Travels with Terry

Golf Club & Flagstick Graveyard

Used, long-abandoned and discarded golf clubs cut in half (and old flagsticks too with the ferrules removed) are being used successfully as “sod staples” at the Pitman Golf Course, owned and operated by the County of Gloucester in Mantua Township, N.J. They do a great job of holding the new sod in place while also greatly helping keep the golfers from walking on the new sod — and keeping mower operators from mowing the sod until it is mature. Golfers think this is a great idea. One golfer even commented, “So that’s what happened to my old 5 iron!” The old flagsticks are painted orange because they are also used in the wintertime to mark the parking lots to help let the snow plow operators know exactly where the edge of the pavement is. There was no cost involved and the labor time was only to cut them in half. Installing them is as quick as using traditional sod staples. Superintendent Scott Hellerman assistant superintendent Rick Benfield and groundskeeper George Griggs are very proud of this cost saving and recycling great idea.

Triplex Greens Mower Brushes

This 2007 Toro GreensMaster 3150 Triplex Greens Mower is equipped with three old recycled topdressing drag brushes (manufacturer unknown) that are used to lift any creeping bentgrass surface runners just prior to mowing during the past two growing seasons. The brushes are attached to each respective cutting unit frame with 1-inch square hollow tubing that is attached with ½-inch diameter nuts, bolts and lock washers. The brushes are bolted to the square tubing end with ¼-inch diameter nuts, bolts and lock washers with aluminum spacers. The brushes are held up in the transport position with a ¼-inch diameter nylon rope with an eye hook attached to the center brush with a quick disconnect hiker’s carabiner at the top-end that is attached in-between the dual headlights. All of the parts were in inventory except for the square tubing purchased at Home Depot for under $25. The framework was built on and off over a two-day period. Acting superintendent Jeremy Weir and equipment manager Dan Gilbert at the Cherry Creek Golf Club in Shelby Township, Mich., modified the original design by Al Bradley, the equipment manager at their sister course, Shepherd’s Hollow Golf Club in Clarkston, Mich.