November 2013

Maintaining Your Irrigation System
By Bob Healey, ASIC, CID, Irrigation Management and Services, Natick MA
Your golf course irrigation system similar to any other
piece of maintenance equipment, must receive periodic
scheduled inspection and maintenance to insure proper operation.
Today’s complex irrigation systems are the single most
expensive piece of equipment a superintendent has to control the growing cycle of their turf. Yet amazingly little, if any,
scheduled inspection and maintenance programs are in
place today on many golf courses.
Fairway, rough and greens mowers receive tender loving
care: washing after each use, daily oil checks, greasing,
checking of cut quality and height, reels lapped, blades resharpened and often yearly steam cleaning and re-painting.
Yet this same golf course runs their irrigation system, until
something breaks and then you hear about what a lousy system they have – it’s always breaking.
How long would your fairway or greens mowers run efficiently and effectively if all you did were to add fuel? Would
you be happy with the result of the cut or performance that
these “non-maintained” mowers provide or their durability?
No, of course not! Yet this is how irrigation systems are often treated.
The golf course superintendent needs to apply the same
maintenance and inspection standards given to the $30-50K
mower as to, today’s 1-million dollar plus irrigation systems.
Most golf courses maintenance departments have full-time
equipment mechanics on staff. These professionals work
strictly on your equipment, doing PM service and repairs,
and keep your equipment in top operating condition. How
many superintendents who have a mechanic, have an irrigation specialist who focuses only irrigation? Take the total of
all your mechanical equipment and in many cases the value
does not reach that of your irrigation components. Yet there
is a mechanic, but no irrigation specialist?
Let’s say your fairway mower breaks and you have no
backup. You can go two or three days before repairs, borrow a mower from a neighboring course or supplier, adapt
rough mowers in an emergency backup, rent or purchase a
new one. You have lost two, maybe three days of cutting, a
few unhappy members who complain of the tall grass, but
little, if any, permanent damage to the turf on your golf

course.
Let your irrigation system break and “go down” for two or
three days. In some weather conditions, one day with no
water to some greens will result in severe turf damage, let
alone two or three days. When your irrigation system is
“down,” often repair’s must be done that day to prevent turf
damage. Too often the value of the irrigation system is not
appreciated until it goes “down.” Superintendents must plan
for these “down” times to limit the time needed to get on-line
again. Different reasons can cause a golf course irrigation
system to go “down.” By identifying these reasons beforehand and being prepared, the superintendent can eliminate
or limit “down” time in many cases.
The pumping system is one such area. Pumps and motors can fail or power can be lost during storm conditions. I
strongly recommend back-up plan (s).
One: have an emergency backup PTO pump that you connect to one of your tractors and to piping previously installed
in your pump house that enables you to bypass the “down”
continued on page 3

GCSANE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Mark Gagne
233 Baker Street, Walpole, MA 02081
508-668-3859 Fax: 508-668-9969
Email: Mgagne@walpolecc.org
Walpole Country Club

VICE PRESIDENT
Scott Lagana, CGCS
840 Oak Hill Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420
978-342-6451 Fax 978-345-2044
Email: slagana@oakhillcc.org
Oak Hill Country Club

TREASURER
Michael Luccini, CGCS
10 Griffin Road, Franklin, MA 02038
508-520-3615 Fax: 508-528-1885
Email: Mluccini@verizon.net
Franklin Country Club

SECRETARY
David W. Johnson
179 Fletcher Street, Whitinsville, MA 01588
508-234-2533 Fax: 508-234-2533
Email: djohnson.wgc@verizon.net
Whitinsville Golf Club

TRUSTEE (Membership)
Jeffrey Urquhart
70 Green Lodge Street, Canton, MA 02021
781-828-2953 Fax 781-828-3220
Email: jmartin101@gmail.com
Milton-Hoosic Club

TRUSTEE (Government Relations)
J. Michael Rose
181 Winter Street, Belmont, MA 02478
617-484-5360 Fax 617-484-6613
Email: mrose@belmontcc.org
Belmont Country Club

TRUSTEE (Scholarship & Benevolence)
David Stowe, CGCS
30 Western Avenue, Natick, MA 01760
617-789-4631 Fax 617-789-4631
Email: Newtonmaint@aol.com
Newton Commonwealth Golf Club

AFFILIATE TRUSTEE
Mark Casey
890 East Street, Tewksbury, MA 01876
617-990-2427 Fax: 978-409-0445
Email: mcasey@mte.us.com
MTE - Turf Equipment Solutions

FINANCE CHAIRMAN
Donald D’Errico
25 Tiot Street, Sharon, MA 02067
508-530-2113
Email: donny@springvalleycountryclub.com
Spring Valley Country Club

GOLF CHAIRMAN
Jason VanBuskirk
58 Randall Road, Stow, MA 01775
978-568-1100 ext. 121
Email: jvanbuskirk@stowacres.com
Stow Acres Country Club

President’s Message
Many thanks to Mike Fontaine of The Ledges Golf Club and Jeff Urquhart of the
Milton-Hoosic Club for hosting our October and November meetings. Both courses
were in excellent condition and we appreciate the hospitality extended to us by
Mike, Jeff and their respective clubs. The November meeting included an educational session by Dr. John Burand, Professor of Microbiology at the University of
Massachusetts, Amherst. Dr. Burand delivered an interesting presentation about the
importance of honey bees and native bees as pollinators, the problems they face
and what some of the appropriate solutions might be. This topic was timely given
recent reports in the media regarding bee populations.
There are several events that we hope are of interest to you over the next few
months. Our Annual Meeting will be held on January 7th at Cyprian Keyes Golf Club
and hosted by Richard Zepp, CGCS. Our speakers at the Annual Meeting will be
Dave Frem, Owner of Cyprian Keyes and President of the NEGCOA and Jesse
Menachem, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Golf Association. I want to
congratulate Jesse Menachem on his recent promotion and look forward to working
with him in the future. Jesse has a keen understanding and respect for the challenges superintendents face in managing turf for daily play and tournament golf. He has
placed great effort in cultivating relationships with area superintendents and has
served the MGA well while representing the organization and the game.
The GCSAA Conference and Show will be headed to Orlando in February and
the Nor’easter reception will be held on February 5th at BB King’s Blues Club. The
Nor’easter is always a great way to connect with our peers and others in the industry.
Plans are in the works for the next edition of the New England Green Section
Seminar, held the past two years at Blue Hill Country Club. The event will be held
in late March at a new location and is a joint effort of the USGA, MGA and
GCSANE. I think most would agree the day has been an excellent opportunity for
superintendents to not only stay current on relevant topics, but also for club management and leadership to learn more about the industry and what we do. More
information on this to follow.
It seems winter has arrived and that most facilities are winding down for the
season. If you believe the Farmer’s Almanac, winter will be colder than normal with
snowfall and precipitation above normal. Hopefully this precipitation will help recharge water supplies after a very dry fall. The Almanac goes on to predict the
summer of 2014 to be hotter and wetter than normal, so we have that to look forward to! I hope everyone takes advantage of the opportunity that winter presents to
recharge and prepare for next season. Best wishes to you and your family for a
safe, restful and happy holiday season.
Mark Gagne
GCSANE President

EDUCATION CHAIRMAN
Patrick VanVleck
103 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA 01778
508-358-1104 Fax: 508-358-2359
Email: patrickvanvleck@sandyburr.com
Sandy Burr Country Club

