January/February/March 2012 Issue

Published by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

January/February/March 2012VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1

Tee to G Jan 2012 cover_Tee to G dec 2010 cover 7/2/14 9:04 AM Page 3

Board of Directors

PresidentROBERT NIELSEN JR., CGCS

Bedford Golf & Tennis Club

Vice PresidentBLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS

Brae Burn Country Club

SecretaryGLEN DUBE, CGCSCentennial Golf Club

TreasurerDAVID DUDONES

North Jersey Country Club

Past PresidentANTHONY M. GIRARDI, CGCS

Rockrimmon Country Club

DirectorsROBERT B. ALONZI, JR.

Fenway Golf Club

KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCSGlenArbor Club

SEAN CAIN, CGCSSunningdale Country Club

BRETT CHAPINRedding Country Club

PAUL GONZALEZ, CGCSThe Whippoorwill Club

VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCSFairview Country Club

Class AF RepMICHAEL COOKThe Care of Trees

Class C RepDOUG VANDERLEEWestchester Country Club

Executive DirectorED BROCKNER

Executive SecretaryINEKE PIERPOINT

Tee to Green StaffEditor

JIM PAVONETTI203-531-8910

Managing EditorPANDORA C. WOJICK

Editorial CommitteeMATT CEPLO SCOTT NIVEN

KEVIN COLLINS ERIC O’NEILLBILL CYGAN LARRY PAKKALA

CHIP LAFFERTY MIKE REEBSTEVEN MCGLONE RYAN SEGRUE

GREG WOJICK

DesignerTERRIE YOUNG

Advertising ManagersBRETT CHAPIN, 203-938-9240

TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan GolfCourse Superintendents Association

49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG

Copyright © 2012

n this Issue

Cover: TheApawamis Club

FeatureThe Bethpage Project ............................................................2Lessons Learned After More Than a Decade of Reduced Pesticide Use

What the Bethpage Project Has Taught Us . . . ..........................4

How to Put the Environmental Impact Quotient to ..................5Work at Your Course

Upcoming Events ..................................................................7

Chapter News........................................................................8

Member News......................................................................10

Spotlight ............................................................................12

I

Departments

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1Tee to Green January/February/March 2012

resident’sMessage

President’sMessage

P

Bob Nielsen, CGCSMetGCSA President

committee can accomplish their mission inshort order!

I’d also like to take this opportunity to re-mind everyone about the Tri-State TurfResearch Foundation annual appeal. Manyclubs in the area have been forced to cut thisline item from their budget over the pastfew years. What they fail to realize, however,is that the payback on these dollars can beextraordinary. The research that has beenfunded by the Tri-State produces real solu-tions to often turf-devastating problemscommon to courses in our area. The an-thracnose, ABW, and topdressing researchthat has come from this funding has no doubt saved some clubs thousands of dol-lars. Support the Tri-State Turf ResearchFoundation. We really can’t afford not to!

Last, I want to remind everyone that someof the best places to see this research inaction are the Turfgrass Field days. First inthis year’s lineup is the biannual field day atUConn being held on July 17. This is fol-lowed by Rutgers’ field day on July 31, andUMass’s on August 1. The URI field day hasyet to be announced, but we’ll keep youposted. Be sure to check out our UpcomingEvents on page 7 for all the event details.

Well, I’m hoping we will all get to enjoyan easy spring, but . . . with this mild winter,should I have already applied the first ABWtreatment?! Good luck in 2012!

Bob Nielsen, CGCSPresident

Setting theStage for aGood Seasonto Come

Get Set for Association HappeningsThe MetGCSA board with the help of EdBrockner and our Tournament, Social, andScholarship committees have been hard atwork putting together a great lineup ofevents for 2012. Our first tournament atApawamis on April 23 will be followed bythe Super/Manager or Guest tourney June 4at the Country Club of Darien with a new,attendance-made-easy format. Later thatmonth, Invitational goers will have the op-portunity to compete on the links at Tama-rack, while the latter part of the season willbring us to Century Country Club for thePoa Annual and Met Area Team Champion-ship qualifier. Last but not least, will be ourGreen Chairman event, which is close tobeing finalized and is sure to bring a greatclose to the golf season.

The Social Committee is looking at somenew ideas for a couple of the summer events.Look to see the announcements for theFamily Picnic, a revamped Summer Social,and the second annual Mosholu nine-holefather-child tournament.

While we’re on the subject of associationhappenings, I’d like to remind everyone totake a close look at the advertisers who havesupported the MetGCSA. Their support hasbeen instrumental in the success of many ofour association’s programs and events.

Mike Cook, our AF representative on theboard, offers many suggestions to help im-prove the association, and he represents a sig-nificant portion of our membership who hasa genuine interest in the Met.

Important Reminders!Hopefully, everyone filed their water with-drawal report in a timely fashion. The Met’snew Environmental Committee, headed byKen Benoit, has been working with theNYSDEC and Cornell University to estab-lish Best Management Practices for golfcourses in New York State. The committeeis hoping for an outcome similar to the oneCAGCS achieved with the CT DEP inwhich golf courses could agree to abide bythe BMPs rather than complete all the costlyengineering and testing now required inNew York State. We are hoping Ken and his

What a difference a year makes.Last year, many of us were wonderingwhat our snow- and ice-covered greenswere going to look like come spring. Thisyear, we’re thinking about aerificationtiming and when our members are goingto start pressuring us to open—if theyhaven’t already!

This weather has enabled many of usto complete more projects on the coursethan we have in the past—but, hopefully,not at the expense of taking time off torelax with family and friends. All I knowis I’m going to be scrambling to get allthose tedious chores, like painting, doneif this weather keeps up! I guess that’s asmall price to pay for a less taxing winter.

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T

Tee to Green January/February/March 20122

eatureFeatureFThe Bethpage

ProjectThe Bethpage

Projectby Dr. Frank S. Rossi and Dr. Jennifer A. Grant

Cornell University

LessonsLearned

After MoreThan a

Decade ofReducedPesticide

Use

LessonsLearned

After MoreThan a

Decade ofReducedPesticide

Use

he golf course industry has longbeen under scrutiny for pesticide use. InNew York, golf courses have battled re-strictions for more than 25 years. The publication of “Toxic Fairways: RiskingGroundwater Contamination From Pesti-cides on Long Island Golf Courses” in1991 didn’t help matters, inflaming a de-bate that culminated a decade later inlandmark legislation proposing to banpesticide use on municipal golf courses inSuffolk County.

In response to this proposed legislationand growing concern it could spread toother counties, we proposed a researchproject to the United States Golf Associa-tion. The project was established at Beth-page State Park-Green Course with twoprimary goals in mind: 1. To develop both cultural and pest man-

agement systems for putting greens thatwould reduce reliance on synthetic chem-ical pesticides2. To demonstrate the impact of a pesti-cide ban on golf turf performance

The project had two basic operatingprinciples. First, we knew going in thatjob number one was to adopt an alterna-tive cultural management approach thatwould minimize stress and ultimately re-duce the need for pesticides.

Second, and more challenging to oureffort, was that we needed to sort throughthe many synthetic chemical alternativesout there to find those that showed prom-ise. Unfortunately, most of these productslacked the research-based information tosupport their use, and the few that werestudied proved less-than-effective.



The Work BeginsWe began our research during the 2000growing season, establishing two culturalmanagement systems and three pesticidemanagement programs that incorporated avariety of practices and products all targetedat finding viable solutions to reducing syn-thetic chemical pesticides. This seasonmarks the project’s 12th year.

With outcomes too extensive to coverfully here and now, our hope is to share moredetailed accounts of the study’s most usefulfindings in a series of articles in upcomingissues. For now, here’s a quick take on thestudy’s intent and observations. Be sure, also,to check out the accompanying article, onpage 5, which offers an easy-to-implementformula for making the most environmen-tally responsible pesticide choices for yourcourse!

Culural Management SystemsThe two Cultural Management systemsemployed throughout the study were:1. Conventional—what most golf coursesare doing2. Alternative—experimental with a focuson reducing turf stress

In each case, the goal was to maintain ac-ceptable visual quality and ball roll distancesin the 8.5- to 9.5-foot range.

Over the course of the study, we learnedmuch about the various cultural systems.Among the many findings:• Mowing heights below 0.120” createdsignificant stress.• Mowing heights above 0.150” often re-sulted in more dollar spot, as well as signifi-cant reductions in ball roll distances.• We could roll greens much more thanthree days per week and skip mowing withthe goal of reducing overall stress known tobe associated with frequent mowing.

Perhaps most eye-opening: We did not applyany fertilizer nutrients other than nitrogenand iron to the Alternative greens in the 12years of the study and the plants are stillalive and well. In fact, soil testing data hasrevealed that:

• In some cases, there were actually in-creases in nitrogen and iron, even in the ab-sence of any applications• In the case of potassium, phosphorus, andcalcium, all levels have declined dramati-cally, but there is no evidence the plants aresuffering

The takeaway: We might do well to re-think any preoccupation with turfgrass nu-trition. There’s no denying it’s important,but you might not want to put it at the topof your cultural management list.

Pest Management ProgramsThe three Pest Management programs weestablished included a:1. Conventional program2. Progressive IPM program3. Nonchemical program, as specified by thepending pesticide law to ban all pesticideson municipal parks and golf courses

No surprise that after the first two years,six greens in the nonchemical programfailed, resulting in more than 90 percentturf loss. The nonchemical treatment, there-fore, evolved into a pest management pro-gram focused on using biological and re-duced-risk products that might sustain thegreens while aspiring to greater environ-mental compatibility.

Putting Alternative Products to the Test

When the project was initiated, as notedearlier, there were few alternative chemical

pesticides that had demonstrated any mean-ingful effect; though, admittedly, some ofthe lack of efficacy had much to do with theway the products were tested. Oftentimes,they were applied to areas already plaguedby high-pest pressure, a circumstance wherejust about any alternative product is doomedto failure.

As the project progressed, our CornellUniversity Turfgrass Program began gener-ating its own data on a variety of alternativeproducts. This data continued to weed outnonperformers but also suggested that manyproducts could be used in conjunction withexisting pesticides to reduce overall rates orextend application intervals.

One of the solutions in this category wasCivitas, a product that reduces plant diseaseby stimulating the plant’s natural defenses.In many instances, this product entirely el-iminated our reliance on traditional prod-ucts—or at the least, allowed us to reducepesticide rates.

Considering the Pros of IPM

If there’s one thing this 12-year project hasdone well, it’s to help us redefine IPM. Ournewly published IPM Manual (authored byBob Portmess, Jennifer Grant, and FrankRossi and available on the Cornell TurfgrassWebsite) addresses the many misconcep-tions—it costs too much, takes too muchtime, it means we can’t spray—of integratedpest management with clarifying data andresults from this study.

Kathe Wegman,Bethpage State ParkIPM Specialist, aggres-sively scouting in theearly years of the project.


Through our trials, we saw, firsthand,how:• Preventive applications of more environ-mentally compatible products are oftenmore effective than waiting for an out-break and applying harsher products• Ensuring ideal growing conditions—improving, for instance, light and air move-ment and maintaining a permeable rootzone, particularly in old pushup greens—isparticularly critical to an IPM program’ssuccess; as we know, excess water is a deathnail• Putting the Environmental ImpactQuotient (see article page 5) into play toassess the environmental impact of prod-ucts and programs in day-to-day manage-ment allows for greater f lexibility in de-veloping environmentally sensitive pestmanagement programs

In the end, we have significantly reducedthe environmental risk associated withpesticide use by reducing our overallreliance on traditional pesticides and in-creasing the use of biological and reduced-risk products.

Moving ForwardWe have begun implementing these con-cepts and practices to some extent on all 27New York State golf courses. In theprocess, we’ve added fairways and tees toour treatment programs and have realizedsignificant reductions in the use of tradi-tional pesticides in these areas. After 10years of pre-emergence crabgrass herbicideuse on fairways, for instance, we learnedthat we are able to forego treatment at leasttwo to three years before suffering turf lossthat begins to allow crabgrass to reinvade.

