Board of Directors
I

President
The Meadow Brook Club
Vice President
TIM OTHY M O O RE
Knollwood Country Club
Secretary
WILLIAM HEINTZ
Centennial Golf Club
Treasurer
DAVID MAHONEY
Siwanoy Country Club
Past President
EARL MILLETT
Ridgeway Country Club

JO H N CARLONE, CGCS

SEAN CAIN

Sunningdale Country Club

MATTHEW CEPLO, CGCS

Rockland Country Club

AN TH ON Y GIRARDI, CGCS

Rockrimmon Country Club
PETER M cCORM ICK

TurfNet Associates, Inc.
ERIC O ’NEILL

à

I

Cover: Garrison Golf Club.
Photo courtesy of Garrison
Golf Club Superintendent
Rich Browne.

II this Issue
msm

Scarsdale Golf Club

GLENN PERRY, CGCS

Rolling Hills Country Club

JEFFREY W ENTW ORTH

Pelham Country Club

Superintendents Share Their Trials— and Triumphs in
Silvery Thread Moss C ontrol.................................................. .

GREGORY WOJICK, CGCS

Greenwich Country Club
Executive Secretary
INEKE PIERPOINT

Tee to Green Staff
Editors

| GLENN PERRY
GREGWCJICK
203-762-2185
203-869-1000, ext. 2531
Managing Editor
PANDORA C. WOJICK
Editorial Committee
I GLEN DUBE
CHIP LAFFERT
f SCOTT NIVEN
TIM O’NEILL
BILL PERLEE
Photographer
BILL PERLEE
Advertising Manager
GREG WOJICK, 203-869-1000, ext. 253
Advisory Board
«_
I JOE ALONZI
STEVE CADENELL} 1
JON JENNINGS
PAT LUCAS
TIM MOORE
DENNIS PETRUZELLI
PAT SISK
JOHN STREETE1
TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the
Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Associate
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819
914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437
Copyright © 2 0 0 1

U pcom ing E ven ts...............................................................................................7
National N e w s......................................................................................................8
Issue o f the Issu e................................................................................................. 9
M ember N e w s....................................................................................................10
Spotlight .............................................................................................................. 11
Scorecard.............................................................................................................. 12
Work Smarts........................................................................................................13
AreEarthworms
BuggingYou?
W riting Contest R em in d er..........................................................................13
Class Cs... Don’t Forget to Write!

t our May 14 meeting at
the Country Club of Darien, our guest
speaker was Dr. David J. Leffell, who is a
Professor of Dermatology & Surgery at Yale
School of Medicine. Dr. Leffell spoke about
an occupational hazard that few superin­
tendents seem to take as seriously as they
should: skin cancer.
After hearing Dr. Leffell talk and then
reading his book, Total Skin, I was reminded
of just how dangerous overexposure to the
sun can be. In the May/June 1999 issue of
the Tee to Green, we ran a story written by a
member and former superintendent, Herb
Waterous, who was fortunate enough to
survive malignant melanoma, the deadliest
of all skin cancers. I thought Herbs and Dr.
Leflell’s warnings might bear repeating,
especially in view of the fact that we
lost a colleague to melanoma.
For my President’s Message this issue,
I’ve noted numerous skin cancer facts and
figures, as well as some sage advice on its
detection and prevention. I hope you’ll take
a few moments to read them—and heed
them.

John Cartone, CGCS
MetGCSA President

they avoid taking skin conditions seriously
and frequently don’t seek treatment. Denial
and worry are the two biggest reasons cited
for not seeking medical help for suspicious
spots or growths.
When it comes to skin cancer, early
detection is the best medicine. Dr. Leffell
continually points out in his book that the
treatment for skin cancer is quite simple—if
identified early.
Here are some pointers for detecting the
three most common skin cancers:

Basal Cell Carcinoma: These tumors of the
skin don’t spread quickly, taking many
months or years for one to reach a diameter
of a half inch.
They appear as small, fleshy bumps or
nodules on the head, neck, and hands.
Skin Cancer: The Startling Reality
Occasionally, they show up on the trunk of
the
body but usually as flat growths.
Just a few decades ago, skin cancer was rarely
a topic of discussion. Since then, however,
the incidence of skin cancer has climbed Squamous Cell Carcinoma: This is the sec­
steadily and is now the most common can­ ond most common skin cancer found in
Caucasians. These tumors are typically
cer in humans.
Each year, in fact, more that 1 million found on the rim of the ear, the face, lips,
cases of nonmelanoma skin cancer are and mouth and may appear as nodules or as
reported in the U.S. O f these, there will be red, scaly patches. This cancer will develop
approximately 2,000 deaths—about 2 per­ into large masses, and unlike basal cell carci­
cent—primarily from squamous cell noma, it can metastasize.
carcinoma.
Melanoma is a far more serious problem. Malignant Melanoma: This, the most ag­
O f the approximately 45,000 new cases gressive of skin cancers, may appear sud­
each year, there will be about 7,500 deaths; denly or begin near a mole or other dark
in other words, about 17 percent of those spot in the skin. When looking for
melanoma, consider these ABCD warning
l who get melanoma, won’t survive it.
In the 1930s, the lifetime risk for devel- signs:
| oping melanoma was 1 in 1,500; now that • Asymmetry: One half of the mole does
projected figure has become a startling 1 in not match the other half.
• Border irregularity: The mole’s edges are
75.
Another thought we should all keep in ragged, notched, or blurred.
mind: Men have a higher mortality rate than
women from skin cancer, largely because continued on page i 0
Tee to Green May/June 2001

**t»
!V
*»

-' ' ' >

Superintendents Share
Their Trials— a n d
Triumphs— in Silvery
Thread Moss Control

oss has long plagued many area superintendents.
And* frustratingly, their trials with curative chem i­
cals have given them only tem porary relief—until
recently. Now, it seem s, many are on their way to
finding a perm anent solution in various form s o f
copper, w hich C ornell’s Dr. Frank Rossi has put to
the test in research trials funded by both the
MetGCSA and the Tri-State Turf Research
Foundation. (See article on pages 6 and 7.)
What follows are superintendents’ form ulas for
success— and in a few cases, disaster— in ridding
their greens o f this m ost persistent turfgrass invader.
Tee to Green May/June 2001

Supers With Some— to Severe
Amounts of Moss
Tony Grasso, Metropolis Country
Club, White Plains, NY
Where has the moss shown up, and
what have you done to control it?
I’ve been battling moss on my greens for
the past 11 years. Years ago, I tried to con­
trol it with “Apple Juice,” if you know what
I mean. I also tried Lescowet and Dawn
Ultra. This killed the moss, but it also
injured the turf, and it was very time-con­
suming to apply. One of the most effective
moss controls we’ve discovered is to just
bulldoze the moss-infested green. We com­
pletely rebuilt our #15 green, not because
of the moss, but it did get rid of it.
Seriously, the most success we’ve had so
far has been with one of Dr. Rossi’s recom­
mended moss cures: Junction. Last spring,
we made five applications at 5 oz./lOOO,
and so far, we’ve been able to eliminate
about 90 percent of it.
In the areas where we killed the moss,
bentgrass crept in immediately. Where we
eliminated larger areas of moss, we had to
resod.
The only possible downside to using
Junction is that copper levels increase in the
soil, and if your pH levels drop into the 5.3
to 5.5 range, then the copper becomes
available and could, potentially, harm the
grass plant.
What do you attribute the moss
growth to?
I think that moss has been able to thrive
because we were cutting low and maintain­
ing low fertility rates to achieve faster
greens. I also believe our moss problems
were made worse because our mowers car­
ried it from one green to others.
What type o f soils do you have?
What’s your pH? What type o f grass is
on your greens?
We have push-up and sand greens with a
pH of 6.3 to 6.5 and grass that’s a combina­
tion of poa and bent.

