Life away from the golf course

Matt Woodward with a desert bighorn sheep he shot last month.

Most superintendents will tell you that one of the main reasons they got into the golf industry is because they enjoy being in the outdoors and not being confined to an office all day. To take this concept a step further, many also participate in outdoor activities like sports, hiking, fishing and hunting.

I know many superintendents who like to hunt. I asked my son Matt what it is that makes hunting so appealing, especially for people like superintendents who spend the vast majority of their time in the great outdoors on their golf courses. I asked him because he has taken his hunting to the next level in that he has become a well known full-time outfitter and hunting guide. Matt is a graduate of Penn State University’s Turfgrass Management Program and a former superintendent.

He reminded me that all of us, whether we hunt or not, come from ancestors who had to hunt to survive or we wouldn’t be here right now. For many people, hunting is something that lives in their souls, it’s in their blood. Most superintendents will tell you the same thing about why they are a superintendent — it’s in their blood.

In modern times we have the convenience of going to the grocery store and buying our meats and vegetables, but do we really know where our food is coming from? Most people don’t even think about this. Hunters and farmers have that knowledge.

People who aren’t hunters or are against hunting get caught up in the actual process of hunting and killing. What they don’t think about is that hunters are not the ones who decide who hunts in a particular region, or the number of tags issued or the species to be hunted in those areas of the United States. These decisions are made by the fish and game departments in each state.

And there are reasons for this. In many areas wildlife population management is critical for the long-term health of a particular species. Hunting a scientifically determined number of animals will actually make the rest of the herd stronger. And just like with superintendents and the environment, the vast majority of hunters have an immense respect for this pastime.

Another important benefit for superintendents who are hunters; hunting provides them a way to find the balance in their lives that I have preached about for years. As we all know, being a superintendent has its share of pressure and everyone needs to have a way to take their mind off their job, even if it’s just for a few days each hunting season.

My son tells me that he knew when he was 18 that he would never work in a job with a roof over his head. Many superintendents will tell you the same thing. His life as an outfitter is full of fantastic experiences that most people will never have the opportunity to experience. He is able to put himself in fantastic places around the U.S., Canada and Mexico as he does his job. Again, if you think about this concept, we as superintendents have jobs that also put us in fantastic places (golf courses), and consequently we also have fantastic experiences that most people don’t get to enjoy.

Hunting is just one outlet that superintendents enjoy away from their jobs. There are obviously many others. Just last year, this magazine ran a classic car on its cover as another example of an activity that provides superintendents with a way to enjoy themselves off the course.

My point is, superintendents should partake in a wide variety of activities away from their golf courses to maintain that precious work-life-family balance.

Photo courtesy: Matt Woodward