Frost On The Window

       When we get into the summer heat waves here in Philly, I cannot help but think back to one of my first lessons of what never to do in sales. During the summers, while I was working for Dick Bator at Merion GC, I saw many a salesman with bad timing. Dick was notorious for being very hard on salesmen. If you did not know what you were walking into it could be ugly. One day during a streak of super hot days and lots of hand watering, one sales rep pulled his truck right up into the court yard in front of the shop. Now pulling right up to the shop was not the best idea but then sitting in his diesel truck with it running and the windows frosting up from the A/C, might have been the match that lit the fuse! As I watched Dick's anger build and his pacing back and forth get faster, you could not help but hope the guy never got out of his truck. Luckily or unluckily, depending on how you see it, I was back out hand watering and did not see the final explosion.

       Almost everyone I have spoken with this past week has said the same thing, we are in survival mode. Guys are skipping a mow or just rolling. It is still amazing to hear stories of members questioning green speeds or cart paths only after some of the multi-inch rains to some Superintendents!

Just remember only 23 more weeks until Christmas....

WJC
      

Do I look Puffy In This Outfit?

       Puffy seems to be the word of the month in the Mid-Atlantic region. If you have not vented your greens, you are in the minority. With the ridiculous amounts of rain and how many days where it rains period, everybody keeps saying the same thing. " I need to get some air into the turf!'. To me what is interesting is the high humidity seems to be affecting the new varieties of bent grass even more than in the past from humidity. Obviously, the saturated soil is having an impact.
       Many have said they have been able to keep green speeds up to reasonable expectations but a few are at the point where if the rain doesn't stop soon it won't be pretty. I have spoken to a few Superintendents who said the already had some "boiled" turf from standing water followed by some high temps. Ugh!
       So what can you do? As I said, many are using needle tines as often as possible. If you have not tried a bayonet tine, I would suggest giving that a shot. Many have raised the HOC and what seems to be helping the most is going to a full roller to stop any digging in on soft turf.
I spoke to a turf manager the other day and he said he was using a pitch fork to try and dry out some areas. At this point, whatever works!


WJC

Product-People-Price

       I had a really interesting conversation with a customer this past week about why people buy a particular piece of turf equipment over the other choices. My feeling on why people buy comes down to 3 simple things Product, People and Price. While all three play a part in the decision process, what is the percentage breakdown is the interesting question. Sure this is a simplistic view of a complicated process, but I think it is the basis of what a purchase consists of. When you have the opportunity to buy, what makes you choose one piece of equipment over the other?
       Now I hate to share such a big turf industry secret, but they all cut grass or spray chemicals or pull plugs! Yes, some units are just better than everything else available, but the reality is basically all reel and rough units cut grass, aerators pull plugs and sprayers spray. And of course, I feel strongly about Toro products from my years of selling red iron. Obviously, some units have better features and just like all cars are not the same design, they all do the same thing.
       To me that is where the other two parts of the equation come into play. When I reference people, I am not just talking about your sales rep either. It is the support from the salesman, service department, parts department and training provided that are the difference maker. Again just as it all cuts grass....It all breaks at some point! I just want to be the rep from the company that can get you up and going faster than anyone else.
       And the final variable is price. Now the funny part about price to me is it is not the same as cost. If something is cheap up front, I can almost guarantee that over the life of the unit it will cost you more with down time and parts. I am talking about an apples to apples purchase, not any special pricing because of  multiple units or special deals.

       So the next time you have the chance to spend some capital dollars, I would ask you to think about what is the percentage break down in importance of             
Product-People-Price of your purchase.


WJC

Say Uncle!

       As we close the books on June 2013, here in Philadelphia we have been witness to the wettest June on record! With the daily cycle of showers continuing for a least another 5 plus days, I hate to think about the impact on the turf and the cash register at many clubs. Coming off a center of the golf universe high of the US Open at Merion, clubs are all wet.
       Many  Superintends are talking about opening up greens to get some air into the saturated surfaces. Others have talked of beginning to build an ark and start collecting two of every animal species on their property....The second half of the equation is when this weird Florida cycle of daily storms breaks, how high will the disease pressure be with the turf so wet and the normal hot and humid weather of July and August just around the corner. This will definitely be one of those years in the future you will be saying "Do you remember the summer of 2013?".
      

