By now, the presents have been unwrapped, the Christmas trees have been taken down, and the decorations have been put away until next year. The relatives have said their goodbyes and made their way back home. Auld Lang Syne has long since been sung and the college football games are over finally.
A new year means a fresh batch of vacation days, and because nobody uses those in the first week of the year, everyone is back to work. The kids are back in school, and everything is getting back to normal. Maybe this month of January, and a more ordinary time, is a time of year that deserves more credit than it gets.
In the world of the golf course superintendent, this is perhaps the most normal time of the year as well. The crew is small and much easier to manage. Most of the trade shows are over from now until the time leading up the Golf Industry Show. The days are shorter, and much of the work is done inside, so there’s no need to be at the course at 5:00 in the morning. Salesmen aren’t quite as persistent as they were in December, and those tired words, “early order,” aren’t being mentioned every time the phone rings.
The days are more predictable, and the hours are more regular, leading to easier planning and more enjoyable time with family. Supposedly, that’s what the holidays are for, but it ends up being so hectic and active that it’s over before you get a chance to sit down and read the new book you received for Christmas. Maybe best of all, at least in the Midwest, the turf is dormant, so there isn’t any need to mow or spray.
I heard a priest once say, “Thank goodness for ordinary time!” His reference was to the period in the church year between Christmas and Lent. In this time after the busy holiday season, I completely agree with him.
Don’t forget to take the time to enjoy this period because the grass will green up, the golfers will be out in full force, and ordinary time will be over soon enough.
Blaine Pinkerton is a technical representative for Green Velvet Sod Farms in Dayton, Ohio. He can be reached at blaine@greenvelvet.com.