Power crazy new GM. Help!! Cancel The title field is required!

1. Dixon Jeff

   
   3/3/2013 6:03 PM

   I'm in a dilemma of sorts and not sure as to what to do. I have been the super for the past 7 years and worked at this facility for 17 years. We had an opening for a GM position a while back and was offered the job but declined as my love for the outdoors in the trenches is what I enjoy. The owners wanted to hire internal and hired a guy off my crew. He had been part of the crew for 3 years with a few incidents of anger issues. The owners were trying to save a buck and gave him a try. He has no experience being a manager of any kind or even training other than his time with myself on the maintenance crew. The problem is now that he's more comfortable in his job, he is now messing with my schedules for maintenance and having a few crew members mow fairways and rough in the afternoon. Mind you, we only staff 5 guys in the summer for 18 holes. He's jumping on mowers after I go home for the day or when he knows I have a day off and cutting out new areas in natural areas to keep member complaints down. He doesn't communicate with me about any of it. His way of communication is texting crew and having them do tasks even when I have them scheduled on other projects. He has even got the owner under his spell with not fertilizing fairways this spring. The guy doesn't know what he's doing at all. He just reads something on the Internet and thinks he can go do it or restrict me from making the grass grow, oh no!! He rude and treats myself and crew with little respect. He uses profanity with us but not our customers. I have been working there 17 years and would think I would get the common courtesy of letting me know what going on with course mowing and fertilizer. I thought that was my job. I have talked to owners and nothing has changed or looks to change. The guy makes it miserable to work there. I refuse to quit as I think that's what he wants as to not have to pay unemployment. I'm just not sure what to do other than document everything and just wait. I'm mostly venting here but would love to hear any advice.
   
   Thank you

   
   
   
   
2. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   3/3/2013 6:03 PM

   Jeff,
   
   Wow, that is a situation. I would expect he had the ear of one of the owners before the randomly selected someone from your crew to be the GM so I guess he is going to be given a level of respect he may not deserve. If the members/golfers are happy the owners are probably happy and technically he is your boss now. As your boss he is able to make decisions right or wrong that affect you.
   
   You do not say how many owners you have but if you are close with some perhaps you can work behind the scenes to get things changed but the ownership group has hired this person to be your boss so it is going to be tough. Perhaps his goal is to get you to resign and then he would be the GM/Super. Is it possible after you turned the job down that is the ownerships goal to only have one manager?
   
   All this is a guess on my part and you know the situation better than anyone but it does not sound like a healthy relationship. You have three options...
   1. Just live with it and make the best of it, try to communicate all you can with your new GM and keep a positive attitude.
   2. Work behind the scenes to get him removed or have the ownership group tell him to back off. Not easy nor a good working relationship.
   3. Look for a new position.
   
   Good luck.

   
   
   
   
3. Zachary Wignall

   

   1 posts
   
   3/5/2013 4:03 PM

   Start pulling the keys on on equipment and hiding them

   
   
   
   
4. Christopher Boldreghini

   

   0 posts
   
   3/7/2013 1:03 PM

   Sounds like you should have took the position. Your situation sounds horrible and you'll probably working somewhere else soon. He will have the job you were offered so you might as well start looking since you didn't want the position. Best of luck to you, it's not the end of the world.
   
   Charlie B.

   
   
   
   
5. Smith Kerry L

   
   3/7/2013 3:03 PM

   Just thinking out loud here but I believe I would call a meeting with him and the owners as soon as possible. Lay it all out there and see where the cards fall. This sounds fishy to me and a terrible way to run a club. If they dont help you with your concerns then you dont want to work there and they are already planning to squeeze you out. Make them look you in the eye and tell you they agree or disagree with you and why. JMO. Good Luck!!!

   
   
   
   
6. Robert Crockett

   

   4 posts
   
   3/10/2013 9:03 AM

   Jeff....You should have taken the GM position

   
   
   
   
7. Justin VanLanduit

   

   0 posts
   
   3/14/2013 4:03 PM

   Pull the keys and change the locks on the shop. You don't have a key for his office do you, so why should he have one for yours. That is a very tough situation but aren't Supers always the "better man"? I'd take the suggestion of getting everyone to sit down and hash this out, let the GM explain his reasoning behind what he feels should be done, then ask him how he got that info. If he said well I read it somewhere then ask if he knows the details on that course's situation, then flip it on him with your experience in the golf industry let alone that property. Let the owners know that if they would like to see their course go downhill you are glad to sit back and watch with them but would rather do what you were hired to do and look out for the best interest in the golf course with all aspects in mind. Tell your crew that if they do anything you have not directed them to they will be relieved of their duties as the GM isn't their boss but your boss and you are responsible for the crew. They should respect that. Good luck and please keep us posted.
   
   Justin

   
   
   
   
8. Corey Eastwood

   

   80 posts
   
   3/15/2013 11:03 AM

   Justin VanLanduit said: Pull the keys and change the locks on the shop. You don't have a key for his office do you, so why should he have one for yours. That is a very tough situation but aren't Supers always the "better man"? I'd take the suggestion of getting everyone to sit down and hash this out, let the GM explain his reasoning behind what he feels should be done, then ask him how he got that info. If he said well I read it somewhere then ask if he knows the details on that course's situation, then flip it on him with your experience in the golf industry let alone that property. Let the owners know that if they would like to see their course go downhill you are glad to sit back and watch with them but would rather do what you were hired to do and look out for the best interest in the golf course with all aspects in mind. Tell your crew that if they do anything you have not directed them to they will be relieved of their duties as the GM isn't their boss but your boss and you are responsible for the crew. They should respect that. Good luck and please keep us posted.
   
   Justin

   
   
   Quick way to get fired Justin. We are there to serve the Members. Owners and or GM. If we can not put up with that find another job.

   
   Corey Eastwood CGCS, Stockton Golf & CC, Retired
   
   
9. Steve Nelson

   

   0 posts
   
   3/15/2013 12:03 PM

   In the 20/20 clarity of hindsight, when the owner offered the leadership position to you, that was the time to step up. Now someone else has that role and you are clashing with him. You also said that hiring internally was to 'save a buck'. Since their first instinct was to hire you as GM and consolidate the super/gm role, you should assume they still intend to do that. By hiring someone off your crew, that is clue #2 that they still intend to do that, with you probably being the odd man out. You've been there a long time, maybe you can talk with the owner and salvage things. But salvaging things probably means you have to step into the GM role as first envisioned by the owner. If you're not willing to do that, then at this point, you either need to accept your new GM's leadership style, or move on.

   
   
   
   
10. Keith Pegg

    

    0 posts
    
    3/16/2013 4:03 PM

    Jeff Dixon said: I'm in a dilemma of sorts and not sure as to what to do. I have been the super for the past 7 years and worked at this facility for 17 years. We had an opening for a GM position a while back and was offered the job but declined as my love for the outdoors in the trenches is what I enjoy. The owners wanted to hire internal and hired a guy off my crew. He had been part of the crew for 3 years with a few incidents of anger issues. The owners were trying to save a buck and gave him a try. He has no experience being a manager of any kind or even training other than his time with myself on the maintenance crew. The problem is now that he's more comfortable in his job, he is now messing with my schedules for maintenance and having a few crew members mow fairways and rough in the afternoon. Mind you, we only staff 5 guys in the summer for 18 holes. He's jumping on mowers after I go home for the day or when he knows I have a day off and cutting out new areas in natural areas to keep member complaints down. He doesn't communicate with me about any of it. His way of communication is texting crew and having them do tasks even when I have them scheduled on other projects. He has even got the owner under his spell with not fertilizing fairways this spring. The guy doesn't know what he's doing at all. He just reads something on the Internet and thinks he can go do it or restrict me from making the grass grow, oh no!! He rude and treats myself and crew with little respect. He uses profanity with us but not our customers. I have been working there 17 years and would think I would get the common courtesy of letting me know what going on with course mowing and fertilizer. I thought that was my job. I have talked to owners and nothing has changed or looks to change. The guy makes it miserable to work there. I refuse to quit as I think that's what he wants as to not have to pay unemployment. I'm just not sure what to do other than document everything and just wait. I'm mostly venting here but would love to hear any advice.
    
