What was one habit or routine that kept you sharp in your role as Superintendent?
Walking the golf course every day! It’s great exercise too.
I would sometimes do this twice a day because conditions can change so rapidly every day.
My friend Supers and I used to say there were two different types of Golf Course Superintendents: There were your white shirt Supers and your dirty shirt Supers.
Walking the course once or twice a day was a dirty shirt role. LOL!
Most Golf Course Superintendents know the truth to the story. You must have a closet full of clothes in your office at work to be a little of both roles, and a collection of boots and shoes also. You MUST be prepared for any type of situation during the day. You may be needed in an irrigation ditch at one hour and be called to the clubhouse for an impromptu meeting in the same day.
Here is a quick true story. I was helping down in an irrigation ditch after a water main break and was covered with mud on my overalls. I received a call from the club president that some board members needed me immediately in the clubhouse and to drop everything. I explained my situation, but he told me to get there immediately. I quickly met with the club president and three other men in a meeting room.
They had me sit down in a winged tip chair, full of mud and wet clothes, and had a set of blueprints and pictures on a tripod in front of me. Of course, I ruined that chair that day.
Anyway, they congregated around me while one Board Member started flipping pages and they all asked me questions about the housing and commercial complex blueprints that they were showing me. At one point I said something about this not have anything to do with a golf course and I was told that they needed a “Laypersons” opinion on some things. I understood and proceeded to answer their questions to the best of my ability.
After this strange episode, I had two more meetings like this during my tenure. Now if I had time, I had a closet of clothes and shoes to change into. In those days, your closet was your truck. Always having clothes hanging from the back window hooks, shoes and boots on the back floors, and sweaters coats and overalls of two types on the seat.
Walking the golf course in your work boots allows you to keep your feet dry and cozy regardless of the weather.
These are great walks because you can spot things like disease, drought, wilt, black algae, bugs, etc. It also lets your members or patrons see you and converse. Same with your employees. Don’t live in your office day-to-day; and be prepared to make a quick change at any time, any day.
-Mark S. Merrick, CGCS Retired
Introducing ‘Merrick Mondays’, a segment where we hear from Mark Merrick, our resident brand Ambassador, Chief ‘Cool” Officer, and general source of wisdom and secrets of the universe, to spotlight a dose of interview-style content, weekly.