C L E P P D Kf

J*

OCTOBER, 1975

CONNECTICUT 
ASSOCIATION OF 
GOLF COURSE » W 

SUPERINTENDENTS^^—

1975-1976 SHORT COURSE 
PROGRAM COMPLETED

Initial plans have been completed 
for the first full year’s schedule of 
SIA Short Courses. Eight courses have 
been planned beginning in September, 
1975 and concluding in March, 1976.

The courses are all of a basic nature 
and participants should probably pos­
sess no more than two years experience 
in the irrigation industry to obtain 
maximum benefits from them. Each 
ree-day course will incorporate in­
struction in soil, water and plant rela­
tionships, equipment, hydraulics and 
design problems as they relate to agri­
culture or turf irrigation.
The program, announced by the 
SIA’s Director of Education, Stephen 
Showalter, includes five courses de­
voted solely to agricultural irrigation, 
two to turf irrigation and one to basic 
irrigation which will incorporate both 
agricultural and turf principles.

The 1975-1976 schedule is as fol­
lows:
September 30-October 2: Basic Prin­
ciples of Irrigation; Notre Dame, In­
diana; Chairman Austin J. Miller, 
Sprinkler Irrigation Supply Co., Royal 
Oak, Michigan.
October 21-23: Basic Turf Irrigation, 
Worcester, Massachusetts, Chairman, 
William Closter, Closter Bros., Lyn­
brook, New York.
November 18-20: Basic Agricultural 
Irrigation; Dallas, Texas; Chairman, 
Charles Putnam, Weather-Matic Div., 
Telsco Industries, Dallas, ,Texas.
December 9-11: Basic Agricultural 
Irrigation, Fresno, California; Chair­
man, William Campbell, ASC Tubing 
Tiv.’ Gifford-Hill, Visalia, California.

December 16-18: Basic Turf Irriga­
tion, Los Angeles, California; Chair­
man to be named.
January 13-15: Basic Agricultural Ir­
rigation, Logan, Utah; Chairman, Dr.

EDITORIAL

We have had a rather unfortunate 
turn of events the past months con­
cerning the “Conn. Clippings.” The 
newsletter had been turned over to a 
new editor, Joe Torok, as of July 1, 
1975. But due to events that followed, 
Joe was unable to follow through with 
the newsletter. This brought it back 
to me (for this issue only).
The Connecticut Association of Golf 
Course Superintendents has an abun­
dance of talent within its organization 
and the search was on for a new editor. 
The Board of Directors came up with 
a person who it feels is the most quali­
fied person to assume the position as 
editor of our newsletter. He is Stephen

Richard Griffin, Utah State University, 
Logan Utah.
February 10-12: Basic Agricultural 
Irrigation, Atlanta, Georgia; Chairman, 
Dr. Ronald Sneed, North Carolina State 
University, Raleigh, North Carolina.
March/April: Basic Agricultural Ir­
rigation, Alberta, Canada; Chairman 
and dates to be announced.

Enrollment Details

Brochures on each of the courses will 
be mailed to all SIA members and in­
terested non-members approximately 
three months prior to the dates of each 
individual course. Enrollment in each 
course will be limited to 75 registrants 
to allow for as much student partici­
pation as possible.
Registration fees for the courses are 
set at #125 each. The fee includes three 
luncheons and provision to each stu­
dent of a variety of text books and 
printed matter, totalling approximately 
#50.00 in value. Brochures will include 
registration forms, information on room 
reservations to be made through the 
SIA, details on cancellation of a regis­
tration and other pertinent data.

o

VOLUME 8, No. 3

Cadenelli, Superintendent at the Pe- 
quot Golf Club in Stonington, Conn. 
Steve is working with me on this issue 
and will then assume the newsletter as 
of the December issue.

I am sure Steve will do an outstand­
ing job on behalf of the Board of 
Directors and myself, wish him the 
very best of luck.

REPORT OF THE
NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A Nominating Committee was ap­
pointed in July for the purpose of pro­
posing a slate of officers and directors 
for election at the Annual Meeting to 
be held Thursday, November 13, 1975 
at the Farms Country Club. The Com­
mittee consists of Karnig Ovian, Chair­
man; Roger Barrett, Al Hawkins, and 
Ken Kelliher.

