rutgers golf course turf management program – 2012 alumni newsletter

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Summer 2012

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Message from the Director - Brand Loyalty

There has been an awful lot written about the importance of satisfied customers advocating on behalf of the products they respect and employ. Surely all of you are currently using materials, equipment, and consultants because of the value they bring you. And many of you have continued to employ your best staff over a long period of time and by so doing, in a slightly different way, demonstrated your brand loyalty to those individuals. In these difficult times when the importance of decisions regarding the deployment of capital resources become ever more critical, we tend to go back to what we know and respect. So it is that I am so appreciative for, the hundreds of letters we receive every year from our loyal alumni and so many others who recommend our program, the Professional Golf Turf Management School, to their next generation of employees. Though I haven’t checked with 100% certainty, nearly one-third of the applications we receive each year are from what I call legacies, those who have successfully completed our program and have now reached positions as superintendents and who believe that the best place to send their employee to become more valuable is here to Rutgers. Words cannot express our great sense of relief and appreciation that we have so many loyal “customers” across the U.S and beyond. Over my 34 plus years here at the university I have come to know and respect hundreds, if not thousands of our alumni, each of whom visited our campus for two ten-week sessions and have now gone on to achieve great things for themselves, for the golf communities they serve, and for the employees on whose expertise they so depend.

I am well aware that there are many alternative sources for learning like that which we provide at Rutgers, but I’ve become increasingly committed to our intentions and to the way we go about meeting them by developing the very best golf turf professional we can. To achieve this important objective, it takes many working parts, human beings and, at the end of the day, faith. I have been blessed throughout my career here at Rutgers to have had the cooperation and support of so many inspiring educators, many of who have been with me now for well over 25 years. Their energy, knowledge and familiarity with the game of golf are the real story behind our success. Their enthusiasm, mentoring, and genuine interest in our students make the difference. They are what separate us from the alternatives and for my money they are truly unique and precious resources. I am happy to announce that we will be bringing a new member to our team this fall. Mr. Steve McDonald of Turfgrass Disease Solutions comes to us with great enthusiasm and a successful track record of serving golf courses throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. Steve typifies the new hands-on specialist on whom golf courses have become increasingly dependent. I have every confidence he will bring his energy and passion into the classroom, providing even more value to our incoming and current students.

Thank you to those superintendents who take the time to write letters of support on behalf of the next generation of turf leaders who seek to come to Rutgers. For without your vision and important coaching of young men and women in the field, our story could not be written. And more than just the alums send us those letters, for in fact we have received letters of support from some of the country’s most respected superintendents, despite having never come to Rutgers themselves. We’d like to think it is the reputation of our products, the young men and women who complete our program, that warrant their interest, and we take our responsibilities seriously.

(continued on page 19)

GreensThe Newsletter for Rutgers Turf Alumni

IN THIS ISSUE

First for Bulgaria 2

Noteworthy 4

Vikers Scholar 6

Second Time

A Charm 7

Green Acres 8

Scholarships 10

Turf Banquet 11

Graduates 12

Hosting an

Amateur 14

Turf Alumni 16

Selling the

Project 18

Weak Winter 19

1.


BIGGA member, and 2005 Graduate Jordan Fairweather, describes his time working in one of the world’s newer golfing destinations.

In December 2008, when golf coBulgaria is a relatively new country to the game of golf but in 2011 it has taken further steps in recognising itself as a golf destination.

The country has recently been awarded the 2012 “Undiscovered Golf Destination of The Year” by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators and now has six 18-hole facilities open, offering two Gary Player Signature designs, a Peter Harradine, a Paul McGinley and two Ian Woosnam’s, all excellent facilities with teaching academy’s, residential apartments, hotels and spa resorts. Pravets Golf Club is the first to offer a fully flood light range and short game area.

Back in April, 2010, the then soon-to-be opened Pravets Golf Club, designed by Peter Harradine and managed by Braemar Golf of St Andrews, was awarded the “PGA Professionals championship of Europe” by the PGAs of Europe, to be staged annually for three years from last September. This would not only be a return of a

tournament to the yearly calendar after a six year absence but the first professional tournament to be held in Bulgaria.

The final fairway and greens at Pravets were seeded in September 2010 with construction completed on December 11, and snow fall then covering the course from December 14 until early March. Grow-in of the last fairways had to be quick before temperatures fell, so a quick release ammonium nitrate product was sourced from local agriculture.

Fairways were sand capped but suffered from erosion damage before being handed over to the maintenance team.

With limited supply of fungicide available in Bulgaria we managed to get together enough to apply Azoxystrobin to all surfaces prior to snowfall. When snow melted all surfaces were 100% free of disease and the first goal was to be ready for a grand opening on May 15 by the Bulgarian Prime minister, a full six months earlier than ideally preferred. Due to the geographical location of Pravets the weather changes dramatically and temperatures will rise from 3 degrees to 18 degrees in little

over 10 days and will never drop below that until autumn. Summer temperatures rise to approx 36 degrees Celsius, coupled with high humidity, and during 2010, I had witnessed all kinds of disease on the turf from Dollar Spot, Pythium, Take All and Fusarium in a six week period.

Warm season grasses would grow

here for three to four months with this climate. Pravets is the first golf course to be seeded with traditional fescue bent in Bulgaria rather than creeping bents found on all other courses. When specifications for the course were drawn up, long term management costs had to be considered.

With a country which only has 250 registered golfers grass varieties were chosen with keeping agronomic inputs and in turn costs manageable. If the choice had been to use creeping bent with rye grass roughs, maintenance costs would be significantly higher.

With a greenkeeping team of 19, of whom 50% speak English, we worked towards opening. This was a task which was problematic due to four greens receiving major contamination from erosion of soil and clay before being handed over to us by the contractor along with some fairways, and also lack of access roads and infrastructure hindering us until mid July did not make it easy. A total of 1025 tonnes of sand was spread on the course in conjunction with needle tinning and hollow-coring to smooth out surfaces and remove soil contamination.

Always in the back of our minds was the tournament in September and if we had not committed to the grand opening in May we probably would have re-laid four greens and three fairways.

One thing we are very fortunate is our client, Terra Tour Services, wishes to see its golf course at the same level as their hotels, all luxury 4 star resorts. Due to this TTS signed a deal with Toro, a partner of Braemar Golf, for the biggest fleet of Toro equipment in


A First for BulgariaReprinted with permission from the British and International Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA)

Copyright 2012

“With a country which only has 250 registered golfers grass varieties were chosen with keeping agronomic inputs

and in turn costs manageable. If the choice had been to use creeping bent with rye grass roughs, maintenance costs

would be significantly higher”

http://golfturf.rutgers.edu

Eastern Europe along with a state of the art maintenance facility.

With grow-in near complete and the golf course open six months earlier than we would have liked we turned our minds to an agronomic programme to, not just suit our fescue turf, but to cope with the unknown stresses of the site.

With no history of the site we have dealt with outbreaks of which at the time were unknown grasses germinating which had been in the native soil below the sand cap and worked their way up due to rotovating of the surfaces before sand spread, a lesson learnt for future construction!

Common Bermuda grass encroachment from adjacent land, which thrives in our summer tried

to invade; the need for golf carts on a relatively new sward in 35 degree heat has been a big stress but, with the revenue they provide, it is not something we can ban.

Changing roller types and HOC on certain fairways and greens, a combination of hand watering and day watering being required to micro manage situations which were not only dealing with daily stresses but still at a growing in stage.

With September approaching, and the greens and fairways now near a year old and having matured to the comfortable stage, we moved into more education.

After having introduced the locally recruited staff to the nature of golf course management in the matter of months we moved on to furthering their knowledge by introducing them to tournament preparation.

The “PGA Professionals Championship of Europe” event was to be filmed by Golfing World TV and shown to a TV audience of 350 million including 18 international in-flight entertainment TV, along with social media networks. We had been monitoring our fertility and pesticide programmes and after we were

comfortable with the micro management of the grow-in we then started to tailor this to achieve consistency throughout surfaces.

One thing professional golfers want is consistency, not colour and not always speed, but consistency.

The PGA’s of Europe use the same set of agronomy guidelines as the European Tour so the standard was to be the same as you would expect to find on any Tour event. Green speed has never been a concern of mine for our members as with average 30 degree heat and only 18 days of rain from June through September our fescue greens were more than quick enough.

The PGA’s of Europe asked us to set them at 10-10.5, which was not far off daily speeds. In the lead up to the

tournament we were single cutting at 3.6mm and grooming at 3mm twice weekly. On the first day’s practice we followed up a single cut with a roll using salsco greens irons and with the mid afternoon temp around 28 the greens were stimping at 11.2 - 11.4 so the rollers were only used once later that week.

Instead we preferred to cut morning and evening. The fescue bent mix was never really stressed through the week and received only some hand watering in the evenings. I had my reservations as to whether the fescue being the dominant grass would cope in a country where we would deal with temps over 30 all summer.

With a client’s expectations for a green, aesthetically pleasing course while maintaining the firm surfaces with speeds required for an event like ours, but it has been excellent and shows that with preventative stress measures and still with very little fertility input it can be done.

