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Golf Course Superintendents Association of New Jersey THE Vol. 3 No. 3_____________________________________________________________________________________ JUNE 1980 BALTUSROL GOLF CLUB JUNE 9th to 15th, 1980 Joseph R. Flaherty, A.W. Tillinghast, the GREENER SIDE Golf Course Superintendent, Baltusrol's Architect, Baltusrol Golf Club GCSANJ Newsletter is published A Man of Many Parts six times a year by the Golf Course Joe Flaherty grew up learning about golf The very name Tillinghast has a lilt to it; Superintendents Association of course maintenance. His father was, for 30 nothing mundane about the sound; it flows, New Jersey, P.O. Box 231, New years, the superintendent at the it conjures up in the imagination all kinds of Brunswick, N.J. 08903. Manasquan River Golf Club, Brielle, New interesting traits for the bearer of such a Jersey. name. Ed Walsh, Editor Flaherty was graduated from Rutgers Albert Warren Tillinghast, architect in Michael Hannigan, University in 1964 with a Bachelor of the early ’twenties of Baltusrol’s two Associate Editor Science Degree in Agronomy. present courses - the Upper and the Lower - Jerry Schoonmaker, Photography Following graduation, Flaherty served and nearly 100 other courses all told, was Please address inquiries con­ from 1964 to 1967 as assistant course well suited to such a name. cerning advertising to: superintendent at Baltusrol under his Where other famous golf course ar­ predecessor, Ed Casey, who was the Ken Kubik, Advertising Manager chitects tend to develop a recognizable recipient of the 1977 USGA Green Section hallmark which the connoisseur can readily 489 Millbrook Avenue Award for distinguished service to golf Randolph Twp., N.J. 07869 identify, Tillinghast created each new through work with turfgrass. Casey served layout as a new invention, indeed, each for 22 years as golf course superintendent at individual hole. No two of his courses are Baltusrol and was responsible for alike; no hole is modeled on a previous preparing the club’s Lower Course for four inspiration. USGA competitions, including the 1954 and If you want further proof of this, you can 1967 Opens. visit Shackamaxon Golf and Country Club On January 1, 1968, Flaherty succeeded in Scotch Plains, Somerset Hills Country Casey as course superintendent. He will Club in Bernardsville or Ridgewood celebrate his 16th anniversary at Baltusrol Country Club in Paramus, all within an this April. hour’s drive of Baltusrol. Flaherty is a member of the Golf Course There is no knowing what further heights Superintendents Association of America “Tillie” might have aspired to in the world and is a GCSAA-certified superintendent. of golf course architecture had he not been He is also a member of the Golf Course a man of many parts and predilections. GOLF COURSE Superintendents Association of New Jersey. * He was a golfer good enough to com­ SUPERINTENDENTS He served as president during the years pete in four U.S. Amateur Championships 1978-79 and he has held every other office in and one U.S. Open; ASSOCIATION the organization. He is also a member of the * He was a golf writer and editor; New Jersey Turfgrass Association. * He was a fine golf photographer and a of NEW JERSEY Flaherty, 37, is married and has four collector of golf art; Cook College - Rutgers University children. * He was one of the founding fathers of Box 231 the PGA; New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903 * He was a golf tournament promotor Dates to Remember and director; OFFICERS OF GCSANJ * He helped foster public links golf and, Jack Martin June 9-15 indeed, laid out the four-course Bethpage President U.S. Open, Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfield, complex in Farmingdale, N.Y.; New Jersey, Joseph Flaherty, CGCS, Dennis Wagner * His interest in agronomy led him to Vice President Superintendent take an active part in championing the June 17 young USGA Green Section; James Gilligan GCSANJ Membership and Golf Meeting, Secretary * He liked the good life and the glitter of Hopewell Valley Golf Club, Hopewell, Broadway and was known to dissipate his Edward Nickelsen New Jersey, Dan McGlynn, Superin­ Treasurer wealth as an “angel” of unsuccessful plays; tendent * And Tillie indulged in classic benders, Maurice Cameron July 17 Past President some lasting as long as a month. GCSANJ Membership and Golf Meeting, Tillinghast, who grew up in Philadelphia, Picatinny Golf Club (100th An­ EXECUTIVE BOARD was an early devotee of cricket, but swit­ niversary), Dover, New Jersey, Les ched his allegiance to golf in the 1890s. He Clifford Belden Carpenter, Jr., Superintendent was an international traveler and made Director, District 1 August 6 several trips to Scotland where he struck up Glenn Gallion Rutgers Turfgrass Research Day friendships with Old Tom Morris and An­ Director, District 2 August 12 drew Kirkaldy. Robert W. Ribbans