At our October meeting, Mr. Ovian 
presented the proposed sllate for con­
sideration at next months meeting. It is 
as follows:

For President ................... Bob Tosh
Vice-President .... Bob Osterman
Secretary ........... Dave Stimson
Treasurer ........... Dave Stimson
Director for a three (3) year 
term and Education Chair­
man ................... Fred Bachand
Golf Chairman....... Dave Roule
Public Relations Cm. .. M Loper.
Directors remaining on the 
board would be Ed Anderson and 
Ron Holcomb along with the 
Associate Director Lloyd Rus­
sell.

Nominations can be made from the 
floor for any of the above offices. If 
such a nomination is made from the 
floor, a written ballot will be taken for 
that office.

Ronald Holcomb

CONNECTICUT ASSOCIATION 

OF GOLF COURSE 
SUPERINTENDENTS

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

Frank Lamphier
.... Robert Tosh
. Bob Osterman 
.. Bob Osterman

Board of Directors

Dave Roule 
Alfred Bachand 
Karnig Ovian
Edward Anderson
Robert Chalifour 
Lloyd Russell ........  Associate Director
Robert Viera, Immediate Past President
The object of this association is to 
promote research, education and an ex­
change 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 offi­
cial publication of the Connecticut As­
sociation of Golf Course Superinten­
dents.

Robert W. Osterman, Editor 
937 Black Rock Turnpike 
Easton, Conn. 06612

CHARGE FOR
SOIL TESTING SERVICE

by William M. Dest 

From the University of Connecticut
Since July 1, 1975 there has been a 
charge of SI.00 per soil sample for the 
soil testing service at the University 
of Connecticut. To pay for the service 
you can purchase soil testing kits from 
your local County Extension office at 
a dollar per kit or use your own con­
tainers and pay for the sample when 
you send it to the University Soil Test­
ing Laboratory. If payed by check, 
make payable to the University of Con­
necticut.

There is also a charge of $5.00 per 
sample for a mechanical analysis for 
determination of particle size distri­
bution.

The number of soil samples sent to 
the laboratory is increasing each year. 
Therefore, it has made it necessary to 
charge a fee to defray some of the cost 
in handling the large volume of 
samples received.

Soil Testing,

How and When to Sample Your Soil
Soil test results are an excellent aid 
for planning your fertilizing and liming 
program or for analyzing problem turf 
areas on your golf course. However,

— 2 —

how to take the soil sample is im­
portant if correct interpretations are to 
be made.

The sample should be taken from 
the same soil type. Do not mix dif­
ferent soil types. Soil maps are available 
for many Connecticut counties from the 
Soil Conservation Service, United 
States Department of Agriculture, in 
your area. These maps will help you 
to know the soil types you are work­
ing with. Greens, tees, problem areas, 
(and , steep slopes should also be sampled 
separately.

The coring tube is the best sampling 
tool available. Take 20 or 30 cores at 
random over the area and mix 
thoroughly. It is important that this 
step be followed so that the final sample 
is representative of the area. (The 
sample is small when you realize that 
an acre of soil at an 8” depth weighs 
approximately 2 million pounds and 
some samples represent 5 to 10 acres 
and sometimes more.) The cores should 
be of equal volume, and the composite 
sample should weigh about one pound. 
From this sample, send approximately 
one cup to the soils laboratory for 
testing.

If the soil has excess moisture, dry 
the sample before shipping. This helps 
to expedite processing the soil sample 
when it readies the soil testing labora­
tory.

Place the soil in a clean container to 
avoid contamination and label the 
sample so it may be properly identified.
The best time for taking soil samples 
is in the Fall season. It offers several 
advantages:

1.  Areas of poor growth over the past 

season are fresh in your mind.

2.  It is at a time of the year when 
the Superintendent has more time 
to sample properly.

3.  It gives the soil testing laboratory 
a chance to spread out their work 
load, thereby processing your 
samples faster.

4.  It allows the Superintendent a 
chance to study the soil test re­
sults, plan ahead for the next 
season, and order his lime and 
fertilizer needs well in advance 
of the busy season of Spring.

If a critical turf problem arises any­
time during the growing season and a 
soil test is needed, every effort is made 
to process the sample and return the 
results as quickly as possible.

