Special Feature for Assistant G olf Course Superintendents Board of Directors CCS/] P resid en t A N T H O N Y G IR A R D I, CG CS Rockrimmon Country Club V ic e P resid en t R O B E R T NIELSEN JR ., CG CS Bedford Golf &Tennis Club Cover:The Meadow Brook Treasurer BLAKE H A L D E R M A N , CG CS Club. Brae Burn Country Club Photos by: Bill Thompson Photography, S ecretary GLEN D U B E , CG CS www.billthompson.com Centennial Golf Club P ast P resid en t M A TTH EW CEPLO, CG CS Rockland Country Club R O B E R T A L O N Z I JR. Fenway Golf Club K E N N E T H B E N O IT JR ., CG CS GlenArbor Golf Club M ARK CHANT Colonial Springs Golf Club DAVID D U D O N E S NorthJersey Country Club PAUL G O N Z A L E Z , CG CS The Whippoorwill Club M A R K MILLETT Old Oaks Country Club STEVEN R E N Z E T T I, CG CS Pinnacle Turf, Inc. n this Issue SC O T T O L SO N Scarsdale Golf Club E x ecu tiv e Secretary INEKE P IE R P O IN T Tee to Green Staff DAVE DUDONES 973-942-0566 E d itors PAUL GONZALEZ 914-273-3755 Managing Editor PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Com m ittee EVIN COLLINS SCOTT NIVEN PAUL GRABBE ERIC O ’NEILL DENNIS GRANAHAN BILL PERLEE I CHIP LAFFERTY GLENN PERRY 1 NICKLERNER MIKE REEB DAVE MOFFETT MIKETOLLNER GREGWOJICK Departments mJKÊÊÈk _______________________________________ G overn m ent R elation s U pd ate ..................................................................... 9 S c o r e c a r d ..............................................................................................................10 Designer TERRIE DUNKELBERGER U p c o m in g Events .............................................................................................11 Photographer BILLPERLEE M em b er N e w s..................................................................................................... 11 Advertising Manager MARK MILLETT, 914-949-4203 S p o tlig h ts..............................................................................................................13 TEETOGREENis published bimonthly by the Metropolitan G olf Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road[ Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright © 200 9 . A Special Feature W ritten by— and for— A ssistant G o lf C ourse Superintendents H o w to Land That ‘Super’J o b ..................................................................2 O h, H o w T h ings H ave C h a n g e d !............................................................ 6 Current Periodicals SERIALS S E P 1 4 2009 MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES The 2009 Season Is Far From a Washout i happy to say that this season’s proved better than fore­ casted. Though the recordbreaking rains brought their fair share o f challenges— added disease pressure, mechanical damage to turf while trying to prep the course for play each day— this seems like nothing compared to years past. Particularly when you think back on what it was like to manage our courses through the high temps and drought periods that hit pretty regularly from the m id-’90s through last season. h . ID S 0< r s And then there’s the economy. Remember all the doom-and-gloom about how reduced spending would affect the golf industry? Thankfully for most of us in the Met area, nothing completely devastating came to pass. And for those of us who did suffer budget cuts and staff reductions, we’ve done a great job of navigating through choppy waters. Although we’re still not completely out of the woods, I think we can all feel pretty good in that we, as superintendents, have done our part to help our clubs get through a very dif­ ficult time. Bring Fuel to the Industry Our hope, now, is that the golf industry, as a whole, continues to respond favorably in the next couple of years so we can grow the game of golf not only for our generation, but also for future generations. With this in mind, the World Golf Found­ ation has launched a new program called “Get Golf Ready.” Nationally branded, Get Golf Ready is designed to bring new golfers—and former golfers—into the game by providing reasonable education and in­ struction (five 60- to 90-minute group golf lessons at just $99!) at golf facilities through­ out the U.S. that have been certified to par­ ticipate in the program. The World Golf Foundation hopes to sign up 5,000 golf locations through 2011 with the promise of attracting 270,000 new adult golfers into the industry. In dollars and cents, the foundation projects that the program will generate $700 million in golf-related spend­ ing over the course of this three-year initia­ tive and spur 2.1 million new rounds of golf at courses across the country. Because initiating and keeping a program like this up-and-running can be a tall order, the foundation is reaching out to national, regional, and local golf associations, as well as manufacturers, media, and companies for financial support. All facets of the industry—the PGA of America, USGA, and GCSAA to name a few—have answered the call by donating sig­ nificant sums to help administer the program, plus provide stipends to certified facilities. To date, the foundation has raised $2.6 million— still shy of its $3 million goal over three years. This is the program in a nutshell. Anyone Tony Girardi, C G C S M etG C SA President interested in learning more can go to GetGolfReady.com or PlayGolfAmerica.com, where consumers will be directed to go in order to hunt down a program in their area. This is an ambitious program to say the least, but what a great idea for stimulating the golf industry—and, in turn, our means of livelihood—in a tough economy. Don’t Miss Our Season’s Closing Events I’d like to close my President’s Message by urg­ ing everyone to participate on our season’s remaining golf events. We have our annual Met Championship, along with the Met Area Team Championship Qualifier and the wor­ thy Poa Annual Tournament scheduled for September 29 at The Meadow Brook Club. On October 19, there’s our Superintend­ ent/ Green Chairperson Tournament at Sleepy Hollow, and last but not least is the Met’s Annual Assistants Championship on October 20 atWykagyl Country Club. I want to encourage all our member super­ intendents to support their assistants by allow­ ing them to take a day to attend the Annual Assistants Championship. Far too few seem to take advantage of this important opportu­ nity to connect with their peers, share their summer experiences and knowledge, and just kick back and have some well-deserved fun. While we’re on the subject of assistants, in this issue, we’ve recognized their important role with an article that both assistants— and the superintendents they work with—will enjoy reading. Please be sure to bring this arti­ cle—written by and for assistants—to their attention. Here’s to an enjoyable remainder of the summer season. Tony Girardi, CGCS President Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 eature A Special Feature Written h' —and for— t dolt Course _ r __Jen d en ts... In this issue, we’d like to recognize the important role assistant golf course super­ intendents play in our daily golf course maintenance operations with two special feature articles. Though intended to offer helpful advice to assistants looking to hasten their progress up the career ladder, these articles will appeal to every turf professional— from graduating students to seasoned superintendents. We’d like to offer special recognition to our three authors, who collaborated to bring us these special feature articles and who not only work tirelessly at their jobs, but also find the time to contribute to the Tee to Green and the Communi-cations Committee. Our hats off to ... How to Land That Super’ Job Sage Advice for Assistants Itching to Move Ahead D avid M offett ofA rdsley C ountry Club Paul Grabbe o f N orth Jersey Country Club, and M ike Tollner o f The A paw am is Club. , to manage a course of your own? Sorry to say that, these days, a superintendent’s job might not come as quickly—or easily—as you’d like. The main hurdle: sheer numbers. The average superin­ tendent job posting typically draws at least 150 applicants—with a good number from impressive clubs outside the Met area. But don’t despair. If you’ve got the right stuff and follow these often-unspoken rules for success, you’ll up your chances of landing that superintendent’s job . . . sooner rather than later. Rule #1: Set Personal Goals. Before launching into a serious job search, set your own personal goals. “The last thing you should do,” says Westchester Country Club Superintendent Joe Alonzi,“is settle for a job that falls short of your goals—just to get the title of superintendent. You have to think,” he continues, “about where that job will bring you next. Is it a good stepping stone to a bigger and better position someday—or a dead-end job that may actually harm your chances of moving up the ladder?” Fenway Superintendent Rob Alonzi is another proponent of making careful choices. “The assistants’ jobs you accept— particularly the last one— should reflect your ultimate goal,” he suggests. “If you want a high-profile superintendents job in the Met area, it’s ideal to have an assistant’s position at a top facility. It makes that grand leap a little easier.” Keep in mind that personal goals come in all shapes and sizes. “Your personal goals might focus more on a lifestyle choice than on the status and salary associated with a prestigious club,” says GCSAA Director of Career Services Lyne Tumlinson. “Being a multi-facility superintendent or even a GM may be a goal for