Golf Course Superintendents

LETTER
Association

OF NEW ENGLAND, INC.

April 1992

S p o n s o r s and a d m i n i s t r a t o r s of 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
Fund
A w a r d e d y e a r l y to deserving T u r f M a n a g e m e n t S t u d e n t s .

The pros & cons of green building II:

USGA way is not always the right way
May Meeting""""
Monday, May 18,1992
Pinebrook CC, Weston, MA
Host Superintendent
Mike Iacono, CGCS
Guest Speakers
Richard Duggan, CGCS,
Concord C.C.
and
Mike Nagle, CGCS,
Worcester C.C.
Subject: "The Right-to-Know Law"
9:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m.

Board Meeting
Regular Meeting
Education
Lunch
Golf

Reservations Required
Call before May 13
(617) 328-9479
You must pay by check - No Cash!!
Checks payable to GCSANE.
Mike Iacono has been the superintendent at
Pinebrook C.C. since January 1, 1992. Previously he was superintendent at Metacomet
C.C. in East Providence, Rhode Island for ten
years. Mike was also the assistant at Metacomet under his father Vincent. Mike is a
Past President of the RIGCSA, having served
on that board for seven years.
Directions: From the south - 95 North to 128
North. Take Exit #24 (Route 30 Weston).
Take left off exit, go though two lights, at
third light bear right onto Newton Street.
Golf course is 1/2 mile on right. From the
north - 128 South to Exit #24 (Route 30
Weston). Go to light, take left at next light,
bear right onto Newton Street. Golf course is
1/2 mile on right.

IMiiU^ihMLiLi^LMLUUdkim

The USGA specifications for building
greens turn out to be a hot issue. If anything, they have had an impact on the
construction and maintenance mentality
of the golf course superintendent. They
also have triggered a lot of lively discussion in that direction.
Two areas of the USGA specs appear to
be prone to challenge. One is the USGA's
emphasis on drainage in that it suggests
that drainage tiles and a bed of gravel are
necessary to prevent moisture build-up.
The other is the USGA's insistence that
the root zone mixture be determined only
after extensive laboratory soil tests.
Although neither superintendent
would vote for or against the straight
USGA ticket, Tom Schofield of the Wellesley Country Club and Vesper's Bert
Frederick have approached green construction with different philosophies.
Schofield went strictly by the book, Frederick skipped a few pages.
Schofield's experience began in the late
fall of 1988, so late that the three greens
he was building weren't seeded until the
end of October. He covered them, and had
peach fuzz pop up the following spring.
There was only one problem in the development of Schofield's USGA-spec

products. "Our members wanted to use
them for a July Fourth Weekend event, so
they really didn't get enough time to mature to the point where they could handle
that kind of traffic," he explained.
"When you really get down to it, the
greens had only about 60 or so prime growing days (May, June) before we opened
them," he added. "Therefore, their development has been slow. Regardless, I'm
thinking that down the road those greens
will be tops. I know they'll hold shots better and putt better. So, if I had it to do all
over again, I'd build them the same way."
Schofield reports that he did follow the
USGA guidelines step by step and that
expense was secondary in terms of producing something that would have positive
long-range effects on the playability of the
greens.
"The drainage has worked out well,"
Schofield informed. "The greens don't require a lot of water, but they must be
irrigated frequently. My first impression
is that these greens will last a long time."
The Wellesley super also reveals that
his root zone mixture tested well when
submitted to the lab. "The breakdown was
80 percent sand, 20 peat," he said. "The
continued on page 2

"The drainage has worked out well. My first
impression is that these greens will last a
long time. No, I have no regrets about going
USGA all the way."
Tom Schofield
Welles ley C.C.

Page 2

"There may be a time and place when
going by the USGA standards is the
best way to go. My differing point is
that sometimes modification brings
equal or maybe superior results. "
Bert Frederick
Vesper C.C.

PRESIDENT
Stephen A. Chiavaroti CGCS
6 Birch Street, Paxton, MA 01612
(H) 508-752-0031 — (W) 508-791-5373
Club Affiliation - Tatnuck C.C.
VICE PRESIDENT
Edward L. Breariey
189 Matfield Street, W. Bridgewater, MA 02379
(H) 508-584-6568 — (W) 508-295-7010
Club Affiliation - Bay Pointe C.C.
SECRETARY
Robert DiRico, CGCS
326 Fuller Street, West Newton, MA 02165
(W) 617-527-6968
Ciub Affiliation - Brae Burn C.C.
TREASURER
Paul Jamrog
P. O. Box 38, Belchertown, MA 01007
(H) 413-323-8519 — (W) 413-536-4195
Club Affiliation - The Orchards G.C.
TRUSTEE
Richard Duggan, CGCS
93 Warren Ave., Marlboro, MA 01752
(H) 508-485-6894 — (W) 508-369-0879
Ciub Affiliation - Concord 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
James Reinertson
42 Rice Road, Wayiand, MA 01778
(H) 508-655-7415 — (W) 508-358-2750
Club Affiliation - Wayiand C.C.
FINANCE
CHAIRMAN
Robert Ruszala
69 Gelinas Drive, Chicopee, MA 01020
(H) 413-592-5780 — (W) 413-256-8654
Club Affiliation - Hickory Ridge G.C.
GOLF CHAIRMAN
James Fitzroy, C G C S
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, CGCS
P. O. Box 671. Peabody, MA 01960
(H) 508-462-9272 — (W) 508-532-2236
Club Affiliation - Salem C.C,
PAST PRESIDENT
Paul Miller, C G C S
1 Leicester Road, Marbiehead, MA 01945
(H) 617-631-7910 — (W) 508-369-5704
Club Affiliation - Nashawtuc C.C.

NEWSLETTER
KIP TYLER, CGCS
Newsletter Editor
PAUL J A M R O G
Business Manager

JAMES REINERTSON
Associate Editor
GERRY FINN
Contributing Editor

Information contained in this publication may be used
freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as
l o n g as t h e 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.

L ' l l l L i l . 'i M u

¡ààli

continued from page 1
peat was a special blend we ordered from
Canada. The 80-20 ratio just happened to
be my first feeling on the subject. But we
were prepared to change if the tests were
negative. No, I have no regrets about going
USGA all the way. However, I can understand why some others might think a
modified method better fits their needs."
Enter Frederick who, from the start of
any discussion of USGA green building
specs, wants to stress the fact that he isn't
trying to lead any form of insurgence
against that august group.
"I think there's a time and place for
everything," Bert prefaced his views on
the subject. "And there may be a time and
place when going by the USGA standards
is the best way to go. My differing point is
that sometimes modification brings equal
or maybe superior results."
Frederick has been a part of the building stage in the construction of more than
300 greens. Presently, he oversees the
Vesper maintenance program and serves
as consultant on outside projects. As recently as last year, he supervised the construction of two 18-hole golf courses and
reports that their greens are living up to
his expectations.
"I guess my biggest hang-up with strict
conformity to USGA specs is the idea that
tiles must be used to perfect the drainage
system," he offered. "I've yet to see tiles
work any wonders. Usually, topping the
sub-soil with a 10 or 12-inch layer of gravel
takes care of the drainage problem. Besides, the most important thing in that
area is surface drainage."
Bert reminds one and all that Manny
Francis, the dean of green construction
and maintenance, was ahead of his time
when he used sand as an integral ingredient in his products in the 1930s and 1940s.
In fact, Manny, Sr. might have been the
first to top-dress greens with sand.
The Francis effect, this from Manny,
Jr. at Green Harbor, probably goes against
the USGA grain as much as any so-called

maverick green-building attempt could
go—this according to Frederick.
"I know that territory and other circumstances present when they put the
Green Harbor greens in," Bert explained.
"That course is built on a spongy cranberry
bog. The drainage consists of a gravel
base, that's all. There are no pipes. As I
recall, the sand-soil mixture is a straight
50-50. And what happens there? About
40,000 players play some of the best
greens in New England year after year."
Frederick built sand-based greens at
Vesper in 1959, skirting some of the steps
he feels aren't necessary in the building
process. Frankly, he's not convinced otF
methods wouldn't have sufficed. "We diun't get any decent turf on them until the
1970s," Bert said. "It seems to me the mix
was 85 percent sand, 15 percent loam.
They just took too long to develop for my
money."
The USGA way, then, could be the right
way for some green construction and the
wrong for others. But it's not always the
right way. "Flexible," Frederick concluded. "You have to be flexible. Nothing
is etched in stone."
G E R R Y FINN

Calendar
April 27

NEPGA-GCSANEMembers of the Press
George Wright G.C.
Hyde Park, Mass.

May 11

Nashawtuc C.C.
Supt. -Pro-ManagerClub Official
Concord, Mass.

May 18

Regular Meeting
Pine Brook C.C.
Weston, Mass.

June 1

Regular Meeting
Kittansett Club

lUilkii.iidihiUiliili.lidlhiUllulJii.ili.lni

Page 2

'Tim Super Speaks Out
This month's question:
What are the problems you encounter when the first golf
swings of spring are around the corner, and how much
pressure is there to open your course earlier than you'd like to?
Neil Wendell, Point Judith Country Club: "I must be OK with my members, because I don't
believe in green covers unless there's an
unusual problem
along those lines.
Therefore,
my
greens are always
there for members
to play when the
weather allows it.
'We are close to the ocean so, naturally,
snow never is a factor in determining
when our members can go full bore witho u t an interruption for thawing out the
urse.
'This year is unusual because of the low
frost levels. In fact, the winter conditions
have been so mild we've been doing construction work with a backhoe all along.
It's amazing.
"At the end of the normal golf season, I
put two pins in each green for the 20 or so
members who play the game during the
winter months. So, there's no need for
temporary greens. I've always felt that it's
all right to use regular greens in the off
season just as long as the grass is in its
dormant stage and the surface doesn't
turn soft.
'The usual procedure here in spring is
to close for as long as it takes for the frost
to get out of the ground and the greens to
firm up. But, as I've already explained,
Mother Nature has seen to it that we skip
that period.

"The usual procedure here in
spring is to close for as long
as it takes for the frost to get
~ut of the ground and the
greens to firm up."
Neil Wendell

"Pressure to come out of that frostthawing closing never happens at Point
Judith because most of the members
spend winters in warmer climates and
don't return until the regular season is
well under way.
'There's a side note here that might be
interesting. I have to take care of 14 grass
tennis courts and, to tell the truth, trying
to keep the members off them is tougher
than protecting the health of our golf
greens. To me, working over those tennis
courts is just like maintaining another
nine holes."
P a u l Brooks, Sagamore Springs
Golf Club: 'The frost line is my guide as
far as opening the
course, and at this
time of year (early
March) I'm out
there measuring it.
We're getting close,
too, because it's
down to its last
three inches.
"This is kind of a
tricky situation, when to open, because we
are a public course and green fee revenue
becomes a factor. However, the owners

"This is kind of a tricky
situation... because we are a
public course and green fee
revenue becomes a factor."
Paul Brooks
have been practical about allowing golfers
on the greens when the results could be
damaging. They discuss conditions with
me and in the end they sort of leave it up
to my decision.
"I find that I have to be practical in that
respect, too, since this is a business and
the amount of playing time is essential to
the well-being of the course in the long
run.

"Therefore, there's no real pressure on
me to open the doors and let the masses
come in other than the golfers who are
always on my neck at this time of year.
Weather, more than anything, tells me
and them when it's time to tee it up.
"Because this was a tame winter, we
have been open now and then on mild
days. However, I have the authority to
stop selling tickets when I feel the turf has
softened to the extent that it's inviting
damage, in the end, it's my call. After all,
this is my 40th year at Sagamore Springs.
I think I know the course by now and how
it reacts."
Wayne LaCroix, Andover Country
Club: "We have a funny relationship with
the members. I know when they're starting to get the golf itch. That's the day I
walk into my office and see the new schedule of this season's tournaments and other
events staring me in the face.
"There's an unwritten target date here.
The one the members set up, which is
April 1. The one I prefer is the second
weekend in April. So, I'd guess that we will
have taken the wraps off somewhere between those two periods.
"Last year we opened the first weekend
in April and it seemed to work out all
right. This year the frost seems to be weak,
but I always operate on the theory that the
month of March can be hazardous to the
health of the golf course.
'The reason we don't plan to open in
March is the variables that come with that
time of year. You can have thaw one day,
freeze the next, and back to thaw. That's
a dangerous cycle, one which can make or
break your season if golfers are allowed to
pick and choose their personal opening
dates.
"One of my priorities is getting the
course ready for the outing season, which
runs every Monday beginning the first of
May and continuing through late fall. The
course is closed to members on those days.
That's the rule here.
"Any premature opening date is wiped
out by the possibility starting too early
will disrupt a normal conditioning program. Our members are pretty reasonable. Their first concern is for the golf
course. It has to have its rest and its quiet
moments, too."
GERRY FINN

"Our members are pretty
reasonable. Their first concern
is for the goif course."
Wayne LaCroix

Page 2

A message
from
the President
As we begin the 1992 golf season, I
would like to take this opportunity to sum
up some of the
brighter moments
of a relatively dark,
dreary winter season and wish you all
the success in the
upcoming year.Our association's
members have been
busy during the
past four months with many varied activities. The GCSAA Conference and Show in
New Orleans was the highlight of the winter for many. The Hospitality Suite at the
Hilton, co-sponsored by seven superintendent's associations, was well attended and
very well run. Kevin Osgood continues to
dedicate himself toward making our Association's functions so enjoyable year after
year.
I feel that the accomplishments of two
of our members at the GCSAA Tournament in February deserves another
mention, in case you may have missed it
before. Paul Jamrog won first place (net)
in the 7-12 handicap first flight, while
Dave Barber placed third in this same
flight.
The Mass. Turfgrass Conference on
March 3-5 was very successful, and the

