New Jersey Golf Course Report

Vol. V, No. 1

April, 1972

President’s Message

Now that 1971 has come and gone 
and the convention trail of “72” is be­
hind us we begin a new and different 
year at our respective positions. Along 
with our jobs, another item to consider 
is your association. Last year we made 
progress in many areas; this year we 
hope to make even more. Most of our 
year has already been set up and is 
just getting ready to roll. Committee 
chairmen have been selected and are 
doing a fine job at the onset. The 
Association Management Corporation 
which we employed at the end of last 
year is being evaluated and the next 
few months should have great bearing 
on our decision as to their effective­
ness.

Most of our meeting places and 
dates have been scheduled at this time; 
Bamm Hollow, Baltusrol, Monmouth 
Park, Montclair, and Bedens Brook to 
name a few. The by-laws have been 
re-written and sent out to each of you 
for your approval. They will be voted 
on at the April meeting. We have 
ordered plaques to be presented to all 
past presidents at a meeting later in 
the year. The education program looks 
impressive at this time also. The As­
sociation treasury as you have seen is 
in a very sound position. Your board 
has worked out a budget that we hope 
will continue to provide sound financial 
management for this Association.

Two new ideas being considered by 
our Association: 1. A legislative coun­
seling service. This type of service 
would be that of a watchdog service in 
Trenton to keep us informed of any 
legislation pertaining to our field. The 
funding for such a service would nat­
urally have to be shouldered by all 
related groups in our field including 
manufacturers, suppliers, etc. The 
feasibility of such a venture is being 
investigated at this time. Incidentally 
this would be handled through A.M.C. 
2. Surveys — we plan to utilize A.M.C. 
to develop periodic surveys related to 
our field. Soon you will be receiving 
a complete “course maintenance sur­
vey,” similar to the one developed by 
the M.G.A. Naturally in order for 
these surveys to be meaningful we 
must have a majority response.

The National G.C.S.A. now has 
what looks like a strong certification 
program. Speaking of the National, 
our membership is growing each year. 
This year we had over sixty votes in 
Cincinnati, but that is just a shade 
over half of our qualified voters. If 
passed, our new by-laws will require 
all new voting members to apply for 
membership in the National. This will 
help strengthen our Association. The 
New Jersey Association at this time is 
the strongest in the Metropolitan area 
and we haven’t even come close to our 
capacity. This takes desire, hard work, 
and participation. We look forward to 
yours! With your support this could 
be our most progressive year ever. 
Best of success to all of you in the 
coming season.

Respectfully yours,
Jack Martin 
President

N.J.G.C.S.A. Hires Professional 
Management Firm and 
Executive Director

Ever since November of last year 
our Association has been relieved of 
the daily flow of operating problems to 
which no fully employed member of 
the Board can really give full atten­
tion While the system is on a trial 
basis, the bulk of minutia had been 
growing at such a rate that the Officers 
and Directors of the Association felt 
it advisable to turn to someone for 
help in order to better serve the mem­
bership. To be frank, the paper work 
and other details, which are usually 
obscured from all but the person whose 
responsibility it is to get the work done, 
were not being properly covered.

Therefore, the Executive Committee 
deemed it advisable to give this very 
important part of the Association a 
systematic and organized approach 
with a guarantee of completion. With 
the new method of operation we also 
achieved the benefits of overall con­
tinuity of the month to month and year 
to year operations of NJGCSA. Pres­
ident John Martin called the move to 
utilize the services of Association Man­

agement Corporation “a great step 
forward with the objective of doing a 
better job for the overall membership.” 
Jack further indicated that the Com­
mittee was of the firm opinion that 
utilization of AMC would afford im­
proved attention to the overall progress 
of the Association as well as satisfying 
the routine needs of the membership. 
It is both his and the Board’s hope that 
the past changes of location and re­
sponsible parties, which always result 
in weak communications, will now be 
eliminated.

