of the GolfCourse Superintendents Association o f New England, Inc. S p o n s o r s a n d a d m in is tr a t o r s o f t h e T r o ll- D ic k in s o n S c h o la r s h ip F u n d - A w a r d e d y e a r ly t o d e s e r v in g T u r f M a n a g e m e n t S tu d e n ts , For Vin lacono a t Blue H ill Country Club, it's a brand new vista everywhere he looks By Jim McCabe, The Boston Globe N e w golf season, new optimism. For superintendent Vin lacono, it even feels like a new place of work, even if he is still reporting for his duties at Blue Hill Coun­ try Club in Canton, Mass., just as he has been for nine years. Why the fresh enthusiasm? For la­ cono, it's simple. The birth of a new golf season provides the chance to unveil the "new-look" Blue Hill MONTHLY C .C . because the bulk of a major res­ FEATURE toration project has been completed. Surely, the work made for a hectic and demanding 2003, but lacono firmly anticipates that 2004 will bring with it rewards. "The response from the members has been very good," said lacono. "It keeps things exciting. I mean, it's not some­ thing I would like to go through every year, but it's quite a change from the day-to-day routine, I will say." Everywhere he turns, lacono gets a view of Blue Hill C.C. that is different from what he was used to, but he isn't objecting. Opened in 1925, the course had stood pretty much untouched for decades. Perhaps a new tee here and a rebuilt green there, but other than that, it was in 2002 a course not much differ­ ent than the one that hosted the 1956 PGA Championship (won by Jack Burke, Jr.) or those annual LPGA Tour events. "It was getting o ld ," said lacono. "There wasn't much drainage. The bun­ kers needed to be redone. The faces were starting to fall apart. We needed all new tees. We had to add some meat to the par-5s. Those holes never had fair­ way bunkers on them, but now they do. We needed a new irrigation system; the old one was 35-40 years old, but the "It was getting old. There wasn't much drainage. The bunkers needed to be redone. The faces were starting to fall apart. W e needed all new tees. W e had to add some meat to the par-5s. Those holes never had fairway bunkers on them, but now they do. W e needed a new irrigation system; the old one was 3 5 -4 0 years old, but the members figured it was best to do it all at once." Vin lacono Blue Hill C.C. — members figured it was best to do it all at once." To pull this project all together, the Blue Hill C.C. membership hired Ron Prichard, a well-respected architect who takes great pride in restoring Donald Ross gems. While Blue Hill C.C. wasn't designed by Ross, it is credited to another New England legend, Skip Wogan. By all accounts, Wogan was a disciple of Ross's and Blue Hill C.C. very much has the Ross feel to it. A key point to the restoration, said lacono, was the work around the greens. "Three greens were rebuilt, and bunker­ ing around all the greens were rebuilt so that the greens are the highest point of the entire green complex, to achieve a bold look." Also, lacono said Prichard paid close attention to the new bunkers, determined to make them blend into the character of the course. There had been some bunker work done back in 1984, "but they were totally out of character with the course," said lacono. The project began in November of 2002, which proved to be a nightmarish winter. That made 2003 even more hec­ tic, but lacono said there was one big advantage for Blue Hill C.C. - the club's nine-hole "challenger course." Those holes were also factored into the restoration project, but while "we had our ups and downs, we were always able to keep 18 holes open," said lacono. "We were fortunate on that front." JUN 0 7 2004 continued on page 2 "It was a great learning experience to be involved in. I've always liked the architectural part of the game and I've learned a lot from this experience." PRESIDENT Michael J. Hermanson 140 Ryan Street, Gardner, M A 0 1 4 40-0145 978-632-271 3 Fax 9 