TURF CLIPPINGS

Mid-Summer Musings
Thoughts from the submerged - With over 6 inches of rain in the first two 
weeks of July, and over inches since June first, course conditions have 
again become a topic of locker-room conversation.
Member A to Member B (commonly known as S.O.) - "Say, I heard we’re getting 
our water system assessment back."
S.O. - "Hell, I’m not only pushing for that, but let’s cut that so-called 
greenthumb’s salary, anyone can grow grass in this weather. And can you 
believe no carts today, why there’s more grass than ever out there. It’s 
just that they’re too proud of the damn stuff to cut it. Just wait till 
I’m Green Chairman."
Member A - "You sure were great as Entertainment Chairman, that dance on 
the Practice Green was really novel."
So it goes. North Jersey is going down for the third time. South Jersey 
apparently can still touch bottom. And again, as in past years, the only 
way to view the present situation is with humor or drink(not water).
based on a bar-room survey, it’s "wet", "wetter than recent memory", "wet- 
ter than ever", and on and on.
Art Elmers watered his fairways about a week ago, "just twenty minutes, no 
more". They must have needed it, or else we have the only man to ever 
water in water.
Pete Pedrazzi had an accident with PMA last week - overdose - but says no 
harm was done, after the rains last Saturday, he couldn’t find the affected 
greens anyway.
McNally’s pump mis-behaved the other day - only real damage was a tempor­
ary flood in the local Pub across the street.

Summer Philosophy
Isn’t it amazing how a bright Saturday morning can make a golfer complete­
ly forget the floods on his way home the night before.
Benedict Arnold - The Green Chairman who has one beer and fades under the 
pressure to use carts.
Montclair's new plugged ball rule - "If it’s deeper than 6 inches, please 
dont’t dig - Green Committee will supply new ball".
Quote - "Where are all the bargain fungicide pushers now that I need them"?

Past meeting

The Picatinny Arsenal meeting was superb in every way, especially organi­
zation and course conditions. Mike George and Mr. Ferry had the welcome 
mat out right down to the guard at the gate, even though Williams did try 
to pull an 007 bit. The course not only proved to be an excellent test of 
golf, but was so immaculately groomed, one expected to see the "Don’t Tread 
n Me" flag at each hole. It was also a minor point proved that signs on a 
golf course do not have to be placed in such a way as to resemble Burma 
Shave Ads in order to receive attention. Not to expand beyond reason, but 
another pleasingly amazing thing was the complete absence of litter. It 
has been said locally that nine-tenths of the litter is caused by caddies, 
and this course may prove the point without any apparent suffering.

Editorial
It seems to this writer, who at times has a tendency to run off at the 
mouth, that perhaps one of these well attended, summer meetings would be 
the time for a discussion among all members of just what we intend to be 
doing as an Association. At present we seem to be golf and socially orient 
ed. Such is fine provided that all, or a mojority, agree that this is our 
purpose. There is, however, a not so mumbling undertone that seems to feel 
either that we are doing our socializing badly, or that we should be doing 
more in other directions. It could be true, it might not be; it is only 
unfortunate that these opinions are never brought forth before a large 
enough segment of the membership to mean anything. The Annual Meeting is 
usually so poorly attended that the only struggle is for a quorum. We seem 
        to have a structurally sound organization of Golf Course Superintendents, 
        better than several in the area. However, we do appear slightly weak in 

comparision to other professional groups in our same industry. It would in 
deed be fortunate if those who so far have had nothing to say would speak 
up, and those who have much to say, would also do much.

Don Marshall & Garry Crothers