LETTER
Golf Course Superintendents

Association

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

NEXT

MEETING

Thursday, December 7,1989
Blae Hill Country Club
9:00 am
10:30 am
12:00 Noon
After Lunch

Director's meeting
Regular meeting
Lunch
Educational, Session

Host Superintendent—
Dave Barber
Reservations R e q u i r e d Call by December 2,1989
(617) 828-2000
Dave has been the
course superintendent
at Blue Hill C.C. since
I j^jjr
1980. Prior to Blue Hill
^S
Dave was superintenI
dent at Wayland C.C.
or 16 years. He is a
™ graduate of Stockbridge, Univ. of Mass, lives in Canton and
has four children. Dave is past president of
GCS ANE and has been a board member for
16 years.
Directions to: From 128 take exit 2A (Rte.
138 Stougton) go to lstsetof lights and bear
right (Washington St.) go approx. 1 mile
and take aright on Pecunit St. (Sign will say
BHCC) club is on the left approx. 3/4 mile.

Special Thanks
Hyannisport C.C.
(Charles Passios)
for donating $1288 to Research Fund
also to
Newton Commonwealth G.C.
(Kevin Osgood)
for a donation of $1200.

OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

November 1989

Turf Research Tourney Basks in Success
1 urf Research Tourney Basks in Success
They said it couldn't be done.
However, they did it so well they plan
to do it again, again and again.
"Right," Paul Miller
chirped after the first
Turf Research Golf
Tournament had rolled
j ^ f g T j f e h up its tent and put itself
flr |
j M in storage for another
t S S if
•
year. "This is something the doubters, the negative thinkers
fed on. It used to be they could say we
were all talk and no action. Then, all of a
sudden, one day we said let's do it and
here we are."
Miller, who provides the superintendent's input in the greening of the
Nashawtuc Country Club, is chairman of
the NEGCSA turf research committee
and was at the top of the blueprints where
it was decided to tear off donations to the
fund in big chunks by staging a golf tournament.
"We're just starting to round off the
returns," Miller gave an off the top of his
head financial report. "Nothing's official
yet, but it looks like we made in the
vicinity of $12,000 with the tournament,
raffle and other money-raising efforts
attached to it. It's a good start but, hey, we
can do better. In fact, that's going to be our
theme with next year's event and those
that follow. We always want to be better
than we were the year before."
The tournament response which consisted of 32 foursomes touring the
Dedham Polo and Country Club course
(naturally at its spiffy best at the urging of

super Bob Mucciarone) added to the basic
funding tool (straight donation) of
$6,000. That brings the total for the year
to around $ 18,000, a little less than Miller
hoped to realize.
"While the superintendents can't be
blamed for taking bows over the success
of the tournament, I think all of us have to
take a second look at how much we didn't
raise through club donations," Miller
explained. "Our overall goal this year was
$25,000. Don't get me wrong. It wasn't
for lack of effort but for lack of participation. Thirty, that's all, clubs contributed
$200 each."
"Personally, I call that number a disgrace when you think that we represent
150 clubs in our association and that there
arc many other clubs and courses out there
with no ties to our group. We, the superintendents, are just going to have to do
more in the way of selling the fund to our
clubs. We have to make golfers understand how important turf research is."
As for the tournament and the people
making it all possible, Miller was virtually ecstatic over the cooperation he got
from all sides of the sport, itself, and the
entire golfing industry.
"Naturally, we want to thank all those
who played," he said. "And, of course, the
same goes to the Dedham club for having
us there. But there were individuals who
worked above and beyond normal levels
to make this a success."
"Kip Tyler (Salem super) was one. He
was in charge of communications,
spreading the word. Jim Beane (Mt.
Pleasant) and Paul Jamrog (The
Continued on page 2

