May/June 20117 VOLUME S7 M Vili Eli .'{ JU t 0 5 20Qi Published by the Metropolitan (¡oil Course Superintendents Association Boardof Directors t President X MATTHEW CEPLO, CGCS Rockland Country Club Vice President ANTHONY GIRARDI, CGCS Rockrimmon Country Club Treasurer ROBERT NIELSEN JR., CGCS Bedford Golf & Tennis Club Secretary GLENN PERRY, CGCS Rolling Hills Country Club Past President WILLIAM HEINTZ Pound Ridge Golf Club ROBERT ALONZI JR. St. Andrew's Golf Club KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS GlenArbor Golf Club KEVIN COLLINS Aquatrols, Inc. DAVID DUDONES North Jersey Country Club GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club THOMAS LEAHY, CGCS Sleepy Hollow Country Club DAVID MOFFETT Round Hill Club Executive Secretary INEKE PIERPOINT Tee to Green Staff ROB ALONZI 914-478-5713 Editors DAVE DUDONES 1 973-942-0566 Managing Editor PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Committee I KEVIN COLLINS ERIC O’NEILL I CHIP LAFFERTY BILLPERLEE 1 NEIL LAUFENBERG GLENN PERRY DAVE MOFFETT MIKE REEB i SCOTT NIVEN MIKETOLLNER GREGWOJICK Designer TERRIE DUNKELBERGER Photographer BILL PERLEE Advertising Manager ROB ALONZI, 914-478-5713 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 © 2007 Feature Just When You Thought You’d Seen It A ll................................................2 MoreDisease Concerns for Superintendents Departments Chapter N ew s........................................................................................................4 S potlights.............................................................................................. 5, 6, 8, 12 U pcom ing Events ...............................................................................................9 M ember News .....................................................................................................9 Scorecard..............................................................................................................10 lliV k F k F M ^ V y New York... and Wav Beyond of issues specific to the New York area super­ intendents, true. But in reality, there’s some­ thing here for everyone. In fact, in every point I make, the takeaway message is the same: “United we stand, divided we fall.” What we do individually as superintend­ ents affects the whole of the profession. If we, in some way, make a good name for ourselves in Connecticut, superintendents in New York, New Jersey, and even other parts of the country will look good as well. If we blunder ... if we ignore all-important industry rules and regulations and our negligence is exposed, our actions will reflect poorly not just on us, but on the entire industry. So members outside New York, please do read on. I think you’ll find value in the notes and news that follow. More About Phosphorus Westchester County is still moving ahead with its ban on phosphorus. There have been two public comment meetings, and a public hearing was held on June 4. Right now the bill is being reviewed by the Committee on Environment and Energy. The County board could have voted to pass the proposal as writ­ ten, but they didn’t. This is a positive step. Some of the major components of this bill are that you will need to have your soil tested by a certified lab to show a deficiency before you can apply phosphorus. It does seem that new seedlings will be exempt, as well as flower and vegetable gardens, so you can keep that box of Miracle Grow. We will keep you updated. Rest assured that our industry has been well represented. We definitely have some strong issues with this bill. It will affect the management of all golf courses in Westchester County. Make Yourself Heard It’s ironic, but as I was mulling over the phos­ phorus issue, I got a call from Paul Trader, who is with the Cornell Cooperative Extension here in Rockland County. He was calling regarding IPM. It seems one of the new legis­ lators is having speakers from various indus­ tries come together to discuss how they’re Matt Ceplo, CGCS MetGCSA President each putting IPM into practice. I’m glad to see that they’re speaking to industry profes­ sionals about their practices before jumping the gun and enacting legislature that’s based on emotion, rather than fact. Legislators do listen. The issue is being available to make our practices and positions heard. What, specifically, can you do? Some of the same things I’ve advised before: Become involved in organizations like The Audubon, GCSAA’s Environmental Institute, or any other environmental group where you can communicate to others precisely what you do—and how you do it responsibly. At the very least, don’t do anything to attract negative publicity. Make sure you are up to date with all laws regarding pesticide use. Keep your license and records current. Use proper disposal measures. Keep your staff well trained, and inform golfers about the positive environmental impact you’re having on your community. Watch your gasoline tanks, and keep those records cur­ rent. The worst thing you can do is think you’re an island and that what you are doing won’t affect the rest of us. Find tho Balance I love watching the Masters on television. This year’s tournament was shaping up to be the best. The greens were so fast and so hard that there was no way to get the ball close to the hole. I couldn’t wait till Sunday. (I have more free time on Sunday to become a couch potato). I turned on the TV, and the first shot I watched hit the green and stopped on a dime. I couldn’t believe it. It was immediately apparent they had watered the greens. At first, I was