What is Contract Fee Course Maintenance?

One of five golf course maintenance plans offered by Greenway, the Contract Golf Course Maintenance plan is a complete maintenance solution partnership. In short, you write one check a month and Greenway does the rest. It’s a great plan if you want to outsource the day-to-day maintenance of your golf course and the hassle of managing employees.

Does the Club lose control of the golf course direction?

Not at all. With Greenway you actually have greater control of the objectives and the overall direction as we provide you with additional resources to achieve your desired standards. Greenway will assume responsibility for items that can consume Club management resources such as staffing, employee liabilities, managing HR, workers comp risks, payroll, payables, safety training, and dealing with vendor and regulatory agencies and all of the details that go into managing operations.

Can Greenway reduce costs while still improving conditions — and how do you do this?

In most instances we can. Greenway’s unique ability to reduce chemical and water usage along with our national buying programs allow us to pass along significant savings to you without compromising quality. In partnering with Greenway, you benefit benefit from a support team of professional agronomists, national account pricing and a proven agronomic plan that is unique in its methods for producing the very finest playing conditions.

What happens to the existing maintenance employees and the Superintendent?

We work with you and your Club to develop a transition plan that will best address the needs of the golf course, the existing employees and Greenway. In most instances, we’ll transition the majority of your existing staff members to Greenway and train them on our successful philosophies, standards and programs.

As with any change, there are times when not everyone will fit and new personnel will be necessary. However, the selection or any change with the onsite superintendent is always performed with cooperative efforts of the Club. As a key position, the Superintendent must be a good fit with Greenway, other department managers and the personality of the Club.

What happens to our existing maintenance equipment?

Typically, your existing golf course maintenance equipment and inventory remains your asset, which you provide to Greenway for use at your facility. If additional or new equipment is required, Greenway can assist you with the purchase or lease through our national account vendors. And if preferred, we can carry the equipment on our books and work the lease payments into the contract.

How is Greenway held accountable for achieving the agreed upon standards?

To ensure that the desired standards are being achieved, Greenway is in constant communication with you and your team through onsite meetings, reports, email, phone calls and written evaluations. Performance standards are developed as part of the agreement, which provides you with the opportunity to opt out of the agreement if Greenway fails to perform as agreed.

How is the price to manage the golf course determined?

Greenway’s compensation for managing a club’s operations is based on a fixed fee model in which Greenway assumes the costs associated with operating the golf course and landscape maintenance. Greenway will work with a club to gain a clear understanding of the desired standards and the full responsibilities to be included. Based on the information gathered, we then submit a written proposal for management services and a price inclusive of everything necessary to meet the desired expectations.

Due to factors outside our control, such as severe weather, aging equipment, vandalism or special projects, there are a few line items where we establish an agreed-to annual cap or a not-to-exceed expense. These line items include repair and maintenance on equipment, irrigation, drainage and arbor care, utilities/water, vandalism and capital improvement projects.

We work with you to determine an appropriate annual cap on these items, and on a monthly basis, provide an expense detail report. Once the cap is met, any additional items are approved with you in advance and then invoiced separately.

What if the Club needs to reduce maintenance costs in future years or wants additional improvements, can the annual fixed management price be adjusted?

To ensure a relationship where all parties benefit and have the ability to sustain mutual success, Greenway agreements are drafted to allow for ongoing modifications. These include inflation or cost of living index changes, desired additional improvements and potential reductions that may be necessary for the Club’s financial stability. In partnering with Greenway, you remain in a position of control and influence on the annual budget.