Local super inducted to Hall of Fame

If you are familiar with the golf business in the Eastern Shore of Maryland, then it's likely you are familiar with the name Joe Perry, CGCS at Eagles Landing Golf Course in Berlin, Md. Joe has been the superintendent at Eagles Landing for almost 25 years and was recently inducted into the Eastern Shore Golf Hall of Fame -- one of the few superintendents to ever achieve such a distinction.

Joe has been involved in the Eastern Shore Association of Golf Course Superintendents for years. The chapter is a longtime host of the annual crab feast and pig roast, which raises money for organizations such as the Wounded Warriors Project, Autism Speaks, Maryland Turfgrass Council and others. In 1998, he helped develop the silent auction to add to the pig roast, which would help raise even more money for a local charity close to Joe's heart: the Believe in Tomorrow Children's Foundation. To this day, the ESAGCS has contributed $180,000 to support the children's house by the sea in Ocean City. This year alone, the crab feast and silent auction raised a total of $29,000 to divvy out to these great causes.

So, I sat down and asked Joe a few questions about his career:

Q: How did you learn about this induction?
A: Three years ago they nominated me, and at that time I declined the nomination because there were other guys still working who had been around longer and done more. So I nominated Tom List, who had been a superintendent down here for about 30 years and probably 25 as a CGCS. So, they awarded the nomination to Tom, and he was the first superintendent inducted into the Eastern Shore Golf Hall of Fame. Through this time, they kept my nomination in play and the committee brought it back this year. I found out in September I would be inducted.

Q: Why did you get in to the GC superintendent business?
A: Probably like a lot of other guys (almost by default). I originally wanted to be in Parks and Recreation. The year I graduated there was a hiring freeze with the federal government, so the only job I could get was cutting grass at a cemetery, which bordered a golf course. Some of my buddies were working on the golf course and having a grand old time, while I'm over there bored in the cemetery. The next year I got a job on the golf course, and the rest is history.

Q: What do you like most about this business?
A: Well, you never have a boring day; that's for sure. You always have something new -- new challenges, new projects. It's the only field I know where you have to wear so many different hats and have so many lines of expertise. I think we are the jacks of all trades.

Q: If you had to choose one other career, what would it be?
A: Fishing guide in the summer and a ski instructor in the winter.

Q: Biggest lifetime accomplishment?
A: I'll call myself a successful family man. I have been married 32 years, and I have two adult kids who are successful. I think that is my biggest accomplishment.

Q: What is your advice to a student coming out aspiring to be a superintendent?
A: I have a kid working for me who is trying to find a career path. He came to me this summer and said he really liked this business. I told him it's a great business, but you have to work hard. He wanted to sign up for the Rutgers program, but I told him to go check out the three-week course. He loved it! I've told him you have to use peripheral vision on the golf course. Look at things differently and from every angle, and figure out how your'e going to be a good problem solver. Superintendents are good problem solvers.

Q: What is key to the future success of golf?
A: The key to the future of golf is affordability, playability and getting a younger population interested in the game, which circles back to affordability, playability and pace of play. If I'm an 18 handicap and I go out to the hard course and get beat up, it's not as fun. If I go to a good golf course that isn't overly difficult and the pace of play is good, it's fun! It's all part of the sustainability circle. We want people to have fun and play at a good pace.

Q: Last word?
A: Members have to get involved and take advantage of the assets that GCSAA and their local chapter have provided. I think everyone needs to get involved, because there are a lot of resources out there. Get involved in the community too, and make a difference!

Thanks for the interview, Joe. And congratulations on your achievement!

Skateboard-golf?

Do you like to surf? How about snowboard? Or skateboard? Well, one exuberant start-up is bringing skateboarding to the golf course. Literally. Instead of commuting to your next shot sitting down in a cart next to your playing mate, imagine mounting an over-sized skateboard and traveling standing up, leaning in to the turns as you would on a skate board, snowboard, or surfboard. Sounds kinda fun, right? It certainly does to me!