7 8 -6 3 2 -2 7 1 3 E-mail: herm 068@ hotm ail.com Gardner Municipal Golf Course VICE PRESIDENT Patrick S. Kriksceonaitis 4 Lakem ans Lane, Ipswich, M A 019 38 -2 5 0 5 9 7 8 -5 2 6 -4 6 0 0 Fax 9 7 8 -5 2 6 -8 3 3 3 E-mail: Grounds@Essexcc.org Essex County Club SECRETARY Russell E. Heller 41 Clifford Street, Melrose, MA 021 76 -0 1 4 0 61 7 -9 8 3 -2 7 8 6 Fax 6 1 7 -9 8 3 -2 7 8 6 E-mail: Rheller@gcsane.org Franklin Park Golf Course TREASURER Ronald P. Dobosz, Jr. 1137 Park Street, Stoughton, MA 020 72 -3 7 2 8 781 -341 -8 5 6 4 Fax 781 -341 -8564, *51 E-mail: rdoboszl 11 @aol.com C edar Hill Golf Course TRUSTEE Leonard F. Curtin 6 Louis Avenue, Sudbury, M A 017 76 7 8 1 -8 6 2 -5 1 6 7 E-mail: lrina2@ peoplepc.com Lexington Golf Club TRUSTEE Jason S. Adam s 11 W oodcrest Lane, Blackstone, MA 01504 781 -326-3801 Fax 781 -326-3801 E-mail: Jayadam s35@ hotm ail.com Norfolk Golf Club TRUSTEE David A. Com ee 65 M arquette Street, Gardner, MA 01440 9 7 8 -2 9 7 -2 3 3 9 Fax 978-29 7-09 11 E-mail: photoC@hotmail.com Winchendon School Golf Club FINANCE CHAIRMAN Arthur Silva, CGCS 35 Pennacook Road, Tewksbury, MA 01876 6 1 7 -4 8 4 -5 4 4 0 Fax 61 7 -4 8 4 -6 6 1 3 E-mail: Asilva@belmontcc.org Belmont Country Club GOLF CHAIRMAN Jam es A. Small III 690 Pine Street, Bridgewater, M A 02 3 2 4 -2 1 1 6 5 0 8 -6 9 7 -4 8 1 6 Fax 5 0 8 -2 7 9 -3 3 5 5 E-mail: jasiii188@yahoo.com Olde Scotland Links Golf Club EDUCATION CHAIRMAN Patrick J. Daly, CGCS P. O. Box 2284, Framingham, M A 017 03 -2 2 8 4 5 0 8 -8 7 2 -9 7 9 0 Fax 5 0 8 -8 7 2 -5 3 9 3 E-mail: pat@ fram ingham cc.com Fram ingham Country Club NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN Michael W . Stachowicz 68 Westfield Road, W estwood, MA 02090 781 -3 2 6 -7 8 6 0 Fax 781 -3 2 6 -0 6 6 4 E-mail: par5N2@ yahoo.com Dedham Country and Polo Club PAST PRESIDENT Jam es R. Fitzroy, CGCS 357 W . Squantum St., N. Quincy, MA 0 2 1 7 1 -2 7 5 8 6 1 7 -3 2 8 -1 7 7 6 Fax 6 1 7 -3 2 8 -9 4 7 9 E-mail: Jfitz39@ rcn.com Presidents Golf Club EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Sharon K. Brownell P. O. Box 566, Mattapoisett, MA 02 7 3 9 -0 5 6 6 5 0 8 -7 5 8 -6 4 7 4 Fax 5 0 8 -7 5 8 -6 4 7 4 E-mail: Sbrownell@gcsane.org -jT H E N Vin lacono Blue Hill C.C. continued from page 1 O f course, when Wogan oversaw the building of Blue Hill C.C., he didn't have the restrictions that exist today. As there is everywhere, wetland and environ­ mental concerns are prevalent at Blue Hill C.C., and working around those areas has been a big part of the job. The 2003-04 winter, while not as ferocious as the one before it, still brought enough bitter cold to slow down the construction, leaving lacono and his staff to focus on the always-crucial tree work. "We got to about 1,500 trees," said lacono. "So it was an OK winter." Even better now that it has given way to spring and lacono and others can get out and absorb a better view of the work. The course will have to be measured again for yardage, slope, and a rating, and lacono laughs because he knows there will be those who will argue that the layout is tougher. "We have added a few back tees and you can stretch it 200 yards more than before and we've added 30 bunkers," said lacono. "But I think all of the changes have been good changes." What isn't up for debate is how much fun lacono has had with this project. "It was a nice twist," he said. "It was a great learning experience to be involved in. I've always liked the architectural part of the game and I've learned a lot from this experience." klk m | e w s l e t t e r G C S A N E H e a d q u a rte rs 300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766 Tel.: (800) 833-4451 Fax: (508) 7 58 -64 74 W eb Site: www.gcsane.org Newsletter Editor . . . . M ic h a e l S t a c h o w ic z Contributing E d i t o r ............................. G e rry Fin n Business M anager .............................Julie Heston (401-934-3677 ; E-mail: jheston@verizon.net) Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and/or