ßoard of Directors
M et G C S A

est 1959

P resid en t
G LEN DU BE, CG CS

Centennial Golf Club
V ic e P resid en t
DAVID D U D O N E S

Westchester Country Club
Treasurer
K E N N E T H B E N O IT JR ., C G C S

Cover: GlenArbor
G olf Club

GlenArbor Golf Club
S ecreta ry
R O B E R T B. A L O N Z I JR .

Fenway Golf Club
P ast P resid en t
BLAKE H A L D E R M A N , C G C S

Brae Burn Country Club
D ir e c to r s
M IC H A E L B R U N E L L E , C G C S

Upper Montclair Country Club
B R E T T C H A P IN

Redding Country Club
DOUG DRUGO

Wee Burn Country Club
S T E V E N M cG L O N E

Siwanoy Country Club
V IN C E N T PA V O N ETTI, C G C S

Fairview Country Club
R O BERT W OLVERTON

Century Country Club
Class “ C ” R ep
DAVID PA RSO N

The Apawamis Club
C lass “A F ” R ep
R O B E R T S T E IN M A N , C G C S

Pocono Turf
E x e c u tiv e D ir e c to r
ED B R O C K N E R
E x e c u tiv e S ecretary
SU SA N O ’D O W D

Tee t# Green Staff

■■■■■

John O ’K eefe Looks Forward to Year A head
as G C SAA President

E d itor
JIM PA VON ETTI
203-531-8910
Managing Editor
P A N D O R A C. W O JIC K
Editorial Com m ittee
TODD APGAR
STEV EN M C G L O N E
fM A T T C E P L O
BOB NIELSEN
K E V IN COLLINS
S C O T T N IV E N
■¡NDY DROHEN
TOM REYES
I CH IP LAFFERT Y
GREG W O JICK !

M em ber N ew s .................................................................................................... 9

Designer
TERRI E YOUNG

Spotlight ............................................................................................................. 10

Advertising Manager
MIKE BRUNELLE, 973-777-6710

U p c o m in g E vents ............................................................................................ 12

TEETOGREENis publishedbimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf

WËL

Chapter N e w s ....................................................................................................... 5

Course Superintendents Association
49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819
914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG
Copyright ©2015

*

y \m \m h

Missile 1
I ♦/ *
No Rest for
the Wearv
WorkDoesn’t Stop
When the Grass Stops
Growing

do all winter? A
year doesn’t go by without my having to
share the answer to that question with
board members or golfers. My short answer,
of course, is that we stay very busy When
they look surprised, I go on to give them a
picture of how we spend the off-season ser­
vicing the club’s 50 to 60 pieces of equip­
ment, refurbishing course accessories, prun­
ing plantings and trees where necessary,
handling snow removal from walkways and
club roads, and watch-dogging greens for
winter stress-related issues. The list goes on.
This is also the time of year we reflect on
what we did well and what we could im­
prove on as we map out our programs for
the coming season.
The off-season has yet another important
function: It allows us some much-needed
time to take a vacation, as well as fine-tune
our skills and industry knowledge by at­
tending the multitude of educational semi­
nars and programs that are offered this time
of the year.
Few outside the superintendent profes­
sion realize just how much time we devote
to keeping in touch with new develop­
ments in the science of managing our golf
courses. It’s not unlike the medical profes­
sion, really. The difference is were dealing
with diagnosing turf, not human, ills, and
working to employ preventive measures to
ensure the grass plant thrives, not a person.
It never hurts to educate your membership,
even without prompting, about the work
and education that takes place during win­
ter months—to ensure their golf course is
the best that it can be throughout the year.
Club newsletters are the perfect venue.
Here are the major educational events
that we all should attend and certainly pub­
licize to our green committee and the golf­
ers at our facilities.

Must-Attcnd Education Events
Our Winter Seminar is the first not-tobe missed event of the year. This year’s
event, held as always at Westchester Coun­
try Club, had record-breaking attendance.

Glen D ube , C G C S
MetGCSA President

Special thanks goes out to our host, David
Dudones, and the entire staff at Westchester
for yet another memorable event. Rob Alonzi, along with Brett Chapin and the entire
Education Committee, put together an im­
pressive lineup of speakers. And at this year’s
awards luncheon, we honored Paul Dillon
for his service to the golf industry as a leader
of prominent area golf organizations and his
efforts to spread the traditions and values
associated with the game of golf. Also a tal­
ented portrait artist, Dillon presented his lat­
est portrait of Sherwood A. Moore, which is
now hanging in Golf Central for all to see.
Take a look at page 6 of this issue for a recap
of the day’s presentations and events.
The New England Regional Turfgrass
Conference, held in Providence, RI, every
winter, is another excellent opportunity to
keep abreast of industry trends, research, and
new developments. Normally a well-attend­
ed event, this year’s conference, unfortu­
nately, saw a drop in numbers due to a
blizzard that made travel to and from the
city difficult.
Next in the lineup of must-attend educa­
tional opportunities is the GCS AA Golf In­
dustry Show. Held this year from February
23 -27 in San Antonio, TX, the show offered
attendees a huge variety of educational op­
tions, as well as a Trade Show that is be­
yond compare, offering conference-goers
continued on page i l

Tee to Green January/February 201 5

John 0 Keefe
Looks Forward to
Year Ahead as
GCSAA President
by Todd Apgar
Photos by John O'Boyle

“m i

+0^ ^
hat does it take to be a
successful, yet family-oriented, golf course
superintendent and president of GCSAA?
To find out, 1 sat down with John O ’Keefe
of Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne,
NJ, who was elected the 79th president of
GCSA A at the Golf Industry Show in San
Antonio, TX.
“It’s all about time management and hav­
ing a strong support system,” said John as we
sat in his office.“I have my wife, Margaret,
and two daughters, Adrienne and Maureen,
fully behind me, as well as my club,” he said.
Prior to running for the GCSAA board in
2008,John thought it prudent to insure his
club would support his move. ‘M met with
the current club president at Preakness Hills
along with the two future presidents,” ex­
plained John. “Their response couldn’t have
been better. They were proud and excited by
the prospect of my becoming actively in­
volved with our national organization.”
Over the past seven years, Preakness Hills
members have enjoyed keeping track of
John’s GCSAA activities and travels by way
of the club’s social media. With the support
of both his family and club,John will con­
tinue to leave his stamp on the industry for
many years to come.
2 ) Tee to Green January/February 2 0 1 5

f

1
[G C S A A ^ l

“I think we’re starting to climb again. Clubs are
beginning to spend
eydoing
n
o
m
;
renovation wo
purchasing equipment. These are all good signs. y y
The lì imil io (¡( SW
John was born and raised in the Berkshires
in Lenox, MA, where he gained an apprecia­
tion for the outdoors and nature that even­
tually led him to his current career. Dur­
ing high school, he worked for a landscape
company and then spent three years as propierty manager for a luxury condominium
complex before deciding to pursue formal
training in turfgrass management.
“I was always impressed by the beauty of
golf courses and what went into maintain­
ing them,” said John. Following his passion,
he enrolled in the Stockbridge School of
Agriculture at UMass and began his educa­
tion in golf course management. He in­
terned at Longshore Club Park with then
Superintendent Mark Fuller, who was so
pleased with John’s performance that he
hired him as his assistant when John gradu­
ated in 1979.
After three years with Mark, John landed
Ikis first superintendent’s position at West­
chester Hills Golf Club in White Plains,
NY. Then, five years later to the day, John
began his tenure at Preakness Hills Country
Club in 1986.
j A true believer in giving back to the pro­
fession, John has been actively involved in
Ireal organizations throughout his career,
serving as president of the MetGCSA
||1996-97),the Tri-State Turfgrass Research
Foundation (2000-01), and the GCSANJ
(2 0 0 3 -0 4 ).

