December 18, 2024 • 48 mins
In this episode, we chat with Alex Tessman, Equipment Manager at Sheep Ranch Golf Course, part of the renowned Bandon Dunes Resort in Bandon, OR. Sheep Ranch is a public 18-hole championship course, and Alex is one of nine techs maintaining the resort’s seven courses.
Alex’s journey started as a high schooler raking bunkers at Pacific Dunes before transitioning to the technician side. He shares insights into advancements in cutting unit technology and his unique hobbies, including working with carnivorous plants and creating custom CNC projects for the course.
Alex also reflects on his first experience at the GCSAA Conference & Trade Show in Phoenix, highlighting the growth of equipment manager classes and the exciting opportunities ahead for San Diego 2025. Tune in for a deep dive into continuing education, EM networking, and the passion that drives success in the turf industry.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Trent Manning (00:05):
Welcome to the reel turf techs podcast for the
technician that wants to getreel follow along.
As we talk to industryprofessionals and address hot
topics that we all face alongthe way we'll learn tips and
tricks.
I'm your host, Trent.
Manning let's have some thisepisode are real turf techs on
(00:27):
golf course industriesSuperintendent radio network is
presented by Foley county astrong supporter of equipment
technicians and golf coursemaintenance departments
everywhere Foley county offers aproven solution for above and
below the turf for turfprofessionals To learn more
(00:47):
about Foley company's line ofreal grinders bed knife grinders
and the air to G2 family ofproducts or to find a
distributor visit www dot FoleyC o.com Foley Ready for play
Welcome to the Real Turf Techspodcast episode 133.
(01:10):
Today we're talking to AlexTessman, Equipment Manager at
Brandon Dunes Sheep Ranch GolfCourse in Bandon, Oregon.
Sheep Ranch is a public 18 holechampionship course.
Bandon Dune Resort has 7 coursesand a total of 9 techs.
They're primarily all Toroequipment.
(01:31):
Let's talk to Alex.
Welcome Alex to the real turftext podcast.
Thanks for coming on.
How you doing?
Alex Tessman (01:38):
Hey Trent, things are good.
Trent Manning (01:40):
That's Yep.
Happy Monday.
It's the fall of the year andit's my favorite time along with
probably a lot of otherequipment managers.
Alex Tessman (01:50):
Yeah, finally slowing down.
Trent Manning (01:52):
Yep, that's that's what it's all about.
Tell us how you got into theturf industry.
Alex Tessman (01:58):
Well, there was a, A high school teacher that, you
know, was a pretty bigimpression on me and he was
trying to line me out with a joband He told me call this guy and
he'll line you up.
I didn't know who this guy was.
I didn't know what the job was.
(02:19):
I didn't know anything about it.
But all I did was I called himevery other day, which come to
find out he was on vacation fortwo weeks.
So I blew up
Trent Manning (02:30):
Blew his phone up.
Alex Tessman (02:31):
his phone a little bit.
And he calls me back and sayslike, hey you know, I'm in
charge of the rangers and, youknow, we usually kind of keep
that for the retired guys.
Let me put you in touch withagronomy.
Trent Manning (02:46):
Oh,
Alex Tessman (02:46):
like you could be a workhorse for another guy I
know.
Trent Manning (02:50):
Okay.
Alex Tessman (02:51):
he put me in touch with Jeff Sutherland at Pacific
Dunes.
And so I, on the same day ofgetting my license, starting
college and getting a job I allof a sudden found myself raking
bunkers on a golf course.
I didn't even know existed.
Trent Manning (03:09):
Nice and never played golf before any of that
stuff.
Alex Tessman (03:13):
Nope.
Not then, not really since.
Trent Manning (03:16):
That's okay.
That's alright.
Alex Tessman (03:19):
Yep.
Trent Manning (03:19):
There's a lot of us that don't play.
Alex Tessman (03:22):
No.
I'll go play with the old man,because you only get so much
time with the old man, but
Trent Manning (03:27):
Not a great point.
Yeah the listeners don't forgetthat
Alex Tessman (03:31):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (03:32):
cuz life's short for
Alex Tessman (03:33):
Absolutely.
Trent Manning (03:35):
So, how did you end up in the shop turning
wrenches?
Alex Tessman (03:40):
Well, it was we were doing a big renovation on
Trails, where they tore up allof the sod on one of, like, I
think what I was working on was18.
Yeah.
And little squares, we had tolift that up one piece at a
time, move it off, reshape andput it back.
(04:01):
Well, that really kind ofsucked.
That was not a fun time.
And so I was already kind oflooking for a different career
path.
I didn't really think this wouldbe my sort of jam and, you know,
then it started to be like, Hey,why don't we get you in the
shop?
Because you seem like you couldkind of manage yourself and do
your own thing.
And I think they saw.
A different side of me thatwasn't really greenskeeper
(04:22):
agronomy worthy and someone sawthe talent in me and namely
Scott Huntley kind of put me inthe shop.
And next thing, you know, aposition opened and I was just
kind of the next shoe in becauseI was already in there
assisting.
Trent Manning (04:38):
Okay.
So you assisted anothertechnician for how long?
Alex Tessman (04:44):
Yep.
Just kind of went in theafternoons, helping him whatever
he wanted, just whatever heneeded.
But that's how I kind of gotinto the, into turning wrenches.
And then I went full time forcommon grounds.
I don't know when that wouldhave been.
I started working here in 2010.
I think it was a couple ofyears, 2013 or so when I started
(05:08):
turning wrenches.
Trent Manning (05:09):
Okay.
All right.
Yeah.
Well, you still look very young.
So,
Alex Tessman (05:16):
Thanks.
Trent Manning (05:17):
Yeah, no, no offense, but I was thinking,
well, How have turning wrenchesthat long?
Alex Tessman (05:22):
No, I've been working here for 14 years, but
not turning wrenches for thewhole time.
Trent Manning (05:27):
Yeah, that's still, that's cool.
That's great.
How did you learn the cuttingunit stuff?
Was it more hands on with theguy that you're working under?
Alex Tessman (05:38):
It was like.
Baptism by fire, just kind of,you know, we, there definitely
wasn't as much of a technicalmind for cutting units then as
we're sort of leaning into now.
So it was just get it sharpishand make it sheer.
Trent Manning (05:53):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (05:54):
You know, we never discussed paralleling and
anything like that until quiterecently.
Trent Manning (05:58):
Yeah, and yeah, I don't know.
I don't know, you know, why, howit was.
I mean, a lot of things I guessI've learned over the years and
I kind of knew about, but wedidn't necessarily implement
them like we do now.
And I definitely think it's,really good where we're at and
(06:21):
where we're headed in theindustry on cutting unit setup.
Alex Tessman (06:27):
And we had burn hard grinders at that time.
So we didn't really, couldn'treally indicate good, like the
Foley's that we have now,
Trent Manning (06:34):
Mhm.
Alex Tessman (06:34):
Just get a scratch and let her fly, you know,
definitely couldn't dorelieving.
Trent Manning (06:39):
Yep.
Yep.
Alex Tessman (06:41):
so it's been incrementally learning over the
years, just step by step.
Trent Manning (06:47):
Oh, yeah.
Yep.
Well, no, I mean, I've told afew people this with all this
research I've been doingrecently.
I've learned more in the lastnine or 10 months about cutting
units I have in my 28 yearcareer, which you know, it's
mind blowing.
It's crazy how much informationthere is out there.
Alex Tessman (07:08):
Oh boy.
Trent Manning (07:10):
No it's crazy.
It's I mean, it's very eyeopening and a lot of the stuff
that we were taught over theyears was at the time was okay,
but times have changed andcutting units have changed a
(07:31):
little bit and I get it, youknow, it's just like saying.
Well, the internal combustionengine is the exact same thing
as it was a hundred ago, butyeah, so, you know, you still
got, it's a four stroke, suck,bang, blow, all those things,
Alex Tessman (07:50):
Huh.
Trent Manning (07:51):
you know, but, you know, no carburetors hardly
anymore.
Everything's fuel injected.
There's no points andcondensers.
Magnetos, all those things,everything in the past.
So internal combustion has camea long way and you can say the
(08:11):
same thing with cutting unitsand say, well, this real was,
you know, invented in the 1800sto cut carpet and you know, now
we're using it to cut grass, but
Alex Tessman (08:23):
Is that true?
It was made to cut carpet?
Trent Manning (08:25):
Yes.
Yep.
Alex Tessman (08:26):
No kidding.
Trent Manning (08:27):
Made to cut the nap on carpet
Alex Tessman (08:30):
No
Trent Manning (08:31):
England.
Yes.
Alex Tessman (08:33):
Oh, I can't wait to lay that fun fact on people.
Trent Manning (08:36):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We'll have to look that up andsee exactly when it was created,
but sometime in the 1800s, butcutting unit technology has came
a long way and I don't know whateverybody else is doing, but I
think Toro.
has definitely led or is leadingthe trend to make cutting units
(08:59):
better.
They put a lot of R and D intheir cutting units and,
Alex Tessman (09:05):
that whole DPA system.
Trent Manning (09:07):
yeah, and the DPA come out in the early 2000s.
So, I mean, that's, you know, 25years old and that was, you
know, really pushing the curveback then.
Anyway, talking about rambling,there we went.
Yeah, we did it.
But I love getting off topicsidetrack.
Alex Tessman (09:26):
100%.
Trent Manning (09:27):
What is your least favorite part of the job?
Alex Tessman (09:30):
I think sort of unfortunately is probably the
most important part of the job,which is setup, making sure
everything is so spot on all thetime, every time, every day.
Maybe it's the monotony of that.
You know, cause I think we allsort of like the variety in our
job.
That's the one monotony thingwhere I'm just like, You know,
(09:52):
but it's got to be done.
Trent Manning (09:54):
Yeah.
We used to have that question onthe podcast.
What is your favorite part ofthe job?
And everybody said the variety.
So it was everybody has the samequestion.
So that's not a very interestingquestion.
We'll pick something else, but Itotally get it.
Yeah.
It's any of those monotonouschores that we have to do over
(10:16):
and over again.
Alex Tessman (10:17):
Yep.
Trent Manning (10:18):
Yeah, that makes it
Alex Tessman (10:19):
one of those things you can't just glaze over
to you.
You can't just quick it.
You're going to pay attention.
Trent Manning (10:24):
What's your favorite tool?
Alex Tessman (10:27):
A headphones.
Trent Manning (10:28):
Oh, okay.
Alex Tessman (10:30):
I
Trent Manning (10:30):
So you can listen to the RealTurfTex Podcast.
Alex Tessman (10:33):
I've listened to three episodes today,
Trent Manning (10:35):
Oh, wow.
Okay.
Are you behind or are you doubledipping?
Okay.
Alex Tessman (10:41):
I guess way behind.
I have been making an attempt tolisten to all of them.
I'm right now.
I just listened to your episodefrom COVID times with Diana Kern
the other day
Trent Manning (10:52):
Oh, wow.
Okay.
That's going way back.
Alex Tessman (10:55):
so I'm trying to get through them all.
Trent Manning (10:58):
Okay.
Alex Tessman (10:58):
a while.
Trent Manning (10:59):
No, it's all good.
It's all good.
No problem at all there.
I appreciate you listening and Ilove it when listeners are
guests too.
That's, you know, it's cool.
