU CA S, CG C S, Innis Arden GC to use the Floyd-McKay Drill ’n Fill mixer to combine the ingredients. 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(914 ) 666-3171 M axw ell T u rf (516) 681-3032 Tee to Green May 1996 ( j) Spotlight M etGCSA’s 1996 Invitational Promises Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun M et members will have a doubly good time on May 28, when Winged Foot G olf Club and Superintendent Bob Alonzi host the 1996 Invitational Tournament—on both the East and West courses. “ I’m pleased that we can accommo­ date those superintendents who have been shut out o f the Invitational in past years,” says Bob o f this unusual oppor­ tunity. One o f the most renowned courses in the world, this A.W. Tillinghast-designed gem has been the site o f four U.S. Opens—in 1929, 1959, and 1974, and most recently the famous Z oeller/ Norman playoff in 1984. In August 1997, Winged Foot will be hosting another major tournament: the PGA Championship, which will be hotly contested on the West Course. Coursewide Improvements The entire parcel o f land owned by Winged Foot is only 278 acres, which isn’t much considering it’s a 36-hole complex. But that doesn’t prevent the two courses from earning top rankings nationwide: The West Course is in the top 10 and the East Course in the top 30, nationally—with much o f the original Tillinghast design and charm still intact. “ The only major changes have been to the tees,” says Bob. “ Some have been added, some enlarged to accom­ modate the increased golf demand. “ Our greens and fairways haven’t been modernized,” he continues, “ but over the years, we did restore two greens: #10 west green in 1973 and #6 east green in 1986. On #6, the pitch had become so severe that it was essentially unplayable. So in the fall o f ’86, we cut out the sod in one-foot squares, and after reshaping the surface o f the green, we put the squares back like a puzzle. By the following spring, the green was fully healed, with barely a hint that anything had changed.” Other modifications have included in-house restoration o f bunkers to bring back the original Tillinghast capes—or fingers—that had been altered or destroyed by the elements over time. (8 ) Tee to Green May 1996 Drainage has been upgraded as needed and the irrigation system dramatically improved—with the installation o f numerous state-of-the-art bells and whistles. The new greens system, for instance, is not part o f the main irrigation. Bob explains with great excitement that each head is controlled individually with a syringe system independent o f the main. There is also a mist system solely for the greens’ perimeters and yet another system for watering the surrounding banks, independent o f the greens. All that’s left to be done, at this point, is the addition o f a triple row system on the East Course’s fairways. A Change for the Worse One o f biggest—but certainly not best— changes to the Winged Foot courses over the years has been the loss o f hundreds o f Elm trees to Dutch Elm Disease. But in Bob’s tenure as superin­ tendent, he’s suffered the most highly publicized—and devastating—o f tree losses: the world-renowned Elm on the East Course’s 10th hole. “ It was the worst day o f my career when we had to take down that Elm,” says Bob. “ The 10th hole east was one o f the most photographed holes around before that tree succumbed to Dutch Elm Disease.” Known as the golf tree o f the world, articles were written describing the tree’s beauty. When it died in 1994, its “ obituary” made The New York Times, not to mention a long list o f industry trade journals. “ Losing Elms hasn’t necessarily changed the playability o f these courses, but it’s definitely affected the aesthet­ ics,” laments Bob. For the Birds In addition to the course’s trees and their care, Bob holds a high regard for wildlife. A member o f the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program, Bob