Turf Managers Talk About Dealing with COVID-19
By Jerry Rousseau, WCTA Executive Director
With the magnitude of turf management industry questions amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, there’s no doubt the best source of information, in terms of what’s actually happening ‘in the field’, is our own members.
There’s certainly been a lot of helpful twitter chatter, email chains and likely countless individual phone calls but we’d like to make a small attempt at consolidating and sharing what’s happening at some of our members’ facilities and businesses.
We’ve leaned on several present and past WCTA Directors with a questionnaire focussing on operational challenges rather than government support programs for business and workers. There’s plenty of information on the latter from official sources but not so much on the former. Here’s what we heard:
Question 1 – Are you staying healthy and safe?
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics – Yes
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations – Yes
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course - As safe as any other time.
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - Yes, the grounds maintenance team have implemented extensive measures to ensure the health and safety of our team.
Nik Wall, Premier Pacific Seeds - Yes, we at Premier Pacific Seeds Ltd are safe and healthy.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - Yes and working from home.
Question 2 - Is your facility/operation ‘open’? If yes, are there parts that are closed? Is any component of your operation considered an essential service?
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics - No the facilities are not open. We have all the fields and buildings that can be locked. We have posted signage stating that the fields are closed due to Covid and please follow PHO orders.
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations - All aspects of the golf course are closed. There is security posted at the front gates and the public is not allowed on the site. Office staff are working as usual and help with on course patrols. Buildings that can be are locked. We have posted signage at various points around the fence line stating that the golf course is closed due to Covid-19 and please follow Parks orders. Greens, tees, and fairways have been given tier II essential services status.
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course - We are open for golf only. 1 person is allowed in the clubhouse at a time to check in with a single entry door and single exit door. "Bouncer" in place. No soft nor hard good sales, no F&B. Driving range is open with an attendant enforcing social distancing.
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - Currently our facility is closed, however planning to open to members only on April 24. Upon the golf course being open, there will be strict measures in place in terms of directing members for their use. Pro Shop has installed a sliding glass window to assist any members while not allowing them to enter the pro shop. Restaurant will be closed and food and beverage will be take out only.
Nik Wall, Premier Pacific Seeds - Our facility is open and is considered an essential service as we supply dairy farmers with forage grass seed.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - We are fully operational. Cemeteries are considered essential service. Parks and trails are open but the different facilities within them are closed. They are still open for people to recreate but they cannot use the park parking lots, playgrounds or use the washrooms for examples. We have cancelled all park bookings until May 31.
Question 3 – Where is your operational direction coming from?
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics - Direction is coming from UBC as a whole.
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations - City Manager and Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) has directed Managers/staff on operational procedures. Parks Director/Assistant Director Golf have further implemented strategies.
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course - The owner primarily based on government guidelines and regulations. Department managers are part of the process as well.
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - Direction is coming from our ownership.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - Mayor and Council with assistance of Fraser Health.
Question 4 – How are your staffing levels? Have you had to implement lay-offs?
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics - We are currently operating at 25% staff with all staff still being paid even though we are only 2 staff and 1 Manager on site at any time. This will be reviewed at the end of April with the possible reduction down to full time staff only and still working on 25% levels.
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations - We are currently operating at 100% staff with all staff who would normally have been scheduled still working in other jobs such as security (both gate and patrols, divots, cart detailing, etc.). A 6 week notice has been sent to 60 staff with pending layoffs coming as of May 26th if the golf course does not reopen. After May 26th full time staff will be the only workers on site.
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course - The entire staff were laid off for 2 week. I got to "volunteer". Some staff that would normally be back by now have been put on hold.
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - Currently our staffing levels are at about 50% Layoffs were not needed as we were closed for the winter and all maintenance employees had already been laid off.
Nik Wall, Premier Pacific Seeds - Our staffing levels are the same and have had to bring on a seasonal staff member.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - No changes in staffing level. Majority of Parks TFT started in Jan. However there is currently a hiring freeze unless the position is deemed essential. This might become an issue shortly if they do not lift the freeze and I cannot hire summer staff to replace staff on summer vacation. If staff do not go on summer vacation….this might be moot.
Question 5 – Have you implemented any special BMP’s to deal with COVID-19? If yes, can you share two or three examples? How are you enforcing them?
