May 1982
our&e
OF

Superln
NEW

ten den tj

E N G L A N D ,

^Qidociation
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.

Dick Duggan — a Doer
Because Dick Duggan isn't afraid to get his hands dirty,
the Maynard Country Club has cleaned up its act.
Translation: Three years ago, Duggan rolled up his
sleeves and forged an improvement program that has
tinned the nine-hole layout into one of the best-groomed
golf courses in the area.
Maynard just happened to be Duggan's launching point
as a full-fledged golf course superintendent and it presented a big challenge. The course had slipped away from
the tidy condition in which former super Tom Schofield

NEXT MEETING
May 17, 1982
Hampden Country Club
Hampden, MA.
Director's meeting -10 a.m.
Regular meeting and Educational
Program - 10:45 a.m.
Lunch -12 noon
Golf after lunch
Educational Speaker - David Sylvester
from Tuco Division of Upjohn Co.
Host Superintendent Robert W. Johnston, CGCS
Bob has been superintendent at
Hampden C.C. for the past 9 years.
Prior, he was superintendent at
Winnesuket C.C. in South Bellingham, Mass. for 5 years. He is also a
1969 graduate of the Stockbridge
School of Agriculture at UMass.
Bob currently serves as finance
chairman of GCSANE and has been
very active over the years hosting
many meetings at Hampden. We all
look forward to a fine day on the
17th.
Directions - Mass. Pike west to Palmer Exit, turn
right. Follow one mile to Palmer center. At lights
turn right onto Rt. 20 follow for six miles to North
Main St. in Wilbraham, turn left. Follow for six miles.
Road turns to Wilbraham Rd. in Hampden. Course
will be on both sides of the road.
IMPORTANT - Please make a reservation by May
14 either by sending a post card to Bob or call at
(413) 566-3096.

left it. Actually, it was on the edge of taking the form of a
pasture.
"It needed a lot of work," Duggan recalled. "In between
Tom's departure and my arrival, things got out of control.
So, I picked up a shovel and rake and tore into it. Call it
bull work, whatever. It needed that kind of input. So, I
plunged into it."
Duggan, a 29-year-old Stockbridge graduate (class of
1977), is one of the young turks of the New England Golf
Course Superintendents Association. He's dedicated to
his own job at Maynard and his profession. From all indications, he's on his way to bigger and better things.
His background is perfect for the professional road he's
chosen to travel. He started in golf as a caddie at the Nashawtuc Country Club, became so proficient playing the
game that he won the Sandy Burr club championship
twice and eventually turned to the superintendent's field
as a turf student and apprentice under two of the association's steadiest members - brothers Nary and John Sparendio.
" T h e experience I gained working under Nary and John
really prepared me for that big jump to a head job," Dick
explained. " N o one ever does anything by himself. Like all
young people, I needed guidance. Nary and John provided
it for me."
Maynard is a semi-private course with a budget in the
$50,000 range. That's average for a nine-hole track. However, since the course's condition has prospered under
Buggan's direction, so has its popularity. Membership is
on the upswing and play has increased to the point where
starting times on weekends are golden.
Therefore, keeping nine holes in shape at Maynard is
continued on page 3

OF
DIVOT DRIFT

- Congratulations to Steve Chiavaroli and his wife on the birth of their baby girl... Thanks
to Henry Davis of Louden Tree for a fine presentation for
our educational program at Eastward Ho... After the
snowstorm of April 6 no one thought we would be playing
golf six days later Brian Cowan and his staff did a fine job,
which included shoveling off five greens... Pete Coste has
introduced the orange golf ball to the GCSANE tour. When
asked if he would continue to use it he seemed a bit uncertain until one of his playing partners reminded him he
would have spent an additional twenty bucks on golf balls
from being in the woods so often. Pete then agreed the ball
was much easier to find and added it also seemed to
bounce off hardwood trees better than the conventional
white ball. He only lost one ball and that was because the
orange ball does not float... Thanks to Don Hearn who did
a fine j o b in having the bylaw books published... Congratulations to Dick Blake who will be taking on a new superintendent position in K e y Largo, Florida at the Card Sound
Golf Club... Finally, what a great tribute to Guy Tedesco of
New Seabury last month at the Chateau de Ville in Randolph. Among the attendees were Harry Sinden, and
Bob Cousy.
continued Brom page 1
akin t o applying expertise to an 18-hole spread.
" M y work days aire long," Dick disclosed. "But they're
also rewarding. Our members appreciate the j o b we're
doing. Usually, they'll give me anything I ask for - within
reason. So, retaining top notch condition is a two-way
street. You need cooperation from members. And, even
though Maynard draws a lot of walk-on players, most of
them realize they have t o do their part by being aware
that the way they conduct themselves is a form of preventive maintenance."
Don't get the idea that Dick considers himself the perf e c t superintendent.
"Oh, I get complaints, all right," he remarked. "Sometimes, I start too many projects and have to restate my
priorities. I know it's all part of the learning process. And,
believe me, I'm still learning."
Duggan does enjoy good rapport with his members and
green committee.
" M y biggest transition from assistant to head superintendent was taking on the task of being responsible for the
condition of the course," he added. "Before I came here, I
was used to having someone tell me what to do. Now, I
have to make the decisions and give the directions. That's
something else I'm still learning at this stage of my career."
Incidentally, that career was in limbo for quite a while.
Duggan took five years after high school graduation to
decide what he wanted t o do with his life.
" A t one time I had three vocational goals," he revealed.
" O n e was to find something in golf. Another was to be a
sports broadcaster. Those two took up so much of my
thoughts that I forget what the third goal was. Anyway, I
think I made the right decision."
Now thoroughly entrenched in the superintendent's
field, Dick likes to believe that choosing the profession
was one of the biggest things in his life. However, he holds
fast to two other eventualities.
" T h e first big thing I've ever done was to get married,"
he quipped. " A n d the second was playing the old St. Andrews course in Scotland. I shot a 77 there. Oh, I played
there before I married Janet."
That marriage has produced another mouth to feed four-month-old son, Kevin.

