NOVEMBER 1973

ourSe Superintendents
OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

dissociation
SNC.

S p o n s o r s a n d administrators of the Lawrence 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.

THE ENDLESS SEASON SYNDROME .
It was a very trying summer, the s u m m e r just concluded,
f o r the golf course superintendent. Weather conditions m a d e
his life miserable. Regular h o u r s were a fool's prerogative. Getting home to the wife a n d kiddies in time for dinner was a
l u x u r y experienced out of the past. Most supers h a d to h a n g
lanterns on themselves as they m a d e the j o u r n e y f r o m club
to h o m e a night-time s a f a r i .

for a s m o o t h e r November putting surface.
A few clubs show exceptional courage by p i n p o i n t i n g a
closing date a n d sticking to it regardless of the weather
p a t t e r n at that time. " T h i s is what we n e e d " , another super
stresses a m a n d a t o r y closing date. " I am u p to m y neck" in
projects which will be effective only if I can give them m y
fullest attention. My crew is at m i n i m a l size at this time of
year. So, if the m e m b e r s insist on h a v i n g top playing condition
in November, I have to revise m y work schedule."

Now, the leaves have t u r n e d a n d fallen. This is the time
of year for the reconstruction process. W h a t the super does
today will be reflected in what the golfer will have for playing
conditions next spring. But . . . there is the endless season
syndrome to contend with. Golfers never seem to know or come
to realize when to toss their clubs in the attic.
" C o m e T h a n k s g i v i n g . . . at the latest . . . and the golfer
should kiss the season goodbye", a thinking m a n ' s superintendent offers. " T h a t is the time of year when the plant isn't growing. It is the time when wear and tear can be most d a m a g i n g . "
T h e super usually thinks of the a u t u m n as a time to recoup
f r o m the ills of s u m m e r . This is when he's busy renovating
fairways, rebuilding tees a n d patching greens. H e has to clear
dead trees a n d other stricken plant life. It certainly is m u c h
easier if he doesn't have to contend with additional d e m a n d s
by the country club m e m b e r .
"Sometimes I think our golfers have an idea they're living
in the tropic zone", a superintendent f r o m the N o r t h e a s t remarks. " T h e y really believe the golf course can't be abused
by excessive play because there's n o t h i n g growing. How
w r o n g they a r e . "
W h a t the s u p e r shouldn't have to worry a b o u t now is the
present playing condition of his course. Yet, there are members who want the grounds to be as lush and/lovely as they
a r e at the height of the season. T h e y actually a r e contributing
to their f u t u r e demise (terrible spring conditions) when they
take the superintendent away f r o m his long-range projects

So, the endless season is another enemy of the golf course
superintendent. A n d awareness of its p r o j e c t e d pitfalls should
be enough to get those club in the attic where they belong.
— Gerry Finn

NEXT MEETING

RESULTS OF SUPER-PRO TOURNAMENT

T h e next meeting is November 12, 1973 at the Bass River
Golf Course in S. Y a r m o u t h , Mass. J o h n Morse is the super
in charge of this fine layout. This meeting will be a j o i n t one
with the C a p e Cod Association. T h e r e will be sandwiches
served at noon a n d dinner is at 5 : 3 0 p . m . s h a r p at the
Riverway Lobster H o u s e in South Y a r m o u t h , Mass. T h e r e will
be a directors' meeting at 1 0 : 4 5 a . m . a n d a regular meeting
at 1 1 : 1 5 a . m . for regular m e m b e r s a n d golf a f t e r lunch.
DIRECTIONS
Mid Cape H i g h w a y to exit 8. Go right to South Y a r m o u t h
a n d take a left on Regional Ave. a f t e r the Dennis Y a r m o u t h
H i g h School. Club will be on y o u r right.

Low Gross — 71, Guy Tedesco, J o h n Solons
( W i n n e r s by sudden death)
Low Net — 67, P a u l Johnson, J o h n T h r o
67, Joe R y b k a , John Oteri
70, Brian Cowan, Dan Keefe
70, Dave B a r b e r , Joe B r o w i n g
70, P a t DiPietro, Ross L o o n
70, Julius Aksten, Les Bond
70, T o n y Caranci, Bob Pacheco
71, Bob Mucciarone, E d K o r n a s k y

JOB OPEN
Glens Falls Country Club. Contact Frederick R. Doyle,
Greens c h a i r m a n , Glens Falls C o u n t r y ' C l u b , R.D. No. 1, Glens
Falls, N. Y. 12801.

