7/25/2015 7:07 AM
There has been much discussion lately on these boards, in the Twitterverse, on Facebook groups, at conferences, and countless other places about Assistants and whether they are getting paid too little, working too much, not being recognized with GCSAA classifications, etc. etc. etc. I understand that our industry has experienced a slide, that courses are closing or cutting positions, that superintendents who should be getting ready to retire cannot afford to, and that assistants are staying assistants for what seems like longer than it use to be. If you could write an open letter to your assistants just giving them advice and commentary, what would you tell them?
I would say:
-Put in your time but look at it as a practical education. By the time you get to the big office you should have learned the ins and outs of everything from weedeating to establishing a budget to some basic mechanics.
-Don't think you are above an available head super job just because it isn't on a big name course with a multi-million dollar budget. When a job opens at Podunk Golf Club you might just be what that club needs to turn things around, you'll earn a ton of respect when you improve the course not just from its members but from other supers and other clubs. Plus if you learn to do more with less then when you do move on to that top 100 job you will really appreciate what you have.
-This has been said a million times, but its not always what you know but who you know. Network, network, network. If your super gives you the opportunity to go to the local conference or the GIS, do it. Join twitter, facebook groups, check the forums on GCSAA, and Turfnet. Its probably easier than ever to network and while personal communication is better this is the digital age. Also, remember the sales reps that call on your course, they see a lot of courses and talk to a lot of decision makers and they notice who's assistants are busting it and who's are just phoning it in.
-You are not entitled to anything...but it never hurts to ask, just don't get butt hurt when you are told no. That being said, I've always had more respect for those who ask for time off, more money, more responsibility, etc, than those who never say a word but resent their employer behind their backs.
-Be thankful for the experiences you get to have, whether they be good or bad, they are all a opportunity to learn. And whether you worked for a super who was an awful person or one with the Midas touch it will all help you get where you are going.
I have been lucky, I worked as an assistant a very short time before moving into sales, back into a head superintendents position at a lower end course and finally to my current course where I am the owner/operator/superintendent/plumber/mechanic/head pro/carpenter/marshall/etc. I work more hours than I should, I pay myself far less than what I'm worth, but I wake up every morning and get to do what I love with the end goal of providing my customers with a far better golf course than what was here.