Golf Course Superintendents

LETTER

Association OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

Sponsors and administrators of the Troll-Dickinson Scholarship
Fund —• Awarded yearly to deserving Turf Management Students.

-NEXT

MEETING-

Monday June 8, 1987
International G.C.

Supt., Executive Guests
Host Superintendent
Ronald Milenski
Flyers will be sent out

A Most
Deserving
Fellow
D o they like Don Hearn?
Really, now. The day (Sunday, April
5) was made for ducks and river spillovers. No one in their right mind would
venture out under such unyielding
conditions.
Therefore, there were a lot of insane
people on the loose at the Weston Golf
Club last month when club members,
friends and associates of the new president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America was
honored at a gala reception.
The good folks at Weston, for whom
Don has turned over a sparkling golf
playground the past 15 years, presented
their superintendent with a Rolex watch
in ceremonies marking the deserving
elevation.
Between presentations came kind and
sincere words of praise for the man of
the hour.
Another president, Gerry Ford who
used to run this country from the famed
Continued on page 2

Ex-MGA Official
Lifts Super
Another Notch
When

George Cohen "retired"
from the Massachusetts Golf
Association Executive Committee last
fall, he was not at all pleased with the
prospect the decision presented.
"Oh, after 17 years, I thought it was
time to turn over my spot to someone
else," Cohen explained. "But I didn't
want to divorce myself completely from
that very interesting and important facet
(MGA) of the game in our area."
So, Cohen did the next best thing.
He wrote to New England Golf Course
Superintendent Association Newsletter
chairman Ron Kirkman, requesting to
remain on the publication's mailing
list.
"Of course, I complied," Kirkman
sassed. "We need every satisfied reader
we can get!"
Seriously, Cohen's letter, which
cited the improvement in form and
content of the Newsletter, serves as
another lift for the golf course
superintendent in his winning quest for
recognition and, yes, respect as a
"professional".
Cohen, a long-time Crestview
Country Club member, has witnessed
that climb and marvels at the progress
made by the "super".
"I can remember when the
superintendent was the 'greenskeeper'
and nothing more than a guy with a rake
in his hand and hope in his heart that
whatever he was doing in matter of
maintaining the golf course was right,"
Cohen remarked.

May 1987
"Yes, those were humble
beginnings," he continued. "Frankly,
the man mowing the grass and
fertilizing the fairways was not much
more than a laborer. Today, that same
man is a technician and businessman of
the highest order. I think the profession
should be proud of itself."
Cohen's involvement with the
superintendent goes a long way. He ran
the gamut of board positions at
Crestview, even while becoming one of
that club's most proficient golfers. He
appreciates, then, the hard work the
superintendent has put into the heavy
task of improving himself and his
profession.
"I am expecially impressed by the
superintendent's input as a member of
the MGA Executive Committee," he
told. "That part of his recognition rise
certainly shows how he has made great
strides in becoming an executive in his
own right.
"I recall attending meetings when the
superintendent contributed much more
than lip service. The man you now have
(NEGCSA president Dave Barber). I can
tell you. He just doesn't sit there. He's
a key figure in many of the MGA's
undertakings."
It is only recently that the MGA and
the profession strengthened their
relationship with inclusion of the
current NEGCSA president on its
executive committee.
"That was a great move on the
MGA's part," Cohen noted. "The truth
is that the golf course superintendent is
becoming more of a visible and viable
segment of the country club operation.
In most cases, he's the man upon whose
professional expertise many club board
Continued on page 2

page 2
^
EX-MGA OFFICIAL
Continued from page 1
decisions are based."
Cohen laughs when he dips into the
long ago.
"It's a matter of the changing
times," he explained. "Back when they
were greenskeepers, we had what I like
to call 'a cemetery philosophy'
permeating the golf course. The
greenskeeper wanted the grass to look
nice and green but golfers were supposed
to keep off it. That's funny."
That's also a thing of the past.
"The modern day superintendent?"
Cohen suggested. "He's a person,
steeped in educational motivation and
determined to add to his expertise by
exposing himself to as many learning
experiences as he can. What's more,
he's a person you can reason with.
"I remember when the starting and
finishing dates of the golf season were
etched in stone. You just weren't
allowed to play unless the time fell
between those two dates. It's different
today. Today's superintendent adjusts to
conditions. I'm telling you, he's a very
reasonable guy."
Cohen also notes how the
superintendent has contributed to the
overall improvement of conditions and
esthetic factors which lend themselves
to the enjoyment of the game.
"Our golf courses are no longer a
series of football fields," Cohen said.
"Contour mowing has reached a state
which enhances the excitement of
playing the same course over and over
again. That's a big feather in the super's
cap - one of many like his input in
budget-making, his help in setting up
the course for championship and
tournament play. It goes on and on. The
superintendent has arrived."
Nothing more to add from this end.
George Cohen has said it all and said it
well. Has a good sound to it, huh?
GERRY FINN
PRESIDENT
David Barber, CGCS
145DedhamSt.
Canton, MA 02021
Htxne Rione 828-7266
Ollice Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hills C.C.

VICE PRESIDENT
Richard Zepp, CGCS
27 Fowfer Rd,
Norlh bridge, MA 01534
Home Phone 234-8490
Office Phone234-2533
Club Affiliation
WhitinsvilleG.C.

DESERVING FELLOW
Continued from page 1
Oval Office, sent a note of congratulations.
Another would-be president,
Massachusetts Governor Michael
Dukakis, wrote a proclamation insuring
Hearn of state-wide recognition and
fame.
And back on the honors floor came a
painting (of the Cape Hole) and a weekend at The Balsams for Don and his
wife, Joan, from the NEGCSA which
was represented by yet, another
T5resident; Dave'Barber.
Obviously, the riiomenfrnoved
Hearn who thanked the overflow crowd
for their thoughtfulness and promised to
set his wake-up alarm for 4:30 am - just
like every good superintendent does.
GERRY FINN

Divot Drift
T h e association held its first outdoor
meeting last month, it rained and
snowed, naturally - at Blue Hill C.C.
The inclement weather prevented even
the bravest of souls to play this fine
golf course. However, Dave promises he
will have us back again soon and we'll
be able to test our skills from those new
Cornish and Silva sand bunkers.
Depending on your location, the first
two weeks of April produced over 10
inches of rain and golf courses located
by rivers were inundated and severely
damaged. Many other golf courses were
saturated, particularly those with poor
drainage. From Cape Ann to Cape Cod
there were six days of partial sun out of
the first twenty-four days and the other
eighteen days were cloudy, cold, drizzle
or rain. For many of us the final week
in April was the first time golf cars
were allowed. Then again, there are
some real horror stories from super-

SECRETARY
Paul Miller
1 Leicester Rd
Marblehead, MA 01945
Home Phcne 631-7910
Office Phone 595-3107
Club Affiliation
Tedesco C.C.

TREASURER
Thomas Schofield. CGCS
290 North Rd.
Sudbury, MA 01776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-2467
Club Affiiiation
Wellesley C.C.

TRUSTEE
KipTyier
P.O. Bo* 671
Peabody, MA 01960
Home Phone 745-8089
Office Phone532-2236
Club Affiliation
Salem C.C.

intendents where they were overruled
and golf cars were let out early. Winter
kill on greens were noticeably higher on
the north shore and Worcester area and
the southern parts of Vermont and New
Hampshire. It appears all greens that
were covered have come through the
winter in excellent condition.
Robin Hayes from I and E Supply
was critically injured while wind surfing
in Florida. We wish her a speedy
recovery.
Nick Commuso, assistant superintendent, International C.C. was
presented his 25 year pin at the April
Meeting.

-PO STION OPENINGSSuperintendents
Province Lake C.C.
18 holes
Rte. 153 E. Wakefield, N.H. 03830
207-793-9577
Mike Farina
Portsmouth C.C.
Box 603
Greenland, N.H. 03840
Robert Reid, President

18 holes

Northampton C.C.
9 holes
28 Reuell Avenue
Northampton, MA 01060
413-586-4289 William Rose, President
Aconxet G.C.,
Westport, MA
617-636-5060

9 hole
Ray Palmer

Assistant superintendent with
some knowledge of mechanics,
good starting salary, benefits &
paid vacation:
contact: Ai Singer, Supt.
Thompson Club
20 Elm Street
North Reading, MA 01864
617-664-6986
TRUSTEE
Stephen A. Chlavaroli, CGCS
100 Airport Dr.
Worcester,MA01602
Home Phone 752-0031
Office Phone791-5373
Club Affiliation
TatnuckC.C.

TRUSTEE
CharlesT. PassiosCGCS
P.O. Bo* 182
Yarmoulhport, MA 02675
Home Phc*ie 362-5869
Office Phone 362-2275
Club Affiliation
CummaquidG.C.

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.
This month's question: What are
the problems you face as golf course
superintendent at your club and how are
you holding up?
Bii Gilson, Hickory Hill Golf
Club: "I'm holding up just fine. Now,
if the rain would only go away, I might
even become a pleasant fellow to talk
to.
"Actually, we're talking and it's April
(during last month's Waterloo of a start)
and the Merrimack River's acting up
again. It probably is my biggest problem because it's always there, on the
rise when we get a lot of rain and big
meltdown.
"The last week of March and first of
April usually is a critical time for me in
this respect. The combination of rain
and snow melting and coming down
from up-country has given me some
headaches. I've seen that river rise two

-NEW

APPLICANTS-

Gregory Carr reg. member
George Wright G.C.
Robert Dill reg. member
Hopedale C.C.
Mark Fuller reg. member
Quechee Club, Quechee, Vermont
Edward Amor Jr. reg. member
Far Comer G.C.
Robert Garrity assistant member
Heritage Hill G.C.
Manuel Viveiros
Furnace Brook G.C.
Reinstated reg. member

FINANCE CHAIRMAN
Douglas W. Johnson CGCS
50 Newton St
Weston, MA 02193
Home Ftione 894-7377
Office Phone 899-7913
Club Affiliation
Pine Brook C.C.

GOLF CHAIRMAN
James O'Kelly
201 Indian Rock Rd.
Merrimack, N.H. 03054
Home Phone
Office Phone 244-0680
Club Affiliation
Brae Burn C.C.

feet overnight.
"The worst it can do is maybe shut
down a couple of holes temporarily.
Our seventh fairway catches it under
conditions like these.
"Other than the rain, snow mold are
the magic words. I've been in the business 30 years, 17 at Hickory, and this is
the most snow mold I've ever seen.
"Fortunately, we've had a lot of recovery. We had 84 days of snow cover this
winter and very little frost. Maybe
that's why we've had success with the
mold.
"Otherwise, life on the course is
great. We gej a lot of play, sometimes
as much as we can hariclle. Which
means business is good. Really, I have
no complaints."
' I Bernie Golonka,
Pine Meadow
Country Club:
"Uh, you caught me
right in the middle of
a vandal-chase. We've
had some problems along that line the
past couple of years, but it's nothing
we can't handle. We'll get rid of it.
"My major problem? I guess you'd
have to say it's Mother Nature. You
just can't figure her out. For example,
this year and last year's like night and
day. Last year, we had lots of ice damage and I was the worst superintendent
in the world.
"But this year, I came through the
winter very nicely. So, maybe they'll
be calling me the best? That's the way
it goes. One year you're a hero, the next
you're a bum. But that's life as a super.
"So Mother Nature was on my side
this time and that's what trying to keep
this course in shape is all about. This is
my 22nd year at Pine Meadow and I'm
still in there, pitching.
"My owner does enough for the golf
course in way of setting up my budget
and that's satisfying because we get a
lot of play. This is a nine-hole course
and you're talking 50,000 rounds a year.

EDUCATIONAL CHAIRMAN
Edward L Brearly
189 Matfield St.
W.Bridgewater, MA02379
Home Phone 584-6568
Office Phone 588-8439
Club Affiliation
Brockton C.C.

1

NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN
Ronald Kirkman
25 Green S t
Needham, MA 02192
HomePhone444-S412
Office Phone 444-5548
Club Affiliation
Needham C.C.

PASTPRESIDENT
Donald E. Hearn, CGCS
4TcpekaRd.
Chelmsford, MA01824
Home Phone 256-8709
Office Phone 894-5906
Club Affiliation
Weston GdfClub

Page 3
So, there's no time for the course to rest
or for me to relax. I still like it,
though."
John Coffey, WoIIaston Golf
Club: "Hey, you caught me in a good
mood. I only have one problem I can
think of at the moment. Only thing is
there are about a hundred of them.
"Right. The geese are here and they're
letting me know it with their droppings.
I know, it sounds funny. But it's not.
Some of those critters run more than 15
pounds. They're tough on our golfers
but tougher on me. I have to try and get
rid of them.
"So far, no good.
"I've gone the fake swan route, the
shotgun with blank bullets route and
even tried to scare them away with firecrackers. No dice, though. They're still
here and still doing their duty. I mean,
we have five or six ponds here. By fall,
we could have as many as 400 geese.
"Latest remedy is a dog, a registered
Black Lab. He's four months old and
I'm trying to train him to chase those
birds back to where they came from. It's
a slow process. I may not be gaining.
"Otherwise, things are just fine. As
you know, we never close the golf
course and when we do get frost, it
comes out quickly. Things are greening
up, too. I mowed six times before the
first of the month (April).
"Anyway, life in general is very good
and that includes my part in it as a golf
course superintendent. I'm into my 12th
year here and looking for many more."
GERRY FINN

-Dates To Remember-

June 25, 1987
Turf Research Field Day
University of Massachusetts
Turfgrass Research Ctr, S. Deerfield, MA
CONTACT: Dr. Rich Cooper
Dept. of Plant & Soil Sciences
Stockbridge Hall, Amherst, MA 01003
Phone: 413-545-2353
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.

Please patronize FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Agvvay Ino
Greg Moore Rep.
Box 607 Sterling, MA
Fertilizer, Seed, Chemicals
BOO-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614

Connecticut Silica Co.
Ledyard, Conn.
Sand, White Silica for Traps
Chemically Inert Topdressing
Jim Sinlowski-203-536-2618

Baker Tractor Corp., Ford Tractors
Hariey Davidson Golf Cars
Swansea, MA
Yamaha Golf Cars

Elanco Products Co.
Stephen C. Dolinak
C-317-309 Greenwich Ave
Warwich, R.I. 02886
401-737-0175

•The Bordon Co
Maynard MA
Tel 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone DeaJer
Boston Irrigation Co.
Dedham, MA
John Ramey - Paul Kenyon
617-461-1560
Distributor of Irrigation Supplies
and Accessories
C & J Lawnmower Serv., Inc.
188 Main Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
Eric Oman - Sales Rep.
617-658-2022
The Clapper Co.
1121 Washington St.
Newton, MA
617-244-7929
•Geoffrey S. Cornish & Brian Silva
Golf Course Architecs
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, MA 01002
Country Club Enterprises
Club Car Golf Cars
Tennis & Leisure Equip.
P.O. Box 400 W. Falmouth. MA 02574
617-563-2284
C.S. Curran
T.R.C. Products Oils & Greases
7 Linden Street
Framingham, MA
Chester Drake & sons, Inc.
222 Walnut Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Golf Course Construction
617-875-7929

Schmidt Golf & Turf
2399 G.A.R. Highway (Rte 6)
No. Swansea, MA 02777
Tel. (617) 379-0959
John Deere Tractors, Mowers,
Aerifiers, Sprayers, Etc.

THE

DOUG JOHNSON CGCS
Associate Editor
THOMAS SCHOFIELD CGCS
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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

Greenway Irrigation Company
Irrigation, Drainage, Wire Laying
Trenching
P.O. Box 8157
East Lynn, MA 01904
John Murphy: Tel. 595-3010
Stephen Murphy : Tel. 598-6917
The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
Weathersfield. Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep.
Roy Sibley, Rep.
Holliston Sand Co. Inc.
Lowland Street
Holliston, MA 01746
Sand for Topdressing & Bunkers

I & E Supply Inc.
Cranberry Highway (RT 28)
W. Wareham, MA 02576
617-295-2362
International Golf Const. Co
Antonios Paganls, Rep.
5 Purceil Rd„ Arlington MA 02174
Golt Course Construction
617-648-2351 or 428-3022
'Tom Irwin, Inc.
I I B A St., Burlington, MA
Jack Peterson
Dennis Frlel Phone: 617-938-1751
Wayne Ripley

NEWSLETTER
R O N A L D W. K I R K M A N
Newsletter Editor

'Loft's Seed
20 Beck Road
Arlington, MA 02174
Victoria Wallace, Rep.

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

Larchmont Eng. & Irrlg. Co.
Larchmont Lane
Lexington, MA 02173
617-862-2550

"Lesco Inc
20005 Lake Road
Rocky River, OH 44116
Ron Tumiski, Rep.
Mike Donahue, Rep
800-321-5325

*D L Maher
Box 127, Concord St
N Reading, MA 01864
Mobay Chemlcai Co
Gregory Pagano
50 Coburn Woods
Nashua, N.H. 03063
..,R.F. Morse & Sons Inc
W. Wareham, MA 02576
617-295-1553
Larry Anshewitz, Rep.
JackCronln, Rep.
George Wise, Rep

"Nardone Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Road
Westford, MA 01886
617-692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing
Sand

Nor-Am Chemical Co.
Wilmington, Delaware
David Sylvester, Rep.
203-828-8905
Norfolk Power Equip., Inc.
194 Main Street
Norfolk, MA 02056
617-528-3120
Don Reynolds, Rep.

Hammond & Tilton, Inc.
P.O. Box 30
Exit 35 off 195
Tel. (207) 453-7131
Contact: Gary Hammond

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25 G R E E N STREET
N E E D H A M , MA 02192

Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers-SeodsTurf-Chemicals
66 Valley Stieet
E. Providence, R.I. 02914
Richey & Clapper, Inc.
28 Rutledga Road
Natick, MA 01760
* Sawteile Bros
565 Humphrey Street
Swampacott, MA 01907
617-599-4856
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water St. Clinton, MA
617-365-6341
Pumps-Sales, Service
Installatlon-VerticaiTurbine Pumps Specialists
Scotts Pro-Turf Div
Rep Ed Wiacek 401-253-4284
Rep Dave Schermerhorn 413-436-7889
Tuckahoe Turf Farms Inc.
Exeter, R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
West Suffield, Conn.
800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross in
New England
Alan Anderson
'Turf Products Corp.
7 Coppage Drive
Worcester, MA 01602
617-791-2091
'Turf Specialty Inc.
84 Merrimac Street
Hooksett, N.H. 03106
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
603-485-7866 (collect)
Ken Turner-Kevin Lyons-Bob Lake
White Turf Engineering
P.O. Box 1116
Portsmouth, N.H. 03801
603-431-4147
Golf Course Irrigation Consultants
and Contractors
Philip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
21 Budleigh Ave.
Beverly, MA 01915

'Contributors to the Troll-Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

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Permit No. 52848