NEWSLETTER

THE

Ç$otf dourôe Superintendent Sôôociation
OF

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

INC.

DA TES TO REMEMBER
February 5-13

International Golf Course Conference & Show
Washington, D C'.

February 15

News Deadling for March "Newsletter"

February 19

G C S A N E Meeting, Franklin C.C. Franklin, MA
Pesticide/Certification Updates-Pat Vittum

March 2

Massachusetts Golf Association
Annual Spring Conference
The Marriott, Newton. Mass.

March 5-7

Massachusetts Turfgrass Conference and Show
Springfield Civic Center. Springfield, MA

March 15

News Deadline for April Newsletter

March 20-21

Maine Turf Conference, Portland, ME.
No regular meeting of G C S A N E in March

April 1 & 2

G C S A A Computer Seminar
Bluewater Resort, Bass River, Mass.

April 15

Qualification RoundGuy Tedesco Scholarship Tournament
Oyster Harbor Club, Osterville. Mass.

Condolences are extended to the
family of Bill Caputi (Hampshire C.C.,
Mamaroneck,
N. Y.) who recently
passed away.

Apparatus invented by Ellis to cover his greens includes 4'x8'
bucket and plow with brush attached to bottom... #4 green in background
covered with salt marsh hay and pine needles.

Pine Needle Covering of Greens
At Lexington Golf Club

! decided to try covering two of my problem greens during the winter of 1978. These areas
had a history of winter damage, and I felt that I had nothing to lose. The 4th green (2,800 sq. ft.) had
always suffered because of sleds, skiers, and ice. The 9th green (4,000 sq. ft.) had always experienced
severe desiccation during the winter. Lexington Golf Club is a nine hole course.
1 try to stop cutting the greens that are to be covered around the end of October, so that the
turf will reach 'A" to 'A" in length. I topdress with 'A" of sand. This helps to protect them from play,
diseases and ice accumulation around the crowns under the needles.
Fungicide treatments start in mid-0ctoberwith26019 @ 3 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft. (or Bayleton
@ 1 oz. per 1,000 sq. ft.) and T e r e m e c S P @ 6 o z . per 1,000 sq. ft. This application is repeated in midNovember. Just before covering greens I apply Calo-Gran @ 6 lb. per 1,000 sq. ft.
Insecticide treatment includes granular Dursban (Scott's Insecticide 111) @ 3 lb. per 1,000
sq. ft. to help protect turf from Hyperodes Weevils that are found in the pine needles.
it takes approximately one day to cover two greens (two men). Use of the bucket and leaf
plow (see photo) make the j o b of accumulating enough needles possible. The P T O blower forms piles
of needles, and the plow pushes them into the bucket.
In early December the accumulated pine needles are applied to the greens at 3"-4" thick. It
is difficult to get an even cover when using less than 3". Not covering the greens too soon, but
covering them before the first snowfall, is very difficult. The needles can, however, be applied if the
snow melts and it's before January 1st.
1 prefer to use pine needles instead of salt marsh hay for several reasons. The needles are
easier to work with, they do not freeze to the turf as easily, and they're free. The only problem I have
found with pine needles is that some years there is not a sufficient quantity to cover the number of
greens.
Removal of the needles is the most critical part of the operation. After the first week in
April, if fairways and aprons are greening up, it is probably safe to uncover the greens. If fairways
and aprons are still brown, it becomes necessary to check under needles daily on each green. If turf
blades become chlorotic, thinning of the needles is required. They should be thinned out so that the
turf is visible, but thick enough to insulate against nightime temperatures.
Approximately one week after needles are removed, turf will show a gradual decline in
color and density. Within a few more days, however, the turf will resemble the greens that remained
uncovered.
I consider the covering of greens to be very beneficial. Over the past seven years. 1 have
increased the number of greens to be covered to five.
Orrin Ellis. Supt.
Lexington Golf Club

Çoff Courâe Superintendents Slôâociation
From the Editor:

Sponsors

and

administrators

of

the

Troll-

D i c k i n s o n S c h o l a r s h i p F u n d - A w a r d e d yearly
to d e s e r v i n g Turf M a n a g e m e n t Students.

