BUILDING THE FINEST GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE BUSINESS … · 2018. 7. 31. · Education: Hospitality Management Certificate, eCornell University F & B Management Certificate, eCornell

BUILDING THE FINEST GOLF

COURSE MAINTENANCE

BUSINESS PLAN

Nicholas von Hofen, CGCSGeneral Manager

Collier’s Reserve Country Club, Naples, FL

[email protected]

Nicholas von Hofen, CGCSGeneral Manager

Current Club: Collier’s Reserve Country Club, Naples, FL

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Education: Hospitality Management Certificate, eCornell University

F & B Management Certificate, eCornell University

Bachelors Science in Finance, Rasmussen College

Associate Science Turfgrass, The Ohio State University

Work History: The Ritz-Carlton Members Club, Sarasota, FL

PGA WEST, La Quinta, CA

Lost Tree Club, North Palm Beach, FL

Old Marsh Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, OH

Today’s Objectives

• The Real Value of Golf Course Maintenance Standards & Expectations

• What are Agronomic Programs and their Costs?

• How to Create a Preventative Maintenance Program That Adds Value

• Why is Goal Planning Critical in the Budget Process?

• What Projects are on the Horizon and is there a Capital Plan in Place?

• Communication is Key ~ Member Newsletters / Videos

• Sample Golf Course Maintenance Business Plan

Society’s Perception of the Golf Course Superintendent

38th Anniversary of Caddyshack

July 2018

Society’s Perception of The Accountant

Chris Wolf digs into the

records and finds that over

$61 million has been

embezzled from the

company.

Common Goal - Pursuit of Perfection

28 Employees in Photo

Augusta National

No Two Courses are the Same!!!

No Two Courses are the Same!!!

Internal Audit – What Are We Working With?

The Real Value of Maintenance Standards & Expectations


Greens & Collars Expectations

• Greens shall be smooth, have uniform turf, be firm but not hard, be

well defined, and be of suitable speed for the location. Color and

texture shall be consistent green to green. A consistent green

speed between 9.5 to 10.5 feet shall be the goal.

• Cup Changing shall be changed daily with the inside cup lip

painted with white paint.

• Flagstick shall stand up straight, clean and in good repair.

• Aeration, topdressing, vertical mowing shall be performed as often

as necessary to produce superior turfgrass quality.

• Fertilizer and Pesticide applications shall be recorded.

Sand Bunkers Expectations

• Sand shall be uniform and sufficient depth averaging 4 inches deep in

bunker bottoms and 2 inches deep on the slopes.

• Bunker rakes shall be in good condition placed outside of the bunker.


DAILY COURSE SET-UP STANDARDS

Goal: The course set-up should provide challenging and interesting shots

and maximize golf course diversity.

Standards

– Use pin sheet rotation plan.

– Tee markers are not to be more 6 paces apart.

– Keep trash off the golf course.

– Pick Up used tees off of teeing grounds.

– Use cart control rope when appropriate.

– Use cart path stakes as needed.

– Control fire ants.

– Trap rakes are to be moved daily and placed outside of traps

– Maintain a sharp edge on the cup cutter to produce a clean cut.

The Science of Building Sound Agronomic Programs


Greens Soil Testing – May 2018

• Thatch – One Inch or Less is the Goal

• Percent Organic Matter in Thatch Layer

• Percent Organic Matter in Stained Layer – 3% or Less is the Goal

• Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity - 8 Inches or Higher is the Goal

Thatch

Stained

Layer

Original

Base

Layer


15

Summer Maintenance for July

Verticut & Aerify & Topdress

Greens (1/2” coring tine)

Verticut & Aerify & Topdress Tees

(1/2” or 5/8” tine)

Aerify Collars & Approaches

Aerify Fairways (7/8” coring tine)

Scalp Fairways (.500 to .400)

Scalp Roughs (1 ½” to 1”)

Golf course closed 10 days in July


Fairway Verticut & Curfew Application

The Fairway Verticut Removes

Excessive Thatch Curfew Application Targets

Nematodes on Greens & Fairways



Fungicide Programs


Sample Programs

19


Early Order Programs Can Save Your Club $$$


Value of Early Order Programs

• EOP can be the most cost effective way to purchase products if an

agronomic plan is in place.

• With an agronomic plan in place, EOP can certainly save the golf

course some significant money.

• Superintendents are recommended look at their agronomic plans

and look at their previous years' spend for fertilizers and pesticides.

How effective was that plan that year? Were changes made or

necessary? This is how agronomic plans get “dialed” in over time.

• EOP is not only for pesticide products. EOP is also a great time to

get base fertility needs met at a discount compared to in-season

pricing. Fertilization is a key part of any agronomic plan and should

be given the same attention and detail as any pest control program.






Preventative Maintenance Programs Do Add Value


Equipment Hours = Miles

• A typical turf equipment engine runs @ 3000 RPM (avg.)

• In a modern car, 3000 rpm can equal 75mph (avg.)