Association Management Corpora­
tion will act as Headquarters of the 
Association with the responsibility of 
maintaining files and other official rec­
ords of the Association for succeeding 
Officers and Committee Chairmen. 
One of the top men of AMC, Mr. 
David Kreidler, has been assigned to 
the account with the prime responsi­
bility of acting as Executive Director. 
His well oriented responsibility is that 
of working with the President and the 
Executive Committee in the capacity 
of an advisor. He also assures that the 
records, mailings, and dues payments 
are handled in an orderly fashion.

Those who met Dave at the Decem­
ber Annual Meeting were assured of 
an “open door” at their own head­
quarters anytime from 8:30 to 4:30, 
Monday through Friday. While all of 
us are often in the office “after hours,” 
including Dave, it would be best to 
make a contemplated visit during the 
above mentioned hours.

Association Management Corpora­
tion is regarded as a multiple Associa­
tion Management firm, specializing in 
the operation and management con­
sultation of trade and professional as­
sociations in the State of New Jersey. 
Their functions include at least six 
major industries including oil, building 
materials, car and truck leasing, em­
ployment agencies, photographers, en­
gineering, and credit associations.

All questions and comments on the 
business of your Association should be 
referred to either Jack Martin, Presi­
dent, or Dave Kreidler at 66 Morris 
Avenue, Springfield, New Jersey. Your 
service telephone number is 379-1100.

B.C.

Composting —A Reasonable 
Alternative

As agronomists, sometimes consid­
ered public enemy number one, we are 
continually confronted with new leg­
islation designed to “protect society 
and ensure Mother Nature an even 
chance.” Such is the case with the 
banning of all open burning. It is an 
unreasonable edict covering all bases 
except cigarette smoking.

In spite of what the “organic ecol­
ogists” propound, we who must deal 
with Mother Nature are well aware of 
her methods of operation: the mon­
soons of last year; the droughts of 64, 
65 and 66; the Gypsy Moth; the ever 
present chinch bug; the piles of or­
ganic matter choking our dumps, etc. 
Unfortunately, man and his require­
ments do not have enough time or 
space to wait for her to perform. Rea­
son dictates that man cannot wait, thus 
he uses fire. Legislators eliminated 
fire. How about legislating a solution 
into existence! A minor oversight, but 
one that will be corrected just before 
the last exit out of Trenton is blocked 
by leaves and branches.

Until Trenton is barricaded a rea­
sonable alternative must be utilized. 
Richard Walters, Superintendent of 
Maplewood’s Park Commission, ad­
dressed the New Jersey Golf Course 
Superintendents Association at its 
March meeting and described his meth­
od and apparent solution to the leaf 
problem — composting. One has vi­
sions of the familiar pile lying in a 
corner of every American yard, only 
on a grandiose scale; odor included. 
It should be remembered that Mother 
Nature has always used slow oxidation 
(burning) as her prime means of debris 
reduction and elimination. Half the 
Town of Maplewood is not devoted to 
a composting operation. In reality 
only 2 1/2 acres of land are utilized to 
reduce to a useable product an annual 
crop of 15,000 cubic yards of leaves 
within 14 months.

The key to the operation is obvious­
ly management. Making sure Mother 
Nature is provided the essential in­
gredients — air, water and nutrients. 
According to Mr. Walters, the actual 

amount and method of introducing 
these ingredients is still open to a great 
deal of conjecture.

Briefly, the following are some of 
the key points in his operation. The 
leaves are first watered. They are then 
placed into windrows about 14 feet 
high, keeping the piles under eight 
feet wide, with the sides as vertical as 
possible. The vertical walls are essen­
tial for proper air circulation. Fer­
tilizer is then added. Periodic watering 
follows to keep them moist. They 
remain in this state until they are de­
composed enough to be useful, about 
one year.

