LETTER Golf Course Superintendents Association OF NEW ENGLAND, INC. Sponsors and administrators of the Troll-Dickinson Scholarship Fund — Awarded yearly to deserving Turf Management Students. NEXT MEETING Thursday, November 2,1989 Mt. Pleasant G.C., Lowell, MA 9:00 am Director's meeting 10:0 am Regular meeting & Educational Session 11:15 Lunch 11:45 Golf after lunch Host Superintendent—Jack Hassett Reservations required by Oct. 30th (508) 458-7300 Jack attended the winter school at Univ. of Mass., and has an associate degree in business administration. Jack was the supt. at Manderley on the Green, Ontario, Canada for 5 years. He was born in Lowell, MA and still resides there with his wife Monique and 12 year old daughter, Julia. In his spare time Jack enjoys golf and skiing. Directions—From 495 & 128, take Rte. 3 north to exit 32 (North Chelsmford-Westford). Enter rotary-take first right which is Westford Rd. (Lowell). Follow for 8/10 mile passing Ford & Hyundai Dealerships and take a right at 'Y' onto Westford St. Follow for 1/2 mile, take your 6th right onto Staples St., club is at end of street. -POSITION OPENING- Superintendent Pleasant Country Club Sutton, MA 01527 Privately owned 18-hole golf course. PGA Toursite since 1965. Reese Jones designing additional 9 holes. Contact: Mr. Ted Mingolla, (508) 865-4441 October 1989 Everything, Everybody Making it Work for Roy Looking for an exemplary work ethic by perhaps the most successful country club general manager to emerge from the ranks of the golf course su- perintendent? The search stops when you reach the Twin Hills Country Club where Roy Mackintosh has been the man in charge (of everything) for the past 13 years. They don't come any better, perhaps because they don't work any harder. So, how does he do it—manage a topshelf operation that thrives on the inside and sparkles on the outside? The Twin Hills clubhouse turns on an average gross revenue of three quarters of a million dollars a year and its ledger says that rare is the day when a loss is recorded. The club's golf course condition report is stuck in place—one of the best groomed layouts in New England. Obviously, Roy can' t be in two places at once, making sure there's enough roast beef in the fridge to feed a member-guest four-ball field and checking the holding power of the ninth green to insure players can hit to its flag without fear of their golf balls leaving club property. "I can't do everything myself, no one can," Mackintosh explained one day last month after quality control had given his course a triple-A rating. "The key to this job is delegating authority and responsibility. And you can't do that unless you have outstanding people in the key posi- tions. I have them, do I ever. Of course, I also have good members. This is Roy's second tour of duty at Twin Hills. He went right from a startingOff point at the Wilbraham Country Club where he served one year as superintendent to a Twin Hills course that was just putting the finishing touches on its construction stage. The year was 1965, a time when the position of "pro-greenkeeper" still existed and Roy's dad, Alan Mackintosh, filled it at Wilbraham. Maybe that bloodline was the basis for Roy being able to transfer his expertise from the golf course to the clubhouse and beyond. "I learned a lot watching my dad handle both jobs at Wilbraham," Roy noted. "I also developed some good work habits there. But, you know, I always liked what I was doing. In fact, even today some of my happiest moments come when I climb on a tractor and help with some project on the course." Roy's grasp of the superintendent's profession came quickly and returned Twin Hills' members a course that gave them bragging rights throughout Western Massachusetts when the conversation found its way to playing conditions. Eventually, a well-groomed golf course became a tradition at Twins Hills and, naturally, word spread that all Mackintosh need do is snap his fingers and everything came up green. Such glowing reputation made him the logical choice to complete construction and assume superintendent's duties Continued on page 2 Golf Course Superintendents of New England INC. Association page 2 W O R K I N G FOR ROY Cont.from p. 1 at an ambitious resort undertaking in the Berkshires called, "Greylock Glen". So, off Roy went when the Glen called in May of 1974. About a year and a-half later, Labor Day of 1975, he had the course completed and ready to open. Ah, but... But Greylock Glen was slowly turning into a financial bust. When it was hot rumor that pay-checks would be slow coming, if they came at all, Roy packed his bags and hopes again. The road he took was a familiar one, back to Twin Hills which had been bought by its members who wanted their original superintendent to return and try his hand at running the whole show. Needless to say, it's been good show at Twin Hills ever since. Roy told that he gradually worked his way into all the responsibilities going with the general manager's post. Once he was familiar with the specs attached to each phase of the operation, Mackintosh leaned on had-picked department heads to streamline it. "There are