CONNECTICUT APRIL - MAY 1982 President’s Message CLIPPINGS April is here and with it the endless little details which must be looked after. All is ready for the season to come. Plans are made, new programs in place, and hopes ride high. It is at this time that I feel it is extremely im­ portant to remember a simple but often overlooked fact: Communication is your most effective tool and ally. Let your club members know what you in­ tend to do, when you intend to do it, and how and why you intend to do something, and success in your endeavor will be much closer at hand. It is also necessary to follow up your new programs with timely status reports. If all is well, this should be noted, but if a snag has occurred, it is best to also note this and the action which you intend to take to remedy the problem. This art of communication can take many forms: A club newsletter, club meetings or verbal communication to mem­ bers’ questions on the course. Whatever form it takes, it is a vital tool in your management program. It must be practiced and refined, and if so done, it can be an extremely valu­ able asset. In closing, I would like to ask you not to forget to smell the roses along the path of life. Often we get so caught up in the day-to-day hussle and bussle that we don’t see the great and wonderful environment in which we work. Take a moment to look around you at all the beauty. We are indeed fortunate to be able to enjoy such a profession. Michael Wallace, CGCS What’s Happening? What’s happening at your golf course? Drop a line to Connecticut Clippings and let us know. Any new ideas or ways to improve the newsletter will be welcomed by the news­ letter committee. Greg Wojick, Editor Volume 15, Number 2 The Superintendent’s Tour Shorehaven - Bob Phipps One-half mile of salt marsh coastline high­ lights his month’s host club, the first stop of the 1982 Superintendent’s Tour, the Shorehaven Country Club, in East Norwalk. The Shorehaven course was built 56 years ago and, at about 6,300 yards from the white tee markers, is a typical links type of layout. As you might expect, the wind is always a factor. Host superintendent Bob Phipps says all flags are usually straight out by nine o’clock every morning. The windy conditions have a tremendous drying effect at Shorehaven. The wind, plus the well-drained soil on most of the course, means that Bob must irrigate more than most of us, starting earlier in the spring and ex­ tending later into the fall. Not surprisingly, then, Bob’s biggest problem is availability of water. The club is now trying to find a suitable site for the construction of a new lake that will eliminate the need to buy water from the city. The current 25 GPM well is not adequate. Bob is a 1963 graduate of UMass. After graduation, he worked as Bill Dest’s assistant at the Wethersfield Country Club for three years before moving to the superintendent’s position at the Cohasse Country Club in Southbridge, Mass. Seven years later, he accepted the superintendent’s job at Shore­ haven, where he is now in his tenth year. Bob and his wife Diane have a daughter, Kim, who is now a freshman at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She is attending school with the help of a CAGCS scholarship. I know it may be too much to hope for, but I’d like to see the wind die down on April 13 when I have to play at Shorehaven. Farms - Stan Sablak Stan Sablak is May’s host when the Super­ intendent’s Tour stops at the Farms Country Club in Wallingford. Stan has been at the Farms for four years, coming there after eight years as superintendent at the Edgewood Golf Club in Cromwell. Prior to Edgewood, Stan spent three years as superintendent at Amherst Golf Club in Amherst, Mass., and one year at Honey Hill Country Club in up­ state New York. Stan is a Turf Management graduate of UMass’ Stockbridge School. He and his wife, Sandra, have two children, ages 10 and 13. The Farms course, opened 22 years ago and designed by Geoffrey Cornish, measures 6,398 yards from the white tee markers. It has a relatively wide-open front side, but a much tighter, wooded back side. Being a Cornish-designed course, there must be at least one hole with a tree firmly planted in the middle of the fairway! Stan, his assistant, Steve Gammons, and a crew of 11 maintain the course. Their biggest problem, like that of Bob Phipps at Shore­ haven, is water - or rather, the lack of it. Hopefully, the solution lies close at hand. A neighboring hospital has a well on the club’s property which may become available to the club as soon as city water is piped to the hos­ pital. Four years ago, that project was slated for completion within a year. Four years later, however, it’s still on the drawing board with no indication as to when it might break loose. So near, and yet, so far. John Motvcka Times must be getting tough I got a get-sick card from my doctor. 