    Thank you

    
    
    Set up a staff training plan (back date if you need) for all your staff on every item of equipment you have and do a key box for all equipment keys, lock the keys up at night, then report to Board that without training Safety and welfare cannot be met if you have just anyone running around on the course. Get photos of this idiot doing things as you are describing and have them time stamped. Last start looking for a new position now. If it comes down to a showdown you may want an out before he ruins you in the local business market.
    Best of Luck, (been there).
    Keith
    Zama Japan

    
    
    
    
11. Stephen Ravenkamp

    

    1 posts
    
    3/17/2013 12:03 PM

    Jeff,
    You're in a very tough position; but, whether you want to hear it or not, you put yourself in it. You were offered the job and declined. While I understand your reasons for declining the position, you also tacitly agreed to work for whomever the owners hired as the new GM. Going behind the scenes or trying to undermine him is, in my opinion, unprofessional and unethical. I assume you have discussed your differences with him and tried to come to an accommodation; if not, you need to do so immediately. As I see it you have two options: either accept the reality of the situation and support his policies or resign. There are no other ethical options. When we take a position we are agreeing to give our full support to our bosses decisions and policies. That doesn't mean we cannot voice our opinions and suggestions; in fact, we have an obligation to present our side. It does, however,mean that once a decision is made we have the ethical obligation to give it our full support. Our only other option is to look for another position. Hopefully, you and your new boss can reach a meeting of the minds but, unless he does something that is illegal or goes against the owners expressed policies, you have no ethical option but to support him or resign. Do not, under any circumstances, try to do an end run around him. While you may have the right to talk directly to the owner you also have the professional obligation to let your immediate boss know you are going to do so. Good luck, I hope it all works out.
    Steve Ravenkamp, CGCS

    
    
    
    
12. Dixon Jeff

    
    3/17/2013 2:03 PM

    Here is an update for anyone interested and I would like to say thank you to everyone's replies. It gave me some ideas and insight on how to handle the situation professionally and just by posting the problem it allowed myself to vent and think clearly.
    
    I had a meeting with all party's involved to find a resolution to this issue and to see where I fit in with the course and in the future. I'm happy to say it was a success. We all worked it out to solve the issues at hand and the meeting and past few days have been great and really hope it continues for us all. Communication is huge and the only way anything was going to be fixed. I felt all involved were honest and held nothing back. I just know I had to be professional no matter what was going on. If I had tried to get even or stoop to a lower level, that makes me no better than the problem.
    
    Thank you again for all replies as I value your input. Have a great season.
    
    
    Jeff

    
    
    
    
13. Stephen Ravenkamp

    

    1 posts
    
    3/17/2013 8:03 PM

    Jeff,
    I'm glad to hear everything is worked out. It appears you handled it professionally and got the result you hoped for. Although not every situation can be handled to everyones satisfaction, it is amazing how far communications and a professional attitude can take you.
    Steve Ravenkamp, CGCS

    
    
    
    
14. Justin VanLanduit

    

    0 posts
    
    3/20/2013 11:03 AM

    Corey Eastwood, CGCS said:

    Justin VanLanduit said: Pull the keys and change the locks on the shop. You don't have a key for his office do you, so why should he have one for yours. That is a very tough situation but aren't Supers always the "better man"? I'd take the suggestion of getting everyone to sit down and hash this out, let the GM explain his reasoning behind what he feels should be done, then ask him how he got that info. If he said well I read it somewhere then ask if he knows the details on that course's situation, then flip it on him with your experience in the golf industry let alone that property. Let the owners know that if they would like to see their course go downhill you are glad to sit back and watch with them but would rather do what you were hired to do and look out for the best interest in the golf course with all aspects in mind. Tell your crew that if they do anything you have not directed them to they will be relieved of their duties as the GM isn't their boss but your boss and you are responsible for the crew. They should respect that. Good luck and please keep us posted.
    
