Day 4

On day four, we started the day with a staff meeting, which consisted of all the department heads reporting to Mr. Carter on their current state. Through this, we met around twenty staff members who spoke briefly to us about their roles. We also referred to a sheet, which illustrated the profit margins of each section, and their projected sales/expenses for this month. This allowed us to understand where Firestone is receiving the majority of their profits, and what sections need assistance. As we began to establish an understanding of how the Private Events are run at Firestone, we still lacked knowledge of how the three courses are catered for. Prior to the staff meeting, Mr. Carter introduced us to Larry. Larry’s full title is the Director of Golf Course Operations. Besides the interesting stories Larry told us about him meeting Arnold Palmer, he taught us valuable information about his line of work. He started by showing us the fleet of mowers and tractors Firestone needs in order to maintain their courses. Firestone is sponsored by Toro (lawn care company) so their prices are discounted, allowing them to have a massive arsenal. Later he drove us through the North Course and taught us the importance of grasses and fertilization. Bentgrass (meant for greens and tee boxes) is often mixed with other grasses to provide a clean role for the ball; however, some inhibitor grasses also attempt to grow on greens, which cause bumps for the players. He went on to tell us about the irrigation system that sucks water from the lake, and dispenses it to a system of sprinklers and hoses. He told us that the design is incredibly intricate because if the grass gets heat burned, the course is unplayable. Similarly, if the grass is overwatered, the course becomes muddy and sticky. Finally, he addressed a major issue he currently faces. Larry lacks a large amount of staff due to the demanding hours required to successfully maintain all three courses. He said that he usually targets college students; however, they do not appreciate the hours or often quit due to the physical labor. Larry ended his tour by offering Scott and I jobs at Firestone either this summer or when we return on breaks from college. Scott and I both really enjoyed learning from Larry and would be happy to work for him.