Here at Pravets we tissue test every six weeks and base our foliar and drench applications of fertility around this. We mix up our own fertiliser on site which not only allows us to tailor the needs of the plant exactly what it wants when it wants but actually reduces our fertiliser

costs and wastage. We have found this essential this year to deal with our surfaces where leaching is very high with higher irrigation water usage.

Fertilisers like potash, calcium, manganese and magnesium are very easy to source here in Bulgaria due to the large agricultural produce of cucumbers, tomatoes, etc. so helps us greatly. Environmental Turf Technology, in the UK, is very helpful in not only helping us source and what we cannot source locally but helping us to analyse the makeup of certain fertilisers available in Bulgaria.

Controlled release fertilisers have to be imported from the UK, Germany and Holland and sometimes transport costs outweigh the fertiliser costs. Due to this the only granular application we applied after the grow-in phase to tees and greens was a controlled release potassium nitrate in the autumn, which we will stick with in 2012.

Working abroad always brings new challenges and you either have a bug for it or you don’t. There are many great opportunities for greenkeepers out there in the market, you just need to find them, as the new countries to Golf and Sports Turf are numerous. The grasses are the same along with the methodology.

I know greenkeepers in Tatarstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, Russia, Morocco and many other countries with few golf courses’ or turf surfaces. They all love their job as we do. The willingness to succeed and a love of Turfgrass keep us abroad!

Jordan Fairweather has been working in the greenkeeping industry for 14 years. Originally from Scotland where he spent 7 years at Loch Lomond Golf Club while working on 11 European Tour events. He Graduated from the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School in 2005.Working at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club and 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club he then moved to the Middle East- Dubai and Abu Dhabi saw him take the position of Construction Superintendent where he constructed Yas Links, Golf City, and Meydan race track while overseeing maintenance on Al Nasr Football Stadium. For almost two years now he has been Superintendent at the Bulgarian Pravets Golf Club, successfully managed by Scottish company Braemar Golf.

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“Controlled release fertilisers have to be imported from the UK, Germany and Holland and sometimes

transport costs outweigh the fertiliser costs”


Noteworthy News

Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School Instructor, Bingru Huang, Receives Recognition

Bingru Huang, professor in the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers–New Brunswick, has been named the Ralph Geiger Endowed Chair in Turfgrass Science by the Rutgers University Board of Governors.

Celebrating Career-Long Service - Kenneth KrauszAs we honored the Class of 2011

at the Graduation Ceremony and 22nd Annual Turfgrass Student Awards Banquet, we paid homage to Kenneth Krausz, one of our own, 1986 alumni. Born in 1955 in Teaneck, NJ, Ken’s first job was on a vegetable farm behind his house. He went on to become a laborer at the Old Tappan Golf Course where he was promoted to Golf Course Superintendent while attending the second year of the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School. Then he accepted the position as Director of Greens and Grounds on the Paramus Golf Course. Ken’s deep-roots in turf created the spark for him to partner in owning and operating Sports Turf Management

Systems, a sports maintenance company. Although “retired”, he is still working as a seasonal employee at Patriots Bank Park, a minor league baseball stadium in Rockland County where he continues to nurture his passion.

His service to the industry continually grew by becoming a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS), serving on the board of Directors of the GCSANJ, was named Member of the Year and then President of GCSANJ in 1999-2000. He has contributed to our community with his fellow firefighters volunteering to help rebuild a home for a deserving family when “Extreme Makeover: Home

Edition” came to NJ, by being the Editor of the The Greenerside and an active resource to the Rutgers Turfgrass Alumni Association by serving as Secretary and President. We can count on Ken to serve as a participant on our Superintendent Panel and be a strong advocate for our school.

In 1978, Ken met Kathy Staron, the future Mrs. Krausz, and together they raised two daughters. He is currently enjoying being a grandfather. As an associate in the Old Tappan Volunteer Fire Department since 1971, his presentation to the graduating class highlighted the importance of community service, volunteerism and family.

WeddingsCongra tu la t ions to some of our Professional Golf Turf Management School students on their recent nuptials!

Scott and Amy Estey

June 11, 2011

Brett and Kenzie Saganiec

August 20, 2011

Jon and Samantha Frederick

October 21, 2011

Pete and Jennifer Strahan

May 20, 2012

Je! rey and Rachael Barr

September 24, 2011


5Babies

From left to right -- Scott & Conor Aiello, Lilliana & Brandon Alvarez, Ryan Michael Dilks, Ian & Dillon Bray, Zach & Lola Joy Stimson, Jason & Eliza McPhail, The Carper Family, Owen Michael Fetter, Jack Cliver, and Jesse & Isla Marie Shannon

In Memoriam

Paul R. Boice Class of 1993

William Boruta Class of 1991

In Memorium, Woodrow C. Williams Class of 2011

Woodrow C. Williams (Woody) passed away on March 26, 2012 in Oceanport, NJ. Woody was born on June 23, 1976 in Red Bank, NJ to Timothy and Carol Williams. He was raised in Oceanport and graduated in 1994 from Shore Regional High School in West Long Branch, NJ, where he was a running back for the Varsity football team. After high school, Woody attended the University of Nevada in Las Vegas. It was there that he adopted his beloved dog Weezy. He always had a deep love and respect for animals. She accompanied him on many camping trips to Red Rock canyon and other areas. Recently Woody completed the Turf Management Program at Rutgers University in NJ. Golf was his passion. He travelled frequently seeking out new and challenging golf courses in the country. Woody was a young man who truly loved life. He was always a true friend to all and did everything he could to make the people in his life happy.

He is survived by his parents Timothy and Carol Williams, sister Shannon Washington, grandfather Jack Williams, aunt Joan Williams, uncle Thomas Williams, aunt Gayle Willams, and cousins Jonathan Huhn and family and Jason Williams and family.


Rutgers student MacKenzie named Vickers scholarReprinted Press Release, Trans-Mississippi Golf Association - December 2, 2011

LAWRENCE, KANSAS -- Rutgers University student Christopher Tyler MacKenzie has been selected as the Vickers Scholarship winner among 14 students earning 2011-12 scholarships from the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association (TMGA) through it’s Turf Scholarship Fund. MacKenzie, 24, will receive a $7,500 scholarship as he completes his education in the Rutgers’ two-year Golf Course Management Program this month. He also receives the Vickers Trophy, a bronze sculpture of Old Tom Morris.

“With two people close to me, my father and his assistant, both having won Trans-Miss scholarships, to join them with that — especially my dad — it’s kind of a legacy deal,” said MacKenzie of Forest Lake, Minn. “I didn’t know the (TMGA) has been around as long as it has. To know that I

was awarded the top Trans-Miss scholarship, it’s an honor.”

MacKenzie, whose father John is superintendent at North Oaks (Minn.) Golf Club, currently carries a 3.79 grade point average in Rutgers’ Golf Course Management Program and has completed internships at Oakmont Country Club and the TPC Twin Cities. He has volunteered on the maintenance staffs of several key golf events, including the 2009 PGA Championship, the 2008 U.S. Women’s Open and two 3M Championships.

“Tyler MacKenzie is a highly motivated and extremely intelligent individual,” says Edward V. Lipman Jr., MacKenzie’s academic advisor at Rutgers. “His roots in the golf turf industry run very deep as his father has been a superintendent for over 25 years, and based on Tyler’s performance in his first year in the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School, it is clear that it is his intention to walk in his father’s footsteps and become a successful golf course superintendent.”

MacKenzie earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Wisconsin-Eau Claire before

moving to Rutgers. “Education is unbelievably important. Every year technology changes and information changes,” MacKenzie said. “You’ve got to keep yourself educated, whether it’s reading articles put out in magazines or anything like that…it’s like everything nowadays, you just have to stay on top of the turf field.”

The Trans-Mississippi Golf Association is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf organizations in the United States. Established in 1901, the Trans is composed of more than 200 member clubs located throughout the country. Since the Trans-Miss Scholarship Fund granted a $600 scholarship in 1953 to Colorado State University (then Colorado A&M), the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association has become a national leader in assisting young men and women pursuing careers in turf management. For more information on the Trans-Miss Scholarship Program go to www.trans-miss.com/scholarships.

Christopher MacKenzie is a 2011 graduate of the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School.

h t t p : / / w w w. t ra n s - m i s s . c o m /scholarships/2011-scholars/

Welcome Our New Instructor, Steve McDonald!S t e v e n

McDonald is the founder of Turfgrass D i s e a s e Solutions, LLC which is an independen t research and a g r o n o m i c s u p p o r t company based

in the Mid-Atlantic region. Steve has over 15 years in the golf course management business working at both private and public golf courses. He received a B.S in Turfgrass Management from Delaware Valley College and a M.S. in Agronomy from University of Maryland. Currently, Turfgrass Disease Solutions’ research efforts focus on plant protection, weed control, fertility, and cultural practices of

fine turfgrass. Steve consults on over 100 golf courses annually. Previously, Steve taught Diseases of Ornamentals and Turfgrass in the Institute of Applied Agriculture at University of Maryland. He looks forward to joining Rutgers University as an adjunct instructor in the Professional Golf Turf Management School in the fall 2012 program.

