/Vou^/Y'S^
1981

ourie ^uperin tenclents ^Qddociation
OF

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

I N C

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

Our Pete Pulls It Off
Pete Coste, the energetic golf course superintendent at
The Country Club (Brookline), is accustomed to handling
gigantic tasks and coming through with rewarding results.
So, preparing the historic course he manicures on a
daily basis for the United States Golf Association Amateur Championship is right up Pete's alley - so to speak.
The big event will be played at The Country Club next
September, even the closing days of August.
"It runs a full week with the finals scheduled Sept. 7,"
Pete pinpointed the playing dates. "By then, I think we'll
be in the run-out stages of keeping it up to snuff. But I'm
ready for it. Whatever the USGA orders, I'll do my darnedest to deliver."
The USGA is familiar with The Country Club layout,
having scheduled many major events there. The most recent was the Walker Cup matches in 1973. Coste was on
hand for that one. In fact, this is his 10th year at Brookline.
"I just got out my 1973 file and started to collect my
thoughts," Pete described his first fling at the job when it
was learned he'd be greening up the layout for the world's
top amateur golfers. "That experience will be a big help
getting this one off the ground."
The Country Club has such outstanding architectural
character and on-going commendable condition that very
few changes will be necessary to bring it up to ultimate
championship standards.
"We've had a very good conditioning year here Edready," Pete disclosed. "Right now (November) the turf is
in remarkable shape. If it winters well, we should be able
to get right on top of the rest of things in the spring."
Coste and his crew have just completed a sand-buildup
project.
"We've brought in new sand and edged 81 bunkers," he
told. "The USGA wanted to sand in at this time so that it
would be well-aged by the time the tournament starts. The
only thing we'll do in the summer is maybe add a little
sand that's been lost over the winter. So, that part of the
preparation appears to be going smoothly."
With the USGA aboard in an advisory capacity, Pete
finds that his needs are quickly met.
"Whenever the USGA talks, the people at The Country
Club listen," he laughed. "But that's the way it should be.
Both pEulies have been great in setting up the course.
Really, I'm having fun. Of course, it's work - but what else
is new?"
Pete expects to be bringing in some of the fairways by
late spring.
"The USGA likes the width of the landing areas to be 30
paces," he explained. "That's about 90 to 100 feet. Where
it's necessary, we'll be cutting back to conform to its
specifications. That won't be any problem. Many of our
fairways are tight to begin with."
The rough-cutting will be old hat to Coste.
"It figures to be the same when we got things together
for the Walker Cup," he said. "There will be a two-inch cut
for the first six feet of rough. After that, it will go up. Since
we'll be growing it in late August, it might go beyond reasonable height. However, it's up to the USGA to determine
just how high it will go."

It should be remembered that The Country Club's rough
was the determinant during the 1963 U.S. Open, a tournament Julius Boros won by negotiating it with a sand wedge
in a dramatic winning-playoff against Arnold PEdmer and
Jacky Cupit.
" I think the course will be just as tough as it was for
those players," Pete cautioned. "That means it will take a
resd champion to win the Amateur."
Solid and swift greens Eire smother must with major
tournament layouts and The Country Club will have them
this time around.
"The greens will be just as hard as the USGA wants
them and the speed will be there, too," Pete added. "The
players will have to put up with smother potential problem
in making low scores because our greens Eire small. A couple of them don't ran any more than 3,000 square feet. I'd
guess there might be a few curse words conning out of
some mouths when players leave the greens."
The tournament agenda calls for a practice round on
Monday with qusilifying Tuesday and Wednesday (alternate sites in action with Charles River the other course.)
That will trim the field to 64 players who will engage in
match play until the finalists square off for the title Sept. 7.
The Country Club is the fourth stop for Pete in his super
intendent's travels. He began his career in Brewster, then
moved to Connecticut where he handled the conditioning
of The Patterson Club in Fairfield and Pequot Golf Club in
Stonington. From there he landed in Brookline where his
work has been a model for the profession the past 10
years.
The National Amateur is just another notch on his
achievement gun.
"I'm really looking forward to this," Pete concluded.
"It's a big job and the responsibility goes with it. However,
I welcome the challenge. We're resilly going to have some
fun around here for the next 10 months or so."
Gerry Finn

