^ May/.I une 20112
ViíTíJME 32 TOMBER3

Board otöirectors
President

T IM O T H Y M O O R E

Knollwood Country Club
V ice President

DAVID M A H O N E Y

Siwanoy Country Club
Treasurer

WILLIAM H E IN T Z

Centennial Golf Club

Cover: Fenway G olf Club.
Photo by John Rooney.

Secretary

M A TTH EW CEPLO, CGCS

Rockland Country Club
Past President

JO H N C A R L O N E , CGCS

The Meadow Brook Club
SEAN CAIN

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

Rockrimmon Country Club
TH O M A S LEAHY

Sleepy Hollow Country Club
E R IC O ’NEILL

Scarsdale Golf Club
G LEN N PERRY, CGCS

rn this Issue

Rolling Hills Country Club
JEFFREY W ELD

Bayer Corporation
JEFFREY W E N T W O R T H

Pelham Country Club
G R E G O R Y W OJICK, CGCS

Greenwich Country Club

R esistin g F u n gicid e R esistance

Executive Secretary

INEKE P IE R P O IN T

Tee to Green Staff
Editors

GLENN PERRY
203-762-9484

GREG WOJICK
203-869-1000, ext. 253

Departments

mm

U p c o m in g Events ............................................................................................... 6

Managing Editor

PANDORA C. WOJICK
Editorial Committee

PAUL BOYD
GLEN DUBE
CHIP LAFFERTY
SCOTTNIVEN
ERIC O ’NEILL
TIM O ’NEILL
BILL PERLEE

Work S m a rts.......................................................................................................... 8
T he D rought: A B lessing in D isguise?
S corecard ...............................................................................................................10

Designer

TERRIE DUNKELBERGER

M em ber N ew s ....................................................................................................11

Photographer

BILL PERLEE
Advertising Manager

GREG WOJICK, 203-869-1000, ext. 253
Advisory Board

JOE ALONZI
l JON JENNINGS
1 TIM MOORE
PAT SISK

STEVE CADENELLI
PAT LUCAS
DENNIS PETRUZELLI
JOHN STREETER

TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the
Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819
914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG A
Copyright © 2002

S p o tlig h ts......................................................................................

12

concerned when I took over as president
of the Met—particularly with the trend of
declining attendance at meetings and
events over the past few years. Not know­
ing what long-term effects September 11
might have on area clubs and businesses
didn’t help my confidence either. Would
the downturn in the business environment
require belt tightening and reduce revenue
available for the MetGCSA’s treasury?
Many of you took me aside or called
on the phone to offer your advice and
words of wisdom—about the Met’s atten­
dance problem and other issues concern­
ing the health and welfare of our
association.
Little did 1 know just how united we
were in our interest for the association’s
well-being.
I was also reassured by the nice start we
had to our golf and tournament season. So
far, we’ve had four very successful monthly
meetings.
We kicked off the season with our
March Business Meeting at Lake Isle
Country Club with Kevin Quist as our
host. Right behind that was our first golf
meeting of the year, the Two-Ball
Qualifier, hosted by David Mahoney at
Siwanoy Country Club. Then we were off
to Tony Grasso’s, Metropolis Country
Club, for the Superintendent/Manager
meeting. And June 3, we had a very suc­
cessful Invitational Tournament hosted by
none other than The Legend himself, Bob
Alonzi, and the rest of the Fenway family
(see page 12).
What a lineup of impressive sites. Not
only were the golf courses in terrific con­
dition, but the hospitality from all the
clubs was also superb. For those who have
opened their courses to a Met meeting this
year or sometime in the past, I thank you
on behalf of all our members. Without
your commitment and generosity, we
would not be the association we are today.
The best part is that there’s much more to
come for the balance of the year.

Tint Moore
M etG C SA President

What’s in Store
For one, our Education Committee has
added an interesting twist to our July meet­
ing. The thought is to provide a longer,
more targeted educational program than
we’ve been able to offer at our standard
monthly meetings but then follow it up
with a fun event. (See page 13 for the lowdown on the lineup of speakers and events.)
It will start late afternoon, so those who
can’t get away for an entire day can still
attend and get the full benefit of an educa­
tional program and time to network and
relax with peers.
We’re hoping this will encourage better
participation not only from the superin­
tendents, but also the assistants and affiliate
members. So please be sure to attend and
encourage others to do so as well, and then
let us know what you think of this new for­
mat. Watch the mail for details.
Another event with details to follow is
our Summer Social, which the Social
Committee has been in the throes of plan­
ning for later this summer. Keep your eyes
peeled for info on what promises to be a
fun-filled event.
continued on page 6

Tee to Green May/June 2002

* ^ a t n re

Resisting Fungicide
Resistance
by Scott Niven, C G C S

Pathologists Present
Opposing Views on
Fungicide Resistance
Management

t’s tough to be a
maverick . . . unless you’re Michigan State
University plant pathology professor Dr. Joe
Vargas. Though he’s raised more than a few
eyebrows for his contrary views on fungi­
cide resistance, he takes solace in the fact that
greats like Charles Darwin and Louis
Pasteur, were once ostracized for their
groundbreaking theories on evolution and
pasteurization.
Dr. Vargas insists that there’s no need to
rotate fungicides for effective resistance
management. He first touted this theory in
his 1981 book, Management of Tufgrass
Diseases, and has more recently traveled the
country spreading the good word.
But most plant pathologists, who have
long held that we should rotate or alternate
fungicides for effective resistance manage­
ment, feel Dr.Vargas’s theory is risky at best.
And they’re concerned that superintendents
may be persuaded to follow his course of
resistance management with ill effects.
“A good number of superintendents
know better than to prescribe to Vargas’s
theory, but some don’t,” says Houston
Couch, a professor o f plant pathology
at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University. “Rotation is an essential part
of resistance management. To tell people
not to rotate is really the ultimate in
irresponsibility.”

Coveted Beliefs
Proponents of the longstanding rotation/
alternation method of fungicide use firmly
believe that the way to delay or avoid fungi­
cide resistance is to either tank mix two or
more fungicides with different modes of
action (i.e., mix a contact with a systemic) or
alternate fungicides by varying chemical
families and modes of action every other
spray.
As Dr. Bruce Clarke, Rutgers Coopera­
tive Extension specialist in turfgrass pathol­
ogy, explains, “A fungicide’s mode of action
dictates if and when it can develop fungal
tolerance.” For example, fungicides with
broad modes of action, such as
chlorothalonil, mancozeb, and PCNB (pentachhloronitrobenzene), have low potential
for developing fungal tolerance. But fungi­

cides with more specific modes of action,
such as the benzimidazoles and strobilurins,
have moderate to high potential for devel­
oping fungal tolerance when used repeat­
edly. (See Tables 1 and 2 on the following
pages for fungicide resistance potential and
modes of action.)
That’s why it’s essential, pathologists
agree, that the more site-specific group of
fungicides be alternated or tank mixed with
those that have a broad mode of action. “By
mixing various combinations of fungicides
from two chemical families at reduced
rates,” explains Dr. Couch, “you can create a
synergistic effect and provide enhanced dis­
ease control while reducing the risk of
resistance.”
The theory behind this is that different
families of chemicals, when mixed, would
control each others’ developing resistant
strains and thereby delay—even avoid—the
tolerance selection process.

A Growing Problem
Interestingly, despite the fact that various
types of fungicides have been used on turf
since the Bordeaux mixture was introduced
in the early 1900s, fungicide resistance did
not become a valid concern until the 1970s
when systemically translocated products like
Tersan 1991 and Cleary’s 3336 came on the
scene.
These fungicides, and others in their
chemical family, are at high risk for resist­
ance problems because they are persistent in
the environment and their mode of action is
very site-specific in disrupting the physiol­
ogy of a fungus.
The majority of resistance cases have
been associated with dollar spot, but
pythium cases are running a close second.
And there have also been documented cases
of resistance with anthracnose, gray leaf
spot, powdery mildew, rust, and snow mold.
An informal poll of 18 Met area super­
intendents revealed that half had either
experienced a case of dollar spot resistance
at their golf course or knew someone who
had a problem. All were subscribing to the
traditional form of resistance management.
Three of the 18, however, are planning to
switch to Dr.Vargas’s strategy.

