April/Maj ¿III I VOLI'HK45 MVIIIi;iS The Environment: How Our Members Are Doing Their Part tard of Directors Met G C SA e st 1 9 5 9 President BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club Vice President GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club Treasurer DAVID DUDONES Cover: Manhattan Woods Golf Club. Photography by Jim Krajicek. Westchester Country Club Secretary KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS GlenArbor Golf Club Past President ROBERT NIELSEN JR., CGCS Bedford Golf & Tennis Club Directors ROBERT B. ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club DOUG DRUGO Wee Burn Country Club ANTHONY HOOKS Due Process Stable VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCS Fairview Country Club ROBERT WOLVERTON Class “C” Rep GEORGE CHAVEZ Pelham Country Club Class “AF” Rep KEVIN COLLINS Aquatrols Executive Director ED BROCKNER Executive Secretary SUSAN O ’DOWD Tee toGreenStaff Editor JIM PAVONETTI 203-531-8910 Managing Editor PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Committee ADDISON BARDEN STEVEN MCGLONE SCOTT NIVEN MATT CEPLO TODD SALAMONEl | KEVIN COLLINS RYAN SEGRUE BILLCYGAN GREG WOJICK (CHIP LAFFERTY Designer TERRIE YOUNG Advertising Manager BRETT CHAPIN, 203-938-9240 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 ©2014 n this Issue What Area Clubs Are D oing to Enhance E nvironm ental................ 2 Quality on Their Courses 2014 Green Chairman Series Takes Environmental Twist ............. 6 Departments U pcom ing E ven ts...............................................................................................7 R egional N ew s.....................................................................................................8 M ember N ew s................................................................... 10 Spotlight ............................................................................................................. 11 ith the season in full swing, our never-ending winter is getting closer to a distant memory. I’m sure we all will be pining for those cool nights in another month or so! Ahhh, the vicious cycle of the life of a golf course superintendent! Along with the start of the golf season, spring also marks the beginning of a new fiscal year for our associations advertising. I would like to take this opportunity to, once again, thank all of the vendors who sup­ ported the MetGCS As long list of endeavors this past year. Thanks to their generosity, we’ve been able to support necessary re­ search, scholarships, and environmental awareness efforts, including the BMP initia­ tive. We have reached out to victims of Hurricane Sandy and to members who have suffered an illness or other hardship. Our vendors also helped subsidize our holiday party and a number of other major events, as well as initiatives like The First Tee and the Wee One. The list goes on. So on behalf of the MetGCSA, we thank all of the vendors for their support, and I encourage all of our members to show these vendors the same kind of support they’ve shown us throughout the year. For a full list of sponsors, please visit the website and keep a lookout for their advertisements in the Tee to Green, the Membership Directory, and at our events throughout the season. A special thank you to those new and returning spon­ sors for 2014-2015! Across the Itiidio Waves For those of you who didn’t know to tune in to AM 1490 WGCH on April 24,1 wanted to let you know that GlenArbor’s Ken Benoit made a guest appearance on “The Clubhouse,” alongside host Brian Crowell, head golf professional at GlenArbor Golf Club. In addition to discussing the world of sports and some helpful home lawn tips, Ken was able to publicize the work superin­ tendents are doing every day to promote “environmental sustainability,” while at the same time, stressing the importance of the Blake Halderman, CGCS MetGCSA President “open green space” we provide and care for on a daily basis. Ken even had an opportu­ nity to discuss the New York State BMP ini­ tiative that he, along with other Met members and superintendents statewide, have worked so hard to bring to fruition. I want to thank Ken for taking the time to spread the good word about our profes­ sion and our work. I would encourage any­ one and everyone to do their part in communicating to the people in their com­ munities about the important role golf courses play in preserving and enhancing our environment. Advocacy Pays Dividends With that being said, it is nice to see that the time and effort we (Met members, NYSTA members, lobbyists, and other volunteers) are putting into communicating what we do to lawmakers and politicians in Albany is actually paying dividends. For the second consecutive year, after a five-year drought in funding, we were able to secure a significant