THE CONN. CLIPPINGS June/July 1981 Certification: What’s in it for me? I’m sure this question has crossed many of our minds from time to time. As one moves through life and applies his training as a golf course superintendent, he should be con­ stantly striving to improve his skills. Webster defines “certified” as “vouched for; guaran­ teed.” I feel that this definitiopn is not completely accurate in this case. To me, to become certified is to attain a personal goal, to measure one’s skills and knowledge against a given set of standards. I feel if one asks the question, “What is in it for me? ” he will be disappointed in the national certification program. There is no guarantee of a secure job. There is no instant wealth or recognition. What there is, is the personal satisfaction of reaching a goal. There is the knowledge that one has met certain standards on a national level and has successfully met the challenge. I was personnally shocked and dismayed to learn that I am the 13th superintendent in Connecticut to become certified. I know that many of you can and should accept the challenge of this exam. If one is not willing to learn, to press forward to improve oneself, then I must say that you have only yourself to blame when the day comes that your club begins looking for new and fresh ideas. We all tend to get a little too comfortable in our jobs, and the keen edge of competition is lost. Only you can improve yourself at this point in life, and I strongly encourage you to do it. For the future belongs to those who dare to be different and strive to solve new problems, not those who bury their heads in the sand saying it will go away. So take the step. Study, research and learn. For you will be the ultimate bene­ ficiary. -Michael Wallace CGCS Volume 14, No.3 President’s Message What’s going on with the 18th fairway? How come all this irrigation work in the spring? When is the 13th ladies’ tee going to be built? Why is he planting trees when other work remains incomplete? Have you heard questions such as these recently or in the past? Well I have, and from it, I feel I’ve learned a valuable lesson—on that should not have to be relearned, but nevertheless, oftentimes is. That lesson . . . communicate!!! How often have we heard of the importance of good communication at various conferences over the last several years. I have even written editorials or president’s messages in the recent past regarding the importance of communication with members and employees alike. Yet, I simply took too many things for granted and forgot to let our membership know just what is going on and why. Providing surprises for the member or public-fee golfer when he is up for a leisurely game of golf does not do the golf course superintendent well. Make every effort to familiarize the members with what is going on. Above all, be sure that each member of the Green Committee is fully aware of the various situations on the course, so that he might answer members’ questions when approached. Club newsletters, bulle­ tin boards or special mailings are all ways to establish good communications. REMEM­ BER . . . THE BEST SURPRISE IS NO SURPRISE! The summer meeting schedule sees CAGCS meeting at Hop Meadow C.C. for the first time in a very long time. Our speaker for the evening, Anthony Petrocelli, will discuss how the golf course superintendent can develop better public relations, a most timely topic. Bel Compo Golf Club and the Clinton Country Club are the sites for the July and August meetings in that order. And don’t GOLF Golf is a science, the study of a lifetime, in which you may exhaust yourself but never your subject. It is a contest, a duel, or a melee, calling for courage, skill, strategy and self-control. It is a test of temper, a trial of honor, a revealer of character. It affords a chance to play the man and act the gentle­ man. It means going into God’s out-of-doors, getting close to nature, fresh air, excercise, a recreation of tired tissues. It is a cure for care, an antidote to worry. It includes companion­ ship with friends, social intercourse, oppor­ tunities for courtesy, kindliness and generos­ ity to an opponent. It promotes not only physical health but moral force. -D.R. Forgan F uture H appenings June 16 CAGCS Meeting - Hopmeadow Golf Club Dewey Stanhope - Host Superintendent June 24 UMASS Field Day South Deerfield, Mass. July 14 CAGCS Meeting - Bel Compo Golf Club Tim Michaud - Host Superintendent August 15 CAGCS Family Picnic Winding Trails Park, Farmington, Conn. forget the annual family picnic at Winding Trails Park August 15. The planning is complete! All that is needed to insure a successful season is you! Hope to see as many