Do you have any words o f wisdom for
those trying win the war against moss?
4th down, punt. Really, if you’re going to
attack the moss, the best time to do it is in
early spring when it’s about 50 or 60
degrees. Never do it in high heat. The
materials you apply, after all, are meant to
singe the moss; if you apply them in high
heat, they could singe the grass plant as well.
Bob Alonzi, CGCS, Fenway Golf
Club, Scarsdale, NY
Where has the moss shown up, and
what have you done to control it?
Moss has been a problem on a number of
Fenway’s greens since I accepted the super­
intendent’s position a year and a half ago. To
get rid of it, I’ve tried Ferrous Sulfate and
more recently Junction, which Dr. Rossi
recommends. Last fall, I made three appli­
cations at 5 oz./lOOO, and to date, I’ve
achieved 100 percent control.
You could say that my wife, Kim, also
had a hand in solving our moss problem.
When she would come to the course to
spend some quality time with me, she’d plug
out the moss and then use it to make moss
baskets. (We’re saving for a trip to Alaska.)
What do you attribute the moss
growth to?
I firmly believe that moss problems are
caused by overwatering. In general, we
water more than we should, and the sprin­
kler head placement of the newer irrigation
systems contributes to the problem by pro­
viding improper water distribution.
I was at Winged Foot for more than 15
years and never had a moss problem. And
we did crazy things like rolling and keeping
heights of cut low. The one thing I didn’t
do, however, was overwater. We wanted to
keep our greens hard, so sometimes they’d
get so dry that they would literally wilt at 11
a.m. We did lots of handwatering, rather
than rely on our sprinklers. We also had an
aggressive cultivation and top dressing
regime.

What type o f soils do you have? What’s
your pH? What type o f grass is on
your greens?
We have old push-up greens—sandy loam
modified by topdressing. Our pH is 5.0, and
our turf is a poa/bent combination with a
high percentage of poa.
Do you have any words o f wisdom for
those trying win the war against moss?
Moss is a little bit like Herpes. Once you
get it, you’ve always got it. To keep moss out
of your turf, most important is to hold back
on water. Also helpful, I think, is to core
cultivate at least two times a year and
dethatch using 1/8” blades. Add Ferrous
Sulfate to your pesticide applications. And
in addition to heavy topdressing in the fall,
early winter, and spring, I would almost
bury the greens with sandy topdressing.
Jon Jennings, CGCS, Chicago Golf
Club, Wheaton, IL
Where has the moss shown up, and
what have you done to control it?
The moss problems I’ve encountered
haven’t been big. At Patterson, it would
show up only on the back left slope of the
second green a couple times a year. Now, at
Chicago Golf, I get spots on about four
greens at various times of the year.
I did experiment with a few controls: I
used Dawn Ultra, and I tried a combination
of Lescowet, Subdue 2E, and hot water. This
combination turns the moss an ugly color—
and can damage the turf if it’s sloppily
applied. But with repeat applications, the
Subdue cocktail will kill the moss.
I’ve also thought of trying a product
that’s gained favor out here called Terracyte.
It contains a peroxide component that
releases an “active” oxygen ion in solution,
which oxidizes any nearby organic mole­
cules, including those important to the sur­
vival of microbes, algae, and moss.
In the end, though, because my moss
patches have been relatively small, I just cut
them out with a cup cutter and dispose of
the plugs before they have a chance to
spread.
Tee to Green May/June 2001

What do you attribute the moss
growth to?
I’ve attributed my moss problems to shady
areas or ridges that tend to get scalped near
the edge of the green if the person doing
the mowing isn’t careful to set the mower
down gently. I’m sure that low mowing
heights also contribute to moss.
What type o f soils do you have?
What’s your pH? What type of grass is
on your greens?
All of the greens that have had moss prob­
lems have been native soil. At Patterson, the
second green had a pH of 6.5. The greens
at Chicago Golf have a pH ranging from
7.4 to 7.7. The grass, here, is a mixture of
bentgrass, including Colonial, South
German, Penncross, and a variety of poa
biotypes.
These greens are 80 years old and have
been topdressed for the past 13 years. The
material I use for topdressing has a pH of
6.1.
Do you have any words o f wisdom for
those trying win the war against moss?
Maintain adequate fertilization, and keep a
vigilant watch on moss growth so that you
can jump on it when it first appears on your
greens or other problem areas.
Joe Alonzi, CGCS, Westchester
Country Club, Rye, NY
Where has the moss shown up, and
what have you done to control it?
We’ve been working on our moss problems
for 15 years now. We’ve tried peroxide,
wetting agents, Ammonium Sulfate, Iron
Sulfate, and soap to control it. These things
would knock it back, but then it would
resurface; we probably weren’t as persistent
as we should have been.
For the past couple of years, Dr. Rossi
has been here experimenting with some
copper-based materials. His products killed
the moss, and since the spots weren’t large,
the turf just grew over it. Though it’s too
early to tell how lasting the effects will be,
I’m hopeful.

What do you attribute the moss
growth to?
I think our moss gained a foothold because
of lower mowing heights and thinner turf. I
also know that if we still had access to mer­
curies and similar metal-based products, the
moss would have never had a chance. But
of course, I understand that those products
had to be eliminated.
What type o f soils do you have?
What’s your pH? What type o f grass is
on your greens?
We have push-up greens with a thick layer
of topdressing. Our pH is 5.5 to 6, and our
turf is a combination of poa and bent.
Do you have any words o f wisdom for
those trying win the war against moss?
Go after your moss in late fall, when the
temperatures are cool. Total elimination is
hard, so if you don’t have any moss, be sure
to keep doing whatever it is that you’re
doing!
Mike Mongon, Fairview Country
Club, Greenwich, CT
Where has the moss shown up, and
what have you done to control it?
Between Fairview and Areola, I’ve had 13
years’ experience with moss. We’ve tried
Hydrated Lime, Ammonium Sulfate, Iron
Sulfate, Liquid Dawn, and Terra Care,
which the company now calls Terracyte.
This product has actually proved the most
effective in eliminating moss.
At Fairview, we’ve applied Terracyte at 4
lbs./1000 both spring and summer. This
material is basically a bicarbonate that
works by sucking the surface moisture out
of the moss. It’s kind of like putting salt on
a slug.
We now have our moss down to nickel
and dime size, and the bentgrass has moved
into the areas where we’ve done away with
the moss.
To keep the moss from reappearing,
we’ve done two drill-and-fill applications,
filling each time with Profile.

What do you attribute the moss
growth to?
In my book, surface moisture is the prime
culprit in moss growth.
What type o f soils do you have? What’s
your pH? What type o f grass is on
your greens?
Our greens are 70/20/10, sand/soil/peat.
Our pH is 6.5, and our turf is a combination
of poa and bent.
Do you have any words o f wisdom for
those trying win the war against moss?
Moss survives—and thrives—in surface
moisture. Eliminate that type of moisture,
and chances are you’ll eliminate your moss
problems.
Earl Millett, Ridgeway Country Club,
White Plains, NY
Where has the moss shown up, and
what have you done to control it?
I’ve been dealing with moss problems for 21
years. It began on two of the sand greens
that were built in 1978. When I arrived at
Ridgeway, they were 90 percent moss. Over
the course of two years, the moss was down
to about 5 percent.
To control it, we added drainage lines up
the middle of the green and up both aprons.
We applied Iron Sulfate every week for the
first two months. O f these two tactics, the
Iron Sulfate seemed to work the best. We
apply 2 oz./lOOO per week in March and
April and again in September and October.
Fall applications seem to be most effective.
Then, to keep the moss from reappear­
ing, we’ve increased our N applications,
putting out 1/2 lb. N/1000 per month of
the growing season.
What do you attribute the moss
growth to?
I can only think that low mowing heights
and the poor construction of our greens is
responsible. No drainage tile was installed
in the greens__ the old build a bowl and fill
it up.

