I

Cover: Country
Club of Darien

n this Issue
MetGCSA Welcomes Mike M cCall as the New
Exectuve D irector.............................................................................................. 2
Departments
U pcom ing E ven ts...............................................................................................5
National News .....................................................................................................6
National Scorecard............................................................................................7
Chapter N ew s....................................................................................................... 8
Spotlights............................................................................................................. 10

lE R IA L S

Communication:
A Life Skill
Worth Learning

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARIES

Communication ; The act
or process of using
words, sounds, signs, or
behaviors to exchange
information or express
feelings to someone
else.

Seems simple enough, doesn’t it? And it is
amazing what can happen when the most
basic forms of communication are clearly
expressed and are properly received by the
person you are sharing information with.
Take for instance, this issue of Tee to Green.
Pandora, Terrie, and the entire Communi­
cations Committee work extremely hard to
produce this publication. They acquire and
disseminate information to the membership
in a timely manner in both the printed
and digital form. Current and timely arti­
cles, updated website content, and advertis­
ing from our affiliate members are com­
municated to our membership, allowing
them to make better and more informed
decisions at their clubs or businesses.
Though turf schools rarely emphasize the
importance of effective communication,
much less the intricacies of communicating
with staff, colleagues, and green committee
members, skilled communication is central
to our jobs as golf course managers.
Think, for a moment, what happens when
there is a breakdown in communication, and
thoughts, feelings, or ideas don’t reach their
intended target? I probably don’t have to tell
you, things don’t go very well.
Picture, for instance, deciding to aerify
greens one day without alerting your
membership or management team. Or what
would happen if your club scheduled an
outing without informing you and you were
out applying a critical fairway spray. This
failure to communicate would not only
cause significant inconvenience, but also
great embarrassment to all parties involved,
and to think, these situations could easily be
avoided if properly communicated.
Perhaps one of the biggest mistakes we
make during the communication process is
making assumptions. As the great play­
wright, George Bernard Shaw, once said,
“The single biggest problem in communica­
tion is the illusion that it has taken place.”

Glen Dube, CGCS
MetGCSA President

Whether it’s communication with a crew
member, an assistant superintendent, or
with club members, making assumptions
only leads to problems and inefficiencies
within your organization. I learned from
someone much smarter and wiser than me
to resist the urge to assume that something
will be done or communicated.
If you take for granted, for instance, that
in your absence a staff member will know to
watch for wilt or communicate a rain delay
to the pro shop, invariably, the opposite of
what you expect will happen, and you’ll
have a potential problem on your hands. As
golf course managers, it’s imperative we be
proactive and inform those around us of all
that is relevant both on and off the course.
Clear and thorough communication is a
top priority for the MetGCSA board and
paramount for the smooth operation of our
association. And it’s a top priority for me
too—on both a professional and personal
level. As my job as superintendent and my
life as a husband and father to three children
evolve, I realize more than ever the key
role communication plays in our ability to
succeed both personally and profession­
ally— and conversely, the consequences
of inadequate or faulty communication. A
quote I remember hearing is all too true:
“We should communicate not just to be
understood, but moreover so as not to be
misunderstood.”
As I strive to improve my communication
skills, I realize that it’s no easy task. It takes
consistent attention and effort, and a good
amount of practice too. But the payoff of
communicating effectively makes the
struggle worthwhile, if just to make work
life and home life flow a bit easier.
Glen Dube, CGCS
MetGCSA President
Tee to Green March /April 2016

February, I made my way to the MGA
building in Elmsford, NY I had scheduled a
meeting with the MetGCSA’s newly hired
executive director, Mike McCall.
When I arrived, our executive secretary,
Susan O ’Dowd, escorted me down the hall
to Mike’s office on the first floor. Greeting
Mike, with a “Welcome to the Met,” he rose
from a crouched position behind his desk
where he had started to unpack his belong­
ings. After waving me inside with a friendly,
“Hey, come on in,” our conversation began.
Having served on the MetGCSA’s Execu­
tive Director Search Committee, I knew
that Mike comes to us with a wealth of
knowledge and experience acquired over the
course of his varied and successful career.
Many of you may already know Mike or
have done business with him as he has been a
superintendent, general manager, and for the
past 15 years, managing member of McCall
Management Group, LLC, a consultant and
management firm focusing on organiza­
tional assessments, strategic planning, prob­
lem solving, project management, and
recruiting for a broad range of industries,
from hospitality to government.
Our discussion, which I am sharing here,
will give you insight into not only Mike’s
goals and aspirations for the association and
industry, but also a glimpse of who he is out­
side the world of golf. (You might also find it
interesting to revisit the article “Naval
Officer Turned Super Shares Valuable
Lessons Learned in Leadership,” which Mike
wrote for our March/April 2004 issue of Tee
to Green. You will find it archived on metgcsa.org.)
Please join the MetGCSA Board of Direc­
tors in welcoming Mike McCall as our asso­
ciation’s new executive director.

Tee to Green March/April 2016

Everything that the Met stands for, I standfor—-from
professionalism and government advocacy to a passion for
and commitment
to enhanciof golf^ ^

TTG: Why did yon reach out and apply for
the executive director position?
MIKE: Although I left the golf course
superintendent role, I still have a strong
affiliation with the golf course industry.
Everything that the Met stands for, I stand
for—from professionalism and government
advocacy to a passion for and commitment
to enhancing the game of golf The position
is complementary to my company’s mission
of providing competent professional services
with the utmost integrity to enhance or­
ganizations’ financial, operational, customer
service, and administrative processes. Com­
bine this, with my background as a superin­
tendent, and it seemed like a natural fit.
TTG: What experience are you bringing
with you to help the Met grow into the
future?
MIKE: I feel that my experience as a busi­
ness owner, superintendent, general man­
ager, naval officer, and school board presi­
dent has provided me with a diverse set of
skills that will help me meet the internal
needs of the association—those of both the
Met board and its members—and then
expand the Met’s circle of influence to what
I’ll call external customers: other industry
organizations.
My whole life has been about continuous
improvement, so in the end, I hope to leave
the Met (not for some time, of course) in a
better place than when I started. This is an
amazing industry with tremendous individ­
uals, and I am honored to have a role work­
ing with the Met.
TTG: As the owner of McCall Management
Group, what did you learn when you first
started your business, and how have you kept
it afloat?
MIKE: Starting and maintaining a business
sounds glamorous, but it’s much tougher
than many imagine. You can’t rely on a con­
sistent paycheck every week. You have to get
out and hustle to make things happen. You
always have to sell yourself and your serv­
ices. Funny, though, because the truth is that
we all have to sell ourselves, whether were
self-employed or an employee trying to
maintain a position or secure a new job.

