The Greenerside, Volume 65

Issue 1: 2023/ Volume 65

CONTENTS 13 A recap of the Foundation Shootout.

18 QUICK NINE: Get to know our newest board members.

20 BOOK REVIEW: The books of Admiral William H. McRaven.

On The Cover Spring Brook Country Club Golf Course Superintendent: Joseph Scioscia

6 Chapter News 12 GCSANJ Foundation News

28 Advocacy Alert GCSAA calls for members to contact representatives in support of House Resolution 3124.

24 Tech Tips Navigating the new website.

30 GCSAA Feature Exploring member benefits.

26 Rutger's Golf Classic

36 Patron Directory

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Our Contributors Editor in Chief: Donovan Maguigan Design & Layout Editor: Maureen Sharples Photography Editor: Shaun Barry Contributing Writers: Keith Bennett, Shaun Barry, Kevin Doyle, Donovan Maguigan, and Maureen Sharples.

Officers: Donovan Maguigan, President Ken Anson, Vice President Jennifer Torres, Treasurer Patrick Quinlan, Secretary Joe Kinlin, Past President Directors: District I- Mark Miedler & Chad Broderick District II- Rob Wagner & Travis Pauley District III- Drew White & Victor Frederico Commercial Representatives Rob Johnson & Paul Ramina Class C Liaison James Surico Rutgers Liaisons Dr. James Murphy Executive Director Maureen Sharples

GCSANJ Newsletter is published four times a year. © 2023 THE GREENERSIDE Opinions expressed in this Newsletter are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily express the opinions or policies of the GCSANJ Board and its membership. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

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PRESIDENT'S LETTER DONOVAN MAGUIGAN

With the last weeks of Spring upon us, the days getting longer, Summer arriving, and course activity kicking into high gear, I would like to open this issue of The Greenerside wishing the best to our members for the Summer of 2023. I would especially like to commend the efforts of four superintendents who are hosting LPGA events this year in New Jersey; Mike Brunelle at Upper Montclair Country Club hosted the LPGA Founders Cup, Greg James hosted the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National, Mike Bair hosting the Shoprite LPGA Classic at Seaview Golf Club, and Greg Boring at Baltusrol Golf Club hosting the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. The association is proud of the hard work of these clubs and their staff to showcase New Jersey golf at the highest professional level.

Our Board of Directors is excited to announce the addition of two new members to the board; Travis Pauley of Plainfield Country Club and Chad Broderick of Montammy Golf Club. These new board members have brought new insights, ideas, and strong enthusiasm for serving our association. With a full board now, we have assembled a group of motivated superintendents who openly share ideas, join committees, and work hard to provide a strong future for our association. As the association approaches our 100th anniversary, we are forming a future planning committee to chart a course into the future.

This Spring, the association has been busy with New Jersey winning the War at the Shore at Atlantic City Country Club, the start of matches for the Stanley and Leslie Cups, the GCSANJ Foundation Shootout at Riverton Country Club, the Rutgers Turfgrass Classic hosted by the New Jersey Turfgrass Foundation, and the upcoming event at Spring Brook Country Club in June. Be sure to check the calendar and join us for one of our upcoming events.

Lastly, the message above includes references to the hard work of superintendents, whether they are preparing for professional events or serving the association on the board. Still, I would like the membership to take the time to be thankful for the two things that make all this possible, our staff.

With the dog days of summer looming, we all will rely on the work of our staff, from the part-time summer help to our assistant superintendents, to power through each day. Take the time to thank your staff and show your support for their efforts.

THANK YOU,

DONOVAN MAGUIGAN Chapter President

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FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Community outreach is one of the most effective ways to teach the public about our industry. GCSAA offers several initiatives and programs to help you get started, and it is wonderful to see so many GCSANJ members take advantage of these programs this year.

National Golf Day is a unique opportunity to advocate for golf,

MAUREEN SHARPLES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

connect with your peers, and donate your time to the community service project on the National Mall. Industry leaders meet with members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and federal agencies to advocate for golf's 15,000 diverse businesses and 2 million jobs.

This year GCSANJ members Jennifer Torres, Golf Course Superintendent at West Lake Golf & Country Club, Keith Bennett, Sales Manager for Grass Root Turf Products, and Tyler Otero, Mid-Atlantic Sales Director for Harrell's were a part of the 220 members that attended National Golf Day to advocate for our industry.

Another effective outreach program is First Green, a STEM education and environmental outreach program that uses golf courses as learning labs for students. First Green pairs golf courses with schools for unique learning opportunities. Jill Seymour, CGCS, Golf Course Superintendent at Charleston Springs Golf Course, will be hosting a First Green field trip for Mercerville Elementary School at the beginning of June. The resources provided by GCSAA, along with advice from GCSANJ members who have hosted a field trip in the past, helped Jill create a dynamic and interactive program for the day.

Rounds 4 Research is also a community outreach effort.

Donating a round at your golf course allows enthusiastic golfers to experience your facility. It may seem like a small gesture, but it makes a significant impact when combined with all the rounds donated in New Jersey.

LET'S CONNECT

msharples@gcsanj.org @GCSANJ1926

Thank you to all the members who participated in these programs, and if you are interested in getting involved, don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely, Maureen Sharples GCSANJ Executive Director

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CHAPTER NEWS NEW MEMBERS

MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Anthony Bonasera, Class AF East Latitude, LLC

Chris Killacky, Class C Forest Hill Field Club

Rocco Weir is the new golf course superintendent at Edgewood Country Club.

Darren Farrar, Class A Whitemarsh Valley Country Club

Joshua Berg, Class C Pine Valley Golf Club

Russ Harris is the new Northern & Central NJ Territory Manager for Finch Turf.

