Life Getting in the Way.

Well first off I want to apologize for my lack of activity on the blog lately. I promised myself that at least once a month I was going to be adding content and yet I have found myself not having much time to concentrate on any one thing. This last month has been a very trying time for me in my personal life. Something that normally I try to keep private has now taken a rough turn. I got a call at the beginning of the month that my stepfather whom I have spent the last 25 years with was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. At 57 years old he is now faced with a rough road ahead. I had always thought I would plan things so that when the need arose I would be in a situation where I could return home to help take care of my parents. What I didn’t plan for is that time to be now. Over the last few weeks I have been battling back and forth with a huge burden. I just started my new job that I have a strong commitment to but at the same time I have my family back home that I am sure could use my help. So while I have not made any decisions as of now this has played a major role in my future thoughts for myself. I am the type of person who would give up what I have to take care of my family in a heart beat the issue is I now sort of have 2 families my own daughters and wife and my parents. How can you choose between that? Well if I ever figure that out I will let you know.

I am currently at a club that really needs my help to get back on track and besides that have really taken care of me. We have a great team that is prepared to make some rather large changes and in the end will be able to take something in dire need and turn it back into what it was meant to do and return to world class. If it were not this way my decision would be easier. For one I always follow through on my obligations and I could never make a commitment and break it and feel the least bit good about the decision I made. On the other hand returning home would mean for the most part removing myself from the golf business. The golf course industry in Live Oak Florida consist of a 9 hole public golf course that has been struggling itself. So while I feel I am capable of working outside the golf business the question I ask myself is should I?  I feel I have given a lot to our industry and still have more things to accomplish. However if I choose not to return home I have to live with that decision for the rest of my life. Is that something I can live with? No idea I have never had to deal with it so how could I know. I have been thinking of working and flying home once a month to visit and help where I can which is probably what I will begin doing in September but will that be enough we will see.

I want to also thank all those who knew and have supported me. I want to thank the IGCEMA and its board of directors as well as the many companies who have called and offered help or simple words of encouragement. I even had an offer for the CEO of a grinder company to come and grind reels here if I needed it while I was away and I don’t even own his grinders (yet).

I am normally one to have some pretty high expectations of companies who are selling equipment from a design perspective to service and sales and most of these companies know that if I don’t feel they are delivering they will hear from me. However for those companies to turn around and be willing to help out during a personal time I feel is above and beyond. It’s something you just don’t see which makes me feel good about the profession I chose to be apart of.

Well now that I have that off my chest I am currently working on figuring out a 5 year plan for the new club on equipment purchasing / leasing and what all that entails. I am also working on reorganizing and updating the shop to improve our ability to provide a better product. So hopefully as time allows I will be posting pictures and such of the transformation as it happen. Thanks again for all the support.