—TTHE \

NEWSLETTER
Golf Course Superintendents

Association

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

NEXT

MEETING

Tuesday, September 5,1989
Gannon G.C.
Lynn, MA
9:00 am
10:30 am
11:30 noon

Director's meeting
Regular meeting &
Educational Session
Lunch, Golf after lunch

Member-Member Tournament
Host Superintendent—
Stephen Murphy
Reservations required by Friday
Sept. 1,1989 (617) 592-1433
Steve has been supt. there for 13 years.
He received his degree form Stockbridge
in 1971. Currently living in Swampscott,
MA with his wife Carolyn, Steve enjoys
Golf, Skiing and Sailing. He has been a
past Golf Chairman for GCS ANE for 5
years.
Directions—128 North to exit44B (129
Lynn). Follow 129 east for about 2 miles.
Turn right on Great Woods Road. Go
straight through pillars, make left up the
hill to Gannon.

NEW MEMBERS
Welcome & Congratulations to
James Reinertson, Associate
Wayland, C.C.

FUTURE MEETING DATES
September 12 - Wampanoag C.C.—Joint
meeting, New England and CT.
October 16 - Brae Bum C.C.—Supt. & Pro
October 19 - Hyannisport C.C.—Supt. &
Green Chairman
Nc"ember 2 - Mt Pleasant C.C.—Lowell,
MA

OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

August 1989

Time to Spread His Wings, So
Barrie Spreads 9Em
Barrie Robertson takes it
literally... practices what
he preaches.
"The time has come
jfiJgL
-f
when the golf course
•HL
superintendent has to
spread his
wings."
Robertson managed between chores athis new
base of operations—the Lake Sunapee Country Club. "The more you can do the better
chance you have if something goes wrong."
The what-went-wrong disease hits the
superintendent's profession now and then and
it's discomforting to learn of a friend, a colleague losing his job.
Therefore, Robertson is an advocate of
funneling his energy and talent into as many
avenues of endeavor as he deems reasonable.
Indeed, he intends his to be a well-rounded
background.
Presently, Barrie is directing that energy
and talent to a number of ambitious projects
initiated by third-generation Lake Sunapee
owner Doug Homan. The club is headed toward a resort area concept while retaining a
golf community atmosphere.
"The plans call for over 100 condominiums," Robertson revealed. "Right now there
are 50 built and the owner's approach is a
safeguard against financial shortfall. He never
keeps more than one in inventory, so the next
condo built is the next condo sold."
Bairie's part in this particular phase of the
Lake Sunapee expansion explosion is as
supervisor of all maintenance operations, including heavy concentration on landscaping.
There are close to 450 acres to be either
developed or re-shaped in the area's master
plan. The extremes would tickle any golf
course superintendent's fancy-maintaining
an air strip and over-seeing installation of an
irrigation system that waters the course in the
summer and makes snow in the winter.
"The air strip job is neat," Robertson told.
"My job is to keep everything working...
lights, landing area, the works. I mean, when

you have your own airport, I guess you can s ay
you're part of something special in the way of
developing sports and recreation complexes."
The two-way irrigation system indicates
Lake Sunapee leans toward diversification.
"Oh, the snow is for our cross-country
skiing program," Barrie explained. "Over 60
kilometers of trails will be set up before we're
through. So, Lake Sunapee's not just for
summer.
Robertson boned up at Sky Meadow
Country Club for his latest venture. Originally, he was hired as golf course superintendent, then he moved into management of
construction and maintenance of all facilities.
"It was a meaningful experience," Barrie
described his six-year stay at Sky Meadow. "It
prepared me for my present position and kind
of laid the groundwork for building the confidence you need taking up this kind of challenge."
Robertson brought his own golf course
superintendent to Lake Sunapee. He's Michael Ross whose name makes for a piece of
coincidence since famed golf architect Donald
Ross designed the course in 1929.
"There have been some changes made to
the original layout," Robertson noted. "However, overall the course keeps the original
Donald Ross character. That's evident since it
continues to be popular with golfers."
Lake Sunapee, this year, went private and
the response was such that a waiting list already exists. In numbers, the golf course
membership runs 450 and membership in the
overall facility stands at 750.
Robertson, a workaholic who once
worked 28 straight days without any time off,
has a 50-mile commute to Lake Sunapee since
he still lives in Merrimack.
"It'll be a little easier for a while, though,
" Barrie disclosed, "because we're renting a
cottage on the lake for five months this summer and fall. But when I'm back in Merrimack
a typical day begins at 5:30 a.m. and ends at

