Boardof Directors
President
JO H N CA R LO N E, CGCS
The Meadow Brook Club

Vice President
T IM O T H Y M O O R E
Knollwood Country Club

Secretary
WILLIAM H E IN T Z
Centennial G olf Club

Cover:Alpine Country Club
Photo by golf course photographer
Dan McKean

Treasurer

a l p in e

DAVID M A H O N EY
Siwanoy Country Club

Past President
EARL MILLETT

COUNTRyl
CLUB

Ridgeway Country Club

SEAN CAIN
Sunningdale Country Club

M A TTH EW CEPLO, CGCS
Rockland Country Club

A N T H O N Y G IR A R D I, CGCS
Rockrimmon Country Club

.

n this Issue

PE TE R M cC O R M IC K
TurfNet Associates, Inc.

E R IC O ’NEILL
Scarsdale G olf Club

STEVEN R E N Z E T T I, CGCS
Quaker Ridge G olf Club

PATRICK SISK
Country Club o f Fairfield

JEFFREY W E N T W O R T H
Pelham Country Club

Executive Secretary
INEKE PIE R P O IN T

Tee t o t a l Staff
Editors
PATRICK SISK
f 203-254-1240

STEVE RENZETTI !
914-725-2144

V iew s From Seasoned V eterans.................................................................... 2
M e tG C S A Past Presidents Talk A bout the Way Things Were—
and Where They're Headed
by Peter R . Rappoccio, C G C S

It W ouldn’t H appen T o d a y .............................................................................6
Long-time Superintendents Offer Their Personal Testimony on H ow the Industry
Has Changed— -for Better orfo r Worse

Beware o f B entgrass D ead Spot: T he N ew D isease in Tow n ....... 13

Managing Editor
PANDORA C.WOJICK

Editorial Committee
| MIKE COOK
TOM LEAHY «
|IKE MONGON
SCOTT NIVEN |
CE HALDERMAN
BILL PERLEE
2HIP LAFFERTY
TIM O ’NEILL
§ PAT LUCAS
PETER RAPPOCCIO
HERBWATEROUS

M em ber N ew s .................................................................................................... 8

Photographer
BILL PERLEE

U p c o m in g Events .............................................................................................. 9

Advertising Manager
STEVE RENZETTI, 914-725-2144

S corecard ................................................................................................................9

Contributors
SEAN CAIN,TIM MOORE
TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the
Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819
914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437
Copyright © 2000

■HH

S p o tlig h ts.............................................................................................................10
R egion al N ew s ..................................................................................................12

S E R IA L S
Nu\/ 0 7 ¿003
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES

Preparing Our
Profession for
the Future
t^

. ^ ^ e p te n ib e r 8 - 10, I attended the
Annual Chapter Delegates Meeting in
Lawrence, KS, and Kansas City, MO. The
100 chapter delegates, the GCSAA Board
of Directors, and the GCSAA staff cov­
ered a lot of useful ground, some of which
1 thought Ld share with you.
First and foremost, let me talk about
the main focus of this event, which is to
meet the candidates for the GCSAA
Board of Directors. I’m pleased to report
we have a strong roster of candidates for
2001, and we reallv can't no wronir in

■ electing any one of them. Our own Tim
O ’Neill gave an outstanding presentation
and, in my opinion, is a shoe-in for reelection
to the board.

M s State of Affairs
I The meeting kicked off with a detailed stateof-the-association address from GCSAA
lEO Steve Mona. This, as you can imagine,
nvolved a lot of statistics about membership,
paries, education, and future goals.
Secretary/Treasurer Mike Wallace and
|C FO Julian Arrendondo reported on incom­
ing revenue, as well as on how GCSAA
I spends its $21-million budget.
The most eye-opening statistic,Jic
had to do with how much we ;
corporate sponsorship. Wi|h^
and B members would hay
dues each year to susi
¡programs and servic^NTk
l than five times greater than tb
^ntly pay in dues. (Thank you corporate
pnerica!)
| | GCSAA staff and board members cov­
e re d several other topics regarding the cur­
rent status and future plans of GCSAA’s
■bograms and services. The show stealer
among them was, as you might guess, the
Professional Development Initiative (PDI).
I If you’re a GCSAA member, you received
a copy of the final PDI proposal in late
Muigust. If you haven’t seen the proposal, you
| can get a copy by calling the GCSAA Service
Center at 800-472-7878, or you can go to
the Web—www.gcsaa.org—and call up the
|f PDI section under the Learning Center.
: PDI will be up for vote at the GCSAA
IfAnnual Meeting on February 16, 2001 in
Dallas, TX. If passed, it will go into effect on
July 1,2003.
At the MetGCSA Annual Meeting and
1 elections at Knollwood Country Club on
November 8, we will discuss—and take a
vote on—PDI. Tim O ’Neill and I will be
available to answer any questions you may
live on the initiative.
I Every Class A and B member of the Met,
who is also a GCSAA member, will be
allowed to cast a vote. Anyone failing to cast

John Cartone, C G C S
M etG C SA President

■will be recorded as a “yes,” in favor of
3assjMj the PDI. As the MetGCSA’s voting
d e le te ; I will register the association’s votes
)allas.
To help you all make the most informed
vote possible on this important initiative, be
sure to review the complete report. In the
meantime, I thought I’d hit on a few of the
high points of the Professional Develop­
ment Initiative: how it came about and a
little bit about what appears to be one of
the most controversial pieces of this
initiative, classification.

The Long and Short of the PDI
Several years ago, GCSAA members began
to understand that superintendents exist in a
changing professional environment. More is
expected now from superintendents than
ever before. And more will be expected in
the future. GCSAA members have said—
and continue to say—that they want greater
recognition, compensation, job security and
opportunities.
A Membership Standards Resource
group was formed to look at how to achieve
these goals in the future. SRI International
was retained to research what superinten­
dents do and which of these tasks employers
value most.
Taking all these factors into account, a
mission statement was developed for the
PDI, which stated its prime purpose: “To
improve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of
the professional superintendent that con­
tribute toward improved playing conditions
and the enjoyment of the game of golf.”
continued on page 12

■ ll
Wm ■
Mb

MetGCSA Past
Presidents Talk
About the Way
Things Were—
and Where They’re
Headed
by Peter R. Rappoccio, C G C S

Joe Alonzi, CGCS, 1984

Tee to Green September/October 2000

t this year’s Winter Seminar, I was sharing the
table with some of the MetGCSA’s more experi­
enced superintendents: Bob “The Legend”
Alonzi (Fenway GC), Joe Alonzi (Westchester
CC), Dennis Flynn (Brae Burn CC), Greg
Wojick (Greenwich CC), and Mike Reeb (CC
of New, Qanaan). We covered everything from
turf-related problems to who had the mostjsuspicious golf handicap. (Guess who was the handsdown winner?)

“ You must show true
dedication to each and
every job you take. Work
for several different
superintendents to gain a
As The Legend was pontificating on his
favorite subject—which is any subject— I
glanced around the room and noticed a lot
of new and young faces. It was strange not
knowing all of them.
I thought back to when I was one of the
new kids on the block, fresh out of turf
school and an “unknown” to the more
established members of the MetGCSA. I
wondered if this new breed of turf profes­
sional is concerned with the same things I
was at that age: What was it going to take to
become a good superintendent? How could I
network with the established supers to improve
myself and excel in this industry?
With the industry changing as it has—
some good changes, some less than good—
I thought it might be interesting to speak to
several of the association’s veterans and past
leaders. I wanted to get their perspective
not only on how the industry—and associ­
ation— have evolved over the past 20 to 30
years, but also on what the new generation
of turf professionals can do to up their odds
of succeeding in our increasingly competi­
tive business.
In the Q & A that follows, four
MetGCSA past presidents—Larry Pakkala,
CGCS (Woodway Country Club), Scott
Niven, CGCS (The Stanwich Club), Bob
Alonzi, CGCS (Fenway Golf Club), and Joe
Alonzi, CGCS (Westchester Country
Club)— reflect on the changes that have
occurred. In some of their comments, you
might detect a note of disappointment, in
others, a longing for the way things were.
But overall, I think, you’ll come away with
a great sense of optimism about where our
profession, as golf course superintendents, is
headed.

W hat was your impression when
you attended your very first
M etG C SA meeting? Who did you
consider the “legends” o f the time?
Scott Niven: I was very impressed with
the professionalism of the group and the
way educational information was dissemi­
nated at every meeting. I considered
Sherwood Moore and Ted Horton the leg­
ends of the time.

Larry Pakkala: My first experience was
actually outside the Met area—in
Philadelphia, where I worked for Merion
Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club.
So naturally, the association experiences I
had and the legends I’d think to name
wouldn’t apply to the Met area. I did have
the opportunity, though, to see, firsthand,
one of the Met group’s legends in action
when I was an assistant at Merion. I’ll never
forget hearing a young, 26-year-old
Canadian gentleman speak at a Philadelphia
association’s meeting. He was introduced as
the new superintendent at Winged Foot—
and none other than Ted Horton. From the
moment I met him, a fire was lit in my belly.
Bob Alonzi: I remember the MetGCSA as
more of a fraternal organization. Our
monthly gatherings were more informal
than they are now; they were less social with
more information being exchanged between
superintendents. Many times, we would play
golf at a club and then adjourn to a local
restaurant for a meal and meeting.
The legends of the time? Sherwood
Moore, Harry Nichol, Gary Crothers, and
Tedjozwick.
Joe Alonzi: The MetGCSA in my early
years was a group of guys willing to help
each other in any way they could. Meeting
time was spent discussing and solving prob­
lems. Everything was out in the open. I
would say the legends of the time were
Sherwood Moore, Everett Wood, Harry
Nichol, and Bob Depencier.

How have assistants9roles and
responsibilities changed over the
years?
Scott: As an assistant 20 years ago, my job
was not much different than other staff
members’ except that I handled the more
technical aspects of the job, like setting up
the course, spraying, and irrigation. Today,
we expect our assistants to do all those
things plus assume some responsibility for
managing the crew. My assistants are also
more involved in office work and planning
than I ever was.

varied perspective on
A
how to manage turf,
people, and a
maintenance operation. ”

Legends Bob Alonzi, CGCS (L)
and Sherwood Moore, CGCS (R), 1984

Larry: The biggest change I’ve seen is the
introduction of computer technology in
turfgrass maintenance. We didn’t have com­
puters when I was an assistant. Now, stu­
dents graduate from college computer
literate. Lightweight mowing and clipping
removal on fairways is another major mile­
stone over the past 20 years. Our mowing
equipment is far more sophisticated, and
pesticide performance and safety has
improved. Educational events and materials
have also revolutionized the industry.

Larry: I don’t think the role has changed a
great deal unless you’re at a multi-course
facility. Assistants are still doing the spray­
ing, irrigation, and night watering (but now
with computers and handheld radios).
Hand watering hasn’t changed. If anything,
we’re doing more of it than we ever did, and
our assistants are taking charge of that
responsibility. I’d also say assistants are bet­
ter informed and held in higher regard by
superintendents than they were in the ear­
lier days.
Bob: The title of assistant superintendent
did not really exist 30 years ago. Most clubs
had foremen who ran the crew with the
same capacity of the assistant today. The
first club to have an assistant, I believe, was
Winged Foot. As interest in the industry
increased, programs at schools were devel­
oped for turf students interested in becom­
ing assistants and superintendents. Jim
Fulwider Sr. and Ted Jozwick were two of
the first superintendents to have a formal
turf-related degree.
Joe: I was one of the few individuals with
the assistant title back in my early years.
Since very few clubs had full-time mechan­

ics, the assistant also doubled as a part-time
mechanic. The duties of course setup, spray­
ing, running the crew, and daily course
inspection, like today, were also among the
assistant’s prime responsibilities. Today’s
assistants are expected to do those things
plus take a more active role in making deci­
sions, running the crew, and even helping
with the budget process.

What, in your opinion, are the
biggest changes in the industry in the
past 15 to 20 years?
Scott: The biggest change is the increase in
the amount of money clubs are willing to
spend on golf course maintenance. This
shift has allowed us to do whatever is neces­
sary to create conditions of the highest
quality on an everyday basis. Triplex or
hand mowing of fairways, hand cutting
greens and tees, hand raking bunkers, lots of
hand watering, as well as spraying, irrigat­
ing, fertilizing and mowing roughs with
small machines . . . these are very expensive
and labor-intensive maintenance proce­
dures. Budgets for capital improvements
have also grown phenomenally in the past
20 years at many clubs.

Bob: The standards have changed by leaps
and bounds. Thirty or so years ago, people
were just happy to play golf. They weren’t as
hung up on conditions. The change in
demands began to happen when the tele­
vised golf began to change. In the late ’70s,
early ’80s, for instance, when they televised
an event—and they wouldn’t televise many,
only two or three of the major ones—they
would show maybe the last four or five
holes. Now, today, you can see golf almost
every day on TV, and when a major event is
televised, you get every hole, with aerial
views and replays of the shots. Conditions
are emphasized, and they’re there for all to
see.
Our growing resources— equipment and
budget—also play a part in golfer expecta­
tions. At the better clubs during that era,
fairways were cut at 5/8" to 3/4". But as
equipment and budgets improved, expecta­
tions escalated. Height of cut, speed of
greens... they became the focus.
Another of the major—and among the
more positive— changes in our industry have
to do with pesticide regulations. I keep wait­
ing for the doctor to tell me I’ve got the Big
C because of my exposure to chemicals years
ago. The harmful ones are now banned, and
more important, we’re educated in how to
apply and handle these materials responsibly.
Still another change is the formal educa­
tional level of superintendents: It’s much
higher. Recognition and respect for super­
intendents as leaders in the field has become
the norm, as well. And superintendents’
compensation packages are far more impres­
sive. Maybe that accounts for the surge in
the number of people hoping to become
superintendents.

“Beflexible. Make
the course you select,
not the part of the
country it’s in, your
priority. ”
On the negative side, the makeup of
crews has changed: Finding quality people
and keeping them is a challenge. What ever
happened to the old Italian gardener who
had to be asked only once to do something
before it got done?
Sadly, too, the business has become more
cut-throat. It used to be that you retired
when you didn’t want to work anymore.
Today, you make a lot more money, but it’s
more like the corporate world: You never
know when the ax is going to fall.
Larry Pakkala, CGCS, 1984

Joe: The biggest change has to be environ­
mental awareness. Today’s superinten­
dents have to be stewards of the environ­
ment, particularly with the growing pres­
sure from the public to conserve our natural
resources— and minimize pesticide use.
Other major changes from the early years,
I’d say, are increased budgets, the demand
for perfect turf, and committee involvement
in golf course operations.

I f you had the chance to change
something in your progression
through the ranks, what would it be
and why?
Scott: I suppose I would have liked to work
for what we’re referring to here as one or
two of the legends in turfgrass management
before becoming a superintendent. Training
under the best—and at the best clubs—offers
a perspective on managing turf and staff that’s
really beyond compare.
Larry: I feel good about how my career
has progressed. I guess if I were to change
something, it would be the number of hours
I’ve had to spend every day getting to where
I am. Now that my kids are grown— one’s
in college, the other’s graduated— I regret
not having spent more time with my family.
You’d think with all our technological
advances, the time we have to invest in the
job would have changed. But during the
growing season, it’s still 24/7. Have you
ever taken a summer vacation with your
wife and kids?

