Monday, October 22, 2012

One of Three Beauties

Last week I found myself on a little spring fed stream in southwest Missouri at daylight. I found three rainbow trout, introduced myself, and sent them back to the cold pure water.


It can't aways be about the grass!


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

How's Your Business?



For years there have been many shots in the dark on how to craft the best business plan for golf course maintenance operations. The only way to get to the bottom of the deep, dark, murky mess of how much do we do and how much will it cost is very simple:

Craft a basic survey and have your players spend some time filling out the questions, ask what they want in terms of improvements, satisfaction and importance.



Surveys can help define direction of your business-it's simple!

From these comments, as scary as they may be, draft a standard of maintenance. This document should include heights of cut and all routine maintenance that affects conditioning and playability. Don't forget to budget projects and improvements based on the comments, in the example above fairways would be an area to focus on.

Figure what all of this costs based on the standards of maintenance and labor that’s required, that will be your budget. Present these documents to the decision makers. The proof this system works is dramatic in terms of increased play and player satisfaction.

• Survey

• Standards of Maintenance

• Budget

I find it very troubling that so many golf businesses operate without a sound business plan. Once these basic truisms of business are applied to the golf maintenance operation it’s just amazing how well the golf course can be improved, and player satisfaction can be increased.

If your in the golf business and what to know more-click the "email Mike" button to the right.