[Mark Johnson]

Great point Ken.

A very famous 3-star michelin restaurant known for its customer service used to require all of its servers and bus staff to eat their free of charge quarterly.    The reason -- you cant appreciate world-class customer service unless you experience.

The same applies here.    Any good Super should be playing the course.  And not just by himself, but with member to understand playability issues and to hear concerns.

[John Kavanaugh]

Interesting.  Using the example, what would you expect/advise the Super do? 

Educate the green's chair.  If that doesn't work.  Try to get someone to come in and educate the chair.  If that doesn't work, garner support from those within the club that can educate the green's chair.  If that doesn't work, get ready for battle.  And don't be conciliatory.  The golf course will be better for it.

Educate is a poor choice of words. It puts me on the defensive and brings back many poor memories.

[Lou_Duran]

Given that he has the qualifications that allowed him to rise to one of the two most important jobs at the club, I want him to be an excellent communicator, hands-on, detail-oriented, and thick-skinned.  I also want him to be aware that ALL club employees ultimately work for the members/customers, and no matter how stupid, capricious, or annoying he may think they are, how he responds to them has consequences.  It astounds how many folks get into the golf business who really don't seem to like people.   

[Tommy Williamsen]

To keep the membership informed.  The super at one of my clubs as his own web site that keeps us up to date on conditions.

http://www.ccwoodmoregcm.com/

The super at another of my clubs tells us what he wants to do in an email but many times doesn't do it and doesn't tell us why.   For instance he talks about thatch on the fairways and the need to verticut and/or aerate.  Then he cancels for some unknown reason and large areas suffer.  Makes me nuts.

As for Neil's points about "aversion to water," it is not that easy.  I am no agronomist, but do know that grass type, weather, and type of dirt, make all the difference in the world as to how much water is needed to keep the grass alive.  I don't know many supers who want "squishy" surfaces.

[Joel_Stewart]

More than anything else, I would like for him to show that he actually cares. Our club has fallen on tough times, but I get the impression that he really doesn't care, except to collect a paycheck. He's content to over-water and keep the turf soft in order to give the course an emerald green appearance. That's fine, until you actually play it. He won't listen to members begging for firmer conditions, instead he offers only excuses. And yet some members, mostly the long-time members, think he's great.

Brian:

Are you a member at the Olympic Club?

[Joe Leenheer]

1. He cares about maintaining the original design and feel

2. A player. If you don't play your course, you'll never see it like your members do.

[Steve Okula]

Great point Ken.

A very famous 3-star michelin restaurant known for its customer service used to require all of its servers and bus staff to eat their free of charge quarterly.    The reason -- you cant appreciate world-class customer service unless you experience.

The same applies here.    Any good Super should be playing the course.  And not just by himself, but with member to understand playability issues and to hear concerns.

And the club should support the super playing the course.

Ten years ago, in my first year as super at my present course, I played eighteen holes on a weekday with the GM at his request to discuss work. I put this down in my monthly schedule as a day worked.

I received written notice from the club president that this would count as a vacation day, as I was, as he put it, “taking advantage of the club facilities.”

I all but stopped playing my own course. I’m sometimes out there working for thirty days straight, and when I do have a little free time, I need a change of scene. Besides that, I have a family with small children, and I’m not giving up my limited time with them to go back out and play the same course I know like the back of my hand.  It’s much more interesting to go play someone else’s course, where I might learn something useful.

Playing the course is most useful in the first two or three years of a super’s tenure. After ten years, there are no surprises. On the odd times I do play the course, it plays exactly as I expected from looking at it. Club members’ comments become equally predictable.

Now, if the management came to me and said, “We want you to play at least once a week, but it will count as time worked.” Then I would have no problem with that.

[Bill Brightly]

1) I like the phrase Bruce used: first and formost they have to know how to maintain sports turf. And that implies a lot of knowledge, including when to water and not water, what chemicals to use and when, when trees need to be removed, pruned or planted, etc. He should a great knowledge of irrigation systems and drainage.

2) He needs to know how to manage a budget.

3) He needs to be real good with equipment, or hire someone who is, and then manage that fleet,

4) He needs to know how to hire good assistants and run a crew.

5) He needs to care deeply about the course and have a thick skin.

While nice, he does NOT need to be a great writer or communicator. Most clubs have plenty of members (or a GM) who can do this. IF the super is accomplishing all of the above, getting someone else to communicate this to the membership is not too hard.

People ask me if I liked being Greens Chair, and my answer was yes, as long as we have an excellent superintendent. I would NEVER want to be Greens chair with a bad one.

[Bill McKinley]

Given that he has the qualifications that allowed him to rise to one of the two most important jobs at the club, I want him to be an excellent communicator, hands-on, detail-oriented, and thick-skinned.  I also want him to be aware that ALL club employees ultimately work for the members/customers, and no matter how stupid, capricious, or annoying he may think they are, how he responds to them has consequences.  It astounds how many folks get into the golf business who really don't seem to like people.   

Well said Lou

[Sean_A]

What I want from any employee, a talker and a listener.  All the rest will come OR NOT, if communication is good.