U. S. GOLF ASSOCIATION 
GREEN SECTION

For the first time in our experience 
there are serious outbreaks of the in­
sect Ataenius spretulus, commonly 
known as “the Dung beetle.” Several 
courses in New Jersey and one in low­
er Connecticut have reported widespread 
infestation of fairways. This insect has 
been around for some time but we 
noted only one prior serious infection 
of fairway turf in the Northeast in 1970 
prior to outbreaks this year. At this 
writing, five clubs in New Jersey and 
one club in Connecticut have reported 
an abundant population of this insect 
pest.

Symptoms — The turf appears to 
be wilting-out in patches that could 
range from soft ball to basketball size 
initially. Birds will soon discover them 
and begin to rip-up the turf to devour 
them. The insects in early July will 
be located in the soil immediately be­
low the thatch. They will be curled in 
their soil nest awaiting maturity. Ac­
cording to research by Kawanishi, 
Splittstoesser, Tashiro and Steinkraus 
of the New York Agricultural Experi­
ment Station at Geneva, “their popula- 
ions will range from 24 to 144 indivi­
dual grubs per square foot.” “They, 
measure from 1.25 to 1.30 mm in 
width and from 5.1 to 5.6 mm in 
length (pupae)“This insect is at­
tracted to low-lying, normally wet areas 
that have surfaced soil resembling 
muck.”

Control — Preliminary findings in­
dicate that the best time to apply Dia­
zinon of Dursban for control is late 
May. With specific research lacking, 
the rates at the time of this letter are 
tentatively Diazinon at 4 pounds active 
ingredient per acre and Dursban at 2 
pounds active per acre. Aeration and/or 
spiking of infested areas prior to appli­
cation of the insecticide is recom­
mended. Wetting agents to further aid 
in the penetration of the insecticides 
may also help control. The insecticides 
must also be watered-in very well. In­
secticides are most effective when ap­
plied to young stages of insect develop­
ment. Presently there appears to be 
only one annual brood.

Entomologists at Rutgers, Ohio State 
and the New York Geneva Station pre'’ 
ently are further pursuing life cycle, 
and controls. We’re sure you will be 
hearing more about this insect pest as 
data becomes available.

FIFTY FIVE YEARS
OF EXPERIENCE

by William M. Dest

Who can boast of 55 years of ex­
perience in golf course maintenance? 
This is the number of years the 
U.S.G.A. Green Section has been in 
existence collecting and distributing 
information of value on golf course 
maintenance to golf clubs around the 
country. The numbers of visits made 
to golf clubs over the years by Green 
Section agronomists are too innu­
merable to count. The myriad of prob­
lems and solutions rendered would 
easily fill a volume of books.

Most of us are familiar with the visi­
tation service to golf clubs that the 
Green Section offers for on the course 
consultation. This is unique to the 
Green Section but is only part of the 
story.

The U.S.G.A. Green Section has also 
supported turfgrass research since its 
formation. The results of this research 
have been evaluated impartially by 
Green Section agronomists ultimately 
benefitting all golf courses whether 
member clubs of the Green Sction or 
not. Improved grasses (how many 
can remember the old pie shaped 
greens?), fertilization concepts, thatch 
control, and specifications for putting 
een construction along with the soil 
..esting service are but a very few 
examples of results born out of re­
search sponsored by the Green Section.
The Green Section periodical now 
known as the U.S.G.A. Green Section 
Record has been published since 1921. 
How many remember the Eastern Turf- 
letter with its timely tips. Other publi­
cations have been written as the need 
arose. “Turf Diseases and Their Con- 
rol” by Monteith and Dahl, 1932, was 
a classic in its time. “Building Golf 
Holes for Good Turf Management” by 
the Green Section Staff and on and 
on the list goes. It publishes the ever 
popular book, “Golf Course Manage­
ment.” The resource material for ready 
use by all its inexhaustible.

The Section holds its own conference 
on Golf Course Management each year 
in conjunction with the U.S.G.A. an­
nual meeting in New York. Green Sec­
tion agronomists participate in re­
gional and national Turf Conferences 
and at local Golf Course Superinten­
dent Association meetings throughout 
the country. On occasion section agrono­
mists will attend local meetings and 
conferences spending time in discus- 
ons and consultation with Golf
course Superintendents.

The Section Agronomist consult on 
golf course preparation for U.S.G.A, 
sponsored tournaments and will assist

— 3

in P.G.A. tournaments if called upon. 
A great service to have around for a 
big event as this author will testify.

