THE

CONN.

CLIPPINGS
August/September, 1981

Volume 14, No. 4

Future
Happenings
President’s Message August
11
CAGCS Monthly Meeting The response of all CAGCS members and
others in the turf industry to the benefit for
John Perry, held July 14 at the Bel Compo
Golf Club, was overwhelming and greater
than anyone could have dreamed.
To date, better than $3200 has been turned
over to John with contributions continuing to
be received. Those who participated in the
day or who contributed through the mail
should feel pleased for John and with them­
selves and the association which brought
everyone together in an effort to help a friend
and comrade when help was needed. It is this
form of coming together that makes our
association worthwhile for all who belong.
CAGCS is a professional organization aimed
at self-improvement, individual well-being,
and contributions to the game of golf which,
when viewed together, give our association
meaning and goals toward which to strive.
The success of assisting John Perry il­
lustrates how effective our group can be when
everyone pulls together to work toward a
common goal.
Particular thanks to the ownership of the
Bel Compo Golf Club for their tremendous
generosity with golf, golf carts and dinner. A
special thanks also to Tim Michaud, Ron
Holcomb and Mike Wallace for their efforts
in organizing the day. A very special thank
you to the commercial members of CAGCS
who, once again, came through in a very
generous way!
Stephen G. Cadenelli, CGCS

Clinton Country Club John
Halibozek - Host Superinten­
dent (First qualifying round
for the National Golf Tour­
nament at Disney World and
the Metropolitan team cham­
pionship at the Country Club
of New Canaan)
August 26
50th Annual Rhode Island
Turfgrass Field Day Turfgrass Research Farm, Plains
Roadd, Kingston, R. I.
September 15 CAGCS Monthly Meeting Pautipaug Country Club
Fran Rodgers - Host Super­
intendent
(Second qualifying round for
National Golf Tourney and
Metropolitan Golf Tourney).
September 26 Metropolitan Team Champ­
ionship
Country Club of New Can­
aan

scholarships:
Kimberly Phipps - Villanova University
Edward Lamphier - UMASS winter school
David Furgess - UMASS winter school
$500 Research Grants were awarded to the
following:
Bill Dest - University of Connecticut
Dick Skogley - University of Rhode Island
Dick Smiley - Cornell University
Joe Troll - University of Massachusetts
The money for these scholarships and
research grants is raised by the S & R
committee.

Superintendent
Championship
Results
Class A
Gross - Peter Pierson
Net
Dave Roule

Some people not only believe everything
they hear but repeat it.
Credit: The Greener Side

CAGCS Awards
Scholarships and
Research Grants
The following students were awarded $250

* ran Kodgers - getting his greens ready for the September
meeting.

79+76=155
76+72=148

Class B
Gross - Dick Parsons
83+81=164
Net - Roy Sibley
81+76=157
Class C
Gross - Tim Michaud
99+99=198
Net - Tom Fletcher
73+81=154
Congratulations to our association champions for 1981!

2

Connecticut Association
Of Golf Course
Superintendents

Officers
President
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
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ray Beaudry
Stan Sablak
James Medeiros
Peter Pierson
Fran Rogers
Peter Lund
Greg Wojick
Mark Loper, Associate Director
Robert Osterman, Immediate Past President
The object of this association is to en­
courage increased knowledge of golf course
management and greater professionalism
through education, research, exchange of
practical experience and the well being of
each individual member.
The CONN. CLIPPINGS is an official
publication of the Connecticut Association
of Golf Course Superintendents, Inc.

