May 7, 2025 • 46 mins
Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 142!
Today we’re talking to Chris Snyder, Equipment Manager at Mt. Hawley Country Club in Peoria, Illinois.
Mt. Hawley is a private 18-hole course spread across 110 scenic acres next to Peoria Lake. Chris has been at the course for over 30 years, surviving everything from a decade without a grinder to a full course renovation — and he’s still going strong.
Chris’s love of motorcycles steered him toward a degree in applied science with an automotive focus, eventually leading him to the parks district and then into golf course equipment management. He’s the lone tech in the shop during the busy summer months, maintaining a mostly Toro fleet with EZGO carts, and is a big believer in preventative maintenance — a lesson he learned early on from his dad, who once built an airplane in their garage.
We talk about how Chris keeps things fresh after decades on the job, the importance of patience, surviving parts shortages and budget challenges, smart tips for setting up new equipment, and why you should always pay close attention to the leaf blade with your prism gauge (and your phone!). Plus, his favorite shop tool, his gamer side, and how he balances work with family time.
Let’s jump in with Chris!
- Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning
- Email us at ReelTurfTechs@gmail.com
- Check out our YouTube Channel
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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 Welcometo The Real Turf Text Podcast,
(00:27):
episode 1 42.
Today we're talking to ChrisSnyder, equipment manager at
Mount Hawley Country Club inPeoria, Illinois.
Mount.
Hawley is a private 18 holecourse.
That sits on 110 acres next toPeoria Lake.
Chris got a new shop in 2009.
(00:47):
He is the Lone Tech in the shopin the summertime.
He has mostly Toro equipmentwith easy go carts.
Let's talk to Chris.
Welcome Chris to the Real TurfText podcast.
Thanks for coming on.
Chris Snyder (01:00):
Well, thanks for having me.
Trent Manning (01:01):
Yep.
We're gonna have fun.
We'll start right off.
Tell us how you got into theturf industry.
Chris Snyder (01:07):
My whole mechanic background, I guess, kinda
started with motorcycles backwhen I was a teenager.
And then that kinda grew intolove with automobiles right
after that.
So I did some automotivecourses.
We were fortunate enough to havea couple classes given to us at
high school,
Trent Manning (01:26):
Okay.
Chris Snyder (01:26):
went through that.
I was like, okay this is lookingpretty good.
So ended up going to college gota degree in applied science in
the automotive industry.
And while I was going throughcollege, you know, we have our
internships and that ended upbeing at the Peoria Park
(01:48):
District.
Trent Manning (01:50):
Okay.
Chris Snyder (01:51):
So my internship was spent there and that was
just.
Basically the park side of itafter graduation, from
graduating from college, wentto, went back to Pere Park
District worked with their parksfor a while and they had, at the
(02:12):
time five golf courses they tookcare of.
Trent Manning (02:15):
Oh wow.
Chris Snyder (02:15):
And one of the guys retired.
There was two guys.
Taking care of those five golfcourses.
And one of the guys retired andthey said, Hey Chris, you wanna
come over to this department?
And I was like, okay, well I'llgive it a try.
So I worked there for about, Idon't know, about a year and a
half or so worked on golfequipment.
(02:38):
Then a job happened to come openat Mount Holly.
And ended up getting that job asthe mechanic there.
That was in, I believe it was92.
Trent Manning (02:52):
Oh wow.
Okay.
Chris Snyder (02:54):
And obviously still there.
So you know, through.
Through the years it's reallygrown on me and you know, the
first few years it's like, okay,I'm turning wrenches and stuff
like this.
as the whole industry started tokind of change and, you know,
people were, I guess moredemands on the equipment, more
(03:17):
demands, you know, as far asplayability of the golf course
and stuff.
And a lot of that started tointrigue me a little bit more.
'cause I really wasn't planningon staying there.
I had like, I had a three yearplan.
Trent Manning (03:31):
Uhhuh.
Chris Snyder (03:32):
It turned into a 30 year plan,
Trent Manning (03:34):
Yeah.
Yep.
Chris Snyder (03:35):
but
Trent Manning (03:36):
You're not the only one man.
There.
There's a lot of people outthere.
