Published by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association June/July 2017VOLUME 48 NUMBER 3Tee to Green July cover 2017_Tee to G dec 2010 cover 7/26/17 11:11 AM Page 3TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright © 2017n this IssueCover: Birchwood Country Club. FeatureTouting Our Industry™s Many Benefits at National Golf Day 2017..........................................................2 Member News......................................................................8 Upcoming Events..................................................................9 Spotlights............................................................................10 Scorcard..............................................................................12 IDepartmentsTee to Green StaffEditor JIM PAVONETTI 203-531-8910 Managing Editor PANDORA C. WOJICK Editorial Committee TODD APGARSTEVEN McGLONE MATT CEPLOANTHONY MINNITI KEVIN COLLINS BOB NIELSEN ANDY DROHEN SCOTT NIVEN CHIP LAFFERTYTOM REYES GREG WOJICK Designer TERRIE YOUNG Advertising Manager MIKE BRUNELLE, 973-777-6710 Board of DirectorsPresident DAVID DUDONES Westchester Country Club Vice President KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS GlenArbor Golf Club Treasurer ROBERT B. ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club Secretary BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club Past President GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club Directors MICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCS Upper Montclair Country Club BRIAN CHAPIN Paramount Country Club STEVEN LOUGHRAN Rock Ridge Country Club STEVEN McGLONE Siwanoy Country Club VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCS Fairview Country Club DANIEL ROGERS Wykagyl Country Club Class fiCfl Rep DAVE PETERSON Brae Burn Country Club Class fiAFfl Rep SCOTT TRETERA Harrel™s LLC Executive Director MIKE McCALL, CGCS Executive Secretary SUSAN O™DOWD Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:10 PM Page ii1Tee to Green June/July 2017 contintued on page 7 resident™sMessagePsually at this time of year, super- intendents and staff are struggling to get through the hottest 100 days of the year. Top of mind is remaining vigilant for potential problems, everything from wilt and turf disease to heat stroke and lightning hazards for staff and golfers. Of course, this season so far, we™ve escaped many of the typical turf woes and other worries. Before this recent bout of hot, humid weather, we had only two heat waves (just three consecutive days in the ™90s), temps that frequently dipped into the ™50s, and regular rain. Compared to other seasons, concerns about syringing, overheating, and lightning have been next to nothing. As I write this, I am knocking on wood! In fact, things have been looking great for cool-season grasses around the area. This was certainly evident at our Invitational at Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point. Even the rain couldn™t spoil the great conditions Noah McCahill and his staff provided. And top- ping off a great round of golf that day was an epic hole-in-one! (Read more on page 12.) While the weather has been favorable for conditions, weekend rain has, no doubt, ta- ken a bit of a toll on revenues for golf facili- ties and their employees. Cart fees, lessons, restaurant covers, as well as additional over- time hours for our staffs, have all been down. Sadly superintendents™ good fortuneŠfull ponds, timely rains, and great conditionsŠ does have a negative effect on line items throughout other areas of the club. I think that™s why we all appreciate those overnight quarter-inch rains, which still help us but have little effect on the rest of the facility™s operations. Good Reasons to Get Involved On another note, as our country™s legislation gets crazier and more restrictive every year, I can™t stress how important it is to get in- volved or at least have an ear to the ground for issues facing our industry. We should all be grateful to those professionals and organ- izations who have banned together to repre- So Far, So Good ThisSummerSo Far, So Good ThisSummerDavid Dudones MetGCSA President sent our industry in voicing concerns on everything from Tri-state-area water re- strictions to how IPM is defined. New York™s researchers and industry pro- fessionals have joined forces in creating Best Management Practices for New York State Golf Courses, which reflect well on our profession™s environmental efforts. Many other states are now following suit. And of course, we have to give great credit to those who faithfully attend NYSTA™s annual Advocacy Day where they discuss numerous concerns and proposed legislation with state legislators. If our industry members did not get in- volved, right now, we would likely be living with restrictions that would be making our jobs more difficult, at best. Far better to be where we are: sitting at the table with legis- lators helping to guide legislation, rather than fight it, after-the-fact. Most recently, at the end of April, Mike McCall represented us at National Golf Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., along with Fresh Meadow™s Joe Gardner. Our fea- ture article this issue highlights our indus- try™s work to voice concerns, discuss issues, and share golf™s many benefits with Con- gressional leaders in D.C. Great job Mike and Joe! UTee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:10 PM Page 1Tee to Green June/July 2017 2eatureFTouting Our Industry™s Many Benefits at National Golf Day 2017by Mike McCall, CGCS MetGCSA Makes Itself Seen and Heard at WE ARE GOLF™s Tenth Annual National Golf Day Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:10 PM Page 23Tee to Green June/July 2017 WE ARE GOLF, acoalition of golf™s leading organizations, hosted its 10th annual National Golf Day on April 26 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Fresh Meadow Superintendent Joe Gard- ner and I traveled to D.C. to participate as representatives from New York in this year™s event, which offered a unique opportunity for the industry to voice concerns, discuss issues, and share golf™s many benefits with Congressional leaders in D.C. The event drew representatives from GCSAA and numerous reps from golf™s lead- ing organizations, from the Club Managers Association of America, Ladies Professional Golf Association, and Golf Course Builders Association of America to the National Alliance for Accessible Golf, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA TOUR, and the U.S. Golf Manufacturers Council. The largest