Superintendent Golf Priveleges Cancel The title field is required!

1. Michael Sullivan

   

   5 posts
   
   4/10/2012 1:04 PM

   Hello,
   I am currently Supt/ General manager at a Municipal facility, owned and operated by the City of Stamford CT. I am a City Employee. I currently pay my way for golf at my facility. The Chairman of my Golf Commission recently approached me, asking me to place on the next meeting agenda, Golfing Priviledges for the Golf Course Supt/ Manager. I am uncomfortable with this discussion on several leveles, but obviously, would appreciate the savings.
   I am looking for feedback on how this is handled at your facility.
   If you wish, you may email me privately
   mjsully123@gmail.com
   Thanks for your input.
   
   Michael Sullivan
   Brennan Golf
   Stamford, CT

   
   
   
   
2. Wahlin Scott B

   
   4/10/2012 1:04 PM

   All of the golf employees can play for free on standby and they can have one guest who rides with them. They can also get free lessons. The idea is that they can better experience the course and thus do a better job if they play it. We are municipal. All of the other city employees pay the regular fees including the Mayor.

   
   
   
   
3. Michael Sullivan

   

   5 posts
   
   4/10/2012 1:04 PM

   Scott,
   Thank you for the reply. Did you have to go through any special requirements or approvals to get this approved? was it done recently or something that has always been that way?
   
   Thank again
   Mike

   
   
   
   
4. Wahlin Scott B

   
   4/10/2012 2:04 PM

   I would suggest talking to our Operations Manager. He has been there a long time and I am sure he can give you a lot of history and good information. Besides, He is a great guy. I will IM his number.

   
   
   
   
5. Clay Putnam

   

   33 posts
   
   4/10/2012 4:04 PM

   Most municipalities that I am involved with have "free" golf privileges for the staff. Some have specific requirements while others are very liberal with the policy. One in particular requires employees to work X numbers of hours to earn a round of golf. Almost all require the employee to play on a stand-by basis meaning the employee may not book a time unless the employee plans on paying the full greens-fee.

   
   
   
   
6. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   4/10/2012 7:04 PM

   At the many public golf courses I have worked at during my career the Superintendent for sure and his assistant is able to play the course for free. As long as they do not take up a payed playing time and make arrangements with the proshop staff. It is very important to be able to understand the playing conditions from the playing side of the golf course. There is usually at least once a week or so, time for the important workers to be able to play the course. Many other public facilities I worked at allowed the employees to play for free once a week as part of their being employees as long as it did not again, take up a payed time away from a customer. This went for both sides of staff indoors and outdoors. It is important for the Super to understand how the course plays and feel part of the team on both sides, indoors and out! I loved to get my guys together with the inside workers when able to have fun together and share the team spirit!

   
   
   
   
7. David Brandenburg

   

   3 posts
   
   4/11/2012 6:04 AM

   Our policy is free golf for golf course employees working more than 15 hours per week when time is available. It has been the policy since the beginning, and is probably not written anywhere. They also get free range, carts at a discount, but guests pay full price.
   
   It is a popular option for our employees and it allows them to interact with other golfers and see the golf course from the other side. It is a great benefit to us as I think we are allowed to attract and retain workers with lower wages than it would otherwise take. I think the employees who play understand conditioning better.
   
   There would be no benefit to the course to offer it to other county departments and we do not. One issue some municipalities have is the union. If one union worker gets a benefit usually the others would demand the same thing. We do not have any union workers at the golf course so that is not a issue for us.
   
   As a superintendent if I had to pay to play here I probably would not play here, I would go somewhere I could enjoy myself and see someone else's problems. Playing with other golfers is constant work and even when I go out by myself I take notes either mentally or on paper.

   
   
   
   
8. Gary Carls

   

   19 posts
   
   4/11/2012 9:04 AM

   Golf staff can play free at either our 18 hole or 9 hole course once per week, Monday-Friday. Like everyone else, it's on a space available basis but that is not usually an issue. I actually wish employees would be allowed to play whenever we have space because I think it can only benefit your operation in the long run when staff really understand how their work affects the playability of the course. Funny thing is that the "Ambassadors" who do all those wonderful things for us (read papers, hawk balls in the ponds and roughs, eat their lunch, hang out in the golf shop and usually go the other way when they see me coming their way) get monthly play cards that allow them unlimited play Monday-Thursday. Not sure how that makes sense but that's the way it is. Everything is spelled out in a section in our golf policy manual.

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
   
   
9. Gary Carls

   

   19 posts
   
   4/11/2012 9:04 AM

   Michael,
   
   Our most recent official policy is attached. They did change the rules about a year ago to give the Ambassadors monthly play cards but the policy never got changed to reflect that. Things work slow in government.
   
   Gary

   
   Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
   
   
10. Steve Nelson

    

    0 posts
    
    4/11/2012 10:04 AM

    Michael,
    Full time golf employees here get to play for free (still have to pay for optional cart) on a stand by basis, as do the rest of the chain of command- Parks & Rec director and City Manager. Golf Commissioners get 1 free 'inspection round' per month. CM allowed to give out 100 rounds per year for local charitable contributions. City employees in other divisions than golf may play at the resident rate. All of this is written into a policy resolution that was created at the golf committee level and approved by council.

