September/Octobor/lVovembcr 2015
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Cover: Rockland
Country Club

R ock lan d ’s M att C eplo to B e H onored as M etGCSA’s
17th Sherw ood A . M oore Award W in n er .......................

M em ber N ew s __
Scorecard ................
U p c o m in g Events

s

Autumn
Brings

Welcome

f

^ L ^ h h h h h , autumn .
my favorite time of year. It’s when the sound
of water blasting out of our syringe hoses is
replaced by the gentle hum of leaf blowers
and the sweet smell of 2-cycle engine oil. I
always eagerly await those cool mornings,
brilliant autumn colors, and the muchneeded relief for both our tu rf and our
crews. Football, hockey, and baseball playoffs
are in full swing. And it’s the best time of
year to play golf—especially this year.
When you get a chance to take a break
from the relentless season that we have just
endured, it feels great to take in some of
these activities, take a deep breath, and get
fired up for the remainder of the season.
That’s what I’ve been doing.

Assistants, Take Heart!
The rigors of this past season took a toll on
not only our turf, but also our staff mem­
bers, particularly our assistant superinten­
dents. The exhaustion and frustration levels
were at an all-time high by the end of Sep­
tember. I could see it on everyone’s faces.
Though we did, finally, catch a bit of a
break when we got some much-need rain
in September, this had to be one of the most
grinding seasons on record.
I know some of what I’m saying here will
be redundant to those who played in the
Assistants Championship at Brae Burn, be­
cause I talked about it there. But I wanted to
bring it up again, now, for those who didn’t
attend the event and to emphasize to those
who did that uthe business really isn’t always
this tough.”
Whether you are fresh out of college or a
seasoned assistant, you have to look on this
past spring and summer as a learning expe­
rience. Don’t let it dissuade you from your
goal of becoming a superintendent. Not
every season is like this past one. But the
next time something like this does hap­
pen—and it probably will one day—you can
reflect on how you handled the 2015 sea­
son, and you’ll be well equipped to get
through it.

As assistants, you guys are the unsung
heroes of our operation. We wouldn’t be able
to get through difficult seasons like the one
we just had without your support. I know I
certainly appreciate all the hard work and
dedication my assistants gave this year—and
give every year. Kudos to my staff and all the
assistants out there!

Season-ending Fall Events
As I said earlier, autumn is great time to play
golf. All of our fall events were well
attended, and the golf courses were in fan­
tastic condition. Thank you to Larry Pakkala for hosting the Nine and Dine at the
’Mine; to Dave Peterson, Bobby Jewett, and
Blake Halderman for hosting the Assistants
Championship at Brae Burn; to John
Carlone for hosting the three-in-one event,
the Met Championship, Met Area Team
Championship Qualifier, and Poa Annual at
Meadow Brook; and to Tom Ashfield at
Quaker Ridge Golf Club for hosting the
Met Area Team Championship.
I attended every one of these events and
had a blast playing golf, meeting new peo­
ple, and catching up with friends I hadn’t
seen in a long while. Good luck with the rest
of the season, and I hope to see you at our
annual holiday party at The Stanwich
Club—always a festive and fun event!
Glen Dube, CGCS
President

Tee to Green September/October/November 2 0 15

by Bob Nielsen, C G C S

13 Winter Seminar, Rockland Country
Club Superintendent Matt Ceplo will
receive the MetGCSAs highest honor
awarded to a superintendent: its coveted
Sherwood A. Moore Award. Reserved for
those who have “advanced the image, status,
and reputation of the golf course superin­
tendent,” the award began nearly 30 years
ago with its first recipient and namesake,
Sherwood A. Moore.
When Sherwood wrote decades ago, “A
superintendent must be a man of integrity,
the trusted custodian of valuable club prop­
erty. He must be tactful, diplomatic, and
have a sense of humor,” he was unaware that
he was describing our 17th winner of the
very award he, himself, would receive in
1987.
Matt has been not only an exemplary golf
course superintendent, but also a dedicated
advocate for the industry and profession.
“I cannot think of a more deserving
recipient than Matt Ceplo for this year's
Sherwood A. Moore Award,” says Awards
Committee Chairman Blake Halderman.
“Matt has given tirelessly to our industry—
working diligently and without great fan­
fare to pave the way for the future and
ensure that the next generation can con­
tinue to enjoy our great profession, just as
we have.
“Matt is someone who cares deeply about
the environment and what it means to
advance the reputation of the golf course
superintendent within our communities. I
am so proud to have served under Matt and
to be able to call him a friend. We all need
friends like Matt who are always willing to
go the extra mile to keep our industry
vibrant and strong,” says Blake.
“When I first heard that I was named the
Met’s next SAM Award winner, I was sur­
prised,” says Matt. “I’m on the Awards
Committee, and I had no idea we were plan­
ning to recognize anyone with the SAM
Award this year. It’s not awarded annually,
and we hadn’t selected anyone for the past
few years. But when I was asked to excuse
myself from the beginning of the meeting, I
suspected something was up! I am honored

