Self Investment

       This past week I had the chance to attend a talk given by Jeffery Gitomer. Jeffery is considered one of the top people in the field of sales training. His one book, " The Little Red Book of Sales" is the all time leading seller in the sales category! Of all the sales & business books I have read, his stuff is what clicked for me the most. It helps he grew up in the Philadelphia area and his approach is really common sense and direct.
       The reason I bring this up is here in the North Eastern part of the US, this is the start of the trade show and educational event season. So it is time to invest in yourself. For our company, we will be hosting two big events called Turf Equipment University in Maryland and Pennsylvania. While there is a ton of planning that goes into putting on one of these events, it is really worth the effort. I am one of the track leaders and have put together the program for the Superintendent track in PA. with representatives from the USGA & GCSAA to kick it off. We then have Bill Brown from Turf Republic speaking on Turf Apps. The program then trends towards safety at your facility with Todd Miller of Golf Safety and John E. Tyrrell a lawyer from Philly, who deals with sports facilities. Then the program moves into self improvement with Sabrina Bladon, who is a marketing specialist who deals in the turf industry speaking on behaviors for success. And finally,
 we were lucky enough to get Steve Keating to speak at this years TEU too. Steve is head of sales training for The Toro Company and also an expert on the topic of leadership.
       Hopefully, you can tell that I am pretty excited about how it came together and the all star line up that we were able to agree to join us! So I would urge you to take an extra class or attend one more event this winter and continue to invest in the most important person you know....YOU!

Link to learn more about TEU:
http://www.turf-equipment.com/#!teu-landing/cr71



WJC

Self Inflicted

       At the Penn State Turf Grass Conferences this past week Darin Bevard of the USGA spoke about how often this past year he would see self inflicted damage to turf. Often it was related to mowing in wet conditions. So while quality of cut on turf can be effected by how wet it is, the thing you have the most control over is the setup of your cutting units. I have been very lucky to sit through a bunch of Jim Nedin's reel technology classes and each time I walk away thinking about how often it is taken for granted or by chance to get reel mowers to preform at their best. Reel setup is definitely a science and becomes even more so as reels age.
       So if I told you could have healthier turf, would you be interested? The reality is cutting units not set up correctly or out of factory specification can be costly. It will be worth the investment of your time to take a look. I would also suggest you take a look at reel speed adjustments (if available), you might find a surprise. For some reason they often get adjusted by operators who think that turning them to the highest speed setting is the best.
       

WJC

Assurance Of Your Insurance

       If you got the call that your maintenance facility was destroyed by a fire or flood and all your equipment and inventory was lost are you prepared? With our company doing yearly inventory this past week, one of the things I thought about was how important, and sometimes taken for granted, it is to have your records up to date. Do you really know what you have on site and it's current value.
       Have you had the chance to review your facility's insurance policy? Do you have a current value for replacement costs for your equipment? I know in just a one piece policy claim, I have seen it take weeks to get exactly what dollar amount was to be reimbursed. If your policy was for an 11 foot rotary that you bought 5 years ago, are you covered to purchase a new unit at the current sale price or will you be scrambling try to find a used unit. May sound crazy but it happens. Maybe an excellent project for your assistants over the winter......This could be even a win/win where your records are up to date and they will get the opportunity to learn more about the dollars behind all that equipment!


WJC

The Little Things

       I have coached football for 20 years. I have mostly coached the 7th & 8th grade youth level and spent a couple of years as the varsity offensive line coach for local high school. Why I mention this is I always preach that it is the little things that make the difference. I am constantly preaching it and really do believe it make the difference between being successful or not. So what does this have to do with the Turf industry? Well this past week, I had the chance to sit in on a training event that Jim Nedin presented about reels. He always brings up so many important things that I often think are not thought about enough. Just a small thing like the reel diameter and how it effects the cut, is not something that people often look at. With heights going lower and expectations going higher, do yourself a favor and take a look at your money makers (Greens Mowers!). Are your reels still within spec? Grounding down to the spiders, as it was done in the past, is probably not going to be your best option. And what is the most important thing is bed knife & reel sharpness! A sharp clean cut promotes a healthier plant and to steal a Jim Nedinism, you will have "Happy Grass"! And as Jim always says" When your grass is happy, your customers are happy and your boss is happy, which helps make you happy!".
      