contingent of attendees was superintendents representing their local GCSAA chapters. Golf Makes Its Mark With National Mall Makeover Making this year™s event all the more notable was that Joe and I joined more than 100 golf industry leaders, who arrived a day early to participate in a community service initiative on the National Mall the morning of April 25. Working in coordination with Michael Stachowicz, turf management specialist for the National Park Service and a retired 25- year member of the GCSAA, we focused our time and expertise on completing deferred turfgrass maintenance activities on the National Mall. The National Mall recently underwent a $40-million-dollar restoration. Yet, keeping up with regular maintenance on an area that sees in excess of 3,000 events and 30 million visitors a year can be challenging. The Na- tional Mall is divided into eight grass panels running between the Capitol building and the Washington Monument and are sepa- rated by walking paths and crossroads. Our focus that day was to concentrate on im- proving the three grass panels, walking paths, and other ancillary areas closest to the Capitol. The almost certain threat of rain was not a deterrent for these motivated attendees. After a brief kickoff speech from World Golf Foundation CEO Steve Mona, this vir- tual army of predominantly golf course superintendents decked out in rain gear and safety equipment went into work mode for the next four hours, virtually transforming the National Mall. A Mid-Atlantic John Deere dealer gener- ously provided a wide array of equipment to get the job done. Teams of about five mem- bers each were assigned duties, such as mowing, aerifying, overseeding, trimming, weeding, repairing irrigation heads and changing out irrigation nozzles and rings, washing park benches and edging around them with a sod cutter, removing rocks wedged in storm-drain grates, and raking gravel walking paths. I™ve heard it said that manual labor is good for the soul; on this day, that statement cer- tainly rang true for me. Personally, I found the experience rewarding and felt a sense of pride helping to improve the aesthetics of the Mall. Joe put it like this, fiI feel like any time supers get together, things just get done. Guys roll up their sleeves and go to work to achieve great results. I believe the results from the community service project on the National Mall was the beginning of a new chapter for National Golf Day.fl The next time you and/or your children are in D.C., make sure to take a stroll on the National Mall and check out our handi- work. Hopefully, you will feel some sense of satisfaction knowing that those in your industry generously dedicated their time and effort to enhancing one of our nation™s treasures. The Main Event: Legislative MattersWhile the community service initiative was a great addition to National Golf Day that garnered additional attention to our indus- try™s cause, the primary focus of the event was the meetings with congressional mem- bers and their staffs to discuss the benefits and concerns of our industry. A record 175 legislative meetings were conducted this year, and nearly 200 attendees from 35 U.S. states participated. Steve Mona kicked off the main event on April 26, which marked not only the 10th anniversary of National Golf Day, but also a significant milestone for the golf industry. The game™s economic, charitable, environ- mental, and fitness benefits echoed through- out Capitol Hill as we shared golf™s con- tributions, both locally and nationally, with our country™s decision makers. It™s easy to forget how many issues actually affect our industry. Forbes Tate Partners, a government relations firm representing WE ARE GOLF, provides a regular update on legislative issues that may affect some facet of the golf industry. In their April/May report, they identified the following items: tax reform, small busi- ness tax relief, tax-exempt status, conserva- tion easements, trade, disaster relief, wet- lands, single rider golf carts, and labor. Within each of these areas, there are various Senate and House of Representative bills that could help, hurt, or alter our industry. This year, WE ARE GOLF identified three priorities that we were asked to address in our congressional meetings: 1. Environmental Regulations: Clean Water Rule and National Pollutant Discharge Eli- mination System (NPDES) permits 2. Business and Labor Regulations: H-2BReturning Worker Exemption, Compre- hensive H-2B Reform, and Regulatory Reform 3. Promoting Healthy Lifestyles: Supporting the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act The good news, here, is that when it comes to environmental regulations, it appears unlikely that under the current administra- tion stricter regulations will be enacted or pursued. In fact, many environmental regu- lations introduced under the previous ad- ministration that potentially affected golf facilities are in the process of being re- scinded or reworked. Regardless of the political climate, our intent when discussing issues with lawmak- ers is to convey the uniqueness of golf course operations, either regionally or nationally, Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:10 PM Page 34Tee to Green June/July 2017 4The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act provides an economic incentive to invest in physical activity to help main- tain good health and reduce rising health- care costs. The key message to communicate here is that golf is an activity that promotes fitness and health. Did you know, for in- stance, that walking 18 holes is the equiva- lent of a 3.5-mile run or 5-mile walk? In addition to presenting the WE ARE GOLF agenda, Joe and I were able to inform or update legislative affairs directors about the Best Management Practices for New York State Golf Courses initiative and its ongoing development. The establishment of the BMPs has given New York a level of credibility that other states are just begin- ning to work toward with the assistance of the GCSAA and its initiative to establish BMPs for all 50 states by 2020. fiVisiting with the offices of Senate and House members was well worth the time and effort,fl says Joe of his first National Golf Day experience. fiNo matter who we met with, we were able to get our message and concerns on the table. It™s a wonderful plat- form to inform legislators where we are as an industry and that we are working hard to be leaders in environmental conservation and, just as important, that we take it very seriously. It also gives us the opportunity to show the depth