Marci/April 2002
VOLUME 32 NUMBER 2

Published by the Metropolitan boll Louise Superintendents Association

Cover: Siwanoy Country Club.
Photo by A rt Cironi.

n this Issue
Feature
P u ttin g the Breaks on the A nthracnose E p id em ic ..
C ould We B e H eaded for the Worst D ro u g h t Ever?

Departments

___________

m

M em ber N ew s ......................................................................................................7
U p c o m in g Events ............................................................................................... 9
Inside the N a tio n a l........................................................................................... 10
S p otligh ts...............................................................................................................12

resident’s

The Latest
(But not Necessarily
the Greatest)

Slews

- ^ i t h the 2002
season a lm ost in full
sw in g, I’d like to b rin g
you up to date on so m e
o f our in d u stry’s— and
asso cia tio n ’s— h o t
b u tton to p ics.

Water Restrictions: They’re Worth
Talking About
First and foremost is something that’s on all
j: our minds: the drought. It’s real. It’s here.
¡ The burning question is how each of us will
be affected. As it stands now, restrictions
I will vary from state to state, county to
\ county, and perhaps even town to town.
I think it’s important that we all see to it
; that our membership understands that these
¡variances in water use restrictions will
I directly affect course conditions—from one
\ town to the next. They must avoid, there­
fore, making unfair comparisons.
Joe Alonzi’s piece on page 8 spells out
how the drought emergency’s different
phases will affect courses in Westchester
I County Basically it calls for reducing water
1consumption by 15, 20, and 25 percent,
depending on whether we are in Phase I, II,
>or III of the drought.
In other areas:
• Rockland County courses are currently
| being required to restrict their water use to
I a specific time period during the day.
• Courses in New Jersey are being sub­
jected to both time and water-use restric| tions. They’re required to reduce their
¡ water use to half of their previous year’s
: consumption.
• Water restrictions are now making their
I way into Connecticut. Right over the New
York border, in Greenwich, for instance,
\ golf courses have been given the directive to
limit irrigation to greens and tees and to
| stop watering fairways altogether.
• Long Island courses are the most fortu\ nate of the bunch. Having been graced
I with an adequate supply, they have no water
I restrictions at this time.
Be aware of neighboring areas’ water
j! policies, and if need be, stand ready to
defend your course’s conditions to
members who insist on making
odious comparisons.
More important, how­
ever, is that you begin, now,
to develop a water conser­
vation plan. There are
several web sites that
Have valuable, up-to-the-

Tim Moore
M etG C SA President

minute drought-related information. You’ll
find them in Joe’s article in this issue— and
a number on our very own web site:
MetGCSA.org. So check it out.

Your Research Dollars: More Important
Now Than Ever
Here’s my next topic: research. Everyone
likes to reap the rewards of a good study, but
not enough are willing to pay for it. And I
mean in the way of donations.
Your contributions go a long way
toward supporting universities in conduct­
ing critical turfgrass research—particularly
in today’s economic climate where state
funding for universities is being limited or
redirected.
Cornell—a university that most recently
has generated worthy findings on moss
control and prevention—is just one exam­
ple of a university whose funds have been
redirected—in this case toward the
September 11 tragedy.
All that to say, your research dollars are
more important than ever.
The Met has been fortunate to be affili­
ated with the Tri-State Turf Research
Foundation, which has earned the distinc­
tion of being one of the leading supporters
of turfgrass research in the Northeast.
Behind this distinction are the many gener­
ous donations from area clubs, vendors, and
our association and the five others who
orchestrate the foundation’s activities: the
New Jersey GCSA, Connecticut AGCS,
Long Island GCSA, Hudson Valley GCSA
as well as the MGA.
Sadly, this year has not gotten off to a
strong start. Participation is down—way
down after the foundation’s first call for
donations. Letters were sent to more than
400 clubs; only 135 responded.
This month, another letter will go out.
continued on page 7
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Putting the Breaks
on the Anthracnose
Epidemic
Researchers Offer New Hope for Preventing
an Anthracnose Outbreak on Your Course
Adapted from an article written by Dr. Bruce Clarke and Dr. James Murphy
Rutgers Cooperative Extension

Fig 2. L ea f spots caused by

Colletotrichum
graminicola on Poa annua.

has to be one of the most dreaded— and
deadly— turfgrass diseases to affect golf
courses— and golf course superintendents.
Few know that better than the superinten­
dents along the East Coast and mid-western
states where, over the past few years, this
disease has soared in incidence and sever­
ity— and has been extremely difficult to
control.
Fungicides normally used to control the
disease were frequently ineffective, even
when used at labeled rates and at recom­
mended intervals of application. The result:
Many golf courses suffered extensive dam­
age and major disruptions in play, particu­
larly on greens.
This left superintendents scratching
their heads, while agronomists and patholo­
gists searched for some answers. Though it’s
doubtful that any particular factor is
responsible for the recent increase in
anthracnose in the U.S., the researchers do
agree that certain management practices
commonly employed on golf courses may
be enhancing the severity of this disease and
making it more difficult to control.
What follows is a look at how the dis­
ease evolves, as well as how various manage­
ment practices may be setting the stage for
anthracnose.
Last but not least, the

researchers offer some helpful hints on what
you might do to prevent an anthracnose
outbreak on your course.

Telltale Symptoms and Signs of
Anthracnose
At its onset, anthracnose— caused by
Colletotrichum graminicola—seems harmless
enough: small patches of yellow to reddishbrown turf just one to two inches in diame­
ter (see Figure 1). But give it the right
conditions and this insidious killer takes off,
rapidly becoming large, irregularly shaped
areas of discolored turf.
The pathogen may first infect older or
senescing leaves, causing yellow leaf lesions
(see Figure 2). But at the slightest hint of
mechanical or environmental stress, the
pathogen dives deep, attacking the weak­
ened plants’ stems and leaf sheaths. Causing
an affliction commonly known as basal stem
rot, the lesions on the stems and leaf sheaths
are, at first, water soaked but quickly turn
black as the tissue is destroyed.
At this point, the plant’s death is almost
certain. But unfortunately, the disease lives
on and can be unwittingly— and quite eas­
ily—spread.
Here’s how it works: If you were to look

Fig 1. Yellowing and general thinning associated with
early symptoms o f anthranose on Poa annua.

at the affected foliage and stems, you’d gen­
erally see, at this stage, that they’re covered
with small, black protrusions or reproductive
structures called acervuli.
As the acervuli mature, they produce
long, black spines called setae, which are the
telltale signs of anthracnose (see Figure 3).
Each acervuli contains dozens of one-celled,
crescent-shaped, asexual spores called coni­
dia. It’s the conidia that spread the disease to
uninfected turf when moved by wind, water,
or unavoidable mechanical means.
Unfortunately, this disease can strike
almost any time of year, but it most com­
monly makes an appearance between April
and September. It’s not picky about which
turfgrass species it infects, but it is particu­
larly severe on annual bluegrass (Poa annua
L.) and a little less so on creeping bentgrass
(Agrostis stolonifera L.).
Annual bluegrass is generally hardest hit
because it’s the weaker of the two turfgrasses
with a prolific production of seed heads,
particularly between late April and early
June.
Aside from being undesirable to golfers,
these seed heads are often the culprit in
anthracnose infections—primarily because
they often deplete the essential carbohydrate
reserves of the plant by early summer. This
weakens the plant and, ultimately, its

Fig 3. A n acervulus with black setae and one-celled conidia produced
by the anthracnose pathogen, Colletotrichum graminicola.
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For best results, do not apply more than two or
three consecutive applications o f any fungicide
used to control anthracnose.

defenses against anthracnose, particularly if
there are environmental stresses, such as hot,
humid weather.

