Tee to G May June 2008

Board of Directors

President MATTHEW CEPLO,CGCS Rockland Country Club Vice President ANTHONY GIRARDI, CGCS Rockrimmon Country Club Treasurer Cover:Ardsley ROBERT NIELSEN JR.,CGCS Country Club. Bedford Golf & Tennis Club Photography by Secretary Even Schiller, GLENN PERRY,CGCS www.golfshots.com, Rolling Hills Country Club golfshots@ Past President earthlink.net. WILLIAM HEINTZ Pound Ridge Golf Club ROBERT ALONZI JR. St.Andrew’s Golf Club KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS GlenArbor Golf Club GEORGE CORGAN Steven Willand Inc. DAVID DUDONES North Jersey Country Club GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club THOMAS LEAHY,CGCS Sleepy Hollow Country Club n this Issue SCOTT OLSON Scarsdale Golf Club I Executive Secretary INEKE PIERPOINT Feature

Tee to Green Staff The Need for Green Speed ...... 2 Editors ROB ALONZI DAVE DUDONES What’s New–and What’s Not–Among Met Area Clubs 914-478-5713 973-942-0566 Managing Editor Survey Results at a Glance...... 4 PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Committee KEVIN COLLINS SCOTT NIVEN In Search of the Ideal Green Speed...... 6 PAUL GRABBE ERIC O’NEILL DENNIS GRANAHAN BILL PERLEE CHIP LAFFERTY GLENN PERRY NICK LERNER MIKE REEB DAVE MOFFETT MIKE TOLLNER Departments GREG WOJICK Designer TERRIE DUNKELBERGER From the National...... 7 Photographer BILL PERLEE Scorecard...... 8 Advertising Manager ROB ALONZI, 914-478-5713 Member News ...... 8 TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association Upcoming Events ...... 10 49 Knollwood Road, Elmsford, NY 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright © 2008 Spotlights ...... 9, 11 President’s Taking the Crunch Message Out of Your Budget

rough throughout the course. And not a fairway divot left unfilled. You get the picture. While it’s undeniable that these practices are good, there’s a price to pay. If you, yourself, haven’t had to sharpen your pencil, you may be asked to do it soon. Best advice: Stay involved. You’re the best person to make decisions for your facility. Matt Ceplo, CGCS Your input is critical to the success of your MetGCSA President operation. As with any endeavor, communication is a Finding Economies must. Any cost-saving ideas you have should be approved by your Green Committee and There are subtle ways to reduce costs, if your clearly communicated to your membership. membership will support your efforts. At Rockland, we hand rake our bunkers three times a week and the rest of the time just On Another Note touch them up. We purchased a new bunker I want to say just a word about the image we rake this spring with a brush attachment. project at our meetings. We’ve gotten quite I’m hoping this will save us time and dollars. informal at our monthly golf events. Society, Speaking to a few guys at our monthly in general, has gone that way. More clubs are meeting about mowing patterns in fairways, offering casual dining; in fact, I wouldn’t be it seems the old black-and-white style is surprised if jeans were allowed in club grill making a comeback and, according to them, rooms before long. is a time-saver as well. I can relate to the office executive who he million-dollar question Another money-saver:Taking a more en- wears a coat and tie to work every day want- right now among Met-area clubs is “How is vironmentally conscious approach to golf ing to put on a polo shirt and relax after a your facility doing financially?” We had a lit- course maintenance. The trick, of course, is round of golf. But that’s not us. We’re not tleT scare, ourselves, this year. We lost mem- convincing your members to relax their ex- club members, there to socialize. We’re guests, bers over the winter, and that raised a few pectations a bit. there on business. eyebrows. As a result, the club is running Take weeds for example. If everyone Playing at a new course is great, and our some reduced-price memberships and has could live with a few weeds in some out-of- host superintendents have their courses in enacted a “preview plan,”where you can play play areas, you’ll spare yourself the labor and such great shape that I often feel like I’m play- for a period of time before committing to a chemicals required to eliminate them. And ing in a member-guest. But the reality is, it’s membership. I’m happy to say that we’ve by the way, make it clear to members that not a member-guest. It’s business, and as such, gained several new members, so our budget handpicking weeds isn’t the answer either we should dress and conduct ourselves accord- is under a little less scrutiny at the moment. since what you save on materials you’ll spend ingly. In other words, we should be projecting Of course, with the price of gas going on labor. a highly professional image at all our meetings. through the roof and a sluggish economy, At Rockland, we’ve added a number of Our goal is to project the same professional we’re not totally out of the woods yet. But native areas to the course. This not only saves image and command the same respect we’ve clearly,we’re not alone. The Met Golfer ran a water,but also spares us the time and expense come to enjoy at our own clubs, and we need feature article recently about the budget of fertilizing and mowing those areas. On to remember this at all our meetings. crunches facing Met-area clubs. Increased some of the more in-play areas, we will send utility bills and taxes, fewer Monday outings staff in to handpick weeds. Other areas we and overall rounds played,and escalating sup- let go. The membership understands this. Well Wishes ply costs are apparently leading many clubs I’ve also tried to communicate the benefit I hope you’ll all join me in wishing Jeff down a more conservative path, financially. of these areas in providing a habitat for a Wentworth a speedy recovery. Our thoughts Maintenance budgets have also skyrock- variety of birds and wildlife. There are a and prayers are with both Jeff and Mimi. eted, in large part because of increasingly number of good reasons to become more high member expectations. Hand raking environmentally responsible. A budget is just Matt Ceplo, CGCS no-plug bunkers. Consistent weed-free one of them. President

