December 1977
o u r i e

OF

... ^ u p e r i n t e n c l e n t i

NEW

ENGLAND,

— ^ d d o c i a t i OH

INC.

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

What's The Story Behind That Survey?
That's what the New England Golf Course Superintendents
Association sought to ascertain last month after the
Massachusetts Golf Association ran off at' the pencil in attempting to get a detailed rundown on the cost of golf course
maintenance among member clubs.
Supposedly the survey was conducted in conjunction with the
NEGCSA. However, association president Wayne Zoppo was as
much in the dark about the situation as most of his brothers. "I
was never contacted," Zoppo told the Newsletter. "What's
more, as far as I could find out, the survey blanks were sent to
club green chairmen. The supers got them secondhand, if at
all."
MGA Executive Director Dick Haskell admits his group made
a tactical error. "We sent out the forms before we let the
superintendents know what was going on," Haskell told. "But
there wasn't anything deceiving about it. It was simply a case of
going ahead with the survey without getting in touch with the
superintendents association. I have to apologize for that. But the
survey, itself, is worthwhile."
As of the first of November, Haskell had received 11 or 12
completed forms. As a matter of fact, he didn't appear to be too
concerned over the possibility that he wouldn't get a full
response.
"I realize there might be some people who are upset over the
situation," Haskell continued. "But any slighting was unintentional. This survey is in the best interests of everyone involved in golf. I'd say it was conducted more to enhance the
position of the superintendent than to detract from him."
Haskell reports that the MGA gets 50 or more calls a year
from green chairmen around the state who would like to compare their golf course operation budgets with those of their
contemporaries. "It's an informative effort on our part to give
the country club some idea of what others are spending and
perhaps what they should be spending," he remarked. "We feel
that the survey is a good exercise for the superintendent and his'
green chairmen. We're not trying to ring any bells."
Actually, the survey creates material for the MGA's Spring
Conference. Since the operation budget of a golf course probably
is the most important information available in dollar outlay and
the explanation of it, the survey is the basis for most of the
worthwhile discussion among green chairmen at the conference.
"The thrust of the survey is to keep everyone informed and up
to date on the cost of running a golf course," Haskell disclosed.
"What it does is to determine bench marks on the operation of
the club. There are certain discrepencies in it because all
budgets are not uniform. But in the main, it gives everyone a
clear picture of the cost factor."
Haskell also realizes the importance of the superintendent's
position in the determination of club budgets. "I think if you
really look at it with an open mind, the survey brings to light the
heavy involvement the superintendent has in the overall
operation of the club," he said. "It proves just how much
knowledge the superintendent must have and what he contributes to drawing up what his club will spend over the
operational year. If you approach it along those lines, the
superintendent must come out looking more important than
almost anyone in the club operation."

The MGA executive also points out that the mere fact the
superintendent is asked to take part in the survey shows just
how much his value is considered. "I hope the superintendents
within our association clubs feel that we jumped the gun without
their approval only because of an unintentional slip on our
part," he concluded. "Furthermore, we have made it plain to
Wayne Zoppo that his association will be allowed to see the
results of the survey before they are released. We want
everything to be above board."
And that's the story behind the survey. . . that survey which
was proposed as a joint effort of one group (MGA). What the
super does with it is up to him and his club.
Gerry Finn

N o m i n a t i o n f o r 1978 GCSAA Election
of O f f i c e r s and Directors:
For President:

G e o r g e W. Cleaver, CGCS

For Vice President:

Melvin B. Lucas, Jr., CGCS
Charles H. Tadge, CGCS

For Directors:
(Two to be elected)

Daniel L. Hall, Jr.
David C. Holler, CGCS
Robert W. Osterman, CGCS
Clarence H. Wolfrom, Jr.
James A . Wyllie, CGCS

By the 1978 CGSAA Nominating Committee
Robert M. Williams, Chairman
Richard C. Blake, CGCS Quinton A . Johnson, CGCS
Daniel L. Hall, Jr.
John A . Zoller

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Golf's Everchanging Face
Changes. There are changes occasionally in one facet of life,
business of other ordinary endeavor. Your wife changes the
style of her hair. Three piece suits (with vests, yet) are in one
era and out the next. The forward pass is the dominating offense
force in football one season and the ground game takes over the
following year.
However, the every-changing face of the golf course is constant. It goes from day to day. For example, the greens putt fast
one day because of a variety of reasons (grass height, air
temperature, humidity, etc.) and come to a screeching halt the
next for virtually the same reasons.
The real face-lifting and sometimes face-draining on the
course occurs in its landscape design and development of it. And
the disciplined use of plants, the purchase of them (from a
standpoint of establishing practicality and economy) and their
part in strategy of playing layout should rate right up there at
the top of the educatonal list for the superintendent.
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
pulled an A for effort and execution last month with the staging
of a Landscape Seminar in Meriden, Connecticut. There was a
healthy turnout of superintendents and other practitioners of
professions associated with reliance on landscaping techniques
and expertise.
A basic knowledge of landscape design is perhaps as valuable
to the superintendent (or person who must take part in related
projects) as any aspect of his turf education . . . be it education
by experience or classroom. In the end, it could result in
thousands of dollars and man hours saved by the course to which
he applies his talents.
The seminar touched on all phases of design, starting with a
perspective on the role of landscaping as a tool in beautificiation
as well as functional use on the course and winding up with the
offering of a practical design problem with an examination at
the finish.
The acquaintance with landscape design is a vital part of the
super's portfolio in both major and minor projects on the golf
course and around the clubhouse.
For one thing, if he has a working knowledge of the plants or
other items needed, he can relate to the landscape designer
without fear of being lost in unfamiliar rhetoric. Thus, just
knowing how to speak the language^ the landscape architect is

