I JANUARY, Qoif (bourse Superin ten den I5 OF NEW E N G L A N D , Aociation n?7 Sponsors a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s of the Lawrence S. Dicki nson 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. INC. Chalk Up A Double-Plus Don Hearn tries to play it down. But he can't get away with it. Our hard-working association treasurer and Newsletter business manager has taken a giant step for himself and golf course superintendents everywhere in his appointment as Operations Manager for the Weston Golf Club. "So far, so good," Don cautioned between trips to the budget message at last month's annual meeting. "I've had this new position for six weeks and it's working, really working. But I have an option should I find that the job is not my cup of tea. The people at Weston have told me I can return to the old position if I find that I don't want it to be my future." The setup at Weston is unique in that the club doesn't wish to be associated with the general manager concept. Hearn serves as manager of all operational phases at the club with the exception of the professional services. That leaves people like the golf pro, tennis pro and pool director on their own. They hire their own staffs and perform their duties under direction of the golf and house chairmen. "Actually, my main task is budgetary control," Don revealed. "I am in the business of delegating authority in those parts of the club where it involves income and outlay. I have set up four department heads. They are the assistant superintendent, the chef, assistant club manager and office manager. They and what they do are my responsibilities. And up to now, the changeover has been very smooth." Hearn attributes the flawless transition to a good rapport with other people employed by the club. "I've made it my responsibility to get along with everyone at Weston," he said. "I think that's the key to this thing becoming successful. There has to be good feeling and good communication among all of us. I concentrate on this." That delegation of authority also is a key to the still water ride Hearn is trying to effect. "There are things I never have to worryabout because they're in good hands," he explained. "One good example is our function manager. She's doing an excellent job. With her around, I can direct my time and effort to administration." His method of operating the club has benefited his outlay of personal time to the job, Hearn disclosed. "So far I haven't leaped into one of those 100-hour week situations," he said. "And I think it's because of the four-department arrangement. Everyone knows what he has to do and what time zone in which he does it. I don't have to run from one department to another with department heads like the ones I have." The irony of the development at Weston is the fact that Hearn never had such a position in mind when he went there to succeed the venerable Phil Cassidy. "I had spent all my earlier life working on the golf course and preparing myself to become a superintendent," Hearn remarked. "No one trained for this new position and it was never advertised. They just came to me and presented the particulars." Don can't explain why he has a penchant for balancing the old budget books, since he never had any formal training in that direction, other than what he picked up in high school. He graduated from the Stockbridge School of Agriculture in 1968 and plunged feverishly into the golf course business. . . making stops Don Hearn at Woburn, Thompson, Bellview and Lexington before he pulled into Weston. "I guess I haven't grasped the importance of such a move to my present job because I've been busy working out this period of adjustment," Don told. "It has to be good for the profession, the other superintendents who are capable of operating a country club because of their experience and knowledge relating to budgetary problems. I think I'm going to like this arrangement. But I don't want to be cast in a club manager mold. No, I never anticipated this would happen. All I wanted to do was be pleasant and give the members a good golf course." Whatever such advancements and show of managerial talents could mean something for the future of the golf course superintendent. This is good for Don Hearn. . . a plus for him and a plus for the profession. Some nice, quiet applause... please. Gerry Finn C'jofj' Course Superintendents Association Zoppo Re-elected President At Annual Meeting Wayne Zoppo, superintendent at Agawam Hunt Golf Club in E. Providence, R.I. was re-elected President of GCSA of New England at the annual meeting held Dec. 6, 1976 at the Dedham Inn, Dedham, Mass. Also elected were Dean Robertson, Chestnut Hill Country Club, First Vice President; Ron Kirkman CGCS, Needham Golf Club, Second Vice President; Dave Barber, Wayland Country Club, Secretary; Donald Hearn, Weston Golf Club, Treasurer; Max Mierzwa, Chicopee Country Club, Trustee; A1 Auger, Folly Hill Country Club, Finance Chairman; Brian Cowan, Eastward Ho Country Club, Golf Chairman; Pete Coste CGCS, The Country Club, Educational Chairman; and Larry Bunn, Blue Hill Country Club, Newsletter Chairman. Also returning to the board are Tom Curran, Eastman Golf Club, Past President; Paul Johnson Ferncroft Country Club, Trustee; and Art Washburn, CGCS, Cohasset Golf Club,"Trustee. After the elections President Zoppo gave recognition to the members of the board for the work they did the previous year. Further recognition was given to Gerry Finn for the articles he has written the past year in the Newsletter. LeonSt. Pieere CGCS, of Longmeadow Country Club for the work he has done for the Newsletter the past year and Dr. Joseph Troll, U. of Mass. for the work he has done for the association the past year. In closing, President Zoppo said he was looking forward to the coming year and felt it could be one of the best years for the association. In order for this to happen, he encouraged all members to cooperate and participate in as many functions and meetings as possible. Larry Bunn Left to right. Dr. Joseph Dean Robertson, Chairman Troll, Wayne Wallace, Dennis Lawrence S. Dickinson Trust Ingram, Fund. Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Award Winners Dennis R. Ingram and Wayne G. Wallace were presented scholarships at the Annual Meeting of the GCSA of New England. They are recipients of the Professor Lawrence S. Dickinson Memorial Trust Fund. This fund was established to honor Professor Dickinson, a pioneer in the field of turf. The fund was established and is administered by the GCSA of New England. Friends of the Association who have contributed to the fund have an asterick by their name on the last page of the Newsletter. Dennis is a senior at Stockbridge with an average of 3.4. He has worked at Pinehurst Country Club for three years under the late Richard Silvar, a former member of our association. Dennis did his placement with George Thompson at Columbia Country Club. Dennis is from Pinehurst, N.C. Wayne is also a senior at Stockbridge with an average of 3.2. He did his placement at Brae Burn Country Club under Bob Grant CGCS. Wayne is from Cranston, R.I. Good luck to both gentlemen. First Vice President W A Y N E ZOPPO 9 A Village Green North E. Providence, R.I. 02915 Home Phone 434-1759 Office Phone 434-8512 Club Affiliation Agawam Hunt Second Vice President DEAN ROBERTSON 24 Riverview Drive Newbury, Mass. 01950 Home Phone 462-4540 Office Phone 254-3678 Club Affiliation Chestnut Hill Country Club RONALD 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 Wayne Zoppo Gerry Finn Certification... A Re-examination It seems that a few feathers have been ruffled as a result of a justified criticism of the GCSAA's certification program which appeared on these pages a couple of months ago. The question was raised as to the feasibility of the GCSAA requiring certified golf course superintendents to meet a renewal obligation every five years or face the severe consequence of having their original certified status dropped. As was stated in the critique, the intent of promoting a continuous educational process for the super was worthwhile. However, it placed into this cycle of incessant study and examination an astonishingly low percentile of the GCSAA membership -13 percent, to be precise. A rebuttal from Clifford Wagoner offered the opinion that the overall program was designed to encourage superintendents to continue to grow by attending seminars, conferences and to read. And this is all well and good. But what we have in the renewal obligation and penalty for ignoring same is a minority persecution situation. Mr. Wagoner goes on to write... "It seems to me that certified status means more if all superintendents are not certified. The certification committee recognized that many qualified superintendents would not have the desire to participate and many others who are working as superintendents do not share a genuine interest in the profession. . ." If this be the case, there is an overwhelming majority of GCSAA members who do not share that so-called "genuine interest in the profession." Thirteen from 100 leaves 87 - 87% of all GCSAA members who have decided that certification is not in their best interest or the best interest of their means to a livelihood. The certification program recently entered its sixty year of operation and apparently the majority of those eligible to try and attain such status would rather not. Why? Certainly, the average superintendent did not foresee his future crowded by escalating demands on his time and mental -properties when he decided to enter the profession. Although the certification and recertification requirements cannot be placed on the same plane as a pursuit of extended formal education, they do place a burden on the superintendent - one apart from those he accepted in being responsible for the condition of the golf course. With the institution of the certification program, the GCSAA must have thought acceptance and response would certainly exceed the 13 percent participation it has experienced. From the looks of the numbers with certification status, it appears the program has taken a definite pattern of individual rather than general acceptance by the organization's membership. In other words, a personal motivation has been involved in the small amount of certified supers counted and a self-satisfaction of sorts has been among the "benefits." Obviously those "benefits" do not carry the clout necessary to get the other 87 percent of the membership into the program. And, just for the sake of preventing further rebuttal in this area, the percentages noted here were obtained in the middle of the program's fifth year. Continued on page 3 ! Finance Chairman D A V E BARBER 1 Muriel Road Chelmsford, Mass. 01824 Home Phone 256-4417 Office Phone 358-4882 Club Affiliation Wayland Country Club DONALDHEARN 4 Topeka Road Chelmsford, Mass. 01824 Home Phone 256-8709 Office Phone 894-5906. Club Affiliation Weston Golf Club PAUL JOHNSON RFD 1 Locust St. Middleton, Mass. 01949 Home Phone 777-0902 Office Phone 777-1134 Club Affiliation Fern'-—** Country Club ARTHUR 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 A L AUGER 3 Andover Rd. Beverly, Mass. 01915 Home Phone 927-0060 Office Phone 922-8511 Club Affiliation Folly Hill Country Club OF Newsletter Notes - Would like to welcome Anthony DeBettencourt of Vesper Country Club to our association. He was voted an assistant member and we hope he will be an active member in the association. Many thanks to Pete Coste for the work he did in preparing for the annual Christmas Party. The party was a great success and everyone who attended had an enjoyable evening. Also thanks to host Bob McGuire and the members of Mt. Pleasant Country Club for making their club available to our association. President Wayne Zoppo passed out praise to the members of the board of directors, Gerry Finn, Leon St. Pierce and Dr. Joseph Troll for the work they have done for the association over the past year. On behalf of the members of the association, I would like to thank Wayne for all the work he has done as president. He has spent a lot of extra hours working for the association and has added a lot of unnoticed ideas to the operation of our association. The following "Friends of the Association" have contributed to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Memorial Trust Fund. Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson; Larchmont Irrigation; The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.; Richey & Clapper, Inc.; and Sawtelle Brothers. The association would like to thank you for your support of this very worthwhile fund. Any company who would like to donate to the fund, please send your donation along to Don Hearn. Certification... Continued from page 2 In addition to having limited appeal to the majority of those in the GCSAA ranks, it just might be that the added requirement of renewing certification every five years is scaring away a goodly number of potential candidates. It would be ludicrous to assume that the average superintendent revels in the possibility that his future life will be filled with one examination or seminar after another. And for that reason, he cannot be very enthused over the prospects of having to worry about meeting a spiral of requirements as he wades through his profession. Isn't it allowed that we question the re-certification obligation? Maybe once is enough and maybe if once WERE enough, more supers would become certification candidates. After all, the GCSAA is not a wing of the Harvard Business School r L Gerry Finn NEW E N G L A N D , I N C . Dr. Troll reported that the plans for the turf conference are coming along well. As you know, there will be booths this year and so far he has sold 95 booths. The event will be held in the Civic Center in Springfield. The booths will be open about 10 hours at times when lectures are not being held. At the annual meeting last month, the membership voted to increase the dues from $30 to $40. This is the first increase since 1971. Over the past year there has been several rules that have been violated. One rule is that members may bring one prospective member to one meeting. That prospective member may partake in all activities of that meeting, except the right to vote. One other rule is that those who play golf will also pay for lunch. If a member does not play golf, he only pays for lunch. The last violation is not a rule, but does fall under our constitution and bylaws. Under Article II, Objects of the Association, number 4, the following is stated: To encourage the highest standards of dignity, integrity and skill in our profession. It seems to me, that the way we conduct ourselves at meetings and our personal appearance would fall under Objects of the Association. Please keep this in mind for future meetings. News from the GCSAA. For the first time the membership has gone over 4,300. This was accomplished in spite of the dues increase of last year. Official GCSAA Blazers are now available to members $ 3 lower than before. The kelly green blazers, 100% texturized polyester, can be ordered from GCSAA for $40. Don't forget to make your reservation for the 48th International Turfgrass Conference and Show to be held Feb. 6-11 in Portland, Oregon. More than 5,000 people are expected. There are more than 54 hours of educational opportunities from over 70 speakers available during the week. Also there are 4 pre-conference seminars and 100,800 square feet of exhibits of the latest equipment and turf maintenance products. All clubs should make every effort to send their superintendent to the finest show of its kind that is available anywhere. Your club will benefit. Subscriptions of the Newsletter are available to the public. The rate is $6 per year and send your request to the Newsletter Chairman. The Association recently was saddened by the death of Mrs. FredGrau. We would like to express our sympathy to Dr. Grau and his family. Larry Bunn Newsletter Chairman (UjrtHtmaB P art£ 1370 Mr. and Mrs. Tony Caranci sieve Butler Julie Aksten and Norman The following donated to the Annual Christmas Dinner Dance. . . TOM IRWIN CO., SAWTELLE BROTHERS ALFO INC CO.. THE CLAPPER CO.. O.iVI.SCOTT & SOMS. LARCHMONT I R R I G A T I O N CO. Many thanks for your contribution. 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 359-7247 Office Phone 566-0240 Club Affiliation Th6 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 Mucciarone O L D FOX CHEMICAL 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. We would appreciate a credit line. Ptetue 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. 1121 Washington St. West Newton, Mass. ficUwtije 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 Holliston 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., Dedham, Mass. 02026 Tel. (617) 364-3333 * Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson Tom Irwin, Inc. Golf Course Architects 11B 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 T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases * Larchmont Irrigation Co. 7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass. Larchmont Ln., Lexington, 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. Ron Gagne 746-7000 Rep. Allen Cumps 413-253-2995 Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc. Sod & Pine Bark Mulch Canterbury, New Hampshire 1-800-528-5205 Lee Lime Corp. Lee, Mass. (413) 243-0053 2 Special Lime Spreaders Designed for Golf Courses Rep. Bill Kershlis 413-253-7485 Mallinckrodt, Inc. Second and Mallinckrodt Streets St. Louis, Missouri 63147 Magovern Company, Inc. Lawn Acre Road Windsor Lock, Conn. D. L. Maher Box 127, Concord St. N. Reading, Mass. 01864 * Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund Canton, Mass. 02021 Home Phone 828-7266 Office Phone 828-6540 Club A f f i l i a t i o n Blue Hill Country Club DONALD HEARN Business Manager LEON ST. PIERRE Co-ordinator GERRY FINN Contributing Editor 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, Melrqse, Mass. 02176 Phone 617-665-5990 Sil Paulini, Inc. 6 Manor Avenue Matick, Mass. 01760 * Rid ey & Clapper, Inc. 28 P utledge Road Natii k, 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.