Winter Project Season

Welcome to winter project season. While most members think that superintendents spend the winter sitting at their desks with their feet up, sipping hot cocoa, most are actually out tackling big projects. Here at VGM Club, we understand that in the winter, when superintendents do not need to worry about impeding play they work on equipment maintenance, or tree work, etc. If the weather does not cooperate, a superintendent's time may be spent shoveling sidewalks and plowing parking lots for the many events respective clubs host throughout the winter. With these projects comes a need for equipment and tools to tackle them.

Equipment Maintenance

Starting in the fall months and continuing throughout the winter, many superintendents are fixing and maintaining their equipment. A common maintenance practice is to grease equipment during this time. Paul Grayson, a columnist for Golf Course Industry Magazine, offers a tip to cut down on the time spent greasing equipment. "I have been switching to lifetime-lubricated sealed bearings for high speed rotating parts and to plastic bushings for low sped parts eliminating the need for greasing." As more equipment manufacturers adopt this, and you switch to this practice as well, it can eliminate frequent causes of bearing failure: over greasing and under greasing.

Snow Removal

Not all superintendents have to deal with this, but those who do spend a large portion of their winter plowing sidewalks and parking lots. For the club, the need for clean sidewalks and parking lots are vital to keeping their members safe during an event.

Tree Work

Tree removal, trimming, and removal of debris is a huge part of a superintendent's job. Poorly placed trees can cause turf problems and become nothing but a nuisance. It has become increasingly important for turf managers to develop a tree management program. Michael Hurdzan, Ph.D., is a renowned golf course architect and spoke to Golf Course Industry Magazine to describe an ideal tree program. First start by consulting an arborist or forester. Proceed to take a "tree inventory," categorizing them by type, size, age and health. Once superintendents have logged each tree, they should rate the trees by safety, health, and play-ability. These steps should help be proactive with tree care and maintenance. With these winter projects, our partner Grainger offers items like snow blowers, shovels, and spreaders for plowing and generators for the power you need out on the course! And with an increased discount for a limited time.

Click here to learn about our program with Grainger. Contact your VGM Club rep for more information and to see how we can help you carry out these and other projects as well this winter.