Jaraary/February 2008
VOLUME 38 VI MIìUlì I

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Cover: Dellwood
Country Club

ii this Issue
Turning Back the Hands o f T im e .........................................
A Sneak Peak at the History of MetGCSA-Funded Research

Chapter N ew s........................................................................................................4
M ember News .....................................................................................................6
U pcom ing Events ...............................................................................................8
Scorecard................................................................................................................ 9
Spotlights..............................................................................................................10

y now, I trust
your winter is moving right along. It seems
like winters are getting shorter and shorter. I
wonder .... Is it global warming, or are we
just busier? Before I get into that, let me
make some announcements.
Our winter seminar was fantastic ... both
well-attended and well-planned with a great
lineup of speakers. (See page 4 for Winter
Seminar recap.) Congratulations to Glen
Dube for a job well done and another round
of applause to our Sherwood A. Moore
Award winner, John O ’Keefe, and our Reid
Award winner, Dr. Joe Troll. Both of these
individuals are more than deserving. I’m
proud to know them and happy to have
them represent our profession. (By the way,
congratulations to John on his election to
the GCSAA board!)
Another outstanding representative of our
profession is Back O ’Beyond Superinten­
dent Mike Maffei. At the conference in
Orlando, Mike was honored with GCSAA s
Excellence in Government Relations Award
in the Advocacy Category. Congratulations,
Mike! (See Member News, page 6, for
details.)
With accolades said and done, I want to
remind everyone to attend this year’s
MGA/USGA Green Chairman Education
Series on March 27 at Wheatley Hills Golf
Club. As always, it will provide a valuable
opportunity for green chairmen, club offi­
cials, and superintendents to gain a mutual
understanding of various golf course opera­
tions and issues.
If you’re a superintendent near or on Long
Island, check out www.cleansweep.org for
the particulars on when and where you can
safely dispose of unwanted pesticides. The
“clean sweep” will take place sometime in
March. But be aware:You must preregister.
Another reminder: Our March Business
Meeting will be held this year at The
Apawamis Club on March 13. Please be sure
to attend this all-important annual meeting.
Finally, I want to encourage you to grab a
cup of coffee, lock the office door, pull out
your pesticide records—you will need

Matt Ceplo, CGCS
MetGCSA President

them—and complete the GCSAA Environ­
mental Survey. I’m not going to kid you; it
will take some time. It’s a detailed survey
that took me more than an hour to com­
plete, but please stick with it. The informa­
tion is important. It will be used by the
Environmental Institute to explain pesticide
use on golf courses throughout the country.
The Behind-the-Scenes Work of
Project Work

Now, back to the issue of being busy. Not
only are we busier doing projects these days,
but we’re also busier trying to justify them.
Why, I ask, is it that every project we do
becomes surrounded with controversy? You
would think that by now I would have got­
ten used to it, but I must admit I can be
dumbfounded from time to time. This year,
our winter project is to continue picking
away at our tree master plan that includes
tree clearing, pruning, planting, cutting
down, grinding up, and transplanting. A little
history ...
Over the years, we received a lot of com­
plaints about tree roots and overhanging
limbs. So five years ago, we formed a Tree
Committee composed of an arborist, USGA
official, green chairman, golf pro, and several
concerned members. Each tree was evalu­
ated according to safety, agronomics, playa­
bility, traffic flow, tree species, and impact on
aesthetics. Some playability issues were even
run past our architect. In the end, a 30-page
tree master plan was assembled and approved
by the Green Committee and board. It was
continued on page 12
Tee to Green January/February 2008

ô ^ a eature
ti
A Sneak Peak at the History of

Research

by David Dudones

here would we
be today without research . . . without the
tried-and-true measures for combating some
of our most meddlesome, if not deadly, turfgrass ills and diseases?
We all know the answer, and it’s not a
pretty picture. Fortunately, our organization
and others in the tri-state area have realized
the value of keeping on top of our various
turfgrass problems. Surprising to me,
though, was just how long ago we began to
support research efforts. After pouring over
the Met’s board minutes from as far back as
1958,1 was overcome with a strong sense of
pride at how our organization was formed
and how committed it was from the start to
funding research to aid members’ most
severe turfgrass woes.
Having benefited, myself, from Metfunded moss research at Cornell (for which
I’m truly thankful), I thought it might be
interesting to share with you my sneak peek
into the past... a look at where our research
efforts began as well as who’s been instru­
mental in growing and disseminating our
funds, both then and now.
For those long-tenured Met members,
you’ll find this more than just a research ret­
rospective, but rather a snippet of history that
you may have actually been a part of.

evident that our founding members had
research on their agenda. The ’50s were a
time of great development in the industry.
Cleary and Dr. Sartoretto developed PMAS.
Otto Link introduced postemergence crabgrass control with DSMA. DuPont gave us
Thiram. Geigy brought DDT to turf and
ornamental users. Diazinon, CaloClor,
Maneb, and others were staples in the 1950s
and forever changed the golf course industry.
In 1959, at the Rutgers University Field Day,
the Met made its first donation: $50 to the
O.J. Noer Fund. The fund was established in
1958 by the friends and colleagues of Noer
to support scientific research in turfgrass.
From 1926-1960, Noer served as head of
the Milwaukee Sewerage Commission Turf
Service Bureau, where he gave agronomic
advice to as many as 80 percent of all U.S.
golf courses, including many in the Met
area. He was probably best known, however,
for his work at the University ofWisconsin
in developing the agricultural value of
Milorganite.
The Met’s largest donation to the O.J.
Noer Fund—now a foundation—came in
1966 in memory of Warren Lafkin, a local
supporter of the industry, first honorary
member of the Met, friend of Noer, and dis­
tributor of Milorganite through his company,
Lafkin’s Golf and Lawn Supply. It was after
Warren died that the distributorship became
the familiar Metro Milorganite, run by
Since the first organizational meetings of Anthony Grasso and the late John Wistrand.
the MetGCSA in late 1958 and ’59, it was

And the Funding Begins

2

Tee to Green January /February 2008

Hyperodes Rears Its Ugly Head

The early efforts to support turfgrass research
were well intended but were made more to
honor a local leader or industry giant than to
resolve a specific turf issue or problem.
However, as turf management programs and
products became more sophisticated, prob­
lems began to surface without a tried-andtrue solution.
One particularly meddlesome pest that
emerged in the late ’60s was the Hyperodes
weevil, more officially known as the annual
bluegrass weevil. About that time, the Met
and Long Island associations had decided to
form a unified research and scholarship fund.
They naturally applied a portion of the funds
they raised to tackle Hyperodes. After a few
years and with some quality research ob­
tained, the Met decided to form its own
research and scholarship fund to keep the
monies closer to home. That was in 1970.

The MetGCSA Scholarship and
Research Fund Is Born

Chuck Fatum, then superintendent of
Fenway, led the development of the Met’s
first Scholarship and Research Committee,
consisting of Anthony Grasso and Chuck
Martineau and the late Sherwood Moore,
Andy Androsko, and A1 Pentenero.
First on their agenda was to develop a sur­
vey to see what problems members deemed

most worthy of their research dollars./ Finding
a cure for Hyperodes still ranked above all else
for most superintendents, but also getting
some press was the development of improved
bentgrass cultivars. It’s no surprise, then, that
the S&R Committees first donation was
$100 to help fund the late Dr. Ralph Engel’s
trip to Europe in search of these improved
bentgrasses.
Throughout the balance of the ’70s, how­
ever, the majority of the funds were ear­
marked for the study of the Hyperodes
weevil. Work completed at Cornell on the
weevil by the late Dr. Haruo Tashiro and then
grad student Pat Vittum identified the life
cycle and general ecology of the species.
At this point, we were donating more than
$2,000 a year to various projects, depleting
our S&R Fund on an annual basis. Dona­
tions increased slightly throughout the ’80s...
and then the next epidemic hit.

