WEBVTT - Superintendent Series: Tom Feller on Cedar Rapids and Tree Management 0:00:00.280 --> 0:00:04.840 Welcome back to another edition of the Friedagg Podcast. Today's 0:00:04.920 --> 0:00:09.120 episode is brought to you by Toro Golfers get custom 0:00:09.160 --> 0:00:13.280 fit clubs for longer, straighter shots. Now, using the adjustable 0:00:13.320 --> 0:00:17.160 technology on Toro's new green Master one thousand series walk 0:00:17.239 --> 0:00:22.119 green mower, superintendents can dial in operator performance for precise, 0:00:22.320 --> 0:00:28.280 consistent cuts. The green Master's telescoping handle has five different positions, 0:00:28.520 --> 0:00:31.240 so the operator's posture will be as perfect as a 0:00:31.280 --> 0:00:35.120 tour pros whether he's tall and skinny or short and husky, 0:00:35.800 --> 0:00:38.720 and the handle's rubber mounts have just enough cushion to 0:00:38.720 --> 0:00:42.159 prevent any hand movements from influencing the cut. Sounds like 0:00:42.200 --> 0:00:45.360 Toro's solve the mower yips. Maybe they can fix the 0:00:45.400 --> 0:00:49.320 putting yips next. Follow at Toro Golf on Twitter and 0:00:49.400 --> 0:00:52.680 reach out to your local Toro distributor to schedule a demo. 0:00:54.440 --> 0:00:58.160 We are back for another edition of the Friedagg Podcast. 0:00:58.640 --> 0:01:04.280 Today I was joined by superintendent at Cedar Rapids Country Club, 0:01:04.440 --> 0:01:07.240 Tom Feller. Tom is a great guy. He's been there 0:01:07.319 --> 0:01:11.400 for just about eighteen years now and has done a 0:01:11.520 --> 0:01:15.560 ton of work transforming Cedar Rapids. Since he got there, 0:01:16.400 --> 0:01:21.040 They've made huge strides recently were noted on a list 0:01:21.120 --> 0:01:26.000 of the five best restoration projects in the last few 0:01:26.040 --> 0:01:30.040 years that I saw on golf dot com. Tom joins us. 0:01:30.760 --> 0:01:33.720 We talk about a ton of stuff, his background, how 0:01:33.720 --> 0:01:36.240 he got into it, and then his work at Cedar 0:01:36.319 --> 0:01:39.120 Rapids and some of the unique things they've done from 0:01:39.560 --> 0:01:44.959 tree management to also flood management, and just his general 0:01:45.040 --> 0:01:49.240 kind of practices. So, you know, again, a special thanks 0:01:49.240 --> 0:01:53.440 to Toro for making this Superintendent series possible. Excited by 0:01:53.480 --> 0:01:57.360 everybody's support and positive messages about the first one with 0:01:57.560 --> 0:02:01.480 Alex beson Crone that aired last month. We'll continue to 0:02:01.520 --> 0:02:04.000 have this be a monthly thing and we're excited to 0:02:04.600 --> 0:02:08.960 interview more and more superintendents here. So, without further ado, 0:02:09.240 --> 0:02:12.160 here is Tom Feller. I miss a green, for example, 0:02:12.280 --> 0:02:14.680 I'm already upset. When I find my ball in the bunker, 0:02:14.720 --> 0:02:16.160 I'm really upset. And when I. 0:02:16.160 --> 0:02:18.560 Find my ball in a fried egg Frida egg, the 0:02:18.680 --> 0:02:22.120 dreaded Frida egg Frida egg Frida egg Frida egg bride 0:02:22.160 --> 0:02:23.880 egg lie, I'm about ready to run. 0:02:23.680 --> 0:02:58.600 Off of the course. What do you have for breakfast 0:02:58.639 --> 0:02:59.080 this morning? 0:03:00.400 --> 0:03:04.880 I don't eat breakfast, really, no, what do you wait? Wait? 0:03:04.960 --> 0:03:09.880 I have a sixteen hour fast until lunch. No way daily. Yes, 0:03:10.360 --> 0:03:14.000 what time's lunch eleven to twelve, so. 0:03:14.040 --> 0:03:17.720 You get your full hour in Yes, what do you do? 0:03:17.800 --> 0:03:18.760 You drink coffee then in. 0:03:18.800 --> 0:03:20.960 The morning, I do drink coffee, coffee and water. 