I remember John Patterson, Imean, he said the same thing.
He is like, ah I'll try this fora little while and then I'll
find something better.
Chris Snyder (03:46):
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (03:47):
We got a guy on our crew he's a super good
operator, and he he said that,he was kind of in between jobs
and he seen the ad and thenewspaper, whatever.
He's like, oh I'll work thereuntil I can find something
better.
You know, over the winter, youknow, he's been in construction
work his whole life.
He's like, I'll work the winter.
You know, construction's kindaslow anyway.
(04:10):
I'll find something in thespring, and he's been there 11
years, you know, just hooked himin.
Chris Snyder (04:16):
yep.
Exactly.
Yeah, my first impression was,well, I'm gonna be working on
weed eaters and push mowers allday long.
And well, it's nothing of thesort, you know, you're
definitely a lot more in depththan just your regular yard
mower and weed eater.
You know, it's, you know,getting mowers to cut at, you
(04:39):
know, 1 10, 1 20, and.
Getting everything even and trueand it's kind of fun and at the
same time rewarding when you goout and take a look at your
green and be like, oh, yeah,
Trent Manning (04:53):
Oh yeah.
Yeah, very much so.
Yeah.
And that's awesome.
How have you been able to keepthe passion?
That I see you have, you know,about setting mowers up and
mowing grass and after doing itfor this many years
Chris Snyder (05:10):
I mean, there's definitely times you kinda
scratch your head and be like,gosh, do I really want to do
this another five, six years?
You know?
And then I mean, just likeopportunities, like right now,
you know, I.
Really kind of perks yourinterest up.
Again, you know, it's it's kindof a, an emotional lift, I
guess, of sorts, you know?
(05:31):
So it's like, oh yeah, hey, thisis bigger than just me, you
know?
So,
Trent Manning (05:35):
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (05:36):
really makes me want to dig in a little bit
more.
So there, there's definitelytimes that, you know.
I don't know if I want to dothis tomorrow, you know?
But then, you know, it all comesin round in a circle and it's
like, okay, I'm back.
Here we go.
Trent Manning (05:51):
Right?
Yep.
Yeah, I mean, we all have thosedays for sure.
Like, wow, do I wanna do thisagain tomorrow?
And then, you know, tomorrow's anew day.
So, so, yeah.
You never know what tomorrow'sgonna bring.
Well, I'm glad you've stuck withit this long.
That's awesome.
That's
Chris Snyder (06:08):
me too.
I'm.
I'm I really enjoy the job.
Like I said it's reallyrewarding when you go out there
and take a tour of the courseand like everything's clicked in
and it's like, all right we didit today.
Let's do it again tomorrow.
Trent Manning (06:25):
What's been some of your challenges?
You know, you kinda let in tohigher expectations.
Chris Snyder (06:33):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (06:34):
What's been some of the challenges with that?
Chris Snyder (06:36):
probably the biggest challenge was I probably
went, I don't know,approximately 10 years without a
grinder.
Trent Manning (06:44):
Oh wow.
Yeah.
Yep.
Chris Snyder (06:45):
So I.
Spent a lot of time back lappingAnd obviously that's, you know,
a bandaid of sorts and you know,we always send our reels off in
the winter to get ground and,you know, always start to season
off great.
And as it goes along in your topdressing and all this, you know,
(07:06):
it, it is, everything just goesdownhill after that.
Fortunately one of ourdistributors our Touro
distributor during thistimeframe came up with the idea
of some mobile grinding.
Trent Manning (07:18):
Oh, okay.
Chris Snyder (07:19):
So, so that definitely helped us out.
We had have'em about mid-seasoncome in and grind everything.
So then we were good for anothermonth or so, you know, but still
had that.
Need for some sharp reels andbed knives.
'cause, you know, lapping onlygets you so far.
Trent Manning (07:38):
Right, right.
Chris Snyder (07:39):
So we ended up, fortunately we were able to get
a new maintenance buildingbuilt.
And in that process we were ableto purchase some grinders.
Trent Manning (07:52):
Oh, nice.
Chris Snyder (07:53):
So, that really, that was a huge relief.
And just being able to keepeverything true and sharp and at
its peak, you know, was really aload off my shoulders.
