One of the most important assets a golf course superintendent has is his equipment manager. A good working relationship between the two is vital to running a smooth maintenance operation. Drawing from my 20 years of experience as a golf course equipment manager/technician, I have comprised a list of tips that may be helpful to superintendents and prospective superintendents. 1. Communication The most important thing for both the superintendent and the equipment manager is the ability to communicate effectively. It’s not good for the operation if the equipment manager is afraid to approach the superintendent about equipment or shop issues or vice versa. If possible, let your equipment manager be involved in choosing the type of equipment you will use. There must be a certain degree of comfort for both individuals to run an operation effectively. If there’s a breakdown in communication, the impact on the operation can be multifold. Good communication without being presumptuous is critical. The more you interact with your technician the more comfortable you will be working together. 2. Trust Trust is very important in the relationship between a superintendent and the equipment technician. If the technician is experienced, the superintendent needs to trust that the technician knows when and how to prepare the equipment for daily use. It’s in the mechanic’s best interest to know how to properly maintain the equipment. When you have a breakdown of an important piece of equipment at a critical time, trust your mechanic to make the repairs with a cool head. There is no good time for criticism or panic – those can and will impede progress. Frequent positive communication will strengthen the trust between the superintendent and his mechanic. 3. Mutual respect All of the golf equipment technicians I have been associated with are hard-working, intelligent individuals that could be successful at whatever career they choose to pursue. There’s no reason the superintendent and equipment manager shouldn’t have a great working relationship with respect for each other. After all, both jobs can be very trying at times. Experienced golf equipment technicians know that being a superintendent is a difficult job and can be very stressful. If the superintendent and technician have real respect for each other, both jobs become easier and more enjoyable. 4. Acknowledgement As a superintendent and leader it’s important to let your employees know how much you appreciate their work. If you have an employee who doesn’t meet your expectations, the appropriate action is to discuss it with him/her in a private, professional manner. This will help both parties to be cognizant of what’s expected of them, which creates a more productive environment. Being an equipment manager is a demanding job with many people depending on you to keep the equipment in good condition. Technicians typically work long hours on concrete, bending, lifting and using constant and physical force, often without the benefit of breaks. Let your technician know you appreciate his work. 5. equipment care Taking care of equipment is very important and making sure the crew knows this can go a long way in saving time and money. Equipment care is very often overlooked when the nights are warm and the grass is growing rapidly. During this busy time, equipment can be abused and left unwashed, creating more work for the mechanic. Little things like securing equipment during transport to minimize damage helps save time and money. Also, proper use of equipment and operator training is a good practice that will make the equipment manager happy. Mechanics appreciate operators that take good care of the equipment and can inform them of potential problems that, left unchecked, could waste time and money. Issues with equipment gone unchecked or ignored can and will create chain-reaction damage resulting in longer equipment downtime and costly repairs. A crew that’s disciplined on equipment care is a must anytime – but especially now in this economic downturn.
Explore the February 2010 Issue
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