' Í 4

LETTER

Ì 9

G o l f C o u r s e

Superinteiideiif

s

A s s o c i a t i o n

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

OF NEW ENGLAND,

INC.

November 1999

Comee Ss Gagne make the transition
from superintendent to general manager
Remember the old Beatles ditty, "We Can
Work it Out"?
Well, that's what Dave Comee and
Tom Borden have come to when there's a
problem, a disagreement at the Winchendon
School Golf Club. They just put the Beatles
tape in place, and poof, there goes
another anxious moment in their year-old
relationship as co-directors of golf at the
popular private school-owned layout.
"The setup is unique but effective,"
explained Comee, the Winchendon golf
course superintendent for the past 20
years. "It's just another way of telling the
world the superintendent is willing to
accept more responsibility and move up
the administrative ladder in the process."
The trend to expand input of the golf
course superintendent certainly is in vogue.
Several GCSANE members have spread
their wings, taken on more responsibility
and authority, and established a foothold in
the country club general manager field.

In this issue.

® A
Page

Calendar of Events

. .

2

. . .

2

. . . . . .

3

Proposed GCSANE Officers
The Super Speaks Out
Remember

When?

Education/Public
Wetlands

. .

4

. . . .

4

. . . . . .

S

. .

6

. . .

8

Relations

Regulations

Divot Drift
Host Superintendent

Profile

Comee's position is on the right flank
rather than in the center of the general
manager's scheme of running the whole
shebang. Regardless, everything regarding
golf at Winchendon has to run through
Dave and his cohort, Tom, who doubles
as the club's head pro.
"The operation boils down to the fact
that Tom and I have to get along," Comee
told. "We have separate duties to perform
and we do them on our own. However,
there are several areas where we have to
collaborate and get things done as a team.
We have to make joint financial decisions
as in the case of member dues, plans for
outings, budgets, and virtually everything
relating to administrative matters. It's
working pretty well, too."
Winchendon does have a supplier of
the last word. That comes from the mouth
of school headmaster Bill LaBelle, who
delegated golf course authority to Comee
and Borden to give them more of a
hands-on feeling for their jobs.
One item not on the supervising agenda
is food. There are no such facilities at
Winchendon, which has a membership of
210 golfers. As for outings, provisions for
feeding players are minimal. They amount
to an informal cookout or two or perhaps
a full meal. In the latter case, school
dining facilities come to the rescue.
Comee's new title also takes him into
the Winchendon employment field during
the winter, something new for him. "I just
turn into a mechanic for the winter," he
remarked. "It's also a time to do a lot of
planning and clear up all the paper work

that goes with running the golf course.
That course, incidentally, is the old
Toy Town Tavern facility. It had a good
reputation in the old days and we're
working to sustain and improve it."
More in keeping with the conventional
mode of the general manager concept is
the step-up move of Mark Gagne at the
Walpole Country Club.
Just one year ago, or 10 years after he
became the golf course superintendent,
Mark was appointed its general manager.
Both parties, in fact, are starting out on
the same foot. Walpole has never had a
general manager and Gagne never has
plied his talents away from the golf course.
"It was just something that was ready to
happen," Mark disclosed. "Actually, after
10 years on the course as superintendent,
I was starting to get complacent. I needed
a new challenge and maybe the membership sensed it."
There was no regional or national
search when the club decided to abandon
continued

on page 2

ss

MÉâSé^mmm

Actually, after 10 years on
the course m superintendent,
I was starting to get
complacent. I needed a
new challenge, and maybe
the membership sensed it "
Mark Gagne
Walpole C.C.

R

Page 6

.MÚ¿LAMÜIMLÍ*Í1Ú*HMLLHÚ*LímILLA
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continued

PRESIDENT
K e v i n F. O s g o o d
14 Inman Lane, Foxborough, M A 02035
617-630-1950
Fax 6 1 7 - 9 6 9 - 8 7 5 6
N e w t o n C o m m o n w e a l t h Golf C o u r s e
VICE PRESIDENT
Robert Ruszala
69 Gelinas Drive, C h i c o p e e , M A 0 1 0 2 0
413-256-8654
Fax 4 1 3 - 5 9 4 - 4 5 7 1
Hickory Ridge Country Club
SECRETARY
J a m e s Fitzroy, C G C S
357 W . S q u a n t u m Street, North Quincy, M A 02171
617-328-1776
Fax 6 1 7 - 3 2 8 - 9 4 7 9
Presidents Golf C o u r s e
TREASURER
M i c h a e l V. lacono, C G C S
42 N e w t o n Street, Weston, M A 0 2 4 9 3
781-899-7913
Fax 7 8 1 - 6 4 7 - 0 6 0 2
Pine B r o o k C o u n t r y C l u b
TRUSTEE
A r t h u r Sllva, C G C S
35 Pennacook Road, Tewksbury, M A 0 1 8 7 6
781-484-5440
Fax 781 - 4 8 4 - 6 6 1 3
Belmont Country Club
TRUSTEE
David C o m e e
65 Marquette Road, Gardner, M A 0 1 4 4 0
978-297-1 223
Fax 9 7 8 - 2 9 7 - 0 9 1 1
The W i n c h e n d o n Golf Club
TRUSTEE
W a y n e F. L a C r o i x , C G C S
P. O . B o x 4 2 2 4 , A n d o v e r , M A 0 1 8 1 0
978-475-6638
Fax 9 7 8 - 4 7 5 - 9 4 8 8
Andover Country Club
FINANCE CHAIRMAN
Daniel Higglns, C G C S
68 Hutchinson Road, Winchester, M A 01890
781-729-3809
Fax 781-721-1561
Winchester Country Club
GOLF CHAIRMAN
M i c h a e l J. H e r m a n s o n
P. O . B o x 1 4 5 , G a r d n e r , M A 0 1 4 4 0
978-632-2713
Fax 9 7 8 - 6 3 2 - 2 7 1 3
Gardner Municipal Golf C o u r s e
EDUCATION CHAIRMAN
R o n a l d P. D o b o s z , J r .
1137 Park Street, Stoughton, M A 0 2 0 7 2
781 -341 - 8 5 6 4
Fax 781 -341 -8564, *51
C e d a r Hill G o l f C o u r s e
NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN
Russell Heller
59 Park Street, Melrose, M A 0 2 1 7 6
978-256-5664
Fax 9 7 8 - 2 5 6 - 5 6 6 4
Chelmsford Country Club
PAST PRESIDENT
Robert DIRico, C G C S
3 2 6 Fuller Street, W e s t N e w t o n , M A 0 2 4 6 5
617-527-6968
Fax 6 1 7 - 5 2 7 - 0 0 6 9
Brae B u m Country Club

