November 1982
ourSe
OF

—Juperin ten clents
NEW

E N G L A N D ,

^dissociation
INC

Sponsors and administrators of the Lawrence S.
Dickinson Scholarship Fund — Awarded yearly
to deserving Turf Management Students.

Dosi Hearn - Man on the Move
Don Hearn admits that he doesn't know it all.
However, Weston's personable golf course superintendent is one-up on many of his peers. On a professional
basis, he's seen it all.
Just think of the impact his experiences have had on his
golf business education.
" Y o u might say I've been around the block," Hearn
quipped the other day. "When I was in high school, I
divided my working time between the course and the pro
shop at Woburn Golf Club. Then, years later, I had a
chance to see the three worlds of the clubhouse manager,
pro and superintendent as interim general manager at
Weston."
Obviously, Don draws from his diversified mode of
maturation. Presently, he is first vice-president of the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of New England — in
line t o succeed present president Brian Cowan and he's a
viable candidate for the post of director in the profession's
national organization.
If anyone's destiny were pre-planned, it would have t o
be the eventual whereabouts of the 36-year-old Woburn
native.
Hearn's roots in the game were dug deep and early when
he started caddying for his dad at the Woburn club. He
was nine years old at the time.
From there, he played the game as a junior and probed
further into it as a part-time employee in the Woburn pro
shop during the summer and on the golf course in spring
and fall.
" I can't remember when I decided what direction my
golf career would take," he disclosed. "But I suppose I alw a y s leaned toward becoming part of the golf course
conditioning world. It was a case of a stronger like for one
j o b over the other."
Don took his first full-time post as assistant super at the
Thomson Golf Club in North Reading. From there he
moved on t o Bellevue in Melrose and then t o Lexington
under T e d Murphy.
While there, t w o moves cemented his decision to bec o m e a career superintendent. First, he completed the
winter turf course at the University of Massachusetts. Second, Murphy left Lexington to purchase the Garrison Golf
Center in Haverhill and Don was his logical successor as
top man.
When Phil Cassidy announced his retirement after a distinguished career at the Weston Golf Club in 1972, the call
went out t o Hearn as his replacement and Don's been a
fixture there ever since.
It's been an enjoyable tenure, too.
" T h e course members and I are made for one another,"
Don said of his association with the Weston course. " T h e
challenge is there every day because Weston is one of our
older courses. Did y o u every try growing grass and keeping it there on small greens? Sometimes, I think it's a killer. But that's part of the enjoyment, meeting your problem head-on and driving yourself to solutions."

For reasons, requiring no explanations, Don has been
one of the most active and effective members of the
NEGCSA.
He joined the association in 1968 and has had his
sleeves rolled up, into the action, in the ensuing years.
Along the way he's served his profession in a number of ofcontinued on page 3

NEXT MEETING
Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1982
Needham Golf Club
Needham, Mass.
GOLF - make your own foursome, tee time
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
LUNCH - will be available in clubhouse
Host Superintendent - Ron Kirkman
Ron has been superintendent at
Needham for the past twenty one
years. He has also shown his versitility by managing the club for the
past 5 years. He currently serves
on the GCSANE Board as past
president and remains very active
in the association.
DIRECTIONS FROM RT 128 - exit 57 (Great Plain
Ave.) from the north turn right after exit, from the
south turn left at exit. Go Vi mile (4th left) to Green
St. to club.

(jolf

(Gourde Superintendents

SliSociation

Photo Quiz

Seminar Keyport
I attended the Newsletter Editors Seminar held in Lawrence, Kansas on September 19-22. The information and
insight presented by the staff of GCSAA was almost too
much to absorb during this period.
Some of the topics discussed were the development of a
totally new and far reaching educational program, the
relocation of the National Headquarters, the 1983 Conference in Atlanta, the Delta Air Lines travel program, the
change in the beginning of Conference Week from Sunday
to Wednesday and the announcement of the Old Tom Morris Award. This is a major award to be presented annually
•by GCSAA to "that individual who, through a continuing
lifetime commitment to the game of golf, has helped to
mold the welfare of the game in a manner and style exemplified by Old Tom Morris." The first award will be presented to a well known figure during the 1983 Conference
in Atlanta. GCSAA is also working on a program to make
available shirts, windbreakers, golf bags, umbrellas and
other items displaying the GCSAA logo.
Computers are affecting everyone. The golf course superintendent is no exception. GCSAA is talking seriously
with software suppliers to develop programs specifically
for the golf management field. GCSAA will be the association in golf doing this. Once the programming is available,
the possibilities for the practical uses of a computer will
be limited only by imagination. Audio visual cassettes will
be available in the near future. With them and a video recorder you'll toe able to avail yourself, your staff, club officials and others to a new world of educational material.
To develop some of these programs, support from all is
needed. If enough members sit back and take the attitude
of, "What does the National do for me?" inferring it does
nothing, that's exactly what all of us will be getting —
nothing.
The most disappointing subject was the lack of member
support for the Scholarship and Research Fund. We
should all return something to our profession. Contributing to the Scholarship and Research Fund is one way of
doing this. Whether contributed toward scholarships or
research, it's an investment in our future as well as those
coming along.
A recurring comment heard was, "The golf course superintendent may be the best kept secret in golf." This will
be changing. Several nationally circulated golf magazines
will be carrying complimentary ads for our 1983 Conference. The joint GCSAA-PGA Tour award was presented on
national television during the Sammy Davis Greater Hartford Open. The award, presented to superintendent Fred
Bachand of Wethersfield Country Club by Bob Osterman,
Vice President of GCSAA, was another step toward long
overdue recognition of the golf course superintendent. Although these are not the block-busting type of things
some would like to see, they are steps in the right direction.
The entire headquarters staff, led by Executive Director
Jim McLoughlin, is an extremely capable, devoted and enthusiastic group of people. My exposure to their abilities
was a very pleasing aspect of the seminar.
Don Hearn