Researchers have found that moss distribution, specifically
with silvery thread moss, is significantly limited in the
presence of metal ions.
What type o f soils do you have? What’s
your pH? What type o f grass is on
your greens?
The greens that had bad moss are sand with
a pH of 7.2. Our turf is a combination of
poa and bent.

decreasing, and right now—mid-June—the
moss is completely eradicated.

Scott Niven, CGCS,The Stanwich
Club, Greenwich, CT

Do you have any words o f wisdom for
those trying win the war against moss?
Beware. Almost all the products out there
can harm your turf if not applied exactly as
specified. Right now, your best bet is to
experiment with some of the products that
have proved successful in Dr. Rossi’s
research.

What do you attribute the moss
growth to?
I think a number of factors come into play:
low heights of cut, low fertility, multiple
Do you have any words o f wisdom for mowings, and light topdressing.
those trying win the war against moss?
Your only real hope is to look to Dr. Rossi’s What type of soils do you have? What’s
research for answers. People have had a lot your pH? What type of grass is on your
of success in recent times with the metal- greens?
based fungicides. I’ve seen some pretty sig­ Our greens are built from native soil with a
pH of 7.0. Our turf is a combination of poa
nificant results with these.
and bent.

Where has the moss shown up, and
what have you done to control it?
I’ve had small amounts of moss on and off
for 15 years. It started on one green and
then spread to all of them—some more than
others.
We’ve tried just about everything to
control the moss: Ferrous Sulfate, Hydrated
Lime, Dawn Ultra, Hydrogen Peroxide, top­
dressing, Copper Hydroxide, and
Pendimethalin, which ended up killing
some of the turf. Although I got this tip
from a usually reliable researcher, the dam­
age was already done when I noticed that it
said on the label in dark, bold letters: “Do
not use on bentgrass.” Oops.
Most recently, I followed Dr. Rossi’s
Junction program. In mid to late fall of last
year, I applied Junction five times at 6
oz./lOOO. By the start of this spring, I found
that my moss population was rapidly

Supers With Little-to-No Noticeable Moss
Mike Reeb, CGCS, Country Club of
New Canaan, New Canaan, CT
At Country Club of New Canaan, we have
sandy loam greens that are a combination of
poa and bent. The pH ranges from 6.2 to
6.7, except on our putting green, which has
a pH of 5.9. Interestingly, this is the only
green that has a small amount of moss. To
control it, we’ve just cut it out and put out
several applications of Dawn Ultra.
Tee to Green May/June 200i

I feel we’ve excluded moss from our
greens because we work hard at keeping
our turf healthy with routine tissue testing,
ample sunlight, and reasonable heights of
cut (bench settings .135 walk mowers and
.120 triplex).
Most moss that I’ve seen has been associ­
ated with thin, weak turf, mowed too low
with insufficient sunlight.
JeffWentworth, Pelham Country
Club, Pelham Manor, NY
Our greens are approximately 60 to 90 per­
cent poa annua with a pH ranging from 5
to 6.3. We have about three inches of top­
dressing—Egypt Farms 90/10—on top of
native soils.
Last year, we found two spots of moss
about 2" x 2" on our fourth green. We
treated it with Ferrous Sulfate and Liquid
Dawn and are now moss-free on all 21
greens.
I can’t say for sure why our greens are
spared from moss problems, except to think
that maybe our cultural practices have
something to do with it:
• For the past 12 years, we’ve relied solely
on Pelham’s municipal supplies for our irri­
gation water.
• We apply 12 to 16 oz./lOOO of Ferrous
Sulfate per year, as well as 1.5 lbs. of N /M
Ammonium Sulfate fertilizer.
• We also aerate two times per year and
topdress lightly, about one yard across all 21
greens per month.
Greg Wojick, CGCS, Greenwich
Country Club, Greenwich, CT
My greens have never had any moss, and
I’m not sure why. They’re old push-up
greens except three, which were built in the
early ’60s. All drain pretty well. The aver­
age pH is 6.2. We have poa/bent in varying
amounts.
I’ve done a lot to the greens over the
past 14 years. None of it has yielded any
moss. I suppose if I were pressed for an
explanation, I’d have to say that the prime
reason is that I’m not a heavy waterer. I
hold back ... sometimes almost too much. I
don’t insist on ultra-fast conditions either,
and I don’t mow down to the dirt.
I was wondering what I would do if I
were asked to grow moss on my greens. I
probably would water through the night,
mow low, and syringe throughout the day.
I’d also set the mowers down to the dirt and
try to scalp wherever I could.... I wonder
if that would do it.
W Tee to Green May /June 2001

Cornell Researchers Gain a Leg
Up on the Moss Epidemic
Finally, some news worth celebrating:
Cornell University researchers Dr. Frank
Rossi and graduate student David
Dudones have developed a formula for the
prevention and eradication of silvery
thread moss on putting greens.
With funding from the MetGCSA
and the Tri-State Turfgrass Research
Foundation, the researchers spent the past
three years delving into every conceivable
aspect of moss invasion: the biological, eco­
logical, nutritional, and sanitary.
Though moss has been studied before,
with some strides made toward a curative
chemical control program, none have
attempted to do what Dr. Rossi and his
team have done: develop preventive meas­
ures that seek to exclude moss—or create
an environment where established moss
can’t persist.
What follows are some of the research
team’s most pertinent findings.

Moss Control Farts and Fiction

Moss invasion is an incredibly complex
series of interactions among management
practices, the moss organism, and the
environment.
• From a biological perspective, moss
reproduces almost exclusively from the
vegetative phase on putting greens that are
highly groomed. In other words, by lower­
ing the height of cut to meet members’
high standards for putting green speed,
superintendents have unwittingly created
conditions ideal for moss invasion.
• From an ecological standpoint, close
mowing does not seem to encourage spores
to spread across putting greens.
• Culturally, it appears that the key to
keeping moss at bay is to maintain a dry
putting green surface. This alone, however,
would not be enough to control existing
moss populations, since even micro­
scopic, perched water tables that result
from soil layers or organic matter accumu­
lation would offer enough moisture for
moss to thrive.
• Increased mowing heights will reduce
moss invasion primarily by maintaining
high-turf density and minimizing voids.
Raising the height of cut, however, will
only mask existing populations.

The Mafir of Metal Ions

In the course of their studies, the
researchers found that moss distribution,
specifically with silvery thread moss, is sig­
nificantly limited in the presence of metal
ions. In fact, a small study at Oregon State
University demonstrated the potential for
Cu and Zn to be effective in reducing moss
populations.
In an effort to provide a deliverable pro­
gram for superintendents, the researchers
decided to investigate the role of increased
copper levels in moss control by experi­
menting with two Cu-based products that
contained Copper Hydroxide (Kocide)
alone or in combination with mancozeb
(sold as Junction or Man-Kocide).
Field studies were initiated in 1999 and
continued through 2000 at Westchester
Country Club in Rye, NY; Galloway
National Golf Club in Galloway Township,
NJ; and Fairview Country Club in
Greenwich, CT, as well as on test plots at
Cornell in Ithaca, NY.
To accurately evaluate their control
methods, the researchers took initial soil
tests to establish baseline soil nutrient levels
and initial moss population counts.
Copper treatments were applied in a
C 0 2 backpack sprayer calibrated to deliver
two or four gallons of water per 1000
square feet. The pH of the spray solution
water was 6.5.
Half of the applications were made fol­
lowing an abrasive topdressing procedure.
They followed an application regime of
every two weeks in the:
• fall only (4 applications)
• fall and spring (8 applications)
• spring only (4 applications)
Cu amounts were consistent between
Kocide and Junction to identify the poten­
tial contribution of mancozeb in moss con­
trol.