NEWSLETTER CHAIRMAN
Peter J. Rappoccio
246 Ornac, Concord, MA 01742
978-371-1089 Fax: 978-369-7231
Email: gcs@concordcc.org
Concord Country Club

PAST PRESIDENT
Jason S. Adams
27 Cherry Street, Wrentham, MA 02093
781-828-6540 Fax: 781-326-3801
Email: jadams@bluehillcc.com
Blue Hill Country Club

ASSOCIATION MANAGER
Donald E. Hearn, CGCS
300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766
774-430-9040 Fax: 774-430-9101
Email: donhearn@gcsane.org

BUSINESS MANAGER, THE NEWSLETTER
Julie Heston
Phone: (401) 934-7660 Email: jheston@verizon.net
GCSANE Headquarters
300 Arnold Palmer Blvd., Norton, MA 02766
Tel: (774) 430-9040 Fax: (774) 430-9101
Web Site: www.gcsane.org
Any opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author

2

Irrigation - continued from page 1

(C) Check pressure at discharge of nozzles, (connect a
pressure gauge to a pitot tube) and log for future reference
and comparisons. If several heads in line or in a group suddenly become weak or inoperative, this is a sign that detritus
material might have entered the line, clogging a valve, or that
your piping has sprung a leak. Follow your pipe layout plan;
it’s easy to locate the area of probable trouble.
(D) Check case of impact style sprinklers to see if clean,
remove sand or debris.
(E) Check height of head, be sure discharge is clearing
grass, be sure case is not being hit by movers, check level of
turf, be sure no scalping is occurring around sprinkler and
head is level.
1. Flat surface sprinkler should sit perpendicular to
grade.
2. Sloped surfaces, ideal position is 45 degrees
perpendicular to slope.
3. Make, in-house, templates to verify proper settings in field.
(F) Once or twice per season verify nozzle size. Brass
nozzles, and plastic nozzles eventually erode, wear and enlarge, and thus change flow rate, coverage and precipitation
rate. These change very slowly over time and are very hard
to discern by eye. Your irrigation specialists’ data book
should include all nozzle sizes for all sprinklers. Convert
manufacturer’s nozzle sizing to drill bit sizes and test snugness.
(G) Check for weeping at all valve-in-heads and electric
valves (low head drainage). Weeping usually indicates debris that has to be flushed or a diaphragm that is coated with
residue or torn. Visually check tubes, or diaphragm and
clean, flush out or replace as needed. Solenoid plungers
can wear over time and not seat properly.
(H) Low heads draining due to grade (gravity) might require in-line check valves to limit drainage and to prevent
erosion.
(I) Check field satellites, looking for any loose or corroding connections. Check for animal damage or insect larvae
buildup. Verify ground wires are properly connected at satellite and grounding rods. Verify field resistance of grounding
grid every year. Test operation of any moisture sensors or
rain shut off devices.
(J) Every winter revise existing conditions drawings/
documents to reflect all field changes during previous season. Do not rely on your memory; document it.
(K) Log all work and keep records as to nozzles size,
pressure at head, radius of coverage, and speed of one revolution. Verify rotation speed of all sprinklers against a base
line rotation time recorded at start up, or during initial seasonal field inspections. Major changed in the time for one
complete turn can indicate a developing problem with sprinkler. These logged records, by comparison, can show the
beginning of pressure loss, radius loss and identify many
other developing situations before they develop into bigger
problems. Good record keeping will often identify problems
before a visual inspection does.

pump or motors and at a minimum provide water to your
greens and tees.
Two: an emergency generator that operates the system
jockey pump and get water to the greens.
Three: modify the existing irrigation systems isolation valves
to minimize the area of the course that needs to be shut
down in case of a main line pipe break.
Four: compile an irrigation parts inventory to handle the
most common failures, so parts needed for the repairs are
on hand. These parts include all sizes of pipe and repair
couplings, isolation valves, electric valves, quick coupler
valves, swing joints, valve-in-head sprinklers, decoders, fittings, concrete for thrust blocks, spare satellite controller,
wire, wire tracker, wire connectors, volt meter, and any other
necessary parts unique or common to your system. Your
irrigation specialist will know what’s needed.
Five: set up and irrigation inspection (PM) program, and
learn to identify and repair malfunctioning irrigation equipment before it becomes a problem. In season, the irrigation
specialist conducts daily monitoring, of the entire system,
following some basic guidelines:
(A) All greens – weekly
(B) All tees – weekly
(C) All fairways – over two weeks
(D) Roughs, bunkers and all other irrigated areas – over
two weeks
(E) Pumping System and field satellites – daily
(F) Meters, flow sensors, weather station, lightening
detectors – daily
(G) Entire irrigated areas – check daily for signs of leaks
The typical daily inspection should follow these guidelines:
(1) Tour course first thing in the morning (cognizant of
the previous night’s irrigation schedule) looking for areas that
did not receive water or received too much, look for puddles,
washouts, or draining heads.
a. These indicators might identify a head that is not
turning, missing a nozzle, a stuck valve, weeping diaphragm,
clogged drainage, leak in piping, timing issue in controls. Do
not assume that a programmed five-minute irrigation cycle
actually runs for five-minutes, verify it.
(2) Inspect three to four greens and tees daily.
(3) Inspect two or three fairways per day.
(4) Check pump house, pumping system, meters and
sensors daily. Record previous days water use manually
and compare to previous identical irrigation cycle, if water
use is 3 - 4% higher or lower that is often the first indication
something’s out-of-kilter.
(5) Superintendent/irrigation specialist should adjust as
needed irrigation schedule.
The inspection should take about three to four hours daily,
thus leaving time for repairs, PM services that need action.
When checking green, tee or fairway sprinklers, use the
following guidelines:
(A) Check coverage (full or part circle), be sure sprinkler
is covering the area of its intent, measure radius of throw, be
sure head is turning completely. See if any surrounding tree
limbs or shrubs are blocking coverage and trim if necessary.
(B) Check disbursement at nozzles, nozzle pattern, and
look for signs of clogged or clogging nozzles. Minor problems can usually be taken care of in a few minutes by removing the nozzle, cleaning and flushing the head or riser.

When checking valves, use the following guidelines:
(A) Check access to all valve boxes, clean out any soil
build up, a gravel base helps.
(B) Check flow controls.
(C) Check all wire connections.
continued on page 6
3

Thoughts From Your Association Manager
Many members of our Association attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and received a large part of
their education and guidance from Dr. Joseph Troll. At one
time UMass graduates were superintendents at more courses throughout the country than graduates from any other
school. Over the years this has changed due to the increase
in schools offering turf programs. Still, Dr. Troll holds a special place in the hearts and minds of many of us. Those of
my generation have first-hand experiences and know the
tireless effort Joe put forward to organize and operate the
“UMass Conference” as it was called. This morphed into the
“Providence Show” we now are very familiar with and look
forward to attending in the spring of each year. The building
at the UMass Turf Research Plots in South Deerfield is dedicated to Dr. Troll in recognition of his spirited efforts to establish a facility for the purpose of ultimately producing better
turfgrass for golf courses and other green spaces.
After a few years of retirement, Joe and his wife Lonnie
moved to Florida where they are living at The Villages. They
have had a wonderful life together and are looking forward to
celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary! What a partnership. Recently Joe has been a bit “under the weather” but is
looking forward to the 70th celebration. Get well and anniversary cards are a wonderful way to remember someone and
Joe and Lonnie will appreciate any that may be sent to them.
Their address is: 16720 SE 78th Lillywood Court, The Villages, FL 32162-8348. Congratulations and Get Well!

