December, 1980

Çotf (Gourde Superintendents ^dissociationSponsors and
OF

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

administrators of the Lawrence S.
Dickinson Scholarship Fund — A w a r d e d yearly
to deserving Turf Management Students.

G o l f s Endangered
ecies
Why ride when you can walk?
That's the penetrating question an entire section of ,Golf
Digest's November issue throws out to the golfing populace.
The golf course superintendent should take notice of it,
because pampering to the effects golf cars have on his domain has become an integral part of his daily work routine.
The magazine makes several winning points in the advancement that golfers should return to walking their rounds
instead of being transported over the course in the mechanized monsters. The premise is that the walker in golf is becoming an endangered species, along with the accompanying victim of modern technology - the caddie.
Then, too, the theme of walking instead of riding has its
side effects. In the article's own words. . ."Golf Digest wants
to see clubs and courses encourage, not discourage, walking
in two key ways: by establishing separate times for walkers
only and by renting pullcarts.
Of course, the golf course superintendent would probably
endorse the whole idea of cutting back on the use of cars and
promoting a return to walking. However, the pullcart as an
alternative to the car is hardly an improvement or aid to his
responsibilities of effecting and maintaining the peak conditioning of his layout. And there is some argument as to
which is the carrier of more course damage - the golf car or
the pullcart?
On the surface, the drive (no pun intended) to get golfers
back to the original exercise-recreation-enjoyment purpose of
the sport is a noble one. At one time golf provided some of the
health-laced benefits which have seemed to stray into other
pastimes like jogging and bicycling. Then, the golfer walked
his five-six-seven miles a round and was deemed the
healthier for it.

Next Meeting
Dec. 8, 1980
Holiday Inn, Dedham

Junction Route 128 & Route 1

Dir. Meeting - 9:30 a.m.
Reg. Meeting - 10:00 a.m.
Lunch - Noon
Educational Session - 1:30 p.m.

In the case of the affluent, the walking golf round provided
young people a chance to caddie in which they were able to
earn money and take a grasp of the game through observation. Out of this sometimes very close relationship of golfer
and caddie, came a source of supply for the club pro shop as
well as the PGA tour. The list of former caddies, either having
played or are playing for a livelihood, is a long one and contains the names of some of golfs immortals.
Therefore, golf before the golf car achieved a number of
worthwhile goals and served several equally fulfilling purposes.
The original purpose of the golf car was also a worthy one in
that it allowed physically disabled persons to play the game
without having to experience what to them was a burden of
having to walk. That's when the powers to be, saw a financial
windfall forming in the expansive use of the car and the
riding revolution was on fire.
It is ironic that a move back to walking occur at this point
in time when the rest of the game appears to be retracing the
sport's historical steps. The design of courses is beginning to
retreat somewhat in the emphasis on accuracy instead of
strength by a return to normal length of holes, tightening of
fairways and reduction in the size of greens.
It must be added here that economics — the basis for the
proliferation of the golf car - is partly responsible for the
reshaping of the course's physical appearance. Such an approach to the makeup of the layout lends itself to a saving in
maintenance costs - a saving almost mandatory due to the
rising prices of equipment and labor.
There is some logic in the assumption that a return to walking will not pose that much of a financial drain on the country
club and public course. Renting of pullcarts might take up
some of the income slack. But it will never take the place of
the golf car in dollars and cents received.
Resort courses, now entrenched in the required use of the
golf car, will ignore the walking push. Those layouts must rely on the combined income of golf cars and green fees since
continued on page 3