Eliezer Rodriguez, Class A Pennsauken Country Club

Ty Leahy, Class C Baltusrol Golf Club

Andrew Stilwell, Class C Arcola Country Club

Chris Mullaly, Class C Baltusrol Golf Club

Nick Karaitis is the new golf course superintendent at Berkshire Valley Golf Course.

Justin Adriazola, Class C North Jersey Country Club Kevin Rundstrom, Class AF Aquatrols

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CHAPTER NEWS

GCSANJ WINS THE WAR AT THE SHORE A full field of GCSANJ and PAGCS members came out to Atlantic City Country Club to compete in this year's War At the Shore on April 17th. GCSANJ proudly took home the cup this year! The day was filled with camaraderie and friendly competition.

Winner: GCSANJ Hosted by: Mark Beaumont Title Sponsors: Harrell's and Turf Equipment and Supply

LIVE BRACKETS The Stanley Cup and The Leslie Cup brackets are now live on the website. If you didn't sign up this year, follow the competition throughout the season by checking the brackets. www.gcsanj.org/stanley-leslie-cup We look forward to crowning our winning teams in the fall.

SAVE THE DATE August Golf Meeting When: August 15th Where: Skyway Golf Course, Jersey City, NJ Host: Fred Parcells

Registration opens July 15th!

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CHAPTER NEWS WELCOME DR. MING-YI CHOU Dr. Chou's extension program will focus on evaluating and developing efficient cool-season turfgrass disease management measures, including cultural practices, disease prediction models, synthetic fungicides, and biorational agents. His research will focus on plant-soilmicrobe interactions in turfgrass, with an emphasis on how these interactions and coevolution collectively contribute to disease suppression.

Dr. Chou earned his bachelor's degree in horticulture science from National Taiwan University.

He earned his master's degree in wine business from École Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon.

He worked as a sommelier at L'Atelier De Joël Robuchon in Taipei before completing his Ph.D. in Horticultural Biology at Cornell University. He was the manager of vineyard technology in St. Supery Vineyards and Winery in Napa Valley, CA, before returning to academia in post-doctoral positions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Great Lakes Bioenergy Center at Michigan State University, where he studied plant-soil-microbiome interaction with emphases on pathogen suppression microbes in turfgrass and beneficial microbes for bioenergy crops.

Prior to joining Rutgers, Dr. Chou was a Research Scientist in turfgrass pathology program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, examining dollar spot suppressive microbiome and building snow molds predictive models. He was also involved in fungicide efficacy evaluation program for diseases important to the Upper Midwest, such as dollar spot and snow molds.

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CHAPTER NEWS MARK KUHNS INDUCTED INTO THE HENRY F. ARMSBY HONOR SOCIETY Mark Kuhns, CGCS, was inducted into the Henry F. Armsby Honor Society at the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. The Armsby Honor Society honors alumni and friends who have demonstrated a profound commitment to the College of Agricultural Sciences through their service, scholarship, teaching, and philanthropy. It recognizes and encourages members’ continued involvement in both the college and the alumni society. Congratulations Mark!

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FOUNDATION NEWS

APPLY FOR A GCSANJ FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP As a GCSANJ member, you and your immediate family are eligible to apply for a GCSANJ Foundation scholarship. This is an excellent opportunity to offset the costs of education. Applications are graded based on academic achievements, work experience, extra-curricular activities, and essay responses.

Please visit gcsanj.org/Scholarship_Application to apply, or reach out to the office for more information.

Applications must be submitted by June 23, 2023

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2023 FOUNDATION SHOOTOUT

By Keith Bennett The Foundation Shootout is the main fundraiser for the GCSANJ Foundation, with proceeds used to fund research that benefits the industry, award scholarships to members and their children, and provide benevolence to those in need.

This year, the Shootout was held on May 15th at The Riverton Country Club in Cinnaminson. It was a tremendous day. Drew White and his team had the course in fantastic shape, the food was excellent, and everyone in attendance had a great day.

The winners of the RTJ Cup with a low gross score of even par 71 were the team of Jesse Betts (Mitchell Products) and Zach Wakefield (Union League National).

The winners of the Founders Cup with a low net score of 14 under par were the team of Jim Devaney and Lou Bosco (Storr Tractor/Turf Equipment Services). The second-place low net with a score of 11 under par was the team of Tom Higgins and Ron Simpson, Jr. (Jumping Brook CC).

We had 4 skins for the day: Kopera and Rogers with a double eagle on #2 Rudich and Husby with an eagle on #4 Higgins and Simpson with an eagle on #8 Scott Rose celebrated his birthday with a hole-in-one on number #16 As with every Foundation event, it would not be a success without the support of our members and the generosity of our sponsors. A huge thank you to Plant Food Company for supporting the event for two years in a row as our Title Sponsor! Also, we would like to recognize FMC, who utilized their hole sponsorship to bring awareness to the tragic passing of Adam Schloer from Heritage Creek Golf Club.

Once again, thank you to Drew White and his team for a great Shootout. We are excited to have another successful year in the books and are already looking forward to seeing everyone at next year’s Shootout, where we will continue to feature a spectacular New Jersey golf course and raise money to support GCSANJ members.

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2023

Foundation Shootout Sponsors Title Sponsor Plant Food Co

Dinner Sponsor Middletown Sprinkler

Scott Rose, celebrating his hole-in-one.

