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| Web URL(s): | https://gsrpdf.lib.msu.edu/?file=/2000s/2003/030901.pdf
Last checked: 01/25/2017
Requires: PDF Reader |
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| Publication Type:
| Professional |
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| Author(s): | Oatis, David A. |
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| Author Affiliation: | Director, Northeast Region, USGA Green Section |
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| Title: | The ten most common green committee mistakes |
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| Source: | USGA Green Section Record. Vol. 41, No. 5, September/October 2003, p. 1-6. |
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| Publishing Information: | Far Hills, NJ: United States Golf Association, Green Section |
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| # of Pages: | 6 |
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| Keywords: | TIC Keywords: Golf green committee; Golf courses; Golf course superintendents; Golf green committee chairperson; Golfers; USGA Green Section; Problem-solving; Golfer expectations; Budgets; Decision-making; Communications
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| Abstract/Contents: | States that "Green Committee mistakes are not new, nor are the mistakes they make very original... Upon surveying the Green Section staff, ... it became quite clear that there is a distinct pattern to the mistakes most commonly made by Green Committees." Explains the role of the Green Committee, stating that "they are an advisory board whose role should be to hire a golf course superintendent and make broad-based decisions on budget and policy." Explains that the task of the green chairman is "to organize and hold regular meetings of the committee and to develop and maintain a close relationship with the golf course superintendent." Describes the mistake of "shopping for the right opinion," in which "committees look for a superintendent or consultant who will give them the answers and corresponding recommendations they desire." Explains the mistake of committee members having "not enough time to participate fully," and states that "the committee member who doesn't have time to participate fully generally is not capable of making informed decisions." Describes a problem where "the structure at some courses is for the green chairman to serve `at the will... of the president.' While this arrangement can function acceptably in some cases, it can fail miserably when personalities clash and/or difficult decisions have to be made... When personalities or agendas clash, the green chairman can easily be removed from office and replaced with a more agreeable candidate. Frequent turnover in the leadership position of the Green Committee is never a good idea, but it can be especially disastrous when it happens in mid-season!" Describes micromanagement as a common mistake of Green Committees, stating that "the committee should make broad-based policy decisions and should not be involved in the day-to-day maintenance of the golf course... The committee member also must realize that the competent superintendent has a better appreciation of the `big picture' and may have other maintenance issues to deal with that have higher priorities." Describes "unrealistic demands" as another common Green Committee mistake. "Examples include trying to maintain championship conditions every day of the year or requiring that the greens be a specific speed every day. These are problems often fueled by televised golf coverage. Most of the courses portrayed each week on television are in nearly flawless condition, and this one-sided view of course conditioning gives golfers everywhere the unrealistic notion that the courses are maintained in this condition every day of the year." States that "turfgrass has its limits, even if the budget does not, and golfers everywhere need to keep in mind that there usually is a direct relationship between fast putting green speeds and dead grass." Another mistake, involving egos, is described as how "a committee or chairman with a large ego can be easily transformed into someone who wants to `leave their mark on the course.' To that end, peculiar and impractical designs are sometimes contrived and perpetrated on the course, squandering labor and funds and weaking havoc on the course." States that "Green Committees can avoid this pitfall by utilizing and listening to competent consultants and by developing master plans for long-range improvement." Describes another mistake, "the inability to make tough decisions," stating that "it should always be the goal of the superintendent and the course officials to avoid disruption of the golf course and golf schedule, but the solutions to some problems require just that." Discusses the mistake of "unbalanced representation or fails to represent all golfers." Explains that some committees can be too large, which "often have difficulty staying focused and on track," while some committees can be too small. States that "a workable committee size is between seven and 11 members." Representation should be balanced and be "comprised of golfers of both genders and all abilities. This helps to take different perspectives into account, and it helps to keep lines of communication open with other golfers." Describes "short tenure" as another common mistake, stating that "superintendents typically spend a tremendous amount of time helping to educate committee members ... frequent turnover in Green Committee members produces duplication of this effort," and "frequent turnover makes continuity an impossibility." Discusses "poor communication skills" as another common mistake. Since the committee members may change frequently, the goals of the committee also change, and "when these changing goals are not clearly communicated to the superintendent, problems are guaranteed to arise." Suggests that "Green Committees that try to educate the golfers, schedule town meetings, and provide written documentation and access to their consultants to explain why the programs are needed, generally fare the best." Concludes that "understanding some of the most common pitfalls will help committees and superintendents avoid them," and suggests that "the ultimate challenge is to have a few golfers give the Green Committee a grade in each of the categories. An unbiased opinion from the outside will assuredly provide some useful information, and for less-effective committees, it might just be an awakening." |
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| Language: | English |
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| References: | 0 |
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| See Also: | Other items relating to: Golfer expectation management |
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| Note: | Reprint appears in Kentucky Turfgrass Council, November/December 2003
Reprint appears in The Turf Line News, Vol. 210 February/March 2009, p. 42-44, 46, with variant pictures
Pictures, color |
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| ASA/CSSA/SSSA Citation (Crop Science-Like - may be incomplete):
Oatis, D. A. 2003. The ten most common green committee mistakes. USGA Green Sec. Rec. 41(5):p. 1-6. |
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