NEWSLETTER

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Superintendents
NEW

E N G L A N D ,

— NOVEMBER

DATES

TO

REMEMBER

NOVEMBER 4
GCSANE Regular Meeting
Lexington C.C.
Lexington, Mass.
November

21-22

R1GCSA/ GCSAA Irrigation Seminar
Providence Marriot Inn
Providence, R.L
December 16
GCSANE Regular Meeting
Franklin C.C.
Franklin, Mass.
Guest Speaker: Dr. Richard Cooper
Ass't. Prof, of Turf Science
University of Mass.

- N E X T MEETING—
Lexington C.C.
Lexington, Mass.
10:00
10:30
11:30
12:30

AM
AM
AM
PM

Board of Directors Meeting
Regular Meeting
Lunch
Golf - Shotgun Start

Reservations for carts and lunch no
later than Oct. 30th - Call host Orrin
Ellis at work —
862-5167 - or home - 933-4386
Directions to Club: Rte. 128 (95) to Exit
44 South; go 9/10 mile to yellow
blinking light (Hill St.) and turn right.
Lexington C.C. is 4/10 mile on right.
Superintendent Profile: Superintendent
Orrin Ellis started his professional
career as an aircraft mechanic, before
coming down to earth in his present
position. He is a graduate of the
Stockbridge School Winter Program
and is now in his 8th year at Lexington.
He is a frequent contributor to "The
Newsletter" and does a lot of interesting
research at the club.
Orrin lives in Woburn with his wife
Susan, son Michael and daughter Amy.
• • •

SÌóóociation
INC.

-1985 —

—Doug Digs in and Things Happen—
Unlike some seemingly comfortable jobs that grow into monumental tasks for
certain golf course superintendents, the challenge at the Springfield Country Club
was spelled out at the start.
"I knew what I was getting into from day one," Doug Stachura said last month
just after giviiig Hurricane Gloria the brush-off. "The club and course were
stagnant and members were ready to put some modernization plans together. That
fit right in with.piy attitude and approach to the profession. I mean, who wants to
stand still?"
Stachura was just putting the finishing touches on seeding and setting up the 88year-old layout for a winter's rest. Construction of five new holes and refurbishing
of the others were right on schedule, so Doug's spirits never felt the ground.
"This is major," the six-year SCC super explained. "We're bringing everything up
to date here - new pro shop, tennis courts, practice areas, more parking and a touch
of condominium living for members who feel ready for that lifestyle. And I'm right
in the middle of it. Nice. Exciting."
Stachura, in fact, has been deeply involved in the project - not only directing
construction operations but being part of the planning team, together with the golf
course architectural team of Geoff Cornish and Brian Silva and club members.
The replacement of the old holes with a more challenging set will perk up the
attraction at the West Springfield layout where appreciable change has been on
hold far too long. "The whole concept has stimulated our membership," Stachura
disclosed. " F o r the first time since most can remember, there's a waiting list for new
members. And the condo inducement has caught on to the point where a lottery
probably will be held to see who's accommodated in that respect."
The project has had deep roots with deep thought attached.
"I've been into a giant think tank with a planning committee for the last two
years," Doug told. "A lot of thought went into this, too. We started out with 20
different plans, worked our way down to five, then two and eventually wound up
the T H E choice. Originally, a condominium development had no place in the
project. But it was added and it makes its contribution to the overall effect."
There has been a remarkable show of cooperation between Stachura and the
membership as the superintendent conducts two orchestras - one playing songs out
of the present, the other from the future.
"The members here have been extremely tolerant and patient about everyday
playing conditions on the regular course," Doug revealed. "I have to admit that I've
let certain maintenance work slip on occasions when I'm required to give the
construction phase full attention.
"But the members understand. They put up with the inconveniences and seem
just as anxious to see the end product as I am. That's the beauty of this thing. It's
such a drastic change from what we've had here that most members are thinking
more of the course than themselves."
Actually, reports are that Stachura's conditioning program at SCC hasn't
suffered at all. Proof of this comes in comments from guests who have played the
course. From all indication, their enthusiasm over present conditions mirrors
members' enthusiasm over the future setup.
Stachura, who was in the swell of input that went into construction of the
Century Hills Condominium-Golf Course project (a successful venture down
Interstate 91 in Connecticut), is using bent for all fairway grasses on the new holes.
This will expand into a conversion program for the rest of the course.
"I'd say that in two or three years, all of our fairways will be bent," he said. "That
Doug Digs con't. on page 2—

ourôe

S u p e r i t i ten den

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-Aóó

ocia

lion

•

— The Super Speaks Out —
(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.)

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

•LAST MEETING—
Oct. 8, 1985
GCSANE Invitational Tournament
The Kittansett Club
Marion, Mass.
What a day, what a course, what a
meal!!! Our sincere thanks to host
Superintendent Lenny Blodgett and the
wonderful staff at Kittansett. It has
often been said that this course is one of
the best layouts in the country and now
we know why.
Golf Results
1st Gross (62) - Tatnuch C.C.
Steve Chiavaroli, CGCS
2nd Gross - Pine Brook C.C.
Doug Johnson, CGCS
1st Net (52) - O.M. Scotts Team
(Match of Cards)
2nd Net (52) - Reservation G.C.
Norm Tessier, Supt.
3rd Net (52) - Bellevue C.C.
Bob DeRico, Supt.
Closest to Pin (7'9")
Wayne Ripley, Tom Irwin Co.
• • •

Position Opening
Assistant Superintendent
Plymouth C.C.
Plymouth, Mass.
R o n Sherman, Supt.
Please Send Resume t o / o r call
M r . Roger Travis, Grns. Chairman
Roger Travis Associates
10 Industrial Park Rd.
Hingham, Mass. 02043
617-749-4751

PRESIDENT
Donald E Heam. CGCS
4 Topeka Rd.
Chelmsford. MA 01824
Home Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 894-5906
Club Affiliation
Weston Golf Club

FIRST VICE
PRESIDENT
David Barber. CGCS
145 Dedham St
Canton, MA 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill C C

This month's question: Aside from
the sneak attack from Hurricane
Gloria, the golfing season in New
England has been blessed with "nearperfect course-grooming weather" - so
shouldn't it and not the supers be
credited for generally, outstanding
playing conditions?
John Almonte, Oak Hill Country
Club: "You know what credit will get
you? Well, I haven't been thinking
about taking any bows and we've had
pretty good conditions here for most of
the 15 years I've been on the job.
"It's true that most of the rainfall was
timely this summer. However, the turf
still required the same, loving care it's
received. Rainfall couldn't do it alone.
"What the rain did contribute in our
case was fall just enough to create some
'rainouts' and give the turf a rest. We
need it because Oak Hill is a very busy
course.
"As far as reaction from our
members, my experience is that the
majority enjoys what they see and play
on here. The only guys, who complain,
are ones who can't hit the ball. The rest
realize it's a combination of things that
go i n t o k e e p i n g the
course
well'groomed."
Ron Hansen, Spring Valley Country
Club: "Right. We did have a timely rain
cycle this summer, but it didn't help me
—Doug Digs con't:from

because this is a wet course to begin
with.
"Fortunately, we have a green
chairman who knows the score and
realizes there are limitations to what I
can do and produce. Those limitations,
by the way, go hand in hand with the
budget and condition-expectation is
based on this.
"We have a problem at Spring Valley,
mainly because of a tired and outmoded
irrigation system. The members know
this, along with the knowledge that we
have a water-stress situation.
"It all ties into an equipment
question. No matter who's calling the
conditioning shots, he must have the
tools to do it. Weather can be a help but
it's just a small part of the whole picture.
Here, we live with what comes from the
skies and what we have to work with."
Jim O'Kelly, Brae Burn Country
Club: "The weather certainly didn't
hinder my operation this summer
(except for Gloria who kicked out our
power for four days and reduced our
tree population, considerably).
"However, as far as reaction from the
membership is concerned, weather
never has been considered the prime
reason for the condition of our course.
"There are two things that maybe give
me an edge on some of my fellow
superintendents. First, conditions at
Brae Burn usually run on the favorable
side. Second, the members here are
aware of what goes into maintaining a
Super Speaks con't. on page 3—

page 1

seems to be the type of grass best suited for this area. I see where all new seeding at
places like the T P C (Cromwell, Ct.) and Wethersfield has gone to bent. So, we'll be
in good company."
Doug, a Stockbridge grad who went on to earn a degree in landscape architecture
at the University of Massachusetts, welcomes this large order of responsibility he's
accepted and makes no bones about the fact that it involves pressure.
"It also involves pride," he remarked. "Pride in my work and mostly, in the job
my crew is doing. It really boils down to everyone pitching in and contributing
beyond normal limits. To tell the truth, I'm as excited as the members about future
possibilities here."
So, the super has dug in at the Springfield Country Club and Doug Stachura has
things happening. It's a credit to him and his profession. And it has to have a happy
ending.
It will.
— G E R R Y FINN

SECOND VICE
PRESIDENT
Pierre Coste. CGCS
121 Gran.te St.
Medf.eld. MA 02052
Home Phone 359-7247

SECRETARY
Richard C Zepp. CGCS
27 Fowler Rd
Northbndge. MA 01534
Home Phone 234-8490
Office Phone 234-2533
Club Affiliation
Wh.tinsville Golf Club

