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June 1984
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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.

Ferncroft Gets 4Highf Boston Five
Most of the girls, playing the Boston Five Classic last
month, took all the guesswork and speculation out of sizing up the Femcroft Country Club golf course.
Never seen it in better shape," said defending champion
Patti Rizzo. " I think I speak for all of the field when I say
the condition of the course is the last excuse for shooting
a bad score."
This was the fifth time the LPGA stopped at Ferncroft
and found the expertise of golf course superintendent Paul
Johnson exuding from every corner of the layout.
Johnson knows each blade of grass there by its first
name. He's been directing traffic for the mowers et al at
Ferncroft for the last 14 years of its life as an 18-hole
spread.
And preparing the course for the fairway fems is routine, old hat for him. He simply sets all the specs for setting of tee markers and pins, cut of the rough and greens
from LPGA official Jack Warfield and delivers on schedule.
Ah, but little do the gals - praising the course - know
how close weather, fate and other nasty gremlins come to
spoiling their 8225,000 golfing party on the Middleton
Danvers line.
"If it wasn't the rain (9 1/2 inch drop), it was the lightning," Johnson grimaced. "Would you believe that up to a
week before the tournament we couldn't get any equipment on No. 13, 15, 17 or 18? That was from the heavy
rains.
" T h e lightning, that struck a week after the rains inundated us, cooked four of my irrigation timers. That means
I spent three days with an electrician tracking lines and
trying to get my system working again."
Not only did the lightning fracture the irrigation setup,
it set off another flood. When it hit at night, it followed the
root line of a tree and burst a four-inch main. Water ran all
night to create another problem.
"My crew really bailed me out (no pun intended),"
Johnson disclosed. " W e put in over 200 hours of overtime getting things cleaned up and putting the condition
schedule on the mark.
"There isn't a man here who had one day off in the
three weeks before the tournament. They were all working on the days of play, too. This has to be the toughest
preparation period we've ever had for the Boston Five."
Even through the hard times of sprucing up Femcroft,
some light moments softened the ordeal.
A t one stage of the seemingly endless dial-a-rainstorm
headache, Johnson and his hardy crew had to man a boat
to transport a mower to the 13th .green. It was all hands on
liie deck as Paul piloted Ms sloop through the murky
water.
"This was no showboat deal," Johnson explained. " W e
had to get tc that green and the only way was over water.
Hey, the 13th and 14th holes were closed for 12 days. I
just couldn't wait for things to get together."
Somehow - a miracle by any other name- things drew in
at the precise moment and the Classic was assured of topshelf playing conditions.

That's when Johnson and his crew could sit back, relax
and take in all the sights, sounds, and sensational swings.
Right? Wrong.
Popular assumption has it that the superintendent gets
the course ready, turns it over to the LPGA and his job is
done. Popular, yes. Accurate, no.
For example, on the opening day of play, Johnson was
facing another intruder - a stiff breeze coming off Ferncroft's ponds. It caused wilt on two greens in particular the sixth and eighth.
So, in the middle of the round, there was Paul plugging
in hoses and directing the cooling waters on tawny spots
that were showing up almost as fast as the human eye
could detect.
" I expected that," Paul sighed. " W e had the LPGA officials on alert, too. They agreed to let me put just enough

JULY MEETING
Monday, July 9, 1984
Worcester Country Club
2 Rice Rd., Worcester, MA
Directors meeting - 1© am
Membership meeting - 11 am
Educational program - Greg Pagano,
Mobay-guesf speaker
Lunch-12noon
Golf - 1 pm Shotgun
SUPERINTENDENTS
CHAMPIONSHIP
Hers d'oeuvres and
cash bar until 7 pm
Host - Mike Nagle
Mike is in his second year as superintendent at
Worcester. He is a UMass. Stockbridge graduate
who also served as superintendent of Bonnie Briar
C.C. in Mamaroneck, N.Y. prior to coming to Worcester. Mike is married and lives in N. Brookfield, Mass.
We all look forward to a good day at Worcester on
the 9th.
water on the damaged areas to avoid total burnout. Just
as soon as the last group of the day was past the first
working point, we were out getting things back in shape
again."
Johnson wasn't affected by the bad-mouthing the
course took from LPGA star Jan Stephenson who reportedly called it, " t o o short and easy."
"That didn't cut any ice with me, " Paul laughed. " W e

our5e

Super luperin
in ten den

continued from page 1
could have stretched it out by more than 500 yards, but
the LPGA set the yardage. Besides, most of the girls disagreed with Stephenson.
"Really, all I was concerned with was getting the course
in the best shape possible. When the players raved about
it, that's all I wanted to hear. I guess they liked it. Certainly, we did everything in our power to make it a pleasant
four-day stay for them."
Rain, floods, lightning - even leaky boats. They couldn't
stop Paul Johnson and his crew. Ferncroft was ready,
spiffy and secure. It always is at Boston Five Classic time thanks to the guy who makes it right year after year after
year.
Gerry Finn

