November - December 2020 President's Message by Peter J. Rappoccio I hope this message finds you well and you and your families had a nice Thanksgiving. As we approach the holiday season, many of us have wrapped up golf for the 2020 season….and what a season it was! With all of the challenges in terms of rules and regulations, weather conditions, and an increased amount of golf activity at many of our courses, 2020 will certainly go down in history books in more ways than one. Thank you to those who joined us for our December virtual meeting. We had a nice attendance and two great presentations by Dr. Karl Guillard and Tyler Bloom. Both brought great topics and education to the meeting and I am thankful they both joined us. I encourage all of you to attend our Annual Meeting on January 7th. It will be held in a virtual format but your presence is just as important to us virtually as it is in person. We have a great speaker lined up, Laura Katen, whom you may remember as our 2020 Annual Meeting speaker. We will also be hosting our annual business meeting with elections of officers and recognizing both 25 and 50 year members (new this year). I would like to thank Ryan Emerich and Don Hearn for all their work in setting up these meetings. As 2020 winds down, I am thankful for all of the good things that As we approach the New Year, hopefully 2021 will bring a renewed sense of normalcy to the world. have happened over the course of the year, but I’m mindful of all of those who we lost to this terrible pandemic. We are so fortunate to have so many people working tirelessly to help save lives and find a cure for the virus. There is still a certain unknown as we head into the spring, but I feel, as hopefully the rest of you do, that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I am hopeful we can continue our in-person golf meetings next season, Bob Dembek has got a great schedule of events lined up. Thank you to all who are planning on hosting a meeting in 2021. I hope every one of you has a wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year! I look forward to seeing you at our virtual meeting on January 7th. Thank you. Regards, Peter GCSANE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Peter J. Rappoccio, CGCS Concord Country Club 246 ORNAC, Concord, MA 01742 978-371-1089 Fax: 978-369-7231 Email: gcs@concordcc.org VICE PRESIDENT Brian Skinner, CGCS, CPO Bellevue Golf Club PO Box 760661, Melrose, MA 02176 781-248-0216 Email: brianskinner@bellevuegolfclub.com SECRETARY/TREASURER Bob Dembek Lexington Golf Club 55 Hill Street, Lexington, MA 02420 978-870-8669 Email: lexgc@rcn.com DIRECTORS Greg Cormier, CGCS Tom Irwin, Inc. 11A Street, Burlington, MA 01803 978-846-1133 Email: gregcormier@tomirwin.com Len Curtin George Wright Golf Course 420 West Street, Hyde Park, MA 02136 617-839-3613 lencurtin@yahoo.com Ryan Emerich Vesper Country Club 185 Pawtucket Boulevard, Tyngsboro, MA 01879 717-575-1332 Email: remerich@vespercc.com Eric Richardson Essex County Club 153 School Street, Manchester, MA 01944 978-500-2094 Email: erichardson@essexcc.org David Stowe, CGCS Newton Commonwealth Golf Club 212 Kenrick Street, Newton, MA 02458 617-789-4631 Email: Newtonmaint@aol.com PAST PRESIDENT David W. Johnson The Country Club 191 Clyde Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 617-456-3972 Email: Djohnson.wgc@gmail.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Donald E. Hearn, CGCS 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766 774-430-9040 Email: donhearn@gcsane.org NEWSLETTER EDITOR Greg Cormier, CGCS Tom Irwin, Inc. 11A Street, Burlington, MA 01803 978-846-1133 Email: gregcormier@tomirwin.com GCSANE Headquarters 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766 Tel: (774) 430-9040 Web Site: www.gcsane.org Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and/or person quoted, and June not represent the position of GCSANE. Information contained in this publication June be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. We would appreciate a credit line. Divot Drift WE EXPRESS OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES TO The Watschke family on the passing of Dr. Tom Watschke Professor Emeritus at Penn State University. The Almonte family on the passing of John Almonte, Sr. retired member who was superintendent at Oak Hill Country Club and Worcester Country Club prior to his retirement. The Snow family on the passing of Jim Snow, former National Director of the USGA’s Green Section CONGRATULATIONS TO Chris Donadio who was recently appointed superintendent at Woodland Golf Club. Chris was the assistant at Woodland prior to his appointment. Chris is following David Mucciarone who has worked at Woodland for 50 years, 20 as the assistant working alongside his father, Norman. Upon his father’s retirement David continued his tenure at Woodland for 30 years as superintendent. David will be staying on as Superintendent Emeritus. Joel Cyr has been elevated from the Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent position at Blue Hill Country Club. Jason Adams is continuing his tenure at the club as General Manager. Ben Pacific has been selected as the Superintendent at The Haven Country Club. Ben was previously the Assistant Superintendent at Nashawtuc Country Club. CONGRATULATIONS TO THESE MEMBERS WHO RENEWED THEIR CERTIFIED GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT STATUS (CGCS) Pat Daly, CGCS Framingham Country Club Framingham, MA Ken Lalliere, CGCS Quechee Club Quechee, VT Brian Skinner, CGCS Bellevue Golf Club Melrose, MA WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Welch Mechanical, Friend of the Association Trevor Bendig, Assistant Superintendent, Franklin Country Club 2 Back Issues! Past issues of the NEWSLETTER are available using this link: http://bit.ly/GCSANEnewsletters. As in the past, The Newsletter continues to invite Affiliate members to submit a press release about new personnel, new products or a company bio. We will print each and every release free of charge. This is a great way to advertise for free. Who said nothing in this world is free? Free advertising to better your company, wow what an offer. GCSANE Offers Website Banner