October 1983
ourde ~S)uperintendents

^dssociation

S p o n s o r s a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f t h e L a w r e n c e S.
Dickinson Scholarship

OF

NEW

ENGLAND,

INC.

Fund — A w a r d e d

to d e s e r v i n g Turf M a n a g e m e n t

Students.

Bob Mucciarone - A Role Model
Bob Mucciarone has a simple formula for keeping
abreast of the needs of his membership at the Dedliam
Polo-Country Club.
"Just do your work and you never get any complaints,"
advises Mucciarone who is in his 23rd season at Dedham
and em'oying it as if it were his first. "Of course, the
chemistry has to be there and I have to believe its just as
favorably active as ever."
Mucciarone is one of the golf superintendent profession's solid citizens, a role model when it comes to blending success and happiness on the job. He's been in the
business since 1946 or the year he ended his service with
the United States Wavy and he's never strayed from that
one-way street.
Bob, with brother Norm, got Ms start in the profession
under Tony Sperandio at Franklin. He got Ms feet wet
there, plunged into the formal education segment at the
University of Massachusetts and by the time 1949 rolled
around he had his own job at Wellfleet. He had five-year
stops at Wayland and Merrimack Valley and accepted the
call from Dedham in 1960.
During his long stay at Dedham, Mucciarone has been a
dynamo in effecting changes that make the course an enjoyable experience for what he calls "a quiet membership
of 384."
Those changes cover a spectrum from remodeling
greens to re-seeding fairways and tees to overseeing the
construction of a watering system. Almost everything one
sees at Dedham reflects the handiwork of this extraordinarily diligent superintendent.
Not that he hasn't encountered problems.
"Don't forget," he reminds, "I have this ongoing thing
with the Charles River. We're under the constant strain of
having it back up. For example, it was so bad in 1982 that
we had to close the course for almost the entire month of
June. However, we've survived. It hasn't been easy... but
is it supposed to be?"
Therein is contained the exemplary work ethic of Mucciarone who is 57 years old but still displays the enthusiasm of a teenager.
"I've always been a man who believes in work," he discloses. "I won't let my crew do anything I won't do. Sure,
it's not the modem way. But getting the job done comes
first with me. Administration finishes second as far as I'm
concerned."
Although the golf season is the focal point of his professional input, Mucciarone's responsibilities to his members
don't end when the last divots of the year are taken. At
Dedham, the beat goes on year-round.
" I have a skeet field, bowling alleys, indoor tennis
courts and outdoor skating ponds to maintain in the fall
and winter months," he tells. "That mease my work load
is far from being seasonal. However, I still manage to get in
a few rounds of golf at association meetings, get to the national convention and sneak in a vacation here and there.
It's ideal for me."
That rigorous schedule also fits well into the Mucciarone family lifestyle. Wife, Pauline, is an avid golfer, which

helps her appreciate what Bob's position entails. Son,
Bob, Jr., is working under dad at Dedham and following in
his footsteps. The couple also has a daughter, Judy, and a
younger son, Jeff.
"My family has been a big help along the way," Mucciarone emphasizes. "Pauline and the kids have accepted
most of the inconveniences which go with the job and
that's a big plus for me in my approach to it."
Although he hasn't held high office in it, Mucciarone has
been an active and contributing member of the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of New England. He
has served as head of several important committees and is
a valuable and visible addition to most association social
functions and business meetings.
"I think we really have a hold on the association now,"
he says. "The last couple of years it seems like all the superintendents have come together through increased involvement in our group. I'd say the feeling of comaraderie
never has been stronger. My only complaint is not being
able to come away with more prizes in our golf tournament."
Bob Mucciarone, then, deserves to be designated a role
model for the golf course supterintendent's profession. He
does his job without a whimper and prospers in the realicontinued on page 2

Nessf Meeting
Tuesday, November 1, 1983
Tatnuck Country Club
Worcester, Mass,
Directors Meeting -