Summer Patch Plagues Area
Superintendents

The annual research survey compiled by then
Committee Chair Earl Millet showed,
unequivocably, that patch diseases were the
number one issue facing superintendents in
the late ’80s. To aid superintendents in find­
ing a solution, our association raised dues to
help contribute to Dr. Bruce Clarke’s summer
patch research at Rutgers University. Other
funding in the late ’80s and until 1990 went
to Dr. Pat Vittum’s Hyperodes Degree Day
research and Dr. Richard Cooper’s Bentgrass
Evaluations, both at UMass at the time. At
this point, the Met was spending about $7,500
a year on research, with a minimal balance for
much-needed future projects.
In 1990, the Met decided to extend its
research support further, partnering with
the newly formed Tri-State Turf Research
Foundation. The organization’s intent was to
identify and fund research conducted at uni­
versities in the Northeast and most pertinent
to area superintendents’ turf challenges. The
Tri-State’s first donation—a significant
$28,500—went to support Dr. Clarke’s work
to identify the pathogen causing summer
patch. Today, 18 years later, Met members
make up 20 percent of the Tri-State board and
support the foundation’s efforts with a $2,500
annual contribution.

ations and clubs to help fund many member
superintendents’ most dire research needs.
That’s when Joe Alonzi, a Met board mem­
ber at the time, suggested that we restrict our
scholarship and research funds with the
intent of distributing only the interest. As
Met president, Scott Niven of The Stanwich
Club proposed a $70 dues increase that
would be applied directly to scholarship and
research.
This was the beginning of what would
eventually become the restricted accounts
we have today. While those accounts were
building, individual donations to university
research were limited. The Met was so
intent, in fact, on allowing the restricted
accounts to grow that contributions to
NYSTA and the URI and Tri-State Turf
Research foundations were virtually the only
checks the Met wrote from these accounts.
As supporters of the Tri-State, Met mem­
bers benefited through the ’90s from the
research the foundation funded. On the
heels of Dr. Clarke’s summer patch research,
the Tri-State began funding the late Dr.
Michael Villani’s work at Cornell with
microbial controls for scarab grubs, then Dr.
Noel Jackson’s anthracnose work at URI, Dr.
James Murphy’s study of root zone mixes for
putting green construction at Rutgers, and
Dr. Randy Gaugler’s work with parasitic
nematodes in controlling white grubs.

Moss, Anthracnose, and More

recommendations that have saved numerous
putting surfaces in our area.
Anthracnose is still foremost on area su­
perintendents’ minds, if the results of last
year’s Met research survey are any indication.
Those who responded cited anthracnose as a
continuing top concern.
While the Tri-State supported the an­
thracnose research at Rutgers, the Met con­
tributed funds to the construction of
Rutgers’ all-new Ralph Geiger Turfgrass
Education Center. Located alongside the
university’s renowned turfgrass research
plots, the facility is designed to improve the
educational opportunities for students des­
tined to become future turf industry leaders.
Right now, the Met is also supporting two
other studies that ranked high in importance
on the Met’s recent survey. UConn’s Dr.
Jason Henderson is receiving $10,000 for a
three-year study on fairway topdressing. And
the university’s Dr. John Kaminski has
received $5,000 for a two-year study on
algae control on bentgrass putting greens.

Turf Woes Well Funded

From the very first research the Met funded
on the Hyperodes weevil, our association has
supported studies that the members, them­
selves, felt were most worthy of Met research
dollars. The practice continues, with our
research surveys showing loud and clear
members’ research requests and preferences.
With the need for research ever-present,
it’s fortunate that our restricted accounts are
growing. Now exceeding $300,000 for
scholarship and research combined, they will
someday meet the $500,000 goal suggested
by our financial advisor. When this goal is
achieved, we will generate $40,000 a year
from the interest alone to devote to research
and scholarships.
As a current board member, I think I speak
for my colleagues in thanking past boards
and Met members for their vision in gener­
ating these funds. The 1991 decision to
direct $70 to a restricted account has pro­
vided a strong base to support upcoming
research and scholarship needs.
At a time when we are faced with everincreasing environmental challenges and
more demanding memberships and boards, I
feel comfort in knowing that we will always
be able to support the research essential to
maintaining the integrity of our golf courses.
If you’d like to know more about Met- or
Tri-State-funded research, check out our
website at www.metgcsa.org.

By 1999, the Met’s research surveys had
unveiled yet another turf woe: moss on golf
course greens. In conjunction with the TriState and various other associations, the Met
contributed funds to Dr. Frank Rossi’s
research at Cornell to uncover a sustainable
moss exclusion program. Building on moss
studies of the late ’80s by Cornell’s Dr. Norm
Hummel and U R I’s Dr. Noel Jackson, Dr.
Rossi was able, by the time his funding was
complete in 2002, to put area superinten­
dents on the path to controlling and prevent­
ing the return of silvery thread moss on their
greens.
As the new millennium produced muchneeded moss research out of Cornell, Dr.
Clarke’s anthracnose trials began at Rutgers.
Funded by the Tri-State, fungicide combina­
tions and rotations were evaluated on annual
bluegrass plots inoculated with anthracnose.
Later, Dr. Murphy joined Dr. Clarke
to research the effects of nitrogen, growth
regulators, and abiotic stress factors on an­
thracnose. The goal was to develop best
management practices for anthracnose con­
Within a year of the Tri-State’s inception, it trol. To date, the anthracnose work at David Dudones, co-editor of the Tee to Green, is
became clear that the organization had gar­ Rutgers has provided groundbreaking superintendent at North Jersey Country Club in
nered enough support from other area associ­ chemical rotations and fertilizer requirement Wayne, NJ.

The Tri-State Turf Research
Foundation Makes More Research
Possible

Tee to Green January/February 2008 ( 3

Chapter News

Great Lineup Draws Record Attendance at Winter Seminar
by Dave Moffett

( J M t might have been the unseasonably
M warm weather that brought people
out of the woodwork, but it was more
likely the enticing lineup of speakers that
drew record crowds to the Met’s annual
Winter Seminar held January 16. MetGCSA
President Matt Ceplo greeted the more than
280 superintendent, assistant, and affiliate
members who converged at the Westchester
Country Club in Rye, NY.
Instrumental to the events ongoing success
were, of course, Westchester’s Superintendent
Joe Alonzi and the clubs staff who, once
again, rolled out the red carpet.
Our 27 exhibitor booths provided that
added value that makes this annual event
worthwhile. We’d like to extend a special
thank you to the commercial members who
participated. You’ll find their names and
numbers listed on page 5.
And last but not least, Glen Dube, our
Education chair and session host, worked his
usual magic in selecting just-the-right mix of
speakers, who covered everything from pesti­
cide registration’s effects on the turf industry
to the control of summer stress complex.
Here’s a quick take on the speakers’ adviceto-remember, as well as their contact infor­
mation. All are ready and willing to help.

