JUNE 1970 ourieS^uperintendentd on^ASociati ©F NEW ENGLAND, SNC. SUPER-PRESS HERE It's that glorious time of season again for the New England golf course superintendent which only can mean that the third annual "super-press" tournament" is coming at us. This year „ the interest is at a feverish pitch with the announcement of Pleasant Valley Country Club as site for the popular get together of the boys who make the grass green and the fellows who tell the world about it. Hosting the Pleasant Valley festivities is a recent addition to the New England family of turf terrors — Noel Fongeallaz. Pleasant Valley is known as one of the showcases of golf and Noel has had no small part in the healthy development of the layout. Noel has been on the scene for several years and has seen P V come along as a popular tournament site for PGA tour events as well as the playing grounds for the gals of the LPGA. It is generally set as fact that Pleasant Valley stands as one of the more popular stops on both circuits. Fongeallaz will be in the field which should break all records for attendance. The first venture two years ago lured more than 30 teams to the Twin Hills Country Club and a similar number was on hand to do battle with Concord in 1969. That latest blend of super and press found Ted Murphy and NEXT Sponsors and administrators of the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund — Awarded yearly to deserving Turf Management Students. The Boston Globe's Kevin Walsh combining for a sparkling 69 to set the pace for a turnout of pretty fair country swingers. Murphy and Walsh figure to return for another crack at taking home the Arthur Anderson Trophy. Sir Arthur will be on hand again to award the cup, promising to lend his sartorial splendor to the Pleasant Valley scenery. A year ago it might be remembered that Arthur blazed over the Concord real estate in shocking orange slacks. Two of the closer pursuers of last year's winning tandem are expected to take bead on the top in the teams of Leo Brown and Fred Cole of the Lawrence Tribune and Bob St. Thomas and The Globe's sports editor — Ernie Roberts. Incidentally, St. Thomas was a double threat at Concord as low gross leader with a 77. President Dick Blake is highly enthused over the format of the super-press and urges everyone to take part in the fun. "This gives our association the chance to promote good will and fellowship with members of the news media", he says. " I am highly in favor of the undertaking. I list it as one of the most important functions of a superintendent during the season. So with Twin Hills and Concord behind, the spotlight switches to Pleasant Valley. It's a championship course and everyone should fall in step June 1 when the call to the first tee is heard. — Gerry Finn MEETING The annual Superintendent-Press tournament will be at the Pleasant Valley Country Club in Sutton, Massachusetts. Roger Barry, President of the Golf Writers Association of America will be the guest speaker. — Spencer The following is a proposed by-law change and will be voted on at the next business meeting: Section 3 2. Finance Committee This committee shall have general supervision of the financial affairs and formulate the financial policies of the Association. Within thirty days of its appointment, it shall prepare and present to the Board of Directors a proposed Budget for all committees including expenses of the President or other designated representative .to the National Turf Conference for the ensuing year, recommending specific appropriations for each standing committee. To be voted on at the next business meeting: DIRECTIONS TO P L E A S A N T V A L L E Y C. C. From Boston via Mass. Turnpike to Exit 11 (Millbury) left from Ramp to Rte. 20. West to Rte. 146 (Millbury) So. Rte 146, five miles to PVCC. Boston via Rte 9 to Rte. 20 (Shrewsbury) West to Rte. 146 (Millbury) South Rte. 146 five miles to PVCC. Points West via Mass. Turnpike to Exit 10 (Auburn) right ramp to Rte. 12 directly across Rte. 12 on to New ramp. Bear right on to New Rte. 1-290 south, take first ramp right to Rte. 2 0 to Rte. 146 South 5 miles to PVCC. Points South via Rte. 146 North to Sutton and PVCC. David Southard, Associate membership, Amherst Golf Club, 330 West St., North Hatfield, Mass. The Association was saddened by the recent death of George F. O'Leary on March 16, 1970. George was the Superintendent at the Walpole Country Club for many years. ourseSuperin tenden PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Where can you find men who are dependable and willing to work five to seven days a week? Where can you find men who will work from daylight until late afternoon for relatively low wages with few fringe benefits? The success of any golf course maintenance program depends to a large extent on the quality of the golf course laborer. During the spring and fall it is common to find three or four men (including the superintendent) trying to maintain an 18-hole golf course. When college and high school students arrive for employment in late May and early June, the maintenance staff is filled. When the students return to school in early September, the superintendent is once again faced w i t h a labor problem. Conditioning of the course during the spring and fall is not up to standards, and it is frequently during this time of the year that important work could be done in preparation for the following summer. 