Tee to Green May/June 2008 1 Not only does the law of diminishing returns kick in as we lower heights of cut to attain greater green speeds, but the quality of turf also declines the shorter we go, he says. eature His recommendation:Keep the height of cut F at 1/8", and use rollers and/or double mowing to bump up the speed. Interestingly,however, it seems that superintendents are favoring rolling over double- The Need for cutting to attain fast, smooth putting surfaces—another significant change in practices over the past seven years. To be precise, 90 percent of respondents are rolling their greens, with two-thirds rolling three times a Green Speed week or more. Also on the rise is the use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs), with more than 90 per- What’s New–and What’s cent of respondents incorporating them into their green’s maintenance repertoire versus Not–Among Met Area Clubs just 61 percent seven years ago. by Scott E. Niven, CGCS Notable, too, is the jump in fertility levels. Right now, 53 percent of respondents are applying at least 3 lbs. N/1000 sq. ft. per year. In 2001, only 9 percent of clubs applied that much nitrogen. Fertility levels have climbed for a couple of reasons. First, new research shows that small increases in fertility levels do not appreciably slow green speed. And if they do, superintendents are compensating by lowering height of cut and rolling. Second, and probably most significant, is that nitrogen use has proved effective in he topic of green speed is prob- an idea of just how prevalent various prac- reducing the incidence of both anthracnose ably one of the most intriguing, if not con- tices are. and moss. Dr. Bruce Clarke’s research at Ttroversial, in all of golf. We first broached this How do your greens Stimp up against the Rutgers University showed that nitrogen touchy subject in 2001, when we surveyed others? You be the judge. levels at 3 lbs./1000 sq. ft or higher greatly Met members on their green speed philo- reduce the incidence of anthracnose, while sophy and management practices. At that Survey Snapshot Dr. Frank Rossi’s moss trials at Cornell point, with greens Stimping at an average of showed similar results. Obviously, superin- 9'8", we thought we couldn’t push our put- To start, the lion’s share of our respondents tendents have been listening. ting surfaces much further. share the same turf in common: Nearly 90 In the end, what’s most important is how How wrong we were. percent have either Poa or Poa/bent turf on superintendents and their members feel With the results in from our 2008 survey, their greens. That leaves only 10 percent about the green speeds on their courses. it’s crystal clear: Green speeds are up—and with the more desirable bentgrass. And Right now,the vast majority of superinten- on the rise. In fact, since our last survey that though more than 92 percent check green dents—more than 90 percent—feel that the charted the range of green speeds superin- speeds at least once a week—slightly more speed they’re achieving is about right for tendents try to obtain daily,the average speed than in the past—virtually no one is in favor their particular greens. has risen four inches to 10', and on the high of posting the numbers. Three-quarters of the clubs surveyed, end of each course’s green speed range, the Speaking of green speeds, to keep those however, report having at least one green average went up five inches to 11'6". greens Stimping up to member expecta- that can’t accommodate their typical green Nearly a mirror image of our first survey, tions—11' at their best for Tournaments and speed, with the average being three per this one was sent out to 128 MetGCSA Member/Guests—respondents are stepping course. In 2001, the average was four greens superintendents. A total of 53—from clubs up their cultural practices. One of the per course. Interesting. You’d expect that in New Jersey, New York, and Connecti- biggest changes noted since 2001 is the aver- with green speeds escalating, this number cut—were kind enough to reply (see list of age height of cut. Seventy-five percent of would climb, rather than decrease. One survey participants on page 5). Our list of the respondents report cutting heights of less explanation might be, however, that close to nearly 20 questions revealed not only greens than 1/8" (.125) or lower versus 55 percent half the respondents have recently rebuilt at maintenance facts and figures, but also in 2001. least one of their greens to reduce slope. respondents’ sentiments on the increasing Commenting on this practice in his book Overdone, however, the practice of strip- need for speed and the extra-special groom- The Superintendent’s Guide to Controlling ping greens of their slopes and contours can ing practices that go along with it. Putting Green Speed (see article page 6), Dr. render them nearly flat and, as Golf Course Here’s a look at what respondents had to Thomas Nikolai,turfgrass academic specialist Architect Forrest Richardson will tell you ... say, along with a careful tabulation of each at Michigan State University,cautions super- boring. Known for building some of the and every one of their responses to give you intendents about extremes in cutting height. wildest greens in recent times, Richardson echoes the sentiments of most architects

2 Tee to Green May/June 2008 when speaking about the pressing need Mark Fuller, CGCS Blake Halderman, CGCS, Brae Burn among members for speed: Connecticut Golf Club, Easton, CT Country Club, Purchase, NY “I feel green speeds have hurt the creativity we I have a management plan that calls for a 10 Our contours, here, are tricky,so most mem- can inject into greens. There has become a discon- to 10.5-foot speed, day in and day out, with a bers are happy with green speeds at around nect between visual green undulations and the higher speed for tournament play or when 10. Any faster than that, and it could get too need for softer, more subtle undulations as a result it’s not detrimental to the turf. gimmicky. We have very few members who of increased speed. What the eye sees is therefore are between 0 and 5 handicaps, so keeping it less interesting, harder to read, and probably less Peter Rappoccio, CGCS, Silver fun for the majority is the priority—except fun. The shadows and aesthetic side of green con- Spring Country Club, Ridgefield, CT during major tournaments, of course. tours are essential. As we mellow out the green,we We try to have a program of green speeds at are mellowing out the visual interest of golf.” 10 to 10.5 on a daily basis. Our club is more On Educating the Membership . . . While most clubs still clearly profess a concerned with healthy turf than really fast need for speed, the good news is that fewer greens. Tony Girardi, CGCS, Rockrimmon than in the past are actually willing to sacri- Country Club, Stamford, CT fice turf to get there. Smooth, consistent, Mike Reeb, CGCS, Country Club of We are trying to educate our membership on high-quality greens seem to be taking prece- New Canaan, New Canaan, CT the benefits of reducing and/or maintaining dence over extra speed. Green speed is a vocal issue among a rela- green speeds in order to promote healthy Nevertheless, as green speeds have risen, tively small part of the membership, but we turf. Over the past three years, as a result of those who must keep their greens “on the do seem to talk about it more each year. Our trying to speed up our greens, we’ve seen an edge” the majority of the time admit to feel- Greens & Grounds Committee currently increase in anthracnose. We also discovered a ing the strain. In fact, the percentage of supports an operating standard within the high level of organic matter, which we need supers who noted feeling stressed by the range of 9.5 to 10.5 for daily play and accepts to displace at a rate of about 40 to 45 percent escalating demand for faster greens is up up to 12" more for certain events. Consis- per year over the next three to five years in from 17 percent in 2001 to a full 40 percent tent, healthy putting surfaces are preferred order to meet members’ expectations for today. above risky green speeds. speed. The only other alternative would be to do a complete USGA rebuild on the 14 The Truth and Consequences of Green Richard Spear remaining “native soil-based” greens. Piping Rock Club Locust Valley, NY Speed Our greens were built in 1912. I’m not quite Tony Grasso, Metropolis Country Club,White Plains, NY As part of our survey,we asked respondents that old, but I suspect they were rolling way south of 6' at that time. Neither the soil pro- No one has ever lost his job for slow greens. to comment on their feelings, philosophies, Superintendents have, however, lost greens and approach to the growing need for speed files nor the contours work well at present- day green speed expectations. We attempt to and jobs for maintenance practices that cause on courses in the Met area. Here’s a sam- stress to the turf, like underfertilizing com- pling of what they had to say: keep them high 9's to mid 10's, but we’ve lost plenty of hole locations, and the input quan- bined with excessive mowing, rolling, and tities (labor and materials) are high and get- topdress dragging. The other often-over- On Speed Plans and Philosophies . . . ting higher. Predicting the future is tough, looked factor: the weather. Memberships Glen Dube, CGCS but I believe things will change. Financial have to understand that green speeds will vary Centennial Golf Club, Carmel, NY and/or environmental issues will force us to with weather conditions, or turf quality—and At Centennial, we have very undulated back off at some point. the superintendent, too—will suffer. greens. If the speeds are too severe, some greens become unplayable or lead to four- Steven Wirth, Cherry Valley Country John Ruzsbatzky, CGCS and five-putting. That, in turn, leads to Club, Skillman, NJ Country Club of Farmington higher scores, longer rounds, and general Turf comes before green speed. I,fortunately, Farmington, CT customer dissatisfaction. Plus, the owners have the authority to adjust as I see fit, We’ve been very successful communicating love grass on their greens. They don’t want depending on conditions. the pressures of anthracnose when we go turf health compromised for higher green speeds. We did manage to get some decent speeds on the greens throughout last season while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of the greens. In my short tenure here,I haven’t found green speed to be a huge issue.

