JUNE, 1979 ouróe Sinceriti ten den tó OF NEW E N G L A N D -^Qôôociation I N C Come Sponsors and administrators of the Lawrence S. Dickinson Scholarship Fund — Awarded yearly to deserving Turf Management Students. , Come All Put a circle around June 11 and plan to be part of what promises to be a mutually beneficial joint meeting of the clubhouse managers and golf course superintendents of New England at the Metacomet Country Club in East Providence. This is the suggestion, almost plea, of NEGCSA president Dean Robertson who has been working out the details of such a gathering with an old friend, Jim Goslin, of the CMAA. "I really think this meeting will be of interest to every member of our organization," Robertson emphasizes. "With so much attention being directed toward a better relationship among the three department heads of country club operation, this gives our two groups the opportunity to meet on common ground and get to know each other and our problems better." The session will be an all-day affair with lunch starting it off. Golf for supers and clubhouse managers will follow. Then it will be on to a roundtable educational discussion period, cocktail hour and dinner and what should be an outstanding speaking program to close out the event. Robertson already has been in contact with Charles Tadge, president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America and at last word had been assured of his presence. "This is a treat in itself for our members," Robertson advises. "It will give us the chance to meet and get to know our national leader. And it will present us the opportunity to get first-hand answers to any of the pertinent questions we may have concerning the GCSAA. Of course, we will be interested, too, to hear what Charlie has to offer in In s formal speech after dinner." While the Newsletter was in the process of going to press it was hoped that Whitney Travis, president of the Club Managers Association of America, could arrange his schedule so as to join Tadge in reaching the joint membership of the two organizations. Travis had been contacted and was making every effort to be part of the mixture of superintendents and clubhouse managers. "We're always talking about communications between the two factions of the country club and now we have the chance to do something about it," Robertson continues. "It goes without saying that one of the other can't operate at the fullest level of competency without a solid working relationship with each other." It is expected that the hot issue of the general manager concept will take up some of the discussion time, as well as the informal conversation between clubhouse manager and super. However, that topic should be but one of a number of country club subjects which affect each department head. "I think that it's in the best interest of each profession to get to know what the other is doing and what it thinks about The N E G C S wishes to express their deepest s y m p a t h y to the f a m i l y of John M o r s e who recently passed a w a y . Spring Valley Country Club Host - George Machado Be sure you have made reservations and are pre-paid Directions - Congratulations To J a m e s Bean Donald Levangie Voted in at M a y meeting as Jr. Associate members cont. on page 2 NEXTMEETING SUPER-CHAIRMAN T O U R N A M E N T J U N E 18, 1979 F r o m 128 t a k e 95 south to Sharon E x i t . (Cooney St.) This is the Walpole exit going north. T u r n left on Cooney St. T a k e first left and first left again. Club is on the right. Ç o t f (lourde Super in ten Jen tó Slóóociation G M Concept... Sit on It The general manager concept... to be or not to be? By now your eyes must be burning and your ears ringing from the constant flow of rhetoric gushing from the mount of such temples as the association of golf course superintendents, the association of golf professionals and the association of clubhouse managers. The theme is the much-drummed theory that the operation of the country club be placed in the hands of that one person who oversees and controls its three cornerstones of service and deliverance-the superintendent, pro and clubhouse manager. In theory the process emulates the big business chain of command with a chairman of the board last-wording it to the president, vice-prez and on down the line. The reason for proposing the position of general manager is to tighten ship's operation, so to speak. There apparently is no communication "among the three department heads and each is wandering in separate, self-service direction. The general manager would revive this spiritless triumvirate and set all oars pulling in the same downstream route with the common goal of no-hitch, smooth-sailing administration within reasonable sight. In essence, the concept is the election or appointment of one leader to coordinate the related but sometimes independent efforts of three sub-leaders. The main arguments in support of the GM movement cover a spectrum of assumptions. It is said that many country club members are not willing to devote time to committee activities and a general manager would lessen in number the need for their participation. It also is thrown out that the club board of directors is content in establishing policy and having it administered by one person. And, then, there is the feeling that a leadership void is being filled with the adoption of a "chief operations officer." Arguments against are many. It sounds nice but allowing one person the enormous responsibility, with attached authority, is something that just won't happen among the country club set. It is an expensive venture whose cutback threats hover over present department heads. No one person is qualified to understand the three-ply problems found in supervising grounds, pro shop and clubhouse input. And the concept's track record is a horrendous one, often resulting in a return to the old administrative method and a "I told you so" greeting by subservient-squeezed supers, pros -and clubhouse managers. The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America has presented an official position on the GM concept, without really taking a stand. This is not to fault the GCSAA which is in favor of the idea only if it lives up to a plethora of requirements. What the GCSAA says is that it does not support the theory as it is now practiced because its results are shabby and most of the attempts to implement it have strayed from the true meaning of a general manager operation. We, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England, feel that the concept is not in the best interests of improving the overall operation of the country club nor is it in the best interests of our chosen profession. We can find fault with almost every aspect of the general PRESIDENT FIRST VICE PRESIDENT DEAN ROBERTSON 24 Riverview Drive Newbury, Mass. 01950 Home phone 462-4540 Office phone 745-7289 Club Affiliation