Comes full
Alex Tessman (11:11):
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, it is nice, you know, andyou know, it's just kind of me
and my four walls in here and Ilove to have my headphones and I
mean, I'm just like rollingthrough all my podcasts, yours
included.
Trent Manning (11:24):
Okay, cool.
Alex Tessman (11:25):
Every
Trent Manning (11:25):
awesome.
What do you do to relax or findyour balance?
Alex Tessman (11:29):
so I kind of thought about this one.
I think it's sort of funnybecause I was going to tell you
all of the things that I sort ofdo aside from work.
You know, I like to, I havecarnivorous plants that I have a
huge carnivorous plantcollection.
I kind of garden.
I have a CNC business on theside.
I like to keep my hands busy.
(11:50):
I like to do things and separatemy mind.
But then I think I started tolearn that this is actually
where I come to relax.
Like I'm so crazy everywhereelse, doing all my other little
side projects.
Maybe this is.
This is where I find my balanceis the cool down period of being
at work.
Trent Manning (12:10):
I could see that for sure.
Yeah, I definitely find workmore relaxing sometimes than I
do my personal life.
Alex Tessman (12:18):
Huh.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (12:19):
For, well, tell me about the CNC.
Well, what are you
Alex Tessman (12:23):
I have a one finity CNC.
I do a lot of the courses,signage, that sort of thing, T
markers,
Trent Manning (12:30):
Okay.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (12:31):
those sorts of things.
I have started making all of thebenches for band and dunes
proper.
So, I had a guy come in fromFacilities Maintenance say like,
Hey, some guy tried to drive outyour course to get to the beach.
We need a maintenance sign thatsays, Don't do that.
That's what I've been doing alot of lately.
Trent Manning (12:52):
that's awesome.
That's super Yeah,
Alex Tessman (12:54):
been really fun.
Trent Manning (12:56):
cool.
Yeah, so yeah, sorry.
I got sidetracked there.
Yep.
I think I was gonna say that webought a CNC machine.
I don't three.
No, it's been longer than that.
Maybe five or six years ago.
And we got we've been making allour course signs.
(13:18):
We were making Remember bagtags?
I mean, I was doing, yeah, allthat stuff.
You know, anything, we're justkind of trying to find an excuse
to you know, keep using it.
But being able to make the signsis super cool.
And we've been using highdensity urethane, the
Alex Tessman (13:38):
a color core
Trent Manning (13:40):
No, it's foam.
It's just straight foam.
And I mean, it's crazy.
You know, mean, it's pretty dur,durable.
It doesn't rot.
It carves about two times fasterthan wood,
Alex Tessman (13:53):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (13:54):
Know, which is awesome.
It's easy on the bits and allthat stuff.
Definitely worth the checkinginto,
Alex Tessman (14:03):
I'm writing that down right now.
Trent Manning (14:04):
Yeah.
Do it.
Yep.
High density urethane.
We buy it in a four by eightsheet, and it's an inch and a
half thick.
Just like a you know, a two byfour or something like that
would be.
And we, let's see, we paint it.
So all our signs, the backgroundis white.
So we'll paint it white.
(14:25):
And then we put down, or a maskit's a blue mask, you know, so
anyway, you put it down, thenyou carve it out and then.
Peel off the or mask and paintthe letters.
I mean, it turns out great.
It's awesome.
Alex Tessman (14:44):
I'll definitely have to look into that, you
know, because here on the Oregoncoast, it's wet, and wet.
All the time.
Trent Manning (14:52):
Yeah.
Nice.
Alex Tessman (14:53):
if we put those signs in the ground, it's
touching the ground, it's likegame over, they have to have an
air gap or it will just rot.
So I love this
Trent Manning (15:02):
definitely be worth checking into for sure.
And I don't, yeah, I don'tremember the cost of the sheets,
but I mean, it's nothing crazy.
And I mean, it lasts foreverunless, you know, we had a golf
ball hit one and it did break,you know, it
Alex Tessman (15:19):
or maybe that's not good for business.
Trent Manning (15:22):
What?
Yeah.
You got to think about that too.
You got to think about that.
Yeah.
What's your biggest challenge todate?
Alex Tessman (15:30):
Ooh.
You know, I that's kind of toughbiggest challenge When I started
over here at sheep ranch, webasically had two connex boxes
with a tarp strung acrossbetween them
Trent Manning (15:48):
That's a challenge.
Alex Tessman (15:49):
yeah, so I had to do set up in a dugout ramp thing
I made on the ground laying in apuddle full of cardboard just to
set up my reels for the day.
So I would say it was quitechallenging to sort of muddle
our way through that while we'relike, watching our beautiful
(16:10):
building being built right nextto it.
You know, you're like neck deepin mud.
Trent Manning (16:15):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (16:16):
That was quite challenging.
But the reward is fantastic.
I mean, this building is great.
Trent Manning (16:24):
So how long have y'all been in the building?
Alex Tessman (16:27):
I think we're, Sheep Branch has only been open,
I think we're going on threeyears now.
Trent Manning (16:32):
Okay, cool.
Oh, that's awesome.
Alex Tessman (16:35):
new.
Trent Manning (16:35):
a yep.
Have a new facility like thatand
Alex Tessman (16:38):
Yeah, it was great.
I got to just sort of make it myown and whatever I wanted to,
however I wanted to piece ittogether, I was just sort of
afforded that.
It was great.
It was a challenge, but it
Trent Manning (16:49):
Yeah, right, right, right, right.
No, that's super cool.
So next question is what's thestrangest thing you've seen at
Alex Tessman (16:58):
Oh, this is a pretty good one.
So when I worked over on trailsthis sort of, you know, it's
kind of sad when you reallythink about it, but he had some
sort of a psychotic break.
And thought that he was beingfollowed by black helicopters
(17:18):
and men in suits and the whole,like the government was tracking
him Somehow got his Hondaelement up a footpath that was
all made out of wood and crashedit on the deck of trails end,
which is our pro shop for thetrails course.
So we had to have.
(17:39):
This like, this poor guy havinga total come apart, Trying to
run from us and the whole bit,like, oh That was pretty, that
was probably the craziest thingI've seen.
Trent Manning (17:49):
Yeah, that's that's pretty unfortunate too.
Cause yeah.
Mental health is reallyimportant to us here Techs and
that stuff can happen.
Alex Tessman (18:02):
And I'm just about tinfoil hat enough that I wanted
to believe him.
I
Trent Manning (18:08):
Yeah yep.
Alex Tessman (18:10):
was on his side.
Trent Manning (18:12):
Do you have a mentor in the industry?
Alex Tessman (18:15):
Oh, well, I mean, you know, like most people
answered that's sort of amultitude of people.
Trent Manning (18:21):
Yep,
Alex Tessman (18:21):
you know, Jeff Sutherland was the first person
to give me a chance.
He he's the superintendent forPacific Dunes.
He.
Definitely has kind of apaternal kind of aspect to him.
He just feels like a guy thatlike actually kind of cares.
You know, Fred Yates, he's nowour new head of agronomy.
He was the first person to sortof tell me that, like how
(18:43):
important the equipment managersare, which at the time I kind of
thought he was blowing smoke upmy ass, but he wasn't.
He was actually being likesincere, you know, the Ron
Wagner, the guy that told methat to just give this guy a
call.
I mean, he sent me on the pathto begin with.
I mean, he's, he was the guythat sent me down the track of
(19:04):
going to welding school insteadof getting into tech, like
everybody I went to high schoolwith did
Trent Manning (19:09):
good stuff.
Alex Tessman (19:10):
you know, Eric Langford is the you know,
introduced me to GCSAA and toyou and.
And the programs and kind ofshowed me that there is a larger
world than just band and dunes.
And I didn't know that We had noidea.
So I, you know, I really thankhim for showing me that.
Trent Manning (19:32):
Yeah, and I think there's a lot of people out
there that have no idea theresources that are available to
technicians.
And not that we have a ton ofresources, but they are, there
are resources that people havenever heard of.
So this year in Phoenix, wasthat your first time?
Alex Tessman (19:51):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (19:52):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Alex Tessman (19:54):
that was really cool.
You know, and I got to say, itwas that was the first time
meeting you.
And I just got to kind of BS inwith Hector.
I have no idea who he was.
And you both were like, I mean,I talked to Hector for like an
hour about his family and his,he gave me this really cool
thing, a beard oil.
He was so nice.
Some guy came up and wanted totake a selfie with him.
(20:16):
I'm like, who am I talking to?
Trent Manning (20:19):
right,
Alex Tessman (20:19):
everyone was so welcoming.
It was like, you know, it wasreally neat.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (20:25):
No, it is a really good industry and for the
most part, we're, you know,pretty tight niche too.
Group, which you know, I think alot of people enjoy.
I know that's one of my favoritethings about it for sure Yeah,
I'm so glad you got to show thisyear so how did you get to show
for the first time It?
Alex Tessman (20:47):
that would have been Eric Langford.
You know, he was the one he'snow the superintendent for old
Mac.
And you know, he kind of showedme the way that.
You know, Hey, there's this showand it would sort of appear like
the classes for EMS has reallybeen on the rise in the last
couple of years.
And like, I think it's timesomeone, you know, from the
(21:09):
wrench side should start goingto these things.
Trent Manning (21:12):
Awesome
Alex Tessman (21:13):
Absolutely.
Like
Trent Manning (21:14):
Yeah, for
Alex Tessman (21:14):
I'm always down for that, You know?
So, so he really kind of pushedme into it.
Trent Manning (21:19):
Yeah, more, more the merrier, for sure, and every
year it seems like, I mean,every year there's definitely
more technicians that come, youknow, how many more?
I don't know.
I heard last year we had around175 in attendance, which I think
was the most to date.
Alex Tessman (21:40):
Oh, wow.
Trent Manning (21:41):
yeah, it'll be interesting to see what happens
in San Diego.
San Diego is a usually not aswell attended as Orlando is
usually the best attended causethere's, well, there's more
people on the East coast andit's really cheap for them to
get down there and housing isreally cheap in Orlando.
(22:04):
A lot of clubs, they'll rent ahouse and have 10 people staying
at a house.
And, you know, it's a thousanddollars for a week or something
for 10 people, So it's yeah.
Dirt cheap to stay down there.
Alex Tessman (22:16):
It sounds like the consensus I've been hearing on
the podcast though, is thateveryone loves San Diego if they
Trent Manning (22:21):
Oh yeah.
Yes.
Yes.
San Diego is awesome.
And it's definitely my favoritespot for sure.
But it's because of San Diegoand the weather, you know, a
convention center is aconvention center.
Yeah.
The other really nice thing isall the places to eat that were
(22:41):
within walking distance of theconvention center in San Diego,
which is super nice too.
You know, there's one thing,Phoenix wasn't terrible, but
there wasn't a ton of places toeat.
And there's so many peoplethere, you know, attending the
show that everybody wants to eatat the same time and there's
place to eat.
Alex Tessman (23:02):
I always wondered if those restaurants around
there were just going, what inthe hell just happened?
Just all of a sudden they'rejust full of us.
Trent Manning (23:10):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (23:12):
like they didn't even know what hit them.
Trent Manning (23:14):
Nope.
I had no idea.
What would be your dream job oropportunity?
Alex Tessman (23:20):
Well, that's kind of a weird one I thought of
because like, like I said, thisis pretty much the only job I've
ever had.
So I don't even reallynecessarily know what else might
be better or worse.
