Board of Directors M e t G Ce stS1 A 959 President GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club Vice President DAVID DUDONES Westchester Country Club Treasurer KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS Cover: Siwanoy Country Club GlenArbor Golf Club Secretary ROBERT B. ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club Past President BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club Directors MICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCS Upper Montclair Country Club BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club BRIAN CHAPIN Paramount Country Club DOUG DRUGO Wee Burn Country Club STEVEN McGLONE Siwanoy Country Club VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCS Fairview Country Club Class “C” Rep DAVID PARSON The Apawamis Club Class ‘A F” Rep ROBERT STEINMAN, CGCS Pocono Turf n this Issue Executive Secretary SUSAN O ’DOW D Tee to Green Staff Editor JIM PAVONETTI 203-531-8910 Managing Editor PANDORA C. WOJICK Editorial Committee TODD APGAR MATT CEPLO LEVIN COLLI NS ANDY DROHEN CHIP LAFFERTY STEVEN MCGLONE 1 BOB NIELSEN SCOTT NIVEN TOM REYES GREG WOJICK Designer TERRI E YOUNG Advertising Manager MIKE BRUNELLE, 973-777-6710 TO TEE GREEN ispublishedbimonthlyby theMetropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association 49 KnollwaodRoadElmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653; FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright ©2016 A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Course Ranking System ..........2 A Year in the Life of a Golfweek Rater ............................................... 8 Departments Member News ............................................................................................. 9 Chapter N ew s..............................................................................................10 Spotlight ......................................................................................................14 Upcoming Events ..................................................................................... 15 Meet Your 2016 MetGCSA Board...........................................................16 started writing this President’s Message just before heading out to San Diego for the GIS. Going to the GIS is one of the highlights of my year. It allows me to go somewhere warm, take in some great educa­ tional offerings, kick the tires of hundreds of industry products at the trade show, meet new friends, and connect with old ones. Making this years conference all the more exciting was the one-and-half-day fishing trip I took to Mexico with fellow board member Ken Benoit and his father-in-law. This trip was on my bucket list for a long time, and it lived up to every expectation! MetGCSA Brings on Board New Executive Director While the frenetic pace of work at our clubs has slowed during this much-needed off­ season, MetGCSA happenings are still in ~ full swing. I am happy to report that the MetGCSA Board of Directors has hired ^ Mike McCall, CGCS, as our new executive j director. Mike has an extensive golf course management background, having served not only as a golf course superintendent, but also as a general manager. In addition, Mike brings a wealth of experience in dealing with the regulatory agencies in Westchester and Putnam counties. Watch for more on Mike McCall in our next issue of Tee to Green! We look forward to working with Mike to continually enhance our association as a professional resource to our membership. A special thank you to Search Committee Chair Blake Halderman and his entire com­ mittee for all of their hard work and dedica­ tion in conducting the search for our as­ sociation’s executive director. Events Worthy of Mention Glen Dube, CGCS MetGCSA President And our Awards Luncheon recognized two worthy recipients of our highly regarded Sherwood A. Moore Award and John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratula­ tions, again, to Rockland’s Matt Ceplo, our deserving SAM Award winner, and to Reid Award recipient Rees Jones, renowned archi­ tect and proponent of our industry A special thank you to Education Chair Brett Chapin and his entire committee for putting together another stellar program. New to our Educational lineup this year was a career development seminar for as­ sistant superintendents, held at Siwanoy Country Club on January 22. The Met’s Class C Rep, David Parson, and his commit­ tee put together a superb lineup of speakers who offered great career insight for today’s assistant superintendents. (See page 12.) I’d like to thank Assistant Superintendent host Josh Haugh and the rest of the Siwanoy staff for creating a special day for our inaugural Assistant Superintendent Career Develop­ ment Seminar. Please hurry and sign up, if you haven’t already, for our fast-approaching Dave Ma­ honey Two-Ball Championship Qualifier, which will be held on April 19 at Siwanoy Country Club and hosted by Steven McGlone (profile, page 14). Grab your partner and join us for what is sure to be an enjoy­ able day of golf. Enjoy what is left of the remaining off­ season. Springtime will be here before you know it. In the meantime, my “Gone Fishin’” sign has been prominently posted on my office door! I’d like to thank David Dudones and all of the Westchester Country Club staff for hosting our annual Winter Seminar, held this year on January 13, and for providing a terrific venue for the day. Attendees listened to some great presenta­ Glen Dube, CGCS tions on a multitude of topics. (See page 10.) President Tee to GreenJanuary /February 2016 How does a course achieve that Top 100 ranking? The answer may surprise you. by Greg Wojick SERIALS APR 1 3 2016 MICHI8AN state UNIVEHSITY UBfWilM enlightening endeavors Ive entered into after shifting from superintendent to indus­ try consultant/business owner is course rat­ ing. Signing on as a Golfweek rater (one of the three most recognized course rater groups), I have played some of the area’s— and country’s—finest courses, traveling with various groups of raters who have only played golf, never worked it. They’re the norm. I’m more the aberration. Does my experience and knowledge of golf courses influence how I rate a course versus how my non-turf professional part­ ners rate courses? Frequently. I know that rankings matter to many clubs and superintendents. If you ask David Dudones (Westchester CC), Steve Rabideau (Winged Foot GC), and Scott Niven (The Stanwich Club), they will acknowledge that their clubs are keenly aware of the rankings and how it affects their memberships. All three are regularly alerted when raters make their way to their respective first tees, and they make sure to be available to discuss the day’s course conditions with each rater group. For Steve, communicating with ra­ ters is one of his yearly management goals and objectives. Knowing that many clubs and their su­ perintendents strive for that Top 100 rank­ ing, I thought I would shed some light on not just the ranking process, but also the people and organizations behind the ratings. Are clubs focusing their efforts in the right place to boost their rankings? Read on. Then you be the judge. The Makings of a Course Rater One thing superintendents should know is that golf raters, even those on the top three rating panels— Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and Golfweek—never have to take a turf exam and, in fact, generally know very little about turf conditioning. Their primary focus when ranking a course? Its design and architecture. Here’s a bit of proof of this notion—an excerpt I drew from a discussion posted on golfclubatlas.com: “Is the 6th hole at Piping Rock one of the great par 5s in golf? Would it be an even better par 5 if the bunkers in the driving zone had been left intact? Did Pete Dye err by taking out the fairway bunkers in the driving zone? Is that twotiered green one of the best par 5 greens in golf? Golfclubatlas.com is an online forum that does not formally rank courses, but it does host lively discussions surrounding golf course architecture and other related golf course topics. Occasionally, participants do delve into course conditioning. This kind of focus is quite typical of the golfing public—raters included. Even the raters groups I mentioned weigh course design and architecture far more heavily than conditioning in their rankings. There are three “gatekeepers” who man­ age each of the ranking lists. Brad Klein of Golfweek magazine, Joe Passov of Golf Mag­ azine, and Ron Whitten of Golf Digest each have the ultimate say in how the lists are created, and each group has a set of criteria for not only ranking courses, but also for selecting their raters. Here’s what I’ve learned about each rater group and the stan­ dards your course may be measured by. Europe, and North America. The panel boasts pro golfers Jim Furyk, Amy Alcott, and Justin Rose, as well as a host of renowned architects such as Rees Jones, Tom Doak, and Tom Weiskopf, and golf industry insiders, including the USGA’s Mike Davis and Herb Kohler. Explaining Golf Magazine’s special breed of rating,Joe Passov notes, “We have no specific criteria that our raters must follow; they tell us what constitutes ‘greatness’ in a course. Still, among the architectural elements they consider are design rhythm, variety of terrain and holes, setting and conditioning, and how well the course tests a player’s full arsenal of skills. Our panelists determine how much value to assign to each characteristic.” Golf Magazine’s ‘Top 100 in the World’ At year’s end, with all the raters’ballots in,Joe Passov has the difficult