Golf Course Superintendents

LETTER
Association

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

Pleasant Valley in Recovery Mode
' This month is the world. We survived but it was a

| beginning of the end.
Or at least Pleasant
Valley Country Club
superintendent Paul

Veshi hoped so.

"I think we've turned the corner,"
Veshi remarked with the Bank of
Boston Classic breathing down his
neck again. "I don't know if we'll
ever get it all together. I mean when
the greens are true, the fairways are
spotless and even the rough inviting
to the eye. When that day happens,
I'll be hootin' and hollerin'."
Veshi, you may recall, was the
superintendent with Mother Nature
on his back a year ago. Smack in the
middle of his preparations to give the
PGA touring pros a finely tuned golf
course, Paul got hit with a left hook,
then a right cross from the weather.
"Remember Black Saturday?" he
went back in time to July 30, 1988.
"That's when the bottom fell out,
when all that rain and all that heat
ganged up on a lot of golf courses.
That day we were cooked to death.
No. 16 (green) was completely wiped
out and the damage was strung out
from there.
"We had to re-sod that 16th and go
on from that point with around-theclock measures to try and shape up
the course so that it would be fairly
presentable to the best golfers in the

struggle. I got some unexpected help,
too."
When the players came in for the
big event, Veshi didn't know what
kind of response he'd hear since
Pleasant Valley had gone from its
best condition in years to a shaky state
because of the worst weather conditions veteran superintendents could
remember.
"What really picked me up were
the comments of some of the pros
who were aware of what we had to go
through," Paul turned back his mind
in time. "Dave Stockton was one
person who went out of his way to put
everything in proper perspective. He
let it be known that there were turf
problems all over the place and we
weren't alone.
"Then there was Larry Renker. I'd
been through the ringer and I read in
the local paper that Larry had said the
course wasn't all that bent out of
shape. I felt nice about what I read.
The next day I went up to him on the
putting green and thanked him for the
boost."
That's how Veshi got over the
hump a year ago when the Bank of
Boston Classic and such Tour stops as
the Canadian Open had to gut out the
effects of a golf course killing summer. This year he was on an upbeat
route but still cautious.

OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

September 1989
Not that PV had made a 180-degree turn.
"We're still in a recovery mode,"
Paul explained. "We have a new irrigation system and there are some
scars from the installation. However,
most of those show up in the rough.
Regardless, there may have to be a
few rulings made to equalize playing
conditions."
Recovery mode means better
mood for the likeable Veshi who had
Pleasant Valley perched like a
peacock just before it took a weather
beating a year ago.
"Oh, I'm feelingpretty good about
things this year," he said. "But we're
working just as hard as ever to get this
place back to where I think it should
and will be. I'm still trying to get used
Continued on page 2

-PROPOSED NEW
MEMBERSDean Loomis, Associate
South Shore C.C.
Chris Bowen, Associate
Saddle Hill C.C.
Jeffrey Nealy, Assistant
Plymouth C.C.

FUTURE MEETING DATES

October 16 - Brae Bum C.C.—Supt. & Pro
October 19 - Hyannisport C.C.—Supt. &
Green Chairman
November 2 - Mt Pleasant C.C.—Lowell,
MA

page 2

PLEASANT VALLEY

_

^^

Cont.from pg 1
to the irrigation system and I'm getting a handle on a labor problem that
made its appearance. There's always
something."
Veshi terms the condition at PV,
"pretty good", although he tends to
underestimate the results of his dilligent approach to his job. Perhaps it
was his cautious side talking when he
viewed the difference between this
and last year a couple of weeks before
the 1989 Bank of Boston Classic.
"People seem to overlook the fact
that other things go on here despite all
the emphasis on the big tournament
and the attention it gets from the outside," Paul told. "There's still a
membership that has to be satisfied
along with a boss who has the same
ideals as I when it comes to presenting
the course for play."
Ted Mingolla is the PV owner and
Veshi acknowledges that he puts as
much of himself into the golf course
as perhaps any other person except
Paul, himself.
"He (Mingolla) has high standards
where the condition of the course is
concerned and so do most of our
members," Veshi disclosed. "But I'd
like to think my standards exceed
those of anyone here. That's why I'm
so particular about the way my staff
and I take on the task of producing
top-shelf conditions."
Through all the preparation, Veshi
always relates to last year and the
horrible experience of having his
expectations blown to bits. "I won't
say it was a humbling experience,"
Paul concluded. "But it made me
realize you can never take things for
granted, that you can lose the course
PRESIDENT

Richard Zepp. CGCS
27 Fowler Rd.
Northbridge, MA 01534
Home Phone 508-234-8490
Office Phone 508-234-2533
Club A f f i l i a t i o n
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 Affiliation
Nashawtuc C.C.

at any time. I take that feeling with me
to the golf course every day. But I
have to say that things are looking
up."
Which is another way of saying
Paul Veshi has things under control at
Pleasant Valley...even if he won't say
it, himself.
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 continuing question:
With the attention-getter of summer
centered on speed of greens, who
should and who does set their speed at
your course and how important is the
subject anyway?
Kip Tyler, Salem
Country
Club:
"Maybe we're the exception here but there
doesn't seem to be
that much concern
voiced about the speed of our greens.
In fact, I've noticed that three or four
weeks will have passed before I hear
a comment on them.
"I suppose the superintendent
lives under the syndrome that suggests he doesn't want to hear that his
greens are slow. Is it a case of building
prestige at the club as you increase the
speed of the greens? Good question.

SECRETARY

Stephen A. Chiavaroli, CGCS
100 A i r p o r t Dr.
Worcester, MA 01602
Home Phone 508-752-0031
Office Phone 508-791-5373
Club Affiliation
Tatnuck C.C.

TREASURER

Thomas Schofieid, 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

"I really don't wish to discuss
Stimpmeter readings. We kind of go
by the USGA recommendations for
green speed. However, as far as the
members are concerned, you're always going to get a few who won't be
satisfied no matter how fast or slow
the greens are.
"My average cut on the greens is
one-eighth after the first couple of
cuttings come at 5/32s. But I think
their speed is what most of the membership wants. I do know that my
chairman thinks the speed is just fine.
"Frankly, I see this whole idea of
speeding up the greens as a means of
impressing people. Sometimes we're
more concerned with what the playing guests say about the greens and
the course than what our members
say. It's part of the business.
"But I really don't see speed of
greens as an issue. I think it's losing
its clout."
Leon St. Pierre,
Longmeadow
Country Club: "I
don't know how this
all started...that we
have to have the fastest gun in New England, us, the fastest greens. However,
it's definitely a topic.
"What many people don't realize
is that there are a lot of factors, other
than height of the plant, that determine speed of greens.
"You can have a hot, muggy day
with heavy air in July and the greens
slow down. Then, you can have a dry,
low humidity day in September and
the greens speed up.
"That's not all. There's a grooming device, which when applied, can
mean as much as an additional 1/16th
of an inch to the cut of the greens. And
Continued on page 3

Kip Tyier, 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.

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 A f f i l i a t i o n
Bay Pointe C.C.

Page 3
and humid weather, I raise the height
of cut. You know, plants are just like
us. The hotter it gets the more they
sweat and the more sensitive they get.
Therefore, I don't take chances with
losing a green when the heat and
humidity won't go away.
"At Vesper I'm the person responsible for the condition of the course
and that goes for the speed of the
greens. In fact, no one asks me about
it, so I guess the members are satisfied.
"One more thing. I hear the next
thing to be tested is hardness and softness of greens. Do you believe that? I
wonder who dreamed that one up?"
GERRY FINN

Research Drive
Update

THE SUPER SPEAKS OUT
Cont.from pg 1
you can get into double-cutting to
pick up more speed.
"Regardless, it's ludicrous to drop
A s you already know, our research drive
is in full swing. We have established a the cut of the greens in July and
goal of $15,000 to be raised through August. Here, we set the cut at the
donations from each club in the golfing beginning of the season with USGA
fraternity. We are taking the opportunity guidelines helping that determinato suggest to those of you who have not
donated to this deserving cause due to tion—and we stay with it the rest of
budget restraints, to be creative. Some the summer.
"It's true that superintendents tend
superintendents are organizing a golf
tournament with proceeds going to turf to make the greens faster when memresearch. Others are convincing their clubs ber-guest tournaments are on the
to ask each member to donate $1.00. If schedule. Why? I suppose it makes
research is to be conducted we golf course the
look good. Whatever, it hapsuperintendents must be the catalyst and pens.clubHeck,
during our four-ball the
the golf participant must support it.
greens
are
cut
14 times a week.
The following is a list of clubs that
"Oh,
who
determines
the speed at
have already contributed as of July 10,
Longmeadow?
The
man
who should
1989.
and
does—the
superintendent.
I just
Wollaston
Thorney Lea
let sanity be my guide."
Twin Hills
Nashawtuc
Hatherly
Ipswich
Bert Frederick,
Agway Chemical
Poquoy Brook
Vesper
Country
Mt. Pleasant-Boylston The Country Club
Club: "First of all,
Falmouth Country
Tara-Ferncroft
Club-Maine
let' s not talk about the
Kittansett
Blue Hill
Wellesley
Stimpmeter. I never
Waubeeka Golf Link Eastward Ho
have
believed in it. I
Framingham
Pinebrook
mean,
do they use one
The International
Brae Burn
Oakley
in Scotland?
Needham
Larry Gannon
Tatnuck
"That thing created nothing but
Salem
The Orchards
controversy.
You know the story.
Woodland
Whitinsville
They started tossing out readings on
Thanks to those who have given.
television and a lot of members
Sincerely,
thought this was the way it should be
The Research Committee
at their clubs. It's just another example of trying to make something
-POSITION OPENINGS- very simple too sophisticated.
"I have to say that our greens are
Northern Spy G.C.
fast most of the time. I have the cut set
Townsend, MA
18 hole Public Course—Under Construction at 3/32s but since our greens are velvet
bent they can take that low a cut.
Contact Roger Kane, Inc.
"However, I let the weather condiAttn: Kathy Kane
tions
dictate how long the cut remains
121 Boston Post Road
at
that
figure. For example, if we
Sudbury, MA 01776
experience an extended period of hot
(508) 443-7741
FINANCE

