AUG. 1977

^•jo^f- (Gourde Superintendents
OF

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

-^Isdociation
I N C .

Sponsors a n d administrators of the Lawrence S.
Dickinson Scholarship Fund — A w a r d e d y e a r l y
to deserving Turf M a n a g e m e n t Students.

Remember that Early Getaway?
A funny thing happens on the way to the golf course every July
or August. Many of those players-the ones who frequented the
early bird public courses of budding spring and fading winterjust keep on going. Their purpose has been served. Now, they seek
what in biblical terms are greener pastures. . . but in their case
constitute greener greens and tees.
Alas, the public course player is fickle. His allegiance, for the
most part, is in a permanent spread formation. He tells all that
the course on the other side of town is the "greatest" because it
opens its gates the last week in February or the first week in
March. Then, in the middle of summer's big heat when those
early openers are suffering turf ills, he beats the drum loudly for
the layout on this side of town which had the sense and patience to
cool it with the cash register in March so that it could play a
concerto on that piano in August.
This is not a condemnation of those courses who beat the gun, so
to speak, and open their arms to the public. . .sometimes in the
dead of winter. Each has a business approach of its own and each
may offer the golfer just what he desires at certain weather
checks in the year. However, they must pay the price in reduced
receipts once "a better course" is discovered.
The public course enjoys the rare luxury of being independent
in his operating method. Suffice to say there are courses which
depend on an early winter thaw to get them over the financial
hump. These layouts thrive on early spring because they know
they will suffer once other courses are ready for play.
Ready for play? That's another interesting item in the annual
syndrome confronting courses-both public and private. Ready
for play all depends on the mood of the player. In late February or
early March one should imagine that anything with tee markers
and flagsticks coming out of the ground is ready for play. This is
why certain early bird courses have gone to such an extent that
snowblowers are employed to clear the greens should a late
winter storm upset the plans to be the first on the block to open.
However,, the golfers (especially those from private clubs
sneaking out for a quick shot and early takeoff) are inclined to
exaggerate the playing condition of courses that operate "out of
season." Some come back to the home club raving about the
public course. Consequently, the word spreads and the
superintendent has 300 on his back clamoring for a chance to get
into the act.
Those same golfers, too, wouldn't be caught dead near one of
the early openers now that the thick of summer engulfs all
courses and many succumb to its grasp. So, it is common to hear
of those winter golfing havens becoming vagrant stations at this
time of year. And it is common to hear of an alarming number of
serious turf problems accompanying the fallout with the "loyal"
public.
It should be within reason, then, to propose that all golfers take
a look at this recurring situation. . . the course that bubbles with
excitement in early spring and chokes from inactivity in summer.
Perhaps an appreciation of the dangers early course openings
entice can be gathered from that look.
This is not to say that there isn't a time and place for
everything. . .and pardon the double negative. But certain

courses serve a certain purpose and others etc etc etc. Next time
you tee it up in the middle of winter remember how that course
will look in the dead heat of summer. And, if you are a private
club member, be thankful your super allows your course the
proper amount of winter rest.
Gerry Finn

NEXT MEETING
the Country Club
Tuesday, Aug. 9,1977
Superintendent - Press/Celebrity Tournament
Sandwiches available in Pro Shop
Golf after 12 noon
Dinner at7:00 p.m.
Carts and caddies available. Please call Pro
Shop if you have a foursome. 566-0240.
DIRECTIONS: Mass Pike to Rte. 128 South.
Take Rte. 9 East to Brookline. After Longwood
Tennis Club at the fourth traffic light bear to
the right onto Lee Street. You'll see Jamaica
Pond at the fourth traffic light. Follow Lee
Street to Clyde Street. Take right at Clyde
Street and club is on the left.
Pete Coste is our host for this meeting. Pete
came to The Country Club in 1972. In 1973 The
Country Club was host for the Walker Cup
Championship and has had several state
tournaments. Pete graduated from URI with a
B.S. in General Agriculture, graduated from
the Winter School at Stockbridge and became
a Certified Golf Course Superintendent in 1973.
He also serves as Educational Chairman of
our association. I'm sure everyone will enjoy
playing this great golf course.