TTG: What is one of your goals as the exec­
utive director?
MIKE: In this business, especially in the
Met area, virtually everybody can grow and
maintain high-quality turf. As far as associ­
ations go, the Met is the cream of the crop.
I do believe, however, that all of us in the
Met—and the industry as a whole—would
be well served by enhancing our business
skills. By that, I mean our communication
(both verbal and writing) and presentation
skills; our financial and time management
skills; our personnel management and lead­
ership skills, as well as a whole host of other
related nonagronomic expertise.
Our universities, seminars, and the Golf
Industry Show all do a great job in prepar­
ing us with agronomy skills. But we don’t
get a lot of training in skill areas that are
essential in communicating and building
relationships with our green committees,
boards, even town supervisors; were left,
instead, to seek them out on our own.
As executive director, I would like to see
not just our association, but also the entire
industry, focus on offering the necessary
training in those nonagronomic areas early
on in one’s career. When I was in San Diego,
I had a nice talk with Steve Mona, CEO of
the World Golf Foundation, and discussed
with him how the GCSAA has tried to ini­
tiate this in the past with only modest suc­
cess. Absorbing these skills requires behavior
modification that is never quick and easy.
GCSAA members will need to see how
acquiring these skills will benefit them and
their careers.
Flow many times have we heard about
someone losing their position not based on
turf conditions, but due to a lack of commu­
nication, budget management, basic business
savvy? I think we all would agree that the
current role of the superintendent has
evolved into much more than a turfgrass
manager, so I am not sure why we are lag­
ging behind in areas of nonagronomic pro­
fessional development. This is certainly an
area I feel committed to improving. The
recent Assistant Superintendent CareerBuilding Seminar is a great example of the
type of training I’m talking about.

TTG: You were a successful superintendent
for a number of years; it's still in your blood,
I can tell. What do you miss most about
being out there every day on the course?
MIKE: It’s funny because as both a naval
officer and superintendent I enjoyed the
early mornings. Not necessarily the waking
up/alarm clock part, but the sunrises. I still
am in the industry and driving into a golf
course most days. To me, there is nothing
better than being around the environment
and landscape of a golf course. You know ...
the unique beauty of it, the result of man
and nature working together. Then there’s
the immediate gratification of mowing,
particularly on days when everything gets
mowed. I also miss seeing the course spring
to life in May/June—the result of all the
hard work that started in late August.
TTG: What word do you think best
describes a successful superintendent?
MIKE: Diligent.
TTG: You have been a MetGCSA member
for nearly IS years. What do you see as one of
our association’s strong points?
MIKE: Professionalism, which is the reason
I joined in the first place.
TTG: On theflipside, what do you think
the MetGCSA needs to improve on?
MIKE: Exclusivity, cliquishness among
members. This is a problem common to vir­
tually all organizations but one that we can
easily overcome if we all just make an effort
to move outside of our comfort zone and
strike up a conversation or sit with someone
new at each meeting. Believe me, I’m just as
guilty as anyone on this one.
TTG: Family life. What does Mike McCall
enjoy doing after work and on the weekend?
MIKE: Well, I’ve been married 25 years to
my wonderful wife, LeeAnn. We have two
daughters: Sarah, 16, and Madeleine, 15. I
enjoy playing sports with my children . . .
softball, tennis, basketball, and on occasion,
recreational golf. I work out, run, lift
Tee to Green March/April 2016 o

I think
of being a Met member like wearing a badge of
<chonor.
Once a Met member, always a Met member. It’s
something that you will always carry with you. And
knowing I’m now an ambassador of that badge makes
me truly

TTG: Recently there has been an exodus of
assistant superintendents in the area. Good,
young talent is leaving the area or the indus­
try as a whole in search of greener pastures.
Hoiv do we keep them here?
MIKE: They need to be patient. If they love
the industry, it’s worth it. When I came out
of school, there weren’t spray tech and irri­
gation
tech positions; second assistant posi­
TTG: Where is home?
tions didn’t exist. You went right into being a
MIKE: I live in Poughkeepsie now, and I’m first assistant, then two years later, a super.
originally from Pittsburgh.
I believe these guys should take advantage
of these other options, get the experience,
TTG: With all your travels in the Navy
and in the long run, it will make them better
and, of course, as a superintendent, what is
superintendents. My bottom line is there is
yourfavorite golf course among those you’ve always room at the top for the good per­
played?
formers to get there.
MIKE: Favorite golf course I’ve ever played
. . . that’s a tough one. I’d have to say San TTG: You were in San Diego recentlyfor the
Francisco Golf Club. I was lucky enough to Golf Industry Show. What’s the gossip there?
play Pebble Beach, San Francisco, and MIKE: We have a long way to go until we
Cypress Point on a three-day trip in 1998. reach the equilibrium of course closures.
That was back when I was working in Ohio And that’s nobody’s fault. It’sjust economics.
at N C R (National Cash Register) Country The high-end private clubs should remain
Club as superintendent on 18 of its 36 holes. just fíne; it’s the mid- to lower-end clubs
that will continue to struggle in this envi­
TTG: While on the subject of golf, who
ronment. Those that adapt, think outside the
would be on your bucket listfoursome?
box, will survive. Just like any business, these
MIKE: Definitely Bobby Jones... and then clubs have to adapt. But at the same time,
I don’t think gimmicky things like foot golf
Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson.
are the answer. I’m a big believer in the way
TTG: What is your biggest worry regarding Apple conducts its business: no discounting.
If you have a good product at a fair price,
the game ofgolf as it is today?
market it effectively, and provide excellent
MIKE: The biggest worry to me is the lack customer service, I believe you can attract
of etiquette and understanding of the game customers. I’m cautiously optimistic about
among young, new golfers. These days, kids the industry, but we really need to get more
aren’t taught on a small nine-holer by their players into the game. Skiing, tennis, and
parents . . . told how to repair a ball mark, bowling have managed to adapt; now it’s our
replace a divot. They don’t understand that turn.
you don’t talk during someone’s swing;
you don’t scream across the hole. There used TTG: You have been a part of the BMP
to be a whole process to learning to play project. I think people use the term environ­
the game. You wouldn’t play a bigger course mental steward, but at the same time, they
until you were ready, and that just seems really don’t know what it means. Where do
to have disappeared. Now it’s just, “Let’s buy you stand on this?
a Groupon and go to this 6,000-yard
public golf course, and who cares who’s MIKE: Correct. I think the BMP project is
critical. I think the MetGCSA is on the cut­
behind me.”
ting edge of this initiative, and as one of the
weights, spend time doing yard work . . .
[laughing] . . . although that’s going to end
because I’m going to pay someone to do it
this year. I enjoy reading, and as a family, we
like to hit Broadway a couple times a year.
Oh, and we just got a puppy, Daisy, a pug
crossbreed who has added a whole new
dimension to our lives.

