Career Management For Golf Course Superintendents
A Look At Golf Facility Owners Failing To Demand High-Quality Playing Conditions
November 7th, 2013
Golf facility owners are headed for a collision course with declining numbers of playing customers and economic disasters, as well as the imminent threat of anti-pesticide and anti-fertilizer prohibitions.
When playing customers are not satisfied, they will be driven away, and owners will lose revenues, and may eventually lose their businesses.
To satisfy their customers, owners invest vast sums of money in order to provide them with high-quality playing conditions.
To manage the playing conditions, golf facility owners also invest vast sums of money in the acquisition of modern and educated golf course superintendents.
Golf facility owners invest vast sums of money in the continued education of their superintendents, through educational conferences and shows, trade association fees, and social events where knowledge is exchanged.
Owners invest vast sums in supplying their superintendents with maintenance tools like state-of-art equipment, as well as cutting edge seed varieties, pest control chemicals, and fertilizers.
The maintenance tools and knowledge now available to the modern golf course superintendent have never been better.
These tools will provide what playing customers demand … high-quality playing conditions.
With these maintenance tools, the golf course superintendent industry has reached its pinnacle for potentially satisfying the demands of golf facility owners and playing customers.
For example, superintendents now have centuries of accumulated practical experiences, backed by thousands upon thousands of research investigations, that all ensure achieving the objective of high-quality playing conditions.
Another example … destructive pests and disorders can now be harnessed, suppressed, and controlled … as never before … and more so than at any other time in history.
Time and again, modern and educated golf course superintendents have not only successfully demonstrated that they can harness, suppress, and control destructive pests and disorders, they have also defied difficult weather conditions and environmental extremes, and have repeatedly satisfied the demands of playing customers.
Sadly, some golf facility owners have somehow bought into the outdated concept that the quality of playing conditions is somehow at the entire mercy of weather conditions and environmental extremes.
Some owners have been conditioned into believing that high-quality playing conditions are totally beyond the control of the superintendent.
These owners have reduced their expectations with disappointing requirements for the employment of golf course superintendents.
For example, Saint Paul Golf Club, in Alberta, recently posted its requirements for the ideal candidate for the position of superintendent.
Here is a summary of its disappointing requirements ―
• Ability to supervise and direct staff.
• Degree or diploma in turf management or equivalent.
• Design and implement agronomic programs.
• Knowledge of pest control methods.
• Manage purchases of supplies and equipment.
• Pesticide applicators license ( which is required by law anyhow ).
• Provide reports.
• Supervise, repair, and maintain equipment.
• Three to five years of experience.
• Understand irrigation systems.
• Work with the general manager and board of governors.
• Work to remain within budget.
Why are these requirements disappointing ?
Saint Paul Golf Club failed to demand any level of performance that would be related to providing high-quality playing conditions.
In other words, Saint Paul Golf Club could not care less about playing conditions, and, officially, will not evaluate the performance of its superintendent in this matter.
The attitude of Saint Paul failed to directly demand anything that would satisfy its playing customers, and, basically, seeks to drive them away.
The attitude of Saint Paul Golf Club is ludicrous and ill-fated, and effectively reduces the role of the golf course superintendent to that of a mere foreman or civil servant who will be provided with absolutely no incentive to satisfy playing customers.
In essence, Saint Paul Golf Club has officially disregarded, ignored, and downgraded its golf course playing conditions … the single and most important reason why playing customers will use its facility.
Sadly, superintendent trade associations agree with Saint Paul Golf Club.
And incredibly, superintendent trade associations have also embarked on a ludicrous and ill-fated campaign to downgrade playing conditions.
Associations like Canadian Golf Superintendents Association claim « the golf industry around the globe has embarked on an effort to reduce the expectations of the golfer ».
In essence, trade associations have embarked on a campaign of driving playing customers out by telling them what they want.
Unfortunately, it is not the role of trade associations to dictate expectations to golf facility owners and their playing customers !
This is a rule in any service industry.
Golf facility owners and their playing customers do not want their expectations reduced !
And it is not up to mere trade associations to dictate to golf facility owners what their expectations should be.
Nor is it up to the golf course superintendent.
It is up to Saint Paul Golf Club to provide high-quality playing conditions.
This must be the highest priority objective when choosing its next golf course superintendent.
Additionally, all golf facility owners must provide high-quality playing conditions.
A failure to do so will lead them to a guaranteed collision course with declining numbers of playing customers and economic disaster.
Here is what Saint Paul Golf Club SHOULD have required for the position of golf course superintendent ―
The owners of this golf facility demand high-quality playing conditions.
This is the highest priority objective when choosing the next golf course superintendent.
In order to succeed for this position, the candidate must unconditionally agree with this objective.
Once employed, the superintendent will not dictate what our objective priority should be.
The owners want no demands, no excuses, and no complaining … just results that lead to our priority objective.
The objective is to fully satisfy its playing customers.
Within the boundaries of what the golf facility can afford, it is up to the superintendent to achieve this objective, by any means available.
This objective will be the primary means with which the owners will evaluate the job performance of the superintendent at the end of every season.
Web-Pages ― A Look At Reports
a look at … career management ( web-page )
a look at … slide shows – turf, ornamentals, maintenance, & environment ( web-page )
a look at … references & slide shows – turf, ornamentals, maintenance, & environment ( web-page )
a look at … reports – turf, ornamentals, & maintenance ( web-page )
see also …
the wisdom of drysdale, art c. – re-direct links to reports and audio recordings ( web-page )
Web-Pages & Reports ― Golf Industry
golf industry – bogus organic golf courses – 2010 11 00 ( report )
golf industry – bogus organic golf courses – blackburn meadows golf club – bogus organic pesticide-free golf course – bankruptcy & receivership – salt spring island, british columbia – 2010 11 16 ( report )
golf industry – canadian cancer society – demands no golf exception status – position statements against the golf industry – pesticide ban ( a.k.a. phase-out ) necessary because golf is cosmetic ( web-page )
golf industry – failure of western canada turfgrass association ( web-page )
golf industry – go brown – anti-cosmetic golf maintenance – who wants to play golf on #@!!% brown garbage dumps ?!?! ( web-page )
golf industry – golf destruction – golf is next – critical issues for the survival of the golf industry ( web-page )
golf industry – sharp park golf course ( usa ) – environmental terror under the pretext of protecting obscure and insignificant species ( web-page )
golf industry – the golf industry collision course – demise is imminent ( web-page )
golf industry – the golf industry collision course – examples of attacks against golf facilities – 2013 03 25 ( report )
golf industry – the looming golf industry shipwreck – no longer a hopeful future ( web-page )
golf industry – the looming golf industry shipwreck – golf uses six per cent of all pesticides used in manitoba – 2012 05 23 ( reports )
Reports ― Foreman Or Superintendent ?
force of nature — hero — 2013 08 26 — jack l. eggens — 1936-2013 — the great communicator — foreman or superintendent ? — identity of the superintendent ( reports )
https://pesticidetruths.com/2013/09/17/dr-jack-l-eggens-1936-2013-the-great-communicator-2013-08-26/
The Whole Truth From An Independent Perspective
NORAHG is National Organization Responding Against Huje that seek to harm the Green space industry.
NORAHG is a national non profit non partisan organization dedicated to reporting the work of respected and highly rated experts who promote pesticide realism and pesticide truths.
Scientific research proves that pest control products cause no harm and can be used safely.
NORAHG produces A Look At, a series of reports providing technical information on issues such as career management, golf course maintenance, green alternatives, lawn care maintenance, summer stress, tree & shrub maintenance, turfgrass pests, and turfgrass species.
A Look At is destined for the green space industry, nationwide across Canada, the United States, and overseas.
A Look At is committed to sound science, as well as ground breaking original reporting that informs, entertains, and creates real change.
All information, excerpts, and pictures contained in A Look At were retrieved from the Internet, and may be considered in the public domain.
The information presented in A Look At is for preliminary planning only.
Before making a final decision, the turf manager is expected to obtain trusted expert advice from extension specialists, local distributors and/or agronomists.
All decisions must take into account the prevailing growing conditions, the time of year, and the established management practices.
All products mentioned in A Look At should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's directions, and according to provincial, state, or federal law.
For the official advantages, benefits, features, precautions, and restrictions concerning any product, the turf manager must rely only on the information furnished by the manufacturer.
The mention of trade names does not constitute a guarantee or a warranty.
NORAHG also produces Force Of Nature, reports that present the whole truth from an independent perspective about environmental issues, including anti pesticide terrorism.