Turf Management Concerns and
Strategies
In the end, your best defense against
anthracnose, no matter what your turf
species, is to take a long, hard look at your
cultural practices and adjust them, when at
all possible, so they favor your turf.
Here are some of the dos and don’ts of
cultural practices that are key in maintain­
ing the vigor of your turf plants and, ulti­
mately, in keeping them out of harm’s way.
Fertility Concerns
O f the 17 essential nutrients required for
plant growth, nitrogen is often the element
that has the greatest impact on plant vigor.
Over the past 20 years, there has been a
strong trend toward reducing the amount of
nitrogen applied to golf course greens, tees,
and fairways. Some superintendents, for
instance, have abandoned the practice of
applying moderate rates of a slow-release
nitrogen source (3/4 to 1-1/2 N/1000 sq.
ft.) on greens in the fall or spring. In some
cases, this has resulted in turf that is defi­
cient in nitrogen at certain times during the
growing season.
Also draining turf’s nutrient supply is
clipping removal, a practice that has become
common on fairways. If fertility levels are
not adjusted to compensate for the nutri­
ents removed, then you’re likely to create a
deficiency. In fact, clipping removal can
remove 25 to 60 percent of applied nitrogen
per season.
Be wary, too, of deficiencies in phospho­
rous or potassium. This is also thought to
leave turf more susceptible to anthracnose.
Fertility Strategies
Since it is apparent that nitrogen-deficient
turf is more susceptible to anthracnose than
well-fertilized plants, it only follows then
that you should be sure to maintain ade­
quate nitrogen levels.

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Annual bluegrass typically requires
1-1/2 to 4 lbs. N/1000 sq. ft. per year,
depending on the age of the green and the
intensity of traffic. Keep in mind that
spoon-feeding turf with 0.1 to 0.125 lbs.
N/1000 sq. ft. may not be enough to ensure
proper plant growth when turf vigor is low.
Remember, too, that some nitrogen from
foliar applications of urea can be lost
through volatilization.
To improve plant vigor, superintendents
should consider periodically increasing the
frequency of nitrogen applications from
every two weeks to once a week. It would
also be wise to apply moderate rates of a
slow-release nitrogen source (3/4 to 1-1/2
lbs. N/1000 sq. ft.) to greens in the fall or
spring to prevent the “nitrogen bank” in the
green from becoming depleted.
Irrigation Concerns
Drought is another environmental stress
that appears to predispose turf to anthrac­
nose. Not only can low soil water availabil­
ity reduce plant vigor, weakening the plant’s
natural defenses against disease, but C.
graminicola can readily colonize weakened
turf.
The tendency to maintain dry turf and
soil to improve playability and to enhance
the competitiveness of bentgrass may actu­
ally stimulate disease development on
annual bluegrass.
Tree root competition is another factor
that has been associated with decreasing
turf vigor and potentially enhancing
anthracnose.
Irrigation Strategies
To maintain turf vigor—and fend off
anthracnose—it’s critical that you keep your
turf free of any drought stress.
Some practical advice: Be sure crew
members know the ins and outs of hand
watering. Syringing stressed turf during the
day is as much an art as it is a science. Too
much or too little syringing can damage
turf.
Be particularly vigilant for wilt stress
after 3 p.m. when your crew punches out
for the day. Wilt stress, particularly from

mid-day to late afternoon, will exacerbate
the turf’s exposure to high temperature
stress.
Another
important
consideration:
Straight sand topdressing does not retain as
much moisture as do mixes with a higher
content of organic matter. If you have
changed to straight sand topdressing, be sure
to alter your irrigation practices accordingly.
Mowing Concerns
Low mowing heights have been reported to
increase many turfgrass diseases— summer
patch, leaf spot, bentgrass dead spot among
them. Now add to the list anthracnose.
Many of the superintendents who had
severe outbreaks of anthracnose over the past
few years were maintaining greens at or
below 1/8 of an inch. Where annual blue­
grass is a major component of the putting
surface, low mowing can deplete the carbo­
hydrate reserves of this species, often already
weakened by environmental stress.
Another suspect in the anthracnose prob­
lem: mowing frequency. The increased wear
caused by double and triple cutting, particu­
larly at very low cutting heights, can result
in greater wounding and may potentially
enhance the incidence of stress-related
diseases.
Note: Double cutting at a higher cut is
preferable to mowing at a lower height to
achieve greater putting speed.
Mowing Strategies
Where possible, raise the mowing height
when turf is under environmental stress.
Simply raising the cutting height 1/32 of an
inch will increase the photosynthetic capa­
bility of the turf—and, in turn, the carbohy­
drate level in the plant. This should also aid
in recovery once the disease is suppressed
with fungicides.
If you’re concerned about increasing
your mowing height, you might consider
compensating for a slight increase with light­
weight rolling. Research has shown that
lightweight rolling can simulate the effect of
a double cut or a 1/32-inch reduction in the
mowing height. Moreover, it appears that
you can roll greens as many as three times

Control o f Anthracnose
1. Déméthylation
Inhibitors
(Sterol Inhibitors)
• Banner, Bayleton,
Eagle, Rubigan,
Sentinel

2. Strobilurins
• Heritage
• Compass
• B a s 5 0 0 /5 0 5

per week with no detrimental effect.
Although some agronomists have sug­
gested that grooved rollers may increase
wounding compared to smooth rollers, the
impact of roller type on anthracnose is cur­
rently unknown. However, any attempt to
reduce wounding (e.g., avoid aerifying, verticutting, or sand topdressing when the dis­
ease is active) would presumably reduce the
incidence of new infections.
Other Anthracnose-Fighting Strategies
Other factors that may suppress anthracnose
in the long run include:
• reducing excessive thatch and
compaction when the disease is not active
• removing dew and guttation water in
the early morning hours
• improving air circulation

Building an Effective Fungicide
Program
Unfortunately, few good fungicide studies
have been conducted for the control of
anthracnose. This is partially due to the fact
that researchers— until recently—were not
able to consistently reproduce the disease
artificially in field trials where uniformity of
infection is required to accurately assess
fungicide efficacy.
Similarly, studies conducted on golf
courses naturally infested with C. graminicola
have also yielded limited information, often
because of the simultaneous occurrence of
other turfgrass diseases. As a result, only six
or seven reliable studies have been reported
over the past 15 years.
Information pertaining to how plant
growth regulators and herbicides affect
anthracnose is also very limited. However,
it would appear from a study conducted in
Kentucky that products such as Primo or
Dimension might slightly increase the inci­
dence of this disease. Clearly, additional
research is required before more definitive
conclusions can be drawn.
Despite the need to improve current
fungicide recommendations, you can still
control anthracnose effectively on your

Table t. Fungicide groups reported to control
anthracnose on turf.

