What The Superintendent Has Done For Golf* By JOSEPH C. DEY Executive Director, U.S.G.A.

What the superintendent has done for all costs of maintaining the Old Course at golf can be gauged in a variety of ways. St. Andrews for two weeks except for Old One way is to reverse the subject — to Tom's salary. The following entry tells trace the evolution of the superintendent's about his own compensation: St, Andrews own position in the total golf picture — in 14 May 1892—Received the sum of Twen- fact, to see what golf has done for the ty-five pounds being half year's Salary as superintendent. This is a pretty accurate Custodian of the Links to Whitsunday. measure, for what one receives —- that is, Fifty pounds a year—about $250—for one's position in any enterprise — is usu- seeing to it that the Old Course was ship- ally just a reflection of what one has shape. Of course, there are a good many given. double greens on the Old Course, and Now this doesn't imply that the super- maybe the Club took full advantage of intendent has received his complete and that fact in computing Old Tom's salary. total reward. In many cases there is, In 1894 the New Course at St. Andrews unfortunately, inadequate reward for this was built, so Old Tom probably was key position in the golf world. Who would responsible for two courses when the fol- say that a state of perfect relations has lowing payment was recorded in the R. yet been reached between the superinten- and A. receipt book: 11 May 1895 Ithey dent and the 300 or 400 hackers and turf were still paying every two weeks) — experts who make up his club's mem- Received the sum of Ten pounds 17/6, bership? said sum including account to Blacksmith But let's take a brief trip backwards for tins and flags. in time and we can get a better perspec- There is no indication of any increase tive on the position of the superintendent in Old Tom's salary when he had two and thus on what he has done for golf. courses to superintend. It ought to be re- When Supts. Were Custodians membered that Morris not only was Cus- todian of the Links but was a prominent In "Golf House," the USGA's head- professional player, a teacher, a club- quarters in New York, there is a little maker, and an altogether large figure memorandum book containing many sig- in the game. natures of Old Tom Morris, You may recall him as a famous Scotch profes- Not Much Green keeping' Then sional and former British Open Champion, In the United States the game in the and so he was. But he was also Custodian Nineties was much less refined than in of the Links at St. Andrews, Note that Scotland. One of our host associations title —- Custodian of the Links. The little here today, the Philadelphia Association memo book in "Golf House" consists en- of Golf Course Superintendents, may be tirely of receipts by Tom Morris for pay- surprised to learn that the first golf ments which the Royal and Ancient Golf course in their district was a little three- Club made to him for maintenance of the hole layout at the Philadelphia Country golf course. Club in 1891, It was described as follows One of the earliest entries is as follows: by H, C. Groome, then the Resident St. Andrews 2 April 1892. Received Secretary of the Club: Three empty pea from the Royal and Ancient Golf Club per cans were inserted in the lawn in a C. S. Grace, Esq., Secretary, the sum of triangle, the sides of which measured seven pounds 9/- being outlay on Links about 75 yards; clubs were sent for, and for two weeks. every stray Englishman who appeared at This was signed by Old Tom across a the Club was immediately impressed as an postage stamp, as were all the others. expounder of the "Ancient and Honor- The figure of 7 pounds 9 shillings—ap- able" game. proximately $37 then—apparently covered A New York newspaper of December 14, 1896, reported the following about a 'Paper presented before GCSd annuo! Turf Conference new course: Weather permitting, the than 10% would qualify as the green- Crescent A. C, golf links will be in condi- keeper is known today. tion to be played over by the first of the "It is true that we had turf experts in year, surely before that time should snow those early days of greenkeeping; one hold off. George Strath, the professional leading turfman thought he had dis- greenskeeper of the Dyker Meadow Golf covered that by mixing clay, bone-meal, Club, has charge of the laying out of the and cow manure in a cement mixer and course, and all he asks for is ten days of placing them in layer formation in the good weather to get nine holes in playing making of a putting green, it would solve shape, . , „ There will be