Golfboard is a new product developed by surfing nut Laird Hamilton and Bally Total Fitness founder Don Wildman. And the company has recently raised 1 million dollars to increase production for a list of backlogged customers in the golf market. Could it be a hit? I don't know, but I think it sounds cool. I like to surf. I like to snowboard. And I like to golf. Three-in-one? Boo yeah! To see the Golfboard in action, check out http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/threads_and_laces/2014/10/bend-company-golfboard-raises-1-million.html

Will it bring more people out to the course? I don't know, but either way I'm a fan of the initiative. Regardless of how it's received in the golf community, it's an innovative product that could reduce turf stress, bring out new golfers, and add a twist of enjoyment to the round. Sounds like win-win -- I'm in. What are your thoughts? Comment below or tweet using #Golfboard.

Water and conservation survey launches

Environmental management is a bit of a “buzz word” in our line of work, and for good reason. Within our inner circles of the golf industry, we realize how responsible we are with nutrient and water management, habitat development, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Best Management Practices (BMPs), and so forth. And while many of our golfing constituents see these practices embraced and employed each time they hit the links, that may not be true of the general public and our legislators.

The point is, perception is reality; but perception isn’t always aligned with reality. We find ourselves in an era where words like sustainability, going green, organic and stewardship are used to describe practices that govern many industries across the board. And while I think many of us embrace our environmental progressiveness, we need to do a better job of communicating it.

That’s why GCSAA is seeking your help in gathering data about our water and conservation practices. Collected data will be compared to information gathered in 2006 and used to gain a picture of water and environmental stewardship in the profession.

Complete the survey online until Nov. 17 »

For more information, please visit the Golf Course Environmental Profile overview. I want to encourage all golf course superintendents (GCSAA members and non-members) to be champions for this effort. Together, we can use this material for the advocacy and betterment of our profession as we communicate the good things happening on our golf courses. And as always, thank you in advance for your commitment.

Golf's popularity growing again?

If you watched the PGA Championship on Sunday, there is no need to explain the thrilling finish golf fans everywhere got to experience as play came down the stretch at Valhalla. With three of the tour's most popular players battling to the end, pressed by expiring daylight, executing nasty-good shots with jaw-dropping drama and excitement, it was simply great golf to watch. You had one of the game's long-time fan favorites and a savvy vet Phil Mickelson, who doesn't know the meaning of conservative golf. You had young, budding star Rickie Fowler, who brings color to the game (literally, check out his outfits) and who had finished top 5 in all three previous majors to that point. And then you had red-hot Rory Mcllroy, fresh off a win at the British Open, oozing with confidence as he stared down tee shots and playing so well that you probably would have spontaneously combusted should you got near him. Yes, we have some stars on the rise, and they can captivate an audience.

Case in point, this PGA Championship was the highest rated in 5 years (source: pga.com), since a time when -- you guessed it -- Tiger Woods was battling atop the leaderboard to win yet another major championship. Ironically he didn't, as he wound up losing to the one-hit wonder Y.E. Yang. Granted, I'm a fan of golf and probably would have been following the finish at Valhalla regardless of who was in contention. But that finish, it was one for the books. And while Rory and Rickie may not have quite that polarizing draw that Tiger always brings to the game, I think they come close.

Rickie goes about it with a quiet confidence and bright clothing. But he represents a new generation that isn't afraid to push the style envelope a little bit on the golf course. After all, we need to embrace a new generation of golfers in order to the grow the game. He is one of those players who goes about his business in seemingly all the right ways, with a little bit of flash here and there. It seems like you just can't help but root for the guy. Then you add in the fact that he's 5'9'' and 150 lbs. dripping wet, and it gives little guys hope that they can still hit the long ball even without the 6'2" frame to create that ridiculous leverage through the golf swing. And let's not forget -- he's an American!