person quoted, and may not represent the position of GCSANE. Information contained in this publication may be used freely, in whole or in part, without special permission as long as the true context is maintained. We would appreciate a credit line. CALENDAR . . . June 10 GCSANE Monthly Meeting J o in t M e e tin g w ith G o l f C o u r s e M a n a g e r s A s s o c ia t io n o f C a p e C o d W o o d s H o le G o l f C lu b W o o d s H o le , M a s s . S u p t. - T h o m a s F la h e r t y , C G C S J u ly 1 3 GCSANE Monthly Meeting Team o f T w o C h a m p io n s h ip The M eadow at Peabody P eabody, M ass. S u p t. - R ic h a r d D u g g a n , C G C S A ugust 24 GCSANE Monthly Meeting In d iv id u a l C h a m p io n s h ip M a r l b o r o u g h C . C . ( p e r m a n e n t s it e ) M a r lb o r o u g h , M a s s . S u p t. - K e n n e th C r im m in g s S e p t. 2 0 GCSANE Monthly Meeting S u p t./C lu b O ffic ia l T o u r n a m e n t T e d e s c o C o u n t r y C lu b M a r b le h e a d , M a s s . S u p t. - P e te r H a s a k O c to b e r 5 GCSANE Monthly Meeting S t o c k b r id g e F u n d R a is e r T o u rn a m e n t H ic k o r y R id g e C o u n t r y C lu b A m h e r s t, M a s s . S u p t. - R o b e r t R u s z a la N ov. 1 GCSANE Monthly Meeting S c r a m b le B e a r H ill G o l f C lu b S to n e h a m , M a s s . S u p t. - R ic h a r d F r e n c h FOUR SEASONS SIGNS DuraCarve - the most durable material for demanding environments "You need to see & feel this material to know how good it is!" Cart Signs Standard & Custom Tee Signs CARTS >, T jf Is ' Call for your FREE sample of DuraCarve 888-321-4320 GCSANE President Hermanson shares a letter received from A ffiliate Liaison Bob Healey I hope that those of you with low tem ­ perature kill on greens, tees, and fairways have had warm weather and great recovery. Those of us repairing our ir­ rigation systems are just beginning to stop cursing the frost from this past winter. Better days are coming! One of our veteran members brings up a good point. Since we are all gentlemen, when we are at out meetings, please do not wear your hat while indoors. The GCSANE Board of Directors has reduced the late call-in fee from $25.00 to $ 15.00. Please call in on time so the late fee does not have to be assessed. The following is a letter that I received from Bob Healey, Affiliate Liaison: Dear Mike, Getting back to my office Monday afternoon, I found three phones mes­ sages from Friends of the Association, one of who referenced your giving him my name to contact as the association's Affiliate Liaison. I returned the phone calls from three Friends of the Association, whom I sub­ sequently found out, had talked to several other of their fellow Friends. All the calls referenced the front page fea­ tured in March 2 004, issue of The Newsletter, written by the editor, Michael Stachowicz. The reaction from these Friends of the Association, to the "non-paid two page advertisement," is not positive. These Friends questioned the front page treat­ ment, stating they never remembered a front page featured article about a par­ ticular vendor before in The Newsletter. All had the same basic first impressions, after the raised eyebrows: "How did Turf Links rate the free front page ad?" "I didn't know you could do this." "How do I get my company on the front page?" "We give back to the Association too, but without the horn blowing." "W e're all competing for the same business, for one company to get this free leg-up isn't fair." I recalled to the callers my memory, that The Newsletter, with Kip Tyler as editor, ran for PRESIDENT'S a few years, a monthly "Meet REPORT the F rie n d s " section, that Friends submitted articles introducing themselves to the Associa­ tion. Most Friends remembered those features and noted those were fine since everyone had the same access. The gist of the comments centered on the impression of an uneven playing field and a special treatment for this particular vendor over others. One of the callers indicated you had talked to Mike. You informed him that Mike's intent was to highlight the estab­ lishment of the scholarship and that in hindsight, Mike realized the articles' place­ ment could have been handled better. continued on page 8 The reaction from these Friends of the Association, to the "non-paid two page advertisement," is not positive. These Friends questioned the front­ page treatment, stating they never remembered a front page featured article about a particular vendor before in The Newsletter. Letter from Bob Healey, Affiliate Liaison Team approach pays o ff in fund-raising campaign fo r the Joseph Troll Turf Research Center at W h e n we started to put the pieces in place for the UMass turf building cam­ paign, we knew it would require a team effort. It wouldn't be about any one person, but would be about all of us stepping up to the plate in a low-key way to make this long-awaited need a reality. We also knew that this team was ready to make it happen. Given the business we're in and the pressures we're all under, the kind of positive response that w e 'v e seen fro m alumni, friends, golf courses, and the com­ mercial side over the last six months has been incredible. And this is only the beginning. The research that's going to come out of the university will be coming out of the Joseph Troll Turf Research Center at the University of Massachu­ setts, and Joe's name and legacy will live on. We have been given an opportunity to be a key part of that. The torch is in our hands now, and it's a very, very exciting time. Stockbridge, Winter School and UMass alumni are stepping up to play a greater role in the turf program at the university, both through this campaign and with ideas for future research projects, the hot-but­ tons in the industry that we need to know more about. The following list of individuals and businesses are all those who have sent in a gift or pledge for the new turf building, and there are dozens of others who know that they will commit but just haven't sent in the details yet. We are currently over the $550,000 mark, and the UMass Turf Team will have a new building to move into by this time next year, thanks to the generosity of everyone who has stepped up to support this project. The list of donors will be updated for Field Day on June 23 when we will offi­ cially dedicate the turf facility in honor of Joe Troll. Join us if you can, and stay tuned for more news on the building plan itself. This campaign is the start of something new, and it shows a solid commitment from alumni and the industry that will mark the resurgence of the turf program that has given so many of us our start. Paul F. Miller, CGCS Campaign Chair Donors to the University of Massachusetts/Amherst Joseph Troll Turf Research Center Turf Building Fund: Leadership Support N e w E n g la n d R e g io n a l T u r fg r a s s F o u n d a t io n T u r fL in k s , In c . G e o f f r e y S. C o r n is h , A S G C A E d w in a n d C a r o l M c G u ir e GCSANE J a m e s & K a r e n C o n n e lly Cam paign Contributors M o u n t P le a s a n t C . C . S te p h e n M u r r a y NEGCSA Ed N ash A lla ir e 's H e r it a g e G a r d e n D o n a ld G . A lla ir e A n o n y m o u s (2 ) R ic h a r d A r z i l l o S te p h e n B a h n P a u l B a rra tt B o b & L o is B a u m g a r t n e r * R ic h a r d C . B la k e , C G C S G e r a ld B o u c h e r J o h n J. B re s n a h a n J e ffr e y S. B r o w n J o n a th a n & J u d y B ru c k s * K e v in C o r v in o S te p h e n C r o w e S te p h e n C u r r y J o s e p h & K a t h le e n D a i g l e S h a w n D a ig le R o b e r t D e l V e c c h io L a w re n c e D o d g e B e n D o h e rty R o b e rt D o n o v a n R ic h a r d D u g g a n , C G C S R o b e rt D w y e r W illia m “Small Projects ” E m e rs o n , C G C S G e o r g e F a ir b a n k s D a n i e l F is k M a r k G a lla n t B unker R enovation • Tee C onstruction • D