“I found the Punctus workshop on quality- and cost management hugely beneficial. 
It was a real insight into time management in Greenkeeping and showed me also how easy it is to underestimate true costs.”

Sue LeBeau, General Manager, South Staffordshire GC

been using Punctus for a month now, first impressions very easy to use. So what’s it like to set up? Again really easy, thought I would be in front of a computer for weeks - not the case!

We are already being able to build up a picture of certain tasks e.g. times on winter greens, man hours per job etc.

It’s the little things you can do with Punctus, like when you get asked the question, did not see much work going on last week, two clicks with the mouse and you are there. Such a body did this, Joe blogs did that. It’s just so much more professional than having to write in a diary, especially if you are not very neat at writing or good at spelling.

Then there are the machinery records again very easy, first page you get when you click on new maintenance is to input current hours. You can print tasks to complete, then tick off; displays labour costs. So you can really build up reports on what machine costs are.

One thing I do like is the back up from Punctus, send them an e-mail with a query and in no time at all they ring you up: excellent!

 If anybody is thinking about buying Punctus, but is not sure, give them a ring and get my number. I will be glad to talk.

 Darron Mather, Course Manager, Pleasington Golf Club, Lancashire, UK  - uses Punctus since January 2008

"Punctus Greens management software has been used at Gay Hill Golf Club, Worcestershire, since 2006. During the course of this time it has become an essential management tool for me.

Within the first year Punctus Greens helped us to do better resource planning, and keep track on machinery servicing schedules. Savings have followed due to less down-time and repair costs from breakdowns due to missed maintenance activities and cost effective staff management. The programme easily paid for itself in the first season”

This is particularly the case with our bunkers. Over 1,050 man-hours were allocated to the courses 45 bunkers during 2007. The records recalled from the programme's care report allowed us to break down the hours into activities. An accurate assessment and appraisal of the bunkers has now formed the basis of a proposal to commence a programme of bunker reconstruction. 

 “Just a few minutes a day is all that is required for total control of my daily management. The beauty is that you don’t have to be a computer genius to operate the system. In my opinion it is a vital tool which I wouldn’t be without."

This we have to face. I was looking for a program, that would provide me with an opportunity to gather data fast: clearly structured and easy to use.

 I found it: 10-15 minutes a day and I can push my favourite button "End"!

 Documentation in Greenkeeping provides the Greenkeeper with a basis

• to give clear answers to questions from the club,
• for planning care activities and
• for cost management

 On the Punctus Study 2008

This cost comparison between different golf courses

• backs the greenkeeper up, when his own greens committee or manager have a hard time to believe in numbers from their own club
  ("This can't be true ...!")
• Help, to validate the own numbers  
• Basis for benchmarking
• endless support in argumentation
• is extrodinarily helpful to greens committe and board member's!"

The care reports I use to inform the operating company about greenkeeping activities. Each year in autumn I show, how and where we worked: percentage of time spent on greens, machines etc.

That way I can justify and explain costs very well, because if the members the greens committee or the operating company get detailed information, e.g. how many square meters greens and fairways we are cutting each year, they get a different perspective and more
understanding of greenkeeping."  (September 2008)

Johannes Vogt, Head-Greenkeeper Golf Club Klosters (Switzerland) and
President GermanSwiss Section of the Swiss Greenkeeper Association  -  uses Punctus since March 2005

• which care activities are more time consuming in our club than elsewhere
• which processes might be handled more efficiently
• where we have potential to cut time needed and can lower costs

 I am really looking forward for us to be included in the benchmarking study!" (Juli 2008)

There were four of us: my father as the owner of the Golf Club, our Head Greenkeeper, the second man in greenkeeping and myself as Managing Director of the Golf Club.

 We have seen the whole potential for cost management and cost reduction in greenkeeping.

Also we now fully understand how to document best to automatically receive the type of information from the Punctus Program, to manage our course effectively with a high standard."

Alexander Thelen, Managing Director Golfclub Schloss Miel GmbH 
uses Punctus since June 2008

"Greenkeepers manage the largest budget on a golf course. In daily work practice it is becoming more and more important for a Head Greenkeeper, to document all work done.

Especially if the greenkeeper would like to implement some of his own ideas, he has to be able to "sell" them to the board. For that good documentation is needed.

This should be easy and Punctus is easy."

„The workshop on "Cost Management in Greenkeeping" by Punctus was very practice-oriented.
It has become very clear to me, where our really large cost issues are and how we can influence them. I had underestimated a number of issues!"