JANUARY 1972

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N E W

E N G L A N D ,

iAoclation
I N C .

S p o n s o r s a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f t h e L a w r e n c e S.
Dickinson Scholarship Fund — A w a r d e d yearly
to deserving Turf M a n a g e m e n t Students.

JOB O P E N - D O YOU APPLY?
Much flak has been sallied about in recent weeks concerning the job opportunities which usually surface at this time
of year.
A job is open. It seems more attractive than the one which
you now hold. So, what do you do ? Apply and risk the chance
that your present members will get the word and perhaps retaliate?. Or do you back off gently to insure yourself of the
immediate future?
The answer should be elementary . . . but it isn't, and for
one hounding reason. The superintendent (not all, mind you)
still resides in that hedgy state where he doesn't have faith
in himself or the confidence to stand up and challenge his
employer as to his ability.
Perhaps it is much easier to pen such thoughts, rather than
to be caught up in the experience. Sadly enough, there are
country clubs which lie in wait for the opportunity to replace
its superintendent because he has taken it upon himself to
improve his position.
The truth of this condition is plain. Any superintendent, who
would be dismissed for applying to another club, is a superintendent in eminent danger of losing his job for other invalid
reasons. Therefore, in some cases it might be beneficial to get
the axe.
This would seem to establish even more the fact that the
superintendent is in need of a mental sprucing-up. Consider
the super who confines himself to the idea that applying for
another position jeopardizes his present job. First of all, he
may as well get used to traveling a treadmill. He doesn't have
the spirit that moves men to greater things, so he could wind

up for the rest of his life dreaming better things rather than
doing them.
There is nothing to keep a country club from sharing the
confidence of a job applicant- For one thing, any super who
applies for a new job must realize that his present club is the
main source of information regarding his ability. And this
information cannot be obtained by hearsay. He must he ready
to be microscoped.
The truth of the matter is this. If every superintendent took
the attitude of not applying because it endangers his present
position, there would never be a job that changed hands. And
individual initiative would be nipped before it ever had a
chance to develop.
It has been suggested that clubs, who supposedly violate the
trust placed in them by the applicant through a leak to his
present employer be branded as a professional annoyance and
be boycotted when it comes time to advertise for future job
changes. Again, this serves to defeat the purpose of the profession and takes all the ammunition a man has for improving
himself away from the profession.
In the end, it all boils down to what a man has done, is
doing and can do . . . in the way of conditioning a golf
course. If he has all the tools of efficiency and the proof that
he can use these tools adequately, there is no need to turn the
other way when a chance for advancement presents itself.
It's all up to the individual. But remember one thing. If a
super is good, his talents will never go unwanted. A man, if he
thinks he can make the grade, should exercise his right to
improve his station.
— Gerry Finn

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
On February 25, 1924 at Cotrelle's Restaurant in Boston,
the New England Greenskeeper Club was founded. Forty-one
Greenskeepers attended, a constitution was adopted and officers
elected. Since that time 23 men have served as President of
this asspciation, presently known as the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England. I am proud to serve as
your 24th President and will attempt to uphold the high standards set by all past Presidents of our Association.
My first responsibility as the newly elected President is
to appoint committees. The chairmen of the finance, educational, goif and newsletter committees were elected by you at our
annual meeting. Working with the Board of Directors I must
appoint the following committees: Welfare, Employment, Publicity, Turf Research and any special committee deemed necessary. If you are interested in serving, please let me know as
soon as possible. Total involvement by our membership is
needed if we are to progress beyond our present standards.
Bob Grant, President
G.C.S.A. of New England

Bob Grant (left) newly elected president of the G . C . S . A . of
N . E. presented a Past President's Plaque and GaveJ to Richard
Blake (right), who served as president from 1969 to 1971, at
the December 1971 meeting.