Cocktail Sponsors Grass Roots Syngenta Lunch Sponsors Nufarm Willow's Bend Practice Putting Green Sponsor Ewing Irrigation Range Sponsor Tuckahoe Turf

Jesse Betts, RTJ Cup Winner

Cart Sponsor Noble Turf Transfusion Sponsor E-Z-Go Beverage Station Sponsors Coombs Sod Farm Mitchell Products Sandscapes

Lou Bosco and Jim Devaney, Founders Cup Winners

Closest to the Pin Double 'D' Turf & Storr Tractor Longest Drive Envu & Jersey Soil Blending

The Plant Food Co. team with Drew White

Hole Sponsors AG Enterprises, Aquatrols, Black Lagoon, Brandt, Corteva, DPH Bio, DryJect, Ewing Irrigation, Fertl-Soil, FMC, Helena, Jersey Turf, NJ Green Industry Council, Ocean Organics, PBI-Gordon, Pebble Creek Golf Club, Pocono Turf, Soil & Water Consulting, Solu-Cal, Westchester Turf Supply

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FOUNDATION SHOOTOUT RIVERTON COUNTRY CLUB Hosted by Drew White

Anthony Bonasera, Jay Long, AJ Josefoski, Joey Wolff

Scott Scherer, Dan Dazet, Steve Budrecki

Kevin Rundstrom, Tom Currie, Scott Bordner, Dave Schell

Victor Frederico, Rich Sweeney, Tom Wienert, Grant Platz

Rob Johnson, Mike Molchan, Joe Kinlin, Rob Arnts

Nick Alley, Ken Anson, Keith Kubik, Chris Boyle

Lance Rogers, Jen Schneider, Jim Cadott

Keith Bennett, Drew White, Scott Rose, and Nate Strei

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A QUICK NINE GCSANJ's newest board members, Chad Broderick, Victor Frederico, and Travis Pauley, answered our NINE quick questions.

Why did you become a superintendent?

Tell us about your golf course.

What is something unique about your golf course?

I have always wanted to give back to this association since it has provided me with the knowledge and network for me to advance in my career.

Like most, I really enjoy working outdoors and the variety of problem solving this job offers.

Montammy Golf Club is an 18 hole golf course in the far northeast section of the state. The property’s character comes from its extensive elevation changes and large rock outcroppings.

The golf course’s routing.

The exterior of the property is the front nine and the back nine is in the center.

There was an opening in our district, and I wanted to see what being a part of a group of my peers was all about, while giving back to our association.

The home I grew up in was located on a public golf course in South Jersey. The Superintendent at the time, was tired of throwing my group of friends off of the golf course at night, while he was trying to water (manual irrigation system).

He ended up offering all of us jobs, so we could play free golf and not have to “sneak” on the course anymore.

Tavistock is a private country club located in South Jersey, renovated to bentgrass playing surfaces in 2007-2008. We are currently in the initial stages of implementing a new master plan by architect Jaeger Kovich.

We are the smallest borough in the State of New Jersey, with 4 homes and approximately 12 residents.

I have always enjoyed being outside and fell in love with golf in high school. The two made a fairly good fit in our industry.

The golf course was designed by Donald Ross in 1916 that remains one of his best and still largely intact designs. We have hosted numerous national and regional events and hope to continue to do so in the future. The golf course sits on an undulating piece of ground, which is a terminal moraine the glaciers left behind after the last ice age. Our original Ross push-up greens are pretty severely pitched and provide a fairly stern test.

The Battle of Short Hills, one of the first battles of the Revolutionary War where American troops flew the original Stars and Stripes flag likely occurred on the property. We fly the original Betsy Ross flag on our main flagpole to commemorate this.

Why did you join the GCSANJ Board?

Chad Broderick Golf Course Superintendent Montammy Golf Club District 1 Director

Victor Frederico Golf Course Superintendent Tavistock Country Club District 3 Director

Travis Pauley Golf Course Superintendent Plainfield Country Club District 2 Director

GCSANJ has supported me tremendously throughout my tenure here at Plainfield and I feel like it’s time for me to give back what will only be a small portion of the time and energy the membership and association have extended to me.

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What is the biggest challenge that you face at your property?

What is something that you have continued to do non-stop since the start of your career?

If you could go back in time, what is one piece of advice you would tell your younger self?

Poor soils with ledge rock close to the surface.

Look at everyday of work as an opportunity to learn something new.

Play more golf.

Golf! With almost 1400 members (a mix of full golfing members and social members) we are extremely busy!

Manage the water as best as possible. That old adage of “You can put it down, but you can’t take it away” is one that is constantly in the back of my head!

Tavistock can be a notoriously wet golf course. I’m sure my staff would like me to put more water down, but that fine balance between playability and turf health is very important!

Honestly, I can’t identify one big challenge that is unique to Plainfield that every superintendent doesn’t already face. I am very lucky to lead one of the most talented teams in our business that ALWAYS rise to the many challenges thrown at us. I am also grateful for an incredibly supportive membership and club management that gives my team the resources, tools and political support to rectify many of the addressable challenges our property presents, giving us the best chance at success.

To make sure I wasn’t crazy or way off-base, I asked my assistant Mike this same question and he concurred with my assessment.

I get less sleep than I would really like to at night.

Your children will only be young for a very short time, spend as much time with them as you can!

Be less of a hot head.

I can be wound pretty tight, which is a blessing and curse at times, but calm down a little bit. It is just grass; almost no situation in my daily routine will be true life or death.

Favorite on the course snack?

Favorite golf course that you have not worked at? And why?

A cup of tuna fish.

Fishers Island Club, the island is a little too quiet for me to live on.

30 lbs ago I would have said a chipwich!

Recently chicken salad in a cup.

Pine Valley. As a kid growing up in South Jersey, Pine Valley and Tavistock were the two places we “looked over the fence.”

I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to play Pine Valley a few times, and there is a reason it’s #1 in the world!

I almost never have snacks on the course at work but while playing golf, it has to be the sausage sandwich at Sunningdale.

