Don't Touch That Dial

       When you are having issues with a reel mower, what is the first step you take? One of the best things I have learned over the years from working with Jim Nedin is having a process. The first thing Jim always suggests is to take a step back and check all your adjustments. The key is starting with everything set up the same. It may sound obvious but you would be surprised how often something as simple as reel speed is where the trouble is. It seems like many of the operators think they are helping by messing with the dials!
       With heights of cut going lower and lower, the impact is quickly seen when just one thing is out of specification. So the next time you have a mower that is acting up, take a step back and take a few minutes getting the unit back to the having everything the same. It  may not solve all issues but it gives you an excellent baseline when trouble shooting.


                         Hopefully you don't get to this point!

WJC

Assume

       When anyone uses the word assume, I cannot help but think right away of the old saying" You know what happens when you assume....You make an a** out of you and me!" The reason I am on the assume train is some recent transactions in my own territory and my 12 year old daughters new business.
       My daughter, Sydney, at 12 has her heart already set on buying my brothers old Jeep when she turns 16. So last year she put out a flyer to our neighbors offering to do anything from walking dogs, taking care of cats, collecting mail and watering plants. What is great to see is she is getting referrals and she is now getting calls from her customers friends and neighbors. Now as her business grows so does some of the growing pains. She had not set a fee in the past and would tell neighbors to pay me what you think is fair. Well after one person gave her some syrup as payment, she is now rethinking the pay as you feel as a fair plan.
        As I talked with her about giving the new people who she is dealing with some type of sheet with her charges or an invoice, I started to think about how I often conduct business and make  assumptions. This past year, I have had a few occasions where if I had it do over I would have gone in to more detail before coming to an agreement. For me, sometimes it is just because of a comfort zone with a longtime customer that I have let some things go unsaid. In reality, when both sides have a clear expectation what they are agreeing to and there are no surprises, everybody wins.
       And no, there are not any plans for a syrup special for greens mowers in the near future....


WJC

Vollie

       There are a few names you can say in the golf business and the majority of people know who you are talking about right away. One of those names since I started has been Vollie Carr. I had only met Vollie a few times over the years but I have heard so many stories involving him. Sadly Vollie Carr pasted away this week. When someone is spoken about so highly by so many, that shows what a special a person they were. I never had the chance to work on the same team as Vollie but was always amazed by his reputation for taking care of the customers needs.
RIP to a Legend.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/courierpress/obituary.aspx?pid=166291510#fbLoggedOut

Can Wait To Aerate

       As we enter the first week in August and the count down clock to aeration is ticking!
High temps/soaking rains/high humidity/soil temps over 75 degrees for 30 plus days all created turf struggles. For many this is why people talk about this being one of the tougher areas to grow turf. While the long range forecast looks a little better as some good weather would help on many fronts. For most the damage has been done and the reality is that this has been a tough summer. Even with all the preventative actions sometimes Mother Nature just wins. Hopefully the rain switch is turned off and we have a nice dry fall.
       I do know one thing, there will be lots of additional plans for drainage and fan purchases for next years budgets...but if that is anything like buying a snow thrower we will have a dry 2014!
      

WJC