Job Securing Tip #10: Join the Family of Golf
October 23rd, 2009
Why is it that while superintendents play a lot of golf they are not considered to be an integral part of golf’s inner sanctum, or true players of the game? The direct answer to this question is because superintendents essentially play golf outside golf’s mainstream arena; i.e., roughly 85% of the rounds the typical superintendent plays are with peers via monthly chapter meetings, chapter tournaments, late afternoon rounds with staff and friends, etc. This is tantamount to drinking beers in the parking lot and not in the fraternity house with the pace setters on campus.
The missing element here is that golf course superintendents must learn to identify with the game of golf’s inherent values and not just use it for social exercise…
The missing element here is that golf course superintendents must learn to identify with the game of golf’s inherent values and not just use it for social exercise. Caring for and maintaining the nation’s golf courses is a different thing, entirely. Identifying with the game is a two-step exercise:
Step One Requirements:
1. Your first concern must always be giving the necessary attention to optimizing the quality of your golf game because this is the only way you will be comfortable playing golf in the “mainstream arena” before the world. This nets down to taking golf lessons, practicing on the range and practice putting green to the degree necessary and, of course, playing enough golf.
2. It is important to understand that how well you score is far less important than playing the game comfortably within the accepted norms of the players’ community; i.e., at a good pace, within your game’s limits, by handling adversity well and by showing a respect for the Rules Of Golf.
3. Dress like a golfer and play with a set of modern age clubs and golf bag. Tired clubs and golf bags convey an image of indifference to the game.
4. Schedule your season long golf game into the mainstream arena via rounds with members of your governing boards and committees; playing a weekly game with your course players that would include informal course maintenance Q&A sessions before, during and after each round; participating in several weekly PGA ProAms a season with fellow course players; and scheduling post-season international golf trips with course officials/players as golf professionals often do – and more.
It is a well-accepted axiom that playing golf will provide insight into your and your fellow golfers’ personalities like no other way in life. Accordingly, use the opportunity of playing golf in the mainstream arena to show the world (and your club/course constituents) who and what you truly are. Best job security in the world.
5. Always establish and maintain a USGA-based handicap via your course’s score reporting system by posting a minimum of 20 scores a year. There is no greater way to tell the world that you couldn’t care less about the game of golf than by failing to maintain an official handicap.
There is no hurry; take the time you need to effectively grow into and implement the above “player” qualifying recommendations. Once you have met the criteria, you will have earned the right to be considered a players’ player and all the otherwise not available career and life altering benefits associated with this status will begin to accrue to you.
…which will profile what further commitments will be required of you to assume, not just a membership in, but a leadership role in the Family of Golf…
For the moment, however, I leave you to speculate what specifically these job enhancing and securing benefits might be until next week’s blog message, which will profile what further and final commitments will be required of you to assume, not just a membership in, but a leadership role in the Family of Golf.
Superintendents, want to help your assistant(s) on their career path? Print out these Career Corner posts and responses on an ongoing basis and assemble them in a hard copy binder for your assistants and crew.5 Responses to “Job Securing Tip #10: Join the Family of Golf”
Leave a Reply
Loading ...
Jim,
Very good points and I agree with you. In my situation, one of the reasons I chose this profession was my love of the game early in my life. I started playing golf at age 8 and at 13 I was working in the golf shop and continued that for 5 seasons. I played 3 or 4 days per week. Then I chose to try working on the golf course…still playing several times a week and working on my game, hitting balls daily. College came. Less time. First Superintendent position came along, still played golf, but only once a week. Marriage came, less time. First born, even less time. Second superintendent position came along, my career was on its way. Little golf, only at monthly meetings….involved in local chapter, more time taken. Second child came, very little golf. Boys grew up, school functions, band, karate, baseball. Family time. Insignificant golf. Third Superintendent position…so much time (and thought) at the course, but not playing golf. Then, my skills faltered so much, golf wasn’t fun anymore….why invest so much money in equipment to play 4 or 5 times a summer?
If one were to ask alot of Superintendents, this would probably mimic most of their golfing experience. Priorities, expectations, and other obligations seem to take over. I even reached a point that I would almost feel guilty playing golf when my crew was working, or couldn’t keep my mind on the game wondering what the crew was doing, or as playing, I’d notice something that didn’t get done or was done incorrectly and fret about instead of concentrating on my game.
Oh….in a perfect world….
