Jaiiuan/FWinian lîlllll volimi:si muli: i Cover: Sunningdale Country Club. Photo courtesy of Sean Cain and Sunningdale Country Club. n this Issue D ig g in g D eep for a Little Peace o f M in d ................................................3 ................................................ 3 by Scott N iven, C G C S Pics From M etG C SA C hristm as Party 2 0 0 0 ..........................................8 T he 2000 Season: M ore Bark T han B i t e ................................................ 16 by Jim Skorulski Letter From the E d ito r s................................................................................... 2 U p c o m in g Events ...............................................................................................7 N ational N ew s ..................................................................................................10 S co rec a rd ............................................................................................................. 11 M em ber N e w s.....................................................................................................12 Spotlight ............................................................................................................. 13 Chapter N e w s .....................................................................................................14 Assistant Supers: A Writer ’s Challenge Awaits fS'ffléet'’ Sny daughter, « Ob the aititi of i W ù& iriwting took place,: f at *ae with curiosi ir? |g e f ; beautiful,” he "«ni K t àìiac, Marie, she’s not p V e been friends iw »J bf uf is an honest 4 « e out of the room m '•¡Mvätm. It wat a che«| filin g «¡ft shone brighili B i&sflBw where 1 stood ; profusion of did I p ^ carefully frena cf» K l ä r art fir« look at jj Ife ih in to toe with cot« In cisi .-wondered as I wa j^Stan any of Mane’s doll* IKwaited to catch the I ^Baturr. even la !%c know whrth] ¿'feve 2 real struggle < pifeea, she ha* i went An got up to least, T ■ B utt with Karen," 1 God for John, if : hard, well pray h sibrokc loose fromj tt w . Abruptly At fojface but at mj p her months ago **1 any of you have friends outside the |golf course business, you’ve all, I’m sure, been asked that age-old question: “What do I you do in the winter?” My standard reply has become, “I get even.” Few people have any clue of the hours I we work or the stress we endure during our Reason, so I try to educate them—a bit. I first explain that we employ a reduced staff all winter. Then I run through a partial list | of the many functions we perform, such as grinding reels and bedknives, tree pruning and removal, and equipment renovation. During the golf season, I explain, we work seven days a week—many days from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Family dinners are more the exception than the rule. And summer vacations are usually just one or ijtwo long weekends in late August, if that. Then I explain what “getting even” means: It’s the time, I tell them, that we superintendents recharge our batteries. For | me, personally, “getting even” means giving p ie back to my family that the previous ason has robbed away. I might go to work from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., get home to greet the kids off the *school bus, and then help them with homeII work. Not only am I usually home for din­ ner, I sometimes even cook it—okay, so I boil water for spaghetti! I even take vaca­ tion time—sometimes two weeks back to back! I So if there’s one piece of advice I could offer my fellow superintendents this month, it’s get even—while the gettin’s still good. It won’t be long, after all, before the snow melts and another season is upon us. Were all familiar with New Year’s resolu­ tions—mostly that they never work! In December 1999, however, I read an inter­ esting article in the newspaper about how to make a resolution, stick to it, and feel good about it. I Basically, the article advised that you: 1. Make no more than two resolutions in any year. 2. Devise a plan for successful completion of your resolution. John Cartone, C G C S M etG C SA President 3. Educate yourself on the best path to fol­ low to accomplish the resolution. 4. Honestly evaluate your success or failure at the end of the year. Last year, I decided to give this process a go. Here’s how my Year 2000 resolution­ making and evaluation went: My sole resolve was to read more books for pleasure and watch less TV. My goal was very reasonable: one book per month or 12 for the year. My plan involved: • identifying my favorite topics, i.e., sports, politics, money management, and biogra­ phies • visiting the library and bookstores to identify books I wanted to read • never starting a book until I finished one • last, but not least, enjoying every minute of my reading time The results? I beat my goal by reading 14 books in 2000! I read at a pace that conformed to our “season.” I read seven books between January and April, two books from April to September, and five books from October to December. Also, I found that I enjoyed the sports books, par­ ticularly golf biographies, so I passed on the Tee to Green January/February 2 0 0 t le Charting a Course for the Year 2001 “Sow hat’s m y 2001 resolution? To lose 20 pounds tike 46 m illion other Am ericans resolvedl” political books. Doesn’t matter; I enjoyed every book, and I actually succeeded with a resolution. I hope the tips I shared help you with your resolutions this year. So what’s my 2001 resolution? To lose 20 pounds like 46 million other Americans resolved! A Passing Rioted Unfortunately, the Year 2001 did not have a good start for theVadala family. Bruno Vadala, long-tenured Met member and past president and retired superintendent of Metropolis Country Club, passed away January 8 in Florida. On behalf of the entire MetGCSA Board of Directors, I would like to express our sincere condo­ lences to Bruno’s family. (Please see our write-up on page 12.) Tee to Green Outdoes Itself As a final note, Pat Sisk, our former Tee to Green co-editor, just informed me from his new post out in Milwaukee that the Tee to Green has earned high honors in the GCSAA Chapter Newsletter Editors Contest. Last year, it tied for “Best Overall” in its category—there are five— and this year, it’s earned even better than best: Our newly redesigned publication is not only the sole winner in the “Best Overall” category, it is also being recog­ nized as “Most Improved.” Let’s hear a round of applause for the entire Tee to Green Committee. You’ve really outdone yourselves. Congratulations! John D. Carlone, CGCS President Tee to Green January/February 2 0 0 1 As the newly appointed editors of the Tee to Green, we’re already working to chart a thoughtful and productive course for our association’s newsletter. The good news for us is that we’ve inherited a publication that has just under­ gone an enormously successful overhaul. Thanks to our predecessors—Jon Jennings, Pat Sisk, and Steve Renzetti— and our managing editor, Pandora Wojick, we now have a magazine-quality publication that’s virtually free of advertising. Their efforts have created a new chapter in the rich his­ tory of the Tee to Green. Now, the two of us are left with the unenviable task of not dropping the ball. It’s kind of like taking over a golf course in perfect condition: Where do you go from here? Fortunately, we’ve both been editors of other GCSAA Chapter newsletters, so the task is not completely foreign to us. We’ve put our heads together to realize that our efforts for this publication need to be focused on expanding not only the con­ tent, but also the roster of contributors to the Tee to Green. Our first step in accomplishing this was to invite 13 MetGCSA members— aside from those on the Communications Committee—to a brainstorming session intended solely to generate article ideas. We were pleased to walk away with a list of 50 ideas from some very enthusiastic mem- Paul Boyd, assistant Greenwich