JULY 1977

our&e ^uperin
OF

N E W

ten den ti

E N G L A N D ,

~^lsioclation
INC

Sponsors 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.

Stick To Your Guns
At one point in this diatribe a familiar chord will strike the
memory cells of virtually everyone reading it.. . whether he be
superintendent or member of the green committee (the heart of
our audience).
The message herein is to the green committee. And, as the title
implies, it pleads with you to set up your programs for maintaining, changing or what of the golf course and stand steady in
the face of verbal bombardment from the members affected by
your decisions.
The examples of procrastinating in this direction abound. And
often the motivation behind it is, at the least, questionable.
Of course, you must be aware of the trend toward making the
old 18 hole spread more compact by bringing in roughs and
allowing for a more natural field of play setting. Included in this
move - which carries economic overtones - is a reduction in
cutting of fairways. It's like getting a haircut every three instead
of every two weeks.
In the process of "tightening" the course, the green committee
opens itself for criticism from members - those complaints obviously spawned by cases of rising scores and subsequently
fractured egos. Sometimes a man wills it upon himself to be a 10handicap golfer the rest of his life. . . whether he live to be 60, 70 or
80.
And here is where the green committee must adopt a system of
complete autonomy. It must not return the course to those
members whose fading swings and unrealistic handicaps put
pressure on individuals making up the committee. It must
assume a "what's done is done" posture even though consequences from such position appear dangerous.
Oh, why beat about the bush here?
Those consequences are frightfully harmful to the overall
picture of providing a golf course without having to worry about
how social and business associations will be affected.
This is sticky situation country since business associations at
the country club are a part of the complete package. Members of
the green committee, then, are constantly in the sniping sights of
so-called friends and "customers". There rises the possibility of a
storm from the social climate and a backlash from the business
circle.
You don't think much of this reasoning? If you don't, your head
is stuck in a sand trap somewhere and at this point in time you are
about to flip this piece in the wastebasket.
All right, so the obligations of the green committee have been
covered. They should be based and carried out to the many rather
than the few. The subtle pressures from friends and clients must
be handled without giving ground. No backing off there.
Another suggestion to the same committee is adoption of a longrange plan in regard to changes and improvements. How many
times has the superintendent been authorized to remove a sand
trap one year, then told to restore it three years later? Again, the
matter here has economic overtones and the plan which promotes
continuing and cycling change is the one which will breed
economic headaches.
Let's review things. Tighter courses cut down expenses but
raise handicaps. And complaints are sure to follow. Do you waver

or stand tall? Changes in designs, hazards, etc., should not have a
whimsical force behind them. Do you plan for today or plan for
tomorrow?
The green committee is on the spot in each of these matters. Its
job is not all that easy... but most important jobs aren't.
Gerry Finn

NEXT MEETING
Mon., July 11, 1977
Halifax Country Club
Superintendent's Championship
Director's Meeting
Regular Meeting
Buffet Lunch
Golf Following

10 a.m.
11 a.m.
12 Noon

Directions:
From
Rte. 24 take
W.
Bridgewater exit. Follow Rte. 106 for 10 miles.
Club is on the right. From Rte. 3 take Rte. 3A
exit in Kingston. This runs into Rte. 106.
Follow 8 miles. Club is on the left.
Host Superintendent this month is Frank
M u r p h y . Frank has been Superintendent at
M t . Washington Valley C.C., N.H., Boca Raton
in Florida, was Asst. to John Callahan at
Spring Valley for 4 years, and came to Halifax
C.C. in its second year in 1968. He is a graduate
of Boston College with a degree in Biology.
Halifax C.C. is known as one of the finest golf
courses anywhere and the credit for its
reputation certainly goes to Frank. The course
will be an excellent test for our championship
tournament.

TO BE V O T E D ON N E X T M E E T I N G
For Associate Membership, Edmund B.
Fraser of Chelmsford Country Club and
Robert J. M c l n t y r e of Holden Hills Country
Club.

ourde Superintendents

~ <45 Aocicition

Recurring Menace
For a while it was thought to have been stifled. . . scrubbed
forever and written off as a foolish mistake.
However, that old, nagging annoyance of the country club
general manager theory is finding its way back into the already
complicated life of the golf course superintendent. Thus, its
resurrection is deserving of comment... the critical kind.
Ah, there should be included a third party here -- part of the
defense, as it were, since the golf professional also is affected by
the silly overseer concept. Surely, he must be aware of the hard
times ahead should the general manager system be adopted.
The idea behind having one person occupy the executive suite of
directing the three services (clubhouse, pro shop, golf course) of
the country club is idealistically sound but hollow in practicality.
A better co-ordination of delivering these services would appearto be sensible. However, invariably one source of service suffers
at the expense of another when the general manager cracks his
whip.
Better co-ordination, in the case of the financially-dragging
country club, always means a tightening of the budget. And a
matter of history proves the tightening of the purse strings
translates into robbing the grounds to refurbish the clubhouse.
And this is where the superintendent bears the brunt of the administrative changeover.
Since most country clubs are "romanced" into selecting the
club manager as their general manager, it's rather ludicrous of
them to offer sound reasoning for the popular selection. For the
most part, the club manager is closest to the individual member
and by reason of his business suit appearance for most of that
association, he is deemed the logical choice to become an
executive.
It is indeed strange that the club manager even be considered
for the genral manager post. It is no secret that the financial
losses at most country clubs begin and end in the clubhouse. If it
weren't for hugh intake of liquor receipts, virtually every country
club in existence would revert to a public golf course operation.
The term "white elephant" has been synonymous with the post-

audit comments of the country club. And the source of that
descriptive resides in the clubhouse.
But let's not tie the poor club manager to the stake and smoke
out his ambitions. In many cases the unsuspecting fellow falls into
the trap of being "appointed" general manager without campaigning for the title. He just happens to be around when members get to thinking that another executive vice-president should
be created.
The slam against the club manager is meant only because
certain of the breed believe they can take crash courses in the
other two fields (professional and superintendent) and become
experts in each overnight. It's not confined to the club manager
but he is the most likely of the three to take that route to the top.
of this reminder of the recurrence of the general
manager menace is not to speak out against individual pursuers
of that position but against the concept, itself. True, the thought
behind the system is to place a co-ordinator at the top and give
him the task of tying the three services together,
three seryices together.
But this is bad because the services are divorced from one
another by the very nature of what each provides. Therefore, it is
almost impossible to administer all three services with one ruling
hand. However, if there is a connection between, say, lobsters and
dollar spot on the 18th green, perhaps all of this preaching is for
the birds. Until that connection approaches logic, the country club
should stick with the three-job concept and let each assume
responsibility for his own contribution to the operation of it.
Gerry Finn

Family Picnic
August 15, 1977
A f a m i l y picnic to be held at Francis F a r m
in Rehobeth, Mass. w i l l be held on Monday,
August 15, 1977. We w i l l join the superintendents and their families f r o m the Rhode
Island association for a day of fun. Softball,
horseshoe, basketball and volleyball w i l l be
just a few of the games for an exciting day. A t
12 noon clam cakes and chowder w i l l be
served and at 5:30 a traditional New England
clam bake w i t h all the t r i m m i n g s w i l l be
served. M a k e plans now to attend the picnic
for an exciting fun filled day!

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 Vice President

DEAN ROBERTSON
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 01950
Home Pnone 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

Answers to EEOC
True-False Test
1. T
2. T
3. F 40-65
4. T
5. F
6. F
7. F
S. F*
9. T
10. T
11. T
12. T
*May

be true

13. F
14. T
15. T O F * *
16. F
17. F
18. F
19. T
20 F S e l d o m
21. F
22. T
23. F
24. F
if test has been

25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.

F
37. T
T
38. T
F***
39. T
F One month 40. F
F
41. F
F
42. T
TOF"*
43. F
F
-44. F
T
45. F
T
46. T
47. T
T
T

validated

**This answer is generally
true; it is false, however,
if the
employee's
work cannot be done by another
employee
of
substantially
similar qualifications
during his absence on the
Sabbath.
The employer
has the burden of proving
that
undue hardship
would result from accommodating
the
employee's
religious
needs.
***Women
must be raised to $2.80 if they perform
equal skill, effort and responsibility
and the jobs are
formed under the same working
conditions.
****The
sex is a

answer
BFOQ.

is generally

false; it is true,

however,

with
per-

if

Finance Chairman

J
DAVE 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 WASHBURN, CGCS
520 No. M a i n St.
Cohasset, Mass. 02025
Home Phone 383-9532
Office Phone 383-1870
Club Affiliation
Cohasset Golf Club

MAX MIERZWA
10PCrestwood St.
Chicopee, Mass. 01020
Home Phone 594-4996
Office Phone 592-9540
Club Affiliation
Chicopee Country Club

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

OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

INC.

Bylaw Amendments
The following bylaws were printed in the May Newsletter and
were to be voted on at that meeting. Because of the snowstorm the
meeting was not held. The bylaws were read at the April meeting
by President Wayne Zoppo.
In accordance with our bylaws as stated in Article XIII: These
bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Regular
Members at any Regular meeting of the Association providing the
amendents are included in the notice of said meeting. The next
Regular meeting of our Association to be held is Monday, July 11,
1977 at Halifax Country Club. The following bylaw changes or
additions will be voted on:
Present Bylaw
Page 8 - Article IV - Section 7 - Item 1
When a 25 year member retires as a Golf Course Superintendent or is permanently disabled, he becomes a Life Member.
He shall have all the privileges of the Association except to hold
office. He shall not pay annual dues.
Proposed Bylaw
Page 8 - Article IV - Section 7 - Item 1
When a 25 year member retires as a Golf Course Superintendent or is permanently disabled, he becomes a Life Member. A
member with less than 25 years may become a Life member at
the descretion of the Board of Directors. He shall have all the
privileges of the Association except to hold office. He shall not pay
annual dues.
Proposed Bylaw
Junior Associate Member
1. A Junior Associate Member shall be employed as a
superintendent of a golf course and shall be primarily interested
in golf course maintenance. A Junior Associate Member will not
have the right to vote or hold office and shall pay the initiation fee
and the annual dues established by the Association. One who has
been a Junior Associate Member for three years shall
automatically qualify as an Associate Member.

Improve Your Decision -

Winners of the Superintendent-Chairman
Tournament
held
at Frankiin
C.C. From the left is Bud Willmott
and Mel
O'Kelley
from Marshfield
C.C., low gross winners.
Bill
Carter and Bruce Congdon from Foxboro
C.C., low net
winners.

From the left is J. P. Jones and Mike Bartucca of Walpole
C. C. and Marshall Goodwin and Richard Gil/is from Sharon
C.C.

Superintendent-Greens Chairman

Tournament Results
Individual Tournament

M a k i n g Process
The golf course superintendent makes decisions every day in
every area of his work. Most are good decisions, or he wouldn't be
where he is. But some aren't so good, and then the superintendent
should review his decision-making process. Here are four
suggestions for making good decisions.
First, ask others for their opinions. Incorporate worthy ones
into your thinking but don't base your decisions solely on someone
else's opinions.
Second, approach decision-making with creativity, as explained above. Don't assume that what worked in the past will
still work today - check it out.
Third, use your intuition and play your hunches, but temper
them with facts. Legitimate hunches can be easily confirmed by
seeking out relevant information.
Fourth, attack the problem. Don't procrastinate, hoping it will
go away or solve itself. Fight problems with action, not inaction.
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
The Country Club

Newsletter Chairman
LARRY BUNN
145DedhamSt.
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

Bob Johnston

71

Richard Petty

71

Pete Coste

71

FIRST GROSS

Mel O'Kelley
Bob Willmont

Marshfild C.C. 76

FIRST NET

Bill Carter
Bruce Congdon

Foxboro C.C. 64

SECOND NET

Ron Kirkman
John Reilly

Needham C.C. 65

THIRD NET

Norm Mucciarone
T. O'Rouke

W o o d l a n d C.C. 66

j.P. Jones
Mike Bartucca

Walpole C.C. 66

Nary Sperandio
Dave M a k o w n

Concord C.C. 66

Information contained in this publication may be used
freely, in whole 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.

fiatvwije

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.

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

The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Wethersfield, Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Steve Hart, Rep.
203-529-2537

1 & E Supply, Inc.
66 Erna Ave.
P.O. Box 9
Milford, Conn. 06460
Tele (203) 878-0658

The Clapper Co.
1121 Washington St.
West Newton, Mass.

Kenneth T5arrie Corp.
249 Milton St., Dedharn, 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
Lee Lime Corp.
Sales - Service - Rentals
Lee, Mass. (413) 243-0053
Polaris/E-Z-Go Northeast
2 Special Lime Spreaders
Box 817
Designed for Golf Courses
North Falmouth, Mass. 02556
Rep. Bill Kershlis 413-253-7485
Farm Bureau Association
158 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass. 02154 Mallinckrodt, Inc.
Fred Heyliger, Representative
Second and Mallinckrodt Streets
Bus. 893-3570 Home 772-3605
St. Louis, Missouri 63147
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
1-800-528-5205

NEWSLETTER

Magovern Company, Inc.
Lawn Acre Road
Windsor Lock, Conn.
* D. L. Maher
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading, Mass. 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 Providencc, Rhode Island 02914
P & L Equipment Corp.
Golf Cars & Commercial Turf Equipment
80 Lynde Street. Melrose, Mass. 02176
~ Phone 61 7-665-5990
Sil Paulini, Inc.
6 Manor Avenue
Natick, Mass. 01760
* Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Road
Natick, Mass. 01760
Trencher & Equipment Leasing, Inc.
Ditch Witch Tre nchers
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.

1

* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund

tendents

I.VUnt <itu>

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 BEARN
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Co-ordmator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

F i r s t Class
U . S . Postage

FIRST CLASS

PAID
Maynard,
Permit

MA

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