USGA Green Section Record, August 4, 2017 Share: Like 0 Share Tweet Improving Productivity Of Existing Staff By Paul Jacobs and Patrick O’Brien As the turf industry becomes more competitive, golf course maintenance budgets are increasingly scrutinized. As a result, many maintenance budgets have experienced some reductions over the past decade. Unfortunately, golfer expectations typically remain the same even as budgets get slimmer, placing superintendents in a difficult position of trying to do more with less. Doing more with less usually means cutting corners, which often results in negative long-term consequences. A more sustainable way to manage budget issues is to analyze current maintenance techniques and look for ways to optimize the productivity of existing staff. Opportunities to improve productivity can be exciting, but remember that turfgrass management is just that – management. Successful turfgrass management involves simultaneously managing budgets, people, equipment and turfgrass. The options presented in this article provide some excellent ways to improve productivity, but they may not be the right choices for every facility. Read More Multimedia Content Fore The Golfer Video Fore The Golfer Video How A Challenging Labor Market Affects Course Conditioning Etiquette Towards Golf Course Maintenance Personnel Whether having difficulty filling open positions or retaining experienced staff, courses everywhere are affected by labor challenges that can impact course conditioning. Although it is difficult to do more with less, superintendents are implementing these creative tactics to maintain course conditioning through a difficult labor market. Completing all necessary maintenance tasks on a golf course before play is practically impossible, so playing around the maintenance staff is unfortunately inevitable. Golf course maintenance personnel should take the necessary precautions to protect themselves, but golfers need to be careful and keep several factors in mind. Watch Video Watch Video (also available in Spanish) Green Section Collection: Enduring Labor Market Challenges These interactive digital collections include additional supporting articles, a photo gallery and videos that provide relevant information on the primary subject. The collections can be viewed online in a user-friendly digital magazine format, saved as a PDF or printed. View Collection Research You Should Know Fore The Golfer Research To Increase Productivity Where Did The Hours Go? Productivity is something every golf course is concerned about, and the USGA supports research across the country to improve the long- term productivity of golf courses. For a sneak peak of the solutions being developed, learn more about the projects being supported by the USGA at a university near you. Understanding how and where labor hours are allocated can have significant impacts on course conditioning and the bottom line. Although it requires overhead expenditures, investing in technology to make the task of tracking labor easier will more than pay for itself in improved efficiency and productivity. Read More Read More Regional Updates West Region Northeast Region Hot, humid weather is tough on golf courses that overseed bermudagrass every winter. Learn how courses are restoring turf coverage and playability in failing ryegrass areas. After last year's major drought in the Northeast Region, you might expect this year’s plentiful rain to be welcomed by all. However, frequent rain provides its own set of challenges. Read More Read More Central Region Southeast Region It may be frustrating, but waiting until heavy deposits of silt are dry before making an attempt to clean turf after a flood is often your best and only option. Bahiagrass may not provide premium playing conditions, but here’s why it gets an A+ when it comes to sustainability in golf course roughs that seldom come into play. Read More Read More United States Golf Association 77 Liberty Corner Road Far Hills, NJ 07931 908.234.2300 Contact Us Stay Connected with the USGA Important Links USGA Privacy Policy USGA Green Section Home Page USGA Staff Contact Information Course Consulting Service Information USGA Turfgrass and Environmental Research Online (TERO) ©2017 by United States Golf Association® Policies for the Reuse of USGA Green Section Publications USGA Green Section publications are made available through the courtesy of the United States Golf Association (USGA®). The reuse of these materials is authorized only if the following conditions are met in their entirety. This policy applies to all Green Section publications, including articles, videos, presentations, and webcasts. 1) Adherence to all components of our Conditions for Reuse policy. 2) Inclusion of the appropriate Reprint Permission Language. 3) Notification of your Intent To Reprint Content. The USGA Green Section Record (ISSN 2156-5813) is published twice monthly via electronic mail by the United States Golf Association®. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/USGA-Green-Section-Record--August-4--2017.html?soid=1103157499740&aid=fogxKNYx7Hs[8/4/2017 12:16:45 PM]