Greg Wojick, Editor
49 John St.
Willimantic, CT 06226

Meet Y our C lass
“ C” M em bers

A class “C ”member is a commercial member
-any member who is supplying or servicing the
turf industry. They cannot vote or hold office
in our association.
In an effort to acquaint our membership with
our commercial members, “Conn. Clippings ”
will run a feature on a commercial member
drawn at random for each edition of the
newsletter.
Our featured member for this issue is Joe
Bidwell owner-operator of Valley Farms
Nursery Supplies located in Simsbury,
Conn. Joe served as superintendent of the
GolfClub of Avon from 1951 to 1977 and
started his own business because he was
“tired of fighting with the memberships.”
Now Joe enjoys working for himself and
selling bent and bluegrass sod and turf
supplies throughout Southern New England,
New York and New Jersey.
Joe served in the U.S. Air Force during
World War II and is a 1950 graduate of
UMASS at Stockbridge.

Positions Available
GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT
Black Hall Club
Button Ball Rd.
Old Lyme, Conn.

Samuel M. Strong
Box 4
Old Lyme, Conn. 06371
Particulars: Housing Available
CMS & BC
2 -3 weeks vacation
Conference and Dues Expen­
ses paid
Salary $20,000 - negotiable
*
*
*
*
ASSISTANT GOLF COURSE SUPERINTEDENT
Oak Hills Park Golf Course
Fillow St.
Norwalk, Conn.
Resumes to: Ken Miller
Golf Course Superintendent
Oak Hills Park Golf Course
165 Fillow St.
Norwalk, Conn. 06850
Particulars: Housing Available
Hospitalization & Major
Medical
Paid Vacation
City Salary Schedule
*
*
*
*
*
*
ASSISTANT GOLF COURSE SUPERIN­
TENDENT
Sterling Farms Golf Club
1347 Newfield Ave.
Stamford, Conn.
Resumes to: Joseph Gillardi
Golf Course Superintendent
Sterling Farms Golf Club
1347 Newfield Ave.
Stamford, Conn. 06905
Particulars: BC, BS, & Dental
Paid Vacation
Salary Negotiable
Resumes to:

*

*

‘You now have exactly 20 minutes
to transform yourself
into an alert, dynamic,
brilliant greenskeeper. ”

Meet Your Hosts
Pautipaug Country Club - Fran Rodgers

“Above all, golfers come here to play our
fast greens,” says John Nobilski, head
professional at the Pautipaug Country Club.
And they certainly are fast. Superintendent
Fran Rodgers and I recently measured the
Pautipaug greens at 111 inches with the
stimpmeter.
This 20 year old Geoffry Cornish-designed
golf course has more going for it than just fast
greens. The Connecticut section PGA re­
cognizes Pautipaug as one of the better golf
courses in the state. This year, the ProJunior Championship was played at Pau­
tipaug. In 1980, Pautipaug hosted the ProAssistant tournament and the ECAC New
England Championship qualifying round.
The 1977 Superintendent’s Invitational was
another major tournament held at Pautipaug.
And much of the club’s fine reputation is
directly attributable to the efforts of
superintendent Fran Rodgers.
Fran’s golf course maintenance experience
goes back to his childhood when he worked
for Charlie Baskin at the Country Club of
Waterbury. Fran is a 1966 UMASS winter
school graduate and was first employed as a
superintendent at the Pine Orchard Yacht &
Country Club. A year later, he took over at
the Madison Country Club where he worked
for eight years. Fran has been superintendent
at Pautipaug for five years now, and is
married and has three sons.
Clinton Country Club - John H alibozek

The site for the August CAGCS meeting is
the Clinton Country Club. Host superin­
tendent John Halibozek says things are
really shaping up now that an automatic
irrigation system installation program has
recently been initiated. To date, three
quarters of the golf course is equipped with
the new Toro irrigation system; the re­
mainder of the installation will be finished
this fall, and the first green will be rebuilt
then as well.
John is married and has three sons and has
been superintendent at Clinton for almost
three and a half years. John began his golf
course experience at the Edgewood Golf Club
where he worked for four years. He was also
employed at Lyman Meadows Country Club
for five years before moving to Clinton in
1972.
The front nine at Clinton was designed and
built by a group of members in 1957, and the
Geoffry Cornish-designed back nine was
completed in 1962. An interesting feature of
the golf course is that it has one of the few
double greens in Connecticut.

