THE

NEWSLETTER

Golf Course Superintendents

Association

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

OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.
November 1988

The Super
Speaks Out

Bob Grant Calls a Permanent
Timeout

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: After the ravages of an endless summer of ongoing
heat, plus other weather-related adversities, howdoyouplan to set upyour budget
to face a possible recurrence of the dastardly summer of19881
Scott Reynolds, Charles River
Country Club: "First of all, let me add
my two cents to the general feeling that
this was the worst bad weather summer
I've ever encountered.
"Sure, I know I'm one of the younger
superintendents and can't relate to some
of the other years when Mother Nature
took a swipe at the golf course conditioning process. But this was enough for me.
"I was a wreck the day after Black
Saturday (July 30). I looked around and
couldn't believe my eyes. Then, when I
talked to some of the other guys around
the Boston area, I considered myself very
lucky. Some courses really took a licking.
"My plans to increase my budget
along the lines of having the weapons to
combat another rough weather year aren' t
that extensive, since I think there's not
much we can do to combat the freaky
conditions Mother Nature surprised us
with in July and August.
"However, there will be an increase in
my request. Probably a few thousand to
Continued on page 2

T e n years ago, the Brae Burn Country
Club found a gem that had been sitting
there, right under the membership's nose.
That was the day club directors tapped
Bob Grant on the shoulder and wondered
if he could be a Jack and master of all
trades.
At the time Grant was into his 14th
year as golf course superintendent and
doing the job up green. Brae Bum
sparkled, so did the face Bob brought to
the club every morning at six and the little
golf kingdom in Newton couldn't have
been in better shape and spirits.
However, Brae Burn's 40-year general manager up and retired and a series of
replacements appeared and disappeared
without bringing any sense of stability to
the position. Therefore, there was only
one person to turn to.
"I accepted the job on a temporary
basis," Bob recalls. "All they wanted to do
was have me get things squared away
until they could find a permanent general
manager. Really, it was a test case. I didn't
know if I could get things back on track.
The club directors weren't sure a superintendent could make such a transition."
In the end, the transition evolved into
nothing more than an extension of Grant's
talents. He knew how to manage people
and he knew how to manage money.
Then, too, he knew how to get along with
everyone at any level.
Success story? You'd better believe it.
B ob first took over as general manager
in May with the stipulation that the situation would be reviewed the following

October. Needless to say, Grant's had the
position ever since and put a personal spit
and polish on his performance.
Now, come January first and Bob will
be leaving Brae Burn. He's retiring after
38 years service to golf and country club
life.
"Time to think about doing the things
I don't have time for now," Grant remarked last month. "I'll be closing in on
64 around the first of the year, the kids are
grown up and on their own, so Gladys and
I are ready to 'go out on our own'."
Gladys is Bob's lovely wife. The kids
are sons Doug and Rick and daughter
Linda. At one time or another each
worked at Brae Bum—from the two boys
caddying and mowing to Gladys manning
the club switchboard.
"It's been a wonderful experience for
our family," Bob noted. "We kind of kept
together through the club. It's been good
to all of us. We had some happy times
here."
From golf course superintendent to
general manager.
How do you bridge the gap?
"Actually, there's no gap to bridge,"
Bob explained. "I think the experience I
had as a superintendent was the perfect
foundation for moving on to general
manager. Sure, I missed the outdoor attachment the super's job offers but I got
used to it.
"The change from field to desk work
probably keeps a lot of golf course superintendents from taking another career step
Continued on page 2

page 2
BOB GRANT Cont.from p. 1
and becoming a general manager. I can
think of several supers who could come in
here and do the same kind of job I did the
past 10 years."
In fact, Grant double-teamed Brae
Burn as general manager and super for six
years or until Jim O'Kelly, his assistant,
was elevated to the superintendent's post.
Jim's been in charge of grounds the last
four years but he still must answer to Bob.
As do all department heads. And that
brings up an old issue—whether the oneperson (general manager) concept works
better than the three-person (department
heads) arrangement.
"I've had a lot of time to think about
that," Bob told. "I guess as a superintendent, I'd tend to favor the three-person
scheme—with the idea that it's not feasible for one supervisor to be versed in the
inner workings of three different jobs and
responsibilities.
"However, from my present viewpoint I can see that the one-person or
general manager concept is best for all
concerned. I've found that someone has
to tie things together. To be frank, there
has to be a final word and only one person
can have that."
Although Bob admits that sometimes
he looks out on the golf course with notions to change the way his successor
(O'Kelly) does certain things, he knows
that's the time to back off.
"Hey, I'm only as strong and effective
as my department heads," he explained.
"And we're very strong at Brae Burn. Jim

