Nine-One-One: True Crime Series

The Masters is behind us, the warm weather is upon us and golf course owner-operators are pulling out their hair.

You'd wonder why since most golf courses are coming off two years with record numbers of rounds played and many experts are predicting more of the same in 2022.

The problem is that many courses in Ontario including Hamilton, Halton and Niagara are dealing with staffing problems. And that's in all aspects of golf from course operations, golf course maintenance and food and beverage.

We're very short staffed in almost every single area," says Bryan DeCunha, owner operator of Flamborough's Dragon's Fire Golf Club.

I've been in the business more than 25 years and I've never seen it this bad. In fact, I've had my daughter and son-in-law working 12 hours shifts seven days a week just because we don't have staff."

But DeCunha and Dragon's Fire are by no means alone.

I've been preaching to everyone that this is a problem and it's like nothing I've ever seen before," said Tom Vanderlip, general manager at Niagara National Golf and Country.

Ten or 15 years ago when I was at Peninsula Lakes, we would have a job fair and have 200 people show up and now you can't even get people to come in for an interview."

Vanderlip said the problem is rampant throughout courses in Niagara.

I can remember the day when people used to bang down your door for a chance to work in a pro shop. Now we have to interview more people to get our compliment," said Mark Arnett who runs golf operations at the three City of Hamilton municipal golf courses.

It's definitely been more difficult this year but we're getting there."

Barry Forth, GM at Copetown Woods considers himself one of the lucky ones.

Last year, pretty much by design, we did a significant overhaul and turnover of our staff and we created a new culture and vibe for the staff and golfers. The people who joined us last year had such a good time that the turnover of staff this year was lower than ever, so we started this year three steps ahead of any other year we've had."

Forth added, however, that he heard from some other operators, particularly in Niagara that finding staff is like pulling teeth.

So why is it so hard to get people into the golf business?

We the owner-operators created this mess by not paying people enough over the years and not giving them a good career path to keep them in the business," said Vanderlip.

That's undoubtedly one of the reasons but there must be others.

Everybody has more things on the go now," said Arnett. When we hire students, they're often still in school and they may have summer school because of COVID-19 and then they have other part-time jobs."

Ryan Surette, who is in his sixth season, as the golf course superintendent at Mystic in Ancaster, said that in general the turf industry is having trouble attracting people.

On our Ontario golf superintendent website job board there are probably 40 to 50 good career positions available and it seems like no one is getting any applications," said Surette. That may be because of how people perceive the job, as long days, hard work and for not a lot of pay."

Surette says he hasn't had a big problem hiring students since he changed his thinking.

I realize now that for most of them this not going to be a career," he said. You have to work with them and understand their mentality that this is a way to make some money for school or whatever. No one wants to get up at 4:30 in the morning and its hard work and I think that's especially true if they're not golfers."

Ian and Lisa Ladd who are the majority owners of Southbrook in Binbrook and Beechwood in Niagara Falls agree that the turf department is their biggest staffing challenge.

These days a lot of students are not really keen on the hours, beginning early mornings and working outside in the sun and the heat," he says.

DeCunha says there is one area of the golf business that he doesn't struggle to find people and that's the young women who drive the beverage cart or work in the halfway house.

With tips they're making $40 to 50 an hour," he says.

Whole-in-one:

- Ian and Lisa Ladd have changed the name of their Niagara Region golf course to the Beechwood Golf and Social House.

At Southbrook, they expect to open their new 12th hole some time this summer. They will also have a new temporary practice putting green between the 1st and 10th tees and will use the existing practice green for special events.

Southbrook will have its first golf professional in a few years. Oliver Hunt will also give lessons and run junior clinics.

- The Hamilton-Halton Junior Golf Tour is back for a 39th season.

Qualifying day is Sunday, June 5 on Chedoke's Martin Course. To register go to their website at www.hhjgt.com.

Garry McKay is an award-winning golf writer and former sports writer for The Hamilton Spectator. Garrymckay1@rogers.com