December 2015
VOLUME Vii M MISER 6

Published by the Metropolitan boll bourse Superintendents Association

Board of Directors
M e t G C e sSt 1A9 5 9
President
GLEN DUBE, CGCS

Centennial Golf Club
Vice President
DAVID D U D O N E S

Westchester Country Club
Treasurer
K E N N E T H B EN O IT JR ., CGCS

GlenArbor Golf Club
Secretary
R O B ERT B. A LO NZI JR .

Fenway Golf Club
Past President
BLAKE H ALDERM A N, CGCS

Brae Burn Country Club
Directors
M ICH A EL BRUNELLE, CGCS

Upper Montclair Country Club
B RETT C H A PIN

Redding Country Club
BRIA N C H A PIN

Paramount Country Club
D O U G D RU G O

Wee Burn Country Club
STEVEN M cGLONE

Siwanoy Country Club
V IN C E N T PAVONETTI, CGCS

Fairview Country Club
Class “ C” Rep
DAVID PARSON

The Apawamis Club
Class “AF” Rep
R O B ERT STEINM AN , CGCS

Pocono Turf
Executive Secretary
SUSAN O ’D OW D

M etG C SA H onors R en o w n ed A rch itect R ees Jones W ith
Its 2016 John R eid L ifetim e A ch iev em en t Award ...............................2

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

Departments

Managing Editor
PA ND ORA C. W OJICK

Editorial Committee
ODD APGAR
MATT CEPLO
EVIN COLLINS
'IDY DROHEN
HIP LAFFERTY

STEVEN MCGLONE |
BOB NIELSEN
SCOTT NIVEN
TOM REYES
GREG WOJICK

Designer

C hapter N e w s ....................................................................................................... 7
N a tio n a l N ew s .....................................................................................................8
U p c o m in g E vents ............................................................................................ 10

T ER R IE Y OU NG

Advertising Manager

M em b er N e w s .....................................................................................................11

MIKE BRUNELLE, 973-777-6710

TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan
Course Superintendents Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford[ NY 10523-2819
914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG
Copyright © 2 0 1 5

Golf

i the 2015 golf season
complete, I hope everybody has been able
to take a deep breath and decompress from
the rigors and demands of the season. With
“Early Order” out of the way, snow mold
sprays applied, and seasonal workers gone for
the winter, now’s the time to evaluate the
rights and wrongs of this past season, retool,
and prepare for next year.

Special Thank Yous
I have a few groups of people who I would
like to thank. First, I want to thank the
MetGCSA Board of Directors for their
tremendous efforts over the past year. The
fine gentlemen who serve on our board are
a group of dedicated, hardworking individ­
uals who selflessly volunteer their time to
meet the needs of the membership and run
every facet of the association with passion.
Second, I would like to thank all of our
superintendent event hosts and their clubs
for welcoming us to their facilities this past
year. All of our golf sites were in immacu­
late condition, and the clubs that hosted
social or educational events were gracious
and accommodating.
Third, I would like to thank all of the AF
members who advertise and generously
support the MetGCSA. The superinten­
dent/AF relationship is a two-way street.
We can’t do it without you and vice versa.
Just know that we appreciate all of your sup­
port this past year—and always.
Last but not least, I would like to recog­
nize and thank our executive secretary,
Susan O ’Dowd. Susan tends to the adminis­
trative needs of not only our association, but
three others as well. She has a lot on her
plate but always finds a way to quickly and
efficiently handle her commitments to our
association—and she does it with a smile.

The 2016 Golf Industry Show will be
held in San Diego on February 6 - 12.
See page 10for details.

Glen Dube, CGCS
MetGCSA President

Must-Attend Educational
Opportunities

which is being held on January 13 and
hosted, once again, by David Dudones at
Westchester Country Club. The Education
Committee has put together a great program.
Be sure to take a look at page 10 of this issue
for the impressive lineup of speakers.
The Education Committee, in conjunction
with the Assistants Committee, will be hold­
ing a Career Workshop for assistant superin­
tendents on January 22 at Siwanoy Country
Club. Watch for details!
Then, on January 27 and 28, NYSTA will
host its Southeast Regional Conference at the
Ramada Inn in Fishkill, NY. Join fellow
industry professionals for the trade show and
not-be-missed educational sessions.
Finally, the 2016 Golf Industry Show will
be held in San Diego on February 6 —12. If
you are able to make the trip out West, please
mark your calendars for this year’s Nor easier,
which will be held on February 10. I hope
you will join us there to catch up with indus­
try friends and enjoy some great food and
cheer. Social Chair Brett Chapin has another
great venue selected. (See page 10 for details.)
Wishing everyone and their families good
health and prosperity throughout the New
Year!

With the end of the season comes the start
of our many educational opportunities. It
kicks off with our annual Winter Seminar,

Glen Dube, CGCS
President

Tee to Green December 2 0 1 5

MetGCSA Honors Renowned
Architect Rees Jones
With Its 2016 John Reid
Lifetime Achievement Award
by Larry Pakkala, CGCS

$

%

* * Superintendents
are a significant
force within the
framework of golf
» They are the
VfA, people I have
been most
impressed with
throughout my
career.*)
—

t

n

w

w

2^) Tee to Grecti December 2 0 15

t

M
jp

"

Rees Jones

announce Golf Course Architect Rees Jones
as its 2016 John Reid Lifetime Achievement
Award winner.
Being presented at the MetGCS As January
13 Winter Seminar, this annual honor is re­
served for “an individual who, through con­
tinuing commitment, has shown exemplary
support to the game of golf and golf course
superintendents.” Rees is the Met s 26th Reid
Award recipient since its inception in 1986
and clearly a wonderful choice for our asso­
ciation’s highest honor, given his long and
distinguished career in the golf industry.
Assuming the role of“Open Doctor” from
his father, mentor, and renowned golf course
architect, the late Robert Trent Jones Sr.,
Rees has been recognized for his redesign of
courses in preparation for major champi­
onships. He’s “doctored” seven U.S. Open
venues, The Country Club in Brookline,
MA, his first; eight PGA Championship
courses; five Ryder Cup sites, and two Walker
Cup sites; as well as a President’s Cup at The
Royal Montreal Golf Club.
Several of the courses he’s redesigned have
been selected as FedEx Championship sites,
including the historic East Lake Golf Club in
Atlanta, GA, the permanent site of the PGA
T O U R ’s Tour Championship.
In every undertaking, Rees has recognized
the golf course superintendent’s key role in
the project’s success. “As our collaborators,”
says Rees in the golf book Green Glory,
“superintendents are the unsung heroes who
make us look good by polishing our handi­
work. With their persistent pursuit of excel­
lence,” he continues, “superintendents are in
a class of their own when it comes to meet­
ing the ceaseless challenges posed by nature,
economics, and the game itself.”
“Rees should be applauded,” says former
MetGCSA President and reigning Awards
Committee Chair Blake Halderman, “not
only for his many contributions to the golf
industry, but also for his major role in sup­
porting the golf course superintendent. His
high regard for the profession has resulted in
lasting relationships with the many golf
course superintendents he has worked with
over the course of his career. I can’t think of a
more deserving Reid Award recipient.”

