Spring into Action

Spring brings the advent of snowbirds returning from the South and the onset of the golfing season ahead. Many courses are going from a dormant winter set of grasses to the beginning of the mowing season and spring green up. As our staffs return, it is a time for a renewal of commitment and energy to create the product necessary to meet golfers’ expectations.

For those who have a seasonal staff, it is not uncommon that those crew members may have forgotten some of the good habits learned over the years and maybe have picked up a few bad habits in their off time. In an effort to prevent this from happening, it is best to go over a several items upon return to the job. See if some or all of these refreshers might benefit your operation.

Warm ups

When your staff returns from their hiatus, it might be beneficial to consider having them do a few exercises to be ready for the physical work they will be involved in. Several superintendents use exercise not only for returning staff, but also as a daily practice. This might include stretching or even a few yoga practices. This has been looked upon favorably by some insurance companies as a method to reduce workplace injury. Start it this spring and make it a part of your daily program. It could be the best 5-minute jumpstart to everyone’s day to get the muscles and joints working along with proper blood flow.

Introductions

Each new golf season brings new faces to the golf course operations department. A great idea is to take a little time to have the new employees meet the returning staff. This can be done as simply as a meet-and-greet over coffee and donuts that first week back. A better way to do it is for the superintendent or assistant superintendent to give a quick biography on returning employees and then do the same for the new hires. Keep it short and to the point with the number of years they have been employed and emphasize what their typical job functions are at the golf facility.

Goals and plans for 18 holes

There is no doubt superintendents spend a good part of their winter developing plans for the golfing and growing season ahead. There is no better time than the spring to share those plans with your staff.

A staff likes to be well informed. Good leaders do this.

• What projects do you have planned for the year ahead?
• What are the goals of the department for the year ahead?
• Revisit any mistakes that might have been made the prior year and indicate what will be done to ensure there is no repeat.
• Ask for feedback from staff on what can make the facility and department better?

Training

Every year superintendents should set up a training program for their staff. It is just as important as a fertility or fungicide program. Training makes good people better. Training positions your team to reduce mistakes and accidents. Training allows your staff to learn new skills and potentially take on new assignments in the workplace.

For those who don’t have a training program, the best way to start is to utilize professionally produced videos on a variety of topics. The first three I would recommend are important.

• This is a Golf Course. Remember, many people have never played golf and need to understand the workplace and the product they are asked to provide.
• Safety Basics on the Golf Course. Avoid injuries and reduce workmen’s compensation claims.
• Crew Etiquette. New employees need to learn this and returning employees need to remember this. Supervisors can’t be working with every employee every minute of the day, so a short video reminds people about how to act and how it impacts the golfers we work for.
• There are a variety of the above videos and others produced under the brand of Superintendents Video Workshop and available from Epic Creative.
• While they are not always specific to golf, you can find videos on YouTube about preventing back injuries, heatstroke, chainsaw operation, etc.

Required by law

Almost every state has laws requiring annual training for hazard communications. The general idea is employees have a “right to know” about any workplace hazards. It is doubtful that if an employee was given this training a decade ago that it would still stand. Again, most states require an annual review of the laws and regulations in this area. There is no better time to do this training than each spring. Surely there are days with frost that might not permit workers to go outside on the course. Between early season frost delays and a few rainy days, there is no better time than to incorporate this into your training.

A couple of things that would fit into training, in addition to HazCom would be:

• Building emergency exits
• Location of fire extinguishers
• Disaster preparedness
• Automatic Electric Defribulator training
• CPR training
• First aid
• Proper storage
• Respirator fit

Spring Cleaning

It is the time of the year to be sure your workplace is clean, safe and comfortable to work in. If the winter did not allow you time to put a fresh coat of paint on the walls or power wash the floors, then now is the time to do it while you have ramped up your staff. Change out the furnace filters and clean out the irrigation controller boxes in the field. Clean the strainer on your wet well or irrigation input basket.

How about those files in your file cabinets? Are they current and what items do you keep and which ones do you dispose of? The same can be true for your computer. Are there any electronic files that you need to purge or organize in specific files?

It is highly likely that there won’t be a lot of extra time for these items once the golfing season is in full swing. Make a list of all you need to do and check them off as you complete them. Use that list as a template and repeat it each year.

Show me a sign

Every golf course wants a superintendent that has attention to detail. Part of that detail is making sure that golf course appurtenances and signage are freshly painted, crisp and clean. Start off each spring with new signs if you can afford them. If not, then clean up the old ones and paint them. Other accessories are ropes, stakes, ball washers, yardage markers, waste receptacles, flagpoles, cups, hole liners, etc. Think of it as having everything look as good as it does for your biggest tournament when the golfing season starts.

Bruce Williams is GCI’s senior contributing editor.