| | But John has given back by not just vol­
unteering his services to industry organiza­
tions, but also by willingly sharing his
| knowledge and experience with many up#id-coming industry professionals over the
Kars.
f ‘Ten years ago, when I accepted my first
iperintendent’s position at North Jersey
'ountry Club,” says Westchester Country
Club’s David Dudones,“I asked my former
boss, Joe Alonzi, who I should approach in
the area for guidance. Without hesitation,
Joe said,‘Go see John at Preakness Hills. He’s
well respected and does a great job. He will
give you any help you need in getting ad­
justed to Jersey.’
“John has proved to be an outstanding

mentor, both personally and professionally,”
adds David. “Without John and Margaret’s
guidance, I would not be where I am today.
And I know many others who feel precisely
the same way.
“Whether it’s continuously giving back
to our industry and local communities,
building relationships with members, doing
whatever it takes to produce topnotch con­
ditions, or maintaining that delicate balance
between work and family, John always
goes the extra mile. He is an excellent role
model for all young superintendents,” says
David.
Equally impressed with John’s willing and
capable counsel is Preakness Hills’ general
manager, James Messina. “John has been the
perfect sounding board and mentor to me,”
says Messina. “Obtaining the GM position at
26 years old, I had much to learn about the
club world. John has been there for me every
step of the way, and I could not be more
thankful. He has a big-picture management
style with a calming influence on his team,
characteristics that I have tried to emulate as
my career has progressed.
“John is the perfect individual for the
presidency of GCSAA,” Messina continues,
“and from all of us at Preakness Hills, we
thank him for his dedicated service to his
club, community, and trade.

The Climb io GCSAA President
A GCSAA member since 1979 and a certi­
fied golf course superintendent since 1987,
John was appointed to the GCSAA board in
2008 after years of dedicated service on
numerous GCSAA committees, including
Certification, Nominating, Career Develop­
ment, Chapter Relations, and Membership.
“In every one of John’s involvements with
GCSAA, he was fully committed to the as­
sociation—and to developing programs and
policies that were for the good of the entire
membership,” says Bedford Golf Sc Tennis
Superintendent and former MetGCSA dele­
gate Bob Nielsen. “Clearly, the majority of
voting members recognized that.
“I have no doubt,” Bob continues, “that
GCSAA members can’t help but benefit
from John’s leadership as our association’s
president.”

When John began his term as a director
seven years ago, the association was riding
high, having had a recent surge in member­
ship and a hugely successful Golf Industry
Show. In the years since, a struggling econ­
omy brought with it a series of challenges.
Membership dropped nearly 4 percent and
budget dollars shrank by more than 30 per­
cent. Adjustments had to be made in how
the association operated, though great care
was taken to maintain the same high level
of services and programs that members
were accustomed to.
As John embarks on his term as president,
he is pleased that the economy is making a
comeback and that the industry is showing
positive signs of recovery. Looking ahead to
a bright future, GCSAA has established a
new set of goals and objectives.
“My goal is to represent the membership
the best I can,” says John. “We will be focus­
ing on technology, insuring that we con­
tinue to stay ahead of the curve with all of
our media outlets including our website,
webcasts and webinars, computer aps, and
our social media presence. Also on our plate
is continuing, and possibly expanding, the
field staff program, increasing our advocacy
efforts, continuing to develop education
relevant to the market, and increasing rev­
enue,” John explained, noting that the goals
and objectives were part of GCSAA’s
Strategic Vision for 2020. As part of the
association’s advocacy efforts, John said he
would like to have someone working out of
Washington, D.C., to expand the industry’s
level of representation—budget permitting,
of course.
Beyond that, John hopes that during his
one-year term in office the membership
standards initiative introduced to the
GCSAA delegates at their meeting last
October is finalized or at least comes close
to a resolution. He also is looking forward
to adding a membership classification for
equipment managers.
In general, John sees a revival in golf. “I
think were starting to climb again. Clubs
are beginning to spend money, doing reno­
vation work and purchasing equipment.
These are all good signs,” he says.

fee to Green January/February 201 5 [ 3

•

Back, left to right: Maureen (O ’Keefe) &
Tom Sharpies, Dale Huettenmoser &
Adrienne O ’Keefe. Front, left to right:
Margaret & John O ’Keefe with grandson
John Thomas (J.T.) Sharpies.

ABalancing Act
Though clearly immersed in his career and
industry, John has managed to maintain a
healthy balance between work and family.
Married for 36 years, Margaret and John
began their life together when he was an
assistant at Longshore. They completed
their family with the addition of daughters
Adrienne and Maureen while he was work­
ing at Westchester Hills. When John had
begun pursuing a position on the board
with GCSAA, his children were college
graduates with successful careers of their
own. Margaret had carved her own niche at
Preakness, as food and beverage administra­
tor and later as membership & marketing
director. Though John felt the time was
right to become more involved in a national
position, he went to Margaret and “the
girls” for their opinion.“It’s your turn, Dad,”
his daughters told him.
“When the kids were young, any spare
moments I had were devoted to their activand various other family commit­
ments,” said John. “When I first ran for the
board, we spent our time a little differ­
ently—working together to produce my
campaign materials and website. I’ve been
so grateful for their help and support.”
Whether it be local board service or
working his way through the past seven
years on the GCSAA board, one thing has
always been apparent to John: “I could have
never done it without Margaret,” he said.
“She is my rock__ We are a team. I turn to
her for so many things, and she is always
there for me.”
Now, with the birth of his first grandson,
7-month-old J.T.—yes, the “J ” stands for
John—he admits that he feels that old pull
to spend time at home. “With the travel
commitment this position requires, I won’t
get to see my grandson as much as I would
like to,” laments John.

Despite the rigors of his schedule, John
does carve out time for family. And he hasn’t
lost his passion for travel, deep-sea fishing,
and, of course, playing a good round of golf.

A Labor of Love
When I asked John how he feels about his
career, he said,“I have loved every minute of
it!” In addition to the enjoying the rigors of
day-to-day tu rf management at the club,
John’s professional affiliations have afforded
him not just personal satisfaction, but also
the opportunity to develop friendships and
bonds that he will treasure the rest of his life.
“I can’t say enough,” said John, “about the
close friendships and the respect I’ve devel­
oped for my peers and fellow board mem­
bers—locally and nationally, working with
GCSAA.
John’s friend network is ever-expanding
as his travel increases. In his trips to Can­
ada, England, China, or wherever else in
the world his GCSAA commitments take
him, John always feels welcome and is
pleased to see so much industry involvement
worldwide.
When asked what advice he would like to
give to anyone considering getting involved
in GCSAA service, John responded with
a call to action. “I have only this year and
next on the board of GCSAA,” said John.
“Once my term on the board is done, we
will no longer have a representative from the
Northeast. So let this be my call to action to
all of you who have enjoyed serving your
association or would like to explore serving.
I am happy to help any of you who would
like to take this next step in your career. I
guarantee you that it will be a worthwhile
and highly rewarding experience, both pro­
fessionally and personally.”
Todd Apgar, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is a sales representative
with Metro Turf Specialists in Brookfield, CT.

