USGA 
GREEN SECTION 
RECORD

Crew laying an asphalt path to carry cart traffic the length of a fairway.

CART PATHS

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Published by the United States Golf Association
© 1967 by United States Golf Association. Permission to reproduce articles or material in the USGA 
GREEN SECTION RECORD is granted to publishers of newspapers and periodicals (unless specifically 
noted otherwise), provided credit is given the USGA and copyright protection is afforded. To reprint 
material in other media, written permission must be obtained from the USGA. In any case, neither 
articles nor other material may be copied or used for any advertising, promotion or commercial purposes.

VOL 4, No. 5 

JANUARY 1967

Cart Paths by James L. Holmes ...............   1

A New Manpower Source by Kenneth H. Freeland ............   6

Budget Reporting 

by Alexander M. Radko, Lee Record and Albert Neuberger ...............  9

Turf Twisters..............................................................................................  Back  Cover

Published six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November by the UNITED 
STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION, 40 East 38th ST., NEW YORK, N. Y. 10016. Subscription: $2 a year. 
Single copies: 30<J. Subscriptions and address changes should be sent to the above address. Articles, photo­
graphs, and correspondence relevant to published material should be addressed to: United States Golf 
Association Green Section, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. Second class postage paid at 
Rutherford, N. J. Office of Publication: 315 Railroad Avenue, East Rutherford, N. J.

Editor: Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson 

Managing Editor: Robert Sommers

THE GREEN SECTION OF THE UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION
Green Section Committee Chairman: Henry H. Russell, P. O. Box 697, Perrine, Fla. 33157.

Green Section Agronomists and Offices

EASTERN REGION 
Northeastern Office: P. O. Box 1237. 
Highland Park, N. J. 08904
Alexander M. Radko, Director, Eastern Region 
Holman M. Griffin, Northeastern Agronomist 
Raymond E. Harman, Northeastern Agronomist 
Albert Neuberger, Northeastern Agronomist 
Lee Record, Northeastern Agronomist

Southeastern Office: P. O. Box 4213, 
Campus Station, Athens, Ga. 30601

James B. Moncrief, Southeastern Agronomist

MID-CONTINENT REGION
Southwestern Office: Texas A&M University,
College Station, Texas 77843 
Dr. Marvin H. Ferguson, Director, Mid-Continent 
Region and National Research Coordinator

Mid-Western Office: Room 905, 
211 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60611 

James L. Holmes, Mid-Western Agronomist

WESTERN REGION 
Western Office: P. O. Box 567, 
Garden Grove, Calif. 92642 
William H. Bengeyfield, Director, Western Region

USGA OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT: Wm. Ward Foshay, New York, N. Y.
VICE-PRESIDENTS: Hord W. Hardin, St. Louis, 

Mo. Philip H. Strubing, Philadelphia, Pa.

SECRETARY: Robert K. Howse, Wichita, Kans.

TREASURER: Fred Brand, Jr., Pittsburgh, Pa.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The above officers and :
Victor N. Carter, Houston, Texas; Robert F.
Dwyer, Portland, Ore. ; Edward L. Emerson, Bos­
ton, Mass.; C. McD. England, Huntington, W.

Va. ; Lynford Lardner, Jr., Milwaukee, Wis. ; 
Eugene S. Pulliam, Indianapolis, Ind. ; Henry H. 
Russell, Miami. Fla. ; Lynn A. Smith, Pasadena, 
Calif. ; Charles P. Stevenson, Buffalo, N. Y. ; 
Morrison Waud, Chicago, Ill.

GENERAL COUNSEL: Harton S. Semple, Sewick­

ley, Pa.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Joseph C. Dey, Jr.
ASSISTANT DIRECTORS: P. J. Boatwright, Jr., 

Frank Hannigan

USGA HEADQUARTERS: “Golf House”, 40 East 38th Street, New York, N. Y. 10016

Cart Paths

By James L. Holmes, Mid-Western Agronomist, USGA Green Section

Dirt, pine needles, rcdwocd and other 

types of wood chips, tanbark, pea­
nut and pecan hulls, sawdust, shells, 
concrete, sand, gravel and asphalt are 
among things used for golf cart road­
ways.

Indeed, the grand entrance of 
mechanized golf carts has altered main­
tenance practices as well as the game 
itself. Golf carts, especially those with 
wide tires, cause little compaction to 
soils. However, the shearing action 
where the tire meets soil, sandwiching 
grass blades between, results in bare, 
rutted areas very quickly. One cart 
pass will cause damage or shearing. 
Consequently, many golf course super­
intendents have cart paths, or plan to 
install them.

What is the best arrangement? 
Courses which have 12-month play and 
where cart use is heavy have installed 
paths throughout the grounds, and 
many insist that carts stay on those 
paths at all times. A non-cart en­

thusiast measured the distance walked 
for 18 holes with a cart and again 
without a cart. The difference was ap­
proximately 500 yards longer without 
the cart. Unless the golfer is inhumanly 
accurate and can hit his ball to a path 
in every shot, he is in for some walking 
with this arrangement.