five key positions here and each is filled by a top-notch person," Roy revealed. "Starting with our food and beverage manager, Larry Perrault, the lineup is packed with efficiency. Our members appreciate the arrangement, too. It's become customary for the club to pick up the tab when any of the staff needs to take educational refresher courses or attend seminars to sharpen their expertise. It works real well." The word on the street is that Twin Hills is a nice place to work, mostly because of Mackintosh's strong sense of loyalty to his employees and sensitivity to their needs. For example, the club pays for three-fourths of a medical plan for fulltime employees, a three-week vacation program is included in the perks and a retirement plan has recently been instituted. As for the boss, he pitches in wherever and whenever he can. During the golf PRESIDENT Richard Zepp, CGCS 27 F o w l e r Rd. N o r t h b r i d g e , MA 0 1 5 3 4 Home Phone 508-234-8490 Office Phone 508-234-2533 Club Affiliation Whitinsville S.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 Home Phone 617-631-7910 Office Phone 508-369-5704 Club Affiliation Nashawtuc C.C. season, Roy averages a 60-hour work week and cuts back to 40 when members hang up their clubs for the winter. Along the way, Roy has enjoyed a happy and rewarding personal life with wife, Fran, daughter, Deneen and sons, Scott and Greg. Running the show at Twin Hills, then, has been a most successful run for Roy Mackintosh who admits that being a success at what he does backbones his urge to give members the very best he can deliver. "Getting recognition that we're one of the best operated country clubs really means something," Roy added. "It motivates me and my staff. We want to be the best." Nice approach, huh? GERRY FINN GCSANE Turfgrass Research Committee First Annual Golf Course Superintendents Assoc. of New England Research Tournament Special Thanks to Dedham Polo & C.C. and Superintendent Robert Mucciarone Research Committee Chairman: Paul Miller Golf: Dave Barber & Dennis Friel Hole Sponsorship: Kevin Lyons Communications: Kip Tyler Raffle: Jim Beane & Paul Jamrog Raffle Contributors Foot-Joy Hogan, Spaulding Titleist Heritage Hills-Charles Dickow, New England Golf-Dennis Friel SECRETARY S t e p h e n A. C h i a v a r o i 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. TREASURER Thomas Schofield. CGCS 2 9 0 N o r t h Rd. S u d b u r y , M A 01776 Home Phone 508-443-3712 Office Phone 617-235-2487 Club Affiliation WellesleyC.C. Country Clubs That Contributed Green Fees & Carts for One Foursome Mount Pleasant C.C. (Boylston) Worcester C.C. The Orchards C.C. Blue Hill CG. The International C.C. Golf Carts donated by: Dedham Polo & C.C., Sawtelle Brothers and Country Club Enterprises, Inc. Contributors to the Research Fund Thorny Lea C.C., Nashawtuc C.C., Ipswich C.C., Poquoy Brook C.C., Mt. Pleasant C.C. (Boylston), Tara Ferncroft C.C., Kittansett C.C., Wellesley C.C., Woodland CG., Salem C.C., Waubeeka Golf Links, Pine Brook C.C., Brae Burn C.C., Needham C.C., Tatnuck C.C., The Orchards C.C., Whitinsville C.C., Wollaston C.C., Twin Hills C.C., Hatherly C.C., Agway Chemical, The Country Club, Falmouth C.C. (Maine), Blue Hill C.C., Eastward Ho C.C., Framingham C.C., The International C.C., Oakley C.C., Larry Gannon G.C. Hole Sponsors Turf Specialty, Inc. Turf Products Corp. Scotts Pro-Turf Division Nor-Am Chemical Smithco Cushman Ryan Nardone Sand & Gravel Co., Inc. R.F. Morse & Sons, Inc. Mobay Chemical Co. D.L. Maher Lesco Inc. Larchmont Engineering & Irrigation Co. Tom Irwin, Inc. The Charles C. Hart Seed Co. Greenway Irrigaton Co. Leanco Products Co. Country Club Enterprises, Inc. C. & J. Equipment, Inc. Agway Inc. Golf Cart Services Brudan Corp. Ciba-Geigy Sawtelle Brothers TRUSTEE Kip Tyler, C G C S P.O. Box 671 Peabody, MA 01960 Home Phone 508-745-8089 Office Phone 508-532-2236 Club Affiliation Salem C.C. TRUSTEE 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. . M a r s t o n M i l l s , MA 0 2 6 4 8 Home Phone 508-420-3210 Office Phone 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 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 508-295-7010 Club Affiliation BayPointeC.C. Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England INC. Page 3 Golf Course Superintendents of New England INC. Association Page 4 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 continuing question: Another season ofgetting and keeping the golf course at the best possible ready for members is winding down, so how did this grooming year compare to last year when weather conditions played havoc with most superintendents? Bob Connolly, Winchester Country Club: "No question This year we're talking 'basic summer', last year we were talking 'wholesale disaster'. "Let's face it. The way the heat and humidity peaked at the end of July a year ago was unreal and those of us who could do nothing but take it while those grasses were cooking to death, especially on courses that had bad drainage to begin with, are in a much better frame of mind because of the more normal conditions this summer. "At Winchester, our recovery program was