Some People Shouldn’t Work With Customers — But At Least You Know That!
During my summer break, I often work part-time for a local country club/golf course. I help the groundskeepers, and I took the job with one provision: “no member interaction”. I’m what you would call a surly old b*****d.
One morning, I was finishing my shift, and I noticed an older woman stumble. She looked injured.
Me: “Do you need help? Or do you need medical attention?”
Woman: “Oh, I’m fine. My daughter will be right here soon.”
Her daughter returned, very distraught, but the woman said she had just slipped and would be fine. As the daughter helped walk her mom back into the clubhouse, I brought her clubs up and left them outside. (Heck, they were on a cart.)
Now that was how the end of my day began.
As I walked back to a maintenance shed to retrieve my water bottle, I heard someone come up behind me.
Member: “Excuse me. My friend and I would like some iced teas while we let this other group play through.”
Me: “Okay, go ahead…”
Then, she tried to push a $20 bill into my hand.
Member: “Can you hurry? We don’t want to wait all day.”
Me: “If you’re waiting on me, you will be waiting all day. That’s not what I do on the course, and I’m leaving.”
Member: “You work here, and I’m a member, so you do what I need.”
I said something to the effect of:
Me: “Lady, what you need is therapy if you think I’m bringing you tea.”
I walked off while she was still talking.
The next day, the “manager” stopped me and told me there had been a complaint.
Me: “I don’t care. Fire me if you want, and find someone else to clean the goose s*** off the patio each day.”
The waterfowl come onto a large patio area overnight and leave calling cards everywhere.
Me: “I had an agreement: No Customer Service!”
So, I walked away and went home.
My manager called me the next day asking if I would please return to work. He said later that he’d talked to the member and informed her that grounds staff do not interact with members.
That last part about not interacting with members/customers isn’t completely true. I have enjoyed many rounds of golf with members. There’s an older gentleman who asks if I have time for a round just about every other week. Let’s just say my golf prowess makes him look like a PGA champ…