Just Call Me Marshal Dave: I'm Back In The Saddle Again Out Patrolling The Golf Course

     Yes, its a tough job but somebody has to do it.  I'm talking about the golf course "marshal", or "ranger" or "course assistant"--whatever your name for them is.  They have a tough job to do, and I mean that. Yes, their job is to keep play moving but that is not their only job.  It is and should be more than just riding around in a golf cart telling people to hurry up they are lagging behind--far from that.  Most importantly, they are the representatives of the golf course and as such they put forward the very face of the course.
      I refer to "marshals" as "course assistants" because that is what their purpose should be. Golf course staff is fairly limited to pro shop staff and those in the maintenance department. Once you leave the pro shop and tee off, there is very little contact with the people in the pro shop.  Yes, you may get a hot dog and soda--or pop for those in the northern part of the US--and chat with the restaurant staff, but not for long. You get your snack and walk to the next tee.  You may go into the pro shop for something and talk to whoever is behind the counter or in the shop, but that encounter is brief as you need to get to the next tee.  Who do you see most out on the course?  The "course assistant" who is there to help.
      How about the maintenance staff?  Many times they will acknowledge your wave or your attempt to say hi.  However, most of the time they have a job to complete and then it is off to the next job. Their time is limited and do not have the time to chat.  Besides, it is tough to talk to someone who is riding a lawnmower. You can wave, but the mower is just too loud and the crew member is not going to stop what they are doing.
      As I have said, I am back to being a "course assistant".  I'm not doing this for free golf.  I have returned to the job of "course assistant"  because I want to give something back to the game. What should a "course assistant" be doing on their shift.  Its more than just keeping play flowing--and there is a way to do that without being insulting by the way.  In my next post, I will talk more about the duties and attitudes of a good "course assistant". With apologies to Gene Autry, I'm back in the saddle again.

Its kind of nice being out on the course as a "course assistant" even though you are not playing.