Originally published thirteen years ago (in 02)

Wow! I put this up back in 02. (March 24, 2015. I made some small changes.)

Do you need a Superintendent?

Yes you do - even more so in 2015 - and even more now in 2022!

THE SUPERINTENDENT - YOU NEED A GOOD ONE TODAY!

FREE ADVICE - CONTACT ME - mike@golfmak.com

The demands for golf course conditions today place a high degree of importance on a good superintendent. With environmental issues, new pests, sophisticated machinery, hybrid grasses, financial issues and demands for optimum playing conditions, the job is too much for seat-of-the-pants maintenance operations today.

Golf course maintenance is a war against player demands, fiscal responsibility, and the elements. The key to maintaining a top notch golf course is primarily through planning and defensive or preventative practices. Superintendents today operate like a "Star Wars" defense system - heading off problems before they get a foothold. The watch phrase in golf course maintenance today is, "A pound of prevention is worth a ton of cure!"

A modern golf course superintendent has sophisticated schooling and training in chemical activity, agronomy, machinery maintenance and financial planning. He/she must understand the dynamics of irrigation and drainage systems. He/she must be able to maintain a stable and loyal work force. Most of all, a talented and sincere superintendent will give a golf course that (in-season) 60-hour week of tender loving care.

TOO OFTEN....golf courses suffer blights, diseases and other interruptions from optimum playing conditions by failing in their prevention practices. Unfortunately, too many clubs opt to treat the disease rather than prevent it - the most expensive method in the end. Costs for the cure run from expensive treatments, lost time and lost revenue as golfers stay away when greens are in poor condition. Many disasters could have been avoided if golf clubs had taken the advice of an experienced superintendent - prevention is better economics than cure!.

NEW GOLF COURSES NEED A SUPERINTENDENT BEFORE GROW-IN. Newly constructed golf courses should acquire a superintendent before the irrigation and drainage systems are laid in the ground. He/she should become familiar with what's underground for obvious reasons. In fact, the superintendent becomes another hand in the work force during the critical grow-in period.

Here's a few important rules when choosing a superintendent:

Look for a superintendent who gets involved the work (gets his/her hand dirty).

Try to ascertain the candidate's ability to maintain employee loyalty.

Be sure the candidate understands the need for financial responsibility.

It helps if the candidate plays golf (at least break 90).

Set the table for a good superintendent to plan his/her life and career looking after your golf course. You must offer a competitive wage - plus increments and benefits.

NEED HELP? Write: mike@golfmak.com. Any reasonable question will be answered.