Rather than build paths throughout 
the course, some clubs install roads 
where cart operators naturally seem to 
go. Invariably, this starts at the Num­
ber 1 tee, and also in funnel areas 
between greens and the following tee. 
Efforts are made, as indeed they 
should or must be, to place paths in 
out-of-play areas, such as among trees 
which may be close to putting sur­
faces, behind traps placed near 
greens, or behind the green.
Fairway-Length Paths
Rules are made, but not always en­
forced, whereby cart operators must 
use paths in funnel areas or where 
paths exist. Some paths have been

Paths for three modes of transport are shown in this picture. First, the rail car for 
walking golfers who shun hills. To its left is an asphalt path for powered carts. Along­
side the asphalt path is a worn track created by walking golfers who climb hills, 
but not on hard paths.

Paths often are laid through normally unused portions of the course.

installed the length of entire fairways 
for some specific purpose. If fairway 
and rough conditions are such on a 
given hole that paths cannot be in­
stalled, they are placed in remote areas 
or where cart use is assured.

Where paths have not been installed, 
it has been observed that less perma­
nent damage is done if carts are allowed 
to roam throughout the course rather 
than restricted to specific locations, 
such as rough only or fairway only. 

Cracked and crumbling edges demonstrate 
the damage done to paths that are not 
wide enough to contain a cart.

Where it is not desirable to install an 
artificial path, but turf wear is a 
problem, increased cultural practices 
are helpful. Such practices as aeration, 
extra fertilization, artificial watering 
and disease control should be carried 
out.

Even though many items are used 
as path material, the trend definitely 
is toward asphalt. If other materials, 
such as gravel or sand, are used, they 
eventually are covered with asphalt. 
Many superintendents, contractors, and 
cart users have been asked what type 
of path they prefer. Without exception, 
the one considered best, and actually 
the most economical in the long run, 
consists of 3 to 4 inches gravel under­
base covered with 2 inches of “hot 
roll” (240°-280°) asphalt which will 
not harden to a consistency impene­
trable by spikes.

Width Of Paths

In the beginning most paths were 
4 feet wide. But carts simply will not 
stay on a 4-foot expanse. Paths have 
been increased to 6 feet in many cases 
but the trend is to 8-foot width. The 

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

8-foot width is appropriate for a num­
ber of reasons:

1) Anyone can stay on them.
2) They can be used for maintenance 

equipment.

3) asphalt spreaders normally lay 
8-foot swaths; thus it could be less 
expensive to place 8-foot rather than 
6-foot paths in some instances.

At Number 1 tee locations, often 
even 8 feet is not adequate. Grass that 
once covered the areas next to tees is 
gradually being replaced by asphalt at 
some courses. Grass cannot grow when 
you are standing on it, and the Number 
1 teeing area is the most difficult to 
keep turfed. As much asphalt or other 
type pathing as necessary must be 
placed here.

The range of path material is wide, 
from one extreme of just dirt roads 
formed by traffic to complete concrete 
runways. But, as previously mentioned, 
gravel covered with asphalt is finding 
favor. Generally these paths are built 
as follows:
1. Of most importance is the formation 
of a sound, well-constructed base; 
the resulting path will be as good

Wafer was encouraged to run off to the 
sides of this path, causing the erosion 
shown along the edge.

as its base.
Remove existing sod and soil to such 
a depth that the finished asphalt sur­
face will be level with the soil. The 
center of the path should be 2% to 
3% higher than the edges to provide 
for drainage. If four inches of gravel 
and two inches of asphalt are to be 
laid, the depth should be six inches. 
One variation here could be to “swale” 
the pathway or make the center lower 
if water drain or carry-off frcm the 
center area is necessary. This could 

Once grassy, the area alongside No. 1 tee is now being converted to accommodate cart 
and foot traffic.

help control erosion at the edge of the 
path. This consideration is for areas 
where considerable water must move 
in natural drainways.
2. Be sure that drainage is assured, 
then place 3 to 4 inches either field 
run gravel, “pea” gravel (though 
pea gravel does not compact well or 
evenly), or what is known in Illinois 
as Grade 8 crushed stone. A material 
of this type is finding favor because 
it is easy to handle, compacts evenly, 
makes a smooth, even surface, does 
not erode readily, is acceptable 
to foot and cart traffic, thus can be 
left uncovered by asphalt for a 
period of time if immediate use of 
asphalt is not possible.
The book, Standard Specifications 
for Road and Bridge Construction, pub­
lished by the State of Illinois, specifies 
Grade 8 stone as: “Crushed stone shall 
be the angular fragments resulting 
from crushing by mechanical means 
the following type of rock quarried 
from undisturbed, consolidated de­
posits . . . calcareous or dolomitic lime­
stone ... or similar rock.” With the 
following specifications:

100 per cent passing a 1 inch sieve 
60-90 per cent passing a y2 inch sieve 
40-60 per cent passing a No. 4 sieve

(U inch)

25-50 per cent passing a No. 8 sieve 

(% inch)

20-40 per cent passing a No. 16 sieve 

(1/16 inch)

5-15 per cent passing a No. 20 sieve 

(1/25 inch)

With the above sieving specifications, 
it should be possible to locate similar 
material anywhere.