implemented just as soon as we could asses the damage. We got hit hard, like a lot of other clubs. However, we went right into an aerating and seeding program that showed results as early as the start of last fall. "This year, we've just tried to pick up on that recovery mode and the feeling is that we're really gaining on our 1988 setbacks. However, I'm convinced that the development of more durable and better grasses should be the top priority of everyone connected with the job of growing turf and retaining its most valuable properties. "Then, too, the extent of certain things we do to improve and preserve the condition of certain golf course grasses has crossed all the old boundaries. I remember when you areated greens only. Now, the process has swung over to tees and fairways. It's not there, yet, but the golf course is getting to be one big green. "Regardless, comparing working conditions with this and last summer runs into the old comparing apples and oranges routine. Last year was a nightmare, this year the superintendent didn't have to worry about waking up screaming. Naturally, I prefer it this way." joe Rybka, Thorny Lea Golf Club: "Every time I think of last year I go back to that little spell some superintendent tried to make popular, that brown grass doesn' t look so bad, after all. "Oh, the difference in the two summers. Last year the combination of all that water sitting there cooking and the fact that we had a low cut on our fairways just about wiped us out. We wound up with heat diseases, bare fairways and brown grass. We really didn't have much to get an appreciable amount back then but we've been working on it and showing good results this summer. "The reasons for this, of course, is that this summer has given us at Thorny Lea a good year for growing grass. We're on a fungicide program that seems to be working and we're pushing bent grass in hopes that it will push out some of the poa annua. "Abut the cut? We still have golfers who want the fairways as low as we can get them without ihviting damage, so I'm giving them what they want. So far, we've been able to do it. But, again, this has been a good weather condition summer for us. This summer, I can live with it.' Mark Taylor, Haverhill Golf and Country Club: "For me, the worst thing about last summer was having to look at my grass and watch it die, all the while knowing there wasn't anything I could do about it. "The standing water and incessant heat that followed really did a job on our course. Our fairways cooked and cooked until they were well done. The dominant color was brown and there were some real t "If you think it's hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball." dark days around here before we put ourselves on a rebound. "Aerate and seed. That's how we tackled the affected areas and we went to work on them right away. In fact, quite a bit came back last fall. This spring, we hit the same areas with the same intensive combination of aerating and seeding and it looks like we have them back where they belong. "The weather conditions this summer have been a complete reversal of what we had to deal with last year. I rate them 'good'. The rainfall has almost turned out to be a push-button process. It seems like it rained every 10 days or so and everything fit into a good growing pattern. "The weather has been a bonus, too, because I can remember forecasts of drought for this summer when we didn't get much snow last winter. I'm satisfied with the way things worked out—our recovery program and the weather we got to make it a success." G E R R Y FTNN -NEW MEMBERSWelcome & Congratulations to Dean Loomis, Associate South Shore C.C. Chris Bowen, Associate Saddle Hill C.C. Jeffrey Nealy, Assistant Plymouth C.C. -PROPOSED NEW MEMBERSEric B. Lamont, Assistant Brae Bum C.C. Michael Videtta, Regular Norwood, C.C. Golf Course Superintendents of New England INC. Thanks to all the clubs and distributors that contributed to the 1989 Turf Research Fund. We had an excellent response for our inaugural year. Association _Page 5 Tournament Results 1st gross Larry Gannon G.C. Superintendent Superintendent Championship Jack Hassett-Mt. Pleasant (Lowell) Paul Jamrog-The Orchards 1st Net Champions A1 Singer-Cedar Glen G.C. Paul Brooks-Sagamore Springs G.C. 2nd Net Steve Chiavaroli-Tatnuck C.C. Dick Duggan-Concord-C.C. 3rd Net Dick French-Longmeadow G.C. (Lowell) Greg Misodoulakis-Bellevue G.C. Commercial Division Championship was won by Paul Skaffas-Tom Irwin Co. Mike Cornicelli-C&J Equipment Co. Closest to Pin Jack Hassett Longest Drive Jack Hassett Special thanks to the Dedham Country & Polo Club and host superintendent, Bob Mucciarone. The Dedham Club, Country Club Enterprises and Sawtelle Brothers donated the golf cars. A round of applause for Steve Butler, News From: AMERICAN SOCIETY OF GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTS Larchmont Engineering who won the set of irons and he auctioned them off and donated the proceeds Yesterday — 320 yd. hole to the research fund. It's Time To Move Forward! Research Tournament Results 120 yds, Dedham Country & Polo Club 1st Net 2nd Net 3rd Net 4th Net 5th Net 6th Net 7th Net 8 th Net Country Club Enterprises, Inc. Blue Hill C.C. Larchmont Eng. Inc. Turf Specialty, Inc. Concord C.C. The International Tedesco C.C. C&J Equipment Co. Lorg Drive Jim Cutter Nearest Pin #5 Jim McCormick Nearest Pin #2 Brain Cleary Nearest Pin #17 Jack Hassett 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 Home Phone 413-538-7567 Office Phone 413-536-4195 Club Affiliation T h e O r c h a r d s G.C. GOLF CHAIRMAN Robert DiRico 185 H e m e n w a y S t . 