Pesticide Registration and Its Effect
on the Turf Industry

The educational sessions kicked off with
Rick Fletcher of Cleary Chemical Company,
painting a somewhat bleak picture of the pes­
ticide issues facing our industry. He started
with the basics, explaining the governing
bodies and legislation that regulate restricteduse pesticides in our industry. Then he cut to
the chase, noting the numerous label changes
on the horizon—changes that are likely to
affect the Restricted Entry Intervals (REIs),
Personal Protective Equipment requirements
(PPE), buffer zones, application frequencies,
and even restrict yearly application amounts
for such chemicals as Chlorothalonil, Iprodione, and Placobutrazol. Basically, anything
on the label dealing with safety or exposure is
likely to change within the next five to ten
years, he warned.
But all’s not lost ... yet. He urged each of
Tee to Green January/February 2008

M etGCSA Awards Committee Chair W ill
Heintz strikes a pose with Reid Award
winner Joseph Troll and SAM Award win­
ner John O ’Keefe. Both were honored at
the M et’s Winter Seminar.

us to take the time to fill out the GCSAA
survey and all other pesticide-related surveys.
These surveys, he explained, are used to file
information with the EPA and other agencies
that may ultimately increase the likelihood
that we will be allowed to reregister the prod­
ucts we depend on.
For the future, Fletcher talked of the
Global Harmonization Act. The EPA is
looking at the possibility of creating a uni­
form chemical testing policy to make pesti­
cides currently used in other countries
available in American markets. These include
new or unregistered chemicals, some with
new modes of action.
Rick Fletcher can be reached at 800-5241663 x 1029 or at rick.fletcher@clearychemical.com.

New Disease Alert

Another turf woe that has made significant
inroads in the Northeast is Waitea patch or
brown ring patch. This disease is part of the
Rhizoctonia family and affects Poa annua,
rough bluegrass, and creeping bentgrass.
Identifying brown ring patch can be difficult
because it mimics many other diseases.
Dr. Kaminski’s recommendation for get­
ting a more positive I.D. on this disease is to
harvest a turf sample, incubate it overnight,
and look for the presence of mycelium in the
thatch layer. Another distinguishing feature is
the water-soaked appearance of the ring’s
outer edges.
Brown ring patch is currently best con­
trolled by using chemicals labeled for
Rhizoctonia. Steer clear of products contain­
ing Thiophanate-methyl, which have not
proved effective.
You can review the complete findings of
Dr. Kaminski’s brown ring patch study in
the September 2007 issue of Golf Course
Magazine.
Next on Dr. Kaminski’s list of emerging
diseases was mad tiller disease, having received
many phone calls from superintendents com­
plaining of an elongation and yellowing of
tillers on their courses. According to Dr.
Kaminski, mad tiller disease may be associated
with bacterial wilt or a gibberellic-acid-producing fungus. Either way, he says, this is not
a threat to turf survival, but rather purely an
aesthetic problem.
Finally, Dr. Kaminski spoke of Pythium
foliar blight on Poa annua. The symptoms of
this disease appear as summer patch but are
very slow to develop. He also mentioned the
yellow leaves and melting out associated with
this disease. To keep this disease from
encroaching on your turf, he recommends
continuing preventive Signature programs.
Should an outbreak occur, Dr. Kaminski feels
your best course of action is to apply Banol at
curative rates followed by an application of
Subdue five days later.
At the conclusion of his talk, Dr. Kaminski
emphasized that he and his staff are always
available to answer any questions. You can
reach him at www.turf.uconn.edu.

As if there weren’t already enough turf dis­
eases to worry about, Dr. John Kaminski of
The University of Connecticut brought to
light a host of new turf ills attempting to gain
a foothold on golf courses in the Northeast.
Among those he described were a fall
strain of dollar spot, brown ring patch,
Pythium foliar blight in Poa annua, and mad
tiller disease.
Dr. Kaminski’s assistants are continuing
research on a particularly pesky strain of lateseason dollar spot that they suspect may be
associated with the practice of overextending
spray intervals of late-season chemical appli­
cations. “Budgets become tight,” notes Dr.
Kaminski, “and superintendents wait longer
between applications, unknowingly leaving The morning session wrapped up with an
their courses open to this disease.”
informative talk on retirement investment

Investing in Dur Future

planning by Charles Morgan, a certified
financial planner with A.G. Edwards & Sons.
He stressed the importance of investing early
in order to reach retirement goals. He also
recommended, given today’s uncertain econ­
omy, going with more conservative invest­
ments, the safest being money market
accounts and investment funds with a proven
history and long track records. Investing
heavily in the market, he cautions, can be a
rocky road.
Interesting, particularly to those with a
number of stocks in their portfolio, were the
many slides Mr. Morgan presented showing
the importance of riding out the storm of a
market plunge. Many investors, he notes,
make the mistake of selling when a stock has
bottomed out, facing unnecessary losses. He
showed that by holding on to a stock and
reinvesting dividends, losses could become
gains. He also mentioned IRAs as a safe re­
tirement investment because of their tax de­
ferral advantages.
As for young investors, he stresses taking
care of any debt before initiating a retirement
savings plan. Then to get started, he suggests
picking a fund and having money direct
deposited.
Basically, Mr. Morgan considers any invest­
ment yielding more than 4 percent a quality
investment. He stresses establishing a bal­
anced portfolio to avoid market volatility, and
last but not least, “saving until it hurts,” a prac­
tice we would all do well to consider.
Charles Morgan can be reached at 800688-4081 x210.

Mowers and (ireens Fertility
Management

Dr. Frank Rossi of Cornell University pro­
vided an update on his ongoing greens
mower study, as well as a lesson on putting
green fertility management. Dr. Rossi pre­
sented some interesting information about a
walk mowers frequency of clip (FOC) and
the risks associated with the aggressiveness of
cut, which is determined by the angle of the
bedknife.
In his study, the FOC was determined for
each of the mowers being tested. Dr. Rossi
then set each mowers benchmark height in
relation to the mowers FOC. His data
showed the risk of diseased and damaged turf
was evident in mower heights set below the
mowers FOC. He noted that benchmark
heights in the study were much higher than
the ones being used by members of our asso­
ciation. Dr. Rossi also showed findings that
mowers equipped with bedknives promoting
a more aggressive cut proved to be beneficial
to ball roll and overall playability, while mow­
ers equipped with a less aggressive bedknife
position promoted overall plant health.
Dr. Rossi finished his talk with new infor­

such cultural management practices as aerifi­
cation, topdressing, and root pruning. But
also important is keeping an eye on foliar
nutrient levels. Nitrogen and phosphorus
are key in summer stress complex control, he
explained, as he showed slides that demon­
strated the role these elements play in
enzyme and amino acid production. He rec­
ommends using MKP at five pounds per
acre, tank mixed with Chlorathalonil or
applying products containing amino acids to
suppress the disease on large turf areas such as
fairways. He notes that during times of stress
it is important to provide the plant with
nutrients that are not available by using foliar
or granular applications.
In addition to managing foliar nutrient
levels, Dr. Vargas feels it’s advisable to apply
Aliette Signature combined with Chlora­
thalonil or Iprodione at 14-day intervals at
This years Winter Seminar ended with the onset of hot weather.
You can reach Dr.Vargas at 517-353-9082.
Michigan State Professor Dr. Joe Vargas, who
described his no-nonsense approach to con­
trolling summer stress complex, a complex of Dave Moffett, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is an assistant superinten­
Rhizoctonia and Pythium diseases.
Effective in curbing the disease, he said, are dent at the Round Hill Club in Greenwich, CT.
mation on greens fertility. He touted nitro­
gen as the most important element applied
to our greens, claiming that the cause and
severity of numerous diseases are lessened by
the use of nitrogen.
He also cautioned that calcium and potas­
sium might not play as large a role in fertility
as once thought. Calcium applications, he
said, do not affect the levels in the plant and,
at high rates of application, may actually lead
to the development of snow mold. Dr.
Rossi’s research also showed that no amount
of applied potassium had any beneficial
effects on turfgrass, and that when overused,
it could actually lead to the development of
snow mold.

