By Ben Beard
Bridging the Gap:
Maximizing the relationship between Grease Monkey and Grass Growers
M
y name is Ben Beard and I am the Equipment Manager at Walnut Creek Country Club in South Lyon, MI. Before coming to WCCC I was a Service Tech for the John Deere Golf distributor JW Turf, prior to that I had never seen a greens mower and the closest thing I had worked on to a reel mower was a grain head of a combine. Other than golf equipment I have worked as an auto and medium duty truck mechanic, apprentice electrician, and a towing recovery operator. As an equipment manager I am able to combine my love of the outdoors with my diverse mechanical skill set. The early mornings and long days are rough but watching the sun come up over the golf course helps ease the pain. As an Equipment Manager, our job is to supply the superintendent with the properly working equipment to help achieve the best turf conditions possible. That all starts with the relationship between the Super and the EM. Now my Superintendent, Scott Rettmann, and I may not agree on all matters, but we work well together and have the same goal in mind. We have an understanding, I can make his job easier and he can make mine easier as well.
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Michigan Golf Course Superintendents Association
| www.migcsa.org
Communication is key, which we achieve on a morning ride that Scott and I take around the course together each day. We discuss everything from daily tasks and course conditions, to status updates on our children to what’s for dinner. Combining that with teamwork and the interest of a common goal is a recipe for success. One key to “bridging the gap” is for the superintendent to understand not only the equipment but also what it takes to properly maintain it. A good way to accomplish this is to get in the shop and ask questions! Do we relief grind? Why do we relief grind? What is relief grinding? The better a superintendent understands the equipment the more they will appreciate the EM and what they do. Also, with a better understanding of what equipment is available and what each piece is capable of, the superintendent is more likely to choose the best piece to achieve which ever task that needs to be accomplished. Along with a vast knowledge of equipment, a successful EM should have an understanding of the agronomic science behind the art of growing grass. You need to know why the grounds staff does what