Board of Directors President ANTH ON Y GIRARDI, CGCS Rockrimmon Country Club V ice P resident ROBERT NIELSEN JR., CGCS Bedford Golf & Tennis Club Treasurer BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club Secretary GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club Past P resident MATTHEW CEPLO, CGCS Rockland Country Club ROBERT ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS GlenArbor Golf Club MARK CHANT Colonial Springs Golf Club DAVID DUDONES North Jersey Country Club PAUL GONZALEZ, CGCS The Whippoorwill Club M ARK MILLETT Old Oaks Country Club STEVEN RENZETTI, CGCS Pinnacle T u f Inc. SCOTT OLSON Scarsdale Golf Club E xecutive Secretary Cover:The Bridge. Photo courtesy of Jim Krajicek. INEKE PIERPOINT Tee to Green Staff DAVE DUDONES I 973-942-0566 E ditors PAUL GONZALEZ 914-273-3755 Managing Editor PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Committee KEVIN COLLINS SCOTT NIVEN PAULGRABBE ERIC O’NEILL BILL PERLEE DENNIS GRANAHAN CHIP LAFFERTY MIKE REEB MIKETOLLNER DAVE MOFFETT GREGWOJICK Designer TERRIE DUNKELBERGER Photographer BILL PERLEE Advertising Manager MARK MILLETT, 914-949-4203 TEETOGREENis published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright © 2 0 1 0 H H W ÈËÊKÈÈËÈÊËi Regional N e w s.....................................................................................................2 Scorecard........................................ 3 M ember News ........................................................ 4 Scenes From the Sum m er Social and Family Picnic ..........................6 U pcom ing Events ............................................................................................... 8 Spotlights.................................................. 9 resident’s nother record-breaking summer is, thankfully, coming to an end. It was, officially, one of the hottest seasons on record and, unofficially, one of the driest. As always, we managed to pull through, some of us more easily than others depending on agronomic challenges that, unfortunately, are often out of our control. But making these challenges more toler­ able is the support we give each other, {whether its providing a tip on a product that’s working to control a disease or insect or just offering a sympathetic ear. This kind of information-sharing and fraternal support is what sets our industry apart foam most others and makes me particularly proud of our asso­ ciation and industry as a whole. Now that the days are becoming shorter and the nights cooler, we can breathe a sigh of relief and feel extremely proud know­ ing we made it, yet again, through a potentially deadly summer! Executive Director Search ami Update On another note, as most of you know, the Board of Directors, this past spring, made the deci­ sion to hire an execu­ tive director to help manage our associa­ tion. In our contin­ ued attempt to keep the member­ ship fully inform­ ed, I want to give you an update on the status of our search. For those who may have missed the mailings we sent out over the course of the year, let me start by reviewing some of the ways we feel Tony Girardi, CGCS MetGCSA President an executive director will benefit our association. 1. Public Relations: Promote the MetGCSA and its members through all media streams, as well as to general managers and owners. The message: The pool of superintendents, assistants, and salespeople in this area are the best in the country. 2. Government Relations: Build and maintain a strong working relationship with local and state legislators so that our voice can be heard by the right people in White Plains, Albany, Hartford, and Trenton. In addition, play a key role in establishing image-enhancing BMPs for golf course management. 3. Chapter Relations: Maintain close ties with other industry associations, such as the CAGCS, HVGCSA, LIGCSA, GCSANJ, and the GCSAA, to aid in providing a united front on local and national issues. 4. Membership: Encourage activity at all levels of membership and be sure that every Continued on page 12 Tee to Green A ugust /September 2 0 1 0 The First Tee’s Youth Bring Beauty to Mosholu Overseeing the beautifi­ cation work at The First Tee event at Mosholu (from left to right): MetGCSA Past President and Rockland Country Club Superin­ tendent Matt Ceplo, Mosholu Golf Course Superintendent Erik Feldman, Barry McLaughlin of The First Tee program, and New Jersey GCSA Vice President and Areola Country Club Superin­ tendent Paul Dotti. n Saturday, August 21, The First Tee of Metropolitan New York held a special day of beautification and planting at Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx as part of the “FedExCup Fore!Ever” campaign in partnership with Audubon International. More than 80 participants from The First Tee representing facilities in the Bronx, Fairfield County, Long Island, and Northern New Jersey took part in this day that promoted environmental sustain­ ability and education for youth in The First Tee s youth