September 2007

Youthful Sadowski Helps
Turner Hill Continue to Shine
By Gary Trask
John Sadowski has received his
fair share of compliments for the work
he and his staff have done at Turner
Hill Golf Club ever since he took over
as head superintendent back in 2004.
There have been accolades from Golf
Digest (No. 12 in the Massachusetts
Best of State Rankings, 2007), high
acclaim from the area's top amateur
golfers after the course staged last
year's New England PGA Championship and, of course, the kind
words he hears on almost a daily
basis from the club's members.
But of all of the flattering
comments that have been
passed on to Sadowski, none
resonated louder than when a
certain golfer by the name of
Padraig Harrington played the
course this past summer and
was effusive in his praise for the
conditions of the course. Simply
put, recognition from national
magazines are nice, but when
the reigning British Open champion offers his personal seal of
approval and mentions you by
name, you know you've done
something right.
"Yeah, that was pretty cool,"
admitted Sadowski of the comments
made by Harrington, who was in the
area for the Deutsche Bank Championship and visited Turner Hill for a Wilson
Golf sponsored event. "I mean here's a
guy who has played all over the planet
on the greatest courses in the world
and he couldn't have been more complimentary about our course. He was

real sincere, so coming from a guy like
that, it really meant a lot to me and
everyone else at the club."
Sadowski described his first impressions of the Turner Hill property as
"breathtaking" and if you've ever
stepped on the grounds of this Ipswich,
Mass. club you realize that he's not
using even a hint of hyperbole. The
311-acre site sits smack dab in the

Turner Hill’s 17th Green and
Clubhouse
middle of 10,000 acres of the Willowdale State Forest. It features sweeping
views from the highest point of the
course, which is 270 feet above sea
level and offers sight lines from New
Hampshire to Boston. There's also
plenty of history to go along with the

property thanks to a 19th century Edwardian mansion that serves as the
centerpiece of the entire development.
"It's an amazing place," Sadowski
gushed. "I was blown away when I first
visited. I almost had to pinch myself
because I realized that I was going to
be the one responsible for maintaining
it and making it shine."
Adding to that daunting task was
the fact that when Sadowski
was named Turner Hill's head
super he was relatively inexperienced. He graduated from
Penn State University in his
home state of Pennsylvania
back in 1998 and immediately
began working for Troon Golf
as an assistant super at Legend
Trail Golf Club in Scottsdale,
Ariz. He began his slow trek to
the Northeast two years later
when he was transferred to Eagle Ridge Resort and Spa in
Illinois, where after biding his
time as an assistant for a year,
the club promoted him to head
super. In 2004, the opportunity
at Turner Hill presented itself
and Sadowski, then just 28
years old, jumped at the
chance.
"I guess it was a little nervewracking to come in as a young guy
without a ton of experience and be
given the job at such an exclusive
club," Sadowski, now 31, admitted.
"But I was confident in my abilities and
Continued on page 2

PRESIDENT
Russell E. Heller, CGCS
41 Clifford Street, Melrose, MA. 02176-0140
617-983-2786 Fax: 617-983-2786
E-mail: Rheller@gcsane.org
Franklin Park Golf Club

VICE PRESIDENT
Patrick J. Daly, CGCS
P.O. Box 2284, Framingham, MA 01703-2284
508-872-9790 Fax: 508-872-5393
E-mail: Pat@framinghamcc.com
Framingham Country Club

SECRETARY
Jason S. Adams
27 Cherry Street, Wrentham, MA 02093
781-326-3801 Fax: 781-326-3801
E-mail: Norfolksuper@hotmail.com
Norfolk Golf Club
TREASURER
Michael W. Stachowicz
68 Westfield Road, Westwood, MA 02090
781-326-7860 Fax: 781-326-0664
E-mail: Mstach@dedhamclub.org
Dedham Country & Polo Club
TRUSTEE
Scott Lagana, CGCS
22 Sherborne Circle, Ashland, MA 01721
978-342-6451 Fax: 978-342-0421
E-mail: Grounds@oakhillcc.org
Oak Hill Country Club
TRUSTEE
Peter Hasak
154 Tedesco Street, Marblehead, MA 01945
781-592-5764 Fax: 781-631-6530
E-mail: PHasak@tedescocc.org
Tedesco Country Club
TRUSTEE
Ronald P. Dobosz
P.O. Box 541, Ludlow, MA 01056
413-589-9487 Fax: 413-583-4686
E-Mail: Rdobosz111@aol.com
Ludlow Country Club
FINANCE CHAIRMAN
Michael Luccini, CGCS
10 Griffin Road, Franklin, MA 02038
508-520-3615 Fax: 508-528-1885
E-mail: Mluccini@verizon.net
Franklin Country Club
GOLF CHAIRMAN
James A. Small, III, CGCS
690 Pine Street, Bridgewater, MA 02324-2116
508-697-4816 Fax: 508-279-3355
E-mail: jasiii188@yahoo.com
Olde Scotland Links Golf Club
EDUCATION CHAIRMAN
David Stowe, CGCS
30 Western Avenue, Natick, MA 01760
617-789-4631 Fax 617-789-4631
E-mail:Newtonmaint@aol.com
Newton Commonwealth Golf Club
NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN
Mark Gagne
233 Baker Street, Walpole, MA 02081
508-668-3859 Fax: 508-668-9969
E-mail:Mgagne@walpolecc.org
Walpole Country Club
PAST PRESIDENT
Michael J. Hermanson
140 Ryan Street, Gardner, MA 01440-0145
978-632-2713 Fax: 978-632-2713
E-mail: herm068@hotmail.com
Gardner Municipal Golf Course
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
Sharon K. Brownell
P.O. Box 566, Mattapoisett, MA 02739-0566
508-758-6474 Fax: 508-758-3688
E-mail: Sbrownell@verizon.net
GCSANE Headquarters
300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766
Tel: (800) 833-4451 Fax: (508) 758-6474
Web Site: www.gcsane.org
Newsletter Committee
Julie Heston, Business Manager
Phone: (401) 934-3677 Email: jheston@verizon.net
John Eggleston, Kernwood Country Club
Andrew Eick, The Kittansett Club
Rich Gagnon, Segregansett Country Club
Ethan Tease, Woodland Golf Club
Mark Gagne, Editor, Walpole Country Club
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.