from page 1

a department head form of administration.
The only person approached and interviewed
for the new position was Gagne. Members
figured the club needed a bona fide
professional to bring all administrative
facets together, and they need go no farther
than the maintenance building to find him.
"I'm just heading into my second year
and things are rounding into shape,"
Mark said. "There's a steep learning curve
in some of the areas of my authority, but
I'm getting there. I still have department
heads but they're hand-picked by me and I
must say picking's never been so good."
The hardest part of Mark's transitional
period was getting away from the course
as its immediate caretaker. One of his
early decisions was to promote assistant
superintendent Brian Walters to the head
job. It wasn't easy to see someone else
calling the maintenance shots, but Mark
let Brian have his lead while resisting the
temptation to look over his shoulder.
"I have a good relationship with all of
my department heads," Mark advised. "I've
always thought that delegating authority
was built into the makeup of an efficient
general manager, so that's the way I operate.
So far everything's falling into place under
the pressure of changes like computer
conversion and a little thing like a $2 million
renovation project in the clubhouse."
The deeper involvement in club
operations has stirred up new energy in

Gagne, who was fearful that his job
Interest might be growing stale. "I always
felt I was ready for this (general manager),"
Mark confided. "And I was at a stage in
my career where I needed something
to prevent me from sitting back and
becoming a candidate for boredom.
I always thought I could contribute more
than I had and this is the opportunity
for me to do it."
Superintendents moving up in the golf
world. That's a trip worth buckling up for.
GERMY FINN

Calendar
N o v e m b e r 16

Resource

Management

The International
F r a m i n g h a m , Mass.
N o v e m b e r 17

GCSAA Seminar
Budgeting

&

Forecasting

The International
F r a m i n g h a m , Mass.
December 1

GCSAA Seminar
Bentgrass

Summer

Stress

Management
The Hawthorne Inn
Berlin, Conn.
December 2

GCSAA Seminar
Using
in the

Annuals

&

Perennials

Golfscape

The Hawthorne Inn
Berlin, Conn.
December 3

7 5 t h Anniversary Gaia
B l u e Hills C o u n t r y C l u b
Canton, Mass.

December 13

GCSANE Monthly Meeting
L e x i n g t o n Golf C l u b

GCSANE News

GCSANE nominates

©peers for

GCSAA Seminar
Human

Lexington, Mass.
S u p t - Leonard Curtin
J a n u a r y 10

2000

GCSANE Annua! Meeting
C y p r i a n K e y e s Golf C l u b
B o y l s t o n , Mass.
Supt. - Dick Zepp, CGCS

W T T H E

I

NEWSLETTER

GCSANE Headquarters
175 Highland Avenue, Needham, M A 02494-3034
(781 ) 4 5 3 - 8 6 6 8
Fax (781 ) 4 4 9 - 4 0 2 0
Newsletter Editor .
Contributing Editor
Business Manager

R u s s e l l Heller
Gerry Finn
Michael V. ¡acorra, C Q C S

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 b e
u s e d f r e e l y , I n w h o l e o r In p a r t , w i t h o u t s p e c i a l
p e r m i s s i o n a s 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 c r e d i t line.

T h e GCSANE announces its officers and
directors for 2000 as per its bylaws.
The Nominating Committee includes:
Chairman, Michael V. lacono, CGCS;
James R. Fitzroy, CGCS; Donald E. Hearn,
CGCS; Ronald W. Kirkman, CGCS; and
Gary Luccini.
The nominees are: President, Robert
Ruszala; Vice President, James R. Fitzroy,
CGCS; Secretary, Michael V. lacono, CGCS;
Treasurer, Daniel P. Higgins, CGCS; Finance
Chairman, Arthur Silva, CGCS; Trustee,
David A. Comee; Golf Chairman, Michael J.
Hermanson; Education Chairman, Ronald
P. Dobosz, Jr.; and Newsletter Chairman,
Russell E. Heller.

F e b . 14-20

GCSAA 71st Internationa!
Golf C o u r s e C o n f e r e n c e & S h o w
N e w O r l e a n s , La.

February 23

GCSANE Monthly Meeting
Salem Country Club
Peabody, Mass.
S u p t . - K i p Tyler, C G C S

M a r c h 6-9

New England Regional
Turfgrass Conference & Show
P r o v i d e n c e , R.I.