This type material definitely makes 
the most suitable cart path if gravel 
is used.
3. Roll—firm—compact gravel. Be sure 
soil to the sides of the cut is not 
broken down. Especially if existing 

soil is sandy, superior results are 
obtained if barriers are placed at 
edges. Also, barriers definitely 
should be placed near the club­
house or any other location that 
carries heavy foot traffic.

4. Place asphalt so that two inches will 
be present after compression (2y2 
inches to start), or figure that one 
yard of hot asphalt will be reduced 
by 30 per cent when compressed. 
Use material readily penetrable with 
spikes after hardening. This is im­
portant because golfers simply will 
not walk on hard surfaces and it is 
dangerous to do so.
As specified by the State of Illinois, 

asphalt is:

PA 1-2 For surface treatment and 

seal coat.

PA 3-4 For bituminous concrete, 
dense graded aggregate type, and for 
bituminous macadam pavement.

PA 5 For bituminous macadam pave­

ment.

PA 5-6-7 For bituminous concrete, 

dense graded aggregate type.

PA 7-8 For sheet asphalt binder and 

surface courses.

PA 3 or PA 4 is suitable for cart 

paths.
5. Compress with rollers which are 
not to exert more weight than 400 
psi or less than 200 psi of roller 
surface. Rollers are not to be pro­
pelled at more than 150 feet per 
minute.

6. The cost range is wide. It is difficult 
to arrive at an exact figure for 
every area. One course paid 37# a 
square foot for all work done by the 
contractor. Another dug road beds 
and the contractor laid stone and 
asphalt for 30# a square foot.

7. After asphalt has been firmed, turf 
damage to side of path should be 
repaired by filling and sodding. How­
ever, the freshly-laid path should be 

4

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

allowed to harden for 8 to 12 hours 
before it is used.

8. After asphalt has been in place 30 
days, apply a sealer coat. This sealer 
coat, which costs between 3<* and 4d 
a square foot, can be obtained in 
various colors. If desired, a green, 
white, or lavender path can be 
obtained. Sealer coat lasts about 3 
years. For sealing old asphalt, mix 
1 quart of sand with every 3 to 5 
gallons of material used. Sealer coat 
is merely dumped on and spread 
with mold boards or squeegees.

9. Asphalt paths hold up amazingly 
well if installed properly. Nonethe­
less, breaks are frequent. Cold patch 
can be used to repair small ruptures 
when hot mix is not available. Large 
breaks should be repaired with the 
same hot mix used in original 
construction because cold patch is 
not long lasting. Therefore, it is 
desirable to re-repair cold patches 
with hot mix when hot mix is 
available.
Care must be taken to insure safety, 
especially in hilly terrain. Sharp corn­
ers and turns should be adequately 
banked. In extreme cases, even a path 
eight feet wide may not be wide 
enough. Paths must not slope downhill 
or toward water. Except where ab­
solutely necessary, stay away from 
trees. Repair large chuck holes im­
mediately.

The tendency, even though much less 
than in the past, simply is to not make 
a long enough path. The carts must 
get off some place when the entire 
course is not pathed. Where carts al­
ways leave the path at the same spot 
turf is worn away. The roadway 
must be extended from the green to 
the tee and 50 yards or so down the 
following fairway in heavy traffic 
areas. If the cart path can be bowed 
or meandered off into the woods to 

the right or left of the fairway, it 
is then possible to place barriers on 
the path which force carts off at that 
location.

Saving Wear

Carrying the roadway slightly past 
the tee, then “flaring” it out, is not 
particularly successful in reducing end- 
of-path wear. Unless forced to do so 
otherwise, all drivers leave the path 
in the same place.

Carts can be forced off the path at 
different points from day to day by the 
use of portable barriers. One very 
suitable barrier consists of a long steel 
rod, with both ends bent at a 90° 
angle. The ends are driven into the 
ground on either side of the path and 
the center of the rod stretches across 
the path at about a 3-foot height. A 
sign with an arrow pointing to the 
right or left can be hung from the 
center of the rod. Rarely will cart­
using golfers move such barriers, and 
it is quite difficult to run over them; 
the cart occupants may be decapitated.
These barriers are moved to different 
sections of the extended path as con­
sidered necessary by the golf course 
superintendent.

Some sophisticated materials are 
being tried for paths. The big interest 
here is to find something with less 
bounce to the ounce than asphalt for 
use in areas where shots frequently 
land. Synthetics such as those used as 
surface materials in the Houston Astro­
dome and on race tracks are excellent 
but quite expensive. A suitable base 
such as asphalt must first be installed 
anyway.

Anyone considering installation of 
cart paths should plan to extend paths 
as dictated by cart wear even if it 
means completely from tee to green to 
following tee. This is especially so on 
hilly courses where the terrain limits 
areas where carts can travel.

