I recently had a conversation with another superintendent and it always seems the first topic that arises when discussing golf maintenance is budgets. I am guilty of it too...it's a way to justify why we do or don't do things. Even members compare maintenance budgets between clubs they belong to. However, even though I am guilty as charged, this is not a fair comparison between Clubs or golf courses. Allow me to explain and site examples. Most time it's like comparing apples to oranges.
1. Golf courses vary greatly. This could mean something as simple as acreage maintained. In the case of HCC, acreage is relatively small, but the manpower required is enormous. The amount of weedeating and pushmowing due to slopes, creeks and trees adds to maintenance costs. At other golf courses I've worked, if it can't be mowed with a riding mower, it is left natural. Think of last week's US Open. No ponds, lakes or streams...
2. You can't compare a Bent/Poa annua course to that of Bermudagrass. There is simply no comparison from a fungicide budget. Bent/Poa will always require double the amount of fungicides as Bermuda. Even those in charge of maintaining Bermuda wall to wall will agree it is a weed. That doesn't mean it doesn't come without it's own host of challenges. Furthermore, over seeding (those that still do it) is another expense that doesn't compare course to course.
3. Some golf courses include huge monthly lease payments in their budgets, others separate it out as capital.
4. The older the golf course, the more required in R&M of infrastructure. This could include drainage enhancements, for example. The older the irrigation system, the more spent on annual upkeep.
5. In 2007, I was riding around a high end Club in the Banner Elk area when this same conversation arose. The Superintendent quoted his maintenance budget as a low ball number. After some prodding, it became clear that he DID NOT include labor! They only factored actual maintenance expenses in the budget! Labor can be as high as 75% of the entire budget!
6. Cost of living is always a factor. It is no question an issue in Highlands. Asking folks to drive 40 minutes each way to work sometimes requires more than a fair hourly wage.
7. Growing conditions- a course like HCC with greens growing in shade with poor air circulation will require more pesticides- always.
8. Water- we are fortunate to have an endless supply of irrigation water, with our only cost, the electricity to pump it. Some courses in California are paying over $1,000,000/yr for water! Other courses are forced to purchase city water. This can lead to huge fluctuations.
9. Realm of Responsibilities. Is the golf course crew in charge of landscape operations? Most facilities have a separate department who care for roadsides and common areas like the clubhouse.
10. Some courses view annual topdressing as a capital expense, not an operating expense. Another example, at HCC we have a healthy sod budget that most courses do not have.
11. Bunkers- the quantity of them is proportional to some aspects of the budget. Simply put, they consume 3-4x the amount of money per square foot compared to having grass!
In conclusion, if you compare budgets from course to course, do so with caution and make sure you have the facts. It can be a baseline for comparison but many times, it is far from a fair comparison.