March 28

GCSANE Monthly Meeting
USGA Seminar
T h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Golf C l u b
Bolton, Mass.
S u p t . • R o n Milenski, CGCS

Page 6
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This month's question:

What are your views about eariy/late fall fertilizer programs,
and how successful are those programs at your golf course?
D o n Numes, Chicopee Country Clubs
"My fertilizing program here seldom
varies and doesn't depend on growth and
dormant conditions.
"In fact, it's very simple. Through
spring and summer I put down a liquid
fertilizer every two weeks. Come fall and
September, I cut it down to every month
until the snow flies.
"Our greens have a gravelly texture
to them and respond fabulously in the
spring. Then, the greens wake up, the
growth takes off in a hurry and we have
solid playing conditions from them almost
from the start of the season.
"There are absolutely no problems
with this schedule. Other than the
fertilizing program, I do a little cleanup
and treat the turf for snow mold in places
where it might take place.
"Our greens are a combination of
Penncross and poa, so there's always the
potential problem of poa taking over as
the dominant grass where it is living with
the Penncross. While some courses might
tend to correct the situation by trying to
get rid of the poa, I go the other way and
have learned to live with it.
"Eliminating the poa is a tough job. It
has bizarre properties and can seed at any
time. What I've done here is to set up a
program to manage or control the poa. I
do that through aerating and overseeding.
"I took over the course in 1997, and I
initiated the present fertilizing program
the minute I got here. So far, it's been an
unqualified success. With the results I'm
getting, I'm happy and the golfers are
happy. That's the kind of situation most
of us like to see."
Llanne Larson, White Cliffs Country
Club: "I'm not a traditionalist in the
sense that we don't subscribe to a normal
dormant feeding. Therefore, I suppose
we might be going against the grain in
utilizing a theory that frowns on high
percentage nitrogen feedings once the
summer has ended.

"There's good reason for keeping
nitrogen at low levels when we tackle
end-of-year projects like putting the
course to bed for the winter.
"For example, for the last two years
we've had unusually warm January
weather, weather that promotes unusual
turf growth. We've had enough growth
on some of our greens to the point where
we could have mowed them.
"So, my program is regulated to avoid
the possibility of greens going wild with
growth in the dead of winter. It all centers
on the amount of nitrogen going into the
fertilizer.
"Starting in September, the cutback
in nitrogen is accompanied by an increase
in potassium. I feel the emphasis on
potassium prepares the plant better for
winter.
"We do have a dormant feeding,
however. That goes into the plan one
week after Christmas or when the club
closes. This consists of a reintroduction
of nitrogen to the mix, although it is
slight and organic based.
"I'm satisfied with the results of the
approach. Our greens are a combination
of Penncross and poa. They respond

"The immediate goal
in the "beat poa9 plan is
to promote the bentgrasses
that make up the other
part ©four turf content.
We think we do that by
discouraging the growth
of poa in early spring
and late fall by not
depending on nitrogen
as a growth prodder."
Gary Watsehke
Manchester C.C.

nicely in the spring. The grasses don't
grow too quickly and the putting surfaces
come through with flying colors.
"This is my fourth year here and the
experimenting is over. I go with my
reduced nitrogen theory and the
program's working just as I thought and
hoped it would. The proof is in the
results, plus the lifting fact that we
haven't lost any turf in the last three
years."
G a r y Watsehke, Manchester Country
Club: "People around New England must
think I'm nuts because of the cockeyed
program I'm working on.
"In spring and fall my fertilizer takes
on a new look, the look reflecting a
drastic reduction in nitrogen . . . like, say,
none.
"First of all, we're on a long range
program to rid the course of poa. I mean,
we'd like to think we could get rid of it
all. But in attempting to drastically reduce
its presence, we get the feeling the 'kill
poa project' is on track.
"Right now, nitrogen goes on the
course only in the months of June, July,
and August. After that, its use isn't on
the fertilizing agenda until the following
summer.
"The immediate goal in the beat poa
plan is to promote the bentgrasses that
make up the other part of our turf content
We think we do that by discouraging the
growth of poa in early spring and late fall
by not depending on nitrogen as a growth
prodder.
"We do have dormant feeding, but
again, we hold off on the nitrogen. The
dormant feeding highlights potash, and
when everything wakes up in the spring
we find that the bentgrasses are gaining.
"As I said, we don't expect to get rid of
all the poa. However, our results show
that it no longer is the dominant strain of
grass on our greens. We'd like that trend
to continue. If it does, the program won't
sound all that crazy after all."
GERRY FINN

Education: Public Relations

Risk Management Program aims to prevent
misunderstandings about pesticide use
S6

ls it safe to let my children in the yard?"
. . . "When can the golfers go back on
the course?"... "Will the things you're
spraying pollute my well?" At some point
almost every golf course superintendent
or lawn/landscape operator faces these types
of questions from a homeowner or course
member. Now a new program created by
Novartis and accredited by the GCSAA gives
frontline personnel education credits for
learning to communicate about risk.
Despite the fact that the Green Industry
makes important contributions to the
property value, quality of life, and natural
environment of millions of Americans,
misconceptions persist. So in cooperation
with key industry organizations, Novartis
Turf & Ornamental Products created an
educational program to help frontline
landscape, lawn care, and golf course
professionals address those concerns and
communicate the importance of their work.