1970 marks the beginning of a new decade. It is ours to shape. For one of the glories and mysteries of life is that no matter how far we progress there is always more to be done. Yes, more and more and more — but it seems to me there are fewer people interested in doing it. Especially when it comes to working on a golf course. We read everywhere about how many people are unemployed, about groups that want to work, but no one will give them the opportunity, the unemployment officer will call and ask if you need people. The answer is always Y E S . Occasionaly a few people even go out to inquire about the work. On most occasions the conversation goes like this: "You don't want to hire me do y o u ? " If the answer is yes — "Well I should tell you that I don't have any way to get here if you hire me." Or, " Y o u know, of course, that I'm expecting to be called back to my old job that pays $6.50 an hour." He then asks, " B y the way, what does this job pay, what are the fringe benefits, vacations, holidays with pay, hours worked and incentive or bonus plans, insurance plans, days allowed for sick pay, etc." When you explain your rate of pay, the hours expected of the man to work, especially when you explain he is required to work Saturdays and Sundays, and that he will start on holidays at 5 or 6 A. m, — by this time he is usually in his new car driving away. In the greater Chicago area, Spanish-American and Mexican laborers arrive from the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and from Mexico to work from mid-March to December 1st. This is an excellent source of labor for our golf courses. Mexican laborers are seasonal employees who frequently come back year after year. Lodging (and in some instances, food) is provided for them. One superintendent in Chicago reports that four of his returning Mexican employees will be covered by medical benefits not only while they are in Chicago, but also while they are in Texas for the winter. This labor executive (the man looking for a job) will, if you encourage him, talk long enough to give you reason to ask yourself what you're working so hard for and why you, as a taxpayer, are paying hard-earned tax dollars for the support of these individuals. Superintendents from all over New England report problems in obtaining competent and reliable workmen, especially at this time of year, I call it "the musical chair time of year," for we usually have three or four new men being trained, three or four coming and the same amount going during this critical time of year. This type of labor at low rates, requires constant supervision and training and also causing breakdowns and lost time because in most instances they have never been on a golf course before is the most expensive labor over a period of time. However, this is a fact that many club officers will not accept. Too many still feel that high school and college students are all that are required. Time and space do not permit further explanation at this time. But the article by Lee Record, U S G A : "Help! Where do we get Golf Course Labor" seems to be getting results in one section of the good old U. S. A. We are interested and concerned, along with the golf course superintendents, in the labor shortage problem. What can be done to improve the situation, and what additional labor sources may be available? Last October, a labor questionnaire was mailed to 50 private golf courses in the greater Chicago area. The courses selected were those with similar labor problems, needs, and desires for improving existing conditions. The response to the questionnaire was excellent with a return of 70 percent. The results we think you will find interesting. When one compares these figures with those from United States food service and industrial employment sources, we may find one reason why good, permanent golf course workers are hard to find. Improved wage scales with added fringe benefits of hospitalization, major medical, retirement, sick leave and vacations strengthens bargaining positions in dealing with and encouraging permanent employment. Wage improvement and increases in fringe benefits alone, however, are not the sole criteria for the top-notch prospective laborer. The facilities and the equipment he will use also