Sagamore Golf, located in North Hampton, NH and Lynnfield, MA, has found a way to integrate sustainability into an industry that historically has not been known for being environmentally friendly. By using predominantly natural and organic fertilizers and limiting pesticide use as a last resort in turf maintenance, Richard Luff, 46, has perpetuated his family’s successful business while still protecting the planet. According to Luff, “We look at ourselves as stewards of the land and how we treat the golf course not only has an impact on the immediate property but it has an impact on the surrounding area and beyond.”
Theresa Conn (TC): What do you like most about your job?
Richard Luff (RL): I love seeing the hard work of all of our staff pay off. As President, I do a lot of the planning behind our business. However, at the end of the day, it’s the people on the ground who make things happen. Nothing makes my day more than hearing from a customer what a great time they had out on the course or how well they were taken care of by our staff.
TC: Where did you go to college? Does your college education help with your current job? What skills from college most prepared you for the work you do now?
RL: I went to the University of Vermont and got my bachelors in History and Geography. While my studies did not directly correlate to my job today, the processes you learn while in college when it comes to handling the work load certainly do. The most important thing I learned in college was prioritizing. When you’re in school, you have a million things to do… If you don’t figure out how to multitask, you will probably struggle. Those skills are vital to running a business as well. I remember I also really enjoyed doing small group projects. In retrospect, managing those group projects is just like managing a business. You have to know how to interact with people, how to encourage productivity without taking too much control.
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TC: What do you look for in an employee in this field?
RL: Along with knowing the basics of golf, three things are important if you want to work at Sagamore. The first thing we consider after an interview is whether or not we had good chemistry with the candidate. Did they get along with everyone? Will they be outgoing, and good with customers? The second thing we look for is drive. We want employees who are results-driven. Lastly, they have got to have rock solid integrity. We trust our staff to do the right thing for our customers and for the business day in and day out…integrity from everyone in the business is critical for its continued success.
TC: What made you integrate sustainability into your business / go into a green industry?
RL: It’s something my father started years ago. He was passionate about maintaining our golf courses without heavy use of pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Back in his day, there were not a lot of great alternatives. It’s so much easier to carry on his ideals today with the myriad of products available. Slowly but surely, there’s been a definite shift in the golf market towards sustainability.
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TC: What are you most proud of in your business as relates to sustainability?
RL: On top of all of our efforts on the sustainable front, I’m really excited by our recent collaborative efforts the North Hampton School, Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, and Alyson Eberhardt at the New Hampshire Sea Grant which is part of the UNH Cooperative Extension. The golf course in North Hampton sits over two watersheds. 6th grade students have taken field trips to the course to get baseline documentation about what’s going on in different water areas throughout the course. The students help assess the water quality and participate in macroinvertebrate surveys. All the research they’re doing is compiled by Alyson and her team at the NH Sea Grant to help scientists get a better picture of whether or not our watersheds are healthy. It’s been amazing to watch the kids come to the course and get excited to do real scientific research.
