Seventh Annual Joseph Troll Turf Classic

2010 Honoree Donald Hearn, CGCS

Fenway Golf Club*
Scarsdale, New York

September 27, 2010

Hosted by Robert Alonzi Jr.
Class of 1995

PROGRAM

11:00 am
Registration and Lunch

12:30 pm
Shotgun

Cocktail Reception Immediately Following Golf
Dress: Golf Attire

6:00 pm
Dinner and Ceremony

General Information

Singles will be accommodated: We will find a foursome for you!

Caddie fee included, a tip of $20 per bag is recommended

Field limited to 120 Players

GPS driving address is 384 Old Mamaroneck Road, White Plains, NY

2010 Alumni Turf Group Raffle Ticket Brochure

2010 Alumni Turf Group Raffle Form

2010 Seventh Annual Joseph Troll Turf Classic Entry Brochure Here

Click Here for Fenway Golf Club Information, Hotels, & Directions

Special thanks to the premier sponsor of the last six years:

UMASS Turf Pathology Battles Dollar Spot

Bring on the dollar spot.  Who said that? It must have been a pathologist.  To others, it might seem a strange thing to say, but when you are taking a multi-faceted, counter-offensive approach to the most prevalent and economically important turfgrass disease in North America, it is easy to get excited about dollar spot.  Under the direction of Dr. Geunhwa Jung, the UMASS Turf Pathology and Breeding Lab is employing a steady offensive attack against this notoriously persistent fungus.  Their arsenal includes and is not limited to fungicide resistance assays, diagnostic site visits, nanotechnology for pathogen suppression, use of population genetics for comprehensive disease management, DNA fingerprinting, molecular breeding, and fungicide field trials all in an effort to put dollar spot on the defense.  What does it all mean? It means that whether in the lab, the research plots at the Joseph Troll Research Center, or on a golf course; the UMASS team is dedicated to using the latest technology and innovations in science in order to generate information and that makes everyone’s job a little bit easier.  Here are a few examples of how they are gaining ground on dollar spot:

1) Read about the continuing efforts of James Popko’08 ('10, Master Student) and Chang Ho Ok (PostDoc Researcher) as they unravel the mystery of fungicide resistance in dollar spot populations throughout MA and CT in the publication: 'Managing Dollar Spot with Resistance to DMI Fungicides'

2) This summer, a field experiment will be conducted to examine the field efficacy of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) in providing dollar spot disease control and to examine the possibility of DMI resistant isolates being selected.  In vitro laboratory studies conducted on the effects of PGRs on dollar spot concluded that paclobutrazol and flurprimidol exhibit a fungistatic effect on dollar spot similar to that of DMI fungicides (i.e. growth inhibition under controlled conditions).  Due to this fungistatic effect on dollar spot, there is a possibility that paclobutrazol and flurprimidol may influence the development of DMI resistant dollar spot populations.

3) In addition to annual fungicide field trials, there will be a fungicide trial on a golf course with confirmed dollar spot resistance to the DMI and benzimidazole classes.  The objective of this trial is to compare field efficacy of fungicides controlling dollar spot on a sensitive and resistant population to give superintendants more realistic control options for their courses.

Field Trials

As part of a leading research institution, the UMASS Turf Pathology Team is dedicated to conducting a number of field trials each year to keep abreast with current product trends and to remain a resource for field information and development.  Listed below is a short synopsis of 2010 summer trials

Brown Patch:

Fungicides and other products are being tested for their field efficacy on a colonial bentgrass fairway beginning in June when night time temperatures reach 65°F and ending in mid to late August.  Applications will be made over a two month interval depending on disease pressure and company requests.  Weekly ratings of % disease cover and phytotoxicity are being made and photographs of each plot will be taken at each rating.  The trial is taking place at the Joseph Troll Research Center in South Deerfield, MA and includes 3 replications of 3 x 6 ft plots per treatment.

Dollar Spot:

Two dollar spot field trials are taking place this year; one on a confirmed Demethylation Inhibitor (DMI) and Benzimidazole (BM) resistant population, and one on a confirmed DMI and BM sensitive population.  The objective of this trial is to test fungicide treatments and other products for field efficacy at these two sites with highly contrasting sensitivities to provide data on resistance management of dollar spot.  Applications will be made over a period of 2 months at varying intervals depending on disease pressure and company requests.  Weekly ratings of the number of infection centers and phytotoxicity are being made and photographs of each plot will be taken at each rating.  The trial is taking place at the Joseph Troll Research Center in South Deerfield, MA and at the Hartford Country Club in Hartford, CT.  It includes 3 replications of 3 x 6 ft plots per treatment.

2009-2010 Winter Trials:

Results of the 2009-2010 Snow Mold Fungicide Trials are now online, with results available as a report and as an article for the Sandblaster publication of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of Cape Cod.  These publications include data from four New England locations: Pittsfield, MA, South Deerfield, MA, Queensbury, NY, and Manchester, VT with results and management recommendations for two major snow mold pathogens: Microdochium nivale and Typhula incarnata.

What's new at the UMASS Turf Pathology and Breeding Lab?

Check out the new website! http://www.umass.edu/turfpathology

Katie Campbell-Nelson’09 is doing an outstanding job as a new research associate in the pathology lab, where she has been working with the talented web designer Ethan Gardella, to create a lab website that will contain extension articles and pertinent research information to turf industry professionals, superintendants, and to researchers alike.  The site also provides information on the following diagnostic services:

Fungicide and Product Field Trials for the turfgrass industry.

Diagnostic Site Visits

Fungicide Resistance Assays to measure levels of fungicide resistance in order to reduce financial and environmental impact of fungicide use on dollar spot.

The Alumni Turf Group (ATG) has provided partial financial support for Katie’s research coordinator position, her job is to organize field trials, update the website, respond to service requests, write and edit extension articles and expand the extension/education programs (such as turfgrass disease workshops and seminars).  “One of the primary goals of the ATG is to support, enhance and further research and education at the University of Massachusetts and this was an opportunity for us to give the research program a boost that will be substantial over the long term” said Alumni Turf Group President and Superintendent of Shuttle Meadow Country Club Steve Curry’93

-Jason Dowgiewicz ’04, ‘09MS

(and Katie Campbell-Nelson’09MS)