I mean, I think I've got itpretty good kind of where I'm
at.
You know, of course, maybe Ithink I'd like to, I'd like to
see something different.
Trent Manning (23:41):
Yep.
Alex Tessman (23:42):
to kind of experience some different
scenery, but as far as the paceand the flow around here, as far
as dream job, I don't know howyou could beat it.
Trent Manning (23:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, hey, there ain't nothingwrong with that.
I remember Bob Smith that's inthe witness protection program.
We gave him a hard time becauseof Bob Smith, but he wanted his
dream job was to own an NFLteam.
So, you know, you can dream big.
You can dream big whatever.
(24:14):
Yeah.
You could dream to Have theultimate CNC sign business or
something, you know, I mean, itcould be anything.
Alex Tessman (24:22):
well, yeah, I mean, I suppose if I could just.
If it wasn't in this industryknow.
I guess, I don't know, I supposeis the answer.
I
Trent Manning (24:35):
that's all good, man.
What?
Yeah.
We won't take any points off.
Alex Tessman (24:42):
there's no
Trent Manning (24:42):
know the answer.
Yeah no, no test.
What technician would you liketo work with for a day?
Alex Tessman (24:48):
you know, who I think I really got to get a load
of is J.
R.
Wilson.
Trent Manning (24:53):
Okay.
Yeah, yeah.
Alex Tessman (24:54):
He seems like a guy who like, I don't know he's
got this kind of It's like hefigured out how to do drugs and
do it right.
You know, it's like he's got itall figured out in my mind.
I just, I don't know.
Maybe I've got a figment of hisimagination in my mind, but he
seems like he could do almostanything.
Trent Manning (25:15):
I believe J.
R.
can do anything.
Alex Tessman (25:18):
Anything.
Trent Manning (25:19):
And I'm not saying that just because I
consider him a good friend, butit's amazing what he does up
there.
And I was lucky enough to spenda couple of days at his shop
with him and yeah, he makes hisown sub air systems, including
the fiberglass cover.
Lead that goes over it.
(25:39):
I mean, he's doing all that.
And yeah,
Alex Tessman (25:42):
Yeah.
I think he's, I think he said hewas forging or was that you
Trent Manning (25:46):
Yeah, no he's yeah.
Forging tines and heat treatingthem for one of their air fires.
I mean, just so, you know, someof the craziest stuff and it,
yeah, he has like a two storyset up in his shop and we go
upstairs.
And I see a bench grinder on adrill press.
(26:11):
And I'm like what is this for?
And he's sharpening stumpgrinder teeth.
The green teeth are round.
So you put it in the drill pressor in the Chuck and you turn it
slow RPM and you bring it downto the stone and sharpen the
stump grinder teeth.
Alex Tessman (26:30):
that's fun.
I just did the same thing withour five eights times.
I, but I checked in a littlefour inch grinder, put it at a
45 degree angle and put thetines down to it.
I was doing the same thing justtwo weeks ago.
Trent Manning (26:46):
Wow.
going to have to start puttingpictures out there.
Alex Tessman (26:50):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (26:51):
Give away your
Alex Tessman (26:52):
of those things.
I wanted to put the picture upand I was like, but that just
doesn't quite look OSHAcompliant.
Trent Manning (26:58):
Well, honestly, most of the stuff we do, I
shouldn't most, but there isquite a few things that are not,
is not OSHA friendly for surethat happens around the golf
course.
Yeah.
What do you know now?
You wish you'd known on day one.
Alex Tessman (27:13):
I think I would have liked to have known just
truly being like, not a golfer,truly knowing like how large the
industry is.
It felt very kind ofisolationist here that I, you
know, it's just didn't even knowabout GCSAA, didn't even know
about the EM program, but Imean, it's sort of relatively
(27:33):
new, I suppose, but.
It would have been kind of niceto know sooner that, that there
was a career path and that it'snot just.
You know, kind of a dead endjob.
It would have been really coolto know.
Trent Manning (27:45):
hopefully, we all do a better job of spreading the
word.
that's one of the reasons forthe podcast here.
Spread the word and GCSA isdoing good stuff too but we all
just have to keep spreading theword.
Alex Tessman (28:01):
Well,
Trent Manning (28:01):
think a lot of it happens word of mouth.
Alex Tessman (28:04):
Oh, yeah.
I mean, when I started in on theprogram went through my AMCP,
that sort of stuff.
And then I started kind oftelling all, you know, cause
every course here has its ownmechanic, common grounds,
assistants, fleet mechanics.
And then I started telling thoseguys, like, this is what I'm
doing.
And now they're all GCSA membersand, you know, They're all kind
(28:25):
of working through their EMCP.
I've got another mechanic comingto show this year where it was
just me the first time and now Igot another one.
And so you're right.
I think it's growing.
Yep.
Trent Manning (28:36):
That's awesome.
What I've heard other people saywhen they're getting a local
technician group started, thefirst time they'll have three
people there and the next timethey have 15.
And the next time they got 25and the next time they got 50
and then 75 and then 100, youknow, I mean, it starts really
growing and it's really excitingbecause, you know, just off the
(29:01):
top of my head, I could probablyname 10 states that are starting
an equipment manager localprogram.
Alex Tessman (29:10):
Huh.
Trent Manning (29:11):
Within the state and getting technicians together
a couple times a year or more.
It all depends on your area andall that kind of stuff.
But like you're saying at yourplace, that would be great
opportunity
Alex Tessman (29:25):
Yeah.
I mean, we could have a partyjust on this one, just on this
resort.
Trent Manning (29:30):
Right,
Alex Tessman (29:31):
you know, if we can get some other people from
Oregon, it could be quite theturnout almost immediately.
Trent Manning (29:37):
Yeah,
Alex Tessman (29:37):
there isn't one already, I don't know.
Trent Manning (29:39):
Yeah, I don't know.
I haven't heard, you know,obviously, I'm on the East
Coast.
So, maybe that's why I don'thear anything happening on the
West Coast but I don't, Know, Idon't know what's happening over
there.
Alex Tessman (29:51):
I don't either.
Trent Manning (29:54):
So, you'll have to keep me posted.
Let me know how it's
Alex Tessman (29:57):
do.
I do need to look into the theOGCSA
Trent Manning (30:02):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
See if they're doing anythingbecause that's another thing
that a lot of associations orlocal chapters are doing is
they're appointing an equipmentmanager to be a liaison to the
board to help advise their localboard of kind of education type
(30:22):
stuff.
And we done that here in Georgiaa long time ago.
We're not technically liaisons.
But we have an educationalcommittee and they put a couple
of us equipment managers on theeducational committee and we've
been doing the education fortechnicians for I don't over 10
(30:42):
years now which awesome
Alex Tessman (30:44):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (30:45):
because before that it was you know the
superintendents were alwaysstruggling to come up with ideas
like what do these technicianswant to learn this year You
know, so what?
Alex Tessman (30:57):
how could they know?
Trent Manning (30:58):
well, right.
They don't know.
I mean, it's, you know, justlike me or you trying to figure
out what a superintendent wantsto learn about.
I have no idea.
Alex Tessman (31:05):
no idea.
Trent Manning (31:06):
bugs, grass, you know, I don't know.
Alex Tessman (31:08):
Something like
Trent Manning (31:09):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (31:10):
think they cut grass.
I don't know.
Trent Manning (31:11):
Get ready for tips and tricks.
What kind of tips and tricks yougot you want to share with us?
Alex Tessman (31:19):
Well, apparently putting your angle grinder at a
45 and your drill press is agood one
Trent Manning (31:24):
Yeah, there you go.
Alex Tessman (31:25):
But
Trent Manning (31:26):
tell me why, yeah, let's back up.
Why were you sharpening tines?
Alex Tessman (31:32):
We were getting from JRM were just sort of cut
at a 45.
And when they were sort ofentering the turf, they were
sort of making a bit of a smileyface kind of shape and just sort
of reclosing because of the sortof needle type shape, it was
just so surgical.
It was just leaving a nice slitand not leaving it open.
(31:53):
And our goal was to fill thathole with as much sand as
humanly possible.
So we, we took a, you know, oneset of those and ground it more
to a bullet point, and it wasjust leaving a giant hole gaping
hole that was.
Exactly what we needed, whichwas like, well, shit, now I have
to do all of these.
So it kind of started out withjust yank, trying to do that by
(32:15):
hand at the bench grinder.
And I was like, wait a minute, Igotta come up with something.
Just gimme a minute, So that'swhy is'cause it, we just needed
that hole to stay open and itwasn't.
Trent Manning (32:27):
Oh, that's awesome.
That's yeah.
Good stuff.
Alex Tessman (32:29):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (32:30):
I would have never thought.
Alex Tessman (32:32):
Yeah, I, you know, I didn't really think so either.
Cause we've been running thoseJRM tines just with the cut and
I'm for years then up untilrecently, it was never an issue.
And then all of a sudden theyjust started closing up.
I don't know if, you know, somesort of turf conditions, it was
too wet, too soft, yada yada.
I don't know, but Had to makesomething happen and we made it
(32:53):
happen.
Trent Manning (32:54):
Good deal.
Yeah, so what kind of tips andtricks?
Alex Tessman (32:58):
Like disdain for people who Wiring being like
external and visible.
So I always want to route thingslike through the frame, if at
all possible.
So one of the tricks that cameup with doing that is taking a
section of like a aluminum whatis that?
Like aluminum cable, steelcable.
And on the end, I just meltedsome heat shrink just so the end
(33:19):
wouldn't fray.
And you chuck it up in a drilland just spin that thing up
there and it will find its wayalmost anywhere you want to go
with that thing spinning inthere, tie off your electrical,
whatever you want to do and pullit all back through nice and
neat.
You can,
Trent Manning (33:38):
interesting.
Yeah, never thought about that.
Alex Tessman (33:41):
and I also found out that you could use a similar
trick when you're putting likewe have Dakota top dressers, or
I'm sure it doesn't matter.
What there's like a joiningsection in those belts.
If you take that rod that goesin that joining section, or
sometimes it's cable.
If you chuck that up in a drill,it'll just fly right in there.
Trent Manning (34:01):
No way.
Alright, I'm gonna have, yeah, Igotta try this.
I don't, yeah, gotta try that.
Alex Tessman (34:08):
And then I think the second trick, which
Trent Manning (34:11):
I've definitely said choice words trying to get
that wire back in the
Alex Tessman (34:15):
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
I don't know.
I may, maybe it's just mylaziness that comes up with this
stuff, but.
Trent Manning (34:21):
Hey, what, you know, smarter, not harder is the
old saying.
I'm
Alex Tessman (34:26):
yeah, I'm not exactly a big guy, so I can't
just hoof it in there.
Second trick though, is forfinding a hole in a tire.
Instead of doing the soapy waterand an old squeezy spray bottle,
I went and got myself one ofthose little half gallon
pesticide sprayers that youcould pump up real good and just
whole tire all at once.
(34:48):
And it makes it so much faster,so much easier.
You don't have to like burn upyour wrist, trying to spray this
thing down very efficient.
Trent Manning (34:59):
that is a really good idea and there you probably
already got some of thosefloating around the shop
somewhere for
Alex Tessman (35:05):
Oh yeah.
Trent Manning (35:06):
You know, I mean, if not.
They're everywhere and go toHome Depot or Lowe's or any one
of the above.
