NEWSLETTER
( j o l f

(Gourde
OF

- ^ S m p e r in ten
NEW

E N G L A N D ,

April

DATES TO REMEMBER
April 1 & 2
G C S A A Computer Seminar
Bluewater Resort, Bass River, Mass.

April 17 (Regular

Meeting)

Qualification Round
Guy Tedesco Scholarship Tournament
Oyster Harbor Club, Osterville, Mass.

April 12
News Deadline for May Newsletter

May 6
G C S A N E Regular Meeting-Wollaston G.C.

June 12
News Deadline for July Newsletter

June 14
Guy Tedesco Scholarship Tournament
Country Club of New Seabury

June 24
G C S A N E Manager-Superintendent Tournament
Rhode Island C.C.-Barrington, R.I.

— Going from Med to Black
at Green H i l l Do the colors have you confused?
That's right. They've gone from red to
black which might turn some golf clubs
green with envy when we're talking
profit and loss and the color of the ink
that flows through the annual financial
report.
The magic is happening at the Green
Hill Golf Club, a municipal layout in
Worcester which was a drain on the
taxpayer until Tom Taylor came along
to ease the burden.
Taylor is the parks and recreation
commissioner for the City of Worcester
which means Green Hill is just one of
the many projects he oversees.
However, he really put his teeth into an
acute problem at the course and came
down hard on the overall cost of
operating it.
Green Hill floundered in red ink
under the old system. Taylor notes that
the color was deep crimson back in 1976
when the final figures showed a loss of
$100,000.

den

ti

s^AAociation
I N C .

-1985

"Contrast that to 1983", Taylor
offered. "That's the year we came out
from under. Our revenue totaled
$176,000 (almost unheard of) and guess
what? We reported a profit of $7,600".
Now, that is magic. Right, Tom?
"Nope", Taylor replied. "It's just
plain common sense. What we did was
to streamline the operation at Green
Hill. This meant making many changes
and, more important, bringing everything up to date with the rest of the
world".
One c h a n g e c o n c e r n s c o u r s e
maintenance. Taylor decided to put that
vital phase out to bid and it's worked
like a charm for the last seven years. The
contractor is Arello, Inc. - a landscape
c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p a n y with a
reputation for delivering top service.
"It's a natural tieup for us", Taylor
explained. "The company owner, Bob
Arello, has a background in agronomy.
And he provides us with a nine-man
crew - plus Jeff Maddison who's the
day-to-day golf course superintendent.
Of course, I drop in every now and then
to check out the way things are being
handled".
Taylor, in fact, has two aces-in-thehole when it comes to golf course
maintenance knowledge. He has two
brothers-in-law who are well known
and respected superintendents in
Westchester County. And he admits he
enlists their expertese.
"I'd be a fool not to," Tom flapped.
T h e s a v i n g s in l e t t i n g o u t
maintenance to bid is not as great as in
other areas of operation. However, it
relieves the city of responsibility for
providing the perks that go with
employment in a municipality.
"Actually, I went after an overflow of
deficit spending in other areas," Taylor
informed. "One place was the pro shop.
We used to pay the pro a salary and
percentage of sales in the pro shop.
Now, we've eliminated the salary. And
it's still considered a pretty good job in
the field."

Taylor really tightened the purse
strings in green and membership fees.
When he arrived, daily : fees were
ridiculous - three dollars a round. He
jumped that to $6.50 for weekdays and
$8.50 weekends.
"The membership payment setup was
way out of line too," Tom reported.
"Back in the red ink days, it was a flat
hundred bucks for a single. Now, we've
brought it up to $365 with a special rate
for retirees and the handicapped. That's
reasonable. Regardless, we have around
200 members."
Green Hill has its holes tested by
some 64,000 rounds per year, a nice
number and one that's increasing.
"We've gone from seven or eight golf
leagues to 21," Taylor disclosed. "It's
just a carryover from an incentive
system we've worked into the overall
operation. Naturally, the more different
faces, the more chance the pro has to sell
his goods."
Taylor has another revenue-banger
he's rigged.
"Our membership season covers from
April 19 through Thanksgiving Day,"
he told. "Any other playing days, and
we open as early and close as late as the
elements allow, are subject to daily
green fees. Don't think that doesn't
inflate course income."
The amazing part of Taylor's fight to
turn Green Hill's ink from red to black
is found in the continued popularity of
the course.
"I get few complaints," T o m
remarked. "So, we must be doing
something right. Whatever, it's nice to
see and experience the turnaround."
And it's nice to see Worcester
taxpayers smiling again when they go
past Green Hill - thanks to Tom Taylor.
— GERRY FINN
TO DA Y'S
CHUCKLE
Love is like a mushroom.
You're
never sure whether it's the real thing
until it's too late.

•

ourse

Superintendents

Slssocia

— GCSAA NEWS —

Sponsors and administrators of the TrollDickinson Scholarship Fund - Awarded yearly
to deserving Turf Management Students.

President's
Message
Donald Hearn

This is the first opportunity I've had ?
to scribe a few words about GCSAA's
record-setting Conference and Show.
Almost 9,000 people attended and took
part in a truly one of a kind international event.
People from the United States,
Canada and twenty foreign countries
had the opportunity to view equipment which was spread over 4 a c r e s of
f l o o r space at the W a s h i n g t o n
Convention Center.
The educational program consisted
of 330 hours of presentations by superintendents, architects, researchers, golf
administrators and members of the
allied associations. Much more of what
took place is covered elsewhere in this
issue.
A personal highlight was my reelection to the GCSAA Executive Committee. Although my bid for Vice
President was unsuccessful I was
honored to be re-elected as a Director
and appointed Secretary/Treasurer by
President Gene Baston. I thank the
Directors of the Weston Golf Club for
being supportive of my efforts and
allowing me the time to spend on behalf
of the six thousand members of the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of
America. My thanks and appreciation
also go to the members of the GCSA of
New England for their support and
help.
PRESIDENT
Donald E Hearn, CGCS
4 Topeka Rd.
Chetmiford. M A 0 1 8 2 4
Home Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 894 5906
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Weaton Golf Club

FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
David Barbee, CGCS
145 Oedham St.
Canton, M A 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue Hill C.C.

Eugene
D. B a s t o n ,
CGCS,
B i r m i n g h a m , A l a . , was e l e c t e d
president of the 6,500-member Golf
C o u r s e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t s Association of America (GCSAA) during the
Association's
Annual
Membership
Meeting, Feb. 12, 1985. He succeeds
J a m e s . W. T i m m e r m a n , C G C S ,
Bloomfield, Mich.
Riley L. Stottern, CGCS, golf course
superintendent for the Jeremy Ranch
Golf Club, Park City, Utah, was elected
vice president.
Elected to t-he Executive Committee
as directors were Dennis D. Lyon,
CGCS, property manager for the City
of Aurora, Colo., Parks, Recreation
and Public Properties Department and
John A. Seguí, CGCS, superintendent
of Waynesborough Country Club,
Paoli, Pa.
Re-elected for a second term as a
director was Donald E. Hearn, CGCS.
Hearn will also serve as the Association's secretary/treasurer.
Gerald L. Faubel, CGCS, superintendent of golf course and grounds for
Saginaw Country Club, Mich., was
appointed a director to fill the
unexpired term of Riley Stottern.
Continuing to serve as directors are
J o h n E. Laake, CGCS, and James M.
Taylor, CGCS.
The elections and
Annual
M e m b e r s h i p M e e t i n g were held
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 1985, in conjunction
with the 56th Annual International Golf
Course Conference and Show in
Washington, D.C., sponsored
by
GCSAA. Some 9,000 persons from
around the world
attended.
G C S A A ' s p r e s i d e n t a n d vice
p r e s i d e n t serve o n e - y e a r terms;
directors serve two-year terms; and the
immediate past president remains on
the Executive Committee for a year.
Statistics f r o m the recently
completed 56th Annual International
Golf Course Conference and Show in
Washington D.C., sponsored by the
The GCSA of New England's
hospitality suite was ably run by Pete
Coste, Brian Cowan and Neil Loomis.
The time each spent in the suite was
truly appreciated by all who visited with
us.

SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Pietre Coite. CGCS
121 Granite St.
Medfield. M A 02052
Home Phone 359-7247

SECRETARY
Richard C Zepp, CGCS
27 Fowler Rd.
Northbridge, M A 01534
Home Phone 234-8490
Office Phone 234-2533
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Whitinsvilte Golf Club