advertising at www.gcsane.org The price is $500 for one year which will be re-occurring annually from your first billing unless otherwise specified. For more information, please contact Don Hearn at 774-430-9040 or donhearn@gcsane.org The Newsletter Thoughts From Your Executive Director by Don Hearn This is the time of year when we’re looking at education opportunities, a break from the pressures of the season and seeing friends and people in our profession and industry. Some of these opportunities happen at our winter meetings during the months of December and January. The December meeting took place virtually earlier this month using an online platform. Board members gave a brief update of their areas of responsibility and speakers delivered useful information. Dr. Karl Guillard from the University of Connecticut spoke about his research dealing with the Minimum Level of Sustainable Nutrition (MLSN) approach for soil test interpretation and recommendations. He is looking for superintendents across all six New England states to send soil samples for the project. The goal is to collect enough soil samples and data to develop MLSN guidelines specific for New England golf courses. A description of the program is attached here. Our second speaker was Tyler Bloom. He founded Tyler Bloom Consulting this past June. Prior to this he was the superintendent at Sparrows Point Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland. He had a lot of ideas and used many examples of what worked well for him and might work well for superintendents needing ideas for recruiting employees. Tyler was recently the recipient of the Leo Feser Award. This award honors the late Leo Feser, a pioneering golf course superintendent and a charter member of GCSAA. The award is presented annually to the author of the best superintendent-written article published in Golf Course Management — GCSAA’s flagship publication — during the previous year. Tyler authored the article Ready, willing and able, which was published in the January 2020 issue of GCM. I recently saw this plaque online and thought it might create an idea for helping golfers recognize who is responsible for managing course preparations. Our 2021 Annual Meeting will take place January 7, online, using the same platform (Zoom) as the December meeting. The intent is to conduct business as normal, or as normal as is possible. Business will be conducted with the usual agenda and announcements. Our speaker will be Laura Katen. Laura will be presenting the topic “Leveraging Communication to Have Impact and Achieve Results.” Those who attended the 2020 Annual Meeting had the good fortune to experience Laura’s exciting and interactive presentation. We expect more of the same this time. At the recent annual meeting of the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) Jesse Menachem was elected President of the organization. Jesse, the Executive Director/CEO of Mass Golf, is a friend to many superintendents who he has worked with during his years at Mass Golf (formerly the Massachusetts Golf Association). Jesse is the fourth executive of Mass Golf to lead the IAGA following in the footsteps of Dick Haskell, Tom Landry and Joe Sprague. IAGA was formed in 1968 to promote and conserve the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions. With those pursuits in mind, the IAGA serves as a medium for golf administrators to exchange information, techniques and other data relating to the game of golf and establish channels of communication among all of the world’s golfing fraternities. Members are golf administrators of state and regional amateur golf associations and other invited national golf-related organizations. These administrators manage the affairs of their respective golf associations in various capacities. The IAGA has members from the United States Golf Association, Golf Canada, and most of the state and provincial golf associations throughout North America. The IAGA holds its annual meeting in early November. A host of IAGA members and guest speakers make presentations on golf-related topics. Breakout sessions allow members to interact and discuss specific problems in their fields, and a new Board of Directors is elected during the business meeting. As all of us know, this has been a year of ups and downs and uncertainty. Thinking back to March, I had the feeling we wouldn’t survive the year as the Association we had become over the past 96 years. Fortunately, I was wrong. Sure, much of what we consider a normal year evaporated. Only two events were held during the golf season. The Championship in August at The Haven Country Club and the Assistants event at Marlborough Country Club in September. Of course, these events weren’t conducted as normal, but it didn’t seem to matter to those who attended. From what I could tell, it seemed like it was really more about seeing and talking with others in our industry that helped make the events successful. Because of the state and local restrictions in place we weren’t able to conduct onsite transactions and registrations were prepaid. Scoring was conducted electronically using a platform that 3 November - December 2020 Thoughts continued provided live “up to the minute” scoring for all who played at The Haven. This eliminated the need for handling scorecards. Both of these options will be adopted for future events. There was no after- golf gathering and a box lunch was the norm for both events. A milestone and history maker has taken place at The Country Club where current Past President Dave Johnson is Director of Grounds. The first female in the club’s history has been appointed to the position of General Manager/COO. Kristen LaCount has taken over for longtime General Manager, David Chag, who is ending a 33-year span at the club. David has been a friend of superintendents and shown the utmost respect for their club’s business office. LaCount’s father started as a dishwasher, quickly working his way up to become TCC’s youngest executive chef, a position he held for decades. “We had one car in our family, so we’d come over and pick up dad at the back delivery area, and we’d be sitting on milk crates with a bowl of peppermint stick ice cream