CONGRATULATIONS to Edmund B. Fraser
of Chelmsford Country Club and Robert J.
M c l n t y r e of Holden Hills Country Club who
were voted in as Associate Members.

ourSe

Superintendents

dissociation

Another Endless Season

"They're at it again,' one golf course superintendent cried to a
colleague recently.
"Again?," was the reply. "When did it ever stop?"
The "it" is a familiar disease. . . yes disease since the carriers
of same have to be sick. The subject? Vandalism. And, as the
super in the second paragraph implied, it is another endless
season. Vandalism neither ends, takes a break nor a vacation. It
hangs in there, ugly example of warped hypo that it is.
Obviously, each and every super has a vandalism story to tell...
whether it be the tale of simple pranks or willful destruction. It
happens, almost every day, in fact. You wake up one morning and
you don't see a ball washer on the place. . .or you look out at the
course and there isn't a flag stick in sight.
Although such acts are slightly more than annoying, not to
mention expensive since the replacement of materials and the
man hours deployed in correcting the situation take an unexpected nip out of the budget, they are more tolerable than others.
If vandalism began and ended with the snapping of a green pin or
the occasional disappearance of a ball washer, it wouldn't rate all
that much concern. However, the examples of vandalism are
escalating to the point where golf courses are in danger of suffering serious financial and other economic-related setback
because of them.
Recently in the western end of Massachusetts a private country
club fell under the assault of a vicious wielder of destruction.
Even as long as a month after this particular culprit drove amok
across the course in a pick-up truck, the extent of the damage
couldn't be finalized. First estimates went to $20,000 and from
there the figures took a crazy bounce as the cost of repairs fluctuated considerably. At last check, it appeared the total could run
as high as fifty thousand dollars.
Naturally, the deep scars were scorched into the greens. The
path of destruction was a wide one, too. It hit several greens...
some heavier than others. It was thought that at least two of the

greens could be lost for the remainder of the season. Others were
closed for several days and members had to take the temporary
route to par.
For some reason, vandals know their "hit" areas. They realize
the most vulnerable spot on the golf course is the green. Not only
that, the green just happens to the most expensive item on the
course in matter of being replaced or repaired. Thus, the greens
have been the popular target of these senseless acts of destruction.
There are few deterrents to vandalism, what with the permissive attitude of certain judicial courts standing between
logical punishment and feeble reprimand. Because the occasion
of vandalism on the golf course courts overtones to thoughts that
it is just another form of childish prankstering-an aside to
growing up, it is more than likely that a judge sitting in on the
case will deal with it in that perspective.
Because of the step-up in the dependence on mechanical aidsboth in playing the game and maintaining the course, entrance to
the playing area gives would-be vandals a green light to their
target. Service roads, cart paths and the like must be left wide
open and the vandal can walk in without anything or anybody
challenging his presence.
There might be some merit in throwing out a bear trap or two
(because the vandals are animals in a sense) but complications
would be sure to arise from such a drastic move. A watchguard
system is also a remedy to be considered but it beats its head
against the budgetary wall.
Live with it, then? It appears inevitable, unless some judge
slaps one of the parasites with a sentence that fits the crime. Until
that moment vandalism remains another endless season.
Gerry Finn

Family Picnic
August 15, 1977
Bring the family and come for a day of fun.
Softball, horseshoe, basketball, volleyball and
other games will be the activities of the day.
Clam cakes and chowder will be served at 12
noon. At 5:30 a traditional New England clam
bake with all the t r i m m i n g s will be served.
DIRECTIONS: From Boston take Rte. 95
South to 195 East to exit 4. Follow Rte. 44 East
until you come to Francis Farm sign. From
Cape Cod take 195 West to East Providence
exit, take right, then bear right and take Rte.
44 East, about 1/4 mile from 195 exit.

