Tee to Green March April 2015 Tee to Green Dec 2010 4/27/15 8:14 PM Page Ii
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Tee to Green April Cover 2015_Tee to G dec 2010 cover 4/26/15 5:25 PM Page 3 March/April 2015 VOLUME 46 NUMBER 2 Published by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association Tee to Green March April 2015_tee to green Dec 2010 4/27/15 8:14 PM Page ii Board of Directors President GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club Vice President DAV I D DU DON E S Westchester Country Club Treasurer KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS Cover: Century GlenArbor Golf Club Country Club. Secretary ROBERT B. ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club Past President BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club Directors MICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCS Upper Montclair Country Club BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club BRIAN CHAPI N Paramount Country Club DOUG DRUGO Wee Burn Country Club STEVEN McGLONE Siwanoy Country Club VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCS Fairview Country Club Class “C” Rep DAVID PARSON The Apawamis Club n this Issue Class “AF” Rep ROBERT STEINMAN, CGCS I Pocono Tur f Feature Executive Secretary SUSAN O’DOWD A Meeting of the Minds ........................................................2 New York State Turfgrass Advocacy Day Provides Tee to Green Staff Platform for Industry Professionals to Voice Concerns Editor JIM PAVONETTI Over Legislative Issues 203-531-8910 Managing Editor PAN DORA C. WOJICK Editorial Committee Departments TODD APGAR STEVEN MCGLONE MATT CEPLO BOB NIELSEN KEVIN COLLINS SCOTT NIVEN Letter to the Membership ......................................................5 ANDY DROHEN TOM REYES CHIP LAFFERTY GREG WOJICK Regional News ......................................................................6 Designer TERRI E YOU NG Upcoming Events ..................................................................7 Advertising Manager MIKE BRUNELLE, 973-777-6710 Member News ......................................................................7 TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf National Scorecard ................................................................8 Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Chapter News........................................................................8 Copyright © 2015 Tee to Green March April 2015_tee to green Dec 2010 4/27/15 8:14 PM Page 1 President’s Message think you’ll agree with me— and this Slavic proverb—that it was a tough Weathering the winter this year. The first half of the winter Iwas fairly benign: mild temps and zero snow. Then February and March hit along with frequent snowstorms and brutal cold, Aftermath of a resulting in an extremely slow start to the 2015 golf season. As the snow and icepack slowly melted Harsh Winter away from our courses, and turf started to Glen Dube, CGCS reveal itself, it became all too clear that MetGCSA President Mother Nature and Old Man Winter had conspired against us. The carnage from their cruel scheme included a deadly com- bination of ice damage, snow mold, and “Winter bites desiccation in varying degrees to many courses—not just in our area, but through- SPECIAL NOTE TO THE with its teeth or out the entire Northeast. MEMBERSHIP When you throw in the fact that winter As most of you know by now, Ed lashes with its snow has delayed course openings by almost Brockner has resigned as MetGCSA three weeks and directly impacted revenue executive director and is now the streams at facilities, you know this season is executive director for the First Tee of tai l.” off to a rocky start. But as a whole, superin- Metropolitan New York. Over the ~ Montenegrin Proverb tendents are a resilient group of people. We past four years, Ed has worked tire- can always find a way to overcome adversity lessly to generate advertising revenue, and move forward. organize countless Met events, and has been the face of our association. I would like to thank Ed for his ef- Survival Tips forts in enhancing our association I was very fortunate to come out of this and, on behalf of the MetGCSA Board winter with minor damage. I’m one of the of Directors, wish him the best of luck lucky ones this time. But I have been where in his new endeavor. some of you are now and know full well I would also like to thank Bob what you are going through. Here are a few Wolverton for his three years of de- things I’ve learned from experience: voted service to the board and our Following significant turf loss, open and association. His term on the board constant communication to your members has ended, and Brian Chapin will and/or management is paramount. Explain fill the vacant seat as a director. Brian what happened and how you are going to is the superintendent at Paramount fix it. Keep them in the loop and be honest Country Club and will be serving as about the timing of the recovery process. the Membership Committee chair- Depending on your membership’s preferred man. We are all looking forward to style of communication, reach out through working with Brian and know he will