how to get work days participants

[goosefraba1]

So... here in lexington we have a new championship level course going in... problem is that our members have a case of the lazies.

Looking for creative ideas of how to lure people out to work days. We have the same 6-8 people coming out every work day :/

 

[MacDaddy]

Good luck with that! :doh: You can try giving the ones that do show up a perk of some type. Coupons or other discounts you might have for local goods and services, a disc, a shirt, discounts on tourney entry fees or club membership. Perhaps their name on a bench or a sign on the course. Or, you concede that most players are just that. Players. They will come to your leagues and events, but working on the courses just isn't going to happen. Then take very good care of the ones who do show up!! :thmbup:

 

[DSmith]

Bonus points awarded tword league. We do 5 points. Funny thing is that most people pass on the points or any other physical incentives after seeing what all they can accomplish. So I really dunno what would work 100% Just make sure you promote the hell out of it and maybe try and avoid words like "work"

 

[joecoin]

A championship level course sounds daunting just by description. It may appear to be an endless amount of work. Maybe do an 'Adopt a Hole' program. 2 or 3 people responsible for one hole. Then a team of judges can decide who did the best job and give a prize?

 

[MrFixIt]

IF the club has the funds, provide a lunch. Something as simple as hotdogs, chips, and a drink perhaps.
Advertise the work date/time 2 weeks prior.
Good luck!

 

[optidiscic]

I suggest be thankful for the 6-8

Players are just that, players

Take it slow and do a good job. When the players complain it's taking too long just laugh and invite them to help work

U are better off with a small organized crew than 25 people who feel entitled to do as they please when clearing

 

[BirdieMachine]

Free Beer and Food.

 

[DavidSauls]

Yep. The others have about summed it up. Keep in mind that, if the club will also be responsible for maintenance, you'll have the same issue, perhaps even worse, when the course is completed.

I does seem the best formula is to (1) schedule work well in advance and publicize as much as possible, and schedule a finite amount of time, such as 2 hours, (2) do the work before #3 & #4, (3) feed everyone who shows up, and (4) play the course, or at least whatever's playable, so there's a "fun" element.

 

[sisyphus]

...the best formula is to (1) schedule work well in advance and publicize as much as possible, and schedule a finite amount of time, such as 2 hours, (2) do the work before #3 & #4, (3) feed everyone who shows up, and (4) play the course, or at least whatever's playable, so there's a "fun" element.

Hey Zach: that's the voice of experience right there.

I can tell you something that didn't work. When Osage Grove (Goshen) was in the finishing stages, I checked with Adam and tried to publicize a contest. It was a cleanup score competition. Using the honor system, I suggested folks bring a temp basket out, set it up (the pin sleeves were in), then keep two scores: 3 'strokes' for taking ten minutes tidying up any of the debris back to the tee, or take a 2 for 15 minutes or more, then shoot the hole & take a throwing score. Folks could come out any time they had, do as much as they could, and eventually play each of the holes. The winner was going to earn a professional therapeutic massage ... I got no takers. (I did it two or three rounds myself while the 'contest' was live).

...maybe I should've tried to hook them up with a less 'official' massage, huh? :\

 

[curveball4]

I suggest be thankful for the 6-8

Players are just that, players

Take it slow and do a good job. When the players complain it's taking too long just laugh and invite them to help work

U are better off with a small organized crew than 25 people who feel entitled to do as they please when clearing

:thmbup::thmbup:

 

[markmcc]

I was "construction officer" for a gun club in Central Texas for several years. Similar needs and issues to what you have described. I agree that 6-8 dedicated workers are better than a bunch of luke-warm participants.

When I'd get a big turnout half of the guys would stand around and gossip, complain, etc. The regular 6-8 guys would do all of the work while the rest waited for the food to show up.

Stay with your core group, treat them right, and hope to add one or two at a time as progress is recognized.

 

[Horsman]

Just get a set date on facebook and invite people, works every time.

 

[wake911]

ha, horseman, you are funny. That doesn't work most places. Consider yourself lucky to have a group that responds.

