This title might lead you to think I'll be writing about how I am filling a position that is all I ever expected out of a career. I am, but this blog is not referring to exactly that type of dream job. This post has to do with an actual dream I had recently.

In this dream I was touring a golf course as part of professional development for Drury University. During this dream trip, I heard about many interesting efforts and approaches to some grounds tasks. Once awake, I considered what struck me in this vivid dream. I realized I was using information from my own knowledge base. I was both the tourist, and tour guide. Some of this "tour" was to be relatively mundane, and some was to be insightful along new lines. As you read, please excuse any inconsistencies or seeming impossibilities. This was a dream.

Reaffirming Current Notions

A couple points of my tour were clearly based in -- and affirming of -- my overarching notions towards grounds practices. I was shown a tee box with bentgrass recently plugged in (cup cutter size plugs, 3" tall and unmowed. Remember it was a dream). In reality, it looked more like Buffalograss, but it was lush, and healthy. My takeaway was the unusual mowing height on a tee box. Here on campus we are mowing our general purpose grass at 4". In my dream this taller height crowded weeds, drove roots deeper, and supported grass plant photosynthesis. Clearly a reaffirmation of our current approach. I was also struck by the willingness of the GC Superintendent (spirit guide?) to experiment in a new direction. I cannot imagine golfers ever teeing off in 3" grass, but experimentation is sometimes risky and uncertain.  

Several other topic discussions were reminiscent of my current grounds philosophy. At one point I remarked on the lack of pests. The Spirit Super attributed this to diversity. He plants a wide variety of trees, shrubs and grasses to prevent any one pest from exploding in population. This is our approach on campus too. In turf selection, we include a cultivar even if not blending genus or species. Diversity is a well-known leg of IPM.

Another topic was decreasing chemical use. My Spirit Super said his course had been organic since 1944. He then winked and said that it was chemical free to the greatest extent possible, and only for the last four years. I empathized with his struggle to be chemical free. Drury will use the appropriate chemical product when we see fit and within proper guidelines. I realized later I have been at Drury four years. Coincidence?

Relearning Old Knowledge

Several tour topics dealt with what I had learned in the past, but forgotten, or more succinctly have failed to practice. I noticed that the members of the Spirit Crew were motivated, participatory and knowledgeable. In real life I struggle with fostering a vibrant crew atmosphere. Here the crew was allowed to experiment (experimentation again) with methods that were unproven, but were likely to succeed because of research and forethought. The crew was also allowed to use the amenities of the course (dream weight room and golf privileges). This created in them a sense of belonging that then manifested in their work.

I also saw a cart path that was being relocated to the side of a slope. Upon first view I thought the slope was too steep to comfortably allow cart traffic. As I walked past, it wasn't too uneven and would allow easy use and avoid an obstacle. I am made aware that first impressions are occasionally wrong, and different perspectives are needed.

Two New Thoughts One is Strange, But it was a Dream

My Spirit Course was named after a golf glove manufacturer I cant recall. It may not have been a real manufacturer. The point is, I started thinking of an application for sponsorship here at Drury Grounds. Drury Panther Baseball has won the DII Great Lakes Valley Conference three years running and qualified for NCAAII Regionals all three of those years. I contacted a supplier we use at our off-campus baseball field to start a discussion of marketing their products on our winning field. No money yet, but at the very least, it will help me polish my marketing efforts.

The other (slightly wacky) topic was organic grub control. On the aforementioned tee box, an employee was on all fours parting the grass with a claw hammer. I asked the Spirit Super what he was doing. Since it was a dream, I was immediately viewing his efforts from above. As the grass was parted to expose the soil/thatch, grubs were exposed. At that point the worker hit the grubs with the hammer. I know this is not practical. However it does speak to looking at alternatives to traditional (often knee-jerk) controls. It also sounds really satisfying in some way.

Final Thought

This is the second dream like this I can recall. I also talked with a Spirit Extension Agent once. He talked about fertilizing applications for sod. Again, I was forced to evaluate, consider and relearn. The subconscious can be a powerful force. Sometimes my prejudices can blind me to a new answer that could really help.

Norman Vincent Peale of "You Can If You Think You Can" fame, spoke of drawing on the subconscious to solve problems. I like that idea. My Spirit Super apparently liked it too. I hope to return to that course again soon.