June» 1981

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

Setting the Budget Straight
A practical and reasonable overview.
That's what Weston's Don Hearn sought to draw from
the country club community when he presented a
philosophical commentary on the favorite target of selfappointed cost analysts - the golf course budget.
Hearn is well qualified to tear into the subject. In addition to being a crackerjack at his profession, which happens to be golf course superintendent, he has had a taste
of the country club from the inside as interim club
manager.
Therefore,
his e x p e r t i s e
is
well
established...and recognized.
According to Hearn, the financial ills of the country club
are too often laid on the doorstep of the superintendent
whose responsibility for making up and implementing the
budget apparently fingers him as the culprit.
"We should be aware of the fact that golf course
maintenance costs typically represent only 15 to 20 percent of the total club operating expense," Hearn advised
at the spring conference of the Massachusetts Golf
Association. "If you agree that most people join a club
because of the golf course, the amount spent to maintain
this asset is very reasonable."
Don abhors the tendency of club officials to compare
budgets of neighboring clubs with their own. "Especially
when they compare them mathematically," he remarked.
"There are so many variables involved...number of
rounds, type of turf, membership demands, history of
pest damage. I could go on and on."
That tendency frequently makes for an absolute
misconception of the budget-making process. Each club
has problems and/or advantages that are isolated factors
to be considered in arranging for an annual financial
outlay. They do not apply to the club down the street or
the one across town.
Hearn sees a direct correlation between size of budget
and demands of club members.
"Some of the demands have gone to the extreme," he explained. " I refer to such playing aids as markers on the
flag stick to depict location of the cup, diagrams and the
like at the tee, manicured off-tee areas and other money
and time drains on the budget. These are in the luxury
class."
Very often some of the demands for better playing conditions can be met by the members, themselves.
"In theory, every golfer should rake a trap after he has
made his elephant tracks there," Hearn observed. "Fixing
ball marks and correctly replacing divots are other areas

Congratulations and welcome to
Tom Morris - St. Mark's G.C.
To be voted in at next meeting:
Patrick Kristy Associate member
Acoaxet Club

where members can maintain conditions to which they
are accustomed.
" A s far as the super-super conditions go, golfers must
be made aware of the costs that go with them. Does the
member expect to have the greens mowed seven days a
week, bunkers raked constantly, tees mowed at putting
green height and fairways mowed four to five times a
week to eliminate that dastardly shot known as the
'flier'?"
At this point in the situation, it is necessary for club
members to express the extent of their demands - before
the budget is finalized. "If the member wishes those penthouse type conditions, he must be willing to pay for
them," Hearn added. "If most of them want and are ready
to accept the financial responsibility, club officials must
raise the funds through a boost in the budget."
What Hearn alludes to here is a common sense approach
to setting the condition of the course. In reality, it is the
members who draw the guidelines for the budget. The fancier the track they're playing on, the slicker the cost, to
produce it.
Have budgets skyrocketed beyond belief?
Hearn notes that the cost of maintaining a golf course
parallels the cost of living. Over the past 12 years the
bench figure for maintaining one hole has jumped 128
percent or from $4,876 to 811,112. Over that same
period, the Consumer Price Index has followed the same
flight or a 128 percent increase.
"That close relationship of percentage hikes is not
unreasonable, if the superintendent is required to produce
better conditions each year," Hearn concluded. "Of
course, what I have established is a more important relationship - cost of maintenance equals demands of
membership. That's as pure and simple as budget-making
can be."
And it's about as straight as it ever has been set. Donald
Hearn, report to the president's economic advisory board.
Gerry Finn

Meeting Notice
J u l y 13, 1981 Tedesco C.C.
Host Supt.: Paul Miller
Golff in the afternoon followed by
a dinner meeting. Guest speaker
- Phil Wogan
Tedesco has a nice evening planned for
us. So act professionally and fill out, then
mail, the reservation form on page 3.

Directions: Take Route 1A to Essex Street lights.
Turn right and go past General Glover Restaurant.
Clubhouse is on the right.

ÇjofJ?