2 Connecticut Association Of Golf Course Superintendents President Officers Michael Wallace, CGCS Rockledge Country Club Office 203-233-3594 Home 203-673-4608 Vice President Peter Pierson Edgewood Golf Course Office 203-635-2211 Home 203-635-5413 Sec.-Treasurer David Stimson, CGCS Tumblebrook C.C. Office 203-243-0150 Home 203-289-6979 Board of Directors Greg Wojick Mark Fuller James Medeiros Steve Divito Thomas Fletcher Ted Maddocks Ron Holcomb Stephen Cadenelli Immediate Past President John Ferry Associate Director 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” Members Our featured member for this issue is Carl Wallace, a turf specialist involved in both chemical and equipment sales for the MaGovern Co., South Windsor, Conn. At­ tendance at the University of Hartford, six years with the Kerr Magee Co. and 13 years with the MaGovern Co., allows Carl to pass along helpful advice to superintendents. Not wishing to get “too bogged down with techni­ calities of the job,” he likes to lighten up with a “poorly but enjoyably” played game of golf. A resident of Portland, Carl and his wife Marge, have two children; Donna, 16, and Brien, 13. Mike Reeb Crass Catcher Mike McDermott of Twin Hills Golf Club in Coventry, Conn, has given Conn. Clippings an update on his back-nine expan­ sion project. Mike says he’s hoping for a July 1983 opening date for the new back nine, which began construction in 1977. Mike and his crew are doing the construction work as well as maintainance work on the existing nine holes, and Mike reports that all greens will be finish graded and seeded this fall. Fairways will be cleared of “all” rocks and will also be seeded this fall - Mother Nature permitting, of course. Mike is giving serious thought to the construction of a windmill as a power source for his irrigation system. He is gathering information on windmills and would appre­ ciate input from anyone who has had exper­ ience with them. Keep the faith, Mike, you’ll be “catching grass” in no time. ******* Those of you who did not attend the March 16 CAGCS meeting missed a very stimulat­ ing get-together. New President Mike Wal­ lace conducted a smoothly run meeting and offered members the opportunity to voice their opinions on topics relating to associ­ ation business . . . Secretary/Treasurer Da­ vid Stimson gave his always-accurate finan­ cial report... Social chairman Steve DiYito reported that the social event survey results will soon be compiled and available ... Edu­ cation committee chairman Jim Medieros announced the upcoming meeting dates . . . Acting golf chairman Peter Pierson intro­ duced the new and promising golf tourna­ ment program for this year, and he also announced that Ron Holcomb will take on the responsibility of the new S&R committee chairman . . . Chapter relations chairman Frank Lamphier gave the membership a detailed report on the successful election of Bob Osterman to the Vice-President’s posi­ tion on the CCSAA’s executive board . . . Immediate Past President Steve Cadenelli filled in members on the results of the pro­ posed banning of the material dioxin in Connecticut. Again, member participation was empha­ sized and the highlight of the meeting was the testimony by past CAGCS presidents Harry Muesel and Frank Lampbier on the per­ sonal benefits they have gained through their years of participation in both the state and national associations. Harry Muesel was also awarded a 24-year GCSAA membership pin. Congratulations, Harry! If you couldn’t make the March meeting, make plans now to attend the April meeting in Shorehaven, and send in your reserva­ tion card to help Bob Phipps and the staff at Shorehaven plan for the meeting. If you haven’t paid your membership dues by April 1, David Stimson will delete your name from the membership roster. So get your check into