Learn more about some of our Golf Turf Management School instructors by visiting their websites!

Richard Hurley, PhD, CPAg http://www.bentgrassdoctor.com Stephen Kay http://kayandsmithdesign.com

Steve McDonald http://www.turfgrassdiseasesolutions.com Brucy Neary http://bcnhorticulture.com

Gene Westmoreland http://www.westmorelandgolf.org


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Jeff Nelson’s official title at the Ranch Club golf course is spray technician. But Nelson does a little bit of everything in helping maintain the course.

After rediscovering the game of golf within the last 10 years, the native of Winston-Salem, N.C., got hired on and found a job he loves. So much so, that Nelson studied for two winters at Rutgers University in New Jersey at turf school (2011) to enhance his resume.Recently, Nelson spoke with the Missoulian on his love of the game, his memories of attending every Masters since 2004 and what he hopes to do in the future.

Q: How did you get your job and how long have you been doing it?

A: This is my fifth year. I got the job because I was at the Good Food Store and a girl I worked with out there, her husband worked here at the Ranch Club. Basically, I was fed up with the food-service industry and I had gotten back into playing golf again. I started playing golf again when I was 21 because I quit when I was 15.

Q: Why did you quit playing golf?

A: Because I started seeing girls at the pool and I was just a lot more interested in them than I was in golf at the time I guess.

Q: Why do you think golf stuck with you the second time?

A: Probably just another challenge of a solo sport. I’m a fly fisherman as well and I think they have a lot of similarities with each other, although I do know a lot of fly fishermen who hate golf. But I know there are a lot of other fly fishermen who do enjoy golf and for some of the same reasons I do. My dad is also kind of my tie to golf. Some of my earliest memories of him were on a golf course. And I got Masters tickets in 2004.

Q: Was that the first Masters you attended?

A: No, I went in ’87 and ’88. I was there when Larry Mize chipped it in. I didn’t go again until 2004 and I’ve been to every tournament round since the Thursday opening round in 2004.

Q: What are some of your best memories of being at the Masters?

A: Well, ’04 obviously because that was Phil Mickelson’s first win in a major. I was right there and I saw him do his little jump. That was real exciting because I hadn’t been there in so long. This year’s Masters was really exciting as well and we were right in the thick of things.

Q: How did you come to get so near Bubba Watson when he misfired on the second playoff hole and made that brilliant recovery that basically won him the tournament?

A: We were waiting on (hole No.) 10 because the first playoff hole was 18 and there were just too many people on 18, so we figured we’d get a head start to 10 and get a good spot there. Little did we know that he wasn’t going to bend his drive around the dog leg.After he hit his drive I saw his right arm go up like he shanked it to the right and looked in front of me and I saw a Georgia state trooper duck and cover, so I kind of ducked and covered and when I did look up I saw the ball had landed about 10 feet in front of me and bounced down into the ravine where it landed. I stayed up where I was to hang out with my mom, but everybody else just ran to the ball. A friend of mine ran down and got right behind the shot. But my mom and I were up on the edge of the pine straw where you could see the green and we could see the trajectory of the shot. Everybody was pulling for Bubba and people were just going nuts. The foreigners don’t stand a chance at Augusta when you’ve got a guy who went to Georgia.

Q: Did you have an idea of what Watson was going to try and pull off?

A: I thought he was just going to punch out. When I heard his contact I couldn’t believe it and then when I saw the ball in the air and and land on the green it was absolutely amazing. Strangers were just looking at each other in total disbelief.

Q: How did you come to study at Rutgers?

A: After years of indecision I decided that I enjoyed this job and had found a job that I actually liked going to in the morning. So I wanted to take the next step and my boss, Tom Koehring, had gone through the Rutgers program years ago and wrote me a letter of recommendation. So that’s how I ended up in New Jersey for two winters and I earned a certificate. We studied probably about 15 different courses each session. And we studied anything from irrigation to soils to tournament set-up to landscape design. It’s a huge resume-builder and lately the industry has been tough to get into and people are holding on to the jobs they have pretty tight. I learned a whole lot in those 20 weeks.

Q: How often do you get to play?

A: I try to play twice a week and sometimes more, but later in the summer it will be a little less when the heat kicks in.

Q: What are your future goals?

A: I guess the ultimate goal is to become a golf course superintendent at a nice golf course with a good reputation.

http://missoulian.com/sports/catch-all/second-time-a-charm-for-local-golfer/article_4fe92826-9c94-11e1-971e-001a4bcf887a.html

Second Time a Charm for Local GolferBy Michael HeinbachReprinted with permission of the Missoulian

Professional Golf Turf Management School Winter 2011 class

Photo courtesy of Jeff Nelson


Green AcresBy Ed Kracz, Reprinted with permission of PhillyBurbs.com

WARMINSTER, PA -- Art Blank figures he was one of the first to play a round at Five Ponds Golf Club when the course opened in 1988. “We didn’t think it had a chance,” said Blank, a resident of Doylestown. “It was all mud. The greens were beautiful, the tee boxes were beautiful, everything else was mud, weeds. They really took care of this place and it’s matured very nicely.” Twenty-three years later, after plenty of tender love and care and various renovations, Five Ponds is still going strong. On Friday, it got a whole more muscular after opening a brand new practice facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The addition, which sits on about two acres of ground to the far left of the entrance to the clubhouse and features three greens, three large sand traps and the potential for long-distance chip shots, is believed to be the first of its kind in the area for a public golf course. “We have a short game area here that works well for all groups,” said Jim Waitkus, of Waitkus Design in Newtown, which helped shape the ground and prepare the layout.

“There are a lot of different ranges of shots you can play out here, from

real short chip shots to 67, 70 yards to the backside of that green. It was kind of a dead space out here that now has a lot of value to the club for youth groups or whoever else wants to come out here and work on their short game.” The well-designed and meticulously manicured new facility looks so grand, one might think the project cost a fortune. On the contrary.

When course professional Gary Deetscreek approached course superintendent Eli “Poppo” Rodriguez with the idea over the winter, Rodriguez immediately put into use resources available to him. He reached out to regular course vendors, including Seeton Turf of Huntingdon Valley, which made a huge donation of labor. “I’ve known Eli for five, six years,” said Seeton Turf sales rep Jim Morgan. “We started out with a professional relationship that has now turned into a real friendship. The idea of a practice facility seemed like a no-brainer. This course is one of best conditioned in the area and this just tops it off. I can’t think of another facility in the area that has the amenities like this.”

With so many people offering so much free of charge, the project

was able to shave about $40,000 off the final total cost of approximately $85,000. “I really only paid for sand, sod, and seed,” said Rodriguez, who has an agronomy degree from Rutgers and has been the course super for nearly six years. “Everything was donated.” Warminster Township has a budget of $2.1 million for the course, which it owns, so the way under-budget project pleased them, to say the least.

“We’re trying to grow the younger golfer,” said Karen Whitney, the township’s parks and recreation director. “A lot of people, when they think of golfers, think of an older generation of golfers. We’re trying to push to bring in people who are interested who are younger. We’re looking for those teenagers now who will be in their 20s and 30s. There have to be future golfers. We’re trying everything we possibly can to bring these people to our course.”

Deetscreek said the project had been talked about for the past five years but wasn’t ever moved to the top of the priority list for



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- Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School -

Two-Year Certificate ProgramFall Session - October 3 to December 14, 2012

Winter Session - January 3 to March 15, 2013

As an alumnus of The Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School, we look to you to recommend qualified applicants who can help build the reputation of our Rutgers program. If you have an employee, a co-worker or an associate who may be interested in and qualified for our program, please have them contact Fran Koppell via e-mail at [email protected]. Visit our website at www.golfturf.rutgers.edu for an online application!

Three-Week Golf Turf Preparatory Short CourseJanuary 7 through January 25, 2013

Perfect for aspiring or current turf professionals looking to increase their professional value at an affordable price. Our compact course curriculum delivers essential academic turf knowledge and the practical applied training needed for success in the golf turf industry. The Three-Week Short Course provides high quality instruction by utilizing some of the best instructors found in our Two-Year Professional Golf Turf Management Program. The program’s pace and varied subject matter is most valued by applicants with at least one year of golf turf experience, or an equivalent. For additional information, please contact the Office of Continuing Professional Education via email at [email protected].

Flooded Quechee Club UpdateBy Ryan E. Davis, Winter 2012 Graduate

Where do you start? That is a question that any of us turf professionals would be asking ourselves after suffering a major weather catastrophe. When all the work you have accomplished in years or maybe decades is heavily damaged by the wrath of nature, a very small question can seem gargantuan. On August 28th, 2011 tropical storm Irene came barreling towards New England bringing rains unequalled to anyone’s memories. Mount Killington in Vermont received 14-16 inches of precipitation that day and the runoff joined a body of water that already had swelled massively.