3. Benzimidazoles
• Fungo, Cleary 3336

4. Nitriles
• Daconil, ChloroStar,
Thalonil, Manicure

5. Combinations
(3 + 4)
•

ConSyst, Spectro

course, with the appropriate course of
action. Here are some suggestions:

Alternating or tank mixing products
with different modes of action (i.e., differ­
ent fungicide classes) is still considered, by
1. Take preventive measures. On sites that most turfgrass pathologists, to be the most
have had a previous history of this disease, effective strategy for preventing this
its best to apply fungicides on a preventive problem.
basis two to three weeks before symptoms
Word to the Wise: When developing a
typically develop.
fungicide program for your golf course, try
For many locations in the tri-state area, to schedule the application of products
this may mean starting applications in early- when more than one target disease can be
to mid-May. On other sites, fungicide treat­ controlled. For example, applying a DMI
ments may have to begin in April. In either or a nitrile fungicide in late May may help
case, the key to good disease control is to control both anthracnose and dollar spot,
prevent severe epidemics from getting estab­ whereas rotating a strobilurin into an
lished. Once severe outbreaks occur, ade­ anthracnose program in late June or early
quate disease control with fungicides can be July will also help prevent summer patch
difficult to attain.
and brown patch.
2. Develop a well-conceived fungicide pro­
Moreover, be sure to follow label direc­
gram. To date, only fungicides within the tions carefully regarding appropriate fungi­
benzimidazole, strobilurin, nitrile, and cide rates and intervals of application to
déméthylation inhibitor (DMI) classes have optimize disease control.
been reported to consistently control 3. Donyt underestimate the power of water.
anthracnose (see Table 1). Fosetyl A1 (i.e., The amount of water applied with a fungi­
Aliette Signature) has also provided good cide can make or break its effectiveness.
disease suppression in some tests when used Products applied in less than 1 gal.
in combination with chlorothalonil (e.g., w ater/1000 sq. ft. will almost certainly
Daconil Ultrex). However, fosetyl A1 is result in reduced levels of control. This is
not currently labeled for the control of particularly true for the nitrile fungicides,
anthracnose.
since they are contact fungicides that must
Even though fungicides within the thoroughly cover leaf and stem tissues to be
dicarboximide class are registered for the effective. In no instance should contact
suppression of this disease, iprodione (i.e., fungicides be watered into the thatch layer.
Chipco 26GT) and vinclozolin (e.g.,
Curalan) have not provided effective control
in most studies. Moreover, flutolanil (e.g., Final Hote
ProStar) has been shown to intensify Although much still needs to be learned
anthracnose on bentgrass studies at Rutgers about the etiology and control of this dis­
and, therefore, should not be applied to turf ease, superintendents can keep anthracnose
infested with C.graminicola.
at bay by adjusting cultural practices to
Recently, laboratory studies have identi­ enhance, rather than tax, plant vigor and by
fied isolates of C. graminicola with reduced employing sound chemical application
sensitivity to fungicides within the benzimi­ strategies.
dazole and strobilurin classes. Although this
has yet to be confirmed in the field, every Many thanks to Dr. Bruce Clarke and Dr.James
effort should be made to delay or prevent Murphy— extension specialists on turfgrass
the development of fungicide-resistant iso­ pathology and management, respectively, at
lates of this pathogen.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension—-for providing
For best results, do not apply more than two or us with the information for this article. You can
three consecutive applications of any fungicide read their original paper on our web site at
used to control anthracnose.
MetGCSA.org.

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Anthracnose Epidemic Hits Close to Home
Survey Sheds Light on H ow Overly Good Grooming Can Breed Disease
by Chip Lajferty

J

M

/ate to admit it, but sometimes
misery likes company. When
anthracnose hit my course, I can’t tell you
how reassuring it was to know that I wasn’t
alone. As Drs. Clarke and Murphy mention
in the accompanying piece, over the past
several years, anthracnose has taken off in the
U.S., and in this area in particular.
Searching for an answer to my trials with
the disease, I decided to poll several other
Met members who were fighting the same
battle—in varying degrees. My hope was to
uncover any commonalties in our turf man­
agement programs that might shed light on
this devastating problem.
Many thanks to all (they’re listed below)
who took the time to respond to my
numerous survey questions. What follows is
a brief recap of the results. I focused on
those areas that we, as turf managers, might
do well to rethink to better serve our mem­
berships—and our every blade of grass.

in the season and again in the fall for our turf so thorough— and ample— coverage must be
a serious consideration.
plants to thrive and ward off infection.
U se o f Seed -H ead Suppressors

N em atod e C on n ection

Clubs were divided on the use of seed-head
suppressing chemicals. Half used them, half
didn’t. According to Drs. Clarke and
Murphy, we might do well to suppress seed
heads since they deplete the essential carbo­
hydrate reserves of the plant by early sum­
mer, leaving it weakened and almost
defenseless against anthracnose.

From all accounts, there seems to be little to
no connection between nematodes and
anthracnose. (We won one!)

N o z zle Type

Bedford, NY
Todd Raisch, Ridgewood Country Club,
Paramus, NJ
Steve R enzetti, Quaker Ridge Golf Club,
Scarsdale, NY