Consultation by telephone is always 
available. If the Agronomist is not in 
his office at the time you call, you can 
be sure your call will be answered 
promptly as soon as he returns.

Eight agronomist presently serve 
800 of the 4000 plus U.S.G.A. Member 
Clubs throughout the United States. 
The Greens Section seeks only to cover 
its cost of operation, yet the small 
service fee covers just part of the cost. 
For the Green Section to carry out its 
mission to he fullest, it needs the sup­
port of every golf club.

The Green Section has made a solid 
contribution to the field of golf course 
maintenance and management. It func­
tions solely in the interest of better 
turf for better golf. Most of us I’m 
sure will agree that experience is a good 
teacher. The U.S.G.A. Green Section 
accumulated 55 years of it.
A PORTRAIT OF A "SUPER" WIFE!
Let’s Take A Peek,
In A Path Few Would Fare,
Since We Are To Speak,
Of A Quality So Rare.
Can “True Loyalty” Be Told,
With A Sputtering Pen In Hand,
Word Glorious Justice — Unfold?
Try We Will ’Till The End.

There Is A Lady,
Let’s Call Her Katy;
She Is The “Super’s” Wife;
Revels The Down-To-Earth Life,
Which Is Devoid of Fancies and Flings, 
And Embraces Only Genuine Things. 
Tho’ Life’s Not Always A Hummer; 
Indeed! — Not During the Summer, 
When Her Rival Is a Greenish Course, 
And Katy Has No Recourse,
But To Tread Alone with Her Sprightly

Losing the Battle To a Tameless Shrew.
As Hubby Wings About Like a Time­

With “Umpeenth” Diseases Spawning 

’Til Long Hours Creep a Tiriing Sha­

Crew,

less Gear,
His Fear,

dow;

Chatter;

Home-Bound, Simmering Aloud in Self 

Footsteps Gaining — Katy Waiting in 
Hands Reaching; Clasp — Holding 

the Evening Glow;
Dearly; Aglow.

Her Brimming Loyalty Says It All, 
Parallel to a Towering Peak;
Steadfast as Always; Endurable ’Til
Katy Is Unique!

Fall,

— Frank Paladino

INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT 
ACCOUNT

Effective January 1, 1975, a retire­
ment savings deduction is allowed for 
contributions to an individual retire­
ment account. The maximum annual de­
duction is $1,500, or 15 percent of 
earned income, whichever is less. 
Amounts allowed as a retirement sav­
ings deduction are deductible from gross 
income. IRA’s may be set up by indi­
viduals, by employers for the benefit of 
their employees, and by labor unions for 
the benefit of their members. A penalty 
tax of 10 percent is imposed on distri­
butions occurring before age 59%. 
Funds in an IRA must begin to be with­
drawn no later than age 70%. General­
ly, all amounts received from an IRA 
are taxed in full as ordinary income; 
no special lumpsum rules apply, al­
though the individual may use the five- 
year averaging provision. The retire­
ment savings deduction is available to 
working wives in both community and 
noncommunity property states. The re­
tirement savings deduction is allowed to 
an individual only if he or she is not 
an active participant in a qualified plan 
(including an H.R.-10 plan). A tax- 
free rollover is allowed from qualified 
plans to an IRA (see item 8). An em­
ployer or union may establish a single 
IRA trust for a number of employees or 
members; however, separate account­
ings are required. Amounts contribu­
ted by an employer constitute income 
to the employees which they may then 
deduct from their gross income. Where 
an employer has both a qualified plan 
and an employer-sponsored IRA, the 
qualified plan must meet the nondis­
crimination test without regard to the 
IRA.

H.  R. - 10 PLANS

For plan years beginning after De­
cember 31, 1973, the maximum deduc­
tible contribution on behalf of self- 
employed persons is increased to the 
lesser of $7,500 or 15 percent of earned 
income. However, effective with plan 
years beginning after December 31, 
1975, no more than the first $100,000 of 
earned income may be taken into ac­
count in applying the percentage limits. 
The $100,000 ceiling means that a self- 
employed person (or a shareholder-em­
ployee in a subchapter S Corporation) 
with more than $100,000 earned income 
will have to contribute at a rate of at 
least 7% percent on behalf of his em­
ployees if he wishes to take the full 
$7,500 deduction on his own behalf. 
The rules regarding excess contribu­
tions are repealed. Instead, a six per­
cent excise tax is imposed annually on an 
excess contribution until it is eliminated.