First Vice President
W A Y N E ZOPPO
9 A Village Green N o r t h
E. Providence, R.I. 0291J
Home Phone 434-1759
Office Phone 434-8512
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Agawam Hunt

Second Vice President

D E A N ROBERTSON
24 Riverview D r i v e
N e w b u r y . Mass. 01950
H o m e Phone 462-4540
Office Phone 254-3678
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Chestnut H i l l C o u n t r y Club

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

Many thanks to Gary Luccini, Superintendent
and Franklin Country Club for hosting our
June Meeting. We enjoyed playing the golf
course and found it in excellent condition.
Special thanks to the women members who
served as ball spotters on several holes.
Also thanks to Frank Murphy, Superintendent
and Halifax Country Club for hosting our July
Meeting. The golf course was in excellent
condition as always and was a good test for
our championship tournament.

Finance C h a i r m a n

!
DAVE BARBER
1 M u r i e l Road
Chelmsford, Mass. 01824
Home Phone 256-4417
Office Phone 358-4882
Club Affiliation
Wayland Country Club

DONALD HEARN
4 Topeka Road
Chelmsford, Mass. 01824
H o m e Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 894-5906.
Club Affiliation
W e s t o n Golf Club

PAULJOHNSON
RFD 1 Locust St.
M i d d l e t o n , Mass. 01949
H o m e Phone 777-0902
Office Phone 777-1134
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Fern" 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. M a i n St.
Cohasset, Mass. 02025
H o m e Phone 383-9532
Office Phone 383-1870
Club Affiliation
Cohasset Golf Club

MAX MIERZWA
106 Crest wood St.
Chicopee, Mass. 01020
H o m e Phone 594-4996
Office Phone 592-9540
Club Affiliation
Chicopee C o u n t r y C l u b

ALAUGER
3 Andover Rd.
Beverly, Mass. 01915
H o m e Phone 927-0060
Office Phone 922-8511
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Folly H i l l C o u n t r y C l u b

OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

Of Golf, Capitalism and Socialism
By Armen A. Alchian
A puzzle has been solved. Despite their intense interest in
sports, no golf courses exist in the Socialist-Communist bloc. Why
is golf solely in capitalist societies? Because it is not merely a
sport. It is an activity, a lifestyle, a behavior, a manifestation of
the essential human spirit. Golf's ethic, principles, rules and
procedures of play are totally capitalistic. They are antithetical
to socialism. Golf requires self-reliance, independence,
responsibility, integrity and trust. No extenuation is granted
misfortune, mistake or incompetence. No second chance. Like
life, it is often unfair and unjust, with uninsurable risks. More
than any other sport, golf exploits the whole capitalist spirit.
A golfer is his own creator, his own destroyer. He plays his own
ball. It is a contest against Nature, by, and yet against, himself.
No scapegoat can be found-no socializing of skill or consequences.
No opponent's or partner's skill or clumsiness affects his performance. Tennis has an opponent on whom one can rely for aid
or error. Football, with many partners and many opponents, is
more socialistic.
Randomness of fortunes in golf, as in life and investment, defies
specification, calculation or insurance. Rolling into a divot mark,
getting a bad bounce or lie in a bunker is part of the game. The
game even has a name for this unfairness-"rub of the green."
Like illness or disaster it is to be borne without relief. The unfairness of golf is like that of capitalism. Some risks and hazards
are foreseeable . Bunkers, trees, lakes and wind cunningly offer a
rewarding or disastrous gamble or test resistance to temptation.
A golfer plays his own style and reaps his own rewards-or consequences. Whatever causes misfortune makes no difference. He
alone bears the consequences. No socializing of disaster or success.
No second chances. Every stroke counts in golf. In other activities, second and even third chances are given. Two serves in
tennis, two free throws to make one in basketball, three strikes in
baseball, four downs in football. No later act or good fortune will
cancel earlier misfortunes. But later misfortune will cancel
earlier good performance.
Honor and integrity are always at stake. A golfer monitors
himself with no possibility for a stroke to be uncounted. Any
temptation to dishonesty is thwarted by the impossibility of lying
to one's self successfully. You live with what you do, not with what
you may say you did. No umpire calls errors; no umpire judges
performance. The game is purely objective. A stroke was taken
or it wasn't; the ball is out of bounds or it isn't; on the green or it
isn't; in the cup or it isn't.

