NEWSLETTER
JANUARY, 1958

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND

T h e Annual Meeting of the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of New England
went as scheduled. Sixty-five members and guests
enjoyed a fine luncheon at the Waltham Field
Station.
Door prizes were won by members: Norman
Barnes, Phil Cassidy, A1 Allen, and Mike
O'Grady with the usual "cheers".
This was a business meeting and the afternoon went all too quickly. Reports and election
of officers was followed by discussion of the
National Turf Conference in Washington February 2-7. National and local policy as well as
the number of positions open in Parks and
Metropolitan areas.
It seems worthy of note that we record the
opinion that it seems unlikely there is a more
dedicated professional group in that most of our
time and efforts are spent in promoting advances
in turf culture and not in personal gain. No
doubt we reap many benefits and personal satisfactions from the effort spent in our educational
interests.
T h e following slate of officers was elected for
1958:
President
Manuel Francis
1st Vice Pres
Albert Allen
2nd Vice Pres
N. J. Sperandio
3rd Vice Pres
Paul O'Leary
Secretary
William Ash
Treasurer
Arthur Cody
Trustee — 3years
Theodore Swanson
Educational
Committee
Chairman
Raymond Brigham
Golf Committee
Chairman
Milton Brown
Auditing Committee
Howard Farrant
John O'Connor
Following is a quote from Vol. 1 — No. 4 of
the Northeastern Turf letter published by the
United States Golf Association Greens Section,
A. M. Radko, Northeastern Director. We feel
that the following article in this issue may have
been overlooked by those who are often asked,
"What harm can be done by Winter play?".

" W I N T E R PLAY ON GREENS"
"In the Northeast the question of the feasibility
of playing on regular greens during the winter
months often "pops up."
When greens are frozen solid it is safe to play
them. However, traffic over frozen grass bruises
the blades, and footprints show thereafter for
some time. Uusually the grass outgrows this
injury.
When the soils beneath greens are completely
thawed it is also supposed to be safe to play
them, although the lubricating action of the
moisture tends to cement soil particles and undoubtedly adds to compaction troubles during
the next season.
Where the real trouble occurs is when the top
inch is thawed and the soil beneath is frozen.
Playing at that time usually causes severe compaction to set into the upper soil layer. T h e turf
becomes a mass of footprints, and the greens
become very bumpy. Injury of this nature is
difficult to overcome and the damage may well
take many years to rectify. Unfortunately, the
condition that brings about this type of injury
can occur at any time. T h e greens may be safe
to play at one time of the day but enough thawing may take place during the day to make conditions right for severe injury. Temporary
greens for winter play insure better greens during the regular golfing season."
Our February meeting will be held the second
Monday of the month, February 10.
T h e meeting is being held one week late so
as not to interfere with the National Turf Conference the first week in February.
T h e February meeting will be a "Dealer
Meeting" when you will be able to obtain the
very latest information on prices, materials and
probable trends for the coming season.
This will also be an opportunity to compare
notes on the National Turf Conference.

REMEMBER:
Washington—February 2-7, 1958
Waltham Field Station—
February 10, 1958
Luncheon at 12:30 noon.
P H I L I P I. CASSIDY,
Business Manager