Ciao

[Neil White]

As for Neil's points about "aversion to water," it is not that easy.  I am no agronomist, but do know that grass type, weather, and type of dirt, make all the difference in the world as to how much water is needed to keep the grass alive.  I don't know many supers who want "squishy" surfaces.

Tommy,

I think I posted tongue in cheek (and slightly out of mild frustration) - and appreciate that it is not as easy as not watering, but frequently find that our greens are the wrong side of soft.  

The county of Shropshire has experienced the driest year on record and whilst he did wonders maintaining a surface throughout the summer it was evident come the start of Autumn that his watering program was leading to soft surfaces and with it, disease.

To have had greens that were firm and true throughout the Summer and then experience soft greens now (considering there has been no significant increase in rainfall) I can only deduce one reason.

Neil.

[Mike_Young]

I think the last few years have changed what should be expected from a supt and also have changed what supts of the future expect from their job.  Politics has and will continue to be a large part of the job but IMHO the way a supt sells himself to his members or owners will and has changed.  When I first got in the business I called on supts selling Toro equipment.  At trade shows and in the mags everyone was trying to show the supt how to convince his members/owner that he needed more budget.  Schools convinced supts they needed more budget and taught them how to continue to ask for more.  The GCSAA waged efforts to IMHO price themselves out fo jobs for many supts.  BUT now a supt needs to know how to compile his own fertilizer needs and not rely on Scotts or someone to sell him a hyped up package,  he needs to know how to get back to keeping equipment and backing off the three and four year leases. And irrigation doesn't need to be more "efficient" ( sales term for more expensive)   Sure all of these things are wish list but golf can't afford much of this anymore and the guys of th future will show their value in these ways.  There are plenty that do it now but IMHO again the schools are failing some of the younger supts by making them think they don't need this.  JMO

[Greg Tallman]

One who has the guts to tell a board "you run your business and I will run mine"

[Randy Thompson]

Great point Ken.

A very famous 3-star michelin restaurant known for its customer service used to require all of its servers and bus staff to eat their free of charge quarterly.    The reason -- you cant appreciate world-class customer service unless you experience.

The same applies here.    Any good Super should be playing the course.  And not just by himself, but with member to understand playability issues and to hear concerns.

And the club should support the super playing the course.

Ten years ago, in my first year as super at my present course, I played eighteen holes on a weekday with the GM at his request to discuss work. I put this down in my monthly schedule as a day worked.

I received written notice from the club president that this would count as a vacation day, as I was, as he put it, “taking advantage of the club facilities.”

I all but stopped playing my own course. I’m sometimes out there working for thirty days straight, and when I do have a little free time, I need a change of scene. Besides that, I have a family with small children, and I’m not giving up my limited time with them to go back out and play the same course I know like the back of my hand.  It’s much more interesting to go play someone else’s course, where I might learn something useful.

Playing the course is most useful in the first two or three years of a super’s tenure. After ten years, there are no surprises. On the odd times I do play the course, it plays exactly as I expected from looking at it. Club members’ comments become equally predictable.

Now, if the management came to me and said, “We want you to play at least once a week, but it will count as time worked.” Then I would have no problem with that.

Wow I take off my hat to you for hanging in there, hopefully this president has long been gone. Such pure ignorance can not run deep and I am sure the new president can not have such a navie attitude. I find it shocking such an ignorant person could get to such a position within a club, but I have seen a lot of shocking things. Get out there and play and let the cards fall where they fall.

Greg
Thats throwing gas on the fire and leads to unemployment.

[Sam Morrow]

1. To be a professional
2. To do the best he can
3. To learn and continue to grow as a Super

That's all you can really ask from your Super and just hope that the membership understands this and respects it.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Just the plain and simple resurrection of the great golf course free of cart tracks, majority of carts, island Greens, ban distance aids, more well maintained deep bunkers well in line of the big hitters, fill in rear back bunkers and let the ball run.

Also, maintain the course etiquette to a high standard and not forgetting the divots education that some players must learn to understand, lazy sods.

Melvyn

[Randy Thompson]

Look for solutions to problems as they occur and implement the solutions with the resourses one has, to the best of ones ability and leave the excuses for others. A good super always can come up with a plan of action and implement these plans with favorable results. In my opinion few super lose their jobs because of not knowing how to grow grass, its always seems to be more political. At least in the US. A lot of the over watering that take place can be partially directed at the super but more so, what I see is the club creates an insecure enviroment for the super and as a result they tend to over water(better to be safe than sorry). The fact is, the large majority of the membership wants green, pretty grass and the fast and firm lovers that are the majority on this site are the minority at their home clubs.

[Lou_Duran]

The fact is, the large majority of the membership wants green, pretty grass and the fast and firm lovers that are the majority on this site are the minority at their home clubs.

So, does the progressive Supt. pay attention to his customers or to the inteligentsia on this site?

Or maybe he hedges and turns the sprinklers down a bit at a time, "educating" (and I hate the arrogance this word connotes) his players methodically by demonstrating the improved playing conditions which result from firmer turf?

