Golf Course Superintendents

LETTER
Association

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

NEXT MEETING

Thursday, June 8,1989
Twin Hill C.C.
Longmeadow, MA
9:30 am Director's meeting
10:30 am Regular meeting &
Educational Session
12:00 noon Lunch
Golf after Lunch
Host Superintendent— Roy Mackintosh
Reservations Required—(413) 567-0321
Roy is our host at Twin Hill C.C. He has been
a superintendent for 25 years. Roy was a
former superintendent at Greylock Glen in
Adams, Mass. and also the C.C. of Wilbraham. He is a 1964 graduate of Stockbridge,
Univ. of Mass. Originally from Springfield,
Roy now lives in Longmeadow with his wife
Frances. They have 3 children, ages 25, 22,
and 17. In his spare time, Roy enjoys golf,
fishing and skiing.
Directions—Mass. Pike west to exit 6. Left
onto 291. Exit 91 South. Go to exit 1 (rte. 5
Longmeadow). Stay on rte. 5 to rte. 192 toward Hazardville, Ct. Take 2nd left beyond
Longmeadow C.C. onto Wolf Swamp Road.
Club is 1 1/2 miles on left.

-PROPOSED NEW MEMBERSPeter Lewis, Regular
C.C. of Farmington, CT
Gregory Misodoulakis, Regular
Bellevue C.C.
Keith Gavin, Associate
Pine Brook C.C.
Gregory Riggs, Associate
Poquoy Brook G.C.
Michael Cummings, Assistant
Heritage Hill C.C.

OF NEW E N G L A N D , INC.

May 1989

Murphy's Law: Do It All, If You Can
Seen Steve Murphy lately?
Here's a hint. He"'s in either one of
three places—Lynn's Gannon Municipal
Golf Course where he keeps 525 members happy with a sparkling layout, North
Reading's Hillview Golf Club where he
shares a course management project with
partner Mike Foster or Nahant's Sea
Gales Golf Club where he just turned the
papers for the more challenging, more
interesting venture of leasing a course.
"Uh, and don't forget the irrigation
business," Steve adds. "That might have
been the thing that stirred my enterprising
blood."
That spinoff from Murphy's fertile
mind began 10 years ago with a modest
undertaking of installing irrigation systems in private homes. Since then it has
grown, along with involvement by
Steve's brother, John, into servicing golf
courses.
"John pretty much runs things there
now," Steve explains. "All of a sudden
'Greenway Irrigations' has taken off and
he (John) has had a lot to do with its
success."
One might ask how does S teve find the
time to spread himself so thin, not to
mention gain the blessing of Gannon officials. After all, it's his superintendent's
lifeline. He's been at the municipal course
for 13 years after four at Pine Crest and a
prep stint at The Country Club.
"I have no problem at all fitting in my
outside interests," Steve tells. "As a city
employee I'm in Civil Service and my
basic hours are 6 to 2. Don't worry. If I
neglected that job, I'd hear about it."
True, Steve's boss at Gannon is Gene

Dooley, a Department of Public Works
commissioner who is a former golf course
superintendent and, in fact, a member of
the New England supers' group. What's
more, Gene was greening the Gannon
fairways etc. as Murphy's predecessor.
"We get along real well," Steve characterizes the relationship. "Gannon's a
busy place and it needs the same, tender
care as a private course. I see that it gets it.
The golfers there are satisfied, Gene's
satisfied and the city's satisfied. I have to
admit, though, there could be a problem if
I did all this while working in the private
sector."
Murphy's arrangement with Hillview
is strictly a management-oriented exploitation of his expertise. His company, Golf
Facilities Management, Inc., charges a
fee and percentage of the gross to run the
town-owned club's golf operations.
"We hire the pro (Brian Gilchrist) and
the superintendent (Jack Ventrie who was
top man at Colonial for 17 years) under a
five-year management contract," Steve
says. "Personally, I'm not wild about this
and I've made a suggestion that Hillview
go on the same setup as a municipal
course. Meanwhile, we're there to see that
things go smoothly."
The leasing venture is something else.
It's new for Steve and he can't wait to see
what his input does.
"This is the kind of thing that can be
exciting," Steve explains. "The lease is
for a straight fee, plus capital improvements. This is a complete takeover and
more of the kind of operation I've always
had in the back of my mind.
Continued on page 2