Country Club Arik Carlson, superintendent The Patterson Club Bert Dickinson, superintendent Willow Ridge Country Club Byran Diggle, assistant GlenArbor Golf Club Chris Donato, assistant Silver Spring Country Club Glen Dube, superintendent Oak Hills Park Golf Club John Gates, assistant Greenwich Country Club bers. Many thanks to one and all (see list below) for your valuable insights. We’ve taken the best of the 50 and are now in the process of searching for just the right authors— even if it means going out­ side the MetGCSA membership. We’re hoping this system proves so successful that our publication is eagerly read, from cover to cover, as soon as it arrives in the mail. We are, as we write, also working to put together not only this year’s Communica­ tions Committee, but also a board of advi­ sors or knowledge experts to help guide our efforts and the content of our award-win­ ning publication. We are truly excited to take the helm of a well-established and nationally recognized newsletter with the hope of adding to it a fine patina. Glenn Perry, CGCS Greg Wojick, CGCS Tee to Green Co-Editors Dave Kerr, superintendent Ridgewood Country Club Pat Lucas, superintendent Innis Arden Golf Club John Mills, assistant Country Club of New Canaan Sean Oberly, assistant Silver Spring Country Club Bill Perlee, superintendent The Apawamis Club Lou Quick, superintendent Anglebrook Golf Club Digging Deep fora Little Peace of o o o erthe drought o f many clubs that ran out o f water— or came close to going dry— suddenly launched a fu llscale search fo r ways to increase their irrigation water supply. The details o f this process can be technical and, well, let’s face it, boring. But if you’re among the many clubs with limited water supplies, it’s defi­ nitely something worth pursuing. To jum pstart you on your journey, Scott Niven, one o f our committee members who lost a lot o f sleep the summer of ’99 watching his ponds dip dangerously low, volunteered to take us through the course he followed at The Stanwich Club to expand his water supply. H is first step: contemplating all the options. Scott begins his story. . . . by Scott Niven, C G C S The Ins and Outs of Groundwater Exvlor ■ •J Tee to Green January /February 2001 I f your demand for water is so high that it exceeds the weirs recovery rate and begins to diminish the effectiveness of surrounding wells then the town or city where your golf course is located could restrict your use of the well , _ Once we decided to expand our water sup­ ply at Stanwich—a process we actually began several years before the drought—we contemplated a variety of options: We looked at deepening, enlarging, or digging new ponds, connecting to a city water source, and, finally, digging new wells. O f these, the most practical and cost-effective way to generate the volume of water we were looking for—200 gallons per minute (gpm):— was to search for highly productive wells by drilling at various locations around the Stanwich property Well drilling, however, can be tricky business. It’s clearly not something anyone can sort through on their own. Knowing this, we went right to a groundwater con­ sulting firm that was able to guide us through the intricate process of determin­ ing whether or not—and where—well drilling might be productive. We chose to work with Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc. (LBG), a wellestablished company based in Trumbull, CT, with extensive experience and a proven track record on golf course projects. Tee to Green Jan nary / Fehn lary 2 0 0 1 No matter what the soil content, how­ ever, the most significant recharge you’ll get from precipitation is, as you’d expect, from mid-October through March, when your water demands are at their lowest. With that done, we were ready to con­ duct the next phase of the water feasibility study: a water budget analysis. Basically, this evaluated how groundwater recharge within Stanwich boundaries compared with the golf course’s irrigation water To make these important determinations, demands. This is an important facet of the feasibil­ the water feasibility study first takes a close look at the site’s soils. After all, the distribu­ ity study because it determines whether or tion of our various types of soils has a direct not you have sufficient resources to support bearing on water runoff and, ultimately, on a your demand for water without affecting well’s recovery rate. Less permeable soils, we other water supplies around you. Let’s say know all too well, tend to amplify direct you dig a well that taps into an aquifer that’s runoff, while better-draining soils enhance tied into others’ water supplies—it could be homes bordering your course. If your infiltration and groundwater recharge. At Stanwich, the soils are pretty typical of demand for water is so high that it exceeds those found in New England: They’re com­ the well’s recovery rate and begins to prised primarily of bedrock covered with diminish the effectiveness of surrounding glacial till (a compacted mixture of sand, silt, wells, then the town or city where your golf clay, gravel, and boulders), which unfortu­ course is located could restrict your use of nately promotes more runoff than absorp­ the well—particularly during a drought. tion. That means that recharge to ground- The unfortunate result:You lose the safetywater from precipitation is lower than sand- net you had hoped to create by digging a based areas but, frankly, is still not all that bad. well in the first place! Working with LBG Associate Rob Good, our hydrologist for this project, we first conducted a water supply feasibility study. This was designed to help us deter­ mine if the water resources on the property had sufficient yield potential to support Stanwich’s irrigation requirements— without adversely affecting any surrounding watersupplies. To get the true output of a well, you need to pump test it for a week or two while monitoring the gpms and the depth o f the waterfront the surface. ¡PJgip M wi « S i l l * Without getting into too many facts and figures, here are the basics of how LBG’s water budget analysis was calculated. First, LBG figures that of the 48 inches of normal precipitation we get per year, half is lost to evapotranspiration and half becomes runoff, which is a combination of storm water runoff and groundwater recharge. What we’re most interested in here is the recharge rate. A United States Geological Survey con­ ducted in Westchester County about six years ago showed that areas with the typical till-bedrock soils can expect an average annual recharge rate of 8.45 inches. That translates into about 630 gallons per day. This means that to maintain a positive water balance for an average annual demand of 200,000 gallons per day for a 180-day irrigation period, you’d need a recharge area of 160 to 190 acres of glacial till-cov­ ered bedrock. This amount would net a total of 36 million gallons of potential irri­ gation water per year. There’s no doubt that this amount of water would be more than sufficient for most 18-hole golf courses. Given the nature of our soils at Stanwich and a watershed area of nearly 200 acres, we calculated that a positive water balance is, indeed, achievable with our current irriga­ tion output. We have nine ponds that store roughly six million gallons of usable water. Our goal, however, has been to find enough well water to keep all of our ponds full, even dur­ ing periods of drought. To do this, we calcu­ lated that we would need a well or group of wells that put out 200 gpm. Water, W ater... WHERE? Now was the time to figure out where on the Stanwich property we would be most likely to find water. There are various meth­ ods for groundwater exploration (see sidebar on page 6). One isn’t necessarily more effective than the other; they’re generally selected based on the site’s geology, topogra­ phy, and amount of surrounding housing or commercial development. For our site, Rob Good chose to