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