The Greenerside, Volume 63

Issue 3: 2022/ Volume 63

CONTENTS 12 A recap of the 2022 Met Team Championship.

17 TIMELINE: The history of the Revolutionary War on NJ golf courses.

24 QUICK NINE: GCSANJ members and superintendents for 25+ years.

On The Cover

6 Chapter News 10 Member News 14 GCSANJ Foundation Feature 21 Book Review 26 Tech Tips Digital Job Boards

North Jersey Country Club Our cover photo is the winning photo from the New Jersey State Golf Association's annual photo contest, taken by James Surico, assistant superintendent at North Jersey Country Club.

28 GCSAA Feature Investing in your team's education 35 Photo Pages 38 We Asked, You Answered What career would you pursue if you weren't a golf course superintendent?

40 Patron Directory

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Our Contributors Editor in Chief: Donovan Maguigan Design & Layout Editor: Maureen Sharples Photography Editor: Shaun Barry Contributing Writers: Kevin Doyle, Donovan Maguigan, Andy Drohen, Maureen Sharples, and Doug Vogel.

Officers: Jeremy Hreben, CGCS, President Michael Tardogno, Vice President Ken Anson, Treasurer Donovan Maguigan, Secretary Joe Kinlin, Past President Directors: District I- Mark Miedler & Patrick Quinlan District II- Rob Wagner District III- Jennifer Torres & Drew White Commercial Representatives Rob Johnson & Paul Ramina Class C Liaison James Surico Rutgers Liaisons Dr. Bruce Clarke & Dr. James Murphy Executive Director Maureen Sharples

GCSANJ Newsletter is published four times a year. © 2022 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 JEREMY HREBEN, CGCS

It is that time of year we all look forward to. The countdown that began so long ago has finally reached zero. The temperature is cool, the air is crisp, and no more dragging hose for at least a couple of months. That’s not to say we aren’t busy. Leaf cleanup, early orders, and construction projects are now in full swing. Although this is the time that most of us enjoy, it doesn’t seem to be any lighter as far as the workload goes. Before you know it, we will be looking out our office windows, hoping the weather breaks so we can do it all again.

This is the time for the Green Expo Turf & Landscape Conference. Every year the Education Committee seems to outdo itself, and this year is no exception. Be sure to sign up to get your credits, get reinvigorated, and recharge your battery in preparation for the new year.

This year is especially bittersweet for me. My time on the board has ended, as has my time in the golf industry. As most of you know, I have been the Superintendent of Parks for Burlington County since June. I am leaving behind almost 25 years in this business. I have made some great lifelong friends. My time serving our board, and representing all of you, was an adventure I would not trade for anything. This board accomplished a lot, and I have learned immensely from every individual I served with over the years. Hopefully, I have done my part in working with the board members to prepare them for the future.

Other superintendents and mentors have always taught me to leave my golf course better than I found it. My only hope for my time as a member of the GCSANJ, your representative on the board, and as a superintendent is that I leave this great industry better than I found it some 25 years ago.

SINCERELY, JEREMY HREBEN, CGCS Chapter President

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FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MAUREEN SHARPLES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In the past few weeks, I have had the opportunity to dig through the chapter's archives of photos, Greenerside articles, and meeting minutes to prepare for our awards ceremony at the Green Expo. A quick search for a few photos turned into a deep dive into our chapter's history. It's incredible to see how many members throughout the decades have volunteered their time and expertise for the betterment of GCSANJ. This is not to say that we don't have passionate and committed volunteers today. We certainly do, and I enjoy working with them daily. But I won't sugarcoat the fact in the past few years, we have struggled to find volunteers to serve on committees, attend the annual meeting, and run for a board position.

This message is not to guilt anyone, but if you attend many chapter events, read The Greenerside, and share your opinions about the chapter with your peers, why not get involved?

There are many ways to help out.

Here are just a few to get started: Attend the GCSANJ Annual Meeting. Participation in the governance of our chapter is vital to its success.

Join a committee. Several committees could use more volunteers, and most of the work is sharing ideas.

Write an article for The Greenerside. Did you know that counts toward your Communication and Leadership attesting requirement for the path to becoming a Certified Golf Course Superintendent?

Host a GCSANJ event.

Become a Grassroots Ambassador through GCSAA. Host a First Green field trip with your local school. We have board members and resources to help you succeed.

Run for a position on the Board of Directors.

LET'S CONNECT

Our Board of Directors and I are always available to discuss these opportunities. Please consider helping out our chapter in 2023.

msharples@gcsanj.org

Sincerely,

@GCSANJ1926

Maureen Sharples GCSANJ Executive Director

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CHAPTER NEWS GCSANJ AWARDS Congratulations to our members who have hosted national and regional golf tournaments. Our Awards Committee has recognized the hosts and their teams.

122nd U.S. Amateur Championship at The Ridgewood Country Club Pictured are Joe Kinlin, Golf Course Superintendent Todd Raisch, CGCS, and Russ Harris.

