As golf begins to emerge as the new national pastime, nearly everybody has heard of Augusta, Pebble Beach and Glen Abby. These places represent a few of the finest golf courses in North America. Their designers deserve much of the credit and many of the accolades they receive for creating these gor-
geous layouts.

But behind every great golf course is a golf course superintendent and a staff -- the largely unsung heroes who provide the most important ingredient to a course's success: its ongoing maintenance. Just as certain courses and designers possess unique qualities that distinguish their greatness, so do the superintendents and staff members who maintain them.

If a superintendent could identify those traits and qualities that make
golf course employees better and
more effective, growing a gorgeous set of tees, greens and fairways would fall into place.

Water, sunshine, fertilizer, equip

ment and people are all essential for maintaining a course. No one would refute the impact of location, scenic beauty and climate as contributing factors to a course's fame. But when all of these ingredients are available, there's something else that draws the public's praise. What really make the difference are the golf course personnel themselves. The beliefs and attitudes of the individuals you hire are prerequisites to being effective employees.

What qualities make some people more effective than others? Researchers say people with better "interpersonal skills" -- with the emphasis on communication skills -- will outperform others in many professions. Unfortunately, many of us have found ourselves in situations where a person's words and actions failed to correlate with his or her underlying attitudes. A person acting in this incongruent manner creates a climate of confusion, distrust and uncertainty. At work, this confusion may significantly hinder the productivity of the team.

Research suggests that people who feel positive about themselves outperform those who feel less capable. Positive people will accept a challenge,

Next