Tee to Green March/April 2016

premier associations in the business, we need
to stay out front; we need to maintain our
leadership position.
Environmental stewardship must be or­
ganic within the industry—forgive the pun.
It can’t be just one little initiative on the far
end of a course. Some of us have been doing
this for a long time, but kudos to Dr. Frank
Rossi for working with Craig Currier in
furthering the initiative at Bethpage.
I currently work with the Westchester
County courses, and we embrace the EIQ
model, which is really another example of
behavior modification. I firmly believe that
in the future the highest paid superintend­
ents are going to be the ones who can man­
age a golf course well with the least amount
of pesticides and water. So why not learn to
do it now before it’s mandated, because at
some point it will be.
The more we can expose lawmakers to
what we are trying to do—and actually
doing—the better chance we will have in
helping to define the laws and in helping
our own cause and the environment.
TTG: You were in the Navy for six years
and moved up the ranks. Thank you, by the
way,for your service. What sticks with you
todayfrom your days at sea?
MIKE: First of all, it was an unbelievable
time in my life. I knew in high school I
wanted to be a naval officer, so I went
through NROTC at Purdue University and
then on to San Diego to the aircraft carrier
USS Independence. I actually had to cancel
my honeymoon when Iraq invaded Kuwait
in 1990, and then I was out to sea for five
months; we were the first aircraft carrier to
enter the Persian Gulf in more than 20 years.
That was Desert Shield, getting ready for
what turned out to be Desert Storm. No
email, no phone calls while I was on the
ship. I even had to use voice tapes to com­
municate with my wife. It’s amazing how
much responsibility we give our young men
and women of the military. I was fortunate
to work for some great people on the USS
Independence. And I learned a lot. Most of
continued on page 7

Upcoming Events

Mark Your Calendar With These
Upcoming MetGCSA and Industry Events
Superintendent/Guest Tournament

Thursday, May 12

Paramount CC, New City, NY
Host: Brian Chapin

Scholarship & Parent/Child
Tournament

Assistants Championship

Thursday, October 27

Tuesday, August 2

Mosholu Golf Course, Bronx, NY
Host: Dave Moffett

Upper Montclair Country Club, Clifton^ NJ
Assistant Hosts: Kyle Zarnetski, Sean Blatz,
Steve Benally

Nine and Dine Event

MetGCSA/ CAGCS Fall Seminar

Silvermine Golf Club, Norwalk, CT
Host: Larry Pakkala, CGCS

The Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT
Host: Jason Meersman
For further information, contact our
Education Chair, Brett Chapin, at
203-938-9640.

MetGCSA Invitational Tournament

Monday, June 6

CC of Darien, Darien, CT
Host: Tim O ’Neill, CGCS

September date TEA

Summer Social

Monday, July 11

Met Area Team Championship

Summer Picnic

The CC of Scranton, Clarks Summit, PA
Host: Greg Boring

Bedford Memorial Park, Bedford, NY

The Poa/MetGCSA Tournament

Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck, NY
Wednesday,July 20

Monday, September 26

Monday, October 3

Metropolis CC, White Plains, NY
Host: Dave McCaffrey

Thursday, November 10

MetGCSA Winter Seminar

Wednesday,January 18, 2017

Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY
Host: David Dudones
For further information, contact our
Education Chair, Brett Chapin, at
203-938-9640.

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 fund­
raiser in support of turf education and re­
search 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.
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 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 cutting-edge applications and tactics to
the date approaches: www.turf.uconn.edu. guarantee green industry professionals’ suc­
cess on the job. Offering one of the largest
trade shows in the tri-state area, the expo
Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day
also provides attendees with the opportu­
(Golf & Fine Turf)
nity to view the latest and greatest products
Tuesday, August 2
and services on the market.
Horticultural Farm II
For further information, call 973-812New Brunswick, NJ
6467
or visit www.njturfgrass.org.
Save the date, and watch for details. Visit
www.njturfgrass.org or call 973-812-6467
for further information.
2016 GREEN EXPO Turf & Landscape
Conference

Tuesday Thursday, December 6 —8
—

The Borgata Hotel & Casino
Atlantic City, NJ
The New Jersey Green Expo offers a com­
prehensive educational program providing

National News

Grass
Elected
2016
President
oi
GCSAA
Members Elect New Board, Approve Revisions to Member
Standards at Annual Meeting

t the February 11 Annual
Meeting held in conjunc­
tion with the Golf Industry
Show in San Diego, Peter J. Grass, CGCS,
golf course superintendent at Hilands Golf
Club in Billings, MT, was elected to a oneyear term as GCSAA president.
Grass, a 31-year member of GCSAA, has
been a member of the associations board of
directors since 2009 and is also is a member
and past president of the Peaks and Prairies
Golf Course Superintendents Association,
one of 98 GCSAA regional chapters.
A native of Mankato, MN, the 56-yearold Grass earned a bachelors degree from
Eastern Montana College in Billings and
succeeds MetGCSA member and past presi­
dent John O ’Keefe, who served as GCSAA
president for 2015. John will continue on
the board as immediate past president.
“A lot of people have told me how cool
they think it is that someone from a 9-hole
facility can serve on the board of directors
and become president of the association,”
Grass said. “But if I can convince others that
they too can benefit from being a GCSAA

,

member, then I’ll consider my year in office
to be a success.”

GCSAA Board of Direi tors at a Glam e

President
Peter J. Grass, CGCS, golf course superin­
tendent at Hilands Golf Club in Billings,
MT
Vice President
Bill H. Maynard, CGCS, director of golf
course maintenance operations at Country
Club of St. Albans, MO
Secretary / Treasurer
Darren J. Davis, CGCS, superintendent at
Olde Florida Golf Club, Naples, FL
Director
• Kevin P Breen, CGCS, superintendent at
La Rinconada Country Club, Los Gatos, CA
• Rafael Barajas, CGCS, director of golf
course operations at Boca Grove Plantation
and Country Club, Boca Raton, FL
• John Walker, director of golf course main­
tenance at Bentwater Yacht and Country
Club, Montgomery, TX

Peter J. Grass CGCS
GCSAA President

• John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS, grounds
and facilities manager at Kalamazoo (MI)
Country Club
• Mark F. Jordan, CGCS, natural resources
leader at Westfield Group Country Club in
Westfield Center, OH
Immediate Past President
• John J. O ’Keefe, CGCS, director of golf
course management at Preakness Hills
Country Club in Wayne, NJ
Keith A. Ihms, CGCS, retires from the
board after serving the last year as immedi­
ate past president.

