Cover: Country Club of Darien.
Photo courtesy of Country Club of
Darien Superintendent Tim
O ’Neill.

n this Issue
B ring Your C o m m u n ica tio n Skills U p to P a r ....................................... 2
by Michele A . Lucas, L C S W i B C D and Roberta Rachel O m in, CSVV> B C D

Are You U nder-C ultivating Your Greens? ............................................. 12
by Jim Baird, U S G A Green Section Agronomist

M em ber N ew s .................................................................................................... 5
N ational N ew s .................................................................................................... 6
N ational Scorecard ............................................................................................7
Inside the N ational ............................................................................................8
U p c o m in g Events ...............................................................................................9
S p o tlig h ts............................................................................................................. 10

ing on March 21 at Sunningdale Country
Club, there was some discussion about the
manner in which the golf course superin­
tendent’s position was filled at Winged Foot
Golf Club. Unfortunately, Winged Foot
chose neither to use our Club Relations
Committee nor to advertise the position
opening locally Instead, the club “relied
heavily on the recommendations of the
USGA.”
Why did this happen?
It happened primarily because there are
no rules for clubs to follow when seeking to
fill a golf course superintendent’s position.
I Our association can encourage area clubs to
consult with our Club Relations Comi mittee, which is equipped to assist them in
conducting a job search, but we can’t
require that they contact us.
If we look at today’s business world,
John Cartone, C G C S
many key positions are filled using head­
M etG CSA President
hunters. The Search Committee at Winged
Foot was employing standard business prac­ these superintendent hirings, but I don’t
tices when it contacted the USGA.
believe this is a productive approach. First
i In the past 18 months, two other top- of all, the Green Section, which conducts
named clubs—Baltusrol and Shinnecock TAS visits, had nothing to do with the hir­
Hills—have looked to the USGA for guid­ ings at these clubs, and second, the TAS is
ance. Tim Moraghan of the USGA’s not a profit-making venture. The USGA
Tournament Section has consulted with conducts these visits at a loss.
these clubs on possible candidates for their
Even more important, the Green
superintendent’s position,
Section TAS visits are tremendously valu­
i On behalf of the MetGCSA, I did call able. I encourage our members to continue
Tim Moraghan about this practice on to use the USGA Green Section in what­
March 29. I won’t go into the details of our ever capacity they have in the past. I also
phone conversation, but I will say that I welcome any calls from members con­
believe, as MetGCSA president, I repre­ cerned about this issue.
sented our members’ views in discussing
what we considered to be a fair and equi­
table way to go about filling an opening for Help Save Our Monthly Meetings
I might as well stay on my soapbox here.
golf course superintendent.
If we would like to see a change in the We are desperately close to seeking alterna­
way future job openings are handled, it’s tives to our monthly golf meetings, as we
essential that Met members call or write know them. At this writing, we just
Tim and express their views. You can reach secured sites for our June Invitational and
him at the USGA Golf House, Far Hills, NJ for the second round of our MetGCSA
07931,908-234-2300. He specifically said Championship in September. We are still
he would be happy to discuss this matter looking to fill our November Annual
Meeting site. Never, in the history of our
with anyone who would like to call him.
I
have heard people suggest that we boy­association has it taken this long to firm up
cott the USGA Turf Advisory Service (TAS) our annual meeting calendar.
in response to the USGA’s involvement in continued on page 10
Tee to Green March /A p ril 2 0 0 1

calure

Bring Your
unication
to Par
by Michele A .
Roberta Rachel O m in,

o succeed on the job today, superin­
tendents must have a diverse set of skills
in their managerial toolbox.
They must be exceedingly well versed in
the science and technology of maintaining
and operating a golf course and, at the same
time, be masters of communication, able to
speak the language of a vast array of people,
from laborers to board members.
While most superintendents are well
schooled in the technical aspects of their job,
many recognize the value in enhancing their
ability to “win friends and influence people.”
Most superintendents have experienced
or know someone who has experienced los­
ing themselves—and their jobs— in a pon­
derous cavern of miscommunications and
personality conflicts with staff and superi­
ors—from green chairmen to board
members.
In the article “Superintendents Speak
Lucas,L C SH $ B C D and
Their Mind on the Profession’s Shaky Job
Security,” published in the December 2000
issue of the GCSA New England’s The
Newsletter, author Gerry Finn quotes numer­
ous superintendents on the perils of ignoring
the public relations aspect of the job.
As one superintendent told Finn, “The
squeeze on . .. superintendents often begins
as a matter of personality preference by those
in charge. It’s happened more than once__
Two or three people on the board don’t like
you, and the next thing you know, you’re
gone.”
Fortunately, there are tools that can help
superintendents understand not only how to
avoid these kinds of personality clashes, but
also communicate and work more effec­
tively with their staff and higher-ups so that
these kinds of incidents don’t happen— at
least not often.

Here’s a Tool That W ill

Take You to the N ext Level

in Your Dealings W ith Your
Staff, Green Chairman,

Decoding Personality Differences

and Club Officials

Tee to Green M arch/A pril 2 0 0 i

One tool that corporate America has long
put to use is called the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator (MBTI). Developed more than 50
years ago by Katherine Briggs and her
daughter Isabel Myers, the indicator is
designed to detect differences in personality
preferences by posing such questions as: Do
you develop close friendships with few peo­
ple or casual friendships with many people?

Understanding your innate
personality preferences is the
first step toward recognizing
how to best communicate and
work with your crew, green
chairman, and board members.

Do you get along better with imaginative or
realistic people? Do you let your head rule
your heart or your heart rule your head?
Though these questions appear simplistic,
the results are exceedingly accurate when
interpreted by a trained professional.
Referred to as typology, this technique actu­
ally has its roots in the work of renowned
psychiatrist Carl Jung. It was Jung who dis­
covered that people with different personality
preferences also have vastly different ways of
perceiving and processing information.
Understanding your innate personality
preferences is the first step toward recogniz­
ing how to best communicate and work
with your crew, green chairman, and board
members.
The indicator, which is a paper-andpencil questionnaire, is divided into four
critical areas. Under each are pairs of oppo­
site personality preferences that describe us
all to varying degrees. They are:
1. How we direct our attention. In this
category, there are Extraverts and Introverts.
An extravert tends to be a “people” person
who enjoys working with others—in a
group or one-to-one— to get a job done.
Introverts attend, initially, to their inner
world of thoughts and reflections and, sec­
ondarily, to the outer world. In general,
introverts prefer to “fly solo” to complete
assignments and tasks.
2. How we gather information. In this
category are the Sensors and Intuitives.
Sensors thrive on details and excel at preci­
sion work. Intuitives, on the other hand,
view the world through a wide-angle lens.
In their work, intuitive types are interested
in the big picture and often ignore— or are
impatient with— the accompanying details.
3. How we make decisions. In this cat­
egory are the Thinkers and the Feelers.
Thinkers make decisions based on facts and
logic, while feelers make decisions based on
others’ opinions and needs.
4. How we behave in the world. Here,
we have Judgers and Perceivers. Judgers are
naturally decisive, organized, and like to fol­
low a plan— to a tee. Perceivers, by con­
trast, are spontaneous, adaptable, and require
that a plan be flexible— not etched in stone.
In each of these four areas, we are pre­

