Why Superintendents and Turf Managers Need to Embrace Data Collection

Regardless of what sector of the turf industry I find myself working in, the issue of cost versus quality underpins many problems, plans and decisions.

Increasingly, the need to “manage” operational costs is becoming a more important priority for Superintendents and Turf Managers, despite the expectations on playing surface quality continuing to increase.

Essentially, (as is the case in most businesses) boards, governing bodies and end users want more bang for their buck.

Why collect and measure data? 

Within the golf industry, the issue of quality is usually a personal interpretation, and may be influenced by a number of factors. Golf club history is littered with tales of mistakes being repeated due to decisions being made based on opinion and anecdotal evidence rather than fact. The same is observed within sports field and racetrack management.

For this reason, there is a rising need to take some of the subjectivity out of the assessment of golf course, ovals, pitches and tracks. As the saying goes: “to manage, you have to be able to measure.”

One of the ways this can be achieved is by increasing the objective assessment of some fundamental measures, known as Quality Objectives (QOs).

Some key areas in which Quality Objective data can be implemented and used to provide valuable insights include:

• Turf quality and purity
• Human resource management
• Water management

Committing to data collection

The Course Superintendent or Turf Manager not only has an integral role to play in establishing these QOs, but should in fact drive them as their training and knowledge sees them best placed to do so.

Effective collection and analysis of this data can be used as “triggers” for important decisions that are based on facts rather than judgements. The right information can help to illustrate escalating problems, or even better, predict them before they occur.

For many Superintendents and Turf Managers, there is often apprehension and pressure (perceived or real) to get on with more ‘important’ practical tasks such as mowing, raking bunkers or line marking.

However as expectations to justify our actions or plans to a variety of relevant stakeholders increase, proper data management is critical to the viability of not only our jobs, but clubs and sports as a whole.

Image Credit: Tim Lovelace

Daryl Sellar

M.Agr (Turf Mgt) at Turfwise Consulting

Owner and founder of Turfwise Consulting, Daryl has been involved in the Turf Management industry for over 25 years, completing his Masters Degree in Turf Management in 1999.