some. Others may set their sights on a less stressful position that allows for more quality time with family and friends.” Whatever the goal, Winged Foot Superin­ tendent Matt Burrows contends, “Whether preparing for an interview, learning to play an instrument, or losing weight, we should always try to improve. A goal, backed by a strong plan and burning desire is the recipe for success,” he continues, adding, “This suc­ cess philosophy has been cited in books such as As a Man Thinketh and The Secret. ” Rule #2: Network, Network, Network. Let’s face it, it’s often who you know, not what you know, that gets you the job. Country clubs, after all, are no different than companies:They like, and tend to trust, refer­ rals. In fact, companies get as many as 40 per­ cent of their new hires this way. Clubs are likely no different. “If you don’t already have a connection at the facility you’re applying to, go out and find one,” advises Brae Burn Superintendent Blake Halderman, who credits his meteoric rise from assistant to his third superintend­ ent’s job with doing the behind-the-scenes legwork needed to find that all-important someone who could put in a good word for him. “When I was looking at Minisceongo, I got the names of two people in the industry who had contacts at the club; that got me in for the first interview,” says Blake, crediting Larry Pakkala, then his boss at Woodway, for helping him make that valuable connection. According to G C S A A ’s latest statistics, assis­ tants tend to remain assistants for 7 or 8 years, typically moving into the top slot when theyyre around 32! “Besides your superintendent, talk to con­ tractors and sales reps,” advises Blake. “They get around; they know people. At TrumpWestchester, his contact just happened to be a contractor he knew who was working with Tommy Fazio on the course construction project. “In the end,” says Blake,“it all comes down to taking some initiative, thinking outside the box. If you know, for instance, that a head­ hunter’s doing the search, put yourself in touch with him . . . directly or perhaps through a contact you may have. You can’t expect a club’s hiring committee to just pluck your resume out of a stack of several hundred when there’s absolutely no connection.” David Dudones of North Jersey Country Club is another proponent of networking as a key aspect to getting yourself noticed. “Make time to attend association meetings and industry events. Your objective is to get your name out there,” says David, who’s been a member of the MetGCSA board for the past four years. “Introduce yourself to superin­ tendents and sales reps. Join a committee. Sure it takes time and effort, but the payback is tremendous: Aside from being a resumebuilder, volunteering your time on a com­ mittee offers you greater visibility, profes­ sional recognition, and a wealth of network­ ing contacts.” Some facilities, admittedly, aren’t keen on assistants taking time away from the job, but GCSAA’s Lyne Tumlinson has a few thoughts on how to turn around this unfortunate point of view: “Try to demonstrate how your atten­ dance at these meetings can actually benefit your facility,” she says, “by perhaps starting conversations about the latest research find­ ings reported at a meeting or discussing what you learned another facility is doing to solve a particular problem—especially if it’s one you’re struggling with on your course. Your attendance at meetings is a much easier sell when your boss understands that it’s truly not just an excuse to go play golf.” Rule #3: Identify a Mentor. Look for a person who has the right positional power and experience to help you reach your goals. A mentor is someone you can ask questions, share ideas with, and turn to for career advice. Some superintendents are especially wellknown for grooming beginners for future success. Blake feels when deciding where to work as an assistant it pays to look at the superintendent’s track record for turning out superintendents. “I didn’t realize how im­ portant this was until I worked for Larry Pakkala at Woodway,” says Blake, noting just how many assistants left “Woodway Univer­ sity,” as it was affectionately called, to become successful superintendents. Matt Burrows fully believes that identify­ ing not only mentors but also role models is an important component to becoming suc­ cessful. “Everyone has weaknesses or limita­ tions,” he explains, “and the sooner you can realize what they are, the sooner you over­ come them. Mentors are people who have overcome your same limitations and can teach you how to do so as well. “Role models, on the other hand,” contin­ ues Matt, “are those who inherently possess the strengths you wish you had, so you emu­ late them.” Rule #4: Choose Your Career Path Carefully. When you’re vying for a superin­ tendent’s position, where you’ve worked often means more to interviewers than what you’ve actually done. Convinced that experience and even edu­ cation take a backseat to the kind of clubs you’ve named on your resume, Blake remembers a conversation that took place when he applied for the superintendent’s position at Minisceongo. “The hiring com­ mittee talked for at least 25 of the 45 minutes of my interview about Muirfield Village where I worked for just a short time as an intern. Was that the reason they hired me? I doubt it. But I’m sure it didn’t hurt,” he says. “Just as companies love to boast about hir­ ing a Harvard or Princeton grad, club mem­ bers love to say that they ‘got the guy from a Top 50 course,’ ” says former Greenwich Country Club Superintendent GregWojick, admitting that he often felt he was battling the stigma of coming from a public course. But if your career path hasn’t led you to some of the “big-name” clubs, take heart. “Not all regions of the country are as competitive as the Northeast,” emphasizes GCSAA’s Lyne Tumlinson. “And if you’re looking to change or elevate your situation, your resume can be written to overcome your past,” she continues, adding, “Net­ working and establishing contacts can also give you an edge— often more of an edge than being able to rattle off a list of top-name employers.” Rule #5: D on’t Overstay Your Welcome. Though assistants are remaining assistants for a longer period of time, that doesn’t mean you should stay put in the same job. Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 “Unless you’re involved in a major project at a club, where you’re continuing to learn new skills,” says Matt Burrows, “you should­ n’t stay in the same assistant’s job for more than four years. Any more than that, and you’ll just be spinning your wheels.” Fenway Superintendent Rob Alonzi has a similar philosophy: “I feel strongly that peo­ ple should move around, particularly right after college, to see other superintendents’ operations and management practices.Three years is enough in any one place,” he says, adding, “I never worked in a management position for my father or uncle. I knew how they operated and felt it was important to gain a broader perspective. Moving around also had the added benefit of building my network of contacts.” Pelham Country Club Superintendent Jeff Wentworth also emphasizes the benefit of experiencing a variety of operations, but he recommends doing it sooner rather than later . . . as a student. “I interned in three metropolitan areas to gain experience and expand my network,” says Jeff. “Experienc­ ing different golf course operations while still in school is a great opportunity to start building lasting business relationships and contacts for the future. “Current assistants, too, should test the waters at different clubs. At this point, though, they should be looking for the type of positions that will prepare them for the next step, by offering them an opportunity to expand their skill set and develop a heightened level of responsibility,” says Jeff. Rule #6: Be Willing to Go Where the Job Is. If you’re tied to one part of the country, you seriously limit your chances of getting that head job. “I wanted a superintendent’s job so badly I applied everywhere from Puerto Rico to California,” says Blake. As it happened, through local networking, the biggest move he made was from Darien, CT, across the Tappan Zee to Pomona, NY. “Some of the most successful superintend­ ents in the country have moved not once, but many times to chase their goals,” says Matt Burrows, who left his Detroit hometown and his girlfriend, family, and friends to pursue the pedigree for his resume and benefit his career. “I moved around the Northeast numerous times not knowing a single person where I was going. I was willing to make sacrifices to get where I wanted. One of my favorite quotes is,‘Great achievement is usu­ ally born of great sacrifice.’ ” Rule #7: Immerse Yourself in the Game o f Golf. To be successful in your career, most superintendents would agree that it’s important to not only develop your skill as a golfer, but also thoroughly understand the game: the rules, the top professionals, the best courses and even their architects. “Play other golf courses besides your own, particularly some of the better ones in the area,” advises David Dudones. “You never know, it could help you build rapport with people on the hiring committee who may have played one of the courses, and if you could talk intelligently about other facilities’ operations, conditions, and grooming prac­ tices, you can’t help but make a positive impression,” says Dave, adding, “You have to remember, golf is the reason members join clubs. If you don’t share their interest, excite­ ment, and passion for the game, it’s likely your resume will be shuffled to the bottom.” Matt Burrows takes appreciating the game a step further: “Know golf course architec­ ture,” says Matt. “Study up on it. As TMG Golf’s Jim McLoughlin teaches, when you interview, you have to have some bullets in your gun; the more bullets you have available, the better. “Knowing the top architects, their particu­ lar styles, and being able to explain the importance of certain conditioning for their architecture ... those are all bullets for inter­ views and fodder for cocktail party conversa­ tions,” continues Matt. “It shows hiring committees and members that you know more than just turf; you’re well-rounded and knowledgeable.” Rule #8: Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk. You want a head job? Act like you already have it. This doesn’t mean treading into your boss’s territory, but it does mean, according to Joe Alonzi, assuming the stature of a superintendent. “Assistants who want to move ahead should look the part, shaving regularly and dressing appropriately,” says Joe, “and just as important, they should maintain a professional attitude both on and off the course. After all,” he adds, “you never know when you’ll run into a member—or a prospective boss.” Matt Burrows takes a hard line on both acting and looking the part. “Clubs don’t want the old grass farmer in the barn any­ more. You’ve got to be able to grow grass and be polished,” says Matt. “Know how to match your belt to your shoes. Shave. Wear your hat the right way. Be able to speak artic­ ulately and write coherently. It’s what the members who do the hiring value and respect.” Rule #9: Read. “Reading is such an impor­ tant tool for success,” says Matt Burrows, who is, himself, an avid reader. “Assistants should be reading books on golf course architecture, construction, and history, as well as books on leadership and self-improvement. Not only are you gaining useful skills and knowledge, but you are also expanding your vocabulary in the process.” Aside from golf-related reads, some of the books you’ll find on Matt Burrows’ shelf: The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey; How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie; Think, and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill; and The People Code by Dr.Taylor Hartman. Rule #10: Create a Strong Resume. This should be a simple and concise representation of your personal work history and education. Its sole purpose is to get you an interview, so be sure it’s perfect. Errors and bad organiza­ tion will turn away prospective employers quickly. After all, if your resume is sloppy, your work probably is too. If you’re a little shaky on resume-writing protocol, there’s good news: GCSAA offers members a variety of resume writing serv­ ices, from refining an existing resume free of charge to creating an all-new resume for a reasonable $145 fee. You can access this serv­ ice on GCSAA.org. There are also numerous other online resume services (though at more than double the GCSAA rate), offering templates and professional help, all designed to get you noticed and help you stand apart from your competition. Another resume, of sorts, that’s gained favor in recent years is the personal website. Unlike company websites, personal websites are ... w ell... more personal, offering a visual tour of a person’s every career move and accomplishment, along with an opportunity to provide prospective—and current— employers with rapport-building personal data and information. “When used to share what is being done to maintain or enhance the course— and why—a personal website can serve as both a marketing tool for your golf facility and a passive job search tool for you,” says GCSAA’s LyneTumlinson. “These days, it’s not uncommon for assis­ tants— and superintendents—to take a digital camera around the course with them to doc­ ument course projects and cultural practices specifically for their personal website,” says Apawamis Club Superintendent Bill Perlee. “And it does seem,” he continues, “that club members and hiring committees are as interested in learning about a person’s oncourse abilities as they are in finding out about an individual’s pastimes and interests,” says Bill, citing this as one of the advantages to posting a personal website. Like resume writing, there’s GCSAA and a number of other online services and inde­ pendent companies available to help. Rule #11: Never Turn Down an Oppor­ tunity to Interview. Even if it’s not the job of your dreams, take the interview. You may find after interviewing that you actually like the golf facility, but if nothing else, practice makes perfect . . . or near-perfect anyway. And the more experience you have inter­ viewing, the more comfortable you’ll feel when the “big one” comes along. Blake’s word to the wise on interviewing: “You want to be confident but not cocky. The people who go in thinking they deserve the job generally aren’t the ones who end up getting it.” Another point: “Keep in mind,” says Blake, “when the club is looking to bring someone in to turn conditions around, be gentle in your approach. Members pay a lot to belong to their clubs and don’t want to hear too harsh an assessment of their course and con­ ditions. A better tack is to explain how you might enhance a particular area or at least express confidence in your ability to make some nice improvements.” Rule #12: D o the Work o f an Investi­ gative Reporter. A proven way to differen­ tiate yourself from the hordes of other candidates is to know more about the golf facility and the job you’re applying for than your rivals. The way to do that? In short, do your research. Job notices will frequently offer a brief description of the facility, but that’s not enough. Go online and investigate the facil­ ity’s history, philosophy; learn the particulars of the golf course and the maintenance oper­ ation. Find out if there are any renovation projects planned, underway, or recently com­ pleted, and what they might be looking for in a new superintendent. And last but not least, actually visit the course. As a courtesy, con­ tact the current superintendent about your visit and check to see when might be a good time. “If possible, you should also come equip­ ped,” notes Tumlinson, “with the names and titles of the people you might be interview­ ing with.You’ll appear more confident—and interested—if they know you took the time to learn their names.” In the end, interviews are as much about preparedness as performance. Arriving pre­ pared will not only calm the jitters, it will also make it far easier for you to demonstrate just how uniquely equipped you are for the job. Rule #13: Dare to Be Different. “If you want to stand out from the crowd, you’ve got to do something to stand out,” says Greg Wojick, a former Greenwich Country Club superintendent, whose company, Playbooks for Golf, also offers personal websites and job consulting services for professionals in the turf management field. Before interviewing at Greenwich, Greg investigated what the club wanted in turf conditions. “I discovered they were inter­ ested in converting their Poa fairways to bent,” he says. “I cut three sod squares—one Poa, one bent, and one ryegrass—put them in a briefcase, and when the time was right, I popped open the case and did a little showand-tell, even plunking a golf ball down on each of the sod squares to show the hiring committee just how the ball lies on the differ­ ent turf varieties. At the time, I was recom­ mending going from Poa to rye to bent. Interestingly, not knowing which sod square was bent, they all selected the ryegrass as their favorite after the demonstration! “They were impressed, I’m sure, with the creativity of my presentation, but just as important was the enthusiasm I projected.” Rule #14: Conduct a Post-Mortem. When the interview is over, jot down some notes. Think about what you did well and what you could improve on. Other expert advice: Be sure to write the questions you were asked and the answers you gave. Over time, a notebook with 50 to 100 questions could be a valuable resource, particularly in helping you prepare for future interviews. Rule #15: Always Follow Up. “Ifyou really want the job,” says Blake, “following up is cru­ cial. Write a letter to the general manager and, at the very least, to the head of the hiring committee. Mention the high points of the interview; restate why you’re well-suited for the job and how you can meet their needs. Then reconfirm your interest in the position. It’s a great opportunity to put your name in front of the hiring committee ... once again.” “Always follow up within 24 hours,” says Tumlinson, noting that email is acceptable in most situations. Rule #16: Keep Abreast o f Industry Trends. In today’s highly competitive job market, it’s crucial that you continue to develop the knowledge and skills needed to stay on the leading edge of turf management and technology. “When I have two candidates who are very comparable,” says Joe Alonzi,“I always go with the person who has more schooling. You can never get enough education,” he adds. “It’s what sets you apart from the pack.” In the End As an assistant, you can’t—and really aren’t expected to—know it all. One of the prime attributes, however, that you should acquire early on, and maintain throughout your ca­ reer, is a positive, can-do attitude. You will call on this skill more than any other to carry you and your crew through the stresses, strains, and hard work involved in running a golf course operation—your own, one day. Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 o you walk through the statuesque clubhouses in the Met area, your eyes are drawn to the old black-and-white photo­ graphs that decorate their storied halls. Vintage automobiles perfectly lined in park­ ing lots, past champions posing stoically to adoring galleries, and the fantastic pictures of the strong, stern-faced men of grounds crews past. There are pictures of men cut­ ting grass on tractors with spiked metal “tires,” crews watering from hoses attached to a tractor-truck, and the almost biographi­ cal pictures of past maintenance crews hud­ dled outside the ramshackle “maintenance facility.” Their faces weary from the work described on other pictures. In these timeless photographs, two things always stand out: the fact that the work has not changed over the years, only the tech­ nology, and the lasting image of the rugged, dirt-covered individual standing to the right of the course superintendent, not looking at the camera because there is not enough time in the day to pose for a stupid picture. Yes, he is the assistant golf course superintendent. The roles and images haven’t changed much over the past decades. Or have they? Canvassing industry professionals— from superintendents to academicians—it seems some things change . . . while so much re­ mains the same. Follow us as we relive past roles of the assistant golf course superintend­ ent and peer ahead at what’s in store for assistants in the future. I From Foreman to Assistant | Before the days of the assistant superintend1 ent, many golf courses had one person who f had been with the club a long time and l knew the inner workings of the facility bet| ter than anyone else. In most cases, this perI son was known as the foreman and had I responsibilities similar to those of today’s | assistants. “The title of assistant superintendent didj n’t exist 30 years ago,” says Fenway Golf | Club’s Bob Alonzi. “The first club to have I an assistant,” I believe, “was Winged Foot. And my brother, Joe, who started as an assisI tant at Burning Tree back in 1970, was I among the first to hold the assistant tide.” Roles and Responsibilities: How Different Are They? Today, foremen have been replaced often by not just one assistant, but two and some­ times more, depending on the size of the facility. Newer still to many operations is the arrival of the “assistants in training” position. This position is designed to allow recent graduates to spend a year or two essentially learning the ropes until a full-fledged assis­ tant s position becomes available. “It was unheard of when I started in the industry to have a turf degree,” says Bob Alonzi. “But as interest in the industry increased, programs at schools were devel­ oped for turf students interested in becom­ ing assistants and superintendents. Jim Fulwider Sr. and the late Ted Jozwick were two of the first superintendents to have a formal turf-related degree,” says Bob. Times have changed. Today, according to a recent survey, 90 percent of all golf course superintendents have some type of formal education. And many more turf students are graduating from turf management programs with degrees ranging from an associate’s to a bachelor’s and beyond. In response, colleges and universities throughout the country are either enhanc­ ing their turf programs or starting brandnew ones. SUNY Delhi in upstate New York is a school that’s expanded its turf program to include both a two-year and four-yeardegree program. Also new to its curriculum is a Professional Golf Management program. The University of Connecticut is an example of a school that’s developed a very reputable turf management program, offer­ ing students the opportunity to graduate with a now highly sought-after bachelor’s. Michigan State Professor of Turfgrass Management Dr. John Rogers III is a strong proponent of pursuing a bachelor’s. “A four-year degree gives turf students oppor­ tunities that a certificate program can’t: to learn skills beyond turf maintenance that are increasingly important to success on today’s golf course. “My advice,” says Dr. Rogers, “would be to take some additional classes in account­ ing, business, management, and communica­ tions or writing. These are skills that will be needed in the future.” Though the winds of change are clearly blowing, when you really get down to it, is the role of the assistant, today, all that different? If you ask longtime Met area Superinten­ dent Bill Perlee, he’ll tell you certain aspects of the assistant’s job have changed little, if at all, since his days as the assistant at Sleepy Hollow, where he worked in the late ’80s, early ’90s for then Superintendent Joe Camberato. “The daily tasks— course setup, material applications, irrigation repairs— these are the same responsibilities I had as an assistant,” says Bill. Someone who took the unconventional route to becoming a golf course superintend­ ent, Bill, now superintendent at The Apawamis Club in Rye, NY, has a bachelor’s in computer science and a love for the game. He found his way into golf course management when jobs in computer science were scarce. His early industry experience as a greenkeeper and nighttime waterman on a manual irrigation system led him to Sleepy Hollow. He has since completed many turf courses, including the Cornell University Short Course, but it was his experience as the assis­ tant at Sleepy Hollow that prepared him to become a golf course superintendent. “The old guys in the business were tough,” says Bill. “I was late for my own wedding rehearsal because a horse had crossed a green, and I had to repair it.” (They obviously didn’t have second and third assistants to cover for him back then!) But fortunately, Bill’s wife, Lorah, forgave him; they’re still married today. Veteran Superintendent Joe Alonzi of Westchester Country Club points to a job function he had as an assistant that just does­ n’t exist today in the Met area: that of parttime mechanic. “When I started out,” says Joe, “very few clubs had full-time mechanics, so the assistant had to spend part of his days repairing the equipment.” John Carlone, superintendent of The Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, NY, took the traditional route to turf management, completing his bachelor’s in 1983 from the University of Rhode Island and then landing his first assistant’s job at The Stanwich Club, right out of school. Though, like Bill, John feels the core tasks assistants perform are basically the same today, he does note one significant difference: “I think superintendents today give assistants far greater management responsibility, something that was almost unheard of 20 years ago.” It’s true. Assistants today are more involved in course and employee management deci­ sions, which these days entail a little more than just having finely developed people management skills. “It helps to be at least somewhat conversant in Spanish,” says Dr. Rogers, noting that Michigan State has added a Spanish course to its curriculum to better prepare students for working in an industry that is dominated by Spanish-speak­ ing laborers. Many assistants’ responsibilities also extend into budget planning and making a strong presence at green committee meetings. And then “thanks” to the increasing de­ mands and expectations of club memberships to produce tournament-quality conditions and ever-faster green speeds, assistants’ skills have been put to the test. They have to make judgment calls and perform agronomic feats, flying solo when the superintendent is called to a meeting or other off-course commitment. The Internet: The Saving Grace With all the stress and strain of meeting member expectations, at least assistants today can turn to the internet for answers to diffi­ cult questions and mystery turf problems. “This is a resource I wish existed 20 years ago,” says John Carlone, who along with his assistant, knows its value. “We had an issue this spring with either cool-season brown patch orWaitea Patch,” says John. “Since they are almost impossible to tell apart without DNA testing, I suggested that my assistant Google controls for both. Within an hour, we were out spraying the best material for con­ trol of these two particular diseases.” The internet also opens up a world of opportunities to learn and broaden your knowledge far beyond the boundaries of the course you work on. Searching university and chemical company websites spare you from “I think superintendents today give assistants far greater management responsibility, something that was almost unheard of 20 years ago. ” -John Carlone, CGCS Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 having to dust off the old textbook to edify yourself on a topic. And online turf forums enable both assistants and superintendents to communicate and discuss issues that may be common at many courses, or unique to their own facility Technology’s Role in the Role of the Assistant Technology has truly changed the face of the golf course management industry. It’s allowed us to achieve more picture-perfect conditions than were imaginable several decades ago. Look, for instance, at how mowing and irrigation have changed over time— and how these maintenance practices are still evolving. In the “olden days,” only greens were watered—with sprinklers that had to be physically dragged out onto the green. Now, one 18-hole course can have a system with anywhere from several hundred to several thousand irrigation heads keeping the course watered from wall to wall. These systems are so elaborate that they require a dedicated individual just to stay on top of repairs and routine maintenance. Recognizing a need for more education in this area, Michigan State University will be adding one credit to its irrigation class in the spring of 2010. Look also at the change in mowing. In­ stead of a large tractor-drawn gang mower handled by one employee, most courses now have three or four employees on smaller units, some with onboard computers pro­ grammed with the height of cut. But more amazing still is the potential for robotic mowing. “At the Golf Industry Show this year, the Precise Path RG3 Robotic Greens Mower had everyone spec­ ulating where our profession is headed,” says North Jersey Country Club Superintendent David Dudones. Will this futuristic machine eventually replace skilled laborers? Will it, perhaps, require assistants to become mowing techs, more skilled in this equipment’s operation than in employee management? Only time will tell. The Environment: Taking Stewardship to New Levels When it comes to environmental awareness, oh, how things have changed. Here’s a story that couldn’t demonstrate this better: “When I first started in the golf course business,” says Bob Alonzi, “we used chemi­ cals that have long since been banned: Mercury, DDT, Chlordane, to name several. When I was 19 or 20, working summers on a golf course crew, we used to buy DDT in 50gallon drums and didn’t do anything by spe­ Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 cific weight. We’d use a coffee can to meas­ ure one pound of material and we’d put out three coffee cans of material on the fairways every week. “Every fall,” he continues, “we’d spray Chlordane on the fairways, whether they needed it or not. When we reached the bot­ tom of the DDT barrel, we’d stick our heads in to fill up our coffee cans. If I behave kind of funny, now you know why,” says Bob with a smile. Needless to say, those days are gone. Long gone. Over the past decade, in fact, environ­ mental concerns—and awareness—have soared. These concerns have caused us to put the environment at the forefront of many of our golf course management practices. Many members have become Audubon Cooperative Sanctuaries and others, like Westchester Country Club, have been recog­ nized for their environmental stewardship, which in Westchester’s case involved taking measures to protect water quality and quan­ tity, promote wildlife on the course, and ini­ tiate an IPM program that, with vigilant scouting, has enabled them to reduce pesti­ cide applications on his course. This trend isn’t going to go away. The environment will continue to play an increasingly important role in how golf courses are maintained and, as a result, in the tools assistants will need to keep pace—and succeed. It’s hard to say, precisely, what the future will bring. But it wouldn’t be a surprise if, in the coming years, we were forced to strictly adhere to an IPM program, like our col­ leagues to the North in Ontario, Canada. Their journey to pesticide-free maintenance practices prompted the May 2009 Golf Course Management article “Goodbye Pesti­ cides, Hello Paperwork.” New regulations will most certainly re­ quire an IPM exam and accreditation for the course, as well as more detailed documenta­ tion and recordkeeping. Water will, no doubt, be among the top concerns of the near future. We haven’t suf­ fered prolonged drought restrictions in this area yet, but it may be only a matter of time before drought is no longer a prerequisite for imposing water restrictions. “It’s crucial,” says Preakness Hills Property Manager John O ’Keefe, “that assistants begin preparing for the future by positioning themselves on the leading edge of environ­ mental issues. That means understanding and thinking about best management practices for water and chemical use. Taking a proac­ tive approach to these issues, while continu­ ing to focus on maintaining a high level of course conditioning, can only benefit assis­ tants as they begin their search for a superin­ tendent’s position,” adds John. Skill Set of the Future Given the challenges ahead, what is the best course of action for assistants? Just about everyone we spoke to agreed it’s ongoing education. Many skill-enhancing webcasts and O N DEMAND classes are available on GCSAA.org, including a long list of agro­ nomic studies and Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint— two programs that turf profes­ sionals, assistants included, are expected to use in developing budgets and high-caliber presentations, often for an interview. And with the ever-increasing regulatory pressures, certificates of specialization in GCSAA’s Environmental Management Program can provide you with exceptional qualifications for positions at the growing number of golf operations that are being constructed as environmental models. “Completing these courses,” says GCSAA Director of Career Services Lyne Tumlinson, “has the added benefit of awarding GCSAA education credits that can be used toward your Class A certification.” A nice bonus. “Pursuing educational opportunities through GCSAA is one of the most effective ways to stay on top of new industry develop­ ments and trends,” says John O ’Keefe, who as a director on the GCSAA board is commit­ ted to building initiatives designed to support assistants in their career development and success. “I feel it’s critical,” says John, “that we, as superintendents and chapters, work along with the GCSAA to continue to promote and advance our assistant superintendents. They’re our future golf course superintend­ ents and potential chapter and GCSAA lead­ ers,” he continues. With this in mind, GCSAA has been working hard to provide assistant superin­ tendents with quality education, programs, and career services. Three years ago, GCSAA formed an Assistant Superintendent Task Group that’s now a standing committee. And beginning this month, Golf Course Manage­ ment will run an assistant superintendent col­ umn in each issue. And then the annual Golf Industry Show has many educational sessions planned specifically for assistant golf course superintendents. “These are just several of the many ways GCSAA works to promote our assistant superintendents,” says John, emphasizing that assistants should be sure to take advantage of all that GCSAA has to offer. Final Note While still in the throes of the long, hot days of summer, it’s important for assistants to stay focused and remember their goals. Years of school, more years of paying back student loans, and 60-plus-hour workweeks can, and still do, pay off. Remaining focused is always the best way to achieve the goal so many of us have: get­ ting that first head job. Westchester County Gasoline Tank Requirements Clarified by Bob Nielsen, CGCS, MetGCSA Government Relations Representative f v— ■ e aware: Westchester County inspectors have been policing Petroleum Bul k Storage (PBS) facilities—which includes area golf courses—look^ f M ing for violations in New York State DEC laws. These laws have been in ^ ^ place for the past 22 years but, until now, were loosely enforced. To help you avoid hefty fines when a county inspector calls in at your facility, here’s what you need to know about gasoline tank requirements. First, as the chart below indicates, only those golf course facilities with a gasoline tank that’s more than 250 gallons need to be concerned. For tanks 250 gallons or larger, the tank’s installation date will also play a role in the requirements you’ll be expected to meet. Note that meeting the Stage I Vapor Recovery requirement means having the devices in place to prevent vapors from escaping into the air when the delivery truck pumps fuel into your tank. The Stage II Vapor Recovery requirement specifies that you have the devices in place on your gas pumps to prevent vapors from escaping into the air as you pump gas into your vehicles. This chart assumes an annual usage of 120,000 gallons of gasoline or less. Golf courses, of course, fall well within this range. Gasoline Tank Size (Gallons) Tank Installation Date Requirements Less than 250 All Years None 250 or Greater Before 0 1 /0 2 /1 9 7 9 Submerged Fill 250 or Greater 1 /0 2 /7 9 to 6 / 2 7 / 8 7 Stage 1 250 or Greater After 6 /2 7 / 8 7 Stage 1and II Among the violations Westchester County inspectors have been uncovering when con­ ducting their routine inspections: tanks installed without fill buckets ($500), improperly cleaned fill buckets ($1,000), and improper color-coding of fill ports ($100). Note, too, that if an inspector shows up when you’re getting a gas delivery and the truck fails to hook up to your Stage I Vapor Recovery device, both you and the truck driver are subject to a $1,000 fine. Westchester County inspectors mean business! For further details on gasoline tank requirements, type “PBS facilities” or “gasoline tanks” into the search engine onWestchestergov.com. Waste Oil Information Correction! During our August 6 Education Meeting, I was mistaken when I said that you could not have more than one 55-gallon drum of waste oil at your facility. You may, in fact, have as many drums as you’d like— as long as you register as a PBS facility and ensure that your drums are properly labeled, stored, and checked daily. You’ll find more on these require­ ments listed on theWestchestergov.com website. Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 Wykagyl team strikes a pose with their trophy (left to right): Ben Hojfhine, head golf profes­ sional; Sasha Mrdelja, Wykagyl board member; Mike Scott, golf course superentendent; Bill Rudolph, Wykagyl member. Scorecard Wykagyl Takes Invitational Trophy by Ken Benoit, CG CS W full field at this year’s much-antici— pated MetGCSA Invitational, held at The Stanwich Club on June 25. Though Mother Nature provided us with a rare day of spectacular weather, it was the event, itself, that stole the show Stanwich exceeded all expectations—which were admittedly high—with its superior course conditioning and five-star-quality hospitality. After an enjoyable and challenging round of golf, participants were treated to a wonder­ ful assortment of food and beverages... and a special awards ceremony. Gene Westmore­ land, former MGA Senior Director of Rules and Competitions, was presented with a small token of our appreciation for all he has done to help local superintendents over the years. He received a gift certificate for dinner at one of his favorite restaurants and two tickets to a Broadway show. A special thank you goes to Scott Niven and his crew and to the entire clubhouse staff for making our Invitational such a huge success. Wykagyl shot an impressive round of 55 to take home the net trophy. Fenway shot a round of 65 to win the gross division. Here’s a look at the full lineup of winners. Individual Low Pro 65 HeathWassem, Fenway Golf Club Closest to the Pin #4 Eric Cook, Club Official Aspetuck Valley CC #8 Gary DeRosa, Club Official Wheatley Hills GC #13 CoHn Amaral, Golf Pro Metropolis CC #16Tony Girardi, Superintendent Rockrimmon CC Net Team Winners Longest Drive 55 Wykagyl Country Club 58 Cherry Valley Country Club #2 Guy Gurney, Superintendent Orange County GC #9 Robert Glick, Golf Pro Sands Point GC #17Jack Boyce, Club Official Gross Team Winners 65 Fenway Golf Club 65 Pelham Country Club 3' 7" 9' 9” 8' 6” 4’ 2” Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Championship by Larry Pakkala, CG CS ' f -— ontestants dodged the raindrops to r / O complete the first round of the 2009 —^ Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Champion­ ship. There were many great matches, and with them, a lot of good stories. Here are a few of the highlights that contestants submit­ ted to us for print. At Metropolis Country Club White Plains, NY In an epic battle, interrupted for more than an hour by a severe lightning storm, the team of Kevin Collins/Nick Lerner defeated Rob Alonzi/Mike Cook 4 & 3 in match play. Lerner, hampered by hip and knee injuries, closed out the match with a par on the diffi­ cult par 3 15th. In the press tent after the match, Lerner was very direct when asked about the future of the Collins/Lerner pairing. “Collins knows what the story is,” Lerner remarked. “Either he produces or he’s gone.” Luckily, both played well, and the team (and their friendship) will continue on at least one more round. Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 At Brae Burn Country Club Purchase, NY The team of Ken Benoit/Greg Gutter beat Tim Garceau/Ernie Steinhofer in a rainshortened match that didn’t see a hole halved until the sixth. Benoit and Gutter leaped out to a 3-up lead after three holes. Garceau and Steinhofer fought back, and by the turn, the two teams found themselves back to even in what was considered to be some pretty shoddy golf all-around. How­ ever, with the weather looking ominous, Benoit and Gutter stepped up their game and darted out to a 2-up lead after the first two holes on the back nine. The two teams never made it to the 12th tee as the bad weather forced them off the course. The match was conceded on the ter­ race by Garceau and Steinhofer. It’s too bad this exciting match had to end early. At Tamarack Country Club Greenwich, CT The Scott Niven/Larry Pakkala team was handily defeated 4&3 at Tamarack by Kevin Seibel/Jon Barlok. Niven and Pakkala were shell-shocked after the first 3 holes, going 3 down at that point. After battling back to 2 down after 12 holes, the Seibel/Barlok team was just too strong to find an edge to get the match closer. At Fresh Meadow Country Club Great Neck, NY As is often the case, the #1 seed and last year’s winner went down in the first round of this year’s event. After being beat handily in last year’s semi-finals by Glen Dube/Blake Halderman, the team of Brian Benedict/Bob Lippman Jr. was out for revenge. It was with poor play by Halderman (1 par in 14 holes and, finally, a birdie on 15—then no help the rest of the way) that Dube was exhausted by the last hole and couldn’t find the strength to two-putt from 20 feet to extend the match. Dube held off Benedict and Lippman most of the way, but he let them back in the match with a three-putt on 17. Both Benedict and Lippman hit great fairway bunker shots on the last hole and two-putted for par to win the match 1 up. For a full rundown on the results, go to metgcsa.org/events/two-ball. Congratula­ tions to the teams who have advanced. Watch for the second-round results in the next issue of Tee to Green. to host a meeting or social event that does not have a site, please contact the appropriate committee chairmen. For professional events, contact either of our Tournament Committee co-chairs: Ken Benoit at 914241-0700 or Mark Chant at 631-643-0047. Our Social & Welfare Committee co-chairs are Mark Millett (914-949-4203) and Paul Gonzalez (914-273-3755). Both are available to discuss any upcoming social events. Met Championship and Met Area Team Championship Qualifier PIUS the Poa Annual Tournament Tuesday, September 29 The Meadow Brook Club Jericho, NY Host: John Carlone, CGCS Met Area Team Championship Monday, October 5 Rain date: Monday, October 19 Plainfield Country Club Plainfield, NJ Host: Travis Pauley The 6th Annual Dr. Joseph Troll Turf Education Fundraiser Thursday, October 8 The Ranch Southwick, MA In its sixth year, this now-annual golf event is sponsored by the Alumni Turf Group (ATG) to raise funds for education and research at the University of Massachusetts. Entry forms and additional information on this event will be available online at www.alumniturfgroup.com. Please plan to attend this worthy fundraiser, and watch for details. Empire State Green Industry Show (Formerly the NYSTA Turf and Grounds Exposition) Tuesday- Thursday,January 12—14,2010 Rochester Riverside Convention Center Rochester, NY The Empire State Green Industry Show offers an excellent opportunity to network, obtain research updates, and visit the trade show, featuring hundreds of exhibitors. As always, key speakers representing all segments of the green industry will be featured. For further information, call the show office at 800-873-8873 or 518-783-1229 or visit the website at www.nysta.org. 6th Annual GCSANJ Crystal Conference Tuesday—Wednesday, November 10-11 Crystal Springs Resort,Vernon, NJ Join fellow turf professionals for a day of golf at Black Bear Golf Club and a day of edu­ cational sessions at the Minerals Hotel. For further information, contact GCSANJ at www.GCSANJ.org or 866-427-2651. MetGCSA Winter Seminar Wednesday,January 20, 2010 Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY Plan now for our upcoming Winter Seminar, and watch for details. For further informa­ tion, call our Education Chairman, Rob Alonzi, at 914-472-1467. Superintendent/Green Chairperson Tournament Monday, October 19 Sleepy Hollow Country Club Scarborough, NY Host: Tom Leahy, CGCS Annual Assistants Championship Tuesday, October 20 Wykagyl Country Club New Rochelle, NY Superintendent Host: Mike Scott Assistant Host: Alan Bean Annual Meeting November Date & Site OPEN MetGCSA Christmas Party December Date & Site OPEN Please join us in welcoming the following new MetGCSA members: Michael Donahue, Pheonix Environmen­ tal Care LLC, Suffield, CT, Class AF Jim Easton, Knollwood Country Club, Elmsford, NY, Class SM Ken Gentile, Executive Turf Products, Stamford, CT, Class AF James F. Grover, Brae Burn Country Club, Purchase, NY, Class C Jessie Shannon, Manhattan Woods Golf Club,West Nyack, NY, Class C Birth Congratulations to Rye Golf Club Superintendent Chip Lafferty and his wife, Clare, on the birth of their daughter, Jessica Anne, on August 1. o Kevin and Michele Collins mk Kathy Conard and Tom Weinert Ken and Melodee Benoit Spotlight John Cartone and Meadow Brook to Host Tripleheader ry y by Eric O ’Neill V ^ mtember 28 will prove to be a busy day on the par 72, 7,120yard Meadow Brook Club as Superin­ tendent John Carlone plans to host not one, not two, but three noteworthy events: the Met Championship, the Met Area Team Cham­ pionship Qualifier, and NYSTA’s Poa Annual Tournament. But this is small potatoes for a club that’s hosted a large number of highly visible events, starting with all of the Metropolitan Golf Association’s and Met PGA’s major champi­ onships. Among them: the Met Open, Met Amateur, The Ike, the Met PGA champi­ onship, the Head Pro championship, Assis­ tants championship, and the LI PGA championship. In the early 1980s, the club also hosted the LPGA Golden Lights champi­ onship and then from 1987 to 2002 the Champions T O U R event, with World Golf Hall of Famers Lee Trevino, Gary Player, and Raymond Floyd among the winners. Meadow Brook in the Making style course on the club’s new 450 acres. It opened in 1955 and remained largely the same until 1967, when the club sold 180 acres to developers, taking three of its golf holes with it. Dick Wilson’s protégé, Joe Lee, was hired to rebuild the three holes the club lost and reroute the existing holes on Meadow Brook’s current 270-acre site. Today, the course boasts several dogleg-left par 4 and par 5 holes, thick 3.5” primary rough, and beautiful, wide-open rolling ter­ rain. But