Entitled "Communicating About Risk:
Taking the Lead from the Ground Up," the
program is available from Novartis. It was
created by Novartis in conjunction with the
GCSAA, the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, and the Professional
Lawn Care Association of America.
The complete training program offers
information on contributions the industry
makes to communities, facts about risks of
pesticide exposure, and ways to prevent
misunderstandings. For example, materials
list certain "Outrage Factors" that create
criticism, and pitfalls (such as lack of
honesty) that can exacerbate bad feelings.
"Even when people have the facts,
pesticide use can be an emotional issue,"
said Michael Joyce, Director of Marketing
Services for Novartis Turf & Ornamental
Products. "Sometimes communicating
about these issues can be the most important part of a frontline person's job."

Novartis designed the program for any
risk situation a Green Industry professional
might face. A video and training manual
lead instructor and employees through the
material. Employees then work together
to develop key messages for their company.
Each employee is given a wallet card with
tips for communicating about pesticide use.
"People are more educated than ever,
but there is still a lot of misinformation
about what we do," said Dan Ward, GCSAA
curriculum manager, explaining why he
expects the information to be well received
by superintendents. "Novartis has created
a complete program that may help the
end user prevent negative situations
before they happen."
The employee training program
"Communicating About Risk: Taking the
Lead from the Ground Up" is available
from Novartis Turf & Ornamental
Products by calling 1-800-395-TURF.

Remember When?

Remember

When: A look boek at GCSANE's past

Remember When? looks at significant
individuals and events of GCSANE's past.

25 years ago
A quartet of originals, actually founders
of what was to become the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of New
England, highlighted the small talk during
the group's gala 50th anniversary party at
Lantana Restaurant in Randolph, Mass.
The colorful storytellers, ranging in age
from 74 to 77, included Guy West, Howard
Farrant, Elmer Fuller, and Joseph Oldfieid.
Then and now was a popular point of
conversation for the senior partygoers.
"Our salaries ranged from $1,800 to
$4,000," Farrant disclosed. "But, remember,
those were hard times with the depression
and all. I know that's a drop in the bucket
compared to what some of the boys get
today. But we used to do a little moonlighting to make ends meet."
West recalled that a good budget in his
day, "ran in the neighborhood of $20,000.

'I used f© pick my labor forces
by offering a man a shovel
and hiring him if he picked
it up by the right end."
Joseph

Oldfieid

Our equipment wasn't fancy but we had
things like gang mowers. It wasn't exactly
the dark ages."
Whatever, the prize for comedy went
to Oldfieid who quipped, "I used to pick
my labor forces by offering a man a shovel
and hiring him if he picked it up by the
right end." Obviously, those were the days!

!5 years ago
Marblehead-Swampscott YMCA officials
will honor longtime YMCA benefactor
Chester M. Sawtelle and his wife Harriet

when the new pool on Children's Island is
dedicated in their names.
Sawtelle, a local resident and chairman
of the board of Sawtelle Brothers, Inc. in
Swampscott, has been involved in YMCA
affairs since 1943 when he joined its board.
His leadership helped make Children's
Island a model camp and recreation facility.
The $135,000 pool completes the facility
upgrade. "If it weren't for Chet Sawtelle,
Children's Island never would have happened," said YMCA director Darryl Gallant.

J years ago
The sixth annual Turfgrass Research
Tournament turned into a rousing success
while participants enjoyed the finely tuned
grounds of the Worcester Country Club.
Winners included Andy Langlois and
Walter Lankau (low gross 71), Bob DiRico
and Brian Howard (low net 61), and closest
to the pin artists Kevin Osgood, Dick
Anderson, and Steve Chiavaroli.
GEMRY FINN

PageS

Wetlands Regulations

Crossing the line: A g&if course overview
of the Wetlands & Riwer Protection Acts
By Terry Bastion
Waterflowers
Ecological

Design

One of the questions 1 am asked most
often in my environmental design and
consulting business is "do I need a permit?"
The answer can be complicated. I would
like to explain what the law is, how it
affects the modern superintendent, and
what you can do to protect yourself from
the wetlands and river protection acts.
Lines are drawn on a golf course every
day; out of bounds, tee markers, and wet
or damaged turf can be roped off for its
protection. The law has created another
line across our fairways to protect the
resource areas, wetlands, ponds, and
streams. The reason these laws exist are
because we've learned that these swamps
are valuable to the public good and they
have eight important functions. These
eight interests are the protection of public
and private water supplies, protection of
groundwater supply, protection of land
containing shellfish, protection of wildlife
habitat, flood control, storm damage
protection, prevention of pollution, and
protection of fisheries. (Yes, a lawyer
wrote that last sentence.)
This is done by creating a 100-foot
buffer zone around the resource areas in
the Wetlands Act and a 200-foot buffer
zone for the Rivers Protection Act, where
any work that can damage or compromise
these eight functions can be controlled or
conditioned in the permitting process.
Both the town Conservation Commission
and the Department of Environmental
Protection give the permits. You apply to
the town, but both review your application.
There are two types of applications:
the Notice of Intent (NOI) and the
determination. The NOI covers all the
bases. The determination is used to ask
if the project will affect the wetlands and
determine where that wetland Sine is.
What kinds of activity need a permit?
Cleaning out or dredging a pond needs a
permit, and if it's a large job, a federal
permit as well. Excavation and earth-moving
within the 100-foot buffer zone, and

building or repairing bridges on the golf
course all require a permit. Some routine
maintenance, like mowing, does not require
a permit, but be aware that removal of
trees should be done with a determination.

