Goats to the Rescue
David L. Webner, superintendent at the Westwood Country Club in Rocky River, Ohio, has a very hilly two-acre natural area that was difficult to maintain. Eight goats were rented ($125/day) and a temporary fence was moved each day after they cleared the vegetation. In four days, they cleared about one-third of the hillside. The owner of the goats estimated that it would take 14 days to clear the entire hillside. They do eat tree leaves and several species of plants they do not eat. And, yes, they do eat poison ivy. The owner feeds them at his farm to assure they have proper nutrition. There was no odor from the goats/feces and there were not any local ordinances prohibiting their use. Each goat has a name and Grady was Webner’s favorite. Haulin’ Goats of Valley City, Ohio, is the goat rental source (james@haulin-goats.com). Webner is talking about purchasing two goats, using tethers in areas he would like cleared and making them permanent members of the grounds crew.
Electric Sprayers
The bag racks were removed from both 1997 Club Car Golf Carts with gasoline engines and they were then outfitted with 25-gallon sprayers ($300 each) with 12-volt electric on demand pumps. The pump wiring has an inline on/off switch and there are alligator clips that are attached to the 12-volt golf cart battery. The pump recirculates back into the tank for agitation. One-half-inch diameter hose with spray wands with fan-type nozzles are wrapped-around two ½-inch by 3-inch lbolts that are attached to the bag rack frame during transport. The recycled wooden frame supporting the sprayers are bolted to the rear leaf springs and golf cart body. The sprayers sit on top of ¾-inch thick plywood that is bolted to the wooden frame. The sprayers, operating at 40 PSI, are used to apply chemicals along fence lines, tree wells, satellite boxes, etc. Brandon Crim is the superintendent at the Boise Ranch (Idaho) Golf Course.
Explore the September 2017 Issue
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