    
    
    
    
11. James Smith

    

    112 posts
    
    4/11/2012 12:04 PM

    I am also able to play for free. But I seem to remember that some courses may 1099 you on the cost of the round like it is income. I do not know for sure but as Superintendent/ GM you should have golfing privilages at your course. Feel free to ask for it.

    
    
    
    
12. Neidhardt John J

    
    4/16/2012 11:04 AM

    I am GCS for a State Park Authority Multi-Course facility (63 holes). Our policy is that every employee (and immediate family) who works for "this" particular State park gets complimentary golf and cart and 10 passes annually for guests. Not just, Golf course staff, maintenance staff, but everyone....Landscapers, Museum, Craftsman, Food and Beverage,lifeguards, administration etc. Our large Golf inventory allows this and we consider it part of our benefit package to hire and retain good help.
    In return, My family and I can use the other amenities such as the Water Park, Campground, Tennis Center etc. I admit it's a very generous benefit, but it makes for an attractive benefit package considering that the pay is not that high for many front-line employees.

    
    
    
    
13. Wahlin Scott B

    
    4/16/2012 11:04 AM

    John Neidhardt said: I am GCS for a State Park Authority Multi-Course facility (63 holes). Our policy is that every employee (and immediate family) who works for "this" particular State park gets complimentary golf and cart and 10 passes annually for guests. Not just, Golf course staff, maintenance staff, but everyone....Landscapers, Museum, Craftsman, Food and Beverage,lifeguards, administration etc. Our large Golf inventory allows this and we consider it part of our benefit package to hire and retain good help.
    In return, My family and I can use the other amenities such as the Water Park, Campground, Tennis Center etc. I admit it's a very generous benefit, but it makes for an attractive benefit package considering that the pay is not that high for many front-line employees.

    
    
    I love that place. I want to work there!

    
    
    
    
14. Hart Kevin W

    
    7/24/2012 7:07 AM

    All employess of the course get free golf. Management is allowed to bring a foursome for free. We must make tee times. We can play anytime as long as it is not busy.

    
    
    
    
15. Keith Pegg

    

    0 posts
    
    7/24/2012 3:07 PM

    All staff full and part time have free golf and free range balls on week days. Never on shift even Proshop only on there own time. Weekend at Pro's okay if not busy.
    
    Keith
    Zama Golf

    
    
    
    
16. Jordan McCormick

    

    0 posts
    
    9/11/2012 12:09 PM

    I pay as does all my staff. We pay a discounted rate which for those that play golf, is a good benefit. Since I have worked at multiple other courses where we have had complimentary golf, I feel it is an unfortunate policy and is a detriment to good maintenance. What I miss the most is the ability to play as many or as few holes as I want. The freedom to do this allows a Superintendent to get a sense for how the course is playing without making the financial commitment to playing at least 9 holes. I do not know if our policy will change but with the frugal nature of our city govt the chances are unlikely...
    
    Jordan McCormick
    Mariana Butte GC
    City of Loveland, Colo.

    
    
    
    
17. Gary Carls

    

    19 posts
    
    9/12/2012 5:09 PM

    Jordan,
    
    I just don't understand why the municipal operations make such restrictive policies when they say they want to run like a business. I'm with you, there's nothing quite like taking 45 minutes or so and playing a few holes whenever you might feel the desire to do so to see how the course actually is playing. It defintely is a big plus for understanding how the course feels for the customers. How does a chef really know his food is good if he can't sample it?? By our policy, I can't even play our 18 hole and 9 hole courses in the same week without paying. I think all staff should be encouraged and welcomed to play whenever there are open times.
    
    Oh Well!!!!

    
    Gary K. Carls, CGCS, President - Oakland Turfgrass Education Initiative
    
    
18. Melvin Waldron

    

    43 posts
    
    9/12/2012 10:09 PM

    I agree with what you all are saying, luckily we do get to play for free, when I worked for a county in NJ I played for free as well. We did have to keep count though. I guess the big deal is this is "the people's tax dollars". Which I can see somewhat, but if the golf course is an enterprise fund, then it should act like any other golf course.
    
    Mel

    
    Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
    
    
19. Robert Crockett

    

    4 posts
    
    10/14/2012 10:10 AM

    Melvin Waldron, CGCS said: I agree with what you all are saying, luckily we do get to play for free, when I worked for a county in NJ I played for free as well. We did have to keep count though. I guess the big deal is this is "the people's tax dollars". Which I can see somewhat, but if the golf course is an enterprise fund, then it should act like any other golf course.
    
    Mel

    
    Any Municipal facility our city owns is Free or discounted for it's employee's. We have a brand new 5mil pool here. Employee's AND their direct family members are allowed FREE access to the pool. Golf is discounted and carts are not.