are major factors. Inside lavatory facilities, showers, lockers, etc., are as important to him as they are to anyone else. When a man in his late 40's or early 50's loses his job because of disability or health, the future can seem awfully grim. When a man retires at age 65 after earning a meager salary and has no income other than Social Security, he may be placed on the tense borders of poverty. The man we are speaking of is often the best source of present-day golf course laborers, and even he is hard to find. We faced a labor shortage on golf courses in 1969, not only in the Mid-continent region, but throughout the United States. To the golf course superintendent, the availablelabor situation today is very discouraging because course maintenance has become a skilled and specialized job. Not every individual can adapt himself to the mechanics that revolve around the daily routine of a golf course laborer. President — First Vice President — Second Vice President — R I C H A R D C . BLAKE 'ROBERT G R A N T T H O M A S CURRAN 2 I I Sewall Street 22 Patricia Road 153 Fisher Street Sudbury, Mass. 0 I 7 7 6 Boylston, Mass. 0I505 Walpole, Mass. 02081 -Phone 443-2671 Phone 869-2737 Phone 668-7221 Club Affiliation .Club Affilii Club Affiliatic M t . Pleasant Country Club Brae Burn Country Club The Country Club ocia tion (This article is reprinted f r o m the January, 1970, issue of USGA Green Section Record. A u t h o r Lee Record is an agronomist for the USGA Green Section.! In closing remember even if the pressure is on and the golfers cranky and the grass up too high, Keep Your Cool! Secretary — Treasurer — W A Y N E ZOPPO LUCIEN DUVAL 48 Barberry Drive R.F. No. 5 Gault Road Seekonk, Mass. Bedford, N. H. 03105 Phone 399-7141 Phone 472-3454 Club Affitii Club Affilii Agav i Hunt Club Manchester Country Club Trustee — Trustee — RONALD KIRKMAN ROBERT M U C C I A R O N E ^ N O R M A N MUCCIARONE 25 Green Street 465 Sum Street 101 Alban Road Needham, Mass. 0 2 I 9 2 Westwood, M, 02090 Waban, Mass. 02168 Phone 444-8412 Phone 329-9682 Phone 332-3056 Club Affi Club Affiliation Club Affiliation Needham G o l f Club Dedham Country and Polo Club Woodland Country Club Finance Chairman — N A R Y SPERANDIO Concord, Mass. 01742 Phone 369-4723 Club Affiliation Concord Country Club New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association, Inc. Editor — John J. Barry, Supt. Abenaqui Country Club, Rye, N. H. MEETING NOTES Schedule Charlie Fallen was our host at the first annual Superintendent-Greens Committee Chairman Tournament. Charlie had the course in great shape for our round of golf. Date: June 3, 1970 Location: Sanford-Country Club, Sanford, Maine Coffee Hour: 10:00 - 11:00 Meeting: 11:00 - 12:00 Lunch: 12:00 - 12:45 Golf: 1:00 The Concord Country Club team of Marcotte and Blossom won the Best Ball Tournament. William Tice carried away 1st low gross with Len. Chance second. Fred Martel took low net with John Barry second. For our next meeting we will travel to Sanford, Maine and the Sanford Country Club for our joint meeting and golf tournament with the Maine Association. Host Superintendent for the meeting will be Choc Doiron. Dick Sheff of the Sheff Chemical and Supply of Braidenton, Florida will be the guest speaker. Last year's tournament proved to be quite eventful for our association, as we managed to squeeze out a victory. UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND KINGSTON, RHODE ISLAND 0283 1 N e w Members The New Hampshire Golf Course Superintendents Association would like to welcome the following to our Association: William Tice Superintendent Waterville Valley Golf & Tennis Club Waterville Valley, N. H. Associate Joseph Colwell Superintendent Cliff Country Club Ogunquit, Maine Associate Paul F. Hogencamp of the E. I. Dupont DeNemours Co. has made application as an inactive member. Paul, a sales representative, lives at 5A Indian Kidge Road in Yarmouth, Maine. A p r i l 9, 1970 M r . Dean Robertson 24 R i v e r v i e w D r i v e TURF Dear M r . Robertsons W e h a v e s e t the d a t e s f o r o u r t h i r t y n i n t h a n n u a l t u r f grass research field d a y s . Hiey are: W e d n e s d a y , August 26, 1970 - Golf Course Superintendents Field Day. Thursday, August 27, 1970 - Lawn and Utility Turf Field Day. T h e f i e l d d a y s a r e h e l d a t the t u r f g r a s s f i e l d h o u s e , college of Resource D e v e l o p m e n t , u n i v e r s i t y of Rhode Island, K i n g s t o n , R h o d e I s l a n d . 