September 1980 Nov. 6 Nov. 11-13 Nov. 17-18 Dec. 12 Ja n .25-30 Vol. X, No. 8 Published monthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association COMING EVENTS MGCSA Annual Meeting — 12 noon Elmwood Country Club NYS Turfgrass Conference War Memorial, Rochester GCSAA’s Insect Indentification and Control Seminar Marriott Hotel, Springfield, Mass. MGCSA Christmas Party Westchester C.C. 52nd International Turfgrass Conference and Show — Anaheim, Calif. ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE: NOVEMBER 6,1980, ELMWOOD C.C., 12 NOON Slate of candidates proposed by nominating committee: President Michael Maffei Vice President Charles Martineau Treasurer Sherwood Moore Secretary Peter Rappoccio Directors for 2 years — Class of 1982 William Gaydosh Michael Caravella Craig Wistrand Directors with 1 year remaining — Class of 1981 Dennis Flynn Patrick Lucas Mark Millett Past President—Robert Alonzi Ted Horton, Chairman Nominating Committee MGCSA NEWS At the monthly Board of Directors meeting held on September 4th at the Fairview Country Club, the following donations were authorized: $300. Rutgers University 150. O. J. Noer Foundation 300. N.Y.S. Turfgrass Assoc. 300. University of Mass. Sherwood Moore and Dr. Ralph Engel have been nomin­ ated to the GCSAA for the the Distinguished Service Award. The following MGCSA applications have been approved: Wally Waltsak, Brae Burn C.C. Class B Carmen Ambrogio, Apawamis C.C. Class B Todd Polidor, Heritage Hills Class A John Bria, Round Hill C.C. Class B Robert Pitre, Bruedan Corp. Class C David Griffin, Down to Earth Landscaping Class C Dennis Flynn advises anyone interested in playing in the GCSAA Tournament to contact him. Pat Lucas Dear MGCSA Member: At the Annual Meeting last November, it was suggested that in view of our good fortune as Superintendents, the MGCSA should consider doing something special during the holidays for the not so fortunate within our community. Since the membership present expressed interest and support, a “ Reaching Out” Committee was formed. The Committee members, John Wistrand, Dick Gonyea, Pat Lucas, Bob Alonzi, Peter Rappoccio, Mike Maffei, A1 Moore and I, have met several times to discuss our individual research on the needy within our area and to make recom­ mendations. Through this research, we located many large and small local organizations to whom gifts of toys are just as welcome as contributions of money or clothing. That is why we feel that without digging into our pockets we can launch a “ Toys for Tots” campaign. Therefore, we are asking you to look through those clut­ tered corners in your basements and closets that have been waiting to be cleaned out anyway and to select all the toys that are in working order. Then, just phone the Committee Mem­ ber who lives nearest you and he will gladly stop by to make a pick-up. Please give a moment of your time to help others. It’s a great feeling, so let us hear from you. Sincerely, Bob Bruce, Chairman Something To Think A b o u t . . . VOTE—It counts! EDITORIAL STAFF Pat Lucas, Co-Editor Office 203-637-3210 Home 203-637-3939 Office 914-967-6000 Home 914-937-3613 Ted Horton, Co-Editor OFFICERS President ................................. Robert Alonzi, Fairview Country Club Office 203-531 -8910; Home 203-531-1930 Vice-President.............Michael Maffei, Back of Beyond Golf Course Office 914-279-7179; Home 914-279-7895 Secretary ................................. Paul Caswell, Greenwich Country Club Office 203-869-1000; Home 203-661-8949 Dr. Ralph Engel, speaker at Bedford Golf and Tennis Club meeting. Treasurer........................... Sherwood Moore, Winged Foot Golf Club Office 914-698-2827; Home 914-234-9469 Reprint permission is hereby authorized providing credit is given to Tee to Green . . . unless author states otherwise. Publication deadline for Tee to Green is 21 days before the regular meeting. WELFARE: Please contact Bob Alonzi, 203-531-8910 (of­ fice), or 203-531-1930 (home) regarding any hospitalizations, etc. of members of the MGCSA. SUPERINTENDENT’S CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS Class A—Low Grass 0-10 11-17 18-26 27 & over Low Net 1st 2nd 3rd Class B 74-78-152 85-86-171 97-93-190 98-107-205 Chuck Fatum Tony Savone Dennis Flynn Terry Boles Terry Mulligan match of cards 142 Jim Fulwider Peter Rappoccio 149 Tim O’Neill 94-95-189 Class C 81-78-159 Low Grass Frank Leary Low Net Dan Concellari 85-88-net 145 rass roots S turf products, inc. Bedford Golf and Tennis Club Superintendent Terry Boles with Club Officers. Please Patronize Our Advertisers Serving the turfgrass industry w ith quality and dependability BERT JONES (201) 686-8709 KEN KUBIK (201) 361-5943 Editor’s Note: Our thanks to Bob Lippman fo r forwarding this article to us. Pat Lucas OUR LONG, HOT (AND VERY DRY) SUMMER We’ve had the heat before, and we’ve had the drought be­ fore, but never the two together like this. The summer of 1980, which ends officially today, was the driest in New York City’s 111-year weather record—and the third hottest summer here in history. The first two weeks of September averaged five degrees above normal with barely a quarter of an inch of rainfall until about an inch of rain came down Wednesday night. During June, July and August, the high daily temperatures were within reason for summertime. However, the number of cool nights with temperatures dipping into the 60s was far fewer. Central Park’s summer temperatures averaged 76.6 degrees, or only 1.3 degrees below the record 77.3 degrees set in 1966. Since 1869 there have been eight other summers with temperatures averaging 76 degrees and higher. The summer’s heat in New York City averaged 76.6 making it the third hot­ test summer since 1869. The 3.42 inches of rainfall that fell in Central Park during June, July and August broke the previous dry summer record of 4.31 inches set back in 1960. In more recent years, other dry summers were 1957 (6.19 inches), 1965 (5.33 inches) and 1970 (6.93 inches). A check of the 10 hottest and 10 driest summers of the past shows that only 1980 has this combination of near record heat and worst drought in New York City—which has experienced its driest summer of the last century. The Westchester reservoirs serving New York City are down about one third, which is not an unusual drop just after a warm summer. TRC PRODUCTS FRAM-WIX FILTERS (Meantime, the water emergency continues in New Jersey, which has smaller and fewer reservoirs. More than 1.5 million residents in 99 New Jersey towns cannot wash their cars or sprinkle their lawns, under a water conservation mandate im­ posed by Gov. Brendan Byrne.) Does weather go in cycles? A study using 11-year running averages shows a rough cyclical pattern of annual rainfall at the New York City Water Department rain gauge at Croton Lake in Westchester. The records there going back to 1860 show relative dry periods in the 1870s, in the early 1900s, and mid-1960s. A drier period was predicted after the wet period in the late 1970s. The past dry four months could be the start of this dry trend. However this past summer’s drought cannot begin to compare with the drought of 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1966. In the West, drought patterns have a 22-year cycle. This pattern is far less definite in the eastern United States. What our area’s record hot dry summer will mean this win­ ter in terms of icy temperatures and snowfalls, no one knows. It’s too soon to tell. But if you thought this summer was one for the books, you were right. Weather forecasters will be studying it for a long time to try to figure out if it’s the beginning of a weather trend. —Jerome S. Thaler Dr. Jerome S. Thaler, optometrist, is a cooperative obser­ ver for the U.S. Weather Service, official weather historian for Putnam County, and author o f “The Westchester Weather Book. ” He teaches geology and earth science at Mercy College in Yorktown. It’s Playable ANTI-FREEZE KLENZER PRODUCTS WETTING AGENT 1 Rated First for: / DEN SITY / WEAR TOLERANCE SHADE TOLERANCE q u a l it y PARTS CLEANERS Used straight or mixed with other elite bluegrasses, your turf problems are all but sol­ ved. Highly disease and drought resistant and it can be mowed down to 1/2 inch...ideal from the tee to the green. LUBRICATING EOUIPMENT TRW PRODUCTS THE REICHERT COMPANY Available as Sod, Sod Blend, Sod Plugs and Seed. (203) 637-2958 MAIL P.O. BOX 273 RIVERSIDE, CT. 06878 TVo a m m a TURF NURSERY, INC. R.R 1 - Box 240-D (Lower & Gardnerville Roads) New Hampton. New York 10958 (914) 355-6162 / MGCSA FAMILY PICNIC, WOODWAY GOLF CLUB The committee this year was Dick Allen, Dan Cancelled, Jim and Bill Carrière, Paul Caswell, Sherwood and Glenn Moore, Roger Morhardt, Terry Mulligan and John Wistrand. We had a good turnout in spite of the weather, 122 people including two from Massachusetts, Red Schults (GCS) and Joe Moran (Lofts Seed). We hope in the future to see more participation from the children in the games and activities. Special thanks to Jim and Bill Carriere for their contribu­ tion of all the sausage, wedges and trimmings. The committee did an excellent job of organizing, cooking, etc. Also a special thank you to Marie Moore for providing Glenn (a great guy to work with). The Club was very pleased to host the picnic again this summer. Dick Allen Sterilized Top Dressing EGYPT FARMS EXCLUSIVE! SERVING THE PROFESSIONAL TURF INDUSTRY SINCE 1903 • • • • • • • WEATHERMATIC IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT PUMPS, VALVES, CONTROLLERS FMC-JOHN BEAN SPRAYERS FUNGICIDES-HERBICIDES INSECTICIDES FERTILIZER Sales Representative — ANDREW WILSON INC. Brian Makar 1170 U S. ROUTE 22 MOUNTAINSIDE, NEW JERSEY 07092 (914) 969-5932 (201) 654-5800 30 1-3 35-3 70 0 a m top dressing ingredients are thoroughly mixed and sterilized by indirect heat in our special pro­ cess. The sand particles are actually coated w ith a m ixture of top soil and peat humus for a com pletely homogenous m ixture th at w ill not separate during handling and spread­ ing. Egypt Farms top dressing is form ulated especially for the transition zone to specifications recommended by the United States G olf Associ­ ation, Texas A & M , Penn State, N orth Carolina, and the University of Maryland. Many years of research and testing by these leading universities have produced a soil m ixture for superior growth; to m aintain the best bal­ ance of percolation; to resist compaction; for good aeration; and for the retention of usable water and nutrients in the growing medium. *G reen and tee construction materials and mixes conform ing to U .S .G .A . specs are also available. D IS T R IB U T E D BY: METRO-MILORGANITE, INC. (914) 769-7600 THE TERRE CO. (201 ) 843-6655 WAGNER SEED CO., INC. (516) 293-6312 Autumn! A Pale Sun— And a gentle breeze, Alters this vast Terrain; Dripping Gold and Blushing Red, To enhance the Green; And the leaves o f the Mother-Tree, Separates—and trespasses; Their whispers invade the silence. — Frank Paladino Trust There is neither rhyme nor reason to the people we trust and do not trust, blame and do not blame. We do not trust congressmen, but we trust weathermen. Weathermen lie to us at least as much as politicians do. —Otis Pike, Newhouse News Service John Strickland of Egypt Farms, Inc., speaker at the Spook Rock meeting. The best in turf supplies— LESCO 100% Sulfur-Coated Fertilizers, golf course accessories, chemicals including LESCOSAN a highly effective pre-emergence crabgrass and poa annua control (800) 321-5323 Nationwide Available from: 7 Cottage Street Port Chester, N Y. 105 73 • • • • (800) 362-7413 In Ohio (914)937-5479 (914) 939-2766 Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co. “ KI CK Homeof LESCO Products” 300 South Abbe, Elyria, OH 44035 THE C H E M I C A L HABI T " MILORGANIZE TRAP SAND PARTAC TOPDRESSING SCREENED TOP SOIL SCREENED CLAY FOR TENNIS COURTS & BASEBALL DIAMONDS • SAND FOR BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION • TRAP ROCK • GRAVEL Builds stronger healthier