Homemade Triplex Greens Mower Brushes

Three used stiff-bristled shop brooms were successfully mounted in front of the cutting units on this Jacobsen Eclipse 322 Riding Greens Mower. Six used bed knives; three pieces of 1-inch square tubing; six sets of bolts, nuts and washers; six small “L” brackets and 2 feet of all-thread were used to mount the three brooms in front of the cutting units using parts already in inventory (less than $100 worth). The brooms are doing a great job of standing-up the creeping bentgrass plant before being mowed off. The task is performed one time per week, with additional brooming as needed. Brushing and topdressing is preferred over verticutting or grooming by Matt Hall, superintendent, and Adam Osbourne, assistant superintendent, at the Burlington (Iowa) Golf Club. It takes about five to 10 minutes to mount this attachment that is raised and lowered by being attached to both sides of each cutting unit. It took about four to five hours to build — two to three hours of trial and error to get it just right.

Additional lighting

This John Deere 825i XUV 4 x 4 is equipped with additional very bright lighting along with a roof that was installed by the local distributor. The sport light option is comprised of a OPS poly roof ($476.94), front light kit ($311.37), roof light harness ($85.60), rear light kit ($230.06), rear light harness ($85.60) and a OPS switch kit ($71.69). There are separate light switches mounted above the driver’s head on the ROPS framework that are labeled “front work lights,” “sport lights” and “rear work lights.” The additional lights are used during the early morning and late evenings to provide very bright lighting while checking the greens for any mycelium, insect damage and foreign debris before mowers start mowing. It also checks equipment for quality of cut, hydraulic leaks, tire pressure and rear roller brush functioning. Three vehicles are equipped for Jim Vajen, superintendent, Richard Garcia, assistant, and Jaime Molina, crew foreman, at The Golf Club at Fiddler’s Creek, Creek Course, in Naples, Fla. A fourth one is being built for Brian Weaver, equipment/shop manager, with a 4,500-pound winch.