SEPTEMBER 1978.

ourde Superintendents
OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

s^ddociation
INC

Sponsors a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s of the Lawrence S.
Dick inson 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.

Dulling that Awful Ax
Middle-age, middle-level executive.
This could mean the superintendent at your club or the super,
himself, if he is reading this. Whatever, the plight of the
"sacked" rnidule-age, middle-level executive should concern
both the golf course superintendent and his employer.
First, let it be a reminder that the superintendent in the 50 to
60-year-old age bracket often lives in fear of losing his job. Not
only that, those fears are intensified by the realization that his
advancing age buoys no promise of finding a place in his chosen
field should he come under the fall of the awful ax.
Is their job protection in the profession?
Unless a steadfast contract exists between the superintendent
and his employer, that job remains in jeopardy. And reasons for
terminating the association of club and super can run an
exaggerated gamut - from watering the fifth green two more
minutes than usual to failure to salute a green chairman while
on duty.
The awful ax - swung with promiscuous absurdity - usually
involves that most dreaded of job-loss instigators, a clash of
personalities. One superintendent tells that he "just knows his
days will be numbered" should a certain member ascend the
club officials ladder to either the green chairmanship or —
"curses or curses" - the presidency. And others live with similar
thoughts of bumping into the wrong boss at the wrong time.
It should come as a form of at least partial relief, then, to
learn that dismissed executives (especially those in the middle
age group) are beginning to make headway in the courts in a
battle to save their jobs and, in some cases, their sanity. After
all, when a man has been separated from a long-standing
position for reasons unbecoming a justified split, he is prone to
periods of depression and the like.
An ammendment to the Age Discrimination in Employment
Act appears to serve as the wedge the fired middle-level,
middle-aged exec uses to either retain his job or be compensated
royally for the unwarranted pink slip he has received. For
example, age discrimination cases handled by the Federal
Labor Department have already doubled in the past two years
and the results of those cases have been encouraging.
Although a worker can be dismissed for a good cause, the
burden of proving incompetency (the most popular cause when
employers feel the years are creeping up on an employe) falls on
the employer to prove it when challenged. One change in the age
discrimination edict is the legal load dumped on the employer.
In any challenge by a dismissed employe, the employer must
give proof of substandard performance to a jury rather than a
sole judge.
Results of scattered cases appear to brighten the futures of
those sacked execs who find themselves either regaining their
old jobs or being awarded whopping financial settlements. In
fact, the real thrust of the age discrimination act cannot be fully
measured since many cases have been settled out of court in
favor of the dismissed exec.
Certain employers, too, have begun to have second thoughts
about bouncing employes with long service and mounting life
years. The backlash has been such that they either are postponing and cancelling plans for dismissal or awarding the fired
people increased severance pay in order to avoid messy and
costly legal battles.

This knowledge should be kept in the mental files of all golf
course superintendents (even the younger ones) as they face the
uncertainties of their profession. It is, indeed, a profession
where job security comes under the heading of rare species or
species that never was. The occasion of country clubs and public
courses "cutting down" overhead by replacing veteran
superintendents with work-cheap newcomers for the sake of
saving a buck could be eliminated on the basis of reports from
the age discrimination scoreboard.
And that scoreboard just might bring some of that muchneeded protection of livelihood into focus for the superintendent.
If it doesn't interest the club board of governors or other arm of
club operations, they had better change that attitude quickly.
Maybe, at last, loyal service and long dedication will be
rewarded. A safeguard against unjustified dismissal is only a
start.
Gerry Finn

Next
Meeting
October 13,1978
Brae Burn Country Club
Host Superintendent - Robert Grant,
CGCS
Superintendent/Pro Golf Tournament
This tournament is open to all members of the
GCSA of New England and their Pro, and all
members of N E P G A and their Superintendent. No Assistant Pros or Assistant
Superintendents unless they are members of
one of these associations. ONE T E A M PER
CLUB. Superintendent must have a bonafide
handicap and be able to show proof of that
handicap. Selective drive alternate shots.
Gross and Net prizes. Net winners are
champions. Starting times may be obtained by
calling the Director 617-245-5441 on Monday,
October 9th. First tee only 8:00 a.m. to 1:30
p.m.

