Published by the Metropolitan bolt Course Superintendents Association

Board of Directors

M e tG Ce S
A
st 1959
President
DAVID D U D O N ES

Westchester Country Club
V ice President
K EN N E T H BEN O IT JR ., CGCS

GlenArbor Golf Club
Treasurer
ROBERT B. A LONZI JR .
Cover: Shorehaven
G olf Club

Fenway Golf Club
Secretary
BRETT C H A PIN

Redding Country Club
Past President
GLEN DUBE, CGCS

Centennial Golf Club
D irectors
M ICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCS

Upper Montclair Country Club
BRIAN C H A PIN

Paramount Country Club
STEVEN LOU G H RA N

Rock Ridge Country Club
STEVEN M cGLONE

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

Fairview Country Club
DANIEL ROGERS

Wykagyl Country Club
Class “ C ” Rep
DAVE PETERSON

Brae Burn Country Club
Class “A F ” Rep
SC O TT TRETERA

HarreVs LLC
Executive Director
M IKE McCALL, CGCS
E xecutive Secretary
SUSAN O ’D OW D

Tee to Green Staff
E ditor
JIM PAVONETTI
203-531-8910
Managing Editor
PANDORA C. WOJICK
Editorial Committee
TODD APGAR
STEVEN McGLONE
MATT CEPLO
A N TH O N Y M IN N ITI
BOB NIELSEN
KEVIN COLLINS
IA N D Y DROHEN
SCOTT NIVEN
K CHIP LAFFERTY
TOM REYES
GREG WOJICK
Designer
T ER R IE Y OUNG
Advertising Manager
MIKE BRUNELLE, 973-777-6710
TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf
Course Superintendents Association
4 9 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 1052 3-2819
914-347-465 3, FAX: 914-347-343 7, METGCSA.ORG
Copyright © 2 0 1 7

J^ n tliis Issue
Feature
W estchester’s D a v id D ud on es E lected
MetGCSA’s 33rd President .............................................................................2
■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ I

Departments
Chapter N e w s ....................................................................................................... 5
M em ber N e w s.................................................................................................... 10
U p c o m in g E vents ............................................................................................11
Spotlight .............................................................................................................12

SERIALS
MAR27 2017
J l t l l M Uo '

New President
David Dudones
Outlines Goals
^MhSuccess 1

MICHIGAN STA TE U N IV ERSITY

down to write my
first presidents message, I can’t help but
think about how fortunate I am to have
grown up in the turfgrass business. As many
of you know, five generations of Worthing­
tons have now worked in the industry. My
grandfather, Ed Worthington Jr., opened a
turfgrass supply company that he, and later
my mother, Janet Dudones, ran for more
than 60 years in my hometown, Saranac
*Lake, NY, until 1996.
Throughout my family’s involvement in
the industry, they have always emphasized
the value and importance of giving back to
an industry that has given so much to them.
Beyond serving as president of NYSTA, my
mother, as well as my grandfather, partici­
pated on industry boards and devoted a
good deal of time to committees, focus
groups, and other volunteer efforts that sup­
ported the industry they loved. Learning by
example, I couldn’t help but adopt my fam­
ily’s commitment to “paying it forward.”
Now, after 12 years of service on the
MetGCSA Board of Directors, I am pleased
to assume the role of president and continue
to serve the association that has supported
me in so many ways over the years—start­
ing with helping to fund my graduate
research while I pursued my master’s at
Cornell.
I am grateful for the opportunity the Met
has provided to develop relationships with
and learn from some of the industry’s most
highly regarded superintendents—many
of whom have, themselves, served as Met
presidents.
Now, Past President Glen Dube has
handed me the keys to our association,
which is currently doing some of its best
swork. From the BMPs—spearheaded by
Ken Benoit, Blake Halderman, and Bob
Nielsen—to the hiring of Executive
‘Director Mike McCall, to the creation of the
MetGCSA Foundation, Glen has left us in a
great position going forward.

Looking Ahead
At our November Annual Meeting and
Elections, the board identified future goals
for the association. I wanted to share them
j with you ...

D avid Dudones
M etGCSA President

Increase Meeting Attendance
• Survey area associations’ event schedules
to avoid overlap when scheduling our pre­
miere events.
• Find ways to foster closer relationships
among members so new members feel moti­
vated to get involved.
• Work to determine why a large percent­
age of the association is not attending many
of the events.
• Remove or change events that don’t at­
tract healthy attendance numbers.
NOTE: Though attendance for golf events
was up slightly in 2016, and the current
lineup of courses for 2017 has great potential,
we are still striving for improved attendance.
Enhance Public Relations
Actively promote positive examples from
various media (The Met Golfer, Lohud, etc.)
of what superintendents bring to the game
of golf.
NOTE: A perfect example is the recent
press release about Ken Benoit, Blake
Halderman, Bob Nielsen, Frank Rossi and
Stacey Kingsbury winning N Y S T A ’s 2016
Friend of the Green Industry Award for their
work with the BMPs.
Grow Restricted Accounts
• Begin a new standard operating proce­
dure to grow restricted accounts.
• Find another source to pay out yearly
scholarships and research. This will allow
the $70 taken from each member to remain
as principal rather than being paid out
annually.
NOTE: Our Foursomes for the Foundation
With Charity Buzz is our first attempt at
generating extra income to begin this transi­
tion to growing the restricted accounts.
Everyone please donate!
Actively Promote Jobs in Our Area
• Promote the professionalism and talent of
our assistants and superintendents within
our area.
Continued on page 11
Tee to GreenJanuary /February /March 2017

Westchester’s David Dudones
Elected MetGCSA’s 33rd President
by Bob Nielsen, C G C S

“M y grandfather always
told me that this industry
was different because you
could conduct business on a
handshake,” says Dave.
D ave prides him self on still
being able to conduct
business the very same way,
w ith good fa ith and trust.

Tee to GreenJanuary /February /March 2017
t>Avn>

Annual Meeting on November 2, David
Dudones was elected the Met’s 33rd presi­
dent. Dave has been a member of the associ­
ation since 2002, joining as an assistant
superintendent at Westchester Country
Club. Clearly a mover and a shaker, Dave,
just two years after entering the profession,
pursued a position on the board, in 2004, as a
Class C representative. A year later, he was
appointed to the board by then MetGCSA
president, the late Tim Moore. “Tim was
extremely welcoming to me,” remembers
Dave of our 25th president. “We lost him far
too soon.”
In his 12 years of service to the board,
Dave has gained valuable experience and
association knowledge, serving as a director,
treasurer, and vice president, in addition to
serving four years as editor of the Tee to
Green, chairing the Bylaws and Scholarship
& Research committees, and serving on the
Finance Committee.
Clearly, Dave is well prepared to assume
the role of MetGCSA president and pleased
to reach the pinnacle of the association that
helped give him his start. Dave was a gradate
assistant under Frank Rossi when the
MetGCSA awarded Frank and Cornell a
grant for moss research. Dave’s stipend was
funded through that grant.
“I am grateful to the Met for helping me
to complete my college career,” says Dave,
“and I am proud to serve as its president 20
years later.”