Alex Tessman (35:14):
Yep.
Trent Manning (35:15):
No, that's a good one.
I really liked that one.
Well, what else you got you wantto talk about?
Alex Tessman (35:19):
I don't know.
What would be is there asuggestion or like something
that typically someone would,well,
Trent Manning (35:25):
no, I got a suggestion.
I want you
Alex Tessman (35:28):
step
Trent Manning (35:29):
to talk about how you're going to start your local
technician thing in Oregon.
No, that's really putting you onthe spot.
How about this?
How about we talk about how youcould do that if you wanted to?
And I'll help you with someideas.
Alex Tessman (35:50):
And just seeing if it ain't already happening.
Trent Manning (35:53):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (35:54):
I think that'd be a pretty good 1st step.
You know,
Trent Manning (35:57):
you know any board members or your executive
director or anything?
Alex Tessman (36:02):
Not for any local associations.
No,
Trent Manning (36:05):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (36:06):
I haven't a clue.
Trent Manning (36:08):
Well, somebody in y'all's operation probably does.
I would think.
Yeah.
you can get a phone number or anemail
Alex Tessman (36:18):
be found out.
Trent Manning (36:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
For
Alex Tessman (36:20):
I think there's a local distributor, Turfstar
Western will kind of put on someclasses here and there.
I don't know if it's, it doesn'tseem like it has a really large
turnout, but that might be justbecause of the, you know, maybe
that's more Toro specific orsomething.
I don't know why.
Trent Manning (36:40):
don't.
So, the Toro distributor that Iuse that I have to use because
Toro and that distributor tellsme I have to use them because of
where I live in the country.
But that's a whole nother topicfor another day.
They have one once a year andyeah, it's all Toro related,
(37:01):
which is fine.
And, you know, I've tried to goor if I don't go, I at least
send my guys to it.
And, just for the networking,you know, if you don't.
care about Toro or you know,learning go for the free lunch
and to talk to othertechnicians.
You know, I would recommend thatall day long.
Alex Tessman (37:23):
Yeah, I definitely try to, if there's anything that
pops up like that, I kind of letany of the other guys go
especially any of the new guys,just go get the little class
local here or whatever.
You know, cause some people justare kind of not super interested
in going to show and it's justmaybe a little too much for
them, that kind of thing.
So it's like, you know, I'mafforded all this other great
(37:46):
education.
You know, you guys go do thelocal one.
So I'll have to get it from themexactly.
You know, maybe they've madesome connections locally in the
Oregon area.
Trent Manning (37:58):
Yeah.
How many technicians do y'allhave in your group?
Alex Tessman (38:03):
Let's see.
Pacific, Trails, Shorties,Common Grounds, Fleet, Sheep
Ranch.
Okay.
One, two, three, four, five,six, seven, eight.
Oh, old Mac.
So that's nine.
Trent Manning (38:18):
nine.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, y'all gotta do y'all'sown thing there.
Alex Tessman (38:22):
I know.
Trent Manning (38:23):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Knock it out, man.
Line it up.
Friday's out, you know, Fridayafternoons or you know, whatever
your light day is.
Everybody go grab a bite orsomething and you're right.
you know, there's sometechnicians and mechanics that
are not into that.
I could care
Alex Tessman (38:41):
No.
No.
Trent Manning (38:42):
I just want to get their check and go home.
And Hey, that's fine too.
Alex Tessman (38:47):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (38:47):
But do want a little bit more, there's more
out there.
Alex Tessman (38:51):
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
More for me.
Trent Manning (38:57):
Well, you want to do some rapid fire?
Alex Tessman (38:59):
Okay.
I
Trent Manning (39:01):
What's your favorite movie?
Alex Tessman (39:03):
think I'd have to go either Inglourious Bastards
or Saving Private Ryan.
Trent Manning (39:08):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (39:09):
world war two collection.
I'm a big world war two guy.
Trent Manning (39:12):
Okay.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (39:14):
gotta be one of those.
Trent Manning (39:15):
Yeah.
Both classics.
What would be your last meal?
Alex Tessman (39:21):
I think this one has already been said once, but
Taco bell.
Trent Manning (39:25):
It has been said.
Alex Tessman (39:27):
Yeah.
Cause I c I could do the steakand potatoes any day.
I guess I'm fortunate enoughthat I could do that anytime,
but that Taco bell is the onefast food joint I will go to
ever, and it's just my littleguilty pleasure.
Trent Manning (39:42):
Hey, nothing wrong with it.
No, no shame here.
Yeah, no shame at all.
So do y'all have a lot of TacoBells there?
Alex Tessman (39:50):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (39:50):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (39:51):
There's one about a half hour away,
Trent Manning (39:53):
Okay.
All
Alex Tessman (39:54):
when we go to the big city of like, I don't even
know.
It's probably the smallest citycompared to most people.
Trent Manning (40:01):
Yeah, that's funny.
What are you most proud ofbesides your family?
Alex Tessman (40:08):
This was kind of a funny one.
I was asking my buddy about thisbecause I'm not exactly the most
like, you know, I think I'vebeen described as like arrogant
or cocky, but pride is a strangeone for me.
But after talking with him aboutit, what I had come.
To the conclusion is that in mychildhood really wasn't like, I
(40:28):
could have easily fallen into.
Assisted, you know, all thesection 8 and food stamps and
drugs and just getting into thatsort of world and.
And I just made a decision rightthen and there that I was going
to be a self sufficient man andkind of cut my own path.
And so, so I'm pretty proud thatI didn't take the easy route.
(40:53):
Let's put it that way.
Trent Manning (40:54):
Yeah.
No, for sure.
And yeah, if you can't be proudof that, what can you be proud
Alex Tessman (40:58):
Right.
Trent Manning (40:59):
that is awesome because it is so hard to do what
you're doing versus, like yousay, you know, I don't want to
call it the easy route, but it'sdefinitely a route that is a lot
easier to fall into.
And go that direction and thenonce you're in how do you get
(41:19):
out?
Yeah, all these people strugglewith that.
I mean, I
Alex Tessman (41:25):
And it was almost kind of, kind of weird.
I was almost like kind ofbelittled amongst my quote
unquote peers, because it waslike, well, you just think
you're better than us.
And that that I was like, well,I don't know.
Maybe I am sorry to say it, butI'm not doing whatever this is.
Trent Manning (41:44):
Yeah
Alex Tessman (41:46):
It can be done.
Trent Manning (41:48):
and it yes, yeah, I think it definitely easier
said than done to say, you know,I'm out.
Cause yeah.
How easy is it to say, eh whatthe hell?
It's just one, you know,whatever it is.
Yeah.
It's just one.
Alex Tessman (42:04):
It
Trent Manning (42:04):
But right.
That's yeah.
That's how I get you for sure.
Yeah.
That's good stuff, man.
I'm proud of you.
That's
Alex Tessman (42:12):
Well, thank you.
Trent Manning (42:13):
Yeah.
That's very good.
And you don't have to be cocky.
You can be confident.
Yeah, I like that word
Alex Tessman (42:21):
I like that better.
That sounds better.
Trent Manning (42:23):
yeah, it sounds better.
Confident.
We'll tell the listeners howthey can get ahold of your
confident self.
Alex Tessman (42:31):
Well, has anyone just dropped a cell phone number
on here?
Can I just do that?
Trent Manning (42:36):
I would not, yeah, I would prefer not, I
mean, I don't know, you know, itwas probably fine, but yeah, I
would not put a cell phonenumber.
Are you on any of the socialsites?
Alex Tessman (42:49):
I mean, not really.
I like, just got an X the otherday.
I'm really not active on there.
Trent Manning (42:57):
fine.
Alex Tessman (42:58):
I'm not active on there.
WhatsApp group, I think most ofus are on there.
So, definitely that.
Trent Manning (43:04):
Yep.
Yeah, I think that would be agood way for
Alex Tessman (43:08):
You know, or I can give you my work email.
My work email is srmechanic atbandendunesgolf.
com.
Trent Manning (43:20):
Very good.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
A
Alex Tessman (43:22):
can
Trent Manning (43:22):
lot of people give emails.
Yeah.
No, that's good.
And if you're thinking about theWhatsApp group, just reach out
to me or anybody else that's init.
And, We'll get you in there itis a really good resource
Alex Tessman (43:37):
that is hands down probably one of the biggest
leaps at kind of getting intothis whole thing is getting
involved in GCSA, going to theshow and meeting you.
Having that tool has been like,I mean, it's like the most
useful thing.
I mean, I almost said that's myfavorite tool.
(43:58):
It's my damn phone,
Trent Manning (44:00):
Oh yeah.
And we have had people say thatfor sure.
But yeah, the what's that?
Yeah, it's such a greatresource.
And there.
So depending on yourpersonality, there's a lot of
people that are in the groupthat never asked a question.
that never say a thing andthat's totally fine too.
(44:21):
So if that's you and you want tosee what everybody else is
doing, I mean, you know, notthat you're trying to keep up
with anybody, but just seeinghow other people are solving
problems sometimes is reallyhelpful.
And if you don't feelcomfortable asking a question,
that's okay.
Alex Tessman (44:41):
Or definitely don't do it publicly.
Reach out to me, reach out toyou
Trent Manning (44:45):
Yeah, right.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (44:47):
in a singular form.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (44:49):
And.
You know, I don't know how muchof that is going on, but I know
there is a good bit of thatgoing on.
If we're talking about whateverin the main group, I know
there's side techs going on allthe time.
And I mean, that's great.
think it's awesome.
Alex Tessman (45:04):
Cause I got into this industry, not knowing how
to turn a single wrench.
I mean, I'm a welder by tradeand.
You know, so I've made all thestupid mistakes and I'll tell
you how not to make thosemistakes.
Reach
Trent Manning (45:19):
on, you know, on the other hand, there's a lot of
us that are in the industry thatare not welders, but if we were
welding something, you couldprobably help us a lot,
Alex Tessman (45:28):
bet.
Trent Manning (45:29):
And there's a lot of people in the group, you
know, I mean, that's the greatthing about the group is we all
have kind of our specialties orsomething that we are good at,
that somebody else isn't, andthat's okay.
That's what makes a group sogreat.
Alex Tessman (45:45):
absolutely.
Trent Manning (45:46):
Yep.
Awesome, man.
Well, I can't thank you enoughfor being on.
I appreciate your time.
I appreciate you coming on thepodcast and I look forward to
seeing you in San Diego.
Alex Tessman (45:57):
Oh, I can't wait.
I'm excited.
I can't wait to meet all youguys again.
Really appreciate you having meon again.
I really love the the WhatsAppgroup.
That's been indispensable.
And I hear in San Diego, the onething to go find is some Kansas
city barbecue.
Don't know what that means, butwe're going to have to go find
(46:17):
out.
Trent Manning (46:19):
Okay.
Yeah, you keep me posted on thatbecause I've had a lot of Kansas
City barbecue and it's neverbeen in San Diego.
Alex Tessman (46:27):
Seems kind of funny.
Doesn't it?
Trent Manning (46:28):
Right.
Yeah.
All the Kansas City barbecue Ihad was in Kansas City.
Alex Tessman (46:33):
Well, maybe this won't be so good for you.
Trent Manning (46:36):
yeah, I don't know.
Yeah, I'm interested.
I'm intrigued for sure.
Alex Tessman (46:40):
Well, I can't wait to see everybody there and build
the connections even better.