C u ttin g H eigh ts

No surprise here. The survey showed, in no
uncertain terms, that we continue to put
extraordinary stress on our turf in the spring
when we should be building our carbohydrate
U se o f Growth R egulators
reserves for the long summer ahead. Most of
All but one club used Primo growth regula­ the respondents were cutting at 1/8 of an inch
tor on their greens and plan to continue. If or less during the height of the season.
Drs. Clarke and Murphy pointed to the
you give any credence to a study conducted
in Kentucky, you may want to think twice fact that those courses with the most severe
about using a growth regulator. Though outbreaks were maintaining greens at or
clearly more research needs to be done, this below 1/8 of an inch. They further note that,
study linked products such as Primo and by raising the height of cut even just 1/32 of
Dimension to a slight increase in the inci­ an inch, we can boost the plants’ carbohydrate
level—and, ultimately, their health.
dence of anthracnose.
Soil pH
At the risk of sounding like a broken
Numbers ranged from 5.8 to 6.8, but they
record,
this emphasizes, once again, that we
did not seem to have any bearing on anthrac­ R o llin g Practices
must
educate
our membership about the
nose. Worth noting, however, is that superin­ All clubs, with the exception of one, roll their
harsh
realities
of
fast greens. Forget the TV.
tendents in the Philadelphia area did seem to greens two to four times per week. Drs.
feel that using acidifying fertilizers to alter the Clarke and Murphy feel that greens aren’t Turfgrass is a living, breathing thing, and if we
target overall health, we might actually find
top 1/4Mof thatch does show promise.
harmed by lightweight rolling when it’s done that devastating diseases like anthracnose can,
no more than three times per week. The again, become a secondary pathogen.
researchers also go on to say that rolling can
Topdressing P ractices
Most clubs polled had switched to sand top­ actually simulate the effect of a double cut or T hank You, Thank You
dressing and were adhering to the same a 1/32-inch reduction in height of cut.
If anyone would like a more in-depth look at
basic regimen: light, frequent applications
the survey results, please feel free to call me at
on a bi-monthly schedule, followed by a A erification Program s
914-636-8700, ext. 212. And many thanks,
heavy topdressing before winter.
All the clubs surveyed aerify one to two again, to all who participated in the survey.
Based on the observations of Drs. Clarke times per year and remove plugs and fill
and Murphy, the only caveat, here, is to holes with sand. The Hydroject is also used Besides me, the participants are:
remember that sand topdressing does not by all the clubs—some more than others,
Glen Dube, Oak Hills Park Golf Club,
retain as much moisture as do mixes with a depending on staff and weather.
Norwalk,
CT
higher content of organic matter.
Aerifying would also qualify as a prudent Jim Fulwider, CGCS, Century Country
Therefore, you’ll need to keep a more vigi­ practice since it works to reduce thatch and
Club, Purchase, NY
lant watch on your turf’s irrigation needs.
compaction, which are two other safeguards Larry Pakkala, CGCS, Woodway Country
against anthracnose.
Club, Darien, CT
F ertility Program s
Bob Nielsen, Bedford Golf & Tennis Club,
With nitrogen levels at or below 2 lbs. per
season, the majority of clubs surveyed might
have fallen a bit short on the fertilizer levels
recommended for keeping anthracnose at
bay.
As Drs. Clarke and Murphy point out, we
must build up our turf’s nitrogen bank early
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Most clubs polled have gone to low-drift
spray nozzles, which have a coarse water
droplet. Because water is such an important
component in fungicide applications, these
could be doing more harm than good, since
water coverage will not be as effective.
Anthracnose is a disease of opportunity,

Chip Lafferty, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY.

President’s Message continued fro m page i

Member News

Jon Jennings Honored as Innovative Golf Gonrse
Superintendent
so

m

ongratulations to former Tee to Green Editor and Chicago Golf Club Superintendent Jon Jennings, the worthy recipient of the third annual Pendulum Award at
GCSAA’s International Golf Course Conference and Show. Cosponsored by GSCAA
and BASF Corporation, this high honor recognizes golf course superintendents nation­
wide who have demonstrated outstanding ingenuity in golf course management.
Jon was selected based on his work involving sand topdressing for fairways and how it
can improve turf (watch Tee to Green for an upcoming article on this subject). BASF pre­
sented him with an engraved plaque bearing the image of a forward-swinging pendulum
symbolizing his forward-thinking concept.
“I’m extremely pleased to be selected for this recognition,” says Jon. “Like all golf
course superintendents, my main interest is creating the best environment for our players
and to promote the interests of the community. I hope that my peers can find equal value
in the approaches I’ve taken at Chicago Golf Club.”

Members on the Move
Chris Alonzi is the new superintendent at
Woodbridge Country Club in Woodbridge,
CT. Previous position: Assistant superin­
tendent at Westchester Country Club,
Rye, NY.
Tim Combs is the new superintendent at
Towers Country Club in Floral Park, NY.
Previous position: Assistant superintendent
at Rockrimmon Country Club, Stamford,
CT.
Erick H olm is the new superintendent at
Hop Meadow Country Club in Simsbury,
CT. Previous position: Superintendent at
Onondaga Golf & Country Club,
Fayetteville, NY.
Dave Lippman has joined forces with his
father at Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. in
Lincolndale, NY. Previous position:
Assistant superintendent at Shorehaven
Golf Club, Norwalk, CT.
Robert Pierpoint, son ofArdsley Super
George Pierpoint and the Met’s Executive
Secretary Ineke Pierpoint, is the new super­
intendent at Onondaga Golf & Country
Club in Fayetteville, NY. Previous position:
Superintendent at Links at Erie Village,
E. Syracuse, NY.
John Streeter is the new superintendent
at North Shore Country Club in Glen
Head, NY. Previous position: Superinten­
dent at Woodbridge Country Club,
Woodbridge, CT.

For those of you who have already con­
tributed—many thanks. For those who
have not, I urge you to send in your taxdeductible donation. It’s a small price to
pay for the valuable insights you— and the
many golf courses in the tri-state region—
will receive in return.
While I’m on the subject, if any of you
have a turfgrass issue or problem that you
think might profit from a research study,
please let me know. The Tri-State is gear­
ing up to fund new studies that would ben­
efit courses in the tri-state area, and I would
be happy to pass along your thoughts to the
foundation board.

Here Come the Pros
The touring pros will soon be descending
on our area—first for the Buick Classic at
Westchester Country Club on June 6 —9
and then for the much-anticipated U.S.
Open at Bethpage on June 13 - 16.
We also have the senior’s annual stop
(the Lightpath Long Island Classic) at The
Meadow Brook Club on July 29 - August
4, the LPGA at Wykagyl Country Club on
July 11 —14, and numerous amateur events
that will be held locally.
Sleepy Hollow will play host to the
USGA Women’s Amateur on August 12 17, while Stanwich plans to host the USGA
Mid-Amateur on September 21 —26.
As you can see, there’s a lot going on in
the local golf community. I’d like to take
this opportunity to wish all superinten­
dents and those involved with major tour­
naments much success this season.

Our Association Needs You

Births
Congratulations to ...
St. Andrew’s Golf Club Superintendent
Rob Alonzi and his wife, Ann Marie, on
the birth of their son, Nicholas Robert, on
March 20.
Golf Club of Purchase Superintendent Rob
Goring and his wife, Heidi, on the birth of
their daughter, Katie, on February 11.

Well Wishes
Continued well wishes to MetGCSA
friend Gerald Mahoney, MGA Director
of Golf Programs.

Participation is key to the success of any
endeavor—whether it’s preparing for a
major tournament, supporting new research,
or most important, our own association.
Come to a meeting, volunteer your time and
expertise, share your ideas and even your
concerns. Be an active member in our
association.
Right now, two of our committees—
Education and Social— are short-staffed
and could use some helping hands. I would
encourage anyone and everyone to get
involved. I guarantee you’ll have no
regrets. You may even find it rewarding.
Please give me a call if I can help direct
you to one of the committees I men­
tioned—or to another area of interest.
Tim Moore
MetGCSA President

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Could Wo Be Headed for the Worst Drought Ever?
How to Batten Down the Hatches for the
Water-Use Restrictions Ahead
by JoeAlonzi, CGC S

oth er N ature
is, o n ce again, b esto w in g her
w rath o n th e N o rth ea st.
A fter several years o f rela­
tively m ild su m m ers, w e are
h ead in g in to this n ew season
w ith w h a t co u ld be o n e o f
the
w o rst
d rou ghts
on
record.
R ig h t now , the N e w York
C ity R eserv o ir S y stem is at
a p p ro x im a tely 50 p ercen t o f
cap a city — at a tim e w h en it
sh ou ld be clo se to 100 p er­
cen t. T his m ea n s that w e
n eed a significant am o u n t o f
p recip ita tio n : at least 14
in ch es o f rainfall w ith in the
n ex t 45 days. M eteorological
co n d itio n s and current lo n g range forecasts su g g est n o r­
m a l c o n su m p tio n rates w ill
result in a m o r e seriou s
shortage.