appropriation to the Turfgrass Environ­ mental Stewardship Fund. This fund sup­ ports research that is essential in providing turf management solutions that are key in preserving and protecting environmental quality. In addition to the fund, we also discussed the current costly and arduous Pesticide Reporting Law, as well as the definition of IPM to include the use of pesticides if neces­ sary. We are hopeful that, in the future, we can reduce the burden for applicators statewide. continued on page 12 Tee to Green April /May 2014 he Arthur P. Weber Environmental Leaders in Golf Award is presented each spring at the MGA/USGA Green Chairman Seminar and recognizes an MGA member club that has demonstrated environmen­ tal stewardship through improvements in wildlife habitat, IPM, water quantity and quality management, education and out­ reach, and resource conservation. This year, Manhattan Woods Golf Club, site of the 2014 MetGCSA Invitational (see profile, page 11, on Jesse Shannon in this issue), took home the top honors in March. There were several other finalists among Met members who have also been doing their part to protect the environment at their respective clubs and promote these efforts in their surrounding communities. With environmental concerns attracting an increasing amount of interest and atten­ tion, we wanted to highlight some of the specific programs being implemented by those MetGCSA members who received recognition as finalists for this year’s Arthur P. Weber Award. You will find their initia­ tives described below under the five main award criteria. Our hope is that these stories will offer more than just a good read, but also a bit of inspiration for furthering the environmental efforts on your course. have been created for local and migratory wildlife to find food and shelter on the property. Through what the club refers to as a “low intensity” maintenance approach, the amount of managed turfgrass has been reduced, with 62 acres of natural land now protected from disturbance. Along with “environmentally sensitive” zones flagged throughout the course, wildlife and native Wildlife/Habitat Preservation Describe how area wildlife is both protected plants have a chance to thrive. With the and enhanced at and around the facilityf club’s habitat and biodiversity conservation, Manhattan Woods has been able to preserve including preservation of native habitats. the rich biological diversity present in the Manhattan Woods has been recognized as a region. Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, a major part of which includes the constant effort to preserve wildlife and their habi­ tats. Specific work under Jesses direction in this area has included the construction of brush piles, wildlife corridors, and the in­ stallation of 30 additional bird, bat, and but­ terfly boxes. The boxes are monitored on a monthly basis to track success, but also to help eliminate predators, such as house spar­ rows and wasps. By designing and landscap­ ing gardens on the course with native plant Manhattan Woods1Assistant Super Brian Lenik vegetation and by protecting the course’s presents the club's wildlife and preservation efforts existing wetland areas, great opportunities to membership and guests. Students convene at Whippoorwill for an ornithology class and birdhouse building. Education/Outrcach Describe any of your efforts to educate your! staff, golfers, and the general public on enviv ronmental issues related to golf coursesi Include specific outreach activities you ham been involved with in the past year. Paul Gonzalez of The Whippoorwill Club in Armonk, NY, another Audubon Cooper­ ative Sanctuary, has made great strides in engaging the local community and foster­ ing a partnership with the Louis Calder Center, Fordham University’s biological field station that borders the club. In 2008, Dr. Alan Clark of the Center worked with Whippoorwill to establish a nesting box program that has been extremely success­ ful. In addition, the club set up a Resource Advisory Committee that includes not only members and staff, but also Dr. Clark and Steven Coleman, the environmental coordi­ nator for the town of New Castle. As the single largest landowner in the Kenisco Reservoir Watershed, Whippoorwill has also worked for nearly a decade with the New York State DEP in establishing a Water Resource Protection Plan. Through its work with the Louis Calder Tee to Green April /May 2014 i^J) Center, the club was also introduced to Rodney Olsen, who works with special needs students, particularly those with autism. As part of their treatment and edu­ cational program, these individuals take part in an ornithology class where students con­ struct birdhouses that the club purchases to help fund their visits and learning. All of the community outreach that the club has