9/13/2021

Help Wanted! POLYON for Hire" data-mce-src="http://files.harrells.com/blog/2021/POLYON -Blog_BP.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" data-mce-style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">

Everyone across the Unites States, no matter what industry, is having a difficult time filling open positions in their line of work. Since the onset of the pandemic, it has become increasingly difficult to find and keep qualified workers employed. The golf industry is no different from any other industry in the United States. If you ask golf course superintendents across the country about some of their biggest issues on the course, they will almost always say the lack of a labor force wanting to work on a golf course is on or near the top. As golf course superintendents look for alternative and creative ways to accommodate today’s workers, the industry is competing against industries which are not nearly as physically demanding and offer nearly identical wages.

What does a golf course superintendent do to offset the labor shortages? Well, there are quite a few options! Superintendents can be flexible and creative with the scheduling of their labor force to accommodate second jobs or schooling. In addition, a strategic plan to reduce maintenance in outlying areas, and to simplify the design and layout of the golf course are options that can save on labor time. Lastly, superintendents can look at using technology and automation to become more efficient in their operations.

This is where Harrell’s and the POLYON® brand of fertilizer, along with the POLYGRAPH®, come into play in assisting with the current labor pool shortage. POLYON® controlled-release fertilizer technology has been around since the late 1980’s - early 1990’s. POLYON® is a proven controlled-release fertilizer which assists with the golf courses agronomic fertilizer plan. POLYON®, with its patented polyurethane coating, can and will reduce the need for several applications of fertilizer over an entire growing season. The conventional method of applying fertilizer increases the chance of nitrogen volatilization, as well as ground or surface water pollution, resulting in the plant not being able to absorb nitrogen when needed. Compared to POLYON® branded fertilizer technology, which delivers the right amount of nutrients at the appropriate times. The use of POLYON® technology gives golf course superintendents a predictable, proven, and reliable tool to make golf course maintenance more efficient and save on labor costs of several fertilizer applications.

In addition, Harrell’s now offers an automation tool for superintendents to further dial in and reduce unwanted labor costs associated with extra fertilizer applications to the golf course. The POLYGRAPH® from Harrell’s, allows golf course superintendents to customize a POLYON® fertilizer application for their particular golf course property. The POLYGRAPH® allows the Harrell’s territory manager to show exactly how a particular POLYON® product will release on a weekly basis throughout the life cycle of the application. The POLYGRAPH® can be utilized to show a golf course superintendent when the most beneficial time to apply fertilizer to their particular property will be. This automation tool is highly effective in determining when labor will be needed for fertilizer applications, easing the scheduling of personnel and saving on labor costs.

For golf course superintendents who are always competing with the hundreds of other employers currently looking for some type of labor assistance, the relief will likely come through a combination of technology and automation. Harrell’s is set up both now and in the future with POLYON® controlled-release fertilizer and the POLYGRAPH® automation tool.

Contact your local Harrell’s sales representative for more information on how POLYON® can best serve you.

References:

Golf Course Industry Magazine: Title: Labor Woes: June ,2021 Author: Bradley Klein