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On the dial
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Sports fans of all types have been able to quench their thirst for information with the proliferation of sports talk radio in the last decade. Whether part of a network or just a few hours on a local station, sports talk programming gives listeners a chance for in-depth discussions on many different pastimes, including golf.
With talk about golf happening all over the airwaves, local sports radio can be a fantastic public relations opportunity for superintendents. Make contact with your local sports radio station and offer your services as a local authority on golf and golf courses. Radio stations are always looking for fresh content, and if they accept your offer, it can be free promotion for you, your facility and your profession.
The superintendents of the Philadelphia AGCS know the benefits of radio time well. Members of the chapter have been regular contributors to WNTP-AM’s “GolfStyles Live,” which airs Saturday mornings in Philadelphia. The host of the show, Tony Leodora, lives on Plymouth Country Club in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., where John J. Connor is the GCSAA Class A superintendent. Connor made the effort to talk to Leodora when he was out on the course, and was surprised to find that Leodora not only was a big supporter of superintendents, but also was wondering how to get a superintendent’s perspective on his show. Connor took the information to his chapter, and the result was an agreement for PAGCS members to appear monthly on Leodora’s radio show. They highlight topics of interest to golfers, what projects are going on in the local golf scene, what the chapter does in the community and more. The relationship has since expanded into a sponsorship agreement between PAGCS and the station.
While Connor certainly had an “in” with a radio host who was a member of his facility, building relationships with radio personalities in your community can start with small steps. Even sports talk hosts like a round of free golf. Invite one or more of them in your area for a golf outing and talk to them about local golf issues. Or use what’s happening in your local golf scene to make your first impression. Is drought affecting you area? Call and offer your insight on how this may alter local golf conditions. If you don’t think you would be comfortable speaking on the air, work in tandem with your local chapter to identify members who would be comfortable on the mic. As the PAGCS did, you can combine your efforts to contact and develop possible connections with local radio stations.
Whether you are in a large or small media market, there is most likely a sports radio program or station in your area. Developing a relationship with local sports talk personalities has the potential to reach thousands of sports fans in your community and keep them tuned in to who superintendents are and what they do.
For more information or assistance with media efforts, contact the GCSAA communications department at 800-472-7878 or e-mail CommTeam@gcsaa.org.
As student-interns head back to school this month, superintendents may find themselves in a labor pinch. To qualify for an H-2B visa to recruit workers to join a maintenance crew, employers must meet the following requirements: Just moved to a new state or unsure of your state’s pesticide rules? Searching for the state-specific information on pesticide applicator licensing, certification, recordkeeping, reciprocity, posting and notification requirements is a snap on GCSAA’s Web site. Direct your browser to www.gcsaa.org, click on the “Solutions/Tools” tab on the left-hand side of the page, and then scroll down to view a box titled, “State Pesticide.” Simply click on your state to view detailed laws. |