A sampling:
• “Two of our Highland front nine are somewhere in Connecticut.” — superintendent Ken Lallier, recovering from
Hurricane Irene whose path struck Quechee Club, which
sits along the Ottaquechee River in Vermont
• “Every single year at Muirfield [Village] our greens go up to
13 [Stimpmeter reading] for the tournament. One year it was
at 17 and I said to [Nicklaus agronomist] Ed Etchells: ‘Ed,
this is insane.’ I shot a 79 that day and wasn’t real happy.”
— Jack Nicklaus, who with Desmond Muirhead designed
Muirfield Village
• “A superintendent has to realize he’s working with nature.
He has to grow it; he can’t go out, put up two-by-fours and
sheetrock and paint it.” — Palmer Maples Jr., a long-time
superintendent and former president and acting director of
the GCSAA, and member of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame
• “I’ve got three greens and 15 browns.” —Charles Passios,
then-superintendent at Hyannisport Club on Cape Cod, following Hurricane Bob
• “When it snows on July 4th weekend we’re never sure if
we should count that toward last year’s snow or next year’s.”
—superintendent Steve Corneillier at Keystone Ranch Golf
Course in Keystone, Colo., where the term “spring start-up”
takes on a whole new meaning, like snowblowing the
greens clear so they can be mowed
• “I’ve coined a new term: ‘Hydromagnetism.’ The definition?
‘The sprinkler closest to the control box is most likely aimed
at you.’” — Jim Moore, USGA Green Section agronomist
• “We’re getting so high-tech in soil now that dirt’s no longer
dirt.” — the late Ed Seay, for many years the president of
Palmer Golf Design Co.
• Dealing with ryegrasses in the mid-Atlantic, “you’re
[thought of as] the resident genius one year and the village
idiot the next.” —Stan Zontak, director of the USGA Green
Section Mid-Atlantic Region
• “As long as we’re involved we can get laws that make
sense. As long as we have politicians, and people who label
themselves as environmentalists writing laws, they are always going to be superfluous and extreme and capricious
and counter-productive.” —Tim Hiers, superintendent at
Collier’s Reserve in Naples, Fla., winner of the Golf Course
Superintendents Association of America’s President’s
Award and Excellence in Government Relations Award
among other honors. 

For those who would like to read something related to our
business, but with a light touch, Mark Leslie has just written
a book that is easy to read, available for the Kindle, and will
cost you only five dollars. The following review provides a
look at what it’s all about.
Publication Date: November 11, 2013
Since Mark Leslie’s Putting a Little Spin on It: The Design’s
the Thing! was published last summer, golfers and other
readers in the golf industry have awaited its companion volume, Putting a Little Spin on It: The Grooming’s the Thing!
The wait is over.
While the first volume was packed with Leslie’s best quotes
from the players/course architects like Arnold Palmer, Jack
Nicklaus and Ben Crenshaw to a multitude of golf course
architects like Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Tom Doak and Robert
Trent Jones Sr. and Jr., this new edition is overflowing with
the best from “the other side” of golf, those men and women
involved in maintenance.

By Don Hearn

Famous within the world of golf course grooming, they include superintendents Ted Horton, Tim Hiers, Bruce Williams, Mel Lucas, Terry Buchen, Jerry Faubel, Palmer Maples Jr. and Bob Mitchell; USGA Green Section’s Jim Snow,
Stan Zontak, Patrick O’Brien and others; Drs. Joe Vargas,
James Beard and Frank Rossi from the realm of university
research; and leaders in the world of golf course equipment,
supplies and management.

4

Kevin Doyle - GCSAA Updates
Of the many seasons in the golf course
maintenance industry, one important and valuable season has begun; education season.
The recently completed New York State
Turfgrass Association (NYSTA) Conference
and Show in Rochester, NY kicked off my season. There are several still coming: Green
Industry Show (Atlantic City, NJ), Ontario Golf
Course Maintenance C&S, the Golf Industry Show, NERTF,
and many chapter education days on the calendar. This is
not meant to show how busy I am, more to explain how you
are the most important key to these valuable resources.
The agendas for each of these events are set by your
colleagues and industry peers to deliver value to you, the
turfgrass manager. They work hard to develop potential topics, engage industry experts to present these topics, and
communicate with you to inform you of these valuable educational opportunities. Often, the only feedback those who
administer these events get is based on numbers. If attendance is good, the agenda and information must be delivering
value to attendees. If attendance is poor, the agenda must
have missed the mark. Is that a fair assessment of an
event? If you did attend can those administrators assume
you got value from the event? If you did not go, is it because
the education offered was the reason? Numbers develop
more questions than they answer.
I was asked to join the NYSTA education committee and
aid in developing the agenda for the 2013 Conference and
Show. It became clear how difficult it is to provide a valuable

agenda based on numbers. It is even more difficult to assemble topics without feedback. That is where you come in.
Input is critical in delivering value to you and your peers.
Often those who develop these programs are begging you
for input and feedback. You have the ability to reach out to
those in charge of developing these education agendas.
Many agendas are already set for 2013-2014 events. If
you are in attendance, reach out and give your feedback to
the administrators after the event. If you don’t attend because of the agenda, reach out and alert them of that as
well. Your chapter has an education director. The chapter
has two members of the NERTF board. These people are
working hard to develop educational programs that will deliver value to you and your industry peers. Please help them
deliver what you want by volunteering your input and responding with your beneficial feedback. With this information, they will be able to develop programs you will be
able to enjoy year after year.

GCSAA Resources and Deadlines:
GCSAA’s easy-to-use self-assessment tool allows you to
rate yourself against the key knowledge, skills and abilities
(competencies) needed to be successful in today’s marketplace. Upon completion of the self-assessment, you’ll receive .5 education points. Information linked here.

continued on page 7

5

both on the same page regarding expectations of daily inspections and review those weekly written status/repair reports with the irrigation specialist. Communication is key, to
understanding what is happening to your irrigation system
and how it’s being maintained.
Set up the method (s) to collect data, what data to collect, how to record, how and where to file the data, and a
typical weekly inspection round. Be sure you have on hand
for the irrigation specialist all the necessary and unique electronic testing and diagnostic tools they need.
Many irrigation systems no longer resemble their original
design; heads have been moved, sprinklers added, zones
added, satellites added often without consideration to the
original design hydraulic calculations. Document everything
be sue your irrigation schedule flow rates do not exceed design intent of original pipe size.
Your irrigation system is likely your most expensive and
complex tool for your golf course treat it so. Consider the
many steps required for proper irrigation system maintenance. Do you leave it for an assistant to fix when something
breaks or do you become proactive with an irrigation specialist and treat your irrigation system with respect and care?
You will be the beneficiary over years, and other superintendents will wish they had a system like yours that never goes
”down”. Just lucky, I guess! 