considers himself the most active noncertified bird activist known to man. “We joined the Audubon program hoping for certification in the near future, but our limited acreage doesn’t allow us the latitude to leave a lot o f ungroomed and wildlife-friendly areas, which is one o f the program require­ ments,” says Bob. Nonetheless, Bob has bluebird, purple martin, and wood duck boxes— as well as bat condominiums—scattered about the courses. And right outside his office window are a variety o f feeders. Also in sync with the Audubon program is B ob’s IPM program, in Work Smarts The Good Word About Gypsy Moths R est assured. This season shouldn’t be a killer—when it comes to gypsy moth infestations, anyway. At least that’s the official word from three area experts: Ted Kozlowski, Westchester County forester; Ken Welch, assistant entomologist for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; and Robert Herberger, state forester for the New York State Department o f Conser­ vation. Though they acknowledge there will be localized “ hot spots” throughout the region, there won’t be any widespread outbreaks this year—thanks, in part it seems, to the wet spring. The rains have made a perfect breeding ground for the Japanese-born, caterpil­ lar-killing fungus Entomophaga Maimaiga, which will go a long way toward thwarting both low- and high-density gypsy moth populations—now and possibly well into the future. But only time will tell. M ICH A EL C O O K Alpine, the Care o f Trees which he consciously avoids excessive chemical applications by closely monitor­ ing the courses to pinpoint—and then react to— the early stages o f disease and insect problems. Prescheduled, preven­ tive treatments don’t exist at Winged Foot. Industry Changes— and Challenges Since his start in the business 35 years ago, Bob has seen tremendous changes in the golf course management indus­ try— and especially in the superinten­ dent’s job itself. “What began as an occupation, for guys like me who love being outside, has turned into a very competitive field,” says Bob. “ G olf course superintendents have always worked long hours, experiencing the beauty o f Mother Nature at sunup and sundown, but now the pressure is much greater. “We went to turf school,” continues Bob, “ to learn how to grow and main­ tain grass, but today’s standards have forced us to spend most o f our time preventing disasters while we constantly more time to give something back to push the turf to the limit. We water the community.” One o f Bob’s current sparingly and fertilize less trying to create fast green speeds to keep our community involvements is serving as members happy.” president o f the Westchester County Cooperative Extension. “ Giving time is Despite these new job realities, Bob as important as giving money,” says says he still enjoys his work: “ Our work Bob, “ because someone needs to help is not redundant. The weather is unpredictable, with late March and April determine how the money is best snows, sudden and damaging wind­ used.” storms, droughts, rainy periods. These Born in Italy, Bob moved to the all command daily evaluation and U.S. with his family when he was 12, living in Port Chester and then Green­ readjustment o f our routine mainte­ wich. He and his wife, Kim, o f 29 nance schedules. I thrive on the challenges nature creates—and that years have raised four children— sense o f accomplishment when I’ve Jennifer, Robie, Dana, and Cassie—and have lived in Greenwich for the past 21 successfully met those challenges.” years. Now What? Also important members o f the family are their two dogs: Leftovers, a After 32 years as a superintendent at mutt, and Oscar, an English Setter. four different clubs: Rye G olf Club for three years, Burning Tree Country Club “ Both earn their keep,” says Bob, “ by for 11 years, Fairview Country Club for chasing geese at Winged Foot.” Bob’s