initi­ ated yields benefits that go far beyond turf, having a tangible impact on those in the community. outlines and describes in some detail mea­ sures implemented to preserve and protect water quality from fertilizer and pesticide contamination. dollar spot • crab gra ss • fa iry r in g • gru b s • hyperodes • tak e-all patch Integrated Pest Management Please outline and describe thefacility’s IPM program. This should include all steps taken to manage pests from site alteration and physical exclusion to monitoring and popula­ I tion-based pest management. In addition, m please list all nonchemical or reduced-risk pest management practices implemented over Playbooksfor Golf assisted Brae Burn in map­ the past season. Integrated pest management is practiced intensively at Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY, under the leadership of MetGCSA President Blake Halderman. Growing-degree days are tracked yearly to help predict insect migration and develop­ ment, disease emergence, weed germina­ tion, and annual bluegrass seed-head pro­ duction. All of this data is compiled and reviewed to help better time chemical ap­ plications. Properly timed applications help reduce the need for secondary applications, which waste time, money, and could poten­ tially harm the environment. In addition to the rigorous growingdegree day charting, hot spots are mapped to help pinpoint where turf pests are most likely to cause damage beyond acceptable thresholds. Maps of these susceptible areas have been generated from years of daily scouting and recording of damage beyond those thresholds. By utilizing hot-spot maps to make pest applications, Blake is able to limit stress to the environment by treating only the areas that need to be treated and is better able to ensure that every application made is effective. Tee to Green April /M ay 2014 ping problem areas on the golf course. Blake has found that one of the best ways to test the effectiveness of applications is to cover a small area with plywood prior to application so the area can remain un­ treated. This allows the treated and un­ treated areas to be compared side-by-side to evaluate the effectiveness of the application. Notes are made and reviewed in an attempt to further increase the effectiveness of future applications. Through this attention to detail and constant monitoring and eval­ uation, the best techniques are identified to prevent an excess of input while maintain­ ing turfgrass of the highest quality. Water Quantity and Quality Management Explain the facility’s water use practices and efforts to conserve water. Please give a de­ scription of the irrigation system and how much of the total golf course acreage is watered and maintained. In addition to water conservation, it is essential that the applicant Over the past year, Willow Ridge’s Bert Dickinson was able to successfully reduce the club’s water use through vigilant moni­ toring and the elimination of low-priority sprinkler heads in the rough. About 40 of the club’s 121 acres are irrigated using a comput­ erized, central irrigation system to water all greens, tees, and fairways. With permanent in-ground soil moisture sensors and handheld moisture meters, irri­ gation schedules were fine-tuned and local­ ized dry spots pinpointed and then handwatered to reduce water consumption. As a side benefit, firmer conditions were also achieved, improving playability while saving water and money. Through cultivation practices such as aer­ ification and spiking coupled with the pro­ per application of nutrients, Bert also created conditions that encouraged healthy turf with extensive root systems that were more drought-resistant. As a result of these measures, in August 2013, the course’s water use was down 15 percent from the previous year, with the two periods having similar temperature and rainfall readings. Bert has also protected the course’s water features from contamination with a number of strategies. Ponds and streams are sur­ rounded by vegetative buffers of natural water plants that are able to utilize nutrients before they enter the water. Playing areas adjacent to these water features are treated with fertilizer and chemicals only when runoff potential is low. And pond banks are spot treated to further reduce the potential for runoff. In addition, vegetative buffers are cut back each season and the organic matter removed, eliminating unnecessary nutrients from entering the ponds and streams. And Triploid Grass Carp are stocked in the ponds to help control aquatic plants naturally. By decreasing irrigation use throughout the course and protecting the course’s water features from chemicals, Willow Ridge has persed as needed throughout the property. adhered to environmental best practices and In addition, Thomas and his staff have achieved excellent