Archive for the ‘Golf construction communications’ category

Golf Course Material Testing

August 22nd, 2010

Abstract: When in doubt, always test golf course construction materials before purchase. When not in doubt, test anyway to confirm salesman’s rhetoric.

Soil testing is cheap insurance. I remember a big bunker renovation at a private club. The project involved rebuilding 40 bunkers. The owner decided to purchase (and assume the responsibility for quality control) all bunker sand. We installed many feet of bunker drainage on the bunker floor, and we made sure our slope laser worked. The bunker forms looked great and we installed the sand at a uniform six-inch depth. A few months later, seven bunkers had poor drainage and it wasn’t our fault.

A post-installation bunker sand test showed that the sand vendor changed the product halfway through the project. The vendor changed sand pit locations and the new pit had sand loaded with fine silt. The vendor never told the superintendent, and the sand color didn’t change, so the superintendent assumed that all the loads were as quoted. The vendor, new to the golf industry, didn’t know about bunker sand nuances.

We replaced all the bad sand and the superintendent kept his job although he told everyone about the sand fiasco. The sand vendor doesn’t sell to golf anymore.

I always do a batch sample test of root zone mix and bunker sand. Drive over to the pit-I know it takes time-and grab a sample with your own hands. Don’t rely on vendor supplied reports that always show good news. Do your own tests and sleep well.

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Golf Course Adversity Statements

August 15th, 2010

Abstract: The golf course business is full of many good days interspersed with a few bad ones.  An effective response statement will prove your ability to manage a bad situation.

I remember driving to my course during a foggy August morning and seeing the sun rise over a fairway killed by pythium. Another time an unforeseen rainstorm delivered six inches of rain on  fine-graded fairway creating washouts that could hide a school bus. You sure learn from these events; I learned to prevent conditions that cultivate pythium and create grading forms that slowed water down.

So what happens when you encounter a golf course horror show? Don’t hide. Your communication skills will help diffuse the situation while enhancing your reputation as a task manager able to counter any natural calamity. Your members will respect you for telling them what’s going on. I’m sure most of them encounter crisis during their personal and business life and most will understand that you are exposed to risks while working with turf and golf construction.

Use the following checklist to develop a response about a crisis.

  • Identify the primary problem and solution. For example, your decision to skip a fungicide spray resulted in a dead fairway. Next time you will spray.
  • Identify the underlying problem and solution. An inferior irrigation system could have created the dead fairway turf by creating drought-stressed turf that couldn’t tolerate adversity.
  • Combine the primary and underlying problem and create a response sentence used to explain your predicament.

Use a response statement when spreading the bad news. Walk by the first tee and say hello. Call your green chairman or owner and tell them the news. Don’t sound wimpy. You have two or three sentences to get your point across. In this case, the response statement should say: “Some drought-stressed turf on hole #7 suffered damage last night. I’ll overseed the damaged area and we should be in good shape in a few weeks but our outdated irrigation system created this situation.”

A well designed response statement proves your ability to analyze the situation while creating additional ammunition for your long term management program. It includes the bad news along with your remedy and timeline.

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Golf construction trailers

May 1st, 2010

Abstract: You can tell if your golf course builder is serious when you look at his construction trailers. I’m not talking about the ones that people hide in during bad weather, I’m talking about the ones with the bouncy tires used to convey dirt.

I had to fill in for a crew member last week and I spent the whole day driving a John Deere tractor and dump cart. After a few weeks straight looking at a computer screen it was nice to see green grass and birds.

The tee expansion project involved the conveyance of 375 cubic yards of fill a distance of one mile. I did about 12 cubic yards per hour; or three round trips.  Moving fill on an existing golf course is quite expensive; most people don’t understand the expense.

The Pronovost trailer  P-516 holds 4 cubic yards. I’ve bought a few of them and I love talking to the Canadian manufacturers. As soon as you say the word golf, they mention this model. This sturdy cart has a nice hydraulic dump and heavy tailgate. An optional tailgate with a chute is handy when backfilling drainage ditches with sand. It’s big enough to move along golf cart paths without causing damage.

Big, bouncy turf tires insure that no turf damage will occur. The only problem is wet turf. I had a wild-and-wolly ride a few years back when I lost traction on a wet golf course.