it’s the large putting surfaces at Meadow Brook that earn the course its championship status. Totaling 4 acres, they average just over 7,500 square feet, with the largest being the 12,200-square-foot number one green. “Meadow Brook is devoted to golf,” says John, as if to justify the course’s many extraordinary features. “There’s no tennis, pool, or even dinner service in the club­ house. The membership,” he adds, “is made up of serious golfers, many with single-digit handicaps.” Island, and though he toyed with the idea of becoming a touring pro, John found his way into turf management with the help of the late Dr. Skogley, then a professor in U R I’s Plant Science Department. While earning his B.S. in Turf Manage­ ment, John did his placement training at Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY, working for then superintendent Ted Hor­ ton. After graduating in 1983, he worked as an assistant for Scott Niven at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. Then, two-and-ahalf years later, in November of 1985, John accepted his first superintendent’s position at Middle Bay Country Club in Oceanside, NY, where he stayed until moving to Meadow Brook. Over the past 12 years, John has continued to enhance the course. He installed XGD subsurface drainage in all 18 greens, recon­ structed and enlarged all range tees, and rebuilt and laser-leveled 10 of the course’s 18 tee complexes. In the fall of 2006, John worked with Architect Tripp Davis to recon­ struct all greenside bunkers and to exchange sand and install drainage in every fairway bunker. You’ll have the opportunity to see all this, and more, on the 28th. But this is the Meadow Brook we know today. Rich in history and tradition, the John’s Tour of Duty Meadow Brook Hunt Club, as it’s still offi­ As if hiring in their own image, the members cially known, has been through several trans­ at Meadow Brook recruited John—a serious formations in its 125-plus years. Incorporated golfer and an even more serious golf course in 1881, it began as a polo and fox-hunting superintendent—in December 1996. He club in Westbury, NY. In 1894, members quickly became part of club history, as he added a nine-hole golf course that they ended prepped the course for the next six years— up abandoning in 1905 in favor of polo. from 1997 to 2002—for the Champions But with a resurgence of golf some 11 years TO U R Long Island Classic. later, Meadow Brook leased the J. Clinton “I thoroughly enjoyed the challenge of Smith estate across the road and hired De- preparing for those events, even if the tour­ vereux Emmet to design a new 18-hole nament was always held late July, early lie’s About More Than Growing Grass course. It was on this course that Meadow August!” says John. John’s the kind of guy who doesn’t just Brook’s tradition of hosting championship Hooked on the game of golf at age 11, believe in the profession and the industry’s tournaments began. The Goodall Round John played competitively at the junior level, professional organizations, he wholeheartedly Robin staged at Meadow Brook in 1953 was becoming a member of his Portsmouth, RI, supports them ... as a committee member, a won by Cary Middlecoff, while Sam Snead high school team, which never lost a regular board member, and a leader. took top honors in 1954 and 1955. season match. Anyone who’s been around a while knows It was about this time that the club learned “We were 44-0 for the four years I was on John dedicated 18 years of service to the it would have to make way for the Meadow the team, “ remembers John. “We did lose MetGCSA board, which he estimated, in a Brook Parkway, which would connect the the state championship all four of those humorous farewell-to-the-board speech, in­ middle of Nassau County with the south years,” he laments, “to another Rhode Island volved at least 370 trips across the Throgs shore beaches. The club picked up and team that included Brad Faxon, who went Neck bridge and $1,665 in tolls! “When I went off the board and asked for reimburse­ moved once again—this time to its current on to become a PGA Tour player.” John continued to play golf three years ment, I was respectfully declined,” says John site in Jericho, NY. Architect Dick Wilson was hired to build an 18-hole, championship- into college at the University of Rhode Continued on page i 6 Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 Giddy-lip to the Snperintendent/Green Chairperson Tournament at Sleepy Hollow by Kevin Collins s I exited my Jeep at Tom Leahy’s maintenance facilty, I was met at the gate by Mitzie,Tom’s border dachshund. Mind you, I am not normally nervous around dogs, but I believe that this particular breed can be quite provocative and is not a dog you should turn your back on. I can’t tell you how relieved I was when Tom came out to greet me. I didn’t take my eyes off Mitzie for a second while I talked to Tom about Sleepy Hollow and his plans to host the October 19 Superintend­ ent/Green Chairperson Tourney. First, a Little History Sleepy Hollow Country Club is rich in his­ tory. Like many grand old clubs, this one was first an estate— 338 acres with a palatial man­ sion, now the clubhouse, built in 1893. In 1910, William Rockefeller and Frank Vanderlip bought the estate only to sell it one year later to the organizers of Sleepy Hollow Country Club. Charles Blair Macdonald and his engineer, Seth Reynor, designed and built the golf course during the summer of 1911. Then, in the late 1920s, A.W.Tillinghast was engaged to give the original layout a major facelift, expanding the course to 27 holes. In the early 1990s, Rees Jones had a hand in renovating the bunkers, and recently, Archi­ tect Gil Hanse had been charged with bring­ ing the course back to its core Macdonald/ Raynor design. He left his mark on nearly every aspect of the course: bunkers, tees, fair­ ways, ponds, and drainage. In addition to Sleepy Hollow’s champi­ onship golf course, the club offers just about every recreational oudet: horse stables, tennis, paddle tennis, and pool facilities. The club also comes with a bit of lore—the legends of Sleepy Hollow, and the Headless Horseman, that is. For the uninitiated, the ghost of a Hessian soldier beheaded by a can­ nonball during the Revolutionary War sup­ posedly haunts the bridge that now connects tee to green on the third hole. Good thing you won’t be traveling that bridge after dark! Early Tom Tom was raised in Oneonta, NY, and was first Tee to Green August 2 0 0 9 exposed to golf in a kind of unconventional Tom Leahy, C G C S way: “My grandfather, Dr. John Leahy, was a veterinarian with his clinic on a 40-acre two years, and the teamwork exhibited on all spread that bordered Oneonta Country sides allowed the project to go smoothly,” says Club,” recalls Tom. “He boarded race horses, Tom proudly. “Our green chairman, George and golfers would hop the fence now and Sanossian, did a great job keeping the club then to try to take them for a ride— without members positive; my guys, Andrew Agnew much success.” and Brett Richards, were invaluable in keep­ At a young age, Tom experienced a bit of ing the maintenance work on track; and Geoff that country club life firsthand. “My father Porteus, our rough-and-tumble contractor, became a member of Oneonta Country got the job done. Everything came together Club for a short time in the late ’60s,” says largely because of our mutual trust.” Tom, “until he decided being a teacher, a Believe it or not, there’s still more work town judge, and a dad didn’t leave him much to be done . . . on the cart paths, the driving time for golf.” range, and on the collars and chipping areas, When Tom was in high school, he just nat­ which are being expanded. (Good thing urally gravitated toward golf course work. Tom’s still a young guy.) He started by running the pro shop at Woodhaven Golf Course in West Oneonta. Then one day, when the maintenance crew needed The Family Guy an extra hand prepping the course for a Tom married his high school sweetheart, member-guest, he was called out to the Jennifer, in 1996. Their courtship started in high school and then continued in a kind of course and never came back inside. on-again-off-again fashion through college. Finally, a summer or two went by when From College to Career they didn’t see each other. An assistant at At that point,Tom still didn’t realize his des­ Sleepy,Tom realized how much he missed Jen. tiny as a turfgrass manager. “I went to “I called Jen’s mom to see where she was liv­ Hartwick College in Oneonta, graduated in ing,” recalls Tom. “I found out she was in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree in Arts/ Connecticut, so I drove up to see her. We had Anthropology, and then went to work for lunch and things got serious.” UPS.” Bad move. Seven months later, Tom Married, now, for 13 years,Tom and Jennifer returned to Woodhaven. He enrolled in the have two sons:Ty, who is 10, and Ian, 8. And turf program at SUNY Delhi, interned with then there’s Tom’s extended family . . . his then Wykagyl Superintendent Vin Sharkey, friends. Among his closest of “kin” are Matt and graduated in 1993 with an associate’s in Dutremble (Ardsley), Mark (Old Oaks) and turfgrass management. Earl (Ridgeway) Millett, and the big man, Tom jumped right in to an assistant’s posi­ Tony Grasso (Metropolis). “My friends mean tion at Sleepy Hollow. He worked for Joe a lot to me. I can grab my cell any time and Camberato, who in four years prepared Tom commiserate, ask advice, or just vent. ” well enough to assume the reigns as superin­ For