L f o i j ^

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J^uperintendentd
?up

TO EACH HIS O W N

NEXT MEETING

One of the first statements Bob Grant poured out, minutes
after he had been elected president of the NEGCSA, was a
hint as to what type of administration the organization could
expect.
Grant, one of the strong supporters of the Nation's Certification Program, was put on the spot. "Would you suggest", he
was asked, "that ever) member of the New England .group be
required to take the examination for Certification?"
Good question. Good answer, too. "Not really", Grant said.
"I am sure there are some members of our organization !—
especially some of the real veterans — who can't be expected
to return to their books in order to prove that they are bona
fide superintendents. I don't think this is a form of telling a
man whether or not he belongs. I have to still consider the
condition of a man's golf course as his hallmark. Certification
doesn't guarantee such a state . . . but it's a step in the right
direction."
So, just in case you thought you might be bludgeoned for
not taking the Certification test, you can relax on that subject.
Grant is against any attempt to make the program mandatory.
"I want to take it (exam)", he continued. "I think that
somebody in my position should be able to pass it. But in
the same breath I can't see where I should be chastised if I
fail. It's that same feeling I have in regards to some of our
older members who would have an extremely difficult time
taking a written examination,"
Grant thinks with a clear and level mind. He is one of the
proponents of upgrading the profession, but he clings fast to
the idea that a super is not a good super because someone tells
him so or because he has read it somewhere.
"The true measure of a man's worth in this business is the
way he runs his job and the results he gets", Grant claims.
"There are some people who are acting too strongly about the
Certification program. I mean those who are likely to say that
a man shouldn't be a superintendent if he can't pass the test.
And we all know that this is nonsense. There still are two
glaring aspects we must face in our job. One is theory and
the other is practice. At the moment I would have to say the
practice aspect has to be judged as being more important."
The new president, who says he hopes to carry on in the
tradition of those whom he has followed in the striking of the
gavel, would like to' see more harmony between the national
and local associations.
"We have been striving to help the national as much as
possible", he tells. "But this does not mean that it is above
constructive criticism. When we see something we don't like,
it should be advised of it. And when we see something favorable, we should let it know that, too."
In the immediate future Grant would like the national to
know that New England stands ready to assist in any way in
the promotion and the development of the international conference scheduled in Boston in 1973.
"I have sent a letter to the national telling them of this feeling on our part", he revealed. "So far I haven't had any reply.
But maybe we can get together after this year's conference is
out of the way. As the host association, I think we should do
everything in our power to make the Boston meeting the best
ever.
In the meantime, though, Grant is taking a practical avenue
enroute to his duties and beliefs. He endorses the Certification
Program a full 100 percent, but he understands that there can't
be a full 100 percent involvement by his members. He shouldn't be faulted for such a stand.
— Gerry Finn

President —
R I C H A R D C. BLAKE
211 Sewall Street
Boylston, Mass. 01505
Phone 869-2737
ciub Affii;<
M t . Pleasant Country Club

iddociation-

First Vice President —
Second Vice President —
'ROBERT G R A N T
THOMAS CURRAN
22 Patricia Road
153 Fisher Street
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Walpole. Mass. 02081
Phone 443-26^1
Phone 668-7221
.Club
Club Affiliatioi
The Country Club
Brae Burn Country Club

The next meeting of the G.C.S.A. of N. E. will be Wednesday,
January 12, 1972, at the Holiday Inn, Newton, Massachusetts.
The guest speaker will be Dr. Joseph Troll of the University
of Massachusetts and his topic will be "Turf Research."
Directors' Meeting
10:45 a . m .
Regular Business Meeting
11:15 a . m .
Lunch
12:00 p . m .
Educational Program
1:00 p. m.
Meetings to look forward to:
January 13 and 14, 1972 University of N. H. Turf Seminar.
January 28, 1972 U.S.G.A. meeting at the Biltmore Hotel
in New York. The program this year is "Men, Management and Mechanization."
February 2, 1972 G.C.S.A. of N. E. meeting, Holiday Inn
Newton, Massachusetts.
February 13 to 18, 1972 G.C.S.A. Turf Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Applications to be voted on at the January meeting:
Bruce E. Petrelli, Assistant Membership
28 Apollo Rd., Apt. IF, Agawam Hunt
East Providence, Rhode Island
John Paul Jones, Associate Membership
Walpole Country Club
10 Quincy Street, Walpole, Mass.
DUES — from the Bylaw Book
SECTION 10 — Delinquency and Restoration
1. All Association dues shall be payable December 1. On the
first day of December and April, the Treasurer shall send
a statement to every member indebted to the Association.
2. All members whose dues or assessments shall remain in
arrears more than five months shall be suspended from the
Association without necessity of notice given of such
suspension.
SECTION 12 — RESIGNATIONS
1. Any member wishing to withdraw from the Association
must submit to the Secretary a resignation in writing,
which shall be effective as of the date accepted by the
Board of Directors with dues paid to the end of the fiscal
year.
2. No resignation of any member indebted to the Association
shall be accepted until he_shall have paid his Association
obligations in full.

