THE

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CONNECTICUT 
ASSOCIATION OF 
GOLF COURSE 
SUPERINTENDENTS]

s.

APRIL 1972

BOB OSTERMAN 

NEW CONN. CLIPPINGS

EDITOR

Robert W. Osterman has recently been 
appointed editor of the Conn. Clippings 
by Robert Viera, President of the Con­
necticut Association of Golf Course 
Superintendents. He succeeds retiring 
editor Charles Baskin, who started the 
newsletter and served as its editor for 
four years.

Bob is the golf course superintendent 
at the Golf Club at Aspetuck in Easton, 
Conn. Bob came to the Golf Club at 
Aspetuck in 1966 during the construction 
of the golf course. The course was opened 
for play in 1968. In October 1969, he 
was named golf course superintendent.

Bob attended the 1968 University of 
Massachusetts Turfmanagement Winter 
School where he was president of his 
class.

Prior to coming to Aspetuck, Bob had 
spent four years in the Navy as a meteor­
ologist but he still cannot predict the 
weather.

Bob and his wife, Beverly, have three 
boys: Keith, Kenneth and Kurt. Their 
ages range from 8 years to 9 months old.
"Involvement” is part of Bob’s life as 
he is very active in his community. He is 
secretary of the Easton Park and Recrea­
tion Committee, a member of the Demo­
cratic Town Committee and a coach in 
Easton’s Little League program.

Bob has progressed very rapidly in 
learning and developing his skills as a 
golfer. As an example, last June at the 
Willimantic Country Club while in his 
second year of playing golf, he shot a 
hole in one.

C. G. B.

VOL. 5 NO. 1

GCSAA CONFERENCE

THE GRASS CATCHER

A record-breaking registration of over 
4000 was announced at the 43rd Inter­
national Turfgrass Conference and Show 
which was held February 13-18, 1972, in 
Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sponsored by the Golf Course Super­
intendents Association of America 
(GCSAA), the Conference drew well 
over the previous high of golf course 
superintendents who attended the 1970 
Houston Meeting.

Highlight of the Conference was 
crusader Ralph Nader, who headed more 
than 50 speakers qualified to speak on 
ecology, fine turfgrass, the financial impact 
of golf courses on municipalities and 
many other topics of interest to the golfer 
and nongolfer.

Richard C. Blake, GCSAA president 
emeritus, stated that this year’s Conference 
was the most significant yet, in view of 
the unusually difficult turf maintenance 
problems experienced in almost every 
section of the country throughout the 
1971 season. The care and cultivation of 
golf courses is a highly technical operation 
and is considered by the experts to be the 
most sophisticated form of agriculture.

In addition to the educational portion 
of the meeting, there was a huge exhibit 
of the latest equipment and services avail­
able for golf courses. Displays of equip­
ment, supplies and services offered by over 
150 leading firms of the golf industry 
utilized some 40,000 feet of exhibit space 
at the Convention-Exposition Center.

During the conference, the golf course 
superintendents were able to speak face- 
to-face with manufacturers’ representa­
tives, and in many cases with the design­
ers and engineers of the equipment.

By Robert Osterman

An educational tour of Hawaii was 
taken this past February by Joe and Helen 
Bidwell, Dave and Carol Stimson and 
Bob and Betty Viera. During their seven 
day visit they spent a lot of time studying 
the sand and water at various beaches on 
the island.

Women’s lib is being heard again. One 
of Connecticut’s better known golf 
courses has granted women equal rights 
on the golf course. At this course, men 
will not be given preferential treatment 
in obtaining starting times — even on 
weekends.

Lee Kowalski from the Country Club 
of Fairfield has been named to the 
Quarter Century Club of the Golf Course 
Superintendents Association of America. 
Lee achieved this distinction through his 
many years of loyal support of GCSAA 
and his dedication to the profession of 
golf course superintendency.

There are many qualified men coming 
out of our turf schools who are looking 
for work as assistant golf course superin­
tendents. They have work experience on 
golf courses and their educational back­
ground varies from completing an eight 
week course in turfmanagement to re­
ceiving a Master of Science Degree in 
Agronomy and Turfmanagement. For 
further information, please contact Dave 
Stimson, Employment Chairman.