    Justin

    
    
    Quick way to get fired Justin. We are there to serve the Members. Owners and or GM. If we can not put up with that find another job.

    
    
    I agree we are there to serve and work with them but we are also hired to run our department and all involved. There are times we have to stand up for our operation that may go against the others. If they won't let you run your operation as you see fit then I wouldn't want to be there.

    
    
    
    
15. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    4/21/2013 7:04 AM

    I want to thank you for bringing this post to the forum site.
    
    This reminds me of my current situation to some extent and I find that I have been fighting the battle of not wanting to be the GM.
    
    I work at a small private club owned by its members. They have almost always had department managers who took care of their respective departments and were supposed to work as a team. Years back they promoted the PRO to PRO/GM without any say so over the course (due to my department never having any issues). This rule was a thorn in his side which he would constantly let members know that "he was the only GM without control over the golf course". I simply wanted to do whatever the club needed done no matter who needed it.
    
    Well that particular person was terminated 2 years back after the club found inconsistencies on his bookkeeping. So then the task fell on the board members to get us back to having individual managers running their departments like before. So the next thing that happens is that our office manager quits and I am pushed into the office with one of my female workers to get that department straight again. my employee had the skill set to run the office and clubhouse and excelled in it but the power went to her head and before long she was running around saying she was the HBIC. Last August our course was hammered with hurricane Isaac and by November I was moved into the clubhouse doing the renovation work. Since I was inside during the winter and doing 75% of the total renovation (reminder to never let your club know you can do complete renovation work) using my crew and all of my personal tools, I had the attention of our membership on a daily basis and unfortunately they would brag about all of the work I was doing and how great the place looked. Imagine how the HBIC felt now that she was no longer the center of attention! I personally did not care about what else was going on at the time since I was working 12-14hr days 7 days a week doing the renovation, Sorry I just do not play politics well since I do not care about that section of the job. By Feb I had asked the HBIC if she could gather up the receipts from the last year where I had to pay out of my pocket for different things like my GCSAA dues and parts for equipment as well as my phone allowance which is in my contract. She got pissed and we had a mild conflict (in front of a board member) in which she turned in her resignation. After board members heard both sides they sided with me since she never made them aware of what was owed to me (around $1,500 by this time). She tried to play poker with the club pres but he called her bluff, her hand was that she would stay if they cut overtime out of my department and cut out my cell phone allowance which I had not been paid for in 1.5yrs. later I found out that she was also complaining about how much I make, I am one of the lower paid Superintendents in my state with 18 years of service to my club, she picked the wrong person to pick on because the club is 100% behind me and at the time I was about 80% complete in the renovation project which has saved them somewhere between $50,000-$100,000.
    
    I know that was a lot to read but my point is more that I have been fighting the issue of possibly becoming a GM in which I really did not want to be and paying for the consequences by allowing others to be brought in to try to do the job. I turned 50 last December and after all of my work on the club I am now starting to think that maybe I need to move from an on hands Superintendent to a more GM/Superintendent style person who can utilize my expertise to help keep the stability of the club.
    
    While we may not want the extra headache of the added roles the headaches we get from allowing others to take over may well exceed what we would of had to put up with.

    
    
    
    
16. Amos Feather

    

    0 posts
    
    5/27/2013 8:05 AM

    Document and let the guy dig his own hole. Communicate your concerns and problems to the owners and do the best you know how. Sometimes it's better to not say anything and let him put things on his own head.
    
    Amos Feather
    Eagle Point Golf Club
    Birmingham, AL