TRAVELS WITH TERRY

Globetrotting consulting agronomist Terry Buchen visits many golf courses annually with his digital camera in hand. He shares helpful ideas relating to maintenance equipment from the golf course superintendents he visits — as well as a few ideas of his own — with timely photos and captions that explore the changing world of golf course management.

3-Point Hitch Sod Cutter

The Frontier “Middle Buster” 3-point hitch frame was converted into a sod cutter. The roller is recycled from a John Deere 2653A triplex mower, which includes the brackets for adjusting the sod cutter blade depth. The sod cutter blade is a thin, strong, recycled John Deere bedknife diligently sharpened. The framework was from recycled steel in inventory that is welded in place. The sod cutter normally cuts to an approximately 2-inch depth of the warm-season grasses, though varying depths are easily adjusted as required. There were no costs for materials and it took less than a day to build. The sod cutter attachment, which is bolted to the framework, can be easily removed and additional attachments, such as the original chisel plow, a ripper and a pipe trench digger, can also be bolted to the 3-point hitch. Superintendent Denny Kerr (a retired Navy Seabee), grounds crew member Julian Wells and managing partner/owner Brad Thompson created and built a great idea at the Bayou Vista Golf Course in Gulfport, Mississippi.




Reel Height Adjustment Tool

This modified R & R Mowing Height Adjustment Tool is used on John Deere 7700 fairway mowers and John Deere 2500 triplex greens mowers. The dial gauge is removed and the existing bar stock is drilled and tapped with two new holes to accept M5 by 20 Allen Head Bolts, with locking nuts on the reverse side. A digital caliber is used to adjust the bolts to the desired mowing height. The bar is used the same as with the dial gauge, with the height adjusted until the shoulder of the bolt touches the bedknife. It cost about $1 in parts, instead of replacing an approximately $85 dial gauge, and about five minutes labor for the conversion. Superintendent Denny Kerr, grounds crew member Julian Wells and managing partner/owner Brad Thompson created and modified another great idea at the Bayou Vista Golf Course in Gulfport, Mississippi.

July 2020
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