That body of water is the Ottuaquechee River and it runs right through the

middle of the Quechee Club Golf Course. Irene affected 22 out of 36 holes in some shape or form. Some fairways were cut open by fallen trees that joined a collection of debris in the flood. Two recently renovated greens on the Highland Course were laid to waste by the might of the supercharged river. When we awoke the next morning river silt and debris was left all over, some of it up to several feet in depth.

Skid Steers, Rototillers, Excavators, and steel-toe boots may not make many appearances on your golf course, but during this project they were a necessity. Those first few days were a race to see how much turf we could uncover and then possibly save from suffocation.

Fast forwarding to the present day, the club members have chosen to proceed with the master plan to renovate. We have now completed three out of four phases. The major flood reconstruction is finished, with a little help from our friends at MacCurrach Golf, however we are still growing in much of the damaged Lakeland Golf Course. The members will not believe their eyes when they get to tee off for their first round on the new nine holes later this summer. All of this was made possible by the perseverance of our leadership, crew, and membership. Of course this trek is still coming to its conclusion, yet as with all journeys you can only start one way, with that very first step forward.

various reasons. He believes the new facility is exactly what the course needs to achieve Whitney’s, and the township’s, hopes for growing golfers. “It really should be good for the township because juniors now have somewhere to go,” said Deetscreek. “With this, it’s almost like a full swing for them, and they can practice without feeling like they’re in the way.”

The biggest challenges to the project were weather and lack of patience among some golfers anxious to play on the new facility. “Keeping people off

was hard,” said Rodriguez, “but I didn’t want to open it too early.” And, because the project began in March, a rain-filled April made work difficult. Still, it only took four-and-a-half months to complete. The other goal for the new facility is to increase business. Since it is free, the hope is that golfers will show up, work on their short game, then begin a round of 18 holes.

Five Ponds drew 35,586 rounds in 2009 and 200 more than that in 2010. So far this year, it has seen over 15,000 rounds. “Hopefully it will bring people

here to play,” said Deetscreek. “Increase our play.” Blank, for one, is on board with that. “I’ll probably be here every day,” he said.

Eli(ezer) Rodriguez is a 2002 graduate of the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School.

http : / /www.phi l l yburbs . com/spor t s /five-ponds-golf-club-add-new-practice-facility/article_323bf5f5-1f73-58cb-84e0-d4b32a4eafc8.html


Allen and Scott O� Memorial Scholarship Jay Ewan

Cleary Chemical ScholarshipEvan Waite

Dr. Paul Sartoretto Memorial ScholarshipAbraham Buelt

Duke Polidor Memorial ScholarshipAlbert Fletcher Douglas PorterJon Frederick Corey RandallCasey Holloway Zachary StimsonSteven James William UnruhChristopher MacKenzie

Golf Course Builders Association ScholarshipNick Delmar Eric Taylor

Golf Course Superintendents Association of NJ ScholarshipJay Ewan Kevin Rundstrom James Hempfl ing Chas Schmid

Henry Indyk Graduate FellowshipChas Schmid

New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association ScholarshipEric Koch Eric Taylor Yan Yan

New Jersey State Golf Association and Ralph Engle Caddie ScholarshipKevin Rundstrom Eric Taylor Yan Yan

New Jersey Turfgrass FoundationHall of Fame - Kevin RundstromChallenge - Nicholas DelmarLou Vasvary - Yan Yan

Norman Leising Memorial ScholarshipJay Ewan

2011 Scholarship Recipients

Gold Corporate Sponsor Silver Corporate Sponsor

Storr Tractor Company, Somerville, NJ Grass Roots Inc., Randolph, NJ

Graduate Sponsors

Atlantic Golf Club, Bridgehampton, NY (Graduate George Buckingham)Bridgewater Creek Golf Course, Bozeman, MT (Graduate Wes Easton)Kalamazoo Country Club, Kalamazoo, MI (Graduate Daniel Zaroff )Lawn Doctor, Fort Collins, CO (Graduate Brian Berberet)Rockaway River Country Club, Denville, NJ (Graduate Robert Waldrop)

Paul DesChamps Memorial ScholarshipMatt Corbridge John Paul-Plewa Brian Lenik

Peter S. Loft Memorial ScholarshipKaren Ambrose Eric KochLisa Beirn Emily MerewitzPat Burgess Priti SaxenaMario Cornejo Ruying WangLaura Cortese Michael ChikosJames Cross Yuanshuo QuDavid Jespersen

Ralph Engel ScholarshipAbraham Buelt Brian LenikAlex Gordzica Evan Waite

Ralph Geiger ScholarshipLisa Beirn Eric Koch Pat Burgess Amanda MacDonald Michael Chikos Emily Merewitz Laura Cortese Yuanshuo Qu James Cross Priti Saxena Ryan Daddio Ruying WangJames Hempfl ing Yan YanDavid Jespersen

Rutgers Center for Turfgrass ScienceKenneth MacNish Adam Suelfl ow

Rutgers Turfgrass Alumni Association ScholarshipMatt Corbridge

Sports Field Managers Association of NJ ScholarshipAndrew Powers

Syngenta Turfgrass ScholarshipJay Ewan


11

Andrew Powers receives SFMA scholarship from Matt Olivi

2011 Golf Turf Banquet

Honorees Ken Krausz and Joe Flahertywith Chris Carson and Mike Mongon

Great opportunity to reunite and network!

Graduates George Buckingham and Robert LaRoque

Dr. Jim Murphy with the Ralph Geiger Scholars

Instructor, Steve Kristoph

Jim Morris, Recipient, Rutgers Turfgrass Association Achievement Award

Director Ned Lipman with graduates Wesley Easton,

Derek Brunette and Andrew V. Brown

Dr. Bill Meyer, Associate Director Center for Turfgrass Science

Shaun Barry presents the Award for Professional Excellence to Ken Krausz

One day it will be ME up there!Graduates Chris DeSalvia & Tom Kennedy


2011 GraduatesAARON, CODYCARTERSVILLE COUNTRY CLUBCARTERSVILLE, GA Spray Technician

ALEXANDER, JORDAN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTRY CLUB LOS ANGELES, CA Assistant in training

ALLEN, THOMASUNION COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION KENILWORTH, NJGreenskeeper

BARONE, DANIEL J.JACK FROST NATIONAL BLAKESLEE, PA Assistant Superintendent

BASTOS, SAMUELSUBURBAN GOLF COURSEUNION, NJAssistant Superintendent

BECKER, STEPHEN K.CORDILLERAVAIL ALLEY, COIntern

BEYER, AARON DALTON RANCH & GOLF CLUB DURANGO, COGreenskeeper

BLAKE, BRIAN MILWAUKEE COUNTY MILWAUKEE, WI Superintendent

BROWN, ANDREW V. RICH HARVEST LINKS SUGAR GROVE, IL2nd Assistant Superintendent

BRUNETTE, DEREK J.MONROE GOLF CLUB PITTSFORD, NYGrounds Crew

BUCKINGHAM, GEORGE ATLANTIC GOLF CLUB BRIDGEHAMPTON, NYForeman

BUELT, ABRAHAMParamount CC NEW CITY, NYAssistant in training

CLAIR, BRIAN J.ROYAL OAKS GOLF CLUBLEBANON, PAAssistant Superintendent

CLARK, DANIEL S.FLANDERS VALLEY GOLF COURSE FLANDERS, NJForeman

CLIFT, TODD J.COUNTRY CLUB OF ITHACA ITHACA, NYAssistant Superintendent

COBURN, RYAN L.GLENWILD GOLF CLUBPARK CITY, UT2nd Assistant Superintendent

CORBRIDGE, MATTBAYONNE GOLF CLUBBAYONNE, NJ2nd Assistant Superintendent

CRANE, MICHAELLAUREL CREEK COUNTRY CLUB MOORESTOWN, NJAssistant Superintendent

CUSACK , SHAWNRUMSON COUNTRY CLUBRUMSON, NJSeasonal employee

DAZET, DANIELBALTUSROL GOLF CLUBSPRINGFIELD, NJAssistant Superintendent

DELLINGER, MATTHEW W. POOLESVILLE GOLF COURSE POOLESVILLE, MDAssistant Superintendent

EASTON, WESLEY E.BRIDGER CREEK GOLF COURSE BOZEMAN, MTIrrigation Tech

FALLER, JOHN A.SKYTOP LODGE, INC. SKYTOP, PAMaintenance

FISHER, KURT M.TREETOPS RESORTGAYLORD, MI2nd Assistant Superintendent

FLETCHER, ALBERTDESERT FOREST GOLF CLUBCAREFREE, AZAssistant Superintendent

FLYNN, EDWARDAURORA, CO GAJDA, MATTHEW THE VINEYARD GOLF CLUB EDGARTOWN, MA Intern

GARNER, ANDREW T. Capital City Club WOODSTOCK, GAIntern

GORDZICA, ALEXFIREKEEPER GOLF COURSEMAYETTA, KSIntern

GRAHAM, TIMOTHYLITTLE MILL COUNTRY CLUBMARLTON, NJAssistant Superintendent

GUFFEY, ROBERTMORRIS PARK COUNTRY CLUBSOUTH BEND, IN Assistant Superintendent

HALL, BRIAN C.SHAWNEE INN & GOLF RESORTSHAWNEE ON DELAWARE, PAAssistant Superintendent

