try the Holidays!

I am a proud PGA Professional, so I'd like to speak on behalf of my colleagues who will have to work potentially long days on Thanksgiving and Christmas this year. I understand that many people in many industries - and especially in public service and the military - work these days, but as a PGA Professional, I'd like to say the following:

• If you are a member of a club, it is welcome and appropriate to give the club staff a gift for the Holiday season. I've had members give me an envelope of cash and ask me to distribute it among the staff. I was always grateful for that opportunity. The staff, often under appreciated, do appreciate it.
• One member always gave me and my assistants gift cards to the local mall. Perfect!
  
• When you give a gift, this does not give you permission to be a difficult member and a bad tipper for the rest of the year.
  
• If you have a desire to play golf on Thanksgiving or Christmas, don't. (Did I, a PGA Profesisonal, just write that?) I know, I know, they are the staff and they're paid to serve you when you want to play, but be considerate. They are lowly staff, but they might have families and really want to be home for those times - if only because they are home so rarely otherwise. Will somebody else make them work? Probably - but you don't need to be a part of it.
  
• Don't call the course and ask "are you open?" For a staff member, there is no right answer. One Thanksgiving morning I tried to get around that question by saying, "We are open now, but if you come out, somebody will miss Thanksgiving dinner to put away your cart." He answered "OK you're open. I'll be there soon." Email me at kbless@pga.com and I'll tell you how I handled it from there.
  
• Bosses, please appreciate every staff member who volunteers (or gets forced) to work these days. Do all you can to make their day as short as possible and thank them. I know you warned them about working Holidays when you hired them, but that doesn't mean they like it.
  
• Facilities have done well by offering double tees or shotguns to get the play "in and out" for the day. Owners and Execs are happy with the bottom line and the staff go home. It's as close to a win-win as we can get. Please try it.
  
• If you disagree with me, please respond on November 27th or December 25th. That would be a good time to do it. Also, please scroll down to the bottom of this Blog site and respond to my survey.

Thanks so much! I appreciate your thoughts!