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View from the Cheap Seats... Never a mention of the AF or the AI...We hear the talk at the conferences of increased golfer expectations and all the other stuff that has contributed to the demise of many a golf course superintendent’s career. The pundits, however, typically dance around one of the most obviously disturbing attributes of our society today — something I call the A$$hole Factor, or simply the AF. I had some fun with the guys at the recent California GCSA conference, the theme of which was “Reality Check 2005: The Golf Course Superintendent’s Future in the Workplace”. During my presentation on “The Winds of Change”, I dropped the AF and the AI on them to stir things up and keep the meeting loose. The AI? Oh, that stands for A$$hole Index, a relative measure of the AF within any given geographical area. Note that the dollar signs are integral to the term. Someone asked me once, “How is it that you actually define an a$$hole?” After thinking a bit, I replied, “I think it boils down to a sense of entitlement...Someone asked me once, “How is it that you actually define an a$$hole?” After thinking a bit, I replied, “I think it boils down to a sense of entitlement, particularly among the nouveau riche (which Bartlesby defines as “a pejorative term for one who has recently become rich and who spends money conspicuously”). You all know the type: initials painted on the door of their Lexus, cotton sweater draped over the shoulders and tied in front, Gucci loafers with no socks. Ray-Bans. Optional cigar, usually unlit. And that’s just the male half of the species. The females can be just as bad. They want it, and want it NOW, with no excuses. Don’t tell me about the labor pains, SHOW ME THE BABY! The AI tends to be highest in major metropolitan areas, particularly within 75 miles or so of each coast. The epicenter of the AI, in my estimation, is within a 50 mile radius of New York City, dropping off substantially once out of commuting distance. I know. I live there. Anyone who works in the Boston-to-DC corridor can attest to the effect. Chicago, LA, too. But those in Peoria probably have no clue of what I’m speaking, for the AF hasn’t staked out much of a claim there yet. Making things worse for our profession is the fact that the AI tends to spike in and around private country clubs...Making things worse for our profession is the fact that the AI tends to spike in and around private country clubs. These are places typically populated with corporate executives and business owners accustomed to having their way. Put a lot of them together and synergy elevates the Index to even higher heights. Even my wife is aware of the effect, and warned me about falling prey to it once, about four years ago. I had my eye on a little silver two-seat convertible, and she admonished me in an uncharacteristically frank manner. “Only a$$holes drive those cars,” she stated emphatically. As a teacher at a private school in an affluent area, she has dealt with enough nouveau riche parents to know. Eager to prove her wrong, I bought the car, and even threatened to put vanity plates on it. Not “I M KING” or “MONYMAN” as one might expect an a$$hole to display, but simply “NTNAHL” to declare my freedom from the Factor for all to see. Having had my jollies for a few years, I recently sold the car to move onto other fun projects. So what’s the point of all this? Simply be aware of it, and recognize it when you encounter it. An understanding of the concept should better equip one to deal with it. Perhaps, at some point in the future when acknowledgment of the AF and AI has become mainstreamed, job announcements will have a slot for the AI at that particular club right along with the salary offered, so applicants will have a true understanding of what they’re getting into... Reprinted from the June, 2005 issue of TurfNet the Newsletter. Peter L. McCormick is the founder and maestro of TurfNet. He can be reached at maestro@turfnet.com. |
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