John Sadowski - continued from page 1

obviously so were the people at Troon. Dana Frye
and Michael Hurdzan did
an unbelievable job designing the course and
what I've tried to do is
maintain it and try and
bring it to the next level
and I think that's what
we've been able to do."
Despite the rave reviews the course itself has
received, it has been far
from smooth sailing at the
club. The original investor
in the project - Ipswich
native Ted Raymond bought the property from
Missionaries of Our Lady
of La Salette for $4.5 million in 1997,
but his grand plans for a lavish residential real estate development and
high-end golf club fell far short of what
he had hoped for. Eventually, he
ended up selling his stake in the property this summer to a members group
derived from some of the original investors in the club and ever since that
sale was completed there's been reason for optimism.
"It was tough because there was a
lot of uncertainty; for about six months
nobody had any idea what the future
was going to hold," said Sadowski,
who lives in nearby Wakefield with his
wife Stephanie, a fellow Pennsylvania
native. "But now we obviously have
some very intelligent people running
the place and we have stability. I think
we're on our way to getting to the point
where everybody hoped and dreamed
this club would be from the very beginning."
And if Sadowski has anything to do
with it, the course itself will continue to
be the property's biggest asset.
Sadowski says what sets him apart
from a lot of his colleagues is that he's
an avid, and talented, golfer himself.
He's been a scratch player ever since
his college days and he continues to
play competitively.
"I think that really gives me a better understanding of what the golfers
are going to expect from me," he said.
"The best way to get a feel for your
own course is to get out and play it.
There's no other way to find out what's
going on out there. You can't just drive
around on your golf cart. I think playing
the course helps you see the course

2

The 18th at Turner Hill
from a whole different light, so I get out
and play at least once a week, usually
twice."
He also says a large part of his
rise in the field is the fact that he's always "thinking long term" and that he
makes it a point to learn from his mistakes.
continued on page 4

CALENDAR
Oct. 22

GCSANE Monthly Meeting
Pleasant Valley C.C.
Member/ Guest Tournament
Host: Donald D’Errico

Oct. 25

GSCANE Assistant Supt.
Tournament
Tedesco CC
Co-Hosts: Peter Hasak and
Patrick McDonald

Nov. 6

GCSANE Monthly Meeting
Brockton C.C.
9-Hole Tournament
Host: Justin Bousquet

Nov.
14&15

GCSAA Seminars
“Annuals and Perennials”
“Cutting Costs Not Corners”
Cyprian Keyes GC
Host: Richard Zepp, CGCS

GCSAA CEO tapped as new World Golf Foundation CEO

Mona to leave GCSAA
September 26, 2007
NOTE: Earlier today, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem announced
that Steve Mona accepted the newlycreated Chief Executive Officer position of the World Golf Foundation.
Mona has served as the CEO for the
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) since November 15, 1993. Attached is additional information and a statement from
GCSAA President Ricky D. Heine, certified golf course superintendent and
general manager at The Golf Club Star
Ranch, Austin, Texas.

facility, the business and the game, as
well. The association is strong and well
-positioned for continued success,
thanks in large part to his direction. I
believe his appointment also speaks
well for GCSAA as a focused, responsive and dynamic organization that has
been integral in enhancing the game.
His selection will benefit the entire golf

PGA Tour News Release:
http://www.pgatour.com/2007/
r/09/26/wgf/index.html
GCSAA CEO, Steve Mona biography
and photo:
http://www.gcsaa.org/about/
leadership/mona.asp
http://www.gcsaa.org/news/
downloads/exec.asp

