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Norma
O'Leary, CGCS
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With the reduced golf
course labor pool, there is a need for alternative ideas to finding
staff members. I have dealt with this issue for quite some time,
although my difficulty stems more from budget concerns than from
a limited labor pool.
I was hired as the golf
course superintendent/club manager at Silver Bay (Minn.) Country
Club in the spring of 1990. Very early on, an ice storm caused extensive
damage to many of the treetops on the nine-hole golf course. Many
trees broke off or had to be cut down. In addition, one of the smaller
bridges on the course was lifted from its position and forced several
hundred feet downstream. Roger Spencer, who preceded me as Silver
Bay's superintendent, contacted about 20 members from the men's
league and arranged for the group to pick up the bridge and return
it to its original position.
As I stood there and watched the
members accomplish this, I was thinking how nice it would be if
they could clean up some of the broken limbs and downed trees. I
was half serious and half joking when I suggested this. However,
the next day's men's league play
was cancelled because
the course was still wet. So, these 20 men and a number of others
showed up with chain saws, wheelbarrows and rakes. In a little
more time than it takes to play their normal round, they had the
entire course clean as a whistle. Afterward, we provided steaks
that they cooked for themselves on the grills. This turned out
to be far more productive than I could ever have imagined. In
one evening, I became well acquainted with a large portion of
the membership, and they got to meet me. But more important, it
opened my eyes to a very valuable resource.
Know
your membership
I had tried, unsuccessfully,
to work with club volunteers in a similar way at the course where
I began my career. We tried on one occasion to organize a volunteer
tree-planting day. Only one volunteer came, and it was a total
flop. I concluded that the members at that particular course preferred
to have their dues increased to assure the completion of certain
projects, rather than volunteer their labor to accomplish these
same tasks.
I now contend that
although there are certainly
members at any club who would
agree with that, there are also many who would love the opportunity
to become part of a project that will improve the playing conditions
or aesthetics of their golf course. The reason we were unsuccessful
with our volunteer tree-planting day was that we failed to recognize
this difference in preferences among members, and therefore
did not target the proper group.
Fortunately for me, a larger
portion of the membership at Silver Bay is ideal for accomplishing
these types of tasks, so I was able to identify this group rather
quickly. Every year since 1990 we have taken on at least one
large project that has been accomplished primarily with volunteer
labor.
Irrigation
assistance
Our largest project has been
the installation of an automated irrigation system. Even though
budget constraints forced us to spread this project over three
years, once installed, the system was completely paid for. The
original irrigation system consisted of a manual quick-coupler
system with one quick-coupler at each tee and two by each green.
It was fueled by a large diesel pump that pumped water from
the Beaver River, which runs through the
golf course. In 1991, we purchased
all of the pipe, sprinklers, wire and other components necessary
for a single-row system down the center of each fairway.
A group of 13 to 16 volunteers
helped on a regular basis. We removed the sod prior to digging
each trench, installed the necessary parts and wire, back
filled the trench with the blade of the trencher, manually
tamped it the best we could, scooped up all of the excess
spoil by hand and replaced the sod. We did one fairway per
day. The
The next season we constructed
a holding reservoir and pumping station. The reservoir was
dug in the middle of the course, and all of the spoil was
placed and shaped around the perimeter of the pond. The
volunteers were not involved in digging the reservoir, but
once completed, the disturbed area required sodding. The
volunteers took on this task brilliantly, spending four
eight-hour days sodding this area. Most of the sod was cut
and harvested on site, which is much more labor intensive
than laying sod that someone cuts for first
one took more than 13 hours, but as we progressed throughout
the course, the volunteers became more proficient. By the
time we got to the last fairway, we had the sod lifted and
replaced in seven hours. Before we began, I was worried
that doing it this way would result in leaks, poor joints
or unleveled heads. While it is a never-ending battle to
keep the heads level in our unstable, clay soil, I can assure
you that the heads were all level to begin with, and there
was only one leak that resulted from a poorly glued joint.
you. It's easy to identify
the strengths and talents of each volunteer, so you know
which ones to contact for certain tasks. Those who are
the best carpenters were given the task of building the
pump house, and I was then able to assemble the pumping
station.
The final year of the project involved running the pipe to and around the greens and tees, putting in the satellite control boxes and running the wire to the boxes. The pipe and sprinkler installation was handled much the same as that in the fairway, by removing and replacing the sod. We rented a wirepuller for one day and were able to extend the wiring to the control boxes. The system has worked out extremely well, and watching it operate for the first time was an event that was enjoyed and highly anticipated by everyone who participated in the project.