President's
Message

A very sincere THANK YOU to Orrin Ellis from Ed's Mike & Mike for
taking the time and effort to help set the course for our first at the helm of "The
Newsletter".
It sure would be nice to have each issue headlined with an article written
by one of our own GCSANE members. Certainly there are those among us who
owe some part of their professional success to the written word, such as in Orrin's
case, a well documented report on a maintenance project; long range planning
reports; or closer to home, successfully written budget presentations.
The Newsletter does offer an opportunity to get constructively involved in
our organization by sharing your ideas, and we the editors do encourage your
participation.
Mike Nagle and I are really excited about the 1985 Newsletter. Along with
the continued editorial guidance and contributions of Gerry Finn, we plan an
expanded Divot Drift column, a monthly President's Message (yes, he did agree
with only a lightly applied half nelson). Dates to Remember: GCSAA Monthly
updates; and hopefully letters from our fans. Best of luck to everyone this season!

Donald Hearn

"Come Out of That Closet"

With 1984 behind us now is the time to be
thinking of what you will be doing better or more
efficiently in 1985. In other words, now is the time
to reflect on your successes or failures of the past
year.
1 have the feeling that 1984 was overall a good
year for most. The early part of August was a
"crusher", but otherwise courses were in excellent
condition.
1984 was also an excellent year for our
Association. A successful GCSAA regional
seminar on Golf Course Design Principles was
held in Natick.
P u b l i c a t i o n of a r t i c l e s f r o m o u r
N E W S L E T T E R are now appearing in U.S.
G O L F NEWS. Plans are underway to have
superintendent profiles appear in future issues. A
very gracious "thank you" has been extended to
publisher Roy Livingstone for showing interest in
the golf course superintendent and what he is all
about.
We have worked closely with the other
members of the Massachusetts Golf Association
Executive Committee, Executive Director Dick
Haskell and Tournament Director Dick Crosby
to again put together the Green Section portion of
their upcoming Annual Spring Conference. This
year's conference will be held March 2nd at the
Newton Marriott. Program speakers will include
Brian Silva and James Prusa. Brian is considered
one of the country's most knowledgeable experts
on the life and work of Donald Ross. He is an
associate of Geoffrey Cornish and his topic will be
"What Isn't New In Golf'. Jim Prusa, Director of
Education and Associate Executive Director of
the Golf Course Superintendents Association of
America will be speaking about the new
generation of superintendent managing today's
courses. He has been the main thrust behind the
PResioenT
D o n a l d E Hearn. CGCS
4 T o p e k a Rd.
Chelmsford. M A 0 1 8 2 4
H o m e Phone 2 5 6 - 8 7 0 9
O f f i c e Phone 8 9 4 - 5 9 0 6
Club Affiliation
Weston G o l f C l u b

FIRST VICF
PReSIDCNT
D a v i d Barber. CGCS
1 4 5 D e d h a m St.
Canton. M A 02021
H o m e Phone 8 2 8 - 7 2 6 6
O f f i c e Phone 8 2 8 6 5 4 0
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue H i l l C.C.

