October 2015 Newsletter
Content
2015
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Mal McLaren Award
Strategic Planning
Mark Figurella
[email protected]
330.562.1691
VICE PRESIDENT
Golf & Tournament
Bryan Fitch
[email protected]
440.934.6217
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Government Relations
Scott Brickley
[email protected]
330.725.2829
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR
Finance/Communication/Benevolent
Michelle L. Frazier-Feher, CGCS
[email protected]
216.469.9287
TRUSTEES
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Website
Charles (Chuck) Hayes
[email protected]
330.933.4673
Program & Education
Sam Leatherberry
[email protected]
678.414.7714
It’s October! I don’t know about anyone else, but
my golf course is ready for a break, and so am I! It
has been a great run of weather so far this fall, so
hopefully your aeration process has been able to
stay on schedule. Mine is completed, and it feels
good to have that behind me. Here is a picture of
my first day of fairway aeration. Just a little
miscommunication between the person marking the
heads and the person running
the aerator! Luckily that was
the only mishap.
The Annual Research and
Scholarship Tournament was
held on September 17 at Ridge
Top Golf Course. It was also
the First Annual Pig Roast
Meeting. The clambakes were
a great success for a long time, but we decided to change things up a little
bit by having a Bar-B-Q instead. The initial feedback has all been very
positive, as the meal was delicious and served fresh and hot.
continued on page 4
Social
Jim Robinson
[email protected]
330.328.3142
Membership
Brad Vecchio
[email protected]
330.801.5365
Historical / Assistant Relations
David Willmott
[email protected]
330.618.8101
ASSISTANT GCS LIAISON
Matt Kolcun
[email protected]
440.213.6677
INDUTRIAL RELATIONS
Scholarship & Research
Brian Bates
[email protected]
440.834.9315
Jason Bennett
330.416.0908
[email protected]
Lenny Marino
[email protected]
216.401.1152
Mission Statement
Promoting the profession of the golf course superintendent
through education, camaraderie and cooperation among
fellow members in Northern Ohio since 1923
Schedule of Events
OTF News
Back in the Day
Vendor Day Highlights
By The Board – August
GCSAA News – GIS
Hall Of Fame Highlights
On the Road with the USGA
September Meeting Highlights
OSHA Fact Sheet
Advertiser Directory
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5
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15
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November 11, 2015
Annual Meeting
Place: Portage C. C.
Host: Tom Vogel, CGCS
Cost: TBD
Time: TBD
Points: 0.1 TBD
February 6 – 11, 2016
Golf Industry Show
San Diego, CA
San Diego Convention Center
December 7 – 10, 2015
OTF Conference & Show
Greater Columbus Convention Center
3
Greg Bobbs was our host, and the course played
great. Here is a photo of the 18th green, where Mike
O'Donnell hit a hole in one! Unfortunately I missed it
as I took this photo just before his group came
through. Congratulations Mike! That shot made the
day even more memorable!
Hope to see you at an event soon! As always, your
comments and opinions can be sent to me at:
[email protected].
Sincerely,
Mark Figurella
NOGCSA President
Barrington Golf Club was the host for the Annual Ohio
Cup on Wednesday, September 23rd. The Ohio Cup is
a tournament where each of the 5 Ohio chapters of
the Golf Course Superintendents Association put
together an 8 man team and compete against each
other for the coveted trophy. It was a beautiful day
for golf and everyone enjoyed themselves. Although
Northern Ohio gave a valiant effort, Northwest Ohio
beat us out in the end. Evidently these guys play a lot
more golf than us! Here is a photo of the winning
Northwest Ohio team.
4
2015 ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
OTF is pleased to announce a partnership with VGM
Club and VGM’s John Deere partners (Reynolds Turf
and Tractor, Shearer Equipment and JW Turf) offering
scholarships to honor the work that your assistant
superintendents put in throughout the season. We are
now accepting nominations for a scholarship to the
2015 OTF Conference & Show.
the 5 local superintendent chapters (pending number
of nominations) in criteria above and your answers
given with the questionnaire. Nominations are due by
Monday, October 12th. Winners will be announced
Monday, October 19th.
For questions, please contact OTF offices at 614-2854683 or visit www.ohioturfgrass.org
The Assistant Scholarship is to reward the dedication,
effort, commitment and hard work to his/her course
throughout the year. If you would like to nominate
someone for this award, please see criteria below and
complete the online form below.
Nominate Here
Scholarship package includes:
Full conference package (not including workshops)
Hotel room for Tuesday and Wednesday nights for
each winner
$50 gift card to Hyde Park restaurant for each winner
Head Superintendents, General Managers, Owners
are encouraged to nominate under the following
criteria:
Candidates must have outstanding character,
integrity, and leadership
Employed at current golf course for at least 1 full
year/season
Dedication to pursuing a career as a golf course
superintendent
Selection process:
OTF Committee will select (5) nominations based off
5
TURF TIPS - SEPTEMBER 26, 2015
Turf not recovering? Animals digging? These are likely signs of a grub
infestation! Learn how to keep the skunks and raccoons away and the
best way to perform a RESCUE GRUB TREATMENT!
Click here for the Turf Tips Video
Turf Tips videos are distributed regularly through the growing season to OTF members. If you'd like to
receive information like this, be sure to join or renew your membership today! New and renewed
memberships processed for the remainder of 2015 are valid for the rest of 2015 and all of 2016.
Click here for more information on OTF memberships
Hard-copy registration forms for the OTF Conference & Show and OSU Green
Industry Short Course are now available at www.otfshow.org under the
Registration tab. Take the first step towards your Greener Future and join us for
this year's conference and tradeshow!
Click here to visit the show site
Ohio Turfgrass Foundation | 2710 North Star Road | Columbus, Ohio 43221
614.285.4683 | [email protected]
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This month’s “Back in the Day” is brought to
you by one our newest Hall of Fame inductees,
Lou Greco. I can remember being at Mr.
Greco’s house somewhere in the early
seventies and playing with his kids, who were
similar in age. We played with the newest toy
of the time, which squirted paint onto a
rotating piece of cardboard and made a
psychedelic design. What fun!
Lou was the editor of the Northern Ohio
Chapter’s newsletter, where he wrote many
articles covering the topics of the day. Here is a
re-print of one of those articles from the June,
1979 edition. It is clearly written with passion,
as he expressed his concern about the lack of
participation from fellow members of the
association. I think the feelings still ring true
today, for myself, and the current Board of
Directors. Luckily, we have the internet to post
the newsletter on, which is significantly
cheaper.
continued on page 21
8
This is reprinted from the June 1971 issue
9
By Jason Bennett
On August 12th the NOGCSA annual Vendor Day
was hosted at Bob O Link Golf Course for the 2nd
straight year. The cost for the meeting was $20
per facility and you could bring up to 5 guests.
Dr. David Garner was on hand to talk about
recent research being done at The Ohio State
University on Bacterial Wilt. The Northern Ohio
Chapter has donated in the past two years to this
research and it was great to get information
about the study being done at OSU.
The weather was perfect for the Superintendents,
Assistants, Mechanics, Employees and Managers
to enjoy the day hearing demonstrations for
vendors and factory representatives. Nearly 100
people attended the meeting hosted by the
entire Fitch family. This meeting was set up as a
"Speed Dating" format to allow all participating
vendors to showcase their products. During the
showcase we had 5 equipment demonstrations
allowing all those that attended to see the latest
equipment and technology. A lot of shiny
equipment was on hand to see and test drive.
finished attendees were broken up into smaller
groups to visit each individual vendor to hear
demonstrations and receive literature for a
"focus" product. With over 20 participating
vendor stations the "speed dating" format
allowed for ample time for all attendees to visit
each station for a 5-6 minute conversation. At
each station vendors stamped a card to show that
you attended their booth which in turn entered
you in a drawing for a $100 gift card.
After the group presentations were complete a
box lunch was served while the majority of those
went out to play 9 holes of golf. The golf course
was in great condition thanks to Superintendent
Bryan Fitch. There was no format for the golf as
everyone paired up and enjoyed a stress free
round compliments of Bob O Link and the Fitch
Family.
There was a 50/50 drawing, $100 gift card
drawing, equipment raffled off and plenty of gifts
at the conclusion of the day. This event continues
to grow every year and we would like to give a
Thank you to all those that attended, participated
and especially to the Fitch Family for all that they
donated to make the day a success.
Once the equipment showcase portion was
10
11
Barrington Country Club
President Figurella called the Board of Trustees of
the Northern Ohio Chapter of the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America regular
meeting to order at 1:12 PM.
ROLL CALL: Bates, Bennett, Feher, Figurella, Fitch,
Leatherberry, Marino, and Vecchio present.
Brickley, Hayes, Robinson, Kolcun, and Willmott
Absent
Vice President Fitch moved to accept the minutes
from the July 14, 2015, regular meeting with
corrections. Industrial Representative Bennett
seconded. Motion passed
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Budget & Finance - Chapter Administrator Feher
reported that there was currently $6,876.31 in the
checking account, $38,324.85 in the scholarship &
research account, $27,792.26 in the money market
account, $3,873.79 in the 100th Anniversary
account and $477.96 in the Pay Pal Account. The
Profit & Loss for 2015 through July 13 shows Net
Income/Loss of $15,481.53.
Program & Education – No Report.
Editorial – Chapter Administrator Feher reported
the August/September Issue needs to out.
President Figurella will get Feher a Back in the Day
article and his President’s message.
Golf & Tournament – Vice President Fitch reported
the Ohio Cup is on September 23 at Westfield. He
still needs to contact the other chapters.
August 4, 2015
Industrial Relations- Industrial Representative
Marino discussed Vendor Day. Feher will send out
vendor letter tonight.
Assistant Relations – No Report
Employment Relations – David Hershey moved
from Highland Golf Course to Tanglewood Country
Club. Tim Hughes is now with Helena Chemical.
Mal McLaren Award – No Report
Scholarship & Research – We will award the Legacy
Scholarship Applications at the Annual Meeting.
Government & Environmental Relations – No
Report.
Website – We are close to completing.
Bylaws & Ethics – No Report
Advertising – No Report
OLD BUSINESS
BOSS Event – Vecchio & Marino will do one at
Delaney’s in September.
NEW BUSINESS
Chapter Administrator Feher presented the
following applications for membership:
Jon Schoenmaker Millstone Golf & Turf
AFF
continued on page 9
Membership & Welcoming – No Report
Social – 35 people came and 25 people camped at
Friends and Family Picnic at Clays Park.
Strategic Planning – No Report
Historical & Benevolent – No Report
Public Relations – Industrial Representative Brian
Bates will contact Camp Cheerful.
12
13
Chapter Administrator Feher presented the
following members for reinstatement:
None
Chapter Administrator Feher presented the
following members for reclassification:
None
Industrial Representative Marino motioned to
approve the above members for membership. Vice
President Fitch seconded. Motion passed.
President Figurella reported that Lake Erie Golf Cars
donated the gifts for the Kids Picnic this year.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for September
17, 2015 at 8:00 AM at Ridge Top Golf Course
The Board Meeting was adjourned at 2:20 PM.
14
Join us for everything under the sun!
Make plans to join us in San Diego February 6-11,
2016. This event promises to provide you with the
knowledge and tools necessary to meet all of the
challenges you face on your course with
confidence. We will continue sending these
newsletters on a monthly basis to keep you
informed on the latest Golf Industry Show news,
special events, and much more!
Housing opens Oct. 1
OnPeak (formerly Travel Planners) is the official
housing agency of the Golf Industry Show. Only
through OnPeak will you receive benefits like the
lowest guaranteed rates, free booking and more!
Visit our hotel and travel page to search for your
accommodation and transportation needs.
Here's what's new
• Trade Show Stage – home of GCSAA.tv Live,
presented by Lebanon Turf, the Trade Show
stage will feature a number of guests,
discussions and demonstrations across a variety
of topics that you won't want to miss! More
details to come this fall!
Hunter Industries. A global leader in irrigation
technology, Hunter's U.S. headquarters is
located in San Marcos, Calif., just northwest of
San Diego. On this eight-hour field trip,
attendees will get education on a variety of
irrigation topics and see first-hand the latest
irrigation technology in action.
Meet me in San Diego
Created by the San Diego Convention Center, our
micro-site is your one-stop-shop for everything
related to San Diego. Here you'll find helpful
information about public transportation,
restaurant recommendations, coupons for
exclusive deals and much more! Check out all that
San Diego has to offer through this helpful site.
Thanking exhibitors in San Diego
When meeting with exhibitors on the trade show
floor, be sure to thank them for their time and
effort. Months of planning and preparation went
into making their attendance in San Diego possible
and showing your appreciation for them makes it
all worth it!
Connect and Plan
• The Dr. Is In – don't miss the opportunity to
meet with industry experts to share your
challenges and discuss new ideas at your
course. Tables will be hosted by Ph. D.'s who
will share their expertise in this informal setting.
These one-on-ones provide access to first-class
experts. More details to come this fall!
• Hunter Learning Tour – get out of the
convention center get onsite education at
Trade Show
Feb. 10-11, 2016
Education Conferences
Feb. 8-11, 2016
GCSAA Golf Championships
Feb. 6-8, 2016
15
On September 3, 2015, The Northern Ohio Chapter of
the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of
America held its 5th induction ceremony! This year’s
inductees were Frank Ermer and Lou Greco.
Louis M. Greco
Retired Golf Course
Superintendent –
Squaw Creek Country
Club. Lou started
working at Squaw Creek
in1954 as a laborer and
took over as Supt. in
1962. Retired from
Squaw Creek in 2004. That’s right 50 years of service
at the same club. While at Squaw Creek he hosted
eight LPGA tour events. Lou sat on the Board and
served as President of NOGCSA and OTF. Awards
received, NOGCSA Mal McLaren Award 1993,
Professional Excellence Award OTF 1978. Community
Service – Served as President and on The Board of
Directors for many different organizations.
Frank W. Ermer Feb.
8, 1894 – May 28, 1970
Frank became a Head
Greenkeeper in 1925 at
Ridgewood Golf Club.
His first job on a golf
course was mowing
fairways with a horse
drawn cutting unit in
1915. Frank was one of the Founding Fathers of the
Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of America and
the Northern Ohio Golf Course Superintendents
Assoc. Both associations were known by different
names then, National Greenskeeper Assoc. of
America and Cleveland District Golf Assoc. From
1928 -1933 Frank was Secretary/Treasurer and in
1933 President of Cleveland District Golf Assoc. In
1939 Frank was President of the National
Greenskeepers Assoc. of America.
Thank you to the Hall of Committee for their
continued dedication and hard work!
16
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18
This year instead of hosting a clambake for our
annual scholarship & research outing the NOGCSA
Board chose to do a pig roast. The food, weather and
course were great for this wonderful event!
Winners for the day were:
1st Place – Team Peck – 53
2nd Place – Team Burkett - 60
3rd Place – Team Happ - 63
Skins:
Team Bursan – Hole #15
Team Lamp – Hole #3
Team Burkett – Hole #18
– HOLE IN ONE!!!
Congratulations to Mike O’Donnell on his Hole In One
on Hole #18! This was Mike’s 2nd hole in one and
both hole in ones have been at an NOGCSA event!!
50/50 Winner – Bob Brown
Thank you to all our hole sponsors and attendees for
your continued support. We also collected food and
raised $185 for the Our Community Hunger Center.
Hole #1 – Short Drive – Dave Deardon
Hole #2 – Closest to Pin (A Flight) – Gregg Bobbs
Hole # 6 – Closest to Pin (B Flight) - Dick Lamp
Hole #9 – Accuracy Drive – Don Meintel
Hole #12 – Longest Drive – Ben Imhoff
Hole #15 – Closest to Pin (A Flight) – Valley View GC
Hole #18 – Closest to Pin (B Flight) – Mike O’Donnell
19
20
What is crystalline silica?
Crystalline silica is a basic component of soil,
sand, granite, and many other minerals. Quartz is
the most common form of crystalline silica.
Cristobalite and tridymite are two other forms of
crystalline silica. All three forms may become
respirable size particles when workers chip, cut,
drill, or grind objects that contain crystalline silica.
What are the hazards
of crystalline silica?
Silica exposure remains a serious threat to
nearly 2 millionU.S. workers, includingmore than
100,000 workers in highriskjobs such as abrasive
blasting, foundrywork, stonecutting, rock drilling,
quarrywork and tunneling. The seriousness of the
health hazards associated with silica exposure is
demonstrated by the fatalities and disabling
illnesses that continue to occur in sandblasters and
rockdrillers. Crystalline silica has been classified as
a human lung carcinogen. Additionally, breathing
crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, which in
severe cases can be disabling, or even fatal.
The respirable silica dust enters the lungs and
causes the formation of scar tissue, thus reducing
the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. There is no
curefor silicosis. Sincesilicosisaffectslungfunction, it
makes one more susceptible to lung infections like
tuberculosis. In addition, smoking causes lung
damage and adds to the damage caused by
breathing silica dust.
What are the symptoms of silicosis?
Silicosis is classified into three types: chronic
/classic, accelerated, and acute.
Chronic/classic silicosis, the most common,
occurs after 15–20 years of moderate to low
exposuresto respirablecrystallinesilica. Symptoms
associated withchronic silicosismay or maynot be
obvious; therefore, workers need to have a chest xray to determine if there is lung damage. As the
disease progresses, the worker may experience
shortness ofbreathupon exercisingand haveclinical
signs of poor oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.
In the later stages, the worker may experience
fatigue, extreme shortness of breath, chest pain, or
respiratoryfailure.
Accelerated silicosis can occur after 5–10
years of high exposures to respirable crystalline
silica. Symptoms include severe shortness of
breath, weakness, and weight loss. The onset of
symptoms takes longer than in acute silicosis.
Acute silicosis occurs after a few months or as
long as 2 years following exposures to extremely
high concentrations of respirable crystalline silica.
Symptoms of acute silicosis include severe
disabling shortness of breath, weakness, and
weight loss, which often leads to death.
Where are construction workers
exposed to crystalline silica?