Then you have Rory, a humble young Irishman, who may wear his confidence on his sleeve a bit more than Rickie, but probably deservedly so. He already has four major championships to his name, and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Is the plot thick enough for you yet? Because you could create a narrative of Rickie being cast in Rory's shadow as he tries to start capturing major championships of his own, and maybe even a scenario in which he finally capitalizes and beats Rory down the stretch. It's even more exciting when you add in that they are close in age, with Rory being 25 and Rickie being a year older at 26 -- oh, and the fact that they hail from two different countries.

For all that Tiger vs. Phil used to be, I think this can be just as good. We even have an added narrative of these two facing each other every other year in the Ryder Cup. I don't know about you, but coming off that finish at Valhalla, with these two playing that well, it makes me that much more excited to see what the 2014 Ryder Cup has in store. Coming off a wrenching loss to the Europeans on home soil at Chicago's Medinah Country Club, Rickie leads the U.S. team over to golf's homeland as they look to avenge their defeat at Gleneagles Hotel. Who knows, maybe this is where Rickie counters and leads the U.S. to an upset victory over the Rory-lead Europeans.

So tell me, do you think golf's popularity is on the rise?

What's WOTUS?

WOTUS. What is it? Have you heard of it? Do you know anything about it? If not, then let's learn. It falls under the umbrella of government relations, which isn't typically the top contender for categories that people are chomping at the bit to get involved in. However, government relations in our industry is absolutely, positively, undoubtedly necessary. And in this case, pretty urgent.

Let's start from the top -- WOTUS stands for Waters Of The US; the definition contained within the Clean Water Act that dictates the parameters of EPA's jurisdiction over public waters (e.g., lakes, streams, oceans and bays). And right now, there are proposed changes to the language contained in WOTUS. Changes that, if implemented, would have significant managerial and fiscal effects on our industry.

In short, the proposed changes are very vague in language and open to interpretation. If the changes are approved, this could mean the EPA has jurisdiction over an area that has flowing water at any point throughout the year. In other words, if you get a 3-inch rain storm and have runoff flowing across 7 fairway, then that land suddenly falls under the jurisdiction of the EPA. So what does that mean? It means costly permits and susceptibility to huge fines -- up to $37,000 per day. We believe that EPA is overstepping its boundaries with these suggested amendments, and we want to stop it. Please visit GCSAA's Government Relations portal and submit a request for your senator to co-sponsor a bill that would stop these proposed changes. Believe me, this is a BIG deal, and GCSAA has done all the leg-work in providing a template request that just requires some information on your behalf. 

GCSAA is very closely tracking this issue, and we have some strong allies who are also lobbying against these erroneous changes. Please do your part and take action on behalf of yourself, your employer, and the rest of our industry. Thank you in advance for your attention to this matter, and please feel free to reach out should you have any questions regarding this issue. 

Leveraging your qualifications

We talk about how educated golf course superintendents are, and it's true. But do we do a good job leveraging qualifications to increase salaries? To gain clout with our members? To create job security? Some probably do, some probably don't. One would be hard pressed to find another industry that invests in continuing education as much as ours does. Although basic agronomic programs will never change; new products, new technology, evolving legislation and ongoing commitment to environmental programs make the job of a superintendent ever changing and always challenging. But you are qualified to do the job, and do it well. So you should be compensated fairly based on your experience and qualifications.

Have you ever heard of GCSAA's compensation and benefits report? If you haven't, you should take a look at it. This report breaks down industrywide compensation trends using various factors such as facility type, facility location and personal education. The report can be a useful tool, and it's not limited to those starting new employment. Why not use these statistics to leverage a raise during your annual review? If money isn't an option, how about leveraging qualifications to improve your benefits package?

To elaborate further, how about leveraging your "Class A" or "CGCS"? An abundance of educational hours are inherent to these distinctions, and those accomplishments should be communicated to your employer. By communicating these achievements, you just may gain their trust more so than ever before. For example, add "Class A Superintendent" to your business card. Add it to your email signature. Perhaps promote it in a board meeting when the opportunity presents itself.