Charlie Baskin, past president of our 
association, was recenty appointed Secre­
tary-Treasurer of the Golf Course Super­
intendents Association of America.

The latest Harris, Kerr, Forster & Co. 
statistical review of 150 city and country

(continued on page 4)

CHARLES TRAVERSE DAY

On Monday, April 10, 1972 at the 
Country Club of Fairfield, the Connecti­
cut Association of Golf Course Superin­
tendents will honor one of its outstanding 
members, Charles Traverse.

Charlie was the golf course superin­
tendent at the Mill River Country Club 
for over 40 years until his retirement in 
1962. The development of the Mill River 
Country Club over those years is a direct 
reflection of Charlie’s skills in managing 
the maintenance of the golf course.

Charlie also has served the game of 
golf and his fellow superintendents 
through his efforts with the Connecticut 
Association of Golf Course Superin­
tendents. In 1936, Charlie was elected 
Secretary-Treasurer of the association. He 
held both offices through 1965 for a total 
of 29 years. He continued on as Trea­
surer until last November. Charlie’s 
leadership and devotion has played an 
important part in the growth of the 
association.

CONNECTICUT'S TURFGRASS 

SHORT COURSE

Through the joint efforts of the Conn. 
Association of Golf Course Superinten­
dents, University of Connecticut Coopera­
tive Extension Service and the University 
of Connecticut, Plant Science Department, 
a Turfgrass Short Course was held at the 
University of Connecticut. The two day 
short course was a complete success from 
the viewpoints of the participants and the 
three sponsoring groups. Enrollment was 
limited to 50 persons. A waiting list of 
over 30 persons developed as the enroll­
ment of 50 was quickly obtained.

The course was designed for anyone 
interested in professional turf production. 
There was a good cross-section between 
superintendents and golf course workers.
John Perry, superintendent at the Coun­
try Club of Farmington, was on the pro­
gram and covered the fundamentals of 
turfgrass fertilizer applications.

Based upon the first year’s success, plans 
are now underway to continue with the 
Turfgrass Short Course next year.

INSECTICIDE MAY LEAD 

TO GYPSY MOTH CONTROL

A newly developed insecticide, bacillus 
thuringiensis (BT), has been selected by 
the State Department of Environmental 
Protection as the best way of controlling 
gypsy moth and elm span worm.

— 0

The insecticide, available commercially 
as Dipel, Biotrol and Thuricide, will halt 
feeding within two hours and kill the 
pests in three to five days, according to 
the department.

Commissioner Dan W. Lufkin said BT 
will do little damage to the environment 
and nature’s control of gypsy moth and 
elm span worm.

Many pesticides used in Connecticut 
have raised havoc with the balance of 
nature, killing birds, bees and the natural 
enemies of the pests, as well as the pests 
themselves. BT affects the digestive sys­
tem of the moth and worm, but allows 
them to linger on as a food source for 
predators and parasites.

Natural enemies of the gypsy moth 
are grackles and cukoos, white-footed 
mice, short-tailed shrews, calosoma beetles, 
sucking bugs and a wilt disease known 
as Polyhedrosis.

Lufkin said it is important to apply BT 
at the proper time. He suggests the in­
secticide be applied early in the spring, 
or between the first and third weeks of 
May, so it will attack the moths and 
worms in their early stages. A second 
application should be made about 14 days 
later, if reinfestation occurs or rain washes 
off the first application.

Noting that the light-weight cater­
pillars can be blown over a wide area 
by the wind, Lufkin suggests that trees 
within 100 feet of an infested area also 
be treated with BT.

The gypsy moth can be eliminated in 
its egg stages by applying creosote to egg 
masses which resemble an inch-long piece 
of tan chamosis cloth and are usually 
found on the bark of trees, the underside 
of limbs and fallen branches and the 
underside of rocks in stone walks.

Gypsy moths prefer foliage on apple, 
aspen, birch, linden, oak and willow trees. 
Evergreens will be attacked only if other 
preferred foods are exhausted. Ash, lo­
cust, tulip, poplar and dogwood are rela­
tively immune to attack.

LET ME GIVE YOU 

THE PICTURE

Truly effective communication, down 
and up, senior to junior and junior to 
senior, can improve the efficiency of ad­
ministration in business.

