GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND Newsletter January 1961 The January meeting was held January 9, 1961 at the Waltham Field Station. All committee chairmen present gave reports. Arthur Anderson was elected the delegate to the National Conference. Nary Sperandio and Dick Blake are to serve on the policy committee at the National Conference. An application for regular membership was read from Floyd N. Wiget Supt. Westover A. F. B, Golf Club, Westover A, F. B., Massachusetts. The Association voted to send our President Nary Sperandio to the National Turf Grass Conference and Show at Toronto, Canada. The Association voted to hire a Publicity writer for the year 1961. will attend our meetings and write up news items for the Association and publish these articles in area newspapers. He Committees' appointed for 1961 are as follows, with the first named to be the chairman: Welfare Arthur Anderson, John O'Connor, Tony Carance Publicity Joe Butler, Norman Mucciaroni, Dick Blake Research Manuel Francis, Howard Farrant, Mike 0'Grady Employment Robert Mucciarone, Ernie Wolfgang, Phil Mitchell Newsletter Dick Blake, Ted Murphy, Bob Grant Finance Phil Cassidy, Art Cody, George Webster, Mario Finizin Golf Ted Murphy, Sam Mitchell,Jr., Leo Brown Educational Bob Grant, H. Darling, Burt Clark Golf Trophies were presented to: Joe Durando - The 1960 Senior Champion A1 Wendell - The 1960 Association Champion Our Guest Speaker was William Harding, 1st Vice President of the Massachusetts Golf Association, a member of the U,S,G.A, Greens Section and Chairman of the Greens Committee Dedham Polo & Country Club, Dedham, Massachusetts. Mr. Harding explained the reasons for a systematic budget comparison among golf clubs. It was interesting to note that in Massachusetts there are: 140 golf clubs who are members of M.G„A. 96 golf clubs who are members of U.S.G.A, Only 23 of these subscribe to U.S.G.A, Greens Section service. Is it possible that golf clubs don't realize the service that is available to them? Below listed are the advantages that member clubs receive in subscribing to the U.S.G.A. Greens Section. Direct conferences with a greens section agronomist Assistance by correspondence and telephone Two subscriptions to the regional turfletter which is published six times yearly A subscription to the U.S.G.A. Journal and Turf Management, published seven times a year. Annual fees which cover all services and expenses are: For less than 18 holes, $100.00; 18 - 27 holes $125.00; more than 27 holes $150.00. The Greens Section was established by the U.S.G„Aa in 1920. To apply for U.S„G.A. Greens Section service write: United States Golf Association Greens Section Eastern Region, Northeast District, Rutgers University New Brunswick, M 0 J. c/o A1 Radko February Meeting February 6, 1961 Board of Directors Meeting Business Meeting Lunch Educational Program Waltham Field Station 9:30 A.M. 10:30 1:00 P.M. 2:00 Guest speakers: Mrs. Edward L. Person, President of the Massachusetts Women's Golfers Association. Mrs. John W. Hutchinson, Treasurer and Past Champion of Massachusetts Women's Golfers Association. Miss Margret Curtis, Past President M.W.G.A. - 1938 - 1939 - 1940 - 1941. Miss Curtis won at Baltrosal C. C. in 1901 the United States Medalists Honors. In 1905 she was Medalist and Runner-Up in U. S. Women's Championship at Morris Country Club; 1907 Winner & Medalist U. S. Women's Golf Championshipj 1911 Winner & Medalist U. S. Women's Golf Championship; 1912 Medalist & Winner U. S, Women's Golf Championship. Miss Curtis also won during a 12 month period the U. S. Singles and Doubles tennis Championships. Miss Curtis' sister Harriet won U. S. Women's Championship in 1906, Miss Margret & Miss Harriet Curtis donated the Curtis Cup in 1906. the trophy cup that British and American women compete for each year. This is Quote - N. J. Sperandio, President; Luncheon at the next meeting %*ill be delayed until ljOO P.M. as Miss Curtis had a previous bowling engagement. Let's show Mrs. Pierson our appreciation for arranging this part of our educational program, with a large attendance, despite the fact our International Turf Conference at Toronto immediately precedes this meeting. There are more women golfers than ever before, consequently their view points are now more important in the programing of our work, * A A A FOR SALE OR TRADE 1 - 7 gang Ideal units and frame Elmer Fuller 1 - Dump, trailor Mike O'Grady Do you have some old equipment laying under a bench or out behind the barn? Maybe someone has a use for it and it could be swapped or sold and used to someones advantage. A A A A There will be a question box and an answer period at our next meeting. Have your questions ready. A A A A Dates to remembers January 27, 1961 - U.S.G.A, Greens Section Educational Program New York City, N. Y. January 29, 1961 - February 3, 1961 - 32nd International Turf Grass Conference and Show - Toronto, Canada February 6, 1961 - New England G.C.S.A/ Waltham Field Station "Caddies, Carts and Catastrophe?" was the topic discussed by Dr. Nutter. After a brief mythical projection into the year 1990, he came back to our present era and talked of the disappearance of the caddy and rapid increase in the use of hand and powered carts and cars. A 100 percent increase in the past two years was noted in some metropolitan areas. Carts are here to stay, therefore, Supt's. must: 1. Convince golf architects of the increasing problem of golf car operation so that future design will be practical and in preparation for the car revolution. 