If you do fall into that category of looking for new employment, take advantage of GCSAA's career services page. There you can gain tips for building your resume and cover letter, explore professional and personal profiles and websites, and grow your understanding of how to negotiate with an employer so that both sides come out happy.

I think sometimes in our industry we want to create a great product for the golfers and stay out of the limelight. But when it comes to negotiating and promoting yourself (and your qualifications) to your superiors, it is time to let your star shine a little bit. After all, you deserve it.

Tourney time

In my opinion, tournament preparation is one of the most exciting experiences in our business. Whether it's this year's member-guest invitational or the PGA Championship, nothing is better than dialing-in the golf course and displaying a product you can be proud of. Although tournament prep always starts with early mornings and ends with late evenings, constant adrenaline makes those long days seem like an afterthought.

Being part of such a large event is only part of the satisfaction, however. The camaraderie gained through these week-long working benders always adds to the enjoyment. It's almost a love-hate relationship in some ways. Nobody (at least not me) enjoys waking up at 3 a.m., but everyone is agonizing together. After that first cup of coffee is down the hatch, and the doughnut spread is before you, the excitement of the day ahead overcomes the nerves and wipes out the drowsiness. 

In retrospect, when a team of 40, 60, even a hundred guys are all swarming back to the shop after a successful morning shift, it's such a gratifying feeling. A feeling of accomplishment. A feeling of fluidity. A feeling of teamwork. It's a large group of guys working in remarkable harmony to accomplish a single goal: championship caliber golf. Teamwork is probably one of the main reasons many of us got into this business to begin with. It's funny how much camaraderie is built among a staff in a single golf season, or even a single golf tournament. You meet someone Monday morning, you spend the next seven days with them mowing tees, eating meals and waking up far before the crack of dawn, and all of a sudden you feel like you've known the person for years. Pretty cool.

For these reasons and others, I'm very much looking forward to working the Quicken Loans National at Congressional Country Club next week. I'm excited to get out on the golf course; I'm excited to meet new people; I'm excited to display a product we can be proud of; and I'm excited to develop new friendships. If you have never been involved in a large tournament prep, I encourage you to add it to your list of career goals. Not only do you broaden your network and meet new people, but you get to see how the hosting organization, agronomy and hundreds of workers come together to accomplish one of golf's greatest spectacles. 

National Golf Day invades DC

WE ARE GOLF. That is the sentiment that echoed throughout Capitol Hill on Wednesday as members of the We Are Golf coalition gathered in support of the game we all love. Included in the day's activities were meetings with congressmen and senators (and/or their staffers), golf exhibits on display in the Canon House building, and media activity that included an appearance by Jack Nicklaus. What a great way to spread the good word about golf's value apart from its intrinsic entertainment advantages.

So what was discussed in our meetings with America's legislators? Well, how about the direct economic impact of golf across the U.S.? It's almost 70 BILLION dollars per year. Or how about the fact that golf employs 2 million American people? Another great example is charitable initiatives. Golf donates more to charity (almost 4 BILLION dollars annually) than the NFL, NHL and MLB combined. Yes, that's right, COMBINED. The list goes on. How about our environmental stewardship and value as community green spaces? Or the value of golf for physical activity - 1,300 calories are burned playing 18 holes, and that's if you take a cart! Do yourself and your industry a favor and commit these stats to memory for the next time you encounter a cynical golf critic.