development program. “The children who took part in planting shrubs, flowers, and vines throughout the course will be able to come back and see them grow year after year,” said Joellen Lampman of Audubon International. “This will allow them to have greater ownership in this facility and know that they were a part of this process.” Tee to Green August/Septem ber 2 0 1 0 An Event Made Successful With a Little Help From Our Friends Mosholu Superintendent Erik Feldman led golf course staff in teaching program partic­ ipants proper maintenance and planting techniques, while MetGCSA Past President and Rockland Country Club Superintend­ ent Matt Ceplo and New Jersey GCSA Vice President and Areola Country Club Superintendent Paul Dotti led volunteers, who assisted the students in planting many indigenous species throughout Mosholu Golf Course. Among the plantings were Virginia creepers, blueberry, ninebark, and laurel bushes, as well as ferns and perennials. “It was nice to work with such a great organization in The First Tee, and we all had a wonderful time helping with the event,” said Matt. “I also want to thank all of the companies and individuals who donated plants and funds to make this day such a success.” A number of local companies stepped up with donations of materials and funding for this important project. Custom Golf Mat­ erials based in Old Bethpage, NY, donated mulch for the plantings as part of the Core Value Supplier partnership with the Metro­ polian New York Chapter that provides necessary materials for the Mosholu facility throughout the year. Also contributing to the effort by provid­ ing plant donations were Frank Amodio of Valley View Greenhouses in Salem, NY, Cleatus Farms in Norwood, NJ, and the Terre Company from Clifton, NJ. Special thanks also to Wilfred MacDonald for trans­ porting the bucket loader needed to prep areas and dig holes for some of the larger plantings, and to Ira Wicks, the HVGCSA, BASF, and the Links of Unionvale for their kind contributions. DONOT c S ^ Ml Kisco Reclaims Invitational Troohy by Ken Benoit, C G C S OCT 2 5 2010 Caring for the Environment This initiative is the latest step in an ongoing effort to achieve Audubon Inter­ national certification at Mosholu Golf Course. Superintendent Erik Feldman has succeeded in producing outstanding course conditions in a way that is also beneficial for the environment. Congratulations to Erik and his staff for the great work they do to maintain the facility at Mosholu not only for golfers and participants in The First Tee, but also as a valuable open space for the sur­ rounding community and local wildlife to enjoy. Kyle Morris, a member of The First Tee on Long Island, was inspired by his experi­ ence, and it reaffirmed his dream of some­ day becoming a golf course superintendent himself. “This day was something that I will remember forever,” said Morris. “I got to see what superintendents do on a daily basis and how much of a role they play in main­ taining courses in a way that is good for the environment.” The First Tee Program at Work This project at The First Tee of Metropoli­ tan New York is one of six sites that will take part in this program in 2010 through­ out the United States, and will reach more than 600 young people to promote Respect and Responsibility for our environment, two of The First Tees 9 Core Values. “The next generation of golfers needs to understand the importance of caring for the environment, and this initiative in partner­ ship with FedEx and Audubon Interna­ tional helps us to teach this to young people in our program,” said Joe O ’Brien, senior director of Outcomes and Education at The First Tee Flome Office. “We thank our sponsors, volunteers, and participants in The First Tee for their hard work in being a part of this special day.” Note: For those interested in seeing The First Tee event in action, please click on the link that follows to view this brief video presentation. http:/ / www.mgagolf.orgintraclub/ query/ catquery html?doc_number= 13969. / M / ykagyl Country Club proW/ W vided a picture-perfect venue for the MetGCSA’s August 3 Invitational Tournament. The field of nearly 100 players—composed of super­ intendents, club pros, club presidents, and various other club officials—were treated to one of the finest courses in the Met area. Having taken home last year’s Invita­ tional trophy, Wykagyl thought a little “home cooking” might garner them a second win. But Mt. Kisco Country Club had another idea. Its team won the net event, taking home the top prize for the second time in three years, with a net score of 62. Fresh Meadow won the gross division, with a score of 66. A special thank you goes to Superin­ tendent Mike Scott and his crew and to the entire clubhouse and pro shop staffs for making our Invitational such a huge success and great experience. We’d also like to thank all of the participating clubs for their help in making this day special. Here’s a look at the complete lineup