and couldn’t be more pleased to join the
ranks of past Sherwood A. Moore Award
winners. To be thought of in such a way by
my peers is truly special.”

A Selfless Contributor
Matt has always been the person who gives
back more than he could possibly receive
from our association and profession. In his
nearly three decades as a superintendent, he
has selflessly committed to serving the
industry ... as a committee member, a board
member, and ultimately, a leader of two
industry organizations.
Becoming a certified golf course super­
intendent (CGCS) more than 20 years ago,
Matt has been a GCSAA member since
1986, serving on the Environmental Profile
Task Group for the past two years and on
the Environmental Programs Committee
for two years prior to that. Matt has been a
regular at the GCSAA Conference & Show,
where on numerous occasions he’s shared
his expertise with fellow conference-goers
as a session speaker.
Matt currently serves as a Grassroots Am­
bassador, helping GCSAA advocate our in­
dustry’s various positions and issues, such as
WOTUS, to local representatives. Back in
August, Matt spent an afternoon with Susan
Spear, Hudson Valley regional director, Of­
fice of U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
(NY). “Ms. Spear was a real trooper,” says
Matt. “It was a very hot day—well into the
90s—and she hung in there, showing gen­
uine interest as I pointed out the environ­
mental benefits of golf and highlighted our
BMPs for New York State Golf Courses.
Like every SAM Award winner before
him, Matt has worked long and hard to con­
tinue the work of his predecessors in elevat­
ing the profession and industry on a local
level. Serving on the MetGCSA Board of
Directors for more than 20 years, Matt
moved through the chairs to become our
association’s 28th president in 2007. In that
time, he has hosted numerous Met meetings
and offered his expertise on numerous com­
mittees. A longtime contributor to the Tee
to Green, Matt is currently serving on the

Communications Committee, as well as
the association’s Awards, Club Relations,
and Long-Range Planning & Steering
committees, and the Nominating Com­
mittee, which Matt chairs. Once a contrib­
utor, always a contributor.
It was Larry Pakkala, now superintendent
at Silvermine Golf Club, who appointed
Matt to the Met board back in 1990, just
three years after he had joined the associa­
tion. Matt fondly remembers the cama­
raderie among Met members during those
years.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the
board,” says Matt. “I learned so much from
so many people over the years. That’s, no
doubt, why I find it very easy—and reward­
ing—advocating on behalf of our associa­
tion and industry.”
Will Heintz, now superintendent at
Pound Ridge Golf Club, has fond memories
of M att’s term on the board—particularly
when Will was at the helm as president
with Matt serving alongside him as VP.
“I always remember Matt sitting at the
board meetings calmly taking in every­
thing other board members were saying,”
says Will. “When he finally did speak, he
would articulate his thoughts in such a way
that no one could be offended, even when
he was opposing someone’s view. He was the
most courteous individual on the board and
only had the greater good of the association
in mind,” adds Will.
Rockrimmon’s Tony Girardi, who then
served as vice president to Matt, echoes
similar sentiments: “Matt was the calming
influence on the board, even when there
was intense debate. He was concerned only
with the big picture and didn’t get involved
with the minutia. He was a deep thinker
and spoke only after careful consideration.
He was another E.E Hutton!”
Examples of M att’s cool, calm, and col­
lected demeanor were recounted over and
over. Somerset County Park’s Darrell Marcinek, a former assistant of Matt’s, remembers
one evening when he decided to spray
Dursban on a few greens to get ahead of
play the next morning. “One of them was
the putting green near the clubhouse,” says

