March 1982
ourSe
OF

•Superin
NEW

ten den ti

E N G L A N D ,

S^AAociation
INC.

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.

A Necessary Relationship
In just a few more drv-out sessions, at the dictate of
Mother Nature, the golf course superintendent takes his
show on the road.
The trip's a short one - from the labor area to the delivery room, so to speak. Shut up all winter in his maintenance building, the super is ready to apply his magic to
h e golf course.
The return to the every-day grind of preparing the golf
grounds for the annual assault of spring, summer and fall
by members should be a welcomed one. Along with it goes
the re-establishing and renuturing of the necessary relationship, that between the superintendent and the green
committee chairman.
The USGA Green Section Record has promoted a strong
and realistic association of what amounts to the two most
important people in the operation of the country club.
They hold such recognition because they are in charge of
the club's only asset that's saleable - the golf course.
Therefore, the superintendent and chairman must work
closely together with one common cause as their guideline. It is to give the membership the best playing conditions at all times.
Each has his own responsibilities to the other and the
club.
The chairman must: Provide overall direction for the efforts of his committee; assist in long range planning for improvements and changes in physical design of the course;
provide support in communication between the superintendent and members and act as an interpreter in explaining the correlation between what escalation of grooming
level the members expect and the price they're willing to
pay for it.
The superintendent must: Listen to the comments and
suggestions of the chairman with an open mind as to the
feasibility of implementing them; run his department in a
business-like manner; operate his department with the
idea of providing maximum return for the use of the members' financial investment and (perhaps most important of
all) take the time every day to look at and appraise the
condition of the golf course.
On paper, such practice by both sides of the coursegreening duo figures to be a snap. However, putting it to
work doesn't always come out that way.
One of the largest roadblocks in getting the super and
green chairman to allow themselves a smooth ride
through the conditioning season is built-in. Each suspects
the other of thinking he knows more than he actually
does. Lacks of respect is a better expression.
This feeling is only natural on the part of the green
chairman who usually is a person with a successful background in some sort of administrative position. He draws
his strength from what he had accomplished in his profession. Too often he relates his knowledge on turfcoated
subjects with his know-how at the office. This is a killer.
On the other hand, the superintendent often assumes
that the "new green chairman" is nothing more than a

"greenhorn" when it comes to distinguishing between fertilizers and fungicides. His first notion, then, is to regard
the chairman as a necessary evil rather than an envoy of
the membership.
Above all, two words cover the potential working conditions under which the superintendent and chairman will
apply their respective talents - advisory and supervisory.
continued on page 3

Chet Sawtelle Receives
National Recognition
Chet Sawtelle, Chairman
of the Board, from Sawtelle
Brothers in Swampscott,
Mass. was presented the
Golden Reel Award at the
GCSAA convention in New
Orleans. Making the presentation to Mr. Sawtelle were
John Dwyer, President of
Jacobsen Equipment and
Roger Thomas, Vice President of the Turf Division.
They presented Chet with a
gold reel in which he will
keep for 2 years, and a
blazer with the Golden Reel
Emblem.
The award is based over a
Mr. Sawtelle in his new blazer.
cumulative number of years
for outstanding sales performance along with quality service and parts departments. Our congratulations to Chet
and I'm sure he will cherish this award for it is one of only
eight ever given out in the U.S.
Sawtelle Bros, also received one of six nation wide
awards for outstanding sales performance for 1981.

No March Meeting

Next Meeting
April 12, 1982
Eastward Ho, Chatham, Ma.
Wayside Restaurant
Directions and more information in next
newsletter

Qolf

(Gourde Superintendents

Association

GCSAA Convention
at the Gateway, New Orleans

#

On left Ron Kirkman of Needham G.C. and on right Pete
Coste of the Country Club congratulate Bob Osterman of
the Conn. Golf Club on his becoming vice president of
GCSAA.

Tony De Bettencourt of Andover C.C. and Jim Bean of ML
Pleasant inspect first hand.

DIVOT DRIFT...

Steve Murphy of Gannon Golf Club, Bobby Brown of Sawtelle Bros.

Upcoming Events
March 9 and 10 - Turf Products Corporation of Mass. will
hold an open house. It will begin at 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
March 13 - The M.G.A. Spring Conference at the Marriott
in Newton. Registration will be at 8:30 a.m. On the program representing GCSANE will be Brian Cowan, Dave
Barber and Pete Coste. They will be joined by Brian Silva
from the USGA.