Statement: GCSAA President
Ricky D. Heine, CGCS
“Speaking for the GCSAA Board of
Directors and the association's 20,000plus members, it is indeed a bittersweet day. We are extremely happy for
Steve and his wife Cyndi for this wonderful opportunity. The World Golf
Foundation is fortunate to have a person of Steve’s intelligence, integrity
and vision to be its first chief executive.
Just as GCSAA has prospered under
his leadership, so too will the World
Golf Foundation achieve even greater
accomplishments with Steve at the
helm.
“At the same time, we are sad to
lose Steve as our leader. He has
meant so much to the association. Under his guidance, he directed the association through a period of unprecedented growth, and helped to elevate
the golf course superintendent profession. In his nearly 14 years, the association not only developed highly valuable programs and services that benefited not only the members, but the

Steve Mona
GCSAA CEO
industry. While Steve is leaving, it does
not mean we are saying goodbye. We
will still interact with him and the World
Golf Foundation on a fairly regular basis.
“The GCSAA Board of Directors will
meet in the near future to chart its
course of action. Our strategic governance system presents a framework for
succession. Steve has agreed to serve
as our chief executive officer for up to
another six months."

Statement: GCSAA Chief
Executive Steve Mona, CAE
“It is difficult to put into words how
tough this decision was to make. The
Golf Course Superintendents Association of America is a wonderful organization and I will miss my direct association with it. The professional members -- the superintendents and their
assistants – are extremely talented,
possess great integrity, are passionately loyal and are tireless in their support of each other. They truly are golf’s
‘unseen heroes.’ The other membership classes, including industry representatives, educators, students, etc.,
provide the glue that helps to keep the
3

association functioning at such a high
level.”
“I have had the good fortune of
serving with more than a dozen loyal,
dedicated and visionary boards of directors. They have never wavered in
their commitment to GCSAA’s mission
and they have always provided the
resources to enable the staff to
achieve GCSAA’s objectives. The
achievements of the association are
due in large part to their foresight. I am
committed to helping the board
achieve association goals and engage
an effective and efficient transition during the next six months. The GCSAA
staff is wonderfully talented and tireless. It has been a pleasure and a
privilege to be on the same team with
each and every one of them. I will truly
miss my day-to-day interactions with
them.”
“I am pleased and proud of my
tenure at GCSAA. The accomplishments are certainly not the work of any
one individual; rather they are the result of the combined efforts of elected
leaders, the members, industry and
staff. I point to the development of
member standards, the revamping of
the education program, the maturation
of the GCSAA Foundation to The Environmental Institute for Golf, the increased recognition for the profession,
the creation of a sponsorship program,
the launch of the Golf Industry Show
and the strengthening of chapters as
key milestones in my time at GCSAA.
But again, these are not my achievements. These are the work of many.
“I appreciate the trust PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem has placed in
me. I have always admired the manner
in which he has led not only the PGA
Tour, but several of the game’s major
initiatives as well. It will be a challenge
and great opportunity to lead the World
Golf Foundation as the various organizations around the world seek to elevate the game globally.”
Source: GCSAA Press Release

John Sadowski - continued from page 2

"Everybody makes mistakes," he
added. "The key is to make sure you
learn a lesson from them and don't let
them happen again."
It is that kind of philosophy that
has helped Sadowski gain great satisfaction from getting up in the morning
and going to a job he has wanted to do
ever since he was a 16-year-old kid
working on the grounds crew at Pittsburgh North Golf Club.
"This is the only job I've ever
known and the only job I've ever
wanted so I feel very fortunate," he
said. "Sometimes when you have
those days when everything just clicks,
there's nothing better. When the
course looks good, it's playing good,
the weather cooperates and the golfers
are happy...those are the moments
that you feel real good about the job
you've done and that all the hard work
you've put into it was worth every
second."

Upcoming GCSAA Web Casts:
How to Read Your Soils Report

10:00:00 AM

10/16/07

Improving Your Powerpoint Skills

12:00:00 PM

10/18/07

Organic Golf

12:00:00 PM

10/23/07

2:00:00 PM

10/30/07

Bunker Sand Selection

12:00:00 PM

11/07/07

Rules of Golf

12:00:00 PM

11/13/07

Purchasing Technology with Confidence
2007

2:00:00 PM

11/29/07

Financial Management and Budgeting

12:00:00 PM

12/05/07

Building a Bridge, not a Gap

In addition, GCSAA offers a host of “On Demand” web casts,
a list of which can be found at
www.gcsaa.org/education/webcast/archivedwebcast.asp

4

Hidden Dangers in the Mechanic’s Area
By Ron Smith, MBA, CPSI
One of the areas of golf course
safety that I feel is often overlooked is
the equipment maintenance component. While the vast majority of equipment managers and mechanics certainly value their own safety and the
importance of maintaining a safe shop,
it has been my experience that many
of their co-workers in the maintenance
crew don’t fully appreciate the dangers
that exist in the “mechanic’s bay.”
Two (2) of the dangers I would like
to highlight are the use of compressed
air, and the chemical “Methylene Chloride.” Compared to some of the other
dangers present in the mechanic’s
work area; heavy equipment, sharp
blades, arc welders and grinding
equipment, compressed air safety
might not seem like a pressing problem. But it is a very real hazard, and it
certainly deserves attention--especially
since most of your workers probably
don't think compressed air is dangerous.
Basically, there are three hazards
associated with compressed air: air
pressure, flying particles, and noise.
Air under a lot of pressure can
penetrate the skin, causing hemorrhaging and pain. If compressed air
gets into the body through cuts in the
skin, an air bubble (embolism) could

