Imagine a golf club where the greenkeepers are the members

Golf can be used just like any other input we use on the course. It has the ability to promote healthy growth and improve conditions for the entire industry.

The Greenkeepers Golf Club a golf club designed for the caretakers of the arenas that are central to the golfing experience. There is a unique culture and identity to the course maintenance industry and the GK GC believes that encouraging more golf opportunities amongst this group will result in increased retention, cohesion, and recruitment, and thus better on course experiences for all. The Greenkeepers Golf Club will utilize the game of golf as the primary input to grow, promote and strengthen the golf course maintenance industry and the individuals responsible for its merits. Through GK GC golf events & original content, and merchandise the greenkeepers collective may grow stronger roots that benefits the community in both professional and personal ways. Built by a greenkeeper for the enjoyment of all greenkeepers: past, present, future, salaried and seasonal.

Golf Experiences may occur at local, regional, national and international levels. Specific events may include (but not limited to); Individual play dates, matches between club crews, ongoing leagues & contests, simulator leagues, annual destination events and regional and national tournaments.

The GK GC is also a brand that promotes the values and character found throughout the greenkeeping experience. With opportunities such as purposely driven original media content, original merchandise, partnerships with established industry brands and organizations, charitable giving, best practices education, and more, the GK GC may do good for the entirety of the course maintenance industry and the game of golf itself.

In case anybody needs a write-in option

The goods are coming! Taking a bit longer than anticipated to get the first batch dialed in, posted online and ready to ship. Likely dropping second week of November and those on the email list will get a head start. Pretty limited first run with a very small number of embroidered items. And yes, there will be stickers… Keep on working early & playing late in the meantime.

Yesterday was October 10th and it turned out to be a 10/10 kinda day. The Greenkeepers Golf Club got its first official balls in the air with The Cutters Classic at Tokatee. Vibes were great, weather was perfect, course was pure and greenkeepers were golfing. Congrats to Jonathan Dean from @heronlakesgolf for taking the honors of being the inaugural winner. And massive thanks to Ty, his team, and Kennedy from @tokateegc for providing the top notch conditions and hospitality. Looking forward to getting back & doing it again in the spring. If you read this far might want to sign up for the newsletter in bio: hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts are more and in and going live on the site soon. Newsletter peeps get first crack and it’s a small run. More golfing greenkeepers is good for golf. #workearlyplaylate

Excited to get the first GK GC balls in play this Thursday @tokateegc. Still space if you can get off the mower and get there, tee times starting noonish. Link in bio #workearlyplaylate #moregolfforgreenkeepers

Strengthening the Community of greenkeepers while sharing and showcasing the unique stories, challenges, and experiences will bring more awareness, support and connection to the greater golf landscape. This community includes the entire force of the course maintenance industry; from the Superintendents & Course Managers down to the seasonal operators. Utilizing golf may also help in recruitment and retention of greenkeepers at all levels throughout the industry. The GK GC will provide opportunities where its members may experience a greater sense of pride and exclusivity in their profession and golf pursuits. Even if you are not an avid golfer within the turfgrass industry, the GK GC wants you to feel like you have a home team represented on the course and in the greater golf landscape.

Our vision includes regional stroke play championships that result in a national championship event. We see destination events, much like caddy tournaments that are on the rise, that allow those in the industry to experience other courses and regions that they may otherwise not. With the rise of youtube golf content there is a great opportunity to better utilize golf for showcasing the good within our community while also opening a greater door for recruitment of new members. How about greenkeepers competing in regional and national USGA and regional events? A semi- annual Ryder Cup style competition? UK Golf trips that connects and bonds greenkeepers from both sides of the Atlantic? Golf has the ability to do great things for our industry and the GK GC is driven to pursue and deliver these opportunities.

Our Values is what sets our industry apart. Authenticity, hard working, making the best out what you have, reliability, a sense of community, having more fun and maintaining a balance between work and play. Whenever and wherever we play we treat the course with the pride and respect we have for our own. We want to be the guests that clubs are excited to have out. Nobody knows what it is like to clean up after disrespectful golfers better than we do. Adhering to these values and enjoying the game and its hosts in a respectful way offers another way to showcase our industry and its people and encourage more to join the ranks.

With the increased popularity and visibility of golf within the current sports culture landscape, the time is now to position the greenkeeping experience as one that holds great value and opportunity for those looking to get further invested in the sport.