Hoard of Directors
President

ROBERT NIELSEN JR., CGCS
Bedford Golf & Tennis Club

Vice President

BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS
Brae Burn Country Club

Secretary

Fresh Meadow
Counry Club.

GLEN DUBE, CGCS
Centennial Golf Club

Treasurer

DAVID DUDONES
North Jersey Country Club

Past President

ANTHONY M. GIRARDI, CGCS
Rockrimmon Country Club

Directors

ROBERT B. A LO N ZIJR .
Fenway Golf Club
KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS
GlenArbor Club
SEAN CAIN, CGCS
Sunningdale Country Club
BRETT CHAPIN
Redding Country Club
PAUL GONZALEZ, CGCS
The Whippoorwill Club
VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCS
Fairview Country Club

Class AF Rep

MICHAEL COOK
The Care of Trees

Class C Rep

DOUG VANDERLEE
Westchester Country Club

Feature

Executive Director

Legislative Challenges Keep C om ing Our Way ..................................2

Executive Secretary

New-and-Im proved Irrigation Systems D o More T han ................... 4
Keep the Grass Green

ED BROCKNER

INEKE PIERPOINT

Tee to Green
Stall
Editor
JIM PAVONETTI
203-531-8910

Managing Editor

PANDORA C.WOJICK

Editorial Committee

MATT CEPLO
DAVE DUDONES
KEVIN COLLINS
PAUL GRABBE
CHIPLAFFERTY
DAVE MOFFETT

SCOTT NIVEN
ERIC O’NEILL
LARRY PAKKALA
BILLPERLEE
MIKE REEB
GREG WOJICK

Departine ills

Designer

M ember News .....................................................................................................5
Spotlights................................................................................................. 7,10, 11
Scorecard.................................................................................................................8

Advertising Managers

U pcom ing Events ............................................................................................ 12

TERRIE DUNKELBERGER
BRETT CHAPIN, 203-938-9240
PAUL GONZALEZ, 914-273-3755
TEETOGREEN is 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 ©2011

AUG 3 1 2011
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES

when I sit down to write my message is ...
can you guess? Right. The weather. I don’t
know about you, but I’m a little weary of it.
The season opened for many of us with win­
ter damage followed by a cool wet spring
that slowed recovery. Then the temps heated
up, leading to a spell of hot, dry weather.
Whew! All this added up to one hell of a year
for our little friends, the weevils. I feel like I
have had six generations with more to come!
In the midst of this, the Met planned some
great functions. Two of the four that were
scheduled after my last message, unfortu­
nately, had to be postponed. The Superintendent/Manager Tourney at Country Club of
New Canaan was—here goes the weather
again!—rained out, and the Summer Social,
well, it was postponed until September 10 in
an attempt to encourage more people to
attend. Was it the weather that drove down
attendance? I’m hoping that’s all it was and
that everyone—and I mean EVERYONE!—
will sign up for this always fun opportunity
to let your hair down and socialize with fel­
low Met members.
The third event, our annual family picnic,
was well attended, with more than 50 par­
ents and children enjoying the good food
and fun. The softball game and piñata have
become a popular tradition. (See photos,
page 6.)
Also nicely attended was the all-new
Scholarship Awards Event at Mosholu Golf
Course. It offered Met members and their
children (particularly scholarship recipients)
the opportunity to golf at Mosholu’s newly
renovated nine-hole course—free of charge!
At an informal reception after the golf, par­
ticipants were able to socialize over a deli­
cious dinner that culminated in 14 mem­
bers’ children receiving MetGCSA scholar­
ship awards. (See write-up, page 5.) This
first-time event was a huge success, thanks
to Erik Feldman, who had the course in
great condition, and our executive director,
Ed Brockner, who came up with the idea of
putting this afternoon together.

,

Bob Nielsen CGCS
MetGCSA President

gers field days were full of valuable informa­
tion. The two farms are maintained at true
putting green and fairway height so they
come as close to replicating actual golf course
conditions as you could possibly come. Heck,
not even Bedford Golf & Tennis members
can cause the wear and tear on putting greens
that the contraption down at Rutgers does.
The various trials—NTEP, fungicide, and
topdressing—all offered new information
that you can’t see on a slide in a seminar.
UMass was doing some environmental fate
studies of pesticides that made me wish I had
brought my camera. All sorts of different
grasses and sedges were tested in various
mixes and heights (most were 5' or higher),
and 4" Kentucky bluegrass performed as well
or better than any of them. You should really
make a point of attending at least one field
day next year. I would love to duplicate the
LIGCSA by getting enough participation to
rent a bus.

Make the Most of the Season's End

I’m hoping we’ve rounded the corner with
the weather and everyone can aerify their
golf course on sunny mornings followed by
cloudy afternoons and light showers during
the night. And don’t forget to give your hard­
working crew a pat on the back. They’ve had
a long summer too.
Last, but certainly not least, treat yourself
and your wife or significant other to a fun
evening of dinner and dancing at Fenway
Golf Club on September 10. A Saturday night
in September at Fenway should be pretty
enticing to anyone.
I look forward to seeing you there!

There’s never a time that field days are a Bob Nielsen, CGCS
waste of time. This year’s UMass and Rut- President
Tee to Green July/'August 2011

Challenges Keep
Coming Our Way
A Look at What We Have
in Store
by Bob Nielsen., CGCS

mm

f
w*

here seems to be no end to the
number of proposed laws being generated by
both the federal government and state legis­
latures. To make matters worse, many coun­
ties and even individual towns are at­
tempting to enforce their own set of laws.
The GCSAA, with the help of David
Evans and his colleagues at Reed Smith, is
able to track the federal laws being proposed
and introduced. Reed Smith works to
advance the GCSAAs government relations
and public policy goals, representing our
national organization in Congress and with
federal regulatory agencies.
With GCSAAs leaner staff, their ability to
track bills at the state level has been cur­
tailed. This does not, however, prevent
GCSAA staff from lending a helping hand
when issues do arise. I especially want to
thank Chava McKeel, GCSAAs senior man­
ager of information and public policy, for all
of her help in our efforts. Be sure to check
out the podcasts she has started to put
together. No more than 15 minutes in
length, they offer brief, but detailed, syn­
opses of pending legislation. You’ll find them
on the GCSAA website!
We are also very fortunate to have Larry
Wilson and the New York Alliance for
Environmental Concerns (NYAFEC), which
contracts with the Vandervoort Group and
lobbyist Wayne Lair, to track bills that are
brought up in Albany. They also keep very
close tabs on legislative initiatives that occur
on the local level. The importance of spot­
ting a bill as soon as it’s been introduced can­
not be overstated. It’s much easier to work
with the various committees assigned to
draw up a new law, than it is to try to effect
change once a bill has reached the General
Assembly.