0:03:21.040 --> 0:03:23.519 Coffee and water. Yes, it's like and then, so you 0:03:23.760 --> 0:03:28.120 only eat lunch and dinner exactly. Really works for you, Huh. 0:03:28.440 --> 0:03:30.160 I'm not sure it works for me, but I'm doing it. 0:03:30.520 --> 0:03:33.079 People say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. 0:03:34.360 --> 0:03:36.200 Maybe do you like breakfast food? 0:03:36.960 --> 0:03:41.000 Not necessarily No, No, Eggs just don't agree with me. 0:03:41.160 --> 0:03:43.080 So you know, I walk by it every morning to 0:03:43.120 --> 0:03:46.680 get my coffee in the convenience store and pass right 0:03:46.760 --> 0:03:48.520 past the egg biscuit. 0:03:49.240 --> 0:03:51.160 So you get coffee at the convenience store. I do 0:03:51.600 --> 0:03:56.120 every morning, every morning, same one, same one, roughly the 0:03:56.200 --> 0:03:56.880 same time. 0:03:57.160 --> 0:03:59.240 At roughly the same time it has. It changes a 0:03:59.280 --> 0:04:00.240 little bit in the winter time. 0:04:00.400 --> 0:04:05.200 Okay, so they know you there, they do know me there. 0:04:05.320 --> 0:04:08.120 Yes, it's a block from my house. I should make 0:04:08.160 --> 0:04:09.920 it at home, but it's just too easy to stop 0:04:09.960 --> 0:04:10.240 and get. 0:04:10.920 --> 0:04:13.480 Yeah, it saves you ten minutes, for sure, it does 0:04:13.960 --> 0:04:17.000 at that time in the morning. Yep, you're spending what 0:04:17.160 --> 0:04:21.960 you would be eating for breakfast, exactly right. So how 0:04:22.040 --> 0:04:24.279 often do you walk the golf course. 0:04:24.839 --> 0:04:28.680 During the season? At least three times a week. I 0:04:29.600 --> 0:04:32.040 find that it just, first of all, it gets me 0:04:32.120 --> 0:04:34.440 some exercise, which I enjoy. I can kind of follow 0:04:34.480 --> 0:04:36.400 up my staff in the morning as they go out 0:04:37.200 --> 0:04:40.840 check on things. You know, I can check on what 0:04:41.960 --> 0:04:45.159 is happening that's going right, and what's happening that's going wrong. 0:04:45.279 --> 0:04:49.440 Basically, you have like a time that you walk. I do. 0:04:49.680 --> 0:04:53.080 So normally we'll start the crew, my assistant will start 0:04:53.120 --> 0:04:54.960 the crew, and then we go we Normally I'll normally 0:04:55.000 --> 0:04:57.480 go out like six thirty and I know they go 0:04:57.720 --> 0:04:59.040 I'll change it up. But a lot of times I 0:04:59.160 --> 0:05:03.000 go backwards because I follow up on what they've gotten 0:05:03.000 --> 0:05:04.000 accomplished in the morning. 0:05:04.680 --> 0:05:07.560 Okay, so you'll go buck eighteen. 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:10.479 Eighteen and go backwards and you're looking at what they're doing, 0:05:10.640 --> 0:05:14.080 and then exactly and then kind of you know, helping 0:05:14.440 --> 0:05:16.800 my assistants line up the second job for the day. 0:05:18.760 --> 0:05:24.280 What uh, what's one thing that you've noticed on like 0:05:24.360 --> 0:05:26.040 one of these walks that sticks out. 0:05:27.360 --> 0:05:30.599 You know, It's it's amazing just even the simple things 0:05:30.640 --> 0:05:33.080 that don't get accomplished. You know, you tell your tea 0:05:33.160 --> 0:05:36.520 service crew or a tea service man or woman to 0:05:36.920 --> 0:05:39.760 fill the dibbots and pick up the t's and clean 0:05:39.880 --> 0:05:42.120 up the entire tea complex, and you find that they're 0:05:42.240 --> 0:05:46.000 just filling half the dibots, or you follow up your 0:05:46.080 --> 0:05:48.720 pin setting guy and you know, you tell them that, 0:05:48.880 --> 0:05:51.120 you know, I recommend ten to twelve feet from the 0:05:51.600 --> 0:05:53.760 from the collar, but it's got you know, he's eight 0:05:53.839 --> 0:05:56.600 feet from the collar on some certain pins. So you 0:05:56.720 --> 0:05:59.560 notice things that just you went notice. It's not a 0:05:59.600 --> 0:06:02.480 quick drive around on the golf course. Basically, it's daily setup, 0:06:02.480 --> 0:06:05.839 I would say more than anything. Nothing ever, like really big, 0:06:06.279 --> 0:06:07.400 nothing earth shattering, no. 0:06:08.200 --> 0:06:10.440 But it gives you a feel for the golf course. 