95th NJPGA Professional Championship at Manasquan River Golf Club Pictured are Awards Chairman Pat Quinlan, Golf Course Superintendent Matt Morrow, and Assistant Superintendents Kyle Roach and Justin Eckert.

U.S. Amateur Stroke Play Co-Host, Arcola Country Club Pictured are Awards Chairman Pat Quinlan, Golf Course Superintendent Paul Dotti.

102nd NJ State Open Championship at The Ridge at Back Brook Pictured are GCSANJ Executive Director Maureen Sharples and Golf Course Superintendent Alan Bean.

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UNITED STATES AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

THE RIDGEWOOD COUNTRY CLUB & ARCOLA COUNTRY CLUB

Fred Stauffer

Steve Gauli, Paul Dotti, and Andrew Stilwell

Rocco Weir, Joe Kinlin, and Tom Weinert

Arcola Country Club's Grounds Crew

Jim Swiatlowski

Doug Vogel and Leo Barber

Leo Barber, Josh Kopera, Russ Harris, and Lance Rogers

Kevin Doyle and Todd Raisch

Pat Quinlan and Brad Sparta

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CHAPTER NEWS ROUNDS 4 RESEARCH AUCTION SETS A NEW RECORD IN NJ

by Les Carpenter Jr.

Thank you to all the superintendents that donated to the 2022 Rounds 4 Research auction. We set a new record this year, raising $20,420.00 for the GCSANJ Foundation, which puts our efforts at $105,000 since the program's inception.

In the past, we received the highest bid in the country for a $3,500 round at Somerset Hills Country Club. We have also finished 5th in the country for income generated, only behind bigger states like Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

This program is a win-win for everyone involved. Donors receive recognition and a chance to showcase their course to new players. The players enjoy a unique golfing experience, and the money raised directly benefits our members.

The 2023 R4R auction will be April 24th-April 30th, and the donation form can be found on the GCSAA website. I hope you will consider participating again or donating for the first time. Again thanks so much from myself and the GCSANJ Foundation.

The GCSANJ Foundation receives 80% of the funds raised to support our scholarship program, research commitments, and members in need. GCSAA gets the remaining 20% which is exclusively used for research.

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MEMBER NEWS

NEW MEMBERS Mark Hamersky Class C, Springdale GC Gary Strausser Class AF, Central Turf Irrigation Supply Michael Yannetta Class AF, Central Turf Irrigation Supply Daniel Clark Class A, Sunset Valley Golf Course Pete Daley Class B, Trenton Country Club

MOVERS AND SHAKERS Our longtime member and industry legend, Lee Kozsey, is retiring from Syngenta after 60 years with the company. Congratulations, Lee! Chris Marra is the new Syngenta turf territory manager in northern New Jersey, eastern New York, and Vermont.

Kelly Barrell is the new golf course superintendent at Maplewood Country Club.

Lee Kozsey

Mark Kuhns, CGCS, joined Ceres Turf as Northeastern Sales Manager and Business Development Manager.

Garret Birchenough is the new North Course superintendent at Canoe Brook Country Club.

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2022 MET AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP AT LEHIGH COUNTRY CLUB

By Andy Drohen

F

or the first time since the MET Area Team Championship was expanded to 15 different associations 19 years ago, the team from Long Island won the MET Area Team Championship! John Chassard hosted this year’s event at the famed Lehigh Country Club in Allenton, PA, designed by William Flynn.

John was a great host this year, having to deal with our largest field of 136 players and all 15 chapters that made the trek to eastern Pennsylvania, along with some untimely rain during the middle of the round that dumped over an inch in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, by the time the rain stopped, and the course became playable again, we ran out of daylight to finish the 18-hole championship, so we

had to cut this year’s event to a 9hole shoot out. No matter, John had Lehigh in tremendous condition with greens smooth and fast and fairways pure and tight.

Perennial competitors are familiar with the MET Team Championship’s challenging, yet fair setups and Lehigh was no different. William Flynn created a gem in the rolling hills of Lehigh Valley with dramatic topography and changes in elevation, with great green complexes that demand good shots.

John Chassard, who has been at Lehigh for 39 years, has completed extensive work on the golf course in recent years including tree work, a bunker restoration, and approach expansions with Ron Forse Design. Flynn designed some great par 4’s at Lehigh allowing

players to use every club in the bag and challenge all types of angles off the tees. The par 3’s at Lehigh can make or break your round and it seems like they were the deciding factor this year, with 4 holes of varying lengths and shot selections.

The rain shortened event did not dampen spirits of anyone playing in this year’s tournament and all are asking when we can go back and compete on the rest of the course. It’s in the works my friends!

Long Island was the only team that had all 4 teams shoot even par or better. Led by one of the low net scores of the day, Ken Lochridge and Daniel Wolf shot -2, followed by the second lowest gross team of the day at -1, THE GREENERSIDE

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Shamus O’Connor and Tom Weinert.

Rounding out the team, both with even par scores were Shawn O’Sullivan and Luke Knutson on the gross side and Jon Semmig and Graig Patti on the net side.