Most supers feel that if turf d a m a g e exceeds 40 percent
going into winter, they will be in big trouble come spring.
" I set that figure as m y goal", a superintendent reveals. " I
feel that the s p r i n g conditions will be adequate if I repair
50 percent of the d a m a g e done d u r i n g the preceding s u m m e r .
A n d the only way I can insure this situation is to be able to
work on the course's f u t u r e , not its present."
All the m a n u f a c t u r i n g of new grass f o r the u p c o m i n g year
is done d u r i n g the fall. This means that the superintendent
is cheating himself a n d his members, f o r that matter, if golfers
take him away f r o m the task of p r o d u c i n g those new grasses.
T h e r e f o r e , some supers almost p r a y that m e m b e r s will be persuaded to keep off the beaten p a t h a n d direct their energies
to n o r m a l winter sports.
T h e freezing-thawing behavior of the grasses is a n o t h e r
b u g a b o o the super a b h o r s at the crossing of a u t u m n into
winter. Heavy t r a f f i c d u r i n g this time invites d a n g e r a n d destruction of the grasses. Compaction is the usual result of
play d u r i n g the freeze-thaw period a n d the following spring
shows its undesirable results.

Welcome to Gary Luccini who was voted in as Associate
M e m b e r at the October meeting.
New m e m b e r to be voted on at the N o v e m b e r 12, 1973
meeting is Robert Killilea, 4 0 P o n d St., Weymouth, Mass.,
club affiliation, F u r n a c e Brook Golf Club.

ourde Superintendents

ociation •

N O GREEN PASTURES A H E A D

A N N U A L MEETING

The green pastures at the end of man's productive years
appear to be a myth as f a r as the golf course superintendent
is concerned.
" T h e pension f u n d situation is a joke among superintendents
and permanent members of his crew", an irate member of
the profession tells. " I n most cases, there a r e no vested rights
which places the superintendent at the mercy of the country
club or whoever is his employer. If something isn't done about
it soon, any attraction the job holds for young men entering
the field will continue to diminish."
There is no hope visible at the top level of the superintendent's professional association — the national. For some reason
it has not been able to effect a plan which is suitable to the
needs of the super nor acceptable by the Internal Revenue
Service. Therefore, it appears that individual initiative is the
only present m e a n s a-superintendent has to find security when
his productivity declines (age-wise) and he is deemed a candidate f o r retirement.
Some clubs have come up with retirement programs f o r
their supers, but very few are adequate. " T h e question of
vested rights is a burning one here. The superintendent, who
changes jobs late in life, usually has nothing in the way of
retirement benefits following him to his next position. It's like
walking to the edge of a cliff and falling off with the only
hope a chance that the landing will be cushioned, by some
form of retirement returns at the next job.
Most superintendents are in a position where they would
be willing to participate in a contributory type of plan. " I
know that I have h a d to start an annuity program on my own
because of the sparse returns I'll get when I retire from my
present position", one syper advises. " I hate to think what
will happen to those colleagues who haven't h a d such foresight in their individual futures. I ' d hate to think a golf
course superintendent might have to join the bread line in
order to exist after his working days are over."
Some country clubs . . , and they have to be praised for
the act. . . . are building nest eggs for their superintendent
while the national goes about the task of drawing up an effective retirement plan. They are subsidizing the superintendent
by contributing to a special bank account which will be
p o u r e d into the plan when it is finalized.
"This is what all clubs should do", another superintendent
says. "While the super should use his own initiative to create
a nest egg f o r himself and his loved ones, the clubs ought to
feel obligated to share that initiative with meaningful additions to his future. But no where is there anvthing that says the
club H A S to do this."
Solutions to the problem run the gamut. One of
popular conclusions brings the superintendent and
back to an old battle grounds — the creation of a
insure him of bargaining powers and a voice in what
of retirement will bring financially.

