Communication
Empowerment of the Greenkeeper is important, but this will not be achieved with a bombastic and insular approach. We need to surround ourselves with support and assistance to be truly powerful. We are fortunate to have the massive support of the STRI, EGU and the R&A. The articles and publications are freely available for all to see. Showing our employers the message will give confidence that other clubs, and our governing bodies, are backing the sustainable quest. It is important for the club to register with the R&A Best Practice website
www.bestcourseforgolf.org as this will help enormously. The entire key to success is
centred on communication. First port of call was for the club to produce a Policy Document that highlights their objectives and goals. We told the members about the plans in a short presentation, and then we held an Open Forum for the members to ask questions. Although sustainable practices are close to my heart, it is just as important to have patience and be sensible. The biggest underlining factor for success is to have the members’ support. The most important part of communicating is listening. We are listening and
also monitoring the members’ feelings since, as many have said before, “losing your job is not very sustainable”. With good communication, honesty and teamwork, this will not be an issue because we all work together. Alas, one common communication problem is the readiness for members to express their concerns directly to the greenkeeping staff. It is simply wrong for members of a golf club to approach employees and pass negative comments or judgement to the staff, no matter how flippant. This sort of conduct is non productive, as it not only encourages communication breakdown and poor relations with the members, it also lowers morale and stops the staff from working.
Ultimately, the members pay our wages, but no more so than any shareholder of any organisation. It is essential that the members support the changes and that they are aware of the implications as much as the benefits of a sustainable golf course. Like any business a channelled communication procedure needs to be in place to eradicate this sort of culture. This is why it is essential to have a strong committee and a documented code of conduct.
Not every golf course can achieve the same goals and outcomes
In just a few months, and in dreadful wet weather, the thach/root structure is already showing signs of improvement
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