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Everyone loves a redemption story. They're reminders that good things can come from tough circumstances and that happy endings really can happen. Such is the story of Zach Ferone. The [...]

While I love writing my column, 'The Walking Greenkeeper,' for Golfdom, I wanted a forum where I could go more in depth. So, I recently entered the world of podcasting.I [...]

If you're reading this article it means you made it through another year in the golf industry. Maybe you weren't as successful as Jordan Spieth, but you made it. With [...]

According to the great Bob Dylan, 'You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.' Hot take alert--Bob was not a superintendent and was almost certainly not [...]

We've all seen those clickbait articles, like '10 Things Your Waitress Doesn't Want You to Know,' or '15 Secrets Your Flight Attendant Won't Tell You.' Spoiler alert--sketchy things sometimes happen [...]

Have you ever been in your accountant's office reviewing your tax return when he discovers a mistake completely loses his mind and starts overturning office furniture? Have you ever been [...]

I've often said that getting a turfgrass science degree is one of the best decisions I've ever made. The science is fascinating, the job is awesome (usually) and our 'offices' are pretty hard to beat. I'm grateful for the solid academic foundation provided by the degree on which I'm building a career., We've likely all read career-oriented articles about what the author 'didn't learn in college' and had to figure out once they got into the workforce. These articles don't contain anything [...]

I recently had a conversation with one of my neighbors and he asked me about my job. You've all had the same conversation, and my neighbor and I hit all [...]

Ah, the dog days of summer. The weather is miserable, you and the crew are exhausted and the turf wants nothing more than to shut it down until next spring. [...]

Iam not a huge fan of social media. I have a Twitter account, but aside from a few friends and some miscellaneous sports accounts, my feed is almost entirely turf [...]

They say we live in a youth-obsessed culture. 'They' say a lot of things, much of which is somewhere between dubious at best and ridiculous at worst, but I think [...]

2015 TOCA BEST COLUMNIST Let me set the scene for you. It was late fall of 2005. I was nearing completion of my turf degree and was feverishly looking for [...]

'I want to buy a house with you before I die.' Those were the words Megan McDaniel said to her husband Jay, superintendent at Kinsale Golf and Fitness Club in [...]

I recently had the opportunity to speak to a high school class about a career in golf course maintenance. It was a turf and horticulture class, so most of the [...]

If you live in the north and are anything like me, you've pretty much had enough of winter within a few weeks of it starting. The weather is awful, you [...]

With the end of the year rapidly approaching, many people are tying up loose ends so they can hit the ground running in 2016. In the course of evaluating my [...]

If Old Tom Morris, Harry Vardon and Bobby Jones could see the way golf has changed over the years, they probably would collectively roll over in their graves. Everything from [...]

Anyone who has kids knows that they ask a ton of questions, from the profound (Why are there wars?) to the decidedly not (How does your bottom make poop?). Other [...]

There are several character traits that are prevalent among people in golf course maintenance. Traits such as a tremendous work ethic, a driven personality, strong observation and problem solving skills, [...]

Staffing is one of the most common challenges we face in this industry. It's not always easy to find people who are willing to be at work at the crack [...]

As a result of writing this column over the last two-plus years I've been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet and talk with many people in this [...]

Head golf course superintendent, director of golf course and grounds maintenance, director of agronomy. First assistant, second assistant, senior assistant, junior assistant, assistant-in-training. There are now dozens of titles used [...]

So I'm just going to get it out of the way and ask now ... did you receive my resume? Yes? No? Maybe? During a recent conversation with a sales [...]

The long-range seasonal forecast. Like frozen pizza, it's a great idea in theory, but the execution often leaves so much to be desired. It's one of those things that you [...]

In my opinion, the massive popularity NFL football currently enjoys has virtually nothing to do with the game itself, but everything to do with fantasy football and gambling. I think [...]

'My genius plan was to rent a metal detector and re-dig the hole. Of course, it was more fun the second time.' MATT NEFF, assistant superintendent, Wedgewood G&CC, Powell, Ohio [...]

As the golf season is beginning to ramp up in the northern part of the country, and with it the hiring of seasonal staff, training of new employees is probably [...]

This is my first installment in a series that will periodically appear throughout the year on Old Testament theology. [paragraph] Just kidding! Don't turn the page. Not that there's anything [...]

It's been said that putting green management is the most advanced form of agriculture that exists. That's probably true when you consider all the variables that we attempt to control [...]

Rembrandt. If you were ever forced to endure an art history class in college, the professor probably mentioned the 17th century Dutch master on the first day of class before [...]

'Let's face it, it's hard to find good people nowadays. The broader the net you cast, the better your chances of success.' In looking ahead to interviewing and hiring the [...]

'Even though it feels like I'm locked in an eternally futile superintendent job search, I would much rather be doing this job than anything else' As 2013 comes to a [...]

That's right. I still use a flip phone and have no intentions of getting rid of it. [paragraph] Why? Because I like it and absolutely refuse to pay a couple [...]

After receiving my turf degree, I was hired as the 2nd assistant at the club at which I had interned. Shortly after I was hired, the 1st assistant left for [...]

This past winter at the Ohio Turfgrass Foundation Conference and Show, I attended a couple talks on career development led by a human resources director and a respected superintendent. I [...]

More than likely, everyone in this business knows about Old Tom Morris and is aware of his many contributions to golf course design and maintenance and to the game of [...]

One of the career goals many assistant superintendents have is to eventually become a certified golf course superintendent (CGCS). Many feel certification will increase their marketability and professional image in [...]

I have to admit that on some level I absolutely love some of the excuses people come up with for unexcused absences or tardiness. Sometimes they're so good, it almost [...]

Hell hath no fury like an equipment technician the week after topdressing. Of course, I'm totally joking. Well, maybe not totally. I might be a little bit serious (If emoticons [...]

Here we are in the middle of winter and those of us in the northern part of the country are in the midst of our usual winter work--equipment maintenance, reconditioning [...]

If it's true that when the going gets tough, the tough get going, then those of us in the golf course maintenance industry haven't stopped going for the past several [...]

In this article, the author discusses the opportunities of the assistant superintendent of golf courses. Topics discussed include reduced advancement opportunities since the Great Recession, low pay and lack of work-life balance; superintendent's responsibility to develop and mentor assistants and suggests to stay engaged using continuing education through Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA).

The author discusses learning ways of effective communication through watching videos related to air traffic controllers on video sharing platform Youtube. Topics discussed include precautions taken by the controllers regarding avoiding confusing or overloading a pilot with information, requirement regarding understanding of that information by the listener, and applying the knowledge to communicate with person handling golf course turf.

The author discusses common issues that affect career satisfaction of golf course superintendents. Topics discussed include common issues like damaged hoses, putting away defective equipment without informing a mechanic, and equipment not being fueled, and other problems occurring in golf courses like the Mafia effect, cottonwood trees and abandoning essential equipment in a shop.

The article discusses the insignificant effects of the assistant superintendent salaries of the Fair Labor Standards Act on compensation or overtime requirements for many workers in the golf business. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the changes to FLSA will have several positive advantages for the American workforce. It states that maintaining a salaried employee's existing wage and eliminating the overtime hours one is expected to work is not a realistic option for most operations.