of winners: Net Team Winners 62 Mt. Kisco Country Club Greg Gutter, Tim Winston, Ken Nilsen, Mike McRee MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY Gross Team Winai&te^RIES 66 Fresh Meadow Country Club Joe Gardner, Charlie Bolling, Dean Dobbin, Bobby Mann Individual Low Pro 69 Charlie Bolling Fresh Meadow Country Club Closest to the Pin #4 Chuck Denny, Superintendent 2' 2' Salem CC #7 Jim Martell, Club Official Wykagyl CC 4' 7 #11 Mike McRee, Club President 6' 1T Mt. Kisco CC #13 Charlie Bolling, Golf Pro Fresh Meadow CC 11 ’ 8' Longest Drive #2 Kevin Seibel, Superintendent Century CC #6 Charlie Poole, Golf Pro Sands Point GC #10 Morgan Gregory, Club President GlenArbor GC Ken Gentile ■J a r/ r/ Jro(/aeti * 92 Vine Rd. Stamford, CT 06905 > 203^96-0891 executiveturf@aol.com A n f t ir a / -T f/ t/ t/ • A ft/rt/ta t Menefee Hum ate soil conditioners & spray products LMoCtiem Performance Nutrition NuùientsPlus Fertility Earthgreen.com Lidochem.com Nuhientsplus.com Tee to Green A ugust /September 2 0 1 0 Member Slews Congratulations to Our 2010 Scholarship Recipients! by Bob Nielsen, CGCS, MetGCSA Vice President he 2010 Summer Education ate the applications, which were all out­ Meeting was held at Rockrimmon standing. As always, the winning candidates Country Club on August 12. Before were selected based on maturity, academic presenting our annual scholarship awards, history, ambition, extracurricular activities, we enjoyed talks from our two guest speak­ and effort exhibited in completing their ers. Ed Nash of Plantstar gave an informa­ application. Please join me in congratulating this tive talk on fertigation, while Tom DeChillo of the NYSDEC spoke about how year’s scholarship recipients—and their to avoid penalties from the DEC during an proud parents: Katherine Amodio, daughter of Jean inspection.Tom has been a good friend to the MetGCSA, and we all wish him well in and Frank Amodio of Valley View Green­ houses, is a freshman at Boston College. his retirement. Todd Apgar, son of Jacqueline and Scott The Scholarship & Research Committee had the pleasure of awarding scholarships to Apgar of Metro Turf Specialists, is in his 16 members’ sons and daughters. With 20 sophomore year at Monmouth University. David Carlone, son of Leslie and John applications to process, the judging was more challenging than ever. Our Scholar­ Carlone, superintendent of the Meadow ship & Research Committee members Brook Club, is a freshman at Nassau Com­ worked long and hard to process and evalu­ munity College. Tee to Green A ugust /September 2 0 1 0 Ten of the 16 scholarship winners were able to attend the Education Meeting with their parents to accept their scholarship awards. Front left to right: Megan Ceplo with her parents, fa zz and Matt Ceplo of Rockland Country Club; Frank Amodio of Valley View Greenhouses with his daughter, Katherine; Tim O ’Neill of the Country Club of Darien with his daughter, Kristin; Leslie Carlone, son David, and husband John of the Meadow Brook Club; Kara Wojick with herfather, Greg Wojick of Playbooks for Golf; Elissa Steinhofer and Sarah Garceau with proud dads, Ernie Steinhofer of Metro Tutf Specialists and Tim Garceau of the Tuxedo Club; Sharyce Willand with her parents Synda and Scott Willand of Steven Willand Inc. and her brothers, Steffen and Statler, also scholarship winners. Emily Carlone, daughter of Leslie and John Carlone, has begun her junior year at the University of Rhode Island. Megan Ceplo, daughter of Jasmine and Matt Ceplo, superintendent of Rockland Country Club, is a freshman at Paul Smith’s College. Laura Donovan, daughter of Julie and Shawn Donovan of TPC in Enfield, Con­ necticut, is enrolled in the doctorate pro­ gram in clinical health psychology at the Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. Corinne A. Finamore, daughter ofjanet and Steve Finamore, superintendent of Alpine Country Club, is a sophomore at the University of North Carolina in Greens­ boro, majoring in Mathematics Education. Sarah Garceau, daughter of Mariane and Tim Garceau, superintendent of the Tuxedo Club, is a freshman at the State University of New York in Cortland. Charles Kerr, son of Betsy and Dave Kerr, superintendent of Ridgewood Coun­ try Club, is following his father’s footsteps, studying turfgrass management at Penn State University. (Hats off to Charlie for sticking with his major after interning at Pine Valley this past summer!) Justin O ’Neill, son of Jennifer and Tim O ’Neill, superintendent of Country Club of Darien, is in his junior year at Brown University enrolled in the Pre-Med program. Kristin J. O ’Neill, daughter of Jennifer andTim O ’Neill, is in her sophomore year at Connecticut College majoring in Environ­ mental Studies. Elissa Steinhofer, daughter of Ernie Steinhofer, sales representative for Metro Turf Specialists, is in her sophomore year at the State University of New York in New Paltz. Sharyce Willand, daughter of Synda and Scott Willand of Steven