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October Meotaag at Blue
Hill
Once again we had a fine turn out for golf. The golf
course was in outstanding condition. Quite a tribute to
Dave Barber and his crew.
The tournament format was a team of four with best
ball of two aggregate. The winners were — Larry Bunn of
TPC, Bob Johnston of Hampden C.C., John P. Jones of
Walpole C.C. and Bobby Brown of Sawtelle Bros, (how can
this guy win anything).

Congratulations to Dan Tibbetts of Green
Harbor -New Member

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 DedhamSt.
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.

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.

Field Trip

DIVOT DRIFT
The MGA has announced that the president of GCSANE
will serve on their Executive Committee Brian Cowan will
begin serving immediately ... Kevin "snowman" Lyons
continued Ms ways at Blue Hill. Playing partner Paul Miller
told him he should go the route of "Give me a six,"
McKoan and take up tennis. After some chatter in the
19th hole someone came up with the dream match of the
year — McKoan vs Lyons. The only problem would be
there are not enough hours of daylight for these two choppers to complete 18 holes ... Please remember that
GCSANE does have a dress code. We are all professionals
and should look accordingly ... Also, when planning to attend a meeting please have the courtesy of contacting the
host superintendent. He has an obligation to his club to
plan ahead ... Dimi Moore gave a nice presentation on the
uses of wetting agents at Blue Hill. Our thanks to her ... Finally, thanks to Dave Barber and the staff at Blue Hill for a
fine day.
continued from page 1
ficial capacities. He's been on numerous committees and
run the gamut of offices from treasurer to his present first
VP status.
" I think the association is on the upswing, all right," he
opined. "Naturally, participation isn't where it should be
and I lament that. But it's improving and our relations
with the rest of g o l f s administrating structure are headed
in a fruitful direction."
Having had first-hand touch with the position, Don has
established some definite ideas on the role of general
manager.
"The true meaning of a general manager is a fourth person hired to oversee the operation of the three department heads operating from the course, clubhouse and pro
shop," he told. "It involves adding a fourth salary which
defeats the original purpose of the post, that of judicious
control of the club's financial outlay. Therefore, I can't
justify the position."
On the superintendent's side of the recognition ladder,
Don expressed much disappointment.
"Don't get me wrong," he prefaced his feelings. "Some
people have come to appreciate our input, but there aren't enough of them. It's better than it was when I started,
but it could be better — much better.
"The superintendent is not getting the mass exposure
he deserves. I still know of people who rely on the pro for
information pertaining to the condition of the course. I
don't blame the pro for this. However, somewhere along
the line something's been missing. I believe the job of getting that exposure must start at the top — at the national
level. But I'll be talking more about this later in my campaign to become director."
Right now, Don focuses his discerning eye on the New
England Association's makeup and functions.
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 DeBeftencourt
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 Pbone 444-8412
Office Phone 444-5548
Club Affiliation
Needham Golf d u b