I think maybe a discount on entry fee to the next club tournament? might be a nice little benefit to entice the folks who would rather play than work (almost everyone) Or maybe discounted membership to the club if you attend X number of work days.

 

[Horsman]

It generally works very well in the Milwaukee area. We set a date a month in advance so people can plan to come to it if they want and then people come. It also really helps that there are multiple people that are extremely dedicated and when other people see that they just want to help. I say just keep working hard at it and people the people will follow.

 

[DSmith]

Zach,
Now I hope you see why I told you guys "Do not install the baskets untill the course is completed." Make those guys who don't want to help out sweat it out till your done and if they keep whining about it tell them the more people come and help the faster it gets done. It worked on getting the crew for redoing the pads at Vets and it'll work at Jacobson. Oh and again Do not install the baskets till its all done.
Your pal Drew the guy who designed Jacobson

PS again sorry I moved and left you guys to build the course. Well now you know what I went through with Riney, Vets, Shilly etc.

 

[wake911]

Zach,
Now I hope you see why I told you guys "Do not install the baskets untill the course is completed." Make those guys who don't want to help out sweat it out till your done and if they keep whining about it tell them the more people come and help the faster it gets done. It worked on getting the crew for redoing the pads at Vets and it'll work at Jacobson. Oh and again Do not install the baskets till its all done.
Your pal Drew the guy who designed Jacobson

PS again sorry I moved and left you guys to build the course. Well now you know what I went through with Riney, Vets, Shilly etc.

That's mean!!!

(And would work quite well actually. That's one i'll have to file away for if I ever get involved in starting a course :clap

 

[DiscChainBasket18]

We have a lot of wooded courses (with elevation) in our area.
The forest grows fast in summer so a lot of work is needed to keep the fairways clear, to keep the rough cut down, etc.
When we have a work day we usually get a special lunch or at least some food & drink.
Some people will come to every work day you schedule! Others come once & never return LOL. Usually we will take all the help we can get!
I am old & I have a bad back so dont expect a lot of heavy lifting from me. But I will usually show up to shovel some mulch or do whatever odd jobs that need to be done!
The most "notice" we get is about a couple weeks. I think this should be enough time to plan it out for yourself. It is also not so much notice that it gets forgotten (although info about the work day will be bantered around on fb the whole time leading up to the work day. It is funny to read the posts from people who never show up to work & others who show up at every one of the work days! opcorn:
At the end of the year a cool "course worker" T-shirt is handed out to the people that showed up & worked the most! If the shirt is cool enough, we might pick up a few more workers in the future! :clap:

 

[DavidSauls]

Zach,
Now I hope you see why I told you guys "Do not install the baskets untill the course is completed." Make those guys who don't want to help out sweat it out till your done and if they keep whining about it tell them the more people come and help the faster it gets done. It worked on getting the crew for redoing the pads at Vets and it'll work at Jacobson. Oh and again Do not install the baskets till its all done.
Your pal Drew the guy who designed Jacobson

PS again sorry I moved and left you guys to build the course. Well now you know what I went through with Riney, Vets, Shilly etc.

The local designer of Columbia's newest course, Southeast Park, did the same thing. He had to stick to his guns about not putting in baskets, but it worked well.

 

[Royal Hill]

Best principles: (echoing most of whats been written)

-Set dates, times, "point of contact" person for work efforts
-hold them regularly (many but short and defined)
-follow through and be sure to be there those times you've comitted to.
-keep the mood positive during the work
-don't talk about whos not there during the work
-accept help from the helpful, but don't try to "buy" your help too much
-take photos during the work and post them/tack em up somewhere

and, when one of the core 6-8 helpers gets frazzled and the rest of the usual crew senses they are about to go on a rampage on your local forum, club board - with a rant... stop them if you can - tell them to take the next project or two off - say... "we've got it covered"

Fist shaking at the ingrateful seems not to work out surprisingly.

 

[TOURNEYPLAYER]

Free Beer and Food.

this.