Brian Benedict,The Seawane Club Hewlett Harbor, NY Our membership is more concerned with quality, aesthetics, and smoothness. We’ve gotten our greens fast in the past with the appropriate weather conditions, and members complained they were too fast. We also have the micro-climate of wind off the bay to consider. Two Richardson Invitationals ago, we had the greens at 13, and the balls were being moved on the green by high winds that day. Of course, we’re probably unique in that regard. Tee to Green May/June 2008 3 Survey Results at a Glance

Number of Respondents Number of Respondents Number of Respondents

1. What kind of turf is on your greens? 0.117 1 – 12. What is the moisture level of your greens? Bent 7 0.118 1 1 2008 2001 Poa 5 0.120 3 2 Damp 8 6 Poa/Bent 41 0.125 13 14 Field capacity 18 14 0.130 2 3 Dry 25 14 2. Do you post green speeds? 0.135 4 – 2008 2001 0.140 6 2 13. What is your annual nitrogen fertility level? Ye s 3 5 0.150 1 3 2008 2001 No 50 29 0.156 – 1 Less than 1 lb. 0 3 Average = 0.120 0.130 1 – 2 lbs. 4 18 3. How often do you check the speeds each Mower Type? 2 – 3 lbs. 21 10 week? Toro 1000 11 20 3 – 4 lbs. 20 3 2008 2001 Toro Flex 19 – More than 4 lbs. 8 – 1 day 14 10 Toro 800 1 – 2 days 13 5 Jac 422 5 8 14. Do you feel the speeds you are asked to keep 3 days 12 5 Jac Flex 2 – for your greens are appropriate for the rela- 4 days 4 2 Jac E–Walker 4 – tive severity of the contours? 5 days 2 2 John Deere 6 2 2008 2001 6 days 1 1 Ransomes – 1 Just right 48 24 7 days 3 4 Triplex 5 – Too fast 5 8 0 days 4 5 7. How many times do you cut per day? 15. How many greens do you have with 4. What is your average green speed? 2008 2001 extremely limited cupping area? 2008 2001 1x 44 17 2008 2001 8'6 – 9' 4 6 2x 1 5 0126 9' – 9'6" 4 4 3x 1 1 143 9'6" 8 7 1x or 2x 7 11 284 9'6" – 10' 9 4 395 10' 13 6 8. How often do you roll per week? 446 10' – 10'6" 2 2 2008 2001 542 10'6" 10 4 Occasionally – 4 632 10'6 – 11' 1 1 0x 4 5 721 11' – 11'6" 2 0 1x 5 4 832 Total average 2x 10 11 922 daily speed = 10' 9'8" 3x 17 9 12 1 – 4x 15 – 18 1 1 5. What is your range of green speed? 5x 1 – Average = 3 greens/course (2008) 2008 2001 7x 1 1 Average = 4 greens/course (2001) Low end <8' 1 0 8' 8 8 8A. What kind of roller do you use? 15A.Have you rebuilt any greens to reduce slope? 8'6" 6 4 Speed roller 11 Ye s 2 0 9' 15 14 Salsco 10 No 33 9'3" – 1 Triplex 8 If so, how many? 9'6" 15 3 Vibratory 11 # of greens # of respondents 9'9" 2 1 Smithco 2 110 10' 5 1 Tru Turf 1 23 Average low = 8'11" 8'10" Greens Iron 1 34 41 High end 9. How often do you topdress? 51 9' 2 1 2008 2001 71 10' 11 3 Every week – 1 10'2" – 2 Every 2 weeks 21 7 16. Will you sacrifice some turf for increased 10'6" 3 4 Every 3 weeks 9 5 green speed? 10'9" – 1 Every 4 weeks 15 18 2008 2001 10'10" – 1 Every 8 weeks – 2 Ye s 1 0 1 0 11' 18 8 With aerification 3 1 No 43 24 11'6" – 6 As needed 5 – 12' 15 3 17. How important are fast green speeds to your 12'6" 1 2 10. Do you use PGRs regularly? membership? 13' 2 1 2008 2001 2008 2001 Average high = 11'6" 11'1" Ye s 4 8 2 1 Ver y 23 16 No 5 13 Somewhat 24 16 6. What is your usual height of cut? Minimal 6 2 2008 2001 11. Do you use groomers, brushes, verticutters? 0.080 – 1 2008 2001 18. Does this issue give you more personal stress 0.090 1 – Ye s 4 5 3 1 than any other? 0.093 1 – No 8 3 2008 2001 0.095 2 – How often? Ye s 2 1 6 0.100 1 – Every week 9 7 No 32 28 0.105 3 – Every 2 weeks 15 11 0.110 11 – Every 4 weeks 14 7 0.115 3 1 As needed 7 3 Spring/Fall – 3 4 Tee to Green May/June 2008 below .125 with our bench settings. As a result, we’ve increased fertility and the Green Speed Today and Into the Future amount of rolling we do, and we don’t go Historical Green Speed Escalation below a .125 cutting height. We have consis- Over the past half-century, green tent speeds and healthier greens. We do have speeds have increased at a steady and Year Perceived Fast Green Speeds some vocal members who want faster predictable rate: about one foot per greens, so we satisfy them for major tourna- decade. How long can we keep this 1950s 6 – 7’ ments by using PGRs to keep speeds regu- going? 1960s 7 – 8’ lated. But the reality is that speeds of 10.5 to 1970s 8 – 9’ 11 are too fast for most players on our undulated, small greens. 1980s 9 – 10’ 1990s 10 – 11’ Jim Weiland,Shorehaven Golf Club 2000s 11 – 12’ Norwalk, CT Our members say and think they want firm, 2010s 12 – 13’ ??? fast greens, but they also want green, lush- looking turf. Education about green speeds Here’s how Met area courses are For Regular Membership Play Stimping, according to our 2008 survey. and turf health has been slow but steady. In Current Speed Chart for Met Area Courses (2008) general, as long as green surfaces are healthy, smooth, and consistent, speed complaints are 11’6” = Fast minimal. 10’9” = Medium Fast 10’ = Medium On Stress . . . 9’6” = Medium Slow John Carlone, CGCS,The Meadow 9’ = Slow Brook Club, Jericho, NY Our big,flat greens can accommodate higher green speeds, so we strive to keep them at 10.5. Special Thanks to Our Survey Participants The issue of green speed used to be a great source of stress for me, but PGRs and rolling Bob Alonzi, CGCS, Fenway GC, Scarsdale, NY Lyman Lambert, CGCS, Nassau CC, Glen Cove, NY have pretty much solved this problem. Phil Anderson, Village Club of Sands Point Neil Laufenberg, Innis Arden GC, Old Greenwich, CT Sands Point, NY Dan Madar, Spook Rock GC, Suffern, NY Joe Tamborski, Hempstead Golf Harry Bahrenburg, Huntington Crescent Club Darrell Marcinek, CGCS, Neshansic Valley Golf Course, Club, Hempstead, NY Huntington, NY Neshansic Station, NJ We have a younger contingent who feels the Michael Barton, CGCS, Burning Tree CC Tim Moore, Knollwood CC, Elmsford, NY greens are never fast enough. Like most Greenwich, CT Bob Nielsen, CGCS, Bedford Golf & Tennis Club guys, I’m walking the line, trying to provide Brian Benedict, The Seawane Club Bedford, NY what golfers want and what the greens need Hewlett Harbor, NY Scott Niven, CGCS, The Stanwich Club, Greenwich, CT to keep them healthy enough to ward off Mike Benz, Middle Bay CC, Oceanside, NY John O’Keefe, CGCS, Preakness Hills CC, Wayne, NJ anthracnose. We have a challenging growing Sean Cain, CGCS, Sunningdale CC, Scarsdale, NY Paul F. Pritchard, CGCS, Wiltwyck GC, Kingston, NY environment: small native, push-up soil Tony Campanella, Hampshire CC, Mamaroneck, NY Lou Quick, CGCS, Anglebrook GC, Lincolndale, NY greens that get a lot of play—30,000 to Peter Candelora, Cold Spring CC Todd Raisch, CGCS, Ridgewood CC, Paramus, NJ 35,000 rounds per year. There’s really no Cold Spring Harbor, NY Peter Rappoccio, CGCS, Silver Spring CC place to hide turf loss. No room for error. John Carlone, CGCS, The Meadow Brook Club Ridgefield, CT Jericho, NY Mike Reeb, CGCS, CC of New Canaan, New Canaan, CT Matt Ceplo, CGCS, Rockland CC, Sparkill, NY John Ruzsbatzky, CGCS, The CC of Farmington Food for Thought Bob DeMarco, The Powelton Club, Newburgh, NY Farmington, CT Though survey results show more superin- Glen Dube, CGCS, Centennial GC, Carmel, NY Bill Salinetti, CGCS, National Golf Links of America tendents are pulling out all the stops to Dave Dwinell, CGCS, Wollaston GC, Milton, MA Southampton, NY increase the speed of their greens—heights Richard Evans, Town of Wallkill Golf Course Rich Spear, Piping Rock Club, Locust Valley, NY of cut are lower, nitrogen fertility is up, and Middletown, NY Gregg Stanley, CGCS, The Bridge Club Bridge there’s an increase in rolling and in the use of Steve Finamore, CGCS, Alpine CC, Demarest, NY Hampton, NY Plant Growth Regulators—is this stress Mark Fuller, CGCS , The Connecticut GC, Easton, CT Joe Tamborski, CGCS, Hempstead GC being self-imposed? If you listen to our sur- John Gallagher, Race Brook CC, Orange, CT Hempstead, NY vey participants’ individual commentary, it Tim Garceau, The Tuxedo Club, Tuxedo Park, NY Greg Tudor, Waubeeka Golf Links, Williamstown, MA seems that what members really want these Joe Gardner, Dellwood CC, New City, NY Greg Vadala, CGCS, Montclair GC, Montclair, NJ days are healthy, true, consistent greens . . . Tony Girardi, CGCS, Rockrimmon CC, Stamford, CT Harry Ward, Crestbrook Park Golf Course, Watertown, CT over the fastest speed possible. Paul Gonzalez, CGCS, Whippoorwill Club Jim Weiland, Shorehaven GC, Norwalk, CT Armonk, NY Jeff Wentworth, CGCS, Pelham CC Scott Niven, a member of the Tee to Green Tony Grasso, Metropolis CC, White Plains, NY Pelham Manor, NY Editorial Committee, is Superintendent at The Blake Halderman, CGCS, Brae Burn CC Steve Wirth, Cherry Valley CC, Skillman, NJ Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. Purchase, NY Jason Ziesmer, Manhattan Woods GC, West Nyack, NY

Special thanks to Stanwich assistants Ryan Segrue and Jim Schell for their help in preparing the data for this article. Tee to Green May/June 2008 5 In Search of the Ideal Green Speed