Couròe

Superintendent

Sdóáociation

You and the Nationall
Bob Osterman was right when he put a little twist on an
old saw.
"Everybody talks about the National, but not too many
people do anything about taking advantage of what it has
to offer," he opened his remarks at a recent gathering of
Northeastern golf course superintendents.
The National, of course, is the finger-snapping expression for the Golf Course Superintendents Association of
America. Osterman serves as secretary-treasurer of the
group.
There's a S90 fee for joining the National, modest by
most standards.
"There's a lot to be accomplished with those 90 bucks,
too," Osterman explained. " T h e thing that puzzles all of
us in the executive branch is that not enough members
make the National work for them."
Of course, the educational opportunities for duespaying supers are coming out both ends of the barrel, so to
speak.
" W e have visual aids galore," Osterman advised. "And
they're available to everyone. There's just a storehouse of
information. Sad, but most of the time it just goes begging."
Osterman cited the recent international turf conference
as an example of lethargic response to important offerings by the National.
" W e had set up a meeting for representatives of the

Editorial
As editor of this publication, 1 feel compelled to comment on the Dow Chemical ad appearing in recent issues
of many trade publications.
I have often thought (but never said) that "Caddy
Shack" set our professional standing back 40 years. This
ad has only served to reinforce an already tarnished image of superintendents and club members. Being depicted
as "Carl" rankles me quite a bit. I think what really
bothers me most is that the perpetrator of this ad assumed that every super would see himself in this ad. Sure, we
all have a day, once in a while, when we feel bedraggled,
belittled, beleaguered, and bewildered; but I hate being
depicted as feeling this way every day. It is as if it were
part of the job, something we should expect.
Another aspect of this ad that gnaws away at me is the
way my members are depicted. I am, of course, assuming
they are trying to show "average" country club members;
which your and my members are. I am sure I can speak for
most of us when I say the type of members depicted in the
ad are only the rarest exceptions. Country club members
that I have met in 16 years (and 6 clubs) have always conducted themselves as perfect ladies and gentlemen. We
have all formed close working and personal relationships
with some of our members. We should all rebel at having
them shown this way. I wonder how some club members
that may see this ad may react to seeing themselves
shown as uncultured boobs.
I can't help but wish that Dow Chemical, its' ad agency,
and our own G.C.S.A.A. had looked and thought twice
before allowing this one to hit the presses.
Charles R. Lane
PRESIDENT
Ronald Kirkman
25 G r e e n St.
N e e d h a m . M a s s . 02192

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Brian C o w a n CGCS
Robins Way
H a r w i c h , M a s s . 02645

SECOND VICE
PRESIDENT
Donald Hearn CGCS
4TopekaRd.
C h e l m s f o r d . M a s s . 01824

H o m e P h o n e 444-8412
Office Phone444-5548
Club Affiliation
N e e d h a m Golf C l u b

H o m e P h o n e 432-9041
O f f i c e P h o n e 945-9230
CIub Affiliation
E a s t w a r d Ho.

H o m e P h o n e 256-8709
O f f i c e P h o n e 894-5906
Club Affiliation
W e s t o n Golf Club

SECRETARY
David Barber C G C S
145 D e d h a m St.
C a n t o n . M a s s . 02021
H o m e P h o n e 828-7266
O f f i c e P h o n e 828-6540
Club Affiliation
B l u e H i l l s C.C.
•