Whether you’re in Westchester County
or another tri-state area town affected by the
water shortage, now’s the time to make club
management aware that a drought— and
serious water-use restrictions— are
very possible (or are already in
place!).
What follows is a look at
some of the regulations that
the Westchester County
Drought Emergency Task
Force is suggesting through
its various phases of drought
restrictions—from the lesser
Drought Warning all the way to a full­
blown Drought Disaster. Right now, West­
chester County is somewhere in between:
We’ve moved beyond a drought warning
into Phase I of a Drought Emergency.
Even if your course is outside
Westchester County, these restrictions are
worth a read, since many counties will sub­
scribe to some of the same policies. Be sure,
however, to catch the President’s Message in
this issue for a look at some of the counties
that do have distinctly different water-use
restrictions already in place.

Drought Warning
In this phase, the County Executive looks to
the public to voluntarily conserve water by
requesting that:
1. County parks and golf courses curtail
lawn sprinkling and that county golf courses
eliminate fairway watering. These restric­
tions apply whether facilities use well or
New York City water.
2. Restaurants serve water only on request.
3. Street flushing be kept to a minimum.
4. The amount of water used to clean
county vehicles be kept to a minimum.
5. Ornamental fountains be shut down.
6. Local ordinances governing illegal
hydrant openings be enforced.
7. Public building exteriors not be cleaned
with water.
8. Public and private swimming pools not
be filled, if possible.
9. Car washing in all municipalities be cur­
tailed.
10. Water-loss surveillance be heightened.

Drought Emergency
As of April 1, Westchester’s County Execu­
tive has declared a Phase I drought emer­
gency— under Local Law 9-1996—putting
mandatory water restrictions into effect.
There are three phases of drought emer­
gency, which, as you might guess, require
progressively more stringent restrictions and
regulations:
• Phase One is the declaration of a
drought.
• Phase Two is the declaration of a severe
drought.
• Phase Three is the declaration of an
extreme drought.
Here, in brief, are the restrictions that will
apply to golf courses in our current Phase
I—and beyond.
Phase I
All industrial and commercial businesses—
that means golf courses too— must develop
a written Water Conservation Plan to reduce
consumption by 15 percent. The Drought
Emergency Task Force has the official Water
Conservation Plan questionnaire, which
must be completed and made available to
county officials on request.
To determine whether the plan is being
executed on your course, officials will look
at the average water meter reading for the
last nondrought calendar year and use that
figure as the basis for comparison.
Watering golf course fairways and greens
is subject to the same water conservation
plan provisions as just mentioned, which
require a 15-percent reduction in water
consumption. Watering golf course roughs
is prohibited.
Phase Il/Phase III
Phase II and III requirements are similar to
those in Phase I. In Phase II, however, you
must implement a water conservation plan
to reduce water use by 20 percent, and in
Phase III, your plan must reduce water use
by 25 percent.
There are other restrictions required by
clubs, such as installing shower restrictors in
the locker rooms, filling water glasses only
on request in restaurants, and restricting air

Upcoming Events
For additional information on
drought regulations, log on to
M etG C S A .o rg

2002 MetGCSA Calendar Update

SO

m
conditioning hours, to name several. With
these regulations in mind, you might want
to think twice about beginning any major
sodding or new planting projects—at least
until we see a good, solid band of stormy
weather ahead.
Should the drought last beyond Phase
III, the County Executive could declare a
“Drought Disaster.” This step would be
implemented only if ordered by State and
Federal Legislatures.

The Variance Option
These drought regulations were adopted
in 1996 and are far more forgiving to the
green industry than they were in the past.
If, however, you experience a hardship
with any of the regulations, you do have
the option of applying for a variance. I
can immediately think of one instance that
would require a variance: the need to
water har-tru/fast-dri tennis courts.
Variance forms are available through the
Drought Emergency Task Force.

For Further Information
Last but not least, I thought I’d leave you
with several web sites you can tap into for
the latest information on drought restric­
tions and regulations in your area:
• Westchester County:
www.westchestergov.com
• New York State: www.dec.state.ny.us/
website/dow/droughtfacts.htmls
• New York City: www.nyc.gov/html/
dep/htm l/current.html
• New Jersey: www.njdrought.org
• Connecticut: www.drought.state.ct.us

ur meeting educational programs will be taking on an all-new and, believe it or
not, exciting format for 2002. Rather than schedule a formal speaker, we’ll be gath­
ering “subject experts” from our own talented membership for a round-table discussion.
Discussions will center on trends and topics of particular interest to our membership and
will encourage everyone who attends to participate.
Right now, three round-table panels are being formed: one for April, another for May,
and the third for October.
In July, we’re trying something really different: It will be an evening educational func­
tion only. No golf, just a seminar (don’t worry; it will be great) and dinner (which will be
equally great). Because this event will begin in the late afternoon, it’s a prime opportunity
to bring along assistants and support staff.
There are still a few meetings looking for a site, and our social calendar is wide open.
To secure a golf meeting, don’t delay in calling either of our Tournament Committee co­
chairs: Sean Cain, 914-723-3238, or Tom Leahy, 914-941-8281. To host a social event,
contact Social & Welfare Committee Chairman JeffWentworth at 914-738-2752.
FINAL NOTE: Our Education and Social & Welfare Committees are short on vol­
unteers. Anyone interested in serving on these committees should call JeffWentworth.
(He doesn’t bite.)

Two-Ball Qualifier
Monday, April 22
Siwanoy Country Club
Bronxville, NY
Host: Dave Mahoney

Superintendent/Manager Tournament
Monday, May 20
Metropolis Country Club
White Plains, NY
Host: Tony Grasso

Invitational Tournament
Monday, June 3
Fenway Golf Club
Scarsdale, NY
Host: Bob Alonzi, CGCS

Education Dinner
Thursday,July 18
Pelham Country Club
Pelham Manor, NY
Host: JeffWentworth

MetGCSA Family Picnic
Another good source of web site listings
and links is our association’s web site:
MetGCSA.org.
In the meantime, let’s pray for rain in
the watershed areas and prepare for what
may be a very dry time ahead.
Joe Alonzi, a member of the Westchester
County Drought Emergency Task Force, is
superintendent at Westchester Country Club in
Rye, NY

Superintendent/Green Chairman
Tournament
Tuesday, September 17
Bedford Golf & Tennis Club
Bedford, NY
Host: Bob Nielsen

Golf Meeting
Tuesday, October 29
Westchester Country Club/South Course
Host: Joe Alonzi, CGCS