Bob: That’s hard to answer. I worked my way
up from the bottom to the top. I probably
would have liked to learn, early on, to schedule
my time better so that I could have spent more
time away from the job and with my family.
It’s just that it always seemed that problems
occurred when I was away from work. It’s
hard to change that way of thinking.
Joe: I’m happy with the path my career has
taken. I wouldn’t change a thing. I have
made many good friends along the way—
some of them still among my closest friends
in the business.

How do you see the superintendent’s
role changing in the next few years?
Scott: Though superintendents’jobs have
begun to resemble more closely an “execu­
tive style” of management, I think the pen­
dulum may begin to swing back a little the
other way with superintendents trying to
spend more time on the course and less time
in the office. Hopefully, with the new com­
munication technology— cell phones,
Internet, fax, e-mail—we’ll be able to
become efficient enough to do that.
Larry: I see a trend expanding that’s already
started: superintendents assuming the role of
general manager. I also see many more
superintendents hiring second assistants to
help them manage a workload that is
becoming increasingly difficult to accom­
plish with the growing demands and expec­
tations of club members.

Bob: I see the role of the superintendent
expanding beyond turfgrass management
to other areas of the club. I see superin­
tendents, for instance, becoming facilities
managers or even filling the role of general
manager.
Superintendents will continue to be
challenged to meet the increasingly high
standards set by today’s clubs. But no mat­
ter how the role of superintendent evolves,
I only hope the day-to-day satisfaction
we’ve derived in the past from our jobs still
remains.
Joe: Different clubs will take different
paths. Some clubs may look to expand the
role of the superintendent to complete
facility management, property manage­
ment, or even the role of general manager.

What advice do you have for
graduating turf students or young
assistants to help them progress in
the profession today?
Scott: You must show true dedication to
each and every job you take. Work for sev­
eral different superintendents to gain a var­
ied perspective on how to manage turf,
people, and a maintenance operation. Ask
a lot of questions. And last but not least,
work on your golf game.
Larry: Don’t think you’re an expert upon
graduation. Be humble, eager, and a good
listener.
Vary your experience by working as an
assistant at more than one course or club.
And whatever you do, don’t pass up a good
opportunity just because it’s outside the
Met. This area, after all, isn’t the only one
with great golf courses.
Be flexible. Make the course you
select, not the part of the country it’s in,
your priority.
Remember, the more
impressive the club—and superintend­
ent—the better your learning experience
and, ultimately, your resume will be.
Understand that the profession is much
more competitive than it was 20 to 30
years ago, making it harder to find a job as a

superintendent. But I’m a firm believer
that if you work hard and stay focused
on your dream you can make it a reality.
Bob: I*m from the old school, so I
believe there is no substitute for hard
work, both physical and mental. Position
yourself to strive for higher goals, both in
the field and educationally. Be on the
leading edge of what is going on with the
maintenance standards, education, and
turf products. Those who have retired
will tell you that success comes from con­
stantly expanding your knowledge of
turf, equipment, and people skills. This is
essential in dealing with all aspects of golf
course maintenance.

It Wouldn’t Happen Today
Long-time Superintendents Offer Their Personal
Testimony on How the Industry Has Changed—
for Better orfor Worse
ing lunch one day up at the clubhouse. She
made it known that the gardener should not
be allowed to eat in the grill room.
Bob Alonzi, CGCS, Fenway Golf Club

Environmental Stewardship: AWelcome
Change

Joe: Work at as many clubs as possible
for as many superintendents as possible.
Don’t settle into one club. Continue the
educational process after college. Be
selective in choosing your first superin­
tendent’s job; don’t jump at the title.

Personally Speaking
I vividly remember my first MetGCSA
meeting in 1976 at Winged Foot. During
dinner, I shared a table with Sherwood
Moore, Ted Horton, and my boss at the
time, Ted Jozwick. I was impressed with
how willing these legends were to share
information. They made me feel com­
fortable; it was like I’d been a member for
years.
Over the past 20 or 30 years, it’s true,
the industry has changed. To those who
have been in the business a long time, it’s
a whole new world, with many exciting
advances and, along with them, a num­
ber of new—and sometimes unwel­
come— challenges. But as with any
change, we have to take the good with
the bad and, most of all, learn from our
mistakes.
If I were to leave young professionals
with any lessons learned, I’d say: Always
be willing to help others in the field;
keep a strong network of friends, and
make time for those friends and family
too. Don’t be all-consumed by the job.
Enjoy the ride, but try to give something
back to the business. And the most
important bit of advice I can give:
Never, and I mean never, give Bob
Alonzi shots!
Peter Rappoccio, a member of the Tee to
Green Editorial Committee, is superintend­
ent at Silver Spring Country Club in
Ridgefield, CT, and also a past president of
the MetGCSA.

When the Job Was Fun
Stanwich, like most clubs in the Met area,
has changed over the years. The club really
seemed to shift into high gear about the
time I arrived in 1983. Before that—par­
ticularly back in the late ’60s— according
to some of the long-time members of my
staff, play was much lighter and the atmos­
phere more relaxed. So relaxed, in fact,
that one hot afternoon a couple of our
grounds crew located a pair of water skis
and a rope. They tied the rope to the back
of a tractor and tried to pull the skier the
length of our #17 pond. My sources
admitted that the tractor couldn’t get
going fast enough for any quality skiing,
but it was sure fun trying.
There’s certainly no time—or toler­
ance—for those antics nowadays.
Scott Niven, CGCS, The Stanwich Club

Professional Status: We’ve Come a Long
Way Baby
When I was at Winged Foot, one of the
female members would refer to me as the
“head gardener.” So you can only imagine
how upset she was when she saw me hav­

When I first started in the golf course busi­
ness, we used chemicals that have long since
been banned: Mercury, DDT, Clordane, to
name several.
When I was 19 or 20, working summers
on a golf course crew, the superintendent
would have me spot-treat crabgrass with
mercury. He, like everyone else in those days,
never thought about taking precautions. So I
was totally unaware that it would be harmful
to have it touch my skin—until one day, I was
pouring the mercury from one container to
another and it spilled on my hands. I sus­
tained third-degree burns; the skin on my
hands blistered and turned black. I had to
have surgery, and the doctor told me I’d be
scarred for life. Fortunately, he was wrong
about that. My hands are okay.
Similarly, back then we used to buy DDT
in 50-gallon drums and didn’t do anything by
specific weight. We’d use a coffee can to
measure one pound of material and we’d put
out three coffee cans of material on the fair­
ways every week. Every fall, we’d spray
Clordane on the fairways, whether they
needed it or not. When we reached the bot­
tom of the DDT barrel, we’d stick our heads
in to fill up our coffee cans.
If I behave kind of funny, now you know
why. Actually, those chemicals have probably
affected my immune system—and I’ll live
forever.
Bob Alonzi, CGCS

When There Was a Limit to What You Could
Spend
A USGA Green Section agronomist relates
the story about calling on a club that was
about to embark on a major greens recon­
struction program. The green chairman
asked the agronomist where they could buy
“shallow cups.” It seems a budget crunch was
beginning to hit the club, and they wanted to
consider reducing the amount of topsoil to
be put on the greens. Hence, “shallow cups.”

This is a story that Bill Smart told me rft|one
time. I thought it had a good moral for every
superintendent.
“I was standing on one of our Powelton
fairways when a female golfer approached me
and told me how good the course looked. I
said nothing and remained staring at the turf.
When she repeated herself agiin, I replied that
the course was not in good shape ana asked her
to look at THAT, pointing down at the turf.
“‘Look at what?’she asked. ‘I don’t see any­
thing but grass.’ Getting down on my hands
and knees, I proceeded to show her that we
were beginning to get some clover in the fair­
ways. ‘Oh,’she replied, and went on her way.
“About two weeks later, the entire club
was in an uproar. Over what? You guessed it:
clover in the fairways!”
Pat Lucas, CGCS, Innis Arden Golf Club

Oh, How Maintenance Has Changed
I distinctly recall, when I was the assistant at
Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, one
August day in 1976, standing on the 15th tee
with my boss, Richie Valentine, and looking
at the severe fairway turf loss we’d suffered
that summer. (Back then, we were always
searching for ways to prolong turf survival in
July and August.)
Richie kept remarking how good the
4000-square-foot teeing area looked while
the fairway surrounding it was gone . . .
cooked. Trying to surmise what the differ­
ence in maintenance practices was, it
became quite obvious that the tee was
always mowed with a triplex, and the clip­
pings were caught.
After making that observation, Richie
added that maybe someday all golf courses
would be mowing fairways with triplexes
and catching clippings.
Little did we know that those days were
just around the corner—in the ’80s!
Thinking about it now, I can’t understand
what took us so long to accept a practice
that, I think, has revolutionized the way we
maintain our golf courses today. Now, many
superintendents are maintaining fairways like
greens. Several, in the area, are even topdress­
ing fairways regularly. What’s next?
Larry Pakkala, Woodway Country Club, CGCS

I’m not naming any names, but here’s a story
that comes to mind when I think about
something that might not have had a positive
outcome—for the superintendent—had it
happened today.
Back in the early ’80s, a certain green
chairman was out golfing and hit his ball
into a sand trap. When he hit it out, the ball
struck the branch of a nearby tree. The
chairman marched into the superinten­
dent’s office and asked the superintendent
to take down the branch. But the branch
was sizable, and had it been removed, it
would have disfigured the tree.
Rather than succumbing to something
that he didn’t believe would profit the
course, the superintendent told the chairman
that he doesn’t make changes to the turf or
trees just to suit a golfer’s game.

When the green chairman persisted, the
superintendent told him that if he wanted
the branch removed, he’d have to do it him­
self—and with his own tools.
Needless to say, the branch never came
down—nor did it cost the superintendent his
job.
JoeAlonzi, CGCS, Westchester Country Club

m ^ e re ’s a story I’ll never forget Bill
Smart telling me. For those who haven’t
been around as long as I have, Bill was the
author of the Hudson Valley Foreground
newsletter and the legendary “greenkeeper”
at the Powelton Club, where I’m now super­
intendent.
“It was a hot summer day in the mid’60s,” Bill said. “I had guys going out to
spray greens, and due to some sort of chemi­
cal mix-up, we ‘smoked’ all 18 greens. The
next day, all the greens were as brown as the
Sahara Desert! I shook in my boots as I pre­
pared to call my green chairman.
“When I finally told him what had hap­
pened, the first thing he said was: ‘Bill, how
will they putt?’ I was stunned! After a sec­
ond or two, I thought about it and said:
‘Probably not bad and pretty fast!’
“Then my green chairman said, ‘Will they
come back?’ And I replied,‘Oh yes, this fall
they should be fine.’
“‘Well then, Bill,’ my green chairman said,
‘carry on.’ And that was that.”
Bob DeMarco, Powelton Club

It was the early ’80s, and we were experiment­
ing with controlling Canada Geese by floating
Styrofoam swans along the shore of our irriga­
tion lake. One morning, we came in and
found that some of the swans were broken
with Styrofoam pieces scattered around and
floating in the pond. When you have some 60
homes bordering your course, vandalism is all
too common a problem.
Well, that evening my son, Scott, told me
that, at school, he overheard “Johnny Jones”
bragging that, the night before, he had gone
into Innis Arden and smashed some swans.
This fifth grader even had the heads and necks
hanging in his room as souvenirs!
The next day after school began, I tele­
phoned Johnny’s mom. I told her that some of
our swans were damaged, and I had heard that
maybe Johnny had found some of the pieces.
If Johnny had them, I told his mother, I’d
appreciate it if he could drop them off at my
home after school.
About 4 p.m., Johnny’s mom pulls up in a
big Mercedes. Johnny gets out of the car, head
hung low, and walks up to my house. Handing
me the swan parts, he apologizes, saying he’s
really sorry for what he’s done.
Maybe a good lesson learned at an early
age. But I wouldn’t be surprised ifJohnny was
still wondering how on earth I found out.
Pat Lucas, CGCS
A fellow superintendent and I were talking
about how some green chairmen like to build
“monuments” to themselves while in office.
This super told me the story about a green
chairman who wanted to build a pond on a
short Par 3 hole for his monument. He tried to
explain to his boss that the tee was much lower
than the elevated green, and if the club built
the pond, it really wouldn’t be seen.
Exasperated, the chairman replied: “Can we tilt
it or something?”
Sherwood Moore, CGCS (need we say more?)

New Members
Please join us in welcoming the following
new members:

MetGCSA Scholarships Awarded
at Tamarack Invitational

Gerardo Forgione, Class D,The Stanwich
Club, Greenwich, CT
James Schell, Class D,The Stanwich Club,
Greenwich, CT
Herb Williams, Class C, Quaker Ridge
Golf Club, Scarsdale, NY

From left to right:
Timothy Rappoccio,
Peter Rappoccio,

Ted Zabrenski, Class AS, The Golf Club at
Mansion Ridge, Monroe, NY

Brian Moore,
Meredith Moore,
CarlyAmodio,
Jennifer Apple,
Kelly Fuller
(Christina Finamore was
not presentfor the picture.)

Members on the Move
Blake Halderman is the new superintend­
ent at Trump National Golf Club in Briar
Cliff Manor, NY.
Previous position:
Superintendent at Minisceongo Golf Club,
Pomona, NY.
Kevin Quist is the new superintendent at
Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, NY.
Previous position: Assistant superintendent at
Ardsley Country Club, Ardsley-on-Hudson,
NY.

MetGCSA Scholarship and Research
Committee awarded a total of $8,500 in
scholarships to eight deserving members’
children at the June 26 Invitational at
Tamarack Country Club.
Scholarship funds are generated largely
from the Annual Bill Caputi Scholarship
Raffle, which has become an institution at
our yearly Christmas party. The raffle was
named in honor of Bill, who was superin­
tendent at Hampshire Country Club and
died unexpectedly at a young age. Bill
would have been proud to be associated
with the fine group of students who have
been awarded our scholarships over the
years.
The Scholarship Committee selects
candidates based on their maturity, aca­
demic history, ambition, extracurricular
activities, and effort exhibited in complet­
ing their application.
Congratulations to this year’s scholar­
ship recipients—and their parents:
Carly Anne Am odio, daughter of Jean
and Frank Amodio of Valley View
Greenhouses, is a sophomore at Boston
College and a past recipient of the award.
Jennifer Apple, daughter of John and
Donna Apple ofWestchester Ford Tractor, is
in her freshman year at Boston University.

Christina Finamore, daughter of Janet
and Steve Finamore, superintendent at
Alpine Country Club, is a sophomore at
Montclair State University.
Kelly Fuller, daughter of Kimberley Jones
and Mark Fuller of Connecticut Golf Club,
is a freshman at the University of
Massachusetts.