0:06:10.640 --> 0:06:13.560 It does, I mean, and I enjoyed this. I enjoy 0:06:13.640 --> 0:06:16.400 walking just because of you know, I love setup. You know, 0:06:16.880 --> 0:06:19.080 the morning set up, the T blocks set perfectly, the 0:06:19.600 --> 0:06:22.279 rakes and the bunkers, you know where they're set around 0:06:22.360 --> 0:06:25.799 the bunker. You know, there's a set arrangement for everything 0:06:25.880 --> 0:06:27.920 that we have, and it's just kind of nice to 0:06:27.960 --> 0:06:29.200 follow up with those kind of things. 0:06:29.760 --> 0:06:33.040 What's your set arrangement for the bunkers? 0:06:33.680 --> 0:06:37.560 Typically the rakes go parallel to the fairway and outside 0:06:37.600 --> 0:06:40.800 the bunker, outside outside, and they should normally they'll be 0:06:40.920 --> 0:06:43.960 on you know, the outside edge of the fairway. 0:06:44.080 --> 0:06:46.159 So I feel like that's some kind of a big 0:06:46.279 --> 0:06:46.920 hot topic. 0:06:47.360 --> 0:06:48.560 It is, I would agree. 0:06:48.560 --> 0:06:50.599 Everybody does it a little different. 0:06:50.600 --> 0:06:55.320 Along with your membership. Regardless of the rule, they will 0:06:55.400 --> 0:06:57.800 leave them in the bunker, out of the bunker, or 0:06:57.880 --> 0:07:00.080 across the fairway. It just depends on what kind of shot. 0:07:00.120 --> 0:07:04.120 There is that your pet peeve, the bunker rake leaving 0:07:04.440 --> 0:07:05.320 the way they leave. 0:07:05.680 --> 0:07:08.960 My biggest pet peeve and all my all the people 0:07:09.000 --> 0:07:11.040 that have worked for me will say, it's how to 0:07:11.080 --> 0:07:14.400 set the tea blocks up. I can't. I just every 0:07:14.440 --> 0:07:17.040 time we set up te blocks, and every time I'm 0:07:17.080 --> 0:07:18.720 on the tee, I will at least move a third 0:07:18.840 --> 0:07:22.160 of the t blocks because I just like to change 0:07:22.160 --> 0:07:24.400 the setup from day to day. And a lot of 0:07:24.440 --> 0:07:26.160 times they'll either move them like a foot or two 0:07:26.200 --> 0:07:27.800 in front or a foot or two and back. And 0:07:27.880 --> 0:07:30.200 so the guys that are playing every day, I would 0:07:30.280 --> 0:07:32.480 rather have them play a different golf course every day 0:07:32.560 --> 0:07:34.560 than the same yardage from day to day. 0:07:34.600 --> 0:07:38.360 I agree with that. So like you move them drastically different. 0:07:38.560 --> 0:07:41.960 I do, and even to sometimes different teas. I mean, 0:07:42.040 --> 0:07:43.080 just to change the setup. 0:07:43.840 --> 0:07:45.120 I think that makes a lot of sense. 0:07:45.200 --> 0:07:46.280 Yeah, do you it? 0:07:46.320 --> 0:07:49.400 What's the most crazy you've gotten? Have you ever moved 0:07:49.560 --> 0:07:51.880 one a back t in front of a different tea? 0:07:52.280 --> 0:07:54.400 I've I've moved a back t all the way to 0:07:54.440 --> 0:07:57.960 the forward t. So it'll play from one fifty five 0:07:58.040 --> 0:08:00.840 and we'll drop down to one ten. And as long 0:08:00.880 --> 0:08:03.280 as you know, from the handicamp standpoint, as long as 0:08:03.320 --> 0:08:05.040 you're the same with the other te blocks, I think 0:08:05.080 --> 0:08:05.760 you're okay. 0:08:06.800 --> 0:08:09.240 So that all the other box would have to move 0:08:09.440 --> 0:08:13.160 move up for also, that's I like that. 0:08:13.440 --> 0:08:15.720 Yeah, I just like changing it up. And I and 0:08:16.360 --> 0:08:18.400 my assistants always give me such a hard time because 0:08:18.400 --> 0:08:20.520 they'll go set up. I'll even have them set up 0:08:20.840 --> 0:08:22.800 and they'll get in and then I'll come in, you know, 0:08:22.880 --> 0:08:25.360 an hour later after you walk on the cars and 0:08:25.400 --> 0:08:27.000 I'll be like, well, how many blocks did you move? 0:08:28.640 --> 0:08:30.400 It's just one of my biggest pet peeves. 