Cover: Pelham
Country Club

n this Issue
Features
Spreading the G ood Word A bout G o lf...................................................... 2
World G olf Foundation’s Steve Mona Discusses W E A R E G O L F ’s
Role in Promoting the Game’s M any Benefits
A G o lf Course E xp erien ce That M akes a ................................................ 5
L asting— and P ositive— Im pression

Departments
U p c o m in g E v e n t s ...............................................................................................6
M em ber N ew s .................................................................................................... 7
S corecard ................................................................................................................ 8
S p o tlig h ts............................................................................................................. 10

Association
Business—
and Bevond

a number of associa­
tion members, it seems that everyone has
made it through the first wave of Hyperodes
and are now preparing for the next genera­
tion, as well as for weathering the “dog days
of summer.”
Well, if it helps any, your board is right in
there with you. But in addition to battening
down the hatches for the season ahead, we
are also trying to plan a few fun-filled activ­
ities to get our minds off the grass for an
afternoon or evening. (Yeah, right. All our
spouses know we stand around and compare
notes all night, but that’s not to say we can’t
still have some fun!)

Something for Everyone

Don’t miss our Summer
Social onJuly 9 at
Country Club!

Please don’t miss out on some of the social
and golf activities that are coming up very
soon. Your Social Chairman, Bob Wolverton; Tournament Chairman, Tony Hooks;
and Scholarship Chairman, Glen Dube have
put together a relaxed and family-friendly
lineup of activities that promise a good time,
so please mark your calendars. Four of our
events will take place on Tuesdays in July
and August. The first is our Summer Social
on July 9 at Siwanoy Country Club. (See
profile on page 10.) Bring out your signifi­
cant other or come on your own. There will
be plenty of others who are solo. And don’t
forget to invite your assistants for a great
night of food, libations, and dancing.
On July 16, we have the Nine and Dine:
Superintendent/Guest Tournament. This
popular nine-hole golf event will be held
this year at Pelham Country Club. (See pro­
file on page 11.) In its second year, the event
offers members the opportunity to play a
relaxing nine holes after the workday’s done.
It’s also another opportunity for assistants
and new and prospective members to come
out and get to know one another.
The following week, we have our Summer
Picnic being held at Paramount Country
Club in New City, NY, just a few minutes
over the Tappan Zee Bridge. (See profile on
page 12.) Certainly, this event is about the
kids, but even if you’re an empty nester, you’ll
enjoy an evening out with fellow mem­
bers—and may even feel inspired to partici­

Blake Halderman, CGCS
MetGCSA President
pate in the activities Bob Wolverton has
planned for juniors and seniors alike!
Finally, Glen Dube is organizing the
Parent/Child Scholarship Tournament at
Mosholu on August 6. This is a low-key,
nine-hole golf event that will be run in
conjunction with the scholarship award pre­
sentations to our deserving winners. Like
the others, this is a must-attend event.
Personally, this one is the highlight of my
season. There’s nothing better than being
able to get out and play a fun-filled ninehole scramble with my son on a very kidfriendly course. This event—like the
picnic—is for all ages, so I really hope you all
take advantage of the board’s hard work—
not to mention the special efforts of our
host superintendents who so graciously in­
vited us to their facilities. I hope to see you
there!

New Executive Secretary Named
On board to take care of our association
business is Susan O ’Dowd, who has been
named by the MGA to replace our outgoing
executive secretary, Ineke Pierpoint. Ineke is
currently working three days a week to
train and help Susan get up-to-speed with
the operation at MGA Headquarters. Susan
is well-versed in all types of bookkeeping
and administrative duties and has served on
the board of the Executive Women’s Golf
Association (EWGA) for the past two years,
doing everything from taking minutes to
organizing golf events, setting up clinics,
and captaining the leagues. With Susan’s
background and passion for the game of
golf, I am positive she will be a great asset to
our association.
If you haven’t had the occasion to meet
Susan at headquarters, you’re sure to see her
soon at one of our upcoming functions. Be
sure to give her a warm welcome!
continued on page 7
Tee to Green May /June 2013

Spreading the Goo

World G olf Foundation’s Steve Mona Discusses W E A R E
G O L F s’ Role in Promoting the Game’s Many Benefits
by Ed Brockner, MetGCSA Executive Director

Tec to Green May /June 2013

Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf
Foundation, speaks with Caleb Clark, a
student golfer in Fi^t Tee of Washington
DC. Photographerf Stephanie
Green/Bloomberg.

njune 8, St. Andrew’s Golf Club in Hastingson-Hudson, NY, celebrated its 125th
anniversary, marking its founding as the first
incorporated golf club in the United
States. This is where John Reid earned the
title “Father of American Golf” for his lead
role in not just the formation of St.
Andrews, but also the introduction of the
game that has now become a $70-billion business in the U.S. with more
than 25 million players! An outcome
I’m sure Reid would never have
imagined.
Sadly, despite the size and scope of
the industry and the fact that people
from all walks of life enjoy and ben­
efit from the game, golf is still
thought of by many as an elitist
niche sport.
Stephen Mona, CEO of the World
Golf Foundation, is working to
change that. Familiar to those in the
tu rf profession as the long-time
leader of the GCSAA, Mona visited
New York City earlier this year to
promote WE ARE GOLF, an initiative
created to build public awareness of the
game’s economic, environmental, health,
and charitable benefits.
Among the game’s most forward-think­
ing and passionate advocates, Mona, along
with a coalition of leading golf industry asso­
ciations and partners, has been working to
spread the word about golf’s greatness to the
population-at-large through WE ARE
GOLF and other industry initiatives.

j*

I had the fortunate opportunity to speak
with Steve Mona during his stay in New
York and am pleased, now, to share his
thoughts on how WE ARE GOLF and other
initiatives can—and will— change the face
of golf in our country

current status, and he’s provided a model for
our efforts on the local and state levels.”

Growing the Game and Positive
Perceptions

WE ARE GOLF Takes Flight
For the uninitiated, the WE ARE GOLF
campaign is driven by a coalition of the
game’s leading associations that are working
collectively to advocate for the game of golf
and the golf industry One of the groups
favorite venues for their campaign is the
National Golf Day event that takes place
every April in Washington, DC. It’s there
that they devote their efforts to helping
government leaders understand the numer­
ous benefits that the game of golf and the
golf industry have on the United States,
pointing, in particular, to statistics backing
up the industry’s vast economic impact.
“At our first National Golf Day in Wash­
ington,” says Mona, “we were distinctly
aware of the perception that golf is a narrow
industry and that there was not a great deal
of understanding about the economic im­
pact of golf. By pulling all of golf’s major
organizations together as a collective body,
we were able to reach consensus on the key
issues we should target and then determine
the best course of action for delivering our
message to the public about the many bene­
fits of golf.”
This past April, Mona and fellow leaders
from around the country took part in Na­
tional Golf Day once again. There to see
Mona and the WE ARE GOLF coalition in
action was Bedford Golf & Tennis Super­
intendent Bob Nielsen, who serves as the
MetGCSAs Government Relations chair
and who has also assumed the role of advo­
cate for New York State golf course superin­
tendents at the Turfgrass Advocacy Day
held in Albany each year.
“Steve Mona has always known the im­
portance of advocacy in our industry,” says
Bob, “and his allegiance to golf course super­
intendents has not waned since his depar­
ture as CEO of the GCS AA. In his new role
as the head of the World Golf Foundation, he
has helped elevate National Golf Day to its

that appeal to the broader public and publiciz­
ing the many benefits of the game.”