disappointed. I guess the sadistic part of me wanted to see the play­ ers struggle. After a few minutes of watching, I realized slowing down those greens was not such a bad thing after all. Why do we get satisfaction out of watch­ ing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelsons make bogies—or our members four-putt a tough pin position? Isn’t that totally counterprocontinued on page 1 i Tee to Green May/June 2007 | fiiUirf Just When You Thought You’d Seen 111 Turfgrass diseases are often a large source of concern and frustration for golf course superintendents in the Metropolitan area. As the level of maintenance increases and mow­ ing heights decrease, putting green turf becomes more susceptible to a variety of pathogens and abiotic stresses. Throwing fuel to the fire are the large populations of annual bluegrass commonly found on many golf courses. While annual bluegrass continues to offer an excellent put­ ting surface when healthy, its susceptibility to a variety of diseases and reduced overall health during the heat of the summer makes managing the species unpredictable at times. Damage to putting greens at several of the region s golf courses in 2006 has raised the level of concern heading into the 2007 sea­ t’spretty safe to say that son. As many of you are aware, Pythium was particularly problematic, resulting in the there isn’t a superintendent severe decline of putting surfaces at numer­ around who hasn’t done ous Met area courses—and, in some cases, battle with a dis­ resulted in major renovation or complete reconstruction of greens. ease or two. Like people, In addition to the unusual outbreaks of turf gets . . . w e l l i l lPythium, from numerous golf courses in the time to time. Most things, Northeast (and also throughout the country) we’re schooled to handle. experienced outbreaks of a disease caused by a pathogen related to the Rhizoctonia species. The problem is when an Although not fully understood, these two unidentifiable or aggressive diseases stand out among those to watch out new strain of disease takes for as we head into the summer stretch. hold— a disease that baffles Here, you’ll find the most up-to-date infor­ mation we have on identifying and treating even the most astute these turfgrass ills. grasé researchers. fi“ Move Disease Concerns 11»i l l l for Superintendents by Dr. John Kaminski, Assistant Professor of Turfgrass Pathology, University of Connecticut W f iA vi ‘ In the article thatfollows, Dr. fohn4Kaminski, assistantprofessor of Tuifgrass Pathology at the University of Connecticut, talks about p two new tuifgrass threats, along with their telltale I signs and potential controls. ( 2 . 4 . *f*' S .-'H rMtoa yO',¡Ju ne 2 0 0 7 Figure 1: Following incubation, abundant W. circinata var. circi­ nata can be observed in the thatch and on the surface of the leaves. Brown Ring Patch Brown ring patch, also referred to as Waitea patch, is a “new” disease of annual bluegrass putting greens that has recently appeared in the Western, Midwestern, and Northeastern United States. This disease is caused by a species closely related to Rhizoctonia oryzae and R. zeae, which are known to cause sheath and leaf spot or high-temperature brown patch in the U.S. The formal name of the pathogen (named after its observed sex­ ual state) is Waitea circinata var. circinata (Wcc). Signs of Trouble During the spring and early summer months, disease symptoms appear as yellow rings, ranging from a few inches up to a foot in diameter (see Fig. 2). Although infected annual bluegrass generally does not entirely collapse, turfgrass thinning and/or plant death can occur. Interestingly, under hot, dry con­ ditions, disease symptoms generally disappear. The disease may recur in the autumn when temperatures favoring growth of the pathogen develop. Abundant mycelia can be seen on the foliage, down in the crowns, stolons and in the thatch when the soil is moist (see Fig. 1). It can be rather fluffy and extensive under wet conditions. The pathogen tends to colonize both the above-ground parts of the plant and the thatch, which can result in sunken rings where the thatch has broken down. The disease has been observed at daytime temperatures ranging from 50°F to 90°F, with optimal temperatures of 70°F to 85°F. Because it can actively colonize thatch, the disease may be more severe on putting greens with excessive organic matter accumulation. fungicides. ProStar, Heritage, Medallion, and Endorse fungicides seem to consistently pro­ vide the greatest level of control. Since Wcc is often in the thatch layer, ade­ quate application volume (> 2 gallons of water per 1000 ft2) and/or watering materi­ als into the upper thatch layer may be impor­ tant. If the disease is already well established in the thatch or turf, multiple applications may be needed to completely stop the pathogen. In severe cases, recovery from damage is slow due to the amount of crown damage and thatch degradation. Preventive or early curative control is likely to be most effective. Foliar hth inin Might The summer of 2006 was met by several outbreaks ofPythium on golf course putting greens. Unlike typical Pythium blight, how­ ever, initial symptoms resembled those of summer patch and were very slow to pro­ gress (see Fig 3). The disease appeared to be limited to annual bluegrass and, during the initial phase, formed patches rather than gen­ erally thinned areas or streaks along swales Plan ofAttack Unfortunately, there are no tried-and-true and other areas where water flowed. remedies for Brown ring patch—yet. While On Closer Examination