JANUARY, 1967

5

A New Manpower Source

By Kenneth H. Freeland

Today, many high schools are pro­

viding Work Experience or Work 
Study Programs for students with 
academic learning problems. These 
students, termed in many states as 
“Educable Mentally Handicapped or 
Retarded” are placed in “Special 
Classes” with specially certified teachers 
in work oriented programs.

These students progress through a 
developmental type program and as 
they successfully complete their half 
day in school and half day on-the-job 
phase of job experience, they are placed 
in the community as full-time em­
ployees under the supervision of the 
school on new types of work experience 
until graduation. On this level, Teacher- 
Coordinators prepare these more 
mature students for various work 
positions and correlate their school 
work accordingly to help insure job 
success.

One aspect of job placement which 
is proving beneficial to all concerned is 
that of a golf course maintenance 
worker. A year ago in the Western New 
York area, a group of boys from one 
of these classes was placed on a trial­
working basis through the cooper­
ation of two progressive and energetic 
golf course superintendents, Norman 
Leising of the Country Club of Buffalo, 
Williamsville, New York, and John 
Stellrecht of the Lancaster Country 
Club, Lancaster, New York.

Prior to placement, the tasks of the 
golf course worker were analyzed and 
discussed in the classroom. Emphasis 
was given to a general knowledge of 
golf and of safety precautions of the 
work. These preliminaries were neces­

sary because only a small percentage 
of the boys had played golf, knew about 
the game or about golf courses in 
general.

A training guideline was prepared 
with the participating superintendents 
and was incorporated into the pre­
placement phase of the program. Train­
ing for specific tasks, such as cutting 
greens, aprons, tees and the like, was 
left to the discretion of the respective 
superintendents in charge. Each super­
intendent had his own particular 
techniques and methods he wanted his 
workers to follow.

Periodically, the student’s progress 
was evaluated by the superintendent 
through a job rating form supplied by 
the Teacher-Coordinator. Weak areas 
in the student’s reports were brought 
to the attention of the Teacher-Coordi­
nator with hopes of improving these 
areas. Reports were good to excellent 
and problems were few.

The results were most rewarding. 
All students placed completed the 
eight-month season commendably and 
all were asked to return to their re­
spective duties this spring. Some of 
the boys have since taken full-time jobs 
in industry. However, a majority of 
the boys have returned to their jobs. 
New students from other classes have 
been placed with the same successful 
results. The demand for workers has 
increased to the point that other super­
intendents are contacting the schools 
for the services of these boys. Each 
day more boys are placed.

With additional students entering the 
field, a recent interview was held 
separately with the participating super­

Mr. Freeland is the work-training supervisor for handicapped youth at the Old Harris Hill School, 
Special Educational Services, Board of Cooperative Educational Services, First Supervisory District, 
Erie County, New York.

6

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

intendents. Possibly some questions 
prevailing in the reader’s mind may be 
answered by the following comments:
Superintendent Leising reported: “I 
was really impressed at the rate the 
boys learned their jobs. They seemed 
to take great pride in their work and 
responsibilities. To me, the quality of 
their work was indeed satisfactory in 
all regards. They completed their work 
on schedule with no problems.”

In comparing them to teenagers 
from the regular grades who were 
employed in the past, he added, “There 
appeared to be no physical difference 
in these boys. They were strong and 
willing to work. They got along well 
with the other staff members and 
appeared to mix well, although they 
were quiet. They were polite, and they 
worked much harder and took a greater 
interest in the job.”

Superintendent Stellrecht had this 
to say: “As far as work habits are 
concerned, these boys were on par with 
any others I have had in the past. The 
majority of the boys, after gaining the 
needed confidence in themselves, really 
took to the job. I was particularly de­
lighted at the way some of the boys 
mastered the tee mowers. Some of the 
boys could handle the tractor with 
great skill and caution. The quality of 
their work was even better than some 
college boys I’ve employed here.”

Both superintendents agreed that 
the boys took excellent care of tools 
and equipment and many of those em­
ployed possessed the necessary qualities 
for holding the job: punctuality, good 
attendance, trustworthiness, cleanli­
ness, persistence, and the ability to 
take criticism.

At this point, the advantages of such 
a program must be brought forth for 
the superintendent. There are some 
distinct advantages, indeed. The pre­
employment stage, the evaluation 

method and the supervisory assistance, 
if needed, have been discussed. In 
addition to this, Teacher-Cordinators 
can arrange working papers, trans­
portation, and can supply these stu­
dents long before the school term ends 
in June. It is also possible in many 
states, in cooperation with the Division 
of Vocational Rehabilitation, to secure 
training funds for this phase of in­
struction. This organization will help 
pay the wages of the student until he 
is fully trained to the satisfaction of 
the superintendent.

Most important, many of these stu­
dents are more likely to succeed on the 
job than the regular worker who is 
between jobs or just putting his time

COMING EVENTS

January 11-13

Nebraska Turfgrass Conference
Nebraska Center for Continuing Education
Lincoln, Nebraska

January 24-25

Virginia Turfgrass Conference
Hotel John Marshall
Richmond, Virginia

January 27

United States Golf Association
Green Section Conference
Biltmore Hotel
New York, N. Y.