Too Many Cooks
Can Spoil
The Broth
Into the life of the golf course superin­

tendent has appeared a new menace to his
ever-demanding operation. Call him the
intruder, the meddler. Whatever, he’s a detri­
ment, and he must be, as they say in the TV
cop flicks, “dusted.”
This dreaded curse surfaces in the role of a
country club committee head or member of
the same whose responsibilities DO NOT
include supervision or guidance of the
superintendent. Yet, for some strange
reason, he has taken it upon himself to direct
the day-to-day handling gf the club’s golf
course maintenance and improvement
program.
The in-house administrative mechanics of
the country club incompass a myriad of
duties. There is the house committee, the
tournament committee, the pool committee,
the grounds committee, the handicap
committee. You name it, the country club has
one.
Unfortunately, certain members of one or
the other of these well-intentioned groups
look at their appointments as a right to take
part in every aspect of governing the club. In
essence, they actually believe they are
members of the “soup to nuts committee.”
Therefore, they think their input is manda­
tory in every issue discussed and every de­
cision made.
As a matter of restating the specs, as they
were, the superintendent answers to the
chairman of the grounds or golf committee.
Supposedly, they enter into a compatible re­
lationship in which each offers suggestions,
discusses their ramifications and comes to a
joint conclusion in implementing the results.
Of course, the ideal grounds chairman is
one who accepts suggestions rather than
concentrating on giving orders. The history
of any country club maintenance program
shows that this arrangement has produced
the best results.
So, for the most part, it is the chairman who
sets the ground rules for his relationship with
the superintendent. If he insists on one-way
input obviously, there is nothing the
superintendent can do about it other than
hope the chairman is well-versed in the
intricacies of grooming the golf course.
Some grounds chairmen are, and it is to
their credit that they are interested enough in
the job to avail themselves of information so
vital to the overall operation.
The bugaboo, though, comes from another
direction. Too many members, associated
with other communities, are putting in their

3

two-cents’ worth and expecting a dollar in
change.
It has been reported that superintendents
are being hounded and harassed by foreign
committee people to the extent that they find
themselves in a state of confusion.
“One guy tells me he wants the greens
mowed to a certain height and the next thing I
know another is telling me he prefers a
different cut,” one superintendent said
recently. “Of course, it puts me on the spot
since, regardless of my rank or station, I am
an employee of the country club. I only wish
some order and definition of authority within
the framework of the committee setup could
be effected.”
Therein lies the solution to a problem that
could become a very serious obstruction to
the superintendent’s day-to-day work
schedule.
The country club chain of command doesn’t
need any reconstuction. However, the prin­
cipal parties in its makeup should make an
attempt at its redefinition. If a meddler is
rocking the boat, he must be made to sit down
or be quietly advised that his presence on the
board or committee is no longer required.
The task of maintaining and improving the
golf course already has suffered its share of
complications because of the prevailing
economic cutbacks instituted by most
country clubs. The superintendent is
burdened with the job of producing the same
results with less at his hand to produce them.
Now, along comes another headache in the
form of people insisting that they should take
part in the greening of fairways and
smoothing of greens. As far as the superin­
tendent is concerned, such intrusion (most
of which border on the idiotic) only adds to
the confusion.
The country club, then, not only has a
responsibility to provide the nearest thing to
the ultimate in service to its members, it
also has the responsibility of creating reason­
able conditions under which its employees
can help deliver those services.
One sure way to do this is to keep unauth­
orized members out of the superintendent’s
hair. While he tries desperatelyto comb them
out, the golf course could go to “you know
where.”
Credit: Golf Course Superintendent
Association of New England

GCSAA Highlights

GCSAA will be offering an extended medical
coverage plan to all members. Designed to
supplement basic hospital coverage, this
plan will offer low rates based on the buying
power of GCSAA at group rates. Information
and application forms will be sent to all
members in September.
*
*
*
*
*
*
One benefit of GCSAA membership is the
opportunity to attend major tournaments
free of charge by showing a current GCSAA
Gold Membership card. But because persons
other than GCSAA members have been
using these cards, all members risk loss of
this benefit. Please . . . DO NOT allow others
to use your membership card to gain entry to
tournaments. Protect this advantage of
GCSAA membership for yourself and for
others by not allowing anyone to use your
card.
*
*
*
*
*
*
San Francisco has been added to the list of
future conference sites by the Executive
Committee. GCSAA will travel to San
Francisco and the soon-to-be-completed
George R. Moscone Convention Center, Jan­
uary 30 - February 5, 1985. Other future
conference sites include New Orleans -1982,
Atlanta - 1983, and Las Vegas - 1984.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Zahid Iqbal has been named to replace Dick
Hale as Director of Communications of
GCSAA. Iqbal comes to GCSAA from the
University of Kansas where he was an
assistant professor of journalism. He also
brings to GCSAA nearly 14 years of ex­
ecutive experience in publishing, printing,
public relations and advertising in magazine
and newspaper journalism.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Members who have not paid their 1982 dues
are now suspended from membership
privileges and benefits. These privileges and
benefits will be reinstated if dues are paid by
October 1, 1981.
Members who have paid their 1982 dues and
do not receive their new membership cards
within three weeks should call the Head­
quarters Office to verify receipt of their pay­
ment.
*
*
*
*
*
*
During October, members will be receiving
conference materials for the 1982 Con­
ference & Show in New Orleans. The 1982
Conference promises some new twists with
an extended educational format, possible
repeat sessions and computerized advance
registration which will eliminate long lines
for those who have registered in advance.
Members planning to participate in the
annual golf tournament will undoubtedly
enjoy the Disney Golf Resort in Orlando Fla.
Steve Cadenelli

4

A Compliment
How to Accept

(1) “Thank you” is the best response to a
compliment: (2) Avoid a compliment­
swapping. Compliments are not debts to be
repaid; (3) Consider praise from others as an

inspiration to even greater efforts, not a
reward with intrinsic worth. When you are
praised, ask yourself how you can do even
better; (4) Don’t disdain praise. If you appear
too modest, you will seem to be fishing for
another compliment; (5) Don’t belittle praise.
Allow people the satisfaction of praising you

without insulting their opinion; (6) Finally,
don’t take praise too seriously. As Adlai
Stevenson said, “Flattery is okay if you can
handle it right.It’s like smoking cigarettes.
Quite all right, as long as you don’t inhale.”
Credit: GCSAA of Southern California

Grass Catcher

Chuck Myers, Turf Products Corporation’s
new equipment salesman, is the proud father
of a new son. Chuck’s wife gave birth to son,
Travis, in June.
Fran and Mary Ellen Rodgers also had a
new arrival. Their third son, Joshua, was
bom
in July.
* * * * * * * * * *
Don’t forget to get your foursomes together
for the annual Scholarship & Research
Tournament to be held at the Edgewood Golf
Club on October 6.
*

*

*

*

*

*

*

David J. Sylvester has been honored by the
Upjohn Company for outstanding achie­
vement in sales for 1980. He is one of 31 sales
representatives recently nampd to the com­
pany’s Agricultural Division Sales Academy.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Briefs
Frank Lamphier has been named to heas the
1981 Nominating Committee. All those
interested in becoming more active in
CAGCS through membership on the Board
of Directors should contact Frank.
*
*
*
*
*
*
Please do not embarrass yourself or the
association by leaving just prior to or during
a guest speaker’s presentation. Not only do
you show a profound lack of courtesy by
leaving, but you also miss out on what you
came to the meeting for . . . to learn!
*
*
*
*
*
*
REMEMBER
JACKETS ARE RE­
QUIRED FOR ALL BUSINESS MEETING
AND DINNERS. THERE ARE NO EXCEP­
TIONS. ANYONE THAT PLAYS GOLF AT
A MEETING MUST PAY FOR DINNER
EVEN IF THEY DO NOT STAY FOR THE
MEAL.

50th Annual Rhode
Island Turfgrass Field
Day

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 1981
Location: Turfgrass Research Farm,
Plains Road, Kingston, RI
(Signs will be posted on main roads
near campus)
Program: 9 a.m. noon, Exhibits and
demonstrations of turf products and
equipment. Exhibitors welcome (no
charge!). Research Plots open for in­
dividual review.
12-1 p.m., Steak Barbecue available at
research farm.
1-4 p.m., Guided tour with researchers.
See: Fertilizer trials, weed and growth
control trials, disease control and eval­
uation of new fungicides, topdressing
studies, grass mixture and variety trials,
sod production studies, etc. We hope you
will join us for the day. There is no charge.

5

M embership Report

The following have yet to attend the required
two meetings:
Michael Minor - Class B
Oaklane Country Club
Glen Moore - Class C
Glenmore Landscape
James Viggiano - Class C
Bacher Corp.
James O’Kelly - Class B
Race Brook Country Club
Lee Shaw - Class B
Tumblebrook Country Club
Steve Duran - Class A
Country Club of Farmington
Peter Louis - Class B
Country Club of Farmington

The always popular rope pull at the Annual Picnic.

Golf Results

Hopmeadow Country Club

Class A
1. Gross - R. Barrett
1. Net - S. Elliot
2. Net - F. Lamphiet
3. Net - G. Wojick
Class B
1. Gross - J. Fabiani
1. Net - D. Parsons
2. Net - P. Lund
3. Net - R. Tosh
4. Net - P. Witoba
5. Net - S. Cadenelli
Class C
1. Gross - T. Michaud
1. Net - P. Streckfus
2. Net - J. Ferry
3. Net - M. Wallace
4. Net - S. Smith
Bel Compo Golf Club
Class A
1. Gross - R. Witkowski
1 . Net - P. Pierson
2. Net - J. Fabiani
3. Net - D. Roule
Class B
1. Gross - D. Parsons
1. Net - D. Hosking
2. Net - S. DeVito
3. Net - L. Diezik
4. Net - D. Stachura
5. Net - R. Sibley
Class C
1. Gross - M. Wallace
1. Net - C. Wallace
2. Net - B. Johnson
3. Net - S. Smith
4. Net - T. Fletcher
5. Net - T. Michaud
Guest Division
1. Gross - R. Edmunds, Jr.
1. Net - D.Grant

78
73
74
75
80
69
71
72
74
77
99
71
76
78
79
76
71
71
72
81
65
71
74
75
76
96
67
71
71
73
73
77
73

The Following Companies Are Contributing To The Support Of The Conn. Clippings:
ALPINE TREE CARE, INC.
745 Post Road
Darien, CT 06820
Rolf Brandt - CAG€S member

(203) 655-8008

ANDERSON-WARNER
ENGINEERING CO., INC.
Turf Irrigation
164 No^ Road
Avon, CT 06001

Jesse Anderson, CAGCS member

(203) 677-0225

ANDREW WILSON, INC.
1170 Route 22
Mountanside, NJ 07092

Brian Makar, CAGCS member

(201) 654-5800 Office
(914) 969-5932 Home
AQUA-LAWN, INC.
Irrigation Contractor*
328 Pigiar Ave.
Fairfield, CT 06430

Ittuis Toth, CAGCS member

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

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

(717) 443-9596
MMES 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

Ray mond G. Miller, CAGCS member

(203) 227-9591

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

Robert Kennedy, CAGCS member
Roy Sibley, CAGCS me miter

(203) 529-2537

CLORO-SPRAY
Div. of Henry E. Sanson & Sons, Ine.
475 Beaver Street
Bristol, PA 19007