researchers are hard at work on a concrete Microscopic examination of the diseased course of treatment, right now our recom­ areas, however, revealed the presence of mendations for control are based on in-vitro mycelium a Pythium spp. in the testing of fungicides in the lab, a limited field thatch and resembling also around leaf blades. study in California, and anecdotal evidence Pathogen isolation fromindividual a number of courses and reports from superintendents. resulted in the culturing of several In the lab, at UC-Riverside, a number of iso­ Pythium species previously reported different lates of the pathogen were screened on Petri associated with Pythium of turfgrasses.as being plates against Chipco 26 GT, Banner MAXX, As the summer progressed, the disease Cleary’s 3336, Heritage, and ProStar fungi­ expanded from distinct patches to symptoms cides. With the exception of Cleary’s 3336, all more ofPythium blight. Extensively fungicides evaluated in this study were effec­ infestedtypical putting thinned, and in tive in suppressing mycelium growth. Like its severe cases, streakssurfaces of the disease ob­ close relative, R. zeae, Wcc appears to be nat­ served in areas where surface waterwere moved urally resistant to the benzimidazole fungi­ across the putting green. During this phase, cides. attempts to control the disease with a Superintendents throughout the country have field variety fungicides were met with limited reported mixed results for Wcc control with success. ofFungicides applied to plugs from the Figure 2: Symptoms of brown ring patch on annual bluegrass (photo courtesy Steve McDonald, Turfgrass Disease Solutions). putting surface and incubated in a growth chamber, however, did appear to suppress growth of the pathogen. A Lack of Control A major concern with the outbreaks of Pythium on putting greens in 2006 was the inability—or reduced efhcacy-^of fungicides generally thought to provide excellent con­ trol. Limited in-vitro trials, however, did not reveal pathogen resistance to commonly used Pythium fungicides. From that you could conclude that condi­ tions favoring the development and growth of the pathogen were too extreme, at that point, for the typical fungicides to have a significant impact on the disease. Many of the golf courses experiencing severe outbreaks of Pythium were similar in that they all had native-soil, pushup greens with little to no internal drainage. As is typical of most golf course putting greens, sand top­ dressing had accumulated to a depth of several inches. While it appeared that surface drain­ age had been improved, excessive moisture was observed at the sand/soil interface. So What Fan I Do? After all is said and done, the sad truth is that little is known about either of these diseases. As with all new or emerging problems, unlocking these mysteries takes time. Site visits and samples sent to our diagnostic lab have, however, revealed a number of simi­ larities on problem greens. Based on my observations to date, here are some general conclusions and recommendations I’ve for­ mulated for keeping your turf safe and sound. Increase your aerification and thatch removal programs. Probably due to member pressure and playability concerns, aggressive aerifica­ tion has been reduced and, in some cases, sub­ stituted with topdressing programs. Although topdressing is an excellent cul­ tural practice and can help dilute a thatch layer, it is a poor replacement for aerification. Figure 3: Initial symptoms ofPythium outbreaks were difficult to diagnose in thefield and in many cases resembled summer patch. Tee to Green May/June 2007 Figure 4: Several inches of sand topdressing atop native soils limit waterflow and create ideal conditions for both biotic and abiotic disorders. Punching holes not only assists in managing thatch, it increases water penetration and gas exchange, reduces compaction, and stimu­ lates rooting. In addition to large-core aerification in the spring and fall, don’t hesitate to punch smaller holes in the putting surface at other times during the season. These smaller nee­ dle tines offer some of the same benefits as using large tines but cause little disruption to surface smoothness and playability (al­ though this will probably be argued by your members). Consider installing internal drains. In addi­ tion to thatch management, many golf courses that started an aggressive topdressing program now have several inches of sand directly above the original native soil (see Fig. 4). While water movement through the sand may be rapid, infiltration through the native soil is limited if you don’t have addi­ tional internal drainage in place. During the summer months, these con­ ditions can lead to increased opportunities for turfgrass diseases and other abiotic stresses. Several companies now offer drain­ age installation with minimal disruption to the putting surface. If your greens drain poorly or are consistently moist, the installa­ tion of internal drains is likely to improve turf quality ... dramatically. Act on disease problems before they gain a foothold. Pythium blight should not be diffi­ cult to control if you protect your turf with an effective Pythium fungicide, such as mefenoxam or propamocarb, as soon as the heat and relative humidity increases. Programs incorporating fosetyl-Al or other phosphonate products should be initi­ ated early in the season—before symptoms develop. Don’t rely on these products for curative control of Pythium. Keep in mind . . . the problems mentioned above were observed on a select number of golf courses in the region, so