DECEMBER, 1979

ourAe Superin
)upi ten dents —^idociatton
OF

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

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.

Swing Toward Sophistication
During a recent gathering of golf course superintendents
and their friends, the subject of sophistication surfaced...more specifically the swing toward sophistication in
the profession.
A green chairman, identified only as a member of "one of
the area's more affluent clubs," triggered things when asked
about a touchy situation - the firing of a veteran superintendent and the hiring of a younger and less fieldexperienced replacement. The chairman's explanation was
quick and without fear of puncturing personalities.
"We had no fault with the know-how or the loyalty of the
older fellow," he said. "But he was living in the dark ages of
his profession. He didn't pay attention to his book work, he
didn't know how or refused to delegate authority and he had
no inkling of how to handle his labor force. We thought the job
was simply too diversified for him."
And of the younger replacement? "He was assertive from
the start," came the reply. "He arrived with a lot of confidence and the ability to get a clockwork plan of maintenance and improvements without disrupting the routine of
his workers. And he did all this without getting a single finger
dirty."
That last remark was a telling blow to many of the
seasoned supers in this particular conversational circle...a
telling and perhaps cruel blow.
What Mr. Chairman was trying to say, in a blunt way, was
that his club required little or no physical work from its new
superintendent. "We want him to come to work with a shirt
and tie," he disclosed. "We also want him to come into the
clubhouse and have lunch or dinner. We want him to be
around when many of our members are there."
This sounds like the on-job habits of a golf professional
rather than a superintendent.
"That's it," the chairman continued. "I think the image of
the superintendent has reached that stage when he has to
start acting and being treated like an executive. This is the
approach we've taken at our club. And we're 100 percent
satisfied with the results. Needless to say, the course is
beautiful. But, in addition, the rapport between superintendent and members has never been better."
This poses a collective question for the rest of the
superintendents who have to be wondering if they are going
about their personal job in a manner indicative of their
position.
Most definitely, the world of the golf course superintendent
is changing.. .whether he likes it or not.
"Funny thing," our outspoken chairman remarked. "If
you took a poll of the leading country clubs, I believe you'd
find they are in complete agreement with our theory on what
kind of superintendent is best for their needs and what kind of
philosophy they should practice in regard to the way that
superintendent does his job."
There is no argument in the assumption that the administrative duties of the superintendent have tripled in the
last 10 years. No longer is he simply responsible for making

the grass green and putting a spit and polish on the course.
With the expanding of recreational facilities at the country
club and the increased demand on the superintendent's
business and technical expertise, his job has become one
engulfed in administrative chores instead of one laced with
them.
Probably this new and curious form of respect for and
extension of authority to the superintendent is inspired by the
continuing surge of recognition he is enjoying. Club members
have come to a justifiable awareness of the importance of the
position and are gradually reacting to it through degrees of
sophistication.
Obviously, every superintendent is not provided the luxury
of enough help so that he can direct his daily operation from
an ivory tower. However, the trend toward lightening his
physical load and leaning more on his technical and practical
expertise is showing up in more than one country club.
Whether there is a lesson to be learned from the experience
of one superintendent losing his job because he turns his back
on the subtleties of his duties is something the reader has to
conclude for himself. And if this streamlining of the position
comes up distasteful to certain club presidents and the like,
again it falls into the category of personal prerogative.
Regardless, it is interesting to see such a different approach to the superintendent by one country club unwind. It
could be isolated or at a point where it's about to become
videspread. It does have to make you think...of the present
and the future. It is, at least, stimulating and worthy of
disclosure.
Gerry Finn

Next meeting
Dec. 3,1979
Franklin C.C.
Directors Meeting
Regular Meeting
Lunch

10:00a.m.
11:00 a.m.
12:00 Moon

Don't Forget

Christmas Party
Dec. 7, 1979

Directions - Take exit 57 f r o m 128 - Head
towards Needham. Take 4th left. Green St.
club is on right.