I think we are all programmed to like green.  Drought conditions accompanied by watering restrictions may be temporary blessings in this regard, but I doubt that it will change our perspective short of seeing dry, healthy turf which makes the game more fun.  I would add that I'd want my superintendent to firm-up the course including the green surrounds while still maintaining greens that are at least receptive to well struck shots.

[Dan Byrnes]

I would want him to meet the standards set for course maintenance and budget.  If they can't be met or shouldn't be met explain to me why.  He is the professional.  I am just his his manager.  

Dan

[Randy Thompson]

The fact is, the large majority of the membership wants green, pretty grass and the fast and firm lovers that are the majority on this site are the minority at their home clubs.

So, does the progressive Supt. pay attention to his customers or to the inteligentsia on this site?

Or maybe he hedges and turns the sprinklers down a bit at a time, "educating" (and I hate the arrogance this word connotes) his players methodically by demonstrating the improved playing conditions which result from firmer turf?

I think we are all programmed to like green.  Drought conditions accompanied by watering restrictions may be temporary blessings in this regard, but I doubt that it will change our perspective short of seeing dry, healthy turf which makes the game more fun.  I would add that I'd want my superintendent to firm-up the course including the green surrounds while still maintaining greens that are at least receptive to well struck shots.

If you have a good super you need to appreciate him and create an enviroment where he feels secure enough that if there are set backs, he won´t be out the door. Most learn lfrom mistakes and growing turf properly means letting it dry out to the point where some areas may become less visually attractive temporarly. When trying to take turf to this condition on a home lawn is one thing and another with 160 acre home lawn. Conditons change rapidily, when temperature rise and the wind picks up its a whole different ball game, you just don´t react and turn on one sprinkler, there are sometimes 1500 to turn on. So once again, the clubs administration needs to understand that deep infequent watering will sometimes get away from ideal presentation conditions and the course will suffer some visual damage from time to time. Dealing with mother nature and such a large home lawn we need to accept that things will go wrong and all we expect is that the individual learns and grows from these set back and administration will still give the individual the support he needs in the future.

[John Kavanaugh]

The fact is, the large majority of the membership wants green, pretty grass and the fast and firm lovers that are the majority on this site are the minority at their home clubs.

So, does the progressive Supt. pay attention to his customers or to the inteligentsia on this site?

Or maybe he hedges and turns the sprinklers down a bit at a time, "educating" (and I hate the arrogance this word connotes) his players methodically by demonstrating the improved playing conditions which result from firmer turf?

I think we are all programmed to like green.  Drought conditions accompanied by watering restrictions may be temporary blessings in this regard, but I doubt that it will change our perspective short of seeing dry, healthy turf which makes the game more fun.  I would add that I'd want my superintendent to firm-up the course including the green surrounds while still maintaining greens that are at least receptive to well struck shots.

If you have a good super you need to appreciate him and create an enviroment where he feels secure enough that if there are set backs, he won´t be out the door. Most learn lfrom mistakes and growing turf properly means letting it dry out to the point where some areas may become less visually attractive temporarly. When trying to take turf to this condition on a home lawn is one thing and another with 160 acre home lawn. Conditons change rapidily, when temperature rise and the wind picks up its a whole different ball game, you just don´t react and turn on one sprinkler, there are sometimes 1500 to turn on. So once again, the clubs administration needs to understand that deep infequent watering will sometimes get away from ideal presentation conditions and the course will suffer some visual damage from time to time. Dealing with mother nature and such a large home lawn we need to accept that things will go wrong and all we expect is that the individual learns and grows from these set back and administration will still give the individual the support he needs in the future.

Wah, wah, wah...we have our own jobs.  No excuses, no hugs. Thrill me, don't educate me.

[Randy Thompson]

John,
While I agree with no excuses and your desires are to thrill me there are still more than 500 others that want something different. The super´s job can be best described by you can please some of the people some of the time but not all the people all the time. We all have other jobs but not all of us have 500 bosses to try to please.

[John Kavanaugh]

For every person who feels sorry for a super I can show you 100 supers who feel sorry for themselves.

[Randy Thompson]

John,
If you think I feel sorry for supers, you have misunderstood me.

[Patrick_Mucci]

If you're a member at a club or just have an opinion on the matter. 
What would be one or two of the top traits you would like your superintendent to have?

Bill,

What I find comical about your question is the lack of understanding with respect to what a super has to deal with.

Namely, the opinions of 500 members/spouses.
Most of which aren't fact based or knowledge based.

Even on this thread, with supposedly sophisticated GCA afficianados, you'll get different opinions.
So which ones should the super listen to ?
Which one does he listen to when the opinions are in conflict with one another ?

Dial down the water and factions of the membership will be up in arms.
Keep it green and others will be up in arms.

I'll give you a simple question.

In Southeastern Florida, should a super overseed or not overseed ?
Simple question, only two answers, YES or NO.
So, it would seem like an easy decision.

And, it is, if you're a soothsayer and can predict the weather patterns and rainfall.

Irrespective of the decision, you're probably going to annoy 50 % to 75 % of the membership.

Me, I just want knowledge, experience, people skills (for his own defense), efficiency and passion.

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