1992 Troll-Dickinson
Scholarship Award winners
GCSANE/MGA/USGA Booth was enjoyed
by many visitors, where our new VCRtelevision system received its first
workout. The MGA Spring Conference on
March 14 was excellent and we were
proud to witness the MGA's recognition of
Bob DiRico of Brae Burn C.C. and Kip
Tyler of Salem C.C. for the excellent
preparation of their courses for the 1991
Amateur Championship and Mass. Open.
Finally, on March 24, the USGA conducted a superb one-day Green Section
Conference at the Colonial in Wakefield.
I am pleased to announce that on
March 13, the Mass. Golf Association approved a grant of $2500 to the GCSANE to
help fund the Association's participation

The 1992TrolJ-Dickinson Scholarship Award winners are (left
to right) David Stone, Richard Lawlor, Alice Hutchings,
Michael Stachwicz, and Mark Kuchera. (Photo by Jim
Reinertson)

with the Green Industry Council in 1992.
Don Hearn and Eric Newell are representing our association on the
Government Affairs Committee and will
keep us informed of all the pending legislature in the upcoming months.
Lastly, I would like to remind you tl
on April 27 we have the opportunity to
participate in the N E P G A Pro-Supt.Press-Sponsor Golf Day at the George
Wright G.C. This is a great opportunity for
our group to receive some recognition in
the press, and we need to make sure that
we have sufficient representation of GCSANE at this important event. Thanks.
STEPHEN CHIAVAROLI, CGCS

GCSAA conference & show is a big success
from GCSAA News, March 1992
More than 15,000 superintendents,
turfgrass professionals, and suppliers to
the golf course industry attended the 1992
International Golf Course Conference and
Show recently in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hosted by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA),
the conference and show exposed attendees to a variety of continuing education
programs and the latest golf course management products and services.
A record 593 exhibitors showcased during the three-day trade show at the New
Orleans Convention Center. The exhibition covered nearly 172,000 square feet.

Nearly 1600 registrants represented
44 foreign countries at the conference,
which offered 52 continuing educational
seminars, including one for the international attendees. Overall, nearly 2700
participants attended classes on environmental and water resource management,
course design, and more.
Terry Bradshaw, National Football
League Hall of Fame quarterback, delivered the keynote speech at the opening
session.
A standing-room-only crowd of 2200
heard Jay Feldman, national coordinator
of the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides; Victor Kimm, deputy
administration of the Environmental Pro-

tection Agency; and John Stossel, news
analyst and environmental reporter for
ABC's "20/20" program, debate the pros
and cons of pesticide use at the Environmental General Session.
Tom Watson, professional golf legend,
was presented with GCSAA's highest
honor, the Old Tom Morris Award, at the
gala closing banquet following the meeting. Recording artist Kenny Rogers
provided the evening's entertainment following the banquet.
The 64th International Golf Cour.
Conference and Show will be held Janua.T
23-30, 1993 at the Anaheim Convention
Center in Anaheim, California.

Page 2

Turf insect research: Where does the money go?
by Dr. Pat Vittum
University of Massachusetts
(Editor's Note: This is the first in a short
series of reports on how our GCSANE turf
research money is spent.)
As many of you know, I have conducted
turf insect research in Massachusetts over
the past decade. For most of that time I
was stationed at the Suburban Experiment Station in Waltham, and Reggie
Mimms worked full-time as a technician
in the program. In the summer of 1990 I
was transferred to the main campus in
Amherst (mostly for budgetary reasons),
and Reggie's position was terminated.
During the 1980s Reggie and I developed a turf insect field program which
involved screening a variety of insecticides for their effectiveness against
Japanese beetle grubs. Some of these materials were the same materials you buy
from your supplier, while others were new
formulations or entirely new products.
During the past couple years operating
j^money at the university has declined drahatically. Among other things, I was not
assigned a technician when I moved to the
main campus. My primary source of support is a "trust fund", which contains
donations from chemical companies (for
screening trials) and associations like GCSANE. This fund is used to hire summer
assistants, buy microscopes and miscellaneous laboratory supplies, reimburse
summer travel, and cover the operating
costs like telephone bills.
In 1991 the Golf Course Superintendents Association of N e w England
donated $1,750 to support my research
program. Those funds were earmarked to
purchase a printer for my lab computer
and to cover travel expenses for trips to
Brewster to conduct some field trials on
the black turfgrass ataenius. (Note that
we minimized expenses as much as possible, camping at Nickerson State Park the
one night we spent "on the road".) Thanks
to each of you for your support-in 1991 and
in years past. It is support from groups
like GCSANE that make it a pleasure to
continue our field efforts!
Since the GCSANE has a history of
being very supportive to my program, I
- « y a n t to share a summary of our efforts in
.991. The 1991 field season had three
main components: white grub screening
trials, black turfgrass ataenius field studies, and sub-surface placement studies.

