Vol. V lf No. 2

Published monthly by the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

MEETING NOTICE:
Date:
April 22,1976 (Note date change)
Place:
Sunningdale Country Club
Lunch:
Available in Grill Room
Golf:
11 AM on (Possible team tournament-Green Chair­
man and Superintendent)
Cocktails: 6-7 PM
Dinner: 7 PM
Program: Dr. H. Tashiro, Dept, of Entomology, Cornell
University, N.Y.S. Agriculture Experiment Station,
Geneva, New York
“Update on Research on Hyperodes weevil and
Ataenius Dung Beetle”
Plans for coming year with M.G.C.S.A. Research
monies
Special Notice: The April 22 meeting will also be a Green
Committee Chairman and Superintendent combined meeting.
We would like as many Green Chairman present as possible.
They are welcome to play golf in the afternoon and then have
cocktails, dinner and, of course, listen to the Research
Program that will be conducted this year with their clubs
money. We also hope to meet with the Green Committee
Chairman again later in the year in a seminar situation.
COMING EVENTS:
April 3-4
Home & Garden Show—Westchester County
Center—M.G.C.S.A. Booth
April 22
M.G.C.S.A. meeting—Sunningdale Country
Club
May 20
M.G.C.S.A. meeting—Greenwich C.C.
Joint meeting Conn. G.C.S.A.
June 17
M.G.C.S.A. meeting—Pelham C.C.
1st round Supt. Championship
July 20
M.G.C.S.A. meeting—Winged Foot Golf Club
2nd round Supt. Championship
August
M.G.C.S.A. picnic and softball game—date to
be announced
September 30 M.G.C.S.A. Invitational—The Apawamis Club
October
Open
November 21 Annual meeting M.G.C.S.A.—Out Post Inn
M.G.C.S.A. NEWS:
The winter turfgrass circuit is just about over. N.J. Turf
Expo, Penn State, Cornell, G.C.S.A.A., Mass. M.G.C.S.A.
members were in attendance at all of them, contributing

March, 1976

speakers local and National. The weather at Minneapolis was
mild so those that did make the trip didn't freeze after all, but
it did definitely affect attendance. It was an excellent
educational conference. The exhibit booth space seems to get
larger. No dramatic changes in the equipment industry. Next
year it's Portland, Oregon. It never gets that cold there and
certainly it is a part of the world we don't get to see very often
but hear a lot about.
The M.G.C.S.A. business meeting in January resulted in a
lively panel discussion about Hyperodes and Dung Beetle,
mostly Hyperodes. I think that the general consensus was that
everybody that had any problem last year was going to
definitely treat according to the recommendations if budget
allowed. It also was agreed that we do need to know more
about the life cycle and just how many generations there are
and then we might be able to come up with a better timing for
just one application. The March meeting was at the New
Canaan Country Club. We had a nice turnout. It certainly has
been a long time since we were last there. Bob Capstick, a long
time member of M.G.C.S.A., certainly made us all feel very
welcome. The hospitality by manager John Lippke was just a
pleasant experience. We certainly can't go anywhere in
Westchester County and have a N.Y. Sirloin Steak with
complete menu, cheese cake and two drinks for $8.00. I realize
we get tremendous cooperation from the manager of the clubs
we have visited in the past in regard to service etc. but when it
comes down to the price, no. It can be done. Those who didn't
make it missed an excellent talk by Jim McLoughlin, Executive
Director of the M.G.A. It certainly gave one something to
think about and the group responded with many questions.
Sometimes another viewpoint makes one look at a subject
differently. Thanks again Bob and New Canaan Country Club.
M.G.C.S.A. The directory has been completed in looseleaf
form. It is available to all members for a fee of $3.00. The
by-laws of the M.G.C.S.A. Inc. are included. The M.G.C.S.A.
booklet will be good for many years as we will just replace
pages as changes occur which will be at no additional expense.
We also will list all future meeting dates, Officers each year,
along with committee chairman.
OSHA First Aid Exam. (Red Cross) The Standard course Multimedia System of instruction in First Aid to the injured will be
again offered at ARC at White Plains. It will be offered on the
following dates: April 2nd, 9th, 21st, and 28th from 8:30 to
5 P.M. Lunch 12-12:30 (bring your own) Also the fee is $10.00.

Welfare:
Keep us informed. Call Dick Gonyea 914-835-3205, Dan
Cancelled 914-667-3737 or Roger Morhardt 914-279-7181 with
any information which you think should be shared.

Editorial Staff
Garry Crothers
Ted Horton

Co-Editor
Co-Editor

OFFICERS
President:
First Vice
President:
Second Vice
President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:

Garry N. Crothers, Apawamis Club
Office 914-967-2100, Home 914-234-3770
Robert DePencier, Westchester C.C.
Office 914-967-6000, Home 203-531-9780
Charles Martineau, Whippoorwill C.C.
Office 914-273-3755, Home 914-428-3826
Richard Gonyea, Rye Golf Club
Office 914-835-3205, Home 914-835-3204
Robert Alonzi, Burning Tree C.C.
Office 203-869-5779, Home 914-937-1527

N ot copyrighted. I f there is good here, we want to share it with
all chapters - unless author states otherwise.

Sympathy—We would like to extend our sincere sympathy to
the Vito Telesco family on the passing of Vito on February 21,
1976. Vito had just become a class C member last year but was
known by many members of the Association.
We also want to extend our sympathy to Bob and Dick
DePencier on the passing of their mother just recently.

Left to right: Jim McLoughlin, Executive Director MGA, Robert
Copstick, host superintendent, New Canaan C.C., Les. T. Young,
Green Chairman, New Canaan C.C.

Ross Pearl, distinguished member, New Canaan C.C.
and John Lippke, Manager, New Canaan C.C.

Left to right: Lloyd Stott and Tom Festo.
"Old timers meet again."

NEWS RELEASE
Several changes have been made in the USGA Green
Section Staff involving shifts in assignments, the creation of
the new position of National Director, and two resignations.
The changes were announced by Harry W. Easterly, Jr., of
Richmond, President of the USGA, and Will F. Nicholson, Jr.,
of Denver, Chairman of the Green Section Committee.
Alexander M. Radko has been appointed National Director
of Green Section Operations. He will be responsible for all
phases of Green Section Staff activities—the Turfgrass
Service, research, and conferences. Radko formerly was
Director of the Eastern Region.
The name of the Eastern Region has been changed to
Northeastern, and Stanley J. Zontek has been appointed
Director.
William G. Buchanan has been appointed Mid-Atlantic
Director, replacing Holman M. Griffin, and Carl Schwarzkopf
has been appointed Mid-Continent Director, succeeding F.
Lee Record. Both Griffin and Record have resigned. In
addition, William G. Brewer has joined the staff as
Northeastern Agronomist.
Other Staff members remain in their present positions:
Southern Region—James M. Moncrief, Director
Western Region—William H. Bengeyfield, Director and
publications editor.
Both Buchanan and Zontek have worked out of the Eastern
Region under the direction of Radko throughout their careers
with the USGA. Buchanan joined the Green Section in 1971
after his graduation from Virginia Polytechnic Institute,
Blacksburg, Va. Zontek became a member of the staff a few
months after Buchanan following his graduation from
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. Both hold
degrees in agronomy.
Radko has been a member of the USGA Green Section since
1947 while he was an undergraduate student at the University
of Maryland, College Park, Md. and working as a research
assistant at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Plant
Industry Station in Beltsville, Md. He came to the Eastern

GREENHOUSE

•

Region of the Green Section when what was then the Visiting
Service was begun in the East in 1953, and he has remained
ever since. He will continue to work from the Northeastern
Regional Office in Highland Park, N.J.
Schwartzkopf has been with the Green Section for five years
as Mid-Continent Agronomist. He is a graduate of Michigan
State University.
Brewer comes to the USGA from the Century Country Club,
White Plains, N.Y., where in 1975 he served as an assistant to
Jim Fulwider, the course superintendent. The previous year he
worked at the Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y.,
under Ted Horton. He is a graduate of Cornell University,
Ithaca, N.Y.

NEWS FROM THE GOLF COMMITTEE
By A1 Tretera, and Jim Kaczenski, Golf Chairmen

1. It will be mandatory that all Class “A” members attain an
M.G.A. handicap from their respective club. This handicap
will be required to participate in our championship.
Remember all Superintendents receive the M.G.A. Handi­
cap service on a complimentary basis. You just request it at
your club and turn in your scores the same as a member of
the club.
2. The championship will be spread over a two month period,
starting with the June meeting and ending at the July
meeting. A Class “A” member participating in the
championship will have to attend both meetings. Class “B”
and “C” members will play their championship at the July
meeting.
3. The Invitational Tournament will be played at the
Apawamis Club on September 30th. In order for Class “A”
members to participate in the event it will be necessary to
attend two monthly meetings prior to the Invitational.
This year the Invitational will be limited to the first 36 teams
that reply by sending the team card accompanied with a
check for payment of the day's activities.