To that end, here is a list of handy 
expressions — and their translations —• 
which may be helpful to those of the 
new crop of people who have not en­
countered before the language of manage­
ment in such pure clarity:

IT’S IN PROCESS — So wrapped up in 
red tape that the situation is almost hope­
less.
WE WILL LOOK INTO IT — By the 
time the wheel makes a full turn, we 
assume you too will have forgotten about 
it.
A PROGRAM — Any assignment that 
can’t be completed by a phone call. 
EXPEDITE — To compound confusion 
with commotion.
CHANNELS — The trail left by inter­
office memos.
CO-ORDINATOR — The guy who has a 
desk between two-expeditors.
TO ACTIVATE — Make carbons and 
add more names to the memo.
TO IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM — 
Hire more people and expand the office. 
UNDER ACTIVE CONSIDERATION 
We’re looking in the files for it. 
UNDER CONSIDERATION — Never 
heard of it before.
A MEETING — Mass milling about by 
masterminds.
A CONFERENCE — A place where 
conversation is substituted for the dreari­
ness of labor and the loneliness of 
thought.
NEGOTIATION — A meeting of minds 
without knocking of heads. 
REORIENTATION — Getting used to 
working again.
RELIABLE SOURCE — The guy you 
just met.
INFORMED SOURCE — The guy who 
told the guy you just met. 
UNIMPEACHABLE SOURCE — The 
guy who started the rumor. 
CLARIFICATION — To fill in the back­
ground with so many details that the 
foreground goes underground.
WE ARE MAKING A SURVEY — 
We need more time to think of an 
answer.
TO NOTE AND INITIAL — Let’s spread 
the responsibility for this.
SEE ME OR LET’S DISCUSS IT — 
Come down to my office. I’m lonesome. 
LET’S GET TOGETHER ON THIS — 
I’m assuming that you’re confused as I am. 
GIVE US THE BENEFIT OF YOUR 
PRESENT THINKING — We’ll listen 
to what you have to say as long as it 
doesn’t interfere with what we’ve already 
decided.
WILL ADVISE YOU IN DUE COURSE 
If we figure out what we’re doing, we’ll 
let you know.
TO GIVE SOMEONE THE PICTURE— 
A long, confused and inaccurate statement 
to a newcomer.

FROM:

DAILY COMMERCIAL NEWS 

and

THE GREENMASTER 
Official Publication of the 

Canadian Golf Course 

Superintendents Association

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION 

OF GOLF COURSE 
SUPERINTENDENTS

President..................
Vice President........
Secretary ..................
Treasurer.................

.......... Robert Viera
.....Frank Lamphier
........David Stimson
.. James MacDonald

Board of Directors
Roger Barrett 
Gary Bryant 
William Dest

Charles

John Lynch 
Harry Meusel 
Robert Tosh

Baskin

The object of this association is to pro­
mote research, education and an exchange 
of practical experiences in the field of 
turf grass culture so that the increased 
knowledge will lead to more economic 
and efficient management of golf courses 
and related turf areas.

The CONN CLIPPINGS is an official 
publication of the Connecticut Association 
of Golf Course Superintendents.
Robert W. Osterman, Editor
937 Black Rock Turnpike
Easton, Conn. 06612

MEMBERSHIP 

HANDICAPS FOR THE 

1972 SEASON

(figured on the USGA slide rule system) 

FLIGHT "A"

Anderson, Ed ....................................... 15
Barrett, Roger ..................................... 6
Bedus, Ed .............................................  6
Barry, B.................................................. 8
Bianowitz, Bob ................................... 13
Bonner, Steve....................................... 13
Bryant, Gary ....................................... 14
Chaney, John ....................................... 8
Cipriano, John ..................................... 9
Cook, Dick...........................................  10
Coste, Pierre ....................................... 11
Dinwoodie, A........................................ 15
Dolan, J.................................................  8
Dziedzie, Louie ................................... 11
Fenn, Francis ....................................... 8
Furgess, Bert ....................................... 12
Goodwin, D........................................... 14
Gorton, George ................................... 14
Grywalski, Tom ................................... 11
Guttay, Bob .........................................  15
Kowalski, Ben ..................................... 7
Kowalski, Lee ..................................... 7
Kristof, Steve ..................................... 12
Lamphier, Frank ................................. 3
Lowell, Walt ....................................... 0
Mierzwa, Max ..................................... 14
O’Conner, Pat ..................................... 15

