Just venting!! Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jeremy Hreben

   

   0 posts
   
   7/10/2013 7:07 PM

   So a golfer emailed Friday to complain about the course. He was shocked at the condition of the course! There was standing water everywhere with large dead spots and tires tracks. Greens weren't mowed. The golfer felt we should have closed for 2 weeks till we were in better shape.
   I guess he didn't get the 13" of rain followed by 95 degree days!
   My course has 2 conditions:
   really really good condition including firm, fast greens, clean fairways, manicured bunkers
   Or a disaster area, soft, uncut greens, hard pan bunkers, dead fairways.
   No matter what I do I cant find a middle ground. I do not drain at all, fairways and greens, I have a 5 man crew.
   Sometimes it is disheartening. Very depressing. Especially since I am powerless over all the negatives.
   Just letting off some steam guys. Thanks for lending an ear.

   
   
   
   
2. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   7/10/2013 8:07 PM

   Reply to him with all that.

   
   
   
   
3. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   7/11/2013 6:07 AM

   Jeremy Hreben said: So a golfer emailed Friday to complain about the course. He was shocked at the condition of the course! There was standing water everywhere with large dead spots and tires tracks. Greens weren't mowed. The golfer felt we should have closed for 2 weeks till we were in better shape.
   I guess he didn't get the 13" of rain followed by 95 degree days!
   My course has 2 conditions:
   really really good condition including firm, fast greens, clean fairways, manicured bunkers
   Or a disaster area, soft, uncut greens, hard pan bunkers, dead fairways.
   No matter what I do I cant find a middle ground. I do not drain at all, fairways and greens, I have a 5 man crew.
   Sometimes it is disheartening. Very depressing. Especially since I am powerless over all the negatives.
   Just letting off some steam guys. Thanks for lending an ear.

   
   
   
   Hang in there Jeremy. We all get the complaints, regardless of golf course or budget. In the end, do the best you can with the resources you have available. Fall is just around the corner...

   
   
   
   
4. Canedo Alberto J

   
   7/11/2013 7:07 AM

   Jeremy,
   Hang in there. I have had major problems since April and as soon as I get it fixed, something else goes down. 4 months of pump station failures and finally get everything dialed in and then I come in to work on Monday a crashed computer that runs my irrigation system. I have explained it to all th egolfers that ask why the course is in this condidtion and I simply tell them what is going on. Not fun watering a golf course during the day with golfers, but I have to do what it takes to keep it green. Just explain it to that golfer and to others that ask. It has helped me out and also can be very informative to the golfer.

   
   
   
   
5. Anthony Nysse

   

   1 posts
   
   7/11/2013 11:07 AM

   Jeremy Hreben said: So a golfer emailed Friday to complain about the course. He was shocked at the condition of the course! There was standing water everywhere with large dead spots and tires tracks. Greens weren't mowed. The golfer felt we should have closed for 2 weeks till we were in better shape.
   I guess he didn't get the 13" of rain followed by 95 degree days!
   My course has 2 conditions:
   really really good condition including firm, fast greens, clean fairways, manicured bunkers
   Or a disaster area, soft, uncut greens, hard pan bunkers, dead fairways.
   No matter what I do I cant find a middle ground. I do not drain at all, fairways and greens, I have a 5 man crew.
   Sometimes it is disheartening. Very depressing. Especially since I am powerless over all the negatives.
   Just letting off some steam guys. Thanks for lending an ear.

   
   
   Like Andy said, tell him what you said. Or let it roll off your back. If you're working hard, doing the right things and mother nature is not cooperating, there is nothing that you can do. He is ignorant for not realizing that weather plays such a roll.

   
   
   
   
6. David Brudwick

   

   1 posts
   
   7/11/2013 7:07 PM

   Hang in there, Its been a tough year here in Minnesota also. We can only do so much and mother nature doesn't ever call us and tell us whats she's going to do next. I'd be more than happy to give her my cell number. It never hurts to vent. I know I feel better after I get done venting. Good luck and take care.... Dave

   
   
   
   
7. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   7/12/2013 12:07 PM

   Hange in there Jeremy, I have been in the daily fee golf for 26 years and on the same day 20% of the customers just love the course and think it is the best ever, 5% think it is the worst ever and the rest just want to play golf and have a good time.
   