Willand, Inc., is a freshman at the State University of New York in New Paltz. Statler Willand, son of Synda and Scott Willand, is a freshman at Mount Saint Mary’s College. Steffen Willand, son of Synda and Scott Willand, is a freshman at Monmouth University. (Good luck to Scott and Synda for the next four years!) Kara Wojick, daughter of Pandora Wojick, our talented editor, and Greg Wojick, principal, Playbooks™ for Golf, is a freshman at the University of Connecticut, pursuing a degree in Education. In addition to congratulating our recipients, I’d like to recognize those past boards who had the foresight to initiate our Scholarship Fund, which has enabled us to assist in the ever-increasing college costs thanks to our Annual Bill Caputi Scholarship Raffle, the 50/50s at our monthly meetings, and last but not least, a portion of our dues. Finally, a special thank you needs to go out to the entire Scholarship Committee for their hard work in reviewing and awarding each scholarship. Please remember to support our scholar­ ship raffle. It is the major income-generator for our Scholarship Fund. I hope to see you all at The Apawamis Club on December 10 for our Annual Christmas Party. Member on the Move Clarence Covington is a new assistant superintendent at Maplewood Country Club in Maplewood, NJ. Previous position: Assistant superintendent at Trump National Golf Club in Briarcliff Manor, NY. New Members Please join us in welcoming the following new MetGCSA members: • Anthony Price, Class C, Pelham Country Club, Pelham Manor, NY • Kurt Slade, Class C, Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Scarsdale, NY Newly Certified Congratulations to the following Met members who recently completed the coursework required to become a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS) with GCSAA: • Lou Quick, Anglebrook Golf Club, Lincolndale, NY • Eric Morrison, Shennecossett Golf Course, Groton, CT Bob Nielsen, CGCS, chairman of the Scholar­ ship and Research Committee, is superintendent at Bedford Golf & Tennis Club in Bedford, NY. IRRIGATION,llc . William Bartels President Corporate Office 5 North Payne Street Elmsford, NY 10523 www.tantoirrigation.com Office (914) 347-5151 ext.15 Fax (914) 3 4 7-6323 Ceil (914) 447-8872 Dir. Connect 1 7 2 *5 5 0 7 1 *5 2 Email: wbartels@tantoirrigation.com Tee to Green A ugust /September 2 0 1 0 5flet ^embers cge* ©ou rn&&oog at Summer Social by Carolyn Nielsen (our VP’s wife, who clearly knows a good party!) Bob and Carolyn Nielsen Scott and Dana Niven rve Gentile Jimmy Pavonetti, Ernie Steinhofer; and Carol Ray Valentina and Dave Moffett Judy and JoeAlonzi Mike and Anne Maffei George Corgan and Mark Millett egan Baggott and Bob Wolverton *%|Pt ' Jick ÏÙerner and Kevin and Michele Collins ¿Jf ven though the Summer Social has been gra­ ciously hosted for many years by Mark Millett at Old Oaks Country Club, it never feels like it’s the same party. Weather permitting, everyone gathers in the beautiful courtyard overlooking the lovely gardens. Otherwise, it’s held in one of two exquisite dining rooms, with the pre­ ceding cocktail hour either in the rich oak-paneled bar or the lounge area, where you are instantly swept into the night upon entering. It’s a fun time to get dressed in anything from casual to semi-formal party clothes, sip grownup drinks, and forget that your children even exist until 6 a.m. the next morning. How many other opportunities do superin­ tendents and their wives get to boogie the night away to the funk, blues, ’80s, and a little Neil Diamond, customspun by the Met’s favorite DJ,Tony Sottile? If you sit down long enough, there’s plenty o f time for a leisurely and delicious dinner and vast array o f dessert choices. I must admit, however, that I rarely finish my salad before the urge to kick up my heels on the dance floor gets the best o f me, dragging my husband behind. Bob’s a wonderful sport, has improved his dance skills immensely since our first Summer Social, and actually might even enjoy it by now. Hey, it’s something different than discussing hyperodes. See you all at Apawamis at the Christmas party! Photos courtesy of Ernie Steinhofer of Metro Turf Specialists. Lucille Grasso, Earl Millett, Mara Lerner, and Carolyn Nielse lee to Green August /September 2010 Loren Gutter; Erica Dube, and Melodee Benoit cÇtttfv $ « g a m e s at the 9*fet ‘Family Çicnic by Carolyn Nielsen n July 27, the Met Family Picnic was held at the Bedford Village Memorial Park. More than 50 children and adults attended, a recent record. The children, big and small, had a great time in the bounce house and were lured out only by the abundance o f food that was provided. There were huge salads, hamburgers, and hotdogs grilled by Bedford G olf & Tennis Club’s Adolfo Barragan, and snow cones for . . . well . . . appetizers as well as dessert. After dinner, everyone headed out to the baseball field for a parent/child softball game. The dads had a tough time fielding the balls