Continued on page 2

page 2
BARRIE SPREADS 'EM Cont. pg 1
8:30 p.m."
Lake Sunapee is the fourth stop for
Robertson in his career which found him doing
placement work at Wentworth by the Sea,
running things at Keene Country Club for
eight years and filling the next six years with
expanded responsibilities at Sky Meadow.
One other thing that steps up the Lake
Sunapee attraction for Robertson. His boss.
Doug Homan—the only man he answers to—
is a fellow alumnus of Stockbridge. "That
makes for a more compatible relationship," he
remarked.
Which just about says it all in the Barrie
Robertson-Lake Sunapee hookup. They really
get alongtogether. "Famously," Barrie addedr
GERRY FINN

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: Who should decide
the speed of greens, who does decide at your
club and what's your reaction to all the attention directed to this latest golf syndrome?
Mike Iacono, Metacomet Country
Club: "Of course, I'm going for theprofession
ticket as to who should determine how fast the
gre ens are. Naturally, the golf course superintendent is the logical choice.
"That's the way it is at my club, too,
although my membership tends to like their
greens as fast as I can make them. And that's
impossible because the most important factor
in this situation is the health and condition of
the greens. You can't sacrifice it for speed.
"To go along with the fact that my members prefer slick putting surfaces, I must add
that they also realize our greens can't be tournament-fast all the time. There are times when
we have to resort to what I call membershipfast. After all, if the truth were known, the
majority of members everywhere would have
trouble putting very fast greens.
"We use the Stimpmeter as our guide in
setting the speed of greens. I'd say that the
popular reading here is somewhere between 9
and 9.95. That's above average speed but it

PRESIDENT

Richard Zepp, CGCS
27 Fowler Rd.
Northbridge, MA 01534
Home Phone 508-234-8490
Office Phone 508-234-2533
Ciub Affiliation
Whitinsville G.C.

VICE PRESIDENT

Paul Miller, CGCS
1 Leicester Rd.
Marblehead, MA 01945
Home Phone 617-631-7910
Office Phone 508-369-5704
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Nashawtuc C.C.

SECRETARY

seems to work for me.
"As for all the fuss about making greens
wicked fast, it's another one of those fads that
hit the sport every now and then. Really, it's no
big deal but people seem to think fast greens
upgrade the public's rating of their golf
course. To each his own.
Don Ilearn, Weston
Golf Club: "My answers
to your questions, in order,
are super-super and so
what if the putts are reading 7 or 17 feet per drop?
"Seriously, speed of
greens doesn't get much
reaction from me on the attention charts. Sure, some of my members hit
me with that 'the greens are too slow' salutation on occasion but the majority understand
that medium-fast is just about all the average
player can take.
"What's happening in the speed of greens
department is another prestige-inspired standard. Actually, it doesn't hold any water because of what I just said about most of my
members and putting. They prefer so-called
membership-fast greens. Why not? They're
easier to putt.
"Another mystifying part of this situation
is the Stimpmeter. Come to think of it, when
my members realize it's just a piece of metal
with a groove in it, they're not all that impressed with the numbers in its readings.
"I really don't rely on the 'Stimp', although I have measured my greens with it. I
would say we pretty much hold at 8.6 and I
consider that fast for member play. We might
speed it up a little for tournaments but, really,
isn't consistency in the roll andspeed of greens
more important than how fast we can make
them?
"There's also the part TV has played in
making some country club members think
they have to have the fastest greens possible.
It's another spinoff of the kind of conditions
the pros demand and the average player can't
handle.
"Personally, I haven't had much flak from
my members on the subject. Where this started
I don't know. It makes no sense at all."
Tony
Caranci,
Ledgemont Country
Club: "But, of course, the
golf course superintendent is the one to decide
how fasthis greens will be
and that's how it goes
here.
"You know, putting always has been the

Stephen A. Chiavaroli, CGCS
100 Airport Dr.
Worcester, MA 01602
Home Phone 508-752-0031
Office Phone 508-791-5373
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Tatnuck C.C.

TREASURER

Thomas Schofield, CGCS
290 North Rd.
Sudbury, MA 01776
Home Phone 508-443-3712
Office Phone 617-235-2487
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Wellesley C.C.