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Jim McLoughlin, Executive Director MGA, speaking.
Garry Crothers to his left.

THE GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT —
“A PERSPECTIVE”
by Ted Horton
Is there some restlessness, concern and modest dissatis­
faction among the rank and file of Golf Course Superintend­
ents in the Metropolitan New York area? Apparently so, and it
is more obvious than we believed. This was illustrated by Jim
McLoughlin, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Golf
Association, at a recent Superintendents’ meeting where he
explained what he feels has set the stage for the “unrest”
exhibited by Golf Course Superintendents:
1.
Money Pressure. Clubs have had to reduce spending as a
result of the present economic slow down. Mr. McLoughlin
feels that this financial squeeze should be viewed as an
“opportunity to excell within boundaries being defined by the

lower budgets.” It was also illustrated that some discontent
with salaries had been noted. However, it was pointed out that
the Superintendent generally moves into a higher economic
bracket earlier in life than other professions. As a result, a
Superintendent often “feels that he is under an economic lid,”
and doesn’t know where to turn next for advancement. Above
all, he cautioned, “keep confident and don’t lose sight of the
constructive values of your job.”
2. Responsibilities. Quite often a Superintendent will obtain
a job at age thirty where his responsibilities will not change
appreciably for the rest of his life. Mr. McLoughlin felt that
the “ Superintendent would have to allow his maturity to cope
with this situation” while on the other hand considering
alternatives such as moving to a different club, off-site
consulting, club management, or other competing jobs. Again,
he emphasized, “don’t become discouraged.”
3. Status Competition. There is a status problem at many
clubs between the Manager and the Superintendent and most
individuals are not sure where they reside in the “pecking
order” of their club. Mr. McLoughlin feels that the position
of Golf Course Superintendent is the best defined at this time
and most consistent. He indicated that the Superintendent
probably fares far better in the “pecking order” than he feels
he does.
4. Professional Image. It is natural to want a better image
but how should the Superintendent go about it? First, “it has
to be earned, not wished for around tables.” It was pointed out
that the Superintendent is seeking professional recognition
from a “highly professional society.” As a result, this makes
the task more difficult and a greater challenge. Mr.
McLoughlin asked that we consider the following to improve
professionally:
1. develop a greater feel for public relations within our clubs
and communities,
2. become more involved at meetings by exposing ourselves at
all opportunities as being anxious and willing to perform
any task,
3. dress up to par if we are to be recognized by the profes­
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4. do not become complacent,
5. play more golf if at all possible. Mr. McLoughlin noted
that the Corporate World uses the game of golf to a tre­
mendous advantage but the Superintendent generally
neglects to use the game in this manner. Playing golf is a
natural opportunity to communicate with the people we
are working for.
6. And finally, to further compliment our job situation, try to
provide education for property maintenance, high school
orientation programs and the community environment.
As we all know, our profession has many advantages. Noting
that his list was surely incomplete Mr. McLoughlin suggested
that the Superintendents, job situation is healthy because of
the following:
1. there are 30,000 golf related job opportunities,
2. the work is seasonally flexible throughout the country,
3. it is out-of-doors,
4. the job provides access to a club environment,
5. it is challenging technically, dealing with labor,
machinery and nature,
6. it provides an opportunity to display a variety of talents.
7. the job is needed, appreciated and respected,
8. it provides opportunities to learn,
9. there are national and local associations capable of
providing assistance,
10. the Superintendent is most often his own boss,
11. the work can be recognized as it is in front of the people.
But—what lies ahead? What are the trends within our
industry? Mr. McLoughlin noted that “from a management