Trent Manning (46:45):
Sounds good.
We'll see you soon.
Alex Tessman (46:47):
Awesome.
Thanks, Trent.
Trent Manning (46:54):
thank you so much for listening to the Reel turf
techs podcast.
I hope you learned somethingtoday.
Don't forget to subscribe.
If you have any topics you'dlike to discuss, or you'd like
to be a guest, find us onTwitter at Reel turf techs.
Welcome to the reel turf techs podcast for the
technician that wants to getreel follow along.
As we talk to industryprofessionals and address hot
topics that we all face alongthe way we'll learn tips and
tricks.
I'm your host, Trent.
Manning let's have some thisepisode are real turf techs on
(00:27):
golf course industriesSuperintendent radio network is
presented by Foley county astrong supporter of equipment
technicians and golf coursemaintenance departments
everywhere Foley county offers aproven solution for above and
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(00:47):
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distributor visit www dot FoleyC o.com Foley Ready for play
Welcome to the Real Turf Techspodcast episode 133.
(01:10):
Today we're talking to AlexTessman, Equipment Manager at
Brandon Dunes Sheep Ranch GolfCourse in Bandon, Oregon.
Sheep Ranch is a public 18 holechampionship course.
Bandon Dune Resort has 7 coursesand a total of 9 techs.
They're primarily all Toroequipment.
(01:31):
Let's talk to Alex.
Welcome Alex to the real turftext podcast.
Thanks for coming on.
How you doing?
Alex Tessman (01:38):
Hey Trent, things are good.
Trent Manning (01:40):
That's Yep.
Happy Monday.
It's the fall of the year andit's my favorite time along with
probably a lot of otherequipment managers.
Alex Tessman (01:50):
Yeah, finally slowing down.
Trent Manning (01:52):
Yep, that's that's what it's all about.
Tell us how you got into theturf industry.
Alex Tessman (01:58):
Well, there was a, A high school teacher that, you
know, was a pretty bigimpression on me and he was
trying to line me out with a joband He told me call this guy and
he'll line you up.
I didn't know who this guy was.
I didn't know what the job was.
(02:19):
I didn't know anything about it.
But all I did was I called himevery other day, which come to
find out he was on vacation fortwo weeks.
So I blew up
Trent Manning (02:30):
Blew his phone up.
Alex Tessman (02:31):
his phone a little bit.
And he calls me back and sayslike, hey you know, I'm in
charge of the rangers and, youknow, we usually kind of keep
that for the retired guys.
Let me put you in touch withagronomy.
Trent Manning (02:46):
Oh,
Alex Tessman (02:46):
like you could be a workhorse for another guy I
know.
Trent Manning (02:50):
Okay.
Alex Tessman (02:51):
he put me in touch with Jeff Sutherland at Pacific
Dunes.
And so I, on the same day ofgetting my license, starting
college and getting a job I allof a sudden found myself raking
bunkers on a golf course.
I didn't even know existed.
Trent Manning (03:09):
Nice and never played golf before any of that
stuff.
Alex Tessman (03:13):
Nope.
Not then, not really since.
Trent Manning (03:16):
That's okay.
That's alright.
Alex Tessman (03:19):
Yep.
Trent Manning (03:19):
There's a lot of us that don't play.
Alex Tessman (03:22):
No.
I'll go play with the old man,because you only get so much
time with the old man, but
Trent Manning (03:27):
Not a great point.
Yeah the listeners don't forgetthat
Alex Tessman (03:31):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (03:32):
cuz life's short for
Alex Tessman (03:33):
Absolutely.
Trent Manning (03:35):
So, how did you end up in the shop turning
wrenches?
Alex Tessman (03:40):
Well, it was we were doing a big renovation on
Trails, where they tore up allof the sod on one of, like, I
think what I was working on was18.
Yeah.
And little squares, we had tolift that up one piece at a
time, move it off, reshape andput it back.
(04:01):
Well, that really kind ofsucked.
That was not a fun time.
And so I was already kind oflooking for a different career
path.
I didn't really think this wouldbe my sort of jam and, you know,
then it started to be like, Hey,why don't we get you in the
shop?
Because you seem like you couldkind of manage yourself and do
your own thing.
And I think they saw.
A different side of me thatwasn't really greenskeeper
(04:22):
agronomy worthy and someone sawthe talent in me and namely
Scott Huntley kind of put me inthe shop.
And next thing, you know, aposition opened and I was just
kind of the next shoe in becauseI was already in there
assisting.
Trent Manning (04:38):
Okay.
So you assisted anothertechnician for how long?
Alex Tessman (04:44):
Yep.
Just kind of went in theafternoons, helping him whatever
he wanted, just whatever heneeded.
But that's how I kind of gotinto the, into turning wrenches.
And then I went full time forcommon grounds.
I don't know when that wouldhave been.
I started working here in 2010.
I think it was a couple ofyears, 2013 or so when I started
(05:08):
turning wrenches.
Trent Manning (05:09):
Okay.
All right.
Yeah.
Well, you still look very young.
So,
Alex Tessman (05:16):
Thanks.
Trent Manning (05:17):
Yeah, no, no offense, but I was thinking,
well, How have turning wrenchesthat long?
Alex Tessman (05:22):
No, I've been working here for 14 years, but
not turning wrenches for thewhole time.
Trent Manning (05:27):
Yeah, that's still, that's cool.
That's great.
How did you learn the cuttingunit stuff?
Was it more hands on with theguy that you're working under?
Alex Tessman (05:38):
It was like.
Baptism by fire, just kind of,you know, we, there definitely
wasn't as much of a technicalmind for cutting units then as
we're sort of leaning into now.
So it was just get it sharpishand make it sheer.
Trent Manning (05:53):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (05:54):
You know, we never discussed paralleling and
anything like that until quiterecently.
Trent Manning (05:58):
Yeah, and yeah, I don't know.
I don't know, you know, why, howit was.
I mean, a lot of things I guessI've learned over the years and
I kind of knew about, but wedidn't necessarily implement
them like we do now.
And I definitely think it's,really good where we're at and
(06:21):
where we're headed in theindustry on cutting unit setup.
Alex Tessman (06:27):
And we had burn hard grinders at that time.
So we didn't really, couldn'treally indicate good, like the
Foley's that we have now,
Trent Manning (06:34):
Mhm.
Alex Tessman (06:34):
Just get a scratch and let her fly, you know,
definitely couldn't dorelieving.
Trent Manning (06:39):
Yep.
Yep.
Alex Tessman (06:41):
so it's been incrementally learning over the
years, just step by step.
Trent Manning (06:47):
Oh, yeah.
Yep.
Well, no, I mean, I've told afew people this with all this
research I've been doingrecently.
I've learned more in the lastnine or 10 months about cutting
units I have in my 28 yearcareer, which you know, it's
mind blowing.
It's crazy how much informationthere is out there.
Alex Tessman (07:08):
Oh boy.
Trent Manning (07:10):
No it's crazy.
It's I mean, it's very eyeopening and a lot of the stuff
that we were taught over theyears was at the time was okay,
but times have changed andcutting units have changed a
(07:31):
little bit and I get it, youknow, it's just like saying.
Well, the internal combustionengine is the exact same thing
as it was a hundred ago, butyeah, so, you know, you still
got, it's a four stroke, suck,bang, blow, all those things,
Alex Tessman (07:50):
Huh.
Trent Manning (07:51):
you know, but, you know, no carburetors hardly
anymore.
Everything's fuel injected.
There's no points andcondensers.
Magnetos, all those things,everything in the past.
So internal combustion has camea long way and you can say the
(08:11):
same thing with cutting unitsand say, well, this real was,
you know, invented in the 1800sto cut carpet and you know, now
we're using it to cut grass, but
Alex Tessman (08:23):
Is that true?
It was made to cut carpet?
Trent Manning (08:25):
Yes.
Yep.
Alex Tessman (08:26):
No kidding.
Trent Manning (08:27):
Made to cut the nap on carpet
Alex Tessman (08:30):
No
Trent Manning (08:31):
England.
Yes.
Alex Tessman (08:33):
Oh, I can't wait to lay that fun fact on people.
Trent Manning (08:36):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
We'll have to look that up andsee exactly when it was created,
but sometime in the 1800s, butcutting unit technology has came
a long way and I don't know whateverybody else is doing, but I
think Toro.
has definitely led or is leadingthe trend to make cutting units
(08:59):
better.
They put a lot of R and D intheir cutting units and,
Alex Tessman (09:05):
that whole DPA system.
Trent Manning (09:07):
yeah, and the DPA come out in the early 2000s.
So, I mean, that's, you know, 25years old and that was, you
know, really pushing the curveback then.
Anyway, talking about rambling,there we went.
Yeah, we did it.
But I love getting off topicsidetrack.
Alex Tessman (09:26):
100%.
Trent Manning (09:27):
What is your least favorite part of the job?
Alex Tessman (09:30):
I think sort of unfortunately is probably the
most important part of the job,which is setup, making sure
everything is so spot on all thetime, every time, every day.
Maybe it's the monotony of that.
You know, cause I think we allsort of like the variety in our
job.
That's the one monotony thingwhere I'm just like, You know,
(09:52):
but it's got to be done.
Trent Manning (09:54):
Yeah.
We used to have that question onthe podcast.
What is your favorite part ofthe job?
And everybody said the variety.
So it was everybody has the samequestion.
So that's not a very interestingquestion.
We'll pick something else, but Itotally get it.
Yeah.
It's any of those monotonouschores that we have to do over
(10:16):
and over again.
Alex Tessman (10:17):
Yep.
Trent Manning (10:18):
Yeah, that makes it
Alex Tessman (10:19):
one of those things you can't just glaze over
to you.
You can't just quick it.
You're going to pay attention.
Trent Manning (10:24):
What's your favorite tool?
Alex Tessman (10:27):
A headphones.
Trent Manning (10:28):
Oh, okay.
Alex Tessman (10:30):
I
Trent Manning (10:30):
So you can listen to the RealTurfTex Podcast.
Alex Tessman (10:33):
I've listened to three episodes today,
Trent Manning (10:35):
Oh, wow.
Okay.
Are you behind or are you doubledipping?
Okay.
Alex Tessman (10:41):
I guess way behind.
I have been making an attempt tolisten to all of them.
I'm right now.
I just listened to your episodefrom COVID times with Diana Kern
the other day
Trent Manning (10:52):
Oh, wow.
Okay.
That's going way back.
Alex Tessman (10:55):
so I'm trying to get through them all.
Trent Manning (10:58):
Okay.
Alex Tessman (10:58):
a while.
Trent Manning (10:59):
No, it's all good.
It's all good.
No problem at all there.
I appreciate you listening and Ilove it when listeners are
guests too.
That's, you know, it's cool.
Comes full
Alex Tessman (11:11):
Oh, yeah.
Yeah, it is nice, you know, andyou know, it's just kind of me
and my four walls in here and Ilove to have my headphones and I
mean, I'm just like rollingthrough all my podcasts, yours
included.
Trent Manning (11:24):
Okay, cool.
Alex Tessman (11:25):
Every
Trent Manning (11:25):
awesome.
What do you do to relax or findyour balance?
Alex Tessman (11:29):
so I kind of thought about this one.
I think it's sort of funnybecause I was going to tell you
all of the things that I sort ofdo aside from work.