dominantly one of the two personality pref­
erences: extravert or introvert, sensor or
intuitive, thinker or feeler, judger or perceiver. It’s our personality preferences that
affect the way we perceive an issue, process
information, make decisions, and behave in
the world.
Many people’s interpersonal communi­
cations run amuck because they fail to rec­
ognize that their way of operating isn’t the
only way to operate.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator helps
us pinpoint our personality strengths and
blind spots—as well as those of the people
we work with every day. From that, we can
determine how best to develop our under­
utilized personality qualities so that we are
better equipped to work in concert with
people whose personality preferences are
distinctly different from our own.
In short, the key to building harmonious
and productive relationships on the job is to
communicate your ideas, concerns, and
needs in the other person’s language and
style. (See sidebar on page 4, for productive
ways to communicate with these personal­
ity preferences.) This will increase your
chances not only of being heard and under­
stood, but also of achieving a favorable out­
come.

Typology at Work: ‘Super’ Successes
Here’s an example of how a superintendent
used what he learned from the MyersBriggs Type Indicator to uncover— and
compensate for—a major flaw in his deal­
ings with staff.
This particular superintendent—newly
hired—had quickly engineered the turn­
around of failing conditions on his golf
course. In the process, however, his mili­
taristic style of managing had offended so
many of his crew members that he ended
up losing some of his best people.
When the superintendent took the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, he learned
that he was a thinker with a marked lack of
awareness in the feeling function. Once
aware of this blind spot, he was able to make
a concerted effort to be more sensitive to
his staff’s needs. The result: The mass exo­
dus ended.

One of the most important applications
of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is to
discover those secondary talents which,
when polished, can help turn a good super­
intendent—or manager—into a great one.
Another superintendent found the
results of the Myers-Briggs useful in help­
ing him communicate more effectively
with his green chairman during committee
meetings.
In this case, the superintendent felt that,
at every green committee meeting, agenda
items were being discussed at such a rapid
rate that he wasn’t able to digest and react
to the first “must-do” before the green
chairman was firing off another one.
After taking the Myers-Briggs, the
superintendent discovered he was an intro­
vert going up against an extravert. His
solution was to ask the chairman to give
him a list of agenda items prior to their
meeting. This has allowed the superintend­
ent adequate time to think about and for­
mulate his responses upfront, making it
easier, in the long run, for him to match his
chairman’s harried communication style.
The superintendent has also learned
how to slow the chairman down from a
gallop to a trot when he begins to feel over­
whelmed by the chairman’s pace. This has
made the superintendent feel more confi­
dent and relaxed both in meetings and on
the job.
Understanding people through this lens
is also exceedingly useful in building a
work team. While the Myers-Briggs should
not be used to decide on hiring or firing, it
is immensely helpful in expanding your
awareness of the skills you need to seek in
others in order to balance your own blind
spots.
When hiring staff, it’s almost natural to
select applicants who are mirror images of
yourself. But to build a truly effective staff,
typologists agree that you should look for
people with qualities that complement—
not duplicate—your own.
If you’re intuitive, then, you should seek
out sensing types to handle the critical
details you might gloss over. If you’re a
sensing type, you’ll want an intuitive or two
to help generate those member-pleasing
new ideas.
Tee to Green March /A p ril 2 0 0 1

Tips for Speaking the Other Person's Language

One fellow superintendent’s intuitive
personality served him well in developing
the kind of innovative perennial garden
and tree planting programs that won him
high praise from the membership. His
assistant, who he had hired several years
earlier, was also an intuitive. Together, they
generated a lot of clever ideas but some­
times overlooked the finer details of man­
aging the course. As the operation’s tasks
began to escalate—partly a result of all
their new-laid plans—errors and oversights
began to creep in to the operation.
The crowning blow was when the fore­
man improperly positioned a hole location
on a green—not once but twice—for two
high-profile tournaments.
After scrutinizing the results of the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, it became
obvious that what the superintendent
needed was a more detail-oriented person
to, in effect, mind the store.
With his green chairman’s blessing, the
superintendent hired a second assistant,
who demonstrated the skills of a strong
sensing type, to watchdog the day-to-day
operations. Over time, the new assistant
proved to be an invaluable addition to the
operation.
As a result of this experience, the super­
intendent became a firm believer in the
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as a worthy
management tool. The true beauty of this
instrument, after all, is not in its ability to
type people, but in its ability to show us
how to capitalize on our strengths and
compensate for our blind spots.

Quick Test: What’s Your Personal Style?
Just for fun, here’s a quick test that might
give you insight into your personality pref­
erence. Consider the words in each pair,
and circle the one that best describes your
personal preference. Don’t think too
much. Go with your first reaction.
1 a. Private
b. Open
2 a. Practical
b. Ingenious
3 a. Fair
b. Compassionate
4 a. Scheduled b. Spontaneous

Tee to Green M arch/A pril 2 0 0 1

When communicating with Introverts:

When communicating with Judging types:

•

•

Be punctual, organized, and prepared.

•

Be ready to come to a conclusion; don't
leave issues open-ended.

Give information in written form whenever
possible.

•

Don't expect an immediate response. They
need adequate time for reflection.

•

In a group or one-to-one, make space in
the flow of conversation for them to speak.

•

Expect that they will use few words and
gestures.

•

Be decisive and definitive.

•

Stay with the planned agenda. Remember,
they are stressed by unexpected change.

When communicating with Perceiving types:
•

Be patient and ready to answer many
questions.

•

Focus on how things are done versus the
end result.

•

Offer choices.

•

Remain open to new information, ideas,
and shifts in direction.

When communicating with Extroverts:
•

Be ready to listen. They need to talk it out.

•

Allow them time to tell their story.

•

Don't believe everything they say. They
think out loud and may change their mind
later.

•

Attempt to match their speaking pace and
gestures. They tend to think something is
wrong if you don't.

When communicating with Feeling types:
•

Anticipate the effects of a decision on
others.

•

Look for points of agreement first.

•

Practice gaining cooperation versus insist­
ing on compliance.

•

Be open to alternatives and options.

When communicating with Thinking types:
•

Be objective when presenting critical feed­
back. Don't personalize it.

•

Make your comments simple, direct, and
concise.

•

Discuss causes and effects. "If th is . . . then
that."

•

Logically consider pros and cons; decide
and then hold firm.

Answer Key
Use the key below to see what your
choices indicate about your Myers-Briggs
personality preference.
1 a. Introvert
1 b. Extrovert
2 a. Sensor
2 b. Intuitive
3 a. Thinker
3 b. Feeler
4 a. Judger
4 b. Perceiver
Keep in mind: This is only a general indica­
tion, not a full-fledged analysis. If you
would like to know more about the MyersBriggs Type Indicator, you can contact a
professional certified to administer and
interpret the MBTI.
To truly benefit, however, you need to
not only take the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator, but also have it properly inter­

When communicating with Sensing types:
•

Be clear and concise when stating the
issues.

