President's Message Special Feature Image Builders for Everybody Taking the Risk Out of Turf Management recently attended a GCSAA semi­ nar in Suffern, NY. Comparing this experience to the educational sessions offered at the national conference, I find day-long, local seminars nice for several reasons: When you attend, you support your local chapters, you build up certification credits, and you can still make it home in time for dinner. This particular seminar, titled “ Enhancing Your Value as a Profes­ sional G olf Course Superintendent,” was presented by GCSAA board member Tom Witt, who’s superinten­ dent o f Wynstone G olf Club in North Barrington, IL. It was extremely informative, offering some simple, yet smart ideas on how to go about improv­ ing our professional image, with very little effort. Though many o f us already practice much o f what Witt preached, I felt some o f his pointers were worth sharing with you. • First impressions are important. The way your workers answer the shop phone or the message callers hear on your answering machine make a state­ ment about you and your entire opera­ tion. Image enhancers: Make your answering message clear and concise. Be sure that your staff is prepped on proper phone etiquette, answering the phone with something (continued on page 2) s we enter into spring and launch into new-season projects—and the inevitable series o f turf challenges—we could all profit from the sage advice four turf-industry experts shared during an educational session at the GCSAA National Confer­ ence titled “ Gambling With Turf.” Here, Innis Arden Superintendent Pat Lucas offers a shorthand account o f each speaker’s perspective on turf management. I Four Industry Experts Offer Their No-Nonsense Approach to a Variety of Golf Course Management Challenges A Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG, The Legends Group: “High Stakes Management Practices” With today’s high expectations and demands for picture-perfect golf course turf, superintendents are constantly teetering on the edge o f success or failure, notes Terry Buchen. “ TV golf has given the average player an unrealis­ tic picture o f what day-to-day course maintenance should involve,” he says. Echoing Buchen’s sentiment, the late A1 Radlco, a long-tenured agrono­ mist with the USGA and honorary member o f the M etGCSA, has said: “ G olf is played on grass, not color.” Similarly, the U SG A ’s Larry Gilhuly notes, “ Better to putt on slow grass instead o f fast dirt.” Practices Buchen cautions against: • Treating greens with preemergent materials not labeled for greens. • Use o f growth retardants on greens. • Basing your decision to treat an entire golf course with a particular product solely on a salesperson’s claims • Assuming that sprayers were cali­ brated properly. • Spraying against label directions. • Failure to check chemical compatibil­ ity before spraying. (Beware o f any “witches’ brews.” ) • Consistently low green mowing heights. • Failure to have proper written pro­ cedures for chemical (continued on page 5) Also in This Issue (2 ) Member Notables ( D MetGCSA Golf Meetings Kick Off at Scarsdale Golf Club (6 ) News From the National. . . 10 Met Members Score at GCSAA Golf Championship ( D The Nuts-and-Bolts of Retirement Planning (9 ) MetGCSA Golf/Meeting Calendar (Q) Golf Results President's Message (cont. Irom pg. 1) Image Builders for Everybody like, “ Hello, XYZ Club Maintenance D e­ partment. X speaking, may I help you?” • What members don’t know can hurt you—and your image. In other words, it’s important to communicate with your membership—regularly. Among Witt’s suggestions: Always be the one to communicate special projects or proce­ dures on the golf course. Often, that behind-the-scenes communication from “ ////professionals” can end in a serious miscommunication or, at the least, in making a mountain out o f a mole hill. You can keep members informed through a club newsletter or a simple, periodic posting in your M en’s and Women’s locker rooms. You should also push to speak at your club’s annual meeting. This will give you the opportu­ nity to communicate your department’s current and future plans, while showing your enthusiasm for the club and course. When speaking before the member­ ship isn’t an option, you would do well to write an annual letter to the member­ ship with the same type o f message. Another interesting forum for com­ munication: Write a letter to all new members that can be included in a new member information packet. Use it to introduce yourself and welcome them to the club. This not only lets the members know who you are, but also that you are accessible to them. • A well-informed staff is nearly as im­ portant to your image as a well-informed membership. It’s essential that crew members be knowledgeable enough about course projects and maintenance procedures to respond to those inevi­ table member queries. At the least, your crew should know to refer a member to you—particularly if they’re at all uncer­ tain about how to respond to a person’s question. And if nothing else, they should always project a professional attitude. Another form o f communication that both Witt and I find helpful is the infor­ mation-sharing that takes place among peers. Aside from an occasional phone call to a superintendent at a neighboring course, another great way to share ideas—I know I’ve said this before—is to contribute to the Tee to Green. We have a great editor in Pandora Wojick, so don’t worry about your literary skills. After all, if I can do this, anyone can. Though I’ve touched just the tip o f the iceberg here, it’s enough, I hope, to spur you on to thinking about the image you project—and how to enhance it. Look for more on this subject in issues to come. JO H N J. O ’KEEFE President