W H I T E GRUB SCREENING TRIA L S - More than a dozen field trials were
put out testing various insecticides and
formulations for control of Japanese beetle grubs. While some of these trials
ultimately were not sampled (because
grub populations declined during the
study), many of the trials yielded valuable
information. Once again there was no significant difference in performance
between granular and sprayable formulations. Timing of application remained
most critical with Proxol/Dylox, primarily
because of its relatively rapid breakdown.
The trials yielded no real surprises. Over
the past several years we have found
many of the turf insecticides to be relatively consistent in their performance
against grubs - Triumph around 90 to 95%
control, Mocap around 90%, Oftanol
around 75 to 85%, diazinon around 75 to
85%. Sevin continues to be inconsistent the formulations tested this year looked
very good (85 to 90% control) but in other
years the material has been rather ineffective.
Since many interest groups are interested in pursuing the use of biological
control agents to control insects in the
ornamentals industry, some of the trials
included biological control agents.
"Neem" is an insect growth regulator
which interferes with various aspects of
normal grub development. It also acts as
a repellent to some insect species, so they
do not feed on treated plants. Susan Roy,
a new graduate student in my program,
has been studying some of the physiological aspects of neem on grubs. Most of those
studies in 1991 were conducted in the
laboratory, but a couple field trials were
also conducted.
We also looked at the effectiveness of
three species of nematodes against Japanese beetle grubs. All three species were
provided by Biosys, a company in Palo
Alto, California. All of these nematodes
feed only on insects, and cannot feed on
plants. The only nematode which is currently available commercially (sold as
"Exhibit" or "BioState") did not provide
adequate levels of control of Japanese beetle grubs in 1991 field trials. Another
species (Steinernema glaseri) does show
promise, and the company is working on
producing this nematode commercially.
B L A C K TURFGRASS A T A E N I U S Several golf courses in New England experienced outbreaks of black turfgrass
ataenius in 1990 and 1991. This summer
we collected samples every other week

from a golf course on Cape Code and conducted three insecticide screening trials at
that course. The bi-monthly samples
helped us to begin to understand the life
cycle of the insect in New England.
SUB-SURFACE
PLACEMENT
T E C H N O L O G Y - We have been looking
at different ways to apply insecticides to
turf so that the material can be placed
closer to the soil/thatch interface, where
the grubs are active. We have used a high
pressure liquid injection (HPLI) unit for
the past three years to apply various liquid formulations. This year I collaborated
with my counterpart at the University of
Nebraska, Dr. Fred Baxendale, and he
was instrumental in having Cushman
send me one of four prototype units
adapted to place granular pesticides in
slices. Both of these units were used in
several field trials in 1991, and they continue to look very promising. In every field
trial where Triumph has been included,
half rates of Triumph applied sub-surface
(HPLI or slicing) have worked as well as
full rates of Triumph applied conventionally to the surface. (The same is not always
true for other active ingredients.)
One small study was conducted to look
at the amount of insecticide residue on the
turf surface after HPLI v. surface application. While the numbers are still being
analyzed, it appears that HPLI did reduce
the surface residue of Triumph and diazinon
considerably
compared
to
conventional surface application.
PLANS FOR 1992
1. S C R E E N I N G T R I A L S will continue in 1992 and will be expanded to
include at least two field trials against
black turfgrass ataenius and at least two
trials against Hyperodes weevils.
2. B L A C K T U R F G R A S S ATAENIUS - A new graduate student will begin
a two or three year field study of the biology of the black turfgrass ataenius in
Massachusetts. He will collect samples
weekly from at least four golf courses in
eastern Massachusetts, and analyze those
samples for population development. Our
two primary goals are to determine the
number of generations which occur each
year and to develop a degree day system
which can be used to predict grub activity
and optimum dates for applying spring-or
summer controls.
3. SUB-SURFACE P L A C E M E N T Studies will continue to consider various
aspects of HPLI and slicing technology.
At this moment (mid February) it appears
continued on page 6