Publicizing Golf's Positive Economic
Impact
One of the primary messages of WE ARE
GOLF, and the National Golf Day, is to
articulate the significant economic impact
the game of golf has on our country, and the
scope of the industry as an employer of
nearly two million individuals in various
aspects of the industry. These jobs provide
more than $55 billion in wage income at
more than 15,000 golf facilities throughout
the country, not to mention the countless
vendors and suppliers who provide products
to sustain these locations.
Right here in the tri-state area—New
York, New Jersey, and Connecticut—golf
employs nearly 100,000 people and infuses
the economy with close to $10 billion annu­
ally. Working to educate the 90 percent of
the nongolfing population about the tre­
mendous boost golf gives to our local and
state economies is vital; it is a message that
must be shared.
During the course of our conversation,
Mona noted that one of the major stumbling
blocks to getting our message out to the
general public is the golf industry’s focus on
making its case internally—in other words,
to others within the industry. One of the
primary goals of WE ARE GOLF, there­
fore, is to communicate the benefits of the
game externally. “We need to address our
target audience and make our case,” says
Mona. “That means reaching out to media

While the number of individuals who play
golf sounds impressive at 25 million, the game
has been struggling to increase participation
in recent years. The time and cost associated
with learning the game are two major obsta­
cles to growth, as well as contributing factors
to the general public’s perception that the
game is an inaccessible, “elitist” sport.
But Steve Mona and the World Golf Foun­
dation introduced a way to break through
these barriers and reach the general public
with its GET GOLF READY program.
Initiated in 2009, the program is designed to
bring new golfers—and former golfers— into
the game by providing reasonable education
and instruction at golf facilities throughout
the U.S. that have been certified to participate
in the program.

Partnering with the PGA of America, WE
ARE GOLF is now promoting the Get Golf
Ready platform by seeking the participation
and support of golf professionals at facilities
throughout the country. Although the pro­
gram is relatively new, it is showing great
results in attracting and keeping new golfers.
“There are more than 3,000 certified fa­
cilities, and there have already been some
75,000 ‘graduates’ of Get Golf Ready,” notes
Mona. “Our studies have found that 80 per­
cent of these individuals have stayed with the
game and have spent an average of $1,000
Tee to Green May/June 2013

each at these participating facilities.”
An ambitious program but clearly a great
idea for enhancing the public’s perception of
the game, while stimulating the golf indus­
try—particularly as the economy continues
to recover.

Promoting Golf as a Health Pursuit
We all know that getting out in the fresh air
and walking offers both physical—and
mind/body—benefits. And what better
way to engage in this kind of activity than
playing golf? Encouraging people to recog­
nize this underrated aspect of the game is
another important step in gaining more
devotees.
In an attempt to accurately communicate
golf’s health benefits, in 2012, the World
Golf Foundation and Golf 20/20 commis­
sioned The Walker Research Group to iden­
tify and report on the health and wellness
benefits of golf. Here are a few of their key
findings:
• An 18-hole round, carrying a bag or
using a hand/pull cart, is almost equal to a
5-mile walk.
• When carrying clubs while walking an
18-hole round, you burn about 2,000 calo­
ries. When riding in a cart, you burn about
1,300.
• When walking 18-holes of golf, blood
glucose levels fall by up to 20 percent for
the young, 10 percent for the middle-aged,
and 30 percent for elderly players, and
bodyweight is slightly reduced for all
groups.
• Studies show that burning 2,500 calories
a week improves your overall health by
lowering your risk of heart disease, diabetes,
and cancer.
• Repeated golf practice enhances balance
control among all ages.
• Regardless of handicap, sex, or course
played, golfers exceed 10,000 steps during a
typical round of golf, which meets the
guideline for exercise recommended by
most medical and clinical physicians.
Now all we have to do is spread the good
word!

Tee to Green May /June 2013

Speaking of spreading the good word,
despite the best efforts of golf course super­
intendents to communicate to their com­
munities and memberships the environ­
mental benefits that golf courses provide,
there are lingering, sometimes damaging
misperceptions of golf courses and their
maintenance practices. Steve Mona and WE
ARE GOLF are working to educate the
public about the many environmental bene­
fits golf courses have to offer.
“We all know that when managed in a
responsible and professional manner,” says
Mona, “golf courses have proved to actually
enhance the environment, providing a great
habitat for wildlife, improved air quality, a
system for filtering rainwater and capturing
and cleansing runoff in urban areas, and so
much more.”
Mona was highly complimentary of our
association’s efforts to elevate the perception
of our maintenance practices and commit­
ment to the environment. He was particu­
larly impressed with the leadership role
we’ve assumed with the New York State
BMP initiative, projecting its far-reaching
benefits to our industry as a whole.
“When local superintendent organiza­
tions conduct research and educational pro­
grams and then work to publicize the
knowledge and expertise that come from
these initiatives, they can’t help but assist in
enhancing the perception of the game,” says
Mona.

children the opportunity to learn about blue­
birds thriving on the course, take soil sam­
ples, watch a live beehive demonstration, and
then enjoy a hayride with their classmates.
By reaching out in this manner, and
actively engaging local leaders and educators
in the golf course environment, superintend­
ents can share the highly positive aspects of
golf and allow the public to see, firsthand, all
that responsibly maintained courses can and
do provide. (See article on next page, for
another course’s approach to educating oth­
ers about the environmental benefits of golf
courses.)

While there is a lot of talk about golf’s eco­
nomic, environmental, and health benefits,
there’s little said about another of golf’s
important contributions to society: its role in
fundraising efforts.
Think how many fundraisers—for every­
thing from school scholarships to medical
research and every other nonprofit cause
under the sun—take place on a golf course.
Golf outings have long provided the perfect
venue for supporters of these causes to open
up their wallets.
“More than $4 billion was raised to fund
charity last year alone,” says Mona. “And
some 12 million individuals participated in
more than 140,000 events that benefited
nonprofits throughout the United States.”
From the millions that are raised as part of
the PGA T O U R ’s program each year down
to the nine-hole outing for the township fire
department, golf’s ability to bring people
together toward a common goal is un­
matched in the charitable world as a way to
encourage generosity.

Our Hole Closer to Home

Superintendent and MetGCSA Environ­
mental Committee Chair Ken Benoit has
taken environmental stewardship—and
community education—to a new level at
GlenArbor Golf Club in Bedford Hills, NY
In 2009, Ken and the club developed an
Environmental Enhancement Program
(EEP), which is a half-day program de­
signed to teach school children the impor­
tance of environmental stewardship, while
explaining how golf courses are a perfect fit
for communities that place a high value on
open space and sustaining natural wildlife
habitats. Still in place, the program offers

While all of these industry numbers are
impressive and certainly speak to the game’s
tremendous positive impact on a macro level,
it is up to us to do our part on a local level...
making sure we aren’t just preaching to the
choir, but acting as evangelists, here and now,
for the game.
Our work with Cornell educators and
New York State golf course superintendent
associations in developing a manual of BMPs
for New York State Golf Courses is just one
example of how we can— and will— drive
home a positive message about the game
throughout our communities and states.
Just as John Reid, the namesake of our asso­
ciation’s distinguished service award, played a
significant role in bringing golf to America
more than a 125 years ago, we can play a
leading part in ensuring the game continues
to grow and prosper well into the future.