he problem with green speed Developed at Crystal Downs Country may very well be superintendents’ Club in Frankfort, MI, by Superintendent Tattitude toward it. At least that’s what Mike Morris, this method involves a system you might take away from Michigan Uni- for rating member satisfaction to determine a versity’s green speed guru Thomas Nikolai, golf course’s “ideal green speed.” who authored the well-known book The Here’s how it works: Superintendent’s Guide for Controlling Putting 1. Daily green speed measurements must be Green Speed. obtained on at least one green (two is pre- According to Nikolai, the long debate over ferred) every day. And it’s generally best to green speed persists because it’s perpetually take these measurements twice a day: once in been treated as an annoyance instead of an the morning and once in the afternoon. happens to be the current average for those important topic worthy of scientific research. 2. Golfers, without any knowledge of what who responded to our own green speed sur- In the past, superintendents looking for the measured green speed is, are given a card vey. This speed seems to be optimal for aver- answers to their members’ green speed de- at the end of their round and asked to rate age golfers—and for the superintendents in mands have come across articles that inform the speed of the greens. our survey, who report being better able to them to: maintain healthy turf while keeping the • Tell their members that “speed kills” Afterward, the daily green speed measure- course “fun”for the majority of members. • Get members to lower their expectations ments and golfer survey responses are put By contrast, U.S. Open venues like Oak- • Avoid telling members the truth about into a database.The procces is repeated for mont and, of course,Augusta National create their green speed several months to determine each individual speeds right up there with a pool table’s, “While this information is well inten- course’s ideal green speed. which Stimps at roughly 15 feet. Unfortu- tioned,” says Nikolai in a recent Grounds To give you an idea of the value of this nately,putting greens are not flat like a pool Maintenance article,“it’s time to face the obvi- method, here’s what a Michigan-area super- table. They have contours, and as Nikolai ous fact that this approach has not produced intendent, Sean O’Connor of Forest Akers states: “Green speed and green contour positive results. Golf Course, had to say after putting the should be inseparable.” “The biggest problem,” he continues, “is Morris Method into practice: The entire golf community got to see that article after article warns of the perils of “The Morris Method has allowed me to take what happens when green speed goes awry fast green speed without giving advice on control of green speeds by determining what the during the U.S. Open at Shinnecock several how to satisfy the majority of golfers’ green customer feels is the ideal green speed for our course. years ago when excessive speed rendered speed requests.” It has taken a subjective topic and quantified it. some of those greens nearly unplayable. The result, according to Nikolai: Superin- Too often, we work on assumption. I assumed that Now whether you use Morris’s precise tendents believe they can manage for green our customers wanted green speeds in the area of data collection method or not, just the con- speed or manage for healthy turf. Not both. 11 feet to12 feet. However, that was based on cept of trying to find the optimal speed for feedback from a very vocal minority. The majority your particular course’s greens will go a long The Morris Method at Work of golfers at our facility actually wanted greens at way toward satisfying your membership. And 9.5 feet to 10.5 feet based on our survey results. according to Nikolai, the best way to do that In his book, Nikolai not only debunks this Monitoring green speeds will be an ongoing compo- is to use the Stimpmeter as it was intended:to myth, he offers prescriptive advice, backed by nent of our daily maintenance practices.” determine consistency from green to green solid research, on how superintendents and and the ideal pace for ball roll on your greens green committees can work together to man- and for your membership. The Stimpmeter is age their courses toward an “ideal green When Green Speed Goes Awry not—and never should be—a tool used to speed.” To arrive at that ideal speed, Nikolai Interestingly, the optimal speed determined compare one golf course to another. What’s advocates the widely publicized Morris for Crystal Downs was 9'6" to 10'6" or an good for one golf course, as we’ve all seen, is Method. average daily green speed of 10 feet, which not necessarily good for another.

6 Tee to Green May/June 2008 From the National GCSAA’s Spring Board Meeting Smooths the Way for a Successful Year Ahead by John O’Keefe, CGCS

his year’s GCSAA Golf Industry rebuilding and renovation efforts that New Show kicked off an exciting new Orleans has undertaken since Hurricane John O’Keefe, era for me as a director on the Katrina. The board has been impressed with CGCS TGCSAA board. As most of you know, I was the city’s revitalization, and we’re anticipating appointed to the board of directors, filling the a very successful GCSAA Education Confer- The Golf Industry Show:The Spring remaining year of James Fitzroy’s term, created ence and Golf Industry Show there next Meeting’s Strategic Topic of Discussion by his election to secretary/treasurer. February. A standard agenda item at our board meetings I want to take this opportunity to thank the is strategic discussion.This year’s strategic dis- MetGCSA for supporting my campaign for GCSAA Offers Chapter Support cussion was the Golf Industry Show. In GCSAA director. Special thanks to Matt By holding our Spring Board Meeting in preparation for the discussion, we reviewed Ceplo, who as president, nominated me. I am New Mexico, board members and staff had attendance, participation and exhibit sales fig- especially grateful to my wife Margaret, Jim the opportunity to interact with Rio Grande ures for the past nine years, going back to McNally, and Ken Kubik for their tireless GCSA leaders and industry representatives,as 2000 when GCSAA was last in New Orleans, work in promoting my campaign. well as the staff of the Sun Country Amateur along with that results of the 2008 attendee As a director, I am pleased to be involved as Golf Association. Chapter President Glenn and exhibitor satisfaction surveys and a survey the chairman of the Assistant Superintendent Denney presented the challenges facing the of previous attendees who did not go to the Committee and the Certification Committee Rio Grande GCSA and sought counsel from 2008 event in Orlando. and to serve as co-chair of the Professional GCSAA on how to best increase member- Facilitating the discussion was Steven Development Committee. Both the Assistant ship and retention, improve communication Hacker, who shared his perspectives as both a Superintendent and Professional Develop- among chapter members, and raise funds to certified association executive and as an exhi- ment committees are relatively new and very boost the association’s profitability. bition organizer.He was quite impressed with active. Certification, a well-established com- Matt Williams, executive director of the both the strategic direction that GCSAA took mittee, is always involved in a variety ongoing Sun Country Amateur Golf Association, in developing the Golf Industry Show and the activities. Needless to say,I’ll be busy. announced that his association and the Sun quality of the standard operating procedures Country PGA Section have agreed to work established to ensure effective and efficient Inside the Boardroom together to build a Golf House, and he operations. invited the Rio Grande GCSA to consider One of my first involvements as a GCSAA locating its headquarters there too. The Dues Decisions director was to attend the Spring Board group discussed how the organizations might During the spring meeting, the board also set Meeting held in Santa Fe,NM,from March 27 model their Golf House after our own Golf the dues for Affiliate, Associate, and Inter- to 29. To keep you all in touch with what’s House in Elmsford, NY, as well as the Golf national Superintendent Members to align going on in our national association, I thought Houses in Chicago and Kentucky. with the dues increase approved at the Annual I’d share some of the decisions and discussions Meeting for Class A, SM, C, and other mem- that developed. Regional Representative Plan Unveiled bership classes. Affiliate member dues are The board approved the continued develop- $320, to equal Class A and SM dues approved First and Foremost ment of the association’s field staff program, in Orlando, while dues for Affiliate Corporate Having selected Mark Woodward, CGCS, as announcing its plans to hire a GCSAA Company Representatives (for multiple staff GCSAA’s next chief executive, we used our regional representative to live and work in of Affiliate-member companies) are $260. 2008 Spring Board Meeting to concentrate on Florida.The regional staff member will serve Associate and International Superintendent creating a smooth transition to new leadership. as a link between GCSAA and the state’s 12 Member dues are $160, equal to the Class C While Mark was focusing on conducting a chapters and will act as a resource for individ- dues approved in Orlando. successful U.S. Open, we were working to ual members and for Florida chapters and guarantee that service to GCSAA members student chapters. Stay Tuned did not suffer during the interim period. The new regional rep will be charged with Mark will be stepping into his new role at growing shared membership numbers and If any of you want to discuss these, or any GCSAA headquarters as you read this. penetration rates in the state, boosting other GCSAA-related issues,please don’t hes- Florida member participation in the Golf itate to give me a call. I hope to continue Chapter Delegates Meeting to Preview Industry Show and GCSAA/external educa- these updates to keep you informed about Convention Site tion programs, and increasing the “net pro- GCSAA activities as the year goes on. The board voted to conduct the 2008 Chapter moter score” for GCSAA and its website Delegates Meeting in October in New among Florida member superintendents. John O’Keefe, a director on the GCSAA board, is Orleans, rather than at association headquar- We hope to have the new rep up and run- director of golf course management at Preakness ters. This change will allow chapter delegates ning this coming fall. Hills Country Club in Wayne, NJ. to see firsthand—and then communicate to fellow chapter members—the impressive Tee to Green May/June 2008 7 Scorecard Two-Ball Qualifiers Flock to Dellwood