as every child scored at least once. It was heartwarming to hear the encouragement from the by­ standers to their once-a-year friends. It is at the family picnic that each year Met friends get a chance to get reacquainted, catch up on the happenings o f the previous year, and meet new Met families. With every­ one’s busy schedules, it is nice to look forward to this great event each year. The festivities were capped off by a pinata, and happy, sticky children were loaded into their cars with another fun summer party under their belts and their parents looking forward to the adults-only Summer Social. Photos courtesy ofJimmy Pavonetti of Fairview Country Club. The Year’s Final Events: Don’t Miss ’Em! endars with these upcoming ^ e v e n t s . For further information on any of our golf meetings, please contact either of our Tournament Committee co-chairs: Ken Benoit at 914-241-0700 or Mark Chant at 631-643-0047. To discuss any upcoming social events, please contact either of our Social & Welfare Committee co-chairs: Mark Millett at 914-949-4203 or Paul Gonzalez at 914-273-3755. Met Area Team Championship Thursday, October 7 The Bridge Sag Harbor, NY Host: Gregg Stanley, CGCS Industry Events GCSANJ 7th Annual Crystal Conference Empire State Green Industry Show Wednesday-Thursday, November 3-4 Minerals Resort,Vernon, NJ Join fellow turf professionals for a day of golf and educational sessions at the Miner­ als Hotel. For further information, contact GCSANJ at www.GCSANJ.org or 866427-2651. Tuesday-Thursday,January 11—13 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 more than 100 exhibitors. As always, key speakers representing all seg­ ments 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. 35th Annual New Jersey Green Expo Turf and Landscape Conference Tuesday-Thursday, December 1-9 Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJ Watch for details! MetGCSA Winter Seminar Wednesday,January 19,2011 Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY Stay tuned for details. Superintendent/Green Chairperson Tournament Monday, October 18 Wee Burn Country Club Darien, CT Host: Doug Drugo Annual Assistants Tournament ' * 1 £•■ %, ' ■ Tuesday, October 19 Pelham Country Club Pelham Manor, NY Superintendent Host: Jeff Wentworth, CGCS Assistant Host: George Chavez Annual Meeting Wednesday, November 10 Fairview Country Club Greenwich, CT Host: Jimmy Pavonetti G R O W TH kJb V* Î 1 Ì ^ ? ■, ■» , u.7 # c ' f rife .1 w / p r o d u c t s The Liquid Solutions C o m p a n y Liquid Fertilizers, M icronutrients & N a tu ra l O rganics Howie Gold N u tritio n S p e c ia lis t Cell: (917) 559-4425 Office: (800) 648-7626 / Fax: 914-428-2780 hgold@ growthproducts. com www. GrowthProducts. com MetGCSA Christmas Party Friday, December 10 The Apawamis Club Rye, NY Host: Bill Perlee John Seib Office: 631.789.6680 Cell: 516.903.4262 Fax: 631.789.5711 Tee to Green A ugust /September 2 0 1 0 1550 Sunrise Highway. Suite #1 Copiague, N.Y. 11726 www.allprohorticulture.com The Bridge Promises Gompotive Track for Met Area Team Championship m by Larry Pakkala, CGCS „ „ ... „ Championship was quick to sell <— out. Just weeks after the notice hit the mail, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Super­ intendent Associations had snapped up the available slots for the October 7 tournament. And no wonder: This years venue, The Bridge in Bridgehampton, NY, is not your run-of-mill golf course. Built on the site of the old Bridgehampton Motor Racing Circuit, where the likes of Mario Andretti, Richard Petty, Paul Newman, and foreign great, Jackie Stewart once raced, the course has an arty, postmod­ ern treatment. The club’s entrance drive is the original finish line, which passes under the iconic “Chevron Bridge” as you ap­ proach the clubhouse. You’ll also see ruins of the old racetrack, including guardrails and flag stations, pop up around the lush fairways, while discarded tires line the cart paths. Driving the course’s unusual theme was owner Bob Rubin, who, retired from Wall Street, was quite the amateur racer himself. The Bridge by Design Designed by Rees Jones and opened in 2002, the 7,341-yard course boasts a com­ manding view of Sag Harbor and Shelter Island and a futuristic-looking, fan-shaped glass-and-concrete clubhouse inspired by the blades on a race car’s turbocharger. Perched on one of the highest hills in the Hamptons, the $11-million structure offers a 280-degree view of the craggy 550-acre site. Responsible for maintaining this unusual property ... to perfection ... is Gregg Stanley, the club’s golf course superintendent since 2003. His impressive resume, no doubt, helped him secure this slot at The Bridge, which, despite its hefty membership fees, is apparently anti-country club of sorts. At The Bridge, backward ball caps, jeans, and even tattoos or face piercings (typically on guests in the music business) attract no steely stares. (Can you imagine?) Having apparently felt uncomfortable at some of the