the most
his crew
union to
his days

The superintendent speaks for himself in this quest for
security and he also has the welfare of his help in mind. "My
people working f o r me deserve the protection of a vested
retirement p r o g r a m " , a super with a heart insists. It's bad
enough to get reliable people in the first place. And once I get

First Vice President
ROBERT G R A N T
22 Patricia Road
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Phone 443-2671
Club Affiliation
Brae Burn Country Club

—

THOMAS CURRAN
Fox Chase Road
South Sutton, N. H . 03273
Club Affiliation
Eastman Golf Courj

Second Vice President —
WAYNE ZOPPO
48 Bar

Proposed slate of officers for 1974, to be voted on at the
December 3, 1973 meeting at the Holiday Inn, Newton, Mass.
Richard Blake is chairman of the nominating committee, with
members N a r y Sperandio, Joseph Rybka, David Barber and
John O'Connor.
President — Tom Curran
1st Vice President — Wayne Zoppo, Dan Collins
2nd Vice President — Dean Robertson, Leon St. Pierre
Secretary — Ronald Kirkman
Treasurer — Lou Duval
Trustee 3 years — David Barber
Finance Committee — N a r y Sperandio
Golf Committee •— Brian Cowan
Educational Committee •— Larry Bunn
.- -_
Newsletter Committee — Tom Schofieid

Lawn M o w e r Makers Eye Safety Standards
Safer lawn mowers producing fewer injuries may become
a reality soon as a result of indusry-wide efforts to incorporate
upgraded safety standards on newer models.
The push comes partly because of severe penalties that can
be imposed on manufacturers by the new U. S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission. The outdoor power equipment
people are currently eyeing a standard requiring mower exhaust to be directed away f r o m the operator. They're also considering requiring an interlock on self-propelled walk-behind
machines to prevent their starting in gear. Other expected
improvements: braking distances for riding mowers would
be halved, so a machine going five miles per hour would be
able to stop within five feet. Batteries on riding mowers would
come with an automatic latching device to position the handle.
Still under study are requirements for blade-stopping time and
for restrictions on thrown objects.
News & Views, O c t o b e r

1973

Winter Meeting Dates are as follows, at the Holiday Inn,
Newton, Mass.
December 3, 1973
J a n u a r y 7, 1974
F e b r u a r y 4, 1974
April 1, 1974

them I feel the club should foot some of the responsibility in
keeping them."
The pastures that lie ahead for the golf course superintendent, then, are not flooded with the only green which counts
when a man is pronounced to be beyond his age of productivity. Retirement programs have been dragging at an alarming rate. A superintendent should have the same opportunities
to secure his f u t u r e as comparable professions offer. He has
a right to retire with dignity!
— Gerry Finn

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

. ..

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

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

BERT F R E D E R I C K
45 Stoney Brcok Road
Nabnaset, Mass. 01861
Phone 453-1231
Club Affiliation
Vesper Country C l u b

M A X MIERZWA
106 Crestwood Street
Chicopee, Mass. 01020
Phone 594-4996
Club Affiliation
Chicopee Country C l u b

Finance Chairman —
NARY SPERANDIO
Concord, Mass. 01742
Phone 369-4723
Club Affiliation
Concord Country C l u b

"O F

SOUND
(Here we go gathering orchids and onions . . . which is
another way of saying that the reader is upon us and he has
something to tell the ivorld. This is Sound Off, what we hope
is the refreshing portion of the Newsletter which comes when
the man or woman on the street takes pen in hand and tells it
like they think it is . . . or should be. Contributors to this
feature are requested to enclose names and addresses. Either
or both will be withheld upon request. Letters reach us at
Newsletter Mail Bag, 2 4 Riverview Drive, Newbury, Mass.
01950. The Newsletter reserves the right to comment on all
published letters.)
*

»

»