Irrigation - continued from page 3

(D) Check to insure electric valves open and close automatically and manually. If a single valve does not open,
check solenoid, voltage, wires or tubes. Check your existing
conditions plan for wire route from satellite or decoder and
track to locate break or weak link. Look at areas of recent
construction or work. Testing continuity can help isolate the
type of problem. If several zones are down, check satellite
for both input and output power. If good, check area to first
affected zone for damage to power of common wires. Target
areas of recent work.
(E) Check all gate and ball valves to ensure they open
and close, and all reach tubes are clear of debris and accessible. Leaking around the top of a manual valve indicates
that the packing nut needs tightening or replacement. Leaking through the valve means that a stone or debris sits between the disc and seat or a damaged disc. Applying more
pressure does no good; open and close valve several times
to try to flush the blockage. Then if still leaking open, inspect
seat or disc and repair or replace as needed. Remember if
you just flushed the blockage, the debris has gone somewhere else in the system, if you’re lucky enough to be on a
dead end line, now is the time to flush the end of the line.
(F) Check pressure on all pressure regulating valves and
sprinklers against log data, to insure proper setting. Verify
that your 70-psig setting is actually discharging at 70 psig
(use pressure gauge and Pitot Tube.) A difference of five to
ten pounds can seriously affect intended precipitation rate.
(G) Color code valve box covers and size. Tan = wire
junction, Green = electric valves, Black = drains, ETC.
When checking piping, use the following guidelines:
(A) Traverse pipe route looking for puddles, flowing water, wet spots, places where mowers suddenly scalped turf,
neighborhood kids surfing down the fairway and new lakes
or ponds that formed over night.
(B) If problem area not readily apparent, activate zones
and listen for water hammers or unusual pipe noises.
You should have As-constructed documents, an Operations
and Maintenance Manual and GPS mapping of your irrigation system on hand at all times.
Like any other piece of equipment, a golf course irrigation system needs a scheduled PM program for optimum
operation. Proper use of you system and proper procedures
in daily maintenance inspections help keep the system running at peak efficiency. The time spent in a complete irrigation inspection maintenance and preventive maintenance
program will help insure limited “down” time. Plan now to
start off this irrigation season with a detailed irrigation
maintenance program in place. Sit down with your irrigation
specialist, if you have one, then develop and/or fine-tune
your program.
Train all staff members to look for wet spots, dry spots,
and weeping and broken sprinklers. Often the staff members who are cutting turf see these problems before anyone
else Train them to report it now, not at break time, lunch or
tomorrow, it’s a team effort.
Require written reports and weekly documentation of all
repairs your irrigation specialist performs each week. Above
all communicate with your irrigation specialist, be sure you’re

6

Kevin Doyle - continued from page 5

You

Get
Cool
Stuff
Already from your
Association

Self-Assessment Tool: With this information, you'll see your areas of strength, as well as your
potential areas of improvement, so you can take control of your career and plan your own professional development program.
Using this tool you can:
 Rate your current skills and knowledge against each competency.
 Identify seminars and resources for each competency.
 Chart your own course for continuing development.

VERY IMPORTANT DEADLINE!!!!!!!!
Modification of the Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) to conform with the United Nations' (UN)
Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS)
Effective Completion Date

Requirement(s)

Who

December 1, 2013

Train employees on the new label elements and safety data sheet (SDS) format.

Employers

June 1, 2015*
December 1, 2015

Compliance with all modified provisions of
this final rule, except:
The Distributor shall not ship containers
labeled by the chemical manufacturer or
importer unless it is a GHS label

Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors and employers

June 1, 2016

Update alternative workplace labeling and
hazard communication program as necessary, and provide additional employee
training for newly identified physical or
health hazards.

Employers

Transition Period to the effective
completion dates noted above

May comply with either 29 CFR 1910.1200
(the final standard), or the current standard, or both

Chemical manufacturers, importers, distributors, and employers

Hazard Communication, the Globally Harmonized System & Your Golf Course:
OSHA’s MSDS safety system as we know it now is GOING AWAY! Any facility that has hazardous chemicals on the property
is required to train all staff on the new system by December 1, 2013. GCSAA members have access to a FREE 90-minute
webcast designed to answer many of the questions OSHA has received in this first year of Hazard Communication 2012 implementation. The webinar is also available to non-members for a fee. This valuable webcast is linked here for ease of access, and the web page also includes forms designed to document your employees as they are trained. Time is running out to
become compliant!
Golf Industry Show:
Registration for the 2014 Golf Industry Show and related events is now open to the general public as well as GCSAA members. Make plans today to attend the event, Feb. 1-6, in Orlando. Don’t forget, several golf events sold out last year. Register
early to avoid the waiting list! GIS registration information is linked here.
Regional Pages:
The latest addition to the GCSAA communications vehicles are the GCSAA Regional Pages. The regional pages feature several dynamic elements including a field staff blog, member transitions, job board postings, regional forums and resources relevant to members right here in the Northeast Region! Give it a look here!
Apply for 2014 Plant Health Academy
Bayer's Plant Health Academy is designed to provide superintendents a chance to learn more about industry research and
practices to benefit their facilities, careers and the industry. Applications for the 2014 academy are being accepted through
Dec. 18. More information here.
2014 Ski Day
The Nor’Easter Ski Day will again take place at Killington Resort. This event last year garnered rave reviews, and the committee is working hard to replicate that success again. Put the Nor’Easter Ski Day on your calendar now for January 16 th (NEW
DATE!!!!!) and join over 100 golf industry peers from across the region on the mountain in Vermont.
Upcoming FREE webcasts:
Dec. 4: Set Goals & Manage Time to Achieve Success Dec. 12: Use Microsoft OneNote to Stay Organized 
Again, if I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me.
Kevin Doyle
GCSAA Field Staff,kdoyle@gcsaa.org Follow me on Twitter @GCSAA_NE
7

GCSANE Looking for DSA Nominations
The Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England annually selects an individual or individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the golf course
superintendent profession.
To propose a candidate for this program, please submit a letter of recommendation to the Membership Committee Chair. The letter should summarize the candidate's contributions and leadership to the superintendent community both locally and nationally. You will also be receiving an on
-line form pertaining to this, simply follow the directions and submit it once completed. The nominee must not have been a recipient of this award in the preceding ten years. The Membership
Committee welcomes recommendations for nomination.
The GCSANE membership committee will recommend a recipient to the Board of Directors to be
awarded at the Annual meeting in January.
Submit/email nominations to:
Jeff Urquhart, Membership Chair, GCSANE
Milton Hoosic Club
70 Green Lodge Street
Canton, MA 02021
email: jmartin101@gmail.com
Past Award Winners
1997 – Anthony Caranci
1998 – Richard D. Haskell
1999 – Robert Grant
2000 – Dr. Joseph Troll
2001 – Geoffrey Cornish
2002 – Richard C. Blake, CGCS and Phillip I. Cassidy
2003 – Leon St. Pierre
2004 – Donald E. Hearn, CGCS
2005 – Donald Marrone
2006 – Gerry Finn
2007 – Ronald Kirkman
2008 – Robert Ruszala
2009 – Robert and Norman Mucciarone
2010 – Brian Cowan, CGCS
2011 – Dean Robertson
2012 – Mike Hermanson
2013 – James Fitzroy, CGCS
8

