Culture
Culture
Greetings Golfers,
We weren’t expecting Wednesday’s snow … not shocking … but surprising. We want to get open … but not at the expense of the golf course. Frustrating.
Frustration can lead to negativity. Negativity usually doesn’t make things better. Negativity has to be dealt with … not ignored … and not something to feast on.
Feasts can be fun … but groups of people can turn negative … and a negative feast takes on a life of its own. Here’s an example:
A few years ago, I needed a break and went to play at a fairly local club. The Pro hooked-me-up with some guys I knew and we teed-off. It started raining on #5 … and by #9 it was unplayable … so we went in.
We all sat at the back of the bar. I knew all of these guys - probably about 20 - and one-on-one, I like them all. However, this turned into a group feast … a feast of negativity … and the goal seemed to be who could be the most negative.
Everything was attacked: the golf course, the condition of the course, the carts, the Pro Shop, the staff, the food and beverage … name it - they attacked it.
Were their attacks valid? Not really … they were just nit-picking … it’s a great place. Is it perfect? Obviously not … what is? … but is it a good place? Yes.
Well … after 20 minutes of this … it wasn’t relenting … it was ramping-up. So I stood-up and said “What’s wrong with guys? You’re alive … you’re healthy enough to play golf … you’ve got the time and money to play here … and this is a great place. You guys are respected and set-the-tone here … why try to ruin it? You’re acting like spoiled brats who don’t know what they have. I’m out-of-here.”
Culture is the most important thing at a golf course. Number one. It’s what concerns me most.
If a culture turns negative … it’s a virus … a cancer. It can spread through the golfers and the staff. And it will kill everything.
If it takes over … how do you get rid of it? Probably have to start fresh. How does that work without folding?
Last week, my wife and I watched season one of “White Lotus”. Wow. The most unlikeable people on the planet. At least they left the resort after their stay was over … so their negativity mostly went with them. But imagine if they never left. That’s what can happen at a club - public or private - the negativity can become the culture.
I like to think that our best feature is our fun and friendly culture. But I never take it for granted. It needs constant nourishment … like that carrot and stick saying. I’d rather keep feeding it more carrots … but sometimes it needs the stick.
Cheers,
Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com