How many of you are responsible for the cart department? Cancel The title field is required!

1. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   7/13/2012 9:07 AM

   It is looking more and more likely that I am going to be pressed to take over the golf cart department. Not just maintaining them but the whole kit and kaboodle.
   
   I am wondering how many other Superintendents also do this.
   
   I really do not want the extra hassel with the cart boys because it will make my already long days even longer. While I can handle the morning section rather easily it will be the close up duties that will become the pain. Man sometimes I am already asleep by the time they close the doors. Our Golf Shop had been responsible for this department since the beginning but since we realeased our golf pro last year they have had a 21yr old Assistant running the golf shop and the guys he hires just walks all over him.
   
   If you are currently responsible for this department, how do you manage it? We are a low end private club that generally does not have more then one person a day working the department.

   
   
   
   
2. Christopher Boldreghini

   

   0 posts
   
   7/13/2012 9:07 AM

   hire someone responsible to make sure they are put up correctly

   
   
   
   
3. Neidhardt John J

   
   7/13/2012 9:07 AM

   150 golf carts in 3 barns. We are in charge of Maintenance and repairs only, but the Clubhouse in in charge of opening and staging carts daily, and charging and closing daily. It works for us.

   
   
   
   
4. Randall Boudinot

   

   4 posts
   
   7/13/2012 10:07 AM

   James,
   Just like John we are responsible for maintenance and repairs only. The Golf shop should at least be able to stage and return the carts.
   
   Randy Boudinot
   Walnut Grove Country Club
   Dayton, Ohio

   
   
   
   
5. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   7/13/2012 10:07 AM

   I also agree about the pro shop staging the carts and putting them up but that is the main problem to start with. They hire kids and have the kids train the new kids and never follow up on their work. And all of this is presently being run by a 21 year old kid.
   
   I would have no problem in helping with better organizing the department but I feel that the Pro Shop should be responsible for putting the carts up as well as the other night duties of the driving range.

   
   
   
   
6. Chris Wiedenmeyer

   

   0 posts
   
   7/13/2012 11:07 AM

   We are in charge of maintenance and repairs only. If they need a hand putting them out in the morning occasionally we will help but that is not very often.
   
   I look at it this way, if you were not doing the job of managing your staff would the pro take over? Accountability is a big word for pro shop staff!

   
   
   
   
7. Wahlin Scott B

   
   7/13/2012 12:07 PM

   100 cars - maintenance and repairs only

   
   
   
   
8. Jeffrey Whitmire

   

   0 posts
   
   7/13/2012 1:07 PM

   We had the same issues years ago with the kids until our pro hired a retired grocery store manager to help with the carts during the morning shift. After a few months, our pro wisely promoted him to head cart attendant. He drafted operating procedures, set up maintenance schedules, and did a host of other things to make our cart fleet one of the best managed fleets I have ever seen. He hired other retired people and that end of the operation has been a well-oiled machine ever since (even years after that initial person left).

   
   
   
   
9. Spotts David A

   
   7/13/2012 1:07 PM

   we repair and maintain but don't have cart boys or girls.

   
   
   
   
10. League Michael

    
    7/13/2012 9:07 PM

    We repair and maintain all carts and stage them October-February. We have no cart personnel employed, several men rotate putting carts up in the evenings for free golf and pulling them out in season. We are a low-budget municipal and only have 5 on staff at the pro shop - pro, ass. pro, one full time and two part time shop attendants.

    
    
    
    
11. Neidhardt John J

    
    7/14/2012 4:07 AM

    I agree with Chris' use of the word "Accountability" at the Clubhouse staff level. Don't we have enough long hours, acreage and incidentals to deal with?

    
    
    
    
12. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    7/14/2012 6:07 AM

    John Neidhardt said: I agree with Chris' use of the word "Accountability" at the Clubhouse staff level. Don't we have enough long hours, acreage and incidentals to deal with?

    
    I agree with you on this also. To be honest this time of the year I am most likely asleep when they are closing up our cart barn. unfortunately my club has cut labor to the bone in other departments in our process to climb back out of a hole that our last Pro/GM - and Office Manager left us in. We have made great strides and reached the end of the tunnel but we still have to watch it to make sure we stay on top. This has left us with me being the only true manager while we have an assistant running the pro shop and a new and promising office manager that worked for me last year.
    If I have to run the cart barn I will be looking for older retired guys to do the job instead of kids.