*

" T h i s has nothing to do with golf course conditions or the
work of the superintendent. But I think it is related a n d the
only source of i n f o r m a t i o n for the answer to my question I
can think of is the New England superintendents' Newsletter.
"You m a y recall the wholesale destruction of the turf at
Shea S t a d i u m in New Y o r k last m o n t h when the Mets won
the National League c h a m p i o n s h i p . Some of the d a m a g e was
appalling. T h e r e were large gouges of turf evident a f t e r people
left the field. T h e turf was torn to shreds a n d large pieces of
it were taken as souvenirs.
" L o a n d behold, when the Mets r e t u r n e d to play the Oakland Athletics in the W o r l d Series, the Shea S t a d i u m turf
was back to n o r m a l . T h e scars h a d healed a n d the b a r e spots
done over to m a k e f o r perfect baseball playing conditions.
W h a t I would like to know is who was responsible f o r the
excellent j o b of r e f u r b i s h i n g the f i e l d ? "
FRAN REPASS
N a u g a t u c k , Conn.
Luckily for Shea Stadium a man named John M c C a r t h y
tends the turf there. It was M c C a r t h y and his crew which
turned the field from a disaster area into a perfect playground for the Mets and Athletics. They deserve all the praise
heaped on them.
-x-

-x-

*

" I a m a superintendent who has been plagued with a problem the last few years a n d I really am at wit's end as to its
solution.
" O v e r the years I have become friendly with some of my
m e m b e r s a n d they have m a d e job offers to me ( p a r t time,
of course) that I ' m not sure I should accept.
" W h a t they want me to do is something more than consultant
work on their h o m e g a r d e n i n g projects. T h e y have offered me
pretty good sums of money to come out a n d help them (physically, if necessary) in tasks like rebuilding lawns a n d relocating shrubs a n d trees.
" N a t u r a l l y , all of this would be done on m y own time. My
question is should I accept the j o b s a n d accept the money
offered; should I accept the jobs a n d not accept the m o n e y ; or
should I simply r e f u s e a n d r e c o m m e n d a good lawn service
instead?"
NAME WITHHELD
Club Withheld
N o one can advise you on this. Let your conscience be your
guide . . . and maybe your pocketbook if your salary is suffering from wilt!

Golf Chairman

—

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. 02021
Phone 828-0467
Club
3 Hill Country Club

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

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

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

I N C . —

_

OFF!!!!
" I read with interest the letter f r o m Bob Cloughlin on his
experiences with golfers who have no concern for workers on
the course when they drive a golf ball. It is just another example of the lack of etiquette which is ruining the game.
" A s a golfer, myself, I agree that certain species should be
placed out in the middle of a driving range where every golf
worker on their course should be a r m e d with a driver a n d
a bucket of balls. T h e irresponsible behavior of these culprits
isn't restricted to p u t t i n g the lives of workers in dangers. T h e y
also h a v e no r e g a r d f o r other players.
" W e have a strict rule in our club. No one is to drive a
ball f r o m the teeing a r e a until the next foursome h a s reached
the green of the hole it is playing. I realize that this tends
to slow u p play, but f r o m our experience it helps to b r i n g
back some continuity into a r o u n d of golf. P e r h a p s it takes
us 15 minutes or m o r e to play the entire 18 holes but we
haven't h a d a bombed player since the rule was instituted.
" T h e r e also are signs placed a r o u n d the clubhouse as to the
dangers present when workers are toiling in the line of play.
Both parties (golfer a n d w o r k e r ) are m a d e a w a r e of the possibilities of someone getting hit with a ball in flight. So f a r
it h a s been a r a r i t y when a w o r k e r is h i t . "
CHARLES SWANSON
P o w d e r Hollow, Va.
A n ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, right
Charles? Keeps the old insurance rates down, too!
*

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*

*

" T h e trouble with most of y o u r articles in the Newsletter is
that the superintendent always a p p e a r s to be getting the short
end of the stick in everything p e r t a i n i n g to the country club.
" I a m indeed a w a r e of the good job the superintendent is
doing but I cannot believe that he is the object of everything
w r o n g which your stories often depict. Our s u p e r i n t e n d e n t is
thoroughlv appreciated here a n d he is treated like a n y other
employee. A f t e r all, there are other people working at the club
who a r e just as i m p o r t a n t as the golf course s u p e r i n t e n d e n t ! "
HARRY BELLOWS
Overlook, P a .
Name one, Harry . . . name one!!!!
-*-

-X-

(That puis the three-oh mark on the offerings for this time.
Don't- forget your gems and germs are also welcome. So, sit
down and let us have them).