waiting for him to finish up work,” LaCount recalled. “So the club was always extremely present in my life.” There’s a common trope of executives starting in the mailroom and working their way to the top. For LaCount, it was the club’s snack bar, where she got her start as a young teenager in the mid-1990s. “It really was my first taste of interacting with staff and learning how to manage people, and that was probably a huge point for me … that just reinforced that this is the industry that I wanted to be in,” LaCount said. “It wasn’t just about food and beverage and service and golf, and all those things. It was really about the personal connections that you make.” responsibilities. He has been an active member in groups associated with the club and golf industry and has spoken at many club and course conferences and workshops. Fresh out of college, she saw a job offer fall through and, on her father’s recommendation, met with former TCC General Manager David Chag for some career advice. The following is reprinted in part from an article written by Abby Patkin of Wicked Local.com Kristen is the third generation of her family to have worked at the club. Her mother grew up just across the street from the club, in Buttonwood Village, working weekends at the front desk throughout college while LaCount’s grandmother worked in the “Mr. Chag, David, took me under his wing and said, ‘What do you think about learning a little bit of the front of the house and the management side?’” LaCount recalled. With Chag as her mentor, LaCount buried herself in the work and rose through the ranks. By the time the club hosted the 2013 U.S. Amateur Golf Championship, she knew she wanted a future in Northeast Golf & Turf Supply a division of Northeast Nursery, Inc. - Est. 1982 Exclusive Distributor for Rain Bird Golf MA, NH, VT, ME and RI • Granular Fertilizers • Specialty Nutrients PRODUCT CATEGORIES • Control Products • Soil Conditioners • Turfgrass Seed • Golf Course Accessories NORTHEAST TURF & IRRIGATION SUPPLY Dennis Port, MA NORTHEAST CONTRACTOR CENTER Peabody, MA NORTHEAST TURF & IRRIGATION SUPPLY Londonderry, NH Learn more about our products and services at: www.northeastnursery.com 4 club management. And TCC, with its large membership and sprawling, college campus- like grounds, captured her heart. She was made TCC’s first-ever assistant general manager, raised as Chag’s eventual successor. And she made her home in Brookline with her husband, Prairie Fire restaurateur Dan Kerrigan, and their two children. Of his mentee, Chag said LaCount’s personality and work ethic made her a natural leader. “She has an incredible work ethic and enthusiasm and personality that’s infectious, so others tend to want to work with her,” he said. “People enjoy being around her.” Now, 17 years after she first joined the club full-time, LaCount has taken the reins. The Newsletter Thoughts continued “She just struck us that she was the best person for the job, so much so that we decided not to do a search, but just to directly hire her,” said TCC President Lyman Bullard. He added, “I think she has been preparing for this job her whole life, and she has just jumped right into it with great energy, enthusiasm and leadership.” LaCount, who took office Oct. 1, has her work cut out for her amid the ongoing pandemic, Bullard said. “As you can imagine, in a COVID world, there are no dull months in any organization, anywhere,” he said. “I think she has everybody on the staff ready to be as creative and flexible as we need to be to make it a fun winter experience for our members.” For her part, LaCount said she plans to maintain the stability the club saw under Chag’s leadership, even as TCC navigates high- profile projects and events, including the 2022 U.S. Open, which the club will host. The coronavirus pandemic continues to be a challenge for all of us. I know of no one who hasn’t been challenged. It’s important to make note of all who continued their support through continued membership and sponsorship of our Association this year. While some look at dues as an expense, I look at it as an investment. An investment in the future of our profession and industry. As an Association we are grateful to those who have continued their support. We have offered ways to help companies and their representatives stay connected to the membership through the use of online video presentations. Greg Cormier, our Affiliate Representative, conducted most of these and he and those interviewed enjoyed doing them. Sure, it was a new way for us to help our supporters let others know more about their business. It was also fun for all involved. We would like to continue spotlighting our commercial sponsors in ways that create interest and tell a company’s story. It’s great way to get exposure and let others know about the people associated with a company. We also have had strong support from superintendents who were scheduled to host meetings this year. Every cancelled event was immediately rescheduled for 2021 on approximately the same date as this year. Bob Dembek, Golf Chair has spent considerable time lining up courses and dates for our events. Not an easy task, but one he has done well. He is always looking for host sites so please let him know if you would like to host an event and he will contact you to arrange details. Let’s not forget – if we don’t support our profession and industry, who will? 5 November - December 2020 Takeaways from 2020? By Colin Smethurst, CGCS - Hillview Golf Course 2020 is a year we will all remember the rest of our lives. The global pandemic touched all of us in every portion of our lives both personally and professionally. Further, the climate continues to be volatile. The Earth is now the warmest it has been since we’ve been around to record it. Patience really is a virtue Be patient with everyone in your life because we’re all struggling. From your family to your greens chairman to the cashier at Market Basket, nobody is having a good year and there are days when we’re at the tipping point. Let that person vent and unburden themselves, take a deep breath and try to make that interaction a positive one. Be Thankful If you still have your job, your