President JOHN O’KEEFE, CGCS Preakness Hills Country Club Vice President EARL MILLETT Ridgeway Country Club Secretary JOHN CARLONE, CGCS The Meadow Brook 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 I Notable Notes Tee to Green Staff Members on the Move Dave Polidor is the new superinten­ dent at Round Hill Country Club, Sandwich, MA. Previous position: Assistant superintendent, St. Andrews G olf Club, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. New Members Christopher Glover, Class C, Bedford G olf & Tennis Club, Bedford, NY Tim M arcoux, Class AF, Atlantic Irrigation Specialists, Thornwood, NY Chris Weiman, Class AF, P.I.E. Supply Company, Milford, CT ( 2) Tee to Green March/April 1997 New Members continued Jay W erbalowsky, Class C, Country Club o f Darien, Darien, CT Births Congratulations to: Westchester Hills G olf Club Superinten­ dent Peter W aterous and his wife, Marie, on the birth o f their daughter, Danielle, on November 4, 1996. Woodcrest Country Club Superinten­ dent Patrick Lucas and his wife, Lisa, on the birth o f their son, Sean Patrick, on January 29. 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 BRUCE PYE TIM MOORE STEVE RENZETTI PAT SISK 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 © 1997 Spotlight Ninety-Nine-Year-Old Scarsdale Golf Club Hosts Two-Ball Qualifier S carsdale G olf Club has the dis­ tinction o f being the season’s first—in an impressive lineup o f courses—to host a MetGCSA monthly golf meeting. The historic club’s long-tenured superintendent, Herb Waterous, is no doubt scrambling to put the finishing touches on his course for the April 30 Two-Ball Qualifier. But compared to the meeting he hosted six years ago, Herb says preparing for this one is a piece o f cake. uThe last meeting here was in Septem­ ber on the heals o f one o f the most stressful seasons for turfgrass—and turf maintenance professionals,” he recalls. “ It was the most difficult season in my 20 years here at Scarsdale.” Course Work Since Met members last played the course, numerous improvements have been made. Most recently, Herb installed a new irrigation and pumping system. Designed by Jim Barrett, this Toro 700 series individual head control system is run by Legacy Genesis control­ lers with a flooded suction turbine pumping system. “ Now that I ’m fully armed to battle intense heat stress,” says Herb, “ I ’m dealt an early spring meeting. It’s tough to show off a stateof-the-art system, like this one, in April.” Another major undertaking was an $800,000 reclamation project that included dredging the pond to prevent it from becoming marsh land. Herb explains: “ Fairways one and nine were artificially constructed with muck soil many years ago, and gradually, these man-made walls o f muck were being pushed into the pond.” To correct the problem, Herb said they installed 2,000 feet o f interlocking 4 0 -foot sheets o f steel. Comments Herb: “ It was an unbelievable process that took all o f 1994 to complete. But the outcome was well worth the time and expense, since we’ve completely stabilized the shorelines bordering the two fairways.” In its 9 9 -year history, Scarsdale Golf Club has seen its share o f golf course architects— beginning in 1898 with Willie Dunn Jr., who created the course’s initial nine holes. In 1929 A.W. Tillinghast picked up where Dunn left off, completing the course’s back nine. Since then, Dick Wilson, Robert Trent Jones, Frank Duane, Geoffrey Cornish, Brian Silva, and Stephen Kay have all been called on to make subtle changes— “ to accommodate today’s play,” says Herb. But apparently none have dared tamper with Tillinghast’s work. “ The back nine remain exactly the same,” Herb notes. Life Before Scarsdale Herb entered into the turfgrass manage­ ment field with the intention o f becom­ ing not a superintendent, but a golf professional. Explains Herb: “ Back in the ’60s, the way to become a pro was to know how to maintain a course.” Herb studied turfgrass management at Penn State, graduating in 1960 with an associate’s degree. During his last few days at the university, he received a “If you’re hell-bent on scoring low, plan to use every dub in your bag. There are a lot of blind holes that demand differ­ ent types of shots. ” phone call that forever changed the course o f his career. Wiltwyck G olf Club in Kingston, NY, offered him a position not as pro, but as a superinten­ dent. By then, intrigued with golf course maintenance, Herb negotiated an $85-per-week salary (he was looking for $90) and signed on. After three years there, Herb moved on to Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY. Though he enjoyed being a golf course superintendent, four years later, he decided to pursue another o f his passions: construction. “ I found I loved the creativity that went along with construction,” says Herb. From 1967 to 1971, he worked with modern-day architect greats Bill Mitchell, Hal Purdy, and Ed Ryder on area courses. Among them: Carvel, McCann, Rondout, Back O ’Beyond, and Richter Park. “ It seems so long ago that I was in construction,” says Herb. “ The last time the Jets won a Super Bowl, I was build­ ing Rondout. If that business didn’t require travel—and my family hadn’t grown so dramatically (to six kids)—I might have stayed on.” Instead, Herb—along with a part­ ner—purchased a garden center/landscape design business that included a 100-acre bluegrass turf farm in Kingston, NY. Though extremely gratifying, four years later—in 1975—he closed shop. “A combination o f factors worked against us,” he says, finding the sluggish economy o f the early ’70s, inflated oil prices, and exorbitant interest rates nearly insurmountable. In 1976, H erb’s nearly decade-long hiatus from the golf course business came to an end. That’s when he ac­ cepted the job