(Gourde Superintendents

s^AAociati on

Selling of the Super
Come winter and the golf course superintendent often has
time on his hands. Let's face it. There's no one at the
maintenance building door looking for the go-ahead to play
on a hairy weather day or seeking justification for a 5/16th
cut on the greens. In a word, the time of year is not pressing.
So, why not take a course in salesmanship?
That's right, the time is ripe for the superintendent to invest a few dollars in his continuing education. And from the
looks of his expanding world, some brush-up work on his
sales pitch looms as the superintendent's most logical move.
Did you ever think of yourself as a salesman?
If not, consider this. The superintendent has to sell himself
to his green committee and the rest of the membership as an
expect in his field and a most integral part of the club's
operation. He must sell his budget to his chairman, and obviously - he must have some knowledge of salesmanship
when he is approached by those people who provide him with
the equipment and material for his maintenance program.
The budget situation could be the most vital in this need for
a grasp of the sales' methods many of the super's members
have familiarized themselves .within their own professional
pursuits.
How many superintendents walk into a budget meeting and
find themselves being cut down to shocking size because they
have no idea of what approach to take in getting what they
need?
Preparation, in the form of a salesmanship course, can
work wonders for the super. Armed with such knowledge, the
superintendent finds himself on common ground with his
committee members. Most of them either own businesses
which are backboned by sales or have started out in their
professions as salesmen. Thus, the sales knowledge-enforced
super knows what to expect from those who would slice his
budget into smithereens and how to counteract them. Now,
he can play them at their own game and not be leery of
breaking any rules.
Of course, familiarity with sales methods can be helpful to
the superintendent in his dealings with those trying to apply
the pitch to him. The axiom here is that the toughest person
in the world to sell something to is a salesman.
Some of the spinoffs Of a sales course serve as job aids in
many areas of the superintendent's field.
The course is a confidence builder in that it encourages
participation in one on one classroom exercises. Under these
conditions, the super learns how to present his product
without the strain of tentative speech or negative outlook.
This could prove to be a shot in the arm around the course
where the superintendent is continually quizzed by members
on certain aspects of course maintenance and layout
changes.
Most sales courses also make the student aware of the
many forms of gimmickery employed as inducements to buy
a product. This knowledge prevents a lot of embarrassment
and perhaps testy reactions to those so-called "once-a-year"
salesmen who come on strong with wordy presentations and
fabricated endorsements in order to make a quick kill.
Classroom exposure to these types can save a lot of
headaches.
The appealing aside to this educational endeavor is that
most courses are presented in short takes so that the
superintendent can spend only a couple of hours a week for
three or four weeks and come away with a pretty fair touch
for the subject.
PRESIDENT

FIRSTVICE PRESIDENT

DEAN ROBERTSON
24 Rlverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 01950
Home phone 462-4540
Office phone 745-7289
Club Affiliation
<ernwood C.C.

RONALD KIRKMAN
25 Green St.
Needham, Mass. 02192
Home phone 444-8412
Office phone 444-5548
Club Affiliation
Needham Golf Club

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT SECRETARY
BRIAN COWAN CGCS
DAVID BARBER CGCS
Robins Way
Box 221
Harwich, Mass. 02645
Wayland, Mass. 01778
Home phone 432-9041
Home phone 326-1348
Office phone 945-9230
Office phone 358-4882
Club Affiliation
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho.
Wayland C.C.

Because the venture is related to the superintendent's
administrative duties at the club, many employers are
willing to absorb the cost of such a course. Several supers
report, too, that the GI Bill can be used in states which
recognize the need for the super to have a solid understanding of salesmanship.
Whatever the route there, the fee is minimal and should not
be considered a factor or determinant in the superintendent's
decision to take advantage of the offering. What counts most
is that the course often is presented by business leaders of the
particular community and the knowledge gained through
participation is guaranteed to be of some help in one walk or
another in the super's professional life.
So, leave the hibernation of winter to the bears.
Salesmanship is closely related to virtually every aspect of a
golf course superintendent's association with his superiors
and his peers. It should not be ignored or looked upon as
another added chore. It could buy a rosy future for that nextbudget battle or encounter with peddlers of an obnoxious
kind.
Gerry Finn

TREASURER
DONALD HEARN CGCS
4 Topeka Rd.
Chelmsford. Mass. 01824
Home phone 256-8709
Office phone 894-5906
Club Affiliation
Weston Golf Club