Dr. Vargas’s Theory
Dr. Vargas says he resurrected his research
because he kept getting phone calls from
superintendents who said the fungicides they
were using in rotation weren’t working any­
more. In response, he studied resistant strains
of dollar spot found on bentgrass/Poa annua
fairways in Michigan, Ohio, and Penn­
sylvania. He collected four different strains
from courses in each of the three states.
The outcome: Two strains showed resist­
ance to two classes of fungicides—déméthy­
lation inhibitors (DMIs) and Benzi­
midazoles—while the other two showed
resistance to three classes—DMIs, dicarboximides, and benzimidazoles.
Dr. Vargas maintains that the traditional
theory of mixing or rotating different chem­
istries will not, as commonly believed, cancel
out each others resistant strains, but rather
select for strains of fungus that have multiresistance.
“Multi-resistant strains present a real
problem,” says Dr. Vargas, “because you’re
seriously limiting the number of fungicide
classes you can go to for effective control.”
To avoid developing multi-resistant
strains, Dr. Vargas advocates using only one
site-specific, high-risk fungicide at a time
until resistance occurs. “Then and only
then,” he says, “should you change to a differ­
ent chemical class.”
To delay resistance for as long as possible
with each particular fungicide, Dr.Vargas fur­
ther recommends alternating a high-risk
fungicide with a contact, such as chlorathalonil, in order to keep the number of
annual applications of the site-specific fungi­
cide to a minimum.
That means if you’re using a DMI prod­
uct and you’re planning to spray six times
during the year for dollar spot, you should
make half your applications with chlo­
rothalonil and half with the DMI.
If you figure, as Dr. Vargas estimates, that
you have at least 20 to 30 applications of
DMIs before they lose their effectiveness,
then you’d have roughly 7 to 10 years before
developing resistance, at which point, you’d
simply switch to a different chemical class
and start all over again.
Tee to Green M ay /June 20 0 2

Table 1: Potential for Development of Resistance to Certain Turfgrass Fungicides
Fungicide

Genetic Factor

Site of Action

Resistance Risk Level

h a v e s h o w n th a t

B e n z im id a z o le s

M o no ge nic

S ingle

Very High

r o ta tin g w o r k s a n d

P h e n y la m id e s

M o no ge nic

S ingle

High

th a t i t w i l l s lo w th e

S t r o b ilu r in s

M o no and Poly

S ingle

High

re sista n c e p ro ce ss.

P ro p a m o c a rb

P olygenic

S ingle

High

E v e n th o u g h D r.

F o s eyl Al

Polygenic

S ingle

High

Vargas h as p u t

DMI

P olygenic

S ingle

High

to g e th e r a c o m p e llin g

D ic a r b o x im id e s

M o no ge nic

M u ltip le

M oderate

s to r y b a c k e d b y

A r o m a tic H y d r o c a r b o n s

P olygenic

M u ltip le

M oderate

s o u n d research, i t is

D ith io c a r b a m a t e s

P olygenic

M u ltip le

Low

s t i l l b a sed on a f e w

N it r ile s

Polygenic

M u ltip le

Low

“

De c a d e s o f research

is o la te d cases in th e
w id e w o r ld o f tu r f­
g r a s s p a th o lo g y .
U n til th ere is m o re
d a ta to b a c k u p th e
n e w fin d in g s , i t m a y
be a littl e e a rly to
a b a n d o n th e ti m e te s te d s tr a te g y o f
f u n g ic id e r o ta tio n .
— D r. N athaniel Mithowski
University o f R h od e Island

Telltale Signs of Resistance
Dr.Vargas and the other pathologists do see
eye-to-eye on one point: that all high-risk,
site-specific fungicides have a finite number
of sprays before a fungus becomes resistant.
Though it’s clear that the number of sprays
can vary depending on the location and
environment of the golf course, Dr. Vargas
estimates that dicarboximide fungicides can
endure 30 to 50 sprays before losing their
effectiveness, compared to 20 to 30 applica­
tions for the DMIs.
It’s important to note that when a
pathogen develops resistance to a fungicide,
it will be resistant to all fungicides with the
same mode of action in its chemical family.
For instance, if you have resistance to
Banner, a fungicide in the DMI family, then
you’ll also find Sentinel, Rubigan, Eagle, and
Bayleton ineffective as well.
What are the warning signs of resistance?
“You will gradually notice that the length of
fungicide control becomes shorter and
shorter,” says Dr. Clarke. “For example, a
product that originally gave 28 days’ control,
will only work for 7 days or less as the resist­
ant strain becomes more dominant.”
After a period of time, it is possible that
less fit resistant strains will lose their domi­
nance in the fungal population allowing you
to revisit previously ineffective fungicides.
This time frame will vary depending on the
mode of action of the fungicide and the
nature of the resistant strain. It could be a
very long time as is the case with Tersan
1991 and Cleary’s 3336, which still have
resistance problems 30 years later, or as little
as 2 to 4 years with the dicarboximides.

Old Habits llie Hard

4

Tee to Green May. /June 2 0 0 2

As controversial as Dr. Vargas’s theory on
resistance management still is, he’s con­
vinced that he’s gaining converts among his
peers. “I’d say 50 percent of pathologists in
the green industry have converted to my
way of thinking,” says Dr. Vargas.

Though his claim may well be true, the
Eastern U.S. pathologists we spoke to were
not among Dr. Vargas’s list of converts.
Dr. Peter Dernoden of the University of
Maryland, who works in the Mid-Atlantic
region, concurs with some parts of Dr.
Vargas’s theory but doesn’t feel it’s a realistic
approach for the Mid-Atlantic.
“We’re forced to rotate many different
fungicides to control the many active dis­
eases in the transition zone,” says Dr.
Dernoden, who also notes that their resist­
ance problems are far more prevalent with
pythium blight than with dollar spot.
Dr. Lee Burpee of the University of
Georgia is another proponent of rotation as
the best way to delay resistance— as is Dr.
PaulVincelli of the University of Kentucky,
though he’s not convinced anyone has dis­
covered the ultimate strategy for avoiding
fungicide resistance. “I believe that we’ll
reach multi-fungicide resistance in the same
length of time whether we continue rota­
tions or use Dr.Vargas’s method,” he says.
Dr. Bruce Clarke is another diehard pro­
ponent of tank mixing and rotation to help
keep resistant strains in check. “I feel the
proposed new strategy is risky,” he says.
“Eventually, we may not have any effective
fungicides left. If we continue to rotate and
delay resistance, we buy ourselves more time
until more effective fungicide chemistries
are discovered. The only problem is many
of the new products in the approval pipeline
are copycats of the few existing chemical
classes we have left available to us today.”
Dr. Nathaniel Mithowski of the Univer­
sity of Rhode Island sees no harm in rotat­
ing. He explains, “Decades of research have
shown that rotating works and that it will
slow the resistance process. Even though
Dr. Vargas has put together a compelling
story backed by sound research, it is still
based on a few isolated cases in the world of
turfgrass pathology. Until there is more data
to back up his findings, it may be premature
to abandon the time-tested strategy of fun­
gicide rotation.”

Table 2: Fungicides for Turfgrass

I Chemical Family

Common Names

Trade Names

Comments

A r o m a tic
H yd ro carb o n s

C hloroneb
Ethazole
Q uintozene

Terem ec SP
Koban, Terrazole
PCNB, Turfcide 400

P rotectan t fu n g icid e .
M ode o f A ction :
In terfe res w ith m ito sis.