The Making oi an Architect
Rees Jones was virtually born into the game
of golf He learned to play as a youngster,
competing as a junior golfer, when in col­
lege, and while serving in the Army Re­
serves. Rees worked many summers on his
fathers projects, traveling with his family to
golf courses all over the world.
“I guess you could say I assimilated into
the business,” says Rees, noting that also
key in his tutelage was working with his
father’s construction manager, the late Bill
Baldwin, who shared the ins and outs of
course construction.“He taught me that you
have to know how to build a course before
you can design it,” says Rees. “He knew how
critical understanding the land was.”
Rees earned a B.A. from Yale and did
graduate study at Harvard in design and
landscape architecture. In 1965, after his
brief stint in the army, Rees went to work
full time as a principal in his fathers firm,
Robert Trent Jones, Inc. Nearly a decade
later, in 1974, he struck out on his own,
founding Rees Jones, Inc., which is still
headquartered today in Montclair, NJ, his
hometown.
In the course of his lengthy career, Rees
has designed or redesigned more than 170
golf courses worldwide, including those in
China, Japan, Canada, Mexico, England,
Spain, and Africa. Right now, his firm has
work spanning 16 U.S. states—including
more than a dozen tri-state area projects—
and seven countries.
Among Rees’s award-winning designs are
Nantucket Golf Club in Siasconset, MA,
Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, NY,
The Golf Club at Briar’s Creek in Johns
Island, SC, RedStick Golf Club in Vero
Beach, FL, Ocean Forest Golf Club in Sea
Island, GA, Haig Point Club in Daufuskie
Island, SC, Waldorf Astoria Golf Club in
Orlando, FL, and Cascata in Boulder City,
NV, near Las Vegas.
Rees attributes his success to keeping the
number of jobs his Firm has undertaken over
the years to a manageable number. “I’ve
always made it a point to be involved di­
rectly in the work and to put my mind in
the heads of the original architects,” says
Rees, “rather than imposing my own style.”
Also playing a key role in Rees’s success
are the three associate architects on his
design team: Greg Muirhead (32 years),
Steve Weisser (25 years) and Bryce Swanson
(16 years). All join Rees in his quest to create
classic venues that blend traditional design
and innovative style.
“Were all on the same page,” says Rees.
“Were client-oriented, maintenance-ori­
ented, and all very cognizant of whether a
course is going to host a U.S. Open or is a
public course for the everyday golfer. Greg,

Steve, and Bryce,” he adds, “have played a
most instrumental role in producing some
of the finest courses in the world.” Rees’s
other long-tenured associate, Keith Evans,
retired in 2011 after 32 years with the firm.

A Style of His Own
As you might expect, Rees was influenced
early in his career by his father, who favored
the prolific use of bunkers and water to
counter the game’s accelerating level of tal­
ent during the 60s and 70s. But as Rees
began to work on some of the great old clas­
sic courses, he became influenced more by
A.W. Tillinghast’s style and to some extent
by C.B. MacDonald, Donald Ross, and
Alister Mackenzie.
Adhering to what you might call a neo­
classic style— a blend of traditional design
and innovative style—Rees works to create
courses that are fair, challenging, continu­
ally interesting to play, and visually exciting.
“We get a feel for the land,” he says, “we lis­
ten to the client, and we build a course that
we believe has integrity and lasting value.
“I think golfers enjoy being reasonably
challenged,” he continues. “Golf holes that
unfold with a variety of shot options requir­
ing intelligent management of the game—
choosing the right club and the right stra­
tegy—make for a more interesting round. I
do not believe that playability should be sac­
rificed to showy features that penalize a shot
that is only slightly errant.
“Our bunkers are strategic features, care­
fully placed,” he says, adding, “we design
multiple tees—sometimes as many as five or
six—in order to accommodate golfers of

ReesJones at the 2011 U.S. Open.
Photo courtesy o f Fred Vuich.

differing skills, from beginners to PGA
professionals.”
In the end, Rees allows the contours of the
land to dictate the style of the course. He
favors embellishing the natural elements and
creating other elements to look natural. “We
customize every design to enhance what
nature offers,” says Rees, “always with sensi­
tivity to environmental issues.”
Praising Rees’s design sensitivity is Fairview Country Club’s Jim Pavonetti. Jim
worked with Rees’s firm in 2010 to create a
master plan for renovating the course. Rees’s
father had done the original course design
and Rees worked on the project, so Jim felt
Rees was the appropriate choice for the job.
“I wanted to make sure we hired someone
who wouldn’t push to dramatically change
the original design style,” says Jim. “I couldn’t
have found a better person for the job.
“Rees, along with his associate architect,
Greg Muirhead, were very aware that Fairview did not want to make the course ‘U.S.
Open’ difficult. His plan accommodates the
everyday golfer and also takes into con­
sideration the maintenance side of the equa­
tion. In fact,” continues Jim, “I think the golf
course will be easier to maintain in many
respects, once the plan is completed. I can’t
wait for the day were finally able to apply
the plan to the golf course.”

Public and Proud of It
Rees is exceedingly proud of the fact that he
and his associates have brought the public
golfer to the forefront of the game, most
notably with his works at Bethpage Black
in Farmingdale, NY, and Torrey Pines in
La Jolla, CA. “These projects have literally
changed the old golf image of the best
courses being private,” says Rees.
The first U.S. Open at Bethpage was held
in 2002, soon after 9/11, and according to
Rees, it was a very positive event for the peo­
ple suffering the aftereffects of this life­
changing event. Work included the con­
struction of championship tees, the reposi­
tioning and/or restoration of all fairway and
greenside sand bunkers, and green surface
expansions, or reductions, on select holes.
Rees went on to make additional design
improvements to the Black Course in prepa­
ration for the 2009 U.S. Open.
In addition, Rees has just completed a ren­
ovation of #3 and #14 green complexes at
Bethpage in preparation for the 2016 Bar­
clays, 2019 PGA Championship, and 2024
Ryder Cup.
Bethpage led to Torrey Pines, when it was
a “build it and we will come” event. It turned
out to be one of the greatest Opens ever with
Tiger winning on a broken leg in a 19-hole
playoff. Rees completely rebuilt Torrey Pines
South, relocating greens closer to the
Tee to Green December 20 1 5

