[Tim Gallant]

Yesterday we received an update from our Course Manager, and with his permission, I'm happy to share the below graph:





This is a breakdown of the hours the greens crew have spent since Jan 1 2021. Darren noted that a lot of bunker work was done over the winter months to rebuild some revetted bunkers, etc. There was also a note that as the warmer playing season kicks-in, greens would likely take up the bulk of the time.


It would be great to hear how others break their time down, and how the split differs by course type. For example, links vs. parkland vs. heathland or sand based vs. clay based sites, etc. Also, is there a difference in newer courses vs. more established courses. It will never be an exact science because every course will have goals and priorities they are trying to reach, but I'd love to hear some of your breakdowns


But more than anything, I just thought it was an intereting graphic! Hopefully it sparks interesting conversations!

[Tom_Doak]

The interesting one there to me is "course walk".  One of the old guard superintendents I know told me he used to spend about 15-20% of his time just walking the course and observing the turf and making little adjustments to the irrigation times etc. based on what he saw.  It seems like a pretty obviously good idea, but I don't know many modern superintendents who devote anywhere close to that much time to "course walk".  I think they always want to be seen as "doing" something.

[Kalen Braley]

The biggest surprise is seeing so little time spent on fairways, but I guess in the winter season of Scotland, how often are they mowing them, once per week at most?

The tiny amount of work devote to the "Worn" category seems about right if that is typical industry-wide.  Playing a course over and over again and seeing the same f'd up areas being ignored is sadly not uncommon, at least on many of the courses I play.

P.S.  What the Hell does the TOIL acronym stand for, sounds appropriate for golf course maintenance work overall! 

[Jeff Schley]

TOIL = Time Out In Loo
Nature calls.

[Thomas Dai]

The interesting one there to me is "course walk".  One of the old guard superintendents I know told me he used to spend about 15-20% of his time just walking the course and observing the turf and making little adjustments to the irrigation times etc. based on what he saw.  It seems like a pretty obviously good idea, but I don't know many modern superintendents who devote anywhere close to that much time to "course walk".  I think they always want to be seen as "doing" something.

Interesting thought (interesting analysis above as well. Would like to see the whole year breakdown).
As a slight aside, I’ve often wondered how important it is for the Course Manager/Head G-k etc to play ‘their’ course regularly. Some never seem to play ‘their’ course at all which makes me wonder how they interpret playability issues like mowing lines, overhanging tree limbs etc etc. Big difference I would have thought to actually playing a course to seeing it from a buggy or on a machine?
Atb

[John Kavanaugh]

I had a superintendent that insisted on the first tee time every Saturday morning. When I suggested he take a time one hour after the first tee time so we could discuss the course with him on the range I got another "note" in my file.

[Clyde Johnson]

That's a great pie chart Tim!


I was surprised to see how little time was spent on worn areas, though I guess it depends on how they were treating those? Perhaps just roping off, and allowing nature to recover itself is enough for the majority?


I'd be interested to see how the time spent on bunkers compares to the summer months. The West Links must be fairly middling in their demands, as far as links courses.


Agreed, re: the course walks...that's what all the best greenskeepers seem to do, in my experience anyway.

[Tim Gallant]

That's a great pie chart Tim!


I was surprised to see how little time was spent on worn areas, though I guess it depends on how they were treating those? Perhaps just roping off, and allowing nature to recover itself is enough for the majority?


I'd be interested to see how the time spent on bunkers compares to the summer months. The West Links must be fairly middling in their demands, as far as links courses.


Agreed, re: the course walks...that's what all the best greenskeepers seem to do, in my experience anyway.

Good spot! The worn areas like between the wall on 3 & 16, and going off 2 tee were generally roped off during the winter, and even now, I believe they are still letting the grass grow before cutting.


There was a note that time on bunkers will go down in the summer months, with an increase seen in close mown areas (surrounds, tees, fairways). See you out there tomorrow!

[Tim Gallant]

The interesting one there to me is "course walk".  One of the old guard superintendents I know told me he used to spend about 15-20% of his time just walking the course and observing the turf and making little adjustments to the irrigation times etc. based on what he saw.  It seems like a pretty obviously good idea, but I don't know many modern superintendents who devote anywhere close to that much time to "course walk".  I think they always want to be seen as "doing" something.

Great story! I was at Somerset a few years back and they had a young head greenskeeper, who walked the course barefoot in the mornings because he wanted to feel the grass between his toes! I loved that.


Note: I was there on an August day. I don't know if he has the same philosophy in January.    I'll need to check back!

[Tony_Muldoon]

Worth adding that Darren has been in post 8 months and I'm guessing play was down last year. Next year the allocation of resources may change?




Good luck Darren.




PS It seems like a growing trend that Course Managers in the UK are providing regular updates and helping educating their members. Both of which are welcome.

[Ira Fishman]

At both of our courses (US), the superintendent sends out emails before maintenance, including with photos. It is very helpful both for education and giving us a heads up on how it will impact play.


Ira

[Tom Bacsanyi]

The interesting one there to me is "course walk".  One of the old guard superintendents I know told me he used to spend about 15-20% of his time just walking the course and observing the turf and making little adjustments to the irrigation times etc. based on what he saw.  It seems like a pretty obviously good idea, but I don't know many modern superintendents who devote anywhere close to that much time to "course walk".  I think they always want to be seen as "doing" something.

Sadly in the US it's typically a "course ride." Those lengthy green to tee transitions ruin everything! Two loops around a day are probably optimal, one early in the AM, and one a little before quittin time. The Winged Foot guy walks the course puffing on a cigar. It's said that the quantity of smoke is an indicator of his agitation level.

[John Kavanaugh]

At both of our courses (US), the superintendent sends out emails before maintenance, including with photos. It is very helpful both for education and giving us a heads up on how it will impact play.


Ira

And the only people who read those emails are the members who shouldn’t. I used to have a guy who tied everything into whatever sport was in season. The Indy 500 metaphors made me sick to my stomach. His batting average for an interesting and well written story was up there with A-Rod’s World Series production. Shut up and grow as the saying goes.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

Also, much like "software is eating the world," bunkers eat everything.

[Tom_Doak]

Also, much like "software is eating the world," bunkers eat everything.

I think this is very misleading, because the hours recorded are for the winter months, when the crew have not many other jobs to do besides revetting bunkers on a rotating basis.  The grass isn't growing much, so mowing and other normal maintenance tasks are minimal.


That said, the need to rebuild 20-30 bunkers every winter due to the deterioration of revetted faces is a huge drag on maintenance budgets of links courses.

[Tom Bacsanyi]

Also, much like "software is eating the world," bunkers eat everything.

I think this is very misleading, because the hours recorded are for the winter months, when the crew have not many other jobs to do besides revetting bunkers on a rotating basis.  The grass isn't growing much, so mowing and other normal maintenance tasks are minimal.


That said, the need to rebuild 20-30 bunkers every winter due to the deterioration of revetted faces is a huge drag on maintenance budgets of links courses.

Well said Tom, I'm sure the time allocated to bunkers plummets to 26% in season.

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