Proper Etiquette at a Wake
Recently I was playing golf with a long time friend when
we started talking about this column. I told him I was always
looking for subjects and he said one of the uncomfortable
parts of life is attending wakes and what to say to those
grieving. So, the idea for this subject was created.
There are very few people who can honestly say they
enjoy going to wakes. Being put into a position where you
cannot really do anything about anything can be a very frustrating and emotionally draining affair. You know you can’t
bring the departed back to life and you can only marginally
assist the grieving relatives so what can you concentrate on
to distract yourself and manage to get through this unpleasant time? Considering what to do and what not to do at a
wake can help you to know that you are at least acting appropriately during this difficult time.

needs to produce an outfit that will not be inappropriate. You
should find something to wear that is not meant to call attention to you, so certainly nothing loud or flashy need come out
of the closet. Nor should you wear something that next week
you will wear to a nightclub or after hours joint. Modesty may
be a word we seldom use but it should characterize what you
appear in at a wake. Similarly dressing for a wake should not
be like dressing to go out gardening or playing tennis. You
don't have to put on formal garb but you should also not look
like you have just stopped in between innings of a ball game.
3. Acknowledging the bereaved
The point of going to a wake is to offer to survivors of the
deceased your heartfelt and sincere condolences on the occasion of their loss. And so when your opportunity comes to
speak to members of the family those thoughts should dominate your conversation. Remember that for the most part the
bereaved are in a rather numb state. They will likely try to be
cordial but the blank stares that may greet you have little to
do with what you say or even how you say it and lots more to
do with the bereaved's state of mind.
Still you can be of help to the bereaved when you speak
to them by keeping two thoughts in mind. First, do what parents tell their children, use your inside voice. For the shattered minds of those who have lost someone, the grating
sound of a loud human voice can be one annoyance that can
be done without. So approach, respecting the situation and
the person. Second, your conversation really should be limited to an expression of compassion and should not extend
to an interrogation regarding the death of the deceased. If
the bereaved wants to pursue that discussion that of course
is another story. Then your job is to lend, once again a compassionate ear.

1. Should you go to this wake?
The obvious first step you can take to displaying appropriate wake behavior is to determine in advance whether or
not to attend a particular wake. There are some wakes that
are rather no brainers. Relatives, family friends, work colleagues all generally land on the list of wakes you probably
should attend. But there are many wakes that really seem to
fall into no man's land like old neighbors who once were
close but who you have lost contact with, relatives of people
with whom you once were close, recently made acquaintances and the list goes on.
The point is outside of the "the must attends" there are
many wake situations where your attendance is a rather arbitrary event. To do the right thing perhaps the best thing to do
is consider if your presence at the wake has the potential of
really providing some degree of comfort for someone among
the bereaved or not. If you know that you will simply be just
another face in a sea of faces then it is often acceptable to
simply send a sympathy card and skip the formal appearance. Just remember your decision should be based on what
you can offer by way of support and how it might be received.

4. Consider the People Waiting
When attending a wake good etiquette indicates that
when you are talking to members of the family of the deceased you should bear in mind the number of others who
may be waiting for an opportunity to do the same. No matter
how close you may be to the family you must show respect

2. Dress Respectfully
Having decided to attend, your next minor consideration
should be what to wear. A wake is not a place to make a
fashion statement. So your selection of attire really only

continued on page 10

9

Etiquette - continued from page 9

tional try to remove yourself from the area where the bereaved are so as to not further upset them. Remind yourself
that you are there to help and to be supportive not to drag
anyone else down. Also remind yourself that there will be
time in an hour or so for you to be as emotional as you want.
On the other hand sometimes you just can't help yourself, if
tears come make as little notice of them as you can and carry on with just being yourself.

for the situation and after a few words move on and give your
place to others. You will always have the opportunity in the
future to stop by, pick up the phone or send a letter to complete your words of consolation or offer your assistance.
5. Visit others present
After you have had the chance to speak with the bereaved, then it is appropriate to mingle quietly with others in
attendance. It is possible that there will be many there who
you will know and it is not inappropriate to use the occasion
to share a few moments with other family members, neighbors or friends as long as conversations are appropriate for
the situation. If you feel that you want to pass some extended remarks with someone, the best etiquette is to invite the
person into a separate room or outside for a less formal and
more normal atmosphere for conversation.

10. Remember what is happening
One of the most important bits of etiquette you can pack
and take with you to a wake is the realization of what is really happening. Unless you are the deceased or the immediate family, the wake is not about you. Your behavior to be
appropriate needs to demonstrate clearly that you are a supporting actor in this drama. Your appropriate dress, quiet
manner, and gentle compassion can go a long way to making your appearance at any wake helpful to those who need
you.

6. Sign
Most funeral parlors present visitors with the opportunity
to sign a guest book. The point of the book is to allow the
bereaved to sit down later at their convenience and review in
their mind the consoling thoughts expressed by those who
attended the wake. Often the wake is such a blur that people
forget or become confused about who was present.
Signing in also allows the bereaved, if they wish, to
acknowledge the kindness of those who took the time to attend. Many books are set up to furnish both the name and
address to make the acknowledgment process easier. Don't
misunderstand, signing the book is not asking for a thank
you, it is a real assist to those who have been through the
arduous hours of a wake. You are doing them a favor and it
is good etiquette to complete the funeral book

11. Things not to say
"You look terrible." Gee I really thought I looked great after 5
days of non-stop crying but perhaps you have a point.
"How are you fixed for money?" Unless you are the funeral
director worried about being paid this really is none of your
business. Did you think I sat and figured out finances at a
time like this?
"He looks wonderful." No he doesn't. You know and I know
he looks like he's been through hell and he has.
continued on page 11

7. Spiritual Bouquet, Cards
In some faiths it is an acceptable gesture to bring a spiritual bouquet or other religious card for the family to the
wake. The funeral director will make a receptacle available
for such missives. Some people get very up tight about such
things. They panic if they don't have that magic card in their
hands. The fact that you have come in person to express
your sympathy is what is of primary value at a wake. Any
other connection can be made via the mail. You can always
send out a spiritual bouquet or sympathy card after the fact.
Don't let the fact that you don't have the time to pick up a
spiritual bouquet keep you from lending your personal support to someone who may really just want to see your face.

Hillcrest Turf Services
Providing quality service to
golf courses

8. Be You
Going to a wake is an extension of you into emotional
waters. The people you are visiting with have clear
knowledge of who you are. A wake is not the time to establish a different personality. If you decide to go to the wake,
make sure it is you that shows up. It can certainly be your
cleaned up, courteous, caring image but still you nonetheless.



Dethatching
 Root Pruning
 Seeding

Michael Parks

9. Keep Your Emotions in Check
One reason it is important to think through a wake before
attending is because it is a very emotional setting. If you
need to, have a good cry before you go. Whatever you do,
don't save your emotions for the wake. If you become emo-

617-852-0479
michaelparks09@comcast.net
10

Ten Ways to Reduce Environmental Risk & Liability at the
Golf Course and Clubhouse
By Kevin A. Fletcher, Ph.D., President & CEO, e-par USA, Inc.
Golf and country clubs across the country are facing the
“new normal” of reduced budgets, strained resources, and
the need to operate leaner and smarter. It’s no wonder that
the concept of sustainability has held fast. After all, sustainability, in part, is about doing more with less. Yet, there are
a few key elements of operating more sustainably that, if not
addressed, can crumble the very foundation of any club’s
sustainability efforts, including: addressing regulatory responsibilities, managing environmental risks, containing potential environmental liabilities, and minimizing the odds of
an environmental incident or accident.
An Environmental Management System (EMS) can help
club staff better-manage these areas of concern--leading to
an overall better-managed operation. An EMS relies on a
comprehensive 'plan, do, check, act' approach. As an added bonus, federal and state environmental agencies generally support EMS adoption by organizations. However, if you
don’t have an EMS in place yet, at the very least consider

the following questions to get you moving in the right
direction:
1. Do We Really Know What’s Going On?
The very first step to reducing overall environmental risk and
liability is to conduct a basic self-assessment of the facility
and your operations. Do you know how your chemicals are
being stored and used on the course and in the clubhouse?
Are your clubhouse and pro shop operations asking the right
questions to gain a handle on potential hazards?
2. Do We have Full Management Buy-In?
The best environmental management approaches are completed on the ground, but supported from the top. Are your
club Board, President, or key leadership aware of the environmental stewardship responsibilities of the golf course operations? Are environmentally-related risk issues discussed
a senior management team meetings? Has leadership
continued on page 12

Etiquette - continued from page 10

And last but certainly not the least shocking.

"I bet you don't remember me." Okay you're right, now what
do you expect me to do? Or another variation is when a
vaguely familiar person brings along a friend and says, "I bet
you don't know who this is." or "Guess who I brought with
me." Oh thank goodness a guessing game to take my mind
off things.

"Do you think you'll ever remarry?" I can't believe he's gone
and you want to know if I'll remarry.
12. Things you can say or do to help a family through
this time

"How are you doing?" Terrible thank you. How do you think
I'm doing?

Introduce yourself. Even on their best day the bereaved may
not be good with names but at a time like this they may not
be able to come up with the name of their own child. If you
are not very familiar with the bereaved let them know how
you are associated with the deceased as well as giving your
name.

"Are you taking anything?" "Are you eating?" Why are you a
drug pusher or a physician?
"Don't worry you'll find someone else." Are you kidding me?
Do you think this is like the puppy that runs away and we
make it better by replacing it with another one?

"I'm sorry."
"I admired him," and all similar statements to tell the person
how much he was admired in life and will be missed. In reality a short note after the funeral would be even better as I will
be able to absorb what you are saying and take comfort from
it when needed.

"I know just what you're going through." You may think you
do but in truth no one's grief is just like another person's. 40
years together built many memories that are different than
yours.
"What can I do?" How the heck would I know I'm barely able
to stand here and not fall apart and you'd like some direction
from me!

Finally, keep your words short and remember that the person receiving them is in a very fragile state at that time.
There is a long line of people who are waiting to come
through and offer their condolences. He or she has probably
been on their feet for an entire day and has not been able to
eat or sleep well. If you're not good with words at times like
this don't use them. A simple hug goes a long way in conveying your sorrow and serving as some comfort at a difficult
time. 

"You know I've been through a divorce which is really like a
death so give me a call if you want to talk about your feelings." Yes and right after that you and I can compare how
my burning a steak on the barbecue is a lot like that house
fire you had.
"What are you going to do with...the house, his car, his season tickets....”? Silly me I hadn't really gotten my life plan
going yet.

By Don Hearn
11

10. Finally… Do We Foster a Staff “Culture” of Ongoing
Environmental Stewardship?
Do you support a culture of sustainability and environmental
stewardship? Is good environmental management simply
“the way we do things around here”? In the end, an environmental policy, environmental risk and opportunity assessments, resulting action plans, operating procedures, training,
personal accountability, and top management team commitment is only useful if reviewed on a periodic basis. A biannual review of your processes and annual review and revision of your environmental management system, risk assessment, and associated action plans is ideal for keeping
environmental protection, risk management, and sustainable
club operations a top-line item throughout the organization.
While the best option may be developing a comprehensive
EMS, at the very least, assess where you are now against
these ten elements and sleep a little easier at night by filling
in the holes. 

Environmental Risk - continued from page 11

signed off on various environmental policies and plans at the
highest level?
3. Have We Established a Facility-Wide Environmental
Policy?
Writing and making public the organization’s commitment to
protecting the environment is an important early step to
take. It is a pledge to protect the natural elements of the
game, acknowledgement of the importance of pollution prevention, and your commitment to continuous improvement.
4. Have We Ever Conducted a Risk Assessment?
Have you conducted a risk assessment to identify where
your improvement areas and weak spots are in your operations? This includes a hard look at all of your relevant activities, an assessment of how frequent those activities take
place, and the potential environment impacts of those activities.
5. Do We Have a Sense of Our Risk Profile?
Once the risk assessment is completed you’ll have a better
sense of where potentially severe or catastrophic risks are in
your golf facility operations—your risk profile. Knowledge is
power. Knowing your risk profile will allow you to prioritize
corrective actions and be better prepared for when the worst
might happen. Have you’re a prioritized set of improvements in mind?
6. Have We Developed Written Environmental Action
Plans?
Have you taken the time to develop and write down Environmental Action Plans with input from relevant staff? These
plans can both address what your need to do, as identified
in the risk assessment, as well as the environmental improvement and enhancements you want to make at the facility (i.e., nest box projects or energy efficiency upgrades for
clubhouse lighting).
7. Do We Have A Person Assigned to Each Action?
Who’s going to get that done? For each action item or improvement project, be sure to assign an individual as
“responsible party” for completion of the task. A great idea
without someone responsible to complete it will likely remain, simply a great idea. Also remember to include project
completion deadlines.
8. Do We Understand the Value of Written Standard Operating Procedures?
Along with written Action Plans, it pays to have sets of written Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for each risk area identified. Let’s assume that “Delivery of Chemicals” is
an activity identified as potentially risky (i.e., due to a spill
event). A simple SOP outlining to process to allow vendors
to deliver, unload, and store chemicals is a terrific way to
document that your club facility has its act together. With
training it can help avoid an incident, and if something
should go wrong, you have documentation to show due diligence.
9. Do We Provide Initial and Ongoing Environmental
Training?
You want to have your policy in place, clear procedures, and
practices identified to be address. That’s good. Yet, it’s the
people that make things go right—or wrong. Do you have
an environmental training schedule in place? Are golf
course staff getting the education and on-site, on-the-ground
training necessary to be ready for spill events, emergencies,
and environmental incidents?

Bio:
Kevin A. Fletcher, Ph.D., is President & CEO of e-par USA,
Inc., an environmental business strategy advisory firm helping golf facilities & clubs, sports facilities, and park and recreation facilities. He most-recently served as Executive Director for Audubon International, having worked for the organization for nearly ten years. In 2010, he was included
among Golf Magazine’s “Top 40 Most Influential People
Under 40” for his work on sustainability in golf.

