AUGUST 1966

d j o f f l (Iourse
ourSe Superintendents
OF

NEW

^Association

E N G L A N D

F O R T Y - T W O Y E A R S O L D — and young enough
to reach for higher achievements in turf grass
management and professional stature.

President—
LEON V. ST. PIERRE
Longmeadow Country Club
51 Fenwood Road
Longmeadow 6, Mass.
Phone LO 7-5562

Secretary—
THOMAS CURRAN
Oak Hill Country Club
37 Parker Street
Fitchburg, Mass.
Phone Dl 2-9198

Trustee—
JOSEPH BUTLER
United Shoe Country Club
3 Rldgewood Terrace
Beverly, Mass.
Phone WA 2-1263

Educational Committee ChairmanROBERT GRANT
Brae Burn Country Club
22 Patricia Road
Sudbury, Mass.
Phone 443-2671

First Vice-President—
ANTHONY CARANCI JR.
Ledgemont Country Club
22 Hillview Drive
North Providence 4, R. 1.
Phone PA 3-1688

Treasurer—
LUCIEN DUVAL
Chestnut Hill Country Club
9 Rose Lane
Framlngham Center, Mass.
Phone 872-0006

Trustee—
WILLIAM ASH
9 Patton Street
No. Dartmouth, Mass.
Phone WY 3-8767

Golf Committee Chairman—
EDWARD J. MURPHY
Lexington Country Club
194 Oxbow Road
Wayland, Mass.
Phone 358-7410

Second Vice-President—
RICHARD C. BLAKE
Mt. Pleasant Country Club
211 Sewall Street
Boylston, Mass.
Phone 869-2737

Trustee—
N. J. SPERANDIO
Concord Country Club
Concord, Mass.
Phone EM 9-4723

Finance Committee ChairmanWILLIAM ASH
9 Patton Street
No. Dartmouth, Mass.
Phone WY 3-8767

Newsletter Committee Chairman—
MANUEL N. FRANCIS
Belmont Country Club
387 Davis Road
Bedford, Mass.
Phone 275-8830

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AUGUST MEETING

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

T h e A u g u s t M e e t i n g w a s h e l d at the
A l l e n d a l e C o u n t r y C l u b , New B e d f o r d , M a s s .
Notice w a s sent f r o m D r . T r o l l that m o r e
e f f o r t w a s n e e d e d f r o m the S u p e r i n t e n d e n t in
a c q u i r i n g S t a t e s u p p o r t f o r the U n i v e r s i t y of
M a s s a c h u s e t t s in t u r f r e s e a r c h . It i s now
thought t h a t the e f f o r t w i l l h a v e to b e s t r e n g t h e n e d w i t h t h e h e l p of the M . G . A . S u p p o r t
w a s g i v e n to the C o m m i t t e e to f i n d the b e s t
w a y to a c q u i r e f u n d s .
TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Association Champ
Buster Brown

77

Association Senior Champ
Phil Cas sidy
86-69
Bill A s h

S e c o n d Low N e t

T h i r d Low N e t
Anthony C a r r a n c i

—^ââociation

96-71
92-74

NEXT MEETING

T h e n e x t m e e t i n g w i l l be h e l d S e p t e m b e r
1-2 t h a _t_ t h - e — L a k e S u n a p c e — G o I f C l u b ,
New L o n d o n , New H a m p s h i r e .
L e t ' s a l l get out a n d s u p p o r t o u r a s s o ciation. The last few m e e t i n g s have had r e a l
p o o r a t t e n d a n c e . T h i s i s the t i m e of y e a r w h e n
the d a y s a r e s h o r t e r , the n i g h t s a r e c o o l e r
a n d w e s h o u l d h a v e l e s s p r o b l e m s . No e x c u s e
n o w ! M a k e t h e n e x t m e e t i n g at L a k e S u n a p e e .
•
•
•
PRO-SUPT. TOURNAMENT

The annual P r o - Supt. T o u r n a m e n t will
be at the B r a e B u r n C o u n t r y C l u b , O c t o b e r 14.
R e m e m b e r , at l e a s t one of y o u h a s to be a
m e m b e r of G . C . S . A . N . E . o r t h e P . G . A . to
c o m p e t e in t h e t o u r n a m e n t .