Considering that composting is eons 
old, it was surprising to learn that the 
actual amount of progress with this 
procedure is limited. The chemistry, 
while understood, has not been reduced 
to a highly efficient method. Mr. Wal­
ters stated that more experimentation 
is needed. The resulting information 
will allow management and technology 
to design equipment and procedures 
approaching the efficiency of a good 
fire. There is machinery available de­
signed for turning, aerating, watering 
and restacking the windrows, however, 
they are highly impractical for small 
operations. Mr. Walters’ operation is 
equipped with conventional machinery 
such as payloaders and side-dump 
loaders. A minimum essential item is 
a front end loader equipped with a 
manure fork attachment, it is needed 
to construct the windrows.

While composting may not be the 
final answer, for the moment it seems 
to be the most practical approach. 
Compared with some of the other avail­
able alternatives, compaction, truck­
ing, incineration and landfill, it is the 
most economical and has the brightest 
future. It is not without its own set 
of inherent problems. There must be 
land available, preferably away from 
neighbors who may object. There is 
some odor, but that can be controlled 
by proper management. It does re­
quire additional labor and investment 
in equipment. However, the initial in­
vestment is low enough to set up the 
operation on a trial basis, or at least 
until legislators realize the necessity of 

controlled open burning.

It is just impossible to effectively 
compost branches. Wood chips do not 
make good landfill and there are only 
so many flower beds to be mulched. 
Even the volume of leaves generated 
requires a community effort to effec­
tively compost. This same effort and 
expense could be spent on a more ef­
ficient means of burning the organic 
debris while eliminating the particle 
pollution.

Until reason returns to Trenton, 
what does one economically do with 
the leaves? Compost them or as one 
of the characters in the cartoon strip 
B.C. states, “The red ones don’t taste 
too bad.”

Edward C. Nickelsen

Peter Poa Gets 
A Job Applicant

Dear Mr. Poa:

March 19, 1972 

I’ve had considerable golf course 
maintenance experience, including a 
great deal of “rough” cutting on trac­
tors equipped with gangs of reel mow­
ers, and experience should not be 
under-rated if you want to avoid rut 
making and a few other problems — 
such as avoiding “dead end” areas 
(gangs of reels can’t be backed up), 
and causing the least possible amount 
of inconvenience to the golfers, whose 
balls I always paid for when (very 
rarely) mangled by my mowers.

I’ve got the self-discipline and heat 
resistance to stick with sand trap weed­
ing & raking even during the mid­
summer heat waves. I would be will­
ing to show up every Saturday, Sunday 
& holiday for substitute greens cutting. 
I’m not interested in very much greens 
cutting on week-days, but I would be 
available as a substitute on weekends 
& holidays because I fully realize what 
a terrible problem absenteeism can be 
for a golf course. Absenteeism & tardi­
ness is definitely not one of my weak­
nesses. I provide my own rain clothes, 
eye shields, and transportation. I 
would accept part-time hours when­
ever there is not enough tractor driv­
ing and sand-trap work to fill out an 
eight hour day, but, conversely, I

would be ready, willing, and able to 
work many overtime hours when the 
grass is growing fast. During this 1972 
season I would be willing to work for 
only $2.25 per hour (if your commut­
ing distance isn’t too far from the 
..........................  area),  but, under no 
condition whatsoever will I fill out an 
application blank or orally answer per­
sonal or any other redundant questions, 
excluding, of course, my social security 
number, federal income tax deduction 
status, and reference, which is the 
.................  Country  Club in .................  
New Jersey.

I worked for the.................  Country
Club for quite a few seasons, and have 
been self-employed for four years 
(raising and selling small trees — a 
talent which is useful on golf links too, 
of course), so it is apparent that I’m 
not a minor. My birth date is omitted 
from this brief resume because I con­
sider it redundant for a variety of rea­
sons, one of which is that I’m not 
interested in pension plans etc.

Not only is $2.25 per hour an eco­
nomical wage, but you could save fur­
ther on labor costs by the fact that 
I’m in no hurry to start work this year, 
since 1 have a lot of Nursery work to 
do here at home (could start anytime 
in 1973).