B e n z im id a z o le

Benom yl

Lebanon Fungicide
Type B
Fungo 50
C leary’s 33 36

A cro pe tal penetrant.
M ode o f A ction :
Fungicide bind tu b u lin
su b u n its th a t result in
m ito tic arrest.

T h io p h a n a te -m e th yl

C a r b o x im id e s

Flutolanil
O xycarboxin

P rosta r
A rre s t s yste m ic
fu n g icid e

A cro pe tal penetrant.
B asidiom ycetes c o n tro l.
M ode o f A ction :
B locks a c tiv ity of
certain re sp ira to ry
enzym es.

D é m é t h y la t io n

C yproconazole
Fenarim ol
M yc lo b u ta n il
P ropiconazole
Tria dim efon

Seninel
R ubigan
Eagle
Banner
Bayleton

B roa d-spectru m ,
acropetal penetrant.
M ode o f A ction :
In h ib its sterol
(e rg o ste ro l) synthesis
in fu n g a l cell m em brane.

D ic a r b o x im id e s

Ip ro d io n e
V in clo zo lin

C hipco 26 01 9
Vorlan, Touché,
Curalan

Localized penetrant.
M ode o f A ction:
A ffe ct DNA synthesis
and lipid m e tab olism .

D it h io c a r b a m a t e s
and C a rb a m a te s

Captan
M ancozeb (a)
P rop am ocarb (b)
T h ira m (c)

Captan
Fore, Form ée, Dithane
Banol
Spotrete

P rotectan t fu n g icid e .
M ode of A ction:
(a) Enzym e in activation.
(b) A lters cell m em brane
fu n c tio n .
(c) Chelates m etal ions
th u s a llo w in g passage
th ro u g h cells.

N it r ile s

C h lo ro th a lo n il

D aconil 27 87
Th alo nil

P rotectan t fu n g icid e .
M ode of A ction:
Cell m em brane to xicity.

P h e n y la m id e s

M etalaxyl

Subdue

A cro pe tal penetrant.
M ode of A ction:
In h ib its RNA synthesis.

P h e n y lp y r r o le

Flu dioxonil

M e dallion

P rotectan t fu n g icid e .

P h o s p h o n a te s

Fosetyl Al

A liette

S yste m a tic fu n g icid e .
M ode o f A ction:
D irect fu n g ito x ic effect.

S t r o b ilu r in s

A z o xystro b in
T riflo x ys tro b in
P y ra clo stro b in
Experim ental

H eritage
C om pass
BAS 500
BAS 505

B roa d -sp e ctru m , acropetal
penetrant.
Localized penetrant.
A cro pe tal penetrant.
M ode o f A ction : Blocks
fu n g i fro m generating ATP.

T r ia z in e s

A nilazine

Dyrene

P rotectan t fu ng icid e .
M ode o f A ction:
Cell m e m brane to xicity.

In h ib it o r s ( D M I )

The Debate Continues
After all is said and done, we have to agree
with the pathologists who feel there are a
lot of unknowns in predicting how and
when a resistance case will occur. The
highly interactive biological world of soil
micro-organisms and fungi is complicated,
at best, which of course makes it exceed­
ingly difficult to track and measure the indi­
vidual impact of a fungicide product on any
given fungal population.

Your best defense against fungicide
resistance is to grow healthy turf that
requires few chemical applications. Beyond
that, it’s up to you to seek out the resistance
management program that you feel is most
reliable. Should you mix and rotate fungi­
cides or manage resistance one chemical at a
time? Let your turf be your guide.
Scott Niven, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at The
Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT.

Technically Speaking...
A Quick Take on
Fungicide Resistance
Fungicide Resistance Defined
Fungicide resistance occurs when a fun­
gus, through a genetic mutation, becomes
immune to a fungicide that was previ­
ously effective in its control, in short,
resistance is the ability of a fungus to
remain unaffected by a fungicide.

High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Fungicides
Also known as site-specific fungicides,
high-risk fungicides are persistent in the
environment and, as the term suggests,
have a high risk for resistance. They con­
trol sensitive diseases by disrupting only
one physiological process within the fun­
gus, which is controlled by only one gene
(monogenic).
Low-risk fungicides, by contrast, are
not persistent in the environment and,
therefore, have a low risk for resistance.
They inhibit multiple vital physiological
functions in the fungus that are con­
trolled by more than one gene
(polygenic).

Fungicide Resistance at Work
A pathogen becomes resistant to a highrisk fungicide when a genetic mutation
produces a new strain of the fungus that is
not sensitive to the fungicide. It is also
probable that in many cases resistant
strains of pathogens are already present at
very low levels in nature. If a resistant
strain has a high level of fitness and
becomes dominant in the pathogenic
population, the fungicide in use will
become ineffective.
Persistent, site-specific fungicides
encourage this transformation by actually
eliminating sensitive strains from the pop­
ulation, which helps pave the way for
resistant strains to become dominant.
Many of our newer fungicides fall into
this category. In a way, they are victims of
their own success, for it is their superior
ability to eliminate fungal strains that
allows the resistant strains to take over.
Contact fungicides have remained resist­
ance-free because they suppress, rather
than eliminate pathogenic populations.

Tee to Green M ay/June 200 2

Conferences and Educational Events
President’s Message continuedfrom page 1

While I’m on the subject of meetings, I
just want to talk about an issue that’s
raised a few concerns: the scheduling
conflicts we’ve run in to when planning
a few of our meetings. I’m talking about
those meetings like the Invitational and
Superintendent/Manager, where the
people we would invite to attend with us
have their own association or industry
commitments scheduled for the very
same day
On the day of our Super/Manager
meeting, for instance, the club managers
association had a meeting as well. When
the Invitational was scheduled, many golf
pros were committed to playing in the
Caddie Scholarship Tournament. U n­
fortunately, given the limited number of
dates and clubs available for meetings,
these kinds of conflicts are bound to
occur.
To those who were affected, I apolo­
gize. But you can use these kinds of situ­
ations to your advantage: In my case,
because I was forced to make a substitu­
tion, I was able to meet and play with
another person I normally wouldn’t
have.
Nonetheless, the board will continue
to make every effort to avoid these con­
flicts in the future.

In Closing...
I want to thank all those who support
our association by participating and
attending our events, and I want to
encourage all those who have not made
it to our meetings to do so in the future.
As you can see, we have a lot to offer,
but the best part is the people you meet
and the contacts and friends you make
for life. I hope everyone has a successful
June and July.
T im M o o re

MetGCSA President

Tee to Green M ay/June 2 0 0 2

The Rutgers Golf and Fine Turf Research Field Day
Thursday, August 1
Turf Research Farm, Ryders Lane, North Brunswick, NJ
Registration is at 9 a.m.; field tours will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.— rain or shine.
The cost: $30, which includes a sandwich lunch stop on the tour.
For further information and directions, call Marlene at 732-932-9400, ext. 339.

University of Rhode Turfgrass Field Day
Wednesday, August 2 1
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
Join fellow professionals at the 71st Annual U RI Turfgrass Field Day, featuring vendor
exhibits, demonstrations, workshops, and research tours.
For further information, call 401-874-4540 or email your questions to
senmike@uri.edu.

NYSTA Turf and Grounds Exposition
Tuesday - Thursday, November Í2 — 14
Convention Center at Oncenter, Syracuse, NY
Cosponsored by Cornell University, the expo is in its 27th year, featuring more than 60
business and technical sessions and an expansive trade show with 350 exhibitor booths.
Call 800-873-8873 or 518-783-1229 for more information.