Çjofj^ Course

Superintendents

-Association

—

Restating a Relationship
An old and valued friend of the New England Golf Course
Superintendent's Association popped into the Newsletter last
month through the mail-ways. He's Bob Mitchell, presently
the guardian of the golf and grounds program at the nationally renowned Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs,
West Virginia.
Bob has appeared on the educational agenda of the UMass
Turf Conference and has been a source of information and inspiration to the profession with the sharing of his expertise
and input into the intriguing field of golf course maintenance.
He is, in a word, one of the giants of the trade.
Mitchell was interested in a Newsletter offering of last
February, one which covered the pros and cons of membership involvement in the golf course conditioning process.
That article presented both sides of the superintendent's
planning and appreciation situation — one in which he must
work with a green chairman and committee, the other in
which he answers to an owner, one-man rule operation.
The presentation prompted Mitchell to enclose one of his
literary attempts with his letter. It was written in 1963.
That's 17 years ago. However, many of those ideas are appropriate in the relationship of the green chairmancommittee and superintendent today. And they are worth a
re-reading.
Mitchell leans heavily on the functions of the green committee and its responsibilities to both members and supers.
" T h e green committee should have the interest of the
superintendent and his personnel at heart." By this, Mitchell
means the committee should work hand in hand with the
superintendent in planning changes or the like, assessing his
conditioning methods and then backing its conclusions to
the extent of supporting them against complainers - whether
they be board members or the rank and file of the club
membership.
" T h e committee should acquaint itself with the inner
workings of the golf course." In other words, the chairman
and his committee members should have something more
than a layman's knowledge and appreciation of the problems
the super faces.
"Invite the superintendent to play when the committee is
appraising the golf course for possible improvements and
maintenance practices." This is very important. The committee should solicit the expertise of the superintendent in
those matters which could alter the physical appearance and
requirements of the course. Bringing such alterations about
is going to rest with the superintendent, anyway.
"Maintain informal contact with the superintendent." This
should be something that occurs automatically. The chairman serves as a liaison between his committee and the super,
between the board of directors and the super and between the
membership and the super. Dropping by to see the
superintendent promotes a double exchange. It gives the
chairman a chance to inform the super of various comments

PRESIDENT
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 Affiliation
Needham Golf Club

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Brian C o w a n C G C S
R o b i n s Way
Harwich, Mass. 02645
H o m e Phone 432-9041
O f f i c e Phone 945-9230
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Donald Hearn CGCS
4 T o p e k a Rd.
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 Affiliation
W e s t o n Golf C l u b

SECRETARY
David Barber CGCS
145 Dedham St
Canton, Mass. 02021
H o m e Phone 828-7266
O f f i c e Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hills C.C.

about the course and it affords the superintendent the opportunity to air an immediate problem that can't wait until a
regular committee meeting.
Mitchell endorses the holding of regular meetings with the
green committee. " I ' m sure that a lot of supers would like to
operate without ever seeing their committee and, frankly,
considering some of the committee members I've heard
about, maybe this plan is better.
"But personally and objectively, I prefer to keep the committee posted on everything involved in the maintenance of
the course. I want them to know what is being done to reach
certain objectives and I certainly want them to be aware of
the cost of completing certain projects. When they are informed, they can pass the information on to the members and
be prepared for any gripes and criticisms they receive."
Mitchell has his own ideas about the makeup of T g r e e n
committee. After the appointment or re-appointment of a
chairman, he likes to see a small committee formed. "Four
members are enough," he suggests. "It makes it easier to get
a small group together regularly and it limits the complexities and awkardness of a larger working body. Another
thing. One of the members should be a high handicap golfer,
so that changes to be made would tend to meet the playing
needs of the largest portion of the golfing membership."
That's a suggestion which all clubs should accept as gospel.
In summary, Mitchell emphasizes that the relationship between chairman, green committee and the superintendent is
what each party makes them. " W e as superintendents must
strive to keep the committee informed with the kind of facts
that will encourage their role as policymakers but not administrators. This will encourage them to have enough faith
in the superintendent to allow him to operate the golf
course."
And that is a relationship, vintage 1963, restated. It is solid
advice, based on the experience of one of the most successful
members of the superintendents' profession. Bob Mitchell
knows what he's talking about and the NEGCSA thanks him
for sharing such wealth of knowledge with it.
Gerry Finn

A "Well Done" to Joe Rybka. Joe hosted the
PGA/Foot Joy National Assistants Championship in late Sept. Under the severe weather conditions of this summer Joe held his course
together and received rave reviews from the
players and officials.

To be voted on next meeting
Ronald E. Milenski
The International C.C.

TREASURER
Pete Coste' CGCS
121 Granite St.
Medfield. Mass. 02052
H o m e Phone 359-7247
O f f i c e P h o n e 566-0240
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The C o u n t r y Club

TRUSTEE
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
VesperC.C.

TRUSTEE
Meindert Schults
737 P r i n c e t o n Blvd.
L o w e l l . Mass. 01851
H o m e Phone 458-7605
O f f i c e Phone 452-8228
Club Affiliation
Mt. Pleasant G.C.

TRUSTEE
Melvin O'Kelly
345 Plain St.
Marshfield. Mass. 02050
H o m e p h o n e 834-4229
O f f i c e Phone 837-3321
Club Affiliation
Marshfield C.C.

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Robert J o h n s t o n CGCS
128 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 Affiliation
H a m p d e n C.C.

-OF

NEW

E N G L A N D .

