Get Around with Greens & Grounds
Get to know a little more about Christopher Chasse the man behind @greensandgrounds (instagram)
Property name (and location):
Shelter Harbor Golf Club Charlestown Rhode Island
27 holes, 3 Practice greens. Whole property is on around 500 acres
How long have you been at this property/role?
Going into my 5th year. Started out as an AIT and proud to say I've worked my way up to Senior Assistant Superintendent
Crew size?
Year around crew is about 8 or so, then seasonal guys make it around 20ish
Handicap ?
I have one more round to play and enter into my GHIN to get my legit handicap. I feel like I'm around 10.
Favorite task to do on the course?
Mowing approaches is for sure my favorite. I don’t get to do it much anymore but there's nothing like mowing a crispy app then driving by it all day and knowing i did that.
Least favorite task?
You know I love it all and take pride in my work butttttt, when it’s november and we still need to pull hose i’m over it.
Best thing about being a greenkeeper?
I love being outside. The long day can be hard but there's something about seeing both the sunrise and sunset on the course on the same day that make it all worth it!
Worst thing about being a greenkeeper?
You can miss out on some things outside of work in the summer months. You have to try your best to have a good work life balance.
Favorite piece of equipment?
I don't know if it's my favorite because I haven't used it, but we just got a spraying drone. That's definitely the coolest piece of equipment I've seen.
Favorite golf club in your bag?
I just got brand new clubs for this year. Decided it was time for an upgrade. The one club I didn't change is my 3 wood. My grandfather's old Callaway Big Bertha senior flex shaft and all. Not sure why but i hit that club so well more often than not, I just could not part ways with it. Ole reliable!
Work/Career goals?
I want to be a superintendent at a course that wants to change and grow. Hopefully I can be there for many years to see how it changes over the years with all the projects and hard work that my team and I will accomplish.
On a larger scale, my goal is to reshape how the turf industry is perceived. We’re already seeing this kind of evolution in golf. Today, people listen to music on the course, squeeze in a casual nine holes after work, or bring their dogs along for the walk. Brands like Malbon Golf are carving out space that blends golf with fashion and lifestyle, both on and off the course. None of this fits the traditional mold, but it’s been essential to growing the game and bringing in a new audience.
That said, tradition still has its place. Major tournaments, iconic venues, and high end private clubs should continue to uphold the values that define the history of golf. But embracing change doesn’t take away from tradition, it adds to it.
That same mindset is what inspired me to start Greens and Grounds. I want to present the turf industry in a different light, one that feels more authentic, less rigid, and more reflective of the people and passion behind it. Instead of the typical clean cut, overly formal image, I want to highlight a side of the industry that’s real, relatable, and engaging.
Do you keep a golf club in your cart and what club?
I think there's a putter floating around somewhere but I don't usually use it!
Biggest/most common misconception about your job/role?
That we sit on a mower alllll day! The average person doesn’t understand what goes into the upkeep of a golf course!
Do you think playing golf helps or hurts your role?
Definitely helps! Most jobs I do I try to think about it from a player's POV.
Do you enjoy/benefit from having golfers on your crew?
For sure do! It’s nice being out on the course with a coworker just playing and having fun! We can take a deep breath and relax instead of just go go go.
What is the one thing you wish golfers would be better about when playing your course?
I think this goes for most courses but ball marks on the greens!
What do you think is the biggest misconception golfers have about course maintenance?
I’ve never heard this before but, I feel like they think we aren’t good at golf! Don’t let these dirty hands fool you, we can hold our own on the course for sure!
Favorite Course you have played?
TPC River Highland
#1 course you would most like to play?
That's a crazy question cause i can list off 20! One of them on that list is Pinetree Golf Club in Florida.
Course you would most like to see how it operates?
Hirono Golf Club in Japan. I’m always interested in how international clubs operate and if there is anything they do that we can implement here.
Does golf make you better at your job?
Allows you to put yourself in the golfer's POV and know if the work you are doing will affect the play in a negative or positive way.
Does your job make you better at golf?
I think so, it’s like you’re studying film all day watching golf being played even if it's just one shot here and there.
What came first, passion for golf or greenkeeping?
Golf. I grew up going to the driving range with my dad. Eventually going to the course and playing with friends. I got a job at my local course and worked in the pro shop for sometime. One year they needed help on the Grounds Crew for just one week. I never went back to the proshop after that! I knew it was something I wanted to pursue as a career from just that one week alone.
Why are there not more dogs on golf courses?
Great question, I think dogs get a bad rep. People think of barking and hyper wild dogs. I can see both sides. You don’t want dogs running all over the course while people are playing, but also what's the harm of a dog chilling out in the cart with you while you work or play!