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N E W

E N G L A N D ,

S^AAociation

Sponsors and administrators of the Lawrence S.
Dicki nson Scholarship Fund — Awarded yearly
to deserving Turf Management Students.

I N C .

DECEMBER 1973
•

Remember

WhenS

This is the
St. Pierre will
this last issue
Newsletter will

last issue of the Newsletter that Dean Robertson and Leon
be affiliated with. W e decided to end on a light note with
and will title this p a g e Remember W h e n ! The quality of the
be carried on by Tom Schofield of the M a y n a r d Country C l u b .

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"This month marks the end of an era in the ways and
means of the New England Golf Course Superintendents
Association. With this issue two of our Newsletter stalwarts
bow out after a seven-year contribution to the health and
welfare of this publication.
"Dean Robertson and Leon St.. Pierre have been instrumental in lifting the status of the Newsletter to the lofty plane
it now holds. They have worked side by side in the organization, arrangement and presentation of news and features in
a manner that has brought the NE Newsletter national acclaim and attention.
"Because of the foresight and courage of these two gentlemen, our Newsletter is looked upon as a model of consistency
and candid opinion by the rest of the superintendents' writing
world. Even the National magazine has taken note of it and
implemented some of its ideas into their publication.
" I would like to take this opportunity, then, to thank and
commend Leon and Dean for seven years of worthwhile effort
and dedication to making the New England superintendents'
plight a little more enjoyable. They certainly have left big
shoes to fill."
ROBERT GRANT
President, NEGCSA
Kind words, indeed, Mr. President. W e will savor them
forever.
*

*-

-X-

" I believe it is about time that golfers playing golf out of
season should expect to play a course that is out of season as
to the degree of consistency on putting and other areas.
"It seems to me that these players expect to conduct their
own personal championship tournaments and are miffed by
the lack of attention the superintendent gives to making the
course's condition championship, too.
"The term 'winter' or 'temporary' green means just that.
If golfers persist in playing the sport beyond the normal,
weather pattern which it usually follows, they should be content to take their lumps or bumps when a 'crucial' putt confronts them.
"The perspective of the temporary green should be stressed
to all out of season players. These people should remember
that these greens are substitutes, not the real thing. Therefore,
they should not be treated in a greenhouse fashion by the
superintendent,"
JACK STALLINGS
Old Lyme, Conn.

Wellesley Country Club. Contact Stanley Barnes, Green
Chairman, 294 Wellesley Ave., Wellesley Massachusetts.
Mt. Pleasant Country Club. Contact Dave. Deisner, Green
Chairman, 33 Elm St., Clinton, Massachusetts.

—

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

Educational Chairman —
LARRY BUNN
145 Dedham Street
Canton, Mass. 0202 I
Phone 828-0467
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill Country C l u b

Newsletter Chairman —
DEAN ROBERTSON
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 01950
Phone 462-4540
Club Affiliation
Chestnut Hill Country Club

N

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A

N

D

,

I N C . '

O u t of season golfers are driving certain superintendents
out of their minds. This outrageous situation must stop!
-»

*

*

"As the weather begins to turn the golfer away from the
course and perhaps give the superintendent some time to get
away from a season of frustration and disappointment, our
membership might be interested in forming outing or backpacking clubs in order to enjoy welcome time off with their
friends.
"It has indeed been a long and hot, unpredictable summer.
The respite from those trying times is available via a return
to nature with trips to the mountains, countryside, etc.
"Anyone interested in pursuing the idea of forming clubs
for this purpose may -do so by contacting the editors of the
Newsletter."
THE EDITORS
NEGCSA Newsletter
W e ' r e serious, too. Let's enjoy nature for a change. After
all, we're fighting it ail summer!
*

-x*

"There always is a continuous complaint among us concerning the average membership and its feeling toward the
superintendent.
"My fellow supers have made me aware of the fact that
certain other employees of the country club are held in high
esteem while the superintendent gets the short end of the stick
when the matter of an employee-member relationship is discussed.
" I have heard of the stories told about country club members were asked the name of their superintendent, their pro
and their club manager. In nine cases out of 10 the members
were able to name their pro and manager, while the name
of the super 'seemed to escape them.'
" I should remind all of you that the social atmosphere of
the three main country club attractions — pro, super, manager — varies quite a bit. The club member never or rather
seldom comes in contact with the superintendent away from
the golf course. At that moment the member is deeply engrossed in the making of birdies or bogies which comprises
a serious moment . . . often painstaking.
"On the other hand, the manager usually greets the member
when he is in a receptive mood . . . full of martinis and
memories of the round just completed. In other words, the
relationship of member and manager has a fighting chance because of the conditions under which the two come in contact.
"The super doesn't see the member at play . . . only at
work on the golf course. Thus, that relationship suffers."
TY JUTRAS
Kendall, Va.
G o o d thought, Ty. M a y b e the super should have a flash
of martinis with him at all times . . . just in case he bumps
into a member.
-X-