members as possible at these events. Have a good summer! -Steve Cadenelli Connecticut Association Of Golf Course Superintendents President Meet Your Hosts Hopmeadow Country Club Dewey Stanhope 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 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 Your Class “ C” M embers A class “C” member is a commercial member — any person 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. Clipping” will run a feature on a commercial member drawn at random for each edition of the newsletter. Our first featured commercial member is A1 Arison, a member of CAGCS since 1967. A1 has recently been promoted to the position of Senior Technical Representative for the ProTurf Division of O.M. Scott & Sons in Marysville, Ohio. A1 is only one of twelve Senior Technical Representatives in the entire ProTurf sales force. Al’s background, in addition to a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Connecticut, includes over 15 years of experience in the sales field. A1 lives in Fairfield, Conn., is married and has two sons and two daughters. New Member Jim Fabiani * M embership Report The follow ing are new m em bers of CAGCS: James Fabiani, Class A Chipanee Golf Course Walter Borek, Class C EDM Distributors Ted Maddocks, Class A Country Club of Fairfield Barry Petroska, Class A South Pine Creek Golf Club Congratulations and W elcome! The follow ing have yet to attend the required two m eetings: Michael Minor, Class B Oak Lane Country Club Glenn Moore, Class C Glenmore Landscape James Viggiano, Class C Bacher Corp. James O’Kelly, Class B Race Brook Country Club For Sale: C lassifieds Four (4) Jacobsen hand greens mowers Contact: Dick Cook Black Hall Club Buttonball Road Old Lyme, Conn. 06371 434-2038 1974 Toro Super Pro Contact: Jim Fabiani Chipanee G.C. Bristol, CT 06010 Our June CAGCS meeting will be held at the Hopmeadow Country Club, and host superintendent, Dewey Stanhope says that the course will be ready for the first round of the Superintendent’s Championship. Hop­ meadow Country Club dates back to 1961 when the front nine was completed. Con­ struction on the back nine began in 1962. At present, the clubhouse and clubhouse grounds are being renovated. Dewey Stanhope began his career in the golf course business at Hopmeadow and has been employed there for 19 years. His hard work and dedication to the club vaulted him to the position of superintendent in 1975. Dewey is married and has seven children; his youngest is 16 years old. Bel Compo Golf Club - Tim Michaud Bel Compo Golf Club is the site for the July 14 CAGCS meeting. This 7,149-yard tract is privately owned (by nine people) but has no membership. The front nine was built in 1972, and the back nine was added in 1977. The course was designed by Fred Buenoli & Sons of Avon, Conn, and is characterized by large Penncross greens and trees. A unique feature of the course is that it is divided by the Farmington River and access to the other side is via the only privately owned bridge that crosses the river. The double-row irrigation system is automatically controlled. Tim Michaud is originally from Maine. He obtained much of his early golf course experience in Tacoma, Wash, where he worked at the Tacoma Country & Golf Club and attended the Washington State Univer­ sity Turf School. Tim came to Connecticut in 1974 as assistant to John Perry at the Country Club of Farmington. He became superintendent at Bel Compo in 1977 and has been a member of CAGCS since 1974. Tim is married and has one son and daughter. The golf professional at Bel Compo is Skip Rotondo, and the manager is Tony Rotondo. The final round of the Supertindent’s Championship will be played at Bel Compo. —Nothing increases your golf score like witnesses. Superintendent Invitational The poor condition o f your golf swing. Editorial G olf is a Good W alk Spoiled M ark T w ain At our April CAGCS meeting there were 37 golfers (about 21% of our membership). At the May meeting, there were 33 golfers (about 18% of the membership). This is a poor showing for an association that is directly involved in the game of golf. Playing golf not only keeps you in touch with the golf course and the playing conditions, but it also gives the superintendent more confidence in dealing with his green committee and membership. Commercial members can benefit by seeing how their products work on a client’s course. Some of us may agree with Mark Twain who feels that playing “golf is a good walk spoiled,” or perhaps you hate to take divots or spoil greens with ball marks. Maybe you’re embarrassed by the poor condition of your golf swing, or perhaps you’re dis­ couraged because you never win a prize. These are poor excuses when you stop to think about the benefits you can get from playing another member’s golf course. When I play a golf course, I always manage to pick up at least one idea that I can bring back and use of my course. If you don’t need any fresh ideas, perhaps you could offer a helpful tip to a host superintendent who has a problem in a particular area. Remember, the objective of this association is to encourage increased knowledge of golf course manage­ ment and greater professionalism through education, research and exchange of practi­ cal experience and to be concerned with the well-being of each member. And what better way is there to help the well-being of a fellow member than by offering him a bit of constructive criticism. Get involved with the game of golf. Dust off those old clubs (or buy new ones), shine up your shoes and play. If you don’t take the time to play, walk the course and look around. I’m sure you won’t regret it. -Greg Wojick Anyone who was on hand at the Race Brook Country Club for the Superintendent Invitational Tournament participated in a truly class event. The full field of 36 teams enjoyed a fine golf course (in super condition, Armand), excellent food and exceptional hospitality to go along with the perfect weather conditions. Our sincere thanks goes to Armand LeSage and his crew, the staff at Race Brook and the golf committee for putting together an out­ standing day. We’d also like to thank A1 Arison and Bill Somers for handling the golf tournament. If you missed the Invitational this year, get your checks out early for next year’s tourney which will be held at the Hartford Golf Club. The Winners were: First Gross Watertown C.C. 66 Second Gross Mill River C.C. 67 Third Gross Willimantic C.C. 68 First Net Farmington Woods C.C. 57 Second Net Wethersfield C.C. 57 Third Net Waterbury C.C. 59 Golf Results April 20 Country Club of F airfield Gross 1. 2. 3. Net 1. 2. 3. “B” Division Gross 1. 2. 3. Charles Cohn Dick Cook Bert Furgess D. Mahoney P. Pierson E.Johnson 80 81 82 63 65 68 Bob Viera Barry Tetrasco Jim Fabiani May 12 86 86 91 Dave Roule Bob Viera Greg Wojick Dick Parsons 78 81 70 71 Brian Pope Bill Somers Les Shieber Bob Chalifour 90 90 69 71 Jim Fabiani John Napieracz 85 93 Jack Lynch Tim Michaud 72 73 W illim antic Country Club “A” Division Gross 1. 2. Net 1. 2. “B” Division Gross 1. 2. Net 1. 2. “C” Division Gross 1. 2. Net 1. 2. Hey Dick, why are you standing on the wrong side of the ball? Scholarship and Research Tournam ent The Scholarship and Research Committee of CAGCS will host the third annual Scholar­ ship and Research Tournament at the Edgewood Golf Club in Cromwell, Conn, on October 6, 1981. S & R chairman Peter Pierson is the host suerintendent. The past two S & R Tournaments have been extremely successful and enjoyable. The number of participants has grown every year, and this year, Peter is expecting a full field. There will be plenty of prizes, an excellent dinner and, of course, the alwayschallenging Edgewood Golf Course. Individ­ ual entries will be accepted, but we urge you to make an effort to enter at least one fourmember team. The team members can be anyone who is interested in supporting our effort in scholarship and research. Starting times will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from both the first and 10th tees. The entry fee will be $120 per team, $30 per person. This will include the golf, electric cart, prizes and dinner. We are looking forward to a great tournament, and with your support, our S & H effort will be the ultimate winner. ournament, and with your support, our S & R effort will be the ultimate winner. GCSAA Highlights A new service designed to assist GCSAA members renew their state pesticide certifi­ cation requirements is in the works. GCSAA has contacted plant regulatory officials in each state providing them with information concerning the Disease & Insect Identifica­ tion and Control Seminars as well as the Conference Educational Program. To date, 20 states have responded with 12 of those 20 accepting the above programs as credit toward renewing state certification. A com­ plete listing of state acceptance of these programs will be published when all infor­ mation is in. GCSAA will accept CPR (Cardio Pulmon­ ary Resuscitation) training as one-point credit toward certification renewal. A copy of the CPR card will be accepted as evidence of training. * * * Orlando, FL., more specifically, the Disney Coif Complex, has been selected for GCSAA’s 1982 Golf Tournament. Look for more info in the July issue of GOLF COURSE MANAGEMENT. In the months to come, approximately 1,500 GCSAA members will have a unique opportunity to influence the course of their professional association, simply by complet­ ing a questionnaire. The eight-page questionnaire, designed by Simmons Market Research Bureau, a leader in the field of demographic research, will deal with many aspects of members’ professional and personal lives. The survey answers, which will be completely confidential, will be used in evaluating current and proposed Association programs to make them more responsive to members’ needs and desires. Be sure to complete and return this survey should you be one of those randomly selected * * * GCSAA Gold Membership cards will admit members to USGA, PGA and LPGA sponsored events including the PGA Championship and Masters. It is important that members present their card at the main entrance or “Will Call” window as it is impossible for all tournament employees to be aware of admission * * policies. * Annual dues are payable by July 1. Be sure to get your payment in the mail quickly to avoid a disruption of services. * * * The 1982 Conference & Show is sched­ uled for New Orleans the week of January 31 through February 5. Scheduled for the early part of carnival season, which leads up to Mardi Gras February 23, the conference promises to be an extremely worthwhile educational opportunity as well as provide a bit of Dixie hospitality. .Steve Cadenelli * * * * * * Why Your Superintendent Should Be A Golfer R eprinted from Florida G olfweek I don’t know personally of a lawyer who doesn’t practice law, a doctor who doesn’t use his knowledge to heal, an automobile mechanic who does not keep his hands at least partly greasy. I don’t know of a chef who doesn’t cook, and so on, ad infinitum. I do know of clubs that do not allow their superintendents to play golf, except rarely. I even know superintendents who have never even played golf. I question either of these practices. Having been active since before grade school in the golf profession, and having a father who had over 50 years in the business and other relatives in other parts of golf-related activities, from club members to employees, I just don’t understand why a golf club would restrict the golf superintendent activity, playing golf. And I sure can’t understand the superintendent who can’t, or refuses to learn how to play the game. How in the world can a non-golfer even understand all the intracacies of the game, a grassed golf course, if he cannot personally play the game, and come to appreciate the golfers’ point of view? I wouldn’t want a non-participating doctor removing my appendix. I would not want an auto mechanic repairing my roof, and vice-versa. That’s how important it is for the golf course Super to play the game. Years ago, my father was required to submit to the board two attested golf scores each and every week. No excuses were accepted for failure. It meant instant discharge. His predecessor had been on the property as superintendent for over 20 years, and didn’t even know the names of the clubs, much less how and where to use them. This golf club was probably one of the first in the country, back in 1928, to recognize this very important part of being a golf course super­ intendent. In all the years since then, and even after Dad’s retirement and passing, that club has had only one superintendent who did not play the game. He didn’t even finish two years on the job before he was discharged. When you go from the best to the worst, spend $50,000 more in an annual budget, and can’t give a golfer a golfer’s reason for the existing conditions, it must be that you don’t know the game. Consequently, he was fired. Your golf course superintendent doesn’t have to be a par buster. Even if he can’t break 100, you should see that your pro, or your superintendent set themselves a goal of getting him to shoot to least within the 85 to 95 range consistently. Their mutual effort at this task, and its being accomplished, will almost automatically make them work to­ gether for other good benefits from which the club and its members will profit in all ways. A superintendent who can play within the desired range can more adequately satisfy the golfers and committees. Logical answers will be given and accepted. If you know he doesn’t play the game, and question him about something, the first thought in your mind is, “How the he—does he know, he can’t even play the game!” One of the greatest assets a club can have besides a golfing superintendent, is to allow him to have other superintendents over to play with him periodically. He can get peer opinions from professional people for whom he has great respect. No one knows better the way to travel than a man who has already been there and back. Everyone benefits