What have you done for me lately... Cancel The title field is required!

1. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   12/13/2012 10:12 AM

   I currently work at a municipal golf course, and got into a discussion with some other superintendents in the area. One of them made a comment, don't remember which one, one of them constantly deals with "what have you done for me lately?" Has this been the new mentality of our employers?
   
   So....This got me me thinking, what if the roles where reversed? What has your boss done for you lately? Does anyone think like this? Or is it instinctive of them to expect you to just to "get it done"?
   
   Don't get me wrong here, my department does have the "get it done" attitude, but it seems the more we do the more is expected.....
   
   So what has your boss done for you lately?

   
   
   
   
2. Gary Carls

   

   20 posts
   
   12/13/2012 11:12 AM

   Doug,
   
   We are a municipal operation that has cut materials budget, cut staff, eliminated all overtime, eliminated any regular staff working on on Holidays, etc. It makes no sense that no greens mowing or course setup happens on Holidays when our customers pay premium fees. We have one person who comes in and cleans the restrooms, that's it. We also now spray fungicides during "regular work hours" meaning we need to keep courses closed until the products dry. We treat it similar to a frost delay. No changes as far as expectations go for course conditions accompanied any of this. Obviously my input on this does little to change what the higher ups think we need to do.
   
   Like you, my staff still has a "we can get it done" attitude which is the only reason why we haven't suffered worse than we have so far. Right now they are a bit frustrated and have a hard time accepting giving the customers less for their money. This approach might work for a short time but it can't last forever. By then it's usually too late as many customers will go somewhere else to play.

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
   
   
3. Mark Van Lienden

   

   14 posts
   
   12/13/2012 12:12 PM

   I have been a superintendent since 1974 and it has always been a what have you done for me latly.In a way it keeps me on my toes.As the economy gets worse I am afraid it will turn into" can we get it done cheaper"mentality which is a little harder to control.

   
   
   
   
4. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   12/13/2012 12:12 PM

   Gary Carls, CGCS said: It makes no sense that no greens mowing or course setup happens on Holidays when our customers pay premium fees. We have one person who comes in and cleans the restrooms, that's it.

   
   
   I know it's not your doing, but whoever decided this has put a higher expectation on having clean restrooms than mowed greens. Hmm....must not be a golfer. Or must be a woman.
   
   We do whatever, whenever, however. When the rest of the company has cut back, we're still here doing our thing, and theirs. My entire staff has a great attitude about doing things outside of golf and jumps at the opportunity of doing something different. Because of this we are asked to do more on a regular basis. I look at it as a sign of trust. My boss trusts that we'll get it done, and I'm happy with that.

   
   
   
   
5. Gary Carls

   

   20 posts
   
   12/13/2012 1:12 PM

   Andy,
   
   You're right, not my choice but it was a pretty basic instruction from those above. One part-time seasonal person to clean the bathrooms and "inspect" both courses on Holidays. He only has a 4-hour shift and the two courses are about 5 miles apart with a total of six restrooms to service. Lots of disease popped up over Thanksgiving with greens not being mowed or whipped on either Thursday or Friday and lots of moisture on the surfaces but that doesn't seem to matter either.
   
   Making the best of it we can!

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   12/13/2012 5:12 PM

   My boss did buy me lunch on my birthday last month, first time that had happened since I don't remember. He did just start a couple of months ago. Now I'm keep looking for that approved request for San Diego, but that comes from above him.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. Gary Carls

   

   20 posts
   
   12/14/2012 8:12 AM

   Mel,
   
   Like you, I'm still awaiting the approval for San Diego. All the expenses are on my own but was hoping the City would pay me while I'm there but if not I'll be on vacation that week. The approval that normally comes from the Director was actually pushed downward in the chain of command this year. Been waiting about 4 weeks so far while the request is being considered. Nothing moves fast at the City!!

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
   
   
8. James Smith

   

   113 posts
   
   12/16/2012 6:12 AM

   well my boss has recently moved me into the clubhouse to handle the renovations for Isaac's wrath. Can't say I am mad with the move since it has been cold the last couple of weeks but the longer 12-16hr days are a drag. Oh he did by breakfast for me the other day, but told me I needed to eat it quick and get back to work.

   
   
   
   
9. Robert Crockett

   

   4 posts
   
   12/16/2012 9:12 AM

   James Smith said: well my boss has recently moved me into the clubhouse to handle the renovations for Isaac's wrath. Can't say I am mad with the move since it has been cold the last couple of weeks but the longer 12-16hr days are a drag. Oh he did by breakfast for me the other day, but told me I needed to eat it quick and get back to work.

   
   I'm sorry that you have to work for someone like that

   
   
   
   
10. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    12/16/2012 3:12 PM

    Gary Carls, CGCS said: Andy,
    
    You're right, not my choice but it was a pretty basic instruction from those above. One part-time seasonal person to clean the bathrooms and "inspect" both courses on Holidays. He only has a 4-hour shift and the two courses are about 5 miles apart with a total of six restrooms to service. Lots of disease popped up over Thanksgiving with greens not being mowed or whipped on either Thursday or Friday and lots of moisture on the surfaces but that doesn't seem to matter either.
    