results. worked to reduce labor and fuel costs on the property. One practice they’ve employed with success is to map out specific areas on Resource Conservation the course that require work and then, Describe, in detail, the conservation effortsfor instead of dispersing employees individually, all resources at yourfacility (excluding water send them out in groups to those areas. This covered previously), specifically addressing simple measure cuts down on the number of energy use, recycling, reducing and recovering carts and equipment needed to complete a processes. job, which in turn reduces not only fuel costs, but also wear-and-tear on equipment. It is fitting that another one of the finalists Other efficiencies include the use of for the Arthur P. Weber Environmental growth regulators on fine turf areas to re­ Award was Old Westbury on Long Island, duce required mowing and also replacing the home club of the namesake of this honor. many of the annual garden plantings (See page 6 for more information on Mr. throughout the course with native perenni­ Weber and his contributions to the game.) als. This investment helps reduce the hidden Thomas McAvoy and his team have contin­ cost of fuel used to ship annuals each year, as ued the great tradition of conservation at the well as the labor and materials (fertilizer, soil, club in a number of ways. Putting a new water) required in yearly planting. twist on a large-scale composting project O ff the course, the clubhouse has com­ that had been employed in the past, Thomas mitted to recycling the large number of collects leaves and branches from the prop­ cardboard and plastic items generated, and erty and recycles them to make wood chips, in an all-out effort to cut energy costs, elec­ mulch, and soil, which are stored and dis­ trically timed lights have been installed in all the club’s facilities. Making Others Aware of Our Environmental Efforts Each of the finalists for the Arthur P. Weber Award perform a variety of excellent prac­ tices at their clubs to protect the environ­ ment, but just as important, they took their efforts a step further by applying for the award and telling their story. By sharing the work that they are doing from the perspec­ tive of preservation, education and conser­ vation, the professionalism of all golf course superintendents is also reflected in this ef­ fort. With the increasing attention to the environmental impact of golf courses, each of these finalists now has another tool to help them prove their environmental stew­ ardship to club members and the com­ munity. It is up to all of us, as part of the MetGCSA, to help promote this message and to share all of the wonderful work that is being done at clubs in our area in har­ mony with nature. One of many environmentally protected areas at Manhattan Woods Golf Club. 2014 Green Chairman Series Takes Environmental Twist he MGA Foundation hosted this years Green Chairman Education Series at North Hills Country Club in Manhasset, NY. Drawing a full house that included superintendents, professionals, green chairmen, and club officials, the meeting focused on current trends in envi­ ronmental stewardship and golf course management. Among the impressive panel of industry professionals were four speakers from the USGA Green Section. Northeast Region Director David Oatis shared the USGA’s plans and goals for continued sustainability for golf courses; Senior Agronomist Jim Skorulski discussed how to build, and make the most of, natural areas on your course; Director of Special Projects Hunki Yun, dis­ cussed the USGAs research on slow play and its efforts to speed up the game; and Northeast Region Agronomist Adam Moeller offered practical solutions to a number of the challenges facing today’s golf courses. As the MetGCSA’s Environmental Com­ mittee Chair, Ken Benoit shared news on the New York State Best Management Practices program, explaining its focus on promoting golf course management prac­ tices that protect and enhance our natural resources. Wtc Green April/May 2014 Bob Farren, director of golf course and grounds management at Pinehurst Resort, offered interesting insight into what he has done on the course to make it more sustain­ able in preparation for the womens and men’s U.S. Open. And last, but not least, Rockland Country Club Super and TriState Turf Research Foundation President Matt Ceplo provided an update on recent Tri-State-funded research projects and activities. Met Member Earns Top Honor for Environmental Efforts One of the highlights of the meeting was the presentation of the 2014 Arthur P. Weber MGA Club Environmental Leaders in Golf Award to Manhattan Woods Golf Club in West Nyack, NY. Congratulations to Class A Met member Jesse Shannon, who is at the helm of this prestigious Gary Player-designed golf course. Presenting