Treasurer —
LUCIEN DUVAL
R.F. No. 5 Gault Road
Bedford, N. H . 03105
Phone 472-3454
Club Affili,
l Hunt Club
Manchester Country Club

Secretary —
W A Y N E ZOPPO
48 Barberry Drive
Seekonlt, Mass.
Phone 399-7141

JOBS OPEN
Indian Ridge Country Club, Andover, Massachusetts
Contact: Vincent LaColla, phone 682-8768
Gordon Thayer 246-0719, 245-5463
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Milton Hoosic Golf Club
Contact: William Cahill, 72 Woodland St., Milton, Mass.
Green chairman
Stevensville Country Club
Apply no later than February 1, 1972
18- hole resort course, fringe benefits
residence plus annual increases
Contact: Kenneth Dinnerstein, Stevensville Countrv Club
345 West 58th Street, New York, New York 10019
Trustee —
RONALD KIRKMAN
25 Green Street
Needham, Mass. 02192
Phone 444-8412
Club Affil
Needham Golf Club

"ROBERT M U C C I A R O N E
465 Summer Street
Westwood, Mass. 02090
Phone 329-9682
Club Affili*
Dedham Country and Polo Club

NORMAN MUCCIARONE
101 Alban Road
Waban, Mass. 02168
Phone 332-3056
Club Affili
W o o d l a n d Country Club

-inance Chairman —
NARY SPERANDIO
Concord, Mass. 01742
Phone 369-4723
Club Affiliation
Concord Country Club

O F
S O U N D

OFF!!!

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"Maybe I'll be tarred 'n feathered by some of my fellow
members for doing this, but I think your publication hit the
nail on the head with that call to arms against the 'dirty
dozen.'
"We most assuredly have that type of group here who think
that the golf season is an endless one and that the golf course
is their private domain. They continually put pressure on our
superintendent to open the course when it "shouldn't be and to
use certain areas for practice when there is a definite rule
against such things.
"Hopefully, most of them have read your treatment in last
month's Newsletter. If they haven't, it isn't my fault. I took
the liberty of posting it on the bulletin board in our men's
locker room. Since it is that time of year when only the 'dirty
dozen' frequent that area, it most certainly should reach the
people for whom it was intended.
"Perhaps they'll get the message and realize that winter is
set aside for such sports as skiing or paddle tennis. But I
know they'll be here waiting for an outburst of sun no matter
what the month. As for me, I hope it doesn't shine Until April
or so."
DANIEL RYAN
(Club Withheld)
O h Danny Boy. Did you say a mouthful. Tell us, don't those
guys who play winter golf ever work?
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Educational Chairman —
ALBERT A U G E R
6 A Fort Hill Street
Hingham, Mass. 02113
Phone 749-2272
Club Affiliation
South Shore Country Club

Newsletter Chairman —
DEAN ROBERTSON
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 01950
Club Affiliation
Chestnut Hill Country C l u b

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Just pray for a long winter, Seth, and maybe spring
golf will never come.

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(:That's it for now. See you next

USGA

GREEN

(SOLF C O U R S E

and

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month.)

