The endless conversation around technology and automation is now hitting the boardrooms and search projects. Maintenance teams are under pressure: rising member expectations, shrinking budgets, unpredictable weather, and a tightening labor market.
Most clubs respond in one of two ways:
- They chase every shiny new object without strategy.
- Or they resist change altogether.
Both approaches lead to the same result: wasted resources, missed opportunities, and stagnation.
Clubs are spending thousands on sensors, software, and equipment upgrades—tools that are valuable for making smarter decisions. But here’s the truth: the real innovation engine isn’t in the tech. It’s in the people you already have.
This summer, the most forward-thinking ideas we saw didn’t come from a cloud-based platform. They came from:
- Interns asking, “Why do we do it this way?”
- Assistants spotting turf patterns hidden in data
- Equipment managers dialing in quality of cut
- First-year staff bringing digital instincts and fresh eyes
Innovation is not about technology—it’s about culture.
A culture where ideas move up, not just down. Innovation isn’t just about what you adopt—it’s how you integrate it across the operation.
If you want to attract and keep top talent in turf, build that culture:
- Let your team test something small every month
- Ask them what they’d automate, improve, or eliminate
- Celebrate experiments—even the ones that don’t work
- Engage them into forward thinking individuals
The future of this industry will absolutely include drone imagery, soil mapping, moisture meters, and AI-driven tools. But the real leverage comes when curiosity, connection, and contribution are part of your team’s DNA.
Engage with GCSAA, USGA, and your local chapters. Partner with your local universities to host research trials. Leverage data, pilot new tools, and integrate what works into daily operations. But always from the foundation of a bottom-up culture.
It’ll come from the person on your team who’s trusted enough to think differently.
Looking to hear best practices around innovation and leading operations? Sign up for a FREE Talent Strategy Call to learn how to take your operations to the next level.
About The Author
Tyler Bloom is the leading expert on workforce development in the golf and private club industry. He has worked with hundreds of leading golf and private clubs in the United States including The PGA of America, Top 100 golf courses, public, municipal to professional sports teams, universities, and national historic landmarks.
As a talent management and consultation executive, he leverages deep relationships locally, regionally, and nationally to help businesses secure and develop premier talent.
His insights have been featured by Golf Digest, USGA, Boardroom Magazine, Club+Resorts, GCSAA, SFMA, PGA of America, CMAA, and British International Greenskeepers Association.
Are you ready to build a top-performing team that drives results? Our proven framework, methodologies, and implementation is based on our personal track record of developing world-class teams. In addition to talent acquisition, we provide leadership development and ongoing consultative services for the golf course and club industry. Our team has personally coached and mentored dozens of future golf course superintendents across the United States.