The Results

Results indicated that there was no differ­
ence between Kocide or Junction, support­
ing the research team’s hypothesis that Cu
is responsible for moss control.
More specifically, they found:
• Four fall applications of CuOH at 5 oz.
of product per 1000 square feet—applied
between October and December—pro­
vided up to 50-percent control the follow-

Upcoming Events
ing spring and almost 100-percent control
by summer. In general, fall applications
are superior to spring for maximum moss
control.
• Two-gallon spray volume was more
effective in reducing moss populations
than the four-gallon. Studies with lower
volume sprays are underway.
• Copper data on soils with pH from 5.5
to 6.5 indicated very little accumulation.
However, tissue accumulation did reveal a
fivefold increase in leaf Cu levels. Still,
over the course of several experiments,
turf injury was noted only to annual bluegrass in the fall treatments at Westchester
Country Club, which persisted for a few
weeks and was not evident the following
spring.

Still More to Ponder About Moss Control

There are many nutritional issues that
must be addressed— specifically, the rela­
tionship among Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe levels
and how this could have an effect on turf
performance over time. Dr. Rossi will
begin to investigate these issues in 2001.
A significant amount of preliminary
research has been initiated to determine
the application of desiccants and low levels
of Cu to prevent moss from establishing in
the spring. For instance:
• Growth chamber experiments have
indicated that three applications of
Junction at 0.5 oz per 1000 prevent moss
from establishing.
• Potassium-based fatty acid soap has
also proved exceptional in moss preven­
tion. The research team expects to field
test the moss prevention aspect of the
project this season.
While we are pleased with the initial
success of this moss control program,
many more questions need to be
answered. The researchers will turn their
attention to:
• understanding Cu release and avail­
ability at various spray tank pHs
• improving our understanding of Cu
accumulation and injury to annual bluegrass
• taking a more in-depth look at new
technologies, such as soaps and peroxides,
for desiccation
Watch for more details, as Dr. Rossi s
research continues to unfold.

MetGCSA Meeting and Golf Events

Area Professional Golf Events

MetGCSA Championship/Met Area Team
Championship Qualifier, Round 1

Japan Airlines (JAL) Big Apple Classic ~
LPGA Tour

Tuesday, July 10
Garrison Golf Club, Garrison, NY
Host: Rich Browne
Poa Annual Tournament

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

MetGCSA Championship/Met Area Team
Championship Qualifier, Round 2

Tuesday, September 18
Centennial Golf Club, Carmel, NY
Host: Will Heintz
The Assistants Championship

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
Educational Event
University of Rhode Island Turfgrass
Field Day

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

Wednesday, August 15
Kingston, RI
Call 401-874-2481 for further information,

Superintendent/Green Chairman
Tournament

Social Events

Annual Meeting

Monday, August 6
Woodway Beach Club, Stamford, CT
Host: Larry Pakkala, CGCS
Plan to bring the family to this always-fun
social event. Watch for a mailing as the
details unfold!

Tuesday, October 16
The Meadow Brook Club,Jericho, NY
Host: John Carlone, CGCS

November: Date & SiteTBA
Contact either of our Tournament
Commitee co-chairs—
JeffWentworth, 914-738-2752, or
Sean Cain, 914-723-3239—to book this
meeting at your club!
National Event
GCSAA’s 75th Anniversary Celebration

Thursday-Friday, September 13-14
GCSAA Headquarters, Lawrence, KS
The deadline for registration is July 13, so
hurry! Learn more about the festivities,
view the schedule of events, and print the
registration form at http://www.
gcsaa.org/about/75th/tribute.html.

Family Picnic

Summer Social

Our Summer Social will take us on a
moonlight cruise to the Statue of Liberty
along New York s scenic East River.
Watch your mail for the date and details.
MetGCSA Christmas Party

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

Tee to Green May/June 2001

National News

New Honors in Environmental Stewardship

“Clearly, the synergy created
by GCSAA and G olf Digest
will enhance what are already
successful environmental
recognition programs.99
—

Tommy W itt, GCSAA President

CSAA and Golf Digest are join­
ing forces to recognize the stewardship of
golf course superintendents and their golf
facilities, in addition to significant work
being done to promote environmental ini­
tiatives by communities and individuals.
This awards program blends GCSAA s
Environmental Steward Awards and Golf
Digest’s Environmental Leaders in Golf
Awards. And it is made possible by the
sponsoring companies Syngenta Profes­
sional Products; Rain Bird Corporation,
Golf Division; Textron Golf, Turf &
Specialty Products; and Pursell Techno­
logies Inc.
“Clearly, the synergy created by
GCSAA and Golf Digest will enhance what
are already successful environmental recog­
nition programs,” says GCSAA President
Tommy Witt. “GCSAA is committed to
providing education and information that
enables its members to implement sound
environmental practices. The alignment
with Golf Digest will allow us to better

communicate that and showcase advance­
ments in the industry.”
An independent panel of judges repre­
senting major national environmental
groups and the golf industry will conduct
the award selection. Judging panels for both
awards previously have included independ­
ent agronomists and/or turfgrass consult­
ants, representatives of independent
environmental groups, and members of the
golf community.
Applicants will be evaluated in five cate­
gories: Resource Conservation, Water
Quality Management, Integrated Pest
Management, Wildlife/Habitat Manage­
ment, and Education/Outreach.
If you plan to apply for the Environmental
Leaders in Golf Awards (ELGA)—or nomi­
nate another deserving person—you should
know that applications are due by October
1. You can get an application from the pages

of the May issue of Golf Course Manage­
ment, through the GCSAA Service Center
at 800-472-7878, chapter leaders, Golf
Digest, and from each of the participating
sponsors.
You can also access it—and submit it—
electronically through GCSAA s web site
(http://w w w .gcsaa.org/environ/elga_
form.html) or Golf Digest’s (http://www.
golfdigest.com).
“We at Golf Digest are enthusiastic
about the partnership with GCSAA,” says
Roger Schiffman, executive editor of Golf
Digest. “We have always been committed
to communicating to our readers on the
whole spectrum of issues surrounding the
game.
“We, along with the GCSAA and key
environmental groups, helped spearhead
the Golf and the Environment initiative
some six years ago. Now, this program will
only improve golf courses around the
country as we analyze and publicize the
positive practices being implemented.”

rCSAA announces the May 10
launch of an exciting new web site,
http://www.GolfSuper.com. Designed
for the general golfing public, this site will
help golfers understand—and appreci­
ate—precisely what goes into making
their experience on the course enjoyable.
“We believe this site will fill an infor­
mation void and, at the same time, pro­
mote the superintendent as a key to
golfers’ enjoyment of the game,” says
GCSAA Immediate Past President R.
Scott Woodhead. “It has been my experi­

ence that golfers, especially avid ones, have a
thirst for knowledge about the golf course.
I think those who visit our site will find it
unique— even fun.”
Among the many topics covered on
GolfSuper.com: information on course
management, including such topics as green
speed, frost delays, bunkers and course con­
ditioning terminology.
Another section will discuss the subject
of etiquette: divot replacement, ball mark
repair, and golf car rules to name several.
Another feature of the site will be to
explain how superintendents are stewards of

the land, managing their facilities in
a way that is compatible with the
environment.
Visitors will also have the opportunity
to learn more about courses that host pro­
fessional golf events and the elaborate steps
taken to prepare for the worlds best
golfers.
Now, the next time your Green
Chairman or committee member ques­
tions any of your practices, you can refer
them to GolfSuper.com as a credible
source of information—and education—
about what it takes to do what you do.