This project has taught everyone associ-ated with it that reductions in the use offertilizer and traditional pesticides is possi-ble, if the turfgrass industry is willing toembrace the idea of working to developviable alternative products and practices. Idoubt the Bethpage Project will answer allthe questions, but certainly we think wehave begun to lay out a clear direction forenvironmentally responsible golf coursemanagement.

Through our work, it’s become clear thatthere are answers out there if you are will-ing to break from conventional wisdomand take small steps for change. Don’t waituntil your hands are tied by restrictions toreach for an alternative solution.


GolfersEach year of the experiment at Bethpage, wesurveyed the golfers on the course askingthem about visual and playing quality of thegreens, as well as their thoughts about pesti-cide use on the golf course. We’ve learnedthat:• Most golfers want acceptable visual qual-ity and greens to putt true• Few complained about minor blemishesbut did not like temporary surfaces when aregular green failed• Surprisingly, most are not overly con-cerned about pesticides; in fact, there is arecent trend in the data that golfers wantgood playing conditions, regardless of howmany pesticides need to be used, which is adefinite shift in attitude• Few golfers are able to detect differencesin ball roll less than one foot• When golfers have more uphill putts, theyperceive the greens as slower, and if theyhave more downhill putts they feel thegreens are faster

Non-GolfersThe motivation behind reducing pesticideuse clearly comes from the more than 80percent of the U.S. population that does notplay golf. No question, non-golfers dislikepesticide use on golf courses, but in manycases, they simply hate the game, objectingto the land use and the expense, and the per-ceived elitist and conservative aspects of thegame.

A major subset of non-golfers includespolicy-makers. A primary goal of this proj-ect was to inform policy-makers about theconsequences of pesticide bans. In the first

few years of the project, field days were heldfor policy-makers and aides to view theresults.

These meetings had a profound impact,even today, on pesticide legislation, andwhile the debate has not ended for golfcourse pesticide use, many policy-makershave recognized the use of pesticides forsustaining the economic aspects of golf.

Golf Course Maintenance StaffNo doubt, this study challenged the staff atBethpage State Park who were asked tomake major changes to tried-and-truemaintenance programs in an effort toreduce reliance on pesticides.

Over time, as some successes were had—or failures noted—a practice or productwould either be dropped or investigatedfurther. We have many examples of prod-ucts or practices that would be dismissedonly to emerge again as vital aspects of theprogram. For example, the Field Scout 300moisture meter initially gathered dust on ashelf and then became a go-to tool forimproving irrigation programs.

Hands down, the most rewarding part ofthis 12-year project has been our involve-ment with the staf f at the Bethpage StatePark: David Catalano, Park superintendent;past Superintendent Craig Currier; AndyWilson, Craig’s replacement and formerGreen Course superintendent; and ParkIPM Specialist Kathe Wegman. The level ofprofessionalism and commitment to theproject that these people have demonstratedhas been second to none, turning a challeng-ing undertaking into a pleasant and highlyproductive experience.

What the Bethpage ProjectHas Taught Us About . . .



f you’re interested in making the most environmentally responsible pesticidechoices for your course, one approach isusing a model designed to assess environ-mental impact: the Environmental ImpactQuotient (EIQ) http://www.nysipm.cor-nell.edu/publications/eiq/.

Devised two decades ago, the EIQ is de-signed to help you determine—and com-pare—the environmental impact of mostcommonly used pesticides (insecticides,fungicides, and herbicides) in agricultureand horticulture. When you combine theEIQ criteria with your knowledge of pesti-cide products’ efficacy, cost, and resistancepotential, you can make more informed, en-vironmentally sensible pesticide selectionsfor treating your course.

The first step to putting the EIQ to workon your course is understanding it. While atfirst take, it may seem like more trouble thanit’s worth, don’t give up. Read on. There is asimple method to calculate EIQ. And it’s allright here, in this article.

The Basis of the EIQThe EIQ is based on data obtained fromquite a number of sources:• EXTOXNET (http://extoxnet.orst.edu/)• The Cornell Pesticide Management Edu-cation Program (http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu)• SELCTV(http://ipmnet.org/phosure/database/selctv/selctv.htm)• The National Pesticide Information Cen-ter (http://npic.orst.edu/ppdmove.htm), de-veloped by the USDA Agricultural Re-search Service and Soil Conservation Service• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)• EPA factsheets and databases• The FOOTPRINT database (http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/aeru/footprint/en/index.htm)• Technical bulletins developed by the agri-cultural chemical industry

Determining EIQ ValueTo calculate an EIQ for a particular pesti-cide, researchers consider such factors as: • toxicity: dermal, bird, chronic, bee, fish,beneficial arthropod• soil and plant surface half-life• systemicity• leaching potential• surface loss potential• farm worker, consumer, and ecologicaleffects

The result is a single number describingthe Environmental Impact Quotient of apesticide active ingredient or what’s re-ferred to as the base EIQ value.

The New York State Food and LifeSciences Bulletin No. 139, entitled “A Me-thod to Measure the Environmental Impactof Pesticides,” describes in detail the deriva-tion of the EIQ. The full content of this bul-letin is available on the website noted in thefirst paragraph, along with an updated tableof base EIQ values, including those for manyactive ingredients that have come on themarket since the model was developed.

Although the model was devised for foodcrops, the “farm worker” component can beconsidered equivalent to turfgrass applica-tors and the “consumer” component to theturfgrass user, e.g., golfer, athlete, child.

Calculating EIQ Field Use RatingsObtaining the base EIQ value of a pesticideis only one piece of the total picture. To ac-curately compare pesticides and pest man-agement strategies, you have to go on to cal-culate the EIQ Field Use Rating (EIQ-FUR) for the pesticides you’re considering.The EIQ-FUR was developed to take intoaccount dif ferent formulations of the sameactive ingredient and different use patterns.It’s calculated by multiplying the base EIQvalue for a specific chemical by the percentactive ingredient in the formulation and by

How to Put theEnvironmentalImpactQuotient toWork at YourCourse

I



Selecting an Overall ManagementStrategyThe products listed in this example dif ferin efficacy, mode of action, potential forcausing resistance, and cost—as well asEIQ-FUR. It’s important that you considerall of these factors when selecting a pesti-cide and an overall management strategy.But clearly, the addition of a measure of en-vironmental impact will enhance your abil-ity to make well-informed choices.

