SUPERINTENDENT JOURNAL

Golf Course Image-building, job titles, Superintendent marketing strategies and or Greenskeeper? public perception may be the modern consequences What are we really? With of golf }s popularity to our all the things that we get involved in by choice or by profession, but the just trying to stay one step bottom line is we are first ahead, sometimes I think we and foremost, keepers of forget our focus. the green.

^ÊtÊKÊÊÊÊÊÊÊmmÊiÊÊKÊÊÊiÊÊÊttÊÊiÊÊÊtm egardless of the outcome of there, superintendents are still called one of your members says, "Joe's course GCSAA's Professional Develop greenskeepers and their professional asso- is always in good shape. Why can't we Rment Initiative, maintaining ciation is called the British and Interna- be that good?" You will have an answer good golf course conditions is what it is tional Greenskeepers Association. for him: budget, overseeding, new all about. No matter what you call us or how grass, new irrigation system, new Compared to the golf professional, our job descriptions have changed, we greens, etc. our jobs have drastically changed with are about the game of golf just like Jack, If you don't have time to play other all the things we need to keep up with: Arnold, Sam, Ben and the rest of the courses, just go look at them. When FQPA; PDI, Sara Title III; OSHA; county, great golfers over the past 200 years. So was the last time you went and looked state and national laws just to mention a how do I keep my focus and carry out my at three or four golf courses in one day? few. primary responsibility of maintaining You can compare first hand what "Joe" Then there are the groups we join to good playing conditions? I play golf! is doing up the street just by going and keep up our education on turf manage- The last greenskeeper I worked for looking at a few his greens and talking ment and regulations. GCSAA, USGA, taught me many things, but the one thing to him about his current programs. FSGA, TCGCSA, FGCSA and FTGA. that sticks out is he always found time to Playing golf with my members is Don't get me wrong: these are all great go out and play a few holes. Most of the something else I try to do. This does organizations and I am a member of all time it was long after the crew had gone not happen on a regular routine but I of them, but regardless of all the admin- home or early on a weekend morning. do try to do this six or seven times a istration and regulation, our real job boils We were both very lucky in that way, we year. This seems to work for me and down to golf course conditions. both really love to play the game. might not be for everyone. But I really My family came to this country from If I don't play my golf course at least think that if you don't play a few times England in the 1940s, and has been in the once a week, I feel as if I let my members a month, you don't know your course golf business for many years. My grand- down. Because to me that is one of the as well as you think. father and his brothers were golf profes- best ways a person can really evaluate his Image building, job titles, market- sionals in England. Their father and or her golf course's conditions. We also ing strategies and public perception uncles were also in the golf business. have a few Tour players who play out of may be the modern consequences of The MacDonalds have been playing my golf club. I take the time to talk to golfs popularity to our profession, but this great game for over 200 years in this them and compare our course to the the bottom line is we are first and fore- country, England and Scotland. The love ones they play on the tours. most, keepers of the green. for playing the game of golf came from my Playing other courses is also a great ROY MACDONALD father, brother and my great uncle who all way of knowing what is going on. The Greenskeeper taught me the great game of golf. Over next time you are in the clubhouse and Hobe Sound Golf Club