  



WJC

The First Tee & 43

       Last Saturday evening I got the chance to attend a fundraiser for The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia at The Ace Club. I was the guest of Frank Shuman, who is a board member of TFTGP and the former owner of Philadelphia Turf. The featured speaker was President George W Bush, who is now the honorary chairman of The First Tee! Whether or not you agree with his politics, it was pretty cool to hear a former President speak. Mike Tirico of ESPN was the interviewer but really wasn't needed. President Bush was very energetic and you can tell he is passionate about golf. He kept referencing his day playing Pine Valley GC and giving grief to the rest of his foursome.
       While his talk was focused on how golf is a great learning tool for children and how important mentoring is, it had a mix of his opinions and shots at himself (How some think English is his second language). For me it was something I will never forget.
       Now for the fun part of the evening....As I approached the security entrance, I was greeted in my Ford F-150 pickup truck with a "May I help you?". As I said "I am here for The First Tee event!",
I got the response of "Are you a guest?". With the response of "Yes I am!", I proceeded off to valet parking. As I pulled up I told the Valet "Over/Under of 2 pickup trucks tonight", he laughed. So as the evening ended and I came out to get my truck, I asked the Valet "How many?". He laughed again and said" You were the only one!".

        

The West Is The Best

       As I return from my second to last shift as a volunnteer at Merion Golf Club this morning, I thought about how the US Open week had played out. At the Sunday night meeting my named got announced as part of the West Course crew. The West Course has been set up as the practice facility for the US Open. After some discussions of what happened to the plans for me to work with the Technicians on The East Course,  I was set to head to the West. The reality of being a volunteer at a tournaments is you do what is needed to help. This past week I have raked mulch paths during the aftermath of the early week rain/mowed rough/mowed fairways/filled divots/raked/ran the back pack blower on the range tee and Squeegeed/squeegeed and squeegeed some more....
       Did I want to be on the East, sure but the reality is for these events to be successful not everyone can do a glamorous job and it is about being part of a team. What was fun was listening to the young staff members from the West Course. I had some flash backs of my time at Merion. They really took pride in what they do!The other cool part was a couple days into it, guys knew what needed to be done and hustled and helped wherever needed to make sure things were ready to go before 5:45AM range opening.
       Now I must admit that the 2:00AM wake up has not been a treat but the way the East is doing with all the rain and defending par is awesome to see (By the way read last weeks post and you can call me Nostradamus)!
       So over the next two days I will be watching as much as I can. But the best part to me is the rest of the worlds seeing why Merion Golf Club is a Top 5 rated golf course in the USA & Top 10 in the world!

Yeah that is the clock in my truck on Monday morning!

Congratulations to Matt Shaffer, Arron McCurdy and the Merion Staff on shocking the golf world!


WJC

Rain Rain Go Away!

      Well it is finally here! The US Open at Merion is next week and the circus has come to town. I grew up in the area and live only a few blocks over from the East Course (and no you can't park on my yard!). So the good part is I can walk back and forth. The bad part is I am not sure you will be able to get anywhere without it taking hours to drive until the Monday after. I have been able to drive
into the East Course the last two days to get to the Turf Grass Maintenance Facility. Yesterday was a "park anywhere in the shop yard" day and today was a" I can't get there from here and can you come meet me" day. The amount of people and tents and trucks and fencing is unreal.
       It looks like I will be on the light tower crew each night/morning for the week of the US Open.
I am sure I will find out more at the volunteer meeting late tomorrow afternoon. It is going to be something very cool to be a part of! Yesterday afternoon I dropped off some right out of the oven Philly Soft Pretzels. I figured the guys who were stuck working could use some carbs. As I came in to drop them off Matt Shaffer, Director of Golf, walked in behind me and said " What do you think we have something going on here this week?" This is the cool part of my job....Matt sat down with Robert Smith, Merion's lead Technician, and I and just shot the bull. We talked a little equipment but mostly about things that were going on. For those of you who know Matt, he is as generous with his time as anyone I have ever worked with in the Turf industry. If he can, he will always make time for you. For a man who was hosting the US Open next week and in the middle of a tropical storm, you would have never known it. Sometimes nothing beats experience.
       All everyone has said (me included) was the place will hold its own as long as it doesn't rain. Well depending on who you talk to 3.5" to 5" of rain later....Well I have changed my mind! I think the rough is going to be an all-timer and I think that the course is in great shape. I think they really have it dialed in and things will be perfect.
Yes, I am biased but I think the second half of the week will be something to see!

 

 

 

WJC