job of tallying all the ratings and formulating a list of the Top 100 in the World. Here, in short, is how the Golf Magazine system works: Each course that places in the top three on a panelist’s ballot earns 100 points; spots 4 to 10 earn 85 points, followed by 11 to 25, which earn 70 points, 26 to 50 earn 60 points, and so on down the list up to those ranked 251+, which are given 0 points. Any course that receives a “remove from ballot” vote has 10 points deducted. Architects on the panel are not permitted to rate their own original designs, and course owners cannot rate their own properties. Tripp Davis’s Sentiments on Rating Golf Magazine panelist and Architect Tripp Davis, well known to Met area superintend­ ents, takes a concerned approach to the rat­ ing of golf courses. “Too often the rating comes down simply to beauty contests,” says Tripp, also an ac­ complished amateur player, who feels that no Joe Passov, Golf Magazine one can sufficiently rate a course from just one round of golf. Tripp would ultimately like the rating event to include, at the very The Golf Magazine group handpicks it’s least, a round of golf followed up the next day course raters. There are only 100 panelists with another visit to the course to more across five continents: Asia, Australia, Africa, closely evaluate the architecture of each Golf Magazine’s Rater Program Tee to Green January /February 2016 “I f I had my way a troupe of cavalry through every trap the course before started, where o could get the ball only afew ya - C.B. M acdonald, golf course architect hole. He clearly knows that many raters, and average golfers alike, cant help but base their opinion of the course on their own personal experience of the day. “If the sun is shining,” says Tripp,“and the course is firm and fast and the rater plays well, it’s likely that that course will receive a better ranking than if the same individual played on a rainy, soggy, cold day and played poorly.” Tripp was clear that the strategy of each hole, and the overall course, should be the basis for rating a course. From a conditioning standpoint, Tripp admits that focus and importance on condi­ tioning can vary from club to club. Often­ times, members who frequently travel from course to course will create relative rankings for conditioning. Bunkers, in particular, have been a real concern for Tripp. He notes that the current trend for bunker construction and mainte­ nance assures a more perfect and consistent lie than the surrounding grass can offer. In a recent televised golf tournament, Jordan Spieth was actually caught on camera urging his ball to get in the bunker! “Bunkers are supposed to be hazards,” says Tripp, “and many architects will deepen bunkers to create the feeling of a hazard while striving to design the structure for perfect sand conditioning. Liners, capillary concrete, and Billy Bunker-type construction have definitely made their way into course construction and renovation.” This perfec­ tion has unfortunately become perceived as what constitutes good conditioning. In Tripp’s observations, he’s noted that playing host to important tournament events gets more serious golfers talking about those courses and can ultimately help the course’s chance of receiving a high ranking. He also knows that having a public relations person on staff helps spread the good word about a course. Tripp’s ideal rating system: Put aside the course’s beauty and conditioning and your overall golf experience, and acknowledge the best through analysis of the course’s strategic interest. Golfweek’s Hater Program Tripp Davis and Associates Completes Phase Two Restoration of Spring Lake Golf Club in New Jersey. Tee to Green January/February 2016. As director of Golfweek’s Best Course Program, Brad Klein knows that course ratings can be debated almost endlessly. In his book, A Walk in the Park: Golfweek’s Guide to America’s Best Classic and Modern Golf Courses, Brad de­ scribes the difficult job of a rater and what he believes constitutes a great course: “The amazing thing about golf holes is how little they have in common,” writes Brad. “The rulebook specifies only a single regulation—that the little cup we play for on each putting surface be four-and-a-quarter “The ideal hole (or golf course) is surely one that affords the greatest pleasure to the greatest number, gives the fullest advantage for accurate play, stimulates players to improve their game, and never becomes —Alister MacKenzie, golf course architect Brad Klein, director of Golfweek’s Best Course Program inches in diameter. All else is up for grabs: terrain, elevation, soil, grasses, and setting, as well as yardage and par. When these ele­ ments are combined in an aesthetically pleasing way, we have the makings of great­ ness. Mere beauty, though, isn’t enough. The course must be intriguing, strategically challenging, and perhaps even a bit whimsi­ cal to be recognized as great.” Continuing on the “business” of rating, Brad adds, “All golfers have their likes and dislikes when it comes to course design. The trick in golf, as in any endeavor, is to move beyond the realm of individual opinion and arrive at a more systematic method of evalu­ ation. The process might not be an exact sci­ ence, but it certainly can be more than personal preference. Along the way, golfers might learn some things that will help them appreciate their own courses and play better as well. What good is the business of rating unless it helps us enjoy the game more?” The Profile of a Golfweek Rater In 2004, Golfweek had a team of 285 volun­ teer raters (representing 49 states) who per­ ennially scoured the countryside in search of the best of the best. The number of raters has now swelled to nearly 700, drawn from every state and half-a-dozen countries. In recruiting raters, Golfweek looks for people who: • Love golf and are seriously enthusiastic about looking at different golf courses • Handle themselves well and represent Golfweek with the utmost professionalism • Play quickly and without emotional out­ burst • Are able to rise above their own golf score in examining a course and be objective about a series of detailed architectural criteria • Have the time and willingness to get around and see courses they have never played before • Are willing to study, read, and look behind the scenes, as well as ask good questions of established professionals in the field • Are willing to turn in their ballots on a rolling basis throughout the year • Have the ability to cast their ballots online • Are willing to attend and participate in Golfweek rater educational events • Are not members of any other national publications course rating staff (On several occasions, raters have resigned from other panels to join the Golfweek rater program.) Once prospective raters are accepted into the program, they are sent a brief orienta­ tion that helps educate them on the many elements that go into rating a course. Golfweek raters are a diverse group with a variety of playing abilities, careers, and so­ cioeconomic backgrounds. More than half of Golfweek’s raters are single-digit handicappers. Nine percent are women—the highest percentage of female raters of any national publication panel. Many raters are couples who travel and play golf together. Golfweek raters range from the former head of the American Medical Association to a truck driver. There are golf writers, course designers, superintendents, and golf course management executives, as well as pharmacists, attorneys, schoolteachers, den­ tists, psychotherapists, and even a brain sur­ geon. There are a handful of raters who own their own airplanes and some who travel the country in their KVs. Ranking‘A merica’s Best’ Golfweek refers to its top-ranking courses as “America’s Best.” Those rankings are based on 10 criteria, including strategic considera­ tions of shot-making and design balance, as well as the aesthetics of conditioning and golf course setting. Golfweek’s patented “walk in the park test” is another crucial variable. It refers to the extent that the four or so hours spent at a course are worthwhile as an overall outdoor engagement. What distinguishes the Golfweek Ameri­ ca’s Best Courses from the course ratings done by other publications is a division of the golf course universe into two categories: Classic (up to 1959) and Modern (1960 and after). Roughly half of the existing stock predate 1960 and half postdate that year. More important are the era-specific differ­ ences in design, construction, and grassing. Andy Staples, an up-and-coming archi­ tect who has presented educational sessions at Golfweek rater events, feels that a great course requires more than a good feel or “walk in the park” appeal. It needs to have a soul. It needs to reek of golf throughout the entire property experience. Golf Digest’s Rater Program Golf Digest is viewed by many as the best of the three magazine rating systems. Debut­ ing in 1966, it is the nation’s oldest course ranking system and easily the most recog­ nizable. Though the group started with a rating system known as the “200 Toughest,” they altered their system in 1969, changing their focus to today’s “100 Greatest.” Recently, Golf Digest added a second level to their 100 Greatest, now putting the 200 Greatest courses on their list. Though held in high esteem, not every­ one sings this group’s praises. Criticism seems to stem from the time when Golf Digest based its course rankings on “tough­ ness,” while requiring all their raters to maintain at least a 5.0 USGA index. The implication was—and still is—that only the best players know how to rate courses, and as high-level players, they tend to be more Tee to Green January/February 2016 “Ifa course needs to be in great condition to be played effectively, then the design strategy is flawed.” —Tom Watson, pro golfer Ron Whitten, Golf Digest program, Golf Digest’s list is the most re­ spected because they offer the most trans­ parency. “We publish category-by-category scores of all winning courses, and we base our results solely on those scores,” says Whitten. “We don’t cook the books.” Below are the criteria that go into creat­ ing Golf Digest’s rankings: 1. Shot Values. How well does the course pose risks and rewards and equally test length, accuracy, and finesse? 