Travels with Terry

Algae Eater

A 2005 John Deere 220B walk behind greens mower groomer reel, which was mounted to an old push mower handle, is used to aggressively remove surface algae on a creeping bentgrass putting surface. The "spline end" at the snap ring groove was removed and a 5/16 x 1 1/4-inch bolt head was welded to each end of the shaft, with the threads facing outward. A John Deere Model #2776 housing was placed onto both ends of the shaft to hold the groomer reel in place. A handle from an old Sears manual push-type reel mower was in inventory. The handle was re-bent to the proper width of the groomer reel and the shaft housing was bolted to the handle. It took about 1.5 hours to put it together and all of the parts were used and were in inventory. George Heron, assistant superintendent, at The Members Club at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C., conceived the idea and Joe Corsetti, equipment manager, built it.
 

Sand Leveler

An old bent-up landscape scraper box and a piece of 4-inch square metal tubing extending out on both ends was mounted to the bottom for this leveling devise. This simple but effective idea is used to spread straight sand that is applied heavily on the Tifway 419 Bermudagrass driving range tee to fill the divots and to further level the tee on a weekly basis. The square tubing extends out about 2 feet on either side and a 45-degree angle was cut off with a torch on each end so it would not dig into the turf when making a turn. The leftover 45-degree pieces were then welded on both sides of the landscape box and to the square tubing for added structural integrity. The turnbuckle on the three-point hitch is adjusted so the square tubing leading edge is at a 5-degree angle so the sand works in better into the turf. All of the used materials were in inventory and it took about two hours labor time to modify. Robert Gamble, golf course superintendent, at the 36-hole Myrtlewood Golf Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C., conceived the idea and Scott Holman, equipment manager, modified it.