•

Have the facts, and be ready to offer proof.

•

Present information step-by-step.

•

Stress what is practical, and offer logical
ways to apply ideas or principles.

When communicating with Intuitive types:
•

Talk in global terms, about the "big
picture" and its implications.

•

Include options and possibilities in the
discussion.

•

Engage their imaginations.

•

Talk in general terms. Too many details
will stress them.

preted for you, and then learn how its
principles can be applied to improve your
communications— and relationships—at
work.
Michele A. Lucas, LCSW, BCD and Roberta
Rachel Omin, CSW, BCD are co-founders and
directors of Life Works, an educational organi­
zation that administers the Myers-Briggs Type
Indicator extensively in businesses and schools
throughout New York and Connecticut. They
also use the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to
assist individuals, couples, andfamilies.
If you would like to contact either of these
certified M BTI administrators, you can reach
Michele at 203-838-9777, ext. 2, or Roberta
at 914-941-8179.

Birth

Member Sews
Dear MetGCSA,

Congratulations to Patterson Country Club
Superintendent Arik Carlson and his wife,
Barbara, on the birth of their daughter,
Violet Reed, on February 2.

that the MetGCSA is one

United States. J
. members are.
knit and compassionate

1(jh the superin-

fvou have heard about my ^ ^ “ '^ a v e been fighting a
Many of you n
\ate December, 1
inflammation
tendent’s graPe^ p lyarteritis Nodosa. It crea undetected m
rare disease cahed W
throughout my body, u

Well Wishes
We’d like to send well wishes to the follow­
ing MetGCSA members and friends:
• Scott Apgar of Metro Milorganite Inc.,
Danbury, CT
• Mike Leary, superintendent, Bruce
Memorial Golf Club, Greenwich, CT
• Dave Mahoney, superintendent,
Siwanoy Country Club, Bronxville, NY
• Gerald Mahoney, MGA Director of
Golf Programs
• John R ichichi of Dar Par Sales,
E.White Plains, NY

InMemoriani
„ of m, problems, the pom«

Take 1. from me. Don't a t e
focnsedonyour topprror^ ,

. cobc.ms.

da,, and remember
one,am a chmge m

they are just that, p

MetGCSA,

We are sorry to announce the loss of fellow
superintendent Tom Pelletier, CGCS,
who died March 24 due to melanoma at the
age of 44. Tom was a longtime Connecticut
AGCS member and the superintendent at
Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, CT,
for the past 14 years. A dedicated superin­
tendent and loving family man, Tom leaves
behind his wife of 18 years, Amy, and two
children, Sam, 12, and Peter, 10. He will be
missed by all who knew him.

From a humbled and grateful member of

SMettoMdorganite,Inc.

TnrfNet Acquired by Turnstile
Publishing Company
Slew Member
Please join us in welcoming new affiliate
member Bernardo Luciano of Central
Irrigation Supply in Elmsford, NY.

Member on the Move
Congratulations to Gabriel Cirillo who
has moved from assistant superintendent to
superintendent at Manhattan Woods
Country Club in W. Nyack, NY.

Retired
Best wishes to Herb Waterous who has
recently retired and moved from
Westchester County to Rotonda West, FL.
Herb has been a member of the MetGCSA
since 1963. He was the long-tenured
superintendent at Scarsdale Golf Club in
Hartsdale, NY, before joining the commer­
cial side of the business in 1997 as a con­
sultant for Toronto, ON-based ArborCom
Technologies, Inc. As part of this venture,

Herb has traveled the countryside, applying
construction computer models to conduct
light penetration studies on greens and
other areas where light is a limiting factor.
Herb has been quietly dedicated to the
MetGCSA. Serving on the board as secre­
tary in the ’60s and most recently as a valued
member of the Tee to Green editorial com­
mittee, Herb has always welcomed Met
members to his course, hosting at least two
meetings in the past decade.
Technically 5cm/-retired, Herb has stayed
on as a part-time consultant with
ArborCom. “The golf course business was a
big part of my life and I really do miss it,” he
says. “But my work with ArborCom has
allowed me to stay in touch with the busi­
ness in a very interesting way. After all, it
does take me to some of the best courses in
the country.”
Enjoy, Herb, and welcome to the ranks
of Class AL. Once a superintendent, always
a superintendent.

Peter McCormick, who everyone knows
as the mastermind and president ofTurfNet,
has sold his company to Turnstile Publishing
Company of Orlando, FL. Turnstile is
adding TurfNet to its existing lineup of golf
publications, which include Golfweek,
Turnstile’s Golf & Travel, golfweek.com, and
Golfweek’s Superintendent News.
Peter, who is the affiliate member on the
MetGCSA Board, has joined Turnstile as
general manager of TurfNet operations,
operating out of his Skillman, NJ, office. He
is also continuing on as editor of TufNet
Monthly and webmaster of TwfNet.com, in
addition to becoming a contributing editor
of Superintendent News.
“On the surface, there won’t be any big
changes,” says Peter, who founded TurfNet
in the New Jersey/New York metropolitan
area in 1994. “Turnstile wants to help grow
the business, while adding value through
enhancements to the service. This was the
next logical step for TurfNet.”
Tee to Green M arch/A pril 2 0 0 1

G C S A A ’s 12nd
International G olf
Course Conference
and Show Highlights
and Happenings

CSAAs 2001 International <
Course Conference and Show, .
might say, is the start of a new era for till
Iprofession of golf course superintendent
At the Annual Meeting held Febru
116 in Dalla|ff the much-talked- out
I Professional Development Initiative passed
¡with flying colorsTfeceiving a full 75 perfcent of the vote. The initiative spurred a
Ibylaw amendment requiring additional
I qualifications for Class A membership.
To be implemented July 1, 2003, this
¡amendment will require that all GCSAA
■Class A members provide proof of a valid
¡pesticide license or pass a GCSAA pesticide
exam. In addition, a matrix of formal edu­
cation, superintendent experience, and
¡continuing education/service points will
I determine classificatiori?^^
Anyone who is a GCSAA Class A
¡member as of the July 1,2003 im piemen taftion date will be grandfathered into their
current classification. Beginning on that
date, all new and grandfathered Class A
members will be responsible for meeting
¡ongoing requirements. Then, like CGCS
■status, superintendents will be expected to
I renew their Class A status every five years.
“This amendment is monumental for
¡the association and the golf industry,” says
¡newly elected GCSAA President Tommy
¡Witt. “Research tells us the golf course
¡superintendent is integral to the game and
I the business of golf. But the demands of
the marketplace show a trend toward an
even higher standard for the profession.
For the association, there is an obligation to
¡provide the resources for its members to
¡meet—and even exceed—that standard.”