Psychiatry Won’t Do a Thing for This
Kind of Summer Stress

Special Thanks to Our 2 0 0 8 W inter Seminar Exhibitors

We’d like to thank all the vendors who participated in this year’sWinter Seminar. As a show
of appreciation, we’re listing the exhibitors here, along with the areas of specialty and phone
numbers.
When the opportunity arises, we hope you’ll show these contractors and suppliers the
same support they’ve shown us during our Winter Seminar—and throughout the year.
A. G. Enterprises

Grass Roots, Inc.

Storr Tractor Company

Rick Gordon
Uniforms & Work Apparel, 201-488-1276

Ken Kubik
Golf Course Supplies, 973-252-6634

Al Prestons Garage

Greenacres Company

Rick Krok
Golf Course Equipment and Supplies
908-722-9830

Gary Shashinka
Golf Course Equipment, 203-924-1747

Dave Pijnenburg
Irrigation Installation, 203-748-0558

Aquatrols Corp. of America

Harrell's Turf Specialty

Kevin Collins
Innovative Products for Effective
Resource Management, 609-841-2077

Scott Tretera
Golf Course Supplies, 203-426-7055

Atlantic Irrigation Specialists

Tim Marcoux
Irrigation Specialists, 914-686-0008
BASF

John Bresnahan
Plant Protectants, 413-565-5340

John Deere Golf/Lesco

Charlie Siemers
Golf Course Supplies, 914-755-4202
M atrix Turf Solutions, LLC

Greg Moran
Golf Course Supplies, 845-849-8640

Dave Sylvester
Plant Protectants, 860-841-3173

Bayer Environmental Science

Dennis DeSanctis
Plant Protectants, 732-580-5514
The Care of Trees

Mike Cook
Entire Tree Care Company
914-345-8733
The Terre Company of NJ, Inc.

Byron Johnson
Golf Course Supplies, 973-473-3393
Tru Organics

Robert Saunders
Organic Fertilizers, 203-323-5445

Metro Turf Specialists

Scott Apgar
Golf Course Supplies
203-748-GOLF (4653)

Syngenta

Turf Products

DryJect NE/Turf Pounders

Permapave Industries, LLC

Steve Jordan
21 st Century Aeration, 914-672-6029

Bob Wilkenson
Pavers, 516-584-2110

Jon Barlok
Golf Course Equipment, 800-243-4355
UAP Professional Products

E/T Equipment Company, Inc.

Plant Food Company, Inc.

Jim Calladio
Golf Course Equipment Sales, 914-271 -6126

Dick Neufeld
Liquid Fertilizers, 914-262-0111

George Schofield Company

Steven Willand, Inc.

Larry Dodge
Sand Materials, 732-356-0858

George Corgan
Golf Course Supplies, 203-775-5757

Gerald Fountain
Golf Course Supplies, 877-697-1199
Westchester Tractor Inc.

George Risley
Golf Course Equipment, 845-232-7766
Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.

Bob Lippman
Golf Course Supplies, 845-621 -5067

Tee to Green January/February 2008

Member News Honor Roll

Scholarship Raffle
a Success

The 2007 Annual Bill Caputi Scholarship
Raffle, held at the December 15 MetGCSA
Christmas Party at The Stanwich Club, not
only raised a sizable sum for the Met’s
Scholarship Fund, but also awarded $4,500
in cash prizes to 18 lucky ticket holders.
The raffle is the prime source of the
scholarship awards we distribute to deserv­
ing Met member dependents each year. In
2007, we awarded $20,000 to nine students.
Many thanks to all who contributed to this
worthwhile fundraiser, and congratulations
to our $ 1,000-grand-prize winner, Emily
Carlone, daughter of Meadow Brook Club
Superintendent John Carlone.
Thank you to everyone for your contin­
ued support__
Tony Girardi, CGCS
Scholarship & Research Chairman

Lets give a round of applause to three Mike MafFei, superintendent of Back
MetGCSA members who recently received O ’Beyond, Inc., and a former MetGCSA pres­
high honors:
ident, was presented with GCSAA’s 2008 Ex­
cellence in Government Relations Award in
Ted Horton, a former MetGCSA presi­ the Advocacy Category at the Golf Industry
dent with an impressive resume as superin­ Show in Orlando, FL. Mike received the ad­
tendent in the Met area, is the recipient of vocacy award for his outstanding individual
the 2008 USGA Green Section Award. The and chapter efforts in government relations.
Green Section Award is presented annually Criteria for award selection include the cre­
by the USGA to recognize individuals who ation of programs to encourage member com­
exemplify outstanding contributions and pliance with laws and regulations, effective
dedication to the game of golf through their communication, and building alliances and
work with turfgrass. Now sole proprietor of coalitions with green industry associations.
THC-Ted Horton Consulting in Canyon
Well done, Mike!
Lake, CA, and the executive director of the
California Golf Course Owners Association, Under the guidance of Darrell Marcinek,
Ted received his well-deserved honor at the director of golf maintenance for the Somerset
USGA Green Section Education Program County Park Commission, Quail Brook Golf
in Orlando, FL, in conjunction with the Golf Course was certified as the first RiverIndustry Show.
Friendly Golf Course in the main stem
Ted, who has more than 40 years’ experi­ Raritan River area in New Jersey.
ence in golf course maintenance, is nothing
Recognizing this environmentally signifi­
short of thrilled to be honored by a group he cant effort was the New Jersey Water Supply
has held in such high esteem. “I have always Authority, which initiated the program to
had the highest regard for the Turf Advisory guide golf courses in helping to protect drink­
Service staff,” says Ted, “and I credit a lot of ing water and in becoming models of environ­
my early success to assistance from USGA mental stewardship in their community.
Green Section agronomists, who never hesi­
“We are grateful for the recognition of the
tated to respond to my needs.”
New Jersey Water Supply Authority for our
Congratulations, Ted!
efforts,” says Darrell. “We have always imple­
mented environmentally friendly practices at
all five of our golf courses, and the help and
support of organizations such as the Water
Supply Authority allow us to be even better
stewards of our land.”
Congratulations on a job well done!

Member on the Move

Vincent Pavonetti is the new superinten­
dent at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich,
CT. Former position: Superintendent of the
Edison Club in Rexford, NY.

Births

Congratulations to ...
• Elmwood Country Club’s Chris Alonzi
and his wife, Pina, on the birth of their son,
Christopher Joseph, on January 4
• Maple Moor Golf Course’s Scott Ingram
and his wife, Mary, on the birth of their
daughter, Elizabeth Marie, on December 6.
• Westchester Turf Supply’s Bob Lippman
and his wife, Laura, on the birth of their
daughter, Sarah Jeanne, on November 8.

In Sympathy

We would like to offer our condolences to
Charlie Siemers ofLesco, Inc., who recently
lost his father.

John & Margaret
O ’Keefe

Party hosts Scott
& Dana Niven

Boh & Maria
Lippman
Neil & Gina
Laufen berg

Dennis & Cindy
Flynn

MetGCSA presidents
past & present— Will
Heintz, Matt Ceplo, &
Dave Mahoney (lookingfor
their better halves...)
—

Jeff & Mimi Wentworth
Tom & Paula Weinert
(seated)

Bob & Kim
Alonzi

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors

Helping to make our 2007 Christmas Party
at The Stanwich Club all the more memo­
rable were the generous contributions of
some of our valued vendors. We’d like to
extend a very special thank you to:
Frank Amodio of Valley View Greenhouses
Jon Barlok of Turf Products
Corporation/CT

Dominic Richichi of Dar Par Sales
John Callahan of The Cardinals, Inc.
Buddy Rizzio Jr. of Turf Products
Mike Cook of The Care of Trees
Corporation NJ
George Corgan of Steven Willand Inc.
Jeff Stahl of The Pond Connection
David Frechette of DAF Services, Inc.
Rick Grant of Phoenix Environmental Care Joe Stahl of Harrell’s Turf Specialty
David Sylvester of Bayer Environmental
David Griffin of Down to Earth
Science
Joe Kennedy of Irra-Tech, Inc.
Tom Weinert of Plant Food Company, Inc.
Tim Marcoux of Atlantic Irrigation
John Wickes of Ira Wickes/Arborists
Specialists

John Deere

Your aerification and
drainage solution!
Serving the Greater M etro NY area

Jim Calladio, CGCS
Sales Representative

E/T Equipment Company, Inc.

