The Importance of Communication for a turfgrass manager

The Importance of Communication for the turfgrass manager

Communications skills are not only important for a turfgrass manager but for any activity that involves human relationships. I would say that Obama, Reagan, Steve Jobs, and in our business, the only one that I know so far, Matt Shaffer, they all had or have something in common: Excellent communications skills!

Turfgrass managers have to learn to communicate the same way to their greens committee, General manager, board of directors or owner of the golf course the same way that they should speak to their subordinates, providers and other peers.

A good reason to have good communication skills is to be sure of what you are doing every single time, and if not, be able to manage those situations with alternative skills. Skills such as know how to delegate.

I also have to add that communication does not mean that you have to talk and speak always. Sometimes in this business world, you have to know when to listen. Even if you do not say anything, I believe that this is an important part of someone’s communication skills.

Random Topic of my Choice: Ipad

I would like to “blog” today about the Ipad, the new device from Apple. Ipad was announced this week, and if I am not wrong, will be available in stores in 60 days.

Some of my roommates may not like the idea, nor its price. While I agree that it is a little bit pricy, its fragile look, the lack of a camera and a flash might be the most negative things that I have heard and read.
On the other hand, the reviews of the specialists and analysts from around the world have been generally good.

As positive remarks, they have admired the speed of interaction with the user, its potential uses, such as a game device, browser, a book reader with the new store in itunes called “ibook”, future improved and new itouch or iphone applications and also the endless market of possibilities for reading newspapers.  Specifically, I know I am going to carry my ipad around the course, to be able to consult any kind of information about turfgrass management.  No doubt that TORO or RAINBIRD softwares will develop applications for golf managers to control irrigation in the course or outside the course.  This will help water management a whole deal.
This might be the end of paper and the cutting of trees for cellulose!  Bill Gates, during a conference in Madrid, Spain, said, a few years ago, that cd´s will disappear in some years and that paper will also tend to disappear after that. I think that Bill Gates may be right!

Since it is going to be positive for the environment and I am a future environmentalist golf manager, I will buy this device, as soon as I can afford the steep price.

Review of a professor lecture: Soils Physical Properties for Turfgrass Management

I have been thinking for quite a while on what I was going to write about in my new turfgrass blog. One of the required topics that have been assigned is to write about a Turf Club speaker, guest lecture, or professor lecture.

In this case I would like to talk about one of the many interesting lectures that we have this semester. Dr. Mcnitt, head of the four-year program is our soils professor this semester. He, as a speaker is laud and clear and does not go around the bushes when giving us lecture.

It is important to recognize that soil properties is one of the most important aspects of a healthy turfgrass or at least it is one subject that if a superintendent is lucky enough to have the right soil for the specific golf course, he will have more hours of sleep than the usual.

One of his first lectures has been sort of a review of what Dr. Schlossberg tough us in our first semester. We have reviewed:
Soil physics, such as, drainage, compaction, hydrology or percolation rate, macro pores and micro pores.
Soil chemistry, such as CEC (cat ion exchange capacity) and nutrient
Soil biology, microbiological organisms, such as, Fungi, nematodes and macro biological beings as earthworms, ants and any living creature that could affect our turfgrass.

Since the title of this class refers to the physical properties of soil, Dr. Mcnitt has focused the lecture on soil components from its physical standpoint. These components are four and they are:

1. Mineral matter, such as gravel, sand, silt and clay, from coarse to finer structures
2. Soil water solution
3. Soil air, which has near 100% humidity levels and it is very high in CO2
4. Organic matter, organisms that were alive and now are dead.

So, I am very glad that we had a previews class on this subject our last semester with Dr. Schlossberg. Even though, our general impression was that we did not learn much in that class, I am pretty sure that now we all are quite happy to have it under our belt.

It was also interesting listening to Dr. Mcnitt emphasizing on the importance of having good communication skills. It is always a characteristic that all major and most valuable superintendents tend to have as one of their professional skills.