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.

Replicated job board

The original taskTracker job board is located in the employee lunch/meeting room. A second board was installed in the equipment storage area to improve employee time motion throughout the work day. Employee meetings and the morning assignments have been held “outside” in the storage area since 2016. A 75-inch Samsung TV ($950), Sanus Tilting TV Mount ($90), Logitech K400 wireless touch TV keyboard with Media Control and built-in touchpad ($25), Mount-It TV wall mount shelf bracket under TV for the cable box ($35), and installation of the electrical outlet behind the TV ($165) completed the installation. The initial job board setup was $1,070 with an annual fee of $600. It took less than two hours labor time. This idea was conceived by the crew at the Olde Florida Golf Club in Naples: assistants Matthew Klein and Andy Polzin, and superintendent Darren J. Davis, CGCS. They are really good at everything they do. Davis was the 82nd president of the GCSAA




Electric blower station

Davis was visiting Chris Dalhamer, CGCS, during the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach when he noticed some unique hand-held electric blowers. Upon his return to the Olde Florida Golf Club, Davis purchased one Greenworks 80v jet electric blower ($270) and he had assistants Klein and Polzin testing its power, durability and length of charge. They were both impressed, so they began further testing with the staff each morning while they were mowing the greens, collars, tees, etc. Davis then began phasing out the 8- to 10-year-old gasoline engine blowers with six electric blowers. Equipment manager Guillermo Gomez designed and built a 1-foot by 8-foot shelf with a stainless steel top so corrosion would not be an issue and it would not require painting. 1-inch square tubing support arms, along with 2-foot-long back support brackets, 18-inch-long front support brackets and 1-inch by ¼-inch thick pieces of steel spaced 12 inches apart, further supporting the shelf, were all welded together. Gray steel tool hangers were acquired from Lowe’s for $5 each. The total metal cost was $289 and it took about three hours to design, build and install. The electrical outlets and materials plus labor cost $750.

Terry Buchen, CGCS, MG, is president of Golf Agronomy International. He’s a 51-year, life member of the GCSAA. He can be reached at 757-561-7777 or terrybuchen@earthlink.net.

September 2020
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