G r a s s S e e d Prices G o i n g U p
If you thought you p a i d more for grass seed this year,
y o u ' r e right.
But you can expect to p a y even more next year. It seems
likely that grass seed prices will continue to rise over the next
two or three years, although it's questionable whether the increases will m e a n higher quality.
T h e elevated prices are due to what appears to be a world
shortage of perennial rye grass, the most common constituent
of grass seed mixtures. T h e shortage, which is expected to
continue in f u t u r e years, began in 1972 when that year's crop,
which was not particularly good anyhow, suffered substantial
loss of life in m a t u r e seed and heavy wastage.
News & Views, October 1973

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.

Piea&e

FRIENDS OF THE A S S O C I A T I O N

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

Ron Gagne - Scotts Golf Course Div.
5 Kendall Park, Norton, Mass.
617-285-7446

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

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

Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Massachusetts
The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Richard McGahan, Rep.
Wethersfield, Conn.
Corenco Corporation
525 Woburn Street
Tewksbury, Mass. 01876
G. D. Kimmey
1-800-222-7976 — 1-800-225-7955
*The Clapper Co.
-1121 W a s h i n g t o n ^
West Newton, Mass.

Malter International
Mr. Howard A. Vincent, Representative
Longmeadow, Massachusetts 01106
R. F. Morse & Son, Inc.
Cranberry Highway
West Wareham, Mass. 02576
Tel. 617-295-1553

Gull Agricultural Service Co.
New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Allen P. Bonnell
55 Freeman Rd., Yarmouthport, Mass. 02675 Tennis Court Const, and Maintenance
Sealcoating — Hingham Industrial Center
617/362-2181 — Ohio 614/263-6572
Hingham, Mass. Tel. 749-3236
Holliston Sand Company, Inc.
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Lowland Street, Holliston, Mass. 01746
Fertilizers — Seeds — Turf Chemicals
Sand for Golf Bunkers and Traps
66 Valley Street
East Providence, Rhode Island 02914
Irrigation & Equipment Supply Co.
Sil Paulini, Inc.
P. O. Box 147 Route 1
6 Manor Avenue
Walpole, Mass. 02081
Natick, Mass. 01760
Tel. 617-668-7814
Richey & Clapper, Inc.
-2& Ruiledge Road
Natick, Mass. 01760

*Tom Irwinj Inc.
~ 11B A Street
Burlington, Mass.

*Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson
Golf Course Architects
Karandrew Turf Farms, Inc.
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
15 Longmeadow Drive, Canton, Mass.
George E. Cull
Terra-Green Soil Conditioner
The Kenneth Barrie Company
112 Green St., Abington, Mass.
Irrigation
375 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, Mass.
C. S. Curran
T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases
Larchmont Irrigation Co.
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.
Larchmont Ln., Lexington, Mass.
E-Z-Go Golf Car, Division Textron, Inc.
Sales - Service - Rentals
Mallinckrodt Chemical Works
Route 28, Pocasset, Massachusetts 02559
Second and Mallinckrodt Streets
Call Ed McGuire collect 617/563-2234
St. Louis, Mo. 63160
Fairway Equipment, Inc.
Sales — Service — Rentals
35 Walnut St., Reading, Mass.
Farm Bureau Association
158 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass. 02154
Fred Heyliger, Representative
Thomas F. Grummell, Representative

*Sawtelle Brothers
565 Humphrey Street
Swampscott, Mass.
Tel 617/599-4856
Shepard Sod Campany
Merion Blue Grass and Pencross Bent
200 Sullivan Ave., So. Windsor, Conn.
Tuco Products Co.
Division of the Upjohn Company
Kalamazoo, Michigan

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

White Turf Engineering
5 Sumner Drive, Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-0941

,

D. L. Maher Company
Concord Street
P.O. Box 127, North Reading Ma. 01864

* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship

Newsletter Committee C h a i n :.an
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

Trencher & Equipment Leasing, Inc.
Ditch Witch Trenchers
38 Fairview St., Agawam, Mass. 01001
Phone 413-781-4600

Fund

Philip A. Wogan
G®li«Course Architect
SL. Budleigh Ave. "Beverly, Mass.

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