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Posted in Golf construction communications, Golf fairway construction, Golf green construction

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Golf Construction Manager/ Engineer Communications

April 2nd, 2010

Abstract: Golf course construction managers should be wary of engineers who delay construction by including impractical construction procedures in environmental permits. Many contractors have found unworkable methods written into their approved work processes.

Engineers do a great job presenting complicated construction concepts to wary authorities. They push permits through with fancy graphics, fat response documents, and slick presentations.  The problem occurs when they include foolish construction processes in the documentation, and this complicates the work creating additional expense for the contractor.

Golf course construction managers and superintendents should insist on procedural oversight during the permitting phase of golf course work. Insist on an active role in construction planning and include a friendly golf course contractor in the project meetings.

Be wary of know-it-all engineers who want to exclude golf course managers from the planning process. We all know that golf course work is specialized, and an engineer with a passing interest in the sport will rarely know how to describe golf work. I’ve seen a few projects where the contractor generated a large, justifiable, change order after an engineer added a nonsensical construction procedure.

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Rethinking Golf Trade Shows

March 7th, 2010

Can somebody do something to liven up golf course industry trade shows? This industry is in need of  a trade show remake. I feel bad for the poor souls staffing the booths. Lined up in a row  and jammed together, they try to make eye contact with individuals like me who have no interest in sewage sludge fertilizer. I’m looking for golf course construction clients, not the latest soil amendments.

The GCSAA and other  supporting organizations do a great job displaying all the latest equipment and technology. It’s a fine platform for a superintendent, but it doesn’t address all the needs of golf course construction professionals. It’s too big and it’s making all the decision makers uncomfortable.

We need a separate, dedicated golf course construction industry trade show. Put it in a warm, sunny place. Schedule it when a PGA Tour event is in town. Upscale it and keep it small to attract the developers, owners, and financiers who still have an interest in renovating or building new golf courses. Invite the architects, heavy equipment dealers, bankers, consultants and decision makers. Don’t line them up in a corn-row, create small, comfortable chat rooms or outdoor spaces like  the clubhouse oak at Augusta to allow clients and builders to mingle. Put a little sizzle in the proceedings. Hire a few professional speakers to enliven the vibe. Use social media to enthuse younger buyers.

Other industries use trade shows to close important deals. Many consider trade show attendance a critical component to their yearly business.  Event planning is too complicated for well-intentioned committees  who repeat a tired formula year after year. It’s time to rethink the golf course industry trade show by hiring an innovative event planner with contemporary trade show skills.

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Assistant Golf Superintendent Guidelines

November 21st, 2009

Assistant golf course superintendents should read Marisa Palmieri’s article in the November 2009 issue of  Golf Course Industry. Others involved in golf course operations will learn what assistant superintendent experience as they learn the golf business.

Marisa interviews a selection of golf course industry veterans (including me) about how an assistant superintendent should interact with members and management.

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Golf course construction safety

November 17th, 2009

Abstract: Golf course construction superintendents must have active safety programs to comply with insurance and OSHA regulations. OSHA requires weekly safety meetings. Use the following categories to conduct a safety discussion with crew members. Visit OSHA web site for more information.

OSHA visits to golf course construction sites can result in tough penalties. They will first ask about safety training.  A safe week begins with a  weekly toolbox talk. It’s good practice to meet for ten minutes every Monday morning to discuss any         “ near misses ” or employee safety concerns.  I’ve listed below a few important safety topics for Golf Course Managers.

Right-To-Know / Hazard Communication

Golf courses use many hazardous chemicals. You must provide written information describing all hazardous materials used or stored on your golf course property.

When hazardous materials are used to perform work, MSDS and similar information regarding these products must be provided to employees before their use.

Eye and Face Protection

Eye and face protection protects workers from airborne dusts, mists and particles; glare; splashing liquids; ultraviolet radiation or a combination of these hazards.

Golf course employees like to use new, inexpensive,  impact resistant sunglasses to reduce UV impacts while shielding eyes.

Hearing Protection

Employers are required to provide hearing protection training and medical monitoring for employees who are working in areas exceeding the OSHA 85 decibel action level. Golf course mowing equipment frequently surpasses these levels.

Hand Protection

Hand protection is required by OSHA when workers are exposed to hazards from skin absorption of harmful substances, lacerations,  abrasions, punctures, chemical burns, thermal burns, and harmful temperature extremes.