the award was GlenArbor Superintendent and MetGCSA Environmental Chair Ken Benoit, who also recognized five other courses—four of them Met members—that received honorable mentions for their envi­ ronmental programs. Congratulations to Brae Burn Country Club in Purchase, NY; Old Westbury Golf & Country Club in Old Westbury, NY; Whippoorwill Golf Club in Armonk, NY; Willow Ridge Country Club in Harrison, NY; and Newton Country Club in Newton, NJ. (Read about their environ­ mental efforts starting on page 3.) For the uninitiated, the Arthur P. Weber Award was established to recognize an MGA member club that has demonstrated environmental stewardship through golf course maintenance, construction, educa­ tion, and research. It is named in honor of past MGA President Arthur P. Weber, who passed away in 2008. Weber wrote an Accepting the 2014 Arthur P. Weber M GA Club Environmental Leaders in Golf Award for Manhattan Woods Golf Club was (L to R) Assistant Superintendent Brian Lenik, Club President fohn Koh, Superintendent Jesse Shannon, and General Manager Dick Smith. Environmental Code of Conduct for golf course maintenance at his home club, Old Westbury on Long Island, nearly two decades ago that many Met Area clubs still use as a model. Weber was a longtime mem­ ber of the USGA Green Section and helped found the MGA Green Committee and the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation. Past recipients of the award include Wee Burn Country Club (2013), Rockland Country Club (2012), the Round Hill Club (2011), GlenArbor Golf Club (2010), West­ chester Country Club (2009), Sebonack Golf Club (2008), and Trump National Golf Club ~ Bedminster (2007). If you missed this year’s seminar, be sure to schedule in time to attend next year. There’s always an outstanding lineup of speakers and, we can’t forget, the opportu­ nity to showcase your course’s environmen­ tal efforts with an application for the Arthur P. Weber Environmental Leaders in Golf Award. We hope to see you in 2015! Calendar Update MetGCSA Invitational Tournament Tuesday,June 17 Manhattan Woods Golf Club West Nyack, NY Host:Jesse Shannon Summer Social Monday,July 14 Orienta Beach Club Mamaroneck, NY Family Picnic July, DATE TEA Bedford Village Memorial Park Bedford, NY Scholarship & Parent/Child Tournament August, DATE TEA Mosholu Golf Course Bronx, NY Host: Dave Moffett Met Championship and Met Area Team Championship Qualifier PLUS The Poa Annual Tournament Monday, September 22 Rockland Country Club Sparkill, NY Host: Matt Ceplo, CGCS Met Area Team Championship Monday, September 29 Philadelphia Country Club Gladwyne, PA Host: Mike McNulty Nine and Dine Event Wednesday, October 15 Silvermine Golf Club Norwalk, CT Host: Larry Pakkala, CGCS Educational Events 2014 University of Connecticut Turfgrass Field Day Tuesday,July 15 UConn Plant Science Research and Education Facility Storrs, CT The field day will offer guided tours of a variety of research projects underway at the university followed by a delicious lunch and an opportunity to connect with fellow turf professionals. Exhibitors from across the region will also be present with product and service information for the turfgrass industry Watch the website for further details as the date approaches: www.turfuconn.edu. 39th Annual New Jersey Green Expo Turf and Landscape Conference Tuesday - Thursday, December 9 —11 Trump Taj Mahal Resort Casino Atlantic City, NY The New Jersey Green Exp 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. Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day (Golf & Fine Turf) Tuesday,July 29 Horticultural Farm II New Brunswick, NJ Save the date, and watch for details. Call 973-812-6467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org for further information. Turf & Grounds Exposition Wednesday-Friday, November 12—14 Rochester Riverside Convention Center Rochester, NY The Turf & 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. Tee to Green A pril/M ay 2014 Green Industry Professionals Debate Legislative Issues at Turfgrass Advocacy Day by Michael Maffeiy CGCS ( ^ / ^ F he 15th Annual New York ^ F State Turfgrass Advocacy Day was held March 12 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY, with 45 superin­ tendents and industry professionals eager to discuss this year’s issues: Support for the Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Fund, the Adoption of a State Definition of IPM, Amending the Pesticide Reporting Law, and 3A, 3B Pesticide Applicator Fees. Advocacy Day-goers made 70 legislative visits to drive home the impact these legis­ lative issues have on their ability to do their jobs. Joining me in representing the MetGCSA were Ed Brockner, Blake Halder­ man, Bob Nielsen, Ken Benoit, Glen Dube, Matt Ceplo, John Carlone, Brian Benedict, Brian Bontemps, Ernie Steinhofer, and