Greens Delineation Edging
Weekly edging to keep the Bermudagrasses from creeping into each other on the greens/collar delineation works quite well with this effective modification. The Stihl FS91 Stick Edger ($399) edger blade (Stens Model 375-301; .120 inches thickness) is replaced with a narrower Ryan Mataway edger blade (Precision Model 8054R031101; .031 inches thickness), where a Toro 686 Fairway Aerifier “spacer” (Part No. 01-168-2010) is required because of the narrower edger blade. Using the thinner blade reduces the width of the slit, making it hardly visible after the Salsco or Tru-Turf Speed Rollers roll over it. A local rule is not required if a golf ball lands on top of it. Each narrower blade lasts for about three greens and they cost $3.64 each. Jesse Metcalf, director of golf course maintenance, and equipment manager extraordinaire Doug Meier are good at modifying equipment at the 36-hole The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Florida. Former director of golf course maintenance Matthew Gaudet, CGCS, was promoted seven years ago to general manager/COO.
Air Compressor Supremacy
The Forest Country Club also has a large maintenance building complex. There are separate standalone buildings for equipment storage/employee areas; mechanic’s shop/grinding room/fertilizer storage; and chemical storage. The complex has three air hoses for pre-cleaning maintenance equipment. A SIP Peerless 7000 Automatic Reel Grinder and a SIP Peerless Ideal 6000 Automatic Bed Knife Grinder, which are both powered by air, were acquired so additional compressed air capacity was required. Two Schulz 7.5 HP Air Compressors (22.7 CFM each) were acquired, each requiring a 60 Amp 230 Volt 3 Phase circuit breaker, after they were bolted to the asphalt floor. A Beco Air Dryer was installed to help keep water out of the compressors, which also has an auto drain for removing water from both 80-gallon tanks. The aluminum canopy, recycled from an old pump station, will have a cover installed in the future. The cost was $7,692 installed. Jesse Metcalf is the director of golf course maintenance and Doug Meier is the equipment manager.
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