he still holds today: super­ intendent o f Scarsdale G olf Club. “ I found the work I did outside the busi­ ness rewarding—and a tremendous learning experience— but I have no regrets with my decision to return,” he says. “ My 20 years working here at Scarsdale have been terrific.” Tee to Green March/April 1997 ( 3) Spotlight (cont. from pg. 3) Ninety-Nine-Year-Old Scarsdale Golf Club Hosts Two-Ball Qualifier A True Test of Golf Every year Herb prepares the course for the Wilson Cup, where the best ama­ teurs in the New York Metropolitan area compete in a Two-Team Championship tournament. “As the participants in this tournament have found out,” he says, “you can’t expect too much from this course. If you’re hell-bent on scoring low, plan to use every club in your bag. There are a lot o f blind holes that demand different types o f shots.” Scarsdale’s signature hole—#14— was featured in The Met Golfer last year. This 4 5 5 -yard challenging par 4 requires a well-placed tee shot (too far to the right and your second shot is blocked out) with a long iron and a second shot through a narrow chute to a small green. The Man Behind the Superintendent A scratch golfer years ago, Herb hopes to have more time to play in a few short years. “ Retirement will be here soon— early retirement, that is,” Herb chuckles. “ It will be the fourth and final chapter in my professional life.” Herb says he has many skills and interests he’d like to draw from: writing, public speaking, sales. All things he says a superintendent’s job—with its sevenday-a-week, 12-month-a-year workload— have prevented him from cultivating. “ One thing’s for sure,” he promises, “whatever I do after I leave Scarsdale, it will be very flexible.” This quiet—and anything but pretentious—man is an individual we should all not just admire, but learn from. He has endured through family tragedy and two bouts with cancer— though you would never know it talking to him. Herb enjoys reading novels and books that have to do with health and self-help. He is also, as he puts it, “ addicted to the computer,” and works hard to keep pace with the fast-changing technology. But for real peace o f mind, Herb says he enjoys playing his guitar, in private— a talent he has apparently passed on to several o f his children. Three o f the six children he and his wife, Linda, have raised—two girls, four boys —are accomplished musicians, while one, Peter, who many o f you know is the superintendent at Westchester Hills G olf Club, has followed in his dad’s footsteps. While I doubt Herb will be willing to strum a few chords at the April 30 meeting, he’d probably be more than happy to introduce you to his latest onthe-job responsibility, Maude, the club’s border collie. “A dog wasn’t exactly what I was looking for right now,” he says, “ but she needs someone to take care o f her. . . . ” And o f course, Herb, being the sort he is, gives her all the time she needs— and more. SC O TT C. APGAR Metro Milorganite, Inc. HOWARD Price imuipmeni PR O VIDING Q U A LITY TURF CARE EQ U IP M E N T Howard Price has a full line o f mowers ranging from their commercial walk behinds to their largest model 108 with a mowing width o f 16 1/2 feet. 727 with 91 ¡n. Deck Westchester Ford Tractor, Inc. 1280 with 10 1/2ft Deck (4 ) Tee to Green March/April 1997 Meadow Street, Golden’s Bridge New York 10526 914-232-7746 Special Feature (cont. 1) Taking the Risk Out of Turf Management spraying for staff. • Failure to test a product before widespread use. • Trying to grow bentgrass in the South. • Failure to have a clear understanding o f what club officials really want. Another situation that Buchen claims dooms superintendents to failure is when they lack the authority to effec­ tively carry out their job responsibili­ ties. “ In some situations,” he says, “ superintendents are like caged tigers who aren’t allowed to do their jobs. Then they’re faulted for not taking the initiative to do various things on the course.” Buchen’s end note: “ It’s unrealistic for club officials to expect perfect playing conditions for regular play. Turf managers face the challenge o f educating their memberships on the realities o f golf course maintenance. It has to be a 5 0 /5 0 blend: 50 percent playing considerations and 50 percent agronomic considerations,” says Buchen. “ D on’t allow yourself to be pushed too close to failing,” he warns. “ Know when to back off to the 5 0 /5 0 blend.” Dr. Michael Hurdzan, Golf Course Architect: “Do It Right From the Start” Dr. Hurdzan offered a long list o f todos and practical reminders for anyone entering into a project—large or small—on their course. Speaking from experience, he recommends: • Have a system, and do it right from the start. • Identify the limitations o f the site beforehand. • Take advantage o f any state-of-theart technologies available to help you resolve a problem. • Be sure to investigate several alterna­ tive methods to a problem. Usually there is no one right answer. • Hire competent experts/specialists to help solve a specific problem. For new construction projects, it’s always necessary, o f course, to involve the owners—or owners’ representative. • Stop. Look. Listen. Ask. Your two best tools in any project are your eyes and your commonsense. • Trust the facts, not the claims. Learn from the experience o f others. • Plan for sufficient contingencies for both time and money. Use the best, most affordable methods. • Use certified laboratories to ensure testing standards won’t vary from lab to lab. • When upgrading or installing an entirely new irrigation system, hire qualified irrigation designers. “Better to putt on slow grass instead of fast dirt. heights—from 9 /6 4 " to 5 /3 2 " throughout the year—to give turf a chance to recover. • Spray greens with the Spray Hawk; don’t use any riding equipment. • Refine syringing program with frequent “ H ot Spot Patrol and Con­ trols” and by incorporating hoses with reels on watering carts. Spike and use Turf Doctor as needed with syringing. • Ensure adequate air movement, using 5 Hp, 6,500 CFM blowers, not fans. • Fix turf problems right away by sodding. D on’t try to be a hero by seeding weak spots and waiting for three to five weeks for adequate healing. James Moore, USGA Mid-Continent Region Director: “Avoiding Maintenance on the Edge” • Ensure quality by relying on brandname products and materials. • Be like Santa: Make a list, and check it twice. D on’t take anything for granted. Inspect work being done, and docu­ ment any problems. You get what you mspect, not what you expect. • In construction, if you’re going to err, err on the side o f good drainage. • Do whatever you can to improve the “ micro-climate” o f a problem turf area. • Make no assumptions! Test, test, test—especially with irrigation water quality. It could be the culprit in an inexplicable turf problem. • D on’t compromise the long term for the short term. • Manage soil air, not soil moisture. Have more potential for air space. Water can always be added. David Lowe, Superintendent, Plantation Country Club, Florida: “Challenges of WarmClimate Bentgrass” When it comes to the care and feeding o f bentgrass greens, David Lowe’s advice is to do everything possible not to shock the turf in any way during the summer months. “ It’s almost like having 18 patients in IC U ,” he says. To avoid dangerously taxing greens, Lowe offers his formula for success: • Hand-mow greens and vary mowing Most disasters, says James Moore, are predictable, many preventable. Antici­ pating trouble spots and acting on them before they become major problems is key. “ Little things, like putting traffic control up before damage appears, goes a long way toward heading off problems before they get out o f hand,” he explains. Moore does note, however, that it takes a good three years to really understand— and learn the management o f—a piece o f property. Most disasters can be attributed to a combination o f factors—rarely one, single thing. That’s why Moore recommends that critical turf areas be graded with a “ scorecard” like the one we published—and wrote about— a year ago, in the March/April 1996 Tee to Green. As we illustrated then, this tool is helpful not only in turf manage­ ment, but also in communicating course conditions—and limitations—to club officials and committees. If you’d like a copy o f M oore’s scorecard, you can call Tee to Green Editor Dennis Petruzzelli at 914-2420706 or the USGA Construction/ Education Department at 817-7760765. PATRICK LUCA S, CG CS Innis Arden G olf Club Tee to Green March/April 1997 ( 5) News From the National Quick Take on the GCSAA Golf Championship, Conference, and Trade Show A record-breaking crowd—more than 22,000 from around the world—convened in Las Vegas, NV, for the 68th GCSAA G olf Championship, Conference, and Trade Show February 6 - 1 2 . The event opened with the G olf Championship, which this year attracted 720 golfers— 31 o f them MetGCSA members. Hotly contested on six different Las Vegas golf courses, the tournament ended with Michael Suess o f Woodbridge Country Club in North Carolina the champ. (See list o f those placing for the Met.) The tournament was, again, profes­ sionally coordinated by GCSAA staff and cosponsored by The Toro Com ­ pany. Tournament tee prizes included a new golf bag, kicking off a program that encouraged superintendents to support junior golf by donating their own bag to members o f the Southern Nevada Junior G olf Association. In addition to collecting more than 225 bags and thousands o f golf balls, the program raised $1,700 for junior golf initiatives in Southern Nevada. educational sessions. At least four Met members—John Carlone, Dave Mahoney, Tim O ’Neill, and Bob Alonzi—were either moderators or speakers at the conference. The Governmental/Environmental General Session, another conference highlight, featured a debate among Residential Developer Kim Richards and Fred Barnes and Eleanor Clift o f the weekly Sunday morning TV opinion program “ The McLaughlin Group.” The three sparred on governmental and environmental issues that affect the golf industry, including land use for course development, water rights, and pesticide use. The session confirmed the need for continued efforts in educating others on golf courses’ role in enhancing the environment. Hospitable Reception This year’s hospitality reception, held the evening o f February 9 at Bally’s, was cohosted by the MetGCSA and eight other associations: Connecticut, New Jersey, Hudson Valley, Rhode Island, New England, Cape Cod, Northeast, and Vermont. Providing a great oppor­ tunity to get together with colleagues from neighboring associations, this wellreceived event was again orchestrated by Woodbridge Country Club Superinten­ dent and Met Member John Streeter. Annual Meeting Notes Held the following day, February 10, the Annual Meeting culminated in the election o f Paul McGinnes, C G C S, o f Moon Valley CC in Phoenix, AZ, as the new president. Paul succeeds Bruce Williams, the new superintendent at Los Angeles Country Club in California. Bruce will continue to serve on the board for the next year as immediate past president. National Scorecard Ten Score at the 1997 GCSAA Golf Championship Off to a Good Start The conference officially began with the Opening Session, which featured a rousing talk by former Astronaut James Lovell who detailed his near-fatal flight aboard Apollo 13—and the role team­ work played, both on the ground and in the capsule, on the flight crew’s survival. Held at Bally’s, the headquarters hotel, the session also included the Leo Feser Award presentation, which this year went to M etGCSA friend and colleague Ken Lallier, superintendent at the Quechee Club in Vermont. A high honor, this annual award recognizes the author o f the best superintendentwritten article published in the GCSAA’s Golf Course Management. Lallier’s award-winning article, “ Capital Budgets: Let Me Hear You Justify,” appeared in the September 1996 issue o f GCM. Educational Opportunities Conference participants were then treated to a jam-packed agenda o f (6 ) Tee to Green March/April 1997 S ix Las Vegas area golf courses— Pauite Resort’s Nu Wav Kaiv and Tav ai Kaiv courses, Las Vegas Hilton Country Club, Badlands G olf Club, Sunrise Country Club, and Wildhorse G olf Club—were the playing fields for this year’s GCSAA G olf Championship. O f the 31 MetGCSA tournament players, 10 made scores worthy o f mention, with Gregg Stanley o f Hudson National G olf Club and Jim Fulwider o f Century Country Club, taking first place net and gross in their categories. Congratulations! First Flight category, 5th place net Fifth Flight category, 5th place gross Scott Niven, The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, CT Scott Tretera, Elmwood C C, White Plains, NY Second Flight category, 5th place gross Seventh Flight category, 5th place net Peter Bly, Brooklawn CC, Fairfield, CT John Ruzsbatzky, CC o f Farmington, Farmington, CT Second Flight category, 5th place net Eighth Flight category, 4th place gross John Alexander, Cranbury GC, Cranbury, N J Anthony Girardi, Rockrimmon C C , Stamford, CT Second Flight category, 7th place net Senior I category, 1st place gross John Gallagher III, Racebrook CC, Orange, CT James Fulwider, Century CC, Purchase, NY Fourth Flight category, 1st place net Senior II category, 3rd place gross Gregg Stanley, Hudson National GC, Croton-on-Hudson, NY Frank Lamphier, Life member, Williamstown, VT Other newly elected officials are Vice President George Renault, CG CS, o f Burning Tree Club in Bethesda, M D, and Secretary/Treasurer David Fearis, C G CS, o f Blue Hill Country Club in Kansas City, MO. Elected to two-year terms on the board are Michael Wallace, CGCS, o f Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury, CT; Tom Witt, CGCS, o f Wynstone G olf Club in North Barrington, IL; and newcomer Samuel Snyder, CG CS, o f Hercules Country Club in Wilmington, PA. Other business worthy o f mention: • GCSAA members approved a 19 percent dues increase. In 1997, Class A and B members will pay $250, while Class C members— assistant superinten­ dents—will pay $125. • Three o f the four proposed bylaws amendments were approved. Class AALife members will have dues waived; retiring members with 20 years’ service W hat a in a membership classification can retire in that class; and Class A and B mem­ bers who join GCSAA after July 1, 1997 are required not only to be members o f affiliate chapters when signing on but also maintain member­ ship in those chapters. The proposal to create a full-duespaying voting classification for profes­ sional assistant superintendents—those in their job for at least three years—was narrowly defeated, with 51 percent o f the membership voting against it. • It was announced that the award­ winning, 30-minute television program, “ Par for the Course,” is moving from ESPN to The G olf Channel. It will begin its fourth season on Saturday, March 22, airing for 26 consecutive weeks during an attractive early prime­ time viewing slot: 6:30 p.m. (Eastern time). It will replay on Tuesdays at 3 a.m. and noon, taking viewers inside the world o f golf by featuring how-to-play tips from Golf Digest school instructors, interviews with industry leaders and celebrities, site visits to top golf venues throughout the world, agronomic insights and environmental success stories. The Grand Finale The conference closed with the presen­ tation o f the Old Tom Morris Award to Professional Golfer Ben Crenshaw and the Gala Banquet and Show, which featured an outstanding performance by vocalist Kenny Loggins, who played many oldies— but goodies— from the ’70s. If you missed any or all o f these conference highlights, take heart. There’s always next year. The Golf Championship and Conference is scheduled for February 6 - 12 in Anaheim, CA. TIM O ’N EILL, CG CS Country Club o f Darien D ifference Q uality M akes ! “Stormy Acres Inc. indulges only in tournament quality Bentgrass sod. All of their bentgrasses are grown on high sand based soil” W e offer the highest quality bentgrass so d grow n, Our so d is available w a sh e d or w ith a high sand based soil. We offer the 1/8” - 5/32” height o f cut for greens and 1/4” height o f cut for tee and fairw ay sod. Contract gro w in g and installation are available. Orders sh ippe d via refrigerated truck and 100% guaranteed. Varieties Available: • Crenshaw • Pennlinks • Penncross • Southshore • G-2 • Blend (L-93, Southshore, Crenshaw) • L-93 • Providence • A-t •U.S. Open, 1950, 1971, and 1981 • U.S Amateur, 1966, and 1989 • Dominant • World Cup Team Championship, i960 Stormy S uperior B entgrass S od for G olf C ourses Val • Superintendent, Merion Golf Club, Retired • A-4 A cRESinc R ichie 3 7 F o r r est L ane 6 0 9 2 9 9 5109 • • NJ 0 8 0 6 9 6 0 9 2 9 9 7146 C a r n e y s P o in t , F ax: Tee to Green March/April 1997 ( 7 ) Money Matters Don’t Face Retirement With a High Handicap Financial Planner Ron Pompei Offers the Nuts-and-Bolts of Retirement Planning hether retirement is just around the corner or many years down the road, don’t face it with a high handicap. As you probably know, a comfortable retirement requires a lifetime o f saving and investing. What you may not know is that a change in law now enables golf clubs to offer their employees one o f the best— and most popular—ways to build a retirement nest-egg: a 401(k) plan. Effective January 1, this retirement savings plan—provided your club agrees to offer it—can help you accumulate substantial dollars for retirement through automatic payroll deductions. You select the amount you’d like to save, which can be up to 15 percent—or $9,500— o f your salary (including bonuses) a year. If you invest the maximum $9,500 a year for 20 years, you will have almost $500,000 in your account, assuming an 8 -percent rate o f return! W And because all the assets you build in your plan are going toward retire­ ment, you get special tax benefits that are hard to find elsewhere. First o f all, the money you put into the fund grows free from all taxes until withdrawn at retirement (when your tax bracket—and rate o f taxation—will be lower anyway.) Also, you can reduce your taxable income by the amount you contribute. Let’s say, for instance, you contribute the $9,500 yearly maximum to your 401(k). You would make monthly pretax salary contributions o f $792, reducing your monthly take-home pay by $570. If you’re subject to a 28percent federal tax rate, that means you would keep an extra $2,660 in your pocket—and out o f Uncle Sam’s. Another benefit: Some 401(k) plans allow employees to borrow from their own accounts before retirement. And if you change jobs, you can transfer your 401(k) money into an IRA or into your new employer’s 401(k) plan. Don’t Be Left High and Dry If your club doesn’t offer a 401 (k), you should be exploring—and talcing advantage o f—other options. One good one you may already be cashing in on is an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). This, too, allows you to take advantage o f valuable tax benefits while increasing the earning power o f your money. Making this plan all the more attractive now is that married couples with only one wage earner may contrib­ ute up to $4,000 to an IRA each year ($2,000 per spouse). The previous limit was $2,250. What’s more, you may be able to deduct all or part o f your IRA contribu­ tion from your taxes. (Your ability to deduct contributions are affected, for instance, if your employer—or your spouse’s—offer a 401(k) plan.) Assuming an 8-percent rate o f METRO MIL0RGANITE, INC. For a HEALTHY ADVANTAGE over SEASONAL PROBLEMS WE OFFER a WINNING LINE-UP New England’s Finest Sod ' 1AQUATROLS • 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 GOLF P R IM E -R T * ■ r A EGYPT FARMS COURSE ARCHI TECTS Emerald Isle. Ltd. Matrix Row Soil Surfactant $ Sentinel A n d e rs o n s #11 Sunningdale CC Milorganité 495 New Rochelle Road Bronxville, New York 10708 GOLF COURSE SUPPLIES 1- 800 - 341-6900 ( 8 ) Tee to Green March/April 1997 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 914 699*4437 * egypt Sterilized FARMS return, married couples contributing the your financial life when you invest a maximum $4,000 each year for 20 years regular fixed amount. This common investment strategy, called dollar cost will have an extra $200,000 to add to averaging, takes the guesswork out o f their retirement picture. knowing when to invest and helps you avoid panic selling in down markets. The Mutual Fund Option Deciding to open a retirement savings account is the first step. The next step is The Big Payoff If retirement planning—and saving— deciding how best to invest your funds. You owe it to yourself to make sure your sounds like more trouble than it’s worth, consider this: To maintain your money works as hard as you do. current life-style during retirement, you Mutual funds are popular and will need to generate income equal to relatively safe investment vehicles. 75 percent o f your final salary. In other (IRAs, 401 (ks), and other pension words, a salary o f $50,000 today will funds account for more than one-third double to $100,000 in less than 20 o f mutual fund assets.) They provide instant diversification by spreading your years, assuming a 4 percent yearly raise. To generate an income o f $75,000 money among several different invest­ through retirement— 75 percent o f a ments, so your profits don’t hinge on $100,000 final salary—you may need $1 the success o f any one security. million in savings! Believe it or not, today there are It’s not likely you’ll win the lottery, more than 7,000 mutual funds to and social security won’t be enough. So choose from. So whether you want no matter what your age or income maximum growth potential, more level, it’s never too soon—or too late— monthly income, or to preserve your to start setting aside money for your capital, there is a mutual fund to suit golden years. your needs. RO NALD J. POMPEI These funds can be used not only for Ronald J. Pompei & Associates retirement savings, but personal savings Tarry town, NY as well and impose a nice structure on Upcoming Events MetGCSA Golf Events at a Glance MetGCSA Business Meeting Wednesday, April 30 Scarsdale Golf Club, Hartsdale, NY Host: Herb Waterous Superintendent/Manager Tournament Monday, May 5 Rockland Country Club, Sparkill, NY Host: Matt Ceplo, CGCS Invitational Tournament Wednesday, June 4 Canyon Club, Armonk, NY Host: Paul Gonzalez MetGCSA Championship/Met Area Team Championship Qualifier, Round 1 Tuesday, July 22 Pelham Country Club, Pelham Manor, NY Host: Jeff Wentworth WHITE MARSH, MO (410) 335-3700 1-800-899-SOIL (7645) EGYPT FARMS EXCLUSIVE! All top dressing ingredients are thorough­ ly mixed and sterilized by indirect heat in our special process. The sand particles are actually coated with a mixture of top soil and peat humus for a completely homoge­ nous mixture that will not separate during handling and spreading. Egypt Farms top dressing is formulated especially for your area to specifications recommended by leading universities and testing laboratories. • Computerized blending of soil mix­ tures for a