AUGUST, 1969

QJf

(Gourde Superintendenti
OF

NEW

ENGLAND,

Aiociation
INC.

S p o n s o r s a n d administrators of the L a w r e n c e S.
Dickinson S c h o l a r s h i p F u n d — A w a r d e d y e a r l y
to d e s e r v i n g Turf M a n a g e m e n t Students.

NATIONAL RECOGNITION

NEXT MEETING
Ladies' Day and Clam Bake, Aug. 11, 1969. Easton Country Club, 261 Purchase St., South Easton, Mass.
Golf starting time, 10:30
Scotch Foursome — Ladies.

A.M.

18

hole

Medal

Play.

Sam Mitchell will welcome the Golf Course
Superintendents of New
England and their ladies
to Easton Country Club
and the second clam bake
to be held there.
Easton is an 18 hole
layout leased by Mitchell
& Knovac, Inc. and operated as a public golf
course with a limited
membership. The original
nine holes was designed
by Sam and built in 1961.
The second nine was built
in 1968 and opened in
the spring of 1969. In
partnership with Ed Knovac, an outstanding PGA pro and noted golf teacher, this
lease operation is now in its fourth year.
Directions — Rt. 128 south to Rt. 24, then Rt. 123 towards
Easton and take 138 south to Purchase St., go right and club
is half mile on right.
There will be a meeting of the "Expense Committee" just
prior to the Directors Meeting at 4 P. M. on Monday, August
11, 1969.

MEETINGS C O M I N G UP
September 9 — Mt. Pleasant Country Club, Boylston, Mass.,
Dick Blake, Superintendent
September 29 — Manchester Country Club, Manchester,
N. H J LOU Duval, Superintendent. Joint meeting with N. E.
Club Managers.
October 27 — Brae Burn Country Club, Newton, Mass.,
Bob Grant, Superintendent. Pro-Superintendent tournament.
*

*

*

*

Dick Blake fright) National Director presents a plaque to Phil
C a s s i d y , Past National Director 1950-1951. The a w a r d is for
Past National Directors who p e r f o r m e d outstanding duties
during their terms of office.

From 1924 to 1946 Phil was the Superintendent at the
Needham Golf Club, and then in '46 took over the duties at
the Weston Golf Club where he is still located.
It was very nice to see some of our northern supers at this
N. E . " and during the next ten years held the office of secretary off and on. Phil was elected president in 1948 to 1949
and at that time was instrumental in getting the National to
come to Boston in 1950. He paid out of his own expenses for
a trip to Detroit with Marshall E. Farnham who was president
of the National 1946-1947, to make the final plans for this
convention in Boston.
The committees were appointed by Phil with Homer Darling heading up the educational program and Frank Wilson
directing the equipment show. It was at this time Phil was
elected to the National as a director. He served from 1950
to 1951. Phil has always had his helping hands serving the
G.C.S.A. of N. E. right up to the present day. All the members say "Thanks, Phil."

*

In the words of Henry David Thoreau:
" I t is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or
to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but
it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere
and medium through which we look . . "

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS
FIELD DAY
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R. I.
AUGUST 21, 1969

Gourde

Superintendents

SUPER-PRESS RESULTS

T e d M u r p h y , left, S u p e r at the Lexington G o l f C l u b , accepts
t r o p h y from A r t h u r A n d e r s o n while Kevin W a l s h o f the G l o b e
looks on.

Results

—
Ted Murphy, Lexington Golf Club and
Kevin Walsh, Boston Globe
69
Leo Brown, Thompson Club and
Fred Cole, Lawrence Tribune
70
Bob St. Thomas, Hyannisport Golf Club and
Ernie Roberts, Boston Globe
70
Bob St. Thomas, Low Gross
77
Nary Sperandio, Low Net
74