We had a large field and great weather for This promises to be another exciting season- Closest to the Pin our annual Two-Ball Qualifier held this year long event. Good luck to one and all! #3 Brian Benedict,The Seawane Club 6' 3" on April 24 at Dellwood Country Club. The In the meantime, here’s a look at the day’s #9 Chip Lafferty, Rye GC 6' 11" course was in tremendous shape—thanks to golf results: #13 Jeff Thrasher Joe Gardner and his staff—and the entire Second Nature Tree & Landscape Co. 10'10" Dellwood team was a pleasure to work with. Event of the Day Results #18 Tom Weinert, Plant Food Company 16' Many thanks to everyone at Dellwood for hosting our event. Low Gross Winners Longest Drive As always, with such a large field of con- 73 Mike Benz/Mark Chant #5 Andy Drohen testants vying for a spot in the Two-Ball Middle Bay CC/Colonial Springs GC Agrium Advanced Technologies competition, some teams weren’t able to 74 Sean Cain/Jeff Wentworth #10 Ken Benoit, GlenArbor GC qualify. Please be sure to visit our website at Sunningdale CC/Pelham CC www.metgcsa.org for the lowdown on not – Ken Benoit, CGCS only who qualified for the Two-Ball, but also 75 Tom Ashfield/Andy Drohen how the teams are faring in Round One of Quaker Ridge GC/Agrium Advanced the competition. Many of the teams have Te c hnologies already completed their first round matches. If you are playing in the event, note that all Low Net Winners matches should be completed by the follow- 64 Jon Barlok/Kevin Seibel Member News ing dates: Turf Products Corp./Century CC Match 1 ~ June 22 64 Dennis Granahan/Jim Schell Match 2 ~ July 27 Navesink CC/The Stanwich Club New Member Match 3 ~ August 29 64 Scott Apgar/Brett Chapin Please join us in welcoming new Met- Final ~ September 28 Metro Turf Specialists/Redding CC GCSA Class C member Brendan French of Willow Ridge Country Club in Harri- son, NY.

Superintendent/Manager/Guest Members on the Move • Rob Alonzi is the new superintendent Tournament at Fenway GC in Scarsdale, NY. Previous position: Superintendent at St.Andrew’s On June 3, Pelham Country Club hosted GC, Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Member/Member or Guest Team this year’s Superintendent/Manager/Guest • Don Asinski is the new superintendent Results Tournament. Though it was a limited-field, at Marine Park GC in Brooklyn, NY. Tuesday-afternoon event, a whopping 68 Previous position:Assistant superintendent Net Team Winner superintendents, managers, and guests en- at Pelham CC, Pelham Manor, NY. 60 Tony Girardi/Dave Wallace joyed the fine weather and great conditions. • Justin Gabrenas is the new superin- Rockrimmon Country Club/Tee & Green This is a testament to host Superintendent tendent at Lake Waramaug CC in New Sod Jeff Wentworth and his staff. Preston, CT. Previous position:Assistant Here’s how the golf panned out: superintendent at Silver Spring CC, Gross Team Winner Ridgefield, CT. 71 Blake Halderman/Matt Plosila Superintendent/Manager Team • Rob Milar is the new superintendent at Brae Burn Country Club Results St.Andrew’s GC in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY. Previous position:Assistant superin- Closest to the Pin tendent at Westchester CC, Rye, NY. Net Team Winners #5 Mike Galluzo, Willow Ridge CC 15' 65 Rick Schock/Charles Torrence #8 Bob Huet, Guest 4' Aspetuck Valley Country Club #10 Frank Benzakour, Middle Bay CC 9' 2" In Sympathy 68 Tim Garceau/Keith Branche #18 Blake Halderman, Brae Burn CC 6' 3" The Tuxedo Club We would like to offer our condolences to Blake Halderman of Brae Burn Country Longest Drive Club. Blake’s mother, Sandi Halderman, Gross Team Winners #12 Tony Hooks, Pelham/Split Rock GC 75 Chad Esposito/Pete Maier passed away on April 29. Highland Golf Club – David Dudones/Ken Benoit, CGCS 76 Glen Dube/Scott Klemme Centennial Golf Club

8 Tee to Green May/June 2008 Spotlight Summer Social on the Hudson Ardsley Country Club and Matt DuTremble to Host Met’s Social Event of the Year

by Kevin Collins

n Wednesday, July 30, Ardsley tweaked again under the watchful eye of Country Club and Superinten- Marvin Armstrong, and in 2003, the club dent Matt DuTremble will host the embarked on a major Ken Dye renovation, Matt DuTremble OMetGCSA’s 2008 Summer Social. What bet- which offered Matt his entrée into the club, ter setting for this special event—one of the first as renovation project manager and, nearly In addition to being the launching pad for Met’s most popular of the year—than the a year later, as Ardsley’s superintendent. Matt’s career, Sleepy served another, more picturesque and historic Ardsley Country important purpose in his life. “I met my wife, Club, which offers spectacular, panoramic Matt’s Launch Into Golf Course Kristen, while at Sleepy,”says Matt, explaining views of the Hudson River. that she was the club’s food and beverage The clubhouse, where this gala event will Management manager. take place, is perched on top of North A New England boy at heart, Matt fondly “One day, as I was walking into the club- Mountain, commanding superb views west recalls his childhood as one of seven children: house with Paul Gursky, I spotted her. One across the Hudson Valley to the Palisades and “My parents both worked in education. My look is all it took,”he continues. “I turned to mountain range beyond. dad was a principal and my mom a teacher Paul and said,‘I’m going to marry that girl one Just 20 miles from New York City,the club and librarian.We were raised in Connecticut day.’” And that he did, with Tom Leahy play- first opened in 1895 as “The Ardsley Casino,” and moved to Vermont when I was 13. My ing an important role in the setup of Matt’s with the support of some of the most notable parents are both great people,” says Matt. marriage proposal. and successful men in the U.S.: Cornelius “They gave all of us the independence to “Under the pretense of teaching Kristen to Vanderbilt, J.P.Morgan, and William Rocke- chart our own course with a lot of love and play golf,”remembers Tom,“Matt had her out feller among them. support.” on the course. He instructed me, beforehand, Back then, the clubhouse was located on a The course Matt chose to chart—from the to place an engagement ring in the cup on the bluff overlooking the Hudson River and had time he entered high school—was turfgrass 4th hole. I hid in the woods until I saw them a private dock to accommodate the yachts of management. “My neighbor, an assistant at tee off and ran up to the green to deposit the Casino members. It also boasted a private the Quechee Club in Vermont, told me they ring.” railroad depot, enabling its wealthy members were looking for crew members. I worked “The rest is history,” Matt happily reports, to arrive in style. there every summer throughout high school. adding,“Kristen and I have been together for Noted as “the finest and longest golf course Then as soon as I graduated, I approached 10 years and married for almost six. We have in the world,”Ardsley was designed by golf- Quechee Super Ken Lallier and told him,‘I two great kids, Joey,3, and James, 9 months.” ing great of that era,Willie Dunn, who was want to go to school for this. I want to be hired as the club’s first golf pro. treated like an intern.’ Ken replied, ‘Okay, Ardsley Beckoned As the club acquired more land, the course you’re working every weekend from here on was moved away from the river and re- out.’” January of 2003 is when Matt left Sleepy to designed in 1919 by Donald Ross and, again Certain about his career path, Matt en- become project manager for the sizable Ken in 1928, by Dr.Allister Mackenzie. rolled in the UMass turf program in 1994, Dye renovation at Ardsley. “The project was interning at Westchester with Joe Alonzi. “I huge,”recalls Matt. “We rebuilt all of the tees Ardsley Country Club is Born worked for Joe for three summers and a cou- and bunkers and expanded or recontoured 14 ple of winter breaks, making friendships there of the existing greens. We shortened and In 1936, the old Casino clubhouse was torn that will last forever,”says Matt. rebuilt the 18th hole, dug four new ponds, down,and the club assumed its current name, reconfigured the driving range, and added a The Ardsley Country Club. Thirty-three practice facility. This was all done while play years later, in 1966, the ever-evolving club Life After UMass was still going on.” moved its clubhouse one last time to its pres- In 1998, Matt graduated from UMass more In less than a year, Matt had proved his met- ent location, the former Frank Jay Gould than ready for his first position as assistant tle, and Ardsley offered him his first and cur- estate. The course,too,was altered—this time super at Sleepy Hollow. “Sleepy was a great rent superintendent’s position. by Robert Trent Jones, who eliminated the place to work,”remembers Matt. “I worked Be sure to come on over to Ardsley July 30 last two holes along Broadway and turned with Tom Leahy for five years. He gave me for a relaxing and fun-filled evening with fel- Mackenzie’s 15th into today’s striking par 4 and Paul Gursky,also an assistant at the time, a low Met members. first hole with its 135-foot-elevation drop lot of responsibility while we were preparing from tee to fairway. for the USGA Women’s Amateur in 2002. Kevin Collins, a member of the Tee to Green Ardsley’s renovation work didn’t stop Not only did I learn a lot from Tom,but I also Editorial Committee,is Northeast territory manager there. In the mid-’90s, the course was found in Tom a great friend.” for Aquatrols Corp.of America.

Tee to Green May/June 2008 9 Upcoming Events Don’t Miss These Upcoming Events!

Be sure to mark your calendars with the following upcoming golf and social events. For fur- Annual Assistants Championship ther information, please contact the appropriate committee chairmen. For professional Monday,October 27 events, contact either of our Tournament Committee co-chairs: Blake Halderman at 914- Trump National Golf Club 946-1074 or Ken Benoit at 914-241-0700. Our Social & Welfare Committee co-chairs are Bedminster, NJ Tom Leahy (914-941-8281) and Bob Nielsen (914-234-3779). Both are available to discuss Hosts: Mike Brunelle, director of grounds any upcoming social events. Tyler Ortero, golf course superintendent Gregory Eisner, assistant superintendent Summer Social Met Championship and Met Area Wednesday,July 30 Team Championship Qualifier Met Area Team Championship Ardsley Country Club PLUS Monday,October 27 Ardsley-on-Hudson, NY Poa Annual Tournament Winged Foot Golf Club/West Course Host: Matt Dutremble Monday,September 29 Mamaroneck, NY The Seawane Club, Hewlitt Harbor, NY Host: Matthew Burrows Education Meeting Host: Brian Benedict Annual Meeting Wednesday,August 6 November Leewood Golf Club Superintendent/Green Chairperson Date & Site OPEN Eastchester, NY Tournament Host:Trapper Van Dunk Tuesday,October 21 MetGCSA Christmas Party Rockland Country Club, Sparkill, NY Friday,December 5 Family Picnic Host: Matt Ceplo, CGCS Metropolis Country Club Tuesday,August 26 White Plains, NY Site TBA Host:Tony Grasso