various spin-off chapters around the country," Osterman
told. "Know how many showed up? Just 30 of 93. That's
less than one-third. You can't go around criticizing the
group, when you're content to stay out of the main
arena."
The National also offers each member two free subscriptions to the association's informative periodical, Golf
Course Management.
"You wouldn't believe the number of people who don't
even bother to fill out a subscription blank," Osterman
continued. " W e didn't get too many takers. I can't understand it. That was something for nothing. And it still is!"
Osterman brought up these isolated examples, only as a
counter to the frequently-raised question: "What does the
National do for me?"
"There's another reason for bringing this up," Osterman added. "We're still looking to swell our ranks.
There's still fertile ground to be tapped for increased
numbers in the organization. There is Strength in
numbers and we need all we can muster."
Osterman touched on a popular and controversial subject — certification of the golf course superintendent.
"Our certification program might need some alterations," Osterman said. " I t hasn't turned out the way it
was expected when it was formed and employed.
However, there are benefits derived from participation.
For one thing, we have found that the certified superintendent averages out to 83,000 more in salary figures compared to the super who has not been certified."
Despite this attractive lure, many superintendents shy
away from trying to become certified.
"It's true," Osterman lamented. "Less than 10 percent
of our total membership is certified. But we have a study
group looking into the overall picture. We might have to
make changes.
"Then, too, we might have to give more time and effort
to making the presence of certification known to the
public. Right now, it hasn't had too much exposure. What
it needs is some clout. How to establish it is something
else. But certification can be made to work for the super
as well as the club who requires his expertise."
Osterman is sympathetic with his profession over the
emphasis on course maintenance as the whipping boy in
the explanation for rising costs in the operation of the
country club.
" W e sure seem to take a lot of flak when the finance
committees start looking for the source of red ink," Osterman cracked. " I t is strange, too. It's as if the cost of fertilizer is the only thing that has gone up in the inflationary
years. There are areas, other than the golf course, which
must accept responsiblity for the increase in outlay for
the overall operation of the club. Hopefully, club officials
can see beyond the first tee."
Even the availability of Osterman to National members
for this particular meeting points up the professional image of the GCSAA.
''We just don't sit back in our headquarters and count
the dues money," Osterman concluded. "We're there to
help each individual member any way that's feasible. The
National's for its members."
Gerry Finn

TREASURER
Pete C o s t e ' C G C S
121 G r a n i t e St
M e d f i e l d . M a s s . 02052
H o m e P h o n e 359-7247
O f f i c e P h o n e 566-0240
Club Affiliation
The Country Club

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

TRUSTEE
Melvin O'Kelly
345 Plain St.
M a r s h f i e l d . M a s s . 02050
H o m e p h o n e 834-4229
O f f i c e P h o n e 837-3321
Club Affiliation
M a r s h f i e l d C.C.

TRUSTEE
Tom Schofield CGCS
290 N o r t h Rd.
S u d b u r y . M a s s . 01776
H o m e P h o n e 443-3712
O f f i c e P h o n e 235-7333
Club Affiliation
W e l l e s l e y C.C.

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Robert J o h n s t o n C G C S
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 P h o n e 566-3075
O f f i c e P h o n e 566-3096
Club Affiliation
H a m p d e n C.C.

OF

This is the week that was Greenskeeper's Diary
Friday - In at dawn again and fell over the barn dog,
before I got a light on. Friday is the day we do
EVERYTHING. Assistant late again, sometimes I wonder
about him. He wouldn't even hold still when I had to cut
the bubble gum out of his hair - got mad because I cut his
headband. This is the day I was going to spray because I
missed last Friday that should have gone on the Friday
before that. Maybe Monday. Maybe by then the cutworms
will have turned to moths and have flown away. Looped
around the course in the pre-dawn light and saw four joggers, a mushroom picker, two ball hoppers in the pond,
three members walking dogs, an old Italian lady cutting
dandelions and a partridge in a pear tree. Threw a rock at
the last mentioned. I love the course early in the morning
-so quiet, so peaceful and tranquil. I think I'll call the state
troopers and have all these people arrested. Picked up the
remains of a big beer party by the fifteenth then went to
work.
Saturday - Everybody in the world loves weekends but
Greenskeepers. More turf disasters have happened on
Saturday and Sunday than all the Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays put together. Right
off the bat four pins and a dozen markers missing and the
usual moronic messages written in the sand traps...why
can't they write inspirational thoughts or a weather
report? A neat group partied last night. All imported beer,
an empty Southern Comfort bottle and two Cutty Sarks
-member's kids. Went to look at a very large pupa dangling from the tree by the ninth, and after gazing in wonder
for two seconds, realized it was a tampon. Left it there,
maybe it will hatch.
Sunday - Greens mower operator failed to show 'til I had
mowed five greens, I would have fired him but then I
would have had to finish. Things looking pretty good today. Can't wait 'til Monday to see what the hell will hap-

pen next.

