MAY 1974
o u f A e
O F

lupt
N E W

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

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.

REMEMBER WHEN

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Photo f r o m the 2 5 year anniversary party of our association in 1949. T h i s is our 5 0 t h year. C a n ' t we d o it again?

GET HIM TO THE COURSE O N TIME
Kecent studies establishing popularity charts on the sports
world have brought to the public new information that its
athletic addicts are in need of additional facilities. At the top of
the list are tennis courts and right behind follow golf courses. So,
despite some thought that golf courses have become too plentiful, the increase in the game's new crop of devotees means
ground-breaking ceremonies on a national scale are just around
the corner.
Golf course owners should follow the route of other sports'
leaders who have seen fit to include the nucleus of their
operating staffs in the planning and building of the particular
facility. Most of new civic centers popping up all over the
country seem to appear with built-in managers. But this is all
planned. In many instances the manager or director of the
building is hired just as soon as the initial bond issue is finalized.
He gets in on the ground floor.
In the golf field, this practice should be folio wed...even more
religiously since the golf course superintendent will be the man
who is closest to the physical layout of the country club when its
members come to expect all the finery found in impeccable
conditions. The super should be there at the beginning.
Unfortunately, he is not. The norm appears to have the course
hire an architect and construction foreman as the foundation of
the building venture. Only after the course is completed or on
the edge of bursting into bloom does the country club start to
think about filling the most important position within the
boundaries of the 18 holes of play.
Practical is the only word for such an approach. All too many
times a superintendent comes onto the course cold. He has to
spend the better part of his first season becoming acquainted

with the layout and its soil makeup. That time is a waste and
could prove vital in the future condition of the course. Early
association would ease all this.
The superintendent should have the option of being able to
grow with the course which will be his responsibility once the
ribbon-cutting is over and golfers get the novelty rubbed out of
their eyes. At that point, the member's demands or requests
take precedence over all. And the superintendent had better be
there with the ammunition to meet them or else.
So, with an early introduction to the layout, the super has the
tools to give the member an instant cup of top playing conditions. He doesn't have to call up the construction foreman to
discover an "unusual soil content" or other form of professional
hangup which might have been avoided if he had been on call
from the start of things.
Results in other fields prove that there is no such thing as a
transition period for the man in charge if he has been associated
with the project at its baptism. Even the building of new
stadiums has been updated with the early acquisition of a
grounds manager who steps right into responsibility at the first
seeding rather than arriving when the grass is starting to turn
brown.
In the case of early hiring of the superintendent, the course
has to benefit. The argument of holding off on the job because
the task of maintaining the golf course contains all universal
problems is an argument with no foundation. Golfers have come
to learn that their courses are as individual as their own golf
games. So, it would do the new course well to get the superintendent there on time. It saves a lot of wear and tear...on
everyone concerned.
Gerrv Finn

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Superin

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tion

THE INSIDE TRACK

Alexander Radko of the USGA's Green Section has advanced
an extraordinary theory designed to solve one of golf's eternal
problems: "When is a course playable and when is it not? "

Radko-together with colleagues Stanley Zontek and William
Buchanan--has put forth the idea of a "course within a course"
in a recent article written for the USGA's Golf Journal. The
subject came about as a reaction to the ever increasing
demands of the player to enjoy golf in the winter months on
northern courses. For years the superintendent has been faced
with the testy situation of allowing play on regular tees and
greens at a time on the calendar conducive to enticing turf
damage. Now, Radko thinks he has the answer.
The course would incorporate all the less susceptible parts of
the golf layout into an inner course which could be used for
golfers who don't mind the restrictive elements of winter
weather and who just want a playground where their games can
be kept in shape. Naturally, the course would be shorter than the
regulation spread, but Radko offers a few tricks in placement of
greens which would give the player almost as strong a test as
the one he faces in summer.
The inside track takes all the worry out of using regular tees
and greens. They are divorced from the design and a r e saved
the pain of absorbing those beefy footsteps that often lead to
extensive damage which shows up in the customary months of
play. There is nothing so deceiving as a green which is coated
with a layer of dripping frost. While it may appear play on it is
harmless, the eventualities of future damage far outweigh the
pleasures found in using it out of season.

catastrophes place a questionmark on the advisability of using
the regular course.

