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Leadership on the LinksAuthor: Tyler Bloom
Welcome to Leadership on the Links, the essential podcast for golf course superintendents, general managers, and executives who are passionate about mastering the art of golf course management. Hosted by Tyler Bloom, this podcast brings you into the world of golf course leadership with insightful interviews, expert advice, and actionable strategies designed to help you excel in your role. Each episode features in-depth conversations with industry experts who share their knowledge on a wide range of topics, from turf management and sustainability to team leadership and operational efficiency. Tyler's engaging style ensures that every discussion is not only informative but also enjoyable, capturing the spirit of a casual yet insightful chat as if you're walking the course with a trusted mentor. Language: en Genres: Business, Golf, Management, Sports Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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101 | Pat Jones and Mike Rollins: Golf's Equipment Manager Crisis
Episode 101
Thursday, 30 April, 2026
BOOK A STRATEGY CALL In this episode of Leadership on the Links, we dig into one of the most urgent and overlooked workforce challenges in the golf industry, the equipment manager pipeline crisis. Tyler Bloom is joined by Pat Jones, veteran golf industry journalist and researcher, and Mike Rollins of SIP, for a revealing breakdown of their third employment trends study, this time focused entirely on golf course equipment managers. Together, they unpack data gathered from over 110 respondents to paint a clear picture of a role that is vital, evolving, and dangerously understaffed. From aging workforce demographics to the cultural dynamics that drive equipment managers out the door, this conversation challenges superintendents, directors of agronomy, and club leaders to take real action before the house truly is on fire. If you care about turf quality, equipment reliability, or what it takes to sustain the record-breaking growth golf is experiencing right now, this is a conversation you cannot afford to miss. What You'll Learn in This Episode: Nearly 80% of equipment managers describe themselves as lifers, but asterisks apply: poor culture and lack of advocacy from superintendents remain the top reasons they leave. 59% of respondents have 20 or more years of experience, while only 5% have entered the field in the last five years, revealing a dangerous gap in the pipeline. Equipment manager knowledge is largely informal and tribal, with no dedicated formal training programs currently filling the gap left by schools like Lake City Community College. Annual performance reviews and transparent compensation pathways consistently rank as top retention drivers, often more than pay increases themselves. Culture eats strategy: superintendents who advocate for their equipment managers in budget meetings, board rooms, and day-to-day operations are the single biggest factor in retention. The role has expanded well beyond cutting units to include robotics, GPS systems, cart fleets, and facility maintenance, raising the stakes for finding and developing qualified candidates. Apprenticeship programs and pulling talent from existing maintenance crews are among the most practical near-term solutions for building a new generation of equipment managers. 64% of equipment managers say they would stay in golf even if better-paying opportunities existed outside the industry — a silver lining that depends on clubs stepping up. Links and Resources: Pat Jones —linkedin.com/in/pat-jones-226766b0 Pat Jones — Flagstick LLC: patjonesflagstick.com Mike Rollins — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mike-rollins-9b34a3114 Mike Rollins on X: x.com/MikeRollinsSIP Cutline is King (free PDF): sipgrinder.com/support/cutline.html The Daily Grind Series (YouTube): Bloom Golf Partners Employment Trends Research: bloomgolfpartners.com/research-2