Pining I hi1Uiiy lor (iiiiiiot
Dave has a number of ambitious goals for
the MetGCSA. First and foremost is to
increase meeting attendance and cama­
raderie among association members. “Let’s
figure out what works and what guys want
and build on that,” says Dave. “If something
isn’t working, we fix it or move on.”
The success of the Nor’easter the Met has
run at the Golf Industry Show in recent
years is a perfect example of things that
work.
Improving public relations is another of
Dave’s top priorities. “Through local news-

paper articles and The Met Golfer; we need to
promote what the superintendent brings to
the game of golf,” says Dave. Recent articles
highlighting member accomplishments that
have appeared in The Journal News and on
social media show that Dave is wasting no
time getting these practices implemented.
Growing the MetGCSA Foundation is yet
another of Dave’s goals. “Increasing the
amount of scholarships awarded has really
helped the members,” says Dave, “but now is
the time to start growing those accounts for
the future.” The MetGCSA Foundation
opens up a number of possibilities. Because it
is a 501 (C)3, all contributions are tax
deductible.
Dave has also set his sights on increasing
membership. Currently, the Met has 150
superintendents as members but only 80
assistants. Dave sees the opportunity for
growth in the assistant category but also
wants to understand why some local super­
intendents may not be joining.
At the same time, Dave considers it im­
portant that the association demonstrate the
talents and attributes of the member assis­
tants and superintendents in the area to
prospective employers.
“We have some of the top assistants in the
country right here in the Met area, and we
need to make sure that people know that,”
says Dave.
He also wants to have a method in place
to identify and cultivate new members for
the MetGCSA Board of Directors. “A steady
stream of qualified and enthusiastic candi­
dates assures the success of the MetGCSA in
the future,” says Dave.

lliTpli Rooted in tiw Turf llusinm
A fifth-generation member of the Worth­
ington family, Dave’s roots in the tu rf busi­
ness run deep. His great, great grandfather,
Charles Campbell Worthington, his grand­
father Ed Worthington Jr., and his mother
Janet, all made noteworthy contributions to
the turfgrass management industry.
His great, great grandfather, C.C. Worth­
ington, was an inventor and avid golfer who
hired his good friend A.W. Tillinghast to

The Dudoneses enjoy the women’s P G A cham­
pionship at Westchester Country Club. Dave
and his wife, Dana, with daughters (l to r)
Taylor, Kylie, and Avery.

design and build Shawnee Country Club in
Pennsylvania—Tillinghast’s first effort as a
golf course architect.
Worthington, after being shown a home­
made gang mower by Tillinghast, tinkered
with it and improved on the design, forming
the Worthington Mower Company. The
company, which provided high-quality
mowers and tractors for commercial use,
was eventually sold to Jacobsen in the mid1940s.
Dave’s grandfather, Ed Worthington Jr.,
continued the family tradition, founding
the Ed Worthington Corp., a turfgrass sup­
ply business headquartered in Saranac Lake,
NY, Dave’s hometown.
Dave’s mom,Janet Dudones, took over and
ran the company in the late 1970s, looking
to Dave to help out with the family business
throughout his formative years. During that
time, she served eight years on the NYSTA
board, two of those years as the organiza­
tion’s president.
Now, Dave’s own success and involvement
in the industry makes his mom proud, and
Dave knows his grandfather would have
been too.
Dave is equally proud of his heritage and
the tradition of being in the tu rf business.
Yet Dave did come close to taking a differ­
ent career path. In 1993 he entered SUNY
Cortland as a biology major, with his sights
set on becoming a teacher. After three years
at Cortland and a summer job at Craigwood
Golf Club in upstate New York, Dave had a
change of heart. He made a switch to
SUNY Cobleskill, where he completed his

Tee to Green January /February /March 201 1

bachelor’s in Plant Science/Turfgrass Man­
agement in 1997.
After graduating, Dave wasted no time in
building his resume. He quickly landed a
position at Engineers Country Club with
Don Szymkowicz and, two years later, went
on to earn his masters in Turfgrass Science
from Cornell University, studying under Dr.
Frank Rossi.
In 2001, with graduate degree in hand,
Dave left his New York roots, moving cross­
country to Scottsdale, AZ, and the Desert
Mountain Club, where he worked with
Shawn Emerson.
After a year there, he returned to West­
chester Country Club, where he had in­
terned with Joe Alonzi in 1997. Dave stayed
on as one of Joe’s assistants for three years
before landing his first superintendent’s
position at North Jersey Country Club.
Dave’s next move was one that he had set
his sights on from the time he’d set foot on
Westchester Country Club grounds. In
2014, when Joe Alonzi retired as superin­
tendent, Dave pursued the position at
Westchester and was hired as the club’s next,
and current, superintendent.

Don Szymkowicz, helped to teach him not
only agronomy but also the intricacies of
dealing with members and committees.
Dave also acknowledges the great help
and support Preakness Hills Superintendent
John O ’Keefe and his wife, Margaret,
offered when he accepted the position
at North Jersey. John welcomed me to the
New Jersey Association and helped me
acclimate to the area, and more recently,
Margaret spent many hours helping me pre­
pare my presentation for my interview at
Westchester.
Last, but not least, Dave gives great due to
Cornell’s Dr. Frank Rossi. “I couldn’t think
of anyone better than Frank to work with
on my master’s,” says Dave, with the utmost
respect and fondness. “In addition to giving
me invaluable lessons in agronomics, Frank
always emphasized that the most important
attribute of a superintendent is to be honest
all the time ... in dealings with colleagues,
staff, and green committee members.
Honesty, to Frank, is always the best policy.”
One thing is clear: With mentors like
those Dave has mentioned, he had no choice
but to succeed!

(living M i l When* Credit Is Due

Mon* to lie (¿realfill For

Dave is quick to credit his success to his
many mentors, not the least of whom is Joe
Alonzi. “Working three years for Joe,” says
Dave, “was like working six somewhere else.
He showed me how to run a massive opera­
tion with almost unattainable expectations.”
“Shawn Emerson taught me attention to
detail and how to motivate staff. He was an
amazing motivator,” remembers Dave, add­
ing that all of his prior mentors, including

Though Dave has had wonderful support
and guidance throughout the years from
leaders in the profession, he emphasizes that
it’s his superintendents at Westchester who
provide the kind of support he needs now to
manage Westchester’s massive operation.
“Joe Gikis, the assistant director of golf
and grounds and construction superintend­
ent; Aaron Crouse, the superintendent of the
West Course; and Andrew White, the super­

Westchester Country Club

intendent of the South Course, help to form
a team that produces tournament conditions
on a daily basis,” says Dave. “And just as
important, they afford me the opportunity
to maintain some semblance of a family
life.”
Dave and his staff are the backbone of a
team that has been a staple at Westchester
Country Club for 25 years. Both Bob James,
the executive director, and John Kennedy,
the director of golf, have been invaluable to
our department’s success over the years, and
are going to be missed as they move on to
retirement. Ben Hoffine replaced John
Kennedy in January and Bob James will
step down at the end of 2017.

Family flail
While becoming the superintendent at
Westchester and president of the MetGCSA
are professional goals Dave is happy to
achieve, his greatest source of joy is his wife,
Dana, of 14 years, and his three daughters:
Kylie, 11; Taylor, 9; and 8-year-old Avery.
Dave actually beams when he starts talk­
ing about them. Dave is a family man but
credits Dana for her strength, understand­
ing, and support.
“When the job requires you to be there
70 or 80 hours a week and summer holidays
basically don’t exist,” says Dave, “it’s com­
forting to know that Dana can be both
Mom and Dad if the need arises.”

