Our late friend Jerry Coldiron, CGCS, once described golf course management as an "often lonely and sometimes cruel business." Superintendents are challenged every day to be at the top of their game and often have few places or people to turn to for support when things go south. As we all know, it's not a matter of if one will lose grass, it's a matter of when. As we also know, it's more often NOT about grass.
The TurfNet Forum has a long history of being a private, safe harbor for those seeking help, guidance or just a sympathetic ear when encountering the pitfalls of turf management or simply the potholes in the road of life. Some of those challenges — including job loss and depression — made it into the pages of our newsletter back in the day for exposure to a broader audience.
Superintendents are challenged every day to be at the top of their game and often have few places or people to turn to for support...
Recognition of mental health and physical wellness have emerged from the shadows on many fronts in the golf turf industry, led in part by our own Paul MacCormack's Mindful Superintendent blog and conference presentations. Kyle Callahan at the Thornblade Club in South Carolina has organized a weight loss challenge through Twitter and a recent private Zoom call on mental health among turf managers.
TurfNet will continue to lead the charge with our new Me Maintenance series. We have a lineup of superintendents and other industry folks who have agreed to share their struggles and solutions for managing alcoholism and substance abuse, depression, anxiety, weight control, dietary, mental health care, therapy and medication, job loss and personal grief from the loss of loved ones (including our dogs)... and how any or all of these intersect with the pressures of the profession.
The series will be hosted by Peter McCormick, founder of TurfNet. "I have hung my own challenges — including being fired twice and life-long struggles with depression and alcohol — out there over the years and have more stories to tell," he said. "It is heartening to see people willing to step forward and discuss their own personal situations for the benefit of others who may be experiencing the same. We will kick it off next week with a superintendent who has successfully hit the personal wellness reset button after experiencing the depths of alcohol and substance abuse."
Presenting sponsor of Me Maintenance is Ocean Organics.