CHAIRMAN

Paul j a m r o g
Box 642, Silverwood Terrace
S. Hadley, MA 01075
Home Phone 413-538-7567
Office Phone 413-536-4195
Club Affiliation
The Orchards G.C.

GOLF CHAIRMAN

Robert DiRico
185 Hemenway St.
Marlboro, MA 01752
Home Phone 508-485-2605
Olfice Phone 617-244-0680
Club Affiliation
Brae Burn C.C.

EDUCATIONAL CHAIRMAN

Ronald E. Milenski, C.GCS
65 Rocky Pond Rd.
Princeton, MA 01541
Home Phone 508-464-5312
Office Phone 508-779-6911
Ciub Affiliation
The International

NEWSLETTER

CHAIRMAN

Ronald Kirkman
25 Green St.
Needham, MA 02192
Home .Phone 617-444-8412
Office Phone 617-444-5548
Club Affiliation
Needham C.C.

PAST PRESIDENT

Tournament Results
South Shore C.C.

Club Championship
Steve Chiavaroli-Tatnuck C.C.
Gross 75
Seniors Club Champ
Len Blodgett-Kittansett C.C.
Gross 80
Sales Division Club Champ
Dave Farina-Country Club Enterprises
Gross 74
Club Championship Net Division
Jack Hassett-Mt. Pleasant C.C. (Lowell)
69
Seniors Net Champion
Art Washburn-Cohassett C.C.
73
Sales Division Net Champion
Bob Brown-Sawtelle Brothers
65
In the Club Championship Jack Hassett shot
75 but lost by matching of cards to Steve
Chiavaroli
Rick Arzillo, Unicom G.C., shot 69 Net but
lost by matching of cards to Jack Hassett
Closest to Pin Ron Milenski-Lesco Inc.
Longest Drive Rick Arzillo

David Barber, CGCS
145 Dedham St.
Canton, 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 part, 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 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 . W e
w o u l d a p p r e c i a t e a credit line.

Please patronize FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Agway Inc.
Greg Moore Rep.
Box 507 Sterling, MA
Fertilizer, Seed, Chemicals
8OO-225-CROP (MA) 617-422-7614
Allen Lawnmowsr Co., Inc.
197 Main St., Agawam, MA 01001
Professional Turf Equip.-Ransomes/
Bobcat, Saisco, 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
*Ths Bordon Company
Maynard, MA
Tel: 508-897-2571
Sales Rep. Jack Borden
Bulk Limestone Dealer
Bostor, Irrigation Company
Dedhsm, MA
John Famey - 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 Corniceili, 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. 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 Co.
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
*Tom 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

NEWSLETTER
R O N A L D W. KIRKMAN
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

•Loft's Seed
20 Beck Road
Arlington, MA 02174
Victoria Wallace, Rep.
The IVIagovern 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, RI 02818
R.F. Morse S Sons Inc.
W. Wareham, MA 02576
508-295-1553
Larry Anshewitz, Rep.
Jack Cronin, Rep.
•Nardone Sand & Grave! 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 Golt 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:
FIONALD 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 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 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
Bob Flanagan, Kevin Lyons,
Dave Schermerhorn, Ed Wiacek
Philip Wogan
Golf Course Architect
17 Walker Road
Topsfield, MA 01983

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