As you can see from the changes on
the pages before you, this is another
place - another time in the so-called
trials and tribulations of the NEGCSA
Newsletter.
From time to time, from this space
will emerge what the slicks in the
business call, "a commentary". It is one
man's opinion about a myriad of topics
which touch the every day working life
of the golf course superintendent and
perhaps those in his immediate
environs.
Formats (for everything) come and
go; they even go full cycle and have a
way of reappearing to make the
informational world go 'round.
Presently, we are on a chit-chat kicka return to newsy type of writing,
intended to inform and, on occasion,
entertain. So, if your wife gave birth to
quintuplets or your son won the
Heisman Trophy in recent times, we'd
like to hear about it.

educational programs developed by our National
Association. I'm sure all superintendents and club
officials will find these gentlemen informative and
their subjects very interesting.
The Massachusetts Golf Association will also
be making a presentation to the superintendents
who hosted their Open and Amateur
Championships during 1984.
Mark your calendar for March 2nd. It
promises to be one of the best MGA conferences
ever.

secoND
vice
PResioeNT
Pierre Coste. C G C S
121 G r a n i t e St.
Medfield. M A 02052
H o m e Phone 3 5 9 - 7 2 4 7
Office Phone 566-0240
Club Affiliation
The Country Club

SeCRCTARY
R i c h a r d C Z a p p . CGCS
27 F o w l e r Rd.
Northbridge. M A 01534
Home Phone 234-8490
Office Phone 234-2533
Club Affiliation
Whitinsville Golf Club

TRFASUReR
Thomas Schofield. CGCS
290 N o r t h Rd.
Sudbury. M A 01 776
H o m e Phone 443-3712
O f f i c e Phone 2 3 5 - 7 3 3 3
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

A

However, there is more than a
'flippant approach in this first
commentary, because it is not enough
that a Newsletter just inform, enlighten
and entertain. If anything, it must be an
instrument of motivation and a source
of inquiry laid in the best interests of the
superintendent.
And this space probably is the best
spot from which inquiry and/or
rebuttal can be launched. In other
words, while most of the news presented
will be on a positive plane, some should
and will gather at the perimeter to probe
and provoke.
In the past, there have been
suggestions that the Newsletter presents
only one side of an issue - that of inpower association administration
thoughts and nothing else. We would
like to change that way of input,
anonymous if be, to this column.
Also, from time time, this writer will
be contacting each and every member of
the association in a personal-touch
gesture and a means of learning whether
or not some constructive ideas are lying
d o r m a n t f o r lack of s i m p l e
communication.
Actually, we could learn from one
another. There has to be some part of
the system that either appeals to you to
extract laudatory response or others

r us ree
Paul M i l l e r
173 Salem St.
Swampscott. M A 01907
Home Phone 581 -2808
O f f i c e Phone 7 9 1 - 5 3 7 3
Club Affiliation
Tedesco C.C.

—Closet continued on following page
trust
ee
Stephen A C h i a v a t o l i . C G C S
1 0 0 A i r p o r t Or
Worcester. M A 0 1 6 0 2
H o m e Phone 752 0 0 3 1
O f f i c e P h o n e 791 5 3 7 3
Club Affiliation
T a t n u c k C.C.

TRUSTee
M a r k J. K h m m
P O. B 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
O f f i c e 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 Seabury

OF

Pete's Opinions

Controversial golf-course architect
Pete Dye was as o u t s p o k e n as ever
recently d u r i n g a U S G A regional
conference at Plantation, Fla.

"By year 2,000 we are going to have
too much water,"Dye said. "The USGA
says we are going to have to find ways to
conserve water, but with the (increased)
use of effluent (waste) water on golf
courses, we're going to have to find
ways to get rid of it.
"Golf is in jeopardy because of the
high costs of construction and
maintenance. We are going to have to
get behind our superintendents and
change some of the thinking of the
golfers."
In other words, Dye indicated wallto-wall grooming of America's golf
courses may be out and more use of
waste and natural areas may become the
in thing, giving more new courses the
traditional Scottish look.
Dye cited the use of waste bunkers on
his renowned Casa deCampo course in
the Dominican Republic. "The sand is
hard, so you can walk on it and not
leave footprints. You can play out of
that sand and you can't lose a ball in it,
so it speeds up play, and it's less costly to
maintain. Grass is the most expensive
thing there is to maintain."
Dye noted the reintroduction of
centipede grass at the Tournament
Players Club at Sawgrass and the use of
buffalo grass on a course in Austin,
Texas, as examples of less costly
maintenance ploys as compared to bent
and bermuda grasses.
-"Larry Bush
Closet continued from preceding page—

that hit you as a source of irritation.
Whatever, maybe all of us can come
out of the communication closet in the
months and years ahead. And, perhaps,
we'll uncover subjects and personal ties
of interest and aid to all. In the
meantime, think about it - just what is it
that pleases or upsets you? It could be
anything. Wouldn't it be a Newsletterplus, if it came out of the closet?
Amen.
Gerry Finn

