Old, trusted and useful

Pretend someone gave you cash to buy land, build a golf course and purchase all the cutting-edge equipment you need. Would your first move be checking the resale market for mowers? No. You would invest in modern equipment. Your visionary budget would include funds to replace items as necessary because new equipment is bought to become used.

Rolling Meadows is a 27-hole, daily-fee facility in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The team is led by David Brandenburg, golf course manager and certified superintendent. He works closely with superintendent James Juoni and assistant superintendent and golf course mechanic Jeremy Ruplinger to maintain 240 acres.

“We have a big fleet with some new equipment,” Brandenburg says. “Our reel mowers are Jacobsen, our rotary mowers are Toro and we have some John Deere items. We mostly purchase our equipment, either outright or through lease-to-own programs, because we keep it so long.”

Lead times for new equipment can be up to 24 months. “You have to plan ahead,” Brandenburg says. “We feel comfortable with our older units, not as backups but used intermittently. There is no reason to replace them if they’re doing a good job.”

Companies have been helpful with parts supply and phone support but, with a shortage of qualified mechanics and equipment technicians, more superintendents and team members are filling the gaps. The moment you need something is not the ideal time for training, but it may be the only time. Embrace it! Mechanical skills give the staff depth, something new to learn and can create a more robust operation.

Financing philosophies vary and deciding to lease or own depends on the property, the piece and the use. Some properties are struggling to finance the equipment they need, some have healthy budgets, and many exist in-between. Leasing frequently used equipment means it stays in the budget, is usually under warranty and can help with being technologically sharp. There’s no right way, but one perk of older equipment is that it usually comes with a story.

Brian Bressler, the equipment/shop manager at Medinah Country Club in suburban Chicago, recounts a time when he worked for Notre Dame University.

“We had a very old, pull-behind Toro aerifier,” he says. “We were almost done aerifying fairways when one of the gears broke in half. Believe it or not, we welded it back together and finished the job. We ordered a new gear box since this one was giving us such a time every year. To our surprise the gear box was made abroad — in Italy, I think — and to top it all off, it was no longer made. We contacted the original manufacturer and they agreed to dust off the print and make us some new gears. That was the most in-depth I ever got into a piece of equipment.” That effort meant that the old equipment was able to finish the job and continue working.

At Medinah, one of the oldest pieces of equipment is a 2005 Flex 21 greens mower. “We use it to cut our greens on Course No. 1,” Bressler says. “It does fine but as it ages it’s spending more and more time in the shop. Parts will soon be obsolete.” With three courses, a sizeable staff and ongoing renovation, equipment management is as important as ever.

A 1954 Worthington tractor is the oldest piece of equipment at Rolling Meadows. Their rotation regularly sees a 2002 tee mower, a 2006 fairway mower and a sand trap rake from 1999. “As long as the frame is good, the engine is good and the drive is working, these pieces can all be used,” Brandenburg says. “We have small expenditures for annual maintenance and maybe tires or battery, but we’re not spending a lot of money on equipment just because it’s older.”

It’s the same for Medinah. “We pay attention to the amount of labor, parts and money we are spending on that piece of equipment,” Bressler says. “If it’s in repair more than it’s ready, we look at replacing it.”

Older equipment often has meaning for employees. “Jeremy enjoys that we can keep machines going,” Brandenburg says. “He appreciates the older stuff and he keeps it in great condition. We’re happy and proud to continue using those units.”

Having an equipment manager who is knowledgeable on everything from small engines to welding to building and construction that seasonal staff enjoy learning from is also helpful.

Maintenance for modern equipment has different requirements. “The machines with computers on them require an extra step and extra equipment to diagnose problems,” Brandenburg says. “The more sensors you have, the more things that are going to go wrong, especially working in the wet, dirty environment that golf course mowers face.”

A 1972 Jacobsen tractor is the hands-down favorite at Rolling Meadows.

“We pull rollers, the topdresser, the sprayer and mowers behind it. It pulled the gang mower all the time,” Brandenburg says. That tractor was purchased when the course was built in 1972. “We haven’t invested large amounts of money in it. It has a gas engine and doesn’t run at high RPMs for the tasks we use it for. It’s always ready and it’s quiet. You don’t need earmuffs. With our farming backgrounds, we like our tractors.”

They also like their customers.

“We educate our people,” Brandenburg says. “They ask why our rates are going up and we explain that everything we do costs more, including replacing equipment. People have no idea that mowers range from $35,000 to $100,000. Customers and employees have no knowledge of that. Prices for everything have increased over the past five years. We are a mid-level golf course, we have mid-level rates and we try to provide above-average conditions. We do all we can.”

Rolling Meadows is as transparent as possible and the website references equipment costs and employee training. “We talk about it at orientation,” Brandenburg says. “We explain we have some older items and we have some newer items, and we tell them the costs.”

Employees are trained to look for anything visual, like low tires or leaking fluids. They are instructed to stop operating the machine and investigate if something sounds or feels different.

“It’s weird when we hire students and they use a mower that’s five years older than they are. Having been here for 28 years, it doesn’t seem that old to me,” Brandenburg says with a laugh. “Sometimes the students don’t understand and our retirees are maybe more cautious but it’s better than ignoring any problem. We are lucky to have great, longtime employees and equipment. It’s a key difference for us.”

“Training, training, training,” Bressler says. “We train our team in how to use the equipment safely and properly. We also train on how to properly wash the equipment. We work on how to communicate about any issues or repairs. We also invest in technician training with manufacturer schools to keep up.” Employees and equipment go hand-in-glove. Gas in the tank. Gear in the gearbox. You get the idea. They need each other to be at their very best.

When it comes to tips for taking care of older equipment, Brandenburg knows, “If you treat it right, it will treat the operation right. Don’t abuse it and keep an eye on things.”

Bressler echoes those thoughts, sharing that “if you take care of it, it will take care of you.”

Some things never change — even if, one day, someone offers you the chance to acquire a whole new fleet.

Lee Carr is a northeast Ohio-based writer and senior Golf Course Industry contributor.