Filial Vole
David Dudones expects to lead the
MetGCSA as he does Westchester Country
Club: He is open and approachable and will
respond to all calls and emails within 24
hours.
“I want the membership to be pleased
with what we do at the board level, and if
they’re not, I’d like to hear from them so that
we can address their concerns,” says Dave.“I
want nothing more than to work with the
board and membership to explore ways to
support the sense of camaraderie among
members and the ongoing growth and
strength of our organization,” says Dave.
The MetGCSA will, no doubt, be in capa­
ble hands for the next two years. We wish
you every success, Dave, in your term as
president!
Bob Nielsen, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is superintendent at
Bedford Golf & Ten nis Club in Bedford, NY.

Meet Your MetGCSA Board of Directors

From left to right: Treasurer Roh A lonzi of Fenway GC;Vice President Ken Benoit, CGCS, of GlenArbor GC; Class C Rep Dave Peterson of Brae Burn
CC;Past President Glen Duhe, CGCS, of Centennial GC; President David Dudones of Westchester CC; Brian Chapin of Paramount CC;fim Pavonetti,
CGCS, of Fairview CC; Steven McGlone of Siwanoy CC; Steve Loughran of Rock Ridge CC; Class A F Rep Scott Tretera of FlarrelVs LLC; Brett Chapin of
Redding CC; Mike McCall, CGCS, Executive Director; Dan Rogers ofWykagyl CC;M ike Brunelle, CGCS, of Upper Montclair CC.

Committee Chairs At-a-Glance
We’ve provided a list of each of the
MetGCSA’s 2017 committee chairs, includ­
ing their phone numbers and emails. Please
feel free to contact any of them with ques­
tions, comments, or helpful suggestions.
Aw ards C om m ittee
Glen Dube, CGCS
Centennial GC
glendube 1@gmail. com
845-279-8960 / Cell 845-803-1020
Bylaw s C om m ittee
Ken Benoit, CGCS
GlenArbor GC
kbenoit@glenarborclub.com
914-241-0700 / Cell 914-760-3575
Club Relations C om m ittee
Glen Dube, CGCS
Centennial GC
glendube 1@gmail. com
845-279-8960 / Cell 845-803-1020
Com m unications C om m ittee
Jim Pavonetti, CGCS (Tee to Green)
Fairview CC
pavonet t ij @yahoo. com
203-531-8910 / Cell 203-223-5403
Mike Brunelle, CGCS (Advertising)
Upper Montclair CC
mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com
973-777-6710 / Cell 973-417-8199

Dan Rogers (Website)
Wykagyl CC
drogers@wykagy lcc. org
914-400-5918 / Cell 914-400-5918
Education C om m ittee
Brian Chapin
Paramount CC
bchapin@paramountcountryclub.com
845-634-4626 / Cell 201-247-3637
E nvironm ental C om m ittee
Jim Pavonetti, CGCS
Fairview CC
pavonettij@yahoo.com
203-531-8910 / Cell 203-223-5403
Steven McGlone
Siwanoy CC
smcglone@siwanoycc. com
914-961-8698 / Cell 914-841-1000
G overnm ent Relations C om m ittee
Brian Chapin (NY)
Paramount CC
bchapin@paramountcountryclub.com
845-634-4626 / Cell 201-247-3637
Brett Chapin (CT)
Redding CC
green@reddingcc.org
203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109
Mike Brunelle, CGCS (Nf)
Upper Montclair CC
mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com
973-777-6710 / Cell 973-417-8199

In vestm en t Com m ittee
Ken Benoit, CGCS
GlenArbor GC
kbenoit@glenarborclub. com
914-241-0700 / Cell 914-760-3575
Long-Range Planning & Steering
C om m ittee
Glen Dube, CGCS
Centennial GC
glendube 1@gmail. com
845-279-8960 / Cell 845-803-1020
M em bership Com m ittee
Steven McGlone
Siwanoy CC
smcglone@siwanoycc. com
914-961-8698 / Cell 914-841-1000
Scholarship & Research C om m ittee
Ken Benoit, CGCS
GlenArbor GC
kbenoit@glenarborclub. com
914-241-0700 / Cell 914-760-3575
Social & W elfare Com m ittee
Brett Chapin
Redding CC
green@reddingcc. org
203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109
Tournam ent C om m ittee
Steve Loughran
Rock Ridge CC
sloughran 17@yahoo. com
203-426-2106 / Cell 917-270-2925
Tee to Green January/February/M arch 2 0 Ì 7

Seminar-Goers Enjoy All That the
Winter Seminar Has to Offer
by Raymond Platt

)J

he 2017 MetGCSA Winter Seminar was held, once again, at WestChester Country Club on January 18.
The more than 200 industry professionals
who attended were treated to a great lineup
of speakers and the kind of cutting-edge
information and research that superintend­
ents will, undoubtedly, find useful in the
coming season.
In addition to the presenters, a lobby full
of vendors offered a wealth of knowledge
and information about a variety of products
and services. 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 8.
Last but not least, we would like to express
our sincere gratitude to host Superintendent
and MetGCSA President David Dudones
and the entire Westchester Country Club
staff and Board of Governors for being such
great hosts year after year.
What follows are highlights of the Winter
Seminar, along with the speakers’ contact
information, should you want further infor­
mation on any one of their presentations.

Protecting Pollinators on Golf
Courses
Dr. Frank Wong of Bayer Crop Science dis­
cussed the issue of protecting pollinators on
golf courses. Ten years ago, the topic of pol­
linator health received little attention.

Cornell's Dr. Frank Rossi speaks about the
effects of spike and outsole design on putting
surface performance.

Tee to Green January/February/M arch 2 0 1 7

Within the past three years, however, this Fundam^nliilv of IMiosplinrus anil
topic has gained traction, due primarily to a
few isolated large bee kills unrelated to golf Potassium Management
Dr. Wong explained that pollinators have Dr. Doug Soldat from the University of
become a complex issue that affects multi­ Wisconsin gave an in-depth overview of the
ple interest groups, and that public policy fundamentals of phosphorous and potassium
tends to be more emotionally motivated and management. In the discussion, Dr. Soldat
less scientifically driven. Golf is, typically, touched on the basics of soil testing. It is
looked at as a prime offender, though in important when testing soils to utilize
reality, superintendents have been leaders in proper sampling techniques, such as ran­
environmental stewardship and habitat domly distributed sampling locations and
enhancement.
keeping a consistent sampling depth when
Neonicotinoid insecticides have been taking soil samples.
used in a number of settings since their
These techniques are critical in ensuring
introduction in the 1990s. These materials that the sampling is accurate because each
were developed because of their efficacy and site may differ slightly and some nutrients
reduced risk to the environment, especially may be present deeper in the profile due
compared to organophosphate, carbamate, to nutrient stratification. Phosphorous, for
and pyrethroid insecticides. Although neon- instance, is a macronutrient that is held pri­
icotinoids have been proven to be acutely marily in the upper inch of the soil profile.
toxic to pollinators, studies have indicated
Dr. Soldat also noted that soil labs may dif­
that these compounds are not found in dan­ fer from state-to-state in how they perform
gerous levels in honey-bee hives.
a soil test. These differences in testing meth­
Nonetheless, because neonicotinoids do ods will produce different nutrient analysis
possess highly toxic properties, Dr. Wong results. Dr. Soldat said that currently the
suggests that precautions be taken to ensure most commonly used testing procedure
pollinator health when applying this class of utilizes the Mehlich-3 nutrient extraction
insecticides.
solution.
Examples of best management practices
In addition, Dr. Soldat stressed comparing
when applying these compounds include soil tests to what you see in the tu rf areas
reading and following all label instructions, being tested. In other words, compare soil
avoiding foliar applications when pollinators test results to the tu rf growth and quality
are present and foraging, minimizing drift you are experiencing. Another way to com­
and runoff, and watering in applications.
pare soil test results is to perform a nutrient
In addition, Dr. Wong suggests that super­ tissue test analysis. But Dr. Soldat does cauintendents enhance public perception of
golf courses by increasing pollinator-attrac­
tive plants; improving the habitat for polli­
nators; making sure to mow off the flowers
of clover and other flowering weeds, like
dandelions, that attract pollinators in areas
that are frequently sprayed; and developing a
stringent IPM program.
Finally, Dr. Wong emphasizes the impor­
tance of being proactive in informing the
public about pollinator protection and pesti­
cide stewardship on golf courses by promot­
ing the best management practices being
implemented around pollinator protection.
Seminar-goers enjoy the awards luncheon at
For more information on this topic, you can Westchester Country Club.
reach Dr. Wong atfrank.wong@bayer.com.

tion that doing this alone is not enough.
Tissue content measurements typically offer
only a snapshot of what the plant is using
and not what is available in the soil.
Potassium, for example, is the second most
abundant nutrient in the soil, but is never
found in the same levels in plant tissue.
For more information on this topic, Dr. Soldat
can be reached at djsoldat@wisc.edu.

Awards Liinrheoii
After the morning sessions adjourned, the
awards luncheon began. This years recipient
of the coveted John Reed Lifetime Achieve­
ment Award, Cornell University Professor
Dr. Frank Rossi, is a close friend of
the MetGCSA and all superintendents.
MetGCSA Executive Director Mike McCall
kicked off the ceremony by thanking all the
guests for attending and the Westchester
Country Club staff for continuously put­
ting on a spectacular event for us.
Former student and current MetGCSA
President David Dudones was then wel­
comed to the podium to introduce his men­
tor and friend. Dave highlighted Frank’s
career and shared stories from his days as a
graduate student working with Dr. Rossi at
Cornell. Dave noted Frank’s legendary com­
munications skills and his innate ability to
spark thought-provoking discussion. Frank
was also acknowledged for being an indus­
try leader and appreciated for his close work
with the MetGCSA on the State of New
York’s BMP program.
Meadow Brook Superintendent John
Carlone, Dr. Rossi’s former college room­
mate and longtime friend, took the podium
next. After sharing stories of when he and
Frank attended the University of Rhode
Island together, John presented Dr. Rossi
with the Met’s prestigious John Reid
Lifetime Achievement Award.

How Much Shade Is T»o Much
Dr. Mike Richardson of the University of
Arkansas reiterated just how important sun­
light is to turf, noting that 25 percent of all
tu rf sites experience some amount of shade

John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award Winner, CornelVs Dr. Frank Rossi (center), strikes a pose
with friends and award presenters M etGCSA President David Dudones (left) and Meadow Brook
SuperJohn Carlone.

stress. He emphasized the importance of
knowing how much sunlight a site receives
when selecting which species or cultivar to
establish. Up until recently, turfgrass man­
agers have been using an estimate on shade
cover as a guideline, without knowing how
much light the site actually receives.
Dr. Richardson shared a few strategies on
how to measure sunlight on turfgrass sur­
faces. Instruments such as an onsite weather
station or a handheld measuring probe can
be used to calculate a value Dr. Richardson
referred to as the daily light integral (DLI).
The daily light integral is a value that
represents the amount of photosynthetically
active radiation (PAR) a site receives in a
24-hour period. DLI is typically measured
in mols of PAR per day, and it will take into
account all factors that bring shade. DLI can
be used in a variety of scenarios, unlike the
percentage of shade cover. Dr. Richardson
suggested that turfgrass managers utilize
DLI when selecting species or cultivars to
plant on shade-dominated sites.
Another advantage to calculating the DLI
is that, now, superintendents have a way of
quantifying the amount of shade a site re­
ceives. Dr. Richardson noted that, with this
information, superintendents will have the
evidence they need to make a case to mem­
bers for selectively pruning or removing
overbearing, shade-producing trees.
Based on a recent study, Dr. Richardson
suggested that increasing the DLI value of a
tu rf site will increase the overall tu rf qual­
ity. This study also showed that as you
increase the height of cut on a site, the DLI
requirement will decrease.

Another interesting finding Dr. Richard­
son discussed was that if you apply a PGR,
such as Primo Maxx, the DLI requirement
will also decrease.
Forfurther information on this topic, you can
reach Dr. Richardson at mricha@uark.edu.

Assessing Spike and Outsole Design
on Putting Surfaces
Our next speaker, Dr. Frank Rossi, was here
not only to accept the MetGCSA’s presti­
gious John Reed Lifetime Achievement
Award, but also to lead what turned out to
be an intriguing presentation on assessing
golf shoe spike and outsole design on putting
surface performance.
In this discussion, Dr. Rossi shared the per­
formance standards developed by leading
golf footwear companies. These standards
analyzed whether the shoes perform well in
all weather conditions, are resistant to pesti­
cides and fungicides, can withstand frequent
use/extensive rounds of play, and provide
consistent comfort, support, and protection
to the golfer during an average walked
round.
The goal of Dr. Rossi’s study was to de­
velop protocols for assessing the effects of
golf footwear on putting surface quality and
performance and, ultimately, to educate
golfers about the impact of traffic and golf
shoe selection on golf course turf. Dr. Rossi
studied these effects by applying realistic
traffic to simulate a specific number of
rounds played and by quantitatively rating
the shoes based on performance.

Tee to Green January /February /March 2017

One of the observations Dr. Rossi made
while conducting this study was that the
damage associated with traffic shows some
correlation to the individual wearing the
golf shoe. This is mostly due to differing
biometrics of the golfers and the fit of the
shoe to the individual’s foot. Dr. Rossi also
noted that the damage was much more
severe when the turf was wet.
He stressed that this is an emerging topic
and that there are many variables still to be
tested. One of Dr. Rossi’s suggestions for
improving the methods of this study is to

try to incorporate how the shoe fits to the
individual. With Dr. Rossi’s study com­
pleted on a bentgrass putting green, the
testing still remains to be applied to a Poa
putting surface.
For more information on assessing spike and
outsole design on putting surfaces, you can reach
Dr. Rossi atfsr3@cornell.edu.

•Inin Us Next Year
We would like to extend another special
thank you to Brett Chapin and the Edu­
cation Committee for their efforts in plan­

ning this and our other education events
throughout the year, to David Dudones and
Westchester Country Club for being great
hosts, and to the vendors for their continued
support of our association.
All this is what 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 2018!
Raymond Platt is an assistant superintendent at
Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT.

Special Thanks to Our 2017 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

DeLea Sod Farm s

G ro w th Products, Ltd.

S eeton Turf W a reh o u se

Tom Ir w in , Inc

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

Steve Geiser
High-Quality Sod & Root Zone Mixes for
Golf Courses
800-344-7637
sgeiser@deleasod.com

Howie Gold
Liquid Fertilizers
800-648-7626
hgold@growthproducts.com

Brian Bontemps
Turf Care Products
845-239-7959
brianbontemps@seetonturf.com

Jeff Houde
Turf Care Products
203-731-1776
¡eff@tomirwin.com

H arrell's LLC

S iteO n e Landscape Supply

Turf Products LLC

D ryJect N o rth East, LLC

Scott Tretera
Golf Course Supplies
914-262-8638
stretera@harrells.com

Chad Mathieu
Turf Care Products & Equipment
914-539-5675
cmathieu@siteone.com

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

LaC orte Equipm ent

S teven W illa n d , Inc.

