Salesmen as consultants Cancel The title field is required!

1. Scott Sewell

   

   0 posts
   
   8/30/2015 7:08 PM

   This is happening is my area at a few courses where the course lost a superintendent and instead of rehiring someone a friendly neighborhood salesmen tells the course they can "volunteer their expertise". By doing so the course does not hire a superintendent and just has more or less a crew foreman and does whatever the salesmen tells them. My issue would be that they are keeping people more than likely an assistant somewhere a superintendents job. These are all courses that have had qualified superintendent's in the past so it is not that they can't pay someone. What thoughts do some of you have on either side of this and is this happening in other places?
   
   Scott Sewell, CGCS
   Emerald Bay GC/ Seascape Resort
   Destin, FL

   
   
   
   
2. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   8/30/2015 9:08 PM

   Why should they pay someone if that model works for them? If all they need is technical expertise why pay for other things too?
   
   To me it seems like a pretty shaky situation that wouldn't hold up for very long, but if it works for them what's the issue?

   
   
   
   
3. Trevor Monreal

   

   5 posts
   
   8/30/2015 9:08 PM

   This has been happening everywhere for a while now...
   Except in most places it's called: Management Companies
   And with federal regulations piling on I can see more and more clubs handing over management of their facilities

   
   
   
   
4. Stephen Johnson

   

   0 posts
   
   8/31/2015 8:08 AM

   Scott,
   Is it feasible in your area to boycott said salesman? I had one of your local GM's call and ask my opinion of this exact same matter in your area, he inherited a situation where this is the case. I told him I use my vendor reps as a sounding board for ideas and new products to the market before trying something I've not used in the past, but not to prescribe programs or cultural practices.

   
   
   
   
5. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   8/31/2015 1:08 PM

   Scott,
   
   This situation has happened at small clubs for years with success. They don't feel they need a superintendent and for the most part they get by just fine without one. Sometimes the operation matures into the next level and is a good job for a superintendent and sometimes they just stay the same forever. The salesman is doing his job, selling his product to a needing customer. It would be silly to turn down the business in for the "honor of the profession" only to have the next guy in the door make the sale.
   
   I have seem some of these courses waste money on programs, procedures and products they do not need but so do some superintendents.
   
   Overall it does not bother me. There will be courses with "superintendents" of different abilities and pay ranges long after i am gone. If it works for them, so be it.

   
   
   
   
6. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   8/31/2015 8:08 PM

   Over the years I think I've seen more out of work superintendents with a "Consultant" business card do more of this than a friendly neighborhood salesman try the same.

   
   
   
   
7. Wahlin Scott B

   
   8/31/2015 9:08 PM

   This was the original business model of Scott's. Scott's Salespeople were considered to be up there with USGA TAS back in the day. Even equipment salespeople were invited in to do a complete inventory and provide recommendations.

   
   
   
   
8. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   10/14/2015 3:10 PM

   Not true Scott. I was a Scott's Tech Rep from 77 to 87. We never did anything but serve as a partner to the supt to help solve problems and grow healthy turf! I knew guys from all over the country and not one tried to be anything more than a provider of information and service. Yes we did put together fertilizer and fungicide programs but that was to be an aid for the supt. not to tell him anymore than what products fit the various needs and budgets. Sure, some guys needed more help than others but I know of nobody trying to do the supts. job!

   
   
   
   
9. Sean Hoolehan

   

   0 posts
   
   10/15/2015 8:10 AM

   I'm surrounded by small low budget courses that have either very inexperienced superintendents, or foreman running the grounds department. Often sales people really help these courses out. Many of these salesmen consultants are former superintendents with years of knowledge and they do the industry a favor by sharing experience with these OJT superintendents. They are often the first person to introduce the local GCSAA Chapter to these inexperienced Superintendents. The economic health of game is important to future growth and better opportunities in the golf business. New golfers rarely enter the game at the high-end public\private course level. They graduate to better or more highly maintained courses.
   
   One of the things I really like about the proposed changes to the GCSAA Class A standards is they would allow these individuals to retain Class A status.