Todd Apgar. The Event Kick-off The event kicked off with an association breakfast and welcoming remarks by Steve Griffen, past president of NYSTA and cochair of the NYSTA Government Relations Committee. NYSTA Executive Director Beth Seme followed, offering thanks to our Advocacy Day sponsors and noting just how important it is for all groups to work to­ gether in fostering strong relationships. Beth also encouraged attendees to take advantage of the e-Lobby sites offered by the New York Farm Bureau and Planet to share our views on key issues with legislators. Rick Zimmerman, an associate of The Vandervort Group and lobbyist for the New York Alliance for Environmental Concerns (NYAFEC), assumed the podium next with an update on budget issues and the legisla­ tive climate in Albany. For Rick, timing is everything: “The 2014 Lobby Day,” he says, “was perfectly timed to maximize our im­ pact on state budget issues in addition to for­ tifying our relationships with state legis­ lators. We can’t underestimate the impor­ tance of making the trek to Albany and being part of the advocacy efforts.” He went on to offer advocacy strategies for making the most of every legislative visit, starting with identifying the legislators Tee to Green April/M ay 2 0 14 The authors and committee representatives for the Best Management Practices for New York State Golf Courses (L to R):Dr. Marty Petrovic and Dr. Jennifer Grant of Cornell University ; M etGC SA President Blake Halderman, CGCS; Dr. Frank Rossi and Bob Portmess of Cornell University; NYSTA President Rick Holfoth, CGCS; Bob Nielsen, CGCS, of the MetGCSA;Tim Hahn of the Finger Lakes AGCS; Ken Benoit, CGCS, of the MetGCSA; John Carlone, CGCS, of the Long Island GCSA. carrying our bills and the chairpersons of key committees, such as Environmental Conservation and Agriculture. Senator Mark Grisanti, chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, spoke to the group also emphasizing the im­ portance of our presence in Albany. He ex­ pressed support for such issues as the IPM Definition Bill, the Turfgrass Environmen­ tal Stewardship Fund, and Amending the Pesticide Reporting Law. He announced that the IPM Definition bill had moved out of his committee for a floor vote. Winning Support for the Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Fund Greg Chorvas, past president of the New York State Turfgrass Association Greg spoke about the status and im­ portance of the Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Fund and reported that it was our Number One issue for the day. The 2013- 2014 New York State Budget in­ cluded a $150,000 appropriation to support research that provides improved turf man­ agement solutions. Continuing research is essential in pro­ viding turf management solutions that are key in preserving and protecting environ­ Issues of the Day mental quality. With this in mind, NYSTA Prior to the legislative visits, participants recommended that legislators continue had the opportunity to hear what industry to fund the $150,000 line item in the leaders had to say about each of the follow­ 2014- 2015 budget. ing issues. Update: The approved state budget does include this appropriation. Adopting a State Definition of IPM Michael Maffei, CGCS, co-chair of NYSTA Government Relations Committee I reviewed the Adoption of a State Defini­ tion of IPM, stating that NYSTA believes New York State would be best served by adopting the IPM terminology recognized by the Food Quality Protection Act, the National Integrated Pest Management Net­ work, and the Empire State Council of Agricultural Organizations. Several legisla­ tive proposals define IPM as using pesticides as a last resort. As we all know, pesticides are used as a tool in an IPM program. NYSTA supports bills S2203 (spon­ sored by Senator Young) and A1172 (sponsored by Assemblywoman Gun­ ther), which define integrated pest man­ agement as a “systematic approach to man­ aging pests that utilizes a diversity of man­ agement options to minimize health, envi­ ronmental, and economic risks and impacts. These options may include biological, cul­ tural, physical, and chemical tools to prevent pest infestations or reduce them to accept­ able levels.” Senator Young’s bill was recently unani­ mously passed by the Senate and is awaiting action in the Assembly. Amending the Pesticide Reporting Law Larry Wilson, chairman of the New York Alliancefor Environmental Concerns Larry explained that Part H of the gover­ nor’s budget streamlines pesticide-reporting requirements to allow certified commercial pesticide applicators to make applications without reporting each one to the Depart­ ment of Environmental Conservation. Re­ porting would be required only at the point of sale. This proposal would not only lift the costly reporting burden from applicators, but also