1 w i l l b e h a p p y to a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s a n y o n e m i g h t h a v e r e l a t i v e to t h e s e a c t i v i t i e s . W a would appreciate the inclusion of these dates the a n n o u n c e m e n t section of your p u b l i c a t i o n . Sincerely, m C. R. skogley Associate professor CRS:jw Dennis W. Friel has applied for an associate membership. Dennis is the Superintendent of the Green Meadow Country Club in Hudson, New Hampshire and resides at 21 Winter Street in Woburn, Mass. in GRASS SCIENCE Those of you who attended the conference in Chicopee this past year may remember a pamphlet given you at the registration desk concerning a text entitled Turf Grass Science. Members of the Association who have received a copy will agree it was a worthwhile investment. The information and illustrations ii contains are up-to-date and very well presented. Anyone wishing to purchase this book may write to: The American Society of Agronomy, Inc. Madison, Wise. The Editors are A. A. Hanson and F. V. Juska. EXTENSION SERVICE Bill Knoop, Turf Extension Specialist at the University of N. H. has additional copies of his Newsletters in his office and if anyone is obtaining extra copies, all you have to do is get in touch with Bill. Maine Golf Course Superintendents Association Editor — Jim Diorio, Augusta Country Club, Augusta, MAY MEETING The May meeting of the MGCSA was held at the Willowdale Golf Club, South Portland, Maine. Claude Faulkner was host superintendent. After a short business meeting and lunch golf was enjoyed by many. JUNE Maine MEETING The June meeting will be held at Sanford Country Club, banford, Maine on Tuesday, June 2. This will be a joint meeting with the New Hampshire Superintendents Association. Richard Sheff of the. Sheff Chemical and Supply Co., Bradenton, Florida, will be the guest speaker. Coffee will be from 10:00 to 11:00, meeting from 11:00 to 12:30 and Golf after meal. Roger Lowell, Lloyd Ruby and Ralph Bishop were winners in the last tournament, with Lloyd Ruby shooting one of his best rounds in recent years, a sparkling 169. The Pro-Super tournament will be held on Oct. 9 at the Gorham C. C. Claude Faulkner and Ralph Bishop are the committeemen. New Members Alan Bouchard Larry Rowe Golf Course South Portland, Maine Eugene Elcik Brunswick Navy Golf Course Brunswick, Maine RE-INSTATED May May is a reminder, a restatement of facts of life that have been dormant since last October. The chlorophyll of the spreading leaf, the pollen of the opening blossom, the buzz of the hungry bee, the morning song of robin and oriole—all are aspects of May; the May we k n o w would not be May without them. Grass grows in May as it will not grow till another spring, and so do dandelions. The farmer's corn is in t h e ground and sprouting,, in May, and his oats are up. His meadows are reminders of June, hot June and haying. Lilacs are in f a t bud, reaching toward fragrant perfection. Peonies will soon be reminders of May's end and Decoration Day. Early apple trees are in bloom, and late apples are pink with anticipation. Brooks are lively in May, alive and loud with liquid chatter. June will quiet them, and July will shrink them in their stony beds, but now they still sing of spring. Frogs trill, and late peepers yelp, and tadpoles swarm in the slowly warming waters of pond and slough. Ducks are nesting. Barn swallows are still building their mud nests, twittering with anxiety. Long evenings come again, steadily lengthening till late June. Hot days are still welcome. Dawn is fresh, n e w and crisp — M a y dawn, the dawn of another summer. Joe Walker Norway Country Club Norway, Maine The Mower No more stars are slashed from the hive of heaven. The evening settles to stillness. Today the wind's edges swept the orchard like scythes. Now she rests. Now the power mower, drowsing in fumes of gasoline, though all day her blades whirled through windfalls under the apple trees; though she was the great queen to bees that rose from burrows in the fruit's flesh to preen for her, to hear her droning epithalamion; neither dreams in her dark shed nor sings mass for the dead, whose wings are a scatter of stars on the cut grass. She mows and rests in mindless monotone. William Heyen ourdeSuperintendents -^IsdociationSOUND OFF ! ! ! {Here comes another version, of the "reader strikes back" or the New England Newsletters climbing feature, Sound Off. This is the voice of the super, the green chairman, the golfer, the merchant or anyone who cares to let his comments be aired. Life among the velvets and bents should be sent to Newsletter Mail Box, 24 Riverview Drive, Newbury, Mass. 01950. The Newsletter reserves the right to comment on letters printed.) "Many thanks for your kind treatment of this 'old warhorse' in your column in the April 1970 issue of the Newsletter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England. " F o r the record, there is only one PH.D. in my family to date and that's my No. 1 son. Regretfully, I don't own an advanced degree. 