The Mechanics of Maintenance

Increasingly, superintendents are turning to turf equipment specialists to stay on the cutting edge.

by Betsy Gilliland (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
June 2007
 

As methods of maintaining a golf course have become increasingly sophisticated, so have the mechanics who are relied on to keep all of the golf course equipment running.

A top-notch mechanic is no longer a luxury, superintendents say; rather, highly skilled equipment technicians are essential to their operations.

“They’re not just turning wrenches today,” says Eric Bauer, Director of Grounds at The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands, Texas, of the mechanics now working in course and grounds departments. “They really understand why superintendents need to do the things we do.”

Vital Links
At his 36-hole private course north of Houston, Bauer’s primary goals are to keep the turf healthy and the playing surface consistent. The membership expects nothing less, he notes. “I don’t know how I would be able to do the things that I’m now trying to achieve without a mechanic,” he adds.

In fact, he has four mechanics on staff—an equipment manager, head mechanic and two assistant mechanics. All are well aware of the importance of topdressing, verticutting and other golf course maintenance operations, he says, as they fix broken-down equipment, troubleshoot problems and, perhaps most importantly, perform preventive maintenance tasks.
Jim Loke, Superintendent and Golf Course Manager at Bent Creek Country Club in Lititz, Pa., has two full-time mechanics on his staff: Chris Jones and Michael Reeves. They keep the equipment serviced and lubricated, and make sure the mowers are sharp on an hourly basis.

Dean White, Superintendent at RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve in Phoenixville, Pa., can concentrate on keeping the new golf course healthy, with Michael Verguldi (right) on his turf to maintain the equipment.

“They need to be all over the golf course and make instantaneous repairs,” says Loke.
He believes the technicians’ efforts are vital to support the management team at the 18-hole, private course that was built in 1992.

“Our standards today are so different and more refined than 10 years ago,” Loke says.
Mike Matchen, General Manager and Golf Course Superintendent at Wilmette (Ill.) Golf Club, has one full-time mechanic to take care of his equipment inventory of more than $500,000.

“The equipment has evolved,” explains Matchen, who has been Superintendent at the 18-hole public course for 34 years. “One, it’s so expensive, and two, very sophisticated [compared] to years ago. And we’re stretching equipment further than we ever have before. It takes a professional to properly care for it all.”

Dean White, Superintendent at RiverCrest Golf Club & Preserve in Phoenixville, Pa., also relies on his equipment technician, Michael Verguldi, to keep his inventory (valued at about $1 million) running smoothly at the course, which opened in 2004.

“My operation wouldn’t function without him. In a way, he’s the heart of the operation. Basically, everything we do on the golf course requires some piece of equipment,” White says.

Even if full-time help isn’t in the budget, courses are finding ways to supplement their staffs with regular, reliable mechanical know-how. Superintendent Larry Guy runs Augusta (Ga.) Municipal Golf Course without a full-time mechanic. However, a local technician, Alfred Lee, visits the 18-hole daily fee course at least once a week to work on the equipment.
Guy also believes a trained professional has become more vital as machinery has become more sophisticated. “People like me who used to be able to work on all of the equipment just can’t do it any more,” he notes.

Learning Their Crafts
All course mechanics need to be adept at working with small engines and hydraulic equipment. But to develop this expertise, the technicians may follow different paths.

Some superintendents seek out mechanics who already have highly specialized skills; Loke hired two who were trained at a vocational school.

When RiverCrest opened, White turned to a seasoned veteran who had been in the business for years. “I wanted someone to be able to come in and handle that department,” he recalls about Verguldi’s hiring.

Verguldi’s experience let him make routine decisions about equipment, White explains, which left the superintendent free to concentrate on the construction of the new golf course and growing in the turf.

Other superintendents have developed equipment technicians in-house.
Bauer says one of his assistant mechanics started out in golf course operations. However, the crew member showed an interest in mechanics, and he had a good work ethic.

“You can teach technical stuff, but it’s hard to teach somebody good habits,” Bauer notes.

Matchen agrees. “I believe in finding good people; you can always train them to fit what you need,” he says.
Wilmette’s mechanic, Ted Soenksen, who also serves as President of the Turf Equipment Technicians Association (www.tetaonline.org ), has a background in small engines.

“He was working in a lawn mower shop, and learned the turf industry from there,” notes Matchen.
While a mechanic develops much of his expertise through on-the-job training, White adds, classes and seminars also keep technicians current with new machinery, particularly as more of the equipment becomes computerized.
Bauer says his mechanics started a regional association with fellow equipment technicians to stay on top of changes in their field.

“It’s a great thing. It’s starting to become more and more widespread,” he notes.

Ongoing training can even take the form of pitching in to help with routine maintenance tasks. Loke’s mechanics mow greens and run other pieces of equipment periodically.

“They probably need to operate each type of equipment about once every four to six weeks,” he believes.

Ted Soenksen, who keeps equipment running smoothly at Wilmette (Ill.) Golf Club, is currently President of the Turf Equipment Technicians Association (TETA) and very active with the Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents.

Adding It Up
Superintendents say they could never put a dollar value on the importance of their equipment technicians to their operations. However, they agree, having a mechanic has become much more than a convenience; technicians also save valuable time when a piece of equipment needs repair.

“Having the parts in-house and two mechanics fully trained, I don’t need to worry too much about dull mowers and having to wait to have something repaired,” says Loke.

A major repair generally can be accomplished in a day by having the spare parts and personnel on hand, he adds. But it usually takes more than a week for outside sources to repair equipment.

“I think being self-sufficient is essential,” he concludes.

The preventive maintenance that the technicians perform leads to significant savings, Matchen says. And as budgets get tighter and courses stretch the use of their equipment farther, he adds, that only adds to the value of a mechanic’s expertise.

Bauer has never tried to calculate the cost benefits of having an on-staff mechanic. He just knows the absence of one could have a disastrous domino effect on operations.

Anytime a piece of equipment has to be sent out for repairs, he notes, it adds to the time the machinery is out of commission—and that ultimately leads to poor course conditions, fewer rounds of golf and lost revenues.

“It’s not just saving money,” he says. “It’s bigger than that.”