TREASURER
T h o m a i Schofield. CGCS
290 N o r t h Rd.
Sudbury. M A 01 776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-2487
C l u b Affiliation
Wellesfey C.C

ti on
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), tell the
s t o r y of a n o t h e r
record-setting
Conference.
Registration totaled nearly 9,000,
breaking last year's Las Vegas record;
the Trade Show was 25 percent larger
than last year's Las Vegas record, with
almost 300 companies exhibiting their
wares; 20 nations from around the
globe were represented; 330 hours of
instruction were offered by more than
110 of the most prominent golf course
supérintendents, educators, researchers
and business representatives; former
U.S. President Gerald R. Ford accepted
the prestigious Old Tom Morris Award
at the closing Banquet; a new, exciting
and u n i q u e M i d - Y e a r T u r f g r a s s
Conference and Show to be sponsored
by GCSAA September 19-24 at the
Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis was
announced; and a grant of S 10,000 was
made by GCSAA to Dr. William "A.
T o r e l l o of t h e U n i v e r s i t y of
Massachusetts to continue research
using tissue culture techniques in an
effort to develop more tolerant turfgrasses requiring less resources, such as
water, to survive.
The educational sessions were the
most successful to date. By the end of
the 10-day Conference, some 1,000
registrants had received instruction and
more than 100 member golf course
superintendents had taken the GCSAA
certification examination.

" D o ! ever complain about your
score cards?"

TRUSTEE
Paul Miller
173 Salem St.
Swampicott. MA 01907
Home Phone 581 2808
Office P h o n e 5 9 5 - 3 1 0 7
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Tedesco CO-

TRUSTEE
Stephen A Chiavaroli. CGCS
100 A i r p o r t Dr
Worceiter. M A 0 1 6 0 2
Home Phone 752-0031
Office Phone 791 5373
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Tatnuck C.C

TRUSTEE
Mark J. K h m m
P O Boa 480
Mathpee. M A 02649
Home Phone 477-3516
Office Phone 477 0919
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
C.C. of New Seabury

Golf Course Superintendents
OF NEW

ENGLAND.

A ssociation
INC.

The Super Speaks Out—

Newsletter - April 1985

way you're treated, so in certain cases,
I'd have to say it's necessary."
Charlie Gardner, Oyster Harbor Golf
Club: "This is kind of funny to ask me
about the contract concept, because I'm
an example of it working in reverse.
Originally, I had a contract here. But as
things developed around my club, we
just forgot about it and depended on a
handshake arrangement.
"But this is only a personal outlook,
based on my own experiences. I can
understand where some superintendents would want a contract. I've seen
some guys burned because they didn't
have one. And, if I had it to do all over
again, I think I'd go in with a longterm, written agreement in mind. In the
end, it all boils" down" to the relationship with your members and chairmen.
That contributes. Regardless, I feel
there's a place in the profession for job
security through a contract."
- G E R R Y FINN

( Welcome to The Super Speaks Out a new monthly feature which offers the
golf course superintendent a forum to
express his views on issues and topics
relating to his profession.)
This month's question: "Do you
think the golf course superintendent
should be entitled to job security
through a multi-year, guaranteed
contract?"
Bert Frederick, Vesper Country
Club: "I've never had a contract, so I
don't know how binding and effective it
would be. I've never needed one here,
either, but I can understand that some
superintendents might need one. In this
day and age, contracts are popular and
have gotten a lot of attention. One
thing's for sure, if I ever changed jobs,
I'd want one and it would have to be for
at least three years".
Paul Johnson, Tara-Ferncroft
Country Club: "I've always felt
protected by the verbal agreement
between me and the club. And it's
worked, if 15 years on the job mean
anything. Of course, my situation is
different from most of the other supers
in the area because I have no green
chairman to answer to. I've always
worked for the general manager of the
club (and hotel) and the arrangement's
been satisfactory.
"However, I like the concept of a
contract - especially in the case of new
employers, change of j o b s and
situations like those. I think the superintendent gains credibility through his
exposure and I've gotten much of mine
through involvement in the New
England Association. What the
contract issue all comes down to is the

February Meeting Notes
Our thanks to Pat Vittum for her
insect up-date and information on the
Jap Beetle grub study, insecticide
screening and nematode survey . . .
congratulations to Bernie Golonka of
Pine Meadows for being voted in as a
regular member . . . again Gary Lucini
and Franklin C.C. were accommodating as ever for our meeting.
Thanks!!! . . . see everyone at Oyster
Harbors on the 17th . . .

BODY LANGUAGE
Keep your shoulder to the wheel
Your hand on the helm
Your eye on the ball
Your nose to the grindstone
Your ear to the ground . . .
And you won't have time to
Put your foot in your mouth.