• Theoretically, every 100 hours of operation on the turf equipment

engine could be considered to equal 7500 car miles ! (100 hours x

75mph)

• A modern car engine operates at 20% duty cycle (Full power only

20% of the running time on average)

• Trucks operate at about 50% duty cycle

• Turf equipment engines run at about 70% duty cycle, so…the turf

engine duty cycle is 3-4 times as severe as a car


Turf Equipment Hours = Miles

• 500 turf hours can equal 125,000 car miles



• 4000 turf hours can equal 1,000,000 car miles

• How do you feel about equipment durability?

• What is your perspective on routine maintenance?

• Do you feel comfortable with non-genuine parts?


Knowing Equipment Hours Help Control Lease Costs

• 36 month FMV with 600 hrs / year



Good Equipment Care History = Extra Incentives

• Equipment Technician Training

• Extended Warranty Options

• Complimentary Equipment


TORO myTurf Fleet Simplified Equipment Management

• No charge for Toro customers

• Track your entire fleet online

• Instant access to the latest Toro manuals and information

• Order parts online anytime, anywhere from your Toro Distributor

TORO myTurf PM Longer Equipment Life. Increased Productivity.

• All the benefits of myTurf Fleet

• 90 day free trial

• Ensure Preventive Maintenance is done & tracked

• Automated Maintenance Alerts

• Create Work Orders

TORO myTurf TCO Total Cost of Ownership Tracking

• All the benefits of myTurf Fleet & myTurf PM

• 90 day free trial

• Ensure all Maintenance is done & tracked - PM & Repairs

• Track your own parts inventory

• Easier record keeping and purchase justification

TORO Fleet Management Systems

Building The Budget

Calculating Expenses

Building The Budget


Golf Maintenance Expenses Costs

Various Fertilizer & Chemical Line Items

Drought Management $9,320

Fertilizer $78,640

Fertilizer Injection (Acid) $19,300

Growth Regulator $6,000

Pest Management $67,000

TOTAL $180,260

These expenses make up 13% of our Total Budget

Building The Budget


Golf Maintenance Expenses Costs

Contract Services

Preventative Maintenance Pump Stations $2,900

Water Quality Monitoring $5,160

June Fairway Verticutting $7,500

Pest Control at Maintenance $592

Drinking Water System Rental $1,620

Bridge 2015 Maint. Contract $16,500

Vine Removal $10,000

Security Alarm System - Quarterly $432

Fire Extinguisher Annual Inspection $300

Office Copier Service - Quarterly $320

TOTAL $45,324

Building The Budget

Sample Golf Course Budget – SW Florida

Golf Maintenance Expenses Costs Percent

Payroll Expenses $836,510 60%

Wages, Taxes, Benefits

Operating Expenses $549,311 40%

Supplies, Repairs, Fert, etc.

Total Operating Expenses $1,385,841 100%

Projects on the Horizon


Golf Course Life Cycle


37

Component Year Built

ASGCA

Expected

Life

Cycle

ASGCA

Expected

Life Cycle

Dates

Recommended

Replacement Dates ???

Construction Method

and Materials Cost Guesses

Greens - Original

Base1992 15-30 2007-2022 2018

TifEagle / Modified

USGA Profile$850K - $1.2 million ?

Tees 2003 15-20 2018-2033 2018SeaIsle 2000 Paspalum

/ No Mix, Existing Soil$200K - $500K ?

Bunkers 2009 5-7 2014-2016 2014 37M Standard Sand $90K

Bridge #17 Tee 2003 2014 & 2015 $30K

Bridge #18 Tee 1992 2014 & 2015 $24K

Bridge Boathouse 1992 2014 & 2015 $15K

Cart Paths - Concrete 1992 15-30 2007-2022 Soon Concrete Paths $500K

Water Supply $12.5K

Maintenance Building 1993 20-35 2013-2028 2018 $75K ?

Chemical and

Fertilizer Storage 1993 20-35 2013-2028 2018

CCI Storage + Mix/ Load

Area$20K ?

Fuel Storage 1993 Every year inspection1000 Gallon Diesel &

1000 Gas$10-20K ?

Tiki Huts #8, #12 2010 5 2015 Operating $4K

Additional Tees #15 &

#162014 add/rebuild $30K

Being the Best Project Manager

Items to Consider When Developing Project

Specific Scope of Work To Be Done By Contractor $$$

Project Timelines and Clauses For Missed Deadlines $$$

Opportunities To Sell Old Items / Equipment $$$

Consulting Fees / Engineering Fees $$$

Landscape Restoration / Plant Replacement $$$

Cart Path Repair $$$

Additional Warranty Packages $$$

Contingency Factor (10-15%) $$$

NOT TO EXCEED!!!

Communication is Key ~ Variance Reporting & Forecasting

Nicholas von Hofen, GM

@HFTP2018Presentor

Communication is Key ~ Variance Reporting & Forecasting

Communication is Key

Sample Golf Course Business Plan

The Work Relationship

• Golf Superintendents

are not Accountants

But

• Golf Superintendents

are Held Accountable

• Help Them Help

You!!!

Enjoy Your Conference!

Thank You!

Nicholas von Hofen, CGCS

Collier’s Reserve Country Club, Naples, FL

[email protected]

Documents

BUILDING THE FINEST GOLF COURSE MAINTENANCE BUSINESS … · 2018. 7. 31. · Education: Hospitality Management Certificate, eCornell University F & B Management Certificate, eCornell