This week Tim O’Connor, PR for Nike Golf, PanAm Hockey and Clublink, spoke to the turfgrass management class. Tim has been Clublink’s public relations figure since 1998. Some years ago, Tim was a student editor at Western University. Over the years he has gone from journalist to PR. Tim’s speech contained a lot of useful information that can help us in the preparation for our symposium.
Tim’s talk focused on the key elements of good communication. These key elements included: have a key message you would like to get across; know your facts, especially directly from creditable sources; develop an agenda, as well as staying with it; avoid speculation; stay connected, especially to the members and the pro shop staff; play golf and eat lunches; communicate; stay in tune with the events going on in the industry; and lastly, write down what you want to say before hand. This was very helpful information for us to focus on. We have the information needed to be able to communicate with confidence, and gain the respect of our colleagues.
I personally believe that all of the information Tim had provided for the class was excellent. This is mainly because the advice given will allow the person we are communicating with, to understand that we have an interest in the topic. It will also appear as though we have done our research. Lastly, I think that Tim’s advice to us should be taken to heart. I say this because Tim works with the golf industry, and it is a benefit to keep all the parties happy. I believe that communicating the information is the best way to keep a course running without any problems.