TIME FOR A CHANGE

T h e l a b o r s i t u a t i o n on the golf c o u r s e
f r o n t h a s b e e n a n y t h i n g but love a n d k i s s e s
this y e a r . Our m o s t loyal w o r k e r s h a v e
r e t i r e d o r gone off to g r e e n e r p a s t u r e s .
C o n s e q u e n t l y , w e h a v e r e l i e d on m o o n l i g h t i n g
firemen, policemen, college students, drifters
and just plain r e t i r e e s .
B e i n g a golf c o u r s e l a b o r e r i s not the
m o s t desirable employment a family m a n can
look f o r . U s u a l l y , the w a g e s a r e s u b - s t a n d a r d
and the best a m a n can hope for is eight
m o n t h s a y e a r of e m p l o y m e n t .
T h i s old line of t h i n k i n g m u s t c h a n g e , if
a S u p e r i n t e n d e n t i s going to o p e r a t e a golf
c o u r s e in a n e f f i c i e n t m a n n e r . A b a s i c c r e w
of f o u r m e n y e a r r o u n d on a n e i g h t e e n h o l e
golf c o u r s e i s e s s e n t i a l . T h e y s h o u l d be p a i d
a living wage that is competitive with indust r i e s in the c l u b a r e a , f o r the s a m e j o b c l a s s i fications. Blue C r o s s & Blue Shield benefits,
a m o d e s t r e t i r e m e n t plan, and paid holidays .
Golf c o u r s e s h a v e b e c o m e too l a r g e a n
i n v e s t m e n t to be l e f t o p e r a t e d by c h a n c e .
W e m u s t o p e r a t e on s o u n d b u s i n e s s
p r i n c i p a l s a n d no l o n g e r by the s e a t of o u r
pants .
Leon V. St. P i e r r e
Pre sideni
~~ ~
—

A

SUPERINTENDENT

A s u p e r i n t e n d e n t is o b l i g a t e d not o n l y to
h i s c l u b a n d h i m s e l f , but to the p r o f e s s i o n he
h a s c h o s e n . Up u n t i l f i f t e e n o r t w e n t y y e a r s
a g o , no one h a d e v e r h e a r d of the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t a n d t h i s is s t i l l t r u e on a f e w c o u r s e s
t o d a y . T h e c l u b i t s e l f w a s c r e d i t e d w i t h the
c o n d i t i o n of the c o u r s e . T h e s u p e r i n t e n d e n t
n e e d e d to k n o w how to c u t t h e g r a s s , f e r t i l i z e
it, w a t e r it, a n d to a e r i f y a n d t o p d r e s s o c c a s s i o n a l l y a n d not m u c h m o r e to s t e p into the
f i e l d a n d m a i n t a i n a golf c o u r s e . T h e a s s o -

