Novembcr/December 2005
VOLUME 35 VIMIîElt 6

Published by Ibi' Metropolitan Unii Course Superintendents Assoc¡¡itimi

Board of Directors
President
WILLIAM H E IN T Z
Centennial G olf Club

Vice President
M A TTH EW CEPLO, CGCS
Rockland Country Club

Treasurer
R O B ERT NIELSEN JR ., CGCS

Cover: Westchester
Country Club.

Bedford G olf & Tennis Club

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

Past President
T IM O T H Y M O O R E
Knollwood Country Club

R O B ER T ALO N ZI JR .
St. Andrew's G olf Club

KEVIN COLLINS
Aquatrols, Inc.

CHARLES D EN N Y
Salem G olf Club

GLEN DUBE, CGCS
Oak Hills Park G olf Course

BLAKE H ALDERM A N, CGCS
Brae Burn Country Club

SC O T T IM BRO
Anglebrook G olf Club

TH O M A S LEAHY, CGCS
Sleepy Hollow Country Club

G LEN N PERRY, CGCS

athisIssue

Rolling Hills Country Club

Executive Secretary
INEKE P IE R P O IN T

Tee to Green Staff
Editors
ROB ALONZI
914-478-5713

GLENNPERRY
203-762-9484

M G A ’s G ene W estm oreland R eceives the M et’s
2005 John R eid L ifetim e A ch iev em en t Award

Managing Editor

PANDORA C.WOJICK
Editorial Com m ittee

GLEN DUBE
ERIC O ’NEILL
DAVE DUDONES
BILL PERLEE
CHIP LAFFERTY
MIKE REEB
SCOTT NIVEN
GREGWOJICK
BOB YORK
Designer

TERRIE DUNKELBERGER
Photographer

BILL PERLEE
Advertising Manager

GLENN PERRY, 203-762-9484
TEETOGREENis 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
Copyright © 2005

Departments

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N ation al N ew s ..................................................................................................... 5
U p c o m in g Events ............................................................................................... 6
S corecard .................................................................................................................7
M em ber N ew s ..................................................................................................... 7
M ind Snack ...........................................................................................................8

A

A

•*'■

ere we go. . . .
Another season of
extremes has begun. Winter came on
suddenly, taking us all by surprise. The
unexpected snowfall and single-digit tem­
peratures left many of us with frozen cups in
our greens, topdressing sitting in our bins,
and snow mold control in our storage facili­
ties. Those of us in the middle of construc­
W ill H eintz
tion projects have had to work around the M etG C SA President
alternating “warm” and frigidly cold days
we’ve been having. As superintendents, we
We look like poor managers; our opera­
are continually reminded of how most of
tions appear haphazard; and our member­
what we do is dependent on weather, which
ship leaves the course irritated. And worse
can be unpredictable and is, unfortunately,
still, we feel a lack of power and influence
completely out of our control.
that, in the thick of a challenging season,
What should be in our control, however, is
create stress and dissatisfaction.
the accessibility we have to our golf courses
during the season. By accessibility, I mean
agreed upon time, on a weekly basis, that the
Insuring Quality Perliiiimimr
golf course is closed for maintenance.
This
scenario can be prevented by taking
Securing accessibility to the course is essen­
tial to achieving not only quality playing the time at year-end or year-beginning to
conditions and improved job performance, communicate your needs to the “powers
that be” for course accessibility, even if it’s
but also enhanced public relations.
O f course, you’re probably wondering just to close the course to play from 5 a.m.
why the heck I’m talking about course to 1 p.m. on Mondays and maybe two or
maintenance in the dead of winter. There’s a three days during the spring and fall for aer­
ification. This allows sufficient quality time,
method to my madness. Let me explain__
for most of us, to get our work done and to
do it well.
W hat’s more, communicating our needs
Communicating the Need for
for accessibility and learning about the
Accessibility: Why and Why Now?
needs of the other departments exposes
First, this is the time of year club managers schedule conflicts long before they have a
and officials begin thinking about generat­ chance to occur. This creates a spirit of flex­
ing income for the coming season. They ibility and cooperation that goes a long way
agree to book outings and events, often for­ toward building professional, conflict-free
getting to consider the maintenance sched­ relationships among departments, cowork­
ules and needs of their “behind-the-scenes” ers, and club members.
superintendent. They assume we’ll do what
With winter here and the 2005 golf sea­
we’ve frequently done in the past: “find a son behind us, now is truly a good time to
way to get the work done.”
preview the 2006 Outing and Member
What, in fact, happens, however, is that we Events Schedule. An early preview will help
end up with tasks half completed— or not to set the stage for a more productive and
done at all. We are forced to weave in and enjoyable 2006 golf season for all.
out of play, inconveniencing golfers and
Here’s to a harmonious— and success­
spending more time and money to com­ ful—2006 golf season. Happy New Year!
plete a job than if we were able to do it
without interruption. Quality conditions
and member satisfaction are achieved on a Will Heintz
hit-or-miss basis.
President
Tee to Green Novem ber/Decem ber 2 0 0 5