page 2
TURF RESEARCH TOURNEY
Cont.from pg 1
Orchards) did a good job getting the raffle
organized. Kevin Lyons (Turf Speciality)
put his talents and effort to work in a
successful sale of tee, green and hole
sponsorships. Rich Cooper (UMass) had
things under control in the nearest the pin
contest and, of course, Dave Barber (Blue
Hill) and Dennis Friel (Tom Irwin) tied
the golfing and eating ends together very
nicely.
"The list of doers just goes on and on.
How about Sawtcile Brothers and Country Club Enterprises? They got together
along with the Dedham Polo C.C. and
donated the golf carts players used in the
tournament. The whole group just pitched
in and made sure everything turned up
right. As you can see, it was a team effort
among the superintendents, commercial
representatives and educators (Dr. Cooper). It was our first try and the organization in all phases really showed."
Miller, who had no small part in the
tournament as well as an ongoing concern
for the well being of the Turf Research
Fund, emphasizes that the overall winner
is the golfing fraternity which benefits
whenever improvements and innovations
in the field are made.
"That's why we (supers) have to keep
banging away at our members about the
importance of turf research," he added.
"One day we'd like to make a donation
that could open all kinds of new doors for
the research people, maybe even get to the
point where we raise enough money to
provide new facilities to bolster the research effort. That's how big this thing
can become."
Whatever, those who said it couldn't
be done are still feeding off the possibility
in a way. But this time they're eating their
words. Tasty or not, they're stuck with
them.
GERRY FINN

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
H o m e P h o n e 508-234-8490
O f f i c e P h o n e 508-234-2533
Club Affiliation
W h i t i n s v i l l e 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 P h o n e 617-631-7910
O f f i c e P h o n e 508-369-5704
Club Affiliation
Nashawtuc C.C.

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 m o n t h ' s continuing question:
What is your reaction to the Turf Research Fund Golf Tournament as well as
any ideas you may havefor promoting the
importance of the fund and influencing
greater donor participation:
Doug
Johnson,
Sky M e a d o w Golf
Club: "I'm really excited about the way the
golf tournament turned
out to be the successful
undertaking a lot of
people, even some of our own members,
thought was a hopeless cause.
"Of course, anything that beefs up the
turf research program is worth all the
effort that goes into i t For years we've
been involved in turf research by channeling our donations through the national
association. This way we keep our money
at home and we take care of our own
area's researching needs.
"I think the superintendent should
take a more active part in improving the
club donation figures. I can' t see anything
wrong in him going to his board of directors and asking that the club tack on a
dollar or two for research in its dues
structure. However, I can't see making it
part of the superintendent's budget. In
most cases it would be hidden under
miscellaneous expense and leave itself
open to query.
"There's another idea we might explore. Since golfers are the chief beneficiaries of turf research, how about a state-

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 , MA 01602
H o m e P h o n e 508-752-0031
O f f i c e P h o n e 508-791-5373
Club Affiliation
T a t n u c k C.C.

TREASURER
Thomas Schofield, CGCS
290 N o r t h Rd.
S u d b u r y , MA 01776
H o m e P h o n e 508-443-3712
O f f i c e P h o n e 617-235-2487
Club Affiliation
Wellesley C.C.

wide push to get the MGA to add a dollar
charge for research to its handicap card
program? I can see a lot of money rolling
in if we could get the golfers directly
involved.
"Personally, I think the superintendent's input at his club should be through
his board and not a member-to-member
contact effort. Let the board members
pass the word.
"Regardless of how we do it, I'm
convinced turf research and its funding
should be the No. 1 priority of the superintendent. This thing is long overdue. The
easiest thing to do would be rest on our
laurels after the tournament's success but
it would also be the worst thing. We have
to stay on top of this one, year-in and yearout."
Bill Spence, The
Country Club: "Unfortunately, I didn't get
the opportunity to be
part of the research
fund tourney but I think
it's an excellent idea.
This is one area (research) where we
have to be concerned because I can see a
lot of changes ahead, changes whose acceptance will be facilitated if research
results in improved maintenance methods.
"We're direct donors, meaning that
The Country Club has made the Turf
Research fund part of its annual budget.
That's not a hard development to understand because most ground chairmen are
sensitive to the need for technological

TRUSTEE
Kip Tyler, C G C S
P.O. Box 671
P e a b o d y , MA 01960
Home Phone 508-745-8089
Office Phone 508-532-2236
Club Affiliation
Salem C.C.

