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T h e w i s e s t m e n t h a t e're y o u k e n
Have never d e e m e d it treason,
To rest a bit — and jest a bit,

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And balance up their reason,
T o l a u g h a b i t , a n d chaff a b i t ,
And joke a bit i n season.

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JANUARY
1941

This N E W S L E T T E R is published by the
Greenkeepers Club of New England, and
sent free to its members and their Green's
Chairmen. Subscription price ten cents a
copy, or a dollar a year.
G E O R G E J . R O M M E L L , JR.
Editor and Rusiness Mgr.
54 Eddy St., West Newton, Mass.
Henry Mitchell, Assistant Editor
January 15, 1941

Vol. 13, No. 1

The ideas and opinions expressed in the
subject matter of this NEWSLETTER
are
not necessarily those of the Editor or the members of the club as a ivhole.
A CHANGE
The N E W S L E T T E R has changed its
policy, and is putting out only nine issues for
the year 1941. It is considered advisable to do
this, as advertisers are reluctant to advertise
during November, December, January and
February, and articles coming from the greenkeepers are so few t h a t we feel by eliminating
a few, we may be able to give more quality
and less volume.
We are planning to run a January number,
to break into the long stretch between,
October and March.
IT'S A GIFT
Eleven years ago, a young man with a
gift to write, began to edit a little magazine
called "The Newsletter," today the name of
Guy West has become practically synonymous
with the "Newsletter."
This "Newsletter" was nursed and handled
like a new born baby, by this same " G u y , "
who travelled and rode many miles of highway, through good weather and bad, that he
might be there to get the news. You and I
read that little paper, through many years,
but few if any have appreciated the work and
the heartaches that go with a job of that type.
Yes, this little paper has grown, to be
known and respected all over the country
and even to outlying countries.
It was the artery through which the life
blood (knowledge and information) flowed, to
keep the greenkeepers' club alive.
So like the heart t h a t has had a great
shock, " T h e Newsletter" skipped a beat
in December, when the strong hand t h a t
guided this paper was no longer there.
It is a long way back to May, 1929, when
this little publication started, and 1 dare
say, many of those "oldtimers," who were
in the club at that time, can still remember
t h a t first number.

But, if you can't let's refresh your memory
and reminisce with Guy.
Mr. Wilson and Mr. McCormick were
associate editors.
There were six articles written by six members.
1. "Maintenance of Stolon Greens,"
by James McCormick.
2. "Brae Burn Velvet," by
John
Shanahan.
3. "Winchester Bent," by Tom Fahey.
4. "Changing Fescue to Bent," by
Frank Wilson.
5. "Soap for Ball Washers," by Guy
West.
6. "Poultry Manure at Woodland,"
by Carlton Treat.
So with this little quotation from Mr.
West's November issue, "Give me the man
who instead of always telling what should be
done, goes out and does it," we salute you
Guy and hope that it is only "au revoir,"
but not goodby.
Old Sod.
HERE ARE SHORT COURSE DATES
The third annual short course for greenkeepers at University of Maryland will be
held January 27 and 28.
Penn. State's annual fine turf sessions are
scheduled for February 19-21.
The 13th annual short course for greenkeepers will take place February 17-21 at
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N. J.,
instruction by Leader, Dr. H . B. Sprague,
Dr. J . S. Joffe, Prof. E. R. Gross, Dr. S. J.
Toth, Dr. F. E. Bear, Prof. H . R. Cox, Dr.
S. A. Waksman, Dr. R. L. Starkey. Dr. J.
W. Shive, Miss J. G. Fiske, Dr. E. R . Biel,
M r . T . C. Longnecker, Dr. C. C. Hamilton
and Dr. P. P. Pirone.
GREENKEEPERS CAN NOW HOLD
THEIR HEADS HIGH
Remember Emil Maschocchi, what a guy.
He's gone and done it again, but, and how.
I think Emil has done something t h a t
mighty few pros could do. We ought to be
proud of him. Emil is only 33 years old,
and has won the New England Greenkeepers'
championship 3 times and then walks off
with the G. S. A. championship and makes it
look easy.
Just look these facts over:
1. Led the field by sixteen strokes.
2. Was 7 strokes under par for 36 holes
on a course where many sectional and state
events have been held without approaching
this record.
3. Was under even fours for 36 holes.

4. Had a total of 20 pars, 10 birdies,
5 bogies, and 1 eagle.
5. All on a 6700-yard championship
golf course from the rear tees.
Par Out
Mash Out
Par In
Mash In
Mashie
Mashieln

Morning Round
4 4 4 4 3 5 4 4
5 4 4 4 3 4 4 5
4 5 4 4 3 4 3 4
4 5 4 4 3 4 3 4

3—35
3—36
5—36—71
5—35—71

Afternoon
3 4 4 2 2 4 4 5 3—31
3 4 3 4 4 4 4 3 4—33—64

EDUCATIONAL P R O G R A M F O R 1941
This is the list of scheduled speakers for
the next four months at our Greenkeepers
meetings.
1. Dr. Thomas Longnecker of the State of
New Jersey. He will speak the first Monday
of February at the Statler Hotel.
2. Judge James M. Hurley former State
Fire Marshal also former Civil Service Commissioner will be the principal speaker in
March.
3. In April, Professor Lawrence S. Dickinsen Head of the Greenkeepers School at
Mass. State College.
4. At our first outdoor meeting in May,
Dr. John Monteith of the United States
Golf Association Green Section will meet with
us at the Experimental Pie Green at
Ponkapoag Golf Club at Canton, Mass.

^ ^

1 5 t h N A T I O N A L T U R F AND
E Q U I P M E N T SHOW
The Greenkeeping Superintendents' Association will hold its 15th National Turf
and Equipment Show in Detroit on February
4, 5, 6 and 7th, 1941.
It will be held under one roof at the BookCadillac Hotel.
In addition to commercial exhibits the
Department of Agriculture will show their
animated educational display of Japanese
Beetle Control.
Along with this the government bureau
promises a new display covering the preparation against and elimination of the dread
Dutch Elm Disease.
BITS OF INFORMATION
" M a e " West puts on her hat before her
dress.
This year's evening gowns, marvelous
products of the laboratory, are made of air,
water, and coal dust. The water and coal
dust are new materials.
1. The average motorist is a perfectly
logical person, who wants to park in the city
where there is no room and to drive like mad
in the country where there's plenty of room.

" W H Y I SHOULD A T T E N D M E E T I N G S
OF THE GREENKEEPERS CLUB"
Do you attend all the meetings of the
Greenkeepers Club of New England? Do
you fully realize what you have lost by failing
to attend? Do you wish to punish yourself
with sleepless nights wondering about the
turf under your supervision? Do you wish
to broaden your knowledge on these vital
matters? In answering these questions, you
probably realize that you have not been fair
to yourself, to your employees, and most of
all, to your course. It seems t h a t the gaining
of knowledge, usually brings up the question
of money. However, you may rest assured
t h a t the cost simply entails your regular
attendance at all our meetings.
May I bring out some of the points of interest gained from the outdoor meetings in
the past spring, summer, and fall. The tours
of inspection taken, the examination of equipment, supply sheds, and the ways and means
of different greenkeepers in the upkeep of
their courses. From such experiences, one
can put into practice on their own course,
some of the ideas obtained at no or very little
additional expense. Some ideas given may
help you to see how small changes will greatly
improve the beauty and playing surface of
your course.
In addition, during the winter months, the
club does not remain inactive as some may
have thought. On the contrary, it engages
some of the finest speakers to be had from
the leading universities of the country. They
come prepared with enlightening talks which
are often made still more interesting by
movies. These talks are followed by informal
questions by greenkeepers which are answered
by the speaker.
This year's winter program began with a
movie in which Lowell Thomas was the commentator. Some of the scenes showed experiments of the actual effects of the applications
of different formulas of fertilizers on plants.
It showed the effects of the lack of nitrogen
and potash on grasses even with all the other
necessary ingredients present. Another scene
brought in the proper construction of seed
beds. The feature of the movie showed rough
ground being prepared for the development
of good turf. It brought in testing, liming,
rolling, seeding, and watering the turf. In
closing, the movie showed different types of
turf renovations, in'ofuding the renovation of
a crab grass infested area.
A very important item which very seldom
is brought forth is the golfer's point of view.
You should acquire it by playing the game.
This will not only broaden your scope b u t
will also improve your health. While playing
you can actually test the putting qualities
of the various strains of grass. You will

realize just how high the rough should be.
You cannot help b u t note the differences between watered and unwatered fairways and
the values of the proper type of fertilizers to
use on your greens and fairways. While
inspecting tees, you can see the effects of the
constant use of small tees, in comparison to
large ones; and consequently realize its importance to the golfer.
Surely you do not encounter an opportunity
such as this very often. Surely you cannot
say t h a t it is not worth your while, because
as you will note from one single meeting, t h a t
its benefits are worthy of your regular
attendance.
May we expect you at our next meeting?
REMARKS
I may be out of order as perhaps an old
man's ideas are not wanted in this new day
and time, but as I have been a silent observer
of "The Greenkeeper's Club of New England"
since their birth, and over this period of
years, times have been good and then very
poor, yet through it all you have had your
monthly meetings and your N E W S L E T T E R
has been a source of enjoyment, although
at times it was on the thin side.
You members of this club are to be congratulated for having the courage to hold
together, you have done a lot for turf work
in general. With budgets cut and small
crews to work with, you have proven to be
the type of men this country needs to face
the many problems t h a t have now confronted
us.
Now it is not my idea to make "Greenkeepers" think they are the "Berries," you,
like the rest of us have many faults. I am
not speaking as a group, but as I have met
various ones around some of the golf courses,
I have found some people will grumble if
they had all the golden eggs the goose laid.
I have talked with some men who think
they have a tough time because they have
it so easy in the winter. Others are so busy
the year around they hate to take time off
to talk to you, and in most cases they are
serious and courteous and in mentioning
their chairman's name or men on other
courses, will address them as " M r . " and not
b y a first or some other nick name. Some of
the fellows have all the answers before the
question is asked, while others have some
deep secrets t h a t are worth a pot of gold
and this type is surely brotherly love. In
all my years as a chairman and being around
a golf course I would much rather hear a
Greenkeeper say " I do not know" to some
question rather than beat around the bush
and give some far-fetched answer to try and
prove his knowledge.

%
every good wish for
Happiness
in the New Year
e

EMgggH
85

STATE

STREET

BOSTON

LET WOODRUFF HELP YOU
Woodruff can help you produce
better turf a t m i n i m u m cost — bec a u s e W o o d r u f f knows N e w E n g land soil a n d growing conditions.
Y e a r s of study a n d e x p e r i m e n t a t i o n
in this r e g i o n h a v e b u i l t a v a s t f u n d
of p r a c t i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n of v a l u e
to y o u . W r i t e Woodruff t o d a y .
Distributed
by:
N e w England Toro Co.
Connecticut Toro Co.

M I I F O R D . CONN.

Of coarse, we have in some cases members
a t a club who are in charge of the golf course,
when they should be working in a shoe store,
but I do feel t h a t as a rule the Chairman and
Greenkeeper have a pretty good understanding and in most cases get along very well.
Seven years ago I was asked for an article
for the N E W S L E T T E R b u t feeling it was
your own outlet for news I refused, I heard
recently t h a t articles were wanted so being
sort of on the shelf I thought may be the
old bird's few notes would be welcome. I
say old bird, as I was coming around the
club house porch one day I overheard one
workman tell the other "the old buzzard
don't know beans" the rest I heard, informed
me I was on the pan, so I still feel I don't
know beans about this work. But you fellows
of the Greenkeepers Club of New England
have done a fine job, I hope you will continue.
Every good wish for the coming years from
AN OLD

TIMER.

ANNUAL MEETING GREENKEEPERS
CLUR OF NEW ENGLAND
The meeting was held at Huntington Chambers, Jan. 6, 1941, on Huntington Avenue,
Roston.
The reports of committees were accepted
as read.
Mr Counsell, our retiring president, read
his report. I t was as follows:
President's Report
January 6, 1941
To the Members of the Greenkeepers Club of
New England:
It is customary at this time for your
president to review some of the activities of
our Club during the past year.
Our
Entertainment
Committee
was
successful in providing us with some very
interesting speakers at the winter meetings.
The Round Table Meetings held at the
Waltham Field Station during the latter
part of March were a success and the Committee in charge of these meetings is to be
congratulated for their efforts.
The Annual Dinner Meeting of the Service
Section of the Massachusetts Golf Association and the Greenkeepers Club of New
England was held at the Charles River
Country Club in April. Dr. E. E. Evaul
discussed the relationship between the green
chairman and the greenkeeper.
At our outdoor meetings we had the
privilege of playing some very fine golf courses
and we appreciate the courtesies extended to
us by the officials of those clubs.
There was a noticeable improvement in
the N E W S L E T T E R during the past year
due to the fact that some of our members

responded to the editor's plea for interesting
and instructive articles.
Let us continue to make an earnest and
sincere effort to sell ourselves and our organization to the golfing public, so t h a t they will
become conscious of the fact t h a t we are
organized to educate the greenkeeper, advance greenkeeping and provide improved
playing conditions on the golf course.
A man usually becomes a member of an
organization because he feels it will help him
in various ways. It provides him with the
opportunity to come in personal contact with
a group of men with similar interests. The
payment of dues is only a part of his obligations, he should take advantage of the opportunity to attend and take an active part
in the meetings. Your organization is like
your job, you will benefit from it only in
proportion to what you put into it.
In conclusion I wish to thank the directors,
all committees and fellow members for their
co-operation and support during the past
year. _
1 wish to express my best wishes to the incoming president for a very successful administration and please accept my thanks for
the honor and the privilege of serving as
your president.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN L. COUNSELL,
President.
Next came the election of officers. The
following were elected:
President, Samuel S. Mitchell; 1st VicePresident, Homer C. Darling; 2nd Vice-President, Arthur Anderson; 3rd Vice-President,
George Rommell; Secretary, Philip I. Cassidy;
Treasurer, Frank H. Wilson; Trustee 3
years, Edward Hansen. Entertainment Committee Chairman, N. J. Sperandio; Golf Committee Chairman, Thomas Mattus; Auditing
Committee, Harold Mosher, Edward Murphy.
Mr. Mitchell our newly elected president
told us how he plans to carry on the club for
the next year. The gist of it was that he
plans to carry on in much the same as in the
past, b u t t h a t he will try to build up our
Club on the strong foundation which has
already been laid.
After the business meeting Mr. Counsell
was presented a gavel, with his name and
tenure of office as president engraved on a
silver band around it. This was given in
grateful appreciation for the work which he
had done as president.
The Golf Tournament Committee has
promised a new deal in 1941.
Our treasurer suggested that we try to
get some of the old members back in the
club. He also suggested that we have a
better distribution of finances.
Everyone had a very good time at the
party where we had a swell steak dinner, a
floor show and dancing.

NEW JERSEY NEWS
In tune with the times, the N. J. Assoc.
of Golf Course Superintendents in 1940
changed it's name to the N. J. Greenkeeping
Superintendents Association. This is the
third name under which the Garden State
Association has functioned. Original name
when organized in 1928 was The Greenkeepers
Association of New Jersey.
A new set of by-laws were drawn up by
the NJGSA during the 1940 Renaissance
Year of Greenkeeping. The revised codes
permit wider scope activities, and further
encourage membership.
1941 officers were installed December 11,
1940, at the annual banquet held at Suburban
C. C. in Union. 56 attended the event,
including Lloyd Stott of Massachusetts, and
T. T. Taylor accompanied by Kingdon
Troensegaard of the Westchester, N. Y. district.
The officers are, President Ed. B. Cale,
Canoebrook C. C. Summit; First Vice-President Aleck H. Reid, Twin Brooks C. C.
Plainfield; Charles Smith, Second VicePresident, Harkers Hollow C. C. Phillipsburg; Recording Secretary, Chas. Laing,
Metucheon C. C.; Financial Secretary, H. T.
Islieb, Spring Brook C. C. Morristown;
Treasurer, Arthur D. Burton, Mountain
Ridge C. C. Caldwell, and 3-year Director,
Richard Jordan, White Beeches C. C. in
Oradell, N. J.
Floor nominees for president declined to
run, as a tribute to the excellent work of
Ed. Cale, who was unanimously elected
president for the third time — a departure in
N. J. elections. Treasurer Burton has served
in his capacity since the inception of the N. J.
organization. No honorary members were
elected for 1941.
It is interesting to note the N. J. G. S. A.
has shown more increase in numbers of members than any other State group since 1932.
—T I R F

THE NEW SKI TOW AT BRAE BURN
COUNTRY CLUB
The New Ski Tow at Brae Burn Country
Club was opened on Saturday, January 4,
1941.
Like all undertakings on a golf course, the
installation of a ski tow requires special consideration. Tees, greens, and fairways must
be considered.
The Underwood Winter Sports Engineers
were called in and all the limitations were
put up to them.

The tow is 630 f t . long. It was located on
the left hand side of the 9th hole on number
2 course.
The house for the drive engine was set
in the woods at the left of the tee and a
headmast was put in back of the 9th tee on
the 8th hole at the top of the ski tow.
The ropes lead to the headmast and go
back at an angle of 30 degrees to the partially
hidden drive house.
The steel mast is set in a hollow concrete
foundation and may be easily removed in
the spring. The hollow foundation is covered
with loam and sod, thus transforming the
ski slope into a fairway for the use of the
golfers in the spring and summer. In other
words it does not interfere with golf.
Rarely is there a fall or j a m on the ski
slope.
Safety devices have been added to the
ski tow to take care of trouble there.
One safety device is arranged so that if
any one straddles the rope or in any way
grabs it without being properly set, the switch
will automatically turn off, thus the tow
immediately comes to a standstill.
The so-called maximum number of skiers
is 1,200 per hour. Yet for many hours on
the first Sunday, the ski tow was handling
1,800 per hour.
The ski tow is an Underwood and is
powered by a 92 horsepower gasoline engine
and all moving parts are enclosed by guards.
Only aircraft bearings are used. Perhaps this
accounts for the lack of noise.
The speed of the tow may be regulated.
There is a governor, but this governor should
not be used while the motor is in first or
second speed.
It is a most beautiful sight at night to
stand either at the bottom or top of the slope,
after the lights are lit. The landscape effect
is a wow! The other thrill is to see people
going up the slope almost as fast as they come
down.
The Slope at night is lighted by 9-1000
watt lamps which are set on the top of 930 f t . telegraph poles. These same poles act
as supports for the downward travel of the
rope, and this is about 20 ft. above the ground.
The best approach to the ski tow is along
Fuller Street, from which an ideal view may
be had.
A nominal fee is charged for use of the
tow and each one who uses it must display
their ticket in a conspicuous place on their
person.
The trails on Sundays have a traffic
approaching 1,200,000 f t . of downhill skiing
per hour.

Only $ 5 . 0 0 for this

NEW LEWIS
GOLF BALL WASHER!
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paddle-type washer — all dressed up on the outside and with several new operating features on
the inside. Like its predecessor the patented
slot in the paddle does the trick. Every bit of
the surface is scrubbed clean and white as the
ball rotates in all directions between the brushes.
Springs on the back of the brushes keep a uniform pressure of the bristles against the ball.
The beauty and performance of these new
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course in the country want them. And look
at this:

P R I C E $ 6 . 0 0 regular
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NEW ENGLAND TORO CO.
1121 W a s h i n g t o n Street, West N e w t o n , Mass.
B I G e l o w 7900

VfoRTHIMQTOM
for e c o n o m i c a l /

trouble-free

mowing
T h e Worthington Mower Company and its
New England Representative, Chester M.
*S

Sawtelle, wishes each and every member of
the Greenkeepers' Club a Happy,
Prosperous New Year.
•

WORTHINGTON MOWER COMPANY

Main

Office,

STROUDSBURG,

C. M. SAWTELLE,

PA.

-

N E W

3 W A L K E R TERRACE, CAMBRIDGE, MASS.

Sales

Agencies,

A l l Principal C i t i e s

E N G L A N D

D I S T R I B U T O R

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Telephone:

TROwbridge 7491