Page 2

continued from page 5
that I will also be involved in field evaluation of at least one other liquid high
pressure system. Studies will include the
feasibility of applying some of the biological control agents currently being
considered for use in turf.
4. HYPERODES WEEVILS - Funding has been secured from a variety of
sources, primarily in New York state, to
conduct a two or three year study of the
biology of the Hyperodes ("annual bluegrass") weevil. These studies will be
similar to the black turfgrass ataenius
studies, in that they will involve weekly
sampling of field populations, development of degree day models, and fine

tuning the timing of applications of insecticides. One field trial will include the use
of sub-surface application equipment.
While some of the sample sites will be in
the metropolitan New York area, we hope
to identify a couple sites in Massachusetts
which consistently have noticeable populations of Hyperodes weevils to include in
the population survey (and, if appropriate,
in the field screening trials).
5. B I O L O G I C A L C O N T R O L OF
GRUBS - Several laboratory and field
studies will continue on the use of neem
for control of Japanese beetle grubs. Some
of these trials will include direct collaboration with Dr. Mike Villani, my
counterpart at Cornell University. In ad-

dition, all three insect-attacking species of
nematodes which were screened in fiek*^
trials in 1991 will be studied again l.
1992. If equipment can be adapted, we will
attempt sub-surface placement of these
nematodes using slicing and low pressure
technology.
P A R T I N G C O M M E N T ( ! ) - As you
may have gathered from the description of
the 1992 plans, I am very excited about the
upcoming field season. We will be branching into several "new" areas of
investigation, which should certainly keep
everyone in the lab (two graduate students, two or three summer assistants,
and me) busy. Thanks again for your continued financial and moral support!

DIVOT DRIFT ...announcements...educational seminars...job opportunities
...tournament results...and miscellaneous items of interest to the membership.
CERTIFICATION
Bruce R. M c l n t y r e , golf and grounds superintendent of Tara Woods at Tara Hyannis
Hotel & Resort, has been designated a Certified Golf Course Superintendent (CGCS) by
the Golf Course Superintendents Association
of America (GCSAA). Mclntyre has been
with the Hyannis, Mass. course since 1985.
He lives in Centerville.

INFORMATION
J a c k O'Donnell formerly of Indian Ridge
C.C. is now w i t h T o r y P i n e s Resort,
Francestown, New Hampshire.
K e i t h G a v i n formerly of Pinebrook C.C. is
the new superintendent at Metacomet C.C.
in Rhode Island.
Thanks to those who assisted in the Mass.
Turfgrass Conference operation of audio-visual or the GCSANE booth. Don Levangie,
Paul Jamrog, Bob Ruszala, Don Hearn, Andy
Langlois, Orrin Ellis, Owen Regan, Bill Zura,
and Chip Brearley, Chairman.
F i f t y - f o u r C e r t i f i e d Golf Course Superintendents from around N e w England
attended the Mass. Turfgrass Conference in
March.
Thanks to Franklin C.C., Gary Luccini
Supt., Jeff Boyle Manager, and Ellie Etter
guest speaker for a nice day at our March
meeting. We had 60 in attendance.

MEMBERSHIP
W e l c o m e N e w Members: John Murphy,
Asst. member, Hillview G.C.; Daniel Bartkus, Asst. member, Concord C.C.; Sean P.
McCormick, Asst. member, The Country
Club; Gregg R. Sanborn, Asst. member,
Longmeadow G.C.; and Mark Wonalott,
Asst. member, Foxboro C.C.
P r o p o s e d N e w Members: George Brazil,
Regular member, Fresh Pond G.C.; William
T. Banfield, Asst. member, Vesper C.C.; and
Paul Doherty, Asst. member, Colonial C.C.
N e w Student Members: Jeffrey N. Hevey,
Biddeford, Maine; and Robert S. Reichert,
South Deerfield, Mass.
W e l c o m e N e w F r i e n d s of the Association: A-OK Turf Equipment, 8 Boulder
Drive, Coventry, R.I.; and Hunt and Hulteen
Inc., 50 Spark Street, Brockton, Mass..
A r e m i n d e r to A f f i l i a t e M e m b e r s and
F r i e n d s of the Association: In 1991 GCSANE Board of Directors voted on a By-Law
change which affected your association dues
and privileges. The new By-Law states that
affiliates now have all the privileges of the
association except to vote and hold office, and
must pay dues of $100 each (same as a regular member). Price for "Friends of the
Association" remains the same at $200,
which only provides for the name of the
friend to be printed in each newsletter as
advertisement for such company. This $200
does not entitle any person from such company to attend meetings of the association.
Every person from a company (friend) interested in attending meetings must join as an
affiliate member for the additional $100.