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics - We have implemented BMP’s – only 1 person per vehicle / piece of equipment which staff will wipe down before, during and after operation, Staff will work start and lunch periods at staggered times with them eating and changing in separate areas so that there is minimal opportunity to come in contact with other staff members, Each staff will have appropriate PPE access and will be asked to use this if operations are deemed to have any interaction with public or visitors. All staff will have enough equipment with them to do their jobs assignments and will wipe down before and after use. We are using the honor system to enforce as we are only having 2 staff on at any one time. Wipes and hand sani are available in the lunch room and equipment storage. Anyone that is feeling any sickness is told not to come in and monitor before coming back to work.
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations - We have implemented PHO Orders and BMP’s – only 1 person per vehicle / piece of equipment which staff will wipe down before, during and after operation. Auxiliary staff work out of their vehicle (5 hour shifts) and only full time staff are allowed in the lunch room. Staff start times and lunch periods are staggered. Equipment is wiped down before and after use. Anyone that is feeling sick is told stay home and monitor before coming back to work. Regular supervision of staff by supervisors and health officer committee member remind staff regularly of standards.
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course –
1: Bouncer in the parking lot and/or at the doors to allow one person only in the clubhouse.
2: Signage all over the place stating social distancing is a must.
3: Notes to leave the flag in at all times.
4: Cups installed upside down to limit hands in the cup.
5: On course washrooms closed.
6: No trap rakes, ballwashers, club cleaning stations, nor scorecard boxes put out.
7: No rental clubs nor push/pull carts available.
8: Power carts not allowed at this time.
However, a plan is in place to slowly introduce carts on a mobility need basis only to start. One occupant per cart and the cart will be sanitized before being returned to circulation. If that goes well we will open up to more people. It's been discussed that people from the same household be allowed to share a cart.
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - We have implemented extensive measures for our grounds maintenance team to follow. Washing hands anytime entering the grounds maintenance building, wearing gloves at all times afterwards, staying minimum six feet apart from one another, equipment used is yours alone until you are done with it at which time it is bleached down, one team member per cart, excluded any excess touch points in our facility, all touch points are wiped with bleach three times per day, just to name a few we are following. On course no ball washers, no bunker rakes, pool noodle in cup so ball stays above the lip, flag sticks bleached, one member per cart, no tee’s or sand bottles on carts, carts wiped with bleach after use, tee times extended to 15 minute intervals, just to name a few. Grounds maintenance team members will be enforcing themselves with supervision from myself and golfers will be enforced by player’s assistants.
Nik Wall, Premier Pacific Seeds - We have locked the door to the office and requested all orders must be called in and paid for with a credit card. Orders are then loaded according to social distancing procedures. Hand sanitizer is placed at the shipping station, and keyboards, phones, and door knobs are sanitized daily.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - Social Distancing while on the job site. PPE and cleaning vehicles daily. One staff per vehicle. Two staff only in a crew cab with the second person sitting in the back. Some staff reporting directly to a park. Staff can use their own personal vehicle to drive between jobs and are paid mileage. One shift starts at 7am and the other at 8am. Staff are mustering in the morning at different locations within the Ops centre. Township has a LOU with the union for more flexibility on hours/days of operation to spread staff out to avoid reduction in staffing.
Question 6 – Are you resorting to a minimal maintenance/operations regime? If yes, can you provide a couple examples of what you’re doing/not doing?
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics - We are resorting to reduced maintenance. We have reduced the fertility and other inputs to a point where we are just putting down enough to keep the plants healthy and allow us a chance to get them going when we come back when we are given the go ahead to start back up. We have done the same with the Whitecaps Training fields as well, but still have a higher level of inputs due to the need to keep some play for medical rehab.
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations - We are operating at 75% of standard maintenance in most areas, 50% in rough and not at all for bunkers. We have kept fertility and other inputs at 85% standard to ensure plant health so start up will not have any down time. Many of the auxiliary staff are working on Capital Projects that otherwise would have been done in the off season.
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course – Yes, but not significantly different than every year at this time. Fewer staff on to start and cutting has been reduced.
i.e. Greens: 2-3 times per week (once per week until this week).
Tees and aprons: once per week (twice starting next week).
Fairways: once per week (twice starting in another week or two).
Rough: When someone has time.
