On reflection... Thank A Greenkeeper Day
Pitchcare asked greenkeepers about the impact of Thank a Greenkeeper Day. We wanted to find out if the day had the correct effect and if the industry could do more to recognise the demanding work that comes with the job.
Interviewees (left to right below):
Craig Swindells - Senior Assistant Greenkeeper at The Bristol Golf Club
John Cunningham - Head Greenkeeper at Isle of Skye Golf Club
Leon Dalton - Course Manager at Burton on Trent Golf Club
Rob Dyer - Head Greenkeeper at The Downs Course
Scott Aitchison - Greenkeeper at Royal Dornoch Golf Club
Do you think Thank a Greenkeeper day is a good initiative? If not, what can the industry do to improve?
Scott Aitchison: It’s a great initiative! Golfers will question what they need to thank us for and that starts the conversation. Our industry has successfully raised its profile by ourselves - by doing the job well, promoting it and helping each other improve however, there is only so far we can take it. People learning or being told the importance of the role by their peers can take it onto another level and I believe this conversation will help with that.
Craig Swindells: Yes, praising and uplifting individuals in a tough industry is important - especially as we get closer to the dark, wet, chilly winter months. However, I feel we we need to move away from the stigma of Thank a Greenkeeper ‘day’. There were a lot of posts on social media of clubs and managers thanking their staff on the day, but where were the posts throughout the year? What’s wrong with thanking them every time they go above and beyond? It is a great scheme, but let's not wait one day of the year to show appreciation.
John Cunningham: It’s good in the respect that it may lead to more positive dialogue or understanding of what we do and why we do things. Some golf clubs have absolute heroes (like other workplaces do) who go above and beyond and those people deserve all the praise going.
Leon Dalton: On paper I think it is a good idea but, in reality, it doesn’t work. I find that it is just greenkeepers thanking greenkeepers which isn’t the idea. I also feel it should include all turf professionals, not just greenkeepers.
Rob Dyer: It's great for the industry. Any recognition for work that greenkeepers do to provide the sport with the surfaces should be well publicised.
Can we do more to recognise greenkeepers throughout the year?
Scott Aitchison: Nobody wants applause - it's more about respect. If golfers replace divots, repair pitch marks and don’t walk where they aren't supposed to, that is thanks enough. When a plumber unblocks your toilet, or a mechanic sorts your car are you chuffed with them? When Greenkeepers try and maintain the course it annoys people; maybe it’s not thanks, but understanding that we’re after.
Leon Dalton: Definitely, it should be credit where credit is due rather than waiting for one day.
Craig Swindells: At this moment in time, I would say no as there are so many great initiatives and awards; eg Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year, the BIGGA awards in January, Sprayer Operator of the Year and the GMA Awards etc. You also have many more organisations and companies running their own awards and all these are open for anyone to apply and are fully inclusive.
Rob Dyer: I think there should be more greenkeeper interaction with televised golf. It can become frustrating when people don’t have enough knowledge of what we do as a profession. Short videos of the setups could help with understanding what goes into maintaining the course. Also, it will help to promote potential greenkeepers, which we need in the industry.
John Cunningham: I think you at Pitchcare with a variety of in-depth articles, as well as some really good people on X are doing a fantastic job of promoting greenkeeping.
Has your course ever celebrated Thank a Greenkeeper Day? What have they done to thank you and your team?
Rob Dyer: We are lucky to have a good GM who buys the team a crate of beer or a bottle of wine each on the day itself and we also get recognition on social media platforms. However, our club does this throughout the year, not just on Thank a Greenkeeper Day, which is greatly appreciated.
John Cunningham: I have received some nice messages from committee members and members about this topic.
Leon Dalton: My Club has never celebrated it and I don't think they would know anything about it. I don't feel I need a specific day to celebrate our efforts because, when we get praised, I always pass that on to the rest of the team and I will personally praise good work - that's just good practice in any industry. At my club, we have enjoyed meals and gifts as a recognition of our hard work at various times. I appreciate that this might not be the case for everyone.
Scott Aitchison: The club put out a social media post out to support the initiative. Throughout the year we have all positive feedback sent down from the office to put on the wall for the team to read.
Craig Swindells: A few months ago I moved golf clubs, but before then I worked at a club for fourteen years where Thank a Greenkeeper was never celebrated since BIGGA started the scheme. The club recently took us up to the clubhouse for a cooked breakfast and drinks to thank us for our hard work during a busy course renovations week.
Do you think we need people from outside of turfcare (golfers, media) to recognise Thank a Greenkeeper Day for it to be fully utilised?
John Cunningham: This is a good point, something along the lines of a vlog or collab with a prominent tour pro & social media savvy greenkeeper or greenkeepers would be great! Someone like James Matthewman or Bryson Dechambeau would be incredible.
Leon Dalton: There is a massive lack of understanding about what turf professionals do - which was highlighted on Sky Sports recently. I think we need to get role models like sports professionals and commentators to be interested in what we do and why. They can pass their knowledge on to fellow players and audiences.
Craig Swindells: Again, not to focus on the ‘day’ itself. Let’s do more to promote what amazing hard work greenkeepers do and what they can achieve - despite the challenges we are faced with. Let’s carry on going to career fayres, continue to get into schools to promote The First Green Initiative, promote greenkeepers on local radio stations and just keep showing off great work.
Rob Dyer: The perception, even now, is that we are grasscutters. I'm generalizing here as there are a lot of golfers who understand what goes into the agronomy of a golf course. However, the science, dedication, education and continued development needs to be highlighted more.
Scott Aitchison: Yes, that’s exactly what is needed because it is working. When I was at the Open in Troon, an American guy had a jumper on with “thank a Greenkeeper” on the back so I went over and thanked him! We need the understanding.
What would your recommendations be for Thank a Greenkeeper Day?
Scott Aitchison: Just to help people understand that greenkeepers are helping keep a course open and not trying to shut it. There is NOBODY who wants the course to be in top condition more than the greenkeeper. Imagine your course without greenstaff?
John Cunningham: Honestly, all we need is polite positive conversation; a thank you is a bonus. No greenkeeper goes out of their way to make things worse. We are all in the same boat and trying to provide the best standards we can with what we’ve got.
Craig Swindells: If you’re in the position of management, make sure to thank your staff for all the hard work they’ve put in throughout the year and make them feel valued and uplifted going into the latter stages of the year. Let’s also remember that a lot of the projects that we do and showcase is because of great GM’S and committees... maybe their day will come too!!
Rob Dyer: I think greenkeeper profile videos should be put on every golf channel for the day - even Sky Sports. I also think it should be extended to anyone working in sports turf including grounds staff. The sport would not be able to be played on pristine surfaces without this industry.
Leon Dalton: It needs to be led from the top and filtered down the ranks. Why not invite the end user sports professionals, managers and people within the sports industry to trade shows like BTME, GroundsFest and Saltex to see how passionate we are and that we are not weirdos?
The best thanks anyone can get is a fair wage that reflects the training, knowledge and hard work we all put in.
It's all about education and communication. At our club, we now put out a newsletter every month and focus on one topic that’s relevant at that time to explain to the membership.
Everyone at Pitchcare would like to thank the work that greenkeepers do daily... without you there wouldn’t be an us!