Iliianl «f Directors M^ etGCSA^ est1959 President BLAKE HALDERMAN, CGCS Brae Burn Country Club Vice President GLEN DUBE, CGCS Centennial Golf Club Treasurer DAVID DUDONES Cover: Spook Rock North Jersey Country Club Golf Course Secretary Cover photo by KENNETH BENOIT JR., CGCS Eric Madar. GlenArbor Golf Club Past President ROBERT NIELSEN JR., CGCS Bedford Golf & Tennis Club Directors ROBERT B. ALONZI JR. Fenway Golf Club BRETT CHAPIN Redding Country Club DOUG DRUGO Wee Burn Country Club ANTHONY HOOKS Richmond County Country Club VINCENT PAVONETTI, CGCS Fairview Country Club \ this Issue ROBERT WOLVERTON Edgewood Country Club Class “C” Rep GEORGE CHAVEZ Pelham Country Club Feature Class “AF” Rep KEVIN COLLINS Safety Doesn’t Happen by Accident ......................... Aquatrols When it comes to maintaining a golf course, safety training is Executive Director one of those not-so-obvious keys to success. ED BROCKNER Executive Secretary SUSAN O’DOWD Ted Horton’s Words to the Wise o n ............................ Employee Safety Training Tee to Green Stalf Editor JIM PAVONETTI 203-531-8910 Departments; Managing Editor PANDORA C.WOJICK Editorial Committee Upcoming Events...............................................................................................9 ADDISON BARDEN SCOTT NIVEN MATT CEPLO LARRY PAKKALA J Member News.....................................................................................................10 KEVIN COLLINS MIKE REEB BILL CYGAN TODD SALAMONE CHIP LAFFERTY RYAN SEGRUE Chapter N ew s.....................................................................................................12 I STEVEN MCGLONE GREG WOJICK Designer Spotlights............................................... 15 TERRIE YOUNG Advertising Manager BRETT CHAPIN, 203-938-9240 TEE TO GREEN is published bimonthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association 49 Knollwood Road, El ms ford, N Y 10523-2819 914-347-4653, FAX: 914-347-3437, METGCSA.ORG Copyright © 2 0 13 n i i i n I \ \ Weathering \ \c/ generally try to refrain from dis­ cussing the one thing were battling on the Another job all the time: the weather. This season, however, I feel I would be doing us all a dis- ! service if I didn’t take a moment to reflect Blake Halderman, CGCS Tough Season on the seasons perfect storm of events that MetGCSA President led to highly precarious growing conditions. We started in the spring with very cool L conditions, which left little time for the turf MetGCSA Rounds 4 Research Yield to recover from aerification or to make Impressive Results headway on essential root growth heading On another positive note, I want to thank all into summer. Then, in a large portion of the of you for your support in raising funds for tri-state area, June brought with it record- the MetGCSA, which will be used to offset breaking rainfall that, in turn, brought on costs associated with the New York Best disease and a host of other issues associated Management Practices Initiative and other ? with wet surfaces and anaerobic conditions. research-based programs, such as education, If that wasn’t bad enough, July brought with scholarships, advocacy, and agronomic re­ it a heat wave that left turf managers with search throughout the Met area. soil and canopy temperatures approaching The MetGCSA led all associations with 110 degrees in certain microenvironments. the highest bid-to-value ratio. Rounds went Throw a little rain into the mix and your for more than 68 percent of their value, ’ Ukl grass is cooked—quite literally. which translated into more than $13,500 for Whether you hosted a PGA Tour event or our association to allocate to worthy causes. just prepared for normal member or guest For those of you who donated rounds, we play, we all have had to deal with the same can’t thank you enough for your support. For ! j a challenges . and a relentless Mother Na­ ,1,1 t f ”1 ' V those who missed out on this great opportu­ i t' » . 1 t ture. The only positive outcome in all this nity to support the MetGCSA, we hope you It 1 /, I was that it seemed people actually adjusted will consider joining us next year! 4 , J St i 1 f their level of expectations, particularly when K * r f c l ' n 1 1 i % it came to summer green speeds. It was nice, Pre-Delegates Meeting Yews jl ? 1 ! ¡1 1 for instance, to hear all the commentators ! 