There is nothing easy about being a golf course superintendent. You have to deal with unpredictable weather, turf diseases, damaging insects, weeds, staff shortages, equipment breakdowns and countless other challenges on any given day. Then golfers come along and spend their time gleefully battering the surfaces you work so hard to create. Truth be told, most golfers don’t show enough appreciation for all the hard work it takes to maintain a golf course. We expect good playing conditions, but don’t often think about all that goes into making that a reality. Fortunately, it’s never too late to start saying thanks. Here’s a few easy ways to do it:
Minimize your impact on the course.
A little bit of care and common sense will minimize your impact on the course and make life easier for the superintendent. Don't hike up the steep grass or sand face of a bunker, don’t drive your cart into a native area looking for a lost ball, don't use the tees or fairways as a practice range…and the list goes on. Being mindful of how our conduct affects the course and the people who take care of it is a great way to thank the superintendent and show your respect for the game, your fellow players and the course itself.
Fix what you can.
No matter how careful we are, playing golf inevitably puts some dents and dings in the maintenance team's hard work. The good news is that it's easy to repair a lot of the damage we create, which is another great way to thank the superintendent. Fixing your ball marks on the green – and any unrepaired ones you see nearby – is a good place to start. Replacing or filling divots, raking bunkers and picking up any trash you notice are all great ways to say thanks with your actions and to set an example for others. Simply making the effort means a lot.
Make time to say thanks.
Too often, golfers make a point of letting the superintendent know something they didn’t like about course conditions but fail to say thanks for all the times when everything was great. If you see the superintendent out on the course, take a moment to say thanks. It won’t take much effort and might just make their day. If you don’t cross paths with the superintendent very often, you can always call or send an email. One appreciative email can make up for a lot of the other ones. Oh, and dropping donuts off at the maintenance facility one morning is always a hit if you want to go the extra mile!
Most superintendents are accustomed to doing their work without much fanfare. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to say thanks when we can – or at least conduct ourselves in a way that shows our appreciation for all the hard work that goes into maintaining the courses we enjoy.