January/February Grounds Update

The temperatures haven't been very kind this winter, but thank goodness we have some deep snow cover out on the golf course. My assistant superintendent, Tran Zerface has decided to move on from the club to work at a professional soccer field in Nashville, TN. We thank him for all of his help over the past two seasons and wish him luck in his new adventure! Obie and I spent most of January working on our 2007 Toro fairway mowers, our 2009 Toro rough mower, and sharpening cutting unit reels. Our fairway mowers got a full service this winter. That includes changing: oil and filter, fuel filters, hydraulic fluid and filters, air filters, a leaking transmission seal, 10 hydraulic hoses, rear axle bushings, and many bushings in the cutting unit lift arms. This full service will hopefully ensure that the mower stays out on the course this summer instead of in the shop being worked on. Both machines had most of the same work done to them. We also put a sharp cutting edge on all of the reels using our Bernhard reel grinding machines.

Bushings being replaced in fairway mower reel lift arms

Fairway mower lift arms removed and being serviced

We also serviced our 2009 Toro rough mower last month. This machine got a similar service as the fairway mowers. On this machine, we also replaced all of the grass discharge chutes under the mower decks for a cleaner cut in the rough. These machines get used heavily every season and large cottonwood roots and branches don't treat the machines real nice.

New grass discharge chute installed on rought mower, old bent up chute on the ground

New blades installed with new discharge chutes

Lastly, we serviced our Bernhard reel grinders in January. We were due to replace the grinding stone and bearing assembly on the machine. This stone sharpens all of our cutting units multiple times throughout the year. In total, we have 24 reels to sharpen throughout the year. Some units, like our greens mowers, get sharpened every other week during the golf season. These grinders provide a razor blade sharp cut so that we can be as precise as possible when it comes to cutting our turfgrass. The cleaner the cut on the golf course, the healthier the turf is to provide the best playing surfaces possible.

Looking down the mainshaft where the stone sits on the reel grinder

Old stone removed, machine needs a good cleaning!

New fork assembly installed. The new grinding stone will sit in between the fork assembly

New grinding stone installed on machine, ready to sharpen reels!

Grinding a fairway mower reel. This usually takes less than 5 minutes on this machine.

Sharpening the bedknife on the fairway mower reel. The grass is cut between the contact of the reel and bedknife.

A completely sharpened fairway mower bedknife and reel put together, ready to cut grass!