February/March 2023 VOLUME 54 NUMBER 2 Published by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association Board of Directors President BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club Vice President MICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCS Upper Montclair Country Club Treasurer STEPHEN WICKSTROM Cover: The Patterson Club Burning Tree Country Club Secretary JESSE SHANNON, CGCS Manhattan Woods Golf Club Past President ROBERT ALONZI Fenway Golf Club Directors AARON CROUSE The Golf Club of Purchase WILLIAM CYGAN Silver Spring Country Club CHARLES LAFFERTY Rye Golf Club DAVE PETERSON Silvermine Golf Club STEPHEN RABIDEAU, CGCS Winged Foot Golf Club KEVIN SEIBEL, CGCS Century Country Club Class “C” Rep JAMES WHITE Wykagyl Country Club Class “AF” Rep DAVE CONRAD In this Issue Feature Plant Food Company Executive Director MIKE McCALL, CGCS Executive Secretary SUSAN O’DOWD Tee to Green Staff The Data-Driven Superintendent ............................................2 Departments Editors CHIP LAFFERTY KEVIN SEIBEL Member News ......................................................................7 Managing Editor PANDORA C. WOJICK National Scorecard ................................................................9 Editorial Committee WORTH ANDREWS STEVEN McGLONE TODD APGAR ANTHONY MINNITI MATT CEPLO BOB NIELSEN KEVIN COLLINS SCOTT NIVEN ANDY DROHEN JIM PAVONETTI JAMES WHITE Designer TERRIE YOUNG Chapter News ......................................................................10 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 © 2023 Spotlights............................................................................14 Upcoming Events ................................................................16 President’s Message Ready, Set, Mark Your Calendars . . . for the Season Ahead! Y ou know the golf season is fast-approaching when we begin talking about finalizing our event calendar for 2023. The golf, education, and social committees have been hard at work securing sites for the member events we offer throughout the year. Our season kicks off this year with our always-popular Dave Mahoney Two-ball Qualifier, which is being held on April 24 at The Patterson Club in Fairfield, CT. Check out the list of upcoming events on page 16 of this issue, and be sure to watch for calendar updates as the season progresses. Our social event of the season, our Summer Social and lobster bake, is returning to the scenic Orienta Beach Club in Mamaroneck, NY, on July 10. This event draws more than 100 members and guests, offering a great time to kick back and enjoy the company of industry friends, old and new. Board Notes Speaking of old and new, we have a few new faces on our Board of Directors. Please join me in welcoming Kevin Seibel of Century Country Club and Stephen Rabideau of Winged Foot Golf Club. We are excited to have both individuals involved and working as part of our group of volunteers who are focused on supporting and improving the MetGCSA. Kevin and Stephen will be heading up our Membership Committee this season. I also would like to take a moment to thank our two departing board members, Dan Rogers of Wykagyl Country Club, who headed our successful Advertising Committee, and Mike McCormick, who has left The Apawamis Club for the position of grounds superintendent at Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburg, PA. Mike, in his yearlong tenure on our Website Committee, helped spearhead the development of a new, more user-friendly site. We wish Mike the best of luck in his new position. Be sure to get acquainted with the MetGCSA board and committee chairs on page 13. They’re there to help! Brett Chapin MetGCSA President Communication Backup Don’t put this issue of Tee to Green down without checking out the feature article, “The Data-Driven Superintendent.” This article drives home the essential role data collection can play in golf course management today. What’s more, it offers testimony and words to the wise from industry professionals well versed in collecting, monitoring, and analyzing data useful in dayto-day turf management decisions. I, for one, am looking forward to integrating some of these practices into my management scheme this spring. And I am also looking forward to sharing them with my staff and Redding Country Club membership. I am grateful for our publication, the Tee to Green, which has proved a valuable and credible vehicle for communicating the various aspects of what we do and how we do it. And I am proud to say that a number of our articles were considered worthy enough to be reprinted in the pages of Golf Course Management over the years. So be sure to take advantage of all our publication has to offer in your efforts to communicate with your staff, your members, your green chair, and anyone else you encounter who may profit from a deeper understanding of what you need to do the best job you can. I look forward to the seeing you at one of our upcoming events. Let’s start with April 24 and the Two-ball Qualifier! Brett Chapin President Tee to Green February/March 2023 1 Feature The Data-Driven Superintendent by Jim Pavonetti, CGCS Data collection will help superintendents make quick decisions like moving a portable fan to an area that is showing early signs of stress. 2 Tee to Green February/March 2023 “I f you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” This famous quote by management guru Peter Drucker certainly holds true in our business. Superintendents are constantly being driven to improve. But how can we do that without real data? Ten years ago, the most modern measurement tools superintendents were using were a Stimpmeter and a TDR moisture meter. Today, there doesn't seem to be a month that goes by without the introduction of a new tool superintendents can add to their data collecting and maintenance programs. Similar to what happened to professional baseball with analytics, all kinds of data are collected and used to make daily decisions on the golf course. Whether it is to mow, mow and roll, roll only, or do nothing, data can help us decide and keep playing conditions consistently within the established parameters. Elliott Downing, Senior Northeast Re- Weather apps, such as the T3, can give us vital data to make all kinds of decisions on the golf course. gional Agronomist for the USGA, put it this way: “Collecting (more) data is the direction Nature Data (Phenological that the industry is heading. What might Weather Data seem daunting or unnecessary really comes Never has there been so much weather data Indicators) down to how much control you want over at our fingertips. An onsite weather station Other data that can be useful for timing variables and how well informed you want to is great for obtaining precise high and low applications or forecasting potential probbe in making decisions.” With data collec- temperature information so that you can lems are the various indicators in nature. tion, superintendents can monitor growth calculate growing degrees for your specific Collecting and documenting this data for trends and compare that information with site. Growing degrees help you properly several years will help you anticipate actions inputs to better determine when applica- time such applications as crabgrass preven- that need to be taken on your turf. tions—such as plant growth regulators or tives, Hyperodes weevil controls, and Poa fertilizers, or both—should be made to help annua seedhead controls, to name a few. produce the healthiest, best playing surface Evapotranspiration rates specifically for possible. your golf course can help with irrigation For years, I was a superintendent set in my decisions. Many different apps can help, but ways, using experience to guide my pro- one in particular, T3, has been developed grams. But little by little, I have been drawn specifically for golf courses by renowned to collecting more and more data to help me meteorologists. T3 uses your exact location with daily decision-making and creating and elevation to help with more precise programs for more efficient turf practices. forecasting for the next 48 hours, including For example, last season I made the jump to frost, dew formation, and even dollar-spot measuring clipping yields off our greens activity. If you don’t have an onsite weather every day of the mowing season. With this station, Weather Underground (www.weasingle step, I have never been more in tune therunderground.com) provides weather with what is going on out on our putting information and forecasts for your local surfaces. This experience spurred me on to area. Not ideal, but better than guessing put this article together to encourage others from a weather app that only gives you into try some of these more modern data-col- formation for a much larger area than your lection practices. exact location. The precision simply isn’t Phenological indicators such as the Cawtaba rhododendron