Traps raked once per week (if someone has time).
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - Yes. Reduced frequency of mowing all areas of the golf course with exception of greens. Possible increased frequency of bunker raking as no bunkers will have rakes in them.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - No. I have converted 2 Parks aux. labourers who work PT throughout the year and FT during the spring/summers while attending the JI to become police officer into Park Rangers. These Parks Rangers are only an educational initiative to inform park users about the Public Spaces Bylaw and maintaining social distancing. They do not have the power to issue tickets yet.
Question 7 – Please share one or two of your biggest operational challenges related to COVID-19.
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics - First, the reduction in staff levels came just as we started the spring aeration, overseeding program for all the fields. This made it difficult to get the fields done in a timely manner. The up side was how cold it was so there was a real lag in germination. Second, not knowing what or how staff reductions were going to look like. We plan for having enough staff for getting things up and running, but find that we are reduced levels and that is to take effect in two days. Once again, thank you for the cold weather.
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations - First, keeping staff moral up in an uncertain time. Second, constant change in planning as directives from EOC change almost daily.
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course – Making sure everyone is on the same page. i.e. cleaning tools appropriately before they use them. Determining disciplinary action when they don't and when too much cleaning is too much. Minimizing touch points and people using the same machines or tools. (Hard to do with a small crew where everyone does a bit of everything).
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - Having a reduced number of staff will be the biggest operational challenge. Once things are up and running, I hope to increase staffing numbers. Other challenges will include ensuring all team members are obeying new rules in place. Tasks will take more time however health and safety must be put in highest priority.
Nik Wall, Premier Pacific Seeds - One of the biggest challenges is educating customers to ensure social distancing as not all customers are aware of protocol. Also getting a supply of dust masks and safety supplies has been difficult during this time.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - Residents…different opinions those that are for full closure and those against.
Question 8 – Feel free to post a question here.
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course – Does anyone else feel like the guinea pig industry for government to monitor and steal ideas from to "re-open" other industries? Let me be clear, I mean that as a good thing because it means our lobbying and subsequent relationships with government have led to their faith in us.
Question 9 – Any long-term predictions on the effects COVID-19 will have on your operation?
Gary Bartley, UBC Athletics – I have a feeling that we are going to be looking at this same reduced level until at least July 1, but would not be surprised if it takes longer to start getting back to work. It will take some time after starting with ramp up just to get any organized sports up, especially with higher level University sports. Pro Sports may go a little quicker with the ability to play before no crowds and the team's ability to contain and control players actions and who they come in contact with. One thing for sure, we are in store for a new normal and I don’t think we will ever go back to what it was like. Time for us a managers to think outside the box and look at new and innovative ways to protect our staff and give the public the best possible conditions with reduced staff and budgets.
Peter Sorokovsky, City of Burnaby Golf Operations – I feel golf will return to play on 90% of courses in BC by May 15th with social distancing orders still in place, and by July 1st most if not all restrictions will be lifted, including social distancing. That is if they look at the numbers. One Order of “Stay at Home” should remain in place for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions until a vaccine is available. Everyone else get back to work, play, and life!!!!!!! Just wash your hands regularly, and don’t touch your face!!!!!!!
Davin Marr, Hillview Golf Course – Financially I think we'll actually do better -way less staff in the proshop and F&B departments that eat up a lot of wage budget for minimal or break even income. I can see some clubs reconsidering some of the services they offer after seeing the revenue from golf solely i.e F&B menus reduced to take out only in some cases. Bag attendant’s position removed. More emphasis on the starter position and their messaging to golfers. We experiencing "happy" golfers who are just plain excited to be allowed out as opposed to the typical grumpy "something is always wrong" lot we normally see. Hopefully that translates into future golfers having more realistic expectations when they patronize our facilities.
Jesse Cowan, Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Course - Potential for reduced labor hours in the years to come. If we are able to provide a good product and service for our golfers at our currently reduced labor numbers, then why not keep them reduced? Scary.
Nik Wall, Premier Pacific Seeds - Possibly more cashless payments methods.
Tab Buckner, Township of Langley - No longer term effects unless Mayor and Council decided to reduce the level of service and trim the Parks budget.
Thanks for participating, we hope that sharing insights from colleagues is informative and helpful as we all navigate uncharted territory.