the covid conundrum . . . page 2published by the metropolitan golf course superintendents...

Published by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

May/June/July 2020VOLUME 51 NUMBER 3

The Covid Conundrum . . .page 2

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Board of Directors

PresidentROBERT B. ALONZI JR.

Fenway Golf ClubVice President

BRETT CHAPINRedding Country Club

TreasurerMICHAEL BRUNELLE, CGCSUpper Montclair Country Club

SecretaryJESSE SHANNON, CGCS

Manhattan Woods Golf ClubPast President

KEN BENOIT, CGCSClass A

DirectorsAARON CROUSE

The Golf Club of PurchaseWILLIAM CYGAN

Silver Spring Country ClubCHARLES LAFFERTY

Rye Golf ClubDAVE PETERSONSilvermine Golf ClubDANIEL ROGERS

Wykagyl Country ClubSTEPHEN WICKSTROMBurning Tree Country Club

Class “C” RepGEORGE WORTH ANDREWS

Brae Burn Country ClubClass “AF” RepTODD APGAR

Metro Turf SpecialistsExecutive Director

MIKE McCALL, CGCS

Executive SecretarySUSAN O’DOWD

Tee to Green StaffCo-Editors

CHIP LAFFERTY DAN ROGERS 914-760-3331 914-400-5918

Managing EditorPANDORA C. WOJICK

Editorial Committee

DesignerTERRIE YOUNG

Advertising ManagerDAN ROGERS, 914-400-5918

WORTH ANDREWSTODD APGARMATT CEPLO

KEVIN COLLINSANDY DROHEN

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

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

Copyright © 2020

GREG WOJICK

n this Issue

Cover: Winged FootGolf Club

Feature2020: A Truly Unprecedented Year ..........................................2

Regional News: Winged Foot Prepares for U. S. Open ................8

Upcoming Events ................................................................10

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

Value Tips: Maximizing Your Investment Returns ..................11

I

Departments

Feature

STEVEN McGLONEANTHONY MINNITI

BOB NIELSENSCOTT NIVENJIM PAVONETTI

Through Tough Times

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1Tee to Green May/June/July 2020

xecutiveDirector’sMessage

E

etGCSAsuperintendents, assistants, families, vendors,facilities, along with every other aspect ofthe world have had to adapt to situationsthat were inconceivable just six months ago.Dealing with both the professional and per-sonal challenges this pandemic has pre-sented has not been easy and has affectedsome more than others. To those who havesuffered the most devastating consequenceof this pandemic and lost a family memberor friend to COVID-19, please accept mydeepest sympathy. There is no doubt that we,as an industry, must continue to follow thebest management practices related to virusprotection and reducing transmission untilthis pandemic has been resolved.

As Charles Darwin once said, “It is not thestrongest or the most intelligent who willsurvive but those who can best managechange.” In our feature article, we cover thepast five months and how superintendentsadapted and managed the initial state execu-tive orders closing all nonessential busi-nesses; communicating with our membersand partner associations; maintaining golfcourses with minimum maintenance, re-duced staffing, and budgets; developingsafety protocols; and determining where wemight go from here.

From an agronomic and project-manage-ment standpoint, no one may have had toadapt more than Winged Foot’s Director ofGolf Courses Stephen Rabideau. Having toprepare and manage two golf courses for aU.S. Open that has been rescheduled fromJune to September, while allowing memberplay through the season, has been stressful atbest. Check out the article on page 8 thatdetails the ups and downs the Winged Footstaff has ably managed to keep Winged Footon course for the 2020 U.S. Open.

During uncertain times like these, it isdif ficult not to think about one’s financialwellbeing, especially after witnessing a stockmarket (S&P 500) decline of 34 percent in

SurvivingTheseTurbulentTimes

Mike McCall, CGCSMetGCSA Executive Director

just over a month’s time. Making mattersworse, some clubs, according to MetGCSAsurveys, were instituting salary reductions.On page 11, you’ll find a few tips for maxi-mizing your investment returns throughthese turbulent times.

And finally, the MetGCSA has had to dosome adapting of its own. Unfortunately,events have had to be canceled, but I ampleased to say that we have been able toschedule the Poa Annual Fundraiser thismonth at Anglebrook, and the Invitationalon September 29 at Hudson National GolfClub. The Assistants Championship is alsoplanned for October 28 at Essex Fells inNew Jersey, so superintendents, please besure to encourage your assistants to attendthis always enjoyable event.

Before ending my message, I’d like tooffer special thanks to our sponsors. Thoughwe mention this in our sidebar piece on page7, I want to say again, here, just how muchour association appreciates the support oursponsors have given us even before knowing100 percent whether the golf industrywould thrive this year. We owe you a sinceredebt of gratitude.

In addition to our upcoming golf events,we are hoping to have our Fall and Winterseminars but will keep you posted in theevent of any changes. Check out our Up-coming Events section on page 10 for theseand other industry events.

Be well and be safe!

Mike McCall, CGCSMetGCSA Executive Director

M

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eatureF 2020: A TrulyUnprecedented Year

2020: A TrulyUnprecedented Year

by Mike McCall, MetGCSA Executive Director

Surviving Coronavirus . . .and Preparing for the

Challenges Ahead



Wear ear hen I was an engineering

officer aboard the aircraft carrier USSIndependence, we had a sign prominentlyposted above the engineering watch stationthat read “WHAT IF?” It was meant toremind engineering officers to keep inmind a precise plan of action for every con-ceivable malfunction that could take placeaboard the ship. It was essential.

“What if?” is a question that successfulsuperintendents ask themselves every day.“What if my pump station goes down?”“What if my annual bluegrass weevil appli-cation wasn’t timed correctly?” “What if thestate enacts a drought management plantomorrow?”

But just a few months after the MetGCSAWinter Seminar at Westchester CountryClub addressed these and other industryquestions, we were hit with one questionwe—along with most of the rest of theworld—failed to anticipate: “What if a dan-gerous human virus were to suddenlyspread throughout the United States andthreaten our wellbeing and livelihoods?”

At the time, things looked idyllic for golfin the Met area, with no winter injury andthe first mild March in four years.Meanwhile, on the other side of the globe inWuhan, China, an extremely contagiousnew strain of coronavirus was rapidlyinfecting people in that Chinese city of 11million, slowly making its way around theworld. No one knows the exact date itarrived in our area, but New York recordedits first death due to the virus on March 14.

Six days later, everything changed.Governor Cuomo signed an executive orderclosing all nonessential businesses and man-dating that all employees of nonessentialbusinesses stay home. New Jersey andConnecticut enacted similar executiveorders. New Jersey shut down all golf courseoperations, except for maintenance, untilMay 2. On that date, only twosomes werepermitted at 16-minute tee-time intervals.

