But of course it was an awful summer for turf. Here in the mid-Atlantic almost all the golf courses were terribly stressed, as late season deluges were followed by hot and humid conditions. This of course is perfect for fungal diseases of all types to thrive. We even saw a return of grey leaf spot to the area ,after a long hiatus.
To me this isn't the reason for firings to the likes of Michaud et al, it's strictly economics. For decades the super worked tirelessly , in the shadow of gm's and golf professionals in the 60's 70's and 80's . This changed in the decade that followed as the superintendent became the rock star at clubs , particularly high end privates and resorts. Their salaries jumped at the top end , many top jobs paying more than $200k with lots of perks. Budgets skyrocketed , doubling at many clubs as members demanded more and more perfect playing conditions. Spending a couple million on bunker renovations, sub air systems and the like became common practice , and the superintendents became more and more multiple faceted and educated . They continue to amaze me with their work effort and broad knowledge of many subjects, from chemistry to mechanics, but times have changed . Money is tightening , and their budgets are the biggest on many clubs balance sheet. So , it stands to reason that something has to give.
Nobody works harder than golf course superintendents, and I respect them immensely ! However the times continue to change , and they will suffer with the downturn.