Exposure occurs during many different construction
activities. The most severe exposures generally occur
during abrasive blastingwith sand to remove paint and
rust from bridges, tanks, concrete structures, and other
surfaces. Other construction activities that may result in
severe exposure include: jack hammering, rock/well
drilling, concrete mixing, concrete drilling, brick and
concrete block cutting and sawing, tuck pointing,
tunnelingoperations.
Where are general industry
employees exposed to crystalline
silica dust?
The most severe exposures to crystalline silica
resultfrom abrasive blasting,whichis done to clean and
smooth irregularities from molds, jewelry, and foundry
castings, finish tombstones, etch or frost glass, or
remove paint, oils, rust, or dirt form objects needing to
be repainted or treated. Other exposures to silica dust
occur in cement and brick manufacturing, asphalt
pavement manufacturing, china and ceramic
manufacturing and the tool and die, steel and foundry
industries. Crystalline silica is used in manufacturing,
household abrasives, adhesives, paints, soaps, and
glass. Additionally, crystallinesilicaexposures occurin
themaintenance, repair and replacement of refractory
brick furnace linings.
In the maritime industry, shipyard employees are
exposed to silica primarily in abrasive blasting
operations to remove paint and clean and prepare
steel hulls, bulkheads, decks, and tanks for paints
and coatings.
How is OSHA addressing
exposure to crystalline silica?
OSHA has an established Permissible Exposure
Limit, or PEL, which is the maximumamount of
crystalline silica to whichworkers may be exposed
during an 8-hour work shift (29 CFR 1926 .55, 1910
.1000). OSHA also requires hazard
21
communication trainingfor workers exposed to
crystalline silica, and requires a respirator
protection program until engineering controls are
implemented. Additionally, OSHA has a National
Emphasis Program (NEP) for Crystalline Silica exposure
to identify, reduce, and eliminate health hazards
associated with occupational exposures.
What can employers/employees do
to protect against exposures to
crystalline silica?
■ Replace crystalline silica materials with safer
substitutes, whenever possible.
■
Provide engineering or administrative controls, where
feasible, such as local exhaustventilation, and blasting
cabinets. Wherenecessary to reduce exposures below
the PEL, use protective equipment or other
protective measures.
■
Use all available work practices to control dust
exposures, such as water sprays.
■
Wear only a N95 NIOSH certified respirator, if
respirator protection is required. Do not alter the
respirator. Do not wear a tight-fittingrespiratorwith
a beard or mustache that prevents a good seal
between the respirator and the face.
your hands and face outside of dusty areas before
performing any of these activities
How can I get more information on
safety and health?
OSHA has various publications, standards,
technical assistance, and compliance tools to help you,
and offers extensive assistance through workplace
consultation, voluntaryprotection programs, strategic
partnerships, alliances, state plans, grants, training,
and education. OSHA’s Safety and Health Program
Management Guidelines (Federal Register 54:39043916, January 26, 1989) detail elements critical to
the development of a successful safety and health
management system. This and other information are
available on OSHA’s website.
■
■
Wear only a Type CE abrasive-blast supplied-air
respirator for abrasive blasting.
■
Wear disposable or washable work clothes and
shower if facilities are available. Vacuum the dust
fromyour clothes or change into clean clothing
before leaving the work site.
■
Participate in training, exposure monitoring, and
health screening and surveillance programs to
monitor any adverse health effects caused by
crystalline silica exposures.
■
■
■
■
Be aware ofthe operations and job tasks creating
crystalline silica exposures in your workplace
environment and know how to protect yourself.
■
Be aware of the health hazards related to exposures
to crystalline silica. Smoking adds to the lung
damage caused by silica exposures.
■
Do not eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in
areas where crystalline silica dust is present. Wash
For one free copy of OSHA publications, send
a self-addressed mailing label to OSHA
Publications Office, 200 ConstitutionAvenue
N.W., N-3101 , Washington, DC 20210 ; or
send a request to our fax at (202) 693 – 2498 , or
call us toll-free at (800) 321–OSHA.
Toorder OSHA publications online at
www.osha.gov, go to Publications and
followthe instructions for ordering.
Tofile a complaint by phone, report an
emergency, or get OSHA advice, assistance, or
products, contact your nearest OSHA office
under the U.S. Department of Labor listing in
your phone book, or call toll-free at (800 )
321 – OSHA (6742 ). The teletypewriter
(TTY) number is (877) 889– 5627 .
To file a complaint online or obtain more
information on OSHA federal and state
programs, visit OSHA’s website.
This is one in a series of informational fact
sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies, or
standards. It does not impose any new
compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of
compliance requirements of OSHA standards or
regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. This informationwillbe made available to
sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The voice
phone is (202) 693 – 1999.
See also OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies, or standards. It does not impose
any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or
regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensoryimpaired individuals upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693 –1999 . See also OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
22
2015 Advertiser Directory
Arms Trucking
Brian Bates
800.362.1343
Harrell’s Turf Specialty
Glenn Omori
440.439.1393
Baker Vehicle Systems
Harland Baker, Rick Baker,
Kevin Kroll, Lenny Marino
330.467.2250
H & S Stump Removal
Jack Hopkins
330.654.2347
Lake Erie Golf Cars*
Tony Cisterino
216.763.2090
BAYER *
Rob Pyler
248.300.2638
Perk Air
Bob Doty
330.296.7307
BASF Corporation
Gerald Husemann
937.604.5617
Century Equipment
John Mowat - Ron Smolik –
Matt Weber – Matt Welch
800.522.8676
Shearer Golf
805-GOLF-909
South East Golf Car Co.
888.684.4653
Walker Supply
Mike Sekula - Bill Walker
800.792.5537
* denotes new advertiser
Remember to thank our
advertisers for supporting
you!
Precision Golf Construction
Mike O’Donnell
440.285.2117
NOGCSA
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.nogcsa.com
1106 Royce St. NW
Uniontown, OH 44685
(216)469-9287
23
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Mal McLaren Award
Strategic Planning
Mark Figurella
[email protected]
330.562.1691
VICE PRESIDENT
Golf & Tournament
Bryan Fitch
[email protected]
440.934.6217
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Government Relations
Scott Brickley
[email protected]
330.725.2829
CHAPTER ADMINISTRATOR
Finance/Communication/Benevolent
Michelle L. Frazier-Feher, CGCS
[email protected]
216.469.9287
TRUSTEES
SECRETARY/TREASURER
Website
Charles (Chuck) Hayes
[email protected]
330.933.4673
Program & Education
Sam Leatherberry
[email protected]
678.414.7714
It’s October! I don’t know about anyone else, but
my golf course is ready for a break, and so am I! It
has been a great run of weather so far this fall, so
hopefully your aeration process has been able to
stay on schedule. Mine is completed, and it feels
good to have that behind me. Here is a picture of
my first day of fairway aeration. Just a little
miscommunication between the person marking the
heads and the person running
the aerator! Luckily that was
the only mishap.
The Annual Research and
Scholarship Tournament was
held on September 17 at Ridge
Top Golf Course. It was also
the First Annual Pig Roast
Meeting. The clambakes were
a great success for a long time, but we decided to change things up a little
bit by having a Bar-B-Q instead. The initial feedback has all been very
positive, as the meal was delicious and served fresh and hot.
continued on page 4
Social
Jim Robinson
[email protected]
330.328.3142
Membership
Brad Vecchio
[email protected]
330.801.5365
Historical / Assistant Relations
David Willmott
[email protected]
330.618.8101
ASSISTANT GCS LIAISON
Matt Kolcun
[email protected]
440.213.6677
INDUTRIAL RELATIONS
Scholarship & Research
Brian Bates
[email protected]
440.834.9315
Jason Bennett
330.416.0908
[email protected]
Lenny Marino
[email protected]
216.401.1152
Mission Statement
Promoting the profession of the golf course superintendent
through education, camaraderie and cooperation among
fellow members in Northern Ohio since 1923
Schedule of Events
OTF News
Back in the Day
Vendor Day Highlights
By The Board – August
GCSAA News – GIS
Hall Of Fame Highlights
On the Road with the USGA
September Meeting Highlights
OSHA Fact Sheet
Advertiser Directory
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November 11, 2015
Annual Meeting
Place: Portage C. C.
Host: Tom Vogel, CGCS
Cost: TBD
Time: TBD
Points: 0.1 TBD
February 6 – 11, 2016
Golf Industry Show
San Diego, CA
San Diego Convention Center
December 7 – 10, 2015
OTF Conference & Show
Greater Columbus Convention Center
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Greg Bobbs was our host, and the course played
great. Here is a photo of the 18th green, where Mike
O'Donnell hit a hole in one! Unfortunately I missed it
as I took this photo just before his group came
through. Congratulations Mike! That shot made the
day even more memorable!
Hope to see you at an event soon! As always, your
comments and opinions can be sent to me at:
[email protected].
Sincerely,
Mark Figurella
NOGCSA President
Barrington Golf Club was the host for the Annual Ohio
Cup on Wednesday, September 23rd. The Ohio Cup is
a tournament where each of the 5 Ohio chapters of
the Golf Course Superintendents Association put
together an 8 man team and compete against each
other for the coveted trophy. It was a beautiful day
for golf and everyone enjoyed themselves. Although
Northern Ohio gave a valiant effort, Northwest Ohio
beat us out in the end. Evidently these guys play a lot
more golf than us! Here is a photo of the winning
Northwest Ohio team.
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2015 ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
OTF is pleased to announce a partnership with VGM
Club and VGM’s John Deere partners (Reynolds Turf
and Tractor, Shearer Equipment and JW Turf) offering
scholarships to honor the work that your assistant
superintendents put in throughout the season. We are
now accepting nominations for a scholarship to the
2015 OTF Conference & Show.
the 5 local superintendent chapters (pending number
of nominations) in criteria above and your answers
given with the questionnaire. Nominations are due by
Monday, October 12th. Winners will be announced
Monday, October 19th.
For questions, please contact OTF offices at 614-2854683 or visit www.ohioturfgrass.org
The Assistant Scholarship is to reward the dedication,
effort, commitment and hard work to his/her course
throughout the year. If you would like to nominate
someone for this award, please see criteria below and
complete the online form below.
Nominate Here
Scholarship package includes:
Full conference package (not including workshops)
Hotel room for Tuesday and Wednesday nights for
each winner
$50 gift card to Hyde Park restaurant for each winner
Head Superintendents, General Managers, Owners
are encouraged to nominate under the following
criteria:
Candidates must have outstanding character,
integrity, and leadership
Employed at current golf course for at least 1 full
year/season
Dedication to pursuing a career as a golf course
superintendent
Selection process:
OTF Committee will select (5) nominations based off
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TURF TIPS - SEPTEMBER 26, 2015
Turf not recovering? Animals digging? These are likely signs of a grub
infestation! Learn how to keep the skunks and raccoons away and the
best way to perform a RESCUE GRUB TREATMENT!
Click here for the Turf Tips Video
Turf Tips videos are distributed regularly through the growing season to OTF members. If you'd like to
receive information like this, be sure to join or renew your membership today! New and renewed
memberships processed for the remainder of 2015 are valid for the rest of 2015 and all of 2016.
Click here for more information on OTF memberships
Hard-copy registration forms for the OTF Conference & Show and OSU Green
Industry Short Course are now available at www.otfshow.org under the
Registration tab. Take the first step towards your Greener Future and join us for
this year's conference and tradeshow!
Click here to visit the show site
Ohio Turfgrass Foundation | 2710 North Star Road | Columbus, Ohio 43221
614.285.4683 | [email protected]
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This month’s “Back in the Day” is brought to
you by one our newest Hall of Fame inductees,
Lou Greco. I can remember being at Mr.
Greco’s house somewhere in the early
seventies and playing with his kids, who were
similar in age. We played with the newest toy
of the time, which squirted paint onto a
rotating piece of cardboard and made a
psychedelic design. What fun!