Life since March hasn’t been smooth sail-ing for MetGCSA members. The good newsis that most of us are adapting and, in fact,learning some important lessons—even new

skills. What follows are some “lessonslearned” on how we might better prepare forfuture challenges.

1. Developing GovernmentRelationships Pays Dividends.When the pandemic first hit, guidance fromstate governments was vague, resulting inconfusion, stress, and countless hours ofwork trying to obtain clear directives to ensure that multi-million-dollar golfcourses were not abandoned. A new relation-ship had to be forged with New York’sEmpire State Development Corporation, asit was the agency that determined and pub-lished guidance on essential businesses andactivities.

Never have the relationships developedwith elected officials and government agen-cies proved so vital. Many of our previouscontacts helped connect us to the right peo-ple in this department, enabling us tosmooth the way for open communicationand clarification on numerous issues. In-dustry organizations and individuals pulledtogether, sharing information with govern-ment officials and doing what was needed toensure the viability of the golf course main-tenance industry and, eventually, the gameof golf itself.

The result? Golf course maintenanceworkers were designated as essential. Ofcourse, these relationships did not developovernight. They were nurtured throughmany years of working with state legislativebodies to deepen their understanding of ourindustry and its benefits to the environmentand the economy. Attending such events asour New York State Turfgrass AdvocacyDay in Albany, smaller but more frequentstate advocacy meetings in New Jersey andConnecticut, and National Golf Day inWashington, D.C., were key to building thekind of relationships with assembly mem-bers and senators that have enabled us to suc-cessfully advocate for changes to—or therepeal of—laws and regulations that af fectour industry and our clubs.

Now more than ever, it is clear that it’s inour industry’s best interest to developstrong, ongoing relationships with govern-ment agencies and legislators.

2. Communication Is Essential.In any basic crisis management course, youwill learn that frequent and accurate com-munication is essential to successfully man-age a crisis. In this regard, the tri-state areasuperintendent associations, as well asGCSAA, passed with f lying colors, keepingmembers abreast of the most current devel-opments. In addition, the MetGCSA,MetPGA, MGA, and MetCMAA heldweekly phone conferences to discuss thevarious issues we faced and build a consen-sus on our messaging to the golfing community.

To open the lines of communicationamong members, the MetGCSA conductedseveral short surveys to uncover and compileinformation that our members were re-questing. In the early stages of the pan-demic, the surveys focused on general cluboperations: Is your club open or closed?Carts or no carts? Is your Pro Shop staffonsite? The surveys that followed focusedon staffing and maintenance practices. Allsuperintendents have their go-to buddiesfor “What’s your club doing?” but being ableto present club officials with objective datafrom more than 50 similar-type clubs goes along way toward supporting your case oreven improving your position on a particu-lar issue.

3. When Times Get Tough, the ToughGet Flexible.The surveys made it clear that every coursewas going to have to roll with a variety ofcost-saving measures, from reduced staffingto barebones maintenance practices. Withuncertainty looming, clubs had no choicebut to be even more fiscally prudent thanusual. The early surveys ref lected thesegrim circumstances:

We generate fears while we sit. We overcomethem by action.”

– Dr. Henry Link, business psychologist


4 Tee to Green May/June/July 20204

• On April 21, the 53 courses thatresponded collectively reported that wellover 349 part-time employees had not beencalled back to work as they normally wouldhave been.• 52 percent of clubs had already institutedsignificant budget reductions.• 25 percent had instituted various salaryreductions.• 3 courses had to lay off some of their full-time staff.• 38 percent had to reduce the hours ofpart-time staff they had already rehired.

Commentary from survey respondents wasequally bleak: • “Any item that is not 100 percent essentialis discussed with management for purchaseapproval.” • “No purchasing unless absolutely neces-sary; no overtime allowed; staff not to comein during inclement weather.” • “Other club employees will shift to thegrounds staf f since many other club opera-tions are currently closed.” • “We are looking into the Connecticutworkshare program as this program reducesthe amount the club has to pay the employeeand the state picks up the remainingamount.” • “Will be seven guys short until theMexican border reopens as many of my staffmembers spend the winter there.”

Even though golf course maintenanceworkers were categorized as essential,courses were still required to minimizemaintenance to reduce the number of onsiteemployees. Fortunately, when the restric-tions were enforced, courses weren’t yetopen. Nonetheless, the unseasonably mildMarch meant accelerated grass-growingand need for course maintenance.

Demonstrating adaptability, most areasupers reported that by having their full-time employees mow less frequently, theywere able to maintain the grounds. Manyalso reported that they were able to imple-ment some of their necessary cultural prac-tices to prepare the course for futuresummer conditions.

Stewards of Golf’sGreatest Assets

ave you ever wondered whatwas meant when you read,

“MetGCSA, Stewards of Golf ’sGreatest Assets”?

If we were to start by defining the word“asset,” which is something regarded ashaving great value, we could surmise thatthe golf course is golf ’s greatest assetbecause, let’s face it, without golf courses,there is no golf.

But of course, part of what makes golfcourses attractive to golfers is how wellthey are groomed and maintained. It onlyfollows, then, that when we talk about“stewards” of golf ’s greatest assets, we arereferring to golf course superintendents,the caretakers of some of the most cher-ished properties in the country.

But the meaning of this phrase goesmuch deeper, and the pandemic has cer-tainly brought to our attention just howimportant an asset our golf courses andthose involved in maintaining them are.During the pandemic:• We have witnessed the immeasurablerecreational value of both public and pri-vate golf courses as they quickly becameone of the only recreational activities thatpeople could do safely. Even players whohad not picked up a club in years startedplaying daily. It is no wonder that all 50states allowed golf to be played, very earlyon, in the pandemic.• We have been reminded of the financialvalue of golf courses and, in turn, of main-taining them whether the gates are open or

H not. Keeping this valuable asset in top formand ready for play, after all, is essential tosustaining memberships and cashf lowwhen the course is open, a concept that issometimes overlooked.• Many have come to more fully appreci-ate the environmental value of golfcourses, which we, as superintendents,have been touting for decades. As we wellknow, golf courses are the guardians ofopen space, water quality, and wildlifehabitat. Providing a welcome environmentduring the pandemic has become morevaluable than ever and all the more criticalin heavily populated metropolitan areaswhere many of our courses are located.• Worthy of note is the MetGCSA’s con-centrated collection of member golfcourses that are of historical and architec-tural value. In our midst is the oldestcourse in the country, St. Andrews GolfClub in Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, anddozens of others that have been ranked byGolf Digest as among the top golf coursesin the country. With our organization’smember courses among those with someof the most storied and distinguished his-tories, it is only fitting that the MetGCSAbe associated with golf ’s “greatest assets”and that our member superintendents bethe “stewards” charged with maintainingtheir notable status.