blooming to determine an insecticide there. application can be useful data to keep track of. Tee to Green February/March 2023 3 Nature indicators include a first robin sighting, forsythia blooming, forsythia halfgreen/half-gold, Catawba rhododendron blooming, Poa annua boot stage, bluebirds nesting, bluegills nesting, and other various plants blooming. Pitfall traps and soap f lushes can help superintendents determine if Hyperodes are active or reaching a predetermined threshold that calls for treatment. I find myself relying on a lot of nature data during cold springs, when nothing seems to be happening when it should. Having a few years of nature data handy can help you set up your season with timely decisions. Modern Equipment Data GPS sprayers are an example of how modern equipment can deliver an abundance of data points. It seems like every year there are advances in turf equipment that make our jobs more efficient—not only through equipment improvements, but also by providing valuable data points for precise recordkeeping. For example, some topdressers now feature an onboard computer that will dial in sand application rates. GPS sprayers provide all kinds of data on applications and applicator performance. Irrigation, Soil Moisture, Stress Data Temperature guns are a quick and economical way to monitor surface temperatures on a hot day. 4 Tee to Green February/March 2023 Most of us are regularly using TDR moisture meters to help dial in irrigation applications. A leap forward in that type of technology is the POGO, which can map out the data via an app on your phone and computer. Drones from companies like GreenSite will take it to the next level with daily f lyovers, covering your entire golf course to give you data from tee to green on all your holes. Talk about powerful data! There is also an array of stationary soil moisture meters: Toro, Spiio, Soil Scout. These can be helpful for moisture readings, but I find them even more useful for reading soil temperatures. When I can see the average temps, I can decide on the perfect time for chemical applications, such as initial preventive applications for fairy ring, summer patch, and take-all patch. For turf stress, not commonly used but readily available and affordable are the FLIR attachments for smartphones. FLIR cameras take thermal images that highlight areas of stress, especially drought or heat stress. The images show the stress before you see it on the turf, so this can be a way to mitigate or avoid turf stress altogether. Based on this information, a quick syringe or moving a portable fan to one of these areas could save a lot of stress on the turf— and us. Even simpler, a surface temperature gun, which can be purchased at a hardware store, is a quick and handy way to look at surface temperatures on a hot day. The NDVI Meter from Spectrum will give you quality ratings that show stress and help you react before the turf begins to decline. Just another tool that can be used to run our trials or closely monitor turf conditions as the summer wears on. Putting Surface Performance Data Aside from moisture readings, four critical data points give us information about how our putting surfaces are performing and how they react to different weather conditions: 1. Speed. The most talked about data point among our players is green speed, which is most commonly measured by a USGA Stimpmeter. In the past 10 years, the USGA has released a Stimpmeter with an alternate spot to place the ball so that undulated greens can be measured more accurately but at half the distance. Doubling that measurement gives you a very accurate speed for that particular green. During the shoulder seasons, I will ride the course and measure speeds before the staff begins the day. Even though this measurement is in the dew, it can give me a reasonable idea as to whether I should skip the mow or roll for the day. I have a target daily speed, so if the measurement in the dew is close to my target already, I know there is no need to risk beating my turf up with unnecessary maintenance; I can direct my limited labor elsewhere. Here are some tools of the trade that are fairly common- Firm Meter and TDR Moisture Meter. FLIR imagery can show areas of stressed turf before visible signs appear, giving us data to make a quick decision to mitigate the stress. Tee to Green February/March 2023 5 Measuring clipping yields off of greens has truly been an eye opener for us this past season. A magnif ying prism helps manage excellent mowing quality. 4 6 Tee to Green February/March 2023 Keeping daily track of green speeds helps me adjust mowing heights or change roller configurations to meet my target green speed range. Tracking height-of-cut, which front roller we are using, walking versus riding mowers, singlecut versus doublecut, how often we roll, double roll—all are useful data points that will help make maintenance decisions easier. 2. Firmness. I will be the first to admit that when the USGA and Spectrum first released the Firm Meter, I quickly purchased one and soon wondered what I would do with this “useless” information. It wasn’t until I began to measure firmness daily that I began to see the trends and relationships between moisture and firmness. Now it is another valued data point that lets me know where the greens stand in terms of playability. I have a measurement range for where I like the greens to be, where ball marks are not too bad (almost invisible or nonexistent), but not so firm that my general membership can’t hold their shots on the greens. After studying this for a few seasons, I realized that I can control firmness to some degree with moisture. 3. Smoothness. To check smoothness, I watch the balls as they roll off the Stimpmeter to look for wobble. I align the logo on the ball so that it allows me to see how the ball tracks across the surface. The USGA has been developing a device, GS3, to help superintendents measure and track smoothness (up-and-down movement) and trueness (side-to-side movement) of the putting surfaces. This will add another layer to our data in the very near future. Another aspect of smoothness is quality-of-cut. To monitor that, we frequently use a magnif ying prism. This data will tell my equipment manager when it is time to sharpen or backlap cutting units. 4. Yield. For several years, I have been watching our Canadian friends measure clippings off their greens and wondered if there was value in that kind of information for me. This past season, I decided to start measuring the total amount of clippings from all the greens each day. I purchased basins that fit in the bed of our utility carts and instructed the staff to dump all their clippings in the basins and leave the full basins in a designated area in the shop. Then, one of my assistants or I would pour the clippings into empty link packs that had the tops cut off. The link packs have volume measurements already marked off, so this seemed like an easy way to start. Measuring the clipping yield has shown us when nitrogen is getting mineralized and released during stretches of weather that warm soil temperatures excessively. When we see the clipping yields rise, we know that Member News Soil testing, Loss on Ignition testing, and ISTRC testing give superintendents a lot of data points to determine fertilizer requirements, topdressing requirements, additional aeration, etc. If done over multiple years, the data will show upward or downward trends that will justif y and illustrate the need for altering certain agronomic programs. we can hold off on any spoonfeeding, since the higher yields indicate that nitrogen is being released rapidly into the turf. This not only saves money by avoiding unnecessary nitrogen applications, but also can avoid the problems that come with overfertilizing the turf. Although I see that others are measuring clippings from individual greens, we have not gone that far yet—but that could be our next step. Our terrain and elevation changes at Fairview create diverse microclimates for us to manage, so seeing clipping yields from individual greens could make sense. Cultural Practices Collecting data for cultural practices, such as aeration, verticutting, and topdressing can be useful in determining how much is needed and in tracking how much has been done. For example: • Loss-on-ignition testing will tell you how much organic matter is in what you are testing. These tests are inexpensive, so for the past several years, we have been testing all our greens. As a few more seasons go by and we have additional data from these tests, we will be able to see if some greens require more “catch-up” aeration than others. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that when you get to a particular green you can have your operator move the selector to a closer spacing to punch more holes in a green that contains more organic matter than the others, or switch the tines out for a larger diameter? • ISTRC testing will also give you organic matter levels, as well as percolation rates. Possessing this data can help with decisions on deeper aeration methods and the amount of aeration needed to get the greens in a desired test result range. Organizing the Data, Getting the Team Involved Once you dive into data collection, there has to be a plan on how to organize the data so that it is easy to read and see what is going on with your turf. Many apps can help organize this for you. Greenkeeper, TurfPro, Playbooks, and the USGA’s Deacon are becoming popular, just to name a few. For my operation, I built a spreadsheet using Excel to organize my data. The key is to have a data-collecting system that is easy to update and manage so that it doesn’t become an administrative burden. Collecting, analyzing, and acting on relevant data…what a great way to get assistants, interns, and top crew members involved with agronomic program management! For more information about data collection, check out these two links from the USGA Green Section: https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home -page/course-care/green-section-record/ 60/22/a-quick-start-guide-to -puttinggreen-data-collection.html https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home -page/course-care/green-section-record/ 60/16/addressing- common- concer ns about-putting-green-data-collection.html Jim Pavonetti, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT. Kudos! Eco Turf ’s Ken Benoit has earned the 2023 Excellence in Government Affairs Award from the GCSAA. This high honor is in recognition of his work to establish the Best Management Practices for golf in New York and around the country and to educate those outside the industry regarding BMPs while developing a strong working relationship with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. Congratulations, Ken, on your above-and-beyond efforts to support our industry’s work and commitment to preserving our environment. New Members Please join us in welcoming the following new MetGCSA members: • Ken DiCillo, Class C, Wee Burn Country Club, Darien, CT • Mike Lorie, Class C, Leewood Golf Club, Eastchester, NY • Andrew Jacobs, Class A, Westchester Country Club, Rye, NY • Tom Smith, Class C, Wee Burn Country Club, Darien, CT Our Condolences John Streeter, a member of the MetGCSA since 1990 and a 40-year member of the GCSAA, passed away February 20 at age 69. John was a certified golf course superintendent who worked at numerous golf courses in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. His last stop before retiring was North Shore Country Club in New York. John was an active participant in the industry. Founder of the Rhode Island Scholarship & Research Tournament, he went on to become president of the Rhode Island GCSA, earning a Distinguished Service Award at the 1985 Words Unlimited Banquet. After moving to Connecticut, John then rose through the chairs of the Connecticut AGCS to become president, earning their Superintendent of the Year award in 1993. Always committed to industry research, John also sat on the board of the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation, eventually assuming the role of president. A friend to many in the industry, John will be missed. Our sincere condolences to John’s family and friends. As a tribute to John, you can make a contribution in his memory to the RIGCSA Scholarship & Research Fund, P.O. Box 603, North Scituate, RI 02857. Tee to Green February/March 2023 7 A View From the Experts W e asked some industry professionals known for their extensive data research for their thoughts on data collecting. All, you’ll find, give it a big thumbs up. we use data routinely to predict and guide our daily lives. Soon it will become commonplace for data science and analytics to predict our management needs and enhance the playability of our golf courses. Dr. John Kaminski Pennsylvania State University Data collection and interpretation is becoming more readily available and important in understanding and managing the health and performance of turfgrass. This can help superintendents make more informed decisions on things like irrigation, fertilization, and pest management. However, there are also some challenges to data collection and precision management. One of the biggest challenges is obtaining accurate and reliable data. There are many different sensors and devices available for data collection, but not all of them are equally accurate or reliable. It is important for superintendents to be aware of this and to carefully evaluate the different options before deciding on which devices to use. Another challenge is the need for trained and skilled personnel to interpret and use the data. While data collection has become more accessible with the development of apps and online platforms, it is still important for superintendents to have the knowledge and skills to effectively use the data to make informed management decisions. Dr. Bill Kreuser GreenKeeper The thought of using data and models to guide turfgrass management decisions may seem daunting, but golf course superintendents have been using both to improve course conditioning for centuries. Data is simply a set of written-down observations. This data can be used to make predictions about future outcomes through the processing of modeling. Also needed: automation. Without automation, leveraging many of these new data points can be more work than help. Decision-support tools like the GreenKeeper App are data repositories designed to simplif y the task of logging and analyzing data being generated at a golf course. The app then uses proprietary models to make predictions about future events, based on the data collected. Growing degree day models can predict PGR and DMI growth suppression; soil organic matter models can help predict organic matter accumulation in golf turf; and pest models can help superintendents stay ahead of pest problems. In 2023, the GreenKeeper App is using machine learning algorithms to generate local models from a course’s own data to predict growth rate, green speed, and pest outbreaks. Advanced computer programs find connections between different factors like management practices, weather and application records, and sensor data to generate different types of models that are specific to individual golf courses. These models will then provide predictions that can help golf course superintendents stay ahead of their course conditioning. Dr. Frank Rossi Cornell University The only way to improve our environmental and economic efficiency of golf course management is to develop decision support tools—such as our Cornell Turfgrass FORECAST website, Deacon, and GreenKeeper—that use data science and analytics for effective decision-making; kind of the way Billy Beane used statistics to improve the performance of the Oakland A’s baseball team. If you’ve read the book or seen the movie Moneyball, you know what I mean. Collecting more data—and more helpful data—will get easier as sensors are deployed in soils, on mowers, and from drones and satellite imagery. We need tools that can guide our application equipment from spreaders and sprayers to irrigation heads and mowers (auto steer). For example, the GPS sprayer has been around for 25 years, but few are taking advantage of its real power, variable rate technology, which can lead to putting only one or two items in the tank versus the 12-product cocktails we currently spray. When you think about it, 8 Tee to Green February/March 2023 Carmen Magro POGO Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc. Suppose you went to see a doctor about chest pain. The doctor listens to your heart with a stethoscope and makes a “final” diagnosis. Using only one instrument (stethoscope) is obviously not enough to determine what is truly needed to understand the cause and, more importantly, the remedy for your heart pain. Most doctors listen to your heart, take blood and stress tests, ask lifestyle questions, and maybe even suggest wearing a monitor that reports how your heart reacts during eating, sleeping, and exercise. Only then can an accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical course of action be determined. Monitoring turfgrass is no different. It’s not about a single number or set of numbers. It is about a precisely positioned sensing process and a routine method that is followed continuously to make the right decisions for water management, fertilizer, and nutrient impacts, as well as a slew of cultural practices. Monitoring should not be overlooked or compromised. Having thousands of users around the globe on the cloud-based TurfPro mobile platform is teaching industry science and application professionals a ton. Here are some facts from the Amazon Web Services database that monitors the use of our POGO platform worldwide: 1. Most users now sample three times per week on at least half of their greens (golf) or twice a week on their sports fields and pitches. 2. Most users collect a minimum of 12 samples per putting green (golf) and 28 samples per sports pitch. 3. The above rates have climbed 600% in the past three years alone as turf managers have been educated on proper monitoring techniques and understand what they are measuring—and why. 4. The use of the POGO platform alone has tripled in less than two years’ time as publications and reference journals are now referencing the unique POGO science and technology. 5. The marriage of environmental factors (on-site weather monitoring is critical) with daily turf monitoring is allowing users to skip pesticide applications or make them only when the conditions warrant. Bottom line: Fortunately, turfgrass managers are collecting, monitoring, and analyzing data more effectively to make the best decisions from day to day. I had the opportunity to train field managers leading into the World Cup this past year in Qatar. What a thrill! But to see novice managers learn so much so fast with proper monitoring and application of that data was something I truly pride myself on. I just returned from a trip to Spain, the UAE, and UK. In the UAE, I advised on greens quality for the HSBC tournament using monitoring processes and advice on the information being collected. It drew a crowd in the volunteer staff as well as the media. We are making a huge turn forward with this technology, and I’m very proud to see that. National Scorecard ChampionsGate Proves a Tough Test for the GCSAA National Championship by Scott Niven, CGCS I t was another great winter for the GCSAA Golf Championships to be contested in sunny Florida with temps in the 70s and 80s and no rainfall. The four events took place February 4 – 6, with the National Championship played at the host hotel, ChampionsGate Golf Resort, on the National and International golf courses. Other events were played at the Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge on the Crocked Cat and Panther Lake golf courses. As always, the courses were in great shape, creating an excellent venue to decide our champions. In the Four-Ball Championship The golf courses played very tough this year with only one player shooting par, which was 2023 winner Dylan Foster who shot 144. He won by 5 strokes, which didn’t provide for much drama as the leaders came down the stretch. Dylan is the assistant superintendent at the Verandah Golf Club in Fort Meyers, FL, and this was his first win in the national event. Our local participants also found the golf courses quite tough with finishes in the second half of the 75-player field. The Patterson Club’s Jason Meersman came in 46th, Sunningdale’s Sean Cain 48th, and Quaker Ridge’s Tom Ashfield was 51st. In the Senior Division, Sean Cain finished an honorable 11th. Some of the best golf was played by our Met participants in this event. For the Gross Division in the First Flight, Winged Foot’s Steve Rabideau and Blessing Golf Club’s Shawn Westacott placed 1st, while in the First Flight Net, Quaker Ridge’s Tom Ashfield and Allied Nutrients’ Andy Drohen finished 5th. Meadow Brook’s John Carlone and Mark Warren of Taylormade GC Manufacturing followed close behind coming in 7th. The Second Flight Gross Division saw Pelham’s Jeff Wentworth and Hobe Sound Golf Club’s Anthony Price finish 1st with Patterson’s Jason Meersman and Mike Meersman of Cerbat Cliffs GC placing 2nd. Fourth place was taken by Upper Montclair’s Mike Brunelle and Plant Food’s Tom Weinert, while Westchester CC’s David Dudones and LA member Jimmy Swiatlowski claimed 8th place. The Second Flight Net Division had Glen Head’s Ken Lochridge and his partner Atlantic Golf Club’s Anthony Stalters at 7th place and Nissequogue’s Jeff Hemphill with Garden City Country Club’s Russell MacPhail coming in 16th. In the Third Flight Gross Division, Redding’s Brett Chapin and Indian Hill Country Club’s Marc Weston finished 27th, while in the Net Division, we had Fenway’s Rob Alonzi and Traverse City Country Club’s Steve Hammon place 30th. In the Scramble In the Golf Classic Making a notable finish in the Scramble event was our Second Flight team of Brett Chapin (Redding CC), Kevin Collins (Tradition GC), Michael Read (Toro), and Marc Weston (Indian Hill CC) who came in 9th. A fair number of MetGCSA members came out to compete in the Golf Classic. Placing 5th in the Gross Division of the Affiliate Flight was Plant Food’s Tom Weinert. In the First Flight, Steve Whipple finished 36th gross. In the National Championship For the Second Flight, Meadow Brook’s John Carlone came in 18th Gross, Century’s Kevin Seibel 27th Gross, and Winged Foot’s Steve Rabideau placed 33rd in the Net Division. The Third Flight had four competitors from the Met. Nissequogue’s Jeff Hemphill finished with a very respectable Second Place Gross, Westchester’s David Dudones was 41st Gross, Pelham’s Jeff Wentworth 42nd Net, and Glen Head’s Ken Lochridge was 36th in the Gross Division. In the Fourth Flight, Upper Montclair’s Mike Brunelle finished 7th gross, GlenArbor’s Joe Gikis was 13th Gross with GC of Purchase’s Aaron Crouse at 14th Net and Fenway’s Rob Alonzi at 33rd Net. In the Super Seniors Flight, The Stanwich Club’s Scott Niven came in 4th Gross, while LA member Jimmy Swiatlowski took 6th place. In Appreciation Special thanks to all the GCSAA staff for their efforts in putting this competitive event together and to all of the sponsors who make this event possible, especially the Toro Company for their generous partnership in being the title sponsor for more than 25 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 network with superintendents from across the U. S. and around the world. Next year, the GCSAA Golf Championships will be held in Phoenix, AZ. I hope to see you all there! Scott Niven, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is property manager at The Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. Tee to Green February/March 2023 9 Chapter News Winter Seminar Returns to Westchester Country Club by James White W estchester Country Club welcomed back the MetGCSA’s Winter Seminar January 11 after a two-year hiatus forced by Covid. A very special thank you to David Dudones and the Westchester staff for hosting yet another successful event. We had a great turnout of vendors for this year’s seminar (see exhibitor list, page 12). It was nice to have face-to-face conversations with the people who support our industry. We would like to thank each and every one of them for their continued support and hope that you will show them the same support they have shown us in the past. Education Chair Dave Peterson and his committee put together a great roster of speakers. We were all pleased to get an upclose-and-personal view of the presentations and then have the opportunity to share ideas with our fellow professionals. What follows is a quick take on the speakers’ advice-to-remember, as well as their contact information. All are ready and willing to help. Stanwich Club's Scott Niven presents Rockrimmon Superintendent and past MetGCSA president with the prestigious Sherwood A. Moore Award for his contribution to advancing the image, status, and reputation of the golf course superintendent. Dowling also spoke about the importance of blending the soil on new sod with the rootzone of the fixed area. The ideal way would be to pull a core and place sand in the channels. If that is not at all possible, a solid tine followed by sand topdressing will Trends in Topdressing and Aeration suffice. For further information, the USGA’s Elliot Our morning kicked off with USGA Dowling can be reached at edowling@usga.org or Agronomist Elliot Dowling offering his 224 -656-9773. perspective on topdressing and aeration practices for golf courses in the Northeast Service-Minded Leadership for Golf region. Dowling is based out of Glen Mills, PA, and is well-versed in golf course Course Superintendents dynamics having been a golf course super Henry DeLozier, a principal at the internahimself. He is now traveling the region con- tional consulting firm GGA Partners, has ducting onsite visits as part of the USGA’s guided golf club managers and directors in a Course Consulting Services. variety of management matters and leaderDowling acknowledged that weather ship challenges. plays a major role in the timing of our cultiDeLozier spoke about the characteristics vation practices, as well as increased play that make for a highly effective manager and extremely busy golf calendars. He also and leader. To exemplif y the traits essential spoke about the importance of topdressing to effective leadership, he projected two and aerating not just greens, but other areas inf luential people on the screen: John F. of our courses as well. Tees, he noted, are Kennedy and Rosa Parks. He related these important areas to topdress to ensure a inf luential people to our industry. Rosa smooth surface. Spring is the