Lou was the editor of the Northern Ohio
Chapter’s newsletter, where he wrote many
articles covering the topics of the day. Here is a
re-print of one of those articles from the June,
1979 edition. It is clearly written with passion,
as he expressed his concern about the lack of
participation from fellow members of the
association. I think the feelings still ring true
today, for myself, and the current Board of
Directors. Luckily, we have the internet to post
the newsletter on, which is significantly
cheaper.
continued on page 21
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This is reprinted from the June 1971 issue
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By Jason Bennett
On August 12th the NOGCSA annual Vendor Day
was hosted at Bob O Link Golf Course for the 2nd
straight year. The cost for the meeting was $20
per facility and you could bring up to 5 guests.
Dr. David Garner was on hand to talk about
recent research being done at The Ohio State
University on Bacterial Wilt. The Northern Ohio
Chapter has donated in the past two years to this
research and it was great to get information
about the study being done at OSU.
The weather was perfect for the Superintendents,
Assistants, Mechanics, Employees and Managers
to enjoy the day hearing demonstrations for
vendors and factory representatives. Nearly 100
people attended the meeting hosted by the
entire Fitch family. This meeting was set up as a
"Speed Dating" format to allow all participating
vendors to showcase their products. During the
showcase we had 5 equipment demonstrations
allowing all those that attended to see the latest
equipment and technology. A lot of shiny
equipment was on hand to see and test drive.
finished attendees were broken up into smaller
groups to visit each individual vendor to hear
demonstrations and receive literature for a
"focus" product. With over 20 participating
vendor stations the "speed dating" format
allowed for ample time for all attendees to visit
each station for a 5-6 minute conversation. At
each station vendors stamped a card to show that
you attended their booth which in turn entered
you in a drawing for a $100 gift card.
After the group presentations were complete a
box lunch was served while the majority of those
went out to play 9 holes of golf. The golf course
was in great condition thanks to Superintendent
Bryan Fitch. There was no format for the golf as
everyone paired up and enjoyed a stress free
round compliments of Bob O Link and the Fitch
Family.
There was a 50/50 drawing, $100 gift card
drawing, equipment raffled off and plenty of gifts
at the conclusion of the day. This event continues
to grow every year and we would like to give a
Thank you to all those that attended, participated
and especially to the Fitch Family for all that they
donated to make the day a success.
Once the equipment showcase portion was
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Barrington Country Club
President Figurella called the Board of Trustees of
the Northern Ohio Chapter of the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America regular
meeting to order at 1:12 PM.
ROLL CALL: Bates, Bennett, Feher, Figurella, Fitch,
Leatherberry, Marino, and Vecchio present.
Brickley, Hayes, Robinson, Kolcun, and Willmott
Absent
Vice President Fitch moved to accept the minutes
from the July 14, 2015, regular meeting with
corrections. Industrial Representative Bennett
seconded. Motion passed
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Budget & Finance - Chapter Administrator Feher
reported that there was currently $6,876.31 in the
checking account, $38,324.85 in the scholarship &
research account, $27,792.26 in the money market
account, $3,873.79 in the 100th Anniversary
account and $477.96 in the Pay Pal Account. The
Profit & Loss for 2015 through July 13 shows Net
Income/Loss of $15,481.53.
Program & Education – No Report.
Editorial – Chapter Administrator Feher reported
the August/September Issue needs to out.
President Figurella will get Feher a Back in the Day
article and his President’s message.
Golf & Tournament – Vice President Fitch reported
the Ohio Cup is on September 23 at Westfield. He
still needs to contact the other chapters.
August 4, 2015
Industrial Relations- Industrial Representative
Marino discussed Vendor Day. Feher will send out
vendor letter tonight.
Assistant Relations – No Report
Employment Relations – David Hershey moved
from Highland Golf Course to Tanglewood Country
Club. Tim Hughes is now with Helena Chemical.
Mal McLaren Award – No Report
Scholarship & Research – We will award the Legacy
Scholarship Applications at the Annual Meeting.
Government & Environmental Relations – No
Report.
Website – We are close to completing.
Bylaws & Ethics – No Report
Advertising – No Report
OLD BUSINESS
BOSS Event – Vecchio & Marino will do one at
Delaney’s in September.
NEW BUSINESS
Chapter Administrator Feher presented the
following applications for membership:
Jon Schoenmaker Millstone Golf & Turf
AFF
continued on page 9
Membership & Welcoming – No Report
Social – 35 people came and 25 people camped at
Friends and Family Picnic at Clays Park.
Strategic Planning – No Report
Historical & Benevolent – No Report
Public Relations – Industrial Representative Brian
Bates will contact Camp Cheerful.
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Chapter Administrator Feher presented the
following members for reinstatement:
None
Chapter Administrator Feher presented the
following members for reclassification:
None
Industrial Representative Marino motioned to
approve the above members for membership. Vice
President Fitch seconded. Motion passed.
President Figurella reported that Lake Erie Golf Cars
donated the gifts for the Kids Picnic this year.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for September
17, 2015 at 8:00 AM at Ridge Top Golf Course
The Board Meeting was adjourned at 2:20 PM.
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Join us for everything under the sun!
Make plans to join us in San Diego February 6-11,
2016. This event promises to provide you with the
knowledge and tools necessary to meet all of the
challenges you face on your course with
confidence. We will continue sending these
newsletters on a monthly basis to keep you
informed on the latest Golf Industry Show news,
special events, and much more!
Housing opens Oct. 1
OnPeak (formerly Travel Planners) is the official
housing agency of the Golf Industry Show. Only
through OnPeak will you receive benefits like the
lowest guaranteed rates, free booking and more!
Visit our hotel and travel page to search for your
accommodation and transportation needs.
Here's what's new
• Trade Show Stage – home of GCSAA.tv Live,
presented by Lebanon Turf, the Trade Show
stage will feature a number of guests,
discussions and demonstrations across a variety
of topics that you won't want to miss! More
details to come this fall!
Hunter Industries. A global leader in irrigation
technology, Hunter's U.S. headquarters is
located in San Marcos, Calif., just northwest of
San Diego. On this eight-hour field trip,
attendees will get education on a variety of
irrigation topics and see first-hand the latest
irrigation technology in action.
Meet me in San Diego
Created by the San Diego Convention Center, our
micro-site is your one-stop-shop for everything
related to San Diego. Here you'll find helpful
information about public transportation,
restaurant recommendations, coupons for
exclusive deals and much more! Check out all that
San Diego has to offer through this helpful site.
Thanking exhibitors in San Diego
When meeting with exhibitors on the trade show
floor, be sure to thank them for their time and
effort. Months of planning and preparation went
into making their attendance in San Diego possible
and showing your appreciation for them makes it
all worth it!
Connect and Plan
• The Dr. Is In – don't miss the opportunity to
meet with industry experts to share your
challenges and discuss new ideas at your
course. Tables will be hosted by Ph. D.'s who
will share their expertise in this informal setting.
These one-on-ones provide access to first-class
experts. More details to come this fall!
• Hunter Learning Tour – get out of the
convention center get onsite education at
Trade Show
Feb. 10-11, 2016
Education Conferences
Feb. 8-11, 2016
GCSAA Golf Championships
Feb. 6-8, 2016
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On September 3, 2015, The Northern Ohio Chapter of
the Golf Course Superintendent’s Association of
America held its 5th induction ceremony! This year’s
inductees were Frank Ermer and Lou Greco.
Louis M. Greco
Retired Golf Course
Superintendent –
Squaw Creek Country
Club. Lou started
working at Squaw Creek
in1954 as a laborer and
took over as Supt. in
1962. Retired from
Squaw Creek in 2004. That’s right 50 years of service
at the same club. While at Squaw Creek he hosted
eight LPGA tour events. Lou sat on the Board and
served as President of NOGCSA and OTF. Awards
received, NOGCSA Mal McLaren Award 1993,
Professional Excellence Award OTF 1978. Community
Service – Served as President and on The Board of
Directors for many different organizations.
Frank W. Ermer Feb.
8, 1894 – May 28, 1970
Frank became a Head
Greenkeeper in 1925 at
Ridgewood Golf Club.
His first job on a golf
course was mowing
fairways with a horse
drawn cutting unit in
1915. Frank was one of the Founding Fathers of the
Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of America and
the Northern Ohio Golf Course Superintendents
Assoc. Both associations were known by different
names then, National Greenskeeper Assoc. of
America and Cleveland District Golf Assoc. From
1928 -1933 Frank was Secretary/Treasurer and in
1933 President of Cleveland District Golf Assoc. In
1939 Frank was President of the National
Greenskeepers Assoc. of America.
Thank you to the Hall of Committee for their
continued dedication and hard work!
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This year instead of hosting a clambake for our
annual scholarship & research outing the NOGCSA
Board chose to do a pig roast. The food, weather and
course were great for this wonderful event!
Winners for the day were:
1st Place – Team Peck – 53
2nd Place – Team Burkett - 60
3rd Place – Team Happ - 63
Skins:
Team Bursan – Hole #15
Team Lamp – Hole #3
Team Burkett – Hole #18
– HOLE IN ONE!!!
Congratulations to Mike O’Donnell on his Hole In One
on Hole #18! This was Mike’s 2nd hole in one and
both hole in ones have been at an NOGCSA event!!
50/50 Winner – Bob Brown
Thank you to all our hole sponsors and attendees for
your continued support. We also collected food and
raised $185 for the Our Community Hunger Center.
Hole #1 – Short Drive – Dave Deardon
Hole #2 – Closest to Pin (A Flight) – Gregg Bobbs
Hole # 6 – Closest to Pin (B Flight) - Dick Lamp
Hole #9 – Accuracy Drive – Don Meintel
Hole #12 – Longest Drive – Ben Imhoff
Hole #15 – Closest to Pin (A Flight) – Valley View GC
Hole #18 – Closest to Pin (B Flight) – Mike O’Donnell
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What is crystalline silica?
Crystalline silica is a basic component of soil,
sand, granite, and many other minerals. Quartz is
the most common form of crystalline silica.
Cristobalite and tridymite are two other forms of
crystalline silica. All three forms may become
respirable size particles when workers chip, cut,
drill, or grind objects that contain crystalline silica.
What are the hazards
of crystalline silica?
Silica exposure remains a serious threat to
nearly 2 millionU.S. workers, includingmore than
100,000 workers in highriskjobs such as abrasive
blasting, foundrywork, stonecutting, rock drilling,
quarrywork and tunneling. The seriousness of the
health hazards associated with silica exposure is
demonstrated by the fatalities and disabling
illnesses that continue to occur in sandblasters and
rockdrillers. Crystalline silica has been classified as
a human lung carcinogen. Additionally, breathing
crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis, which in
severe cases can be disabling, or even fatal.
The respirable silica dust enters the lungs and
causes the formation of scar tissue, thus reducing
the lungs’ ability to take in oxygen. There is no
curefor silicosis. Sincesilicosisaffectslungfunction, it
makes one more susceptible to lung infections like
tuberculosis. In addition, smoking causes lung
damage and adds to the damage caused by
breathing silica dust.
What are the symptoms of silicosis?
Silicosis is classified into three types: chronic
/classic, accelerated, and acute.
Chronic/classic silicosis, the most common,
occurs after 15–20 years of moderate to low
exposuresto respirablecrystallinesilica. Symptoms
associated withchronic silicosismay or maynot be
obvious; therefore, workers need to have a chest xray to determine if there is lung damage. As the
disease progresses, the worker may experience
shortness ofbreathupon exercisingand haveclinical
signs of poor oxygen/carbon dioxide exchange.
In the later stages, the worker may experience
fatigue, extreme shortness of breath, chest pain, or
respiratoryfailure.
Accelerated silicosis can occur after 5–10
years of high exposures to respirable crystalline
silica. Symptoms include severe shortness of
breath, weakness, and weight loss. The onset of
symptoms takes longer than in acute silicosis.
Acute silicosis occurs after a few months or as
long as 2 years following exposures to extremely
high concentrations of respirable crystalline silica.
Symptoms of acute silicosis include severe
disabling shortness of breath, weakness, and
weight loss, which often leads to death.
Where are construction workers
exposed to crystalline silica?
