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

-NEXT

MEETING-

Monday, February 22,1988
Norfolk G.C.
9:00 Directors Meeting
10:45 Regular Meeting
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Educational
Educational speaker is Kathy Pappalardo
the Editor and Executive Director of the
NewEngland Agricultural Chemical
Association. Kathy will speak on House
Bill #3015—"An Act To Reform The
Massachusets Pesticide Control Act."
Host Superintendent - Don Levangie
Reservations Required (617) 326-9750—Thurs.-Sun.
(617) 326-3801—Mon.-Fri.
Saturday, February 27, 1988
MGA Spring Conference
February 29 - March 3, 1988
57th Massachusetts Turfgrass Conference
and 12th Industrial show

The Super
Speaks Out

Welcome to The Super Speaks Out —
a monthly feature which offers the golf
course superintendent a forum to express his or her views on topics and
issues relating to their profession.
This month's question: Can you see the
day when competition among country
club department heads develops for labor
because of the competitive hourly wage
rates making the rounds?
Tom Brodeur, Essex Country
Club: "I'd say this is a tough question to
Continued on page 2

LETTER

Association OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.
February 1988

Zepp and Super Profession the Right
"Chemistry"
I t was a nice bright day, temperatures headed for
the 60s with the changing of seasons—from winter
to spring—at hand.
The time was almost 15 years-ago, the place the
University of Massachusetts campus at Amherst.
That's when Dick Zepp got a 1000-watt idea.
"Ijustmarched out of the chemistry lab, walked
over to Joe Troll's office and asked him what I had
to do to get into THIS business," he tells. Naturally,
the first words out of Joe's mouth were, 'what are
you, nuts?' I guess he had a point, though."
A point, to be sure.
Dick Zepp, recently elected NEGCS A president, at the time was far removed from
that office. In fact, while teaching freshman courses at UMass he was in pursuit of a Ph.D.
in organic chemistry after preparing for that lofty goal at Worcester Polytechnic Institute
(WPI).
Therefore on that day in Amherst, the season wasn't the only thing that changed. But
why change careers in the middle of the stream?
"I thought I had gone as far as I could go without committing myself to a lifetime in
the chemistry field," informs Dick whose father is a retired WPI professor. "I wasn't
really happy and that old call to the outdoors was ringing in my ears. It just wouldn't go
away."
Of course, Dr. Joseph Troll welcomed Zepp into the two-year turf management
course at Stockbridge with open arms—once he got over the shock of Dick's decision
to reverse his vocational field.
In fact, with his educational background and native intelligence leading his charge
into the golf course superintendent profession, Zepp completed that two-year course in
12 months.
From there, the new New England prexy plunked himself on the job at the
Whitinsville Golf Club where he's been the head superintendent ever since.
"I know, I know, even now the way I got into the business must seem crazy to some
people." Zepp admits. "But ever since I worked summers for Dick Blake (then-super) at
Mount Pleasant, I always had getting into the profession in the back of my mind.
"I'm a firm believer in the 'life is short as it is' school of thought. I mean we're not
around long enough to do something every day that we don't like. The day when I dread
going to work could change that thinking but it hasn't happened yet. I enjoy this—100
percent."
Continued on page 2

J

Golf Course Superintendents
of New England INC.

