NEWSLETTER
Ç j o i ^

C^ouròe
OF

iperin
N E W

July
DATES

TO

REMEMBER
July 8

G C S A N E Regular Meeting
Dedham Golf & Polo Club. Dedham, Mass.
July 12
News Deadline for August Newsletter
July 18-21
L P G A , Boston Five Classic
Sheraton Tara H H & Rst., Danvers. Mass.
Paul J o h n s o n . Supt.
A ugust 5
G C S A N E Regular Meeting
Hickory Ridge C.C. Amherst, Mass.
Sept. 4
Joint Meeting G C S A N E / R1GCSA
Wannamoisett C.C. R u m f o r d . R.I.
Sept.

19-24

G C S A A Mid Year Conference & Show
Indianapolis. Indiana

— Chip Shots —
. . . Things are so busy all around that
no one has had the time to fill this
column this month - 1 need help, fellas!
Unless you want me to fill this space
with, "The successful outings of a
legitimate 28 handicapper" you had
better call me with your news (878-7203)
before the news deadline printed on the
first page each month . . . enclosed to all
regular and commercial members you
will find an Application for Membership; this is for you to give out to
prospective members . . .
•

a n

ATTENTION
TURFGRASS

STUDENTS!

Individuals interested in serving an
internship this summer in the
People's Republic of China contact:
James G. Prusa, CGCS
1-800/472-7878

ten

den

E N G L A N D ,

—

tó

~^lóóociatioi
I N C .

1985

Bob Grant Doubles His Pleasure and Success
You might say Bob Grant is down to earth - but he had to come down out of the
clouds to get there.
Grant, for the uninitiated in peer recognition, gets double exposure on that score.
He served the golf course superintendent's profession with distinction for the better
part of 30 years, then moved along the expansion highway to the position of general
manager.
The Brae Burn Country Club's where you'll find Bob nowadays. In fact, this is his
22nd year there and the relationship with members couldn't be finer. He's done it all
at Brae Burn and, needless to say, all's well there because of that input.
Naturally, everything was planned f r o m day one. Right, Bob?
"Are you kidding?" he corrects the assumption that golf, the course and club were
his vocational dreams from'the first moment he can remember hitting a pillow. "I
was an aviation mechanic, even had my license, until I found out it wasn't f o r me."
Actually, the N o r t h a m p t o n native, had a tough time deciding what road he'd
take after enrolling at Stockbridge School. His first thought was horticulture but
the classes were full. So, he sort of drifted to turf but still with the idea of parks and
beautification stuck in the back of his mind.
"But that was before Lawrence Dickinson and Geoff Cornish (teachers) got their
golf holds on me," Bob recalls. "They convinced me that the only place for me was
the golf course and career was born."
Grant took to the profession like Larry Bird took to basketball. He had
placement training at Indian Hill, pulled his first superintendent turn at Bellows
Falls, hopped off for stints in New Jersey, the old International layout in Bolton
and Woodbridge before accepting a call to succeed Arthur Anderson at Brae Burn.
Of course, all the while Bob's talents were approaching full bloom. So, by the
time he got to Brae Burn, he had the tools to keep what he calls following Anderson,
"a good thing going."
Peer recognition accompanied him up the ladder, too. Grant was active in the
professional ranks and served two organizations as president - the New England
Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Massachusetts Turf Association.
Therefore, there Bob was - sitting in life's cat bird's seat, almost turned into a
throne - just as happy as happy can be with wife, Gladys, and children - Doug, Rick
and Linda - making things all the sweeter at the top of his profession.
Bingo! Then, it happened. The 40-year manager of Brae Burn retired,
replacements came and went and there was Bob - resting on his laurels until Brae
Burn's board members leaned on his expertise in handling people and potential for
running the whole show.
"At first, becoming manager was supposed to be temporary," Bob recalls. "Only
until things got squared away. And I sweated it out. However, the board members
were a big help.
"The club was going through a bad time, but everyone had patience and faith in
the future. Eventually, things did get squared away. But, instead of me going back
to the maintenance building they pushed up my title to 'general m a n a g e r . And that
was that."
Since then, though, the club has hired a food and beverage manager and elevated
Bob's capable assistant - Jim O'Kelly - to head superintendent. Everyone's
responsible to Grant. He oversees everything and, f r o m all reports, things are
looking good at Brae Burn.
Bob's world and relationship with members is a little different in his new
— Bob Grant-con 7. on page 3

ourâe

S upe
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-Àóó

ocia tion •

—The Super Speaks Out—

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.

- NEXT MEETING July 8, 1985 GCSANE-Dedham Golf
and Polo Club
10:00
11:00
12:00
1:00

A.M.
A.M.
Noon
P.M.

Directors Meeting
Regular Meeting
Buffet Lunch
Golf ShotgunBlind Draw
(Carts available @ s 20 0 0 )
Superintendent Profile:
Host Bob Mucciaroni has been the
superintendent of D e d h a m for the past
25 years.
After his graduation f r o m the
Stockbridge School of Agriculture (UMass) in 1948, Bob started his career at
the Chequesett Club in Wellfleet, Mass.
Spending 5 yrs. as Supt. at the
Merrimac Valley Club in Methuen,
then 5 years at Wayland C.C. he moved
to his present position at Dedham.
He is a longtime member of b o t h the
G C S A N E and G C S A A . Bob resides in
Westwood with his wife Pauline and
one of his three children. JSon Bob, Jr. is
t h e A s s i s t a n t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t at
D e d h a m Golf and Polo Club.
• • •

PRESIDENT
Donald 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 Club

FIRST

VICE

PRESIDENT

David Barber. CGCS
145 D e d h a m St.
Canton. M A 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 8 2 8 - 6 5 4 0
Club Affiliation
B l u e H i l l C.C.

eight or nine months.
" M y one fallout is getting local kids
for the summer months. In fact, I've had
an ad in the local paper for a month for
somebody to work a few months. 1
haven't had one reply and I'm willing to
pay between five dollars and five-fifty
an hour.
"I can't understand that. Some kids
just don't want to work anymore. So, 1
may have to import my summer help.
It's too bad but that's the way it is. It
really boggles my mind. Five-fifty an
hour and no takers. I guess this
(Belmont)
is a rich neighborhood, all
Joe Mybka, Thorny Lea Golf Club: "I
= guess I'm one of the lucky ones because —right."
I don't have much trouble getting and
keeping good seasonal help. It can't be
John Sperandio, NEGCSA Lifetime
that I'm such a good guy to work for Member and former superintendent at
because I have trouble working for Spring Valley Country Club: "When
myself.
you're at one place for a long time, like I
"Seriously, I've been at Thorny Lea was, you develop a pattern for hiring
for 19 years and I know how hard it is to help. I think every superintendent does
have to lay off somebody who has to that but I went beyond it.
eat. W h a t I've done is to work out a
"Although, the problem always was
system where I hire four new people a getting people early (March) and having
year.
them stay late (November), I had a
"As I said, how I get them, I don't training system where I started out with
know. I pay a r o u n d S4.50 an hour high school kids and kept them all
which is about one dollar above the through college.
minimum wage. I don't bother with
"Sure, there were changes because of
students because my 'summer' help logistics. But it worked pretty well for
schedule runs f r o m March to October me. So, much of my help was holdover
or November - depending on the which made things much easier. Matter
weather.
of fact, by the time a kid was into his
"Then, I'm also able to offer some junior or senior year in college, I had
overtime. I also can manipulate labor him training the younger ones.
hours because I'm allowed extra work
"The pay scale ranged f r o m four to
time for golf cart and clubhouse six dollars an hour, depending on
jnaintenance. Whatever, so far, I can't experience. T h a t was another incentive
complain about the siutation. If it's for a kid to return.
luck, I want it to stay right where it is."
"As for the seasonal (nine or 10
month-workers), I had between four
Art Silva, Belmont Country Club: and six people who could swing staying
" M y situation is this: I employ five on the sidelines for a couple of months.
people full time and seven seasonal. As for overall peak help, at times we
Mostly, the labor force comes out pretty operated with a crew that ran u p to 14
good - only because those seven people.
seasonal workers usually are the same
"Therefore, a lot of my effort was
people f r o m the year before.
keeping the help rotation going. But I
"I suppose the toughest part of was fortunate. I've heard sad stories
getting good help is finding it early f r o m other supers and I can feel for
enough. This means March for me them. After all, this is not the most
which eliminates students, so I have to glamorous j o b in the world."
find the guy who's satisfied working
— GERRY FINN

(Welcome to The Super Speaks Out a monthly feature which offers the golf
course superintendent
a forum
to
express his views on topics and issues
relating to his profession.)
This month's question: With the
knowledge that the superintendent
often is saddled with the unenviable
task of hiring seasonal and summer
help, what steps do you take in that
direction and what are your thoughts on
the subjjLqt?