Educational Events

University of Connecticut Inaugural ducted at the university. Tour runs from ducted at the university. In addition, atten- Turfgrass Field Day 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., with lunch at the tour’s end. dees will have access to the largest gathering Tuesday,July 22 Call 973-812-6467 or visit www.njturf- of regional product distributors outside the UConn Plant Science Research and grass.org for further information. New England Regional Turfgrass Confer- Education Facility,Storrs, CT ence and Show. To commemorate the 10th anniversary of its UMass Turf Open House For further information, call 401-874- Turfgrass Science Program, the University of Thursday,July 31 2791 or visit www.uriturf.org. Connecticut’s College of Agriculture and UMass Joseph Troll Turf Research Center Natural Resources will host its first Turf- South Deerfield, MA The 5th Annual Dr. Joseph Troll Turf grass Field Day. The field day will focus on Join UMass faculty at the Joseph Troll Turf Education Fundraiser current research projects conducted in the Research Center for its first-ever evening Monday,September 29 areas of professional and residential turfgrass open house. Attendees will be offered a Lyman Orchards Golf Club management. guided first-hand look at research projects Middlefield, CT Turfgrass managers will also have the and other items of interest in the field. In Superintendent Mark Pelky and Lyman opportunity to attemd a variety of work- addition, they will have the opportunity to Orchards Golf Club will be hosts to this shops, visit with turfgrass vendors, and view hear faculty speak on the most current issues year’s Joseph Troll Turf Classic on September demonstrations of the latest equipment used facing today’s turfgrass managers. 29. In its fifth year, the event is sponsored by to manage fine turf. For further information, contact the the Alumni Turf Group (ATG) to raise funds For further information, contact John Ka- UMass Extension Turf Program office at 508- for education and research at the University minski at 860-486-0162, or visit www.turf. 892-0382 or visit www.umassturf.org and of Massachusetts. uconn.edu/fieldday08. select “Conferences & Workshops.” Entry forms and additional information on this event and the ATG are available online at Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day University of Rhode Island 77th www.alumniturfgroup.com. Also feel free to (Golf & Fine Turf) Annual Turfgrass Field Day contact ATG President Steve Curry at 413- Tuesday,July 29 Wednesday,August 20 329-4912. Horticultural Farm II, New Brunswick, NJ C.R. Skogley Turfgrass Research Facility The field day offers the opportunity to tour Kingston, RI turf plots showing research trials being con- The field day offers the opportunity to tour turf plots showing research trials being con- 10 Tee to Green May/June 2008 Spotlight Trapper Van Dunk and Leewood Welcome Met Education Meeting by Greg Wojick

rapper Van Dunk. “Hmmmm ... introduced Trapper to the idea of pursuing a interesting name,”I thought,when career in turfgrass management. And the idea I was asked to interview our August stuck.Trapper entered the Turfgrass Manage- T6 Education Meeting host—a young and rela- Trapper Van Dunk ment Program at Penn State University in tively new golf course superintendent. 1995. His unusual name conjured up all sorts of responsibility. As a result, by the time Pete left images. . . .A tall guy who could easily dunk a Penn State and Beyond Leewood in the fall of 2006,Trapper felt com- basketball and drive a van at the same time. . . . fortable applying for the job. “I knew, first- Not! A young guy who was more than likely “Penn State was a big adjustment,” says hand, the cooperation that exists between the nicknamed Trapper when he interned on a Trapper, “but an even bigger surprise was membership and the department heads,” says golf course and excelled at raking traps. Well, how much science was taught as a part of the Trapper. “At Leewood, you’re part of a team. that’s not exactly how it went. curriculum. The only reason I got by was The superintendent, general manager, and golf The fact is that Trapper got his nickname because I could relate what I was learning to professional meet almost daily. It makes us all from his uncle,after he and his father spent the situations on the golf course. Somehow,I feel better able to do our jobs.” day with him hunting and the very young turf programs should factor hands-on experi- And at Leewood,Trapper does have quite a Hermen—yes, that’s Trapper’s real name—had ence into the curriculum. I also think turf job ahead of him. In his short tenure as super- the job of guarding the traps. The nickname schools should make Spanish a requirement. intendent, he’s already improved conditions really took hold when Trapper would go to It’s critical, these days, in communicating with some tree removal, fairway contouring, work with his father, Burgess, and began rak- with most maintenance staffs.” and a rigorous program to enhance the health ing bunkers at The Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Trapper’s education certainly didn’t stop at and welfare of his greens. He’ll continue with Park, NY. A member of the New York State’s Penn State. After earning a B.S. in turfgrass many of these maintenance regimes while also Ramapough-Lenape Indian tribe, his dad has science in 1999, he went to work at The Golf working to improve the club’s irrigation sys- worked 40+ years in a variety of capacities at Club at Mansion Ridge in Monroe, NY,for tem and crew development. The Tuxedo Club, from caddy to golf course then Superintendent Ed Walsh. In 2001, he maintenance department mechanic. worked for David Pughe at Rockaway River Giving Back Country Club in Denville, NJ, and the following year, for Joe Smythe and then Gabe As with many superintendents faced with Trapper Finds His Calling Cirillo at Manhattan Woods Country Club in today’s more demanding member expecta- From a very young age, Trapper felt he was West Nyack, NY. At each club, Trapper tions,Trapper has a love/like relationship with destined to become an attorney. He never learned new skills and also came to grips with the profession. “It’s tough but rewarding considered golf course work a career. “I did the demanding workload and schedule that is work,”says Trapper. odd jobs at The Tuxedo Club just to spend required of superintendents. “Keeping in close contact with colleagues time with my dad,” says Trapper. Then in “Not only is this job hard on you physi- offers great relief,” says Trapper, who is quick 1994, Jay Mottola, executive director of the cally,but the hours don’t leave you much of a to acknowledge the counsel he’s received over MGA, approached Trapper about a job with social life,”Trapper laments. “At that point, I the years from Ed Walsh,Tim Garceau, and GOLFWORKS, a brand-new intern program was young and felt I needed to step back and more recently,Fenway’s Bob Alonzi, Pelham’s initiated by the MGA Foundation to intro- reevaluate if I wanted to do this the rest of my Jeff Wenworth, Rye Golf Club’s Chip Lafferty, duce high-school-aged students to career pos- life. So I decided to take some time off.” and Scarsdale’s Matt Severino. sibilities within the golf industry. Trapper stayed in touch with Ed Walsh and Eager to give back to an association—and Trapper was one of the original 12 GOLF- current Tuxedo Superintendent Tim Garceau industry—that’s been so supportive to him, it’s WORKS interns who kicked off what has while he contemplated his career path. Says no surprise that Trapper and Leewood agreed proved to be a very successful effort by the Walsh, “I saw Trapper as a smart kid who to host the MetGCSA’s Education Meeting. MGA. The experience gave him a new per- could make it in our business.” Of course,Trapper did need a little nudging spective on the turfgrass management indus- Absense must make the heart grow fonder, from Education Chairman Glen Dube. try.“I finally had a real job. I was working because it wasn’t long before Trapper decided According to Trapper, Glen called and said, under Tuxedo’s superintendent at the time, to return to the industry—fully committed. “You can host the Education Meeting in Carney McGrady, and between him and my August, right?” dad, I began to learn a lot and wanted to Leewood Bound “And what could I say,”says Trapper,“except excel,”he recalls. ‘yes!’” Trapper’s diligence caught the attention of Trapper accepted a job as assistant superin- Al Radko, the former director of the USGA tendent in February 2003 at Leewood under Greg Wojick, a member of the Tee to Green Green Section Committee, who at the time, longtime Superintendent Pete DiRollo, who Editorial Committee, is the principal in Communi- was consulting at Tuxedo. It was Radko who allowed Trapper to assume a good deal of tool, LLC, and founder of PlaybooksTM.

Tee to Green May/June 2008 11 Support Our Advertisers!!!