Tee to Green September/October/November 2 01 5

Darrell. “The club was open for dinner and,
of course, the air temperatures happened to
be cool enough to have the windows open.
Matt didn’t lose his cool. He never raised his
voice. When he confronted me about it, he
just calmly suggested that the putting green
be left for morning sprays.”
Both Darrell and another of Matt’s former
assistants, Peter Waterous, who assumed the
helm at Westchester Hills, remember Matt
as the kind of guy who always went out of
his way to make you feel comfortable and
appreciated. “He was always willing to share
his knowledge and expertise,” says Darrell.
In addition to the MetGCSA, Matt is an
active member of the Hudson Valley GCSA,
New Jersey GCSA, NJTA, and NYSTA.
So thoroughly committed to the profes­
sion and the industry’s professional organi­
zations, Matt extended his service to two
other organizations he feels particularly pas­
sionate about: the Tri-State T urf Research
Foundation and Audubon International.
Matt has served on the Tri-State Turf
Research Foundation board, moving his way
up the chairs to his current position as presi­
dent. In 2014, he welcomed the opportunity
to serve on yet another board near and dear
to him: the Audubon International.
Among Matt’s proudest achievements was
guiding his club in becoming a certified
Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2001.
“That process opened my eyes to the tre­
mendous potential golf course superin­
tendents have to become highly regarded
stewards of the environment,” says Matt.

Currently serving as Audubon Inter­
national’s treasurer, Matt is wholly commit­
ted to Audubon’s environmental efforts. “I
believe Audubon International will con­
tinue to be an industry leader for many
years to come,” he says.
“I’m concerned about the welfare of our
industry,” says Matt, to explain, in part, his
commitment to supporting both Audubon
and the Tri-State, which promote ongoing
research, as well as programs designed to
help area superintendents find environmen­
tally safe practices and controls for our golf
courses. “We should all be looking for op­
portunities to represent ourselves and our
golf courses in the community as stewards of
the environment,” adds Matt.

There is truly no one more astute about
environmental efforts than Matt Ceplo.
During his tenure at Rockland Country
Club, Matt has instituted a number of envi­
ronmentally friendly programs and prac­
tices on the golf course, which have earned
him noteworthy recognition.
In 2012, Rockland Country Club won
the sixth annual Arthur P. Weber MGA Club
Environmental Leaders in Golf Award. And
in 2013, Matt was honored with GCSAAs
prestigious President’s Award for Environ­
mental Stewardship. If you missed that
acceptance speech, you missed one of the
most heartfelt speeches you will ever hear
from a superintendent about the environ­
ment. Matt doesn’t just preach environmen­

tal stewardship, he practices it!
Both Matt and his club subscribe whole­
heartedly to the Audubon approach to
course management. “Our members think
our environmental successes are terrific,“
says Matt, “and they encourage and support
all of our efforts 100 percent.”
An advocate of Integrated Pest Manage­
ment (IPM), Matt worked to transform
about 20 acres of property into native plant
areas, avoiding pesticide or water use in
those areas. “We’ve also put up some blue­
bird houses,” says Matt, “and I organize an
annual bird-watching event where people
come and observe 40 to 50 species of birds.”
Also noteworthy is M att’s involvement
with the surrounding community: “We
invite the Biology Department from St.
Thomas Aquinas College, which is just up
the road, to come and take water samples
and use them in their classrooms. We also
invite local Girl Scout and Cub Scout
groups to come and catch butterflies and
learn about our wildflowers,” says Matt,
whose efforts have earned him the welldeserved distinction of a true steward of the
environment.
M att’s dedication to the environment has
also sparked involvement with local govern­
ment. He is currently the chair of the
Rockland County Water Quality Com­
mittee and was instrumental in rewriting
the drought codes for the county. In addi­
tion, he is a member of the Rockland Water
Task Force for the county’s Conservation
Committee.

“M a tt was the calming influence on the board,
even when there was intense debate. He was con­
cerned only w ith the big picture and didn't get
involved w ith the minutia. He was a deep thinker
and spoke only after careful consideration. H e
was another E.F.

%

-,

“Initiating environmentally astute programs
and practices, I believe, is where the future of the
green industry is heading.“

ember sews

-Matt Ceplo

New Members

Around town, Matt is a member of the
Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance and also
serves on the Zoning Board of Appeals for
the Town of Westwood, where he currently
lives.