( j o f f (Gourde

Superintendents

^IdAociation

The Oakmont Travesty
For a while there - in the pre-dawn hours of the 60th PGA
Championship - it looked as though Paul Latshaw was going to
come through as the most despicable character since the days of
Rasputin, Scrooge and all those other jolly fellows. As golf
course superintendent at the Oakmont Country Club (site of the
PGA test), Latshaw had been pictured as some sort of sadistic
schemer bent on deranging the minds of the tournament's
participants as he prepared Oakmont for its prey.
The scene was set in a national publication whose sporting
blood usually rushes only at the sound of the rise and fall of ATT,
IBM and other thoroughbreds of the Dow Jones stable. Obviously, it hadn't bothered to concern itself with identification
handles and the like. Latshaw was referred to as the course
"greenskeeper" throughout. If the daily business digest
retained this dark ages attitude in collecting normal data, it still
Regardless, Latshaw was the co-star of this piece, along with
the Oakmont greens whose slippery, evil makeup had been
designed to save the course from another axing by perhaps
another "visting" professional. Oakmont and its members
apparently were outraged over the record - breaking 63 shot
there in 1973 by Johnny Miller in the U.S. Open. Even the
memory of it brought daggers to their eyes.
So, Latshaw's job was to restore jaw-snapping fierceness to
the putting surfaces and Oakmont got behind him with a $200,000
operating budget and the moral support to spur him on. By a
series of underfeeding, cross-cutting and rolling - he had his
greens down to 5/64 of an inch for the start of play. "Bring on the
Miller Gang," Oakmont licked its chops with glee.
What developed is history. Oakmont and Latshaw (if he be
responsible for the travesty and trickery there) backed off
considerably after about one-half round of play. Someone forgot
to check the switch in the sky. It rained for the better part of the
four days of action and the touring pros sang, "Who's Afraid of
the Big Bad Wolf" as they desecreated the self-appointed shrine
for the second time in six years.
Hopefully, the revelation of one golf course superintendent's
devotion to plotting the embarrassment and degradation of the
nation's outstanding golfers will not spread repercussion to the
masses. Since Latshaw was painted as the dreaded enenmy of
all golfers, some people might misconstrue the true aims and
goals of the superintendent profession. Among these are a
course with the best conditions possible and setting of it under
the fairest guidelines.
The whole idea of Oakmont darting fangs at anyone who dares
take liberties with challenging its prescribed figures must be in
direct conflict with the spirit of the game. After all, golf is a
game and should be treated as such. . . this attitude still
prevailing despite the business signs suggested by the big
money thrust to the pro tour.
At that, the basis of all professional sports is to entertain those
fans who pay their way into the park or onto the course. In
baseball, they don't move back the fences when the boys come to
play the World Series. In football, the first down markers aren't
extended to 20 yards or the field flooded with quicksand when it
comes time to contest for the Super Bowl. Why, then, should golf
attempt to tarnish the expertise of its professionals when major
tournaments appear on the schedule?
The PGA, itself, should not escape some of the blame for the
planned massacre of its own ranks at Oakmont. Since it cosponsors the tournament with the host club and actually sets the
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 745-7289
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
K e r n w o o d C o u n t r y Club

RONALD KIRKMAN
2 5 G r o e n St.
Needham, Mass. 02192
Home 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
BRIAN 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 A f f i l i a t i o n
Eastward H o !

course as to degree of difficulty, the PGA should be held
responsible for the superintendent's contribution as well as the
fiendish approach to the event course officials and members
allegedly assumed.
But, above all the absurdities connected with this sham, the
reputation of the average golf course superintedent has been
taken for a bumpy ride. And to picture the superintendent as the
sole culprit is an inaccuracy and an injustice. Latshaw did the
dirty work, all right, but he was nothing more than a henchman
for the PGA and Oakmont. Fortunately, the project blew back in
their faces upon the arrival of the green-softening and slowing
rain which enabled the pros to give paying fans what they want
most - the opportunity to view experts applying their expertise
without interruption and annoyance from fabricated playing
conditions.
_
Gerry F_inn_
Tournament Results
from Mt. Pleasant
Golf Club
Florida Style Tournament.
First PSace
Ron K i r k m a n
T o m Schofield
Leroy Allen
Brian Cowan

63

Second Place
Bill Carter
Steve Murphy
Steve Hoisington
Frank Marean

63

Third Place
Doug Johnson
- Raul Johnson.
Norm AAucciarone
Buddy Young

64

First place determined by sudden death
match of cards.

NEW MEMBER voted in at the last meeting is Richard Arzillo. Richard is an Associate Member and is Superintendent at
George Wright Golf Course. Congratulations Richard and we
hope you will be an active member of our association.
TO BE VOTED on at the next meeting. Hank Coffin,
Superintendent at Chestnut Hill Country Club will be voted on
for a Regular Member.
FIANCE C H A I R M A N

SECRETARY
DAVE B A R B E R C G C S
P.O. Box 221
Wayland. Mass. 01778
H o m e Phone 358-7678
O f f i c e Phone 358-4882
Club Affiliation
W a y l a n d C o u n t r y Club

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
Club Affiliaton
W e s t o n Golf C l u b

PAULJOHNSON
4 J u d i t h Dr,
No. Reading, Mass. 01864
H o m e Phone 664-6664
O f f i c e Phone 777-1134
Club A f f i l i a t o n
Ferncroft C o u n t r y Club

