What has the last year taught you on a golf course management professional level? Hopefully, you have begun to adapt and have learned some crucial lessons and possibly new skills. As every insider has learned, disaster can strike at any moment, sometimes when you least expect it. Take advantage of Tee to Green insurance to protect your facility, and read on to discover some common lessons regarding how the industry could better prepare for challenges.
Strengthening Government Relationships
At the beginning of the pandemic, government guidance was vague, which led to confusion for clear directives to ensure that golf courses were not abandoned. Luckily, now there is better guidance for essential businesses and activities. Relationships with officials and government agencies have never been so vital. Open communication and clarification on numerous issues can be what makes or breaks your business. Because of information shared with government officials, the importance of golf course maintenance was better understood, and golf course maintenance workers were considered essential. When legislative bodies understand the industry and its benefits to the environment and the economy, there is much more opportunity for improvement. Now more than ever, industry professionals understand the importance of developing strong, ongoing relationships with those in power.
The Importance of Strong Communication
In any basic crisis management course, clear ongoing communication is crucial to get through certain situations. It is helpful to keep members informed on the most current developments and be open to the various issues the industry is facing.
To open the lines of communication among members, you can conduct surveys to reveal information members are seeking. Members may be wondering if the club is open, if carts are allowed or if staff is on-site. Looking at objective data can help improve your position on a particular issue.
The Advantages of Flexibility
Every golf course was forced to use various cost-saving measures, such as cutting staff or using minimal maintenance practices. With uncertainty at its peak, courses were required to minimize the number of on-site employees. Demonstrating adaptability, such as having their full-time employees mow less frequently, can help keep their grounds afloat.
Adjustments will have to be made to maintenance practices. Can you manage your water usage in a more cost-effective way? How about how you landscape beds, use edging sprinklers or handle mulching and tree pruning? How many hours are being spent on this labor? Where can you cut back, and how can you rework your operations? There might be some difficult choices you have to make but having an open mind is helpful during these times. Playability and turfgrass health must be the top priority.
Using Opportunity
Challenging times allow for an opportunity to experiment with practices. Restrictions forced facilities to modify methods of operation in one way or another, which can drive innovation and improvement in many areas. Course setup has evolved. To limit touchpoints, facilities have opted to take out ball washers, benches, bunker rakes, water coolers, and the flagstick. Cup type decisions must also be made, such as setting them up for a touchless golf ball retrieval system. In terms of maintenance, practices have varied considerably among facilities. There is no one size fits all; however, just about every course is performing less maintenance than what their facilities normally would. To help golf course superintendents sharpen their skills in managing their courses with less, many are refreshing up on their turf management skills. Best practices for managing golf courses with minimal labor and reduced budgets include:
- Delaying or reducing fertilization
- Prioritizing weed control throughout the course and on native areas, focusing on annuals
- Raising the height of cut and topdressing routinely to reduce pests and chemical applications.
- Using urea and ammonium sulfate as the main nitrogen source
- Limiting annual bluegrass weevil insecticide applications to heavier traffic areas or problematic areas
- Thoroughly evaluating the irrigation system and watering practices so fewer staff is used to hand-water later in the season
About T2 Green Insurance
T2Green Insurance provides the best customized and comprehensive protection for your club, resort, or golf management business. Our niche expertise and sole focus is insuring this class, while our industry professionals are dedicated to providing exceptional results so that you can feel confident with your coverage. T2Green offers specialized coverage options that are unique in the industry. With our exclusive program unlike anything else on the market, you can feel peace of mind with protection that is tailored to your club’s unique needs. T2Green is driven by innovation and responsiveness in both coverage solutions and customer service. We understand the challenges that are presented in varying locations and seasons to write policies for clubs from coast to coast and everywhere in between so you can operate with confidence, no matter what conditions arise. Reach us at 844-223-9005 with any questions or so we can begin tailoring a package that works best for your club.