I|

n keeping with the strong tradi­
tion of presenting the John Reid Lifetime
Achievement Award to a person who
exemplifies all that is great about the game
of golf, the MetGCSA has chosen Gene
Westmoreland to receive its 2005 Reid
Award.
In announcing
Gene’s selection,
MetGCSA President Will Heintz describes
him as “a wonderful supporter of the golf
course superintendent.”
Will continues, “Gene, who for the un­
initiated is the MGA’s assistant executive
director and tournament director, has
remarkable insight into the superintendent
as a professional. But just as important, he
is, as the award criteria states, ‘committed
to the game of golf and the science of
golf course management.’ We are proud to
add his name to our list of Reid Award
recipients.”
Past Reid Award winner and Met PGA
Section Executive Director Charles R ob­
son was equally pleased to learn of Gene’s
honor: “When I think of Gene, I think of
the ultimate professional. Whether he’s
making a ruling, running an event, marking
a golf course, chairing a meeting, or
addressing a crowd, Gene is always in con­
trol and presents an image that not only
reflects well on the MGA, but on the game
and administration of golf.
“In keeping with the ideals of the John
Reid Award,” adds Charlie, “his knowledge
of and his commitment to the game have
helped to set an incredible standard for
everyone in the golf community. His selec­
tion is not only an honor for him and the
MGA, but also the MetGCSA.”

Gene s Entrée Into the Golt World
Gene, like many of those who choose the
golf business as a career, started out as a cad­
die. As soon as he was old enough to carry
a bag, he began working— and playing
whenever he could— at Harrison Country
Club, today’s Willow Ridge in Harrison,
NY.

After graduating from Pace University
with a degree in accounting and marketing,
he accepted a position in 1966 at his alma
mater’s Westchester and New York City
campuses. He began as an assistant basket­
ball and baseball coach, then was elevated to
associate director of athletics, and finally,
head basketball and baseball coach. A sports
enthusiast, Gene spent summers during his
tenure there playing competitive golf. He
was a four handicap.
Gene’s transition into the golf world
began in 1978. After answering an ad in
The New York Times for an MGA tourna­
ment “field team” member, he began work­
ing summers— on a per diem basis—with
Jay Mottola, who’s now the MGA’s execu­
tive director. He remained at Pace while
assisting at MGA championships for the
next three years.
Finally, in 1980, he said a fond farewell to
the university and accepted a full-time
position with the MGA, directing the plan­
ning and execution of all MGA-sponsored
golf events. “Though my title has never
changed, my role, like the game of golf, has
evolved and expanded over the years,” says
Gene.
W hen talking with Gene about his job,
it’s obvious that he loves what he does and
enjoys tending to all the details that make
an event a success. “I feel a tremendous
sense of satisfaction at the conclusion of
each and every MGA event—from junior
tournaments and qualifiers right on
through to the majors,” says Gene. “When
an event is a success, I know it—whether
anyone says anything or not. It makes me
feel good when all the effort that goes into
planning results in a good event.”

Promoting the Superintendent
Gene’s commitment to promoting the
game of golf goes well beyond his work
with the MGA. Says Jay Mottola, another
past recipient of the Reid Award, “For more
than 20 years, Gene has worked closely
with the area’s golf course superintendents,

logical while requiring a variety of shots
and putts; and nothing should ever be done
to slow play unnecessarily, such as excessive
rough or excessively firm greens.”

The Downside to Escalating
Expectations
and he knows and values the critically
important role they play in the success of
our clubs and the game of golf.”
Gene has served on the executive com­
mittee of the Tri-State Turf Research
Foundation since its inception in 1990,
supporting research that helps superintend­
ents combat turf-related challenges and
concerns.
Gene has also worked long and hard to
put a dose of reality into tournament prepa­
rations. He frequently lectures and writes
on the do’s and don’ts of tournament prepwork and is currently teaching a class at
Rutgers’ Cook College titled, “How to
Prepare Your Course to Host an Event.”
To Gene, an ideal tournament setup does
not necessarily mean the greens should be
their fastest; more important is that the
course setup match the expectations of the
day. Explains Gene, “The best setup is one
that is in perfect harmony with the size of
the field, the weather, and the players’ skill
level.”
According to Jay Mottola, Gene has
always been a voice of reason on issues like
green speed and height of cut. “Gene is
probably the only tournament director,”
says Jay, “who has gone into a major MGA
championship and told the superintendent
that it was okay to raise the height of cut
and lower the speed of the greens!”
O f course, Gene is quick to remind us of
the golden rules of tournament preparation:
“The course, naturally, should be in good
condition,” says Gene. “In addition, all haz­
ards should be properly and clearly marked;
‘out of bounds’ must be marked and visible;
hole locations should be challenging and

Knowing full well the escalating demands
placed on superintendents today, Gene is
the first to sympathize with the challenge
of surviving what seems to be an everexpanding golf season: “The season no
longer runs from Memorial Day to Labor
Day,” acknowledges Gene. “It goes from
the time the snow melts to the first big
snowfall—and sometimes beyond.”
Along with the lengthier season is an
extended to-do list for superintendents.
“No longer is the superintendent simply a
greenskeeper, but rather a sophisticated
manager in charge of the club’s most valu­
able asset,” says Gene. “Superintendents
must be conversant with today’s employ­
ment and environmental laws, control a
large budget and staff while staying on top
of technical changes, and they must be
articulate and able to deal with an upscale
membership and board.”
To help superintendents manage their
increasingly complex operation while
maintaining a professional working rela­
tionship with their green committee and
membership, Gene helped initiate the
MGA’s Green Chairman Education Series.
“The intent of the sessions is to foster a bet­
ter understanding—and line of communi­
cation—between the superintendent and
green chairman,” says Gene, who feels that
the ongoing series of educational sessions
have, in many cases, helped bridge the sig­
nificant gap in understanding that green
chairmen have about the superintendent’s
role and high level of responsibility.
One perception Gene hasn’t been able to
change, however, is the one relating to the
“Augusta Effect.”
“People watch televised golf, they see the