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point of view, the golf club industry is in its very early crawling
stages. It has yet to mature to walking and running stages.”
This, of course, is referring to the “general Manager Concept“
which he felt could open a new horizon for all of us. In his
opinion, the club industry will move in this direction and he
stated that “there is a need for consistency in professionalism
throughout all club programs which could be better given by
General Managers than the Committee System.”
As of yet, according to Mr. McLoughlin, “we do not have
the individuals ready to fill the role of General Manager.” But,
all of us were urged to prepare to migrate to this role even
though the Clubhouse Manager feels more inclined for the
position. It was stressed that “all phases of club management
have the same edge toward the role.”
This obviously raised questions from the audience. Would
the General Manager concept relegate the status of the
Superintendent to that of a Foreman? Would the creation of a
fourth executive increase the cost of administrative salaries
unreasonably or might the salaries of the present executives be
decreased to accomodate the fourth? Could the committee role
be abandoned completely or would department heads find
themselves caught between two bosses? I guess these questions
and many others will only be answered with the passage of
time. At present, it is important to prepare ourselves as best we
can to accept new responsibilities as they are presented. Our
profession will continuously upgrade itself through education
and experience. Finally—and perhaps most important of
all—all phases of club management must strive to cooperate to
provide the best possible environment for our club members.

What’s A Superintendent To Do? . . .

WHEN RISING EXPECTATIONS . . . CONFRONT DECLINING RESOURCES

You can almost always have a sure bet if you say that
whenever two or more golf course superintendents get together
they will eventually discuss the requests of their course’s
golfers and how this conflicts with the budget they have to do
the job.
A similar wager about those inside the clubhouse would
probably be just as safe, with the twist being that the
clubhouse dwellers would be concerned with how the
superintendent fritters away their funds while the man down
the road is doing such a superior job.
This is the confrontation of rising expectations and
declining resources. The golfers desire more and more, or at
least make unrealistic comparisons to other courses, while the
superintendent is granted lower budgets and faced by higher
costs for all goods and services.
“W hat’s a superintendent to do?” asks the headline.
Certainly a question easier to pose than answer, but
nevertheless, a question that deserves exploration and
attempted answers.
This problem of rising expectations and declining resources
is not new, nor is it isolated strictly upon golf course
superintendents. Each and everyone of us face it daily, just as
almost everyone else is bound to do sooner or later. Obviously,
the solution is not an easy one or the problem would not persist
for so long a time, nor with so broad of scope. A complicating
factor added to the problem is what works one place has no
guarantee of working anywhere else.
In the most basic of terms, a golf course superintendent
faced by this problem has few possible alternatives. He can rely
upon the reputation he has developed and trust that his
recommendations will be accepted. He can arrange “test
pilots,” and “demonstrations.” He can do whatever he believes
is proper, given a certain budget, even though the golfers may
complain. Or, he can follow the dictates of the golfers for as
long as the budget holds out and then tell them that that will
be all of the maintenance and management they can have until
more money is forthcoming.
Certainly, there are other possible solutions, but these basic

points probably get the idea across. The solution is not going to
be an easy one, and patience and understanding on everyone’s
part will be required.
Of the above suggestions, probably only the first two have
any chance of working for the superintendent and the course.
Basically, both of the above suggestions rely upon “education”
of the member, by the superintendent.
Reliance upon a reputation is undoubtedly the best possible
position for anyone. If the superintendent’s suggestions have
proven acceptable in the past, they will certainly have a better
chance in the future. However, superintendents cannot wait
until the last minute to try and build a basis for acceptance, it
is a continuously on-going proposition of informing the golfers
what you are doing, why you are doing it and letting them brag
about the splendid results.
“Demonstration plotting,” is another usually acceptable
approach, providing there is sufficient time and even small
amounts of money for the project. More and more
superintendents are setting aside relatively small areas of the
actual playing surface from time to time and demonstrating
the differences a particular operation can make to the course.
Following the application, operation, or whatever, the golfers
are asked to decide which of the two areas they want, providing
they are willing to pay for it. Most often, if the superintendent
has done his homework and knows the total cost figures, the
golfers will opt for the improved conditions because they can
actually see the differences.
The only other serious problem a superintendent will have is
to educate his golfers on the effect just a few miles distance can
make in the maintenance budget of two courses. Natural
terrain, soil conditions, the course’s maintenance history and
even rainfall can vary tremendously in short distances, and
have significant effects upon what a superintendent can or
cannot do given any amount of money. In fact, the whole idea
of comparative golfing should be overcome, but because grass
has always been greener elsewhere, it is unlikely that such
thinking can be easily reversed today.
Credit: Fore Front, March, 1976

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