"This is the rough I was telling you about."
FRED BASSETT

IF YOU WERE A PCo WORTH YOUR SALT YOU'D BE
ABLE TO FIND A COIF BALL IN THE SOUGH.»
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WASHINGTON

OF
Northeast Golf Superintendents
Autumn Classic
Two-man, best ball, 36 hole
championship - Sept. 30 and Oct. 1st The Quechee Club, Quechee, Vermont.
This tournament is open to any
member of the GCSAA with a current
official handicap card.
The field for this event is limited at
144 players at $95.00 per person which
includes a cocktail party and dinner on
Monday, and an awards luncheon on
Tuesday.
Lodging is available at the Sheraton
North Country Inn on a first come, first
serve basis. The Inn is only a 10-15
minute ride from the Quechee Club.
For more i n f o r m a t i o n
or
reservations, call:
Mark Fuller, GCS
The Quechee Club
Work Phone 802-295-2964
Home Phone 802-295-1458
Editors Note: I spoke with Mark at the
Mass. Turf Conference and he says
the field is filling VER Y quickly - act
ASAP if you're interested.

Approach

N E W

E N G L A N D ,

to the 9th Green at Oyster Harbors

INC.'

Club

— Chip Shots—
. . . Neil Loomis (former super at
South Shore C.C.) has assumed the
same responsibility at Saddle Hill C.C.
in Hopkington . . . a super representation from the GCSANE membership
in D.D., we could only fit a few on the
insert page . . . if Neil L. ever changes his
occupation to mixologist remind me to
let someone else drive home . . .
speaking of our guys, what a showing at
this years GCSAA Golf Tournament;
Doug Johnson grabbed 1 st Net in 11 -16
Handicap Division; Paul Miller walked
away with 6th Net in the 6-10 Handicap
Division; and in the Chapter Team
Contest the New England group of Paul
Miller, Doug Johnson, Steve Murphy
and Dave Barber took home the 3rd Net
prize (D.J. can't wait to show the trophy
off!).. . There is also a dispute over high
team score; seems as though our Pres
has grabbed the honor but wants a
closer look at Tony DeBettencourts'
score card, come on Steve, give our
leader some heart next time the
handicaps are figured . . . This years
Tournament was held at the Palmetto
Dunes Resort in Hilton Head, South
Carolina.
F IN ANCE
CHAIRMAN
John Straeten CGCS
86 Fashion Or
Warwick, RI 0 2 8 8 6
Home Phone 14011 738 8 3 8 6
Office Phone ' 4 0 1 ! 3 4 3 0 0 5 9
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The Alpine C C.

April 17 GCSANE Meeting - Oyster Harbors Club
Osterville, Mass.
10:00
11:00
12:00
1:00

AM Directors Meeting
AM Regular Meeting
Noon - Lunch (Sandwiches, Soft Drinks & Beer)
Tee Off
Carts are available at $8.00/Bag
RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST!
and can be made by calling Charlie at 617-428-8106
No reservation — No pass guard!!!

Superintendent Profile: Charles Gardner CGCS
Charlie has been the Superintendent at Oyster Harbors Club for the past 20
years, and in fact started his career in the field as Asst. Superintendent here in the
late 50's. During the years between these two positions he served as construction
superintendent at Blue Rock G.C. in Yarmouthport. He was one of New England's
earliest certified superintendents and was the 1st President of the Cape Cod Turf
Managers Association. Charlie currently resides with his wife Mary Anne and two
of their four children in Centerville.
Directions to Club: Rte. 6 to Exit 5. CAREFULLY follow signs to Osterville.
About % mile after crossing Rte. 28, take left at "T" intersection. At the flagpole
triangle in Osterville bear right onto Parker Rd. At first intersection take right on
West Bay Rd. Take left on Bridge St. and follow over draw bridge to end of road.
After reporting to guard follow Grand Isle Drive to Club.

EDUCA TIONAL
CHAIRMAN
Edward L Beearley
279 Torrey St.
Brockton, M A 0 2 4 0 1
Home Phone 584-6568
Office P h o n e 5 8 8 - 8 4 3 9
Cfub Affiliation
Larry Gannon Municipal G C. B r o c k t o n C.C.

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
Stephen M M u r p h y
4 Juniper Rd
Lvnnfield, M A 0 1 9 4 0
Home Phone 334-4836
Office Phone 5 9 2 1433
Club A f f i l i a t i o n

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
M i c h a e l F. N a g i e
51 L i n c o l n Ave.
Holden. M A 0 1 5 2 0
Home Phone 829-3995
Office Phone 853-6574
C l u b Affiliation
W o r c e s t e r C.C.

