Photo Credit: Courtesy of Harley Chesier
Why is hitting a little, dimpled ball with a funny-shaped stick called golf? Because all the other four-letter words were taken. Since its inception, the game of golf has presented multiple, maddening challenges not only to those who play it, but most especially to the greenskeepers and managers of the courses.
On the part of those who play “a friendly game of golf now and then,” to the seasoned professionals who make their fortunes from the game; the game of golf can vary not only from one hole to the next, but from one swing to the next. Add a bit of weather, perhaps a wager or two, and a little thing called “golf etiquette” thrown in for good measure, and casual observers may question the sanity of anyone calling the game recreational with all the variables of a seemingly laid back sport.
And to those who's chosen profession is the maintenance and management of golf courses; an even greater demand is put upon them to keep their particular pastures playable, pristine, pleasant and most importantly, profitable. Indeed, their biggest challenge is to make their golf course appealing to the player who will not only appreciate it, but take care of it as well. Since all courses are only as good as the clientèle they attract, the most daunting and foremost task they face is filling their venues with desirable aficionados of the game.