The EIQ Field Use Rating can be used tocompare different pest management strate-gies, and to compare seasonal totals fromyear to year. To do this, calculate the EIQ-FUR for each application made or plannedfor the season and simply sum them up. By

using the EIQ model, it becomes possible forIPM practitioners to easily estimate the en-vironmental impact of dif ferent pesticidecombinations and choices.

EIQ Calculations Made EasyA new tool was recently added to the NYSIPM Program website: the EIQ Calculator. It makes EIQ calculations easy, regardless of the units of weight, volume, or area beingused. The calculator also references the mostcurrent base EIQ values in determiningEIQ-FURs.

Try it out at http://cceeiqlamp.cit.cor-nell.edu/EIQCalc/input.php, and find outthe environmental impact of your golf turfmanagement programs.

Table 1: Example of the EIQ Field Use Rating for Five Fungicides Targeting Dollar Spot

Material Active Ingredient EIQ % Active Ingredient Rate EIQ Field Use Rating

Daconil Ultrex chlorothalonil 37.4 82.5 3.7 ozs./1000 ft2 311(10.07 lbs./acre)

3336F thiophanate methyl 23.8 41.25 2 fl. ozs./1,000 ft2 53.5(5.44 pints/acre)

Bayleton 50% WSP triadimefon 27 50 1 oz./1,000 ft2 36.7(2.72 lbs./acre)

ArmorTech PPZ 143 propiconazole 31.6 14.3 1 oz./1,000 ft2 12.3(2.72 pints/acre)

Roots EcoGuard Biofungicide Bacillus licheniformis 7.3 0.14 20 fl. ozs./1,000 ft2 0.6(54.45 pints/acre)

the rate used, usually in pints or pounds offormulated product per acre.

In the end, the lower the EIQ-FUR, the lowerthe environmental impact. Keep in mind:Pesticide comparisons should be basedsolely on the products’ EIQ-FUR, not onthe base EIQ value of the active ingredient.

Visualizing EIQAbove is an example of the EIQ at work.Table 1 shows a comparison of the environ-mental impact of five turfgrass fungicidesregistered for dollar spot control.

The EIQ Field Use Ratings for the fivefungicides have been calculated at the lowcurative rate. Note that although thio-phanate methyl has a lower base EIQ (23.8)than most of the other active ingredientslisted, it has the second highest EIQ-FUR.The Field Use Rating is dependent on thepercentage of active ingredient and the rateof application. Be aware that small dif fer-ences in the EIQ-FUR are not meaningful.

Here’s a guide for determining environ-mental impact based on a product’s EIQField Use Rating:

EIQ Field Use Rating

<25 very low<50 low50–100 moderate>100 high>150 very high

Frank Rossi and ProjectManager and currentBethpage Golf CourseSuperintendent AndrewWilson view the devas-tation of dollar spotinfection under potentiallaw banning pesticides.



Upcoming Events

Plan NOW for These Upcoming Golf Events!Dave Mahoney Two-BallChampionship QualifierMonday, April 23The Apawamis Club, Rye, NYHost: Bill Perlee (see page 12)

2012 MGA/USGA Green ChairmanSeminarTuesday, March 15Alpine Country ClubDemarest, NJThe Metropolitan Golf Association Founda-tion, in conjunction with the United StatesGolf Association Green Section, has puttogether another informative program in itsongoing Green Chairman Education Series.An impressive roster of presenters from theUSGA’s Green Section and the golf industrywill address a variety of turfgrass-relatedissues. Each of the presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session.The day will conclude with the Arthur P.Weber MGA Club Environmental Leader-ship Award Luncheon.

For further information, contact KevinKline ([email protected]) or Kate Keller([email protected]) at (914)347-4653.

Educational Events

17th Annual Rutgers TurfgrassResearch Golf ClassicMonday, May 7Fiddler’s Elbow Country ClubFar Hills, NJJoin fellow industry professionals for thisannual fundraiser and a day of golf, educa-tion, and fun. Your participation helps con-tinue turfgrass research and breeding pro-grams at Rutgers University’s Center forTurfgrass Science.

For further information, call 973-812-6467 or log on to www.njturfgrass.org.

2012 University of ConnecticutTurfgrass Field DayTuesday, July 17UConn Research and Education FacilityStorrs, CTThe field day will offer guided tours of avariety of research projects underway at theuniversity followed by a delicious lunch andan opportunity to connect with fellow turfprofessionals. The afternoon program willinclude two breakout sessions highlightingcurrent organic management demonstra-tions for athletic field turf and a turfgrassdisease walking tour focused on identifica-tion and cultural and chemical controloptions. Exhibitors from across the regionwill also be present with product and serviceinformation for the turfgrass industry.

Watch the website for further details asthe date approaches: www.turf.uconn.edu.

Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day(Golf & Fine Turf)Tuesday, July 31Horticultural Farm IINew Brunswick, NJSave the date, and watch for details. For fur-ther information call 973-812-6467 or visitwww.njturfgrass.org.

UMass Turf Research Field DayWednesday, August 1 (8:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.)UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research CenterSouth Deerfield, MAThe field day will focus on the wide rangeof research projects that university faculty,staf f, and graduate students currently haveunderway at the research center and atother locations. Among the studies you’llsee: the biology and integrated manage-ment of turf-damaging insects, short- andlong-term weed management, pesticideexposure, fertility, drought management, aswell as a range of National Turfgrass Eval-uation Program fine turf trials. The fieldday will also feature displays and demon-strations from turf industry vendors. A bar-becue lunch is included with registration.

For further information, contact theUMass Extension Turf Program office at508-892-0382 or by email at [email protected].

Nine and Dine: Superintendent/Manager or Guest TournamentMonday, June 4Country Club of Darien, Darien, CTHost: Tim O’Neill, CGCS

MetGCSA Invitational TournamentMonday, June 25Tamarack Country Club, Greenwich, CTHost: Jeff Scott, CGCS

Met Championship and Met Area TeamChampionship Qualifier PLUS The PoaAnnual TournamentMonday, August 27Century Country Club, Purchase, NYHost: Kevin Seibel


Chapter News

by Jim Pavonetti, CGCS

he 2012 MetGCSA Winter Semi-nar, held January 18, continued its

tradition as a sold-out event, with morethan 290 seminar goers and 27 vendorbooths filling the corridors and conferenceroom at Westchester Country Club.

