GETTING BACK TO NATURE BY LEO BARBER, GCS/GM PARAPARAUMU BEACH GOLF CLUB
By Doug Vogel Golf Course Superintendent, Preakness Valley Golf Course Working inside of the turf industry can be a notoriously demanding occupation with long hours, challenging budgets and resources that in many cases can often be inadequate when saddled alongside the expectations of those we work for. Throw in the growing demands of human resources, compliance and the physical challenges of maintaining healthy grass under extreme growing environments and you have yourself a cocktail that needs to be carefully managed. Often overlooked in all of this mix is our own selfmanagement which importantly includes our physical health and mental well-being. I often joke to those outside of the industry about grass not sleeping or tempering the excitement of others as they head off to enjoy a hot sunny day knowing that my enjoyment factor is being constricted while wondering if my turf is stressing out or similarly if it rains, whether disease is taking hold. I informed my wife many years ago not to try and understand my love/hate relationship with the weather when she quietly asked me if I was now happy it was raining having witnessed me for days lamenting a hot dry spell. She was somewhat taken back when I replied that the rain that I had spent days hoping for was probably now encouraging the spread of disease through my beloved surfaces - it was a no win!
The Waikanae Estuary is a neat walk close to home that threads literally right through the mouth of the Waikanae River that is teeming with bird life.
Fisher Ad Nothing beats the euphoria of conquering a peak and then sitting back with friends to soak in the sunset and a well-earned beverage.
So, if grass doesn’t sleep or take vacations or enjoy certain weather or recognize holiday weekends, what can we do as turf managers to switch off, preserve some sanity and allow our bodies to recharge? A few years back this was becoming a real problem for me. THE GREENERSIDE |
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