Exposure occurs during many different construction
activities. The most severe exposures generally occur
during abrasive blastingwith sand to remove paint and
rust from bridges, tanks, concrete structures, and other
surfaces. Other construction activities that may result in
severe exposure include: jack hammering, rock/well
drilling, concrete mixing, concrete drilling, brick and
concrete block cutting and sawing, tuck pointing,
tunnelingoperations.
Where are general industry
employees exposed to crystalline
silica dust?
The most severe exposures to crystalline silica
resultfrom abrasive blasting,whichis done to clean and
smooth irregularities from molds, jewelry, and foundry
castings, finish tombstones, etch or frost glass, or
remove paint, oils, rust, or dirt form objects needing to
be repainted or treated. Other exposures to silica dust
occur in cement and brick manufacturing, asphalt
pavement manufacturing, china and ceramic
manufacturing and the tool and die, steel and foundry
industries. Crystalline silica is used in manufacturing,
household abrasives, adhesives, paints, soaps, and
glass. Additionally, crystallinesilicaexposures occurin
themaintenance, repair and replacement of refractory
brick furnace linings.
In the maritime industry, shipyard employees are
exposed to silica primarily in abrasive blasting
operations to remove paint and clean and prepare
steel hulls, bulkheads, decks, and tanks for paints
and coatings.
How is OSHA addressing
exposure to crystalline silica?
OSHA has an established Permissible Exposure
Limit, or PEL, which is the maximumamount of
crystalline silica to whichworkers may be exposed
during an 8-hour work shift (29 CFR 1926 .55, 1910
.1000). OSHA also requires hazard
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communication trainingfor workers exposed to
crystalline silica, and requires a respirator
protection program until engineering controls are
implemented. Additionally, OSHA has a National
Emphasis Program (NEP) for Crystalline Silica exposure
to identify, reduce, and eliminate health hazards
associated with occupational exposures.
What can employers/employees do
to protect against exposures to
crystalline silica?
■ Replace crystalline silica materials with safer
substitutes, whenever possible.
■
Provide engineering or administrative controls, where
feasible, such as local exhaustventilation, and blasting
cabinets. Wherenecessary to reduce exposures below
the PEL, use protective equipment or other
protective measures.
■
Use all available work practices to control dust
exposures, such as water sprays.
■
Wear only a N95 NIOSH certified respirator, if
respirator protection is required. Do not alter the
respirator. Do not wear a tight-fittingrespiratorwith
a beard or mustache that prevents a good seal
between the respirator and the face.
your hands and face outside of dusty areas before
performing any of these activities
How can I get more information on
safety and health?
OSHA has various publications, standards,
technical assistance, and compliance tools to help you,
and offers extensive assistance through workplace
consultation, voluntaryprotection programs, strategic
partnerships, alliances, state plans, grants, training,
and education. OSHA’s Safety and Health Program
Management Guidelines (Federal Register 54:39043916, January 26, 1989) detail elements critical to
the development of a successful safety and health
management system. This and other information are
available on OSHA’s website.
■
■
Wear only a Type CE abrasive-blast supplied-air
respirator for abrasive blasting.
■
Wear disposable or washable work clothes and
shower if facilities are available. Vacuum the dust
fromyour clothes or change into clean clothing
before leaving the work site.
■
Participate in training, exposure monitoring, and
health screening and surveillance programs to
monitor any adverse health effects caused by
crystalline silica exposures.
■
■
■
■
Be aware ofthe operations and job tasks creating
crystalline silica exposures in your workplace
environment and know how to protect yourself.
■
Be aware of the health hazards related to exposures
to crystalline silica. Smoking adds to the lung
damage caused by silica exposures.
■
Do not eat, drink, smoke, or apply cosmetics in
areas where crystalline silica dust is present. Wash
For one free copy of OSHA publications, send
a self-addressed mailing label to OSHA
Publications Office, 200 ConstitutionAvenue
N.W., N-3101 , Washington, DC 20210 ; or
send a request to our fax at (202) 693 – 2498 , or
call us toll-free at (800) 321–OSHA.
Toorder OSHA publications online at
www.osha.gov, go to Publications and
followthe instructions for ordering.
Tofile a complaint by phone, report an
emergency, or get OSHA advice, assistance, or
products, contact your nearest OSHA office
under the U.S. Department of Labor listing in
your phone book, or call toll-free at (800 )
321 – OSHA (6742 ). The teletypewriter
(TTY) number is (877) 889– 5627 .
To file a complaint online or obtain more
information on OSHA federal and state
programs, visit OSHA’s website.
This is one in a series of informational fact
sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies, or
standards. It does not impose any new
compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of
compliance requirements of OSHA standards or
regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal
Regulations. This informationwillbe made available to
sensory-impaired individuals upon request. The voice
phone is (202) 693 – 1999.
See also OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
This is one in a series of informational fact sheets highlighting OSHA programs, policies, or standards. It does not impose
any new compliance requirements. For a comprehensive list of compliance requirements of OSHA standards or
regulations, refer to Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This information will be made available to sensoryimpaired individuals upon request. The voice phone is (202) 693 –1999 . See also OSHA’s website at www.osha.gov.
22
2015 Advertiser Directory
Arms Trucking
Brian Bates
800.362.1343
Harrell’s Turf Specialty
Glenn Omori
440.439.1393
Baker Vehicle Systems
Harland Baker, Rick Baker,
Kevin Kroll, Lenny Marino
330.467.2250
H & S Stump Removal
Jack Hopkins
330.654.2347
Lake Erie Golf Cars*
Tony Cisterino
216.763.2090
BAYER *
Rob Pyler
248.300.2638
Perk Air
Bob Doty
330.296.7307
BASF Corporation
Gerald Husemann
937.604.5617
Century Equipment
John Mowat - Ron Smolik –
Matt Weber – Matt Welch
800.522.8676
Shearer Golf
805-GOLF-909
South East Golf Car Co.
888.684.4653
Walker Supply
Mike Sekula - Bill Walker
800.792.5537
* denotes new advertiser
Remember to thank our
advertisers for supporting
you!
Precision Golf Construction
Mike O’Donnell
440.285.2117
NOGCSA
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.nogcsa.com
1106 Royce St. NW
Uniontown, OH 44685
(216)469-9287
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