PAST
PRESIDENT
Brian Cowan, CGCS
Robins Way
Harwich. M A 0 2 6 4 5
Home Phone 432-9041
Office Phone 9 4 5 - 9 2 3 0
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Eastward Ho

Information contained in this publication may be
used freely, in whole or in pari, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. We
would appreciate a credit line.

P i e t u x c f x U i & H i j e FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Bacher Corp.
876 Boston Rd.
Billerica, Mass. 01866
Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Harley Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, Mass.
Yamaha Golf Cars
*8ordens Spreader Service
Maynard, Mass.
Tel. 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
•Bulk Limestone Dealer
C & J Lawnmower Serv., Inc.
474 Main Street
Wilmington, Mass. 01887
Eric Oman-Sales Rep.
Tel. 617-658-2022
The Clapper Co.
1121 Washington St.
Newton. Mass.
617-244-7929
*Geoffrey S. Cornish â Brian Silva
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, Mass. 01002
Country Club Enterprises
Club Car Golf Cars
Tennis & Leisure Equip.
P.O. Box 400 W. Falmouth, Mass. 02574
617-563-2284
C.S. Curran
T.R.C. Products Oils & Greases
7 Linden S t
Framingham, Mass.
Chester Drake S Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St.
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Golf Course Construction
617-875-7929
Elanco Prod. Co.
Scott Eicher
12 Jillson Circle
Miltord, Mass. 01757

Hottiston Sand Co. Inc.
Lowland St.
Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand For Topdressing & Bunkers
I & E Supply, Inc.
Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28)
W. Wareham, MA 02576
(617) 295-2362
*Tom Irwin, Inc.
I I B A St., Burlington, Mass.
Jack Peterson
Dennis Friel
Wayne Ripley
Larchmont Eng. S Irrig. Co.
Larchmont Lane
Lexington, Mass. 02173
617-862-2550
Lesco, Inc.
20005 Lake Rd.
Rocky River, OH 44116
Ron Tumiski, Rep.
Mike Donahue, Rep.
* Loft's Seed
20 Beck Rd.
Arlington, Mass. 02174
Jim Sullivan, Rep.
David Loker
9 Crestview Drive
Millis; Mass. 02054
Uaccaferri Gabions, Inc.
Governor Lane Blvd.
Williamspori, Maryland 21795
Attn: A.D. Crowhurst

NEWSLETTER
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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

The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Weathersfield, Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.

THE

MICHAEL E. HANNIGAN
Editor
MICHAEL F. NAGLE
Newsletter Chairman
Associate Editor
T H O M A S SCHOFIELD CGCS

The Magovern Co., Inc.
27 Lawnacre Rd.
Windsor Locks, Conn. 06096
Tel. 1-800-243-7718 or
1-203-623-2508

Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H.
603-783-4717
Lexington, Mass.
617-861-1111

Mobay Chemical Co.
Gregory Pagano
50 Coburn Woods
Nashua, N.H. 03063
R.F. Morse & Sons Inc.
W. Wareham, Mass. 02576
Tel. 617-295-1553
J. Wilien Roell, Rep.
*Nardone Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd.
Westford. Mass. 01886
617-692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing
Sand

+

New England Sealcoaling Co., Inc.
Tenhis Court Const. & M a i n t
Sealcoating Hingham Inc. Center
Hingham, Mass. 749-6800
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers-SeedsTurf-Chemicals
66 Valley St.
E. Providence, R.I. 02914
Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledg® Rd.
Natick, Mass. 01760

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-347-3698
Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upiohn Co
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester Rep
203-828-3790
Tuckahoe Turl Farms. Inc.
Siocum, R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
Suffield, Conn.
1-800-556-6985
Largest Producer rif Penncross
In New England.
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell
* Turl Products Corp.
36 Sword St.
Auburn, Mass. 01501
617-791-2091
*Turl Specialty. Inc.
84 Merrimac St.
Hooksett. N.H. 03106
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner
617-263-7526
White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Drive
Winchendon, Mass. 01475
617-297-094
Phillip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
31 Budleigh Ave.
Beverly, Mass.

*Sawtell@ Bros
565 Humphrey St.
Swampscott Mass. 01907
617-599-4856
Scoff Associates, Inc.
80 Water SL, Clinton, Mass.
617-365-6341
Pumps-Sales, Service
Installation-Vertical
Turbine Pumps Specialists

Return to:
MICHAEL E. HANNIGAN
25 Thaxter Ave.
Abington, Mass. 02351

FIRST CLASS

*Contributors
to the
Scholarship
Fund

Troll-Dickinson

First Class
U. S. Postage

PAID
Abington, MA
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