Tournament Results
Brae Burn Pro-Supt.
Net
Wayne Zoppo - A g a w a m
Norm M u c c i a r o n i - Woodland
Don Hearn - Weston
Chuck Lone - F r a m i n g h a m

63
64
66

67

Gross
Brian Cowan - Eastward Ho

68

Mel O'Kelly - M a r s h f i e l d
Ted Ellis - Wanvmetonomy
Ken Mooradian - Hopedale

72
73
73

Whitinsville
Net
Paul M i l l e r - 67 J o e R y b k a -68

Wayne Zoppo - 70
Paul M u r p h y - 72

Gross
Mel O'Kelly - 78
Ken Mooradian - 84
J i m Damian - 82
Pete Coste - 84
Len Blodgett - 84

Nominating Committee for 1980
Wayne Zoppo
Robert Grant
Anthony Caranci

TRUSTEE
MAX MIERZWA
106 Crestwood St.
Chicopee, Mass. 01020
Home phone 594-4996
Office phone 592-9540
Club Affiliation
Chicopee C.C.

Dean Robertson
L a r r y Bunn

TRUSTEE

TRUSTEE

BERT FREDERICK
45 Stoney Brook Rd.
Nabnaset, Mass. 01861
Home phone 692-6445
Office phone 453-1231
Club Affiliation
Vesper C.C.

MEINDERTF. SCHULTS
737 Princeton Blvd.
Lowell. Mass. 01851
Home phone 458-7605
Office phone 452-8228
Club Affiliation
Mt. Pleasant G.C.

FINANCE CHAIRMAN
ROBERT JOHNSON
128 Wilbraham Rd.
Hampden, Mass. 01036
Home phone 566-3075
Office phone 566-3096
Club Affiliation
Hampden C.C.

OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

Some Ideas About Roots
By D r . W . H D a n i e l
Purdue University

Roots - Turfwise
Our historical roots, as a family and individuals, have
recently received special attention. However, the roots of
concern in turf are those little white stringy things that
supposedly are below the grass you see on the surface.
First, what is a root? Roots are initiated at the nodes occurring along stems. These may be concentrated in a crown
or spread along a stolon. Portions of mature roots are mainly
conductive tissue plus providing some storage of nutrients,
especially starches.
The working part of any root is the soft adsorptive root tip
and the root hairs near it. This is where the payload of water
and elements are adsorbed for transfer to the crown, stems,
and leaves known as the turf cover. And, woe is the plant
which had lost its root tips! So, a living root is that plant
tissue joined to the node and extending to and including a root
cap. Although some branching is normal, when individual
root tips die, the older root parts seldom initiate new root
tips. Physiologically the plant's response is to initiate a new
root at the node and just start again (provided extra energy
is available and time is allowed). In other words, the energy
path is to start a new root, which has least transfer distance
for nutrients. So, keeping root tips alive and active is the first
challenge of turf managers.
Bud Esterline at Muncie one time said, "Bill, on Monday I
cut the cups and could see roots above five inches deep. It
was dry, so Monday evening we made a big effort to water
the greens real good. Tuesday morning early it rained and it
was so cloudy and wet that we couldn't mow Tuesday.
Although still raining, we finally mowed a little Wednesday
afternoon, and the rain just set in there. Brown patch began
to show. We finally got our greens mowed on Friday, and on
Saturday the weather cleared up and all I had for roots were
a few black strings! I lost my complete root system between
Monday night and Saturday morning." Now what? Bud knew
he had to lightly water those greens, to watch for wet wilt, to
keep the leaves moist enough so they wouldn't wilt until new
roots would generate. If he could get by for about seven days
he'd have some new roots growing, and later some good roots
working again, and back to normal. Five days of wet weather
cost Bud his root system, and then it took him ten days to get
partial replacement.
Where are the roots? Would you believe 90 percent of root
length is in the upper two inches or 5 cm.
Slate of Officers for 1980
President
1st Vice President

Ronald K i r k m a n
Brian Cowan C.G.C.S.
Thomas Curran
2nd Vice President
Donald Hearn C.G.C.S.
Robert Mucciarone
Secretary
David Barker C.G.C.S.
Treasurer
Pete Coste C.G.C.S.
Mel
O'Kelly
Trustee - 3 years
Robert
Johnson
Finance Chairman
Ken
Mooradian
Golf Chairman
Educational Chairman Paul M i l l e r
Newsletter Chairman Tom Schofield C.G.C.S.
OOLF CHAIRMAN

EDUCATIONAL CHAIRMAN

NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN

PAST PRESIDENT

KEN MOORADIAN
134 Green St.
Hopedale, Mass. 01747
Home phone 473-2352
Office phone 473-3508
Club Affiliation
Hopedale C.C.