9:30

Regular Meeting 10:30
Branch11:15
Golf 12 noon (Shotgun)
Host - Stephen Chiavaroli, CGCS
Steve has been superintendent at -v
Tatnuck for 6 years. Previously, he
* '
was assistant superintendent at
Brae Burn CC for 3XA years and
Blue Hill CC for IV2 years. He is a
1973 graduate of the Univesity of
Conn., with a B.S. in agronomic
sciences.
Steve resides in Worcester with
his wife Cindi and three childen.
Reservations - Piease call Steve at 791-5373.
Directions Exit 13 (Kelly Square) off Rt. 290 in
Worcester. At base of hill, take a left before Merit
station onto Madison St. Go straight to Chandler St.
Follow for approx. 3 miles. At 2nd light after
Worcester St. College, take a left on Pleasant St.
Tatnuck CC is the first left after large billboard on
left side.

yearly

- C'joif

(Gourde

Superintendents

dissociation

he Green - So Near, Yet So Far

This being the time of the golf season when acorns and
the like far outnumber players and superintendents are
able to walk their courses without having to dodge misguided missiles, it presents the opportunity for a very important brush-up operation.
It entails another form of cooperation between the superintendent and the green committee. That is, reviewing
the marking system on the couse and making corrections,
adjustments or whatever is needed to give the player a
fighting chance in his quest for lower scores.
One of the most perplexing experiences a golfer, especially a stranger or occasional visitor to a course, encounters is locating the 150-yard marker. This, of course, is designed to give him a bead on what perhaps is his most important shot of the moment - the approach to the green.
Unfortunately, there never has been advanced - not
even by the August USGA - a clear-cut definition of what
the 150-yard marker's physical makeup should be. This is
not to imply that the USGA has been negligent since its involvement in the situation is not official. The governing
body of amateur golf only suggests 150 yards as an arbitrary distance figure. It does not insist on it.
Therefore, the marker, itself, is up to the individual golf
course. Here is where the confusion takes roots. Some
courses designate a rose bush, a chestnut tree or things in
their immediate family as the 150-yard marker. This is all
well and good but only in the infancy of most layouts.
Gradually other forms of plant life invade the same area
and, poof, there goes the exact yardage.
Consequently, there is no ideal setup for designating the
golfer's approach aid without affecting the aesthetic
properties of a golf couse. Unless, there is a concentrated
effort to standardize the use of plants and the like on
every hole and regular check of the area, the player is stymied in his club selection.
Certain courses have done away with the use of natural
markers and replaced them with those of the artificial
variety, such as plain white or other colored stakes and
cement inserts in the middle of the fairway. These, too,
suffice but often are unsightly in manner of taking away
from the course's natural beauty.
Whatever the method, the responsibility for distinguishing the 150-yard marker rests with the green committee
and implementation of it with the superintendent. Thus,
the check-up at this time of year.
Not only will this please the golfer, it has to have an effect on the pace of play. Certainly, quick recognition of
the distance from ball to green does away with the lost
time a player spends trying to decide for himself.
The brush-up operation doesn't end there.
Obviously, after a long season of play, there's always
the chance that other markers on the course have either
been damaged, removed or inadvertently replaced in
areas where they shouldn't be.
These include the designation of plain and parallel
water hazards and the natural kind. Many an argument
has ensued because opposing golfers can't decide whether
a water hazard is parallel or not. Settlement of those disputes would be simple if the appropriate markers were in
place.
The virtually complete halt in play as winter starts to
set in also offers the superintendent the opportunity to
make his spring plans for the determination of where
rough, fairway and hazard are to be separated. A physical
review of this situation seems in order. Again, although it
may be minute, clearing up these testy issues adds to the
improvement in pace of play.

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.
Chelmsford, Mass 01624
Home Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 694-5906
Club Affiliation
Weston Golf Club

SECOND VICE PRESII
David Barber CGCS
145 Dedham St.
Canton. Mass 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill C.C.

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

Obviously, the superintendent can't be expected to devote all of his time solving the problems that face golfers
in their future daily rounds. However, he has to appreciate
the confusion that scattershot-placed out-of-bounds, hazard and distance markers promote. He, too, may be in the
same position as his members on those occasions when he
tees it up.
Fall and early winter clean-up, then, should also be accompanied by check-up of the field or play. In the end, it
will add to the pleasure of the golfer and the superintendent's realization that he has covered the responsibilities
of his job from tee to green and beyond.
Gerry Finn

The Snowman lining up another 8

The "Helo" in action

Editor' S

IlOtC - With all the excitement at the Salem
meeting we overlooked writing the team of two winners in
the Sales Division. They were Bobby Brown and Bill Perry
of Sawtelle Bros.
Also I wish to thank Pat Vittum of the Waltham Field
station and Larry Bunn of TPC for contributing articles to
the newsletter. Anyone wishing to contribute should do so
and not just talk about it.

