I personally have no problem with stopping and talking with a member, that's again part of the job and our responsibility as Superintendents. Membership/Superintendent relationships are a must to improve trust and respect, so that when the Super says the "practice is closed" the member respects that and follows the guidelines. I think there is a shift though in the golfing public from common etiquette to just being out there for themselves. It's discussed at lengths anymore at Superintendent functions, grounds committee meetings, etc... Ballmark issues, not raking sand traps, terrible cart etiquette, constantly having to explain frost delays, are just a few to name. So as a Superintendent we have to find ways to try and educate, rather than standing on the practice tee trying to tell said member all the reasons the practice tee is closed, as a lot of them don't want to hear it right then and there. And unfortunately, those are probably also the people that will not take the time to read the information sent out to educate the membership or golfing public about certain things.
I look at from this angle; if I can get 30% of the membership at my club to read the information that is great. Then that 30% will play a round with say 2 other guys whom haven't and when they come to something in question that other person can maybe educate those to what is going on. Then possibly 1 out of those two will take more interest and realize if he does read the information he'd know more about his club and course. Then hopefully it will carry on from there.
I just recently update my blog with pertinent information to conditions for the spring and when the course would open. We sent an email out letting the membership know, after 2 days from the the notification being sent out I had roughly 230 hits on the blog and that entry alone, along with multiple hits on previous entries(yes it keeps track). So I'm fortunate to be seeing activity, and getting them there is the key and once there hopefully they see the useful information at their finger tips. And yes the way information is exchange could be looked at as generational but I'm sure more than 60% of us here probably have smart phones with all the capabilities in the world. Clubs for the most part now all have websites, can make a tee time from that website, dinner reservation, etc... The path is all about making it easier for the golfer, so they can schedule the tee time while they are out to dinner 2 nights before, or if they are sitting at an airport traveling they can waste some time and read the latest postings to their clubs grounds blog.