The Course
Located within the ridge and valley physiographic region of central Pennsylvania, Toftrees is situated in a long narrow valley bordered by tree-covered ridges to the north and south. Like many golf courses in the area, its greens, while seeded with Penncross creeping bentgrass during construction, had become predominantly annual bluegrass (commonly called "poa"). In the past, Lou resisted the temptation to employ high-risk chemical programs intended to control the poa. But Dr. Tom Watschke's research with Prograss just down the road at Penn State captured his interest. He wondered: Would it be possible to actually convert to and maintain pure stands of bent with the aid of these new chemicals? In the fall of 1993, with Dr. Watschke's support and advice, Lou decided to experiment.