valuable to the super and his responsibilities attached to said
project.
There have been instances when nurseries oversold plants by
the carload to unsuspecting superintendents and green chairmen who relied on blind faith in the salesman. Thousands of
dollars have gone down the drain because plants had to either be
uprooted because of overcrowding, incompatible climate or
other adverse conditions. Had the superintendent been in touch
with the rudiments of landscape design, time and money would
have been saved.
This particular seminar is just one of a series of educational
programs which the national association makes available to
members. It just so happened that the site was handy to New
England group members and the subject matter of the seminar
most important because of the interchangeable weather conditions to be considered when planting in the Northeast.
The session should have appealed to all country club green
chairmen or grounds chairmen since it combined the
beautification and strategy factors so as to allow for double
coverage on landscaping. Clubhouse, first and 10th tee and other
immediate locations often find themselves being landscaped
from spring to spring. So, the seminar touched two important
bases in the continuing process of golf course change.
Those clubs represented surely will profit by this experience.
Their supers are equipped to talk and practice landscaping . . . a
golf course happening that never stops.
Gerry Finn

John Shanahan
Memorial Golf Tournament
Superintendent/Pro
GROSS
1 st L a r r y Bunn & T o m C a v i c c h i
B l u e Hill C.C.
2 n d Bob C o n n o l l y 8 D a n D i s k i n
W i n c h e s t e r C.C.
3rd Tom McDonald S Dave Sampson
Lakeview C.C.
~?th B r u c e ( . a r l s o n & U i c k B a k e r
Locust V a l l e y
T e d Ellis & Dick La G r a s s e
W a n u m e t o n o m y C.C.
M i k e H e r m a n s o n 8 M i k e Egan
G a r d n e r C.C.

72
73
74
75"
75
75

NET

Larry
Bunn
and Tom
winners
of Supt./Pro

Cavicchi
of
Tournament.

P'ue

Hill

C.C., Low

ir s s

ntry Club

RONALD K I R

DAVE BARBER

Need ham, Mass. 02192

lb

S i S
Needh

Golf C

Gross

78-60
74-63
76 - 67
82-67
79-69

Treasurer

Second Vice Pre!
24 Riven/iew Drive

1 st T o m M o n a h a n & J o e C a r r
H o l d e n Hills
2 n d N a r y S p e r a n d i o 8 Jack H o p k i n s
C o n c o r d C.C.
3 r d Paul J o h n s o n 8 Paul B a r k h o u s e
F e r n c r o f t C.C.
W a y n e Z o p p o & Paul B u t l e r
A g a w a m H u n t C.C.
4 t h Bill T u r n e r 8 C h a r l e s V o l p o n e
N a s h a w t u c C.C.

DONALDHEARN

Finance Chairman
, CGCS

MAX^MIERZWA

S
S 592-9540
r
0?f™PtK!

AL A U G E R ^

OF

N E W

E N G L A N D

I N C

Certification in
O r n a m e n t a l s and Turf
"Cat. 3" Letter
Dear Landscaper:

The specialty "training plus exam' sessions for Cat. 3, Ornamentals and Turf, will
be:

Date

Place

Time

1. Jan. 19, 1978

Berkshire Garden Center, Stockbridge, HA

9:00a

2. Jan. 10, 1978

Fernald Hall, Rm. D , UMASS, Amherst

3. Dec. 5, 1977

Waltham Field Station, Auditorium, 2^0
Beaver St., Waltham, ilA

h. Dec. 19, 1977

Waltham Field Station, Auditorium, 2k0
Beaver St., Waltham, MA

5. Dec. lU,

1977

i.-U :30p.m.

UMASS Medical Center, Worcester, IlA
Amph. //3

6. Jan. k, 1978

Essex County Agricultural School,
Auditorium of Smith Hall, Danvers, MA

7. Dec. 12, 1977

Bristol County Agricultural School,
Auditorium, Segregansett, MA

8. Jan. 7, 1978
(Sat.)

Barnstable High Cafeteria, TUU W. Main St.
Hyannis, MA

In all cases a required training session will be held from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Then
there will be a lunch break from noon to 1:00 p.m. You will be on your own for
lunch. In the afternoon (1:00 - !»:30) both exams (Turf and Ornamentals) will be
available. You can take either or both.
There will be no registration fee and no preregistration.
be on a first-come basis until the room is full.

Just show up.

It will

Sincerely,
Roy VanDriesche
Pesticide Coordinator
If you have any questions, call me at (Ul3)-5lt5-0932
Trainingmaterials available for $3.50. Request them from H. Barrett, Cottage A
UMASS, Amherst 01003. Make checks payable to the Cooperative Extension Service.
You should request the Ornamentals and Turf manual and the 1977 Insect and Disease
Control Guide. Study your materials before the exam date and bring them with you
to the exam as the exam is open-book.

JOB OPENING
Tatnuck C.C.
1222 Pleasant St.
Worcester, Mass. 01602
Attention: Wiggo Anderson

JOB WANTED
William G. Pennington
55 Glenwood Dr.
N. Kingstown, R.I. 02852
Tele 401-884-7315
Position Wanted - Asst. Supt.

Golf Chairman
BRIAN C O W A N
Robins Way
Harwich, Mass. 02645
Home Phone 432-9041
Office Phone 945-9230
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho Country Club

Educational Chairman
PETE COSTE, CGCS
89 Pleasant St.
Medfield, Mass. 02052
Home Phone 359-724"
Office Phone 566-0240
Club Affiliation
The Country Club

Newsletter Chairman
LARRY BUNN
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill Country Club

Past President
T H O M A S CURRAN
Fox Chase Rd.
South Sutton, N . H . 03273
Home Phone 938-5436
Office Phone 863-4500
Club Affiliation
Eastman Golf Club

Budget Preparation
As budget time draws closer, superintendents must pause and
do some real soul searching. Are we swimming treading water
or being swept down stream by the fast moving currents of
inflation, employee demands or (so called) management indifference. Let's look at these three areas and see if we can
control our destiny.
Fast moving currents - Inflation is increasing at an alarming
rate. We must expand our base of suppliers to get not only the
best price, but the most service for the dollar spent.
Labor now makes up 75% of our budgets (up from 60% in
1967). This is where we must concentrate our efforts. By having
more modern equipment, and better trained and education
employees, we can hold our budgets within reasonable limits.
Treading water - Webster defines treading water as "to keep
the head above water by moving the legs up and down." How
many of us have reached this point in our careers. This is
usually caused from negative feelings. We must keep a positive
attitude to deal with today's problems. Look at next year's
budget as a time for setting personal goals. Be realistic!
Swimming - Webster defines swimming as "the art of moving
smoothly through water." This is the category into which most
superintendents fall. They keep themselves informed. They
attend local, state and national meetings. They continually
educate themselves both technically and management wise.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, they keep management
well informed of their operation.
Be well informed. Keep a positive attitude. Communicate with
management. Three keys for success in 1978.
Credit: The South Florida Green
I n f o r m a t i o n 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 c o n t e x t is maintained. We w o u l d appreciate a
credit line.

Ptetue

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.
1121 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
55 Freeman Road
Yarmouthport, Mass. 02675
Holliston Sand Company, Inc.
Lowland Street, Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand for Golf Bunkers and Traps
J & E Supply, Inc.
66 Erna Ave.
P.O. Box 9
Milford, Conn. 06460
Tele (203) 87&-Q65.8

* Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson Kenneth Barrie Corp.
249 Milton St., Dedham, Mass. 02026
Golf Course Architects
Tel. (617) 364-3333
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002
C. S. Curran
T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.
* E-Z-Go Golf Car
Sales - Service - Rentals
Polaris/E-Z-Go Northeast
Box 817
North Falmouth, Mass. 02556
Farm Bureau Association
158 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass. 02154
Fred Heyliger, Representative
Bus. 893-3570 Home 772-3605

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.

Rep Ed. Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep Allen Cumps 1-413-253-2995.
Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, New Hampshire
t-800-528-5205

* Contributors to the Lawrence S.

Tom Irwin, Inc.
11B A Street
Burlington, Mass.
Karandrew Turf Farms, Inc.
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
15 Longmeadow Drive, Canton, Mass.
Larchmont Irrigation Co.
Larchmont Ln., Lexington, Mass.

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

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

Tuco Products Co.
Division of the Upjohn Company
Kalamazoo, Michigan
David Sylvester 203-828-3790

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

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

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

Philip A. Wogan
Golf Course Architect
21 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.

a Scholarship Fund

First Class
U . S. Postage

FIRST CLASS
Q J f C

LARRY BUNN

Newsletter Committee Chairman
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill Country Club
D O N A L D HEARN
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Co-ordinator
GERRY F I N N
Contributing Editor

PAID

Maynard, M A
Permit

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