Managing volunteers
The problem for greenkeepers is that as expectations rise, despite financial and economic pressures, the role of the golf course management team has an almost impossible task to deliver.
To help clubs in this highly charged situation, England Golf have put together a governance team to support club management establish a structure to cope with this increased pressure. Matt Draper - England Golf Governance team Club, County & Membership Director explains, “One of my roles is to visit club officials to help support them establish or enhance their governance framework, which will ultimately provide greater flexibility for management communication, course improvements and help cascade standards which improve the sustainability of their club.”
For our readers especially, sadly, greenkeepers are often the unsung heroes of the golf industry. They start work early in the morning, must deal with a vast array of challenges (don’t even start me on the weather), and are usually out of the way long before any golfer tees up!
Volunteers enhance efficiency
Volunteers can play a critical role in the success of any organisation, particularly non-profit and community-based entities. Their importance stems from their selflessness and dedication to support a cause without seeking compensation. In addition to providing essential services, volunteers contribute to an organisation’s sustainability and can foster community involvement.
Matt explained, “Volunteers not only alleviate pressure on core staff, but they also diversify the talent pool, bringing fresh perspectives and ideas. Their presence can enhance the functionality and effectiveness, and vastly improve the club’s ability to achieve its mission and deliver impactful results.”
Before we all rush out and ‘hire’ an army of volunteers, Matt was quick to balance the discussion....
Before taking on any volunteer(s), there are some key points to consider...
- Will they need inductions and task-specific training?
- What workspace will the volunteer need? It’s important to minimise disruption on paid staff.
- In the absence of pay/benefits, consider the need to make them feel recognised, involved and appreciated.
- Their need to work flexibly. Think about the needs of paid staff too and whether you can adopt across-the-board flexibility.
- As an employer, you have a similar duty of care on health and safety issues to volunteers as existing employees.
- Volunteers will need managing by a team member. Co-ordinating volunteers will help avoid friction between volunteers and paid workers.
Mobilisation
There can be no doubt that a working party of volunteers, if managed correctly, can enhance the workforce output and help ‘get things done’! “The objective needs to be focused on what jobs a volunteer can do to assist the greens team.” explained Matt. “It’s important that the key ‘specialist’ agronomic management of the course stays with the trained greenkeepers, but volunteers can support with the simple tasks that green staff don’t always get the time to fulfil.” Matt continued, “Jobs like edging paths, divoting tees, weeding beds, picking up leaves, the list can be endless. It’s the small detail jobs that are so important that will help tidy the golf course and raise its level of presentation.”
Leading the way through communication
“I think it’s essential that in any club structure the course manager should play a leading role in the development of a vision document,” enlightened Matt. “Most club ‘officials’ are volunteers (practical or management), and so the ability of the course manager to guide and bring together all groups and individuals within the club in a common goal will ensure the success of creating a roadmap for the future.”
Matt’s journey
Matt is responsible for club, county, and member relationships, heading up the national club and county support network since January 2021.
Matt joined England Golf in September 2019 as a regional manager, having previously been General Manager at Tadmarton Heath Golf
Club in Oxfordshire. He has a passion for golf having started at the age of four and currently holds a handicap of three. His golfing highlight was representing Bournemouth University in national finals and breaking the world record as the youngest person to get a hole in one aged five!
As you can imagine, Matt is a very busy chap supporting so many golfers and clubs up and down the country, so my special thanks to Matt for his time!
England Golf
England Golf is responsible for the general promotion and administration of amateur golf within England. It organises championships for all age groups and has inherited premier events from the male and female unions, including the English Amateur Championship and the English Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship.
It also administers the handicapping system for golf in England and works to increase the interest and participation in golf among adults and juniors, driven by the Respect in Golf movement that aims to highlight that golf is a sport where everyone is welcome.
To get in touch with the governance team, email- compliance@englandgolf.org