Nl

Qotf

(Gourde
O r

Uiperin ten dents

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

i 6 ocia tion

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.

I N C .

40 Years Later
It's generally accepted as fact that no one before him or no one
who followed him to the presidency of the Golf Coarse
Superintendents' Association of America has left as much as a
favorable impression as Bob Williams.
You could hear it in the buzzing of supers gathered at the
UMass Turf Conference last month ... "a good man" ... "best we
ever had" ... "he knows his business" ... "there'll never be
another like him." So, Bob Williams holds the respect of one and
all in the profession. And what he says will never go in one ear
and out the other.
Williams, now in his 52nd year of chasing down the formula for
putting a permanent glow on the condition of the golf course,
tossed the budget around during his appearance on the conference panel of experts. He's a budget genius in a way. He has
to be. They say that his course in Highland Park, Illinois (Bob
O'Link Golf Club) is a showcase of his talents -- one of the gems
of the midwest.
One of Bob's favorite subjects is the superintendent's
profession and the progress it has made since his early dabblings in it. He was just 12 years old when he became interested
in turf, golf courses and what make them do the things they do.
"Most of it is still a mystery to me," he laughed. "I suppose
we've come a long way with our methods and such. But plants
still keep dying, aon'tthey?"
Williams recalls his teeth-cutting days at the University of
Massachusetts when he studied under Professor Lawrence S.
Dickinson. Those memorable classroom lectures seem like only
yesterday but they actually were delivered some 40 years ago.
"You know, Prof. Dickinson was 40 years ahead of his time,"
Williams remarked. "I can remember him standing up there
and telling us that we had to concentrate on the business end of
the profession, that we would become the most important official in the club and on the course. We had to be prepared to do
something more than grow grass and keep it green."
That phase of the superintendent's responsibilities remains an
actue problem, according to Williams. "We're still too grassoriented and not enough business-oriented," he declared. "But I
do have to say I have noticed an improvement in things the last
few years. Probably, it's because of the club's realization that
before anything can happen, there has to be a golf course. You
don't build a restaurant without the course, you don't dig a pool
or you don't think of having fancy parties ... unless the entire
undertaking has a base. That base is the golf course."
Williams has a double-take outlook of the general manager
concept, one which has been an issue in some parts of the
country. "It's all a case of whether you can afford the luxury of
the three-management system," Bob advised. "The ideal - and
most expensive - is to have separate wings with the superintendent, golf professional and clubhouse manager at the
respective tops. Note, I said clubhouse manager and not club
manager. They are two different things."
When asked what he thought was the biggest weakness of the
superintendent, Williams peeled off four points. "The super of
today has to be well versed in business management, com-

munications, the written word and the spoken word," he said.
"The only way he can improve in these fields is by attending
seminars and reading. You know, the superintendent especially the young one -- should have people in his profession
that he looks up to ... an image to be emulated. We have some
very good people in the business and they should do more work
in exposure to the rest of the profession. Seminars and conferences like this are perfect for projecting that image and
inspiring improvement in others."
But Williams keeps going back to Prof. Dickinson and his
UMass litany. "The superintendent is part of the country club's
most important income-generating ingredient - the golf
course," he concluded. "That means his job is one of managing
that ingredient in the business-like manner. His decisions are
the most vital made. It's time that he realized this and did
something to tone his executive muscles."
Gerry Finn
NEXT MEETING
April 3,1978
Dedham Snn, Dedham, Mass.
Director's Meeting • 9:30 a.m.

Lunch on your own

Regular Meeting • 1:00 p.m.
Educational Program • 2:00 p.m.
Directions: Off Rte. 123 take Exit 60,
Rte. 1 North. Take right at lights by
theatre, Dedham Inn 1/4 mile on right.
MAY

MEETING

May 8 , 1 9 7 8
W e l i e s l e y C.C., W e l l e s l e y , Mass.
D i r e c t o r ' s M e e t i n g • 10 a.m.
Regular M e e t i n g - 1 1 a.m.
Lunch-12 Noon-$6.00
W e h a v e b e e r a n d w i n e o n l y . If y o u w a n t t o b r i n g y o u r o w n
b o t t l e w e h a v e s e t u p s f o r sale.

Golf • 1 p.m.
H o s t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t - T o m S c h o f i e l d , CGCS
D i r e c t i o n s : F r o m R o u t e 128 take R o u t e
9 w e s t 1/2 m i l e t o Cedar Street. Take
s e c o n d exit under b r i d g e (NeedhamDover). Foiiovv t h e y e l l o w line in t h e
road t o t h e c i u b , 1-1/2 m i i e s .
Reservation c u t - o f f May 3, 1978
T e l e p h o n e 235-7333, Ext. 25
Mail to: W e l l e s l e y C o u n t r y C l u b
Box 14
W e l l e s l e y Hills, Mass. 02181

ourSe

Superintendents

dissociation

"Have a Good Shot of Ryef/
Paul Voykin is that man in every energetic crowd who has to
be different. Mind you, he's not batting cleanup against convention just for the sake of attention or making loud noises. This
maverick rides hard on the traditionally-accepted methods of
grooming a golf course and usually stays in the saddle.
Voykin is the popular golf course superintendent at the
Briarwood Country Club in Highland Park, Illinois. He makes
the rounds of national and regional turf seminars because he is
much in demand. An innovator - a revolutionist, if you will - he
still draws crowds, wraps them to his own specifications with his
expert approach to a subject and sends them away praising his
presentation. He even makes a few converts along the way.
His topic at the UMass Turf Conference last month in
Springfield was an interesting one -- short cuts in golf course
maintenance. In these days of economic belt-tightening and
budget belching, the super always is looking for the shortest
route between a problem and a solution.
"The first thing I tell anybody about the shortest of the short
cuts is its name," he quipped. "The shortest cut to maintenance
... I think we're talking management, too ... is hiring an experienced, qualified superintendent. And, when I'm speaking to
FUTURE DATES FOR PESTICIDE EXAMINATIONS
April 7

Essex C o u n t y A g r i c u l t u r e S c h o o l
Danvers, Mass.
10:00 a.m.

April 21

W a l t h a m Field S t a t i o n
W a l t h a m , Mass.
10:00 a.m.

May 19

W o r c e s t e r C o u n t y E x t e n s i o n Service
W o r c e s t e r , Mass.
10:00 a.m.

May 5

Cranberry E x p e r i m e n t a l S t a t i o n
E. W a r e h a m , Mass.
10:00 a.m.

May 26

Fanual Hall, U. of Mass.
A m h e r s t , Mass.
7:30 p.m.
Bershire Garden Center Rt 102 & 183
S t o c k b r i d g e , Mass.
1:00 p.m.

June 2

Essex C o u n t y A g r i c u l t u r e S c h o o l
Danvers, Mass.
10:00 a.m.
W a l t h a m Field S t a t i o n
W a l t h a m , Mass.
10:00 a.m.

_'„

Exams available:
Core E x a m i n a t i o n
Shade Tree O r n a m e n t a l s & Turf

J O B W A N T E D — Seeking p o s i t i o n as A s s i s t a n t Superint e n d e n t . Please w r i t e o r c a l l :
J o h n R. Marcoullier
25 Riley Dr.
E. Providence, R.I. 02915
1-401-434-1678

Study material available at:
H. Barrett, C o t t a g e A
U. of Mass., A m h e r s t , Mass. 01003
Core manual cost $2.50 - Ornamental & Turf manual cost $3.50
Make c h e c k s payable to: Mass. Co-op E x t e n s i o n Service

PRESIDENT

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

DEAN ROBERTSON
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 01950
H o m e Phone 462-4540
O f f i c e Phone 254-3678
Club Affiliation
Chestnut Hill Country Club

RONALD K I R K M A N
25 Green St.
Needham, Mass. 02192
H o m e Phone 444-8412
O f f i c e Phone 444-5548
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Needham Golf C l u b

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
B R I A N C O W A N CGCS
Robins Way
Harwich, Mass. 02645
H o m e Phone 432-9041
O f f i c e Phone 945-9230
Club Affiliation
Eastward H o i

