9 hole course and assistants Cancel The title field is required!

1. Virgil Range

   

   0 posts
   
   10/2/2012 4:10 PM

   Do you know any 9 hole courses around your area? if so do you know if they have an assistant.
   
   My reason for asking is because 2013 will be my 3rd year as Superintendent at a 9 hole CC. My crew has consisted of young college kids and 1 retired guy. Next year I will have to train another crew since some of them graduated.
   Im trying to get some info and numbers to present to the board to convince them that I need an assistant.
   
   I am the mechanic, spray tech, irrigation tech, and then superintendent all at the same time. Its October and im still working 7 days a week because the 2 college kids work less than 15 hrs a week and retired guy works about 30 hrs wkly. Thats leave me working long hrs and 7 days a week. when will the snow be here. LOL.
   
   I would love to have someone that actually cares what the course looks like and is wanting to be in the business so here is a few questions for ya.
   
   What do you think a salaried assistant should make at a 9 hole?
   What do you think an hrly assistant should make at a 9 hole?
   Should we offer benefits?
   If its an hrly assistant what about the winter. Is that employee allowed to draw employment even though it would be a seasonal position?
   
   Thanks for you time and response,
   
   Virgil

   
   
   
   
2. Christopher Boldreghini

   

   0 posts
   
   10/2/2012 7:10 PM

   18 holes, 9 years, no assistant.

   
   
   
   
3. Naggatz Larry D

   
   10/2/2012 9:10 PM

   i was hired a hannibal country club as superintendent when i got here they already had some one here that was fulltime he has been here for years i think a salary person makes sense i have been in your position before it isnt easy you just need to figure out what u pay everybody for the year and then figure out a fair price to pay them it is probaly worth it in the long run it all depends what your board or owners want to do. I personaly think having a fulltime person is a good thing it works good here we if you want to talk more about this my name is larry and you can call me anytime on my cell 319-350-3964
   
   
   
   larry
   hannibal missouri

   
   
   
   
4. Naggatz Larry D

   
   10/2/2012 9:10 PM

   do you have a lot equipment to work on in the winter carts anything like that and also we pay health insurance for the other guy they pay half

   
   
   
   
5. Virgil Range

   

   0 posts
   
   10/3/2012 4:10 AM

   Chris, how many you got on your crew. I have 3 part time guys all year. Not one full time.
   
   Larry, yea I might give ya a call sometime. As for equipment, 8 mowing units, 1 sprayer and 4 carts.

   
   
   
   
6. Patrick Quinlan

   

   0 posts
   
   10/3/2012 6:10 AM

   This is my 5th season as Superintendent at a 9 hole private club. I have never had an asst. My crew is four full time staff that work Tuesday through Sunday. I work 7 days a week from April 1 to Nov 15. My first year I had 5 crew but that has been cut. I do have a part time mechanic that works about 10 hours a week.

   
   
   
   
7. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   10/3/2012 8:10 AM

   OK let me have a go at this,
   
   What difference does being a 9-hole or an 18-hole course make in regards to paying an assistant? Will he not be required to work 40+ hours a week? Since it is only a 9-hole course will you just work him 20hrs a week?
   
   Not to sound like a jerk but you should be paying a person for how many hours you require his duties.
   
   That out of the way I would say that I would most likely try hiring a Mechanic/Assistant/Operator. It would seem that having a mechanic on duty would take a lot of work off your plate and he can do other duties when he has the equipment running. A mechanic should be easier to get your board to agree to then an Assistant since some people think courses do not need assistants or even use them. To me it just seems like it would be easier to win an argument for the need of a mechanic over one for an assistant.

