LETTER
Golf Course Superintendents

Association

OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

S p o n s o r s a n d a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f the T r o l l - D i c k i n s o n S c h o l a r s h i p
F u n d — A w a r d e d y e a r l y to d e s e r v i n g T u r f M a n a g e m e n t S t u d e n t s .

September 1991

Mother Nature deals supers a bad hand
Cape courses pummeled by hurricane
It's generally acknowledged that golf
course superintendents must play the
hand Mother Nature deals them. However, that axiom was exaggerated beyond
reason one infamous day last month when
Cape Cod supers had the whole deck of
cards stacked against them.

October
Meeting
October 3, 1991
Research Tournament
The Country Club, Brookline, M A
Team of T w o
Bill Spence
Host Superintendent
Entry forms w e r e sent out
in late August.
Directions w e r e included.

Bill Spence has been the superintendent at
The Country Club in Brookline since the fall
of 1984. Bill hosted the U.S. Open in 1988.
Prior to the C.C. Bill was the superintendent
at Kansas City C.C. for seven year, and Pebble Beach for three and a half years. He
graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a B.S. in Plant and Soil Science.
Born in New Jersey, Bill lives in Franklin,
MA with wife Mae and children Chris 13,
Ryan 9, and Will 2. He has served on the
board for Heart of America Superintendent
Association. Bill enjoys music, gardening,
and golf, but has not played this year due to
a knee injury from tennis.
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The date was August 19, the time Hurricane Bob arrived in a rainless rage, carrying winds of 90 to 100 miles per hour
that triggered an outbreak of damage
ranging from felled trees to downed power
lines to reckless sea-wash to plant-choking drifts of sand.
Several golf courses and their supers
had to play that bad hand. Among the
hardest hit were Willowbend, Woods Hole,
Hyannisport, New Seabury, Kittansett,
and Eastward Ho.
Eastward Ho's Brian Cowan was relatively calm over the phone just as the
course reopened three days after the devastating blow, even though he said the
storm was the worst he's encountered in
his 25 years on the Cape.
"Believe it or not, I feel kind of lucky,"
Cowan remarked. "Not that having 150
trees go down here is any picnic, but compared to what happened at other courses,
we came out of it as well as expected or as
well as what you'd hope under the conditions."
Eastward Ho's biggest problem was
maintaining the regular course conditioning program without power. There was
none for three days, so closing the course
from Monday, the 19th until Thursday
was more in keeping a compatible schedule with the clubhouse which had to shut
down because of the outage.
Tom Flaherty had his hands full at
Woods Hole where he says the area is
under siege of an early foliage season.
Seventy trees were felled; however, airborne salt did a cosmetic catastrophe job
on the course.
"We were closed for five days to clean
up the mess and I was without irrigation

"This hurricane
was something none of us
will soon forget."
Tom Flaherty
for at least a week," Tom reported. "I
really don't know when normal plant color
will return, if ever this season. Right now,
there's a funny shade to everything. But
there's nothing funny about what happened at my home. Fourteen trees fell,
one on the house. So, this (hurricane) was
something none of us will soon forget."
Willowbend lost 750 trees, one landing
on the seventh green while Bob St. Thomas also revealed that salt damage to
remaining trees and plants gave the
course a "late-fall look".
continued on page 2

Page 2

continued from page 1
Len Blodgett, who's been fighting the
effects of drought all summer, lost 100
trees at Kittansett and was without power
for six days. However, sea wash put six of
his greens under water and covered them
with six inches of sand. Six days after the
storm, Kittansett had recovered only to
the point where a revamped layout of nine
scattered holes were in play. It really got
hit by several blows below the belt.

PRESIDENT
Paul Miller, CGCS
1 Leicester Road - Marblehead, MA 01945
(H) 617-631-7910 - (W) 508-369-5704
Club Affiliation - Nashawtuc C.C.
VICE PRESIDENT
Edward L. Brearly
189 Matfleld Street - W. Bridgewater, MA 02379
(H) 508-584-6568- (W) 508-295-7010
Club Affiliation - Bay Pointe C.C.
SECRETARY
Stephen A. Chlavaroll, CGCS
6 Birch Street - Paxton, MA 01612
(H) 508-752-0031 - (W) 508-791-5373
Club Affiliation - Tatnuck C.C.
TREASURER
Ronald E Mllenskl, CGCS
65 Rocky Pond Road - Princeton, MA 01541
(H) 508-464-5312 - (W) 508-779-6911
Club Affiliation - The International
TRUSTEE
Robert DIRIco, CGCS
185 Hemenway Street - Marlboro, MA 01752
(H) 508-485-2605 - (W) 617-244-0680
Club Affiliation - Brae Burn C.C.
TRUSTEE
Eric E. Newell. CGCS
113 Cross Street - Hanover, MA 02339
(H) 617-826-7207 - (W) 617-878-5836
Club Affiliation - Rockland C.C.
TRUSTEE
Robert Ruszala
69 Gelinas Drive - Chicopee, MA 01020
(H) 413-592-5780 - (W) 413-256-8654
Club Affiliation - Hickory Ridge G.C.
FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Paul Jamrog
P. O. Box 38 - Belchertown, MA 01007
(H) 413-323-8519 - (W) 413-536-4195
Club Affiliation - The Orchards G.C.
GOLF
CHAIRMAN
Jim Fitzroy, CGCS
357 W. Squantum Street - N. Quincy, MA 02171
(H) 508-528-6956 - (W) 617-328-1776
Club Affiliation - Presidents G.C.
EDUCATIONAL
CHAIRMAN
Kevin F. Osgood
62 Maple Street - Hyde Park, MA 02136
(H) 617-364-4859 - (W) 617-254-0925
Club Affiliation - Newton Comm. G.C.
NEWSLETTER
CHAIRMAN
Kip Tyler, C G C S
P. O. Box 671 - Peabody, MA 01960
(H) 508-462-9272 - (W) 508-532-2236
Club Affiliation - Salem C.C.
PAST PRESIDENT
Richard Zepp. CGCS
27 Fowler Road - Northbridge, MA 01534
(H) 508-234-8490 - (W) 508-234-2533
Club Affiliation - Whitlnsvllle G.C.

NEWSLETTER
KIP TYLER, CGCS
Newsletter Editor

GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

RONALD MILENSKI, CGCS
Business Manager
Information contained in this publication may be used
freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as
long as the true c o n t e x t is m a i n t a i n e d . We w o u l d
appreciate a credit line.

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"We came out of it as well as
expected."
Brian Cowan
The first thing
Tom Colombo had
to do at N e w
ar
-Jj
Seabury was clear
f
the course entrance
roads of felled trees
before he even could
assess the damage
to the resort's Blue
life
and Green courses.
And it was devastating.
"We were under pressure to clean
things up (800 trees down in the playing
areas) to get back on track as soon as
possible," Tom explained. "So, strange as
it seems, there were waiters, waitresses,
and housekeepers giving us a hand.

"The water damage was
unbelievable."
Tom Colombo
"Water damage
was unbelievable.
Not only did we
have to deal with
salt water from the
storm surge, we had
to pump out contaminated water
from three fresh
water ponds before
we could get back to irrigation. It took us
three days to get most of the unwanted
water off the course, but we still had to
deal with sand on the fairways. It ran
anywhere from one inch to two feet deep."
Once he got the recovery process rolling, Colombo had to piece together some
kind of layout for an important four-day
tournament. It took one solid week of
hard work and deft manipulating of cer-

"I now have 13 greens and five
browns. "
Charlie Passios
tain tees, but on
Monday, August 26,
play got under way.
"This kind of disaster might have
been in the cards,"
Tom added. "I guess
most of us (superintendents) had it too
good this summer.
At least from my standpoint, the courses
were in the best shape I've ever seen them.
Now? Who knows? I'd like to think we'll be
getting back close to normal by the first of
October, but I wouldn't bet on it."
Charlie Passios had many a sorry sight
at his vigil at Hyannisport after Bob
belted that course, the most distressing
the sight of jellyfish doing whatever stroke
that moves them in some of his bunkers.
Hyannisport really took a pasting.
Charlie was still counting after he passed
300 in downed trees, salt water saturated
five of his greens, fresh water ponds were
laden with airborne salt and had to be
flushed and all of the clean-up chores had
to be tackled without power for five days.
"I have 13 greens and five "browns',"
Passios tried to keep his composure recalling the havoc Hurricane Bob wreaked.
"We closed for four days, opened for nine
Friday (August 23), and had 18 holes operating the next day. Tackling those dormant (brown) greens was a project.
Aerating, applying gypsum, top dressing,
and praying for rain (it came one day after
the hurricane). I couldn't guess when we
can finally say we're fully recovered."
The hand Mother Nature dealt the
Cape Cod superintendents then, was one
full of wild, wild cards. They played those
cards, thought, and they're still in the
game. No one's folded yet.
GERRY FINN

Calendar
Oct. 3

Research Tournament
The Country Club
Brookline, MA

Oct. 10

Superintendent-Pro
Tournament
Ferncroft C.C.
Middleton, MA

Nov. 5

Regular Meeting
Sandy Burr G.C.

'

S' " \

Page 2

The St/per Speaks Out
This month's question is a follow-up
on the problem of golf course vandalism
and how it affects the superintendent
Bob Lake, Holyoke Country Club:
"I think sporadic visits by vandals go with
the territory.
"We had our severest incident in May
when someone used a flagstick (I think) to
poke holes all over our third green. Fortunately, we recovered by pulling plugs, filling the holes, and letting Mother Nature
do the rest.
"However, I'm lucky. This is my first
year at Holyoke, so I'm just several
months removed from maybe the course's
most drastic example of vandalism ever.
It happened just before our big memberguest four-ball when someone poured
gasoline on seven of the nine holes.

"Being under the threat of
vandalism is like living with a
time bomb."
Bob Lake
"The super I succeeded (Vincent Parentela) worked around the clock trying to
revive those greens. It was a scary situation, but all the attention paid off. One
year later, there are no signs the act ever
happened.
"But let's face it. Being under the
threat of vandalism is like living with a
time bomb. It can go off at any moment.
When your golf course is overexposed and
access to it is easy, all you can do is hope
it won't happen."
Bob DiRico, Brae Burn Country
Club: "I can't describe that feeling two
weeks before the start of the state amateur when I arrived at the course and saw
that four of our greens had been dug up
the night before.
"It's sickening, at best. But I had to
face reality and get those greens back in
shape. And I guess the only word to describe the recovery is 'remarkable'.
"We cut plugs from other greens and
went into a full-concentration effort to get
rid of the scars. It looked good almost from
the start of the repair program. To tell the
truth, I'd say 75 percent of our members
didn't know anything about the vandalism

until the Boston Globe reported it just
before the tournament began.
"Vandalism involves more than the expense it takes to repair the damage. To
me, there's an additional kick that goes
with it and it lands on the superintendent.

"Golf courses, especially
those with easy access, kind
of give vandals an open
season to do their damage."
Bob DiRico
"It's really outrageous. When I think of
things like stealing flagsticks and wrecking ball washers, it goes into the category
of vandalism you come to expect...almost
accept.
"Golf courses, especially those with
easy access, kind of give vandals an open
season to do their damage. I think the
restitution measures should be more exacting, not something such as 'the kid going to work for the super and working it
off. That just doesn't cut any ice with the
problem. Parents, however, should be responsible for direct restitution, nothing
less."

"The remedy was expensive,
an eight-foot chain-link fence
that surrounds about three
quarters of the course."
Max Mierzwa
Max Mierzwa, Chicopee Country
Club: "I'm still keeping my fingers
crossed, but for the first time ever we've
had no damage inflicted by vehicles.
"It's really a wonder, too, because in the
past there wasn't a spring that went by
that I wasn't out there repairing spin-out
marks and everything else those all-terrain jobs and snowmobiles caused on our
greens.

"The remedy was expensive, an eightfoot chain-link fence that surrounds about
three-quarters of the course. The other
quarter is not accessible because it's protected by marshes and wetland.
"The cost for that fence ran up to
$78,000. That's a big price to pay for
something that shouldn't happen in the
first place, especially since we are a municipal golf course. But it was worth it.
Over the long run there'll be a savings
because at one time we were just like a
training ground for those 'choppers' and
other kinds of vehicles that just seemed to
be drawn to our greens.
"That's one part of my vandalism experience. The other is an ongoing nuisance
that won't go away until the authorities
can get a handle on making stealing flagsticks, uprooting ball washers, and pushing golf carts over less attractive to the
idiots who do that type of thing.
"Regardless, that fence is a godsend. It
gives me a fighting chance to recoup for
the rest of the stuff that just won't stop."
Jim Perez, East Mountain Country
Club: "Every year we have one or two
major incidents that put a damper on my
disposition and a dent in our maintenance
budget.
"Access seems to be the key to our vandalism problems. Until they put a gate at

"Every year one or two major
incidents put a damper on my
disposition and a dent in our
maintenance budget"
Jim Perez
the entrance to a pipeline adjoining the
course, the gas company had set up a barrier consisting of telephone poles tied into
the ground with foot-long spikes.
"Needless to say, that didn't keep the
vandals out. Somehow they hitched up a
rig to pull those spikes and poles right out
of the ground last spring. The result was
a 15th green that still carries the scars of
a spinout maneuver which sliced up the
putting surface almost beyond recognition.
"But that's been par for the course here.
Vandals are out there, waiting to target
some course, whether it's private, public
or municipal. And, for the most part,
there's nothing we can do about it. Right
now, I'm wondering what the effect of that
gate will be. I hate to think it, but it
probably will be challenged. This is the
part of a superintendent's life they can
have, but who wants it?"
GERRY FINN

Page 2

A message from
the President
By the time everyone reads this, I
am sure the weather
will be a lot more enjoyable than it has
been.
Between
drought conditions,
grub and insect pressure, and Hurricane
Bob as a grand finale, I think everyone
should be ready for a little break. Maybe
by then some of those monumental problems that seemed so severe will, in all
actuality, become very trite.
This fall is shaping up to be active, with
the highlight event our annual Research
Tournament. This year's event will be October 3 at The Country Club. To accommodate as many members as possible, the
field will be made up of all twosomes.
Raffle tickets you received in the mail are
very import ant to the success of our fundraising. Please sell your share and encourage your fellow superintendents to do the
same. The friends and affiliate members I
would encourage to sponsor a green or tee.
Membership participation is the key to the
success of this fundraiser.
We are very anxious to get commitments for sites for next year's meetings.
We presently have a meeting request form
available. For those people interested,
please contact Jim Fitzroy. We would appreciate these forms to be completed before committing any dates. Our target is
to have the 1992 schedule in place tentatively by November 1.
PAUL MILLER

Letter to the Editor
Dear Mr. Tyler,
As a former Greens Committee Chairman and a member of the USGA's Green
Section Committee, I am convinced that
the USGA's Turf Advisory Service (TAS)
is a good value. I also believe that the
annual cost of $1200 should be an item in
every golf course superintendent's budget.
We are fortunate to have in the New
England region a USGA Agronomist who
has a proven record of accomplishments
and gained the confidence of superintendents in this region.
I urge all of you to support the USGA's
(TAS) program. The dollars spent will
come back to you tenfold.
Dick Crosby

Protecting drinking water
supplies from pesticides
from the Pesticide Bureau
Information Bulletin
What Is The Drinking Water Protection Program?
Beginning in 1992, there will be new
regulatory requirements for the use of certain pesticides near public drinking water
supplies. The pesticide products affected
by this new regulation are those which
may potentially pose a risk to groundwater under certain conditions. Under the
Program, people must choose alternatives
to those pesticide products identified on
the Groundwater Protection List in primary recharge areas. Simply put, if there
is no alternative to the use of a pesticide
on the list and the site to be treated is in

Dedham C.C.'s
Bob Mucciarone
to retire Jam '92
Bob Mucciarone, the highly respected
Green Superintendent at the Dedham
Country and Polo Club has announced his
retirement effective January 1, 1992.
During his tenure, spanning over thirty
years, Bob has become widely known and
appreciated for his contributions to the
profession as well as to the Club. Bob has
recruited, trained, and developed many
young men who now manage programs at
other clubs. His advice and counsel are
often sought and freely given.
Bob has managed the beautification of
the club with the planting of hundreds of
trees and shrubs. He has continually expanded the size of tees, changing them
from dirt surfaces to attractive and playable ones. In his year-round efforts he has
constantly upgraded the facility with a
care and commitment that are both apparent and rare even among professionals.
Bob is known to generations of golfing
members as a friendly and receptive listener and doer who responds to needs day
or night.
His commitment and dedication to the
maintenance and improvement of the
course is unique.

a primary recharge area, the use of the
pesticide will be regulated. All indoor applications, including greenhouses, are exempt from these regulations.
Which Specific Pesticide Products Are
Regulated?
The Department of Food and Agriculture will have prepared the Groundwater
Protection List which includes all those
pesticide products subject to this regulation by January 1st. In order to be included on this Groundwater Protection
List, pesticide products must contain one
of the following active ingredients: acifluorfen, alachlor, aldicarb, atrazine, baygon, bentazon, bromacil, carbofuran,
chlorthalonil, cyanazine, dacthal, disulfoton, diuron, fenamiphos, folpet, fonofos,
lindane, MCPA, metolachlor, metribuzin,
pentachlorophenol, propazine, and simazine. Pesticide products which are
aerosols, paints, baits, animal, and human
products are exempt from the regulations.

GCSAA Director
on Golf Digest's
"most powerful" list
In a list of the current movers and
shakers in golf, the editors of Golf Digest
magazine have identified their choice of
the 36 most powerful people in golf. John
M. Schilling, executive director of the Golf
Course Superintendents Association of
American (GCSAA) was named to the list.
Appearing in the September 1991 issue, the Golf Digest editors compiled a list
of people who, in their opinion, "have the
capability and the option of acting in ways
that have an effect on both phases of the
game—the big-money, show-business
side, and the game we all play."
GCSAA President Stephen G. Cadenelli, CGCS, superintendent at Metedeconk National Golf Club, Jackson, NJ,
said, "Recognition of John as a major contributor in the world of golf is most deserved. John has provided outstanding
leadership to GCSAA during his tenure as
executive director. His leadership has resulted in great progress for the members
of GCSAA and for the organization."

Page 2

Ouimet Fund scholarship money
available to more than just caddies
An overview of the
Francis Ouimet
Scholarship Fund
Background:
The Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund
was founded as a non-profit organization
in 1949, and it is thought of as the official
charity of golf in Massachusetts. Its purpose is to help deserving young men and
women obtain a college education or technical training of university grade.

with the major golf associations operating
in Massachusetts - The PGA Chapters,
The New England Golf Course Superintendent's Association, The Cape Cod Turf
Managers Association, The Massachusetts Golf Association, and The Women's
Golf Association of Massachusetts, as well
as the individual clubs. The National
PGA and USGA have also made grants to
us. The Fund strives to make golf a better
game in Massachusetts by helping the
clubs use the incentive of a Ouimet Scholarship as a strong tool in recruiting and

retaining good young help for a minimum
of three years of service. The "Partners"
feel this scholarship incentive gives the
club, the club professionals, and course
superintendents a significant long term
advantage over other service economy
jobs. (Further information regarding this
partnership is now being developed for
club distribution.)
Further information:
Contact the Ouimet Fund at 617-8916400.

Scholarship Facts:
2700 individuals helped since 1949
$5.5 million awarded since 1949
200 individuals helped in 1990-91
$300,000 awarded in 1990-91
96 colleges attended
by scholars in 90-91
99 clubs represented
by scholars in 90-91
Eligible Employees:
Course Superintendent Help
Pro Shop Help
Bag Room Help
Driving Range Help
Cart Storage Area Help
Caddies
Clubs:
Private
Public
Semi-Private
Municipal
Resort
Scholarship Process:
Students must have provided three
years of demonstrated "service to Golf' at
one of the above clubs. Need based awards
of $500 to $4500 are awarded annually
and are renewable. Students must apply
by December 1 and provide transcripts,
letters of recommendation, and official financial information. Applicants are interviewed during the winter and spring,
and scholarships are awarded in the late
summer.
Ouimet "Partners in Golf" Program:
The Ouimet Fund is closely aligned

I

D

id you know a golf course actually improves the
atmosphere? It's an invaluable green belt that acts
as a "heat sink" to moderate surrounding air temperatures and it releases pure oxygen into the air in exchange
for carbon dioxide.
Who's in charge of keeping these amazing ecosystems in harmony with nature? Today's golf course superintendents. They're part troubleshooter, part business
manager, part scientist and all environmentalist — dedicated to making our world a greener place.

A

WE KEEP GOLF GREEN. vOr#

Page 2

Pesticide Bureau Chief explains
new record-keeping report plan
TO:

All Certified Commercial
Applicators, Certified Private
Applicators, Licensed Applicators,
and Employers
FROM: Gail Kaprielian, Pesticide
Bureau Chief
RE:
Pesticide
Record Keeping Reports
DATE: June 21, 1991
The regulation 333 CMR 10.15 promulgated pursuant to the Massachusetts Pesticide Control Act (Chapter 132B of the
General Laws) requires that all certified
commercial applicators, all certified private applicators, all licensed applicators
or their employers "...keep true and accurate operational records...on each application of a pesticide." This same regulation
authorizes the Department of Food and
Agriculture to require annual records and
reports of the information maintained in
accordance with 333 CMR 10.15.
Beginning in January of 1992, the Department will be mailing out to all private
and commercial applicators a Pesticide
Use Report form soliciting specific pesticide use information based on your operational records for 1991.
The purpose of this letter is to notify
you in ample time of this upcoming Pesticide Use Report form which will require
that you provide information based on
your 1991 operational records.
The form will ask for general administrative information and more specific pesticide use information including:
1) Product/Brand Name
2) EPA Registration #
3) Name of Active Ingredient(s)
4) Percentage of Active Ingredient
(as listed on the label)
5) Product Form (liquid, powder, etc.)
6) Use Classification: General,
State Limited, or Restricted
7) Total Amount of Concentrate
Product Applied in
Reporting Year
*8) Major Crop or Site treated
*9) Total Acreage treated
NO) Target Pest(s) or Class
of each Pest
M l ) Method of Application
"Private Applicator information only.

The Department realizes that in many
instances employers keep the required records for the individual applicator. Provisions will be made so that a company or
employer can submit use records for their
applicators.
You will receive further "reminder" letters prior to January 1992. In late summer or early fall you will receive the forms
complete with instructions. You do not

need to submit anything at this time, but
you should be aware that this reporting
will begin in 1992 for the calendar year
1991 and such reporting will continue for
subsequent years.
I thank you in advance for your cooperation. If you have any questions, please
contact the Pesticide Bureau at 617-7273020.

Fertilizer commercial criticized
from June 1991 Briefing
Perhaps you've seen this TV commercial...a pitchman, standing in front of a
series of drawings, delivering a lecture:
"These are the chemicals that go into the
lawn that go into the rainwater that goes
into the streams that go into the lakes that
go into the fish that go into the people who
put the chemicals in the lawn in the first
place."
Those are the words from a recent TV
spot produced by Ringer Corp., a lawncare products company based in Minneapolis. The spot, intended to be light and
humorous, publicizes Ringer's "all-natural" Restore fertilizer.
Controversy surrounds the commercial
not only because of the anti-chemical
stance it implies, but because some believe
the claims it makes are without scientific
support. In a recent Wall Street Journal
article, ChemLawn Services Corp., O.M.
Scott & Sons Co., and other competitors
attacked the ad, calling it "false" and "misleading".
Although the commercial is for a home
lawn-care product, some superintendents
have reacted to what they describe as unfair criticism in the ad's message. A number of GCSAA members have called
headquarters after seeing the ad. GCSAA's voice has been added to the number
of corporations and organizations that
contacted Ringer. According to John M.
Schilling, GCSAA executive director, ' W e
have expressed our concern to Ringer's
professional turf division and they have
promised to pass along those concerns to
their home lawn division."

Ringer responded by saying the company's "main motivation is to anticipate
the market trends and to provide (GCSAA's) members with effective products,"
according to Scott E. Boutilier, commercial marketing director. "This objective
coexists with the debate over chemical restriction but did not cause it."
With home lawn-care products and
services increasingly under the microscope, the golf/turf industry often finds
itself under similar scrutiny. Superintendents should expect and be prepared to
respond to this attention. "Golf turf products are being managed by highly trained
professionals and home lawn-care products are being applied by those without
proper training," says Charles T. Passios,
CGCS, GCSAA director and government
relations liaison. "Superintendents and
other turf industry professionals need to
be ready to promote their environmentally
responsible management practices."
In light of the harsh anti-chemical
rhetoric, superintendents need to do their
best to make sure that all facts about turf
chemicals and practices are made known
to the public. "Now is the time for GCSAA
members to get in touch with their club
members, civic groups, media, and other
public organizations to educate them that
professional golf course superintendents
are responsible individuals who respect
the environment," Passios says.
GCSAA's communications department
has a number of programs and tools that
GCSAA members can use in public education. The department can also assist GCSAA members in preparing public
presentations.

Page 2

Grubs lead to a big stink over skunks
by Joseph Carbonneau,
from Our Collaborator
At Equinox Country Club we have a
moderate population of Japanese Beetle
grubs inhabiting about two acres of
roughs.
Of all the problems created by these
pests, the most serious is the attraction of
skunks. The skunks invade the course,
seeking the Japanese Beetle grubs as a
food supply. By digging into the ground
for grubs, they leave behind an unsightly
stand of turf. The solution to eliminating
this problem lies in either shooting the
skunks or trapping them. My choice was
the latter.

We started out by constructing six
8"x8"x30" box traps out of 1/2" plywood.
One end was left open with a hinged door
attached. A string was attached to the
door which in turn was hooked to a bait
tray from the outside of the box. A piece
of band iron was incorporated as a door
latch and a handle was added to the top.
A 1/2" hole was then drilled in the back so
that the skunk could be prompted to leave
at the time of release. The traps were put
out at the first sign of skunk activity and
were baited with peanut butter. It took
approximately a couple of nights for the
varmints to get accustomed to the traps.

domly selected skunks were marked by a
dot of yellow marking paint shot through
the 1/2" hole in the back of the trap. The
door was then opened and a dowel inserted through the hole in the trap to
hasten the skunk's departure. In a good
week, we trapped from 10 to 14 skunks,
making a noticeable difference in skunk
activity on our turf. So far we have
trapped a total of 50 to 60 skunks with
only a few returning. Having the trap only
eight inches high makes it hard for the
skunk to lift its tail and spraying is difficult. Thus far, not a skunk has raised a
stink.

The traps were then checked in the
morning and the traps that were tripped
were carefully placed in the back of a truck
and transported three to four miles from
the course. At the time of release, ran-

This form of control has reduced our
problem of turf devastation from the pesky
skunk in his quest for the Japanese Beetle
grub.

GCSANE
Photo Gallery

Top row, left to right: Mike Nagle and Mike Hermonson; Tom Flaherty and Steve Carr; Dick
Zepp and Jim Beane. Bottom row, left to right: Larry Anshewitz, Rich Tworig, and Tim
Berge; Robin Hayes and Mike Wallace; Frank Murphy, Max Mierzwa, and Bob Ruszala.

PageS

DIVOI DRIFT ...announcements...educational seminars...job opportunities
...tournament results...and miscellaneous items of interest to the membership.
POSITION OPEN

FOR SALE

The Dedham Country and Polo Club invites applications for the position of Green
Superintendent.

1988 Ryan Mataway. Excellent condition $1500. Foley Reel Grinder Model 388. Very
good condition - $1000. Contact Dave
Heroian, Myopia Hunt Club (5508) 4682231.

Qualifications:
The club is seeking a skilled professional
manager who has successfully served as
green superintendent or assistant superintendent. The position calls for a friendly,
persuasive individual capable of contacting a
wide range of people within and outside the
club and motivating them to act positively
and constructively. He or she should feel an
urgency to produce results in spite of opposition or difficulty. He must be flexible in dealing with frequent interruptions or changes,
moving quickly to adapt to changing conditions. The individual will be expected to
assume authority and to act independently
when appropriate. There will be a need to be
alert and aware of the consequences of actions. Being sensitive to policy, procedure
accuracy, and quality are important.
The individual should have education in
Agronomy, and in the management of people
and the development of operating and capital
budgets. Concern for safety, environmental
issues, and effectiveness in building relationships with community officials is important.

Schedule:
Applications will be received Sept. 15 to Oct.
20. Interviews will be conducted through
Nov. 20. A decision by the Board of Governors
is expected by Dec . 15.

Salary and Benefits:
A full compensation package of salary, bonus, insurance, and other benefits will be
available in a flexible program. Salary and
bonus will be commensurate with experience
and qualifications and should be in the $50
to $60,000 range. Living quarters are a possibility.

Contact:
Application letters and resumes should be
sent to the attention of the Chairman, Green
and Grounds Committee:
Dedham Country and Polo Club
724 Westfield Street
P.O. Box 430
Dedham, MA 02026-0806

REGULATIONS UPDATE
G a s o l i n e s t o r a g e update, effective
3/16/91: All tanks used for the keeping, storage, or dispensing of gasoline shall be installed underground. Such tanks shall be
subject to the approval of the head of the fire
department and comply with all applicable
Fire Prevention Regulations (827 CMR).
The provision to install tanks underground
shall not apply to portable gasoline tanks and
containers as provided for in 827 CMR 8.00;
or bulk storage facilities unless the head of
the fire department anchor the local licensing
authority requires such provisions.

APPOINTMENT
We don't know what this means, but if
anyone wants their manure pile measured,
call Dan Lehan at Larchmont.
July 24, 1991
Daniel Lehan, V.P. Larchmont Irrigation
99 Hancock Street, Bedford, M A 01730
Dear Mr. Lehan:
It is a pleasure to inform you that you were
appointed Measurer of Wood, Bark, and Manure by the Selectmen at the meeting of July
22, 1991, for a term ending June 30, 1992.
Sincerely,
Richard T. Reed
Town Administrator, Bedford, M A

WORKSHOP SERIES
N e w regulations highlight of workshop
series: The Green Industry Council and the
University of Massachusetts Cooperative
Extension will sponsor a two day workshop
series to introduce the industry to new state
requirements relative to pesticide record
keeping, the Drinking Water Protection
Regulation, and the Endangered Species Act.
To be held Tuesday, October 29, 1991 and
Monday, November 4, 1991 at the Eastern
Agricultural Center, 240 Beaver Street,
Waltham, MA. Pesticide recertification
credit available. Cost: $20 per session; $50

for the entire series. For more information,
contact Phyllis Gillespie, Green Industry
Council, P.O. Box 171, Sutton, MA 01590,
508-476-3007.

INFORMATION
R i c h Caughey, Superintendent at Hatherly
C.C., was married September 7, 1991 to
Susan Karlberg in South Weymouth, MA.
J o h n W i n s k o w i c z is a new salesman for
Turf Products Corporation in Worcester, MA.
Glad to hear Don H e a r n of Weston C.C. is
out of the hospital as of early September after
a brief illness.
P a u l M i l l e r has been recertified in the GCSAA certification program.
If a n y o n e h a d a m e m b e r volunteer
clean-up day after Hurricane Bob and
think it would make an interesting story, call
Kip Tyler at 508-532-2236 or 508-462-9272
(evenings).

MEMBERSHIP
Proposed N e w Members
Paul J. Wilson, Assistant Member, Whitinsville Golf Club, Whitinsville, MA; and Joseph
Langley, Regular Member, White Mt. C.C.,
Ashland, NH.

TOURNAMENT
RESULTS
Championship Results 8/1/S1
Weston C.C.
Superintendent Division
Low Gross Keith Gavin, Pine Brook G.C. - 77
Low Net Mike Nagle, Worcester C.C. - 69
Senior Superintendent
Low Gross Len Blodgett, Kittansett Club - 82
Low Net Joe Rybka, Thorny Lea C.C. - 73
Affiliate Division
Low Gross - Larry Anshewitz - 82
Low Net - Dennis Friel, Tom Irwin - 70

Page 2

Please Patronize These FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
AA Will Materials Corp.
168 Washington St., Stoughton, MA 02072
Top dressing, sand, loam, trap sand,
decorative stone, landscape materials
Est. 1886- Phone: 1-800-4-AAWILL

International Golf Const. Co.
Antonios Paganis, Rep.
5 Purcell Rd.. Arlington, MA 02174
Golf Course Construction
(617) 648-2351 or (508) 428-3022

Agriturf, Inc.
59 Dwight St., Hatfield, MA 01038
Fertilizer, seed, and chemicals for turf
1-800-824-2474

Irrigation Maintenance & Service
21 Lakeview Ave., Natick, MA, (508) 653-0625
Irrigation consultation, design, and
system evaluation - Bob Healey, ASIC

Baker Golf Cars
40 Walker St., Swansea, MA 02777
(508) 379-0092
Reps, Ray Chadwick, Bob Kinyoun

Tom Irwin, Inc.
11B A St., Burlington, MA
800-582-5959
Jack Petersen (508) 256-6296 - Wayne Ripley (508) 252-6507
Dennis Friel (617) 938-1751 - Paul Skafas (603) 889-7177
Chris Petersen (617) 262-7586

Bartlett Tree Experts
Tree Maintenance, Fertilization &
Consulting
153 Rumford Ave., Newton, MA 02166
(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
Distributor of Irrigation Supplies
and Accessories
The Cardinals, Inc.
166 River Rd., P.O. Box 520
Unionville, C T 06085
Golf Course & Landscape Supplies
John Callahan (203) 673-3699
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
Chester Drake & Sons, Inc.
222 Walnut St., Framingham, MA 01701
Golf Course Construction
(508) 875-7929
Elanco Products Company
Stephen C. Dolinak
31 Old T o w n Trail, Narragansett, Rl 02882
(401) 789-9017

John's Tree & Landscape Company
Tree & Landscape Experts
All employees certified & insured
John P. Re, 617-739-7760
Larchmont Eng. & Irrig. Co.
Larchmont Lane, Lexington, MA 02173
(617) 862-2550
The Lawn Co. Inc.
P.O. 1540, Buzzards Bay, MA 02532
Tom Fair, 1-800-660-TURF
Fertilizers & Pest Controls Applied
Fairway Aeration & Slice Seeding

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.
Pro-Lawn Products Inc.
231 Heather Street, Cranston, Rl 02920
Specializing in turf & ornamental needs
Contact Mike Kroian, (401) 944-9990

J. P. Roberts Co.
Technical Resource Catalog
Survey-Weather-Testing-Meas.& Diag. Equip.
Barbara Piantedosi, (508) 456-6886

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

Sawtelle Bros.
65 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA 01843
(508) 682-9296

Lowden Tree & Landscape
433 Chestnut St., Needham, MA 02192
Tree maintenance, spraying, consulting,
landscaping, construction
Scott A. Stover, Rep. (617) 444-0402

Scotts Pro-Turf Div.
Allan Cumps, Regional Dir.
Rep. Scott Brown, (401) 294-3606
Rep. Richard Forni, (413) 534-8896

Madden Asphalt Corp., Boston, MA 02134
Paving-cart paths-parking lots-roadways
grading-sitework-drainage
(617) 254-0000 (617) 254-7100

D.L. Maher Co.
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading, MA 01864
(617) 933-3210
Water Supply Specialists
Water Wells & Pumping Equipment

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

Mobay Chemical Co.
Greg Ellis
67 Primrose Drive
Warwick, Rl 02818

ii^^li^LUi^lJlhili,^

Partac Peat Corporation
Great Meadows, NJ 07833-800-247-2326
(201) 637-4191—G.C. topdressing, const, mixes,
tennis ct. supply

Lesco Inc.
20005 Lake Rd., Rock River, OH 44116
Ron Tumiski, Rep. - Mike Donahue, Rep.
800-825-3726

Golf Direction Associates
54 N. Grove St., Foxboro, MA 02035
Golf forms designed to meet the
industry's specialized record keeping
requirements.
Nora Berard, (508) 543-9822

Holliston Sand Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 393, Trifft Rd„ Slatersville, Rl
(401) 766-5010/Topdressing & Bunker Sand

Old Fox Chemical Inc.
Fertilizers-Seeds-Turf-Chemicals
66 Valley Street
E. Providence, Rl 02914

Lazaro's Golf Course Accessories
dba Hammond Paint & Chem. Co., Inc.
738 Main/Suite 223, Waltham, MA 02154
Joseph Lazaro, (617) 647-3361

The Magovern Co., Inc.
27 Lawnacre Road
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Tel: 800-243-7718or (203) 623-2508
Lew Varga, Rep.

The Charles C. Hart Seed Co.
P.O. Box 9169
Weathersfield, CT 06109
1-800-326-HART
Roy Sibley, (203) 376-9525
Don Whinnem, (603) 692-5097

Norfolk Power Equip., Inc.
194 Main Street, Norfolk, MA 02056
(508) 528-3120
Don Reynolds, Rep.

Read Sand & Gravel, Inc.
171 VFW Dr., Rockland, MA 02370
Top dressg loam; sand, concrete and brick;
stone, crushed, washed, colored; same day service,
Sat. deliveries.
Mike Donovan, (617) 878-2955

Gold Star Wholesale Nursery & Sod Farm
Bill Thompson
Lexington, MA, (617) 861-1111
Canterbury, NH, (603) 783-4717

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

Nor-Am Chemical Co.
Wilmington, Delaware
David Sylvester, Rep.
(203) 828-8905

Modern Aeration Service, Inc.
62 Maple St., Boston, MA 02136
Featuring water injection aeration
Kevin Osgood, (617) 254-0925
Modern Tractor & Truck Service, Inc.
400 Pine St., Seekonk, MA 02771
Topdressing, M>" or Ye" screened loam, underground
tank removal, "convault" aboveground fuel tank,
Steven S. Howitt, (508) 761-5554
R.F. Morse & Sons Inc.
W. Wareham, MA 02576
(508) 295-1553
Reps., Larry Anshewitz, Jack Cronin
Nardone Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd., Westford, MA 01886
(508) 692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing Sand

Shemin Nurseries, Inc.
Complete Hort. and Irrig. Supply Ctr.
Hudson, MA 01749
Michael Gimmelfarb, 1-800-274-3646
Soil Modifying Systems
2 Dwight Avenue, Salem, NH 03079
"Isolite" porous ceramics f o r root zone modification
Mark Secore, (603) 894-7149
Bruce Bud row, (508) 693-5972
Steiner Turf Equipment
Sales & Service, Vernons, Inc.
13 School St., Danvers, MA 01923
Dick Leigh, (508) 774-4410
Tee and Green Sod Inc.
Bentgrass. bluegrass and blue/fescue sod
Dave Wallace, Exeter, Rl 02822
(401) 789-8177/office — (401) 295-1870/home
Tuckahoe Turf Farms Inc.
Exeter, Rl, Litchfield, NH
West Suffield, CT
800-556-6985
Largest Producer of Penncross in New England
Owen Regan
Turf Products Corp.
7 Coppage Dr., Worcester, MA 01603
(508) 791-2091
Turf Specialty Inc.
60 Merrimac St., Hooksett, NH 03106
Turf & .Ornamental Supplies
1-800-228-6656
Bob Flanagan, Kevin Lyons,
Dave Scherrherhorn, Ed Wiacek
Winding Brook Turf Farm, Inc.
240 Griswold Rd., Wethersfield, CT 06109
800-243-0232, Alan Anderson
Philip Wogan
Golf Course Architecture
17 Walker Rd., Topsfield, MA 01983

Friends of the Association profiles
Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.

The Lawn Company

Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc. has served
the turf industry for over 20 years. To be
able to service all of New England, Tuckahoe Turf has three locations—Richmond,
RI; Litchfield, NH; and West Suffield, CT.
Tuckahoe has kept up with the changing needs of the golf course superintendent. Always a proponent of fine fescue,
we were the first sod farm to offer "high
fescue sod". This lower maintenance, versatile mixture has proven to be a winner
on the golf course. Now we have expanded
this idea into a bluegrass-fine fescue-ryegrass mixture. New land with sandy soil
has improved our bentgrass quality.
Penncross is grown and is offered at 1/4"
and E/16" (new) heights. For those that
need a shorter mowed bluegrass, we have
some available at 7/8".

The Lawn Company, Massachusetts'
largest independent lawn care company,
has been serving residential, commercial,
and municipal customers in southeastern
Massachusetts since 1979. While most of
its business comes from the residential
market, the company does over $500,000
worth of business in the commercial and
municipal markets, including athletic
fields, industrial complexes, schools, condominium and apartment complexes, and
golf courses.

Please call any of the locations with
your questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Any of our able representatives will be
able to help you.
In Richmond, RI and Litchfield, N H
call 1-800-556-6985 and 1-800-243-7582
in West Suffield, CT.

1 owner of the
Ed McGuire, r
Company, creditcess the Company has enjoyed tcrorie very important
fact. "From the start," McGuire states,
"we have known what business we are in.
We are in the service business." The Lawn
Company prides itself with knowing what
the customers need and want, and then
delivering the service. "We can do this,"
McGuire adds, "because we have an exceptional staff of experienced, licensed, and
insured professionals."
In the Sagamore branch, Tom Fair is
responsible for the golf and commercial
business on the Upper Cape and South
Shore. John Bowen works with Tom and
has sales responsibilities in the same areas. Serving the mid and lower Cape out
of the Dennis Branch, Keith Burrell han-

dles responsibilities for golf and commercial business, with assistance from A1 Berwieler in the commercial area. Tom
Gonzalski is the supervisor of both
branches, and Don McMahon, Company
Agronomist, provides technical support in
all aspects of lawn and tree care.
At The Lawn Company you deal with a
hands-on group of people. In addition to
having sales, administrative, and technical responsibilities, they are in the field
working directly with customers and their
properties. "We feel confident," McGuire
states, "that this staff of experts can deal
with anything that comes their way."
McGuire, who received his training in
the turf business from Joe Troll and Bob
Carrow at UMass in the mid-70s, believes
it is important that the Green Industry be
pro-active in terms of regulations and legislation. As such, he has always been involved with a number of industry groups
and is presently serving as the Chairman
of the Green Industry Council's Public Policy Committee.
The Lawn Company is available to take
care of your applied fertilizer and pesticide needs, as well as fairway aeration and
slice seeding. With experienced, licensed,
and insured people, The Lawn Company
is working for its customers and for the
industry.

M ,-r

-. .-.oc. s "

Cü/VA/HI
First Class Mail
U. S. Postage

N e w LETTER

P A I D

N e w b u r y p o r t , MA
Permit No. 340

FIRST C L A S S
Return to:
KIP TYLER, C G C S
P. O. BOX 671
PEABODY, MA 01960

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