GCSANJ Membership and Golf Meeting, Tillie married early and set up house in Director, District 3 Copper Hill Golf Club, Flemington, New Harrington Park in northeastern New Dave McGhee Jersey, John Fenwick, Superintendent Jersey where he entertained royally. Director, District 4 September 19 By the ’30s, when Tillinghast was in his Jerry Schoonmaker GCSANJ Invitational Tournament, Rock fifties, he had had his fill of golf course Director, District 5 Spring Club, West Orange, New Jersey, architecture. He moved to Beverly Hills Charles Dey Michael Hannigan, Superintendent where he operated an antiques shop Director, District 6 October 7 (tentative) frequented by many of the movie stars. GCSANJ Field Day, Rutgers University He suffered a heart attack in 1940 and Stephen Finamore and Golf Course, New Brunswick, New Director, District 7 decided to move to Toledo, Ohio, to live with Jersey his eldest daughter. Two years later he died James W. Ritter October 9 Director, District 8 from a second heart attack and is buried in GCSANJ Championship, Montammy the Woodlawn Cemetery there, about two Dr. Henry Indyk Country Club, Alpine, New Jersey, Executive Director miles from the Inverness Club, site of the Michael Leary, Superintendent 1979 U.S. Open Championship. From the Editor's Desk Hosting one of the country’s premier sporting events is quite a challenge. Joe Flaherty and his Baltusrol Golf Club staff have met that challenge head on in the 1980 U.S. Open Championship to be held at his fine Club in June. In the following in­ terview, Joe shares his thoughts with us about the upcoming event: Editor: When did you start preparing for the Open? Joe: The changes and additions made to our Editor: How do you find your staff reacting Club were started in October, 1978. to the challenge of hosting this most Editor: What were the major changes prestigious event? made to Baltusrol in preparation for the Joe: I am blessed with what I consider to be Open? the best golf course maintenance staff in Joe: Actually, no major changes were the business. Each and every one of made. We did rebuild or redesign seven them has pride in his job, and is en­ championship tees and build a new 5,400 thusiastic about hosting the Open. With sq. ft. practice tee, but they were so much of my time obligated away projects that were being considered from the actual maintenance of the anyway. Although, being quite frank, course, it is important to have the having the U.S. Open has made those secure feeling the job is being done OH LORD, projects an immediate priority. right. Editor: Was anything done to alter or Editor: Was your experience with the ’67 Please let the golfer in his infinite change the course’s design as you have wisdom realize that You and nature Open any help this time? maintained it? Joe: Not really. So much has changed since do not always see eye to eye with Joe: With the assistance of the USGA ’67 that very few of the procedures used mankind!! Tournament Committee, we recon­ then still exist. I expect in 14 years toured fairways and paid particular things being done now will be outdated. attention to defining hazards. A 6 ft. Editor: Will having the course in the best WARNING!!! intermediate rough is being maintained possible shape for the Open be the at 2 in. to 3 in., and our regular rough is highlight of your year? Reports have been coming into this being mowed at 5 1/2 in. Trees on the Joe: Of course, we hope the conditions will publication that there is a small band of entire lower course were checked and be perfect and we’ll work long and hard superintendents, assistants, and a group pruned where necessary. New sand was to assure that they are, but two weeks sympathizer terrorizing North Jersey golf added to all lower course bunkers. All after the tournament, we host the links with their golfing prowess and our service roads were repaved, as was biggest member-guest of our season and sometimes unwanted course critiques. the Clubhouse parking area. we want the course equally good for our To date the group has been striking only Editor: As the tournament approaches, members and their guests. on Mondays, or Tuesdays after a Monday where do you find yourself spending Editor: Don’t you think your membership holiday and always between 3:30 and 4:00 most of your time? will expect a little less than you will p.m. Joe: Quite frankly, Ed, ninety percent of provide for the Open? First, reports from our own in­ my time is spent with outside con­ Joe: They might, but we wouldn’t. Whether vestigations have shown the band to be tractors - the telephone company, it be for Lee Trevino and Arnold highly organized and apparently call Public Service, contractors building TV Palmer, Golf Pros, or John Smith or Jim themselves the “Monday Strokers.” towers and communication in­ Doe, Club Members, we want our course A spokesman for the group says that stallations.

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