G r e e n k e e p e r s C l u b of N e w E n g l a n d

NEWSLETTER
August, 1929.

Voi. 1, No. 4.
Editor

Guy C. West
A s s o c i a t e Editors

F r a n k H. Wilson, Jr.

J a m e s McCormack

" The best service a book can render you is, not to impart truth, but to make
you think it out for yourself. "
—Elbert

Ifnbbard.

The purpose of this NEWSLETTER is to give you information,
but more—to give you the ideas and experiences of others, and to
help you think, and reason, and find help. There will of necessity
be conflicting opoinions, for every hole on every course presents a
different problem, but it is thru differing experiences t h a t we reason
out the problems and find the truth.
The Club has shown its approval of the NEWSLETTER by
voting to continue publication for the rest of this year. We look to
you, its readers, for f u r t h e r suggestions, articles, experiences. Send
us your problems t h a t we may work them out together. Let us
hear from YOU!
The Directors have worked out a short article on a subject of
prime importance, this year especially because of the extreme dry
weather, and are including it in this issue. The subject is fairway
renovation, and it is an important one to all of us! Now is the time
to renovate not only your fairways, but also any other parts of
your course which need it, and hence get your course into the best
possible shape to enter the Winter. Now is the time to look ahead and
plan for the rest of this year, and for next. Let the mistakes and
experiences of today make tomorrow successful!

NEWSLETTER
FAIRWAY

RENOVATION

The best time of the y e a r f o r f a i r w a y r e n o v a t i o n is here, and it behooves
us all to g e t busy. Renovation now
will p r o d u c e good f a i r w a y s again bef o r e W i n t e r sets i n — f r o m w h a t a r e
now b u r n t and brown.
W h e r e r o o t s of g r a s s seem to have
been killed, and no new shoots seem to
be s t a r t i n g , r e - s e e d i n g will probably be
necessary. This is the best time of y e a r
to seed in this climate. W h e r e section
of f a i r w a y is to be re-seeded, it m u s t
first be scarified with iron r a k e s , meeke r h a r r o w s , or some such implements,
topdressed with screened loam or compost, and then seeded.
F o r seeding
knolls, the seed should be mixed with
compost or loam, and this s c a t t e r e d
over the knolls.
W h e r e the g r a s s roots have not been
killed out, and some new shoots seem
to be c o m i n g up, probably f e r t i l i z e r
will give b e t t e r r e s u l t s t h a n seed.
Rainy days can be utilized to p u t cn
the f e r t i l i z e r , and in most cases the
b u r n t a r e a s can be fertilized by hand.
W h e r e large a r e a s need fertilizing, t h e
r e g u l a r f e r t i l i z e r s p r e a d e r can be used.
A m m o n i u m s u l p h a t e can be p u t on with
success in solution with a b a r r e l w a t e r ing c a r t , and b u r n t a r e a s t r e a t e d in
this m a n n e r quickly respond to t r e a t ment.
W h e r e f a i r w a y s a r e rough, a n d time
permits, t h e y can be topdressed to adv a n t a g e with screened loam or compost,
a n d this brushed in well.
Such topdressing will g r e a t l y improve the lies
on t h e f a i r w a y .
Sections of f a i r w a y s w h e r e drives
land, a p p r o a c h e s to g r e e n s , and on p a r
five holes w h e r e the second shots normally land should be t r e a t e d first, if
time and m o n e y do not p e r m i t t r e a t m e n t of all the f a i r w a y a r e a . Also plan
the y e a r ' s work so as to t r e a t the worst
p o r t i o n s each y e a r .
T h e seed a n d t h e f e r t i l i z e r s f o r you
to use f o r r e n o v a t i o n a r e t h e ones
with which you a r e h a v i n g success on
y o u r course. Get busy, r e n o v a t e , and
g e t y o u r course in shape f o r the Winter!

FIRST EXPERIENCES
CONSTRUCTION

IN

The new nine holes a t Concord a r e
being c o n s t r u c t e d to plans by Donald
Ross. The new holes, s t a r t i n g with t h e
second and t h r u to t h e eighth, a r e on
land f r o m which the t i m b e r and wood
was cut this past W i n t e r . The t e n t h ,
eleventh, and t w e l f t h a r e on land whicn
was logged some f o u r t e e n y e a r s back,
and so had a heavy g r o w t h of h a r d woods. This was c u t this p a s t W i n t e r .
The work of d y n a m i t i n g s t u m p s w a s
begun on a b o u t the fifteenth of March
this y e a r , and as t h a t w e n t on a t r a c t o r
and chain was used on some of t h e
l a r g e r stumps. This t r a c t o r was also
used to haul a large s t o n e - b o a t to g a t h er s t u m p s in heaps, to be b u r n t l a t e r .
As each f a i r w a y was f a i r l y clear of
stumps, a n o t h e r t r a c t o r was used to
plow to f a i r w a y lengthwise, or f r o m
tee to g r e e n . Two or t h r e e men followed t h e plow and pulled or g r u b - h o e d
roots, g e t t i n g them loose and up on t h e
s u r f a c e , w h e r e they would be g a t h e r e d
up by the stone boat. This w a s followed
by h a r r o w i n g in several directions with
a c u t a w a y wheel harrow.
V e r y little of this land had a sod,
so t h a t t h e smaller new g r o w t h of oak
and birch was only s h u n t e d a b o u t by
t h e plow and h a r r o w , to show itself
g r e e n and flourishing in a f e w days,
and so was quite easy f o r t h e men with
the grub-hoes to find.
W h e r e t h e depth of loam would allow
a n o t h e r plowing, it was done in the opposite direction f r o m the first, and well
h a r r o w e d again. E v e n t h e n t h e r e was
an unbelievable a m o u n t of roots to
be pulled by hand as we w e n t over t h e
f a i r w a y s with iron r a k e s . This a c c u m u lation was l e f t in small heaps, and l a t e r
picked up by a t r u c k .
To smooth o u t t h e hollows and high
spots, a d r a g of two r a i l r o a d ties, ironed
t h r e e f e e t a p a r t , and hauled by t r a c t o r
was used.
F o r t u n a t e l y we have e n c o u n t e r e d no
ledges or boulders, only a f e w s u r f a c e
stones on hillsides and knolls. The topsoil is good loam over most of t h e
a r e a , with very f e w stones in it.
We a r e using a s t a n d a r d b r a n d of
7-6-5 f e r t i l i z e r f o r f a i r w a y s , a n d f e r tilizing especially w h e r e loam is t h e
poorest. We a r e applying with a f e r t i lizer s p r e a d e r , and b r u s h i n g it in with
an a s p a r a g u s w e e d e r . F o r greens, we
a r e using 100-130 p o u n d s of 7-10-12
and 50 p o u n d s of s u l p h a t e per g r e e n ,

NEWSLETTER
r u b b e d in with wooden lawn r a k e s . Tees
which a r e to be seeded are being f e r tilized with the f a i r w a y f e r t i l i z e r .
B a n k s of b u n k e r s have been sodded
to p r e v e n t erosion. Lack of time a t
this season has p r e v e n t e d completion of
b u n k e r s and m a n y m i n o r details which
will be t a k e n up later.
We a r e seeding now as much as possible, and hope to have e v e r y t h i n g b u t
the seventh f a i r w a y seeded this Fail.
F o r f a i r w a y s we are using a m i x t u r e
of K e n t u c k y Blue, Chewing f e s c u e , and
Red Top, with some b e n t . We a r e sodding as m a n y t e e s as possible with a
sod of b e n t a n d f e s c u e , and seeding
t h e r e m a i n d e r with seed of this m i x t u r e .
Sod f r o m a f o r m e r practice f a i r w a y
is being used f o r t h e s e tees as f a r as
it goes. F o r greens, we a r e seeding with
40'A South G e r m a n b e n t 98-88, 40 ( /o
Chewings f e s c u e , and 20 'A Red Top.
The f a i r w a y s have been seeded with a
Thompson w h e e l b a r r o w seeder, and the
g r e e n s seeded by hand. F o r the f a i r w a y s we are using 125-130 p o u n d s of
seed per a c r e and using oats f o r binder
on hillsides to p r e v e n t washing - . The
g r e e n s are of good size, and we are
a v e r a g i n g eighty p o u n d s of seed per
green.
The r e a l p r o b l e m s in this construction w e r e f e w in n u m b e r . D r a i n a g e was
not m u c h of a problem, as t h e subsoil
was well-drained, the land is high, draining n a t u r a l l y toward a brook, which
d r a i n s the lower a r e a .
The g r e a t e s t
p r o b l e m was to g e t loam, specially for
the f o u r t h g r e e n , to g e t it at n e a r e s t
place, and to save it w h e r e v e r possible.
This f o u r t h g r e e n was the most inaccessible, and t h e site of t h e g r e e n was
g r a v e l and stones. Loam enough f o r
t h r e e g r e e n s was saved f r o m site of
two new t e n n i s c o u r t s also being cons t r u c t e d this S u m m e r . Looking ahead,
and saving loam w h e r e v e r possible has
p r e v e n t e d t h e loam p r o b l e m f r o m being
a serious one.
The f a i r w a y s a r e a s have been cleared
t h r u the woods one h u n d r e d and fifty
to a h u n d r e d and eighty f e e t wide, and
w h e r e t h e r e a r e to be elbows in the
f a i r w a y s , clearing h a s been m a d e two
h u n d r e d and
fifteen
f e e t wide.
Ox
course, t h e r e is a vast a m o u n t of r o u g h
a l o n g the sides, to be cleaned later
as time p e r m i t s .
One piece of w o r k done was to remove a knoll f r o m in f r o n t of the
seventh tee, and use the m o r e t h a n f o u r
h u n d r e d cubic y a r d s of gravel t a k e n

f r o m it to fill a section of t h e seventh
f a i r w a y , previously swamp, a one to
t h r e e f e e t fill over a sixty-five y a r d s
section.
In conclusion, we think as we look
back t h a t we m i g h t have accomplished
m o r e by w o r k i n g a t a higher speed, b u t
we have gone a l o n g more slowly, and
tried to g e t things done well, so t h a t
t h e y will n o t r e q u i r e redoing.
EDWIN HANSEN.

MORE T R O U B L E !
A c c o r d i n g to an old adage, " B o y s will
be boys." B u t w h e n being boys results in malicious d a m a g e a m o u n t i n g
to nearly t w o h u n d r e d dollars a y e a r ,
some s o r t of c u r b m u s t be applied.
Being on a course t h a t is situated in
t h e middle of a city gives one all s o r t s
of
trespassers.
Automobiles
driven
across tees and
greens—teemarkers
d i s a p p e a r i n g so f a s t t h a t it gives the
impression some one is stocking a course
a t my e x p e n s e — f l a g s , poles, and even
cups to back up the suspicion. Last b u t
not least, balls d i s a p p e a r i n g
when
driven over a hill on a blind hole. To
me this is the w o r s t evil of the lot as
it leaves the m e m b e r s in a d i s g r u n t l e d
mood which does not add to t h e i r opinion of the course.
W h a t to do is the question. Shali
we t u r n the offender over to the police,
if we can catch him? This will establish a c o u r t record which in l a t e r y e a r s
m a y seriously a f f e c t t h e boy's position.
As y e t I have not r e a c h e d any positive
solution, b u t I have m a n a g e d to cut the
trouble somewhat a f t e r trying numerous
methods.
Short f e n c e s a t s t r a t e g i c
points help with the automobiles. S t r a y
boys h u n t i n g balls have been w a r n e d
of trespassing, t h e i r n a m e s a n d addresses t a k e n , and, most i m p o r t a n t , a n y
golf balls which they m a y have a r e
confiscated. T h e r e is no p e r c e n t a g e in
h u n t i n g s balls f o r a couple of h o u r s
only to have t h e m t a k e n away.
I t is on t h e m o r e or less organized
g a n g s t h a t I blame the
malicious
damage. In my case, t h e y a r e comprised of neighborhood boys, m a n y of
whom have been caddies and o f t e n ones
t h a t have been discharged f o r rniscon-

NEWSLETTER
duct. In N e w t o n all t h a t is necessary
is to give t h e i r n a m e s to t h e p r o b a t i o n
officer who notifies t h e p a r e n t s to b r i n g
t h e i r boy to an e v e n i n g session a t his
office. This inconveniences t h e p a r e n t
a n d in itself has an effect on t h e i r action
t o w a r d k e e p i n g t h e boy a w a y f r o m the
course. This method of complaint is unofficial and no r e c o r d goes in f o r t h e
boy.
W h e r e this has not worked a comp l a i n t of t r e s p a s s in one case resulted
in a t e n dollar suspended s e n t e n c e of
six months, t h e boy being notified to
k e e p away f r o m the vicinity of the
course. This a t least gives a brief respite and helps out quite a bit.
If t h e r e does not h a p p e n to be a probation officer in y o u r town, I do n o t
d o u b t t h a t a talk with the police chief
will give the same r e s u l t .
MARSTON

BURNETT.