A lender in the Making
With M att’s devotion to the industry so
clear, it’s no surprise that he was long im­
mersed in the business. Though he was born
in Westwood, NJ, coincidentally about nine
miles from Rockland Country Club, he
spent his formative years in Afton, NY, near
Binghamton, where his parents owned a
public, 18-hole golf course: the Afton Golf
Club. This is where Matt first learned to
love the game and the profession.
“I am blessed to have great parents,” says
Matt. “My father basically took care of
the course, and my mother ran the inside
operation. “With the help of my seven sib­
lings,” adds Matt, “we had the whole thing
covered.”
Following a track you might expect,
Matt pursued formal industry training after
high school, receiving an Associate’s from
SUNY-Delhi in Horticulture in 1979. His
first job outside of the family golf course
was at Kutcher’s Golf Course in Monticello, NY, where he worked for then Super­
intendent John Rizza as a full-time crew
member.
Matt went on to hone his skills as an assis­
tant at Ridgewood Country Club in New
Jersey, under then superintendent and long­
time industry veteran Ed Walsh. After just
four years with Ed, Matt got his first crack
at a superintendent’s position at Westchester
Hills Country Club. It was at this point that
Matt, sporting a 4 handicap, also became a
force to be reckoned with at MetGCSA golf
meetings! Matt explains that it was a time
when he and his wife, Jasmine, who were
married then just one year, had no kids,
which meant Matt had a bit more freedom
to practice his game. And he did, most
nights. “Priorities changed once kids en­
tered the picture,” says Matt.
After eight seasons at Westchester Hills,
Matt accepted his current position at Rock­

land Country Club in Sparkill, NY, where
he has been the superintendent since 1995.
By that time, Matt and Jasmine, who have
just celebrated their 30th anniversary, had
two daughters, Alison and Megan, now
grown and gainfully employed in their
fields of study.
Explains Matt, “Megan is working for
Takasago International, where she puts her
culinary degree to work testing and creat­
ing flavorful snacks, and Ally, a fashion
design major, is working in children’s fash­
ion design for Mix Apparel out of Australia.
“Jasmine and I couldn’t be more pleased
that they’ve put their degrees to work,” adds
Matt, noting that he is also thankful to his
club and family for supporting his choice to
participate in numerous industry activities.
“Matt is truly the epitome of a profes­
sional, forward-thinking golf course man­
agement professional,” says Blake. “His
commitment to environmental stewardship
and creating exemplary golf course condi­
tions have played a significant role in the
advancement of the status and reputation of
the golf course superintendent.”
“Initiating environmentally astute pro­
grams and practices, I believe, is where the
future of the green industry is heading,”
says Matt. “I will always advocate on behalf
of superintendents everywhere,” says Matt.
“And I will continue to promote and edu­
cate our communities about the many pro­
grams and practices golf course super­
intendents are initiating to protect and
enhance our environment— on our golf
courses and in our communities.
“Like previous Sherwood A. Moore
Award winners,” continues Matt,“I hope to
be remembered as someone who was com­
mitted to seeking new ways to strengthen
our profession and our standing in the
industry.”
Please be sure to join fellow members in
honoring Matt at our Winter Seminar
Awards Luncheon on January 13!
Bob Nielsen, a past MetGCSA president and
member of the Tee to Green Editorial Com­
mittee, is superintendent of Bedford Golf&
Tennis Club in Bedford, NY.

Please join us in welcoming the following
new MetGCSA members:
• Matthew Carter, Class C, Round Hill
Club, Greenwich, CT
• Dan Golding, Class C, Sunningdale
Country Club, Scarsdale, NY
• Chris Hurley, Class C, Pelham
Country Club, Pelham Manor, NY
• Bobby Jewett, Class C, Brae Burn
Country Club, Purchase, NY
• Matt Kerrens, Class C, Paramount
Country Club, New City, NY
•Johnathan Wilber, Class AS, Myopia
Hunt Club, South Hamilton, MA

Members on the Move
• Derek Baxter, formerly an assistant
superintendent at Paramount Country
Club in New City, NY, is now superin­
tendent at New York Country Club in
New Hempstead, NY
• Ernie Steinhofer, formerly sales repre­
sentative for Metro Turf Specialists in
Brookfield, CT, is now an agronomic sales
rep and consultant with Synergy Turf
Supply in Fishkill, NY
• Matt Topazio, formerly superintendent
at New York Country Club, is now a sales
representative with Metro Turf Specialists.
• Bob Wolverton, formerly assistant su­
perintendent at Century Country Club in
White Plains, NY, is now superintendent at
The Congaree Club in Ridgeland, SC.