TEAM MATCH

DATES

W G A M S p r i n g T e a m Matches
H o m e Dates:
T h u r s d a y , A p r i l 30 - Longmeadow, Braintree, Oak Hill, Indian Ridge, Meadow Brook,
Wellesley, Worcester, Tedesco, Beverly, Duxbury, Marlboro, Oakley, Tara Ferncroft,
Foxboro, Cohasset, Vesper, Westminster,
Framingham, Thorny Lea, Cummaquid,
D e d h a m , N e e d h a m , W i n c h e s t e r , and
Nashawtuc. M o n d a y , M a y 4 - Tedesco,
Hickory Ridge, Dennis Pines, Pocasset,
Thorny Lea, Bellevue, Hampden, Concord,
Essex, Captains, Holden Hills, Ellinwood,
Myopia, Brae Burn, New Seabury, Haverhill,
Longmeadow, Gannon, New Bedford, White
Cliffs, Wellesley, New Seabury, Wampatuck,
and Thompson. T h u r s d a y , M a y 7 - Concord,
Salem, Presidents, Myopia, Kittansett,
Kernwood, Blue Hill, Oyster Harbor, Wenham, Halifax, Andover, Walpole, Essex,
Spring Valley, Rockland, TCC, Worcester,
Hampden, Franklin, Cohasset, Vesper, Oakley, Wellesley, and Winchester. Monday,
M a y 11 - Orchards, Springfield, Charles
River, Gardner, Plymouth, Segregansett,
Brae Burn, Hyannisport, Vesper, Wianno,
Hickory Ridge, Marshfield, Ipswich, Oak
Hill, Woods Hole, Ould Newbury, Green Hill,
B e l l e v u e , H a w t h o r n e , Dennis Pines,
Tedesco, Westminster, Lexington, and Wenham. T h u r s d a y , M a y 14 - Cohasset,
Belmont, Winchester, Dedham, Maynard,
Framingham, Orchards, Franklin, TCC,
Braintree, Pine Ridge, Fall River, Kernwood,
Segregansett, Needham, Concord, Gardner,
Heritage, Walpole, Reservation, Salem, Fall
River, Colonial, and Ould Newbury.

Page 2

Please Patronize These FRIENDS OF THE ASSOCIATION
A-OK Turf Equipment
8 Boulder Dr., Coventry, Rl 02816
Buy & sell used turf equipment
Mike Cornicelli (401) 826-2584

Hunt and Hulteen, Inc.
Custom fertilizer applications, shade tree spraying &
pruning, irrigation, landscape design & construction
Bob Mann - 1-800-696-3363 (in MA); 508-580-1062

Nardone Sand & Gravel Co. Inc.
37 Power Rd., Westford, MA 01886
(508) 692-8221
Specializing in Topdressing Sand

AA Will Materials Corp.
168 Washington St., Stoughton, MA 02072
Top dressing, sand, loam, trap sand,
decorative stone, landscape materials
Est. 1886- 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

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

Agriturf, Inc.
59 Dwlght St., Hatfield, MA 01038
Fertilizer, seed, and chemicals f o r 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, CT 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., Framlngham, 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
Gold Star Wholesale Nursery & Sod Farm
Bill Thompson
Lexington, MA, (617) 861-1111
Canterbury, NH, (603) 783-4717
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
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, C T 06109
1-800-326-HART
Roy Sibley, (203) 376-9525
Don Whinnem, (603) 692-5097
Dick Gurski (413) 543-2777
Holliston Sand Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 393, Trifft Rd., Slatersville, Rl
(401) 766-5010/Topdressing & Bunker Sand

John's Tree & Landscape Company
Tree & Landscape Experts
All employees certified & insured
John P. Re, 617-739-7760
Larchmont Eng. & Irrlg. 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
La zero's Golf Course Accessories
dba Hammond Paint & Chem. Co., Inc.
738 Main/Suite 223, Waltham, MA 02154
Joseph Lazaro, (617) 647-3361
LESCO Inc.
20005 Lake Rd., Rocky River, O H 44116
Ron Tumiski, Rep. - Mike Donahue, Rep.
800-321-5325
Loft's Seed
20 Beck Rd., Arlington, MA 02174
Victoria Wallace, Rep.
Madden Asphalt Corp., Boston, MA 02134
Paving-cart paths-parking lots-roadways
grading-sitework-drainage
(617) 254-0000 (617) 254-7100
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 Co.
Box 127, Concord St.
N. Reading, MA 01864
(617) 933-3210
Water Supply Specialists
Water Wells & Pumpihg Equipment
Mass Natural
P. O. Box 363, Westminster, MA 01473
Tel: 508-874-0744
Manufacturers and suppliers of organic compost,
enriched topsoil, and custom planting mixes.
Mobay Chemical Co.
Greg Ellis
67 Primrose Drive
Warwick, Rl 02818
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, W ' or W 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

Partac Peat Corporation
Great Meadows, NJ 07833-800-247-2326
(201) 637-4191—G.C. topdressing, const, mixes,
tennis ct. supply
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
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
J. P. Roberts Co.
Technical Resource Catalog
Survey-Weather-Testing-Meas.& Diag. Equip.
Barbara Piantedosi, (508) 456-6886
Safety Storage Inc.
Prefabricated pesticide storage bldgs.
gas & oil, storage cabinets
86 Sanderson Ave., Lynn, MA 01902
(617) 599-5490
Sawtelle Bros.
65 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA 01843
(508) 682-9296
Scotts Pro-Turf Dlv.
Allan Cumps, Regional Dir.
Rep. Scott Brown, (401) 294-3606
Rep. Richard Forni, (413) 534-8896
Shemin Nurseries, Inc.
Complete Hort. and Irrig. Supply Ctr.
Hudson, MA 01749
Ron Diramio, 1-800-274-3646
Soil Modifying Systems
2 Dwight Avenue, Salem, N H 03079
"Isolite" porous ceramics for 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
Chris Beasley
Turf Products Corp.
7 Coppage Dr., Worcester, MA 01603
(508) 791-2091
Turf Specialty Inc.
15 Londonderry Rd., Londonderry, NH 03053
Turf & Ornamental Supplies
1-800-228-6656
Bob Flanagan, Kevin Lyons,
Dave Schermerhorn, John Lensing
Winding Brook Turf Farm, Inc.
240 Griswold Rd., Wethersfield, C T 06109
800-243-0232, Alan Anderson
Philip Wogan
Golf Course Architecture
17 Walker Rd., Topsfield, MA 01983

Friends of the Association profiles
Modern Aeration Services Inc.
Modern Aeration, 62 Maple Street,
Boston, MA 02136, is a service company
incorporated in February 1991 by superintendents for superintendents. We are
beginning our second year of fully insured
service. We feature the latest in aeration
technology: Water Injection Cultivation
(WIC).
As mentioned above, we are, ourselves,
in the business of providing fine golfing
conditions. We are, therefore, very excited
about the new technology.
We started Modern Aeration with one
word in mind: SERVICE. Our foremost
objective was and still is to provide our
fellow superintendents with only the best.
Consequently, we carefully selected the
highest quality employees. To insure their
optimum performance we offer our staff a
number of incentives. In a recent survey,
our responding customers described our
staff as "on time, friendly, and dedicated".
What is more, all those who responded
indicated they would use Modern Aeration
Service again.
In response to superintendents requests for more timely aerations, Modern
Aeration has added another Hydroject.
We have also hired another customer service representative. To better aid this
year's new and returning customers, we

have compiled data from last year's customer survey. We found, for example, that
85% of last years customers achieved aeration depths of more than six inches. Using
this and other information from both our
customers and our operations, we aim to
help superintendents create their own
custom aeration plans.
If you have any questions about WIC or
Modern Aeration Service, Inc., please feel
free to contact our customer service representative Carla Raimer at (508) 384-6536
or myself, K"' 1 '" Osgood, at (617) 254-0925.

J. P. Roberts Company
The J.P. Roberts Company released its
first catalog to the New England states in
1987.
The primary goal of this company is to
meet the ever-changing technical needs of
today's professional golf course superintendent.
In order to achieve this goal, the J.P.
Roberts Company continually seeks out
the newest products throughout many industries and brings them to the turf
market.
Although this is a "relatively new" company dealing with the latest technology
and products, its business philosophy is as

old as the game of golf itself - good service,
customer satisfaction, and fair prices.
A Massachusetts-based company with
its main focus in New England, it now has
catalog circulation to all 17 east coast
states, with additional customers extending across the U.S. and Far East.
In order to solve problems, create solutions, and meet the demands of today's
golf course manager, we carry an assortment of products. For example: weather
monitoring equipment, soil and water
testing kits, measuring instruments, computer software, survey equipment,
drafting equipment, communication, disease detection, weather warning systems,
etc.
In this day of ever-increasing time demands on the superintendent, we reach
our customers when and where it is most
convenient for him or her - at the office or
the home (through catalog and new product mailers), at request by appointment,
and via regional trade shows and field
days.
We would like to extend our warm
thanks and appreciation, especially to t1"*New England, group for their support a.
interest.
For more information, please contact
Barbara Plantedosi at (508) 456-6886.

0 9 6 1 0 VIA] ' A a 0 9 V 3 d
tz9 x o a
s o o o

S S V I O

I S d l d

OFS ON )!UIJ9D
VIA1 'PODAJNQMON
Q I V d
oBeisod

s

n

new sseio is-iy

L-

H 3 I 1 3 T

Mau

s

SHI1**

o

d

' a a i A i d i x

:oj lurqay