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Managing the maintenance of a golf course requires a wide variety of skills, from agronomy and budgeting to knowledge of equipment, irrigation and drainage.
However, one important skill often is overlooked – mentoring.
The process of mentoring involves a combination of qualities including leadership, ethics and consistency, and these characteristics are some of the most basic traits to portray in the workplace.
To be a successful mentor is similar to managing a golf course and requires a full-time commitment. It’s important for a mentor to consistently and accurately set an example. Whether the mentor is making an agronomic or ethical decision, it must be completed with the best intentions. The bar should always be set high for others around you to match.
Mentoring is not only a task on the job, but spreads to all aspects of life as well.
Participation with your local GCSAA chapter, extending a helping hand, networking with peers and participating in educational and charitable events to raise awareness are all examples of mentoring that extend beyond the workplace
As leaders of the golf course industry, both superintendents and assistants take on the role of a mentor every day. The relationship between the superintendent and assistant is crucial to the running of a successful operation. This includes developing trust and solid communication to ensure a professional and efficient crew.
For me, these relationships became a deciding factor when making my career choices. In the past and now, I have been teamed with excellent mentors. I was fortunate to participate in my internship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., then served as an assistant superintendent at the Sewane Club in Hewlett Harbor, N.Y. These years provided me with great knowledge and insight of the golf course industry while shaping my mentoring abilities. I also walked away with several lifelong friendships, one that led me almost 3,000 miles to my current position at Los Angeles Country Club. As I’ve learned, keeping good mentors around can open doors for you in the future.
Even now, I realize how mentoring is one of my daily tasks through interactions with other assistants, interns and crew members. That is why mentoring is an important skill to learn and pass down at any level.
The role of an assistant superintendent is a dynamic one in which we must learn from, and adapt to, our superiors while still excelling in daily tasks. You must show confidence in your work for others to believe and follow. Keeping your eyes and mind alert will allow you to frame your own motivational management style. At day’s end, take pride in being not only a successful turf manager, but also a successful mentor.
Tyler Casey is the assistant superintendent at Los Angeles Country Club and a six-year GCSAA member.
(Printed with permission Golf Course Management magazine)