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.

Irrigation toolbox

The Arksen 48-inch by 15-inch by 15-inch irrigation technician’s toolbox ($300) has a 2-inch male hitch built in-house using scrap metal taking about two hours to build, weld in place and apply black spray paint. The 2-inch receiver hitch, mounted on the front of the 2016 John Deere XUV 825i Turf Vehicle, was factory installed. The 6-foot-long strap holds the toolbox in place for more stability. This nice idea frees up space in the bed for more irrigation tools, parts and supplies. Superintendent Beau Backstrom, irrigation technician Robert Adamo and director of grounds and mountain operations Ryan Blechta at the Spanish Peaks Mountain Club in Big Sky, Montana, have a lot of great ideas. Tom Weiskopf and Phil Smith designed the course.

Fairway Mower Blower

During the height of the COVID-19 labor shortage, Tim Meyer, superintendent at the Beacon Hill Country Club in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey, hooked up a Buffalo Blower to the back of a John Deere Five-Plex Fairway Mower. The club doesn’t collect grass clippings on fairways, so the blower was used to disperse them and also to clear away deciduous tree leaves prior to mowing. Because the labor situation has improved, the tee setup person now tows the blower with a turf vehicle to accomplish the same goals on the fairways. A tow hitch and ball were attached to both implements. It took less than an hour to install. Jim Nagle is the restoration architect.

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.

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November 2022
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