of our industry from the local to national level.fl As the Met™s executive director, one of my goals when I go into any legislative meeting is to make sure that the legislators know they can call our association or me, directly, if they need additional information on any issue relating to the golf industry. We want to be a go-to resource to ensure they have the proper information before making a final decision. Strength in NumbersGolf is a $68.8-billion industry that posi- tively contributes to our economy by pro- viding jobs, tax revenue, charitable dona- and encourage legislators to seek our input so we can provide accurate industry facts and scientific research if necessary. Labor issues are certainly near and dear to the golf course superintendent™s heart. The Department of Labor overtime rule and minimum wage laws have a clear impact on the superintendents™ budget and how they conduct business. To my knowledge, the Metropolitan area does not, however, rely heavily on H-2B visas, which are generally granted to those seeking seasonal, nonagri- cultural positions perhaps at a resort or other seasonal business. Of course, though we, ourselves, may not rely on guest-workers to fill seasonal posi- tions right now, we may down the road. It™s important, therefore, to make lawmakers aware that there are golf facilities that do face the challenge of staffing for seasonal periods. And it can™t hurt to advocate for colleagues in other parts of the country who might be affected. The establishment of the BMPs has given New York a level of credibility that other states are just beginning to work toward with the assistance of the GCSAA and its initiative to establish BMPs for all 50 states by 2020. Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:10 PM Page 45Tee to Green June/July 2017 WE ARE GOLF has devel- oped a list of golf™s many benefits. You™ve, no doubt, heard much of this before, but it™s worth repeating. As professional rep- resentatives of the game of golf, we should all keep them top of mind and be ready, when appropriate, to share them in our conversations with legislators. Here are a few facts and figures surrounding our industry™s contributions. Economic: Golf contributes $68.8 bil- lion to the American economy and impacts 2 million jobs. In fact, one in 75 jobs in the United States is impacted by the golf industry. Golf is a bigger job cre- ator than spectator sports, performing arts, and the amusement and recreation industries. Charitable: Golf raises more money for charity than all other sports combined. Annually, the game generates $3.9 billion for philanthropic causes, almost all of which are unrelated to the golf industry. Environmental: Golf offers scientifically proven environmental benefits through the preservation of green space, protection of wildlife habitats, improvement of water quality through properly managed eco-sys- tems; they also have shown to offer a cooling effect on developed areas. Health and Wellness: Golf provides a means of recreation, leisure, and social and health benefits for all who play the game. An excellent source of exercise, playing 18 holes of golf burns roughly 2,000 calories when walking and 1,300 when riding a cart. A Game for All: Golf is very accessible, with nine out of 10 golfers playing public- access facilities. That adds up to 76 percent of golf being played at public courses. Looking at these attributes, it™s hard to un- derstand why the golf industry has not been sitting at the table with our country™s deci- sion makers on Capital Hill, working to pre- serve and protect this game of great value and integrity! tions, supplemental industries, tourism, and residential development to name several of the big ones. New York State ranks fourth ($5.3B) in state economic impact across the U.S. Only California ($13.1B), Florida ($11B), and Texas ($6.3B) contribute more. Our association and State of New York have a longstanding tradition of both state and local governmental advocacy. We talked about some of our efforts last issue in Mike Maffei™s recap of NYSTA™s annual Advocacy Event. Another prime example of our com- mitment to advocacy and environmental stewardship is the development of the Best Management Practices for New York State Golf Courses, now becoming an industry standard, as mentioned, thanks to the tireless efforts of leaders within the MetGCSA and other organizations around the state. As a state, we can be proud of the work we™ve done to demonstrate and promote the value of the game of golf. Some of us have also elevated our advocacy efforts to a national level. The annual National Golf Day event in our nation™s capitol provides a great opportunity for industry professionals to make their voices heard. No doubt, taking time away from work for events like this can be challenging, par- ticularly in late April when here, in the Northeast, the season is just getting started for golf course superintendents, PGA profes- sionals, golf associations, and supporting in- dustries. A great deal of work must be per- formed to get the courses prepared and Talking Up Our Industry™s Contributions National Golf Day leaders assemble on steps of U.S. Capitol Building. Congressional putting challenge in the foyer of the Rayburn House Building. Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:11 PM Page 5Tee to Green June/July 2017 6Judging by the results of National Golf Day™s publicity and social media cam- paigns, you might gather that the 2017 event was the most successful to date. Here are a few of the highlights complied by the WE ARE GOLF Coalition: Publicity and Media Relations More than 900 million media impressions More than 50 publicity placements, including CNBC, USA Today, Forbes, BuzzFeed, FOX Business, and others Twitter (#NGD17) Campaign 72.7 million social media impressions (up from 52.2 million in 2016 and just 7.2 million in 2013!) 