page 2
MURPHY'S LAW Cont.from page 1
"It's just like taking the ownership
route. There are a lot of risks, but those are
offset by the possibility of reward coming
from taking them. It's a win, lose or draw
situation. I think the potential for a successful stay is there."
Murphy reveals that being owner of a
golf course is perhaps the one, left undone
project in his life.
"I think having my own golf course
would cap everything in my professional
career," he divulges. "I'd like to buy a
litde course somewhere and see what I
could do into making it a winning operation. It's something I've always thought
of."
"I suppose getting into the leasing end
of the business is the next best thing to
owning a course. And maybe I can use the
experience at Sea Gales to find out
whether or not I could make a go of it if I
get the opportunity to buy a course."
While all this spins through Steve's
head, he emphasizes that his flagship post
at Gannon gives him an opportunity to
enjoy the best of two worlds—the security of Civil Service employment there
and the chancy life he heads into when he
works the lease at Sea Gales.
Regardless, he's giving his maintenance and business skills the full workout
and putting them to the supreme test.
Steve Murphy. If there is someone
who can do it all, he's the man to do it.
Good Show.
GERRY FINN

FUTURE MEETING DATES

June 8 - Twin Hill C.C. Longmeadow, MA
June 19-Willowbend Cub—Member and
three club executives.
July 10 - Concord C.C. Concord, MA—Supt.
Championship, one round only
August 7 - South Shore C.C.—Hingham, MA
September 5 - Larry Gannon G.C.—MemberMember
September 12 - Wampanoag C.C.—Joint
meeting, New England and CT.
PRESIDENT

VICE

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 508-234-8490
Office Phone 508-234-2533
Club Affiliation
Whitinsville G.C.

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
Home Phone 617-631-7910
Office Phone 508-369-5704
Club Affiliation
Nashawtuc C.C.

PRESIDENT

The Super
Speaks Out
Welcome to The Super Speaks O u t — 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: With a lot of
attention focussed on the need for extensive turf research, do you think the time
has come for the country club to make a
significant contribution t? a Turf Research Fund?
Tom Columbo,
Country Club of New
Seabury: "Allow me to
open my line of response with this happening:
"One day last year our club made arrangements for a visit by the USG A Green
Section. If I recall correctly, that one-day
consultation cost the club somewhere
between six and seven-hundred dollars.
And there was no argument about it.
"There is a distinct similarity here.
Obviously, the Green Section and turf
research are on the same track. Therefore,
there's no question that my club, as well
as all country clubs, should take part in a
Turf Research Fund.
"Presendy, we're making improvements at New Seabury after a litde slackoff period. The members are putting
money into them through their dues and,
as the improvements develop, our members can see their dues going to work.
"Donations to a Turf Research Fund
would bring about the same thing, only
more so because improvements derived
from research benefit the entire game of
golf.
"Personally, my time spent talking
with members tell me that golfers are
becoming more aware of the complica-

tions coming into golf course maintenance. They realize there's more to conditioning a course than cutting grass. Of
course, the environmental issues tend to
open more eyes to our problems.
"Clubs support turf research? Hey, it's
the only thing to do."
Paul Jamrog, The
Orchards Golf Club.
"In one form or another,
the club will have to
support turf research. It
either should come
from direct appeal for
contributions or become a line item on the
golf course budget. That's how important
it is—to us (supers) and members.
"In the end, it's the member who will
benefit most from research. And, in the
end, successful turf research will result in
a combination of better conditions at less
cost.
"One of our biggest problems is water.
Just for openers, the cost to The Orchards
for irrigation forone seasonruns $12,000.
And I'm not even talking shortage here.
"Eventually, research may lead to
drought-resistant grasses and that will
relieve the pressure on water availability
and use. But for this to come about, country clubs have to make Turf Research
Fund donations a high priority item.
"Oh, there'll be some opposition but I
think the majority will back the fund. As
a golf course superintendent I feel it's my
responsibility to tell members about our
(profession's) problems and the importance of a Turf Research Fund.
"I'm confident golfers will get that
message and react favorably to it, too.
Continued on page 3

We misfi ttrtfiur
WasftSurtij Coftassets'
finesty a speedy recovery
from his recent itfness

SECRETARY

TREASURER

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 0 1 6 0 2
Home Phone 508-752-0031
Office Phone 508-791-5373
Club Affiliation
Tatnuck C.C.

TRUSTEE

Thomas Schofield, CGCS
2 9 0 N o r t h Rd.
S u d b u r y , MA 01776
H o m e Phone 508-443-3712
Office Phone 617-235-2487
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

TRUSTEE

TRUSTEE

Kip Tyler, CGCS
P.O. B o x 671
Peabody, MA 01960
Home Phone 508-745-8089
Office Phone 508-532-2236
Club Affiliation
Salem C.C

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.
Marston Mills, MA 02648
Home Phone 508-420-3210
Office Phone 508-775-5116
Club Affiliation
Hyannisport Club

E d w a r d L. B r e a r l y
189 M a t f i e l d S t .
W. B r i d g e w a t e r , M A 0 2 3 7 9
Home Phone 508-584-6568
Office Phone 508-588-8439
Club Affiliation
B r o c k t o n C.C.

T H E SUPER Cont. from page 2
Bill Spence, The
Country
Club:
"Sometimes a problem
doesn't hit home until
it strikes there.
k # A
"And this is one of
the means to educate members about the
problems facing the superintendent because of weather, environmental restrictions and other factors affecting the golf
course conditioning process.
"When members see their lawns at
home burn up, the situation comes
through a little clearer. Because of it,
golfers are starting to learn about turf
problems and the demand for technological improvements.
"The ideal country club involvement
in a Turf Research Fund is to establish a
one for all, all for one attitude in deciding
how a contribution is to be made. Therefore, it's logical that the club incorporate
a donation into the budget instead of
depending on individual solicitation.
"It's also up to us, the superintendents, to draw the attention of members to
our maintenance problems and on to their
possible solution through turf research.
"No doubt, club members should buy
the fund, whichever way the money gets
to it. They will be the chief beneficiaries
of turf research. No more dead fairways,
no more dead lawns. Maybe that should
be our rallying call.
G E R R Y FINN

-NEW MEMBERS-

Welcome & Congratulations to
Mark Gagne, Regular—Walpole C.C.
Robert Medeiros, Associate
Maynard, C.C.
Michael Stykowski, Associate
Norwood, C.C.
Richard Tworig, Assistant—Halifax C.C.
Andrew Langlois, Assistant
Foxboro C.C.
FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Paul J a m r o g
B o x 642. S i l v e r w o o d T e r r a c e
S. H a d l e y . M A 0 1 0 7 5
Home Phone 413-538-7567
Office Phone 413-536-4195
Club Affiliation
The Orchards G.C

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
Robert DiRico
185 H e m e n w a y S t .
Marlboro. MA01752
Home Phone 508-485-2605
Office Phone 617-244-0680
Club Affiliation
Brae B u r n C.C.

Page 3

The annual
University of Rhode Island
Torfgrass Field Day
will be held on
Wednesday, August 30, 1989
at the
Turfgrass Research Farm
Plains Road
Kingston, RI02881.
For information contact:
Dr. C.R. Skogley
Plant Sciences Department
Woodward Hall
* Kingston,
— RI 02881

1989 COMMITTEES

Membership—Paul Miller, chairman;
Stephen Chiavaroli; Richard Zepp
Finance—Paul Jamrog, chairman; Thomas
Scholfield
Education—Ronald Milenski, chairman;
David Heroian; David Schermerhom;
David Copeland
Golf—Robert DiRico, chairman; Paul
Jamrog; Stephen Murphy
Newsletter—Ronald Kirkman, chairman;
Kip Tyler; Thomas Schofield
Welfare—Kip Tyler, chairman; Charles
Passios; Edward Brearley
Employment—Paul Miller, chairman;
Richard Zepp; David Barber
Publicity—Edward Brearley, chairman;
Stephen Chiavaroli; Paul Jamrog
Turf Research—Paul Miller, chairman;
David Barber; Kip Tyler; Frank Higgins;
Kevin Lyons; Dr. Richard Cooper
Bylaws—David Barber, chairman; Stephen
Chiavaroli
Government Relations—Charles Passios,
chairman; Edward Brearley; Kip Tyler
Christmas Party—Kip Tyler, chairman;
Edward Brearley; Charles Passios
MGA & Ouimet Liaison—Richard Zepp
GCSAA Liaison—Paul Miller
Commercial Liaison—Kevin Lyons

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 Rd
Princeton. MA 01541
Home Phone 508-464-5312
Office Phone 508-779-6911
Club Affiliation
The International

NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Ronald Kirkman
25 G r e e n St
N e e d h a m , MA 0 2 1 9 2
Home Phone 617-444-8412
Office Phone 617-444-5548
Club Affiliation
N e e d h a m C.C.

PAST
PRESIDENT
David Barber. CGCS
145 D e d h a m St
C a n t o n , MA 02021
Home Phone 617-828-7266
Office Phone 617-826-6540
Club Affiliation
Blue Hill C.C

-POSITION

OPENINGS-

Perry Hollow
Golf & Country Club
Wolfboro, New Hampshire
New 18 hole golf course presently under
construction—Cornish & Silva design
Contact Mr. Roland Bernier
Perry Hollow Golf & C.C.
RFD 1, Middleton Road
Wolfboro, New Hampshire 03894
(603) 569-2387
Brewster, MA
The Town of Brewster, MA, is seeking
qualified applicants for the position of Golf
Course Superintendent at its 18 hole
Captains Golf Course. Responsibilities
include extensive independent judgements in
directing the maintenance of the Golf
Course and equipment, in epending funds,
and in maintenance personnel. Job
description may be obtained by enclosing a
stamped self-addressed envelope to:
Golf Commission, Captains Golf Course,
1000 Freemans Way
Brewster, MA 02631.
Send resume to:
Golf Commission, Captains Golf Course,
1000 Freemans Way
Brewster, MA 02631.
Respond by 6/16/89
The Town of Brewster is an AA/EO
employer

Tournament Results

Kings Way G.C.
Low net 51
Dave Farina, Alan Cumps, Dick
Zepp, Tony DeBettencourt
Low Gross - 58
Paul Littlejohn, Greg Ellis, John
Lenhart, Mike Iacono
Long drive - Jim Conant
Nearest the pin - Tim Berge

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
used freely,

in w h o l e

or in p a r t , 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
8DO-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614
Allen Lawnmower Co., 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 Trsa 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

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
Graenway 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 & Tiiton, Inc.
P.O. Box 30, Exit 35W off I95
Fairfield, ME 04937
Tel: (207) 453-7131
John Deere Golf & Turf Equipment
Contact: Gary Hammond
i ne unanes C. Hart Seed Co.
Weathersfield. Conn.
Bob Kennedy, Rep., Roy Sibley, Ftep.
Holliston Sand Co. Inc.
Lowland Street
Holliston, MA 01746
Sand for Topdressing a Bunkers
International Golf Const. Co.
Antonios Paganis, Rep.
5 Purcell Rd„ Arlington, MA 02174
Golf Course Construction
617-648-2351 or 508-428-3022

"Geoffrey S. Cornish & Brian Silva
Golf Course Architects
Fiddlers Green, Amherst, MA 01002

"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

Country Club Enterprises, Inc.
Club Car Golf Cars
Carryalls/Utility Cars
P.O. Box 400 W. Falmouth, MA 02574
508-563-2284

•Lesco Inc.
20005 Lake Road
Rocky River, OH 44116
Ron Tumiski, Rep., Mike Donahue, Rep.
800-825-3726

Chester Drake & Sons, Ins.
222 Walnut Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Golf Course Construction
508-875-7929

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

NEWSLETTER

Tha Magovsrn 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
5-38-692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing Sand
Nor-Am Chemical Co.
Wilmington, Delaware
David Sylvester, Rep.
¥33-828-8905
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
Tru Green Golf Course Div.
Custom Applications, Spraying,
Aeration, Top Dressing, Slice Seeding
Full Line of Materials
Weymouth, MA 02190
800-462-5990
Partac Golf Course Top Dressing
Kelsey Park
Great Meadows, N.J. 07838
Jim Kelsey, 1-800-247-2326
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:
RONALD W. KIRKMAN
25 GREEN STREET
NEEDHAM, MA 02192

FIRST CLASS

E.B. Rotondi & Sons, Inc.
224 Forest Street
Winchester, MA 01890
617-729-3330
Tennis Courts, Cart paths, Parking lots.
Sawtslie 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
Stormy Acres
Putting green quality sod grown on a
fumigated sand base
West Haven, Vermont 05743
Kevin Gun, 802-265-3046
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
T u r f 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 Fund

First Class Mail
U.S. P O S T A G E
PAID
Boston, MA
Permit No. 52848

R O N A L D W. K I R K M A N
Newsletter Editor
KIP T Y L E R C G C S
Associate Editor
THOMAS SCHOFIELD CGCS
Business Manager
G E R R Y FINN
Contributing Editor

nMiMuMtlni