HERZBERG, BRICEJACKSON GOLF CLUBCOLUMBIA, SCAssistant Superintendent

HILL, TIMOTHYFOXCHASE GOLF CLUBSTEVENS, PASuperintendent

HOOKER, MALCOLMLASTING IMPRESSIONSLANDSCAPE CONTRACTORSUPPER MARLBURO, MDForeman

HUMPHREY, JOHNBEACON HILL COUNTRY CLUBATLANTIC HIGHLANDS, NJ2nd Assistant Superintendent

JAMES, STEVEBEVERLEY, EY JONES JR., MARKPINEY BRANCH GOLF CLUB, INC. HAMPSTEAD, MDGreenskeeper


13 KAPLAN, JONATHANOWATONNA COUNTRY CLUBOWATONNA, MNGrounds Crew

KELLER MICHAEL D. HYDE PARK GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBCINCINNATI, OHIrrigation Tech

KLEIN, MATTHEWAUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB AUGUSTA, GAIntern

LAROQUE, ROBERT M. (Mike) COUNTRY CLUB AT WOODMOREMITCHELLVILLE, MD2nd Assistant Superintendent

LEMKE, MICHAELGOLF COURSES AT LAWSONIAGREEN LAKE, WIAssistant Superintendent

LIN, HUNG-WEI (JIMMY)OAHU COUNTRY CLUBHONOLULU, HIEquipment Manager

LINDHOLM, DANIELWOLF RUN GOLF COURSERENO, NVSuperintendent

MACKENZIE, CHRISTOPHER TYLERTHE OLYMPIC CLUBSAN FRANCISCO, CAAssistant in training

MACLEAY, NICHOLASEASTMAN GOLF LINKSGRANTHAM, NHIntern

MARTEL-MOUGEOT, LAURENTPINEGROVE COUNTRY CLUBSAINT JEAN SUR RICHELIEU, QUEBECAssistant Superintendent

MARTIC, MICHAELWILLOUGHBY, OH MARTIN, TRAVIS D.MEADOW LAKES GOLF RESORTCOLUMBIA FALLS, MTAssistant Superintendent

McCLANNON, ANDREWMOCKSVILLE, NC MCNAMARA, BRIAN P.LANDSCAPE COMPANYWESTMONT, NJMaintenance

MORGAN, CHRISTOPHER S.GREEN KNOLL GOLF COURSEBRIDGEWATER, NJAssistant Superintendent

NELSON, JEFFREY W.THE RANCH CLUBMISSOULA, MTSpray Technician

PLETCHER, ELI R.HANNASTOWN GOLF CLUB GREENSBURG, PAGreenskeeper

PLEWA, JOHN-PAULTHE WIZARD GOLF CLUB MYRTLE BEACH, SCMaintenance

POWELL, BRIAN ELMIRA COUNTRY CLUBELMIRA, NYAssistant Superintendent

POWERS, ANDREWVerona, NJ PRINCIOTTI, JOSEPHLittle Egg Harbor, NJ RANDALL, COREYESSEX COUNTY COUNTRY CLUBWEST ORANGE, NJAssistant Grounds Superintendent

RAYFIELD ROBERTDELTA, OH

RYAN, CHRISTOPHERPRAIRIE DUNES COUNTRY CLUBHUTCHINSON, KSCrew Member

SCAFARO, KEVINMINTURN, CO SCHELLER, CHRISTIANOLDE YORK COUNTRY CLUBCHESTERFIELD, NJAssistant Superintendent

SHIPLEY, KEVINMADERAS GOLF CLUBPOWAY, CAAssistant Superintendent

SHURSON, ERICPOLE CREEK GOLF CLUBWINTER PARK, CO SPANO, VINCENT BERGEN COUNTY PARKS & RECREATIHACKENSACK, NJGreenskeeper

STANTON, MICHAEL T.BALTIMORE COUNTRY CLUBTIMONIUM, MDSpray Technician

STEFANSKI III, RICHARDTURNING STONE RESORT & CASINOVERONA, NYLead Grounds Technician

TENKMAN, GREGORYBLUE ASH GOLF COURSE CINCINNATI, OHForeman

THOMPSON, KEVINENGINEERS COUNTRY CLUB ROSLYN HARBOR, NY2nd Assistant Superintendent

TYLES, JAMESFOUNTAIN GROVE GOLF AND ATHLETIC CLUB SANTA ROSA, CAAssistant Superintendent

ULANDAY, AQUILINO (Noel) ORCHARD HILLS GOLF COURSEPARAMUS, NJOperations Manager

UNRUH, WILLIAM HOLSTON HILLS COUNTRY CLUBKNOXVILLE, TNAssistant in training

VIRGULAK, DANIEL M. POTOWOMUT GOLF CLUBWEST GREENWICH, RIAssistant Groundskeeper

VIRGULAK, STEPHENQUIDNESSETT COUNTRY CLUBNORTH KINGSTOWN, RIAssistant Superintendent

WAITE, EVANGREENWICH, CT

WELSH. DAVIDXGD DRAINAGE SYSTEMSSTUART, FLProject Manager

WILLIAMS, IAN P.POCANO FARMS COUNTRY CLUBGOULDSBORO, PAIntern

WILLIAMS, WOODROWDeceased

ZAROFF, DANIEL F. PINE VALLEY GOLF CLUB, NJPINE VALLEY, NJAssistant Superintendent

ZETTLE, STEVENBETHPAGE STATE PARKFARMINGDALE, NYIntern


There’s a lot more than meets the eye! In 1990, Echo Lake Country Club offered to the USGA to host the 1994 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.

We had many reasons for making this offer, but the most important was to give back to the game. There were many enthusiastic supporters of this effort, but there were also members who actively opposed the idea, concerned that we were “giving away” our course during the season. We took those concerns seriously during our four-year planning process, and we worked hard to convince critics that the effort was not only good for golf, but that our club would benefit as well. Little did we know how great that benefit would be.

Our first steps were to initiate long-range planning for the event. We asked ourselves what we needed to do to prepare for the championship, and we put it all down on spreadsheets. We looked at all aspects of our club, from parking to the clubhouse and locker rooms to the golf course itself. We didn’t realize it at the time, but this process was, in effect, a strategic planning exercise for our club. The fact that we had committed to a deadline for the championship caused us to sharply focus on doing what we could to make sure our club was prepared to be a successful host.

Site visits to the 1991, ’92, and ’93 championships gave us a good idea of how the event would run and of the needs of the players and their families. We also determined what would be required of the members who would serve as player hosts during the week. From these visits, and with the support of the USGA, we developed timetables, established expectations of how our members and staff would interact, and identified a few areas of weakness at our own club, some of which were a surprise to us.

For example, during this process it became clear that although the USGA did not ask us to do so, we needed to enlarge and improve our practice facility. This work was completed a year prior to the championship and rapidly became the most visible benefit to our members. By adding target greens and enlarging our tee, we attracted more and more members to this area. Quickly it became — and has remained — the most popular area of our club. It certainly served the164 boys well during the weeklong championship, and it has also served our entire membership since it was built.

Our course has benefited in many more subtle ways as well. Our own careful analysis of our bunkers uncovered some disturbing flaws, as did a similar look at tees, fairways, trees, and irrigation distribution. Though we could not tackle all of the issues we discovered, we have, over time, made improvements in each of these areas. These are areas we might have ignored — at least for a while — if we were not under the pressure of a deadline.As the seasons went by, longrange planning moved inevitably to mid-range and, ultimately, shortrange preparation. Along the way, we launched new programs and adopted new methods. We became aware of excessive trees on the course and the problems they cause, and we began the process of selectively culling out the undesirable ones, a program that continues to this day.

The championship went well, and during the week most of the members who had been concerned about “giving away the course” discovered a newfound pride in their course and a new sense of camaraderie with their fellow members. Friendships were formed and solidified, and, on that Saturday afternoon when a young champion was crowned, the general feeling was “This was great! When can we do this again?” The answer to that

question, I’m happy to say, was 2002, when the USGA brought the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship to our club. This time we had even more volunteers than before, the planning was smoother, and the event was embraced by nearly 100% of our members. The week went off wonderfully.

As the superintendent, it is natural that my primary focus is on the course itself. In many ways, though, the larger benefit of hosting these championships has been to our club. Ours is definitely not a cliquey club, but like most organizations, our members had developed their own circles of friends. Although there was an overall sense of fellowship among all members, these comfortable circles interacted infrequently.

As our members became involved in the various championship committees, an interesting phenomenon occurred. Small circles of friends morphed into larger groups and, after a while, into an energized membership pulling together for a common cause. Sharing the goals of supporting junior golf and to make the boys — and then the girls — feel at home at Echo Lake, our members became ambassadors for our club.

Along the way, lasting bonds were developed, and members formed a deep sense of club pride. In a sense, our vibrant club is what it is today because of the two championships we’ve hosted, and we look forward to our next opportunity to showcase our club. The staff benefited as well. The many meetings of the championship committee helped the department heads develop a deeper understanding of member desires and the inner workings of our club. As we worked with our members to ensure a successful event, strong relationships developed that exist to this day.


