Golf Course Maintenance Budgets: almost always translates to better. costs more too!!! by the decade. Membership Expectations

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1 Golf Course Maintenance Budgets: Knowing where not to cut is just as important as knowing where to cut! David A. Oatis, Director Northeast Region USGA Green Section Golf Course Maintenance by the decade 1970 s: Decade of Speed and Efficiency 1980 s: Decade of Quality 1990 S: Decade of Restoration 1990 S: Decade of The Environment 2000 s: Decade of The Environment 2000 s: Decade of The Budget With respect to turfgrass maintenance equipment: Smallerand and lighter almost always translates to better With respect to turfgrass maintenance equipment: Smallerand and lighter almost always costs more too!!! Membership Expectations Do you know what they are? Do you have a Mission Statement? Doyou have Maintenance Guidelines? Do your golfers understand your traditions and goals? Newer members? Is there a plan to achieve your goals? It s essential to be on the same page as the golfers especially in a difficult economic climate When budgets are altered, course conditions will be altered as well

2 Now is the time to identify, or clearly re state to your members, what you are trying to achieve. And this needs to be communicated to members and staff Example: Mission: To deliver a premier standard of excellence across all features of our membership experience. What is your desired level of golf course maintenance? Does it match your golfer s desired level of maintenance? Level of Maintenance Green Speed Firmness Cutting heights Desired grass species Aesthetics vs. Playability Playability vs. Reliability Level of detail Bunkers: groomed surfaces or hazards? Natural areas or unnatural areas? Maintenance Standards A clearly stated plan regarding the daily maintenance of the golf course with ihspecific goals and performance criteria. It should be reasonable, agronomically sound, and feasible. This is a statement of philosophy, not a set of specifications!!! Purpose of Maintenance Standards Clarify expectations of the membership Ensure supt and committee areon samepage Ensure supt. and committee are on same page Provide continuity Avoid personal agendas/pet projects Tool for resolving conflicts Measure the performance of the staff

3 Must include guidance with respect to pursuit of the target: I.e. how much risk to take to obtain desired level of playability Is this acceptable??? Once you have the target, the necessary programs can be developed: Plan Based Budget The first step is to identify what you want to achieve then figure out what it is going to cost Once you ve agreed on that plan, it becomes easier to consider how budget cuts will affect it. The superintendent and all managers must have a seat at the table. Typical Northeast Budget Breakdown Percentage of total operating budget: Labor 60 65% 65% Chemical 8 10% Fertilizer 4 5% Equipment. Repair 4 5% Misc % Every budget can be cut The trick is to cut in areas that won t be The trick is to cut in areas that won t be noticed or will have the least impact on playability, aesthetics, and long term performance.

4 Critical to make a distinction between True vs. False Savings Skip pre emergent herbicide applications Reduce working hours (OT) Cut experienced labor Cut conferences and continuing education Energy audit Implement IPM program Adjusting Mowing Operations Intermediate Cut? Mowing Patterns Stripes - vs Black/White Mowing 27-hole facility 2 mowers per side, mowed 4x per week. Fairways mowed 30 weeks per year. Stripe Mowing Payroll: 6 mowers * 3.5 hrs * $12/hr * 30 wks * 4x/wk = $30,240. Fuel: 4.5 gals * 6 mowers * 120 mows * $2.40 = $7,776. $38,016 Contour Mowing Payroll: 6 mowers * 2.75 hrs * $12/hr * 30 wks * 4x/wk = $23,760. Fuel: 3.5 gal * 6 mowers * 120 mows * $2.40 = $6,048. $29,808 Clipping Dispersal Strategies Clippings can account for as much as 1 2 lbs. of N per 1000 ft 2 each year! Growth regulators New mowers Blowers Drag mats/ropes/hoses Will you save any money?

5 No Man s Land Step Cut Intermediate Cut Rough Detracts from definition Too high for bent/poa Too low for bluegrass Gets puffy and thatchy as bent invades Ryegrass in fairways Often performs poorly Unnecessary at most courses!!! Poa Annua Seed Head Control Full Time vs. Part Time Staff Yes for greens $5 10,000 for fwys Seedheads last into June Playability??? Turf health??? Turf composition??? Work 24 hrs/wk 5:30 AM 9:30 AM 6 Days/Week No overtime No benefits Use Temp Agencies For Special Projects Greens Mowing & Rolling *Chart from Dr. Thomas Nikolai, Michigan State University RCC has 32 greens to mow. 7-8 mowers per day. 2-3 rollers per day. Savings on a no mow day is potentially $200+ per day or $21,000+ per year. Top Ten Bunker Whines: The sand is too soft The sand is too hard There is too much/not enough sand The sand is too fluffy There is no lip There is no lip The lip is too high We keep getting down hill lies The ball doesn t release Balls get caught up on the bank THESE BUNKERS AREN T FAIR The bunkers aren t CONSISTENT!!!

6 An inexpensive but totally effective solution for solving the bunker consistency problem! Bottom Line: We don t want to trick up bunkers We don t want unplayable bunkers Bunkers are hazards meant to: Add interest Add strategy Penalize Direct play etc. Bunkers cannot be consistent Bunkers are not always fair! Bunker Maintenance Reduce bunker maintenance Less raking Less edging/trimming di /ti i Growth regulator usage Reduce the number of bunkers Build less intricate bunkers Teach golfers to rake them!!! Alter Plantings Beware of natural areas Eliminate/Reduce number of orn. plantings Confine orn. plantings to the clubhouse area Reduce the size of plantings Reduce use of annuals Reduce number of tree plantings Beautiful Beneficial Plays Well Can be difficult/expensive to attain!!!

7 Beautiful??? Beneficial Plays Terribly Attractive (unnatural) No impact on play Expensive The Hidden Cost of Trees Surveyed 15 private courses in Northeast Region (11) 18hole facilities (1) 27 hole facilities (3) 36 hole facilities Information compiled on a per 18 hole basis Typical Tree Budgets Budgeted Maintenance 8,500 17,462 High Average 35,000 20,895 Annual Tree Projects In house tree work 85,090 34,272 Tack on this much extra!!! Annual debris removal Leaves Fruit Branches Storm debris removal Storm damage 9,500 55,000 31,815

8 Additional mowing costs Labor for trimming Herbicide to reduce trimming costs Extra string trimmers Mower maintenance repair Shortened mower life 1,668 20,000 9,769 Don t forget Don t forget Extra string trimmers Shortened mower life Mower maintenance and repair ,090 5,712 Impact on bunker maintenance Debris removal Acorns, leaves, pine needles, etc Root incursion in bunker Root competition w/turf on banks 300 9,765 3,626

9 What about the cost of specialized equipment??? Blowers Chain saws Leaf vacuums Tractors Chippers Cherry pickers Stump grinders Dump trucks Loader Disposal fees etc.. Not calculated but clearly in the thousands of dollars What about the Turf??? Air circulation Shading Traffic flow Root competition Fertility Labor Pest control products Labor Ropes Cultivation Seeding Fertilizer Stakes Signs Impact on turf performance: Air circulation Shading Traffic flow Root competition Fertility Labor Pest control products 1,000 Electric fans Root pruning 5,000 2,823 So, what do trees really cost??? 30,130 High Average 192,945 88,016 per 18 holes.

10 So, what do trees really cost??? But there still are many more significant but hidden costs Golf Course Accessories Course Improvement Projects: Prices have come down In house Equipment? Expertise? Safety? Projects may take longer Maintenance may suffer Land clearing companies When considering cut backs, always ask: Will it affect the playability of the course? Will it affect the reliability of the turf? Willit it affectthethe enjoyment of the game? What are the long term consequences? Don t trip over dollar bills Never Compromise Long Range Programs Aeration/soil modification programs Tree management programs Capital equipment budget Weed control programs Thank You