Seminars and Presentation 2013-2014
Kevin A. Fletcher, Ph.D., President & CEO,
e-par USA, Inc.
Kevin@eparusa.com, www.eparusa.com
Seminar Topics:
1. The Sustainable Golf Facility: Ten Ways to Reduce Environmental Risk, Prevent Pollution Events, & Minimize
Liability
2. Uncovering the Business Benefits (Saving Money, Reducing Liability, and Enhancing Your Image & Reputation) of Environmental Management Systems for Golf
3. Strategic Environmental Management for Golf: Moving
from Piecemeal to Precision

12

13

Arysta Life Science
Earn Educational Dollars for Your GCSAA Chapter
Arysta LifeScience donating to Northeastern Chapters through August 2014
Arysta LifeScience is offering superintendents the opportunity to generate
funding for their local Golf Course Superintendents Association of America
(GCSAA) chapters by purchasing Arysta LifeScience products. Funds then will
be used throughout the Northeastern United States to support ongoing
education. Arysta LifeScience will make financial contributions to local GCSAA
chapters based on a percentage of proceeds from superintendents’ purchases of
DISARM® Fungicide, XONERATE® Herbicide and ALOFT® Insecticide through
August 2014.
Superintendents may make qualifying purchases during two select time periods:
a fall purchase period, Sept. 2-Dec. 7, 2013; and an in-season purchase period,
Dec. 8, 2013-Aug. 31, 2014. Purchases through Dec. 7, 2013, will generate a 2%
rebate to the GCSAA chapter of your choice (Premium Value); purchases from
Dec. 8, 2013-Aug. 31, 2014, will generate a 1% rebate to your chapter (Base
Value).
Additionally, superintendents participating in this program must be GCSAA
members in good standing from one of the following chapters: Connecticut, New
England, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont or Maine.
To learn more on required purchases and to receive program enrollment forms,
visit your local authorized Arysta LifeScience distributor.

For additional information, contact your local Northeast GCSAA Chapter or
Arysta LifeScience Northeast Territory Sales Manager Eric Gerhartz, phone
570/269-6061 or email eric.gerhartz@arysta.com.

14

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

NOR’ EASTER SKI DAY
With the nip in the air and ski season right around the corner,
The Vermont and Northeastern Superintendent Associations
have sent out a save the date notice for the Second Annual
Nor'easter Ski Day for 2014! In fact, Killington is open for all
you die-hards out there!

As in the past, The Newsletter continues to invite Affiliate
members to submit a press release about new personnel,
new products or a company bio. We will print each and every
release free of charge. This is a great way to advertise for
free. Who said nothing in this world is free? Free advertising to better your company, wow what an offer.

Last year's event was a huge success with over 100 skiers
attending and great snow...in fact, so much snow the race
could not be held. This year's calendar shows a lot of major
events in February, including February vacation, so it's been
decided to move this year's Ski Day to January and continue
to hold the event at Killington Ski Resort since they are so
great to work with! This year's date will be Friday, January
17, which is the beginning of the long MLK weekend.

GCSANE Annual Meeting

Save the date…

Details are still being finalized, but Killington is being gracious enough to hold discounted rates over the weekend for
all those who would like to plan a family or "guys" weekend! As soon as things are finalized, within the next couple
weeks, all the details and the website for registering will be
sent out.

GCSANE Annual Meeting
January 7, 2014
Cyprian Keyes Golf Club

Any questions, please contact:

Host: Richard Zepp, CGCS

Andy Drohen
Agrium Advanced Technologies
www.agriumat.com Cell: (413) 531-6401

GCSANE Offers
Website Banner advertising at
www.gcsane.org
The price is $500 for one year which will be
re-occurring annually from your first billing unless
otherwise specified.
For more information, please contact Jeff Urquhart
at 781-828-2953 or jmartin101@gmail.com

15

Please Patronize these FRIENDS of the ASSOCIATION
Page 1

A.A. Will Materials Corp.
198 Washington St., Stoughton, MA 02072-1748
Root zone mixes, divot mixes, topdressing blends, bunker sands,
cart path mixes, bridging stone, & hardscape supplies.
Rob Fitzpatrick - (800) 4-AA-WILL
www.aawillmaterials.com

Cavicchio Landscape Supply, 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 Brothers foliar
fertilizers, and Aquatrols. Specializing in custom seed blends.
Robin Hayes 508-237-2642 Dick Gurski 413-531-2906
Mike Carignan 603-540-2562

Agresource, Inc.
100 Main St., Amesbury, MA 01913
Tim Gould, Guy Travers (800) 313-3320, (978) 388-5110
Agrium Advanced Technologies Direct Solutions
Suppliers of Chemicals, Fertilizer, and Grass Seed
Jim Pritchard 401-259-8-5472 jpritchard@agriumat.com
Glenn Larrabee 401-258-3762 glarrabee@agriumat.com

Country Club Enterprises
PO Box 670, 29 Tobey Rd., W.Wareham, MA 02676
Club Car golf cars, Carryall utility vehicles.
Dave Farina, Keith Tortorella, Mike Turner (800) 662-2585

Allen’s Seed
693 S. County Trail, Exeter, RI 02822
Specializing in quality seed, fertilizer, chemicals, and related golf
course maintenance supplies.
Peter Lund (401) 474-8171
www.allensseed.com

DAF Services, Inc.
20 Lawnacre Rd., Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Provider of prefabricated pump stations and water management
systems. Richard Young - (860) 623-5207
DGM Systems
153A Foster Center Road, 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

Atlantic Golf and Turf
9 Industrial Boulevard, Turners Falls, MA 01376
Specializing in agronomy through the distribution of fertilizer, seed
and chemicals throughout New England.
Chris Cowan (413) 530-5040, Gregg Mackintosh (508) 525-5142,
Scott Mackintosh CPAg (774) 551-6083

DHT Golf Services
8 Meadow Park Road, Plymouth, MA 02360
Serving the GCSANE for over 20 years. Planning to proposal to
completion. Golf construction and irrigation consulting.
Emergency irrigation repairs. Dahn Tibbett (20 year member),
Jaime Tibbett 508-746-3222 DHTGOLF.COM

A-OK Turf Equipment Inc.
1357 Main St., Coventry, RI 02816-8435
Lastec, Tycrop, Blec, Wiedenmann, Therrien, Graden, Sweep
& Fill, Baroness, and used equipment.
Mike Cornicelli - (401) 826-2584
Barenbrug USA
Great in Grass
10549 Hammond Hill Road, East Otto, NY 14729
Bruce Chapman, Territory Manager (401) 578-2300

G. Fialkosky Lawn Sprinklers
PO Box 600645., Newton, MA 02460
Irrigation services to golf courses throughout New England.
Gary Fialkosky - (617) 293-8632
www.garyfialkoskylawnsprinklers.com

BASF Turf & Ornamental
47 Falmouth Rd., Longmeadow, MA 01106
“We don’t make the turf. We make it better.”

Harrell’s LLC
19 Technology Drive, Auburn, MA 01501
Turf & Ornamental supplies. Chuck Bramhall, Mike Kroian,
Mike Nagle - (800) 228-6656

BACKED by BAYER
Building on an already solid foundation of proven products to help
you succeed. Brian Giblin 508-439-9809 brian@bayer.com
www.backedbybayer.com

Hartney Greymont
433 Chestnut Street, Needham, MA 02492
www.hartney.com
Hartney Greymont is a company that specializes in tree care, landscape services, strategic woodland management and plant
healthcare. Michael Colman (781) 727-7025

Boston Irrigation Supply Co. (BISCO)
60 Stergis Way, Dedham, MA 02026
New England's single source for a complete line of irrigation and
pumping equipment featuring Rain Bird, plus landscape lighting,
drainage, tools and all related accessories. www.gobisco.com
Andrew Langlois, Jay Anderson III, Dan Fuller, Jeff Brown, Greg
Hennessy, Chris Russo (800) 225-8006

Helena Chemical Company
101 Elm Street, Hatfield, MA 01038
www.helenachemical.com
National distributors of all your turf chemicals and fertilizers.
Extensive line of Helena Branded wetting agents, foliars,
micronutrients and adjuvants.
Louis Bettencourt, CGCS (978) 580-8166

The Cardinals, Inc.
166 River Rd., PO Box 520, Unionville, CT 06085
Golf course and landscape supplies.
John Callahan, Dennis Friel - (800) 861-6256

continued on next page

16

Please Patronize these FRIENDS of the ASSOCIATION
Hillcrest Turf Services
P.O. Box 767, Medfield, MA 02052
Mike Parks 617-852-0479
Providing specialty cultural services to golf courses and sports turf.

