The Tyranny of the Urgent

“Your greatest danger is letting the urgent things crowd out the important.” 
― Charles E. Hummel, Tyranny of the Urgent

Even though I am no longer an active Superintendent with the day to day concerns and worries of these very trying stretches of weather I still get the same feelings I used to get and often discuss them with members.

The stress of not knowing when to make the switch in irrigation practises from hot and dry with heavy overnight watering to hot and humid where the same irrigation cycle you had to run yesterday turns the course into a petri dish the next night. Where to find the balance of green speeds and healthy turf. Trying to get some holes into the greens to vent them and praying for some relief from the things we can not control, but control us all.

I see this from more of a distance now but that also provides a perspective that is slightly different. So many members during these times can not imagine leaving the facility for an hour much less most of a day. I can relate, but now as I attend all of the Chapter events I see the relief and benefit for all of our members in the networking and shared experience of both pain and success it is a vital part of getting through these days. I now it is really hard to get away, impossible even. But to take a step back, spend the day with your peers and know you are not alone, to know you have a huge resource in your fellow members will do more for you than any amount of hand watering ever will. No amount of spraying will ever replace a new bond or tip you will absolutely get from attending an MiGCSA event. So take a minute to look at the calendar  http://www.migcsa.org/event-calendar-291/ and make plans to get away for a day, to learn something or meet someone new. Or if you want to have an event closer to your facility or in a different format please let us know and we can help make it happen. Break away from the urgent fire extinguishing routine and take a minute to get some fire prevention tips.