~^5Aociation•
ANOTHER SUPER DAY
Those six-foot misses, that haunted Ted Murphy and The
Boston Globe's Kevin Walsh a year ago at Twin Hills, didn't
capsize them the second time around on the occasion of the
second annual Super-Press Tournament last month at the
Concord Country Club.
"We'll be back", Ted announced a 12-month warning a
year ago. And back they came with a sparkling 69 to lead a
field of 20 teams through the paces of another super day.
NEGCSA president Anthony Caranci spearheaded the
birdie hunt over the Concord grounds — presented in pictureperfect form by Narry Sperandio. "It was beautiful out
there", Tony declared. "But I'm talking about the scenery.
The golf? That was another story. But . . . like Ted Murphy
and Douglas MacArthur . . . I shall return."
The tournament proved a success despite an unforeseen
conflict with a couple of golf tournaments in the area which
kept some of the Boston scribes chained to their typewriters.
One of the most pleasant aspects of the day was the truly
magnificent layout ^strewn over the historic Concord countryside.
"It reminded me so much of the old Scottish courses",
noted Twin Hills' Roy Mackintosh while he flailed away at
another three-iron approach. " F o r a moment I thought we
were playing the British Open. That's how impressive the
place is."
The day was completed with the usual spread of rewards
for the stomach, as well as the presentation of the Arthur
Anderson Trophy to the winning team. Sir Arthur was there
in all his orange-trousered splendor. " I wouldn't miss this
one for world", he told. "I'd like to be around when we get
to awarding the 10th and 25th trophy to the champs."
There were thoughts turned to the possibility of a new
arrangement for next year's Super-Press.
A quick gathering of Association board members brought
to the stage of discussion a shotgun start following a noon
buffet for the 1970 affair.
"This might crank up the field a little", Caranci offered.
"Some of the newspaper and television-radio people find it
hard to get away for the entire day. Perhaps if we eliminated
the nightwork of banquet, we would draw a larger field."
For the moment, though, most had to agree that the 1969
venture was an unforgettable experience. It was hosted by
super people in anticipation of a super presentation. In short,
it turned out a super day.
— Gerry Finn

New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association, Inc.
Editor — John J. Barry, Supt. Abenaqui Country Club, Rvc, N. H.

AUGUST MEETING

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

It's time again for our annual trek to Host Superintendent
Bob Hale's Kingswood Country Club in Wolfeboro, N. H. For
those who attended last year's meeting, I don't think I need
to say any more about the hospitality extended to our association by Hosts Anita and Bob Hale.

The Scholarship Committee Chairman asked me to ask you
for your cooperation in selling the raffle tickets. Perhaps a
suggestion passed on to me by Bob will help you.

In accordance with previous years the weather should be
exceptional, the scenery gorgeous, and the affair marvelous.
After the golf tournament and, or the shopping in the wellknown antique shops, there will be a steak bar-b-que followed
by an evening of dancing.
Schedule of Events:
Date:
Directors Meeting
Regular Business Meeting
Golf and Excursions
Steak Bar-b-que
Dancing

Monday, August 4
11:00 A . M .
Sorry fellows, none scheduled
Noon until 6 : 0 0 P.M.
6:00 P.M.
Following the Bar-b-que 'til ?

N E W M E M B E R S TO BE VOTED O N
Donald Allaire, regional salesman for the Clapper Co. He
is a resident of Millbury, Mass. Don has made application
for an inactive membership.

JULY MEETING
Owner-Superintendent, Ford Leach, has done a magnificent
job with his picturesque
^ h a l e layout.--The view from
the third green is indescribably beautiful. Many of the superintendents from the southern part of the state drove up the
day before the meeting and enjoyed a challenging game of
golf and a relaxing evening in the great mountain air.

A PERSONAL LOSS
The N.H.G.C.S.A. was saddened recently when notice of
the passing of Mike O'Grady of the New Bedford Country
Club, was received. Mike had a great sense of humor that,
coupled with his great store of knowledge, brought many an
enlightening and educational hour to the people involved in
the maintenance of golf courses.
Our profession has progressed only because of the pioneering spirit and the diligence to follow it up as demonstrated
by superintendents like Mike.

Ask your Pro to hold the tickets for you in the Pro Shop.
When you approach a prospective buyer on the course, tell
him he may pick up his ticket in the Pro Shop from the Pro.
As most golfers do not carry money on the course with them,
they may pay for them in the Pro Shop also. Perhaps if your
club took a chance on the raffle, they could use the $4,000
toward more fringe benefits for the Superintendent.

Sediment — Serious Water Pollutant
Soil washing or blowing from rural lands and suburban
developments is costing the American people $500 million a
year. Sediment is America's number one pollutant.
Some 4 billion tons of sediment are washed into waterways
and reservoirs each year, an amount equivalent to about 4
million acres of lopsoil. An increasing amount of this sediment comes from suburban construction, where land is often
stripped of its natural cover and allowed to remain bare for
prolonged periods, permitting soil to wash or blow away.
An impressive array of principles and techniques for dealing with soil erosion problems have been developed and these
are applicable anywhere, in suburban housing developments
as well as on the farm. Scientists and technicians have helped
to establish sound conservation systems on millions of acres
of agricultural land and are now working with more and
more community planners, land developers, builders, and engineers .to help assure^ a stable, soil during--and following urban
development, but co-ordination of planning and action is
essential.
—

The Conservationist,

July

1969

POINTS TO PONDER
What happens when —
instructions are not properly followed?
instructions are not properly given?
the right chemical is put in the wrong place?
labels are misinterpreted?
mowers are not sharp?
mowers are not properly adjusted?
cups are changed once a week?
you forget the groceries your wife told you to bring home?

Maine Golf Course Superintendents Association
Editor — Norman Pease, Purpoodock Club, Cape Elizabeth,

V

Maine

AUGUST MEETING

SCHOLARSHIP FUND

The August meeting will be held at the Purpoodock Club
in Cape Elizabeth on August 5. The host superintendent is
Norman Pease. The educational program for this month
should be very interesting as Sam Clapper, Vice President and
General Manager of the Clapper Co. of West Newton, Mass.,
will be our guest speaker. His subject will be automation
and irrigation, which should be of interest to many. Let's
have a good turnout. Our speaker has farther to travel than
we do and the golf course will still be there the next day.

After reading last month's newsletter you are all aware
that the New Hampshire Association is attempting to set up
a scholarship fund that will become a trust fund. They are
doing this by having a raffle, with a new Buick or $4,000 as
first prize. The price of the tickets is $10 and limited to 1,000
tickets. Any Superintendent wishing to buy a ticket or would
like to help the iNew Hampshire Association by selling some
tickets can do so by seeing me at the next meeting or calling
799-7662.

Directions to Club: From Rt. 1 in South Portland take Rt.
77 to Spurwink Ave. in Cape Elizabeth. Take right on Spurwink Ave. Club is about one mile on left.

M E E T I N G SCHEDULE
10:00 — 11:00

Business Meeting

11:00 — 12:00

Education

12:00 —

Lunch

1:00

1:00

Golf

Please note: The above times are not typographical errors.
The meeting this month will start at 10:00 A . M . Try to be
there on time as we have much to discuss.

JULY M E E T I N G
On a beautiful summer day the Maine Superintendents
traveled to Rockland for their monthly meeting. The hospitality of the club was great and host superintendent Harvey
LaMontagne is to be congratulated on the fine job he did on
the arrangements he made for the meeting.
It was very noce to see some of our northern supers at this
meeting. Hope they can make many more.
A general discussion on winter kill and weed control by
the members was very informative. Superintendents that are
still feeling the effects of last winter could at least go back to
their respective clubs with the feeling that they weren't alone
with their problems. Many clubs in the state are still hurting.
There was a demonstration of a moisture indicator that
was very interesting even if the tip was broken in the demonstration.
Ernie Hawkes was not present at the July meeting. This is
believed to be the first meeting that Ernie has missed in
quite a few years. He is still having trouble with a leg that
he broke this past winter. Just goes to show that greens aren't
the only things that heal slowly.
The winners of the golf tournament were:
Low Gross: Harvey LaMontagne, Rockland Golf Club
Low Net: John Davis, Riverside Municipal, Portland

THE W O O D S WERE NOT FAR
Wesley G. LeFaivre
When I was young in January,
I thought of sledding swiftly down
a hill of newly-fallen snow,
to stop, at last, with reddened cheeks,
at blue-tinged, frozen ponds below .
the woods were not far.
In early May, when just a boy,
I thought of taking off my shoes
and wading in some ice-cold brook;
of turtles, tadpoles, dragonflies . . .
and how a hidden bull-frog croaks .
the woods were not far.
As a lad in mid-July,
I thought of hiking miles-on-end
to reach some undetermined goal;
and cheating well the summer's sun
while resting on some shaded knoll .
the woods were not far.
On October mornings in my youth,
I thought of damp and sullen caves —
reached only by an hour's climb;
and foot-paths covered with the leaves
of countless autumns — endless time .
the woods were not far.
How far, indeed, the woods seem now.
How far, indeed, are they.
How distant are the sullen caves;
the brooks and foot-paths lay
beneath a cold and concrete cloak;
the ponds of yesterday . . .
polluted far beyond reclaim.
And children cannot play
in woods that are no longer there . . .
in woods too far away.

for

for

for

. . for

OF

NEW

ENGLAND,

INC.

EBB OF THE GREEN WAVE

1969 A V C O CLASSIC

It seems unfathomable that Mike O'Grady no longer rants
and raves among us.
The raucous salt of the earth passed away on July 5th at
what was for him a tender age. Mike was 65. And 50 of those
eventful years he had given to the profession of the golf course
superintendent.
To the ranks of the New England supers, Mike was known
as the Green Wave. His Irish tongue roared on like an endless tide, always above the crowd, forever in pursuit of what
he thought was right and beneficial for the group.
Short, stocky with the devil
in his Killarney-blue
eyes,
Mike was a man unto himself.
"I'm no angel," he used to
wag while fortifying his constitution with a brush of bourbon. "Oh, I'm a God-fearing
Christian . . . church-going, too.
But I'd only be lyin' if I said
there wasn't a touch of the
scallywag in me."

August 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Pleasant Valley Country Club, Sutton, Massachusetts
James M. Morrison, M.D., President
Dear GCSA of NE Member:
The 1969 Avco Classic Tournament Committee will be glad
to grant members of your section a complimentary daily ticket
during tournament week.
If you would be kind enough to notify your members of
this in your next mailing, upon request from them, we will
be happy to send them a ticket for the day they would like
to attend.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Farrell

Mike's love of the soil and
ihe superintendent's lot was
built-in. He started in the business in 1919 shortly after coming to this country from County Mayo, Ireland.
His first boss was his last, an uncle. Mike worked for Tom
Galvin at the Rhode Island Country Club before moving over
to the Country Club of New Bedford. There he was to remain
until his death, each year growing more memorable than the
last.
Mike had a way with the New Bedford members. " I have
a simple formula for getting along with the membership",
he'd heave a sigh and toss out a wink. " I simply make them
believe I'm doin' just as they want me to do. In the end, I'd
wind up doin' things the way I think they should be done.
But what's the difference, just as long as the course didn't
suffer?"
Everything that is anything at New Bedford today is the
product of Mike's tireless dedication to his position. He was
part of every significant improvement there. He directed the
operation. He made everything tick . . . and grow.
A pillar of organization, Mike was one of the founders of the
New England Superintendents Association. The year was 1924,
the same year Mike put in his oar to get the Rhode Island
group in the water.
Down the national avenue he strode, with an impish grin
signaling the start of every contribution to that organization's
stature. He became so strong a voice in it he was voted as a
charter member.
"I'm still active out there with the big boys, too", he
would boast in a pleasing manner. "It' doesn't make any difference where I am. I've gotten up and given them hell at the
national meetings. I don't play any favorites."
But a favorite he was in his own right. Beloved by all of
his associates . . . and by many of those whom he battled
chin to chin, Mike will go down in the golf course superintendents profession as a legend.
His survivors include his wife, Mrs. Rita (Dolan) O'Grady
and four sons: Michael J . Jr., John D. (superintendent at
Petersham C. C.), Robert E. and Brian who is the Rev. Columbkille, C.P. of St. Michael's Seminary, Union, N. J.
The Green Wave has ebbed . . . and the green dreams of
all of us have retreated somewhat because of it.
— Gerry Finn