You know, I like to, I havecarnivorous plants that I have a
huge carnivorous plantcollection.
I kind of garden.
I have a CNC business on theside.
I like to keep my hands busy.
(11:50):
I like to do things and separatemy mind.
But then I think I started tolearn that this is actually
where I come to relax.
Like I'm so crazy everywhereelse, doing all my other little
side projects.
Maybe this is.
This is where I find my balanceis the cool down period of being
at work.
Trent Manning (12:10):
I could see that for sure.
Yeah, I definitely find workmore relaxing sometimes than I
do my personal life.
Alex Tessman (12:18):
Huh.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (12:19):
For, well, tell me about the CNC.
Well, what are you
Alex Tessman (12:23):
I have a one finity CNC.
I do a lot of the courses,signage, that sort of thing, T
markers,
Trent Manning (12:30):
Okay.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (12:31):
those sorts of things.
I have started making all of thebenches for band and dunes
proper.
So, I had a guy come in fromFacilities Maintenance say like,
Hey, some guy tried to drive outyour course to get to the beach.
We need a maintenance sign thatsays, Don't do that.
That's what I've been doing alot of lately.
Trent Manning (12:52):
that's awesome.
That's super Yeah,
Alex Tessman (12:54):
been really fun.
Trent Manning (12:56):
cool.
Yeah, so yeah, sorry.
I got sidetracked there.
Yep.
I think I was gonna say that webought a CNC machine.
I don't three.
No, it's been longer than that.
Maybe five or six years ago.
And we got we've been making allour course signs.
(13:18):
We were making Remember bagtags?
I mean, I was doing, yeah, allthat stuff.
You know, anything, we're justkind of trying to find an excuse
to you know, keep using it.
But being able to make the signsis super cool.
And we've been using highdensity urethane, the
Alex Tessman (13:38):
a color core
Trent Manning (13:40):
No, it's foam.
It's just straight foam.
And I mean, it's crazy.
You know, mean, it's pretty dur,durable.
It doesn't rot.
It carves about two times fasterthan wood,
Alex Tessman (13:53):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (13:54):
Know, which is awesome.
It's easy on the bits and allthat stuff.
Definitely worth the checkinginto,
Alex Tessman (14:03):
I'm writing that down right now.
Trent Manning (14:04):
Yeah.
Do it.
Yep.
High density urethane.
We buy it in a four by eightsheet, and it's an inch and a
half thick.
Just like a you know, a two byfour or something like that
would be.
And we, let's see, we paint it.
So all our signs, the backgroundis white.
So we'll paint it white.
(14:25):
And then we put down, or a maskit's a blue mask, you know, so
anyway, you put it down, thenyou carve it out and then.
Peel off the or mask and paintthe letters.
I mean, it turns out great.
It's awesome.
Alex Tessman (14:44):
I'll definitely have to look into that, you
know, because here on the Oregoncoast, it's wet, and wet.
All the time.
Trent Manning (14:52):
Yeah.
Nice.
Alex Tessman (14:53):
if we put those signs in the ground, it's
touching the ground, it's likegame over, they have to have an
air gap or it will just rot.
So I love this
Trent Manning (15:02):
definitely be worth checking into for sure.
And I don't, yeah, I don'tremember the cost of the sheets,
but I mean, it's nothing crazy.
And I mean, it lasts foreverunless, you know, we had a golf
ball hit one and it did break,you know, it
Alex Tessman (15:19):
or maybe that's not good for business.
Trent Manning (15:22):
What?
Yeah.
You got to think about that too.
You got to think about that.
Yeah.
What's your biggest challenge todate?
Alex Tessman (15:30):
Ooh.
You know, I that's kind of toughbiggest challenge When I started
over here at sheep ranch, webasically had two connex boxes
with a tarp strung acrossbetween them
Trent Manning (15:48):
That's a challenge.
Alex Tessman (15:49):
yeah, so I had to do set up in a dugout ramp thing
I made on the ground laying in apuddle full of cardboard just to
set up my reels for the day.
So I would say it was quitechallenging to sort of muddle
our way through that while we'relike, watching our beautiful
(16:10):
building being built right nextto it.
You know, you're like neck deepin mud.
Trent Manning (16:15):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (16:16):
That was quite challenging.
But the reward is fantastic.
I mean, this building is great.
Trent Manning (16:24):
So how long have y'all been in the building?
Alex Tessman (16:27):
I think we're, Sheep Branch has only been open,
I think we're going on threeyears now.
Trent Manning (16:32):
Okay, cool.
Oh, that's awesome.
Alex Tessman (16:35):
new.
Trent Manning (16:35):
a yep.
Have a new facility like thatand
Alex Tessman (16:38):
Yeah, it was great.
I got to just sort of make it myown and whatever I wanted to,
however I wanted to piece ittogether, I was just sort of
afforded that.
It was great.
It was a challenge, but it
Trent Manning (16:49):
Yeah, right, right, right, right.
No, that's super cool.
So next question is what's thestrangest thing you've seen at
Alex Tessman (16:58):
Oh, this is a pretty good one.
So when I worked over on trailsthis sort of, you know, it's
kind of sad when you reallythink about it, but he had some
sort of a psychotic break.
And thought that he was beingfollowed by black helicopters
(17:18):
and men in suits and the whole,like the government was tracking
him Somehow got his Hondaelement up a footpath that was
all made out of wood and crashedit on the deck of trails end,
which is our pro shop for thetrails course.
So we had to have.
(17:39):
This like, this poor guy havinga total come apart, Trying to
run from us and the whole bit,like, oh That was pretty, that
was probably the craziest thingI've seen.
Trent Manning (17:49):
Yeah, that's that's pretty unfortunate too.
Cause yeah.
Mental health is reallyimportant to us here Techs and
that stuff can happen.
Alex Tessman (18:02):
And I'm just about tinfoil hat enough that I wanted
to believe him.
I
Trent Manning (18:08):
Yeah yep.
Alex Tessman (18:10):
was on his side.
Trent Manning (18:12):
Do you have a mentor in the industry?
Alex Tessman (18:15):
Oh, well, I mean, you know, like most people
answered that's sort of amultitude of people.
Trent Manning (18:21):
Yep,
Alex Tessman (18:21):
you know, Jeff Sutherland was the first person
to give me a chance.
He he's the superintendent forPacific Dunes.
He.
Definitely has kind of apaternal kind of aspect to him.
He just feels like a guy thatlike actually kind of cares.
You know, Fred Yates, he's nowour new head of agronomy.
He was the first person to sortof tell me that, like how
(18:43):
important the equipment managersare, which at the time I kind of
thought he was blowing smoke upmy ass, but he wasn't.
He was actually being likesincere, you know, the Ron
Wagner, the guy that told methat to just give this guy a
call.
I mean, he sent me on the pathto begin with.
I mean, he's, he was the guythat sent me down the track of
(19:04):
going to welding school insteadof getting into tech, like
everybody I went to high schoolwith did
Trent Manning (19:09):
good stuff.
Alex Tessman (19:10):
you know, Eric Langford is the you know,
introduced me to GCSAA and toyou and.
And the programs and kind ofshowed me that there is a larger
world than just band and dunes.
And I didn't know that We had noidea.
So I, you know, I really thankhim for showing me that.
Trent Manning (19:32):
Yeah, and I think there's a lot of people out
there that have no idea theresources that are available to
technicians.
And not that we have a ton ofresources, but they are, there
are resources that people havenever heard of.
So this year in Phoenix, wasthat your first time?
Alex Tessman (19:51):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (19:52):
Yeah, that's awesome.
Alex Tessman (19:54):
that was really cool.
You know, and I got to say, itwas that was the first time
meeting you.
And I just got to kind of BS inwith Hector.
I have no idea who he was.
And you both were like, I mean,I talked to Hector for like an
hour about his family and his,he gave me this really cool
thing, a beard oil.
He was so nice.
Some guy came up and wanted totake a selfie with him.
(20:16):
I'm like, who am I talking to?
Trent Manning (20:19):
right,
Alex Tessman (20:19):
everyone was so welcoming.
It was like, you know, it wasreally neat.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (20:25):
No, it is a really good industry and for the
most part, we're, you know,pretty tight niche too.
Group, which you know, I think alot of people enjoy.
I know that's one of my favoritethings about it for sure Yeah,
I'm so glad you got to show thisyear so how did you get to show
for the first time It?
Alex Tessman (20:47):
that would have been Eric Langford.
You know, he was the one he'snow the superintendent for old
Mac.
And you know, he kind of showedme the way that.
You know, Hey, there's this showand it would sort of appear like
the classes for EMS has reallybeen on the rise in the last
couple of years.
And like, I think it's timesomeone, you know, from the
(21:09):
wrench side should start goingto these things.
Trent Manning (21:12):
Awesome
Alex Tessman (21:13):
Absolutely.
Like
Trent Manning (21:14):
Yeah, for
Alex Tessman (21:14):
I'm always down for that, You know?
So, so he really kind of pushedme into it.
Trent Manning (21:19):
Yeah, more, more the merrier, for sure, and every
year it seems like, I mean,every year there's definitely
more technicians that come, youknow, how many more?
I don't know.
I heard last year we had around175 in attendance, which I think
was the most to date.
Alex Tessman (21:40):
Oh, wow.
Trent Manning (21:41):
yeah, it'll be interesting to see what happens
in San Diego.
San Diego is a usually not aswell attended as Orlando is
usually the best attended causethere's, well, there's more
people on the East coast andit's really cheap for them to
get down there and housing isreally cheap in Orlando.
(22:04):
A lot of clubs, they'll rent ahouse and have 10 people staying
at a house.
And, you know, it's a thousanddollars for a week or something
for 10 people, So it's yeah.
Dirt cheap to stay down there.
Alex Tessman (22:16):
It sounds like the consensus I've been hearing on
the podcast though, is thateveryone loves San Diego if they
Trent Manning (22:21):
Oh yeah.
Yes.
Yes.
San Diego is awesome.
And it's definitely my favoritespot for sure.
But it's because of San Diegoand the weather, you know, a
convention center is aconvention center.
Yeah.
The other really nice thing isall the places to eat that were
(22:41):
within walking distance of theconvention center in San Diego,
which is super nice too.
You know, there's one thing,Phoenix wasn't terrible, but
there wasn't a ton of places toeat.
And there's so many peoplethere, you know, attending the
show that everybody wants to eatat the same time and there's
place to eat.
Alex Tessman (23:02):
I always wondered if those restaurants around
there were just going, what inthe hell just happened?
Just all of a sudden they'rejust full of us.
Trent Manning (23:10):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (23:12):
like they didn't even know what hit them.
Trent Manning (23:14):
Nope.
I had no idea.
What would be your dream job oropportunity?
Alex Tessman (23:20):
Well, that's kind of a weird one I thought of
because like, like I said, thisis pretty much the only job I've
ever had.
So I don't even reallynecessarily know what else might
be better or worse.
I mean, I think I've got itpretty good kind of where I'm
at.
You know, of course, maybe Ithink I'd like to, I'd like to
see something different.
Trent Manning (23:41):
Yep.
Alex Tessman (23:42):
to kind of experience some different
scenery, but as far as the paceand the flow around here, as far
as dream job, I don't know howyou could beat it.
Trent Manning (23:51):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, hey, there ain't nothingwrong with that.
I remember Bob Smith that's inthe witness protection program.
