Five Steps to Greater Job Securityby Peter J. Salinetti

Blog, Golf February 14, 2012 1:06 pm

Peter Salinetti, CGCS

DO IT DIFFERENT…DO IT BETTER: Whether you think about it or not, you are in direct competition with other golf courses for every golfer who puts a tee in the ground. Money that is spent to play golf is what is called discretionary spending. If the experience that a golfer has at your facility isn’t memorable, the odds are pretty good that sooner or later he will find another course to play. What are you doing differently than your competition to ensure that every round of golf played on your course is enjoyable and unforgettable? From your club’s entry way to the condition of the towels on your ball washers to the quality of your turf, it all matters and it matters a lot! No matter how many resources you have or how big or small your operating budget is, there are a million ways to set yourself apart from the competition. Heck, I know a superintendent who uses Armor All on those goofy looking divot boxes on his tees. That’s a very minor detail but if he cares that much about how things look on his tees, just imagine how he’s paying attention to detail on the rest of his property. Do it different…do it better.

ELIMINATE THE CLUTTER: Now, I’m not talking about the three or four years worth of trade journals stacked on your desk that you plan to read sometime when you have a chance. No, I’m talking about a new and much more stressful type of clutter. The clutter I’m talking about wasn’t much of a concern even four or five years ago. In this fast paced, high tech world it has become very easy to be overwhelmed with e-mails, texts and voicemails. It is very easy to ignore any or all of these messages. However, ignoring them doesn’t diminish their importance and they can add a great deal of stress to your already stressful day. Keeping your green chairman or your wife, for that matter, waiting hours for you to return a phone call isn’t going to make your life any easier. Deal with all of these messages promptly and efficiently. This will go a long way to elevate your stature as a true professional (and a good husband).

NETWORKING: We’ve discussed the importance of networking in the past but it seems like every year, I see a superintendent get in trouble and I can’t help but think if he had a rock solid network of industry people working for him, his life would be in a whole lot less turmoil. I can’t overstate the value in attending local chapter meetings and taking the time to really get to know the superintendents in your area. Sales reps, company owners and educators are all valuable resources. I’ll spare you the details but in June of 1978, I had a 60 second conversation with the owner of Grassland, Horst Pogge, at a NEGCSA meeting at Ekwanok Country Club. That very brief conversation changed my life dramatically. I can’t imagine how my life would have turned out if I had decided not to attend that meeting. Don’t under estimate the value of social networking. If you aren’t doing so already, you should be using Facebook and the world’s largest professional network, Linkedin. You never know when the next golden opportunity will pop up. As I like to say, never miss an opportunity to take advantage of an opportunity!

HAVE A “PLAN B”: Let’s be real; the odds of any superintendent having a career like Bill Stevens at Wolferts Roost are pretty slim. Bill’s been at a high end private club for over forty years. Given the way things happen in our industry today, forty years in one place is nothing short of miraculous. So, I think we all can agree that sometime down the road a job change may be in your future. Some superintendents will be fortunate enough to move up the ladder, others may have had enough and choose to do something completely different. Think about this, if you couldn’t land a job as a superintendent, how would you pay your bills and provide for your family? I’ve learned some things about golf course superintendents during my travels in recent years but most importantly, you all are a pretty talented bunch of guys. For example, I know a super who with a college course or two could be a very successful golf course architect. I have another friend who enjoys restoring old Corvettes in his off time. Or how about the superintendent who makes beautiful high end hunting knives? I also know a couple of very talented carpenters who could build or restore houses. They may not know it but they all have a “Plan B”. I would strongly recommend that if you have a passion outside of work that you spend some time thinking about how you would turn that passion into gold. My “Plan B”? If I don’t go global with my “Famous Kickass Jerky”, I’ll get a pickup truck, laptop computer, Accu Pro spreader and a couple of Polyon blends and be just fine.

BECOME THE “GO TO” GUY: We all know that during the course of the year there are hundreds of problems that pop up at your club that have nothing to do with growing grass and usually you’re the first person who is asked to help out. That’s only natural because you’re a problem solver and the most detail oriented and valuable person on staff. All these little annoying distractions are tremendous opportunities to show your value to the overall operation. Always be approachable and maintain a positive attitude. Remember…never miss an opportunity to take advantage of an opportunity!

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