Let words work for you

Creating and presenting the budget. Check.

Evaluating and placing EOP orders. Check.

Working on writing skills. Eh, maybe not now.

Wait …

Presenting the budget, placing EOP orders and everything else you do is easier when you share clear and concise information, inside and outside of the organization. Powerful writing is the most enduring, consistent way to share your ideas.

With social media, you know if you write it and post it, someone is going to read it. If you write poorly and your words don’t reflect your intentions, people might get the wrong idea. They may not like your opinion regardless. But don’t let your writing get you into trouble. The more positive, direct and constructive your written communication skills are, the more effectively you will reach your goals.

Here are 10 ways to maximize your writing.

Know your purpose

Are you sharing an update where you need to list course maintenance tasks for the week? Are you sharing information about an upcoming project that requires a more nuanced, detailed explanation? Do you need approval for a financial expenditure or additional labor? Determine why you are writing so you know what content to include.

Know your audience

Are you writing for people familiar with the course and its agronomy practices or for people who will benefit from some education? Are there topical analogies that will help your audience, or will it work better to speak plainly? Understanding why you are writing and who you are writing for is the best way to get started.

Use short sentences

Be concise. Say what you need to directly. You don’t have a lot of time for writing and your audience doesn’t have a lot of time for reading. People are more focused with short sentences that are easy to absorb. Adjectives can be overrated and make your work sound less authentic and more like marketing. Delete unnecessary words.

Avoid misspelled and misused words

There is a difference between a word choice (like “regardless” or “irregardless,” which mean the same thing) and actually using the wrong word, which can make you look foolish. Don’t write “their” if you mean “there.” Mistakes are distracting and, fair or not, people lose confidence in your communication if it’s inaccurate. If you aren’t sure, look it up. Pro tip: discover who on your staff has great writing skills and employ their help. Why struggle unnecessarily? Written work is often better with a second opinion.

Be professional

Jokes are risky and jargon accomplishes nothing if it is misunderstood. Will profanity add to your message? Unlikely. Everyone has their own writing style. Witty remarks are great and can increase interest, but again, know your audience. If in doubt, leave it out.

Review your work

Reread your writing after your first draft is complete. If you can, read it aloud to yourself. Revisiting a draft after a few hours or even overnight will help your fresh eyes catch mistakes. Fun fact: your mind will continue to work on your writing even when it’s not in front of you. When you come back to it, you can give it more depth or fill in any details you may have missed. Pay special attention to contractions. It helps to read them as separate words while proofreading. Also, make sure the words you select support your message. Reading books and articles regularly improves your vocabulary and helps you communicate purposefully.

Pay — attention!

To punctuation? Meanings of words and sentences change with incorrect punctuation. For instance, “Did you spray, Tyler?” is different than, “Did you spray Tyler?” Usage for punctuation is standardized for a reason — it helps with comprehension. For numerical information, use positive and negative signs with precision to avoid costly confusion.

Use correct capitalization

THIS IS SHOUTING — it is offensive to some people and of limited value in writing. Referencing individuals without capitalizing their names is considered disrespectful. Sentences should start with a capital and for headings and labels on graphs, make sure you pick a style and stick with it. Inconsistency with capitalization leads to distracting scrutiny.

Format intentionally

It’s sometimes better to create bullet points for supplementary information than to write paragraphs. It can also be easier to reference more complicated issues visually by using a chart, table or graph. Likewise, if the bulk of the information you are sharing is numerical, frame it with a paragraph or two for people who want the bottom line without interpreting the numbers. Your ideas are more likely to be accepted when you introduce them clearly. Don’t use fonts that are hard to read. Choose Arial, Calibri or something similar in a font that is manageable. Some people have trouble reading fonts with serifs. Bold, underline, highlight and italic effects can be useful, but don’t overdo it.

Make a lasting impression

Your work should move from point-to-point in a sequence that is logical. Don’t jump around. If you are sharing more than a few paragraphs, conclude by briefly restating the main ideas with a sentence or two. People can reread for details if necessary, so keep your conclusion short and sweet.

Ready for more? Check out the book “Writing for Busy Readers: Communicate More Effectively in the Real World” by Todd Rogers and Jessica Lasky-Fink. Published in 2023, this book investigates why people read the way they do and how to write to reach them.