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

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

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
David Barber CGCS
145 Dedham St.
Canton, Mass. 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
O l u b Affiliation
Blue Hills C.C.

SECRETARY
Richard C. Zepp
27 Fowler Rd.
Northbridge, Mass. 01534
Home Phone 234-8490
Office Phone 234-2533
Club Affiliation
Whitinsville G. C.

From the meeting at Franklin
C.C., Jeff Carlson, our guest speaker from the Mass. Pesticide Board, gave us some insight on what takes place and
how decisions are made by them. There was a healthy discussion, which at times was rather heated, but everyone
calmed down. Mr. Carlson did a fine job and stated that
whatever took place in the past is behind us and let's get
on to working together in the future. Our thanks to Jeff...
The USGA seminar at the Framingham Sheraton-Tara was
held Feb. 17, 1982. The program was excellent. Don Hearn
of the Weston Golf Club and Dean Robertson of Kernwood
C.C. did a fine job with their presentations. Brian Cowan
presented A1 Radko a plaque for his many years of service
on behalf of GCSANE. The attendance was good, but one
has to wonder why a lot of the faces who showed there do
not show for our association meetings... Many of our members made it to the GCSAA convention in New Orleans. I'm
sure all who attended picked up something valuable from
the educational program and industrial show. The show
has grown in many ways, which is a credit to the professionalism of the industry... The position for a superintendent at Salem C.C. has been filled by Mr. Kip Tyler, formerly
assistant superintendent at Medinah C.C. Our congratulations to Kip and we hope he will join and become active in
our association... Mr. "Fix-it" Murphy, our golf chairman,
has put together a fine schedule for our outdoor meetings.
He also has informed us that the handicapping will be very
closely watched this season, and anyone without a legitimate handicap will be at his mercy... The booby prize at
Disney World for our group went to Bert Frederick of Vesper. The margin was so wide we won't mention his scores.
It is important to point out that while we went over our
scores one by one after playing, Bert's first words were
that he had an acute attack of bursitis on the fourteenth
tee. After investigation it was found that the truth was his
arm was sore from hitting the ball so many times... Finally,
thanks to Gary Luccini and Franklin C.C. for hosting the
February meeting.

TREASURER
Pete Coste' CGCS
121 Granite St.
Medfield, Mass. 02052
Home Phone 359-7247
Office Phone 566-0240
Club Affiliation
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.

GCSAA Tournament

A Necessary MelationsMp
continued from page 1

GCSAJVE PARTICIPANTS: Front - Bob Connolly, Tom
Schofie'd, Art Washburn, Dave Barber, Bert Frederick.
Back - Steve Murphy (cap on for obvious reason) Don
Heam, „ ste Coste, Paul Miller, Doug Johnson, Charlie Borden. Missing were Jim Diorio and Dave Clement.
The GCSAA tournament preceding the convention in
New Orleans was held at Walt Disney World's palm and
magnolia courses. We had thirteen participants from the
GCSANE, and all agreed the tournament was a great success. The courses were in excellent condition and with the
weather sunny and seventy degrees plus it was the largest
field ever.
The winner was Mike Apodaca from Arizona, who shot a
three under Par 72-69= 141. (looks something like Bert's
front and back nines on the palm course).
A few of our group did manage to win something. They
were; Arthur Washburn - 8th low gross in the red flight,
Dave Barber 6th net in the red flight, Doug Johnson 6th
net in the blue flight and Paul Miller won a closest to the
pin.

If the chairman directs his outlook and that of his committee to acting in an advisory capacity in their association with the superintendent, the relationship should be
nothing short of hunky dory.
If the chairman insists that he and his committee will
act as the overlord to the golf course maintenance operation, the relationship is doomed from the start.
This is not to suggest that the superintendent be allowed to dispatch his services independent of any scrutiny
by the green committee and club board of directors. It is
to suggest, though, that there be some point of compromise where the chairman tempers his authority with common sense with the good of the club in mind.
Respect and responsibility are two other key words in
the effecting of a successful partnership of superintendent
and green chairman. One should respect the other and the
responsibility which is the domain of the superintendent
(decision-making where his expertise is the strongest determinant) should be accorded him.
Likewise, the green chairman has his own areas of
dominance (communications, maybe financial management, perhaps labor relations) and his responsibilities
there should be spelled out.
In the end, the lumping of the qualities of both parties
into one cooperative effort will help develop the necessary
relationship between superintendent and green chairman
into an enjoyable and effective experience. After all, they
do have to live with each other.
Gerry Finn

1982 MEETING SCHEDULE
CLUB

HOST SUPT.

