Pros taking clients to free holes Cancel The title field is required!

1. Michael Rogers

   

   2 posts
   
   9/16/2016 4:09 AM

   Hi, We have pros that jump around course to free holes for on course lessons. Needless to say, they hinder our ability to work around play. We get about 50,000 rounds on 18 holes.
   
   What are your policies in this area?
   
   Thanks Michael
   
   Marbella Golf Country Club

   
   
   
   
2. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   9/16/2016 4:09 AM

   We mow #18 first so the pros can give lessons there until golf gets to them.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
3. Michael Rogers

   

   2 posts
   
   9/16/2016 4:09 AM

   Hey Steve, I am talking about popping out and playing three open holes and then going somewhere else as they feel like it. Say, 8 am they go out to number 6 and play thru 9 with no early birders in the way. To avoid early birders that go off on 10 they go to 14 at 8 30 or 9 am.

   
   
   
   
4. Charles Lafferty

   

   0 posts
   
   9/16/2016 6:09 AM

   explain to the pros how important uninterrupted work is for you and your staff. Efficiency is always the winner when it comes to that kind of stuff.

   
   
   
   
5. Wally Dowe

   

   0 posts
   
   9/16/2016 7:09 AM

   Our professional staff calls us and ask if they can go to open holes. We accommodate their request when we can. I think it is extremely unprofessional and their "I don't give a shit" attitude" is quite obvious. For whatever reason most golf staff just do not understand how important the morning hours are in trying to get stuff done on the golf course.
   
   Maybe set up a meeting to go over some guidelines. If they still insist and continue to do this, have your staff treat them as if they are not out there. Sounds harsh but why should one department be courteous and respectful and the other department just flips you the bird.

   
   
   
   
6. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   9/16/2016 7:09 AM

   Mike, I don't know what your relationship with your Pro is like, but I wouldn't allow that here. I get along great with my Pro, but he thinks I'm a bit unstable so he doesn't mess with me.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
7. Larry Allan

   

   0 posts
   
   9/16/2016 9:09 AM

   Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: Mike, I don't know what your relationship with your Pro is like, but I wouldn't allow that here. I get along great with my Pro, but he thinks I'm a bit unstable so he doesn't mess with me.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   Steve, I thought your Pro was rather new. How did he pick up on the unstable thing so quickly?
   
   Also I personally believe that every member of the proshop and Board of Directors should be required to spend one day working in the greens department from sun up to finish. I think it would quickly bring all of them into reality

   
   
   
   
8. Curtis Nickerson

   

   0 posts
   
   9/16/2016 10:09 AM

   Larry Allan said:

   Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: Mike, I don't know what your relationship with your Pro is like, but I wouldn't allow that here. I get along great with my Pro, but he thinks I'm a bit unstable so he doesn't mess with me.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   Steve, I thought your Pro was rather new. How did he pick up on the unstable thing so quickly?
   
   Also I personally believe that every member of the proshop and Board of Directors should be required to spend one day working in the greens department from sun up to finish. I think it would quickly bring all of them into reality

   
   
   Larry beat me to it!

   
   
   
   
9. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   9/16/2016 11:09 AM

   We have a golf academy instructor who does this BUT....when he see us coming he moves or if he sees me he asks what would be a good place to go. He knows I'm unstable and is very accommodating.

   
   
   
   
10. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    9/16/2016 1:09 PM

    Our Pro will give me a heads up and check with me, and I will also accommodate him if I need to, (such as when spraying, I'll skip that hole and come back to it). He will give way to the rest of the staff and will find another hole to give the lesson on if need be. Of course with our small staff, which doesn't take up much of the course, he is able to accommodate his lesson. The main thing I try to remind all of us is, the safety factor, if the pro knows he has a lesson, he lets us know, staff is told to just keep an eye out for safety reasons, especially non-mowing jobs where staff are driving carts in no particular pattern.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
11. Michael Rogers

    

    2 posts
    
    9/17/2016 1:09 AM

    Thanks for input,
    
    I should have explained better, we have our academy leased out for the next 4 or 5 years, finishing a 15 year contract that former management implemented, so it is nothing to do with pro shop. I agree that director of golf, administrator, pro shop staff, marshalls should all get a 7 am to 3pm training day on course. I think I will talk calmly to each of the teaching pros and explain the windows within we need to work and for them to try and not hold up staff and that staff will proceed with caution near them.
    
    The director of academy is great with me. There are 5 or 6 pros that teach out of the academy. They are all respectful to me but they take out their clients to free holes. They will pick up if necessary if they see me needing to do something but I doubt they do so often with other staff. It is not a huge problem but it definitely affects our productivity to some degree so I wanted to hear some other strategies.
    
    Thanks again Michael

    
    
    
    
12. Mark Van Lienden

    

    14 posts
    
    9/17/2016 10:09 AM

    I always said we could get a lot done if weren't for all the golfers.

    
    
    
    
13. Anthony Nysse

    

    1 posts
    
    9/17/2016 3:09 PM

    Irrigation water might slow them down....

    
    
    
    
14. Max Lamas

    

    0 posts
    
    9/19/2016 4:09 AM

    Can you predict the times when your employees will get to the holes in the morning and tell the Pros to stay clear of these holes at those times?

    
    
    
    
15. Michael Rogers

    

    2 posts
    
    9/19/2016 1:09 PM

    Thank you Max, good idea.