Trent Manning (08:08):
Oh yeah.
No, that's awesome.
Yep.
Very good.
Can we pause one minute?
I'm sorry to do this, but mydaughter just called me.
And she never calls me, so
Chris Snyder (08:23):
no.
Trent Manning (08:23):
I just wanna make sure everything's okay.
Chris Snyder (08:25):
You better take that.
Trent Manning (08:27):
yeah.
So I'm gonna send her a text andjust make sure, let her know
what I'm doing.
Yeah, she's 17 and she'ssupposed to be working right
now.
Chris Snyder (08:35):
Oh.
Trent Manning (08:36):
So, let's see what she says.
Alright.
What's your least favorite partof the job?
Chris Snyder (08:42):
The least favorite getting up at four o'clock in
the morning.
Trent Manning (08:45):
Yeah, the early mornings.
Chris Snyder (08:46):
Yeah, those early mornings like that can be a bit
rough, but you know, you do itlong enough, you kind of get
adjusted and get used to it, butyou know, it's still four
o'clock in the morning no matterwhat.
Trent Manning (08:57):
Yep.
Yep.
And then you do the same thingon the weekends.
You can't sleep in probably.
Chris Snyder (09:02):
Right?
Yep.
Yep.
Usually up by five anyway, andit's like, oh gosh, come on.
Trent Manning (09:08):
Uhhuh.
Chris Snyder (09:08):
I want to sleep.
Trent Manning (09:09):
Yep.
Yep.
Yeah, that makes it tough forsure.
Chris Snyder (09:12):
And it does.
Trent Manning (09:13):
What's your favorite tool?
Chris Snyder (09:15):
Our favorite tool.
Boy, that's, I put a lot ofthought into this, and it's
like, I walked around the shop,opened up some drawers, and I'm
just like, I like this, youknow?
And right now.
I would have to say it'sprobably my Milwaukee grease
gun.
Trent Manning (09:29):
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (09:31):
I love that thing.
You know, I had some pneumaticsand then of course the old hand
pumps a couple other cordlessones.
But the Milwaukee is really agame changer for me when it
comes tore.
You know, it's got the littleshoulder strap so you can hold
it right there on your side andyou can have your hands
Trent Manning (09:47):
Oh, nice.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (09:49):
whatever.
It's got a long hose on it, soyou're not trying to adjust your
grease gun all at the same timetrying to get in there to exert
it's tucked away.
But yeah.
Yeah, I think the the old greasegun I really enjoy here lately.
Trent Manning (10:04):
That's awesome.
Do you have the lock and lubecoupler on the end?
Chris Snyder (10:10):
No, I do not.
Trent Manning (10:12):
Are you familiar with it?
Chris Snyder (10:13):
yes I am.
Yes, I am.
Trent Manning (10:15):
I'm a big fan of the lock and lube.
I,
Chris Snyder (10:18):
I've seen'em and I've kind of considered'em, but
I just haven't bit the bulletyet.
Trent Manning (10:23):
yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, e Every grease gun I got,it's got the lock and bluebe on
it now.
I, yeah, I just, I fell in lovewith it.
It does a good job of holding iton there.
And so in our WhatsApp group,Chris Hyman actually asked the
question'cause he had a littlemoney in his budget to spend and
wanted to get a cordless greasegun.
(10:46):
And hands down, the Milwaukeewon the.
Yeah, everybody chimed inMilwaukee.
Milwaukee.
There was a few people that hadthe DeWalt and I think the main
reason they had the DeWalt isthey already had some of the
DeWalt batteries and stuff, sothey went and that makes sense.
Chris Snyder (11:01):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (11:02):
But yeah, I'm big Milwaukee fan.
Hope to reach out and see ifthey wanna sponsor this podcast,
Chris Snyder (11:08):
you go.
Trent Manning (11:09):
you know?
Chris Snyder (11:09):
awesome.
Trent Manning (11:10):
Yep.
That would be be very cool.
What do you do to relax or findyour balance?
Chris Snyder (11:15):
Oh, to relax.
Trent Manning (11:17):
Is there such thing?
Do you relax ever?
