It would be hard to find a profession about which less is understood than that of the golf course superintendent. For proof, just ask any of the many superintendents who themselves were unaware that turf management was a possible career option until they worked on a crew for a summer job in high school or college.
"(W)hen I was in high school, I didn't know there was such a thing as a golf course superintendent, and I live in the golf capital of the world," Laurie Bland, superintendent at Miami Springs Golf and Country Club for the past dozen years, once told TurfNet.
There are those who believe greenkeepers simply mow grass, and the rest magically takes care of itself.
In reality, superintendents face and overcome a multitude of challenges on a regular basis with the goal of providing golfers around the world with the best possible playing conditions while simultaneously creating a program of environmentally friendly and sustainable practices. Those routine tasks include repairing equipment; acting as parent and mentor to staff; repairing irrigation system failures; managing insect, weed and disease pests; overseeing restoration and construction projects; and managing budgets to oversee the largest and most important investment at every golf facility.
Golfers around the world are encouraged to show their appreciation for the tireless work of golf course greenkeepers by participating in the annual international Thank a Superintendent Day that is scheduled for Sept. 9.
Created in 2015 by former GCSAA director of communications Craig Smith, the initiative encourages golfers, those who are in the golf business and anyone who benefits from the game to take time to thank superintendents for their hard work and dedication to the game.
"For me, it's vitally important to show the world and our community that we are stewards of the land," Paul Carter, CGCS at The Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Harrison, Tennessee, has told TurfNet. "We sit on 660 acres and we maintain 125 of that. Three-quarters of the property is the residence for the wildlife here. It's their home, we just come out here to play.
"We have to be conscious of what we do on the property and the only way to let people know what we're doing is to tell our story."
The initiative will include television commercials on the Golf Channel and a social media campaign highlighting ways superintendents positively influence the game and their respective communities, like Jim Pavonetti, CGCS, at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Besides keeping Fairview in immaculate shape for a demanding membership, Pavonetti is multi-winner of the GCSAA Environmental Leaders in Golf Award, serves on the Audubon International board of directors and advocates for his profession, his golf course and his community as a member of the Greenwich Sustainability Committee that comprises volunteer leaders from the community to promote and advocate for "a community-wide strategy to safeguard a healthy, high-functioning ecosystem for the benefit of all current and future residents."
The examples of the contributions of superintendents to the game, their profession and their communities are limitless.
Although started a decade ago by the GCSAA, the Thank a Superintendent initiative "has evolved over the years, with the involvement of international organizations and the push of the social media hashtag #thankasuper added in 2020" said GCSAA communications director Angela Hartmann.
Created in 2015 by former GCSAA director of communications Craig Smith, the initiative encourages golfers, those who are in the golf business and anyone who benefits from the game to take time to thank superintendents for their hard work and dedication to the game.
Besides GCSAA, other groups taking part in the global event include the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association, the Australian Sports Turf Managers Association, the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and the Federation of European Golf Greenkeepers Associations. The groups represent more than 31,000 golf course management professionals in 78 countries around the world.
On Sept. 9, those who benefit from the dedication of superintendents are urged to share stories, photos and messages of thanks on social media, according to BIGGA.
In addition to social media, there are several ways golf clubs, golfers and others can show support and appreciation to greenkeepers, according to BIGGA:
- Organize a special breakfast or lunch for their greenkeeping staff.
- Players can take a moment after play to personally thank a member of the greenkeeping team and leave their own expression of thanks with their club.
- Industry partners and suppliers can promote the importance of greenkeeping to their audiences and actively supporting their clients and contacts
- Golf influencers and golf media can use their platforms to market stories, interviews and behind-the-scenes information emphasising the skills, knowledge and passion of greenkeepers.
Last year's Thank a Superintendent social media campaign reached 14 million people worldwide, according to the GCSAA.
The initiative need not end Sept. 9.
"While Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day is a global event that reaches millions on social media each year with the #thankasuper hashtag, you don’t have to limit your kudos to that day, and you can send a message to your superintendent any time of year at gcsaa.org/thank-my-superintendent," said Golf Oklahoma, a resource for golf tournament and news information that operates in conjunction with the Oklahoma Golf Association.
Besides keeping Fairview in immaculate shape for a demanding membership, Jim Pavonetti, CGCS at Fairview Country Club in Greenwich, Connecticut, is multi-winner of the GCSAA Environmental Leaders in Golf Award, serves on the Audubon International board of directors and advocates for his profession, his golf course and his community as a member of the Greenwich Sustainability Committee.
The USGA offers the following tips:
Minimize your impact on the course
A little bit of care and common sense will minimize your impact on the course and make life easier for the superintendent. Don't hike up the steep grass or sand face of a bunker, don’t drive your cart into a native area looking for a lost ball, don't use the tees or fairways as a practice range…and the list goes on. Being mindful of how our conduct affects the course and the people who take care of it is a great way to thank the superintendent and show your respect for the game, your fellow players and the course itself.
Fix what you can
No matter how careful we are, playing golf inevitably puts some dents and dings in the maintenance team's hard work. The good news is that it's easy to repair a lot of the damage we create, which is another great way to thank the superintendent. Fixing your ball marks on the green – and any unrepaired ones you see nearby – is a good place to start. Replacing or filling divots, raking bunkers and picking up any trash you notice are all great ways to say thanks with your actions and to set an example for others. Simply making the effort means a lot.
Make time to say thanks
Too often, golfers make a point of letting the superintendent know something they didn’t like about course conditions but fail to say thanks for all the times when everything was great. If you see the superintendent out on the course, take a moment to say thanks. It won’t take much effort and might just make their day. If you don’t cross paths with the superintendent very often, you can always call or send an email. One appreciative email can make up for a lot of the other ones. Oh, and dropping donuts off at the maintenance facility one morning is always a hit if you want to go the extra mile.
George Waters, senior manager of USGA Green Section Education wrote on the USGA web site promoting last year's event: "Most superintendents are accustomed to doing their work without much fanfare. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to say thanks when we can — or at least conduct ourselves in a way that shows our appreciation for all the hard work that goes into maintaining the courses we enjoy."