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

V

Monday, January 16,1989
Annual Meeting GCSA of N.E.
9:00 am Past President's meeting
10:00 am Director's meeting
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Regular meeting
Host Superintenden—Ron Milenski
Reservations'^ Required—Call before
January 12,1989 (508) 779-6911
Ron has been superintendent at International G.C. for the past 11
years. Prior to International he was superintendent at Greenock *
C.C. in Lee, Mass. for four years. Ron has an
A.S. degree in physical education from
Berkshire Community College and
attended the Univ. of Mass. winter turf
school. Ron lives in Princeton, Mass.
Directions to ITT: Rte. 495 to Exit 27
(Bolton). Follow the International signs
through center of town, Then bear left to the
International.

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 question: In light of overheard suggestions that our usual meeting
time of Monday may not be the most
popular with members, which day do you
prefer?
Continued on page 2

January 1989

Zepp Implores, "Dig Down Deep"
Jjpfcjt
j| « ;

D i c k Zepp didn't
want to run over into
overtime.
"So, let's not talk
about the weather," the
two-term president of
the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England took a breath at
the halfway mark of his administration.
"Seriously, we could spend hours on the
summer we had to put up with."
Zepp, in fact, pinpointed the weather,
along with the renewed involvement in
pesticide legislation as the key topics
coating his first year in office during a
state of the association discussion. He
also looked ahead to the upcoming season
when he hopes members get behind him
in a push to fund turf research.
But, let us start at the beginning... and
the weather.
"There has been more than the usual
number of job changes, job losses after
what our veteran superintendents call the
worst conditions in 30 years," Zepp said.
"When someone loses his job, it's always
sad. However, I'd hate to think anyone
was fired because of the problems caused
by the unusual weather we had all summer.'
Zepp labels any relationship between
loss of employment and the plant-killing
conditions as bordering on catastrophy.
"I wrote an article on the subject for
the MGA," Dick mentioned. "And, in my
way of thinking, the courses that suffered
the most damage didn' t suffer the damage
because of anything the superintendent
did wrong. I know, it sounds trite. But
there were circumstances out there be-

yond our control."
The survivors? Those who got through
the long siege of humidity, hip-high rainstorms and broiling heat?
"Those who came out the best did it
because of a combination of luck and
good programs," Zepp told. "Actually, if
your course drained well, your chances of
survival were much better than supers
without good drainage. But drainage projects are costly. Good programs are related
to the cost factor. Maybe that's a hint for
future budgets, both to the superintendent
and the club membership.
"It was tough on all of us, though. I can
remember an August meeting at Thorny
Lea where (super) Joe Rybka really had it
rough. We were there to play and you
know how nice it is to get out with your
colleagues. But that time there was a sea of
long faces. Joe had been one of the unlucky ones. Hey, we were all depressed."
Seems that the association was also
persuasive.
"Darn right," Zepp explained. "The
association did a good job being heard and
getting results during hearings on pesticide control. I have to be candid at this
point and say that Charlie Passios (Hyannisport Club superintendent) really did a
bang-up job leading the way for our cause
and totally immersing himself in the fight
to resolve this issue fairly.
"What happened in the hearings
amounts to good reflection on our profession. Once and for all we made people
realize we are not against pesticide control. However, we also made it known that
legislation must be based on scientific
Continued on page 2

Golf Course Superintendents
of New England INC.

Association

¥ageZEPP2 IMPLORES

THE SUPER Cont.from p. 1

Cont.from p. 1

fact, not emotions or the drum-beating byspecial interest groups. Fair and effective.
That's our stand on pesticide legislation."
This year's pet project, that of concentrating on the golf course
superintendent's obligation to turf research fund-raising, sets Zepp off on a
temporary run of fire and brimstone.
"Simply stated, it's time for us to wake
up to the fact that turf research should be
one of the top priority items concerning
things to do this year," Dick leveled. "The
superintendent has sat back long enough
and let others put turf research on their
front burner.
"I'm only starting here but I intend to
get the ball rolling, turn it into a snowball
effect. We have to go to our clubs, get
them thinking turf research and the
money it takes for it to succeed. Think
about it. If we could get one dollar from
each member of every New England club
and course, we're talking fifteen to
twenty thousand.
"It shouldn't stop there, either. We
should dig down deep into our own pockets, too. There are so many ways for us to
become involved. We have to look at all
options, like a turf research tournament
— association-wide. We have to set dollar amount goals and go after them."
Zepp, then, isn' t about to make this his
coasting year as NEGCS A president.
"Sure, there's lots to be done," he
added. "And we're the ones to initiate the
effort. Oar profession really has gained in
stature and recognition in recent years.
That image is really beginning to shine at
all levels — from national to regional and
down the line. Therefore, we have to live
up to it. Worst thing we could do now is
rest on our laurels."
Dick Zepp. There's no letup in this
guy. Nice to have him pounding the gavel
for another year.
GERRY FINN
PRESIDENT