PETE COSTE CGCS
121 Granite St.
Medfield, Mass. 02052
Home phone 359-7247
Office phone 566-0240
Club Affiliation
The Country Club

TOM SCHOFIELD CGCS
290 North Rd.
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Home phone 443-3712
Office phone 235-7333
Club Affiliation
WellesleyC.C.

WAYNEZOPPO
9A Village Green No.
E. Providence, R.I. 02915
Home phone 434-1759
Office phone 438-8512
Club Affiliation
Agawam Hunt G.C.

Roots have been found over 100 inches long under Bermuda
in California tests. However, roots of three feet for fescue and
zoysia, 2 feet for bluegrass and bentgrass would be considered quite long. When trenches are made across roughs or
tall grass areas the long root extension in the soil profile is
usually impressive.
Roots are plant membranes. "Here, you root; do this!
Absorb (take in) 5000 pounds of water plus one pound of
elements the plant must have. By the way, keep out the excessive and avoid the unneeded. Meanwhile, let's hope
nematodes make no holes, and rhizoctonia doesn't infect.
And, while you're constantly expanding, we'll try to keep the
leaves healthy, the mower sharp, the wear distributed, the
drouth averted, and we'll try to avoid scalping or other turf
stress." After all, the top must send energy clear down to the
root tip. When energy is short the number of root hairs
diminishes, the diameter reduces, and the root initiation
slows.
Roots are powerful adsorbers. Before the plant wilts roots
will take water from soils down to 13.6 atmosphere, a pF of
4.5 or tension equivalent to 14 meters of water. The wise turf
manager has every reason to utilize the reservoir of moisture
within a rootzone between irrigations. In other words, it is
foolish to ignore the rootzone moisture storage potential
when managing the turf.
What is water-air balance for roots? Incidentally, that root
tip must have some oxygen as it works. Waterlogged soils are
hard on roots. Being waterlogged for more than 24 hours
under stress weather is a cause for concern. Most turf
managers have seen roots growing over the surface of the
ground in an attempt to be where there is air. Roots may be
deep or shallow just in response to air supply. We've seen
roots grow in water when air is added, but remember,
oxygen travels through water 1000 times faster than through
wet compacted soils.
Roots are strong! When roots are numerous their combined strength is in athletic field, tees and traffic areas. New
roots in new soils always look good. A measure of success is
to have sufficient roots to hold the soil mass for their entire
depth of penetration when held by the surface sod.
Research on rooting of sods has been conducted to determine resistance to an upward pull after one month of growth.
What would you do to favor roots?
1. Increase oxygen in rootzone
2. Avoid any overwatering or continued wetness
3. Vertically core, spike, slit open rootzone surface
4. Topdress to raise cutting height
5. Topdress to minimize surface compaction and effect of
thatch
6. Increase leaf surface
7. Avoid or spread wear
8. Avoid disease or turf weakening
9- Lower the temperature - cooling when possible
10. Reduce shade or competition
11- Fertilize - low to medium nitrogen
12. Provide ample potassium and minor elements. Turf
managers and their crews can't make a root! You can help;
let the plants make them. You can kill the root or slow it
down.

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.