New Jersey Turfgrass Expo 2002
Tuesday —Thursday, December 10—12
Trump Taj Mahal Resort and Casino, Atlantic City, NJ
Plan now for this three-day conference featuring more than 40 educational presentations
and one of the top trade shows in the country.
Watch for further information as the event approaches.

2002/2003 Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School
Fall Session: October 7 - December 13, 2002
Winter Session:January 6 —March 14, 2003
Applications for either 10-week session are due August 1,2002.
Cook Campus of Rutgers University
Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey, together with the Cook College Office of
Continuing Professional Education and The Center for Turfgrass Science, offer two 10week sessions over a two-year period.
One of the nation’s leading professional education programs in golf turf manage­
ment, this program offers students the technical skills required of all superintendents,
such as turfgrass establishment, maintenance of greens and tees, botany and physiology of
turfgrass and ornamentals, and weed identification, as well as the management, com­
puter, and communications skills all managers should master.
Classes are held Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To receive a catalog, including application form and scholarship information, contact
Continuing Professional Education, Cook College, Rutgers,The State University of
New Jersey in New Brunswick, NJ, by phone at 732-932-9271 or by email at
ocpe@aesop.rutgers.edu.

2012 MetGCSA Calendar Volunteers Heeded for Championship Prep and
Maintenance
Update
Education Dinner
Thursday,July 18
Pelham Country Club
Pelham Manor, NY
Host:JefFWentworth

MetGCSA Family Picnic

Sleepy H ollow Super Tom Leahy is looking for some able-bodied volunteers to
assist in tournam ent prep and m aintenance for the 2002 U.S. W om en’s A m ateur
C ham pionship being held August 12 through August 18.
Volunteers w ould be needed from the evening o f August 11 through the
m orning o f August 18. Anyone interested in this valuable experience should con­
tact Tom at 914-941-8281.

Date & Site TBA

MetGCSA Summer Social
Date & Site TBA

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

Visitour website— MetGCSA.org — ;
additional information on upcoming events.

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

Book Review

PuttingMagic.com

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

Annual Meeting
November
Date & Site TBA

MetGCSA Christmas Party
Date & Site TBA

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Tee to Green M ay/June 200 2

rk Smarts

The Drought: A Blessing in Disguise?
by James H. Baird, Ph.D
USGA Green Section
ften times, good things come out
of bad. Take the drought. Though
the mandated water-use restrictions have
had every superintendent shakin’ in their
golf shoes, there’s been a bright side.
Surprised? Well, think about it. Restric­
tions force savings on irrigation water and
the electricity to pump it, and they spare
your irrigation system some wear and tear.
Drier conditions also result in fewer
earthworm castings and reduce the need to
mow and to spray for pests (with the possible
exception of grubs, chinch bugs, and fairy
ring).
Beyond that, and more importantly,
tough times can serve as the springboard for
improvement—in our operations and man­
agement practices.
Here are a few ways you might turn
this— and the inevitable future droughts—to
your advantage.

Irrigation System Reconsidered
When pushed to the limit in your watering
practices, it’s a great time to seriously con­
sider upgrading your existing irrigation sys­
tem or installing a new one that is capable of
applying water more efficiently and in a sitespecific manner. For the uninitiated, here’s
“the stuff” an efficient irrigation system is
made of:

•

Sound hydraulic design: Be sure your sys­
tem has the correct pipe and pump sizes,
operating pressures, and flow rates. This usu­
ally translates into less than seven hours to
complete an automatic cycle at peak water
demand. Lower output means you need a
longer window of time to irrigate. This ben­
efits neither the plant, in terms of extended
leaf wetness and disease susceptibility, nor the
golfer, in terms of soft, wet conditions for
play.
• Properly installed, reliable hardware com­
ponents: Be diligent in your inspection of
controllers, fittings, thrust blocks, pipe pres­
sure rating, etc.
• Computerized central controls: They, of
course, should include flow-managing soft­
ware, solid-state satellites, on-site weather
station(s), and handheld radio controls.
Tee to Green M ay/June 2 0 0 2

• Individual sprinkler control: No surprise
here. They should exist throughout greens,
tees, fairways, and roughs, with dual heads at
green perimeters and mist heads around
bunkers.
• Sprinkler station distribution: Ideally, no
more than two to three sprinklers should be
assigned to a control station.
• Sprinkler head spacing and operation:
The heads should be properly spaced, level
with the turf surface, turn properly, free of
leaks, and contain proper nozzles.
Keep in mind: Whether or not your golf
course has state-of-the-art irrigation tech­
nology, handwatering remains an essential
part of irrigation, particularly in managing
site-specific water requirements on the golf
course that even the best irrigation technol­
ogy cannot account for. Golfers should be
aware that handwatering is labor-intensive
and must be done during the heat of the day
when turf is stressed and play is heavy.

Sound Water Management
Drought and water-use restrictions actually
encourage more efficient— even appropri­
ate—use of irrigation on golf courses.
Under normal circumstances, many people
err on the side of overwatering, which has
numerous ill effects:You have to battle pud­
dling and an increase in spike marks and
deeply pitted ball marks on greens,
approaches, and fairways. There’s a greater
incidence of disease, not the least of which
are brown patch and Pythium, and you pro­
vide an environment for increased popula­
tions of annual bluegrass, as well as mower
wear around greens, tees, and fairways.
The other sizable negative of overwater­
ing is that it encourages shallow root growth
and, ultimately, less hardy turf.
Research has demonstrated that irriga­
tion applied deeply and infrequently results
in overall less water use and more stress-tol­
erant turf with deeper roots and more root
hairs compared to turf that is irrigated daily
or on short intervals.
Furthermore, a study showed that creep­
ing bentgrass used 10 to 30 percent less
water when irrigated in response to wilt
compared to irrigation on three- to sevenday cycles.

Obviously, deeper and less frequent irri­
gation practices are dependent on the depth
of the root system, which can be very shal­
low during the summer, so it’s important to
regularly monitor rooting and soil moisture
using a soil probe.
Another important water conservation
method that should be a part of your irriga­
tion scheduling program is the use of évapo­
transpiration data from weather stations
located on- or off-site.
Irrigation should be applied when wind
is low and temperatures are relatively low,
usually at night, and at rates that do not
exceed the infiltration rate of soil to avoid
water loss from runoff or evaporation. If
necessary, use repeat irrigation cycles to
avoid puddles of irrigation water.

Tree Removal Justified
Here’s another valid reason you can offer
tree-hugging members for removing
unwanted trees. In addition to adversely
affecting playability, ruining some of the
greatest designs in golf course architecture,
and robbing turf of available sunlight, nutri­
ents, and air movement, trees most certainly
will out-compete turf for available water
during a drought.

Keep’Em on the tart Paths—or on Foot
A dream come true. You have good reason
to restrict carts to the cart paths— and to
urge your club to allow walkers. Wear and
compaction from cart traffic cause a series
of turf challenges under normal and wet
conditions, but carts can do as much, if not
more, harm to turf stressed by drought.
As rainfall ceases and turf cannot be sup­
plemented with irrigation water, it’s best to
restrict cart traffic to cart paths in order to
guard against accelerated turf injury or loss.
Another option would be to sacrifice a
pathway in the rough for cart traffic to
shorten the walking distance from the cart
to the fairway. Hopefully, golf courses that
require golf cart use will see the light and,
under these circumstances, allow golfers to
walk instead of ride.

Cutting Yourself—ami Your Turf—a
Break
During water restrictions and drought, you
have the perfect alibi for raising your height
of cut on your greens, tees, and fairways.
Ask doubting Thomases if they’ve ever seen
the effects of an unirrigated home lawn cut
short in the heat of summer. I cut mine at
the highest setting on my mower. It man­
ages to stay green for a longer period of
time, while everyone else s lawn around me
quickly turns brown.
Although it could be said that taller cut
turf has greater leaf area for water loss, rais­
ing the height of cut throughout the golf
course will help to increase rooting and
overall stress tolerance.
In addition to raising the height of cut,
it’s a good idea to reduce the frequency of
mowing, mow in the early morning or late
evening when temperatures are lower, use
smaller, lightweight mowing equipment
with sharp blades and solid front rollers on
reel mowers to reduce turf wear.