Coming in 2nd place was the Pocono Turfgrass Team with the day’s best gross score of -2 by Brad Helcoski and Jim Lanza and the best net score of -3 from Les Lear and Duane Schell. Just one shot back in third place at +1 was the team from Hudson Valley and rounding out the top 4 was the newly combined team GCSA of New York at +3. Defending team Philadelphia edged out Connecticut in the tiebreaker at +4.

With the rain-shortened event, we decided to raffle off the skill prizes.

After hearing the tragic news of Chris Strehl’s untimely passing of his son Jack, it was unanimously decided to pass along all skins and

50/50 money to support Chris's family in this time of need.

Please keep Chris and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Once again, the Met Area Team Championship is generously supported by our 7 major sponsors who continue to step up to make this one of the best events across the country! Please join me in thanking Allied Nutrients, BASF, Bayer, Ocean Organics, Plant Food, Syngenta and Toro as they continue to support this fantastic event.

Thanks again to all our sponsors, John Chassard and his entire staff, and all the folks at Lehigh CC for another successful championship!

TEAM SCORES (Rain Shortened Event) 9 hole scores (Ties broken by lowest gross scores ( ), then net) 1st Long Island GCSA -3 2nd Pocono Turfgrass Association E 3rd Hudson Valley GCSA +1 4th GCSA of New York +3 5th Philadelphia AGCS (+1 low gross) +4 6th Connecticut AGCS (+2 low gross) +4 7th GCSA of Cape Cod (+3 low gross) +7 8th GCSA of New Jersey (+4 low gross) +7 9th Eastern Shore AGCS +9 10th METGCSA +11 11th Mid-Atlantic AGCS (+2 low gross) +16 12th Central Penn GCSA (+3 low gross) +16 13th Rhode Island GCSA (+5 low gross) +16 14th Northeastern GCSA +19 15th GCSA of New England +27

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FOUNDATION FEATURE

GCSANJ FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS The GCSANJ Foundation awarded $21,500 in scholarships to 12 applicants this year. The applicants include recent high school graduates, current college students, and interns pursuing careers in turf management.

Many of the applicants earned a high GPA in challenging courses; they are leaders in their school or community and have committed to and excelled in extracurricular activities and sports. Their academic careers and integrity are impressive, and their parents should be proud of their accomplishments.

Isabella Candeloro John Anderson Scholarship Isabella is studying Nursing at Rutgers University, Newark campus. She is the daughter of Michael Candeloro, superintendent at Darlington Golf Course.

Payton Gjelsvik Ed Casey Scholarship Payton is studying Biochemistry at the University of Georgia. She is the daughter of Brian Gjelsvik of Noble Turf.

Ryan Manzi

Nicholas Paratore

GCSANJ Foundation Scholarship Ryan is pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Marist College. Ryan is the son of Matt Manzi, Manager of Golf Course Maintenance at Morris County Park Commission.

GCSANJ Presidents Scholarship Nick is pursuing a degree in Turfgrass Science and Management at Penn State.

He is an intern at Soldier Hill Golf Course.

Richard Krok GCSANJ Presidents Scholarship Richard Krok is studying Mining Engineering at University of Utah. He is the son of Rick Krok of Storr Tractor.

Elly Raisch John Farrell Scholarship Elly is studying International Studies at Ramapo College.

She is the daughter of Todd Raisch, superintendent at The Ridgewood Country Club.

Josie Marcinek Jim McNally Scholarship Josie is studying Exercise Science at St. Thomas Aquinas College. She is the daughter of Darrell Marcinek, Director of Golf Maintenance at Somerset County Park Commission.

Halle Raisch GCSANJ Presidents Scholarship Halle is studying Accounting at the University of Maryland.

She is the daughter of Todd Raisch, superintendent at The Ridgewood Country Club.

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Tyler Seeton GCSANJ Foundation Scholarship Tyler Seeton is studying Plant Biology/Horticulture and Turfgrass at Rutgers University.

He is the son of Troy Seeton of Noble Turf.

Kaelyn Tansey GCSANJ Presidents Scholarship Kaelyn is studying Dance with a minor in Physical Therapy at Ocean County Community College.

She is the daughter of Kevin Tansey, superintendent at Pinelands Golf Club.

Ricardo Torres Fran Owsik Scholarship Ricardo is enrolled in the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management Two Year Certificate Program.

He is the son of Jennifer Torres, superintendent at West Lake Golf & Country Club.

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THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR ON NEW JERSEY GOLF COURSES

By Doug Vogel and Donovan Maguigan

1775

The Revolutionary War begins in Lexington and Concord, Mass.

1776 The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th. George Washington retreats across New Jersey to Pennsylvania.

The Battle of Trenton begins on December 26th, 1776.

Following Washington’s historic crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas in 1776, Washington moved his forces southeast towards the city of Trenton along the Delaware River and engaged British troops near the grounds of Trenton Country Club.