Annual Assistants Championship
Thursday, October 3
Greenwich Country Club
Greenwich, CT
Assistant Hosts: Paul Boyd and Josh Satin

Met Area Team Championship
Monday, October 7
Montammy Golf Club
Alpine, NJ
Host: Mike Miner, CGCS

Date & SiteTBA

Annual Meeting

MetGCSA Summer Social

November
Date & Site TBA

Date & Site TBA

Poa Annual Tournament

MetGCSA Christmas Party
Date & Site TBA

Monday, August 19
Sands Point Golf Club
Sands Point, NY
Host: Rich Raymond

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Inside the National

An Insider’s View o f the
National Convention
by Tim O ’Neill, CGCS

a number of people who
-¿r
still had reservations about hying
after the September 11 tragedy, this year’s
International Golf Course Conference and
Show, held February 3 - 1 0 in Orlando, FL,
managed to attract a healthy crowd—
20,613 to be exact. That’s only about 300
fewer people than last year.
The two-and-a-half-day trade show had
729 vendors sprawled over 273,000 square
feet of floor space and offering everything
from gel-padded shoe inserts to wastewater
treatment systems and state-of-the-art, flexi­
ble-cut walk mowers.
Topping the charts, however, were the
activities surrounding the celebration of
GCSAA’s 75th Anniversary. It’s hard to
believe we’ve been in existence for threequarters of a century!

Looking Back

Tom Morris ljiok-alike milling about the
statue, ready Jrco strike a pose with anyone
interested in appearing with the “greatest
superintendent of all time.” A photogra­
pher—and film developing equipment—
were also on hand so you could bring home
a framed memento.
The tribute corner had numerous other
attractions: a golf ball showcase, displaying
more than 1,000 sets of golf balls from clubs
around the world; family trees, showing sec­
ond- and third-generation superintendent
connections; and numerous other displays
and offerings, including 75th Anniversary
pins and glazed cookies.
After the show, the Old Tom Morris
replica— crafted by Brad Pearson, a golf
course super from Nebraska with a special
talent—was given to a good home: the
World Golf Village, Golf Hall of Fame in St.
Augustine, FL.

As chairman of the 75th Anniversary
D id you know that
Committee, I took special interest in our
superintendents actually played
Opening Session, which featured a segment
on our association history. An eight-minute
a role in World War II? In
video, running through a 75-year timeline
1941,
supers were called on to
of association highlights, depicted points of
interest in our development.
grow turffor military landing
It was interesting to see just how much
strips .
our association has grown. For instance,
only 75 members attended GCSAA’s first
annual meeting, which was held in 1927 in Board Notes
Chicago, and only 40 participated in O f course for anyone on the GCSAA
GCSAA’s second annual golf tournament in board, the Annual Meeting, where elections
1939. Compare that figure with the more take place, is always a must.
At this year’s meeting, Mike Wallace,
than 600 contestants our tourney drew
CGCS, of Fairview Farms Golf Course,
this year.
Another fun fact was that superinten­ Harwinton, CT, was elected president while
dents actually played a role in World War II: Jon Maddern, CGCS, of Elk Ridge Golf
In 1941, supers were called on to grow turf Course, Atlanta, MI, was selected vice presi­
dent. Mark Woodward, CGCS, of Dobson
for military landing strips.
Also part of the program was the Ranch & Riverview golf courses, Mesa, AZ,
unveiling of a replica statue of the original was chosen as secretary/treasurer.
Though my run for secretary/treasurer
seven-foot bronze Old Tom Morris sculp­
ture—which is located at our Lawrence, KS, was unsuccessful, it’s paved the way for suc­
cess next year. I’ll be serving my third year
headquarters.
The replica was later stationed for all to on the board, and will, no doubt, be kept
see in a corner of the trade show floor busy fulfilling my board duties as well as the
dubbed the 75th Anniversary Tribute Area. responsibilities of chairing three commit­
There was even a startlingly authentic Old tees: Career Development, Environmental
Stewardship, and Communications.
Tee to Green

M arch/A pril 2 0 0 2

Also elected as GCSAA directors were
Sean Hoolehan, CGCS, ofWildhorse Golf
Club, Pendleton, O R , and David S.
Downing II, CGCS, of Barefoot Resort and
Golf Club, North Myrtle Beach, SC.
Robert Maibusch, CGCS, MG, of Hinsdale
Golf Club, Clarendon Hills, IL, will serve
the second of his two-year term on the
board.
Ricky Heine, CGCS, of The Golf Club
at Star Ranch, Austin,TX, was appointed to
a one-year term that was created by
Woodward’s election as secretary/treasurer.
Last but not least, Tommy Witt, CGCS,
ofThe Kiawah Island Club, Kiawah Island,
SC, will serve on the board as immediate
past president.

National Notables
Other conference news and notes:
• Mitch Clodfelter, golf course superin­
tendent at Cowans Ford Country Club in
Stanley, NJ, repeats as GCSAA golf cham­
pion with a 6-over-par 150. (See how
MetGCSA members fared in the National
Scorecard, page 11.)
• Retired St. Andrews Links greenkeeper
Walter Woods was honored with GCSAA’s
highest annual award, the Old Tom Morris
Award.
• The Canadian Golf Course Superinten­
dents Association earned GCSAA’s
President’s Award for Environmental
Leadership for its creation of the
Environmental Management Resource
Manual. It was accepted by the program’s
director, Canadian Golf Superintendents
Association president Jay Leach.
• GCSAA renewed its sponsorship of
Senior PGA Tour Professional Jim Colbert.
• The GCSAA Foundation has exceeded
its $5 million “Investing in the Beauty of
Golf Campaign.”
• GCSAA honored three worthy recipi­
ents with its Distinguished Service Award:
Houston Couch, Ph.D., from Virginia Tech;
William Ploetz, retired golf course superin­
tendent from Independence Golf Course in
Gonzales, TX; and Bruce Williams, CGCS,
from Los Angeles Country Club.
• The GCSAA/Golf Digest Environ-