those of you who haven’t had the good tendent when he retired. fortune of playing Sleepy, don’t miss this meet­ ing. Aside from possibly catching sight of the infamous Headless Horseman, you’ll no doubt The Hot-So-Sleepy Sleepy enjoy this magnificent golf course. And what In his 12-year tenure as Sleepy’s super, Tom’s a treat it is to be able to see the masterwork of managed project after project after project. three of golf’s greatest architects: Macdonald, In addition to the Gil Hanse renovation, Reynor, andTillinghast. hundreds of trees have been removed, a new practice facility was built that houses a teach­ Kevin Collins, a member of the Tee to Green ing center, more paddock spaces were added Editorial Committee, is Mid-Atlantic and North­ to the stables, and then there’s the ongoing east territory manager for Aquatrols Corp. of America and the owner/president of Dryject pond dredging. “The Gil Hanse renovation took about Northeast/TwfPounders. Bean’s Counting on a Full Field at Wykagyl by Scott Olson etGCSA assistant super/ f / m / yintendents will be head/ Ts V ^ ^ in g to Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY, for the October 20 Assistants Championship. Hosting this years annual event will be Wykagyls Assistant Superintendent Alan Bean (no relation, I’m told, to British comedian Mr. Bean). fortune of working several major tourna­ ments. From 2004 to 2006, Wykagyl hosted the LPGA when the Sybase Classic came to the club, and despite the ongoing course con­ struction, the club held both the LPGA HSBC Woman’s World Match Play and the Metropolitan Amateur Championship. Clearly bitten by the tournment bug, Alan also sought out a number of volunteer oppor­ tunities, working the 2004 U.S. Amateur, 2006 U.S. Open, and the 2008 Senior PGA. Alan Bean (left) and Mike Scott And Mow, a Word—or Two—From Our Host Superintendent Mike Scott has been Wykagyls superintend­ ent since 2003. He got his start in the indus­ try at Newark Country Club in Newark, DE, Tournament goers are in for a treat when they after spending three years in the Army, an play this more-than-century-old course that’s experience he feels helped him develop lead­ had a less-than-decade-ago facelift. Establish­ Making His Way ed in 1898 as a nine-hole course, the club was Growing up in Maine, Alan originally had ership skills he still finds useful on the job first known as Pelham Country Club and was dreams of becoming a professional golfer, not today Mike received his turf degree from Penn located in Pelham Manor, NY. After moving a golf course superintendent. During his high State in 1995 and developed a true passion for to its current site in New Rochelle, club school years, he played in the Maine Amateur the industry while working at Oak Hill the member Lawrence Van Etten designed a and, after graduating, moved to Melbourne, year the club hosted the Ryder Cup. Though brand-new 18-hole golf course, which FL, to take a job in Baytree National Golf toiling to prep the course under the toughest Links’ pro shop. opened for play in 1905. Alan quickly decided folding clothes and of circumstances—no rain for three months, a During the 1920s, the club contracted for two separate redesigns, hiring golf course answering the phone all day were not for him. single-row irrigation system—Mike loved architect Donald Ross for the first and A. W. Looking for a change, he accepted a position the excitement of the tournament. “I re­ Tillinghast for the second. By the 1970s and as assistant superintendent at True Blue Golf member hearing the roar of the crowd when ’80s, Wykagyl rose in prominence, hosting Club in Myrtle Beach. Within two years, Alan Corey Pavin chipped in on the 18th hole to several LPGA tournaments and then becom­ was hooked on a career in turfgrass manage­ win a match. I knew, then, exactly what I ment and enrolled in Horry Georgetown wanted to do with the rest of my career,” says ing a permanent LPGA tour stop. Wykagyls latest redesign was all-encom­ Tech in South Carolina to pursue an associ­ Mike. After Oak Hill came Merion, Winged passing. Completed, amazingly, in less than a ate’s degree in Agriculture Technology. Foot,The Ridge at Backbrook, and finally, the He interned at Siwanoy Country Club in year, the project involved rebuilding three greens and 80 bunkers, renovating all tees, Bronxville, NY, under the late Dave Mahoney. superintendent’s position at Wykagyl. “I couldn’t be more pleased to welcome expanding fairways and greens, and installing “Dave had a huge impact on my career,” says Met-area assistant superintendents to Wyka­ a new irrigation system and miles of drainage. Alan. “Working for him, I grew to love the gyl for some friendly competition and cama­ high expectations and knew that I wanted to The project’s been met with rave reviews. raderie,” says Mike, who, himself, values the get back to the Met area.” After graduating, that’s just what Alan did, relationships he’s built over the years with Alan’s Story accepting an assistant superintendent’s posi­ colleagues and longtime friends. In addition Alan’s been with the club for six years, and as tion at Stanton Ridge Country Club in to nurturing these relationships, Mike feels Wykagyl Super Mike Scott will tell you, he’s Stanton, NJ. After one season there, Alan his single greatest responsibility to the indus­ been an integral part of the maintenance made the move to Wykagyl Country Club, try is to mentor his people. “My goal for the department’s success. In addition to manag­ where Mike Scott hired him to fill an assistant turf guys who work for me is to teach them everything I know and properly prepare them ing the day-to-day maintenance activities of a superintendent’s position. The rest is history. for the future,” says Mike. crew of 22, Alan served as project manager for “I have a lot of respect for my staff and the Wykagyls recent golf course redesign. “Alan job they do,” he says, adding, “Alan’s been kept close tabs on just about every aspect of How to Hit ’Em the construction process to see that the de­ Both Alan and Mike had a few words to the invaluable. He’s got great people skills, and he sign was carried out precisely as intended,” wise for the assistants who plan on going knows what it takes to keep the crew happy low the day of the tournament. Mike stressed and motivated.” says Mike. Alan also oversaw the installation of a new playing well on holes 9 through 13, where Scott Olson, our Class C representative on the irrigation system, evaluated where drainage you’ll find three par 5s and two par 3s. Alan’s advice: “Be sure to play well on the board, is assistant superintendent at Scarsdale Golf needed to be installed, and directed an aggres­ Club in Hartsdale, N Y par 3 s ... and be here on October 20!” sive tree removal program. During Alan’s tenure, he’s also had the good Tee to Green August 2009 From Past to Present Spotlight continuedfrontpage 13 with a chuckle. John, of course, served as president and past president before leaving the board in 2003. For the past 12 years, John also served on the board of the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation and is currently vice president. He was also a member of the LIGCSA Board of Directors since 2001, leading the group as president from 2006 to 2008. Since 1991, he has served on many GCSAA committees, including Election, Education,Tournament, Membership, Com­ munications. and Chapter Relations. He’s also served as chapter delegate for both the MetGCSA and LIGCSA. Some might say John’s driven. But there’s more to John than immediately meets fellow turf professionals’ eyes. John has the unusual gift of being able to set his goals and ambitions aside long enough . . . and often enough . . . to tend to what’s really impor­ tant: his relationships with family, friends, and even acquaintances. A rare and valuable quality. John’s been married 22 years to his wife, Leslie. They have three children: Emily 19, a sophomore at his alma mater, the University of Rhode Island; David, 17; and Daniel, 14. John likes nothing more than to watch his sons play sports. “This fall,” says John, “they’re both playing on the Jericho High School varsity football team. David’s a sen­ ior and will be starting as wide receiver and defensive end; Daniel, a freshman this fall, will be playing offensive tackle and middle linebacker. When John’s able to steal a little time for himself, he enjoys—aside from golf—jog­ ging and biking, the kind you pedal and the kind that propels itself: a Kawasaki Vulcan 1500. Fair Warning John has two recommendations for playing Meadow Brook: “Keep your golf ball in the fairway. They’re quite wide, some as wide as 40 yards. Hitting in the deep rough could mean a wedge out to the short grass. Also, hit your approach shots close to the pin. With our large greens, hitting greens in reg­ ulation at Meadow Brook is not a sure twoputt.” As The Terre Company’s Byron Johnson noted about the size of the greens the last time he played the course at a Met meeting in 2001: “Meadow Brook is the land of 100foot putts!” Forewarned is forearmed! Eric O'Neill, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Towers Country Club in Floral Park, NY. Tee to Green August 2009 V'products GROWTH The Liquid Solutions Company Liquid Fertilizers Micronutrients & Natural Organics , Howie Gold Nutrition Specialist Office: (800) Cell: (917) 559-4425 648-7626 / Fax:914-428-2780 hgold@growthproducts. com www. GrowthProducts. com Your Aerification Solution! Support Our Advertisers!!! 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