1 don't want anyone to think I'm accepting credit for something I don't have. Again thanks and best regards." A L E X A N D E R M. RADKO USGA Green Section,Highland Park, N. J . Newsletter's Sound O f f editor committed a boo-boo in referring to A l as Dr. Radko. However, anyone who knows as much about turf as A l must have gotten a Ph.D. somewhere! "Just a few lines to turn over the other side of the coin. I realize you fellows took a lot of static on the struggling condition ot New England courses a spring ago. '"This spring you deserve to be praised. My club is in the best shape at this time of year as we've ever seen it. Therefore, to our super and those others who make it all possible •— hats o f f ! " CHARLES CHASE Peru, Mass. Thanks for the thank you note, Charlie. Everyone likes to get a pat on the back once in a while. "It's not often that I feel obligated to take part in such a series as your Sound Off monthly speak-out. However, my husband receives your Newsletter and he leaves the writing to me . . . in this instance. " I have a gripe, and it's mostly against the men members of our club. I don't think a day passes that I don't come upon a discarded cigarette or cigar butt on one of our greens. "It's not that I'm forming a personal crusade against smoking, although it might not be a bad idea at that. I do believe, though, that people should have regard for their fellow members and discard their butts in places not as obvious as the green. I'm not sure but I think the practice doesn't do the condition of the green any good either. Most of the time I find the butts half lit and smoldering away on the beautiful grass. I hope a few green chairmen take note of this and maybe post a reminder to stop it." MRS. JOHN C H E E V E R S Fairchild, Michigan Three cheers for you, Mrs. Cheevers. This may make a few of the guilty ones burn . . . but they deserve it. "Hail to you trail blazers of the New England section. "Just heard of the detailed safari to Scotland and Ireland you have arranged for supers all over the country. Count me in for a couple of berths on the Irish airliner, and you can be sure I'll be spreading the word to my friends. " S t . Andrews here I come, thanks to the NEGCSA." SHERMAN P O R T E R Pine Bluff, Arkansas Our November jaunt to golf's Vatican is really catching on. A n d we're accepting entries from the four corners of the country. * « * « "As a veteran superintendent . . . and located at one of the better clubs in our area, I feel it's about time I took a couple of swipes at a few of my members who treat our course as though it was their personal dump and playground. "One of the pet peeves I have are the persons I see spitting on my greens. I liken this to someone spitting on my living room rug. It's nothing but a filthy habit which not only is dirty but often times very inconvenient to the majority of players who use the course. "Another thing which gets my Irish up are those members who feel compelled to carry their drinks with them wherever they go. At my club it is most noticeable around the practice putting green. During the cocktail hour it seems great sport for members to engage in friendly putting matches. Most of the time they set their drinks on the green and more often than not they knock them over, leaving liquor and glass just sitting there. "Obviously, this letter cuts into the heart of a couple of sticky problems of the undersigned. And, naturally, the members at my club wouldn't like to be exposed as flagrant slobs. Therefore, I'm asking that my location be omitted from the end of this letter. Thank you." THOMAS HALLRAHAN (Club withheld) A r e you sure you work at a country club and not the city zoo? (That brings Sound Off to the edition. Readers are asked to sign views. The Newsletter committee and clubs to avoid embarrassment end of the line for another all letters when airing their will gladly withhold names to the writer.) WORD OF T H E MONTH ECOSYSTEM (Ek-o-sis-tem) a self-sustaining community of organisms plus their inorganic environment. An ecosystem must have an adequate resource of chemical nutrients and energy, and a balanced population of organisms, including energy accumulators (chlorophyll plants), primary consumers (fungi, micro-organisms, herbivores), second order consumers (carnivorous predators, parasites, scavengers) and decomposers (bacteria, fungi, etc.) which complete the regeneration of the chemical resource. All of these organisms are tied together in interlocking food chains. ourSeSuperintendents ~^AAociati onGOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ENGLAND TOUR From the overpowering sight of a John Campbell-led kilted and bagpipe reception to the breathtaking experience of kissing the famous Blarney Stone — 15 days away from it all. That's the capsuled view of the New England Golf Course Superintendents Association tour — two weeks in which to drink in all the best that England, Scotland and Ireland have to offer. If you