use a method called Fracture Trace Analysis. This type of survey involves examining aerial photographs of a site with a magnifying stereoscope, which allows you to see the site in three dimensions and is not unlike the technology used in making topographic maps. What you look for are fracture traces or lineaments. These show up as tonal differ­ ences and can result from such things as dif­ ferences in soil moisture that may be caused by downward drainage into the bedrock or, in some cases, upward leakage of water from the bedrock. For golf courses, where the land has been sculpted to some degree, less in older clubs and more in new clubs, the soil moisture trends are probably the most important indicators of potentially better-than-average well sites. In general, the most favorable well sites occur at the intersection of two or more fracture traces, but better-than-average wells can be found along a single frac­ ture trace as well. Last summer and in previous years, Rob Good and LBG identified seven different sites for drilling. We prioritized the spots, beginning with those that had the easiest access and closest proximity to electricity and a holding pond. We chose Loren Findorak Drilling Co. to do our work based on his many years of Tee to Green January/February 2 0 0 1 A t-a-G lan ce Guide to the Scientific— and N otSo-Scientific— M ethods o f Searching for Water VLF (Very Low Frequency) This procedure is performed using electromagnetic signals similar to those used by the military for sub­ marines. W hen a signal is passed over an area, any water-bearing frac­ tures will change the orientation of the signals. The site is explored using hand­ held equipment and taking readings in a grid pattern. This data is then input into the computer and inter­ preted to determine the most favor­ able sites to drill for water. Due to the VLF m ethod’s sophisticated and time-consuming data collection process, it tends to be rather pricey. Infrared Photography Infrared photographs shot by satel­ lites high above the Earth’s surface can identify groundwater by detect­ ing tonal color differences in the landscape. These maps can fre­ quently be purchased from the gov­ ernment and are usually quite inexpensive. Seismic Surveys By using a seismograph, an instru­ ment typically used in measuring earthquakes because o f its ability to detect vibrations, water-filled frac­ tures can be detected directly or data can be accumulated to map bedrock profiles, which more indirectly iden­ tify potential fractures. The large amount o f data generated by this type of survey usually causes it to be quite costly. Fracture Trace Analysis This type o f survey involves examin­ ing aerial photographs of a site with a magnifying stereoscope, which allows you to see the site in three dimensions and is not unlike the technology used in making topo­ graphic maps. Tee to ( iiveu ¡anuary / Irb m a ry 2 0 0 1 experience and on the type of equipment he owned. He also was the one to take care of the necessary permitting. O f the seven sites identified, we drilled five unsuccessful holes and two productive ones. The total yield, however, still fell short of the 200 gpm we were looking for. One had an output of 125 gpm and the other 50 gpm. To get the true output of a well, you need to pump test it for a week or two while monitoring the gpms and the depth of the water from the surface. At the out­ set, we installed a water meter and a 3/4" pvc access tube to allow for current— and future—monitoring of water flow and static well depth. It’s always possible that, in time, a well may need some manipulation or development to maintain its original yield. The Price You Pay W hat you look for are fracture traces or lineaments. These show up as tonal differences and can result from such things as differences in soil moisture that may be caused by downward drainage into the bedrock or, in some cases, upward leakage o f water from the bedrock. The cost of this procedure is compa­ rable to infrared photography’s, which is generally quite reasonable. Dowser This is the old-fashioned method of using a person, referred to as a Dowser, to find water using a divin­ ing rod or stick that looks like an upside-down slingshot. Though this method does look like little more than a bunch of hocus-pocus, it has been used with success on golf courses throughout the country. W hat’s more, there is some sci­ entific basis for this seemingly “magic trick.” There are changes in the magnetic field over the earth, depending on whether the underly­ ing medium is soil, bedrock, or water. A Dowser, apparently, can feel these electrical field changes with his body as they are conducted though the divining rod and, there­ fore, predict where groundwater is present. But as you may have guessed, this detection method is probably the least reliable of the bunch. Proposing an accurate budget for an activ­ ity like this is extremely difficult, since you can never be certain that the site you drill will yield any water. Besides the drilling costs to bore each hole at a diameter of eight inches and to a maximum depth of 500 feet, there’s the hydrologist’s fees and then subsequent costs for the well casing, pump, electrical con­ nections, and the piping to a holding pond. Furthermore, if the well has any prob­ lems with sedimentation, it may be neces­ sary to add a specially designed screen or gravel-packed filter to keep the water clean. As you can see, once the process starts, the costs can begin to escalate out of control. What we did was budget a maximum sum and then stop once we hit that num­ ber, regardless of whether or not we found a productive well—which we defined as one yielding anything more than 25 gpm. Since we began our search for water in 1988, we’ve spent roughly $70,000 on well exploration and development, and we still haven’t quite reached our goal of 200 gpm. We plan to continue our search for irriga­ tion water, however, so that when the next “dust bowl” arrives, I’ll be able to rest easy knowing our golf course will look like an oasis among the baked earth. Scott Niven, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is superintendent at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. Special thanks to Leggette, Brashears & Grahamys Rob Goodfor providing the technical information for this article. Rob has been a member of the MetGCSA since last May. Five Events Booked, Lots More to Go Here’s a look at our Year 2001 Meeting/Social Calendar. Half our year is still yours for the taking, so please think about hosting an event! To secure a golf meeting, don’t delay in calling either of our 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. 2001 Meeting and Social Calendar in the Making Business Meeting MetGCSA Summer Social Wednesday, March 21 Sunningdale Country Club, Scarsdale, NY Host: Sean Cain Date & Site TBA Two-Ball Qualifier Monday, April 30 Powelton Club, Newburgh, NY Host: Bob DeMarco Poa Annual Tournament August Date & Site TBA Golf Meeting September Date & Site TBA Superintendent/Manager Tournament Met Area Team Championship Qualifier, Round 1 Superintendent/Green Chairman Tournament Monday, May 14 Country Club of Darien, Darien, CT Host:Tim O ’Neill, CGCS Tuesday, October 16 The Meadow Brook Club, Jericho, NY Host: John Carlone, CGCS Invitational Tournament Annual Meeting June Date & Site TBA November Date & Site TBA Met Area Team Championship Qualifier, Round 2 MetGCSA Christmas Party July Date & Site TBA MetGCSA Family Picnic Date & Site TBA Saturday, December 8 Brae Burn Country Club, Purchase, NY Host: Dennis Flynn, CGCS Professional Events GCSAA Educational Seminar: Advanced Weed Management Tuesday, March 6 The Westin Providence, Providence, RI Held in conjunction with the 2001 New England Regional Turfgrass Conference and Show, this GCSAA seminar will cover every­ thing you need to know about weed man­ agement and plant growth regulator use. Among the topics: the biology, ecology, and life cycles