The best course of action is to contact
the local conservation agent at your town
and ask if you need a permit or not. They
can guide you on what they want you
to do to protect the wetlands or river,
and you can share what your efforts are
to manage your site responsibly. This
relationship is important, as most members of the Conservation Commission and
their agents are not golfers, and have
some deep misunderstandings about the
role of the modern superintendent. The
most often asked question from this
group is "have you thought of using
IPM?" I always answer that question with
"golf courses have been using this since
the 1970s and if they have any questions
they should ask the golf course superintendent, he is your best resource on turf
management."
These lines are designed to protect the
environment. Understanding them and
respecting them protects not just the
environment but the golf course from
legal action. So remember, any work
within 100 feet of a wetland, a pond, or

The Conservation
Commission is a volunteer
board of citizens c¡barged
with protecting these
resources. They can be
your worst enemy ©r your
best alfy. The difference
is communication.

Some may ask why bother applying for a
permit at all. I caution them, as the fines
can be excessive (some local bylaws have
$l,000-per-day fines until the problem is
corrected) and the club and the superintendent's reputation become tarnished.
This may make future work more difficult.

Arthur Silva
and Belmont C . C
make it big
on the cover of
MG A magazine
Superintendent Arthur Silva and his
greens at Belmont C.C. were included
in The Massachusetts Golfer's fall
feature, "The Best of the MGA '99".

continued

on page 8

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(Unfortunately, neither the photo
nor the text of the feature revealed
Sliva's top-secret height-of-cut
adjustment for those scissors.)
(Photograph courtesy of Brian Smith.)

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Page 6

D8YQT DRIFT. =announcements...educations!!
seminars...job
opportunities
..„tournament results...and miscellaneous items ©f interest f© the membership.
MEMBERSHIP
Welcome New Members: Michael Leete, Assistant,
Kettle Brook Golf Club; Jason R. Drummond,
Assistant, Kettle Brook Golf Club.
Proposed For Membership: Ronald Shover, Superintendent, Tewksbury Country Club.

INFORMATION

EDUCATION
The Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management
School is accepting applications for their threeweek preparatory short course. Classes run from
January 17 to February 4. The cost of tuition is
$1095 ($995 if registered by December 1). For
more information or to register, call the Cook
College Office at (732) 932-9271, or visit their
website at www.cook.rutgers.edu/-ocpe.

I

I

A r e m i n d e r that the Nor'easter Hospitality Room
will be held on Thursday, February 17 from 6-8
p.m. at the New Orleans Marriott. Please be sure
to make a note of it.
Make sure to mark January 10 on your calendar.
That is the date of the Annual Meeting to be held
at Cyprian Keyes in Boylston. Steve Cadenelli, a
GCSANE member and past president of the
GCSAA, will be speaking on the new Professional
Development Initiative being planned. This is sure
to be a hot topic and not one to miss.
T h e contingent of superintendents sent to repres e n t t h e GCSANE at t h e New E n g l a n d
Superintendents Championship came back winners this year. The event was held on October 12
at Nashua C.C. The duo of Dave Comee and
Captain Ron Kirkman managed to post the best
score of the entire field. The rest of the team
consisted of Arthur Silva, John Lenhart, Ed Uhlman, Ed Eardley, and Russell Heller. The winning
score of 168 points (point-quota format) beat second place Rhode Island.
Congratulations and good luck to Carl and Katie
Oliveira. They recently celebrated the birth of
triplets, two girls and one boy.
Thanks to Bob DiRico at Brae Burn C.C. for
hosting the November meeting. Also deserving
accolades for a wonderful day were his assistants,
Jonathon Burke and Brian McHugh; function manager Pam Towle; chef Mike Silvia; bar manager
Cally Duque; and golf pro David Waldmann.
Best wishes to Bert Frederick. Bert recently
retired from Vesper C.C. after spending over 30
years there.
Belated congratulations go to Dick Duggan on
playing 175 holes in the Ouimet Marathon.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery go to Fred Wood
of Willowdale G.C., who experienced recent health
problems.
John LeClair has left Charles River C.C. to become
superintendent at Warwick C.C. Good luck, John.
We hope to be down to see you next summer.

TOURNAMENT

RESULTS

Nine-Hole Meeting / 4-person scramble
November 1, 1 9 9 9
Brae B u r n G.G. (The Highland Course)
1st Place: Ron Dobosz, Ron Smith, Kevin Taylor,
Bob Ruszala (27)
2nd Place: David Barber, Bob DiRico, Andy
Langlois, Bert Frederick (28)
3rd Place: Robin Hayes, Rich Gagnon, Mike
Luccini, Brian King (29)* (*match of cards)

POSITIONS

AVAILABLE

Superintendent. Valley Country Club in Warwick,
R.I. is a private, 18-hole course with bentgrass
greens, tees, and fairways. A semiautomatic irrigation system is to be updated to fully automatic in
2000. Applicant must have a four-year turf mana g e m e n t d e g r e e , five or m o r e y e a r s as
superintendent (preferred), and must have experience in irrigation systems and pumping facilities.
Duties include budgeting; purchasing; clubhouse
lawns, trees, and shrubbery; implementation of
course improvements pursuant to new master plan
for golf course; and monitoring of new irrigation
and pump systems. Benefits include paid health
insurance, annual vacation, sick leave, vehicle, and
golf privileges. Send resume to: Angelo R. Marocco, Valley Country Club, 251 New London Ave.,
Warwick, RI 02886.
Prescription Turf Services, Inc. is seeking technicians to provide outstanding customer service to
our sports turf, golf course, and commercial clients. We require self-motivated individuals who
can work independently. Individuals will utilize
turf management skills, customer service training,
and the ability to get the job done right the first
time. We offer full-time salaried employment, paid
health insurance benefits, paid vacation, 401k, and
profit sharing. Training will be provided. PTS is
located in Middleton, Mass. Please contact our
office at (978) 777-1663 or send resume to: PTS,
P. O. Box 39, Middleton, MA 01949.

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Superintendent. Potowomut Golf Club is an 18hole private club with bentgrass greens, tees, and
fairways. The course has a recent equipment lease
package and is involved in an ongoing in-house
bunker restoration project. Applicant must have a
two or four-year degree in turf management or
related field, experience in golf course construction principles and practices, and an
understanding of the Rules of Golf. A minimum of
five years of golf experience (at least three as
superintendent or assistant) is required. Individual
must obtain a R.I. pesticide certification and must
piay golf. Compensation includes salary, family
medical insurance, vehicle and clothing allowances, national and local association dues, local,
regional, and national seminar/meeting expenses,
and expenses for GCSAA conference & show golfing privileges. Send resume to: Search Committee,
Potowomut G.C., 439 Ives Road, E. Greenwich, RI
02818.

Assistant Superintendent. Kernwood Country
Club in Salem, Mass. is a private 18-hole golf
course located in Salem, Mass., along the Danvers
River. Designed by Donald Ross in 1914, it is
maintained to the highest standards. The assistant
will work under the superintendent and participate
in the planning and maintenance of the entire
grounds of Kernwood Country Club. The crew
ranges from 7 full-time to 20 in season. Duties
include assisting in scheduling of employees, planning budgets, pesticide applications, equipment
operation for employees, safety for employees,
pesticide equipment calibration, irrigation repairs,
and crew supervision. A two-year or four-year
degree in turf management and a minimum of 2-5
years of experience are preferred. Individual must
have a good working knowledge of computers and
the ability to handle all irrigation repairs. A Mass.
pesticide applicator's license is required. The candidate will be expected to run the entire operation
in the absence of the superintendent. Compensation is c o m m e n s u r a t e with experience, and
includes health insurance, paid vacation, sick
leave, uniforms, meals, chapter dues, and golf
privileges. The resume deadline is January 1,2000.
Send resume to: Dean Robertson, Superintendent,
Kernwood Country Club, P. O. Box 106, Salem,
MA 01970.

Page

6

Please Patronize these FRIENDS of the ASSOCIATION
A-OK Turf Equipment Inc.

Douglas Equipment Corp.

1357 Main St., Coventry, Rl 02816-8435
Articulator, Terra Topper, Greens Groomer
brush, & used equipment.
Mike Cornicelli - (401) 826-2584

90 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, Ri 02917
John Deere golf and turf equipment dealer.
Paul T. Surabian, Allen Vadala
(401) 232-3700

A.A. Will Materials Corp.

Dow/ilanco

168 Washington St., Stoughton, MA 02072-1748
Top dressing & bunker sand, decorative stone,
landscape materials.
Frank Will, Charlie Downing
(800) 4-AA-WILL

Apr-Eva U.S.A. Co.

Wilmington, DE
Acclaim Extra, Banol, ProStar, ProGrass,
Finale, Turcam, DeltaGard.
David Sylvester - (860) 828-8905

Allen's Seed Store Inc.

693 S. County Trail, Exeter, Ri 02822
Specializing in quality seed and related
golf course maintenance supplies.
Gregg Allen - (800) 527-3898

Bartlett Tree Expert Co.

153 Rumford Ave., Newton, MA 02466-1311
Consulting, planning, IPM MoniTor, pruning,
fertilization & appraisal.
Jack Keily-(617) 969-5990

31 Old Town Trail, Narraganseti, Ri 02882
Bob Scott-(401) 376-7290

feliebae! Drake Construction, ¡no.

240 Walnut St., Framingham, MA 01702
Golf course reconstruction; professional shaper.
Michael Drake - (508) 875-8247

2352 Main St., Concord, MA 01742
Tree transplanting, landscape construction,
and masonry
Kevin Mulcahy - (800) 439-7244

Charles C. Hart Seed Co., Inc.

P.O. Box 9169, Wethersfield, CT 06109-0169
Roy Sibley, Dick Gurski
(800) 326-HART

Boston Irriiatien Supply Company

Brendan Corporation

The Cardinals, Ins.

166 River Rd.,P.O. Box 520
Unionville, CT 06085-0520
Golf course and landscape supplies.
John Callahan, Dennis Friel - (800) 861-6256

Cavicchio Landscape Supply, Inc.

110 Codjer Lane, Sudbury, MA 01776
Annuals, perennials, garden mums, ground
covers, ioam, and mulch.
Darren Young - (978) 443-7177

Cedar Lawn Tree Service, inc.

32 Nickerson Rd„ Ashland, MA 01721
Pruning, fertilization, removal,
and professional care.
William P. Maley - (508) 881-2622

Cornish, Silva, & lungeum, ins.

207 N. Main St., Uxbridge, MA 01569
Golf course architects.
(508) 278-3407

Hartney Greytronf

433 Chestnut St., Needham, MA 02492-2822
Tree care, landscape construction, consulting.
MarkTobin-(781) 444-1227

Internationa! Golf Construction Co.

5 Purcell Rd„ Arlington, MA 02474
Golf course construction.
Antonios Paganis - (781) 648-2351;
(508) 428-3022

Irrigation Management & Services

21 Lakevlew Ave., Natick, MA 01760
Irrigation consultation, design, and
system evaluation.

Bob Heaiey, ASIC, CID - (508) 653-0625

Tom Irwin Inc.
11B A St., Burlington, MA 01803-3404
Jack Peterson, Wayne Ripley, Paul Skafas,
Chris Peterson, Jack Pluta, Greg Misodoulakis
(800) 582-5959

Ken Jones Tire, Inc.

71-73 Chandler St., Worcester, MA 01613
Distributor of tires for lawn & garden, trucks,
cars, industrial equipment, and golf cars.
Gerry Jones - (508) 755-5255

Koonz Sprinkler Supply, inc.

39 Waverly Ave., Springfield, NJ 07081
(973) 379-9314

Country Club Enterprises

P. 0. Box 820, Cataumet, MA 02534
Club Car golf cars, Carryall utility vehicles.
Ed McGuire, Dave Farina, Steve Butler
(800) 662-2585

Landmark Construction

P. O. Box 3218, Framingham, MA 01705-3218
Asphalt paving of cart paths, walkways,
parking areas; imprinted asphalt.
John McNulty - (508) 879-8875

Miller Golf Construction

1 Leicester Rd„ Marblehead, MA 01945
Golf course construction & renovation
John Miller-(781) 631-2030

R.F. Morse & Sons, Inc.

22 Cranberry H w y „ Wareham, MA 02576-0099
Larry Anshewitz, Jack Cronin, Chris Cowan,
Alan Anderson - (508) 295-1553

Nardone Sand and Gravel, Inc.

37 Power Rd„ Westford, MA 01886-4112
Topdressing sand & mixes, bunker sands, root-zone
mixes, loam, cart path materials, drainage stone.
Greg Frederick - (978) 692-8221

North Shore Hydraseeding

20 Wenham St., Danvers, MA 01923
Hydroseeding, erosion control, & tree services
Brian King - (978) 762-8737

Novartis Specialty Products, Inc.

394 Monson Tpk. Rd„ Ware, MA 01082
Banner MAXX, Barricade, Subdue MAXX, Primo
Dave Ravel - (413) 967-6745

Partas Peat Corporation

Kelsey Park, Great Meadows, NJ 07838
Heat treated topdressing, golf hole targets,
turf blankets, other specialty golf supplies.
Jim Kelsey - (800) 247-2326

P.I.E. Supply Co.

For your irrigation needs; dedicated to sales
and service of quality irrigation equipment.
(203) 878-0658

Proscription Turf Services, Inc.

P. O. Box 39, Middleton, MA 01949
Deep-tine and hydro-injection services,
custom fertilizer & pesticide applications,
(airway aeration, topdressing operations.
(978) 777-1663

Read Sand and Gravel, Inc.

171 VFW Drive, Rockland, MA 02370
Topdressing, root-zone mixes, bunker sand,
3/4 & 3/8 screened loams, cart path materials,
mulch, drainage stone.
Joe Farina - (800) 660-2955
65 Gienn St., Lawrence, MA 01843
Bob Brown, Larry Bunn, Mike Hannigan,
Frank Higgins, John Lenhart - (978) 682-9296

larchmont Engineering

SB! Turf Services

11 Larchmont Lane, Lexington, MA 02420-4483
Keith Savage - (781) 647-3361

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Shawnmark Industries, Inc.
P. 0. Box 8966, Warwick, Rl 02999
Matt Howiand-(401) 295-1673

Sodco ins.

P. 0. Box 2, Slocum, Ri 02877
Bluegrass/Fescue, Bluegrass/Rye,
Biuegrass/Fescue/Rye, Bentgrass
Matt Faherty, Pat Hogan - (800) 341-6900

Sports Club Management

104 Wyman Rd., Braintree, MA 02184
OSHA and EPA compliance services and training
Ron Smith - (781) 848-5978

Dahn Tihhett
Professional Golf Services

dba Weed & Feed, Inc.
20 Clark Lane, Marshfield, MA 02050
Specialists in golf course construction,
bunker restoration, and irrigation installation.
(781) 837-3503

Tee and Green Sod, Inc.
U u i i y Construction Corp.

P. O. Box 662, Winchester, MA 01890
Tee/bunker shaping & remodeling, cart paths,
drainage, tree planting, landscape construction.
Daniel Champion - (781) 729-3250

Country Golf, inc.

4852 Westchester Dr., Traverse City, Ml 49684
Golf course construction & reconstruction;
specialists in Donald Ross courses.
Jerry Deemer- (616) 947-5751

D.L. Maher Co.

Gold Star Nursery & Sod Farm

The Borden Company

40 Walker St., Swansea, MA 02777
Doug Hopper - ( 5 0 8 ) 3 7 9 - 0 0 9 2

Lofts Seed, inc.

F.D.I., ins.

(Fairway Design Illustration)
95 Railroad Ave., Warren, Rl 02885
Custom granite signs and markers.
Joseph K. Marin, Robert Page
(800) 358-8337

Greeno, inc.

60 Sturgis Way, Dedham, MA 02026
Distributor, irrigation supplies & accessories.
John Ramey, Paul Kenyon, Robert Barbarti
(781) 461-1560

20005 Lake Rd„ Rocky River, OH 44116
Ron Tumiski, Mike Donohue, Jim Wierzbicki
(800) 321-5325

71 Concord St., P. O. Box 127
North Reading, MA 01864-0127
Water supply specialists; water wells
& pumping equipment.
(781) 933-3210

640 Hale St., Beverly Farms, MA 01915
Complete tree care, landscape design
& construction, disease control,
long-range planning.
Ben Staples - (978) 927-1590

Bayer Corporation

114 Summer S t , Maynard, MA 01754-2216
Bulk limestone dealer.
Jack Borden - (978) 897-2571

Lcsco Inc

22 Lantern Lane, Exeter, Rl 02822
Victoria Wallace - (800) 648-7333

100 First Ave., Boston, MA 02129
Manufacturer & supplier of dry organic fertilizers.
Kristen Patneaude - (617) 788-4437

118 Ellery Ave., Middletown, Rl 02842
Bayleton, Merit, Dylox, Tempo
Brad Herman - (800) 842-8020

dba Hammond Paint and Chemical Co., inc.
738 Main St., Suite 223, Waltham, MA 02154
Complete line of golf course accessories;
Standard, Par Aide, Eagle One.
Joe Lazaro-(781) 647-3361

F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Co.