GCSAA has decided to hold three of
its officer meetings via conference call
and is also considering the use of videoconferencing to cut travel—and the
expenses associated with gathering the
entire board for meetings.
Similarly, GCSAA is experimenting
with ways to make it easier for members
to pursue its educational opportunities.
On March 13, GCSAA hosted an exper­
imental, interactive web-based seminar
titled Dollar Spot and Anthracnose:
Beyond the Basics. R un by Dr. Mike
Changes Afoot
By the time next years conference and show Agnew and Dr. Bruce Clarke, the semi­
makes its way to Atlanta, GA, February 9 — nar allowed participants to use their
16, you may see some advances in the way computers to do everything that a perGCSAA communicates with its member­ son-to-person seminar would allow
them to do— except see one another.
ship— and board members.
And
they could do it all without ever
For board members, GCSAA is turning
to technology to streamline committee leaving their desk chairs. Early feedback
work and help lighten our travel load. from those who participated has been
Though each board member is equipped positive.
It’s this, and other types of technol­
with a laptop that is loaded with everything
necessary to communicate almost instantly ogy, that GCSAA will be looking at in
with other board people and GCSAA staff, the year ahead to enhance its member
we are still required to attend five board communications and services— and to
meetings, fulfill commitments associated make board service less time consuming,
with chairing three committees, and as part while requiring less time away from
of our speakers bureau commitment, travel home and work.
The year ahead promises to be an
to two or three chapters each year to speak
exciting
one. I’ll keep you posted on
on various topics.
As ambassadors of GCSAA, officers are new developments.
required to attend even more events: major
golf events, conferences and shows in Tim O'Neill, a director on the GCSAA
England and Canada, foundation activities, Board of Directors, is superintendent at
and a variety of other events and meetings.
Country Club of Darien in Darien, CT.
mental Leaders in Golf Awards were pre­
sented to:
• National Public: Kevin Hutchins, Presidio
Golf Course, San Francisco, CA
• National Private: William Davidson Jr.,
Colliers Reserve Country Club, Naples, FL
• National Resort: Anne Hickman, Barton
Creek Country Club, Austin,TX
• International: James Sua, CGCS, National
Service Resort & Country Club, Singapore

Board o f Directors
Sean Hoolehan, CGCS, Wildhorse Golf
Club, Pendleton, O R
Bob Maibusch, CGCS, MG, Hinsdale
Golf Club, in Clarendon Hills, IL

Vice President
Jon Maddern, CGCS, Elk Ridge Golf
Course, Atlanta, MI

Tim O ’Neill, CGCS, Country Club of
Darien, Darien, CT

Secretary/Treasurer
Mark Woodward, CGCS, Dobson Ranch &
Riverview golf courses, Mesa, AZ

Executive Management
Steve Mona, CAE, Chief Executive
Officer

Immediate Past President
Tommy Witt, CGCS, The Kiawah Island
Club, Kiawah Island, SC

Chuck Borman, Chief Operating
Officer

Directors
David Downing II, CGCS, Barefoot Resort
and Golf Club, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Ricky Heine, CGCS,The Golf Club at Star
Ranch, Austin, TX

Met Makes Showing
in 2002 O TA Golf
Championship
This year’s national tournament was a big
home run with 610 superintendents com­
peting for the 2002 championship title. The
World Golf Village in St. Augustine, FL, was
a fantastic venue for the tourney, boasting
superb golf courses, beautiful accommoda­
tions, and the nearby hall of fame.
Hats off to the GCSAA Tournament
Committee and Toro for a great job and for
going the extra mile in giving us a memo­
rable Super Bowl Sunday. Go Pats!!
Here are some of our members who fin­
ished in the top 10 of their respective
flights.
Second Flight
Champion (60 points): Blake Halderman,
Trump National Golf Club, Briarcliff
Manor, NY
You the man!
5th place gross (53 points): Les Kennedy,
Blind Brook Club, Purchase, NY
Nice show!
Third Flight, 2nd place gross (51
points): John Alexander, Cranbury Golf
Club, West Windsor, NJ
Sandbagger!

O TA at alliance
President
Mike Wallace, CGCS, Fairview Farms Golf
Course, Harwinton, CT

National Scorecard

Fourth Flight, 10th place gross
(42 points): Rick Schock Jr.,Wee Burn
Country Club, Darien, CT
Mr. Steady!
Four-Man Team Results

Julian Arredondo, CAE, Chief Financial
Officer
Founded: 1926 at Sylvania Country
Club, Toledo, OH
Headquarters Location: Lawrence,
KS (since 1973)
Membership: 21,328 members in 65
countries

Net I
John Alexander of Cranbury Park, Chip
Lafferty ofWykagyl, and their partners shot
59 for a 2nd place finish.
Nice job fellas!
Net II
JeffWentworth of Pelham, Stephen
Rabideau ofThe Hamlet Golf & Country
Club, and their partners shot a 56 for 2nd
place.
i(For the love of God and all humanitywill
someone please check their handicaps!!
Get ready for next year’s tourney, which is
headed for Hilton Head, SC.
- Sean Cain
Tee to Green

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the
Two-Hall Qualifier

m;
by Bill Perlee

ere’s a superintendent who’s
"clearly missed his calling. Any­
one who’s heard Dave’s Tournament Award
presentations or lively committee reports
would have to agree he might well have
had a future as a stand-up comic. Now,
having agreed to host the Met’s 10th annual
Two-Ball Qualifier on April 22, Dave was
able to display his other talents—particularly
as a golf course superintendent.
In his 14-year tenure at Siwanoy, Dave
has hosted at least three Met meetings, his
last golf meeting, coincidentally, also a twoball qualifier. That was in 1996—when the
extensive course renovations Siwanoy
completed in 1998 were still in the plan­
ning phases.
Oh—and you might want to add to
Dave’s credits “man of his word.” It was at
that last golf meeting, after all, that he
promised to have Met members return to
view the new-and-improved course. And
here we are.

Dave Mahoney

and among the membership has, according
to Dave, proved to be a double-edged
sword. “After a major capital improvement,”
he says, “you’re flying high—until you real­
ize member expectations are also soaring.
“Needless to say, with all the new sod
out there, we’ve really had to step up our
maintenance regime on the greens and
bunker surrounds,” says Dave. “And we’re
still tinkering with our program. Lots of
bank spraying—with fungicides and growth
regulators.”

Once a Mew Yorker, Always a Mew Yorker

Dave was clearly well-equipped for the rig­
ors of his latest renovation work. He has a
turf management degree from Penn State,
linin’Donald Ross Proud
which he completed in 1983 while working
Typical of most Donald Ross layouts in the on the crew and then as the assistant at
Northeast, this Bronxville, NY, course fea­ Naperville Country Club, located in his
tures a well-routed layout on a minimum Chicago-area hometown.
From there, Dave moseyed on over to
of land— 110 acres, in this case. The
greens, though on the small side, are full of The Golf Club of Oklahoma, attracted by
the opportunity to help grow in an all-new
character and well protected.
“We worked with Golf Course Ar­ Fazio-designed course. “If there’s one thing
chitect Arthur Hills to restore many of the I learned,” says Dave, “it was the importance
course’s original Donald Ross design fea­ of being thorough and never taking any­
tures—particularly around the greens and thing for granted.” Obviously a lesson that’s
bunkers,” explains Dave. But the age-old continued to serve him well.
After the course opened, Dave returned
course—built in 1914—needed so much
to Naperville Country Club— this time as
more.
“We rebuilt all the tees; they were the golf course superintendent. He stayed
shaded, undersized, and impossible to man­ there for five years, until in 1988, he was
age,” says Dave, who notes that they took offered the superintendent’s position at
full advantage of the trauma to the course Siwanoy—and the opportunity to return to
by also upgrading their irrigation and pond his New York roots.
His dry wit’s a dead giveaway: Dave’s a
systems.
The considerable praise the renovations New Yorker at heart, having lived in Queens
have received in the golfing community and then Levitown, LI, for the first 12 years
of his life—and now, again, for the past 14.