"Why not use the short course on a year-round basis," Radko
asks. "During adverse weather of any season it would take all
the arguments out of ,the picture. There would be no decisions to
be m a d e by management. At the sign of conditions which might
lead to turf damage, the shorter course could be set up and the
regular course closed to play."
Although he might have overlooked it, Radko fails to note one
little fly buzzing around this ointment: What about the decision
laid to the superintendent as to whether or not conditions call for
use of the short or inside course? After all, just as there are
m e m b e r s who believe the golf course is theirs to play and
command; there will surface some flak when it comes time to
decide whether the regular or short course is to be opened on a
given day.
Then, too, the design of an inside track places another burden
on "guess who?" In effect, it presents the superintendent with
two courses to condition...although the short course is not
supposed to be the epitome of top-conditioned layouts. It does
pose a labor problem because its greens and tees will have to be
kept in playing condition at all times so as to be ready when the
rains or snow come.
On the whole, however, the idea deserves further study by the
country club administration. Its detail would have to be ironed
out and plans m a d e so as not to increase the superintendent's
pressures. It's worth a look-see all right.
Gerry Finn

The all-weather course would take much of the soul-searching
out of the superintendent's annual tug o' war with m e m bers... when to allow them to play the full course. This problem
has been the source of much debate and often unfair harassment
of the superintendent. The inside track is a means to elimination
of both.
Radko also proposes that the inside track become a permanent part of the layout. He contends that the winter golf
allowance could be carried over the summer at breaks in the
weather when excessive rainfall or other natural semi-

Next Meeting...
May 6, 1974
Vesper Country Cluk
Directors Meeting 10:30
Regular Meeting 11:00
Buffet 12:00 N o o n
Take Rte. 3 north to Tyngsboro Bridge.
Go over bridge and turn right.
Club on right about two miles.

First Vice President
THOMASCURRAN
F o x Chase Road
South Sutton, N.H. 0 3 2 7 3
Phone 938-5436
Club Affiliation
Eastham Golf Course

W A Y N E ZOPPO
48 Barberry Drive
Seekonk, Mass. 0 2 7 7 1
Phone 399-7141
Club Affiliation
Agawam Hunt

Second Vice President
DEAN ROBERTSON
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 0 1 9 5 0
Phone 462-4540
Club Affiliation
Chestnut Hill Country Club

R O N A L D K I R K M A N , CGCS
2 5 Green Street
Needham. Mass. 0 2 1 9 2
Phone 444-8412
Club Affiliation
Needham Golf Club

LUCIEN DUVAL
R. F. N o . 5 Gault Road
Bedford, N.H. 0 3 1 0 5
Phone 472-3545
Club Affiliation
Manchester Country Club

BERT FREDERICK
4 5 Stoney Brook R o a d
Nabnasset, Mass. 01861
Phone 453-1231
Club Affiliation
Vesper Country Club

MAX MIERZWA
1 0 6 Crestwood Street
Chicopee, Mass. 0 1 0 2 0
Phone 594-4996
Club Affiliation
Chicopee Country Club

DAVID BARBER
1 Muriel Road
Chelmsford, Mass. 01824
Phone 256-4417
Club Affiliation
Wayland Country Club

ROBERT MUCCIARONE
4 6 5 Summer Street
Westwood, Mass. 0 2 0 9 0
Phone 329-9682
Club Affiliation
Dedham Country and Polo Club

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OF

NEW

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INC.

SOUND OFF
(Here it is...that time in the reading of this periodical when the
real stars of the Newsletter introduce themselves and come on
to shine! This is Sound O f f , the feature which gives the reader a
chance to be a vital part of the golf picture. All contributions
are
welcomed and should be accompanied by the name and address
of the writer. The point of entry can be found at Newsletter
Mail
Bag, 290 North Road, Sudbury, Mass. 01776. The
Newsletter
reserves the right to comment on all letters
published.)

"Is there some way you superintendents have of knowing
what kind ol weather you'll have to cope with when the golf
season reaches its height this y e a r ?
"I am amazed at some of the timing you use in putting out the
fertilizers and making new plantings. There must be some trick
to it, or else you have an exclusive pipeline to f u t u r e weather
conditions.

"I picked up a recent edition of the Yankee Goiter and was
very pleased to see that New England has struck another blow
for its well-deserved recognition in the field of golf with the
election of Charles Baskin as president of the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America.

"My garden doesn't have the benefit of this timing and, I
imagine, inborn ability to know when to water, transplant, seed,
fertilize and whatever. Is there some kind of magic formula you
might be able to pass onto me, as I am very proud of my plants
and wish they could flourish the way your beautiful greens and
fairways do?"

"He always h a s been r e g a r d e d as one of the best in his
profession by his m e m b e r s and other people who play the
Waterbury Country Club. We in Connecticut a r e proud to h a v e
such a m a n as Charlie in our midst and I'm sure you people feel
the s a m e .

CATHERINE STEBBINS
Warren, Yt.

"I understand that Baskin is the second New Englander to
h e a d the national organization in recent y e a r s . I believe the
other is a Richard Blake which gives m o r e top rating to the
profession in New England. How comes this section h a s gained
so much national recognition?"
ERNEST PETERSON
Woodbury, Conn.
The answer is "involvement", Ernie. New England
superintendents just don't sit around and watch the grass grow!

"I a m at a loss to explain my feelings as I write this letter. I
belong to a club that h a s one of the best layouts in the a r e a . It
also is located in an a r e a where golf is very popular and courses
come by the dozen. There must be seven courses within a radius
of 10 miles.
"My reason for writing is the s t r a n g e procedures which a r e
practiced in this compact a r e a . Three of the courses opened in
early March, two others waited until the end of the month and
there were still two that weren't opened over this weekend.
" I can't understand why one course can open early and
another still sits there asleep. My course was one of the lucky
ones or I was one of the lucky golfers because it h a d an early
opening. I feel sorry for the people who belong to those other
courses, though. I can't see why they don't protest against late
openings.''
FRAN S P E R R Y
E a s t Longmeadow, Mass.
Don't worry, Fran, they do. However, as stated on another
page in this issue, golf courses have individual characteristics
and have to be treated according to them. Today's early opening
could result in tomorrow's horrendous playing conditions.

Golf Chairman

Educational Chairman

BRIAN COWAN
Robbins Way
Harwich, Mass.
Phone 4 3 2 - 9 0 4 1
Club Affiliation
Eastward H o C o u n t r y Club

LARRY BUNN
145 D e d h a m Street
Canton, Mass. 0 2 0 2 1
Phone 8 2 8 - 0 4 6 7
Club Affiliation
B l u e Hill C o u n t r y C l u b

Newsletter Chairman
THOMAS SCHOFIELD
290 North Road
S u d b u r y , Mass. 0 1 7 7 6
Phone 4 4 3 - 3 7 1 2
C l u b Affilia
Maynard C o u n t r y C l u b

Past President
ROBERT GRANT CGCS
2 2 Patricia R o a d
S u d b u r y , Mass. 0 1 7 7 6
Phone 4 4 3 - 2 6 7 1
Club Affiliation
Brae B u r n C o u n t r y Club

Conditioning a golf course is a science, Ms. Stebbins. The
superintendent relies on his knowledge and experience to make
the grass grow green. There are no hidden tricks. And he has no
inside line to the info on the weather...but he wishes he did!