24.3 million Twitter and Facebook unique accounts reached More than 90,000 WE ARE GOLF page views in April 2017 operations up and running, but advocating for our industry is an essential part of our jobs as well. After all, the success of our careers and the health and welfare of the golf industry depends on our ability to discuss mispercep- tions that could ultimately lead to legisla- tion that will adversely affect the golf industry and our ability to do our jobs. To reduce the anxiety of being away from your facility, it might help to plan now for next year™s event, explaining to your club the importance of becoming involved in na- tional advocacy efforts. Participating in events like National Golf Day can demon- strate to your club that you are a leader in your industry. Everyone I have spoken with who attended National Golf Day finds the experience both valuable and eye opening. Taking It to the Next LevelNational Golf Day 2017 was a success in my eyes because we increased participation, held a record number of legislative meet- ings, and raised awareness of our industry through the community service project on the National Mall. Admirably, golf course superintendents have been leading the charge in national advocacy efforts, but to increase our influ- ence in D.C., it™s become obvious we need more stakeholders involved. Labor issues, for instance, affect all facets of a club™s operation. When last year™s Over- time Rule made its way to Congress, every- one in the golf industry should have come out to challenge or at least raise awareness of the ill effects it would have on our industry. And even though many of the environ- mental issues may fall under the purview of golf course superintendents, any environ- mental mandate that causes our costs to increase will eventually affect the facility™s bottom line and may very well affect other departments as well. That™s why in addition to golf course superintendents, I urge more club profes- sionals, general managers, and others associ- ated with golf to attend next year or in the near future. There is, after all, strength in numbers. fiI would encourage everyone to attend NGD,fl says Joe. fiIt was great seeing all divi- sions of our industry come together to support the game and its integrity at the national level. And it was equally special to meet people from all levels of facilities across the country focusing on our presence and making a difference. It was a well-organized experience from start to finish,fl adds Joe. This is a long-term campaign with no finish line. And as is typically the case, estab- lishing relationships and credibility go a long way toward getting things done. The time is now to build a strong New York coalition to advocate to our congressional representatives. We must continue to be a presence, doing our best to present honest assessments of the effects laws and regula- tions will have on our industryŠand work- ing to squash unjust legislation by empha- sizing the many benefits of golf and the sci- entific facts related to environmental stew- ardship and our internal efforts to better the game. This is important not just to the preservation of the game of golf, but also our livelihood. Mike McCall is the executive director of the MetGCSA and managing member of the McCall Management Group, LLC. Counting National Golf Day 2017™s Success USGA Executive Director Mike Davis speaks at the 2017 National Golf Day kickoff event in the Rayburn House Building. Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:11 PM Page 67Tee to Green June/July 2017 The esteemed American economist, Milton Friedman, once wrote, fiOnly a crisisŠactual or perceivedŠproduces real change. When that crisis occurs, the actions that are taken depend on the ideas that are lying around. That, I believe, is our basic function: to develop alternatives to exist- ing policies, to keep them alive and available until the politically impossible becomes the politically inevitable.fl This aptly describes what happened in 2008 to spur advocacy efforts on a national level. That year, our country entered into the worst economic recession our generation has ever seen, and the golf industry was cer- tainly not immune. A combination of both real and perceived economic and environ- mental challenges led World Golf Founda- tion™s Steve Mona to facilitate the creation of a coalition of golf™s leading organizations named WE ARE GOLF that included the Club Managers Association of America, GCSAA, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA TOUR, The PGA of America, United States Golf Association, the U.S Golf Manufacturers Council, and the World Golf Foundation. This group was formed to help educate elected officials about and advocate for the totality of golf™s positive benefits in an attempt to prevent legislation that may adversely affect the game. The first National Golf Day was held in 2008 with 50 participants and approxi- mately 25 legislative meetings. Fast-for- ward to April 26, 2017 where more than 200 participants from various industries made their way to Washington, D.C. One hundred seventy-five legislative meetings were held to advocate for a variety of issues affecting the golf industry. Of those 200 who attended, more than 100 were affili- ated with the GCSAA. We™ve come a long way and are still working toward even greater participation and success. The Dawning of a National Golf Day Off-the-Grid EventsDuring the height of the season, the Met holds several of my favorite events: the Summer Social, Summer Picnic, and the Scholarship & Parent/Child Tournament. By the time you read this, Met members will have enjoyed another wonderful Summer Social at Orienta Beach Club. This waterfront venue provides an excel- lent backdrop to enjoy time away from the course, with our colleagues and sig- nificant others, during our most stressful months. (See photos page 8.) The Summer Picnic, held July 19 at Bedford Village Memorial Park, is one of those rare opportunities during the season for superintendents to enjoy some family fun: good food, great activities for adults and kids alike, and relaxed conversation with colleagues. (Scenes from the picnic to come!) To top off the summer, we awarded $20,000 in scholarships to our most de- serving young college students at Mosho- lu Golf Course on August 1. This great afternoon kicks off with a round of golf open to all Met members and their kids and then finishes with an informal buffet dinner and scholarship awards. The event is great fun and free to all! Here™s to an enjoyable rest of the sum- mer. Be sure to visit our website to stay up-to-date on our Two-ball matches and our other not-to-be-missed association events! David Dudones MetGCSA President President™s Message contintued from page 1 Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:11 PM Page 76Tee to Green June/July 2017 8Member NewsCounter clockwise: P Apgar, Kevin Collins, S & Rich Apgar, Evan Mike Weber, Margie & Steven McGlone, Sam Heule Birdie Rappoccio, Bob Alonzi, Greg Wojick, Kim Alonzi, Anne Maffei Doug Drugo & Scott Niven Seated: Kevin Collins, Terri Gonzalez, Yve Gentile, Renee Pavonetti, Glen Dube, Jackie Apgar Standing: Jim Pavonetti, Ken Gentile, Scott Tretera Matt Ceplo, Mike Maffei, Frank Buschini Ken Gentile, Paul Gonzalez, Jason