can imagine country the spoilers never got to spoil and setting you thought could come alive only through the written word, this is the kind of happening available to all members of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. It all starts on a cool November 7th evening when an Irish International airliner spreads its wings out of Boston's Logan Airport . . . destination London and the opening of a brand new world. Picture yourself in Trafalgar Square or at Buckingham Palace, armed with camera and anticipation. Then trace the steps of legendary figures through Fleet Street, past St. Paul's Cathedral to the majestic setting of the Tower of London. How's that for openers? Next get you ready for Scotland, arriving at incomparable St. Andrews with time for browsing and the like and even a workshop seminar available to keep the occupational wheels turning. It is at historic St. Andrews where you'll pick up an old and warm friendship with John Campbell, master of the green, green grass there. John has everything prepared for a welcome you'll never forget — a gala reception with the kilts flying and bagpipes wailing. First night there includes a visit to the famed Abbey Theatre, the site where fabled names such as George Bernard Shaw and Sean O'Casey saw the fruits of their literary efforts burst into bloom. After a full tour of bouncy Dublin, the road winds along to Galway and then to the River Shannon as the lead-in to a whirlwind tour of the epitome of natural beauty — Killarney. Finally, the Blarney Stone comes upon you with the day being capped by a Medieval Banquet in Knappogue Castle. From there on to Shannon and the saying of goodbye to an" unforgettable courtship with the dream of every adventurer. This tells but a sprinkling of what's in store for those who join Leon St. Pierre and the rest of the New England explorers in search of a vacation tour to top all experienced before and after. Leon tells that the tour is tax deductible, since a miniconference designed to keep all thumbs thinking green will be conducted at St. Andrews, plus a visit to a British agricultural experimental station has been arranged. The cost of such a venture is minimal, $620.60 to be precise. A deposit of $100 is required to hold a reservation for the sojourn which is being set up to accommodate a minimum of 80 persons. Deadline for that deposit is August 1, 1970. This, then, is a rare and choice chance to see a part of this wonderful world set apart for lovers of natural beauty, a beauty that is unspoiled. Make a date to say hello again to John Campbell and line up the Blarney Stone as your next best girl! Come fly with Leon! New England Golf Superintendents Tour N O V E M B E R 14, 1970 Itinerary prepared by Penn Travel, Springfield, Mass. (This itinerary is tentative and subject to changes) 1st Day S A T U R D A Y Depart the Logan Airport, Boston for London. 2nd Day, SUNDAY Arrive London. Transfer to your hotel. The afternoon is at leisure in London, and tonight we visit one of London's famous theatres. 3rd Day, MONDAY A11 day sightseeing in London. We see Buckingham Palace, view the Changing of the Guard (when held), Trafalgar Square, Houses of Parliament, Fleet Street, St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. 4th Day, T U E S D A Y We now dri 3 through the heart of England. Through picturesque country villages and the midlands to York for our overnight. 5th Day, W E D N E S D A Y Today we leave England and travel north into Scotland with lunch at Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Arrive at St. Andrew's for our overnight. 6th Day, T H U R S D A Y This day is for leisure, for browsing, shopping, golf, with a workshop seminar for the men folk. Again, overnight at St. Andrew's. _ 7th Day, F R I D A Y Again, a day of leisure, with visits to Gleneagles and Carnoustie Golf Courses. Dinner and Civic Reception. Afternoon conference at the Town Hall can be arranged. Overnight at St. Andrew's. 8th Day, S A T U R D A Y This morning we will motor to the beautiful city of Edinburgh. The home of the magnificent Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood House. The afternoon is left for shopping and browsing and luncheon which will be left to the individual's choice and not included in the tour. After lunch we will motor to the city of Glasgow for dinner and a short sightsee of Glasgow. After dinner we will drive to Stranrear and board an overnight ferry to Larne. 9th Day, SUNDAY After arrival at Larne in Northern Ireland, we will coach to Dublin for our overnight. This evening we will visit the Abbey Theatre. 10th Day, MONDAY This day will be spent shopping, sightseeing and golfing, with a short visit to Jury's Cabaret this evening. 11th Day, T U E S D A Y We depart Dublin this day for our trip to Galway, in the west of Ireland, via the well-known city of Athlone, and after lunch we can play golf or sightsee the rugged area of Connemarra. Overnight in Galway. 