METRO MILOGRAPH, INC.
P.O. R«x 267
Hawthorne, NY 10532

TOM IRWIN, INC.
1 I B A Street
Burlington, MA 01803

(914) 769-7600

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

John Wistrund, CAGCS member

E.J. Sanson, CAGCS member
Frank Paladino

(212)338-2153

OLD FOX CHEMICAL CO.
Hazardville, CT 06082

EGYPT FARMS, INC.
Sterilized Greens Topdressing
White Marsh, M D 2 U 6 2
(301) 355-3700

John Grant, CAGCS member

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

John Wistrand, CCAGCS member

(914) 769-7600

Ö.M. SCOTT & SONS
Proturf Division
Marysville, OH 43041

EDM DISTRIBUTORS, INC.
Bobcat, Ransomes, Turf Prod,
P.O. Box 551
Agawam, Mass. 01001
Tel. (413) 786-6977

John Callahan, CAGCS member

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

(203) 531-7352

41 Arison, CAGCS member

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

Walter Borek, CAGCS member

PRO-LAWN PRODUCTS, INC.

Roger Morhardt, CAGCS member

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

30 Nashville, Rd.
Bethel, CT 06801
(203) 792-3032

(203) 878-0658

PURPLE KINGS FARM
Custom Greens Dressing
Northwest Hill Rd.
Wiiliamstown, MA 01267

(203) 336-9890

Stephen M. Kotowicz, CAGCS member

Richard Smith, CAGCS member

IMPERIAL NURSERIES
4 Griffin Rd. North
Windsor, CT 06095

Ralph Mason, CAGCS member

John Perrotti, CAGCS member

(413) 458-4646

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

THE REICHERT COMPANY
Oilxum, Trc Motor Oils and Lubricant*
P.O. Box 273
Riverside, CT 06878

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

(203) 661-1816

(203) 688-5293

Dan Cancelled, CAGCS member

Frank Reichert

LAKESHORE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO.
“Home of Lesco Products”
300 S. Abbe Rd.
Elyria, OH 44035
(800) 321-5325
f*rank Downey, CAGCS member
Bill Kebhnne Jr.

SOMERS TURF SUPPLIES
P.O. Box 294
Devon, CT 06460
Bill Somers, CAGCS member

(203) 878-2108

TUCO DIVISION OF UPJOHN CO.
David Sylvester, CAGCS member

47 Main St.
LARCHMONT ENGINEERING & IRRIGATION INC. East Berlin, CT 06203
Larchmount Lane
(203) 828-3790
Lexington, MA. 02173
Stephen P, Butler, CAGCS member
THE TERRE COMPANY
(617) 862-2550
206 Deiawanna Avenue
Clifton, NJ 07014
THE MAGOVERN CO.
Dennis DeSanctis, CAGCS mem Iter
Windsor Locks CT 06096
(201) 473-3393
Carl Wallace, CAGCS member
(201) 521-3174 home
(203) 623-2508 Windsor Locks
(203)348-8211 Stamford

Conn. Clippings

First Cl

Greg Wojick, Editor
49 John St.
Willimantic, Ct. 06226

K a rl Danne b e r g e r
102 P e s t i c i d e

I

>

Mark l/tper, CAGCS member

(203) 289-3471

(203) 748-4445

VALLEY FARMS NURSERY & SUPPLY, INC.
Sod & Turf Products
133 Hopmeadow St. (Route 10)
Simsbury, CT. 06070
Jot' Bidu ell, CAGCS member

(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

WINDING BROOK TURF FARM, INC.
240 Griswold Rd,
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Doug Morgan, CAGCS member

(203) 529-6869

ALBERT ZIKORUS
Golf Course Architect
Member ASCGA
Do Little Drive
Bethany, CT. 06525
(203) 393-2635

Please Support
These Companies