form in the bloodstream, and that could
kill a worker if a bubble gets to the
heart or lungs. Furthermore, compressed air entering the body through
the mouth or nose can cause injury to
internal tissues and organs. Compressed air that hits an eye can blow
the eyeball from its socket, and compressed air blown into an ear can rupture the eardrum.
Air pressure of 40 pounds can drive
chips and other particles into the eyes
and face with the force of shrapnel.
Flying particles can also cause cuts
and bruises to other parts of the body.
Compressed air is noisy, too. Noise
levels can sometimes reach or exceed
120 decibels.
Make sure your workers wear essential personal protective equipment (PPE). It's a safe bet that some
of your employees probably don't think
about the need for PPE when they use
compressed air. It's essential for preventing the kinds of injuries just identified. Recommended PPE includes:
Safety glasses with side shields or
goggles
Face shield
Hearing protection
Dust mask or respirator (may be
required, depending on materials in
use and the work environment)

Focus on safe work rules. Your compressed air safety training should include, at a minimum, these key points:
Make sure the line you're working
with is an air hose, not a gas or water
line. (Sometimes hose lines cross and
a worker could be fooled.)
Inspect the hose to make sure it's in
good condition and properly connected.
Keep air hoses off the floor where
they can be tripping hazards or become damaged.
Prevent sharp objects from rubbing
against air hoses.
Always coil the hose--without kinks-when it's not in use and hang it over a
broad support, not on a hook or nail.
When you have a choice of pressure, use the lowest pressure that will
do the job.
Never point an air hose or air gun at
anyone--including yourself.
Choose a safer, better way to clean
dust from your clothes, such as a
brush or vacuum.
Don't fool around when using an air
hose. It's a tool that should be used
with caution, not a toy for engaging in
horseplay.
Methylene Chloride is a chemical that
has a number of uses such as metal
degreasing and paint removal. It is
also used to strip finishes from furniture prior to refinishing as well as in the
manufacture of other chemicals. Included in the other chemicals Methylene Chloride is part of are brake cleaners, carburetor cleaners, and parts
cleaners.
“Overexposure to Methylene Chloride can cause respiratory or central
nervous system failure, and poses an
increased risk of cancer to exposed
employees," said Assistant Secretary
of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke,
Jr. Given its potential for adversely
affecting the health of employees overexposed to it, OSHA created a standard, CFR1910.1052, that specifically
addresses the use of Methylene Chloride in the workplace. Included in the
standard is the requirement for air
quality monitoring to determine exactly

Continued on page 6

5

Continued from page 5

how much exposure workers have to
the chemical at work.
Eliminate the use of products that
contain Methylene Chloride. There
are many alternative products in the
marketplace that can be used for
cleaning brakes, carburetors, and used
parts that do not contain Methylene
Chloride. I have been assured that
these products perform just as well, if
not better, than the ones that contain
Methylene Chloride. Even’t if they
don’t perform as well the slight change
in performance is more than offset by
eliminating the potential danger to your
employees and the time and cost of
implementing the required air quality
monitoring program.
If you have any questions concerning
compressed air safety and/or
Methylene Chloride please contact
Ron Smith, MBA, CPSI at
877-848-5978.

The 2007 Compensation, Benefits and
Operations Report is now available!
Information is included on salaries,
budgets, fringe benefits, education levels, retirement and more. As a GCSAA
Chapter Executive, you have access to
the final report as a resource to help
your members. Please keep in mind
that as this report is to support our
members, and the data should not be
shared outside our membership.
As in the past, GCSAA regularly
surveys all Class A and superintendent
members about their compensation
and benefits, with the last report being
published in 2005. For 2007, GCSAA
contracted with enetrix to administer
the survey on a secure web site and
invite superintendents to participate.
This year’s survey resulted in a total of
4,078 respondents – a 39.3 percent
response rate overall.
Here are some highlights from the
2007 Compensation, Benefits and
Operations Report:
ο The average salary among golf
course superintendents is $73,766.

6

This a 7 percent increase from the average base salary reported in the 2005
salary survey, or 3.5% each year.
ο For Class A members with 5 to 9
years experience who are responsible
for 18 holes, the average salary at a
private facility is $81,628. For Class
SM members with 5 to 9 years experience who are responsible for 18 holes,
the average salary at a private facility
is $75,120.
ο For Class A members with 5 to 9
years experience who are responsible
for 18 holes, the average salary at a
public facility is $61,366. For Class SM
members with 5 to 9 years experience
who are responsible for 18 holes, the
average salary at a public facility is
$54,329
ο The average base salary reported
for an assistant superintendent is
$37,032; 7 percent higher than the
average salary reported in the 2005
salary survey, also 3.5% per year.
Continued on page 7