We gave him a hard time becauseof Bob Smith, but he wanted his
dream job was to own an NFLteam.
So, you know, you can dream big.
You can dream big whatever.
(24:14):
Yeah.
You could dream to Have theultimate CNC sign business or
something, you know, I mean, itcould be anything.
Alex Tessman (24:22):
well, yeah, I mean, I suppose if I could just.
If it wasn't in this industryknow.
I guess, I don't know, I supposeis the answer.
I
Trent Manning (24:35):
that's all good, man.
What?
Yeah.
We won't take any points off.
Alex Tessman (24:42):
there's no
Trent Manning (24:42):
know the answer.
Yeah no, no test.
What technician would you liketo work with for a day?
Alex Tessman (24:48):
you know, who I think I really got to get a load
of is J.
R.
Wilson.
Trent Manning (24:53):
Okay.
Yeah, yeah.
Alex Tessman (24:54):
He seems like a guy who like, I don't know he's
got this kind of It's like hefigured out how to do drugs and
do it right.
You know, it's like he's got itall figured out in my mind.
I just, I don't know.
Maybe I've got a figment of hisimagination in my mind, but he
seems like he could do almostanything.
Trent Manning (25:15):
I believe J.
R.
can do anything.
Alex Tessman (25:18):
Anything.
Trent Manning (25:19):
And I'm not saying that just because I
consider him a good friend, butit's amazing what he does up
there.
And I was lucky enough to spenda couple of days at his shop
with him and yeah, he makes hisown sub air systems, including
the fiberglass cover.
Lead that goes over it.
(25:39):
I mean, he's doing all that.
And yeah,
Alex Tessman (25:42):
Yeah.
I think he's, I think he said hewas forging or was that you
Trent Manning (25:46):
Yeah, no he's yeah.
Forging tines and heat treatingthem for one of their air fires.
I mean, just so, you know, someof the craziest stuff and it,
yeah, he has like a two storyset up in his shop and we go
upstairs.
And I see a bench grinder on adrill press.
(26:11):
And I'm like what is this for?
And he's sharpening stumpgrinder teeth.
The green teeth are round.
So you put it in the drill pressor in the Chuck and you turn it
slow RPM and you bring it downto the stone and sharpen the
stump grinder teeth.
Alex Tessman (26:30):
that's fun.
I just did the same thing withour five eights times.
I, but I checked in a littlefour inch grinder, put it at a
45 degree angle and put thetines down to it.
I was doing the same thing justtwo weeks ago.
Trent Manning (26:46):
Wow.
going to have to start puttingpictures out there.
Alex Tessman (26:50):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (26:51):
Give away your
Alex Tessman (26:52):
of those things.
I wanted to put the picture upand I was like, but that just
doesn't quite look OSHAcompliant.
Trent Manning (26:58):
Well, honestly, most of the stuff we do, I
shouldn't most, but there isquite a few things that are not,
is not OSHA friendly for surethat happens around the golf
course.
Yeah.
What do you know now?
You wish you'd known on day one.
Alex Tessman (27:13):
I think I would have liked to have known just
truly being like, not a golfer,truly knowing like how large the
industry is.
It felt very kind ofisolationist here that I, you
know, it's just didn't even knowabout GCSAA, didn't even know
about the EM program, but Imean, it's sort of relatively
(27:33):
new, I suppose, but.
It would have been kind of niceto know sooner that, that there
was a career path and that it'snot just.
You know, kind of a dead endjob.
It would have been really coolto know.
Trent Manning (27:45):
hopefully, we all do a better job of spreading the
word.
that's one of the reasons forthe podcast here.
Spread the word and GCSA isdoing good stuff too but we all
just have to keep spreading theword.
Alex Tessman (28:01):
Well,
Trent Manning (28:01):
think a lot of it happens word of mouth.
Alex Tessman (28:04):
Oh, yeah.
I mean, when I started in on theprogram went through my AMCP,
that sort of stuff.
And then I started kind oftelling all, you know, cause
every course here has its ownmechanic, common grounds,
assistants, fleet mechanics.
And then I started telling thoseguys, like, this is what I'm
doing.
And now they're all GCSA membersand, you know, They're all kind
(28:25):
of working through their EMCP.
I've got another mechanic comingto show this year where it was
just me the first time and now Igot another one.
And so you're right.
I think it's growing.
Yep.
Trent Manning (28:36):
That's awesome.
What I've heard other people saywhen they're getting a local
technician group started, thefirst time they'll have three
people there and the next timethey have 15.
And the next time they got 25and the next time they got 50
and then 75 and then 100, youknow, I mean, it starts really
growing and it's really excitingbecause, you know, just off the
(29:01):
top of my head, I could probablyname 10 states that are starting
an equipment manager localprogram.
Alex Tessman (29:10):
Huh.
Trent Manning (29:11):
Within the state and getting technicians together
a couple times a year or more.
It all depends on your area andall that kind of stuff.
But like you're saying at yourplace, that would be great
opportunity
Alex Tessman (29:25):
Yeah.
I mean, we could have a partyjust on this one, just on this
resort.
Trent Manning (29:30):
Right,
Alex Tessman (29:31):
you know, if we can get some other people from
Oregon, it could be quite theturnout almost immediately.
Trent Manning (29:37):
Yeah,
Alex Tessman (29:37):
there isn't one already, I don't know.
Trent Manning (29:39):
Yeah, I don't know.
I haven't heard, you know,obviously, I'm on the East
Coast.
So, maybe that's why I don'thear anything happening on the
West Coast but I don't, Know, Idon't know what's happening over
there.
Alex Tessman (29:51):
I don't either.
Trent Manning (29:54):
So, you'll have to keep me posted.
Let me know how it's
Alex Tessman (29:57):
do.
I do need to look into the theOGCSA
Trent Manning (30:02):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
See if they're doing anythingbecause that's another thing
that a lot of associations orlocal chapters are doing is
they're appointing an equipmentmanager to be a liaison to the
board to help advise their localboard of kind of education type
(30:22):
stuff.
And we done that here in Georgiaa long time ago.
We're not technically liaisons.
But we have an educationalcommittee and they put a couple
of us equipment managers on theeducational committee and we've
been doing the education fortechnicians for I don't over 10
(30:42):
years now which awesome
Alex Tessman (30:44):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (30:45):
because before that it was you know the
superintendents were alwaysstruggling to come up with ideas
like what do these technicianswant to learn this year You
know, so what?
Alex Tessman (30:57):
how could they know?
Trent Manning (30:58):
well, right.
They don't know.
I mean, it's, you know, justlike me or you trying to figure
out what a superintendent wantsto learn about.
I have no idea.
Alex Tessman (31:05):
no idea.
Trent Manning (31:06):
bugs, grass, you know, I don't know.
Alex Tessman (31:08):
Something like
Trent Manning (31:09):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (31:10):
think they cut grass.
I don't know.
Trent Manning (31:11):
Get ready for tips and tricks.
What kind of tips and tricks yougot you want to share with us?
Alex Tessman (31:19):
Well, apparently putting your angle grinder at a
45 and your drill press is agood one
Trent Manning (31:24):
Yeah, there you go.
Alex Tessman (31:25):
But
Trent Manning (31:26):
tell me why, yeah, let's back up.
Why were you sharpening tines?
Alex Tessman (31:32):
We were getting from JRM were just sort of cut
at a 45.
And when they were sort ofentering the turf, they were
sort of making a bit of a smileyface kind of shape and just sort
of reclosing because of the sortof needle type shape, it was
just so surgical.
It was just leaving a nice slitand not leaving it open.
(31:53):
And our goal was to fill thathole with as much sand as
humanly possible.
So we, we took a, you know, oneset of those and ground it more
to a bullet point, and it wasjust leaving a giant hole gaping
hole that was.
Exactly what we needed, whichwas like, well, shit, now I have
to do all of these.
So it kind of started out withjust yank, trying to do that by
(32:15):
hand at the bench grinder.
And I was like, wait a minute, Igotta come up with something.
Just gimme a minute, So that'swhy is'cause it, we just needed
that hole to stay open and itwasn't.
Trent Manning (32:27):
Oh, that's awesome.
That's yeah.
Good stuff.
Alex Tessman (32:29):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (32:30):
I would have never thought.
Alex Tessman (32:32):
Yeah, I, you know, I didn't really think so either.
Cause we've been running thoseJRM tines just with the cut and
I'm for years then up untilrecently, it was never an issue.
And then all of a sudden theyjust started closing up.
I don't know if, you know, somesort of turf conditions, it was
too wet, too soft, yada yada.
I don't know, but Had to makesomething happen and we made it
(32:53):
happen.
Trent Manning (32:54):
Good deal.
Yeah, so what kind of tips andtricks?
Alex Tessman (32:58):
Like disdain for people who Wiring being like
external and visible.
So I always want to route thingslike through the frame, if at
all possible.
So one of the tricks that cameup with doing that is taking a
section of like a aluminum whatis that?
Like aluminum cable, steelcable.
And on the end, I just meltedsome heat shrink just so the end
(33:19):
wouldn't fray.
And you chuck it up in a drilland just spin that thing up
there and it will find its wayalmost anywhere you want to go
with that thing spinning inthere, tie off your electrical,
whatever you want to do and pullit all back through nice and
neat.
You can,
Trent Manning (33:38):
interesting.
Yeah, never thought about that.
Alex Tessman (33:41):
and I also found out that you could use a similar
trick when you're putting likewe have Dakota top dressers, or
I'm sure it doesn't matter.
What there's like a joiningsection in those belts.
If you take that rod that goesin that joining section, or
sometimes it's cable.
If you chuck that up in a drill,it'll just fly right in there.
Trent Manning (34:01):
No way.
Alright, I'm gonna have, yeah, Igotta try this.
I don't, yeah, gotta try that.
Alex Tessman (34:08):
And then I think the second trick, which
Trent Manning (34:11):
I've definitely said choice words trying to get
that wire back in the
Alex Tessman (34:15):
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
I don't know.
I may, maybe it's just mylaziness that comes up with this
stuff, but.
Trent Manning (34:21):
Hey, what, you know, smarter, not harder is the
old saying.
I'm
Alex Tessman (34:26):
yeah, I'm not exactly a big guy, so I can't
just hoof it in there.
Second trick though, is forfinding a hole in a tire.
Instead of doing the soapy waterand an old squeezy spray bottle,
I went and got myself one ofthose little half gallon
pesticide sprayers that youcould pump up real good and just
whole tire all at once.
(34:48):
And it makes it so much faster,so much easier.
You don't have to like burn upyour wrist, trying to spray this
thing down very efficient.
Trent Manning (34:59):
that is a really good idea and there you probably
already got some of thosefloating around the shop
somewhere for
Alex Tessman (35:05):
Oh yeah.
Trent Manning (35:06):
You know, I mean, if not.
They're everywhere and go toHome Depot or Lowe's or any one
of the above.
Alex Tessman (35:14):
Yep.
Trent Manning (35:15):
No, that's a good one.
I really liked that one.
Well, what else you got you wantto talk about?
Alex Tessman (35:19):
I don't know.
What would be is there asuggestion or like something
that typically someone would,well,
Trent Manning (35:25):
no, I got a suggestion.
I want you
Alex Tessman (35:28):
step
Trent Manning (35:29):
to talk about how you're going to start your local
technician thing in Oregon.
No, that's really putting you onthe spot.
How about this?