of major turfgrass weeds; maximiz­ ing control strategies while minimizing herbicidal inputs; the fate and behavior of herbicides and plant growth regulators; and degradation, runoff, volatilization, and absorption by soil colloids. The seminar will be taught by Fred Yelverton, Ph.D., associate professor of Crop Science at North Carolina State and researcher with special interests in the biol­ ogy and ecology of weeds and the develop­ ment of environmentally sound weed management systems for both warm- and cool-season turfgrasses. For further information or to register, cab GCSAA at 800-472-7878. New England Regional Turfgrass Conference & Show Wednesday —Friday, March 7 —9 Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence RI Join fellow green industry professionals in Rhode Island for the fourth annual regional conference and trade show, featuring the lat­ est in turf research and management. Meet professionals on the cutting edge of turf management, and view more than 400 booths offering the most technologically advanced equipment available. On opening day, March 7 at 4 p.m., you won’t want to miss this year’s keynote speaker, CBS Broadcaster Jim Nantz. Also be sure to catch Met President John Carlone’s talk on preparing to host—and recovering from—a Senior Tour Event, which will run on March 7 at 2:15 p.m. For further information, call 401848-0004. Tee to Green January/February 2 0 0 1 AND THE SAND PLAYED ON... I'D FORGOTTEN HOW MUCH FUN DANCING COULD B E !!! Bob and M aria L ippm an Tee to Given January/February 2 0 0 1 L eft to right: P eter RappoccioyTony G rasso, Fred ScheyhittgfJoe A lo ttzi, G reg N icoli GOT MILK? >e and Ju dy A lo n zi TH EM , THERE FRED, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN NEXT YEAR. DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHO THIS GIRL IS??? D en nis and Pant P e tn izz e lli J e ff and M im i W entworth John and M argaret Scott and Charlene Tretera Tee to Green January / February 20 0 1 CSAA Chief Executive Office Steve Mona announced various changes to the association’s management team. Joe O ’Brien, chief operating officer, is stepping down after seven years in the posi­ tion, citing a desire to seek new challenges. “I am appreciative of the association and its members,” says O ’Brien. “It was rewarding to work with such an outstanding group of individuals who represent an honorable profession. I trust the association and its members are better off now than they were seven years ago.” O ’Brien, a 27-year veteran of the golf industry, came to GCSAA in January 1994 to manage association programs, such as education, career development, communi­ cations, research, and membership, among other things. O ’Brien was also active in the Golf and Environment Initiative, which brought together golf’s allied associations and mem­ bers of the environmental community to develop consensus on the issue. In February 1998, O ’Brien was recogfor his work by then GCSAA President Paul McGinnis, CGCS, with the President’s Award for Environmental Leadership, the association’s most presti­ gious environmental honor. “Joe O ’Brien’s contributions to the GCSAA and its members were considerable and lasting,” says Mona. “His desire to seek new opportunities is consistent with his attitude at GCSAA. He was always working for the betterment of the association and its members. I appreciate his commitment and wish him all the best.” Mona noted that he will work with O ’Brien and the association management team to develop a transition plan that best serves the association and its members. New Directors Announced GCSAA now has two new directors in its midst: Clair Keizer, director of corporate marketing and sales/conference and show and Clark Throssell, Ph.D., director of research. Keizer comes to GCSAA from Bernstein-Rein Advertising based in Kansas City. He has 19 years of marketing, advertising, and association-related work with extensive experience in meeting/ event coordination and management, brand management, and relationship develop­ ment. He replaces Bob Shively, who left GCSAA to become CEO of the National Auctioneers Association. Throssell comes to GCSAA after serv­ ing as Professor or Turfgrass Science at Purdue University. He has extensive expe­ rience in education and research, including service as a GCSAA seminar instructor and member of the association’s Research Committee. He is also executive director of the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation. He replaces Jeff Nus, Ph.D., who left GCSAA to become a research communica­ tor with the USGA. GCSAA Membership Nearly Doubles (ÎS Since 1994, GCSAA membership has grown 58 percent—from 13,300 to beyond the 21,000 mark. The GCSAA membership reflects a broad spectrum of professionals, including superintendents, assistant superintendents, golf course management executives, educa­ tors, students, corporations, industry repre­ sentatives, and others with a vested interest in golf course management. Serving this large and varied group is a | nary/February 2 0 0 1 professional staff of 120, which operates out of association headquarters in Lawrence, KS. “GCSAA is a member-driven associa­ tion; therefore, I believe the increase is a tes­ tament to the direction the members have established,” says GCSAA President R. Scott Woodhead, CGCS, of Valley View Golf Club in Bozeman, MT. “Superintendents are joining the association because of the positive contributions it can make to their GCSAA Receives High Honors ^ W he GCSAA has recently been recog--^ n iz e d for its work on the Professional Development Initiative with the 2000 Franklin Covey Team Award for Synergy and Impact. Franklin Covey, a leading global profes­ sional services firm located in Salt Lake City, presents this internationally recog­ nized award to teams who seek to improve their organization through creative cooper­ ation and synergy. Bob Whitman, CEO of Franklin Covey, says of the honor, “When individuals and organizations seek to achieve above and beyond what is expected, we believe it is important to recognize them for their exemplary work. We are pleased to honor the GCSAA for its contribution to others and for its commitment to principles.” The Franklin Covey Award is just one of several GCSAA has been honored with in 2000. Earlier this year, GCSAA received the National Golf Course Owners Association’s (NGCOA) Award of Merit, which recognizes individuals and organiza­ tions that have made long-term and signifi­ cant contributions to the game. GCSAA was selected because of its commitment to educational programs and efforts to change the public’s perceptions about golf’s envi­ ronmental impact. GCSAA’s strength as a project partner was also recognized in 2000 by Kansas State University in the construction of Colbert Hills Golf Course and the university’s golf management education program. Senior PGA Tour Professional Jim Colbert, a Kansas State Alumnus and the Colbert Hills namesake, said: “You talk about a great organization doing great things for its members. We felt GCSAA could deliver a quality partnership that would best provide the total education pro­ gram that future golf course managers will need.” On October 5,2000, Met area assistants gathered at Scarsdale Golf Club for the 11th Annual Class C Championship. The assistants-only event was hosted by club assistants Eric O ’Neill and Scott Curry and, of course, Golf Course Superintendent Matt Severino. The weather was kind, with the rain holding off for the 40 contestants competing in the Two-Man Best Ball and Individual Stroke Play tournaments. Here’s a look at the day’s winning scores: In d ivid u a l Stro ke P la y Low Gross Winners 79 Joe Roy, St. Andrew's Golf Club 82 Scott Curry, Scarsdale Golf Club 83 Chris Barnicoat, Garden City Golf Club low Net Winners 72 Ed Kaufman, Middle Bay Country Club 73 Eric O ’Neill, Scarsdale Golf Club 74 Bryan Jansen, Mahopac Golf Club Tw o-M an B est B a ll Low Gross Winners 77 Brian