Other News

During the Annual Meeting, delegates also
voted to approve revisions to the Class A
member standards and passed 11 changes to
the bylaws, which included a new definition
of Class A and renaming the Superintend­
ent Member class to Class B.

San Diego Nor’easter Event: A Night to Remember

by John Garcia, Atlantic Golf & Turf

he MetGCSA, once again, took a
lead role in hosting the Nor’easter
Event at our national convention.Join­
ing forces with 10 other chapters across the
Northeast, this year’s event was held at the
Florent Restaurant & Lounge in San Diego’s
historic Gaslamp Quarter.
Sponsored by 26 manufacturers from the
Chapters Present
Connecticut AGCS
GCSA of Cape Cod
GCSA of New England
Hudson Valley GCSA
Long Island GCSA

Maine GCSA
MetGCSA
New Hampshire GCSA
Ontario GSA
Rhode Island GCSA
Vermont GCSA

Teeto Green March/April 2016

golf industry, the event drew nearly 400
people and included an open bar, appetizers,
food station, hand-rolled cigars, and a live
band. Special thanks to John Deere/LaCorte
for sponsoring a cigar roller for the event
and to Aquatrols for helping to fund our live
entertainment.
We have already begun planning for next
Commercial Sponsors
Aquatrols Corp.
Barenbrug USA
BASF
Bayer Environ. Science
Engage Agro USA
Harrell's
Jacobsen
John Deere/LaCorte

year’s event in Orlando, so mark your calen­
dars for Wednesday, February 8, 2017.
MetGCSA board member Brett Chapin,
Aquatrols’ Kevin Collins, and I continue to
run the committee responsible for organiz­
ing this event and welcome feedback, ideas,
and additional sponsors. Feel free to reach
out to any one of us!

Koch Industries
Macro-Sorb Tech.
Nufarm
Nutrite
Ocean Organics
Performance Nutrition
Plant Food Company
Playbooks for Golf
Precision Labs

Quali-Pro
Shaw's/Knox Fertilizer Co.
SiteOne Landscape Supply
SMS Additive Solutions
SubAir Systems
Syngenta
Toro
UPI
Winfield Solutions

MetGCSA Members Post Notable Wins
in the GCSAA Golf Championships

by Doug Drugo

his year’s GCSAA Golf ChamV pionships at the 2016 Golf Industry
Show in San Diego, CA, were held at
both Aviara Golf Club and the South
Course at Torrey Pines. All told, more than
450 players competed in some aspect of the
event, which spanned over the course of
three days— February 6 —8—and offered
something for everyone, from the casual
golfer to the intense competitor.
The MetGCSA was represented by more
than a dozen members and made a few
notable marks on this year’s event.
The four competitions included:
• The National Championship: a twoday Individual Stroke Play
• The Four-Ball: a Two-Person Best Ball
• The Golf Classic: a two-day Individual
Stableford Format
• The Shamble: a Modified Scramble
Here are the highlights:
In the Four-Ball

The team of Mike Brunelle of Upper Mont­
clair and Tom Weinert of the Plant Food
Company took home the big money, placing
first in the Four-Ball II Net Division and
second in the Gross Division.
In the Golf Classic

In the Senior II Division, Scott Niven from
The Stanwich Club brought home 2nd
Place. Rounding out the Senior II Flight,
Les Kennedy of Blind Brook and Tim
O ’Neill of the Country Club of Darien
placed 8th and 11th respectively in the
Gross Division.
In the AFF Flight, Tom Weinert was at it
again, taking 4th in the overall Net Division
and 5th in the Gross Division.

ship to call his own. The superintendent at
Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, TX,
withstood a full field of competitors and
the rigors of both Aviara Golf Club and
the South Course at Torrey Pines to win
his GCSAA title after numerous runnerup finishes in previous events. Westacott’s
two-day total of 5-over-par 149 was four
shots better than another Texan, defend­
ing champion Matt Cowan from the
Fazio Canyons Course at Barton Creek in
Austin.
But among the Championship Flight
contenders, the legend of Due Process
Stable’s Tony Hooks lives on. Last year in
San Antonio, TX, Tony aced the par 3,4th
hole to win a Toro MD Workman. And no
one was able to take home the hole-in-one
cart this year in San Diego!

See Yoii Next Year!

We would like to send out a special thank
you to the GCSAA staff for their efforts in
putting this special event together and to
all of the sponsors who make this event
possible, especially the Toro Company for
their generous partnership in being the
title sponsor for the past 22 years.
Congratulations to all who participated
in this year’s golf championships. This
annual preconference golf event offers a
great opportunity to not only play some of
the country’s best courses, but also to net­
work with superintendents from across
the U.S. and around the world.
Next year, the GCSAA Golf Champion­
ships will be held in Orlando, FL. I hope to
see you all there!

Doug Drugo, chair of the Tournmanent
Committee, is superintendent at Wee Burn
After years of close calls, Shawn Westacott Country Club in Darien, CT.
finally has a GCSAA National Champion­
In the National Championship

Feature, continuedfrom page 4 ^
all, I learned to work hard (not much else to
do in the middle of the ocean), take responsi­
bility for my actions, and lead by example.
TTG: Do you still keep in touch with any
guys you served with?
MIKE: As a matter of fact, when I was in
San Diego for the conference, I went to
watch the Super Bowl at my Main Propul­
sion Assistant’s house, from the USS In­
dependence. He taught me many lessons in
how to manage people and introduced me
to investing. He’s a great guy and was a great
mentor.
I can credit a number of people from my
past for some of my skills and interests. I
acquired my organizational and time-man­
agement skills from some great audio pro­
grams my father gave me when I was in
college. And one of my high school teachers,
who became one of my closest friends and
mentors, inspired my interest in government
and education. In the area of turfgrass, I owe
a lot of my success to the late Dr. George W
Hamilton, who ran the Penn State Turf
Program when I was there in the ’90s, and to
Dr. A1 Turgeon and Dr. Frank Rossi.
TTG: What is your proudest career
moment?
MIKE: Wow, that’s a tough one. There are
several. When I was named Officer of the
Deck on the carrier . . . when I graduated
first in my class at Penn State ... and last but
not at all least, when I was selected for this
job. It’s a culmination of all that I’ve done in
my career, and I am so looking forward to
working with the board and members of this
great organization.
I think of being a Met member like wear­
ing a badge of honor. Once a Met member,
always a Met member. It’s something that
you will always carry with you. And know­
ing I’m now an ambassador of that badge
makes me truly proud.
As we enter into the 2016 season, know that
there is a new guy in the MGA building
who is working hard as the executive direc­
tor of the MetGCSA Board of Directors to
ensure that our association stands strong for
a group of great superintendents.
Steven McGlone, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
Siwanoy Country Club in Bronxville, N Y