blogs, websites, emails, and newsletters. If make a great addition to our board. you don’t keep people informed, they will Good luck and welcome aboard! be left to make their own conclusions, and unfortunately, they may not be to your Glen Dube, CGCS benefit! President One of the most difficult aspects of the continued on page 12 Tee to Green March/April 2015 1 Tee to Green March April 2015_tee to green Dec 2010 4/27/15 8:14 PM Page 2 FFeatureeature AA MeetingMeeting ofof thethe MindsMinds New York State Turfgrass Advocacy Day Provides Platform for Industry Professionals to Voice Concerns Over Legislative Issues by Michael Maffei, CGCS 2 Tee to Green March/April 2015 Tee to Green March April 2015_tee to green Dec 2010 4/27/15 8:14 PM Page 3 he 16th Annual New York State Garnering Support for the Turfgrass Turfgrass Advocacy Day was held March 11 Environmental Stewardship Fund at the Empire State Plaza in Albany, NY, Greg Chorvas, Past President of the New Twith 49 superintendents and other industry York State Turfgrass Association professionals eager to discuss this year’s Greg spoke about the status and importance issues: Support for the Turfgrass Environ- of the Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship NYSTA President Tim Hahn addresses mental Stewardship Fund, the Adoption of Fund, reporting that it was our Number One the group during the Advocacy Day a State Definition of IPM, Repeal of the issue for the day. The 2013-2014 New York opening session. Pesticide Reporting Law, Parity for 3A, 3B State Budget included a $150,000 appropria- Pesticide Applicator Fees, Support for the tion to support research that provides im- (sponsored by Assemblywoman Gun- Farm Viability Institute, and Preserving proved turf management solutions. ther), which define integrated pest man- Pol l inator s’ Healt h. Continuing research is essential in provid- agement as a “systematic approach to man- Advocacy Day-goers made 71 legislative ing turf management solutions that are key aging pests that utilizes a diversity of man- visits to drive home the importance of these in preserving and protecting environmental agement options to minimize health, envi- legislative issues. Joining me in representing quality. With this in mind, NYSTA recom- ronmental, and economic risks and impacts. the MetGCSA were Blake Halderman, mended that legislators continue to fund These options may include biological, cul- CGCS; Bob Nielsen, CGCS; Matt Ceplo, the $150,000 line item in the 2015-2016 tural, physical, and chemical tools to prevent CGCS; Ernie Steinhofer, CGCS; Todd budget. pest infestations or reduce them to accept- Apgar; Kevin Collins; David Dudones, Mike In 2014, a portion of this funding went able levels.” McCall, CGCS; and Glen Dube, CGCS. toward supporting the next phase in the Both Senator Young’s and Assembly- development of the BMPs for New York woman Gunther’s bills are currently in The Event Kickoff State Golf Courses. Bedford Golf & Tennis their respective Environmental Conserva- Club Superintendent Bob Nielsen detailed tion committees. The event kicked off with an association their work in building a self-assessment tool breakfast and welcoming remarks by to help green industry professionals ensure Repeal of the Pesticide NYSTA President Tim Hahn. that they are putting the BMPs into practice Reporting Law Rick Zimmerman, an associate of The in their operations. Rick Zimmerman, Lobbyist, New York Vandervort Group and lobbyist for the New Executive summaries of the BMPs were Alliance for Environmental Concerns York Alliance for Environmental Concerns provided to all attendees and visiting legisla- Rick explained the history of the Pesti- (NYAFEC), and Jeff Williams of the New tors. In addition to focusing their discussions cide Reporting Law and how ineffective it York Farm Bureau spoke on the legislative on the issues of the day, attendees were has been. Industry spends $4.75 million climate in Albany and state budget issues. encouraged to present the BMP concept to each year to comply with this unfunded They also offered attendees some tips for legislators during each of their visits. mandate, and it has cost New York State $2 making effective visits, noting that it was billion since the law’s creation nearly 20 prime time to meet with legislators since Adopting a State Definition of IPM yea r s ago. they were in the midst of final budget Michael Maffei, CGCS, Co-Chair, During the legislator visits, we called negotiations. NYSTA Government Relations Committee for the complete repeal of the law. Senator Thomas O’Mara, chair of the I reviewed the Adoption of a State Defi- Senate Environmental Conservation Com- nition of IPM, stating that NYSTA believes Parity for 3A, 3B Certified mittee, addressed the group and expressed New York State would be best served by Applicator Fees his interest in our issues. He was pleased to adopting the IPM terminology recognized Larry Wilson, Chairman, New York report that the Senate had included by the Food Quality Protection Act, the Na- Alliance for Environmental Concerns $175,000 in their budget for the Turfgrass tional Integrated Pest Management Net- Larry explained that currently New York Environmental Stewardship Fund.