a charge for the problem of raising ideal turf. playing; and probably, following the "In those early days there were very fashion of other courses of a large club few pieces of equipment suitable to keep nature, there will be playing clubs for a course in excellent condition. First we hire, the player so hiring assuming re- had to cut the fairways with a one-horse sponsibility for their return in good con- mower outfit. Then came the gasoline dition. mower that weighed nearly a ton, with one single cutting unit. On an 18-hole The First Green Section Keport course, if we wanted to cut the fairways To get our next view on what the once in nine days, we were compelled superintendent has done for golf, and to use two mowers, for one or the other vice versa, we skip some 25 years. The was out of commission most of the time. time is January, 1922, and we are listen- Then came the sulky mower with three ing to the first annual report of the cutting units, drawn by a horse which had USGA Green Section — the reporter is Dr. to wear iron or aluminum shoes. If the C ,V. Piper, Chairman: The need of more horses were not flat-footed, and the turf and better green-keepers is so notorious was soft, they would dig the toes of these as to require no discussion. Various sug- shoes into the turf, leaving the fairways gestions have been made as to methods full of small holes. to meet this need. One of these was the "About 12 years ago — (that would be idea of holding schools for six months, about 1917)—golf in this country began first in one golf center and then in an- to take rapid strides. And with this pro- other. Any bright young man of high gress came improvements. But new school education should, under capable in- courses multiplied so fast that it was im- struction combined with practical experi- possible to secure enough men well versed ence on a good golf course, become a fair in the art Of greenkeeping. greenkeeper after the six months. The idea is worth consideration. "To a large extent we were very fortu- nate to secure men who had at one time Cornell University has now a course de- been well versed in farming and garden- signed to train men to be superintendents ing. But they soon discovered that the of parks, of a golf course or a series of methods applied to farming and garden- golf courses. Such men would not be ing would not produce results for success- greenkeepers in our present meaning, but ful turf. Each in his own way endeavored rather agronomists skilled in soils, fertiliz- to find other methods, and with so many ers, turf-grow ing, landscape gardening, working along different channels, we etc., who would be competent to act as gradually commenced to get Information general superintendents. We need such that tended to create better turf and bet- men and through them we shall get our ter working equipment. green-keepers better trained. "Instead of 70% of golf courses which The period of greatest development of were formerly taken care of 15 years ago the superintendent's position was sketched by professionals, today over 80% of the clearly by your own late President, the courses are in charge of greenkeepers." beloved John Morley, in an address at That was in 1929. the 1929 Annual Meeting of the USGA And now today what is the picture? Green Section. Here is his voice speaking Everyone of you has been entrusted with out of the past — this was 1929:— a large and valuable property. To cite an "About 15 years ago the word 'green- extreme example of a superintendent's keeping' was not generally known. About responsibility, the Oakmont Country Club 70% of the courses were under the direct near Pittsburgh, where the USGA Open supervision of 'professionals'. They were Championship is to be played in June, handicapped because very little knowledge spent $63,000 in its Grounds Department was to be obtained, even from Washing- last year and $62,000 the year before. ton, as to the best methods. Not more Each year the labor expense was nearly $40,000, True, some course changes were Joe Valentine, spotted one day on the involved; also, the club was pointing to- 17th tee of the Merion East course, near ward the Open—-but it certainly makes Philadelphia, a different, unusual strain of > striking contrast with the 7-pounds-9- grass. For five years he observed it sh filings rate every two weeks at St. quietly. Then he gave a plug of it to the Andrews 60 years ago. USGA Green Section for development. This veiy occasion in which we are Because of Joe's alertness, we now have meeting is a splendid example of the Merion bluegrass. development of the superintendent's posi- A Florida