Kudos to Education Chair Rob Alonziand his committee for putting together yetanother crowd-pleasing roster of speakers.Seminar participants came away with thelatest tactics for managing pests and prob-lems new, and not-so-new, to our golfcourses.

The Sessions BeginThe day began with Dr. Frank Wong ofBayer Environmental Science, who dis-cussed the latest research and control meas-ures for a relatively new threat to the healthand welfare of our turf: Waitea patch. Alsoknown as brown ring patch, this meddle-some fungus is most prevalent on annualbluegrass and creeping bentgrass turf.

Dr. Wong found Heritage and the DMIsmost effective in preventing the disease,while Prostar proved most useful as a cura-tive control. Cleary 3336, by contrast, didnothing to prevent or control this fungus.For further information on Waitea patch,you can reach Dr. Wong at 571-239-1551,[email protected].

Next, Dr. Pat Vittum of the University ofMassachusetts gave us her latest findings oncontrolling the long-challenging annual

bluegrass weevil. She stressed the impor-tance of monitoring weevil activity inachieving effective control and offered avariety of useful approaches, including con-verting a small leaf-vacuum into a collect-ing device. For further information on thelatest in weevil monitoring and control, youcan reach Dr. Vittum at 413-545-0268,[email protected].

Dr. Michelle DaCosta, also from the Uni-versity of Massachusetts, discussed ways toavoid winter injury to our turf. She spokeabout the “Winter Injury Complex,” whichconsists of five ways turf injury can occur

during the winter months: Low-tempera-ture kill, crown hydration, desiccation, iceencasement (anoxia), and winter diseases.She also emphasized the role proper culturalpractices play in promoting the health andresilience of golf course turf during thewinter months.

After what many local area courses expe-rienced last winter, everyone in attendancewas on the edge of their seat, listening towhat Dr. DaCosta had to say about prevent-ing turf injury. For more on this topic, youcan reach Dr. DaCosta at 413-545-2547,[email protected].

T Awards CommitteeChair Tony Girardi andMGA ExecutiveDirector Jay Mottolapresent SportsColumnist DaveAnderson with theMetGCSA's covetedJohn Reid LifetimeAchievement Award.

2012 Winter Seminar Draws Full House



Awards Luncheon Marks Half-TimeWhile seminar goers and vendors enjoyedthe always-sumptuous WCC lunch, re-nowned Sports Columnist Dave Andersontook the podium to receive the MetGCSA’sprestigious John Reid Lifetime AchievementAward. MGA Executive Director Jay Mot-tola, a past recipient of the Reid Award him-self, introduced Mr. Anderson, who delightedthe crowd with stories of his many encoun-ters with such sports greats as MuhammadAli, Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Hogan.

The afternoon was topped off with StevenMcDonald of Turfgrass Disease Solutions,who talked about the latest and greatest her-bicide control programs for Poa annua andbroadleaf and grassy weeds. One very inter-esting product from Korea may be availableto us in the next few years. Called Methio-zolin, this herbicide has shown promise incontrolling Poa annua. To speak to Mr. Mc-Donald about his findings, you can contacthim at 610-633-1878, [email protected].

We ended the day with Dr. Nathaniel Mit-kowski of the University of Rhode Island. Hediscussed management strategies and pro-grams to control or minimize the effects ofnematodes now that Nemacur is no longeravailable. Various biological products havebeen developed to battle nematodes, but theresults have been mixed. His number onerecommendation, until a good replacementfor Nemacur becomes available, is to ensurethe vigor of the turf, working, in particular,to maintain a healthy root mass. For more onthis topic, you can reach Dr. Mitkowski at401-874-5996, [email protected].

When the education portion of the semi-nar was over, attendees meandered throughthe vendor booths where company reps wereon hand to answer questions and discuss the latest products and services available to our area. We would like to express ourgratitude for our vendors’ continued supportat this event, as well as throughout the grow-ing season.

Finally, we would like to extend a sincerethank you to host Superintendent Joe Alonziand the entire Westchester Country Clubstaff for doing such a wonderful job—onceagain—in making this a thoroughly enjoy-able experience for all who attended.

Special thanks also go out to event TitleSponsor Metro Turf Specialists, and fellowAce Sponsors LaCorte Equipment, TurfProducts, Westchester Turf Supply, StevenWilland, and Morris Golf for their continuedsupport of our association.

See you all next year!

Jim Pavonetti, editor of Tee to Green, is super-intendent at Fairview Country Club inGreenwich, CT.

Special Thanks to Our 2012 Winter Seminar Exhibitors

A. G. EnterprisesRick GordonStaff Uniforms [email protected]

Bayer Environmental Science Dave SylvesterPlant [email protected]

ClubSafe, Inc.Bonnie KarlMedical Emergency Response Plans &Employee Health & Safety [email protected]

DeLea Sod FarmsMike HollanderHigh-Quality Sod & Root Zone Mixesfor Golf [email protected]

DryJect NE/TurfPoundersKevin CollinsDryJect & Aeration [email protected]

Executive Turf ProductsKen GentileGolf Course [email protected]

ezLocatorJon SchultzGreens Pin Location [email protected]

Grass Roots, Inc.Ryan BatzGolf Course [email protected]

Growth Products, LTDHowie GoldLiquid [email protected]

Harrell’s LLCJoe StahlGolf Course [email protected]

LaCorte EquipmentGale StenquistJohn Deere [email protected]

Matrix Turf Solutions, LLCGreg MoranGolf Course Supplies [email protected]

Metro Turf SpecialistsScott ApgarGolf Course Supplies [email protected]

Plant Food Company, Inc.Dick NeufeldThe Liquid Fertilizer [email protected]

Playbooks for GolfGreg WojickGolf Course Field Guides, Aerials,Consulting, Career [email protected]

Steven Willand Inc.George CorganA Jacobsen Golf & Turf [email protected]

Storr Tractor CompanyRick KrokGolf Course Equipment & [email protected]

SyngentaFred Montgomery, CGCSPlant [email protected]

Tanto Irrigation, LLCBill BartelsIrrigation Installation [email protected]

The Care of TreesJeremiah GreenEntire Tree Care [email protected]

The Terre Company of NJ, Inc.Byron JohnsonSeed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock, &[email protected]

Turf Products LLCPat CraginToro Irrigation & [email protected]

Westchester Tractor Inc.John AppleConstruction & IndustrialEquipment Sales845-278-7766www.wtractor.com

Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.Dave LippmanGolf Course [email protected]

Ira Wickes ArboristsJohn WickesTree & Landscape [email protected]

Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.Glenn GallionGolf Course [email protected]

XGD SystemsMark LuckhardtGolf Course Drainage Specializingin Greens & [email protected]

We’d like to thank all the vendors who participated in this year’s Winter Seminar. As ashow of appreciation, we’re listing the exhibitors here, along with their areas of specialtyand contact information.