Tee to Green November/December 2 0 0 5

“I can think o f no more deserving person in the
golfing community to receive the Reid Aw ard than
Gene Westmoreland. ”
-

level of conditioning that can be achieved
by today’s talented superintendents, and
they have the false expectation that super­
intendents can—and should—achieve
those conditions on a daily basis,” says
Gene. And then, of course, there’s a price to
pay—in more ways than one.
As Gene points out, “Maintaining a high
level of course conditioning costs money
These rising costs have forced clubs to
expand the number of revenue-producing
events, which reduces the time superin­
tendents have to work their magic. It’s a
Catch 22,” adds Gene.
There’s another challenge Gene sees
with creating faster greens that has less to
do with the superintendent and more to do
with the game itself:“Super-fast greens cre­
ate difficulties with hole locations and,
worse, jeopardize the very playability of the
older, smaller putting greens,” says Gene,
adding, “Couple speed with high rough,
and the pace of play will slow to crawl, no
matter what the skill level of the golfers.”

Committed Through and Through
In addition to the superintendent, Gene has
promoted the growth and development of
numerous other contributors to the golf in­
dustry: a long line of former assistants and
interns. “I really enjoy working with young
people and watching them move on to suc­
cessful careers in the golf industry.”
There’s Jamie Conklin who’s now a
rules official for the PGA Tour; Barry
McLoughlin who’s the executive director
of the First Tee at Moshulu;Tom Dunnam
who’s the MGA director of handicapping,
course ratings, and member services; Peter
Morrice who’s a senior writer at Golf
Digest; Tom Monteverdi who’s an assistant
golf professional at Greenwich Country
Club; and Peter Speziale who happens to
be an aspiring golf course superintendent.
“Despite all Gene’s done to advance the
role of the golf course superintendent and
others in the golf industry,” says Jay
Mottola,“he continues to give back to the

Tee to Green November/December 2 0 0 5

Jay Mattola

game of golf in a number of different ways.”
Listing Gene’s contributions,Jay says:“He
was the only non-executive director ever
elected president of the International
Association of Golf Administrators. H e’s a
member of Winged Foot, serving on its
Board of Governors. In 2004, when the
U.S. Amateur was held at Winged Foot,
Gene served on the Executive Committee,
and he’s serving as the co-chair of the
Scoring Committee for this year’s U.S.
Open. Gene is also a member of the
USGA’s Mid-Am Committee and has
served on the Rules Committee at six
USGA National Championships. He cur­
rently writes a column on the Rules of Golf
for Met Golfer and the Suburban Golfer and
did the same for the Senior Golfer when it
was still being published.”
As a final note, Jay says, “I can think of no
more deserving person in the golfing com­
munity to receive the Reid Award than
Gene Westmoreland.”

Life After Golf
Gene refers to himself as the weekend com­
muter. His wife of 15 years, Mary, is a
colonel in the United States Army, sta­
tioned for the past 3 1/2 years at the
Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Gene spends
most weekends with Mary in our nation’s
capitol.
He has two stepchildren, Christopher
and Eileen Pawloski, and one grandson,
Mychal Wilson. Mychal is Eileen’s son.
Both Christopher and Eileen are captains in
the U.S. Army, following in their mother’s
military footsteps. Eileen is currently sta­
tioned in Germany, Christopher in Tacoma,
WA.
When he’s not en route to or from D.C.,
Gene enjoys playing a few sports, with golf
high on his list. Though he boasted a 4
handicap in his youth, he now plays to a
14—usually at Winged Foot, where as a
member, he feels “blessed” to be able to
continue to play the game he loves on such
an historic track.

Always on the move, Gene plays racquetball and, until last year, basketball. He enjoys
birding as well, which for him means merely
being outdoors with his eyes and ears open.
Being a golf and wildlife enthusiast, it
only follows that he’s a strong proponent of
the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Pro­
gram for golf courses. He firmly believes
that golf course superintendents should
remind their membership and their com­
munity that golf courses are one of the
best animal and plant sanctuaries in the
community.
“Superintendents should get the word
out that their golf courses are some of the
best nature preserves in the Met area and are
home to a surprisingly diverse number of
wildlife and plant species,” says Gene. “By
achieving community recognition, the
superintendent can help to alleviate much
of the misinformation about golf courses
and their impact on the environment.”