superintendent, Gene Tift, tion. This is your 24th National Turf was responsible for selecting a strain of ) Conference and Show — your 24th! And Bermuda on his own course which has now you don't even call yourselves green- been developed to be one of the best for keepers, or even Custodians of the Links; putting greens in the South. you are Superintendents! Bill Beresford, at the Los Angeles This little historical review may have Country Club, and Joe Ryan, at Rolling seemed a left-handed way of considering Green near Philadelphia, had their eyes what the superintendent has done for golf. open and came upon new strains of bent- Actually, this growth of your own profes- grass which helped solve some of their sional status is a conservative gauge be- local problems. cause, with all your personal develop- Elmer Michael, at Oak Hill in Roches- ment, you have undoubtedly given to golf ter, has broadened his interests beyond more than golf has given to you. turf for golf and has become a developer You have done this in a most demand- of wonderful trees which beautify Oak ing occupation. You are expected to grow Hill, fine turf—have several hundred heavy- In mechanical inventions, superinten- footed people walk all over it each week, dents have often shown the way. Your in all sorts of weather, and tear up big excellent president, Mai McLaren, was chunks with sharp pieces of iron and instrumental in developing a turf slicer steel —- and still have it green and beau- for bent on putting greens; it helped tiful at 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon. To Canterbury in Cleveland prepare for the do this you must be willing to devote 1946 Open championship. This device was endless hours, sometimes at low return in a forerunner of modern aerating equip- pay; you must know not only about ment. grasses, and the use of water, and fer- Jim Morrison, at the Hershey CC in tilizers, but you must know something Pennsylvania, devised a vertical mower about chemicals, you must be a mechani- for crabgrass cutting. It resulted in final cal genius, and you must be a diplomat. development of a new machine for vertical You are often hampered by changing mowing. committee personnel in your club. You Joe Valentine dreamed up a flexible must constantly match wits with Nature rake on fairway mowers to rake up and —• or. rather, learn how to cooperate with cut crabgrass — the forerunner of the Nature — and you are never expected to present flexible comb. lose. Bob Scott, at the Baltimore Country Club's Five Farms course, has turned out In short, gentlemen, you are a rather various devices for improving greenkeep- remarkable group. You are the soul of ing methods, such as a fertilizer distribu- of devotion — I know, for I've had the tor, a square plugger, and a simple home- pleasure of seeing many of you operate made duster. at close range when you have had USGA championships at your clubs— fellows like Jim Haines, at the Denver Country Mai McLaren, Joe Valentine, Elmer Club, invented a tree root-cutter, and leaf- Michael, Leonard Strong, Ed Casey, Bill raking and suction equipment. Johnson, John Price, Herman Borchardt, You could go on calling the roll for and many others. Gentlemen, our hat is hours. The point is that all these superin- off to you! tendents gave that something extra — that plus —- which has always advanced What Supts, Have Done causes ever since there was a cause on What are some of the specific and direct earth. This attitude of hope, of expect- things that individual superintendents ancy, and of devotion beyond mere duty have done for golf? Fred Grau and I should challenge all of us. The end is have talked about this and he recalled never in sight. Right on your own courses, many contributions made by individuals — under the very nose of each of us, there that have enriched the game as a whole. (Continued on page 107) the operating end. Weiss warned that with so many fairways heing bent, the thatch problem on fairways was due to become a much worse and more expensive PROFESSIONALS headache than thatch on greens and prob- Look in your 1953 ably is an inevitable aftermath of the demand for closecut fairways. Bill Beresford, Los Angeles CC supt., SCOGGINS got the final session started with a talk by F. S, LaBar, Stroudsburg, Pa., nursery- CATALOGUE man on landscaping that gives the course added values for players without unduly for increasing maintenance operations. the most complete presentation Summaries of the reports of turf ex- periences in 1952 as observed by O. J, of top quality professional shop Noer, Milwaukee Sewerage Commission, and Arthur E. Anderson, supt., Brae