[Reply]
Jim McLoughlin Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:47 am
JOHN:
I am pleased you have brought the issue of finding time to play golf to the fore-front because, I admit, this is a real issue that must be addressed – as I planned on doing in next week’s blog message. But, because you have raised the issue here, I will begin to address it now.
The FIRST POINT I want to make is that I am NOT encouraging superintendents to play mainstream golf solely to be recognized within the fraternity of the true players of the game. Not at all.
Rather, I am encouraging superintendents to play mainstream golf because being accepted into the “Family Of Golf” is the best form of JOB SECURITY available throughout the profession.
Once superintendents earn their way into the Family Of Golf circles they will be treated by their employers and constituents as the equivalent of “sons-in-law” within a small business operation and, accordingly, will be supported, counseled and protected job-wise to the fullest extent that course economics will allow. Dismissing a respected “son-in-law” superintendent will become a matter of “LAST RESORT” and not, as is now too often the case, a matter of FIRST RESORT.
So now it becomes a matter of superintendents setting the right priorities to justify practicing and playing golf within their busy work schedules:
FIRST, I suggest you should not find it difficult to set aside the 5 to 8 hours a week needed to practice and play the game. If you think otherwise, you are a bad manager of your environment.
NEXT, I suggest that your family will find it comfortable and will support your committing to playing the game (within reason, of course) once it recognizes that this time is ESSENTIAL to your job security and your family’s welfare.
This premise can be carried further to justify allocating the necessary family moneys to purchase appropriate golfing attire, golf clubs and golf bag for you because this is the cheapest job insurance policy you can buy.
FINALLY, your crew will not be upset seeing you playing golf while they work once they realize that your playing is helping to secure your job, their jobs and better salary schedules for everyone.
Looking this issue straight in the eye, there is no justifiable reason for a golf course superintendent failing to commit to playing the game in the mainstream arena and, accordingly, denying himself the resulting job securing benefits.
Go for it.
[Reply]
tim Reply:
October 31st, 2009 at 12:52 pm
what a load of crap superintendent find enough excuses not to workwhy give them more
[Reply]
Van Gorder, Eric Dir.of Op Reply:
October 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I am not buying into it “bad manager of your enviroment” is this the form you turly think a superintendent and owner/resort mangers feel. A majority of your GOOD respectable superintendents would rather not play durning work when employees can see them just as what was pointed out by the response by John Cummings to your article. He is right on with his thought process. You will get plenty of dis-respect when your out playing and its 90 degrees and staff are cutting bunkers durning a normal work week. On the second hand most owners and golf course resort managers would rather not have you mix with their guest durning normal hours. This sets a bad tone with guest who pay, and resort guest that do not want to be with the workers they see before they play. This is why most resorts have the no interaction with guest policy. Twlight and playing a couple of holes durning the week between groups is enough to get in touch with the enviroment and does not shot yourself in the foot with your employer and employees. I recommend all superintendents have the understanding of the game as player but to listen to the suggestions you have to play constantly is crazy in the real world. I have talked to many PGA Tour professionals/Designers just about this issue 100% agreed you have to understand the playing conditions and play enough to get the course conditions down, but to take hours out of the week on a regular bases is not what they are paying you for. Most courses I have consulted on with Superintendents that try to play on a weekly bases with there head pros do not manage their courses any different then the ones that hit a couple holes when invited by the GM or the head pro once a month. Matter of fact the GM’s and owners have more respect for the superintendent they see working then playing and keeping them happy is more justifiable then setting time to play weekly. I think a better point I tell everyone is they should be playing other courses sometimes. I have found this is the best case for superintendents with there pros or GM’s to go play other courses at their same price point in thier area once a month to get a feel of what the other superintendents are doing and this improves their broader view of there own course. Good superintendents want to be there on the course their families know this and the conditions of the course is going to determine your fate not how much you play or family involvement! I agree with one point if you do not understand the players point of view you should’nt be in the business but “COME ON MAN” most of us are in it because we love the game of golf. There are some that are good and some that are bad like in every business. I do not expect a baseball, football, polo and soccer field turf managers to play there fields I do expect them the game and to understand what there job responsiabilites are to bring the best turf for the budget by owners and for the players that get paid and play to the conditions that are expected. If you do a bad job well sooner then later your not going to have one.
[Reply]
Tim,
In your case you are right. You should skip playing golf and try to devote a few hours a week working on your grammatical and composition skills. Possibly more than a few. In fact, you should probably re-enroll in whatever highschool you dropped out of.
[Reply]