Hen using chemicals, workers should refer to the product’s MSDS to determine the appropriate glove to be used for the task.

Protective Clothing

A safety vest is required if a worker is exposed to vehicular traffic. The safety vest should be reflective and brightly colored to alert traffic.

Foot Protection

Safety boots or shoes shall be designed to protect workers feet from chemical, compression, crushing, or puncture hazards.

Safety boots or shoes used on construction sites must meet all of the requirements in both OSHA 29 CFR 1926.96 Occupational Foot Protection and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.136 Occupational Foot Protection.

Respiratory Protection

Employees who respond to emergencies, or work with or around hazardous materials, hazardous waste, or any other hazardous environment should use respiratory protection.

Excavation

During excavation, the foreman is responsible for ensuring a safe working environment for its employees and pedestrians. The contractor must ensure compliance with all the requirements of U.S. OSHA’s Excavation Standard 29 CFR 1926 Subpart P.

Maintain a physical barrier around all excavations and machinery. Snow fencing or temporary chain link fencing must be installed. If left overnight, cover all excavations with steel plates. Backfill trenches at end of day.

The contractor is responsible for routine inspections of all excavation equipment. The inspection should include safety features like back-up warning sounds and appropriate lighting.

The contractor must ensure that equipment operators carry the required (valid) licenses and have the necessary training to operate the equipment on site.

Meet  weekly with your employees to discuss safety. It’s time well spent.

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Golf bunker renovation checklist

October 10th, 2009

Abstract: If you’re tired of looking out at fine turf and irregular bunkers, it’s time for a bunker renovation.Create a checklist and let active members comment on each item

A bunker checklist evaluation includes the following points of discussion:

  • The shape of the bunker floor
  • The composition of the bunker floor. Does it shed stone?
  • Sod condition
  • Design integrity. Does it look right?
  • Sand playability
  • Subsurface drainage. Does it hold water?
  • Surface drainage. Do surround grades keep water out of the bunker?
  • Sand visibility. Can golfers see sand from fairway/tees?

Each category includes critical components needed to having a suitable golf course bunker.

Shape of bunker floor-I always look for a well constructed bunker floor. Sand installed 6 inches deep should reflect the exact shape of the bunker floor. It should sweep up when approaching noses and capes, and lower when facing the line of play. Bunker sand installed with a variable depth creates many playability problems including fluffy sand.

Composition of bunker floor-Bunker floors that shed stones create obvious playability problems. If modification is needed, bunker liners can be installed. Another option is to remove 12″ of bunker floor subsoil, and reinstall a dense, silty fill material. Both options require replacement of existing bunker sand.

Sod condition-Many bunkers have sod management problems. Sharp, irregular bunker contours create irrigation problems. I’ve done many bunker face renovations. After existing sod removal, screened topsoil is installed on the exposed bunker face. It’s a great time to sharpen bunker contours. Install new sod and sod stakes.

Design integrity-Some bunkers don’t look right. I’ve seen newly constructed bunkers replaced after a few seasons. If a consensus says that the bunker doesn’t work, develop a written proposal to remove or reconstruct the feature.

Sand playability-Bunker sands vary in structure and appearance. Test unpopular bunker sand to determine if sand needs replacement. Choose three final sand selections, then divide a practice bunker into three sections. Let your members or decision makers decide.

Sand visibilty- You’ve seen hidden bunkers. After hitting a wonderful drive, you find yourself muttering about the unseen bunker. Some can be fixed by lowering the eentrance grades. Other require major reconstruction.

Subsurface drainage-Wet bunker floors infuriate golfers. Modern golf courses have subsurface pipe installed below the sand line. A drainage retrofit involves removal of existing sand and installation of 4″ double-wall hdpe pipe in a bed of drainage stone. I use hdpe pipe with a geofabric envelop, backfilled with bunker sand. The trench is typically cut 8″ into the bunker floor.

Surface drainage-Bad golf course shapers direct surface water into bunkers, creating obvious water problems. Properly constructed bunkers are surrounded by subtle swales that direct water way from bunker faces. A repair involves stripping sod and loam while developing a sensible water shedding theme. Plan on removing sod 15′  from the bunker edge.

Create a checklist to evaluate your bunkers. Create pricing options for your members or owners.