SECOND
VICE PRESIOENT
Pierre Coste. CGCS
1 2 1 G r a n i t e St.
Medfield, M A 02052
H o m e Phone 3 5 9 - 7 2 4 7

SECRETARY
Richard C Zepp. CGCS
27 F o w l e r Rd.
N o r t h b n d g e . M A 01 5 3 4
H o m e Phone 234-8490
Office Phone 234-2533
Club Affiliation
Whitmsville Golf Club

TREASURER
Thomas Schofield. CGCS
2 9 0 N o r t h Rd.
S u d b u r y . M A 01 7 7 6
H o m e Phone 4 4 3 - 3 7 1 2
Office Phone 235-2487
Club Affiliation
W e l l e s l e y C.C.

TRUSTEE
Paul M i l l e r
1 7 3 S a l e m St.
Swampscott. M A 01907
Home Phone 581 2808
Office Phone 595-3107
Club Affiliation
Tedesco-Ç.C

TRUSTEE
Stephen A Chiavaroli, CGCS
1 0 0 A i r p o r t Dr
Worcester. M A 0 1 6 0 2
H o m e Phone 752 0 0 3 1
O f f i c e Phone 791 5 3 7 3
Club Affiliation
T a t n u c k C.C

TRUSTEE
Mark J K l i m m
P.O. B o x 4 8 0
Mashpee. M A 0 2 6 4 9
Home Phone 477 3516
Office Phone 477 0 9 1 9
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
C.C. o f N o w S e a b u r y

O F

-

GOLF RESULTS

NEW

E N G L A N D ,

I N C .

-

GCSANE Superintendent—Green Chairman Tournament
June 3—Woodland C.C.
1st Gross (72) Gardner G.C. - Mike Hermanson-Mr. Owen
1st Net - Ledgemont C.C. - Tony Caranci-Mr. Mann
2nd Net - Manchester C.C. - Jim Diorio, C.G.C.S.-Mr. Dunn
3rd Net - Pine Brook C.C. - Doug Johnson C.G.C.S.-Mr. Weinberger
4th Net - Hopedale C.C. - Ken Mooridian-Mr. Luce
Commercial Division
Ist-Dennis Friel (Tom Irwin Co.) - Pete Coste C.G.C.S. (Free Agent)
2nd - John Lenhart - Mr. Hannigan (Team Sawtelle)
Many thanks to the membership, management, and staff of Woodland C.C. for a
great day and great course. Our special THANK YOU to Norm Mucciarone G.C.S.
for so graciously hosting this
tournament.

Playing Golf Is
Good Public Relations

Blessed is the man who is too busy to
worry in the day and too tired to lie
awake at night . . .
• • •

among your employees will encourage
them to learn.
Finally, playing golf yourself is a
most enjoyable way to conduct an
inspection of your course from a golfer's
perspective and note small changes that
could be made to improve your facility.
•
• •

Should a golf course superintendent play golf himself? Many golf
course owners and directors believe that
having a superintendent who doesn't
understand the game is something like
having a mechanic who doesn't drive The Trouble...
work on your car.
. . . with letting sleeping dogs lie is that
Seeing the course as the golfers do they're usually in the chair you want!
and good public relations are the
— Funny Funny
World
biggest advantages to playing golf for a
golf course superintendent. When it's Success isn't how far you got, but the
time to explain to an unhappy member distance that you traveled from where
who his favorite nine is closed or why an you started.
aerified green looks the way it does,
your credibility is much better if you can — Bob Grant con't. from page I
explain what you're doing and why in position.
golfer's terms. Don't give a player a
"For one thing, I come in contact with a lot more members now," he explains.
reason to walk away muttering, "But he "And I'm dedicated to giving them the complete package - my members and their
doesn't even play the game!".
guests. It's more challenging, all right, but it's rewarding - all the way around.
Playing golf with members also offers
"There's a lot more to it, though. But I believe there are many superintendents
you a way to let them get to know you. who could do the same thing. The training, handling budgets, really are
While playing, you can discuss the foundations for becoming a general manager. All that's needed after that is an
course's condition, answer questions understanding of people, human nature and dealing from a common sense
and tell them about your plans in a posture."
friendly, low-key manner.
Bob admits his heart still is in the course. "You know, being in the outdoors and
You may even want to suggest to your things like that," he adds. "But Gladys and I manage to play some golf now and it
employees that they learn to play golf, if suffices. She, in fact, has been a big plus for in the transition. She's the receptionist
they don't know how already. When at the club. She knows what the job entails. So, my situation couldn't be better."
emloyees understand the importance of
Grant does have one or two tips to throw out from his two worlds. "One has to do
the fine points of golf course house- with greens and the trend to make them faster," he tells. "I see danger signals there.
keeping, good bunker maintenance, for
"The other concerns the overall picture of country club life. It's on a roll now, the
example, the quality of their work is good times abound. But, we at Brae Burn hold to the rainy day tradition. We're
likely to improve.
tucking a little away for times that aren't so good."
It isn't important that they play well.
Bob Grant. He's lived in and reached the tops of both worlds. And, yet, he doesn't
Your club's pro may be willing to give a have his head in the clouds. Then, too, he's one of the gang. No wonder his story is
few group lessons and a friendly so easy to write.
handicap competition now and then
— GERRY FINN
FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
John Stre.ter, CGCS
86 Fashion Dr.
Warwick. Rl 0 2 8 8 6
H o m e Phone 140! I 738 8 3 8 6
O f f i c e Phone ! 4 0 ! ! 9 4 3 - 0 0 5 9
Club Affiliation
T h e A l p i n e C.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. M A 02401
Home Phon» 584-6568
Office Phone 588-8439
Club Affiliation
Larry G a n n o n M u n i c i p a l G.C. B r o c k t o n C.C.