V a lle y G reen , Inc

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

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

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

S yn g en ta

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

A q u a tro ls , Inc.

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

Steve Jordan
DryJect & Aeration Specialists
914-602-2857
Jordan781@msn.com

A tla n tic G o lf & Turf

E vergreen O rganics

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

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

BASF

E xecutive Turf Products

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

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

B ayer E nvironm ental Science

G rass R o o ts, Inc.

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

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

C u s h m a n /E -Z -G O

G reensight A gronom ics

Nick Roberto
Golf Carts & Utility Vehicles
845-637-7641
nroberto@textron.com

Justin McClellan, CMO
Automated Imaging & Analysis
203-550-2113
justin@greensightag.com

W e s tc h e s te r Tractor, Inc.

M e tro Turf Specialists

Scott Apgar
Turf Care Products
203-748-4653
scott.apgar@metroturfspecialists.com

Brian Goudey
Chemical Company
518-764-2412
brian.goudey@syngenta.com

P la n t Food Com pany, Inc.

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

W e s tc h e s te r Turf Supply, Inc.
S yn erg y Turf Supply

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

W illia m A . K elly & C om pany

P la yb o o ks fo r G o lf

®

Tee to Green January /February /March

2017

Golf Course Coverage System,
Conditions Software Platform,
Golf Course Field Guides, ezPins,
Career Development
Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254
gwojick@goplaybooks.com
Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052
mleverich@goplaybooks.com

Dave Lippman
Turf Care Products
914-447-5192
westturf@comcast.net

Tanto Irrig a tio n , LLC

Bill Bartels
Irrigation Installation Services
914-347-5151
wbartels@tantoirrigation.com
The Care o f Trees

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

Charity Kelly
General Contractor Management Co.
914-232-3191
wakelly@wakellyco.com

Sleepy Hollow Hosts Second Annual Assistants
Professional Development Seminar
by Anthony Minniti

m

err,

n its second year, the annual
MetGCSA Assistant Superintendent
M MetG<
Professic
Professional
Development Seminar
drew 58 assistants looking to increase their
off-the-course skills. Offering a warm wel­
come to seminar-goers on a cold, windy day
was Sleepy Hollow Country Club host
Superintendent Tom Leahy and his team of
assistants and the entire clubhouse staff,
under the direction of General Manager
Tom Nevin.
Class C Representative Dave Peterson and
his committee put together a terrific lineup
of speakers, along with a star-studded panel
for the roundtable discussion. The theme
throughout the entire day was striving to
differentiate yourself in the job search.
Here are details on this great day.

linking ii Positive Impression HIT
the (’nurse
Laura Katen of Katen Consulting gave
an engaging hours’ worth of information,
touching on the four core elements of creat­
ing a favorable impression in interviews and
in professional interactions. These include:
exhibiting professionalism, communicating
confidence, possessing a strong network, and
displaying social etiquette.
Much of Katen’s presentation was sub­
stantiated by research. She noted that you
have seven seconds or less to make a positive
first impression, two minutes to convey
confidence, make eye contact, and build rap­
port, and within those two minutes people
will decide whether or not they like you.
Also noteworthy is that people remember
four times more of what they see than what
they hear. That means that attire, acces­
sories, and body language are key in creat­
ing a favorable impression and setting your­
self apart from the rest of the pack.
Katen also touched on social etiquette.
She offered suggestions for introducing
yourself and others, putting people at ease,
and gracefully entering or exiting conversa­
tions. Prospective employers and members
are always on the lookout for someone who
is able to conduct themselves appropriately
and communicate with confidence and ease
when describing their skills and experience.

Assistant superintendents gather at Sleepy Hollow for a day of professional development.

For further information, you can reach
Laura Katen at 914-468-0892. You can also
follow her on Twitter @katenconsulting.

The Value of Professional anil
Personal Development
Mike McCall, executive director of the
MetGCSA, spoke next. He comes from a
varied background and diverse set of skills
that he developed in his work as a business
owner, superintendent, general manager,
naval officer, school board president, and
now MetGCSA executive director.
It’s no surprise, then, that Mike’s presenta­
tion was centered on how to diversify your
skill set and then use that knowledge to your
advantage—particularly when looking to
impress a prospective employer!
In diversifying, Mike suggests developing
yourself outside the field and building a sta­
ble of mentors who could support your
learning and professional growth in a vari­
ety of areas.
Mike referred to a study of Harvard MBA
students to stress the importance of setting
goals and putting them on paper to increase
your likelihood of achieving them. He dis­
cussed the importance of owning your mis­
takes and making sure to learn from them.
Additionally, Mike touched on the need to
start building your financial security
through savings and investing. “This is a

tough business,” he noted, “and financial
security helps alleviate some of the stress and
provide peace of mind if something does go
wrong through no fault of your own.”
And last but not least, Mike emphasized
the importance of investing in yourself,
whether it’s upgrading your wardrobe, im­
proving your public speaking skills, or
expanding your knowledge base by reading
books on a variety of non-industry topics.
“The product you are always selling is
yourself,” said Mike.“Start branding yourself
now and you will far exceed your own
expectations.”
For further information, you can reach
Mike at mike@mccallmg.com or 914-2049136.

Panel llisi ussion
In a candid discussion moderated by Edu­
cation Chair Brian Chapin, superintendent
at Paramount Country Club, assistant super­
intendents were able to voice their concerns
and question industry leaders on their view
of the future of the industry and how it will
affect the role of the assistant superintend­
ent. Most all ideas steered clear of agronom­
ics, focusing more on the keys to career
advancement.
The panel included Stephen Rabideau of
Winged Foot Golf Club, David Dudones of
Westchester Country Club, Daniel Cun­
Tee to Green January /February /March 20 1 7

ningham of Yankee Stadium, Tom Leahy
of Sleepy Hollow Country Club, and Steve
Renzetti of Pinnacle Turf
Discussions also centered on what it
might take to foster the role of career assis­
tant in the future and what the hardest
part is in transitioning from an assistant
superintendent to superintendent.
Each panel member gave insight into
their backgrounds and offered thoughts on
how to best position yourself for that
superintendent role one day.
• Stephen Rabideau explained that in this
region of the country we are babysitters.
When it’s the growing season, we work a
significant number of hours, because what
we do is on public display daily. To endure
the workload, Steve emphasized you have
to love what you do.
• Daniel Cunningham noted that he looks
for employees who not only have baseball
experience but also think outside the box.
But most important, he looks for those
with a strong work ethic.
• Tom Leahy suggests doing the best job
possible in your current position to set
yourself up for a superintendent job down
the road.
• David Dudones suggested doing every­
thing possible to research the position you
are applying for and to demonstrate just
how much you want the job. He also
pointed out that you may have to relocate
to go where the jobs are.
• Steve Renzetti, who has sat in on many
club interviews, suggested putting the
time, and possibly money, into creating a
professional website, resume, and portfolio
and then polishing your skills to present
those materials in a way that will improve
your odds of getting an interview and
winning the job.
Special thanks, again, to Class C Rep
Dave Peterson and the Class C Committee
for their efforts in putting together this
highly informative day. If you have any
comments or suggestions you would like
to share on this and future seminars, feel
free to contact Dave at 845-521-6736 or at
depturf@gmail.com.
We would like to extend a warm thank
you, again, to Sleepy Hollow Superintend­
ent Tom Leahy and the clubhouse staff,
and a special thank you to all of our host
assistants: Royal Healy, Evan Weymouth,
Greg Coughlin, Brian O ’Malley, and Dan
Nicolaisen.
We appreciate the excellent attendance
and hope to see all of you at next year’s pro­
fessional development event!
Anthony Minniti, a member of the Tee to
Green Editorial Committee, is an assistant
superintendent at The Creek Club in Locust
Valley, NY.
Ì