him, PRONTO! ****** By now, each member should have re­ ceived a notice concerning the Conn. Clip­ pings mailing list update. If you would like your green chairman, club president, pro or someone else to receive Conn. Cippings, please fill out the card with that person’s name and address as soon as possible. If you know of someone who is receiving the news­ letter and really shouldn’t, please let me know so that I can delete his or her name from my list. ****** Turf Products Corporation has agreed to supply Conn. Clippings with computer­ ized mailing stickers. Once again, our com­ mercial members have come through to support our group. Try to patronize the suppliers listed on the back cover of this newsletter. ****** Those Were The Days and Front Nine Back Nine are two new columns being intro­ duced in this issue of Conn. Clippings. Those Were The Days will include reprints of bits of news from past issues of Conn. Clippings. I find them very interesting and hope you will too. Front Nine - Back Nine is the brain­ child of Peter Pierson. This column will be the sounding board of the golf committee and will include reports on the “happenings” of our golfing year. * * He * * * John Motyeka, owner of the Skungamaug River Golf Club, and Mike Reeb, superin­ tendent of the Redding Country Club, have agreed to participate in the publication of Conn. Clippings. John initiated the idea of “The Superintendent’s Tour” and will han­ dle the writing of that column for each issue. Mike will be interviewing our class “C” com­ mercial members and will be reporting on the backgrounds of these essential members oi our association. John, Mike, Bill Somers, as photograph­ er, and I will constitute the newsletter com­ mittee for this year. Greg Wojick, Editor 3 CAGCS History - 1968 Those Were The Days Joe Bidwell, superintendent of the Golf Club of Avon, is busy with the construction of their new nine. The design work was done by Geoffrey Cornish. Greens are of C-l, C19 mixture and the fairways are a bent and Merion mixture. All the trees are bent and will be cut at one-half inch. sfc s|c * * * s|e Walt Lowell, superintendent at the Can­ ton Country Club, teamed with Tom Nettlebladt to win the Conn. PGA Pro-Am championship. Walt also is the Pro at Can­ ton. The team won first honors with a nineunder-par at the beautiful Shuttle Meadow Country Club. ****** The Country Club of Waterbury is in the process of installing an eight-foot fence along its perimeter. Approximately 10,000 feet of fencing will be installed this year. Major rea­ son for fence; vandalism. ****** Dates -to Rem em ber r j S i | | 1___ j April 13 CAGCS Monthly Meeting Shorehaven Golf Club Bob Phipps - Host Superin- | tendent May 18 CAGCS Monthly Meeting | The Farms Country Club g Stan Sablak - Host Super- 1 intendent June 1 CAGCS Monthly Meeting Stanley Golf Course John Napieracz - Host g Superintendent | June 14 CAGCS Invitational g Hartford Golf Club David Roule - Host Super- | intendent g 1 Spring —On Hold! Tardy Winds feigning as a Bird’s wing, Whipped across the khaki Terrene, And suppressed (at the dawn of Spring), The vivid color of Green. Frank Paladino A new country club is under construction in Hebron, Connecticut. The name of the club is the Hebron Health and Country Club. The design work was done by Mike Ovian. Greens are seeded to Penncross, and every­ thing else is seeded to 0217, fylking and Ken Pierce, superintendent at Blackledge norlea ryegrass. Opening day is tentatively C.C., the new nine holes are open for set for July 4, 1969. The superintendent’s play. reports With all 18 holes in use, they are position will be filled this winter. looking forward to a busy season. ****** ****** Front Nine Back Nine CAGCS wants as many members as pos­ sible to play and enjoy golf at our monthly meetings. This year, there will be three divisions for our golf events: Class A 0-12, Class B 13-24 and Class C 25-36. It is the responsibility of each CAGCS member to establish and maintain his own handi­ cap. CAGCS has neither the time nor the means to establish and maintain handicaps for our members. A handicap card, either from the Connecticut State Golf Association or a club handicap card, will be required and must be presented when registering for play at our meetings. Members not having a state or club handicap will be put in a Calloway