P l e t u e fuibu>Hi$e FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
B a k e r T r a c t o r Corp., F o r d T r a c t o r s
H a r l e y D a v i d s o n Golf C a r s
Swansea, M a s s .
B o r d e n s Spreader S e r v i c e
M a y n a r d , Mass.
T e l . 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. J a c k B o r d e n
Bulk Limestone Dealer
T h e C h a r l e s C. H a r t Seed Co.
W e t h e r s f i e l d , Conn.
Bob K e n n e d y , Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.
203 529-2537
T h e C l a p p e r Co.
1121 W a s h i n g t o n St.
Newton, Mass.
617-244-7900
G r o u n d s E q u i p m e n t Co., Inc.
383 B o y l s t o n St.
Newton Center, Mass.
G e o f f r e y S. C o r n i s h & W i l l i a m G. Robinson
Golf Course Architects
F i d d l e r s Green, A m h e r s t , Mass. 01002
C.S. Curran
T . R . C . P r o d u c t s , Oils a n d Greases
7 L i n d e n St., F r a m i n g h a m , M a s s .
Scotts P r o T u r f D i v .
Rep. E d W i a c e k 1 401 253 4284
Rep. A l l a n C u m p s 1 413 253-2995

I & E Supply, Inc.
66 E r n a A v e .
Box 9 M i l f o r d , Conn. 06460
203-878 0658
* T o m I r w i n , Inc.
11B A St.
Burlington, Mass.
L a r c h m o n t E n g i n e e r i n g and I r r i g . Co.
L a r c h m o n t Lane, L e x i n g t o n , Mass.
617-862 2550
M a g o v e r n C o m p a n y , Inc.
L a w n A c r e Road
W i n d s o r L o c k , Conn.
D. L. M a h e r
Box 127, C o n c o r d St.
N. Reading, Mass. 01864
R. F. Morse8.Son, Inc.
W. W a r e h a m , Mass. 02576
T e l : 617-295-1553
J. W i l l e n Roell. Rep.
Roger N i c c o l i , Rep.
New E n g l a n d Sealcoating Co., Inc.
T e n n i s C o u r t Const, and M a i n t e n a n c e
Sealcoating - H i n g h a m Ind. Center
H i n g h a m , M a s s . 749-6800
* O l d Fox C h e m i c a l Inc.
F e r t i l i z e r s - Seeds - T u r f C h e m i c a l s
66 V a l l e y St.
E. P r o v i d e n c e , R.I. 02914

G o l d Star Sod F a r m s , Inc.
Sod & P i n e B a r k M u l c h
C a n t e r b u r y , N . H . 603-783-4717
Weston, Mass. 617-894-5474

P r o - L a w n Prod., Inc.
F r e d A n t h o n y , Sales Rep.
391 T r e m o n t S t .
N. D i g h t o n , M a s s . 02764
617-823 1348

H o l l i s t o n Sand Co., Inc.
L o w l a n d St., H o l l i s t o n , M a s s . 01746
Sand f o r top dressing a n d b u n k e r s

Richey & C l a p p e r , Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd.
N a t i c k , Mass. 01760

* Sawtelle Bros.
565 H u m p h r e y St.
S w a m p s c o t t , Mass.
617-599-4856
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 W a t e r Street, Clinton, Mass.
617-365 6341
P u m p s Sales, s e r v i c e
Installation- V e r t i c l e
T u r b i n e p u m p specialists
T u c k a h o e T u r f F a r m s , Inc.
Slocum, R.I., L i t c h f i e l d , N.H.
1-800-556-6985
Alan Anderson
Sam M i t c h e l l
T u c o P r o d u c t s Corp.
D i v . of the U p j o h n Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
D a v i d Sylvester
203-828-3790
T u r f P r o d u c t s Corp.
1496 John F i t c h Blvd.
S. W i n d s o r , Conn. 06074
1-203-289 3471
J o h n P e r r y , Sales Rep.
V a l l e y F a r m s N u r s e r y & Supply, Inc.
133 Hopemeadow St., Rt. 10
S i m s b u r y , Ct. 06070
P u t t i n g Green Sod for the Professional
Joe Bidwell Pres.
Bus. - 203-651-8555 Res. 203-658-6886
White Turf Engineering
5 S u m m e r D r i v e , Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-0941
P h i l l i p Wogan
Golf Course A r c h i t e c t
21 B u d l e i g h A v e . , B e v e r l y , Mass.

*Contributors
Scholarship

to the Lawrence S.
Fund

Dickinson

First Class
U. S. Postage

PAID

Maynard, M A
Permit # 1 7

Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-7333
Club Affiliation
Wellesley Country Club
DONALD HEARN
Business Manager
LEON ST, PIERRE
Coordinator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor