What do Greenkeepers do?

Imagine the exhaustive list of different tasks that need to get done on a Golf Course.

Landscapers manicure fairways and plumbers repair turf sprinkler systems, but the ultimate responsibility for the appearance and functioning of golf courses falls to superintendents. Also called turf managers and greenkeepers, they manage the environmental health of the greens and ensure that their facilities meet the needs of the players while still turning a profit.

The British and International Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA) once made a detailed list of what a fully trained, qualified golf course Greenkeeper, should be able to do.

This is a GREENKEEPER/GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENT JOB SPECIFICATION.

I'm sure that this list is NOT complete. Here is BIGGA's list:

-       Monitor and Maintain health, safety and security in the workplace

-       Responding to emergencies

-       Develops annual operating budgets and plans for maintenance and capital improvement projects

-       Supervises and controls all maintenance expenses associated with Golf Course Operations, including payroll, supplies, chemicals and fertilizers.

-       Maintains records and completes required reporting to Management and Committees.

-       Order parts, supplies and equipment as needed.

-       Schedules maintenance practices around member play and outings to maximize efficiency and minimize disruption to members

-       Maintain good standards of health and safety for self and others

-       Switching and brushing

-       Mowing banks

-       Mowing rough

-       Mowing semi rough

-       Mowing surrounds and approaches

-       Mowing tees

-       Mowing greens

-       Mowing fairways

-       Scarifying/Verti-cutting turf

-       Aerating/Hollowtinning turf

-       Knowledge of safe use, mixing and application of chemicals and commercial products.

-       Applying nutrition and fertilzers

-       Applying fungicides

-       Applying pesticides

-       Applying herbicides

-       Applying top dressing

-       Repairing divots

-       Irrigating turf

-       Ability and knowledge to lay out irrigation patterns, drainage patterns, construct tees and/or greens.

-       Identifying and controlling weeds

-       Identifying and controlling pests

-       Identifying and control of turf diseases and disorders

-       Preparing ground to establish turf

-       Establishing turf

-       Identifying grasses, trees, shrubs, insects, fishes and birds on the golf course

-       Marking of hazards, out of bounds and ground under repair

-       Moving tee markers

-       Maintaining bunkers

-       Maintaining golf course furniture

-       Changing holes

-       Rolling turf

-       Driving a tractor with implements

-       Undertaking routine machine maintenance

-       Preparing machinery for use

-       Preparing machinery for storage

-       Measuring green speed and interpreting the results

-       The rules of golf relating to golf course maintenance

-       Knowledge of the game of golf, golf rules and methods of play.

-       Preparing ground to establish plants on the golf course
-  Have a meticulous eye for detail and be a perfectionist when it comes to manicuring

-       Establishing plants on the golf course

-       Maintaining, pruning and trimming trees, shrubs and wetlands on the golf course

-       Communicating effectively with staff, committee members, golf members and guests

-       Interpersonal skill to resolve conflict and work with supervisors, officials, employees, members and the general public.

-       Dealing with disagreements/conflict

-       Keeping management informed of happenings of daily regimes

-       Understanding their roles and responsibilities

-       Skills in recruiting, supervising, training, monitoring, evaluating and motivating personnel.

-       Conducts employee performance evaluations and exercises disciplinary action

NOTE: All of the above tasks must be carried out in a manner that minimizes environmental damage.