Sincerely, 

A. Fereal Person

Ed. Note: The above letter is absolute­
ly authentic. It was received by a 
member Supt. in answer to a news­
paper classified. All we really can and 
should say is that out there somewhere 
is a true golf course worker, who is 
stubborn, has a heart of gold, and likes 
long sentences. The only open item 
is — will he hold to $2.25 per hour 
plus 5.5% in 1973?

Be Our Guest
This month's invited guest is Mr. James 
Smith, Jr., President of the Fertl-Soil 
Company of Rahway, New Jersey.
THE LOWLY SALESMAN

In the summer of 1930 at the age 
of 17, I became a golf course salesman 
offering mushroom soil just as it came 
from the horses — complete with horse 
shoes, horsehair, straw, and stones. I 
did not sell much mushroom soil, but 
I met a great many Greenskeepers. 
There were no Superintendents in those 
days. Most of these men were great 
fellows; a few were awful. They were 
a rather tough crew for a youngster to 
face, especially with no experience in 
selling and no knowledge of turf cul­
ture. It was a rough Baptism.

In the Fall of 1930 I entered Rutgers 
Ag. School, enrolling in a curriculum 

developed by Dr. Howard B. Sprague 
for students who were planning to be 
associated with the Turf grass Industry, 
but not actually managing turf or turf­
grass areas. I was the first of a very 
few who enjoyed the benefits of this 
experimental curriculum.

With the turfgrass industry as a 
member of the Fertl-Soil Company 
through these forty-two years 1 have 
had the interesting experience of watch­
ing several generations of golfers, Su­
perintendents, salesmen, experiment 
station personnel, and even supply 
houses and manufacturers come and 
go. It is sad to look back and realize 
how little personal impact the mem­
bers of one generation, who have been 
deeply and importantly involved in the 
evolution of turf culture during their 
tenure, have had on succeeding gen­
erations in spite of the great and last­
ing contributions they have made to 
the industry. But then fame and repu­
tation are short lived, fading rapidly 
into the past.

As a salesman — even though I 
have not been in the field for many 
years — I have always marvelled at 
the important but inconspicuous part 
the salesmen have played in the golf 
course maintenance field. Although 
we are only peddlers in a not very 
glamorous business we have been many 
things to many people. We are friends 
in time of need. We are couriers bring­
ing new product information; more 
practical than technical at times. We 
collect data on current problems — 
disease and insect infestation, weather 
quirks, unusual situations . . . and 
make it available to all who want it. 
At times we get into trouble by saying 
the wrong things to the wrong person 
at the wrong time. We are frequently 
a sympathetic shoulder for a worried 
Superintendent — a patient listener at 
other times for an unhappy Superin­
tendent. We are a very effective chan­
nel of communication between the sup­
ply house, distributor or manufacturer 
and the man in the field. We are 
pretty useful people.

Through the years I have seen ef­
forts made to by-pass or eliminate the 
supply house salesman. Manufacturers 
have and are still trying direct selling. 
Others have tried to ignore the Super­
intendent-salesman relationship by 
mailings and contacts with managers, 
club officials and committee members. 
These and other practices designed to 
eliminate the salesman have failed be­
cause the salesman fills a very real 
need. Superintendents could get along 
without salesmen, but their lives would 
be considerably complicated without 
the friendly response from the local 
supply houses. May this wonderful 
mutual relationship never be replaced 
by some alleged “better way.”

National Agricultural Chemicals 
Association Newsletter 3/15/72
Reducing potential hazards with 
emptied pesticide containers is easy if 
you follow a simple Rinse/Drain pro­
cedure by the Container Committee of 
the Association. By following these 
guidelines when filling the spray tank, 
containers will then be ready for proper 
disposal, but should not be reused.