Position Openings
Supt. position - LACONIA COUNTRY CLUB
18 hole par 70
Send resume t o :
Laconia C.C.
Attn. Ken Kyle
P.O. Box 6113
Lakeport, N.H. 03246
deadline - August 15, 1984

Mechanic / Groraidskeeper
WOLLASTON RECREATIONAL FACILITY
PRESIDENTS GOLF COURSE
357 West Squantum St., N. Quincy, MA 02171 Tel. No. 328-1776
DESCRIPTION
Maintain golf car fleet - 28 cars, both electric and gas.
Scheduled preventative maintenance on all equipment winter service on golf cars and mowing equipment - some
equipment operation and groundskeeping (outdoors).
Will provide training specific to the equipment used and to
golf course operations.
WAGES & BENEFITS
Wages / Salary
Overtime
Health Ins.
Vacation
Life Ins.
Sick Leave
Personal Days
Other
Pension
Paid Holidays

$14,681-16,745/yr
$7.06 - 8.05/hr
Time Off in lieu of at 1.5
BC & BS Master Med. Dental
10% Contri.
2 weeks 1-5 yrs
3 weeks 5-10
4 weeks +10
$2,000 & options
11/4 day/month cumulative
3/year
Uniforms
Norfolk County
13

Control of Creeping Speedwell in
Turfgrass
Creeping speedwell (Veronica filiformis) has recently become an important lawn pest because it is competitive in
weE-maintained, irrigated lawns and golf courses. While
its spread is more rapid in shade, it can survive and spread
In sunny areas as well. Creeping speedwell spreads by
both seed and vegetative parts. During cool weather of
spring and fall, cuttings are dragged by the mower to new
PRESIDENT
D o n a l d E Hearn, CGCS
4 Topeka Rd.
Chelmsford, M A 01824
Home Phone 256-8709
O f f i c e Phone 8 9 4 - 5 9 0 6
Club Affiliation
Weston Golf C l u b

FIRST
VICE
PRESIDENT
David Barber, CGCS
145 D e d h a m St.
Canton, M A 02021
H o m e Phone 8 2 8 - 7 2 6 6
Office Phone 8 2 8 - 6 5 4 0
Club Affiliation
B l u e H i l l C.C.

SECOND
VICE
PRESIDENT
Pierre C o s t e , C G C S
1 2 1 G r a n i t e St.
Medfield, M A 02052
H o m e Phone 359-7247
Office Phone 5 6 6 - 0 2 4 0
Club Affiliation
The C o u n t r y C l u b

SECRETARY
R i c h a r d C Zepp, CGCS
27 F o w l e r Rd.
Northbridge, M A 01534
H o m e Phone 234-8490
Office Phone 234-2533
Club Affiliation
Whitinsville Golf Club

fa

J kSiociation

sites where they easily root when in contact with the soil.
Creeping speedwell was introduced into the U.S. as
early as 1930 as a rock garden plant because it had an attractive blue and white flower. Subsequently it escaped
into adjacent lawns. Although a somewhat localized problem, it is considered serious because of (1) its disease susceptibility, (2) lack of tolerance to extreme environments,
and (3) general disruption of lawn uniformity. Most major
metropolitan areas have at least one older subdivision
densely infested with creeping speedwell. Often the origin
of the weed in a locale can be traced back to a single
homeowner who imported the weed.
Creeping speedwell is tolerant of 2,4-D, and has varying
degrees of tolerance to silves, MCPP and dicamba. In the
1950's, 1 pound per acre of endothall was found to control
creeping speedwell. Higher rates were too toxic to desirable grasses while lower rates were not effective in controlling the weed. However, endothall treated areas were
often reinfested within two years.
Since creeping speedwell may cover 80 to 90% of the
area, chemical control measures must include methods to
reeestablish desirable turfgrass species. Recently, Dacthal (DCPA), Roundup (glyphosate) and Atrinal (HLK Sciences) have been found to effectively control creeping
speedwell.
If site examination indicates insufficient desirable turfgrasses present for reestablishment, Roundup can kill
both creeping speedwell and turfgrasses, but will allow reseeding of the treated area soon after application.
Atrinal has been used as an experimental chemical
growth retardant of turfgrasses as well as for selective
control of creeping speedwell. In areas where creeping
speedwell covers 80% or more of the surface, Atrinal inhibits rather than encourages remaining turfgrasses to fill
in areas left vacant by the pest. Thus the role of Atrinal in
controlling creeping speedwell would be in areas where
pest density is 50% or less.
Dacthal is normally used as a pre-emergence herbicide
for annual grasses. Surprisingly, it also is an effective herbicide in turfgrass for the selective post-emergence control of creeping speedwell. Dacthal is advantageous because it can kill creeping speedwell, prevent the establishment of annual grassy weeds, but allow perennial turfgrasses on the site to grow and spread throughout the
treated area. Chemical treatment of creeping speedwell is
most effective when the plant is actively growing', usually
in the spring or fall.
In research trials, granular formulations of Dacthal did
not control creeping speedwell, indicating that Dacthal
must be applied to and absorbed by the foliage. Both the
wettable powder and the flowable formulations were effective.
Following application of Dacthal, the visual appearance
of the lawn is improved. Creeping speedwell, normally yellow-green in color, will darken and blend better with the
turfgrasses. This symptom remains for 4 to 5 weeks. At
the end of that period the creeping speedwell begins to
curl, wilt and disintegrate. At no time does the pest turn
the yellow or brown color that is commonly associated
with herbicide injury.
Dacthal applied on creeping speedwell at the recommended rate and time for preemergence crabgrass control
in the spring has been found to control both pests very effectively. Fall treatments of Dacthal may not kill creeping
speedwell until the following spring. The pest may still appear dark green and healthy at snowfall but will simply be
nonexistent after the snow melts. The fall treatment has
been used very successfully on golf courses since at no
time does the golfer notice adverse symptoms.
John E. Kaufmann
Michigan State University

