July 28, 2011

Starting a new section in our magazine

We are starting something new in the Golf Trades magazine it is a section called supers talk. Superintendents are asked a question about a topic and given an opportunity to give an opinion. The first of these will be in the September issue which will start mailing out around the 10th of August.

If you would like to contribute to this or write something else please email me at ken@thetrades.com.

The September question was really a simple one, they will get harder, for starters it reads: When asked about purchasing course furnishings such as signs, rakes, markers this is what superintendents had to say.

I would like to thank all these that have contributed.




Doug Tinkham - Superintendent
The Shoals Golf Club
Muscle Shoals, AL
www.rtjgolf.com/theshoals

We buy our flags and putting green cups twice a year in September and in March. We replace them after the greens have healed from aerification. We purchase two complete sets of putting green cups each time. This allows us the opportunity to bring the cups in every day for cleaning and inspection. Flag poles are replaced once a year and as needed. Bunker rakes are replaced as needed and shrink wrap is applied to the handles when the coating on the fiberglass starts to wear out. Signage is also replaced as needed.

We make our own tee markers in the off-season out of treated fence posts. They are cut at a 45 degree angle on both ends, sealed then painted. We keep an extra set of markers on hand.  This allows for an easy swap-out when repainting or replacement takes place.         
We budget these bulk accessory purchases twice a year. Items in need of replacement throughout the year are paid for out of a small monthly supplies line item in the budget. Our purchases are always done over the phone or in person with one of our vendors. We have not done any Internet purchasing as of yet.


Jeff Johnson - Superintendent
The Minikahda Club
Minneapolis, MN

When it comes to purchasing course accessories, the majority of our purchases are made from the company’s catalogs and then ordered over the phone through our local distributor. Typical items purchased yearly are flags (three sets for changing out in season as well as spares), new flag poles along with spares and new cup liners. Additional purchases such as benches and ball washers, bunker rakes, tee markers and hazard stakes are purchased on an as-needed basis. Our benches, bunker rakes, tee markers and hazard stakes are made of wood and require staining on a yearly basis. 

Typically we do not build any items in-house but we do sand blast and repaint all ball washers on a yearly basis as well as sand and stain all wood products.
Since we want the course accessories to look fresh and maintained in good condition we purchase the flags, poles and cup liners on a yearly basis and purchase enough for change outs in season.


Paul L. Carter, CGCS - Superintendent
Bear Trace at Harrison Bay
Harrison, TN

Course furnishings, such as flags, signs, or bunker rakes, can make or break the overall appearance of your golf course and the level of enjoyment for your golfers and guests.  Flags that are faded, threadbare, or mismatched, signs that are damaged or broken, and bunker rakes that are missing, broken or damaged can leave a less than desirable impression. With budgets shrinking, but the expectations of the golf course remaining the same, golf course superintendents must find new and better ways to stretch their course amenity dollars.
One way we have reduced our expenses while still providing quality products for our guests is to look at products/services that are not “cheaper,” just more economical. We purchase our flags from Prestige Flag for several years at a single time in order to receive a volume discount. We also have begun using VinylGuard vinyl wrapping on our flagsticks and bunker rake handles to improve the appearance of these items and to eliminate the need of yearly replacement. 
Cost and longevity of the product have to be examined when purchasing products for the golf course. For me, I will change flags more readily than any other course supply because I know that every golfer that plays my course will see the flags, but not every golfer will be in a bunker during their round. Budgets need to be designed so the course products that are most visible and most used are replaced or repaired on a more regular basis.


Justin Ruiz, CGCS - Superintendent
Indian Summer Golf and Country Club
Olympia, WA

The course supplies I have generally ordered over the phone with a catalog. I will sometimes buy something off of the truck when they visit, but when they show up unannounced it puts me on the spot and usually I won’t order something on impulse.  Signage for the golf course, I like to be a little more unique. I will find a local sign company and have the signage custom-made. It is not much more expensive and you can make yourself stand out from the other generic signage from a name brand. To save money we will take the ball washers off each season or every other season, depending on water quality, and get them sand blasted and powder coated. This will give us a fresh look year after year, and give us time to do preventative maintenance so we can utilize the same ball washers for longer. We also use aluminum cups that we can also sand blast the inside and repaint to keep the cups looking consistently new. With the average cost of a new cup being close to $30, we can make use of a couple sets for quite a few years.

I budget for the first few months of the year. We have gone through all of our stuff during the winter and know what we will need. I buy most of what I will need at the start of the year, and then only the little stuff will get purchased throughout the year, like marking paint or rope. 


Chris Tritabaugh, CGCS - Superintendent
Northland Country Club
Duluth, MN

 We purchase most of our golf course accessories through catalogs, over the phone and on the Internet. Whenever possible, I try and keep to local suppliers. Par Aide, being located in the Twin Cities is, of course, a wonderful and often-used option.

Our second assistant is very handy with wood, and he has made a number of our on-course accessories, benches and cooler stands most notably. We try and get as much ROI from our on-course accessories as possible.