0:08:31.800 --> 0:08:33.719 One of the best things is to have day to 0:08:33.800 --> 0:08:36.720 day variety. I agree, and it's amazing because people are 0:08:36.800 --> 0:08:39.400 creatures a habit. They just hate change. Do you ever 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:42.679 get members that push back when you move something way up. 0:08:42.880 --> 0:08:46.320 Oh, we've had comments on it like must you know either, 0:08:47.160 --> 0:08:48.800 you know, especially on te blocks if you move them 0:08:48.840 --> 0:08:50.600 to a different tea, they'll be like, well, it must 0:08:50.640 --> 0:08:53.040 have had a new guy start today where I was 0:08:53.080 --> 0:08:56.440 the one that did it, you know, those type of things. 0:08:56.520 --> 0:08:59.199 But the pin places are what they really get. You know, 0:08:59.240 --> 0:09:01.800 if you get kind of crazy with the pin placements 0:09:01.800 --> 0:09:04.120 from day to day, they they'll comment on that, how 0:09:04.160 --> 0:09:05.760 it must have been a bad night last night for 0:09:05.960 --> 0:09:06.679 the superintendent. 0:09:07.160 --> 0:09:14.400 You know, No, no, you know, everybody's always got an opinion, 0:09:14.760 --> 0:09:17.560 they exactly. And most people that are members of country 0:09:17.600 --> 0:09:20.280 clubs are very successful in life, so they, you know, 0:09:20.559 --> 0:09:22.959 there used to being the opinion that matters most of 0:09:23.320 --> 0:09:25.120 most of their life's activities. 0:09:25.280 --> 0:09:26.679 I would agree with that one hundred percent. 0:09:28.080 --> 0:09:32.920 How did you get into turf and becoming a golf 0:09:33.000 --> 0:09:35.800 super did you? Were you a golfer growing up? Or so? 0:09:36.040 --> 0:09:38.640 I grew up in small town island northeast corner of 0:09:38.720 --> 0:09:42.760 Iowa in Wakan and we grew up a block away 0:09:42.760 --> 0:09:44.560 from the nine hole golf course that was in town, 0:09:45.240 --> 0:09:49.120 and I basically was the superintendent's nightmare up there. I 0:09:49.480 --> 0:09:51.840 was out at six point thirty in the morning, playing 0:09:51.960 --> 0:09:55.320 in the dew, wondering why the greens weren't cut, wondering 0:09:55.360 --> 0:09:58.120 why irarified greens one day. So I started with that 0:09:58.440 --> 0:10:01.120 and then went from you know the time when I 0:10:01.200 --> 0:10:04.280 played played high school golf for my freshman year on 0:10:05.120 --> 0:10:07.760 and then worked in a city park just for something 0:10:07.800 --> 0:10:10.160 to do. And so I just loved working outside, and 0:10:10.160 --> 0:10:12.000 I started working in the park when I was fifteen 0:10:12.679 --> 0:10:15.680 and worked actually till my second year of college until 0:10:15.720 --> 0:10:19.960 I moved out of Wakan and just enjoyed being outside 0:10:20.760 --> 0:10:23.959 and actually was going to teach, and so I was 0:10:24.080 --> 0:10:27.120 going to went on a state university for as a 0:10:27.160 --> 0:10:31.360 math major, and got to my finally my third year 0:10:31.480 --> 0:10:33.120 through my third year to where I had to sign 0:10:33.200 --> 0:10:35.480 up for student teaching and decided I didn't want to 0:10:35.520 --> 0:10:38.800 do it. And so actually I just heard about this 0:10:39.600 --> 0:10:42.840 turf program down in Myrtle Beach or in Conway, South Carolina, 0:10:43.559 --> 0:10:46.319 and so decided to pick up and bolt down to 0:10:46.360 --> 0:10:49.680 South South Carolina and attend oor Georgetown Technical College. 