Ed Walsh is the new superintendent at The
Golf Club at Adelphia in Coudersport, MA.
Previous position: Superintendent at The
Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, Monroe, NY.
Jason Ziesmer is the new superintendent at
Minisceongo Golf Club, Pomona, NY.
Previous position: Assistant superintendent at
Minisceongo Golf Club.

Brian Moore, son of Beth and Tim Moore,
superintendent of Knollwood Country
Club, is a freshman at SUNY-Potsdam.

Births

Meredith Moore, daughter of Beth and
Tim Moore, is a junior at SUNY-Plattsburgh
and a past recipient of the award.

Congratulations to Westchester Country
Club Assistant Neil Laufenberg and his
wife, Gina, who had a baby boy, Kyle, on
August 17.

Timothy Rappoccio, son of Birdie and
Peter Rappoccio, superintendent of Silver
Spring Country Club, is a freshman at
University of Delaware.
Peter J. Rappoccio, son of Birdie and Peter
Rappoccio, is a senior at Virginia Technical
University and a past recipient of the award.
This year, two additional scholarships—
donated by the Bayer Corporation—were
awarded for outstanding scholastic achieve­
ment. Jeff Weld represented Bayer in
personally delivering the scholarships to
Kelly Fuller and Timothy Rappoccio.
Congratulations!

Ineke, the MetGCSA’s Executive Secretary
and her husband, George Pierpoint,
superintendent of Ardsley
Country Club, are the
proud grandparents of
their new grandson,
Garrett Pierpoint, born
September 19 to their
son Rob and his wife,
Sue. Rob is also a
superintendent at
Links at Erie Village
in East Syracuse, NY.
Congratulations to
one and all.

IBigDraw for the Poal
Annual at Brooklawn

What Are You Waiting For?
If anyone is interested in hosting a MetGCSA golf or social event next year, it’s not too
early to volunteer your club. For golf meetings, call one of the Tournament Committee
co-chairs—-JeffWentworth, 914-738-2752, or Sean Cain, 914-723-3238. To host a social
event, contact Social & Welfare Committee Chairman Joe Alonzi, 914-798-5361.

Met Professional Events to Remember
MetGCSA Annual Meeting
Note the New Date: Wednesday, November 8
Knollwood Country Club, Elmsford, NY

Host:Tim Moore

Don’t miss this important opportunity to discuss and cast your vote for the new
Professional Development Initiative!

The 2000 Poa Annual Tournament drew
114 golfers August 10 to Brooklawn
Country Club in Fairfield, CT. The historic
track,
finely
groomed
by
host
Superintendent Peter Bly and his staff,
proved challenging to even the most sea­
soned golfers.
Many thanks to Peter and to General
Manager Mike Sessam and PGA Pro Brad
Worthington and staffs for their work in
making our annual fundraising event so
enjoyable.

¡¡fir?
Here’s a look at the day’s winning scores:

MetGCSA Winter Seminar
Wednesday, January 10,2001
Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY

Host: Joe Alonzi, CGCS

.... ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Low Net Winners

A star-studded lineup of speakers is in store for you at this always-informative event.
Among the speakers and their topics: Tom Campbell on Global Positioning Systems
(GPS) for the golf course. Dr. Frank Rossi on the moss research we are helping to fund.
Steve Bernhardt on reel grinding: the history and the agronomic impact of super-sharp
mowers. And David Ravel on the selection and development of products for the future.

NYSTA Conference and Professional Development Program
Turf and Grounds Exposition 2000
November 14 —16
Oncenter, Syracuse, NY

59 Mike Cook, Alpine, the Care of Trees
Rob Goring, Golf Club of Purchase
60 Tom Weinert, Plant Food Company, Inc.
Scott Tretera, Metro Milorganite, Inc.
61 Matt Severino, Scarsdale Golf Club
Ed Harrison, Scarsdale Golf Club
62 Joe Stahl, Turf Partners, Inc.
John Rizza, Turf Partners, Inc.

NYSTA, in partnership with Cornell University, welcomes you to join other green
industry professionals for an exciting educational opportunity where you’ll find solu­
tions to a host of turf and grounds maintenance problems, research updates and legisla­
tive news, and an outstanding Trade Show with more than 350 vendors.
Further information: Conference Hotline at 800-873-TURF or 518-783-1229.

Low Gross Winners
68 Bill Day, Racebrook Country Club
John Gallagher, Racebrook Country Club
70 Rick Haldas, Brooklawn Country Club
Bob Grant, Brooklawn Country Club

Executive Business Management Program
Part I: Monday —Wednesday, November 13 —15
Sheraton University Hotel, Syracuse, NY
Part II: Tuesday - Thursday, January 9 —11,2001
Statler Inn, Ithaca, NY
Geared specifically for the green industry, this Cornell/NYSTA program is designed to
offer practical and well-rounded guidance in business management in a two-part ses­
sion. Topics covered include: time management, productivity, cost analysis, employee
training, communications skills, coaching, and self-development.
Further information: NYSTA office at 800-873-TURF or 518-783-1229.

71 Jud Smith, Orange Hills Country Club
Steve Gettings, Orange Hills Country
Club

Closest to the Pin
R on Kopp, Pelham Country Club

4'6"

Longest Drive
Met Social Event
MetGCSA Christmas Party
Saturday, December 9
Mt. Kisco Country Club, Mt. Kisco, NY

Host: Fred Scheyhing, CGCS

Ernie Steinhofer, Metro Milorganite, Inc.
H p

Sew Jersey Club Hosts
Superintendent/Green
Chairman Tourney
by Blake Halderman

■

he Alpine Country Club in Demarest,
NJ, proved a challenging course for the
MetGCSA’s 2000 Superintendent/Green
Chairman Tournament held October 10.
“O f all the holes,” notes Steve Finamore,
the club’s long-tenured superintendent, “the
10th plays the toughest—despite the short,
Par 4. Its a straight uphill tee shot with
another uphill approach shot following,” he
says of the newly renovated hole, which boasts
an easier-to-navigate, wider fairway and a
new tee, complete with nearby wetland plant­
ings. “It’s certainly a hole that all who played
will remember,” he says.
Designed by one of the greats, A.W.
Tillinghast, Alpine opened its doors in 1931.
Steve has headed up the club’s maintenance
team for the past 12 years, which, in addi­
tion to the usual turf skills, has required the
astute management of a constant stream of
renovations. “We have been working on
reconstruction projects since the day I
started here,” says Steve, who has been
guided by a master plan developed by golf
course architect Brian Silva.
Since 1988, the club has leveled several
greens, built a new range facility, improved
stone retaining walls around the ponds, built
additional tees, and reconstructed every
bunker on the course. Three years ago,
Steve also oversaw the installation of a new
irrigation system.
Though he’s quick to tell you that the
course construction has been a great learning
experience, he’s pleased that the club’s focus is
shifting to landscape beautification.
“Right now, Alpine is looking at building
a new clubhouse. When this is completed,”
says Steve, “things should get back to normal.”

