November 1976

(bourse Superintendents
OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

^A^SAociation
I N C .

Sponsors and administrators of the Lawrence S.
Dickinson Scholarship Fund — A w a r d e d yearly
to deserving Turf Management Students.

Honing The Homestead

It all started when Fred Reese found that his job was getting
boring ... when he yearned for some excitement, adventure - and,
what else? A new challenge.
So, from the ho-hum life of a Virginia State Trooper, Reese went
into the business of an adventure all in its own - that of becoming
golf course superintendent.
That wasn't too long ago, nine years to be exact. But in those
nine turns of the calendar, Reese has risen to the top of his
profession in matter of assignment. Presently, he is the
superintendent at the world-famed The Homestead resort in Hot
Springs, Virginia. And under the touch of his natural ability to
make turf behave are 54 holes of magnificent golf courses - one of
which is The Upper Cascades, rated in the top ten whenever
connoisseurs of the sport gather to knock around the relative
merits of the world's finest layouts.
Reese started at a nine-hole course in Staunton and in no time at
all he went to Homestead president, Thomas J. Lennon, when the
position there was open. Perhaps it was an upset, but Mr. Lennon
liked Reese's approach and his ideas for conditioning the 54 holes.
There were other applicants, but Fred got the job. And Mr.
Lennon's eye for excellence in a superintendent can be seen in the
well-groomed condition of all three courses - Homestead, Lower
Cascades and Upper Cascades.
Ironically enough, Reese states that he doesn't shoot for
anything special in the way of an end result. "I don't look to turn
the courses into those pampered things you see on television," he
cracks. "I'm a sort of natural maintenance guy, myself. I just let
nature take its course and maybe give it a little direction when I
see fit."
The 36-year-old Reese is a member of the GCSAA and is looking
forward to taking his examination for certificiation. "I'm digging
up the books now," he advised. "I think I'll get something out of it.
Mostly, I'm doing it to improve course conditions at The
Homestead."
Reese has put a streamlined look on the process of conditioning
the 54 holes, set in the Virginia Alleghanies. "I've got my crews
down to a workable number, so that everyone has something to do
all the time," he tells. "I have 25 men working the three courses
and seven more on the resort grounds. Over them are four
foremen, one for each course and another for the grounds. I'm at
the four different sites at least once every day. Actually, I'm the
first ever to supervise all the courses. But that's the way I sold
myself."
Certainly, the high elevation at The Homestead gives Reese an
edge in grooming the three layouts. In fact, all irrigation at the
Homestead and Upper Cascades is done manually. The Lower
Cascades - the youngest of the three - has automatic irrigation.
"But it needs it," Fred snaps. "It's 800 feet lower than the other
two, and, boy, is there a difference in heat and humidity. I find
that I have to set an entirely different conditioning program at the
Lower."
Problems along turf lines ring a familiar bell. Pink snow mold
is pesty at the high elevations (it really snows in Virginia) and
Reese has his share of dollar and leaf spot. Being a naturalist, he
prefers to use as little chemically-based remedies as possible.

Reese says he doesn't Operate under a set budget, nor does he
have a green committee to deal with. "I meet with Mr. Lennon
every once in a while," he reveals. "We go over the program and
if I need anything, he just okays it. That's how the budget
operates, if you want to call it that. Guessing at a figure, though,
I'd say it costs around $200,000 to maintain the three courses."
No worries about member interference, Fred? "Only when Sam
and Carlyle are in town," Reese cracks. "They're my severest
critics. But I listen to them. They mean well. And sometimes
they're right."
Sam and Carlylewould be Sam Snead and his nephew, J. C. - a
couple of pretty fair country boy golfers. They live right there in
the shadow of the three Homestead courses. So, maybe Fred
Reese gets all the excitement there that he couldn't find as a state
trooper.
Gerry Finn

GUrj0
i tma0 fartg
Friday, December 3, 1 9 7 6
Mt. Pleasant Country Club
Boylston

Dealers Cocktail Hour 7 : 0 0
Dinner & Dancing 8:00-12:00
, Any friend of the association wishing
to sponsor the Cocktail Hour please
notify Pete Coste at 5 6 6 - 0 2 4 0 or 359[7247.
S
Directions:
^
vM Off Mass. Pike take Rte. 495 North tf
5 S t o Rte. 2 9 0 West. Off Rte. 2 9 0
take the Church St. exit
p^^bv,Boylston. Club is on
r%3w
\\$is&U.right several miles
^ T v S v ^ ^ o n Church St.r^^C//xi^J
t h e

ourSe

Superintendentd

ociation

Maintenance PracticeActi-Dione,
- Brae
Burn
C.
C.
1991, Daconil, Tersan and Tersan SP are used for a