responsibility for consequences yours alone. The reward for good
performance—whether by real skill or good luck—is insecure. If
due to increased skill, a new reference base is established, and
elusive improvement remains the goal. To do better—always
better—is the goal. How powerfully capitalistic and antisocialist.
Antisocialist, but not antisocial. More, it is individualist and
civilized. A golfer is courteous to other golfers. He does not
distract others from their best play. He does not gain—and more
important—does not lose by success, or failure, of others.
Golf is conservative. Rules change slowly; some never. Ancient
and honorable customs must enhance survival values if they have
withstood the test of time.
The socialist spirit, so pervasive in other areas, has tried to
invade golf. Handicaps are proposed to equalize results. But a
true golfer shuns handicap play. At best it is to him only an index—a prestige—of ability. Efforts to make competition more
equal or "fair" are diseases that would have killed a less
capitalistic game. The socialists have also sought to reduce the
penalties for misadventure—the two stroke penalty for a ball out
of bounds or lost. A two-stroke penalty for a ball lost because of
poor eyesight or because of weeds was deemed unfair. But not by
the true golfer who understands the reasons. The game withstood
the attempt and the conventional penalty has been restored.
Match play was introduced to permit partners or opponents to
save one from himself. But the true golfer plays for his own score.
What his playing companions do is of no interest, either during or
after play.
Even in the beginning of golf we have evidence. Who but the
self-reliant individualist Scots, the progenitors of Adam Smith
could create a game so congenial to the capitalist society and
mentality. And at this end of history, who have become the most
recent and avid devotees of golf? The Japanese and nationalist
Chinese. Is more evidence required to demonstrate that golf is the
spirit of capitalism?
Looking into the dim future, if golf is ever to enter in the rifts of
the socialist bloc, surely it will be where the latent, but suppressed, capitalistic spirit is strongest—in the valleys of Soviet
Armenia. Actually, seven courses exist in Czechoslovakia,
holdovers from pre World War II society with 1,000 membersonly 160 per course. Is it surprising the Czechs are the most
troublesome people now behind the curtain?
Mr. Alchian

is a professor

at the University

of California,

Los

Angeles.

How elegantly one performs is irrelevant. No A's for effort-only
for results. Only the number of strokes counts, not how you did it.
Results—not intentions, or procedure—count. How thoroughly
capitalistic.
The game is unreliable. Disaster strikes in the midst of good
performance. Confidence is shaken. Was it luck? Deterioration in
ability? What change could be made, if any? As in capitalistic
society, those persisting questions are answered privately with
Golf Chairman
BRIAN C O W A N
Robins W a y
H a r w i c h , Mass. 02645
H o m e Phone 432-9041
Office Phone 945-9230
Club Affiliation
Eastward H o Country Club

Educational C h a i r m a n
PETE COSTE, CGCS
89 Pleasant St.
M e d f i e l d , Mass. 02052
H o m e Phone 359-7247
Office Phone 566-0240
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The C o u n t r y Club

Newsletter C h a i r m a n
LARRY BUNN
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
H o m e Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue H i l l Country C l u b

Past President
THOMAS CURRAN
Fox Chase Rd.
South Sutton, N . H . 03273
H o m e Phone 938-5436
Office Phone 863-4500
Club Affiliation
Eastman Golf Club

Information contained in this publication may be used
freely, in w h o l e or in part, w i t h o u t special permission as long
as the true context is maintained. We w o u l d appreciate a
credit line.

PCeate

Alfco, Inc.
Fertilizers a n d Chemical Specialties
P.O. Box 267, Marietta, Ohio
Baker Tractor Corp., F o r d Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Massachusetts
Chanderlin Seed Co., Inc., Division of
L o f t s Pedigreed Seed, Inc.,
20 Beck Road, Arlington, Mass. 0 2 1 7 4
J o e Moran — Rep.
* The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Wethersfield, Conn.
B o b Kennedy, Rep.
Steve Hart, Rep.
203-529-2537
The Clapper Co.
1 1 2 1 Washington St.
West N e w t o n , Mass.

fiatwHije

FRIENDS O F THE

ASSOCIATION

G r o u n d s E q u i p m e n t Co., Inc.
3 8 3 Boylston St., N e w t o n Cen., Mass.

New England Power Sweeping Co., Inc.
Parking Lots and R o a d w a y s
187 South Street
N e e d h a m , Mass. 0 2 1 9 2
J a c k Kidd Phone 3 3 2 - 1 4 5 1

Gull Agricultural Service Co.
Allen Bonnell 617-362-2181
J o e Silk 617-784-3966
55 F r e e m a n R o a d
Y a r m o u t h p o r t , Mass. 0 2 6 7 5

N e w England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, and Maintenance
Sealcoating — Hingham Industrial Center
Hingham, Mass. Tel. 7 4 9 - 3 2 3 6

Holliston Sand C o m p a n y , Inc.
Lowland Street, Holliston, Mass. 0 1 7 4 6
Sand for Golf Bunkers and Traps

Old F o x Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf Chemicals
66 Valley Street
East Providence, R h o d e Island 0 2 9 1 4

I & E S u p p l y , Inc.
66 Erna Ave.
P.O. Box 9
Milford, Conn. 0 6 4 6 0
Tele (203) 8 7 8 - 0 6 5 8

P & L E q u i p m e n t Corp.
Golf Cars & Commercial Turf E q u i p m e n t
80 Lynde Street, Melrose, Mass. 0 2 1 7 6
Phone 617-665-5990

Kenneth Barrie Corp.
249 Milton St., D e d h a m , Mass. 0 2 0 2 6
Tel. (617) 3 6 4 - 3 3 3 3

* G e o f f r e y S. Cornish & William G. Robinson T o m Irwin, Inc.
Golf Course Architects
11B A Street
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 0 1 0 0 2
Burlington, Mass.
George E. Cull
Karandrew Turf Farms, Inc.
Terra-Green Soil Conditioner
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
112 Green St., Abington, Mass.
15 L o n g m e a d o w Drive, Canton, Mass.
C. S. Curran
T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases
* L a r c h m o n t Irrigation Co.
7 Linden St., F r a m i n g h a m , Mass.
L a r c h m o n t Ln., Lexington, Mass.
* E-Z-Go Golf Car
Sales - Service - Rentals
Polaris/E-Z-Go Northeast
Box 8 1 7
North F a l m o u t h , Mass. 0 2 5 5 6
F a r m Bureau Association
- 1 5 8 L e x i n g t o n ^ . , Waltharn, Mass. (
ylig
-BnS-ea^&OJJome
\ p . fg
jiv.

R e p Allen C u m p s 1-413-253-2995T
G o l d Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N e w Hampshire
1-800-528-5205

Lee Lime Corp.
Lee, Mass. (413) 2 4 3 - 0 0 5 3

Sil Paulini, Inc.
6 Manor Avenue
Natick, Mass. 0 1 7 6 0
* Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge R o a d
Natick, Mass. 0 1 7 6 0
Trencher & E q u i p m e n t Leasing, Inc.
Ditch Witch Trenchers
3 8 Fairview St., Agawam, Mass. 0 1 0 0 1
Phone 413-786-8600
* Sawtelle Brothers
565 H u m p h r e y Street
Swampscott, Mass.
Tel. 617-599-4856

Rep. Bill Kershlis 4 1 3 - 2 5 3 - 7 4 8 5
Mallinckrodt, Inc.
£ }"j
Second a n d Mallinckrodt Streets
St. Louis, Missouri 6 3 1 4 7
Magovern C o m p a n y , Inc.
Lawn Acre R o a d
Windsor Lock, Conn.
* D. L. Maher
Box 127, C o n c o r d a t .
N. Reading, Mass. 0 1 8 6 4

T u c o Products Co.
Division of the U p j o h n C o m p a n y
Kalamazoo, Michigan
David Sylvester 203-828-3790
White Turf Engineering
5 S u m m e r Drive, Winchendon, Mass. 0 1 4 7 5
617-297-0941
Philip A. Wogan
Golf Course Architect
21 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.

* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund

First Class
U. S. Postage

( f tJJ (bourse ^uperintendenU ... '!Modatinn
o r

HEW

E N O U H .

« c.

LARRY BUNN
Newsletter Committee Chairman
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Horns Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hili Country Club
DONALD HEARN
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Co-ordinator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

FIRST CLASS

PAID

Maynard, M A
Permit # 1 7

ID