great clubs in the world, Rubin vowed that no one would feel out of place at The Bridge. Though well acclimated to his current environment, Gregg took the conventional route to The Bridge, working at some of the country’s finest, and most traditional, golf clubs. Gregg’s Start In 1986, he earned a degree in Golf Course Operations, summa cum laude, from Lake City Community College. While complet­ ing his schooling, he gained valuable experi­ ence as an intern with the great Fred Klauk, then superintendent at the Tournament Play­ ers Club in Ponte Vedrà Beach, FL. With a degree in hand, Gregg was eager to return to his New York roots and accepted a position as assistant superintendent at Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, NY. From Siwanoy, Gregg went to work for me at Woodway Country Club in Darien, CT. He impressed me immediately, with his dedi­ cation and ambition. I liked that about him, and could see he had what it takes to be suc­ cessful in the business. We developed a strong friendship that we’ve maintained over the years. I am proud of what he’s done with his career. Looking back on his early years, Gregg is quick to credit his mentors for their invalu­ able guidance and support.“Collectively, Fred Klauk, Larry Pakkala, and Scott Niven shaped me professionally. I’ll always be thankful for their role in my success.” At the young age of 23, Gregg left Wood­ way to accept his first superintendent’s job at Rockrimmon Country Club in Stamford, CT. He spent the next seven years there involved in a variety of golf course improve­ ment projects. But never one to let grass grow under his feet, when Gregg heard about the opportunity to become involved in golf course construction at Hudson National in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, he jumped at it. Hired to work with Tom Fazio and his staff, Gregg toiled long and hard from the con­ Gregg Stanley, CGCS struction phase to the grow-in and then stayed on as the club’s superintendent. His efforts obviously paid off. Nine years later, Gregg accepted his current position at The Bridge. Personal Pursuits Gregg is a good golfer, boater, and fisherman. He’s not one to brag about his game, but the first time he saw Pine Valley, he shot a 73. He lives in Sag Harbor, NY, where he maintains a pretty little cottage on the water. Gregg spends his downtime on his boat and with his wife-to-be Stacey, a native Long Island­ er and tenured 5th grade school teacher. They’re planning a wedding for June 2011. During the off-season, he and Stacey spend as much time as they can at their Florida digs in Longboat Key, just west of Sarasota, FL. Those who were lucky enough to qualify for the October 7 championship will be graced with an awesome “big boy” golf course in immaculate condition. I guaran­ tee. .. you won’t be disappointed. Larry Pakkala is territory manager at Plant Food Company in Cranbury, NJ. Tee to Green August /September 2 0 1 0 Super/Green Chair Tourney Takes Flight to Wee Burn Editor’s Note: This is our abbreviated spotlight format for superintendents who have been profiled within the past three years. At the article’s end, we explain how to access Doug’s last,full-length pro­ file, should you want to read more. Noroton, CT. Interestingly, the club’s found­ er, John Crimmins, stumbled on Wee Burn’s original site when he and his son were out for a leisurely ride and came across two men playing golf. The men had staked out two holes in a field and were having a good old time bash­ ing the ball around. In 1896, that field became Wee Burn’s first home. George Strath, who hailed from St. Andrews in Scotland, designed and built a six-hole course, becoming the club’s first golf professional and greenskeeper. Three more holes were added during the winter of 1897 to 1898, and a small farmhouse on the property was converted into the club­ house. Wee Burn moved from Noroton to its current site in Darien in 1923, hiring Devereaux Emmet to design and build its 18hole championship course, which opened for play in 1925. A premier architect in the early 20th century, Emmet gave Wee Burn a won­ derful mix of long and short holes with his signature small greens and steep surrounds. Words to the Wise: The key to a good game: “Keep it out of the fescue,” says Doug. y M / M / ee Burn Country Club will W / W / have a full house October 18 when it plays host to this years Superintendent/Green Chairperson Tour­ ney If you haven’t played this New England venue in the past six years, get ready for a new-and-improved course. From the day Doug Drugo assumed the superintendent’s position at Wee Burn in 2004, he’s worked steadily to enhance both the course and maintenance operation, constructing a new maintenance facility, adding new bunkers, recontouring fairways, and renovating tees that lengthened the course by more than 250 yards, from 6,827 to 7,090. Though Doug notes that it shouldn’t be long before discussions begin about addi­ tional improvement projects