Each year after the John Shanahan Memorial Tournament
several superintendents have questions in regard to the operation
and maintenance program at the Brae Burn Country Club. With
that in mind, your editor, Larry Bunn, felt a brief explanation of
the maintenance staff and the golf course operation would be of
interest to our members.
Six men are employed year round. Two additional men are
employed April to November and five or six college students are
added June, July and August.
Of the six full time employees there is a mechanic, foreman and
gardener. The fourth full time employee spends six months each
year as the ice maker at the Curling Rink.
This staff is responsible for the maintenance of the golf course,
(27 holes), tennis courts, paddle tennis courts, clubhouse grounds,
curling rink, golf cars, and skating pond.
Full time employees receive two or three weeks vacation, are paid
for holidays and are eligible to enroll in the group insurance plan.
Greens are South German Bent except number 11, which is
Penncross. They are cut five or six times a week at three sixteenths of an inch. Verticutting, top dressing, and spiking are
done three or four times a year. All greens are airified late
summer - early fall. Total nitrogen applied is 2 1/2 to 3 pounds per
1000 square feet. A complete fertilizer or Milorganite is used late
spring and early fall. Small amounts of water soluble fertilizer
are used spring and summer.

preventive fungicide program. Dursban is the insecticide used
twice a year. Lime is applied in the fall at the rate of 20 pounds per
1000 square feet.
Fairways are cut 3 or 4 times a week at three quarters of an inch
spring and fall and are raised to one inch during July and August.
Fertilizer is applied 3 times per season, late May, August and
September at the rate of 1/2 pound of nitrogen. Spiking is done
twice a year.
When turf is lost because of wet-wilt, dry-wilt, or compaction a
mixture of Bluegrass, Bents and Rye are over-seeded. Acti-Dione
and 1991 fungicides are used about four times a year on the
number one course. Lime is used at the rate of 1000 pounds per
acre in November.
Tees are maintained about the same as fairways except for a
lower cut and 3 to 4 pounds of nitrogen per 1000 square feet.
With the exception of six holes, the water system has been
converted_to automatic and we hope to complete the job in the
next two years. ~
~
About $12,000 is spent each year on leaf control and pick-up.
Last but not least is the fact that lower rates of fertilizer on the
tees, greens and fairways have seemed to cut down on wet-wilt
and dry-wilt turf problems.
Bob Grant CGCS
Brae Burn Country Club

Lown And The TheEnvironment
18th century writer, Jonathon Swift, seemed to understand

Everyone admires a thick, green, carpet-like lawn surrounded
by beautiful landscape and succulent shrubs, trees and flowers.
We are attracted by the visual beauty and the aesthetic value of
this seemingly urban paradise. But this property, and others like
it, provides more than aesthetics.
For the last decade, the public has become more aware of
pollution and the environment. Federal and state agencies have
been established to cope with the problem. Some improvement
has been made in correcting the situation.
Homeowners, collectively, can make a contribution to environmental quality that goes beyond writing our Congressman.
The plants growing outside our front door can contribute to a
better environment. Living plants besides providing visual
beauty, assist in removing many wastes from the environment.
Through photosynthesis, plants take gases such as carbon
dioxide from the air and liberate pure oxygen. A 150 acre golf
course, through its activity during the growing season provides
enough oxygen for 110,350 people for a year. To bring it closer to
home, a 50 x 50 ft. plot of grass provides enough oxygen f o r a*
family of four.
Grass and trees are also effective dust traps. The particles are
attracted to the leaf surface through static electricity or are
trapped by dense foliage. Rainfall washes the particles into the
soil. This claim cannot be made for man's growing architectural
achievements expressed in towering skyscrapers and asphalt
parking lots.
Grass also acts as a cooling system. A 2000 square foot plot
releases as much as 120 gallons of water through a method called
evapotranspiration. The releasing of water reduces the heat
factor. Grass also cools the environment by absorbing less
energy. It absorbs only 50-60% of the incoming solar radiation
while buildings and pavement absorb 90%.
Sports fans may be aware of the heat absorption of artificial
playing surfaces present in sports stadiums across the country.
Readings taken sometime ago at Bush Stadium in St. Louis
measured air temperature at 90 degrees. On the artificial surface,
the temperature was 123 degrees.
First Vice President
W A Y N E ZOPPO
9A Village Green North
E. Providence, R.I. 02915
Home Phone 434-1759
Office Phone 434-8512
Club Affiliation
Agawam Hunt

Second V i c e President

DEAN ROBERTSON
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 01950
Home Phone 462-4540
Office Phone 254-3678
Club Affiliation
Chestnut Hill Country Club

R O N A L D K I R K M A N , CGCS
25 Green St.
Needham, Mass. 02192
Home Phone 444-8412
Office Phone 444-5548
Club Affiliation
Needham Golf Club

mankinds role in regard to nature when he wrote: "Whoever
could make two blades grow where only one grew before, would
deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his
country than the whole race of politicians put together."
Thanks to:
O.M. Scott & Sons
A Subsidiary of ITT
ANNUAL MEETING
Date: Dec. 6, 1976
Place: Dedham Inn
Directors Meeting: 10:30 a.m.
Lunch: 12 noon (Lunch available at Dedham Inn)
Membership Meeting: 1:00 p.m.
Proposed slate of officers for 1977 to be voted on at this
meeting is as follows:
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Trustee 3 years
Finance Chairman
Golf Chairman
Educational Chairman
Newsletter Chairman

Wavne Zopoo
Tony Caranci
Dean Robinson
Guy Tedesco
Ron Kirkman C G C S
Norman Mucciarone
Dave Barber
Don Hearn
Max Mierzwa
Al Auger
Brian Cowan
Pete Costs, C G C S
Larry Bunn

The Nomination Committee consisted of the following:
Chairman j o m Curran
Ron Kirkman
Robert Mucciarone
Bill Carter
Burt Frederick
Directions to the Dedham Inn:
Off Rte. 128 take exit #60 South, Rte. 1. Take first right
at the lights by movie theater. Dedham Inn is on the right.

J

Finance C h a i r m a n
DAVE B A R B E R
1 Muriel Road
Chelmsford, Mass. 01824
Home Phone 256-4417
Office Phone 358-4882
Club Affiliation
Wayland Country Club

DONALD H E A R N
4 Topeka Road
Chelmsford, Mass. 01824
Home Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 894-5906 Club Affiliation
Weston Golf Club

PAUL J O H N S O N
R F D 1 Locust St.
Middleton, Mass. 01949
Home Phone 777-0902
Office Phone 777-1134
Club Affiliation
F e r n r — C o u n t r y Club

A R T H U R W A S H B U R N , CGCS
520 No. Main St.
Cohasset, Mass. 02025
Home Phone 383-9532
Office Phone 383-1870
Club Affiliation
Cohasset Golf Club

MAX MIERZWA
106 Crest wood St.
Chicopee, Mass. 01020
Home Phone 594-4996
Office Phone 592-9540
Club Affiliation
Chicopee Country Club

ALAUGER
3 Andover Rd.
Beverly, Mass. 01915
Home Phone 927-0060
Office Phone 922-8511
Club Affiliation
Folly Hill Country Club

OF

NEW

ENGLAND,

INC

Newsletter Notes -

I must apologize for the Newsletter being late last month and
again this month. Seems there was a mix up at the printing office
and the October issue was late getting to the post office. The
November issue is late because the meeting date for our
November meeting was not arranged in time. So you will be
getting this issue after the meeting. Just be patient and we will get
back on the right track.
The slate of officers is printed in this issue to make sure that you
will be notified the required 10 days before election. Also make
note of the change in location of the meetings. We are not going
back to the Holiday Inn because they have doubled their price for
the room rental. The new location is the Dedham Inn off Rte. 128
in Dedham. This will be either 10 miles shorter or 10 miles longer
to travel depending where you live. Their facilities are very much
the same as the Holiday Inn. Lunch is available in the restaurant
or in the lounge. All three meetings will be held there and I will list
the dates so you will know in advance. Monday, Dec. 6,1976 is the
annual meeting. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1977 and Tuesday, Feb. 1, 1977
are the other two meeting dates. Of course, there is no meeting in
March because of the turf conference that will be held in
Springfield.
The directors had a meeting the evening of Oct. 13 to discuss
several upcoming matters of the association. Don Hearn,
Treasurer, gave a report that indicated a possible increase of
dues for next year. In the report he stated that dues were $10 in
1951, $15 in 1960, $25 in 1968, and the last increase in dues was in
1971 when it was raised to the present fee of $30. The directors are
in favor of an increase to $40 for the year of 1977.
Several things to think about. One is are there any items you
would like to see put on the agenda for the Advisory Committee
meeting at the national meeting in Portland next February. The
other is I was talking to Dick Haskell of the MGA and he is looking
for suggestions for topics to discuss at the spring conference next
March. If you have any ideas let them be known.
Sawtelle Brothers have been honored by being named the top
distributor of the year for Jacobsen. That is an award to be proud
of and one that I am sure was well earned. Sawtelle Brothers have
also given a contribution to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund. Congratulations on the award and many thanks for the
contribution!
Dave O'Kelley, son of Marshfield Country Club superintendent
Mel O'Kelley, has won the Southeast Amateur Golf Tournament.
This is a three day tournament held over three golf courses with
the best golfers from that area. Dave had rounds of 72, 73, and a
closing round of 68 which he fired 14 pars and 4 birdies! He set
tournament records for being the youngest winner, lowest winning score, and lowest last day score. Dave is 17 and is a senior at
Marshfield High Schol.
George Wallings must live right. George is the mechanic for Art
Washburn at Cohasset Country Club. He has flown planes for
many years and a couple of weeks ago he was up in his plane when
it developed engine trouble. The plane came to rest in the tree
tops with the nose pointing straight down! He then climbed out of
the plane and down the tree to safety on the ground. Miraculously
he was not hurt and walked to a fire station 500 feet from the scene
of the accident to report what had happened!
Ponkapoag Golf Course was hit with vandalism with damages
estimated at $1000. The vandals drove a jeep or truck over the
third green, three fairways, and destroyed 8 sapling trees.
Everybody has problems with vandals at one time or another. I
like the way Osceola Country Club in Osceola, Iowa handled the
problem of vandals whom they caught in the act. Two youths stole
golf carts and drove them over greens doing considerable
damage. They were given a choice of having charges filed or
Golf Chairman
BRIANCOWAN
Robins W a y
Harwich, Mass. 02645
Home Phone 432-9041
Office Phone 945-9230
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho Country Club

Educational C h a i r m a n
P E T E COSTE. CGCS
89 Pleasant St.
Medfield, Mass. 02052
Home Phone 359-7247
Office Phone 566-0240
Club Affiliation
The Country Club

Newsletter C h a i r m a n
LARRYBUNN
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hili Country Club

Past President
THOMASCURRAN
Fox Chase Rd
South Sutton N H 03273
Home Phone 938-5436
Office Phone 863-4500
Club Affiliation
Eastman Golf Club

trying to make amends. They chose the latter and were given the
job of mowing roughs with a hand mower. The lesson - a lot of
time to think about the wisdom of such unwanton action at the
scene of the destruction and to learn more about the things they
were so willing to destroy.
It's not too early to start making plans for the GCSAA's 48th
Turf Conference to be held February 6-11 in Portland, Oregon.
The theme for the conference is "Turfgrass Management: A
Synergistic Approach." There will be a total of 70 speakers from
universities, industry, government and the ranks of the
association itself will present the most up-to-date information in
the world of turfgrass management. Prior to the opening of the
conference, the association will once again hold certification and
recertification examinations and a series of seminars on landscaping, management, pesticides and turfgrass nutrition. Other
features of the week-long event are the association's annual
meeting and election, tours of Portland area golf couses, tours of
the Oregon grass seed industry and social events during the week.
Don Hearn will be a chairman for a Turf Management session
and Dr. Joseph Troll from the University of Massachusetts will be
a speaker. Hope to see a lot of superintendents in Portland.
I was unable to play golf at Mt. Pleasant Country Club, but I
understand the course was in excellent condition. The buffet lunch
was very enjoyable and the people of Mt. Pleasant Country Club
gave us a very pleasant day. I was also unable to play at Brae
Burn Country Club because of illness and that course was
reported in excellent condition as always. Many thanks to George
Lane, Pro at Brae Burn Country Club and George Wemyss,
Executive Director of NEPGA for their help in the Superintendent/Pro tournament. Bob McGuire, Superintendent at Mt.
Pleasant C. C. and Bob Grant, Superintendent at Brae Burn C. C.
thank you for having us at your clubs.
Don't forget the Christmas party on Dec. 3,1976 at Mt. Pleasant
C. C. and don't forget the meeting place for our winter meetings
has been changed to the Dedham Inn off Rte. 128 in Dedham.
Larry Bunn
Newsletter Editor
Superintendent - Press/Celebrity Tournament Results
Ken Mooridian & V . Commilli
Gary Luccinni & A. Ficco
M. Hermanson & O. Cormier
Ron Kirkman 81 Milt Schmidt

Net
Net
Net
Net

70
70
71
71

Individual Tournament
Dave Loker
Burt Fredricks

Net 72
Net 73

Results of J o h n Shanahan Memorial Tournament
Superintendent - Pro
Net Winners
Bob Johnston & Dan DiRico, Hampden C.C.
J o h n Dolan & Stan Daluik, Kirkbrae C.C.
Wayne Zoppo & Paul Butler, Agawam Hunt G.C.
Nick Cummuso & Bill Ezinicki, International C.C.
T o m Schofield & Bruce Kraczkowski, Wellesley C.C.

81
76
84
82
79

- 66
- 69
- 69
- 71
- 72

75
75
76
77
77

- 70
- 70
- 72
- 72
- 74

Gross Winners
Ray Woodbury & Bill Flynn, Thompson C.C.
Dave Barber & J o e Browning, Wayland C.C.
IVfei O'Kelley & Charles Lanzetta, Marshfield C.C.
Brian Cowan & Curt Madson, Eastward Ho C.C.
Menze Herorian & Bruce Dobie, Green Hill C.C.
Ties broken by matching score cards.
Information contained in this publication may be used
freely, in whole or in part, without special perm ission as long
as the true context is maintained. W e would appreciate a
credit line.

PCeeue fuUwttje
Alfco, Inc.
Fertilizers and Chemical Specialties
P.O. Box 267, Marietta, Ohio
Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Massachusetts
Chanderlin Seed Co., Inc., Division of
Lofts Pedigreed Seed, Inc.,
20 Beck Road, Arlington, Mass. 02174
Joe Moran — Rep.
The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Wethersfield, Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Steve Hart, Rep.
203-529-2537
The Clapper Co.
— 1 1 2 1 Washington-St;—
West Newton, Mass.

FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Grounds Equipment Co., Inc.
383 Boylston St., Newton Cen., Mass.
Gull Agricultural Service Co.
Allen Bonnell 617-362-2181
Joe Silk 617-784-3966
55 Freeman Road
Yarmouthport, Mass. 02675
Hollisto'n Sand Company, Inc.
Lowland Street, Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand for Golf Bunkers and Traps
Irrigation and Equipment Supply Co.
66 Erna Ave.
P.O. Box 9
Milford, Conn. 06460
Tele (203) 878-0658
Kenneth Barrie Corp.
-249 Milton-St., Dedhauu.Mass..02026 _
Tel. (617) 364-3333

Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson Tom Irwin, Inc.
Golf Course Architects
1 IB A Street
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002
Burlington, Mass.
George E. Cull
Karandrew Turf Farms, Inc.
Terra-Green Soil Conditioner
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
112 Green St., Abington, Mass.
15 Longmeadow Drive, Canton, Mass.
C. S. Curran
Larchmont Irrigation Co.
T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases
Larchmont Ln., Lexington, Mass.
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.
E-Z-Go Golf Car
Sales - Service - Rentals
Polaris/'E-Z-Go Northeast
Box 817
North Falmouth, Mass. 02556

Lee Lime Corp.
Lee, Mass. (413) 243-0053
2 Special Lime Spreaders
Designed for Golf Courses
Rep. Bill Kershlis 413-253-7485

Farm Bureau Association
158 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass. 02154
Fred Heyliger, Representative
Bus. 893-3570 Home 772-3605

Mallinckrodt, Inc.
Second and Mallinckrodt Streets
St. Louis, Missouri 63147

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ron Gagne 746-7000
Rep. Allen Cumps 413-253-2995

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

Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, New Hampshire
1-800-528-5205

D. L. Maher
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading, MassT 01864

New England Power Sweeping Co., Inc.
Parking Lots and Roadways
187 South Street
Needham, Mass. 02192
Jack Kidd Phone 332-1451
New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, and Maintenance
Sealcoating — Hingham Industrial Center
Hingham, Mass. Tel. 749-3236
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf Chemicals
66 Valley Street
East Providence, Rhode Island 02914
P & L Equipment Corp.
Golf Cars & Commercial Turf Equipment
80 Lynde Street, Melrose, Mass. 02176
Phone 617-665-5990
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, Mass. 01001
Phone 413-786-8600
*Sawtelle Brothers
565 Humphrey Street
Swampscott, Mass.
Tel. 617-599-4856
Tuco Products Co.
Division of the Upjohn Company
Kalamazoo, Michigan
David Sylvester 203-828-3790
White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Drive, Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-0941
Philip A. Wogan
Golf Course Architect
21 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.
^Contributors
Scholarship

to the Lawrence S.
Fund

Dickinson

First Class
U. S . Postage

PAID

(jolf

Co
L A R R Y BUNN
Newsletter Committee Chairman
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill Country Club
DONALD HEARN
Business Manager
L E O N ST. P I E R R E
Co-ordinator
G E R R Y FINN
Contributing Editor

FIRST CLASS

Maynard, M A
Permit # 1 7