It All Started When...
Steve started in the golf business when he was
14 as a caddie in Western, MA. “Even then,”
says Steve,“I thought working on the mainte­
nance crew looked a lot more intriguing.”
In high school, Steve had brief stints on
the crews at Wayland Country Club and The
Country Club in Brookline, MA. During
those years, his love for the game of golf grew,

right along with his appreciation for the sci­
ence of golf course management—so much
so that Steve decided to pursue a B.S. in
Turfgrass Management.
He earned his degree in 1974 and
promptly took his new-found knowledge to
New Jersey, where he worked for A1
Rachens at the Raritan Country Club.
Steve landed his first superintendent’s
position at the Momouth County Park
System, where he was able to fine-tune his
management and turf skills. After six years
there, he made a few pitstops—one at
Wykagyl in New Rochelle, NY, and another
at Essex Fells in Essex Fells, NJ—before
landing his current position in 1988. He
also found time to become certified, earning
his CGCS status with GCSAA in 1985.
Once established in New Jersey, Steve
became the president of the New Jersey
GCSA, serving in 1989 and 1990. Steve
says of his term in office, “Being around all
those outstanding people in the industry
was truly rewarding.”
Also professionally rewarding for Steve
was establishing a Club Relations Com­
mittee for the New Jersey group and serving
on the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation’s
board since its inception.

Family First
When Steve manages to pull himself away
from his work, he spends time with his
wife of 24 years, Janet, and his four chil­
dren: Sara, 21; Christina, 19; Michael, 15;
and Corinne, 10. But Steves quick to
admit it wasn’t always this way: “I used to
work on the course and then spend any
free time I had playing golf. I finally
decided to play—and coach—sports that
gave me time with my kids.”
Steve coached the traveling softball and
baseball teams for the past 11 years and, last
year, coached the high school hockey team.
Between work and play, there’s no doubt this
superintendent sleeps well at night!
Blake Halderman, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Trump
National Golf Club in Briar CliffManor, NY.

tinued its tradition of fine venues when it
enlisted the Country Club of Fairfield in
Fairfield, CT, to play host to eight regional
teams on October 16.
I This spectacular Seth Raynor-designed
layout overlooks Long Island Sound and
Southport Harbor. Several classic holes are
represented, including the “cape,” a “redan,”
and an “eden.”
The native fescue and natural areas are
contrasted by the well-manicured, smooth,
slick, and undulating greens at Fairfield, which
host Superintendent Pat Sisk readily admits
can drive even the most seasoned golfer a little
batty. The lack of trees and the close proxim­
ity to the water bring the wind heavily into
play; for the fortunate regular golfer at
Fairfield, this creates a different challenge
every day.
Pat’s overseen these idyllic grounds since
1995, when his former boss, Ted Maddocks,
headed for the hills ofVermont and the classic
Ekwanok Country Club in Manchester.

Pat’s route to Fairfield began at UMass, where
he earned an A.S. in Turfgrass Management.
During the course of his studies, he interned
at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, CO.
Among his more memorable experiences
there was bumping into Arnold Palmer on the
first tee. This was the site of one of Arnie’s
greatest triumphs, his victory at the 1960 U.S.
Open, where he ironically drove the first
green en route to a win in which he came
from seven strokes back in the final round.
Needless to say, Pat is a proud member of
ArniesArmy.
r After graduation, Pat made his way to
Mesa Arizona where he did a stint at Alta
Mesa Country Club. “The myth that dry heat
is not that bad is just that, a myth,” says Pat. “I
couldn’t wait to get back to normal weather
and the seasonal changes.”
I Pat left for greener pastures after a year,
becoming Ted Maddocks assistant at the
Country Club of Fairfield. “This was a per­
fect ¡training ground,” says Pat. “Ted was a
great mentor and good friend.”

MetGCSA Annual Meeting
Goes In kniilluniKl
Konntry Club
Hr
WBm f

Tim Moore

by M ike Cook Jr.

mwm.

flM gJH ou know it’s a busy time of year when
L(
u hear the clanging of a hammer against
the metal on an aerification machine.
Though in the throes of aerifying the course,
Superintendent Tim Moore was kind
enough to take time away from his hectic
schedule to tell us about Knollwood
Country Club, the site of the MetGCSA’s
November 8 Annual Meeting, and a little
about himself.
Too bad this meeting doesn’t come at a
time when you can try your hand at the
new-and-improved links, because this 108year-old Raynor/Banks design has under­
gone numerous changes—first in the hands
of golf course architect A.W.Tillinghast, then
Stephen Kay, and finally, Jim Blaukovitch,
who has been hard at work at the club over
the past few years.
If you know Pat at all, you know that no
i. It’s with Blaukovitch’s guidance that
grass will grow under his feet. Pat joined
Knollwood
completed a new short game
the MetGCSA nine years ago and has
practice facility which you could see from
served on the board for the past three. In
the clubhouse, constructed a new 8th hole
that time, Pat has co-chaired the
tee-to-green, and completed a bunker
Tournament Committee and now the
restoration project.
Communication’s Committee, ushering in
Adds Tim, “We’re also in the midst of
the new design of the Tee to Green.
building
a brand-new driving range facility
He spoke earlier in the year at the
scheduled
to open next spring, and we’re
GCSAA International Conference and
rebuilding
several new tees each year. The
Show in New Orleans on a subject he’s
course is dramatically different now than
come to know well: “Building Professional
when it opened in 1894.”
Relations Through Communication.” The
Helping to keep day-to-day operations
talk was a success and, according to Pat, a
on
track
in the midst of the course’s numer­
personal milestone.
ous renovations are Tim ’s assistants, Frank
Among his other interests—and recent
Buschini Jr. and John Ferrucio Jr., along with
accomplishments—was running in the
his inaintenance staff, which numbers 12
New York Marathon. He and his admirable
during the season.
finish time made it into the pages of Golf
Course Management and, of course, our own
publication.
For Tim, it was first things first: He was
Growing just as fast as his list of contri­
schooled in turf, then got a job. “I started my
butions and accomplishments is Pat’s family.
education at SUNY at Alfred State; then in
Gina, his wife of eight years, and their chil­
1974, I transferred to the University of
dren: Elizabeth, 3, and Patrick, 17 months—
Massachusetts Winter Turf School and com­
compete for his time away from the golf
pleted my certificate that same year.”
course but give him more satisfaction and
■ Tim ’s first job out of school was as the
pride than any of his other recent successes.
assistant at Beekman Country Club in
Bill Perlee, a member of the Tee to Green
Hopewell Junction, NY. After two years
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at The
Apawamis Club in Rye, NY.

After four years there, Pat accepted his
first superintendent’s job at Mahopac Golf
Club. But no sooner had he installed a new
irrigation system, than he learned about
Ted’s move.
Pat wasted no time in applying for the
job. Though it seems like just yesterday,
January will mark Pat’s sixth year as superin­
tendent at the club. Since his arrival, Pat and
his crew have renovated all the tees, enlarged
the practice tee to four times its original
size, and added a chipping and short game
area. The club is currently planning an irri­
gation system upgrade and is also in the
process of selecting an architect for an
upcoming bunker renovation.

Professional and Personal

^Professional Preoccupations

there, he secured his first superintendent’s
position at Mahopac Golf Club in Mahopac,
NY. He stayed at Mahopac for eight years,
moving on to Knollwood in 1984.
A strong advocate of the profession, Tim
has been a very involved member of the
MetGCSA since 1977. He’s served on
numerous committees, not the least of which
was the Communications Committee where
he was editor of the Tee to Green for seven
years.
A member of the Met Board of Directors
for 12 years, Tim has moved through the
chairs, serving as treasurer and now vice pres­
ident.
As if that’s not enough on his plate, Tim is
also a member of the Tri-State Turf Research
Foundation board and a past president and
current member of the Hudson Valley
GCSA.
A strong advocate of our national organi­
zation, Tim touts GCSAA’s educational
programs. “The ongoing educational oppor­
tunities GCSAA offers are second to none,”
says Tim. “I also applaud GCSAA’s public
relations efforts, both in helping promote our
profession and in working to buiid govern­
ment relations behind the scenes.”

