Reel Turf Techs Podcast
Hey - I’m Trent, your host of the Reel Turf Techs podcast. Have you ever found yourself asking, “is there a podcast that focuses on the equipment manager’s unique roles and challenges?” Have you wondered what the high-end course or the tech down the road does at their facility? Would you like to hear the latest tips and tricks from around the globe? And do you want to know where the industry is headed next, direct from equipment manufacturers? Then my friend, you’re in the right place. As you know, working in the shop can feel like a solitary pursuit. This podcast will connect you with other techs facing similar challenges and offer solutions, ideas and innovations. Hear from turf technicians, equipment manufacturers, and other industry leaders on daily issues faced by the turf tech and fun stuff like fabrication projects, side hustles and favorite tools. Hit subscribe and let’s get reel. Join the conversation @reelturftechs on Twitter or email me at reelturftechs@gmail.com
Episodes
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 ma...
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 lea...
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...
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. Whethe...
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 mow...
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 sh...
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...
Back in September 2021, we interviewed Matt Leis, and in Episode 149 we’re catching up with him again to hear about his transition from the golf course to sports fields. Matt is now the Manager of Fleet & Irrigation at the Papago Baseball Complex for the San Francisco Giants Baseball Club in Phoenix, AZ. The 40-acre complex is home to player development and Minor League operations, featuring six full fields, auxil...
Welcome to Episode 148 of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast! Today we’re talking with Brad Bailey, Equipment Manager at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club in Orlando, Florida, an 18-hole course serving both resort guests and private members. Brad leads a team of three technicians and works primarily with John Deere equipment. With a background in chemistry and a hands-on upbringing working with his dad, Brad found his way in...
On this episode of Reel Turf Techs, we’re talking with Tyler Bradshaw, CTEM, Equipment Manager at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas, Texas. From forklift operator to auto tech to golf course wrench, Tyler’s 21-year journey into turf began when he was asked to fill in for a vacationing mechanic and never left.
Now overseeing two assistants and a wide fleet including Toro, Deere, Stihl, Baroness, Jacobsen, and Kubota, Tyle...
Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 146!
Today we’re talking to James Breeze, Machinery Technician at Huddersfield Golf Club in Yorkshire, England, one of the oldest and most celebrated golf courses in the North of England. James is the lone tech in the shop, managing a fleet of mostly Toro equipment, and he’s also the recipient of the inaugural Bernhard Academy technician volunteer opportunity for the 2025...
Today we’re talking to Jeff Rockhold, Equipment Manager at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Blue Springs, MO, and his son, Jacob Rockhold, CGCS, Director of Agronomy.
Stone Canyon is a public 18-hole course with mostly John Deere and Toro equipment.
After a long career in HVAC (and one too many crawl spaces), Jeff made the switch to turf when Jacob hired him on to mow fairways in a semi-retired gig. We talk about what Jeff has...
Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 144.
Today we’re talking to Moe Rateb, Equipment Manager at Crowfield Golf Club, an 18-hole municipal course owned by the city of Goose Creek, SC. Moe is the lone tech in the shop, maintaining a mostly Toro fleet and managing it all with skill, heart, and a sense of humor.
We dive into Moe’s path into turf, from starting at a muni for the retirement benefits to learning th...
Today we’re talking with Tyler Miget, Equipment Manager at Harmony Club in Fort Collins, Colorado. An alumni of the GCSAA Melrose Equipment Management Experience and the Bernhard Academy’s Links to Success program, Tyler brings a unique path and thoughtful perspective to the role.
From turning wrenches with his grandfather to working in nonprofits and running his own handyman business, Tyler’s journey to the golf cours...
Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 142!
Today we’re talking to Chris Snyder, Equipment Manager at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria, Illinois.
Mt. Hawley is a private 18-hole course spread across 110 scenic acres next to Peoria Lake. Chris has been at the course for over 30 years, surviving everything from a decade without a grinder to a full course renovation — and he’s still going strong.
Chris’s love...
Meet David Gummo, CTEM, Equipment Manager at Sands Point Golf Club in Sands Point, New York. Sands Point is a private 18-hole golf and skeet club where David manages a mostly Toro fleet, with a few pieces of John Deere and a lone Jacobsen.
David shares how his journey began at just 14 years old in a vocational high school outdoor power equipment program, eventually becoming part of the inaugural graduating class of Pen...
In this episode of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, we sit down with Jim Merritt, founder and CEO of JRM, Inc. Jim’s journey in the turf industry began as a teenager working on golf courses, eventually leading to a successful career as a superintendent in North Carolina. Frustrated with the quality of aerification tines in the early 1990s, he started crafting his own—building a product that lasted longer and performed bet...
In Episode 139 of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, we sit down with Carl Michael, Equipment Manager at Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, FL. Growing up in the turf industry, Carl's journey began when his family bought a golf course in foreclosure, teaching themselves the business from the ground up. After completing a two-year ag and mechanics program followed by a turfgrass degree at Penn State and working as a sup...
In Episode 138 of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, we’re live from the trade show floor at the 2025 GCSAA Conference and Trade Show in San Diego! This special episode features conversations with three industry pros sharing their experiences, insights, and takeaways from the event.
Justin Wilkerson, a first-time attendee, braved a Wyoming blizzard to make it to sunny SoCal. He discusses the best education sessions he attend...
Welcome to Episode 137 of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast. Today, we’re talking to Anthony Donofrio, Equipment Manager at Marine Drive Golf Club in Vancouver, BC. Marine Drive is an 18-hole private club where Anthony leads a team consisting of one full-time technician and one part-time grind technician.
The club primarily uses Toro mowers but is introducing new Baroness mowers this year. Their equipment lineup also include...
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