PITCHCARE CLASSIFIEDS PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
The importance of balance
The role of a course
superintendent/head greenkeeper can be all-encompassing at times. Lee Strutt, course manager at The Royal Automobile Club in the UK and past presenter at the Australian Turfgrass Conference, reminds us all of the importance of balance in our lives in order to achieve a level of success
For a while now I have considered what success really is and whether I have achieved it? This led to several discussions with a good friend of mine, Matthew Wharton from Carolina Golf Club in the USA, which eventually morphed into us compiling a presentation that was given at this year’s BIGGA Turf Management Exhibition and Golf Industry Show.
The idea came about after Matt and I had been discussing the pressures of being a superintendent and how we were achieving our goals and whether we were being successful?
We were both aware of the growing acknowledgement of mental health and wellbeing and thought that there was a clear connection between working towards success and the effects it was having on people in our industry. We both felt that even though we could not claim to be experts in the field of psychology and behaviour, we believed our experience and knowledge could be shared with our peers and help assist the younger generation of turf managers coming through the ranks.
Our conversation about success continued backwards and forwards over 18 months as we explored what success really is.
During that time, these discussions revived numerous memories of some of the highs and lows we had experienced in search of success, which led us to asking further questions, including;
• Had we achieved success? • Were we successful? • How do you define what is success? and
• If we had achieved a certain level of success, what price had we paid for this? What is success?
Open the pages of The Oxford Dictionary and the word ‘success’ is defined as;
• The accomplishment of an aim or purpose;
• A person or thing that achieves desired aims or attains fame, wealth, etc ...;
• Someone or something that is successful: a person or thing that succeeds.
For us as turf professionals, success can be made up of small and large elements. When we work through our careers we set milestone achievements - maybe it’s the first time we mow, being responsible for leading a project or team, or promotion to that coveted first superintendent role. All these are signs of success.
Success for some may focus on developing perfect turf surfaces, a pure mono-stand grass species, constructing and maintaining the largest maintenance facility or many significant projects that take you out of your comfort zone.
For some it’s hosting an event, whether local, regional, national or international like a World Cup or President’s Cup.
2019 award winners recognised for their successes
We could also judge success by achieving the status of superintendent at one of the world’s most prominent golf clubs, like St Andrews Links or Augusta National or Royal Melbourne.
Gaining qualifications is something very close to my heart. I’m not alone in admitting that I left school with very little in the way of academic qualifications.
Being labelled as stupid or being categorised that you wouldn’t achieve very much wasn’t uncommon. Possibly the drive for success and recognition inspired many to achieve higher qualifications, degrees, masters and even PhD’s.
Sometimes the reference of success is misguided, as it normally refers to your work and career. However, many have struck success outside work. Sports and hobbies range far and wide where you feel you are achieving something that elevates your sense of achievement and makes you feel that you are successful.
It may be even that after a long career you are able to retire early and pursue a life free of work and responsibilities and be free to do whatever you want.
But to achieve these ambitions, we must understand that there must be an amount of dedication, skill and determination. This isn’t without its issues.
Indeed, tomorrow’s manager will need to understand a greater range of knowledge and learning. We are already seeing a huge impact surrounding legislation and restrictions with the use of chemicals, with current day turf managers having to find and navigate a route to a solution that meets expectations.
Maybe it’s the first time we mow, being responsible for leading a project or team, or promotion to that coveted first superintendent role. All these are signs of success
Lee Strutt Article first published on the Australian Sports Turf Manager Association 134 PC December/January 2020
“
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148