The A u g u s t m e e t i n g was held a t the
N a s h u a C o u n t r y Club.
Bill McBride
h a s a fine course t h e r e , but he surely
needs rain as do the r e s t of us here
in New E n g l a n d .
The D i r e c t o r s m e t w i t h J i m MeCormack a t the Unicorn C o u n t r y Club on
A u g u s t 12. J i m has t h e best g r e e n s
we have seen this y e a r .
T h e n e x t m e e t i n g will be held a t t h e
Rhode Island C o u n t r y Club, W e s t Barr i n g t o n , Rhode Island, on S e p t e m b e r 3.
H e r e ' s a fine chance f o r you to e n j o y
a fine golf c o u r s e ! L e t ' s be t h e r e !
On Monday, S e p t e m b e r 9, a t the
B r a e b u r n C o u n t r y Club, the New England Service B u r e a u with t h e New
E n g l a n d G r e e n k e e p e r s Club cooperating, will hold A Golf Course Equipm e n t and Machinery Show. H e r e is an
o p p o r t u n i t y to look over the new ideas
in golf course e q u i p m e n t and plan what
to buy n e x t y e a r . In connection with
this show, t h e r e will probably be held
a t t h e Charles River C o u n t r y Club Exp e r i m e n t Plots on S u n d a y , S e p t e m b e r
8, a m e e t i n g and discussion f o r all those
i n t e r e s t e d in the plots.
J i m Sullivan is building a new compost shed a t W a l t h a m .
The Metropolitan Park Department
a r e building a new nine hole course a t
Riverside. We u n d e r s t a n d t h a t Harold
Mosher is tellinig t h e m h o w !

Lime c o r r e c t s soil acidity, sets f r e e
p l a n t f o o d in t h e soil otherwise unavailable, improves soil d r a i n a g e a n d texture, sweetens decaying material and
p r o m o t e s h u m u s f o r m a t i o n , keeps the
p h o s p h o r u s in the soil available, and
i n c r e a s e s the resistence to disease of
the crops. W h e n used on t u r f it prom o t e s the g r o w t h of weeds in t h e t u r f .
I t will also c o r r e c t t h a t too acid condition caused by excessive use of sulp h a t e of a m m o n i a , and m a y help you
to control brown-patch.

W e e d s m a y be controlled on the golf
course by p r e v e n t i n g weeds f r o m seeding in land n e a r t h e course, m o w i n g
b e f o r e t h e y seed, by use of chemical
plant poisons f o r c e r t a i n varieties, by
m a i n t a i n i n g soil f e r t i l i t y to keep good
t u r f , and by hand weeding.
Where
g r e e n s contain any bad weed, such as
p e a r l w o r t , s p r e a d i n g may be p r e v e n t e d
partially by not t h r o w i n g clippings on
r e g u l a r compost piles, b u t
keeping
special piles f o r such clippings w h e n
weed is seeding. P e a r w o r t m u s t be c u t
out, and new sod used. Chickweed may
be lessened by c o n s t a n t f e r t i l i z a t i o n
with a m m o n i u m sulphate. I t may also
be controlled by sprinkling a little
a r s e n a t e of lead mixed with compost
over it and w a t e r i n g it in. A r s e n a t e of
lead is now being advised f o r c r a b
grass control also.
R o b e r t Mitchell h a s been controlling
p e a r l w o r t by " p a i n t i n g " t h e p e a r l w o r t
with a solution of s u l p h a t e of a m m o n i a ,
t h r e e pounds in a gallon of w a t e r , a n d
t h e n c u t t i n g out these b u r n t a r e a s a s
time p e r m i t s .

BLACKBIRDS HELPFUL
I have been very f o r t u n a t e this y e a r
as I do n o t have to spike a n y of my
p u t t i n g greens. I have noticed e v e r y
m o r n i n g this past month, a t b r e a k of
day, a large n u m b e r of Red-winged
blackbirds hard a t work on t h e g r e e n s ,
especially t h e g r e e n s t h a t had been
sprinkled t h e n i g h t b e f o r e .
I firmly believe t h a t these birds do
lots of good t o the g r e e n s by e a t i n g t h e
g r u b s , c u t w o r m s and e a r t h worms,
which a r e very h a r m f u l .
T H O M A S J. G A L V I N .