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Past President —
R I C H A R D C . BLAKE, C G C S
21 I Sewall Street
Boylston, Mass. 01505
Phone 869-2737
Club Affiliation
M t . Pleasant Country Club

Holiday Inn, Newton, Massachusetts
December 3, 1973
Annual Meeting
January 7, 1974
February 4, 1974
March 6, 7, 8, 1974 Fine Turf Conference
April 1, 1974
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 w o u l d a p p r e ciate a credit line.

(jolf

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Superintendents

The Long and Short of It
The British, who still call their golf course superintendents
"greenkeepers . . . " which vexes me no end, are nevertheless
very up to date in taking note of progress in reverse. Thus,
it was not too startling to read recently where they are thinking of declaring war on a somewhat defenseless fellow — the
elongated golf spike.
Well, what about it, America? Should we join the fight, get
these golf shoe manufacturers to climb off their high horse
and stop putting golfers on pointed stilts?
The men, who make the grass green on the other side of
the Atlantic, claim that damage to their greens has been on
the upswing with the introduction of longer and sharper
golf spikes. The area most under the sword, so to speak, is
that heavy-traffic route around the cup. In some instances
golf shoes are stabbing it to death!
One wonders what would happen, pray tell, should golf
courses band together and outlaw the golf spike altogether. The
possibility certainly would take the spike wrench out, of the
golf professional's hand and would relieve him of revenue in
the process, too.
The lack of golf spikes would take its toll on the golfer's
prized vehicle for an ego trip — his handicap. It is not out of
the realm of reason to predict that all golfers would automatically have their handicaps increased by five shots. In the
case of certain state golf associations, this would eliminate
their state amateur golf championships. Some demand that
entries have no more than a handicap of four. Without spikes,
the lowest handicap would be five!
This would be tragic, indeed. After all, the handicap of the
country club golfer is a possession not to be monkeyed with.
But the elimination of golf spikes would result in other improvements to offset the decimation of the handicap.
First of all, the golfer would be spared that embarrassing
moment when he rushes off the course into a watering area
and has to flail away nervously at his shoestrings because he
has been told that, no golf shoes are allowed in the 19th hole.
For health reasons, this would be a marvel. Some severe
cases of athletes foot have been contracted because golfers
are forced . . . in certain clubs, that is . . . to walk around
in their stocking or (perish the thought) bare feet. With no
golf shoes to take off, the golfer would enjoy many athlete
foot-free years.
Country clubs also would benefit financially by not having
to encounter the broken bodies tl^at^com^into the golf cart
repair shop because they have been pierced by golf shoes.
Outside of headon collisions, I'm told that body rot — caused
initially by golf shoes running amok on carts — leads to the
early junking of many a money-making four-tired monster.
Another saving from the banning of the spike might occur
in the country club receiving less court battles because of
accidents incurred on the premises while the victim wore golf
shoes. Many a slip on the black top comes because golf shoes
have a built-in sliding motion to them whenever a golfer
walks instead of rides.
So, the British may have caught onto something with their
outright charge that golf shoe manufacturers had better take
a second iook at the length of their spikes or a banning
process will be attempted.
Meanwhile the manufacturers of sneakers, second most
popular foot covering in golf, are waiting for further developments, I can just see it now . . . "Foot Joy Sneakers —
a Steal at $49.95."
— Gerry Finn
President —
ROBERT G R A N T
22 Patricia Road
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Phone 443-2671
Club Affiliation
Brae Burn Country Club

First Vice President —
THOMAS CURRAN
Fox Chase Road
South Sutton. N . H. 03273
club Affiliation
Eastman Golf Course

Second Vice President —
W A Y N E ZOPPO
48 Barberry Drive
Seekonk, Mass. 02771
Phone 399-7141
Club Affiliation
Aga>
i Hunt

Secretary —
RONALD KIRKMAN, C G C S
25 Green Street
Needham. Mass. 02192
Phone 444-8412
Club Affiliation
Needham Golf Club

