Staffing concerns... Cancel The title field is required!

1. Mark Novotny

   

   0 posts
   
   3/1/2013 7:03 AM

   How many of you are working alone right now?
   
   I know of another course as well as mine that only have the superintendent working.
   
   Do you think this is a trend or a fluke of this year?
   
   Your thoughts.
   
   Mark Novotny CGCS

   
   
   
   
2. Wahlin Scott B

   
   3/1/2013 8:03 AM

   Do you mean just one person, the superintendent maintaining the course?

   
   
   
   
3. Kevin Girt

   

   0 posts
   
   3/1/2013 9:03 AM

   I did it in Tennessee at both courses. Thats one reason I moved to a place where golf is more year round and I have a year round crew of at least 9 for 27 holes.

   
   
   
   
4. Virgil Range

   

   0 posts
   
   3/2/2013 5:03 AM

   Im working alone right now. Wont have any employees until at least middle of March depending on when all this snow melts. We completely covered with another inch expected on Monday. Been alone since Dec 1.
   
   Virgil

   
   
   
   
5. Mark Novotny

   

   0 posts
   
   3/2/2013 8:03 AM

   Thanks Virgil,
   
   At least I know there are three of us out here trying to keep things together without help in the winter.
   
   I should be able to start a mechanic as soon as a qualified one applies. I will be able to get a crew person back about three days before we plan to open when the weather breaks.
   
   Right now it looks like I will start my first guy somewhere between March 11-18.

   
   
   
   
6. Mark Novotny

   

   0 posts
   
   3/2/2013 8:03 AM

   Scott Wahlin, CGCS said: Do you mean just one person, the superintendent maintaining the course?

   
   
   Well Scott, kind of. We are closed right now and only open on a daily basis if the weather is warm enough for walking play.
   
   My Mechanic found a better job last fall, my temporary rehire from another golf course (he was laid off) found a better job (that we can't come close to matching) left last week. That leaves me.
   
   I am now looking for a mechanic, an assistant, and crew to start the season. I have a few part time guys that can come back that have limited experience. But currently it is a one horse race and if I get hit by a PeterBilt or fall down the stairs on the way to work...Then there were none.
   
   Kind of a interesting way to start 2013. Happy Birthday to me!

   
   
   
   
7. Timothy Walker

   

   0 posts
   
   3/2/2013 11:03 AM

   I have been alone from dec-mar since the first day I was a superintendent in 2002. I have overseen 4 operations in that time (2 at the same time 2005-2011) and at most I had a part time (2days a week) mechanic for 2 of those years. My current facility I have a laid off senior who will come in on a day to day basis if I need a hand working on something - like tree removal. We are open day to day based on weather.

   
   
   
   
8. Adam Stottlemyer

   

   0 posts
   
   3/3/2013 7:03 AM

   The two prior courses I worked at, it was only myself, the super and mechanic who was there from about November to late March. It's something that was common place at the public courses around the area. We'd sometimes bring in some of our crew from the past season if we needed extra help with snow removal or a project for a day or so, but for the most part it was just mainly management. I now work at a private course, and we have a mechanic, superintendent, myself and 7 full time guys. I won't lie, it's quite nice having the extra help through the winter, especially this winter where it's been mostly mild and allowed us to do quite a few things outside around the course that needed to get done, but unable to get to them when the season is in full swing.

   
   
   
   
9. Nicholas Daak

   

   3 posts
   
   3/14/2013 7:03 PM

   Gets lonely but I have done this for 6 winters now. No play from Thanksgiving till the snow melts in the spring .I am at a small course that has 8 part time helpers in the summer. Otherwise I am the Super, Spray tech, Irrigation tech, Mechanic, etc...

   
   
   
   
10. Virgil Range

    

    0 posts
    
    3/15/2013 5:03 AM

    Nicholas Daak said: Gets lonely but I have done this for 6 winters now. No play from Thanksgiving till the snow melts in the spring .I am at a small course that has 8 part time helpers in the summer. Otherwise I am the Super, Spray tech, Irrigation tech, Mechanic, etc...

    
    
    Nick Im like you, the mechanic, spray tech, irrigation tech, super, etc. A jack of all trades, A master at none. lol Thank goodness I have 9 holes instead of 18. WIth me being the only full time and 3 part time guys once the season gets going sometimes it hard to get everything done.
    
    I did start one guy last week thats getting 15-25 hrs a week. Monday Ill be starting to replace 18 green and 9 valves with my one guy. Sure hope the cooler weather stays around for a few weeks so the grass doesn't go hog wild. But no matter what, even 1 guy makes a huge difference in the amount that gets done.