April
Eastward Ho
May

JOB OPENING - Superintendent,
Norfolk Golf Club, West wood, MA.
Send resume - Attention Greens Committee

Ledgemont C.C.

TO BE VOTED ON AT APRIL MEETING

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.

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.

August
Dedham Polo & C
September
Andover C.C.
October
Blue Hill C.C.
November
Needham G.C.

Charles A. Borden, regular member
941 Cohannet St.
Taunton, Ma.
Supt. at Heritage Hill C.C.

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

Team of four,
blind draw

Bob Johnston

Individual,
blind draw

Tony Caranci

Supt. - Green
chairman

Bert Frederick

Superintendent
Championship

•C. Bob Mucciarone

Supt. - Supt.
championship

July
Vesper C.C.

Roy B. Davis, associate member
87 New St.
Marshfield, Ma.
Assistant Supt. at Marshfield C.C.

Brian Cowan

Hampden C.C.
June

TYPE OF TOURNAMENT

Tony De Bettencourt Memorial Tourn.
blind draw
Dave Barber

Team of four,
pick own team

Ron Kirkman

Team of four,
Florida
scramble,
blind draw

I n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d in this 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 part, w i t h o u t special p e r m i s s i o n as long
as the true c o n t e x t is m a i n t a i n e d . We w o u l d appreciate a
credit line.

“P le a te ficU w H U je FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Bacher Corporation
876 Boston Road
Billerica, Mass. 01866
Tel. 617-273-0398
Turf and Snow Equipment
Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Mass
Yamaha Golf Cars
Bordens Spreader Service
Maynard, Mass.
Tel. 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer
C 8t J Lawnmower Service, Inc.
474 Main St., Wilmington, Mass 01887
Eric Oman - Sales Representative
Tel. 617-658-2022
The Clapper Co.
1121 Washington St.
Newton, Mass.
617-244-7929
Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002
Country Club Enterprises
Club Car Golf Cars
Tennis 8t Leisure Equipment
P.O. Box 400, W. Falmouth, Ma. 02574
617-563-2284
C.S. Curran
T.R.C. Products, Oils and Greases
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.

Holliston Sand Co., Inc.
Lowland St., Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand for topdressing and bunkers

Richey 8c Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd., Natick, Mass. 01760
Sawtelle Bros.
565 Humphrey St., Swampscott, Mass.
617-599-4856

I 8c E Supply, Inc.
66 Erna Ave.
Box 9, Milford, 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 A St., Burlington, Mass.
Ja ck Peterson
Dennis Frlel
Wayne Ripley

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-366-4825

Lakeshore Equipment 8c Supply Co.
Mike Hannigan, Rep.
Abington, Mass.
800-321-5325

Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.

Larchmont Engineering and Irrig. Co.
Larchmont Lane, Lexington, Mass.
617-862-2550

Slocum, Rl/Litchfield, N.H./Suffleld, Conn.
1-800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross In New England
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell

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

Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester, 203-828-3790
★ Turf Products Corp.

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

36 Sword St.
Auburn, Mass. 01501
617-791-2091
Charles Allen, Sales Rep.

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

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

Chester Drake & Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St.
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Golf Course Construction
617-875-7929

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

Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod 8c Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H. 603-783-4717
Weston, Mass. 617-894-5474

New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, and Maintenance
Sealcoating Hingham Inc. Center
Hingham, Mass. 749-6800

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.l. 02914

Valley Farms Nursery 8t 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
White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Dr., Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-0941
Phillip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
31 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.
★ Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

Return to:
DOUGLAS JOHNSON
50 Newton St.
Weston, MA 02193

FIRST CLASS

W eston, MA 02193
Home Phone 894-7377
O ffice Phone 893-8264
C lub A ffiliation
Pine Brook C.C.
PETE COSTE’
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
C ontributing Editor

James T. Snow
USGA Golf House
Far Hills, NY 07931

First Class
U . S. Postage

PAID
Framingham, MA
Permit

209