Association

page 2
ZEPP AND SUPER Cont.from page 1
And Dick means to enjoy his term as
NEGCSA president.
"Oh, yeah, this is what it's all about,"
Zepp says. "I've been involved in the
association from the time I joined it. It's
been kind of a quick trip to the presidency
(just 12 years with other elected posts on
the way up) but I hope I'm here long
enough to see some of my ideas put into
practice."
Those ideas have a wide range—from
the association's effort to emphasize
superintendent Bill Spence's input when
the U. S. Open comes to The Country Club
to a projected piece of lobbys as a source
of superintendent's information and
voice in the state legislature.
"Education probably will take up
more of my attention than anything while
I'm president," Dick advises. "We are
living in an ever-changing world. Pesticide and ground water issues, presently
heating up, will be the biggest issues in
our careers for some of us.
"We really have to know what's going
on when it comes to state laws and bills
affecting our profession. We really have
to be on our toes, not only technically but
politically. That's where the possibility of
lobby action comes in. After all, somebody has to look out for us."
Zepp also is concerned with numbers,
a lot of them.
"First, I'd like to find out what we're
doing wrong, if that's what's keeping
members from meetings," he explains.
"We have something like 130 members
and it's rare when we get half of them at
monthly meetings and other events.
"That 130 bothers me, too. We should
have more members than that. We have
upgraded the reputation of the profession
through an educational program where
professional recognition no longer is a
problem. Now, we have to work on the
association.
"What we need is more involvement
by our members, more movement in the
PRESIDENT
Richard Zepp. CGCS
27 F o w l e r Rd.
N o r t h b r i d g e , MA 01534
Home Phone 234-8490
Office Phone 234-2533
Club Affiliation
Whifinsvilie G.C.

»

VICE
PRESIDENT
Paul M i l l e r , C G C S
1 L e i c e s t e r Rd.
M a r b l e h e a d , MA 01945
H o m e Phone 631-7910
Office Phone 369-5704
Club Affiliation
Nashawtuc C.C.

direction of public relations. Things like
the old super-press and super-celebrity
golf tournaments. We should revive PR
tools like them. We have to help ourselves."
Dick's presence at the national conference in Houston is a must, there, he hopes
to pick up information and other educational aides to implement them in New
England. In other words, his ears are wide
open to any and all suggestions.
He has, by the way, found the right
mix—the right chemistry is there between the golf course superintendent
profession and Dick Zepp. IFsworked for
him, now he's determined to make it work
for the association. 'What a plus for all of
us, huh?
GERRY FINN

FEBRUARY

NOTICES

A navy blue overcoat size 42 regular was
taken by mistake at the Christmas party at
Needham Golf Club. Contact John Lenhart.
You have his and he has yours.
Please update your address and phone
number if different from the 1987 membership
directory. Contact Tom Schofield. Strange as
it may seem, we average at least one hundred
changes (100) per year in making up a new
directory.
The GCS ANE Constitution and By-Laws
book are available by contacting Steve
Chiavaroli. Call him and he will send you one.
Don't forget the meeting at Norfolk Golf
Club. Call for reservations—(617) 326-9750
Thurs. - Sun. (617) 326-3801 Mon. - Fri.
If you have a new President or Green
Chairman - let Tom Schofield know the
address if you want them to get the newsletter
MGA meeting - Spring Conference is
Saturday, February 27. The speaker for the
Green Section will be Tom Morgan, USGA
Green Section Agronomist in charge of
tournament preparation.

SECRETARY
S t e p h e n A . C h i a v a r o l i , CGCS
100 A i r p o r t D r .
W o r c e s t e r , MA 01602
Home Phone 752-0031
Office Phone 791-5373
Club Affiliation
Tatnuck C.C.

TREASURER
Thomas Schofield, CGCS
290 N o r t h R d .
S u d b u r y , MA 01776
Home Phone 443-3712
Office Phone 235-2487
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

THE SUPER Continued from page 1
answer since I suppose that competition
already has happened.
"Let's face facts, though. People
working in country clubs—at any job for
that matter—often have conversation
where the topic eventually gets to money
or how much they're making. You can't
stop that. It's bound to happen.
"There is a moral side to this. It's
really not fair to the head of the department who originally hired someone that's
lured away by more money or better
working conditions within the same club."However, as far as I know, the lines
of communication between department
heads haven' t addressed that problem yet.
Perhaps they should open up. Let the
heads engage in an exchange of hourly
wage figures and start the ball rolling in
the direction of avoiding what could be
embarrassing situations.
"In some instances we're talking
about 50 cents an hour. On the outside,
though, it's almost reached a ridiculous
point. The latest confirmation report I get
is that Pizza Hut in Peabody is paying up
to $10 an hour. I mean, how do you match
that?
"Of course, the working outdoors
factor is in the superintendent's corner.
We just hope it's some kind of an attraction in the prevention of raids from the
outside and other country club departments. In the end, though, we just have to
upgrade our pay scale."
Mike Nagle, Worcester Country
Club: "It seems we have thought of the
possibility of conflict between departments here because we have sort of an
unwritten rule that suggests we don't
encourage competition for labor from
within.
"However, it's happened at other
clubs and, naturally, it has become a
source of strained relationships between
department heads. In all probability, it's
up to the clubs to minimize its incidence.

TRUSTEE
Kip Tyler
P.O. B o x 6 7 1
Peabody, MA 01960
Home Phone 745-8089
Office Phone 532-2236
Club Affiliation
Salem C.C.

TRUSTEE
C h a r l e s T. P a s s i o s C G C S
218 C a m e l b a c k Rd.
M a r s t o n M i l l s , MA 0 2 6 4 8
Home Phone 420-3210
Office Phone 775-5116
Club Affiliation
Hyannisport Club

TRUSTEE
E d w a r d L. B r e a r l y
189 M a t f i e i d S t .
W. B r i d g e w a t e r , M A 0 2 3 7 9
H o m e Phone 584-6568
Office Phone 588-8439
Club Affiliation
B r o c k t o n C.C.

Golf Course Superintendents
of New England INC.
"Personally, I have been very aware of
the outside influence on retaining my
help. I'm talking about those eight and
nine bucks an hour jobs that take a big
chunk out of the labor market. Here, I, I
mean we, are doing something about it.
"Actually, the pay structure is coming
around to the point where we can compete
with the fast food places and other businesses that have to offer absurd hourly
rates to survive.
"The way to avoid losing help is to
keep that help satisfied. That's what
we're trying to do and I think we're succeeding because our members realize our
rates must go up.
"Sure, working outdoors is an attraction and it gives us some advantage. But
we have to make the job attractive in other
ways—where it counts—in a worker's
paycheck."
John Paul Jones, Walpole Country
Club: "You called the right person on this
one because the topic has hit me.
"Only thing is that someone from
another department came to mine because
he wasn't happy doing what he did in the
club restaurant.
"I've never lost the other way but I
know it could happen. Regardless, when
you're talking job changes within the
club, usually it comes about because of
working conditions or personalities.
"I think the superintendent has an
advantage over the other department
heads because of the outdoor work factor.
Hey, how many kids do you think would
prefer working outside instead of being
penned in—especially on a hot summer
day?
"That advantage has to be supplemented by better wages and, fortunately
for me, my club has been receptive to
increasing the rates. I'm not talking about
token raises, either. In some cases, the rate
has gone up as much as two dollars an
hour.
"I'm attacking the problem other
ways, too. Right now the push is on to
FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
D o u g l a s W. J o h n s o n C G C S
50 N e w t o n S t .
W e s t o n , M A 02193
Home Phone 894-7377
Office Phone 899-7913
Club Affiliation
Pine B r o o k C.C.

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
James O'Kelly
201 I n d i a n R o c k R d
Merrimack, N.H. 03054
Home Phone 603-429-2453
Office Phone 244-0680
Club Affiliation
Brae Burn C.C.

upgrade some jobs into full-time positions, so I don't have to worry about
filling in with part-timers. Of course, I
also endorse and implement hiring senior
citizens.
"In the end, I think the problem of golf
course labor is going to be licked, at least
here. Competition form within? I'd say
it's up to the individual worker and the
individual department head. Most of the
time your help's only as good as you treat
them."
GERRY FINN

Association
Page 3

-.POSITION

OPENINGS-

Superintendent
White Mountain C.C. 18 Hole
North Ashland Road
Ashland, New Hampshire 03217
Send Resumes to: Joseph Hyde-President
(603) 536-2214
Assistant Superintendent
Warwick C.C. 18 Hole
Warwick, RI
Contact: Superintendent Don Silven
(401) 737-9030

57th MASSACHUSETTS TURFGRASS
CONFERENCE AND 12th INDUSTRIAL SHOW
(Springfield Civic Center)

Program

MONDAY (Feb. 29)
12:30-2:00 Registration
2:00-4:00 Turfgrass Insects and Their
Control—Dr. Paul Heller
TUESDAY (Mar. 1)
8:30-4:00 Registration
9:00-12:45 Industrial Show Open
1:00 Welcome—Dr. Joseph Troll
1:15 Environmental Toxicology: Issues
of Chronic Toxicity—Dr. Judith K.
Marquis
1:45 How Toxic are Golf Course
Chemicals—Dr. Paul Sartoretto
2:15 Delayed Chronic Toxicity—George
Hauschel, Superintendent
3:00 Break
3:15 Golf Course Superintendent and
the Environmentalist—Monroe S.
Miller, Superintendent
3:45 Pollution Exclusion in Insurance—
John L. Dana
4:30-6:30 Industrial Show Open
WEDNESDAY (Mar. 2)
8:00-4:00 Registration
9:00 Turfgrass Challenges of the
South—George Thompson,
Superintendent

EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
R o n a l d E. M i l e n s k i C G C S
65 R o c k y P o n d R d .
P r i n c e t o n , MA 01541
Home Phone 464-5312
Office Phone 779-6911
Club Affiliation
International G.C.

9:40 Black Layer and Sulfer—Dr. Paul
Sartoretto
10:20 Review of Changing Fertilizer
Formations—Dr. Norman Hummel
11:00-2:00 Industrial Show Open
2:00 Golf Course Restoration—Rees
Jones, Golf Course Architect
2:40 Maintaining Newly Restored
Areas of Turf—William Spence,
Superintendent
3:20 Massachusetts Water Management
Act—Steven Roy, DEQE
4:00 Obtaining Water the Hard Way—
Anthony B. Caranci, Superintendent
4:30-7:00 Industrial Show Open
THURSDAY (Mar. 3)
9:00 The Biggest Problem of Golf
Course Turf—James Snow, USGA
9:40 Necrotic Ring Spot—Dr. Gayle
Worf
10:30 What's New in Nematode
Control—Dr. Richard A. Rohde
11:30 Understanding Annual Bluegrass
to Bentgrass Conversions Using
Plant Growth Retardations —Dr.
William Pound

J
NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Ronald Kirkman
25 G r e e n S t .
Needham, MA 02192
H o m e Phone 444-8412
Office Phone 444-5548
Club Affiliation
Needham C.C.

PAST
PRESIDENT
David Barber. CGCS
145 D e d h a m S t .
C a n t o n , MA 02021
Home Phone 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hills C.C.

I n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d in this p u b l i c a t i o n may be
used freely, in w h o l e or in part, w i t h o u t special permission as long as t h e t r u e c o n t e x t is maintained. We
w o u l d appreciate a credit line.

Please patronize FRIENDS OF THE A S S O C I A T I O N

A g w a y Inc.
G r e g Moore Rep.
B o x 5 0 7 Sterling, M A
Fertilizer, S e e d , C h e m i c a l s
8 O O - 2 2 5 - C R O P (MA) 6 1 7 - 4 2 2 - 7 6 1 4

Elanco Products Company
S t e p h e n C. Dolinak
31 O l d T o w n Trail
N a r r a g a n s e t t , Rl 0 2 8 8 2
401-789-9017

Baker Golf C a r s
2 2 8 3 Gar H i g h w a y
Swansea, MA 02777
Y a m a h a Golf Cars
617-678-5693

Gold Star S o d F a r m s , Inc.
S o d & Pine Bark M u l c h
C a n t e r b u r y , N.H.
603-783-4717
Lexington, M A
617-861-1111

'The Bordon Company
Maynard, M A
Tel: 6 1 7 - 8 9 7 - 2 5 7 1
Sales Rep. J a c k B o r d e n
Bulk L i m e s t o n e Dealer
B o s t o n Irrigation C o m p a n y
Dedham, MA
J o h n R a m e y - Paul K e n y o n
617-461-1560
Distributor of Irrigation S u p p l i e s
and A c c e s s o r i e s
C & J L a w n m o w e r Serv. Inc.
188 Main Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
Eric O m a n - Sales Rep.
617-658-2022
The Clapper Company
1121 W a s h i n g t o n Street
Newton, MA 617-244-7900
C o n n e c t i c u t Silica C o m p a n y
Ledyard, Conn.
S a n d , W h i t e Silica for T r a p s
C h e m i c a l l y Inert T o p d r e s s i n g
Jim Sinlowski - 203-536-2618
"Geoffrey S. C o r n i s h & Brian Siiva
Golf C o u r s e Architects
Fiddlers G r e e n , A m h e r s t , M A 0 1 0 0 2
Country C l u b Enterprises
C l u b C a r Golf C a r s
T e n n i s & Leisure E q u i p .
P.O. B o x 4 0 0 W . F a l m o u t h , MA 0 2 5 7 4
617-563-2284
C.S. Curran
T . R . C . P r o d u c t s Oils & G r e a s e s
7 L i n d e n Street
Framingham, MA
Chester D r a k e & S o n s , Ins.
222 W a l n u t Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Golf C o u r s e C o n s t r u c t i o n
617-875-7929

THE

G r e e n w a y Irrigation C o m p a n y
Irrigation, D r a i n a g e , W i r e Laying
P.O. B o x 8 1 5 7
East L y n n , MA 0 1 9 0 4
John Murphy 595-3010
Steve M u r p h y 5 9 8 - 6 9 1 7
H a m m o n d & Tilton, Inc.
P.O. B o x 30, Exit 35 off I95
Tel: (207) 4 5 3 - 7 1 3 1
Contact: G a r y H a m m o n d
T h e C h a r l e s C. Hart S e e d Co.
Weathersfield. Conn.
Bob K e n n e d y , Rep., Roy E j l e y , R e f r
Holliston S a n d C o . Inc.
L o w l a n d Street
Holliston, MA 0 1 7 4 6
S a n d for T o p d r e s s i n g & B u n k e r s
I & E S u p p l y Inc.
C r a n b e r r y H i g h w a y (Rte. 28)
Irrigation & P u m p Supplies
W. Wareham, MA 02576
Rep. R o b i n H a y e s 6 1 7 - 2 9 5 - 2 3 6 2
International Golf C o n s t . C o .
A n t o n i o s P a g a n i s , Rep.
5 Purcell R d „ Arlington, MA 0 2 1 7 4
Golf C o u r s e C o n s t r u c t i o n
6 1 7 - 6 4 8 - 2 3 5 1 or 4 2 8 - 3 0 2 2
" T o m Irwin, Inc.
I I B A St., Burlington, M A
Jack Peterson
Dennis Friel P h o n e : 6 1 7 - 9 3 8 - 1 7 5 1
W a y n e Ripley
L a r c h m o n t E n g . & Irrig. Co.
L a r c h m o n t Lane
Lexington, MA 02173
617-862-2550
' L e s c o Inc.
20005 Lake Road
Rocky River, O H 4 4 1 1 6
Ron T u m i s k i , R e p . , M i k e D o n a b u e , R e p .
800-321-5325

NEWSLETTER
-

K

Y

1

1 1 L /

R O N A L D W.

KIRKMAN

Newsletter

Editor

DOUG JOHNSON
Associate

CGCS

Editor

THOMAS SCHOFIELD
Business
GERRY

Manager

FINN

Contributing

Editor

CGCS

"Loft's S e e d
20 Beck R o a d
Arlington, MA 0 2 1 7 4
Victoria W a l l a c e , Rep.
T h e M a g o v e r n Co., Inc.
27 L a w n a c r e R o a d
W i n d s o r Locks, C T 0 6 0 9 6
Tel.: 8 0 0 - 2 4 3 - 7 7 1 8 or 2 0 3 - 6 2 3 - 2 5 0 8
"D.L. M a h e r
Box 127, C o n c o r d Street
N. Reading, MA 0 1 8 6 4
M o b a y C h e m i c a l Co.
G r e g Ellis
67 Primrose Drive
W a r w i c k , Rl 0 2 8 1 8
R.F. M o r s e & S o n s Inc.
W. Wareham, MA 02576
617-295-1553
Larry A n s h e w i t z , R e p .
J a c k Cronin, Rep.
G e o r g e W i s e , Rep.
" N a r d o n e S a n d & G r a v e l Co. Inc.
3 7 Power R o a d
Westford, M A 0 1 8 8 6
617-692-8221
Specializing in T o p d r e s s i n g S a n d
Nor-Am Chemical Co.
Wilmington, Delaware
D a v i d Sylvester, R e p .
203-828-8905
Norfolk P o w e r Equip., Inc.
194 Main Street
Norfolk, MA 0 2 0 5 6
617-528-3120
D o n R e y n o l d s , Rep.
O l d Fox C h e m i c a l Inc.
Fertilizers-Seeds-Turf-Chemicals
66 Valley Street
E. P r o v i d e n c e , R.I. 0 2 9 1 4
O l d F o x Golf C o u r s e Div.
C u s t o m Applications, S p r a y i n g ,
Aeration, T o p D r e s s i n g , Slice S e e d i n g
Full Line of Materials
Weymouth, MA 02190
800-462-5990
Partac Golf C o u r s e T o p — D r e s s i n g
Kelsey Park
Great M e a d o w s , N.J. 0 7 8 3 8
J i m Kelsey, 1 - 8 0 0 - 2 4 7 - 2 3 2 6
Greg Moore, 401-683-9496

Return to:

K.

r£S

R O N A L D W. K I R K M A N V
/a R 5
25 G R E E N S T R E E T
i
- ^-.-•" - '
N E E D H A M , MA 02192

FIRST CLASS

E.B. Rotondi & Sons, Inc.
2 2 4 F o r e s t Street
Winchester, MA 01890
617-729-3330
T e n n i s C o u r t s , Cart p a t h s , Parking lots.
S a w t e l l e Bros.
65 G l e n n Street
L a w r e n c e , MA 0 1 8 4 3
617-682-9296
S c h m i d t Golf & Turf
2 3 9 9 G . A . R . H i g h w a y (Rte. 6)
N. S w a n s e a , MA 0 2 7 7 7
Tel.: (617) 3 7 9 - 0 9 5 9
John Deere Tractors, Mowers,
Aerifiers, S p r a y e r s , etc.
Scott A s s o c i a t e s , Inc.
60 W a t e r Street
Clinton, M A 0 1 5 1 0
617-365-6341
P u m p s - S a l e s , Service installation,
Vertical T u r b i n e P u m p s Specialists
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed W i a c e k 4 0 1 - 2 5 3 - 4 2 8 4
Rep. Scott B r o w n 6 1 7 - 8 5 3 - 6 6 5 4
T u c k a h o e T u r f F a r m s Inc.
E x e t e r , R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
W e s t Suffield, C T
800-556-6985
L a r g e s t Producer of P e n n c r o s s in
New England
Alan Anderson
"Turf P r o d u c t s C o r p .
7 C o p p a g e Drive
Worcester, MA 01602
617-791-2091
"Turf Specialty Inc.
84 M e r r i m a c Street
H o o k s e t t , N.H. 0 3 1 0 6
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
6 0 3 - 4 8 5 - 7 8 6 6 (collect)
K e n T u r n e r - K e v i n L y o n s - B o b Lake
Philip W o g a n
Golf C o u r s e Architect
17 W a l k e r R o a d
T o p s f i e l d , MA 0 1 9 8 3

":- '•

"Contributors to the Troll-Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

tn
bf\!

First Class Maj|
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Boston, MA
Permit No. 52848