SECTION

CONPEiiNCI

@N

MAMAGEM1NT

SUBJECT:

MEN, MANAGEMENT

Am
MECHANIZATION
F r i d a y January 2 8 , 1 9 7 2

*

"I heard a very funny story the other day. It concerns certain wild rumors that the golf superintendent has the easiest
job of anyone at our club because he can take the entire winter
off and not worry about what is going on until spring.
"I find this very amusing because I am a golf course chairman and at the moment my superintendent and I are up to
our necks trying to work out some kind of a feasible figure
for next year's budget.
G o l f Chairman —
JULIUS AKSTEN
6 Main Street
Southboro, Mass. 01772
Phone 485-8885
Club Affiliation
St. Mark s Golf Club

*

"I've just gone through a thorough check of my equipment
and have come to the conclusion that this wage freeze business
had better end or I'll be operating on two-wheelers next spring.
"There is such a big overhauling job here that I'm going
to have to insist from my club that they either add another
mechanic or allow me to have the present man work enormous
amounts of overtime.
"In this respect, I can't quite figure out what we supers
can do. I have put requests for new equipment into the budget
for next year but have been advised that my club is on one
of those tighten-the-belt toots. They say everyone's going to
have to get along with as little replacement articles as possible.
Yet, I'm positive the same people will be throwing daggers at
me with their eyes if the course isn't in the best possible condition come next spring.
"I'm writing this just to confirm the suspicion that I am not
alone in this case. Please, someone. Tell me that our club isn't
the only club which is tightening the belt."
SETH SAUNDERS
Norton, Vt.

i t s not thankless when we receive letters like this, Maureen
*

C

You're right, Tom. W h a t ' s garnered at the budget table
could make the difference in the color of the grass next year
at your club.

MAUREEN MAJORS
Bell, Wise.
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THOMAS FOSTER
Ronson, N. J.

"It just occurred to me that we're about to pass the holiday
season and I wanted to let you people know that most of us
women golfers are truly grateful to the golf course superintendent for all his labors he spends during the year.
"I would like to take this time to express that feeling, even
though it comes in the form of inconsequential words from an
inconsequential person. Anyway, I am most appreciative of
the job the superintendent does and hope each and every one
of you enjoy this time of year when you don't have to listen
to all the complaints of the members.
"If I had my way, I'd give all of you the rest of the winter
off and maybe send you to Florida for a couple of weeks. You
people deserve it. I've come to learn that yours is a thankless
job."

*

E N G L A N

I m sure you people of the profession reading this will get
a kick out of such an insinuation that you have one of those
go away till the snow melts jobs. There can't be enough time
in die day just about now as far as I'm concerned.
"If it were possible, I know you people would like to take
a couple of months away from the country club. But you're
probably holed up in the same deal as us. Budget time could
be the most important time of the year, even though the course
looks like something out of Alaska."

(The cards and letters keep rolling in and Sound Off remains
alive and well. This is our monthly feature by and for the
reader. We welcome all comments — soft, hard, biting or complimentary. But we hasten to add that your offerings should
contain your name and address. However, if it is requested,
the name or address or both of the ivriter will be withheld.
But keep your thoughts and ideas coming. Send them to Newsletter Mail Bag, 24 Riverview Drive, Newbury, Mass. 01950.
The Newsletter reserves the right to comment on all letters
published.)
*

N E W

B i l t m o r e Hotel, N e w ¥ ® r k . N. Y .
Madi»n Avcr.ue and 43rd StrM?
The University of New Hampshire will have its annual Turf
Seminar at the New England Center for Continuing Education,
Durham, New Hampshire, on January 13 and 14, 1972. If you
are interested in attending this conference, contact Mr. William
E. Knoop, Plant Science Dept., Nesmith Hall, U.N.H., Durham,
New Hampshire 03824.'

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 C l u b

Information contained in this publication may be used
freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as
long as the trUB context is maintained. W e would appreciate a credit line.