canyons, recontouring all greens to provide
Rees’s pro bono work extends beyond the
multiple pin placements, repositioning bun­ realm of golf course design. Over the years,
kers for stronger players with more advanced he has volunteered his time on numerous
equipment, and he added more than 500 boards, serving in 1977-78 as the youngest
yards of length. In 2002, Torrey Pines was president of the American Society of Golf
chosen to host the 2008 U.S. Open.
Course Architects, at age 36.
Another of Rees’s proud achievements is
Rees has also served on the USGA’s En­
the East Lake Golf Club. Located on the east vironmental Research, Turfgrass Research,
side of Atlanta, the course became part of a and Green Section committees; the New
larger mission to breathe new life into a Jersey State Golf Association’s Executive
crime-laden area, turning it into an ideal Committee; the MGA’s Executive Com­
place where kids, instead of getting into mittee and Long Range Planning Com­
trouble and going to prison, are attending mittee, as well as the Board of Directors for Rees at Bethpage Black near plaques honoring
him and A. W. Tillinghast.
Ivy League colleges, with more than a dozen the MGA Foundation.
playing on college golf teams.
“Twenty years ago, I went in there, and it
State Office of Parks, Recreation, and His­
No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed
really was a disaster,” says Rees. “We resur­
toric Preservation honored Rees with the
rected the course with a Donald Ross theme Rees’s many contributions to the game of Robert Moses Master Builder Award.
and, when all was said and done, created golf have not gone unnoticed. He has earned
In 2013, the American Society of Golf
a long list of awards and recognitions over Course Architects presented Rees with its
179 jobs.”
Then came a smaller public course and a the past two decades, starting with Golf Donald Ross Award for design excellence
golf academy, where young people now learn World Magazine's 1995 Golf Architect of the and industry and association leadership. In
the caddy trade and golf course agronomy. Year award and the 1998 MGA Distin­ February of 2014, Rees was the recipient of
Today, East Lake Golf Club is the home of guished Service Award.
the Golf Course Builder’s Association of
In 2002, Rees was honored with the America’s Don A. Rossi Award, earning Rees
the annual PGA Tour Championship and
Metropolitan Golf Writers Distinguished the distinction of being one of seven people
final playoff for the FedEx Cup.
A firm believer in “giving back,” Rees Service Award and, in 2004, GCSAA’s Old (Byron Nelson, Michael Hurdzan, Robert
doctored Bethpage Black for free. Other Tom Morris Award, as well as three archi­ Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer,
projects close to his heart have been done tectural awards from the International Net­ and Pete Dye) to have been awarded the
pro bono or for expenses, such as the Duke work of Golf.
Donald Ross Award, the Old Tom Morris
In 2012, Rees was inducted into the New Award, and the Don A. Rossi Award. Adding
University Golf Club (where he played
in the 1962 NCAA tourney), the Charlie Jersey Sports Writers Association Hall of to his list of accolades is Rees’s 2015 induc­
Yates Golf Course in Atlanta, and Montauk Fame, and that same year, the Foundation for tion into the Northern California Golf
Long Island State Parks and the New York Association Hall of Fame.
Downs in Montauk, NY
Now, last but not least, Rees Jones can
include, in his impressive lineup of awards,
the MetGCSA’s most coveted honor: its John
Reid Lifetime Achievement Award. Just as
John Reid, the namesake of our association’s
distinguished service award, played a signifi­
cant role in bringing golf to America more
than a 125 years ago, Rees Jones has played—
and continues to play—a leading part in
ensuring the game thrives well into the
future. John Reid would have been proud.

Superintendents’ Supporter

Rees strikes a pose with Ryder Cup and Wanamaker Trophy.

Tee to Green December 2 0 i 5

Rees is not only committed to his work, but
also the golf course superintendents who put
the finishing touches on his final product.
“Superintendents are a significant force
within the framework of golf,” says Rees.
“They are the people I have been most im­
pressed with throughout my career.”
So it’s no surprise that Rees was more than
pleased to be selected as the MetGCSA’s
2016 Reid Award recipient.
“This award means so much to me because
I have been chosen by the people I’ve been
working with for more than 50 years,” he
says. “What is also really special to me are the
personal relationships I have developed over
the years with so many of the superintend-

ents in the New York metropolitan area.”
Bob Ranum of the Atlantic Golf Club
is one of those superintendents. “I consider
Rees Jones more than just Atlantic Golf
Club’s architect,” says Bob. “I consider him a
good friend. After knowing Rees for more
than 25 years, I know, firsthand, that he has a
knack for maintaining relationships with
supers he has worked with in the past and
has a good understanding of what they go
through on a day-to-day basis.”
When Rees began his career working for
his father, he spent time at Montauk Downs
on the east end of Long Island renovating the
course’s original H.C.C. Tippets 1922 de­
sign. With Montauk holding a special place
in his heart, he recently returned to do reno­
vation work for the state. The course’s super­
intendent, Charlie Reidlinger, oversaw the
project, noting Rees’s great humility.
“Despite his impressive track record as an
architect,” says Charlie, “Rees is quick to rec­
ognize others’ role in his success, namely his
associate architects and the superintendents
he works with. He likens the work of super­
intendents to a painter who brings a work of
art to life by adding the final strokes or
touches.”
Rees has maintained a membership at
Montclair Golf Club near his headquarters.
He was the green chair for six years and was
instrumental in hiring our own Greg Vadala
as superintendent. Rees surrounded himself
with committee members who had a profes­
sional status in the golf business—a number
of them his own staff members—to provide
Greg with the support he needed to make
improvements to the golf course. Having
worked as Montclair’s superintendent for 27
years, Greg enjoyed ongoing support from
Rees and his team, who established a master
plan the club has been picking away at since
2010. Greg offers insight into the special
man Rees is, as only someone who has
worked side-by-side with him for so many
years can:
“Rees (affectionately known among a few
of us as The Boss) was my first green chair­
man here,” says Greg. “And it was a true
pleasure working with him and his associ­
ates, who were all members of the club. Rees
would always make time to meet with me
on any subject or need that I had, and the
conversation would always start with him
asking about my family and how they were.
“Mike Stubbelfield was the head golf pro
here at that time and very good friends with
Rees. Mike would call me and say,‘The Boss
wants to meet us for lunch in the grillroom
at noon (a quick green committee meeting).’
“Mike and I would go early and watch
Rees command the attention of everyone in
the room as soon as he arrived. Members
would stop him to ask what he was up to or
to chat about his different courses or even
thank him for getting them a round on a

R ees Jones R evelations

He was adored by all and got to play golf
every day at Montclair Golf Club. He just
made people feel good when they were
around him.
• My worst vice is overindulging my two
daughters.
• As an athlete, I was once a pretty good
baseball player.

• Growing up I thought I would be in the
golf business. I was probably “pro­
grammed” by being around my father,
Robert Trent Jones Sr.
• The best idea I ever had was to go out
on my own at the age of 33.
• My favorite expression is “life’s a do-ityourself game.”
• I am most proud of my championship
golf course renovations.
• It’s not true that my brother [Robert
Trent Jones Jr.] and I split the country in
half when we both left my father’s firm.

• My finest athletic moment was my
wedge shot two feet from the pin on the
last hole that led to victory in the 2002
RedStick Invitational. It was especially
gratifying to win a tournament on one of
my designs.
• My first job was as a counter man at a
hamburger joint during high school. I
worked from 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. so I
could play golf during the day.
• My life’s mantra is life is all about peo­
ple. Everybody is important, from the little
guy to the big shots. The better you treat
others, the better they treat you.
• I've found the biggest waste of time is
hanging around in airports.

• The world would be a better place if
there were more balance—balance
between people, balance between nations,
balance over the ball.

• When I need to relax, I get a massage. It
does wonders for your brain as well as your
body.

• When I turned 21,1 thought I knew
more than I did.

• The one thing that really gets me angry
is waste, especially unnecessary govern­
ment spending.

• There is no shortcut to experience.
• Most people would be surprised to
know that I had polio when I was 10.
• All successful people need to be mindful
of what got them there.
• The best day of my life is today. I’ve
been very fortunate.
• When I meet someone, the first thing I
notice is whether or not they look me in
the eye.
• I'm envious of people with private jets!
It would sure beat running through air­
ports and dealing with long lines when on
the way to job sites.
• If I could trade places with one person
for a day, it would have been Yogi Berra.

• My ideal foursome would include
Bobby Jones - the golfer - Arnold Palmer,
David Fay, and Yogi Berra!
• Playing golf is better than not playing
golf, but no better than watching the Mets
win the seventh game of the World Series,
which I did with my daughter Amy at
Shea Stadium 1986.
• The biggest disappointment in my life
was that I traveled a lot in my job and I
missed spending more time with my fam­
ily at home.
• The thing I covet most is a better golf
game.
Reprinted with permission of PGA TOUR
Partners magazine (September/ October 2006)

Tee to Green December 2 0 1 5

special course. You could see him beam. He
loves to make people happy.
“Late one Sunday evening, a two-inch
water main along the rear of a 3 -year-old
USGA green broke, washing out a quarter of
the greens mix. Two-dozen members were
walking around the green shaking their
heads and wondering how to fix the disaster.
The Boss pulled up, holding a cup of tea, to
survey what had happened. Just like in the
old E.F. Hutton commercial, as soon as he
arrived, everyone went silent. Finally some­
one spoke: ‘Rees, will we be playing this
green again this year? What do we do?’
“Rees just said,‘We fix it.’ And a contrac­
tor was onsite the next morning, the repair
completed that same afternoon.”
Greg couldn’t say enough about Rees’s un­
usual ability to connect with those around
him and those he works with. And when it
comes to the superintendents he works
with, Greg will tell you that Rees has a very
special place in his heart for them. “I believe
he truly wants us all to succeed,” says Greg.
Rees and his wife, Susan, of 47 years have
two daughters who now live in Mass­
achusetts. Their eldest Alden, a college pro­
fessor, has three children: Grayson, 5; Cora
Blue, 2; and Madeline Rees, 6 months. Their
daughter, Amy, is a social worker and has two
children: Taya, 10, and Timmy, 7. Rees enjoys
nothing more than sharing his passion for
golf with Taya and Timmy, who under Rees’s
tutelage are becoming fine golfers.
At this point in his career, Rees believes
the golf business is picking up as the econ­
omy recovers from the Great Recession: “I
think that both designers and superintend­
ents recognize that in today’s competitive
marketplace, we need to work together to
reduce costs while still providing a quality
experience for players of every level. It’s
important that we continue to work to ­
gether to find ways to make courses more
playable, make them easier to maintain, and
find ways to bring more players into the
game.”
Larry Pakkala, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
Silvermine Golf Club in Norwalk, CT.

Tee to Green December 2 0 1 5

Tri-State Area Golf Courses
Remolded by Rees Jones

Tri-State Area Golf Courses
Designed by Rees Jones

Connecticut
The Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT

The following is a list of new designs since
forming Rees Jones, Inc. in 1974.

New Jersey
• Ash Brook Golf Course
Scotch Plains, NJ
• Baltusrol Golf Club
(Lower Course), Springfield, NJ
• Baltusrol Golf Club
(Upper Course), Springfield, NJ
• Canoe Brook Country Club
(North Course), Summit, NJ
• Canoe Brook Country Club
(South Course), Summit, NJ
• Deal Golf & Country Club
Deal, NJ
• Echo Lake Country Club
Westfield, NJ
• Essex Fells Country Club
Essex Fells, NJ
• Flanders Valley Golf Course
(Blue Nine), Flanders, NJ
• Flanders Valley Golf Course
(White Nine), Flanders, NJ
• Forest Hill Field Club, Bloomfield, NJ
• Galloping Hill Golf Course
Kenilworth, NJ
• Hackensack Golf Club, Oradell, NJ
• Hollywood Golf Club, Deal, NJ
• Montclair Golf Club
West Orange, NJ
• Morris County Golf Club
Morristown, NJ
• Ridgewood Country Club
Ridgewood, NJ
• Woodcrest Country Club
Cherry Hill, NJ

Connecticut
• Lake of Isles
(North Course), North Stonington, CT
• Lake of Isles
(South Course), North Stonington, CT
• Redding Country Club
West Redding, CT

New York
• Bethpage State Park
(Black Course), Farmingdale, NY
• Brynwood Golf & Country Club
Armonk, NY
• Crag Burn Club, East Aurora, NY
• Montauk Downs, Montauk, NY
• North Hills Country Club
Manhasset, NY
• Old Oaks Country Club
Purchase, NY
• Quaker Ridge Country Club
Scarsdale, NY
• Rye Golf Club, Rye, NY
• Sleepy Hollow Country Club
Scarborough, NY
• The Monster, Kiamesha Lake, NY
• Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY

New Jersey
• Cherry Valley Country Club
Skillman, NJ
• Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club
(Forest Course), Bedminster, NJ
• Flanders Valley Golf Course
(Gold Nine), Flanders, NJ
• Pinch Brook Golf Course
Florham Park, NJ
New York
• Atlantic Golf Club, Bridgehampton, NY
• Olde Kinderhook Golf Club
Kinderhook, NY
• The Bridge, Bridgehampton, NY

Current Projects in the Tri-State
Area by Rees Jones
New Jersey
• Ash Brook Golf Course
Scotch Plains, NJ
• Baltusrol Golf Club
(Lower Course), Springfield, NJ
• Baltusrol Golf Club
(Upper Course), Springfield, NJ
• Canoe Brook Country Club
(North Course), Summit, NJ
• Canoe Brook Country Club
(South Course), Summit, NJ
• Deal Golf & Country Club, Deal, NJ
• Echo Lake Country Club, Westfield, NJ
• Essex Fells Country Club
Essex Fells, NJ
• Galloping Hill Golf Course
Kenilworth, NJ
• Hackensack Golf Club, Oradell, NJ
• Montclair Golf Club, West Orange, NJ
New York
• Bethpage State Park
(Black Course), Farmingdale, NY
• Brynwood Golf & Country Club
Armonk, NY
• North Hills Country Club
Manhasset, NY
• Old Oaks Country Club
Purchase, NY
• The Monster, Kiamesha Lake, NY

Winter Injury the Hot Topic at the
MetGCSA/CAGCS Fall Educational Seminar
by Jim Pavonetti, CGCS

f J

he past two winters have left
their mark on dozens of golf
courses in our area. Many superin­
tendents have had to begin the past two sea­
sons growing their greens back from
devastating crown hydration damage, an­
oxia, and dessication.
With that in mind, the MetGCSA and
CAGCS Education Committees joined
forces in building a Fall Educational Sem­
inar that focused on winter injury. They
even scheduled the event on November 12,
one month earlier than usual so attendees
would have a chance to apply what they
learned and potentially increase the odds of
tu rf survival should we encounter another
terrible winter.
Thanks goes out of The Patterson Club
and Superintendent Jason Meersman for
hosting this wonderful annual event and to
Brett Chapin and his Education Committee
for working with the Connecticut group to
put together a great roster of speakers.
What follows are the bullet points of each
presentation, with contact information if
you find you have a hankering for further
information.
• Dr. Ed Nangle, Director of Turfgrass Pro­
grams at Chicago District Golf Association,
shared what Chicago-area supers did, in
some cases, to successfully prevent winter
injury and, in other cases, to accelerate
recovery. The supers in the Chicago area
conducted a survey, which really sounded
like it helped make facilities aware that oth­
ers were affected by the winter and that
they were not alone.
A couple of things that I felt were new
and worth noting had to do with applying
Civitas to the turf, right at the end of the
year. The thought, there, is to coat the tu rf
with the oil that is in Civitas to prevent the

Poa from being able to absorb water during
the winter months, which is the culprit in
crown hydration. The other noteworthy
practice, which had to do with accelerating
turf recovery, was to use covers to help raise
the soil temperatures and promote seed ger­
mination and establishment.
For further information, you can reach
Dr. Nangle at enangle@cdga.org or 630423-1925.
• Dr. Michelle DaCosta, Associate Profes­
sor at the University of Massachusetts, talked
about measures that can be taken to prevent
winter injury, focusing on the importance
of cold hardening. Raising mowing heights
by at least 25 percent was one of the easiest
methods to increase the tu rf’s chance of
survival. Managing shade and potassium
fertilization were two other important fac­
tors in promoting proper cold hardening.
To aid tu rf recovery, Dr. DaCosta advises
doing whatever it takes to get the soil tem­
peratures up over 50 degrees. She recom­
mends using covers or darkening agents to
speed recovery.
For further information or questions,
Dr. DaCosta can be reached online at
mdacosta@umass.edu.
• Dr. James A. Murphy, Extension Special­
ist in Turfgrass Management at Rutgers Uni­
versity, spoke to us about the relationship
between soil fertility and winter injury. One
of Dr. Murphy’s main focuses was on potas­
sium fertilization. His studies have shown
that adequate potassium levels (100 - 250
lbs. per acre) will help with dormancy and
freezing tolerances. He suggests applying
potassium by spoon-feeding .2 to .3 lbs. per
thousand square feet every two weeks
throughout the season to maintain the
desired level for promoting winter survival.

For further information, please contact
Dr. Murphy at murphy@aesop.rutgers.edu.
• Steve McDonald, M.S., of Turfgrass
Disease Solutions, LLC, spoke about some of
his observations in the field and the com­
mon links between sites where winter in­
jury occurred. Surface drainage problems,
along with shade issues, appeared to be
among the culprits in areas suffering winter
damage.
To further discuss McDonald’s obser­
vations, you can reach him online at
info@turfgrassdiseasesolutions.com or by
calling 610-633-1878.
• Adam Moeller, Senior Agronomistfrom the
USGA, topped off the educational seminar
by sharing what he’s concluded about win­
ter injury from the many site visits he’s con­
ducted during the past couple of seasons.
His recovery recommendations included
seeding in conjunction with black sand and
using covers to elevate soil temperatures.
To keep tu rf safe and sound through the
winter, he recommended eliminating collar
dams, improving drainage, keeping tu rf
on the dry side leading into winter, fertiliz­
ing to build carbohydrates (N and K), deeptine aerification in late fall, raising mowing
heights, and sand topdressing with 1.5 to 2
cubic ft. per 1,000 square feet.
Moeller did note, however, that in most
cases converting to creeping bentgrass ap­
peared to be the best way to almost totally
eliminate winter injury.
For further information, Moeller can be
reached at amoeller@usga.org or at 610515-1660.
Jim Pavonetti, editor of the Tee to Green, is
superintendent at Fairview Country Club in
Greenwich, C T

GCSAA Chapter Delegates Discuss GCSAA Key
Priorities and Member Standard Changes
by Brett Chapin
f

J

or the second consecutive year,
I joined the GCSAA Board of
1
Directors, 2016 board candidates,
and 89 delegates at the Hilton Kansas City
Airport Hotel and GCSAA Headquarters in
Lawrence, KS, for the annual Chapter Dele­
gates Meeting.
The meeting spanned two days in Oc­
tober and opened on October 27 with
GCSAA President John O ’Keefe (both a
MetGCSA member and past Met president)
speaking to the assembled delegates, candi­
dates, board, and staff about GCSAA’s key
priorities. John explained that the strategic
planning session the board of directors held
in 2013 helped set the direction of the asso­
ciation. This planning session identified
areas that were critical to the success of
GCSAA and would help the association
move toward its mission and achieve its
vision.
Among GCSAA’s key priorities are:
• serving members
• advancing the profession
• advocacy and outreach
• increased revenue opportunities
• environmental stewardship
'

Priorities at a Glance
John then shared with all of us what
GCSAA is attempting to accomplish in
each priority area.
Key Priority # i; Serving members with a
focus on relevant programs and services,
enhanced technology, field staff assistance,
and chapter services. This includes:
• A Field Staff Program. Nine regional repre­
sentatives will reach out to 98 local chapters
on a year-round basis.
• Mobile Application Offerings. Technology
and mobile apps are not the future. They are
what is needed to reach our membership
now. GCSAA must remain on the cutting
edge of technology.
• Board Outreach Program. This initiative
sends the directors on the board to re­
gions and chapter meetings outside of their

Tee to Green December 2 0 1 5

“home” region. The intent is to meet mem­
bers throughout the country and work with
field staff. The regions assigned to board
members will change each year.
Key Priority #2: Advancing the profession
through relevant educational program of­
ferings. What’s happening:
• 380 hours of education are available at
GIS.
• 3,273 individuals have earned the CGCS
designation to date.
• Webcast education in 2015 has had more
than 2,000 participant seats in live events
with another 3,900 On Demand recording
views.
• There are increased domestic and inter­
national educational offerings.
Key Priority #3; Advocacy and outreach
on behalf of members to employers, golfers,
and policymakers. What this means:
• Advocacy efforts ensure we have a seat at
the table with lawmakers.
• GCSAA now has a fulltime presence in
Washington.
• There are currently 197 Grassroots Am­
bassadors, and GCSAA’s goal is to have all
535 members of Congress matched with an
ambassador by 2020.
• The annual National Golf Day event,
which is this coming May 18, continues to
bring the golf industry’s allied associations
together to canvas Capitol Hill in an effort
to get in front of legislators and tell golf’s
story.
• Media opportunities continue on the Golf
Channel and Sirius/XM satellite radio.
Key Priority # 4: Increased revenue oppor­
tunities through international and corpo­
rate sales, new business development, and
marketing programs. What this means:
• These revenue opportunities fund mem­
ber programs and services.
• Collaborative efforts with allied partners,
such as the USGA, PGA, and PGA Tour,
have helped GCSAA continue funding pro­
grams and services that matter to the golf
industry.

• Increased international efforts.
• New asset development helps in the
expansion of digital offerings, allowing
GCSAA to create new ways for our in­
dustry partners to spend money with the
association.
Key Priority #5; Environmental steward­
ship by providing relevant information and
tools to assist members in applying best
management practices to the golf course, a
facility’s largest and most valuable asset.
Programs in this area include:
• Environmental Profile Studies.
• Development of BMP Planning Guide and
Template.
• Environmental Management Tools.

GCSAA Business Update
GCSAA CEO R hett Evans briefed the
attendees on the state of GCSAA’s member­
ship. After experiencing decreases of more
than 4 percent in both total and professional
members in 2011 and 2012, GCSAA started
to experience a turnaround in 2013 and
2014. In 2015, the professional membership
numbers are holding steady, and GCSAA has
more than 650 new equipment managers
onboard.
Evans shared that compensation, the aver­
age years in current position, and main­
tenance budgets are trending upward.
GCSAA’s financial position is on solid
footing.

Standards
John O ’Keefe presented a proposal that
was unveiled in May regarding Class A
member standards. He then offered ample
opportunity for all of us to weigh in on the
discussions surrounding classifications and
the definition, eligibility, and renewal of a
Class A member. The entire proposal can be
found on the GCSAA website. Here are the
highlights:

• A more inclusive definition of Class A has
been crafted that will allow individuals to
maintain their Class A status when they no
longer hold a golf course superintendent job
but are still employed within the golf in­
dustry They will still need to meet ongoing
requirements.
• The Superintendent Member (SM) classi­
fication will return to Class B. This provides
a more logical listing of the professional
membership classifications. A, B, and C
(assistant superintendent).
• Class A eligibility will continue to be
based on a sliding scale of formal education,
superintendent years of experience, and
continuing education. The scale is based
on a combined formula of 20 points, with a
set point value assigned to your level of for­
mal education and a variable combination
of continuing education and experience.
Service points will no longer be a compo­
nent of eligibility
• Class A renewal continues to require a
total of 5 points over a five-year period.
They have been enhanced, however, to in­
clude a minimum of 3.0 education points
rather than the current minimum of 2.0
education points. Service points for renewal
will now be focused on golf-centric activi­
ties, such as coaching golf, volunteering for
a golf event, first tee involvement, and other
similar activities.
Possessing a pesticide license or passing
the GCSAA IPM Exam will continue to be
a requirement of eligibility and renewal. In
addition, the GCSAA I PM Exam fee will be
eliminated.

Task Group Imports
Three GCSAA task groups— the Board
Policy Oversight Task Group, Affiliation
Agreement Task Group, and the Equipment
Manager Task Group—all agreed that their
various charges were adhering to policy.
• The Board Policy Oversight Task Group.
This task group noted that the board was
demonstrating integrity in adhering to set
board policies. They ended their report by

encouraging the board to remain proactive
and transparent.
• The Affiliation Agreement Task Group.
GCSAA and the 98 affiliated chapters have
a formal agreement, the affiliation agree­
ment, which defines the relationship be­
tween GCSAA and the chapters. The task
group members felt that the agreement was
in good standing and provided a useful
guide in the actual management of the
chapters.
• Equipment Manager Task Group. The task
group briefed delegates on the work that
has been conducted on behalf of the new
equipment manager classification. The EM
classification was approved at the 2015 An­
nual Meeting. Within the past year, GCSAA
has acquired more than 650 EM members.
Equipment Managers receive all benefits
superintendents have, except the ability to
vote and hold office. In addition, they enjoy
targeted education content, an equipment
manager certificate program, unique networking/service opportunities, and recog­
nition in the industry.

Town Hall Session
The GCSAA Board of Directors established
the practice of conducting “Town Hall”
meetings while they had the delegates
together to further enhance the communi­
cation and information-sharing between
GCSAAs elected leaders and affiliated
chapters and members. The Town Hall for­
mat was an open forum where chapter del­
egates had the opportunity to have a dia­
logue with the GCSAA Board of Directors
who answered various questions and shared
information on numerous items of interest
and importance to those in attendance at
the delegate meeting.

Meet the Candidates
Last but not least, we all had the opportunity
to listen to presentations from candidates
running for national office. After the pre­
sentations, we were able to meet and greet
the candidates in small breakout sessions to

learn more about their platforms and
philosophies. The 2016 GCSAA slate of
board candidates are:
For President
Peter J. Grass, CGCS, Highlands Golf Club,
Billings, MT
For Vice President
Bill H. Maynard, CGCS, Country Club of
St. Albans, MO
For Secretary/Treasurer
• Rafael Barajas, CGCS, Boca Grove
Plantation and Country Club, Boca
Raton, FL
• Darren J. Davis, CGCS, Olde Florida
Golf Club, Naples, FL
For Director (electing 3)
• Kevin P. Breen, CGCS, La Rinconada
Country Club, Los Gatos, CA
• Jeffrey F. Millies, CGCS, Edgewood Golf
Course, Big Bend, WI
• Rory Van Poucke, Apache Sun Golf
Course, San Tan Valley, AZ
• John Walker, Bentwater Yacht and
Country Club, Montgomery, TX

Dedication and Determination
The Chapter Delegates Meeting was well
planned and full of pertinent information
that should be viewed by the entire GCSAA
membership. Kudos to John O ’Keefe, past
president of the MetGCSA, and the entire
GCSAA Board of Directors for continuing
to take the steps necessary to ensure the
association’s ongoing progress and success
and for keeping the membership well in­
formed of new developments. This has been
another year of positive change for the or­
ganization, and I look forward representing
our association at the 2016 Golf Industry
Show.
In addition to serving as the MetGCSAs
chapter delegate, Brett Chapin is superintendent
at Redding Country Club in Redding, CT.

Tee to Green December 2 0 1 5

£

What to Expect at
This Year’s Winter
Seminar
f

MetGCSA Winter Seminar
will return again this year to West_ ^ ^ F Chester Country Club in Rye, NY, on
January 13. And Education Chair Brett
Chapin and his committee have secured yet
another impressive lineup of educational
sessions. On the roster:
• Dr. John Inguagiato o f the University
o f Connecticut will discuss optimizing
cultural and chemical management to bet­
ter control summer patch.
• Dr. Pat Vittum o f the University o f
Massachusetts will provide an update on
tu rf insecticides, focusing on those used in
annual bluegrass weevil control.
• Dr. Douglas Karcher o f the Univer­
sity o f Arkansas will share his insights on
wetting agents and their effects on the put­
ting green surface.
• Dr. Rob Golembiewski o f Bayer En­
vironmental Science will discuss how
today’s maintenance practices affect green
speed and plant health.
• Dr. Frank Rossi o f Cornell University
will discuss the implementation of the New
York State BMPs for Golf Courses.
One of the highlights of the Winter
Seminar is the Awards Luncheon, where the
MetGCSA, this year, will honor two special
award recipients: Rockland Country Club
Superintendent Matt Ceplo will be pre­
sented with our coveted Sherwood A.
Moore Award and renowned Golf Course
Architect Rees Jones will receive our John
Reid Lifetime Achievement Award.
Last but not least, seminar-goers will
have the opportunity to visit with area ven­
dors, who will display their products and
services throughout the course of the event.

Please be sure
to jo in us fo r this
always-special
educational
opportunity!

Tee to Green December 2 0 1 5

Other Educational & Social Opportunities

N ew !Assistant Superintendent Career
Development Seminar

19th Annual New England Regional
Turfgrass Conference and Show

Friday,January 22
Siwanoy Country Club, Bronxville, NY
Assistant host: Josh Haugh
A must-attend educational event for assistant
superintendents interested building the
communication and leadership skills re­
quired to take their careers to the next level.
Experts will give you the inside track on
how to excel in today’s increasingly compet­
itive golf course management industry.
Superintendents, please be sure to en­
courage your assistants to attend this worth­
while day of learning. And watch for details!

Monday —Thursday, February 29 - March 3
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, RI
For the 19th consecutive year, the confer­
ence and show provides turfgrass profes­
sionals from all areas of the industry the
opportunity to see the newest products, sup­
plies, services, and equipment available
while offering a host of informative educa­
tional sessions, pesticide recertification cred­
its, and endless networking opportunities.
Watch for details on www.NERTF.org, or
call 401-841-5490 for further information.

Southeast Regional Conference

Turfgrass Advocacy 2016 ~ NYSTA's
Lobby Day

Wednesday - Thursday,January 21 —28
Ramada Inn, Fishkill, NY
The Southeast Regional Conference offers
a variety of educational sessions with leading
turfgrass educators and industry profes­
sionals. For further information, visit
www.nysta.org or contact the NYSTA office
at 518-783-1229.
GCSAA Golf Tournament

Saturday - Monday, February 6 —8
San Diego, CA
Competitors will enjoy the camaraderie
and friendly competition over five San
Diego area courses.
GCSAA Education Conference & Golf
Industry Show

Monday - Thursday, February 8 — I t
San Diego, CA
Be sure not to miss this year’s event and
the opportunity to network and discuss
with fellow professionals the latest trends,
products, and services in the turfgrass
industry
Nor'easter Event

Wednesday, February 10, 6:30—9:00p.m.
Florent Restaurant & Lounge
San Diego, CA
If you missed the Nor’easter event in San
Antonio last year, you missed out on a
great time and opportunity to catch up
with industry friends and colleagues.
Being hosted again this year by the
MetGCSA and several other associations,
the event will include an open bar, appe­
tizers, food station, and live music. Please
be sure to stop by this year and see what
we have in store for you!

Wednesday, March 9
Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY
NYSTA welcomes all green industry pro­
fessionals to attend this event. The Turfgrass
Advocacy Day offers the opportunity to at­
tend a priority issue briefing session on cur­
rent legislation that could affect the turf­
grass and green industry, as well as a chance
to meet with your local elected officials and
later discuss issues over lunch with a gov­
ernment official.
For further information, contact the
NYSTA office at 518-783-1229 or visit
www.nysta.org.
2016 MGA Green Chairman Education
Seminar & Arthur P. Weber MGA Club
Environmental Leaders in Golf Award
Luncheon

Thursday, March 10
Willow Ridge Country Club, Harrison, NY
The Metropolitan Golf Association Founda­
tion promises yet another informative pro­
gram in its ongoing Green Chairman
Education Seminar. After having the oppor­
tunity to hear talks from a variety of golf
industry experts, your day will conclude
with the Arthur P. Weber MGA Club
Environmental Leaders in Golf Award
Luncheon.
Watch for details as the date approaches.

Scholarship Raffle:
Always a Win-Win!

MetGCSA 2016
Golf Calendar
in the Making
he Tournament Committee has
been working to secure meeting
sites and dates for 2016. Here’s a look
at what they’ve planned so far.
Dave Mahoney Two-Ball
Championship Qualifier

Tuesday, April 19
Siwanoy Country Club
Bronxville, NY
Host: Steve McGlone
Superintendent/Guest Tournament

Thursday, May 12
Paramount Country Club
New City, NY
Host: Brian Chapin
MetGCSA Invitational Tournament

Monday,June 6
Country Club of Darien
Darien, CT
Host: Tim O ’Neill, CGCS
Met Area Team Championship

Date TBA
The Country Club of Scranton
Clarks Summit, PA
Host: Greg Boring
The Poa/MetGCSA Tournament

Monday, October 3
Metropolis Country Club
Whilte Plains, NY
Host: Dave McCaffrey
Nine and Dine Event

Date TBA
Silver mine Golf Club
Norwalk, CT
Host: Larry Pakkala, CGCS
MetGCSA/CAGCS Fall Seminar

Thursday, November 10
The Patterson Club
Fairfield, CT
Host: Jason Meersman

New Members

• Mike Weber, Class AF, Fisher & Sons,
Exton, PA
• Sean French, Class C, Bedford Golf &
Tennis Club, Bedford, NY
• Jeffrey Swanson, Class C, The
Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT
• Ryan St. Pierre, Class C, Metropolis
Country Club, White Plains, NY
• Austin Sevcik, Class C, Westchester
Country Club, Rye, NY
• Tim Elliott, Class D, GlenArbor Golf
Club, Bedford Hills, NY
Recertification

Congratulations to John Carlone, superin­
tendent at the Meadow Brook Club in
Jericho, NY, for completing the renewal
process for maintaining CGCS status with
GCSAA.
In Sympathy

It is with great sorrow that we announce the
passing of Jim Fulwider, a long-tenured
MetGCSA member and past superintendent
of Century Country Club. Jim passed away
November 15 at the age of 94.
An avid and talented golfer, Jim joined the
MetGCSA in 1959 and served as president
in 1961 and again from 1968-1969. In 1990,
he was presented with the MetGCSA’s
Sherwood A. Moore Award, our organiza­
tion’s highest honor. Jim served as host
superintendent for several MGA major
championships and U.S. Open Sectional
Qualifying Rounds, as well as numerous
MetGCSA events.
After retiring from Century,Jim contin­
ued his professional career by serving as a
consulting agronomist at McCann Me­
morial Golf Course in Poughkeepsie, NY,
and Tryall Golf Club in Montego Bay,
Jamaica.
He is survived by Frances, his wife of 72
years, his son, Jim, of Apex, NC, three grand­
sons, and four great-grandchildren. His
daughter, Kathi, predeceased him.
We would like to offer our sincere condo­
lences to Jim’s family and his many friends
in the industry.

Club in Greenwich, CT, raised an admirable
sum for the Met’s Scholarship Fund and
awarded $4,500 in cash prizes to 18 lucky
ticket holders.
The raffle is the prime source of the
scholarship awards we distribute to deserv­
ing Met member dependents each year.
Many thanks to all who contributed and
also to those who sold tickets for this worth­
while fundraiser. Congratulations to our
$1,000-grand-prize winner, Tony Girardi,
of Rockrimmon Country Club.
The other prize winners were:
$500 Winners

Brian Chapin, Paramount Country Club
Brian Bontemps, Seeton Turf Warehouse
Kevin Doyle, GCSAA Field Staff
Representative
$250 Winners

Jasmine Ceplo, wife of Rockland
Country Club’s Matt Ceplo
John Carlone, Meadow Brook Club
Rich Apgar, Metro Turf Specialists
Frank Amodio, Valley View Greenhouses
$100 Winners

Brian Bontemps, Seeton Turf Warehouse
Bob Lippman, Westchester Turf Supply
Les Kennedy, The Blind Brook Club
Tim O ’Neill, Country Club of Darien
Bobby Steinman, Synergy Turf Supply
Glen Dube, Centennial Golf Club
Les Kennedy, The Blind Brook Club
Bob Nielsen, Bedford Golf & Tennis Club
Mike Pacella, Rockland Country Club
Bill Cimochowski, Seeton Turf
Warehouse

Tee to Green December 2 0 1 3

Dana & Scott Niven
our party hosts

¿ ^ 1atron Directory
Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them.
© A.G. Enterprises

© Double ‘D’ Turf, LLC

Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms
201-488-1276 / Fax:201-489-5830
merrickl 60@gmail.com
www.AGEnterprisesonline.com
©

© All Pro Horticulture, Inc.
54 Railroad Avenue
Copiague, NY 11726
John Seib
631-789-6680 / Fax: 631-789-5711
john@allprohort.com
©

Aqua-Aid, Inc.
Surfactants, Verde Cal, OARS,
Root Pruner, & Drill & Fill
Bert Brace: 570-510-4996
Bert@aquaaid.com
info@aquaaid.com

© Aquatrols Corp. o f America
1273 Imperial Way
Paulsboro NJ 08066
Kevin P. Collins, NE &
Mid-Atlantic Territory Mgr.
609-841-2077
kevin.collins@Aquatrols.com

Argento & Sons, Inc.

Drill & Fill Specialist
Dennis DeSanctis Sr.: 732-241-7378
dennis@doubleDturf.com

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

Emerald Tree Care, Inc.
26 Fox Meadow Road
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Steve Farrelly: 914-725-0441
Kevin Wyatt: 203-422-2441

© Evergreen Organic Recycling
1160 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10605
James Amodio / Raymond Colasacco
914-949-9030
Ray@EvergreenOrganicRecycling.com

© Executive Turf Products
92 Vine Road, Stamford, CT 06905
Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891
executiveturfproducts@gmail.com

© Pinnacle Turf, Inc.
40 Skyview Lane
New Rochelle, NY 10804
Steven Renzetti, CGCS
914-384-9227
srenzetti@verizon.net
www.Pinnacleturf.net

© Plant Food Company, Inc.
“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”
Tom Weinert: 914 -262-0111
Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318
Tom Pepe: 609-751-1372
David Conrad: 914-263-3244

© PI aybooks for Golf

Cushman / E-Z-GO

© Custom Golf
Golf Course Materials
Michael Giacini: 631-433-4494
nmgiacini@verizon.net

DeLea Sod Farms
Bentgrass, Fescue, & Bluegrass Sod
& U.S. Silica Topdressing
Mike Hollander / Scott Geiser
800-344-7637
mhollander@deleasod.com

&

'

. ...

© LaCorte Equipment ~
John Deere Golf
“Premier John Deere Golf Distributor
in the Northeast”
Eric Berg / Jeff Sutphen / Jim Calladio
800-560-3373 / Fax: 631-591-3447
golfparts@LaCorteEquipment.com
www.LaCorteEquipment.com

© Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Hydrogeologic Consulting &
Environmental Engineering Services
Rob Good: 860-678-0404
rgood@lbgct.com

© Metro Turf Specialists
“Customers, Our TOP Priority”
Scott / Todd / Rich / Jake / Matt
203-748-GOLF (4653)
www.metroturfspecialists.com

Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock,
& Fertilizer
Byron Johnson: 973-473-3393
Scott Ferguson: 201-956-4511
sferguson@ter recompany, com

© Tom Irwin Inc.
“With Tom Irwin, You Are Not
Alone”
13 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803
Jeff Houde: 203-731-1776
800-582-5959
jeff@tomirwin.com

© Turf Products LLC / TORO
Mobile Coverage System, Golf Course
Toro Irrigation & Equipment
Field Guides, Soil Analytics, Aerial
Pat Cragin
Photography, Consulting, Career
Cell: 860-874-2812
Development, Professional Search Services
Ofc: 800-243-4355
Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254
Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052
© Valley Green, Inc.
www. goplaybooks .com
205 Wilson Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854
© Seeton Turf Warehouse, LLC
Greg Moran
Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959
Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139
Cell: 845-901-1358
Ofc: 203-831-9748
brianbontemps@seetonturf.com
g.moran@valleygreenusa.com

Soil Solutions, LLC
1 Prospect Avenue
© Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc.
Aerification Professionals
White Plains, NY 10607
“Serving Turfgrass Professionals
Louis Argento
7 Whittemore Place
Since 1978”
Ryebrook, NY 10573
914-949-1152 / Fax:914-948-0255
Ryan Batz / Keith Kubik
Anthony Decicco / John Decicco
louis@argentoandsons.com
Ofc: 973-252-6634
914-393-0659 / Fax:914-939-5010
www.GRIturf.com / sales@GRJturf.com
© Atlantic Golf & Turf
©
Steven Willand, Inc.
9 Industrial Boulevard
© Growth Products, LTD
“Quality Turf Equipment”
Turner Falls, MA 01376
Fertilizers, Organics, &
4 Production Drive
John Garcia: 203-996-6267
Fungicide Products
Brookfield, CT 06804
jngarc@gmail.com
80 Lafayette Avenue
George Corgan: 914-213-3622
© Atlantic Irrigation
White Plains, NY 10603
georgecorgan@charter.net
Specialists, Inc.
Howie Gold: 917-559-4425
www.StevenWillandInc.com
hgold@growthproducts.com
Rain Bird & All Related Supplies
©
Synergy Turf / Pocono
Ray Beaudry / Tim Marcoux
© Harrell’s
Turf Supply
800-878-8873
“Growing a Better World. Partners
“Agronomic Professionals”
© BASF
for Success”
Bobby Steinman, CGCS: 860-488-2822
Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638
“Intrinsic Brand Fungicides”
bobby7777@aol.com
stretera@harrells.com
Peter Jacobson: 919-530-9062
Ernie Steinhofer, CGCS: 860-488-0533
Fred Montgomery: 518-813-7814
peter.jacobson@basf.com
ejsturfmc@gmail.com
fmontgomery@harrells.com
O Bayer Environmental Science
Tim Joyce: 631-601-5294
www.harrells.com
“Backed by Bayer”
tim_joyce@aol.com
LaBar Golf Renovations
Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173
©
Syngenta
6 Claremont Road, Suite D1
© Blue Ridge Peat Farms
Brian Goudey: 518-764-2412
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
133 Peat Moss Road
23 Roslyn Drive, Ballston Lake, NY 12019
Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253
White Haven, PA 18661
Ofc: 518-424-0760 / Fax: 518-399-6588
rich@labargolf.com
Gene Evans / Chuck Evans
brian.goudey@syngenta.com
colleen@labargolf.com
570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888
Nick Roberto: 845-637-7641
nroberto@textron.com
Frank Savakis: 203-605-0554
fsavakis@textron.com
Marc Santospirito: 516-662-3554

© The Terre Company of
New Jersey, Inc.

© Tanto Irrigation, LLC

“Serving the MetGCSA for 40+ Years
William Bartels: 914-347-5151
Fax:914-347-6323
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com

© The Cardinals, Inc.
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies
John Callahan: 800-861-6256
Fax: 860-673-8443

© The Care o f Trees
Mike Cook: 914-345-8733
Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110
Ken Clear: 203-863-0900
Greg Gutter: 914-241-8110

© Valley View Wholesale
Greenhouses
229 Smith Ridge Road
South Salem, NY 10590
Frank Amodio
wgh@aol.com
Kevin Amodio
kevin.wgh@yahoo.com
914-533-2526

© Westchester Tractor, Inc.
60 International Boulevard
Brewster, NY 10509
John Apple / George Risley
845-278-7766
www.wtractor.com

© Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
“Serving the MetGCSA for
39 Years”
Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257
bobwestturf@comcast.net
Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192
westturf@comcast.net
info@westchesterturf.com

© Westwood Organic
Recycling
P.O.Box 139, Purchase, NY 10577
James Scoli: 914-949-3244
914-946-WOOD
info@westwoodorganic.com

© Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
Glenn Gallion: 201-954-5878
ggwilmac@aol.com

Winfield Solutions, Inc.
“Service, Solutions, Insight”
Mike DiLorenzo, CGCS:
518-428-8625
mwdilorenzo@landolakes.com
www.winfieldpro.com

©

m.%

Denotes M e tG C S A member

A«e Sponsors
jOÄTE

M etro
Turf Specialists

COMPANY, INC

Jo h n

^ a H t y T u r f Ecfu ip m & f f t

Syn ergy [Tj

Double Eagle Sponsors

OAquatr

GrowingtA Better WorM™

S eeton T urf M P iay b o q

M ÊBÊBË

•Warehouse, L^C*