Tee to Green Feb 2020 cover.qxp_Tee to G dec 2010 cover 3/1/20 2:30 PM Page 3 January/February 2020 VOLUME 51 NUMBER 1 Published by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:24 PM Page ii Board of Directors President ROBERT B. ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club Vice President BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club Treasurer MICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCS Upper Montclair Country Club Secretary JESSE SHANNON, CGCS Manhattan Woods Golf Club Rye Golf Club Past President KEN BENOIT, CGCS Class A Directors AARON CROUSE The Golf Club of Purchase WILLIAM CYGAN Silver Spring Country Club CHARLES LAFFERTY Rye Golf Club DAVE PETERSON Silvermine Golf Club DANIEL ROGERS Wykagyl Country Club STEPHEN WICKSTROM Burning Tree Country Club Class “C” Rep GEORGE WORTH ANDREWS Bran Burn Country Club Class “AF” Rep TODD APGAR Metro Turf Specialists Executive Director MIKE McCALL, CGCS Executive Secretary SUSAN O’DOWD Tee to Green Staff Co-Editors CHIP LAFFERTY DAN ROGERS 914-760-3331 914-400-5918 Managing Editor PANDORA C. WOJICK Editorial Committee WORTH ANDREWS TODD APGAR MATT CEPLO KEVIN COLLINS ANDY DROHEN STEVEN McGLONE ANTHONY MINNITI BOB NIELSEN SCOTT NIVEN JIM PAVONETTI GREG WOJICK Designer TERRIE YOUNG Advertising Manager DAN ROGERS, 914-400-5918 TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright © 2020 I n this Issue Rob Alonzi Assumes Reigns as MetGCSA’s 35th President ........2 Feature Departments Chapter News........................................................................4 National News ......................................................................8 National Scorecard ................................................................8 Spotlight ............................................................................10 Upcoming Events ................................................................11 Member News......................................................................12 Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:24 PM Page 1 P resident’s Message Targeting Goals for the Health and Welfare of the Association S itting down to write my first president’s message, I couldn’t help but ref lect on how I’ve arrived here as the MetGCSA’s 35th president. Certainly, hav- ing had family members pave the way has played a significant role. I could not have been more fortunate to have both my father, Bob, and my uncle, Joe—both accomplished industry professionals—as mentors. Learn- ing by their example and inspired by their enthusiasm for and commitment to the in- dustry, I could not help but become actively involved in our association. Now after 15 years on the board, I am excited to ac- cept the reigns as MetGCSA president, and I look forward to carrying on the standards and traditions that have been set by those before me. Worthy Goals and Objectives Over the past few years, the Board of Di- rectors has identified goals and objectives for our association that will help us continue to support our membership and enhance our operations. Among the target goals the board and I will be working toward: (cid:129) Promoting MetGCSA members for local jobs. The Met has some of the most talented and professional turfgrass managers in the country. The Club Relations Committee, led by Mike McCall, continues to offer help and direction to any facility with a job opening to encourage prospective employers to interview and, ultimately, hire locally. (cid:129) Continuing to strengthen the relationship between the MetGCSA, MetPGA, CCMA, and the MGA. The MetGCSA Executive Committee will meet regularly with these organizations to discuss industry-related issues, share information, and work collec- tively to maintain mutually beneficial rela- tionships, while meeting the needs of our Met area memberships. (cid:129) Supporting environmental initiatives. It is our goal to continue to help fund golf- course-related programs, such as the New York State BMPs, which have helped give New York State legislators and policymak- Rob Alonzi MetGCSA President ers a better understanding of the environ- mental stewardship practiced daily by golf course superintendents. It has also helped give superintendents a voice and a seat at the table when legislation is being considered that may have a negative impact on the industry. (cid:129) Improving meeting attendance. Promot- ing an active membership is essential in ensuring that our association continues to f lourish and maintain its leadership status, locally and nationally. The Tournament, Ed- ucation, and Social committees regularly gather feedback regarding the timing, for- mat, cost, and overall satisfaction of our events, working diligently to keep associa- tion events fresh and relevant in hope of maintaining healthy attendance numbers. (cid:129) Promotion of the MetGCSA member. We are working toward promoting our mem- bership’s notable industry-related activities using social media, local newspapers, and other prominent industry publications like The Met Golfer. One of most recent examples of this type of publicity is our recent tweet calling attention to Ken Benoit’s recent appointment to the position of executive continued on page 9 Tee to Green January/February2020 1 Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:24 PM Page 2 ReatureF Reigns as the MetGCSA’s Rob Alonzi Assumes 35th President by Kevin Collins 2 Tee to Green January/February 2020 ob Alonzi, after 15 years of service on the MetGCSA Board of Directors, assumed the reigns as the Met’s 35th president at the November Annual Meeting. Rob was first appointed to the Met board in 2004 by then President Will Heintz and quickly got his feet wet as co- chair of the Communications Committee and then advertising manager of the Tee to Green. His next charge was to chair the Educa- tion Committee. “I have to admit,” says Rob, “I approached the appointment with some reservations, but I was very lucky that Glen Dube preceded me. He was organized and shared with me his blueprint for success, which made my job much easier.” Rob joined the Executive Board five years ago, climbing the rungs from secretary, treasurer, and vice president to his current role as president. Like his predecessors, Rob has begun his tenure with a clear vision of where he wants to take the association. Goals for the Association “My goal is to continue the same types of initiatives that David Dudones and Ken Benoit promoted during their tenures,” Rob explains. “This includes encouraging area clubs to select from the pool of highly qual- ified MetGCSA members to fill their job openings. There is no reason why local su- pers and assistants shouldn’t be the ones hired at our member clubs. “I’d also like to continue to foster open communication among the different allied associations. MetGCSA representatives will meet annually with the club managers, head pros, and the clubs comptroller associations. It is vitally important that all club manage- ment staff be on the same page, keeping an open line of communication, while building and maintaining productive working rela- tionships. Collectively, we can work to meet the needs of our Met area members. The success and longevity of our clubs rely on this.” Rob talked about the challenges that every Met president has faced since he’s been on the board. “Getting the association’s members to participate, come to events, and serve on committees is so important for Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:24 PM Page 3 our association,” says Rob. “Information- sharing, networking, and camaraderie will make for a stronger and much tighter membership.” The current political climate in New York State is another concern of Rob’s. “We’re facing more and more regulations, and an increasing number of control prod- ucts are being taken off the market,” explains Rob. “We must do what we can to make ourselves and our environmental stewardship known among New York State legislators and policymakers. The hard work put in by Ken Benoit, Bob Nielsen, and Blake Halderman to write the BMPs has given us a seat at the table. It’s opened peo- ple’s eyes to our professionalism and our commitment to protect the environment