Through good times and bad, theMetGCSA’s member superintendents arein every way, shape, and form “Stewards ofGolf ’s Greatest Assets.”

We have witnessed the immeasurable recreational value of both public and

private golf courses as they quickly becameone of the only recreational activities that

people could do safely.



With each new survey, the numbers indi-cated that staffing continues to improve, butfew golf course operations have reached 100percent—even as rounds are at an all-timehigh. For example, on June 15, survey resultsindicated that the median staffing level wasat 78 percent. Only one course was at 100percent; the lowest, at 50 percent.

Mike Brunelle, director of grounds atUpper Montclair Country Club, a 27-holeprivate facility in northern New Jersey,noted that he is still operating with 77 per-cent of his normal staff even though the golfcourse saw more than an additional 1,500rounds in both May and June. “Every day isSaturday,” he said, using the phrase that hasbecome common among superintendentsand golf pros this year.

Clearly, with these lower employmentlevels, something has to give in terms ofmaintenance expectations and practices.

At Fairview Country Club in Connecti-cut, Jim Pavonetti reports that he is shorteight staff members and one assistant. Withovertime restricted only to hand-watering,Jim has had to make some adjustments to hismaintenance practices.

“I raised the height of cut on tees,approaches, and fairways to make it easier tomanage water,” says Jim. “We are still doingeverything, but just less frequently than nor-mal. For instance, we are mowing fairwaysMonday, Wednesday, and Friday. We used tomow them on the weekends too, but wedon't have what we need in staf f to do itanymore. We eliminated the step cut aroundthe greens and fairways for now as well.”

These and other changes have certainlyhelped reduce some labor hours, but at whatcost? According to Jim, the greatest setbackfor them has been the detail work, such as landscaping beds, edging sprinklers,mulching, and tree pruning. “We normallyspend 156 hours in labor on beds per week,”he says. “We are down to less than 60 hours.It’s tough.”

Dave Oatis of David A. Oatis consultingacknowledges the difficult choices the pan-demic has forced courses to make on whereto focus their labor. “When push comes toshove, playability and turfgrass health must

be the top priority,” says Dave. “This is notgood news for those who like to see lots ofcourse accessories and ornamental plantingson their courses. But we have to considerthat these divert considerable labor whilecontributing nothing to turf health orplayability.”

4. With Change Comes Opportunity.With all the restrictions that have comedown the pike, we’ve all had to modify ourmodes of operation in one way or another.Many of these changes challenged us toinnovate and improve—and, as usual, weresponded. Positive changes that quicklyswept through Met-area courses and manycountrywide involved:

• Golf course accessories. One welcome changethat has become pretty much the normnationwide has had to do with course setup.To limit touchpoints, we’ve eliminated ballwashers (who needs those anyway?),benches, bunker rakes, and water coolers.• Flag sticks. To eliminate another touch-point, the f lag stick, decisions had to bemade regarding cup type. Options were toset the cup above the hole, use some type ofshallow cup or foam insert, or use an E-ZLyft, the touchless golf ball retrieval system.Once handicaps started to be recorded, theabove-the-hole cup quickly went away, andthe rest of the courses were split about 50/50between the other two methods. • Golf course maintenance practices. Main-ten-ance practices have varied considerablyamong Met-area courses. With no true defi-nition of minimum maintenance from astate’s perspective, our survey results re-f lected that virtually all courses were per-

forming more than what our industrywould define as minimum maintenancebut less than what their clubs would nor-mally perform.

To help golf course superintendentssharpen their skills in managing theircourses with less, Cornell’s Dr. Frank Rossiteamed up with industry professionals fromaround the country to host a weekly web-cast during the initial stages of the pan-demic. In addition, the GCSA of New Jerseyteamed up with Rutgers University to pro-duce an hour-long webinar titled TurfManagement During Covid-19: Keeping YourMaintenance Program Simple When Things AreNot. Skyway Golf Course SuperintendentMichael Tardogno gathered Rutgers re-searchers Drs. Bruce Clarke, James Murphy,Matthew Elmore, and Albrecht Koppen-höfer to discuss best practices for managingyour course with minimal labor and re-duced budgets. Highlights included takingadvantage of the low- or no-play times tocomplete or increase cultural practices asthis is a rare window of opportunity.

Among the researchers other recom-mended strategies: • Delaying or reducing fertilization, partic-ularly in rough areas, depending on thecurrent health of the turf.• Prioritizing weed control, throughout thecourse and on native areas, focusing onannuals, which are ultimately more invasivethan perennials.• Employing best management practiceson greens by raising height of cut and top-dressing routinely to discourage certainpests and reduce chemical applications.• Utilizing urea and ammonium sulfate asyour primary nitrogen source.


Tee to Green May/June/July 20206

• Limiting ABW applications to areaswhere adults or larvae have been seen dur-ing scouting or to areas that have a history ofbeing problematic.• Thoroughly evaluating and fine-tuningyour irrigation system and watering prac-tices since fewer staf f may be available tohand-water later in the season.

Dr. Clarke seemed to sum it up best whenhe said that while this is most certainly achallenging time, it presents an opportunityfor superintendents to experiment withsome of their practices, particularly thosesuperintendents who have been utilizingbest management practices for the past several years. As the researchers noted,oftentimes, experimenting when there islow or no play simply involves forgoing, cutting back, or extending intervals on cer-tain maintenance practices or pesticideapplications.

According to our surveys, and as DaveOatis mentioned in his recent MGA webi-nar, bunker maintenance is by far the num-ber one area that superintendents targetedfor maintenance reductions. Some of theother areas that have moved lower on thepriority list are ornamental plantings, stringtrimming, divot repair, and intermediaterough.

“The intermediate rough,” Dave notes,“was the product of championship golf con-ditions where primary rough is maintainedat three inches or higher. Since most coursesmaintain primary rough at 2 or 2 ½ inches,the intermediate rough is a waste of timeand resources.”

In addition to finding ways to modify

maintenance practices, the pandemic hasforced many to consider which practices canbe eliminated—forever. In mid-May, USGAAgronomist John Daniels wrote an articletitled “Nine Golf Course Practices I HopeDon’t Come Back.” Many of the practiceshe’d like to see nixed were listed earlier, buthe also offers a few new ones, including cre-ating uniformly emerald green turf, elabo-rate mowing patterns, unnatural “na-turalized” areas, walk mowing greens exclu-sively, painting the hole, and providingbunker rakes and ball washers.

