THE

C ONN.
CLIPPINGS
ip p T
FEBRUARY 1980

SERIALS
|i.,; HDWHO
MICHIGAN S U U W ^ Y L K S m

Maury Ryan honored
on Retirement
from Race Brook

Osterman Nominated
for Director of
GCSAA

Maurice Ryan, Superintendent at Race
Brook Country Club in Orange, Conn., for
the past 24 years has announced his retire­
ment effective this January. Maury was
recently honored on three separate occa­
sions.
On November 10, 1979 the members of
Race Brook held Maury Ryan Day, an
event that consisted of a golf tournament
and a dinner dance. Numerous gifts were
presented to Maury and his wife, Jerry.
One gift was an Honorary Membership in
Race Brook Country Club.
A t the S u p e rin te n d e n ts A n n u al
Christmas Party, Maury was presented with
a Life Membership in the Connecticut
A s s o c ia tio n
of
G o lf
C o u rse
Superintendents.
Finally he was honored by his own
maintenance staff in a party at his equip­
ment bar. He was presented with a
monogrammed desk set.
Maury is a native of Massachusetts and
attended the Massachusetts Agricultural
College Turf School (now the University of
Massachusetts) in 1931 and 1932. He was a
student of Professor Dickinson. Upon
graduation from school, Maury took a job
as a laborer at the Salem Country Club in
Salem, Massachusetts for the incredible
sum of 75 cents an hour. Maury worked at
Salem until 1937 when he took his first
superintendent’s position at Merrimac
Valley C ountry Club in M etheun,
Massachusetts. In the 1940’s Maury spent
four years touring Europe courtesy of the
U.S. Army. Returning to Merrimac in 1946
Maury had his work cut out for him. The
war years on a golf course are always lean
years and many maintenance practices had
not been done during his absence. Maury
made Merrimac into one of the best main­
tained courses in Massachusetts. In 1955
(Continued at bottom, next column)

Robert W. Osterman, CGCS, superinten­
dent of the Golf Club of Aspetuck, Easton,
Conn., for the past 10 years, has been nom­
inated for a seat on the board of directors
of the Golf Course Superintendents Associ­
ation of America for 1980.
Osterman has been an active member of
GCSAA for nine years.
GCSAA, which has a membership of
more than 4,500 in the United States and 19
foreign countries, is headquartered in
Lawrence, Kan. The primary objective of
the association is to enhance the personal
and professional growth of its members
through continuing educational programs.
Election of the association’s 1980 officers
will be in the annual membership meeting
Feb. 20 during GCSAA’s 51st International
Turfgrass Conference and Show in St.
Louis. More than 6,000 people are expected
to attend the conference and show Feb.
17-22. More than 200 exhibitors, including
31 new participants will take part in the
trade show, and a total of 64 speakers from
universities, industry, government and the
association will be featured in the con­
ference education sessions.
Maury Ryan was talked into taking the
position at Race Brook Country Club. He
had to rebuild many greens, plant over 600
trees, install an irrigation system and he
even had to change the flow of the brook
for which the club is named. Since coming
to Race Brook his excellent work has made
Maury one of the most respected turf
managers in New England.
Maury is probably one of the best golfing
superintendents in the state but his golfing
has been usually limited to once a week for
the past 24 years. He still carries a four or
five handicap.
(Continued at bottom, next column)

