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Jaeger Kovich

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Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« on: March 21, 2010, 09:57:40 PM »
Through my first 10 days working golf course construction, here is my list of my top 10 things I have learned.

10: Make www.weather.com your homepage.

9: Its always better to be to shallow, rather than to go to deep. Natural compaction takes months.

8: Its amazing how much work gets done when the forman is looking.

7: Damage control. This probably applies more to renovations, but if you can avoid ripping up grass, pipes, wires, drains, or whatever, by taking the long way, or by doing a little extra work in the short run, you are probably better off. Damage control is part of the game, but that should be expected and incorporated into the fees.

6: Always bring your shovel. You never know when you are going to need it.... Also shovel = pala in spanish!

5: Be smooth. It is better to be slow and smooth, rather than fast and jerky, especially with the big machines. Its better to take your time and get it right, because it will always take a lot longer if you have to go back and fix it.

4: Always have extra. Whether we are talking about extra sod, mix, Toro trucks or even an extra sandwich or bottle of water in your lunch box, you better have extra. The equipment will break down and when it does you better not be sitting there helpless, because that means you are losing money. If you run out of sod or mix or pipe and you cant finish what you are working on and have to wait for the next truck you are losing money.

3: Safety. Probably an obvious one, but these are real construction sites with heavy machinery and people can and will get hurt. This includes never loading over the cab with an excavator. Always knowing the quickest way to shutdown your trencher in case it kicks back. Even using you legs to lift stuff instead of your back.

2: Drainage. You have heard it before, but there is a real reason for it. Everything needs to be sloped down, even the smallest things that you may never have considered, such as the height of rough sod you lay next to the sod for a tee. If the rough is just slightly higher than the bent on the tee on the low side, you are going to get pools forming on edge of tee.

1: Never get caught standing around not working or being lazy. When you aren't being productive the company is losing money. So if you finish working on small project, you better find something to do or someone to help no matter what it is.

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2010, 10:42:16 PM »
When working around equipment make sure you can see the operators eyes, and that way, he can see you.

Never run. The time saved isn't worth tripping over a dirt clod.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

paul cowley

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Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #2 on: March 21, 2010, 10:50:21 PM »
....wish I was one of your group on your next 10 days.
paul cowley...golf course architect/asgca

Tim Nugent

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2010, 08:50:18 AM »
11. everyone knows English - even if they pretend not to.
12. extra socks - nothing worse than wet feet.
13. the back of the Rake is used more thatn the teeth.
14. same every morsel of topsoil - there is never "too much" but always "not enough"
15. there can be too many workers in one spot.

Ammend #9 - always better to be deeper - it's easier to fill something in than try to make it deeper later.

KBM - is a big Pollock a fish? or a derogatory slur for one of Polish decent?
Coasting is a downhill process

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2010, 09:13:38 AM »
Tim,

If there is a swimming pool near the course, and its filled with pretty girls, you will damn sure have too many workers in one spot.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Tim Nugent

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2010, 09:50:45 AM »
KBM - means it's Monday Morning and I need another cup of coffee.
Coasting is a downhill process

Stuart Hallett

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2010, 05:35:47 PM »
On the first day...
Try to spot the guy that can rake without removing any stones, he's been in the job too long & probably has a back problem. Give him another job or replace him.
When doing renovation, close the hole. If the stray balls don't kill someone then the stupid comments probably will.

Jaeger Kovich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2010, 05:40:01 PM »
Through my first 10 days working golf course construction, here is my list of my top 10 things I have learned.

1: Never get caught standing around not working or being lazy. When you aren't being productive the company is losing money. So if you finish working on small project, you better find something to do or someone to help no matter what it is.

I just realized who you work for and concur with your choice of #1. Don't let the big Pollock catch you standing around...it will be your last day.

Haha... I dont know about the big Pollock, but there is a little Pollock who apparently will tie your shoes together if you aren't paying attention!

Jaeger Kovich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2010, 05:41:17 PM »
When working around equipment make sure you can see the operators eyes, and that way, he can see you.

Never run. The time saved isn't worth tripping over a dirt clod.

Good call! I've seen 2 people wipe out on dirt already, and they weren't even running. Everybody laughs, but you can tell they were hurting.

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2010, 05:46:23 PM »
I was going to post that you should never use the porta potty when a practical joker is running a fork lift......since he will at some point, make sure it gets tipped over with a newbie in it.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Jaeger Kovich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2010, 05:47:55 PM »
11. everyone knows English - even if they pretend not to.
12. extra socks - nothing worse than wet feet.
13. the back of the Rake is used more thatn the teeth.
14. same every morsel of topsoil - there is never "too much" but always "not enough"
15. there can be too many workers in one spot.

Ammend #9 - always better to be deeper - it's easier to fill something in than try to make it deeper later.

KBM - is a big Pollock a fish? or a derogatory slur for one of Polish decent?

I completely agree with #12... I always have extra socks in my bag. I learned that one from 2 summers of looping.

Now you say that its better to be deeper, is there anything specific you are referring to? My first time on an excavator digging a trench for 6'' plastic drainage pipe, I was told its better to not to dig enough, hit it with the lazer and go down more if I need to. They said that if you dig to deep that we wouldn't be able to compact it properly since it was so deep, and that over time it would create low spots as the soil settled. Also that the low spots would create curves in the pipe and actually pull on the connections of the pipe.

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2010, 05:50:40 PM »
Not just socks, but a full range of clothes. I recall working survey crews with Tim and having the Chicago temps in June drop from 70's to 30's in a few hours. And, that just happened here in Texas over the weekend, too.

I could add, never be without snake boots in certain parts of Texas, too.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Jaeger Kovich

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2010, 05:56:05 PM »
Jeff - Can you explain snake boots?! City boys like myself dont know of such things!

Mike Benham

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2010, 05:58:07 PM »

Don't listen or read comments from wannabes on a web-site ...
"... and I liked the guy ..."

Jeff_Brauer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Top 10 things to know about golf course construction
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2010, 06:16:45 PM »
The problem is, you don't want to find out the hard way. I have only stepped on hybernating poisionus snakes so I am lucky.

There are snake guards which you wear like catchers shin guards and then there are big rubber boots, which nicely double as waterproof boots to eliminate the need for extra socks, and are highly recommended.  You can get those at Bass Pro Shops and there are decent waterproof boots at WalMart and such, as well.
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

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