group. There will be many different events in the golf schedule for 1982. Some of these will include a Superintendent/Green Chairman tournament at Brooklawn Country Club on October 12, a Superintendent/Assistant Su­ perintendent tournament, the Connecticut State Golf Association trophy and the Mclaughin trophy. The CAGCS Championship will be run a little differently this year in that there will be some flexibility in the number of rounds required during the course of our events. What we are trying to do is to set up a schedule that will allow a member to miss a meeting and not toss him out of the champi­ onship. More on this will be forthcoming. The golf fee will remain $5 per regular tournament. Special events such as Superin­ tendent/Green Chairman and Superinten­ dent/Assistant Superintendent tournaments will have a separate fee. Peter Pierson, Golf Chairman Several new golf courses are “on the Tumble Brook Country Club superinten­ boards” in Connecticut. Reports are that dent, Dave Stimson, has turfed all 18 tees Geoffrey Cornish is working on ten courses with an Astoria and Seaside bentgrass mix­ in Connecticut. We even have a California A five-foot collar around every green architect working on a course in Connecticut. ture. was also turfed. Two tees were rebuilt with the size being greatly increased. ****** Black Hall Club, with Dick Cook as superintendent, is hoping to be playing all 18 holes by the time Conn. Clippings ’June copy reaches everyone. Dick also reports that the new holes built last fall at Old Lyme C.C. are open for play. ****** ****** The minimum wage as of July 1, 1967 is $1.40 per hour. This will be increased to $1.60 per hour on July 1, 1968. Reprinted from Conn. Clippings 1968 “ Same time again tomorrow —weather permitting, of course?" The Following Companies Are Contributing To The Support Of The Conn. Clippings: ALPINE TREE CARE, INC. 745 Post Road Darien, CT 06820 Rolf Brandt - C4GCS member (203) 655-8008 ANDERSON TURF IRRIGATION. INC Turf Irrigation 164 Nod Road Avon, CT 06001 Jesse Jnderson, C IGCS member (203) 677-0225 ANDREW WILSON, INC. 15 Brown Avenue Springfield, NJ 07081 Drew Morrison, C.4GCS member (201) 467-1400 Office (201) 273-8555 Home AQUA-LAWN, INC. Irrigation Contractors 328 Figlai 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 292-4 White Haven, PA 18661 Gene Evans (717) 443-9596 JAMES CARR I ERE & SONS, INC. Trap Sand & Partae Topdressing 7 Cottage St. Port Chester, NY 10573 (914) 937-5479 (914) 937-2136 C.B. DOLGE COMPANY Westport, CT 06880 Raymond G. Miller, CAGES member (203) 227-9591 CHAS. C. HART COMPANY 304 Main St. Wethersfield. CT 06109 Robert Kennedy, C4CCS member Roy Sibley. C 4GCS member (203) 529-2537 CLORO-SPRAY Div. of Henry E. Sanson & Sons, Ine. 475 Beaver Street Bristol, PA 19007 E.J. Sanson, C IGCS member Frank PaUtdino (212) 338-2153 EGYPT FARMS, INC. Sterilized Greens Topdressing White Marsh, MI) 21162 (301) 355-3700 John Wistrand, CCAGCS member (914) 769-7600 EDM DISTRIBUTORS, INC. Bobcat. Ransomes, Turf Prod. P.O. Box 551 Agawam, Mass. 01001 Tel. (413) 786-6977 Walter Borek, CAGE'S member I & E SUPPLY, INC. 66 Erna Ave., P.O. Box 9 Milford, CT 06460 Bit-hard Smith CAGCS maerb°r (203) 878-0658 IMPERIAL NURSERIES 4 Griffin Rd. North Windsor, CT 06095 John Perrotti. C IGCS member (203) 688-5293 J.A. JACKSON CORPORATION 430 Center Avenue Mamaroneck, NY 10543 Dan Cancelleri, C4GCS member (914) 698-4150 (914) 667-3737 LAKESHORE EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY CO. “Home of Lesco Products” 300 S. Abbe Rd. Elyria, OH 44035 (800) 321-5325 Frank Downey. CAGCS member Bill Kebhane Jr. METRO MILORGAMTE P.O. Box 267 Hawthorne, NY 10532 John Wistrand, C IGCS member (914) 769-7600 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 41 Irison. C IGCS member (203) 336-9890 PRO-LAWN PRODUCTS, INC. Stephen M. Kotowiez, CAGCS member 30 Nashville, Rd. Bethel. CT 06801 (203) 792-3032 PURPLE KINGS FARM Custom Greens Dressing Northwest Hill Rd. Williamstown. MA 01267 Ralph Mason. C IGCS member (413) 458-4646 THE REICHERT COMPANY Oilzum, Texas Refinery Motor Oil & Lubricants Fran. & Wix Filters Automotive Supplies, Si Batteries P. O. Box 273, Riverside, Ct. 06878 Frank X. Reiehert (203) 637-2958 SOMERS TURF SUPPLIES P.O. Box 294 Devon, CT 06460 Bill Somers, CAGCS member (203) 878-2108 Tl CO DIVISION OF UPJOHN CO. Dot i