Trenton Country Club

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1777 The Battle of Princeton – January 3rd, 1777 Washington's troops engaged the British troops in a low creekside area referred to as "Frog Hollow," near the 5th and 6th Holes at Springdale Golf Club adjacent to Princeton University and the Princeton Theological Seminary. The Battle of Princeton was fought during the "Ten Crucial Days," a turning point in the American Revolutionary War. Springdale Golf Club' s "Frog Hollow"

The Battle of Short Hills - June 25-27th, 1777 During the retreat towards New York in June of 1777, British and Hessian troops engaged Washington's troops in the short-hilled areas near Edison and Scotch Plains. British forces foraged through farm fields due to depleted provisions during their retreat. After several days of fighting and Washington's withdrawal to the Watchung Mountains, British troops continued retreating to New York, freeing New Jersey of British control for the first time since 1776. Of the numerous monuments to commemorate the battle, two include a cannon atop a stone monument at the entrance of Ash Brook Golf Course and a restored cannon in front of Plainfield Country Club's clubhouse, declaring the site "Hallowed Grounds."

Ash Brook Golf Course

1778 The Battle of Monmouth – June 28, 1778 The battle involved nearly 25,000 men and was the last major battle of the Revolution in the north. Part of the single-day battle was fought on the grounds of Battleground Country Club.

Plainfield Country Club

The Baylor Massacre – September 27th, 1778 In River Vale, a British surprise attack on members of Lt. Col. George Baylor’s Third Regiment of Light Dragoons resulted in 69 casualties. The troops, part of the Continental Army, were quartered at a farm owned by Johannes Blauvelt and Garret Johannes Blauvelt.

Edgewood Country Club sits on two farms owned by the Blauvelt's.

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1780 Summer and Fall of 1780 General George Washington made his military field headquarters at the home of Colonel Theunis Dey in Preakness, New Jersey (presently Wayne, NJ), on July 1 July 29 and again on October 9-November 27, 1780. He presided over strategy sessions with Alexander Hamilton, the Marquis de Lafayette, General William Howe, Major General Lord Stirling, Benedict Arnold, and General Anthony Wayne in the backyard of the mansion just behind the 18th tee of the East Course at Preakness Valley Golf Course. A Colonial-era family cemetery sits next to the 10th Hole of the East Course.

The site is open to the public. For more information on visiting the Dey Mansion go to www.deymansion.org.

1781

Dey Mansion Washington's Headquarters

American Revolution reenactors at Preakness Valley GC.

Troops leave NJ for the last time from Canoe Brook Country Club encampment.

The historical significance of the property that Canoe Brook Country Club sits on and the surrounding geography played a vital role in New Jersey during the American Revolution. The Watchung mountains were crucial during the Revolution, as General George Washington chose the protection of the triple-ridge mountain chain. The elevation and safety of the mountains allowed him to keep an eye on the British troop movements across eastern New Jersey (Elizabethtown) while guarding the local area. Once the British troops were spotted, the news needed to be transmitted to the local militias, and the Continental troops camped in the area. Capitalizing on the Watchungs’ roughly 400-500 feet elevation, General William Alexander (Lord Stirling) ordered beacons erected at strategic points along the ridge. The beacons served as signal fires that put out an adequate volume of smoke to be visible from long distances. Hobart Gap was part of that strategy, and the encampment at Canoe Brook (near the South course) on the Passaic River was part of that effort. Hobart Gap was the last ridge on the way from Elizabethtown (British and loyalist community on the waterfront area near Newark Airport) to Morristown and needed to be protected to defend Morristown.

Near the intersection of Hobart Avenue and Beacon Road in Summit sits a plaque that holds the key to the naming history of the area. Beacon Hill, Beacon Road, and many other entities in that area can tie their name to a Revolutionary War signaling beacon used to alert Colonial troops in Morristown of British troop movement. While the physical form of this signal beacon at “Beacon Hill” had a few iterations, it was always accompanied by a signal cannon affectionately nicknamed “Old Sow.”

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FEATURE

WISDOM IN UNCOMMON BOOKS

By Donovan Maguigan

W

ith this issue focusing on anecdotes of New Jersey golf courses and a timeline of historical events, take your New Jersey knowledge to another level with these three books about the history and the famous people of New Jersey.

Washington's Crossing

By David Hackett Fischer

Born to Run

By Bruce Springsteen

Of the many books about the Revolutionary War and New Jersey's involvement, Washington's Crossing is a solid book to start with. A winner of the Pulitzer Prize, this book shares the history of the pivotal moment of the Revolutionary War. Digging through the mythology of the famous crossing, Fischer dives into the circumstances leading up to the crossing and further skirmishes.

When you are finished, take the trip to Trenton and visit the site of the crossing at the Barracks Museum or the state park across the Delaware River.

When New Jersey and music are mentioned in the same sentence, the name Bruce Springsteen is usually included. This book is an autobiography that shares his NJ roots, the background of his songs, and the long history of his relationship with the E-Street Band.

For an added bonus, the audiobook is read by The Boss himself and there is an accompanying album called "Chapter and Verse."