July 26, 2011

Key to our success



Good playing conditions are not created overnight by one person. Good playing conditions are the result of consistent upkeep and management by a dedicated staff, oriented toward a common goal. As the superintendent of Stockton Golf and Country Club, I am the person who is ultimately responsible for everything on the 125 acres that my staff and I care for. I certainly cannot do everything myself, although I tried for a few months when I first arrived. It doesn’t take long to realize that I’m only as good as my staff and they are a reflection of my efforts. Five years later, I’m happy to stand in front of our daily assignment board and see the dedicated individuals that look back at me.

Stockton Golf and Country Club is a private, 18-hole course established in 1914. The original layout was designed by Sam Whiting with renovations by John Harbottle in 1997. The course has fairly tight, tree-lined fairways and small greens. The majority of the property sits below sea level with levees holding back the water on two sides. Just off the first tee, the newly designed clubhouse and the ninth hole are California’s farthest inland port with large ships providing scenery on a regular basis. This can be a great place to work with appreciative and supportive members. I get many more compliments than I deserve when most should go directly to the crew that that makes this place what it is.

Reade the rest here

Proper maintenance starts with keeping your equipment clean



In today’s economy, turfgrass managers are being asked to stretch budget dollars farther than ever before. In years past it was not uncommon for a golf course to get new equipment every few years or to get a whole new fleet of equipment every 3 to 4 years through the lease packages offered by many turfgrass equipment manufacturers. Today, however, the purchase of new equipment is not looked upon very favorably by many boards of directors or owners. Equipment technicians are being asked to stretch the equipment a couple more years, and to some the only way to accomplish this task is to take better care of the equipment as a whole.

The most important aspect of maintaining the equipment, according to several turfgrass managers that I spoke with, is to keep the equipment clean. Matt Kregel, golf course superintendent of The Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wis., is “a true believer that equipment operates better and more efficient when it is properly cleaned and taken care of.” Mr. Kregel also states that properly cleaned equipment allows his turf technician the opportunity to perform daily adjustments to cutting units, as well as accomplish preventative maintenance in a timely manner.

Read the rest here

Getting to the green: Improving golf cart efficiency



One of golf’s least celebrated yet major environmental triumphs is the wide spread adoption of the golf cart. Developed primarily for our industry, these low-speed vehicles have now been adopted worldwide by private communities and urban centers as an alternative to conventional automobiles. Future technologies that will power our automobiles in the future are often tested and showcased on the golf cart platform. A few of note are Yamaha’s methane-powered golf cart (yes, poo-powered), hydrogen (Toro Workman) and even algae and compressed air. But let’s leave the future behind us for now and look at why golf courses are transitioning from gas to electric. Let’s also examine the pros and cons of each and review a few options to help improve your operational efficiency no matter what kind of cart you have.

Read the rest here

The August 2011 issue of The Golf Course Trades



Welcome to the August 2011 issue of The Golf Course Trades magazine. We hope you are having a great summer. In our cover story, “Key to our success,” we get to know Jim Alwine, superintendent of Stockton Golf and Country Club in Stockton, Calif. Jim points out that good playing conditions are the result of consistent upkeep and management by a dedicated staff. He tells us that he learned early on that he is only as good as his staff, and that they are a reflection of his efforts.

This month our focal point articles include, “Proper maintenance starts with keeping your equipment clean,” by Paul L. Carter, superintendent at the Bear Trace at Harrison Bay in Harrison, Tenn. As Paul puts it, turfgrass managers have to stretch budget dollars more than ever before in today’s economy. Equipment technicians are being asked to stretch the equipment a couple more years, and to some the only way to accomplish this task is to take better care of the equipment.

Our second focal point article is provided by Scott Morrison, editor of Turfhugger.com. “Getting to the green: Improving golf cart efficiency,” reminds us that one of golf’s least celebrated yet major environmental triumphs is the widespread adoption of the golf cart. Developed primarily for the golf industry, these low-speed vehicles have now been adopted worldwide as an alternative to conventional automobiles. Future technologies that will power our automobiles in the future are often tested and showcased on the golf cart platform.

A.J. Lepley’s product in-depth article, “The Max by Muck Truck,” introduces us to the Max Dumper from Muck Truck. As A.J. puts it, sometimes it just comes down to tough, hard work. And if you’re looking for a tool to lighten your load, this product could be one of the hardest-working pedestrian-operated wheelbarrows on the market. The standard Muck Truck is a commercial grade piece of equipment, enabling one person to do the work of many without wearing down the operator. A.J. tells us that The Max is that, too… but on steroids.

In our trades reviews, you can read about Subaru’s launch of their vertical shaft overhead-cam engine for lawnmowers, Shure Manufacturing Corporation’s heavy-duty tear-down benches, Crystal BlueLinks’ creeping bentgrass, the SURFSIDE 37 soil wetting agent that doesn’t burn or discolor, and Netafim’s Techline CV dripline that is now manufactured with recycled material.


See the whole magazine here