February 5-10

GCSAA International Turfgrass Conference 
The New Washington Hilton 
Washington, D.C.

February 20-23

Turfgrass Conference
Pennsylvania State University
University Park, Pa.

February 27-28

Southern Turfgrass Conference
Hotel Peabody
Memphis, Tenn.

March 6

Golf Management Seminar
Denver, Colorado

March 6-8

Midwest Regional Turf Conference
Purdue University
Lafayette, Indiana

March 9-10

Turf Conference
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Mass.

March 13-14

Iowa Turf Conference
Savery Hotel
Des Moines, Iowa

March 15-16

Michigan Turfgrass Conference
Kellogg Center
Michigan State University
East Lansing, Michigan 

JANUARY, 1967

7

in until payday. Many workers become 
bored with the everyday, routine tasks. 
The majority of these students can 
sustain the daily diet of the same 
work.

Superintendent Leising best summed 
it up when he said: “After being on 
the course for a month or so, these 
boys showed more interest in connec­
tion with their duties. The regulars, 
I know, get bored with the routine; 
but these boys, once they had their 
confidence, found a real challenge in 
the daily work to be done.”

Moreover, these students in their 
school preparation through the years 
receive added emphasis in the funda­
mentals for getting and holding a job. 
The regular high school student re­
ceives little of this type of instruction 
in his curriculum. It is a known fact 
that more people lose jobs not because 
they don’t possess the desirable skills 
to perform the job but because they 
can’t get along with fellow employees 
or their employer. These students, how­
ever, are well drilled in this aspect.

In addition to this, there is a strong 
possibility that once trained, many of 
these boys will stay on the job per­
manently after graduation. How many 
of your regulars are getting along in 
age? It is an advantage to have de­

pendable replacements available. Many 
of these students are well suited for 
this type of labor; many enjoy working 
outdoors and no doubt find a real sense 
of security in this type of work, per­
haps for a lifetime.

Foremost is the public relations 
advantage offered the superintendent. 
We are all aware that our club members 
in general are involved in various types 
of charitable and philanthropic pro­
jects. Many are aware of what is going 
on in the field of education for all 
handicapped youth and they are in­
terested.

The members I have talked with, 
whether they fit this category or not, 
were deeply impressed by the work of 
their superintendents in this program. 
In short, the word travels fast and the 
personal image of the superintendent 
must grow in the process for the tre­
mendous contribution he is making to 
his school system, his community, and 
his fellow man.

A phone call or a visit to your local 
school system will get the machinery 
in motion. Show the following training 
guideline to the Teacher-Coordinator. 
I am sure you will be welcomed and 
he will be willing to incorporate this 
phase of valuable work experience into 
his program.

TRAINING GUIDELINE FOR GOLF COURSE WORKER

For Educable Mentally Handicapped Adolescents

By Norman Leising, John Stellrecht, and Kenneth Freeland

I. General Knowledge

1. History, purpose and etiquette of golf.
2. Importance of grooming and care of course 

to members.

3. Courtesy to be shown members while working.
4. Working hours, overtime, and wages.
5. Advantages and disadvantages of job.
6. Outlook of job for the future.
7. Role and responsibility of the Golf Course 

Superintendent.

8. Terms used on the job: markers, rough, apron, 

aerification, etc.

II. General Equipment Maintenance
1. Servicing tractors and trucks.
2. Knowledge of routine service on small gas 

engines.

3. Knowledge of maintenance of large equipment.
4. Knowledge of sharpening cutting blades.
5. Painting.
6. General repair work.
7. Cleaning equipment.

III. Work on Greens
1. Importance of good greens to members.

8

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

2. Cutting greens.
3. Applying fertilizers and chemicals.
4. Use of aerification equipment.
5. Changing cups.
6. Rolling greens.
7. Whipping and removing ball marks.
8. Watering.
9. Sand trap care.
10. Courtesy to be shown members while working 

on greens.

IV. Work on Tees

1. Importance of good tees to members.
2. Cutting tees.
3. Changing tee markers.
4. Watering.
5. Applying fertilizers and chemicals.
6. Moving benches and ball washers.
7. Courtesy to be shown members while working 

on tees.

V. Work on Fairways

1. Cutting the fairways.
2. Using fertilizers.
3. Spraying for weed and insect control.
4. Using aerification equipment.
5. Rolling the fairways.
6. Courtesy to be shown members while working 

on fairways.

VI. Watering

1. Briefing on underground water pipe system 

and shut-off valves.

2. Location and acquaintence with pumping 

system.

3. Spot water techniques during the day.
4. Knowledge of the role of the night sprinkler 

man.

5. Care and use of sprinkler heads and hoses.
6. Courtesy to be shown members during day 

watering.

VII. General Course Maintenance

1. Trimming trees and shrubs.
2. Raking and disposing of leaves.
3. Changing towels and water on ball washers.
4. Habit of picking up loose paper and rubbish 

on course.

5. Emptying refuse cans.
6. Tennis court repair work.

VIII. General Safety and Health Pre­
cautions

1. Using power cutting equipment.
2. Safety rules in tractor driving.
3. Insect and reptile awareness (bees, wasps, 

snakes, etc.)