When the opportunity arises, we hope you’ll show these contractors and suppliers thesame support they’ve shown us during our Winter Seminar—and throughout the year.




Member News

he Annual Bill Caputi Scholar-ship Raff le, held at the December 9

Met Christmas Party at SunningdaleCountry Club, raised an admirable sum forthe Met’s Scholarship Fund and awarded$4,500 in cash prizes to 18 lucky ticket holders.

The raff le is the prime source of the schol-arship awards we distribute to deserving Metmember dependents each year.

Many thanks to all who contributed andalso to those who sold tickets for this worth-while fundraiser. Congratulations to our$1,000-grand-prize winner, John Bresna-han, of BASF Chemical Company.

The other prize winners were:

$500 WinnersGlenn Perry, Rolling Hills Country ClubKevin Harrington, Member, North JerseyCountry ClubJoe D’Mario, Member, North JerseyCountry Club

$250 WinnersJoe Alonzi, Westchester Country ClubEd Brockner, MetGCSA ExecutiveDirectorKevin Breska, Siwanoy Country ClubJoe Stahl, Harrell’s LLC

$100 WinnersPaul Dotti, Arcola Country ClubGlenn Moore, Northern Design LLCPat Sisk, Milwaukee Country Club Ed Brockner, MetGCSA ExecutiveDirectorKevin Collins, Aquatrols, Inc.John Garcia, Atlantic Golf & Turf, LLCJeff Wentworth, Pelham Country ClubErnie Steinhofer, Metro Turf SpecialistsBill Bartels, Tanto Irrigation, LLCJoe Gardner, Fresh Meadow CountryClub

Scholarship Raffle: Always a Win-Win!

T

New Members• Vincent Anderson, Class C, ofGlenArbor GC in Bedford Hills, NY• Sean Crawford, Class C, of Pelham/SplitRock GC in Bronx, NY• Kevin Haglund, Class C, of Redding CCin Redding, CT• Bonnie Karl, Class AF, of ClubSafe,Inc.,Manchester, MA• Eric Kelly, Class AF, of William A. Kelly& Co., Inc., Katonah, NY• Michael Keohan, Class A, of BrookvilleCC, Old Brookville, NY• Kevin Kopay, Class A, of TrumpNational GC/Westchester in Briarclif fManor, NY• Chad Lemere, Class AF, of 360 GolfLLC, White Plains, NY• Jason Mulcahy, Class AF, of DuPontProfessional Products, Pembroke, NH• Chris O’Malley, Class C, of Wykagyl CCin New Rochelle, NY• Jason Santos, Class C, of Round HillClub in Greenwich, CT• Brian Schliessman, Class C, of Pelham/Split Rock GC in Bronx, NY• Jeffrey Townley, Class C, of GlenArborGC in Bedford Hills, NY

Members on the Move• Eric Yount is the new superintendent atDyker Beach Golf Course in Brooklyn, NY.Previous position: Assistant superintendentat Westchester CC in Rye, NY.• Justin Mills is a new assistant superin-tendent at Tamarack CC in Greenwich, CT.Previous position: Assistant superintendentat Fairview CC in Greenwich, CT.• Justin Adams is a new assistant superin-tendent at Ridgewood CC in Ridgewood,NJ. Previous position: Assistant superintend-ent at Sunningdale CC in Scarsdale, NY.• Tim Garceau is the new superintendentat Haworth CC in Haworth, NJ. Previousposition: Agronomic consultant at MetroTurf Specialists in Danbury, CT.• Jon Jennings is the new superintedent atShinnecock Hills GC in Southampton, NY.Previous position: Superintendent at TheChicago GC in Wheaton, IL.• Douglas Snyder is the new superinten-dent at the Milbrook Club in Greenwich,CT. Previous position: Assistant superintend-ent at Fenway GC in Scarsdale, NY.

BirthsCongratulations to:• Hartford GC Superintendent LindseyBaker and his wife, Jessie, on the birth oftheir son, Miller, on October 26. • Centennial GC Superintendent GlenDube and his wife, Erica, on the birth oftheir son, Brayden Paul, on December 19.

eoffrey Cornish, fondly knownas “the grand old man of New

England golf course architecture,”died February 10 in Amherst, MA. He was 97.

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,Cornish’s experience spanned more than 70years, starting with his work under re-nowned Canadian course architect StanleyThompson.

Cornish authored or co-authored fivebooks on course design, including the landmark reference book, The Architects of Golf (with Ron Whitten), and Golf CourseDesign (with Robert Muir Graves). For years, Cornish also shared his knowledgewith groups around the world, speaking on the history and practice of golf coursearchitecture.

Cornish earned a bachelor’s degree inagronomy from the University of BritishColumbia and a master's and honorary doc-torate from the University of Massachusetts,Amherst. He was also honored with theASGCA Donald Ross Award and theGCSAA Distinguished Service Award and isa member of the Canadian Golf Hall ofFame.

Well known—and respected—by many

Renowned Golf Course Architect Geoffrey Cornish Dies at 97

G

Met-area superintendents, Cornish de-signed more golf courses in New Englandthan any one architect. All told, he and hisassociates are responsible for 240 golfcourse designs in the United States, Cana-da, and Europe. Cornish continued to workuntil his death with Mungeam CornishGolf Design.

As ASGCA President Rick Phelps soaptly said, “Mr. Cornish’s exceptional workas a golf course architect, author, and lec-turer cannot be overstated. His contribu-tions to the profession of golf coursearchitecture and the golf industry will liveon for generations.”



Merry Minglingat The 2011 MetGCSA Christmas Party at Sunningdale Country Club

Pandora, need copy

Bill & Bridget Bartels, Gina& Neil Laufenberg, Adam &

Renee Severson, Ann Marie &Rob Alonzi

Steven Kubicki & JessDebakis, Grace-Marie &Brett Chapin, Tony & Bea

Campanella

Kevin & Michele Collins, Carolyn & KevinSeibel, Blake Halderman,

Glen Dube, MeganBaggott & Bob Wolverton,

Paul & Terri Gonzalez

Carolyn & Bob Nielsen,Jenny & Mike Brunelle,Ken & Melodee Benoit,Dana & Dave Dudones,

P.J. Morgan & BillTucker

Cindy & Dennis Flynn,Dana & Scott Niven,Anne & Mike Maffei

Brian Gallagher & GadyAlcantara, Dave Peterson

& Kaitlin Casey, EricYount, Amber & Joe

Gikis, Beth Cunningham& Doug Vanderlee

Alisha & Steve Turchick,Tim & Mariane Garceau

Photos courtesy of Renee Pavonetti

Karla & Tom Ashfield,Sean Cain, Mike Aube,

Justin Adams

All captions are from left to right . . .



ships, including the 1911 U.S. Amateur, the1978 Curtis Cup, and most recently, the 2005Senior Women’s Amateur. Apawamis has alsohosted numerous American Junior GolfAssociation events. Sergio Garcia won one ofthese events in the mid-’90s as an amateur.

There’s one annual event that stands outamong all others: the United States SeniorsGolf Association’s annual championship. Thiswill be the 107th year the club has hostedthis event, which has evolved over the yearsinto a two-day, 36-hole competition, held atApawamis, Blind Brook, Round Hill, andBedford Golf & Tennis Club.

This year, Apawamis will, again, host theJulian Curtiss Cup, an event that is playedamong clubs whose history spans 100 years.Also coming this year to Apawamis is the“Four Corners” event, which is the oldestcontinuous interclub competition in Ameri-ca and includes St. Andrew’s, Bedford Golf &Tennis, and Greenwich Country Club.Whoa! What a lot of tournaments!

The Varied Path to ApawamisEmtering his 16th season at Apawamis, Billtook an interesting, and by today’s standards,unconventional route to where he is today.A Northport, NY, native, Bill earned a B.S. in computer science from Empire State Col-lege in 1987 while working on the main-tenance crew at Nissequogue Country Clubin St. James, NY.

“The job I did there,” says Bill, “doesn’texist today.” He worked as the nighttimewaterman, when the club had only a single-row, manual irrigation system. A job thatwould have driven someone else out of thebusiness served as a steppingstone for Bill.

When Bill’s future wife, Lorah, took a jobin the Westchester area, Bill decided to fol-low, pursuing a career in computer science.“When nothing surfaced,” says Bill, “I de-cided that my best play would be a career ingolf course management.”

He was hired as the assistant superintend-ent at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, underthen Superintendent Joe Camberato. “Igained a tremendous amount of knowledgeunder Joe that I’ve carried with me through-out my career,” says Bill.

After five years at Sleepy, Bill took his

Apawamis Gets Primed for the DaveMahoney Two-Ball Qualifier

hose of you lucky enough to playThe Apawamis Club at this spring’s

annual Dave Mahoney Two-BallChampionship Qualifier are in for a treat. Anotoriously short course, playing just under6,500 yards, Apawamis offers a challenginground. But don’t take my word for it. Take itfrom golf great Ben Hogan, who calledApawamis “the toughest short course” heever played.

For my partner and me, hitting shorterirons for our second shots into greens willmake us a formidable foe in this year’s com-petition. The long-hitter advantage does notapply at Apawamis. But be forewarned abouthost Super Bill Perlee’s history of producingfast green speeds—a clear threat to yourgame at this year’s opening Met tourney onApril 23!

Apawamis: Past and PresentThe golf course at Apawamis is interestingand varied—like its history. Apawamis wasfounded in 1890—not as a golf club, butrather a beach club on the shores of LongIsland Sound.

A few years after the club opened, it left itsseaside roost, buying a small plot of land andconstructing a nine-hole course. Then, in1896, the club’s current site was purchased,and construction began to build an 18-holelayout. Scotsman Willie Dunn of Shin-necock fame was hired to design the course,much of which has remained the same.

There have been modifications made overthe years. Bill’s 2001 restoration involvedrebuilding six greens and a complete bunkerrenovation that resulted in the addition of 40new bunkers. This project also includedexpanding many of the fairways, rebuildingthe tees to add length, and constructing apractice chipping and putting facility.

Today, Bill is excited about the comple-tion of his new maintenance facility, whichwill be ready for a ribbon-cutting ceremonywithin the next few weeks.

On the Golf CircuitThe club has hosted a sizable number of golftournaments over the years. The most fa-mous would be the four USGA champion-

Tby Greg Wojick, CGCS

Spotlight

first superintendent’s job at Burning TreeCountry Club in Greenwich, CT. “Afterone year there,” says Bill, “I finally got some formal training.” He completed Cor-nell University’s Winter Turf ManagementCourse and then spent the next four years atBurning Tree mastering “the fine art” ofdrainage—a skill that’s served him well atApawamis.

“After the crazy rains of last summer, weknew where the problem areas were here atApawamis,” says Bill. “We’ve spent this win-ter installing more than 2,000 linear feet ofdrainage.”

Life Beyond WorkBill may not always bring work home withhim, but he does bring home with him towork—his two kids, that is! He’s hired his16-year-old daughter, Sarah, to assist Apa-wamis in achieving its certification as anAudubon Cooperative Sanctuary. And he’senlisting his 14-year-old son, Bryan, to workon the maintenance crew this summer.

Bill and his family enjoy time together offthe course too. They are avid skiers andsnowboarders, spending as much time asthey can during the winter on the slopes.