How about we talk about how youcould do that if you wanted to?
And I'll help you with someideas.
Alex Tessman (35:50):
And just seeing if it ain't already happening.
Trent Manning (35:53):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (35:54):
I think that'd be a pretty good 1st step.
You know,
Trent Manning (35:57):
you know any board members or your executive
director or anything?
Alex Tessman (36:02):
Not for any local associations.
No,
Trent Manning (36:05):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (36:06):
I haven't a clue.
Trent Manning (36:08):
Well, somebody in y'all's operation probably does.
I would think.
Yeah.
you can get a phone number or anemail
Alex Tessman (36:18):
be found out.
Trent Manning (36:19):
Yeah.
Yeah.
For
Alex Tessman (36:20):
I think there's a local distributor, Turfstar
Western will kind of put on someclasses here and there.
I don't know if it's, it doesn'tseem like it has a really large
turnout, but that might be justbecause of the, you know, maybe
that's more Toro specific orsomething.
I don't know why.
Trent Manning (36:40):
don't.
So, the Toro distributor that Iuse that I have to use because
Toro and that distributor tellsme I have to use them because of
where I live in the country.
But that's a whole nother topicfor another day.
They have one once a year andyeah, it's all Toro related,
(37:01):
which is fine.
And, you know, I've tried to goor if I don't go, I at least
send my guys to it.
And, just for the networking,you know, if you don't.
care about Toro or you know,learning go for the free lunch
and to talk to othertechnicians.
You know, I would recommend thatall day long.
Alex Tessman (37:23):
Yeah, I definitely try to, if there's anything that
pops up like that, I kind of letany of the other guys go
especially any of the new guys,just go get the little class
local here or whatever.
You know, cause some people justare kind of not super interested
in going to show and it's justmaybe a little too much for
them, that kind of thing.
So it's like, you know, I'mafforded all this other great
(37:46):
education.
You know, you guys go do thelocal one.
So I'll have to get it from themexactly.
You know, maybe they've madesome connections locally in the
Oregon area.
Trent Manning (37:58):
Yeah.
How many technicians do y'allhave in your group?
Alex Tessman (38:03):
Let's see.
Pacific, Trails, Shorties,Common Grounds, Fleet, Sheep
Ranch.
Okay.
One, two, three, four, five,six, seven, eight.
Oh, old Mac.
So that's nine.
Trent Manning (38:18):
nine.
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, y'all gotta do y'all'sown thing there.
Alex Tessman (38:22):
I know.
Trent Manning (38:23):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Knock it out, man.
Line it up.
Friday's out, you know, Fridayafternoons or you know, whatever
your light day is.
Everybody go grab a bite orsomething and you're right.
you know, there's sometechnicians and mechanics that
are not into that.
I could care
Alex Tessman (38:41):
No.
No.
Trent Manning (38:42):
I just want to get their check and go home.
And Hey, that's fine too.
Alex Tessman (38:47):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (38:47):
But do want a little bit more, there's more
out there.
Alex Tessman (38:51):
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
More for me.
Trent Manning (38:57):
Well, you want to do some rapid fire?
Alex Tessman (38:59):
Okay.
I
Trent Manning (39:01):
What's your favorite movie?
Alex Tessman (39:03):
think I'd have to go either Inglourious Bastards
or Saving Private Ryan.
Trent Manning (39:08):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (39:09):
world war two collection.
I'm a big world war two guy.
Trent Manning (39:12):
Okay.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (39:14):
gotta be one of those.
Trent Manning (39:15):
Yeah.
Both classics.
What would be your last meal?
Alex Tessman (39:21):
I think this one has already been said once, but
Taco bell.
Trent Manning (39:25):
It has been said.
Alex Tessman (39:27):
Yeah.
Cause I c I could do the steakand potatoes any day.
I guess I'm fortunate enoughthat I could do that anytime,
but that Taco bell is the onefast food joint I will go to
ever, and it's just my littleguilty pleasure.
Trent Manning (39:42):
Hey, nothing wrong with it.
No, no shame here.
Yeah, no shame at all.
So do y'all have a lot of TacoBells there?
Alex Tessman (39:50):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (39:50):
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (39:51):
There's one about a half hour away,
Trent Manning (39:53):
Okay.
All
Alex Tessman (39:54):
when we go to the big city of like, I don't even
know.
It's probably the smallest citycompared to most people.
Trent Manning (40:01):
Yeah, that's funny.
What are you most proud ofbesides your family?
Alex Tessman (40:08):
This was kind of a funny one.
I was asking my buddy about thisbecause I'm not exactly the most
like, you know, I think I'vebeen described as like arrogant
or cocky, but pride is a strangeone for me.
But after talking with him aboutit, what I had come.
To the conclusion is that in mychildhood really wasn't like, I
(40:28):
could have easily fallen into.
Assisted, you know, all thesection 8 and food stamps and
drugs and just getting into thatsort of world and.
And I just made a decision rightthen and there that I was going
to be a self sufficient man andkind of cut my own path.
And so, so I'm pretty proud thatI didn't take the easy route.
(40:53):
Let's put it that way.
Trent Manning (40:54):
Yeah.
No, for sure.
And yeah, if you can't be proudof that, what can you be proud
Alex Tessman (40:58):
Right.
Trent Manning (40:59):
that is awesome because it is so hard to do what
you're doing versus, like yousay, you know, I don't want to
call it the easy route, but it'sdefinitely a route that is a lot
easier to fall into.
And go that direction and thenonce you're in how do you get
(41:19):
out?
Yeah, all these people strugglewith that.
I mean, I
Alex Tessman (41:25):
And it was almost kind of, kind of weird.
I was almost like kind ofbelittled amongst my quote
unquote peers, because it waslike, well, you just think
you're better than us.
And that that I was like, well,I don't know.
Maybe I am sorry to say it, butI'm not doing whatever this is.
Trent Manning (41:44):
Yeah
Alex Tessman (41:46):
It can be done.
Trent Manning (41:48):
and it yes, yeah, I think it definitely easier
said than done to say, you know,I'm out.
Cause yeah.
How easy is it to say, eh whatthe hell?
It's just one, you know,whatever it is.
Yeah.
It's just one.
Alex Tessman (42:04):
It
Trent Manning (42:04):
But right.
That's yeah.
That's how I get you for sure.
Yeah.
That's good stuff, man.
I'm proud of you.
That's
Alex Tessman (42:12):
Well, thank you.
Trent Manning (42:13):
Yeah.
That's very good.
And you don't have to be cocky.
You can be confident.
Yeah, I like that word
Alex Tessman (42:21):
I like that better.
That sounds better.
Trent Manning (42:23):
yeah, it sounds better.
Confident.
We'll tell the listeners howthey can get ahold of your
confident self.
Alex Tessman (42:31):
Well, has anyone just dropped a cell phone number
on here?
Can I just do that?
Trent Manning (42:36):
I would not, yeah, I would prefer not, I
mean, I don't know, you know, itwas probably fine, but yeah, I
would not put a cell phonenumber.
Are you on any of the socialsites?
Alex Tessman (42:49):
I mean, not really.
I like, just got an X the otherday.
I'm really not active on there.
Trent Manning (42:57):
fine.
Alex Tessman (42:58):
I'm not active on there.
WhatsApp group, I think most ofus are on there.
So, definitely that.
Trent Manning (43:04):
Yep.
Yeah, I think that would be agood way for
Alex Tessman (43:08):
You know, or I can give you my work email.
My work email is srmechanic atbandendunesgolf.
com.
Trent Manning (43:20):
Very good.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
A
Alex Tessman (43:22):
can
Trent Manning (43:22):
lot of people give emails.
Yeah.
No, that's good.
And if you're thinking about theWhatsApp group, just reach out
to me or anybody else that's init.
And, We'll get you in there itis a really good resource
Alex Tessman (43:37):
that is hands down probably one of the biggest
leaps at kind of getting intothis whole thing is getting
involved in GCSA, going to theshow and meeting you.
Having that tool has been like,I mean, it's like the most
useful thing.
I mean, I almost said that's myfavorite tool.
(43:58):
It's my damn phone,
Trent Manning (44:00):
Oh yeah.
And we have had people say thatfor sure.
But yeah, the what's that?
Yeah, it's such a greatresource.
And there.
So depending on yourpersonality, there's a lot of
people that are in the groupthat never asked a question.
that never say a thing andthat's totally fine too.
(44:21):
So if that's you and you want tosee what everybody else is
doing, I mean, you know, notthat you're trying to keep up
with anybody, but just seeinghow other people are solving
problems sometimes is reallyhelpful.
And if you don't feelcomfortable asking a question,
that's okay.
Alex Tessman (44:41):
Or definitely don't do it publicly.
Reach out to me, reach out toyou
Trent Manning (44:45):
Yeah, right.
Yeah.
Alex Tessman (44:47):
in a singular form.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (44:49):
And.
You know, I don't know how muchof that is going on, but I know
there is a good bit of thatgoing on.
If we're talking about whateverin the main group, I know
there's side techs going on allthe time.
And I mean, that's great.
think it's awesome.
Alex Tessman (45:04):
Cause I got into this industry, not knowing how
to turn a single wrench.
I mean, I'm a welder by tradeand.
You know, so I've made all thestupid mistakes and I'll tell
you how not to make thosemistakes.
Reach
Trent Manning (45:19):
on, you know, on the other hand, there's a lot of
us that are in the industry thatare not welders, but if we were
welding something, you couldprobably help us a lot,
Alex Tessman (45:28):
bet.
Trent Manning (45:29):
And there's a lot of people in the group, you
know, I mean, that's the greatthing about the group is we all
have kind of our specialties orsomething that we are good at,
that somebody else isn't, andthat's okay.
That's what makes a group sogreat.
Alex Tessman (45:45):
absolutely.
Trent Manning (45:46):
Yep.
Awesome, man.
Well, I can't thank you enoughfor being on.
I appreciate your time.
I appreciate you coming on thepodcast and I look forward to
seeing you in San Diego.
Alex Tessman (45:57):
Oh, I can't wait.
I'm excited.
I can't wait to meet all youguys again.
Really appreciate you having meon again.
I really love the the WhatsAppgroup.
That's been indispensable.
And I hear in San Diego, the onething to go find is some Kansas
city barbecue.
Don't know what that means, butwe're going to have to go find
(46:17):
out.
Trent Manning (46:19):
Okay.
Yeah, you keep me posted on thatbecause I've had a lot of Kansas
City barbecue and it's neverbeen in San Diego.
Alex Tessman (46:27):
Seems kind of funny.
Doesn't it?
Trent Manning (46:28):
Right.
Yeah.
All the Kansas City barbecue Ihad was in Kansas City.
Alex Tessman (46:33):
Well, maybe this won't be so good for you.
Trent Manning (46:36):
yeah, I don't know.
Yeah, I'm interested.
I'm intrigued for sure.
Alex Tessman (46:40):
Well, I can't wait to see everybody there and build
the connections even better.
Trent Manning (46:45):
Sounds good.
We'll see you soon.
Alex Tessman (46:47):
Awesome.
Thanks, Trent.
Trent Manning (46:54):
thank you so much for listening to the Reel turf
techs podcast.
I hope you learned somethingtoday.
Don't forget to subscribe.
If you have any topics you'dlike to discuss, or you'd like
to be a guest, find us onTwitter at Reel turf techs.
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