Anderson, Greg Wojick Kait & Dave Peterson, Evan Weymouth & Sally Difr escoMetGCSA Summer Social Casual Camaraderie at the Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck, NY Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:36 PM Page 8Upcoming EventsNine and Dine Event Thursday, September 21 Birchwood Country Club Westport, CT Host: Justin Gabrenas The Poa/Met Championship/ Met Team Qualifier Monday, October 3 Sunningdale Country Club Scarsdale, NY Host: Sean Cain, CGCS Met Area Team Championship Tuesday, October 16 Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY Host: David Dudones NYSTA Challenge Steve Smith Memorial T ournamentFundraiser for the Environment Monday, August 14 The Links at Union Vale Lagrangeville, NY 12540 In its 18th year, the NYSTA Challenge, sponsored by NYSTA and the Hudson Val- ley GCSA, is an annual fundraising event supporting environmental issues. This past year, this event raised more than $12,000 in support of the 2017 Turfgrass Advocacy Day, the New York Farm Bureau Agricul- tural Alliance, and the New York Alliance for Environmental Concerns. The NYSTA Challenge begins at 12:30 with a Four-Man Handicap Scramble and concludes with a buffet dinner with open bar and prizes and raffle drawings. For further information, contact NYSTA at 800-873-8873 or 518-783-1229. 2017 Turf & Grounds Exposition Wednesday Œ Thursday, November 15 Œ 16 Rochester Riverside Convention Center Rochester, NY The Turf & Grounds Exposition offers an excellent opportunity to network while Regional Events Mark Your Calendars With These Upcoming MetGCSA and Industry EventsAssistants Championship Monday, October 23 Paramount Country Club New City, NY Host: Brian Chapin MetGCSA/CAGCS Fall Seminar Thursday, November 9 The Patterson Club, Fairfield, CT Host: Jason Meersman MetGCSA Winter Seminar Wednesday, January 10, 2018 Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY Host: David Dudones remaining current on the latest research and trends in turfgrass management. As always, the expo will feature key speakers from all segments of the green industry, as well as a comprehensive trade show. For further information, call the show office at 800-873-8873 or 518-783-1229, or visit the website at www.nysta.org. 2017 GREEN EXPO Turf & Landscape Conference Tuesday Œ Thursday, December 5 Œ 7 The Borgata Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, NJ The New Jersey Green Expo offers a com- prehensive educational program providing cutting-edge applications and tactics to guarantee green industry professionals™ suc- cess on the job. Offering one of the largest trade shows in the tri-state area, the expo also provides attendees with the opportu- nity to view the latest and greatest products and services on the market. For further information, call 973-812- 6467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org. Well Wishes Sending prayers and well wishes to Dave Parson and his wife, Meighan. Dave, a former MetGCSA member and assistant at Apawamis and Whippoorwill, is now superin- tendent at The Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley, MA. In Sympathy We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Sleepy Hollow Super- intendent Tom Leahy, whose father, Larry, passed away on July 4. He was 80.Those who wish may make a con- tribution in Larry Leahy™s memory to the Catskill Area Hospice & Palliative Care, 542 Main St., Oneonta, NY 13820, or to the Jack Thomas Martin Memorial Scholarship Fund, Victor Central School, Dollars for Scholars, 953 High St., Victor, NY 14564. Terri Gonzalez, Shayna Apgar, Renee Pavonetti, Yve Gentile, Jackie Apgar Counter clockwise: Paul & Terri Gonzalez, Jackie Apgar, Kevin Collins, Scott Apgar, Rob Alonzi, Shayna & Rich Apgar, Evan Weymouth & Sally Difresco affei, Frank Buschini entile, Paul Gonzalez, Anderson, Greg Wojick 9Tee to Green June/July 2017 Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:36 PM Page 96Tee to Green June/July 2017 10 Birchwood Offers Brand-New Venue for Met™s Nine & Dine n September 21, MetGCSA mem- bers will be treated to an all-new venue for this year™s Nine & Dine. Su- perintendent Justin Gabrenas will host the event at Birchwood Country Club in West- port, CT, where he has been superintendent for the past five years. Birchwood™s Beginnings Opened in 1946 after the end of World War II, Birchwood sits on a pastoral 85 acres once home to the Westport Country Club, an 18-hole course that had fallen into serious disrepair. The newly formed leadership at Birch- wood engaged the services of Donald Ross protégé Orin Smith, a highly regarded golf course architect of that era, to develop the best plan to refurbish or redesign the course. The decision was made to create a challeng- ing nine-hole course to replace the ill-con- ceived and decayed original 18. That turned out to be a wise choice. In 1997, Sports Illustrated published an article on nine-hole golf courses in the U.S. and rated Birchwood in the top 10 in the country. More recently, in 2010, Golf Digest recog- nized Birchwood Country Club as the 6th best nine-hole golf course in America. Since its original redesign in the mid- 1940s, the course you™ll play in September has undergone numerous master plan reno- vations under the direction of Golf Course Architect Stephen Kay. Among the most notable are the tee additions and bunker ren- ovations completed in 2010. Building His ResumeAfter graduating high school, Justin took a position as a machinist, working alongside his childhood buddy, Winged Foot Super- intendent Stephen Rabideau, in a shop in Waltham, MA. fiSteve left the machine shops sooner than I did,fl says Justin. fiI worked in a several shops for almost seven years, but I was never happy being inside and punching a clock.fl Justin was playing golf four or five times a week, and knowing Steve was having success in the turf business, he decided to give it a go. fiI was done being a machinist,fl says Justin. fiI gave notice in early June 1997, heard of an opening at Oak Hill Country Club soon after, and started there in July.fl By the end of August, Justin had sold his new truck and was driving a 1988 Geo Metro to his dorm at UMass, where he had enrolled in the Stockbridge School of Agriculture. After graduating, Justin went to work for Stephen Rabideau at The Hamlet Golf & Country Club in Long Island. fiSteve really opened my eyes to what the business was really all about and the dedica- tion needed to be successful. Those summers were brutally hot, and 70-hour weeks were the norm,fl says Justin. During that time, Justin also had the op- portunity to volunteer to work the 2000 Lightpath Long Island Classic with John Carlone at Meadow Brook. While at The Hamlet, Justin decided to further his studies at UMass and, by 2001, had completed a B.S. in plant and soil science. With degree in hand, Justin was offered an assistant™s position at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, NJ, working for Chris Carson. During his tenure there, the club hosted the 2002 USGA Girl™s Junior Championship, allowing Justin the opportunity to experi- ence all that goes into preparing for a major tournament. Among his most poignant memories of working at Echo Lake was standing on the first fairway and watching the Twin Towers fall on 9-11. After two years with Chris, Justin elevated his status to senior assistant superintendent at Silver Spring Country Club in Ridgefield, CT. This time, Justin stayed put for five sea- sons absorbing all that then Superintendent Peter Rappoccio could teach him. Justin landed his first superintendent™s po- sition at Lake Waramaug Country Club in New Preston, CT, and then four years later, after a long and intensive interview process, he found himself with an offer to be the suc- cessor to longtime MetGCSA superintendent of 43 years Ed Consolati as Birchwood™s golf course superintendent. fiAfter five seasons at Silver Spring,fl says Peter Rappoccio, fiJustin was more-than- ready to take on his first superintendent challenge. He proved himself tactically and OSpotlight Justin Gabrenas was well respected by our veteran crew.fl With 20 years of private country club experience, Justin is still quick to credit his overall success to Peter Rappoccio: fiI can™t stress enough how important Pete Rappoc- cio™s mentoring was and how firmly I believe that having a strong mentor in this business is crucial to one™s success,fl says Justin, adding, fiIt was those five seasons at Silver Spring that solidified my confidence as a turfgrass professional.fl Striking a BalanceJustin has been more-than-accepted by the Birchwood members and has enjoyed his time there. He has found a balance in his life after working long and hard in all his previ- ous positions. fiNow, I have three daughters who I love to spend time with,fl says Justin. Since 2012, Justin has coached his daugh- ter Avery™s softball teams and currently the Fairfield Little League Girls Softball Juniors All-Stars. fiRight now,fl says Justin, fiI™m managing my fourth all-star team.fl During the summer, Justin enjoys playing a little ball himself, on a Men™s League in Fairfield, where he lives. Justin also enjoys hunting, fishing, and trapping. fiI particularly love to hunt pheas- ants with my chocolate lab, Noonie, and bow hunt deer,fl says Justin. Justin has been married to his wife, Erica, for 15 years. They have three daughters: Cassie, 23; Taylor, 18; and Avery, 14. Fun Is the Name of the GameJustin and his staff are hoping for a full field for this fun-filled afternoon on the links and offer contestants a word to the wise when playing the course: fiThe greens are small and undulated and can be tough if above the hole,fl cautions Justin. fiAnd it can be chal- lenging to play out of the rough, so do your best to keep it in the short grass.fl See you all in September! Greg Wojick is a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee and co-owner of Playbooks for Golf. by Greg Wojick Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:11 PM Page 1011Tee to Green June/July 2017 Sean Cain Pleased to Showcase a Sunningdale Transformed etGCSA members will be treated to a new- and-improved Sunning- dale Country Club when they convene October 3 for the Poa/Met Champion- ship/Met Team Qualifier. This will be the sixth meeting Superintendent Sean Cain has hosted in his 20-year tenure at the club, but only two, the last one being the 2013 Super- intendent/Green Chair Tourney, offered the opportunity to get out and enjoy the links. This trip, members will have the fortunate opportunity to play a course that has bene- fited from awe-inspiring enhancements since their last round four years ago. A Course Transformed The course™s transformation started in 2006 when Sean began working with Architect Mike DeVries to recapture the course™s orig- inal 1917 Seth Raynor design. fiSome of the changes we were proposing weren™t an easy sell,fl remembers Sean. fibut after some tough meetings, we were able to convince the membership of the value of reestablishing lost vistas and the integrity of many of the holes.fl Having a firm grasp on how architects from the early 1900s worked with the land and its topography, Mike DeVries was able to flawlessly recapture many of Raynor™s design features. Sean cites the sixth hole as a prime example of DeVries handiwork. fiMike reestablished the strategy of this Alps hole. He lengthened it by more than 70 yards and added some of his own brilliance to the green and tee complex,fl Sean explains. Also notable was DeVries™ work on holes 8 and 4. fiOn 8,fl says Sean, fiMike realigned the tee and removed a number of trees behind the green. Then using his bulldozer like a paintbrush, he tied the 4th green into the 8th green with a shared chipping area, effec- tively making 4 and 8 the largest Biarritz green in the area!fl By the time Sean hosted the Super/Green Chair event in 2013, members were able to enjoy a portion of club™s grand renovation scheme. They had reworked holes 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 and completed green and tee complex work on 11, 12, and 14. No rest for the weary, the next phase of the project took place in the fall of 2015 when the irrigation system was upgraded with HDPE pipe and Toro Infinity heads. In addi- tion, they continued their unfinished busi- ness on the course, rebuilding the greens, tees, and bunkers on holes 1, 2, 9, 10, 13, and 15, as well as the practice green. This multiyear, extensive master plan proj- ect finally wrapped up last fall (2016) when the tees, bunkers, and greens were redesigned MSpotlight Sean Cain, CGCSJoin Fellow Professionals for the Poa/Met Championship/Met Team Qualifier at the Newly Renovated Sunningdale Country Club on holes 3, 16, 17, and 18. A new club en- trance was also built between the 15th green and 16th tee so that players will no longer have to hit over the road. The new 16th hole is now a 580-yard, par 5, and the 17th has been relocated to a new spot alongside the second hole. The old 17th green site is now the 3rd tee complex and the 17th teeing area is part of Sean™s maintenance facility. And last but not least, the 18th hole has been converted into a challenging 450-yard, par 4 uphill, which makes for a great finish to this wonderful challenging, classic golf course. fiOnce the membership realized what we had here, they were behind our efforts 100 percent,fl says Sean. fiAnd with Mike DeVries™ help, we have been able to reveal what Sunningdale can be.fl by Scott Niven, CGCS Before After Just one example of Sunningdale™s many course enhancements: Hole #8, before-and-after. Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:11 PM Page 116Tee to Green June/July 2017 12 ScorecardSiwanoy Country Club Takes Home Invitational Trophy rump Golf Links at Ferry Point proved the perfect venue for the MetGCSA™s 2017 Invitational Tournament held, this year, on June 6. Host Noah McCahill proved his mettle as the club™s new superintendent, providing tournament goers with great conditions and a fair and challenging setup (for those who could stay out of the fescue!). We would like to thank everyone at Ferry Point for their hospitality. Being the first time hosting one of our association events, the staff truly did an excellent job in making this a day to remember. This year™s event had a packed field, consisting of club presidents, PGA profes- sionals, green chairmen, and golf course superintendents representing their vari- ous clubs in the Metropolitan Area. Year after year, this event offers a tremendous opportunity to network with not only your club officials and coworkers, but also neighboring golf facilities. When all was said and done, the team from Siwanoy Country Club, led by Superintendent Steven McGlone, claim- ed the Invitational Trophy, posting a 63. Also noteworthy, Josh Kopera of Harrell™s shot a rare hole-in-one on hole #17, much to the surprise of teammates Scott Tretera of Harrell™s and John Bresnahan and Brian Goudey of Syngenta. Con- gratulations to one and all! Tby Zach Brooks Here are all the top winners of the day: First Place Net Team Winners 63Siwanoy Country Club Steven McGlone, Gregory Richter, James Steube, Grant Turner First Place Gross Team Winners 68 Metropolis Country Club Dave McCaffrey, Craig Thomas, Steve Abraham, Arnie Ursaner Closest to the Pin #12Dave Moffett, Superintendent, Mosholu Golf Course #17Craig Thomas, Golf Professional, Metropolis CC #8Mike Johnson, Club Official, Rock Ridge CC Longest Drive #2Dave McCaffrey, Superintendent, Metropolis CC #2Adam Zweig, Golf Professional, Mosholu GC #2John Morrison, Club Official, Redding CC Low Professional 74Mike Summa, Golf Professional, Stanwich Club Zach Brooks, a member of the MetGCSA Tournament Committee, is the Connecticut sales rep with Seeton Turf Warehouse in Mt. Laurel, NJ. Time Marches OnIt doesn™t seem that long ago that Sean began his career in turfgrass management with Fred Montgomery on the grounds crew of Mohawk Country Club near Sean™s home turf in Schenectady, NY . . . or that he completed his B.S. in Turfgrass Manage- ment at the University of Rhode Island . . . interned at The Stanwich Club with Scott Niven . . . and then, in 1991, landed an assis- tant™s position with Jeff Scott, then superin- tendent at The Apawamis Club. Clearly, time flies when you™re having fun. After four years at Apawamis, Sean knew he had gained the training, experience, and most importantly, the confidence to take the next step.fiI learned a tremendous amount from Fred, Scott, and Jeff,fl he says. fiI was ready for Sunningdale.fl In addition to leading a highly regarded golf course, Sean has, over the years, led a number of MetGCSA committees, serving on the Board of Directors for a total of five years. He devoted most of that time to co- chairing the Tournament Committee, but also chaired the Membership Committee, and even had a stint in 2003 as Tee to Green™s co-editor with college buddy, Rolling Hill™s Glenn Perry. fiIt was important to me to try to give back to MetGCSA and our members. ‚Try™ is the key word here,fl says Sean. fiI give a lot of credit to the board members who have gone the distance, and become presidents of our association.fl Life Beyond Work For Sean, there™s no life without sports. He™s an avid cyclist and an accomplished low- handicap golferŠa force to be reckoned with at Met golf events. Sean™s also been known to frequent the gym, where one of his prime objectives is prep himself for the ski season. A hard-core skier, Sean spends most weekends in the off-season at his fifortress of solitude,fl a home he owns near the slopes in Stowe, VT. By the time the Poa/Met Champion- ship/Met Team Qualifier arrives, Sean will start thinking about giving his clubs a rest and heading north. fiI go up to Vermont every chance I get in the winter,fl says Sean. fiIt gives me an opportunity to recharge my batteries and get ready for another challenging season ahead.fl Be sure to join Sean at Sunningdale for this season-ending event, and enjoy all that the newly renovated course has to offer! Scott Niven, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is property manager at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. The team from Siwanoy claims this year™s Invitational Trophy (left to right): Club President Greg Richter, Green Chairman James Steube, Superintendent Steven McGlone, and Golf Pro Grant Turner. Two-Ball Reminders Those playing in this year™s Two-Ball Tournament, please remember that the winning team for each match is required to report results to Tournament Committee Chair Steve Loughran, at sloughran17@ yahoo.com. For up-to-date tourna- ment results, visit our website at www.metgcsa.org. Match Due Dates Keep in mind that your matches should be completed by the following dates: Sweet 16: June 30 Elite 8: August 4 Final 4/Semi: September 8 Finals: October 6 Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:11 PM Page 12A.G. Enterprises Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms 201-488-1276 / Fax: 201-489-5830 merrick160@gmail.com www.AGEnterprisesonline.com All Pro Horticulture, Inc. 80 East Gates Avenue Lindenhurst, NY 11757 John Seib 631-789-6680 / Fax: 631-789-5711 john@allprohort.com Aquatrols Corp. of America fiThe World Leader in Soil Surfactants & Wetting Agentsfl 1273 Imperial Way Paulsboro, NJ 08066 800-257-7797 info@aquatrols.com Atlantic Golf & Turf 9 Industrial Boulevard Turner Falls, MA 01376 John Garcia: 203-996-6267 john@atlanticgolfturf.com BASF fiMeans Better Results . . . Which Means Better Turffl Peter Jacobson: 919-530-9062 peter.jacobson@basf.com Bayer U.S. fiBacked by Bayerfl Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173 Blue Ridge Peat Farms 133 Peat Moss Road White Haven, PA 18661 Gene Evans / Chuck Evans 570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888 Carriere Materials, LLC U.S. Silica Topdressing & Bunker Sand, VFB Bunker Sand & Partac Topdressing Bill Carriere: 914-939-4884 bc1000@verizon.net Club Car CT / Metropolitan NY 72 Grays Bridge Road Brook˜eld, CT 06804 Paul Schwab: 203-943-6898 Ofc: 203-740-1458 Fax: 203-740-2311 Paul_Schwab@clubcar.com Cushman ~ E-Z-GO Nick Roberto: 845-637-7641 Reed Williams: 516-662-3554 Chris Larizza: 203-605-0554 DeLea Sod Farms Turf, Topdressing & Root Zone Scott Geiser: 631-484-1211 sgeiser@deleasod.com Dylan Wyatt: 631-796-6757 dwatt@deleasod.com Double ‚D™ Turf, LLC Drill & Fill Specialist 86 Bergen Mills Road Monroe Township, NJ 08831 Dennis DeSanctis Sr. / Dennis DeSanctis Jr.: 732-241-7378 dennisjr.