Credit: Hutchinson Valley

How to Write an Article
I have been reading this newsletter for about 13 years.
I'm sure I could count on the fingers of one hand all the article written by superintendents.
Each of us has our own reason for not writing an article.
"I'm too busy." Bull! I know most of you guys are not
under a rock all winter. " I don't have anything to write
about." Bull, again! Every super has at least one article in
him. " I don't have anything new to tell my peers." You do,
whether you know it or not. " I ' m not a writer." No, you
aren't and neither are any of the rest of us.
Perhaps a few helpful hints from a non-writer are in
order here. I have written a couple of articles for this
newsletter, both were of a technical nature, but the procedure involved doesn't vary that much from one type of
article to another.
Loosely speaking, there are two types of articles;
editorial and educational. Editorial articles should tell

JOB OPENING Mt. Pleasant - Lowell
Contact: Mike Cambray 452-8228
GOLF
CHAIRMAN
S t e p h e n M. M u r p h y
75 W o o d l a n d Ave.
L y n n , M a s s . 01904
H o m e P h o n e 592-2554
O f f i c e P h o n e 592-8238
Club Affiliation
T h e G a n n o n G.C.

EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
R i c h a r d C. Z e p p
86 E S t e r l i n g SI.
W . B o y l s t o n , M a s s . 01583
H o m e P h o n e 835-4980
O f f i c e P h o n e 234-2533
Club Affiliation
W h i t i n s v i i l e G.C.

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Charles Lane
5 G o o d n o w Lane
F r a m i n g h a m , M a s s . 01701
H o m e P h o n e 872-7832
O f f i c e P h o n e 875-4490
Club Affiliation
F r a m i n g h a m C C.

PAST
PRESIDENT
Dean R o b e r t s o n
24 R i v e r v i e w Drive
N e w b u r y . M a s s . 01950
H o m e P h o n e 462-4540
O f f i c e P h o n e 745-7289
Club Affiliation
K e r n w o o d C.C.

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

what you feel. Educational articles should tell what you
know.
Let's assume you have decided to write something.
Where do you start? Most successful authors have a trick
that works every time. Sit down and start writing. As
thoughts pop into your mind, jot them down. You will be
amazed at how one thought will lead to another. Don't be
concerned about putting them in order, that will come
later. I have found a cassette recorder handy for this first
step. I can talk much faster than I can write.
Now that you have this jumbled mass of thoughts in
front of you, start arranging them in rough order. Use a
pencil and number each line of thought. If you don't like
its spot, erase the number.
The next step is the old tried and true outline; Roman
numerals and all. This gives you structure and will assign
priorities to each idea or thought. It will show their relationship to one another.
Once you are satisfied that the outline is complete, the
next step is either the easiest or the hardest, depending on
your point of view. Get creative. Make up a few flowery
phrases and flowing prose to go between the lines of your
outline. You may surprise yourself.
If you have gotten this far, then type the darn thing up,
double spaced and mail it to me. I reserve the right to correct spelling and delete profanity where necessary. We do
not cut paragraphs or any other part of an article. If you
wrote the whole thing we should print it.
If you have read an article that you would like to see
printed in our newsletter, let me know. With some effort, I
can usually get reprint permission from almost anyone.
Any "letter to the editor" is most welcome. This is your
newsletter and your sounding board. Any editorial should
be signed. In special instances we may be able to run an
editorial letter without your signature.
So, when the leaves start to turn, take a break and write
an article. Who knows? You may get to be newsletter
editor someday.
Charles R. Lane
Our thanks to Brian Cowan (Eastward Ho) and Mark
Klimm (Holden Hills) for having us for our last two
meetings and tournaments. All reports indicate that
everyone enjoyed themselves on both occasions. Thanks
again, fellows.
While I am on the subject, the gentlemanly thing to do is
to let our host superintendent know how many of us are
coming for the meeting and meal. When the actual count
for the meal exceeds the reservations by 100%, it makes
for bad feelings all around. In most cases it only takes a
minute.

I

1
I

SUPPER RESERVATIONS
Please fill out and return by July 10
To: Paul Miller
173 Salem St.
Swampscott, Mass. 01907
Yes, I/we will be staying for supper
July 13
Number of people

Names
I
I Club or Business

I n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n m a y b e used
f r e e l y , in w h o l e or in p a r t , w i t h o u t special p e r m isslon as l o n g
as t h e t r u e c o n t e x t is m a i n t a i n e d . W e w o u l d a p p r e c i a t e a
credit line.