A Golf Course Experience That Makes a
Lasting—and Positive—Impression

About Stephen F. Mona...
CEO, World Golf Foundation

by Kevin Doyle, GCSAA Field Staff - Northeast Region

tephen “Steve” F. Mona, 56,
f
has established a strong career reL_^-^^cord of service to the golf industry He
served as tournament director of the North­
ern California Golf Association from Sept­
ember 1980 to January 1982. Mona then
became assistant manager of press relations
for the USGA from January 1982 to June
1983, at which time he became executive
director of the Georgia State Golf Associa­
tion. In November 1993, he became the CEO
of the GCSAA, a position he held until
March 2008 when he assumed his current
role as CEO of the World Golf Foundation.
In Mona’s current position, his responsibili­
ties include overall management of the foun­
dation, as well as overseeing the foundation’s
industry relationships and ongoing global
focus.
Mona’s been tapped to serve on more than
a dozen association boards and councils in
and out of the golf industry, and his accom­
plishments haven’t gone without recognition.
In 2008, he was inducted into the Tri-Valley
(San Francisco Bay area) Sports Hall of Fame.
The International Association of Golf Ad­
ministrators (IAGA) named him their 2008
Distinguished Service Award recipient. In
the Fall 2011 issue of Golf Inc., Mona was
selected for the magazine’s “Most Powerful
People in Golf” list for the 11th consecutive
year. In 1999, Golf Digest listed Mona as one
of the golf industry’s “Most Powerful People
in Golf.” Only one person younger than
Mona, Tiger Woods at No. 2, was ranked
higher at the time. In 1997, the Kansas City
Society of Association Executives named
Mona Association Executive of the Year.
A native of New York, Mona received a
bachelor’s degree in journalism (cum laude)
from San Jose (California) State University
in 1980. Mona lives in Ponte Vedra Beach,
FL, with his wife, Cyndi. They have three
children—Kin, Stephen, and Meredith—and
four grandchildren—Lincoln, Mia, Cooper,
and Pace.
V

Forest Hill Field Club head superintendent Frank Tichenor speaks tofifth-gradersfrom Clifton School
No. 16 earlier this month as part of thefirst 11First Green11program to show kids the agricultural side
ofgolf
golf course superintendent
in the tri-state area, Frank
Tichenor of Forest Hill
Field Club in Bloomfield, NJ, recently con­
ducted an educational program at his golf
course for a group of 40 fifth graders.
Without a formal program in place for edu­
cating eager young students about the sci­
ence of golf course management, Frank was
put in touch with The First Green Found­
ation of Bellevue, WA, which had developed
a learning program that even went so far as
to include a packet containing simple sci­
ence-based experiments designed for use at
a golf facility
Embedded in the science lesson was an
opportunity to educate students about golf
courses’ positive relationship with the envi­
ronment. The students learned about pond
management, wildlife habitats, and weather
station use. Cultural practices, including an
aeration demonstration, were discussed as a
part of agronomic practices designed to
improve plant health.
The students were given a tour of all parts
of the facility, which included short talks
about future career options in all aspects of
the golf industry (even as a GCSAA field
staff member!). While Tichenor and fellow
Forest Hill employees had worked with fifth
grade teacher Dawn Payton to develop an
agenda for the day, the students were really
the ones whose interest in various aspects of

the course and environment dictated the
path of the program.
Who knew that the topdressing sand pile
would be a highlight, or that a lengthy dis­
cussion would take place about the now
two-foot-long grass carp placed in the irri­
gation ponds to eat algae? The first-ever
First Green event on the East Coast was, by
all accounts, a great success. As the grand
finale, the students were even given the
opportunity to hit balls at the range and
learn putting tips from the facility head
professional. When asked how they felt
about their experience at the course, they
were nothing short of excited, and all ex­
pressed what a great learning experience
the day had been.
Tichenor noted that The First Green
estimates each student would reference golf
30 to 40 times because of the experience
they had in one day at his facility. This type
of event clearly goes a long way in commu­
nicating the benefits of golf and the golf
course management industry to the general
public. After all, kids come home after a day
like this and tell their parents, who might
actually then tell others.
Have you ever thought about conducting
an event like this at your facility? For more
information, contact The First Green
Foundation at www.thefirstgreen.org. Help
spread the good word about golf.

Tee to Green May/June 2013 ( J )

Upcoming Events

Plan NOW for These Upcoming Events!
Summer Social

The MefGCSA Summer Picnic

Met Area Team Championship

Tuesday,July 9
Siwanoy Country Club
Bronxville, NY
Host: Steven McGlone

Tuesday,July 23
Paramount Country Club
New City, NY
Host: Brian Chapin

Monday, September 30
Mountain Ridge Country Club
West Caldwell, NJ
Host: Cliff Moore

Nine and Dine: Superintendent/
Guest Tournament

Parent/Child Scholarship Tournament

Superintendent/Green Chairperson
Tournament

Tuesday,July 16
Pelham Country Club
Pelham Manor, NY
Host: Jeff Wentworth, CGCS

Tuesday, August 6
Mosholu Golf Course
Bronx, NY
Host: Dave Moffett

Tuesday, October 8
Sunningdale Country Club
Scarsdale, NY
Host: Sean Cain, CGCS

Met Championship and Met Area
Team Championship Qualifier PLUS
The MetGCSA and Hudson Valley GCSA
Poa Annual Tournament

Tuesday, September 17
Spook Rock Golf Course
Suffern, NY
Host: Daniel Madar
Educational Events
Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day

Turf & Grounds Exposition

(Golf & Fine Turf)
Tuesday,July 30
Horticultural Farm II
New Brunswick, NJ
Call 973-812-6467 or visit
wwwnjturfgrass.org for further
information.

Tuesday-Thursday, November 12—14
Rochester Riverside Convention Center
Rochester, NY
The T urf & Grounds Exposition offers an
excellent opportunity to network while re­
maining current on the latest research and
trends in turfgrass management. As always,
the expo will feature key speakers from all
segments of the green industry, as well as a
comprehensive trade show with more than
100 exhibitors.
For further information, call the show
office at 800-873-8873 or 518-783-1229,
or visit the website at www.nysta.org.

UMass Turf Research Field Day

Thursday, August 1 (8:00 a.m.— lp.m.)
UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research Center
South Deerfield, MA
The field day will focus on the wide range
of research projects that university faculty,
staff, and graduate students currently have
underway at the research center and at
other locations. You will also have the
opportunity to view displays and demon­
strations from tu rf industry vendors and en­
joy a barbecue lunch, which is included
with registration.
For further information, contact the
UMass Extension T urf Program office by
calling 508-892-0382 or by logging on to
fieldday@umassturf.org.

Tee to Green May /June 2013

38th Annual New Jersey Green Expo
Turf and landscape Conference

Tuesday —Thursday, December 10—12
Trump Taj Mahal Resort Casino
Atlantic City, NY
The New Jersey Green Expo offers a com­
prehensive educational program providing
cutting-edge applications and tactics to
guarantee green industry professionals’ suc­
cess on the job. Offering one of the largest
trade shows in the tri-state area, the expo
also provides attendees with the opportu­
nity to view the latest and greatest products
and services on the market.
For further information, call 973-8126467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org.

MetGCSA/CAGCS Fall Seminar

Wednesday, December 4
The Patterson Club
Fairfield, CT
Host: Jason Meersman
Save the date, and watch for details.

