Self invigoration

It’s no secret I love being a golf course superintendent and I advocate for our association and industry. I have seen many things change through the years, and technological advances are one of the best parts about being a professional turfgrass manager.

Many younger superintendents would be surprised to learn triplexing greens four times per week at 3⁄16th of an inch (.1875) used to be standard practice. And a golf course that mowed at 5⁄32nd of an inch (.1562) was considered high end. Shucks, nowadays mowing at .125 inches is a good height of cut following aerification before lowering your way back down to whatever previous unfathomable number is used routinely.

Through the years, I’ve seen the Toro 648 aerifier make an impact on the laborious task of aerification. Irrigation can now be controlled from apps on our smartphones. Drones are flying over golf courses capturing images that assist superintendents in their daily decisions regarding nutrient and irrigation inputs. Global positioning satellites are controlling our sprayers and even other pieces of equipment. And some superintendents use robotic mowers on the courses they manage.

Some might say my generation has seen it all, and others may argue the best is yet to come. Regardless of which way you might think on the matter, despite all these positive advancements, the profession still has its challenges and difficulties.

I received a phone call from a good friend the other day. He called to say his club decided his services were no longer needed. He’s not the first friend to call with this kind of news, and he certainly will not be the last. Private club politics rank at the top of the list of cons as it relates to the golf course superintendent profession. Your golf course could be the best conditioned golf course in your city, county or even state, but like another good friend once told me, “They will keep you for as long as they want to keep you.”

Social media conversations and polls asking if you would encourage someone to enter the profession today knowing all you’ve amassed in your experience are common occurrences. The difficulties today’s golf course superintendent faces from higher golfer expectations as well as the self-imposed pressure to succeed are certainly enough to dissuade anyone.

I was terminated from my first golf course job nearly 27 years ago. Although a private club, it wasn’t a political decision but rather a decision of personal survival on the part of my boss. Thankfully, I was able to overcome that trauma. Looking back — dare I say — it was the best thing to ever happen to me. But I was 28 years old at the time and not yet married. It’s a totally different story when men and women with families are let go from their positions in today’s environment.

What can we turfgrass managers do to get out from under this perceived dark cloud overhanging the profession? First, if you’ve been in your current position for several years, I encourage you to learn and recognize the signs of complacency and do everything in your power to combat it. I can tell you from personal experience it’s amazing how quickly you recognize something that needs to be addressed when you’re the new person, but for whatever reason you might routinely overlook that issue at your current facility because it isn’t high on your priority list.

Encourage your team to come forward with their ideas. Fresh thinking and exploring new ways of getting the tasks completed can help everyone on the staff feel energized. Even if the new way doesn’t work as planned, the process of trying and learning is invigorating and worthwhile for all parties involved.

Involve yourself and your team of assistants and technicians in professional associations. Attend meetings and workshops when you can, or at least make sure one person from your facility provides representation and can report back and share what they learned.

Build your network and lean on your brothers and sisters when Mother Nature is throwing curveballs. You are not alone and someone else out there has faced similar challenges and is willing to assist you.

We found greenkeeping through our love for nature, the outdoor environment and even the love of golf. There’s way too much surrounding us that is good in life. Don’t let the negativity steal your joy. Take a moment each day to find a quiet spot and just be thankful we are blessed with the opportunity to work in varied environments.