Meet Your 2015 MetGCSA Board
From left to right: Boh Wolverton of Century CC;
Mike Brunelle, CGCS, of Upper Monclair CC;
Secretary Rob A lonzi of Fenway GC; Treasurer
Ken Benoit, CGCS, of GlenArhor G C; President
Glen Dube, CGCS, of Centennial G C;Past
President Blake Halderman, CGCS, of Brae Burn
CC; Steven McGlone of Siwanoy CC; Class A F
Rep Bobby Steinman, CGCS, ofPocono Turf; Vice
President D avid Dudones of Westchester CC; Brett
Chapin of Redding CC;fim Pavonetti, CGCS, of
Fairview CC; Class C Rep Dave Parson of The
Apawatnis Club; Executive Director Ed Brockner;
Doug Drugo of Wee Burn CC.

At-a-Glance Guide to Your MetGCSA Committee Chairs
Below is a list of each of the MetGCSA’s
2015 committee chairs, including their
phone numbers and emails. Please feel free
to contact any of them with questions,
comments, or helpful suggestions.
Awards Committee
B la k e H a ld e r m a n , C G C S , Brae Burn
bh ald erm an @ b raeb u rn cc.o rg
9 1 4 -9 4 6 -1 0 7 4 / C ell 9 1 4 -4 6 9 -1 9 8 7

CC

Scholarship & Research Committee
D a v id D u d o n e s , Westchester CC
daviddudones@ netscape.net
9 1 4 -967-6000 / C ell 9 7 3 -4 1 7 -0 4 1 5
B lak e H a ld er m a n , C G C S (T ri-S tate)

CC

Brae Burn CC
bhalderm an@ braeburncc.org
9 1 4 -9 4 6 -1 0 7 4 / C ell 9 1 4 -4 6 9 -1 9 8 7

Investment Committee
D a v id D u d o n es, Westchester CC
daviddudones@ netscape.net
9 1 4 -9 67-6000 / C ell 9 7 3 -4 1 7 -0 4 1 5

Bylaws Committee

Social & Welfare Committee

Long-Range Planning & Steering Committee

D a v id D u d o n e s , Westchester CC
daviddudones@ netscape.net
9 1 4 -9 6 7 -6 0 0 0 / C ell 9 7 3 -4 1 7 -0 4 1 5

B lak e H a ld e r m a n , C G C S, Brae Burn
b h alderm an@ braeburncc.org
9 1 4 -9 4 6 -1 0 7 4 / C ell 9 1 4 -4 6 9 -1 9 8 7

Club Relations Committee
B lak e H a ld e r m a n , C G C S , Brae Burn
bh ald erm an @ b raeb u rn cc.o rg
9 1 4 -9 4 6 -1 0 7 4 / C ell 9 1 4 -4 6 9 -1 9 8 7

Government Relations Committee
B rett C h a p in , (C T ), Redding CC
green@ reddingcc.org
203-9 3 8 -9 6 4 0 / C ell 2 0 3 -8 8 5 -3 1 0 9
B lak e H a ld e r m a n , C G C S, Brae Burn
b h alderm an@ braeburncc.org
9 1 4 -9 4 6 -1 0 7 4 / C ell 9 1 4 -4 6 9 -1 9 8 7

CC

Communications Committee

CC

Membership Committee

B o b W o lv erto n , Century CC
cw olvie@ hotm ail. com
914 -7 6 1 -0 4 0 0 / C ell 973-2 2 2 -3 2 1 3

Tournament Committee
D o u g D r u g o , Wee Burn Country Club
d o ug@ w eeburn.com
2 0 3 -6 5 6 -3 8 4 3 / C ell 2 0 3 -339-1493

B o b W o lv er to n , Century CC
cw o lvie@ hotm ail.com
9 1 4 -7 6 1 -0 4 0 0 / C ell 973-2 2 2 -3 2 1 3

J im P a v o n e tti, C G C S (T ee to G reen)

Fairview CC
pavonettij@ yahoo.com
2 0 3 -5 3 1 -8 9 1 0 / C ell 2 0 3 -2 2 3 -5 4 0 3
M ik e B r u n e lle , C G C S (A d v e r tisin g )

Upper Montclair CC
m b ru n elle@ u p p erm o n tclaircc.co m
9 7 3-777-6710 / C ell 9 7 3 -4 1 7 -8 1 9 9
S tev en M cG lo n e (W ebsite)

Siwanoy CC
sm cglone@ siw anoycc.com
9 1 4 -9 6 1 -8 6 9 8 / C ell 9 1 4 -8 4 1 -1 0 0 0

Education Committee
B rett C h a p in , Redding CC
green@ reddingcc.org
2 0 3 -9 3 8 -9 6 4 0 / C ell 2 0 3 -8 8 5 -3 1 0 9

Environmental Committee
K en B e n o it, C G C S, GlenArbor GC
kbenoit@ glenarborclub. com
9 1 4 -2 4 1 -0 7 0 0 / C ell 914 -7 6 0 -3 5 7 5
J im P a v o n e tti, C G C S , Fairview CC
pavonettij@ yahoo.com
2 0 3 -5 3 1 -8 9 1 0 / C ell 2 0 3 -2 2 3 -5 4 0 3

M etGCSA President Glen Dube (center) presents
plaques honoring outgoing board members' serv­
ice to the association. From left to right: Class
A F Rep Kevin Collins of Aquatrols, Past
President Bob Nielsen of Bedford G olf & Tennis,
Director Tony Hooks of Due Process Stable, and
Class C Rep George Chavez of Pelham CC.

MetGCSA President Glen Dube (left) presents
outgoing President Blake Halderman with a
plaque commemorating his years of service as
president.

Tee to Green fanuary/February 2 0 1 5

—

ChapterWinter
News Seminar
MetGCSA
for Everyone
continued

by Jim Pavonetti, CG CS

(

^

J
2015 MetGCSA Winter Seminar was another in a long line of
—^ huge successes, drawing more than 300
industry professionals to the Westchester
Country Club on January 14.
Education Chair Rob Alonzi, along with
Brett Chapin and the entire Education
Committee, put together a great lineup
speakers who offered cutting edge informa­
tion and research that will help superinten­
dents achieve success at their own facil­
ities in the coming season.
In addition to the presenters, a lobby full
of vendors offered a wealth of knowledge
and information about new and proven pro­
ducts. We would like to express our grati­
tude for our vendors’ continued support at
this event, as well as throughout the growing
season. You’ll find their names and numbers
listed on page 8.
We would also like to extend a sincere
thank you to host Superintendent David
Dudones and the entire Westchester Coun­
try Club staff for doing such a superb job—
once again—in making this a thoroughly
enjoyable experience for all who attended.
And now, the high points of the day’s
presentations.

Paints, Pigments, and Plant Health
One of the growing trends over the past
few years has been to use pigments, which
promise plant health benefits, as stand­
alone products or as additives in fungicide
products.
Dr. Paul Giordano from Bayer Crop
Science discussed several of these products,
describing their effects and relative benefits.
The take-home on pigments is that while
they protect the plant by reducing certain
ultraviolet rays, the darker color they create
increases canopy temperatures. In most
cases, however, the benefit of blocking the
ultraviolet rays outweighs the increase in
canopy temperatures.
Other benefits of using pigments: They
create a better color appearance and can,
in some cases, be used for earlier spring
green-up.

Tee to Green January/February 2 0 Î 5

Practical Fairy Iting Management
for Fool-Season Turf
Shifting gears, Dr. Giordano spoke on a sec­
ond topic: fairy ring management.
More than 40 different species of fungi
are responsible for causing this disease,
which makes it nearly impossible to control
100 percent of the time. Making matters
worse is that fairy ring can crop up in dif­
ferent levels in the turf profile, from the sur­
face to the thatch to several inches down
into the soil.
Dr. Giordano discussed cultural control
methods, such as reducing thatch and or­
ganic matter by aerating and topdressing,
and maintaining adequate moisture levels
with timely irrigation cycles and wetting
agent applications.
For chemical control options, Dr. Gior­
dano suggests applying a DMI fungicide at
a two inch depth when soil temperatures
reach 55 to 60 degrees for five days. He also
emphasized avoiding plant growth regula­
tors one week before and one week after this
application to achieve optimum results in
preventing the disease.
Curatively, Heritage, Prostar, and Insignia
looked like the best options. Dr. Giordano
stressed the importance of identifying
where the fungus is in the profile to ensure
that the fungicide is watered in enough to
reach that location and achieve the best
results. This can be done by taking a cupcutter sample and placing it in a plastic bag
overnight to observe where the mycelium
forms in the profile.

Reid Award presenter Scott Niven (left) and
M etGCSA President Glen Dube with John
Reid Lifetime Achievement Award winner
Paul Dillon.

For more information, Dr. Giordano can
be reached at 519-767-3876 or at paul.giordano@bayer.com.

Growth Regulators and How
Growing-Degree-Day Measurement
Affects Timing of Application
Dr. Bill Kreuser from the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln took the podium next to
share his thoughts on PGR programs and
how using growing degree days (GDDs) to
time applications can be more accurate and
effective in keeping the tu rf under regula­
tion than simply “calendar scheduling.”
His models show that, for Primo Maxx
use, measuring 200 GDDs (base 0° C) for
applications keep the tu rf under regulation.
This means applications can be as far apart as
two to three weeks when cool temperatures
persist and as little as five to seven days apart
during warm periods. The warmer the tem­
perature, the quicker the PGR will dissipate.
Trimmit and Cutless follow similar pro­
cedures, with the GDD timing falling in the
250 to 300 range, depending on the applica­
tion rates.
Dr. Kreuser stressed the importance of
keeping the tu rf under regulation. When
tu rf comes out of regulation, he cautioned,
all benefits of the PGR are lost and the

rebound growth is worse than if no PGR
were applied at all. The take home message:
Maintain suppression or don’t use PGRs at
all.
For more information, Dr. Kreuser can be
reached at wkreuser2@unl.edu or at 402472-1869.

Reoent Advances in Understanding
Bacterial Etiolation of Creeping
Bentgrass Putting Breens
Dr. Bruce Clarke of Rutgers University
spoke about bacterial etiolation on creeping
bentgrass. A relatively new phenomenon,
this has become a growing problem in our
area with few concrete answers.
Superintendents have formed their own
theories about the cause of this syndrome,
questioning whether PGR use and biostimulant use might be to blame.
Dr. Clarke’s findings have shown, how­
ever, that bio-stimulants do not cause or
increase the effects of this syndrome. PGR
use, on the other hand, may play a partial
role. There seem to be two types of bacteria
involved with etiolation. Dr. Clarke’s find­
ings say that Primo and other PGRs do not
cause either of them, but Primo seemed to
increase the symptoms in the summer, while
actually reducing the symptoms in the spring
and fall.
Chemical control options, so far, have
been unreliable. Daconil Action, Chipco
Signature, and Junction have, in some cases,
reduced symptoms while, in other cases,
have had no effect or have actually increased
the symptoms.
Cultural control recommendations in­
clude reducing shade and improving air
movement on the turf. And when the symp­
toms are present, Dr. Clarke recommends
steering clear of any aeration practices until
the symptoms subside.
Obviously, there is still much to be
learned about etiolation. For further infor­

mation, Dr. Clarke can be reached at 848932-6295 or at clarke@aesop.rutgers.edu.

Glenn Moore, son of the late Sherwood A.
Moore, strikes a pose with portrait artist and
Reid Award Winner Paul Dillon.

Awards Luncheon
As always, there was a break in the action as
seminar-goers convened for the Awards
Luncheon, which in addition to a delicious
meal, included the presentation of our cov­
eted John Reid Lifetime Achievement
Award.
Presenting the award to our 25th Reid
Award recipient, Paul Dillon, was The
Stanwich Clubs Scott Niven who noted
Dillons many contributions to the world of
golf. A supporter of the golf course superin­
tendent and industry, Dillon has made his
mark as a beloved golf coach, formidable foe
on the course, and an accomplished artist,
who for the past 30 years has painted oil
portraits of countless Met-area tournament
champions and numerous golf greats.
In addition to adorning the walls of such
clubs as Winged Foot, Westchester, and
Baltusrol, examples of Dillons work hang in
the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA)

PLANI
FOOD

building, an organization he served for
nearly 25 years.
At the luncheon, Dillon presented his lat­
est portrait of another golf great: the
MetGCSAs own Sherwood A. Moore. This
special portrait will join other of Dillon’s
works of art in the MGA building. You can
read more about Paul Dillon in the Tee to
Green's December 2014 issue at metgcsa.org.

Putting Surface Management
Research at Cornell University
After lunch, Dr. Frank Rossi provided an
update on the research he is conducting on
putting green management, which was
funded, in part, by the T ri-State T urf Re­
search Foundation.
Dr. Rossi reviewed his studies of mower
setup, rolling, fertility, brushing, and PGR
use, describing how each practice can affect
putting surface performance while mini­
mizing plant stress.
He has also been focusing on measuring
friction loss along the surface, which directly
affects ball roll (speed). With daily mowing,
grass will naturally grow more laterally than
upright. Dr. Rossi has been working on revis­
iting brushing on a regular basis to force the
tu rf to have a more upright growth habit,
thereby reducing surface friction and result­
ing in “faster” green speeds.
He also found that rolling has a greater
effect on ball roll than reducing mowing
height and double-cutting. His take-home
message: Roll more or with a heavier roller if
you’d like to achieve faster speeds.
For a more in-depth report on Dr. Rossi’s
research, check out the latest issue of the

Tee to Green January /February 20 1 5

Spedai Thanks to Our 2015 Winter Seminar Exhibitors

We’d like to thank all the vendors who participated in this year’s Winter Seminar. As a
show of appreciation, were listing the exhibitors here, along with their areas of specialty
and contact information.
When the opportunity arises, we hope you’ll show these contractors and suppliers the
same support they’ve shown us during our Winter Seminar—and throughout the year.
A. G. Enterprises

Harrell's LLC

tenta
Synqe

Rick Gordon
Staff Uniforms
201-488-1276
merrickl60@aol.com

Scott Tretera
Golf Course Supplies
914-262-8368
stretera@harrells.com

Fred Montgomery, CGCS
Chemical Company
518-424-0760
fred.montgomery@syngenta.com

Aquatrols, Inc.

LaCorte Equipment

Tanto Irrigation, LLC

Kevin Collins
Soil & Water Quality Management
Solutions
609-841-2077
kpcl0512@yahoo.com

Jim Calladio
John Deere Golf Dealer
631-891-2425
marketing@lacorteequipment.comc

Bill Bartels
Irrigation Installation Services
914-347-5151
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com

Metro Turf Specialists

The Care of Trees

Atlantic Golf & Turf

Scott Apgar
Golf Course Supplies
203-748-4653
scott.apgar@metroturfspecialists.com

Michael Cook
Entire Tree Care Company
914-345-8733
mcook@thecareoftrees.com

John Garcia
Fertilizers & Premium Grass Seed
203-996-6267
jngarc@gmail.com
BASF

Pete Jacobson
Chemical Company
919-530-9062
peter.jacobson@basf.com
Bayer Environmental Science

Dave Sylvester
Plant Protectants
860-841-3173
david.sylvester@bayer.com
DeLea Sod Farms

Mike Hollander
High-Quality Sod & Root Zone Mixes
for Golf Courses
631-484-1211
mhollander@deleasod.com
DryJect NE / TurfPounders

Kevin Collins/Steve Jordan
DryJect & Aeration Specialists
914-672-6029
mccl0512@yahoo.com

Plant Food Company, Inc.

Turf Products LLC

Dick Neufeld
The Liquid Fertilizer Experts
973-945-6318
dneufeld@plantfoodco.com

Pat Cragin
Toro Irrigation & Equipment
860-874-2812
pcragin@turfproductscorp.com

Playbooks for Golf

Valley Green, Inc.

Golf Course Coverage System,
Irrigation Mapping, Aerials,
Consulting, Career Development
:k: 203-219-0254
goplaybooks.com
Matt Leverich: 913-221 -8052
mleverich@goplaybooks.com

Greg Moran
Landscape & Golf Supplies
203-831-9748
g.moran@valleygreenusa.com

S

Westchester Tractor, Inc.

John Apple
845-278-7766
www.tractor.com

Pocono/Synergy Turf

Bobby Steinman, CGCS
Agronomic Professionals
860-488-2822
Bobby7777@aol.com

Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.

Quali-Pro

Phil O'Brien
Quality Turf & Ornamental Products
856-252-4725
philo@quali-pro.com

Dave Lippman
Golf Course Supplies
914-447-5192
westturf@comcast.net
Westwood Organic Recycling

Ray Colasacco
Organic Recycling
914-949-9030
info@EverGreenOrganicRecycling.com

Paul Boyd Jr.
203-980-1301
saturatedservices@gmail.com

Jim Scoli
Organic Recycling & Site
Cleanup/Landscape,
Hardware, & Building Materials
914-490-1694
jscoli@westwoodorganic.com

Executive Turf Products

Seeton Turf Warehouse

Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.

Ken Gentile
Golf Course Supplies
203-496-0891
executiveturf@aol.com

Brian Bontemps
Golf Course Supplies
845-239-7959

Glenn Gallion
Golf Course Equipment
201-954-5878
ggwilmac@aol.com

Evergreen Organics

Saturated Solutions, LLC

.com

Grass Roots, Inc.

Steven Willand Inc.

Winfield Solutions, LLC

Ryan Batz
Golf Course Supplies
973-252-6634
ryan.batz@GRIturf.com

George Corgan
A Jacobsen Golf & Turf Equipment
Dealer
914-213-3622
georgecorgan@charter.net

Eric Bresky, CGCS
Golf Course Supplies
845-849-8640
EABresky@landolakes.com

Growth Products, Ltd.

Howie Gold
Liquid Fertilizers
800-648-7626
hgold@growthproducts.com
Tee to GreenJanuary/February 2015

Tri- State Turf Research Foundation’s pub­
lication, Foundation News, which can be
found on the website, www.tristateturf.org.
Dr. Rossi can also be reached at 607-2551629 or at fsr3@cornell.edu.

Understanding the Landscape
and Value of Voluntary
Environmental Programs in
(■oil (lourse Management
The final topic covered the voluntary envi­
ronmental programs available to golf
course superintendents to help us docu­
ment and promote environmental accom­
plishments in our operations.
Speaking on the importance of partici­
pating in these programs were a panel of
dedicated environmentalists: Dr. Kevin
Fletcher, president and CEO of e-par USA,
Inc.; Douglas Bechtel, executive director of
Audubon International; Tim Connolly of
TPC Jasna Polana; and our own Matt Ceplo
of Rockland Country Club.
Though the great majority of golf course
superintendents have adopted environmen­
tally friendly programs and practices, it is
vital that we document and promote these
practices for golfers and the general public.
Many people outside the industry look at
golf courses as a source of pollution and a
threat to the health and welfare of their
community. Environmental programs, such
as the ones e-par USA and Audubon
International offer, provide superintendents
with a vehicle for promoting the positive
impact of golf courses on the environment
and our communities.
You can read more about these programs
at www.eparusa.com and www.auduboninternational.org, or you can reach Dr.
Fletcher at 855-372-7872 or at kevin@eparusa.com; Tim Connolly at 609-6882005 or at timconnolly@pgatourtpc.com;
Douglas Bechtel at 518-767-9051 or at
doug@auduboninternational.org; and Matt
Ceplo at groundskeeper@optonline.net or
845-359-5346.

Join Vs JV«xt Year
Special thanks, again, to the Education
Committee for their efforts in planning
this ever-popular event, to Westchester
Country Club for being such a gracious
host, and to our vendors for their continued
participation and support.
All this is what makes our Winter Semi­
nar one of the most valuable educational
opportunities we have available to us all
year. Be sure not to miss this career-build­
ing event in 2016.
Jim Pavonetti, Tee to Green editor and chair of
the Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, C T

Dr. Pat Vittum Receives 2015
USUA Ureen Section Award
New M em bers

Please join us in welcoming the
following new MetGCSA members:
• Lucas Lownes, Class A, Aspetuck
Valley CC, Weston, CT
• Britt Miller, Class C, Woodway CC,
Darien, CT
• Michael Roe, Class SM, CC of New
Canaan, New Canaan, CT
• Timothy Walker, Class A, Leewood GC,
Scarsdale, NY
M em bers on the M ove

• Michael Golden is the new superintend­
ent at Longshore Club Park in Westport, CT.
Previous position: Assistant superintendent
at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT.
• Brent Peveich is the new superintendent
at Pine Hollow CC in East Norwich, NY
Previous position: Assistant superintendent
at Pine Hollow CC.
• Ryan Segrue is the new superintendent
at Shorehaven GC in East Norwalk, CT.
Previous position: superintendent at
Longshore Club Park in Westport, CT.
In Sym pathy

It is with deep sorrow that we inform you of
the death of MetGCSA Informed member
Dr. Zhongchun “ ZJ” Jiang, who passed
away unexpectedly at his Cobleskill home
on January 6. A SUNY Cobleskill professor
of plant science since 2003, Dr. Zhongchun
is survived by his wife and two daughters.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his fam­
ily and friends.

J M / M / e would like to congratulate
W / W / MetGCSA Honorary member
Dr. Pat Vittum who has been hon­
ored with the United States Golf Associa­
tion’s 2015 USGA Green Section Award.
Presented annually, the USGA’s prestigious
Green Section Award recognizes individu­
als’ distinguished service to the game of golf
through their work with turfgrass.
Dr. Vittum is a highly respected
researcher who has conducted significant
studies on the biology and management of
turfgrass insects and the effectiveness of
biological-control methods. A recognized
industry leader, Dr. Vittum has been a
widely sought-after resource for practical
information about turfgrass pests.
Dr. Vittum joined the faculty of the Uni­
versity of Massachusetts Amherst in 1980,
becoming a professor in 2000. She currently
teaches classes on the use of pesticides in
the environment and tu rf management
programs. She was recognized with the
Excellence in Teaching Award by the En­
tomological Society of America, Eastern
Branch in 2004.
Dr. Vittum’s research has been published
in several well-respected industry journals
and publications. She is the principal author
of the second edition of Turfgrass Insects of
the United States and Canada, which is
widely regarded as the leading publication

on tu rf entomology. She also co-authored
the Handbook of Integrated Pest Management
for Golf Courses.
“When the USGA’s Dr. Erusha called to
tell me about this honor, I was over­
whelmed,” said Dr. Vittum. “The list of pre­
vious honorees includes so many giants of
the turf management world, including peo­
ple from academia, USGA Green Section
directors, and top-shelf golf course superin­
tendents. I am honored and humbled to be
joining their ranks as a recipient of the dis­
tinguished service award.”
Dr. Vittum received the Award on Feb­
ruary 7 at the USGA’s Annual Meeting and
Service Awards in New York City.

Melvin Lucas Receives 2015 Distinguished Service Award
ongratulations
to
longtime
MetGCSA member and a GCSAA
Past President Melvin B. Lucas Jr. on
being selected for the GCSAAs 2015 Col.
John Morley Distinguished Service Award.
The award is given to individuals who
have made an outstanding, substantive, and
enduring contribution to the advancement
of the golf course superintendent profession.
The award was renamed in 2009 in honor of
Col. John Morley, GCSAAs founder and
first president. He was the first to earn the
Distinguished Service Award in 1932, and
he received it again in 1940.
Mel was acknowledged at the 2015 Golf
Industry Show in San Antonio, on Wednes­
day, February 25, during the Opening
Session.
Mel, a retired CGCS, has been a GCSAA

member for 52 years, serving on the board
of directors from 1974 - 1981 and holding
the title of GCSAA president in 1980. Mel
has also served as agronomy consultant for
more than 60 golf course projects.
A graduate of Penn State University,
where he earned his degree in turfgrass
management, Mel began his career as an
assistant superintendent at Piping Rock
Club in Locust Valley, NY, in 1961. He con­
tinued to be associated with Piping Rock
and nearby Garden City Golf Club in
Garden City, NY, for most of his career, until
1985, when he took on the role of golf
course architect and superintendent at
Round Hill Community Golf Club in
South Dartmouth, MA.
He also served the Long Island Golf
Course Superintendents Association as an

executive committee member for seven
years and was the association’s president
from 1973 - 1975. Since his retirement in
1991, he has continued to serve the golf
course management profession as a consult­
ant in both the U.S. and abroad.
Tee to Green January/February 20 1 5

Spotlight

Ken Benoit and GlenArbor to Host SeasonOpening Two-Ball Qualifier... Again!
fter heavy rains shut down
last year’s Dave Mahoney
Two-Ball Qualifier at
GlenArbor Golf Club, Superintendent Ken
Benoit has graciously agreed to prep the
course once again for this ever-popular Met
event. Mark your calendars for April 28 and
keep your fingers crossed for fair weather!
GlenArbor Golf Club dates back to 1966
when the course opened as Lakeover Na­
tional Golf Club, named for the former
Lakeover Estate it was built on. In 1999,
business partners Grant Gregory and Ken
Natori purchased the course and soon after
began an extensive, two-year renovation.
Under the direction of architect Gary
Player, three original golf holes were elimi­
nated and three new holes were added. New
bunkers and tees were created, greens were
rebuilt and fairways recontoured. A beauti­
ful “Old English Manor” style clubhouse
was constructed along with a year-round
practice facility and training center that
quickly became the model that many area
clubs followed.

Latchaw was splitting his time between
Congressional and Riviera Country Club in
Los Angeles and offered Ken an assistant’s
position at Riviera. In addition to gaining
fine experience at an annual PGA Tour stop
course, Ken also had the fortunate opportu­
nity to meet his wife of 14 years, Melodee,
shortly after arriving in California.
After a full year there, another opportu­
nity presented itself: “I went to work for
McDonald & Sons in Baltimore, MD. They
were renovating Olympia Fields for the
U.S. Open and I signed on as a construction
superintendent,” says Ken.
By April of 2000, Ken realized that he
wanted to get back to a position at a golf
course. He heard through the grapevine that
Steve Renzetti, Quaker Ridge’s superinten­
dent at the time, was looking for an assistant.
The rest is history. After a little more than a
year at Quaker, the GlenArbor superinten­
dent’s position opened up, and on July 5,
2001, Ken was hired for the job.

GlenArbor-Bound

An Environmentalist Who
Makes Music

Ken was born and raised in the small town
of Marysville, MI, about an hour north of
Detroit. Though his passion for golf began
long ago, Ken didn’t enter into the industry
until after he’d earned a marketing degree
and worked as a regional manager for an
environmental services company.
Disenchanted with all that the job en­
tailed, Ken was perched for a change. A col­
lege buddy from the University of Detroit
was pursuing a master’s in turfgrass man­
agement, which piqued Ken’s interest. “I
applied to Michigan State’s two-year pro­
gram,” says Ken, “but Trey Rogers, who ran
the program, told me that he wanted me to
work at a golf course for a year before
accepting me into the two-year school.”
Ken went to work on meeting the re­
quirements, graduating from the Michigan
State program in the fall of 1997.
Ken’s first internship was at Congressional
Country Club with superintendent guru
Paul Latchaw Sr. At the time Ken graduated,

Ken has served on the MetGCSA Board of
Directors since 2006, currently serving as
our treasurer. Though participating in nu­
merous committees over the years, none
have been more all-encompassing than Ken’s
current role as Environmental Committee
Chair. If you’ve been keeping up with the
Tee to Green, you know that over the past
three years Ken has devoted hundreds
of hours developing the Best Manage­
ment Practices (BMPs) for New York State
Golf Courses in cooperation with Cornell
University.
Ken also serves as the Chairman of the
Awards Committee for the MGAs Arthur P.
Weber Environmental Leaders in Golf. In
2010, GlenArbor was selected for this presti­
gious award. In 2004, Ken’s commitment to
the environment also garnered GlenArbor
the “North American Bluebird Society
Award.” It was the only time a golf course
has been awarded this honor.
A true environmentalist, Ken hosts groups

Tee to Green January /February 2 0 1 5

of area school children at GlenArbor three
times a year for the “GlenArbor Environ­
mental Education Program.” Melodee
teaches a classroom session on the environ­
ment, followed by a kid-friendly hayridestyle tour of the facility where Ken talks
about nature and the environment. Says Ken,
“We want to leave these kids with an under­
standing of the importance of working
together with nature and what we can do to
help protect the environment.” Together,
Ken and Melodee have had more than 1,000
children participate in their program.
In addition to his numerous extracurricu­
la r, Ken finds time to play guitar in local
bands. Right now, he plays lead guitar in the
band Will the Thrill. Band members include
Pound Ridge Golf Club’s Will Heintz on
bass and banjo, Rick Torres on drums and
vocals, and Aquatrols’ Kevin Collins on
vocals and rhythm guitar. Ken’s passion for
music inspires all his band mates to work
hard and stick together.
Ken and Melodee have lived, since 2001, in
Bedford, NY, sharing their home with their
Border Collie, Cory.
April 28 will be here before you know it,
so dust off your clubs and get ready for a
great time!

The History of the Two-Hall and Its
Namesake, the Late Dave Mahoney

V ^ ^ ^ ^ e p te m b e r 27, 2008 was a day
many MetGCSA members would
^ ^ r a t h e r not remember. It was the day
that Dave Mahoney, the highly regarded and
long-tenured Siwanoy Country Club super­
intendent lost his life unexpectedly to a
heart condition few knew existed.
Having served as the Met’s 26th presi­
dent, Dave’s dedication to our association
and industry was impressive. He felt the
MetGCSA was “one of the best, if not the
best” chapters in the country and worked
hard during his more than decade-long
tenure on the board to ensure that proved
true.
Dave was adored by friends, admired by
his peers, and could light up any room with
his sharp wit and dry sense of humor.
Anyone who had the great pleasure of hear­
ing Dave’s Tournament Award presentations
or lively committee reports would have to
agree he might well have had a future as a
stand-up comic.
Each time he took the podium to address
the association, Dave made members feel
welcome. A forward thinker, Dave hosted
the original T urf Blog right out of his
Siwanoy office. “Dave was the original
Maestro before Peter McCormick started
TurfNet,” says Pinnacle T urf’s Steven Renzetti, a close friend of Dave’s. “Dave’s blog
was exclusively for Met members to post
questions, stories, advice, equipment, and job
notices, and more. His desktop computer
was the system server, the original cloud
service,” adds Steve.
Dave always believed that the strength of
the association hinged on its members’ abil­
ity to come together and share experiences.
With that in mind, 23 years ago, Dave initi­
ated our annual Two-Ball Competition, a
format inspired by the Mid-Atlantic group’s

two-ball, which he learned about through
his good friend Glen Smickley, the former
director of golf/GM at RTJ Golf Club in
Maryland.
In Dave’s eyes, our monthly golf meet­
ings were great, but all too often the same
people would always play with one
another. He wanted superintendents to step
outside their comfort zones and expand
their networks. The two-ball proved the
perfect way to do that.
On April 27, 2009, just seven months

Dave always believed that
the strength of the association
hinged on its members’ ability
to come together and share
experiences. W ith that in
mind, 23 years ago, Dave
initiated our annual
Two-Ball Competition.
after Dave Mahoney passed away, the
annual Two-Ball Qualifier was held at
Siwanoy and renamed the Dave Mahoney
Two-Ball Championship Qualifier in
Dave’s honor. What a fitting way to remem­
ber the founder of the event, and a truly
special person.

He believed that encouraging
members to play in a two-ball
was a clever way to expand
members’ network— and draw
members closer together.

President’s Message continuedfrom page 1
the chance to “kick the tires” on new
equipment, research new products and
services, and catch up with colleagues, old
and new. One of the highlights of the con­
ference this year was the election of past
Met president John O ’Keefe to the office
of GCSAA president. John has led many
associations throughout his career, beyond
the MetGCSA. You can read all about John
in our Feature article starting on page 2.
We wish him the best of luck with the
presidency of our national organization.
Not long after we return, there is yet
another worthy educational opportunity:
the annual MGA Green Chairman Edu­
cation Seminar & Arthur P. Weber MGA
Club Environmental Leaders in Golf
Award Luncheon. This event will be held
on March 24 at Alpine Country Club in
Demarest, NJ. Many thanks to Steve
Finamore for hosting this event, which is
designed to foster a greater understanding
and awareness of golf course management
practices and the superintendent’s roles
and responsibilities in managing the oper­
ation. This is the perfect opportunity to
provide your green chair and other club
officials with an inside look at our daily
practices and on-the-job challenges.
As in years past, the Arthur P. Weber
Environmental Award will be presented
to a Met-area club in recognition of their
contributions to environmental preserva­
tion. Best of luck to all of the applicants!
O f course, these are only the headliner
educational events; there are more regional
conferences for those who might spot an
additional topic of interest. I urge every­
one to take advantage of these great edu­
cational opportunities and to share with
your green chair and committee the cru­
cial importance of ongoing education.
I want to wish you all the best of luck
with your 2015 preparations. I know this
winter has been exceptionally harsh, but
enjoy what’s left of it. Spring is just around
the corner!
Glen Dube, CGCS

Dave Mahoney, 1960 - 2008

President

Tee to Green January /February 2 0 1 5

Update Your Calendar With These
Upcoming MetGCSA and Industry Events
Dave Mahoney Two-Ball
Championship Qualifier

Tuesday, April 28
GlenArbor Golf Club
Bedford Hills, NY
Host: Ken Benoit, CGCS
Superintendent/Guest Tournament

Monday, May i i
Country Club of New Canaan
New Canaan, CT
Host: Mike Roe

MetGCSA Invitational Tournament

Nine and Dine Event

June date TEA

Monday, October 5

Century Country Club
Purchase, NY
Host: Kevin Seibel, CGCS

Silver mine Golf Club
Norwalk, CT
Host: Larry Pakkala, CGCS

Met Championship and Met Area
Team Championship Qualifier PLUS
The Poa Annual Tournament

September date TEA
Meadow Brook Club
Jericho, NY
Host: John Carlone, CGCS

Educational Events
2015 MGA Green Chairman Education
Seminar & Arthur P. Weber MGA Club
Environmental Leaders in Golf Award
Luncheon

Tuesday, March 24
Alpine Country Club
Demarest, NJ
The Metropolitan Golf Association Foun­
dation has put together another informative
program in its ongoing Green Chairman
Education Seminar. An impressive roster of
presenters from the USGA’s Green Section
and the golf industry will address a variety
of turfgrass-related issues. Each of the pre­
sentations will be followed by a questionand-answer session.
The day will conclude with the eighth
annual Arthur P. Weber MGA Club
Environmental Leaders in Golf Award
Luncheon.
Please contact Kevin Kline at 914-3474653 or kkline@mgagolf.org for further
information.

The 11th Annual Joseph Troll Turf
Classic

20th Annual Rutgers Turfgrass
Research Golf Classic

Monday, April 20

Monday, May 4

TPC River Highlands Golf Club
Cromwell, CT

Fiddlers Elbow Country Club
Bedminster, NJ

Superintendent Tom DeGrandi will host
this years UMass Alumni Turf Group
fundraiser in support of turf education and
research at the University of Massachusetts.
The program kicks off with a 12:30 p.m.
shotgun followed by a cocktail reception,
dinner, and awards ceremony, which, this
year, will honor Dr. William Dest, professor
emeritus at the University of Connecticut.
Please plan to attend this worthy
fundraiser, and join us in honoring a Dr.
Dest. Entry forms and additional informa­
tion will be available online at www.alumniturfgroup.com.

Plan now to join fellow industry profession­
als for this annual fundraiser and a day of
golf, education, and fun. Your participation
helps continue turfgrass research and breed­
ing programs at Rutgers University’s Center
for Turfgrass Science. For further infor­
mation, call 973-812-6467 or log on to
www. nj tu rfgra ss.org.
Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day
(Golf & Fine Dirf)

Tuesday,July 28
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.

atron Directory
Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association.
You are encouraged to support them.
360GOLF
“Rebuilding Golf Courses From All
the Right Angles”
Chad Lemere: 914-625-0676
www.360golfonline.com
O A .G . Enterprises
Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms
201-488-1276
Fax:201-489-5830
m errickl 60@aol.com
www.AGEnterprisesonline.com

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

© A ll Pro H orticulture
54 Railroad Avenue
Copiague, NY 11726
John Seib: 631-789-6680
Fax:631-789-5711
john@allporthort.com

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

A qua-A id, Inc.
Surfactants, Verde Cal, OARS, Root
Pruner, Drill & Fill
Bert Brace: 570-510-4996
Bert@aquaaid.com
info@aquaaid.com
© Aquatrols Corp. o f A m erica
1273 Imperial Way
Paulsboro, NJ 08066
Kevin P. Collins
NE & Mid-Atlantic Territory Mgr.
609-841-2077
kevin.collins@Aquatrols.com
A rgen to & Sons, Inc.
1 Prospect Avenue
W hite Plains, NY 10607
Louis Argento: 914-949-1152
Fax:914-948-0255
louis@argentoandsons.com

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D eLea Sod Farms
Bentgrass, Fescue, & Bluegrass Sod & U.S.
Silica Topdressing
Mike Hollander / Scott Geiser
800-344-7637

© A tlantic G o lf & T urf
9 Industrial Boulevard
Turner Falls, MA 01376
John Garcia: 203-996-6267
jngarc@gmail.com

© Evergreen O rganic R ecycling
1160 Mamaroneck Avenue
W hite Plains, NY 10605
James Amodio / Raymond Colasacco
914-949-9030
EvergreenOrganicRecycling.com
©

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©

©

© A tlantic Irrigation
Specialists, Inc.
R ain Bird & All Related Supplies
Ray Beaudry / Tim Marcoux
800-878-8873
BASF
Specialty Products Department
Peter Jacobson: 919-530-9062
peter.jacobson@basf.com

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© Bayer Environm ental Science
“Backed by Bayer”
Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173
© B lue R id g e Peat Farms
133 Peat Moss Road,
W hite Haven, PA 18661
Gene Evans / Chuck Evans
570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888
C ustom G olf, M ike G iacini
Golf Course Materials
Michael Giacini: 631-433-4494
nmgiacini@verizon.net
D avisson G olf, Inc. ~ est. 1991
Knox, Nitrozyme, Mikro-Pak,
& Sand
Tom Tuttle: 215-431-0393
800-613-6888
www. dav issongolf. com

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©

© P innacle Turf, Inc.
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 ay books for G olf
Chem/Fert Coverage System, Golf
Course Field Guides, Assistant Search
Services, Career Development
Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254
Matt Lever ich: 913-221-8052
www. goplaybooks.com

© The Terre C om pany o f
N ew Jersey, Inc.
Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock,
& Fertilizer
Byron Johnson: 973-473-3393
Fax:973-473-4402
bfleury@terrecompany.com
© Tom Irw in Inc.
“W ith Tom Irwin, You Are Not
Alone”
Rob Larson / Jeff Houde
800-582-5959
Fax:781-273-4804
O T urf Products LLC /T O R O
Toro Irrigation & Equipment
Pat Cragin
Cell: 860-874-2812
Ofc: 800-243-4355

O Pocono T urf / Synergy T urf Supply
Bobby Steinman, CGCS: 860-488-2822 © U nited Phosphorus, Inc.
“Phoenix Brands by U PI”
bobby7777@aol.com
Mike DelSantro: 484-862-2155
© Q uali-P ro
mark.delsantro@uniphos.com
Quality T urf and Ornamental Products
Phil O ’Brien: 856-252-4725
© Valley Green, Inc.
Executive T urf Products
205 Wilson Avenue
PhilO@quali-pro.com
92 Vine Road, Stamford, CT 06905
Norwalk, CT 06854
Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891
© Seeton T urf Warehouse, LLC
Greg Moran
executiveturfproducts@gmail.com
Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959
Cell: 845-901-1358
Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139
Grass R oots, Inc.
Ofc: 203-831-9748
brianbontemps@seetonturf.com
Ryan Batz, Tech. Sales Rep.
g.moran@valleygreenusa.com
Cell: 631-872-5357
Soil Solutions, LLC
© Valley V iew W holesale
Ofc: 973-252-6634
Aerification Professionals
Greenhouses
Ryan.Batz@GRIturf.com
7 W hittemore Place
229 Smith Radge Road
www.GRIturf.com
Ryebrook, NY 10573
South Salem, NY 10590
Anthony Decicco / John Decicco
G row th Products, LTD
Frank Amodio: 914-533-2526
914-393-0659 / Fax:914-939-5010
80 Lafayette Avenue
Fax:914-533-3059
W hite Plains, NY 10603
wgh@aol.com
© Stein G o lf C onstruction
Howie Gold: 800-648-7626
17 Cedar Hill Road, Bedford, NY 10506
© Westchester Tractor, Inc.
Fax:914-428-2780
Jeff Stein: 917-273-4099
60 International Boulevard
hgold@growthproducts.com
Jeffrey@steingolf.com
Brewster, NY 10509
H arrell’s
John Apple / George Risley /
© Steven W illand, Inc.
“Growing a Better World. Partners
“Quality T urf Equipment”
Jeff Underhill
for Success”
4 Production Drive
845-278-7766
Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638
Brookfield, CT 06804
www.wtractor.com
stretera@harrells.com
George Corgan: 914-213-3622
© Westchester T urf Supply, Inc.
www.harrells.com
georgecorgan@charter.net
“Serving the MetGCSA for
www.StevenWillandInc.com
LaBar G o lf R enovations
38 Years”
Richard S. LaBar Jr., President, CEO
Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257
© Syngenta
Cell: 973-600-9249
23 Roslyn Drive
bobwestturf@comcast.net
Ofc: 908-502-5253
Ballston Lake, NY 12019
Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192
labargolfreno@gmail.com
Fred Montgomery, CGCS
westturf@comcast.net
518-424-0760 / 518-399-6588
info@westchesterturf.com
LaCorte Equipm ent ~
Fred.Montgomery@syngenta.com
John D eere G olf
© W estwood O rganic
“Your Trusted Northeast John Deere Golf
© Tanto Irrigation, LLC
R ecyclin g
Dealer”
“Serving the MetGCS A for 40+ Years
James Scoli: 914-949-3244
Jim Calladio / Scott Ferguson
W illiam Bartels: 914-347-5151
Fax:914-517-2703
800-560-3373 ext 4 / Fax: 631-591-3447
jscoli@westwoodorganic.com
Fax:914-347-6323
golf@lacorteequipment.com
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com
www.westwoodorganic.com
L eggette, Brashears & Graham , Inc.
© The Cardinals, Inc.
© W ilfred M acD onald, Inc.
Hydrogeologie Consulting &
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
Environmental Engineering Services
Accessories & T urf Maintenance Supplies
Glenn Gallion: 201-954-5878
Rob Good:860-678-0404
John Callahan: 800-861-6256
ggwilmac@aol. com
rgood@lbgct.com
Fax:860-673-8443
W infield Solutions, Inc.
M etro T urf Specialists
Eric Bresky, CGCS: 845-849-8640
© The Care o f Trees
“Customers, O ur TOP Priority!”
Mike Cook: 914-345-8733
EABresky@landolakes.com
Scott / Ernie / Todd / Rich
Winfieldprofessionalproducts.com
Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110
203-748-4653
Ken Clear: 203-863-0900
www.metroturfspecialists.com
Greg Gutter: 914-241-8110
©

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