Next Meeting
December 2, 1981
Needham G.C.,
Needham, Mass.
H o s t Supt. R o n K i r k m a n
9:00
10:00
12:00

Directors Meeting
Regular Meeting and Educational
Session
Lunch

Directions: From 128 take exit 57. Go toward Needham smd tsike fourth left, Green St. Club is on right.

djoff

Course

.Superintendents

^dissociation

NEGCSA -- Accent on Action
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of New
England shook hands with reality recently with passage of
a streamlined Article IV as part of sweeping revisions in
the organization's by-laws.
The overwhelming vote, conducted during a scintillating session at the International Golf Club, guarantees that
supers no longer will be required to join the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America before being accepted as members of the NEGCSA.
"This brings us up to date in matter of establishing a
democratic basis for operating our organization."
NEGCSA president Ron Kirkman noted, "The democratic
process will be honored by giving our members the option
of joining the national. Eventually, some will choose to become part of the national and others will not. That's the
way the process was meant to work."
What the new arrangement does is eliminate a form of
discrimination for those potential NEGCSA members who
would have had to forfeit voting rights and meaningful
participation in official group discussions.
"I would expect that the change will give us more numbers in membership," Kirkman added. "It also should be a
source of fresh input into our meetings and formation of
organizational goals. The size of the vote proves that this
is what our members wanted. After all, the NEGCSA was
created for the professional welfare of its members."
Article IV is just one more step in streamlining the
NEGCSA. Another unpublicized advancement also deserves mention.
" A lot of people are unaware of our new method for voting in members," Kirkman told. "Now, the final vote is in
the hands of the board of directors. Again, this does away
with the danger of employing discrimination of another
kind."
In the past, a new member's name was presented to the
overall membership for a first reading and subsequent offering to challenge that presentation. Furthermore, the
budding member's fate could be decided by one dissenting
vote. In other words, one member had the power to kill
the presentation.
"This doesn't mean that the board of directors has
usurped the individual member's right to question the
qualifications of the man in question," Kirkman emphasized. "Members still are allowed to voice disapproval of a
particular presentation by voicing their objections to the
board. However, it is up to the board to scrutinize such
objection and then act on the presentation."
The purpose of the new method is obvious. Members no
longer will be able to use petty or personal differences
with a NEGCSA membership candidate as the basis for
denying him the opportunity to join the organization.
"We're not saying that this has been done in the past,"
Kirkman continued. "I think that the record of our established members is a good one in this situation. However,
the new process is more of a preventative measure. Everyone retains his right to oppose a new member, and if the
objection is legitimate, it will be recognized as such by the
board."
The passage of Article IV and the updating of the
method of accepting new members should be viewed as an
example of increasing input into the NEGCSA by an active
membership.
"The enthusiasm shown by members in making these
changes has to be a major step in improving our group,"

PRESIDENT
Ronald Kirkman
25 Green St.
Needham, Mass. 02192
H o m e Phone 444-8412
Office Phone 444-5548
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Needham Golf C l u b

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Brian Cowan 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 Ho.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Donald Hearn CGCS
4 Topeka Rd.
Chelmsford. Mass. 01824
H o m e Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 894-5906
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
W e s t o n Golf Club

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 A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue Hills C.C.

Kirkman opined. "I think that some claims that our organization was becoming stagnant might have been justified.
But I believe all groups go through this type of rubberstamped participation. The input by members in the meeting at International and their increased interest in our
operational procedures have to be considered an upgrading of the whole organization. All of them are into this
thing and it's encouraging."
Members are reminded that copies of the new by-laws
will be available to them in the near future.
Revision has been a lengthy but rewarding process.
However, it will take time to get the new standards together so that members will be able to refer to them in
handbook form.
Therefore, members are asked to be patient along these
lines. In the meantime, they are to be applauded for their
judicious involvement in bringing about the by-laws revision and putting some clout into the professional organization which represents them. Truly, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England is shaping into
a group operated by and for its members. That's the way it
should be.
Gerry Finn

Congratulations and welcome to:
Stephen Carey, Royal Crest C.C.
Voted in last meeting
We have been remiss in thanking the superintendents
that have hosted meetings and tournaments. On behalf of
the Association a thank you goes to:
Mark Taylor
Ron Milenski
Bob Grant
Jim Fitzroy

Haverhill C.C.
The International
Brae Burn C.C.
The Presidents

Hosting a meeting always requires some extra time and
effort; and we sure appreciate it. Thanks again fellows.