WJC

"Live Green" at The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia

         Yesterday at Walnut Lane Golf Club, home of the First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, the last leg of the "Live Green" program took place. The program was a collaboration between The First Tee, Audubon International & The Toro Company to host educational events at First Tee facilities throughout the USA. The Walnut Lane program had about 70 students signed up and broken into 6 rotating groups. The students had the chance to do some service activities like planting some flower beds. They also had the chance to attend some Turf industry education stations that were taught by Rob Nolek, Superintendent of Cedarbrook CC & Chase Rogan, Regional Representative for the GCSAA. They spoke with the future of golf about cutting cups and repairing ball marks. Joe Agnew, Superintendent of the The Bucks Club, was also manning one of the flower bed stations. I had the pleasure of working with Judson McNeil, who is the president of The Toro Foundation. With each group Judson & I would talk about the technology behind the equipment needed to provide the golf courses the students play. What was really fun when we asked the kids about what they thought  the HOC greens are mowed or what a piece of equipment costs.

As always it is a great opportunity to work with The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia! Dave Smith, the Program Director,and his crew at Walnut Lane GC love what they do and make you feel like you are part of their team as soon as you walk through the door!  

 

http://pressroom.toro.com/golf_course/07102013_live_green.html     

 

Toro station at the "Live Green" event at Walnut Lane GC for The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia

 

 

 

Rob Nolek of Cedarbrook CC & Chase Rogan of the GCSAA address some of the students

WJC

Motivation & Glen Mills Schools

       This past week we hosted a Sports Fields & Grounds Manager field day at Glen Mills Schools. While the draw of the beautiful 800+Acre campus and the chance for some golf on one of the top public golf courses in PA made it a great location choice , there was a much better reason which was the students. Glen Mills School is a reform school on the edge of Delaware Country, outside of Philadelphia. But it is not what you would expect.... When you drive up, it looks more like a small private college with no walls or fences!The current location became home in 1892. Everyone I have ever taken there is blown away by the facilities and the mission of the school. So why is it different? Glen Mills is not a government run facility. The program gives them the opportunity to learn life skills and  gives the student a chance to turn their life around when they leave. In the Turf Industry, they have the chance to work on the golf course. There is also a small engine section & a landscape group.
       What is also special about holding events at Glen Mills Schools is the motivation it always seems to give those who visit. After our event, I was contacted by one of the local townships that had attended. They wanted to get involved and are looking at creating an intern program for a student. One of my coworkers asked if he could do more. He really felt strongly about needing to get involved.
I would urge you to take a look at Glen Mills' website and learn more about their program!

Take a look at the article about Sean Kearney, who is now an Assistant Superintendent at Fishers Island GC in New York.
http://www.glenmillsschool.org/battling-bulletin/news/glen-mills-penn-state-grad-kearney-takes-knowledge-to-nassau-country-club

 

 

 

Some of the student attendees getting an equipment demonstration

 

WJC

The Roof-The Roof-The Roof Is On Fire!

       With a memorable week behind me and some jet lag to make me soon not forget....It was another excellent visit across the pond with the folks at Bernhard & Company! We did have an event that I hope to never experience again, being evacuated from our hotel at 5:30AM with a room on fire!(See photo below)Everyone got out OK & no one was injured, which was most important.

       The chance to talk about the industry with all-star sales people from places throughout the USA and not all that sell Red Iron. The opportunity to see some new products that are in the works from Bernhard & Company and now a year into their new facility, how well it is doing. With incredible hosts and a few Guinness pints shared, traveling over to the UK with the great people from Bernhard is always a worth while trip!

 

 

WJC