Wlmt (u Watch Out lor on a National
Level

# i; Threatening to Put the E-Verify System
Into Practice Nationally. A few months ago,
in a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court
upheld an Arizona law requiring employers
to use the federal E -Verify system. E-Verify
allows employers to electronically verify
that newly hired employees are legally au-

thorized to work in the U.S. Specifically,
social security numbers of new hires are
checked against Social Security Admini­
stration and Department of Homeland
Security records in order to eliminate
fraudulent numbers. The law also permits
Arizona state government to revoke the
business licenses of employers who know­
ingly hire illegal immigrants. This legisla­
tion makes a voluntary federal system
mandatory for the State of Arizona.
To make matters worse, on June 14, Rep­
resentative Lamar Smith, chairman of the
House Judiciary Committee, introduced
legislation (H.R. 2164, the Legal Workforce
Act) mandating that all employers in the
U.S. use the federal E-Verify system. If
passed by Congress, the law would repeal
the current paper-based 1-9 system and
replace it with a completely electronic work
eligibility check.
Use of the program would be phased in
after date of enactment. Businesses with
more than 10,000 employees would be
required to comply within six months; busi­
nesses with 5,000 to 10,000 would have to
comply within a year; and businesses with
more than 20 employees would need to
comply within 18 months. Employers with
fewer than 20 employees would have two
years to comply.
In separate Senate action,Judiciary Com­
mittee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley
also introduced legislation (S.1196) on June
14 regarding the E-Verify program. In
S.1196, he proposed that the E-Verify sys­
tem program be made permanent and that
all employers sign on to the system within
one year of passage of the bill. If passed,
Grassley s legislation also would require the
reverification of all employees within three
years of bill enactment.
#2; Disaster Relief Funding for Golf
Courses. There has been some movement on
the disaster relief front. In light of the recent
tornado and flooding events, House Re­
publicans are preparing a $1 billion aid
package to make sure federal disaster relief
accounts don’t run out before the end of the
budget year in September.
The Podesta Group, a unique lobbying
firm retained by the “We Are Golf” coali­
tion, is currently tracking this activity and
working with multiple members of Con­
gress on this front, both Republican and
Democrat. They specifically reached out to
Jay Goughnour (the GCSAA National Golf
Day storyteller this past April in Washing­
ton, DC). He is the superintendent who
explained the difficulty in rebuilding his
golf course because he did not qualify for
disaster relief. There should soon be a tar­
geted grass roots effort to be sure that golf
courses are not exempted from this bill.

#J; Putting a High Price on H-2B Visa
Workers. The H-2B Visa program has been
under attack by the U.S. Department of
Labor for the past six months. This program
is used by many golf facilities to secure tem­
porary, seasonal workers when American
workers are unwilling or unavailable to do
this work.
The GCSAA submitted final comments
on the H-2B Visa program to the Labor
Department, noting the serious implications
of raising the minimum wage for these
workers. This program will require that H2B Visa workers be paid, in some cases, at
double the minimum wage. In a letter
cosigned by the MetGCSA and at least 70
other chapters, the GCSAA pointed out,
among other things, that this program could
only do more harm than good by encourag­
ing employers to seek other avenues for
employees they can hire at a more reason­
able hourly rate.

Legislation hiring New York Slate

# i ; Water Withdrawal Permitting Hits Golf
Courses. This past month, we lost the war
against water withdrawal permitting when
the Assembly and the Senate passed the
Water Withdrawal Bill with no provision for
a golf course exemption. The bill was signed
by Governor Cuomo a few weeks ago and is
now law.
To recap, this bill expands the existing
water supply permit program by requir­
ing entities, like golf courses, that have
the capacity to withdraw a minimum of
100,000 gallons per day to obtain a permit
from the DEC and adhere to stream flow
standards and new water conservation prac­
tices that, in Connecticut, have cost golf
facilities from $65,000 to $250,000 to
comply.
Another drawback to this legislation is
that it leaves us susceptible to open-ended
regulations that would allow the DEC to
establish restrictions and limits on water
use.
At the Met s last board meeting, we voted
unanimously to draft a letter to the other
New York State chapters and to NYSTA
hoping to establish a united front to make
sure implementation of this law is not too
harsh on golf courses. We believe that if we
can establish Best Management Practices
similar to those established by the State of
Connecticut, we may be able to avert a
potential disaster. Stay tuned!

from the Assembly, however, could be a
major undertaking. The definition the
Senate approved provides for judicious use
of chemicals for pest and disease manage­
ment. More specifically, it defines Inte­
grated Pest Management as “a systematic
approach to managing pests that utilizes a
diversity of management options to mini­
mize health, environmental, and economic
risks and impacts. These options may in­
clude biological, cultural, physical, and
chemical tools to prevent pest infestations or
reduce them to acceptable levels.”

At the County Level

# 1: Stage II Vapor Collection System No
Longer Required. The New York State De­
partment of Conservation has issued an
enforcement discretion directive regarding
Stage II Vapor Collection Systems. The
directive can be found on the NYSDEC
website. The Westchester County Depart­
ment of Health (WCDOH) will enforce
Article XXVI of the County Sanitary Code
in accordance with this directive.
The good news: You’re no longer required
to install Stage II Vapor Collection Systems.
HOWEVER, existing Stage II Vapor Col­
lection Systems must be maintained in
accordance with Article XXVI or decom­
missioned in accordance with Appendix A
of the DEC directive. Then a CARB Vapor
Recovery Test must be performed to ensure
vapor tightness of the system, so you should
contact your installer to decommission
your system. All Stage II requirements
must be adhered to until they are repealed.
This includes inspection and testing
requirements.

Fimil Note

With the number of laws continually being
introduced and with the strong implications
some of these laws can have on our business,
it’s in our best interest to become more
involved in government relations and public
policy.
Though many of our best efforts to
squash unfavorable legislation have failed,
we can’t be discouraged ... and we certainly
can’t give up. Sooner or later the political
climate will change and, with it, the results
of our efforts.

Bob Nielsen, superintendent at Bedford Golf &
Tennis Club in Bedford, NY, is currently the
MetGCSA’s president and Government Re­
#2: State Definition of IPM Passes the lations Committee co-chair. In addition, Bob is
Senate. Finally, some good news! Thanks to an active member of the GCSAA Government
Senator Young, the New York State Senate Relations Committee.
voted 61 - 0 to pass a definition of IPM that
we can live with. Getting the green light
Tee to Green July/August 2011

New-and-Improved Irrigation Systems Do More
Than Keep the Grass Green
by Ed Brockner, MetGCSA Executive Director

f J M f there’s one thing our Feature
W article in this issue makes loud and
clear, it’s that we can’t sit by the side­
lines and hope the latest regulation imposed
on our industry will be the last. In fact, it’s
becoming increasingly difficult to keep tabs
on—and comply with—the many laws being
proposed and put into effect.
An important piece of legislation the Met
is currently watching closely is the bill on
water withdrawal permitting. Already passed
in Connecticut, the bill proposed for New
Yorkers, could, worst case, leave golf courses
susceptible to open-ended restrictions on
water use. Though it is certainly in our best
interest to become more actively involved in
government relations and public policy to
keep these regulations from being written,
just as important is winning the favor of law­
making legislators by clearly demonstrating
our commitment to preserving our natural
resources and the environment.
One clear example of resource conserva­
tion at work: The installation of a new, more
efficient irrigation system. Several area clubs
have installed—or are planning to install—
new systems with water conservation just
one of the benefits in mind. Granted, this is
no small undertaking. But taking the plunge
will not only demonstrate commitment to
protecting our resources, but also allow you
to more easily comply with any water
restrictions, should they come to pass.
What follows are several members’
thoughts on the process. If you—or your
club—are on the fence about taking on this
kind of project, what you read here may help
you get to the other side.

Host Laid Nans

Job #1 when gearing up to install a new irri­
gation system: Hire a qualified consultant to
do the design. No two golf courses are alike,
and even within a single course, it’s often
necessary to customize the design to Fit each
hole and provide the appropriate coverage.
At National Golf Links of America in
Southampton, NY, the new irrigation system
was tailored to meet the varied width of the
fairways. While many of the holes at this
classically designed course are triple row, Bill
Salinetti points out that some of the newly
expanded holes were designed with seven or
even eight rows, once the mowing patterns of
Tee to Green July /August 20 it

the expanded fairways were set.
The restored width of many of the holes at
National, along with an irrigation system
that now reaches the edges of the fairways,
has helped to regain course strategy that was
lost as hole corridors gradually narrowed
over the years. But it goes without saying that
the new state-of-the-art system also allows
Bill to water with far greater efficiency.
Rob Alonzi at Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, NY, is installing a new irrigation system
to apply water more efficiently and effec­
tively to greens that have been enlarged and
will likely be expanded further to bring
them back to their original size.
To avoid drawing a significant amount of
water from the municipal water source, sev­
eral years ago, the club dug five wells and
installed an irrigation reservoir with a 3.5million-gallon holding capacity. Relying pri­
marily on a water source that is replenished
largely with storm water and groundwater
has not only resulted in a significant cost sav­
ings to the club, but has also allowed Rob to
conserve the town’s drinkable water source.
New irrigation systems are allowing clubs
like National and Fenway to return their
courses to the original designers’ intent.
With the new system in place at National, for
instance, Bill is able to vary his watering
practices across the course, keeping the rough
drier than other areas and true to its original
C.B. Macdonald links-style design.

Modern Efficiency

Jim Pavonetti at Fairview Country Club in
Greenwich, CT, recently started work on
replacing his club’s 26-year-old irrigation
system that had developed more than a hun­
dred leaks over the past four years. In addi­
tion, the sprinkler spacing was inconsistent,
causing certain areas to be wet and soggy, and
others nearby to be dry and wilting.
Rectifying these issues meant installing a
new five-row system that will allow him to
water the rough and fairways separately. His
system will also include sensors on every
green, tee, and fairway to help determine
just-the-right-amount of water needed to
keep these areas alive and well.
In addition to allowing Jim to create more
consistent conditions on the course, this
state-of-the-art system will enable him to
tailor his water applications to the course’s
specific needs. He can apply less water on
fairways to produce a firmer surface, while

applying more water on the rough. In times
of drought or to comply with any future
water restrictions, he can easily respond by,
perhaps, applying little or no water to the
rough, while keeping greens, tees, and fair­
ways well watered.
Jim’s looking forward to finally having a
system that will enable him to apply water
more efficiently, while providing more con­
sistent playing conditions.
For the Round Hill Club’s Sean Foley, also
in Greenwich, a new irrigation system will
help him conserve not one, but two precious
resources: water and labor.
Just about daily, some of Sean’s most
skilled employees are being pulled away
from the course to repair irrigation prob­
lems. Making matters worse, many of the
parts for the aging system are outdated and
hard-to-find. Sean’s looking forward to the
completion of his new system so his crew
can focus on course maintenance rather
than emergency irrigation management.

Making Your taw

Though the benefits of installing a new irri­
gation system are crystal clear to superin­
tendents, it may take a hard sell to convince
your club officials of its value, especially
given that a new system can run more than
$3 million when all is said and done.
After discussing all the problems associ­
ated with an aging and inadequate irriga­
tion system, it’s wise to point out that a
state-of-the-art system is not just an ex­
pense; it’s an investment—one that will pay
dividends by offering greater efficiency (in
both water and labor) and superior condi­
tions that will make the club more attractive
to current and new members.
O f course, in light of all of the new regu­
lations that are being passed at the state and
local level, the environmental benefits of a
new irrigation system might be the most
practical and compelling selling point when
working with club officials to get board
approval on this major a project.
In any case, before you start your journey,
you might increase your chances of success if
you speak to the superintendents in this
piece and any others you may know who
have successfully sold their their clubs on a
new system. Time spent in preparing your
case is always time well spent. We wish you
the best of luck!

Member News

Congratulations to Our
2011 Scholarship Recipients!
by Blake Halderman, CGCS

he 2011 Scholarship Awards Ceremony this year was held as part of
the First Annual Member/Child Golf
Event at Mosholu Golf Course on August 4.
This is one of America’s premier First Tee
golf courses and a perfect venue for all of our
members’ children (young and old) to get
out and enjoy the game that’s so much a part
of their parents’ livelihood.
We had 38 participants (parent/child
teams) playing in a nine-hole, two-person
scramble, which was enjoyed by all. Ed
Brockner, the MetGCSAs executive director,
spearheaded the event at Mosholu, where he
also works with the First Tee Program.
The tournament ended up being a great
success thanks to Ed and Mosholu Super­
intendent Erik Feldman and his staff, who
had the course in wonderful shape.
This year, the Scholarship Committee had
the pleasure of awarding scholarships to 14
members’ sons and daughters. With 21 appli­
cations to process, the judging was more
challenging than ever. As always, the win­
ning candidates were selected based on
maturity, academic history, ambition, ex­
tracurricular activities, and effort exhibited
in completing their application.
Please join me in congratulating this
year’s scholarship recipients—and their
proud parents:
• Katherine Amodio, daughter of Jean
and Frank Amodio of Valley View Green­
houses, is a sophomore at Boston College
working toward a double major in human
development and psychology.
• Emily Carlone, daughter of Leslie and
John Carlone, has begun her senior year at
the University of Rhode Island with a com­
munication disorders major and a double
minor in leadership studies and Spanish.
• Megan Ceplo, daughter of Jasmine and
Matt Ceplo, superintendent of Rockland
Country Club, is a sophomore at Paul Smith’s
College, majoring in baking and pastry arts.
• LaurAnn Donovan, daughter of Julie
and Shawn Donovan of TPC in Enfield, CT,
is enrolled in the doctorate program in clin­
ical health psychology at the Spalding
University in Louisville, KY
• Corinne A. Finamore, daughter of Janet
and Steve Finamore, superintendent of

Alpine Country Club, is a junior at the
University of North Carolina in Greens­
boro, majoring in mathematics education.
• Amanda Gross, daughter of Elizabeth
and Doug George, superintendent of Waccabuc Country Club, will be a freshman at
Northeastern University, majoring in math­
ematics education.
• Tim Kerr, son of Betsy and Dave Kerr,
superintendent of Ridgewood Country
Club, is a senior at Grove City College in
Pennsylvania, majoring in communication
studies.
• Teddy Norman, a new MetGCSA
member working for Superintendent Peter
J. Rappoccio at Concord Country Club
in Concord, MA, will be attending the Uni­
versity of Massachusetts-Amherst Stockbridge School of Agriculture this fall.
• Kristin J. O ’Neill, daughter of Jennifer
and Tim O ’Neill, superintendent of Coun­
try Club of Darien, is in her junior year at
Connecticut College, majoring in Ameri­
can studies.
• Jane Sylvester, daughter of Julie and
Dave Sylvester, sales representative for Bayer
Environmental Science, is in her sophomore
year at Michigan State University, studying
music.
• Mary Frances Sylvester, daughter of

Julie and Dave Sylvester, sales representative
for Bayer Environmental Science, is in her
junior year at Central Connecticut State
University, pursuing a degree in elementary
education.
• Kathryn Wallace, daughter of Vicky
and Dave Wallace of Wallace Consulting,
is a senior at the University of Connecti­
cut, majoring in agricultural and resource
economics.
• Sharyce Willand, daughter of Synda
and Scott Willand of Steven Willand, Inc., is
entering her sophomore year at the State
University of New York in New Paltz as a
media and communications major.
• Kara Wojick, daughter of Pandora Wojick, our talented editor, and Greg Wojick,
principal, Playbooks ™ for Golf, is a sopho­
more at the University of Connecticut, pur­
suing a degree in elementary 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 Sunningdale Country Club on
December 9 for our Annual Christmas
Party.
Blake Halderman, chairman of the Scholarship
Committee, is superintendent at Brae Burn
Country Club in Purchase, NY.

Seven of the 14 scholarship winners were able to attend the Scholarship Awards Ceremony at Mosholu
to accept their scholarships. From left to right: Dave Kerr with his son, Tim; Frank Amodio with his
daughter, Katherine; Corinne Finamore with her mother, Janet; Dave Wallace with his daughter,
Kathryn; Greg and Pandora Wojick with their daughter, Kara;Tim O fNeill with his daughter, Kristin;
Dave Sylvester, there to accept the scholarship awards for his two daughters,Jane and Mary Frances; and
Matt Ceplo with his daughter, Megan.
Tee to Green July/August 2011

Member News

Newly Certified

Congratulations to Rob Dorsch, su­
perintendent of Richter Park Golf
Course in Danbury, CT, who has
recently completed the coursework
required to become a certified golf
course superintendent (CGCS) with
GCSAA.