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

Association Advocate
Working on golf courses and belonging
to associations outside the Met area makes
Dave all the more appreciative of the
MetGCSA. “I really enjoy our association,”
says Dave, “and I get to work with a great
group of guys.”
Serving as the M et’s newly elected VP,
Dave has been a member of the board of
directors for the past nine years, and he’s
served on— or chaired—numerous com­
mittees, not the least of which was the
Tournament Committee.
Right now, he shares the board’s concern
for lower turnouts at monthly meetings and,
as usual, is working hard to come up with a
solution.
H e’s taken a generous first step by offer­
ing Siwanoy as a meeting place this spring!

The Quiet Life
Away from the job, Dave leads the quiet
life— at least that’s what he tells us— with his
wife, Catherine, and his fast-growing kids,
David, now 16, and Jessica, 15.
“My coaching days are just about over,”
says Dave, referring to the many seasons he’d
spent coaching his son’s and daughter’s soc­
cer and basketball teams. “But the career
and college counselor days are just
beginning.”
If Dave’s kids have the same drive and
dedication as their Dad, this part of his job
should be enjoyable.
Bill Perlee, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at The
Apawamis Club in Rye, NY.

Metropolis plays 6,784 yards from the
back tees and has seven, 400-yard Par 4s.
The toughest hole by far, according to
Tony, is the 12th. “It’s a 457-yard dogleg
left,” he explains, “so you’ve got to hit it
at least 250 yards to see the green.”

Spotlight

Metropolis Welcomes
Snper/Manager Tourney

AH in the Family

by Greg Wojicky CGCS

^ W he very first time I met Tony Grasso
I Was intimidated. Weren’t you? He’s
6’4", 250 pounds, and stronger than a bull
with a neck as big as my waist! I made the
mistake of playing basketball with him. The
first time I drove the lane and he jumped
out in front of me, I thought I had hit a
brick wall. Little tiny flashbulbs were going
off in my eyes. When I hit the gym floor, he
didn’t even help me up. Instead, he called
me for an offensive foul!
Then there was the time that Tony was
my Two-Ball partner. . . . He snapped his
driver in two pieces just hitting the ball on
the 18th hole at Whippoorwill. H e’s
snapped more club shafts than anyone I
know— all by accident! D on’t ever stand
too close when he’s hitting a shot; your life
could be in danger.
Tony never says hi when he calls me. It
usually goes something like, “Hey, you in
the office again?” or “Aren’t you on vaca­
tion this month?” Then he’ll start to com­
miserate about golf course stuff: “I’ve never
seen it so blue out there.” or “I double cut
the damn things and they’re faster than
glass.” And for the next 30 minutes or so,
he’ll trade stories about turf or green chair­
men or budgets or staff. He is, to the core, a
golf course superintendent. No one com­
pares to Tony Grasso.

Don’t Let Him Fool You
Underneath the gruff exterior is one of the
kindest, gentlest, most caring guys you’ll
ever get to know. He works the tables at
social events with a genuine interest in
everyone in the room. He nearly always has
something nice to say (unless he’s talking to
me). He goes up to someone, and within
seconds, smiles radiate from everyone
around him.
He loves the profession and is dedicated
to his job. H e’s nervous about the condi­
tions of his course. He always wants it to
look its best. You’ll see, when you join fel­
low Met members at Metropolis Country
Club on May 20 for the Superintendent/
Manager Tourney.

It’s All History
I called Tony to get more background
information on him. I showed him what I
had written and— after the typical phone
call abuse—he said, “I’m actually 6’2" and a
svelte 250! And when I double cut, groom,
and roll, my greens are still slow.”
Still finding it hard to be serious, Tony
compared his career to the DOW: some
highs, some lows.
“I started at Mt. Kisco in 1975,” he
begins, “when the great Fred Scheyhing
offered me a position as head intern and
then took off for Chevy Chase Maryland.
(That should have told me something.)
“In 1976 till 1977,” he continues, “I
worked at Siwanoy for Vinny Pentenero.
Then in 1978, I went to Metropolis to
work for the summer under the late Bruno
Vadala, who little did I know then would
become my father-in-law. I became a full­
time assistant there in December o f ’79, and
then after a couple of seasons—in the fall of
’81— I was offered a superintendent’s posi­
tion at Willow Ridge.”
Somewhere in there, Tony managed to
get an associate’s in turfgrass science from
Stockbridge and then a B.S. in plant and
soil science from UMass.
In January 1991, he got his biggest break
of all: the superintendent’s position at
Metropolis.
Metropolis sits on the grounds of the
old Century Country Club, which opened
in 1898 as a 12-hole course and then
moved in 1922 to its current site, selling the
property to what is now Metropolis.
The course was originally designed by
Herbert Strong, but word has it that when
Metropolis took over, the club hired
Tillinghast to add six new holes and then
reconfigure the others. The course had
remained virtually unchanged until 1997
when Metropolis called in Ken Dye to
rebuild seven tees and one green and to
rework all the bunkers— eliminating some
of them in the process. “Now we’re down
to a more manageable number of bunkers,”
says Tony of the change.

Tony is steeped in the industry. With his
family connections, there’s little getting
away from it.
Tony’s father, Anthony, started Metro
Milorganite with John Wistrand in the early
1960s, eventually selling the company to
RickApgar in 1991.
Tony’s brother is an assistant super at
Century Country Club, and his brother-inlaw, Greg Vadala, is the superintendent at
Montclair Country Club in New Jersey.
W hat’s more, one of Tony’s long-time
buddies, golf partners (or should we say,
partners in crime), Earl Millett, is a super at
Ridgeway Country Club. I asked Earl, in
fact, for a goodTony/Earl story for this arti­
cle. He thought for a while . . . started to
tell one story but had to stop__ He started
another ... and again had to stop----Finally
in frustration, he said with a laugh,
“Nothing is publishable!”
We also can’t forget to mention—
though most of you probably know— that
Tony married the daughter of a superin­
tendent in 1980: Bruno Vadala’s daughter,
Lucille. They have three children: Anthony,
a sophomore at Delhi; Katie, a high school
sophomore; and Joseph, who’s in second
grade.
“I was working for Bruno when I
started dating Lucille,” reflects Tony. “It was
fun going out with her, but I always felt I
had to get her home early because her
father didn’t want me to be late for work
the next day. The problem was, I’d drop her
off and then go out again, anyway!”
Tony has been an active member of
another sort of family—our association—
for the past 27 years. He served eight years
on the MetGCSA board of directors, sitting
on or co-chairing numerous committees,
including Tournament, Tee to Green, and
Social. And he’s still willing to help out
now and then . .. by offering his club for a
party (he’s hosted two Christmas parties) or
a meeting (this will mark his third over the
past decade).
Be sure to join him—and fellow mem­
bers— on Metropolis links. Who knows,
maybe you’ll learn a thing or two—like
how to snap a club without even trying.
Greg Wojick, co-editor of the Tee to Green, is
superintendent at Greenwich Country Club in
Greenwich, CT.
Tee to Green

M arch/A pril 2 0 0 2

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