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
John Straalar, CGCS
86 F a s h i o n Or.
Warwick, RI 02886
H o m e P h o n e 14011 7 3 8 8 3 8 6
O f f i c e P h o n e '.401: 9 4 3 - 0 0 5 9
Club Affiliation
The A l p i n e C.C.

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
S t e p h e n M. M u r p h y
4 Jumper Rd.
Lvnnfield. M A 01940
H p m e Phone 3 3 4 - 4 8 3 6
O f f i c e P h o n e 5 9 2 1433
Club A f f i l i a t t o n

NEW

% WASHINGTON, D.C.
February 5-13, 1985

56th International G o i f Course
Conference & Show

The best is yet to come—GCS AA's 56th
International Golf Course Conference
& Show, February 5-13, 1985,
W a s h i n g t o n , D.C. The best
opportunity going for anyone involved
in golf course management. And,
combined with the educational
potential of Washington itself, it will be
in your best interest to attend.
For more information or if you know of
someone who should be on our mailing
list, please call:
1-800GSASUPT
Sponsored by the:

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS
ASSOCIATION OF A M E R I C A

1617 St. Andrews Drive
Lawrence. KS 66046

He was the pompous executive type
and made a big show of carrying a
heavy briefcase home every night.
One day a couple of junior members
of the organization slipped a telephone directory into his case, then
sealed the lock with tape.
About two weeks later the executive was heard screaming from his office, "Someone's swiped my telephone
directory!"
Which came first—the ant or the
picnic?
Position Opening
Golf Course Superintendent
North Andover C.C.
Contact:
Mr. David Hepworth
39 School St.
Andover, Mass. 01810

EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
E d w a r d L. Brearley
2 7 9 T o r r e y St.
Brockton. M A 02401
H o m e Phone 5 8 4 6 5 6 8
O f f i c e Phone 8 2 3 0 4 6 6
C
b 1.1
A f flilliila. lt.i uo in
U lUuU
L a r r y G a n n o n M u m c t p a ! G.C. Sagreggansett C.C

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Douglas W . J o h n s o n . C G C S
5 0 N e w t o n St
Weston. M A 0 2 1 9 3
Home Phone 894-7377
Office Phone 893-8264
Club Affiliation
Pine B r o o k C.C.

PAST
PRESIDENT
Brian Cowan. CGCS
R o b i n s Way
Harwich. M A 02645
H o m e Phone 4 3 2 - 9 0 4 1
O f f i c e Phone 9 4 5 - 9 2 3 0
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho

ENGLAND,

INC.