Volume 13’ No' 1

President’s Message
As we approach the beginning of a new
season, perhaps it would be appropriate for
each of us to ask ourselves what it is that we
are looking for as members of a profes­
sional organization such as CAGCS or
GCSAA. There are many possible reasons
for belonging to such organizations; to gain
professional recognition, to learn, to ex­
change practical experiences, or to just
belong to a group. W hatever the
reason, each member owes it to himself to
attempt to get something out of his
membership. But how?
Self-evaluation is not an easy task and
asking yourself what your membership
goals are could be frustrating. But you
should ask! Remember, you must have
joined for some specific reasons . . . what
were they? Once these questions have been
answered it becomes a simple matter of
fulfilling your goals. The association exists
for the satisfaction of its members and can
be of little use to anyone if it and the goals
of the members are not similar.
Rewarding membership in an association
requires participation of some degree. That
degree of participation will vary with each
individual and rightfully so. No one can at­
tend every meeting or get-together of the
association. Nor can everyone write ar­
ticles, participate in committees, or play in
every tournament. But everyone can make
one or two monthly meetings per year or
respond to a survey or provide some feed­
back to the association’s leadership. Par­
ticipation of everyone to some degree will
go a long way towards meeting the goals of
all members.
Steve Cadenelli
Maury and his wife are moving to a
recently purchase condominium in Del Ray,
Florida. They are both golfers and plan on
playing a lot of golf and just plain relaxing.
After nearly 50 years in the golf course
business, Maury Ryan has earned the right
to just plain relax.
Armand Lesage

Connecticut Association
Of Golf Course
Superintendents
Officers
Stephen Cadenelli, CGCS
Country Club
of New Canaan
Office 203-966-2145
Home 203-966-0223
Vice-President Michael Wallace
Rockledge C.C.
Office 203-233-3594
Home 203-673-4608
Sec-Treasurer David Stimson, CGCS
Tumble Brook C.C.
Office 203-243-0150
Home 203-289-6979

President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Fred Bachand
Ken Kelliher
Fran Rogers

Bruce Cadenelli
Peter Pierson
Charles York
Dick Parsons
Mark Loper, Associate Director
Robert Osterman, Immediate Past President
The object o f this association is to en­
courage increased knowledge o f golf course
management and greater professionalism
through education, research, exchange o f
practical experience and the well being o f
each individual member.

The CONN. CLIPPINGS is an official
publication o f the Connecticut Association
o f G olf Course Superintendents, Inc.
Stephen G. Cadenelli, Editor
127 Country Club Road
New Canaan, CT 06840

Grass Catcher
Your Board of Directors has met twice
over the last couple of months making
plans for the coming year. Members of the
Board are always interested in input from
the membership. If you or anyone you
know would like to present an item to the
board, contact President Steve Cadenelli to
make arrangements.
*****
The Meeting Schedule for 1980 is as
follows:
March — Jacoby’s Restaurant (Lun­
cheon)
April — Black Hall Club, Dick Cook —
Host. Supt.
May — Plans not final.
June — Silver Springs C.C., Peter Rap­
poccio — Host Supt.
July — Wethersfield C.C., Fred Bachand
— Host Supt.
August — H.B. Brownson C.C., Jim
Medeiros — Host Supt.
September — Shennecossett G.C., Bob
Chalifour — Host Supt.
October — The Patterson Club, Ray
Beaudry — Host Supt.
November — Open.

CAGCS Committee
Assignments — 1980
MEMBERSHIP
Ken Kelliher — Chairman
Roger Barret
Carl Wallace
PUBLIC RELATIONS & SOCIAL
Fred Bachand — Chairman
Stan Sablak
Alan Semprebon
Gary Bryant
Ed Zenisky
Roy Sibley
SCHOLARSHIP & RESEARCH
Peter Pierson — Chairman
Robert Phipps
Richard Hosking
Bruce Cadenelli
Armand LeSage
SPEAKER’S BUREAU
Richard Parsons — Chairman
Michael Wallace
Charles York
EDUCATION
Bruce Cadenelli — Chairman
A1 Arison
Bert Furgess
Eric Johnson
Jim Medeiros
Peter Rappoccio
GOLF
Fran Rogers — Chairman
Bill Somers
Greg Wojick
WELFARE
Richard Parsons

Training Sessions to
Prepare for Custom
Grounds License and
GCS License
Fairfield County Extension
Center, Route 6, Bethel, Conn.
When: February 19, 26
March 4, 11, 18, 25 (exam)
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Time:
Registration — $2.00
Cost:
Core Manual — $2.50
Category 3 Manual — $4.50
Reserve by phone as soon as possible —
797-4176.
Note: Hartford session is being planned
for those interested. Dates will be provided
by phone. Call Fred Nelson as soon a
spossible at 236-6151 for information and
reservations. Dates will be in March.

Where:

Future Happenings
Feb. 17-22 CGSA Conference & Show
St. Louis, Missouri
Feb. 27
Professional Turf &
Landscape Conference
Sponsored by Conn.
Groundskeeper’s Association,
Hartford Civic Center,
Hartford, Ct.
March 4-6 Univ. of Mass. Turf
Conference & Industrial Show
Springfield Civic Center
Springfield, Mass.
March 11 CAGCS Monthly Meeting
Jacoby’s Restaurant
(My Dad’s)
Rt. 66, Meriden, Ct.
Mark Fuller, superintendent at
the Long Shore Club Park, will
be speaking on the construc­
tion of solar greenhouses.
March 18 USGA Green Section
Regional Meeting
Westchester Country Club,
Rye, N.Y.

Writing Effective Reports
As an executive in what is, after all, a
business organization, you may be called
upon to write periodic reports on your
operation or current and future projects.
The art of writing clear and effective
reports is one each executive should master.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you
write:
Remember your reader. Generally,
reports are written for one specific person,
such as the green chairman, general
manager or other club official. Write as
though you were speaking to that person,
keeping in mind his likes and dislikes.
Organize your report. Don’t make the
reader have to dig for the important points.
State your case in 1-2-3 order, with
headings, if possible to bring out important
facts.
Make it objective. Don’t spend so much
time telling how you feel and what you
think that the reader misses the facts. Avoid
exaggeration, extravagant statements and
generalities.
Get to the point. Edit out everything
which does not serve some informative pur­
pose in your report, and tell your reader im­
mediately what he needs to know. Then fill
in the details.
Document your report by attaching
copies of clippings, letters, notes or price
schedules that support your conclusions.
Develop a writing style that is interesting
and easily read. Keep your paragraphs short
and avoid long and involved sentence struc­
ture. Indent or underscore important points
to make them stand out.
Summarize the important points at the
end of your report so that reader will know
why it was written and what you have con­
cluded about your subject.
Credit: Forefront

What Does the
Superintendent Do In
the Winter?

Dr. Skogley addressing the group at the CAGCS Seminar

Attendance Surpasses All Expectations
at CAGCS Seminar
More than 130 people attended the first CAGCS sponsored seminar held January 22, 1980
at the Holiday Inn of Hartford. Those in attendance included golf course superintendents,
their assistants, crew members, landscape contractors, and other interested persons.
Speakers included Dr. Stephen Hitchcock of the Pesticide Compliance Unit of the state of
Connecticut, Ron Weseloh of the Conn. Agricultural Experiment Station and Dr. C.
Richard Skogley of URI. Also speaking were Dr. Joseph Troll of UMass and Dr. Richard
Smiley of Cornell University. Their talks covered a range of topics including turfgrass
varieties, winter hardiness of perennial ryegrass, biology of the gypsy moth, effects of
fungicides on non-target soil organisms, and an update on state pesticide regulations.
The Educational Committee of CAGCS is to be congratulated for organizing such an ex­
cellent all-around program. From comments received it is evident that the membership is in
favor of sponsoring such an event again next year.

Why Accidents Happen
Accidents are generally thought to be a result of bad luck or an act of God. However, an
unsafe act, a hazardous condition or some combination of the two must occur before an ac­
cident can happen. Of these two conditions, unsafe acts or work practices are a contributing
factor in 90 percent of all accidents. Here are some of the factors which can cause workers to
commit errors leading to accidents.
Lack of proper training can be a major cause of accidents. Employees must be trained to
do their jobs safely, and care must be taken to ensure that they continue to perform as in­
structed.
Ignorance of a hazardous condition can result from lack of experience or poor com­
munications.
Indifference or laziness resulting from fatigue, a poor relationship with the boss or a lack
of motivation can make an employee take an unsafe short cut.
Bad examples set by other workers can be imitated by less experienced employees. New
workers have a higher injury rate than more experienced employees.
Undue haste caused by supervisory pressure, an overloaded schedule or a desire to com­
plete an unpleasant task as quickly as possible can make workers bypass important safety
steps or processes.
Credit: Forefront