0:10:50.960 --> 0:10:52.760 You were always an early riser. 0:10:52.800 --> 0:10:56.120 Always an early riser being now where. 0:10:56.120 --> 0:10:59.200 You were the person that was out with the crew early, 0:11:00.080 --> 0:11:03.760 and you know, wondering why stuff wasn't mode and everything 0:11:05.080 --> 0:11:08.920 in terms of how you would communicate with membership that 0:11:09.040 --> 0:11:11.520 wants to get out earlier. Golfers say you were a 0:11:11.640 --> 0:11:13.920 public course and golfers that want to get out early 0:11:14.000 --> 0:11:16.679 and push, What kind of effect does that have on 0:11:17.120 --> 0:11:21.120 your crew if you're you know, being disrupted. 0:11:21.360 --> 0:11:24.640 Yeah, I wouldn't even say what. I won't say what 0:11:24.760 --> 0:11:27.000 it has to do with the crew as much as 0:11:27.080 --> 0:11:28.760 what it has to do with the membership, because they're 0:11:28.800 --> 0:11:32.000 just they're not getting the conditions that they deserve. If 0:11:32.120 --> 0:11:35.360 we're getting pushed on the golf course too early, so 0:11:35.679 --> 0:11:39.000 you know they're out playing and the bunkers aren't getting raged. 0:11:39.400 --> 0:11:41.280 We can't stay ahead of them with the greens mares. 0:11:41.320 --> 0:11:43.160 You know, when I lived in Myrtle Beach, I worked 0:11:43.160 --> 0:11:47.840 at a resort course called Arcadian Shores, and I mean 0:11:48.000 --> 0:11:51.520 we were one hole ahead of the golfers every morning 0:11:51.720 --> 0:11:55.080 that we work there. And they just don't get the quality. 0:11:55.120 --> 0:11:57.319 The just don't get the quality that they deserve, is 0:11:57.360 --> 0:11:59.640 a way I feel now. I realize there's a definite 0:11:59.640 --> 0:12:02.640 revenue base there versus you know, we have a dues base. 0:12:02.679 --> 0:12:06.000 So it's like for a private club, I think you 0:12:06.120 --> 0:12:06.760 deserve better. 0:12:07.320 --> 0:12:10.040 And for some people if they're like they guess stuff 0:12:10.080 --> 0:12:12.520 going on at home, they're just the mission of the 0:12:12.640 --> 0:12:14.880 round early in the morning is just to get done 0:12:14.880 --> 0:12:15.880 as fast as possible. 0:12:16.000 --> 0:12:18.760 Absolutely, and we still have trouble. I mean they started 0:12:18.760 --> 0:12:21.559 at six thirty here on Saturday mornings, and we'll have 0:12:21.640 --> 0:12:22.640 guys get done at nine. 0:12:23.000 --> 0:12:24.480 So you guys are starting in the dark. 0:12:24.640 --> 0:12:28.679 Oh yeah, four five, five o'clock and we run off 0:12:28.720 --> 0:12:30.240 the front and back just to keep ahead of them. 0:12:30.400 --> 0:12:34.160 M How long did you live in Myrtle Beach then? 0:12:34.559 --> 0:12:35.240 Is there two years? 0:12:37.240 --> 0:12:42.000 How how was working down there? Did you then come 0:12:42.120 --> 0:12:43.599 back up to I did so. 0:12:43.679 --> 0:12:48.319 I went from Myrtle Beach to Quincy Comfort Club in Quincy, Illinois. 0:12:48.440 --> 0:12:52.240 Yeah. So what was it like, you know with Bermuda 0:12:52.559 --> 0:12:55.720 and obviously you know, Myrtle Beach the probably most rounds 0:12:55.760 --> 0:12:57.640 per capita of any place in the world. 0:12:57.800 --> 0:13:00.360 Yeah, it was crazy, Uh, I would First of all, 0:13:00.400 --> 0:13:03.280 I was there when Hurricane Hugo came through, so we had, 0:13:03.760 --> 0:13:05.760 you know, a thousand trees I went down. I mean 0:13:05.800 --> 0:13:08.120 it was a whole different ball game. The first year 0:13:08.200 --> 0:13:11.040 I was there was prior to prior to Hugo and 0:13:12.000 --> 0:13:13.959 you know, it's a little more enjoyable, I would say, 0:13:14.360 --> 0:13:16.400 but you still are dealing with bermuda. We had old 0:13:16.440 --> 0:13:21.160 pen cross mint grass, greens that were just struggled. You know, 0:13:21.240 --> 0:13:24.480 you had issues, salt water issues, salt issues in the water. 0:13:25.920 --> 0:13:28.800 You had. It was just and bermuda was basically just 0:13:28.880 --> 0:13:30.760 such a weed. I mean that's what I figured it. Well, 0:13:30.800 --> 0:13:33.719 you know, we'd edge bunkers and they had I think, 0:13:33.920 --> 0:13:35.880 you know, I might have this number wrong, but I 0:13:35.920 --> 0:13:38.200 should know. It hit over eighty bunkers and they were 0:13:38.320 --> 0:13:41.520 huge bunkers, and you get done edging them and you 0:13:41.679 --> 0:13:43.439 just turn around and start edging them again. It was 0:13:43.559 --> 0:13:47.000 the most defeating deal on the whole golf course. Defeating job. 0:13:48.160 --> 0:13:49.880 So you were there the two years you were getting 0:13:49.920 --> 0:13:52.640 the degree, you were working, and you were going to 0:13:52.679 --> 0:13:55.040 school at the same time. Yes, what kind of like 0:13:55.200 --> 0:13:57.959 what was your schedule like then early morning? Then you'd 0:13:58.000 --> 0:13:59.319 go to school after you're done. 0:13:59.440 --> 0:14:02.520 Or the beauty of their program is they they basically 0:14:03.120 --> 0:14:05.760 had you in a job before you even had your 0:14:05.800 --> 0:14:07.719 class schedule. So you would get your you would get 0:14:07.720 --> 0:14:10.920 your job, and then you'd work your class schedule around it. 0:14:12.040 --> 0:14:12.360 I was. 0:14:12.600 --> 0:14:14.719 I had quite a few credits already when I got 0:14:14.760 --> 0:14:18.640 down there, so I really had a pretty easy life 0:14:18.679 --> 0:14:21.880 down there as far as school went. So I worked 0:14:22.120 --> 0:14:25.400 thirty hours a week and then went to school also, 0:14:25.640 --> 0:14:31.120 you know, but they really on the job experience is huge. 0:14:31.680 --> 0:14:34.320 I mean, I think they really stress that. And you know, 0:14:34.640 --> 0:14:37.600 I worked for a superintendent assistant assistant down there. The 0:14:37.640 --> 0:14:40.120 assistant was from storm Lake, Iowa, so that was kind 0:14:40.120 --> 0:14:41.840 of our connection. So a lot of the Iowa guys 0:14:41.880 --> 0:14:45.160 went to that golf course. So it was kind of cool. 0:14:45.720 --> 0:14:50.239 As as somebody now that hires, you know, young assistant superintendent. 0:14:50.280 --> 0:14:55.000 It's different. How do you how do you value education versus, 0:14:55.520 --> 0:14:59.040 you know, the versus you know, on the job training 0:14:59.280 --> 0:15:03.640 versus because obviously you've got superintendents that run the gamut 0:15:03.720 --> 0:15:08.160 of technical two year degrees to you know masters. 0:15:08.400 --> 0:15:11.680 Sure, you know, I wouldn't put you know, I had 0:15:11.720 --> 0:15:13.400 a two year degree and then I went and finished 0:15:13.400 --> 0:15:15.320 my four year degree just from a mark, He's just 0:15:15.440 --> 0:15:18.760 from my own professional I just wanted to do it, 0:15:19.840 --> 0:15:24.080 just to have it. And I would encourage guys now 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:25.880 to get their four year degree just because of the 0:15:25.960 --> 0:15:28.720 market the way it is but really, from my standpoint, 0:15:28.800 --> 0:15:30.800 for an assistant, you know, you want them to have 0:15:31.080 --> 0:15:32.600 at least I would want them to have at least 0:15:32.640 --> 0:15:34.920 a two year degree. But having the work ethic is 0:15:34.960 --> 0:15:38.160 what I'd really be looking for and being willing to learn. 