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. 4 0 yds. roll 120 yds. 4 0 yds. roll Formerly an average woman player could reach a 520 yd. hole in regulation with the additional roll when fairways were more firm. Today — 320 yd. hole 1 2 6 0 yds. 120 yds, 10 yds. roll 120 yds, 10 yds. roll Leaving 6 0 yd. shot Today the average woman player will need three shots to reach a 320 yd. hole with today s lush fairways Women are making their presence felt in golf, and now golf courses must be adapted to their game, according to the American Society of Golf Course Architects. With one in four golfers a woman, and 41% of all new golfers women, the Society's members are designing forward tees on most of their new and remodeled courses. Alice Dye, the only woman member of the Society, points out that research shows the average woman golfer drives the ball about 130 yards. She says that the low handicap woman golfer is most comfortable playing a course that is approximately 5,440 yards long, while the average woman golfer would find a 4,800 yard course most enjoyable. The ASGCA architects note that today's lush, watered courses have reduced the roll of the ball. On firm fairways, 33% roll previously was expected and designed into the hole. The two illustrations above show that the average woman golfer could reach a 320-yard hole in regulation with 40 yards of roll, but cannot when the roll is reduced to 10 yards. Those interested in how forward tees can enhance the playability of a golf course may obtain further information and illustrations by sending a $5 check to the American Society of Golf Course Architects, 221 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL 60601. 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 R d . P r i n c e t o n , 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 Si. N e e d h a m , MA 02192 Home.Phone 617-444-8412 Office 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 Blue Hill C.C. I n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a i n e d in t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n m a y be u s e d f r e e l y , in w h o l e o r in p a r t , w i t h o u t s p e c i a l p e r m i s s i o n as l o n g as 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 . We w o u l d a p p r e c i a t e a c r e d i t line. 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 Chester Drake & Sons, Ins. 222 Walnut Street Framingham, MA 01701 Golf Course Construction 508-875-7929 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 Elanco Products Company Stephen C. Dolinak 31 Old Town Trail Narragansett, Rl 02882 401-789-9017 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 "The 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 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 Gold Star Sod Farms, Inc. Sod a 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. Weathersfield. Conn. Bob Kennedy, Rep., Roy Sibley, Rep. Holllston 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. 11 B A St., Burlington, MA Jack Peterson Dennis Friel Phone: 617-938-1751 Wayne Ripley 'Geoffrey S. Cornish & Brian Silva Golf Course Architects Fiddlers Green, Amherst, MA 01002 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. Eox 400 W. Falmouth, MA 02574 508-51-3-2284 'Lesco Inc. 20005 Lake Road Rocky River, OH 44116 Ron Tumiski, Rep., Mike Donahue, Rep. 800-825-3726 THE NEWSLETTER •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 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 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 Turf Inc. South County Trail Slocum, Rl 02877 Rep. Bruce Roberts T u r f Products Corp. 7 Coppage Drive Worcester, MA 01603 508-791-2091 "Turf Specialty Inc. 60 Merrimac Street Great Meadows, N.J. 07838 Hooksett, N.H. 03106 Jim Kelsey, 1-800-247-2326 Turf & Ornamental Supplies P.I.E. Supply Co. 1-800-228-6656 Dedicated to sales and service of quality Bob Flanagan, Kevin Lyons, irrigation equipment. (203) 878-0658 Dave Schermerhorn, Ed Wiacek John Lensing (401) 246-0864 for your Philip Wogan irrigation needs. Golf Course Architect Read Sand & Gravel, Inc. 17 Walker Road 171 VFW Drive, Rockland, MA 02370 Tops field, MA 01983 Top Dressg Loam; Sand, concrete and brick; Stone, crushed, washed, colored; 'Contributors to the Troll-Dickinson Scholarship Fund Same day service, Sat. deliveries. John A. Moon, Sales Mgr 617-878-2955 Return to: 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 Mail U.S. P O S T A G E PAID Boston, M A FIRST CLASS Permit N o . 5 2 8 4 8 RONALD W. KIRKMAN Newsletter Editor KIP TYLER CGCS Associate Editor THOMAS SCHOFIELD CGCS Business Manager GERRY FINN Contributing Editor Jiilitfiiliiliiiinl