at Wee Burn, the big project on his plate right now is plan­ ning for a new irrigation system, which is set to begin next fall. Doug hosted the Met’s Annual Meeting just a year ago but says it feels far in the past—no doubt due to what seemed like a season that would never end. “After this long and difficult summer, I’m Education: Doug completed a B.S. in both looking forward to offering some fun and Landscape Design and Turfgrass Manage­ relaxation for everyone who attends the ment from Penn State University in 1998. Training Ground: Doug’s first stop after tournament on the 18th,” says Doug. college was the famed Oakmont Country Club located in his Pittsburgh, PA, home­ town. He started working for superintend­ Design: Golf Digest rated the Wee Burn ent Mark Kuhns, and then two years later, course the fourth “Best in State” course for when John Zimmers took over as superin­ the years 1995 through 1998. Like other tendent, Doug served on his staff as an assis­ clubs in the competition, Wee Burn was first tant from 2000 to 2003. “Working at Oak­ established more than 100 years ago in mont was very demanding,” remembers About Our Host... Tee to Green August/Septem ber 2 0 1 0 Doug Drugo Doug. “The expectation from the member­ ship was U.S. Open conditions every day, and they got it.” John Zimmers was not only a great mentor to Doug but has remained one of his closest friends. “We talk all the time,” says Doug, who went from Oakmont to his current position at Wee Burn. On a Personal Note: When Doug’s not at work, he likes nothing more than spending time with his family. Married in 2005 to his wife, Dana, they live in Rowayton, CT, with their 2-year-old daughter, Claire Marie, pit bull, Godiva, and cat named Beans. A huge Steelers fan, Doug also makes sure to catch as may games as he can on his return trips to Pittsburgh. For More on Doug: Please refer to our website, www.metgcsa.org, to retrieve the archived September/October 2009 issue where Doug’s full profile last appeared. Spotlight Assistants to Contest Annual Championship at Pelham by Scott Olson ( j ) n October 19, MetGCSA asW / distant superintendents will gather V— ^ a t Pelham Country Club in Pelham Manor, NY, for the Annual Assistants Cham­ pionship. Hosting this year’s event is Pelham Assistant George Chavez and the club’s vet­ eran superintendent, JefFWentworth. Located just 15 miles outside of New York City, Pelham was founded in 1908 as a social club with a five-hole golf course, tennis courts, and a shooting range. In 1921, a new 18-hole golf course designed by Devereux Emmet opened and, just two years later, became famous for hosting one of the great­ est matches in the history of the game. Gene Sarezan defended his PGA Championship by defeating Walter Hagen on the second hole of a playoff. Although Emmet did a lot of work in the Met area, he seemed particularly fond of the greens at Pelham saying, “I don’t know if there is a course in the country where more study has been expended on the shape and contour of the putting greens.” Pelham underwent yet another transfor­ mation in 1955 when the New England Thruway was routed directly through the golf course. Alfred Tull, a longtime partner of Emmet, was hired to redesign the golf course, which included the construction of five new holes and, according to the club historian, left the course with “a solid layout with honest holes.” Recently, the club’s been in the throes of restoring some of the original Emmet fea­ tures, expanding greens and bunkers back to their original size and shape. With the addi­ tion of a few new tees, Pelham plays close to 6,400 yards from the back and should be a strong challenge for all who attend this fall’s championship. About Our Assistant Host George came to Pelham in 2000, accepting a position on the grounds crew after working in the restaurant business. “I love the out­ doors,” says George, “so it’s no surprise I found my way into the golf course business.” Deciding to turn his job into a career, George enrolled in Rutgers University Golf Turf Management program in 2003, and after com­ pleting his degree , George was elevated to assistant superin­ tendent. “Jeff has been a great role model,” says George. “Working for him has shown me that anything is possible when it comes to taking the course to the next level of perfection.” The admiration is mutual.“George is a ter­ rific assistant,” says Jeff. “He’s not only extremely competent, but also a pleasure to work with. I appreciate his can-do attitude and his fine character and principles,” says Jeff, adding, “Championship-goers are going to enjoy the results of his hard work.” When George is able to “get away from it all,” he enjoys spending time at the beach with his friends. And during the off-season every year, he visits his childhood home of Quitupan, Mexico, to spend time with family. His goal? “Becoming one of the first Hispanic golf course superintendents in the Northeast,” he says with a ready smile. No doubt, it’s only a matter of time when we’ll be seeing George in the Tee to Green’s “Members on the Move.” Meet the Super Jeff Wentworth has been Pelham’s superin­ tendent since 1994. In those 16 years, he’s overseen an impressive number of improve­ ment projects that have included renovat­ ing fairways, bunkers, and the clubhouse grounds. He’s also reconstructed 14 tees, installed a new, full-coverage irrigation system, built a new, 11,000-square-foot maintenance facility, and added a USGAspec chipping green and driving range with target fairway. And then there’s the land management program Jeff implemented, which has included selective tree removal and substantial drainage work. Jeff got his start in the business working as a placement student at Myopia Hunt Club in 1988. From there, he wound his way south Pelham Superintendent Jeff Wentworth, CGCS, and Assistant George Chavez join forces to host Annual Assistants Championship. with stops at Ridgewood in New Jersey and Columbia Country Club in Maryland. During that time, Jeff managed to complete the two-year turf program at Stockbridge in 1989 and a B.S. in Urban Forestry from UMass in 1991. But it was at Westchester Country Club that Jeff’s career really started to take off. After four years there as an assistant, Jeff landed his current position as Pelham’s superintendent. For Jeff, there is life beyond Pelham. He and his wife, Mimi, of 14 years, share a pas­ sion for travel and off-season getaways to ski the mountains ofVermont. During the sea­ son, Jeff, like other superintendents, shares a passion for golf. Best Tack to Take Speaking of golf, both Jeff and George are looking forward to hosting the Assistants Championship this year and have offered a strategy for putting up a good score on the 19th. The key, they both agree, is to keep the ball in play and make most of your birdie chances on the front nine. “There are real chances on holes 1, 3, 4, 7, and 8 on the front,” says Jeff. “Pelham starts to get a little more challenging on number 9 and follows you all the way home.” Hope you’re all up for the challenge. See you on the 19th! Scott Olson, a Class C representative on the MetGCSA Board of Directors, is assistant super­ intendent at Scarsdale Golf Club in Hartsdale, NY. Tee to Green August/Septem ber 2 0 1 0 President’s Message continued from page 1 superintendent in the tri-state area is aware of the benefits of belonging to our organization. 5 . Continuity: Function as the “face” of the association. With the Board of Directors changing from year-to-year, it has been hard to maintain any kind of continuity in repre­ sentation among industry groups. An execu­ tive director would be a consistent and wellrecognized point person, representing the association on all fronts. In July, the Executive Director’s Commit­ tee—which consists of me, Bob Nielsen, Bob Alonzi Sr., and Tim O ’Neill—met to compile our findings over the past year-anda-half and develop a game plan for moving forward in posting the position. We devel­ oped criteria on how we would conduct interviews, as well as a timetable to hire and present a director to the membership. At this point, we have posted the job on several executive association sites, as well as with the MGA and several other public media outlets. We’re currently in the process of collecting and reviewing resumes. It is our goal to narrow our search and begin the interview process through the months of October and November. We will continue to keep the membership informed during this process. We’d like to thank the members who have contacted us with their thoughts and in­ sights. It will always be our goal to meet our members’ expectations for this new and exciting position for our association. Please feel free to contact me or anyone on the search committee with any questions or concerns you may have regarding this process. Our goal is, and always will be, to streng­ then our member services and our associa­ tion. Your thoughts and feedback on our events and any other aspect of the association are always welcome and appreciated. lim Santoro Territory Manager Office 508-679-4797 Mobile 508-207-2094 Fax 925-817-5027 jim.santoro@valent.com Valent U .S A Corporation 294 Archer Street Fall River, MA 02720 Your Aerification Solution! Serving the Greater Metro NY area D ry je c t A e ra tio n D e e p T in e A e ra tio n C o re A e ra tio n ( 9 14) 6 7 2 -6 0 2 9 37 Oneonta Road • Carmel, NY 10512 PINNACLE Steven Renzetti, CGCS 40 Skyview Lane New Rochelle, NY 1 0 804 9 1 4 -3 8 4 -9 2 2 7 srenzetti@verizon. net www.pinnacleturf.net Tony Girardi, CGCS President P rofession a l Fertilizer So lu tio n s J o e S ta h l Turf Sales Manager o Tee to Green August/Septem ber 2 0 1 0 795 Route #148 Killingworth, CT 06419 860-663-8048 mobile: 203-209-6951 fax: 860-663-3564 jstahl@harrells.com www.harrells.com Support Our Advertisers!!! Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. 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