from such an extended privilege, especially the golfers at the four golf courses these four men represent. After all, the golfers are the people whom we must want to benefit. I’ve learned more during the 4-5 hours playing with golf course superintendents than I did in the previous four years of college. There was therapy in print. On the links, it was fact, in the presence of growing turf. If a picture is worth a thousand words, problems solved on the spot, by group professionals mutually linked to the common good of all involved, must be worth millions of words, and therefore, dollars. So get that superintendent out on the golf course, play with him if you’re the chairman, or on the committee, or are a board member. Don’t take his mind off the game while you’re playing, you’re both out for that, but try to mutually make the course better for all players. Then after you’ve finished the round, talk about problems, then it will be fresh in both minds. I’m glad I play the game, and even more glad that some of my fondest memories are of people who helped me be a fair golfer, and at the same time, made me a better golf course superintendent. It’s a great challenge and one of the best tools of my trade. The result for playing and recognizing the golfers’ problems helps me give my members a better, more challenging golf course. After all, that’s what they’re paying for, and I like to feel that most of them are happy and proud at our course. D id You Know . . . ? Golf is called golf because it comes from the Dutch word Kolf, meaning Club. The Following Companies Are Contributing To The Support Of The Conn. Clippings: ALPINE TREE CARE, INC. 745 Post Road Darien, CT 06820 Rolf Brandt - CAGCS member (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 Mountanside, NJ 07092 Brian Makar, CAGCS member (201) 654-5800 Office (914) 969-5932 Home AQUA-LAWN, INC. Irrigation Contractors 328 Figiar Ave. Fairfield, CT 06430 Louis 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 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 CHAS. C. HART COMPANY 304 Main St. Wethersfield, CT 06109 Robert Kennedy, CAGCS member Roy Sibley, CAGCS member (203) 529-2537 CLORO-SPRAY Div. of Henry E. Sanson & Sons, Inc. 475 Beaver Street Bristol, PA 19007 E.J. Sanson, CAGCS member Frank Paladino (212) 338-2153 EGYPT FARMS, INC. Sterilized Greens Topdressing White Marsh, MD 21162 (301) 355-3700 John Wistrand, CCAGCS member (914) 769-7600 EDM DISTRIBUTORS, INC. Bobcat, Ransomes, Turf Prod. P.O. Box 551 Agawam, Mass. 01 001 Tel. (413) 786-6977 METRO MILOGRAPH, INC. P.O. Box 267 Hawthorne, NY 10532 TOM IRWIN, INC. 11 B A Street Burlington, MA 01803 (914) 769-7600 (203) 677-7054 (617) 273-0143 John Wistrand, CAGCS member OLD FOX CHEMICAL CO. Hazardville, CT 06082 John Grant, CAGCS member P.O. Box 62 Pleasant Valley, CT 06063 (203) 379-3579 O. M. SCOTT & SONS Proturf Division Marysville, OH 43041 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. Williamstown, MA 01267 Richard Smith, CAGCS member IMPERIAL NURSERIES 4 Griffin Rd. North Windsor, CT 06095 (203) 336-9890 Stephen M. Kotowicz, CAGO?member Ralph Mason, CAGCS member John Perrotti, CAGCS member (413) 458-4646 J.A. JACKSON CORPORATION 430 Center Avenue Mamaroneck, NY 10543 THE REICHERT COMPANY Oilzum, Tre Motor Oils and Lubricants P. O. Box 273 Riverside, CT 06878 (914) 698-4150 (914) 667-3737 (203) 661-1816 (203) 688-5293 Dan Cancelleri, CAGCS member LAKESHORE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. “Home of Lesco Products” 300 S. Abb«“ Rd. Elyria, OH 44035 (800) 321-5325 Frank Downey, CAGCS member Bill Kebhane Jr. Frank Reichert SOMERS TURF SUPPLIES P.O. Box 294 Devon, CT 06460 Bill Somers, CAGCS member (203) 878-2108 Tl CO DIVISION OF UPJOHN CO. David Sylvester, CAGCS member ( 47 Main St. LARCHMONT ENGINEERING & IRRIGATION INC. East Berlin, CT 06203 (203)828-3790 Larchmount Lane Lexington, MA. 02173 Stephen P. Butler, CAGCS member THE TERRE COMPANY (617) 862-2550 206 Delaw anna Avenue Clifton, NJ 07014 THE MAGOVERN CO. * Dennis DeSnnctis, CAGCS member Windsor Locks CT 06096 (201) 473-3393 Carl Wallace, C AGCS member (201) 521-3174 home (203) 623-2508 Windsor Locks (203)348-8211 Stamford Conn. Clippings Greg Wojick, Editor 49 John St. Willimantic, Ct. 06226 Firs$Class%. Karl Danneberger 102 F esticid e Research MSV East Lansing, MI 4Ö624 Mark hiper, CAGCS member (203) 289-3471 (203) 748-4445 VALLEY FARMS NURSERY & SUPPLY, INC. Sod & Turf Products 133 Hopmeadow St. (Route 10) Simsbury, CT. 06070 Joe Bidwell, C4GCS 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 Z1KORUS Golf Course Architect Member ASCGA Do Little Drive Bethany, CT. 06525 (203) 393-2635 Please Support These Companies