Cypress Point—From the drive in along 17 Mile Drive, the simple but aweinspiring locker room and of course the masterpiece of golf architecture weaving through the Monterey forest, sand dunes and cliffs above the Pacific, it’s as good of day of golf as anywhere in the world. To paraphrase the plaque on the 17th tee, “count your blessings to be one of the very few to pass this way.” Amen to that.

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FEATURE

Get Over Being a Sugar Cookie The Books of Admiral William H. McRaven

By Donovan Maguigan

W

hen we wake up in the morning, it is fair to say that most of us do not live a life as stressful and physically demanding as a Navy SEAL, unless you are Pat Husby running four miles, every four hours, for four days to raise money for the Foundation.

We do, however, awaken in darkness, lead and assemble our teams early in the morning for a task that is physically demanding compared to others, and strategically plan our daily routines to provide a specific outcome. While we are not saving the world, we can draw upon the advice and leadership strategies of those who are, as they are deeply engaged in a serious business where lives are at stake.

In perusing social media short videos on TikTok or Instagram, there is a chance that you have seen a video of a Naval officer in his dress whites speaking before a large group about making his bed, sugar cookies, sharks, and not being afraid of the circus. Following the viral success of his 2014 commencement speech at the University of Texas, Admiral William McRaven has shared his leadership wisdom and lessons learned from a career as a Naval SEAL with millions. Through a lifetime of military service that included the notorious SEAL training, becoming a Frogman, serving the US Navy

around the world including Iraq and Afghanistan, surviving a near-death parachute jump accident, defeating cancer, and helping lead the team that killed Osama Bin Laden before retiring, McRaven has collected annals of insight into the mindset of successful leaders. His speech at the University of Texas quickly led to the publication of his first book, Make Your Bed and subsequent publications of multiple other books including The Wisdom of the Bullfrog and The Hero Code. McRaven understands that while his message is rooted in his SEAL training, the lessons can be wide ranging as he stated that they, “may help you on your way to a better world, and while these lessons were learned during my time in the military, I can assure you that it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform.”

As a primer, I encourage you to watch the commencement speech which clocks in at about twenty minutes.

It’s hard not to copy his words verbatim as his brief but direct writing style gets his point across quickly, but

below are a handful of highlights from each book and how they can relate to our profession. The three books that I highlight below are short reads and are worth multiple deep dives to find inspiration at different times, even if only for a short read. The content of these books is easily digestible and can provide brief lessons that you can share with your staff.

The first book published by Admiral McRaven was Make Your Bed, which built upon the bullet points that he conveyed to that graduating class from the University of Texas. Each chapter utilizes the same opening line, “If you want to change the world...”

Make Your Bed Upon reading the title, Make Your Bed, my first thought was that making my bed is challenging each morning as my wife is still in bed when I leave. Making a bed is difficult when a person is still laying in it, especially to the caliber that Adm. William McRaven suggests.

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FEATURE

in the concept that if you start your day by completing a task, it leads to a productive day, since you have already completed one task.

Through the completion of this task, you can build on moving forward through your day and towards goals that are important to you. If you can’t make your bed, find a daily task that you can accomplish that will jump start your day like taking out the trash at your shop, organizing something, or spending time with a specific associate to start the day.

Don’t Fear the Circus SEAL training simply put, is no joke.

Spaced out over twenty-four weeks, the physical training is designed to weed out the underperforming or unfit sailors who wish to serve as one of the nation’s strongest fighting units who are required to swim, run, and dive through varied environments that exact an enormous physical toll. By the end of the training, approximately 10% of those who enter SEAL training complete it. As McRaven explains, “Every day during training you were challenged with multiple physical events — long runs, long swims, obstacle courses, hours of calisthenics — something designed to test your mettle.”

As if the training was not hard enough, sailors who failed to meet the physical standards were invited to a daily event called, “The Circus.” ”No one wanted a circus,” McRaven recalled, “a circus was two hours of additional calisthenics designed to wear you down, to break your spirit, to force you to quit. No one wanted a circus. A circus meant that for that day you didn’t measure up. A circus meant more fatigue — and more fatigue meant that the following day would be more difficult — and more circuses were likely.”

With the fear of not meeting a specific standard and finding yourself on the list, sailors are driven to push harder and perform better during their daily drills. Despite many sailors who were on the list, a change began to happen to those who were a part of the circus.

“Over time those students — who did two hours of extra calisthenics — got stronger and stronger. The pain of the circuses built inner strength, built physical resiliency.”

In life, we face struggles every day and when we are at our weakest, it’s not uncommon for us to be tested further. In the end, we are made stronger and better by being pushed beyond our limits.

Get Over Being a Sugar Cookie and Move Forward My first exposure to the author and his words came in the form of an Instagram video that explained the “Sugar Cookie” for Navy SEALs. Each morning the SEALs were required to present themselves in uniform with all points of inspection detailed and precise focusing on all aspects of the uniform from the creases, polished buckles, and making sure it is spotless. Despite the best efforts by the SEALS, the instructors always found something wrong with the uniform every day. Even if the uniform was completely perfect in every detail, the instructors would still fault something in the execution. As McRaven explains it the next step was a unique penalty, “For failing the uniform inspection, the student had to run, fully clothed into the surf zone and then, wet from head to toe, roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand.

The effect was known as a “sugar cookie.” You stayed in that uniform the rest of the day — cold, wet and sandy.” Doing anything while soaking wet, cold, and now covered in sand is rough enough but after this the SEAL candidate would proceed with their training.

The process of becoming a “sugar cookie” would be an additional physical challenge to the candidates, but ultimately its utilization as a training tool provided the candidates with a daily lesson that you were never going to be perfect and sometimes you will fail despite your best efforts. The candidates who were demoralized by this didn’t become Navy SEALs. There are days when as superintendents and assistants we do our best to complete a task on the course, make extensive preparations, and execute our work to the best of our ability only to have a thunderstorm wash out our bunkers, a hydraulic line damage a green, or an irrigation pipe blow up in the middle of the night. How do we instinctively respond to that? We repair turf, we glue pipe, and push our bunkers back up to get back to work. Without even thinking or needing sand dumped down our uniforms, we as superintendents get over being a sugar cookie and move forward.

Following the success of Make Your Bed, McRaven followed up with a second book, The Hero Code, drafts together an honor code that is “a moral code, an internal code of conduct that drives the human race to explore, to nurture, to comfort, to inspire, and to laugh so that societies can flourish.” While the description sounds lofty for superintendents and turf managers, the association has a code of ethics that can be found in the Member Directory: As a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey, I pledge myself to: 1) Maintain the highest standard of personal conduct to reflect credit and add to the stature of the profession.

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2) Abstain from the debasement of, or encroachment upon, the professional reputation, practice or employment of another Superintendent.

3) Make certain that the position is open and/or incumbent is aware of same before making any application to any prospective employer.

4) Call on the Superintendent when visiting another golf course.

In McRaven’s book, Honor Code, writes on various topics that he feels would build a strong personal code that can make you a better team leader. Each topic wraps up with a simple credo stating simply the lesson in each. Here are a few examples: Humility “I will work to be humble; to recognize the limits of my intellect, my understanding, and my power.”

To ask for help or understand that you are being challenged beyond your skill set is a strong leadership trait. A major strength across our association is the camaraderie and support for our fellow superintendents, assistants, and turf manager. During challenges or head scratching moments that we encounter on the course, the support of our fellow members is only made possible by having the humility to reach out and seek help for a particular problem.

and expect nothing in return.”

With labor being a major topic of discussion, course managers and supers are looking for improved ways to connect with staff and build their teams. Finding ways to connect with your staff will be a powerful way to retain associates and build a team.

Acts of kindness that you can provide don’t have to be material and can be as simple as discussing a topic that you share an interest like sports teams, food, music, or media. Finding a way to connect on a personal level can also provide glimpses into understanding what a staff member is looking to develop in themselves or providing support for personal problems will help foster a strong team. Flexible scheduling, education opportunities, playing privileges, and non-golf related gifts.

Lastly, taking the time to treat your staff members as a person rather than a means to an end will encourage the staff to share their positive experiences at work with others, potentially building your team.

Humor “I will use humor to comfort others, and never be afraid to laugh at myself.”

Additionally, we seek support from our committees, department managers, and affiliates to fill in the gaps in our work and solve problems.

“We’re not preventing nuclear war, saving babies, or putting people on the moon. We are managing turf on a golf course,” is a saying that I use commonly with my staff when things start to get stressful. Keeping your work environment casual and light can help your team remain calm and collected while staying focused on the tasks at hand. There is a fine line between having too much fun at work and keeping things light, so tread lightly and stay away from any topic that could be misconstrued.

Compassion “I will be kind and compassionate to at least one person every single day

Navy SEALs are also referred to as Frogmen and the longest serving active Navy SEAL, is referred to as the

Bullfrog. Towards the end of his SEAL career, McRaven was designated Bullfrog which inspired the title for his latest book, The Wisdom of the Bullfrog, This book continues his application of military training and discipline examples to provide context for leadership lessons.

Spread through eighteen chapters covering topics like communication, handling doubt, and why hope is not a strategy. With each chapter, he provides three quick bullet points to summarize each which act as an action plan moving forward.

The Only Easy Day was Yesterday Challenges will face us every day without end until we reach our last day of work and they can be from severe stressful situations to easily manageable events. One thing is for sure though, each day will bring new obstacles to overcome. In following this mindset, McRaven emphasizes that regardless of challenges, ““You must bring energy and enthusiasm every single day. Attack each day as though it were critical to the organization’s success,” and “You are not entitled to anything but more hard work. The rank and file are working hard and getting paid less.”

My first GM when I arrived at Springdale used to say to me “Only good as you were yesterday,” whenever I would find myself when feedback or constructive criticism would be negative. Our members and players don’t always remember where things were or how they have improved, their most recent memory will be the standard bearer.

Regardless of the challenges that you face, you need to be prepared every day to face what you know is coming and to be prepared as best you can to work hard for what is unknown.

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A Shepherd Should Smell Like His Sheep As with the Hero Code, Admiral McRaven stresses the importance of working closely with your team and understanding the work that they do on a daily basis. As he states, “Share the hardships with your employees and you will gain their respect and learn about yourself as a leader.” Take the time to help push up a bunker, fill divots, clean debris, empty the trash, or another task that you have delegated to your staff. After a rough day or storm clean-up, spend time working with the staff and see what they see. When you are working with your staff, listen to their suggestions and encourage feedback. Lastly, make sure that you are enjoying the work so that they can be encouraged to find solace and pride in the finished product.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate Almost every leadership training or team building exercise, the number one topic that is hammered repeatedly is communication.

Communication between our staff, members, guests, players, or other departments can help provide a strong foundation for a successful organization. While communication to our player is a requirement of our jobs, making sure to communicate to your entire staff is equally as critical.

As McRaven says, “Confirm that the values and the goals of the organization are understood down to the lowest-ranking member. Never take a significant action without having a plan for informing the rank and file.”

and serving as the leader of a strong efficient team can provide you with a work environment that can encourage others to do better. I encourage you to take the time to watch the commencement speech, read a chapter from one of these books, or listen to an audiobook of one of these books to overcome being a sugar cookie, not fearing the circus, and leading your team from the front.

We may never save the world by maintaining turfgrass on a golf course, but providing a quality golf product

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TECH TIPS

Navigating the New GCSANJ Website

By Maureen Sharples In January, we launched a new chapter website with StarChapter, a membership management software specifically designed for associations.

The new software helps manage the chapter more efficiently. It has userfriendly features, secures personal information, and provides safer credit card processing.

Each member received a welcome email prompting them to create a new username and password. If you still need to do this step, please create one. Your unique username allows you to use the "member area" of the website and pay or print your invoices for membership and event registrations. If you cannot find that email, contact the office or select "forgot password," which will direct you to create it.

The "Member Area" can be found at the top right of the website (shown below). This section requires a login that gives you access to the directory, meeting minutes, open invoices, dues renewal, and your contact information. Our directory was a pdf document in the past, but now you can search by name or golf course/company, and it will generate that member's profile.

Posting a job is also a simple task. On the navigation bar at the top of the page, click "Job Board" and choose "Post A Job." You will be prompted to complete and submit the job form for approval. It will appear on the website within a day.

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All the chapter events are listed on the website and updated throughout the year. You can register yourself and other members for events. When registering for an event, you can pay by credit card or bypass the payment portal and print/download a pdf of the invoice. This makes using sponsor credits or submitting an invoice to your employer easier. Below is a screenshot of where the "bypass payment" feature can be found.

Along with the new features described, members will also see our previous website's content, such as chapter news, The Greenerside, and the GCSANJ Foundation page.

If you need assistance, please get in touch with the office with your feedback and questions.

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FEATURE

THE 2023 RUTGERS TURFGRASS CLASSIC

By Shaun Barry

The 2023 Rutgers Turfgrass Classic ( The Classic) was the 27th iteration of this world-renowned fundraiser.

No other one-day turfgrass research fundraiser has been as successful as this one. This event is a New Jersey Turfgrass Foundation (NJTF) function. It is successful for many reasons. One of those reasons is that everyone on the tournament committee is a passionate volunteer. Another reason is that every dollar of the net profit goes into the NJTF and can only be used to support the needs of The Center For Turfgrass Research. There are no exceptions.

Even though this is not an event run by Rutgers, every Center For Turfgrass Research member actively supports it. They recruit our generous sponsors. The Classic Committee is comprised of leaders from every segment of the turfgrass industry. It is a marriage made in turfgrass heaven.

Cece Peabody is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Turfgrass Association ( NJTA ), and her staff are the key organizers that prepare for the event. Their efforts allow the day to run smoothly. The staff at Fiddler's Elbow CC is excellent, but the stars of the day are the golf courses. Matt Willigan, Steve Saxe ( Meadow & River courses ), Dennis Shea ( Forest Course ), Kyle Lenkey, Jacob Menton, Patrick Murray, and Jay Lau are tasked with keeping each course in tournament condition every day. Despite many days of heavy rain leading to the event, the golf courses were in excellent condition.

Another reason for the event's success is the Grand Reception at the end of golf which is the day's highlight for many attendees. We had 366 golfers, and I am sure half of them stayed long after golf to enjoy the wonderful selection of food and beverages and the chance to spend quality time visiting with old and new friends.

The Classic will return to Fiddler's Elbow on May 6, 2024. Please save the date so you can support our industry.

Premier Sponsors BASF Burlingham Seed Columbia River Seed DLF Envu Grass Roots Landmark Turf & Native Seed Lebanon Turf

Mountain View Seeds PBI Gordon Corp ProSeeds Marketing/Alliance Seeds SiteOne Landscape Supply Storr Tractor & Turf Equipment & Supply Syngenta

Eagle Sponsors Barenbrug USA, Brett Young Seeds, Double 'D' Turf, FMC, Harrell’s, Nufarm, Paige Electric, and SynaTek.

Birdie Sponsors Aquatrols, Finch Turf, Gcsanj/ Foundation, Harrington Construction, NJTA/ Foundation, Pennington Seed, Plant Food Co., and Rutgers Center For Turfgrass Science.

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BIPARTISAN BILL SEEKS EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF GOLF COURSES

GCSAA FEATURE

By GCSAA Staff GCSAA calls for members to contact representatives in support of House Resolution 3124.

of which is the sale of alcoholic beverages for consumption off premises."

On May 5, H.R. 3124 was filed in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) and cosponsored by Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), calling for the removal of golf from section 144(c)(6)(B) of the U.S. tax code, which disqualifies golf facilities from disaster relief and economic stimulus programs that are available to other businesses such as restaurants, hotels, and other leisure activities.

Passage of H.R. 3124 would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove private or commercial golf courses and country clubs from the list of uses for which certain proceeds cannot be used. The golf industry converged in Washington, D.C., for National Golf Day; H.R. 3124 was a large part of the discussions during the Congressional meetings of Lobby Day on May 10th.

The tax code section currently states that: "no portion of the proceeds of such issue is to be used to provide (including the provision of land for) any private or commercial golf course, country club, massage parlor, hot tub facility, suntan facility, racetrack or other facility used for gambling, or any store the principal business

"Golf has been treated unfairly for more than 47 years by this section of the tax code, and GCSAA fully supports H.R. 3124 to reverse this outdated view of the golf industry," GCSAA CEO Rhett Evans said.

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MEMBER BENEFIT

ANNUAL REPORT GCSANJ is an official club of the NJSGA. As benefit to your membership, we offer complimentary GHIN numbers.

Please contact the GCSANJ office to get started.

Maureen Sharples, Executive Director msharples@gcsanj.org or 973-812-0710

GCSAA FEATURE

GCSAA MEMBER BENEFITS

By Kevin Doyle, GCSAA Field Staff

When I started this Field Staff position at the WNGCSAFLAGCS education event in March of 2012, the mention of GCSAA often led to a phrase “all I get is a magazine.”