— 2

Ovian, Karnig .....................................
Ovian, Kay .........................................
Ovian, Mike .........................................
Parsons, Dick.......................................
Perry, John...........................................
Polidor, Tod .......................................
Rodgers, Fran .....................................
Roule, Dave .........................................
Ryan, Maurice .....................................
Scully, Ray ...........................................
Scully, Robert .....................................
Thompson, Felix ................................
Viera, Robert .......................................
Warner, W............................................
Whalen, Dick .....................................
Wiget, Floyd .......................................
Witkowski, R........................................
Zwolac, J...............................................

10
7
12
15
12
15
15
8
7
8
10
7
9
8
15
10
5
13

FLIGHT "B"

Bachand, I.............................................
Barrett, P...............................................
Baskin, Charles ...................................
Bator, Richard .....................................
Bidwell, Joe .........................................
Chalifour, Bob .....................................
Christie, George ................................
Dest, William .....................................
Hawkins, AI .......................................
Kelliher, Kenneth ..............................
Knoblock, Carl ...................................
Ladzinski, Paul ...................................
Lindenmuth, H. T................................
Lynch, John .........................................
McDonald, Jim ...................................
Meusel, Harry .....................................
Osterman, Bob ...................................
Silva, Robert .......................................
Stimson, Dave .....................................
Suchinski, Hank...................................
Tosh, Robert .......................................
Whitley, B.............................................
Wiacek, Ed .........................................
Wydra, Adam .....................................
Wydra, John .......................................
Zenisky, Edward ................................

28
17
16
16
22
22
21
20
24
36
20
21
20
30 
24 
22 
21
17 
22 
16
18
23 
21
24 
18
31

SENIORS FLIGHT

Jenkins, Chet .......................................
Lentine, Andy .....................................
Russell, Lloyd .....................................
Sherman, Henry...................................

28
20
30
15

ASSOCIATES FLIGHT

Arison, A1 ...........................................
Callahan, John .....................................
Carson, Purdy .....................................
Colt, John ...........................................
Downey, Frank ...................................
Kennedy, Robert ................................
Purdy, AI .............................................
Sanson, Edward ...................................
Scally, Thomas .....................................
Somers, William .................................
Terhune, Sid .......................................
Ryiz, Paul ...........................................
Wallace, Carl .....................................

20
24
16
16
12
9
30 
17 
28 
12 
23 
10
31

CONN. ASSOC. OF 
GOLF COURSE SUPT. 
MEETING SCHEDULE

APRIL 10, 1972 - Monday 
Country Club of Fairfield 
Fairfield, Conn.
Host: Leon Kowalski 
"Charlie Traverse Day”

MAY 18, 1972 - Thursday 
Country Club of Darien 
Darien, Conn.
Host: Vernon Burnham
JUNE 6, 1972 - Tuesday 

The Farms Country Club 
Wallingford, Conn.
Host: Lyle Mitchell 
Speaker: Dr. Joseph Troll

University of Mass.

FOR THE COMPLETE 
ORGANIC PROGRAM

Scientists at the Pittsburgh Energy 
Research Center of the U. S. Bureau of 
Mines have devised a means of convert­
ing animal manure to fuel by heating it 
under pressure with carbon monoxide to 
produce oil. Three barrels of oil can be 
produced from a ton of dry manure.

One researcher noted, "if all animal 
wastes could be collected and converted 
to oil, it would satisfy about half of this 
country’s oil needs, or about 2.45 billion 
barrels of oil annually. In effect, it’s a 
way to harness the sun’s energy in an 
economical manner.”

Another scheme for using animal 
wastes has been developed in Devonshire, 
England, where automative fuel has been 
processed from chicken and pig manure, 
although any organic waste will suffice.
The fresh manure is composted briefly 
and placed in a digester where methane 
gas is generated by bacterial action. To 
complete the process, a simple gas con­
verter has been devised by Harold Bate, 
Devonshire, which will feed methane into 
the carburetor of a car. Total installation 
cost of the converter is less than $100.
Besides solving the animal waste dis­
posal problem, the manure-powered car 
contributes to cleaner air; methane gas 
affords nearly complete combustion — 
about 97 % — while gas only gives about 
Tl°/o combustion with the remaining un­
burned fuel being emitted in the car’s 
exhaust.

In addition, the manure-powered vehi­
cle is efficient and inexpensive to run. 
Bate estimates the equivalent of one 
gallon of premium gasoline costs 3« and 
causes very little wear on the car.

GCSAA ANNOUNCES 

BOSTON FOR 73

The Golf Course Superintendents Asso­
ciation of America announced that Boston, 
Massachusetts has been selected as the 
site for the 44th International Turfgrass 
Conference and Show. The dates of the 
Conference will be January 7-12, 1973 
and Sheraton-Boston Hotel will serve as 
the association’s headquarters.

“The Conference this year has been the 
best ever both in terms of our meaningful 
educational program and the broad and 
extensive display of equipment and pro­
ducts at our show. We expect the Con­
ference and attendance in Boston to even 
exceed the response in Cincinnati,” stated 
newly elected GCSAA president Robert 
V. Mitchell, who is superintendent of 
Portage CC, Akron, Ohio.

THE GRASS CATCHER
(continued from page 1)

clubs shows that the industry apparently 
joined other segments of the national 
economy in falling victim to the inflation­
ary spiral.

The figures from clubs — 75 city and 
75 country — with fiscal years ending 
through June 30, 1971, indicate that al­
though revenue and dues income showed 
nominal gains over last year, the increase 
in total operating costs and expenses 
proved far greater.

The impact of inflation and its re­
sultant decrease in the purchasing power 
of the dollar has been the major contri­
buting factor in increasing the costs of

CONN CLIPPINGS
Robert Osterman, editor 
937 Black Rock Turnpike 
Easton, Conn. 06612

— 4 —

operating a city club by 45 per cent and 
a country club by 66 per cent in the last 
15 years, according to the national 
accounting firm.

The greatest increase in expenses has 
been for payroll and related costs ■— 
up 59 per cent in city clubs and 85 per 
cent in country clubs. All other operating 
costs advanced 31 per cent in city clubs 
and 49 per cent in country clubs during 
the 15-year period.

WANTED - GOLF COURSE 

SUPERINTENDENTS

There are two semi-private, 18 hole 
country clubs in Connecticut that are 
seeking golf course superintendetns. 
Numerous other job opportunities are still 
available outside Connecticut. For further 
information, contact Dave Stimson, Em­
ployment Chairman.

THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE 

SUPPORT OF THE CONN. CLIPPINGS:

Alfco Rokeby Co., Inc.
Marietta, Ohio
Frank Downey, CAGCS member 
(413) 596-3009
William Dest, CAGCS member 
Stolens - C-l, Arlington

C-19, Congressional

246-6279
The Chas. C. Hart Company 
Wethersfield, Conn.
Robert Kennedy, CAGCS member 
529-2537
Irrigation and Equipment Supply Co. 
Milford, Conn.
Richard Hosking, CAGCS member 
Richard Smith, CAGCS member 
874-1096
Tom Irwin Co.
Rowley, Mass.
John P. Callahan, CAGCS member 
677-7054
C.  M. Jenkins Co.
South Glastonbury, Conn.
Chet Jenkins, CAGCS member 
633-1256

The Magovern Company 
Windsor Locks, Conn.
John Colt, CAGCS member 
Lloyd Russell, CAGCS member 
Curtis Stimson, CAGCS member 
623-2508
Old Fox Chemical Company 
Hazardville, Conn.
John Grant, CAGCS member 
749-8339

O M Scott & Sons
Marysville, Ohio
A1 Arison, CAGCS member 
336-9890

Somers Turf Supplies 
Orange, Conn.
Bill Somers, CAGCS member 
795-4320

Turf Products Corp.
East Windsor, Conn.
Ed Swanson, CAGCS member 
Alfred Purdy, CAGCS member 
800 - 842-7333

FIRST CLASS

Mr. W. R. Somers 
208 Nan Drive 
Orange, Conn. 0647?