The Greenerside, Volume 65

OurContributors

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

© 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

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

msharples@gcsanj.org

@GCSANJ1926

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, 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

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,

MaureenSharples GCSANJ Executive Director

facebook.com/gcsanj @GCSANJ1926

C H A P T E R N E W S

NEWMEMBERS MOVERSANDSHAKERS

Anthony Bonasera, Class AF East Latitude, LLC

Darren Farrar, Class A Whitemarsh Valley Country Club

Eliezer Rodriguez, Class A Pennsauken Country Club

Andrew Stilwell, Class C Arcola Country Club

Justin Adriazola, Class C North Jersey Country Club

Kevin Rundstrom, Class AF Aquatrols

Chris Killacky, Class C Forest Hill Field Club

Joshua Berg, Class C Pine Valley Golf Club

Ty Leahy, Class C Baltusrol Golf Club

Chris Mullaly, Class C Baltusrol Golf Club

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

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

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

C H A P T E R N E W S

GCSANJWINSTHEWARATTHESHORE

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

LIVEBRACKETS

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.

SAVETHEDATE

August Golf Meeting

When: August 15th

Where: Skyway Golf Course, Jersey City, NJ

Host: Fred Parcells

Registration opens July 15th!

WELCOMEDR.MING-YICHOU

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.

MARKKUHNSINDUCTEDINTOTHEHENRYF.ARMSBY HONORSOCIETY

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!

APPLYFORAGCSANJ FOUNDATIONSCHOLARSHIP

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

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.

2023 Foundation Shootout Sponsors

Title Sponsor

Plant Food Co

Dinner Sponsor

Middletown Sprinkler

Cocktail Sponsors

Grass Roots

Syngenta

Lunch Sponsors Nufarm

Willow's Bend

Practice Putting Green Sponsor Ewing Irrigation

Range Sponsor

Tuckahoe Turf

Cart Sponsor Noble Turf

Transfusion Sponsor E-Z-Go

Beverage Station Sponsors

Coombs Sod Farm

Mitchell Products Sandscapes

Closest to the Pin

Double 'D' Turf & Storr Tractor

Longest Drive Envu & Jersey Soil Blending

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

Scott Rose, celebrating his hole-in-one.

Jesse Betts, RTJ Cup Winner

Lou Bosco and Jim Devaney, Founders Cup Winners

The Plant Food Co. team with Drew White

FOUNDATION SHOOTOUT

RIVERTON COUNTRY CLUB

Scott Scherer, Dan Dazet, Steve Budrecki

Kevin Rundstrom, Tom Currie, Scott Bordner, Dave Schell

Nick Alley, Ken Anson,

Victor Frederico, Rich Sweeney, l

Anthony Bonasera, Jay Long, AJ Josefoski, Joey Wolff

A QUICK NINE

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

Why did you join the GCSANJ Board?

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

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

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.

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

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

Poor soils with ledge rock close to the surface

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?

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

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

Look

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!

30 lbs ago I would have said a chipwich!

Recently chicken salad in a cup

Fishers

the

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!

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

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

Get Over Being a Sugar Cookie

The Books of Admiral William H. McRaven

By Donovan Maguigan

When 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 However, making your bed is rooted

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.

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

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

Compassion

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

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.”

“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

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

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 ”

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

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.

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

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.

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

BASF

Premier Sponsors

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.

BIPARTISAN BILL SEEKS EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF GOLF COURSES

By GCSAA Staff

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

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.

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

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

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

A L R T

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

FAIRMOUNT COUNTRY CLUB

Hosted by Pat Quinlan

W J k d P Q i l Justin Eckert and Rob Johnson

G

, Phil Juhring, and James Surico

Mike Weber, Nick Kelly, and Pat Quinlan

Steve Gauli and Chris Killacky

Dan Kilpatrick and Justin Adriazola

James Surico, Kyle Roach, TJ Gallagher

Nick Alley

Eric Schmidt and Tom Pepe

ATLANTIC CITY COUNTRY CLUB

Hosted by Mark Beaumont

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

Jennifer Schneider and Paul Ramina

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

Chris Marra, Doug Rider, and Rob Wagner

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

Jason Osterhoudt and Mark Miedler

Brad Sparta and Paul Dotti

Nick LeViere, Joe Kinlin, Donovan Maguigan, Josh Kopera

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

A.G. ENTERPRISES

Staff Uniforms

Rick Gordon

Ph: (Cell) 201.741.4500

Fx: 201.575.4140

merrick160@gmail.com agenterprisesonline.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

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

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

EARTHWORKS

Carbon based fertilizers

Jack Higgins

Ph: 484.894.0242

hwww.earthworksturf.com

jack@soilfirst.com

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

ENVU

Plant Health Products

Pesticides

Jeffrey Weld

Ph: 914.419.9384

jeff.weld@envu.com

www.envu.com

EWING IRRIGATION & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY

Irrigation & Turf Products

Rain Bird Golf Distributor

Fred Rapp

frapp@ewingirrigation.com

Ph: 848.225.4618

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

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

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

GRASS ROOTS, INC.

Golf Course Maintenance Supplies

www.griturf.com

Ken Kubik: 973.418.7035

Keith Kubik: 973.418.7034

Office: 973.252.6634

GCSANJ PATRON DIRECTORY

GENESIS TURFGRASS

Ben Brace

570.472.1248

bbrace@genesisgreensupply.com

137 Commerce Drive Glen Rock, PA 17327 genesisturfgrass.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

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

NUFARM

Pesticides for the turf & ornamentals

Michael Molchan

25 Roland Avenue

Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054

Ph: 610.653.7983

michael.molchan@nufarm.com

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

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

STORR TRACTOR COMPANY

Commercial Toro Turf & Irrigation Equipment

Steve Bradley

3191 Highway 22, Branchburg NJ

Ph: 908.722.9830

sbradley@storrtractor.com

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

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