4. Alertness while members are playing shots.
5. Use of chemicals.
6. Electrical storms.
7. Cold weather dress.
8. Hot weather precautions.

IX. Local Rules and Regulations as set by 
the Golf Course Superintendent

1. Ball “hawking.”
2. Disposition of clubs found while working.
3. Appearance.
4. Cleanliness and care of equipment.

Budget Reporting

*By Alexander M. Radko, Lee Record and Albert Neuberger

Golf course maintenance costs con­

tinue to rise! According to 
Harris, Kerr, Forster & Co.: “Main­
tenance costs for 50 clubs with 1,044 
holes of golf averaged $3,807 per 
hole in 1965-66 and reflected an ad­
vance of 4.6% over last year . . . the 
past ten years have shown a steady 

rise in the costs of maintaining golf 
courses and the current year’s aver­
age of $3,807 per hole exceeded 1956- 
57 by 42%.”

Costs are rising, and as more money 
becomes involved, there always seems 
to be an accompanying close member 
inspection of expended funds. Where 

*Eastern Director and Agronomists, USGA Green Section, Eastern Region.

JANUARY, 1967

9

does it go? Is our money being spent 
wisely? How does our spending com­
pare to spending at other clubs?

These are some of the questions 
asked. To find the answers it is neces­
sary to turn to the budget, which 
happily seems to be one of the few 
permanent course records.

Golf course budget preparation is a 
yearly task. However, its administra­
tion is a daily affair. Budgets and golf 
course records go together and resolve 
direction in a program of maintenance 
and management; a budget defines the 
bounds within which a superintendent 
must manage, and this in turn sets 
the limits of his maintenance pro­
gram. Golf course records define the 

detail of accomplishments in the golf 
course maintenance and management 
program.

Budgets usually are confusing docu­
ments. There is no set standard for 
make-up. Those responsible seem to 
favor their own style of budgeting, 
and so set it up in the easiest way 
they know. Sometimes the club treas­
urer or the club accountant suggests 
a pattern to follow, one which makes 
it easier to work into his system of 
accountancy.

At some clubs, the budget prepara­
tion seems to be an automatic pro­
cedure of simply duplicating last 
year’s figure and seeing how it works 

Statement of Ownership
STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION (Act of October 23, 1962; 
Section 4369, Title 39, United States Code). 1. Date of Filing—October 1, 1966. 2. Title of Publication— 
USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD. 3. Frequency of issue—Six issues a year in January, March, May, 
July, September and November. 4. Location of known office of publication—315 Railroad Avenue, East 
Rutherford, N.J. 07073. 5. Location of the headquarters or general business offices of the publishers— 
40 E. 38th Street, New York. 6. Names and addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Pub­
lisher—United States Golf Association, 40 E. 38th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016. Editor—Dr. Marvin H. 
Ferguson, 40 E. 38th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016. Managing Editor—Robert Sommers, 40 E. 38th Street. 
New .York,. N.Y. 10016. 7. Owner (If owned by a corporation, its name and address must be stated and 
also immediately thereunder the names and addresses of stockholders owning or holding 1 percent or more 
of total amount of stock. If not owned by a corporation, the names and addresses of the individual owners 
must be given. If owned by a partnership or other unincorporated firm, its name and address, as well as 
that of each individual must be given.) Names and addresses—United States Golf Association, 40 E. 38th 
Street, New York, N.Y. 10016 ; President—Wm. Ward Foshay, 40 E. 38th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016 ; 
Vice-Presidents—Hord W. Hardin and Philip H. Strubing, 40 E. 38th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016; 
Secretary—Robert K. Howse, 40 E. 38th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016; Treasurer—Fred Brand, Jr., 
40 E. 38th Street, New York, N.Y. 10016. 8. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders 
owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages or other securities—None. 
9. Paragraphs 7 and 8 include, in cases where the stockholder or security holder appears upon the books 
of the company as trustee or in any other fiduciary relation, the name of the person or corporation for 
whom such trustee is acting, also the statements in the two paragraphs show the affiant’s full knowledge 
and belief as to the circumstances and conditions under which stockholders and security holders who do 
not appear upon the books of the company as trustees, hold stock and securities in a capacity other than 
that of a bona fide owner. Names and addresses of individuals who are stockholders of a corporation 
which itself is a stockholder or holder of bonds, mortgages or other securities of the publishing corpora­
tion have been ineluded in paragraphs 7 and 8 when the interests of such individuals are equivalent to 
1 percent or more of the total amount of the stock or securities of the publishing corporation. 10. This 
item, must be completed for all publications except those which do not carry advertising other than the 
publisher’s own and which are named in sections 132.231, 132.232, and 132.233 Postal Manual (Sections 
4355a, 4355b, and 4356 of Title 39, United States Code)

A. Total No. Copies Printed (Net Press Run) 
B. Paid Circulation

1. Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street

Vendors and Counter Sales

2. Mail Subscriptions

C. Total Paid Circulation
D. Free Distribution (including samples) by

Mail, Carrier or Other Means

E. Total Distribution (Sum of C and D) 
F. Office Use, Left-Over, Unaccounted,
Spoiled After Printing

G. Total (Sum of E and F)

I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete.

Robert Sommers, Managing Editor

10

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Average No.
Copies Each
Issue During 
Preceding 12
Months
5,400

none
4,578
4,578

268
4,836

564
5,400

Single Issue
Nearest to
Filing Date

5,400

none
4,578
4,578

268
4,836

564
5,400

out at the end of the year. This is 
unfortunate; it shows a lack of 
planning and little direction.

Every Member Concerned

Every member is directly concerned 
with and is deeply interested in how 
his money is being spent. He wants 
to know what improvements are going 
to be made with the allotted funds. 
Members expect improvements, they 
don’t like to tread water, or to have 
the course go backward; they expect 
that each year will be better than the 
last and that their golf course will 
continue to improve with age.

If things go well during the year, 
then usually no money problems 
arise; however, if the course does not 
measure up to their expectations, the 
members complain. They look around 
at other courses to see if they are 
better. If they are, what is the reason?
Is it because more money was spent 
on the other club? How much was 
spent?

And then the difficulties arise! 
Lump sum comparisons can be mis­
leading because there is no uniform 
method of budgeting. If comparisons 
are to be meaningful, there is a defi­
nite need for uniformity in budget 
forms and in budget reporting.

What is a budget and what are its 
various components? It is a statement 
of proposed expenditure in a golf 
course maintenance and management 
program for the year, normally pre­
pared by the golf course superinten­
dent, but jointly agreed upon by the 
superintendent and his green com­
mittee chairman.

The superintendent has the oppor­
tunity here to express his feeling of 
management direction that he would 
like the course to take, while his 
chairman reflects the pulse of the 
membership. Together they define as 
generally or as specifically as they 

JANUARY, 1967

wish the various categories of their 
budget for the year.

These could be as follows:

.......
.......
.......
.......

SALARIES AND WAGES
Superintendent 
.......
Assistant Superintendent .......
.......
Laborers 
Hospitalization 
.......
Retirement 
.......
Other benefits 
.......
Unproductive time 
.......
(sick leave, vacations, etc.)
EQUIPMENT — OPERATION
& MAINTENANCE
Parts and repairs 
.......
Gas and oil 
.......
Other 
.......
MAINTENANCE BUILDING — 
UTILITIES
Heat 
Light 
Water 
Other 
IRRIGATION SYSTEM —
MAINTENANCE 
Power 
Pumps 
Pipe 
Hose
Sprinklers 
Other
MANAGEMENT SUPPLIES
Fertilizer
Topsoil
Seed
Lime
Herbicides
Fungicides
Insecticides
Trap sand
Other
MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES
Superintendent’s
office supplies 
Flags, poles, towels 
Ball washers 
Tee markers 

.......
.......
.......
.......

.......
.......
.......

.......

.......

11

.......
.......
.......
.......
.......
.......

For cart roads and paths .......
For shelter houses 
.......
.......
Other 
TREES
New planting stock .......
Pruning 
.......
.......
Spraying 
CLUB GROUNDS
Flowers 
Trees 
Shrubs 
Mowing 
Roads 
Other 
EDUCATIONAL
Turfgrass conferences .......
Field Days 
.......
Superintendent meetings .......
EQUIPMENT DEPRECIATION 
(An inventory of all equip­
ment listing original cost, 
life expectancy, deprecia­
tion, and present value.)
EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT 
(All new equipment sched­
uled for purchase during 
the year should be listed 
and individually priced.) 
IMPROVEMENTS 
(Any projected improve­
ments should be listed indi­
vidually with approximate 
costs for each.)
MISCELLANEOUS
Superintendent’s 
meals, if any 
Superintendent’s

.......

living quarters, if any .......
.......

Other 
GRAND TOTAL

To consolidate the budget, it would 
be well for the superintendent and 
his chairman or committee to attach 
a letter of explanation of any items 
that might be controversial or need 
elaboration. The letter should also 
detail aims, recommendations, and 

accomplishments for the year. This is 
not only good business but is also 
good public relations.

Another factor that enters the 
picture at this point is the need for 
support to promote continuity of a 
sound management program.

Normally, the Board of Directors is 
elected for a short term period. This 
makes it somewhat easy for strong- 
minded committee members to make 
changes which could prove harmful 
in the course of a management pro­
gram. It could result in a club’s 
treading water from year to year.

The superintendent very often is 
the only link in the struggle for pro­
gram continuity. It therefore behooves 
him to be thorough in documenting 
his budget proposals, and then to 
follow up by keeping good records to 
substantiate his long range turfgrass 
maintenance and management pro­
gram.

Wages Largest Item

Once the budget is submitted and 
approved, the progressive superinten­
dent then uses it as the base from 
which communication to the chair­
man and green committee springs. 
This could take the form of a monthly 
account of each budget item, showing 
the approved figure, what was spent 
in each category for that particular 
month, and the balance. This monthly 
account would be cumulative from 
month to month to provide the green 
chairman with a running account of 
expenditures. It should tell the up-to- 
date story at a glance.

