Golf Course Maintenance - Key To A Great CourseGolf course maintenance is the sometimes "invisible" activity you may never notice. However, you will notice its absence very, very quickly. Nothing attracts players so much as a well-kept, neat and beautiful course. Conversely, when the course appears to be rundown and neglected, it is unlikely that visitors will ever return. Without good golf course maintenance, a golf course is not a viable operation. To better understand and enjoy the game of golf, you need to know a few things about how a golf club is managed, and how a course is maintained. There are three main factors involved in running a successful golf club:
Overall Management A golf club may be managed by either an owner(s) or a board of directors who provide the general direction and policies. A General Manager provides the day-to-day management and oversees the managers of the course maintenance operation, the food and beverage operation, and the course operation, as well as other minor activities. The food and beverage operation provides the restaurant, bar, snack bar, and the beverage cart. If the club has an active social program (dances, etc.), the food and beverage activity may be heavy. The operation of any half-way houses (ninth hole) also comes within this group. Golf Course Maintenance If you think about what you do around your own home and multiply that by about a hundred, you will have some idea about the task of course maintenance. To list some of the key tasks:
Maintenance activities and golf do not mix very well, so the maintenance work-day starts with daylight. Ideally, the main work of cutting greens and fairways can be completed before the course is opened to golfing. Watering will usually be done at the end of the day and overnight if necessary. During exceptionally hot weather, watering may be done during the day as well. Aeration of fairways is difficult for golfers, since it basically turns a fairway into a real mess until the cores of earth and grass have been removed. Some courses may close until the aeration is completed to avoid this disruption. Others may close specific holes or may just take a “golfer beware” attitude. Most other golf course maintenance activities will not interfere with golfers. There is a breed of golfer called “early bird” or “dawn patrol” on some courses who get to the course to play before the regular tee times (i.e. before the course officially opens). Because they play while such things as greens cutting is done, I have no doubt that they are the bane of maintenance workers. Alas, I must confess that I am one of them! Golf Course Operation Finally, we get to the operation of the golf course itself. This is where we all come to play the glorious game. Play on the course is managed by the starter and the marshals. The starter ensures that players are present and have a tee time, and are either members or have paid the green fee. The marshal(s) is(are) responsible for ensuring that play is not slow and that behavior on the course is appropriate. Both starter and marshal will ensure that all players wear proper golf attire. The golf pro will normally have an area known as the “pro shop”. The pro shop is where you would go to pay the green fee. If you need a motorized or pull cart, this is where you can get it. The pro shop also carries golf clothing, golf clubs, golf balls, and tees. Some carry sets of clubs for rental. If the course has a driving range, you can also pick up a basket of balls or a token for use in a ball dispenser.
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