rainage Installation Stone Walls & Interlocking Block Walls C ore A eration • Slice Seeding • Sodding Bark M ulch Blowing Tree Work (60' Bucket & Climbing) G le n m o r e L a n d s c a p e S v c . Jo sep h G ra h a m * R o b e rt G ra n t W . T h o m a s G r iffin P e te r H a s a k M a lc o lm & E s th e r H a s k e ll J o a n & D o n a ld H e a r n , C G C S R o n a ld H o l c o m b J o h n s o n G o lf M g m n t ., In c . B re tt J o h n s o n , C G C S D o u g la s W . J o h n s o n J a m e s K u rp o s k a Bill Butts General Manager 521 Trapelo R oad Belm ont, M A 02478 617-484-3360 Fax: 617-592-1497 L a k e v ille C o u n t r y C l u b J o h n J . L e C la ir C h r is t o p h e r L e m o in e Mike Lucier Division Representative M a rk M c D o n o u g h J a m e s M e d e ir o s , C G C S M a rg a re t & T h o m a s M ic c h e lli* S a l ly & P a u l M i l l e r , C G C S S h e rw o o d M o o re , C G C S G le n n S. M o o r e C o u n t r y C l u b o f P it t s f i e ld B r ia n C o w a n GOLF COURSE & SPORTS FIELDS DIVISION L a w n C a r e P r o f e s s io n a ls M a s s . T u rf & L a w n g ra s s A s s o c ia t io n P aul & J o a n n e H a rd e r G CM ACC S t o c k b r id g e F o u n d a t io n , I n c . S te p h e n C a d e n e lli, C G C S M a u r ic e C a m e r o n C a p e C o d N a t io n a l G .C . T o m C o lo m b o , C G C S L y n n & J a m e s C o n a r r t, C G C S ---- LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATES, IN C.----- S te p h e n M a n n , C G C S P a u l M . M a r s z a le k M a s s . A s s o c ia t io n o f L e w is B r o t h e r s G . C . P a t r i c k L e w is P e t e r L e w is M a rk L o m b a rd o P e te r L u n d , C G C S Ted M addocks, C G C S R o b e rt M a n n N a s h a w tu c C o u n tr y C lu b N e w E n g la n d S p o r ts T u r f M a n a g e r s A s s o c ia t io n N e w E n g la n d S o d P r o d u c e r s A s s o c ia t io n E r ic N e w e l l , C G C S Jack N ugnes, C G C S O a k L a n e C . C ., In c . J o h n O 'K e e f e , C G C S P a u l J . O 'L e a r y K a r n ig O v ia n K a y e m O v ia n M ic h a e l O v ia n O y s t e r H a r b o r s C lu b , In c . P e t e r P e d r a z z i, S r . D e n n is P e n n e r J o h n P fe ffe r F r a n k & J a n e P u c c io * T h e R id g e C l u b R IG C S A D e a n R o b e rts o n C h r is R y d e r S a le m C o u n tr y C lu b J u s tin S a n to s Todd Sauer S a w t e lle B r o t h e r s , I n c . D a v id S c h e r m e r h o r n S im p lo t P a r tn e rs R ic h a r d S la t t e r y P h illip & D ia n e S n o w * S o m e r s e t H ills C . C . M i c h a e l S t a c h o w ic z J a m e s S u lliv a n S u n s h in e L a n d s c a p i n g C o . G a ry Sykes J e ffr e y T a y lo r T e d e s c o C o u n tr y C lu b S te v e T h y s J o s e p h & L o n n ie T r o ll* K ip T y le r , C G C S B e r n a r d & J a n e t V e lla * P e te r V e n e m a n Paul V eshi P r o f . P a t r i c ia J . V i t t u m VTGCSA D a v id W a ll M ic h a e l W a lla c e W e e d & Feed P r o f e s s io n a l S e r v ic e s T ro y W ith a m R ic h a r d Z e p p , C G C S * In m e m o r y o f E d w a r d J . T r o ll As condition reports filte r in, USGA agronomists discover w inter in ju ry more widespread than o rig in a lly thought By David Oatis, Director, and Jim Skorulski & Jim Baird, Agronomists Reports of winter injury continue to filter in to our offices, and the damage is more widespread than originally thought. This is of little comfort to those who have experienced severe winter damage and are looking at tem po­ rary greens fo r the TURF next six weeks. Annual SCIENCE bluegrass and peren­ nial ryegrass was damaged most se­ verely in areas of upstate New York, Long Island, central and coastal New Jersey, Cape Cod, Boston, central and northern Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Q ue­ bec, and eastern Canada. Superintendents Bruce Peeples and Peter Hasek shared some of the weather data collected in the field in New Jersey and Massachusetts. The dramatic tem­ perature swings during early January are when much of the damage may have occurred. Temperatures were in the mid 40-50 range and plummeted into the single digits on three occasions between January 3 and 25 in New Jersey. There were even more instances in Massachu­ setts when canopy temperatures fell into ranges that are lethal to annual bluegrass and ryegrass. Whether it was one severe tem perature drop or several lesser ones, the result is the same: death and damage from direct cold tempera­ ture and crown hydration to annual bluegrass and perennial ryegrass. Shaded turf or turf at sites with a northern exposure suffered the most. As expected, low pockets took the brunt of the damage too. Areas where snow cover was lost p rio r to the coldest weather also were damaged. Perforated covers offered little winter protection as dam age was fairly widespread even where those covers were in place. Some of the annual bluegrass observed in early spring was partially damaged with a com prom ised root system. Those plants declined in some instances and in others improved. Perforated covers are ideal to use in early spring on damaged greens for protecting the severely weakened turf until it has a time to develop a more extensive root system. The covers also begin the process of warming up the soils for the inevitable over-seeding work that is to follow. Recovery requires time, good grow­ in g w e a th e r, and g o o d g ro w in g environments. The weather has begun to cooperate with soil temperatures re­ ported in the 60 range (at a one inch depth) this week. Some seed germina­ tion has been observed in the Boston area. Aside from all of the agronomic Golfers and superintendents alike must understand that this is a weather-related phenomenon that cannot be controlled. strategies superintendents can employ, keeping traffic off of the damaged areas is the single most important thing golfers can do to speed the recovery. Regardless of whether your turf experienced thin­ ning and damage or outright kill, a little patience now will yield big dividends later in the year. Weakened turf that is subjected to heavy traffic will suffer even more damage, and you can expect that greens put in play right off the bat to have double or triple the recovery time than greens that are kept out of play. Too much play, too early, also will increase chances of experiencing more problems later in the season and next winter! Re­ member the old oil filter commercial: "pay me now, or pay me later!" The winter injury this season may prove to be especially difficult from a political standpoint because it is more widespread and has been reoccurring with greater frequency. Expect to hear the questions such as: Why here and not Continued on page 9 _ . - - | * * 'ï s v .* * • „v , v v < ,, - : syngenta The difference between a good course and a great course is simple. With a portfolio of products unmatched in the industry, Syngenta is a necessity for every great course. From herbicides to fungicides to growth regulators, we have everything you need to maintain healthy, green turf. Contact Bob Goglia at 1-860-716-0315 to learn more about Syngenta products. Important: Always read and follow label instructions before buying or using these products. © 2 0 0 4 Syngenta. Syngenta Professional Products, Greensboro, NC 2741 9. Banner M A X X ” , Barricade*, Daconil*, Heritage*, Medallion*, Primo M A X X ”, Reward*, Subdue M A X X ’", Touchdown*, Trimmit*, and the Syngenta logo are trademarks of a Syngenta Group Company. www.syngentaprofessionalproducts.com j d U M Ü ¿ L ^ M i A M Ü * L L d L t o Ü * L L ú i L M Ü * L ¿ J d L k M k L M Ü ¿ L A j d L á l Ü á L l M Ú L M Ü í L á m M k í ü L i Ú ü L ¿ j d L á l Ü ¿ L ¡ J á l U P age 5 The Newsletter adopts a slightly new look fo r 2004 By Mike Stachowicz, Editor, The New sletter What follows is an edited copy of an e-mail correspondence from graphic designer Reg Bacon: The Newsletter has undergone a facelift for 2004. It is nothing dramatic, just a few tweaks to the image of The Newslet­ ter. The redesign was done at the editor's request by publication designer Reg Bacon of Zip Type Printing Serv­ ices, Inc., with input from the GCSAA newsletter seminar in San Diego, as well as from the GCSANE Newsletter Committee. Overall, The Newsletter stands out because it isn't printed on glossy paper, doesn't use Microsoft clip-art, and it isn't in color. The Newsletter is meant to in­ form the members of GCSANE of the activities in the world of turf in New England and news from within our own association in a concise, clear, and pro­ fessional manner. With those things in mind, we have chosen to stay out of the business (and expense) of selling maga­ zines, and have decided to continue the understated look of The Newsletter and focus on the quality of content. "As we discussed some weeks ago regarding your interest in a redesign of The Newsletter, an organizational publi­ cation may alre ady have a s o lid professional design, but it is still a good idea to trot out a new look every few years, if only to let readers know the publication/organization is alive, and not stagnant. In making the design changes, my first consideration was re­ taining the readability of the publication. It is not prudent to add questionable graphic 'bells and whistles' at the ex­ pense of readability, just for the sake of some change, any change. " I looked back at previous redesigns of the GCSANE Newsletter. I believe we (Zip Type Printing Services, Inc.) began printing The Newsletter in 1990, and at that time our charge was to provide an exact replication of a previous layout that was provided to us. I don't know how long that design had been used. I be­ came involved in the spring of 1991 and redesigned The Newsletter for then-edi- PROTECT YOUR GOLF COURSE! SIGN UP FOR AQUALAB’S e n v ir o n m e n t a l “INSURANCE POLICY" TODAY! • Confidential Monitoring Programs • Mold & Fungicides • Surface & Ground Water • Wash Water Run-Off • Fertilizer/Pesticide Monitoring • Abutter/Citizen Concerns Addressed • Corrective Action • Troubleshooting • Irrigation • Soil Helping Golf Course Managers Document Their Safe Practices Since 1989. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." 1-877-364-2200 W e have chosen to stay out of the business (and expense) of selling magazines, and have decided to continue the understated look of The Newsletter and focus on the quality of content. Michael Stachowicz Editor, The Newsletter tor Kip Tyler. This was a complete over­ haul that gave The N e w sle tte r a contemporary and professional look. That design remained in place for five years, until I redesigned once again, this time for editor Mike Nagle in March 1996. This is when we added the 'grass' headers & footers, the green dropshadow b oxes, and 'd e p a rtm e n t' headings (in black with a ruling line above each article). Th is design re­ mained in place for four years, until early 2000, when I redesigned both the name­ plate and The Newsletter for editor Russ Heller. Th is design has been in place for a little over four years. So, yes, it may be time for a change. "Given that the publication must un­ dergo last-minute changes to layout and content, I have always redesigned with the idea of layout flexibility in mind. Maintaining the three-column layout provides that flexibility, saving time and money. While it may be tempting to try the custom article layouts and the collec­ tions of multiple boxes and borders seen in the glossy newsstand magazines, adopting such a design inevitably adds cost, makes last-minute changes more difficult, and in many cases reduces, rather than enhances readability. To go the other direction, to a two-column lay­ out with all headlines the same size, would be a regression to the lackluster 'newsletter-as-container' design, i.e., 'just take the content and pour it in until it's fu ll.' Continued on page 9 ^ © ( a l l ï û O S C a ] ® ^ cDOflOO® &©@