save New York State about $3 mil­ lion annually. For these reasons, NYSTA supports bills S6357/A8857, Part H. Update: Unfortunately, the Senate and Assembly were not able to come to agree­ ment on the amendments, and the law was not changed. MetGCSA’s Environmental Committee, announced the completion of the Best Management Practices (BMPs) for New York State Golf Courses. A collaborative ef­ fort among New York State golf course su­ perintendent organizations, NYSTA, Cor­ nell University, and the DEC, this project was initiated with one primary goal in mind: to provide golf course managers with the methods and techniques found to be most effective in preventing or minimizing the effects of golf course management prac­ tices on surface and groundwater to ensure and enhance public health and environmen­ tal quality. “The golf industry could not continue to be perceived as fighting environmental leg­ islation,” says Ken. “Explaining the positive impact that golf has on the environment and providing a transparent resource with sci­ ence-based information sends an extremely powerful message while demonstrating our willingness to recognize the importance of our role as environmental stewards.” Executive summaries of the BMPs were provided to all attendees and visiting legis­ lators. In addition to focusing their discus­ sions on the issues of the day, attendees were encouraged to introduce legislators to the new BMPs during each of their visits. Modifying 3A, 3B Certified Applicator Fees Rick Zimmerman, lobbyistfor the New York Alliancefor Environmental Concerns (NYAFEC) Rick explained that, currently, New York State law mandates a fee of $200 per year for 3A and 3B classifications of certified com­ mercial pesticide applicators. (Included in this group are golf course superintendents.) In contrast, all other classifications are re­ quired to pay $450 for a three-year period, which amounts to only $150 per year. NYSTA is requesting parity within the certified commercial system by lowering the annual 3A and 3B fees to $150 per year. Update: Legislature did not take any action on this issue. The Grand Finale: Legislative Visits With the various presentations complete, Best Management Practices for New attendees had the opportunity to meet with legislators and share their views and con­ York State Golf Courses Unveiled At this point in the program, GlenArbor cerns on upcoming legislation. While they Superintendent Ken Benoit, who chairs the made important headway on the issues at hand, attendees also felt that they received an overwhelmingly positive response from legislators on the BMP initiative. “I was impressed with the level of profes­ sionalism shown by our Advocacy Day at­ tendees this year,” says NYSTA’s Gov­ ernment Relations Committee Co-Chair Steve Griffen. Our group was very articu­ late in expressing how legislation can have a direct effect—positive or negative—on both their personal and professional success. It was also nice to see that legislators and their aides came away with a better under­ standing of the issues that concern our group. I believe that is the direct result of our continued efforts in advocacy and education.” A Little Involvement Goes a Long Way More information on NYSTA’s Turfgrass Advocacy Day is available on the NYSTA website, http://www.nysta.org. Though you may not have been able to attend, con­ sider visiting your Assembly member or Senator in their district offices or writing them to discuss these issues. Either way, get involved and work toward protecting our industry—and your livelihood! Please give serious consideration to at­ tending Advocacy Day in 2015. Laws and regulations affect everyone, and your input is important. Due Date for Scholarship Award Applications Is Fast-Approaching! pplication forms for the 2014 MetGCSA Scholar­ ship Awards are available on the Met website, www.metgcsa.org under the Education tab, or through MetGCSA Executive Secretary Susan O ’Dowd at sodowd@mgagolf.org or 914-909-4843. Any Class A, Life A, Life A/AF, SM, C, Life C, AF, or Life AF member of the MetGCSA or a dependent of a member is eligible to win. If you have any questions about the appli­ cation process, please feel free to contact Scholarship Chairman Glen Dube at Cen­ tennial Golf Club. You can reach him by calling 845-803-1020 or by sending an email to glendubel@gmail.com. The Scholarship Committee will select recipients based on leadership, maturity, scholastic capabilities, activities, and com­ mitment to a chosen career. All applications Michael Maffei, golf course superintendent at Back O’Beyond in Brewster, NY, is a past pres­ ident of NYSTA and the MetGCSA and co­ chair of the NYSTA Government Relations Committee. éjm ;c.;. • \ Litote«« '■ #: ^ Double Eagle Sponsors [•]Harrell’s Growirtg A Better Workt ' À ^ A q u atro ls . . m