Tee to Green March/April 2016

Chapter Veits

Whippoorwill Earns Top Honors as
Environmental Leader in Golf
by Jim Pavonettiy CGCS

f )
he MGA Foundation hosted
^ F its annual Green Chairman Education Series at Willow Ridge
Country Club on March 10. Drawing area
superintendents, professionals, green chair­
men, and club officials, the meeting focused
on a variety of industry topics and trends
in golf course management. As always, one
of the highlights of the event was the awards
luncheon, which honors an MGA mem­
ber club that has demonstrated environ­
mental stewardship through golf course
maintenance, construction, education, and
outreach.
This year’s winner of the Arthur P. Weber
MGA Club Environmental Leaders in Golf
Award was The Whippoorwill Club in Armonk, NY One of 13 that applied for the
award, Whippoorwill shared the limelight
with four other area clubs selected as final­
ists: Willow Ridge Country Club, The

Stanwich Club, Old Westbury Golf & • At Old Westbury Golf & Country Club,
Country Club, and Newton Country Club. which is where the award’s namesake, Arthur
P. Weber, was a member, Superintendent
Tom McAvoy has developed a water conser­
vation
program, using soil moisture meters
• With the guidance of Superintendent Bert and evapotranspiration
to reduce water
Dickinson, Willow Ridge Country Club has use on tees and fairwaysdata
by
50
percent.
not only instituted an excellent IPM pro­
gram, but also quantified their reductions in • Newton Country Club, with the direction
fertilizer and pesticide use. Part of this was of
Les Carpenter, has turned
accomplished by creating specific agro­ 25 Superintendent
acres
of
manicured
turf into native areas,
nomic programs for greens based on their creating corridors between
holes to enhance
construction type and turf type.
wildlife habitat. Les also manages a forest
that borders the golf course with preserving
• The Stanwich Club’s resource conserva­ wildlife
habitat in mind.
tion efforts, spearheaded by Superintendent
Scott Niven, include a new maintenance
to these four clubs on their
facility that is outfitted with rooftop solar Congratulations
excellent
environmental
programs.
panels. These panels generate electricity for
the entire club saving Stanwich approxi­
mately $50,000 per year.

About the Finalists

The Makings of a True
Environmental Leader in Golf

The Whippoorwill Club’s dedication to pre­
serving the environment and protecting the
MetGCSA Scholarship Applications Now Available
Kensico Reservoir Watershed put them on
the top of the judging panel’s list this year.
Application form, fo, .he 2016 MetGCSA S chohrjip A » « * ™
“At Whippoorwill, we have always fol­
lowed sustainable practices that are in sync
with the needs of the environment that
we all live in,” says Whippoorwill’s grounds
- Life A f member of .he
committee chairman, Raki Talwar. “We
MetGCSA or I dependent of a member is eligible to wm_ Applicants
find it especially gratifying when our efforts
must be enrolled in a short course or in an associate s, bachelor s, ma are recognized by others.”
Under the direction of Superintendent
tet f ; u PhavePany questions about the application process, please feel free
Paul Gonzalez, Whippoorwill has made
. «
Scholarship Chairman David Dudone,
great strides in engaging the local commu­
Country Club. You can reach him by calling 914-798-5360 or y
nity and fostering a partnership with the
inganemailtoddudones@wccclub.org.
lpafWshm
Louis Calder Center, Fordham University’s
The Scholarship Committee will select recipients based on leadership
biological field station which borders the
maturity scholastic capabilities, activities, and commitment to a chosen
club. With the help of Fordham’s Dr.J. Alan
earner. All applications MUST
beRECEIVED
on successful
Clark, byPaulenddeveloped adayhighly
Friday June 5. Emailed applications will not be accepted.
,
nesting box program that now boasts more
Scholar,hips will be awarded ai the Scholarship & Par.nt/Child
than 50 nesting boxes. They attract every­
Tournament held at Mosholu Golf Course on August 2.
thing from bluebirds, wood ducks, and pur­
ple martins to bats.
Through its work with the Louis Calder
Center, Whippoorwill was also introduced
to Rodney Olsen, a teacher at the Addison
School in Vermont for students with special
needs, specifically autism. As part of their
treatment and educational programs, these
students take part in an ornithology class,
Tee to Green

2016

Environmental Committee Co^ChairJim
Pavonetti presents Whippoorwill
Superintendent Paul Gonzalez with the
2016 Arthur P. Weber MGA Club
Environmental Leaders in GolfAward.
the memberships commitment to being
stewards of the environment,” says Paul.
Congratulations to Paul Gonzalez and the
members of Whippoorwill for demonstrat­
ing what we should all strive to emulate: true
environmental leadership in golf.

About the Award

where they construct birdhouses that the
club purchases to help fund their visits and
learning.
“All the community outreach programs
yield benefits that go far beyond turf,” says
Paul. “But our work with the Addison stu­
dents has been one of the most rewarding.”
As the single largest landowner in the
Kenisco Reservoir Watershed, Whippoor­
will has also worked for nearly a decade
with the New York State Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) in estab­
lishing a Water Resource Protection Plan.
This plan includes buffer strips, filtered
drainage systems, and restored wetlands, all
done to protect the quality of the water that
can enter the Kensico Reservoir from
Whippoorwill’s property.
“The relationship that has been forged
between the DEP and the club is a testament
to how private industry and public agencies
can work together for the benefit of all,” says
Paul. “The Best Management Practices

(BMPs) that have been, or will soon be im­
plemented, are a compilation of BMPs from
throughout the country with some of the
latest technologies.”
In addition, Paul has introduced an In­
tegrated Pest Management (IPM) program
that focuses on improving the growing
environment to give the turf the best
chance of survival from pest attacks. Water
management, nutrient management, and
soil modifications are all part of his process
to improve the existing growing conditions.
In 2015, Whippoorwill built a new, en­
ergy-efficient maintenance facility that
includes a wash station and chemical load
and mix station. The club also installed a
new irrigation system that allows precision
management of water output on the golf
course. With city water being the prime
source, the new-and-improved system of­
fers financial benefits, as well as more pru­
dent use of a precious resource, our water.
“The latest infrastructure upgrades show

For the uninitiated, the Arthur P. Weber
Award is named in honor of past MGA
President Arthur P. Weber, who passed away
in 2008. Weber wrote an Environmental
Code of Conduct for golf course main­
tenance at his home club, Old Westbury on
Long Island, nearly two decades ago that
many Met Area clubs still use as a model.
Weber was a longtime member of the USGA
Green Section and helped found the MGA
Green Committee and the Tri-State Turf
Research Foundation.
Past recipients of the award include
Neshanic Valley Golf Course (2015), Man­
hattan Woods Golf Club (2014), Wee Burn
Country Club (2013), Rockland Country
Club (2012), the Round Hill Club (2011),
GlenArbor Golf Club (2010), Westchester
Country Club (2009), Sebonack Golf Club
(2008), and Trump National Golf Club ~
Bedminster (2007).
If you missed this year’s seminar, be sure
to schedule time to attend next year. There’s
always an outstanding lineup of speakers and,
we can’t forget, the opportunity to showcase
your course’s environmental efforts with an
application for the Arthur P. Weber Environ­
mental Leaders in Golf Award.
We hope to see you in 2017!
Jim Pavonetti, Tee to Green editor and
co-chair of the Environmental Committee, is
superintendent at Fairview Country Club
in Greenwich, CT.

Paramount Preps for Superintendent/
Guest Tournament
by Matt Ceplo

f J
here are clubs that have been
^ F remodeled and then there are clubs
that have been reborn. Paramount
Country Club, the site of our May 12 Su­
perintendent/ Guest Tournament, is the lat­
ter. In fact, if you haven’t played here within
the past seven years, you probably won’t rec­
ognize the place. The entire facility has
been transformed—from the clubhouse and
tennis courts to what will certainly peak
our interest most, the golf course.
Nestled in the heart of the Hudson Valley
in the town of New City, Paramount was
once a playground for the rich and famous.
In 1918, Paramount Pictures founder
Adolph Zukor purchased 1,200 acres known
as Mountain View Farm. It became a ro­
mantic Hollywood weekend getaway spot
for stars and directors.
In 1920, Zukor hired famed golf course
architect A.W. Tillinghast to build an 18hole championship golf course, complete
with a clubhouse, guesthouse, and of course,
a movie theater. During the Great De­
pression, however, the movie industry suf­
fered, and Zukor was unable to maintain his
Mountain View Farm estate. He opened it
for membership as a golf club.
Then in 1948, the property was sold, and
part of this impressive estate became Dellwood Country Club. In the early 2000s,
however, the economy began to suffer, and
with it, funds for capital improvements
dwindled and membership declined until
the club was on the verge of collapse.

Paramount Is Horn

Things changed rapidly in 2009, when the
Mandelbaum family assumed the operation.
They renamed the club Paramount Country
Club in honor of its original owner and
initiated a multi-million-dollar renovation
project, which, under the direction of Golf
Course Architect Jim Urbina, included a
significant restoration of the golf course.
This new initiative just happened to coin­
cide with the first season our meeting host,
Brian Chapin, had taken over as the club’s
golf course superintendent. Brian had been
working_at the club since 2005 as the assis­
tant to fellow Met member Joe Gardner, and
Tee to Green March/April 2016

assumed the reigns when Joe left for Fresh
Meadow Country Club in Long Island.
As superintendent, Brian hit the ground
running, working closely with Jim Urbina
to bring back the Tillinghast features and
strategies that had been hidden by many
years of growth and neglect. After several
years of moving hundreds of yards of fill,
rebuilding tees, bunkers, expanding greens,
shifting fairways, and removing just a few
trees (who’s counting), the new Paramount
was born.
One gem that was brought back to life
was number 18, “The Reef” hole. In an arti­
cle A.W. Tillinghast wrote for The Ameri­
can Golfer in December of 1926, he de­
scribed a long par 3 as a fairway divided into
two distinct sections, requiring the player to
choose between four different avenues of
play to navigate through the “reef.”
At Paramount, the 18th hole plays 190
yards uphill across two large bunkers set at
a diagonal line to play. The hole presents
many different options making it a fantastic
finish to the golf course.
“I’m most proud of the research and
respect we paid to the history of the
course,” says Brian. “By interpreting what
we saw on the ground, through the lens
of Tillinghast’s writing, we were able to
really recapture the charm, scale, and qual­
ity of the golf course. We took some risks
along the way, such as reusing our own sod
to keep the ‘old feel’ and eliminating collars
around the greens. Those details really
made all the difference in the final prod­
uct,” adds Brian. “We never wanted anyone
to be able to tell we had just renovated the
course. It’s an old club, and we think it
should look that way. Credit goes to the
owners for being brave enough to accept an
unconventional methodology and approach
to the restoration.”

crew member at the Woodland Club in
Falmouth, ME. There, he learned that there
was far more to the business than just cutting
grass.
Hooked on golf course management,
Brian pursued a summer internship in 2001
at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus,
NJ, then another at neighboring Areola
Country Club, also in Paramus. After a few
months, he was offered the second assistant’s
position under then Superintendent Barney
Misiura. During his tenure there, Brian
completed his two-year turf certificate from
Rutgers University and had the good fortune
of meeting his wife of four years, Zoya.
After a nearly nine-year courtship, they
married in August 2012 and have a 2Xyear-old daughter named Nika and, on April
18, another daughter who they’ve named
Milena. Cogratulations! In the mist of all
this, Zoya is forging ahead with medical
school.
While his family life keeps him more than
busy, Brian still enjoys a good round of golf
(he sports a 5.5 index), and when the snow
flies, a trip to the mountains to go skiing.
Brian added recently to his professional
to-do list: Joining the MetGCSA Board of
Directors in 2015, he is currently the Mem­
bership Committee chairman.

Join Us!

Mark your calendars, cross the bridge, and
plan to join Brian and your fellow Met
members for a great day of golf at this year’s
Brian’s fascination with the game began Superintendent/Guest Tournament. I, for
when he was just 8 years old, playing golf one, am really looking forward to it!
with his father in his hometown of
Cumberland, ME. Then in 1997, and every Matt Ceplo, a member of the Tee to Green
summer through high school, Brian experi­ Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
enced the other side of golf, working as a Rockland Country Club in Sparkill, NY.

I’allmav to ftinimount

Country Club ot Darien to Host
Met’s June Invitational

by Kevin Collins

W f J ) ' n Monday, June 6, SuperinT y tendent Tim O ’Neill and the
Country Club of Darien will host
the Met’s annual Invitational Tournament.
This event pits local clubs in a no-holds barred competition to determine which
club has the drive, moxie, and golf skills to
score low and take home the title and brag­
ging rights for the year. Teams are com­
prised of the superintendent, head pro, and
two club officials.
As area veterans probably know, the
Country Club of Darien has had a lessthan-conventional evolution. It was built
in 1957 on the grounds of the family estate
of Edgar Auchincloss, who remained the
club’s sole proprietor for 29 years. Auchin­
closs hired Golf Course Architect Alfred
Tull to transform the 140-acre former
dairy farm into a first-class, 18-hole private
course. And he was able to do it for what,
even back then, was considered a song: a
mere $200,000.
The course underwent very little change
until 1986, when Auchincloss sold the club
to the membership. Under the club’s new—
and more conventional—regime, Tim got
the go-ahead for some major capital
improvements.
Wasting no time, he hired Golf Course
Architect Brian Silva that very same year to
develop a master plan for course renova­
tions. They started with a major drainage
project, extensive tee and bunker recon­
struction, the redesign of #18 green, and the
installation of an entirely new irrigation
system.
In 2006, Tim continued the work laid out
in the club’s ambitious master plan with
architect Michael Hurdzan. Since the initial
work, this multi-million-dollar undertak­
ing has included rebuilding every tee and
bunker, a new driving range, the construc­
tion of six USGA-spec greens topped off
with the original Poa/bent surface, rerout­
ing the golf course (except for holes 1 and
10, the nines were reversed), a second update
to the irrigation system, burying overhead
power lines, a new pool, and an all-new

maintenance facility and staff quarters.
Darien now plays 6,750 yards from the tips
and is a par 71.
But were not done yet. Tim notes, “We
plan to rebuild more greens, and currently,
the clubhouse is being renovated.” No rest
for the weary!

Career in the Making

Tim grew up in Pawtucket, RI, the second
of eight children. Tim’s dad, Vincent, was a
funeral director. “The funeral home was on
the first floor, and the living quarters were
on the second,” Tim remembers. (I’m sure
no O ’Neill family member wandered
downstairs for a late night snack!)
By age 12, Tim had already gotten a taste
of the golf business, working as a caddie at
the nearby Pawtucket Country Club. “Les
Kennedy Sr. was the head pro at the time,
and had been for the past 40-plus years,”
says Tim. “He also had about three stints as
the club’s golf course superintendent and
persuaded me to give golf course mainte­
nance a try.”
It was at Pawtucket that Tim met Les
Kennedy Jr., now superintendent at The
Blind Brook Club in Purchase, NY Les Jr.
worked as his father’s assistant. Tim worked
on the grounds crew summers while earn­
ing his B.S. in Turf Management at the Uni­
versity of Rhode Island. Spending countless
hours together maintaining Pawtucket’s par
69 layout, Tim and Les became fast friends.
“Out of college, my first and only assis­
tant’sjob was at Greenwich Country Club,”
says Tim. “Les Jr. had asked me if I wanted
to come back to Pawtucket. I told him that
Greenwich had offered me $4.10 an hour
plus housing and meals. Les said I better
take the job at Greenwich because Pawtuck­
et couldn’t afford me,” says Tim, laughing.
Tim worked at Greenwich with Super­
intendent Paul Caswell for close to three
years, picking up the experience he needed
for his next career move.
That move was to his first and only
superintendent’s job at Country Club of

Tim O ’N eill, C G C S

Darien. “I had to interview with Edgar
Auchincloss,” remembers Tim.“I felt the in­
terview went well, and as the initial inter­
view was ending, I mentioned to Mr. Auch­
incloss that I would really like to sit down
with him in the near future to talk about
growing turf. He said, ‘Why not now?’ and
so the interview continued.”
Despite the stiff competition, Tim as­
sumed the reins as superintendent in 1981 at
the age of 24. “Mr. Auchincloss asked me
how much money I thought the job should
pay. I asked for $24,000 a year, and he said
that wasn’t enough. He started me at
$27,000.”
Thirty-five years later, Tim still has the
same passion and drive that he felt when he
started at Darien. And he’s gotten a few
salary bumps along the way.
I asked Tim to explain his success and
longevity at Darien. “First, you need to get
along with people and surround yourself
with a good staff. I am fortunate to have
had numerous assistants who have come
here and pushed me and the golf course
to greater heights. Long-time MetGCSA
member Glenn Moore is an important part
of the full-time staff and uses his myriad tal­

Tee to Green March/April 2016

the profession, Tim took his aspirations to
yet another level: the national, campaigning
for a seat on the GCSAA Board of Directors.
Tim joined the GCSAA Board of Directors
in 2000 and was reelected in 2001. In 2005,
Tim assumed the post of GCSAA president.
Locally, he’s been an environmental advo­
cate, adding to his list of involvements his
service on the Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection Task Group in
2001—which established Best Management
Practices for water use on golf courses—and
his long-time participation in the Audubon
Cooperative Sanctuary Program, involving
members and the community in his envi­
Giving back to the industry has also been a ronmental efforts on the course.
winning formula that Tim has adhered to
Makes you scratch your head in wonder
throughout his career. Tim served on the where Tim found the time. But he did, and I
MetGCSAboard from 1983 through 1994, would say both Tim and the industry are
culminating in his service as the Met s pres­ better off due to his efforts.
ident in ’92 and ’93.
While still active in the Met, Tim as­
sumed a leadership role in the Tri-State
Turf Research Foundation, working with Though his professional life is clearly of
the group since its inception in 1990. He high importance, Tim is—and always has
served as publications editor and progressed been—equally committed to his family.
“I first laid eyes on Jennifer in 1985 at a
through the board’s ranks to president, an
bar in Greenwich,” reminisces Tim about
office he held in 1999.
So thoroughly committed to promoting his first encounter with his wife. “We didn’t
ents to keep the irrigation system operating
at a high level and is involved in countless
special projects.
“I have had the opportunity to work with
five general managers but only two golf
professionals, Ed Nicholson and Cory Mul­
ler. We’ve all worked well together.
“When I was on the GCSAA board, I also
learned a lot from Steve Mona,” Tim con­
tinues. “The way he interacted with the
board, the professionalism and respect he
showed everyone was a winning formula.”