12th Day, W E D N E S D A Y We go south today. Through Ennis, chief town of Co. Clare, into Limerick, historic city on the River Shannon. After lunch we go through the lovely village of Adare, with its thatched cottages and then to "beauty's home", Killarney. 13th Day, T H U R S D A Y In the morning we leave our coach and take a jaunting car trip through Killarney's magic lakeland. After lunch we go West again until the Atlantic Ocean_atops us. This is the Ring of Kerry, with breath.- _ taking views of sea and mountains. Back up the southern side of the Iveragh Peninsula and across the Windy Gap by Ladies View to Killarney. 14th Day, F R I D A Y We move to Blarney Castle with its famous stone and then into Cork City for lunch. From there, through the Golden Vale to Limerick. We finish the day with a magnificent Mediaeval Banquet in Knappogue Castle. Overnight in Limerick. 15th Day, S A T U R D A Y We motor to Shannon with ample time for shopping at Shannon's Tax Free Port and our departure for home. Tour is based on twin occupancy with a limited number of single accommodations. Lunch in London, Edinburgh, or Dublin are not included, also lunch at Shannon Airport. Golf can be arranged on several occasions. This can be determined later. Golf equipment will have to be extra charged, and if a large number of passengers carry their own equipment, the hire of a van will be necessary. Ferry _ transportation is overnight with double occupancy on a one draws his own ticket, as all staterooms are not comparable, but will be "First Class." Arrangements are still pending on a. visit to an Agricultural Experiment Station, the British Tourist Assoc. is arranging this. The right to use any IATA International Carrier is permitted. - _ . Q F N £ W E N G L A N D , I N C . STARTING FROM SCRATCH The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America took a giant step in the direction of upgrading itself recently with the announcement of a brand new position and grand new hand to put the pieces together in a stellar educational program. Just what does a Director of Education do . . . Dr. Paul Alexander? " I f you have about three hours and unlimited funds to keep your telephone credit card from exploding, I can give you a start on what we hope to accomplish." That was Dr. Alexander during an infrequent parade rest from his Des Planes, Illinois office the other day. Dr. Alexander has had his name on the national's front office door since February. " I know some of the members might think we're going along too slowly at this new breakthrough in our educational setup", he told. " B u t I would rather they think of the pace as being cautious. The early stages of our program I regard as the critical stages. We can't afford to make a mistake at this time. We can't afford to make it for the sake of our membership." Probably GCSAA members think it's old hat to talk of upgrading and lifting their image. "Most of the time they've heard about these things in theory only", Dr. Alexander advised. " I ' m here to put the theory into practice. That's when we'll get some results." Getting results, in fact, is old hat to the man who once thought of building a career in mechanical engineering. But Dr. Alexander was at the green years junction of his life. " I had to take an aptitude test to find out I was studying the wrong thing and attending the wrong school", he talks of his college days. "When I finally found out I was best suited for this type of work. I quit the Univ. of Akron and hustled out to California State Poly to find out what the birds, the bees and the flowers were all about." From California Dr. Alexander returned to the midwest for advanced work. He earned a Masters degree in Botany at Ohio State and stayed on in Buckeye country to take his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology. "That's when I found I out there's a fungus among us", he cracked. Dr. Alexander went deep into the turf field after, he took a position at Clemson College in 1958. When he discovered that most inquiries dealt with turf grasses, he took a permanent plunge which led to his heading up an experimental station for the state of South Carolina. It was a hop, skip and then a jump to a job with the USGA Green Section which lasted only a few months because of his accepting the call from the GCSAA. "Through a program of self-education, we hope to get the superintendent on a high-level plane professionally", Dr. Alexander went through the basics of his project. "Then, somewhere along the line we hope to educate the golfing public to the realization that the superintendent is an important part of the game. We have to make them appreciate him . . . fully appreciate him." In addition to this