Communication Breakdown

[Imurg]

Slightly following on from Smiffy's incident at Crowborough, we have a bit of a communication issue this week.
For some reason, best known to those with far greater minds than me, Greens Maintainence is taking place this week.
Trouble is, this week our Comps re-start after the Winter.
The Ladies have their first Stableford tomorrow and they're going to be on temporary greens - which are really, really pathetic.
Our first Stableford is Wednesday. No guarantee of being back on proper greens, possibly on the temps.....

Why couldn't they have timed this better?
The greens could have been done last week so they could have had time to recover and make them mostly playable. The GreenStaff and the Management can't be talking to each other.
Virtually no point in entering the comp, even if we are on proper greens, they'll be so bumpy that putting will be a lottery.
It's so annoying as the course has held up well over the Winter and we could/should have been playing qualifiers all the way through.
We get few enough midweek comps as it is so to lose the first one is depressing. We only get 14 all year. With work and other commitments it wouldn't surprise me if I lose another 4 or 5....

AAARRRGGHHH!!!!!!:rant:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I guess it comes down to timing. The weather is warm and set fair and so a wonderful window of opportunity for the green staff to do this vital job. Not ideal but better to get it out of the way now and endure a couple of comps on temps or Blackpool beach and have top drawer surfaces in a month or so's time

 

[fundy]

Highly infuriating when things like this happen Ian, especially if your number of competitions is already limited. We're playing comps (last week midweek and sunday just gone) but in all honesty the course is borderline in good enough condition, still quite damp in places and the ball constantly attracting mud where ever it lands.

Opposite end of the spectrum for me tomorrow at the Bedford, already that course is borderline too dry for the year lol

 

[papyt]

we had a communication break down yesterday,not played this week because of back problem but got asked if i fancied a knock at my friends club yesterday.I love his course so no probs got there at 10-30 only to be met with a glum looking friend stood in the car park,"cant get on to-day as we have 2 societies and a lady's comp this afternoon!" nothing in the diary or on the web site and a wasted 45 min drive but then i remember why i never joined when i had the chance.

 

[wull]

more than likely perfect timing because of the weather.........

 

[Hobbit]

The fixture list gets put together months ago but the weather gives only a few days notice, and even then might throw in a curve ball.

Do you want to put back greens maintenance, and potentially miss a good weather opportunity to the detriment of greens quality for weeks? Or are you willing to suffer poor greens for a couple of weeks and have great greens sooner rather than later?

 

[Slicer30]

I am trying to keep my head.

I got this years fixture list and went through the comps that I could make. 15 for the year if I play weekends.

So I count up the midweek comps see if I can make a go at them to try and increase the number of comps I can get in. Few of the lads I play with on the sat decide it be a nice way to kick start the year by taking a day off, play the comp and have a few beers afterwards.

Trying to stay positive, been reading Bob Rotella's putting book.

 

[Imurg]

The fixture list gets put together months ago but the weather gives only a few days notice, and even then might throw in a curve ball.

Do you want to put back greens maintenance, and potentially miss a good weather opportunity to the detriment of greens quality for weeks? Or are you willing to suffer poor greens for a couple of weeks and have great greens sooner rather than later?

The fixture list was published about 3 weeks ago.
The very first item, right at the top, is "Greens Maintainence" so it was planned regardless of the weather.
I was under the impression that a bit of rain is needed in the days after this maintainence to help "heal"the greens - well we ain't getting any for a while but had a fair bit last week so they don't check the forecasts and alter timetables.
It would make sense, if the work has to be done this week, to schedule the comps to start next week.

Once again that most in-aptly worded commodity is in short supply - Common Sense.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

It never ceases to amaze me how things like this happen. You would think that the relationship and communication between management and green staff would be a key element of running a golf club but it sometimes seems ss yhough they are both running to different agendas.

Thankfully for us we seem to have a new course manager who likes to communicate. On top of monthly course updates he is doing an open session for members this Thursday to talk about the course and what he plans to do and why. The only shame is that I have a meeting in london at 3 so can't make it.

 

[SGC001]

The fixture list was published about 3 weeks ago.
The very first item, right at the top, is "Greens Maintainence" so it was planned regardless of the weather.
I was under the impression that a bit of rain is needed in the days after this maintainence to help "heal"the greens - well we ain't getting any for a while but had a fair bit last week so they don't check the forecasts and alter timetables.
It would make sense, if the work has to be done this week, to schedule the comps to start next week.

Once again that most in-aptly worded commodity is in short supply - Common Sense.

Do they own the equipment needed for that work or borrow / lease it or get extra staff in?

With irrigation they can water it in if needed.

From a greenkeeper perspective I wonder how many clubs have a 'break' of say a couple of weeks in competitions to allow for wanted maintenace in the main season?

At my old place the club held comps on a Tuesday and had it indicated to them that if they moved their midweek comps to a Monday they would start any works on the Tuesday so not interrupting comps. The club didn't want to move their day, so work may place during their comps rendering them non-qualifiers.

Having said that it seems odd they've scheduled this work for the planned 1st week. I'd have thought they'd have wanted to arrange it a week earlier at least or started the comps later.

 

[Imurg]

Do they own the equipment needed for that work or borrow / lease it or get extra staff in?

With irrigation they can water it in if needed.

Can't say ref owning the equipment. Walked past the greenkeepers a few times yesterday and the Guy's doing the scarifying and "hoovering" we not familiar faces so I suspect they hire the kit.

Last year they tried to water it in, using the sprinklers and hosing but the weather was so dry and warm we nearly lost several greens. Not as hot this year but looks like it's going to be equally dry.

So if they had to hire the kit, they must have know weeks ago - so the comps could have been scheduled to start next week. Hell, we've waited since December - another week wouldn't hurt.

 

[SGC001]

It can be very frustrating when this kind of thing happens.

If it has been hired there are probably different ways it could be done. You could book the equipment in advance or wait for a gap (within a timescale) with a company and use the equipment when it suits them. I believe one way is cheaper than another and that may influence decisions. If it's borrowed from another course who owns it, then it may be a case of fitting in with them too.

O/t, but out of interest, what work have they done?

 

[Slicer30]

It can be very frustrating when this kind of thing happens.

If it has been hired there are probably different ways it could be done. You could book the equipment in advance or wait for a gap (within a timescale) with a company and use the equipment when it suits them. I believe one way is cheaper than another and that may influence decisions. If it's borrowed from another course who owns it, then it may be a case of fitting in with them too.

O/t, but out of interest, what work have they done?

The plan for the week is the following: scarifying, overseeding, topdressing and fertilising the greens