Equipment issues every superintendent should know about

Equipment maintenance is a big concern for every superintendent and parts are very costly. A big concern is taking good care of equipment thus saving valuable maintenance dollars.

Having a good equipment manager is important for all superintendents.  A good experienced equipment manager knows how to save time and money by knowing which parts to replace and what parts he can repair. An experienced equipment manager also knows how to locate the best quality parts for the best price and how to get them in a timely manner.

Equally as important for a superintendent are his assistants which can and should be his extra eyes and ears as far as equipment care is concerned. It is critical for all involved to communicate daily to be able to save money while getting the job done safely and efficiently.

Superintendents must be aware of how their equipment is treated and maintained. This is not the responsibility of any single employee; it is a responsibility of all employees, especially department managers and crew leaders.
The best way to address these issues is to have regular meetings having open discussions and suggestions about all issues involved in daily maintenance of the golf course.

Here are some good questions to ask about equipment and how it is maintained and cared for.

• What is the overall condition or appearance of the majority of equipment in inventory?
• Is there a lot of new damage showing up on a regular basis? If so,WHY?
• Is the budget always over for equipment repair and maintenance?
• Is the equipment being properly cleaned?
• Is the equipment being properly lubed and inspected?
• Are some operators having more equipment issues than others?
• How old is the equipment in inventory and how many hours does it have?

Equipment repair and maintenance can be kept to a minimum by regular safety and operator meetings.
One of the best practices is regular operator training. Often; new employees are not experienced enough  to operate equipment properly resulting in costly repairs, down time, and personal injury, which can cost the club a lot of money by way of lawsuits.

Do not give new employees a brief overview of the equipment and turn him loose on the golf course. This will only lead to problems as noted above. A new employee with little or no experience should be properly trained by someone qualified to do so. Working with someone with experience for a few days can help to prevent such problems, personal safety being the biggest issue.

There are many ways to save money and time while doing a great job on the golf course.  Being proactive and aware with good communication is critical to having a safe and efficient crew.

Steven Dodson is the equipment manager at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga., and the author of "Golf Course Equipment Manager/Technician: A Golf Maintenance Career."