JOB OPENING:
Superintendent Holden Hills Country Club
Contact: Jim Walgren Phone 829-4346

Random Thoughts
It's easier to eat an elephant if you cut it into small
pieces
first.
--Impact.
I've discovered that I can get more with a kind word and
a gun than I can with just a kind word.
--Willie Sutton, bank robber.
He who knows nothing else knows enough if he knows
when to be silent.
—Japanese proverb.

TREASURER
Pete Coste" CGCS
121 Granite St.
Medfield. Mass. 02052
Home Phone 359-7247
O f f i c e Phone 566-0240
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The Country Club

TRUSTEE
Meindert Schults
737 Princeton Blvd.
Lowell, Mass. 01851
Home Phone 458-7605
Office Phone 452-8228
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Mt. Pleasant G.C.

TRUSTEE
Melvin O'Kelly
345 Plain St.
Marshfield. Mass. 02050
H o m e phone 834-4229
O f f i c e Phone 837-3321
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Marshfield C.C.

TRUSTEE
Tom Schofield CGCS
290 North Rd.
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-7333
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Wellesley C.C.

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Robert J o h n s t o n CGCS
128 Wilbraham Rd.
Hampden. Mass. 01036
Home Phone 566-3075
O f f i c e Phone 566-3096
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Hampden C.C.

OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

Pythium - Some Eyeball Observations
Charles Lane, CGCS Framingham C.C.
Just in case some of you hadn't noticed; Pythium is
here, and in my opinion, here to stay. There are many of
us educated to believe that Pythium only hits south of
New York City. Well, this is just not as true as it may have
been ten or twelve years ago, We are now hearing reports
of pythium outbreaks as far north as Maine.
Since I probably see (or have seen) as much pythium as
most supers in the area; I've decided to proclaim myself
an expert and put my observations into print. This may be
a bit presumptuous on my part, especially when you consider that three years ago I couldn't spell pythium. I am
going to break editorial tradition and mention brand
names, mostly because I cannot spell the generic or
chemical names. This should not be considered an endorsement of any kind, merely a statement of what has
worked for me.
Basically I get three types of pythium, not too bad considering there must be a thousand species or sub-species
out there. During the heat and humidity of July and August I will get the typical "grease spot" pythium. This is
classic textbook pythium, killing leaves crowns and roots
devastatingly fast. In its earlier stages the spots are 2-4
inches in diameter. They are irregularly shaped and range
in color from orange to straw. The edges of the spots will
be ringed by bluish to black, slimy looking and feeling
plants, thus the name grease spot. Spots will show a
streaking pattern, brought on by wind, water, or machinery movement. This stuff seems to need about two days in
a row above 90° with a 68-70 degree night in between, and
a lot of free moisture. Experience has shown that susceptible areas are clobbered on the second night. I have noticed that I see very little, if any, grease spot anyplace except greens. I can't quite explain it, but three years of observation have shown this to be true.
The second type of pythium I see a good deal of is what
is most commonly known as "cottony blight". This is not
nearly as fast or devastating as "grease spot", but if left
alone, will wipe out a fairway without even looking like it.
Small white to straw colored spots, usually 1-2 inches in
diameter are characteristic. If seen early in the morning,
the white mycelium are visible and give the appearance of
a small piece of cotton. If noticed later in the day this cottony blight could easily be mistaken for a dollar spot. This
variety does not seem nearly as fussy about temperature
as some of its cousins. I have noticed that it does need the
high humidity to really take off. It seems to have a way of
shriveling up and going away after a few dry days. A couple of dry days won't help though on a low wet fairway. In
three years of looking, I have never seen "Cottony blight"
on a green or tee, only fairways, collars and rough have
ever been hit. Again, I don't know why and only offer the
observation for what it is worth.
The third pythium I've seen (and will probably see more
of) is what I call cold weather pythium. Affected spots will
look like "grease spot" but without the greasy ring. It is
not as devastating as grease spot but can be ugly on a
green. I saw a good deal of this in late May and early June
of '81 on a few greens and collars. It seems to prefer night
temperatures between 52 - 62 and of course a lot of free
moisture. So far I have noticed it only on collars and
greens. I suspect that this disease will be more of a problem in the spring than in the fall. This is an educated guess
based on the fact that we have been spraying all summer;
and there is probably enough residual hanging around to
stop this variety, at least until the first frost. This cold
GOLF CHAIRMAN
Stephen M. Murphy
75 Woodland Ave.
Lynn, Mass. 01904
Home Phone 592-2554
Office Phone 592-8238
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The Gannon G.C.

EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
Richard C. Zepp
86E Sterling St.
W. Boylston, Mass. 01583
H o m e Phone 835-4980
Office Phone 234-2533
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Whitinsville G.C.

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Charles Lane
5 Goodnow Lane
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Home Phone 872-7832
Office Phone 875-4490
Club Affiliation
Framingham C.C.

PAST PRESIDENT
Dean Robertson
24 Riverview Drive
Newbury, Mass. 01950
Home Phone 462-4540
Office Phone 745-7289
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Kernwood C.C.

weather variety is relatively new to us, and definitely
bears watching.
When and where does pythium hit? Here at Framingham, it hits everywhere and almost anytime during the
golf season. The only thing all pythiums seem to require
are a lot of free moisture. This can be high humidity, or excess surface water, or both. Pythium also seems to prefer
areas of poor or marginal air drainage. Low or pocketed
spots are generally hit hardest or first. Probably because
my tees are all elevated and drain well they have never
been touched by pythium.
Control of pythium is difficult using cultural practices
alone, but some things may help. I try to water greens in
the morning during July and August, syringing only in the
afternoon or evening. Aerifying during the first week in
July seemed to help the drainage problems during the
stress period. I'm not sure I would go so far as to recommend July aerifying, but it worked for me.
Preventative sprays must be employed during the
months of July and August. I have had excellent results
with Tersan S.P. It is a tried and true product that has
worked for all of us for many years. Having lost Va a green
on the 5th day of a 7 day schedule early in July, I shifted
gears on greens spraying. We went with two sprays per
week (Mon. & Thru.) at 3oz. /1000 of Tersan S.P. This may
sound drastic, but at Framingham conditions are always
optimum for pythium. I was able to sleep at night, and in
spite of the added cost, it was well worth it. It was successful and we didn't see pythium the rest of the season.
My fairways are sprayed every 14-15 days with 1 can of
Acti-dione TGF and 10 oz. Acti-dione RZ per acre. This
mixture works here and has given me control for as long
as 21 days. Don't be tempted to use more than 10 oz. of RZ
per acre, you may find yourself looking at a lot of yellow
grass. This stuff can singe in warm weather, but I've never
had a problem at the 10 oz. rate. I have never tried RZ on
my greens, so you will have to do your own experimenting
there.
There are a couple of new systemics on the market this
year for pythium control; and for that we should be eternally grateful. To get solid pythium control for 21-28 days
from a single spray is like dying and going to heaven.
I have not, as yet, used any Subdue; but have talked to a
few superintendents that have. Their reports are favorable and based on this, I sun sure that it will be a part of my
chemical arsenal.
In cooperation with the manufacturer and distributor, I
have had some experience with Banol. This is also going to
be a good product. At 1.3 oz./lOOO I got control for 21
days with one application and 28 days with the second.
Trials were made on greens, collars, approaches, and fairways.
The chemical industry has done us a great service with
the new systemics. This past season I had to use 12 contact sprays for the same control I got with 2 systemic applications. The savings in labor alone would more than offset any additional cost.
So, there it is, my Pythium article. It is not real scientific, not based on laboratory observation, or microscopic
observations. Simply an on the spot eyeball observation of
what I've seen and what worked to get rid of it. I hope that
it might serve to remind us all that there is no disease (or
other pest) that we "can't" get in New England. I am convinced that we will see more Pythium in this area before
we see less.