The Hidden Value of Hosting an Amateur CompetitionBy Chris Carson, Superintendent, Echo Lake CC, Westfield, NJ; InstructorReprinted with permission of the USGA Green Section (July 2011)


15

The Rutgers Turfgrass Alumni AssociationThanks to your generous support we continue to offer scholarships to turfgrass students who have worked hard and

excelled in their studies, helping them on the road to success. When you have a moment, please visit the Alumni section of our website www.golfturf.rutgers.edu to view the featured links. The ability to complete a membership application and pay dues online means alumni are now able to enroll year round instead of just once with the annual mailing. While you are visiting our website, click on our new Share Your Story link and let your fellow alums know how the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School benefitted your life. And join our Facebook page! We are proud that our alumni feel this special lifelong dedication to our program, and hope that your dedication to our future alumni continues each year. Thank you sincerely for your support, and best wishes for a successful season. The Rutgers Turfgrass Alumni Association is an affiliate of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association and supporter of Turfgrass Research at Rutgers. Help us touch base with someone from the “Have You Seen...” Contact Rosemary Mahony at 732-932-9271 or email [email protected].

One of the common laments of golf course superintendents is that our members just don’t understand what we do; they don’t appreciate what we are up against. In developing a successful plan for the Junior Amateur Championship, many of the key members of the club developed a fuller appreciation of what their managers and staffs accomplish Of the many treasured moments I have of that championship, the one that stands out is the difficult weather that struck midweek. We received three powerful storms in a 16-hour period, totaling seven inches of rain.

The green staff did a wonderful job of pumping, raking, and squeegeeing, and so too did our onsite USGA agronomist, Dave Oatis. What was most gratifying, though, was the spirit of our members who also pitched in to help. I have a photo taken just prior to resumption of play that shows the general chairman of the event and two other committee heads completing the raking of a washed-out bunker. With rakes in their hands and sweat on their brows, it perfectly illustrates the spirit

of our club: we were all together, doing whatever was needed to achieve success.The three managers of our club — the superintendent, professional, and club manager — developed a similar sense of teamwork, and so too did our staffs. For the green maintenance team, the championships are cornerstones of our history that we frequently reference when defining goals and expectations and when remembering the fun times we’ve enjoyed.

As I look back to that fateful decision in 1990 and think about what our golf course and club have become in the years since, I think the payback we’ve received by hosting these events has been remarkable. Though we focused our attention and resources on a specific week for a specific event, the real value, sometimes hidden, was to the course and our members. In our experience, the bar has been raised permanently; expectations are higher, and the resources to achieve them have, over time, been allocated.

We are now undertaking an extensive

master plan that is aimed at resolving some fundamental design flaws and finally addressing some of the concerns that were identified but not resolved 21 years ago. Though it might be lost on our current membership, I am convinced that the seeds of this current work were planted by a few members who asked a simple question: “What will it take for us to host an amateur championship?” Looking back, it seems to me that the bigger question was “What will we gain?”

Hosting a week-long championship, if done with careful preparation, will provide fun, thrills, positive publicity for your club, and support the game of golf. But the larger value will be subtler and longer term . . . . You’ll be moving your club forward in ways that may not be evident for years to come.

CHRIS CARSON has been the super-intendent at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield, N.J., since 1986, and has been a member of the USGA Green Section Committee for the past eight years. He is a valued member of our teaching staff.

We gratefully thank the following people who have generously paid their alumni dues for 2011-2012.

Joseph Adkinson Harold Bahrenburg Travis Bates Joe Berggren Anthony Bertels

Frank Bevelacqua Joseph Bianco Greg Bochneak Barry Bollinger Paul Bradley

Jaret Brant Paul Bruni Andrew Bucceri John Buck Frank Caravella

Keith Carper Tim Connolly Bryan Cosgrove Thomas Crump Janson Culver

Gregory Czaplinski Kenneth Duggan Jeff Dumont Mike Faga Jeff Feick

Ronald Frazier Aaron Gagnon John Garger Jr. Andrew Garner Robert Gluck

Tom Gosselin Michael Howell Christopher Kastner Durbin Loreno James Lynch

Jose Mana Justin Mandon Todd Marten Shawn Martin Jim McGaughey

Jason F. McPhail Thomas Murphy Jeff Newell Keith Nienow Patrick Nowlen

Francis Owsik Vincent “Jim” Pavonetti Mark Peterson Jason Pierce Joseph Pintar

Doug Porter Sidney Prinkey Harold Pyett Bill Reil David Renk

Raymond Rippert Thomas Ritchie Efron Romero Ronald Ruppert Chris Ryan

Don Sauvigne Aragorn Schafer Jesse Shannon Phil Shoemaker Ben Starkel

Jim Stewart Paul Stokes George Taylor Jonathan Tiernan Matthew Turner

James Vogel Todd Wenzel Farley Westbeook Jeffrey Wetterling Henry Wetzel

Jeffrey Wilson Todd Work

GreensThe Newsletter for Rutgers Turf Alumni Rutgers Turf Alumni

Congratulations to the many of you that have enhanced your position in the turf industry this year. Here is a sample! We wish you ALL much success!

RYAN BERGER, 2010 Assistant Superintendent, GLENMAURA NATIONAL GOLF COURSE, PA

DOMINIC BOUCHARD, 2001 Assistant Superintendent, KENNETT SQUARE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, PA

IAN BRAY, 2003 Assistant Superintendent, APPLE RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB, NJ

NICK BRITTON, 2007 Assistant Superintendent, LAKESHORE YACHT AND COUNTRY CLUB, NY

BRIAN BUTCHER, 2010 Assistant Superintendent, WESTCHESTER HILLS GOLF CLUB, NY

WAYNE CARTER, 2008 Assistant Superintendent, WESTHAM GOLF CLUB, VA

BRIAN CLAIR, 2011 Assistant Superintendent, ROYAL OAKS GOLF CLUB, PA

DANIEL COLEMAN, 2012 Manager, RYAN LAWN & TREE, KS

JAMES COLO, 1996 Superintendent, NAPLES NATIONAL GOLF CLUB, FL

MATTHEW DELLINGER, 2011 Assistant Superintendent, POOLESVILLE GOLF COURSE, MD

MATTHEW DIERDORFF, 2009 Assistant Director, ROGER DEAN STADIUM, FL

JASON EDGAR, 2008 Superintendent, SPRING HILL COUNTRY CLUB, OR

KURT FISHER, 2011 2nd Assistant Superintendent, TREETOPS RESORT, MI

JUDD FITZGERALD, 2000 Sales, ENVIRO SYSTEMS, IN

ALBERT FLETCHER, 2011 Assistant Superintendent, DESERT FOREST GOLF CLUB, AZ

CHRISTOPHER GOEBEN, 2010 Assistant Superintendent, RIDGEWAY COUNTRY CLUB, WI

EDDY GRATTINI, 1999 Superintendent, BRANDERMILL COUNTRY CLUB, VA

JOSEPH GULOTTI, 2001 Superintendent, CAVALIERS COUNTRY CLUB, DE

BRICE HERZBERG, 2011 Assistant Superintendent, JACKSON GOLF CLUB, SC

JOHN HUMPHREY, 2011 2nd Assistant Superintendent, BEACON HILL COUNTRY CLUB, NJ

PATRICK HUSBY, 2001 Superintendent, EAGLE OAKS GOLF CLUB, NJ

KEVIN HUTCHINS, 1996 Territory Sales Manager, TECTRON, CA

MARSHALL KLAY, 2007 Superintendent, SLEEPY HOLLOW GOLF CLUB, WV

BRIAN LENIK, 2012 Assistant Superintendent, MANHATTAN WOODS GOLF CLUB, NY

DANIEL LINDHOLM, 2011 Superintendent, WOLF RUN GOLF COURSE, NV

ANDRY MARTIN, 2000 Superintendent, OTEPPA GOLF CLUB, ESTONIA

KYLE MEAD, 2006 Superintendent, D’ANDREA GOLF CLUB, NV

MARCUS NIELSEN, 2008 Owner, ARTESIAN SPRINKLERS INC., CO

JAMES O’GARA, 2005 Assistant Superintendent, GREENBRIAR OCEANAIRE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, NJ

JASON PODRIS, 2000 Superintendent, MOYVALLEY GOLF CLUB, IRELAND

STEVEN PRICE, 2005 Superintendent, ROCKY KNOLLS GOLF COURSE, SD

NICHOLAS PUSKARICH, 2010 Assistant Superintendent, MOUNTAINTOP GOLF AND LAKE CLUB, NC

CASEY RICE, 2004 Superintendent, ESHQUAGUMA COUNTRY CLUB, MN

CHRISTIAN SCHELLER, 2011 Assistant Superintendent, OLDE YORK COUNTRY CLUB, NJ

KIRK SPIETH, 2004 Superintendent, BEVERLY COUNTRY CLUB, IL

LUCAS SPRAGUE, 2008 Superintendent, CANYON SPRINGS GOLF COURSE, ID

MICHAEL STANTON, 2011 Spray Technician, BALTIMORE COUNTRY CLUB, MD

TANNER STOVER, 2010 Superintendent, GREAT LIFE GOLF & FITNESS, KS

KYLE SWART, 2010 Assistant Superintendent, LINKS ON THE BAYOU, LA

MICHAEL TARDOGNO, 2007 Superintendent, GREENBRIAR OCEANAIRE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB, NJ

MATTHEW WILLIGAN, 1998 Superintendent, FIDDLER’S ELBOW COUNTRY CLUB, NJ

CHRIS WRENN, 2012 Assistant Superintendent, CLIFTON HIGHLANDS GOLF CLUB, WI

GLEN WRIGHT JR., 1992 Project Manager, XGD SYSYTEM, FL


17Have You Seen or Spoken to These Alumni?Do you know where they work? If they left the industry? Drop a line to [email protected]!

