AGRONOMY
Golf course maintenance teams start their day at the crack of dawn, so they have time to prepare their course for golfers with little disruption. Working early, with little disruption, enables them to operate at peak efficiency. Productivity substantially decreases later in the day when employees must me more mindful of play, so maintenance teams try to get the most from the first few hours of their day. On a typical morning, golf course maintenance workers mow enough turf to cover more than 25 football fields.1 In addition to mowing, staff members change hole locations, move tee markers, rake bunkers, clean up debris, scout for pests and may irrigate select areas. After their morning work, a second round of tasks to begin. This work often includes mowing rough, edging cart paths, and trimming the turf around bunkers and trees. Often, all this work happens before lunch. Despite an early start, not every job can be finished before morning play. Weather, staff size, equipment availability and the golf schedule are just a few key factors that play a significant role in maintenance productivity. Unfortunately, in the vast majority of situations, it will be necessary for maintenance work to continue after play has commenced. Therefore, it’s important for golfers to give maintenance teams time and space as they work hard to produce great playing conditions.
DONALD JONES
MAGELLAN SUPERINTENDENT
