Maintenance equipment

We use a great deal of expensive and specialized equipment to maintain the golf course. It takes several hours of training and expertise to use these pieces properly and to produce the product that you see when you play. Below are just a few examples.

Triplex: This is the machine we use to do precise mowing. The cutting height on this machine can be set to many different heights. We use a triplex to mow greens and tees. Currently, the height for the greens mower is set under 1/8”. We also use our vertical mowing units, or verti-cutters, on the triplex machine. The vertical mowing units allow us to penetrate into the canopy of the turf and tear out thatch, which is comprised of dead leaf and stem tissue. Typically we set the verticut unit about 1/16” deeper than the height of cut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roller: Our roller is an integral part of the maintenance of the greens. Having a lightweight roller allows us to roll more frequently without putting undue stress on the turf. The roller helps to smooth out the surface and make putts roll truer. Not only does the roller impact ball roll, but it is an agronomic benefit as well. By rolling instead of mowing, we allow the green’s turf to be that fraction of an inch taller which allows it to have more tissue and better stress resistance. This type of roller is especially convenient because it comes with its own transport system built in. The yellow bar acts as the hitch and when the bar is lifted the wheels on the side transport the machine. When the operator arrives at the green, he lifts the bar and the wheels rise up and the roller portion of the machine drops down to the ground and rolling can begin.

 

Fairway mower: Our fairway mower is a five gang unit that has a great balance between quality of cut and efficiency. Because it has five cutting units, one person can cut much more area than they would be able to in a smaller machine. We have roughly 30 acres of fairways to mow, so increasing efficiency in any way possible is a necessity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mechanical bunker rake: This machine again is a combination of effectiveness and efficiency. Having so many bunkers on the course makes it too labor intensive and time consuming to try and rake all by hand. With this machine one person can rake all the bunkers in about 4 hours.

 

Rough mower: This is one of the most critical pieces of machinery that is not related to the maintenance of the greens. This machine mows the rough, and here at Bretton Woods there is a lot of rough. This mower has three decks and has a cutting width of eight feet. Because of the large acreage of rough not only on the golf course but the entire grounds, we need a fast, maneuverable, and big machine. This mower fits all of those criteria. We have two of these units and when the turf is growing, one or both machines go out every day. In order to keep up we cannot miss a day. When we finish the rough on the golf course we head over to soccer/tennis then the front hill and the front field. Usually we can get everything cut in a week, weather dependent. By the time we finish it is time to start over again because the grass does not stop growing.

 

 

These are just a few of the many tools we use to maintain the turf on the property. Without the specific machine for each job, tasks would take more time, not be done as well, or be nearly impossible to complete altogether. The next time you see one of these pieces of equipment on the course you can think of how we are using it to make Bretton Woods better.

 

See you on the course!

Joe

jvillegas@bwrc.org