'U iAfridutM t Z uatity *7un£ SqtUpHtttC"
425 South Riverside Avenue, Croton-On-Hudson, NY 10520
Phone:914-271-6126
Fax: 914-271-6163

Ceil: 914-629-8667

•
•
•
•

Dryject Aeration
Deep Tine Aeration
Core Aeration
FloWick Drainage Systems

www.etequipment.com
jcalladio@etequipment.com

37 Oneonta Road

•

Carmel, N Y 10 5 12

•

Tee to Green Jan uary /February 2008

200$ Met Events Still Looking for Sites!
/J

s you can see, our 2008
/Meeting and Social Calendar
is still a work in progress. If
anyone is able to host a meeting or social
event, please contact the appropriate com­
mittee chairmen. For professional events,
contact either of our Tournament Commit­
tee co-chairs: Blake Haider man at 914-9461074 or Ken Benoit at 914-241-0700. Our
Social & Welfare Committee co-chairs are
Tom Leahy (914-941-8281) and Bob
Nielsen (914-234-3779). Both are available
to discuss any upcoming social events.
Business Meeting

Superintendent/Manager or Guest
Tournament

Date & Site OPEN

MetGCSA Invitational Tournament

Thursday,June 19
Fenway Golf Club, Scarsdale, NY
Host: Bob Alonzi, CGCS
Family Picnic

Date & Site OPEN
Poa Annual Tournament

Monday,July 14
Pelham/Split Rock Golf Club, Bronx, NY
Host: Anthony Hooks

Thursday, March 13
The Apawamis Club, Rye, NY
Host: Bill Perlee

Date & Site OPEN

Two-Ball Qualifier

Date & Site OPEN

Thursday, April 24
Dellwood Country Club, New City, NY
Host:Joe Gardner

Education Meeting

Summer Social

Superintendent/Green Chairperson
Tournament

Tuesday, October 21
Rockland Country Club, Sparkill, NY
Host: Matt Ceplo, CGCS

Annual Assistants Championship

October
Date & Site OPEN

Met Area Team Championship

Monday, October 21
Winged Foot Golf Club/West Course
Mamaroneck, NY
Annual Meeting

November
Date & Site OPEN
MetGCSA Christmas Party

December
Date & Site OPEN

Met Championship and Met Area
Team Championship Qualifier

Date & Site OPEN

Educational Events
The 11th Annual New England
Regional Turfgrass Conference & Show

Monday - Thursday, March 3 — 6
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, RI
Don’t miss this annual event’s educational
sessions and trade show featuring more than
400 exhibitors. Call the NERTF office at
401-841-5490 for further information, or
visit their website at www.nertf.org/show/.
2008 Lower Hudson Golf Show

Saturday —Sunday, March 15 — 16
Westchester County Center
White Plains, NY
Sponsored by The Journal News and
Westchester County Parks, this event offers
organizations in the golf industry the oppor­
tunity to market their goods and services to
the public. The MetGCSA will have a booth
again this year to showcase the role of the
superintendent and to educate the public on
how the work we do on golf courses
enhances the environment.
For further information, contact John
Zanzarella at 914-945-0480 or jazmc@aol.com.
Tee to Green January/February 2008

MGA/USGA Green Chairman Education
Series

Thursday, March 21
Wheatley Hills Golf Club
East Williston, NY
This education series is designed to help
green chairmen, course officials, and superin­
tendents make informed decisions on issues
common to many area golf courses. Among
the session topics:
• UConn’s Dr. John Kaminski will discuss
options for controlling turf diseases in the
face of increasing disease pressure and lower
cutting heights.
• The USGA’s.Jim Skorulski talks about
recent advancements in turf breeding and
turfgrasses.
• The USGA’s David Oatis will shed
important light on golf course renovation
work, while Tavistock Country Club takes
you through the planning and implementa­
tion of its successful renovation program.
For more information on the series or to
register, contact the MG A at 914-347-4653.

UMass Snow Mold Research Field Days

Late winter - Early spring
Dates TEA
Ekwanok CC, Manchester,VT
Berkshire Hills CC, Pittsfield, MA
The Shattuck GC, Jaffrey, NH
Joseph Troll Turf Research Center,
South Deerfield, MA
These field days provide an opportunity to
see first-hand the results of the UMass Turf
Program snow mold field trials for turfgrasses
maintained at fairway height. The trials at the
three golf courses will be used for testing
snow mold products against a mixture of
pink snow mold, Microdochium nivale, and
Typhula Blight, Typhula spp., under natural
conditions. Identification of fungal species at
each site will be confirmed using morpho­
logical characters and DNA techniques.
Since pink snow mold, also called
Microdochium patch (formerly Fusarium
patch), is the most common snow mold in
New England, there will be a trial at the
UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research Center
specifically targeting for Microdochium control
under artificially inoculated conditions and
artificial snow.
For details and workshop dates (call the
UMass Extension Turf Program office at 508892-0382 for further information.

The Two-Ball Final
Round: A Fight to the
MetGCSA Assistants Take Dellwood by Storm Finish
et area assistants were
|greeted by more than just
ïÆ
>
\ the friendly faces of Dell­
wood Country Club hosts Brian Chapin and
Jake Parchen at the October 11 Assistants
Championship. They were met with the
threat of a thundershower, which eventually
did make an appearance, cutting the eagerly
awaited annual event a bit short. Thankfully,
all was not lost. In the end, contestants did
manage to get in some good golf. (See out­
comes at right.)
A big thank you to Brian, Jake, and
Superintendent Joe Gardner for letting us
take over their turf] The place looked great.
It was a difficult day for me: Triple, triple,
quadruple out the gate was not exactly set­
ting a championship pace. But the tourney’s
Individual Net Champion, Jake Green of
Country Club of New Canaan, and
Individual Gross Champion, Andrew Sliwa
of Sleepy Hollow Country Club, were
clearly able to better read Dellwoods fast,
sloping A. W.Tillinghast greens.
Kudos to Brae Burn’s Matt Plosila for the
dart he threw at Hole #9 to win Closest to
the Pin. Talking with many people after­
ward, it was agreed that the pin on #9 was by
far the toughest pin on the golf course.
Again, I would like to thank our hosts.
Without them, this event simply would not
happen. Thank you to everyone who
attended. I hope to see you again next year.

The Results
Individual Net

1st Jake Green, CC of New Canaan
2nd John Knoll, Quaker Ridge CC
3rd Jake Parchen, Dellwood CC
Team Net

1st Jake Green/Mark Dubour
CC of New Canaan
2nd Jim Schell/Rob Crouse
The Stanwich Club
3rd Peter Hunter/Dave Byers
Manhattan Woods GC
Individual Gross

1st Andrew Sliwa, Sleepy Hollow CC
2nd Dave Byers, Manhattan Woods GC
3rd Steve McGlone, Quaker Ridge CC
Team Gross

1st John Knoll/Steve McGlone
Quaker Ridge CC
2nd Brian Chapin/Jake Parchen
Dellwood CC
3rd Andrew Sliwa/Brett Richards
Sleepy Hollow CC
Closest to the Pin

Matt Plosila, Brae Burn CC
Matt Leverich, Greenwich CC
Alan Bean, Wykagyl CC
Steve McGlone, Quaker Ridge CC
Longest Drive

Dave Moffett, Round Hill Club
Brett Chapin, Dellwood CC

his year’s Finals, in both the First and
Second flights, ended up being a con­
test between new versus veteran teams.
In the First Flight, Glen Dube/Blake Halderman paired off against Larry Pakkala/Scott
Niven, with the young guns aiming to send
the veterans home with a loss. In the Second
Flight, we had newbies Brett Chapin/Scott
Apgar and veterans Bob Nielsen/Bill Perlee
vying for the championship title. Both teams
had been easily leaving their competition in
the dust.

