The day of someone who works is not always the same. Workplaces can vary in excitement depending on the day and how you make the day. Some places can be more or less eventful, depending on the work you do and where you operate. Fun is what you make of your time, and sometimes a day can be more eventful than others. Here is how it is working at a golf course.

Opening

The opening shift of a golf course can vary depending on how you perceive it. The place I work at, Western Hills Country Club, opens at 6AM, but whoever opens must arrive there at around 5:30 AM. If the front office person for that opening shift hasn’t arrived yet, you usually would wait for them to arrive so they can open a side gate, an alternate backside entrance to the main golf course. The first tasks would be opening the driving range, getting turf mats, ball holders, cases, and baskets out there. There are usually 8 nets and 3 baskets out to keep customers happy while also giving you time to set up other things. 

Carts are one of the bigger and more time consuming tasks. There are usually 20 carts set out (2 rows of 10) that are set alongside the main office and by the driving range for easy access to the carts and for easy trails to Hole 1. Maintenance of carts are done the night before and all that has to be done is to be set out for customers of the day. Usually, you manage golf balls and carts to make sure the rush hour guests can be met with the same and acceptable service as non-rush hour guests. Opening shifts usually go until 12PM, with breaks in between to be able to get food from the grill within the office building.

Working the 8AM-12PM

This is the shortest morning shift of the day. Usually an 8-12 shift seems short, but you are always moving. Collecting golf balls, managing and cleaning carts, maintaining the barn and of customers. There will be time to have a break or two, but your co-workers will depend on you to pull your end of the stick, especially the one who got there early in the morning. 

The 12PM-Closing Shift

Noon. The time where the morning shift ends, the morning rush minimizes, and actual golf is in full swing. People live in their carts for about 3 hours, playing with old friends, working on their game, enjoying their days off. It will usually take about until 2 PM for carts to start coming in in loads. The cart barn is empty on sunny, warm days, half empty on gloomy days, or full after rain has hit the area. No matter how many carts are gone, dirty, or on the line, they are to be kept at a good number in order to keep the flow going. At the end of the day, golf balls are picked from the range and handpicked in hard to reach places. Green mats, holders, and baskets are collected onto the service cart to be put back in the barn. After balls are collected and baskets are set for the morning, the trash is to be taken out for the day. Trash builds up fast, usually with food boxes, golf packaging, and other miscellaneous items. After the office, bar, and building trash is cleared, carts are to be cleaned and put back to their numbered rows. This part is difficult, as the amount of golf carts depends how long people take to play, and how many people play through the darkening day. 

2PM-Closing

The last available shift of the day. People who take this shift are tasked with helping the closing shift. This allows the 12PM-Closing people to gather themselves and get prepared for closing. These people are usually very helpful and take responsibility for picking balls and getting everything off the range. It is a teamwork based job that requires you to divide and conquer.

Working at a golf course is easy yet demanding depending on the work you do for that day. But how could you make the workplace fun? You make it fun. When opening, play some music and have a dance party with yourself, when you go to clean carts try to clean them in your own fun way, have fun with your co-workers when closing to lighten the mood. A lot can happen at work, but at a golf course, amazing things can happen if you try to make it that way.