8/23/2013 9:08 AM
We have an annual member clean up day. Everyone checks in at 8 am at the pro shop and gets to pick one of several items to accomplish from a list I compiled the week before. Often times you get a group of members that have it out for a certain tree or problem area but I live with it. The three area high schools that use our facility also show up on this day to work. I've had a few situations where there was a lot of cleanup left when they were done but all in all its a success. I've never seen a membership that cares for their course like they do here. If you spend the time to organize and prioritize projects for them it's amazing how many things you can get accomplished in a short amount of time that pays all summer long. At 1 pm we bring everyone in for a lunch at the café followed by a golf outing in which they can bring one free guest. Several members (about 15) spend the entire day working over flower beds, trimming yardage markers or overhanging branches, painting benches and hole posts that hold ballwashers. Never have I had the comment of "that was easy, what takes you so long." They actually go the other way of saying "wow, that would have took you and your crew a couple of weeks to get done." Maybe I'm just lucky and have one of the best memberships out there but I believe the relationships formed between my crew and the membership is far better from this experience then if we didn't have it. One key that makes it successful is me and my crew actively participating. Constantly running trucks to dump debris and myself making continued laps around the course encouraging people of their work while also critiquing it. Be active, stay positive, and I've found more benefits then not. Good luck, its worth it!!