Benedict, Century Country Club David Henault, Fenway Golf Club 78 Scott Imbro, St. Andrew's Golf Club Joe Roy, St. Andrew's Golf Club 79 Toby Alves, Bedford Golf & Tennis Club Eric Morrison, Burning Tree Country Club Low Net Winners 64 Joe Gardner, Old Oaks Country Club Chris Barnicoat, Garden City Golf Club 67 Grover Alexander, Wykagyl Country Club Stephe ^yrns, Wykagyl Country Club 69 David < irad, Sunningdale Country Club Scott Z. unsky, Siwanoy Country Club Closest to the Pin Alais Imondi, Wee Burn Country Club Longest Drive Tim Benedict, The Me dow Brook Club 2T” Tee to Green January /February 2 0 0 Î MetGCSA Mourns Loss of Special Member MetGCSA is sad to announce the loss of a very special member: Bruno Vadala. A member of our associ­ ation practically since its inception in the 1950s, Bruno passed away in Florida on January 8 at the age of 73. Bruno served as secretary and, in 1964, president of the MetGCSA. So highly regarded by fellow superintendents, Bruno was elected to receive the Sherwood A. Moore Award in 1989. One of the Met s most prestigious honors, this award is reserved for superintendents who have “advanced the professional image, status, and reputation of the golf course superintendent.” Bruno spent most of his turfgrass career at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, NY, retiring in 1991, after serving 43 years as the club s superintend­ ent. In 1988, the Metropolis membership recognized Bruno for his “untiring devo­ tion, skill, and caring for the golf course and grounds” with an inscribed bronze plaque that they fastened to a huge rock at the club’s main entrance. Apparently, Metropolis officials and members wanted to make sure that guests would be made immediately aware of the club’s special feeling for its superintendent. . .. A welldeserved special feeling. By Met members, Bruno will always be remembered for his sincere dedication and commitment to the association and the profession. By those who knew him best, Bruno will be thought of fondly for his extreme humility and devoted, caring spirit. As Gene Borek, Metropolis’s head golf pro once noted: “Bruno is something special. We sure could do with a few more Bruno Vadalas in this world.” Amen. We’ll miss you, Bruno. May you rest in peace. Retired A MetGCSA member since 1993, Michael Gesmundo of Golf Course Enterprises, Inc., has joined the ranks of the Class AF Life members. Congratulations on your retirement, Mike! Newly Certified Congratulations to former Tee to Green co­ editor Pat Sisk, who is the new superin­ tendent at Milwaukee Country Club in River Hills, WI. Pat recently completed the coursework required to become a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) with GCSAA. Members on the Move Robert Alonzi Jr. is the new superintend­ ent at St. Andrew’s Golf Club, Hastings-onHudson, NY. Previous position: Assistant superintendent at Tamarack Country Club, Greenwich, CT. Well Wishes Please join us in welcoming the following new members: Michael Janowski, Class C, Minisceongo Golf Club, Pomona, NY The new year seems to have brought with it more than its fair share of illness for Met members and friends of the Met. We’d like to send well wishes to: • Scott Apgar of Metro Milorganite • Gerald Mahoney, MGA Director of Golf Programs Kenneth Benoit, Class C, Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale, NY Ed Kaufmann, Class C, Middle Bay Country Club, Oceanside, NY Our Condolences Jason Booth, Class C, Middle Bay Country Club, Oceanside, NY Brian Kishpaugh, Class C, Minisceongo Golf Club, Pomona, NY Stephen Byrne, Class C,Wykagyl Country Club, New Rochelle, NY Michael Lodice, Class C,The Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT Gabriel Cirillo, Class C, Manhattan Woods Country Club, W. Nyack, NY Joseph Phelan, Class C, Scarsdale Golf Club, Hartsdale, NY Robert DiPalma, Class AF, Atlantic Irrigation Specialists, N. White Plains, NY Lance Rogers, Class A, Colonia Country Club, Colonia, NJ New Members Herman Van Dunk IV, Class C, Manhattan Woods Country Club, W. Nyack, NY Tee to Green January /February 2 0 0 1 Our condolences to two superintendents who lost close relatives last month: • Burning Tree Superintendent Gary Glazier, whose mother passed away • Pelham Country Club Superintendent JefFWentworth, whose mother-in-law passed away Scholarship Raffle’s Winning Results ^ he 2000 Annual Bill Caputi v—^ Scholarship Raffle, held at the December 9 Mt. Kisco Country Club Christmas party, not only raised a sizable sum for the MetGCSA’s Scholarship Fund, but also awarded $4,500 in cash prizes to 18 lucky ticket holders. Many thanks to all who contributed, and congratulations to our $ 1,000grand-prize winner, Bruce Pye of Steven Willand, Inc. The other prize winners were: $500 W inners Byron Johnson, Terre Company of NJ, Inc. Jasmine Ceplo, wife of Rockland Country Club Superintendent Matt Ceplo Mike Cook, Alpine, The Care of Trees $250 W inners Bill Carriere, James Carriere Sc Sons, Inc. Tony Girardi, Rockrimmon Country Club Joe Kennedy, Green Brook Country Club Ken Kubik, Grass Roots, Inc. $100 W inners Bill Carriere, James Carriere Sc Sons, Inc. Brian Nadrezny, Alpine, The Care of Trees Bob Wicher, Siwanoy Country Club Ineke Pierpoint, MetGCSA Executive Secretary Debbie Heigh, Valley View Greenhouses Christopher Alonzi, Westchester Country Club Dennis Petruzzelli, GlenArbor Golf Club Carl Quazza, Haledon Nurseries Joe Kennedy, Irra-Tech, Inc. Leslie Carlone, wife of Meadow Brook Club Superintendent John Carlone Spotlight Snnningdale: Site Unseen at the Met’s Annual Ru m Meeting by Bill Perlee Country Club in Scarsdale, >e the site of this year’s MetGCSA Business Meeting on March 21. Hopefully, it won’t be a beautiful spring day, since playing this fine course is not on the association’s busy agenda— as it was when Sean Cain hosted his first Met meeting: the 1998 Invitational Tournament. A Work in Progress Sean’s been at the helm of Sunningdale’s maintenance operation for five years and is continuing the program of improvements that he began when he took the job. With a major bunker renovation high on his grow­ ing list of credits, Sean and his crew are now replacing a 1,000-foot chain-link fence with a classic-looking, two-faced stone wall. “We hired two new men on the crew, took the two best at building walls, and set them loose,” explains Sean. “We simply built the payroll expense into the capital budget, and we’ll save a lot of money by doing the project in-house.” Next on the docket: renovating the driving range, a project that, right now, is still in the planning phase. Resume Builders Sean began his career in turfgrass manage­ ment on the grounds crew of Mohawk Country Club near his home turf in Schenectady, NY. As Sean worked toward his B.S. in Turfgrass Management at URI, he interned with Stanwich’s Scott Niven. After two years as Scott’s intern/second assistant, Sean moved on to Apawamis, where Jeff Scott was superintendent at the time. “Both Jeff and Scott gave me not only the training and experience, but also the confidence I needed to become the super­ intendent I am today,” Sean notes. An active member of the MetGCSA Board of Directors for the past year, Sean co-chairs the Tournament Committee with Sean Cain Pelham Country Club Superintendent Jeff Wentworth; both are always on the lookout for new and interesting meeting/tournament sites. “We’ve expanded tournament dates to include any day of the week—in hope of attracting some courses that were reluctant to give up a Monday for us in the past,” notes Sean, who still has quite a few holes to fill on our 2001 meeting calendar. (See Upcoming Events on page 7.) Busy, Beyond Turf For Sean, this snowy winter has been far from boring. It’s given him the opportu­ nity to do what he probably enjoys most: hit the slopes. An avid skier, Sean’s favorite pastime recently took him to Utah, where he skied with several other superintendents and friends. Sean’s also spent some time gearing