 Stephen Tucker |
Until recently, when it came to purchasing equipment, it sure seemed like there was more than enough money to go around. Few worried about whether they would secure a new lease or a new equipment package the next year. Well times have changed and the decision to purchase new versus used, lease versus buy or whether to just hold on to what we have is now the crux of every equipment decision.
Welcome to the new reality.
As you can imagine and may well know firsthand, equipment purchasing is not as simple as selecting the right color. Every golf course is different and when choosing equipment it may not be as simple as getting all of one color.
With that said, here are some of my cardinal rules for superintendents when it comes to equipment purchasing for this new age.
Ignore the Joneses
So many guys purchase equipment because the superintendent down the road has it and can’t stop talking about how much he loves it. I can’t tell you how many times this leads to disappointment because the equipment does not perform to the same stellar expectations.
Avoid the urge to purchase solely on someone else’s experience.
Do Your Due Diligence
Make calls and ask questions about how the equipment holds up. Try the equipment out on your golf course and make sure it works for the applications you need it for.
And, most importantly, make sure your technician or equipment manager is the one who sets the demo up because it is important that it is set up for your specific course conditions. At the same time, get their feedback on how easy it is to work on and their overall opinion of the machine.
There are No Simple Answers
So, should you lease, buy or just keep what you have? There is no simple answer because it depends on your current operation. There are a few ways to approach this, though. If you are in an area that operates 365 days a year then you will operate the equipment more often. It’s that simple.
Courses in these areas favor leasing equipment and for good reason. Leasing saves you a lot of money on monthly payments every month. While at the lease’s end you don’t have anything to show for all those payments, you also don’t have to deal with worrying about whether the equipment will hold up until you can make a new purchase. Leasing also allows you to stay up with the current technology. I can’t say this is the right decision for all operations, but in many cases it can be a huge plus for your course.
Used Is – and Remains – Used
I have a few thoughts on the matter of purchasing used equipment.
Sometimes simple economics forces a golf course to purchase used equipment to keep their operation functioning. Used equipment comes in all kinds of conditions. Yes, many times you’re told that everything has been looked over and fixed and it functions great. Cosmetically this is true, however the most expensive parts on the machine are things you can’t see just by looking at the surface. If you must purchase used equipment, then I suggest inquiring about where it came from and ask to see its maintenance records.
Then, call and request a tour of the facility the equipment came from so you can see firsthand how that equipment may have been treated and maintained. Remember, just because there is a Top 100 course name on the equipment does not mean it was maintained the way you would think or expect. Spend twice as much time on evaluating your purchase of used equipment than you do with new equipment.
I would also recommend demoing the equipment before you buy it to get a feel for how it will function for you. Never purchase used equipment that you have not seen or just because it looks brand new.
Equipment is what produces the look, quality and consistency members looks for whether they’re paying a $20 green fee or a $20,000 initiation fee. It is what brings in new members and keeps current ones playing.
You must strike a balance. Let your equipment slide and quality will suffer. When that happens you will lose members and revenue, both of which will further damage future equipment purchases.
Spend time negotiating, investigating and demoing the equipment that best fits your golf course and you will have much more confidence as you make your selection.
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