MetGCSA Winter Seminar

Wednesday,January 15,2014
Westchester Country Club
Rye, NY
Save the date, and watch for details.

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President’s Message continuedfrom page 1
New Members

Please join us in welcoming the following
new MetGCSA members:
• Joshua Haugh, Class C, of Willow
Ridge Country Club in Harrison, NY
• James Hunt, Class C, of Sunningdale
Country Club in Scarsdale, NY
Member on the Move

Aaron Crouse is a new assistant superin­
tendent at Westchester Country Club in
Rye, NY Previous position: Assistant super­
intendent at The Woodmere Club in
Woodmere, NY
Newly Certified

Congratulations to Kevin Seibel for com­
pleting the coursework required to become
a certified golf course superintendent
(CGCS) with GCSAA.
Look Who's in the News

Sterling Farms Superintendent Tracey
Holliday was profiled in the June-July edi­
tion of The Met Golfer, themed “Women at
the Fore.” The article highlights Tracey’s
courageous path to achieving golf course
superintendent status in a male-dominated
industry. At the helm of Sterling Farms Golf
Course’s maintenance operation for the past
25 years, Tracey has presided over one of the
most highly rated and well-conditioned
public courses in the Met area. Way to go
Tracey!
Be sure to check out the article on page
24 of The Met Golfer. You can also find
it online at: http://www2.cybergolf.com/
sit e s /im a g e s /5 2 7 /2 4 -2 9 J u n e -2 0 1 3_
U p-Close.pdf.

Charlie Robson Honored With
MGWA’s Distinpished Service
Award
I am pleased to announce that at
this year’s Metropolitan Golf Writers
(MGW) Dinner, Charlie Robson, who is
the longest-tenured executive director
among the PGA of America’s 41 sections,
received the MGWAs Distinguished
Service Award. Charlie is not only the
Met PGA Section executive director, but
also a dear friend of the MetGCSA and
recipient of our John Reid Lifetime
Achievement Award in 1998. This cov­
eted award is reserved for individuals
who, through continuing commitment,
promote the science and art of golf course
management and the professional image
of the golf course superintendent.
In addition to his work with the Met
PGA section, Charlie’s true passion is
Junior Golf. He established the Met PGA
Junior Golf Association and Junior Tour
and, in 1988, began the “Golf In Schools”
program, which served as a model for
many other inner-city programs across
the nation. Charlie was also an integral
part of the group that founded The First
Tee of Metropolitan New York, head­
quartered at Mosholu Golf Course in the
Bronx, and he continues to serve as treas­
urer on their Board of Directors.
We can’t thank Charlie enough for
being a great supporter of all his allied
partners and for his dedication to the
“game of golf” in the Met area and
beyond!

Thank You to All Rounds 4
Research Donors
I want to take this opportunity to thank
everyone who donated rounds for this
great cause. For those who might have
missed my past messages describing this

worthy endeavor, the Rounds 4 Research
program is designed to help affiliated
chapters and other industry partners gener­
ate funds for research and special projects.
It’s based on golf facilities donating rounds
of golf or other items that can be auctioned
off online. The MetGCSA is currently par­
ticipating in the Rounds 4 Research pro­
gram, which means that at least 80 percent
of the proceeds we raise will be distributed
to support the New York Best Management
Practices (BMP) initiative and, in the
future, other research-based programs,
such as education, scholarships, advocacy,
and agronomic research. The more rounds
we secure, the greater the revenue we can
generate in support of our members and
chapter.
I would like to thank our allied partners
for their help in generating support, with
special thanks to the MGA for their addi­
tional support in helping us reach the golf­
ing community. The June auction is now
complete, and we are currently accepting
rounds for the August auction. Please visit
http:/ / www.mgagolf.org/ rounds4research
to view all the rounds available in August.
If you would like to participate, please
contact Glen Dube, MetGCSA Research
Chairman, or visit our website for further
information at www.metgcsa.org.

To Our Advertisers: We Appreciate
Your Support
As the fiscal advertising year of 2012-2013
closes, I want to thank all of the advertisers
who help make our association meetings,
education programs, scholarships, newslet­
ter, and more, possible through their sup­
port each year. So on behalf of the board
and the entire membership, we thank you
all and look forward to continuing our
relationship for many years to come.
Blake Halderman, CGCS
MetGCSA President

Tee to Green May /June 2013

Winning Results of the Dave Mahoney
Two-Ball Championship Qualifier
by Ed Brockner, MetGCSA Executive Director
ur tournament season got off
to a great start with the Dave
Mahoney Two-Ball Championship
Qualifier held on April 29 at Rye Golf Club.
Our meeting host, Chip Lafferty, and his
staff had the course in tremendous shape,
and our day was capped off with an out­
standing dinner at Rye’s Whitby Castle.
Were looking forward to heading back to
Rye for another meeting sometime soon!
Special thanks to Head Professional Mike
Rapisarda, interim GM Jim Lapolito, City
Manager Scott Pickup, and especially the
Rye membership for hosting our event.
For those who are playing in the TwoBall, please remember to complete your
matches by the following deadlines:
Match 1: Sweet 16 ~ June 7 (See page 9, for
the Sweet 16 highlights and Elite 8 match
lineup.)
Match 2: Elite 8 -Ju ly 19
Match 3: Final Four Semis —August 30
Finals —October 7
Also note that the winning team from each
match is required to report its score to Larry
Pakkala at lpakkala@optonline.net. If you
have a story to share about your match,
please send that along too, and we’ll run it
with the results in the Tee to Green!
In the meantime, here’s a look at the
lineup of Two-Ball Qualifiers, along with
their first-round wins.

Two-Ball Qualifier Results/FirstRound Wins
First Flight

1)

Glen Dube/Blake Halderman
Centennial GC/Brae Burn CC

16) BYE
8)

9)

Steven McGlone/Bob Lippman Jr.
Siwanoy CC/Westchester Turf Supply
defeated
Sean Cain/Stephen Rabideau
Sunningdale CC/Wheatley Hills GC
on the 20th hole at The Stanwich Club

Scott Niven crushes tee shot at
Rolling Hills.

5)

Todd Raisch/Jamie Devers
Ridgewood CC/Canoe Brook CC
defeated
12) JeffWentworth/Tony Hooks
Pelham CC /Richmond County CC
5&4 at Liberty National

Tee to Green May/June 2013

9)

13) Scott Niven/Larry Pakkala
The Stanwich Club/ Silvermine GC
defeated
4) Mark Fuller/Jason Meersman
Connecticut GC/The Patterson Club
1 up at Rolling Hills

5)

11) Tom Ashfield/Andy Drohen
Quaker Ridge GC/Agrium Advanced
Technologies
defeated
6) George Corgan/Guy Gurney
Steven Willand/ West Hills CC
462 at Mt. Kisco

4)

3)

Matt Ceplo/Jim Swiatlowski
Rockland CC/Montammy GC
defeated
14) Grover Alexander/David Dudones
Hudson Hills GC/North Jersey CC
3&2 at Mountain Ridge

10) Ryan Oliver/Tom Weinert
Hudson National GC/Plant Food
Company
defeated
7) Bert Dickinson/Chip Lafferty
Willow Ridge CC/Rye GC
463 at Yale
15) Dave Lippman/Matt Topazio
Westchester Turf Supply/New York CC
defeated
2) Tony Grasso/Scott Tretera
Jacobsen/ Textron /Harrells LLC
2&1 at Round Hill
Second Flight

1)

Bob Alonzi/Joe Alonzi
Fenway GC/Westchester CC

16) BYE
9

8)

Kevin Collins/Nick Lerner
Acpuatrols, Inc. /Bonnie Briar CC
defeated
Doug Snyder/Bob Steinman
Millbrook Club/Metro Turf Specialists
462 at Fenway

Tim Garceau/Ernie Steinhofer
Haworth CC/Metro Turf Specialists
defeated
12) Eddie Binsse/Dan Cancelleri
Class LA/Class LAF
5&4 at Scarsdale

Rob Alonzi/Bill Bartels
Fenway GC/Tanto Irrigation
defeated
13) Bob Wolverton/Brian Chapin
Edgewood CC/Paramount CC
5&4 at Old Oaks

11) Paul Gonzalez/Lou Quick
Whippoorwill Club/Anglebrook GC
defeated
6) Dougjohnstone/Glenn Gallion
Silver Lake G C / Wilfred MacDonald
in a coin toss
3)

Ken Benoit/Greg Gutter
GlenArbor GC/Mount Kisco CC
defeated
14) Chris Alonzi/Mike Cook
Elmwood CC/The Care of Trees
2&1 at Hudson National

10) Brian Bontemps/Steven Lochran
Seeton Turf Warehouse/Rock Ridge CC
defeated
7) Don Asinski/Eric Yount
Marine Park GC/Dyker Beach GC
463 at Upper Montclair
15) Dennis Flynn/Peter Rappoccio
Screaming Eagle Supply/Silver Spring CC
defeated
2) Bill Perlee/Bob Nielsen
Apawamis Club/Bedford Golf & Tennis
3&2 at Whippoorwill

Tales From a Rousing First Round in the Dave Mahoney
Two-Rail Championship
by Larry Pakkalay CGCS
we enter into our Elite 8
Two-Ball matches, I’d like
to share a few of the more
exciting stories from our Sweet 16 first
round. Following them is the lineup for the
Elite 8 matches. Good luck everyone!
In the First Flight. . .

The team of Matt Ceplo and Jim Swiatlowski moved on with a 3 & 2 victory over
David Dudones and Grover Alexander at
Mountain Ridge in West Caldwell, NJ. From
all accounts, playing conditions were awe­
some. Struggling to beat the rain, the match
started early in the day. The first nine were
completed in a dead heat. Then the rain hit
as Ceplo and Swiatlowski went 2 up after 15
holes. Swiatlowski put the dagger in with a
par on the 16th to go three up to clinch the
match. After the round, Mountain Ridge
Super Cliff Moore joined the group at a local
establishment for lunch. During the festivi­
ties, a toast was made to Dave Mahoney.
Scott Niven and Larry Pakkala move on to
the Elite 8 with a win over Mark Fuller and
Jason Meersman at Rolling Hills in Wilton,
CT. Superintendent Glenn Perry had the
course in excellent shape for the tight match
that went to the 18th hole. Niven and
Pakkala fought furiously in a seesaw strug­
gle, where no team was ever more than 2 up.
The younger Meersman was launching 300plus-yard drives over the tight, tree-lined
track, but Niven and Pakkala were able to
stave off the onslaught by keeping more
drives on the fairways than Fuller and
Meersman could. Pakkala won it with a net 4
on 18.
Matt Topazio and Dave Lippman defeated
Tony Grasso and Scott Tretera 2 & 1 on May
13 at Round Hill Club. Topazio played bril­
liantly out of the bunkers getting up and
down three times at critical points in the
match including the final hole to close them
out.
Tom Ashfield and Andy Drohen played
against George Corgan and Guy Gurney
at Mount Kisco Country Club. Ashfield
and Drohen took advantage of some “Hail

Mary” chip-ins and long putts along with
five birdies to beat their competitors 4 & 2.

Next Up in the Elite 8 Matches
First Flight

On a gorgeous day, the team of Bob Lipp­
man and Steven McGlone defeated Sean
Cain and Steve Rabideau at The Stanwich
Club in Greenwich, CT, on the second hole
of sudden death. After the front nine,
Lippman and McGlone found themselves
down by 4 and battled back on the backside
to take it to sudden death. No easy task on
the tough Stanwich track, while competing
against two of the best players in the
MetGCSA!
In the Second Flight• • .

In a rematch of the 2011 Championship
match, Chris Alonzi and Mike Cook faced
off against Ken Benoit and Greg Gutter at
the venerable Hudson National Golf Club.
Benoit and Gutter got out to a fast start by
going 2 up after three holes, but as expected,
Alonzi and Cook brought the match back to
within one after Cook parred the difficult
Par 4 fourth. Alonzi and Cook looked to
even the match on the sixth when Cook
made a 30-foot birdie putt, but Benoit
pulled off a miracle six-iron from 200 yards
and two-putted to ensure a halve on the
short Par 5. Benoit and Gutter proceeded to
win the sixth and ninth to go three up at
the turn.
Alonzi and Cook came out swinging on
the back nine, immediately cutting into
their deficit by winning the 10th. Now, just
2 up with eight to go, a steely-eyed Gutter
took dead aim from the tee on the Par 3
eleventh. His low squib came up 40 yards
short of the green; however, his up and down
was good for par and a win.
The match tightened up on the Par 5
fourteenth after Alonzi and Cook both
made par, but they found themselves back to
two down after making a mess of the
15th. The 16th was halved, and the match
stood dormie with two to go. Nerves clearly
played their part on the 17th tee as three
out of the four tee shots found the deep
rough. Gutter muscled a terrific shot from
140 yards to within 15 feet and two-putted
to halve the hole and win the match.
All in all, a great day was had by all. Many
thanks to Hudson National’s new superin­
tendent, Ryan Oliver. It looks like he’s off to
a great start.

1)

8)

Glen Dube/Blake Haider man
Centennial GC/Brae Burn CC
vs.
Steven McGlone/Bob Lippman Jr.
Siwanoy CC/Westchester Turf Supply

5)

Todd Raisch/Jaime Devers
Ridgewood CC/Canoe Brook CC
vs.
13) Scott Niven/Larry Pakkala
The Stanwich Club/ Silvermine GC

11) Tom Ashfield/Andy Drohen
Quaker Ridge GC/Agrium Advanced
Technologies
vs.
3) Matt Ceplo/Jim Swiatlowski
Rockland CC/Montammy GC
10) Ryan Oliver/Tom Weinert
Hudson National GC/Plant Food
Company
vs.
15) Dave Lippman/Matt Topazio
Westchester Turf Supply/New York CC
Second Flight

2)

Bob Alonzi/Joe Alonzi
Fenway GC/Westchester CC
vs.
16) Kevin Collins/Nick Lerner
Aquatrols, Inc. /Bonnie Briar CC

5)

4)

Tim Garceau/Ernie Steinhofer
Haworth CC/Metro Turf Specialists
vs.
Rob Alonzi/Bill Bartels
Fenway GC/Tanto Irrigation

11) Paul Gonzalez/Lou Quick
Whippoorwill Club/Anglebrook GC
vs.
3) Ken Benoit/Greg Gutter
GlenArbor GC/Mount Kisco CC
10) Brian Bontemps/Steven Lochran
Seeton Turf Warehouse/Rock Ridge CC
vs.
15) Dennis Flynn/Peter Rappoccio
Screaming Eagle Supply / Silver Spring CC
Larry Pakkala, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent of golf
courses at Silvermine Golf Club.
Tee to Green May/June 2013