OF

c i a t i o n s w e r e s t r u g g l i n g b e c a u s e no one f e l t
t h e n e e d f o r t h e m and t h e p a y w a s a b o u t the
s a m e a s t h e a v e r a g e l a b o r e r of t h a t t i m e .
W i t h t h e m o d e r n a d v a n c e s of o u r day t h e
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t now m u s t r e c e i v e s o m e e d u c a t i o n in t u r f m a n a g e m e n t . M a n y c o u r s e s a r e
a v a i l a b l e , a n d t h e m a j o r i t y of the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s t o d a y h a v e e i t h e r a two o r f o u r y e a r
d e g r e e in t u r f m a n a g e m e n t . W i t h t h e a d v a n c e m e n t s in c h e m i c a l s , w a t e r i n g , f e r t i l i z i n g ,
m a c h i n e r y , and construction, a superintendent
c o u l d not m a n a g e a c o u r s e e f f i c i e n t l y u n l e s s
h e w a s a w a r e of t h e s e c h a n g e s a n d how t h e y
c a n a f f e c t t h e t u r f w i t h w h i c h h e w o r k s . In
r e c e n t y e a r s the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t h a s b e c o m e
r e c o g n i z e d a s a p r o f e s s i o n a l m a n a n d is b e i n g
g i v e n the c r e d i t f o r the c o n d i t i o n of the c o u r s e
on w h i c h h e w o r k s . T h i s h a s b e e n a c c o m p l i s h e d g r e a t l y t h r o u g h the S u p e r i n t e n d e n t
A s s o c i a t i o n to w h i c h the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s f r o m
m o r e t h a n 5 0% of the c l u b s in M a s s a c h u s e t t s
b e l o n g . W i t h o u t t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t w o u l d not b e a b l e to f i n d out h o w the
v a r i o u s n e w m e t h o d s w o r k on o t h e r c o u r s e s
so t h a t he c a n b e t t e r a p p l y t h e m to h i s c o u r s e .
It a l s o b r i n g s h i m in c o n t a c t w i t h o t h e r c l u b s
so t h a t h e m i g h t s e e how the s u p e r i n t e n d e n t
w o r k s t h e r e . O f t e n t i m e s , h e c a n p i c k up
s o m e m a i n t e n a n c e p o i n t e r w h i c h h e c a n u s e on
h i s c o u r s e o r give a p o i n t e r to the s u p e r i n t e n dent t h e r e to b e t t e r h e l p h i m . By w o r k i n g
together the superintendents can m a k e their
p r o f e s s i o n successful, r e s p e c t f u l and profitable .
M a n y c l u b s do not r e a l i z e w h a t a s u p e r i n t e n d e n t g o e s t h r o u g h on a golf c o u r s e d u r i n g
the y e a r . D u r i n g D e c e m b e r , J a n u a r y , F e b r u a r y , a n d M a r c h h e m u s t w a t c h f o r ice
d a m a g e o r s u f f o c a t i o n , w i n d d a m a g e or
desocation, play on f r o z e n turf which thaws
d u r i n g the w a r m d a y s , e t c . ; A p r i l , M a y , a n d
J u n e p l a y f i r s t b e g i n s on the t h a w i n g t u r f , the
c o o l w e a t h e r d i s e a s e s , t h e s t r u g g l e to b r i n g
back diseased or dead grass f r o m the winter ,
e t c . ; J u l y , A u g u s t , a n d S e p t e m b e r the w e a t h e r
is h o t , d i s e a s e i s e v e r y w h e r e , r a i n i s s c a r c e ,
p o a a n n u a s t a r t s to go o u t , e t c . ; O c t o b e r a n d
N o v e m b e r you t r y to r e a d y y o u r c o u r s e f o r t h e
w i n t e r , r e p a i r w h a t w a s l o s t d u r i n g the
s u m m e r , and a n y c o n s t r u c t i o n t h a t w o u l d
i m p r o v e y o u r c o u r s e . Too f e w c l u b s a r e
a w a r e of e v e n half of t h e t h i n g s t h a t go on o n a

NEW

E N G L A N D

g o l f c o u r s e , b e c a u s e m o s t of the t i m e the
c o u r s e is running smoothly. E a c h s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s h o u l d m a k e h i s c l u b a w a r e of w h a t is
going on (any c o n s t r u c t i o n o r i m p r o v e m e n t
t h a t w o u l d be of i n t e r e s t to the c l u b ) . T h e s e
t h i n g s c o u l d be p o s t e d w e e k l y on the b u l l e t i n
b o a r d . Then when you applied for a r a i s e you
c o u l d s u b m i t a r e p o r t on w h a t w a s a c c o m p l i s h e d t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r . R e p o r t i n g on
i m p r o v e m e n t s in c h e m i c a l s , m a c h i n e r y , s e e d ,
and general maintenance practices which acc o m p l i s h a j o b m o r e e f f i c i e n t l y . D o n ' t be
a f r a i d to p o i n t o u t to y o u r c l u b w h a t t h e s u p e r intendent was getting there fifteen, ten, and
even five y e a r s ago and use the better paying
c l u b s to get y o u r r a i s e . Only by d o i n g t h i s
c a n you a s s u r e t h e m of a r a i s e a n d a s s u r e
y o u r s e l f of a r a i s e in the f u t u r e .
It is v e r y e a s y f o r s o m e o n e to t e l l y o u
w a y s of o b t a i n i n g a r a i s e , but o n l y y o u , the
s u p e r i n t e n d e n t , c a n s e l l the i d e a t o y o u r c l u b .
E a c h club is different and has different ideas
on d o i n g t h i n g s , but m o s t c l u b s w o n ' t w a n t to
l o s e a good m a n if t h e y c a n h e l p it, a n d m o s t
of t h e m c a n a f f o r d to p a y y o u m u c h m o r e t h a n
y o u ' r e g e t t i n g n o w . I h a v e b e e n a s k e d how
m u c h c a n y o u e x p e c t to get a s a m a x i m u m p a y .
To t h i s t h e r e is no a n s w e r , o n l y e a c h s u p e r i n t e n d e n t w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r w i t h the w h o l e
association can answer this. There shouldn't
be a l i m i t a s long a s o u r e c o n o m y h o l d s t h e
c l i m b w h i c h it i s o n , w e s h o u l d t r y to k e e p up
with it.
In c l o s i n g I w o u l d like to a d d s o m e t h i n g
w h i c h h a s a lot to do w i t h a l l of t h i s . W e h a v e
a b o u t 130 m e m b e r s in o u r New E n g l a n d A s s o c i a t i o n a n d o n l y a b o u t 50 - 75 e v e r go to the
m e e t i n g s . W i t h o u t t h e s u p p o r t of a l l the
m e m b e r s o u r a s s o c i a t i o n c a n n e v e r be v e r y
p o w e r f u l o r m e a n i n g f u l to o u r c l u b s . T h e r e is
no r e a s o n w h y e a c h s u p e r i n t e n d e n t c a n ' t t a k e
one d a y off a m o n t h to b e t t e r o u r p r o f e s s i o n
through our association.
R E M E M B E R ! T H I S P R O F E S S I O N DID
N O T C H O O S E YOU, Y O U C H O S E I T , SO
L E T ' S M A K E IT R E S P E C T F U L , S U C C E S S FULL, AND PROFITABLE.
George E. Gorton, J r .
Superintendent
F u r n a c e B r o o k Golf C l u b
Quincy, Massachusetts

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM OUR FRIENDS

Abbott S p r a y a n d F a r m E q u i p m e n t C o .
Waltham Street
Lexington, Massachusetts
The C l a p p e r C o .
1121 W a s h i n g t o n S t r e e t
West Newton, M a s s a c h u s e t t s
G e o f f r e y S. C o r n i s h
Golf C o u r s e A r c h i t e c t
Fiddler's Green
Amherst, Massachusetts
Fuel Activator Chemical Corp.
C. F . Barbour - Regional Director
4300 P r u d e n t i a l T o w e r
_ Boston. -Massachusetts
Grounds Equipment C o . , Inc.
383 B o y l s t o n S t r e e t
Newton Centre, Massachusetts
The H u b b a r d H a l l C h e m i c a l C o .
P . O. Box 790
Waterbury, Connecticut
The C h a r l e s C . H a r t Seed C o .
Wethersfield, Connecticut
Irrigation Consultants Inc.
251 H a r v a r d S t r e e t
Brookline, Massachusetts
Tom Irwin Co.
Bennet Hill Road
Rowley, Massachusetts
Johns-Manville Sales Corp.
150 C a u s e w a y S t r e e t
tft'Si.
Boston, Massachusetts
Karandrew Turf F a r m s , Inc.
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
18 Old R a n d o l p h S t r e e t
Canton, M a s s a c h u s e t t s

Larchmont Irrigation Co.
Larchmont Lane
Lexington, Massachusetts
J. F . Aveni
Lu S o i l - S o i l C o n d i t i o n e r
Minerals & Chemicals Philipp Corp.
25 C o n c o r d A v e n u e
Belmont, Massachusetts
New E n g l a n d E n g i n e & P a r t s C o . Ine ,
The P a c e r D i s t r i b u t o r
884 C o m m o n w e a l t h A v e n u e
B o s t o n , M a s s a c h u s e t t s 02215
Sawtelle B r o t h e r s
- Te-tv R o ut es 128 a n d -62
Danvers, Massachusetts
M r . F . J. Lukasik
Stauffer Chemical Co.
380 M a d i son A v e n u e
New Y o r k , New Y o r k 10017
S t a n l e y S. P h i l i p k o s k i
Sales Representative
Stauffer Chemical Co.
3 80 M a d i s o n A v e n u e
New Y o r k , New Y o r k 10017
Turf Equipment Co.
28 R u t l e d g e R o a d
Natick, Massachusetts
Philip A. Wogan
Golf C o u r s e A r c h i t e c t
21 B u d l e i g h A v e n u e
Beverly, Massachusetts
Wyandotte Chemical Corp,
709 S a l a d a B u i l d i n g
Boston, Massachusetts

MANUEL N. FRANCIS
Belmont Country Club
387 Davis Road
Bedford, Mass.
Phone 275-8830

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