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

VICE

PRESIDENT

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

SECRETARY

Arthur Washburn, Cohasset Golf
Club: "There's the old
argument of reserving
light traffic days on the
golf course for major
projects. And, the most likely day for play
to slack off is Monday.
"Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing
the meeting day switch to Tuesday or
Thursday. It would fit into my maintenance schedule better than Monday.
However, I realize there's no such thing
as the universally accepted schedule.
"I don't have any trouble making the
meetings, anyway. I make it a point to attend the summer sessions because I'm
away most of the winter.
"Regardless, we're talking about one
day a month. Just taking a day off should
be beneficial all around, for the club and
the super. In addition to the break in
routine, it offers us the opportunity to beef
up our educational muscles. Even talking
to a fellow super might mean an improvement in my program.
"Oh, one other thing. I'd like to see
attendance at meetings count as credits in
the certification requirement area. Not
only does it make sense, it could bring out
more people to them.'
Tony DeBettencourt, unattached:
"I'm in the golf construction business at
the moment but the association meetings
still interest me. Besides, presently I'm on
the board of directors of the New Hampshire Superintendents Association and
continue to face the 'right day' dilemma.
"When I was working in the maintenance field, I looked forward to meetings
even though I had to split attendance at
both associations when meetings fell in
the same week.
"Monday or Tuesday appear to be the
best days from my point of view. Whatever the day, though, I'm convinced the
monthly meetings are a source of profesI f

m
W l
v

Stephen A. Chiavaroli, CGCS
100 Airport Dr.
Worcester, MA 01602
Home Phone 752-0031
Office Phone 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 443-3712
Office Phone 235-2487
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Wellesley C.C.

sional education that shouldn' t be missed.
I benefitted from every meeting I attended."
John Petraitis, Crestwood Country
Club: "I'm not really a meeting-goer but
I'm in the Monday-Tuesday frame of
mind when I feel I can make an association function.
"I'm another one of those two-association members, having to decide sometimes whether it will be New England or
Rhode Island.
"My contribution here probably
would be a suggestion that the different
associations make their meeting schedContinued on page 3

-POSITION

OPENINGS-

Assistant Superintendent
Ipswich C.C.
3 to 5 years experiencce
Associate Degree

$25,000 to $30,000 plus benefits
Apply to: Wyane LaCroix, superintendent
75 Newburyport Turnpike
Ipswich, MA 01938
Bellevue Golf Club—9 hole
320 Porter Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Contact: Green Chairman
Mike Fair
Assistant Superintendent
Biddeford Saco C.C. (18) Hole
6 Brown Farm Road
Biddeford, Maine 04005
Contact: Wintrhrop Houghton
207-283-1345
Golf Course Superintendent
with experience for a nine hole golf course and
400 unit condominium development at
Lxiuisquisset. Fringe benefits and salary
commensurate with experience. January 15th
is the deadline forresume to: Green Chairman,
79B Valley Green Court, North Providence,
Rhode Island 02904. Tel: (401) 353-6575

TRUSTEE
Kip Tyler
P.O. Box 671
Peabody, MA 01960
Home Phone 745-8089
Office Phone 532-2236
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Salem C.C.

TRUSTEE
Charles T. Passios CGCS
218 Camelback Rd.
Marston Mills, MA 02648
Home Phone 420-3210
Office Phone 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 584-6568
Office Phone 588-8439
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
B r o c k t o n C.C.

Golf Course Superintendents
of New England INC.
GCSA of New England
1989 Slate of Officers
Nominee's
President
Richard C. Zepp, CGCS
Vice President
Paul F. MiUer, CGCS
Secretary
Stephen A. Chiavaroli, CGCS
Treasurer
Thomas R. Schofield, CGCS
Trustee (3 yrs)
Kip Tyler CGCS
Trustee
Edward L Brearly
Finance Chairman
Paul Jamrog
Golf Chairman
Robert DiRico
Educational Chairman Ronald E. Milenski CGCS
Newsletter Chairman
Ronald W. Kirkman

THE SUPER Cont.from p. 2
ules compatible so they don't conflict.
Otherwise, I enjoy them when I can make
them."
Ron
Hansen,
Spring Valley Country Club: "I was just
V
f
looking at my schedule
for 1989 when you
called. You know,
Monday - the old outing day? Next season, we have 16 Monday outings. Last
season it was nine.
"My club has no light traffic days, as
you can see. So, it doesn't make much
difference with me. I do have a looney
idea, though. How about evening meetings? Don't laugh. We had them in New
Jersey. Right. The golf course was
lighted.
"Whatever the day, I have the opportunity to attend meetings because of two
t

The GCSANE research committee is
presently defining the goals and financial
structure for turf grass research. The
enclosed insert is being sent through all
golf channels available to us. We strongly
ask for everyone's support and suggest
using this correspondence as the vehicle
to obtain funding.
FINANCE

CHAIRMAN

Douglas W. Johnson CGCS
50 Newton St.
Weston, MA 02193
Home Phone 894-7377
Office Phone 899-7913
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Pine Brook C.C.

GOLF

CHAIRMAN

James O'Kelly
201 Indian Rock Rd.
Merrimack, N.H. 03054
Home Phone 603-429-2453
Office Phone 244-0680
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Brae Burn C.C.

EDUCATIONAL

things. I have a competent and reliable
assistant and my members seem to agree
that attendance is a plus for the course and
its superintendent.
"As far as I'm concerned, I get more
information about the profession and
topics related to it at association meetings
than I do anywhere. It's not a day in the
country as some would have you believe.
It's worthwhile."
Paul Johnson,
Ferncroft Country
Club: "It makes no
difference for me, although if I had my
druthers, I go for a
Tuesday or Thursday.
"My job and responsibilities dictate
my attendance, no matter what day a
meeting falls on.
"I make a commitment to be here to
prepare for our big tournament (Boston
Five Classic). That means from April to
July, the association won't see me. That's
the way I've setup my schedule and that's
the way it's going to be.
"As for the Monday 'light traffic' situation, it appears to be a thing of the past.

Association

—
EageJ
Golf has become a seven-day sport and it
doesn't end here. The trend has caught on
everywhere. Monday at Ferncroft? We
call it group day. And, believe me, the
groups flock here.
"So, I have my personal priorities. But
I also endorse the effect of the monthly
meetings. It's positive — with or without
me.'
GERRY FINN

-NEW MEMBER-

Welcome and Congratulations to:
Wayne La Croix, Associate
Ipswich C.C.

-PROPOSED NEW
MEMBERSJoseph Sullivan, Regular
Stoney Brook G.C.
Ken Ross, Regular
Pine Oaks G.C.

-REINSTATEDJohn Medvecky
Colonial C.C.

-NEWLY CERTIFIEBKip Tyler, Salem C.C.
Mike Nagle, Worcester C.C.
Jim O'Kelly

Q C S A A . 89

60th International
Golf Course
Conference & Show
February 6-13, 1989
GCSA of New England Hospitality Suite
Place: Anaheim Hilton
Date: Feb. 10 & 11 (Fri & Sat.)
CHAIRMAN

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

NEWSLETTER

CHAIRMAN

Ronald Kirkman
25 Green St.
Needham, MA 02192
Home Phone 444-8412
Office Phone 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 828-7266
Office Phone 828-6540
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
Blue Hills C.C.

-BUDGET MEETINGCall: Tony Caranci, Ledgemont C.C.
(508)761-6520

-FOR SALE-

1979 Ryan Greensaire—good condition
Call: Dick (508) 369-0879, Best offer.
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
8 O O - 2 2 5 - C R O P (MA) 617-422-7614
Baker Golf Cars
40 Walker Street
Swansea, MA 02777
508-379-0092
Sales Rep. Ray Chadwick
Sales Rep. George Asermely
T h e 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 & 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, Rl 02882
401-789-9017

Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc.
Sod a Pine Bark Mulch
Canterbury, N.H.
603-783-4717
Lexington, MA
617-861-1111
Greanway 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 Rd„ Arlington, MA 02174
Golf Course Construction
617-648-2351 or 428-3022
T o m 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
"Lescoinc.
20005 Lake Road
Rocky River, OH 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, Rl 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-Saies, 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 & 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

' C o n t r i b u t o r s to the Troll-Dickinson
Scholarship Fund

THE

NEWSLETTER
R O N A L D W. K I R K M A N
Newsletter Editor
DOUG JOHNSON CGCS
Associate Editor
THOMAS SCHOFIELD CGCS
Business Manager
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

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R O N A L D W. K I R K M A N
25 G R E E N STREET
N E E D H A M , MA 02192

FIRST CLASS

First C l a s s M a i l
U.S. P O S T A G E
PAID
Boston, MA
Permit No. 52848