Personal Pursuits
Born in rural Newburgh, NY, and raised in
Kingston and Woodstock, Tim is a country
boy at heart. He and his wife, Beth, of 23
years enjoy the outdoors together: skiing,
golfing, and taking their boat out on the
Hudson. “Once in a while, I can escape after
work and enjoy the peace of the river,” says
Tim.
Tim’s two children are in college: His son,
Brian, is a freshman at SUNY- Potsdam, and
his daughter, Meredith, is a junior at SUNYPlattsburgh. Both, by the way, are recipients
of MetGCSA scholarship awards.
Mike Cook, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is a district manager and cer­
tified arborist with Alpine, the Care of Trees in
White Plains, NY.

President’s M essage continuedfrom page 1

It only follows, then, that the classifi­
cation standards developed in the PDI are
designed to ensure that superinten­
dents meet certain baseline educational
requirements—or on-the-job competen­
cies—that would make them more valu­
able to an employer.
Class A members, for instance, must
have a valid pesticide license (the Met’s
required this of Class A members since
1987!) or pass a GCSAA-developed pes­
ticide test, the theory being that this will
illustrate to employers and community
that superintendents are committed to
responsible pesticide use and environ­
mental stewardship.
Ongoing education is another of the
classification standards designed to
demonstrate to employers that superin­
tendents are actively seeking knowledge,
in this case to stay abreast of the latest
industry developments.
Service points will also be awarded
for contributions and activities outside
the traditional educational events, such
as serving golf-related and civic organi­
zations. Participation in these types of
activities, after all, can help build a super­
intendent s leadership and management
skills.
In all the classification requirements,
the PDI has one goal in mind: Helping
superintendents document what they are
doing well and then communicate those
competencies— expertise, knowledge,
and skills—to current and prospective
employers.

I hope each and every one of you will
make an effort to attend our Annual
Meeting November 8 and cast an
informed vote—hopefully in support of
this important initiative. Please keep in
mind that the PDI was thought of—and
developed by—superintendents. It is not,
as some seem to believe, a grand scheme
created by GCSAA to make our profes­
sional lives more difficult and GCSAA
staffjobs more important.
This is an exciting time in both the
history of our national organization and
our profession. I hope you’ll take this
opportunity to make a positive impact on
the future of our profession.

John Carlone, CGCS
President

Tee to Green September/October 2000

SUNY-Delhi Offers State-« f-the-A rt
Training G round for Supei Pros, and
Club M anagers

:

he State University of New York
(SUNY) at Delhi has launched a fouryear curriculum that is not only expand­
ing the educational opportunities of
aspiring golf course superintendents, but
also adding majors for golf professionals
and club managers.
Clustered under the newly conceived
Department of Business Administration
and Golf Course Management, this new
core of studies will add an important
dimension to golf course management
training: Students in each area of concen­
tration—turfgrass management, profes­
sional golf management, and golf club
management—will be expected to take
many of the same courses to gain a better
understanding of—and appreciation
for—what is involved in each profession.
According to Dominic Morales, turf­
grass professor and chair of Delhi’s golf,
plant sciences, and recreation depart­
ment, Delhi’s umbrella program was two
years in the making, beginning with sep­
arate task forces of superintendents, club
managers, and club pros. Each group met
to discuss their profession’s essential com­
petencies and what they needed to learn
to succeed on the job.
“Superintendents said they needed
agronomic principles/’ says Morales, “but
they felt, as they moved up the ladder,
management skills became nearly as
important.”
Realizing that 60 to 70 percent of a
superintendent’s job is management,
Delhi developed a curriculum that was
heavy in agronomics the first two years,
heavy in management the last two.
Among the courses added were Golf
Course Management and Planning,
Advanced Golf Course Operations, Golf
Course
Governance
and
Public

I

Relations, Argumentation and Debate, Strate­
gic Management, Organizational Communi­
cation, Organizational Theory, and Public
Policy.
“Each area of concentration has a group of
core courses,” explains Morales. “In the club
management major, for instance, you’ll have
such things as Hospitality Marketing and Risk
Management, but then they’re coupled with
coursework in horticulture and grounds
equipment. The club pro will also take turf
courses,” notes Morales.

“ Delhi College will provide golf
majors with an educational expe­
rience that is second to none. ”

Guiding the program is an advisory board
that comprises a cross-section of the golf
world. Also in the program’s favor: the Delhi
College Golf Course. Expanded to 18 holes a
few years ago, this serves as a training facility
and “laboratory” for students.
“The front nine was built in 1963,”
explains Morales. “It’s a traditional older
design, with pushup greens and unirrigated
fairways. The back nine is high-tech, with
sand greens, wall-to-wall irrigation, and a
sophisticated pumping station. It’s quite a
contrast to learn on.
“Delhi College will provide golf majors
with an educational experience that is second
to none.” Adds Morales, “From facilities to
internships to industry support, Delhi’s new
bachelor’s programs are a cut above.”
For more information on this impressive
new program, contact the Office of
Enrollment Services at 800-96DELHI.

by Jim Baivd

Serin» Is Believing
P a tc h , th e r e ’s a n e w d ise a se
in to w n . K n o w n u n afF ectio n a te ly as B e n tg r a ss D e a d
S p o t, th is n e w tu r f-k ille r is
c a u s e d b y th e fu n g u s

Ophiosphaerella
a n d w a s first id e n tifie d in
th e M id -A tla n tic r e g io n
in 1998.

The disease has been observed on at least
12 cultivars o f creeping bentgrass turf that
are less than six years old and maintained
as greens or tees. Although the name
implies that it’s a disease affecting strictly
bentgrass, this pathogen has been found
to infect other turfgrass species as well,
including bermudagrass and Pon trivialis.
There appears to be a strong relation­
ship between disease incidence and root
zone mixes that contain a high content of
sand and/or inorganic amendments.
Furthermore, the disease seems to favor
hot, dry weather, appearing July through
October, primarily in open, sunny areas.

Recently, I attended the Bentgrass Dead
Spot Field Research Tour at Charleston
Springs Golf Course in Englishtown, NJ.
The prime focus was to view the results of
a fungicide study being conducted by Dr.
Bruce Clarke and his staff from Rutgers
University on one of the golf course’s reg­
ulation 18 greens.
The green—which is large, level, and in
open sunlight—was constructed with a
high-sand content root zone mix con­
forming to USGA recommendations. It
was then seeded with a blend of creeping
bentgrass in the spring of 1998.
In July of this year, Dr. Clarke and his
team set out to determine the effective­
ness of various fungicides and biological
controls in preventing this disease. Their
study was prompted by an outbreak of
Bentgrass Dead Spot during the summer
of last year.
According to Dr. Clarke, this was one of
the most ideal settings he’s ever had for a
fungicide trial. There was strong disease
pressure, an ample testing ground (i.e., a
large, flat putting surface), and great coop­
eration from Superintendent Ron Luepke,
who agreed not to apply any fungicides
other than those used in the experiment.
The study involved 39 treatments that
included a variety of fungicide mixes, a
number of biological controls, and one
untreated control. Each treatment was
applied on either 7- or 14-day intervals.

ThHimit liii|iii\liir
Disease symptoms are sometimes similar
to damage associated with other dis­
eases—e.g., copper or dollar spot—or
even ball mark injury. Infected areas
become sunken, and turf recovery is
extremely slow.
W hen infections are active, spots have
a bronze-colored outer margin, and on
close inspection, the presence of black,
flask-shaped fruiting bodies can often be
found imbedded in sheath and stem tissue.
Do not expect to find mycelium of
this fungus in the field, and although this
pathogen belongs to a genus of rootinfecting fungi, it does not infect roots.