tu rf with America’s foremost sports turf fertilizer For more than 50 years Milorganite has been used by golf courses and athTfetic fields to produce and maintain outstanding sports turf. Milorganite scores better than chemical fertilizers in experiment station tests. Milorganite is the best long-lasting fertilizer. It does not burn, and it is easy to apply because, unlike chemical fertilizers, M ilorginite’s bulk assures proper coverage. It is also granular and dust-free. Milorganite-fedf turf needs less water, holds its color longer and has fewer disease and nematode problem?. Seed can be mixed with Milorganite to insure even distribution of seed and hasten establishment of young grass. N O T IC E : BE METRO MILORGANITE, INC. m i l o r g a n i t e s h o u l d n o t MGCSA INVITATIONAL, FENWAY GOLF CLUB September 30,1980 1st Place 58 (match of cards) Salem Golf Club Bob Bruce, Superintendent; Walter Janecyko, Pro; Tony Sebella, Greens Chairman; and Walter Cassidy. 2nd Place 58 (match of cards) Bonnie Braer Golf Club Mike Nagel, Superintendent; Gene Donavon, Greens Chair­ man; Joe DeBuono, Pro; and Frank Peri. 3rd Place 60 (match of cards) Metropolis Country Club Bruno Vadala, Superintendent; James Kaln; Gene Borek, Pro; Dr. Jerry Sacks. 4th Place 60 (match of cards) Westchester Hills Golf Club Mark Millett, Superintendent; Sam Adonigio, Greens Chair­ man; Kevin Morriss; and Joe Christina. Shemin Nurseries,| Inc. GREENHOUSE • NURSERIES PHONE (20 1) 4 7 3-3 393 Horticultural Distributors Distributors o f •E V E R G R E E N S • TREE STAKES ! • F L O W E R IN G T R E E S • R A IL R O A D T IE S • M ULCHES ( • S H A D E TR E E S • C O N T A IN E R •G R O U N D COVERS M A T E R IA L • F E N C IN G • T U R F C H E M IC A L S • F I R & P IN E B A R K • GRAVELS •H O L L Y T O N E • GRASS SEE D •S P R A Y IN G • A R B O R IS T S U PP LIES E Q U IP M E N T • A -D -S -D R A IN A G E S Y S T E M S Weather T R U E T E M P E R TO O L S T U R F M A IN T E N A N C E SU PP LIES H O M E L IT E C O N S T. E Q U IP M E N T matic. Lawn S prinkler Systems Safe-T-Lawn Lawn S prinkler Systems G NEEDS not ju st ROW D SS SEED RS PESTICDES SHEMIN NURSERIES, INC. 1081 KING STREET, BOX 64, GLENVILLE STATION G R E EN W IC H , C O N N E C T IC U T 06830 (203)531 7352 (914)937 4644 ATERREa 206 DELAWANNA AVENUE - BOX 1014 - CLIFTON, N. J. 07014 and f SUPPLy, IOC. 6 0 ERNA AVENUE PARTAC GOLF COURSE TOP-DRESSING P. O. BOX 9 MILFORD. CONNECTICUT 064-60 TELEPHONE (203) 8 Y 8 -0 6 5 8 Distributor of: We screen out oversized particles and "dust" to give you a uniform product, with water stable aggregates, heat sterilized, 75% sand by weight (not by volume), with balanced organic content and balanced water retention and drainage. DISTR IBUTED BY: S n p l (Cnadt g>jjrittkl?rfl • Peerless Pumps • Pump Controls & Control Valves • Pipe, Valves & Fittings JAMES MAXWELL/MAXWELL TURF, INC. 516-265-3580 ON LONG ISLAND JAMES CARRIERE & SONS/J&B TRUCKING 914-937-5479 WESTCHESTER, ROCKLAND, PUTNAM, Sales & Service DUTCHESS & FAIRFIELD COUNTIES 189th FARMER’S ALMANAC PREDICTS MILD WINTER AHEAD The coming winter will be mild, but with more snow than usual in the West and less than usual elsewhere, th 189th Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts. But all that chould change if Mount St. Helens erupts again in Washington. Using a secret formula dating from 1792, the Almanac’s Abe Weatherwise—a pseudonym for publisher Rob Trow­ bridge and editor Jud Hale—says less snow than usual will fall east of the Rockies, though with local variations. The Almanac, the nation’s oldest continuously published periodical, predicts mild weather for the start of November. That is supposed to give way to a cold snap lasting almost until Thanksgiving and bringing heavy snows to the Great Lakes. “ December is expected to be quite cold in the central and southern United States, but near average in the East,” Abe predicts in the 1981 Almanac, which went on sale today. “ January through March will be above normal in