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.

Pro Dimpler 2000

This well-designed implement, attached to a Toro 5020 Sand Pro, is great for “dimpling-in” newly seeded creeping bentgrass greens, tees and other sandy soil seedbeds. The framework, which is attached to the bunker rake mounting bracket, consists of ¾-inch by 2-inch by 4-foot flat steel, 2-inch by 2-inch by 8-foot square tubing, ½-inch by 2-inch by 4-foot flat steel, two 5/8-inch diameter by 4-foot long high-strength all-thread (about $210 total). Eight 1-inch clamping shaft collars, 60-inch by 1-inch diameter keyed rotary shaft, three 1-inch shaft diameter pillow block bearings with lock, four steel hubs for 1-inch live axles, four Carlisle knobby 2 ply tires with rims, three Carlisle knobby 2 ply tires without rims and 1-foot key stock (about $878 total). All seven tires are new, so the dimpling pattern is uniform and the tires turn with the axle. The all-thread was needed to provide down pressure and to lift the attachment from side to side. Any small skipped areas are easily picked-up on the return pass. On the cleanup lap, the attachment is in the raised position to prevent washouts from the attachment tires. Labor time was about eight hours total to build the prototype and final version. Gerald “Jerry” Flaherty, CGCS, and Eric Heywood, equipment manager, are a great team at The Valley Club in Hailey (Sun Valley), Idaho.




Reel Mower Wash Station

Washing reel mowers at the Bonita National Golf & Country Club in Bonita Springs, Fla, is done efficiently with this portable wash cart. There are three recycled 10-gallon Primo link packs for the three-step washing process. A degreaser if used first to clean the reels and bedknives; a wash and wax sprayable application is done next; and the third step is to spray WD-40 to help prevent rust. The three tanks each have Overflow EF2220 on-demand pumps ($380), each with 25 feet of coiled hose ($300) with spray wands ($150). The pumps are powered by an Interstate deep cycle 12-volt battery ($125) that rarely needs recharging. The cart is made from a 4-foot by 29-inch pallet turned upside down with four Shepard rubber swivel caster wheels ($60). A flat 32-inch by 51-inch by ½-inch thick piece of plywood ($15) is laid on top of the 2 inches by 4 inches comprising the rest of the framework. There is plenty of room on top or on the bottom platforms to store the chemicals, supplies, sponges and cleaning brushes. It took about six hours to build. Jesse Metcalf, superintendent, and Doug Meir, equipment manager, bond well together.

Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG, is president of Golf Agronomy International. He’s a 41-year, life member of the GCSAA. He can be reached at 757-561-7777 or terrybuchen@earthlink.net.

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March 2019
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