Additional information:

Bunker liners

Inconsistent bunker sand

Golf course construction narratives

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Golf course project management techniques

September 29th, 2009

Kernwood tee

Abstract: Golf course project management works when crew members are informed about procedures and goals. Open communications help morale and limit mistakes.

I’ve found that golf course project managers are divided into two types; micro-managers and information managers.

  • Micro managers assume that they know everything. Employees are assumed to know very little and are incapable of learning and retaining new information.
  • Information managers educate crew members and associates, and they let them do the work while assuming they know when to ask questions.

I’ve worked with a few micro-managers. They begin the work day with a fusillade of procedural and technical data. The crew members worked well when he wasn’t around, but when he appeared, the operation slowed while everyone defended a decision or process done earlier that day.

I’m an information manager. I evaluate my crew on how they think their way through problems. I’ve had employees who knew a few words of English, but they were able to comprehend very technical problems after I told them how I wanted the project to be completed. If a suggestion makes sense, I let them do it.

When beginning a new task, I spend extra time explaining work procedures. If it involves machinery, I’ll talk to the operator while they are sitting in the  operator’s chair. When talking to laborers, I grab a shovel and work next to them for a few minutes. I’ve found that the extra time spent answering questions limits expensive mistakes in the future.

When the work begins, I study the flow. I look for a smooth pace. If staff members seem confused, I walk over and ask them about their problem. Any crew member can ask me a question at any time. When asked for knife blades or new shovels, I fulfill these requests quickly. I’ve developed positive working relationships with people by following through on requests for little things like time cards and gloves.

I’ve managed large projects with a limited amount of conversation. Shapers agree that they cannot absorb more than an hour of golf construction talk per day. I like to meet with them after lunch so they can finish out the day and start the following morning without interruption. They joke about dreaming about the next days work.

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Golf course construction progress reports

September 10th, 2009

Summary: Progress reports explain construction accomplishments and problems to project principals. They include chronological information critical to conflict resolution. Use this simple format to create progress reports in email or paper form.

Golf course construction managers use progress reports to inform committee members or owners about ongoing construction projects. They are effective communication tools when sent out between formal construction meetings. They provide timely information about project progress and complications.

Write progress reports in a memorandum format with the following headings:

  • To: Name of recipient.
  • From: Type your name,then initial, with a pen, next to your name to sign-off on the document.
  • Date: of the memo.
  • Re: summarize the issue in a few words like: Smoky River GC bunker renovation progress report

Develop a template using your favorite word processing program. Save the original, and modify it for each report.

The first paragraph should include a summary of  project progress. Add good and bad news in the following format:

The bunker renovation at at Smoky River Country Club is on schedule and within budget. The contractor will use seven employees and two excavators on this project. This crew is less than promised, but progress continues as planned. Change orders were submitted and signed for ledge removal on hole #6. A laborer sprained his ankle while installing a pipe, he returned the following day after physician approval.

Discuss completed work in the next paragraph.

We completed work on the bunkers on holes #4, 5 and #6 on August 22, 2009. After relocation of an irrigation main, the contractor completed the large bunker on hole #4.  I refused delivery of several pallets of inferior sod. The sod vendor apologized and he shipped acceptable sod the following day. We encountered several yards of ledge on hole #6. The contractor removed the ledge with a hoe-ram.

The project is on-time. Rain forecast for late this week may slow production. I’ll evaluate conditions after the storm and permit work only when conditions allow.

Summarize project costs in the next paragraph.

The project is now 52% complete. We’ve paid the contractor 48% of the contract minus ten percent retainage. We paid a signed change order for $4300.00 for ledge removal.

Describe the upcoming work schedule in the next paragraph.

The contractor will begin work on hole #7 on Monday, September 4. After removal of existing sod, we’ll excavate the two foreground greenside bunkers. I’ll close the 7th green on Monday, and golfers will use a temporary green during construction. I’ve planned the irrigation work to insure that all non-construction areas will receive suitable amounts of water.  Before construction, my crew will identify irrigation mainlines on hole #8.

Write in an informational style. Include the facts. If you have a political or personal issue, deal with it face-to-face, don’t hide behind a memo. Include solid, factual information. Don’t exaggerate work schedules. If construction is behind schedule, explain the reasons.  Few golf course projects are completed on time. If the project is delayed, describe how you’ll increase production.

Additional information:

Golf course construction narratives

Golf construction request for bid format


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