First Flight, Blow-by-Blow

Unfortunately for First Flighters Dube &
Halderman, the veterans were not going to be
had. Dube/Halderman were 2 up after 11
holes, but Pakkala got to a stretch where he
got four shots in a row and managed to go on
a par streak (net birdies). The tide had turned.
Dube made a nice putt on 16, halving Pakkala
to keep the match from ending but still leav­
ing it dormy with Pakkala/Niven 2 up with
two to go. Halderman hit an approach shot to
20 feet on the short 17th at Bedford Golf 8c
Tennis, thinking even a par wouldn’t be a bad
score with both guys struggling. In typical
Niven fashion, Scott managed to get up and
down with a great putt to salvage par. This
now forced Halderman to make birdie to
continue the match, but as luck would have it,
he pulled to the left, losing the match 2 8c 1.

Second Flight Story

The Second Flight match teams went on a lit­
tle road trip down to Trump National in
- Dave Moffett Bedminster,
NJ. With both teams equally
skilled at blowing away their competition, it
was a fight to the finish, with the now-infamous CHAP (Chapin/Apgar) team bringing
D0/
home the Second Flight title with a 3 & 2
Glenn Gallion
victory.
Is CHAP going to be the next
Sales Representative
Second Flight dynasty, or are they going to
§
lower those handicaps a bit and face-off
against the big hitters? Only time will tell, but
one thing is for sure: They’ll receive the First
Place position in next year’s event so they’ll
get to see if they can grab the back-to-back
Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
title.
(888) 831 -0891
V. Mail Ext. 210
Thank you, again, to everyone who partici­
(201)931-1730
Fax
(201)954-5878
Cell
19 CentralBoulevard
pated in the 2007 Two-Ball Championship.
gg^lwilfrcdmactlonald.coni
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
And just as important, thank you to those
superintendents who hosted the matches.
Without a place to play, the event would not
be possible.
- Blake Halderman, CGCS
Tee to Green January/February 2008

|

Spotlight

The Met Gets Down to Business at
The Apawamis Club
¿ 7 Ty,,s

by Mike Tollner

,s in shaping the club as it is today, there’s one

being held at The Apawamis Club in
Rye, NY, on March 13. Superinten­
dent Bill Perlee is looking forward to hosting
his first-ever meeting at the club, though he
won’t be able, this trip, to showcase the course.
Once dubbed by Ben Hogan, “The toughest
short course I ever played,” Apawamis is a par
72 that plays just under 6,500 yards.

The Club: Old and New

It’s also a club with history. Recognized by the
USGA and Golf Magazine as one of the first
100 golf clubs in America, Apawamis was
founded in 1890—not as a golf club, but rather
a beach club on the shores of Long Island
Sound. Its name, Apawamis, came from an
American Indian word used to describe an
area near Rye. A few years after the club
opened, it left its seaside roost, buying a small
plot of land and constructing a nine-hole
course. Then, in 1896, the club’s current site
was purchased, and construction began on an
18-hole layout.
Scotsman Willie Dunn of Shinnecock fame
was hired to design the course, much of which
has remained the same. There have been mod­
ifications made over the years, the most recent
in 2001. This renovation was in many ways a
restoration, which involved rebuilding six
greens and a complete bunker renovation that
resulted in the addition of 40 new bunkers.
No small undertaking, this project also
included expanding many of the fairways,
rebuilding the tees to add length where possi­
ble, and constructing a practice chipping and
putting facility. Today, work is focused on a
selective tree removal program in an effort to
improve turf health.

Whoa, What a lot of Tournaments

The club has played host to many, many golf
tournaments over the years. The most famous
would be the four USGA championships,
including the 1911 U.S. Amateur, the 1978
Curtis Cup, and most recently, the 2005 Senior
Women’s Amateur. Apawamis has also hosted
numerous American Junior Golf Association
events. Sergio Garcia won one of these events
in the mid ’90s as an amateur.
Though these events have played a crucial role

> Tee to Green January/February 2008

annual event that stands out among all others:
the United States Seniors Golf Association’s
annual championship. This will be the 103rd
year that the club has hosted this event,
which began back in 1905 when a member
decided to invite about 50 of his friends, all
55 years or older, to play in a one-day tour­
nament. The event has evolved over the
years as a two-day, 36-hole competition, with
about 500 players at Apawamis, Blind Brook,
Round Hill, and Bedford Golf & Tennis
Club. This tournament brings amateur
golfers from all over the country together
every year, holding a place close to the hearts
of the Apawamis members.

A Bit About Bill

Making the course a fine playing field for
these cherished club events is none other
than Bill Perlee, who’s entering his 12th year
as Apawamis s superintendent.
Bill took an interesting, and by today’s
standards, unconventional route to where he
is today. He grew up in Northport, NY, on
the north shore of Long Island. What you
probably don’t know about Bill is that, in
addition to his turf training, he has a degree
in computer science. He earned his B.S. in
1987 from Empire State College while he
worked on the maintenance crew at
Nissequogue Country Club in St. James, NY.
“I worked as the nighttime waterman, at a
time when the club had only a single-row,
manual irrigation system.” Bill did this for
three years. A job that would have driven
someone else out of the business served as a
steppingstone for Bill.
At this point, Bill was dating—not yet
married to—his wife, Lorah. When she took
a job in the Westchester area, Bill decided to
follow, leaving Long Island and Nissequogue
to pursue a career in computer science.
“When nothing surfaced,” says Bill, “I
decided that my best play would be a career
in golf course management.”
He was hired as the assistant superinten­
dent at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, under
then superintendent Joe Camberato. After a
short time there, Bill approached Joe about
pursuing formal turf training. Joe’s response:
“You’ll learn more here in six months than
two years in school could teach you.”
“I’m not so sure that’s true,” says Bill,“but I

have to say I gained a tremendous amount of
knowledge and experience under Joe that I’ve
carried with me throughout my career.”
After five years under Joe, who eventually
retired after 40 years at Sleepy Hollow, Bill
took his first superintendent’s job at Burning
Tree Country Club in Greenwich, CT. “After
one year there,” says Bill, “I finally got some
formal training.” He completed Cornell
University’s Winter Turf Management Course
and then spent the next four years at Burning
Tree mastering “the fine art” of drainage.
Bill’s drainage skills are evident today at
Apawamis. Over the past 11 years, Bill has
corrected various drainage problems on the
course and, this past summer, has even installed
internal drainage in some of the greens. “I’m
looking forward to seeing big improvements
on those greens this year,” says Bill, acknowl­
edging that his work to improve the course’s
drainage is still a work in progress, ultimately
designed to improve both playing conditions
and how the course recovers after a rain event.

Off the Course

When Bill is off-duty, he’s usually on-duty
with his family. He and his wife, Lorah, have
two children: Sarah, 12, and Bryan, 10. Bill and
his family are avid skiers and snowboarders,
spending as much time as they can during the
winter on the slopes. During the season, when
Bill’s most busy, so are his kids, whose sports
and activities fill any spare moments in Bill and
Lorah s schedules.
When time permits Bill enjoys a good
round of golf. He had success in 2007 with
partner Bob Nielsen of Bedford Golf & Tennis
Club, finishing second in their flight in the
Met’s annual Two-Ball Tournament.
Although you won’t get a chance to tee it
up at Apawamis this March, come on out to
the Business Meeting. It’s a great chance to
catch a glimpse of the golf course and a look at
the historic, 100-year-old clubhouse. It’s also a
perfect opportunity to catch up with fellow
members before the hustle of another season
begins.
Mike Tollner; a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is the assistant superintendent
at The Apawamis Club in Rye, NY.