TREASURER
Thomas Schofield, CGCS
2 9 0 N o r t h Rd.
Sudbury, M A 01 776
H o m e Phone 4 4 3 - 3 7 1 2
O f f i c e Phone 2 3 5 - 7 3 3 3
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

TRUSTEE
Paul M i l l e r
173 S a l e m St.
Swampscott, M A 01907
Home Phone 581 -2808
Office Phone 791-5373
Club Affiliation
T e d e s c o C.C.

TRUSTEE
Stephen A Chiavaroli, CGCS
1 0 0 A i r p o r t Or
Worcester. M A 0 1 6 0 2
Home Phone 752-0031
Office Phone 791-5373
Club Affiliation
T a t n u c k C.C.

TRUSTEE
M a r k J. K h m m
P.O. 8 o x 4 8 0
Mashpee, M A 0 2 6 4 9
H o m e Phone 4 7 7 - 3 5 1 6
Office Phone 4 7 7 - 0 9 1 9
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
C.C. o f N e w S e a b u r y

OF

NEW

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I N C .

Getting Insects Identified
Insects can be brought to your local Cooperative Extension Service Office (see list of counties) or to:
to Western Massachusetts
Ralph Mankowsky, Department of Entomology
Room 204E, Fernald Hall
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Massahusetts 01003
413-545-2283
to Eastern Massachusetts
Dr. Patricia Vittum
Waltham Field Station
240 Beaver Street
Waltham, Massachusetts 02154
617-891-0650
Contacting Your Local Extension Service
Your local County Cooperative Extension Service is a
good source of information about exam dates, pesticide
recommendations and other pesticide related concerns.
For your convenience a list of addresses and phone numbers is provided:

August Meeting
The August meeting will be held on August 7, 1984, at the
Concord Country Club in Concord, Mass. Please mark
your calendar now as a reminder. The agenda will be as
follows:
10 am Directors meeting
11 am Membership meeting and educational program
12 noon - lunch
1 pm - Golf
Please show courtesy and give our host Narry Sperandio a
call to confirm a reservation. Call Narry at 369-4723.

June Meeting Results

COUNTY OFFICES OF EXTENSION SERVICE
BERKSHIRE

FRANKLIN

HAMPDEN

HAMPSHIRE

WORCESTER

MIDDLESEX

ESSEX

NORFOLK

There was a fine turnout for the Supt. - Green Chairman
Tournament. It was a wonderful day and the course was in
great shape. Our thanks to Jim Beane and Mt. Pleasant for
being such gracious hosts. Also our thanks to Brian Silva
for his fine presentation. The winners of the Tournament
were:
Low gross - Don Hearn - Tom Duffy of Weston Golf Club

BRISTOL

PLYMOUTH

July 1984

BARNSTABLE

Vote for a Seminar
GCSANE is planning to host a GCSAA Seminar sometime
in the fall in the Framingham, Mass. area. The following is
a list of topics in which one will be chosen. Now is the time
to voice your choice and respond to Don Hearn on which
topic you would prefer. This will also be discussed at our
July meeting.
1. GOLF COURSE DESIGN
2. GOLF RULES
3. LANDSCAPE DESIGN
4. IRRIGATION
5. MANAGEMENT
6. DISEASE IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL
7. EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT
k. FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
John Streeter, CGCS
8 6 Fashion Dr.
W a r w i c k . Ftl 0 2 8 8 6
H o m e P h o n e 1401) 7 3 8 - 8 3 8 6
OffiCP P h o n e ! 4 0 1 i 9 4 3 - 0 0 5 S
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The A l p i n e C.C.

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
Stephen M. M u r p h y
4 Juniper Rd.
Lynnfield, M A 01940
Home Phone 3 3 4 - 4 8 3 6
Oflice Phone 5 9 2 - 1 4 3 3
Club Affiliation
Larry G a n n o n Municipal G.C.

EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
E d w a r d L. B r e a r l e y
2 7 9 T o r r e y St.
Brockton, MA 02401
H o m e Phone 584 6 5 6 8
Office Phone 8 2 3 - 0 4 6 6
Club Affiliation
Segreggansett C . C .

SUFFOLK

DUKES

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Douglas W. Johnson, CGCS
5 0 N e w t o n St
Weston, M A 0 2 1 9 3
Home Phone 8 9 4 - 7 3 7 7
Office Phone 893-8264
Club Affiliation
Pine B r o o k C . C .

PAST
PRESIDENT
Brian Cowan, CGCS
Robins Way
Harwich, M A 02645
H o m e Phone 432-9041
Office Phone 9 4 5 - 9 2 3 0
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho

Berkshire County
Extension Service
46 Summer Street
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Franklin County Extension Service
425 Main Street Court House
Greenfield, MA
01301
Hampden County
Extension Service
1498 Memorial Avenue
West Springfield,
MA 01089
Hampshire County
Extension Service
33 King Street
Northampton, MA
01060
Worcester County
Extension Service
759 Main Street,
Box 0248
Leicester, MA
01524
Middlesex County
Extension Service
105 Everett Street
Concord, MA 01742
Essex County Extension Service
562 Maple Street
Hathorne, MA
01937
Norfolk County Extension Service
460 Main Street
Walpole, MA 02081
Bristol County Extension Service
Center Street
Segreganset, MA
02773
Plymouth County
Extension Service
High Street
Hanson, MA 02341
Cape Cod Extension
Service
Barnstable Deeds
and Probate Building
Barnstable, MA
02630
Suffolk County Extension Service
Downtown Center
Boston, MA 02125
Dukes County Extension Service
P.O. Box 1696
Oak Bluffs, MA
02557

413-448-8285

413-774-2902

413-736-7204

413-584-2556

617-892-1116

617-369-4845

617-774-0050

617-668-0268

617-669-6744

617-293-3541
or
617-447-5946
617-362-2511
Ext. 201

617-482-0395

617-693-0694

Information contained in this publication may be
used freely, in whole or in part, withput special permission as long as the true context is maintained. We
would appreciate a credit line.

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

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

Pro-Lawn Products Inc.
18 Legate Hill Road
Leominster, Mass 01453
Sales Rep. Jerry Kolomick

Bordens Spreader Service
Maynard, Mass.
Tel. 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer

T o m Irwin, Inc.
I I B A St., Burlington, Mass.
Jack Peterson
Dennis Friel
Wayne Ripley

Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd., Natick, Mass. 01760

C &
474
Eric
Tel.

Scott C. Wolfram
99% Day St.
Norwood, Mass. 02062

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

The Clapper Co.
1121 Washington St.
Newton, Mass.
61 7-244-7929
*

FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

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
61 7-875-7929
Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H. 603-783-4717
Lexington, Mass. 617-861 -1111
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 and bunkers

* Sawtelle Bros.
565 Humphrey St.. Swampscott, Mass.
617-599-4856
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water Street, Clinton, Mass.
61 7-365-6341
Pumps-Sales, service
Installation-Vertical
Turbine pumps specialists

L a r c h m o n t Engineering and Irrig. Co.
L a r c h m o n t Lane, Lexington, Mass.
671-862-2550
Loft's Seed
20 Beck Rd.
Arlington, Mass.
Jim Sullivan, Rep.

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-366-4825
T u c k a h o e 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

David Loker
9 Crestview Drive
Millis, Mass. 02054
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.

T u c o Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester, 203-828-3790

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

Turf Products Corp.
36 Sword St.
Auburn, Mass. 01501
617-791-2091

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

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

Nardone Sand and Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Powder Rd.
Westford, Mass. 01886
(617) 692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing Sand

White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Dr., Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-0941
Philip W o g a n
Golf Course Architect
31 Budleigh Ave., Beverly, Mass.

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

* Contributors to the Lawrence S. Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

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

Return to:
DOUGLAS JOHNSON
50 Newton St.

PAID

Weston, MA 02193
CIP'CT

n i t u i

50 Newton St.
Weston, MA 02183
Home Phone 894.7377
Otfice Phone 8S3-8264
Club Affiliation
Pine Brook a d
PETE COSTE*
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

First Class
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U . S . Postage

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F r a m i n g h a m , MA
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