   Goofy comments tick me off short term but overall I just let it roll off my back and realize some golfers need to complain about something. Just today I had one of our 70 year olds say we were going to ruin the greens by rolling and doublecutting for events. He has played here for 30 plus years and I have been here doing the same thing for 16 years and never once have the greens died. It was a stupid comment by a guy who is never happy.
   
   I would have responded to the email with a quick;
   
   [u">Thank you for your comments and concerns. This weather has been hard on the golfers and our staff as we struggle to maintain the golf course. Hopefully the weather will change soon and things will be back to normal.
   
   Although the course may not be ideal we stay open and do what we can because many of our customers just enjoy playing golf even though the course is a bit soggy and not 100% maintained right now.
   
   Thanks again and see you soon. [/u">
   
   Life is too short to worry about what every other person worries about. Good luck

   
   
   
   
8. Schlagetter David B

   
   7/15/2013 9:07 AM

   I've found that none of the complainers want to hear why things are bad. They just want to do the same as you, vent!
   
   I no longer give them any of my energy through worry. Not one of them can come close to my standards for my job.
   
   Dave Schlagetter

   
   
   
   
9. Mowrey Mark S

   
   7/17/2013 4:07 PM

   Jeremy, I am feeling the same and that is why I decided to read the forums. It is quit obvious that our profession is one of the few that we can not only ask and receive the best advice available but also "vent" as you have done and know that all of us completely understand what you are talking about. I just erased my troubles I was going to write about as we all are experiencing a season of extremes which are becoming more numerous it seems. I have 36 years doing what we do and just know that you have a lot of understanding and support out here. I hope all the responses you are getting helps a tad.
   Mark M.

   
   
   
   
10. Andy Jorgensen

    

    1 posts
    
    7/18/2013 9:07 AM

    Mark Mowrey said: Jeremy, I am feeling the same and that is why I decided to read the forums. It is quit obvious that our profession is one of the few that we can not only ask and receive the best advice available but also "vent" as you have done and know that all of us completely understand what you are talking about. I just erased my troubles I was going to write about as we all are experiencing a season of extremes which are becoming more numerous it seems. I have 36 years doing what we do and just know that you have a lot of understanding and support out here. I hope all the responses you are getting helps a tad.
    Mark M.

    
    
    
    Well said, Mark.

    
    
    
    
11. Holt Michael

    
    8/13/2013 10:08 AM

    Mark Mowrey said: Jeremy, I am feeling the same and that is why I decided to read the forums. It is quit obvious that our profession is one of the few that we can not only ask and receive the best advice available but also "vent" as you have done and know that all of us completely understand what you are talking about. I just erased my troubles I was going to write about as we all are experiencing a season of extremes which are becoming more numerous it seems. I have 36 years doing what we do and just know that you have a lot of understanding and support out here. I hope all the responses you are getting helps a tad.
    Mark M.

    
    
    Well said Mark. And I will add, Jeremy remind your self first and then remind everyone else that 50% of our job is 100% out of our control. If any other professional can meet/control those odds then my hat is off to them. Keep it up brother, we are all right there with you. Aerating greens and got 1.2" rain last night with more on the way today, tomorrow and the next. Do the best you can do with the cards you're delt. Anything weather related I will respond "hey talk to God if you have a problem with it, I can't do anything about it". I would venture to say had you closed the golf course the same guy would have been complaining about that.

    
    
    
    
12. Keith Pegg

    

    0 posts
    
    8/13/2013 4:08 PM

    I keep a hate stone on my desk and try to leave it all on the stone, after 40 years it really does work.
    hate is a hurts and a kind word goes a long way.
    
    Keith

    
    
    
    
13. Keith Lamb

    

    3 posts
    
    8/13/2013 6:08 PM

    I always tell them that if I could control the weather, they couldn't afford me.