Chris Snyder (11:20):
I mean, to an extent, you know, outside of
spending time with the kidswatching tv, movies and stuff
like that, you know, I like toplay video games.
Trent Manning (11:31):
Hey, no, nothing wrong with that.
Chris Snyder (11:32):
Yeah.
Little Rainbows, six Siege, andI'm rejuvenated.
Trent Manning (11:38):
Okay.
Nice.
That's awesome.
I don't, I mean, video games isdefinitely a way just to, you
know, check out,
Chris Snyder (11:45):
You do?
Trent Manning (11:46):
you know, you can just, yeah.
Get so in, focused in on whatyou're doing and Yeah, forget
all the world problems.
Chris Snyder (11:52):
Yep.
Yep.
Trent Manning (11:53):
Yep.
That's good stuff.
What's been one of your biggestchallenges to date?
Chris Snyder (12:00):
Biggest challenges, gosh.
Probably keeping the sand offthe greens.
Trent Manning (12:05):
Have you figured out how to do that?
Let everybody in on your secretthere.
Chris Snyder (12:10):
Nope.
That's that's an ongoing battle.
Gosh dang.
You know, probably communicationtrying to keep communication
between the staff and me.
Getting them to be able to cometo me and say, Hey, this broke,
you know, instead of justparking it and walking it,
walking away from it, and thenthe next day we're like, oh
(12:30):
gosh, what happened?
Just trying to get those guysto, you know, your accidents
happen, things break, Gonnahappen.
Just trying to get thatmentality into some of'em is,
has been a challenge.
I don't know, they feel likethey're gonna get in big trouble
or what, but you know, if it'ssomething big, you know, like
(12:51):
they're playing bumper cars withgolf carts out there, then yeah,
it's gonna be a problem.
But, you know.
Accidents happen and, you know,I try to keep that mentality as
long as I can.
You know, obviously if it keepson happening then there's
something else that we need todig a little deeper into What's
going on.
But just trying to keep thatcommunication open to the
(13:13):
employees that let's communicatethis stuff.
You know, let me know.
Something's broke, something'snot running right.
Just let me know and we'll gofrom there.
Trent Manning (13:24):
Yeah, because it's one of the most frustrating
things when.
You know, you just findsomething broke in the back of
the shop or small equipment roomor whatever it is,
Chris Snyder (13:35):
Yep.
Trent Manning (13:35):
And that's the last time we want to be working
on something is when we actuallyneed it.
You know, let it let us know.
But before,
Chris Snyder (13:44):
Yeah, you try to be proactive and that kind of
sets you back,
Trent Manning (13:49):
yeah, for sure.
And I mean, it's something Ithink everybody struggles with,
you know, no matter how youhandle it.
And yeah, we, a lot of mechanicshave over the years, definitely
has got a bad bad name for theirself, you know, getting angry
with people and all that stuff.
And I mean, I'm not condoningit, but I definitely understand
(14:11):
it because we're getting badnews all day long.
You know, it's like, bring mesome good news for once, you
know, tell me something worksreally good for a change.
Instead of telling me I run oversomething and I broke this, or I
broke that, or I definitely, oneof my pet peeves is working on
(14:31):
shop tools.
So like, you know, whether it bethe grinder or you know,
whatever in the shop that, youknow, I need this tool to do
this job and the tool broke.
Like, you know, I don't wannawork on that.
Chris Snyder (14:44):
That's my pet peeves as far as.
Tool usage and putting stuffback, you know, if you need to
borrow something, lemme know.
Trent Manning (14:54):
Yeah.
Yep.
Chris Snyder (14:56):
I don't mind you.
If you borrow, gotta borrow ahammer wrench, whatever, you
know, that's fine.
But let me know if you don'tknow where it goes.
Say I set it on the work bench,I don't know where it went.
Just letting you know it's back,
Trent Manning (15:09):
Yeah, exactly.
Because when they put it in thewrong drawer, it's lost until
you happen to see it again.
Chris Snyder (15:17):
Yep.
Yep.
Trent Manning (15:18):
It's definitely misplaced and you'll be looking
all over for it and, yeah.
I don't, I'm very fortunatewhere I'm at'cause I do have a
couple guys that help me in theshop.
But on the other hand, it can beextremely frustrating because
we, you know, I have a spot thatI want everything and it's not
(15:40):
the same spot.
They want everything.
Chris Snyder (15:42):
Right,
Trent Manning (15:42):
And that can be kind of frustrating too.
And like, who used this last,who put it in this drawer?
It's never been in
Chris Snyder (15:50):
Why would you put it there?
Think it goes up here.
Trent Manning (15:53):
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yep.
So anyway it's a good problem tohave.
Chris Snyder (15:57):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (15:58):
What's one of the strangest things you've seen at
work?
Chris Snyder (16:02):
Oh gosh.
Don't, I'll go with the frogone.
I got we had a seasonal guy whomowed fairways and in one week
he put the fairway mower in thelake twice.
Trent Manning (16:14):
Oh, in one week.
Chris Snyder (16:15):
Yes.
And it was two different lakes.
The first lake.
Has a pretty big embankment.
So he kind of backed up, hadsome do on there and he slid and
he went in, you know, I getthat.
That's fine.
Later in the week, he got stuckin another pond and it was a
(16:35):
pond that really wasn't anywherehe should have been.
Trent Manning (16:39):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Not close to a fairway.
Chris Snyder (16:41):
like, what are you doing over here?
He is like, well, you're notgonna believe it, but.
I'm driving along and lookingdown and I see these frogs.
So I'm just kind of drivingalong watching these frogs, and
before I know it, I'm in thelake and I'm just like,
Trent Manning (16:58):
Yeah, you can't make that up.
Chris Snyder (17:00):
No I had nothing.
I had nothing.
I'm just like, well, let's notlook at frogs anymore and
Trent Manning (17:06):
Oh boy.
Chris Snyder (17:07):
a little bit more attention to job at hand.
Trent Manning (17:10):
How do you keep a straight face when you say that?
Chris Snyder (17:13):
Even get mad at him, so it was okay.
Trent Manning (17:16):
yeah, that's pretty funny.
Chris Snyder (17:18):
I unfortunately, you know, the engine wasn't
submerged or anything like that.
He had two wheels in and one ofthe outside reels was down in
the water.
But beyond that, you know, it'slike, okay,
Trent Manning (17:28):
No major damage.
Chris Snyder (17:30):
no more frog watching for
Trent Manning (17:31):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's.
The Frog Watcher.
Oh, that's a good one.
That's one of the better ones Ithink we've heard on the
podcast.
And it reminds me, I don't, areyou familiar with the four 50 D,
the Toro four 50 D.
All right, so we had a four 50 Dback in the day, this, like mid
nineties.
And we had this operator weused, that was our fairway
(17:54):
mower, one of our fairwaymowers.
And we had the, this operatorthat drove it into a tree.
On the car path or you know,next to the car path or
Chris Snyder (18:04):
Right.
Trent Manning (18:06):
And you know, ripped, almost ripped one of the
side units off.
And so anyway, they asked himwhat happened and he said a
rabbit ran out in front of him.
So he swerved to miss therabbit, you know, with this four
50, I mean, and yeah, for thelisteners, if you don't know
what a four 50 D is, look it up.
It later changed to 4,500 d.
(18:28):
A five gang fairway mower at,with 20, I think 27 inch reels.
I mean, they were big
Chris Snyder (18:35):
big ones.
Trent Manning (18:36):
And if you've never adjusted the center
cutting unit on a four 50 or4,500, can you really say you're
a golf course technician?
Chris Snyder (18:46):
Exactly.
Trent Manning (18:47):
You know,
Chris Snyder (18:47):
Exactly.
Trent Manning (18:48):
because man, that was no fun.
Oh, those things are a beast.
That was one, one machine.
I was not disappointed to see itgo.
Chris Snyder (18:58):
How about that?
Trent Manning (18:59):
Do you have any mentors in the industry
Chris Snyder (19:02):
Mentors in the industry?
Gosh.
Trent Manning (19:05):
Or maybe in your personal life growing up?
Chris Snyder (19:07):
well, I mean, I would have to definitely, I
mean, the guy that got me goingon all this was probably my dad.