tempera­ ture and below normal in precipitation adn snowfall; extend­ ed and frequent warm spells will more than compensate for the cold and snowy periods that are anticipated about mid January and early in February,” Abe predicts. While saying he is “ not one to hedge on weather fore­ casts,” Abe hedges by warning that more eruptions of Mount St. Helens could make “ the entire winter . . . considerably cooler than the predictions would indicate.” Other highlights of the national forecast are a prolonged For the superintendent ProTurf offers research tested, golf course proven professional turf products. i . • ii Just give me a call. ( Scotts) P roTu rf fjjp lli AI Arison Technical Rep. 226 Barry Scott Drive Fairfield Connecticut 06430 203-336-9890 Fran Berdine Technical Rep. 90 Twin Lakes Village Bloomingdale, New York 12721 91493394605 Steve Viafore Technical Rep. 2817 Rosebud Ave. Merick, New York 11566 516-623-5572 cold spell about the second week of April with heavy snows over the northern half of the country. “ Serious flooding” is forecast for the western Ohio River valley and the Atlantic coast in July. Western New York, eastern Ohio River valley, South, southwestern Great Plains and Northwest all are expected to suffer “ serious summer drought conditions” in August “ un­ til relieved by rains about the second week of September. The old Farmer’s Almanac, sometimes confused with the rival, and less tradition-encrusted Farmer’s Almanac publish­ ed in Maine, is best known for its weather predictions, which are broken down into 16 regions. It also has sun, tide and planting tables. The Old Farmer’s Almanac also includes brief instruction on preserving snowflakes (with glass laboratory slides and clear plastic spray) and the history of the doughnut. Cooks get recipes for zucchini-yogurt cake with a cream cheese-honey glaze, carrot-pecan pie and loganberry dumplings. Everyone gets ads for hernia trusses, pimple creams, aphro­ disiacs and chainsaws, while the astronomically minded can find date of the four eclipses in 1981. Abe also advises that an 11 year sunspot cycle peaks in 1981, making for “ More auroral activity than usual, especial­ ly on clear winter nights.” The Almanac claims considerable accuracy, and Trow­ bridge says it actually was banned during World War II for fear its forecasts would aid the enemy. —Associated Press (u$S) Vertag reen v ^ A product forali reasons Vertagreen Vertagreen Tee G reen • U niform particles flo w sm oothly and spread evenly. • H alfthe nitrogen in Tee Green is Urea-Formaldehyde. 16-4-8 • A m inim um of one-fourth the nitrogen in fairw ay grades is UF. • U niform balance of secondary and m icro-nutrients. • All potash derived fro m sulfate of potash. Agri-Chemicals Division of United States Steel P.0. Box 1685 Atlanta, Georgia 30301 We’ll LARGER TREES fo r LESS! Now . . . increase the look and value of your properties (and speed sales!) by planting large, mature trees. And we can plant up to a 12” T.D. tree for less than you think with our Big John Tree Transplanter! Just give us a call today for a free estimate. You’ll get the most tree for your money from us! Hawthorne Bros. Tree Service, Inc. P.O. BOX 368, BEDFORD HILLS, NEW YORK 10537 914—666—7035 . ,j^ Jfe s a . Zìi : Pat Lucas, Editor 87 Tomac Avenue Old Greenwich, Conn. 06870 First Class MR M E L V I N B L U C A S J R P I P I N G ROCK C L U B LOCUST V A L L E Y NY 11560 BRANCH OFFICES: 914-337-2271 Bronxville 914-238-4400 Chappaqua 914-279-3421 Brewster 203-661-8014 Greenwich Darien 203-655-8008 212-543-7200 New York MAIN OFFICE: 275 Knollwood Road White Plains, N Y. 10607 Phone:914-948-0101 Your authorized dealer for T R IE CARE, INC. CERTIFIED ARBORISTS Full Service Company Serving Your Golf Courses With: • PRUNING • REMOVALS • STUMP REMOVAL • BOLTING & BRACING • FERTILIZING • BUCKET TRUCK RENTAL • INSECT CONTROL • SPRAYING • TREE CONSULTANTS • DISEASE CONTROL • CAVITY WORK • LIGHTNING PROTECTION Tree Care Since 1919 ************* W"' yìiSiOAM fc? [ S 0CT21'80