ideal time to Parks, he pointed out, was a fearless leader topdress tees to start the season with healthy and JFK learned to become a compelling turfgrass. speaker and communicator as he assumed 6 10 Tee to Green February/March 2023 the role of president. Both Kennedy and Parks possessed characteristics that are common among effective leaders and focused heavily on serving their communities and constituents. DeLozier explained that in order to do their jobs well, golf course superintendents should strive to adopt the skillsets possessed by all effective leaders, with an emphasis on serving your memberships, serving your assistants and interns, and serving your families. For further information, you can reach Henry DeLozier at henry.delozier@ggapartners.com or 888-432-9494. Winter Injury: It’s More Common Than You Think! Our last speaker of the morning was David Oatis, former director of the USGA Green Section’s Northeast Region, a position he held for nearly 30 years. Currently a golf course consultant, Oatis’ talk focused on strategies to help turf managers minimize damage and enhance recovery from winter injury, like that experienced in the winter of 2021-2022. After a snow/ice storm, for instance, Oatis recommended speeding up the melting process by shoveling drainage channels. When damage does occur, Oatis mentioned covering weak areas on your greens to help promote growth and recovery. The same covers can also be used to protect weak turf from cold and wind. Oatis says if you have damage you should seed using multiple methods to promote a healthy turfgrass. Drop seeding after an aeration, along with multiple light fertilizer applications, is one way to fix damaged areas. Another example Oatis gave is to plant plugs from your nursery green around the damaged area, and raise the mowing height to protect the weak turf. Turf managers should keep all traffic off these weak areas and nurse them back to health. Soft, saturated soils are easily compacted by foot traffic and more susceptible to rutting. Oatis also suggested removing Awards Committee Chair Rob Alonzi honors Winged Foot's Stephen Rabideau with the MetGCSA's Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes those who have made a significant impact on our association and industry. strips of sod to facilitate positive surface drainage. Cutting extra holes in low spots can also help move water away from weak areas, and once they fill, you can pump the small holes out. For further information, you can reach David Oatis at david.a.oatis@gmail.com or 908-3479436. Awards Luncheon After the morning sessions adjourned, the awards luncheon began, and the MetGCSA proceeded with its award presentations to three worthy recipients: the Distinguished Member Award to Stephen Rabideau, director of golf and grounds at Winged Foot Golf Club; the Sherwood A. Moore Award to Rockrimmon Country Club Superintendent Tony Girardi; and the John Reid Lifetime Achievement Award to Pro Golfer and Broadcaster Peter Jacobsen. MetGCSA Executive Director Mike McCall kicked off the ceremony by thanking all the guests for attending and the Westchester Country Club staff for continuously putting on a spectacular event for us. Rob Alonzi took the podium next to award Stephen Rabideau with the well-deserved 2021 Distinguished Member Award, an honor that recognizes those who have made a significant impact on our association and industry. Director of golf and grounds at Winged Foot Golf Club since January 2012, Stephen has displayed superior leadership skills, self lessly prepping countless assistants to move forward with their careers and most recently cheering his crew on through the ups and downs of preparing for the 2020 U.S. Open at the start of a pandemic. Stephen, who will be hosting the U.S. Open again in 2028, thanked all his staff throughout the years for their dedication to the club and its success. Scott Niven presented Tony Girardi with the Sherwood A. Moore Award, which honors those who have “advanced the image, status, and reputation of the golf course superintendent.” Tony has been a Certified Golf Course Superintendent for over 25 years and has been superintendent at Rockrimmon Country Club for the past 28. He is a past president of the MetGCSA and has contributed to numerous other industry organizations, not the least of which is the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation, where his service culminated in leading the group’s research efforts as president. One of Tony’s more recent achievements was earning a Master Greenkeeper Certificate, given by the British and International Golf Green-keepers Association (BIGGA), which is an educational challenge and honor. Next up at the podium was Mike McCall, who presented the John Reid Life-time Achievement Award to Peter Jacobsen via Zoom. Jacobsen was in a walking boot and unable to travel to meet in person. This award is presented to a person who has demonstrated a knowledge of and commitment to the game of golf and science of golf course management. Jacobsen posted seven PGA Tour wins and was a member of the 1985 and 1995 Ryder Cup team. He now works in the broadcast booth providing commentary for the Golf Channel, as well as NBC. Jacobsen is more than just a positive inf luence in the world of golf, he is—and always has been—a great advocate for golf course superintendents. The Latest on Pest and Stress Research at Cornell Dr. Frank Rossi, an associate professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell, opened the afternoon session with an update on his latest research on predictive models for diseases and insect pests, as well as other operational challenges to golf course superintendents due to increased rounds and increased wear-and-tear on the turf. Rossi started out by discussing the increased number of golf rounds played over the past few years due to the pandemic. In 2022, rounds were slightly lower compared to 2020-2021 but still much higher compared to 2017-2019. Rossi touched on the weather and how it played a part in the year 2022 because we had a stalled spring, and then in June, we had a series of above-average temperatures. Rossi believed that fairy ring and summer patch are going to be a problem going forward due to older pesticides that persisted for years in the soil and are now finally fading away over time. These older pesticides helped suppress these diseases. Rossi spoke about his research with traffic on greens and golf shoes. Rossi says as soon as you put any kind of traffic on the green, smoothness, turf quality and green speed are altered. All three decline as more rounds and traffic are on greens. In fact, players miss more putts later in the day, depending on distance to the hole, due to the effects of traffic. Some golf shoe spike styles have an impact on this because they add foot traffic around the hole that affects the playability of the green, but his studies are also indicating that the way different individuals walk have a greater impact than the actual styles of shoes (dragging feet, tiptoes, heel to toe, etc.). This study is ongoing, so stay tuned! For further information, you can reach Dr. Rossi at fsr3@cornell.edu or 607-227-5873 BMP Implementation Walk-Through The day before the Winter Seminar, Ken Benoit earned the 2023 Excellence in Government Affairs Award from the GCSAA. This high honor is in recognition of his work to establish the Best Management Practices for golf in New York and around the country and to educate those outside the industry regarding BMPs while developing a strong working relationship with the New York State Department of Environmental Conversation. Ken’s presentation focused on why superintendents should adopt these BMPs and how to go about establishing a BMP program on your course. We learned that using the GCSAA BMP online tool will make adopting BMPs at your facility very quick and easy. Tee to Green February/March 2023 11 Ken also discussed specific BMPs that most superintendents have already implemented at their facilities. Some of the key BMP areas of importance include Site Analysis, Irrigation, Planning, Designing, and Construction, as well as Maintenance Operations and Cultural Practices, among others. For example, Site Analysis BMPs encourage the superintendent to evaluate their property and assess its inherent risks as it relates to water resource protection. Whereas, following Planning, Designing, and Construction BMPs helps guide the superintendent during everything from new course builds to small renovation projects. Ideally, superintendents will incorporate these BMPs into their management decision-making process any time soil is disturbed to avoid erosion and sedimentation. By adopting Irrigation BMPs, the superintendent will ensure their irrigation system will run efficiently and effectively. Systems should run uniformly and apply water only to the intended area. Auditing your irrigation system regularly to ensure efficient application rate and uniformity to conserve water is an important BMP principle. Ken also spoke about the importance of ensuring various aspects of your maintenance operation—such as Nutrient Management, Pesticide Management, Integrated Pest Management—align with BMPs and, therefore, ensure compliance with regulations in your state. Feel free to give Ken a call as he would be happy to help anyone who wishes to start a BMP program at their club. If you’re a do-ityourselfer, the GCSAA offers webinars for additional help, as well as templates to guide your setup. Also, we'll be sure to let you know about possible free local BMP workshops, sponsored by the New York Golf Course Foundation and the MetGCSA, in the future. Congratulations to Ken on all his hard work and dedication to promoting BMPs throughout the state. For further information, Ken Benoit can be reached at kbenoit@ecoturfconsulting.com or 914 -760-3575. James White, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial and Class C rep on the MetGCSA Board, is an assistant superintendent at Wykagyl Country Club. 6 12 Tee to Green February/March 2023 Special Thanks to Our 2023 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. BASF Corporation Paul Ramina Golf Course Supplies 908-413-2944 Paul.ramina@basf.com Grass Roots Turf Products Ryan Avery Golf Course Supplies 973-252-6634 ryan.Avery@GRIturf.com Tanto Irrigation Chase Cameron Irrigation Installation Services 914-347-5151 ccameron415@gmail.com Cushman | E-Z-GO Mike Marvin Golf Course Utility Vehicles 516-662-3554 mmarvin@textron.com Harrell’s Scott Tretera Golf Course Supplies 914-262-8638 stretera@harrells.com Tom Irwin Jeff Houde Turf Care Products 203-731-1776 jeff@tomirwin.com Davey Tree Expert Company Greg Gutter 914-490-6428 John Wickes 914-906-3264 Heritage Professional Products Golf Course Supplies Rob Saunders 203-249-5059 rssaunders@landolakes.com Turf Products Keith Kohlasch Toro Irrigation & Equipment 860-874-2812 kkohlasch@turfproductscorp.com DeLea Sod Farms Scott Geiser High-Quality Sod & Root Zone Mixes for Golf Courses 800-344-7637 sgeiser@deleasod.com Dunning Industries Golf Course Supplies Gil Perez 860-670-3222 gperez@dunningindustries.com ENVU Dave Sylvester Golf Course Supplies 860-841-3173 david.sylvester@envu.com Executive Turf / Synergy Turf Supply Ken Gentile Golf Course Supplies 203-496-0891 executiveturfproducts@gmail.com Finch Turf George Corgan John Deere Sales & Service 914-893-0868 gcorgan@finchturf.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 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 MTE Equipment Solutions Dan Clarke 203-918-5062 dclarke@mte.us.com Westchester Turf Supply Dave Lippman Golf Course Supplies 914-447-5192 westturf@comcast.net Noble Turf Brian Bontemps Plant Protection Products 845-239-7959 brianbontemps@nobleturf.com William A. Kelly Construction Management & Design Eric Kelly 914-232-3191 Plant Food Company Dave Conrad The Liquid Fertilizer Experts 800-562-1291 dconrad@plantfoodco.com Meet Your 2023 MetGCSA Board MetGCSA Committee Chairs at Your Service We’ve provided a list of each of the MetGCSA’s 2023 committee chairs, including their phone numbers and emails. Please feel free to contact any of them with questions, comments, or helpful suggestions. Awards Committee Rob Alonzi Fenway GC ralonzijr@hotmail.com 914 -484 -0373 Bylaws Committee Mike Brunelle Upper Montclair CC mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com 973-417-8199 Club Relations Committee Rob Alonzi Fenway GC ralonzijr@hotmail.com 914 -484 -0373 Communications Committee Chip Lafferty (Tee to Green) Rye GC superintendent@ryegolfclub.com 914 -760-3331 Kevin Seibel (Tee to Green) Century CC kseibel@optonline.net 914 -384 -1191 Aaron Crouse (Advertising) The Golf Club of Purchase aaron.crouse@aol.com 914 -656-3379 Dave Conrad (Advertising) Plant Food Company dconrad@plantfoodco.com 914 -263-3244 Dave Peterson (Website) Silvermine GC depturf@gmail.com 845-521-6736 James White (Website) Westchester CC jameslwhite@optonline.net 845-270-5638 Education Committee Bill Cygan Silver Spring CC gcs@silverspringcc.org.com 413-626-6814 Stephen Rabideau Winged Foot GC srabideau@wfgc.org 516-351-4845 Environmental Committee Jesse Shannon, CGCS (NY) Manhattan Woods GC j.shannon@mwgconline.com 845-521-2668 Mike Brunelle, CGCS (NJ) Upper Montclair CC mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com 973-417-8199 Government Relations Committee Brett Chapin (CT) Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-885-3109 Jesse Shannon, CGCS (NY) Manhattan Woods GC j.shannon@mwgconline.com 845-521-2668 Mike Brunelle, CGCS (NJ) Upper Montclair CC mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com 973-417-8199 Investment Committee Mike Brunelle, CGCS Upper Montclair CC mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com 973-417-8199 Long-Range Planning & Steering Committee Rob Alonzi Fenway GC ralonzijr@hotmail.com 914 -484 -0373 Membership Committee Kevin Seibel Century CC kseibel@optonline.net 914 -384 -1191 From left to right: Bill Cygan of Silver Spring CC; Kevin Seibel of Century CC; Stephen Rabideau of Winged Foot GC; Vice President Mike Brunelle (back) of Upper Montclair CC; Aaron Crouse (front) of The Golf Club of Purchase; President Brett Chapin (back) of Redding CC; Secretary Jesse Shannon of Manhattan Woods CC; Past President Rob Alonzi (back) of Fenway GC; Class AF Rep Dave Conrad (back) of Plant Food Company; Treasurer Steve Wickstrom of Burning Tree CC; Dave Peterson of Silvermine GC; Mike McCall, Executive Director. Board members missing from the photo are Chip Lafferty of Rye GC and Class C Rep James White of Wykagyl CC. Stephen Rabideau Winged Foot GC srabideau@wfgc.org 516-351-4845 Scholarship & Research Committee Mike Brunelle, CGCS Upper Montclair CC mbrunelle@uppermontclaircc.com 973-417-8199 Rob Alonzi (Tri-State) Fenway GC ralonzijr@hotmail.com 914 -484 -0373 Social & Welfare Committee Dave Peterson Silvermine GC depturf@gmail.com 845-521-6736 Brett Chapin Redding CC green@reddingcc.org 203-885-3109 Tournament Committee Steve Wickstrom Burning Tree CC stevewickstrom@hotmail.com 586-945-5212 Bill Cygan Silver Spring CC cygan22@yahoo.com 413-626-6814 Dave Conrad Plant Food Company dconrad@plantfoodco.com 914 -263-3244 Class C Representative James White (Website) Wykagyl CC jameslwhite@optonline.net 845-270-5638 Class AF Representative Dave Conrad Plant Food Company dconrad@plantfoodco.com 914 -263-3244 Tee to Green February/March 2023 13 Spotlight Jason Meersman Welcomes the Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Championship Qualifier By Jim Pavonetti, CGCS O n April 24, Superintendent Jason Meersman will host the Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Championship Qualifier at The Patterson Club, in Fairfield, CT. Named after the legendary late superintendent, Dave Mahoney of Siwanoy Country Club, the Two-Ball Qualifier is the first Met tournament of the season that promises to bring great comradery and competition to the Met membership. Patterson Club Particulars The Patterson Club was first organized by General Electric Co. employees in 1929 as a dining and social club with 20 charter members. Its name was derived from C. E. Patterson, a vice president and general manager of GE’s Appliance and Merchandise Department. By the spring of 1930, it had more than 100 members and was located at the beautiful Harral Homestead in Bridgeport, CT. In 1945, the club then purchased the 163-acre Quasset Farm, home to Winthrop Palmer, the first female Connecticut State Senator, so it could be expanded to include facilities for golf. The premier golf course architect of the time, Robert Trent Jones Sr., was commissioned to design the original course, which opened in June of 1947. The first official foursome on the course was GE President Charles E. Wilson, GE Chairman Phillip D. Reed, and renowned golfers Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen! The club has undergone many improvements in the past 75 years, but none more significant than the renovation of the golf course and construction of the new clubhouse, both of which opened in May of 2010. The course renovation greatly enhanced the golf course while maintaining Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s original vision and layout. Completed by Rees Jones, the renovation involved rebuilding all the original tees and bunkers, as well as adding several new ones. Many greens were expanded to gain new and interesting pin placements, and the putting green and greens on the sixth and eighteenth holes were entirely rebuilt. As if all 4 Tee to Green February/March 2023 14 that weren’t enough, all greens were then regrassed with Penn A1/A4 bentgrass during the project. The current championship yardage from the tips stands at 6,894. “Since the big renovation, we have worked on a number of small projects, including improving growing environments,” says