This spring has been mild compared to our start in 2018. In breezing through photos of last year, grass was still dormant-brown and looking quite pathetic. Fast forward a year and mowing is well underway as ground temperatures continue to rise and plants are glowing green. Rain across the region has been sporadic, and some — maybe most —are still dealing with wet conditions that have persisted going back more than a year. I hope 2019 brings a more pleasant pattern of weather for all.

Labor has been an ongoing issue in the golf industry. Even with rising wages, it has been difficult for superintendents to get applications for these jobs, let alone find qualified or willing candidates to fill these positions. This worker shortage has forced superintendents to be more creative with their hiring, including heavier recruitment with high school students.

In fact, I recently attended a career fair in Frederick, Md., with the Mid-Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents. We set up a table display with different turfgrass samples, a moisture meter, a video about working on a golf course, and other items trying to spark students’ interest in finding a summer job on a golf course. We had many meaningful interactions with students ranging from freshmen to seniors, and rarely did any of them consider a career within the turfgrass industry. As a whole, we need to try to attend events like this where we can and get involved in sparking interest in turfgrass and golf. These students can help fill summer positions and some may be a future key employee. Tyler Bloom at Sparrow's Point Country Club in Baltimore has also done a great job with building the beginning phases of apprenticeship programs partnering with school districts around Maryland. Kudos!

Another initiative working to grow interest in turfgrass and golf is The First Green, a GCSAA program. This program aims to bring fifth grade students out to the golf course and teach them about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education through the lens of golf course management. These field trips often include “labs” covering topics such as soil science, water conservation and related technology, and reviews of insects and wildlife found on golf courses. If you have a chance to participate in a field trip, it is a great opportunity to work with kids and make a difference. The students who attend these events are truly engaged and excited to participate. Maybe you can even host an event of your own!

Coming up on April 30 and May 1 is National Golf Day, taking place in our nation’s Capital. On April 30, we will engage a community service project on the National Mall, in which we can help enhance one of our nation’s most visible areas for tourists and the like. On May 1, we will visit law-makers on Capitol Hill to talk about the benefits of turfgrass and the golf industry and hope to gain credibility for our stewardship of the land, environment, and wildlife. Again, this is a great opportunity to “tell our story,” and this initiative proves beneficial for the golf industry and our image as stewards of the environment.  

Best of luck heading in to summer, and I hope to see you around!