(Is-R Doug Johnson, Kip Tyler, Ted Horton, Steve Murphy,
Paul Miller.
During the latter part of September, myself, Steve Murphy, Paul Miller and Kip Tyler took a trip to the Metropolotian New York area. We visited two of the biggest golf
operations on the east coast — Westchester Country Club
in Rye, N.Y. and Winged Foot Golf Club in Marmaroneck,
N.Y.
Westchester is annual host to the PGA Tour during the
Westchester Classic. This is a 45 hole golf course operation along with tennis courts and a swim club. Ted Horton,
superintendent at Westchester, showed us around and
also let us play the Championship West Course. Ted was in
the midst of expanding a pond and completely renovating
two fairways, which is occupying much of his time.
Winged Foot is a 36 hole championship layout. The East
course has hosted the U.S. Womens and Seniors Open.
The West course has hosted the U.S. Open and will be host
again in 1984. Sherwood Moore, superintendent is anxiously awaiting the big event. Sherwood also arranged for
us to play golf, which we did on the West Course.
As for our golf games, the only thing that needs to he
mentioned is that the Murph and I came back with more
money than we left with. Both Ted and Sherwood were
gracious hosts and run first class operations.
Doug Johnson
" W e have to have more involvement by more people,"
he added. "I hear all that stuff about the superintendent
selling himself. However, it would be more advantegous to
sell ourselves as a group. That's where the association
comes in. We have to pull together by mass participation,
not pull ourselves apart by scattered input."
Don Heam, then, is still at it -— a 100-percent pusher for
the good of his profession. He's seen and experienced it
all. Now, he'd like to concentrate on his favorite world —
that of the golf course superintendent,
Gerry Finn
I n f o r m a t i o n contained in this publication m a y 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 context is maintained. W e w o u l d appreciate a
credit line.

P l e a u futbtCHije FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Bacher Corporation
876 Boston Road
Billerica, Mass. 04866
Tel. 647-273-0398
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
Y a m a h a Golf Cars

Tom Irwin, Inc.
44B A St., Burlington, Mass.
Jack Peterson
Dennis Frlel
Wayne Ripley

Bordens Spreader Service
Maynard, Mass.
Tel. 647-897-2574
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer
C & J Lawnmower Service, Inc.
474 Main St., Wilmington, Mass 04887
Eric O m a n - Sales Representative
Tel. 647-658-2022
The Clapper Co.
4424 Washington St.
Newton, Mass.
647-244-7929
* Geoffrey S. Cornish & William G. Robinson
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 04002
* Country Club Enterprises
Club Car Golf Cars
Tennis 8> Leisure Equipment
P.O. Box 400, W. Falmouth, Ma. 02574
647-563-2284
C.S. Curran
T.R.C. Products, Oils a n d Greases
7 Linden St., Framingham, Mass.
Chester Drake & Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St.
Framingham, Mass. 04704
Golf Course Construction
647-875-7929
G o l d Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H. 603-783-4747
Weston, Mass. 647-894-5474
The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Weathersfield, Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.
Holliston Sand Co., Inc.
Lowland St., Holliston, Mass. 04746
Sand for fopdressing a n d bunkers

Lakeshore Equipment & Supply Co.
Mike Hannigan, Rep.
Abington, Mass.
800-324-5325
Larchmont Engineering a n d Irrlg. Co.
Larchmont Lane, Lexington, Mass.
647-862-2550
The Magovern Co. Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
Windsor Locks, Conn. 06096
Tel. 4-800-243-7748 Of 4-203-623-2508
Louis C. Rogers, Vice Pres.
D. L. Maher
Box 427, Concord St.
N. Reading, Mass. 04864
R. F. Morse & Son, Inc.
W. Wareham, Mass. 02576
Tel. 647-295-4553
J. Willen Roell, Rep.
Larry Bunn, Rep.
Nardone Sand a n d Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd.
Westford MA. 04886
Boston Area 648-6222,
Lowell Area 692-8224
Robert D. Nardone, Gen. Mgr.
N.E. Chapter Land Improvement
Contractors of America
Professional Conservation of Soil
a n d Water. Contractor in your area,
call Peter Whiting, Pres.
647-877-5323
New England Sealcoating Co., Inc.
Tennis Court Const, a n d Maintenance
Sealcoating Hingham Inc. Center
Hingham, Mass. 749-6800
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers - Seeds - Turf Chemicals
66 Valley St.
E. Providence, R.I. 02944

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

Pro-Lawn Products Inc.
48 Legate Hill Road
Leominster, Mass. 04453
Sales Rep. Jerry Kolomlck
Richey & Clapper, 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.
64 7-365-6344
Pumps - Sales, service
Installation - Vertical
Turbine pumps specialists
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 4-404-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 4-647-366-4825
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Slocum. RI/Litchfield, N.H./Suffleld, Conn.
4-800-556-6985
Largest Producer ot Penncross In New England
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell
Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester, 203-828-3790
Turf Products Corp.
36 Sword St.
Auburn, Mass. 04504
617-794-2094
Charles Allen, Sales Rep.
* Turf Specialty, Inc.
84 Merrimac St., Hooksett, N.H. 03106
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner 617-263-7526
Valley 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
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

First Class
.. c
U.S. Postage

PAID

Framingham, MA
Permit

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

209