NORAHG also manages the library computer access and retrieval system for all anti pesticide terrorist acts of subversion.
The NORAHG library computer access and retrieval system is a vast archive of documents, audio clips, and videos on all anti-pesticide activities ― it has been made available to anyone interested in complaints and litigation.
These archives contain names, statements, activities, and affiliations of all anti pesticide vermin, including government officials, as well as charity anti-pesticide and environmental-terrorist organizations that do not deserve any tax exempt status.
A Look At, Force Of Nature, and their various incarnations, was the brainchild of William H. Gathercole (now retired) and his colleagues.
Here is a brief summary of Mr. Gathercole's career ―
Fields of study ― Horticulture/Agriculture, Mathematics, Physics
Alma mater ― McGill University • University of Guelph • the first person ever to obtain university degrees and contribute to both the professional lawn care and golf maintenance industries
Expertise in ― environmental issues and anti pesticide terrorism • turf and ornamental maintenance and troubleshooting • history of the industry • sales and distribution of seeds, chemicals, fertilizers, and equipment • fertilizer manufacturing and distribution
Notable activities ― worked in virtually all aspects of the green space industry, including golf, professional lawn care, tree & shrub care, distribution, environmental compliance, government negotiations, public affairs, and workplace safety • supervisor, consultant, and, programmer for the successful execution of hundreds of thousands of management operations in the golf and urban landscape, as well as millions of pest control applications • advisor, instructor, and trainer for thousands of turf and ornamental managers and technicians • pesticide certification instructor for thousands of industry workers • founder of the modern professional lawn care industry • prolific writer for industry publications and e-newsletters • first to confirm the invasion of European Chafer insect in both the Montreal region and the Vancouver / Fraser Valley region • with Dr. Peter Dernoeden, confirmed the presence of Take All Patch as a disease of turf in Eastern Canada • with Dr. David Shetlar, confirmed the presence of Kentucky Bluegrass Scale as an insect pest in South Western Ontario, and later, in the Montreal and Vancouver regions
Special contributions ― creator of the exception status that has allowed the golf industry to avoid being subjected to anti pesticide prohibition • creator of the signs that are now used for posting after application • co-founder of annual winter convention for Quebec golf course superintendents • the major influence in the decision by Canadian Cancer Society to stop selling for profit pesticide treated daffodils • the only true reliable witness of the events of anti pesticide prohibition in the town of Hudson, Quebec • retired founder of A Look At and Force Of Nature reports
Notable award ― the very first man of the year for contributions leading to the successful founding of Quebec professional lawn care industry, which served as a beach-head against anti pesticide activists in the 1980s and 1990s
Legacy ― Mr. Gathercole and his colleagues … designed and implemented strategies that reined anti pesticide activists to provide peace and prosperity for the entire modern green space industry across Canada • orchestrated legal action against anti pesticide activists in the town of Hudson, Quebec • launched the largest founding professional lawn care business in Canada • quadrupled the business revenues of one of the largest suppliers in Canada
Mr. Gathercole is now retired, although his name continues to appear as founder of A Look At and Force Of Nature reports.
More Information From Force Of Nature & Pesticide Truths
the pesticide truths web-site – archive of reports ( home page )
pesticide bans are a farce ( report )
bee-keepers are killing bees, and not insecticides
https://pesticidetruths.com/toc/bee-colony-collapse-disorder/
real trends against pesticide bans ( web-page )
https://pesticidetruths.com/toc/victories-against-terrorists/
enemies list in the 9|11 era of anti-pesticide terrorism ( report )
carnage created by catastrophic anti-pesticide prohibition – main web-page
the exorbitant cost of pesticide bans ( report )
https://pesticidetruths.com/toc/carnage-leading-to-stunningly-exhorbitant-costs/
attacks against golf facilities ( report )
myths about banning pesticides – leading scientific health and policy experts ( white paper )
2,4-D herbicide ( web-page )
https://pesticidetruths.com/toc/24-d/
complaint channels – complain about the anti-pesticide lunatics ( web-page )
https://pesticidetruths.com/toc/complaint-channels/
pesticide links ( web-page )
https://pesticidetruths.com/pesticide-qa-links/
the complete library of reports & references ( web-page )
https://pesticidetruths.com/toc/table-of-contents/