Specific to GCSAA's agenda during the day's meetings, we spoke to our lawmakers about the proposed language changes to Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS), found within the Clean Water Act. To summarize, the proposed changes are very vague in language and open to interpretation. If the changes are approved, this could mean the EPA has jurisdiction over an area that has flowing water at any point throughout the year. In other words, if you get a 3-inch rain storm, and have runoff flowing across 7 fairway, that then becomes the EPA's jurisdiction. So what does that mean? It means costly permits and susceptibility to huge fines - up to $37,000 per day. We believe the EPA is overstepping its boundaries with these suggested amendments, and we want to stop it. To learn more and request an extension to the comment period for these proposed changes, please visit GCSAA's Government Relations portal. Believe me, this is a BIG deal, and we all need to keep an eye on this issue.

All in all, I would say National Golf Day was a great success. This initiative speaks to advocacy in the highest light, and I believe we can take this model and use it on a state level. Some have already started to do so, and those of us who haven't should be excited to follow their lead. For more about the National Golf Day initiative, the day's activities, or about the We Are Golf Coalition, please check out the website referenced above. For relevant twitter feed, check out #NGD14.

Special thanks to GCSAA's government relations team led by Chava McKeel, who did so much to make this day happen, including setting up dozens of meetings with legislator's offices. Likewise, I'd like to thank my trusty fellas from the Mid-Atlantic GCSA, who manned an extensive turfgrass exhibit throughout the day, complete with different types of sod, irrigation equipment, soil probes and profilers, and even a digital prism to get a close up look at the green-height bentgrass. Lastly, thanks to all the people who made the day possible and all who participated. Afterall, WE ARE GOLF!

Jack Nicklaus addresses the media at National Golf Day.

Shelia Finney of Gaylord Springs Golf Links speaks with a staffer from Representative Marsha Blackburn's office (TN).

JD Dockstader (GCSAA), Matt Shatto (GCSAA) and I prepare for the day's activities on the steps of the Capitol Building. 

Tough questions, educated answers

We work in a wonderful industry that we love for a number of reasons: birds chirping in the early morning, the dawn sun rising through the lifting fog, and the beautiful green landscape that we see as a work of art.

Of course, like any industry, we also have some bummer aspects of our craft that we must face, albeit hopefully not too often. But when we have to face tough questions, particularly those concerning pesticide use, we must be prepared to provide a well-educated, non-defensive, honest answer that can help educate the general public and golfers about what we do on a daily basis. We all need to be responsible for advocating on our industry's behalf, and this is one of those cases.

Recently, an investigative news report was aired on WTAE in Pittsburgh regarding the hazards of pesticides on golf courses. I won't go in to the details of that story, but I want to take the opportunity to discuss how we can handle tough pesticide questions (or accusations) in a professional  manner. An important thing to remember is not to get defensive. Getting defensive in some ways can make you look like you have something to hide. Rather, we should think of this as an opportunity to shed positive light on our industry and the care with which we handle pesticides and environmental management. Likewise, remember to be sympathetic. Emotion is often tied to these topics, and you may find your emotions escalating in your response. Stay calm, and exhibit sympathy. We may not be able to change everyone's mind, but we can share some facts about our industry and pesticides that are proven and backed by science and research.

Please take a look at this document that was developed by GCSAA to ensure that you are prepared for these questions in the future. This may even be a good thing to share with golfers and/or members on your blog, website, newsletter, or through twitter. But always remember - be sympathetic, be sincere, and don't get defensive.

http://www.gcsaa.org/course/communication/golfcoursefacts/golf-course-pesticides-faqs

Tweet tweet tweet

This week I attended a social media roundtable at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, VA. Among those in attendance, curious superintendents wanted to learn how to better utilize social media to help them gather relevant information that is floating around the ever-expanding world wide web. The main social media players, as most of you know, are Facebook and Twitter.

In my opinion, Twitter is the most applicable for golf course superintendents. Why? Because you search keywords, post pictures, hashtag a topic, and communicate directly to other tweeters. Most people seem to use Facebook more for family and close friends, while Twitter can be used more for business purposes, although that doesn't mean you can't share personal information there as well. Furthermore, you can tweet out course conditions, cart restrictions, or frost delays to members of your club. And even link that post to Facebook so it will automatically post to your Club's Facebook page.