250 West Rd„ Canterbury, NH 03224-2127
Growers of turfgrass and ornamentals
Bill Thompson, Malcolm McPhail
Lexington, M A - ( 7 8 1 ) 861-1111
Canterbury, NH - (503) 783-4717

Bay State Fertilizer/MWRA

Lazaro's Golf Course
Supplies & Accessories

Sawtelie Brothers

65 Glenn St., Lawrence, MA 01843
Deep-tine, core, & water-injection aerification,
DOL & Verti-Seed overseeding, irrigation services.
Jim Favreau - (800) 999-TURF

P. 0. Box 418, Exeter, Rl 02822
Bentgrass, Bluegrass, and Blue/Fescue sod.
Dave Wallace, Robin Hayes
(401) 789-8177

Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.

P. O. Box 167, Wood River Junction, Rl 02894
Chris Beasley - (800) 556-6985

Turf Enhancement Enterprises

5 Jessica J Dr., Military, MA 01527
Floratine products, Precision Small Engine Co.,
Douglas Rollers, Trion Lifts.
Tom Fox-(508) 865-9150

TurfNet Associates, Inc.

21 Brandywine Rd., Skillman, NJ 08558
Cutting edge communication for
the golf course industry.
Peter McCormick - (800) 314-7929

Turf Partners, Inc.

15 Londonderry Rd., Londonderry, NH 03053
Turf & ornamental supplies.
Chuck Bramhall, Jim Cohen, Geoff Houghton,
Rick Howe, Mike Kroian, Scott Mackintosh,
Mike Nagie - (800) 228-6656

Turf Products Corp.

157 Moody Rd., Enfield, CT 06082
Distributors of Toro irrigation and maintenance
equipment and other golf-related products.
Irrigation: Tim Berge, Palmer Whitney
Commercial: Ed Fallow, Rick Moulton,
Mike Turner - (800) 243-4355

United Horticultural Supply

18 Legate Hill Rd., Sterling, MA 01564
Fertilizer, seed, chemicals, and IPM.
Glenn Larabee, Bruce Chapman, Mark Miller
(800) 224-4440

Varney Bros. Sand & Gravel

79 Hartford Ave., Bellingham, MA 02019
Concrete golf cart paths.
Kenneth Mooradian - (800) 441-7373

Waterflowers Ecological Design
116 North Street, North Reading, MA 01864
Environmental audits, planning/design,
6 permits for all environmental details
Terry Bastion - (978) 664-8059

Wlnfield Nursery, Inc.

1320 Mountain Rd., Suffield, CT 06109
Wholesale nursery trees and shrubs.
Stan Hildreth

Philip Wogan & George F. Sargent, Jr.

Golf Course Architects
17 Walker Rd„ Topsfield, MA 01983
(978) 887-3672

Zip Type Service
50 Kent Street, Newburyport, MA 01950
Design, printing, mailing, advertising specialties.
Sheila Johnson - (978) 462-9358

WUTM/LLL

Page 6
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Host Superintendent Profile

Meet host superintendent B@b DiRico, B r a ©
T h e host for the November meeting of
the GCSANE is Bob DiRico of Brae Burn
Country Club in Newton, Mass.
Bob is a 17-year member of the
association. He has served much of that
time on the board of directors, reaching
the top as president in 1996-97. He is
currently finishing his run, ending as
immediate past president in January.

He has been the superintendent
at Brae Burn for 11 years. His prior
experience includes stints at Bellevue
G.C., Brockton C.C., Holden Hills C.C.,
East Pointe C.C., Jupiter Hills G.C.,
Hyannisport Club, and Marlboro C.C.
Bob is a Certified Golf Course
Superintendent, having achieved that
milestone in 1989.

. « . continued

from page 5 I remember a municipal golf course facing
a $l,000-per-day fine for filling in a wetland.
even a drainage ditch may require some
The superintendent was innocent, but
review. Any work 200 feet from a perennial
stuck in the middle. A site visit letting the
stream needs a permit. Yes, that little brook
commission members ride in the golf carts
is considered a river. The Conservation
and sharing their concerns was the turning
Commission is a volunteer board of citizens
point in solving that problem and moving
charged with protecting these resources.
on to improve the golf course.
They can be your worst enemy or your
In future articles I will share the do's
best ally. The difference is communication.
and don'ts of filing a permit, and also one

Wetlands

Surs! C . C

Bob has a B.S. in sociology from
Georgia Southwestern College and a
degree from UMass Winter School.
The 9-hole course at Brae Burn is
named The Highland Course. It was
designed by Donald Ross and built by
John Shanahan in 1922. Shanahan was
Brae Burn's first superintendent and
the first President of GCSANE.

on environmental etiquette for your
crew this one you should photocopy
and insert in their pay envelopes. It will
save you money and hassle.
Terry Bastion is president of
Waterflowers Ecological Design,
They provide environmental audits,
planning and design, and permits
for all environmental details.
Terry may be reached at 978-664-8059.

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