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
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.
"I admit that I had to tweak some of my original ideas to accommodate other pressures but, on the whole, the members are pleased to see the improvements out on the course"
time. Greens that were kept green, lush and stripey meant the members were happy. Greens that were quickly watered at the first swallow of summer kept the members happy, and greenkeeping staff the members never saw on the course, spoiling their round, kept them even happier." 
Gone is the day when the golf course superintendent had to be an expert in every field. Technology has made it impossible to be successful without the help of a few good experts. Just as I no longer feel comfortable sticking my hand into a pump station control cabinet containing fuses bigger than my arm, I’m not ready to make major soil chemistry decisions without the help of a good soil scientist – especially growing Bentgrass in the Deep South. 
