Many of you probably did not know this, but your greens maintenance department was ordered closed for the past two months. That meant layoffs for all full time greens staff members. The layoffs were implemented to save the club monies in what is being billed as the worse recession in recent memory in the golf industry. Close to 900 manpower hours normally spent reconditioning your mowing equipment and golf course accessories will be crammed into the weeks remaining until the weather permits our return to outdoor maintenace. (By the look of all the branches downed by the Christmas Eve's Ice Storm, I'm not looking forward to those muscle aches as I rake my way back into shape!)
We use the "off season" to prepare over 80 pieces of turf equipment for the next golfing season. It has always been our philosophy to prevent "in season" breakdown much in the same fashion that it's a wise idea to have your car inspected and serviced before making that long drive on a family vacation. The greatest fear I have is that of a ruptured hydraulic hose that may have been missed because of some of the shortcuts taken in the limited time we have remaining. What impact will our shortened off season maintenace program bring is anyone's best guess. I'm sure there will be a few mid season breakdowns that could have been prevented but we will address those when the time comes. Bull's Eye/Tri City is very fortunate to employee one of the States best turf Equipment Managers in Tim Johnson. When our greens look good, roll good and putt true, I always thank Tim for his work on our cutting heads.
Time to shake off the rust........It's time to get back to work.