Burn SUPPLIES — APPAREL CC, West Newton, Mass., on northern courses and on southern courses by James and ACCESSORIES L. Watson, Toro Mfg. Co. and James L. Jennings, supt., River Oaks CC, Houston, and with timely ideas that will Tex., are appearing in GOLFDOM. The help you move more merchandise four expert observers accented the les- sons of a generally troublesome year in TO BE MAILED APRIL 1st turf rather than merely relating the troubles or their absence. HOWARD SCOGGfNS GOLF COMPANY The conference finale was a symposium Dunedin, Florida in which three chairmen who know the Home of National P.G.A. Golf Club superintendent's problems and are in the middle between the members and the course maintenance men made it plain that the superintendent didn't have any monopoly on course headaches. V. J. SPECIAL PURCHASE (Pat) Pazzetti, Jr., former green chmn., Saucon Valley CC, Bethlehem, Pa., and 2000 STEEL LOCKERS George Hurd, the club's present chmn., FOR IMMEDIATE DELIVERY! together with Adm. Jack Phillips, chmn., Army-Navy CC, Arlington, Va., and rated Repainted and Refinished Lrfre New by superintendents as one of the most valuable men in turf maintenance at Mid- PER Atlantic courses, told the officials' and $995 DOOR players' side of the story and debated the issues with superintendents. A summary siifl 12" x 12" 1 id" e to e. of this frank discussion will appear in wtth ventilated doors, 6- April GOLFDOM. This program fea- inch Fogs, hat shelf and coat hooks. ture, in the opinion of those whose de- parture schedules permitted them to hear Steel Country it, was the best educational material on Club Lockers operating and officials-relations policies Both New and Used ever presented before superintendents and should be spotlighted earlier in future 24 x 21 x 72 is i is i 72 conferences. 22 X 21 x 72 12 I 12 x 40 12 x IS x Ml WHAT SUPT, HAS DONE 15 X 18 X 21 WRITE —WIRE (Continued from page 53) 12*10* tt, PHONE II 1 24 1 42 probably are opportunities crying to be Wb will accept collect recognized. wires or phone calls And incidentally, gentlemen, develop- Many Other Sizes Available Quantity Discounts ments like these we have named are news, and you individually should see to it ALL MAKES EQUIPMENT CO. that the appropriate news agencies are im Fornom St., OMAHA, NEBR., Phone ATlnnlic 2413 informed of them, dent has made a profound contribution to Down through the years the standards the well-being of those of his fellow-men of play have been vastly affected by im- who have come to our game seeking the provements in course maintenance. Here tonic of healthy play. That soil of contri- are some statistics pertaining to the bution should be the most gratifying to USGA Open Championship: The first time you all. the Open was played at 72 holes was in Yes, despite the drawbacks, it must be 1898 at the Myopia Hunt Club, South mighty gratifying to work hand in hand Hamilton, Mass. Fred Herd, using a gutta with the Source of all life, in helping to ball, won with a score of 328 — an average bring about better and better growing of 82 per round. things upon the face of the earth. Today, 55 years later, the scoring record The position of the superintendent is not for the Open is 276, made by Ben Hogan unlike that of a certain Englishman who at Riveria in Los Angeles in 1948. He had a little garden plot outside London averaged 69 per round, Hogan took 52 several years ago. The authorities had strokes less than Herd for the 72 holes — turned over certain land to some of the an average of 13 strokes per round less. poorer folk for subsistence gardens. The This improvement of the standard has land was not very fruitful, or else the been caused by a combination of factors — people who worked it were not very dili- increased competition, the rubber ball, gent, because none of them had real suc- better clubs — but probably no other cess except this certain individual. He, single factor has been more influential however, worked hard at it, and produced than the improvement of golf course wonderful crops in his little plot. maintenance. This progress has helped One day the vicar of the parish hap- tremendously in attracting new players pened along and saw the diligent gardener to the game. Now that has been good for hard at work. The vicar stopped to praise the game, but it has been even better him, and in a rather pontifical manner for those players themselves. For golf, said: played in the proper spirit, is a restora- "Well, my good man, it certainly is tive — a real re-creator. The superinten- wonderful to see what you and the Lord

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