La R O M A N A La VERY BEST

The next time you're in the Dominican Republic treat yourself to the golfing experience of a lifetime . . . a round at
Campo De Golf Cajuiles at LaRomana, located in the heart
of the sugar refinery industry some 60 miles from Santo
Domingo.
Cajuiles has been likened to Pebble Beach . . . only in
a tropical setting avoiding the annoyance of PB's weather
which can be a drag on any golfer's game. The seaside-framed
and sand-pocked layout was designed by Peter Dye, a golf
architect who is a character builder when it comes to arranging golf holes.
The golf course superintendent will be especially interested
in some of the assignments Cajuilles has to offer his particular
talents. For instance, it,has one hole (the fifth) whose entire
fairway is composed of sand. Footprints there are an automatic occurrence and there's no way a golfer can smooth
them since one footprint leads to another . . . all the- way
from tee to green.
-PexhapS-Qne^Qf the most unique examples of laking-advaru.
tage of the topography comes on the eighth hole. Here Dye
actually has built two holes in one. The right side of the fairway is raised some five to 10 feet above the left. Dye distinguishes the two by the use of pilings driven into the ground
almost splitting the fairway down the middle.
The hole measures 385 yards from the championship tees.
But that measurement doesn't take into consideration errant
drives which find the area left of the pilings. That area slopes
drastically and when a golfer finds his ball, his path to the
green has been increased by at least 75 yards.
Then, too, Dye inserts more intrigue . . . for both sides
of the pilings. Running serpent-like in front of the green is
a huge trap whose jaws expand to some 60 feet on the left
and then subside to a more conventional 20 feet on the right
or ''easy" side.
The Pebble Beach effect is felt on the front nine where two
of the holes ( par threes) jut out over the ocean to make for
some shaky tee shots. From the back tees the yardage runs
215 and 195. Only the brave attempt the direct route.
Another interesting hole, uncommon to those we see here,
is the 13th — a par three excursion which requires perfect
placement of the drive. The green is an island . . . but an
island surrounded completely by sand! The teeing areas are
elevated and are set apart from the fairway by stone walls.
The lengths are 170 (back), 130 (middle) and 85 (ladies)
The sand at 13th is so much a part of things that golfers
are allowed to drive their carts in and through it. In fact, at
certain parts of the green, it is impossible to reach the 14th
tee without rolling through the sand. Somehow, the texture
of the sand has been arranged to produce a minimum amount
of damage from cart-riding in it.
Cajuiles' 14th hole is similar to the famous 13th at the
Dunes Golf Club in Myrtle Beach. It is a distinct dogleg whose
fighting spirit comes alive on the challenge of the second shot.
The golfer bites off about as much water as he can chew . . .
and the dogleg cut determines the length of the third shot or
approach to the green. Added glamor is found here since
world-renowned fashion designer Oscar de la Renta has a
home directly in back of the green.
Crossing an air strip, playing a fairway dotted with huge
palm trees . . . these are a few of the other fantastic asides
to playing the LaRomana landscape. An unforgettable experience, indeed, it could be the very best course in the world.
— Gerry Finn

Treasurer —
LUCIEN DUVAL
R.F. N o . 5 Gault Road
Bedford. N. H . 03105
Phone 472-3454
Club Affilia
Manchester Country Club

Trustee —
NORMAN MUCCIARONE
101 Alban Road
W a b a n , Mass. 02168
Phone 332-3056
Club Affiliation
W o o d l a n d Golf Club

Trustee: —
BERT F R E D E R I C K
45 Stoney Brook Road
Nabnaset, Mass. 01861
Phone 453-1231
Club Affili.
Vesper Country Club

Trustee —
Finance Chairman —
M A X MIERZWA
NARY SPERANDIO
Concord, Mass. 01742
106 Crestwood Street
Phone 369-4723
Chicopee, Mass. 01020
Club Affiliation
Phone 594-4996
C o n c o r d Country C l u b
Club Affiliation
Chicopee Country Club

P t e t u e pzhmtvfe FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Agrico Chemical Company
R . D . Sibley, Jr., Representative
375 Power R d .
Pawtucket, R h o d e Island 02860

R o n G a g n e - Scotts G o l f Course Div.
5 K e n d a l l P a r k , Norton, Mass.
617-285-7446

A l f c o R o k e b y Co., I n c .
Fertilizers and C h e m i c a l Specialties
P . O . Box 267, M a r i e t t a , O h i o

Grounds E q u i p m e n t Co., I n c .
383 Boylston St., Newton Cen., Mass.

T h e Charles C. H a r t Seed Co.
Richard M c G a h a n , Rep.
Wethersfield, C o n n .