I

¡

I

Meet the New Board—With a Surprise
Change

I The Annual Meeting, which was just one
¡o f many events at this year’s International
I Golf Course Conference and Show, held
¡February 11-17, also included the election
¡o f officers and directors. Tommy Witt,
¡CGCS, at The Kiawah Island Club, Kiawah
¡Island, SC, as mentioned, was elected presiIdent, while Mike Wallace, CGCS, at Hop
I Meadow Country Club, Simsbury, CT, was
6

7<V /i> (liven Manli/April 2 0 0 1

GCSAAat a Glance
Board o f Directors
President
Tommy Witt, CGCS,The Kiawah Island
Club, Kiawah Island, SC
Vice President
Mike Wallace, CGCS, Hop Meadow
CC, Simsbury, CT
Secretary/Treasurer
Jon Maddern, CGCS, Elk Ridge GC,
Atlanta, MI
Immediate Past President
R. Scott Woodhead, CGCS, Bozeman,
MT
Directors
Ricky Heine, CGCS,The GC Star
Ranch, Austin, TX
Sean Hoolehan, CGCS, Wildhorse GC,
Pendleton, O R
Bob Maibusch, CGCS, MG, Hinsdale
GC in Clarendon Hills, IL
Tim O ’Neill, CGCS, CC of Darien,
Darien, CT
Mark Woodward, CGCS, Dobson
Ranch/Riverview golf courses,
Mesa,AZ
Executive Management
Steve Mona, CAE, Chief Executive
Officer
Julian Arredondo, Chief Financial
Officer
Founded
1926 at Sylvania CC,Toledo, OH
Headquarters Location
Lawrence, KS (since 1973)
Membership
21,000 members in 65 countries

selected vice president. Jon Maddern,
CGCS, at Elk Ridge Golf Course, Atlanta,
MI, was chosen secretary/treasurer.
R. Scott Woodhead, CGCS, remains on
the board as immediate past president.
Elected as GCSAA directors were
Robert Maibusch, CGCS, MG, at Hinsdale
Golf Club, Clarendon Hills, IL; our own
Tim O ’Neill, CGCS, at Country Club of
Darien, Darien, CT (Congratulations, Tim!);

A total o f 20,584 attended
the world’s largest g o lf course
management conference and
show, marking the sixth
straight year the 20,000mark had been eclipsed.

and Mark Woodward, CGCS, at Dobson
Ranch/Riverview golf courses, Mesa, AZ.
Sean Hoolehan, CGCS, at Wildhorse
Golf Club, Pendleton, O R , was appointed
to a one-year term that was created by
Maddern’s election as secretary/treasurer.
Also established at the Annual Meeting was
that Ken Mangum, CGCS, at Atlanta
Athletic Club, Duluth, GA, would remain
on the board, serving the second year of an
elected two-year term.
On April 2, however, GCSAA President
Tommy Witt announced that Ken Mangum
had resigned from the board.
Ken
explained that he would no longer be able
to devote the time necessary to fulfilling the
duties of a GCSAA board member because
the number of projects at his facility had
increased significantly and would require
his full attention in the upcoming years.
To serve the remainder of Ken’s term,
which ends at the February 2002 Annual
Meeting in Orlando, FL, Tommy Witt
appointed Ricky Heine, CGCS, of The
Golf Club Star Ranch in Austin, TX.
Ricky, a GCSAA member for 19 years, was
narrowly defeated this past February in his
campaign for a GCSAA board of director
position.

What a Show It Was
The GCSAA Conference and Show
included 120 educational seminars and
more than 70 hours of educational pro­
gramming. Attending golf course superin­
tendents, architects, course officials, turfgrass
professionals, educators, suppliers, and media
representatives also were afforded the latest
in golf course management products and
services at the three-day trade show.
GCSAA’s 73rd International Golf Course
Conference and Show is set for February
4-10,2002, in Orlando, FL.
A total of 20,584 attended the world’s
largest golf course management conference
and show, marking the sixth straight year the
20,000-mark had been eclipsed. Education
seminar attendance was 7,616, just short of
the 7,903 established last year. There were
727 exhibitors, covering an all-time best of
275,500 square feet of floor space.
Other conference and show highlights
include:
• Mitch Clodfelter, golf course superin­
tendent at Cowans Ford Country Club in
Stanley, NC, won the GCSAA Golf
Championship with a two-over-par 145.
(See how MetGCSA members placed in the
National Scorecard, right.)
• Arthur Weber, longtime MetGCSA
friend and honorary member, received the
GCSAA Distinguished Service Award,
which is reserved for individuals who’ve
made “outstanding contributions to the
advancement of the golf course superinten­
dent’s professionalism.”
• Chris Carson, superintendent at the
Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, NJ,
received this year’s Leo Feser Award for his
article, “How to Keep Your Job,” which
appeared in the January 2000 issue of Golf
Course Management.
• PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem
was afforded GCSAA s highest honor, the
Old Tom Morris Award, recognizing his
commitment to the game of golf.
• The Michigan State Turfgrass Environ­
mental Program was honored with the
GCSAA President’s Award for Environ­
mental Leadership.

Met Makes Honorable
Showing in the 2001
lonshii
Even cold, rainy weather couldn’t damp­
en the spirits of the 750 contestants who
participated in the 2001 GCSAA Golf
Championship. Hosted by seven San
Antonio, TX, golf courses, the event put
the competitors’ golf skills to the test.
Congratulations to the following
MetGCSA members who fared well on
the links, despite the unusually challeng­
ing conditions.
F ourth Flight, 1st place gross
John Gallagher, Racebrook Country
Club, Orange, CT
Fifth Flight, 4th place gross
Stephen Rabideau,The Hamlet Golf &
Country Club, Commack, NY
Sixth Flight
4th place gross: Phil Anderson,Village
Club of Sands Point, Sands Point, NY
5th place net: GregWojick, CGCS,
Greenwich Country Club, Greenwich,
CT
Seventh Flight, 7th place gross
Joe Alonzi, CGCS, Westchester Country
Club, Rye, NY
E ighth Flight, 8th place net
Scott Schukraft, Huntsville Golf Club,
Shavertown, PA
/N in th Flight, 2nd place net
Jim McNally, Rock Spring Club,West
Orange, NJ
Super Senior Flight, 2nd place gross
Frank E. Lamphier, Class AL
/ W ord to the Wise: With a great venue
for next year’s Golf Championship—it
will be held at the Golf World Village in
Jacksonville, FL—be sure your applica­
tion meets the deadline so you won’t be
closed out of this hugely popular event.
Housing is limited!

Tee to Green M arch/A pril 2 0 0 1

AGala 75th Anniversary Celebration Is
Under Way

mmmm

Inside the National

Ushering in a
New Era
in GCSAA
by Tim O ’N eill , C G C S

C SA A ’s

International

C onvention and Show gets b et­
ter all the tim e.

M y personal

m giilight this year, o f course, was
the Annual M eeting, where I was
elected to a tw o-year term on
e GCSAA board as a director.
Many, m any

thanks

to

all

M etG C SA m em b ers for your

=GCSAA already has many plans brewing for a
grand 75th anniversary celebration, which
began at the conference and show in Dallas
; and will continue right through to the 2002
conference and show in Orlando, FL.
Among the celebration’s special offerings
and events:
• A special dues rate of $75 is now in effect
for new members of GCSAA. The offer is
good through the next show in Orlando. For
more information, contact GCSAA at 800472-7878 or call me at the Country Club of
Darien, 203-655-9726, ext. 222.
• Two days of activities, programs, and cere­
monies are planned for September at the
headquarters building in Lawrence, KS. All
; GCSAA members are encouraged to attend
the event. Chapters will be asked to find
ways to send as many representatives as possi­
ble. Fundraising efforts between now and
September should easily insure the
MetGCSA is well represented.
• A life-size bronze statue of Old Tom
Morris has been commissioned and will be
unveiled at the September celebration.
• GCSAA plans to build a brick walkway
; surrounding the new statue at headquarters
and is sponsoring a “buy a brick” program.
[ This program allows you to purchase bricks
I for $50 with your name inscribed—and
eternally etched into the history of our
; association.
• An Anniversary Book has been commis­
sioned and will recount the history of the
organization.
• A golf ball collection drive has been
started by encouraging members to donate
i three balls with their club’s logo. One ball
| will be displayed while two others will be
i auctioned on E-Bay to benefit The GCSAA
Foundation.
Coordinating all the Met’s involvement in
: GCSAA’s anniversary celebrations will be
I fellow resource group member John Carlone.
j, Feel free to contact John at Meadow Brook,
516-935-6505, or me with any questions.

support— and to John Carlone
and B ob A lon zi, in particular,
for all they did on m y behalf.
I am , o f course, lo o k in g forto m y continued involve­
m en t on the national board and
am happy to report that I w ill
serve

again

this year as the

M em bership C hairm an and w ill
assum e a new post as Chairm an
o f the

75th Anniversary R e ­

source Group.

4k I

Inside the Board Room
Before and after the activities at the annual
I conference and show, the board of directors
met—as usual. Here are some of the deci­
sions and discussions that developed in Texas
during February:
• $100,000 was awarded to the Michigan
cTurfgrass Information File (TGIF) and
? Library, which houses articles and data related
to the turfgrass industry. Available through
| subscription, this service has been used pri­
marily by researchers and academicians. With
| the funding, TGIF administrators hope to
j encourage greater superintendent participa­
tion by making it more user-friendly and by
eliminating the subscription fee.

• The board continued its practice of look­
ing at all the sponsorship arrangements of the
association and the terms and conditions of
each. With the sponsorship of numerous
companies, GCSAA is able to provide serv­
ices and events that would not be possible
with GCSAA funds alone. Because we are
conscious, however, of member concerns
about the commercialization of our events,
we do evaluate, at our quarterly meetings,
each one of our sponsorship and licensing
agreements.
• A summary of the Annual Planning
Meeting held in December 2000 was
reviewed and approved. This document,
which is a collaborative effort of the board
and executive staff, guides the association’s
focus during the coming year. One of the
major efforts targeted this year is to enhance
the line of communication between
GCSAA and local chapters by stepping up
the Speakers Bureau Program. Through this
program, board members will contact and
then go meet with local chapter board mem­
bers about a topic of particular interest to
that chapter. The hope to is reach about 30
chapters each year.
Other efforts will include looking for
ways to expand the annual conference and
show, further develop the association’s inter­
net strategy, and target and develop leaders in
local chapters.
• The Associate Member category was
amended to allow golf course workers (e.g.,
mechanics, spray technicians, horticulturists,
etc.) to join at the reduced rate of $125. In
the past, the Associate category was limited
to former student members, and the staff
mentioned above were considered Affiliate
members, who pay the full $250 dues.
Other discussions included:
• A proposed partnership with the
national Irrigation Association to help
GCSAA develop and then administer a
comprehensive irrigation education pro­
gram for members.
• A redesign of the certification exam so
that it reflects the competencies which have
been established by the Professional Devel­
opment Initiative— and which more accu­
rately represent the roles and responsibilities
of today’s superintendent.
• The creation of a Political Action Com­
mittee (PAC). The Government Relations
Committee has proposed that a PAC be
formed to scout out— and offer financial
support to—political candidates in D.C.
who are supportive of the golf course
industry.
If any of you want to discuss these, or
any other GCSAA-related issues, please
don’t hesitate to give me a call at the
Country Club of Darien. I look forward to
continuing with these updates and keeping
you informed about GCSAA activities as
the year goes on.

We’re Almost There
Weve almost found a home for all of our meeting and social events for the year 2001.
Again, to volunteer your club for an open meeting site, contact either of our
Tournament Committee co-chairs—-JeffWentworth, 914-738-2752, or Sean Cain, 914723-3238. To host a social event, contact Social & Welfare Committee Chairman Joe
Alonzi, 914-798-5361.

2001 Meeting and Social Calendar Update
Business Meeting

Poa Annual Tournament

Wednesday, March 21
Sunningdale Country Club, Scarsdale, NY
Host: Sean Cain

Monday, August 13
Minisceongo Golf Club, Pomona, NY
Host:Jason Ziesmer

Two-Ball Qualifier

MetGCSA Championship/Met Area Team
Championship Qualifier, Round 2

Monday, April 30
The Powelton Club, Newburgh, NY
Host: Bob DeMarco

Superintendent/Manager Tournament
Monday, May 14
Country Club of Darien, Darien, CT
Host:Tim O ’Neill, CGCS

Invitational Tournament
Monday, June 11
Brae Burn Country Club, Purchase, NY
Host: Dennis Flynn, CGCS

MetGCSA Championship/Met Area Team
Championship Qualifier, Round 1
Tuesday, July 10
Garrison Golf Club, Garrison, NY
Host: Rich Browne

MetGCSA Family Picnic
Date & Site TBA

MetGCSA Summer Social
Date & Site TBA

Tuesday, September 18
Centennial Golf Club, Carmel, NY
Host: Wifl Heintz

The Assistants Championship
Tuesday, October 2
The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, CT
Assistant Hosts: Albion Imondi/David
Polvino

Superintendent/Green Chairman
Tournament
Tuesday, October 16
The Meadow Brook Club, Jericho, NY
Host: John Carlone, CGCS

Annual Meeting
November: Date & Site TBA

MetGCSA Christmas Party
Saturday, December 8
Brae Burn Country Club, Purchase, NY
Host: Dennis Flynn, CGCS

Area Professional Golf Events
The NFL Golf Classic ~ Senior PGA Tour
Friday-Sunday,June 8-10
Upper Montclair Country Club,
Clifton, NJ
Host: Robert Dickison, CGCS

The Instinet Classic - Senior PGA Tour
Friday—Sunday, June 15—17
TPC at Jasna Polana, Princeton, NJ
Host: Roger A. Stewart Jr., CGCS

The Buick Classic ~ PGA Tour
Thursday—Sunday, June 21-24
Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY
Host: Joe Alonzi, CG(3S

Japan Airlines (JAL) Big Apple Classic ~
LPGA Tour
Thursday-Sundayjuly 19-22
Wykagyl Country Club,
New Rochelle, NY
Host: Chip Lafferty

The Lightpath Long Island Classic ~
Senior PGA Tour
Friday—Sunday, August 3—5
The Meadow Brook Club,Jericho, NY
Host: John Carlone, CGCS

Tee to Green M arch/A pril 2 0 0 1

President’s Message continuedfrom page t
Everyone can appreciate how difficult
it can be to secure sites. Let’s face it, clubs
are booking all their available time with
outings, where they charge high fees to
generate income. I do believe, however,
that most clubs also understand the need
to give back to their professional staff.
They do this by occasionally hosting
MetPGA, MGA, CMA, and MetGCSA
events.
Tournament Committee Co-Chair­
men JeffWentworth and Sean Cain have
made many phone calls, pleading for sites.
They have presented alternate formats for
golf meetings to the board. They are
being forced to think outside the box.
This is not a bad thing, but I know we
will miss our monthly golf meetings if
we’re forced to do away with them.
If you’re willing to host this year’s
Annual Meeting, please contact Jeff or
Sean as soon as possible. If you are con­
sidering hosting a meeting next year—or
even in 2003—it’s not too early to
approach your club now.
Remember, we’re all in this together.
No one should be intimidated to host his
or her peers. What this association is all
about is getting together, playing golf,
enjoying one another’s company, and
talking shop. Let’s not lose this valuable
opportunity.

An Ally at the Top
As most of you are aware by now,
Country Club of Darien Superintendent
Tim O ’Neill, CGCS—who also happens
to be our May meeting host—was
elected at our annual conference and
show in Dallas to a two-year term as
director on the GCSAA board. Tim
received outstanding support from the
entire country, racking up more than
6,000 votes.
As a director, Tim will also serve as
chairman of the Membership Committee
and the new 75th Anniversary Resource
Group. (See Tim’s article on page 8.) If
anyone has questions regarding an aspect
of GCSAA, Tim has made it clear that he
welcomes your phone calls.
Congratulations,Tim, and good luck!
Tee to Green March /A p ril 2 0 0 1

J ob DeMarco, superintendent of
The Powelton Club in Newburgh, NY, will
host the MetGCSA’s first golf meeting of
the season on April 30. This meeting will
mark the Met’s third visit to this historic
club where Bob has been superintendent
for close to 20 years.
Among the oldest in the country, this
109-year-old golf course sits on 90 acres
and plays to just over 6,000 yards. But don’t
let the length of the course fool you. The
greens are small and sloping, making accu­
rate iron shots paramount if you want to
score well.

pond on the 16th hole, and hydraulically
dredged the irrigation pond on the 18th
hole. “We had the projects on the 16th and
18th holes going on simultaneously,” says
Bob. “We restored the irrigation pond to
its original depth to increase the holding
capacity. In the process, we removed 6,000
cubic yards of silt.”
No doubt the drought o f ’99 expedited
the whole project and, in addition, forced
Bob to look for another source of water.
“We dug another well, which yields 23 gal­
lons per minute. It’s not much, but it’s sup­
plemental,” Bob notes.
Also in the
long-range plan: to make improvements to
the maintenance facility and to finish
rebuilding the tees.

Here to Stay

Going Full Circle

A Devereaux Emmet design, this course
has, over the years, acquired the signature of
at least two other golf course architects:
Robert Trent Jones, who partially rebuilt
holes #6 and #7 in the late 1950s, and then
Geoffrey Cornish, who in the m id-’80s
established a long-range plan for course
enhancements that included bunker and tee
renovations, mounding, and tree planting.
In 1985, Cornish also helped guide
course renovations required to make way
for the expansion of I-84’s NewburghBeacon Bridge, which meant relocating the
17th hole and four tees.
A year ago February, The Powelton
Club had the good fortune of being added
to the National Register of Historic Places,
which will likely protect it from further
encroachments. And none too soon,
according to Bob. “There’s talk of a Route
9W expansion,” he says. “If they moved 50
feet onto our property, it would affect four
holes and our maintenance facility.” For the
time being, Bob and the Powelton mem­
bership are keeping their fingers crossed.

Bob broke into the business by working on
the grounds crew at Southern Dutchess
Country Club, a nine-hole course in his
Beacon, NY, hometown. He enjoyed this
experience so much that he enrolled in
UMass’s Winter Turf School. After receiv­
ing his degree in 1976, he was hired as
Powelton’s assistant. In 1980, he left the
club for a superintendent’s position at
Kutchers Country Club in Monticello,
NY. Two seasons later—in December of
1981, to be exact—he circled back to The
Powelton Club, this time as superintendent.

Keeping Busy
During his tenure, Bob has completed vari­
ous renovation projects: In addition to
implementing many of the ones initiated by
Cornish, Bob’s installed an all-new irriga­
tion system, conquered challenging
drainage problems, converted a stream to a

Downtime
After a hard day’s work, Bob enjoys spend­
ing time with his wife, Elayne, and his 13year-old son, Geoffrey. During the winter
months, Bob uses the little extra downtime
he has to relax and recharge for the
upcoming season. In addition to coaching
his son’s baseball team, Bob also manages
his travel hockey team. When Bob isn’t
following the hockey team’s games all
across New England, he finds time to take
part in the winter sport he enjoys probably
more than any other: skiing.
See you all on the links!
Glen Dube, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Oak
Hills Park Golf Club in Norwalk, CT.

Country Club of Darien Hosts Met’s
Soperintendent/Manager Meeting
by Chip Lafferty

n May 14, Superintendent Tim
O ’Neill and his staff will host the annual
Superintendent/Manager Tourney at the
picturesque Country Club of Darien in
Darien, CT.
As area veterans may know, the club
has had a somewhat unconventional evo­
lution. It was built in 1957 on the grounds
of the family estate of Edgar Auchincloss,
who remained the club’s sole proprietor
for 29 years. Auchincloss hired Golf
Course Architect A1 Tull to transform the
140-acre plot of land into an 18-hole golf
course— and private club—for what even
back then was considered a song: a mere
$ 200,000 .
The course underwent very little
change until the change in regime in
1986; that’s the year Auchincloss sold the
Country Club of Darien to the member­
ship. Under the club’s new— and more
conventional— committee system, Tim
got the go-ahead for some major capital
improvements.
That very same year, in fact, he hired
noted Golf Course Architect Brian Silva
to develop a master plan for course reno­
vations, which has included a major
drainage project, extensive tee and bunker
reconstruction, and the redesign of #18
green. “We’ve come a long way from a
farm,” says Tim.
Right now, Tim is gearing up for
another
major
undertaking:
“In
September,” he explains, “we’ll begin
installing a state-of-the-art computerized
irrigation system. We’ve been making due
with a system that was more than 40 years
old. It’s the same system installed when
the club was built.”

The Career Track
Tim has been superintendent at Darien
since 1981. But his career in turfgrass
management began long before that—in
his Pawtucket, RI, hometown.