Dave Oatis points to another practice thatshould be considered a valuable labor-savingmeasure: triplex mowing. “Courses areswitching exclusively, or at least on a limitedbasis, to triplex mowing on greens andapproaches. New mower technology hasimproved,” says Dave, “and careful use oftriplexes can produce an excellent quality ofcut at courses with green complexes that aresuited to their use.”

Mike Brunelle is one superintendentwhose labor-saving measures have includedtriplexing greens, now 90 percent of thetime. In addition, he is rolling greens moreoften and skipping mowings. He has alsomoved from walk mowing tees to triplexingthem as well.

“It has worked out very well for us,” saysMike. “I was moving in that direction tobegin with, and the pandemic has just accel-erated my progress. Being 27 holes, thebiggest savior is that we have delayed thestart time on one of the nines until 10 a.m.each day; otherwise there is no way I couldkeep up with the maintenance given theamount of play we are getting.”

5. To Survive and Thrive, Rise to theChallenge.Pandemic-driven budget cuts and hiringfreezes have put superintendents’ manage-ment skills to the test. For many, turf schooltraining suddenly felt inadequate, as theywere challenged to manage not just theirgolf course operation, but also the health andwelfare of their staf f in ways they couldnever have imagined.

The first challenge was making dramaticstaff cuts as a result of the reduced budgets.Workers who had perennially returned atthe start of each season suddenly were notable to. It is one thing to terminate employ-ees for poor performance; it is another verystressful thing to have to tell excellentemployees with families that you cannothire them back because of the virus.

After dealing with staf f layoffs, the nextchallenge was managing morale. It becamecrucial to keep staff members up-to-date onplans for surviving the pandemic, reassuringthem that things were under control andmoving in a positive direction. Like a cap-tain on a ship maneuvering through astorm, it was essential to project an upbeat,positive attitude to keep the crew calm,focused, and motivated. This reassurance isespecially challenging—and important—when the staf f ’s normal hours may havebeen reduced.

The third challenge was to protect thestaff ’s wellbeing by establishing and imple-menting procedures to deal with the “newnormal” by:• Disinfecting breakrooms, bathrooms, andequipment• Ensuring social distancing• Developing new safety plans• Creating split shifts to keep at least halfthe crew away from the other half in caseone staff member became sick.

“When I was in turf school,” says RyeGolf Club Superintendent Chip Lafferty, “Icould never have imagined that worrying



Support Them as They HaveSupported Us!

Just as clubs have been affected by the pandemic, so has our association.Unfortunately, we have had to cancel many of our golf and social events this year.

The Board of Directors and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to thesponsors who continued their support for the association throughout the pandemic. Iask and encourage superintendent members to make every effort to purchase neededproducts or services from our sponsors so that they may receive a return on theirinvestment for sticking with our association during these challenging times.

We would also like to thank the clubs that donated a round for our “Foursomes 4the Foundation” initiative that supports our scholarship fund and annual donations toregional universities and the Tri-State Turf Research Foundation.

about my staff ’s wellbeing—other thantraining them in the proper use and han-dling of equipment and chemicals—wouldbe part of my duties. Social distancing?Disinfecting common areas and equipment?That wasn’t in any turf school textbook! Buttrue to the profession, we’re all learning andadapting, and we’re making the best of it.”

The lesson here is that no matter the qual-ity of your education, it’s rare to emergefrom school with all the tools to handleevery situation, particularly the unforeseenones. But during times of crisis, it’s ouropportunity to rise to the challenge byturning to whatever resources we mighthave—mentors, other superintendents, orindustry professionals. It’s also essential toprepare yourself for future crises by com-mitting to work on your own personal andprofessional development.

Where Do We Go From Here?Jamie Diamond, CEO of JPMorgan Chase& Co., while speaking about the world econ-omy, said: “The word unprecedented israrely used properly. This time, it’s beingused properly. It’s unprecedented what’sgoing on around the world. We simply don’tknow [what’s going to happen].”

This uncertainty about what’s next is astrue for golf courses as it is for the worldeconomy. But while we can’t know for cer-tain what’s ahead, the current crisis can helpus make a few educated guesses:

1. Golf courses are and will continue to bevaluable assets (see sidebar, page 4) that mustbe maintained. They provide a significanteconomic impact, generating property andsales tax revenue, employment opportuni-ties, and support to many local businesses—not to mention the mental and physicalhealth benefits enjoyed by those who lovethe game.

2. Staffing, budgets, and maintenance levelsmay f luctuate depending on changes instate directives. The more restrictive they

are, the more they will affect the profitabil-ity of the golf course, food and beverageoperations, and other club amenities. As aresult, finding and retaining dependable,quality employees may prove more chal-lenging—and essential—than it already is.

3. The surge in the number of people playinggolf, or at least playing more frequently, willcontinue and perhaps even inspire morepeople to take up the game, something the industry has not seen in some time. In any case, increased play will force coursesto review their maintenance programs.Clearly, increased traffic will require in-creased maintenance—and budgets.

4. Course accessories will become a thing of the past, and bunkers will not need to be maintained to the level of a lie in thefairway. This is a direction we, as an indus-try, will have to travel together to make ithappen.

5. The need to foster and build our govern-ment relations at all levels, in good times andbad, will be more important than ever. TheMet area has handled the business of golf

during the pandemic admirably, which issomething we can communicate to govern-ment officials, making them aware of thelessons we have learned and how we are bet-ter equipped to manage another crisisshould (or should we say when) one hits.Speaking of which, it pays to be prepared forwhatever might come your way by regu-larly asking yourself the question, “Whatif?” and then creating a viable plan ofaction. What if there’s a drought? . . . a heavyrainfall season? . . . a recession? . . . a healthemergency? . . . and the list goes on.

The writer William Arthur Ward couldwell have been speaking of golf coursesuperintendents when he said, “The pes-simist complains about the wind; the opti-mist expects it to change; the realist adjuststhe sails.” Superintendents are realists. Inthe face of adversity, they maintain an evenkeel and adjust the sails accordingly. Theyhave done this during this unprecedentedcrisis, and I am confident they will continueto do this in the years—and during thechallenges—to come.

Mike McCall, CGCS, is the executive director ofthe MetGCSA and managing member of theMcCall Management Group, LLC.



Winged Foot Remains on Course forSeptember 2020 U.S. Open

ell before the Covid crisis waseven a notion, Winged Foot’s

Director of Golf Courses StephenRabideau and his crew were hard at workdoing all that it takes to bring the nearlycentury-year-old Winged Foot up to snufffor the 2020 U.S. Open.