It’s Not Easy Being Green
Given a drought and water restrictions, you
can excuse yourself for having a course
that’s a little off-color. Even under ideal
conditions, USGA agronomists have
pointed out that “green is not great” and
“you don’t putt [play] on the color.”
Although my favorite color happens to
be green, members should be made aware
that lush green turf is not necessarily
healthy turf, nor does it equate to firm and
fast conditions that are desired for the game
of golf.
That’s not to say that it’s a bad thing if
your golf course is green. In fact, judicious
and timely use of fertilizer can maintain a
balance of good color, healthy turf, and
firm playing conditions.
Keep in mind, however, that under
severe conditions, some turf loss may occur.
Prepare your membership for the worst,
pointing to areas most likely to suffer the
most significant turf loss. Your most vulner­
able areas would be those containing exces­
sive thatch, underlying rock, or that receive
a lot of foot or cart traffic or southern
exposure.

A Healthy Turf Is a Drought-Resistant Turf
The following are drought-busting cul­
tural practices that will help you keep your
turf alive—and relatively well—in the face
of drought and water restrictions.

Cultivate. Cultivate
Cultivation practices, such as aeration, verticutting, and topdressing help to reduce
thatch, relieve compaction, improve water
infiltration and root growth, and, ulti­
mately, enable turf to better withstand
drought conditions. In preparation for
drought, all areas of the golf course would
benefit from aeration, including the
rough. It would be wise, however, to avoid
cultivation during excessively warm and
dry periods to guard against increased
water loss and stress on the plant.

Regulating Turf Growth
Turf growth regulators have a lot of pluses:
They reduce mowing and clipping yields,
increase ball roll, provide more consistent
ball roll throughout the day, improve shoot
density, enhance rooting, provide color
enhancement, and increase stress tolerance
to shade and temperature extremes. And
they’re also useful in helping to reduce
turfgrass’s need for water. If you’re not
already using turf growth regulators, you
might consider putting them to use for
water conservation.
As long as temperature and soil mois­
ture permit active shoot growth, there’s no
problem in season-long use of a product
like Primo (trinexapac-ethyl), which is
recommended for greens, tees, fairways,
and rough.

The Merits of Wetting Agents
Wetting agents help to reduce the surface
tension of water and allow it to infiltrate
and wet hydrophobic soils. Several products
are available to provide either preventive or
curative control of dry spots. Although
wetting agents should be a part of most
everyone’s drought management program,
take note that regular use of these products
may result in wetter and softer conditions if
abundant rainfall occurs or excessive irriga­
tion is applied.

Fertilize Judiciously
Nitrogen should be applied sparingly dur­
ing the spring and summer to avoid exces­
sive flushes of growth and greater
susceptibility to environmental stress and
pests. Fall is the preferred time for applica­
tion of the majority of nitrogen and other
nutrients that are needed by the plant to aid
in the production of carbohydrates neces­
sary for root growth.

Introduce a More Drought Tolerant
Grass Species
Whether you’re seeding to establish turf lost
due to drought or overseeding/interseeding
to establish a more desirable turf, take into
account the relative drought tolerance of
the turfgrass species/cultivar during the
selection process. Contact your USGA
agronomist or State Extension Specialist for
assistance in making the best choices for
your golf course.

In the End
Rain or shine, there’s no better time than
the present to reevaluate the water manage­
ment and cultural practices on your golf
course with the goal being to use less water
and provide improved playing conditions.
As golfers and golf course managers, we
owe it to the game to be good stewards of
the environment and to educate those out­
side the industry about the importance and
benefits of golf and golf turf.
Then, the public and policymakers may
place our industry a little higher on the lad­
der of importance—particularly when
making those tough decisions on water— or
pesticide—use.
Dr. Jim Baird is an agronomist in the Northeast
Region of the USGA Green Section.

#

Tee to Green M ay /June 2 0 0 2

K

Scorecard
Siwanoy Two-Ball Qualifier Weathers the Rain
It may have rained April 22, but the Siwanoy meeting was far from a washout. More like a
walk in the park, in fact—with an emphasis on WALK. With the inclement weather, Met
members played golf the way it was meant to be: on foot. Dave had the course in superb
condition—and was, understandably, happy to keep it that way.
The post-golf meeting featured the Met’s premier Round Table Discussion on superin­
tendent relationships with club management and officials. On the panel were Pelhams Jeff
Wentworth, Westchester’s Joe Alonzi, and Lake Isle’s Kevin Quist. With Dave Mahoney as
facilitator, there was a lively give-and-take with the audience.
Congratulations to the following Two-Ball Qualifiers—and Two-Man Best Ball
contestants.
Class A/B Two-Ball Pairings and First-Round Matches
1)

Bob Alonzi/Joe Alonzi
vs.
16) Blake Haider man/Glen Dube

Fenway GC/Westchester CC

3)

Winding Hills GC/Hamlet Golf & CC
GlenArbor GC/Pelham CC

5)

Mike Miner/Jim Swiatlowski
vs.
12) Matt Severino/Bob Zaletsky

Montammy GC

7)

Ridgeway CC/Preakness Hills CC

Scarsdale GC/NewYork CC

Earl Millett/John O ’Keefe
vs.
13) Dave Mahoney/Steve Renzetti

Siwanoy CC/Quaker Ridge GC

8)

Bedford Golf &Tennis Club/TheApawamis Club

9)
6)

Bert Dickinson /Chip Lafferty
vs.
11) Jim Calladio/Tony Girardi

64 Bob Alonzi/Joe Alonzi
Fenway GC/Westchester CC
65 Matt Lapinski/Steve Rabideau
Winding Hills GC/Hamlet Golf & CC
67 Mike Miner/Jim Swiatlowski
Montammy GC
Closest to the Pin
Jim Swiatlowski
Montammy GC
6T1”
longest Drive
Matt Lapinski
Winding Hills GC

Willow Ridge CC/Wykagyl CC

Low Gross Winners
80 Dick Neufeld
E /T Equipment Company
87 Greg Moran
Lesco, Inc.

Milbrook Club /Rockrimmon CC

Century C C / Class AL

2)

TheTuxedo Club/ Garrison GC

The Meadow Brook Club/Blind Brook Club

Powelton Club /North Jersey CC

Please be sure to report your match results to Tournament Co-Chair Tom Leahy at
914-941-8281.
Tee to Green M ay/June 2 0 0 2

Low Net Winners
64 Tim Garceau/Rich Browne
TheTuxedo Club CC/Garrison GC

Class AF

Class A/B matches should be completed by the following dates:
Round 1 - June 14
Round 2 - August 2
Round 3 - September 27
Final - October 25

9

Low Gross Winner
73 John Carlone/Les Kennedy
The Meadow Brook Club/Blind Brook
Club

Rockland CC/The Stanwich Club

4) John Carlone/Les Kennedy
vs.
13) Jim Fulwider/Jim Fulwider Sr.
Tim Garceau/Rich Browne
vs.
15) Bob DeMarco/Gary Arlio

Class A/B

Trump National GC/Oak Hills Park GC

Matt Lapinski/Steve Rabideau
vs.
14) Ken Benoit/JeffWentworth

Bob Nielsen/Bill Perlee
vs.
Matt Ceplo/Scott Niven

Two-Man Best Ball Results

Low Net Winners
72 Dave Pijnenburg
Greenacres Company
74 John Currie
Currie Landscaping

