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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 163.

Today we’re talking with TJ Vollmar, Equipment Manager at Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Desert Mountain is a massive private facility with 126 holes of golf spread across 8,500 acres. TJ oversees an operation that includes 13 technicians working out of five shops, with room to grow to 15, supporting a fleet that’s primarily John Deere equipment.

TJ shares how he found his way into the turf industry after starting out in automotive work in southwest Florida. A connection through his superintendent father-in-law helped open the door to the golf side, and from there he built a career that eventually led him to one of the largest club operations in the country.

They talk about why it’s important for technicians to spend time actually operating the equipment they work on, how that experience changes the way you diagnose and maintain machines, and the importance of communicating confidently as the technical expert. TJ also discusses the realities of managing people across multiple shops, building trust with your team, and continuing to grow as a leader.

The conversation touches on finding balance outside the shop through family time and exploring Arizona, the mentors who shaped TJ’s career, and the value of networking and visiting other facilities to see how different operations run. TJ also shares a practical troubleshooting tip involving Toro Cool Tops and no-crank issues caused by corroded power connections.

It’s a wide-ranging conversation about career growth, taking chances on new opportunities, and continuing to push yourself through certifications, education, and learning from others in the industry.

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In Episode 162, Trent sits down with Kurt Horn, Equipment Manager at Fall Line in Butler, Georgia. Fall Line is a private club with 45 holes of golf along with hunting, fishing, and sporting clays, and Kurt is right in the middle of supporting a growing operation that runs primarily Toro equipment.

Kurt shares how he got his start as a teenager at Kelly Plantation in Destin, Florida, then moved into field service before becoming service manager at Jerry Pate. Those dealership years gave him a broad foundation, but he ultimately found his way back to the course side in what he calls his dream job.

They talk about what it looks like to truly work as a team with superintendents, the realities of sand and topdressing, favorite cordless tools, and the satisfaction of an organized tool room. Kurt also opens up about the challenge of communicating with a primarily Spanish-speaking workforce and why being approachable matters just as much as technical skill.

He shares a simple reel maintenance tip — keeping bedbar bolts in the same holes — and they dig into the bigger industry conversation around attracting and developing the next generation of technicians.

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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 161.

Today we’re talking with Lewis Weems, Equipment Manager at Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Missouri. Lewis walks us through his path into the industry — from growing up on a farm in southern Oklahoma to studying aviation at Oklahoma State, working for Kubota, then making the move to St. Louis where he cut his teeth learning reel mowers at a John Deere dealership. After volunteering on the golf course, he found his way into the maintenance operation full time and hasn’t looked back.

Lewis talks about what he enjoys most — seeing the finished product out on the course — and what he enjoys least: relief grinding on Bernhard grinders (even though he’s the first to say how important it is for cut quality). He shares some of his go-to tools for two-stroke work, including his Milwaukee 1/4" impact and a recently added BC Master tool, plus a simple but effective small-engine tip using rope to break clutches loose.

We get into first-year challenges as an equipment manager — time management, trusting your gut, and carrying the weight when things go wrong — along with mentorship lessons that shaped his approach, especially the value of bringing solutions, not just problems. Off the clock, Lewis finds balance fishing and tinkering.

The conversation also dives into robotic mowing and range automation. Lewis shares his experience running a Husqvarna 550 on practice areas and trialing other units, talking mapping, signal struggles, multi-mower coordination, charging logistics, and how ball-deflection and collection workflows are evolving. They wrap with spray buggy reliability talk — roll pins, drivetrain spares, lithium batteries — and finish up with a rapid-fire segment that includes Tombstone and a medium-rare bone-in ribeye.

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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 160.

Today Trent is talking with Bobby Medina, Equipment Manager at Snowmass Club in Snowmass Village, Colorado. Snowmass Club is a private 18-hole course supported by an approximately 8,000-square-foot maintenance facility, with a fleet that’s primarily Toro.

Bobby shares his path into the turf industry, starting out as a snowcat operator in Mammoth Lakes before making the jump into golf course equipment management. They talk honestly about the transition from winter operations to turf, the steep learning curve, and the importance of keeping your cool while learning on the job. Bobby also reflects on finding balance in a mountain town, making time for snowboarding and golf, and how the support and community within the turf industry have played a big role in his growth as an equipment manager.

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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 159.

This week we sit down with Bruce Alexander, Product Performance Manager at Ransomes Jacobsen in Ipswich, England. Bruce grew up on a farm and worked his way into the turf industry, and today he’s the guy helping make sure the machines being built actually work for the people using them every day.

Bruce works across all departments at Ransomes Jacobsen, spending time with dealers, technicians, and end users to gather real feedback and bring it straight back to the product teams. We talk about why that loop matters, how good ideas make their way from the shop or the field into future machines, and what happens when manufacturers really listen.

We also get into his role providing tournament support, including working at the Summer Games in France, and what it’s like supporting equipment when the eyes of the world are on the turf. From there, Bruce dives into cutting unit geometry, bedknife selection, and the small setup details that can make or break performance.

It’s a down-to-earth conversation packed with practical insight, real-world experience, and plenty of takeaways for techs who care about doing the job right and getting the most out of their equipment.

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Today we’re talking with Jake Teeter, Equipment Manager at Winding Creek Golf Club in Thomasville, North Carolina. Winding Creek is an 18-hole municipal course, and Jake is the lone technician keeping the operation rolling. After starting his career in automotive repair, Jake found his way into the turf industry, where he’s spent the last 15 years learning the ins and outs of golf course equipment and adapting to the unique challenges that come with a one-tech shop.

Jake was recently named the TETAC Turf Tech of the Year, and he shares how continual learning, learning from mentors, and staying curious have shaped his approach to the job. We talk about what’s changed at Winding Creek over the years, what it takes to keep aging equipment reliable, and the realities of wearing every hat in the shop.

Looking ahead, Jake reflects on what’s next, including his excitement about traveling in retirement with his wife and visiting his daughter as she serves and explores the world in the U.S. Navy. Settle in for honest conversation about pride in your work, building a long career, and enjoying the road ahead.

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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 157.

Today we’re talking to Toby Christoun, Equipment & Shop Manager at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts — a 27-hole private club spread across 236 acres. Toby leads a team of two assistants in the shop, part-time during the season and full-time through the winter months.

Toby shares his unconventional journey into the turf industry, starting in business management before finding his way to a friend’s golf course and eventually earning a turf degree. Along the way, he’s worn many hats — from sales to equipment management — and brings a perspective grounded in integrity, mentorship, and team culture. He talks about the lessons learned from every stop on his path, the importance of strong relationships, and a few funny stories from life in the shop. It’s an honest, engaging look at what it means to build a fulfilling career in turf and leadership.

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Episode 156 of Reel Turf Techs heads to the backyard with member, friend, and turf addict Alex Gaddy – a homeowner who’s gone from a dusty California Trimmer in his father-in-law’s basement to a TifEagle putting green and a small fleet of John Deere reel mowers.

Alex and Trent talk about how a simple reel mower turned into an obsession, why pushing a California Trimmer over 20,000 sq. ft. doesn’t scale, and what he learned moving from TifTuf to a short-lived bentgrass experiment and finally sprigging in TifEagle over 20 tons of sand.

They also dig into the equipment side: a day in Trent’s shop watching reel grinding and backlapping, how topdressing chews up a freshly sharpened reel, and why the precision techs chase in the shop is what golfers feel on the greens.

If you’re a homeowner dreaming of a backyard green or a tech who wants members to better understand what happens behind the scenes, Episode 155 is right in your wheelhouse.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at ReelTurfTechs@gmail.com
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