Course conditions | Fall 2015
President’s Perspective The summer certainly has been fast paced. No matter whom you ask, the sentiment is all the same, that the year has gone by quickly. The continuous on the go routine can cause stress, exhaustion or you can burn yourself out, if not careful.
JEFF HOLMES, CGCS
Having a solid agronomic plan for your property that involves your fertility plan, plant protectant schedule, cultural practices, employee training and safety will help you to stay a little more organized when the heat of the battle hits. Having a business plan that is going to get you to the finish line will be very important throughout the year. You will also have a working platform that you can keep adjusting each year. The biggest area of concern to have in place is your management team and your hourly staff members.
With the economy improving, it is hard to find good labor personnel that can be with you from spring until fall. Several industries are having the same situation and we are all trying to hire from the same pool of available people. I don’t have the answer on how to solve this situation, but at our facility we are going to look long and hard as to what we are not doing that will draw employees in. Hopefully we can be quick learners and adjust as we move forward. The trained, dependable staff is what will keep us from stressing out or burning out. With well trained people on the team, you can delegate some of the work load and help them to grow and understand how they can be a bigger part of the team. Everyone likes a winning team. It is our job to build and refine the team that can go to the playoffs. Many of us have been taking on big projects and many of us have been in the status quo mode, but we can still refine our product and our team. More often than not the little things make a big difference. As managers we need to continuously manage and sometimes that means direct interaction and at other times means standing back and staying out of the way. The product that is delivered is a direct reflection of how strong the team is. Spend time figuring out how to form the best team possible. Your job will be much easier and a lot more enjoyable. Remember, form a business plan, build the best team possible, refine your product frequently, empower and delegate, enjoy the fruits of your labor. Your Association is an excellent way to continue developing your knowledge and your team’s knowledge. Learning seminars are put on regularly, the website has many opportunities for educational growth and the Michigan Turfgrass Conference is in our own state January 5-7 and features some great speakers highlighted in this issue of Course Conditions. Have a great fall and enjoy the beauty of the picturesque properties that each of us travel to or care for.
Respectfully,
Jeff Holmes, CGCS Golf Course Superintendent Egypt Valley Country Club President, MiGCSA
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