December 1982
ourde ^S^uperintendentd
—luperinl
OF

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

AAociati on
INC

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

Max Makes It Happen
Max Mierzwa remembers...
"My first day day on the job my
boss handed me a scythe, pointed
to the rough and said, 'cut it.' I was
making 90 cents and hour at the
time. So, all of a sudden, I asked
myself what in the heck I was
doing there."
Max Mierzwa recalls...
"One of the first jobs I had on the golf course was mowing greens. I must have been good at it. I'd take a mower
and cut 18 greens in one day. Of course, I finished in the
dark, but I made it.
Max Mierzwa. The year was 1946 and he had just returned from a hitch in the U.S. Marine Corps where he had
established a sound background in communications.
" I could have taken a job with the telephone company,"
Max mused the other day from his office at the Chicopee
Country Club. "If I had, I'd be retired now. But what would
I have? A nice fat pension and a fatter stomach. So, I'm
still on the job. However, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I
have golf. I have fine people."
Mierzwa, now 58 going on 40, has had only two head superintendent's positions in a career that spans 36 years.
After learning the ropes from Paul Bigos, 6harlie Keefe
and Larry Graham at the Springfield Country Club, he
took over the top job there for 18 years or until he answered the call from Chicopee, a municipal layout, in
1966. He's been there ever since and still embraces the
energy and enthusiasm of a raw rookie.
Evidence of his expertise glows in the reputation of

Next Meeting
FRANKLIN COUNTRY CLUB
FRANKLIN, MASS.

Monday, December 6, 1982
HOST - Gary Luccini
DIRECTORS MEETING -10 a.m.
LUNCH - 11:30 a.m.
MEETING TO FOLLOW LUNCH
DIRECTIONS - from 495 take King St. exit. Continue,
club will be on the right. Please make a reservation
by calling Gary.

Chicopee as one of the finest municipal golf courses in the
Northeast. Its top-notch condition is the talk of the town
and points North, East, South and West.
" W e must be doing something right," Max cracked.
"Otherwise, we wouldn't be pushing 350 golfers around
here every day. That's not bad with a work crew of five
and myself. No, make that four. We're still without an automatic irrigation system, so I have one man exclusively
for working that job."
Which is all the more amazing about Max's accomplishments. Even in the height of the season, he doesn't hire a
single part-time employee. Obviously, he digs in up to his
elbows, but he doesn't mind it a bit."
" I know we're suppoed to be supervisors," he said.
"And I don't fault anyone who can operate that way. But I
have to make things work with what they give me. Sometimes, it's a struggle but who says life has to be easy?"
As a matter of fact, Max relishes the fact that he
shunned the telephone company and entered the superintendent's ranks.
" I can't think of anything I'd rather do," he told.
"Mostly it's because of the people I've met through golf
and the friendships I've made within the profession. They
are the real products of my association with the game.
Whatever I've achieved it's because I've had the opportunity to be with genuine people."
Max is a GCSANE booster all the way. He's served as a
director and become a fixture at meetings. He's proud to
say that he seldom misses a gathering of his peers.
"And I really like the look of the association as it now
stands and operates," he remarked. "We have young people with new and fresh ideas. I know some of the oldtimers shudder a little at some of the changes, but that's
what the whole world is all about. It's forever changing
and you have to get in step with it."
Max also endorses the municipal course superintendent's world.
" I have five commissioners that I answer to," he explained. "Sure, there are golfers who think they're my
boss, but we all have to live with that, too. I'm on civil service, building a pension, get holidays and vacation time. I
only wish the National (Golf Course Superintendents Association of America) would do something to influence
something like that in the private clubs."
Work at Chicopee is a seven-day tour for Max. However,
he's allowed time to attend NEGCSA functions and, in a
sense, is his own boss. He makes up his budget, presents it
and usually comes away with what he's requested.
"It really is a wonderful setup for me," he concluded.
"And, as I said before, I never stop meeting new people
and gaining new friends. Believe note, it's not a case of
being stuck here. I love it. We'll turn back $100,00 to the
city this year. Is that a success story or isn't it.
It sure is and simply follows the success story of one
Max Mierzwa.
Gerry Finn

