GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND Newsletter August 1960 The July meeting was held at the Tatnuck Country Club, Worcester, Mass. July 11, 1.960 A business meeting was held before lunch. Donald Blakely, Supt. Merrimae Valley C, C. was voted an associate member. An application for regular membership was read from Douglas Dadeau, Supt. So. Shore C. C. A buffet lunch was enjoyed by all and a pleasant game of golf. John had the course in excellent condition. One suggestion overheard was, "Couldn*t something be done to quiet those airplanes while 1 putt." Results of golf are as follows: 18 Hole Tournament 9 Hoie Tournaroent 1st 2nd 1st 2nd 1st gross - Joe Butler 1st net - Dick Blake gross gross net net - Guy Art Sam Ray Tedesco Cody Mitchell, Jr. Brigham * k k k The August Meeting, will be a joint meeting with the Rhode Island Association. Date Place Time Host - August 1, 1960 The Rhode Island Country Club, Nyatt, R. I. Lunch at 12:30, golf after lunch Ray Brigham Ray has just completed installation of a semi-automatic irrigation system, this should be of interest to all. J» »jU k k k k If any Supt, is in need of sod for tees or aprons, Mr. Robert Frost, Office Manager at Louis A. Flerra West Acton, Mass. has 1% acres ready for sale. He informs me this is excellent sod 1 year old, well maintained and weed free. If interested contact Mr. Frost. * k k k Dates to Remember: Sept. 14, 1960 Kingston, R. I. - Field Day at the University of Rhode Island, It was a pleasure to see Herb Johnson at Tatnuck, he certainly seems to be enjoying his retirement. A A A A A The Wonderous Ways of Water Water is so fundamental to growing grass, it is often taken for granted in any discussion of turf management. And it shouldn't be. Everything we do hinges on the conditions relating to water. Too little water, for instance, causes desiccation and permits too-high plant temperatures. Too much can suffocate the plants and cause wilting. Water performs two basic functions: (1) cooling the soil and grass plants, and (2) carrying vital oxygen to the plants. Water serves as the "air conditioner" in the plants, cooling plants by evaperation through the leaves (it is interesting to note that six hundred pounds of water per pound of dry clippings is required to do the job. Water performs its second function (carrying oxygen by absorbing this vital element from the air in the soil and supplying it to the roots of the plants. In well-drained soils, air is plentiful, but in poorly-drained soils, heavy saturation by rainfall or watering will force the air from the soil, and the oxygen supply decreases sharply. With less oxygen, the plants start to lose energy, and are less and less able to raise the water from the roots to the leaves (thus wilting). A vicious cycle gets under way, since fresh water containing oxygen must be syringed onto the green to restore the energy. And this added water merely intensifies the saturation of the ground. If such conditions persist for an extensive period during hot weather, entire greens can be lost. Quite clearly, good drainage is the best preventative of such conditions. Mechanical aeration and wetting agents can also help. Be always on the alert for wilt, especially on Saturdays and Sunday afternoons. Wilt knows no holiday. A A A A A Alibis Anyone? Here's a baker's dozen excuses - just in case you need one; 1. 2. 3. 4. That's the way we've always done it. I didn't know you were in a hurry. That's not in my department. No one told me to go ahead. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. I'm waiting for an okay. How did I know this was different? That's his job, not mine. I forgot. Wait until the boss comes back. Ask him. I didn't think it was important. I'm so busy I just couldn't get around to it. I thought I told you. I wasn't hired to do that. * k k k k Build Them Sight It is regrettable that data is not at hand whereby a golf club, contemplating building a new course, could present figures to the architect and say, "Here is evidence to support our desire to have the best possible drainage built into our greens and other areas so that our course in the future will be easy to maintain even under the most severe extremes of weather conditions." Then the architect would be under bond to build trouble free greens. It is all too evident that drainage systems appear to be by-passed in order to save some money. It has raised the questions (Why is there always enough money to rebuild a poor green but not enough to build it right the first time?" from Kentuclciana Klippings It's Planting Time First you plant five rows of peas, Presence -Purpose—Privilege, Promptness—Persistence— Second, plant three hills of Squash, Squash Gossip -- Squash IndifferenceSquash Destructive Criticism. Then plant four rows of Lettuce, Let us be faithful — Let Us Govern Our Lives on Loyalty and Truth — Let Us Be True to Our Obligations — Let Us Love One Another. Last plant four rows of Turnips, Turn up at Every Meeting — Ibrn Up With New Ideas — Turn Up With a Smile -- Turn Up With New Enthusiasm -- Turn Up With a Determination to be Constructive. from Northern Ohio Turfgrass News See you all at R. I. Country Club, August 1960. The Editor - Dick Blake