Travels with Terry

Rotary Spreader Speed Indicator

This bicycle speedometer/speed indicator was installed on The Andersons Model 2000SR (#ASP8091) Fertilizer Spreader ($969). This great idea was conceived so that the operator maintains a constant speed so that the granular materials are applied uniformly and the overthrow is consistent. The Cat Eye Model CC-VT210W ($100) is powered by a watch battery. A wire leads from the computer down to a probe which measures the speed of the drive wheel that is equipped with a metal thumb screw that calculates how fast it is rotating past the probe. The operators are trained to go approximately 50 yards in 33 seconds and 60 yards in 40 seconds. It took less than an hour to mount with zip strips. This idea was conceived and installed by Mr. Yamaguchi and forwarded to me by his colleague Mr. Syutaro “Shoot” Akishno of Toyo Green Co., Ltd., in Tokyo, Japan.

Golf Cart Water Tank

Watering flower pots on the forward tees is done with ease using this converted/recycled 1996 Yamaha 4-cycle gas engine golf cart. The bag rack was removed and a 50-gallon plastic water tank (24 inches diameter, 32 inches wide, 420 pounds with water) acquired from Northern Tool was installed. One-inch angle iron was welded to the saddle that was included with the tank for the framework. Two SHURFLO Model #2088 on-demand water pumps (6 GPM total) were hooked up to the 12-volt battery relay with the on/off switch on the left side below the tank for an easy reach by the operator. A home-type water filter was also installed and a 12-foot long, 1-inch diameter hose is used during watering. There is a quick hose connect on the right side of the tank that a hose with a quick coupler is hooked up to which fills the tank on the course. A household faucet is used to drain the tank, dual pumps and PVC/rubber fittings. Total materials cost $600–$700 and it took about 20 hours to install. Jim Zunker, equipment manager, conceived the idea and installed it and Mike Davies is the course superintendent at Superior National at Lutsen in Lutsen, Minn. Jeff Brauer just completed a nine-hole renovation with nine more holes immediately following on the 27-hole resort.

Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG, is president of Golf Agronomy International. He’s a 41-year, life member of the GCSAA. He can be reached at 757-561-7777 or terrybuchen@earthlink.net.