up for his GCSAA Certification Exam— to keep his mind on turf, even if he can’t actu­ ally see it. Sean’s interests do extend beyond ski­ ing. A real sports enthusiast, Sean’s other passions include basketball, baseball, and, of course, golf. In fact, this past season, he focused so much on his golf game that he was able to bring his handicap down into the single digits. Among his Year 2000 golfing highlights was a whirlwind tour of four of the coun­ try’s top courses: Maidstone, National, Shinnecock, and Atlantic. “I played 72 world-class holes in a span of 36 hours,” notes Sean. Sean also boasts runner-up status, along with his partner, Jeff Wentworth, in the Met’s Two-Ball Championship. Sean vows a return in the near future. Interestingly, one of the golf holes at Sunningdale that we will not be playing when we convene here for the Business Meeting is the 212-yard Par 3 that the Journal News recently recognized as among the 18 best in Westchester Country.... Yup, better be raining that day. Bill Perlee, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is superintendent at The Apawamis Club in Rye, NY. Tee to Green January /February 2 0 0 1 Chapter Mews W inter Sem inar Gets a B ig T hum bs-up by M att Ceplo, C G C S his year’sWinter Seminar, held ^January 10 at Westchester Country Club, drew more than 250 people interested not only in visiting vendors and attending the day’s talks, but also in cheering on and congratulating Westchester’s super, Joe Alonzi, on his selection for the prestigious Sherwood A. Moore Award. Members of Westchester Country Club staff and even Joe’s family were there to congratulate him. Steve Bernhard of Bernhard & Company, Ltd. kicked off the educational portion of the program with a review of the history and function of mowers and the importance of keeping them in tip-top shape. Our second speaker, Tom Campbell, spoke on Global Positioning Systems (GPSs). Going beyond the GPS’s function as a golf course mapping tool, his talk provided useful insight into what you should know and ask before securing a GPS service. It’s hard to believe that GPS may, one day, provide us with the ability to send out technicians with a spray tank that will know when and how much of a pesticide to administer as it drives through the golf course. Just before lunch, we were entertained by Gordon Witteveen, a retired, veteran super­ intendent from Canada who’s authored numerous books on the lighter side of superintendenting. For us, he recounted some of the many humorous blunders he’s made in his 40 years in the business. I don’t think there was one person in the audience who couldn’t relate to his tales. Bob Alonzi and Awards Committee Chairman Earl Millett present Joe Alonzi with Sherwood A. Moore Award. With our stomachs full, Dr. Frank Rossi offered an update on his moss research, pro­ viding some valuable insight into how to combat this pesky turf blemish. Last but not least, Michael Agnew of Syngenta Turf & Ornamentals discussed what it takes to bring a new chemical to the marketplace. With the time and cost involved, it’s a wonder that any new product ever gets registered. A1 Preston’s Garage Massey Ferguson Tractors 203-924-1747 Glenmore Landscape Services Golf Course Construction 914-764-4348 Steven Willand, Inc. Turfgrass Equipment 203-775-5757 Alpine, The Care o f Trees All Your Tree Care Needs 914-948-0101 Growth Products Liquid Fertilizer Specialist 800-648-7626 Terre Company o f NJ, Inc. Turf & Ornamental Products 973-473-3393 AT Sales Turfgrass Sod Specialist 401-723-0789 Koonz Sprinkler Supply Irrigation Supplies 973-379-3914 Turf Products Corporation Turf & Irrigation Equipment 800-243-4355 Atlantic Irrigation Specialists Inc. Irrigation Supplies 914-769-8100 Lesco, Inc. All Your Turf Care Needs 914-331-4869 U.S. Silica Co. Topdressing & Bunker Sand 609-691-7100 Metro Milorganite, Inc. Servicing the Golf Course Industry 203-748-GOLF (4653) Unilock Brick Pavers 914-278-6700 P.I.E./BISCO Irrigation Supplies 203-878-0658 Westchester Ford Tractor Inc. Ford Tractors & Bucket Loaders 914-232-7746 Plant Food Company, Inc. Liquid Fertilizer Specialist 800-562-1291 Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. All Your Turf Care Needs 914-621-5067 Ron Cutlip Golf Course Architect 212-249-2177 Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Turf Equipment Sales 888-831-0891 Bayer Corporation Plant Protectant Suppliers 973-208-2418 Central Irrigation Supply Irrigation Sales & Service 914-347-5656 DeLea Landscape Supplies Sod & Topdressing Materials 631-368-8022 E /T Equipment Co. Equipment Sales & Service 914-271-6126 Tee to Green January/February 2 0 0 i Sawtelle Brothers, Inc. Turfgrass Equipment 800-999-TURF (8873) A Long List of Thank Yous I would like to thank MetGCSA Executive Secretary Ineke Pierpoint and her assistant, Holly Kotiadis, Peter Waterous of Westchester Hills Golf Club, and Tom Leahy of Sleepy Hollow for helping to register everyone and for setting up booths. A big thank you, also, to Westchester Country Club. This marks the 11th year that Westchester has hosted the event. Mary Cuniff and her staff do an outstanding job. And finally, I’d like to thank all the ven­ dors who participated. As a show of appre­ ciation, we’re listing the exhibitors here, along with their areas of specialty and phone numbers. When the opportunity arises, we hope you’ll show these contractors and suppliers the same support they showed us during our Winter Seminar—and throughout the year. In closing, if there’s a topic you’d like to learn more about, please let me know. I am currently looking for speakers for our monthly meetings and next year’s Winter Seminar. Matt Ceplo, superintendent at Rockland Country Club in Sparkill, NY, is co-chairman of the MetGCSA’s Education Committee. Tee to Green Wins the Highestof-High Honors Tee to Green, for the second year running, has earned high honors in the GCSAA Chapter Newsletter Editors Contest. Competing in Category #4—publica­ tions produced primarily by professional editors/publishers or paid chapter exec­ utives— Tee to Green put the first of its newly redesigned issues, July/August 2000, before the judges. The outcome: Our publication won not just one, but two awards: “Best Overall” and “Most Improved.” Winners were selected for their orig­ inality, excellence in editorial content and design, and overall ability to com­ municate useful information to readers. Special thanks and congratulations to the Tee to Green staff, whose hard work and focused efforts this past year earned our publication its award-winning status. Assistant Supers Invited to Take the W riter’s Challenge W r ite U s a W in n e r a n d W in a G o lf R o u n d a n d D in n e r rhe MetGCSA Board of Direc­ tors, in conjunction with the Communications Committee, is pleased to announce an all-new contest—The W riter’s Challenge—created exclusively for assistant superintendents. To enter, all you have to do is agree to write an article for our association’s award-winning publication, the Tee to Green. To win, your article must hold up against other contest entrants’ submis­ sions and be deemed the year’s “best” by our panel of judges. Your incentive? The winner will be entitled to a round of golf for four at an exclusive Met area golf course. The grand finale: dinner at a top area restau­ rant. That’s right: The day’s entirely on us! Interested? Read on for the ins and outs of the contest. Who Is Elegible to Win? The winning article must be written by a MetGCSA Class C member who is in good standing in our association. If the article needs to be shortened— or revised in some way—the Tee to Green staff will work with you to make it work just right. It’s your original, uncut version, how­ ever, that will be subjected to the scrutiny of the judges. When Should I Submit My Article? The deadline for submission is July 1, 2001. You can mail your articles to Tee to Green Co-Editor Glenn Perry at 333 Hurlbutt Street,Wilton, CT 06897. How