Matt Ceplo Honored tor Environmental
Stewardship

Well Wishes

(

y
ockland Country Club SuM /O perintendent Matt Ceplo
V ^/w as honored with the 2011
Global Sports Alliance (GSA) New York
Environmental Stewardship Award. GSA is
a global network of sports enthusiasts com­
mitted to ensuring a healthy environment
for future generations.
Presented annually, the New York En­
vironmental Stewardship Award is “given to
an individual who demonstrates an excep­
tional commitment to protecting the envi­
ronment in the management of a re­
creational or sports venue.” GSA partici­
pated in the Environmental Day celebration
in Rockland County, NY, on May 15, hosted
by the Rockland County Solid Waste

Wishing Ernie Steinhofer of Metro
Turf Specialists a speedy recovery after
his recent hip replacement surgery. He
will be going in for hip replacement
surgery #2 on September 6! Were send­
ing well wishes your way, Ernie!

Management Authority (RCSWMA). Matt
was honored at the closing ceremonies by
GSA New York Team Captain Kevin Trotta.
“Matt has distinguished himself as a pio­
neer, a practitioner/researcher, and a leader in
the progressive management of the golf
course,” says Trotta. “He points the way to
the future of the game by maintaining the
social and economic integrity of the golf
course while resolutely defending environ­
mental quality. His many years of involve­
ment and promotion of Audubon Inter­
national’s Cooperative Sanctuary Program
and his pursuit of sustainable practices have
earned him the respect of his industry and
the respect of GSA New York,” said Trotta.
Congratulations, Matt, on this high honor.

In Sympathy

We would like to offer our sincere con­
dolences to two member superintend­
ents who recently lost their mothers:
• Paul Gonzalez, superintendent of
The Whippoorwill Club in Armonk,
NY His mother, Linda Gonzalez, passed
away on July 15.
• Peter Waterous, superintendent of
Westchester Hills Golf Club in White
Plains, NY His mother, Ellen E.
Waterous Shokan, died on July 18.

Fun, Fun, Fun at the MetGCSA Family Picnic

by Carolyn Nielsen (our “First Lady”)

■

he July 19 MetGCSA Family
Picnic held at Bedford Village
Memorial Park was once again a
happy reunion for superintendents’ families
and industry friends. Though the kids get
older and some unrecognizable from year to
Tee to Green July/August 2011

year, they all seem to share in the fun of the
bounce house and the all-you- can-sneak sno
cones before dinner, as well as the baseball
game and closing piñata whack.
New families joined the fun this year and
quickly became acquainted based solely on
the fact that we all endure long summer

hours with our families separated. Life on
the other side of a golf course is one that
only those who experience it can appreciate
and begin to understand. It is good to have
friends on the same par!
See you all next summer!

Spotlight

Joe Gardner Preps Fresh Meadow for
Dual-Association Event
by Eric O ’Neill

[ J M / M / hile Labor Day represents
W /f a day of rest for most of
the country’s workforce, Fresh
Meadow Superintendent Joe Gardner and
his staff will likely be toiling harder than
ever to prepare the course for the Met Area
Team Championship Qualifier, and the Poa
Annual Tournament on September 6.
A seasoned host, Joe has welcomed associ­
ation members twice before: in 2003 for the
annual Assistants Championship and, again,
in 2008 for the Two-Ball Qualifier. This
will be Joes first event at Fresh Meadow
Country Club, where he has been superin­
tendent for the past three years.

The (Hub s Beginning

Opened in 1925 as Lakeville Golf & Coun­
try Club, the course was built by golf course
architect Charles Alison, and touted as “one
of the most beautiful and exclusive clubs in
America.” Though many rich and famous
were among its first members—including
Irving Berlin, Eddie Cantor, and Oscar
Hammerstein—the Depression hit the club
hard, and Lakeville fell into the hands of
financial institutions.
During World War II, it was leased to
nearby Glen Oaks, whose grounds were
taken over by the U.S. Navy. After the wars
end, Glen Oaks was able to reclaim its prop­
erty and returned to its original home. At
that point, the Lakeville property was sold,
becoming the club we know today: Fresh
Meadow Country Club.
Perched on 150 acres on Long Islands
North Shore, Fresh Meadow offers golfers a
challenging yet picturesque playing field. Its
fairways follow the natural roll of the for­
ested terrain. Several tees are elevated well
above the fairway, presenting vistas hardly
conducive to keeping ones eye on the ball.
Almost every hole spotlights the artistry of
Charles Alisons deep-faced bunkering, with
the home hole a classic example of his craft.
A high-lipped cross bunker rises like a wave
across the fairway about 75 yards ahead of
the green. You’ll no doubt find it a fitting
finish to a great golf experience.
In Joe’s tenure at the club, he’s worked with
architect Keith Foster to modernize the sig­
nature Alison layout. The renovation con­
sisted of rebuilding two greens, all greenside

and fairway bunkers, three tee complexes,
adding collection areas around several
greens, enlarging greens, and highlighting
the large specimen trees on the property. The
project was completed December 11 that
same year. “Fast and furious; that’s all I can
say. Keith and McDonald & Sons and I just
meshed,” says Joe, noting, “It was a great team
effort to complete the project two days
before the first snowfall.”

Resume-building

Joe’s prior experience prepared him well for
the challenges of renovation work. As Dellwood Country Club’s superintendent, a posi­
tion he held before moving to Fresh Meadow,
Joe devoted much of his six-year tenure at
the club to course improvement projects:
expanding greens, recapturing approach and
fairway contouring, and bringing greenside
bunkers back into play.
But Joe truly got his feet wet in construc­
tion as an assistant superintendent at the
Seawane Club, working with Brian Benedict.
“We met as assistant superintendents. I was at
Old Oaks, and he was at Century,” says Joe.
“When Brian became superintendent at
Seawane, he called to tell me he had a con­
struction opportunity. I left Old Oaks and
spent three years helping him in the transfor­
mation of all but the last five holes. It was a
great experience,” adds Joe. “What I learned
enabled me to handle the renovation projects
at both Dellwood and Fresh Meadow with
creativity and dedication.”

IV'here It All Itogan

Joe Gardner

position at Lake Success Village Golf Course
in Great Neck, NY (just a three-wood away
from Fresh Meadow). It was at that point
that Joe realized the opportunity to succeed
was in the Met community.
He accepted yet another assistant’s posi­
tion at Old Oaks Country Club, working
under Mark Millett, a superintendent he
credits with mentoring him both on and off
the course. At the same time, Joe began pur­
suing formal turf management training at
Rutgers, completing his certificate in 2001.
“I have a great deal of respect for all the
superintendents I’ve worked with. Good,
bad or indifferent, you learn something at
each stop. Having the ability to process your
experiences and make them work for you is
the key. That’s what’s helped me climb the
ladder.”

Away From Work

Like most superintendents, Joe values time
with his family. He and his wife of eight
years, Margaret, and their two daughters, 7year-old Emma and 2-year-old Clare, enjoy
traveling to see family in Ohio, Atlanta,
North Carolina, and Chicago—or just a
good lazy day at the beach. “I’m a sports fan.
I follow college football and basketball, the
NFL, the PGA Tour, and NASCAR. Having
been involved in sports my whole life,
they’re just part of me. I enjoy the game of
golf these days. There’s nothing better than a
competitive round with friends, but getting
to visit some of the best courses in the world
isn’t bad either.”
For those venturing to the North Shore
on September 6, Joe offers this word to the
wise: Fresh Meadow is a really good golf
course. It’s one of those places you play and
don’t realize how difficult it is until you’ve
finished. Just be sure to hit the fairways ...
but even more important, have a good time!

Joe grew up in Danville, OH, working on
golf courses through his high school years.
He didn’t, however, pursue the education
track typical of most superintendents. Joe
received a B.S. in psychology from Otterbein College. But after graduating, rather
than put his degree to work, he took a posi­
tion doing what he knew best. He signed on
as a member of the maintenance crew at The
Country Club at Muirfield Village in
Dublin, OH. He enjoyed six years there,
climbing the ladder to assistant.
Eric O’Neill, a member of the Tee to Green
In January of 1999, Joe saw an opportunity Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
in the Met area and accepted an assistant’s Towers Country Club in Floral Park, NY.
Tee to Green July/August 2011

North Jersey Claims Invitational Trophy...
Onee Again!
/ M / orth Jersey Country Club
m / returned to form at this years
r MetGCS A Invitational, held June
9 at Silver Spring Country Club. They shot
an impressive 10 under par in the rainshortened round, winning the event in a
match of cards with Pine Hollow Country
Club. North Jersey last won the Invitational
at The Whippoorwill Club in 2007.
Meanwhile, Silver Spring Country Club
took advantage of a little home cooking and
won the gross division with a score of -4, a
fitting result considering the tremendous
job they did in hosting this years event. The
course was in perfect condition thanks to
Peter Rappoccio and his staff.
This years low pro resulted in a tie be­
tween Pelham Country Club’s Mike Diff­
ley and North Jersey Country Club’s Chris
Dachisen, who each shot 2 under par.
The event ended when severe weather
forced the field off the course and into the
clubhouse an hour early. Though the players
/

were disappointed not to finish the round, Individual Low Pro
they were treated to a wonderful time in -2 Mike Diffley, Pelham Country Club
the beautiful clubhouse.
-2 Chris Dachisen, North Jersey Country
Thanks again Silver Spring Country
Club
Club and to all participants for making this
year’s Invitational a huge success.
Closest to the Pin
Now for a full account of the results:
#8 Carl Sturges, Club Official 24' 0"
Mt. Kisco Country Club
Net Team Winners
#15 Neil Katzman, Club Official 6'3"
-10 North Jersey Country Club
Pine Hollow Country Club
David Dudones, Chris Dachisen,
#3 Kevin Loftus, Pro
11'8"
Erv Allaghi, Steve Friedberg
Pine Hollow Country Club
-10 Pine Hollow Country Club
#10 Chip Lafferty, Superintendent 16'7"
Gerry Kunkle, Richard Butwin,
Rye Golf Club
Neil Katzman, Kevin Loftus
Longest Drive

Gross Team Winners

-4 Silver Spring Country Club
Peter Rappoccio, DavidJones, Bill
Lawrence, Carl Klein
-3 Mt. Kisco Country Club
Greg Gutter, Pat Sullivan, Carl Sturges,
Ken Nilsen

Two-Ball First-Round Winners
by Larry Pakkala, CGCS

s our teams dodged the
raindrops to complete their
first rounds in the Dave
Mahoney Two-Ball Championship, I hap­
pened to catch a story about a Madison, WI,
foursome who teed off, like many of us,
during a light rain. But when these guys got
around the back nine, they could see light­
ning in the distance, so they decided to head
in. Halfway there, a drizzle turned into a
heavy downpour, so they took shelter under
a tree . . . a 50-foot pine with a 10-foot
overhang. When the rain let up a bit, all but
one of the guys decided to head in. The
fourth remained under the tree, standing
next to his bag. Minutes later, a lightning
bolt struck his bag and pushcart. Holding
onto one of his clubs, he was killed instantly.
Fortunately, none of our members were
“struck” by this kind of misfortune during
their first Two-Ball match. But the first
Tee to Green July/August 2011

Michael Retter, Club Official
Lake Waramaug Country Club
Steve Dougan, Pro
Bedford Golf & Tennis Club
Jeff Wentworth, Superintendent
Pelham Country Club
- Ken Benoit, CGCS

round did have to be extended because of
the spring rains and the many supers who
had to play catch-up on their courses. The
picture on page 8, by the way, is what was
left of that unfortunate golfers clubs.
Couldn’t resist posting this photo since it
reminded me of Kevin Collins’ clubs at the
end of last season’s Two-Ball!

A Few of the Highlights

To highlight a few of our first-round
matches ...
• Dave Dudones and Grover Alexander
defeated a strong team of Tom Ashfield and
Andy Drohen at Centennial 1 up in sudden
death after 19 holes. Dudones and Alexan­
der won on the 17th hole to go one down,
and on 18, Dudones’s 4-iron from 225 yards
landed just left of the green. After chipping
on, Dudones holed his 20-foot par putt,
forcing sudden death. Alexander took over
from there, birdying the first hole of sudden
death, ending the epic match.
On a side note, Andy Drohen played fan­
tastically, finishing one under par on his
own ball. Dave’s comment on the round: “It
was the best two-ball match I’ve ever
played.” Hmmm. Could it have been because
he won?
• Tony Hooks and Jeff Wentworth defeated
Mark Chant and Mike Benz 4 and 3 at
Westchester Country Club. Wentworth shot
a blistering 76 in his first visit to West­
chester since the regrass. After the match,
on the way for refreshments, the mad texter,
Hooks, was sending results to other com­
petitors in the Two-Ball: “Hooks/Wentworth win 4 and 3 to advance!” One of the
recipients was (ooops) Mark Chant. His
response:“I know!”
• Matt Ceplo and Jim Swiatlowski had a
great match going. They were one up head­
ing into the back nine when Jimmy caught
fire. While he was two under on the back
side, Matt was . . . well . . . there for moral
support, handing Jimmy his putter on every
hole. This proved too much for Bob De­
Marco and Fred Montgomery, who hung in
there for quite some time but ultimately lost
the battle after the 16th hole. “We had a
great day,” says Matt, “the course was great
and the camaraderie was even better.”
• Guy Gurney and Ernie Steinhofer de­
feated Tony Grasso and Scott Tretera 1 up,
despite a steady rain that persisted the whole
match. Grasso and Tretera took the early
lead, but Gurney and Steinhofer were able to
make a comeback. With two bad hips (see
Member News), Steinhofer reportedly was
barely able to tee the ball up but managed to

make a couple of pars on stroke holes to put
Gurney and him two up at one point. Grasso
had a few choice words (all in fun) for
Steinhofer who was hitting the ball in the
fairway off of the tee about 200 yards
instead of his usual 260 yards into the
woods. The foursome was so wet after nine
holes that Grasso and Tretera conceded the
match. The four rung out their wet clothes
and headed home early.

• Tony Hooks/Jeff Wentworth (Pelham/
Split Rock GC/Pelham CC) defeated Mark
Chant/Mike Benz (Class A/Middle Bay
CC) 4 & 3 at Westchester CC
• Guy Gurney/Ernie Steinhofer (Orange
CC/Metro Turf Specialists) defeated Tony
Grasso/Scott Tretera (Metropolis CC/
Metro Turf Specialist) i up at Trump
National /Hudson Valley

• “Big Sexy” Topazio and Lippman won 1 • Glen Dube/Blake Halderman (Centen­
up over McGlone and Lippman at Trump nial GC/Brae Burn CC) defeated Ryan
National/Westchester.
Batz/Scott Blough (John Deere Golf/
Trump National GC/NY) 4 & 3 at Silver
• Greg Wojick and Brett Chapin won the Spring
first round against George Corgan and
Trapper VanDunk. This was a match noted • Dave Lippman/Matt Topazio (West­
for the lousy play from all four players! chester Turf Supply/New York CC) defeated
VanDunk was erratic; Corgan had a case of Bob Lippman/Steve McGlone (Westchester
the hooks; Chapin and Wojick were egg and Turf Supply/Siwanoy CC) i up at Trump
eggin’ it, finding every way to hit bad shots National GC /Westchester
on the same hole. Each team tried very hard
to lose, and the match thankfully concluded Second Flight Winners
in the pitch dark at 8:40 p.m. on hole #17 at • Eddie Binsse/Dan Cancelled (Life A/
Fairview (one hole was closed due to the Life AF) defeated Bob Nielsen/Bill Perlee
ongoing irrigation installation project).
(Bedford Golf & Tennis/Apawamis Club) 2
Wojick and Chapin prevailed to win 3 up & t at Silver Spring
with two holes remaining—miraculous,
considering Wojick had only his prescrip­ • Paul Boyd/Matt Leverich (Greenwich
tion sunglasses (his regular glasses were CC/Playbooks for Golf) defeated Rob
bezzing repaired), so by the end, he was Alonzi/Bill Bartels (Fenway GC/Tanto
quite literally taking shots in the dark. At Irrigation) by default
the conclusion of the match, Wojick mut­
tered to his partner, “Brett, thank the Lord • Kevin Collins/Nick Lerner (Aquatrols,
that match is over, I couldn’t see a thing!”
Inc./Bonnie Briar CC) defeated Dennis
Flynn/Peter Rappoccio (Class LA/Silver
I’m hoping more of you will provide feed­ Spring CC) 2 & t at Bedford Golf & Tennis
back on your matches so I have a few more
stories to tell. Please send your results to • Brett Chapin/Greg Wojick (Redding
lpakkala@plantfoodco.com, and write up a CC/Playbooks for Golf) defeated George
little something or take a picture for me. Corgan/Trapper VanDunk (Steven WilThanks and good luck!
land/Leewood GC) 3 & 2 at Fairview

Tlu; II(‘.miIIs

• Mike Cook/Chris Alonzi (The Care of
Trees/Elmwood CC) defeated Tony GirIn the meantime, here’s a full account of the ardi/Glenn Perry (Rockrimmon CC/
first-round results:
Rolling Hills CC) 4 & 3 at Rolling Hills
• Jake Green/Mike Reeb (CC of New
• Bert Dickinson/Chip Lafferty (Willow Canaan) defeated Joe Alonzi/Frank AmoRidge CC/Rye GC) defeated Scott dio (Westchester CC/Valley View Green­
Niven/Larry Pakkala (The Stanwich Club/ houses) 4 & 2 at Silver Spring
Plant Food Company) 3 & 1 at Round Hill
• Kevin Seibel/Bob Wolverton (Century
• Grover Alexander/David Dudones (Hud­ CC/Edgewood CC) defeated Jim Callason Hills GC/North Jersey CC) defeated dio/Mark Fuller (LaCorte Equipment/
Tom Ashfield/Andy Drohen (Quaker Connecticut GC) 3 & 2 at Connecticut GC
Ridge GC/Agrium Advanced Technolo­
gies) i up at Centennial
Larry Pakkala, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is territory manager with
• Matt Ceplo/Jim Swiatlowski (Rockland Plant Food Company, in Cranbury, NJ.
CC/Montammy GC) defeated Bob DeMarco/Fred Montgomery (Powelton Club/
Syngenta) 3 & 2 at Manhattan Woods
First Flight Winners

Tee to Green July/August 2011

Spotlight

Mí. Kisco to Host Superintendent/
Green Chairperson Tournament
by Kevin Collins

Y i / ] n Monday, October 3, Mt. Kisco
/ Country Club will hold the
MetGCSAs annual Superintendent/
Green Chairperson Tournament. Our host,
Greg Gutter, is looking forward to his first
MetGCSA event and is anticipating a huge
turnout. (Don’t disappoint him!)

Superintendent Fred Scheyhing on the crew
of Mt. Kisco Country Club—which proved
to be the beginning of the end for Greg’s
career in economics.
“In 1992, I decided to pursue formal
training in golf course management and
enrolled in the Rutgers two-year turf man­
agement program,” says Greg. He spent the
next two years as an intern at Mt. Kisco
while completing his education, officially
Mt. Kisco Country Club opened its doors in beginning the long and winding road to
1928 as Lawrence Farms Country Club, a becoming a superintendent.
6,500-yard layout designed by Tom Winton.
Originally a greenskeeper, Winton came to
America in 1916 to prepare Siwanoy Coun­
try Club for the inaugural PGA Champion­ Like Tom Petty lamented in his song, the
ship. At the time, the Mt. Kisco name was waiting is the hardest part—particularly for
taken by the only other club in the area: the an assistant hoping to become a golf course
Mt. Kisco Golf Club. In the 1940s, however, superintendent.
the club ceased operations, and Lawrence
After completing his degree, Greg accept­
Farms gladly assumed the Mt. Kisco name— ed an assistant’s position at Alpine Country
with a slight modification: It became Mt. Club, working with Steve Finamore. “I was
Kisco Country Club rather than Golf Club.
at Alpine for 10 years,” recounts Greg, “and
The word “Kisco” is derived from the during that period, I interviewed for count­
Indian word “Cisqua,” which in Algonquin less superintendent jobs but just couldn’t
means “muddy place.” This might explain break through.”
the many miles of drainage pipe that have
Nonetheless, Greg will tell you, those
been installed to keep the fairways dry!
years at Alpine were years well spent: “Steve
Mt. Kisco Country Club is a challenging taught me about managing my time, man­
course to play. The fairways are mostly gen­ aging a budget, and how to manage water. I
erous. The greens are small and fast. The sur­ saw it all at Alpine, and it paid off.”
rounds and the bunkering are real “old
In 2004, Greg moved on to the Golf Club
school,” so if you miss the green or leave your of Purchase where he worked for Bob
approach shot in a bunker—or worse—good Miller. “Working for the ‘Doctor,’ I learned
luck! The par 3s are no picnic either, and how to grow bent and pretty much every­
water hazards are on 13 holes. Aesthetically, thing else that goes into managing a newly
Mt. Kisco is very pleasing to the eye, and you constructed course,” says Greg.
can count on Greg to have it in champion­
After three years at Purchase, the day
ship condition: firm and fast.
Greg feared might never happen finally did.
In 2007, he interviewed for—and landed—
the job as superintendent at Mt. Kisco
Country Club.
Greg was born in Palisades Park, NJ, but
didn’t stay there for long. “My dad worked
for IBM so we moved around a lot,” says
Greg. “We lived in Endicott, NY, Glaston­ Passing what proved to be a rigorous inter­
bury, CT, and finally settled down in Somers, view process, Greg was one of only three
NY, when I was in the third grade.”
candidates being considered for the job. “I
Greg graduated from Somers High School have to credit Fred for my success in landing
in 1988 and moved on to SUNY Albany this position,” says Greg, fondly praising his
where he received a degree in economics in first mentor. “Fred always trusted me and
1992. Midway through his college career, would give me as much responsibility as I
Greg took a summer job working for former could handle. He had a great knack for
empowering people.”

Ihc Course

The Uniting Is the Hardest Fart

From Economics to Agronomics

Paving the Way to Success

o

Tee to Green July/August 2011

Greg Gutter

Though each of Greg’s mentors brought
something different to the table, it’s clear
Greg’s work ethic and philosophy were
forged from all three.“I’m a very hands-on
superintendent. I don’t spend lot of time in
my office. You have to be out there, touch­
ing and feeling it. You have to be a part of it.
I also tread carefully in my relationships
with the crew. I always want to treat them
fairly,” says Greg.
Making Greg’s transition to superintend­
ent at Mt. Kisco that much easier was the
fact that he inherited a well-seasoned crew,
with two of the longest tenured being his
assistant, Tom Tooley, who’s been at Mt.
Kisco for more than 30 years, and his
mechanic, Rich Kilicullen, who has been at
the club more than 20 years.“Tom and Rich
are a big part of our success,” says Greg.
Now in his fifth season at the club, Greg
is happy that this past spring is... w ell... in
the past. “We had a fair amount of winter
kill affecting the greens and then a cold, wet
spring that did little to encourage recov­
ery,” says Greg, who can, fortunately, now
breathe a lot easier. From all accounts, his
greens are looking great and rolling
smooth.

Family ami Fun

Greg lives in Somers with his wife of 15
years, Loren, who he refers to as “the most
important person in my world.” They met
before senior year in high school. Greg and
Loren have two girls: Sarah, 12, and
Katherine, 9. In his free time, Greg enjoys
fishing, skiing, and a good round of golf
with fellow turf professionals and friends.
So be sure to grab your green chair and
join him on the links on October 3!
Kevin Collins, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast territory managerfor Aquatrols Corp.
of America and the owner/president of Dryject
Northeast/TurfPounders.

Spotlight

Redding Country Club to Host Annual
Assistants Championship
by Doug Vanderlee

W
J n October 6, MetGCSA assisW
/ tant superintendents will travel
v— to an all-new venue for the Annual
Assistants Championship: Redding Country
Club in Redding, CT. Hosting this popular
event is Redding First Assistant Steve
Kubicki, who along with Superintendent
Brett Chapin and fellow assistants Ryan
Dexter, Kevin Haglund, and Todd Stites, is
looking forward to treating Met assistant
superintendents to a day away from it all—
and a good round of golf

The Courso: Past and Present

Nestled in the hills of a rustic little northern
Fairfield County town, Redding Country
Club was the brainchild of several area busi­
nessmen interested in creating “a place of
complete enjoyment and relaxation” for
family and friends. Located on land that was
once home to the Costello Farm, Redding
opened in 1974 as a nine-hole course de­
signed by Golf Course Architect Ed Ryder.
Four years later, Golf Course Architect
Rees Jones transformed the original nine
holes to create a stunning, 18-hole champi­
onship golf course.
“Jones incorporated the property’s dra­
matic changes in elevation to carve out a
deceptively long short course says Brett,
adding, “It’s a par 71, measuring only 6,295
yards, so those elevation changes will play a
big role in scoring. Be ready,” he adds, “to
club up or club down according to those
elevations.”
Redding Country Club has removed more
than 1,500 trees to improve air circulation,
sunlight, and vistas across the property.
“Were one of the first clubs in the area to use
fans to improve the growing environments
on our putting greens—five in all,” says
Brett.
Most recently Redding finished the sec­
ond season of a master plan renovation de­
signed to make the golf course “easier to
break 100 but tougher to break 80.” Most
noticeable are the rebuilt bunkers by Hawk
Shaw Construction that protect the small
but tough putting surfaces. Also part of the
master plan: an upgrade to the irrigation sys­

tem. “Tanto Irrigation installed a new pump
house, a Rainbird irrigation control package,
new HDPE piping, and sprinklers for the
greens, surrounds, and bunkers,” says Brett,
pleased with the outcome.
No rest for the weary, Brett will start work
again in the off-season. “We’ll be completing
greens drainage on the last few remaining
greens and constructing tees, fairway bunk­
ers, and a short game area says Brett, noting
the club plans to complete the master plan
within five years.

A Bit About Brett

Brett Chapin has been Redding’s superin­
tendent since 2007. A 2002 graduate of the
University of Massachusetts, Brett made his
internship rounds at some of Westchester
County’s finest: Siwanoy County Club, Pur­
chase Golf Club, and The Apawamis Club.
With degree in hand, he became an assistant
superintendent at the Seawane Club, finetuning his skills for five seasons before
accepting the superintendent’s position at
Redding.
Embroiled in renovation work from just
about the start of his four-year tenure at the
club, Brett is quick to note his assistants’ cru­
cial role in the maintenance operation.
“From day one, my first assistant, Steve
Kubicki, has had the ability to take control of

the day-to-day operations in a calm and pro­
fessional manner,” notes Brett, adding, “Steve
has also been a great asset in dealing with the
construction.”
Kevin Haglund is in his third year at Red­
ding and holds a degree from Brett’s alma
mater, UMass. “Kevin has a real desire to
excel and has worked closely with me, man­
aging the moisture content in the putting
surfaces,” says Brett.
“Ryan Dexter has 14 years of experience at
Redding as an assistant superintendent and
has assumed the role of both acting mech­
anic and superintendent at least twice in his
tenure,” says Brett, adding to his list of tal­
ents, “He’s also bilingual. He can converse in
Spanish just about as well as he can speak
English.”
Rounding out the team is Todd Stites. “A
recent college graduate, Todd’s been assigned
the all-important task of watch-dogging the
newly laid sod during the course renova­
tion,” notes Brett.
Like most of us in the business, Steve was
drawn to turf management because of the
opportunity it offered to work outdoors—
and readily see the results of his work.
Born and raised in Dalton, MA, Steve be­
gan mowing lawns at the age of 12 and then,
Tee to Green July./August 2011 o

in high school, took his experience to the
nearby Bass Ridge Country Club, where
he worked on the crew. A family friend
then talked Steve into joining him on the
crew at Berkshire Hills Country Club,
working under the guidance of Steve Cur­
ry, who was superintendent there at the
time. It was there that Steve learned there
was more to running a golf course than
just mowing grass.
“Steve Curry introduced me to the sci­
ence of turf management,” says Steve, who
found it so interesting that he decided to
make it a career. While pursuing a bache­
lor s at UMass, Steve interned at Siwanoy
Country Club and then worked two sum­
mers at Fairview Country Club. After
completing his bachelor’s in 2005, he re­
turned to Siwanoy—this time as a second
assistant.
Making his way up the ladder, Steve
moved back to Massachusetts and the
Berkshire Hills Country Club, where he
had the opportunity to work as a first
assistant. Three seasons later—in 2008—
Steve accepted his current position at
Redding where, as he puts it, he’s gained
valuable experience in not only the science
of turf management, but also in project
management.
“Brett’s been a terrific mentor,” says
Steve. “He’s given me the guidance and
confidence to manage not only many of
the day-to-day aspects of the operation,
but also various aspects of the construc­
tion. I think that’s the kind of experience
every assistant hopes for!”
Steve lives on the grounds of the coun­
try club with his girlfriend, Jess Debakis,
and his two dogs, Guinness and Brady.
When he’s not taking the dogs for a walk in
the woods, this time of year, you’ll find
Steve at his favorite honey hole fishing.
I asked Steve where he sees himself in
five years, and like all of us, he’d like to be
managing a course of his own, but he qual­
ified that by saying,“I’d like to see Redding
through all the construction First.”
Steve, Brett, and the entire crew are
looking forward to hosting the assistants
on October 6 and, no doubt, showcasing
the fruits of their hard labor. Brett’s final
bit of advice for contestants: “Keep the ball
in the fairway; the rough is grown to be
penal.”
It sounds like it will be a challenging day
and one, I’m sure, we’ll all enjoy.
Doug Vanderlee, a Class C rep on the
MetGCSA board, is an assistant superintend­
ent at Westchester Country Club.

Tee to Green July/August 2011

pcoming Events

Come One, Come All!
Met Championship and Met Area
Team Championship Qualifier PLUS
The Poa Annual Tournament

Tuesday, September 6
Fresh Meadow Country Club
Scarsdale, NY
Host: Joe Gardner

RESCHEDULED Summer Social

Saturday, September 10
Fenway Golf Club
Scarsdale, NY
Host: Rob Alonzi

Superintendent/Green Chairperson
Tournament

Monday, October 3
Mt. Kisco Country Club
Mt. Kisco, NY
Host: Greg Gutter

Industry Events
The 8th Annual Dr. Joseph Troll Turf
Classic

Tuesday, October 11
The Country Club
Brookline, MA
Superintendent Bill Spence will host this
year’s UMass Alumni Turf Group fundraiser
in support of turf education and research at
the University of Massachusetts.
The event, $450 per person, will include
golf, a cocktail reception, dinner, and awards
ceremony, which, this year, will honor our
meeting host, Bill Spence.
Please plan to attend this worthy fund­
raiser, and join us in honoring a deserving
fellow superintendent. Entry forms and addi­
tional information will be available online at
www.alumniturfgroup.com.

Annual Assistants Championship

Thursday, October 6
Redding Country Club,
Redding, CT
Assistant Host: Steve Kubicki
Superintendent Host: Brett Chapin
Met Area Team Championship

Tuesday, October 25
Galloway National Golf Club
Galloway, NJ / Absecon, NJ
Host: Scott McBane

RESCHEDULED Superintendent/
Manager or Guest Tournament

Thursday, October 27
Country Club of New Canaan
New Canaan, CT
Host: Mike Reeb, CGCS

MetGCSA Christmas Party

Friday, December 9
Sunningdale Golf Club
Scarsdale, NY
Host: Sean Cain, CGCS

36th Annual New Jersey Green Expo
Turf and Landscape Conference

Tuesday-Thursday, December 6-8
Trump Taj Mahal Resort & Casino
Atlantic City, NJ
Watch for details!

0^iiatron Directory

Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association.
You are encouraged to support them.
© 360 GOLF

Chad Lemere
Golf Course Construction
914-625-0676
914-630-4230
contact@360golfonline.com

O A.G. Enterprises

Staff Uniforms
Rick Gordon
201-488-1276
Fax:201-48 9-5830
merrickl60@aol.com
www.AGEnterprisesonline.com

Argento & Sons, Inc.

© LaCorte Equipment ~ John Deere © Ocean Organics Corp.
Science-based, Sustainable, HighGolf
“Fastest Growing Golf & Turf
Distributor in the Northeast”
Gale Stenquist / Jim Calladio /
Scott Ferguson
800-560-3373 ext 4
Fax:631-591-3447
golf@lacorteequipment.com

Lebanon Turf

“Best of All Worlds”
1600 E. Cumberland Street
Lebanon, PA 17042
800-233-0628

Louis Argento
1 Prospect Avenue
White Plains, NY 10607
914-949-1152
Fax:914-948-0255
louis@argentoandsons.com

© Leggette, Brashears & Graham,
Inc.

John Bresnahan
www.BetterTurf.com
John.Bresnahan@basf.com

© Matrix Turf Solutions, LLC

O BASF

O Bayer Environmental Science
“Backed by Bayer”
Dave Sylvester
860-841-3173

DeLea Sod Farms

Bentgrass, Fescue, & Bluegrass Sod
& U.S. Silica Topdressing
Mike Hollander / Scott Geiser
800-344-7637
www. deleasodfarms. com

O Dryjct N.E. / TurfPounders
“Your Aerification Solution”
Kevin Collins / Steve Jordan /
Bob Lippman
914-672-6029
Fax: 845-228-1728
mcc 10512@yahoo. com

DuPont Professional Products

Acelpryn & Provaunt Insecticides
Jason Mulcahy
603-340-4970
www.proproducts.dupont.com

O Growth Products, LTD

Howie Gold
80 Lafayette Avenue
White Plains, NY 10603
800-648-7626
Fax:914-428-2780
hgold@growthproducts.com

© Harrell’s

“Growing a Better World. Partners
for Success”
Joe Stahl: 203-209-6951
Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638
jstahl@harrells.com
www.harrells.com

Hydrogeologic Consulting &
Environmental Engineering Services
Rob Good
860-678-0404
rgood@lbgct.com
Gregory R. Moran
259 Lucas Avenue
Kingston, NY 12401
845-338-3650
Cell: 845-849-8640
gmoran@matrixturf.com

© Metro Turf Specialists

“Customers, Our Top Priority”
Scott / Ernie / Rob / Tim J. / Dave /
Tim G.
203-748-4653
www.metroturfspecialists.com

Morris Golf

Performance Turf Products
Doug Middleton / Bill Middleton
800 -628 - GROW (4769)
Cell: 734-846-4167
doug@oceanorganics.com

© Pinnacle Turf, Inc.

Steven Renzetti, CGCS
914-384-9227
www.pinnacleturf.net
srenzetti@verizon.net

© Plant Food Company, Inc.

“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”
Larry Pakkala, CGCS: 203-505-3750
Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111
Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318

© PIaybooks for Golf

Golf Course Field Guides, Aerials,
Consulting, Career Development
Greg Wojick, CGCS: 201-219-0254
Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052
www. gopl aybooks .com
203-210-5623

© Quali-Pro

© The Care of Trees

Mike Cook, NY: 914-345-8733
Ken Clear, CT: 203-847-1855
www.thecareoftrees.com

© The Terre Company of New
Jersey, Inc.

Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock, &
Fertilizer
Byron Johnson
973_473_3393
Fax: 973-473-4402
bfleury@terrecompany.com

© Tom Irwin Inc.

“With Tom Irwin, You Are Not
Alone”
Rob Larson / JeffHoude
800-582-5959
Fax:781-273-4804

© Turf Products LLC / TORO
Toro Irrigation & Equipment
Pat Cragin: 860-874-2812
Main Office: 800-243-4355

U.S. Silica

All Sands Meet USGA
Requirements
Mike Barnet
P.O.Box 254
Mauricetown, NJ 08329
856-785-0720

Quality Turf and Ornamental Products
Phil O ’Brien
856-252-4725
PhilO@quali-pro.com
Soil Solutions, LLC
© Valley View Greenhouses
Aerification Professionals
“The Biggest, The Freshest,
Anthony Decicco / John Decicco
The Best in Plants”
7 Whittemore Place
Frank Amodio
Ryebrook, NY 10573
914-533-2526
914_393_0659 / Fax:914-939-5010
wgh@aol.com

Ed Doin / Rich LaBar / Mike Morris
48 Red Gate Road
Morristown, NJ 07960
973-600-9249
Fax:908-766-7747
richl@morrisgolf.com

© Steven Wil land, Inc.

© Westchester Tractor, Inc.

National Lawn Sprinklers, Inc.

© Syngenta

o Westchester
Turf Supply, Inc.
“Serving the MetGCSA for 35

John Luciano
645 N. Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
914-946-6666
Fax:914-949-6453
john@natlawn.com
www.natlawn.com

© Nutrite

Supplier of Turf & Specialty
Fertilizers
Bob Griffin
Cell: 401-862-5873
Fax: 401-849-0888
bgriffm@nutrite.com

George Corgan
4 Production Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
203-775-5757
www.StevenWillandInc.com
Fred Montgomery, CGCS
23 Roslyn Drive
Ballston Lake, NY 12019
518-424-0760 / Fax:518-399-6588
Fred.Montgomery@syngenta.com

© Tanto Irrigation, LLC

William Bartels
914-347-5151 / Fax:914-347-6323
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com

© The Cardinals, Inc.

John Apple
60 International Boulevard
Brewster, NY 10509
845-278-7766
www.wtractor.com

Years”
Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257
Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192

© Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
Glenn Gallion
19 Central Boulevard
S. Hackensack, NJ 07606
888-831-0891
Cell: 201-954-5878

Complete Distributor of Golf Course
Accessories
& Turf Maintenance Supplies
John Callahan
800-861-6256
Fax: 860-673-8443
O Denotes MetGCSA member

Ace Sponsors

M etro

TurfSpecialists

TO R O

Double Eagle Sponsors

FOOD
COM PANY, INC.

thecareoftrees

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