GCSANE Monthly Meeting – October 22nd
Annual Member/Guest Tournament
Pleasant Valley Country Club
Host: Don D’Errico
In 1959, Pleasant Valley Country
Club was carved out of an expansive
three hundred fifty acre apple orchard.
The course was designed by Donald
Hoenig, with input from owner Cosmo
"Cuz" Mingolla and with the intent of
hosting major professional events.
Pleasant Valley may be regarded as a
predecessor to the modern TPC
courses in that Heonig and Mingolla
configured the layout and features to
make is “spectator friendly”. Hoenig is
also credited with the design of the
Raceway Golf Club in Connecticut and
the Firefly Golf Course in Seekonk,
Massachusetts. Over the years, there
have been minor renovations made to
Pleasant Valley by Cornish and Silva
and later Robert McNeil.
Professional golf came to Sutton,
Massachusetts beginning with the
1962 LPGA Lady Carling Open. The
PGA Tour began its annual retreat to
Sutton in 1965 with the Carling World
Open, which welcomed international
golfers from eleven countries and offered a record purse of $200,000.
Since then, Pleasant Valley has hosted
forty-seven National Championships
on both the LPGA and PGA Tours.
Our host, Don D’Errico, is in his 6th
season at Pleasant Valley. Prior to
PV, he was superintendent at Hopedale Country Club for 6 years. Don got

his start in the business when Michael
Luccini talked him into working for his
father, Gary at Franklin Country Club
in 1991. Don learned the ropes under
the watchful eye of “The Bear” at
Franklin for 6 years. He is a graduate
of the Winter School at UMass and the
2 year turf management program at
Rutgers University.
Don sites the ongoing drought and
limited water supply as his greatest
challenge this year. He has had to
ration water to portions of the course
and credits his two assistants, Tom
Livingston and Nate Henry, with helping to keep the course in great condition this year despite the lack of rainfall.
Don’s favorite holes at PV are the
8th, 9th, and 10th, which he refers to as
their “Amen Corner.” These holes are
a demanding stretch of golf that often
make or break a round. Don’s advice
for those playing the course is to lag
those long putts and not to read too
much break on the very large and gently sloping greens. Don lists Agawam
Hunt, Wannamoisett and Eastward Ho!
among his favorite layouts and on his
“must play” list are Oyster Harbors,
Kittansett and Hyannisport.
After work, Don’s children,
Matthew and Danielle keep he and
wife Pam busy with their activities

2007 Compensation Survey Continued from page 6
As in the past, all GCSAA member
superintendents who responded to the
survey have access to a complimentary subscription to the report. Those
who did not respond to the survey may
purchase a copy by members for $100,
and non-members for $400.
To access the report, or get information on how to purchase the report, go
to www.gcsaa.org and select the
Career Tab. Then click on the

announcement on the left side of the
page, or call 800-472-7878.
If you have any questions or receive
questions about the Report contents,
please forward them to
career@gcsaa.org or call
800-472-7878 and speak with
Tawnia Showalter or Lyne Tumlinson.

7

Meeting Details
9:00 am: Registration
10:00 am: Lunch
11:00 am: Shotgun
4:00 pm: Heavy Hors
d’oeuvres (golf attire)
Field Limited to 128 players
Cost $150 per player
including hockey, soccer and karate.
When not spending time with his family, Don plays guitar in a band with
friend Brian Luccini of Tom Irwin Co.
and Don touts Brian as “a great bass
player and songwriter”. Fishing for
stripers is another summer hobby for
him. In the winter, he enjoys skiing
and snowmobiling.
-Mark Gagne

8

Rounding the Home Stretch
By Jim Skorulski, Senior Agronomist
The season of weather extremes
continues. It all began with the unusually warm winter, followed by the coldest April on record, and then one of the
driest month of August in a long time.
Non-irrigated roughs and the trees are
really beginning to show the effects of
the dry weather in New England. Some
trees are experiencing premature fall
color and or leaf drop. Reports of mature oak trees dying also have been
heard in some eastern parts of Massachusetts where the trees have suffered
from insect defoliation and the stresses
brought on by the dry weather. Conversely, some areas farther south have
received heavy and untimely (for aeration operations) rainfall. Regretably,
some courses suffered damage of putting green turf as a result of the untimely rain events.
Poa annua/bentgrass roughs also
have suffered from the long and now
dry summer. This too is to be expected
as these grasses develop excessive
thatch, become shallow rooted, and
are very susceptible to disease. The
grasses do not stand up well to traffic
and provide a difficult playing surface
even at their best. The traditional late
summer aeration and fertility programs, together with cooler weather
and natural precipitation, will stimulate
new growth and recovery of the less
desirable rough grasses, but the same
set of problems will likely reoccur in the
future when more difficult weather conditions return.
Overseeding the thatchy rough
areas with Kentucky bluegrass and
fine fescues is not a viable option.
Those grasses germinate and establish too slowly to compete with the existing grasses in those areas. Perennial ryegrass will germinate quickly and
competes well with the existing
grasses, but its Achilles heal continues
to be gray leaf spot disease. The release of new perennial ryegrass varieties with improved gray leaf spot resistance is promising, but expensive fungicide programs are likely once the
gray leaf spot disease is again active
in the region.