TREASURER
Thomas Schofield, CGCS
290 North Rd
Sudbury. MA 01 776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-2487
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

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

TRUSTEE
Stephen A Chiavaroli. CGCS
100 Airport Dr
Worcester, MA 01602
Home Phone 752 0031
Office Phone 791 5373
Club Affiliation
Tatnuck C.C

TRUSTEE
Mark J Klimm
P O. Box 480
Mashpee. MA 02649
Home Phone 477-3516
Office Phone 477 0919
Club Affiliation
C.C. of Now Seabury

O F

N E W

— Roundup on a Green? —

- C H I P SHOTS-

Use of Roundup on tees and fairways
has been accepted and very successful.
So why not on a green? It's a pretty
scary thought. Knowing that within five
days following application, the green
will be an off-shade of yellow-brown. I
could visualize the membership's
mental anguish during this process.
The first green at Lexington Golf
Club is 8,000 sq. ft. The surface was
mixture of 50% Velvet, 10% Pencross,
and 40% Annual Bluegrass. With
frequent topdressing, we had a good
putting surface from mid-June through
the season. However, the complaints
year after year about the poor color, the
many seed-heads, and poor putting
early in the season, were driving me
crazy. We had tried overseeding for
years, but with very little success. I felt
that Roundup, applied under certain
conditions, at the proper time of the
year, would do the trick.
When approached with the idea, the
Green Committee voted unanimously
to go ahead with the project.
Certain factors were taken into
consideration concerning resurfacing
this green. Was drainage a problem?
Was the contour of the green satisfactory? The drainage on the first green
was excellent. The contour was
satisfactory. Roundup allowed us to kill
the surface while keeping the soil and
thatch intact.
First priority in this undertaking was
to design and start a temporary green.
This was in use for 10 weeks.
The new green, now 10 weeks old in
mid-August has 100% turf cover and
appears very healthy. Although there is
a small amount of Annual Bluegrass in
the green, I hope to eradicate it with the
use of Ruibgan.
Any superintendent interested in
playing this green would be welcomed
at the November meeting at Lexington
Golf Club.

A warm welcome goes out to Dr.
Richard Cooper, who is the new
Assistant Professor of Turfgrass
Science at U - M a s s , S t o c k b r i d g e
School. Some of Dr. Cooper's duties
will be teaching, researching practical
problems of turf management, and
overlooking the activities at the So.
Deerfield research facility . . . by now
GCS ANE President Don Hearn is back
from his trip to Scotland, where he
participated in the 5th International
Golf Team Championship and Turf
M a n a g e m e n t C o n f e r e n c e at St.
Andrews . . . word has it that the R E A L
winner of "closest to the Pin" at
Kittansett was Dennis Friel - I've seen
Wayne's play recCntiy-and would tend
to believe it, any comments Dennis? . .
.The nominating committee has been
very active in recent weeks, any ideas please call chairman T o m Schofield . . .
Blodgett of Kittansett 34 years? Ron
Kirkman (CGCS Needham G.C.) did a
little arithmatic and says he feels 10-15
years younger now due to the editor's
mistake! . . . Never Too Late Dept. - The
Jim Fitzroys (CGCS, Presidents G.C.)
are the proud parents of son Peter
Thomas, born this past May . . . last
minute arrangements are being put
together now for the GCS ANE
Christmas Party, Chairman Paul Miller
(GCS Tedesco C.C.) will give us the

Orrin Ellis Supt.
Lexington Golf Club

Golf in t h e Later Years
My muscles are flabby;
i can't hit a drive.
My mind often doubts if
I'm really alive.
My chipping is lousy,
I never could putt.
I guess I'll just stay home and
just sit on my butt.
My iron play's awful,
my woods are as bad.
I'm describing my game as a
shade sort of sad.
So the outlook for today is for
grief and for sorrow.
Say! who can we get for a
fourth tomorrow?

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
John Stre«ter. CGCS
86 Fashion Dr
Warwick. R! 02886
Home Phone (401 ) 738 8386
Office Phone (401! 943-0059
Clob Affiliation
The Alpine C.C.

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
Stephen M Murphy
4 Juniper Rd
Lynnfield. MA 01940
Home Phone 334-4836
Office Phone 592 1433
Club Affiliation

EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
Edward L Brearley
279 Torrey St.
Brockton, MA 02401
Home Phone 584 6568

Office Phone 588-8439
Club Affiliation
Larry Gannon Municipal G C. Brockton C.C.

Greenside,"

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Michael F. Nagle
51 Lincoln Ave.
Holden, MA 01520
Home Phone 829-3995
Office Phone 853-6574
Club Affiliation
Worcester C.C.