You’ve Got to Be in It to Win It

New Web Site Promotes the Hole of the Superintendent

Tee to Green May/June 2001

ssue

Agency Pricing
Editor’s Note: Welcome to our premier ((Issue of
the Issue” column. Here’s where you can get the
rub on your colleagues’ sentiments on various
products, practices, and issues facing our associa­
tion and industry.
Periodically, we’ll pose an industry or jobrelated question for all to see— and answer— on
the Met’s web site. The question we choose will
relate to a topic or trend that’s particularly perti­
nent to our membership. Then, we’ll publish the
responses in our column.
We hope you’ll watch our web site for our
“Issue of the Issue” question. The column’s suc­
cess, after all, depends on your participation and
willingness to respond. We’re lookingforward to
hearing from you— and putting your name in
print infuture issues.
For our first column, we asked for the
memberships thoughts on agency pric­
ing—a recent phenomenon in our industry.
The practice of having a fixed price for spe­
cific products, regardless of who supplies
them, has some supporters and some
detractors.
Here are the “mixed reviews” of the
superintendents and suppliers who were
kind enough to respond to our very first
query.
Arik Carlson, The Patterson Club,
Fairfield, CT
Agency pricing is both good and bad. It’s
good because you know what the price for
the year will be, no matter who sells the
product to you or how much you buy, elim­
inating the “used car salesman” syndrome in
our business. Its bad because it reduces
competition among companies and sales­
men eager for your business.
I also feel there should be some sort of
volume discount available to those who
purchase in large quantities. The way it’s set
up now, I get the same price whether I buy
30 cases of Daconil Ultrex (4x10 pounds)
or five cases. I feel it’s only right that the
manufacturer allow for some type of dis­
count, selling, let’s say, 1 to 9 cases at $356,
10 to 19 cases at $350, and 20+ at $345.
Manufacturers in most other industries
around the world follow this practice. And
in the end, it’s to the company’s benefit to
offer volume discounts. It offers those who
have the ability to stock up the incentive to
buy their product.

Stephen Tibbels, CGCS, Acushnet
River Valley Golf Course,
Acushnet, MA
Agency pricing? My first thought was that
it was somewhat un-American given that it
eliminates the possibility for competition
and a salesperson’s ability to fine-tune pric­
ing to meet the needs of the client. I can
see where a company would prefer agency
pricing to ensure a specific profit and to put
their product in the hands of everyone
regardless of the distributor.
And from our perspective, agency pric­
ing does make it easier to distribute product
purchases among salespeople to give every­
one a piece of business. I like giving each
rep the chance to make a sale simply
because they are trying to make a living just
like you and me.
Overall, I would say that I am in favor of
the current level of agency pricing, but I
would not want to see this approach to sales
consume all products. I still like the human
side of sales, meeting with salespeople faceto-face and discussing situations as they
arise on the course. I would expect that
total agency pricing would result in online
or phone purchases and significant scaling
down of sales forces.
Byron Johnson, The Terre Company
o f New Jersey, Clifton, NJ
I support the practice of agency pricing
because it puts all the distributors, both
large and small, on an equal playing field. It
allows superintendents to base their pur­
chasing decisions on the salesperson’s
knowledge, service, and expertise.
Bob Scott, Dow AgroSciences LLC,
Springfield, NJ
I like agency agreements as long as the
product is priced fairly. It prevents low-ball
pricing, and it encourages superintendents
to measure distributor value not by the
price of the product, but by the quality of
the service they receive: how responsive and
reliable the rep is to the superintendent’s
needs. Sales reps are an excellent source of
knowledge since they visit many courses
and see, firsthand, both successes and fail­

ures with various practices and products.
If service is not a priority and all you are
after is low price, the agency format will not
be advantageous. More important than
price, in my book, is that superintendents
and distributors build a relationship based
on trust and honor. With agency pricing,
sales reps are more likely to be given the
chance to do that.
Buddy Rizzio, Turf Products
Corporation, Mountain Lakes, NJ
I do not like the practice of agency pricing.
Besides the fact that the profit margin for
salespeople is reduced, it puts superintend­
ents in the position of flipping a coin to
pick a supplier.
You may not realize it, but we, as distrib­
utors, pay exactly the same price for our
products as what we charge. We are rebated
at the end of the year based on what we sell.
It makes it tough to keep the operation
going during the season. I have also ran
across confusion from customers, especially
municipalities whose purchasing policies
are more structured than the private sector.
They seem to think the practice is fishy.
Special thanks to Bill Perlee— a member of the
Tee to Green Editorial Committee and
superintendent at The Apawamis Club in Rye,
NY—for managing the survey process and
reporting.
Tee to Green May/June 2001

Interestingly, there is talk
now that sun exposure isnyt
wholly responsible for skin
cancer.
President's Message continuedfrom page 1
• Color: The pigmentation is not uniform.
Shades of tan, brown, and black are present.
Dashes of red, white, and blue add to the
mottled appearance.
• Diameter: If it’s greater than six millime­
ters (about the size of a pencil eraser), have
it looked at. If a mole grows in size, have it
looked at.
Other redflags: changes in the surface of
a mole— scaliness, oozing, or bleeding—or
in sensation, including itchiness, tenderness,
or pain; the spread of pigment from the
border into surrounding skin; the appear­
ance of a bump or nodule.

Staying Out of Harm’s Way

Interestingly, there is talk now that sun
exposure isn’t wholly responsible for skin
cancer. The medical community has reason
to suspect that environmental factors may
come into play as well. Just how much they
come into play, we’re not sure. But one
thing is for sure: Scientific evidence sug­
gests that anything you can do to minimize
exposing your skin to the harmful effects of
ultraviolet rays will help prevent skin cancer.
Here are some pointers on how to pro­
tect your skin:
• Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before
going out to allow the active compound to
interact with your skin.
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunblock or
sunscreen every two hours while outdoors.
• Wear a hat.
• Wear sun-protective clothing with a
tight weave. The common T-shirt has an
SPF (sun protection factor) of only 6.
• Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m.
• Be aware of the reflection of radiation
off sand, water, and snow.
• Never use a tanning bed.
Keep in mind that just as important as
protecting yourself is protecting your chil­
dren. It is estimated that 85 percent of life­
time sun exposure is acquired by the age of
18. Children spend a great deal of time
outdoors and should be protected from the
sun on a regular basis.
1 Tee to Green May/June 2001

Sunscreen vs. Sunblock: There Is a
Difference

Here’s a little-known fact: The terms sun­
block and sunscreen, though used inter­
changeably by most, are not synonymous.
Sunblocks are physical agents, like zinc
oxide or titanium dioxide, that actually
reflect the sun’s rays. They block UVA and
UVB.
Sunscreens are chemical agents that
absorb the ultraviolet radiation rather than
reflect it. If choosing a chemical sun­
screen, look for a product that provides
both UVA and UVB protection.
In either case, look for a product with
an SPF of 15 or higher. The best-known
sunblock is zinc oxide. A chemical varia­
tion of zinc oxide, called titanium dioxide,
is now used in a variety of high-quality
products. Unlike zinc oxide, titanium
dioxide is virtually transparent as it reflects
back the ultraviolet rays.

In the End

Periodic self-examinations increase the
likelihood that you’ll catch a skin cancer
lesion in its more curable early stages. If
you detect a suspicious spot, don’t delay in
making an appointment with a dermatol­
ogist.
It’s also wise, particularly if you have a
family history of skin cancer, to make an
annual visit to a dermatologist to get a
professional view on the condition of your
skin.
Dr. Leffell was kind enough to donate a
copy of his book to the MetGCSA. It’s
available to any Met member interested in
reading it—once I’m done, of course! Just
call me or Matt Ceplo, and we’ll send it off
to you.
You can also get a copy from
Hyperion, 77 West 66th St., New York,
NY 10023.
John Carlone, CGCS
President

few Members

Please join us in welcoming the following
new members:
• Richard Feducia, Class B, Dellwood
Country Club, New City, NY
• Gerald B. Fontain, Class AS, United
Horticultural Supply, North Brunswick, NJ
• Kristian W. Granger, Class C, Hudson
National Golf Club, Croton-on-Hudson,
NY
• Mark Grenert, Class AF, Sawtelle
Brothers, Inc., Lawrence, MA
• Elliott Lewis, CGCS, Class A, High
Mountain Golf Club, Franklin Lakes, NJ
• Gary Mathis, Class AF, Steven Willand,
Inc., Brookfield, CT
• Michael Nissman, Class AF, PDG
Enterprises, Rye Brook, NY
• Geoffrey Ringler, Class C, Hudson
National Golf Club, Croton-on-Hudson,
NY
• Garth Townley, Class C, Metropolis
Country Club,White Plains, NY
• Steve Turchick, Class B, Lake Mac­
Gregor Country Club, Mahopac, NY

Members on the Move

• David Henault has moved from assis­
tant superintendent at Fenway Golf Club
in Purchase, NY, to superintendent at
Foster Country Club in Foster, RI.
• Mark Mansur has moved from assis­
tant superintendent at Brae Burn Country
Club in Purchase, NY, to superintendent at
Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury, CT.
• Vincent Pavonetti has moved from
assistant superintendent at Willow Ridge
Country Club in Harrison, NY, to superin­
tendent at West Point Golf Club in West
Point, NY.

Garrison Golf Club: AScenic New
Venue for Onr July Meeting
by Bill Perlee
arrison Golf Club, the site of the
Met’s July 10 meeting, is a true treat to the
senses. The view from the first tee at
Garrison is inspiring. West Point is directly
ahead, and the Hudson River meanders
along the horizon. In the eyes of host
Superintendent Rich Browne, the spectac­
ular hilltop vista is a thrill in more ways than
one: “In my 21 years at Garrison, I’ve never
seen Brown patch. I think that’s because
the wind never stops blowing here.”
Rich will also tell you that the high
point of his day, quite literally, is taking his
morning coffee in the golf cart overlooking
West Point, which is all the more special, of
course, because it was the place where his
father worked as golf coach and pro when
Rich was just 3 years old. “I had several
uncles in the golf business as well, so I’ve
been around the game my whole life,” says
Rich.
^

Congratulations to:
• Sleepy Hollow Superintendent Tom
Leahy and his wife, Jennifer, on the birth
of their son, Ian, on April 16.
• Rockrimmon Country Club Super­
intendent Tony Girardi and his wife,
Christine, on the birth of their daughter,
Rebecca Marie, on April 17.

Well Wishes

We’d like to send well wishes to the fol­
lowing MetGCSA members and friends:
• Mike Leary, superintendent, Bruce
Memorial Golf Club, Greenwich, CT
• Gerald Mahoney, MGA Director of
Golf Programs

In Memorial«

We are sorry to announce the loss of
longtime MetGCSA commercial mem­
ber and friend Bob Mullane. Bob, who
we all know for his affiliation with
Alpine, the Care of Trees, died April 15 at
his New Canaan, CT, home at the age of
59.
An avid golfer, Bob has been a mem­
ber of the Met for nearly 40 years, serv­
ing, during his tenure, on our board of
directors. Bob was also actively involved
with the Scholarship and Research
Committee. He showed special interest
in helping our scholarship funds grow,
working tirelessly to sell the annual raffle
tickets that helped fund the college edu­
cations of many Met members’
children.
A Giants fan, Bob loved to share his
enthusiasm for the game with a superin­
tendent or two down at the Meadowlands. Many of us will never forget
accompanying Bob to Giants Stadium to
watch Sunday football.
Bob will be dearly missed and always
remembered as a friend to superintend­
ents and our association. Our deepest
sympathy goes out to his wife, Pat, and his
sons, Shawn and Michael.

Rich Browne

0

New Owners Give Garrison New Life

Prior to Garrison, Rich was the superin­
tendent at Maplewood in New Jersey and
then Inwood on Long Island. In 1963,
while at Maplewood, he completed a twoyear degree from UMass and then, two
years later, the 10-week turf program at
Rutgers.
In the family tradition, when Rich was
hired at Garrison in 1980, he assumed a
dual role— of both superintendent and head
pro. Today, working under the club’s fifth
set of owners, his sole focus is on managing
the golf course and grounds—and on sup­
porting the latest owners’ commitment to
preserving and upgrading the facility.
Chris and Sharon Davis, Garrison’s
newest owners, have apparently done more
for the course in a year and half than all the
other owners combined. “They’re in the
process of donating 100 acres of property to
the town as open space,” says Rich, “and,
right off the bat, gave us more than
$450,000 in new equipment.
“I’m a little upset that I didn’t get the
opportunity to work with these great own­
ers sooner in my career,” he continues, “but
hey, better late than never.”
Under the new regime, Rich has more
than doubled the size of his crew, which

now numbers 15. And for the first time in his
tenure, he has a mechanic and an able assistant,
Jeff Newell. “Life is good,” he says, content­
edly. “No, it’s great.”

Glory Days

The 300-acre property has an interesting past.
A fort from the Revolutionary War days was
located near what is now the first tee. The
beautiful stone structures throughout the
property are reportedly old wells used, at one
time, as a source of drinking water. And the
club was also once the site of a spa, which was
the training ground for boxers like Gene
Tunney and Floyd Patterson, as well as a rehab
haven for well-known actors who would
come, on occasion, to dry out.
One of the goals of the new ownership is
to restore some of the past glory to the club.
“You'll notice a lot of construction,” Rich
says. “We’re in the process of rebuilding all 18
men’s and ladies’ tees, renovating all the sand
traps, and enlarging the lakes on the 14th hole
to make the 14th green and the 15th tee
island shots. The club is also building a new
spa and 40-room hotel. This place will really
be something when it’s complete.”
In the meantime, Rich enjoys working
with the current staff of 110 employees and
popping in, from time to time, to see his wife
of eight years, Miriam, who works in the
club’s restaurant, Bill Brown’s.
A sports enthusiast, Rich is an avid golfer
and a diehard Mets, Jets, and Devils fan.

Word to the Wise

For those of you planning to tee it up for the
MetGCSA Championship and Round 1 of
the Met Area Team Championship Qualifier,
Rich will tell you that Garrison’s set of Par 3s
are among the toughest you’ll find anywhere.
“The course was built in 1962 by golf course
architect Dick Wilson,” notes Rich, adding,
“His layouts feature small greens and narrow
fairways favoring a right-to-left style of play.
“So brush up on those tee shots,” warns
Rich. “At Garrison, accuracy is key.”
Bill Perlee, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at The
Apawamis Club in Rye, NY.
Tee to Green May /June 200i o

SidiTisml

Powelton Pulls Out All the

The MetGCSA enjoyed a July day on April 30 at the Powelton Club. Special thanks to
Bob DeMarco and his staff for having the course in midsummer condition for our annual
Two-Ball Qualifier—and to the entire Powelton Club staff for their gracious hospitality.
The day’s event closed with the low score for the day a stunning 59, shot.by Paul
Pritchard ofWiltwyck Golf and Bob Steinman ofBeekman Country Clu
Congratulations to Paul and Bob and to the following Two-Ball Qua
Class A /B

1) Bob Alonzi/Joe Alonzi
Fenway GC/Westchester CC
vs.
16)John Carlone/Tim O ’Neill
The Meadow Brook Club/CC of
Darien
8) Sean Cain/JeffWentworth
Sunningdale CC/Pelham CC
\TC

V IS .

9) Paul Gonzalez/Lou Quick
Canyon Club/Anglebrook GC

BYE
73

2) Bob DeMarco/Gary Arlio
Powelton Club/North Jersey CC
vs.
15) Mark Fuller/Shawn O ’Sullivan
Connecticut GC/D. Fairchild
Wheeler GC

72

65

7) Bert Dickinson/Chip Lafferty
Willow Ridge CC/Wykagyl CC

64

67

10) Mike Miner/Jim Swiatlowski
Montammy GC

VS.

60

67

4) Mike Reeb/GregWojick
62
CC of New Canaan/Greenwich CC
vs.
13) Tim Moore/Todd Polidor
70
Knollwood CC/Heritage Hills GC

3) Tim Garceau/Rich Browne
61
The Tuxedo Club / Garrison GC
vs.
14)Jason Ziesmer/Glen Dube
71
Minisceongo GC/Oak Hills Park GC

5) Earl Millett/John O ’Keefe
Ridgeway CC/Preakness Hills CC
vs.
12)Jim Fulwider/Jim Fulwider Sr.
Century CC/ Class AL

6) Matt Severino/Bob Zaletsky
63
Scarsdale GC/NewYork CC
vs.
11) Fred Scheyhing/Chuck Martineau 68
Mount Kisco CC /Whippoorwill Club

63
68

Superintendent/Manager
Tourney Results
Country Club of Darien hosted the Met­
GCSA Superintendent/Manager meeting
on May 14. There were 19 superintendent/manager teams competing in a BetterBall-of-Two Competition. There isn’t much
else to say but first class all the way. The golf
course was in great shape, the food service
was top-notch, and the Pro Shop was gra­
cious and helpful. Special thanks to our
host Superintendent Tim O ’Neill and his
staff and to the entire Country Club of
Darien staff for their hand in making the day
pleasurable.
Here’s a look at the top plays:
Superintentent/Manager
Tournament
First Low Gross

John Carlone/Dennis Harrington Jr.
The Meadow Brook Club
First Low Net

JeffWentworth/Richard Mercer
Pelham Country Club
Second Low Net

Class A/B matches should be completed by
the following dates:
Match 1 ~June 22

Bert Dickinson/Kevin Herrington
Willow Ridge Country Club

Match 2 ~ August 10
Match 3 ~ September 21
Final ~ October 26

Closest to the Pin

Tony Grasso
Metropolis Country Club

Class AF

1) Bob Lippman Jr./John Richichi BYE
Westchester Turf Supply/Dar Par Sales
vs.
8) Dan Cancelleri/John Apple
70
J.A. Jackson Corp. /Westchester Ford
Tractor
2) JeffWeld/Joe Stahl
63
Bayer Corporation/TurfPartners, Inc.
vs.
7) AlTretera/ScottTretera
67
Turf Products /Metro Milorganite
Class AF matches should be completed by
the following dates:
Tee to Green May/June 2001

3) Mike Cook/Ken Clear
Alpine, the Care ofTrees
vs.
6) Joe Kennedy/David Griffin
Irra-Tech, Inc. /Down to Earth

64
66

4) Greg Moran/Charlie Siemers
64
Lesco, Inc.
vs.
5) John Currie/Ernie Steinhofer
66
Currie Landscaping/Metro Milorganite
Match 1 ~ August 10
Match 2 ~ September 21
Final ~ October 26

Longest Drive

John Carlone
The Meadow Brook Club
Two-Ball Event

Superintendents unable to attend with their
manager were paired with a commercial
member to compete in a Two-Ball Tourney.
Congratulations to Bob Welch of Rock
Ridge Country Club and Ray Beaudry of
Westchester Ford Tractor, the low net win­
ners of the event.

Are Earthworms Bugging You?
Have We Got a Solution for You!
C

lM

W /M
eve all been taught that
^ 'e a rth w o rm s are our friends:
They reduce thatch, after all, and aerate
the soil. What they don’t teach you in
Entomology 101, however, is that when
earthworms are present in great numbers,
their castings present a great problem for
golfers.
Golf courses with an overabundance of
earthworms have been stumped since
there hasn’t been a product approved for
earthworm control— or so they thought.
But guess what? According to Larry
Gilhuly, director of the USGA Green
Section’s Northwest Region, golf course
superintendents in the Pacific Northwest
have been reporting—for the past 15
years—significantly reduced earthworm
populations when they conduct regular
sand topdressing programs on their fair­
ways.
Complete removal? No, but popula­
tions have been reduced to the point
where these soil-eating critters are no
longer a topic worthy of discussion.

CêojssCe...
Dok't Formet
to ¡Fritz!

Proof Is in the Test Plots

The problem has been that there was no
data to back up these visual observations—
until lately. Work being conducted by Paul
Backman and Eric Miltner at Washington
State University (WSU), along with Tom
Cook at Oregon State University (OSU), is
beginning to show what happens when
sand is applied to earthworm-infested soils.
The photos to the right demonstrate the
difference in earthworm populations where
no sand has been applied on a typical
Western Washington silty loam soil and
where 1 1/2” of sand has been applied over
the course of two years.
In general, though it may take several
years to visually observe a reduction in
earthworm populations, it’s quite certain
that golf courses that have applied 1/2” to
1” of sand annually have shown noticeable
reductions in earthworm populations.
For further information on this method
of earthworm control—and how it may
apply here in the Northeast—contact
Larry Gilhuly at 253-858-2266 or
lgihuly@usga.org.
Time’s running out for your chance to take
our W riter’s Challenge and win a round of
golf for yourself and three of your favorite
golfing buddies at one of the premier golf
clubs in the New York Metropolitan area
(and caddies are included). Included with
your prize is a fabulous dinner, with all the
trimmings, at a famous Midtown Man­
hattan steakhouse. You’ll never have to
reach into your pocket.... That’s right! It’s
all on us!
O f course there’s a catch. But it’s a sim­
ple assignment. For those of you who
missed our first announcement of the par­
ticulars, all we ask is that you write and sub­
mit an article to us, here, at Tee to Green. If
your submission is deemed the year’s “best”
by our panel of judges, the dream golfing
day and dinner are yours. But there’s more.
You will also be acknowledged at the
MetGCSA’s Annual Meeting in November.
And your award-winning entry will be

Without Sand

*.

published in the Tee to Green’s last issue of the
year—along with your picture and formal
announcement of your special achievement.
You will receive national recognition!
What’s more, we expect this contest to be
held every year, so chances are good that your
name will go down in Met history as the first
winner of the Writer’s Challenge.
Hurry. All entrees are due in July and
should be submitted to Tee to Green CoEditor Glenn Perry at 333 Hurlbutt Street,
Wilton, CT 06897. Remember, your article
can be about almost anything relating to our
profession. You might write about a great
golf experience or work experience or 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.
We look forward to receiving your
entries. Good luck!
Tee to Green May /June 200Í

iron Directory
O Alpine, the Care ofDees

Mike Cook, NY: 914-345-TREE
Ken Clear, CT: 203-847-1855
Peter McFarland, NJ: 201-445-4949

A1 Preston’s Garage

Gary Shashinka
Massey Ferguson Tractors
203-924-1747

DeBuck’s Sod Farm of NY, Inc.