When Stephen assumed the reins asWinged Foot’s superintendent in 2012, theclub had completed a new practice facilityproject with Golf Course Architect GilHanse, who at the same time, was develop-ing a 36-hole Master Restoration Plan.Designed to reclaim the course’s lost con-tours and strategy, the plan took into consid-eration the membership’s reluctance todisturb the greens that they insisted arewhat makes Winged Foot, Winged Foot.Working closely together, Hanse andStephen executed the plan—all withoutchanging a putt on the storied property.

By looking at old aerials and ground-levelstills, Hanse was able to identify where thegreens could be expanded to their originalsize while, at the same time, giving theexisting bunkers old-time edges of stackedsod.

Work began in the fall of 2013 on the EastCourse, with the greens completed over twoseasons. The first step was to scan thegreens. Then using a process known as stripand f lip, the existing sod was stripped andcarefully placed alongside the green to bereused. The subbase was shelled out,drainage was added, a sand mix was in-stalled, and the green pads were thenenlarged using the old photos to recapturetheir original size. The greens were thenscanned again, and that second scan, alongwith a surveying instrument called a TotalRobotic Station, was used to rebuild thegreens making sure their original contoursweren’t compromised. The Total RoboticStation allowed them to get within .006 of asurveying foot.

The membership, which held their origi-nal greens near and dear, was thoroughlyimpressed with how closely the rebuiltgreens resembled the originals, though they performed far better with the new-and-improved uniform draining mixunderneath.

greens, the club invested in building an all-new state-of-the-art maintenance facility,the command center for keeping the coursein top form. The club also built newemployee housing in 2013 to provide pleas-ant accommodations for the club’s key main-tenance and other staf f, recognizing its rolein attracting and retaining quality employ-ees before—and after—preparations for the2020 Open.

At the Dawn of the Virus When news of the coronavirus’s emergencein Wuhan, China, and throughout Europefirst became public, the Open tournamentpreparations were underway and continuedwith the many infrastructure enhancementsrequired to run this world-renowned event.While in the midst of getting ready to erecta structure in the middle of the East Coursethat was intended to be outfitted with a cor-porate kitchen, running water, electric,internet, and more, the U.S. and most of theworld was placed on pause. It became abun-

Wby Chip Lafferty

The renovation work on the East was metwith such success that the club decided toreplicate the process on the West Course,this time with a bit of a twist. Stephen tookthe process one step further by varying thedepth of the sand mix to allow better mois-ture management throughout each green.

Basically, more mix was used in thegreen’s f lat areas to help cupping areas dryout and improve the green’s playability afterrain events. And at the same time, less mixwas added on the slopes to keep moisturecloser to the surface and reduce the need forhand watering on those sloped areas. Theproduct that they have produced will, nodoubt, serve as a benchmark for futurecourse construction in the Met.

In addition to rebuilding the greens, theclub also added drainage where neededthroughout the entire property, removed asignificant number of trees to improve chal-lenging growing environments, and soughtadditional water sources for irrigation toreduce reliance on city resources.

Beyond enhancing the playability of the

Regional News

Winged Foot Turf Team readies for U.S. Open prep.



dantly clear that the world was embroiled ina full-blown pandemic, of which the NewYork Metro area was becoming the epicen-ter. The frenzy of activity that was takingplace to prep the West Course for the origi-nal mid-June Open dates came to an almostscreeching halt, as the golf world reconsid-ered how to handle every aspect of theevent.

“We were going at full tilt with prepara-tions in March, and then the week of St.Patrick’s Day, everything just stopped,”recalls Stephen. “At that point, it was unclearwhen or even if the championship couldtake place this year, let alone in June.

It was a surreal experience for my guys,”adds Stephen, noting that after the tirelesshours of work that went into prepping thecourse and grounds for one of the largestevents they will ever be a part of, it was dif-ficult to accept that the championshipmight not happen.

“Maintaining crew morale was right upthere with the agronomic concerns,” saysStephen. But thankfully when golf coursemaintenance workers were deemed essen-tial, Stephen was able to rally his troops tocontinue plugging away at course mainte-nance with the hope that the championshipwould, in fact, go off.

“Fortunately,” says Stephen, “we had notprogressed to the point of putting in thecorporate hospitality tents or grandstands. Ifthey sat in place for four months, that wouldhave wreaked havoc on the turf.” As it is,matting for a staging area had beeninstalled, and as Stephen notes, “The grassunder those mats is most definitely dead.”

In addition to worrying about coursemaintenance, Stephen had to enforce staterestrictions, requiring that the crew divide

and conquer with staggered start times;remain six feet apart from one another; ster-ilize work areas, equipment, and bathroomson a regular basis; and follow all CDCguidelines.

When regular member play was allowedby the state, the club adhered to all stateguidelines: no carts, caddies, bunker rakes, orcourse accessories like ball washers, water-coolers, and benches, and we all had to putfoam plug inserts in the cups. “The restric-tions on play actually worked in our favor,”says Stephen, noting that the no-cart rulehelped preserve the turf, and removingaccessories meant less time devoted tomaintaining them.

Preparations Change CourseStephen admits it was a tremendous reliefwhen the powers that be—the USGA, PGATour, and CDC, in conjunction withWinged Foot members—decided in earlyApril that it would be safe to schedule theOpen for mid-September.

Though Stephen and his staf f werepleased that all their hard work would notgo to waste, they’ve been faced with a newset of challenges. Hosting a U.S. Open inSeptember rather than June means not onlycontinuing to maintain the course in topform for both golfers and the upcomingOpen, but also remaining especially vigilantfor the onset of turfgrass pests and problems.“In June,” says Stephen, “the rough is at itsprime, and few plant protectants are neededto keep it lush and competitive.”

As the summer progressed, however,Stephen has had to initiate an aggressivespray program to treat the course’s 70 acresof rough on a 10-day rotation to guard

against everything from summer patch andpythium to grey leaf spot and any other turfgrass ill that surfaces during the heat ofthe summer.

“The spray program along with diligentwatering has allowed us to keep the roughextremely dense,” says Stephen, adding, “Weare currently mowing the rough at 3 inchesand the USGA plans on adding another 1 to2 inches for the championship.”

During the first week of August, Stephenand his crew implemented a method forbattling divots in the fairways by roping thehot spot areas and having players hit offmats.

Despite having the burden of addedmaintenance required for a SeptemberOpen, there is a silver lining to postponingthe event: “We think literally years aheadabout what the weather will be the week ofthe event, hoping conditions will be perfectfrom a rain standpoint. This year, conditionshaven’t been ideal,” says Stephen. “It’s beentoo dry, and we would have had to contendwith serious damage from the crowds andrigors of the event.”