-NEW MEMBERS-

Welcome and Congratulations to:
David Elder
Tedesco C.C. (assistant)
S. Peter Nicolosi
Bass Rocks G.C.
Essex, Mass. (regular)
PRESIDENT
Richard Zepp, CGCS
27 F o w l e r Rd.
N o r t h b r i d g e , M A 01534
H o m e P h o n e 234-8490
O f f i c e P h o n e 234-2533
Club Affiliation
Whitinsville 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 , M A 01945
H o m e P h o n e 631-7910
O f f i c e P h o n e 369-5704
Club Affiliation
Nashawtuc C.C.

O'Kelly is the example of an outstanding
superintendent and Mickey Lane is just
the kind of golf pro you'd want working
with you. We even have a chef who's been
here 10 years. That has to tell you something about the club."
And something about its general
manager, who, by the way, happens to be
a life member of the New England Golf
Course Superintendents Association.
Bob Grant. He led two career lives.
Indeed, he was a first citizen in both of
them. Happy trails, Robert.
GERRY FINN
THE SUPER Cont.from p. 1
have chemicals and other ingredients in
reserve just in case we get hit hard again
next year.
"But I'm reacting according to the
amount of damage we had here. The
damage was moderate on five fairways
and the greens held up pretty well. I think
the programs I'm on are relatively sound.
If there is any change, I might concentrate
on my fairways. Aerate them better.
Bob Connolly, Winchester Country
Club: "I think this past summer will
cause kind of a revolution in the way
superintendents approach their responsibilities.
"What I'm looking to do is intensify
my maintenance program. From now on
I'm going to work my turf just like it's an
athlete in training. My goal is to make the
grass as strong as possible as it faces the
stress weather months. It's going to be an
all-out effort because the same type of
choking conditions could be with us again
next year.
"One of the things I learned from the
big rain and cook-out of grass that followed is that I have to pay more attention
to irrigation. I'm going to have to be more
careful watering those plants.
"Which leads to another concentration area—drainage.

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 Dr.
W o r c e s t e r , M A 01602
Home Phone 752-0031
O f f i c e P h o n e 791-5373
Club Affiliation
Tatnuck C.C.

TREASURER
Thomas Schofield, CGCS
290 N o r t h Rd.
S u d b u r y , M A 01776
H o m e P h o n e 443-3712
O f f i c e P h o n e 235-2487
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

"Usually, it takes something like the
damaging summer we had to point out the
need for better drainage. There's also a
possibility that I may go to syringing my
greens. I don't like to do it but it may have
to happen.
"All of my plans mean more money
for my budget. When you're talking about
beefing up the grass, providing better
drainage and syringe potential with added
labor cost, you're talking budget increase.
"I don't see how it can be any other
way."
Norm Mucciarone, Woodland
Country Club: "This one bugged the
heck out of me. Some of the damage, the
way it happened just didn't jibe with
normal reaction to weather like we had.
"Regardless, I have to face the fact
that measures must be set up and employed to make sure I have at least a
fighting chance if Mother Nature gives a
repeat performance next summer.
"Naturally, my chemical budget will
go up. I'm talking in the $15,000 range. I
know my directors won't pass out when
they hear that figure because some of the
other courses around here are thinking
$30,000 for chemical increases.
"What amazed me was the way this
thing hit. It hit low spots, high spots—
even places where the grass grows on
sidehills.
"Therefore, we're going for a lot of
remedies. We're going after poa (annua)
and see if we can slow down that growth.
We're thinking of staying with a mowing
plan where we pick up clippings with each
cut and we're going heavy into seed. I
mean, we need some good, bent grass out
there.
"So, it goes without saying that my
budget will reflect the weather conditions
we faced this year. There's no getting
around it. If we expect to restore good
grooming, we have to pay for it. And a
bigger budget's the way to go."
GERRY FINN

TRUSTEE
Kip Tyler
P.O. B o x 671
P e a b o d y , MA 01960
H o m e P h o n e 745-8089
Office Phone 532-2236
Club Affiliation
S a l e m C.C.

TRUSTEE
C h a r l e s T . Passios 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
H o m e P h o n e 420-3210
O f f i c e P h o n e 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 l d St.
W. B r i d g e w a t e r , M A 02379
Home Phone 584-6568
Office Phone 588-8439
Club Affiliation
B r o c k t o n C.C.

Divot Drift
O u r host for the September meeting was
Bert Frederick, superintendent of Vesper
CC. As usual, the golf course was in
superb condition. Bert is now transforming his tees to velvet bent to keep pace
with his beautiful velvet bent greens. We
understand Bert is now teaching Manny
Francis a few things about Velvet.
Tournament results—
Gross Division
Bob Connolly, Winchester C.C. 74

G C S A A

International
Golf Course
Conference & Show
February 6-13, 1989
Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, California

f^i
rk

• Trade Show
• Golf
Championships
o 33 Seminars
• Annual
Meeting

For conference, seminar
or exhibitor information, call
8 0 0 / 4 7 2 - 7 8 7 8 or 9 1 3 / 8 4 1 - 2 2 4 0
Qolf Course Superintendents
Association of America
1617 St. Andrews Drive
Lawrence, KS 6 6 0 4 6 - 9 9 9 0

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 St.
Weston, MA 02193
H o m e P h o n e 894-7377
O f f i c e P h o n e 899-7913
Ciub 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 Rd.
M e r r i m a c k , N.H. 03054
Home Phone 603-429-2453
O f l i c e P h o n e 244-0680
Club Affiliation
Brae B u m C.C.

Net Division
John Hudyka, retired, 73
Mike Nagle, Worcester C.C. 74
Charlie Dickow, Heritage Hills G.C. 74
W. Lacroix - Unknown - 75
Dick Zepp, Whitinsville G.C., 76
Max Mierzwa, Chicopee C.C. 76
Len Blodgett, Kittansett Club 76
In the commercial division, Dave Farina
captured first gross with a smooth 83.
Dave is affiliated with Country Club
Enterprises.
In the net division, in at 72 was Steve
Butler, LarchmoiH Eng.
Dennis Friel, Tom Irwin Co., 73
Larry Anshewitz, R.F. Morse Co., 74
A week later it was on to the witch city
where the renown Salem C.C. was our
host for the annual Superintendent and
Green Chairman Tournament. Kip Tyler,
the superintendent also known as the
"Witch Doctor" performed no sorcery
with the pin placements and tee markers.
Gross
Mel Wendell & S. Prout, Rhode Island
C.C. 70
Duggan & Thompson, Concord C.C. 72
Net
D. Barber & G. Rossman, Blue Hill C.C.
-59
S. Chiavaroli & R. Mathews, Tatnuck
C.C. - 62
R. Arzillo & T. Haggerty, Unicorn G.C. 63
K. Tyler & G. Burke, Salem C.C. - 64
B. Frederick & A. Devincenzi, Vesper
C.C. - 64
C. Ryan & P. Schmink, Rockport G.C. 64
Nearest the pin
Gary Lucini, Franklin C.C.
John Blomstom, Green Chairman
Mel Wendell, R.I.C.C.

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

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Ronald Kirkman
25 G r e e n St.
N e e d h a m , MA 02192
H o m e P h o n e 444-8412
O f f i c e P h o n e 444-5548
Club Affiliation
N e e d h a m C.C.

PAST
PRESIDENT
David B a r b e r , C G C S
145 D e d h a m St.
C a n t o n , MA 02021
H o m e P h o n e 828-7266
O f f i c e P h o n e 828-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hills C . C .

Page 3
—\
Jim O'Kelly, Brae Burn C.C.
Most Accurate Drive - Mel Wendell,
R.I.C.C.
Now we know why Mel Wendell is
called the "WIZARD".
The Superintendent and Managers
annual meeting and golf was held at Blue
Hill C.C. My apologies for not having the
winners. Maybe we can locate them and
put them in the next newsletter. However,
anytime we have a meeting such as this
we are all winners.

-POSITION OPENINGS~
Superintendent
Indian Ridge C.C. 18 hole
Lovejoy Road
Andover, Mass.
Send Resume to: Green Chairman
Mr. Jim Holbrook
Superintendent
Walpole C.C. 18 hole
Send Resume to: Green Chairman
Mr. Robert Powers
11 Arlington Street
Boston, Mass. 02116
Superintendent
Maynard C.C. - 9 hole
Send Resume to: Mr. Len Melanson,
President
Maynard C.C.
Rte 27 - P.O. Box 237
Maynard, Mass. 01754
Tel.; (508)562-3118
Calls accepted day or
evening
Superintendent
Kirkbrae C.C. 18 hole
Old River Road
Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865

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 m a y
u s e d freely, in w h o l e or in part, w i t h o u t special
m i s s i o n a s l o n g a s t h e t r u e c o n t e x t is m a i n t a i n e d .
would appreciate a credit

line.

be

perWe

Please patronize FRIENDS OF THE A S S O C I A T I O N
Agway Inc.
Greg Moore Rep.
Box 507 Sterling, MA
Fertilizer, Seed, Chemicals
800-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614
Baker Golf Cars
40 Walker Street
Swansea, MA 02777
508-379-0092
Sales Rep. Ray Chadwick
Sales Rep. George Asermely
"The Bordon Company
Maynard, MA
Tel: 617-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer
Boston Irrigation Company
Dedham, MA
John Ramey - Paul Kenyon,
617-461-1560
Robin Hayes, 617-477-4423
Distributor of Irrigation Supplies
and Accessories
C & J Equipment, Inc.
188 Main Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
John Deere Golf a Turf Equipment
617-658-2022
Eric Oman, Bill Kemp, Kevin O'Donnell
•Geoffrey S. Cornish & Brian Silva
Golf Course Architects
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
Chester Drake & Sons, Ins.
222 Walnut Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Golf Course Construction
617-875-7929
Elanco Products Company
Stephen C. Dolinak
31 Old Town Trail
Narragansett, Ri 02882
401-789-9017

Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod & Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H.
603-783-4717
Lexington, MA
617-861-1111
Greenway Irrigation Company
Irrigation, Drainage, Wire Laying
P.O. Box 8157
East Lynn, MA 01904
John Murphy 595-3010
Steve Murphy 598-6917
Hammond & Tilton, Inc.
P.O. Box 30, Exit 35 off I95
Tel: (207) 453-7131
Contact: Gary Hammond
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
International Golf Const. Co.
Antonios Paganis, Rep.
5 Purcell R d „ Arlington, MA 02174
Golf Course Construction
617-648-2351 or 428-3022
•Torn Irwin, Inc.
11 B A S t . , Burlington, MA
Jack Peterson
Dennis Friel Phone: 617-938-1751
Wayne Ripley
Larchmont Eng. & Irrig. Co.
Larch mont Lane
Lexington, MA 02173
617-862-2550
"Lasco Inc.
20005 Lake Road
Rocky River, O H 44116
Ron Tumiski, Rep., Mike Donahue, Rep.
800-321-5325
•Loft's Seed
20 Beck Road
Arlington, MA 02174
Victoria Wallace, Rep.

The Magovern Co., Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Tel.: 800-243-7718 or 203-623-2508
•D.L. Maher
Box 127, Concord Street
N. Reading, MA 01864
Mobay Chemical Co.
Greg Ellis
67 Primrose Drive
Warwick, Ri 02818
R.F. Morse & Sons Inc.
W. Wareham, MA 02576
617-295-1553
Larry Anshewitz, Rep.
Jack Cronin, 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.
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers-Seeds-Turf-Chemicals
66 Valley Street
E. Providence, R.I. 02914
Old Fox Golf Course Div.
Custom Applications, Spraying,
Aeration, Top Dressing, Slice Seeding
Full Line of Materials
Weymouth, MA 02190
800-462-5990

E.B. Rotondi & Sons, Inc.
224 Forest Street
Winchester, MA 01890
617-729-3330
Tennis Courts, Cart paths, Parking lots.
Sawtelle Bros.
65 Glenn Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
617-682-9296
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water Street
Clinton, MA 01510
617-365-6341
Pumps-Sales, Service installation,
Vertical Turbine Pumps Specialists
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Rep. Ed Wiacek 401-253-4284
Rep. Scott Brown 413-245-6038
Tuckahoe Turf Farms Inc.
Exeter, R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
West Suffield, CT
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.
60 Merrimac Street
Hooksett, N.H. 03106
Turf a Ornamental Supplies
603-485-7866 (collect)
Ken Turner, Kevin Lyons,
Dave Schermerhorn
Philip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
17 Walker Road
Topsfield, MA 01983

Partac Golf Course Top Dressing
Kelsey Park
Great Meadows, N.J. 07838
Jim Kelsey, 1-800-247-2326
Greg Moore, 401-683-9496

"Contributors to the Troll-Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

THE

NEWSLETTER
RONALD W. KIRKMAN
Newsletter Editor
DOUG JOHNSON CGCS
Associate Editor
THOMAS SCHOFIELD CGCS
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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