and water quality. It’s been a game changer.” When It All Began For Rob, turfgrass management had always been a family tradition, with his father, Bob, and his uncle, Joe, working in the business for many years. But interestingly, when Rob first settled on a career path, it wasn’t golf. He enrolled in Iona College’s business school as an accounting major, and only after a bit of soul searching, decided to transfer to UMass and return to his roots, completing a B.S. in plant and soil science. From a young age, Rob had spent time with his father at work, learning early on what goes into maintaining some of the finest courses in the area, but when it came time to intern or begin his career as an as- sistant, instead of pursuing a position with his dad at Winged Foot or his Uncle Joe at Westchester, Rob decided to broaden his horizons. “I wanted to learn how other turf managers did it,” says Rob. “I felt it was important for my education and development.” Rob interned for two summers at Caves Valley in Maryland in 1993-94, working for All in the family: Rob Alonzi joins his uncle, Joe Alonzi (left), and father, Bob Alonzi (right), after his election as the Met’s 35th president. Bruce Cadenelli. “We might only get four to eight golfers a day playing the course at Caves,” Rob remembers. “Bruce taught me whether you did 2 or 200 rounds a day, it was important to have the course in pristine condition . . . always. It was a great experi- ence,” adds Rob. “It let me see what went into maintaining courses in a different part of the country.” After graduation in ’95, Rob returned to the Met section and gained valuable experi- ence as a first assistant with Steve Renzetti at Wykagyl Country Club in New Rochelle, NY. Rob’s two years spent at Wykagyl were another piece of the puzzle he needed to suc- ceed as a future superintendent. “With Steve, I developed some important skills that would serve me well,” recalls Rob. “I was involved for the first time in manag- ing the crew and communicating with the staff and management. I also got some great tournament experience, prepping for the LPGA JAL Classic, which was held there every year.” Remaining in the Met area, Rob went to work for Jeff Scott in 1998 at Tamarack Country Club in Greenwich, CT. “Jeff was just hired at Tamarack, so my first day there was also Jeff ’s first day on the property,” laughs Rob. “Working for Jeff really got me ready for my first superintendent’s position. I improved my ability to communicate and gained a substantial amount of construction experience. We built a new maintenance fa- cility, installed a new irrigation system, and did a number of renovations on the course. The experience was invaluable.” In January 2001, Rob landed his first su- perintendent’s position at St. Andrews Golf Club in Hastings-On-Hudson, NY. “St. Andrews is a golf club. There’s no tennis, no pool, only golf,” says Rob, pointing out that though the membership was supportive, expectations were high. Charged with rais- ing the level of playing conditions at the club, Rob rose to the challenge, leading a number of projects in his seven-year tenure to enhance both the course’s conditioning and architecture. In May of 2008, Rob came full circle and went to work for his father, Bob, at Fenway Golf Club, an A.W. Tillinghast gem in Scarsdale, NY. When Bob retired, Rob suc- ceeded him as superintendent. “It’s been busy,” says Rob. “We’re at the tail end of a Gil Hanse master plan update. We’re doing greens expansions, lengthening some holes; we’ve added and moved bunkers and changed some fairway contour lines. We probably have a year to go to complete everything.” A New Generation of Alonzis While working at Caves Valley, Rob met his future “better half,” Ann Marie, at The Rusty Scupper, a restaurant/bar located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. After Rob gradu- ated from UMass and began his career at Wykagyl, Ann Marie found a job and relo- cated to New York. They married in 1999 and have two great kids, Nicholas, 18, and Sarah, 15. Nicholas is going off to college this fall and, like his dad, is choosing to start his studies outside the world of turf as a finance major. Will another Alonzi make his way back to the family tradition? Only time will tell. We wish Rob the best of success in his new role as MetGCSA president. Kevin Collins, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is NE/Mid-Atlantic Territory Manager for Ocean Organics. Home for the holidays: Rob with his daughter, Sarah; son, Nicholas; and wife, Ann Marie. Tee to Green January/February2020 3 Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 4 Seminar-goers enjoy the awards luncheon at Westchester Country Club.Chapter News Talking Turf Woes and Weather Trends at Winter Seminar by Chip Lafferty W estchester Country Club once again hosted the MetGCSA’s annual Winter Seminar, held this year on January 15. Special thanks to our host, David Dudones, and the Westchester staff for a tremendously successful event. Our 27 exhibitor booths provided that added value that makes this annual event worthwhile. We’d like to thank the com- mercial members who participated; we have provided a list of their names and numbers on page 6 for easy reference. Last but not least, we would like to thank Education Committee Chair Mike Brunelle and his team for their hard work in organiz- ing the event and selecting an excellent lineup of speakers. We all walked away with valuable lessons learned on the latest tech- niques and programs available in managing a variety of turf issues in a safe and environ- mentally sensitive manner. What follows is a quick take on the speak- ers’ words to the wise, as well as their con- tact information. Achieving Optimal Growth Rates and Turf Health The day began with University of Ne- braska's Dr. Bill Kreuser’s discussion of turf growth patterns and how to manipulate fer- tilizer, water, and plant growth regulators (PGRs) to achieve optimal growth rates and turf health. Dr. Kreuser noted the impor- tance of monitoring clipping yield as a tool to determine PGR applications. Height of cut, he said, is another prime factor to con- sider when determining PGR applications. He explained that the majority of collar problems that arise over the course of a sea- son are in direct relation to height of cut. Plants at collar height are not growing as fast as the neighboring turf on greens, so they cannot metabolize the growth regula- tor as quickly as the greens-height turf can. Gearing PGR applications for greens- height turf, therefore, can end up jeopardiz- ing the health of the collars, creating a stacking effect of regulation on the collars. What's more, over-suppressing the collars’ growth makes the turf susceptible to wear damage when subjected to greens mainte- 4 Tee to Green January/February 2020 4 nance activities, such as mowing and rolling. Some of the ways Dr. Kreuser suggests com- bating this problem without sacrificing green speed is to apply PGR sprays in be- tween normally scheduled sprays and either wash off overspray from collars to avoid ab- sorption of the PGR or get one of the indi- vidual nozzle GPS sprayers. Testing is being done at University of Nebraska on the prac- ticality of using these types of tools to en- hance and improve our jobs and properties. Dr. Kreuser also encourages the use of Growing Degree Day (GDD) models for growth regulation. By tracking the GDD, we will be able to stabilize the growth of our turf, which will create a much more consistent putting surface. After learning about regulation and the issues that can arise from using a greens regulation program on collars, any step to reduce the applications on both greens and collars would be advan- tageous for collar health and playability. For additional information, Dr. Kreuser can be reached at wkreuser2@unl.edu or at 402- 472-1869. Controlling Nematodes on Golf Course Turf Dr. Nathaniel Mitkowski, from the Univer- sity of Rhode Island, took the podium next, shedding light on methods of control for the growing nematode populations on golf course turf. Dr. Mitkowski explained that though nematodes have been around a very long time, he has seen an uptick in nema- tode counts over the past