Continued on page 3

-NEW MEMBERSWelcome & Congratulations to
Eric B. Lamont, Assistant
Brae Burn C.C.
Michael Videtta, Regular
Norwood, 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 02648
Home Phone 508-420-3210
O f f i c e P h o n e 508-775-5116
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 , MA 02379
Home Phone 508-584-6568
Office Phone 508-295-7010
Club Affiliation
Bay P o i n t e C.C.

Page 3
T H E SUPER SPEAKS OUT
Cont.from pg 2
improvement and they pass that concern
on to their fellow members.
"The proof of research's importance
is the fact that research is responsible for
most of the top-grade conditions we're
able to present members playing at private clubs and those who play at public
courses.
"There are a lot of environmental
problems around that eventually will affect the way we can and can't condition
golf courses. For one thing, use of water
is going to be one big hangup for us.
That's why it's so essential to find grasses
that resist the effect of restrictions influenced by environmental factors.
"We're also headed to that point
where golfers must take a second look at
the game and realize that consistency in
course conditioning may not come as
easily as it does now. If there isn't any
counteraction to conditioning restrictions, they may have to live with conditions that aren 't uniform, ones they're not
accustomed to live with.
"All of this, of course, relates to turf
research and the large part it will play in
grooming golf courses. I'm all for i t All
of us have to be."
Dick Zepp, Whitinsville Golf Club: "This
is one of my favorite
subjects because I'm
convinced we, as golf
course
superintendents, have to take the
lead, the front line in promoting turf research.
"The tournament was the kind of
thing we have to put on the front burner.
It was a huge success because the people
behind it did a great job of putting it
together and making it work. That's one
successful tournament down and many
more to go.

"I am disappointed with the direct
appeal part of our fund-raising project. In
fact, I still find it hard to believe there
wasn't 100 percent participation. I have to
blame us, the superintendents, for this.
Apparently, we didn't do a good selling
job. We have to go back to the people on
our club boards and explain that research
benefits everyone in golf but mostly the
golfer.
"The superintendent's direct involvement in the research fund is the reason we
thought the raffle at the tournament would
turn over a nice return. My idea on that
was to have our (NEGCSA) members
push the raffle' tickets and push them hard.
My motto was and will be, 'if you don't
sell 'em, buy 'em'. In other words, since
most of us make a respectable living from
the game, it's time for the superintendent
to dig into his own pocket to strengthen
the fund.
"Right now, we're talking about a
$25,000 annual goal. That's realistic but
I'd like to think it's only a start. We should
go on from there—to more participation
and more ambitious goals. All of us made
this thing work. Now, let's see if we have
the stuff to make it work better."

GOLF
CHAIRMAN
Robert DiRico
185 H e m e n w a y St.
M a r l b o r o , MA 01752
Home Phone 508-485-2605
Office Phone 617-244-0680
Club Affiliation
Brae B u r n C . C .

Hyannisport Club
Green Chairman & Superintendent
1st Gross Mt. Pleasant C.C. (Lowell)
Jack Hassett, S. Poremba
1st Net

-POSITION

OPENING-

Superintendent
Pleasant Valley Country Club
Sutton, MA 01527

3rd Net Woodland G.C.
Norman Mucciarnoe, Art Simpson
4th Net

1990 NOMINATING
COMMITTEE
Don Hearn—Chairman
Jack Hassett, Art Washburn
Kip Tyler, Steve Chiavaroli

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.
P r i n c e t o n , MA 01541
H o m e P h o n e 508-464-5312
O f f i c e 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 , M A 02192
H o m e P h o n e 617-444-8412
O f f i c e Phone 617-444-5548
Club Affiliation
Needham 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 617-828-6540
Club Affiliation
B l u e H i l l C.C.

