Function
A golf course maintenance job always involves manual labor and sometimes some managerial duties. A maintenance employee helps keep a course looking its best, not only tending to the holes, but also perform landscaping duties around the clubhouses, parking lots and tee boxes. Most maintenance employees need to use heavy machinery such as large mowers and cutters.
General Outdoor Work
Employees spend nearly their entire work week outside. Golf course maintenance usually starts early in the morning, around sunrise, and runs into early afternoon. These employees ready the course for a steady flow of golfers throughout the day. Course maintenance employees are also in charge of setting the cups on the green and moving the tee markers, and performing custodial operations on golf course grounds and buildings. On courses in colder climates, employees are also in charge of snow removal.
Grass Maintenance
The golf course maintenance worker is responsible for cutting grass on the tee boxes, fairways, roughs, fringes and greens; irrigating the course and working on its watering system; sodding; trimming; and applying fertilizer and pesticides on and around the course. He will use equipment such as walking and riding greens mowers, tee mowers, fairway mowers, rough mowers, rollers, bunker rakes, carts, push mowers and a variety of powered and nonpowered hand tools.
Identification
Golf course maintenance workers wear maintenance work clothes, including overalls. They may perform some course work while golfers play, or work in the maintenance shed, which is usually in the back of the course, away from the clubhouse.
Benefits
Some smaller, low-budget courses or municipal courses combine the maintenance job with other duties, such as starter, ranger or cart manager. This is also beneficial if your course is trying to save money in a tough economy or slow period.
Misconceptions
Golf course maintenance jobs are not always full time. For many northern courses, it is a seasonal position because these courses close during the winter months, leaving one or two maintenance employees on staff. It's also important to note that a golf course maintenance job is not for everyone. Any candidate for a golf course maintenance job needs to be in good enough health to perform the daily manual tasks required.
About The Author
Mike Camunas is a free lance reporter, covering local golf in the Tampa Bay area, from events to golfers hitting hole in ones, to even covering the professional events that hit town. He has been playing golf for about 11 years and has never seen his handicap lower. Perhaps one day. He attended the University of South Florida.