TRUSTEE

most interesting and probably the most controversial part of golf since the sport began. Hit
any 19th hole and you hear that the greens
were either too fast or too slow. That's what
the players who didn't putt well say. The ones,
rolling in the turnpike jobs? To them, the
greens were just 'perfect'.
"One of the guidelines I go by in cutting
my greens—in fact, I've even gone to a greens
groomer to give my members the best conditions I can—is the stress factor as emphasized
by the USGA.
"Yeah,weusetheS timpmeter here and I' d
guess that our readings average out between 8
and 9. At those readings, I know our greens are
fast enough for my members. Maybe one or
two of them don't think so but we 're not in the
business to satisfy one or two when the
majority's wishes oppose them.
"The talk about a lot of members using the
speed of greens as a selling point in establishing and maintaining prestige at the country
club seems to have taken hold. And it's so
ridiculous. Some people put so much emphasis on greens-speed they might wind up calling
a pasture a great course just because the greens
are super-fast. That's why approaching the
subject with prestige in mind doesn't cut it.
Hey, that might be a joke.
"Finally, we all know that poor putting is
always the result of the greens and not the
people doing the putting, don't we? If it's not
the speed, it's the placement of the cups. So, I
guess we have to roll with all the talk.
"Oh, one more thing. All we need is to
have a golf course lose a green because of
excessive cutting to make it fast. See what
happens then or do you already know?"
(Ed. Note: More on speed of greens next
month.)
GERRY FINN

Research Drive
Update
A s you already know, our research drive is in
full swing. We have established a goal of
$15,000 to be raised through donations from
each club in the golfing fraternity. We are
taking the opportunity to suggest to those of
you who have not donated to this deserving
cause due to budget restraints, to be creative.
Some superintendents are organizing a golf
tournament with proceeds going to turf research. Others are convincing their clubs to

Kip Tyler, CGCS
P.O. Box 671
Peabody, MA 01960 '
Home Phone 508-745-8089
Office Phone 508-532-2236
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Salem C.C.

Continued on page 3
TRUSTEE

Charles T. Passios, CGCS
218 Camelback Rd
Marston Mills, MA 02648
Home Phone 508-420-3210
Office Phone 508-775-5116
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Hyannisport Club

TRUSTEE

Edward L. Brearly
189 Matfield St.
W. Bridgewater, MA 02379
Home Phone 508-584-6568
Office Phone 508-295-7010
Club Affiiiation
Bay Pointe C.C.

Page 3
RESEARCH UPDATE Cont. pg 2
ask each member to donate SI.00. If research
is to be conducted we golf course superintendents must be the catalyst and the golf participant must support it.
The following is a list of clubs that have
already contributed as of July 10, 1989.
Thorney Lea
Nashawtuc
Ipswich
Poquoy Brook
Mt. Pleas ant-B oylston
Tara-Ferncroft
Kittansett
Wellesley
Waubeeka Golf Link
Pinebrook
Brae Burn
Needham
Tatnuck
The Orchards

Whitinsville
Wollaston
Twin Hills
Hatherly
Agway Chemical
The Country Club
Falmouth Country
Club-Maine
Blue Hill
Eastward Ho
Framirtgham
The International
Oakley
Larry Gannon

Thanks to those who have given.
Sincerely,
The Research Committee
Tuesday, September 12,1989
Wampanoag C.C., West Hartford, CT
Joint meeting CT & New England
12:00 noon Lunch, Golf after lunch
Host Superintendent— Robert Johnston
K :servations Required bv Fri. Sept. 8th
(203) 236-1691
Bob was supt. atHampden
C.C. in Hampden, MA for
10 years before spending
the last 6 years at Wampanoag. Bob received his
education at Stockbridge
School of Agriculture and
American International
College. A past GCS ANE Finance Chairman
Bob lives in Granby, CT with his wife and two
children Bobby and Brian.
Directions—Mass Pike to 1-84 to exit 41 in
West Hartford. Coming from east go right
onto South Main Street. Coming from west go
left onto South Main Street. Then proceed 4.6
miles to Wampanoag Drive on left. Look for
Northwest Catholic High School sign on corner of Wampanoag Drive. (SouthMain Street
becomes North Main Street in West Hartford
center)

FINANCE

CHAIRMAN

Paul Jamrog
Box 642, Silverwood Terrace
S. Hadley, MA 01075
Home Phone 413-538-7567
Office Phone 413-536-4195
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The Orchards G.C.

GOLF

CHAIRMAN

Robert DiRico
185 Hemenway St.
Marlboro, MA 01752
Home Phone 508-485-2605
Office Phone 617-244-0680
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Brae Burn C.C.

EDUCATIONAL

GCSAA News
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) will break
ground in early 1990 to begin construction of
a $4 million headquarters complex one mile
from the group's current Lawrence, Kan., site.
GCSAA President Dennis D. Lyon, CGCS,
said that the association's officers approved
schematic plans for the project during a meeting at the U.S. Open in Rochester, N.Y.
"GCS AA's growth has mirrored that of the
rest of the golf industry," Lyon said. "We now
have more than 8,600 members and the association offers more services to them than ever
before. This new building will allow us to keep
meeting the needs i3f our growing membership
and the golf community at large."
The new site is just west of the current
GCSAA building, which has been located on
the Alvamar Golf & Country Club since the
association moved to Lawrence in 1974. Despite the relocation, the new headquarters will
still overlook an Alvamar course: a new 18hole championship layout being designed by
architect Ken Kavanaugh and developed by
Alvamar owner Robert Billings. Construction
of the course is set to start early next year and
both building and course should be complete
and open in 1991.
"We plan to have the building finished and
the staff moved by summer of 1991," said John
M. Schilling, GCSAA's executive director.
Schilling added that the building could be
ready for occupancy by spring of 1991 "if the
Kansas weather cooperates."
Planned for 35,000 square feet, the new
building will nearly triple the space available
for GCSAA's 42-member professional staff
and still leave room for projected growth. In

The a n n u a l
University of R h o d e Island
T u r f g r a s s Field Day
will be held on
Wednesday, August 30, 1989
at the Turfgrass Research Farm
Plains Road, Kingston, RI 02881.
For information contact:
Dr. C.R. Skogley
Plant Sciences Department
Woodward Hall
Kingston, RI 02881

CHAIRMAN

Ronald E. Milenski, CGCS
65 Rocky Pond Rd.
Princeton, MA 01541
Home Phone 508-464-5312
Office Phone 508-779-6911
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
The International

NEWSLETTER

CHAIRMAN

Ronald Kirkman
25 Green St.
Needham, MA 02192
Home .Phone 617-444-8412
Office Phone 617-444-5548
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Needham C.C.

PAST

PRESIDENT

David Barber, CGCS
145 Dedham St.
Canton, MA 02021
Home Phone 617-828-7266
Office Phone 617-828-6540
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue Hill C.C.

addition to the four-story headquarters building, the new complex will feature an attached
70-seat classroom and meeting facility. The
entire design, which is being completed by the
Lawrence architectural firm of Peters, Kubota
& Glenn, P.A., will "make superintendents
who visit feel proud to be members of
GCSAA," according to Lyon.
Since 1926, GCSAA has been the national
professional association for men and women
who "keep golf green." By providing a wide
range of opportunities for education and professional development for superintendents,
the association has played an ongoing role in
improving golf conditions both in America
and abroad.

GCSAA Donates $25,000 for
Turfgrass Research
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America recently contributed
$25,000 to the USGA/GCSAA Turfgrass
Research Committee to support ongoing scientific work on new turfgrass varieties that
would require less water and be more disease
resistant. GCSAA President Dennis D. Lyon,
CGCS, made the presentation June 14 at the
annual USGA/Golf Writers Association of
America banquet during the U.S. Open in
Rochester, N.Y.
More than $2.8 million has been distributed by the committee since 1983, according
to William H. Bengeyfield, national director
of the USGA Green Section. The committee
currently supports 25 research projects, he
said.
"We do thank GCSAA for the research
funding they provide, and we also appreciate
the time people like (GCSAA Vice President)
Jerry Faubel, Dennis Lyon and (GCSAA Executive Director) John Schilling contribute to
the committee," Bengeyfield said. "And
$25,000 is absolutely fantastic."
Lyon said: "GCSAA sincerely supports
the USGA turfgrass research project. We look
forward to working together with the USGA
on other projects in the future."

-For Sale1985 Ryan Greensaire II
Completely Rebuilt
1988 Lesco 500
9 Bladed Reels-Low Hours
Contact Mike Cerveny
Tekoa C.C., 413-568-1636

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

Agway Inc.
Greg Moore Rep.
Box 507 Sterling, MA
Fertilizer, Seed, Chemicals
SOO-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614
Allen LawnmowerCo., Inc.
197 Main St., Agawam, MA 01001
Professional Turf Equip.-Ransomes/
Bobcat, Salsco, Hustler, Tractors
Albert S. McLean, Territory Rep.
Eugene S. McLean, Sales Manager
Baker Golf Cars
40 Walker Street
Swansea, MA 02777
508-379-0092
Sales Rep. Ray Chadwick
Sales Rep. Paul Littlejohn
Bartlett Tree Experts
Tree Maintenance, Fertilization and
Consulting
153 Rumford Avenue
Newton, MA 02166
Carl DeSimone (617) 969-5990
T h e Bordon Company
Maynard, MA
Tel: 508-897-2571
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 & Turf Equipment
508-658-2022
Eric Oman, Bill Kemp, Kevin O'Donnell
•Geoffrey S. Cornish & Brian Silva
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, MA 01002
Country Club Enterprises, Inc.
Club Car Golf Cars
Carryalls/Utility Cars
P.O. Box 400 W. Falmouth, MA 02574
508-563-2284
Chester Drake & Sons, Ins.
222 Walnut Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Golf Course Construction
508-875-7929

THE

Elanco Products Company
Stephen C. Dolinak
31 Old Town Trail
Narragansett, Rl 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 617-595-3010
Steve Murphy 617-598-6917
Hammond & Tilton, Inc.
P.O. Box 30, Exit 35W off I95
Fairfield, ME 04937
Tel: (207) 453-7131
John Deere Golf & Turf Equipment
Contact: Gary Hammond
The Charles C. Hart Seed bo.
Weathersfield. Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep., Roy Sibley, Rep.
Holliston Sand Co. Inc.
Lowland Street
Holliston, MA 01746
Sand forTopdressing & Bunkers
International Golf Const. Co.
Antonios Paganis, Rep.
5 Purcell Rd„ Arlington, MA 02174
Golf Course Construction
617-648-2351 or 508-428-3022
•Torn Irwin, Inc.
11 B A St., Burlington, MA
Jack Peterson
Dennis Friel Phone: 617-938-1751
Wayne Ripley
Larchmont Eng. & Irrig. Co.
Larchmont Lane
Lexington, MA 02173
617-862-2550
"Lesco Inc.
20005 Lake Road
Rocky River, OH 44116
Ron Tumiski, Rep., Mike Donahue, Rep.
800-825-3726
•Loft's Seed
20 Beck Road
Arlington, MA 02174
Victoria Wallace, Rep.

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

The Magovern Co., Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Tel.: 800-243-7718 or 203-623-2508
Lew Varga, Rep.
*D.L. Maher
Box 127, Concord Street
N. Reading, MA 01864
Mobay Chemical Co.
Greg Ellis
67 Primrose Drive
Warwick, Rl 02818
R.F. Morse & Sons Inc.
W. Wareham, MA 02576
508-295-1553
Larry Anshewitz, Rep.
Jack Cronin, Rep.
*Nardone Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Road
Westford, MA 01886
508-692-8221
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
508-528-3120
Don Reynolds, Rep.
Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers-Seeds-Turf-Chemicals
66 Valley Street
E. Providence, R.I. 02914
Partac Golf Course Top Dressing
Kelsey Park
Great Meadows, N.J. 07838
Jim Kelsey, 1-800-247-2326
P.I.E. Supply Co.
Dedicated to sales and service of quality
irrigation equipment. (203) 878-0658
John Lensing (401) 246-0864 for your
irrigation needs.
Read Sand & Gravel, Inc.
171 VFW Drive, Rockland, MA 02370
Top Dressing Loam; Sand, concrete and
brick; Stone, crushed, washed, colored;
Same day service, Saturday deliveries.
John A. Moon, Sales Manager
(617) 878-2955

Return to:
R O N A L D W. K I R K M A N
25 GREEN STREET
NEEDHAM, MA 02192

FIRST CLASS

Sawtelle Bros.
65 Glenn Street
Lawrence, MA 01843
508-682-9296
Scott Associates, Inc.
60 Water Street
Clinton, MA 01510
508-365-6341
Pumps-Sales, Service installation,
Vertical Turbine Pumps Specialists
Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Allan Cumps 413-253-5226,
Regional Director
Rep. Scott Brown 413-245-6038
Rep. Richard Forni 413-534-8896
Stormy Acres
Putting green quality sod grown on a
fumigated sand base
West Haven, Vermont 05743
Kevin Gun, 802-265-3046
Sudbury Nurseries, Inc.
381 Maynard Road
Sudbury, MA 01716
508-443-2021
Wholesale growers of trees and shrubs
Tuckahoe Turf Farms Inc.
Exeter, R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
West Suffield, CT
800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross in
New England
Owen Regan
T u r f Products Corp.
7 Coppage Drive
Worcester, MA 01603
508-791-2091
"Turf Specialty Inc.
60 Merrimac Street
Hooksett, N.H. 03106
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
1-800-228-6656
Ken Turner, Kevin Lyons,
Dave Schermerhorn, Ed Wiacek
Philip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
17 Walker Road
Topsfield, MA 01983

' C o n t r i b u t o r s to t h e Troll-Dickinson
Scholarship F u n d

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