My response generally was to ask if the magazine was really good, and to let them know that now they had a resource in me. I want to touch on my efforts to directly deliver GCSAA resources to you the members and do my best to highlight the many resources available to you and working for you daily. Because this is such a long list that includes member, local association, and national level benefits, this segment will include only member benefits. Future newsletters will cover additional opportunities!

All these resources and efforts are specifically designed to achieve the mission of your national association: GCSAA Mission GCSAA is dedicated to serving its members, advancing their profession and improving communities through the enjoyment, growth and vitality of the game of golf.

Resources for Members Jump start your career advancement and discuss your individual situation and goals with career services’ Erin Wolfram, CPRW. Wolfram is a certified professional resume writer who specializes in the golf course maintenance industry. Services offered to GCSAA members are free to reduced fees, including customized and successful resume services and career coaching resources to help you rise above the competition in the turf industry.

GCSAA provides free life insurance and AD&D (accidental death & dismemberment) as a part of your membership. The coverage is provided by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) and administered by USI Affinity. Be sure you have designated a beneficiary (form here if needed).

Free webinars.

So here now entering year twelve, I now have nearly 1500 contacts in my phone, made hundreds of site visits, attended countless chapter events, written dozens of newsletter articles, volunteered at 16 events, and have advocated for our great industry in many of my regional states and will attended National many of my regional states and will attended National Golf Day in D.C for the third time this May. If I haven’t been a resource to you yet, lets connect and fix that!

Please reach out or see me at one of the many GCSANJ events I will attend.

Access to mountains of information, including Michigan State’s TGIF library database, BMP resources, operation reports and surveys (including compensation and benefit surveys), member forums to learn from your peers, and more.

As a benefit of membership, GCSAA members enjoy complimentary admission to designated golf events.

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GCSAA FEATURE

Resources for Members GCSAA has partnered with trusted companies (listed to the right) to offer exclusive savings on a variety of personal and professional products. If you haven’t looked into these opportunities, you should!

In 2006, in reaction to Hurricane Katrina, the association established the GCSAA Disaster Relief Fund to assist GCSAA members who suffered personal loss. The fund has continued to be a resource for members who face tragedy caused by natural disasters.

So is GCSAA more than just a magazine….you tell me?

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GCSAA RESOURCES UPCOMING WEBINARS IMPACTING AGRONOMIC PRACTICES ON A DAILY BASIS FROM YOUR SHOP ED NANGLE, PH.D., JUNE 14 @ NOON REVIEW YOUR BENTGRASS GREENS MANAGEMENT PLAN JOSEPH YOUNG, PH.D., JUNE 28 @ NOON SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE IN THE GOLF MAINTENANCE WORKPLACE BRIAN CLOUD AND KYLE CLOUD, JULY 19 @ NOON VISIT GCSAA.ORG/EDUCATION/MY-LEARNING-HUB

Times listed are for the U.S. Central time zone.

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GCSAA RESOURCES GCSAA WILL PROVIDE EVERY MEMBER GOLF FACILITY WITH A FACILITY BMP MANUAL GCSAA has recently streamlined a process enabling golf course superintendents to create a facility best management practices (BMP) manual efficiently.

State BMP guidelines are published in all 50 states. These state guidelines provide the blueprint for facility manuals and cover key areas such as water management, integrated pest management, and pollinator protection. Enhancements center around a new and efficient approach where GCSAA members log into the GCSAA Facility BMP Planning Guide to receive a facility BMP modeled from their state guidelines.

Superintendents can then thoroughly customize the facility BMP to fit their facility's needs and circumstances. Members can log in to the facility BMP planning guide with their GCSAA.org username and password. There are brief how-to videos (step-by-step instructions on customizing a facility BMP manual), BMP webinars, and recorded BMP workshops on GCSAA's website. These will help superintendents customize their manuals at their own pace to achieve success.

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ROUNDTABLE SESSION & CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT FAIRMOUNT COUNTRY CLUB Hosted by Pat Quinlan

James Surico, Kyle Roach, TJ Gallagher

Wayne Jackson and Pat Quinlan

Steve Gauli and Chris Killacky

Greg Boring, John O'Keefe, Mark Miedler, Phil Juhring, and James Surico

Dan Kilpatrick and Justin Adriazola

Eric Schmidt and Tom Pepe

Justin Eckert and Rob Johnson

Mike Weber, Nick Kelly, and Pat Quinlan

Nick Alley

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WAR AT THE SHORE WITH PAGCS ATLANTIC CITY COUNTRY CLUB Hosted by Mark Beaumont

Brad Sparta and Paul Dotti

Amando Aparicio, John Gosselin, Tom Weinert, and Rob Arnts.

Jennifer Schneider and Paul Ramina

Tyler Otero, Sean Charles, Nick Alley, Travis Pauley, Todd Raisch, Josh Kopera

Mike Linkewich, Bill Cimochowski, Scott McBane, and Phil Knudsen

Chris Marra, Doug Rider, and Rob Wagner

Jason Osterhoudt and Mark Miedler

Lou Pitcock, Matt Sudol, Steve Rudich, and Lou Bosco

Nick LeViere, Joe Kinlin, Donovan Maguigan, Josh Kopera THE GREENERSIDE

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GCSANJ PATRON DIRECTORY A.G. ENTERPRISES Staff Uniforms Rick Gordon Ph: (Cell) 201.741.4500 Fx: 201.575.4140 merrick160@gmail.com agenterprisesonline.com

DOUBLE ‘D’ TURF LLC Dennis DeSanctis Jr. & Sr. Aeration Services, Rentals, Equip Sales PO Box 1090 Hightstown, NJ 08520 Ph: 732.580.5516 Dennis Jr@doubledturf.com

AQUATROLS World leader in the development of soil surfactants and wetting agents. www.aquatrol.com Kevin Rundstrom Ph: 856.287.9258 krundstrom@aquatrols.com

EARTHWORKS Carbon based fertilizers Jack Higgins Ph: 484.894.0242 hwww.earthworksturf.com jack@soilfirst.com

BASF Plant Protection & Plant Health Products, Lexicon, Xzemplar, Honor, Insignia David Schell Ph: 410.800.8762 david.schell@basf.com Paul Ramina Ph: 908.413.2944 paul.ramina@basf.com BLOOMING BEDS Plant Care Services Wayne Jackson 21 Madison Plaza #130 Madison, NJ 07940 Ph: 973.937.7009 www.bloomingbeds.com wayne@bloomingbeds.com COOMBS SOD FARMS Ph: 856.358.4763 info@coombsfarm.com 84 Highway 77, Elmer, NJ 08318 DOWNES TREE SERVICE CO. Tree Services, Removal, Pruning, Stump Grinding, Mulch, and Topsoil Kevin Downes Ph: 973.238.9800 info@downes.pro

EAST COAST SOD & SEED Sod & Seed Supplier,Bent Grass, Bluegrass, Tall Fescue, and Fine Fescue Sod Kevin Driscoll Ph: 609.760.4099 kdriscoll@eastcoastsod.com

FERTL SOIL Manufacturing/ Blending of Sand and Soils, Topdressing, Divot Repair Soils, and Engineered Soils Mike Warner Ph: 866-688-8628 orders@fertl-soil.com 155 Central Schoolhouse Road Carneys Point, NJ FINCH TURF John Deere Authorized Dealer Joey Wolff jwolff@finchturf.com Cell:410.215.6921 Russ Harris rharris@finchturf.com Cell: 609.498.4031 419 Industrial Drive North Wales, PA

ENVU Plant Health Products Pesticides Jeffrey Weld Ph: 914.419.9384 jeff.weld@envu.com www.envu.com

FISHER & SON COMPANY Distributor of Golf & Turf Products,Fertilizer, Seed Rob Johnson 110 Summit Drive, Exton PA 19341 Ph: 800.262.2127 Cell: 215.475.7998 rjohnson@fisherandson.com

EWING IRRIGATION & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY Irrigation & Turf Products Rain Bird Golf Distributor Fred Rapp frapp@ewingirrigation.com Ph: 848.225.4618

GRASS ROOTS, INC. Golf Course Maintenance Supplies www.griturf.com Ken Kubik: 973.418.7035 Keith Kubik: 973.418.7034 Office: 973.252.6634

E-Z-GO TEXTRON Nick Roberto E-Z-GO, Cushman, Jacobsen Ph: 845.637.7641 nroberto@textron.com Andy Bulizak Ph: 973.617.7478 abulizak@textron.com THE GREENERSIDE

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GCSANJ PATRON DIRECTORY GENESIS TURFGRASS Ben Brace 570.472.1248 bbrace@genesisgreensupply.com 137 Commerce Drive Glen Rock, PA 17327 genesisturfgrass.com

NUFARM Pesticides for the turf & ornamentals Michael Molchan 25 Roland Avenue Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Ph: 610.653.7983 michael.molchan@nufarm.com

STORR TRACTOR COMPANY Commercial Toro Turf & Irrigation Equipment Steve Bradley 3191 Highway 22, Branchburg NJ Ph: 908.722.9830 sbradley@storrtractor.com

HARRELL’S LLC Josh Kopera Cell:201.213.8693 jkopera@harrells.com Jen Schneider Cell:732.828.0895 jschneider@harrells.com harrells.com Ph: 800.282.8007

PLANT FOOD COMPANY “The Liquid Fertilizer Experts” Dick Neufeld: 973.945.6318 Tom Weinert: 914.262.0111 Tom Pepe: 609.751.1372 Biostimulants & Other Products for Premium Turfgrass

STEPHEN KAY GOLF COURSE ARCHITECT Master Planning, Drainage Design & Restoration 665 Saint Andrews Drive Egg Harbor City NJ 08215 Ph: 609.703.3300 stephenkgolf@aol.com

HELENA People…Products…Knowledge Tim Gerzabek Cell: 609.221.9240 GerzabekT@helenaagri.com www.helenaagri.com LABAR GOLF RENOVATIONS Golf Course Construction & Renovations Richard S. LaBar Jr. 170 Mount Airy Road, Suite A1 Basking Ridge, NJ 07920 Ph: 908.502.5353 rich@labargolf.com NOBLE TURF Brian Gjelsvik 25 Roland Avenue Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Ph: 856.273.1402 briang@seetonturf.com

POCONO TURF Matt Paulina Sales Representative, PA & NJ 610.883.6108 ​mattpaulina@gmail.com www.poconoturf.com SITEONE LANDSCAPE SUPPLY Providing the Products & Expertise That You Need & Trust Frank Jacheo: 732.489.1442 fjacheo@siteone.com Fred Stauffer: 317.518.2841 fstauffer@siteone.com Shawn Reynolds: 401.486.9133 sreynolds@siteone.com SOIL & WATER CONSULTING Corey Angelo Consulting and Analysis for Your Turfgrass, Soils, and Water.

Ph: 848.225.5115 corey@soilandwaterconsulting.com

SYNATEK Shaun Kennedy 737 Hagey Center Drive, Unit A Souderton, PA 18964 Ph: 866.266.9288 skennedy@synateksolutions.com SYNGENTA Manufacturer, Plant Protectants Chris Marra Cell: 862.505.4319 Christopher.Marra@syngenta.com WILLOW'S BEND Specializes in golf course pump stations. Service and installation.

Scott Scherer P.O. Box 1344 Belle Mead, NJ 08502 Ph: 908.837.9102 scott@willowsbend.com

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