Steven McGlone Welcomes Summer SocialGoers to Sivvanoy
by Jim Pavonetti, CGCS

C
V

~ J ? teven McGlone and Siwanoy

Country Club couldn’t be more
® ^ pleased to host the MetGCSAs everpopular Summer Social. Set for July 9, this
annual event offers members the opportu­
nity to socialize the stress of the season away
with an evening of dinner and dancing
under the stars.
This will be the second Met event that
Steven has hosted in his five-year tenure at
Siwanoy. The first was the Dave Mahoney
Two-Ball Championship Qualifier, named
after Stevens predecessor.
Steven landed the superintendent’s posi­
tion in 2008, after leaving his job as assistant
superintendent at Quaker Ridge Golf Club
to help out Siwanoy after the tragic passing
of Dave Mahoney. His excellent work as
interim superintendent led the club to offer
him the permanent position as Siwanoy’s
property manager. Since coming on board,
Steven has been nothing short of busy, con­
centrating his efforts most recently on crew
organization and the club’s long-range plan­
ning efforts.

Siwanoy’s Rich History
The club was founded in 1901, taking its
name from a Mohican tribe that lived in the
area. Originally a nine-hole course along
White Plains Road, Siwanoy built an 18hole course in 1913 at its current site under
the guidance of Architect Donald Ross. In
1916, only three years after construction,
Siwanoy hosted the very first PGA Cham­
pionship, which was won by Jim Barnes.
Typical of most Donald Ross layouts in
the Northeast, this Bronxville, NY, course
features a well-routed layout on a minimum
of land— 110 acres, in this case. The greens,
though on the small side, are full of charac­
ter and well protected.
Over the years, numerous architects have
added their personal touch to the greens,
tees, and bunkers. Among them were Robert
Trent Jones Sr. and Arthur Hills. Currently,
the club is working with Golf Course
Architect Mike DeVries of DeVries Designs
to fully restore this Ross gem to its original
design intent.

©

Tee to Green May/June 2013

A coursewide phased project is underway
and will continue through 2015. Few fea­
tures will remain untouched, since the plan
includes restoring bunkers, green surfaces,
and aprons; adding tee length; rerouting cart
paths; and installing a new irrigation system.
Siwanoy hopes to roll out the finished proj­
ect by the summer of 2016 to showcase the
course in celebration of the 100th anniver­
sary of the PGA Championship it hosted in
1916.

Steven’s Path to Siwanoy
Steven, like many superintendents, didn’t
begin his college career with a degree in
turfgrass management in mind. In fact, he
completed a B.S. in Geography from Ohio
University with his sights set on becoming
an Urban Planner. His career path took a
turn, however, with the encouragement of
Jim Noel, superintendent of Lakewood
Country Club in Steven’s hometown of
Westlake, OH. Steven had worked summers
at Lakewood through high school and then
college, and seeing his potential,Jim encour­
aged him to pursue a degree in turfgrass
management.
Lo and behold, that’sjust what Steven did,
earning a degree in tu rf management from
Pennsylvania State University in 2004.
While completing his degree, Steven in­
terned at The Country Club in Pepper Pike,
OH, and then moved to the West Coast to
become an assistant at Cypress Point Club in
Pebble Beach, CA, where he stayed for three
years.

In March of 2007, he returned East, ac­
cepting an assistant’s position with Quaker
Ridge Golf Club Superintendent Tom Ashfield, who Steven credits for the guidance
and impeccable training he provided. By
September of 2008, Steven was well
equipped to assume his current position as
Siwanoy’s golf course superintendent.
In the midst of Steven’s transition from
urban planning major to Siwanoy superin­
tendent, he met and then married his wife of
five years, Margie. The two started dating
while attending Ohio University and even­
tually got engaged while living in Califor­
nia. When Margie got her current position
working with the Disney Company on
Broadway, they both moved back to the East
Coast. “She came west for me,” says Steven,
“and I went east for her.”
Margie and Steven live in a recently reno­
vated 1800s farmhouse on the western side
of Siwanoy, with their 3 -year-old son,
Finley, and another on the way, due in
September!

Ghcers
Be sure to join Steven and Margie July 9 for
a little R Sc R and a lot of camaraderie at
Siwanoy Country Club. You can be certain
the clubhouse staff will roll out the red car­
pet for our special summer evening event.
To add to the experience, you might want
to scan Netflix for the classic 1998 movie
Rounders about the underground world of
high-stakes poker and watch it before you
come. Parts were filmed inside and around
the clubhouse. You can see if any of it looks
familiar!
So come on out for a truly great evening.
I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Jim Pavonetti, editor of Tec o Green, is superin­
tendent at Fairview Country Club in Green­
wich, CT.

Spotlight

Jeff Wentworth Welcomes Met Members
to \ine and Dine at Pelham
by Kevin Collins

j uly 16 will mark the second
M f J time Pelham Country Club
Superintendent Jeff Wentworth
will host the MetGCSAs Superin­
tendent/Guest Tournament. This time, how­
ever, it will be run as a Nine and Dine event,
a format well received when introduced for
the first time last year.
Celebrating its 105th anniversary at its
present site in Pelham Manor, NY, Pelham
Country Club had its origins as a small ten­
nis club and five-hole golf course in 1908. In
1921, an influential member, Mont Rogers,
reinvented the club. He formed a company to
buy the land and hired noted golf course
architect Devereux Emmet to create a cham­
pionship golf course. Two years later, in 1923,
Pelham made history, hosting one of the
most memorable PGA Championships on
record. Gene Sarazen defeated Walter Hagen
in a playoff, notching a birdie to clinch the
championship in sudden death on the second
hole.
In the late 1950s, the course underwent
yet another transformation: It was redesigned
to accommodate construction of the New
England Thruway, which was routed
directly through the course. Architect Alfred
Tull was hired to build five new holes (Holes
4 through 8) across Mount Tom Road.
The Pelham Country Club we know
today plays close to 6,400 yards from the
back tees and is characterized by tight, treelined fairways. “Precise tee shots and accu­
rate approach shots are a must,” warns Jeff, “if
you hope to shoot a decent score.”

About Jeff
Jeffs early career began in 1988 as a student
intern at Myopia Hunt Club. He expanded
his tu rf management experience at Ridge­
wood Country Club in New Jersey and then
Maryland’s Columbia Country Club, com­
pleting the two-year tu rf program at Stockbridge in 1989 and a B.S. in Urban Forestry
from UMass in 1991. That same year, with a
degree in hand, Jeff embarked on a four-year
term as an assistant at Westchester Country
Club. “When I came to Westchester, Patty
Knaggs hired me,” remembers Jeff, “There
had to have been over 50 applicants, and I
was happy that Patty saw something in me.
She was tough but fair.”

Jeff also spent time under the tutelage of
Joe Alonzi, who was next in line as West­
chester’s golf course superintendent. “I
learned a lot from Joe,” Jeff recalls, pointing
in particular to the fine example he set when
speaking to club members. “One day,” says
Jeff, “when we were spraying the South
Course, a woman came up to Joe, clearly agi­
tated about the fact that we were spraying.
Joe handled it by telling her, very calmly, that
he really didn’t like to spray but that it was
necessary to do at times. The woman’s whole
demeanor changed, and she calmed down
without Joe going through a whole discourse
about what he was doing and why he was
doing it. That stays with me to this day,” adds
Jeff. “Less is more.”
Aside from the fine art of communicating
with members, Joe also shared with Jeff the
nuances of making sound judgment calls on
the course. “He taught me to think things
through and avoid snap judgments,” says Jeff.
“Beyond being a great teacher, Joe’s a great
listener and a truly empathetic person.”