The most successful approach for addressing the
poor quality roughs continues to be regrassing with
sod. This option makes it
possible to reestablish a
more durable and disease
resistant Kentucky bluegrass
or Kentucky bluegrass/fine
fescue turf. The playability of
the surface provided by
these grasses is superior
and the results are immediate. This regrassing approach removes the unwanted grasses and thatch
mat, and also provides an
opportunity to thoroughly cultivate and
amend the soils if necessary to improve structure and fertility. Regrassing alone will not solve problems with
poor irrigation coverage, shade, tree
root competition, concentrated traffic
flows or inadequate fertility. Those issues also need to be addressed if improved playing conditions are to become a reality.

Pictured above:
Annual bluegrass/creeping bentgrass
roughs surrounding greens and fairways are usually at their worst condition in late summer. Now is the time to
develop renovation programs to address these poor quality grasses.

Tuckahoe Turf Farms
Richmond, RI
West Suffield, CT
Berwick, ME

The most successful
approach for addressing
the poor quality roughs
continues to be regrassing
with sod.
Jim Skorulski,
USGA Senior Agronomist

Source: Northeast Region Green
Section- Dave Oatis, Director
doatis@usga.org; Jim Baird,
Agronomist jbaird@usga.org;
Jim Skorulski, Senior Agronomist
jskorulski@usga.org

For home lawns.
For gardens.
For athletic
fields.
For parks & playgrounds.
For golf course construction,
renovation and repairs.
Kentucky Bluegrass, Ryegrass,
Fine Fescues, Bentgrass
Pallets/Big Rolls.
Sod handler Del.
Roll Out Service.
Over 35 years of
turf production.
Deliveries Monday through
Saturday
CALL TOLL FREE

1—800-556-6985
See our web site
www.tuckahoeturf.com

9

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

Proposed New Members:
Gregory Caron, Assistant, Hatherly CC
Daniel Fuller, Affiliate, BISCO

Bernhard & Co is sponsoring a trip
for 10 GCSAA Class A members to
England!
Ten GCSAA Class A members will
travel to the British & International Golf
Greenkeepers Association’s (BIGGA)
Turf Management Exhibition (BTME),
Jan., 21-26, 2008 in Harrogate, England.

Congratulations to Andrew and Natalie
Eick on the recent birth of their daughter Avery Beatrice. Andrew is the
Assistant Superintendent at the
Kittansett Club.

Bernhard and Company, manufacturers of Express Dual and Anglemaster,
is sponsoring the delegation for a second year as part of their ongoing educational initiative.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome New Members:
Daniel Allen, Assistant, Kernwood CC

Congratulations to Steve Mann,CGCS
of the Captains Golf Course on renewing his certification status with GCSAA.
All members are encouraged to contact Julie Heston to announce new arrivals so that we may purchase a savings bond in recognition of their birth.
Phone: (401) 934-3677 or
jheston@verizon.net

Delegates chosen will have the opportunity to attend Europe’s largest golf
and sports turf managers conference
and exhibition. Attendees will participate in education seminars, network
with greenkeepers from the UK and
Europe, and visit several different
styles of golf courses in England.
Bernhard and Company will cover expenses for airfare, accommodation,
conference registration, education

seminars and transportation.
To become eligible, register online at
http://www.bernhard.co.uk/
gcsaa_regform.0.html or call (888)
GRIND IT (474-6348).

S&B Committee
Update
The Scholarship & Benovolence Committee (Chairman Ron Dobosz, Jim
Small, Mike Hermanson, Dennis Friel,
Dave Comee, Ed Gianni, Bob Healey
and Steve Curry) are pleased to
announce that this year’s event, held
at the TPC Boston, raised $23,045. Of
that, $8,500 was awarded as scholarships to children of GCSANE members. This brings the total amount of
scholarship awards since the fund’s
inception to $73,500.

GCSANE Friends and Affiliates
“End of the Season” Advertising Special
Purchase 2 (two) Full Page ads in The Newsletter
for $600 total price.
This is a 60% savings on the original price of $500 per issue.
This offer is good for the
September, October and November 2007 issues.
We offer full color for all ads.
Please contact Julie Heston, Business Manager at
(401) 934-3677 or jheston@verizon.net to reserve your space.

10

Please Patronize these FRIENDS of the ASSOCIATION
A.A. Will Materials Corp.

DAF Services, Inc.

Ken Jones Tire, Inc.

Sports Club Management, Inc.

198 Washington St., Stoughton, MA 02072-1748

20 Lawnacre Rd., Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Irrigation pumps - sales & service; northeast
warehouse/distributor for ISCO HDPE pipe &
fittings.
Richard Young - (860) 623-5207

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

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

Root zone mixes, divot mixes, topdressing blends,
bunker sands, cart path mixes, bridging stone, &
hardscape supplies.
Charlie Downing, Ed Downing (800) 4-AA-WILL

A.D. Makepeace Co.
158 Tihonet Road, Wareham, MA 02571
(508) 322-4092

Agresource, Inc.
100 Main St., Amesbury, MA 01913
Tim Gould, Guy Travers
(800) 313-3320, (978) 388-5110