CHECKING THE CHINCH BUG
You've probably heard of the chinch bug but passed over
the pest lightly because of its heretofore restricted area of
destruction . . . specifically the Mississippi Valley.
This is all well and good. But apparently the chinch bug
refuses to stay put. In recent years it has migrated northward disguising its damage as dry-weather injury.
The most notable local discovery of this juice-draining
devil came at the Wee Burn Country Club in Darien, Connecticut. A close relative in the hyperode family scoured the
fairways in 1967, to the extent that several large areas were
badly damaged with many patches of grass found dead and
others in the dying stage.
The type of chinch bug, which decided to roam from the
southern climates, unfortunately is the most deadly. It is
called the "hairy chinch bug" (Blissus leucopterus), a very
highly multitudinous wretch which reaches epidemic status
by the middle of summer or whenever that season is the
driest.
Its size is another form of its defense mechanism. Never
reaching anything larger than one-quarter inch, the cinch
bug must be tracked down in a microscopic search. The
average life cycle is 50 days and there may be from two to
five broods depending on the length of dry-conditioned seasons.
The enormous numbers of the cinch bug make up for their
lack of size, giving credence to the fact they can cause widespread destruction of grasses . . . especially those that don't
receive adequate irrigation.
It was once thought that the cinch bug thrived only on high,
dry stretches of turf . . . leaving the impression it wasn't a
problem on greens and other closely clipped and pampered
areas.
This theory became a washout in Western Massachusetts
where an attack completely wiped out a nursery of finelytailored grasses. In other words, the chinch bug knows no
boundaries of destruction.
Periodic checks for the pest, plus application of newer
pesticides . . . during the extremely dry weather . . . are the
best remedy for ridding courses of chinch bugs. The suggested
brand names include Trithion, Banol, Baygon, Akton, Gardona and Dylox.
The chinch bug, then, is a new enemy to be confronted by
the course superintendent, especially this time of season. The
well-informed super would be wise to be the well-prepared
super. So, check for those chinch bugs. They are deadly.
— Gerry Finn

AUGUST, 1969

ourie Superintendents
OF

NEW

ENGLAND,

ocialion
INC.

S p o n s o r s a n d administrators of the L a w r e n c e S.
Dickinson S c h o l a r s h i p F u n d — A w a r d e d y e a r l y
to d e s e r v i n g Turf M a n a g e m e n t Students.

NATIONAL [RECOGNITION

NEXT MEETING
Ladies' Day and Clam Bake, Aug. 11, 1969. Easton Country Club, 261 Purchase St., South Easton, Mass.
Golf starting time, 10:30
Scotch Foursome — Ladies.

A.M.

18

hole

Medal

Play.

Sam Mitchell will welcome the Golf Course
Superintendents of New
H
England and their ladies
to Easton Country Club
and the second clam bake
M
l
t
o
be held there.
Easton is an 18 hole
layout leased by Mitchell
& Knovac, Inc. and operated as a public golf
course with a limited
membership. The original
nine holes was designed
by Sam and built in 1961.
The second nine was built
in 1968 and opened in
the spring of 1969. In
partnership with Ed Knovac, an outstanding PGA pro and noted golf teacher, this
lease operation is now in its fourth year.
H

Directions — Rt. 128 south to Rt. 24, then Rt. 123 towards
Easton and take 138 south to Purchase St., go right and club
is half mile on right.
There will be a meeting of the "Expense Committee" just
prior to the Directors Meeting at 4 P. M. on Monday, August
11, 1969.

MEETINGS C O M I N G UP
September 9 — Mt. Pleasant Country Club, Boylston, Mass.,
Dick Blake, Superintendent
September 29 — Manchester Country Club, Manchester,
N. H., Lou Duval, Superintendent. Joint meeting with N. E.
Club Managers.
October 27 — Brae Burn Country Club, Newton, Mass.,
Bob Grant, Superintendent. Pro-Superintendent tournament.
*

*

*

*

Dick Blake (right) National Director presents a plaque to Phil
C a s s i d y , Past National Director 1950-1951. The a w a r d is for
Past National Directors who p e r f o r m e d outstanding duties
during their terms o f office.

From 1924 to 1946 Phil was the Superintendent at the
Needham Golf Club, and then in '46 took over the duties at
the Weston Golf Club where he is still located.
It was very nice to see some of our northern supers at this
N. E . " and during the next ten years held the office of secretary off and on. Phil was elected president in 1948 to 1949
and at that time was instrumental in getting the National to
come to Boston in 1950. He paid out of his own expenses for
a trip to Detroit with Marshall E. Farnham who was president
of the National 1946-1947, to make the final plans for this
convention in Boston.
The committees were appointed by Phil with Homer Darling heading up the educational program and Frank Wilson
directing the equipment show. It was at this time Phil was
elected to the National as a director. He served from 1950
to 1951. Phil has always had his helping hands serving the
G.C.S.A. of N. E. right up to the present day. All the members say "Thanks, Phil."

*

In the words of Henry David Thoreau:
"It is something to be able to paint a particular picture, or
to carve a statue, and so to make a few objects beautiful; but
it is far more glorious to carve and paint the very atmosphere
and medium through which we look . . "

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS
FIELD DAY
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, R. I.
AUGUST 21, 1969