Golfers are also benefitting from a de-layed U.S. Open since they have been able toplay both the East and West courses allspring. This, of course, would not have beenthe case had the event taken place on theoriginal dates in June. What’s more, the EastCourse is playable not just before the Open,but also immediately after since the coursewon’t be trampled by patrons and subject tothe typical damage associated with tents,parking areas, and buses.

Shifting ExpectationsAnother important part of the preparationsfor the Open includes planning for volun-teer recruits, which the pandemic has com-plicated. Under normal circumstances,making plans to house, feed, and look afteras many as 120 volunteers is challenging,but now, with Covid-19 lurking, extra pre-cautions have to be taken. First and fore-most, Winged Foot is forced to cut back onout-of-area or international volunteerrecruits to avoid the potential spread of thevirus. That has meant a reduction in the

Winged Foot crew members ensure green’s per-formance with rolling and moisture meter check.



The MetGCSA and New Jersey Turfgrass Association have scheduled the followingevents with the hope that they will run as planned. With the pandemic still raisingconcerns, however, we suggest that you watch our association websites for any changesin schedule.

Invitational TournamentTuesday, September 29Hudson National Golf ClubCroton-on-Hudson, NYHost: Brett Scales

Met Area Team ChampionshipWe regret to announce there will be nochampionship this fall due to the pan-demic. We hope things will be back tonormal for our event in 2021.

Assistants ChampionshipWednesday, October 28Essex Fells Country ClubEssex Fells, NJAssistant Hosts: Chris Marr and Darwin GuerraSuperintendent: Mark Miedler

MetGCSA/CAGCS Fall SeminarThursday, November 12The Patterson ClubFairfield, CTHost: Jason Meersman

MetGCSA Winter SeminarWednesday, January 13, 2021Westchester Country ClubRye, NYHost: David Dudones

2020 Rutgers Turfgrass ResearchGolf ClassicMonday, October 5Fiddler’s Elbow Country ClubBedminster, NJ

Well WishesWishing Centennial Golf Club Super-intendent Glen Dube all the best on hisroad to recovery.

CondolencesIt is with great sadness that we informyou of the passing of Bob Phipps onJune 2.

Bob was a long-tenured MetGCSA

Upcoming Events

MetGCSA’s Upcoming Golf and Educational Events

Join fellow industry professionals for aday of golf, education, networking, andfun. Your participation helps fund re-search grants, student scholarships, equip-ment, and special projects for theTurfgrass Research, Teaching, and Ex-tension programs at the School of En-vironmental and Biological Sciences/Rutgers, The State University of NewJersey.

For further information, call 973-812-6467 or visit www.njturfgrass.org.

Rutgers Turfgrass Research VIRTUALField DayFree Turf Videos Online AvailableStarting Wednesday, October 7Due to the pandemic, the NJTA Board ofDirectors and the Rutgers Center forTurfgrass Science have made the difficultdecision to cancel the in-person 2020Rutgers Turfgrass Research Field Day. It will now be presented as a series of videos highlighting cutting-edge re-search showcasing new advances in turf-grass breeding, management, physiology,and pest control.

These free videos will be posted on theNJTA (www.njturfgrass.org) and RutgersCenter for Turfgrass Science (www.turf.rutgers.edu) websites. You can viewthem anytime starting October 7.

Visit www.njturfgrass.org or call 973-812-6467 for further information.

Industry Events

Member Newsmember, joining the association 44 yearsago in 1976. He was Shorehaven’s golfcourse superintendent from 1972 to1994 when he retired after suffering astroke. Showing Bob their appreciationfor his 22 years of service, the sharehold-ers of Shorehaven elected Bob anHonorary member on his retirement.

We would like to extend our sincerecondolences to Bob’s family.

number of volunteers from out of the area, soStephen is focusing on local clubs to field avolunteer staff of about 70.

Just recently, the USGA announced thatthere will be no fans at the U.S. Open thisfall at Winged Foot, which is in line with allof the other sporting events and the PGATour. This is yet another letdown forStephen and his crew who have worked sohard for so many years to prepare the WestCourse with the promise of showcasing it tonot just the 100 million fans who watchworldwide, but also to the diehard golf fanswho are normally able to walk the hallowedgrounds of Winged Foot.

No matter what the circumstances,Stephen credits his staf f with pulling themthrough. “All the men are quality guys andbring something different to the table,” saysStephen. “But Wes Neff and JR LaPan areveterans who have been with me for years—toiling through all the prep work for theOpen from the start!”

Looking Ahead to SeptemberFrom all accounts, Stephen and his staf f arein high spirits and ready for whatever comestheir way in the final month leading up tothis fast-approaching event. As he so aptlysaid in his interview with NBC’s GolfCentral, “Superintendents are used to jug-gling and switching things up based onwhatever happens or whatever Mother Na-ture deals us. We are great adapters.”

At this writing, the golf course is in topform, such top form, in fact, that the USGAhas noted it could come into Winged Footwith two weeks’ notice and be able to havean Open. A vote of confidence from anorganization with extremely high standards!

So get ready to hunker down at the TV towatch this year’s Open because it’s going tohappen, spectators or not!

Chip Lafferty, co-chair of the Tee to GreenEditorial Committee, is superintendent at RyeGolf Club in Rye, NY.



Financial Planning Do’s and Don’ts

anaging your finances andworking as a golf course

superintendent can be sur-prisingly similar. Both areas deal in unpre-dictable environments with many variablesthat are out of your control and can changeday to day. Both require you to be adaptable,using the lessons of the past to help you planand execute for the future. In the golf world,weather, disease, pests, and regulations rep-resent just a few of the many moving piecesthat challenge a golf course superintendentdaily. Navigating your own personal finan-cial and retirement planning, particularlyduring these uncertain times, can be equallydaunting. With that in mind, here are a few tips and techniques to help you side-step costly investment mistakes and ap-proach your financial planning with greaterconfidence.