"GRASS CATCHER"

by Bob Osterman

The CAGCS Annual Christmas Party 
will be held at the Farms Country Club, 
Saturday, December 6. The cost will 
be $24 per couple. There will be cock­
tails from 6:30-7:30 p.m. with dinner 
at 7:30 p.m. Door prizes will be given 
and there will he an open bar until 
11:30 p.m.

Also on the agenda for the evening 
will be a short ceremony after dinner 
of the passing of the gavel to the new 
President, introduction of the new of­
ficers and directors and the passing 
out of awards, etc. Dancing will follow.
All of us who were at the Christmas 
Partv last year at the Farms Country 
Club, really had a great time. Any of 
those members who missed last year 
should really try to make this one, for 
1 am sure the management at the Farms 
will try to out do themselves from last 
year.

More information will follow.

James Pillion has retired as Super­
intendent from the Goodwin Park Golf 
Club after 37 years with the Hartford 
Parks Dept. His assistant, Bill Fitz­
gerald has assumed the position of 
Superintendent. We all wish Jim the 
best of luck in retirement (I am sure 
he won’t be sitting around watching 
soap operas though) and good luck 
to his successor.

The U.S.G.A. Green Section Educa­
tional Conference is to be held at the 
Biltmore Hotel, Madison Ave. and 43rd 
St., New York City, on Friday, Jan­
uary 30, 1976.

CONN. CLIPPINGS
Robert Osterman, editor 
937 Black Rock Turnpike 
Easton Conn. 06612
«^^>30

— 4 —

ALFCO, INC.
P.O. Box 267
Marietta, Ohio 45750
Frank Downey, CAGCS member
John Murphy
(413) 596-3009
(203) 325-0967
ANDERSON-WARNER 
ENGINEERING CO., INC.
Turf Irrigation 
164 Nod Road 
Avon, Conn. 06001
CHAS. C. HART COMPANY 
304 Main Street 
Wethersfield, Conn.
Robert Kennedy, CAGCS member 
(203) 529-2537 
CLORO-SPRAY
Div. Henry E. Sanson & Sons, Inc. 
475 Beaver Street 
Bristol, Penn. 19007 
E. J. Sanson, CAGCS member 
Frank Paladino, LIGCS member 
(212) 338-2153
TURF PRODUCTS CORP.
1496 John Fitch Blvd.
South Windsor, Conn. 06074 
Roy Sibley 
(203) 289-3471
LARCHMONT ENGINEERING & 
IRRIGATION, INC.
Lexington, Mass 02173 
Steve Butler, CAGCS member 
(617) 862-2550
METRO MILOGRANITE, INC. 
P.O. Box 267 
Hawthorne, New York 10532 
John Wistrand, CAGCS member 
(914) 769-7600

THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE 

SUPPORT OF THE CONN. CLIPPINGS:

OLD FOX CHEMICAL CO.
Hazardville, Conn. 06082 
John Grant, CAGCS member 
P. O. Box 62
Pleasant Valley, Conn. 06063 
(203) 379-3579
O.  M. SCOTT & SONS
ProTurf Division
Marysville, Ohio
Al Arison, CAGS member 
(203) 336-9890
THE POWERHOUSE
Rte. 6 & Dingle Ridge Road 
Brewster, New York 10509 
Russ LeClair, CAGCS member
SOMERS TURF SUPPLIES
P. O. Box 294
Devon, Conn. 06460
Bill Somers, CAGCS member
TOM IRWIN, INC.
11 B A Street
Burlington, Mass.
John Callahan, CAGCS member
VALLEY FARMS TURF NURSERY 
Box 81
Avon, Conn. 06001
Joe Bidwell, CAGCS member 
(203) 658-6886
THE MAGOVERN CO.
Windsor Locks, Conn.
Lloyd Russell, CAGCS member 
Curtis Stimson, CAGCS member 
(203) 623-2508 
(203) 255-2817
I & E SUPPLY, INC.
66 Erna Avenue
P. O. Box 9
Milford, Conn. 06460
Richard W. Smith, CAGCS member
Richard W. Hosking CAGCS member

FIRST CLASS

FILL.SOMERS 
,B01 294

DEV0»; CONfi'. 1 OM-60