In one of my first jobs, I worked at Ormond Country Club (now Cyrpress Lakes) as a weed sprayer, cart guy, and ultimately golf professional. OCC was a mediocre club for the New Orleans area but was far from the quality of English Turn or Metairie CC. Instead of a full driving range, we had an irons only range. We didn't have a range picker for most of my time working there and being a member's kid. When we did, it was a run down golf cart with chicken wire wrapped around to prevent us from being drilled by a golf ball at 100+ mph. Since we didn't have regular access to a range picker, the role fell right on us cart guys. They would send us out on the range with no protection carrying a broken shag bag or a tube that barely held 10 balls (most buckets hold 55+ balls). I was amazed that the company wouldn't place a higher value on its employees' well being, safety, or even ability to efficiently do their job. I was only 15 years old and thought that was just how it was, but always asked questions and pushed to have my concerns heard. Fast forward to age 19 and there was still no range cart, no better shag bags, and no safer way to do our jobs.
I carry so many unfortunate and inappropriate ways to manage and care for employees with me to this day. After high school, I worked for a private country club and ultimately the PGA TOUR. I saw what it was like to have all the necessary tools and lagniappe (little bit extra) to get my job done. I now know how to never treat employees in my business and the company I work for. I want to share examples from the past, learning lessons, improvement tactics, and create a forum for how we can ensure these don't happen to future employees without a voice.