Tee to Green January /February /March 2 0 1 7

Member News

New M em bers
Please join us in welcoming the following
new MetGCSA members:
• Mark Brodd, Class C, St. Andrew’s Golf
Club, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
• Brian Goudey, Class AF, Syngenta,
Burnt Hills, NY
• Craig Halma, Class C, Silver Spring
Country Club, Ridgefield, CT
• Thomas Havelka, Class C, Spring Lake
Golf Club, Spring Lake Heights, NJ
• Jake Hemlock, Class C, Westchester
Country Club, Rye, NY
• David Mishoe, Class C, Leewood Golf
Club, Eastchester, NY
• Dan Nicolaisen, Class C, Sleepy
Hollow Country Club, Scarborough, NY
• Cody Seaman, Class C, Pine Hollow
Country Club, East Norwich, NY
• Andrew Thompson, Class B,
Brynwood Golf Sc Country Club, Armonk,
NY
• Jefferey Wilson, Class C, Leewood Golf
Club, Eastchester, NY
• Vincent Taylor, Class C, Winged Foot
Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY
M em bers on th e M ove
• Jason Anderson is the new superintend­
ent at Old Oaks Country Club in Purchase,
NY Previous position: Assistant superin­
tendent at Old Oaks Country Club.
• Timothy Benedict, CGCS, is the new
superintendent at North Hills Country
Club in Manhasset, NY Previous position:
Superintendent the Woodmere Club in
Woodmere, NY
• Dennis DeSanctis Jr. is now a sales rep
with Double ‘D’ Turf in Monroe Twp, NJ.
Previous position: Sales rep with Syngenta
in the Hudson Valley and New Jersey areas.
• Mike Golden is the new superintendent
at Sterling Farms Golf Course in Stamford,
CT. Previous position: Superintendent at
Long Shore Golf Club in Westport, CT.

Kudos!
Congratulations to Membership Chair
Steven McGlone, superintendent at Siwanoy Country Club, for his new role as presi­
dent of the Penn State Turfgrass Alumni
Association. Steve was elected to his new
post at the February 8 Penn State Turfgrass
Alumni Association meeting at the Golf
Industry Show in Orlando, FL.
In Sym pathy
The MetGCSA is deeply saddened to an­
nounce the untimely passing of Ernie
Steinhofer on January 8, just two months
after his 58th birthday. A past superintend­
ent who retained his CGCS status, Ernie
worked as an agronomy consultant with
Synergy Turf Supply, providing for superin­
tendents and the needs of their golf courses.
An avid golfer, Ernie joined the
MetGCSA in 1995 and was well known and
liked in the industry for his sincerity, great
wit, good humor, and generosity.
Our sincere condolences to Ernie’s family
and his many friends in the industry. Ernie
will be missed tremendously by all who
knew him.
Those who would like to make a donation
in Ernie’s memory should visit www.hopeforthewarrior.org.
It is with our deepest sympathy that we also
announce the passing of Superintendent
Rich Spear on December 29. Rich, a friend
to many MetGCSA members, was the long­
time superintendent at Piping Rock Club
on Long Island before retiring in 2013. A
talented golfer, Rich played on the golf team
at Franklin Sc Marshall College and became
one of the most respected superintendents in
the country. He was a frequent speaker and
wrote numerous articles on golf course
maintenance. He was never one to hold back
his opinion when it came to playing condi­
tions, speed of play, and green speed and
what it was doing to the game. He will be
missed by all in the golf community for his
quick wit, passion, and knowledge.
We offer our heartfelt sympathies to
Rich’s family, his fellow superintendents,
and his many friends in golf.

President's Message continuedfrom page 1

Mark Your Calendars With These
Upcoming MetGCSA and Industry Events
Dave M ah o n ey Two-Ball Q u a lifie r
Tuesday, April 18
Shorehaven Golf Club, East Norwalk, CT
Host: Ryan Segrue

Sum mer Picnic
Wednesday,July 19
Bedford Village Memorial Park
Bedford, NY

S u p e rin te n d e n t/G u e s t Tournam ent
Monday, May 1
The Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT
Host: Jason Meersman

The P o a /M e t C h am p io n sh ip /M e t
Team Q u a lifie r
Monday, October 3
Sunningdale Country Club
Scarsdale, NY
Host: Sean Cain, CGCS

MetGCSA In v ita tio n a l Tournam ent
Tuesday,June 6
Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, Bronx, NY
Host: Greg Eisner
Sum m er Social
Monday,July 10
Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck, NY

MetGCSA/CAGCS Fall Sem inar
Thursday, November 9
The Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT
Host: Jason Meersman
MetGCSA W in te r Sem inar
Wednesday,January 10,2018
Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY
Host: David Dudones

R egional Events
The 1 3th Annual Joseph Troll Turf
Classic
Monday, May 15
GreatHorse
Hampden, MA
Superintendent David Rafferty will host
this years UMass Alumni T urf Group
fundraiser in support of tu rf education and
research at the University of Massachusetts.
This year’s honoree is Brian Silva, who
designed the coure at GreatHorse, which
incorporates natural wetlands, mountain
views, and more than 200 bunkers. The
championship tees offer golfers more than
7,500 yards of pristine golf action.
Please plan to attend this worthy fund­
raiser, and watch for details. Entry forms
and additional information will be available
online at www.alumniturfgroup.com.
22n d Annual Rutgers Turfgrass
Research Golf Classic
Monday, May 8
Fiddlers Elbow Country Club
Bedminster, NJ
Plan now to join fellow industry profes­
sionals for this annual fundraiser and a day
of golf, education, and fun. Your participa-

tion helps fund research grants, student
scholarships, equipment, and special proj­
ects 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 long on to www.njturfgrass.org.
Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day
(Golf & Fine Turf)
Tuesday,July 25
Horticultural Farm II
New Brunswick, NJ
Save the date, and watch for details. Call
973-812-6467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org
for further information.
2 0 1 7 UMass Turf Research Field Day
Wednesday,July 26
UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research Center
South Deerfield, MA
For further information, visit h ttp ://
ag.umass.edu/turf/research/umass-turfresearch-field- day.

• Enlist the Club Relations chair to send
an email or call any facility with a job
opening to encourage prospective em­
ployers to interview, and ultimately hire,
local.
The benefit: Local hires can promote the
camaraderie needed for participation, offer
a historical perspective of the association,
and upward career movement among asso­
ciation members.
If, despite our efforts, clubs do hire from
outside the area, it is our job to welcome,
encourage, and promote participation. We
need active members so the association can
flourish and maintain its leadership status,
locally and nationally.
NOTE: Mike McCall is actively promot­
ing membership to all filled positions.
Grow Membership
Our membership is composed of 150 Class
A/SM and 80 Class C.
• Encourage membership among Class C
members where there is significant room
for growth.
• Identify superintendents who are not
members and find out why.
NOTE: Membership Chairman Steven
McGlone is actively targeting Met area assis­
tants who are not members of an association.
Because most assistants are members of only
one association, we are trying to capture as
many as possible. Ideally, we should have at
least a 1:1 ratio of superintendent to assis­
tant. With 150 superintendents and 80 assis­
tants, we have plenty of room to grow.