P t e o à c p a h & H i f e FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Baker T r a c t o r Corp., Ford 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 .
Yamaha Golf Cars
Bordens Spreader S e r v i c e
M a y n a r d , Mass.
Tel. 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. J a c k B o r d e n
Bulk L i m e s t o n e D e a l e r
The C h a r l e s C. H a r t Seed Co.
W e t h e r s f l e l d , Conn.
Bob K e n n e d y , Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.
203 529 2537
Chester Drake & Sons Inc.
222 Walnut St.
Framlngham, Mass. 01701
Golf Course C o n s t r u c t i o n
617-875-7929
The C l a p p e r Co.
1121 W a s h i n g t o n St.
N e w t o n , Mass,^_
617-244-7900
Country Club Enterprises
Club Car Golf Cars
Tennis & Leisure Equipment
P.O. Box 400, W. Falmouth. Ma. 02574
617-563-2284
G e o f f r e y S. 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
F i d d l e r s Green, A m h e r s t , Mass. 01002
C.S. C u r r a n
T . R . C . P r o d u c t s , Oils and Greases
7 L i n d e n St., F r a m l n g h a m , Mass.

*

T o m I r w i n , Inc.
I I B 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 , M a s s .
617 862 2550

Gold Star Sod F a r m s , Inc.
Sod 8. Pine 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

Texas Refinery Corp.
Donald A. Kemp
110 Church St., Pascoag, R.I. 02859
Tel: 401-568-3993

The Magovern Co. Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
W i n d s o r Locks, Conn. 06096
Tel. # 1-800-243-7718 or 1-203-623-2508
Louis C. Rogers, Vice Pres.

T u c k a h o e T u r f F a r m s , Inc.
S l o c u m , R . I . , L i t c h f i e l d , N.H
1 800-556-6985
Alan Anderson
Sam M i t d h e l l

D. L. M a h e r
Box 127, C o n c o r d St.
N. Reading, Mass. 01864

TucoProductsCorp.
D i v . of the U p j o h n Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
D a v i d S„ylvester.
203 828 3790

R. F. M o r s e 8.Son, Inc
W, W a r e h a m , Mass. 02576
-Tel: 61-7 295-1553
J. W i l l e n Roell. Rep
Larry Bunn, Rep.
*

T u r f P r o d u c t s Corp
1496 J o h n F i t c h B l v d
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.

*

Turf Specialty, Inc.
84 Merrlmac St.
Hooksett, N.H. 03106
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner 617-263-7526

N e w E n g l a n d S e a l c o a t l n g 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
Sealcoatlng H l n g h a m Ind. Center
H l n g h a m , M a s s , 749 6800

Old 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

V a l l e y F a r m s N u r s e r y 8. 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 B i d w e l l Pres
Bus. • 203-651 8555 Res. 203-658-6886

P r o L a w n P r o d . , Inc
Box 4908,
Syracuse, N.Y. 13221

White Turf Engineering
5 S u m m e r D r i v e , W i n c h e n d o n , Mass. 01475
617 297 0941

Scotts P r o - T u r f D l v .
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-366-4825

Scott Associates, Inc.
60 W a t e r Street, C l i n t o n , Mass.
617-365 6341
Pumps-Sales, s e r v i c e
Installation- Vertical
Turbine pump specialists

Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co.
Mike Hannlgan, Rep.
Ablngton, Mass.
800-321-5325

N.E. Chapter Land I m p r o v e m e n t
C o n t r a c t o r s ot A m e r i c a
Professional 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 your area,
call Peter W h i t i n g , Pres.
617-877-5323

S a w t e l l e Bros.
565 H u m p h r e y St.
Swampscott, Mass.
617-599-4856

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

R l c h e y 8< C l a p p e r , Inc.

Box 9 M l l f o r d , Conn. 06460
203 878 0658

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

Phillip Wogan
Golf Course A r c h i t e c t
21 B u d l e l g h Ave., B e v e r l y , M a s s .

* Contributors
Scholarship

Return to:
CHARLES LANE
5 Goodnow Lane
Framingham, MA 01701

FIRST CLASS
CHARLES LANE
Newsletter Committee Chairman
5 Goodnow Lane
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Home Phone 872-7832
Office Phone 875-4490
Club Affiliation
Framingham. C.C.
PETE COSTE'
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Co-ordinator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

to the Lawrence
Fund

S.

Dickinson

F i r s t Class
U . S. P o s t a g e

PAID
Framingham, MA
Permit#209