1 ** t ^ î I supporting slower greens on the PGA and Once again our past president, Bob Nielsen Senior PGA Tours this season. I heard one of Bedford Golf & Tennis, will represent the announcer say, “Although the greens don’t MetGCSA in Lawrence, KS, in early Octo­ look great on TV, they are alive and playing i I V~* ber at GCSAAs Chapter Delegates Meeting. \ i i s well. They need to give the course back to As our chapter delegate for the past eight the members on Monday, and the mainte- years, Bob is not only a skilled rep of our |ance staff must protect them.” association, but also a great source of knowl­ f ' ' 1 J i hd Then at the PGA Championship, the head edge about GCSAA and its inner workings. of the PGA Tour declined to discuss the At this meeting, one of the major topics of fcgreen speeds in number terms because, as he discussion will be to talk about what our put it, “It’s not fair to other golf courses to profession and industry will be like in the expect tournament conditions on a daily year 2020 and what we will need to do to basis.” He went on to say only that the green meet the expectations of our club members. speeds that week were right where he Another focus is to meet and greet the wanted them to be. candidates running for the GCSAA Board Now that’s what I like to hear! continued on page 9 I Tee to Green July/August 2013 * > v P s t - ’ luikc Isle Superintendent Ryan Segrue and crew foreman Mike Mulqueen review features of the triplex thoiver. Tee to Green July /August 2013 safety management policies and procedures at the golf course is often overlooked in Where Do I Start? necessary to prevent injuries and illnesses in favor of doing what we do best: providing As the property manager at your facility, it’s your workplace,” says Tom. “We’ve used the our clientele with superb playing conditions up to you to develop a safety program tai­ club’s monthly DVD safety training service, while meeting that increasingly important lored to your property’s specific safety haz­ which is based on topics you’d like to cover. bottom line. So yes, sometimes employee ards and challenges. You might start with an Included with the DVDs is an instructor’s safety training takes a backseat to venting, internal audit to assess your facility’s short­ guide and quizzes for staff—basically, rolling an extra day, or double-cutting comings. Then prioritize the things that everything you need to conduct a safety greens. It’s a tradeoff most superintendents need to be done. Are your MSDS sheets meeting,” he adds. don’t think twice about ... until, perhaps, an accessible? Do you have well-stocked first- Like many other companies out there, accident happens. Then they realize that aid kits? Do you provide personal protective Golf Safety’s videos and custom programs ignoring safety training is one of the cost­ equipment along with instructions for using are available in both English and Spanish. liest mistakes a golf course manager can it? Do you have an emergency evacuation But as with any outsourced program, the make. plan in place? Equipment safety training? deeper you get into a safety program, the The reality is that no matter how good And the list goes on. more money it will cost. This organization’s your golf course looks, your job can be in If you find this task too overwhelming— basic safety video plan starts at $200 per jeopardy if there are serious accidents, work­ and it certainly can be—you have the option month, which is a pretty good deal when ers’ compensation claims, or injured golfers. of hiring a consultant to do it for you. There you consider what it might take to get out But beyond that, golf facilities—like any are people out there who were inspectors in of a worker’s comp claim or an OSHA business—have a moral and legal obligation a past life and are knowledgeable about the violation! to provide a safe work environment and also rules and regulations on golf courses. You Among our survey respondents, videos a safe place for golfers to play. might also find guidance from your facility’s and live demonstrations tend to be the In my second season as superintendent at insurance company. training methods of choice. Several, like ValleyCrest Golf Course Maintenance at Ted Horton of THC-Ted Horton Con­ Tom at Quaker, also have their employees Lake Isle Country Club, where my organi­ sulting and former superintendent of West­ go through more formal training, using zation puts a high priority on employee chester, Winged Foot, and Pebble Beach golf booklets and quizzes to ensure they’ve safety training, I realize now, more than ever, courses, suggests a slightly more do-it-your­ learned the essentials. “We’ve used training the extreme importance of taking the time self approach, looking outside of our indus­ manuals and SOPs for all our mowing and to properly train employees. Not only does try for successful safety programs that can standard jobs,” says North Jersey Country it help to keep employees—and golfers—out easily be adapted to your facility’s particular Club’s David Dudones. “Then we have the of harm’s way, it offers great peace of mind needs. His favorite: The Dupont “STOP for employees sign to acknowledge they’ve re­ knowing that while you can’t always take Safety” program.