Recertified
Congratulations to Ernie Steinhofer of
Synergy Turf Supply for completing the
renewal process for maintaining CGCS
status with GCSAA.
A 22-year GCSAA member, Ernie ini­
tially achieved his certification in 1995.

Birth
Congratulations to Mike Brunelle, su­
perintendent at Upper Montclair Country
Club, and his wife, Jennifer, on the birth of
their son, Theodore (Tedi) Martin, who
was 8 lbs. 1 oz. and born on September 28.

In Sympathy
We would like to offer our sincere condo­
lences to MetGCSA Executive Secretary
Susan O ’Dowd and her family. Susan’s
mother, Elizabeth O ’Dowd, passed away
October 25 at 82.

Tee to Green September/October/November 20 i 5

A Nighty Fine Time at the
Aine and Dine

Assistants Enjoy M u M
Brae Burn Championship

by Doug Drugo

by Josh Haugh

his year’s Nine and Dine event
returned September 23 to Silvermine Golf Club in Norwalk, CT.
Our host superintendent, Larry Pakkala,
had the course in perfect condition, offering
all who attended a wonderful afternoon and
evening on the links of this southwestern
Connecticut hidden gem.
Contestants played a four-person scram­
ble and were divided among two fields: One
group played Silvermine’s Wilton Nine
while the other group played the Barn
Nine. After the dust settled, the following
groups came out on top:

Wilton Nine/First Place
John Callahan, The Cardinals
Dave Pijnenburg, Greenacres Comp.
Mike Weber, Fisher & Son Comp.
Eric Berg, LaCorte Equipment

Wilton Nine/Second Place
Tim O ’Neill, CC of Darien
Les Kennedy, Blind Brook Club
Frank Amodio, Valley View Greenhouses
Joe Alonzi, Class LA

Barn Nine/First Place
George Chavez, Pelham CC
Chris Hurley, Pelham CC

Todd Apgar, Metro Turf Specialists
Scott Apgar, Metro Turf Specialists

Barn Nine/Second Place
Dave Parson, The Apawamis Club
Ron McNaughton, The Apawamis Club
Pat McGinn, Waccabuc CC
Pat Hagan, Waccabuc CC

Thank Yous Are in Order
We would like to thank everyone who
came out and supported the day, with spe­
cial thanks to LaCorte Equipment who was
our Title Sponsor for the Nine and Dine,
Golf Professional Stuart Waack and his staff
for running the event, the members of
Silvermine for hosting our group, and of
course, Larry Pakkala, and his staff for
providing us with a superb playing field. It
was also great to see the large draw of assis­
tants who attended the event. Quite a few
walked away with prizes!
As we move toward wrapping up another
season, the MetGCSA Board and Tourn­
ament Committee would like to thank
everyone for supporting this year’s events.
Doug Drugo, Tournament Committee Chair, is
superintendent at Wee Burn Country Club in
Darien, CT.

f J f
M

ronically, during a season that saw
unseasonably low rainfall totals
and hot dry stretches, the annual
Assistants Championship had the potential
to be a wash. But fortunately, Hurricane
Joaquin changed course and shifted out to
sea, leaving us with a beautiful Fall day on
the links at Brae Burn Country Club on
October 6.
Before we get into the results, I think it’s
only right that we thank Blake Halderman
and his two right-hand men, Dave Peterson
and Bobby Jewett, for hosting the event.
The playability and conditions were fantas­
tic, and it was refreshing to have a fair setup.
From everything I heard throughout the
day, the other participants echoed these
same sentiments.
So, again, thank you for putting on a
great tournament, and many thanks to our
title sponsor for the event, Westchester Turf
Supply.
Here are the winning results of the day:
Gross Scoro
77 Kelly Barrel and Shawn Haverdink
Quaker Ridge GC
80 Alex Matos and Mike Guinan
Blind Brook Club
83 Sean Charles
Round Hill Club
83 Justin Miller and Riley Tewksbury
Wee Burn CC