SECRETARY
DAVE BARBER CGCS
P O . Box 221
Wayland, Mass. 01778
Home Phone 358-7678
O f f i c e Phone 358-4882
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Wayland C o u n t r y C l u b

country club people, I emphasize that good supers don't come
cheap. If the club heeds such advice, it is on the route to getting
the most for its money.''
Off-stage Voykin would rather talk about the general conception of the course conditioning rather than specific short-cut
tools, he does stress that cooperative buying - judiciously
exercised -- can save an average of 25 to 30 percent and he is the
champion of perennial rye grass.
"Give those fairways a good shot of rye and things can't help
but improve," Voykin remarked. "I've been doing that at my
club so long that the other supers around the area call the grass,
'Briarwood Bent.' But it works for me. Why, every year at
Augusta National they throw rye grass seed around. If it's good
enough for the Masters, why isn't it good enough for your
average country club course?"
Those are just two of the Voykin contributions to bringing the
end result around the corner instead of five miles down the road.
"There's no doubt that country clubs are caught up in this
over-grooming kick," Paul noted. "As far as I'm concerned,
over-grooming is over-spending. Television golf has helped to
get the golfer think he has to hit every shot from a perfect lie.
And in order to have that type of hitting surface everytime,
there has to be over-grooming. That's one big problem we're
trying to solve."
Voykin not only is an innovator in practice he also twists a
word, phrase or idea around to suit his fancy. For example, one
of his short cuts is to narrow fairways ... a little piece at a time.
"I don't call it narrowing the fairways," he laughed. "I call it
bringing in the rough where they should be and where the
originators of the game intended them to be. Why should we be
cutting every plant in sight? We should be thinking of some form
of preservation of nature and what better place for this than the
golf course?"
The modern approach to playing the game has been affected
by the influence of the touring pros. "This is why a lot of
amateurs are looking for those wide fairways, so they can bust
the ball as far as they want," Voykin said. "The accent in golf
should be on accuracy ... not length. And I think by bringing in
the rough or narrowing the fairway, we can get the golfer back
to thinking placement instead of power. In the long run they'd
thank us because the club members' scores would improve with
a more controlled, orderly game."
Voykin, then, tempers some of those revolutionary
suggestions to short-cutting with mental visits to the past for
some of his other ideas. "Over-grooming," he chanted. "That's
the biggest sin we commit. Get grooming back to practicality
and a savings will be realized. What's more, it will be a much
more enjoyable game."
Gerry Finn

TREASURER

FIANCE C H A I R M A N

TR

D O N A L D HEARN CGCS
4 T o p e k a Road
C h e l m s f o r d , Mass. 01824
H o m e Phone 256-8709
O f f i c e Phone 894-5906
ClubAtfiliaton
W e s t o n Golf Club

PAUL J O H N S O N
4 J u d i t h Dr.
No Reading. Mass. 01864
Home Phone 664-6664
O f f i c e Phone 777-1134
ClubAtfiliaton
Ferncroft Country Club

MAX MIERZWA
106CrestwoodSt
Chicooee, Mass. 01020
H o m e Phone 594-4996
O f f i c e Phone 592-9540
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
C h i c o p e e C o u n t r y Club

BERT FREDERICK
45 Stoney B r o o k Rd
Nabnaset. Mass. 01861
H o m e Phone 692-6445
O f f i c e Phone 453-1231
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Vesper C o u n t r y Club

ROBERT J O H N S T O N
128 W i l b r a h a m Rd.
H a m p d e n , M a s s 01036
H o m e Phone 566-3075
O f f i c e Phone 566-3096
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
H a m p d e n C o u n t r y Club