health, your family and your family’s health. Be thankful! Try to enjoy this down time as much as you can and spend it with your loved ones. And remember this quote as you move forward into 2021: “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times” Merry Christmas and a Happy New year! course overcame. Turfgrass is resilient, it’ll bounce back. Don’t sweat the small stuff, focus down the middle. When COVID broke out, nobody knew how it would affect our business and in the beginning at least in Massachusetts, no revenue was coming in. This forced budget cuts and for me as a municipal superintendent, it hit hardest on labor. I told myself to make sure the place was good down the middle. Greens, tees, fairways in that order. Everything else you get to is a bonus. Focus down the middle and survive. Family is everything and yours is hurting This year has put everyone’s relationships to the test. At least for me, it will be the mental and emotional damage that this disease has wreaked that will be remembered. My wife and I have faced the strain of juggling her working remotely, figuring out child care with few safe options, and still trying to eek out just a few minutes of time for each other. My son has been forced into isolation and I worry about what it's doing to him. He’s the strongest 5 year old I know but I see the toll of 2020 wearing on him. I know with the season behind me, I’m trying to get things as right as possible at home. This has sprung wildfires, drought, and super storms. And finally, social unrest continues to boil over and our country is as divided as I can remember it in my lifetime. No matter where you stand politically, the politics of 2020 rages inside of people. What can I take away from this year that we all want to leave in the rearview? Water: Sweet nectar from the Gods I spent more time this summer than I would like to admit staring at my irrigation ponds. Is there enough water in there to water fairways tonight? When do I cut them off altogether? What if my wells dry up? Or the next morning after running a heavy cycle: “Ok that’s it, I’m fired, time to dust off that communications degree!” The drought of 2020 was one for the books. When rain came, it was always scattered and if you’re like me that blob of sweet yellow and red on the radar would go above and below the golf course. I tried to take it in stride and both myself and the golf 6 The Newsletter Since 1970, Turf Products has been providing our valued customers with the knowledge, tools and equipment to protect and preserve the Northeast’s most beautiful outdoor environments. We are your single source supplier for turf mowing and maintenance equipment and golf irrigation systems, as well as, drainage, pond aeration, lightning detection and much more. Turf Products has been selling Toro equipment continually for over half a century. Together we deliver the most innovative products in the golf industry. Toro products are developed by golf experts for individuals like you who work hard to maintain  awless turf conditions. Call: (800) 243-4355 or visit us at: www.turfproductscorp.com 7 November - December 2020 GCSAA Update by Kevin Doyle With autumn passed by and the agro- nomic practices in the rearview mirror, the frosty and snowy mornings will begin, and staff numbers will have lightened. Planning projects may be part of a larger master plan for the facility. These are great tools to ensure the projects undertaken by the club are done in a fiscally responsible man- ner and keep progress moving forward on a schedule. A very beneficial undertaking for the facility, but what impact does that have in your department? While budgeting offers a chance to plan for equipment and staffing numbers, have you done any planning specific to the grounds team at your facility? Tyler Bloom dis- cussed the importance of your people extensively during the recent Zoom meeting. Below are some ways to maximize your team with currently available resources. The winter offers the perfect time to engage your biggest assets, your team. Why not consider a SCOR analysis with them? Getting their feedback on team dynamics could be key in making improve- ments you never saw. Where are the strengths of your team, what challenges do they see? Are there opportunities that would improve the processes you already have in place? What risks do your staff see within the grounds department? Would you benefit from this information? Would your team be more effective after engaging them in developing such an analysis? Do you challenge or set goals for your staff? We thrive in an industry that blends science and art while newer techniques trend towards quantitative, measurable data. GCSAA offers two great programs that will benefit individuals on you staff, your team, and the facility. These professional development opportunities for key staff members can assist you structure advancement or benefit in- creases for your people, all while increasing their value to the facil- ity. These are the programs mentioned by Bloom on the December meeting Zoom! What better time to encourage participation than the off-season? The Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series is composed of certificates covering key competency areas of: • Agronomy • Business • • Environmental Stewardship The certificates are golf-centric, available to GCSAA members and non-members, and can be completed in any order. It is strongly recommended that an assistant superintendent has at least two years of work experience before beginning any of the ASCS certifi- cates. However, the certificates are available to all and not limited to assistants. Leadership and Communications 8 spray systems fundamentals of turfgrass operations cutting units drivetrain systems electrical systems engine technology hydraulic systems Equipment Management Certificate Program Level 1- Level 2 - Certification are a series of exams designed to demonstrate proficiency in key competency areas related to turf equipment. This certificate program is available to any and all turf equipment technicians regardless of whether you work for a golf course. The Level 1 program is made up of eight exams covering the key competency areas of: • • • • • • metalworking and fabrication • • You can choose to take one exam or work to complete the entire program by successfully completing all eight exams in any order. Level 2 follows completion, with a Certification opportunity upon finishing both levels. You will spend countless hours with decision makers at your facility this winter preparing for improvements to the grounds to ensure a successful 2021 season. Be sure to have those discussions with your team, allow them the opportunity to shape the culture for success (SCOR analysis), and challenge them to use certificate resources available for your people to succeed in 2021 and beyond. GCSAA Resources and Deadlines you Get Cool Stuff from your Association Already Las Vegas update The 2021 Golf Industry Show is going virtual. Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, GCSAA announced that the annual education conference and trade show will be presented in a virtual format instead of the previously planned in-person event in Las Vegas. Take a tour and see the amazing interactive capabilities at : www.golfindustryshow.com/home Registration is now open!! Again, if I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me. Kevin Doyle GCSAA Field Staff kdoyle@gcsaa.org Follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_NE The Newsletter Your Golf Irrigation Specialist Tanto Irrigation has proudly provided the Golf Industry with Irrigation Services for over 50 years. Let us know how we can serve Please Contact: Tim Clarke (845) 325-3868 Or Paul L. Guillaro (914) 262-7324 9 November - December 2020 Thoughts from the Northshore By Eric Richardson Dear Member, The Newsletter Committee, which I am on, has assigned me the glorious duty to summarize 2020 for the final edi- tion of this year’s edition. Watching reruns of the 2020 Red Sox season, yes, there was one, would be more enjoy- able. If you ever wondered what a major league baseball team would look like if all the starting and bullpen pitchers forgot how to throw a baseball, I would suggest tuning in. 2020 threw us curveballs, sliders, knuckleballs, and gyrob- alls from start to finish. With every new and complex chal- lenge, Turfgrass Managers and our association persevered. It is interesting how sports impact the culture and fabric of our country. Who would have thought that NBA postpone- ment of their season in March would lead to immediate and unparalleled local, state, and federal government restrictions? Scholars and historians will debate and dissect the government’s actions for decades. We all have strong views on the matter, and I assume, like me, they have evolved throughout the year as new information became available. Unfortunately, until this pandemic is well in the rearview mirror, we cannot fully grasp the long-term health and economic ramifications of 2020. Every decision we have and continue to make as managers of people and as an association has unintended consequences due to the simple fact that, like most of the world’s population, we lack the complete understanding of all the complexities regarding operating during a once a century health crisis. Fortunately, we have tremendous local leadership. We will remember, in perpetuity, the efforts of Jesse Menachem (Executive Director/ CEO Mass Golf), Peter Rappoccio (GCSANE and NERTF President), Don Hearn (Executive Director GCSANE), and many others during the pandemic. Tireless hours of work continue to this day as they navigate a path for us through the troubled waters of this health crisis. As Don likes to say, they are the tip of the spear for golf. Trust me; the spear is still sharp and continues to work diligently on our behalf. As we continue to move through the holiday season, positive cases are increasing exponentially, and for some of us, the cri- sis is now for the first time this year, hitting close to home and our inner circles. There are two people close to me, not in my household, currently battling for their life due to COVID. One person is your typical older person with preexisting conditions, while the other is in his mid-thirties with no preexisting condi- tion. I am sharing this solely as an example of the unknowns and variability of COVID. Please protect yourself, your family, and all of those that work with and for you. Implementing ex- tremely cautious protocols during this period will slow your pro- ductivity as an operation and hinder your ability to gather with those close to you; I do not see another option from my soapbox. Over the last few months, there has been a rash of job openings in our industry. I have no idea if the turnover rate exceeds or is on par with previous years, but it ap- pears that COVID burnout is a factor. Please take care of your mental and physical health during these challeng- ing times, and reach out to those in our industry that need support. A simple text or phone call goes a long way. I hope you and yours have a safe and healthy holiday season. Sincerely, Eric Richardson 10 The Newsletter Learn more about the full line of John Deere Golf & Sports Turf Equipment at www.finchturf.com 11 November - December 2020 12 The Newsletter The Promise of Tomorrow by Steve Keating Every year holds it’s own set of lessons. Those who study history know that the years teach us many things that a single day will never know. I don’t think we’ll need much history however to understand some of the lessons from the year 2020. For too many families around the world one of those lessons is that tomorrow is promised to no one. No one can know if their own tomorrow will actually arrive. But we also know that if our tomorrow does arrive we have much more control over it than we often choose to take. Many people let their days unfold as if they have no say whatsoever in the events of that day. They let the day happen. The happiest and most successful people never let a day happen “to them.” They make the day happen “for them.” They may not be able to choose each of the “events” that come their way each day but they are able to choose exactly how they will respond to them. They choose very very frequently to respond with a positive attitude. That positive attitude allows them to take something good from every