Metropolis Superintendent/Manager Tourney’s
Winning Results
This years annual Superintendent/ManagerTourney was held at the Metropolis Country
Club in White Plains, NY, on May 20. Once again,Tony Grasso and his staff had the golf
course in fantastic shape for our meeting.
Clearly, home court advantage goes a long way in golf: The team of Grasso and
Martocci won the gross prize with a 77 score.
Here’s a look at the other top plays:
Superintendent/Manager Tournament
First Low Gross

77 Tony Grasso/Jeff Martocci, Metropolis Country Club

First Low Net

61 Dave Mahoney/Rob Kassara, Siwanoy Country Club

Second Low Net

64 Matt Lapinski/Marc Devitt, Winding Hills Golf Club

Closest to the Pin

Rick Schock Jr., Wee Burn Country Club

Longest Drive

2'5M

Member: Rob Goring, Golf Club of Purchase
Manager: Marc Devitt, Winding Hills Golf Club

Two-Ball Event
Superintendents unable to attend with their manager were teamed with other solo mem­
bers or guests to compete in a Two-Ball Tourney.
Congratulations to Tony Girardi of Rockrimmon Country Club and John Apple
of Westchester Tractor, Inc., for their winning low net score of 65. They won in a match
of cards to Garrison Golf Club’s Rich Browne and partner Pat Calhrew.

Wee Burn Takes Invitational Trophy With a 59
Bob Alonzi and the entire staff at Fenway rolled out the red carpet June 3 for our associ­
ation’s annual Invitational Tournament. The golf course was in superb shape, and the
food was out of this world.
Special thanks to Ray Beaudry and Byron Johnson for all their help with the
tournament.
Low Net Champ Wee Burn had to match cards this year to take first place. So let’s
hear it for Wee Burn Country Club.
Here are the other notable results:
Low Gross Winners
68 Metropolis Country Club
(won in a match of cards)
68 Rolling Hills Country Club
69 Ridgeway Country Club

Low Net Winners
59 Wee Burn Country Club
(won in a match of cards)
59 Oak Lane Country Club
60 Pelham Country Club

Tony Grasso, Cheryl Anderson,
Dr.James Reiffel, George Fox
Glenn Perry,Joe Bostic,JeffJones, George Hoenig
Earl Millett, Pete Donelly, Peter Arrest,
Dr. Michael Shonging

Member Slews
New Members
Please join us in welcoming the follow­
ing new members:
• Michael Brunelle, Class C, Quaker
Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale, NY
• Andrew Clark, Class C, The
Meadow Brook Club, Jericho, NY
• Michael Ferraro, Class C, Quaker
Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale, NY
• Michael Guinan, Class C, Blind
Brook Club, Purchase, NY
• Patrick Knelly, Class C, Silver
Spring Country Club, Ridgefield, CT
• Peter McFarland, Class AS, Alpine,
the Care ofTrees, Elmsford, NY
• Patrick Quinlan, Class C, Willow
Ridge Country Club, Harrison, NY
• Joseph Sustack, Class C, Willow
Ridge Country Club, Harrison, NY
• Todd Treault, Class C, Wykagyl
Country Club, New Rochelle, NY

M y Informed
Please join us in welcoming our new
Informed member, Dr. Jim Murphy of
Rutgers University.

Mirths
Congratulations to:
• Burning Tree Superintendent Gary
Glazier and his wife, Tracey, on the birth
of their daughter, McKayla Amber, on
April 14.
• Minisceongo Golf Club Assistant
Superintendent Jason Ziesmer and his
wife, Katherine, on the birth of their
daughter, Caitlin Grace, on March 28.

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

In Sympathy
Rick Schock,John Karcher, Richard Colligan,Joe Roxe
Larry Dodge, Mike Martin, Jim Vberti, Ozzie Levene
Jeff Wentworth, Greg Pace,Joe Solininia, Greg Griffin

Closest to the Pin

G olf Professional: David Friel, Foster Country Club
Superintendent: Bert Dickinson, Willow Ridge
Country Club
Green Chairman: Steve Frankel, Fenway Golf Club
Club Official: Greg Griffin, Pelham Country Club

Longest Drive

G olf Professional: Dean Johnson,
Fenway Golf Club
Amateur: Earl Millett, Ridgeway Country Club

Our deepest sympathy to two MetGCSA
members who recently lost their fathers.
Our thoughts are with you__
• Richard Feducia, superintendent at
Dellwood Country Club in New City,
NY
• Peter McCormick of TurfNet in
Skillman, NY

Tee to Green M ay /June 200 2

BobAlonzi

Spotlight
What Is the Legend Behind ‘The Legend’?
An Inside Look at Invitational Host
Bob Alonzi and His Operation
by Glenn Perry, CGCS

'n June 3, MetGCSA members were
treated to a fine day of golf at the
Invitational Tournament at Fenway Country
Club in Scarsdale, NY. Hosting the event
was Bob Alonzi, the man affectionately
dubbed “The Legend” by close friends and
colleagues. A legend in his own mind?
Hardly.
Bob, a past MetGCSA president and
winner of the association’s prestigious
Sherwood A. Moore Award, has been a
superintendent in the Met area for nearly 38
years. He started his climb to legend status
working weekends for the late Ted Jozwich
at Tamarack in Greenwich, CT.
From that point forward, Bob spent two
years in the army, two years at Rutgers
University, three years as superintendent at
Rye Golf Club, five years as superintendent
and general manager at Burning Tree
Country Club, and six years at Fairview
Country Club before joining Winged Foot
as cosuperintendent with Sherwood A.
Moore for the 1984 U.S. Open Champion­
ship. Fifteen years and two major tourna­
ments later, Bob decided to take a break
from the championship course arena. He
arrived at Fenway in the fall of ’99 after a
brief return trip to Fairview.

Semi-Retired... Ha!
Opened in 1924, Fenway is known as one of
architect A.W. Tillinghast’s finest efforts.
Not a particularly long course, it provides all
that you can handle with deep bunkers that
protect the severely undulated greens. Bob
likens the greens at Fenway to those at
another Tillinghast classic that he’s also
familiar with: Winged Foot East.
“When I left Winged Foot,” says Bob,
“people joked that I was slipping into semiretirement.” But in Bob’s book, nothing
could be farther from the truth.
When he came to Fenway, he hit the
ground running. “I was handed the task of
completing a bunker restoration program,”
says Bob, who worked with architect Gil
Hanse through the final stages of the proj­

o

Tee to Green M ay/June 2 0 0 2

ect. “At the same time,” adds Bob, “we
recaptured areas of the putting surfaces that
had been lost to triplex mowers over the
years.”
After the bunker project, Bob quickly
shifted his attention to designing a new
maintenance facility. “The building will
centralize the golf course’s maintenance
operation by allowing us to put all the
equipment under one roof,” explains Bob.
The grand plans include 18,000 square
feet of all the latest and greatest in golf
course maintenance systems and technol­
ogy. “We’ve devoted 4,500 square feet to
golf cart storage,” says Bob, “and another
2,500 square feet to an office/support staff
area, where employees can gather for meet­
ings and a break from the action.”
Though still in the midst of this project,
Bob is already looking to the next chal­
lenge. “Fenway is in the early stages of
developing an irrigation reservoir system,”
explains Bob, “complete with wells to
recharge the holding ponds.” Another
major component of the project is an allnew irrigation system.
Semi-retired . . . ha! I knew that story
wasn’t true, even before Bob uttered a word.
When I walked in to his office, what do you
think The Legend was doing? He was fix­
ing a string trimmer, hands coated with
grease, so a crew member could finish his
work for the weekend. After well over a
quarter of a century as a top-ranked super­
intendent, Bob’s still not beyond getting his
hands dirty. Anything to get the job done.