INC

Putting Summer Tools
in Cold Storage

Golf's Endangered Species,

continued

they have no stable income as provided by initiation charges
and dues at country clubs.
Certainly, the superintendent would welcome a decline in
the use of the golf car since it remains a threat to his conditioning program. However, most supers have learned to
live with the car and take the stand that cutting back on cars
at the expense of increasing pullcart traffic doesn't really
relieve their maintenance woes.
So. although the idea of walking the golf course instead of
riding it constitutes a compelling urge to adopt it. the practicality of a golf car fleet has been established. What's more, it
has become a main source of revenue for the club. The effort
to curtail or eliminate it comes too late with too little clout.
Good try. . .but unfortunately. . .no cigar.
Gerry Finn

If, as Hudson Valley GCSA editor Bill Smart says, the frost
is on the Penncross, then it's time for superintendents in the
northern part of the country to store their equipment for the
winter. A little preventive maintenance and time spent now
can go a long way in minimizing problems when things start
back up in the spring.
If you're storing your hoses, make sure they are completely
drained before being stored. If water left in them freezes, it
could cause the hose to crack and split. Store them coiled and
lying flat. Hanging them on a nail or peg is probably the worst
possible way to store a hose, because then tend to crack
where they bend around the nail.
T o extend the useful life of a wooden ladder or the wooden
handles of tools, treat them with a wood preservative. A simple homemade formula consists of one part linseed oil to two
parts paint thinner. Brush it on and store the ladder or tools
inside, off a damp concrete floor from which they could draw
moisture.
Wipe hedge shears and pruning tools with a rag dipped in
paint thinner to remove sticky pitch and sap. Then sharpen
and oil them thoroughly.
Remove the soil from shovels and other tools used to work
the soil. If necessary, use a wire brush to remove loose rust
spots. Then wipe them with an oil rag.
While you're at it, take a minute to wax the blades of your
snow shovels so that wet snow will slide off instead of sticking. Treat the wooden handles with wood preservative.
To keep your feet dry while you're using that snow shovel,
be sure to waterproof your leather boots with the proper
sealant. Boots with leather that has been oil tanned require
an oil-base sealant, while those with a chrome-tanned finish
require a wax or silicone preparation. Work it into the clean,
dry boot surface with a soft cloth and leave the boots in a
warm place so the sealant can penetrate into the leather. T w o
coats should be enough for a new pair of boots, and an additional coat each winter should keep your feet dry for years
to come.

How To Kill An Association
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

JOB OPENING
Fall River C.C.
Contact: Mr. Dennis Orvis
Greens Committee
Box 1871 Fall River, Mass. 02722

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.

Stay away from meetings.
If you come, find fault and never offer an alternative.
Decline office or appointment to a committee.
Get sore if you aren't nominated or appointed.
After you are named, don't attend board or committee meetings.
If you get to one. d e s p i t e iyour better judgement, ic-lam up until you get
outside.
Don't work if you can help it.
Oppose all banquets, parties and shindigs as being a waste of the attendees'
money.
If everything is strictly business, complain that the meetings are dull and the
officers belong to the old guard.
Never accept a place at the head table.
If you aren't asked to sit there, threaten to resign because you aren't
appreciated.
Don't pay your dues.
Read mail from headquarters only now and then—never reply if you can help it

taken from Hole Notes - MCCSA

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
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 Affiliation
Hopedale C.C.

EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
Paul Miller
173 Salem St.
S w a m p s c o t t . Mass 01907
H o m e Phone 581-2808
O f f i c e Phone 595-3107
Club Affifiation
T e d e s c o C.C.

NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN
T o m S c h o f i e l d CGCS
290 North Rd.
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
H o m e Phone 443-3712
O f f i c e Phone 235-7333
Ciub A f f i l i a t i o n
Weilesley C.C.

PAST 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
Ciub A f f i l i a t i o n
K e r n w o o d C.C

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 i e c u c futfooHcje FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golt Cars
Swansea, Mass.
Yamaha Golf Cars

B o x 9 M i l f o r d , C o n n . 06460

*

203 878 0658

Sawtelle Bros.
565 H u m p h r e y St.
Swampscott, Mass.

•fc T o m I r w i n , I n c .

617 5^9 4856

I I B A St
Bordens Spreader Service

Scott Associates, Inc.

Burlington, Mass

M a y n a r d , Mass.
T e l . 617 897-2571

60 W a t e r S t r e e t , C l i n t o n , M a s s .
617 365 6341

L a r c h m o n t E n g i n e e r i n g a n d I r r i g Co
L a r c h m o n t Lane, Lexington, Mass,
617 862 2550

Sales Rep. J a c k B o r d e n
Bulk Limestone Dealer

P u m p s Sales, s e r v i c e
Installation

Vertical

Turbine p u m p specialists
T h e C h a r l e s C. H a r t S e e d Co

-fc T h e M a g o v e r n C o . I n c

Wethersfield, Conn

T u c k a h o e T u r f F a r m s , Inc.