He Can Hit This!
I believe the goals we’ve established are
attainable and provide needed focus for the
future of the association. Let’s start with
our goal to “Increase Meeting Attendance”
by signing up as soon as possible for the
Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Qualifier on
April 18 at Shorehaven. This event always
promises a good time.
With spring fast-approaching, I hope you
are enjoying some much-needed time off
with your families. The summer months
aren’t just tough on us, after all, but also on
our spouses and kids. Without their under­
standing and support, a tough job becomes
all the more challenging and stressful. So
thank you to my wife, Dana, and the kids
and to the many other spouses who under­
stand and support us through the ups and
downs of the summer.
Here’s to a great 2017 season— and to
more active participation in the MetGCSA.
David Dudones
MetGCSA President

Tee to Green January / February /March 201 7

Spotlight

Ryan Segrue Welcomes Two-Rail
Qualifier to Shorehaven
by Scott Niven, CGCS

I ust off your clubs and get in a
few practice rounds before the
Met s annual Dave Mahoney TwoBall Championship Qualifier. This year’s
event is being held on April 18 at Shorehaven Golf Club, a beautiful shoreline venue
located in East Norwalk, CT.

Shorehaven Yesterday
Shorehaven was founded in 1922 when its
original members acquired 150 acres of
shoreline property, part of which included
the Woodbury G. Langdon estate. Ideal for a
golf course, the site had been cultivated as
farmland for many years, and the estates
buildings and surrounding lawns were well
suited for a clubhouse and recreation area for
the membership.
Club founders selected Willie Park Jr. to
design and build the golf course. After com­
pleting the plan, however, Parks became ill
and returned to Scotland where he passed
away in 1925.
Robert White was selected to build the
course that Park had designed. Although
White added many of his own touches, he
remained true to Park’s original vision.
Construction commenced in October of
1923, and the course was opened the follow­
ing October. The total cost of the entire
project was a mere $43,000!

Shorehaven Today
A relatively short course, playing at 6,477
yards from the back tees, Shorehaven does
not put a premium on power. With its gently
rolling terrain, classic greens, and shoreline
breezes, the course at Shorehaven offers an
enjoyable round of golf for all skill levels.
“The members here really enjoy the
course,” says Host Superintendent Ryan
Segrue. “Being on the Sound, you can come
out here every day of the week and have an
entirely different experience each time, de­
pending on the wind direction and speed.”
Ryan points to the club’s finishing holes,
numbers 15 throughl8, which all bring the
tidal marsh into play.“You can hit an 8-iron
or a 3 -wood on #17 depending on the
wind,” he explains. “It’s that kind of variety
that makes this such a special place.”
Tee to GreenJanuary/February/March 2017

Beginning his third year at Shorehaven,
Ryan and his crew have been busy enhancing
the water views and vistas, particularly from
«
the club’s new 30,000-square-foot club­ Ryan Segrue
house. “Not many golf courses have the views
we are capable of creating,” says Ryan, noting spent one season as second assistant at New
that the Green Committee and Board of Haven Country Club before moving on to
Directors have whole-heartedly supported The Stanwich Club to serve as an assistant
superintendent.
his team’s efforts.
“Scott Niven taught me everything I
The club is committed to being one of the
best in Fairfield County and has invested a know, from tu rf management to dealing
significant amount of capital to improve with membership and employee issues,” says
every aspect of the club, especially the new- Ryan. “My five years at Stanwich was
and-improved clubhouse complete with a invaluable to my career progression.”
In March of 2012, Ryan got his first big
golf simulator, putting green, fitness center
break:
He was hired by the ValleyCrest man­
with massage services, a new pool house, and
agement
company to take over as superin­
new tennis courts.
“The club is moving forward with plans to tendent at Lake Isle Country Club in
build a new paddle tennis center and snack Eastchester, NY Two seasons later, Valleybar out on the golf course,” says Ryan. “They Crest moved him back to Connecticut to
have brought in Architect Andrew Green to manage Longshore Golf Course in Westport.
“When I got to Longshore,” he says, “there
develop a comprehensive master plan for the
complete restoration of the course before were literally no greens. I had no crew, and
the town wanted to open the course in early
their centennial celebration in 2024.”
April. Amazingly, we got through it,” Ryan
continues. “In fact, we delivered ahead of
Before Shorehaven
schedule and provided Westport residents
Ryan grew up in Binghamton, in upstate with quality playing conditions for the first
New York, spending his winters playing time in years.”
hockey and his summers playing golf with
Ryan’s efforts caught the eye of Long­
his grandfather. At 17, he took a summer job shore’s neighbor, Shorehaven, and when the
on the grounds crew of the local municipal superintendent position opened, Ryan was
golf course.
selected out of 100 applicants. He started as
It took only one summer of working on Shorehaven’s superintendent in 2015.
the course for Ryan to realize the career path
“Shorehaven is a dream job,” says Ryan. “I
he wanted to take. After two years of playing look forward to spending many years here,
hockey at a local Junior College, he enrolled helping to build the club’s reputation as one
in SUNY Delhi in their Golf Course Man­ of the top clubs in the Met area.”
agement Program.
Ryan’s first internship sent him back home At Home
to Binghamton Country Club, where the
maintenance practices were far more inten­ Ryan and his wife, Kristin, of six years, live in
sive than those on the municipal course Trumbull, CT, with their two sons: Blake,
who is 2, and Carter, who is 5 months old.
where he had been working.
Ryan then ventured to The Quechee Club Ryan still enjoys playing hockey and travel­
in Vermont to intern at the 36-hole, 5,000 ing with Kristin and the boys to a warmacre, four-season facility. After two successful weather destination during the winter.
Join fellow members April 18 at the open­
internships at Quechee, Ryan was offered a
ing
event of the season, our Dave Mahoney
job as a second assistant by Property Manager
Two-Ball
Championship Qualifier!
Ken Lallier.
“I loved it there, but when I was told my
winter job was overnight snowmaking on Scott Niven, a member of the Tee to Green
Editorial Committee, is property manager at The
the ski hill, I had a change of heart.”
Ryan moved to Connecticut where he Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT.

atron Directory
Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them.
O A.G. Enterprises
Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms
201-488-1276 / Fax:201-489-5830
merrickl60@gmail.com
www.AGEnterprisesonline.com

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

O All Pro Horticulture, Inc.
O Executive Turf Products
John Seib
92 Vine Road, Stamford, CT 06905
80 East Gates Avenue
Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
executiveturfproducts@gmail.com
631-789-6680 / Fax: 631-789-5711
humagroturf.com
john@allprohort.com
O Aquatrols Corp. o f America
1273 Imperial Way
Paulsboro, NJ 08066
Kevin Collins, NE &
Mid-Atlantic Territory Mgr.
609-841-2077
kcollins@Aquatrols.com

O

O

O

©

©

O

O

O Fisher and Son Company
“Green Industry Supplier Since 1928”
Mike Weber: 347-486-0480
mweber@fisherandson.com