Will the Article Be Judged? The winning entry will be selected for its originality and overall ability to communi­ cate information that’s both interesting and useful to our membership. Also considered, though to a lesser extent, will be the mechanics of the piece, i.e., grammar and punctuation. The panel of judges will be composed of two board members— our president, John Carlone and vice president, Tim Moore— and three from the Editorial Committee— Co-Editors Glenn Perry and GregWojick and Managing Editor Pandora Wojick. What Should the Article Be About? What’s in It for Me? The article can be about almost anything relating to our profession. You might write about a great golf experience or work experience. About a technical aspect of the profession or a human interest story. Whatever topic you choose, however, it must be one that will interest our members. Keep in mind that all submissions may not make it into print. Only the winning entry is guaranteed to run in the Tee to Green. If you’d like to bounce one of your ideas off our editors, call either Glenn Perry, 203-762-2185, or Greg Wojick, 203-869-1000, ext. 253. If you win the Writer’s Challenge, you’ll be entitled to gather a foursome for a round of golf—complete with caddie and carts— at an exclusive 18-hole course in the Met area. After your game, you and your foursome are welcome to dine— on us—at one of the area’s finer restaurants. In addition, you’ll be recognized in the pages of the Tee to Green and in a special presentation at our Annual Meeting in November. Word to the wise: When selecting your foursome, be sure that whoever you invite adheres to the club’s—and the game of golf’s—code of conduct and dress code. GOOD LUCK. We look forward to receiving your submission. How Long Should the Article Be? Without writing a novel, use as many words as you need to express your thoughts. Tee to Green January/February 2001 he much-hyped Y2K bug that was sup­ posed to wreak havoc with our computer systems and life, fortunately, never materi­ alized. The start of the growing season was similar in some regards. We entered the spring apprehensive, with scars still evident from the previous year’s record heat and drought. Concerns of gray leaf spot, bentgrass dead spot, labor shortages, and other forecasted maladies only heightened fears. For most, these problems never material­ ized. Oh sure, there were some bumps in the road, but Mother Nature was basically kind, at least to those growing the grass, even if not to those playing on it. OH to a Cool, Wet Start A nonexistent snow pack and dry condi­ tions allowed superintendents to complete their fall project work and course cleanup and seemed to point to an early opening. That all changed in early April as the weather patterns turned cool and wet. How cool? How wet? Growing-degree-day (GDD) accumu­ lations remained one to two weeks behind normal pretty much throughout the sea­ son for the majority of southern New England and the Metropolitan New York area. Records from the Northeast Regional Climate Center documented this past July as being the sixth coolest for southern Connecticut on record since 1895. Compare that with July of the pre­ vious year, which went down in the record books as the hottest for the New York City area since 1895. Rainfall was also above normal throughout most of the season, with July receiving the heaviest totals. Soil temperatures (at a two-inch depth) probably never climbed above the 80degree mark for any length of time and hovered, for the most part, in the low- to mid-70-degree range. This was extremely fortunate considering all the rain and extended periods of leaf wetness that occurred. There was a point in August when the rain-saturated soils, high humid­ ity, and heat led to isolated cases of wet wilt, Pythium blight, Cuvularia, and brown patch diseases, but those were few and far between, thanks to the barrage of cool fronts moving through the area. Cool, Wet Weather: Friend or Foe? The cool, wet weather did take its toll. Play at many golf courses was reported down 10 to 15 percent for the season. Damage from cart traffic and maintenance activities was more noticeable. Foot traffic— and yes, even nonmetal spikes—made their mark on the saturated playing surfaces. Ball marks were especially apparent and often a topic of conversation during Turf Advisory Service visits. Rain gear was never too far out of reach, and, needless to say, the gray, wet skies did little for employee morale. Drainage, cart path work, and mowing equipment needs were top agenda items at Green Committee meetings, and those courses with brand-new irrigation systems never really got to test them. The wet season clearly affected course conditioning and especially green speed. With the cooler spring temperatures, courses with older greens suffered inconsis­ tent growth rates, leading to the usual early spring complaints of bumpy surfaces. Providing the faster green speeds and sur­ face smoothness that’s now expected was, at times, just plain impossible. Leaf wetness often ranged above 30 consecutive hours per week and, in one week, climbed to nearly 100 hours. The surface wetness and accelerated growth rates made it difficult to obtain a quality cut and, also, reduced the topdressing and culti­ vation programs that are important to maintaining surface quality and green speed. Growth regulator compounds were in high demand to help bridge mowing pro­ grams affected by the wet weather and pro­ vide more consistent playing conditions. Disease Pressure Soars The cool, wet weather minimized environ­ mental stress but had the opposite effect on disease. Fungicide budgets reflected the season’s heavy disease pressure. Anthrac- MORE BARK nose was active at many courses and diffi­ cult to control, but dollar spot disease was nearly unstoppable. Most fungicides seemed less effective against dollar spot. Why? Well, first and foremost, disease pressure was as high this season as it has been in many. And then we can’t forget that there are more than 100 biotypes of the dollar spot pathogen, each varying in the degree of harm it will do to turf and also in how it reacts to specific fungicides. While one fungicide may offer good control for one biotype, it may do lit­ tle to control another. Reduced nitrogen applications and clip­ ping removal programs combined with higher nitrogen losses from the wet weather may have also made the turf more suscepti­ ble to— and slower to recover from—dollar spot infections. Another suspected stumbling block in dollar spot control efforts: fungicide resist­ ance. To avoid these concerns, it’s important that you properly rotate between fungicides from different chemical classes. T IP A pplication techniques can seriously affect the longevity o f control obtained from a fungicide. The prim e culprit: Fungicide dilution rates sometimes are overlooked. Low water volumes may speed up applications but do not provide the thorough coverage required to obtain maximum fungicide activity. Use a minimum o f 2 to 2.5 gallons o f water per 1,000 sq .ft, fo r fungicides, and check calibration and the nozzles throughout the season. Fortunately, gray leaf spot disease was not widely active in the Northeast. There were several confirmed infections on perennial ryegrass in Pennsylvania and Delaware and at a few golf courses in our region, but the disease never reached epi­ demic proportions. Perhaps the good for­ tune can be attributed to the cooler tem­ peratures or the fact that those affected by the disease in the past have since chosen to move away from perennial ryegrass or implement fungicide programs to protect it. Do not, however, be lulled into a false sense of security as disease inoculum will likely remain viable and, once again, become active when weather conditions are favorable. Bentgrass dead spot disease also contin­ ues to raise concerns as it infects newer bentgrass greens. The disease is not easy to identify in the field since its