2. Resistance to Scoring. How difficult, while still being fair, is the course for a scratch player from the back tees? 3. Design Variety. How varied are the golf course’s holes in differing lengths, configu­ rations, hazard placements, green shapes, and green contours? 4. Memorability. How well do the design features (tees, fairways, greens, hazards, veg­ etation, and terrain) provide individuality to each hole, yet a collective continuity to the entire 18? 5. Aesthetics. How well do the scenic values of the course (including landscaping, vege­ tation, water features, and backdrops) add to the pleasure of a round? 6. Conditioning. How firm, fast, and rolling were the fairways, and how firm yet recep­ tive were the greens on the day you played the course? 7. Ambience. How well does the overall feel and atmosphere of the course reflect or uphold the traditional values of the game? To arrive at a course’s final score, Ron Whitten explains that they first discard “outlier” evaluations at the high and low end. (Statistician Dean Knuth, creator of the United States Golf Association’s Slope and Course Rating System, does the math for keenly focused on identifying hole and course difficulty and ranking courses How Much Things Change but Really Remain the Same accordingly. Seemingly taking a contrary stance to Look closely at this chart created in 1907 by C.B. Macdonald, who is considered the father of Golf Digest’s ranking priorities, Architect American golf course architecture. Note the similarities between today’s ranking systems Donald Ross describes his more low-key and his vision of the ideal course layout. approach to course design in his book, Golf Merit I Essential Characteristics Has Never Failed Me. “Most of the golf courses I’ve built are 45% hardly championship courses,” writes Ross, I. Course a. Nature of soil 23% “but rather intended to be a delight to play. Outside of Pine Valley, the National Golf b. Perfection in undulation and hillocks 22% Links, and Lido, none I would call real I. Putting Greens 18% championship tests. A championship course a. Quality of Turf 10% today,” he continues,“would mean a distance b. Nature of undulation 5% of between 6,500 and 7,000 yards, and not five golfers in a thousand want that kind of c. Variety 3% course for everyday play.” III. Bunkers and other hazards 13% Ranking the ‘100 Greatest’ Controversy aside, many clubs and courses recognize only Golf Digest as the irrefutable “top gun” in the world of course rating. Winged Foot Superintendent Steve Rabideau is quick to admit that his club doesn’t recognize any other rater group. “We focus solely on Golf Digest,” he says. According to Ron Whitten, who is re­ sponsible for overseeing the Golf Digest Tee to Green January /February 2016 IV. a. Nature, size, and variety b. Proper placing 4% 9% Length of hole a. Best length of holes b. Variety and arrangem ent of length V. Quality of turf of fair green VI. Width of fair green of the course 45-60 yards VII. Nature of teeing ground and proximity to green 13% 8% 5% 6% 3% 2% 100% 1 Greg Wojick (secondfrom left) and his Golfweek raters group head out to play Fishers Island Club in Fishers Island NY. , the group. He tosses out any evaluation that’s more than two standard deviations from a courses mean score.) “We then total the course’s average scores in the seven categories, double-weighting the Shot Values category,” says Whitten. “A course needs 45 evaluations over the past eight years to be eligible for America’s 100 Greatest. The minimum ballots for 100 Greatest Public is 25, for Best in State, 10. PGA.com Sums lip Golf Digest’s Latest‘Greatest’ List This year, with the “Golden Anniversary” of Golf Digest’s biennial course rankings, it has revealed its newest edition of what is now called “America’s Greatest 100 Courses.” As a PGA.com writer recently noted, there are a number of changes to the 20152016 ranking, which no doubt, will prompt much debate in clubhouses and grillrooms nationwide over the next few months. He points to the biggest change right at the top, where Augusta National reclaimed the No. 1 spot from longtime top choice Pine Valley, which now slots in as No. 2. Another change in the top 10 sees the East Course at Merion move up from sixth to fifth, switching places with Oakmont. There are many more moves up and down, and off and on, the top 100—and even more throughout the second 100. Ac­ cording to Ron Whitten, this is due, in part, to the fact that 51 of the current top 100 courses weren’t even around when the inau­ gural list was issued. In fact, Whitten reveals, only 24 courses have appeared on every one of the lists— and, he notes, several well-known courses haven’t always been ranked. Among them are Shinnecock Hills, which is now all the way up to No. 4; National Golf Links of America, now No. 8; and Chicago Golf Club, now No. 14. Here’s another tidbit worthy of note: Seven courses joined the top 100 this year, but only two of those were built in the past 30 years: Wisconsin’s No. 42 Erin Hills, which opened in 2006, and Florida’s No. 100 Streamsong Red, which opened in 2012. What took the other five so long to be recognized? Though Whitten doesn’t offer any in­ sight into these specific courses, we can sur­ mise that it’s due to a combination of ma­ turity and improvements; slippage among some of the courses that fell down, or off, the list; changes to the raters’ tastes and cri­ teria; and changes to the roster of raters. Whitten notes that there were 125 raters when the list began and 10 times that many now. Another interesting fact: Course architect Seth Raynor had three courses join the new top 100 list, and he’s been dead for 89 years. How’d that happen? All three—No. 53 Camargo Club, No. 64 Yeamans Hall, and No. 99 Shoreacres—have been recently ren­ ovated by Tom Doak. As Whitten says, they’re all classic designs that have been fully retrofitted for the modern game. So What Is a Superintendent to Do? While superb architecture and design are important, they’re not the be-all and end-all of getting your course ranked among the Top 100. There are at least several courses throughout the country that have com­ pleted massive renovations only to have their courses’ rankings fall. Conditioning can’t be your sole focus either. What is considered the ultimate to one rater, may mean little to another. As you can see in comments made throughout this article, even famed golf course architects and other industry professionals have oppos­ ing views of what makes golf courses great. That said, I do believe you can’t ignore the benefit of putting effort into creating an overall good playing experience for golfers, one that leaves them with a favorable im­ pression of your course. Despite the sup­ posed downplay of conditioning in course rankings, I’ve found conditions do, if only subliminally, affect most raters’ percep­ tions—and potentially ratings—of a course. Good press about your course, even if it’s just by word of mouth, is another factor that can influence raters’ opinions. Hosting a notable tournament—though not practical for everyone— can be a great way to attract the kind of attention that might actually up your course’s chances of receiving a high ranking. Everyone, after all, likes a winner. Debates about rankings invariably enter into grillroom discussions so at the very least it’s wise to become conversant with the pros and cons of various architectural and design features that your club may one day feel obligated to consider. I’ve tried, here, to open everyone’s eyes to the fact that finding a precise formula for earning a high course ranking can be a bit like shooting in the dark—unless, perhaps, you’re an Augusta National or Pine Valley, which has near-endless resources and all the right things in place from the very beginning. It’s up to each individual to acquire the knowledge needed to communicate to club boards and committees the potential pitfalls of making significant changes to their course with the sole mission of bumping up their course ratings. But as I said in the beginning of this arti­ cle, my mission here was to present a look at the world of course rating—not a definitive prescription for boosting your ranking. After working on this piece, I feel only one thing in the world of golf rating is for cer­ tain, and that is that nothing is for certain. So is your club focusing its efforts in the right place to boost its rankings? I’ll have to let you be the judge. Now that you’ve read the ins and outs of what’s involved in course rankings, you’re probably sitting there scratching your head. What I’ve realized in my personal experi­ ences as a rater, and now in my research for this article, is that, first and foremost, you shouldn’t disqualify any one rater group from coming to rate your course. As I hope you can see from this article, each group has its own merits. Beyond that, quite honestly, I would be hard-pressed to recommend that you do any Greg Wojick is