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GCSANJ FEATURE

Edison

By Edmund Morris

1776

By David McCullough

Told through chapters that focus on his life in reverse, Edison is a thoroughly researched book as Edmund Morris takes a deep dive into the life and work of Thomas Edison. From his final years as a revered inventor to his early roots in tinkering, the book covers his life in extensive detail. One interesting tidbit from the book includes Edison's aggressive interview questions including, "Where is the live center of a lathe?" and, "What is the weight of air in a room 20 x 30 x 10?".

Heralded as one of America’s preeminent historians, McCullough focuses on the early days of the Revolutionary War ending with Washington’s Crossing and the Battle of Trenton. Full of details about the first year of the war, it is an excellent starter for anyone looking to learn about the beginning of our battle for independence.

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A QUICK NINE Chris Boyle, Lance Rogers, and John O'Keefe answered our NINE quick questions sharing their experiences as members and golf course superintendents for 25+ years.

What has been the innovation that changed your job the most?

What innovation didn’t live up to the expectations?

Mad Libs: (Year) was the worst year for (Problem/Challenge).

What is the longest serving piece of equipment of your career?

Turbine, tow behind blowers.

Toro HydroJect

1999, hot dry weather.

We had an antiquated irrigation system, and the State of NJ imposed severe water use restrictions on golf courses.

I still carry on my cart daily a soil probe given to me at my first golf course job out of college in 1992. That's how we checked soil moisture for hand watering greens every day in those days.

TDR moisture meter by a long shot.

The Toro HydroJect aerifier. It was a great tool to have for the summer. It was always intended to be a secondary machine and it did well. It was too expensive, had many mechanical issues and Toro just gave up on it.

2010 was the worst year.

55 days over 90 degrees and dry. One day my soil temps an inch down on the green reached 100 degrees and we know what happens next.

This is a tossup between the triplex greens mower and Par Aide cup cutter.

Toro HydroJect

2022, in general, was at least one of the worse.

The hits just kept on coming…winter ice damage followed by a wicked dry summer, plus the lack of staff.

A very old Ryan “Greensaire” aerifier. It’s probably about 30 years old.

Chris Boyle, CGCS Golf Course Superintendent Mendham Golf & Tennis Club GCSANJ member since 1995

Lance Rogers, CGCS Golf Course Superintendent Colonia Country Club GCSANJ member since 1990

Computerized irrigation and moisture meters.

John O'Keefe, CGCS Golf Course Superintendent Preakness Hills Country Club GCSANJ member since 1986

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What is the most valuable lesson that you have learned in your career?

Is there something that you started doing at the beginning of your career and continue to do today?

What has been the most valuable relationship in your career?

What is the best advice you could give to your younger self?

What do you plan to do on your first day of retirement?

Have patience, with your staff, the weather, and with golfers. Figure out what is most important, then don't sweat the small stuff.

Not really. Maybe I check the weather forecast every morning.

With my wife for sure.

She understands (most of the time) the commitment I have to my job and the club.

Learn to communicate in Spanish.

Wake up without an alarm clock, go out for a nice breakfast, then go fishing.

Sometimes doing nothing is better.

Since the beginning of my career I’ve always kept a daily diary. This contains weather, tasks done for the day including pesticide and fertilizer applications. I find myself always looking back. I also put in there the mistakes I’ve made.

The most valuable relationship is being married to my wife, Kim, for 30 years. Most valuable relationships come from my peers of our association.

Don’t be afraid to take risks when it comes to job opportunities, believe in yourself enough to try new things.

Definitely spend a fun filled day with my family and granddaughters.

Less is always better when it comes to watering.

Put the golf course to bed. At the end of the day I like to survey the course to make sure everything is as it should be before I leave for home.

My relationship with my wife, Margaret. I could have never have done it all these years without her.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Find a part time job on a golf course somewhere.

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FEATURE

TECH TIPS Digital Job Boards

By Donovan Maguigan

A

s a left-handed person who can sometimes be OCD when writing by hand, whiteboards have also been a challenge for communicating daily tasks to my staff. At one point in my career, I had magnetic labels that I should shuffle and move around a whiteboard to cut down to as little handwriting as possible. Around the time that I learned to write with my hand further away from the board, digital job boards had started to evolve. Utilizing computer monitors and smart TV's, superintendents can create a quickly loaded and updateable means to present tasks and notes to their staff.

WHAT YOU NEED For an easy digital job board setup, you will need a smart TV or a computer monitor hooked up to Chrome PC or a Chromecast. A Chrome based PC is a cloud-based computer that can visit webpages and use Google based apps with most of its storage in the cloud. The simplest version of this is to purchase a Chromebook Laptop ($150-400 for basic ones) and connect it to a TV using an HDMI cord or purchase a Chromebit PC, which plugs directly into the TV and turns it into a Chromebook. If you aren't hooking up a laptop or streaming from a phone, you will also need a keyboard and mouse, which can be purchased on Amazon for less than $25.

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BUY IT The easiest way to get a digital job board is to purchase it from a company that creates job boards. Companies like TurfCloud and TaskTracker have predesigned software that can be easily setup to display tasks, equipment, mowing directions, and daily notes. These options can be pricey, but all the hard work is already finished for you.

DO IT YOURSELF The simplest digital job board option is to create an Excel or Google Sheets spreadsheet with columns for staff names, jobs, equipment, and notes. You can jazz this up with bold fonts, alternating colors, and spacing. By loading this spreadsheet up on the screen, your staff can see their jobs clearly and get to work.

GO FULL NERD The next level DIY option for jobs board is to start using something called "Data Validation" in Google Sheets. On a separate tab, list all the tasks in one column, equipment in the next, and lists of any critical information. With "data validation," you can create drop-down lists to select options from on the board. Right-click on the cell that you want to turn into a drop-down list and select "data validation," then select the column you want to be included in the dropdown. With some extra color and fonts, you will jazz up the spreadsheet to a more presentable version of a job board. To save time, create a "Daily COPY" of the job board, copy it, name it the current date, copy/paste it every day and create a record of all your job boards from day to day for simple record keeping.

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GCSAA FEATURE

INVESTING IN YOUR TEAM'S EDUCATION

By Kevin Doyle, GCSAA Field Staff

W

ith thermometer readings sliding off summer highs and into fall lows, calendars will also change from meeting and event golf season to indoor education season. Chapter education, vendor events, regional conferences, and of course GCSAA Conference and Show in Orlando are being announced and updated almost daily now. As a quick add: Don’t miss the NEW interactive facility Learning Tours in Orlando where hands-on activities will be highlighted! This year’s conference offers more opportunities for staff including assistant superintendents,

equipment managers and staff members. With our oftenunderstaffed teams, it’s critical to arm everyone with the education needed to maximize their skills.

level appropriate information were noted by many members.

The more eyes that are trained to alert of potential issues, the better.

GCSAA, along with so many other education providers, learned how to deliver online education during the pandemic. The online 2021 conference and show was the first opportunity your association took to target education for maintenance team members outside of superintendents and assistants. The resulting feedback was excellent! The ease of use regarding the online platform and

Equipment manager (EM) education and resources continue to grow. More local associations are building education days specifically for member EMs. Add in the long-time running, full-day agenda offered at the New England Regional Turfgrass Show in Providence, and there are several resources available in the Northeast Region. Education at the GCSAA Conference and Trade

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GCSAA FEATURE

Show continues to be robust and growing, including EM specific receptions developed for connecting EM peers and growing their network. With the GCSAA Equipment Manager Certificate Program and now EM Certification opportunities, the ability to educate, develop, and recognize this critical part of the golf maintenance leadership team is growing in importance and easier than ever to accomplish.

Educating assistant superintendents seems to always have been an integral part of building a successful team. Local and regional resources are widely known and utilized. As a reminder, the GCSAA Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series is a targeted learning opportunity

developed by assistants for assistants to offer these up-andcoming professionals the chance to differentiate themselves among their peers. Agronomy, business, leadership and communication, and environmental stewardship education will assist in building the skills needed for success in the future.

There is little doubt that education can be costly, and travel hasn’t gotten any cheaper either. Have you had the opportunity to discuss the value continued education brings to your facility? If any member of your staff can keep one issue or pest problem from becoming more costly to correct, is that a value? With the supply chain struggling to provide timely parts deliveries (if at all), would a more highly trained

and connected EM be in a better situation to develop a fix and get equipment back on the course?

Finding and keeping talented staff is an industry-wide concern. The ability to offer education to your staff at every level can only help in developing your team and benefit your facility. It might take time, funding, and lots of communication with decision makers at your facility to make this important investment in your people. If your staff is valued as the asset they deserve to be, educational opportunities will bring both tangible returns to the club and your team. A true win-win situation.

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GCSAA RESOURCES UPCOMING WEBINARS DRONES & WETTING AGENTS: A BIRD’S EYE VIEW OF LDS & MORE

Daniel O’Brien Dec. 7 @ 10 a.m.

EFFECTS OF CULTIVATION, TOPDRESSING AND PGR USE ON ANNUAL BLUEGRASS PUTTING GREENS

Alec Kowalewski, Ph.D. Dec. 15 @ 2 p.m.

WWW.GCSAA.ORG/EDUCATION/MYLEARNING-HUB Times listed are for the U.S. Central time zone.

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GCSAA RESOURCES EARN EDUCATION POINTS LISTENING TO THE GCSAA PODCAST DID YOU KNOW? You can earn education points by listening to select episodes of the GCSAA Podcast, including Episode 44 featuring weather gurus Herb Stevens and Garrett Bastardi. Check it out here — https://bit.ly/gcsaa-podcast-all-aboutthe-weather— or wherever you get your podcasts.

NEED SOME DIRECTION WITH YOUR BMPS? Check out the GCSAA BMP webinar series. GCSAA offers webinars for step-by-step training on guiding you through the BMP program and providing you with solutions to operating GCSAA's online BMP program.

GCSAA CONFERENCE AND TRADE SHOW Registration is open for the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show, February 6th-9th.

Visit www.gcsaaconference.com to register.

Visit gcsaa.org/environment/bmpplanning-guide for the webinar series.

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2022 CHAPTER DELEGATES MEETING RECAP October 25-26, 2022 The GCSAA Board of Directors, 2023 board candidates, and 80 delegates representing 86 of GCSAA’s 97 affiliated chapters convened for the 30th annual Chapter Delegates Meeting.

GCSAA Chief Operating Officer Kevin P. Sunderman, CGCS, briefed the delegates on his recent resignation from the GCSAA Board as vice president to assume the role of GCSAA Chief Operating Officer. It was decided to allow the vacancy to remain until the Annual Meeting and Election in February due to the short period. As Mr. Sunderman had already been nominated for president in 2023, legal counsel advised to re-open the nomination process to allow the membership to put forth candidates to fill the open board positions.

Each year of board service is critical in developing a board member to take on the role of president. Especially important in this development are the terms as vice president and secretary/treasurer. Therefore, Kevin P. Breen, CGCS, has accepted the nomination to serve a second term as president, thus allowing the natural progression and development of the remaining board members.

CEO Rhett Evans briefed the delegates on the state of GCSAA by starting with membership numbers and a financial update.

• Membership Numbers – Total membership is now over 19,000 up 1.35% from 2021, with Class A and Equipment Managers leading the way. Mr. Evans emphasized that growing Class C and Equipment manager members will also be a focus in 2023.

• Financial Update – Mr. Evans noted that two years of a pandemic and now inflation has created financial challenges with all organizations, and GCSAA isn’t immune.

However, the association remains resilient due to the strong financial stewardship of past GCSAA Boards and prudent financial management by the staff leadership.

Environmental Programs Mark Johnson, Director, Environmental Programs promoted the development of facility BMP manuals using the GCSAA’s Facility BMP Planning Guide, both individually and through chapter initiatives. Mr. Johnson shared with the delegates that creating a facility BMP manual is putting the practices already in place at a golf course in a guide form to use when sharing information with owners, greens committees, the community, and legislators. The delegates were updated on the growth of the initiative.

• 1,200 facility manuals have been created.

• Conducted 70 workshops with 18 more scheduled.

• A total of 23 BMP webinars have been held.

Chapter Outreach Task Group Update Paul L. Carter, CGCS, Chair, Chapter Outreach Task Group and Steve Randall, Director, Chapter Outreach briefed the delegates on the outcomes of the task group meeting.

• Affiliation Agreement due 12/31/2022 –The task group proposed and the GCSAA Board approved amending the affiliation agreement to include an Equipment Manager membership classification to Section IV.B.1. This means all chapters that do not have an equipment manager membership classification will need to add one to their bylaws. Adding this classification provides consistency among all chapters and allows chapters and GCSAA to promote the equipment manager.

Member Dues Discussion GCSAA Secretary/Treasurer Jeff L. White, CGCS brought forward a proposal from the GCSAA Board of Directors to adjust membership dues at the 2023 GCSAA Annual Meeting.

• The recommended dues adjustment to be voted on at the 2023 Annual Meeting translates to a $35 increase for Class A/B and a $20 increase for Class C.

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• The delegates requested and approved a dues adjustment process back in 2006 that would keep pace with the increasing costs of providing member programs and services and reduce or eliminate the negative impact that large, infrequent dues increase had on membership growth and retention.

• The process would adjust Class A/B/C dues every twoyears based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) but is not automatic and must be voted on by members at an Annual Meeting.

• The process was extended to three-years during the Great Recession and again during the pandemic, which resulted in a dues adjustment for 2022.

• Given the significant 8% rise in the CPI in 2022, the Board is proposing a one-year adjustment versus waiting two years and having a significantly larger CPI adjustment that could negatively impact member growth and retention.

Candidate Breakouts – the delegates had the opportunity to meet and question the candidates running for the 2023 GCSAA Board of Directors. The candidates are: • For President – Kevin P. Breen, CGCS • For Vice President – Jeff L. White, CGCS • For Secretary/Treasurer T.A. Barker, CGCS Paul L. Carter, CGCS • For Director (electing three, two-year positions) H. Scott Griffith, CGCS Steven J. Hammon Ryan S. Kraushofer, CGCS Christopher A. Reverie Jennifer L. Torres Michael L. Upchurch Richard Wit, CGCS

CONTACT OUR GCSANJ CHAPTER DELEGATE

John O'Keefe, CGCS turfjok@aol.com Your valuable feedback and questions are always welcome.