What Does the Golf Course Superinten­
dent Do in the Winter? What do you say
when someone asks you this question? Do
you have a ready answer? Probably not.
Here are a few things that you might want
to say. Maybe you would like to print some
cards with this information. If you get asked
this question as often as I, you may just want
to memorize it.
Many people have the false conception
that we do absolutely nothing on the
course. It certainly must be a vacation — at
least it must be thoroughly enjoyable.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
O.K., then, what does a productive super­
intendent do in the months of December,
January, February, and March?
Maintenance repairs, overhauling of
equipment and sharpening of mowers is on­
ly part of the winter schedule. On good
days, we even work out on the course on
heavy construction work and trimming of
trees. Budget work, meeting with the long
range planning committee Board of Direc­
tors and the grounds committee are just a
few of the meetings that we attend. These
meetings are necessary to set up next year’s
purchases and programs. This is also a good
time to contact prospective employees for
the coming year.
In addition to good planning, the winter
months offer time for the superintendent to
attend conferences and seminars, thus
becoming better qualified and educated in
the ever changing field of Turf Manage­
ment.
The so-called off season is a good time to
re-evaluate past programs and course con­
ditions. Searching out better ways of doing
the job must be a continued concern of the
productive superintendent. The winter
months give the superintendent a chance to
revitalize himself, his golf course and his
profession.
This year, in particular, we are undergo­
ing intensive Pesticide Training and Cer­
tification Programs. That, like it or not,
will result in proper pesticide control and
usage.
If you feel that your Board of Owners
don’t really know the training education
and productivity accomplished during the
winter months, why not submit a report in­
forming them?
Reprinted from Divots-Bulletin o f Miami
Valley GCSA

GCSAA News in Brief

Past President Bob Osterman shows off his newly received Past President’s jacket as
well as his ten year pin. Others receiving tenure pins include (left to right) Dick Hosking, 15
years; Leo Della Bianca, 10 years; Bob Osterman; Fred Baehand, 10 years; Bob Viera, 20
years.
Those members and guests who traveled to the Hawthorne Inn for the association’s an­
nual Christmas Party were not disappointed. Fine food, good music, and great company
were enjoyed by all till the wee hours of the next day. Numerous gifts and cheer baskets were
won by many. A bit of official business was also transacted including the awarding of tenure
pins (see picture above), the awarding of the association’s Past President jacket to Bob
Osterman, as well as the passing of the gavel to incoming President, Steve Cadenelli. The
new president wasted no time in performing his new duties as he presented a Life Member­
ship plaque to Maury Ryan who recently retired after twenty-four years as superintendent at
the Race Brook Country Club.

All seems to be in order for GCSAA’s
51st Conference and Show to be held in St.
Louis, Mo. This year more than 25 new
companies have joined the more than 200
companies that will display equipment and
machinery used in golf course maintenance.
Also, 54 speakers will highlight an educa­
tional program that will run concurrently
with the show. Two of these speakers will
be from Connecticut. Frank Lamphier,
superintendent at the Aspetuck Valley C.C.
will speak on “ Alcoholism and It’s Prob­
lems” while Bruce Cadenelli, superinten­
dent at the Oak Hills Park Golf Course will
present a talk entitled “ The Irrigation
System Design, A Superintendent’s View­
point.”
Attendance at this national conference
provides superintendents the opportunity to
speak directly with manufacturers of
materials and equipment. Such a con­
ference also provides educational offerings
that are not available elsewhere. Finally, at­
tendance at this conference allows a
superintendent to participate in his profes­
sional organization which in itself reflects
highly not only on himself but on his course
or club.
* * * * *

USGA GREEN SECTION
Northeastern Region CONFERENCE
Morning Session—9 a.m. to 12 Noon
Presiding — Stanley J. Zontek, Director
Northeastern Region, USGA Green
Section

