Complimentary Golf Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jeffrey Smelser

   

   2 posts
   
   3/10/2016 1:03 PM

   Went to golf shop today and golf staff said Golf Pro from Missouri called today and asked if we would allow his Superintendent to play over spring break.
   I don't have a problem with the Golf Pro calling about availability but I think ALL Superintendents should call the Superintendent at that golf course as a courtesy.
   
   And for the record, I have never turned down a GCSAA Superintendent and also allow non GCSAA Members to play at a reduced rate.
   
   Guess I am getting old and grumpy

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   3/10/2016 1:03 PM

   Just Professional Courtesy and first point of our Professional Conduct Guide.
   
   Professional conduct guidelines
   
   These guidelines are a companion document to the Code of Ethics. While the professional conduct guidelines may not be enforced with membership sanctions, these guidelines should nonetheless be promoted, practiced and encouraged by GCSAA members.
   
   Non-compliance of these guidelines should be noted, publicized and self-policed by fellow GCSAA members, officials and affiliated chapters to discourage future instances of such noncompliance. In assessing one's actions, all superintendents should ask the question, "Would my actions meet with the approval of other superintendents?"
   
   The guidelines
   
   1. A member should always contact a fellow superintendent prior to visiting his/her course, regardless of the reason for the visit.
   
   Unless it's a scheduled meeting, I always contact a fellow Superintendent before I step foot on his property for any reason.

   
   
   
   
3. Christopher Thuer

   

   101 posts
   
   3/10/2016 4:03 PM

   We are very generous with our comps, maybe a little too much these days, as we give full comps and it seems more and more are charging at least a cart fee to play. We will allow a super to bring their crew and we don't charge anything. If they don't call me first the pro or assistant will give my number and instruct them to make the arrangements through me. In the past we have had people walk into the pro shop saying they were GCSAA members and looking for a comp. When asked if they called me the people left.
   
   I once had a former drainage product rep call asking for a comp. He was no longer affiliated with anything golf related but said his GCSAA membership was still valid. I told him that his GCSAA membership card did not entitle him to a comp.
   
   On the flip side, I will always try to contact the super, GCSAA member or not. Some are not GCSAA members thus not in the directory. Some of those do not have contact info listed on their course web site. In those cases I will call the pro or our pro will call for me.
   
   I will always return a message from those looking to play our course. On the way to San Diego last month my assistant and I stopped in Phoenix to stay with family and play a couple days and go to the Waste Management Open one day. I tried to contact the supers at 3 different courses, several times, and to this day I still haven't heard from any of them. I was able to make arrangements through their pro shops at 2 of the courses.
   
   I help coach a middle school golf team and my son plays in junior tournaments at various courses during the summer. I always try to let the supers know I will be visiting.

   
   Chris Thuer, CGCS, Bear Slide Golf Club, Cicero, IN
   
   
4. Anthony Nysse

   

   1 posts
   
   3/11/2016 5:03 AM

   When playing another course, I've always contacted the Superintendent to request access, but of course, notify him/her that I will be out on the course they maintain. That's the least we can do as professionals.
   I think that it's in poor taste to not contact the Superintendent. The Superintendent should be the only one to be able to "comp" the round of golf, anyways. Otherwise, pull out the wallet.

   
   
   
   
5. Jeremy Hreben

   

   0 posts
   
   3/11/2016 6:03 AM

   Answer: do what I do. I work at a course that nobody wants to play!!!!

   
   
   
   
6. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   3/15/2016 11:03 AM

   Jeffrey, Not old and grumpy. Unfortunately, this happens all too often. I've been really disappointed by the lack of professionalism in the local chapter regarding this issue. I would blame it on a generational thing, but truth is its not.

   
   
   
   
7. Gary Carls

   

   19 posts
   
   3/15/2016 1:03 PM

   As an old retired guy who has more time to play golf I have still tried to arrange any golf I play at other courses through the superintendent. Mostly I'm calling guys I have known for years and they take care of it. I often play with guys from my old crew and they get taken care of as well. In some cases I have just been given a discount off the regular rate but I appreciate anything anyone can do for me. I also try and follow up after my golf with another thank you by phone or e-mail. Nice "perk" but not a right.

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative