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Ask Thad: Why it’s easy it is to mentor young crew members

By |  June 25, 2021 0 Comments
(Graphic: Golfdom Staff)

(Graphic: Golfdom Staff)

 

What’s your take on the recent uptake of women in golf course maintenance?

— Paul H., St. Louis

First and foremost, I think it is more of an uptick in the awareness of women in golf course maintenance. At every course I have been at, I have worked with women. From owners to general managers to crew members, they have always been a part of my career. They have taught me far more about life and a woman’s perspective than I could ever teach them about turfgrass. Seeing women mentoring women in social media groups like Women in Turfgrass Management as well as all the female volunteers and staff at The Olympic Club during the Women’s U.S. Open shows the public that this can be an inclusive career for anybody. Is our industry disproportionate in the number men to women? Yes, obviously, look around at your crew. Does it have to be? I would argue no.

How do you mentor young people? 

— Tyler R., Amarillo, Texas

Do you remember when you were young and knew it all? The older crew members were out of touch? Yeah, me either. We were all there though, and YOU used to be the young, lazy kid on the crew. Sadly, perception is reality. Mentoring can be fun and fulfilling and comes down to three things — listening, trust and respect. We train, teach, guide and try to fit every employee into the same box. Listen to them; this current generation is one of the most artistic and creative that I have dealt with, and they have new and different perspectives even doing some of the most mundane tasks. Trust, this is the hard one. Trust them enough to make some mistakes and let them. If you want any respect from the younger crew members of today, you better respect them as well. They are smarter than you think. Once you remember that everyone once thought you were a lazy kid, it’s easy to mentor.

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

About the Author: Thad Thompson

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


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