Afternoon Session —1:30 to 3:45 p.m.
Presiding — Stanley J. Zontek, Director
Northeastern Region, USGA Green
Section

8:00 Registration
9:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks
E.R. STEINIGER
USGA Green Section Committee
Pine Valley, N.J.
9:15 The USGA and Its Role In Golf
John D. Laupheimer
Deputy Executive Director, USGA
9:45 Maintaining Golf Standards
William G. Buchanan, Director
Mid-Atlantic Region
USGA Green Section
10:15 Labor — One Man Show Or
Three Ring Circus
William Brewer, Agronomist
Northeast Region
USGA Green Section
10:45 Recess
11:00 USGA Green Section Film:
“ The Golfer and The Course”
Stanley J. Zontek, Director
Northeastern Region
USGA Green Section
11:30 Grooming the Putting Surface
James T. Snow
12:00 Luncheon
Northeastern Region
USGA Green Section

1:30

Marking the Golf Course
Stephen M. Foehl, Manager
Regional Affairs, USGA

2:00

Insects and Their Control
Stanley J. Zontek, Director
Northeastern Region
USGA Green Section

2:30

Grasses for Fairways
Dr. Joseph M. Duich
Penn State University
State College, Pa.

3:00

I & B Film:
“ Preserving The Challenge”
Stephen M. Foehl, Manager
Regional Affairs, USGA

3:30

Closing Remarks

3:45

Adjourn

Dick Hale, formerly editor of THE
GOLF SUPERINTENDENT, is returning
to GCSAA as Director of Communication.
Since leaving GCSAA in 1976, Hale has
served as editor of the PGA MAGAZINE
as well as business manager for all other
PGA publications. With GCSAA he will
serve as editor of GOLF COURSE
MANAGEMENT and coordinate all other
activities of the communications depart­
ment.
*****
Manuel L. Francis, a golf course
superintendent, architect, designer and con­
sultant whose association with golf courses
has spanned almost 60 years, and Dr. John
H. Madison, a noted California turfgrass
educator, researcher and author, have been
selected to receive the 1980 Distinguished
Service Awards presented each year by
GCSAA.
* $ * aje *
Three golf course superintendents whose
courses hosted USGA sponsored events will
receive GCSAA Citation of Performance
awards at the USGA Green Section educa­
tional conference in Chicago, 111. The three,
honored for their work in preparing their
course for these major tournaments include
Frank Nichols, Brooklawn C.C., Fairfield,
Ct., William Burdick, Cantebury G.C.,
Beechwood, Ohio, and Wilbert Waters, the
Inverness Club, Sylvania, Ohio.

The Following Companies Are Contributing To The Support Of The Conn. Clippings:
ALPINE TREE CARE, INC.
745 Post Road
Darien, CT 06820

Rolf Brandt
(203) 655-8008
ANDERSON-WARNER
ENGINEERING CO., INC.
Turf Irrigation
164 Nod Road
Avon, CT 06001

Jesse Anderson, CAGCS member
(203) 677-0225
ANDREW WILSON, INC.
1170 Route 22
Mountainside, NJ 07092

Brian Makar, CAGCS member
(201) 654-5800 Office
(914) 969-5932 Home

METO MILORGRANITE, INC.
P.O Box 267
Hawthorne, NY 10532

CLORO-SPRAY
Div. o f Henry E. Sanson
& Sons, Inc.
475 Beaver Street
Bristol, PA 19007

E.J. Sanson, CAGCS member
Frank Paladino
(212) 338-2153

John Wistrand, CAGCS member
(914) 769-7600
GOLF CAR RENTAL SERVICE
Route 85 (West Road)
Bolton, CT 06040

Nick Carlo

AQUA-LAW N, INC.
Irrigation Contractors
328 Figlar Ave.
Fairfield, CT 06430

I&E SUPPLY, INC.
66 Erna Ave. P.O. Box 9
Milford, CT 06460

Louis Toth, CAGCS member

Richard Smith, CAGCS member

(203) 255-3075
(203) 255-2774

(203) 878-0658

Gene Evans
(717) 443-9596
JAMES CARRIERE
& SONS, INC.
Trap Sand & Partac Topdressing
7 Cottage St.
Port Chester, NY 10573
(914) 937-5479
(914) 937-2136
C.B. DOLGE COMPANY
Westport, CT 06880

