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Mechanical Training

18 posts
  1. Stephen Okula
    Stephen Okula avatar
    3 posts
    9/10/2015 8:09 AM
    Can anyone point me to an organized short course for a man to learn some of the basics of turf equipment repair and maintenance? (Especially reel grinding and set-up).



  2. Michael Kriz
    Michael Kriz avatar
    0 posts
    9/10/2015 12:09 PM
    Start with the turf equipment technician/equipment manager certificate program, you'll find the links/info on the gcsaa equipment management page. This is the former IGCEMA program, and is a great resource for all technicians.

    http://www.gcsaa.org/education/equipmen ... te-program



  3. John Moore
    John Moore avatar
    0 posts
    9/10/2015 1:09 PM
    NASA. Rocket scientist and miracle worker division. :D



  4. Stephen Okula
    Stephen Okula avatar
    3 posts
    9/11/2015 12:09 AM
    Michael Kriz said: Start with the turf equipment technician/equipment manager certificate program, you'll find the links/info on the gcsaa equipment management page. This is the former IGCEMA program, and is a great resource for all technicians.

    http://www.gcsaa.org/education/equipmen ... te-program


    Hi Mike,

    Thnaks for the post.

    I followed your link and it shows the certificate program, which seems to be a method of validation for those who already hve the skills. I'm looking for a bottom up training.



  5. Roland McPhearson
    Roland McPhearson avatar
    9 posts
    9/11/2015 4:09 AM
    Stephen, is this for yourself? Where are you located? Most of us learned on-the-job and studied on our own I'm sure. Foley has a good study guide for grinding and reel maintenance. The best webinar/video I know of on the subject was done by SIP http://www.sipgrinder.com/index.html I don't know how to access the video anymore. I'm sure they can help you.

    Ohio State has a 9-month program. http://ati.osu.edu/sports-commercial-tu ... ertificate

    Also, I know of a club in Pennsylvania that has a somewhat formal apprenticeship program. Feel free to contact me for more specific info.

    -Roland
    251 689 4207



  6. Michael Kriz
    Michael Kriz avatar
    0 posts
    9/11/2015 9:09 AM
    I would still suggest your tech enroll in the certificate program, it covers all the basic systems your tech will encounter. That said, I'd suggest a local technical school for entry level training if you are not close to one of the other programs posted above.

    Most of us learned through OJT for cutting units and grinding but brought basic or even advanced mechanical skills learned in other industries.



  7. Stephen Okula
    Stephen Okula avatar
    3 posts
    9/11/2015 10:09 AM
    I should explain the situation.

    I have friends who have recently built a golf course in Tanzania (yes, the African Tanzania, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, in fact). It's owned and operated by a Dutch family and the son of one of the owners, Hansi, is the superintendent. Tanzania does not have a golf industry to speak of. There are no local training programs and I don't think there is a reel grinder within a thousand miles.

    They understand that to provide good playing surfaces they need a way to sharpen the reels and bedknives. They plan on buying the equipment, eventually, but in the meantime they would like to get Hansi some hands-on training on grinders, yes, but also some general aspects of turf equipment repair and maintenance.

    I don't think they could afford for him to be away for more than a couple of weeks, so 6-12 month programs won't work. Maybe a sort of internship with a top mechanic would be the ticket. Hansi speaks English (and Swahihli, if that helps) but no French, So I can't help him here.

    Any ideas?



  8. Larry Allan
    Larry Allan avatar
    0 posts
    9/11/2015 11:09 AM
    There are quite few courses in Kenya. It might make sense for him to make arrangements with a club there and spend a couple of weeks assisting in their shop. Same language and lifestyle. There is also a new course on the inward side of Zanzibar that just got a new fleet of JD equipment. Again same language and possibly closer
    Just a thought
    Steve, here is a link: http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/Article/New-golf-course-to-be-built-on-the-African-island-of-Zanzibar/3241/Default.aspx#.VfL67JXkqSo

    One of my suppliers sold them the equipment and may have some contact info if you want



  9. Michael Kriz
    Michael Kriz avatar
    0 posts
    9/11/2015 12:09 PM
    Perhaps you/they could contact FEGGA (Europe's GCSAA) http://www.fegga.org/main/site_flash2/

    Dean Cleaver is the executive officer. The former IGCEMA attended several of their conferences and traveled to South Africa for a couple speaking engagements. At least a start...