Chip Shots

Ed "Chip" Brearley is the new super
at Brockton C.C . . . Charlie Passios has
been retained as Golf Course
Superintendent by Cummaquid G.C. in
Yarmouth . . . Congratulations to Jim
O'Kelly for his p r o m o t i o n to
Superintendent at Brae Burn C.C. . . .
the Rhode Island GCSAA recently
elected the following to their B.O.D.,
President M a r k Richard, Vice
President-Jim Piquette, Secretary-Bob
Ainsworth, and Treasurer-Richard
Hopkins . . . Rich Caughey has moved
south to Hatherly C.C. as Assistant to
Ralph Roberts . . . GCSANE members
Don Hearn and Dave Barber were on
the program at the 1985 New
Hampshire Turf Conference . . . Pat
Flannery is the new super at Maynard
C.C. . . . a few of our members seen at
the New Jersey Turfgrass Expo this year
in Atlantic City include: Jack Pluta,
Westover C.C., Doug Stachura,
Springfield C.C., Mike Hannigan,
Brockton C.C., and Tony Caranci,
Ledgemont C.C. . . . if anyone has a
good, clear picture of the GCSANE
logo or emblem please contact your
Newsletter editor ASAP, our original
has been lost and the printer would like
one for our new stationary . .. our Golf
Chairman is under pressure from the
editor to supply a list of meeting dates
for 1985, if you would like to host our
motley group please call Steve and give
him available dates to get me off his
back . . . Paul Miller would like to thank
the Hogan Golf Company for the golf
bag, and Spaulding Golf Co. for the
new set of irons which were both raffled
off at the GCSANE Christmas Party
netting $400 for the Globe Santa . . .
our thanks again to Norm Mucciarone
and Woodland G.C. for hosting this
event, a job well done and very much
appreciated by those who attended.
00

Position Opening
Assistant Superintendent
Brae Burn C.C.
Contact:
Mr. James O'Kelly
c/o Brae Burn C.C.
326 Fuller St.
West Newton, Mass. 01265
Information contained in this publication may be
used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. We
would appreciate a credit line.

V U a a c ¿ ¿ U t O H v p 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
*Bordens 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 & 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
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-347-3696
C.S. Curran
T.R.C. Products Oils & Greases
7 Linden St.
Framlngham, Mass.
Chester Drake & Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St.
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Golf Course Construction
617-875-7929

Elanco Prod. Co.
Scott Eicher
12 Jillson Circle
Mllford, Mass. 01757
Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H.
603-783-4717
Lexington, Mass.
617-861-1111
The Charles C. Flart Seed Co.
Weathersfield, Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.
Holliston Sand Co. Inc.
Lowland St.
Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand For Topdressing & Bunkers
*Tom Irwin, Inc.
11 B A St., Burlington, Mass.
Jack Peterson
Dennis Friel
Wayne Ripley
Larchmont Eng. & Irrig. Co.
Larch mont Lane
Lexington, Mass. 02173
617-862-2550

*Loft's Seed
20 Beck Rd.
Arlington. Mass. 02174
Jim Sullivan, Rep.

MICHAEL E. HANNIGAN
Editor
MICHAEL F. NAGLE
Newsletter Chairman
Associate Editor
THOMAS SCHOFIELD CGCS
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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

Tuckahoe Turf Farms. Inc.
Siocum, R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
Suffield, Conn.
1-800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross
In New England.
Alan Anderson. Sam Mitchell

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. Willen Roell, Rep.
*Nardone Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd.
Westford, Mass. 01886
617-692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing
Sand
New England Seaicoating Co.. Inc.
Tennis Court Const. & Maint.
Seaicoating Hlngham Inc. Center
Hingham, Mass. 749-6800

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

Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledge Rd.
Natick, Mass. 01760
*Sawtelle Bros
565 Humphrey St.
Swampscott, Mass. 01907
617-599-4856

David Loker
9 Crestview Drive
Mlllis, Mass. 02054
Maccaferri Gabions, Inc.
Governor Lane Blvd.
Williamsport, Maryland 21795
Attn: A.D. Crowhurst

NEWSLETTER

Tuco Products Corp.
Div. of the Upjohn Co.
Kalamazoo, Mich.
David Sylvester Rep.
203-828-3790

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

*Lesco
Ron Tomiski
1220 Pleasant St.
Canton, Mass. 02021

THE

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

Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water St., Clinton, Mass.
617-365-6341
Pumps-Sales, Service
Installation-Vertical
Turbine Pumps Specialists

Return to:
M I C H A E L E. H A N N I G A N
25 T h a x t e r Ave.
Aldington, Mass. 0 2 3 5 1

*Contributors to the
Scholarship Fund

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