A High Honor
When asked how he felt about being cho­
sen for the M et’s coveted award, Gene
responded, “I am honored to receive the
John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award
and to be recognized by a group of individ­
uals and an organization that has added so
much to the game of golf.”
Gene is the 17th recipient of Reid Award,
which was initiated in 1986 and named after
the man affectionately known as the “Father
of American Golf.”
John Reid was not only the first to play
golf in this country (in 1888), he was also
instrumental in forming the first golf club at
St. Andrews and, later, the USGA and the
MGA. Probably even more important to
superintendents is that John Reid, by recog­
nizing that golf courses required daily main­
tenance and care, was, in large part,
responsible for establishing the golf course
management profession.
Glenn Perry, co-editor of the Tee to Green, is
superintendent at Rolling Hills Country Club in
Wilton, CT.

Neither Sleet, Nor Rain, Nor Hurricane
Can Stop the Conference and Show
G C S A A Unveils Special Plans for Its 2006 Conference and Show
f
■

v
espite what, at first, seemed a
J M M conference and show stopper,
'w M Hurricane Katrina proved
■fc ^
nothing more than a bump in
the road for 2006 Golf Industry Show plan­
ners, who quickly relocated the conference
from New Orleans to Atlanta, GA.
As originally planned, the GCSAA Edu­
cation Conference will run February 6 to 11,
with the Golf Industry Show opening on
the 9th. This year, like every year, GCSAA
has a whole host of special events and speak­
ers planned. The Education Conferences
Opening Session, set for 9 a.m. on February
9, will feature as its keynote speaker golf leg­
end Nancy Lopez.
One of the most celebrated players in
womens golf, Lopez has been a star since her
youth. She began playing golf at the age of 8
under the guidance of her father, Domingo,
and turned professional after her sophomore
year of college. She was named “Player of the
Year” by the Ladies Professional Golf Asso­
ciation four times (1978-79,1985, and 1988)
and was inducted into the LPGA Tour Hall
of Fame in 1987 when she was only 30 years
old.
The 2000 recipient of GCSAA’s highest
honor, the Old Tom Morris Award, Lopez
was the captain of the victorious 2005 U.S.
Solheim Cup Team and has 48 LPGA Tour
victories to her name.
Lopez’s appearance at the GCSAA Edu­
cation Conference Opening Session will be
in a question-and-answer format, where
attendees will have the opportunity to query
her. But Nancy Lopez is only one of several
high-profile speakers who will appear during
the week.
Joining her at the Opening Session will be
Dr. Joe Duich, professor emeritus at Pennsyl­
vania State University. He will receive the
2006 Old Tom Morris Award. The Golf
Industry Show General Session, 8:30-9:45
a.m., February 10, will feature a presentation
by Marcus Buckingham. Recognized as a
prominent author, speaker, and business con­
sultant, Buckingham specializes in inspiring
people to find their strengths and long-lasting
personal success.
The Presidents Celebration, 6 p.m.,

February 11, will mark the passing of the
gavel by our very own Tim O ’Neill, presi­
dent of GCSAA. Music and entertainment
will be provided by Big BadVoodoo Daddy.

Who’s Who on the Slate ol
Candidates
Speaking of a changing of the guard, a full
slate of candidates will be vying for GCSAA
Board of Director slots at the February 10
Annual Meeting. Voting members are being
asked to elect three officers and two direc­
tors. The following candidates will appear on
the ballot:

manager for the City of San Diego, is retiring
from the board of directors after serving the
last year as immediate past president.
Timothy T. O ’Neill, CGCS, property
manager of the Country Club of Darien in
Darien, CT, will serve on the board for one
year as immediate past president.
James R. Fitzroy, CGCS, director/superin­
tendent ofWollaston Recreational Facility/
Presidents Golf Club in North Quincy, MA,
and Robert M. Randquist, CGCS, director
of golf course and grounds at Boca Rio Golf
Club in Boca Raton, FL, each have one year
remaining on their two-year director terms.

For President

Sean A. Hoolehan, CGCS, at Wildhorse
Resort and Casino in Pendleton, O R
For Vice President

Ricky D. Heine, CGCS, general manager
and director of grounds at The Golf Club
Star Ranch in Austin,TX
For Secretary/Treasurer

• David S. Downing II, CGCS, director of
golf operations at The Pearl Golf Links and
Ocean Isle Beach Golf Course in Sunset
Beach, NC
• Mark D. Kuhns, CGCS, director of
grounds at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, NJ
For Director

• Gregg A. Blew, CGCS, at Wellshire Golf
Club in Denver, CO
• Gary K. Carls, CGCS, golf operations
supervisor at Sunnyvale/Sunken Gardens
Golf Course in Sunnyvale, CA
• Patrick R. Finlen, CGCS, director of golf
maintenance operations at The Olympic
Club in San Francisco, CA
• John C. Miller, CGCS, at The Golf Club at
Yankee Trace in Centerville, OH
• Sanford G. Queen, CGCS, manager of golf
course operations at Overland Park (Kansas)
Golf Club
Mark J. Woodward, CGCS, golf operations