chances are they won’t be widespread this season. Nonetheless, be on the lookout for any unusual decline in turf quality, and have a local diagnostic lab identify any troubles you may experience. To keep up to date on what’s happening around the region, check out the University of Connecticut’s turf disease diagnostic updates at www.turf.uconn.edu/inthefield. shtml. Have You Logged on Lately? M etG CSA’s f ,J or those who haven’t visited yC> www.MetGCSA.org in a while, ' you’re in for a pleasant surprise. The Met has launched an exciting new website designed to put relevant industry and association information right at your fingertips! Here’s a sampling of what the site has to offer: an online member directory, current and archived issues of Tee to Green, a monthly calendar noting any and all rele­ vant events in the Met area, information about upcoming Met meetings, weather updates, employment opportunities, vendor website links, and a Board of Directors sec­ tion with email links to all board members. Also in the works: a section devoted to sharing noteworthy industry articles. If you read an article that you feel would benefit your fellow members, we encourage you to forward the details to me at kbenoit@ glenarborclub. com. Tee to Green May/June 2007 New Website Is Up and Running About Your Password and when necessary, update—their user pro­ file. This offers an easy way to keep fellow Some of the information on our website is members informed of any changes in your password protected—for example, our contact information. member directory, member news, and your user profile, which lists contact information similar to that in our member directory. If you haven’t already logged on to access these password-protected areas, it’s easy to This website is going to be a very important do. In fact, to help you get started, we’ve part of the future of the MetGCSA. Once already established a username and password you see all that this site has to offer, we’re for you. Right now, your username is your confident you’ll find it well worth a visit—a first initial (typed in lowercase), and your frequent visit, we hope. O f course, for our website to continue to password is your last name (also typed in thrive, we need the support of our member­ lowercase). We also encourage you to complete your ship. That means providing helpful feedback user profile, which currently lists only your on how we might improve the site and name and place of employment. To update the information it has to offer. Please don’t your profile—and change your password, if hesitate to contact me, again, at kbenoit@ you’d like—simply go to the “Update glenarborclub.com. All comments—posi­ Profile” tab through the “Members Only” tive, negative, or in-between—are welcome. drop-down menu. Once there, you’ll Enjoy the site. I hope to be hearing from understand what to do. Our hope is that all you. our members take a moment to complete— Ken Benoit, CGCS GlenArbor Golf Club The Wave of the Future The Poa Annual Makes a Return Trip to The Powelton Club by Chip Lqfferty fter a four-year hiatus, Bob DeMarco is pleased to once ¡;ain host the Poa Annual Golf Tournament, NYSTA’s annual turfgrass fund­ raiser, at the historic Powelton Club in Newburgh, NY. Be sure not to miss it. The dates July 9—and fast approaching. A Work in Progress Bobs been the clubs superintendent for nearly 27 years . . . which sounds like a long time until you realize that Poweltons been around 114 years, earning it the distinction as one of the oldest courses in the country. A Devereaux Emmet design, this 90-acre course has, over the years, acquired the signa­ ture of at least two other golf course archi­ tects: Robert Trent Jones, who partially rebuilt holes #6 and #7 in the late 1950s, and then Geoffrey Cornish, who in the mid-’80s helped guide course renovations required to make way for the expansion of I-84’s Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. After relocating the 17th hole and four tees, Cornish went on to establish a long-range plan for a variety of course enhancements, including mounding and bunker and tee renovations. In the year 2000, the course was added to the National Register of Historic Places—a fortuitous honor. “About that time,” says Bob, “I had caught wind of a possible expan­ sion to Route 9W that would affect another four holes and the maintenance facility. “They’ll have a tough time coming near our property now,” says Bob. And so far, so good. Seven years later, the only changes made to the course were made by choice. During his tenure, Bob’s installed an allnew irrigation system, conquered challenging drainage problems, converted a stream to a pond on the 16th hole, and hydraulically dredged the irrigation pond on the 18th hole, removing 6,000 cubic yards of silt. Most recently, Bob worked with an outside firm to reconstruct nearly all the tee surfaces, and in a move to enhance turf conditions, he’s initiated the removal of what he terms, “nui­ sance trees,” taking down about 20 large wil­ lows and Norway maples. “Since I’ve last held a meeting here,” says Bob,“the club’s invested $4.5 million in reno­ vating and expanding the clubhouse. With an additional half million, we were able to do the tee work and get a start on renovating our maintenance facility. It’s a work in progress,” says Bob, with a smile. Right Rack at You Bob broke into the business by working on the grounds crew at Southern Dutchess Country Club, a nine-hole course in his Beacon, NY, hometown. He enjoyed this experience so much that he enrolled in UMass’s Winter Turf School. After