Stumps Are Us Inc.
Larchmont Engineering & Irrigation

DGM Systems

11 Larchmont Lane, Lexington, MA 02420-4483
Kevin Rudat - (781) 862-2550

1 Snagwood Rd., Foster, RI 02825
Your New England specialty products distributor: Reelcraft, POK, Allen, Kenyon, Echo,
Carhartt
Office - (401) 647-0550
Manny Mihailides - (401) 524-8999
David Mihailides - (401) 742-1177

Lazaro’s Golf Course Supplies &
Accessories
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

DHT Golf Services
Allen’s Seed Store, Inc.
693 S. County Trail, Exeter, Rl 02822
Specializing in quality seed and related golf
course maintenance supplies.
Gregg Allen - (800) 527-3898
Michelle Maltais - (401) 835-0287

dba Weed & Feed, Inc.
8 Meadow Park Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
Golf course renovation & construction in all
areas: bunkers, tees, greens, drainage, irrigation, & cart paths.
Dahn Tibbett, Chip Brearley - (508) 746-3222

The Andersons Technologies, Inc.

D.L. Maher Co.

26 Waite Ave., S. Hadley, MA 01075
Manufacturer of fertilizer & control products.
Rick Forni - (413) 534-8896

71 Concord St., P. O. Box 127, N. Reading, MA
01864

Atlantic Silica, Inc.
P.O. Box 10, Enfield N.S. B2T 1C6 Canada
(902) 883-3020

A-OK Turf Equipment Inc.
1357 Main St., Coventry, RI 02816-8435
Articulator, Terra Topper, Greens Groomer brush,
& used equipment.
Mike Cornicelli - (401) 826-2584

Barenbrug USA
Great in Grass
166 Juniper Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852
Bruce Chapman, Territory Manager
(401) 578-2300

BASF Turf & Ornamental
47 Falmouth Rd., Longmeadow, MA 01106
Emerald, Insignia, Pendulum AquaCap, Curalan,
Drive, Basagran, Iprodione Pro, Propiconazole
Pro, Bifenthrin Pro, Plateau, Sahara.
John Bresnahan - (413) 374-4102

The Borden Company
114 Summer St., Maynard, MA 01754
Bulk limestone dealer.
Jack Borden - (978) 897-2571

Boston Irrigation Supply Co. (BISCO)
60 Stergis Way, Dedham, MA 02026
Distributor, irrigation supplies & accessories,
featuring Rain Bird.
Andrew Langlois, Jay Anderson III, Dan Fuller,
Jeff Brown, Greg Hennessy, Chris Russo
(800) 225-8006

Lesco, Inc.
1301 E. 9th St., Ste. 1300, Cleveland, OH 44114
Ron Tumiski - (800) 321-5325

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

Water supply specialists; wells & pumping
equipment. (781) 933-3210

Miller Golf Construction
P.O. Box 1008, Essex, MA 01929
Golf course construction & renovation.
Jonathon Miller - (978) 768-6600

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

NMP Golf Construction Corp.

EZGO golf and utility vehicles.
Doug Hopper - (800) 234-0474

25 Bishop Ave., Ste. A-2, Williston, VT 05495
Golf course construction.
Mario Poirier - (888) 707-0787

G. Fialkosky Lawn Sprinklers

Norfolk Power Equipment, Inc.

E-Z-GO/Textron

5 Cushing Dr., Wrentham, MA 02093
Sales, service, rentals, leasing, Kubota tractors
(508) 384-0011

91 Freeman St., Newton, MA 02466
Irrigation services to golf courses throughout
New England. Gary Fialkosky - (617) 293-8632

Northeast Golf Company

Gold Star Tree & Turf Farm, LLC
250 West Rd., Canterbury, NH 03224-2127
Growers of turfgrass and ornamentals.
Malcolm McPhail - (800) 648-8873;
Canterbury Office - (603) 783-4717

Golf Course Architectural/Consultation Services
118 Beauchamp Drive, Saunderstown, RI 02874
Robert McNeil (401) 667-4994

Golf Cart Services, Inc.

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

North Shore Hydroseeding

275 Wells St., Greenfield, MA 01301
Club Car golf, turf, transportation, & utility cars.
James Bernier - (800) 287-0955

On-Course Golf Inc., Design/Build
16 Maple Street, Acton, MA 01720
We serve all your remodeling and renovation
needs. You can trust your project with us!
We make you look good!
Sean Hanley (978) 337-6661

GPS New England Mapping
39 Cedar St., Cohasset, MA 02025
Precise irrigation & drainage as-builts; wire
tracking & electrical repairs.
Greg Albanese - (781) 789-1166

Partac Peat Corporation

Gustavo Preston Service Company

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

166 River Rd., PO Box 520, Unionville, CT 06085

10 Kidder Road, Unit 8, Chelmsford, MA 01824
Flowtronex irrigation pumps - sales and service.
Spring start ups, winterization and 24 hour
emergency service for all irrigation pumps.
Ed Ceaser (978) 250-3333 or

Golf course and landscape supplies.
John Callahan, Dennis Friel - (800) 861-6256

Harrell’s Turf Specialty LLC

Cavicchio Landscape Supply, Inc.