Bob Mucciarone continued from p.l

zation that the rapport between him and his Dedham
membes is top-of-the-line. So, it's little wonder that he
stands at the head of the class in reaching his vocational
and gamily goals. The association is proud to boast that
he is one of its own - very special, indeed.
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 Rd.
Sudbury, Mass 01776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-7333
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

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

TRUSTEE
Stephen A. Chiavaroli, Jr.
100 Airport Dr.
Worcester, Mass 01602
Home Phone 752-0031
Office Phone 791-5373
Club Affiliation
Tatnuck 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

Maintenance Equipment are you up to par?
To meet the demands of present day golf course maintenance, the most modern and up-to-date equipment alone
will not be the answer at every course; administration,
programming, adequate budgets, manpower, responsibility and a host of other elements will be necessary.
The following suggested list should be adequate for the
majority of the 18-hole courses although it may not be
adequate at many golf courses, depending upon the degree of mainenance:
GREENS AND TEES
6 to 8 putting green mowers
l power spiker
2 power aerators
1 power sprayer (fungicides)
1 vertical mower
1 proportiomer
1 power drag mat
2 rotary fertilizer spreaders
1 power topdresser
2 triplex mowers
1 power thatcher
FAIRWAYS AND ROUGHS
2 seven-gang hydraulic tractors and mowers
1 P ° w e r sprayer (herbicides)
1 fairway aerator
1 rotary fertilizer spreader
1 fairway thatcher
1 8-gasg mower (roughs)
1 fairway sweeper
1 3-gang roller
GENERAL EQUIPMENT
1 or 2 dump body golf
i power stump-cutter
tractors
1 power soil-shredder
2 general construction PTO
l powered hand-sweeper
tractors
2 powered leaf-blowers
1 jeep, pickup truck, etc.
1 water ballast roller
1 dump track (5 ton mio)
6 rotary trimmer mowers
1 snow plow
3 hand trimmer mowers
1 front-end loader and
2 general purpose power
backhoe
reel mowers
1 power sod-cutter
2 or 3 gas powered runabouts
1 power saw
MISCELLANEOUS HAND EQUIPMENT
(This list will go from A to ZJ.Axes, burners, crow bar,
duster, cup cutter, wheelbarrow, ladder, sod edgers, sod
lifters, shovels, rakes, funnels, spade, picks, forks, jacks,
pinners, tree saws, traps (animal), pumps, gas cans,
scales, pullers, hose, bamboo poles, soil testers, soil
probe.
TOOLS FOR REPAIR OF:
All power equipment (trucks, tractors, mowers, etc.),
plumbing drains, electrical equipment, sewers, roadways,
cement and concrete, water systems, painting and wood
working repairs, etc.
SHOP EQUIPMENT
Lapping machine, air compressor, steam cleaner, table
saw, bench grinders, bed knife grinder, reel knife grinder,
pipe threader, paint sprayer, welder drill press, vises,
arbor press, work benches.
IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT
Pumping station and number of heads will be determined by the superintendent at each individual course.
* * *

This suggested list has only touched a few of the many
odds and ends and pieces of equipment needed. If we may
have omitted that one piece of equipment which you feel
necessary, by all means add it to the list.
A maintenance building should meet the following requirements:
1 Superintendent's office (desk, file cabinets, adding machine, etc.)
2. Toilet facilities (showers, lockers, etc.)
3. Adequate heating and ventilation

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

EDUCATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Antone DeBettencourf
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 ,

I N C .

4. Paint spraying room
5. Herbicide-fungicide, etc., storage room
6. Fertilizer storage area
7. Adequate storage area for all equipment
8. Adequate maintenance area.
In conjunction with the main maintenance building, an
additional storage building is essential for storing and
mixing of topdressing material. Topdressing should be
kept in a dry area so that it will be available at any time of
the season. A two-year supply should be stored at all
times.
If we have the necessary equipment and maintenance
building, how many men v/ill be required to keep the
equipment rolling for the necessary turf maintenance? We
suggest the following personnel be considered for the
average 18-hole golf course in the Northeast:
1 Superintendent (year-round employment)
1 Assistant Superintendent or Foreman (year-round employment)
1 Mechanic (year-round employment)
2 Laborers (year-round employment!
3 Laborers to be hired at the beginning of the outside
maintenance program and to be carried through until
fall maintenance is completed.
3 Laborers to be hired as summer help
11 Men total
Regardless of the maintenance building and modern
equipment, the work load cannot be carried out unless an
adequate work force is available—a work force that can
be depended on, day in and day out; men with responsibility to themselves, to the golf course they are working for,
and to the equipment they are handling.
Credit Note: This article is a USGA reprint.

October Results
Our October meeting was held at Kittansett. We had a
fine day of golf and food. Our thanks to Lennie Blodgett
and the staff at Kittansett for a wonderful day.
The tournament format was a blind draw team of four.
The winning team was:
Steve Murphy, Gannon
Bob St. Thomas, Hyannisport
Dick Zepp, Whitinsville
Wayne Zoppo, Agawam Hunt
Our first member-club official tournament was held on
October 11 at Blue Hill CC. What a great deal the day was,
which included lunch, golf and dinner. We wish to thank
Dave Barber and the Blue Hill staff. Also our thanks to
guest speaker Dr. Joe Troll.
The winners were:
4 way tie for first teams
Cohasset Golf Club, (Art Washburn)
Worcester C.C. (Mike Nagle)
Whitinsville G.C. (Dick Zepp)
Eastward Ho (Brian Cowan)
Each team received $120.
The Pro-Supt. John Shanahan Memorial Tournament at
Brae Burn was held October 14. The format is selected drive,
alternate shot. Our thanks to Bob Grant and Jim O'Kelly. The
winners:
Net
Steve Sewell-Dean Robertson, Kernwood 80-66
Tom McGuirk-Bert Frederick, Vesper 80-68
Paul Barkhouse-Paul Johnson, Fercroft 78-69
Gross
Charlie Estes-Jim O'Kelly, Brae Burn 73
John Scheffler-Brian Cowan, Eastward Ho 74

Information
freely,
as

the

credit

contained

in

this

publication

may

be

used

in w h o l e o r in p a r t , w i t h o u t s p e c i a l p e r m i s s i o n as l o n g
true
line.

context

is m a i n t a i n e d .

We

would

appreciate

a

Pteate
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 &
474
Eric
Tel.

J Lawnmover Service, Inc.
Main Street., Wilmington, Mass. 01887
Oman - Sales Representative
617-658-2022

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

Geoffrey S. Cornish & Brian Silva
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002

*

Country Club Enterprises
Club Car Golf Cars
Tennis & Leisure Equipment
P.O. Box 400, W. Falmouth, Mass. 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 fortopdressing and bunkers

foatuwife

FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

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

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

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

Pro-Lawn Products Inc.
18 Legate Hill Road
Leominster, Mass. 01453
Sales Rep. Jerry Kolomick
Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd., Natick, Mass. 01760

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

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

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

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

David Loker
9 Crestview Drive
Millis, Mass. 02054
The Magovern Co. Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
Windsor Locks, Conn. 06096
Tel. 1-800-243-7-718 or 1-203-623-2508—
Louis C. Rogers, Vice Pres.

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep.Ed Wiacek 1 -401 -253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-366-4825
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
Siocum, Rl/Litchfield, N.H./Suffield, Conn.
1-800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross in New England
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell

D.L. Maher
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading,Mass. 01864
R.F. Morse & 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, Mass. 01886
(617) 692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing Sand

Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester, 203-828-3790
Turf Products Corp.
36 Sword St.
Auburn, Mass. 01501
617-791-2091
Charles Allen, Sales Rep.
*

N.E Chapter Land Improvement
Contractors of America
Professional Conservation of Soil
and Water. Contractor in your area,
call Peter Whiting, Pres.
61 7-877-5323

Turf Specialty, Inc.
84 Merrimac St., Hooksett, N.H. 03106
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner 617-263-7526
White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Dr., Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-0941

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

Philip 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
,, .. „ .
U . S . Postage

PAID

Framingham, MA
Permit

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

209