Greens Mowing Training

Another Monday and another training session for the crew.  I am trying to push good habits for this upcoming season.  I have committed myself to having a training session each Monday since the course is closed.  Last week we explained bunker raking.  I have learned over the years of being a superintendent that you can never explain things enough.  Repitition is key.

The greens mowing training was a success.  I explained the proper way to transport the mowers.

  This is important since the walk mowers we use are expensive and precise.  A mower flopping around in the back of a trailer can not only damag

e the equipment but can also ruin the adjustment and compromise the hieght of cut.

The next procedures we went through is the process before we begin the mowing practice.  I asked the crew to stop the mower at the edge of the green and first walk the green to check for ball marks, Hi-Lo plugs and to also remove the flagstick from the hole.  We have had problems with the flagstick getting clipped from the greens mower because the employee would try to grab the flagstick as they were going by with the mower.  The edge of the mower catch the flagstick and shreds the fiberglass.

The last procedure I explained to our crew was the turning of the mower.  While the bunkers are close to the greens edge and we can't prevent turning on the collar, we can prevent turning on the collar on the rest of the green.  Turning just outside the collar in the rough is ideal for wear during the heat of the summer and when we are topdressing green.  The roller on the mower grinds away at the low cut grass.

The crew responded well to the training seminar and i think we are going to start out the season on the right foot.  Each job on the course is very important to add to our overall quality.  If everyone pitches in to make this course better we can accomplish a lot.