receiving his degree in 1976,he was hired as Poweltons assistant. In 1980, he left the club for a super­ intendent’s position at Kutchers Country Club in Monticello, NY. Two seasons later— in December of 1981—he returned to The Powelton Club, this time as superintendent. Bob’s commitment to the profession has extended beyond the care of his course. A member of the Hudson Valley GCSA since 1977, he joined the association’s board of directors in 1982, serving as the group’s presi­ dent in ’86 and ’87. Bob also served three years on the MetGCSA board. Though still an active member, Bob ended his board service in 1998. “If nothing else,” says Bob, “I have a clear understanding of what it takes to make professional organizations work.” Just for Fun Bob DeMarco nurse after a fall that resulted in back surgery! Bob’s son, Geoffrey, is now a freshman at Siena College outside Albany, NY, where he’s a member of the school’s hockey team. “It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was manag­ ing his travel hockey team,” says Bob, who’s proud to note that his son’s team made it to the nationals this year. While Bob enjoys hockey, his true winter­ time passion is skiing. Once the temps start to drop, he’s on the slopes as much as possible. But for now, you’re most apt to find Bob on the course prepping for this worthy upcom­ ing event. His word to the wise: “The course may play to just over 6,000 yards, but don’t let the length fool you. The greens are small and sloping, making accurate iron shots para­ mount if you want to score well.” Don’t miss this trip. It is, after all, in the name of research—something the turfgrass profession can never have too much of. As busy as Bob is, he can always sneak in time for family and fun. He enjoys spending time Chip Lafferty, a member of the Tee to Green with this wife of 32 years, Elayne, who’s Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Rye recently returned to work as a registered Golf Club in Rye, NY. (914) 949-1152 FAX (9 14 ) 948-0255 www.argentoandsons.com SA LES AND SERVICE ARGENTO & SONS, IN C . LAWN AND GARDEN EQUIPM ENT JOHN D EER E - BOBCAT - TORO HONDA - STIHL- SCAG REDMAX AL GONZABAY 1 PRO SPEC T AVENUE WHITE PLAINS, NY 10607 (GREENBURGH OFF 119) Tee to Green May/June 2007 Spotlight Whippoorwill to Host the Net’s July Invitational bv1 Kevin Collins f ^ his year’s annual Invitational Tournament will be held July 23 at ^ T h e Whippoorwill Club in Armonk, NY. Making this event all the more special is Whippoorwill’s grand plan to hold this event in honor of its long-tenured superin­ tendent, Chuck Martineau, who is retiring after 37 years of service. Chuck will join the club’s new superintendent, Paul Gonzalez, in hosting the not-to-be-missed festivities. Whippoorwill Then Like the club’s soon-to-be retired superin­ tendent, The Whippoorwill Club has a long and storied history. (We won’t get into Chuck’s storied history here. For that, see me after the meeting.) The land for the club was formally a 500acre estate known as “Afterglow Farm” and was acquired by the original membership in the mid-1920s to establish a summer colony and a golf club. Donald Ross was hired to design the course and construction of the 18hole layout, which was completed in 1927. Fred Ruth, a developer and consultant who had recently been involved with the Fishers’ Island Club project, was hired to guide The Whippoorwill Club in developing its property. Once on the job, Ruth advised club members to abandon the Ross course and bring in architect Charles Banks to design and build a distinctive 27-hole layout. Ruth knew Charles Banks’s capabilities, having worked with him in completing construction of the famous Fishers’ Island Club after the untimely death of course architect Seth Raynor, Banks’s friend, part­ ner, and mentor. Unfortunately, due to limited capital, only 18 holes were ultimately completed by Banks. The planned clubhouse was never built. And due to the depression, Whip­ poorwill was forced to operate as a semi­ private club throughout the ’30s. By the start ofWorld War II, gas shortages had put an end to golf at the course entirely. In 1942, Louis Calder, a local realtor who Tee to Green May/June 2007 developed home sites around the club, pur­ chased the property and paid off Whip­ poorwill’s debts, keeping the club intact until after the war. The course was restored in 1946, and golf was in full swing again by the spring of 1947. Recounting the club’s state of affairs, Chuck says, “Even though the course was waist-high in grass and weeds, the greens were maintained prior to the restoration, so fortunately, all was not lost.” Whippoorwill Now Today, The Whippoorwill Club is consid­ ered the “premiere” Charles Banks golf course, characterized by its rolling terrain and magnificent greens complexes. The putting surfaces are boldly contoured and surrounded by steep drop-offs and deep grass-faced bunkers. In the late ’90s, the club embarked on a complete bunker renovation, one of the first completed in the Met area. A new pump station and double-row irrigation were added. More projects followed. As Chuck remembers, “We reconstructed every tee, hole by hole, enlarging them and squaring them off. At all times, our intention was to keep the integrity of the original design.” Other projects included rerouting the cart paths, adding new bunkers, and restoring the greens to their original size. Chuck remarks, “My favorite project was com­ pleted in 2006. We restored Banks’ original ‘Biarritz’ design on the Par 3 eighth hole. The putting surface measures 10,000 square feet with