Pinnacle Turf, Inc.
40 Skyview Lane
New Rochelle, NY 10804
Steven Renzetti, CGCS
914-384-9227
srenzetti@verizon.net
www.Pinnacleturf.net
Plant Food Company, Inc.
“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”
Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111
Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318
Tom Pepe: 609-751-1372
David Conrad: 914-263-3244

O The Care o f Trees
Mike Cook: 914-345-8733
Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110
Ken Clear: 203-863-0900
Greg Gutter: 914 -241-8110
© The Terre Company o f
New Jersey, Inc.
Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock,
& Fertilizer
Byron Johnson: 973-473-3393
jmitovski@terrecompany.com

O Tom Irwin Inc.
“With Tom Irwin, You Are Not
Alone”
© Playbooks for Golf
13 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803
Golf Course Coverage System, Conditions
Jeff Houde: 203-731-1776
Software Platform, Golf Course Field
G olf Preservations, Inc.
800-582-5959
Guides, ezPins, Career Development
504 Gloucester Avenue
jeff@tomirwin.com
Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254
Middlesboro,KY 40965
gwojick@goplaybooks.com
Samson Bailey, CEO
© Turf Products LLC ~ TORO
Argento & Sons, Inc.
Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052
Jessica Teaney, Business Admin
Irrigation & Equipment
Louis Argento
miever ic h@gopl aybooks.com
“Servicing Our Customers
609-248-7453 / Fax: 606-896-8006
1 Prospect Avenue
www.goplaybooks.com
golfpreservations@yahoo.com
Since 1970”
White Plains, NY 10607
Pat Cragin: 860-874-2812
914-949-1152 / Fax:914-948-0255 , Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc.
Saturated Solutions ~ US Pitchcare
Bill Conley: 860-360-0503
louis@argentoandsons.com
“Simplifying Cultural”
“Serving Turfgrass Professionals
Dave Dynowski: 860-490-9396
18 Evergreen Road
Atlantic G olf & Turf
Since 1978”
Shawn Donovan: 203 -910-9114
Northford, CT 06472
Ryan Batz / Keith Kubik
9 Industrial Boulevard
Peter Hull: 860-305-2525
Paul Boyd Jr.: 203-219-7459
Ofc: 973-252-6634
Turner Falls, MA 01376
saturatedservices@gmail.com
www.GRIturf.com / sales@GPJturf.com
John Garcia: 203-996-6267
© Valley Green, Inc.
205 Wilson Avenue
jngarc@gmail.com
Seeton
Turf
Warehouse,
LLC
o Growth Products, LTD
Norwalk, CT 06854
Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959
Fertilizers, Organics, & Fungicide Products
BASF
Greg Moran
Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139
80 Lafayette Avenue
“We Create Chemistry”
Cell: 845-901-1358
Zach Brooks: 914-309-2373
White Plains, NY 10603
Peter Jacobson: 919-530-9062
Ofc: 203-831-9748
Bill Cimochowski: 609-923-4045
peter.jacobson@basf.com
Howie Gold: 917-559-4425
g.moran@valleygreenusa.com
Ofc: 800-648-7626
SiteOne Landscape Supply
Bayer Environmental Science
hgold@growthproducts.com
© Valley View Wholesale
5 Leo Lane, New Windsor, NY 12553
“Backed by Bayer”
Greenhouses
Chad Mathieu: 914-539-5675
Harrell’s
Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173
cmathieu@siteone.com
229 Smith Ridge Road
“Growing a Better World. Partners
Blue Ridge Peat Farms
South Salem, NY 10590
for Success”
Soil Solutions, LLC ~
133 Peat Moss Road
Frank Amodio: wgh@aol.com
Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638
Aerification Professionals
White Haven, PA 18661
Kevin Amodio
stretera@harrells.com / www.harrells.com
7
Whittemore
Place
Gene Evans / Chuck Evans
kevin.wgh@yahoo.com
Ryebrook, NY 10573
LaBar G olf Renovations
570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888
914-533-2526
914-393-0659
/
Fax:914-939-5010
170 Mount Airy Road, Suite A1
Cushman / E -Z -G O
© Westchester Tractor, Inc.
Basking Ridge, NJ 07920
Steven W illand, Inc.
Nick Roberto: 845-637-7641
60 International Boulevard
Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253
“Quality Turf Equipment”
nroberto@textron.com
Brewster, NY 10509
rich@labargolf.com
4 Production Drive
Marc Santospirito: 516-662-3554
John Apple / Charlie Siemers
Brookfield, CT 06804
LaCorte Equipment ~
845-278-7766
Custom G olf
George
Corgan:
914-213-3622
John Deere G olf
www.wtractor.com
Golf Course Materials
georgecorgan@stevenwillandinc.com
“Premier John Deere Golf Distributor
Michael Giacini: 631-433-4494
© Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.
www.StevenWillandInc.com
in the Northeast”
nmgiacini@verizon.net
“Serving the MetGCSA for
Eric Berg / Jeff Sutphen / Jim Calladio
Synergy Turf Supply
40 Years”
DeLea Sod Farms
800-560-3373 / Fax:631-591-3447
“Agronomic Professionals”
Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257
Bentgrass, Fescue, Bluegrass Sod, &
golfparts@LaCorteEquipment.com
Bobby Steinman, CGCS: 860-488-2822
Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192
U.S. Silica Topdressing
www.LaCorteEquipment.com
bobby7777@aol.com
info@westchesterturf.com
Scott Geiser: 800-344-7637
© Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.
Syngenta
sgeiser@deleasod.com
©
Wickes
Arborists
Hydrogeologie Consulting &
Manufacturer of Plant Protection Products
11 McNamara Road
Environmental Engineering Services
24 Forest Street, Burnt Hills, NY 12077
Double ‘D ’ Turf, LLC
Spring Valley, NY 10977
Rob Good:860-678-0404
Brian Goudey: 518-764-2412
Drill & Fill Specialist
John Wickes: 914-906-3264
rgood@lbgct.com
brian.goudey@syngenta.com
Dennis DeSanctis Sr.: 732-241-7378
Ofc: 845-354-3400
dennis@doubleDturf.com
Mark Eliot Design, LLC
© Tanto Irrigation, LLC
©
Wilfred
MacDonald, Inc.
Mark Sosnowitz, ASLA, MG
“Golf Course Irrigation Specialists”
Emerald Tree & Shrub Care
“Turf
Equipment
Specialists”
914-318-4476
Steve Kubicki / Jeff Gennerelli
Company
South Hackensack, NJ 07606
msosnowitz@aol .com
info@tantoirrigation.com
26 Fox Meadow Road
Glenn Gallion: 201-954-5878
Scarsdale, NY 10583
© Metro Turf Specialists
© The Cardinals, Inc.
888-831-0891 / Fax:201-931-1730
Steve Farrelly: 914-725-0441
Proudly Celebrating 50 Years in Business
Complete Distributor of Golf Course
ggwilmac@aol.com
Kevin Wyatt: 203-422-2441
“Customers, Our TOP Priority”
Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies
©
Winfield Solutions, Inc.
William Demarest: 914-725-0441
Scott / Todd / Rich / Matt / Jake
John Callahan: 800-861-6256
“Service, Solutions, Insight”
203-748-GOLF (4653)
Fax: 860-673-8443
Rob Saunders: 203-249-5059
www.metroturfspecialists.com
rssauders@landolakes.com
www.winfieldpro.com
O

________________________________

Denotes M e tG C S A member

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