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.

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

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

INC.

EVENTS FROM APRIL MEETING
There were thirty two players for golf. The weather
turned out to be very enjoyable after looking rather bleak
in the morning. Eastward Ho was in fine condition for this
early time of year.

Tournament Results
The home court advantage did pay off. The team of four
winners were Brian Cowan, Paul Miller, Mark Klimm and
Charlie Borden. They won b y matching cards with a net
62. Second place went t o A1 Sanders, Dave Barber, Jack
Cronin and Bobby Brown.

THE WINNERS (L-R) - Brian Cowan, Paul Miller,
Borden, Mark Klimm

Charlie

Awards
Mel O'Kelly of Marshfield C.C., was presented his twentyfive year pin and Manny Francis Sr. received a plaque for
his achievement of being the N.E.P.G.A. Golden Golf
Award.

L-R - Mel O'Kelly, Brian Cowan, Manny Francis Sr.
"This just gives me more incentive to improve my position," he told. "There's more bread to put on the table
which drives me to wanting to do the best possible j o b I
can. After that, I'd like to move on to a bigger challenge.
Hopefully, I'll be ready when it comes."
Obviously, he will be.
Gerry Finn

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.

Cjolf^ Course

.Superintendents

Association

Constructive
Involvement

April 7, 1982

A n open letter to country club members:
With the dawning of another golf season, you're probably aware of the importance of that guy running around
the course as if he's been handed the task of preparing it
for the arrival of royal dignitaries.
This is exactly how your golf course superintendent approaches a very special time in his work year when everything from frightening elements to over-expectant golfers
sometimes cramps Ms style. In a word, he has all his pistons kicking over with all the verve at his command. Actually, his quest for appealing playing conditions supercedes
your desire for them.
I mention this as a lead-in to another situation which
will pop up once a month - now and during the height of
the season.
On certain Mondays, you'll look around your course for
t h e superintendent and he'll b e nowhere to be seen. Don't
panic. He hasn't gone fishing, nor is he moonlighting at the
local nursery.
If you superintendent is of the conscientious faith and in
good standing with his professional priorities, he's off to
the monthly meeting of the Golf Course Superintendents
Association of New England where, indeed, he couldn't be
in better hands.
That meeting is essential to the well being of your' golf
course and the state of mind of your superintendent. For
those of you steeped in suspicion, it is not some beer-swilling gathering where he forgets himself and the every day
drudgeries of his job. It is, as they say in the psychological
parlors, constructive involvement.
That's what monthly meetings of the NEGCSA are all
about.
A t them, supers go back to school, back to the books
and spontaneous seminars where the vital questions of
golf course grooming are stated and answers come flowing
from all directions.
Preventive maintenance is the main course at these
luncheon-sessions. Often a superintendent will become
aware of a turf disease that has never troubled Mm at Ms
course. Consequently, he's steered onto a chemical that
prevents it. Thus, he's ahead of the disease before it
makes an appearance.
Unfortunately (for themselves), there are some clubs in
New England that prefer to turn their backs on the pleas of
their superintendents to join the association. They hold to
the opinion that the group is a social-oriented flock of
goldbrickers who steal away from their clubs for the sole purpose of making merry. Balderdash!
Association meetings in the middle of summer do include the option of playing golf. However, that avenue is a
secondary road. Usually, golf becomes an educational endeavor in itself. Out of such tournaments as the supergreen chairman and super-pro come relationsMps that
further the cause of the game and the golf course.
Then, too, each meeting often has a formal educational
program attached. Specialists in all fields of golf course
maintenance are invited to speak before the group. Some
of these presentations have been known to last three or
more hours as the supers and speaker develop a give-andtake situation. In the end, the golf course and you are the
winners - all because of the superintendent's active participation in Ms association.
On the subject of playing golf, the association events

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

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
Donald Hearn CGCS
4 Topeka Rd.
Chelsmlord, 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
Club 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.