educational facelifting, Dr. Alexander also is embarking on the delicate task of developing a sensible and workable certification program. "You see", he laughed. " I f I could get the telephone company to give you unlimited and unchallenged credit, we might be here all day. But you get the idea. We're moving with caution, but we're moving. That's the big thing.'' The superintendent, then, has a lot going for him. Dr. Alexander stands right up there in effecting satisfying results of a program that has promise written all over it. — Gerry Finn f I^HI^H *M -mi Tournament Results at Oyster Harbor 1st Low Gross 2nd Low Gross 1st Low Net 2nd Low Net 3rd Low Net 45 Low Net Bob St. Thomas Mai Wendall Guy Tedesco Brian Cowan Robert Mucciarone John Dolan Phil Cassidy 75 79 69 71 73 74 74 Julius Aksten, Golf Chairman figuring out the winners at Oyster Harbors Guy Tedesco left and Bob St. Thomas Golf Chairman — JULIUS AKSTEN 6 Main Street Southboro. Mass. 01772 Phone 485-8885 Club Affiliation St. Mark's Golf Club Educational Chairman — ALBERT AUGER b A Fort Hill Street Hingham, Mass. 02 N 3 Phone 749-2272 Club Affiliation South Shore Country Club Newsletter Chairman — DEAN ROBERTSON 24 Riverview Drive Newbury, Mass. 01950 Club Affiliation Chestnut Hill Country Club Past President — A N T H O N Y C A R A N C I . JR. 22 Hillview Drive No. Providence. R. I. 02900 Phone 723-1688 Club Affiliation Ledgemont Country Club Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. W e would appreciate a credit line. P i e a d e ftabiMUfe FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION Agrico Chemical Company R. D. Sibley, J r . , Representative 375 Power Rd. Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860 Agway Commercial Sales Richard Williams 66 James St., W . Newton, Mass. Phone 244-5309 Alfco Rokeby Co., Inc. Fertilizers and Chemical Specialties P . O. Box 267, Marietta, Ohio C. S . Curran T . R . C. Products, Oils and Greases 7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass. Fairway Equipment, I n c . Sales — Service — Rentals 35 Walnut St., Reading, Mass. F a r m Bureau Association 158 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass. 02154 F r e d Heyliger, Representative Fisk, Alden Ford, T r a c t o r Sales, Inc. R e a r 900 Providence Highway Dedham, Mass. 02026 Astroturf Recreational Surfaces Monsanto Co., R . Spencer Thompson P . O. B o x 2130, Springfield, Mass. Manuel F r a n c i s and Son, Inc. Turf Nurseries 624 Webster St., Marshfield, Mass. Philip C. Beal, Consulting Engineers Irrigation and Recreation Facilities P . 0 . B o x 102, Hanover, Mass. 02339 Ron Gagne — Scotts Golf Course Div. 45 M e c h a n i c St., Apt. 1A Foxboro, Mass. 02035 The Charles C. Hart Seed Co. Wethersfield, Conn. Corenco Corporation Tewksbury, Mass. 01876 J . E . Nordholm Turf Specialist * T h e Clapper Co. 1121 Washington S t . West Newton, Mass. * Geoffrey S. Cornish Golf Course Architect Fiddler's Green, Amherst, Gold S t a r Sod F a r m s , I n c . 181 South Ave., Weston, Mass. 02197 Grounds Equipment Co., 383 Boylston St., Newton Inc. Mass. * T o m Irwin Co. Bennett Hill Road Rowley, Mass. Johns-Manville Sales C 150 Causeway St., Bost Mass. George E . Cull Terra-Green Soil Conditioner 112 Green St., Abington, Mass. Arthur Curran Rock Driller Supply Equipment, Inc. 20 E . Glenwood Ave. Hyde P a r k , Mass. 02136 •>.' Karandrew T u r f Farms, S a m Mitchell, Sales Representative 18 Old Randolph St., Canton, Mass. T h e Kenneth B a r r i e Company Irrigation 375 Centre St., J a m a i c a Plain, Mass. Kerr-McGee Chemical Corp. 380 Union St. West Springfield, Mass. 01089 Larchmont Irrigation Co. Larchmont Ln., Lexington, Mass. Bob Lippman, Tuco Products Co. Division of the Upjohn Company Kalamazoo, Michigan Magovern Company, I n c . Lawn A c r e Road Windsor Lock, Conn. D. L. M a h e r Co. W a t e r Supply Contractors P . O. B o x 274, Woburn, Mass. Old F o x Chemical I n c . Fertilizers — Seeds —• T u r f Chemicals 66 Valley Street East Providence, Rhode Island 02914 S i l Paulini, I n c . 6 Manor Avenue Natick, Mass. 01760 Richey & Clapper, Inc. 28 Rutledge Road Natick, Mass. 01760 *Sawtelle Brothers J e t . Routes 128 and 62 Danvers, Mass. Shepard Sod Company Merion B l u e Grass and Pencross Bent 200 Sullivan Ave., So. Windsor, Conn. Stur-Dee R a k e Co. P . O. B o x 1087, Woonsocket, R. I . 02895 Philip A. Wogan Golf Course Architect 21 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass. Wyandotte Chemical Co. 709 Salada Bldg., Boston, Mass. Yerxa's. Inc, Golf Course Equipment 740 Broadway, S . Portland, Me. * Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund Newsletter Committee Chairman 24 Riverview Drive Newbury, Massachusetts 0(950 Phone 462-4540 Club Affiliation Chestnut Hill Country Club LEON V. ST. PIERRE Business Manager GERRY FINN Contributing Editor