Superintendents, techs come together in Florida

Written by John Reitman

Friday, 10 July 2009 18:56

From Turfnet.com... Organizers and attendees are hopeful that a recent meeting ion Sarasota, Fla., could go a long way in helping solidify relations between golf course superintendents and equipment managers in the area as well as help them present a united front within the golf industry. The meeting, held last month at The Ritz-Carlton Members Club, provided an opportunity for equipment technicians to network and share ideas with other techs and for superintendents to exchange information with fellow green keepers. More importantly, it allowed techs and superintendents to share information and ideas with each other. A total of 87 superintendents, technicians attended the meeting held at The Ritz-Carlton Members Club. “The biggest thing is that this is a way to bring superintendents together,” said Stephen Tucker, meeting organizer and equipment manager at the host facility. “The ideas was to get them together in one room and encourage interaction between the two groups.” A panel of three superintendents and three techs moderated the meeting, and addressed questions that attendees had submitted in advance. The meeting also included an open forum for others to address specific concerns. Topics of discussion included everything from the economy to the potential effects on the industry of proposed pesticide legislation to proper mower set-up procedures. “This meeting was a great way for the techs to not only hear ideas from other techs, but to hear different superintendents’ ideas as well,” said Jeff Strother, superintendent at The Gasparilla Inn and Club in Boca Grande and chapter president of the Suncoast GCSA. “The equipment techs are definitely the unsung heroes in this business and the superintendents need to let them know we value them and their opinions. Without a good relationship between the two, our customers are the ones who ultimately suffer. Golf course conditioning has come a long way, primarily due to the equipment we use and the technicians who know how to push its limits.” Attendee turnout and interest in sharing information, as well as the prospect of learning something new, were higher than Tucker or anyone else had anticipated. “Somewhere between 60 and 70 questions were submitted ahead of time,” he said. “We got through about half of them before we opened the floor the last 30 minutes.” Many of those who attended the meeting noted that a lack of communication between the superintendent and equipment manager is common. They also recognized that it can lead to a host of problems. “I feel this meeting was way overdue,” said Ray Bartels, superintendent at Peridia Golf and Country Club in Bradenton. “To me a good equipment technician is the backbone of any successful operation. And this type of meeting encourages superintendents to understand how important it is to have a good technician and be more open to working with a tech by means of proper scheduling, rather than last-minute demands.” Said Tucker: “Both superintendents and technicians depend equally on each other to make a golf course great. If they communicate well together and put out a product that everyone enjoys, then both have a bright future. If they don’t communicate well, that’s where you run into problems.” As a Florida-based USGA Green Section agronomist, Todd Lowe knows what is required to maintain some of the world’s most highly regarded golf courses. To that end, he is a champion of improved communications between superintendent and equipment managers and promoting the technician profession. In fact, he and Tucker are co-authoring an article titled “The Value of a Qualified Turf Equipment Manager” for an upcoming issue of the Green Section Record. “There is a void in our industry in regards to building the career of equipment technicians/managers, and I feel its professionalism should be nurtured,” Lowe said. “Meetings like these foster better working relationships between superintendents and equipment managers and enhances the development of the industry.” Tucker has been an activist of sorts for equipment techs. He was a key figure in mobilizing other techs and starting the International Golf Course Equipment Managers Association. He and others involved in organizing the meeting hope it becomes and annual event. “Stephen should be commended for bringing the two associations together in this capacity,” Strother said. “Otherwise, it would probably not have happened.”

Last Updated ( Friday, 10 July 2009 19:02 )