You Gotta Love It
Since his start in the business, Bob has seen
more changes in the industry than most of
us. Some good. Some not so great.
“What began as an occupation for guys
like me who love being outside,” says Bob,
“has turned into a very competitive field.
Today’s standards have forced superintend­
ents to spend most of their time preventing
disasters while constantly pushing the turf
to the limit. We water sparingly and fertilize
less trying to create fast green speeds to
keep our members happy.”
Despite these new job realities, Bob

admits he still enjoys the field: “Our work is
not redundant. The weather is unpredictable,
with late March and April snows, sudden and
damaging windstorms, droughts, rainy peri­
ods. These all command daily evaluation and
readjustment of our routine maintenance
schedules. I thrive on the challenges nature
creates— and that sense of accomplishment
when I’ve successfully met those challenges.”
When asked about making the transition
from a 36-hole to an 18-hole course, he says,
“The biggest difference is in the support
staff. At Winged Foot, we had a larger crew,
which, believe it or not, was easier to manage
than a smaller one. With a larger staff, you
have the luxury of throwing everyone at one
golf course to get it prepared for a tourna­
ment if needed. With a small staff, planning
and preparation are very important to insure
that the golf course peaks at the right time.”
As for working at Fenway . . . “It’s a great
place to finish my career,” says Bob, who
explains how impressed he was with how
harmoniously everyone at the club works
together.
Perhaps, the key to Fenway’s success is
what Club President Jeffrey Citron described
at the Invitational as the “Fenway Family”
philosophy, which fosters a strong bond
between the professional staff and the board.
Mr. Citron went on to praise the “out­
standing jo b ” Bob is doing, pointing to the
progress that has been made since Bob
accepted the golf course superintendent’s
position.
Also speaking before our group after the
tournament that night, Bob showed the ulti­
mate respect for his peers when he announc­
ed that he placed more importance on
hosting this event than any other in his
career. Considering Bob’s hosted a U.S.
Open and a PGA Championship, this was
quite a high compliment to our association
members and the club presidents, green
chairmen, and golf professionals who accom­
panied them.

The Family Man
Born in Italy, Bob moved to the U.S. with his
family when he was 12, living in Port
Chester and then Greenwich. He and his
wife, Kim, of 35 years have raised four chil­
dren: Jennifer, Rob, Dana, and Cassie, and
have lived in Greenwich for the past 27 years.
This past March, his son Rob, superin­
tendent at St. Andrews Golf Club, and
daughter-in-law, Ann Marie, presented Bob
and Kim with their first grandchild: Nicholas
Robert. In September, Bob and Kim will
have yet another cause to celebrate:The mar­
riage of their youngest daughter, Cassie.
Glenn Perry, co-editor of the Tee to Green, is
superintendent at Rolling Hills Country Club in
Wilton, CT.

*

Spotlight
Änd Now for Something Completely Different
JejfWentworth Hosts Met’s First No-Golf Meeting
by Bill Perlee

J F / W ^ / h a t ? No Golf?!
r r ' Yup. It’s true. Avid golfer and—by
all accounts— serious turf head Jeff
Wentworth will be hosting the M et’s firstever no-golf meeting at the Pelham Coun­
try Club in Pelham, NY.
The date:July 18. The format: an educa­
tion dinner with an impressive roster
of speakers (see below) followed by a
learn-all-you-can-about-wines, wine-tast­
ing event.
Because the meeting is scheduled to
begin in late afternoon, Jeff and the other
board members are hoping that superin­
tendents will invite assistants and support
staff to join them at this historic site.

Changes for the Better
Currently in his eighth season at Pelham,
Jeff has raised the bar each year. At the helm
since 1994, Jeff began his era by killing off
the existing rough and overseeding to a uni­
form and consistent stand.
Recent participants in a local qualifying
round for the U.S. Open got a taste of Jeff’s
handiwork, not the least of which was new
rough mowed at a hefty 3.5 inches. The
narrow and tightly cropped fairways
brought Jeff’s menacing creation even more
into play. W hen questioned about the
grooming-inspired challenges he placed
before the players, Jeff explained, “Most of
these guys are pros; these conditions will
identify the best players in the field and
allow them to get to the next round.”
Other improvements to the golf course
in the Wentworth era include a fairway top­
dressing program now in its fourth season.
“With this, we’ve seen an improvement in
surface drainage as well as in the ability to
get a firmer and denser fairway surface at a
lower height of cut,” says Jeff. “We use
about 75 tons of sand per acre each season.”
Among Jeff’s proudest accomplishments
is his new, state-of-the-art maintenance
facility. Completed in 2000, the facility fea­
tures ample room for shop activities, as well
as plenty of crew and office space. But it’s
the living quarters, which include a kitchen

and several bedrooms, that set this mainte­ Columbia Country Club and, in 1991,
nance facility apart from most.
began a four-year term at Westchester
“This new facility has had a much Country Club.
greater impact on our operation than I ever
In the midst of his many career moves,
imagined,” says Jeff. “From an organiza­ Jeff completed the two-year turf program at
tional and productivity standpoint to crew Stockbridge in 1989 and a B.S. in Urban
morale, we’ve noticed a big change for the Forestry from UMass in 1991.
better.”
Jeff is active in the MetGCSA, serving
on the board of directors since November
1999. Right now,Jeff’s heading up three of
Keeping Burnout at Bay
our association’s committees: Education
Jeff manages to keep his perspective through and Special Events, which he’s co-chairing
the season by allowing himself time away with JeffWeld, and Social & Welfare.
When asked what he likes about this
from the course. Though you won’t find
him on a secluded retreat, he does enjoy vis­ crazy business, he points to the rewards of
iting U.S. Open tournaments—wherever being able to display your talents in a visible
they may be—with longtime cohort, Mill and tangible way each day. Jeff also gives
high marks to the unique camaraderie
River Super Steve Sweet.
“We’ve seen Pinehurst and Congres­ among superintendents: “This is the only
sional and hope to see many more before business I know where competitors—
our careers are over,” says Jeff. “We threw young and old—actually help each other,
Augusta National in last spring for a little sharing equipment, giving advice.”
variety.”
The highlight of Jeff’s busman’s holidays
was this past fall’s trip to the British Isles, Beyond the Bolt Course
which would need an entire article to prop­ Jeff and his wife of five years, Mimi, share a
erly chronicle.
house that overlooks the third green and is
within view of the maintenance facility. It’s
no surprise, then, that they enjoy getting
On tin; Boad to Success
away in the off-season. This year, they are
Jeff’s path to Pelham began in 1988 at the looking forward to a European adventure: a
Myopia Hunt Club, where he worked as a trip to England and Germany.
placement student. From there, Jeff moved
to Ridgewood in New Jersey, took a Bill Perlee, a member of the Tee to Green
southerly diversion through Maryland to the Editorial Committee, is superintendent at The
Apawamis Club in Rye, NY.