Empty the container into the spray 
tank and allow to drain in a vertical 
position for 30 seconds. Rinse 3 times 
with water or solvent being used, al­
lowing 30 seconds each time for drain­
ing into the tank mix.

Make rinse quantities easily meas­
ured; for example, for each rinse use 
a quart of water or solvent for a 1- 
gallon container, a gallon for a 5- 
gallon can, and 5 gallons for 30- or 
55-gallon drums.

Always add the rinse to the tank to 
avoid contamination of soil or water 
and to get maximum benefit from the 
materials purchased.

Containers treated in this way may 
then be safely disposed of by the most 
appropriate means — sold for scrap 
for recycling or by crushing and bury­
ing. Don’t reuse them.

Unanticipated effects can result from 
the introduction of species of plant and 
animal life, whatever the original mo­
tive.

A naturalist imported the Gypsy 
Moth into the United States for ex­
periments with silk production — their 
escape led to current problems with 
defoliation in the Northeast.

Starlings brought here in attempted 
control of the English Sparrow have 
become a distinct problem themselves, 
not only cohabiting in many areas with 
the sparrows, but spreading disease 
organisms between feed-lots in their 
wide-ranging flights.

Release of Coho salmon in Lake 
Michigan raised fears among trout 
fanciers that natural trout spawning 
areas in feeder streams would be dam­
aged.

Escape of an African strain of 
malaria-spreading mosquitoes in the 
Philippines threatens the anti-malaria 
effort in the island area.

Kudzu, a leguminous vine from 
Asia, where it is widely used for hay 
and forage, was imported to the United 
States by conservationists to control 
erosion, and proved effective for this 
purpose. Uncontrolled spread, how­
ever, has led to many areas being taken 
over by the lush growth which will 
smother and kill trees and other veg­
etation.

Nonchemical means of pest control 
have been worked on for over 80 years 
and yet, at present, less than 5% of 
the insect pests can be controlled by 
biological means.

Turf Clippings

by Paul Boizelle

Congratulations Dept.: Charlie Tan- 
tum named Supt. at Pine Hollow C.C. 
— New Jersey’s loss is Long Island’s 
gain. New Jersey Supers also extend 
best wishes to Donald McDaniel, new­
ly named Supt. at Monmouth County’s 
new course — Don was formerly af­
filiated with E. I. Dupont, Wilmington, 
Delaware, where he was employed as a 
Supt. in their golf course system.

More musical chairs: Bob Bocchino 
leaves Fox Hollow C.C. to assume his 
new duties as Supt. at Metuchen Golf 
Club. Bob’s replacement at Fox Hol­
low: Bob Dwyer, who joins us from 
the Massachusetts area.

Frank Votta, not too many years 
ago Supt. at Essex County C.C., would 
like to hear from old friends. Recently 
discharged from the hospital, Frank is 
now convalescing at home. Send your 
“get-well” cards and letters to: 20 
Whitehall Rd., East Brunswick, N. J. 
08816.
Al Caravella and Sherwood Moore 
were speakers at the Cornell Turf Con­
ference. Al’s topic: Care of Mainte­
nance Equipment; Sherwood’s: Poa 
Control via Calcium Arsenate Route.
Florida tans: Marty Futyma, Art 
Elmers, Chet Huey, Mr. Martin, Glen 
Gallion, and "Key West” Ostberg.

Bob Dobbie, last seen unpacking his 
suitcase at Navesink, wasted no time 
in getting himself elected 2nd Vice 
President of the Monmouth County 
“Clam Diggers” Association. (Wow! 
Does this guy Boizelle ever have news 
sources! Ed.)

We all extend our thanks and best 
wishes to Leo Cleary, who recently 
stepped down as President of the New 
Jersey Turf grass Association. Leo, 
after having guided the “new” organ­
ization through its first year of “grow­
ing pains,” turned the gavel over to 
newly elected President Don Marshall 
at the organization’s Annual Meeting 
in January. Drawing its membership 
from all walks of our Industry: Golf 
Course Superintendents, Nurserymen, 
Educators, Sod Growers, Manufactur­
ers, Supply Houses, Parks . . . the 
Turfgrass Association now boasts a 
rapidly growing “head count” of 275.
Jim Roach informed us that the Is­
land of Trinidad is the “real” place to 
go. Jim and Audrey spent two weeks 
in that Island Paradise while Jim mend­
ed after recent surgery.

When Phil Scott was elected Secre­
tary of our group a vacancy was creat­
ed on the Board of Directors as Phil 
had one remaining year to serve as a 
Director. For those of you who have 
not been informed: President Martin 
appointed Cliff Belden, Supt. of High 
Mountain Golf Club to fill the vacancy
Was good to see "Red” Williams at 

Cincinnati — “Red” is holding for

on Cape Cod. He’s no longer in the 
commercial world, but back as a Supt.
In the tumultuous Commercial scene 
faces come and go: Allan Hunter re­
signed from Storr Tractor to accept a 
sales position with the Orville Clapper 
Company — New England Toro Dis­
tributor . . . Bob McKenna, formerly 
associated with Shore (not Storr) 
Tractor is now representing JEP Sales 
as a golf course rep. . . . Frank Car­
man, formerly a salesman for Green 
Hill is now affiliated with Fertl-Soil in 
a like capacity . . . and then, of course, 
there’s Billy K. and Hubert P., so far 
all is well and they’ve got great sta­
tionery.

And for a change of pace: Roy Bos- 
solt (Terre) is still with Roy Bossolt 
(Terre). (Come on Paul, that sounds 
like the kind of plug even the FCC 
doesn’t like. Ed.)

The Shore Group Workshops are 
still a great success reports Phil Scott. 
Some 15 Supts. in that area have man­
aged several mid-winter meetings. 
More “sectional areas” should take ad­
vantage of this type of venture. In­
formal in nature, but totally informa­
tive, they pave the way for great new 
ideas.

A Late Change: Bob Green, former­
ly of Passaic County is now Supt. at 
Roxiticus C.C.

Metro Milorganite’s Tony Grasso is 
totally dedicated when it comes to the 
O. J. Noer Foundation and its respec­
tive Turf Research Fund. He’ll match

any donation to the foundation at any 
time. There are one or two details, 
but if you don’t believe us, just make 
a donation and see.

NEW JERSEY 

GOLF COURSE REPORT

EDITORIAL STAFF

Don S. Marshall, Paul Boizelle.... Co-Editors 
Clifford L. Belden......... Advertising Manager

OFFICERS

President .........................................John Martin 
Suburban C.C. 

Office 201-687-2622; Home 201-686-1968 

Vice President................Maurice C. Cameron 
Mountain Ridge C.C. 

Office 201-226-5503; Home 201-335-6525 

Secretary .........................................Philip Scott 
Bamm Hollow C.C. 

Office 201-741-4132; Home 842-6845 

Treasurer ........................................... Kenneth G. 
Union County Park Commission 

Office 201-EL 2-8431; Home 201-379-5036 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Paul Boizelle..................Fiddler’s Elbow C.C. 
Office 201-439-2123 
Home 201-459-4062 
Joseph Flaherty ........................ Baltusrol G.C. 
Office 201-376-1900 
Home 201-376-3656 
Don S. Marshall .........................Montclair  G.C. 
Office 201-239-1800 
Home 201-731-4779 
Alfred J. Rathjens ......... Raritan Valley C.C. 
Office 201-722-2000 
Home 201-722-5876 
Eugene Tarulli .............................. Colonia C.C. 
Office 201-381-9500 
Home 201-356-6082 
Clifford L. Belden ......... High Mountain C.C. 
Office 201-891-3596 
Home 201-891-5820 

GOING AUTOMATIC? 

CHECK WITH 

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(609) 561-0464  
(609) 561-6397

PRINCETON TURF

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P. O. BOX 245