Spotlight

Joe Gardner Invites Met Two-Ball
Qualifier to Take Flight at Dellwood

by Eric O ’Neill

í J J n April 24, Met members will
/ convene at the picturesque DellV
wood Country Club for its annual
Two-Ball Qualifier. Hosting the event is Joe
Gardner, the clubs superintendent since
2003.
Nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley in
the town of New City, Dellwood was once a
playground for the rich and famous. In the
early 1920s, Paramount Pictures founder
Adolph Zukor purchased 1,200 acres from
the State of New York. Dubbed Mountain
View Farm, it became a romantic Hollywood
weekend getaway spot for stars and directors.
Also rumored were Zukor’s movie release
parties where neighbors and friends were
treated to previews of the latest releases and
in-person introductions to the new flicks’
directors and stars.
In 1923, Zukor hired famed golf course
architect A. W.Tillinghast to build an 18-hole
championship golf course, complete with a
clubhouse, guesthouse, and, of course, a movie
theater. During the Great Depression, how­
ever, Paramount Pictures went bankrupt, and
Zukor was forced to sell the property. In
1948, part of this impressive estate—along
with many of its original stone structures—
became what is known today as Dellwood
Country Club.
The course, a par 71, is vintage Tilli around
the greens. “The greens can be very demand­
ing,” warns Joe. “Your approach shot should
be below the hole, and watch the slopes; they
create speeds and breaks that you need to
think through carefully.” The fairways are
tight with some slope, and the course empha­
sizes placement and accuracy rather than
length. The one aspect of the course that all
golfers—no matter what their skill level—can
appreciate is the picturesque backdrop of
Northern Westchester’s rolling green terrain.
W

Joe’s Career Takes Off

Joe, a Danville, OH native, worked on golf
courses all through his high school years, not
giving a thought, then, to making it a career.
He went on to college, earning a B.S. in psy­
chology from Otterbein College, not far from
his hometown.
After graduating, Joe wanted to live close to
home and had little interest in engaging in a
lengthy job search. He jumped at a position

in the field he knew best, signing on as a
member of the maintenance crew at The
Country Club at MuirfieldVillage in Dublin,
OH. Joe enjoyed six years there, climbing
the ladder to assistant.
In 1999, he saw an opportunity in the Met
area and accepted an assistant’s position at
Lake Success Village Golf Course in Great
Neck, NY. It was at this point that he real­
ized the golf course management industry
was for him.
He accepted yet another assistant’s position
across the bridge at Old Oaks Country Club,
where he worked under Superintendent
Mark Millett and, at the same time, began
pursuing formal turf management training at
Rutgers, completing his certificate in 2001.
“I had heard great things about both Mark
and Old Oaks,” says Joe, who is quick to
credit Mark with opening many doors for
him. “He introduced me to good guys in the
area and was a great mentor.”
One of those “good guys” Joe met was
Brian Benedict, who was then the assistant at
Century Country Club. “When Brian went
on to Seawane as superintendent and told me
of a construction opportunity there, it was an
easy move,” says Joe. “It gave me an opportu­
nity to see another side of the business, and
what I learned has enabled me to handle the
in-house projects at Dellwood with far
greater imagination and creativity.”
Joe spent three years at Seawane helping
Brian in the transformation of all but the last
five holes. Joe left for good reason: He was
offered the opportunity to become Dellwood’s golf course superintendent.

Look at All He’s Hone

Joe Gardner

Joe’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed among
his membership. “Our aggressive approach
with cultural practices has really improved the
course’s appearance and the way it plays, not
to mention turf health,” says Joe. So it
appears Joe’s professional philosophy holds
true: “Hard work and solid cultural practices
always pay off in the end,” he says.

Your Average Joe

He may be a superstar on the job, but when
Joe Gardner’s off-duty, he is just your average
Joe. He puts his pants on one leg at a time—
like the rest of us—and, hey, he’s a husband
and father who enjoys spending his down­
time with his wife, Margaret, and 4-year-old
daughter, Emma. He likes football, too—al­
though not so much this season with Notre
Dame having one of its worst years ever and
the Cleveland Browns coming up one game
short of the playoffs.
Well, at least he finds some peace—and
quiet—in another of his favorite pastimes:
hunting. “I enjoy being out there by myself,”
he says. “It reminds me of those peaceful
mornings on the golf course.” Joe also follows
NASCAR and The PGA Tour. “The Met area
has so many great arenas for sports: football,
golf, basketball, baseball, tennis, hockey ... you
name it. It’sjust a great place for a sports fan,”
he explains.
And for Joe, the Met area has also proved a
great place to call home. “I’ve received topnotch training, experience, and education in
the Met area, and I’ve had the good fortune of
being surrounded by truly great people. What
more could I ask for? ...
... Maybe just that everyone come on out
to Dellwood on the 24th for a genuinely
good round of golf.

During Joe’s five-year tenure at the club, he’s
initiated numerous course improvement
projects, starting with an extensive tree pro­
gram that’s involved removing non-native
species and pruning native hardwood species
to highlight and enhance the overall appear­
ance and health of the trees.
This program triggered another. “We’re
working to reestablish some of the course’s
original integrity,” says Joe. “Removing trees
gave us grounds to expand our greens to Eric O’Neill, a member of the Tee to Green
their original size, as well as recapture Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Towers
approach and fairway contouring and bring Country Club in Floral Park, NY.
greenside bunkers back into play.”
Tee to Green January /February 2008

President’s Message continuedfrom page 1
then placed in the front office for all who
were interested to see.
We are now in year four of this plan. Not
surprisingly years one, two, and three
received overwhelming support from the
membership. Year four ... well, that’s a slight­
ly different story. Now, it could be that I
made a critical error in tagging trees sched­
uled for removal. Unfortunately, we had a
warm spell where we had a lot of play, and
yes, those bright, hot-pink ribbons can be
seen from miles away. But I didn’t think we
needed to hide anything. And we are in year
four! I thought we had developed, and per­
haps even deserved, some credibility by now.
I know I’m not alone. Take out the word
tree, and substitute the word bunker, tee, or
any other type of extensive project, and you
can expect the same. It’s the groundbreaking,
getting started process that’s usually most
controversial ... where they see the mud, tire
ruts, closed holes, temporary greens, and bull­
dozers and excavators stuck in the middle of
fairways. (In my case, the odds of the log
truck sinking up to its axles at the farthest
part of the course at 3:30 on a Friday after­
noon is 50/50.)
I guess it all just comes with the territory.
We’re the ones with the experience and the
foresight to know that the end justifies the
means. We continually push to make our
courses better. That can mean some long
hours, even in the winter. If we have to take a
few on the chin in the name of progress, so
be it. Having everyone’s support, of course,
helps in the motivation department.
Speaking of motivation, I’m hoping that
my contractor will get motivated to get
started soon ... that Mother Nature will give
us some nice frozen ground with no snow ...
and that we’ll have the areas cleaned up and
sodded before the snowbirds come back from
Florida.
I was watching the Golf Channel and saw
one of the GCSAA commercials designed to
promote our profession. And it struck me:
We truly are the unsung heroes.
Matt Ceplo
President

o

Tee to Green January/February 2008

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Kevin P. Collins

Tel 732-580-5514
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D & D Tu rfw o rk s, I n c .
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David Griffin