“W hen I was a junior in high school,”
says Tim, “I worked as a caddie at the
Pawtucket Country Club to earn some
spending money.” But caddying provided
him with more than pocket change: It gave
him the opportunity to get acquainted
with—and then interested in—turfgrass
management.
“W hen I turned 15,” says Tim, “I
started working on the grounds crew at
Pawtucket, and by the time I graduated
high school, I knew I wanted to pursue a
career as a golf course superintendent.”
Tim worked summers at Pawtucket as
he pursued a B.S. in turfgrass management
from the University of Rhode Island.
When he graduated in 1979, he accepted
his first position as assistant superintendent
at Greenwich Country Club, under then
Superintendent Paul Caswell.
“I’m thankful to Paul, of course, for his
professional guidance,” says Tim, “but also
for encouraging me to participate in the
MetGCSA.”

Professional Pursuits
Tim joined the Met board in 1984, serving
on nearly every one of the association’s
committees as he rose through the chairs to
MetGCSA president in 1992 and 1993.
Aside from offering Tim lifelong
friendships, his 21-year involvement in the

association has clearly springboarded him
into bigger—and more far-reaching indus­
try pursuits.
Tim has served on the Executive
Committee of the Tri-State Turf Research
Foundation since the group’s inception in
1990. He made his mark as the group’s
president and first newsletter editor, estab­
lishing an all-new direction for the newslet­
ter and other foundation marketing
communications.
Seemingly driven to bolster the golf
course superintendent’s role and image in
the golf industry, Tim’s latest pursuit has
been to serve as director on the GCSAA
board. Now in his second year, Tim is cur­
rently heading up our national association’s
Membership Committee and 75th Anni­
versary Resource Group.
As if all this is not enough, Tim has an
impressive list of other involvements,
including the Environmental Industry
Council of Connecticut, the USGA, and
the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary
Program.

Personal Commitments
Though his professional life is clearly of
high importance, Tim is equally committed
to his family: his wife of 13 years, Jennifer,
and 12-year-old Justin and 9-year-old
Kristen. He enjoys lending a helping hand
at the kids’ school, most recently guiding
them in building a soccer field and planning
a greenhouse.
A sports enthusiast, Tim also manages to
carve out time to follow his favorite sports
teams—basketball, baseball, football— all
from Boston, a little closer to his Rhode
Island roots.
When you all join Tim on May 14 for
one of his other favorite sports, you’ll enjoy
not only a good round to golf, but also a
newly refurbished pro shop and clubhouse,
complete with a new locker room and din­
ing room. Enjoy!
Chip Lafferty, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY.

Tee to Green M arch/A pril 2 0 0 1

Are You UnderCultivating Your Greens?

by Jim Baird, U S G A Green
Section Agronom ist

W hat’s Good for the Golfer Isn’t Necessarily
Good for the Greens
aA Agronomist Jim Baird has
'noticed
an alarming trend in
î â
turfgrass management today: It seems that
rather than risk raising members’ hackles,
many superintendents feel pressure to forego
the practice of cultivating their greens.
Cultivation, he reminds us, is essential to
the long-term health and welfare of our put­
ting greens by reducing thatch accumulation
and surface compaction. And despite the
initial disruption it causes to the putting sur­
face, cultivation leads to smoother, truer,
firmer—and ultimately, more playable and
reliable—putting greens.
Most of us already know this. What
some of us may not know, however, is how
to ride—and survive— the wave of criticism
we often receive for our cultivation prac­
tices: “Why do you punch holes in our
greens just when they start to look good?”
Worry not. Help is here. In the article
that follows, Jim Baird describes the benefits
of the three cultivation techniques—aerifi­
cation, verticutting, and topdressing— we all
know
and
use,
though
maybe
spottily.
Keep this article on hand, not only as a
useful reminder of the finer points of these
practices, but also as ammunition if—and
when—your cultivation practices are called
into question by members and club officials
who may need more than just your word on
the merits of cultivating your greens.

Hollow Core Aerification:
The Ins and Outs
By physically removing unwanted organic
matter—i.e., thatch—from the upper por­
tion of the root zone, core aerification—like
solid tine, deep solid tine, drilling, or water
injection aerification— ensures that your
plant roots receive the oxygen vital to plant
growth and long-term survival.

Core aerification also benefits your greens
by:
• Ensuring proper gas exchange
• Offering improved wetting of dry or
hydrophobic soils
• Accelerating drying of persistently
wet soils
• Increasing infiltration capacity
• Stimulating root growth within holes
• Increasing shoot growth above holes
• Disrupting layers resulting from
topdressing
• Improving your turf’s response to fertil­
izers (e.g., N, P) and soil amendments
(e.g., lime, gypsum)
If you’re on the fence about whether to
remove or reincorporate your cores, I can tell
you that we generally recommend that cores
be removed following hollow core aerifica­
tion. This is because we feel that too many
fine soil and thatch particles are reintroduced
to the upper root zone during the dragging
and blowing process, and this contributes to
increased moisture retention at the surface of
the greens.
The other benefit in removing the cores
is that it allows the holes to be filled with
sand, and over the course of several years, the
physical characteristics of the soil in the top
two to three inches or more of the putting
green soil profile can be improved.
Particularly when larger tines are used,
filled aerification holes provide longer term
benefits and better playability than unfilled
holes.

Verticutting: The Long and Short of It
Deep verticutting or dethatching is another
effective means of controlling or reducing
organic matter. The advantage to this process
is that it won’t soften putting surfaces to the
same degree as hollow core cultivation. The
verticutting machines available today, like the

new Graden or Sisis Vertical Mowers, are
capable of penetrating nearly two inches
below the turf surface and are considerably
less disruptive than the old verticutters.
Shallow verticutting or grooming is
another practice we recommend to reduce
stand density and improve playing character­
istics of the putting green. You can achieve a
similar effect by using brush attachments on
reel cutting units.

Aerifying and Verticutting: How Much Is
Enough?
Admittedly, one of the most difficult parts of
initiating an aerification or verticutting pro­
gram is to determine how much of each
practice is adequate to manage the organic
layer in the upper portion of the soil profile.
Unfortunately, there is no concrete rule of
thumb for the percentage of surface area that
should be cultivated each year, but it is safe to
say there are more greens that have been cul­
tivated too little as opposed to too much.
In our travels, we’ve noticed that courses
with mature greens have had success with a
cultivation program that, when all is said and
done, affects 15 to 20 percent of their greens’
surface area per year. Keep in mind, however,
that these are greens that have been reason­
ably well maintained. If aerification has been
neglected or if soils require modification, a
more aggressive program may be warranted.
The amount of surface area cultivated is a
direct result of tine size, tine spacing, and fre­
quency. I’ve provided a table on the follow­
ing page to give you a good idea how you can
manipulate tine size and spacing to achieve
the percentage of surface area you would like
to cultivate.
For example, by looking at the table, you
can see that switching from a 1/4Mtine to a
1/2Mtine increases the amount of surface area
you’ll cultivate by four times. Using a 5 /8 M
tine instead of a 1/2" tine increases surface
area affected by nearly 50 percent.