  10. Stephen Okula
    Stephen Okula avatar
    3 posts
    9/11/2015 12:09 PM
    Hey Larry,

    I know all about Kenya, I've been there visiting golf courses on multiple occasions in the past few years. There is exactly one obsolete Foley (or is it Neary?) grinder in the country down on the coast near Mombasa. Not much help. I don't know the new (9-hole) course in Zanzibar, but in my experience in that part of the world the last thing people want to spend money on is grinding equipment, and, in any case, I can't imagine that there is a maintenance facility in Zanzibar already with grinders and the expertise. Nothing happens that fast in East Africa. In any case, transporting reels from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar is going to be an epic adventure, and they don't have enough equipment to spare the down time. The Tanzanians really need something on-site, and they need first hand training from real reel (!) professionals.

    South Africa would hve the expertise and modern grinders, but I haven't been there for 25 years and don't know anybody anymore.



  11. Larry Allan
    Larry Allan avatar
    0 posts
    9/11/2015 4:09 PM
    Stephen Okula, CGCS said: Hey Larry,

    I know all about Kenya, I've been there visiting golf courses on multiple occasions in the past few years. There is exactly one obsolete Foley (or is it Neary?) grinder in the country down on the coast near Mombasa. Not much help. I don't know the new (9-hole) course in Zanzibar, but in my experience in that part of the world the last thing people want to spend money on is grinding equipment, and, in any case, I can't imagine that there is a maintenance facility in Zanzibar already with grinders and the expertise. Nothing happens that fast in East Africa. In any case, transporting reels from Kilimanjaro to Zanzibar is going to be an epic adventure, and they don't have enough equipment to spare the down time. The Tanzanians really need something on-site, and they need first hand training from real reel (!) professionals.

    South Africa would hve the expertise and modern grinders, but I haven't been there for 25 years and don't know anybody anymore.

    Let me get in contact with the salesperson who sold them the JD equipment and find out if he remembers their shop setup and if they had grinding equipment. I wasn't suggesting loading up a Matatu with reels and going to Zanzibar. I thought he was looking to learn about grinding so that when they got a grinder he would have some idea on how to set up the reels. The course I referenced spent a lot of CDN$ on brand new JD equipment and shipped it over so I think they must plan to maintain it



  12. David Soltvedt
    David Soltvedt avatar
    0 posts
    9/15/2015 7:09 AM
    Depending on financial resources, it may be more beneficial to fly someone over for a week. The grinder manufacturers usually have a few specialized guys that can train and teach in a short amount of time. There are probably a few retired mechanics out there that wouldn't mind a week or two overseas as well.



  13. Hardy Andrew
    Hardy Andrew avatar
    9/15/2015 9:09 AM
    David Soltvedt, CGCS said: Depending on financial resources, it may be more beneficial to fly someone over for a week. The grinder manufacturers usually have a few specialized guys that can train and teach in a short amount of time. There are probably a few retired mechanics out there that wouldn't mind a week or two overseas as well.


    Our former mechanic here did just this in Jamaica for a few years. I know there are mechanics who would jump at the opportunity (mine included).



  14. Mike Smith
    Mike Smith avatar
    0 posts
    9/15/2015 1:09 PM
    I have some experience in doing exactly what this golf course is looking for.

    I provided Turf Equipment Maintenance training for golf course mechanics in the Caribbean a number of years ago, with an emphasis on reel grinding, set up and cutting unit basics and maintenance.

    Taught the same to college students enrolled in turf equip maint. courses. in Canada

    If you wish, pass along my email to them. Perhaps we could work out a training session this winter. Jan-March 2016

    mike@reelpro.ca

    THX MIKE



  15. Stephen Okula
    Stephen Okula avatar
    3 posts
    9/22/2015 7:09 AM
    The problem with flying a mechanic over is that they are mostly concerned with grinding reels and there is no grinder on site or even in the country.

    You need to have access to a piano in order to take a lesson.



  16. Frank McQuiggan
    Frank McQuiggan avatar
    2 posts
    9/22/2015 10:09 AM
    Stephen,

    Have him contact Hans-Jurgen Ettrich in Germany. Hans-Jurgen is the owner of a company that produces the System Ettrich SBR-900 Grinder. I know Hans-Jurgen personally and he trained me on this grinder about 10 years ago and was very informative. His web site is http://www.sbr900.de , The site can be accessed in English or German. He has videos on there showing the different grinders and how they are used.



  17. Stephen Okula
    Stephen Okula avatar
    3 posts
    9/22/2015 11:09 PM
    Thnaks for that Frank, sounds like a possibility.



  18. Gerald Beierschmitt
    Gerald Beierschmitt avatar
    0 posts
    9/24/2015 1:09 AM
    Stephen,
    Might have an affordable, flexible option for him. Give me a call. +491703017588.



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