    Making the best of it we can!

    
    
    Gary,
    
    Is this a new development for your operation? It seems a poor way to run a golf course and why some municipal golf courses get a bad rap. Do union rules not allow you to schedule your staff they way you want so someone takes off Tuesday and works 4 hours on Thur/Fri?
    
    I feel for your frustration.

    
    
    
    
11. Gary Carls

    

    20 posts
    
    12/17/2012 9:12 AM

    David,
    
    The only real change is the total elimination of any OT except for emergencies and the fact that we are currently working with three less staff than normal. We are allowed to schedule employees as we need to cover weekends etc. so we rotate those on a regular basis for 6 months at a time. By the terms of their contract, any of the regular employees that work on a Holiday have to be paid OT for that time.
    
    As with many municipalities, I think the real issue has become that unlike in the past, the decisions on how to run the courses have been taken out of the hands of those of us that have the most experience and those decisions are now being made at a higher level with cutting costs as the major focus. I try to point out that the minimal costs for OT to mow and do set-up on Holidays are more than reasonable as all it takes is for one or two groups to leave to make these savings meaningless because of the revenue we lose. They are oblivious to the impacts even maintaining basic course conditions can have on long-term revenues.
    
    No one is really listening right now but as we head into a winter which is starting off much wetter than normal we are already down 3,000 rounds from last year and things are already looking pretty bleak for their revenue forecasts for this year. The sad part is that I don't think their approach will really change until it's too late.

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
12. Jack Tripp

    

    3 posts
    
    12/17/2012 10:12 PM

    Gary,
    
    How does the golf shop operate with no O.T. on holidays, etc? Do the pros or asst pros work more than 40 hours per week? Are the private contractors?
    
    Jack Tripp
    La Crosse Country Club
    Onalaska, WI

    
    
    
    
13. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    12/18/2012 7:12 AM

    We do get the occasional OT during the summer, and I mean occasional, like one person, because it's me and if I can justify having to come in due to hot weather and check the course and irrigation system.
    
    Our full timers will get an extra day off that week, for example the person that has to work the Monday holiday will get to take their holiday on Thursday, and the person that is already scheduled to be off on Monday will get Tuesday off. We'll have our seasonal come in and set the course up and one or two will stay if needed to syringe greens. Our guys work either a Sun - Thur schedule or a Tue - Sat schedule. When that holiday falls on Wednesdays my FT guys come in but will still get their Tue or Thur off. We are closed on Christmas day. Actually they prefer not to have to work that day and get OT.
    
    Our Pro Shop manager only comes in on a holiday if it's an emergency, our Pro will take another day off that week. They are contract but enjoy the same benefits that we do, well except they get bonuses because they are contract.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
14. Gary Carls

    

    20 posts
    
    12/18/2012 8:12 AM

    Jack,
    
    That's another one of the twists in the past year. The golf shop staff had never budgeted any OT for their staff but always had their regular staff here on Holidays thus exceeding their budget. We always had budgeted OT in our budget to cover Holidays, greens aerations, fungicide and herbicide spraying and occasional coverage for staff that might be on vacation and we never exceeded what we had budgeted in my 13 years I have been here. This year they added OT to the golf shop budget for all their regular staff (3 or 4 between our 2 courses) that work the Holidays. They removed all the OT from my operating budget so we now do all of the tasks we used to do as OT during regular work hours including spraying etc. and close the courses while the products dry. Makes no sense to me at all but it's what we have been directed to do.
    
    Just got our YTD numbers through December 8th and rounds are down 9.8% (3500) and revenue is down 6.5% ($63,000). With rain yesterday and lots more forecasted in the next week the picture isn't getting any brighter. We have 3 positions not filled right now while the golf shops are fully staffed. Wonder what the next cut will be?

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
15. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    12/18/2012 3:12 PM

    Mel and Gary,
    
    I feel for you and others trying to do your jobs and run a competitve golf course this way. I am at a county operated golf course and although any non-supervisors working over 40 hours per week gets overtime we do things differently.
    
    I can use seasonal employees for any job and they do the bulk of the weekend/holiday work along with a "exempt" from overtime supervisor. (myself or assistant take turns) Seasonals get overtime only if they work over 40 hours for the pay period and most are scheduled at 36 hours a week. 4 weekdays at 8 hours and one weekend 4 hour shift.
    
    The full time benefited employees work summer holidays and take a day off some other time. No overtime or time and half comp time.
    
    Since when is the day after Thanksgiving a holiday? For us we can work or take a personal or vacation day. Some departments in the county are shut down but the same rules apply.
    
    Good luck to both of you as you try to teach your bosses that golf maintenance is not only needed during the week.