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2022 SPONSOR PARTNERS PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

BRONZE SPONSORS

RUTGERS FIELD DAYS

Brandon Perrine, Mike Weber, Joe Kinlin

Dr. Jim Murphy

Paul Ramina, Dave Schell, Brian Gjelsvik

Tyler Otero, Jen Schneider, and Jack Harrell III

Hunter Haas and Rob Schipper

Dick Neufeld and Paul Dotti

Mike Molchan, Cece Peabody, Paul Ramina

Dave Oatis and Dr. Stacy Bonos

Jeff Weld

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PAR 3 EVENT HAMILTON FARM GOLF CLUB Hosted by Jason Harrison

Jim Cadott, Keith Bennett, Pat Husby, Drew White

Shaun Kennedy, Pat Quinlan, Jack Meyer, Fred Parcells

Dennis Wrede, Ken Kubik, Jay McKenna, John O'Keefe

Brian Bontemps, Steve Gauli, Andrew Stilwell

Greg Boring, Kelly Barrell, Steve Aspinall, Lance Rogers

Jason Harrison, Pat Quinlan, Brad Jones

Rob Johnson, Freddy Carmona, Rob Arnst

Scott Bordner, Tom Currie, Alan Bean, and Ryan Tuxhorn

Sean Charles and Sean Konsavich

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TURF FEST SPRINGDALE GOLF CLUB Hosted by Donovan Maguigan

The Storr Tractor Team

Jen Torres, Ricardo Torres, Jen Schneider,

Donovan Maguigan, Ken Anson, Joe Kinlin, and Jeremy Hreben

Phil Page, Tom Halveka, Jeff Lacour

Jeremy Hreben, Corey Angelo, Ken Anson

Steve McDonald, Dr. Bruce Clarke, Dr. Jim Murphy

The Finch Turf Team

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WE ASKED WHAT CAREER WOULD YOU PURSUE IF YOU WEREN'T A GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT? "Something practical like plumbing or electric unless there was an opportunity to work on the water and make a living. " -Rob Wagner, Trump National Bedminster "Stay-at-home dad, with stipulations. No laundry or dishes."

-Alex Kierstead, Panther Valley Golf & CC "The least shocking answer to this question…I would pursue being a writer. I would probably gravitate towards non-fiction like travel or investigative journalism. That door isn't completely closed, but I love being a superintendent. I've been fortunate to edit and contribute to the Greenerside and write a few articles for Golf Course Industry, allowing me to explore my "What If?"

-Donovan Maguigan, Springdale Golf Club

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"Teach! I have found that teaching/mentoring others has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my job."

-Mark Beaumont, Atlantic City Country Club

"If I weren't a GCS, I would have been a Phys Ed Teacher!

I love coaching kids' sports, promoting kids' health (and off electronics) and after 22 years in the golf maintenance field, to have summers off seems pretty darn sweet!"

-Chris Krno, Francis Byrne Golf Course

"If I weren’t a golf course superintendent, I would have pursued a career in Meteorology as I am fascinated by the weather. My day starts and ends with looking at the weather.

You can be incorrect half the time or more and still have a long, prosperous career."

-Darrell Marcinek, CGCS, Somerset County Park Commission

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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 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 BAYER Plant Health Products Jeffrey Weld Pesticides 2 T.W. Alexander Drive Research Triangle Park, NC Ph: 914.419.9384 jeff.weld@bayer.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

BRAEN STONE Construction Material Joe Klemm Stone, Sand, Recycled Materials, and Asphalt 400 Central Avenue Haledon, NJ 07508 Ph: 973.838.7100 Ext.2 jklemm@braenstone.com www.braenstone.com

DOWNES TREE SERVICE CO. Tree Services, Removal, Pruning, Stump Grinding, Mulch, and Topsoil Kevin Downes 65 Royal Avenue Hawthorne, NJ 07506 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 EWING IRRIGATION & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY Irrigation & Turf Products Rain Bird Golf Distributor Fred Rapp frapp@ewingirrigation.com Ph: 848.225.4618 Jim Miner jminer@ewingirrigation.com Ph: 908.674.1145

E-Z-GO TEXTRON Nick Roberto E-Z-GO, Cushman, Jacobsen Ph: 845.637.7641 T 845.637.7641 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 SERVICES John Deere Authorized Dealer Phil Page ppage@finchinc.com Cell: 609.498.4031 Joey Wolff jwolff@finchinc.com Cell:410.215.6921 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 FMC CORPORATION www.fmcprosolutions.com Tracy Tudor Ph: 215-704-6679 Tracy.Tudor@fmc.com 2929 Walnut Street Philadelphia, PA

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GCSANJ PATRON DIRECTORY GRASS ROOTS, INC. Golf Course Maintenance Supplies Ken Kubik: 973.418.7035 Keith Kubik: 973.418.7034 Jay McKenna: 973.418.7036 Office: 973.252.6634

NOBLE TURF Brian Gjelsvik 25 Roland Avenue Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054 Ph: 856.273.1402 briang@seetonturf.com

GENESIS TURFGRASS Mark Merrick 717-759-8151 info@genesisturfgrassinc.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

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

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

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, Jim Devaney Rick Krok 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: 8662.266.9288 Fx: (267) 203-1613 skennedy@synateksolutions.com SYNGENTA Manufacturer, Plant Protectants Lee Kozsey Cell: 215.796.0409 Lee.kozsey@syngenta.com TOTAL TURF GOLF SERVICES Greg Hufner 1965 Byberry Road Huntingdon Valley, PA 19006 Ph: 215.426.0554 gregh@totalturfservices.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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