   
   
   
   
8. Canedo Alberto J

   
   10/3/2012 9:10 AM

   I have been a Superintendent at 2 different 9 hole facilities and never had an assistant. I had a Foreman at my first 9 hole job, that I trained and is now the Superintendent there. At that Northern California Golf Course, we had a total of 4 full time and one part time employee that worked full time for 6 months of the year and off for 6 months. We all worked an average of 40 hours a week. I trained all the employees on servicing the equipment, since it was all brand new at that time. We were all mechanics by committee and everything ran smoothly.
   My current job we have a total of 4. The mechanic also works out on the field on a daily basis, 1 operator and 1 greens-keeper. The greens-keeper works Wednesday thru Sunday at 40 hours per week. The mechanic, operator and Myself work Monday thru Friday at 40 hours a week. Even though I am salaried, my employers do not like me putting over 40 hours a week and really don't want me working on weekends unless there is an emergency that they can not handle. Love what I got out here in East County San Diego, Ca.

   
   
   
   
9. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   10/3/2012 2:10 PM

   Alberto Canedo said: I have been a Superintendent at 2 different 9 hole facilities and never had an assistant. I had a Foreman at my first 9 hole job, that I trained and is now the Superintendent there. At that Northern California Golf Course, we had a total of 4 full time and one part time employee that worked full time for 6 months of the year and off for 6 months. We all worked an average of 40 hours a week. I trained all the employees on servicing the equipment, since it was all brand new at that time. We were all mechanics by committee and everything ran smoothly.
   My current job we have a total of 4. The mechanic also works out on the field on a daily basis, 1 operator and 1 greens-keeper. The greens-keeper works Wednesday thru Sunday at 40 hours per week. The mechanic, operator and Myself work Monday thru Friday at 40 hours a week. Even though I am salaried, my employers do not like me putting over 40 hours a week and really don't want me working on weekends unless there is an emergency that they can not handle. Love what I got out here in East County San Diego, Ca.

   
   Don't you feel guilty for not working weekends!.....................................never mind

   
   
   
   
10. Canedo Alberto J

    
    10/4/2012 8:10 AM

    I don't feel guilty at all for not working weekends anymore, unless I cover for my weekend worker. I have been a Superintedent for over 12 years now and have worked in the golf industry for over 25 years. I think I have done my share of working the weekends. The ownership of the golf course I am at believes in family time and not having to work over 40 hours a week, unless there is an emergency. Any hours after 8 in a day, I am allowed to take off early on Fridays or any day I need to leave early.

    
    
    
    
11. Peter Bowman

    

    11 posts
    
    10/4/2012 10:10 AM

    Alberto,
    
    Please call me first if you ever resign.

    
    
    
    
12. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    10/5/2012 6:10 AM

    Alberto Canedo said: I don't feel guilty at all for not working weekends anymore, unless I cover for my weekend worker. I have been a Superintedent for over 12 years now and have worked in the golf industry for over 25 years. I think I have done my share of working the weekends. The ownership of the golf course I am at believes in family time and not having to work over 40 hours a week, unless there is an emergency. Any hours after 8 in a day, I am allowed to take off early on Fridays or any day I need to leave early.

    
    Alberto, sorry I was trying to be tongue in cheek was all. A lot of us would love to work for your owners. Most clubs hire us as salaried labor because they know they will work us 50-60hrs a week. While my club is not as well as yours, they do allow me to take any time off I may need. without kids my time is a lot more free to give out but like yourself, I also have been in this business for over 25 yrs and take some weekends off or at least Sundays off. I have a very good crew that can handle weekends so I generally only come in for tournaments or bad weather where I may need to make a call to close the course or whatever. I also use weekends to do any clubhouse repairs some times.
    You indeed have a great ownership to work for.

    
    
    
    
13. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    10/8/2012 7:10 AM

    Thanks for everyones response. I'll be lucky if the board approves anything but I'm going to ask.
    
    I mentioned as assistant for 13.00 an hr at the last board meeting. Got shut down immediately. Really 13.00 an hr...that's nothing. I asked my 1 almost full time guy that makes 10.00 an hr to step up. Well he's been here for 16 yrs and wants nothing to do with responsibility. So he is out. But all I can do is ask then pull my hair out when they say no...oh that's right, I have no hair to pull out. Lol.
    
    Again thanks!!

    
    
    
    
14. Miller Lee

    
    10/8/2012 1:10 PM

    Virgil
    I was at M.C.C in the early 80s for 2 yrs.Sounds like nothing has changed.
    
    Lee Miller
    G.C.S. Far Oaks Golf Club

    
    
    
    
15. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    10/8/2012 2:10 PM

    Lee,
    you were at MCC.really. yea your right not much as changed. In my 2 years things are going better but still the same.
    Were you part of the sand based greens install or the Fwy irrigation install. How about the pump house. Was it a flowtronex system? There is no records of anything over here.
    
    your at Far Oaks huh. Beautiful place!!! I grew up in the Belleville area. My cousin just took the Clinton Hill Golf Course job. Its a small world.
    
    If there are any openings in that area, let me know. I would love to be back into that area.
    
    Virgil

    
    
    
    
16. Miller Lee

    
    10/9/2012 9:10 AM

    Virgil
    Sounds like somethings have changed we had push up poa greens. No flowtronics and no fwy. irrigation just a booster pump for city water. They did buy some land and were going to make 18 holes. It sounds like they dug a lake by the creek for your flowtronics pumps that was good. One thing i remember is a maple between 9 grn. and clubhouse is it still there? Virgil i will let you know if here of anything in the area. I wish your cousin good luck at Clinton Hills i played league there for 5 years fun course. If your in the area stop by the shop.
    
    Lee Miller
    G.C.S. Far Oaks

    
    
    
    
17. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    10/11/2012 6:10 AM

    Lee,
    Guess things have changed alot since you left. Btw, why did you leave? Who was the president at that time. Was it WR ORiely (my favorite member-NOT)
    
    Yea that damn maple is still there. The past 2 years the back left of 9 green just cooks with the roots being there. Plus the bunker is so contaminated from roots and leaves its ugly. I have been thinking about doing some root pruning but ive heard that pruning roots dont fix the problem in the long run. I think removing it is the best thing. It might die this winter on accident. Opps. lol. Any suggestions on killing it without membership ask questions about why is it the only maple that died. Maybe i could do the root pruning and say that is what caused it to die. hummm
    
    Yea the land they bought for another 9 holes is gone. They did build a huge lake for the pumphouse, but then sold the land to the university a few years back so there are no plans to build another 9. I just recently got approved to put in all new tee sprinklers and new green and tee valves(block system). It seems like in years past they have done everything at bottom dollar. And thats the cause for things being like they are and now im fixing all the screw ups. I guess job security.lol
    I will definitely stop by next time im in town. Probably be late this month or next month.
    
    Virgil

    
    
    
    
18. Miller Lee

    
    10/13/2012 8:10 AM

    Virgil
    I would set a sprinkler on the left front of old grn. for a hour or two too feed grass and tree roots that maple loved too steal the h2o from the grass.
    The only people i can remember Bruce Twaddle Dentist was my grns. chair also rented me a house by campus. Barry Anderson the pro and is now or was a attorney in Maryville. I left for grow experience, more money, heath ins. I did enjoy Maryville and the people

    
    
    
    
19. Werner Thomas S

    
    10/17/2012 3:10 PM

    I am at an 18 hole course and work for a management company based here in Dallas. We pay all of our assistants at 18 hole course hourly, which works out to their advantage especially when there is overtime involved. I know that trying to sell your BOD on the idea might be hard, but it sounds like you could use a break and hiring an assistant would give you and the club another set of eyes. Perhaps there is someone out there looking to get some experience before moving up into another opportunity. Someone with some experience from another facility or a person out of school that wants a hands on experience which you obviously have. I would push the consistency angle with those you answer to and see where it heads. Thirteen dollars per hour isn't all that bad and beats two inexperienced crew members at minimum wage.

    
    
    
    
20. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    10/19/2012 6:10 AM

    Thanks for all the replies guys. A recent board meeting went well and its looking like I'm getting approved for an assistant. I already have 2 guys with experience interested.
    
    so the outcome is...for 2013 Ill have a crew of 4 instead of 5 like the past 2 years. I know we can accomplish the same amount maybe even more with employees that care about the course rather than being like robots.
    
    Again Thanks
    Virgil