the telltale swale running through the middle of the green.” All restoration work was done under the watchful eye of Architect Tripp Davis and Chuck. “We have about nine greens to go to get them back to their original dimen­ sions, but now it’s all in Paul’s hands,” Chuck says with a smile. Clearly, the hard work has paid off: The course has been listed among Golfweek mag­ azine’s “Top 100” Classic Courses since 2003. Paul Gonzalez, CGCS Chuck got the golf course bug working on his family’s nine-hole course in Mass­ achusetts as a young man. It wasn’t until he received an honorable discharge from the Marines in 1963, that he pursued any type of formal training. He enrolled in UMass, completing an agricultural degree in 1966. His first superintendent’s job was at Northampton Country Club in Mass­ achusetts. In 1968, Chuck worked a brief stint at Century Country Club with Jim Fulwider Sr. before taking over at The Whippoorwill Club in 1969. Chuck’s resume and longevity in the business are impressive. He’s been a superin­ tendent for 40 years and a Met member for nearly that long, serving as the association’s president in the early ’80s and sitting on one committee or another for every year after. Chuck’s been a loyal member of the GCSAA for 42 years, and a life sponsor of Duck’s Unlimited, a wetlands conservation organization. When asked to cite his proudest profes­ sional achievement, Chuck was quick to point to his time on the board as the Met’s president. “Working with the board,” says Chuck, “my goal was to focus on the future of the association. We refined our member­ ship classes, restructured Tee to Green, cre­ ated a new chapter logo and image, hired an executive director, and added both assistant “My brother Mark and I lived with Bill just about every summer, working alongside him at Edgewood Country Club. It seemed like Bill and his friends had a great time, all the time. It didn’t take me long to know I had found my life’s work.” and affiliate members to the Board of Directors.” Whippoorwill members honored their long-time superintendent at a retirement party they held this past October, present­ ing Chuck with an honorary lifetime club membership. But Chuck’s term isn’t over just yet. Until the end of 2007, he’s serving as a con­ sultant to the club. When he’s footloose and fancy free, Chuck has big plans, like spend­ ing time with his wife,Vicki, and enjoying two of his passions, fly fishing and golf. Good luck in all your future endeavors, Mr. Martineau. Now About Paul Don’t let his age fool you. He may be in his 30s, but Whippoorwill’s new superinten­ dent, Paul Gonzalez—like his predeces­ sor—has also had a long and storied career. “I’ve been working on golf courses every summer since I was 10,” says Paul. “For­ tunately for me, I had an uncle in the busi­ ness.” Paul is referring to Bill Gaydosh, who recently retired as Round Hill Club’s superintendent. “It’s Uncle Bill’s fault I’m in the business. I could have done anything, but I wanted to work for my Uncle Bill. My brother Mark and I lived with Bill just about every summer, working alongside him at Edgewood Country Club. It seemed like Bill and his friends had a great time, all T u ffConnection Depend On Us For Four Season Solutions Joe Stahl (203) 209-6951 Scott Tretera (9 14) 262-8638 the time. It didn’t take me long to know I had found my life’s work,” says Paul. Pleased with their working relationship, Paul followed his uncle to yet another club in New Jersey, the Hackensack Golf Club, where he worked as Bill’s second assistant from 1986 to 1990 while earning a B.S. from Rutgers in Plant Science. From there, Paul went to Brae Burn— the start of his Westchester County career —broadening his experience under then Superintendent Dennis Flynn. One of Paul’s lasting memories of Dennis was born not on the golf course, but rather on a sail­ ing trip. Explains Paul, “Dennis was an avid sailor and had me manning the sails as he steered the boat. The hand crank I was using to trim the sails flew out of my hands and into Long Island Sound. If looks could kill! I don’t think Dennis has ever forgiven me for that one,” Paul adds. After Brae Burn, Paul worked for Mike Leary at Montammy. “Mike was a great guy and I learned a lot from him,” Paul remembers fondly. “I’ve been very fortu­ nate. Growing up in the business, I’ve had the pleasure of having true gentlemen as role models. My Uncle Bill, Chuck Martineau, Fred Scheyhing, and Mike Leary were my mentors. They’re guys who not only were great at what they do, but also knew how to laugh and have fun— even in the toughest of times.” In 1992, at the young age of 25, Paul We have fully stocked warehouses with A L L major brands for quick delivery throughout Metro NY, CT, and Long Island. Hm 6 4 Barnabas Rd, U n it 5 N e w to w n , C T 0 6 4 7 0 w w w .th e tu rfc o n n e c t.c o m assumed the reigns at The Canyon Club. In his 14 years there, Paul provided the mem­ bership with great course conditioning and smooth, fast, healthy greens. Paul met his wife,Terri, at Armonk Bowl in the early ’90s, and they married in 1994. “We went out every night and had a great time—until we had kids,” Paul laments. Paul,Terri, and their children—Brandon, 8, and Brytanny, 5—live in Mahopac, NY. “Every weekend is a block party,” says Paul. “It’s a great place to live.” Becoming the superintendent at Whip­ poorwill, succeeding one of his longtime mentors, is a dream-come-true for Paul. He assumed the reigns November 1 of last year. Paul laughs, “The only thing that comes remotely close to the high I’m feel­ ing right now was beating Mike Scott in the Two-Ball in 2006.” On a more serious note, he adds, “I wouldn’t be where I am today if I didn’t have great assistants and great crews. I owe a lot to Nick Lerner, who’s currently Bon­ nie Briar’s superintendent, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention my last assistant at The Canyon Club, Steve Turchick, who is cur­ rently at Branton Woods.” The Invitational beckons.... Don’t miss the fun! Kevin Collins, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is Northeast territory managerforAquatrols Corp. ofAmerica. Your aerification and drainage solution! Serving the Greater M etro NY area • Dryject Aeration • Deep Tine Aeration • Core Aeration • FloWick Drainage Systems 3 7 O n e o n ta R oad • C a r m e l, N Y 10 5 12 • (9 1 4 ) 6 7 2 -6 0 2 9 Tee to Green May /June 2007 We’re Baaaaack! Old Oaks Welcomes Back Summer Social by Kevin Collins MetGCSA Summer Social returns again this year to Old Oaks Country Club on July 31. The Summer Social has proved to be the Met s most popular event of the season. Last year, more than 150 attendees had the time of their lives—and the rare opportunity to for­ get about life for a while. Our hosts for the evening are Old Oak’s long-tenured superintendent, Mark Millett, and his lovely wife of 35 years, Mary Pat. Mark and Mary Pat are one of the most gen­ erous and kindhearted couples you would ever want to meet. Their penchant for get­ ting people together for parties and social events at their home has gone a long way in keeping many friendships in our association strong. turning point for Mark was working on the crew of Northhampton Country Club, where his cousin, Chuck Martineau who recently retired from Whippoorwill (see Spotlight, page 6), was then superintendent. Convinced that he’d found his calling, Mark next moved to Fenway Golf Club, where he quickly ascended to first assistant under then Superintendent A1 Tretera. After five years at Fenway, and an education from UMass at Stockbridge, Mark became the superintendent at Westchester Hills, where he honed his turf management skills, as well as his golf game. When prodded on his career best round, he vaguely recalled a 68 while he was at Westchester Hills, where he remained the superintendent until 1981, when he Mark Millett accepted the position at Old Oaks. The Climb to Old Oaks A Little Bit of Paradise Mark’s been the club’s superintendent since 1981, but his interest in golf—and turfgrass management—began long before, when he was in high school in Turner Falls, MA. He played on the golf team and worked summers on area golf courses, starting out—along with his superintendent brother Earl—on a nearby nine-hole golf course, the Thomas Memorial Golf and Country Club. The The facilities at Old Oaks are truly magnifi­ cent. The clubhouse—once the mansion of investment banking executive William A. Reed—is spectacular, while the view from the pool area, behind the main building, is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Rebuilt in 1970, the pool was featured in the 1976 movie, Goodbye Columbus. A little bit of para­ dise right here in Westchester County. My Personal Account I had such a good time at last year’s summer social. The DJ was great, and lots of people were up dancing. I recall Fred Scheyhing and Tony Grasso out there “shaking it” for a good part of the night, with their wives, of course. What amazed me is that I know that both of these gentlemen spend about two days a week in physical therapy, which only proves that this event has a “healing” effect on its participants. At one point last year, Bob Steinman, Paul Gonzalez, and I engaged in a “wasabi eating” contest. Boy, did I get burned on that one— quite literally—right between my right and left nostril. Ahhh, the foolish things we guys do when we get together. My final fond memory of last year’s Summer Social was the fact that only Dave Mahoney and I wore shorts. I remember checking with Dave before the party to get his opinion about the acceptability of shorts. Enough said__ It’s an Irish thing. Hope to see you there on the 31st. Knowing full well what the golf season brings, I think everyone will be looking for­ ward to it. Kevin Collins, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is Northeast territory man­ agerfor Aquatrob Corp. ofAmerica. Tee to Green May /June 2007 2007 Met Events Update eres what’s new in our 2007 Superintendent/Green Chairman Meeting and Social Calendar. Tournament We hope you’re planning to Tuesday, October 9 attend these not-to-be-missed association Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo Park, NY events. Host:Tim Garceau Questions? Comments? Looking to book your club for an event next year? Feel Annual Assistants Championship free to contact the appropriate committee Thursday, October 1 1 chairmen. Dellwood Country Club, New City, NY For professional events, contact either of Assistant Hosts: Brian Chapin, Jake Parchen, our Tournament Committee co-chairs: Hunter Horton Blake Halderman at 914-946-1074 or Ken Benoit at 914-241-0700. Our Social & Met Area Championship Welfare Committee co-chairs are Tom Monday, October 22 Leahy (914-941-8281) and Bob Nielsen Bethpage State Park, Black Course (914-234-3779). Both are available to dis­ Farmingdale, NY cuss any upcoming social events. Host: Craig Currier Family Picnic Watch for a mailing! Poa Annual Tournament Monday, July 9 Powelton Club, Newburgh, NY Host: Bob DeMarco MetGCSA Invitational Tournament Monday, July 23 The Whippoorwill Club, Armonk, NY Hosts: Paul Gonzalez, CGCS, and Chuck Martineau Summer Social