2. Convey to Members the need of necessary facilities to properly house and maintain the growing fleets of golf cars. 3. Convince Club Officials of the potential damage to the turf and the serious need for higher maintenance budgets to offset the damage of larger car fleets. 4. Persuade members of the need for traffic control regulations on the course, and a club traffic authority or committee to rigidly enforce needed regulations. 5. Establish himself (the superintendent) as the final authority on the use of cars during periods of adverse weather or course conditions. 6. Demand and accept responsibility of car operations as part of the ground maintenance program. In order to have control of these operations and the car income to offset the predicted damage, the superintendent must accept this responsibility and turn the added problems into advantages in his maintenance budget. Some superintendents shun the car operations and state that they do not want the added responsibility. This philosophy must change. Superintendents must realize that they will grow and improve, individually and professionally only in proportion to the new challenges and opportunities. If they desire better recognition, salaries and working conditions* they must prove their management ability by reaching out and accepting new responsibilities and exerting new leadership. We have many men operating golf courses who are drawing "darn good" greenskeeper or foreman salaries. The only way they are going to advance out of this catagory is to prove their leadership and management abilities. As greenskeapers, they can expect little improvement in the future. As professional superintendents and progressive business men the future is bright. Remember, it is worth "going out on the limb", because that's where you find the fruit. 7. Improve business management - in order to improve efficiency of operations and to meet increasing financial obligations connected with car operations. This means: - Better prepared and presented budgets More objective purchasing and purchasing procedures More accurate job and cost analysis Greater manpower efficiency 8. Improved public relations so necessary in selling your programs and profession to club officials, and so necessary in dealing with the golfing public in the more complicated era ahead. In the era ahead, to accomplish this public relations improvement the superintendent must take on the polished look of the manager, and develope the glib tongue and forward personality the professional added to the authoritative stature of a plant scientist - this will be the new image of tomorrow's professional superintendent. 9. Reach out for new educational opportunities. Rapid technological changes ahead will quickly pass by the superintendent who does not keep up, and advance with the growing technology. Tomorrow there will be no displaced "farmers" to fall back on. teach and train new help. We must Our Association (G.C.S.A.A.) must take the responsibility and leadership in training tomorrow's superintendents. As individuals, the superintendent must realize that his future in tomorrow's rapidly growing world will depend upon his outlook towards learning. He must grow or grope. There will be no place tomorrow for the status quo. You will either go up or down and you individually will determine your own direction of travel. 10. Expand his leadership in golf. More and more it becomes evident that the determining factor in successful golf club operations lies with the grounds operation - WHY? Because most of the variables in other departments of golf are controllable - while in plant sciences we are dealing with variables less under our control (diseases - insects weather, etc.) So - our knowledge (superintendents) and ability to predict and cope with natures problems becomes the focal point of the golf clubs' success. Thus, if our superintendent will he can become the real focal point in golf. But - he must recognize the opportunity ahead and rapidly shift to gain respect - stature and leadership ability so that he can reach out to grasp this responsibility. He must husband his new responsibility wisely and prove to the golfing public the real role of the professional superintendent in tomorrow's game of golf. The Editor - Dick Blake P.S. Request all Directors to be present at this meeting for photographing. // A MRequest made by Joe Butler, Publicity Chairman.