Justin VanLanduit started a Twitter account three years ago, but he mostly sat on the sidelines, unsure of how to use it until 18 months ago. Lured by testimonies from other golf course superintendents who praised Twitter’s value, he decided to give it a shot.
“I started slowly getting into the flow of doing it, and now it’s become part of my daily routine to post and read what’s there,” says VanLanduit, a course superintendent at Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield, Illinois.
It didn’t take long for VanLanduit to learn the ropes. Earlier this year, he received an award from GCI for best use of Twitter.
Many courses use Twitter to reach out to members, but VanLanduit says that’s only part of its benefit. Mainly, he considers it a tool for becoming a better superintendent. “The amount of information I’ve gathered from it is unreal,” VanLanduit says. “I think any superintendent who signs up would kind of shake their head and think, ‘Wow, I’ve been missing out, here.’”
The daily demands of maintaining a course aren’t always conducive for attending seminars and reading trade journals, especially during busy seasons. VanLanduit says Twitter delivers information in such a convenient way that professional development is naturally integrated into his work life.
He especially likes the way Twitter instigates professional collaboration and camaraderie. “The other day, we were tweeting back and forth about using fertilizer on the outside of the green, on the collars and cleanup passes,” he says. “I think that’s a pretty good idea to keep those areas from stressing out like they do.”
In a world where information is abundant, VanLanduit says Twitter also helps him quickly find content that’s most relevant to his situation. “Many times I open and read an article just because somebody posted it on Twitter and said how great it was,” he says.
Getting started with Twitter doesn’t require an elaborate plan, in VanLanduit’s view. There’s little risk to starting with an informal, seat-of-the-pants approach.
Newcomers should start slow and meander their way around. To keep your feed from overflowing with useless information, he advises beginners not to add people who aren’t work-related. Search and follow other superintendents, course members, researchers, chemical manufacturers and equipment makers.
“Set up an account, and don’t worry about tweeting anything at first,” he says. “Eventually, you’ll find out that it’s a pretty neat place to be,” VanLanduit says.
Follow VanLanduit on Twitter @TurfTank.