Hickory Ridge C.C.
Bob Ruszalla, Bill Shumway

Long Drive - Mel O'Kelly - Marshfield C.C.
Closest to Pin - Fran Marini - Halifax C.C.
Closest to Pin - Jack Hassett - Mt. Pleasant
C.C. (Lowell)

Mt. Pleasant G.C. (Lowell)
1st Net

Ron Kirkman, Needham
Art Silva, Belmont
Dick Zepp, Whitinsville
Steve Chiavaroli, Tatnuck

2nd Net Orrin Ellis, Nahant
Paul Miller, Nashawtuc
Norm Mucciarone, Woodland
Kip Tyler, Salem
3rd Net

Jack Hassett, Mt. Pleasant
(Lowell)
Bob DiRico, Brae Bum
Jeff Carlson, Ocean Edge
Alan Anderson, Winding Brook
Turf

4th Net

Eric Lamont Brae Burn
Mike Cornicelli, C&J Equipment
John Lenhart, Sawtelle
Keith Gavin, Pinebrook

Privately owned 18-hole golf course. PGA
Toursite since 1965. Reese Jones designing
additional 9 holes.
Contact: Mr. Ted Mingolla, (508) 865-4441

Needham G.C.
Ron Kirkman, Jim Cotter

2nd Net Nabasett lake C.C.
Art Miller (Lost to Needham G. C. by
F . Couggee
matching of Cards)

GERRY FINN

v

FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Paul J a m r o g
Box 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 01075
H o m e P h o n e 413-538-7567
Office Phone 413-536-4195
Club Affiliation
The Orchards G.C.

Tournament Results

Long Drive - Mike Cornicelli
Closest to Pin - Jack Hassett

J
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
800-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614
Allan 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 Wklker Street
Swansea, MA 02777
508-379-0092
Reps, Ray Chadwick, Paul Littlejohn
Bartlett Tree Experts
Tree Maintenance, Fertilization &
Consulting
153 Rumford Avenue
Newton, MA 02166
Carl DeSimone (617) 969-5990
The Bordon Company
Maynard, MA, Tel: 508-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer
Boston Irrigation Company
Dsdham, MA
John Rarney - Paul Kenyon,
617-461-1560
Robin Hayes, 617-477-4423
Distributor of Irrigation Supplies
and Accessories
The Cardinals, inc.
166 River Road, P.O. Box 520
Unionville, CT 06085
Golf Course & Landscape Supplies
John Callahan 203-673-3699
C & J Equipment, Inc.
188 Main Street
Wilmington, MA 01887
John Deere Golf & Turf Equipment
508-658-2022—Eric Oman,
Mike Cornicelli, 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

THE

Chester Drake & Sons, ins.
222 Walnut Street
Framingham, MA 01701
Golf Course Construction
508-875-7929
Elanco Products Company
Stephen C. Dolirsak
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 Co.
P.O. Box 9169
Weathersfield. Conn. 06109
I -800-326-HART
Roy Sibley, (203) 376-9525
Don Whinnem (603) 692-5097
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 508-428-3022
Torn Irwin, Inc.
I I 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

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

•Loft's Saad
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
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
Reps., Larry Anshewitz, Jack Cronin
•Nardona Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Road
Westford, MA 01886_ _
_______
508-692-8221
i Specializing in Topdressing Sand
Ner-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 Dressg Loam; Sand, concrete and
brick; Stone, crushed, washed, colored;
Same day service, Sat. deliveries.
John A. Moon, Sales Mgr 617-878-2955

Return to:
RONALD W. KIRKMAN
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, Regional Director
Rep. Scott Brown 401-294-3606
Rep. Richard Forni 413-534-8896
Steiner Turf Equipment
Sales & Service, Vernons, Inc.
13 School Street
Danvers, MA 01923
Dick Leigh, (508) 774-4410
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
Tuckahoa Turf Farms Inc.
Exeter, R.I. Litchfield, N.H.
West Suffield, CT
800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross in
New England
Owen Regan
Turf inc.
South County Trail
Slocum, Rl 02877
Rep. Bruce Roberts
Turf 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
Bob Flanagan, Kevin Lyons,
Dave Schermerhorn, Ed Wiacek
'(PhUit5uW6d8lVie

Troll-Dickinson

Architect
17 Walker Road
Topsfield^MA 01983

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