parting advice to Invitational five years, and Winged Foot G olf Club for 13 years, what does Bob do from goers: “ Be like me and enjoy the day, but don’t take the game too seriously.” here? Bob’s response: “ Stay healthy, con­ SC O TT C. APGAR tinue to work hard at my job, and find Metro Milorganite, Inc. Your Players Deserve the Best! y Stormy A c RESinc S uperior B entgrass S od for G olf C ourses , players deserve the best bentgrass grown. Superintendents also deserve the finest bentgrass sod available! Stormy Acres offers the highest quality bentgrass sod, washed or with soil. All of our sod is 100% guaranteed! • Lowest height of cut 1/8”- 5/32” for putting greens. • Brushed-verticut-topdressed. • Tee height of 1/4” or less, Fairway height 1/2” or less. • Poa annua free • Available: Penncross, Pennlinks, Providence, Dominant, Southshore, Crenshaw, L-93, A-4 and A-l. • Contract growing. • Expert installation available. 37 F o r r e s t L a n e C a r n e y s P o in t , N J 609 299 5109 08069 Fa x: 609 299 7146 Tee to Green May 1996 (Jj) The G o lf Course Superintendent's Choice. BUNTON 22" and 26" GREENSMOW ERS 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. W hen it comes to greens mainte­ nance, the Bunton 22" and 26" walkbehind greensm ow ers are rapidly becoming the industry standard. BUNTON TRIPLEX GREENSMOWER BUNTON 1 EXCLUSIVELY DISTRIBUTED BY W e stc h e ste r F o r d T ra c to r, In c . Meadow St. Goldens Bridge, NY 10526 Phone #: 914-232-7746 Tee & Green & In Between ^A/hether 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 that fits your needs. We understand the variety of our selection of products, and our unique harvesting and washing techniques. problems you face because we have spent a great deal of time listening to golf course superintendents. As a result, offers the most complete product line •Bentgrass •Bluegrass •Washed sod •Bluegrass-Ryegrass •Bluegrass-Fine Fescue El m! GREEN SOD -INCORPORATED - 401/789-8177 • 401/789-3895 (fax) • PO Box 418. Exeter, RI 02822 Scorecard Siwanoy Thaws for April Meeting Class C Qualifiers t took the M et’s April meeting at Siwanoy to finally chase the snow away and get spring on track. Though less than five days before the meeting, parts o f #1 Joe Stahl, Metro Milorganite Long Island and Connecticut had more than 10 inches o f snow, on Monday Jeff Weld, Bayer Corporation vs. the 15th, the sides were clear, and temps hit a torrid 58 degrees. The golf #8 Frank Amodio, Valley View Grnhses course was surprisingly green and very playable. A welcome sight, indeed, for the Dennis DeSanctis, Wilfred 88 golfers competing in our Two-Ball Qualifier and Two-Man Best Ball Event. MacDonald Leading the way in the Best Ball tourney were: #2 John Apple, Westchester Ford Tractor Two-Man Best Ball Skip Deubel, Tuckahoe T urf Farms vs. Low Gross Winners #7 Dave Griffin, Down to Earth 74 John Carlone, Middle Bay C C /T im O ’Neill, C C of Darien A1 Tretera, T urf Products Corp.(CT) 75 Peter Bly, Brooklawn C C /] ohn Gallagher, Race brook CC 76 Earl Millett, Ridgeway C C / Mark Millett, Old Oaks C C #3 Scott Apgar, Metro Milorganite I John Farrell, Barenbrug USA vs. Jeff Rogers, Robert Baker Comps. Owen Regan, Tee and Green Sod Low Net Winners 63 65 65 66 Joe Stahl, Metro M ilorganite/]eff Weld, Bayer Corporation Bob Nielsen, Bedford Golf &* Tennis C lub/]oc Camberato, Sleepy Hollow C C Skip Deubel, Tuckahoe T urf Farm s/] ohn Apple, Westchester Ford Tractor Scott Apgar, Metro M ilorganite/]ohn Farrell, Barenbrug USA/Garfield William Division #6 #4 Dan Cancelled, J.A . Jackson Corp. Greg Moran, Lesco, Inc. vs. Bob Lippm an/Bob Lippman Jr. Westchester T urf Supply DAVE M AHONEY ' Siwanoy Country Club #5 At each o f our monthly meetings, we’re offering an opportunity for players to win a cash prize for themselves and the Scholarship and Research Fund. All they have to do is make a hole in one! Unfortunately, no one had an “ ace” at Siwanoy. Those who came awfully close were: Closest to the Pin #6 Greg Moran, Lesco, Inc. #11 Mike Medonis, Bonnie B riar CC Longest Drive Closest to the Line #5 #10 Yogi Dawson, Rolling Hills CC Mark Millett, Old Oaks C C Ne w England' s F i n es t Sod Two-Ball Qualifiers and First-Round Matches Along with defending champs Jim McNally and Wayne Remo, 15 teams qualified for the Two-Ball Championship. The First-Round Matches are as follows: Class A Qualifiers #1 Jim McNally, Greenrock Corp. Wayne Remo, Rock Spring Club vs. #16 Gary Arlio, North Jersey C C Bob DeMarco, Powelton Club Dave Mahoney, Siwanoy C C Dennis Petruzzelli, Lakeover Ntl vs. #12 Dom DiMarzo, Sunningdale CC Fred Scheyhing, Mount Kiseo C C #2 Joe Camberato, Sleepy Hollow CC Bob Nielsen, Bedford G & T vs. #15 Scott Niven, The Stanwieh Club Larry Pakkala, Woodway C C #6 Tony Grasso, Metropolis C C Greg Wojick, Greenwich C C vs. #11 Steve Renzetti, Wykagyl C C Scott Tretera, Elmwood C C #3 John Carlone, Middle Bay C C Tim O ’Neill, C C of Darien vs. #14 Tim Garceau, The Tuxedo Club Ernie Steinhoffer, The Nevele CC #7 #4 #8 Jim Calladio, Milbrook Club Tony Girardi, Rockrimmon C C vs. #13 Tim M oore, Knollwood C C Todd Polidor, Heritage Hills C C #5 Peter Bly, Brooklawn C C John Gallagher, Race brook C C vs. #10 Dennis Flynn, Brae Burn C C Peter Rappoccio, Silber Spring C C #9 Bob Alonzi, Winged Foot GC Joe Alonzi, Westchester C C vs. Ron Demkovich, Westchester Cty GC Tony Savone, Quaker Ridge GC • High Fine Fescue Mix Blend • Quality Bluegrass Sod • Bluegrass/Fescue Blends • Bluegrass/Rye Blends • Penncross Bent • Penncross • Providence • Providence/Putter/SR 1020 • Sod Handler Delivery • Washing Services Available • Installation Available • Unrolling Service • Competitive Prices • 500 sq. ft. pallets or Big Rolls • Farm Visits Encouraged • Site Review/Samples 1 800-341 - Tee to Green May 1996 (H ) PATRON DI RECTORY Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. AgrEvo U SA Company David J. Sylvester 311 Carriage Dr., Kensington, CT 06037 860-828-8905 f t Emerald Isle, Ltd. William Middleton Safe, Natural, Effective Soil & Turf Products 800-628-4769 f t Sawtelle Brothers Inc. 65 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA 01843 21 E. Dudley Town Rd., Bloomfield, CT 06662 800-999-TURF 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. John Ferrucio 425 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 914-271-6126, FAX 914-271-6146 f t Shemin Nurseries Inc. Horticultural -Irrigation Supplies 3 Jim Hespe: 203-531-7352 1081 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831 f t Fleet Pump & Service Group Donald Tiedemann 100 Calvert St., Harrison, NY 10528 914-835-3801 f t Stephen Kay, G olf Course Architects Stephen Kay/Ron Turek/Doug Smith 495 New Rochelle Rd., Bronxville, NY 10708 914-699-4437 A1 Preston’s Garage Gary Shashinka Massey Ferguson Tractors 203-924-1747 f t Glenmore Landscape Service Glenn S. Moore 98 Hackgreen Rd., Pound Ridge, NY 10576 914-764-4348 f t Steven Willand, Inc. Bruce Pye 23 Route 206, Augusta, NJ 07822 201-579-5656 Argento & Son Inc. Turf Equipment: Parts and Service Louis Argento: 914-949-1152 1 Prospect Ave., White Plains, NY 10607 f t Grass Roots Inc. Ken Kubik Jay McKenna 201-361-5943 Sullivan’s Construction Service Inc. Golf Course Construction and Renovation P.O. Box 854, Suffield, CT 06078 Kevin Sullivan: 860-528-7344 f t Greenacres Company Dave Pijnenburg Irrigation Contractor 203-748-0558 TBS Maintenance and Improvement Tony Bettino: 914-949-3362 Black Top, Stone Work, Landscaping, Excavation 102 Fulton St., White Plains, NY 10606 f t A LPIN 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 Atlantic Irrigation Specialists Inc. Tim Marcoux/Ed Santalone 620 Commerce St., Thornwood, NY 10594 800-878-8873 James Barrett Associates, Inc. Jim Barrett P.O. Box 853, Montclair, NJ 07042 201-744-8237 f t Blue Ridge Peat Farms Inc. Topdressing, Peat, Humus, & Potting Soil Gene Evans 717-443-9596 f t James Carriere & Sons, Inc. Bill and Joe Carriere 7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573 914-937-2136 f t The Cardinals, Inc. John E. Callahan 166 River Rd., Unionville, CT 06085 860-673-3699 f t Bruedan Corp. Mike Gesmundo/Ron Shapiro Chester, NY 800-535-1500 f t LESC O , Inc. Seed, Fertilizer, Control Products, Equipment Greg Moran: 914-331-4869 800-321-5325 f t The Scotts Company Tom Marmelstein Fertilizer, Fungicide, Growth Regulators 516-679-1961 f t DAF Services Inc. David A. Frechette Flowtronics PSI Pumping Stations 203-528-7362 Long Island Compost Corp. Jeff Frank Screened Compost, Blackgold Divot Mix, Topsoil 516-878-0652 f t The Terre Company o f New Jersey, Inc. Byron Johnson Jr. 206 Delawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014 Office: 201-473-3393 Home: 203-748-5069 ft f t Dar Par Sales Dominic A. Richichi/John Richichi Golf Course & Tennis Supplies, Outdoor Furniture 914-946-1743, FAX 914-946-0796 Metro Milorganite Inc. Rick Apgar/Scott Apgar/Joe Stahl 365 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-666-3171, FAX 914-666-9183 f t TurfNet Associates, Inc. Peter L. McCormick 21 Brandywine Rd., Skillman, NJ 08558 800-314-7929, FAX 908-359-3389 ft D & S Floratine Products, Nova Tee, Flymo, Douglas Rollers, Trion Lifts Dave Basconi: 203-250-TURF M ontco/Surf- Sid e/Z ap ! Defoamer Bob Oechsle/Tom Hunter Box 404, Ambler, PA 19002 800-401-0411 f t T u rf Products C orp./T O R O George Gorton, Irrigation/Al Tretera, Equipment P.O. Box 1200, Enfield, CT 06083 800-243-4355/203-763-3581 DeBuck’s Sod Farm Premium Quality Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue Blends Leonard/Valeri: 914-258-4131 f t Partac G olf Course Top-Dressing Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ 07838 Jim Kelsey: 800-247-2326/908-637-4191 Bill and Joe Carriere: 914-937-2136 P.I.E. Supply Company Chris Weimann 243 Woodmont Rd., Milford, CT 06460 203-878-0658 DeLea Sod Farms Bluegrass, Fescues, Rye, Bentgrass Long Island Grown, Vacuum Cooled 800-244-7637/516-368-8022 f t Down To Earth All Phases of Golf Course Construction David Griffin 914-576-7693 f t Pro-Lawn Products, Inc. Turf & Ornamental Products Richard Cooke, 914-883-5881 Mike Dukette, 203-684-6242 f t Earth Works, Inc. ft The Soil Aerification Specialists Patrick Lucas/Eric Zars, Old Greenwich, CT 06870 800-815-1113, FAX 203-698-1920 f t : Eastern Land Management Inc. Bruce T. Moore Sr., CCLP 246 Selleck St., Stamford, CT 06902 203-316-5433 Egypt Farms, Inc. Ray Bowman, President White Marsh, MD 21162 800-899-7645 (SOIL) @ f t Tee and Green Sod Owen Regan/David Wallace P.O. Box 418, Exeter, RI 02822 401-789-8177 f t Barenburg/Garfield Williamson Division P.O. Box 99 150 Main St., Ogdensburg, NJ 07439 John Farrell: 201-209-0088 Tee to Green May 1996 Rhone-Poulenc C o ./C H IP C O Greg Hutch 877 Yellowbank Rd., Toms River, NJ 08753 908-929-4657 f t Robert Baker Company/W infield Nursery. Jeff Rogers 1320 Mountain Rd., West Suffield, CT 060860-668-5225, FAX 860-668-5714 SAV-A-TREE Thomas Marino 360 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-666-8202 f t T u rf Products Corporation 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 Frank Amodio 229 Smithridge Rd., So. Salem, NY 10590 914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050 f t Westchester Ford Tractor Inc. John Apple/Ray Beaudry Meadow St., Goldens Bridge, NY 10526 914-232-7746 f t Westchester T u rf Supply, Inc. Bob Lippman Sr./Bob Lippman Jr. P.O. Box 198, Lincolndale, NY 10540 Office: 914-248-7476 Mobile: 914-649-0303 White Contractors Course Construction & Renovation Box 484, Old Greenwich, CT 06870-0484 es E. Morris Jr.: 203-869-8808/914-234-0092 lfred MacDonald, Inc. Santopietro n)l Rd., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 000 f t Denotes M etG CSA member