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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.

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In this episode of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, we sit down with Tanner Knudsen, CTEM, Equipment Manager at North Oaks Golf Club in Minnesota. Tanner talks through his path from working on small engines to running the shop at a private 18-hole club, and how much of what he knows started in his grandpa’s garage. His grandpa was the first person to teach him engines, and Tanner still calls him whenever he hits a snag.

We get into what it takes to keep things running smoothly with a seasonal crew, how Tanner approaches training without letting the stress get to him, and what winterizing looks like in a Minnesota shop. Tanner also shares what he learned during recent facility upgrades and through attaining his CETM designation, and why mentorship and technician education matter so much to him.

It’s a practical, down-to-earth conversation packed with tips, stories, and lessons from Tanner’s time in the industry.

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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 154

Industry legend Jim Nedin returns to share his deep knowledge of the Toro ProCore 648 and how to get the most out of this aerifier. Jim walks us through setup, tine selection, and maintenance tips that make a real difference out on the turf. We also touch on sprayers and cutting units, exploring more of Jim’s time-tested insights into precision and performance. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or an industry newbie, this episode is packed with practical knowledge and advanced techniques from one of the brightest minds in the industry to help you achieve superior turf health and appearance.

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Today we’re heading across the pond to talk with Chris “Minty” Minton, Head Mechanic and Workshop Manager at Leicester City Football Club in Leicester, England. Minty oversees an elite training facility with 24 football pitches, a nine-hole golf course, and more than 460 pieces of equipment across three sites, all with a team of four and a lot of John Deere green.

From growing up fixing engines with his dad to designing his own dream workshop, Minty shares how his career evolved from a small lawnmower repair shop to one of the most advanced sports turf operations in the UK. We talk shop design, apprenticeships, the Sports Turf Academy, and his go-to Milwaukee tools. Plus, we hear about his grandson George, his trusty cockapoo sidekick, and the strong network of technicians driving innovation in UK turf.

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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 152.

Today we’re talking to friend of the pod John Borsos, about his experience volunteering at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. John shares what it was like to be part of the crew at one of the toughest courses in the world with long days, high standards, and the kind of camaraderie you only find when everyone’s working toward the same goal. From precision mowing lines to the unique challenges Oakmont brings, John and Trent share a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep a major championship running smoothly.

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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 151! Today we’re talking with Andrzej Strzepek, Equipment Manager at Belmont Country Club in Belmont, MA, a private 18-hole course just outside of Boston. Andrzej shares his journey from mowing lawns for hockey goalie gear to maintaining his high school baseball field, studying turfgrass, and even working for the Boston Red Sox during a World Series run. A turn in the shop with his first toolbox set him on the equipment manager path, and he hasn’t looked back since. We cover everything from shop organization with a paint pen, relief grinding, and turf art, to smoking meat, zamboni mishaps, and flooded backpack blowers - you know, EM stuff!

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Welcome to Episode 150 of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast! Today we’re catching up with Taylor Cairns, Equipment Manager at London Hunt and Golf Club in London, Ontario, Canada. Taylor first joined us back in July 2021, and this time he shares how his journey has evolved from splitting time between the shop and the course while earning a turf management degree and working as a spray technician and assistant superintendent, to ultimately focusing fully on the equipment side. At London Hunt, a true parkland course, Taylor manages a Toro fleet with one assistant in the shop. We dive into how he got started in the industry, the strength of the Canadian equipment manager network, and why he believes in keeping it simple when it comes to diagnostics.

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