As far collecting and sharing relevant information to those managing turf in the state of Virginia, David McCall, pathologist at Virginia Tech, suggested they start a hashtag campaign that is #VATurf. This way, everyone interested in sharing information about turf news in Virginia can use that hashtag, and make it easily findable by simply searching that hashtag on Twitter. Likewise, many industry companies and organizations share relevant news and information through Twitter. The beauty in this is how fast you can receive that information right into the palm of your hand. For example, GCSAA, Toro, Jacobsen, Syngenta, USGA, PGA, many professors and other vendors all have Twitter handles that are active daily.

No need to be overwhelmed - you can simply open a twitter account (Twitter.com), create a username (a handle), and start following people to get an idea of what Twitter is all about. Don't even worry about posting until you get a feel for how the whole Twitter world operates. As far as finding people to follow, you can import your contacts into Twitter, and that will give you a starting point.

If you need help getting started, or have questions along the line, feel free to contact me and I will be happy to help you work through the kinks to becoming more connected.

Superintendents and industry reps gather for a Twitter tutorial and roundtable at Independence Golf Club.

The passing of old man winter

This winter has served up quite a platter of brutally cold temperatures, record snow falls and its fair share of stress on golf course superintendents in the region. While I'm sure we're all ready to hear spring birds chirping, smell fresh-cut grass and tackle spring aeration, let's take a minute to reflect on what our good friend the polar vortex brought to the table over the previous five months.

Could cold temperatures mean a cutback in nematode and other insect populations? Opinions vary, from what I've heard. On one hand, you would think a freeze as deep as we experienced this winter would really cut back overwintering populations. On the other hand, some believe the effect isn't so cut and dry. Some people I've spoken with believe there must be a short period of warm temperatures to stimulate biological activity, and then a drastic drop in temperature that knocks out the emerging populations. Well, at least in the Pittsburgh area, both of the given scenarios have occurred. Time will tell, but I'm sure it would be a welcoming development if nematode populations decreased heading in to the season.

Tree pruning and/or removal: This one can go either way. I've talked with a couple of people who had ice storms take down trees they have been wanting to get rid of for years. See, winter isn't so bad! But on the other end of the spectrum, some guys had trees taken out that they absolutely did not want to see go (see Eisenhower tree at Augusta). Either way, hopefully this winter at least you had the opportunity to get outside and catch up on any pruning that needed attention.

We'll also learn more about ice cover and cold tolerance of bermudagrass. While ice cover is not something new to superintendents around here, and literature widely states that ice can be tolerated for as many as 120 days, it still doesn't ease your mind when your greens are sitting under 4 inches of ice. Until we really start to see grass greening up, any winterkill will remain a mystery. With bermudagrass now being utilized as far north as Philadelphia, this winter will be quite a test of endurance for those courses experimenting with the C-4 grass. Again, time will tell.

Regardless of whether you enjoyed the dramatic stormy theatrics of old man winter, or loathed its existence more than ironing your entire wardrobe of golf shirts, let's keep our fingers crossed that this summer will be the best grass-growing season in memory. Here's to warmer temperatures!

What's the value of networking?

So, what IS the value of networking? How do you really place a value on it?

I think to truly determine its value, we can only look back and see what past networking has accomplished for us. For example, I can take every significant move in my career thus far and track it back to a number of first-time handshakes that ended up creating new opportunities later in my career. When you look at the value of networking through this hindsight lens, I'd say it's pretty high.

Why do I bring this up? Well, in this day and age, we are always trying to assess the value to things to gain an understanding of what they are worth to people. I always stress the value of face-to-face networking and how important it is, especially in the context of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other social media trends. I still believe the highest value in our local, regional and national conferences and meetings is networking. Eh hem, excuse me, face-to-face networking.

