MAY 1977

(Gourde Superintendents
OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

ociation
SNC.

Sponsors a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s 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.

Private or Public??????
It used to be that golfers
were the only ones of the breed
who concerned themselves
with the private-public option.
The almighty breaker of par
would look upon his potential
kingdom and reveal his
allegiance to one or the other.
In most cases, it was a dollars
and cents drive behind the
decision. You get a good deal
you go here; you don't and you
go elsewhere.
That was the plight of the golfer. If he couldn't make ends meet
as a member of a private club, he uprooted himself and went to
bring about that clear financial conscience in the sky by defecting
to the public course.
At that, some of the public layouts have made themselves a
lucrative attraction to the golfer in the street. There are those
courses that offer the potential "member" starting times, a place
in a tournament atmosphere and overall country club benefits. . .
such as social events, club championships, member-guest tests
and the other scattered come-ons.
Therefore it should not come as any shock that the golf course
superintendent is viewing the catch-all effect of his profession in
the same light as the man walking the fairways and setting his
sights on a par-breaking round. The superintendent has to look at
the light of his money-making life. And, from certain examples of
supers taking it upon themselves to think and act away from the
accepted private sector, the public course looms as the equalizer
in establishing some kind of protection for the man who's supposed to keep the grass green.
There has been a sort of unwritten rule that the best superintendent job is found in the private club environment. Obviously,
the reputation of the club, its members etc. must have much to do
with the ensuing reputation of the super. In other words, you work
at a first-class club and you get first-class hurrahs.
But. . . and this is a big but, there is a mushrooming movement
among the golf course superintendents which breathes of a
rebellion. The average super (that man who has 10 or more years
of service behind him) believes he should have the same type of
protection and job security as his peers in other related jobs. And
for this reason, some of the superintendents are wending their
way into public golf courses (municipal layouts, too) where their
talent is appreciated rather than questioned.
The impetus for such a story as this is provided by one of the
real contributors to the profession... a veteran private club super
who suddenly has come to realize that he no longer can survive
under the whip of the country club set.
"I can'tsee me going to another private club," he told. "Sure, I
had my good years and years when the whole idea of super, club
manager, pro and members getting together meant something to
the well-being of the club. But I've discovered that I can't continue
to maintain my interest in such an arrangement. If I ever take
another job in this field, it will be at a public course."

Public course setup is not that bad. In most instances, the public
or muny superintendent is treated on a business basis. He has a
solid hour to hour working schedule, pensions are thrown in, other
benefits filter through the relationship and. . . in the word of one
outsider. . . "it's not that damn bad."
Continued on page 2
NEXT MEETING
Tuesday May 10, 1977
Woonsocket Country Club, Woonsocket, R.I
Directors Meeting 10:00 a.m.
Membership Meeting 11:00 a.m.
Lunch 12:00 noon
Golf 1:00 p.m.

DIRECTIONS: From Rt@. 495 take exit #8
Rte. 126 to Beilingham and Woonsocket.
Stay on Rte. 126 until you come to Wrentham
Road. Take left onto Wrentham Road until
you come to Paine Street. Take right onto
Paine Street and club is
mile down Paine
Street. From Rte. 295 take Rte. 122 north
until you come to Mendon Road. Take right
onto Mendon Road until you come to Paine
Street. Take right onto Paine Street and club
is 1/4 mile down Paine Street.

Our host for this meeting is George Machado
j r . He is a new member of our association
and this is a good opportunity for our members to meet George. George graduated from
Stockbridge School of Agriculture 2 year
program in 1964. He was Assistant to
Sherwood Moore at W i n g Foot before
moving on to Bonnie Briar Country CSub in
New York. After 8 years at Bonnie Briar he
came to Woonsocket Country Club. This Is
his second year at Woonsocket Country Club.
This is the first time our association has had
the opportunity to visit Woonsocket Country
Club and we are looking forward to meeting
George.

gjf course

.Super In ten den td
^IsAociation
Turf Games Tough

The introduction of artificial turf to stadiums, parks and their
related life has had its effect on the good, old natural item. At one
time it was thought that all the green, green grass of home would
come up as phony fescue. The easier the plant, the easier the
bloom.
However, there is a comeback underway on the part of natural
turf growers and distributors. Some of the physical effects of
bouncing over the artificial surface have caused a second look at
the situation. In fact, the National Football League players
association is fighting to restore natural turf to the gridiron. It has
managed to bring about a tempered restriction on the use of artificial turf. In NFL stadiums, no natural surface may be replaced
by the phony species and any new fields must be the real, grassy
thing.
The sod business, as such, is on the upswing after a two-three
year period of tough sell status. A combination of an overall
sagging economy and a limp construction business cycle ate into
any inroads the natural turf people had made.
Actually, the natural product went short upon the introduction
of AstroTurf, Polyturf and other brand names of carpet designed
to replace grass. And here is where the "growers" have to smirk.
George Stewart, president and owner of Karendrew Farms,
thinks the artificial surface boys sold the sports world a bill of
goods. "It was the greatest promotional campaign in the history
of the business," Stewart said. "They made everybody believe
that their product was one which was maintenance-free and all
that stuff. Well, the results of its use is proof that maintenance of
artificial turf is almost as extensive as natural turf."
This view is shared by Don Mackay of the Shepard Sod Company. "I have to think that the trend at this stage of the game is a
return to natural turf," he remarked. "Somewhere along the line,
a bill of goods was sold to the people. For example, a football field
of artificial turf can run up to four and five hundred thousand

