Turf Equipment Technicians Association (TETAC)

by Rex Floyd, Service Manager

The Club

North Ridge Country Club was established in 1967. Raleigh farm land was acquired to build a high end subdivision and a 36 hole golf facility. The first 18-hole course, named The Lakes, was constructed and then a second 18-hole course, called The Oaks, was added on in the early seventies. North Ridge Country Club currently has about 1000 members. If you were to work here you would not be confused at the term "inside and outside nine" that is used every day. The inside is the original 18 holes.

27 greens are planted with Crenshaw bentgrass and 9 are Pickseed 96-2. Year round cutting height is maintained at .025-.030. Greens are lightly topdressed every three weeks during the growing season. Sometimes the sand is watered in and it's sometimes dragged in but all dragging is done in straight lines, never circular.

Greens are core airified with Ryan 24 machines in the spring using ½" quad tines to remove as much organic matter as possible; the holes are then filled with sand. The greens are verticut to a ½" depth using Mattaway and Graden machines.

Stimpmeter readings are taken twice a week and light verticutting and rolling are done to keep the greens rolling as fast as possible. Greens are walk mowed everyday and fairways and roughs are mowed every other day. Bunkers are raked by hand unless there is a heavy rain and then the bunker rakes are used.

North Ridge has 21 to 16 golf course employees that range from college students to full time employees. We also have employ refugees from Burma through a local Lutherian church. Two of North Ridge's most loyal employees have been here over 30 years.

Equipment Maintenance

All equipment has a number assigned to it when it is purchased. The machine number is posted on the left front. Currently, the last number assigned to a new fairway unit was #310. As units are replaced the old number is reassigned; so an old string trimmer number may be assigned to a new tractor. These numbers play an important part in the maintenance of the equipment.

All hour meters are checked once a week, usually on Friday afternoon, since the weekend crew leaves early and most equipment is in the building. Notes are made when service is due and the next weeks service is scheduled accordingly.

All service, as well as repairs, are written up on a work order sheet. As the work is completed the work order sheet's data is recorded into a computer file. Work order sheets are located two places in the facility. The work order sheets are printed on NCR paper (white cover sheet and a duplicate yellow sheet). When a problem arises the operator fills out the sheet. The white copy goes to the office and the yellow copy goes in a bin next to the equipment technicians door. These sheets are checked every day. There is also a box to check off on the sheet if the issue is a safety concern. If this box is checked the problem is addressed first. If it cannot be repaired then a Do Not Use tag is tied to the steering wheel. If you have people that can't read English you may have a problem. When the unit is repaired the ticket is turned in and it is recorded in an Excel file. This is really handy when you don't know if a battery is in warranty or if you have done the same repair before.

I have one assistant that works with me. His main responsibility is reels as we currently have 110 on property. He also helps me with other repairs and does most fabrication and welding as he likes to do these things. My job is to keep everything in working order and coordinate with the Superintendent regarding course maintenance and have the needed units ready to go.