MAX MIERZWA
l06CrestwoodSt.
Chicopee, 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 Country C l u b

BERT FREDERICK
45 Stoney Brook Rd.
Nabnaset, Mass. 01861
H o m e Phone 692-6445
O f f i c e Phone 453-1231
Club Affiliation
Vesper C o u n t r y Club

ROBERT J O H N S T O N
1 2 8 W i l b r a h a m Rd
H a m p d e n , Mass. 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
H a m p d e n C o u n t r y Club

Water or

B9uegrass

Many of the touring golf professionals don't like to play their
game on bluegrass fairways. Too many fliers, so they say. Hard
to control the ball. I say, a box of triple bogies to you, sir. There
are times when conditions on bentgrass fairways are not always
perfect, either. Hitting a shot into the grain certainly will give
different results than hitting a shot with the grain. When one
hears the touring pros complain about unsatisfactory playing
conditions on bluegrass turf, the average golfers, the ones that
really support the game and make it possible to balance the
maintenance budget, hear these critical remarks and are ready
to condemn the turf grass on their course.
My purpose of writing this is not to criticize the golfer who has
a problem with his score on the golf course, but to call to the
attention of golfers the serious problem that we may be faced
with in the near future - a shortage of water. As the population
continues to increase and industrial markets increase to support
a larger population, ground water levels have already receaea
significantly. It should be obvious to everyone that water levels
will not increase in future years. A steady decline is inevitable.
When the time comes that there is not enough water to satisfy
everyone, you can be sure that golf course fairways will have a
low priority. Golf courses in areas of California, Florida, and
New York are at this time receiving water by allocation only.
Those of us who understand the growing habits of the grass
plant know that one of the requirements of bent and poa annua is
a relatively large amount of water. Without sufficient water the
plant will die. This is not true with the bluegrass strain of grass.
It will turn off color during periods of drought. One can get good
lies on off color turf, normally better than on green lush turfgrass. During certain periods Kentucky bluegrass turf may
look to be completely dead. However, after a good rain it is back
to its original condition.
I remember years ago when the top touring golfers were
Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Byron Nelson, Ben Hogan, Harry
Cooper, and others. They won many tournaments on bluegrass
fairways with scores comparable to those that you see today and
using equipment that was technically inferior to today's golf
clubs.
Therefore, golf courses should not be too hasty to change their
bluegrass turf to bentgrass. There could be a time coming when
fairway irrigation will be prohibited. Let us not be swayed by
statements made by those who are only interested in their own
financial benefit.
Ray Gerber-Editor
The Bull Sheet
Midwest Association of
Golf Course
Superintendents

OF

NEW

Credit "Central
Vol. 4, No. 2

Illinois

October 17th

I read with great interest George Cleaver's President
Message entitled, "Skilled Employees Need Financial Incentive" in the April, 1978 issue of THE GOLF SUPT. Mr.
Cleaver rightfully contended that because of the low wage scale
paid by golf courses, skilled employees are hard to find and
keep. In other words you get what you pay for. Mr. Cleaver was
GOLF C H A I R M A N
KEN MOORADIAN
134 Green St.
Hopedale, Mass. 01747
H o m e Phone 473-2352
O f f i c e Phone 473-3508
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Hopedale C o u n t r y C l u b

EDUCATIONAL C H A I R M A N
PETE COSTE
121 Granite St.
Medfield, Mass. 02052
H o m e P h o n e 359-7247
O f f i c e Phone 566 0240
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The C o u n t r y Club

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 A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue Hill C o u n t r y Club

INC.

