“We will always have disgruntled members, all we can do is communicate and educate as much as possible”
Course walks are a great way to interact with the committee
Topdressing - just one of the essential operations golfers don’t like, or understand!
Essential, and often disturbing, maintenance work is necessary
Greenkeepers and Course Managers is of great benefit
40 Networking with other
opportunity to detail our progress and problems, and vice versa, in a formal manner. The Greens Chairman and I will discuss the agenda before the meeting. This gives me plenty of time to prepare. We encourage open lines of communication; the outcome being that surprises at meetings are kept to a minimum. Receiving a bolt out of the blue is poor practice - we should never be put on the spot and neither should we put someone else on the spot. This only breeds discontent and communication breakdown. Good teamwork and open communication is a far more productive way of working. When discussing anything with the members or committee, I try to talk in plain English and keep it as simple as possible. Blinding someone with science is not helpful - it only leaves him or her confused. I try to enlighten them so they can spread the message to others. Q&A nights are a good way to have a one-to-one talk to the members; I normally do a twenty minute power point presentation then open the floor to questions. This has to be chaired well to avoid too much hostility and to keep the disruptive 5% under control! Letting negative members control the questions can be destructive but, when done correctly, it is very enjoyable for both the members and myself. Putting myself on the spot, and in the line of fire, is certainly nerve- racking. The anxiety, when channelled correctly, turns to adrenaline. Some will spend thousands to achieve an adrenaline rush, when all they need to do is stand in front of a room full of golfers! Hopefully, you are not left feeling like you want to jump out of an aeroplane. Seriously
though, it can be rewarding and is a great way of interacting with the
membership as well as raising our profile.
NETWORKING with other Greenkeepers and Course Managers is of great benefit. The opportunity to exchange ideas, views and methods with like-minded experts helps enormously. We meet on a regular basis and talk on the phone. Everyone at some point needs support and encouragement, especially if going through transitional changes or carrying out unpopular operations. We have been going
through the transitional change from Poa annua to more desirable grasses. Calling on other greenkeepers expertise and experiences has helped convince our committee of the benefits. A real advantage is to be able to physically show a committee another course’s achievements and show them the future fruits of our labour. Giving the opportunity for the
committee to ask questions to other Course Managers is a great way of communicating and educating, whilst raising the whole profile within our industry.
Attending seminars, workshops and golf days are another great way of networking and keeping abreast of new developments in greenkeeping. I have found that the committee thoroughly enjoy these days out and benefit enormously from the seminars. Having a good working
relationship with the committee is important. It is imperative that both the greenkeeping team and the committee have respect for each other’s role. The greenstaff should be
informed as much as possible
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