O F

N e w s l e t t e r Notes
After attending the conferences in San Antonio, Springfield
and various seminars around the state everyone is anxious to
start work outdoors on the course. The problem is convincing
mother nature that spring is around the corner! The winter
certainly has left its mark on golf course budgets. Labor hours
for snow removal are triple, repairs to plowing equipment is
enormous, and most people are behind schedule on repairs on
golf course equipment. Not to mention what lies ahead, such as
tree and shrub damage, fence damage, road damage, and worst
of all there is as much as a foot of ice under the snow in some
areas! So, clubs should be warned of what to expect and if
possible additional funds be made available to repair and
replace the scars left from winter.
Next year for a small fee, I will make travel arrangements for
those who plan to attend the conference and golf tournament.
Against the wishes of some fellow superintendents, I left
Monday morning, Feb. 6 for San Antonio. My colleagues tried to
talk me into leaving on Tuesday, Feb. 7 with them. I tried to
convince them into leaving with me on Monday, but they
wouldn't listen. So, I was in Texas when the blizzard hit,
thankful I didn't relent to the pressure of others. My wife was
also happy I got out, as she said I would have been unbearable to
live with, as was the report from several households of those
who didn't make it out in time. If it's any consolation, the
weather was cold and windy.
I must report of one extremely dedicated superintendent. This
person was snowed in at home on Monday as was everyone else.
But at 5 o'clock Wednesday the airport at Hyannis opened (this
may be a clue to the identity of the person) and he flew to
Laguardia in New York. From there he took a bus to a helicopter
terminal and flew a helicopter to Kennedy Airport in New York.
At that point he got a flight from New York to San Antonio which
arrived at 1:30 in the morning. After entering the terminal in
San Antonio, he found that everything was closed! Being quick
of mind, as this person is, he made arrangements to take a taxi
from San Antonio to Corpus Christi! Four and one half hours
later, a short drive of 144 miles, he arrived at Corpus Christi in
time to have breakfast, found out his tee time, and was on the tee
at 9:00 a. m.! A little ride in the night didn't bother this golfer, he
went out and played a course he hadn't seen and shot 81!
On the serious side, the conference at San Antonio was excellent. The fast changing times of a golf course superintendent
were kept up by the topics of the speakers and the industrial
show. As always, the conference is continually growing in
numbers, and clubs and superintendents should consider the
many advantages of attending the conference.
Hats off to Dr. Joseph Troll, who once again presented us with
a top notch conference in Springfield. This event has grown
tremendously the last several years and has become one of the
best conferences of its kind. Recognition must also be given to
the planning committee which consisted of Anthony Caranci,
Max Mierzwa, Dean Robertson, Allan Cumps, Robert Scagnetti,
Charles Mruk, and John Zak. This conference has attracted
some of the best speakers in the country and their topics are
very timely. Also, many thanks to the commercial people who
put on quite an elaborate industrial show for the superintendent.
Products and equipment of every kind was available for
viewing. A great deal of time and effort was put in by all those
connected with the show and from all the talk from the
GOLF CHAIRMAN

EDUCATIONAL C H A I R M A N

KEN M O O R A D I A N
134 Green St.
Hopedale, Mass. 01747
H o m e Phone 473-2352
O f t i c e Phone 473-3508
Club Affiliation

PETE COSTE
121 Granite St.
Medfield, Mass. 02052
Home Phone 359-7247
O f f i c e Phone 566-0240
Ciub A f f i l i a t i o n

Hopedale C o u n t r y C l u b

The C o u n t r y C l u b

NEWSLETTER C H A I R M A N
LARRY BUNN
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
H o m e Phone 828-7266
O f f i c e Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
B l u e H i l l Country Club

N E W

E

N

G

L

A

N

D

,

I N C .

superintendents it was greatly appreciated.
Two of our former members have been voted in as a life
member and honorary member by the board of directors. Julie
Aksten was voted in as a life member. As you all know, Julie was
very active in our association the 17 years he was a member
before retirement. He served on the board a number of years
and was always a hard worker for the association. He was
always a frequent volunteer for work and his appointment as an
life member was well deserved. Richard Blake was voted in as
honorary member. Richard left our association this past year
and became a member of the Northeast Golf Course Superintendent Association. He is superintendent at Woodstock Country
Club in Woodstock, Vermont. Dick has served in almost every
capacity in our association right on up to President. He also
served as a director and president of the GCSAA, serving as
president in 1973. Dick is a great leader and extremely hard
worker, who is always working for the betterment of our
profession. Congratulations to both of these gentlemen. We owe
you our thanks for what you have done for our association.
Hopefully you will be frequent participants in the association in
times to come.
As posted in the Newsletter, the outdoor meeting dates are
made known to you at this time. Please make notes on your
calendar of these dates. Those that are not final at this time will
be made known to you as soon as possible. There will be no cards
sent out to the membership on meeting notices and reservations
for dinners at the meetings. The cost is getting too high and
every person should be able to take a couple of minutes of his
own time to make his own reservation. Notice and directions of
each meeting will be posted in advance in the Newsletter along
with how to make your own reservation. Please have consideration for the host superintendent when making your
reservation. Don't make them at the last minute and when you
do make your reservation please honor it.
Also, if you have any changes in your club president or greens
chairman send them along with their address so they can
receive the Newsletter. Please send the names of those who
should be removed from the mailing list also. Thank you.
Hope to see you at the next meeting.
Larry Bunn
Newsletter Chairman
OUTDOOR MEETING SCHEDULE
May 8