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Other
projects
Another major project accomplished
with volunteer labor was the installation of a herringbone drainage
system under two of our push-up greens. The sod was removed and
laid off to the side in the pattern in which it was removed. Trenches
were lined with plywood, and soil was hand shoveled into trucksters.
Tile was installed and covered with drain rock, and trenches were
then backfilled with sand. Finally, the sod was very carefully
replaced. Both of these greens drainage projects were very successful.
Each green was out of play for a day and a half and within one
week, the scars were difficult to detect. Because one of the greens
drained too quickly, we later installed a control valve at the
drain's outlet that can be opened or closed, depending on the
needs of the green. These projects would have been impossible
with our limited budget and regular maintenance crew, but it was
very affordable with the help of the volunteers.
Some of the other projects volunteers
have worked on since 1990 include:
* Cleaning the golf
course after storms
* Spring cleaning the clubhouse
* Operating food and registration
tents during tournaments
* Re-shingling the clubhouse
roof
* Construction of a retaining
wall and
ornamental flower bed
* Construction of an enclosed,
heated shop area in the new maintenance building
* Repainting the clubhouse
interior
* Rock removal and finish
grading
* Installation of a 1,500-foot
natural gas line
* Construction of a suitable
pesticide storage facility
* Installation of several
hundred feet of drainage lines
* Installation of granite
tee signs
* Remodeling the clubhouse
women's restroom
* Remodeling the pro shop
area and display racks
* Removing old clubhouse carpet
* Constructing a golf car
enclosure area
* Completing three replacement
bridges spanning the Beaver River
'Valuable resource'
At one of our annual membership
meetings, the wife of one volunteer approached me and asked how
I get these guys to continue to participate in what are often
labor-intensive and exhausting projects. I don't know why these
individuals continue to volunteer for what is often quite strenuous
work -- all I know is that they do.
However, based on what I have learned
in the last 10 years of planning these volunteer projects, I have
come up with a few tips that I believe have led to success:
* The project must be well
planned and thought out.
* Assign tasks immediately
and don't have too much help on hand -- helpers will quickly lose
interest if it appears they are not needed.
* Recognize early the talents
of each individual.
* Delegate to each individual
the task he or she is best suited for. This is
best accomplished by knowing in advance their work history, hobbies and interests. * Identify early those who
work best together. Your volunteers must enjoy whom they are working
with or they may never come back.
* Provide plenty of free food
and beverage. They may not be willing to return if you do not
keep them comfortable while they are there.
* Make sure they have the tools
they need to do the job.
* Equip the volunteers with
modern power tools (rent them if necessary). They will not be
interested in helping you if they know there is a better way to
do the job.
* Take great interest in all
of their ideas and suggestions.
* Treat them as a valuable
resource that you appreciate.
* Insure general liability
coverage where workman's compensation will not apply.
Another very valuable resource for accomplishing
major projects may already be at your disposal. Recognize the talents
that you have on your existing paid staff. If you are using retired
personnel for some of your mowing, you have many years of life experience
on your staff. We are very fortunate to have a very talented welder
and steelworker on our mowing staff, who has been responsible for
replacing three of our golf car bridges that span 80 feet across
the Beaver River. Because most of the steel beams for the bridge
super structures were donated
from the North Shore Mining Co., excluding labor (much of it was
volunteer), we have approximately $2,000 invested in each of the
three bridges we replaced. Compare this to the cost bids we received
that were in excess of $50,000 each. Most courses will not be that
fortunate, but you never know until you start researching your options.
Never underestimate the value of the resources you already have.
If you have a larger budget or work
at a course without a regular membership, this type of program
may not generate much interest. However, I believe that as golf
course maintenance costs continue to escalate, golf course superintendents
and managers will be forced to come up with more creative and
innovative ways of continuing to provide the playing conditions
that are demanded for less money.
We are very proud of the things
that
have been accomplished through our
membership at Silver Bay CC. The members who have participated
in these projects have become good friends of the maintenance
staff. These members never complain when we aerate or topdress
greens, nor do they complain when the "no cars" sign is up after
a heavy rain. They take great pride in their golf course because
they have played such a large role in improving the conditions
of it.
A good superintendent will recognize
that he or she is working for the golfers, and these are the people
who will dictate whether you are doing a satisfactory job. Imagine
the unique relationship that is established when you change the
structure somewhat, so that your bosses are now working for you.
Norma O'Leary is CGCS
at Silver Bay (Minn.) Country Club and a 12-year member of GCSAA.
This article appeared originally in the Minnesota GCSA publication
Hole Notes.
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Norma O'Leary,
CGCS
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