Another popular read is “Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers” by Chip Heath and Karla Starr. The title says it all. External resources provide you with differing opinions but ultimately, it’s your work, so write in the way that is comfortable for you. Authenticity will resonate with your audience and is one of the most important elements of impactful writing.

Work on 10 ideas listed and keep improving. There is no substitute for quality when it comes to the written word. When communicating about budgets and financials, there is no substitute for thoughtful confidence. Anticipate and address questions from your audience, be prepared with the information you need and let your words work for you.

Lee Carr is a northeast Ohio-based writer and senior Golf Course Industry contributor.

Nine reasons to contribute to Turfheads Take Over IX

We’re again closing the print portion of the year by opening an issue to readers. Let’s explore the whys and hows of the submission process.

By Guy Cipriano

We guarantee golf maintenance professionals write better than we reporters and editors can lead a turf team through weather whims. Our December archives prove our point.

We’ve concluded our past eight print years by offering readers, followers, scrollers and listeners the opportunity to contribute an article to an issue we affectionately call “Turfheads Take Over.” We love all 12 of our annual print issues equally, but there’s something special about helping people who hold demanding full-time jobs connect with a large peer audience via writing.

The premise of Turfheads Take Over involves filling what we in the magazine business call a “feature well” with reader contributions. All industry professionals are encouraged to write about any topic they deem fit. Submissions can range from 600 words (the minimum to fill a print page) to more than 2,000 words.

We’re available to assist with every step of the writing process. Submissions must be received by Thursday, Oct. 31. Yes, deadlines are part of our business! See below with details on how to submit an article and applicable images.

Let’s do our part to convince you to submit by revealing nine reasons why contributing to Turfheads Take Over IX represents a great use of your time.

Self-therapy

A golf maintenance job can be a grind. Temporarily stepping away for a creative pursuit provides a mental respite. Using a different part of your brain reinvigorates the mental focus required to execute tasks that pay the bills.

Stakeholders will appreciate you even more

People exude tremendous pride in their golf facilities. Seeing your name and thoughts in a respected national publication proves to owners, GMs, members and loyal customers that your expertise extends beyond presenting awesome playing conditions. Well-deserved course cred accompanies becoming a published writer.

Your résumé will get a boost

Despite a glut of open positions, landing one of the industry’s most desirable jobs remains ultracompetitive. One more skill on a résumé, especially one used as frequently as writing, has never hurt somebody’s case when applying for their next job.

Wise way to use a weather delay

Unfortunately, the weather isn’t perfect everywhere. Waiting out storms will always be a part of a golf maintenance job. Crafting a few sentences and paragraphs, in a quiet office, during a downpour, can be a productive use of time before returning to the course.

Step toward certification

Writing an article for a local, regional or national publication is a requirement for earning some career certifications. But let’s face it, writing might not be the requirement you’re most stoked about fulfilling. Our team’s pleasant demeanor and accessibility makes a seemingly painful part of the certification process pleasurable.

You can inspire others

Whether we publicly admit it or not, we all want to leave an indelible mark on others. When you share an idea, concept, thought or story with a mass audience, you’re connecting with people you’ll likely never meet. In turn, somebody might parlay your calculated words into actions to help themselves, their businesses or the people around them. That’s powerful stuff.

You can recognize your team

Perhaps your team recovered from a natural disaster. Or provided fabulous conditions during a nasty weather stretch. Or concocted practical ways to boost golfer satisfaction. Or played a huge role in generating new revenue for your facility. Or overcame a failure. A published story in a glossy magazine about what your team achieved is terrific breakroom, hallway or office artwork that will boost employee morale.

You can draw attention to your company

We dissuade overly commercial articles. But we welcome people who work for industry companies to share ideas and observations from their vast experiences. Every contributor receives a tagline at the bottom of their article. The taglines mention their name and where they work. Who knows? A qualified buyer might contact you about your products or services after reading your writing.

It can be fun

Let’s revert to the beginning of this article. You’re a better writer than you imagine. Punching a few keys, watching thoughts appear on a screen and sharing the results with others can be more enjoyable than imagined. You might also gain a fulfilling hobby or potential side hustle.

Guy Cipriano is Golf Course Industry’s publisher + editor-in-chief. You can email submissions and applicable images to him at gcipriano@gie.net or managing editor Matt LaWell at mlawell@gie.net.