decade. The culprit in their rise is multi-faceted. As Dr. Mitkowski explained, in the early days of turf management, turfgrass man- agers had some very powerful chemicals, like mercury and cadmium, at their dis- posal. These chemicals were used preven- tively for pretty much anything that ailed the turf: earthworms, disease, insects, and included in that mix, nematode populations. Fast forward 80 to 100 years. With profi- cient use of sand topdressing, we have built away from the heavy metal soils and helped to dilute those soils as well. The result: Nematode populations have surged where they hadn’t been a problem before. Nemacur was a chemistry that took the place of the heavy metals, and it did a fantas- tic job, so much so, that we could make an application once a year and not have to worry about nematodes for the rest of the season. Nemacur, it turns out, is highly toxic to mammals and has since been banned. Without Nemacur, golf course superintend- ents were left with very few options to con- trol nematode populations on their course. Dr. Mitkowski pointed out that other organophosphates, labeled for turf ills other than nematodes, were shown to lower nema- tode counts. But in order to succeed in con- trolling the pest, off-label rates were needed, which, as we all know, is an illegal practice. Following label instructions, after all, is the law. Now, the chemical companies are working on less toxic chemistries to control nematode populations. Divanem, Nimitz, and Indem- nify are three that show promise but not on a wide range of species, so knowing the kind of nematode you’re dealing with is essential. Because nematodes have a patchy distri- bution pattern, Dr. Mitkowski noted that sampling technique is key to detection. He recommended that one person do all the sampling and, keeping a consistent zigzag pattern, collect a sample every four paces. In the case of significant decline occurring in patches, Dr. Mitkowski recommended using a cup cutter to sample the worst patches, and wrapping the samples so that they are air- tight before sending them out for analysis. He also explained that, while disease samples should be overnighted, it’s not necessary to use next-day shipping for nematode samples. Ground shipping is fine. In his closing remarks, the overall take- away was that sometimes your best defense is to simply work toward improving the turf ’s growing environment through good cultural programs and by controlling other path- ogens that affect the grass plant’s root health. For additional information, Dr. Mitkowski can be reached at mitkowski@uri.edu or at 401- 874-5996. Challenging the Climate Change Crisis Next up was Meteorologist Herb Stevens, who presented data-based evidence refuting the existence of human-induced global warming. Stevens showed us a pie chart of what comprises the entire atmosphere. Nitrogen is the main player, making up nearly 78 percent of the atmosphere, followed by oxygen at 21 percent; together, the two gases make up 99 percent of our atmosphere. Interesting is that global warming propo- nents want us to believe that CO2 is the cul- prit or villain in the earth’s climate shift and that it’s the CO2 we are spewing out at a rapid rate that will cause our demise if noth- ing is done to stop it. Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 5 Stevens challenged that claim and went on to recommend that we look at atmos- pheric CO2 levels as they relate to tempera- ture. He pointed to one chart which claimed that CO2 levels have increased, but then showed statistics provided by NOAA that demonstrated there were no appreciable CO2 gains over the past 100 years. You see, he said, doomsday folks depend on com- puter models, which have been wrong about this for more than 25 years. By computer models, Stevens was refer- ring to such things as climate models, those five-day forecasts that predict our weather and rarely paint a reliable picture of condi- tions to come. So how, Stevens argues, can we depend on something looking forward 100 years? We can’t and we shouldn’t. When it comes to climate change, golf course superintendents can’t be too careful. After all, the success of our livelihood relies on the weather. For further information, Herb Stevens can be reached at skiwxman72@gmail.com or at 203- 981-4457 . An Award-Winning Lunch After the morning sessions adjourned, the awards luncheon began, with two awards presented this year to deserving recipients. The first was the MetGCSA’s inaugural Distinguished Member Award presented by Biltmore Turf Specialties’ Joe Alonzi to Frank Amodio of Valley View Greenhouses. This award is reserved for members who might not meet the criteria for the Sher- wood A. Moore Award or the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award but have made a significant impact on the association and its members. Frank, a longtime Class AF member and friend to the MetGCSA and its superintendents, was aptly chosen for the honor. (See page 6 for details.) The second award, the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented by Ken Benoit and is one of the MetGCSA’s most prestigious honors. The USGA’s former Green Section managing director, Dr. Kimberly Erusha, was this year’s recipient. Working for the USGA for the past 29 years, Dr. Erusha has embraced and promoted a wide range of initiatives that promote the art, science, and welfare of the game of golf and golf course management. Officially retired from the USGA, she embodies the organizational and business skills that proj- ect and promote the image and well-being of superintendents all over the country, if not the world, through her timely and effi- cient use of present-day educational, com- munication, and management methods. For more on Dr. Kimberly Erusha, please see the December issue of the Tee to Green. Waging War on Weeds The afternoon session opened with Dr. Matthew Elmore from Rutgers University who discussed goosegrass and False-Green Kyllinga as two emerging weed problems in cool-season turfgrass. He also covered how to integrate herbicide options and cultural management practices into existing weed management programs, delving into the many chemistries available to combat the toughest woody perennial weeds that seem to thrive in fine turf and naturalized areas. He did caution that some of the products he was discussing were not labeled for use on Long Island. He also pointed out that while these products will combat pesky weeds, they also do a good job of controlling Poa, bentgrass, and bluegrass. Care must be taken, therefore, to steer clear of these turf areas when applying herbicides targeting the weeds. When trying to manage these weed pop- ulations, Elmore noted it might be best to attack them when they are young and sus- ceptible. Another viable option is to apply a pre-emergent late fall/early spring to keep the prior season’s seeds from breaking through. But one of the oldest tricks that still is relatively effective with the woody species weed, Elmore concluded, is just mowing. For additional information, Dr. Elmore can be reached at matthew.elmore@rutgers.edu or at 848-932-6324. Memories of Growing Seasons Past Last, but certainly not least, in the lineup of speakers was a man everyone in the Met knows and loves, Dave Oatis. Dave has recently retired as regional director of the USGA Greens Section’s Northeast Region, but during the course of his lengthy career as a USGA agronomist, he has consulted with a countless number of golf courses and seen a countless number of turf woes. Dave shared stories of some of the most difficult growing seasons he witnessed in the Northeast Region over the past 30 years. There were numerous difficult years where substantial turf loss occurred, and losing turf was commonplace in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s. The tree planting programs started in the 1920s and ’30s, combined with de- cade-by-decade mowing height reductions, produced huge challenges for maintaining putting greens. Dave stated that winter injury occurs every few years, but the extreme winter injury events seem to come along every 20 years or so. The winter of 2014 was devas- tating in the upper Midwest but left the New York Met area relatively untouched. The ice storm that swept up the East Coast in January of 1994 caused widespread and extreme turf loss in the Met area. “You could have ice skated from Georgia to Maine that winter, and the ice left an extreme trail of death in its path,” said Dave. There were numerous difficult summers, and 2005-6 were among the most challeng- ing for area courses. Dave pointed to 1988, however, as having resulted in the most turf loss. An extreme drought ended with torren- tial and prolonged rain in late July, and it was, of course, accompanied with extreme temperatures. The icing on the cake was when an old Pythium fungicide that was contaminated with atrazine was applied and caused even more damage to 200 courses in the mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states. Due to the lack of modern communication tools, such as cell phones, texts, email, and social media, many courses applied contami- nated products simply because they couldn’t be warned quickly enough. “Grass died by the acre that year,” said Dave. Incremental lowering of heights of cut combined with tree growth over the years led to many of the problems that occurred in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, but the trigger always is extreme weather. Fortunately, the development of improved technologies, including moisture meters, fans, PGRs, bet- ter disease prevention, better putting green cultivation programs (conventional and deep), and internal drainage systems have greatly improved superintendents’ ability to get their turf through periods of extreme weather. Critical research, better education on pre-stress conditioning, disease preven- tion, and improved communication have put superintendents in a much better position to produce topnotch playing conditions and deal with extreme weather patterns. Thankfully, Dave Oatis and the USGA helped us all navigate the fallout from turf loss and the sensitive topics of green speed, cultivation, and tree removal at our clubs. Should you want to tap into Dave Oatis’s fund of turf knowledge, he is available for consult at 908-347-9436 or at david.a.oatis@gmail.com. An Event Well Worth Attending Our Winter Seminar, as always, was worthy of the time spent, offering a great mix of education and the opportunity to view ven- dor products and services. I would like to extend a final thank you to all involved in making our Winter Seminar a success— from Westchester staff to our Education Committee, speakers, and vendors. Thank you one and all! I hope, next year, to see more members come out for this exceptional educational event and not-to-be-missed opportunity to rub shoulders with fellow turf industry pro- fessionals. See you next January! Chip Lafferty, co-chair of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Rye Golf Club in Rye, NY. Tee to Green January/February2020 5 Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 6 Amodio Honored at the Winter Seminar by David Dudones T the his year’s Winter Seminar de- inaugural Distin- buted guished Member Award. Four years in the making, the award was the brainchild of the Awards Committee, which after much discussion and consideration felt an award should be established to honor those members who might not meet the criteria for the Sherwood A. Moore Award or the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award but have made a significant impact on the asso- ciation and its members. Past presidents of the MetGCSA will nominate recipients based on such award- winning criteria as displaying exceptional participation in association events and activities and cultivating comradery and goodwill toward the membership. Frank Amodio from Valley View Green- houses was our unanimous choice for the Met’s inaugural Distinguished Member Award. Presenting the award was Frank’s long-time friend and former Sherwood A. Moore Award recipient Joe Alonzi of Biltmore Turf Specialties. When Joe reached out for comments about Frank, there was no shortage of responses. John Carlone, Scott Niven, Tony Grasso, Mark Millet, Bob Nielsen, Peter Rappoccio, Bob Alonzi, Glenn Perry, and Doug Drugo were just some of the many, who along with Joe, praised Frank not just for his commitment and generosity in helping his customers, but also for the many lasting friendships he has formed during his long-tenured service to association members. When Frank learned of his selection for our inaugural award, he was with many of his friends at Bob Nielsen’s house in Bedford, NY. Frank was appreciative and honored to be recognized by the association he has been affiliated with for more than 40 years. Thanking his family and friends, he recounted the many informal member gatherings, legendary Giant tailgates, and golf days where he cultivated many lasting personal and professional relationships with Met members. Congratulations, Frank, on your well- deserved honor as the MetGCSA’s Distin- guished Member Award recipient. David Dudones, former Awards Committee Chair, is director of golf and grounds at Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY. 6 Tee to Green January/February 2020 Special Thanks to Our 2020 Winter Seminar Exhibitors We’d like to thank all the vendors who participated in this year’s Winter Seminar. As a show of appreciation, we’re 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. All Pro Horticulture, Inc. John Seib Golf Course Supplies 631-789-6680 john@allprohort.com Aquatrols Tom Valentine Soil & Water Quality Management Solutions 609-841-2077 tvalentine@aquatrols.com BASF Corporation Paul Ramina Golf Course Supplies 908-413-2944 Paul.ramina@basf.com Bayer U.S. Dave Sylvester Golf Course Supplies 860-841-3173 david.sylvester@bayer.com Cushman | E-Z-GO Reed Williams Golf Course Utility Vehicles 516-662-3554 rwilliams01@textron.com DeLea Sod Farms Scott Geiser High-Quality Sod & Root Zone Mixes for Golf Courses 800-344-7637 sgeiser@deleasod.com DryJect North East Steve Jordan DryJect & Aeration Specialists 914-602-2857 Jordan781@msn.com Executive Turf / Synergy Turf Supply Ken Gentile Golf Course Supplies 203-496-0891 executiveturf@aol.com Finch Services George Corgan John Deere Sales & Service 914-893-0868 gcorgan@finchinc.com Fisher & Son Mike Weber Lawn Care & Landscape 347-486-0480 mweber@fisherandson.com Grass Roots Turf Products Ryan Avery Golf Course Supplies 973-252-6634 ryan.Avery@GRIturf.com Harrell’s Scott Tretera Golf Course Supplies 914-262-8638 stretera@harrells.com K & J Tree Service Edward Grant 203-248-8733 x108 edward@kjtreeservice.com Metro Turf Specialists Todd Apgar Golf Course Supplies 203-948-4941 todd.apgar@metroturfspecialists.com Noble Turf Brian Bontemps Plant Protection Products 845-239-7959 brianbontemps@seetonturf.com Nufarm Jim Santoro Crop Protection 508-207-2094 jim.santoro@nufarm.com Plant Food Company Dave Conrad The Liquid Fertilizer Experts 800-562-1291 dconrad@plantfoodco.com Playbooks for Golf Coverage System Software, Conditions App, PractiShot App, ezPins, Irrigation Playbooks, Career Development Materials Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254 gwojick@goplaybooks.com Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052 mleverich@goplaybooks.com Synergy Turf Supply Tim Joyce Agronomic Professionals 631-601-5294 Tim_joyce@aol.com Tanto Irrigation Bill Bartels Irrigation Installation Services 914-347-5151 wbartels@tantoirrigation.com The Terre Company Jim Calladio, CGCS Turf & Landscape Market 973-518-8834 jcalladio@terrecompany.com Tom Irwin Jeff Houde Turf Care Products 203-731-1776 jeff@tomirwin.com Turf Products Pat Cragin Toro Irrigation & Equipment 860-874-2812 pcragin@turfproductscorp.com Turf Trade Kathy Conard Golf Course Supplies 609-477-0471 bettersoilwater@gmail.com Valley Green Greg Moran Landscape & Golf Supplies 203-831-9748 g.moran@valleygreenusa.com Westchester Tractor John Apple Equipment Dealer 845-278-7766 www.tractor.com Westchester Turf Supply Dave Lippman Golf Course Supplies 914-447-5192 westturf@comcast.net Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 7 itors Who’s Who on the 2020 MetGCSA Board From left to right: Class AF Rep Todd Apgar of Metro Turf Specialists; Class C Rep Worth Andrews of Brae Burn CC; Dave Peterson of Silvermine