@doubleDturf.com Emerald Tree & Shrub Care Company 26 Fox Meadow Road Scarsdale, NY 10583 Steve Farrelly: 914-725-0441 Kevin Wyatt: 203-422-2441 William Demarest: 914-725-0441 Evergreen Organic Recycling 1160 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 James Amodio / Raymond Colasacco 914-949-9030 Ray@EvergreenOrganicRecycling.com Executive Turf / Synergy Turf & Pocono Turf Supply fiMicro Carbon Technologyfl Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891 executiveturfproducts@gmail.com humagroturf.com Fisher and Son Company fiGreen Industry Professionals Since 1928fl Mike Weber: 347-486-0480 mweber@˜sherandson.com Golf Preservations, Inc. 504 Gloucester Avenue Middlesboro, KY 40965 Samson Bailey, CEO Jessica Teaney, Business Admin 609-248-7453 / Fax: 606-896-8006 golfpreservations@yahoo.com Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc. fiServing Turfgrass Professionals Since 1978fl Ryan Batz / Keith Kubik Ofc: 973-252-6634 www.GRIturf.com / sales@GRIturf.com Growth Products, LTD Fertilizers, Organics, & Fungicide Products 80 Lafayette Avenue White Plains, NY 10603 Howie Gold: 917-559-4425 Ofc: 800-648-7626 hgold@growthproducts.com Harrell™s fiGrowing a Better World. Partners for Successfl Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638 stretera@harrells.com / www.harrells.com KATEN CONSULTING Professionalism & Communication Training Programs Laura Katen / Ron Katen 914-468-0892 / 914-468-0801 instructions@katenconsulting.com www.katenconsulting.com LGR, LLC ~ LaBar Golf Renovations 170 Mount Airy Road, Suite A1 Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253 rich@labargolf.com LaCorte Equipment ~ John Deere Golf fiYour Trusted Northeast John Deere Golf Dealerfl Eric Berg / Jeff Sutphen / Jim Calladio / Kevin Reinke 800-560-3373 / Fax: 631-591-3447 golfparts@LaCorteEquipment.com www.LaCorteEquipment.com Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc. Hydrogeologic Consulting & Environmental Engineering Services Rob Good: 860-678-0404 rgood@lbgct.com Metro Turf Specialists Proudly Celebrating 50 Years in Business fiCustomers, Our TOP Priorityfl Scott / Todd / Rich / Matt / Jake 203-748-GOLF (4653) www.metroturfspecialists.com NuFarm Americas, Inc. fiHelping the World to Grow a Better Tomorrowfl Bryan Bolehala: 570-686-1845 Jim Santoro: 518-207-2094 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. fiThe Liquid Fertilizer Expertsfl Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111 Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318 Tom Pepe: 609-751-1372 David Conrad: 914-263-3244 Playbooks for Golf Mobile Coverage System, Conditions App, Golf Course Field Guides, ezPins, Consulting, Career Development, Professional Search Services Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254 Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052 www.goplaybooks.com Seeton Turf Warehouse, LLC Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959 Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139 Zach Brooks: 914-309-2373 Bill Cimochowski: 609-923-4045 SiteOne Landscape Supply fiStronger Togetherfl Chad Mathieu: 914-539-5675 cmathieu@siteone.com Soil Solutions, LLC ~ Aeri˜cation Professionals Anthony Decicco / John Decicco 7 Whittemore Place Ryebrook, NY 10573 914-393-0659 / Fax: 914-939-5010 Steven Willand, Inc. fiQuality Turf Equipmentfl 4 Production Drive Brook˜eld, CT 06804 George Corgan: 914-213-3622 georgecorgan@stevenwillandinc.com www.switurf.com Synergy Turf Supply / Pocono Turf Supply fiAgronomic Professionalsfl Bobby Steinman, CGCS: 860-488-2822 bobby7777@aol.com Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891 Syngenta fiManufacturer of Plant Protection Productsfl John Bresnahan: 413-333-9914 johnbresnahan@syngenta.com Tanto Irrigation, LLC fiGolf Course Irrigation Specialistsfl Steve Kubicki / Jeff Gennerelli info@tantoirrigation.com The Cardinals, Inc. Complete Distributor of Golf Course Accessories & Turf Maintenance Supplies John Callahan: 800-861-6256 Fax: 860-673-8443 The Care of Trees Mike Cook: 914-345-8733 Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110 Ken Clear: 203-863-0900 Greg Gutter: 914-241-8110 Tom Irwin Inc. fiWith Tom Irwin, You™re Not Alonefl 13 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803 Jeff Houde: 203-731-1776 800-582-5959 jeff@tomirwin.com Turf Products LLC ~ TORO Irrigation & Equipment fiServicing Our Customers Since 1970fl Pat Cragin: 860-874-2812 Bill Conley: 860-360-0503 Dave Dynowski: 860-490-9396 Shawn Donovan: 203-910-9114 Peter Hull: 860-305-2525 Valley Green, Inc. 205 Wilson Avenue Norwalk, CT 06854 Greg Moran: 845-901-1358 Ofc: 203-831-9748 g.moran@valleygreenusa.com Westchester Tractor, Inc. 60 International Boulevard Brewster, NY 10509 John Apple / Charlie Siemers 845-278-7766 www.wtractor.com Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. fiProudly Serving the MetGCSA Since 1976fl Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257 Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192 info@westchesterturf.com Wickes Arborists 11 McNamara Road Spring Valley, NY 10977 John Wickes: 914-906-3264 Ofc: 845-354-3400 Wilfred MacDonald, Inc. fiTurf Equipment Specialistsfl Glenn Gallion Ofc: 888-831-0891 Fax: 973-487-1333 Sales@wilfredmacdonald.com William A. Kelly and Company fiLooking to Expand? Call Kelly!fl 87 Bedford Road Katonah, NY 10536 Charity Kelly: 914-232-3191 charity@wakellyco.com www.wakellyco.com Win˜eld Solutions, Inc. fiService, Solutions, Insightfl Rob Saunders: 203-249-5059 Jim Masone: 516-818-9852 www.win˜eldpro.com atron Directory PPatrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. Denotes MetGCSA member Tee to Green July 2017_tee to green Dec 2010 7/26/17 7:11 PM Page 13Tee to Green July cover 2017_Tee to G dec 2010 cover 7/26/17 11:11 AM Page 2