Superintendent taking on operations Management position Cancel The title field is required!

1. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   8/28/2018 6:08 AM

   Hello all, We have a small 18 hole semi private course that has been getting by through cutbacks throughout the years. I have been asked in the past if I would be a general manager of the club if I was approached with the position, several times in the past with nothing coming of it. I have always told them I would do whatever was required of me but I prefer keeping myself in my department taking care of the course.
   
   times change, options change and people change. It is again being brought up that certain board members want to see me take over as a GM or Operations manager. To be honest, I love the golf course and doing the projects we get to do. I only have four guys working for me currently so I am pretty much completely involved in keeping the course running. our other departments run thin also and if not for our club president running tournaments I am not sure what we would be doing. Well he is getting burnt out in trying to keep the whole place going (club, kitchen swimming pool). he has approached me about the possibility of me taking over. I have a few issues I would like to get your opinions on.
   
   To start I have already told him I am not a social person and do not like doing functions such as parties, and so forth. plus I am up at 4am every morning so working late for a night clubhouse function really does not work out for me.
   I have the expertise to run the place and have been in the business for over 30 years. my management skills are above average but need more work. my own department would suffer to some extent by me shifting hours to the other departments. we currently do not have a pro shop manager and may not get one.
   
   There would be nothing extra in this change for me other than helping us keep our doors open and the experience I gain! And I may actually be ok with that part!
   
   What are some of yours opinions? good or bad I do not care!
   
   Have any of you moved into these positions?
   
   does it work our for you if so and is it worth it?
   
   Thanks

   
   
   
   
2. Stephen Ravenkamp

   

   1 posts
   
   8/28/2018 8:08 AM

   James,
   Reading your post I get the impression you are not looking for increased responsibility or authority as much as you are just willing to do whatever is necessary to keep the doors open. I commend you for that and wish you well. I have been in a similar position so I have some cautions, though.
   1. You need to be realistic. You say the course has been able to stay open through cut backs. This is just another cut back. The course is dying a slow death and you are just delaying the inevitable. None of us ever wants to see a golf course close; particularly on in which we have invested so much of ourselves. But unless something is done to reverse the trend you are only delaying the inevitable.
   2. What will taking on additional responsibilities do to you personally? How will it impact your health and home life? Professionally, none of us likes to admit there are limits to what we can take on. But, realistically, each additional responsibility we assume must be compensated by taking away something we are already doing. I caution you not to let it take away from the attention you are able to give to your family.
   I wish you wisdom in making your decision and luck with the future of the golf course. I have been there and know the dilemma you are facing. My owners were not willing, or could not afford, to make the necessary investment to change the trajectory of the course and there was nothing in the end that I could do to stave off the inevitable. I hope your course a better future.

   
   
   
   
3. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   8/28/2018 5:08 PM

   I'm with Steve, the first thing you need to figure out is whether you can do this without killing yourself.
   
   I moved from superintendent to director of operations about 2.5 years ago and am glad I did. If you do make the switch you need to realize that you will no longer be able to be the golf course superintendent. You will need to change your schedule to fit the needs of the other duties when needed. You can't be at an evening function until 10pm on Saturday and expect to be in at 4 am Sunday changing cups.
   
   You need to have someone on the golf course you can count on to make the place run from day to day based on only instructions from you, without you being there. If you don't have that person already, or cant bring them in, expect the quality of the golf course to decline, or to wear yourself out. Or both.

   
   
   
   
4. Peter Bowman

   

   11 posts
   
   8/28/2018 6:08 PM

   Fill in the swimming pool?

   
   
   
   
5. Mark Van Lienden

   

   14 posts
   
   8/31/2018 10:08 AM

   Hi James,
   I have watched you on this forum for so long I almost feel like I know your course. If I may be so bold you might be getting to the point where you cannot participate in projects at the level you used to anyway.This could be an opportunity for you to reduce your physical involvement and increase your management training skills in so much as training someone to head the evening events or golf course projects. It could also be possible to direct funds more where you feel they need to go say rather than new chairs for the dining room....again or weather we need new carts or new mowers worse.

   
   
   
   
6. James Smith

   

   112 posts
   
   9/11/2018 10:09 AM

   Mark Van Lienden, CGCS said: Hi James,
   I have watched you on this forum for so long I almost feel like I know your course. If I may be so bold you might be getting to the point where you cannot participate in projects at the level you used to anyway.This could be an opportunity for you to reduce your physical involvement and increase your management training skills in so much as training someone to head the evening events or golf course projects. It could also be possible to direct funds more where you feel they need to go say rather than new chairs for the dining room....again or weather we need new carts or new mowers worse.

   
   Thanks for the advice Mark!
   I actually have to laugh at the last parts as we have no funds for anything but needs. Being a part of the other side may give me a chance to help generate funds though.
   I do not look forward to the days of reducing my physical involvement though. its what helps keep me in shape and feeling younger as I move into my above middle 50's.
   I'm actually still the main one getting out there and using the shovel and rakes in constructing all of our bunker mods and renovating slopes. Its a little easier when a few of my volunteers for moving sod we cut and lay are in their 70's, I cannot let them show me up, can I?
   To be honest that's always been the part of this job I loved the most.
   
   
   The subject has not been brought up again and we have been really busy trying to keep up with the course so I have not approached it yet. I might be willing to give up 10-20 hrs a week doing that position if I reduce my hours in this department in some way. just not sure how to work that out just yet.
   
   Thanks everyone