experience. It allows them to learn from even their least favorite event of any given day. It allows them to constantly be looking forward to the promise of an even better tomorrow. You have the same choice. The only question is whether or not you’ll actually make it. I know people who make the choice of a positive attitude 100% of the time. They are happier than me. I am happier than people who make the choice of a positive attitude less frequently than me. I know people who choose to look for opportunities in every problem 100% of the time. They are more successful than me. I am more successful than people who look for opportunities in problems less than I do. It is very clear that happiness and success come from our choices and no choice we make is more important than the choice of a positive attitude. Choosing to look for opportunities inside problems is a close second. Yet I’m tempted to tell you it’s not possible 100% of the time cause it seems impossible to me. Yet I know people who prove me wrong. It’s not only a possibility for them, it is a reality. So I’m going to keep trying to make it my reality too. The promise of tomorrow doesn’t wait. You need to go get it. Your choice of a positive attitude is the fastest ride to those promises you’ll ever find. You willing to hop on board with me? Reprinted from his blog LeadToday. 13 November - December 2020 14 The NewsletterOUR PASSION IS YOUR SUCCESS Harris Schnare | 800-582-5959 | harris@tomirwin.comWith Tom Irwin, you’re not alone. Preparations: 24th New England Regional Turfgrass Conference by Gary Sykes Fall greetings to everyone. I am sure many of you are awfully glad to have the sum- mer of 2020 behind you. Some of the driest conditions in more than 25 years affected many areas of the northeast. Golf on the other hand has had some of its highest numbers in years because of the pandemic. This has added to maintenance challenges but resulted with some clubs being in a better place financially. With all these challenges, a determination of cutting out a trade show for our 24th conference and show had to be made and was the last thing we wanted to do. We have spent lots of time discussing alternatives, if we could hold it, if the convention center opened, if restrictions were eased, if attendees would support it, if exhibitors would come, if the hotels would be open, if, if, if, if, if,…… just too many ifs. The decision was made so to give the foundation a chance to focus efforts on preparation on a virtual conference. This made sense and helped to bridge the gap of the uncertainty of the pandemic. So, we announced that we would attempt a two-day program of one-day of turf seminars and a day of education on shorter subjects. We are plan- ning to offer credits, to cover a lot of subjects, and to draw on the local and national turf experts to ensure the highest quality of education program we could construct. We have had lots of discussion over how it will be offered. We have decided that using Zoom would fill our needs. So, the new plan is to bring our education conference to you via Zoom, into your office or to your home, or wherever you might be the first week of March of 2021. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity and will find the education line-up will be valuable to your efforts and by participating you will not miss a beat! This virtual event will not be the new normal, but just a needed adaptation in a challenging time for 2021 Please watch for a “Save the Date” postcard coming out in the next few weeks. That will give you some of the information to put on your calendar. We then hope to communicate to you the full program, the pricing and other things pertaining to your participation. A brochure will be out and our website will be updated in early December. Online registration will open December 15th. We will have several seminars including a 2-hr. Sports Turf seminar on Tuesday, March 2. Seminars will be 1-4 hrs. in length and include credits if warranted. We will then offer a full day of education on Wednesday, March 3 just like we do at the show. These topics will be ½ or 1hr in length with 4 tracts planned: Golf, Sports Turf and Grounds, Lawn Care/Landscape and Equipment Technicians. Again, we will be offering credits for recerti- fication in the Turf Industry for all New England States. We are also planning an online silent auction for Research! We are excited to bring to our attendees’ great speakers, important topics, fair prices, and easy access. Keep an eye on your mailbox soon! 15 November - December 2020 Please patronize these Friends of the Association Agresource, Inc. 110 Boxford Rd. Rowley, MA 01969 Agresource Inc. is a proud manufacturer and distributor of quality compost, soil, and sand throughout the northeast for over 30 years. Agresport, a division of Agresource focused on materials and services specifically for the golf and sports fields market working together to enhance and maintain your unique properties Dave Harding office: (978) 388-5110 cell: (978) 904-1203 Mike Carignan 978-270-9132 mcarignan@agresourceinc.com www.agresourceinc.com Beals & Thomas, Inc. 144 Turnpike Road Southborough, MA 01772 32 Court Street Plymouth, MA 02360 Civil Engineers–Landscape Architects–Land Surveyors–Planners–Environmental Specialists Sarah Stearns 508-366-0560 sstearns@bealsandthomas.com Beals & Thomas specializes in golf course site design services including irrigation pond analysis & design, drainage & utility improvements, permitting, hydrogeologic evaluations, construction administration, boundary & topographic surveys, master planning & project design. Atlantic Golf & Turf 27 Industrial Boulevard Turners Falls, MA 01376 Specializing in agronomy through the distribution of fertilizer, seed & chemicals throughout New England. Chris Cowan (413) 530-5040 Paul Jamrog (401) 524-3322 Scott Mackintosh CPAg (774) 551-6083 www.atlanticgolfandturf.com A-OK Turf Equipment Inc. 1357 Main St. Coventry, RI 02816-8435 Lastec, Tycrop, Blec, Wiedenmann, Therrien, Graden, Sweep & Fill, Baroness, & used equipment. Mike Cornicelli (401) 826-2584 www.pavewithasi.com BASF Turf & Ornamental 169 Kings Hwy Hancock, NH 03449 “We don’t make the turf. We make it