    
    
    
    
13. Chris Wiedenmeyer

    

    0 posts
    
    7/14/2012 10:07 AM

    We also were left in a rough spot 2for gm's ago. "Borrowed" a lot and left us with a pretty bad reputation. We have made it back now after some more turnover and streamlining the staff. Through it all I was the only management staff that remained the same. I helped anyone out when they asked but made sure they all knew this was their responsibility in the end. Now I help them very little.
    
    It seems to be a real problem these days with anyone wanting to do any extra than the bare minimum it takes to get the job done. Your assistant pro should be looking at his position as a stepping stone to bigger things either with your company or a new one but either way pretty hard to move up when you just barely get by.

    
    
    
    
14. Keith Pegg

    

    0 posts
    
    7/14/2012 4:07 PM

    102 cars - maintenance and repairs only Electric, One man a Good mechanic. Proshop cleans and does plug-in after a round. Average 2 carts down for maintenace per day. Parts average 200 tires every year and new battreies after 3 years. A few misc items brakes, and front end damage. We are a 99% cart course. and run 50,000 rounds a year. VERY HILLY.
    
    Keith Pegg
    Zama Japan

    
    
    
    
15. Wallace Jeffrey V

    
    7/14/2012 8:07 PM

    Michael League said: We repair and maintain all carts and stage them October-February. We have no cart personnel employed, several men rotate putting carts up in the evenings for free golf and pulling them out in season. We are a low-budget municipal and only have 5 on staff at the pro shop - pro, !%@*x&. pro, one full time and two part time shop attendants.

    
    
    Michael,
    
    Could you please explain what "!%@*x&" means? This is, after all, a learning forum.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Peter Bowman
    City Treasurer
    Bankrupt, CA

    
    
    
    
16. League Michael

    
    7/15/2012 8:07 PM

    I used an abbreviation for assistant pro and the software recognized it as a profanity. If i were using profanity it would not be directed towards the assistant...

    
    
    
    
17. Monte Reed

    

    3 posts
    
    7/26/2012 10:07 AM

    I started out with just the maintenance and repair of carts, then for about two years had cart personal also. We are back to maintenance and repair. It is better for someone in the club house to be responsible for cart personal.
    Monte

    
    
    
    
18. Chapman Korey A

    
    7/26/2012 12:07 PM

    Can a few of you please post your definition of maintenance and repairs? Does that include scheduling and tracking the preventative maintenance of a gas powered fleet of golf carts? I understand that our mechanics do the actual work when maintenance and repairs are required but how many supts and asst. supts are being asked to create preventative maintenance logs and scheduling the maintenance of the golf cart fleet?

    
    
    
    
19. McCallum David K

    
    7/26/2012 1:07 PM

    The words I despise most but hear way to often..........."that's not my job"...........and especially when dealing with clubhouse or golf shop personnel.

    
    
    
    
20. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    7/26/2012 2:07 PM

    David McCallum said: The words I despise most but hear way to often..........."that's not my job"...........and especially when dealing with clubhouse or golf shop personnel.

    
    David, lucky for me when I took over my departments Moto was everything is our job and saying "thats not my job" would get you fired. now after 17 years and several management changes the moto is spreading throughout the club. We are supposed to be a team and team members help each other out in order to achieve the final desired outcome. I personally make it a point to introduce myself to new hires of other departments and explain to them that while I may not be their supervisor, if I hear or see them with the "thats not my job" attitude they will not be here very long.

    
    
    
    
21. David Brandenburg

    

    3 posts
    
    7/27/2012 6:07 PM

    I would suggest you hire a few retired guys to take turns with the position. Without supervision they will be more reliable than most students.
    
    Maybe they need to find a golf professional that can manage his staff rather than give you more responsibility.
    
    At one time my department was responsible for cleaning the clubhouse because we were the most reliable employees and the owner knew it would get done if it was left to us. Fortunately it was a short term solution until other staff was in place the next season.