Five Tips to Help Minimize Emotion and Maximize YourInvestment ReturnsDo stock market moves keep you up atnight? If so, you’re not alone. Weatheringmarket moves isn’t easy, but successfulinvestors know that a little patience canyield sizeable rewards. Maintaining emo-tional composure when it comes to yourhard-earned money is often easier said thandone. To help keep your emotions in checkduring these uncertain markets, considerthe following five tips:

1. Take advantage of market opportu-nities. Stock prices f luctuate for variousreasons. While past performance is notindicative of future performance, histori-cally stocks have rebounded from setbacks.In fact, during market lows, you may havethe opportunity to add to your portfoliowith quality investments at attractive prices. 2. Don’t try to time the market. Forinvestors, trying to outguess the market isnot only a stressful strategy, but it can also bean expensive one. By moving your portfolioto the sidelines, you might miss a marketdownturn, but you could also miss a rally.That’s because most of the market’s gains are

ers, shifting your portfolio from its originaltarget allocation. That’s why it’s important toreview your portfolio periodically and rebal-ance your holdings as needed to bring yourasset allocation back in line with your goals,risk tolerance, and timeframe. 5. When in doubt, seek the help of aprofessional. A successful long-term invest-ment strategy evolves as your needs andgoals change over time. If you are short ontime or lack the patience to delve into the“science” of investing and managing yourmoney, you might consider consulting with afinancial professional. An experienced finan-cial advisor can help you take an objective,unemotional approach to investing and keepyour overall performance and goals in sight,even in the face of f luctuating markets.

While there’s no guaranteed formula forinvesting success, maintaining a sense ofcalm by focusing on your long-term goalsversus minute-to-minute returns may helpyou sleep better at night—leading to betterdecision making in the long run.

Mby Josh Weinerman and Northwestern Mutual

Tips and Techniques for Maximizing Your Investment ReturnsThrough Even the Worst of Times

often clustered into very short time periods.To benefit from the market’s long-term per-formance, you need to make a plan and stickwith it through market ups and downs.Please remember that no investment strat-egy can guarantee a profit or protect againsta loss. 3. Don’t lose sight of your goals. Someinvestors believe they can soften the effectsof a market decline by selling off theirstocks and buying more conservative invest-ments. This could prove a mistake, espe-cially if you’re investing for long-termfinancial goals like retirement. While stockmarket volatility can be unnerving, stockshistorically have outperformed other majorasset classes. Of course, past performancedoes not guarantee future results, and whilestocks may have outperformed other assetclasses, they also may be more volatile.Investors should carefully consider theirgoals and risk tolerance when selectinginvestments. 4. Maintain your mix. During dif ficultmarkets, it is inevitable that some of yourinvestments will perform better than oth-

Value Tips



Taking money from yourretirement account is like

borrowing from your futureneeds to pay for your present

wants.

Five Financial Planning Mistakes to AvoidWe all have goals and dreams for the future.Whether you want to buy your first homeor are planning to open your own business,money is probably one of your primary con-siderations. This is just one reason why youneed to create and maintain a strong, yetf lexible, financial plan. Your plan is a toolthat helps you get from where you are nowto where you want to be in the future. Planto confidently achieve your goals by avoid-ing these five financial mistakes:1. Failing to budget. Thinking that youhave “enough,” or knowing you don’t, isn’treason for not maintaining a budget. Thereare many online tools that make knowingwhat’s coming in and what’s going out easyand efficient. After budgeting for a fewmonths, you may be surprised to learn howmuch you spend on your cable bill, lattes,and eating out. By maintaining a budget andmaking necessary changes, you may be ableto sock away more for your financial goals.

If that’s not reason enough, job layoffs orother sudden expenses can happen whenyou least expect it. Maintaining and review-ing your budget can help ensure you setaside extra cash in the event of financialstrain. The rule of thumb is to have three tosix months of living expenses saved.2. Delaying Saving for Retirement.Patience is not a virtue when it comes tostarting your retirement savings. As quicklyas you’re eligible, be sure to take advantageof any retirement plan offered by youremployer, and contribute at least enough toearn the maximum match (if one isoffered). The younger you are when youstart, the more time your money will haveto multiply.

If you’re self-employed or your companydoesn’t offer a 401(k), make sure you’re still

saving for retirement by setting up anIndividual Retirement Account (IRA). Youwon’t receive a matching contribution, butyou’ll still enjoy tax benefits and possiblygreater f lexibility than the 401(k).3. Tapping your retirement savings fornonemergency needs. Taking moneyfrom your retirement account is like bor-rowing from your future needs to pay foryour present wants. Before the age of 59½,withdrawals from these accounts often havestiff penalties and tax costs. It’s best to avoidusing these funds. Unfortunately, no matterhow careful you are with your finances, joblayoffs, hospital visits, and home repairs canhappen when you least expect them. Forthose true emergencies, it’s important tobuild a financial safety net with an emer-gency fund. As mentioned previously, it’s agood idea to keep three to six months of liv-ing expenses in an emergency account toavoid tapping into your retirement savings.4. Not being properly insured. Whatwould happen to your income, assets, andloved ones in the event of disability ordeath? To protect yourself and your lovedones, it’s essential to make sure you’reinsured against possible financial losses.

In addition to must-have health insur-ance coverage, there are three primary typesof insurance you might want to consider:disability, life, and long-term care. Althoughyou may not think you need insurance whenyou’re young and single, your age and likelygood health may make it the best time tobuy. If your debt is under control, and youremergency fund is established, it’s wise toinvestigate the pros and cons of these typesof insurance offerings sooner rather thanlater. 5. “Setting and forgetting” invest-ments. It’s important to take time to peri-odically review your investments for a fewreasons. One, your risk tolerance for invest-

ments changes over your lifetime, usuallybeing greater when you’re younger andsmaller when you’re older. Two, as youadvance in life, your goals, investments, andinsurance needs should be updated to ref lectchanges such as raises, new jobs, moves, andnew family members. To make sure you’remaximizing your earning potential and thatyour investments are accurately ref lectingyour goals and risk tolerance, be sure toreview your portfolio before one of thesemilestones or at least annually.

End NoteFinancial planning is no easy task. So if yourtalents and interests lie elsewhere, keep inmind it’s never too late—or too early—toseek the counsel of a financial professionalwhose job it is to stay abreast of the invest-ment world. With the proper guidance, youwill be able to welcome the future withgreater ease and far more confidence.

This article was prepared by NorthwesternMutual with the cooperation of Josh Weinerman.Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name forThe Northwestern Mutual Life InsuranceCompany (NM) (life and disability insurance,annuities, and life insurance with long-term carebenefits), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and its sub-sidiaries. Securities are offered throughNorthwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC(NMIS), a subsidiary of NM, broker-dealer, reg-istered investment adviser, member of FINRAand SIPC.

Josh Weinerman is an agent of NorthwesternMutual and a registered representative of theNorthwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLCbased in Poughkeepsie, NY. To contact JoshWeinerman, please call 845-797-5343 or emailhim at [email protected].


✪ Denotes MetGCSA member

✪ A.G. EnterprisesRick Gordon ~ Staff Uniforms201-488-1276 / Fax: 201-575-4140 [email protected]

Aquatrols Corp. of America“The World Leader in Soil Surfactants& Wetting Agents”1273 Imperial WayPaulsboro, NJ 08066Tom Valentine: [email protected]

✪ Atlantic Golf & Turf“Our Roots Run Deep”9 Industrial BoulevardTurner Falls, MA 01376John Garcia: [email protected]

✪ BASF Corporation“We Create Chemistry”Paul Ramina: [email protected]: @pjramina

✪ Bayer U.S.“Backed by Bayer”Dave Sylvester: 860-841-3173

✪ Blue Ridge Peat Farms133 Peat Moss RoadWhite Haven, PA 18661Gene Evans / Chuck Evans570-443-9596 / 570-947-5888

✪ Carriere Materials, LLCU.S. Silica Topdressing & Bunker Sand,VFB Bunker Sand & Partac TopdressingBill Carriere: [email protected]

Club Car CT / Metropolitan NY72 Grays Bridge RoadBrookfield, CT 06804Paul Schwab: 203-943-6898Ofc: 203-740-1458 [email protected]

✪ Cushman ~ E-Z-GONick Roberto: 845-637-7641Reed Williams: 516-662-3554Brendon Leeming: 706-834-7851

DeLea Sod FarmsTurf, Topdressing, & Root ZoneScott Geiser: [email protected] Wyatt: [email protected]

✪ Emerald Tree & Shrub Care “Master Arborists & Golf CourseSpecialists”Steve Farrelly / Bill Demarest / Kevin WyattOfc: [email protected]

✪ Evergreen Organic Recycling1160 Mamaroneck AvenueWhite Plains, NY 10605James Amodio / Raymond [email protected]

✪ Ewing Irrigation 70 Saw Mill River Road Hastings-on-Hudson, NY 10706 Fred Rapp / Tim Marcoux Ofc: 914-591-9530 [email protected]

✪ Executive / Synergy & Pocono Turf Supply “Nano & Micro Carbon Technologies” Ken Gentile: 203-496-0891 Tim Joyce: 631-601-5394 [email protected]

✪ Finch Services Inc.John Deere Golf & Turf Equipment1127 Littlestown PikeWestminster, MD 21157George Corgan: 914-893-0868Ofc: [email protected] / www.Finchinc.com

✪ Fisher & Son Company“Servicing the Green Industry ProfessionalsSince 1928”Mike Weber: [email protected]

✪ Grass Roots Turf Products, Inc.“Serving Turfgrass Professionals Since 1978”Ryan Avery / Keith Kubik / Nick AlleyOfc: 973-252-6634www.GRIturf.com / [email protected]: @GrassRootsTurf

✪ Harrell’s LLC“Growing a Better World. Partners forSuccess”Scott Tretera: [email protected] Fred Montgomery: [email protected]

✪ Helena Agri Enterprises, LLC“People . . . Products . . . Knowledge”Tim Gerzabek: 609-221-9240Sean Kennedy: 802-558-4009Twitter: @TimG_Helena /@GrnMtTurfGuy18

✪ K & J Tree ServiceRemoval, Pruning, Planting, Stump Removal, & Plant HealthcareEdward Grant: 203-298-8074Ofc: 203-722-7316 / Fax: [email protected]

✪ LaBar Golf Renovations170 Mount Airy Road, Suite A1Basking Ridge, NJ 07920Rich LaBar: [email protected]

✪ Metro Turf Specialists“Customers, Our TOP Priority”Scott / Matt / Rich / Todd / Ted203-748-4653 (GOLF)www.metroturfspecialists.com

✪ Noble Turf“Helping You Grow”Brian Bontemps: 845-239-7959Brian Gjelsvik: 973-670-7139Zach Brooks: 914-309-2373Matt Lapinski: 978-551-0093Bill Cimochowski: 609-923-4045

✪ NuFarm Americas, Inc.“Helping the World to Grow a BetterTomorrow”Jim Santoro: [email protected]

✪ Ocean OrganicsFertilizers ~ Biostimulants ~ SurfactantsKevin Collins: [email protected]: @kcseweed

✪ Pinnacle Turf, Inc.40 Skyview LaneNew Rochelle, NY 10804Steven Renzetti, [email protected] /www.Pinnacleturf.net

✪ Plant Food Company, Inc.“The Liquid Fertilizer Experts”Tom Weinert: 914-262-0111Dick Neufeld: 973-945-6318Tom Pepe: 609-751-1372David Conrad: 914-263-3244

✪ Playbooks for GolfMobile Coverage System, Conditions App, Golf CourseField Guides, ezPins, Consulting, Career Development, Professional Search ServicesGreg Wojick: 203-219-0254Matt Leverich: 913-221-8052www.goplaybooks.com

✪ SiteOne Landscape Supply“Stronger Together”Chad Mathieu: [email protected]

Small World Wealth Management Northwestern Mutual

2515 South RoadPoughkeepsie, NY 12601Joshua Weinerman: 845-224-0027

Soil Solutions, LLC Drill & Fill / Aerification ProfessionalsAnthony Decicco / John Decicco7 Whittemore PlaceRyebrook, NY 10573 914-393- 0659 / Fax: 914-939-5010 [email protected]

✪ Sygenta“Manufacturer of Plant ProtectionProducts”John Bresnahan: [email protected]

✪ Tanto Irrigation, LLC“Golf Course Irrigation Specialists”Steve Kubicki / Paul [email protected]

✪ Tom Irwin Inc.“With Tom Irwin, You’re Not Alone”13 A Street, Burlington, MA 01803Jeff Houde: 203-731-1776Ofc: [email protected]

✪ Turf Products ~ Toro Irrigation & Equipment

“Celebrating 50 Years of Service toOur Customers”Mark Osborn: 860-214-0245Shawn Donovan: 203-910-9114Eric Holm: 860-490-2787

✪ Turf Trade“Distributor and Product FormulatorSpecializing in Water Management”Kathy Conard: [email protected]

✪ Valley Green, Inc.“Serving the Industry since 1990”205 Wilson AvenueNorwalk, CT 06854Greg Moran: 845-901-1358Ofc: [email protected]

✪ Westchester Tractor, Inc.60 International BoulevardBrewster, NY 10509John [email protected]

✪ Westchester Turf Supply, Inc.“Proudly Serving the MetGCSA Since 1976”Bob Lippman: 914-447-6257Dave Lippman: [email protected]

✪ WinField United“We Help You Win”Rob Saunders: 203-249-5059Jim Masone: 516-818-9852Pat Cash: [email protected]

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

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Tee to Green june 2020 cover.qxp_Tee to G dec 2010 cover 8/12/20 1:38 PM Page 2

the covid conundrum . . . page 2published by the metropolitan golf course superintendents...

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