better.” Pete Jacobson (919) 530-9062 peter.jacobson@basf.com BACKED by BAYER Building on an already solid foundation of proven products to help you succeed. Brian Giblin (508) 439-9809 brian.giblin@bayer.com www.backedbybayer.com The Cardinals, Inc. 166 River Rd., PO Box 520 Unionville, CT 06085 Golf course & landscape supplies. John Callahan (860) 916-3947 Scott Gabrielson (401) 258-5830 Cavicchio Greenhouses, Inc. 110 Codjer Lane Sudbury, MA 01776 Annuals, perennials, garden mums, ground covers, loam, & mulch. Darren Young (978) 443-7177 Charles C. Hart Seed Co., Inc. 304 Main St. Wethersfield, CT 06109 Authorized distributor for Bayer, Syngenta, Grigg Brothers foliar fertilizers, & Aquatrols. Specializing in custom seed blends. Robin Hayes (508) 237-2642 DAF Services, Inc. 20 Lawnacre Rd. Windsor Locks, CT 06096 Custom pumping solutions. Custom pump controls. Complete pump service. Serving all of New England. Tim Berge, Sales Manager c (860) 690-1192 o (860) 623-5207 x227 tberge@dafsvcs.com Dependable Petroleum Service One Roberts Road Plymouth, MA 02360 UST / AST facility maintenance, installation & compliance testing. Bruce Garrett / Francis Turner (508) 747-6238 bgarrett@dependablecompany.com www.dependablecompany.com Finch Services, Inc. Finch Services is your premier John Deere Golf Distributor in the Northeast. Bill Rockwell (508) 789-5293 Mark Casey (617) 447-4076 Ryan Lane (978)758-8671 Call or visit our website at www.finchturf.com Five Star Golf Cars & Utility Vehicles 174 Main Street Buzzards Bay, MA 02532 E-Z GO Golf Cars, Cushman Utility Vehicles Andrew Ingham (617) 780-5482 Andrew@fivestargolfcars.com MA Territory Harrell’s LLC 19 Technology Drive Auburn, MA 01501 Turf & Ornamental supplies. Chuck Bramhall (508) 400-0600 Jim Cohen (978) 337-0222 Jim Favreau (978) 227-2785 Mike Kroian (401) 265-5353 Kent Lemme (413) 281-8087 Helena Agri-Enterprises 101 Elm Street Hatfield, MA 01038 National distributors of all your turf chemicals & fertilizers. Extensive line of Helena Branded wetting agents, foliars, micro nutrients & adjuvants. Jeff Urquhart (781) 571-1164 www.helenaagr.com 16 The Newsletter Please patronize these Friends of the Association Hillcrest Turf Services PO Box 767 Medfield, MA 02052 With over 20 years experience working with golf courses and in turf management, we have the skills expertise and equipment to take care of your turf quickly, efficiently and professionally. Mike Parks (978) 823-0009 hillcrestturf@gmail.com www.hillcrestturfservices.net International Golf Construction Co. 5 Purcell Rd. Arlington, MA 02474 Golf course construction. Antonios Paganis (781) 648-2351 (508) 428-3022 Irrigation Management & Services 21 Lakeview Ave. Natick, MA 01760 Irrigation consultation, design, & system evaluation. Bob Healey, ASIC, CID (508) 653-0625 Ken Jones Tire, Inc. 71-73 Chandler St. Worcester, MA 01613 Distributor of tires for lawn & garden, trucks, cars, industrial equipment, & golf cars. Gerry Jones (508) 755-5255 Larchmont Engineering & Irrigation 11 Larchmont Lane Lexington, MA 02420 Offering a full range of inventory for irrigation drainage, pumps, fountains & landscape lighting products & services for all of your residential & commercial needs. (781) 862-2550 Susan Tropeano Lazaro’s Golf Course Supplies & Accessories dba Hammond Paint & Chemical Co., Inc. 738 Main St., Suite 223 Waltham, MA 02154 Complete line for all your of golf course supplies. Par Aide, Standard, Eagle One, turf & ornamentals, aquatics, turf marking paint, safety items, adjuvants. Joe Lazaro–cell: (617) 285-8670 Fax: (781) 647-0787 Email: jlazaro698@aol.com www.lazarogolfcoursesupplies.com Maher Services 71 Concord Street N. Reading, MA 01864 Well drilling, pump service & well maintenance Peter Maher cell: (781) 953-8167 or (978) 664-WELL (9355) Fax (978) 664-9356 www.maherserv.com Mayer Tree Service Providing a wide range of tree care from Plant Health Care to tree removal. Mobile wood waste grinding services. Stump grinding. Land clearing. Loam and mulch delivery. Tree pruning to enhance shot value and playability. Richard Grant (978) 500-8849 rich@mayertree.com MAS Golf Course Construction 60 Lumber St. Hopkinton, MA 01748 Fulfilling all your renovation and construction needs. Matthew Staffieri (508) 243-2443 matt@masgolfconstruction www.masgolfconstruction.com McNulty Construction Corp. P. O. Box 3218 Framingham, MA 01705 Asphalt paving of cart paths, walkways, parking areas; imprinted asphalt. John McNulty (508) 879-8875 MTE, Inc. – Turf Equipment Solutions 115 Franklin Street Extension Derry, NH 03038 New England’s source for equipment: New & pre-owned mowers, tractors, & maintenance items from: Jacobsen, Turfco, Smithco, Ventrac, Redexim, Neary Grinders, Ryan, Buffalo Turbine, Mahindra, Gravely, Standard, Par-Aide & others. Sales, Parts, & Service all brands. Derry Shop: (603) 404-2286 Rob Nolek: (617) 990-2427 Eastern MA Jess Hamilton: (603) 500-3936 NH Sean Smith: (207) 385-6684 ME Bob Barrow: (401) 537-8597 RI Alan Hubbard: (413) 355-0603 Mungeam Cornish Golf Design, Inc. 195 SW Main Street Douglas, MA 01516 Golf course architects Office: (508) 476-5630 Cell: (508) 873-0103 Email: info@mcgolfdesign.com Contact: Mark A. Mungeam, ASGCA www.mcgolfdesign.com New England Specialty Soils 435 Lancaster Street Leominster, MA 01453 1mm. Top Dressing Sand, High Density Bunker Sand, Rootzone Mixes, Tee Blends, Divot Mixes, Bridging Stone, Cart Path Mix, Infield Mixes, Inorganic Amendments, SLOPE LOCK Soil. Bob Doran (978) 230-2244 John Toomey (978) 660-0175 Lauren Baldarelli (978) 860-5469 www.nesoils.com New England Turf Farm, Inc. P.O. Box 777 West Kingston, RI 02892 Many types of tallgrasses and bentgrass available for golf courses, sports turf and landscapers. Expert installation available. Office: (800) 451-2900 Ernie Ketchum (508) 364-4428 erniesod@comcast.net Mike Brown (508) 272-1827 www.newenglandturf.com 17 November - December 2020 Please patronize these Friends of the Association NMP Golf Construction Corp. 25 Bishop Ave. Ste. A-2, Williston, VT 05495 Golf course construction Mario Poirier (888) 707-0787 Northeast Golf & Turf Supply 6 Dearborn Road Peabody, MA 01960 Complete line of Golf Course, Landscape & Lawn Care Construction & Maintenance Supplies Tom Rowell (978) 317-0673 Jeff Brown (508) 868-8495 Dan Ricker (978) 317-7320 North Shore Hydroseeding 49 North Putnam St. Danvers, MA 01923 Hydroseeding & erosion control services. Brian King (978) 762-8737 www.nshydro.com Nutrien Solutions Suppliers of Chemicals, Fertilizer, & Grass Seed (978) 685-3300 Nick Burchard (401) 601-7213 Drew Cummins (401) 952-4219 www.nutrien.com On-Course Golf Inc., Design/Build 16 Maple Street Acton, MA 01720 Golf Course Craftsmen. We serve all your remodeling and renovation needs. You can trust your project with us! We make you look good! Sean Hanley (978) 337-6661 www.on-coursegolf.com Precision Laboratories 1428 S. Shields Drive Waukegan, IL 60083 Specialized chemistries that enhance plants, seeds, soil and water. Greg Bennett 978-877-3772 www.precisionlab.com Prime Source 3208 Peach Street Erie, PA 16508 National, full line distributor of turf, ornamental & specialty products. Exclusive distributor of Prime Source branded pesticides & specialty products. Mike Blatt, Northeast Territory Manager (814) 440-7658 Putnam Pipe Corp. Hopkinton & Taunton, MA Distributor of water, sewer, drain and stormwater pipe & fittings. Erosion & sediment control products. Free delivery & 24-hour service. David Putnam 508-435-3090 Read Custom Soils 5 Pond Park Road, Suite 1 Hingham, MA 02043 Consistent sand for the next twenty years. Top dressing sands, root zone blends, high density bunker sand,“early green” black sand, divot & cart path mixes. Mark Pendergrast (617) 686-5590 Garrett Whitney (617) 697-4247 Ed Downing (508) 440-1833 www.readcustomsoils.com SiteOne Landscape Supply, LLC 7 Lincoln Road Foxboro, MA 02035 Offering our customers the most complete line of products, service & expertise in the industry. Ron Tumiski (508) 697-2757 Sodco Inc. PO Box 2 Slocum, Rl 02877 1-800-341-6900 Black Beauty, Tall Fescue, Green & Fairway Height Bent, Short Cut Black Beauty, Short Cut Blue, 90-10 Fine Fescue Installation options available Contact: Pat Hogan, Alicia Pearson Sportscapes Unlimited LLC PO Box 1686 Duxbury, MA 02332 Specializing in fairway aeration & cleanup, deep time aeration, Air2G2 aeration & full seeding services. Mike Lucier 617-913-8958 mike@sportscapesunlimited.com sportscapesunlimited.com Syngenta Professional Products P.O. Box 1775 Wells, ME 04090 John Bresnahan (413) 333-9914 Melissa Hyner Gugliotti (860) 221-5712 Target Specialty Products 165 Grove Street, Suite 70 Franklin, MA 02038 Supplier of fertilizer, chemicals & grass seed. Jim Pritchard, Territory Manager 401-862-1098 Glenn Larrabee 774-670-8880 Tartan Farms, LLC P.O. Box 983 West Kingston, RI 02892 Dave Wallace (401) 641-0306 18 The Newsletter Please patronize these Friends of the Association Winding Brook Turf Farm Wethersfield, CT and Lyman, ME 240 Griswold Road Wethersfield, CT 06109 Kathy Arcari (401) 639-5462 karcari@windingbrookturf.net www.windingbrookturf.com WinField United 29 Gilmore Drive–Unit C Sutton, MA 01590 Using industry-leading insights to provide you with the products that help you win. Time Hanrahan (978) 815-9810 Winterberry Irrigation Pump service, installation and sales. Irrigation installation, service, repairs, and sales. Wire tracking, GPS mapping, grounding testing, start-up, and winterization. Matt Faherty 860-681-8982 mfaherty@winterberrylandscape.com Visit www.winterberryirrigation.com Turf Enhancement Enterprises Featuring Floratine products, JRM tines and bed knives and Greenleaf Turbo Drop air induction spray nozzles. Tom Fox 508-450-9254 Brian Juneau 781-738-3201 Turf Products 157 Moody Rd. Enfield, CT 06082 Toro Equipment & Irrigation– Serving the industry since 1970 800-243-4355 Bill Conley Nat Binns (332) 351-5189 www.turfproductscorp.com Valley Green 14 Copper Beech Drive Kingston, MA 02364 Phone: (413) 533-0726 Fax: (413) 533-0792 “Wholesale distributor of turf products” Doug Dondero (508) 944-3262 Jon Targett (978) 855-0932 Joe Trosky (860) 508-9875 Welch Mechanical Welch Mechanical is a mobile repair company specializing in golf course equipment. We provide a variety of services including but not limited to hydraulic and electrical systems repairs, engine repair, Sprayer calibration and repair, welding/ fabrication, and rebuilding mower reels. Please check out our website www.welchmechanical.com Tanto Irrigation 5 N. Payne Street Elmsford, NY 10532 Golf Irrigation specialists. Proudly providing the Golf Industry with irrigation services for over 50 Years. Bill Bartels 914-347-5151 tantoirrigation.com Tom Irwin, Inc. 13 A Street Burlington, MA 01803 (800) 582-5959 www.tomirwin.com We bring you a network of professionals and innovative solutions dedicated to your success. With Tom Irwin, you’re not alone. Harris Schnare, Client Relations Manager: 508-654-2488 Tree Tech, Inc. 6 Springbrook Rd Foxboro, MA 02035 Foxboro, Wellesley, Fall River Full service tree service specializing in zero impact tree removal, stump grinding, tree pruning & tree risk assessments by our team of Certified Arborists. Andy Felix (508) 543-5644 Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc. PO Box 167 Wood River Junction, Rl 02894 Tuckahoe Turf grows some of the finest sod in the Northeast. We grow Kentucky Bluegrass, Fine Fescue, Tall Fescue, and Blue/Fescue blends. We also have several bentgrass varieties at both tee and green height. Please call for details. Scott McLeod (401) 230-2631 Peter DeBrusk (603) 819-9700 800-556-6985 19 November - December 2020 Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England The Newsletter–Rate Schedule THE NEWSLETTER DISPLAY ADVERTISING ORDER FORM Company Name: Address: Contact Name: Issues (List month and total number): Amount of Check: Phone: Email: (Made payable to “GCSANE”) Payment can be made by check payable to GCSANE or by credit card using the Pay Pal link on the home page of the Association's website at gcsane.org. You do not need a Pay Pal account to use your credit card. Member Rates: Monthly Rate 3 Times Per Yr. (Save 5%) 6 Times Per Yr. 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Send all Newsletter ads to: Don Hearn, CGCS 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766 Email: donhearn@gcsane.org 20