Trent Manning (19:13):
Okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (19:14):
You know, through the years, through my teen years
and well, for as long as I canremember, you know, my dad
always was.
A preventative maintenance guy.
Preventative maintenance was hisnumber one go-to every time we
were ever working on anything.
From the Volkswagen Beetle up tomy motorcycles, up to, you know,
(19:37):
vans and trucks.
And you know, he preachedchanging oil, changing plugs
keeping it clean on and on, and.
Obviously through my youngeryears, I just kind of, whatever,
you know, whatever dad.
Trent Manning (19:53):
Right, right, right.
Chris Snyder (19:54):
But you know, as time goes and you're working on
stuff, you know, it that 10, 15minute job of preventive
maintenance, you know, save youtwo, three hours later on down
the road.
So that's something that, that'sreally stuck with me through the
years is, you know, take care ofit.
Change your oil, fluids,filters, grease it stay on top
(20:19):
of it, and you treat it right,it's gonna treat you right.
Trent Manning (20:23):
Yeah.
No, that's good.
Good.
Great stuff to live by.
For sure.
Chris Snyder (20:27):
Yep.
This is also coming from a manwho built an airplane in his
garage.
So
Trent Manning (20:33):
Oh wow.
How cool is that?
Chris Snyder (20:36):
he him and my uncle did that.
It took him.
About four and a half years, butthey got it done and we, I
wouldn't say I really took partin it, but I kind of did.
But no, nothing in thestructural integrity or anything
like that in the airplane, youknow?
But it was quite an experienceto live through.
That's for sure.
Trent Manning (20:57):
Oh no, that sounds like, yeah, a super cool
experience.
So, I mean, was it, you know,every night or every, you know,
few nights and on the weekends
Chris Snyder (21:07):
Well, mostly weekends a few nights here and
there.
But a lot of weekends wereconsumed by the family getting
together, working on theairplane.
So yeah, there was about four,four and a half years of nothing
but airplane.
Trent Manning (21:19):
Wow.
Okay.
And so I'm assuming they did itJohnny Cash style one piece at a
time and
Chris Snyder (21:26):
piece at a time.
Trent Manning (21:27):
Yeah.
I love it, man.
That's, yep.
I've lived my life that way forquite a while.
One piece at a time, you know,
Chris Snyder (21:33):
Yep.
Trent Manning (21:35):
Save your money up so you can afford this or
that, and yeah,
Chris Snyder (21:38):
Exactly.
Trent Manning (21:39):
Yeah.
So did you did you get to flyingit?
Chris Snyder (21:43):
Yeah, I have flown it.
Yeah.
Yep.
Trent Manning (21:45):
Awesome.
Chris Snyder (21:46):
was, let's see, I think they finished it in the
early eighties.
So, I mean, he still has theplane.
But yeah, I mean, I've neverdone takeoffs or landings, but
up in the sky.
Yeah.
Flown around a little bit.
Trent Manning (21:59):
That's so cool.
So cool For something.
Yeah.
That was built right there inthe backyard.
Chris Snyder (22:04):
yep.
Exactly.
Trent Manning (22:06):
That is super cool.
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Let's get back to the episode.
Well, what would be your dreamjob or opportunity?
Chris Snyder (22:45):
Dream job.
Gosh, I, you know, I've alwayswanted to have my own shop,
Trent Manning (22:49):
Okay.
What would you be working on inthis shop?
Chris Snyder (22:54):
Basically whatever anybody wanted me to, I mean,
it, it would be more of abenefit for friends and family
and friends of friends.
Obviously it's a process that Iwould probably have to win the
lottery to do.
cause it would be like, Hey, youbuy the part, bring it in, let's
do this
Trent Manning (23:11):
Okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (23:12):
kind of thing.
You know, I guess it.
It sounds like fun to me.
You know, if even down to thesingle parent, you know, Hey, I
got this car.
I gotta get it fixed.
I ain't got the money.
Well bring it in, we'll fix it,
Trent Manning (23:25):
Yeah.
No, that would
Chris Snyder (23:26):
of attitude and experience.
But like I said, I'd have to winthe lottery in order to fund
something like that.
But I think there'd be a lot ofsatisfaction to come out of
that.