a member of the Tee to Green one thing over another to win the hearts Editorial Committee and co-owner of Playbooks and ratings of the golf course rating groups. for Golf Tee to Green January/February 2016 A Year in the Life of a Golfweek Rater by Greg Wojick f J his past year, I played some ^ F great courses with great conditions. I golfed with fellow Golfweek raters who are Wall Street professionals, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, green com­ mittee members, club board members, real estate pros, and CPAs, many of whom are private club members. What you’ll read here are a few of the facts and figures surrounding my travels as a Golfweek rater, as well as a number of inter­ esting, even valuable, lessons learned along the way. To put things in perspective, here are a few statistics from my 2015 golfing year: • Rounds played: 20 as a rater; visited ano­ ther 100 or so on work-related trips (My experience is that a typical rater plays between 50 and 150 courses per year.) • Met-area courses played: 12 • Raters retreats attended: 1 (Utah/Nevada) • Years as a Golfweek Rater: 4+ Rater Retreats: They ARE a Treat The year started with me and three other local raters traveling to Utah and Nevada to attend a Golfweek Raters retreat. Raters are required to attend a minimum of one retreat every two years. A retreat typically offers space for as few as a dozen to as many as 50 or more players. Some are mini-retreats that might include two or three courses played over a couple of days. Other retreats offer the opportunity to play four or five courses over four or five days, with dinners, breakfasts, and educa­ tional sessions thrown in. As part of the edu­ cational sessions, Brad Klein frequently is there to offer insightful observations and comments about the courses were about to play. Other times architects like Gil Hanse, George Bahto, Andy Staples, Pete Dye, and Tom Fazio will present their thoughts. And often, the courses’ superintendents will be on hand to present an overview of the days’ conditions, upcoming or completed project work, or recent golf course renovations. In 2016, Golfweek is offering 20 rater retreats throughout the U.S., Spain, Portugal, South Africa, and Nova Scotia. The retreats offered every year include Bandon Dunes, the Kohler courses, several Casino-related courses, Pinehurst, and Kiawah Island. In addition, Golfweek sets up retreats sur­ rounding the Masters and the Ryder Cup. Lessons Learned on the Links in 2015 Here are a few things I picked up in my travels. Lesson #i: Raters aren’t always welcome. A rater can simply contact a club and ask per­ mission to play and rate the course. Most always the Golfweek membership card must be sent to the club. Raters can play and rank a course alone, but more often than not, a group of fellow raters will come to rate a course together. Generally, clubs are pleased to have their courses rated, but every once in a while, I’ll get a less-than-receptive initial response to my request to rate a course. One of the “best” of these responses came from a superintendent I know. When I told him I would like to have a group of cardcarrying raters join me to rank his course, he responded: “Card-carrying? Meaning washedup middle-handicappers who are lookingforfree golf on courses they can’t afford to play, and then rate those courses based on how they set up to their game?” Ok. I had to acknowledge a tincture of truth in this super’s “joking” response, but fv wmm M si great course requires more than a goodfeel or in the p a r k ’appeal. It needs to have a soul. It needs to reek of golf throughout the entire property experience.” h jnnthiry/February 2Q16 - Andy Staples, golf course architect and designer of Sand Hollow Golf Course in Hurricane, Utah nonetheless, he did connect my group of Golfweek raters with the proper channels to play and rank the course. The club? It was Siwanoy and the super, none other than Steven McGlone. It was a pleasant day and opportunity to see the newly renovated course, a Mike DeVries design. Meadow Brook’s John Carlone was another area super who graciously paved the way for our group of raters and gave us a sneak peek into the specifics of their up­ coming renovation work set to start in August. John and his committee have hired both Brian Silva and Brad Klein to design and oversee the work. This chance to play Meadow Brook be­ fore and, hopefully, again after his signifi­ cant renovation is a great opportunity for the non-turf professionals in my raters group to better understand the dynamic nature of courses and ultimately improve their ability to rate them. Lesson #2: Raters’perceptions aren’t always reality. No matter where we play, I always ask my partners questions about their per­ ceptions of the golf course presentation. Invariably, I would be taunted about my ob­ servations, which of course included com­ mentary on disease, mowing patterns, watering techniques, trimming, and rough New Members Please join us in welcoming the following new members: • Rafael Bances, Class C, Sunningdale CC, Scarsdale, NY • Kelly Barrell, Class C, Quaker Ridge GC, Scarsdale, NY • Steven Bigelow, Class C, Winged Foot GC, Mamaroneck, NY • Sean Blatz, Class C, Upper Montclair CC, Clifton, NJ • Joshua Callan, Class C, Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Bronx, NY • Nicholas DeBellis, Class C, Bonnie Briar CC, Larchmont, NY • Timothy Doherty, Class C, Fenway GC, Scarsdale, NY • Wesley Foster, Class C, GlenArbor GC, Bedford Hills, NY • Richard Gold, Class C, Winged Foot GC, Mamaroneck, NY • Shawn Haverdink, Class C, Quaker Ridge GC, Scarsdale, NY • Anthony Heath, Class C, Paramount CC, New City, NY height. Though my golf partners had trouble conversing about golf course maintenance, and would often make light of it, they could speak quite authoritatively about green speed and smoothness. When I would press them to describe what they feel makes for excellent course conditions, they more often than not couldn’t list any specifics, just that they would “know it” when they “experienced it.” Keep in mind, that this kind of subjective assessment isn’t likely unique to this group. I suspect that it happens more often than you might expect among other groups of course raters. Lesson #J: The Information gap hasn’t closed. This past year, I would play with rater groups of non-turf professionals, and we would often be joined by golf pros and members from the clubs we were rating. With each experience, I was made painfully aware that the information gap between turf professionals and golfers is as wide as ever. Little progress has been made in the public’s perception and knowledge of the turfgrass management profession. Golfers do generally believe, however, that they have a grasp on what seems to be “easy work” maintaining a golf course. If only they understood the myriad challenges su­ perintendents and their crews face each day. • Hunter Keech, Class C, Round Hill Club, Greenwich, CT • Scott Lund, Class SM, Tashua Knolls Golf Course, Trumbull, CT • Carlos Martinez, Class C, Upper Montclair CC, Clifton, NJ • Noah McCahill, Class C, Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Bronx, NY • Patrick McGinn, Class C, Waccabuc CC, Waccabuc, NY • Ron McNaughton, Class C, Apawamis Club, Rye, CT • David Miller, Class C, Sunningdale CC, Scarsdale, NY • Thomas Panton-Lula, Class C, Wykagyl CC, New Rochelle, NY • Nicholas Pflster, Class C, Waccabuc CC, Waccabuc, NY • Nicholas Roberto, Class AF, Cushman/ E -Z- GO, Augusta, GA • Mike Scheyd, Class C, National Golf Links of America, Southampton, NY • Daniel Stover, Class C, Innis Arden GC, Old Greenwich, CT Educating the golfing public about what it takes to cultivate and maintain these beauti­ ful golf courses to their standards is a job that still needs to be done— each and every time the opportunity presents itself. Lesson #4: Raters are only human. On a glo­ rious weather day, three fellow Golfweek raters and I made the fun trip to play Fishers Island Club, ranked by all three magazine systems as among the top in the world. Each hole offers wonderful views, as well as golf challenge, strategy, and interest. As circum­ stances would have it, on this day, one mem­ ber of our foursome was struggling with his game. He hit a number of shots offline, sometimes way right or way left. After a dozen holes or so, I politely asked him if he agreed that this course is worthy of one of the world’s top 10 bests. The obviously dejected rater responded, “Not one of my favorites at all.” The 11.0 index golfer ended with a very high score for the day scoring just shy of 100. Human nature can clearly obscure a rater’s perception of the course. Most don’t succumb to this type of rating, but some do. I can attest to the fact that most raters are golf nuts who do take their role seriously, usually in spite of their personal golfing experience on a particular day. In Sympathy It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of A1 Dolge of Alfred K. Dolge Company in Westport, CT. A1 passed away August 23 in his sleep at the age of 88. A member of the MetGCSA since 1991, A1 called on many Met area superintendents throughout the years. After earning a bach­ elor’s from Harvard University and attend­ ing UPenn’s Wharton School of Business, A1 enlisted in the air force where he achieved the rank of captain. After his military service, A1 joined the C.B. Dolge Company of Westport, CT, a family industrial chemical manufacturing business founded in 1889. He later became president of the C.B. Dolge Company, which merged with Rochester Midland Corporation of Rochester, NY Throughout the years, ATs interaction with his customers was his greatest enjoyment. A1 is survived by his wife, Susan Grondona Dolge; his daughter, Elizabeth Christina Dolge of San Rafael, CA; his son, Alfred Karl Dolge Jr. of Chapel Hill, NC, and many friends. Tee to Green January/February 2016 MetGCSA Winter Seminar Offers Superb Day of Education by Jim Pavonetti, CGCS Æ he 2016 MetGCSA Winter Seminar was, once again, a huge success, drawing nearly 300 industry professionals to the Westchester Country Club on January 13. Education Chair Brett Chapin and his committee put together a great lineup of speakers who offered cutting-edge infor­ mation and research that will help superin­ tendents achieve success at their own fa­ cilities in the coming season. In addition to the presenters, a lobby full of vendors offered a wealth of knowledge and information about the latest products and services available in our area. We would like to express our gratitude 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 12. 