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 be 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 ission 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
c r e d i t line.
"

"Pleate
Bacher Corporation
876 Boston Road
Billerica, Mass. 01866
Tel. 617-273-0398
Turf a n d Snow Equipment
Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Hariey Davidson Colt Cars
Swansea, Mass
Y a m a h a Golf Cars
Bordens Spreader Service
Maynard, Mass.
Tel. 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer
C & J Lawnmower Service, Inc.
474 Main St., Wilmington, Mass 01887
Eric O m a n - Sales Representative
Tel. 617-658-2022

FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Holliston Sand Co., Inc.
Lowland St., Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand for topdressing a n d bunkers

Sawtelle Bros.
565 Humphrey St., Swampscott, Mass.
617-599-4856

I & E Supply, Inc.
66 Erna Ave.
Box 9, Miiford, Conn. 06460
203-878-0658

Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water Street, Clinton, Mass.
617-365-6341
Pumps - Sales, service
Installation - Vertical
Turbine pumps specialists

Tom Irwin, Inc.
11B ASt., Burlington, Mass.
Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co.
Mike Hannigan, Rep.
Ablngton, Mass.
800-321-5325
Larchmont Engineering a n d Irrig. Co.
Larchmont Lane, Lexington, Mass.
617-862-2550

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-366-4825
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Slocum, R.I., Litchfield, N.H.
1-800-556-6985
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell
Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester, 203-828-3790

The Clapper Co.
1121 Washington St.
Newton, Mass.
617-244-7929

The Magovern Co. Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
Windsor Locks, Conn. 06096
Tel. 1-800-243-7718 or 1-203-623-2508
Louis C. Rogers, Vice Pres.

Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002

D. L. Maher
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading, Mass. 01864

Country Club Enterprises
Club Car Golf Cars
Tennis & Leisure Equipment
P.O. Box 400, W. Falmouth, Ma. 02574
617-563-2284

R. F. Morse 8: Son, Inc.
W. Wareham, Mass. 02576
Tel. 617-295-1553
J. Willen Roell, Rep.
Larry Bunn, Rep.

C.S. Curran
T.R.C. Products, Oils a n d Greases
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.

N.E. Chapter Land Improvement
Contractors of America
Professional Conservation of Soil
a n d Water. Contractor in your area,
call Peter Whiting, Pres.
617-877-5323

Vailey Farms Nursery & Supply, Inc.
133 Hopemeadow St., Rt. 10
Simsbury, Ct. 06070
Putting Green Sod for the Professional
Joe Bidwell Pres.
Bus: 203-651-8555, Res: 203-658-6886

New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, a n d Maintenance
Sealcoating Hingham Inc. Center
Hlngham, Mass. 749-6800

White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Dr., Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-0941

Chester Drake 8t Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St.
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Golf Course Construction
617-875-7929
Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H. 603-783-4717
Weston, Mass. 617-894-5474
The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Weathersfield, Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.

Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf Chemicals
66 Valley St.
E. Providence, R.I. 02914

* Turf Products Corp.
1496 John Fitch Blvd.
S. Windsor, Conn. 06074
1-203-289-3471
John Perry, Sales Rep.
* Turf Specialty, Inc.
84 Merrimac St., Hookseti, N.H. 03106
Turf 8e Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner 617-263-7526

PhiHip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
31 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.
* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd„ Natick, Mass. 01760

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

FIRST C L A S S
CHAF1LES LANE
Newsletter Committee Chairman
5 Goodnow Lane
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Home Phone 872-7832
Office Phone 875-4490
Club Affiliation
Framingham. C.C.
PETECOSTE'
Business Manager
LEON ST. PIERRE
Co-ordinator
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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