Qolf

C^ourde Superintendents

^Association

Orville Clapper - The Gentle Giant
Golf usually numbers its contributors within the sport's
immediate family.
Surely, it is indebted to the scores of playing professionals who helped bring its popularity to a peak, then a reevaluation of that plateau as witness the eight percent
rise in play over the past year.
Obviously, there is a place in its history for the innovative golf course architects who have met the requirements
of its participants with layounts that lend themselves to
the picturesque and the practical.
Most assuredly, golf course superintendents have been
stalwarts in the growth of the game and the streamlining
of its playing grounds. Never have the conditions of those
grounds sparkled as they have in the last decade.
There even is a spot in the annals of the sport for its
choniclers. Certain writers have dedicated themselves to
trumpeting the joys playing golf generate and the thrills its
competitions produce on the tournament scene.
And, then, there are the silent partners of golf s success
story. They work hand in hand with supers every day in
developing and distributing maintenance equipment, most
of which has revolutionized the golf course conditioning
process.
One of this unsung breed left us last March 18 when Orville Clapper died, four days after his 87th birthday.
"Orville Clapper," says patriarch Arthur Anderson,
"was one of a kind. He could make a sale without blinking
an eyelash which is testimony to his overwhelming personality. But he never pushed a product on the superintendent. He was a friend, first, a businessman afterward."
Clapper came from strong business and inventive bloodlines.
He was born in Missouri, raised on a Montana wheat
ranch and brought up in an environment of strong, pioneer ingenuity. His father, John Samuel Clapper, founded
the Toro Manufacturing Company and it was from this
base that Orville built his reputation as a successful and
respected businessman.
" I can't ever remember Orville approaching me with an
idea that wouldn't benefit my operation in the end," notes
retired super Phil Cassidy. "He was interested in our profession, not from just a sales standpoint but from a genuine feeling for and understanding of the many problems we
faced. He would have considered himself a close friend
even if he'd sold me only one coupling."
Clapper moved East in 1991 where he formed a distribution partnership that serviced locales from Boston to Buffalo. Shortly thereafter, he started the New England Toro
Company in Newton and remained as its president, then
chairman of the board until he retired and sold it to Bob
Scagnetti in 1972.
During those 53 years, Orville developed strong ties
with individual superintendents and the New England Association of Golf Course Superintendents.
"He was always there with wisdom, advice and certain
tangibles which new associations need," remarks former
NEGCSA president Leon St. Pierre of Longmeadow. "He

NEWSLETTER CONTEST

We are having a contest for a name for our newsletter. Anyone wishing to enter, send your choice to
me (address is on newsletter). Oh yes, the winning
name will receive a dinner for two, compliments of
GCSANE.

PRESIDENT
Brian Cowan CGCS
RobinsWay
Harwich, Mass 02645
Home Phone 432-9041
Office Phone 945-9230
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Donald Hearn CGCS
4TopekaRd.
Chelsmtord, Mass 01824
Home Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 894-5906
Club Affiliation
Weston Golf Club

SECOND VICE PRESS
David Barber CGCS
145 Dedharr, St
Canton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hills C.C.

was a very special kind of person. Sure, he promoted his
livelihood but never at anyone's expense. His input to the
success of our profession in incalculable.''
The relationship of Orville and his son, Sam, serves as a
monument to the man's integrity and reputation.
"He was the last of self-made men," Sam characterizes
his father. "There's no doubt that he was a champion
salesman, but in achieving that status he always was a
gentleman. I can't remember anyone saying an unkind
word about dad. And, how he loved golf and the superintendents.
"Dad really appreciated what the super contributed to
the game. In time of need, he was always there with assistance — whether it be physical or philosophical. Our relationship was father-son all the way. I caught it for 24
hours a day but I loved it. He just had a way of talking to
people."
So, golf - especially those associated with it in the New
England area ... owe a debt to this gentle man who was an
awesome force in the business he represented, Orville
Clapper. He was top of the line. We miss him. He holds a
high place in our memories.
Gerry Finn
DIVOT DRIFT
Don't forget the Christmas party at
Blue Hill on December 3rd. Remember to get your reservation in
Needham was in great shape. What made it
even better was that I won
Golf Chairman Keg Murphy
is looking to line up next years golf slate. Anyone wishing
to be a host should notify Baldy ..... Paul Miller is working
on an official GCSANE blazer. He may have one on display
at Franklin. Be prepared to order if you wish

New Water Logo
Established

^ ^

A nation-wide campaign has begun to remove the game
of golf from an often-pictured villainous role within nature's water cycle. A logo has been adopted and will serve
as a readily identifiable symbol of the beneficial role golf
plays in the never-ending challenge to equitably distribute
a finite water supply. This campaign effort is spearheaded
by a Research Task Force, representing the National Gulf
Association community.
According to G.C.S.A.A. Executive Director, James E.
McLaughlin (spokesman for the Research Task Force,),
"What we are trying to get across is that golf courses
recycle water, whether it's by using effluent water or simply by filtering water from natural sources. The new water
logo represents golfs initial effort to tell the public that it
is not part of the water problem. It is part of the solution."
G.C.S.A.A. urges all members to give this new logo
added exposure by requesting that it be run in your club
newsletter with appropriate commentary. If your club is
unable to reproduce the logo pictured above, you may
contact G.C.S.A.A. Headquarters and one will be sent.
Copy is also available for use with the logo, upon request.
Questions may be directed to Jim McLoughlin at
G.C.S.A.A. Headquarters.
— Credit: G.C.S.A.A. Newsline

SECRETARY
TREASURER
Richard C, Zepp
Pete Costs' CGCS
27 Fowler Rd.
121 Granite St.
Northbridge, Mass. 01534 Medfield, Mass. 02052
Home Phone 234-8490
Home Phone 359-7247
Office Phone 234-2533
Office Phone 566-0240
Club Affiliation
Club Affiliation
Whitinsville G. C.
The Country Club

TRUSTEE
Tom Schofield CGCS
290 North Rd.
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-7333
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

TRUSTEE
Paul Miller
173 Salem St.
Swampscott, Mass 01907
Home Phone 581-2808
Office Phone 595-3107
Club Affiliation
Tedesco C.C.

TRUSTEE
Stephen A. Chiavoroli Jr.
100 Airport Dr.
Worcester, Mass. 01602
Home Phone 752-6031
Office Phone 791-5373
Club Affiliation
Tatnuk C.C.

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Robert Johnston CGCS
128 Wilbraham Rd.
Hampden, Mass 01036
Home Phone 566-3075
Office Phone 566-3096
Club Affiliation
Hampden C.C.

OF

President's Message

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

November Meeting at Needham

First of all, let me take this opportunity to thank Ron
Kirkman and the entire staff of the Needham Golf Club for
hosting our November meeting. Everything was just great
and the weather was beautiful.
Due to the shortness of daylight, the regular meeting
was called off. We did however, have a quarum of directors to hold a directors meeting. Some topics of discussion were:
1. The President of GCSANE being elected to the Executive Committee of the M.G.A. I personally feel this is a
giant step forward that can only strengthen the ever growing bond between the M.G. A. and our association.
2. A letter of thanks was received from Joe Troll in regards to our nominating him for the Distinguished Service
Award to be presented in Atlanta at the GCSAA Convention. For all that Joe has done for the superintendent and
the turf industry he truly deserves it.
3. Paul Miller discussed the possibility of purchasing
blazers with the association logo.
4. Doug Johnson, Newsletter chairman, is looking for
new ideas as well as more input from the membership. The
newsletter has been going well and should be receiving
more support from all of us.
5. The M.G.A. always invites our association to their annual spring conference in March. We need three volunteers to speak on various topics. Anyone wishing to help
please contact me. Brian Silva from the U.S.G.A. will be

joining us on the program.

6. Congratulations to Kip Tyler and Billy Ziobro from
Salem C.C. for winning the Pro-Supt. at Brae Burn. Bob
Grant should take his hat off for a job well done.
Let's have a good turnout for the Franklin meeting.
Don't forget to notify Gary (Bear). The annual Christmas
party will be Dec. 3 at Blue Hill. For those of you who don't
make it let me take this opportunity to wish you and yours
a very merry Christmas.
Brian Cowan, CGCS

What a great day at Needham. The weather was beautiful and the turnout was excellent. Mr. Kirkman had the
course in fine condition.
The Winners were:
Brian Cowan - low gross
Doug Johnson - low net
Max Mierzwa - 2nd net

Needham winners: low gross Brian Cowan, Low net Doug
Johnson, 2nd net Max Mierzwa, all being congratulated by
Steve Murphy.

TURF INSECT TRIALS 1982
P.J. Vittum, University of Massachusetts
Suburban Experiment Station, Waltham

INSECT: black turfgrass Ataenius (dung beetle)
SITE: Salem C.C., Salem
TEST: Insecticide screening
DATE TREATED: 3 June
DATE SAMPLED: 19 July
SAMPLE SIZE: 5 4-V4 inch diam. plugs/plot, 5 replications
CHEMICAL
Check
Dylox
Prox
Mocap
Proxol
Mocap
Dursban
Scotts Insect/Nem.
(ethoprop)
Diazmion
Scotts Insect/Nem.
(ethoprop)

FORMULATION

RATE
(#AI/A)

4EC
80 SP
10 G
80 SP
10 G
2EC

8
12
2
8
4
2

AVE. GRUBS
PER 5 PLUGS'
12.8 A
11.4 AB
8.6 ABC
8.0 ABC
4.8 ABC
2.8 BC
2.4 BC

SG
5G

4
6

2.2 BC
0.8 C

—

5G

Directors meeting: the boys took time out for photo: (L-R)
S. Murphy, P. Miller, P. Coste, B. Cowan, R. Kirkman and D.
Johnson.

NEW MEMBERS
Congratulations to:
Les Kennedy Jr. of Belmont, Graham Justice of Norfolk,
as associate members.
EDUCATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Antone DeBettencourt
7 Country Club Ln.
Merrimack, N.H. 03054
Home Phone 603-424-5380
Office Phone 475-6638
Club Affiliation
Andover C.C.

NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN
Douglas W. Johnson, CGCS
50 Newton St.
Weston, Mass, 02193
Home Phone 894-7377
Office Phone 893-8264
Club Affiliation
Pine Brook C.C.

PAST PRESIDENT
Ronald Kirkman
25 Green St.
Needham, Mass 02192
Home Phone 444-8412
Office Phone 444-5548
Ciub Affiliation
Needham Golf Club

CHEMICAL
Check
Turcam
Turcam
U-56295
U-56295
Diazimon
Diazinon
Oftanol
Dursban
Scotts IV (isofenphos)
Oftanol
Scotts rv

—

8

0.4 C

FORMULATION

RATE
(#AI/A)

76 WP
76 WP
85 WP
85 WP
5G
2E
5G
2 EC

2
4
2.9
1.5
6
6
1
2

AVE. GRUBS
PER 5 PLUGS'
14.4 A
10.8 AB
6.6 BC
5.4 CD
3.8 CD
3.2 CD
1.8 CD
0.8 D
0.2 D

2G
5G
2G

1
2
2

0.2 D
0.0 D
0.0 D

DATE SAMPLED: 26 July

GOLF CHAIRMAN
Stephen M. Murphy
75 Woodland Ave.
Lynn, Mass. 01904
Home Phone 592-2554
Office Phone 592-8238
Club Affiliation
The Cannon G.C.

I N C .

—

—

* Numbers followed by same letter are not significantly
different at 95% level (Duncans MRT).
I n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d in 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 i s s i o n as l o n g
as the t r u e c o n t e x t is m a i n t a i n e d . We w o u l d a p p r e c i a t e a
credit line.

fiabiOKCfe

I Cs E Supply, Inc.
66 Erna Ave.
Box 9, Milford, C o n n . 06460
203-878-0658

Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Mass
Y a m a h a Golf Cars

Tom Irwin, Inc.
4 4 B A St., Burlington, Mass.
Jack Peterson
Dennis Frlel
Wayne Ripley

Bordens Spreader Service
M a y n a r d , Mass.
Tel. 647-897-2574
Sales Rep. J a c k Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer

Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co.
Mike H a n n i g a n , Rep.
A b i n g t o n , Mass.
800-324-5325
Larchmont Engineering a n d Irrig. Co.
Larchmont Lane, Lexington, Mass.
647-862-2550

C 8i J Lawnmower Service, Inc.
474 M a i n St., Wilmington, Mass 04887
Eric O m a n - Sales Representative
Tel. 647-658-2022

The M a g o v e r n C o . Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
Windsor Locks, C o n n . 06096
Tel. 4-800-243-7748 or 4-2034523-2508
Louis C. Rogers, V i c e Pres.

The C l a p p e r C o .
4424 Washington St.
Newton, Mass.
647-244-7929

D. L. Maher
Box 427, C o n c o r d St.
N. Reading, Mass. 04864

# Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 04002
*

FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Bacher C o r p o r a t i o n
876 Boston Road
Billerica, Mass. 0t866
Tel. 64 7-273-0398
Turf a n d Snow Equipment

R. F. Morse & Son, Inc.
W. Wareham, Mass. 02576
Tel. 647-295-4553
J. Willen Roell, Rep.
Larry Bunn, Rep.

Country C l u b Enterprises
C l u b Car Golf Cars
Tennis & Leisure Equipment
P.O. Box 400, W. Falmouth, Ma. 02574
647-563-2284

N a r d o n e Sand a n d Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd.
Westford MA. 04886
Boston Area 648-6222,
Lowell Area 692-8224
Robert D. N a r d o n e , G e n . Mgr.

C.S. C u r r a n
T.R.C. Products, Oils a n d Greases
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.
Chester Drake & Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St.
F r a m i n g h a m , Mass. 04704
Golf Course Construction
647-875-7929

N.E. Chapter Land I m p r o v e m e n t
Contractors of A m e r i c a
Professional Conservation of Soil
a n d Water. Contractor in your area,
c a l l Peter Whiting, Pres.
647-877-5323

G o l d Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod a Pine Bark M u l c h
Canterbury, N.H. 603-783-4747
Weston, Mass. 64 7-894-5474

New England S e a l c o a t i n g Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, a n d M a i n t e n a n c e
Sealcoating H i n g h a m Inc. Center
Hingham, Mass. 749-6800

The Charles C. Hart Seed C o .
Weathersfield, C o n n .
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.

O l d Fox C h e m i c a l Inc.
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf C h e m i c a l s
66 Valley St.
E. Providence, R.I. 02944

Holliston Sand Co., Inc.
Lowland St., Holliston, Mass. 04 746
Sand for topdressing a n d bunkers

R e t u r n to:
DOUGLAS JOHNSON
5 0 N e w t o n St.
Weston, MA 02193

FIRST CLASS
Course S^upertntvnJenfi

..

DOUGLAS JOHNSON
Newsletter Chairman
50 Newton St.
Weston, MA 02193
Home Phone 894-7377
Office Phone 893-8264
Club Affiliation
Pine Brook C.C.
PETE CQSTE'
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

'hiociation

Pro-Lawn Products Inc.
48 Legate Hill Road
Leominster, Mass. 04453
Sales Rep. Jerry K o l o m i c k
Richey & C l a p p e r , Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd., Natick, Mass. 04760
Sawtelle Bros.
565 Humphrey St., Swampscott, Mass.
647-599-4856
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water Street, Clinton, Mass.
647-365-6344
Pumps - Sales, service
Installation - Vertical
Turbine p u m p s specialists
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 4-404-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 4-647-366-4825
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Slocum, Rl/Lltchfield, N.H./Suffleld, Conn.
1-800-556-6985

Largest Producer of Penncross In New England
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell
Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
K a l a m a z o o , Mich.
David Sylvester, 203-828-3790
Turf Products Corp.
36 Sword St.
Auburn, Mass. 04504
647-794-2094
Charles Allen, Sales Rep.
* Turf Specialty, Inc.
84 Merrimac St., Hooksett, N.H. 03406
Turf & O r n a m e n t a l Supplies
Ken Turner 64 7-263-7526
Valley Farms Nursery & Supply, Inc.
433 H o p e m e a d o w St., Rt. 40
Simsbury, Ct. 06070
Putting Green Sod for the Professional
J o e Bidwell Pres.
Bus: 203-654-8555, Res: 203-658-6886
White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Dr., W i n c h e n d o n , Mass. 04475
647-297-0944
Phillip W o g a n
Golf Course Architect
34 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.
* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

First Class
U . S. Postage

PAID

Framingham, MA
Permit

209