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 in making this a thoroughly enjoyable experi­ gain further insight into reliable methods for controlling summer patch. ence for all who attended. If you would like further information, What follows is a quick-take on the talks, along with the speakers’ contact informa­ you can reach Dr. Inguagiato at 860-486tion so you could easily pursue any of the 0162 or atjohn.inguagiato@uconn.edu. topics that interest you. Optimizing Cultural and Chemical Management for Summer Patch Control The day began with Dr. John Inguagiato from the University of Connecticut offer­ ing valuable insight into methods for con­ trolling, or at least minimizing, summer patch without the use of or heavy reliance on chemicals. His work has shown that both acidifying fertilizers and manganese applications can pretty much control this turf disease with­ out the help of chemicals. He plans to con­ tinue his work with manganese products to Update on Turf Insecticides Longtime friend of the MetGCSA, Dr. Pat Vittum from the University of Massa­ chusetts, talked to us about one of the biggest problems that Met supers face each season: the annual bluegrass weevil (ABW). Dr. Vittum reviewed the short list of chemi­ cals that we have available to control this pest, and sadly, many of these chemicals do not always give complete control. Dr. Vittum reviewed the timing for ap­ plying these products and also gave a demonstration on how to use the EIQ calcu­ lator. Developed by Cornell University, the calculator is used to determine the impact being made on the environment based on the particular chemical being applied and how large an area its applied to. The EIQ calculator, and plenty of infor­ mation on how to use it, can be found at http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/publications/eiq/. For more information on the ABW, Dr. Vittum can be reached at 413-545-0268 or at pvittum@ent.umass.edu. Wetting Agents and Their Effects on the Putting Green Surface MetGCSA President Glen Dube (right) is pleased to present the association's coveted Sherwood A. Moore Award to Rockland Country Club Superintendent Matt Ceplo. 3 Tee to Green January /February 2016 Dr. Douglas Karcher from the University of Arkansas was up next to speak to us about the effects of different wetting agents on putting green surface quality. Contrary to what most superintendents believe, his university trials have shown that wetting agents of all kinds do not soften the putting surface. Dr. Karcher is continuing his trials, con­ ducting them, this time, in the field, where many superintendents have observed softer surfaces after a wetting agent application. He will be looking at dilution rates and the rate at which these products are being washed in. In addition, he plans to examine what products superintendents may be tank-mixing with wetting agents and how Atlantic Golf Club Superintendent Bob Ranum (left) and MetGCSA President Glen Dube (right) strike a pose with the association's 26th John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award winner, renowned Golf Course Architect Rees Jones. For more information, Dr. G il can be reached at rob.golembiewski@bayer.com or at 541-602-3077. New York State BMPs for Golf Courses: Implementation that may affect their performance on put­ ting surfaces. For further information on this topic, Dr. Karcher can be reached at 479-575-5723 or at karcher@uark.edu. 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 the MetGCSAs coveted John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award and Sherwood A. Moore Award. Presenting our 26th John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award to Golf Course Archi­ tect Rees Jones was Bob Ranum from Atlantic Golf Club. Bob worked with Rees while growing in Atlantic, and the two have become close friends over the years. Rees Jones gave a great acceptance speech that included interesting stories about his father, renowned Golf Course Architect Robert Trent Jones, and how both he and his father got their start in the business. Rees also had great things to say about superin­ tendents and their importance to the success of the countless projects Rees has managed over the course of his career. You can read more about Rees Jones in the December 2015 issue of Tee to Green, on the Mets web­ site, www.metgcsa.org. Bob Nielsen of Bedford Golf & Tennis Club took the podium next to present the MetGCSAs Sherwood A. Moore Award to Matt Ceplo. Bob has worked with Matt for many years on the MetGCSA board and on numerous committees and projects, becom­ ing great friends with him in the process. Matt’s many contributions to the industry are hard to match, and his acceptance speech was heartfelt, touching everyone in the audi­ ence, as he talked about his many affiliations and experiences through his service to the industry. You can read more about Matt and his accomplishments and dedication to the golf industry in the September/October/ November 2015 issue of Tee to Green, which can also be found on the Mets website. Rollin’ in the Green: Impact of Today’s Maintenance Practices on Green Speed and Plant Health After lunch, Dr. Rob Golembiewski from Bayer Environmental Science (better known as Dr. G il) spoke about the various methods that golf course superintendents have de­ vised to achieve daily green speeds that, not long ago, were considered unattainable. Lower mowing heights, rolling, water management, and plant growth regulators are some of the turf management practices that have changed the game of golf for the everyday golfer. Dr. G11 showed us data that proves that you can maintain decent daily green speeds while preserving plant health by alternating rolling and mowing days. If faster speeds are desired for a particular tour­ nament, you can both roll and mow on the same day, rather than lowering the height of cut, which could affect the health of the turf. Ken Benoit of GlenArbor Golf Club and Dr. Frank Rossi from Cornell University came to speak about Phase II of the New York State Best Management Practices for Golf Courses. With Phase II of the BMP project, superintendents are able to take a quiz and fill out a survey to determine where they stand from an environmental standpoint. As the superintendent fills out the quiz, any “wrong” answers display a link to the section of the BMP website that addresses that particular subject. This is the imple­ mentation of the project that started in February of 2012. Ken and Dr. Rossi also spoke about gener­ ating participation in case studies that will be added to the website. These case studies will include anything that a superintendent has done to enhance the environment or preserve our natural resources. Ken, for in­ stance, presented a case study that he com­ pleted describing the installation of quick­ coupling valves for hand-watering particu­ lar areas on his course, which resulted in water conservation. His case study took him only 45 minutes to complete. For more information on the BMP Pro­ ject, Phase II, and how to create a case study for the BMPs, contact Ken Benoit at kbenoit@glenarborclub.com or at 914241-0700. Dr. Rossi can be reached at 607255-1629 or at fsr3@cornell.edu. Join Us Next Year Special thanks, again, to Brett and the Education Committee for their efforts in planning this ever-popular event, to David and Westchester Country Club for being such gracious hosts, and to our vendors for their continued participation and support. It’s all this that makes our Winter Sem­ inar one of the most valuable educational opportunities we have available to us all year. Be sure not to miss this informationpacked event in 2017! Jim Pavonetti, Tee to Green editor and chair of the Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT. Tee to Green January/February 2016 Special Thanks to Our 2016 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 Rick Gordon Staff Uniforms 201-488-1276 m errickl60@ aol.com Growth Products, Ltd. Howie Gold Liquid Fertilizers 800-648-7626 hgold@growthproducts.com Syngenta Brian Goudey Chemical Company 518-764-2412 brian.goudey@syngenta.com Aquatrols, Inc. Kevin Collins Soil & Water Quality Management Solutions 609-841-2077 kpcl0512@ yahoo.com Harrell's LLC Scott Tretera Golf Course Supplies 914-262-8638 stretera@harrells.com Synergy/Pocono Turf Bobby bteinman, CGCS Agronomic Professionals 860-488-2822 Bobby7777@ aol.com LaCorte Equipment Jim Calladio John Deere Golf Dealer 631-891-2425 marketing@lacorteequipment.com Tanto Irrigation, LLC Bill Bartels Irrigation Installation Services 914-347-5151 wbartels@tantoirrigation.com Metro