superior growing medium. • Custom on-site soil blending and testing with a portable computerized blender to meet your specifications. • Bunker Sands • Mulch • Canadian Sphagnum Peat Distributed by: Metro-Milorganite, ( 914 ) 666-3171 The Terre Co. ( 201 ) 473-3393 Maxwell Turf ( 516) 681-3032 Inc. WcMHOFWrF (800) 243-7582 CHOICE OF BENTGRASSES Thursday, March 20 Siwanoy Country Club, Bronxville, NY Host: Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Qualifier Dressing -Maintained at 5 /3 2 ” and 1/4”MetGCSA Championship/Met Area Team Championship Qualifier, Round 2 P e n n c ro s s • P r o v id e n c e • P e n n lin k s Tuesday, September 2 Country Club of Purchase, Purchase, NY Host: Bob Miller 3-Way Fairway Blend Met Area Team Championship Monday, October 6 Country Club of Darien, Darien, CT Host: Tim O’Neill, CGCS Pallets or Big Rolls Washing Service Available Superintendent/Green Chairman Tournament Tuesday, October 14 Preakness Hills Country Club, Wayne, NJ Host: John O’Keefe, CGCS MetGCSA Annual Meeting November Date TBA Ridgeway Country Club, White Plains, NY Host: Earl Millett High Fine Fescue Mix Versatile Blue-Fescue-Rye Mix Low-cut Blue Rye Available Farm Inspection Welcomed Tee to Green March/April 1997 ( 9) PARTAC SOD • SEED • FERTILIZER PAVERS • WALLS GOLF COURSE TOP-DRESSING D e L ea S od F arm s Serving the New York area with the finest Sod and service for over 60 years A M E R IC A 'S P R E M IU M FORKLIFT SERVICE VACUUM COOLED SOD • BIG ROLLS GROWERS OF IMPROVED BLUEGRASS BLENDS MIXTURES FESCUES BENT GRASS HEAT TREATED TOP-DRESSINGS TYPAR GEOTEXTILES & TURF BLANKETS U.S. G O LF HOLE ((( TARGETS AND MUCH MORE! ))) PARTAC PEAT CORPORATION 800 247-2326 908 637-4191 Harmony Organic Fertilizers Expedite • Spyker SAVATEE Our trained crews are careful on a golf course. We treat tees like greens and greens like gold. That is one reason five of this areas most prestigious clubs are already our clients. The other reasons? We prune judiciously using state-of-the-art techniques. We deep-root feed with our own organic blend. We cable and brace with future growth in mind. And, we will work with your crews to be most cost effective. If you want a tree company that consistently beats par, call us. TOPSOIL - - D IS T R IB U T E D IN WESTCHESTER & F A IR F IE L D BY: JAMES CARRIERE & SONS 914-937-2136 444 Elwood Road • East Northport, 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 SamS r e e COMPLETE TREE AND SHRUB CARE, NATURALLY 360 Adams Street, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 (914)666-8202 • (203)661-6755 n- Tee & Green And In Between DOW N TD la n d s c a p in g & golf course G EN ER A L M A S O N R Y c o n s tru c tio n G r eens , tees E xcavation and bunkers of a ll types P o nds / lakes D rainage S to ne LAND C LEARING w alls /M asonry A sphalt /C ar paths , etc . DRA INA G E T O N Y B E T T IN O 102 FULTON STREET WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. 10606 Tee to Green -INCORPORATED - Tel 914.576.7693 Fax 914.576.4106 (914) 949-3362 (10) • Bluegrass-Fine Fescue • Bentgrass • Bluegrass • Washed sod • BluegrassRyegrass • Installation Contact David Griffin P.O. Box 719 Harrison, N.Y 10528 TO N Y B ETTIN O W hether your challenge is a deadline, a tee, a green, a fairway, a rough, or a bunker surround, we have a blend that fits your needs. Give us a call for information about our selection of products, and our unique harvesting and washing techniques. March/April 1997 -H Scorecard Champions Crowned at Pine Hollow Super/Green Chairman Tourney Results I T t was at Pine Hollow Country Club that Met members played their final qualifying round for the Met Area Team Championship. Mark Millett fended off the challenges o f John Carlone and Mike Medonis by posting a 36-hole total o f 156 and securing a one-stroke victory. We also crowned champions in additional flights and in the B and C Classes. Here are the champs: Championship Flight ~ Gross Class A Winners Second Flight - HDCP 16-19 ~ Net 156 Mark Millett, Old Oaks CC 157 Mike Medonis, Bonnie B riar C C 157 John Carlone, Meadow Brook Club 149 Will Heintz, Hampshire C C 149 Bert Dickinson, Willow Ridge CC First Flight ~ HDCP 10-15 ~ Net Third Flight ~ HDCP 20 and Over ~ Net 144 Scott Tretera, Elmwood C C 149 Tony Grasso, Metropolis C C 127 Gary Arlio, North Jersey CC 155 Jim McNally, Greenrock Corp. Class B Winners 66 70 Class C Winners 68 Dave Polidor, St. Andrews GC Nicholas Lerner, Lakeover National 73 GC Dan Cancelled, J.A . Jackson Corp. Charlie Siemers, Hawthrone Bros. Tree Service hose fortunate enough to make it to Old Westbury G olf & Country Club for the M etGCSA’s Superintendent/Green Chairman Tourney were treated to a wonderful day o f golf on this historic site in Long Island. Host Superintendent Phil Anderson and his staff did a great job with the golf course and all the arrangements for the day. Here are the day’s winning results: Low Gross Winners 72 78 78 Low Net Winners 63 In addition to the championship, we had a Four Man Net Event. Teams that gelled were: 113 Mike Cook, Alpine, the Care of Trees; Ken Clear, Alpine, the Care of Trees; Joe Tamborski, Hempstead GC; Jeff Weld, Bayer Corporation 116 Gary Arlio, North Jersey CC; Bob DeMarco, Powelton Club; Jim McNally, Greenrock Corp.; John O ’Keefe, Preakness Hills CC 120 Mike Benz, Middle Bay CC; Nick Lerner, Lakeover National GC; Dave Polidor, St. Andrews GC; Scott Zalinsky, Siwanoy CC Longest Drive Closest to the Pin #5 #14 Dave Oatis, USGA John Carlone, Meadow Brook Club Many thanks to Pine Hollow Superintendent Gerry Kunkel, who provided beautiful conditions to complement a glorious fall afternoon, and to General Manager Gaspar Klamar for his extra efforts for the evening celebration. Special thanks, also, to Bob Alonzi and Steve Renzetti for