0:15:38.520 --> 0:15:40.680 I mean, that's really what I look for. It's it's 0:15:40.800 --> 0:15:42.080 not the guy that just wants to come in for 0:15:42.160 --> 0:15:44.640 forty hours a week and collect his paycheck and not 0:15:44.800 --> 0:15:47.200 be able to broaden his horizons a little bit and 0:15:47.320 --> 0:15:49.000 not see the big picture. I mean, I just want 0:15:49.040 --> 0:15:52.640 somebody that really wants to dive in, enjoy what they do, 0:15:53.200 --> 0:15:56.600 and learn to be able to move on. What. 0:15:57.600 --> 0:16:03.760 How's you've been here for eighteen years? How's the hiring 0:16:03.920 --> 0:16:06.920 and labor changed in that time? 0:16:07.760 --> 0:16:10.880 You know, I've from my standpoint, I haven't had too 0:16:10.880 --> 0:16:14.840 many issues. We've always had. I guess I've always had 0:16:14.880 --> 0:16:18.080 a good assistant base and always have had through my 0:16:18.280 --> 0:16:22.840 my kids through the high schools have always brought me help, 0:16:22.880 --> 0:16:26.280 it seems like, so I've utilized them. They're those two 0:16:26.280 --> 0:16:28.760 of my both my son and daughter, as a resource 0:16:28.880 --> 0:16:31.160 to get into the public school, into the you know, 0:16:31.280 --> 0:16:34.640 public school system, and once you get it moving and 0:16:34.720 --> 0:16:37.960 they enjoy their job and it just seems like they 0:16:38.040 --> 0:16:40.840 just want to keep coming in. So I've really been fortunate. 0:16:40.920 --> 0:16:43.360 I mean I haven't had up here especially, I haven't 0:16:43.400 --> 0:16:45.280 had any issues with labor. 0:16:45.800 --> 0:16:49.320 Yeah, I mean what a job outside. I caddied growing up, 0:16:49.480 --> 0:16:53.080 and I would work. I've are the superintendent of the 0:16:53.160 --> 0:16:54.800 course I grew up at. So I was trying to 0:16:54.840 --> 0:16:56.400 get me to do the grounds thing, but I was 0:16:56.600 --> 0:16:59.680 I was caddying and working backroom. But I mean, it's 0:17:00.520 --> 0:17:02.800 nothing like being on a golf course early in the morning. 0:17:03.280 --> 0:17:05.439 You know, it's the best way to start your day. 0:17:05.440 --> 0:17:07.600 And like and I'm flexible with the staff. You know, 0:17:07.960 --> 0:17:10.399 I hire enough guys that you can you know, you know, 0:17:10.440 --> 0:17:12.000 they got to go on a summer vacation. You know, 0:17:12.080 --> 0:17:13.560 they're going to have to have a long weekend to 0:17:13.600 --> 0:17:16.199 do things. So I'm flexible as long as we can 0:17:16.280 --> 0:17:19.200 have coverage for when they're gone, and we make it enjoyable. 0:17:19.240 --> 0:17:21.080 I mean, I you know, I know a lot of 0:17:21.119 --> 0:17:24.160 the staff that comes in I enjoyed because they come 0:17:24.240 --> 0:17:27.680 from all, you know, all different backgrounds, and they're you know, 0:17:27.720 --> 0:17:30.200 they're going to college or going to be engineers, are 0:17:30.240 --> 0:17:32.920 going to be doctors. They got all different types of 0:17:33.680 --> 0:17:35.760 you know, professions are going to go into so it 0:17:35.880 --> 0:17:39.320 really brings it's really kind of fun to see them 0:17:39.400 --> 0:17:40.080 move on in life. 0:17:40.119 --> 0:17:43.640 Also, it's it's got to be the seasonality those tough 0:17:43.680 --> 0:17:45.800 because then they go back to school and it is 0:17:46.040 --> 0:17:46.600 I still. 0:17:46.480 --> 0:17:48.800 Need work and for sure, I mean that's one of 0:17:48.840 --> 0:17:51.400 the tougher things are. You know, like the last couple 0:17:51.440 --> 0:17:53.640 of years, our spring and fall have been such a disaster. 0:17:53.760 --> 0:17:56.680 It seems like, you know, late spring, early fall, so 0:17:56.880 --> 0:17:59.040 you know, you haven't noticed it as much from a 0:17:59.640 --> 0:18:01.800 from a from a plane standpoint. I don't think the 0:18:01.880 --> 0:18:04.280 membership is known as you know I do, but it's 0:18:05.160 --> 0:18:07.159 we don't even have any golfer because you know, the 0:18:07.240 --> 0:18:09.600 heisman forty and the lows are twenty. So it's like 0:18:09.680 --> 0:18:12.440 you just don't notice it. But on a normal season 0:18:12.480 --> 0:18:15.680 you'd want to. We need definitely need more seasonal help, 0:18:15.760 --> 0:18:18.000 you know, the shoulder seasons, especially. 0:18:18.200 --> 0:18:22.000 When when you go from you know, full staff in 0:18:22.080 --> 0:18:26.280 the summer and you say you lose your your the 0:18:26.760 --> 0:18:28.840 high school kids and you're a little shorter. What what 0:18:29.000 --> 0:18:33.000 are the areas of maintenance that go from like that? 0:18:33.119 --> 0:18:36.840 Are the nice to haves that get kind of cut definitely. 0:18:36.920 --> 0:18:39.240 You know, bunkers are probably number one. I mean we 0:18:39.440 --> 0:18:42.560 go from raking them every day to raking them twice 0:18:42.560 --> 0:18:44.960 a week. You know, we're spinning them with a bunker 0:18:45.040 --> 0:18:48.400 rake versus hand raking them. We go from walk bowing 0:18:48.440 --> 0:18:51.719 greens to ride mowing. You know, I'd say those are 0:18:51.800 --> 0:18:54.720 the things that I notice the most, and especially on 0:18:55.119 --> 0:18:58.160 with the green complexes that we have. When you put 0:18:58.160 --> 0:18:59.880 a rider on them, you almost have to just back 0:19:00.080 --> 0:19:01.800 up and mow and back up and mo. You can't 0:19:01.800 --> 0:19:04.639 really turn on them. So otherwise it's caused too much 0:19:04.720 --> 0:19:07.119 damage of the collars, so you just notice some damage 0:19:07.119 --> 0:19:08.800 around col you know, you give up a little bit 0:19:08.840 --> 0:19:11.320 of the quality. When you definitely get to that time of. 0:19:11.280 --> 0:19:13.840 The year, I imagine it's a little bit tougher to 0:19:13.880 --> 0:19:17.000 get it all the way out to the corners absolutely right, exactly, 0:19:17.200 --> 0:19:20.320 so you get run the risk of a little shrink. 0:19:20.480 --> 0:19:22.640 Right, So in the spring every year in the spring 0:19:22.760 --> 0:19:24.920 we get out and cut them back out, get things 0:19:25.000 --> 0:19:25.880 back out to the edge. 0:19:26.320 --> 0:19:29.200 How do you keep track of where they were? Do 0:19:29.280 --> 0:19:31.800 you do you like have them mapped or is there 0:19:31.840 --> 0:19:32.359 a way that. 0:19:32.720 --> 0:19:35.199 I'm just I'm very I just mark them. I mean, 0:19:35.240 --> 0:19:37.000 I just go back out and I do it probably 0:19:37.040 --> 0:19:38.960 four times a year with this paint. 0:19:39.160 --> 0:19:41.320 Well, you're walking all that and I see it. You know. 0:19:41.400 --> 0:19:44.000 I'm very active on the golf course. I mean, I 0:19:44.440 --> 0:19:45.440 love being out there and seeing. 0:19:45.520 --> 0:19:46.119 Do you play a lot? 0:19:46.800 --> 0:19:49.879 I don't, but I would like to again. At some 0:19:49.960 --> 0:19:50.720 point I'm going. 0:19:50.640 --> 0:19:53.600 To mentally, you could play while you're walking, Yes, I could. 0:19:54.280 --> 0:19:56.280 It's probably the best way to play golf. 0:19:56.359 --> 0:19:58.240 Yeah, I think I've played. I think I played five 0:19:58.359 --> 0:20:01.800 times last year, so yeah, and I played here twice. 0:20:02.160 --> 0:20:05.600 So I enjoy going other places and playing. But I 0:20:05.680 --> 0:20:08.520 find myself when I play here it's just too much work. 0:20:08.960 --> 0:20:11.119 And that's just all I do is think about I 0:20:11.200 --> 0:20:13.000 can't believe we miss that. I can't believe. You know, 0:20:13.040 --> 0:20:16.000 it's good for you. But it's also when I play golf. 0:20:16.040 --> 0:20:19.159 I like to enjoy the game, and I like to 0:20:19.200 --> 0:20:20.600 look at you know. I love to go to other 0:20:20.680 --> 0:20:23.480