Turf Specialists Scott Apgar Golf Course Supplies 203-748-4653 scott.apgar@metroturfspecialists.com The Care of Trees Michael Cook Entire Tree Care Company 914-345-8733 mcook@thecareoftrees.com Plant Food Company, Inc. Dick Neufeld The Liquid Fertilizer Experts 973-945-6318 dneufeld@plantfoodco.com Tom Irwin, Inc. Jeff Houde 203-731-1776 jeff@tomirwin.com Atlantic Golf & Turf 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 Cushman/E-Z-GO Nick Roberto 845-637-7641 nroberto@textron.com DeLea Sod Farms Steve Geiser High-Quality Sod & Root Zone Mixes for Golf Courses 800-344-7637 'com DryJect NE / TurfPounders Steve Jordan DryJect & Aeration Specialists 914-602-2857 Jordan781@m sn.com Evergreen Organics Ray Colasacco Organic Recycling 914-949-9030 EverGreenOrganicRecycling@gmail.com Executive Turf Products Ken Gentile Golf Course Supplies 203-496-0891 executiveturf@aol.com Grass Roots, Inc. Ryan Batz Golf Course Supplies 973-252-6634 ryan.batz@GRIturf.com Playbooks for Golf Golf Course Coverage System, Irrigation Mapping, Aerials, Consulting, Career Development Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254 gwojick@goplaybooks.com Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052 mleverich@goplaybooks.com Saturated Solutions, LLC Paul Boyd Jr. 203-980-1301 saturatedservices@gmail.com Seeton Turf Warehouse Brian Bontemps Golf Course Supplies 845-239-7959 brianbontemps@seetonturf.com Steven Willand Inc. George Corgan A Jacobsen Golf & Turf Equipment Dealer 914-213-3622 Storr Tractor Company Rick Krok 908-722-9830 rckrok@storrtractor.com Tee to Green January/February 2016 Turf Products LLC Pat Cragin Toro Irrigation & Equipment 860-874-2812 pcragin@turfproductscorp.com r Green, Inc. Greq Moran Landscape & Golf Supplies 203-831-9748 g.moran@valleygreenusa.com Valley View Greenhouses Frank Amodio 914-553-2526 vvgh@aol.com Westchester Tractor, Inc. John Apple Equipment Dealer 845-278-7766 www.tractor.com Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. Dave Lippman Golf Course Supplies 914-447-5192 westturf@comcast.net Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Glenn Gallion Golf Course Equipment 201-954-5878 ggwilmac@aol.com Assistant Supers Gathei Premier Career-Buildin by Raymond Platt MetGCSA’s first-ever As­ sistant Superintendent CareerBuilding Seminar was a huge suc­ cess, drawing 60 career-focused assistant superintendents to Siwanoy Country Club on January 22. Class C Representative David Parson and his committee put together a superb lineup of speakers who offered valuable career insights for today’s assistant superintendent. Typical of most MetGCSA events, there was a great sense of comradery among seminar attendees. We would like to extend a sincere thank you to our assistant super­ intendent host and forum moderator, Josh Haugh, and to Superintendent Steven McGlone and the rest of the Siwanoy Country Club staff for their part in making our inaugural assistant superintendent event one to remember. Here are the highlights of this career­ building event. Making the Most of Your Professional Career Greg Wojick from Playbooks for Golf of­ fered some interesting information on how new superintendents, and assistants alike, can utilize a variety of mobile platforms to help develop their professional careers. Through utilizing services like the Cov­ erage System, ezPins hole location mobile software, and GPS Mapping, new superin­ tendents now have the opportunity to elim­ inate some of the guesswork and trial-anderror that goes into the job. During the presentation, Greg also high­ lighted a number of industry trends that he has noticed through his career placement services. Among them was that an increasing number of clubs are hiring superintendents based on the status or notoriety of the clubs they’ve worked for. For those who don’t have a Top 100 club in their work history, he sug­ gests bolstering your resume by continually working toward achievements and mile­ stones both on the job and within your chapter organization. For more information on career services, contact Greg Wojick at 203-219-0254 or by email at gwojick@goplaybooks.com. •for MetGCSA’s I Seminar Ideas for Success as a First-Time Superintendent Bill Bartels, CEO of Tanto Irrigation, pro­ vided interesting insight into how to suc­ ceed as a first-time superintendent. A firm believer in becoming self-aware and con­ stantly pushing to make the most out of your career as a golf course superintendent, Bill also stresses the importance of expand­ ing your knowledge beyond the turf indus­ try. He recommends that golf course pro­ fessionals work to speak the same language as club members and understand their per­ spective. To do that, he suggests becoming well read in the world of business and noted a few of his favorite reads. He also urges becoming involved in organizations outside of the industry to broaden your knowledge base and hone your communication skills. Before finishing, Bill reminded the room full of aspiring superintendents to be hum­ ble and open to change along their journey. For more information, Bill Bartels can be reached at 914-347-05151 or by email at wbartels@tantoirrigation.com. Budgeting and Financing In a joint presentation, MetGCSA Education Chair Brett Chapin of Redding Country Club and Philadelphia Cricket Club Su­ perintendent Dan Meersman shared the basics of creating and maintaining an an­ nual budget and the ins and outs of capital projects and the expenditures involved. During his portion of the presentation, Brett urged assistants to make themselves as irreplaceable as possible and, when the time comes to present budgets, be the most pre­ pared department head within your club. He emphasized the importance of treating the clubs money with the same respect and care as you would your own hard-earned money He also reminded eager assistants that one of the keys to career success is to always respect the other department heads at your club throughout the budget process. For more in­ formation, Brett Chapin can be reached by email at green@reddingcc.com or at 203885-3109. Dan Meersman spoke next, explaining the capital planning side of the superintendent’s job. The driving force behind capital proj­ ects are, of course, the needs of the club. He explained that in all projects, achieving good results takes sacrifice. Dan suggested involv­ ing your membership in any decision-mak­ ing to mitigate risk. Member committee meetings are a great way to get the members involved and to discuss budgets while re­ viewing the work completed in person. Dan was also a strong proponent of pro­ moting yourself and your work throughout the club. One way to do that is to make yourself available to help other club depart­ ments involved in special projects. He sug­ gested making yourself the go-to guy in the club. When another department wants a project completed it speaks highly of you to be their first call. He also urged assistants to document pro­ jects using before-and-after pictures. He explained the importance of having exam­ ples of the product you produce when pur­ suing job opportunities. For more infor­ mation on this topic, Dan Meersman can be reached at 215-290-0268 or by email at dmeersman@philacricket.com. Open Forum concerns that have plagued the industry for years. The group of assistants gave feedback on the day and what they would like to see in next years seminar. Most all ideas steered away from agronomics and more toward career advancement and ways to become a better manager. Other discussions during the open forum included tactics for staying fresh and cur­ rent with the increasing demands of the assistant superintendent role, along with a discussion on education and the role of an MBA within the industry. For more infor­ mation on the discussion, Josh Haugh can be reached at 914-961-8698 or by email at Joshua.Haugh8@gmail.com. Special thanks, again, to Class C Rep David Parson and the Class C Committee for their efforts in planning this highly edu­ cational event. If you have any suggestions or comments you would like to share on this and future seminars, feel free to contact David at 914-441-1958, or you can reach him by email at dparson89@yahoo.com. We would also like to share our apprecia­ tion for the great group of assistants who participated in this cornerstone event. We hope to see even more of you next year at this valuable educational session! Raymond Platt is an assistant superintendent at In a lively discussion moderated by Josh Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT. Haugh, assistants shared ideas and expressed Tee to Green January/February 2016 Dave Mahoney Two-Ball at Siwanoy Country Club by Chip Lafferty t J M hope everyone is enjoying this W slow time of year and looking for_-^^ward to knocking the rust off your golf games on April 19, when Steven McGlone hosts the annual Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Qualifier at Siwanoy Country Club. Those of us who have been around the Met area for a while remember Siwanoy as the late Dave Mahoney’s place. But now, after overseeing seven years of course renovations, Steven McGlone and his staff have made their own indelible mark. The work that Dave and the club started in 2007, and spent a year getting underway with Architect Mike DeVries, was com­ pleted in the spring of 2015 under Stevens watchful eye. Steven, his team, and the club should be applauded for their efforts. If you haven’t played Siwanoy in a while, I urge you to come out for the season-open­ ing Two-Ball Qualifer. The course may be in the same location, but it has an all-new look and appeal. Siwanoy Transformed First a