GC; Bill Cygan of Silver Spring CC; Past President Ken Benoit, CGCS; Aaron Crouse of The GC of Purchase; President Rob Alonzi of Fenway GC; Chip Lafferty of Rye GC; Treasurer Mike Brunelle of Upper Montclair CC; Steve Wickstrom of Burning Tree CC; Mike McCall, Executive Director; Secretary Jesse Shannon of Manhattan Woods GC; Vice President Brett Chapin of Redding CC; Dan Rogers of Wykagyl CC. Scholarship & Research Committee Brett Chapin Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Rob Alonzi Fenway GC ralonzijr@hotmail.com 914-472-1467 / Cell 914-484-0373 Social & Welfare Committee Brett Chapin Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Rob Alonzi Fenway GC ralonzijr@hotmail.com 914-472-1467 / Cell 914-484-0373 Tournament Committee Steve Wickstrom Burning Tree CC stevewickstrom@hotmail.com Cell 586-945-5212 Bill Cygan Silver Spring CC cygan22@yahoo.com Cell 413-626-6814 Class C Representative Worth Andrews Brae Burn CC gsu0047@gmail.com Cell 706-825-5272 Class AF Representative Todd Apgar Metro Turf Specialists todd.apgar@metroturfspecialists.com 203-748-4653 / Cell 203-948-4941 Tee to Green January/February2020 7 MetGCSA Committee Chairs Here to Help We’ve provided a list of each of the MetGCSA’s 2020 committee chairs, includ- ing their phone numbers and emails. Please feel free to contact any of them with ques- tions, comments, or helpful suggestions. Awards Committee Ken Benoit, CGCS kenbenoit1@gmail.com Cell 914-760-3575 Bylaws Committee Brett Chapin Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Club Relations Committee Ken Benoit, CGCS kenbenoit1@gmail.com Cell 914-760-3575 Communications Committee Chip Lafferty Rye GC superintendent@ryegolfclub.com 914-835-3205 / Cell 914-760-3331 Dan Rogers (Advertising) Wykagyl CC drogers@wykagylcc.org Cell 914-400-5918 Aaron Crouse (Website) Westchester Hills GC aaron.crouse@aol.com Cell 315-368-3657 Bill Cygan (Website) Silver Spring CC cygan22@yahoo.com Cell 413-626-6814 Education Committee Dave Peterson Silvermine GC depturf@gmail.com 203-847-4020 / Cell 845-521-6736 Environmental Committee Brett Chapin Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Ken Benoit, CGCS kenbenoit1@gmail.com Cell 914-760-3575 Government Relations Committee Brett Chapin Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Ken Benoit, CGCS kenbenoit1@gmail.com Cell 914-760-3575 Mike Brunelle, CGCS Upper Montclair CC mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com 973-777-6710 / Cell 973-417-8199 Investment Committee Brett Chapin Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-938-9640 / Cell 203-885-3109 Long-Range Planning & Steering Committee Ken Benoit, CGCS kenbenoit1@gmail.com Cell 914-760-3575 Membership Committee Jesse Shannon, CGCS Manhattan Woods GC j.shannon42@hotmail.com 845-627-2222 / Cell 845-521-2668 Aaron Crouse Westchester Hills GC aaron.crouse@aol.com Cell 315-368-3657 Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 8 National News Fulling Elected 84th President of GCSAA National Scorecard MetGCSA Holds Its Own Members Elect New Board of Directors at 2020 Annual Meeting J ohn R. Fulling Jr., CGCS, grounds and facilities manager at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Country Club, was elected to a one-year term as president of the GCSAA at the association’s annual meeting January 30, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show in Orlando. He is the 84th president in the association’s history. Fulling served as vice president of the association in 2019 and has been a member of the association’s board of directors since 2013. A 30-year member of GCSAA, Ful- ling is also a member and past president of the Michigan GCSA. Since 1993, Fulling has served as the su- perintendent at Kalamazoo Country Club. Before that, he served as superintendent at Berrien Hills Country Club in Benton Har- bor, MI, and as a course superintendent at Medinah (IL) Country Club. He has a turfgrass management degree from Kishwaukee College in Malta, IL, and previously studied music performance at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb. Addressing the group, Fulling thanked the membership delegates for their trust. “I will do everything in my power to not let you down,” he told them. “We have a lot of great initiatives going forward to serve members, advance the profession, and bring young people into the game. That’s our mission. That’s what we are going to do.” Fulling succeeds past president Rafael Barajas, CGCS, who served as GCSAA pres- ident in 2019. Barajas will continue on the board as immediate past president. GCSAA Board of Directors at a Glance President John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS, grounds and facilities manager at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Country Club Vice President Mark F. Jordan, CGCS, natural resource leader at Westfield Country Club in West- field Center, OH 6 Tee to Green January/February 2020 8 by Michael J. Brunelle, CGCSO rlando didn’t offer the warmth GCSAA Golf Championship contestants were expecting, but even with the cool and blustery conditions, it beat the Metropolitan area at the end of January. And it didn’t stop me from wearing shorts for every round! Held in conjunction with the 2020 Golf Industry Show, the golf events were con- tested this year at four of Orlando’s true tests of golf: The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grand Lakes; Shingle Creek Golf Club; and the two ChampionsGate Golf Club courses (National & International). Played over the course of three days, the golf events ran from January 25 –28 and offered an excellent opportunity for networking, friendly com- petition, and a lot of laughs. Though many of us from the MetGCSA were trying to replicate a swing we haven’t used since October, we were able to sprinkle the leader boards with some noteworthy scores. In the Four-Ball Championship In Flight I, Tom Ashfield of Quaker Ridge Golf Club and Andy Drohen of Koch Turf & Ornamentals were able to pull off a tie for 7th finish in the Gross Division. Flight II had a number of MetGCSA members on the leader board with new member Mike Dachowski of Shelter Harbor Golf Club and his brother, Matt, finishing 2nd Low Net & Gross. Tom Weinert of Plant Food Company and Mike Brunelle of Upper Montclair Country Club weren’t too far behind the Dachowski duo in a tie for 4th Gross and 5th Net. In the third f light, Blake Halderman of Brae Burn Country Club and Dave Moffett of Mosholu Golf Course finished in a tie for 10th. We did have a couple of pin seekers dur- ing the Four-ball Championship. In Flight II, Jason Meersman of The Patterson Club had two closest to the pins (5' 4" & 10' 6") and in Flight III, Justin Carlson of Winged Foot Golf Club also had another shot close to the pin at 10' 2. Good luck in preparations of the U.S. Open this year, Justin. John R. Fulling Jr., CGCS Secretary/Treasurer Kevin P. Breen, CGCS, golf course superin- tendent at La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, CA Directors (cid:129) T.A. Barker, CGCS, superintendent at Fore Lakes Golf Course, Taylorsville, UT (cid:129) Douglas D. Dykstra, CGCS, golf course superintendent at White Mountain Coun- try Club, Pinetop, AZ (cid:129) Paul L. Carter, CGCS, at Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Harrison, TN (cid:129) Kevin P. Sunderman, director of grounds at Isla Del Sol Yacht & Country Club, St. Petersburg, FL (cid:129) Jeff L. White, CGCS, superintendent at Indian Hills Country Club, Mission Hills, KS Immediate Past President Rafael Barajas, CGCS, the director of golf course operations at Boca Grove Golf and Tennis Club in Boca Raton, FL Darren J. Davis, CGCS, golf course super- intendent at Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples, FL, retires from the board after serving the past year as immediate past president. Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 9 S In the National Championship Though none of our players took home the National Championship trophy, we did have a couple MetGCSA superintendents make a respectable finish at ChampionsGate. Jason Meersman of The Patterson Club tied for 17th, and Tom Ashfield from Quaker Ridge Golf Club finished in a tie for 35th. Con- gratulations to both of you. Deron Zendt claimed his second National Title at the Golf Championships. The super- intendent from Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach, FL, battled through the back nine holes to take home the trophy with a final two-day tally of -5 (139). That’s some golf right there, and plenty for Jason and Tom to think about going into next year. In the Golf Classic More than a few Met supers made their mark on the Golf Classic. Steve Whipple of West Point Golf Course placed 22nd Gross in the Classic I Flight, while John Carlone of the Meadow Brook Club finished tied for 9th Gross and 29th Net in the Classic II Flight. In the Classic III Flight, Mike Brunelle of Upper Montclair Country Club placed 6th Net and 11th Gross. Our MetGCSA Presi- dent, Rob Alonzi, of Fenway Golf Club fin- ished in a tie for 4th low Net, bringing home a plate. In the Senior I Division, Tim Gerzabeck of Helena Chemical Company, placed 2nd in the Net Division, while in the Senior II Division, Jim Swiatlowski of Montammy Golf Club was the highest place finisher in the Met coming in 2nd in both Gross and Net respectively. Well done, Jim! Special Thanks We would like to send out a special thank you to the GCSAA staff for their efforts in putting this special event together and to all of the sponsors who make this event possi- ble, especially the Toro Company for their generous partnership in being the title spon- sor for the past 26 years. Congratulations to all who participated in this year’s golf championships. This annual preconference golf event offers a great opportunity to not only play some of the country’s best courses, but also to net- work with superintendents from across the U.S. and around the world. Next year, the GCSAA Golf Champion- ships will be held in Palm Springs, CA. I hope to see you all there! Mike Brunelle is the director of grounds at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, NJ. Golf Industry Show Highlights At this year’s GCSAA Education Conference, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show, seminar attendance was up more than 12 percent over 2019, with nearly 6,200 seminar seats filled. In addition, thousands attended complimentary ses- sions and panel discussions throughout the week. Events included a full-size replica of a maintenance facility on the trade show f loor and the Drone Zone. A total of 12,000 attended the two-day trade show, which hosted more than 500 exhibitors covering more than 450,000 square feet of exhibit space at the Orange County Convention Center. In 2020, the Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) and American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA) both increased their commitment to the event as presenting partners. With the involve- ment of GCBAA and ASGCA, all attendees in Orlando had the opportunity to expe- rience enhanced education and information that furthered the close links between the design, construction, and management of golf courses. The 2021 Golf Industry Show will head to Las Vegas, NV, January 30 – February 4 at the new Las Vegas Convention Center. President’s Message continued from page 1 director of the New York Golf Course Foundation (https://twitter.com/ NYS_GolfBMP/status/12228612079101 46050). A Little Commitment Goes a Long Way I believe the goals we’ve established can be obtained with your commitment to help- ing our association remain vibrant in the industry. Thank you to all who took the time to attend this year’s Turfgrass Advocacy Day in Albany, NY. I hope to see more of you attend next year and support this and other legislative issues that have an impact on the health and welfare of our industry. Let us also support our goal of im- proved meeting attendance by signing up, if you haven’t already, for the Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Qualifier on April 27 at Rye Golf Club. This is a great venue, and as always, this event promises to be a good time. I look forward to a productive term ahead. Please feel free to contact me with any thoughts you might have on how we might enhance any aspect of our association. Enjoy the rest of the remaining off-season. Spring will be here before you know it. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2020 season! Rob Alonzi MetGCSA President Tee to Green January/February2020 9 Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 10 Spotlight MetGCSA Attendance Boom to Begin With Season Opener at Rye by Greg Wojick O n April 27, Rye Golf Club will host the Met’s season-opening event: The David Mahoney Two- Ball Championship Qualifier. Stepping for- ward to volunteer his facility for this popular outing is Superintendent Chip Lafferty. Hosting both a business meeting and then seven years ago, the Met’s Two- Ball Qualifier, Chip is one of the members on the Met board hellbent on the idea of improving meeting participation. “Our past presidents (and now Rob Alonzi) have strived for better attendance at our meetings. I want to do all that I can to have a record number of members come to Rye in April,” says Chip. “It’s the cama- raderie stupid, so please put down your phones and come and play. If you can’t play for some reason, then come for the social part. Stalking social media sites isn’t going to do it; you have to be there in person and talk face-to-face with your colleagues!” Chip credits the camaraderie for creating the tight bond he has with the association and hopes that others will develop the same sense of loyalty to a group that offers not just friendship, but infinite support. “I’d like to see both new and veteran members feel welcome and drawn to partic- ipate,” he says. “If you think about it, attend- ing our monthly meetings is a mild form of giving back. Each member has their own story to share, one that may be of value to someone else. I rely on the relationships that I’ve made with the association as a valuable professional and personal resource,” adds Chip. “And I can only hope to provide the same type of support to others as well.” Chipping Away at Course Enhancements Chip’s enthusiasm extends beyond the industry and association to his job as turf- grass manager at Rye Golf Club where’s he’s been superintendent for the past 18 years. Rye is a unique facility. Purchased by the City of Rye in 1965, the club boasts a more- than-century-old castle as its clubhouse, which was built in 1852 overlooking Long Island Sound as a private residence for William Chapman. In 1921, 40 acres of the 6 Tee to Green January/February 2020 10 estate were combined with the adjoining Allen Estate to form Rye Country Club. Devereux Emmet designed the course, which was later sold and renamed Rye Wood Country Club before finally becom- ing the Rye Golf Club we know today. In his tenure, Chip has enjoyed the chal- lenge of updating aspects of the course to accommodate Rye’s more than 30,000 rounds of golf per year while preserving some of the more distinctive course features that had been lost. Since Met members last convened at Rye for the 2013 Two-Ball Qualifier, the club has begun an all-out effort to address the microenvironments above and below the greens. “We cut down trees around the greens and then added drainage, which allowed us to use our two existing practice putting greens to expand eight greens, add hole locations, and spread the wear-and-tear more evenly throughout the greens,” says Chip. The next task was to rebuild the putting greens, enlarging them with chipping bays and slopes consistent with what golfers will encounter on the course. “We also realigned the first tee putting green to accommodate the new location for our starter shack,” explains Chip. As if all this weren’t enough, the club decided to utilize a large vacant area be- tween the pool and the 12th hole to con- struct a 13,000-square-foot putting course/ short game green. Tree work continued beyond the greens to the playing areas, with identifying and removing old species of trees that had been planted in the wrong locations and eradicat- ing invasive species that had gained a foothold on the course. Work didn’t stop there. The club also addressed several tees and combined several greens with the next hole’s tee complex to