picking out the Championship Plates. DAVE M AHONEY Siwanoy Country Club Bob D eM arco/Bert Mainey Powelton Club Jeff Wentworth/Rich Rennie Pelham Country Club Mike M edonis/D r. Herb Rubin Bonnie B riar Country Club 65 67 James M cN ally/Bob Snyder Greenrock Corporation Phil Anderson/Barry Swidler Old Westbury Golf & Country Club John Carlone/Joseph Brown Middle Bay Country Club Alternate Two-Ball Event Winners 59 Earl Millett, Ridgeway C C John O ’Keefe, Preakness Hills C C 61 Joe Stahl, Metro Milorganite Owen Regan, Tee and Green Sod Longest Drive John Carlone, Middle Bay C C Closest to the Pin J. Miller, Woodway Country Club Congratulations to one and all o f the tourney participants! BOB DEM ARCO Powelton Club Tee to Green March/April 1997 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 860-828-8905 J f t ALPINE, the CARE of TREES Mike Cook, NY: 914-948-0101 Ken Clear, CT: 203-847-1855 Peter McFarland, NJ: 201-445-4949 A1 Preston’s Garage Gary Shashinka Massey Ferguson Tractors 203-924-1747 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. Tim Marcoux/Ed Santalone 620 Commerce St., Thornwood, NY 10594 800-878-8873 f t Barenburg/Garfield Williamson Division P.O. Box 99 150 Main St., Ogdensburg, NJ 07439 John Farrell: 201-209-0088 l^Y Bayer Corp. l^Y E /T Equipment Co. Kevin Collins 425 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520 914-271-6126, FAX 914-271-6146 f t Fleet Pump & Service Group Donald Tiedemann 100 Calvert St., Harrison, NY 10528 914-835-3801 f t Blue Ridge Peat Farms Inc. Topdressing, Peat, Humus, & Potting Soil Gene Evans 717-443-9596 Mike Gesmundo/Ron Shapiro Chester, NY 800-535-1500 David A. Frechette Flôwtronics PSI Pumping Stations 203-528-7362 Floratine Products, Nova Tee, Flymo, Douglas Rollers, Trion Lifts Dave Basconi: 203-250-TURF f t DeBuck’s Sod Farm Premium Quality Kentucky Bluegrass, Tall Fescue Blends Leonard/Valeri: 914-258-4131 All Phases of Golf Course Construction David Griffin 914-576-7693 Owen Regan/David Wallace P.O. Box 418, Exeter, RI 02822 401-789-8177 f t The Cardinals, Inc. John E. Callahan 166 River Rd., Unionville, CT 06085 860-673-3699 f t The Scotts Company L. DeLea & Sons Sod Farms Tom Marmelstein Fertilizer, Fungicide, Growth Regulators 516-679-1961 ^Y The Terre Company of New Jersey, Inc. Vincent Sasso 444 Elwood Rd., E. Northport, NY 11740 516-368-8022 A Team of Professionals Serving Your Turfgrass Needs Greg Moran/Rich Cooke: 800-321-5325 Scott Apgar/Joe Stahl 365 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-666-3171, FAX 914-666-9183 Bob Oechsle/Tom Hunter Box 404, Ambler, PA 19002 800-401-0411 f t Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ 07838 Jim Kelsey: 800-247-2326/908-637-4191 Bill and Joe Carriere: 914-937-2136 Greg Hutch 877 Yellowbank Rd., Toms River, NJ 08753 908-929-4657 Byron Johnson Jr. 206 Delawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014 Office: 201-473-3393 Home: 203-748-5069 ☆ TurfNet Associates, Inc. Peter L. McCormick 21 Brandywine Rd., Skillman, NJ 08558 800-314-7929, FAX 908-359-3389 ^Y 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 Turf Products Corporation Ernie Rizzio/Buddy Rizzio 47 Howell Rd., Box 296, Mountain Lakes, N J 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 Robert Baker Company/Winfield Nursery, Inc. f t Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. f t Earth Works, Inc. The Soil Aerification Specialists P.O. Box 99, West Warham, MA 02576 Pat Lucas: 800-815-1113, FAX 508-295-8187 Jeff Rogers 1320 Mountain Rd., West Suffield, CT 06093 860-668-5225, FAX 860-668-5714 Egypt Farms, Inc. SAV-A TREE Dean Snyder P.O. Box 223, White Marsh, MD 21162 800-899-7645 (SOIL) Thomas Marino 360 Adams St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 914-666-8202 f t ELM Golf Services Bruce T. Moore Sr., CCLP 246 Selleck St., Stamford, CT 06902 203-316-5433, FAX 203-316-5434 f t Sawtelle Brothers Inc. 65 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA 01843 21 E. Dudley Town Rd., Bloomfield, CT 06662 800-999-TURF Bob Lippman Sr./Bob Lippman Jr. “ It’s the Service That Counts” Office: 914-248-7476, FAX 914-248-6862 f t 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 f t Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Chris Santopietro 2 Terminal Rd., Lyndhurst, NJ 07071 201-804-1000 f t Shemin Nurseries Inc. f t Emerald Isle, Ltd. William Middleton Safe, Natural, Effective Soil & Turf Products 800-628-4769 Tee to Green f t Tee and Green Sod Bill and Joe Carriere 7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573 914-937-2136 f t Rhone-Poulenc Co./CH IPCO ^Y Down To Earth Tony Bettino: 914-949-3362 Black Top, Stone Work, Landscaping, Excavation 102 Fulton St., White Plains, NY 10606 Jim Barrett P.O. Box 853, Montclair, NJ 07042 201-744-8237 Montco/Surf-Side/Zap! Defoamer ft D & S TBS Maintenance and Improvement Dave Pijnenburg Irrigation Contractor 203-748-0558 f t Metro Milorganite Inc. DAF Services Inc. Golf Course Construction and Renovation P.O. Box 854, Suffield, CT 06078 Kevin Sullivan: 860-528-7344 Ken Kubik Jay McKenna 201-361-5943 f t LESCO, Inc. f t Bruedan Corp. Sullivan’s Construction Service Inc. f t Grass Roots Inc. f t James Carriere & Sons, Inc. Jeff Weld West Milford, NJ 07480 201-208-2418 Bruce Pye/John Ferrucio 23 Route 206, Augusta, NJ 07822 201-579-5656 Glenn S. Moore 98 Hackgreen Rd., Pound Ridge, NY 10576 914-764-4348 James Barrett Associates, Inc. Stephen Kay/Ron Turek/Doug Smith 495 New Rochelle Rd., Bronxville, NY 10708 914-699-4437 f t Steven Willand, Inc. l^Y Glenmore Landscape Service f t Greenacres Company Stephen Kay, Golf Course Architects March/April 1997 Horticultural-Irrigation Supplies Jim Hespe: 203-531-7352 1081 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831 B EARD CO LLECTIO N JY Denotes M e tG <