July Meeting Schedule of Events
4:30
5:00
5:35
6:10
6:45
7:30
9:30

Arrival
Renovation Using Basimid as a Soil Fumigant
Speaker: Mr. Brad Park o f Penn State University
Effective Management o f Earthworm Castings
Speaker: Dr. R. Chris Williamson o f the University ofW isconsin
Anthracnose: Cultural Practices and Ball Roll
Speaker: Dr. James Murphy o f Rutgers University
Cocktails (members must sign chits)
Dinner and Wine Tasting
Adjourn

Tee to Green M ay/June 200 2

airón Directory
Action Environmental Group
Jack Paz/Frank DeGrazia
Pesticides/Herbicides/Waste Oil
Disposal
516-781-3000
WEBSITE www.actionhazmat.com

© DAR PAR Sales
John and Dominic Richichi
914-946-1743, FAX 914-946-0796
WEBSITE www.darpargolf.com
DeBuck’s Sod Farm of NY, Inc.
Leonard/George/Valorie
120 DeBuck’s Drive
Pine Island, NY 10969
845-258-4131

A1 Preston’s Garage
Gary Shashinka
Massey Ferguson Tractors
203-924-1747, FAX 203-924-4594
AlmsteadTree & Shrub Care
Company
Ken Almstead,VP & ISA Certified
Arborist
“Changing the Nature of
Tree & Shrub Care”
1-800-427-1900
WEBSITE www.almstead.com

©

© Alpine, the Care of Trees
Ken Clear, CT: 203-847-1855
Brian Nadriczny, NJ: 201-445-4949
Peter McFarland, NY: 914-345-8733
Andersons Golf Products
Steve Hyde: 315-568-6177
Rick Forni: 413-534-8896
Argento & Sons, Inc.
Louis Argento
1 Prospect Avenue
White Plains, NY 10607
914-949-1152, FAX 914-948-0255
© AT Sales Associates, LTD
OwenJ. Regan
1787 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, RI 02865
401-465-8066

©

©

©

© Atlantic Irrigation Specialties, Inc.
Tim Marcoux/Ed Santalone
111 Lafayette Avenue
N.White Plains, NY 10603
800-878-8873
© Aventis Environmental Science
Dave Sylvester
311 Carriage Drive
Kensington, CT 06037
860-828-8905, FAX 860-829-0761
© Bayer Corporation
JeffWeld
91 Schofield Road
W Milford, NJ 07480
973-208-2418
EMAIL j eff. weld.b@bayer. com
© Blue Ridge Peat Farms
Gene Evans
133 Peat Moss Road
White Haven, PA 18661
570-443-9596
© Central Irrigation Supply, Inc.
Bernardo Luciano: 914-347-5656
Gordon Holmes: 860-296-4804
EMAIL CentralHartford@aol.com
“5 Locations to Serve You in
the Tri-State Area”
DAF Services, Inc.
Wes Hall/DickYoung/
Scott Christensen
Flowtronix PSI Sales & Service Center
860-528-7362, FAX 860-528-0051

©

©

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©

Patrons listed on this page are supporting our
association. You are encouraged to support them ,
O Irra-Tech, Inc.
Joseph D. Kennedy
18 Merritt Street
Port Chester, NY 10573
914-937-7273, FAX 914-937-8995
© James Carriere & Sons
Bill Carriere
Trap Sands PartacTop Dressing
914-937-2136

DeLea & Sons Sod Farms
© Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Vincent Sasso
Rob Good
444 Elwood Road, E. Northport, NY 11731
126 Monroe Turnpike
800-244-7637/631-368-8022
Trumbull, CT 06611
203-452-3100, FAX 203-452-3111
Down To Earth
EMAIL info@lbgweb.com
David Griffin
© LESCO, Inc.
“All Phases of Golf Course Construction”
914-576-7693
Greg Moran: 845-331-4869
PAGER 914-449-6925
Egypt Farms, Inc.
MOBILE 914-391-2216
Dean Snyder
Charlie Siemers: 914-232-5825
P.O. Box 223,White Marsh, MD 21162
MOBILE 914-672-2087
800-899-7645/410-335-3700
© Metro Turf Specialists
Emerald Isle, Ltd./Milliken Turf
Scott A./Ernie/Scott T. /Dennis/Gary
Products
“Customers, Our Top Priority”
Doug Middleton
203-748-4653, FAX 203-743-0458
2153 Newport Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
© Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing
800-628-4769
Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ 07838
E /T Equipment Co.
800-247-2326/908-637-4191
Kevin Collins/Bruce Pye/Dick Neufeld
Bill and Joe Carriere: 914-937-2136
425 S. Riverside Avenue, Croton, NY 10520
© Sawtelle Brothers, Inc.
914-271-6126, FAX 914-271-6146
WEBSITE www.etsales@bestweb.net
George Gorton/M ark Grenert
68 So.Turnpike Road
Fleet Pump & Service Group, Inc.
Wallingford, CT 06492
DonTiedemann
800-999-8873
914-835-3801
© Second Nature Tree and Lawn Care
FAX 914-835-2946
Jeff Thrasher
Forte Landscaping & Tree Service
54 Sunnyside Avenue
Michael Forte/Ralph P. Cosentino
Stamford, CT 06902
11 East Parkway, Scarsdale, NY 10583
203-327-9456/914-273-1040
914-723-6632
© Simplot Partners
Glenmore Landscape Service
Joe Stahl
Glenn S. Moore
795 Route 148, Killingworth, CT 06419
98 Hack Green Road
203-209-6951
Pound Badge, NY 10576
© Sound Beach Services, Inc.
914-764-4348
White Contractors
Golftec Int’l, LLC
P.O. Box 484, Old Greenwich, CT 06870
JeffMazzarelli
James E. Morris Jr.: 203-869-8808
Golf Course Construction
© Steven Willand, Inc.
1058 Route 146A
BaHston Lake, NY 12019
Gary Mathis
4 Production Drive
518-399-7388
Brookfield, CT 06804
Greenacres Company
203-775-5757
Dave Pijnenburg
Surfside Wetting Agents
Irrigation Contractor
Liquid ~ Granular ~ Pellets
75 Codfish Hill Road, Bethel, CT 06801
ZAP! Defoamer
203-748-0558
Robert Oechsle: 800-401-0411
Hawthorne Bros. Tree Service, Inc.
FAX 215-836-2418
John R . Hawthorne
©
Syngenta Professional Products
5 Center Street, Bedford Hills, NY 10507
Lee Kozsey
800-235-7035
Daconil, Banner, Heritage, Subdue, Primo,
Ira Wickes Arborists
& Trimmit
JohnW.Wickes
610-861-8174, FAX 610-882-9358
11 McNamara Road
© Tee and Green Sod, Inc.
Spring Valley, NY 10977
“Tree & Lawn Care Since 1929”
Dave Wallace
845-354-3400, FAX 845-354-3475
Premium Quality Sod for
Golf Course Use, Installation
401-789-8177

© Terre Company of New Jersey
Byron Johnson Jr.
206 Delawanna Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07014
973-473-3393, FAX 973-473-4402
HOM E 203-748-5069
© The Cardinals, Inc.
John Callahan
Complete Distributor of Course
Accessories & Maintenance Supplies
860-673-3699, FAX 860-673-8443
© Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Skip Deubel
800-243-7582
WEBSITE www.tuckahoeturf.com
© TurfNet
Peter L. McCormick
21 Brandywine Road
Skillman,NJ 08558
800-314-7929
© Turf Products Corp./TORO
Paul Mazzola, Irrigation
AlTretera, Equipment
800-243-4355/860-763-3581
The Sprinkler House/Amodios:
914-328-0190
© Turf Products Corporation
Buddy Rizzio
3379 R oute 4 6 ,16-K
Parsippany, NJ 07054
973-263-1234, FAX 973-335-2491
© Valley View Wholesale Greenhouses
Frank Amodio
229 Smithridge Road
So. Salem, NY 10590
914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050
Venture Vehicles, a division of
Turf Products Corp.
Roger Cohen
205 Pine Street
Contoocook, N H 03229
800-521-3703, CELL 914-805-3751
© Westchester Tractor Inc.
John Apple
Meadow Street
Golden s Bridge, NY 10526
914-232-7746, FAX 914-232-4129
WEBSITE www.wtractor.com
© Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
Bob Lippman Sr./Bob Lippman Jr./
Dave Lippman
“Serving the Fine Turf Profession”
845-621-5067, FAX 845-621-7180
© Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
Glenn Gallion
19 Central Boulevard
S. Hackensack, NJ 07606
888-831-0891
Winding Brook Turf Farm, Inc.
Bill Seccareccia
240 Grigwold Road
Wethersfield, CT 06109
800-243-0232

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