Net Score
62
68

Dave Parson and Ron McNaughton
The Apawamis Club
Keith Carper and Tom Bakis
Sterling Farms GC

eeded Break at

Meadow Brook Hosts a Bay of Golf and
Giving
by Glen Dube, C G C S

68
70

Vinny Barnaba, Winged Foot GC
Tyler Vanalien, Westchester CC
Austin Sevcik and Chris Sitko
Westchester CC

Closest to the Pin
#5

Chris Sitko
Westchester CC
#8 Dave Parson
The Apawamis Club
#11 WesMackie
Quaker Ridge GC
#16 Chris Hurley
Pelham CC

n October 13, the MetGCSA
W
and Long Island GCSA members
L
convened for a day of fundraising
and fun. The Poa Annual, Met Cham­
pionship, and Met Area Team Cham­
pionship Qualifier were all contested at the
Meadow Brook Club in Jericho, NY Our
host, Superintendent John Carlone, treated
us to a magnificently manicured golf
course, and delicious food was served by a
very gracious staff.
More than 120 golfers turned out for the
day’s competitions, and 28 tee signs were
sold, raising $3,500 for NYSTA.
Here are the winning results:

Longest Drive
#9

Jamie Hunt
Sunningdale CC

Low Individual Gross
78

Dave Parson
The Apawamis Club

From the Assistants Committee, we hope all
who participated enjoyed their time at Brae
Burn, and we hope to build on the turnout
and make this the most enjoyable tourna­
ment of the year.
So for those of you who did not partici­
pate this year, come on out next year, and
add to the enjoyment; you won’t be disap­
pointed. Even if you don’t golf in earnest,
come out for a little post tournament
socializing, and take advantage of a brief
reprieve from a tiring summer. Chances are
you’ve earned it!
See you all next year.

Champion Crowned at MetGCSA
Championship
It’s at this event every year that the
MetGCSA crowns the winner of our Met
Championship and determines the quali­
fiers for the Met Area Team Championship.
This year’s battle for Met Championship
was a fierce one, with the title going to the
low gross golfer for the day. Rock Ridge’s
Steve Loughran, Metropolis’s Dave McCaffery, and Quaker Ridge’s Tom Ashfield
all shot an impressive 79. The winner had to
be determined by a match of cards. In the
end, it was Steve Loughran who emerged
victorious. Congratulations to our 2015
champion!

Met Area Team Championship
Qualifiers
Those interested in qualifying for the Met
Area Team Championship, held this year at
Quaker Ridge Golf Club, submitted their
scores, and from the pool of entrants, teams
were selected.
Here’s who qualified to represent the Met
in this year’s competition:

Gross Division
Tom Ashfield, Quaker Ridge Golf Club
Steve Loughran, Rock Ridge Country Club
Dave McCaffery, Metropolis Country Club
Steve Rabideau, Winged Foot Golf Club

Net Division
Mike Brunelle, Upper Montclair Country
Club
Brain Chapin, Paramount Country Club
Glen Dube, Centennial Golf Club
Doug Middleton, Ocean Organics
A special thank you to the Meadow Brook
Pro Shop staff for helping us sort and tally
all the scores for the various events of the
day!
Glen Dube is MetGCSA president and
superintendent at Centennial Golf Club in
Carmel, NY.

Josh Haugh is an assistant superintendent at
Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, NY.

m

g Events

Don’t Miss the Social Event
of the Year!
MetGCSA Christmas Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 5,
time 6:30-11:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Stanwich Club
Greenwich, CT
COST: $150 per couple for assistant super­
intendent members ~ $200 per couple for
all others

At this year’s holiday event, mingling is the
name of the game! Enjoy a cocktail party
atmosphere with fine buffet-style dining
rather than a formal sit-down dinner. And
dance the night away to the sounds of DJ
Double Image.
Guests are welcome, and we hope super­
intendents will encourage their assistants to
join them! In gratitude of what the assistant
superintendents bring to our organization
and clubs, we are offering a reduced price
for all assistants who wish to attend.
Please join us, one and all!