When is the last time you heard about Joe Bean getting hired because his employer enjoyed his tweets? Or that the same potential employer could get a good feel for Joe's personality and character based off his Facebook posts? Or that the employer really valued Joe's team-oriented attitude after seeing his Instagram photographs? My answer: never!

Don't get me wrong, I am an avid user of social media myself, and I believe it is a tremendous tool in today's business and personal worlds. But do these social media outlets replace the value we realize in face-to-face networking? No. Absolutely not. Period.

I do believe these social media sites are a great way to stay in tune with current news and information from around the world, which is pretty cool. They can also work as a great "introductory" tool if you find yourself shaking hands with a potential colleague or employer - for example, "Oh yeah, I recognize your name from Twitter; I think I follow you."

While there is no doubt that social media has its place in today's business world, the key cog in professional network development still remains face-to-face interaction.

BMPs: A model for success

Best Management Practices (BMPs), nutrient management plans, nutrient applicator certifications and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed -- what do all these things have in common? The answer is a cleanup initiative. Golf has long been scrutinized as a contributor, even a large contributor, to the deteriorating water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. For that reason, many states in the Bay's watershed have embarked on legislative-driven journeys to create environmental accountability as it relates to golf course maintenance practices. So, how do we create accountability? Well, let me circle back around to BMPS, nutrient management plans and nutrient applicator certifications.

We have all heard the saying "perception is reality." And in this case, I just laid out the perception. Now, do I believe that we are massive polluters of the environment? Of course not. But that doesn't change the fact that we need to do our part to show our legislators, our communities and our customers that we take environmental stewardship seriously. Reacting to legislation is OK; but instead of being reactive, we must actually be proactive.

Different states have turned to different models. For example, in New York and Virginia, there is a BMP website and a BMP manual, respectively. In Maryland, there is the nutrient applicator's certification, which is not dissimilar from the pesticide applicator's certification. Also in Virginia, there is the development of nutrient management plans that must be approved by a certified nutrient management planner. Regardless of the chosen model, it is the initiative that counts. And there is funding out there to help.

In Pennsylvania, we have a BMP manual that was constructed years ago, but we have done a poor job of implementing this plan. Often you will hear that superintendents already adhere to 98 percent of the BMPs outlined in said manual and/or website. It's not about re-inventing the wheel. Rather, it's about documenting these initiatives so that we can have hard data that stands behind our efforts. There are several different ways we can do that, including a self assessment and documentation -- a "self-audit" if you will. Documentation will be a key piece to this initiative as we progress.

These processes don't have to be painful. In fact, I would say they can be quite rewarding. But we must have buy-in and commitment. Implementation isn't going to happen overnight, but engagement with these plans can help change the perception and grow the game of golf. Envision a time when every state has a BMP model in place and every golf course is committed to its implementation -- not because legislation is forcing us to do so, but because it is the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do for our environment; it is the right thing to do for the communities we serve; and it is the right thing to do for the game of golf.

Field Staff - How can we help you?

The following post was written by Field Staff Director Steve Randall.

Recently, GCSAA received results from its Member Needs Assessment. First, thank you for participating in the survey. We take information received from our members very seriously. We use this information to ensure programs and services of value are offered.

If you are unaware, the field staff program began as a pilot program in 2006. It started with a chapter liaison of organizational development, then expanded with a chapter liaison of association management.  I was fortunate to obtain that position more than seven years ago. The roots of this program are in "chapter effectiveness."

Because of member support, the program has expanded to include nine regions in which a resident field staffer resides. A question I hear from members across the country is, "What does this field staff person do?" Or, "Why haven't I seen my field staff representative at our course?" This article hopes to shed some light on those questions.

We have been able to connect chapters to GCSAA in many areas. Through the connection with their field staff representative, chapters have successfully added assets and resources for their industry partners. Field staff representatives have also visited member and non-member facilities and individuals.

As the program evolves, I would love to hear your ideas and suggestions to enhance the program. While site visits have been conducted, would expanding this concept be an effective way to broaden our membership outreach? There are financial considerations to consider, but if evolving the program to include more direct member interaction is of benefit, let me know.