27 L a w n a c r e Road

Bob Kennedy, Rep

Slocum, R . I , Litchfield, N.H

W i n d s o r L o c k s . Conn. 06096

Roy Sibley, Rep.

1 800 556 6985

Tel. # 1-800-243-7718 o r 1 203-623-2508

203 529 2537

Alan Anderson

L o u i s C. R o g e r s , V i c e Pres.

Chester Drake & Sons Inc

D, L

222 W a l n u t St.
F r a m i n g h a m . Mass. 01701
Golf Course Construction
617-875-7929

*

Sam Mitchell

Maher

Tuco Products Corp

B o x 127, C o n c o r d St

Div

N

Kalamazoo, Mich

Reading, Mass

01864

David Sylvester

R. F . M o r s e & S o n , I n c .

203 828 3790

W W a r e h a m , M a s s . 02576

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

T e l : 617 295 1553

Turf Products Corp

J W i l l e n Roell. Rep

1496 J o h n F i t c h B l v d

Larry Bunn. Rep

- S - W i n d s o r . C o n n 06074
I 203 289 3471

N e w E n g l a n d S e a l c o a f i n g Co . I n c
Country Club Enterprises

Sealcoating

Tennis & Leisure Equipment

Hingham. Mass

H i n g h a m Ind

Center

749 6800

P.O. B o x 400. W . F a l m o u t h . Ma. 02574
617-563-2284
GeoffreyS

C o r n i s h 8. W i l l i a m G

Robinson

Golf Course A r c h i t e c t s
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass

01002

C S. C u r r a n
T.R.C

J o h n P e r r y . Sales R e p

Tennis Court Const and M a i n t e n a n c e

C l u b Car Golf Cars

Products. Oils and Greases

7 L i n d e n St., F r a m i n g h a m , M a s s

N.E. C h a p t e r L a n d I m p r o v e m e n t
C o n t r a c t o r s of A m e r i c a
P r o f e s s i o n a l C o n s e r v a t i o n of
Soil and Water
C o n t r a c t o r in y o u r a r e a ,
call Peter W h i t i n g . Pres.
617-877-5323
-k O l d F o x C h e m i c a l Inc
Fertilizers

ot t h e U p j o h n Co

Seeds

Turf Chemicals

*

Turf S p e c i a l t y . Inc.
84 M e r r i m a c St.
H o o k s e t t . N . H . 03106
Turf & O r n a m e n t a l S u p p l i e s
K e n T u r n e r 617-263-7526
V a l l e y F a r m s N u r s e r y & Supply, Inc.
133 H o p e m e a d o w St., R t 10
S i m s b u r y , C t . 06070
P u t t i n g G r e e n Sod f o r t h e P r o f e s s i o n a l
Joe B i d w e l l Pres
Bus.

203 651 8555 Res

203 658 6886

66 V a l l e y St

Scotts P r o T u r f D i v

E . P r o v i d e n c e , R I 02914

Rep. Ed W i a c e k 1-401-253-4284
Rep. K e v i n L y o n s 1-617-366-4825

P r o L a w n P r o d . , Inc

White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Drive, Winchendon, Mass
617 297 094 1

01475

F r e d A n t h o n y , Sales Rep

G o l d S t a r Sod F a r m s , I n c
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

391 T r e m o n t St.

Phillip Wogan

N

Golf Course A r c h i t e c t

D i g h t o n , M a s s . 02764

617 823 1348

W e s t o n , M a s s . 617 894 5474

21 B u d l e i g h A v e . B e v e r l y , M a s s

Richey & C l a p p e r , Inc.
I & E S u p p l y , Inc.
66 E r n a A v e .

28 R u t l e d g e R d .
N a t i c k , M a s s . 01760

Return to:
TOM SCHOFIELD
290 N o r t h Road
S u d b u r y , M A 01 776

FIRST CLASS
( j J f Course

periti ten Jpu ts

dissociation

TOM SCHOFIELD CGCS
Newsletter Committee Chairman
290 North Road
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
H o m e Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-7333
Club Affiliation
Wellesley Country Club
PETE COSTE'
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Co-ordinator
GERRY F I N N
Contributing Editor

* Contributors
Scholarship

to the Lawrence
Fund

S.

Dickinson

First Class
U. S. Postage

PAID
Maynard, M A
Permit # 1 7