dollars. We can duplicate that for around $20,000. Basic
mathematics tell you that we can produce a new surface for 15 or
20 years and give the players what they want. . . a natural cushion
to land on."
So far. . . among the major stadiums. . . the only conversion
from artificial to natural turf has taken place at Miami's Orange
Bowl. There has been a lot of talk in regards to other fields
reconverting their surfaces but no official word of such a change
is forthcoming.
The new underground drainage system for natural turf fields,
as tested and approved at Purdue University, could have a
marked effect on the future of natural turf. The invention controls
moisture on a field, an asset that could bring about a drastic
turnabout in future stadium construction.
Football fields at Purdue and Princeton have been equipped
with this new drainage aid. There is speculation that these
grounds will be treated as the source of guidelines for the future of
natural-turfed stadiums. So far, the results of tests on the two
locales reveal that natural turf is superior to artificial turf under
similar weather conditions.
Whatever, the turf game continues tough. You hear of an
Orange Bowl going natural after a suspicious experience with
artificial turf. Yet, the New England Patriots are said to be ready
to rip out their Polyturf and substitute a new, synthetic material. .
. definitely not the natural kind the NFL players prefer.
However, the trend seems to be drifting back to natural. For
some unknown reason, people are tuned to the simple life which
includes the natural form of grass rather than the manufactured
kind.
What matters most, though, is what business thinks of the whole
thing. How much will it cost and how often will I have to replace
it? At the going prices. . . including consideration for maintenance. .. good, old fashioned sod is on the way back.
Gerry Finn

NEW MEMBERS
TOURNAMENT RESULTS AT
EASTWARD HO COUNTRY CLUB

CONGRATULATIONS to George Machado
Jr, of Woonsocket Country Club and Richard
Zepp of Whitsnsvilie Golf Club. They were
voted in as Associate members.
TO BE VOTED on at the next meeting for
Associate Membership. Edmund B. Fraser,
Chelmsford Country Club. Robert J. Mclntyre,
Holden Hills Country Club.

Continued from page 1
Obviously, the good and bad of any relationship can be starred
in the review of the golf course superintendent's plight. What
seems to be a gnawing grip on the super is his relationship with
the people he serves. Most of them are sick and tired of the
uninformed private club member's evaluation of their contribution to the course's condition.
A very common cry now, among supers, is the yen to go public
instead of private. "I was sick and tired of having to respond to
the questions of 400 members," one ex-private club super
disclosed. "I would rather go to a smaller, no-name course and go
about my business without interference from people who don't
know what they're talking about. At the public course, the player
just plays. That's the difference, as far as I'm concerned. I don't
need anybody telling me what I should do at my job. I'm happy
being left alone."
Gerry Finn
First Vice President
W A Y N E ZOPPO
9 A Village Green N o r l h
E Providence, R I . 02915
H o m e Phone 434-1759
Office Phone 434-8512
Club Affiliation
Agawam Hunt

Second Vice President

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

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 A f f i l i a t i o n
Needham Golf Clul

First Gross - Team
Mel O'Kelley
Lynn Blodgett
Bob Mucciarone

First Net - Team
Bruce Carlson
Jim Fitzroy
Nary Sperandio
Allan Cumps

58

74

Second Net • Team
Brian Cowan
Larry Bunn
62
Max Mierzwa
Tony De Bettencourt

Third Net-Team
Steve Kristof
Joe Rybka
Steve Butler
Robert Johnston

63

Longest Drive • Biil Carter
Closest to Pin • Larry Bunn
Prizes to be distributed at the next meeting

Secretary
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

Finance Chairman
DONALD HEARN
4 Topeka Road
Chelmsford, Mass 01824
Home Phone 256-B709
Office Phone 894-5906 •
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
W e s t o n Golf C l u b

PAUL JOHNSON
R F D 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 Affiliation
11
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 A f f i l i a t i o n
Cohasset Golf Club

MAX MIERZWA
106 Crestwood St
Chicopee, Mass 01020
Home Phone 594-4996
Office Phone 592-9540
Club Affiliation
Chicopee C o u n t r y Club

AL A U G E R
3 Andover Rd.
Beverly, Mass. 01915
Home Phone 927-0060
Office Phone 922-8511
Folly H i l l Country Club

OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

INC

Bylaw Amendments
At the last meeting held at Eastward Ho Country Club,
President Wayne Zoppo read the following bylaw proposal and
addition. 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 amendments are included in the notice of said
meeting.
At the next Regular Meeting of our Association to be held
Tuesday May 10, 1977 at Woonsocket 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.

Newsletter Notes
At our next meeting held at Woonsocket Country Club we will be
honoring two 50 year members. They are Ed Phinney and John
Latvis. It is quite an honor these two gentlemen have attained and
the recognition they receive is certainly earned.
Sorry to hear that Jim Dierio of Augusta Country Club in
Augusta, Maine has been sick. Hope you're feeling better and will
be back on your feet soon.
There will be a one day OSHA Compliance Training Program
conducted by a former Compliance Officer on the following dates:
Boston May 16,1977 at Howard Johnson - Park Plaza
Boston May 17,1977 at the Holiday Inn - Framingham
Hartford May 18,1977 at the Holiday Inn - Meriden
This will give information and answer questions to all phases of
OSHA requirements and laws. Registration Fee is $85 for 1 person
or $70 for 2-4 people. Information/or registration fee may be
obtained/or sent to the following:
Occupational Safety Associates
888 National Press Bldg.,
Washington, D.C. 20004
Richard Duggan received a Tuco Turf Scholarship for 1977.
Richard is a senior at Stockbridge School of Agriculture and
worked for Nary Sperandio at Concord Country Club. William
Flore also a senior at Stockbridge received a Tuco Tuff
Scholarship. Flore is a native of Springfield, Vt.
Sawtelle Brothers have announced the winners of their door
prizes from the U. Mass. turf conference. The winners are Andy
Dewey of Stanford Seed Co. in Lincoln, R.I. (Digital Clock Radio)
and Ron Woodger. President of J. H. Woodger, Inc. of Lenox,
Mass. (C.B. Radio)
Race Brook Country Club in Connecticut came up with a great
idea for raising money for scholarship and research. They held a
golf tournament called "Revenge" which consisted of pin
placements and tee locations in places where members have
never seen them before. It was a fun type tournament and there
was a lot of joking about 4 putt and 5 putt greens in the locker
room afterwards. The greens committee donated prizes of grass

Educational Chairman
BRIAN COWAN
Robins W a y
H a r w i c h , Mass. 02645
Home Phone 432-9041
Office Phone 945-9230
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Eastward Ho Country Club

PETE COSTE, CGCS
89 Pleasant St.
M e d f i e l d , Mass. 02052
Home Phone 359-724?
Office Phone 566-0240
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The C o u n t r y C l u b

Newsletter Chairman
LARRY B U N N
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 0202T
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue H i l l C o u n t r y Club

seed and fertilizer. The money raised was turned over to local
Connecticut Association of Golf Course Superintendents for
scholarships and research.
Some people think golf is an easy game. But Henry Aaron, the
all time homerun king of baseball, will disagree. Henry said it
took him 17 years in baseball to get 3000 hits and just one week on
the golf course.
Our meeting at Eastward Ho Country Club was a great start for
our outdoor season. The weather was a little cool, but not too bad.
The lunch was terrific and the hospitality was warm and friendly.
The golf course was a real challenge and in great condition for so
early in the season after the hard winter we have experienced.
Many thanks to Brian Cowan, our host, and the staff of Eastward
Ho Country Club.
Thanks to the Manager of Eastward Ho Country Club who saved
our association an unnecessary expense. Brian received 50 replies
for lunch reservations and only 43 showed. One person who made
a reservation and could not attend did call Brian in advance to let
him know he could not make the meeting. Not calling shows little
respect for the superintendents who are our hosts for the
meetings. It could put him in an embarrassing situation at his
club. If you have a 1st minute change one way or the other please
contact the host superintendent.
Also there were a number of golfers who left before the winners
were announced. You can't expect Brian to deliver prizes every
meeting.
A reminder of a couple of association rules that were passed in
January of 1975.
1. Members may bring prospective members to one meeting.
The prospective member may partake in all activities, excepting
the right to vote.
2. Mandatory attendance at dinner during golf meetings. There
shall be one charge for both dinner and golf. For those not playing
golf, only the dinner cost will be charged.
Please observe these association rules. Hope to see you all at
Woonsocket Country Club.
Larry Bunn
Newsletter Chairman

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

I n f o r m a t i o n contained in this p u b l i c a t i o n 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.

J

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

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
I & E Supply, Inc.
66 Erna Ave.
P.O. Box 9
Milford, Conn. 06460
Tele (203) 878-0658
Kenneth Barrie Corp.
249 Milton St., Dedliam, Mass. 02026
Tel. (617) 364-3333

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

* 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
* 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, 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 Providence, Rhode Island 02914
P & L Equipment Corp.
Golf Cars & Commercial Turf Equipment
80 Lynde Street, MelroserMass. 0 2 1 7 6 '
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 to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund

First Class
U . S . Postage

' j c f f (bourse Superintendents
OF

NEW

ENGLAND,

l:,U/iiuiio
INC.

L A R R Y BUNN
Newsletter Committee Chairman
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Ctub A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue Hill Country Club
DONALD HEARN
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Coordinator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

FIRST CLASS

PAID

Maynard, M A
Permit # 1 7