Have you ever wondered ..........?

Have you ever wondered how the daily pin placements are decided?

We don't have a rotation sheet or a guide and I personally do not tell our setup crew where to specifically locate the pins unless it is a major event such as the Henry Martell or the Club Championship. They are well trained as to our requirements and rules. They need to understand and play the game in order to get a feel for what they are accomplishing. They get better with time and by making mistakes or "pushing the limit" (read that as difficult placements that may be okay for certain conditions but not others).

Have you ever wondered how long it takes to mow the greens, tees/approaches and fairways?

It takes 2.5 hours to mow greens when using 4 walking greensmowers. 2 hours with 5 and 1.5 with 6. We rarely use 6 mowers due to available staff. It takes 3 hours to cut tees and approaches using 2 riding greensmowers. It takes 5 to 7 hours using 2 fairway mowers and 3 to 4 hours using 3 fairway units. Mowing fairways is the most difficult, demanding task at Highlands so we don't have as many trained operators available like we do for other equipment.

Have you ever wondered about the hard hats our staff wear?

They are government approved protection and being caught not wearing it at the appropriate time and area of the course means a session cleaning the wash bay and the sump that collects all those wet, rotting clippings. They also must wear approved steel toed footwear. We check by dropping a cement block on their feet (just joking). Hearing and eye protection is provided and we have a list of tasks that require the use of this gear. Remember there is some onus on the employee to wear the gear as instructed.

Have you ever wondered why the course is a little rough around the edges or the fairways are "shaggy" on a Sunday afternoon?

Simple. It all comes down to available labour and the budget. Oh and one more variable. Do you want rough mowers and the fairway units out there on the course until 11 or 12 o clock? No you don't and if you can find staff that wants to be out there mowing on a weekend in the summer for 11 to 12 bucks an hour let me know. Remember from above. You can't just throw anybody on a fairway unit 1 or 2 days a week and expect good results.

Have you ever wondered how nice my home lawn looks?

It doesn't. I have kids, a female dog, a wife that is also a golf course superintendent and a home to keep clean. Although with the weather this summer and my youngest mowing and weed whipping it does look okay. For now.

Wade