Ask Thad: What should I do to recover from the burnout of the summer months?

By |  October 23, 2024 0 Comments
(Graphic: Golfdom Staff)

(Graphic: Golfdom Staff)

After a hectic golf season and things start to ease up, is there anything you recommend I do to recover from the burnout of the summer months?

In the Northeast, we are heading into our favorite time of year: autumn! Cool nights, lower humidity, moderate temperatures, shorter days and less pressure on the turf and superintendent. The struggles and challenges of the big three months are slowly fading into another year, and it’s time to regain our sanity and become normal members of society again.

Set one night a week aside and go out! Dinner, drinks, line dancing, ax throwing, break dancing … whatever floats your boat. We get lost in the job in season sometimes, and it’s important to be aware of that and make a conscious effort to get back to real life. Reconnect on a deeper off-season level with family, friends and coworkers. I go out to dinner on Fridays and bowl one night a week in the off-season. I absolutely suck at bowling, but that’s not the point.

Root for your teams. The NFL season is underway, and it’s the start of a long, fun journey for many and the continuation of humiliation for others, but fandom never dies. Hockey is right around the corner, and the conclusion of the baseball season is in sight. I’m a Buffalo sports fan. I don’t miss any Bills games and very few Sabres games. See? I have fun and humiliation all in one city.

Look forward to your off-season education. Local associations, vendor-sponsored events and, of course, the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show are wonderful opportunities to round out your professional talents and open your mind. Never forget the social aspect of meetings and educational days. You are out with your peers; they have had the same struggles and challenges you had all summer. Learn about how they handle stress, have a drink, relax, forgive yourself and prepare to do it all again.

Got a question for Thad? Tweet to @TerryHillsMaint and @Golfdom or email Thad at thadthompson@terryhills.com.


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This article is tagged with , , and posted in Ask Thad, Columns, Current Issue, From the Magazine

About the Author: Thad Thompson

Thad Thompson is the superintendent at Terry Hills GC in Batavia, N.Y.


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