Wages constitute the largest single 
item of expenditure in golf course 
operations today. Most clubs report 
that 66% or more of the total budget 
is spent for labor. Because golf is an 
everyday game, wages for Sundays, 
holidays, and overtime work figure 
prominently in the total expenditure.

12

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

Labor at this writing is without 
question the most serious problem 
that golf course management faces 
today. Industry offers a more at­
tractive wage scale, year ’round em­
ployment, a promise of a 40-hour week 
with week-ends and holidays off, and 
fringe benefits. These are some of 
the reasons why good golf course 
labor is becoming more and more 
difficult to find.

Secondly, there is a growing con­
cern on the part of superintendents 
regarding the increased use of the 
golf course. They continually wonder 
not only about how much traffic the 
turf could stand but also about how 
they can get the job done with this 
increase in golf, and the prospect of 
continued traffic increase.

With more play, maintenance oper­
ations are necessarily slowed down, 
and this surely reflects in the total 
wage story—it reflects in more and 
more UNPRODUCTIVE TIME!

This is a fact of golf course man­
agement life these days. Every time 
a man and a machine stop for golfers, 
his efficiency is reduced. The more 
play, the more his efficiency is im­
paired.

The alternative is to place restric­
tions on play to what officials feel are 
reasonable limits. This may differ at 
different courses, but as an example 
one green committee chairman in the 
Hartford, Conn., area stated that his 
club plans to restrict junior members 
to 18 holes a day—many were playing 
36 holes daily through the summer 
months. Another example of reason­
able play is the restriction on starting 
too early during weekdays. Once 
golfers get ahead of the maintenance 
crew’s mowing operations, time that 
could better be used on other projects 
is lost waiting for them to pass. This 
certainly reflects in the total turf­

grass picture as well as the budget.
Little Uniformity

Normally, an 18-hole course em­
ploys from 8 to 11 men. Some payroll 
budgets include the salary of the 
caddie-master, the starter, and even 
the professional. There seems to be 
little uniformity in this regard, and 
this practice only adds to the con­
fusion when golf course maintenance 
costs are examined or compared.

Budget preparation and budget ad­
ministration are two of the best levers 
to better understanding among all 
concerned. The budget affords a com­
mon ground for communication and 
this normally leads to better under­
standing. When handled in a business­
like manner, the administration of a 
budget should lead to solid relations 
among all concerned. One of the most 
helpful steps towards better budget 
understanding among clubs would be 
a standard form for budget make-up. 
Club officials compare budgets and 
they will continue to do so, but 
methods of budgeting normally differ 
so from club to club that it leads only 
to more misinformation and mis­
understanding. Unfortunately, some 
published budget surveys also are 
misleading because of the difficulty in 
trying to reconcile the various items 
where differences in systems of bud­
geting occur. This doesn’t appear to 
be a difficult problem to work out— 
let’s take all this mystery out of bud­
gets through a standardized system 
of recording and reporting.

The USGA Golf Handbook contains 
a discussion of budgeting matters and 
typical record forms. These were pub­
lished following a lengthy study of 
the subject by a special committee on 
Uniform Accounting and Terminology. 
This material may be found in Section 
IV, Green Committee, pages 29-35, of 
the Handbook.

JANUARY, 1967

13

USGA GREEN SECTION RECORD

40 East 38th Street, New York, N. Y. 10016

TURF TWISTERS

PINK GROUND PEARL
Question: We have been informed we have Pink Ground Pearl. Do 
you have a solution? (North Carolina)

Answer: You have an unusual problem. Not much is known about 
Ground Pearl and even less about Pink Ground Pearl (Margorodes 
Meredionalis'). The life cycle is still not known well enough for a 
firm eradication. We have observed it in what we call the crawler 
stage and it seems this would be the logical stage for control. The 
best solution we have to suggest is a contact insecticide applied 
during the crawler stage late in the afternoon and drenched in the 
next day.

MERION TEES
Question: What are your suggestions for maintaining Merion tees?
(Conn.)

Answer: A good maintenance program should include the following: 

1. Mow at a minimum of % inch.
2. Catch clippings.
3. Do not overwater.
4. Aerate frequently, topdress as necessary and thatch at 

least twice a year.

5. Maintain the pH at 6.5 to 7.0.
6. Apply approximately 5 lbs. nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per year.
7. Move tee markers frequently (at least once a day).

WATERING BERMUDAGRASS
Question: We have just installed a new automatic water system on 
our bermudagrass fairways and have religiously applied 1-acre inch 
of water per week. During July and August our bermuda turned 
yellow and we had a heavy infestation of silver and common crab­
grass. Could water management have caused our problems? (Va.)

Answer: More than likely it did. Overuse of water kept the soil 
saturated, excluding oxygen from your heavy clay soils, and at the 
same time encouraged crabgrass at the expense of bermuda growth. 
Watering should be done on an “as needed” basis and the soil al­
lowed to dry out between waterings. Too much water is just as bad 
as, or worse than, not enough.