Giv ing Bark

Family Man

Tee to Green March/April 2016

speak but our eyes met and she made an
impression on me. The next night I was at a
place in Norwalk and I saw her; she was out
with a date. She came over and told me that
her boyfriend had lost his wallet. I told her I
had found it but wasn’t going to give it back
to him. We both laughed and luckily she
gave me her phone number,” Tim adds with
a smile. The rest is history!
Tim and Jennifer have been married 28
years and have two children: Justin, 27, grad­
uated from Brown University and is a stan­
dards administrator for The New York Times,
living in Brooklyn. Kristen, 24, graduated
from Connecticut College and works in
public relations for NARS Cosmetics; she
lives in Manhattan.
Jennifer works as director of development
at the Whitby School, an independent school
in Greenwich, CT. Tim and Jennifer live in
Fairfield, CT.
Be sure to join Tim on June 6 for this notto-be-missed competition and course that
has been all but reborn! Enjoy!
Kevin Collins, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is Mid-Atlantic and
Northeast territory managerfor Aquatrols Corp.
ofAmerica.

\ M atron Directory
Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them.
Dryject North East LLC

A.G. Enterprises

O

All Pro Horticulture, Inc.

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

Argento & Sons, 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
O

© Aquatrols Corp. of America

Pinnacle Turf, Inc.

“Your Aerification Solution”
Steve Jordan
570-421-8800 / Fax: 570-421-8083
jordan7 81 @msn.com

Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms
201-488-1276 / Fax:201-489-5830
merrickl60@gmail.com
www.AGEnterprisesonline.com

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

Emerald Tree Care, Inc.

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

O

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

© Playbooks for Golf

Evergreen Organic Recycling

Executive Turf Products

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

© Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc.

©
“Serving Turfgrass Professionals
Since 1978”
Ryan Batz / Keith Kubik
Ofc: 973-252-6634
www.GPJturf.com / sales@GPJturf.com

1 Prospect Avenue
White Plains, NY 10607
© Growth Products, LTD
Louis Argento
Organics, &
914-949-1152 / Fax:914-948-0255 Fertilizers,
Fungicide Products
louis@argentoandsons.com
80 Lafayette Avenue
White Plains, NY 10603
Atlantic Golf & Turf
Howie Gold: 917-559-4425
9 Industrial Boulevard
hgold@growthproducts.com
Turner Falls, MA 01376
John Garcia: 203-996-6267
©
Harrell’s
jngarc@gmail.com
“Growing a Better World. Partners
for Success”
Atlantic Irrigation
Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638
Specialists, Inc.
stretera@harrells.com
Rain Bird & All Related Supplies
Fred Montgomery: 518-813-7814
Ray Beaudry / Tim Marcoux
fmontgomer y@harrell s.com
800-878-8873
www.harrells.com
BASF
LaBar Golf Renovations
“Intrinsic Brand Fungicides”
Peter Jacobson: 919-530-9062
6 Claremont Road, Suite D1
peter.jacobson@basf.com
Bernardsville, NJ 07924
Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253
Bayer Environmental Science
r ich@labargolf. com
“Backed by Bayer”
colleen@labargolf.com
Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173

©

133 Peat Moss Road
White Haven, PA 18661
Gene Evans / Chuck Evans
570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888

“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

©

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

©

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

©

© Blue Ridge Peat Farms
© Cushman / E-Z-GO

© LaCorte Equipment ~
John Deere Golf

Nick Roberto: 845-637-7641
nroberto@textron.com
Marc Santospirito: 516-662-3554

© Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.

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

© Metro Turf Specialists

© Custom Golf

DeLea Sod Farms

Bentgrass, Fescue, Bluegrass Sod, &
U.S. Silica Topdressing
Scott Geiser: 800-344-7637
sgeiser@deleasod.com

O Double‘D’Turf, LLC

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

©

©

Plant Food Company, Inc.

“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”
Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111
Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318
Tom Pepe: 609-751-1372
David Conrad: 914-263-3244

© 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
O Turf Products LLC / TORO
Field Guides, Soil Analytics, Aerial
Toro Irrigation & Equipment
Photography, Consulting, Career
Pat Cragin
Development, Professional Search Services
Cell: 860-874-2812
Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254
Ofc: 800-243-4355
Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052
©
Valley
Green, Inc.
www.goplaybooks.com
205 Wilson Avenue
Seeton Turf Warehouse, LLC
Norwalk, CT 06854
Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959
Greg Moran
Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139
Cell: 845-901-1358
brianbontemps@seetonturf.com
Ofc: 203-831-9748
g.moran@valleygreenusa.com
Soil Solutions, LLC
Aerification Professionals
Valley View Wholesale
7 Whittemore Place
Greenhouses
Ryebrook, NY 10573
229 Smith Ridge Road
Anthony Decicco / John Decicco
South Salem, NY 10590
914-393-0659 / Fax:914-939-5010
Frank Amodio
wgh@aol.com
Steven Willand, Inc.
Kevin Amodio
“Quality Turf Equipment”
kevin.wgh@yahoo.com
4 Production Drive
914-533-2526
Brookfield, CT 06804
George Corgan: 914-213-3622
O Westchester Tractor, Inc.
georgecorgan@charter.net
60 International Boulevard
www.StevenWillandInc.com
Brewster, NY 10509
John Apple / Charlie Siemers
Synergy Turf / Pocono
845-278-7766
Turf Supply
www.wtractor.com
“Agronomic Professionals”
Bobby Steinman, CGCS: 860-488-2822 © Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
bobby7777@aol.com
“Serving the MetGCSA for
Ernie Steinhofer, CGCS: 860-488-0533
39 Years”
ejsturfmc@gmail.com
Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257
Tim Joyce: 631-601-5294
bobwestturf@comcast.net
tim_Joyce@aol.com
Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192
westturf@comcast.net
Syngenta
info@westchesterturf.com
Brian Goudey: 518-764-2412
23 Roslyn Drive, Ballston Lake, NY 12019 © Westwood Organic
Recycling
Ofc: 518-424-0760 / Fax: 518-399-6588
brian.goudey@syngenta.com
PO. 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
Fax:914-347-6323
© Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
Glenn Gallion: 201-954-5878
The Cardinals, Inc.
ggwilmac@aol.com
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies
Winfield Solutions, Inc.
John Callahan: 800-861-6256
“Service, Solutions, Insight”
Fax: 860-673-8443
Mike DiLorenzo, CGCS:
518-428-8625
The Care of 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
O Denotes M etGCSA member

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