Bill also enjoys traveling and claims thehighlight of his off-season is a ski trip to Altain Utah with his golf pro and friend, JackPerkins, a few members, and Lorah. Lorah isa fitness lover and competes in a local soccerleague that fields players of all ages.

While the MetGCSA has held severalmeetings at Apawamis in Bill’s tenure, this isthe first time we’ll actually get to set foot onthe links. If you’ve never had the pleasure ofplaying this not-so-hidden gem, be sure tosign up for the Met’s season-opening Two-Ball event and enjoy the strategy and condi-tioning that are sure to bring you back, againand again.

Greg Wojick, a member of the Tee to GreenEditorial Committee, is the principal in Com-munitool, LLC, and founder of Playbooks forGolf.

Bill Perlee


✪ 360 GOLFChad LemereGolf Course Construction914-625-0676 [email protected]

✪ A.G. EnterprisesStaff UniformsRick Gordon201-488-1276 Fax: [email protected]

Argento & Sons, Inc.Louis Argento1 Prospect AvenueWhite Plains, NY 10607914-949-1152Fax: [email protected]

✪ BASFJohn [email protected]

✪ Bayer Environmental Science“Backed by Bayer”Dave Sylvester860-841-3173

DeLea Sod FarmsBentgrass, Fescue, & Bluegrass Sod& U.S. Silica TopdressingMike Hollander / Scott Geiser800-344-7637www.deleasodfarms.com

✪ DryJect N.E. / TurfPounders“Your Aerification Solution”Kevin Collins / Steve Jordan / Bob Lippman914-672-6029 Fax: 845-228-1728 [email protected]

DuPont Professional ProductsAcelpryn & Provaunt InsecticidesJason Mulcahy603-340-4970www.proproducts.dupont.com

✪ Growth Products, LTDHowie Gold80 Lafayette AvenueWhite Plains, NY 10603800-648-7626 Fax: [email protected]

✪ Harrell’s“Growing a Better World. Partnersfor Success”Joe Stahl: 203-209-6951Scott Tretera: [email protected] www.harrells.com

✪ LaCorte Equipment ~ John Deere Golf“Fastest Growing Golf & TurfDistributor in the Northeast”Gale Stenquist / Jim Calladio / Scott Ferguson800-560-3373 ext 4 Fax: [email protected]

Lebanon Turf“Best of All Worlds”1600 E. Cumberland StreetLebanon, PA 17042800-233-0628

✪ Leggette, Brashears & Graham, Inc.Hydrogeologic Consulting &Environmental Engineering ServicesRob [email protected]

✪ Matrix Turf Solutions, LLCGregory R. Moran259 Lucas AvenueKingston, NY 12401845-338-3650 Cell: [email protected]

✪ Metro Turf Specialists“Customers, Our Top Priority”Scott / Ernie / Rob / Tim J. / Dave / Tim G.203-748-4653 www.metroturfspecialists.com

Morris GolfRich LaBar / Mike Morris48 Red Gate RoadMorristown, NJ 07960973-600-9249 Fax: [email protected]

National Lawn Sprinklers, Inc.John Luciano645 N. BroadwayWhite Plains, NY 10603914-946-6666 Fax: [email protected] www.natlawn.com

✪ NutriteSupplier of Turf & Specialty FertilizersBob GriffinCell: 401-862-5873Fax: [email protected]

✪ Ocean Organics Corp.Science-based, Sustainable, High-Performance Turf ProductsDoug Middleton / Bill Middleton800-628-GROW (4769) Cell: [email protected]

✪ Pinnacle Turf, Inc.Steven Renzetti, [email protected]

✪ Plant Food Company, Inc.“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”Larry Pakkala, CGCS: 203-505-3750Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318

✪ Playbooks for GolfGolf Course Field Guides, Aerials,Consulting, Career DevelopmentGreg Wojick, CGCS: 201-219-0254Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052www.goplaybooks.com 203-210-5623

✪ Quali-ProQuality Turf and Ornamental ProductsPhil O’[email protected]

Soil Solutions, LLCAerification ProfessionalsAnthony Decicco / John Decicco7 Whittemore PlaceRyebrook, NY 10573914-393-0659 / Fax: 914-939-5010

✪ Steven Willand, Inc.George Corgan4 Production DriveBrookfield, CT 06804203-775-5757www.StevenWillandInc.com

✪ SyngentaFred Montgomery, CGCS23 Roslyn DriveBallston Lake, NY 12019518-424-0760 / Fax: [email protected]

✪ Tanto Irrigation, LLCWilliam Bartels914-347-5151 / Fax: [email protected]

✪ The Cardinals, Inc.Complete Distributor of Golf CourseAccessories& Turf Maintenance SuppliesJohn Callahan800-861-6256 Fax: 860-673-8443

✪ The Care of TreesMike Cook, NY: 914-345-8733Ken Clear, CT: 203-847-1855www.thecareoftrees.com

✪ The Terre Company of New Jersey, Inc.Seed, Pesticides, Nursery Stock, &FertilizerByron Johnson 973-473-3393 Fax: [email protected]

✪ Tom Irwin Inc.“With Tom Irwin, You Are NotAlone”Rob Larson / Jeff Houde800-582-5959 Fax: 781-273-4804

✪ Turf Products LLC / TOROToro Irrigation & EquipmentPat Cragin: 860-874-2812Main Office: 800-243-4355

U.S. SilicaAll Sands Meet USGARequirementsMike BarnetP.O. Box 254Mauricetown, NJ 08329856-785-0720

✪ Valley View Greenhouses“The Biggest, The Freshest, The Best in Plants”Frank [email protected]

✪ Westchester Tractor, Inc.John Apple60 International BoulevardBrewster, NY 10509845-278-7766www.wtractor.com

✪ Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.“Serving the MetGCSA for 35Years”Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257Dave Lippman: 914-447-5192

✪ Wilfred MacDonald, Inc.Glenn Gallion19 Central BoulevardS. Hackensack, NJ 07606888-831-0891 Cell: 201-954-5878

atron DirectoryP

✪ Denotes MetGCSA member

Patrons listed on this page are supporting our association. You are encouraged to support them.


hank You to Our Major Sponsors for Their SupportTAce Sponsors

Double Eagle Sponsors

Eagle Sponsors

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