Jason. “Now our Grounds Committee has been hyper-focused on long-range planning and is currently updating the master plan with golf course architect Jaeger Kovich. “In the near future,” adds Jason, “a largescale renovation that will include a new irrigation system, complete bunker renovation, as well as green-site renovation will take this club to another level. This master plan phase will even include a minor reroute to the golf course, allowing us to maximize and enhance the golf practice facilities.” Clearly, Jason will be kept more than busy. Following in the Family’s Footsteps Coming from a family of golf course superintendents, Jason Meersman always had one thing in mind: following in his family’s footsteps and becoming a superintendent, himself, one day. The legacy began with Jason’s grandfather, who was a golf course superintendent at South Bend Country Club in South Bend, IN, and continued with Jason’s father. At just 12 years old, Jason, along with his older brother, Dan, who is now director of grounds at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, began working for their father at the 36hole, semiprivate Pine View Golf Club in Three Rivers, MI. Still in the turf business, Jason’s father is currently the director of Parks and Recreation in Kingman, AZ. “We all feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to be part of this great game,” says Jason. With a future in golf course management assured, Jason attended Michigan State University where he studied Turfgrass Management. Shortly after graduation, Jason was hired as an assistant superintendent at Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland, working under Steve Glossinger. “I cannot say enough about the team leaders and membership at Caves Valley,” says Jason. “I would not be where I am today Jason Meersman without their guidance.” After six years at Caves Valley, Jason landed his job at The Patterson Club in December 2011. Family Man and More Although work and industry commitments can be more-than-a-fulltime job, Jason always finds time for family. He and his wife, Lara, have two daughters: Malin, who is 11 (and going on 16!), and Luella, who is 8. When not at work, Jason enjoys his Tuesday night golf league at H. Smith Richardson in Fairfield, CT, and getting in a good workout with Lara. But he is quick to point out that his favorite pastime by far is coaching both of his daughters’ basketball teams. “My family means the world to me,” says Jason. “And my wife is the glue that holds our family together.” Now for a few little-known facts about Jason: When he was eighteen, Jason won a washer and dryer and a bedroom set on The Price Is Right television show. Celebrating his fifteen minutes of fame, Jason took the opportunity to chat with the famous game show host, Bob Barker.“After he found out I was a state champion golfer in Michigan (wow, who knew?), he and I had a nice conversation about golf,” says Jason. Come One, Come All Be sure to sign up for this ever-popular event that will surely lead to some competitive two-ball matches played out this season. We look forward to seeing everyone at The Patterson Club on April 24! Jim Pavonetti, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee, is superintendent at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, CT. Spotlight Wee Burn’s Doug Drugo to Host Superintendent/Guest Tourney By Anthony Minniti M etGCSA members attending our Superintendent/ Guest Tournament at Wee Burn Country Club on May 15 are in for a treat. Ranked 5th Best in the State, the course is beautifully situated on rolling terrain with an uphill climb to its spectacular Mediterranean-style clubhouse perched at a high point overlooking the newly renovated course. Wee Burn was first established more than 100 years ago in Noroton, CT. Interestingly, the club’s founder, John Crimmins, came across two men playing golf. The men had staked out two holes in a field and were having a good old time bashing the ball around. In 1896, that field became Wee Burn’s first home. George Strath, from Scotland’s St. Andrews, designed and built a six-hole course, becoming the club’s first golf professional and greenskeeper. Three more holes were added during the winter of 1897 to 1898. Wee Burn moved from Noroton to its current site in Darien in 1923, hiring Devereaux Emmet to design and build its 18hole championship course, which opened for play in 1925. A premier architect in the early 20th century, Emmet gave Wee Burn a wonderful mix of long and short holes with his signature small greens and steep surrounds. A New-and-Improved Course Hired in 2004, our tournament host, Superintendent Doug Drugo, has worked tirelessly over the past five years to enhance the course under the guidance of Tom Marzolf of Fazio Golf Course Designers. “Since 2017, there has been significant work done to the golf course and practice facilities,” says Doug. “The bunkers got a facelift in 2017, including new liners, drainage, and fresh sand. That same year, two properties adjacent to Wee Burn came on the market, and the board, seeing this as an opportunity to expand the club's property, purchased both properties. This allowed construction of a much more significant practice range for the membership. With the driving range completed and redesigned for membership f low and functionality, it was time for more. In 2018, the membership voted on a big investment project to rebuild all the greens to USGA specifications. “It was a pretty tight timeline. Construction began in September of 2020 and was completed three months later in December. We saved our grass, rebuilt the greens to USGA specs, and put our grass back in place. All the greens have Precision Aire units that allow us to mechanically pull excess moisture out of the profile, as well as provide the ability to push cold air or heat depending on the time of the year,” says Doug. Doug is quick to credit his team with accomplishing these all-consuming projects. Along with outstanding assistants Mike Drowne, Riley Tewskbury, Kyle Ott, Tom Smith, and Ken Dicillo, Doug counts heavily on his talented veteran team, including equipment manager Winston Grey, who Doug calls,“the best mechanic I’ve ever been around.” Winston is currently in his 53rd year with Wee Burn! Where It All Began Born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, Doug worked summers during high school as a landscaper. “Pittsburgh has a blue-collar mentality. Everyone works hard,” says Doug to explain his deep-seated work ethic. “After high school, I attended Penn State to pursue a degree in landscape design. My good friend and classmate, John Kaminski, who is now professor and associate head of the Department of Plant Science at Penn State, suggested that I take a look at the turf program. So I did, and I ended up graduating in 1998 with a degree in both landscape design and turfgrass management,” says Doug. Doug’s first stop after college was the famed Oakmont Country Club right there in his Pittsburgh hometown. He started working for superintendent Mark Kuhns, and then two years later, when John Zimmers took over as superintendent, Doug served on his staff as an assistant from 2000 to 2003. Doug Drugo “Working at Oakmont was very demanding,” remembers Doug. “The expectation from the membership was U.S. Open conditions every day, and they got it.” John Zimmers was not only a great mentor to Doug but has also remained one of his close friends. Work/Life Balance “I am extremely fortunate,” says Doug, “to have as many qualified assistants as I do.” “With all the many things that we all have going on, we do our best to maintain a work/life balance. We try hard to get everyone a day off per week during the season but when we need to be here we are here — whenever that might be,” he says. When Doug’s not on the job, he likes nothing more than spending time with his two daughters, Claire,14, and Abigail, 9. They are both very active in sports, and Doug enjoys helping out with coaching their softball and basketball teams. A huge Steelers fan, Doug also makes sure to catch as many games as he can on his return trips to Pittsburgh. Be There Don’t miss this year’s Superintendent/Guest Tournament. Aside from the great venue, it offers the perfect opportunity to connect with members and learn about association initiatives that support all of you. We’ll see you there on May 15! Anthony Minniti, a member of the Tee to Green Editorial Committee and is a golf course superintendent at Inness New York in Accord, NY. Tee to Green February/March 2023 15 Upcoming Events Mark Your Calendars! Dave Mahoney Two-Ball Qualifier Monday, April 24 The Patterson Club Fairfield, CT Superintendent/Guest Tournament Monday, May 15 Wee Burn Country Club Darien, CT Host: Doug Drugo Summer Social Monday, July 10 Orienta Beach Club Mamaroneck, NY The Poa/Met Championship/Met Team Qualifier Monday, July 31 Tamarack Country Club Greenwich, CT Host: Jeff Scott, CGCS Nine & Dine Tuesday, September 19 Redding Country Club Redding, CT Host: Brett Chapin MetGCSA Invitational Tournament Tuesday, October 5 Fenway Golf Club Scarsdale, NY Host: Rob Alonzi Industry Events 2023 Rutgers Turfgrass Research Golf Classic Monday, May 1 Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club Bedminster, NJ Plan now to join fellow industry professionals 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 Research, Teaching, and Extension programs at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences/Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. For further information, call 973-8126467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org. 6 Tee to Green February/March 2023 16 National Golf Day Event Tuesday–Wednesday, May 9–10 Washington, D.C. This is a truly rewarding event that kicks off with the opportunity to volunteer four hours of your time helping the National Parks Service accomplish some of its deferred maintenance within the National Mall. The following day is devoted to Lobby Day activities, where those who attend have the opportunity to discuss with legislators issues and concerns that can have a significant impact on our industry. For further information, contact Chava McKeel, director, government affairs, at 800-472-7878, ext. 3619, or visit the American Golf Industry Coalition website. Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day (Golf & Fine Turf) Tuesday, July 25 Horticultural Farm II New Brunswick, NJ Save the date, and watch for details. Call 973-812-6467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org for further information. West Point Family Football Day Army Black Knight vs. Holy Cross Saturday, November 11 Michie Stadium, West Point Join fellow MetGCSA and HVGCSA members, friends, and family for the West Point Family Football Day and Tailgate party. Food & beverages will be compliments of our two associations. For further information, contact Susan O’Dowd at sodowd@mgagolf.org or 914 909-4843. MetGCSA Scholarship Award Applications Now Available! MetGCSA Scholar ship Award s Application form s for the 2023 website, www.metgcsa.org, or are avai lable on the Met Secreta ry Susan O’Dowd at through MetGCSA Executive -4843. sodowd@mgagolf.org or 914 -909 B, C, Life C, AF, or Life AF memF, A/A Life A, Life A, ss Any Cla . ent of a member is elig ible to win ber of the MetGCSA or a depend e’s, ciat asso an in or short course Applicants must be enrolled in a . gram pro D. Ph. or , ter’s bachelor’s, mas application process, plea se feel the ut abo ns stio que any e hav If you irm an Mike Brunelle at Upper free to contact Scholar ship Cha reach him by call ing 973 -417Montcl air Country Club. You can unelle@uppermontclaircc.com. 8199 or by sending an ema il to mbr l select recipients based on leaderwil The Scholarship Commit tee , activities, and commit ment to a ship, mat urity, scholast ic capabil ities ST be RECEIV ED by end of busi chosen career. All applications MU ! pted acce be not l wil s tion lica app d ness day on Friday, June 9. Em aile ship olar Sch the Parent/Child Scholar ships wil l be awa rded at nda r of events in the Tee to cale our ch wat to Tourna ment. Be sure date of the event. the for Green or on our associat ion website P atron Directory Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them. ✪ A.G. Enterprises Rick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms 201-741-4500 / Fax: 201-575-4140 merrick160@gmail.com www.AGEnterprisesonline.com Aquatrols Corp. of America “The World Leader in Soil Surfactants & Wetting Agents” 1273 Imperial Way Paulsboro, NJ 08066 Augie Young: 518-369-0368 ayoung@aquatrols.com ✪ Atlantic Golf & Turf “Our Roots Run Deep” John Garcia: 203-996-6267 john@atlanticgolfturf.com Twitter: @AtlanticGandT ✪ BASF Corporation “We Create Chemistry” Paul Ramina: 908-413-2944 paul.ramina@basf.com Twitter: @pjramina ✪ 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 Pro Angle Bunker Sand Bill Carriere: 914-939-4884 bc1000@verizon.net Central Turf Irrigation & Supply 8 Williams Street Elmsford, NY 10523 Gino Sorvillo / Thomas Watroba Ofc: 914-347-5656 Fax: 914-347-9174 gsorvillo@centraltis.com ✪ 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 (NJ) Mike Marvin: 516-662-3554 (Westchester & LI) Tom Lopez: 203-605-0554 (CT) nroberto@textron.com Twitter: @ezgo-nj ✪ Davey Tree Expert Company Greg Elliffe: 914-668-5628 (Mt. Vernon) Greg Gutter: 914-241-8110 (Mt. Kisco) Jeremiah Green: 203-967-6900 (Norwalk) John Wickes: 914-906-3264 (Rockland) 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 ✪ LaBar Golf Renovations Drill & Fill Specialists 170 Mount Airy Road, Suite A1 P. O. Box 1090 Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 Hightstown, NJ 08520 Rich LaBar: 908-502-5253 Dennis DeSanctis Jr. / Dennis DeSanctis Sr. rich@labargolf.com Ofc: 732-580-5516 ✪ Metro Turf Specialists Dennisjr@doubledturf.com “Customers, Our TOP Priority” ✪ Emerald Tree and Shrub Care Scott / Matt / Rich / Todd “Master Arborists & Golf Course 203-748-4653 (GOLF) Specialists” Twitter: @metroturfinc Steve Farrelly / Bill Demarest / Kevin ✪ MTE Equipment Solutions, Inc. Wyatt 33 Thruway Park Drive Ofc: 914-725-0441 West Henrietta, NY 14586 info@emeraldtreecare.com Ofc: 888-708-5296 ✪ ENVU sales@mte.us.com “Backed by Bayer” mteequipmentsolutions.com Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173 ✪ Noble Turf ✪ Ewing Irrigation “Helping You Grow” Fred Rapp: 848-225-4618 Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959 Ofc: 914-591-9530 Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139 frapp@ewingirrigation.com Zach Brooks: 914-309-2373 Trapper Van Dunk: 914-471-7012 Matt Lapinski: 978-551-0093 tvandunk@ewingirrigation.com Bill Cimochowski: 609-923-4045 ✪ Executive Turf & Synergy Turf Supply ✪ NuFarm Americas, Inc. “Nualgi’s Nano Technology & HumaGro’s “Helping the World to Grow a Better Micro Carbon Technologies” Tomorrow” Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891 Jim Santoro: 508-207-2094 Tim Joyce: 631-601-5294 jim.santoro@nufarm.com executiveturfproducts@gmail.com ✪ Ocean Organics ✪ Finch Turf Biostimulants ~ Fertility ~ Surfactants 9 Venture Way “All Made With Love in Maine” Eldersburg, MD 21784 Kevin P. Collins: 914-621-1151 Ofc: 800-560-3373 kevin@oceanorganics.com George Corgan: 914-893-0868 Twitter: @kcseweed gcorgan@finchturf.com ✪ Pinnacle Turf, Inc. www.finchturf.com 40 Skyview Lane ✪ Fisher and Son Company New Rochelle, NY 10804 “Servicing the Green Industry Professionals Steven Renzetti, CGCS Since 1928” 914-384-9227 Mike Weber: 347-486-0480 srenzetti@verizon.net / mweber@fisherandson.com www.Pinnacleturf.net ✪ Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc. ✪ Plant Food Company, Inc. “Serving Turfgrass Professionals Since “The Liquid Fertilizer Experts” 1978” Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111 Ryan Avery / Keith Kubik / Nick Alley Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318 Ofc: 973-252-6634 Tom Pepe: 609-751-1372 www.GRIturf.com / sales@GRIturf.com David Conrad: 914-263-3244 Twitter: @GrassRootsTurf Twitter & Instagram: @PlantFoodCo ✪ Harrell’s LLC ✪ Playbooks for Golf “Growing a Better World. Partners for Mobile Coverage System, Conditions Success” App, Golf Course Field Guides, ezPins, Scott Tretera: 914-262-8638 Consulting, Career Development, Mark Chant: 631-987-2522 Professional Search Services stretera@harrells.com | Greg Wojick: 203-219-0254 mchant@harrells.com Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052 www.goplaybooks.com ✪ Helena Agri Enterprises, LLC ✪ SiteOne Landscape Supply “People . . . Products . . . Knowledge” Tim Gerzabek: 609-221-9240 The Golf Team at SiteOne delivers unTwitter: @TimG_Helena paralleled, value-adding services and products from over 20 top golf brands to ✪ K & J Tree Service improve your course’s playability Removal, Pruning, Planting, Stump Chad Mathieu: 914-539-5675 Removal, & Plant Healthcare cmathieu@siteone.com Edward Grant: 203-298-8074 Ofc: 203-722-7316 / Fax: 203-909-6506 edward@kjtreeservice.com Small World Wealth Management Northwestern Mutual 2515 South Road Poughkeepsie, NY 12601 Joshua Weinerman: 845-224-0027 Soil Solutions, LLC Drill & Fill / Aerification Professionals Anthony Decicco / John Decicco 7 Whittemore Place Ryebrook, NY 10573 914-393-0659 / Fax: 914-939-5010 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” Tim Clarke / Chase Cameron / Bill Bartels info@tantoirrigation.com Twitter: @Tantoirrigation ✪ 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” Keith Kolasch: 860-214-0245 Mark Osborn: 203-910-9114 Erick Holm: 860-490-2787 Bill Conley: 860-360-0503 Peter Hull: 860-305-2525 Chris Francis: 413-770-1585 ✪ 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 ✪ Winfield United “We Help You Win” Rob Saunders: 203-249-5059 Jim Masone: 516-818-9852 Pat Cash: 516-639-7784 rssaunders@landolakes.com ✪ Denotes MetGCSA member ✪ Denotes MetGCSA member