Reel Turf Techs Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Today we’re talking with David Sluder, Equipment Manager at Three’s Greenville in Greenville, South Carolina. Three’s is a unique public golf facility featuring a 12-hole par-3 course where every hole was designed by a different architect, along with the popular 18-hole putting course, Humps and Bumps.

David shares how he found his way into the turf industry after working outdoors and developing his mechanical skills through bicycles, vehicles, and eventually a tractor dealership assembling new equipment. A move into a golf course shop opened the door to the turf world, and he’s been with Three’s since the facility's early days.

We talk about the realities of working in a small shop without a lift, favorite tools like a trusty creeper, and the importance of stepping back and looking at the whole picture when troubleshooting. David also discusses the value of networking with fellow equipment managers, learning from mentors throughout his career, and why the golf course equipment manager community is such a valuable resource.

The conversation includes lessons learned from a serious trench collapse incident, practical shop tips like using a socket-and-paper trick for hard-to-reach bolts, and the satisfaction that comes from being the go-to person others rely on to solve problems.

It’s a great conversation about resourcefulness, continuous learning, and building a career around fixing things and helping people.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 166.

Today we’re talking with Dan Haxton, Equipment Manager at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland. Congressional is a private 36-hole facility with a deep history in tournament golf, and Dan leads a three-person shop supporting a fleet that’s primarily John Deere equipment.

Dan shares how he got his start in the industry at just 14 years old filling divots at Queenstown Harbor before moving from the crew side into the shop. After stepping into an assistant mechanic role, he became a head mechanic only eight months later and spent 12 years at South River before stops at Woodmont and eventually Congressional.

They talk about the realities of managing people — the most rewarding and most stressful part of the job — along with favorite tools like calipers, preset torque wrenches, and a milling machine that’s become invaluable for rotary blade work and repairs. Dan also discusses how forums, YouTube, and networking with other techs continue to help him learn and problem solve.

The conversation gets into designing Congressional’s new two-story maintenance facility, standardizing reel data and height-of-cut communication across the operation, and the club’s growing use of robotics and automation, including Kress and Husqvarna mowers along with a Relox ball picker.

It’s a great conversation about growth in the industry, building systems that make life easier, and balancing tradition with new technology at one of the game’s iconic clubs.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

Today we’re talking with Marko Bistroi, Equipment Manager at Mississaugua Golf & Country Club in Ontario, Canada (not Ontario, California). Mississauga is a private 18-hole club, and Marko is running a true one-man shop out of a small space tucked under the clubhouse. His fleet is a mix of Toro, John Deere, Tru-Turf rollers, and a handful of other pieces that keep him on his toes.

Marko shares how he made the jump from automotive into turf after coming across a job posting, starting in a hybrid grounds and shop role before stepping into the head position. We get into the realities of being a solo tech — keeping up with the daily grind like greasing, prioritizing what matters most, and managing stress when everything falls on you.

He also talks about navigating the “young guy” dynamic with staff, and the impact of mentorship along the way, especially lessons from Jerry around organization, problem solving, and having a fix-before-replace mindset. There are some great practical tips in here too, from using muffin trays to keep hardware sorted to reel setup and pulling broken bolts.

They also touch on tournament prep, volunteering opportunities, and a few safety stories from the course. It’s a real look at running a one-man shop, figuring things out as you go, and building confidence along the way.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

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.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 164.

Today we’re talking with Jason Sergeant, Equipment Manager at Abenaqui Country Club in Rye Beach, New Hampshire. Abenaqui is a private 18-hole course, and Jason runs a primarily Toro fleet with a small crew — four helpers in the winter and one part-time in season.

Jason shares how he made his way into the turf industry, starting with shop programs, metallurgy, and automotive/heavy equipment work at a ski resort before an opportunity opened up at his summer job on the golf course side. 

They talk about the day-to-day realities of the shop, including Jason’s dislike of paperwork and how he’s leaned into tools like ASB taskTracker, barcode scanning, and QR codes to make work orders more efficient. He also shares some favorite tools, including a multimeter and an induction heat gun that’s a game changer for rusted fasteners.

The conversation gets into bigger challenges too, like sourcing obsolete parts and getting creative — including rebuilding a Vanguard engine using aftermarket and cross-referenced components. They also cover mentoring, training opportunities through distributors and Foley, and the value of networking through GCSAA.

Jason talks about staying calm under pressure, the importance of operator training, and his approach to preventative maintenance like annual reel bearing overhauls. He also shares where he’s headed next with his CTEM journey and his interest in volunteering at a PGA event.

It’s a practical, honest look at running a small shop, solving problems on the fly, and continuing to grow in the industry.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

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.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

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. 

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

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.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

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.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us Fan Mail

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.

• Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
• Email us at [email protected]
• Check out our YouTube Channel