symptoms mimic ball mark damage and dollar spot. If you’re managing new bentgrass greens, beware of this disease since all bent­ grass varieties appear susceptible. Dr. Bruce Clarke completed an excellent fungicide study that can be used to develop a sound preventive management program. (Refer to the September/October 2000 issue of Tee to Green, page 13, for details.) You can expect to hear more about this disease in the upcoming season. Moss was, again, a problem on many greens and made worse, it seems, by the wet weather. Standard contact controls pro­ vided temporary suppression at best, so repeat applications continue to be necessary. Moss studies are currently being con­ ducted by Cornell University’s Dr. Frank Rossi and research assistant David Dudonis at Westchester Country Club and other sites in the Metropolitan area. To date, these tri­ als have shown copper-based products as having promise for sustained suppression of moss. Work is continuing to refine those strategies. that to attract and retain competent employees, they must provide higher com­ pensation and additional benefits, use cre­ ative incentives, and focus on developing an enjoyable work environment. There is no doubt that the cost of doing business is ris­ ing and will continue to do so until the job market softens. This was one case where the bite was as bad as the bark. The High Price of Low Inemployment There’s more that could be written, but I’ll end by saying that, though the 2000 season was not perfect and most courses suffered a few problems, things could have been worse. . . . Downright ugly, in fact, if tem­ peratures had been higher. The 2000 season proved, once again, that nothing is certain in this business, and that it’s imperative to stay up-to-date and to be prepared for anything and everything. Here’s hoping 2001 will be kind to us all! I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the labor problems many golf courses experi­ enced in our region and nationwide this past year. Record-low unemployment numbers and increased competition for sea­ sonal labor created a crisis for many golf course operations, forcing drastic modifica­ tion of some practices. Most golf courses have come to realize Pesticide Applicators Beware Finally, we can’t over look the growing*"* political activism in New York State regarding pesticide { use. One bill that was recently1 signed into law allows countiesg to require lawn and tree care | companies to notify all abutting ^ property owners 48 hours prior to applying any pesticides. Right now, this law does not pertain to golf courses, but don’t rest too easy. Golf courses could be the next target. Imagine the implications of that law on your pro­ grams. There are other equally troubling bills that are too numerous to mention here. The GCSAA website and NYSTA provide detailed information regarding state legisla­ tive activities. The pressure is not likely to end in New York State, so it’s more impor­ tant now than ever to become familiar with these issues and voice your concerns to local legislatures. Nothing’s for Certain Jim Skorulski is an agronomist with the USGA Green Section in the Northeast Region. Tee to Green January/February 2 0 0 Í ätron Directory O Alpine, file Care ofTrees 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 Ih rf~ Golf Course Irrigation Gordon Holmes/Dave Arel 5 No. Payne St. Elmsford, NY 10523 914-347-5151, FAX 914-347-6323 Argento & Sons, Inc. Turf Equipment: Parts and Service Louis Argento: 914-949-1152 1 Prospect Ave. White Plains, NY 10607 O AT Sales ~ Premium Sod for Golf Courses Owen Regan 1787 Louisquisset Pike Lincoln, RI 02865 401-465-8066 PAGER 800-592-0675 O 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 O Blue Ridge Peat Farms Inc. White Haven, PA 18661 Gene Evans 570-443-9596 O Bruedan Corp. Frank Savakis/Mike Gesmundo/ Keith Kraham Greycourt Ave., Chester, NY 800-733-6740 O Central Irrigation Supply, Inc. Bernardo Luciano 914-347-5656 FAX 914-349-0506 DAF Services Inc. David A. Frechette/Bob Houle Flowtronics PSI Sales & Service Center 860-528-7362 O DAR PAR Sales John and Dominic Richichi “Your One-Stop Shop” 914-946-1743, FAX 914-946-0796 DeBuck’s Sod Farm Premium Quality Kentucky Bluegrass,Tall Fescue Blends Leonard/Valeri: 914-258-4131 Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. Byron Johnson Jr. 206 Delawanna Ave., Clifton, NJ 07014 973-473-3393, FAX 973-473-4402 A Team ofTurfgrass Professionals Greg Moran/Charlie Siemers 914-331-4869, PAGER 914-449-6925 O Metro Müorganite Inc. G Down To Earth All Phases of Golf Course Construction David Griffin 914-576-7693 O Earthw orks, 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 O Emerald Isle, Ltd. William Middleton 2153 Newport Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 800-628-GROW (4769) 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 Q Novartis TUrf & Ornamental Products 325 Mill Pond Lane Oxford, PA 19363 610-998-2896 O’Conner Pumps and Service O E /T Equipment Co. Kevin Collins 425 S. Riverside Ave., Croton, NY 10520 914-271-6126 O Fleet Pump & 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 Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing Kelsey Park Great Meadows, NY 07838 800-247-2326/908-637-4191 Bill and Joe Carriere: 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 Grass Roots Inc. Ken Kubik/Keith Kubik/Jay McKenna Service ~ Technical Support ~ Quality Products 973-361-5943 O Sawtefle Brothers, Inc. George Wise/Jason Bassi 65 Glen St., Lawrence, MA 01843 800-999-TURF Shemin Nurseries Inc. O Greenacres Company Irrigation Contractor 75 Codfish Hill Rd., Bethel, CT 06801 Dave Pijnenburg: 203-748-0558 O Hawthorne Bros. Tree Service John Hawthorne 5 Center St., Bedford Hills, NY 10507 800-235-7035 Howard Maurer Design Group, Inc. Golf Course Architecture and Land Planning P.O.Box 127,Hopedale,MA 01747 508-478-9684, FAX 508-473-5724 O Irra-Tfech, Inc. Joseph D. Kennedy 18 Merritt St., Port Chester, NY 10573 914-937-7273 James Barrett Associates, Inc. Horticultural and Irrigation Supplies Guy Romano: 203-531-7352 1081 King St., Greenwich, CT 06831 G Stephen Kay, Golf Course Architects Stephen Kay/Doug Smith 499 New Rochelle Rd. Bronxville, NY 10708 914-699-4437, FAX 914-699-4479 G 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 Jim Barrett Irrigation Consulting & Design 973-744-8237 Q James Carrier© & Sons, Inc. G The Cardinals, Inc. Scott Apgar/Ernie Steinhofer/ Scott Tretera, 54 Miry Brook Rd. Danbury, CT 06810 203-748-GOLF (4653) FAX 203-743-0458 Joe O ’Conner 6 Nye St., Rockville, CT 06066 860-875-6890 Bill Carriere 7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573 914-937-2136 lâU tfi G Terre Co. o f New Jersey, Inc. O Lesco, Inc. DeLea & Sons Sod Farms Vincent Sasso 444 Elwood Rd., E. Northport, NY 11731 800-244-7637/516-368-8022 O Tee and Green Sod, Inc. Owen Regan/Dave Wallace Sod Supply and Installation 401-789-8177 _______ The Scotts Company O TUrfNet Associates, Inc. Peter L. McCormick 21 Brandywine Rd. Skillman, NJ 07014 800-314-7929 O TUrf Partners, Inc. Joe Stahl 800-228-6656/860-663-8048 CELL 203-209-6951 FAX 860-663-3564 O TUrf Products Corp./TORO Paul Mazzola, Irrigation/A1 Tretera, Equipment 800-243-4355/860-763-3581 The Sprinkler House/Amodios: 914-328-0190 G TUrf Products Corporation Ernie Rizzio/Buddy Rizzio 47 Howell Rd., Box 296 Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046 973-263-1234 G Valley View Wholesale Greenhouses Frank Amodio 229 Smithridge Rd. So. Salem, NY 10590 914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050 G Westchester Ford TYactor Inc. John Apple/Ray Beaudry Meadow St. Goldens Bridge, NY 10526 914-232-7746 G Westchester TUrf 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.wilfredmacdonald.com 888-831-0891, FAX 201-931-1730 Winding Brook TUrf Farm, Inc. Bill Seccareccia 240 Griswold Rd. Wethersfield, CT 06109 800-243-0232/860-529-6869 FAX 860-529-6807 G Denotes MetGCSA member ■ — ■/ • '___»■ <«■ «- -__