Dr. Clarke’s trials identified the following
seven products as providing the best pre­
ventive control of Bentgrass Dead Spot:
• Banner Max
• Chlorothalonil (Daconil Zn, Ultrex)
• Cleary 3336
• Aliette Signature
• Medallion
• Spectro
• Fore Rainshield

that prevents new turf growth in the dead
spot area for an extended period of time.
In fact, field observations have shown
that it takes between two to four months to
reestablish these areas from seed once the
disease activity is stopped. Superintendent
Luepke has demonstrated success with
overseeding by removing an inch or so of
the root zone mix within the dead area and
replacing it with a new supply of the mix.
Dr. Clarke also plans to examine
whether using activated charcoal in the
dead areas might expedite the overseeding
process.

There is still much to be learned about this
new disease. Fortunately, we have two
major universities on the case. In addition
to Rutgers University’s work, there are
studies being conducted at the University of
Maryland, under Dr. Peter Dernoeden.
Either of these research teams will tell
you, prevention is always the best medicine,
and there are numerous cultural disease
control strategies you can employ to keep
your turf out of harm’s way.
First, maintain a balanced fertility and
avoid stress on the turf. Mechanical injury
caused by overzealous cultivation practices
and excessive traffic help to incite infection
of this pathogen.
Use of surfactants or wetting agents
appears to play a positive role in reducing
disease incidence or severity and also in
increasing fungicide efficacy.
Stay tuned for more results to come
from both Rutgers and Maryland.

Among the other findings was that the Jim Baird is an agronomist with the Northeast
Dead Spot fungus seems to release a toxin Region, USGA Green Section.
Tee to Green September/October 2000

13

iron Directory
O Alpine, die Care oflkees
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

O Aqua Thrf ~ Golf Course
Irrigation
Gordon Holmes/Dave Arel
5 No. Payne St.
Elmsford, NY 10523
914-347-5151, FAX 914-347-6323

Argento 8c Sons, Inc.
Turf Equipment: Parts and Service
Louis Argento: 914-949-1152
1 Prospect Ave.
White Plains, NY 10607

AT Sales ~ Premium Sod for
Golf Courses
Owen Regan
1787 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
401-465-8066
PAGER 800-592-0675

Atlantic Irrigation Specialists
Inc.
Rain Bird Golf
Thornwood, NY 10594
Tim Marcoux/Ed Santalone
800-878-8873

Aventis Environmental Science
David J. Sylvester
311 Carriage Dr.
Kensington, CT 06037
860-828-8905

DeLea 8c Sons Sod Farms
Vincent Sasso
444 Elwood Rd., E. Northport, NY 11731
800-244-7637/516-368-8022

O Down To Earth
All Phases of Golf Course Construction
David Griffin
914-576-7693

O Earth Works, Inc.
The Soil Aerification Specialists
P.O. Box 99,WestWarham, MA 02576
Pat Lucas: 800-815-1113
FAX 508-295-8187

Egypt Farms, Inc.
Dean Snyder
P.O. Box 223,White Marsh, MD 21162
800-899-7645/410-335-3700

Q Emerald Isle, Ltd.
William Middleton
2153 Newport Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
800-628-GROW (4769)

O E /T Equipment Co.
Kevin Collins
425 S. Riverside Ave., Croton, NY 10520
914-271-6126

O Fleet Pump 8c Service Group, Inc.
Donald Tiedemann
100 Calvert St., Harrison, NY 10528
914-835-3801

O Glenmore Landscape Service
Glenn S. Moore
98 Hack Green Rd.
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
914-764-4348

Patrons listed on this page are supporting our
association. You are encouraged to support them .
O Lesco, Inc.
A Team ofTurfgrass Professionals
Greg Moran/Charlie Siemers
914-331-4869, PAGER 914-449-6925

O Metro Milorganite Inc.

O Terre Co. o f New Jersey, Inc.
Byron Johnson Jr.
206 D elawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014
973-473-3393, FAX 973-473-4402

O The Cardinals, Inc.

Scott Apgar/Ernie Steinhofer/
Scott Tretera, 54 Miry Brook Rd.
Danbury, CT 06810
203-748-GOLF (4653)
FAX 203-743-0458

John Callahan
Course Accessories and Maintenance
Supplies
860-673-3699

M ontco/Surf-Side/Zap! Defoamer

Jim Santoro
Fertilizers, Fungicides, Growth
Regulators
508-679-4797

Bob Oechsle
Box 404, Ambler, PA 19002
800-401-0411

O Novartis Thrf & Ornamental
Products
325 Mill Pond Lane
Oxford, PA 19363
610-998-2896

O’Conner Pumps and Service
Joe O ’Conner
6 Nye St., Rockville, CT 06066
860-875-6890

Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing
Kelsey Park
Great Meadows, NY 07838
800-247-2326/908-637-4191
Bill and Joe Carrière: 914-937-2136

O Plant Food Company, Inc.
Tom Weinert/Ted Platz
800-562-1291/914-262-0111
WEBSITE www.plantfoodco.com

O SavATree
Thomas Marino, NY: 914-244-1700
Mike Schoeni, CT: 203-853-9526
Paul Carbone, NJ: 201-891-5379

O Sawtelle Brothers, Inc.
George Wise/Jason Bassi
65 Glen St., Lawrence, MA 01843
800-999-TURF

Shemin Nurseries Inc.
Horticultural and Irrigation Supplies
Guy Romano: 203-531-7352
1081 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831

O Stephen Kay, Golf Course
Architects
Stephen Kay/Doug Smith
499 New Rochelle Rd.
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-699-4437, FAX 914-699-4479

O Steven Willand, Inc.
Bruce Pye/John Ferrucio/
Mark Ericson
4 Production Dr.
Brookfield, CT 06804
203-775-5757, FAX 203-775-6435

Sullivan’s Construction Services
Inc.
Golf Course Construction and
Renovation
P.O. Box 854, Suffield, CT 06078
Kevin Sullivan: 860-668-2129

O The and Green Sod, Inc.
Owen Regan/Dave Wallace
Sod Supply and Installation
401-789-8177

The Scotts Company

O ThrfNet Associates, Inc.
Peter L. McCormick
21 Brandywine Rd.
Skillman, NJ 07014
800-314-7929

O Thrf Partners, Inc.
Joe Stahl
800-228-6656/860-663-8048
CELL 203-209-6951
FAX 860-663-3564

O Thrf Products Corp./TORO
Paul Mazzola, Irrigation/Al Tretera,
Equipment
800-243-4355/860-763-3581
The Sprinkler House/Amodios:
914-328-0190

O Thrf Products Corporation
Ernie Rizzio/Buddy Rizzio
47 Howell Rd., Box 296
Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046
973-263-1234

O ValleyView Wholesale Greenhouses
Frank Amodio
229 Smithridge Rd.
So. Salem, NY 10590
914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050

O Westchester Ford Tkactor Inc.
John Apple/Ray Beaudry
Meadow St.
Golden s Bridge, NY 10526
914-232-7746

O Westchester Thrf Supply, Inc.
Bob Lippman Sr./Bob Lippman Jr.
“Serving the Fine Turf Profession”
914-621-5067, FAX 914-621-7180

O White Contractors
P.O. Box 484
Old Greenwich, CT 06870
James E. Morris Jr.
203-869-8808

O Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
Glenn Gallion/Chris Hunt
www.wilfiredmacdonald.com
201-804-1000, FAX 201-804-1001

Winding Brook Thrf Farm, Inc.
Bill Seccareccia
240 Griswold Rd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
800-243-0232/860-529-6869
FAX 860-529-6807

O D en otes M ctG C S A m em ber