By Thomas Cosentino
The Tri-State Turf Research Foundation has been a steady force in advancing environmentally safe turf management practices across the Met Area since its founding in 1992. Having raised over $1 million to support research at leading universities, the foundation is vital in ensuring superintendents have the information needed to tackle industry challenges. Rich Duggan, course superintendent at the Milbrook Club in Greenwich, Conn., and current president of the foundation, has served on the foundation’s board for eight years.
The Tri-State Foundation is an organization supported by six regional associations: the Long Island Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey, the Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents, the Hudson Valley Golf Course Superintendents Association, and the Metropolitan Golf Association. Our core focus is funding environmentally safe control methods for turfgrass pests and other golf course challenges. By partnering with universities and professors, we support research that benefits both current and future superintendents. Over the past 33 years, we have raised over $1 million to support research at institutions such as Rutgers, UConn, Penn State, Cornell, UMass, and the University of Rhode Island. The ultimate goal is to develop smarter, more effective techniques to improve golf course conditions.
It’s a combination of everything. Our board of directors, which consists of about 15 representatives from these associations, assesses industry trends, surveys from donors, and current university research. We receive proposals from universities and carefully evaluate them based on their relevance to the challenges superintendents face. Once selected, we ensure the research aligns with the immediate needs of the industry, making it a valuable investment.
The biggest change has been access to information. When I started, everything came from textbooks and conversations with colleagues. Now, with technology, information is available instantly. However, our challenge is ensuring that superintendents recognize the credibility of university-backed research rather than relying on fragmented online resources. We strive to present research in a digestible format so that it remains a trusted source amid the vast sea of information.
Tri-State has historically played a role in addressing major turf issues like summer patch, annual bluegrass weevil (ABW), and Poa annua management. Universities conduct research that helps shape best management practices, from fertility levels to mowing techniques and rolling strategies. Superintendents then take these findings and fine-tune their management strategies based on their specific course conditions. The industry is full of intelligent professionals who don’t need complete overhauls, just small, research-backed adjustments to improve conditions.
Two of the biggest challenges we’ve consistently tackled are Poa annua management and summer patch disease in bluegrass. Legislative restrictions have also reduced the availability of certain management tools, making research-backed best practices even more critical. Another major challenge is an increased amount of golfer rounds. Golf has surged post-COVID, adding pressure on course conditions with increased traffic. Additionally, labor shortages are a growing concern, though we haven’t yet explored research solutions in that area.
Beyond improving communication with our network of superintendents, we are focusing on tackling turfgrass pests and diseases with fewer available resources due to legislative restrictions. Partnering with universities in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, where regulations are even stricter, will be critical in finding alternative solutions. We also recognize the need to enhance our digital presence – superintendents today are more tech-savvy, and having easy, quick access to research via media and online platforms is a priority.