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| What can superintendents learn from The Walking Dead's Rick Grimes? |
By Kevin A. Fletcher, Ph.D., President & CEO, e-par USA, Inc.
October is nearing its end. That means that the television
program guide is filled with Halloween movies.
I’m not a huge horror movie fan, but I do enjoy most shows about
zombies. I thought that Zombieland
was terrific (with golf’s great ambassador Bill Murray as himself in a short,
but Oscar-worthy, role) and Sunday date night with my wife (after the kids get
to bed) consists of Tequila on the rocks and AMC’s The Walking Dead.
I was thinking about this show the other day, and it dawned
on me that there are some great parallels between surviving in a zombie-filled
world and managing a golf facility in a sustainable, environmentally-friendly
way. Yes, avoiding and fighting the undead is not that much different from
dealing with golfers, turfgrass and green committee members, while also reducing
water use, managing chemicals safely, and acting responsibly. Before you
snicker, let me provide some examples of what I mean:
1.
Keep Your
Head on a Swivel or You Might Lose It (Self-Assessment First): One of the
biggest mistakes made by the living in the zombie-filled world is moving around
without really being sure where you’re going or what’s looming ahead. Sure,
that alleyway is clear now… but what’s around the corner or behind you for that
matter? Your eyes need to stay open and darting in all directions or they’ll
become zombie hors d'oeuvres.
It’s the same with golf course environmental management. It always pays
to conduct an initial environmental review or assessment. Ask yourself some
hard questions about your environmental plans, operations, procedures, etc. It
may help you create a clear vision (need eyes for that) and avoid getting bitten
in the rear.
2.
Don’t Run
Into a Dark Building at Night (Make a Plan): The first to go usually do so
because they aren’t thinking. “Hey, let’s hide in that abandoned building.” Well
it wasn’t abandoned, was it? Now you’re innards are serving as a zombie
calamari appetizer.
Once you have a handle on the state of your environmental game through a
self-assessment, make a plan. Don’t just run around looking for places to hide.
You need to take your environmental threats and opportunities head-on. Make
improvements where they need to be made by planning for them, not winging it.
Is water your biggest issue? Then make a water conservation plan as a priority.
Be smart.
3.
Don’t Be
a Hero (Be Risk Averse): You have a choice of running through a crowded
zombie-filled mall or heading outside and around the parking lot with maybe a
few flesh-eaters to deal with? Easy. Make like a husband during the holidays
and avoid the mall. Why put yourself unnecessarily in harm’s way?
This
is critical for superintendents to do as well. Have you conducted a risk
assessment, developed a risk profile for your facility-wide operations and
developed written standard operating procedures for staff to follow to help
avoid environmental incidents and accidents? If not, do so. Environmental
stewardship isn’t just about nest boxes. Take the time to identify and manage
your environmental risk. Survival is heroism during times like this.
Kevin A. Fletcher is President & CEO of e-par USA and is
dead-icated to helping golf course
management professionals fight with the ghosts and ghouls that make up a
comprehensive approach to environmental stewardship and sustainability. Feel free to trick or treat us at
www.eparusa.com.
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