Without the efforts of everyone at GCSAA, the field staff program could not be effective. This is an organization-wide effort. We take information from the field and apply that to ensuring quality programs and services.

 Let's take a look at the basics of the program. Call it "Field Staff 101" if you wish:

Objectives of the field staff program:
The mission of the field staff program is to: Administer outreach and support to members and affiliated chapters to provide direct services to our members

The vision of the field staff program is to: Accomplish the "we" between chapters, members and the GCSAA

Accomplishing this vision is important. We want to eliminate the "us and them" mentality. We are all together to benefit the industry.

So, how do we accomplish the mission and vision?

• Be a two-way communication vehicle - we only know what we know
• Establish a direct voice for chapters to relay their needs and opinions to GCSAA and golf-related organizations
• Expand the superintendents role as being a leader in the golf community. Support allied organizational efforts, state/regional golf days, events that support the the growth and enhancement of golf

Day-to-day functions of our field staff members:

• Assist chapters with developing and implementing best practices
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions. From sessions conducted in 2013 alone, chapters developed new outreach programs, assistant education sessions, networking events for members, membership recruitment and retention programs, communications plans and much, much more!
• Assist chapters to improve financial standing. This includes working with chapters to identify proper revenue streams, effective cost/benefit analysis efforts and adding programs of value
• Support chapters and research development through Rounds4Research
• Work with chapters and members who have gone through natural disasters. Providing tool kits and communicating the message about the importance of golf to our communities is essential
• Be part of board and membership meetings to provide information on the golf industry. Be a voice to provide resources provided by GCSAA that can be used by members and chapters alike
• Provide communications tools and articles for publication. This includes our regional pages on www.gcsaa.org 
• Enhance the profession through:
• Working with allied organizations to provide communications tools and golf industry information
• Coordinating education and information with chapter executives
• Providing case-study analysis for member retention, recruitment and meeting attendance
• Working with chapters on educational programs and providing educational sessions
• Facilitating communications for government affairs/advocacy issues
• And much more!

This month alone I have facilitated strategic planning sessions, provided information and education at regional turfgrass conferences and been part of board meetings to share best practices and ideas that have worked across the country. This outreach is consistent among all our field staff members.

We are skilled at facilitation and listening to your requests. Working with our chapters and members directly while providing strategic oversight for the program is why we need to hear from you!

Please look for me at the GCSAA Education Conference and Golf Industry Show. If you have not met your regional field staff representative, please give them a call. These regional pages are a tool to introduce you to our quality staff and to the programs and services GCSAA offers. Take advantage and have a great start to 2014!

A time for self assessment

As a new year rolls in, we all want to strive for improvement in our life - both professionally and personally. One way to improve professionally is through ongoing education.

The winter season is packed with various conferences, and as you choose the right educational opportunities for you and your staff, take time first to think about areas that need improvement. A good way to make that assessment is by using GCSAA's Self Assessment Tool (located under the Education tab on GCSAA's home page).

It seems many of us go straight for the agronomic lectures and opportunities. But I believe agronomic knowledge may be the strongest area among superintendents across the board. Instead, maybe it would be worthwhile to invest some time in the business, communication, environmental management or leadership domains.

The Self Assessment Tool is a quick and easy way to evaluate all of these areas and will help you identify which domains you may want to focus on as you plan out your education season. Likewise, you can use the questions within this tool to help you think about your employees and encourage them to focus on education in the areas where they need improvement.

The tool works by taking you through a list of different competencies within the five domains (agronomic, business, communication, environmental management and leadership). As you answer these questions with a simple "yes" or "no," you can check the analysis at the end to see how you scored. Then, there are links that will connect you with associated seminars offered to fill those gaps.

If you believe your educational experience is in a rut, take some time and complete the Self Assessment Tool - and get on track to improving yourself in 2014.