The GCSAA Education Conference, held in
conjunction with the Golf Industry Show,
is the largest educational conference in the
turfgrass management industry. More than
100 seminars and 50 additional hours of edu­
cational sessions are offered, covering—as
most of you know—all ranges of golf course
management, including agronomics, com­
munication, and business management.
The inaugural Golf Industry Show was
conducted last February in Orlando in
which GCSAA joined forces with the
National Golf Course Owners Association
(NGCOA) to present an innovative trade
show that features unparalleled networking
opportunities and hands-on access to golf
course and facility management solutions for
professional members of the golf industry.
The Club Managers Association of Ameri­
ca (CMAA) will join as a presenting partner
in 2007. Also participating as supporting
organizations are the Golf Course Builders
Association of America (GCBAA), the
American Society of Golf Course Architects
(ASGCA), and the National Golf Foun­
dation (NGF).
If you’re late in registering for the GCSAA
Education Conference and Golf Industry
Show there’s a little time left to do it online
at www.golfindustryshow.com or through
faxback services at (888) 838-4419. Advance
registration is open until January 17.
Tee to Green Novem ber /December 2 0 0 5

MetGCSA 2006 Calendar of Events
in the Making
Our 2006 Meeting and Social Calendar is nearing completion. We do, however, need volun­
teers to host a few remaining professional events. To secure a golf meeting, don’t delay in call­
ing either of our Tournament Committee co-chairs: Blake Halderman at 914-946-1074 or
Chuck Denny at 914-669-5959. Our Social & Welfare Committee co-chairs are Tom Leahy
(914-941-8281) and Bob Nielsen (914-234-3779). Both are available to discuss any upcom­
ing social events.

MetGCSA Events

Business Meeting

Summer Social

Tuesday or Wednesday; March 2 i or 22
Metropolis Country Club
White Plains, NY
Host: Tony Grasso

August
Old Oaks Country Club
Purchase, NY
Host: Mark Millett

Two-Ball Qualifier

MetGCSA Championship and Met
Area Team Championship Qualifier

Tuesday, April 25
Centennial Golf Club
Carmel, NY
Host: Will Heintz

Tuesday, September 5
Hudson National Golf Club
Croton-on-Hudson, NY
Host: Chris Smith, CGCS

Superintendent/Guest Tournament

Tuesday, May 9
Wykagyl Country Club
New Rochelle, NY
Host: Mike Scott
Family Picnic

Superintendent/Green Chairman
Tournament

Tuesday, October 3 i
Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Scarborough, NY
Host:Tom Leahy, CGCS

Date & Site OPEN
Annual Assistants Tournament
Invitational Tournament

Wednesday,June 21
GlenArbor Golf Club
Bedford Hills, NY
Host: Ken Benoit, CGCS

Date Sc Site OPEN

July
Date & Site OPEN

November
Date & Site OPEN
MetGCSA Christmas Party

Poa Annual Tournament

August
Date & Site OPEN

Tee to Green Novem ber/Decem ber 2 0 0 5

NYSTA's Annual Lobby Day: Turfgrass
Advocacy 2006

Wednesday, February i
Empire State Plaza Concourse, Albany, NY
NYSTA extends this complimentary offer
to all green industry professionals. Lobby
day offers a priority issue briefing session to
inform you about current legislation that
could affect the turfgrass and green industry,
legislative appointments with your local
elected officials, and a luncheon with a leg­
islator. Join NYSTA in Albany and have a
chance to be heard.
Please contact Jill Cyr for more informa­
tion at jill@nysta.org or 800-873-8873 or
518-783-1229. Registration deadline is
Friday,January 20!
NYSTA Southeast Regional Conference

Monday, February 27
Holiday Inn Suffern, Suffern, NY
Geared toward landscape and turfgrass pro­
fessionals, this conference will include a
trade show and a variety of sessions on top­
ics related to golf turf, lawn and landscape
and sports turf. Participants will hear talks
on the best plant and site selection methods
for controlling insect infestation and dis­
eases, plant health care for the reduction of
pesticides, and identifying trees and their
key pests. The early bird session will include
a talk from Michigan State’s Dr. Joe Vargas,
followed by legislative and regulatory
updates.
To obtain a conference brochure and reg­
istration form, call NYSTA at 800-8738873 or 518-783-1229, or contact the
organization by email: nysta@nysta.org.

Met Area Team Championship

Date & Site TBA
Annual Meeting

Education Meeting

Educational Events

Saturday, December 2
Mount Kisco Country Club
Mount Kisco, NY
Host: Fred Scheyhing, CGCS

The 9th Annual New England
Regional Turfgrass Conference &
Show

Monday - Thursday, March 6 —9
Rhode Island Convention Center,
Providence, RI
This year’s annual conference and show’s
educational sessions will bring you cutting
edge turfgrass management tactics and
techniques, while the three-day trade show
will offer you easy access to the latest in
equipment, products, and supplies offered
by more than 400 exhibitors. Call the
NERTF Office at 401-841-5490 for fur­
ther information.

Scorecard

1

Members On the Move

Century Country Club Hosts
Season Finale
The final stop on the 2005 tournament schedule brought us to Century Country Club
in Purchase, NY, for the Superintendent/Green Chairman competition.
Contestants enjoyed a blustery, sunny day and challenging course conditions, courtesy
of host Superintendent Kevin Seibel. The Par Four 12th hole was driveable, playing
downwind with the tees forward, and the Par Three 17th hole played 250-plus dead into
the wind.
Special thanks to Kevin and his crew—and to the clubhouse and dining room staff—for
making this a special day.
Here are the winning scores:
Low Net Winners

66 Chuck Denny/DonVollrath, Salem GC
68 Rich Browne/Pat Catharon, Garrison GC
71 Matt Severino/Dennis O ’Leary, Scarsdale GC
Low Gross Winners

75 Jim Swiatlowski/Steve Claisse, Montammy GC
80 Dave Dudones/Mike Morton, North Jersey CC
82 Glen Dube/Larry Andronaco, Oak Hills Park Golf Course
Closest to the Pin

• Eric O ’Neill, Towers CC
• Jim Gilland, Pelham CC
• Glen Dube, Oak Hills Park GC
• Mike Morton, North Jersey CC

Member Slews

Hole #13, 7
Hole #17, TO* 5"
Hole #17, 6’ 7"
Hole #4, 5’ 5”

• Jason Podris, formerly an assistant at
Century Country Club in Purchase, NY, has
accepted an assistant superintendent’s posi­
tion at The K Club in Straffan, County
Kildare, Ireland. His phone number in
Ireland: 011 353 86871 5977.
• Rick Schock, formerly with Turf
Products Corporation in Enfield, CT, has
accepted the superintendent’s position at
Aspetuck Valley Country Club in Weston,
CT.

New Members
We’d like to welcome the following new
members:
• Jason Anderson, Class C, Old Oaks
Country Club, Purchase, NY.
• Scott Curry, Class C, Lake Success Golf
Course, Great Neck, NY.
• Dennis DeSanctis Jr., Class AF,
Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro, NC.
• Jeff Gennarelli, Class C, Metropolis
Country Club,White Plains, NY.
• Gregory Tudor, Class C, Hudson
National Golf Club, Croton-on-Hudson,
NY.

Well Wishes
Wishing Lucille Grasso, wife of Metropolis
Superintendent Tony Grasso, a speedy
recovery.

—Chuck Denny

The Leaders in the Annual Assistants
Championship
On October 20, MetGCSA assistants were able to experience life as a member of
Anglebrook Golf Club, the site of this year’s MetGCSA Assistants Championship. The
weather was great, the course was superbly conditioned, and our gracious hosts,
Assistant Superintendent Scott Imbro and Superintendent Lou Quick, provided con­
testants with a memorable event.
PGA Pro Rob Davis scored the tournament, which ended with the following
leaders:
First Place Team

Third Place Team

59 Mike Brunelle, Bedford Golf &
Tennis Club
Michael Guinan, Blind Brook Club
Scott Olson, Scarsdale GC

62 Adam Poplawski, Old Oaks CC
Brett Richards, Sleepy Hollow CC
John Dzurilla, Century CC
Andrew Hannah, Century CC

Second Place Team

Closest to the Pin

60 Jake Kellar, GlenArbor GC
Todd Krantz, GlenArbor GC
Bryan Diggle, Turf Products Corporation

Andrew Hannah, Century CC

Aquatrols of Paulsboro, NJ, is pleased to
announce its Third Annual Aquatrols
Scholarship Essay Contest. The contest is
open to children of turf management profes­
sionals who will be attending an accredited
college or university during the 2006-07 aca­
demic year. Entrants will compete for a firstplace scholarship of $2,000 and a runner-up
scholarship of $1,000. Full instructions, rules,
and eligibility requirements are posted on the
Aquatrols website, www.aquatrols.com. or
further information, call Marketing Manager
Colleen Clifford at 800-257-7797.

12' 4"

Longest Drive

Jake Green, CC of New Canaan

Tee to Green Novem ber /December 2 0 0 5

Mind Snack

Are We
Outdistancing
Ourselves?
The Powers That Be Work to Put the
Brakes on G o lf Equipment Advances
hv Chip Lafferty

(
—

J M he game of golf has changed
M over the past 15 to 20 years—and
some might say, not for the better.
New, more rigorous standards of golf course
maintenance, along with advances in today’s
equipment—both clubs and balls—have
changed the way the game is played. It’s
become less a game of strategy and shot mak­
ing and more a game of power with golfers
able to take their high-tech clubs and drive
their high-tech balls so far that many of the
nation’s best courses are becoming obsolete.
Or they’re played in a way that was not
intended by their original architects.
In an attempt to temper manufacturers’
quest to create the ultimate driver head and
the longer golf ball—and ensure the game’s
integrity for years to come—the governing
bodies of golf—the USGA and the Royal &
Ancient (R&A)—have proposed new-andimproved testing procedures, equipment, and
guidelines for golf balls and clubs.
Phase I, which governs golf clubs, has been
approved and includes a state-of-the-art test­
ing device. Phase II, which targets golf balls,
is designed to take into account advances in
both golf equipment and player ability.
Here’s a look at how these proposals are
shaping the future development of clubs and
balls—and the game of golf, itself.

Keeping Drivers From Shifting Into
Overdrive
In attempt to keep tabs on new golf club
development, a new device has been
approved for testing a driver’s ability— or
overability— to drive a golf ball. Called the
Pendulum Tester, it’s designed to measure the
flexibility or springlike effect of a driver
head.
Replacing the old Coefficient of Restitu­
tion (COR) test device, the Pendulum Tester
has the advantage of being not only simple to
use and easy to maintain, but also portable
and nondestructive. In fact, a test can be per­
formed at the location of a golf event—with­
out destroying the club in the process. What’s

more, the test takes far less time than the
C O R to complete, and it doesn’t require the
use of a golf ball.
Basically, this device uses a metal mass sus­
pended on a pendulum to strike the club
face at low-impact speeds. Then it measures
the time of contact between the metal mass
and the club face. It’s this time of contact or
Characteristic Time (CT), that determines
the club head’s flexibility—or ability to drive
the ball. The longer the metal mass stays on
the club face, the more flexible—and hard
driving—it is.
Measured in microseconds, the CT limit
has been set at 250 microseconds. This meas­
ure correlates with the old C O R reading of
.830, so any clubs that conformed under the
old C O R test will not have to be subjected
to the Pendulum Tester. Clubs manufactured
after the adoption of the Pendulum Tester,
however, must conform to the limits set by
this new testing device.
It’s too bad Kenny Perry didn’t have the
Pendulum Tester on hand a couple of years
ago when he was concerned about his driver
passing the test on Wednesday of the Sony
Open. Instead, he put his club away and sub­
sequently missed the cut. To make matters
worse, when his club was eventually passed
through the Pendulum Tester, it was deter­
mined to be legal!

PHASE II GUIDELINES:
(tattling (tall Distance
The other side of this distance struggle is the
ball itself. Rules have been in place for years
governing the weight, diameter, spherical
symmetry, initial velocity, and overall travel
distance of the golf ball. Unfortunately, the
velocity and distance testing equipment have
been outmoded by modern equipment
technology and player ability—and they just
plain don’t work anymore.
Initial velocity standards, for instance, have
been overcome by dimple patterns on golf
balls which give them “wings” and make the
balls stay in the air longer without exceeding
initial velocity standards. Without a rule in
place to measure aerodynamic qualities of a
ball, the ball was able to travel farther and still
conform to the tests that were in place.
Yes, I know you’re thinking that the overall
distance standard should cover this, right?
Well, it did to a certain extent; however the
overall distance standard was measured with
a mechanical fellow named Iron Byron. He
happened to be using a club with a steel shaft
and wooden head with a speed of 109
mph— not exactly what today’s players are
accustomed to. Therefore, it became clear
that new testing procedures were necessary

to more closely monitor not only advances
in equipment, but the modern players’ club
head speed.
After years of work and discussion with
manufacturers, a new method for testing
balls has been developed. It takes into
account swing speed, equipment, and launch
conditions used by today’s longer hitting
PGA Tour players.
“Through this new test,” says USGA
Senior Technical Director Dick Rugge in a
recent press release, “we’ll be able to establish
a precise and relevant performance limit
regarding golf ball distance. That means any
additional distance gains will not be due to
design or construction changes in the ball
itself. We think this new test provides the
right framework for us to utilize state-ofthe-art technology to test golf balls in a
manner that is relevant to today’s game and
not the one of a generation ago.”
These changes don’t mean you have to go
running out to buy up all the Pro Vis; they

“I t’s
notaccurate to
compare the new lim it to
the old one and assume
we’ve allowed more yards.
The same balls simply go
farther when hit at higher
speeds with modern
equipment.”
j Dick Rugge
will continue to conform under the new
rules. According to Rugge, this new test pro­
cedure is not designed to take balls off the
“conforming ball” list.

The New-and-Improved Standards
Here’s a look at how the standards—particu­
larly the overall distance standards (ODS)—
have been changed:
• Swing speed has been increased to 120
mph from 109 mph.
• A nonbranded titanium club head with a
C O R of .820 has replaced the laminated
wooden head that was in use.
• A modern, nonbranded setup ball has
replaced the current setup ball that has been
used. The new ball test maintains the current
ball launch angle of 10 degrees, the current
backspin at 42 revolutions per second, and a
steel shaft in the test club.
By increasing the swing speed by 11 mph,
the ball flies 22 yards longer. Add a titanium

club head with a C O R of .820, and the
springlike effect boosts distance another 8
yards. But instead of increasing the current
ODS of 296.8 yards by a full 30 yards, the
USGA proposed to set the limit using the
new ball test procedure at 320 yards, or seven
fewer yards than what was achieved.
Dick Rugge explains, “It’s not accurate to
compare the new limit to the old one and
assume we’ve allowed more yards. The same
balls simply go farther when hit at higher
speeds with modern equipment. By updat­
ing the test and modernizing procedures, it is
inevitable that the ODS limit would need
to rise to reflect the changes in the test
methods.
“For example,” he continues, “if you mod­
ernized the test procedures but left the limit
where it now stands, nearly every ball that
now conforms would fail under the new
procedure. With that in mind, we’ve pro­
posed to set the limit at a place that provides
meaningful restrictions on distance, tightens
the ODS standard by seven yards, maintains
the continuity of the current conforming list,
and provides a framework through which we
can monitor our test procedures and modify
them as player swing speeds and other condi­
tions change.”

Upholding Equipment Standards
In 2002, the USGA and the R&A developed
a Statement of Principles governing equip­
ment rules. “We are concerned about in­
creases in distance from any source,” says
Rugge, “and we’ll continue to remain vigi­
lant and monitor trends.
“If distance continues to increase from any
source—balls, clubs, agronomy, or enhanced
physical fitness—then we’ll need to consider
how to uphold the Statement of Principles.”
With the club and ball technology grow­
ing so rapidly and the lack of sophisticated
testing equipment to check performance, the
USGA and the R&A have had to work very
hard for many years to please all parties—
from the manufacturers to the pro golfers
and general golfing public. Too little too late
for some of the true national treasures that
we will never see host a U.S. Open champi­
onship again.
We can only hope that, with these new
testing procedures and guidelines in effect,
golfers will once again have fun—and enjoy
golf as the game of strategy we all know and
love.
Chip Lafferty, a Tee to Green committee mem­
ber, is superintendent at Rye Golf Club in Rye,
NY.

Tee to Green November/December 2 0 0 5

ai
Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are
encouraged to support them.
Al Preston’s

© Glenmore Landscape Service

© Plant Food Company, Inc.

© The Roger Rulewich Group

Gary Shashinka

Glenn S. Moore

“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”

David Fleury / MarshallVictor

810 Howe Avenue

PO Box 890

TomWeinert

Golf Course Design, Renovation, &

Shelton, CT 06484

South Salem, NY 10590

914-262-0111 / 800-562-1291

Construction

203-924-1747

914-533-5554, FAX 914-533-0055

800-465-3668, FAX 413-648-0211

Soil Solutions LLC
© Aquatrols Corp. o f America

© Greenacres Company

Anthony Decicco / John Decicco

© The Terre Company o f
New Jersey, Inc.

Kevin P. Collins, N.E.Territory

Dave Pijnenburg

7 Whittemore Place

Manager

75 Codfish Hill Road

Ryebrook, NY 10573

Byron Johnson

1273 Imperial Way

Bethel, C T 06801

914-393-0659, FAX 914-939-5010

Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock, &

Paulsboro, NJ 08066

203-748-0558

Fertilizer

© Steven Willand, Inc.

609-841-2077

© Harrell’s Turf Specialty

Gary Mathis

Argento & Sons, Inc.

Joe Stahl

4 Production Drive

Louis Argento

795 Rt. #148

Brookfield, C T 06804

1 Prospect Avenue

Killingworth, C T 06419

203-775-5757

White Plains, NY 10607

203-209-6951

914-949-1152

© Ira Wickes / Arborists

973-473-3393

© Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Skip Deubel
800-243-7582, CELL 860-306-8883
www.tuckahoeturf.com

© Storr Tractor Company ~
Flowtronex

O Turf Products Corp./TORO
Bryan Diggle, Irrigation

JohnW.Wickes

Rick Krok / Gary Lynott

Ray Beaudry

11 McNamara Road

3191 U S.H w y.22

860-874-2812

111 Lafayette Avenue

Spring Valley, NY 10977

Somerville, NJ 08876

Richard Schock Jr., Equipment

N.White Plains, NY 10603

845-354-3400

800-526-3802, FAX 908-722-9847

Q Atlantic Irrigation Specialties, Inc.

860-729-2237
Scott Wosleger,Yamaha Golf Cars, &

914-686-0008

© Irra-Tech, Inc.
© Blue Ridge Peat Farms

Joseph D. Kennedy

Surfside Wetting Agents

Utility Vehicles: 860-306-6400

Liquid ~ Granular ~ Pellets ~

Gene Evans

18 Merritt Street

ZAP! Defoamer

133 Peat Moss Road

Port Chester, NY 10573

R obert Oechsle: 800-401-0411

White Haven, PA 18661

914-937-7273

© Valley View Wholesale
Greenhouses
Frank Amodio

O Syngenta Professional Products

570-443-9596

© Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.

229 Smith Ridge Road

Lee A. Kozsey

S. Salem, NY 10590

R obert Good

Banner Maxx, Primo Maxx, Subdue

914-533-2526, FAX 914-533-2050

John Callahan

126 Monroe Turnpike

Maxx, Daconil, Heritage, Medallion

Complete Distributor of Golf Course

Trumbull, CT 06611

610-861-8174, CELL 215-796-0409

Accessories & Turf Maintenance

203-452-3100

O Cardinals Inc.

© Down To Earth

O LESCO, Inc.

Goldens Bridge, NY 10526

Charlie Siemers

Wayne Rice: 401-641-2972

914-232-7746

65 Primrose Street

Dave Wallace: 401-789-8177

Katonah, NY 10536

All Phases o f Golf Course

914-755-4202

Bruce Pye / John Rizza

914-271-6126, FAX 914-271-6146

Bob Lippman / Dave Lippman
“Serving the Fine Turf Profession”

Louis DeLea & Sons, Inc.

JimTwomey, NJ: 201-445-4949

845-621-5067, FAX 845-621-7180

444 Elwood Road

Ken Clear, CT: 203-847-1855

EMAIL westturf@suscom.net

E.N orthport, NY 11731
631-368-8022

The Pond Connection

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Glenn Gallion

Jeff Stahl

425 South Riverside Avenue
Croton, NY 10520

© Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
© The Care ofTrees
Mike Cook, NY: 914-345-8733

Construction

© E /T Equipment Co.

14 Meadow Street

Golf Course Sod Products / Installation

David Griffin

914-576-7693, CELL 914-413-3173

John Apple

© Tee and Green Sod, Inc.

Supplies
800-861-6256, FAX 860-673-8443

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“Customers, O ur Top Priority”

203-858-4136

19 Central Boulevard

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