Leonard/George/Valorie
120 DeBuck’s Drive, Pine Island, NY
845-2^8-4131

DeLea & Sons Sod Farms

Anderson Golf Products

Vincent Sasso
444 Elwood Road
E. Northport, NY 11731
800-244-7637/516-368-8022

Irrigation

Egypt Farms

O Down lb Earth
“The ground works for excellence”
I^vid Griffin
Steve Hyde: 315-568-6177
All phases of Golf Course Construction
Brad Herman: 800-543-0006 ext. 5322
914-5^6-7693
O Aqua TUrf~ Golf Course
5 North Payne Street
Elmsford, NY 10523
914-347-5151

O AT Sales Associates, LTD
OwenJ. Regan
1787 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
401-465-8066

O Atlantic Irrigation Specialties,
Inc. /
Tim Marcoux/Ed Santalone
111 Lafayette Avenue
N. White Plains, NY 10603
800-878-8873

Aventis Environmental Science

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

O Emerald Isle, Ltd./MUliken Tbrf
Products

Doug Middleton
2153 Newport Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-662-2727

O Cutlip Golf Design

Ron Cudip, Golf Course Architect
1404 3rd Avenue, Suite 4N
New York, NY 10021
212-249-2177, FAX 212-249-2177

DAF Services, Inc.

Greg Moran/Charlie Siemers
845-331-4869, PAGER 914-449-6925

O Metro MHorganite Inc.

DonTiedemann
100 Calvert Street, Harrison, NY 10528
914-835-3801

.

Syngenta Professional Products

Lee Kozsey
Daconil, Banner, Heritage, Subdue,
Primo &Trimmit
610-861-8174, FAX 610-882-9358

O Ttee and Green Sod, Inc.

Dave Wallace
Premium Quality Sod for Golf Course
Use, Installation
401-789-8177

Scott A./Ernie/Scott T./Gary
Pride * Professionalism * Prompt Service O The Cardinals, Inc.
203-748-4653, FAX 203-743-0458
John Callahan
O Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing
Complete Distributor of Course
Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ 07838
Accessories & Maintenance Supplies
800-247-2326/908-637-4191
860-673-3699
Bill and Joe Carriere: 914-937-2136
O The Tferre Company of New Jersey,

O Plant Food Company, Inc.

TomWeinert/Ted Platz
800-562-1291/914-262-0111
WEBSITE www.plantfoodco.com

R.Argento & Sons, Inc.

Q Fleet Pump & Service Group, Inc.

Gene Evans
2337 Peat Moss Road
White Haven, PA 18661
570-443-9596

Bernardo Luciano: 914-347-5656
Gordon Holmes: 860-296-4804
EMAIL: CentralHartford@aol.com
5 Locations to ServeYou in the
Tri-State Area

O LESCO, Inc.

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

Kevin Collins/Bruce Pye/Dick Neufeld
425 S. Riverside Avenue
Croton, NY 10520
914-271-6126

JeffWeld
91 Schofield Road
W. Milford, NJ 07480
973-208-2418

O Central Irrigation Supply, Inc.

Rob Good
126 Monroe Turnpike
Trumbull, CT 06611
203-452-3100

Louis Argento
1 Prospect Avenue
White Plains, NY 10607
914-949-1152

O Glenmore Landscape Service

O Blue Ridge Peat Farms

O Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.

O E /T Equipment Co.

Dave Sylvester
311 Carriage Drive
Kensington, CT 06037
860-828-8905

O Bayer Corporation

Patrons listed on this page are supporting our
association. You are encouraged to support

SavATree

Inc.

Byron Johnson Jr.
206 Delawanna Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07014
973-473-3393, FAX 973-473-4402

O Tbckahoe Tbrf Farms, Inc.
Skip Deubel
Golf Course Turfgrass Sod
800-243-7582

O DirfNet

Peter L. McCormick
21 Brandywine Road
Skillman, NJ 07014
800-314-7929

O S.B.I. Connecticut (A Division of
Sawtelle Brothers, Inc.)

O TUrf Products Corp./TORO

O Grass Roots Inc.

O Second Nature Dee and Lawn Care

O Tbrf Products Corporation

O Greenacres Company

O Simplot Partners

O ValleyView Wholesale Greenhouses

O Sound Beach Services, Inc.

O Westchester Tractor Inc.

Glenn S. Moore
98 Hack Green Road
Pound Ridge, NY 10576
914-764-4348

Ken Kubik/Keith Kubik/Jay McKenna
Service ~ Technical Support ~ Quality
Products
973-361-5943, FAX 973-895-1388
Dave Pijnenburg: 203-748-0558
Irrigation Contractor
75 Codfish Hill Road, Bethel, CT 06801

O Hawthorne Bros.'D ee Service

John Hawthorne
5 Center Street, Bedford Hills, NY 10507
800-235-7035

Hunter Golf Rotors,Valves, Central
Control Systems

Available at BISCO
110 Raton Drive, Milford, CT 06460
Toll-Free TEL 877-878-0658
Toll-Free FAX 877-876-9950

Brett Armstrong/George Gorton/
Mark Grenert
68 So. Turnpike Road
Wallingford, CT 06492
203-265-2872

JefFThrasher
54 Sunnyside Avenue
Stamford, CT 06902
203-327-9456/914-273-1040

Joe Stahl: 203-209-6951
John Pizza: 518-369-7406
Main Office: 800-228-6656
Danbury Warehouse: 800-889-8215

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

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

David A. Frechette/Bob Houle
O Irra-Tfech, Inc.
O Steven Willand, Inc.
Flowtronix PSI Sales & Service Center
Joseph
D.
Kennedy
Scott Willand/Mark Ericson/
860-528-7362, FAX 860-528-0051
John Ferrucio/Gary Mathis
18 Merritt Street, Port Chester, NY 10573
O DAR PAR Sales
4 Production Drive
914-937-7273
John and Dominic Richichi
Brookfield, CT 06811
James
Barrett
Associates,
Inc.
“Your One-Stop Shop”
203-775-5757
Jim Barrett
914-946-1743, FAX 914-946-0796
SurfSide Wetting Agents
Irrigation Consulting & Design
Liquid ~ Granular ~ Pellets
973-364-9701
27thYear ~ Still the Best!
O James Carriere & Sons
Bob
Oechsle: 800-401-0411
Bill Carriere
FAX 215-836-2418
Trap Sands, Partac Top Dressing
914-937-2136

Paul Mazzola, Irrigation
A1Tretera, Equipment
800-243-4355/860-763-3581
The Sprinkler House/Amodios:
914-328-0190

Buddy Rizzio
3379 Route 46,16-K
Parsippany, NJ 07054
973-263-1234, FAX 973-335-2491
Frank Amodio
229 Smithridge Road
So. Salem, NY 10590
914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050

John Apple/Ray Beaudry
Meadow Street
Golden s Bridge, NY 10526
914-232-7746

O Westchester Tbrf Supply, Inc.

Bob Lippman Sr./Bob Lippman Jr.
“25 Years of Service”
845-621-5067, FAX 845-621-7180

O Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
Glenn Gallion
19 Central Boulevard
S. Hackensack, NJ 07606
888-831-0891

O D enotes M etG C S A

member