The Art & Science of Golf Course Maintenance

Preparing a golf course for people to play is a daily process that requires one part art, and one part science. The process is much different than mowing grass. It requires constant communication, precision, and being able to adapt quickly on the fly. The golfers are coming and all superintendents must balance whats essential with what can wait while still maintaining the quality and course conditions members and guests expect.

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Produced by Luka Rusovac

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Barry Ehlert is a serial entrepreneur. His love & passion for business started young. His first venture of shoveling snow was done for tips. As a business graduate of Brigham Young University, Barry wrote an award winning business plan while attending his last year of university. He was named one of Forbes Magazine’s “Future Capitalists.” He grew a start-up in Dallas, TX to 8 retail locations, and over 100 wholesale accounts before selling the business, and returning home where he grew up in Calgary, AB. Barry followed his grandfather, and father’s footsteps with his passion for golf and business. He has grown Windmill Golf at one point to over 10 golf course through building new, acquiring, and management of golf courses. He has since redeveloped some courses, and has been focused on some of his new acquisitions while preparing to open Mickelson National in 2020. Barry recently decided to start a Vlog to provide insight into his life plus passion he shares for his family and business.

[_Ptat_]

I’ve been working on a golf course for 9 seasons now. I love watching other peoples videos because it shows how people operate differently doing the same things. If that makes sense. I love seeing all the different maintenance facilities and turf equipment and the maintenance procedures.


Some things that we do differently are we don’t have morning meetings. The super or assistant writes jobs on the white board and we just look at it after punching in and doing what we’re assigned. It does work for the most part.

We also don’t really have much of set chores to be done after the daily tasks. If there’s nothing written on the board, we find stuff to keep busy without being told. And are always more than willing to change to something if we’re instructed to

[davidredlinger]

This is the most amazing video . As a past greenskeeper I understand communication and teamwork is key when running a crew especially when it's on a PGA course because timing, experience, and knowledge is important. What a great video. Thank you.

[stevencamp]

I get there at 6:30 every morning since tee time for the front 9 are at 8 am or 4:00 am on tournament days since they usually tee off on all 18 holes at 7 am. But I love it and I wouldn’t do anything else.

[matthawkins]

Love seeing a lot of the equipment you use is what we use at my course. From the Propass, to the 648 and the 3500 rough mower.

[teach]

He says it's early but the sun is coming up. I'm at my course at 415 every morning to start getting things ready

[yanni]

Nice, I'm Equipment Manager 30 years. I love to show my Shop. New Sub.

[smithsonian]

Being someone who is in this line of work, it's interesting to see how other courses run their operations.

[UPnDOWN]

Question, 90% complete on my backyard green 25'x28' full 4" tile drain, 3/8" gravel 4" thick with the USGA recommend sand & soil mix, no intermediate layer. Root mix is 16-18" deep.
My question: Should I incorporate any chemicals/fertilizer into the XX inches of the root mix before seeding? I will be using bent, I'm in the NE. Also, what type of tarp material should I buy to cover green in the winter, I see poly, canvas etc. Thanks a lot.

[adachi]

Top dressing downside is reel mowers hate sand so as you cut it starts to look really bad the cut quality of the mower to the point where even if you fix up the mower to cut good it gets ruined again the next day

[gtk]

Raking bunkers by hand is the way to go. the trap rake makes a mess getting in and out of the bunker and the spinning causes a ripple effect after a while that requires reshaping to correct

[Premier_lawns_official]

Fantastic video, loved the editing and such a nice track

[gearoidfinneran]

Do you take soil samples for lab analysis, if so how often is it done?

[rrproductsinc]

Quality video with great info. Thank you, superintendents!

[thePlum]

Very interesting to see all the behind the scenes! Quite a complex ordeal !

[speednutsII]

Great video! Looks familiar to me (my dad was a superintendent, I worked for him as a kid for years). I miss the work. Always felt great.

[gagependergast]

Good quality video. I feel though that was like a tenth of what you filmed and really only saw bunkers and top dressing.

[tommybennett]

I been reel mowing my home lawn which is 100% perennial ryegrass. I’m going to spoon feed it this next season. What fertilizer would you recommend? I like to use both liquid and granular. I live in upstate NY my HOC is between 5/8-1”….and I’m high in phosphorus. Thanks for the video

[rudranarayansharma]

Where is it this golf course. Great superident

[Pdoio]

hello, can i work there?
i'm from indonesia

[excellenceinanimation]

What happens at the golf course stays at the golf course!