Educational Events
Turf & Grounds Exposition
Tuesday - Wednesday, November 17 - 18
Rochester Riverside Convention Center
Rochester, NY
The T urf & Grounds Exposition offers an
excellent opportunity to network while
remaining current on the latest research and
trends in turfgrass management. As always,
the expo will feature key speakers from all
segments of the green industry, as well as a
comprehensive trade show with more than
100 exhibitors.
For further information, call the show
office at 800-873-8873 or 518-783-1229,
or visit the website at www.nysta.org.

Long Island Regional Conference
Thursday, December 3
Upsky Long Island Hotel
Hauppauge, NY
The Long Island Regional Conference
offers a variety of educational sessions with
leading turfgrass educators and industry
professionals. For further information, visit
www.nysta.org or contact the NYSTA of­
fice at 518-783-1229.

40th Annual New Jersey Green Expo
Turf and Landscape Conference
Tuesday - Thursday, December 8 —10
The Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa
Atlantic City, NJ

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

MetGCSA Winter Seminar
Wednesday,January 13, 2016
Westchester Country Club
Rye, NY
Host: David Dudones
For further information, contact our Edu­
cation Chairman, Brett Chapin, at 203938-9640.

Southeast Regional Conference
Wednesday - Thursday,January 2 1 -2 8 , 2016
Ramada Inn, Fishkill, NY
The Southeast Regional Conference offers
a variety of educational sessions with lead­
ing turfgrass educators and industry pro­
fessionals. For further information, visit
www.nysta.org or contact the NYSTA
office at 518-783-1229.

Tee to Green September / October /November 2 0 1 5

19th Annual New England Regional
Turfgrass Conference and Show
Monday - Thursday, February 29 —March 3,
2016
Rhode Island Convention Center
Providence, RI
For the 19th consecutive year, the conference
and show provides turfgrass professionals
from all areas of the industry the opportu­
nity to see the newest products, supplies,
services, and equipment available while
offering a host of informative educational
sessions, pesticide recertification credits, and
endless networking opportunities.
Watch for details on www.NERTF.org, or
call 401-841-5490 for further information.

Turfgrass Advocacy 2016 ~ NYSTA's
Lobby Day
Wednesday, March 9,2016
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY
NYSTA welcomes all green industry profes­
sionals to attend this event. The Turfgrass
Advocacy Day offers the opportunity to
attend a priority issue briefing session on
current 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 govern­
ment official.
For further information, contact the
NYSTA office at 518-783-1229 or visit
www.nysta.org.

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

O

© D ouble ‘D ’ Turf, LLC

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

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

A ll Pro H orticulture, Inc.

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

D ryject N .E . / TurfPounders

54 Railroad Avenue
Copiague, NY 11726
John Seib
631-789-6680 / Fax:631-789-5711
john@allprohort.com
© E m erald Tree Care, Inc.
26 Fox Meadow Road
A qua-A id, Inc.
Scarsdale, NY 10583
Surfactants, Verde Cal, OARS,
Steve Farrelly: 914-725-0441
Root Pruner, & Drill & Fill
Kevin Wyatt: 203-422-2441
Bert Brace: 570-510-4996
Bert@aquaaid.com
© Evergreen O rganic R ecyclin g
info@aquaaid.com
1160 Mamaroneck Avenue

O

White Plains, NY 10605
James Amodio / Raymond Colasacco
914-949-9030
Ray@EvergreenOrganicRecycling.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

© E xecutive T urf Products

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

A rgento & Sons, Inc.

© P innacle Turf, Inc.

40 Skyview Lane
New Rochelle, NY 10804
Steven Renzetti, CGCS
914-384-9227
srenzetti@verizon.net
www.Pinnacleturf.net
© Plant Food Com pany, 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
© Playbooks for G olf

© H arrell’s

“Growing a Better World. Partners
for Success”
Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638
stretera@harrells.com
Fred Montgomery: 518-813-7814
fmontgomery@harrells.com
www.harrells.com

© BASF

“Intrinsic Brand Fungicides”
Peter Jacobson: 919-530-9062
peter.jacobson@basf.com
© Bayer E nvironm ental Science

“Backed by Bayer”
Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173

LaBar G o lf R enovations

6 Claremont Road, Suite D1
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253
rich@labargolf.com
colleen@labargolf.com

© Blue R id g e Peat Farms

133 Peat Moss Road
White Haven, PA 18661
Gene Evans / Chuck Evans
570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888
Cushm an / E -Z -G O

Nick Roberto: 845-637-7641
nroberto@textron.com
Frank Savakis: 203-605-0554
fsavakis@textron.com
Marc Santospirito: 516-662-3554

© LaCorte Equipm ent ~
John D eere G o lf

“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

© C u stom G o lf

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

© L eggette, Brashears & G raham , Inc.