P i e a d e p a f a m t j e FRIENDS O F THE

ASSOCIATION

Agrico Chemical Company
R. D. Sibley. Jr., Representative
375 Power Rd.
Pawtucket, Rhode Island 02860

Farm Bureau Association
158 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass. 02154
Fred Heyliger, Representative
Thomas F. Grummell, Representative

Alfco Rokeby Co., Inc.
Fertilizers and Chemical Specialties
P. O. Box 267, Marietta, Ohio

Fisk, Alden Ford Tractor Sales
Rear 900 Providence Highway
Dedham, Mass. 02026

Allen's Seed Store, Inc.
South County Trail Rt. No. 2
Slocum, Rhode Island
Charles Allen, Jr., Rep.

Manuel Francis and Son, Inc.
Turf Nurseries
624 Webster St., Marshfield, Mass.

Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Massachusetts
The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Richard McGahan, Rep.
Wethersfield, Conn,

Ron Gagne — Scotts Golf Course Div.
45 Mechanic St., Apt. 1A
Foxboro, Mass. 02035
Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
(Canterbury, New Hampshire)
(Sales Office) 1265 Mass. Ave.
Lexington, Mass. 02173 Tel. 861-1111

Ilolliston Sand
Lowland Street, \
Sandrfor Golf Bu

*The Clapper Co.
1121 Washington St.
West Newton, Mass.
* Geoffrey S. Cornish
Golf Course Architect
Fiddler's Green, Amherst, Mass.
George E. Cull
Terra-Green Soil Conditioner
112 Green St., Abington, Mass.
C. S. Curran
T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.
Eastern Industrial Handling Co., Inc.
Norwood, Massachusetts
Westcoaster Turf and Golf Carts
Fairway Equipment, Inc.
Sales — Service — Rentals
35 Walnut St., Reading, Mass.

1746

Irrigation and Eq,
-pply Co.
P. O. Box 9, 66 E.
AvSnue
Milford, Conn. 06460
Telephone (203) 874-1096
*Tom Irwin, Inc.
11B A Street
Burlington, Mass.
ICarandrew Turf Farms, Inc.
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
15 Longmeadow Drive, Canton, Mass.
The Kenneth Barrie Company
Irrigation
375 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Larchmont Irrigation Co.
Larchmont Ln., Lexington, Mass.
Mallinckrodt Chemical Works
Second and Mallinckrodt Streets
St. Louis, Mo. 63160

D. L. Maher Co.
Water Supply Contractors
P. O. Box 274, Woburn, Mass.
New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Astroturf, Tennis Courts, Pavement
Sealcoating — Hingham Industrial Center
Hingham, Mass. Tel. 749-3236

Grounds Equipment Co., Inc.
383 Boylston St., Newton Cen., Mass.

Corenco Corporation
525 Woburn Street
Tewksbury, Mass. 01876
William Ferris

Magovern Company, Inc.
Lawn Acre Road
Windsor Lock, Conn.

Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers — Seeds — Turf Chemicals
66 Valley Street
East Providence, Rhode Island 02914
Sil Paulini, Inc.
6 Manor Avenue
Natick, Mass. 01760
Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Road
-Natick, Mass. 01760
Trencher & Equipment Leasing, Inc.
Ditch Witch Trenchers
38 Fairview St., Agawam, Ma. 01001
Phone 413-781-4600
*Sawtelle Brothers
Jet. Routes 128 and 62
Danvers, Mass.
Shepard Sod Company
Merion Blue Grass and Pencross Bent
200 Sullivan Ave., So. Windsor, Conn.
Tuco Products Co.
Division of the Upjohn Company
Kalamazoo, Michigan
White Turf Engineering
5 Sumner Drive, Winchendon, Ma. 01475
617-297-0941
Philip A. Wogan
Golf Course Architect
21 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.
Wyandotte Chemical Co.
709 Salada Bldg., Boston, Mass.

* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund

01

Qo(( Course Superintmdenii -AiSaciation
O r

N f W

I N t U N B .

I N C .

DEAN ROBERTSON
Newsletter Committee C h a i r m a n
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Massachusetts 01950
Phone 462-4540
C l u b Affiliation
Chestnut Hill Country C l u b
L E O N V. ST. P I E R R E
Business M a n a g e r
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor