Laurence Pithie, Europe’s first Master Greenkeeper has written a complete Maintenance Manual, which is a series of systems and procedures to help in the management of a golf course.
It has been supported and produced by The English Golf Union and is now available for sale, but only from The Club Services department of The EGU. The retail price is £150 and comes complete with a disc for downloading various files. To find out more or to order a copy, contact EGU Club Services on 01526 351818 or 01526 354500.
The manual consists of 28 different sections and covers virtually all aspects of setting up a maintenance system for managing a golf course. It is not a manual for growing or maintaining fine turf but it is a series of documents, work sheets and records that will help the person manage their course in a more effective and professional manner. The contents include the following:
• A ‘generic’ policy document
• Varying examples of standards including course & equipment
• Man-hour studies
• Budgeting worksheets and working ledger
• Capital expenditures
• Training workbooks
• Staff appraisals
• Course audits
• Inventories
• Equipment & Golf Cart information
• Fertiliser & Chemical data
• Job Descriptions
• Winter play guidelines
• Reports and Newsletter examples
• Various turf tips & Course data
“The purpose of this manual is to act as a reference workbook and to assist others in setting up systems that are simple to use, having been designed specifically for maintaining golf courses,” says Laurence. “It can be used in conjunction with more sophisticated software packages although most of the required data is already within this manual.
“For the first time, there is now a complete maintenance system that is readily available and can easily be amended or adapted to suit any individual course, large or small. Any individual can take what is required from this and use it as they see fit.
“The intention is to add further data each year to build upon what already exists. It is seen as a useful tool for any golf course and will save valuable time on not having to produce various files that already exist.”
Laurence has also produced a small booklet titled ‘Managing Golf Courses More Successfully’ and this has been the subject of his recent presentations at various golf course conferences throughout the UK and Europe. Further publications covering other golf course management subjects are planned over the next two years.
Laurence can be contacted directly via e-mail l.pithie@crown-golf.co.uk