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
Stephen M M u r p h y
4 Juniper R d
Lynnfreld. M A 0 1 9 4 0
Home Phone 334-4836
Office Phone 5 9 2 1433
Club Affiliation

NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN
M i c h a e l F. N a g l e
51 Lincoln Ave.
Holden, M A 01520
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 02645
H o m e Phone 432.-9041
Office Phone 9 4 5 - 9 2 3 0
Club Affiliation
Eastward Ho

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.

P U c u c
Agway,

Inc.

Greg Moore. Rep.
Box 507 Sterling, MA
Fertilizer, Seed, Chemicals
8OO-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614
Bacher Corp
876 Boston Rd,
Biilerica, 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 S t
Newton, Mass.
617-244-7929
'Geotlrey 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
817-563-2284

C.S. Cur ran
T.R.C. Products Oils S Greases
7 Linden S t
Framingham, Mass.
Chester Drake è Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut. St.
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Golf Course Construction
817-875-7929
Elanco Prod. Co.
Scott Eicher
12 Jilison Circle
Milford, Mass. 01757

ficUnnttje

FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Gold Star Sod Farms. Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H.
603-783-4717
Lexington, Mass.
617-861-1111
Greenway
Irrigation
Irrigation, Drainage. Wire Laying,
Trenching
Peabody, Mass.
617-777-3639

Holliston Sand Co. Inc.
Lowland St.
Holliston, Mass. 01746
Sand For Topdressing & Bunkers

*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 Crastview Drive
Millis, Mass. 02054
Maccaferri Gabions, Inc.
Governor Lane Blvd.
Williamsport, Maryland 21795
Attn: A.D. Crowhurst

—

Tuco Products Ccrp
Div of the Uptohn Co
Kalamazoo Mich
David Sylvester Rep
203-828-3790

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

Tuckahoe Turf Farms. Inc
Siocum. R I. Litchfield. N H
Sutfield. 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

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

I & E Supply. Inc.
Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28)
W. Wareham, MA 02576
¡617) 295-2362

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

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

* Turf Products Corp.
36 Sword S!
Auburn. Mass 0150t
617-791-2091

'Nardone Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd.
Westford, Mass 01886
617-692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing
Sand

* Turf Specially. Inc.
84 Merrimac St.
Hooksett. N H 03106
Turf S Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner
617-263-7526

New England Sealcoating Co.. Inc
Tennis Court Const. 6 Maint.
Sealcoating Hingham Inc. Center
Hingham, Mass 749-6800

White Turf Engineering
5 Summer Drive
Winchendon. Mass 01475
617-297-094

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

Phillip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
31 Sudleigh Ave
Beverly. Mass

Rlchey & Clapper, Inc.
28 RutSedgs Rd.
Natick, Mass. 01760
'Sawtelle
Bros
565 Humphrey St.
Swampscott. Mass. 01907
617-599-4856
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water St., Clinton, Mass.
617-365-6341
Pumps-Seles, Service
Installation-Vertical
Turbine Pumps Specialists

'Contributors
to the
Scholarship
Fund

Troll-Dickinson

Scotts Pro-Turf Div
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-347 3697

THE

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

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

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