Raymond G. Miller, CAGCS member
(203) 227-9591

(914) 769-7600

Phil Gallo

OLD FOX CHEMICAL CO.
Hazardville, CT 06082

John Grant, CAGCS member

EGYPT FARMS, INC.
Sterilized Greens Topdressing
White Marsh, MD 21162
(301) 335-3700

(203) 647-9371

BLUE RIDGE PEAT FARMS, INC.
Blended Top Dressing
RD 1, Box 292-A
White Haven, PA 18661

John Wistrand, CAGCS member

SHEMIN NURSERIES, INC.
1081 King St.
P.O. Box 64, Glenville Station
Greenwich, CT 06830

P.O. Box 62
Pleasant Valley, CT 06063
(203) 379-3579

(203) 289-3471
O . M. SCOTT & SONS
Proturf Division
Marysville, OH 43040

Roger Morhardt

A l Arison, CAGCS member

VALLEY FARMS NURSERY
& SUPPLY, INC.
Putting Green Sod
133 Hopmeadow St. (Route 10)
Simsbury, CT 06070

(203) 336-9890
PURPLE KINGS FARM
Custom Greens Dressing
Northwest Hill Rd.
Williamstown, MA 01267

Frank Reichert

John Perrotti, CAGCS member

(203) 661-1816

(203) 688-5293
SOMERS TURF SUPPLIES
P.O. Box 294
Devon, CT 06460

J.A. JACKSON CORPORATION
430 Center Avenue
Mamaroneck, NY 10543

Bill Somers, CAGCS member

Dan Cancelled, CAGCS member

(203) 878-2108

Stephen P. Butler, CAGCS member
(617) 862-2550
THE MAGOVERN CO.
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Curtis Stimson, C 4G C S member

Carl Wallace, CAGCS member

Robert Kennedy, CAGCS member
Roy Sibley, CAGCS member

(203) 623-2508 Windsor Locks
(203) 348-8211 Stamford

(203) 651-8555
WESTCHESTER TURF
SUPPLY, INC.
P.O. Box 68
Port Chester, NY 10573

Bob Lippman, CAGCS member
(914) 937-6523 office
(914) 248-5790 home
ALBERT ZIKORUS
G olf Course Architect
Member ASCGA
Do Little Drive
Bethany, CT 06525
(203) 393-2635

THE TERRE COMPANY
206 Delawanna Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07014

Dennis DeSanctis
(201) 473-3393 office
(201) 521-3173 home
TOM IRWIN, INC.
11 B A Street
Burlington, MA 01803

John Callahan, CAGCS member

y-«*.
.1,
SLM

(203) 677-7054
(617) 273-0143

Please Support These Companies

(203) 529-2537

Conn. Clippings

Joe Bidwell, CAGCS member

THE REICHERT COMPANY
Oilzum Motor Oils & Lubricants
P . O. Box 273
Riverside, CT 06878

IMPERIAL NURSERIES
4 Griffin Rd. North
Windsor, CT 06095

CHAS. C. HART COMPANY
304 Main St.
Wethersfield, CT 06109

Stephen G. Cadenelli, Editor
127 Country Club Road
New Canaan, Ct. 06840

(203) 748-4445

(413) 458-4646

LARCHMONT ENGINEERING &
IRRIGATION, INC.
Larchmont Lane
Lexington, MA 02173

TURF PRODUCTS
CORPORATION
1496 John Fitch Blvd.
South Windsor, CT 06074

Mark Loper, CAGCS member

Ralph Mason, CAGCS member

(914) 698-4150
(914) 667-3737

(203) 531-7352

First Class
FEB25-00

MICHIGAN STATE U N I V ,
LI8RAHY-SERIAIS
t • LANSING* MICH, 4 8 8 2 4