give a true feel of f low. “All in all,” says Chip, “the improvements have enhanced the quality of the turf and the playing experience.” More to Chip Than Meets the Eye If you don’t know Chip, I can tell you there’s a lot more to him than his course commit- Chip Lafferty ments. Here are a few teasers. He . . . (cid:129) Is a low-single-digit handicapper. (cid:129) Was born in Buffalo, NY. (cid:129) Moved to Orlando, FL, as a young teen where, at the age of 12, he began playing golf just about every day at nearby Sweetwater Country Club. (cid:129) Got the golf course maintenance bug after a nighttime escapade with friends, where they crashed a few carts on Sweetwater and were penalized by having to rebuild, by hand, the chipping green bunkers. (cid:129) Was hired on the Sweetwater maintenance crew at 14 after demonstrating he “had what it takes.” But how did he launch his career in the business? After high school, Chip went on to college at Georgia Southern University in States- boro, GA, where he admits his studies were not necessarily his top priority. “Even though the school had a reputation for having a party atmosphere, it unfortunately didn’t offer a degree in my chosen field of fun,” jokes Chip. He left Georgia Southern and returned to what he knew best: a job in golf course main- tenance. He accepted a position at Sabol Point Country Club in Longwood, FL, where he received advice that eventually solidified his career path. “The superintendent there told me to go to Lake City Community College and get a degree in Golf Course Operations,” says Chip. But it wasn’t until he took a position at a new grow-in outside Orlando called Alaqua Country Club that his eyes finally opened to the value of formal training. “I worked there as an irrigation tech and spray tech and eventually second assistant before recognizing that a degree from Lake Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 11 Upcoming Events Upcoming MetGCSA and Industry Events City was the only way I’d ever be the ‘big boss’ one day.” While working toward his A.S. in Golf Course Operations, Chip had the unusual opportunity to intern in Vierumaki, Fin- land, at the Finnish Sports Institute, the training ground for all of the country’s Olympians. Although the season was short, the summer hours were long since the sun never set during the month of June. An interesting training ground, Chip learned the ins and outs of managing turf in an all- new growing environment. His second internship brought him back to the States and the Met area, where he worked with then Wykagyl Superintendent Steve Renzetti. “When I graduated from Lake City,” says Chip, “Steve was kind enough to offer me a job as assistant super- intendent.” Chip worked for Steve for six years and then assumed the reigns as super- intendent there for three before moving on to his current position as superintendent at Rye in 2002. Afterhours A people person through-and-through, Chip enjoys playing golf with his many MetGCSA friends, as well as spending time with his wife, Clare, and their four chil- dren: Jessica, 10; Mackenzie, 9 ½; Travis, 8 ½; and Matthew, 6. “Clare is the glue that holds our fam- ily—no, our whole world—together,” says Chip of his partner of 17 years. “She and the kids are everything to me.” Also an impor- tant part of the family is their dog, Larkin, who accompanies Chip on his morning and afternoon walks on the course. “Rye has been great place to work,” says Chip, replaying in his mind just how much the course has evolved. “And the list of pos- sible improvements never seems to end.” Be sure to join Chip and your fellow association members for this season-open- ing event—and become a part of the Met’s boom in attendance. Greg Wojick, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is co-owner of Playbooks for Golf. 2020 MGA Green Chairman Seminar & Arthur P. Weber MGA Club Environmental Leaders in Golf Award Luncheon Thursday, March 19 Garden City Country Club Garden City, NY The annual Green Chairman Education series is tailored for club superintendents, professionals, green chairmen, and club of- ficials, and discusses current issues and trends that are emerging for courses in the Met Area. A highlight of the meeting is the presentation of the Arthur P. Weber MGA Club Environmental Leaders in Golf Award, which recognizes an MGA mem- ber club that demonstrates environmental leadership through their efforts in golf course maintenance, construction, educa- tion, and research. National Golf Day Monday, May 4 – Wednesday, May 6 Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. In it’s 13th year, National Golf Day offers the important opportunity to meet with members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and federal agencies to discuss golf ’s 15,000 diverse businesses, two mil- lion jobs impacted, tax revenue creation, and tourism value. On May 5, the day before the main event, superintendents and other golf lead- ers are once again invited to participate in a Community Service Project on the National Mall. The day will include turf restoration projects between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monu- ment. There will be opportunities to lay irrigation pipe along the Ref lecting Pool, mow near the Vietnam Veterans Mem- orial, and lay sod near the Washington Monument. Consider coming out to lend a helping hand and to advocate on behalf of golf ’s interests with our country’s lawmakers. 25th Annual Rutgers Turfgrass Research Golf Classic Monday, May 4 Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club Bedminster, NJ Plan now to join fellow industry profes- sionals for this annual fundraiser and a day of golf, education, networking, and fun. Your participation helps fund research grants, student scholarships, equipment, and special projects for the Turfgrass Re- search, Teaching, and Extension programs at the School of Environmental and Bio- logical Sciences/Rutgers, The State Uni- versity of New Jersey. For further information, call 973-812- 6467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org. The 16th Annual Dr. Joseph Troll Turf Classic Monday, May 11 Westchester Country Club Rye, NY This year’s UMass Alumni Turf Group fundraiser will be hosted by Westchester Country Club in support of turf educa- tion and research at the University of Massachusetts. Please plan to attend this worthy fund- raiser. Entry forms and additional informa- tion are available at www.alumniturf- group.com. Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day: Golf & Fine Turf Tuesday, July 28 Rutgers Horticultural Farm II New Brunswick, NJ Save the date, and watch for details. Visit www.njturfgrass.org or call Call 973-812- 6467 for further information. MetGCSA Events Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Qualifier Monday, April 27 Rye Golf Club, Rye, NY Host: Chip Lafferty Superintendent/Guest Tournament Thursday, May 28 Fenway Golf Club Scarsdale, NY Host: Rob Alonzi Tee to Green January/February2020 11 Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 12 Member News Six Prizes Awarded in Annual Bill Caputi Scholarship Raffle T his year’s Annual Bill Caputi Scholarship Raff le, held at the January 15 Winter Seminar, raised an admirable sum for the Met’s Scholarship Fund and awarded $4,000 in cash prizes to six lucky ticket holders. The raff le is the prime source of the scholarship awards we distribute to deserv- ing Met member dependents each year. Many thanks to all who contributed and also to those who sold tickets for this worth- while fundraiser. Congratulations to our $2,000-grand- prize winner, John Gallagher of Race- brook Country Club. John purchased the ticket through the website. The other lucky ticketholders were: $750 Second Prize Winner Brian Bontemps, Noble Turf. Brian bought the winning ticket from The Golf Club of Purchase Superintendent Aaron Crouse. Members on the Move (cid:129) Justin Adams is the new superintendent at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains, NY. Previous position: Assistant su- perintendent at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, NJ. (cid:129) Mark Chant is now a territory manager with Harrell’s on Long Island. Previous position: Sales consultant with Turf Science of Connecticut. (cid:129) Aaron Crouse is the new superintend- ent at Golf Club of Purchase in Purchase, NY. Previous position: Superintendent at Westchester Hills Golf Club in White Plains, NY. (cid:129) Michael Hill is a new assistant superin- tendent at Ridgewood Country Club in Danbury, CT. Previous position: Assistant superintendent at Innis Arden Golf Club in Old Greenwich, CT. (cid:129) Jim Seaman is now a territory manager with Harrell’s in New York’s Capital Re- gion. Previous position: Superintendent at Shaker Ridge Country Club in Loudon- ville, NY. 6 Tee to Green January/February 2020 12 (cid:129) Vinny Graziano. Vinny bought the winning ticket from Mike Cook of The Care of Trees. (cid:129) Jim Schell, Oak Hills Park Golf Club. Jim bought his ticket from Burning Tree Country Club Superintendent Steve Wickstrom. Condolences (cid:129) We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to MetGCSA Executive Secre- tary Susan O’Dowd on the passing of her brother Frank O’Dowd on February 3. He was 56. Please know that our thoughts are with you and your family, Susan. (cid:129) We would also like to offer our condo- lences to Class LA member Mike Reeb and his wife, Jaymie, on the passing of their son, Tyler, on October 14. He was 34. Donations may be made to the irrevoca- ble TYLER M. REEB TRUST F/B/O HAILEY B. REEB, care of Michael C. Reeb Trustee, 456 Chandler Road, Chester VT 05143. Expressions of sympathy or ques- tions for the trust fund can be sent directly to the Reeb family at treebfamily@ gmail.com. $500 Third Prize Winner Marc Boulet, Wykagyl Country Club. Marc bought the winning ticket from Wykagyl Country Club Superintendent Dan Rogers. $250 Prize Winners (cid:129) Frank DiRende, Pasquale Ristorante. His ticket was sold by Mike Cook of The Care of Trees. Retired Please join us in congratulating the follow- ing members on their retirement: (cid:129) Glenn Gallion has retired from Wilfred MacDonald, which is no longer in the golf industry business. (cid:129) Mary Jo Kennedy retired in January from her position as chapter executive for the Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents. (cid:129) Joe Stahl has retired from his position as Sales Director for Harrell’s Kudos! (cid:129) Jim Pavonetti of Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT, was first runner up for the Natural Resource Conservation Award, one of the 2019 Environmental Leaders in Golf Awards (E jiiLGA). Way to go, Jim! (cid:129) Grace-Marie Chapin, wife of Redding Country Club Superintendent Brett Cha- pin, has been appointed the new chapter executive for the Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents. Congrat- ulations, Grace-Marie! Tee to Green Feb 2020 3.qxp_tee to green Dec 2010 3/2/20 7:25 PM Page 13 P atron Directory Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. ✪ Executive Turf / Synergy Turf & Pocono Turf Supply “Nano & Micro Carbon Technologies” Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891 Tim Joyce: 631-601-5394 executiveturfproducts@gmail.com ✪ Finch Services Inc. 522 Edwards Avenue Calverton, NY 11933 George Corgan: 914-893-0868 Ofc: 631-727-8700 gcorgan@finchinc.com / www.Finchinc.com Northwestern Mutual Associate Wealth Management Advisor 2515 South Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Joshua Weinerman: 845-224-0027 Joseph Small: 845-224-0015 ✪ NuFarm Americas, Inc. “Helping the World to Grow a Better Tomorrow” Bryan Bolehala: 201-874-8060 bryan.bolehala@nufarm.com Jim Santoro: 518-207-2094 jim.santoro@nufarm.com ✪ The Care of Trees Mike Cook: 914-345-8733 Jeremiah Green: 914-241-8110 Ken Clear: 203-863-0900 Greg Gutter: 914-241-8110 ✪ The Terre Company Full Golf Turf Supplies & Masonry Building Supplies Jim Calladio: 973-518-8834 jcalladio@terrecompany.com ✪ Tom Irwin Inc. “With Tom Irwin, You’re Not Alone” 13 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803 Jeff Houde: 203-731-1776 Ofc: 800-582-5959 jeff@tomirwin.com ✪ Turf Products LLC ~ TORO Irrigation & Equipment “Servicing Our Customers Since 1970” Pat Cragin: 860-874-2812 Bill Conley: 860-360-0503 Shawn Donovan: 203-910-9114 Peter Hull: 860-305-2525 Jim Staszowski: 413-237-1467 ✪ Valley Green, Inc. “Serving the Industry since 1990” 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 845-278-7766 sales@wtractor.com www.wtractor.com ✪ Westchester Turf Supply, Inc. “Proudly Serving the MetGCSA Since 1976” 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 Fax: 845-254-3475 john@irawickes.com ✪ Winfield Solutions, Inc. “Service, Solutions, Insight” Rob Saunders: 203-249-5059 Jim Masone: 516-818-9852 www.winfieldpro.com W & B Golf Carts / Yamaha 3391 Route 9, Hudson, NY 12534 Jason Hommel / Michael Behan Ofc: 518-851-2266 pgagolfcar@gmail.com ✪ Denotes MetGCSA member ✪ Denotes MetGCSA member ✪ A.G. Enterprises Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms 201-488-1276 / Fax: 201-575-4140 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 “The World Leader in Soil Surfactants & Wetting Agents” 1273 Imperial Way Paulsboro, NJ 08066 Tom Valentine: 610-299-4470 tvalentine@aquatrols.com ✪ Atlantic Golf & Turf 9 Industrial Boulevard Turner Falls, MA 01376 John Garcia: 203-996-6267 john@atlanticgolfturf.com ✪ BASF Corporation “We Create Chemistry” Paul Ramina: 908-413-2944 paul.ramina@basf.com Twitter: @pjramina ✪ Bayer U.S. “Backed by Bayer” 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 Brookfield, CT 06804 Paul Schwab: 203-943-6898 Ofc: 203-740-1458 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 ✪ Evergreen Organic Recycling 1160 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 James Amodio / Raymond Colasacco 914-949-9030 Ray@EvergreenOrganicRecycling.com ✪ Fisher and Son Company “Servicing the Green Industry Professionals Since 1928” Mike Weber: 347-486-0480 mweber@fisherandson.com ✪ Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc. “Serving Turfgrass Professionals Since 1978” Ryan Avery / Keith Kubik / Nick Alley Ofc: 973-252-6634 www.GRIturf.com / sales@GRIturf.com Twitter: @GrassRootsTurf ✪ Harrell’s LLC “Growing a Better World. Partners for Success” Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638 stretera@harrells.com Fred Montgomery: 518-813-7814 fmontgomery@harrells.com Helena Agri Enterprises, LLC “People . . . Products . . . Knowledge” Tim Gerzabek: 609-221-9240 Sean Kennedy: 802-558-4009 Twitter: @TimG_Helena / @GrnMtTurfGuy18 K & J Tree Service Removal, Pruning, Planting, Stump Removal, & Plant Healthcare Edward Grant: 203-298-8074 Ofc: 203-722-7316 / Fax: 203-909-6506 edward@kjtreeservice.com LaBar Golf Renovations 170 Mount Airy Road, Suite A1 Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253 rich@labargolf.com ✪ Metro Turf Specialists “Customers, Our TOP Priority” Scott / Matt / Rich / Todd / Ted 203-748-4653 (GOLF) www.metroturfspecialists.com MTE Turf Equipment Solutions, Inc. 115 Franklin Street Ext., Derry, NH 03038 Ben Mancuso Ofc: 585-356-2770 bmancuso@mte.us.com ✪ Noble Turf Full-Service Agronomic Supplier Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959 Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139 Zach Brooks: 914-309-2373 Matt Lapinski: 978-551-0093 Bill Cimochowski: 609-923-4045 Ocean Organics Fertilizers ~ Biostimulants ~ Surfactants Kevin Collins: 914-621-1151 Kevin@oceanorganics.com Twitter: @kcseweed PBI-Gordon Corp. Growth Regulators ~ Nutrients ~ Fungicides 22701 W 68th Terrace, Shawnee, KS 66226 Bill Affinito: 508-250-3821 Ofc: 816-421-4070 baffinito@pbigordon.com / www.pbigordonturf.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 ✪ 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 SiteOne Landscape Supply “Stronger Together” Chad Mathieu: 914-539-5675 cmathieu@siteone.com Soil Solutions, LLC Drill & Fill / Aerification Professionals Anthony Decicco / John Decicco 7 Whittemore Place, Ryebrook, NY 10573 914-393-0659 soilsolutionsllc369@gmail.com Sygenta “Manufacturer of Plant Protection Products” John Bresnahan: 413-333-9914 John.bresnahan@syngenta.com ✪ Tanto Irrigation, LLC “Golf Course Irrigation Specialists” Steve Kubicki / Paul Guillaro info@tantoirrigation.com Tee to Green Feb 2020 cover.qxp_Tee to G dec 2010 cover 3/1/20 2:30 PM Page 2