Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Catch up

Finally some time (or so I thought) to catch up on the goings on at the club.  Obviously we are open and people are playing.  The original opening date for 9 holes (April 15th) was a flop weather wise but people managed to get some play in that week.  Opening 18 holes on April 22 isn't a record but if you go back and look at the posts for the last couple years it would be hard to dispute the fact that we are ahead of the game this year.

The biggest news for April is the huge amount of time put in by member volunteers.  People stepped up for the annual spring work bee and provided their time and energy to help get things ready for the season.

Raking Needles

Cleaning Up Trees

Group Repairing Holes in Netting

Cleaning out Flower Beds
Attempting to Finish 15 Tee
As documented by the pictures, this years volunteers tackled more than the just the traditional raking.

Weeks before the work bee some members donated their time, their expertise, and even materials to help repair and fix up some of the problem areas that needed immediate attention.

Dean P Working at Clubhouse
Kevin D and Dave W Repairing Half Way House Vandalism from Last Fall
Painting Benches
There is still lots of work being done by member volunteers even as regular play ramps up at KGC.  A group has taken on the task of painting many of the weathered looking accessories.  Sign posts, benches, fences and railings have been blitz by some of the same group pictured painting the deck tables.  Ted G. has also continued with his own pet project of painting yardage blocks on the tee's and fairways.

I can't find any reference to last years spring work bee in older blog posts.  That is a serious oversight on my behalf since they obviously bring so much benefit to the course and to me.  Aside from the from the actual work accomplished, I think the organized work bees and individual volunteer projects bring less tangible benefits such as fostering loyalty and commitment, creating the feeling of ownership/pride, and encouraging a sense of community and belonging.  I read somewhere that belonging is part of a hierarchy of human needs and people who are social live longer....O.K. maybe its a bit of a stretch to suggest volunteering at KGC will make you live longer but it can't hurt!