Holliston S a n d C o m p a n y , I n c .
L o w l a n d Street, Holliston, Mass. 01746
S a n d for G o l f B u n k e r s a n d Traps

Corenco Corporation
525 W o b u r n Street
Tewksbury, Mass. 01876
G. D. Kimmey
1-800-222-7976 — 1-800-225-7955

I r r i g a t i o n & E q u i p m e n t S u p p l y Co.
P. O . Box 147 R o u t e 1
W a l p o l e , Mass. 02081
Tel. 617-668-7814

* T h e C l a p p e r Co.
1121 W a s h i n g t o n St.
WestT^wt5nr~Mass.

*Tom Irwin, Inc.
I I B A Street
B u r l i n g t o n , Mass.

* Geoffrey S. Cornish & W i l l i a m G. R o b i n s o n
G o l f Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002

C. S. C u r r a n
T. R . C. Products, Oils a n d Greases
7 L i n d e n St., F r a m i n g h a m , Mass.
E-Z-Go G o l f C a r , Division Textron, I n c .
Sales • Service - Rentals
R o u t e 28, Pocasset, Massachusetts 02559
C a l l E d M c G u i r e collect 617/563-2234
Fairway Equipment, Inc.
Sales —• Service — Rentals
35 W a l n u t St., R e a d i n g , Mass.
F a r m B u r e a u Association
158 Lexington St., W a l t h a m , Mass. 02154
F r e d Heyliger, Representative
Thomas F. G r u m m e l l , Representative

Karandr'ew T u r f Far
S a m M i t c h e l l , Sales
raprcsentative
15 L o n g m e a d o w Drive, Canton, Mass.
T h e K e n n e t h Barrie C o m p a n y
Irrigation
375 Centre St., J a m a i c a P l a i n , Mass.
L a r c h m o n t I r r i g a t i o n Co.
L a r e h m o n t L n . , Lexington, Mass.
Mallinckrodt Chemical Works
Second a n d M a l l i n c k r o d t Streets
St. Louis, M o . 63160
Magovern Company, Inc.
L a w n Acre R o a d
Windsor Lock, Conn.
D . L. M a h e r C o m p a n y
Concord Street
P . O . Box 127, N o r t h R e a d i n g M a . 01864

* Contributors to the
Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fi

2 4 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Massachusetts 01950
Phone 462-4540
C l u b Affiliation
C h e s t n u t Hill C o u n t r y 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
C o n t r i b u t i n g Editor

R . F. Morse & Son, I n c .
Cranberry H i g h w a y
West W a r e h a m , Mass. 02576
Tel. 617-295-1553

G u l l A g r i c u l t u r a l Service Co.
A l l e n P. B o n n ell
N e w E n g l a n d Sealcoating Co., I n c .
55 F r e e m a n Rd., Y a r m o u t h p o r t , Mass. 02675 Tennis Court Const, a n d M a i n t e n a n c e
Sealcoating — H i n g h a m I n d u s t r i a l Center
617/362-2181 — O h i o 614/263-6572
H i n g h a m , Mass. Tel. 749-3236

B a k e r Tractor Corp., F o r d Tractors
I i a r l e y Davidson G o l f Cars
Swansea, Massachusetts

George E. C u l l
Terra-Green Soil Conditioner
112 Green St., A b i n g t o n , Mass.

Malter International
M r . H o w a r d A . Vincent, Representative
L o n g m e a d o w , Massachusetts 01106

O l d Fox C h e m i c a l I n c .
Fertilizers — Seeds —• T u r f Chemicals
66 Valley Street
East Providence, R h o d e I s l a n d 02914
Sil P a u l i n i , I n c .
6 Manor Avenue
N a t i c k , Mass. 01760
Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 R u t l e d g e R o a d _
N a t i c k , Mass. 01760

.

Trencher & E q u i p m e n t Leasing, I n c .
D i t c h W i t c h Trenchers
38 Fairview St., A g a w a m , Mass. 01001
P h o n e 413-781-4600
*Sawtelle Brothers
565 H u m p h r e y Street
Swampscott, Mass.
Tel 617/599-4856
Shepard Sod C a m p a n y
M e r i o n B l u e Grass a n d Pencross B e n t
200 S u l l i v a n Ave., So. W i n d s o r , Conn.
Tuco Products Co.
Division of the U p j o h n
Kalamazoo, Michigan

Company

W h i t e Turf Engineering
5 S u m n e r Drive, W i n c h e n d o n , Mass. 01475
617-297-0941
Philip A. Wogan
G o l f Course Architect
21 B u d l e i g h Ave. Beverly, Mass.

"*•"•"•«'
•»