Members of the Pine Brook C.C. grounds crew took full advantage of the beautiful spring weather to enjoy a casual
round of golf. Now they know why they make orange golf
balls.

Congratulations to Charlie Borden and Roy
B. Davis on becoming new members.
To be voted on at next meeting:
Donald Marrone Jr., Wachusett C.C. and
John F. Streeter, Alpine C.C. as regular members.
Kip Tyler, Salem C.C. and Michael R. Legere,
Holden Hills C.C. as associate members.
serve as an outlet for tensions a superintendent might live
with as the result of the demands on Ms expertise. In this
day and age of pressures from within and without the
country club, you might liken your own plight to that of
the super. A round of golf might be the best tonic to relax
those tensions.
So, the next time you think your superintendent has
turned into a phantom on those scheduled NEGCSA meeting days, don't send out a searching party or suggest that
he be punished for deserting Ms post.
They are the regular gatherings of men dedicated to
their profession and a time when perhaps the condition of
your own course is made or broken because of a chance
exchange of association members.
The NEGCSA is a necessary part of your superintendent's professional life. If he's making those meetings, be
relieved. If he isn't, it's Mgh time he did and Mgh time you
saw to it that he does.
Sincerely,
Gerry Finn

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 Bd.
Sudbury, Mass. 01776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-7333
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

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

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

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Robert Johnston CGCS
f 28 Wilbraham Rd.
Hampden, Mass 01036
Home Phone 566-3075
Office Phone 566-3096
Club Affiliation
Hampden C.C.

P t e c u e fi&buMUfe FRIENDS OF THE
Bacher Corporation
876 Boston Road
Billerica, Mass. 01866
Tel. 617-273-0398
Turf a n d Snow Equipment

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

Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Mass
Yamaha Golf Cars

Tom Irwin, Inc.
11B A St., Burlington, Mass.
Jack Peterson
Dennis Frlel
Wayne Ripley

Bordens Spreader Service
Maynard, Mass.
Tel. 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer
C 8c 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 8c 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.
Chester Drake & 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.
Holliston Sand Co., Inc.
Lowland St., Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand for topdressing a n d bunkers

Lakeshore Equipment 8c Supply Co.
Mike Hannigan, Rep.
Abington, Mass.
800-321-5325
Larchmont Engineering a n d Irrig. Co.
Larchmont Lane, Lexington, Mass.
617-862-2550
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.
D. L Maher
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading, Mass. 01864
R. F. Morse 8c Son, Inc.
W. Wareham, Mass. 02576
Tel. 617-295-1553
J. Willen Roell, Rep.
Larry Bunn, Rep.
Nardone Sand and Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd.
Westford MA. 01886
Boston Area 648-6222,
Lowell Area 692-8221
Robert D. Nardone, Gen. Mgr.
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
New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, and Maintenance
Sealcoating Hingham Inc. Center
Hingham, Mass. 749-6800
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf Chemicals
66 Valley St.
E. Providence, R.I. 02914

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

ASSOCIATION
Richey 8c Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd., Natick, Mass. 01760
Sawtelle Bros.
565 Humphrey St., Swampscott, Mass.
617-599-4856
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water Street, Clinton, Mass.
617-365-6341
Pumps - Sales, service
Installation - Vertical
Turbine pumps specialists
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-366-4825
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Slocum, Rl/Litchfield, N.H./Suffleld, Conn.
1-800-556-6985
Largest Producer ot Penncross In New England
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell
Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester, 203-8253790
* Turf Products Corp.
36 Sword St.
Auburn, Mass. 01501
617-791-2091
Charles Allen, Sales Rep.
* Turf Specialty, Inc.
84 Merrimac St., Hooksett, N.H. 03106
Turf 8c Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner 617-2657526
Valley Farms Nursery 8c 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
Philtip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
31 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.
* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

First Class
p

Hostage

PAID

Framingham, MA
Permit

Weston, MA 02193
Home Phone 894-7377
Office Phone 893-8264
Cfub Affiliation
Pine Brook C.C.
PETE COSTE*
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

209