referring to the employees other than the superintendent in his
article. However, I believe that this message should be carried a
step further and should relate to the superintendent's position
also.
It really irritates me to read the want ads in our trade
publications and see something that reads, "Wanted - Golf
Course Superintendent for prominent Midwestern 18-hole
course; B.S. degree in Agronomy or similar field required;
must have at least three years experience as a golf course
superintendent; salary range - $15,000-$17,500." Do you realize
how much $15,000 equates to in an hourly wage scale? $7.21, and
that's figuring 40 hours a week times 52 weeks a year (I'd love to
see the day when a superintendnet averages 40 hours a week).
Any dumb-dumb can today start at any major factory for at
least $6.50 an hour and can be making more than $7.00 an hour in
a year's time. Plus he gets a full major-medical hospitalization
plan, a pension plan, a dental and eye care plan, and who knows
how many paid sick days and vacation. Then there is the
"skilled tradesmen" such as plumbers, electricians,
bricklayers, etc. Let's just say that they average $10.00 an hour
(which is really a low estimate); this equates out to $20,800 a
year.
Then there is the golf superintendent. He is in charge of 120
acres of land valued in the area of between 3/4 and 1 million
dollars. He is responsible for an inventory of machinery worth
anywhere from $50,000 to $150,000 and chemicals and fertilizer
worth $15,000-$25,000. He has the capacity to be an agronomist,
plumber, electrician, horticulturist, PR man, just to name a
few. He delegates authority to a crew of at least ten persons, and
his salary is $15,000. Plus the benefits are definitely not the best.
To me that is a crime; actually a salary of only $20,000 is too low.
The point that I want to make is that I believe we as golf
course superintendents are underpaid. Yes, most of us like our
jobs because it is a challenge; there is no routine, and it's enjoyable being outdoors, etc. However, as Mr. Cleaver said in his
message, "But that doesn't pay the bills."
I hope that a lot of green chairmen in Central Illinois see this
editorial. Perhaps they can relate to it to their club's situation.
Let them ask the questions, "Out of the three positions at their
club (club manager, pro, and superintendent), who receives the
highest yearly income?" I bet that the majority of answers isn't
the golf superintendent. Then ask the question, "Of those three
positions, who has been at your club the longest?" The majority
of answers to this is probably "the golf superintendent."
Today's golf course superintendent is highly skilled, dedicated
professional. Then pay him like one!!!
Dave Fearis CGCS
6525 Cedarbrook Lane
Peoria, Illinois 61614

MEETING
MOTfCE

Guest Editorial

ENGLAND,

Golf Course Superintendents

Newsletter"

Joint meeting of New Hampshire,
Vermont, Maine, Northeast and
New England.

Woodstock Golf and Tennis Club
Woodstock, Vermont
Host - Richard Blake, CGCS
For reservations for Golf and Dinner Call
Woodstock Inn.
Rooms available at the Inn and motels in the
area.

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

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.

P U < u e f M b u x K i j e FRIENDS OF THE A S S O C I A T I O N
Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Massachusetts
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.

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

Sil Paulini, Inc.
6 Manor Avenue
Natick, Mass. 01760

Kenneth Barrie Corp.
249 Milton St., Dedham, Mass. 02026
Tel. (617) 364-3333
Tom Irwin, Inc.
11B A Street
Burlington, Mass.

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
Karandrew Turf Farms, Inc.
565 Humphrey Street
Sam Mitchell, Sales Representative
Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson 15 Longmeadow Drive, Canton, Mass.
Swampscott, Mass.
Golf Course Architects
Tel. 617-599-4856
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002
Larchmont Irrigation Co.
Larchmont Ln., Lexington, Mass.
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
C. S. Curran
Slocum, R.I.
T. R. C. Products, Oils and Greases
Mallinckrodt, Inc.
Litchfield, N.H.
7 Linden St., Framingha m, Mass.
^_ —Second anfiMallinx:krodt- Sij:e£tS-_ _-Bluegrass-Elands/Penncmsa-BenLGrass.
St. Louis, Missouri 63147
Tel. 1-800-556-6985
Alan Anderson
E-Z-Go Golf Car
Chris Beasley
* Magovern Company, Inc.
Sales - Service - Rentals
Lawn Acre Road
Polaris/E-Z-Go Northeast
Windsor Lock, Conn.
2237 Route 28
luco Products Co.
West Wareham, Mass. 02576
Division of the Upjohn Company
D. L. Maher
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Box 127, Concord St.
David Sylvester 203-828-3790
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
N. Reading, Mass. 01864
Rep Ed. Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep Allen Cumps M13-253-2995.
New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Turf Products Corp.
Tennis Court Const, and Maintenance
1496 John Fitch Blvd.
Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sealcoating — Hingham Industrial Center S. Windsor, Conn. 06074
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Hingham, Mass. Tel. 749-3236
Tel. 1-203-289-3471
Canterbury, New Hampshire
Gary Braynt, Sales Rep.
1-800-528-5205
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf Chemicals
White Turf Engineering
66 Valley Street
5 Summer Drive, Winchendon, Mass. 01475
Grounds Equipment Co., Inc.
East Providence, Rhode Island 02914
617-297-0941
383 Boylston St., Newton Cen., Mass.
P & L Equipment Corp.
Golf Cars & Commercial Turf Equipment Philip A. Wogan
Holliston Sand Company, Inc.
Golf Course Architect
80 Lynde Street, Melrose, Mass. 02176
Lowland Street, Holliston, Mass. 01746
21 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.
Phone 617-665-5990
Sand for Golf Bunkers and Traps
J

CT

* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund

, SKI"
(joif

(bourse Superintendents
OT

NEW

ENfiLIND,

^Association
#NC.

FIRST CLASS

F i r s t Class
U . S . Postage

PAID

Maynard, M A
LARRY BlINN
Newsletter Committee Chairman
145 Dedham St.
Carton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill Country Club
DONALD HEARN
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Co-ordinator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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