Pulling Out All the Stops at Pelham
From Westchester, Jeff launched into his first
and current superintendent’s position at
Pelham in 1994. But it was much more than
just a launch; Jeff hit the ground running and
clearly hasn’t stopped. The number of proj­
ects and improvements made to the course
over the past 19 years are impressive. He’s
reconstructed 14 tees, restored almost all 18
greens back to their original dimensions,
installed a new, full-coverage irrigation sys­
tem, and built a new, 11,000-square-foot
maintenance facility. In 2011, the club added
a new short game practice area with three
USGA-spec chipping greens, bunkers, and a
large fairway area. Whew! But wait, there’s
more: In addition, Jeff ushered through a
three-year-long land management program
that included selective tree removal and sub­
stantial drainage work.
Next up: In 2014, Pelham will embark on a
new master plan for the golf course under
the supervision of architect Mike DeVries.

Beyond Pelham
A proponent of giving back to the profession,
Jeff served on the MetGCSA board for four

years and has chaired or co- chaired numer­
ous committees. He’s also hosted at least five
other MetGCSA events in the past. But Jeff is
also proud of his involvement in the UMass
Alumni Turf Group. As a founding member,
Jeff served for 10 years on the board. He was
instrumental in bringing together other
graduates of the Stockbridge School of
Agriculture at UMass, who are committed
to raising funds to further research and edu­
cation, promote UMass alumni in the tu rf
management profession, and instill pride and
commitment in the tu rf programs at the
University of Massachusetts. One of the
Alumni Turf Group’s major fundraising
events has been the Joe Troll T urf Education
Fundraiser, which was held for the 10th year,
this time in May at TPC Boston.
When the work day’s done, Jeff loves to
spend his time with his first love and wife of
16 years, Mimi. Their shared passion for
travel took Jeff and Mimi last fall to South
Africa for 19 days where they enjoyed
Capetown and the southern tip of the coun­
try and a five-day safari. Jeff described their
South African adventure as nothing short of
“spectacular.”
Jeff and Mimi also like to escape to Ver­
mont when the opportunity presents itself.
“We bought a house in Peru, VT, about 15
years ago,where the movie Baby Boom, star­
ring Dianne Keaton, was filmed," says Jeff.
“Peru has become our home away from
home.” Jeff still enjoys skiing, but is less of a
diehard: “I hold out for the best days, when
the snow is new and it’s not too cold,” he says.
A dedicated golfer, Jeff maintains a 7 handi­
cap, playing golf whenever time permits.
July 16 will be here before you know it,
and Pelham Country Club and Jeff look for­
ward to making the Met's Nine and Dine an
event to remember. Be sure not miss it!
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 Dryfect
Northeast/ TurfPounders.
Tee to Green May/June 2013

1

Spotlight

Come One, Come All to the Summer Picnic
at Paramount!
by Matt Ceplo, CGCS

f

J M was listening to the evening
W news a couple of weeks ago, and
they were preparing to talk about our
nations’ bridges. After what seemed like an
eternity of commercials, the newscaster
finally announced the worst bridge in the
country. And guess what? It was our very
own Tappan Zee! With that news, I got
on the phone to governor Cuomo and told
him about the MetGCSAs Summer Picnic:
“We can’t have any problems on July 23
when Paramount Country Club and Brian
Chapin will be hosting this year’s Summer
Picnic.” The Governor quickly assured me
that the bridge would be open for anyone
coming to enjoy the festivities. My next call
was to Mother Nature, and she assured me
good weather. It’s nice to have connections.
All kidding aside, please join fellow Met
members for the family event of the year.
Our annual Summer Picnic promises a day
of fun for everyone! This year, there will
be swimming, tennis, putt-putt, a bounce
house, playground, and perhaps a little golf
for the adults. Paramount is truly the perfect
venue.
Nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley
in the town of New City, Paramount was
once a playground for the rich and famous.
In 1918, Paramount Pictures founder
Adolph Zukor purchased 1,200 acres known
as Mountain View Farm. It became a ro­
mantic Hollywood weekend getaway spot
for stars and directors. Also rumored were
Zukor’s movie release parties where family
and friends were treated to previews of the
latest releases and in-person introductions
to the new flicks’ directors and stars.

In 1920, Zukor hired famed golf course
architect A.W. Tillinghast to build an 18hole championship golf course, complete
with a clubhouse, guesthouse, and, of course,
a movie theater. During the Great Depres­
sion, however, the movie industry suffered,
and Zukor was unable to maintain his
Mountain View Farm estate. He opened it
for membership as a golf club. Then in 1948,
the property was sold, and part of this
impressive estate—along with many of its
original stone structures—became Dellwood Country Club. In 2009, the Mandelbaum family assumed the operation, and
after a multi-million-dollar renovation, re­
named it Paramount Country Club in honor
of its original owner.

Brian’s Path to Paramount
This change in ownership just happened
to coincide with Brian’s first season as
golf course superintendent. Brian had been
working at the club since 2005 as the assis­
tant to fellow Met member Joe Gardner. Joe
left the maintenance operation in Brian’s
capable hands when he moved on in the fall
of 2008 to Fresh Meadow Country Club in
Great Neck, NY
Brian’s fascination with the industry be­
gan when he was just 8 years old, playing
golf with his father in his hometown of
Cumberland, ME. In 1997, and every sum­
mer through high school, Brian had the
opportunity to experience golf through a
different lens: as a crew member, rather
than golfer, at The Woodlands Club in
Falmouth, ME. “I was fortunate to work for

Brian Chapin
a talented superintendent who had just
moved to Maine from the Philadelphia area.
He showed me that there was much more to
the business than just cutting grass.”
Hooked on golf course management,
Brian landed a summer internship in 2001 at
Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, NJ,
and then another in 2002 at Areola Country
Club, also in Paramus. After a few months on
the job, he accepted his first assistant’s posi­
tion at Areola under then Superintendent
Barney Misiura. During his tenure there, he
completed his two-year tu rf certifícate from
Rutgers University, commuting nearly two
hours each day.
As busy as he was, Brian clearly wasn’t all
work and no play. It was at Areola that he
met—and began dating—his future wife,
Zoya. After a nearly nine-year courtship,
they tied the knot in August of 2012 and are
living happily-ever-after on the Upper West
Side of Manhattan. Aside from enjoying
everything the City has to offer, Brian en­
joys, of course, golfing (he sports a 4.5 index)
and, when the snow flies, heading to the
mountains to go skiing.

July 2 3 . . . Be There!
Brian is counting on a large turnout—and
the opportunity to showcase the fine job the
Mandelbaums have done with the facility
over the past four years. “There’s a large
swimming pool and kiddy pool that have
been renovated. There are playgrounds with
swings, and a bounce house that everyone’s
kids are guaranteed to enjoy,” says Brian, also
pointing out the club’s brand-new bistro and
large sprawling lawns, perfect for Sum-mer
Picnic activities.
So plan on attending this year’s Summer
Picnic. It promises to be a great day with
friends and family. Is there anything better?
Matt Ceplo, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Rock­
land Country Club in Sparkill, NY.

atron Directory
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360GOLF
O Dryject N.E. / TurfPounders
“Rebuilding Golf Courses From All
“Your Aerification Solution”
the Right Angles”
Kevin Collins / Steve Jordan /
Chad Lemere
Bob Lippman
914-625-0676
914-672-6029 / Fax: 845-228-1728
www.360golfonline.com
mcc 10512@yahoo.com
A.G. Enterprises
© Giacini Corp. G olf Course
Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms
Materials
201-488-1276
Custom Golf
Fax:201-489-5830
Michael Giancini
merrickl60@aol.com
631-433-4494
www.AGEnterprisesonline.com
nmgiacini@verizon.net
A. John Harvey G olf Course
© Grass R oots, Inc.
Design
Ryan Batz, Tech. Sales Rep.
491 Naughright Road
Cell: 631-872-5357
Long Valley, NJ
Ofc: 973-252-6634
201-280-8389
Ryan.Batz@GPJturf.com
jharvey442@gmail.com
www.GPJturf.com
All Pro Horticulture
© Growth Products, LTD
John Seib
Howie Gold
54 Railroad Avenue
80 Lafayette Avenue
Copiague, NY 11726
White Plains, NY 10603
631-789-6680 / Fax: 631-789-5711
800-648-7626 / Fax:914-428-2780
john@allporthort. com
hgold@growt hproduc t s.com
Aqua-Aid, Inc.
© Harrell’s
Surfactants, Verde Cal, OARS, Root
“Growing a Better World. Partners for
Pruner, Drill & Fill
Success”
Bert Brace / Jim Miller /
Joe Stahl: 203-209-6951
Sam Green
Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638
252-937-4107
jstahl@harrells.com / www.harrells.com
Fax:252-443-0320
LaBar G olf Renovations
info@aquaaid.com
Richard S. LaBar Jr., President, CEO
Aquatrols Corp. o f America
Cell: 973-600-9249
Kevin P. Collins, Territory Mgr.
Ofc: 908-502-5253
37 Oneonta Road
labargolfreno@gmail.com
Carmel, NY 10512
© LaCorte Equipment ~
609-841-2077
John Deere G olf
kevin.collins@Aquatrols.com
“Your Trusted Northeast John Deere
Atlantic Irrigation Specialists,
Golf Dealer”
Inc.
Gale Stenquist / Jim Calladio / Scott
Rain Bird & All Related Supplies
Ferguson
Ray Beaudry / Tim Marcoux
800-560-3373 ext 4
800-878-8873
Fax: 631-591-3447
golf@lacorteequipment. com
BASF
John Bresnahan
© Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
www.BetterTurf.com
Rob Good
John.Bresnahan@basf.com
Hydrogeologie Consulting &
Environmental Engineering Services
Bayer Environmental Science
860-678-0404
Dave Sylvester
rgood@lbgct.com
“Backed by Bayer”
860-841-3173
© Matrix Turf Solutions, LLC
Gregory R. Moran
Davisson Golf, Inc. ~ est. 1991
259 Lucas Avenue
Knox, Nitrozyme, Mikro-Pak,
Kingston, NY 12401
& Sand
Ofc: 845-338-3650
Tom Tuttle
Cell: 845-849-8640
Cell: 215-431-0393
gmoran@matrixturf.com
800-613-6888
www.davissongolf.com
© Metro Turf Specialists
“Customers, Our TOP Priority!”
DeLea Sod Farms
Scott / Ernie / Rob / Tim / Todd
Bentgrass, Fescue, & Bluegrass Sod
203-748-4653
& U.S. Silica Topdressing
www.metroturfspecialists.com
Mike Hollander / Scott Geiser
800-344-7637
© Nutrite
Supplier of T urf and Specialty Fertilizers
D ou b le‘D ’ Turf, LLC
Bob Griffin
Dennis DeSanctis Sr.
Cell: 401-862-5873
Drill & Fill Specialist
bgriffm@nutrite.com
732-241-7378
DennisDTurf@aol.com

Performance, N utrition-D ivision
at Lido Chem, Inc.
Randy Rider
Regional Manager, Northeast &
Mid-Atlantic
302-319-1001
rrider@lidochem.com
© Pinnacle Turf, Inc.
Steven Renzetti, CGCS
914-384-9227
www.Pinnacleturf.net
srenzetti@verizon.net
© Plant Food Company, Inc.
“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”
Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111
Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318
TomPepe: 609-751-1372
David Conrad: 914-263-3244
© Playbooks for G olf
Mobile Coverage System, Golf Course
Field Guides, Aerial Photography, Soil
Analytics, Consulting, Career
Development, Professional Search
Services
Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254
Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052
www. goplaybooks.com
© Quali-Pro
Quality Turf and Ornamental Products
Phil O ’Brien
856-252-4725
PhilO@quali-pro.com
O Seeton Turf Warehouse, LLC
Brian Bontemps
Cell: 845-239-7959
brianbontemps@seetonturf.com
Soil Solutions, LLC
Aerification Professionals
Anthony Decicco / John Decicco
7 Whittemore Place
Ryebrook, NY 10573
914-393-0659 / Fax:914-939-5010
Stein G olf Construction
Jeff Stein
17 Cedar Hill Road,
Bedford, NY 10506
917-273-4099
Jeffrey@steingolf.com
© Steven W illand, Inc.
“Quality T urf Equipment”
George Corgan
4 Production Drive
Brookfield, CT 06804
Cell: 914-213-3622
georgecorgan@charter.net
www.StevenWillandInc.com
Subsurface Technologies
“Same Well ~ More Water ~
Better Quality”
Steven Catania
845-567-0695
www.subsurfacetech.com
© Syngenta
Fred Montgomery, CGCS
23 Roslyn Drive
Ballston Lake, NY 12019
518-424-0760 / 518-399-6588
Fred.Montgomery@syngenta.com

© Tanto Irrigation, LLC
William Bartels
914-347-5151 / Fax: 914-347-6323
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com
© The Care o f Trees
Mike Cook: 914-345-8733
Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110
Ken Clear: 203-863-0900
© The Terre Company o f
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 / Jeff Houde
800-582-5959
Fax:781-273-4804
O Turf Products LLC /T O R O
Toro Irrigation & Equipment
Pat Cragin
Cell: 860-874-2812
Ofc: 800-243-4355
© UPI / Phoenix
Mike Donahue
1512 River Boulevard Ext.,
Suflield, CT 06078
860-490-1929
mike. donahue@uniphos.com
www.phoenixenvcare.com
© Valley View Wholesale
Greenhouses
229 Smith Ridge Road
South Salem, NY 10590
914-533-2526
Fax:914-533-3059
www.valleyviewgreenhouses.com
© Westchester Tractor, Inc.
60 International Boulevard
Brewster, NY 10509
845-278-7766
www.wtractor.com
© Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
“Serving the MetGCSA for 37
Years”
Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257
bobwestturf@comcast.net
Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192,
westturf@comcast.net
© Westwood Organic
R ecycling / New York
Stone Supply
James Scoli
Ofc: 914-949-3244
Cell: 914-490-1694
jscoli@westwoodorganic.com
© Wickes / Arborists
“Your Property Is Our Branch
Office”
11 McNamera Road
Spring Valley, NY 10977
845-354-3400
www.irawickes.com
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