Mayer Tree Service
9 Scots Way, Essex, MA 01929
Your one source tree care company. Our certified arborists specialize in plant health care as well as tree pruning and technical
removals. Jeff Thomas (978) 768-7232

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

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

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

MTE, Inc. – Turf Equipment Solutions
118 Lumber Lane, Tewksbury, MA 01864
New England’s source for equipment sales, service and parts. New
and pre-owned mowers, tractors, attachments and much more
from: Jacobsen, Turfco, Smithco, Ventrac, Redexim, Neary
Grinders, Ryan, Buffalo Turbine, Mahindra, Husqvarna, Gravely,
Standard, Par-Aide and others. Office: 978-654-4240.
Mark Casey: 617-990-2427. Matt Lapinski: 978-551-0093

John Deere Golf
Offering our customers the most complete
line of products, service and expertise in the
industry.
John Winskowicz - (978) 471-8351
Ron Tumiski 1-800-321-5325 x6219

Mungeam Cornish Golf Design, Inc.
195 SW Main Street, Douglas, MA 01516
Golf course architects
Office: 508-476-5630
Cell: 508-873-0103
Email: info@mcgolfdesign.com
Contact: Mark A. Mungeam, ASGCA
www.mcgolfdesign.com

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

New England Lawn & Golf
15 Del Prete Drive, Hingham, MA 02043
Distributor of Express Dual and Anglemaster Speed Roller and
Converted Organics a liquid compost & fertilizer from food waste
John Lenhart - (781) 561-5687

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

New England Specialty Soils
435 Lancaster, Street, Leominster, MA 01453
1mm. Top Dressing Sand, High Density Bunker Sand, Rootzone
Mixes, Tee Blends, Divot Mixes, Bridging Stone, Cart Path Mix,
Infield Mixes, Inorganic Amendments, SLOPE LOCK Soil.
Ed Downing - 978-230-2300
www.nesoils.com

Maher Services
71 Concord Street, N. Reading, MA 01864
Specializes in Water well drilling, pump sales, pump repair, well
redevelopment and preventative maintenance
Peter Maher cell: (781) 953-8167 or (978) 664-WELL (9355)
Fax (978) 664-9356 www.maherserv.com

New England Turf
P.O. Box 777, West Kingston, RI 02892
Phone: 800-451-2900 or Ernie Ketchum 508-364-4428;
Mike Brown (508) 272-1827
Website: www.newenglandturf.com

MAS Golf Course Construction LLC
60 Hope Ave., Ste. 107, Waltham, MA 02453
Fulfilling all your renovation and construction needs.
www.masgolfconstruction.com Matthew Staffieri (508) 243-2443
Maltby & Company
30 Old Page Street, P.O. Box 364, Stoughton, MA 02072
Provides expert tree pruning, tree removal and tree planting services. Our two other divisions include Natural Tree & Lawn Care,
which treats for winter moth caterpillars, ticks and mosquitoes etc.
Forest Floor recycling manufactures color enhanced mulch and
natural composted leaf mulch. For more information or to speak
with one of our arborists please call Bill Maltby at 781-344-3900

NMP Golf Construction Corp.
25 Bishop Ave., Ste. A-2, Williston, VT 05495
Golf course construction. Mario Poirier - (888) 707-0787
Northeast Golf Company
Golf Course Architectural/Consultation Services
118 Beauchamp Drive, Saunderstown, RI 02874
Robert McNeil (401) 667-4994

Matrix Turf Solutions
29 Gilmore Drive - Unit C, Sutton, MA 01590
Providing the finest turf care products and accessories.
Jim Favreau - (978) 815-9810
www.matrixturf.com

Northeast Nursery Inc.
6 Dearborn Road, Peabody, MA 01960
Complete line of Golf Course, Landscape & Lawn Care
Construction and Maintenance Supplies
Tom Rowell (978) 317-0673

continued on next page

17

Please Patronize these FRIENDS of the ASSOCIATION
North Shore Hydroseeding
20 Wenham St., Danvers, MA 01923
Hydroseeding and erosion control services.
Brian King - (978) 762-8737 www.nshydro.com

Tuckahoe Turf Farms, Inc.
P. O. Box 167, Wood River Junction, Rl 02894
Joe Farina (774) 260-0093
Turf Products Corp.
157 Moody Rd., Enfield, CT 06082
Distributors of Toro irrigation & maintenance equipment and other
golf-related products. Tim Berge, Dave Beauvais, Nat Binns,
Andy Melone - (800) 243-4355

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 www.on-coursegolf.com

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

Putnam Pipe Corp.
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

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

Read Custom Soils
125 Turnpike St., Canton, MA 02021
Custom soil blending, top dressing sands, Root zone blends, “early
green” black sand, divot & cart path mixes.
Terry Driscoll, Garrett Whitney – (888) 475-5526
Slater Farms (Holliston Sand Products)
P. O. Box 1168, Tifft Rd., Slatersville, RI 02876
USGA recommended topdressing, root-zone mixes, compost, pea
stone, angular & traditional bunker sand.
Bob Chalifour, CGCS (Ret.) - (401) 766-5010 Cell: 860-908-7414
Sodco Inc.
P. O. Box 2, Slocum, Rl 02877
Bluegrass/Fescue, Bluegrass/Rye, Bluegrass/Fescue/Rye, Bentgrass. Sean Moran, Pat Hogan - (800) 341-6900
Southwest Putting Greens of Boston
P.O. Box 827, Westford, MA 01886
Synthetic turf, tee lines, practice greens, outdoor and indoor
practice facilities. Douglas Preston - (978) 250-5996
Stumps Are Us Inc.
Manchester, NH
Professional stump chipping service.
Brendan McQuade - (603) 625-4165
Syngenta Professional Products
111 Craigemore Circle, Avon, CT 06001
Melissa Gugliotti (860) 221-5712
Tartan Farms, LLC
P.O. Box 983, West Kingston, RI 02892
Dave Wallace
(401) 641-0306
Tom Irwin Inc.
11 A St., Burlington, MA 01803
Turf management products. Paul Skafas, Rob Larson,
Chris Petersen, Greg Misodoulakis, Mike DeForge, Brian Luccini,
Jeff Houde, Fred Murray (800) 582-5959
Tree Tech, Inc.
6 Springbrook Rd., Foxboro, MA 02035
Foxboro, Wellesley, Fall River Andy Felix - (508) 543-5644
Full service tree service specializing in zero impact tree removal,
stump grinding, tree pruning and tree risk assessments by our team
of Certified Arborists.

18

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