nine-hole course along White Plains Road, Siwanoy built an 18-hole course in 1913 at its current site in Bronxville, NY, under the guidance of Architect Donald Ross. Over the years, numerous architects added their personal touch to the greens, tees, and bunkers. Among them were Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Arthur Hills. Nearly a century later, on a mission to recapture the course’s original Donald Ross design intent, the club began its transforma­ tion with an extensive tree removal pro­ gram that cleared more than 700 trees. With a clean slate, Architect Mike DeVries was able to work his magic. The property is now a more open land­ scape that can be appreciated from all angles. Stevens maintenance facility sits at the far end of the property with the club entrance located on the opposite side. By opening up of the property, you can actually see from the maintenance facility clear to the 18th hole and entrance some threequarters of a mile away. The $6M project was completed in six phases, with work being done in the spring Tee to Green January/February 2016 and fall alternately. Amazingly, throughout the entire process, the course never closed. There was always a portion open to play, which offered members the added benefit of being able to view aspects of each phase of the construction. Few features remain untouched: Bunkers, green surfaces, and aprons were restored; tee length was added; cart paths rerouted; and a new irrigation system was installed. Though only two greens were completely rebuilt to USGA specs, DeVries nearly dou­ bled the size of every green throughout the course. It is safe to say he didn’t just recap­ ture lost pins and strategy, but also created some nuances that will keep golfers inter­ ested for years to come. A particularly challenging aspect of the project was altering some of the property’s ponds and a few of the streams’ natural pathways. The club had to seek the approval not only of the town, county, and state, but also the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Get­ ting approval for these modifications was no small task, but the end result is a marvel in course restoration. “Dave is looking down from above and going, ‘Oh yeah, man, they got it!”’ says Mike DeVries, referring to the pond/stream work on the 5th, 6th, and 7th holes. Career Beyond Course Construction Now that the construction is complete, Steven and his team are working on lower­ ing their inputs, while still maintaining stellar playing conditions. “We are focused on stretching our application intervals and are committed to doing more with less,” says Steven. “It’s not a budget issue as much as a conscious shift to a more IPM/BMP focus. We want to be ahead of the curve when—not if—stricter legislation is put in place that limits the products we’ve been accustomed to using in maintaining the course at Siwanoy.” Steven is also focused on doing his part to sustain the profession. An active member of the MetGCSA, Steven is currently serving as a director on the board and has been on the Tee to Green Editorial Committee for the past four years. He also served on the Steven McGlone committee responsible for hiring Mike McCall, our new executive director. Steven finds his volunteer service noth­ ing short of rewarding. “It’s a lot of work,” says Steven. “There are some true work­ horses on the current board who are mak­ ing sure our association is headed in the right direction. I learn a great deal being surrounded by so many smart guys who truly love our profession.” The Road to Siwanoy Steven, like many superintendents, didn’t begin his college career with a degree in turfgrass management in mind. In fact, he completed a B.S. in Geography from Ohio University with his sights set on becoming an urban planner. His career path took a turn, however, with the encouragement of Jim Noel, superintendent of Lakewood Country Club in Steven’s hometown of Westlake, OH. Steven had worked summers at Lakewood through high school and then college, and seeing his potential, Jim en­ couraged him to pursue a degree in turf­ grass management. Following Noel’s advice, Steven com­ pleted a turf degree from Penn State in 2004, interning at The Country Club in Pepper Pike, OH. He then moved to the West Coast to become an assistant at Cypress Point Club in Pebble Beach, CA, where he stayed for three years. In March of 2007, he returned East, ac­ cepting an assistant’s position with Quaker Ridge Golf Club Superintendent Tom Ashfield, who Steven credits for the guid­ ance and impeccable training he provided. By September of 2008, Steven was well equipped to assume his current position as Siwanoy s golf course superintendent. In the midst of Steven’s transition from Mark Your Calendar With These Upcoming MetGCSA and Industry Events urban planning studies to Siwanoy super­ intendent, he met and then married his wife of seven years, Margie. Margie and Steven live in a recently renovated 1800s farmhouse on the western side of Siwanoy with their 5-year-old son, Finley, and 2year-old daughter, Sydney Beyond Turf Outside of this very busy life, Steven and Margie love to experiment with cooking a variety of cuisines. “We enjoy preparing all types of food, with the prime focus being providing our kids with balanced nutrition and adding a little variety to keep it interesting and fun for all of us,” says Steven. “The kids are great and keep us grounded. What we do is for them now and we are enjoying every minute.” Steven also enjoys repurposing old wood into practical, period-type furni­ ture.“! have a workshop in the basement,” says Steven, “and recently made Finley a chest for his toys out of old pallet wood. I also created a wine rack for us.” That only follows since Steven and his wife also love wine but, admittedly, are not connoisseurs by any stretch. Perhaps attending a few wine tastings and gather­ ing input from the likes of Bob Nielsen and Bill Perlee will put them well on their way to wine aficionadodom! Don’t Miss the Fun! I hope all of you will mark your calendars and come out to participate in what, I feel, is one of our most important golf events of the year. Dave loved the camaraderie with all the guys and was really the person responsible for making this event a truly enjoyable experience. Steven now holds the baton, and we know Dave couldn’t have selected a better successor! Grab a partner, and we’ll see you all on April 19! Chip Lafferty, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Rye Golf Club in Rye, NY. Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Championship Qualifier Tuesday, April 19 Siwanoy CC, Bronxville, NY Host: Steven McGlone Met Area Team Championship Monday, September 26 The CC of Scranton, Clarks Summit, PA Host: Greg Boring The Poa/MetGCSA Tournament Superintendent/Guest Tournament Thursday, May 12 Paramount CC, New City, NY Host: Brian Chapin Monday, October 3 Metropolis CC, White Plains, NY Host: Dave McCaffrey Nine and Dine Event MetGCSA Invitational Tournament Monday, June 6 CC of Darien, Darien, CT Host: Tim O ’Neill, CGCS Date TBA Silvermine Golf Club, Norwalk, CT Host: Larry Pakkala, CGCS MetGCSA/CAGCS Fall Seminar Thursday, November 10 The Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT Host: Jason Meersman Regional Events The 12th Annual Joseph Troll Turf Classic Monday, May 16 Pine Hills Golf Club Plymouth, MA Superintendent Joseph Felicetti will host this year’s UMass Alumni Turf Group fundraiser in support of turf education and research at the University of Massachusetts. Please plan to attend this worthy fund­ raiser, and watch for details. Entry forms and additional information will be available on­ line at www.alumniturfgroup.com. 21st Annual Rutgers Turfgrass Research Golf Classic Monday, May 2 Fiddlers Elbow Country Club Bedminster, NJ Plan now to join fellow industry profession­ als for this annual fundraiser and a day of golf, education, and fun. Your partici-pation helps fund research grants, student scholar­ ships, equipment, and special projects for the Turfgrass Research, Teaching, and Extension programs at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences/ Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. For further information, call 973-8126467 or log on to www.njturfgrass.org. 2016 University of Connecticut Turfgrass Field Day Tuesday,July 19 UConn Plant Science Research and Education Facility Storrs, CT The field day will offer guided tours of a variety of research projects underway at the university followed by a delicious and lunch and an opportunity to connect with fellow turf professionals. Exhibitors from across the region will also be present with product and service information for the turfgrass industry. Watch the website for further details as the date approaches: www.turf.uconn.edu. Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day (Golf & Fine Turf) Tuesday, August 2 Horticultural Farm II New Brunswick, NJ Save the date, and watch for details. Visit www.njturfgrass.org or call 973-812-6467 for further information. Tee to Green January/February 2016 Meet Your 2016 MetGCSA Board From left to right: Secretary RohAlonzi of Fenway GC;Vice President David Dudones of Westchester CC; Steven McGlone of Siwanoy CC;Past President Blake Halderman, CGCS, of Brae Burn CC;Treasurer Ken Benoit, CGCS, of GlenArbor GC;Doug Drugo of Wee Burn CC; Brett Chapin of Redding CC; Brian Chapin, Paramount CC;Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, ofFairview CC; Class C Rep Dave Parson ofTheApawamis Club; President Glen Dube, CGCS, of Centennial GC;M ike Brunelle, CGCS, of Upper Monclair CC; Class AF Rep Bobby Steinman, CGCS, ofPocono Turf At-a-Glance Guide to Your MetGCSA Committee Chairs Here is a list of each of the MetGCSA’s 2016 committee chairs, including their phone numbers and emails. Please feel free to con­ tact any of them with questions, comments, or helpful suggestions. Awards Committee Blake Halderman, CGCS, Brae Burn CC bhalderman@braeburncc.org 914-946-1074 / Cell 914-469-1987 Bylaws Committee David Dudones, Westchester CC daviddudones@netscape.net 914-967-6000 / Cell 973-417-0415 Club Relations Committee Blake Halderman, CGCS, Brae Bum CC Steven McGlone (Website) Siwanoy CC smcglone@siwanoycc.com 914-961-8698 / Cell 914-841-1000 Education Committee Brett Chapin, Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Environmental Committee Ken Benoit, CGCS, GlenArbor GC Tee to Green January/February 2016 Brian Chapin, Paramount CC bchapin@paramountcountryclub.com 845-634-4626 / Cell 201-247-3637 Scholarship & Research Committee Blake Halderman, CGCS (Tri-State) Brae Burn CC daviddudones@netscape.net 914-967-6000 / Cell 973-417-0415 Government Relations Committee bhalderman@braeburncc.org 914-946-1074 / Cell 914-469-1987 green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Social & Welfare Committee Blake Halderman, CGCS, Brae Burn CC mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com 973-777-6710 / Cell 973-417-8199 Membership Committee pavonettij@yahoo.com 203-531-8910 / Cell 203-223-5403 Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, Fairview CC Communications Committee Mike Brunelle, CGCS (Advertising) Upper Montclair CC bhalderman@braeburncc.org 914-946-1074 / Cell 914-469-1987 David Dudones, Westchester CC Brett Chapin, (CT), Redding CC pavonet tij @y ahoo. com 203-531-8910 / Cell 203-223-5403 Blake Halderman, CGCS, Brae Burn CC kbenoit@glenarborclub. com 914-241-0700 / Cell 914-760-3575 bhalderman@braeburncc.org 914-946-1074 / Cell 914-469-1987 Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, (Tee to Green) Fairview CC Long-Range Planning & Steering Committee bhalderman@braeburncc.org 914-946-1074 / Cell 914-469-1987 Investment Committee David Dudones, Westchester CC daviddudones@netscape.net 914-967-6000 / Cell 973-417-0415 Brett Chapin, (CT), Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Tournament Committee Doug Drugo, Wee Burn Country Club doug@weeburn.com 203-656-3843 / Cell 203-339-1493 I^ atron Directory Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. O A.G. Enterprises Dryject North East LLC “Your Aerification Solution” Steve Jordan 570-421-8800 / Fax: 570-421-8083 jordan781@msn.com Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms 201-488-1276 / Fax:201-489-5830 merrickl 60@gmail.com www.AGEnterprisesonline.com O All Pro Horticulture, Inc. O 54 Railroad Avenue Copiague, NY 11726 John Seib 631-789-6680 / Fax: 631-789-5711 john@allprohort.com O Aqua-Aid, Inc. Surfactants, Verde Cal, OARS, Root Pruner, & Drill & Fill Bert Brace: 570-510-4996 Bert@aquaaid.com info@aquaaid.com © Emerald Tree Care, Inc. O Pinnacle Turf, Inc. 40 Skyview Lane New Rochelle, NY 10804 Steven Renzetti, CGCS 914-384-9227 srenzetti@verizon.net www.Pinnacleturf.net 26 Fox Meadow Road Scarsdale, NY 10583 Steve Farrelly: 914-725-0441 Kevin Wyatt: 203-422-2441 © Plant Food Company, Inc. 1160 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 James Amodio / Raymond Colasacco 914-949-9030 Ray@EvergreenOrganicRecycling.com © Playbooks for Golf Evergreen Organic Recycling “The Liquid Fertilizer Experts” Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111 Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318 Tom Pepe: 609-751-1372 David Conrad: 914-263-3244 © The Terre Company of New Jersey, Inc. Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock, & Fertilizer Byron Johnson: 973-473-3393 Scott Ferguson: 201-956-4511 sferguson@terrecompany.com O Tom Irwin Inc. “With Tom Irwin, You Are Not Alone” 13 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803 Jeff Houde: 203-731-1776 800-582-5959 jeff@tomirwin.com Mobile Coverage System, Golf Course © Turf Products LLC / TORO Field Guides, Soil Analytics, Aerial Toro Irrigation & Equipment Photography, Consulting, Career Pat Cragin Executive Turf Products Development, Professional Search Services Cell: 860-874-2812 Aquatrols Corp. of America 92 Vine Road, Stamford, CT 06905 Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254 Ofc: 800-243-4355 1273 Imperial Way Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891 Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052 Paulsboro NJ 08066 executiveturfproducts@gmail.com © Valley Green, Inc. www.goplaybooks.com Kevin P. Collins, NE & 205 Wilson Avenue © Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc. Mid-Atlantic Territory Mgr. © Seeton Turf Warehouse, LLC Norwalk, CT 06854 “Serving Turfgrass Professionals 609-841-2077 Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959 Greg Moran Since 1978” kevin.collins@Aquatrols.com Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139 Cell: 845-901-1358 Ryan Batz / Keith Kubik brianbontemps@seetonturf.com Ofc: 203-831-9748 Argento & Sons, Inc. Ofc: 973-252-6634 g.moran@valleygreenusa.com 1 Prospect Avenue www.GRIturf.com / sales@GRIturf.com Soil Solutions, LLC White Plains, NY 10607 Aerification Professionals © Valley View Wholesale © Growth Products, LTD Louis Argento 7 Whittemore Place Greenhouses Fertilizers, Organics, & 914-949-1152 / Fax:914-948-0255 Fungicide Products Ryebrook, NY 10573 229 Smith Ridge Road louis@argentoandsons.com Anthony Decicco / John Decicco South Salem, NY 10590 80 Lafayette Avenue 914-393-0659 / Fax:914-939-5010 Frank Amodio Atlantic Golf & Turf White Plains, NY 10603 wgh@aol.com 9 Industrial Boulevard Howie Gold: 917-559-4425 © Steven Willand, Inc. Kevin Amodio Turner Falls, MA 01376 hgold@growthproducts.com “Quality Turf Equipment” kevin.wgh@yahoo.com John Garcia: 203-996-6267 4 Production Drive © Harrell’s 914-533-2526 jngarc@gmail.com Brookfield, CT 06804 “Growing a Better World. Partners p i o Atlantic Irrigation George Corgan: 914-213-3622 © Westchester Tractor, Inc. for Success” georgecorgan@charter.net 60 International Boulevard Specialists, Inc. Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638 www.StevenWillandInc.com Brewster, NY 10509 Rain Bird & All Related Supplies stretera@harrells.com John Apple / Charlie Siemers Ray Beaudry / Tim Marcoux Fred Montgomery: 518-813-7814 © Synergy Turf / Pocono 845-278-7766 800-878-8873 fmontgomery@harrells.com Turf Supply www.wtractor.com www.harrells.com “Agronomic Professionals” o BASF Bobby Steinman, CGCS: 860-488-2822 © Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. “Intrinsic Brand Fungicides” LaBar Golf Renovations bobby7777@aol.com “Serving the MetGCSA for Peter Jacobson: 919-530-9062 6 Claremont Road, Suite D1 * Ernie Steinhofer, CGCS: 860-488-0533 39 Years” peter.jacobson@basf.com Bernardsville, NJ 07924 ejsturfmc@gmail.com Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257 Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253 © Bayer Environmental Science Tim Joyce: 631-601-5294 bobwestturf@comcast.net rich@labargolf.com “Backed by Bayer” tim_joyce@aol.com Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192 colleen@labargolf.com Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173 westturf@comcast.net © Syngenta © LaCorte Equipment ~ info@westchesterturf.com Blue Ridge Peat Farms Brian Goudey: 518-764-2412 John Deere Golf 133 Peat Moss Road 23 Roslyn Drive, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 © Westwood Organic “Premier John Deere Golf Distributor White Haven, PA 18661 Ofc: 518-424-0760 / Fax: 518-399-6588 Recycling in the Northeast” Gene Evans / Chuck Evans br ian.goudey@sy ngent a.com PO. Box 139, Purchase, NY 10577 Eric Berg / Jeff Sutphen / Jim Calladio 570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888 James Scoli: 914-949-3244 800-560-3373 / Fax: 631-591-3447 © Tanto Irrigation, LLC 914-946-WOOD Cushman / E-Z-GO golfparts@LaCorteEquipment.com “Serving the MetGCSA for 40+ Years info@westwoodorganic.com Nick Roberto: 845-637-7641 www.LaCorteEquipment.com William Bartels: 914-347-5151 nroberto@t ext ron .com Fax:914-347-6323 © Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. Brashears & Graham, Inc. Marc Santospirito: 516-662-3554 ® Leggette, wbartels@tantoirrigation.com South Hackensack, NJ 07606 Hydrogeologic Consulting & Glenn Gallion: 201-954-5878 o Custom Golf Environmental Engineering Services © The Cardinals, Inc. ggwilmac@aol.com Golf Course Materials Rob Good:860-678-0404 Complete Distributor of Golf Course Michael Giacini: 631-433-4494 rgood@lbgct.com Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies Winfield Solutions, Inc. nmgiacini@verizon.net John Callahan: 800-861-6256 “Service, Solutions, Insight” © Metro Turf Specialists Fax:860-673-8443 Mike DiLorenzo, CGCS: DeLea Sod Farms “Customers, Our TOP Priority” 518-428-8625 Scott / Todd / Rich / Jake / Matt Bentgrass, Fescue, Bluegrass Sod, & © The Care of Trees mwdilorenzo@landolakes.com 203-748-GOLF (4653) U.S. Silica Topdressing Mike Cook: 914-345-8733 www.winfieldpro.com www.metroturfspecialists.com Scott Geiser: 800-344-7637 Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110 sgeiser@deleasod.com Ken Clear: 203-863-0900 Greg Gutter: 914-241-8110 o Double ‘D’ Turf, LLC Drill & Fill Specialist Dennis DeSanctis Sr.: 732-241-7378 © Denotes MetGCSA member dennis@doubleDturf.com o o Ace Sponsors PO&TE J ohn M etro TurfSpenaUsts COP4PANY, INC Double Eagle Sponsors O A q u a tp Growing A Better WorM** S eeton T urf •Warehouse, I4JJ * -vËÊWMÉ^ Inc. ^ » a lit y T u r f E q u i p m ^ 4