"I r e a d with interest your article last month in which you
suggested that the superintendent seek to get into play a multiyear contract as a m e a n s of job security.
"This h a s been one of m y most important personal projects
where I work. It also has been a project in which I have met with
the strongest opposition f r o m m e m b e r s , ironically enough who
h a v e jobs of their own that require contracts to protect them
against sudden dismissal.
"1 a m of the opinion that our national organization should take
the lead in creating the contract form of employment for its
m e m b e r s . I am not saying we should unionize. I am against the
union. However, I feel that some good could come f r o m p e r h a p s
a national stand by the GCSAA in the form of a proclamation or
open letter to country club officials.
"In the past 15 years, I have had two different superintendent
positions. The only job I left was not at my option. It just so
happened that I r a n into a piece of double bad l u c k - a bad year
with turf d a m a g e and a green chairman who hated m y guts.
"That was 12 y e a r s ago. I am still on the second job, although I
can t say that I feel secure. All I need is to see my greens go sour
or a c h a i r m a n come along who doesn't like the way I part my
hair and I'm out. Yes, we need multi-year c o n t r a c t s . "
NAME W1THLED
Club Withheld
You said it all. The super is at the mercy of whimsical
behavior by his employer. We also vote the multi-year ticket.
1

(That does it for this time. Don't forget.
paper and you'll read it here.)

Put it all down on

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.

PCetue

FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

R . F . Morse & S o n , Inc.
C r a n b e r r y Highway
West W a r e h a m , Mass. 0 2 5 7 6
Tel. 6 1 7 - 2 9 5 - 1 5 5 3

G r o u n d s E q u i p m e n t C o . , Inc.
3 8 3 B o y l s t o n St., N e w t o n C e n . , Mass.

Altco R o k e b y Co., Inc.
Fertilizers a n d C h e m i c a l Specialties
P. O . Box 2 6 7 , M a r i e t t a , O h i o
Baker T r a c t o r C o r p . , F o r d T r a c t o r s
Harley D a v i d s o n Golf Cars
Swansea, Massachusetts

Gull Agricultural Service C o .
Allen P. Bonnell
5 5 F r e e m a n R d . , Y a r m o u t h p o r t , Mass. 0 2 6 7 5
617/362-2181 - Ohio 614/263-6572

T h e Charles C. H a r t Seed C o .
Richard McGahan, Rep.
Wethersfield, Conn.

H o l l i s t o n Sand C o m p a n y , Inc.
L o w l a n d S t r e e t , H o l l i s t o n , Mass. 0 1 7 4 6
Sand for G o l f B u n k e r s a n d T r a p s

Corenco Corporation
5 2 5 W o b u r n Street
T e w k s b u r y , Mass. 0 1 8 7 6
G. D. Kimmey
1-800-222-7976 - 1-800-225-7955

Irrigation & E q u i p m e n t S u p p l y C o .
P. O . B o x 147 R o u t e 1
Walpole, Mass. 0 2 0 8 1
Tel. 6 1 7 - 6 6 8 - 7 8 1 4

* T h e Clapper C o .
1 1 2 1 W a s h i n g t o n St.
West N e w t o n , Mass.

N e w E n g l a n d Sealcoating C o . , Inc.
T e n n i s C o u r t C o n s t , and M a i n t e n a n c e
Sealcoating — H i n g h a m Industrial C e n t e r
H i n g h a m , Mass. T e l . 7 4 9 - 3 2 3 6
Old F o x C h e m i c a l Inc.
•Fertilizers — Seeds — T u r f Chemicals
6 6 Valley Street
E a s t P r o v i d e n c e , R h o d e Island 0 2 9 1 4
Sil Paulini, I n c .
6 Manor Avenue
N a t i c k , Mass. 0 1 7 6 0
R i c h e y & C l a p p e r , Inc.
28 Rutledge Road
N a t i c k , Mass. 0 1 7 6 0

' T o r n Irwin, Inc.
11B A S t r e e t
B u r l i n g t o n , Mass.

* G e o f f r e y S. Cornish & William G . R o b i n s o n
Golf C o a r s e A r c h i t e c t s
Fiddlers G r e e n , A m h e r s t , Mass. 0 1 0 0 2
George E . Cull
Terra-Green Soil C o n d i t i o n e r
1 1 2 G r e e n St., A b i n g t o n , Mass.

T h e K e n n e t h Barrie C o m p a n y
Irrigation
3 7 5 C e n t r e St., J a m a i c a Plain, Mass.
L a r c h m o n t Irrigation C o .
L a r c h m o n t L n . , L e x i n g t o n , Mass.

E-Z-Go G o l f Car, Division T e x t r o n , Inc.
Sales - Service - R e n t a l s
R o u t e 2 8 , Pocasset, M a s s a c h u s e t t s 0 2 5 5 9
Call E d M c G u i r e collect 6 1 7 / 5 6 3 - 2 2 3 4

M a l l i n c k r o d t C h e m i c a l Works
Second and Mallinckrodt Streets
St. L o u i s , M o . 6 3 1 6 0

Fairway E q u i p m e n t , Inc.
Sales — Service — R e n t a l s
3 5 Walnut St., R e a d i n g , Mass.

Magovern C o m p a n y , Inc.
L a w n Acre R o a d
Windsor L o c k , C o n n .

Farm Bureau Association
1 5 8 L e x i n g t o n St., W a l t h a m , Mass. 0 2 1 5 4
F r e d Heyliger, R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
Thomas F. Grummell, Representative

D . L . Maher C o m p a n y
C o n c o r d Street
P. O . B o x 1 2 7 , N o r t h R e a d i n g , M a . 0 1 8 6 4

to the Lawrence

T r e n c h e r & E q u i p m e n t Leasing, Inc.
D i t c h Witch T r e n c h e r s
3 8 Fairview St., A g a w a m , Mass. 0 1 0 0 1
Phone 413-7814600

K a r a n d r e w T u r f F a r m s , Inc.
Sam Mitchell, Sales R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
15 L o n g m e a d o w Drive, C a n t o n , Mass.

C. S. C u r r a n
T . R . C. P r o d u c t s , Oils a n d Greases
7 L i n d e n St., F r a m i n g h a m , Mass.

Contributors

Maker International
Mr. H o w a r d A . V i n c e n t , R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
L o n g m e a d o w , Massachusetts 0 1 1 0 6

R o n Gagne - S c o t t s Golf C o u r s e Div.
5 Kendall P a r k , N o r t o n , Mass.
617-285-7446

Agrico C h e m i c a l C o m p a n y
R. I). Sibley, J r . , R e p r e s e n t a t i v e
375 Power R d .
P a w t u c k e t , R h o d e Island 0 2 8 6 0

S. Dickinson

Scholarship

+

Sawtelle B r o t h e r s
565 Humphrey Street
S w a m p s c o t t , Mass.
Tel. 6 1 7 / 5 9 9 - 4 8 5 6
S h e p a r d Sod C o m p a n y
M e r i o n Blue Grass a n d P e n c r o s s B e n t
2 0 0 Sullivan Ave., S o . W i n d s o r , C o n n .
Tuco Products Co.
Division of t h e U p j o h n C o m p a n y
K a l a m a z o o , Michigan
White Turf Engineering
5 S u m n e r Drive, W i n c h e n d o n , Mass. 0 1 4 7 5
617-297-0941
Philip A . Wogan
Golf Course Architect
2 1 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.

Fund

First Class
U. S. Postage

PAID

FIRST CLASS
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A'Gi-iivi'-

290 North Road
Phone 443-3712
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A i l R O Y W a c K « t o s h ; 1 .:*
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G E R R Y FINN

Ciisirn'an

Maynard, MA
Permit # 1 7