15 Londonderry Rd., Londonderry, NH 03053
Turf & ornamental supplies.
Chuck Bramhall, Mike Kroian, Mike Nagle,
Jim Wierzbicki - (800) 228-6656

90 Elm St., Hopkinton, MA 01748
Underground water, sewer, & drain pipe and
fittings-Erosion and sediment control material. 24
-hour service.
David Putnam, Eli Potty - (508) 435-3090

The Cardinals, Inc.

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

Charles C. Hart Seed Co., Inc.
304 Main St., Wethersfield, CT 06109
Authorized distributor for Bayer, Syngenta, Grigg
Bros., Foliar Fertilizer, & Aquatrols.
Roy Sibley, Dick Gurski, Robin Hayes (800) 326-HART

Cornish, Silva, & Mungeum, Inc.
207 N. Main St., Uxbridge, MA 01569
Golf course architects.
(508) 278-3407

Country Club Enterprises
PO Box 670, 29 Tobey Rd.,W.Wareham, MA 02676

Club Car golf cars, Carryall utility vehicles.
Dave Farina, Darin Eddy, Keith Tortorella (800) 662-2585

Putnam Pipe Corp.

Read Custom Soils

Hartney Greymont

125 Turnpike St., Canton, MA 02021
Custom soil blending, top dressing sands, root
zone blends, divot & cart path mixes.
Terry Driscoll, Garrett Whitney - (888) 475-5526

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

Holliston Sand Co., Inc.

R.F. Morse & Son, Inc.

P. O. Box 1168, Tifft Rd., Slatersville, RI 02876
USGA-recommended sands, root-zone mixes,
bunker & topdressing, agresoil compost, stonedust, & pea-stone
Bob Chalifour, CGCS (ret.) - (401) 766-5010

22 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham, MA 02576
Professional goods, services, & John Deere
equipment for the golf course industry.
Larry Anshewitz, Mike Hannigan, Tom Rowell,
Ren Wilkes, John Winskowicz - (508) 295-1553

International Golf Construction Co.

Sodco Inc.

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

P. O. Box 2, Slocum, Rl 02877
Bluegrass/Fescue, Bluegrass/Rye, Bluegrass/
Fescue/Rye, Bentgrass.
Sean Moran, Pat Hogan - (800) 341-6900

Irrigation Management & Services

Southwest Putting Greens of Boston

21 Lakeview Ave., Natick, MA 01760
Irrigation consultation, design, and system
evaluation. Bob Healey, ASIC, CID (508) 653-0625

P.O. Box 827, Westford, MA 01886
Synthetic turf, tee lines, practice greens, outdoor
and indoor practice facilities.
Douglas Preston - (978) 250-5996

11

Manchester, NH
Professional stump chipping service.
Brendan McQuade - (603) 625-4165

S.V. Moffett Co., Inc.
87 Concord Street, North Reading, MA 01864
Rain Bird Golf irrigation distributor.
Mark Casey (617) 990-2427 (Eastern MA & Boston);
Bob Hobbs (603) 833-0309 (NH & ME);
Chris Francis (413) 519-8585 (Western MA and VT)

Syngenta Professional Products
1131-0 Tolland Turnpike, Suite 261,
Manchester, CT 06040
Bob Goglia (860) 716-0315

Tee & Green Sod
A Division of New England Turf
P. O. Box 777, West Kingston, RI 02892
Bentgrass, Blue/Fescue mixes, Bluegrass, Low
Cut Bluegrass and complete installation services
Dave Wallace, Scott McLeod, Ernie Ketchum (888) 638-4657

Tom Irwin Inc.
11 A St., Burlington, MA 01803
Turf management products.
Jack Petersen, Paul Skafas, Rob Larson, Chris
Petersen, Greg Misodoulakis, Mike DeForge
(800) 582-5959

Tree Tech, Inc.
6 Springbrook Rd., Foxbvoro, MA 02035
Foxboro, Wellesley, Fall River
Andy Felix - (508) 543-5644

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

Turf Enhancement Enterprises
6 Jessica J Dr., Millbury, MA 01527
Floratine products, Precision Small Engine Co.,
Douglas Rollers, Trion Lifts.
Tom Fox - (508) 865-9150

TurfLinks, Inc.
16 Kane Industrial Dr., Hudson, MA 01749
Distributor of quality fertilzer, grass seed, &
control products for the golf course industry.
Kevin Lyons, Scott Mackintosh, Jim Favreau (866) 567-9221

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

Turf Products Corp.
157 Moody Rd., Enfield, CT 06082
Distributors of Toro irrigation & maintenance
equipment and other golf-related products. Tim
Berge, Rick Moulton, Jeff Stouffer, Mike Turner (800) 243-4355

Valley Green
14 Copper Beech Drive, Kingston, MA 02364
Phone: 413-533-0726 Fax: 413-533-0792
"Wholesale distributor of turf products"

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

Winding Brook Turf Farm
Wethersfield, CT 06109
Scott Wheeler, Mike Krudwig, Sam Morgan (800) 243-0232

Philip Wogan & George F. Sargent, Jr.
17 Walker Rd., Topsfield, MA 01983
Golf course architects.
(978) 887-3672