GOLF COURSE CONSTRUCTION
DRAINAGE
FIELDSTONE WALLS
TURF RENOVATION
ATHLETIC FIELD MAINTENANCE

Cell 914.413.3173

golf course construction

___________ Dennis Flynn__________

P.0. Box 719 Harrison, N.Y. 10528

Phone: 914-962-1871 Pax 914-962-1871
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Tel 914.576.7693 Fax 914.241.6986

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G EO RGE CORGAN
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4 Production Drive
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Jacobsen ♦ Cushman ♦ Ryan ♦ Club C ar ♦ Steiner

turf products
corporation
Proud Supporters of Metropolitan GCSA

Jon Barlok

Customers, Our Top Priority
Scott Apgar, President
914-879-9357

Danburv Office : Garv and Tom
203-748-4653

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I Bayer - Quali Pro - Aquatrols - Cleary - BASF - Lebanon - Emerald Isle - Egypt Farms

800 Centra! Street
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Pat Crag in

Commercial Equipment

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(860) 729-2237

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Rick Gordon
Staff Uniforms
201-488-1276 / Fax:201-489-5830
Merrickl60@aol.com
www.AGEnterprisesonline.com
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Gary Shashinka
Massey Ferguson Tractors
203-924-1747
© Aquatrols Corp. of America
Kevin P. Collins, N.E.Territory
Manager
“Innovative Products for Effective
Resource Management”
609-841-2077 / Fax:845-228-1728
kevin.collins@aquatrols.com
Argento & Sons, Inc.
Louis Argento
1 Prospect Avenue
White Plains, NY 10607
914-949-1152
louis@argentoandsons. com
© Atlantic Irrigation Specialties, Inc.
Ed Santalone / Tim Marcoux /
Ray Beaudry
111 Lafayette Avenue
N. White Plains, NY 10603
800-878-8873 / Fax:914-949-4901
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Dave Sylvester
“Backed By Bayer”
860-841-3173
© Blue Ridge Peat Farms
Gene Evans
Topdressing ~ Divot Mix, Topdressing
Sand, Bunkers
570-443-9596 / Fax:570-443-9590
© D & D Turfworks, Inc.
Dennis Flynn
“Work That You Can Be Proud Of”
914-962-1871
dndturfworks@optonline.net
DeLea Sod Farm
Long Island, NY
Bentgrass, Bluegrass, Fescue Sod
USGA Construction Mix,Topdressing
Rick DeLea: 631-368-8022
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Construction
David Griffin
“All Phases of Golf Course
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914-576-7693 / Cell: 914-413-3173 /
Fax:914-241-6986
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Kevin Collins / Steve Jordan
“Your Aerification and Drainage
Solution”
914-672-6029 / Fax:845-228-1728
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©

©

©

©

©

©

O

©

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East Coast Sod & Seed
Kevin Driscoll
Sod ~ Bentgrass, Fescues, Shortcut Blue
Cell: 609-760-4099
Office: 856-769-9555
Egypt Farms, Inc.
Dean Snyder
P.O.Box 223
White Marsh, MD 21162
410-335-3700 / Fax:410-335-0164
dean@egyptfarms.com
Emerald Isle, Ltd.
Doug Middleton
2153 Newport Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
734-846-4167
doug@emeraldisleltd. com
E /T Equipment Co.
Jim Calladio / Bruce A. Pye /
Gerry Grant
John Deere ~ One Source
914-271-6126, ext. 112/
914-271-6163
info@etequipment.com
Greenacres Company
Dave Pijnenburg
75 Codfish Hill Road
Bethel, CT 06801
203-748-0558
Harrell’s Turf Specialty
Joe Stahl / Scott Tretera
Joe:203-209-6951
Scott: 914-262-8638
www.harrells.com
Ira Wickes / Arborists
JohnW.Wickes
11 McNamara Road
Spring Valley, NY 10977
845-354-3400 / Fax:845-354-3475
info@irawickes .com
Irra-Tech, Inc.
Joseph D. Kennedy
18 Merritt Street
Port Chester, NY 10573
914-937-7273
Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Rob Good
Professional Ground-Water and
Environmental Engineering Services
860-678-0404 / 203-929-8555
LESCO, Inc.
Charlie Siemers
66 Primrose Street
Katonah, NY 10536
914-755-4202
Matrix Turf Solutions, LLC
Greg Moran
Products ~ Knowledge ~ Service
845-849-8640

© Metro Turf Specialists
“Customers, Our TOP Priority”
203-748-4653 / Fax:203-743-0458
www. metroturfspecialists .com
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William Gaydosh / John Luciano
645 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY
914-946-6666 / Fax:914-949-6453
JohnL@natlawn.com
© Partac Golf Course Top-Dressing
“America’s Premium Top-Dressings”
800-247-2326 / www.PARTAC.com
Bill & Joe Carriere: 914-937-2136
© Plant Food Company, Inc.
“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”
TomWeinert
914-262-0111 / 800-562-1291
Soil Solutions LLC
Aerification Professional
Anthony Decicco / John Decicco
7 Whittemore Place
Ryebrook, NY 10573
914-393-0659 / Fax: 914-939-5010
O Steven Willand, Inc.
Quality Turf Equipment
George W. Corgan
4 Production Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
203-775-5757 / Cell: 914-213-3622
© Storr Tractor Company
Flowtronex PS I
Rick Krok / Gary Lynott
Pump Sales & Service
908-413-3403 / 516-523-2012
Surfside Wetting Agents
Liquid ~ Granular ~ Pellets
ZAP! Defoamer
Robert Oechsle: 800-401-0411
© Syngenta
Plant Protectants
Dennis DeSanctis Jr.
732-580-5514
Dennis.DeSanctis@syngenta.com
O Tanto Irrigation
William Bartels
5 North Payne Street
Elmsford, NY
914-347-5151
© The Cardinals, Inc.
John Callahan
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies
800-861-6256 / Fax:860-673-8443
© The Care of Trees
Mike Cook, NY: 914-345-8733
Ken Clear, CT: 203-847-1855

The Pond Connection
Jeff Stahl
203-858-4136
www. thepondconnection. com
© The Roger Rulewich Group
David Fleury / MarshallVictor
Golf Course Design, Renovation, &
Construction
800-465-3668 / Fax:413-648-0211
© The Terre Company of
New Jersey, Inc.
Byron Johnson
Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock, &
Fertilizer
973-473-3393
© Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Skip Deubel
800-243-7582 / Cell: 860-306-8883
www.tuckahoeturf.com
© Turf Products Corp. / TORO
Pat Cragin, Irrigation: 860-874-2812
Jon Barlok, Equipment: 860-729-2237
Main Office: 800-243-4355
Amodio s: 914-328-0190
© UAP Professional Products
Turf Seed ~ Fertilizer ~ Plant
Protectants
Gerald Fountain: 877-697-1199
Chris Hyman: 631-278-7958
© Westchester Tractor, Inc.
John Apple / George Risley /
Jeff Underhill
60 International Boulevard
Brewster, NY
845-298-7766
www.wtractor.com
© Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
Bob Sc Dave Lippman
“Serving the Fine Turf Profession”
845-621-5067 / Fax: 845-621-7180
westturf@comcast.net
© Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
Glenn Gallion
19 Central Boulevard
S. Hackensack, NJ 07606
888-831-0891 / Fax:201-931-1730
William A. Kelly & Company, Inc.
Charity Kelly / Eric Kelly /
Tom Olver
Construction Manager, General
Contractor
914-232-3191 / Fax:914-232-3812
wakelly@bestweb.net
Winding Brook Turf
Michael Krudwig
240 Griswold Road,Wethersfield, CT
800-243-0232 / Cell: 860-883-0475
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