GCS A

I N C

—Super Speaks con't. from page 2

date and details very soon . . .
• • •

Reprinted
from "The
New jersey, Sept. '84.

E N G L A N D

golf course and understand most of its
technical aspects.
"I'm not trying to say that one thing
or another wouldn't make playing
conditions here better. There's always
room for improvement. But, all parties
seem to be satisfied with the course.
That's the main point as far as the
relationship here goes."
Jerry D'Anello, Winthrop Golf Club:
"We - and I'm talking for most of our
members - really don't think of the
weather this summer as that much of a
factor. As a matter of fact, good
weather 'greens' up the color of plants
but has nothing to do with the quality of
the turf. "I've always operated under
the theory that if I show my members a
good golf course, they appreciate
everything I'm doing to keep it that way.
"Anyway, this is a unique situation at
Winthrop - almost Utopia from a
superintendent's standpoint. There are
members here, so involved and
interested in keeping the course in
shape, they actually join my work crews
at the end of summer when source of
labor runs thin.
"Heck, we have a club treasurer who
has learned to cut greens. And it has
nothing to do with cutting financial
corners. If it did, my budget wouldn't
have doubled - as it has in the last two
years.
"So, the w.eather doesn't get any
credit for grooming our golf course.
T h i s is a
total-involvement
arrangement. Why, the members just
raised an additional $3,700 for my
budget with a b e a u t i f i c a t i o n
tournament. They look at it like I do good weather or not, we're going to
have ourselves one heck of a course."
GERRY FINN

It was a glorious way to spend the day wading a favorite trout steam after
placing several hooks into deep, dark
pools. The problem was, he was playing
golf.
— Tom Stoeger, quoted by Alex Thien in
Milwaukee Sentinel
Credit: On The Green, N.P. GCS A
of

PAST
PRESIDENT
8nan Cowan. CGCS
Robins Way
Harwich. MA 02645
Home Phone 432.-9041
Office Phone 945-9230
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 o 4 C f u U x G K i j e FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Agway, Inc.
Greg Moore, Rep.
Box 507 Sterling, MA
Fertilizer, Seed, Chemicals
aOO-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614

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.
188 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
C.S. Curran
T.R.C. Products Oils & Greases
7 Linden St
Framingham, Mass.
Chester Drake & Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St.
Framingham, Mass. 01701
Golf Course Construction
«17-875-7929

Elanco Prod. Co.
Scott Eicher
12 Jillson Circle
Mllford, Mass. 01757

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

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

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

Greenway Irrigation
Irrigation, Drainage, Wire Laying,
Trenching
Peabody, Mass.
617-777-3639
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 & Bunkers
I & E Supply. Inc.
Cranberry Highway (Rt. 28)
W. Wareham, MA 02576
(617) 295-2362
"Tom Irwin, Inc.
II B A St., Burlington, Mass.
Jack Peterson
Dennis Friel Phone # 617-938-1751
Wayne Ripley
Larchmonl Eng. & 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
Victoria Wallace, Rep.

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
- band
New England Sealcoahng Co.. Inc.
Tennis Court Const & Maint.
Sealcoating Hingham Inc. Center
Hlngham, Mass 749-6800
Nor-Am Chemical Co.
Wilmington, Delaware
David Sylvester, Rep.
203-828-8905
Norfolk Power Equip., Inc.
194 Main St.
Norfolk, Mass. 02056
Tel. 617-528-3120
Don Reynolds, Rep.

Scoff Associates, Inc.
60 Water St., Clinton, Mass.
617-365-6341
Pumps-Sales. Service
Installation-Vertical
Turbine Pumps Specialists
Scoffs Pro-Turf Div
Rep. Ed Wiacek 1-401-253-4284
Rep. Kevin Lyons 1-617-347-3697
Tuckahoe Turi Farms. Inc.
Exeter, R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
West Suffield, Conn.
1-800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross
In New England
Alan Anderson, Sam Mitchell
* Turi Products Corp
36 Sword St
Auburn. Mass 01501
617-791-2091
"Turi Specialty. Inc.
84 Mernmac St.
Hooksett. N.H 03106
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
Ken Turner
617-263-7526
White

Turi

Engineering

5 Summer Drive
Winchendon, Mass 01475
617-297-094
Philip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
21 Budleigh Ave.
Beverly, Mass. 01915

Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers-SeedsTurf-Chemicals
66 Valley St.
E. Providence. R.I 02914
Flichey S Clapper. Inc.
28 Ruttedge Rd.
Natick, Mess. 01760

'Contributors to the
Scholarship Fund

Troll-Dickinson

*Sawtelle Bros
565 Humphrey St.
Swampscott, Mass 01907
617-599-4856

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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