Tuesday,July 31 Old Oaks Country Club Purchase, NY Host: Mark Millett Education Meeting Wednesday, August 8 Brae Burn Country Club, Purchase, NY Host: Blake Halderman, CGCS Met Championship and Met Area Team Championship Qualifier Tuesday, September 1 1 Colonial Springs Golf Club Farmingdale, NY Host: Mark Chant Annual Meeting November (Date TEA) Mosholu Golf Course, Bronx, NY Host: Erik Feldman MetGCSA Christmas Party Saturday, December 15 The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, CT Host: Scott Niven, CGCS Educational Events Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day (Golf & Fine Turf) Tuesday,July 31 Horticultural Farm II, New Brunswick, NJ The field day will focus on research cur­ rently taking place at the Turf Research facility. Among the studies are: • Anthracnose management on Poa annua greens • Current efforts to convert Poa fairways and greens to bentgrass • New bentgrass cultivars for greens/ fairways • Irrigation management studies on bentgrass • Advances in disease, insect, and weed control Registration for field day activities runs from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Tours are conducted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. followed by lunch from 1 to 2 p.m. For further information, call 215-757-6582 or visit www.njturfgrass.org. University of Rhode Island 76th Annual Turfgrass Field Day Wednesday, August 22 C.R. Skogley Turfgrass Research Facility Kingston, RI The field day offers the opportunity to tour turf plots showing research trials being con­ ducted at the university. In addition, atten­ dees will have access to the largest gathering of regional product distributors outside the New England Regional Turfgrass Confer­ ence and Show. Registration for field day activities runs from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Turf plot tours run from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. And exhibitor booths are open from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. For further information, call 401-8742791 or visit www.uriturf.org. Member Slews New Members Please join us in welcoming the following new members: Guy Gurney, Class SM, Orange County Goff Club, Middletown, NY. Timothy A. Hetrick, Class A, Hollow Brook Golf Cub, Courtlandt Manor, NY. John Pagan, Class AF, All Pro Horticulture Corp., Farmingdale, NY. Peter Webb, Class C, Rolling Hills Country Club, Wilton, CT. In Memoriam All those who played Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, when Richard Valen­ tine was the club’s superintendent will be sorry to hear that Richard passed away Friday, May 23 at 78 years old. In addition to being a prominent and highly regarded figure in our industry, Richard Valentine was a special person. Our condolences to his family. Tee to Green May/June 2007 Centennial Draws a Crowd for Two-Ball Qualifier e had a large and exciting field teeing off at Centennial Golf Club on April 25 for the MetGCSA’s annual Two-ball Qualifier. Although this spring was slow to start, we sure did catch a beautiful day to spend in the hills of Carmel. In addition to the great weather, Glen Dube and his staff had the course in wonderful shape—compliments from the players were continuous—and the rest of the Centennial staff was also a pleasure to work with. Many thanks to everyone at Centennial for hosting our event. You Win Some, You Lose Some With such a large field of contestants, that could mean only one thing: Some teams wouldn’t qualify! Lucky for our returning First Flight champions, Tim Garceau and Ernie Steinhofer (who get the #1 position in the bracket), they didn’t have to qualify because they shot a Net 74, which was four shots off the last qualifying score. This year, we had 10 teams score within one shot of each other, with one of those teams failing to make the cut. Other notable scores were the team of Dave Dudones/Grover Alexander, who last year, shot a qualifying Net 80 and, this year, somehow (somehow = sandbaggers!) shot a Net 58. They ran away with First Place. The most interesting was Andy Drohen/Tom Ashfield. Although they shot a Gross 70 to take home First Place, they qualified by only one shot with a Net of 69. It will be interest­ ing to see if their 1.2 combined index hold up against the 25’s. I don’t think Notable Wins of the Day In all, we had a very competitive race in both the Gross and Net divisions, and most impor­ tantly, it was great to see all these players vying for the limited slots in this season-long event. Dudones/Alexander took home First Net, followed by Scott Ferguson/JimWeiland (the team to watch in the Second Division) with a score of 61. Tony Grasso/ScottTretera and Tony Campanella/Bill Middleton, who both shot 63, took home Third and Fourth respectively. In the Gross Division, we had Drohen/ Ashfield in the lead with Charlie Siemers/ Anthony Flooks just one shot back. A few shots back were Matt Ceplo/Jim Swiatlowski (Ceplo chipped in to birdie the hardest hole on the course with his partner still in his cart) and Chris Smith/Greg Moran, who were tied with 75s. Stay Tuned It is going to be an exciting season-long event, so please be sure to visit our website at www.metgcsa.org for the complete lineup of Two-Ball qualifiers in the First and Second Flight brackets and for up-to-date standings. If you are in the event, note that all matches should be completed by the following dates: Match 1 - June 22 Match 2 - July 27 Match 3 - August 29 Final —September 28 fJEIRRIGATIOIV. fO tO llc " m * ___________ » ______ 5 North Payne Street Elmsford, NY 10523 www.tantoirrigation.com