If you change your spacing from 2” x 2"
to 1” x 2" with 3 /8 ” tines, you increase the
surface area affected by 100 percent!
The rows in the table detailing the effec­
tiveness of the Graden Vertical Mower will
be of particular interest to many of you.
After seeing how much this machine affects
the surface, it should come as no surprise that
many clubs have incorporated it as a key
component in their program.
Double aerification is another practice
being used in the Northeast and abroad.
Double aerification may take twice as long
and require twice as much sand, but it does
not take twice as long for the holes to heal.
Word to the wise: This table is probably
more useful to you than to club members or
officials. It may be prudent to avoid bogging
them down with the details of tine size and
hole spacing and focus, instead, on the per­
centage of turf that will be affected by culti­
vating your greens. Then, once your club
commits to a specific aerification goal, you
can offer them choices on how to reach the
goal.

Timing Is Everything
In general, the optimal times to aerify and
verticut putting greens in the Northeast are
in mid- to late May and mid- to late August.
Obviously, these times coincide with ideal
playing conditions, but there are some defi­
nite advantages to cultivating during these
two periods:
• rapid turf recovery due to warm soil and
air temperatures
• minimum encroachment of annual bluegrass
• maximum establishment of creeping
bentgrass following overseeding

Topdressing Rules of Thumb
Frequent topdressing is another way to help
reduce thatch accumulation and provide a
smoother and firmer playing surface, but not
all topdressing is created equal. We believe
that to achieve the maximum benefits of
increased water and air percolation into the
soil profile, sand topdressing is the way to go.
After all, if the objective of your cultivation
program is to reduce organic matter on your
greens, then why add organic matter in your
topdressing?
Before starting a new topdressing pro­
gram, consider these basic rules of thumb:

How Tine Size and Spacing Translate Into Surface Area Cultivated
Tine Size
Diameter
(inches)

Spacing
(inches)

Number of
Holes per ft2

Surface Area
Affected by One
Tine (in2)

% Surface
Area
Affected

1/4
1/4
1/4
3/8
3/8
3/8
1/2
1/2
1/2
5/8
5/8
5/8
Dethatching
Machine
9/64" Blades
Dethatching
Machine
5/64" Blades

lx l
1x2
2x2
lx l
1x2
2x2
lx l
1x2
2x2
lx l
1x2
2x2
lx l

144
72
36
144
72
36
144
72
36
144
72
36
NA

0.049
0.049
0.049
0.110
0.110
0.110
0.196
0.196
0.196
0.307
0.307
0.307
NA

4.91%
2.45%
1.23%
11.04%
5.52%
2.76%
19.63%
9.82%
4.91%
30.68%
15.34%
7.67%
14.1%

# of Cultivation
Practices Needed
to Reach 20% of
Surface Area Affected
4.1
8.1
16.3
1.8
3.6
7.2
1.0
2.0
4.1
0.7
1.3
2.6
1.4

lx l

NA

NA

7.8%

2.6

Note: Some of the spacing relative to tine size diameters listed above are theoretical and cannot be achieved without cultivation
in more than one direction.

• Have both your existing and new top­ The Payoff
dressing materials tested by an accredited
The saying “short-term pain for long-term
laboratory to determine their physical com­
gain” rings true with cultivation. Though
patibility.
initially disruptive to conditions and play, its
• Make a gradual transition—i.e., one to
long-term benefits far outweigh any short­
two years—to 100-percent sand if your exist­
term inconvenience.
ing topdressing material contains more than
Cultivation is one of the most important
10-percent organic matter.
cultural practices used on putting greens. It is
• Be sure to use sand topdressing consis­
to be credited, probably more than any other
tently and routinely to prevent layering.
practice, for producing healthy turf that is less
To do it properly—and with greatest
prone to serious problems during a severe
effect—you should topdress lightly with sand
summer. The practice is also responsible for
every two to three weeks.This will help man­
firmer greens and, as a result, faster putting
age thatch as well as provide a smoother and
conditions.
firmer putting green surface.
Just as its important to schedule golf
Using dry sand, light topdressing can be
events well in advance of the season, its
applied with a walk-behind or groundessential to schedule and adhere to cultiva­
driven rotary spreader and watered in lightly
tion practices on the golf course.
with the irrigation system to minimize turf
Keep in mind, the recommendations in
abrasion, mower wear, and disruption to play.
this report are just that—recommendations.
It’s important to keep in mind that your
They’re meant as food for thought and,
ability to maintain a routine topdressing pro­
hopefully, fodder for a well-planned cultiva­
gram is contingent on having adequate
tion program on your course.
resources—personnel, equipment, dry stor­
Happy cultivating!
age for topdressing sand—and good weather,
not to mention time enough in the golf
Jim Baird is an agronomist with the Northeast
schedule to get the job done. Properly
Region, USGA Green Section. Acknowledg­
implemented, topdressing could reduce other
ments to Patrick O'Brien and Christopher
cultivation requirements.
Hartwiger of the Southeast Region, USGA
Green Section,for their contributions to this article.

lèe éÔreeti March /April 2001

iron Directory
O Alpine, the 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 TUrf~ 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

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

DAP Services Inc.
David A. Frechette/Bob Houle
Flowtronics PSI Sales & Service
Center
860-528-7362

O DARPARSales
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

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

© 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

O 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

O Grass Roots Inc.
Ken Kubik/Keith Kubik/Jay McKenna
Service ~ Technical Support ~ Quality
Products
973-361-5943

G Greenacres Company
Irrigation Contractor
75 Codfish Hill Rd., Bethel, CT 06801
Dave Pijnenburg: 203-748-0558

O Hawthorne Bros. Thee 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-Tbch, Inc.
Joseph D. Kennedy
18 Merritt St., Port Chester, NY 10573
914-937-7273

James Barrett Associates, Inc.
Jim Barrett
Irrigation Consulting & Design
973-744-8237

O James Carriere 8c Sons, Inc.
Bill Carriere
7 Cottage St., Port Chester, NY 10573
914-937-2136

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 Delawanna 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 8c 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 Tbp-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 SavATfcee
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 Ray, Golf Course
Architects
Stephen Kay/Doug Smith
499 New Rochelle Rd.
Bronxville, NY 10708
914-699-4437, FAX 914-699-4479

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

SullivanC onstruction 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 Ih rf Partners, Inc.
Joe Stahl
800-228-6656/860-663-8048
CELL 203-209-6951
FAX 860-663-3564

O Ih rf Products Corp./TORO
Paul Mazzola, Irrigation/A1 Tretera,
Equipment
800-243-4355/860-763-3581
The Sprinkler House/Amodios:
914-328-0190

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

O Westchester T\irf 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 Ih rf Farm, Inc.
Bill Seccareccia
240 Griswold Rd.
Wethersfield, CT 06109
800-243-0232/860-529-6869
FAX 860-529-6807

O

*jslJr

J iM m ■»*.

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