VINCENT BOCCUMINI 1990CARL BRAUN 1990JOHN CHALLENGER 1990JOHN CONNIG 1990ROBERT LEE HILL 1990HARRY KASBARIAN 1990JOHN PINO 1990PATRICK ROWLAND 1990MASASHI SASAKURA 1990

LEE BLANCHARD 1991SCOTT S. KLEIN 1991BRENT J. MOISA 1991TERRY L. PAIGE 1991DEIDRA PISAURO 1991WILLIAM J. RYAN 1991ESMERLIN (John) SALCEDO 1991JEFFREY SMOLHA 1991GREGORY M. STEMMER 1991PAUL T. WILLIAMS JR. 1991

MITCHEL BONAGURO 1992SUSAN BONITO 1992HORACE M. BUNCH 1992PREBEN JESSEN 1992KENNETH MCCORMICK 1992EDWARD W. MC ELROY 1992JAMES MCGUINNESS 1992DAVID E. MERSMAN 1992EDWARD MILLS II 1992JAMES P. MORGAN III 1992KIRK C. SEDLACK 1992MICHAEL H. TRZYNA 1992LESLIE TUENGEL 1992N. CHAPMAN VAIL III 1992NEIL R. WARTMANN 1992JOHN G. WASHKWICH 1992GARRICK V. WHITTIKER 1992KARL ZAINITZER, JR 1992

ROGER J. ANTHONY 1993THAD ATKINS 1993PETER BERGERON 1993MICHAEL J. BLANDA 1993JEFFREY BROWN 1993DUNAUD CADET 1993PETER H. COLLERAN 1993BRIAN COOL 1993THOMAS F. FISH 1993RICHARD M. GAYLORD 1993THOMAS HAYDEN III 1993ALFRED M. HOLDEN 1993MICHAEL J. MYLET 1993JOHN T. PINSKEY 1993TIMOTHY M. READING 1993BRET A. ROBY 1993WILLIAM J. SOETH 1993GLEN W. VANISTENDAL 1993GERALD K. AHMAI 1994CHRISTIAN H. BAUER 1994CORY BOWEN 1994

THOMAS A. BUSH 1994RANDY FREDERICK 1994MARTIN A. GIANNINI 1994STEVEN E. GROVES 1994EARL D. HARGIS 1994BRENDAN A. HOWARD 1994DAN JULOW 1994JOHN J. LABB 1994DAVID M. MILLS 1994JOSEPH B. MORTILLARO 1994CHRISTOPHER ROTH 1994JOHN K. SCHIKAL 1994KEVIN SPRAGUE 1994PATRICK L. STACHOWSKI 1994ALBERT SWANSON III 1994JANIS L. TETTEMER 1994DAVID W. UGI 1994ROBERT T. WACHTER 1994WADE S. WEAVER 1994JOHN R. WOLFF 1994

SCOT BAER 1995THOMAS A. BERK SR. 1995JAMES CARNEY 1995TODD CASZATT 1995CHRISTOPHER CLARK 1995MARK C. FOULKS 1995JEFFREY GREEN 1995HAIG HANDSHAW 1995RUDY HOBBS III 1995STEVEN A. JONES 1995JOHN KANNENBERG 1995BRIAN KOWALENKO 1995RICHARD MILLER 1995GARY L. RAMSEY 1995JOEL SAINT-ELIEN 1995DONALD WOOLDRIDGE 1995

JAMES R. CONDER 1996ROBERT L. DODDS 1996HOUSTON H. FREY 1996LEONARD J. GRIPPO 1996KEVIN J. HALLAM 1996CHARLES L. JENKINS 1996DANIEL M. MC CALL 1996STEVEN J. MORGAN 1996JAMES B. MORRILL 1996RANDALL B. OLSON 1996ROBERT J. POLITANO 1996RICHARD M. SAFFORD 1996CURTIS M. SAKAMOTO 1996PETER M. SHERONAS 1996LUCAS SYLVESTER JR. 1996MICHAEL J. TREZZA 1996KEVIN B. YODER 1996LISA ANCUTA 1997BRYCE ANDERSON 1997SHAWN BREHM 1997TRACEY CARTER 1997JEFFREY D. COFFMAN 1997THOMAS E. CURRIE JR. 1997

SAMUEL L. DEFOREST 1997PAUL E. FOLLET 1997STEVEN G. GRIMLER 1997KEVIN HAASE 1997GREGG S. HOKIT 1997JEFFREY JOHNSON 1997KARL KINDBERG 1997JEFFREY LAUER 1997BRIAN LUBECK 1997CHRIS MCCORMACK 1997DANIEL MELE 1997SCOTT C. MUMMA 1997RICHARD PALCKO 1997WILLIAM PEDRAZZI 1997RICHARD PIETROPOLA 1997MATHEW RAUH 1997CRAIG R. ROBINSON 1997DANIEL P. SINEK 1997JASON W. SMITH 1997JAY STADLER 1997THOMAS J. STEFFANN 1997ALFRED (AJ) STUART III 1997DAVID J. ULRICH 1997GREGORY VITRANO 1997TROY VROMAN 1997DARIUS WADOLOWSKI 1997ANTHONY S. WEAVER 1997KEVIN WISCOMBE 1997STEPHEN WOJDULA 1997

MICHAEL BABAK 1998MICHAEL BARRETO 1998DAVID P. CINALLI 1998BRIAN D’AMATO 1998THOMAS V. FARRELLY 1998WARREN GILDER 1998QUENTIN HADLOCK 1998ADAM N. HARRIS 1998ALEX HENDRY 1998JAMES HILL 1998BRIAN HUDGINS 1998TOD A. JACKSON 1998PHIL JANGL 1998JASON JOHNSON 1998TOM KORINCHAK JR. 1998EARL MARLATT 1998RONALD S. MARTIN 1998DANIEL MCCULLEY 1998CHRISTOPHER A. MEYER 1998DARIN C. MILLER 1998DANIEL NECE 1998ROBERT PALLAS 1998WILLIAM RIEDEMANN 1998JOHN E. SCHOLZ 1998DANIEL SHUTT JR. 1998TIMOTHY SMITH 1998SHANE M. TRESSLAR 1998JASON WHITE 1998ROBERT ADAMS 1999DREW C. ANFINSEN 1999CHAD BAKER 1999

ANTHONY T. BENFIELD 1999BRIAN BESS 1999COLE T. DREW 1999JASON DYPSKY 1999JOSEPH J. GLOVIAK 1999CHARLIE LORUSSO 1999LOUIS A. LUCERO 1999JAY E. MARQUESEN 1999MICHAEL MAURIN 1999WILLIAM P. MCDERMOTT 1999BRIAN C. MILLER 1999SANTOS NIEVES 1999TODD M. SAGANIEC 1999JAKE C. SCHIPPER 1999DAVID SIEVERS 1999CHRIS P. SIMONETTA 1999NIGEL SKINNER 1999ALBERTO VASQUEZ 1999THOMAS D. YODER 1999PAUL A. ZANELLA 1999

TODD E. ARNOLD 2000DAVID W. BIELAK 2000BRANDON CONLOW 2000GREGORY F. COX 2000PATRICK L. FOGEL 2000BRIAN D. GERVAIS 2000DAVID L. HEFFERNAN 2000JESSE JOHNSON 2000CRAIG P. LAWRENCE 2000RICHARD C. LEAHY 2000GREGORY G. MILLER 2000RICHARD A. MULLIKIN 2000WILLIAM F. SANDERS 2000STEVEN TIMMONS 2000DAVID B. VARGO 2000JOSHUA P. WALDSCHMIDT 2000SETH WILSON 2000

WILLIAM T. FILMORE 2001JEFFREY S. JACKSON 2001DAVID KADESH 2001KEITH D. LEE 2001KEVIN P. MAHONEY 2001RONALD D. MCHUGH 2001DENNIS R. MCNAMARA 2001ALAN K. RAMSEY 2001BRIAN ALTANA 2002

OREST V. ROSHAK 2002GREGORY M. SHARIN 2002

DONALD A. BROWN 2003ROBERT P. FOGERTY 2003MARC PALUMBO 2003

DENNIS D. LEIFSON 2004JOHN A. NUNEZ 2004


Selling the ProjectGolf Course Industry - Industry News, DiseaseKyle Brown - April 2012

Frank Tichenor, superintendent at Forest Hill Field Club, needed to replace his course’s irrigation system. But first, he had to get the board on his side: here’s how he did it.

What was the project you worked on?

We did an irrigation project about five years ago, a while after I came on. When they looked for a new superintendent, they asked everybody in the interviews, “What are your feelings about the irrigation system?” The only people that got second interviews were the people that said, “You need a new irrigation system.” The irrigation system was really dated. The first year in we had a lot of problems with it, especially in the pump house. We did a good job documenting those problems.

How’d you go about making the sale to your course?

Through talks with the green committee, we knew our ultimate goal was to put in an irrigation system but it was going to be a tough sell. So we documented all the problems. If we had a breakdown in a pump station, we made sure everybody knew that. You always pre-sell any project that you’re looking to do to pretty much to every member of the board. So when you go into a board meeting, you need all this stuff pre-sold, so each board member takes ownership of the idea. When it does come up to the board, all the sudden they feel like, yeah, this is a good idea

that I came up with. Even if they didn’t, they still feel that way.

It went in front of the membership. They needed X amount of percentage to get it over. We had the USGA come in and we had Dave Otis give a presentation about our irrigation system and the benefits of a new irrigation system. We did not bring in any of the consultants we had hired. We felt that the membership would look at them and say, “Well of course he’s going to say we need a new irrigation system. You’ll make money on it.” The USGA is Switzerland here. Dave did an awesome presentation. He walked off the stage and said, “I tried my best, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.” About three weeks later they had a vote, and it passed.

So what would you say were the secrets of getting this project through?

Really, just presell, presell, presell, document and use the right people. I didn’t go in front of a board and talk to them until I had spoken to each individual board member about it. You know, I would talk to the board member and say, “Hey, have you got five minutes? I just want to show you something,” and then go out and show them where I’m having trouble with the irrigation. You know, “Can you come down? I want you to take a look inside our pump house. This is what the story is here.” We took photos, a lot of photos. We had bad electrical down there. I don’t want to sound like this is a trick, but anytime you go and start saying this is a safety hazard, people listen. One of my lines is, “I hope I don’t get barbecued down there, because my wife’s gonna own the course.” My first year here, we had a lot of stressed areas because of irrigation problems. We took lots of photos to show hey, this is what it looks like. My old assistant went out and took photos of all the stressed areas. As a follow up, and it really worked out well, we took pictures of the course after the system was

in for about two years. We did an August pic of what it looked like that first year, and what it looked like a year or two after we put the system in, and it was night and day. People didn’t really realize it until they saw it. The best way I think to do it is through photos. You can give them: “The PSI isn’t correct, we’re not getting good coverage.” They don’t understand it, and they really don’t care. All they care about is that the golf course is in good shape. They don’t want to hear the technical stuff.

How do you go about pointing out the need for a project without sounding like whining?

Some of that stuff, you almost have to prove yourself in other areas. If you go around saying, “This stinks, this stinks,” they’re not going to listen. But say, “This is a problem we have, this is how I propose to solve it, and this is what you’ll get.” Show how you can do things with less. People appreciate that. You have to spend the money like it’s your own. Show them where they’re saving their dollars and that’s important, it’s their money, You’ve really got to understand it’s their money, their dues. I see a lot of guys say, “It’s my golf course. I’m gonna do it.” No, it isn’t; you’re a superintendent. Keep your ego in check. You can’t keep saying, “Me, me, me.” It’s “us” and “your course”: “I want to do it for your course.” You can’t say, “I want to do it because it makes my life easier,” because you know something? They really don’t care how easy your life is. Show them what it’s going to do for them. They really don’t care if you’re here for five hours on that Saturday afternoon or what kind of hours as long as the course looks good. You’re not going to sell them on: “That’s going to free my Saturday.” You’re going to sell: “I can water in-between play and I won’t disturb you.” It’s all about them.

Frank Tichenor is a 1995 graduate of the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School.

http://www.golfcourseindustry.com/strictly-business-Frank-Tichenor-forest-hill-field-club.aspx


19

How will the weak winter affect golf courses in the Midwest? Dr. Bruce Clarke, extension specialist at Rutgers, explains what to look for when green starts showing up early.

What are the implications of this very warm winter on anthracnose for 2012?

I don’t think anyone really knows the impact of the winter on the population of the fungus. If there’s a lot of winter damage, is anthracnose coming in on weakened turf and causing a problem that way? I think we’ve seen more severe anthracnose coming in mid-to-late spring on top of areas that have been severely damaged by winter, maybe something like what we had last year. This year is probably one of the mildest winters we’ve had in many years. The only way I could see anthracnose being more severe is if it’s colonizing turf with these temperatures in the 50s and 60s. The caveat is that we really don’t know the impact of the mild winter on fungus.

What should superintendents do to prevent anthracnose from becoming a problem this spring?

The bottom line for superintendents is trying to follow the best management practices that we’ve developed over the past 4-5 years to try to maintain vigorous, healthy turf. That’s the best way to deal with anthracnose before you start considering fungicide strategies.

Whether warm or cold, try to improve your cultural program in the spring or summer. Anthracnose is a stress-related

disease. With a mild year where the turf is not stressed as much, I would think it might play to the advantage of a superintendent. The turf is not damaged as much, so we go into the spring in a healthier condition.

You want to look where you’ve had a history of anthracnose before, and you want to maintain a healthy level of nitrogen, in particular. You might want to increase your spoon-feeding programs. Take a look at mowing heights. You don’t want to mow below what that species has been developed for: a tenth of an inch and below and continually mowing at that height would weaken the turf. Maintain an reasonable height of cut, with increased rolling and topdressing, which we’ve learned is a really important agronomic practice from the perspective of anthracnose in particular.

Sand tends to reduce the severity of anthracnose throughout the season. A little more heavily in spring going to light or moderate in summer is a good approach to reduce the severity as well.

Avoid wilt stress, which tends to predispose plants to anthracnose. You can run your greens dry, but not to the point where you’re getting repeated wilt. What we don’t know is the impact of winter temperatures on the survival of the anthracnose pathogen.

How should superintendents look for anthracnose, if it is showing up already?

Supers have to always be on the

lookout for the yellowing associated with anthracnose. Look for the black porcupine spines of the fungus. Even if they see a small amount in the spring, always send it off to have a lab examine it.

From the standpoint of wet conditions, you need moisture for the disease to occur, but for the most part it’s much more prevalent where there’s desiccation.

When should a superintendent start to really look for turf disease this spring?

I think it basically goes back to control. For people who are using early spring applications for dollar spot, typically those go out on the second mowing in very early spring. This year, if turf starts growing a little earlier, that application might go out a week or two earlier than it has in the past. Keep an eye on the turf: when it’s actually picking up green tissue that’s about the time to do it. I can see how that might get pushed up a little because you’ll probably get growth a lot earlier this year unless we get another strange cold spell. It may only be a week or two sooner. I don’t know if there’s a big impact with this winter, but they should just keep their eyes open a little earlier than they normally would.

Dr. Bruce Clarke is an instructor of the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School.

w w w . g o l f c o u r s e i n d u s t r y . c o m /diseasediges t-030712-bruce-c larke-weak-winter.aspx

The Weak WinterGolf Course Industry - Industry News, DiseaseKyle Brown - March 2012

Director’s Message - Brand Loyalty (continued)

If our winter class of 2012 is any indication, there is enormous interest in professional education within the golf turf industry, and the quality of those interested in succeeding continues to grow despite the current economy and the ever-increasing challenges and sacrifices required to achieve our certificate. At the end of the day, we are only as good as those we have served, and I have been tremendously proud of how far so many of you have advanced in realizing your personal goals. This is a story about which we can all be truly proud, and I hope you will upon reading this note consider who the next person on your staff might be to send along to Rutgers and to become part of a truly great tradition. Here’s hoping you all have successful and productive summers. We’d love to hear about how we can continue to grow and serve your needs or about your personal successes and observations.

Sincerely,

New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station

Office of Continuing Professional Education102 Ryders LaneNew Brunswick, NJ 08901

732.932.9271

732.932.1187

[email protected]://golfturf.rutgers.edu

DIRECTOR

Ned Lipman

STUDENT /

CURRICULA ADVISOR

Dr. Richard Hurley

SENIOR PROGRAM

COORDINATOR

Fran Koppell

DIRECTOR, NJAES

CENTER FOR

TURFGRASS SCIENCE

Dr. Bruce Clarke

PROFESSOR,

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR,

NJAES CENTER FOR

TURFGRASS SCIENCE

Dr. William A. Meyer

RUTGERS TURFGRASS

ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

EXECUTIVE BOARD

Executive Director

Thomas Ritchie (‘76)

President

Donald Heynigher (‘75)

Vice-President

Robert Dickison (‘62)

Treasurer

Joseph Bianco (‘62)

Past President

Dr. Karen Plumley

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