Wellesley Country Club
Tom Schofield, Superintendent

June 6

Woodland Country Club
Superintendent/Chairman Tournament
Norm Mucciarone, Superintendent

J u l y 11

Dedham Polo & Country Club
Championship Tournament
Bob Mucciarone, Superintendent

August

Mt. Pleasant C o u n t r y Club

S e p t . 18

Vesper Country Club
Bert F r e d e r i c k s , S u p e r i n t e n d e n t

Meiaert Schultz, Superintendent

O c t o b e r 13

Brae B u r n C o u n t r y C l u b
Superintendent/Pro Tournament
Robert Grant CGCS, Superintendent

November

Open

PAST PRESIDENT
WAYNEZOPPO
9A Village Green N o r t h
E Providence, R.I. 02915
Home Phone 434-1759
O f f i c e Phone 434-8512
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
A g a w a m H u n t Golf Club

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

Pieade fratwtije

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

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
I & E Supply, Inc.
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

Tom Irwin, Inc.
1 IB A Street
Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson Burlington, Mass.
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002
Karandrew Turf Farms, Inc.
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
1 5 Longmeadow Drive, Canton, Mass.
C. S. Curran
T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.
* Larchmont Irrigation Co.
Larchmont Ln., Lexington, Mass.
: E-Z-Go Golf Car
Sales - Service - Rentals
Mallinckrodt, Inc.
Polaris/E-Z-Go Northeast
Second and Mallinckrodt Streets
Box 817
St. Louis, Missouri 63147
North Falmouth, Mass. 02556
Magovern Company, Inc.
Farm Bureau Association
Lawn Acre Road
158 Lexington St., Waltham, Mass. 021 54 Windsor Lock, Conn.
Fred Heyliger, Representative
Bus. 893-3570 Home 772-3605
* D. L. Maher
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading, Mass. 01864
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep Ed. Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep Allen Cumps 1-413-253-2995.
New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, and Maintenance
Sealcoating — Hingham Industrial Center
Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Hingham, Mass. Tel. 749-3236
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, New Hampshire
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
1-800-528-5205
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf Chemicals
Grounds Equipment Co., Inc.
66 Valley Street
383 Boylston St., Newton Cen., Mass.
East Providence, Rhode Island 02914

liKi

* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund

C^ourie J\i/n tinIcnc!ynf.'> -Association
OF

NEW

EH 6 L i s U,

INC.

LARRY 8UNN
Newsletter Committee Chairman
J4S Dedham St.
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
L E O N ST. PIERRE
Coordinator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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
TuckahoeTurf Farms, Inc.
Slocum, R.I.
Litchfield, N.H.
Bluegrass Blends/Penncross Bent Grass
Tel. 1-800-556-6985
Alan Anderson
Chris Beasley
Tuco Products Co.
Division of the Upjohn Company
Kalamazoo, Michigan
David Sylvester 203-828-3790
Turf Products Corp.
1496 John Fitch Blvd.
S. Windsor, Conn. 06074
Tel. 1-203-289-3471
Gary Braynt, Sales Rep.
White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Drive, Winchendon. Mass. 01475
617-297-0941
Philip A. Wogan
Golf Course Architect
21 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.

First Class

FIRST CLASS

U . S . Postage

PAID

Maynard, M A
Permit # 1 7