Hydrogeologic Consulting &
Environmental Engineering Services
Rob Good:860-678-0404
rgood@lbgct.com

D eL ea Sod Farms

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

O

M etro T urf 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@terrecompany.com
© Tom Irw in 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

© T urf Products LLC / TO RO
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 G reen, Inc.
www.goplaybooks.com
205 Wilson Avenue
Norwalk, CT 06854
© Seeton T urf Warehouse, LLC
Greg Moran
Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959
Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139
Cell: 845-901-1358
brianbontemps@seetonturf.com
Ofc: 203-831-9748
g.moran@valleygreenusa.com

1 Prospect Avenue
Soil Solutions, LLC
© Grass R oots T urf Products, Inc.
White Plains, NY 10607
Aerification Professionals
“Serving Turfgrass Professionals
Louis Argento
7 Whittemore Place
Since 1978”
Ryebrook, NY 10573
914-949-1152 / Fax:914-948-0255
Ryan Batz / Keith Kubik
louis@argentoandsons.com
Anthony Decicco / John Decicco
Ofc: 973-252-6634
914-393-0659 / Fax:914-939-5010
www.GRlturf.com / sales@GRIturf.com
© A tlantic G o lf & T u rf
9 Industrial Boulevard
© Steven W illand , Inc.
© G row th Products, LTD
Turner Falls, MA 01376
“Quality Turf Equipment”
Fertilizers, Organics, &
John Garcia: 203-996-6267
4 Production Drive
Fungicide Products
jngarc@gmail.com
Brookfield, CT 06804
80 Lafayette Avenue
George Corgan: 914-213-3622
White Plains, NY 10603
© A tlantic Irrigation
georgecorgan@charter.net
Howie Gold: 917-559-4425
Specialists, Inc.
www.StevenWillandInc.com
hgold@growthproducts.com
Rain Bird & All Related Supplies
Ray Beaudry / Tim Marcoux
800-878-8873

© The Terre C om pany o f
N ew Jersey, Inc.

© Synergy T urf / Pocono
T urf Supply

“Agronomic Professionals”
Bobby Steinman, CGCS: 860-488-2822
bobby7777@aol.com
Ernie Steinhofer, CGCS: 860-488-0533
ejsturfmc@gmail.com
Tim Joyce: 631-601-5294
timQoyce@aol.com
© Syngenta

© V alley V iew W holesale
G reenhouses

229 Smith Ridge Road
South Salem, NY 10590
Frank Amodio
wgh@aol.com
Kevin Amodio
kevin.wgh@ya hoo. com
914-533-2526
© W estchester Tractor, Inc.

60 International Boulevard
Brewster, NY 10509
John Apple / George Risley
845-278-7766
www.wtractor.com
© W estchester T urf 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

Brian Goudey: 518-764-2412
23 Roslyn Drive, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 o W estwood O rganic
R ecyclin g
Ofc: 518-424-0760 / Fax:518-399-6588
brian.goudey@syngenta.com
P.O.Box 139, Purchase, NY 10577
James Scoli: 914-949-3244
© Tanto Irrigation, LLC
914-946-WOOD
“Serving the MetGCSA for 40+ Years
info@westwoodorganic.com
William Bartels: 914-347-5151
© W ilfred M acD onald, Inc.
Fax:914-347-6323
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com
Glenn Gallion: 201-954-5878
© The Cardinals, Inc.
ggwilmac@aol.com
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
W infield Solutions, Inc.
Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies
“Service, Solutions, Insight”
John Callahan: 800-861-6256
Mike DiLorenzo, CGCS:
Fax:860-673-8443
518-428-8625
© T he Care o f Trees
mwdilorenzo@landolakes.com
Mike Cook: 914-345-8733
www.winfieldpro.com
Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110
Ken Clear: 203-863-0900
Greg Gutter: 914-241-8110

©

Denotes M e tG C S A member

Ace Sponsors

M etro

COMPANY, IN C

Turf Specialists

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