Trent Manning (23:37):
Yeah.
I mean, definitely you'rehelping others, right?
Chris Snyder (23:39):
Right.
Trent Manning (23:40):
Yeah.
And that is so rewarding.
Yeah, no, that would be supercool and something Yeah.
Very valuable to do with yourtime.
Chris Snyder (23:50):
Yeah, I think
Trent Manning (23:51):
Yeah.
That, yeah.
No, that's a good one.
Do you have a technician youwould like to work with for a
day?
Chris Snyder (23:59):
I suppose Hector would probably be one of the
guys I'd like to work
Trent Manning (24:02):
Okay, awesome.
Chris Snyder (24:04):
He a few years back he was doing a, oh, I don't
remember what he called it.
He would come to guys' shops andrecord and kind of do what we're
doing right now, interview the,you know, the mechanic and
superintendent and stuff, andkind of do a walkthrough of the
shop and.
(24:24):
Well, he was speaking to mysuperintendent at the time and
he was just happened to bepassing through, so he ended up
stopping at the shop
Trent Manning (24:34):
Okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (24:35):
and, I don't know, it was like the first or second
episode or something that he wasdoing and had his camera guy,
which I believe was his boy, andthey're filming us and, like I
said, just kind of doing whatwe're doing right now, but we're
walking through the shop andshowing him around all at the
same time.
So, it was kind of, it waspretty cool to meet him and have
(24:56):
him there at the shop and beable to speak to him one-on-one
for the most part.
so, yeah, I
Trent Manning (25:04):
super cool.
Yeah.
Was it Hector's shop on tour orsomething like that?
Chris Snyder (25:08):
Yeah.
I mean, I think that's what itwas.
Trent Manning (25:10):
Yeah.
No, that was so cool when he wasdoing that.
Yeah.
I was, and I don't remember, Ibrought it come up the other day
I was talking to somebody and hehad I think eight kids
Chris Snyder (25:23):
Yeah, he had quite a
Trent Manning (25:24):
he was doing that.
And I Man, how do you do that?
You know?
That had to
Chris Snyder (25:28):
I know
Trent Manning (25:29):
so stressful, I would think at times.
You know, especially with littlekids and stuff.
Chris Snyder (25:34):
are a full-time job in themselves.
Trent Manning (25:36):
Right.
But more power to him.
No, that, that was super coolthat he is doing that.
And I think he's still doingsome tech training and stuff
like that.
Yeah.
So, yeah.
No, that's super cool.
What do you know now you wishyou'd known on day one?
Chris Snyder (25:50):
Oh boy.
A lot.
A lot.
Probably I.
Kind of a generic answer, Iguess would be kind of patience
and mostly patience, you know,because it, I've had
superintendents, you know, that,Hey, we gotta get this going
now.
We gotta get going now, we gottaget it going now.
(26:12):
And it's like, well, you hearthat three or four times and it,
you know, it kind of builds uplike, okay, I gotta get going.
And you may not have the part onhand at that time.
And, You know, they're on you.
Hey, how long is this part gonnatake?
Well, I don't know when they getit shipped out and get it here,
Trent Manning (26:30):
Right?
Chris Snyder (26:31):
but you, you know, you, you try to work around some
of that stuff the best you can.
And.
Anymore.
I don't wanna say I, I ignorethat stuff'cause that's the
furthest thing from it.
But I'm able to deal with it alot better than what I used to
because it would really stressme out, you know, a lot.
Like, oh my gosh, I can't getthis going.
(26:52):
What?
You know, I'm gonna lose my job.
Trent Manning (26:55):
Right, right, right.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (26:57):
So
Trent Manning (26:58):
I think we can definitely put too much pressure
on ourself really easily in, insituations like that.
And, you know, don't get mewrong, a lot of times our
supervisors or managers can putthat stress on us too.
And I mean, I'm guilty.
I put stress on people beforefor no reason.
(27:19):
You know, I don't know, youknow, I tend to put more stress
on myself than most people wouldput on me.
But definitely something to beaware we aware of.
And I do think with age, some ofthat gets easier.
Like, this is not the end of theworld.
Nobody's gonna die, It is justgrass.
I mean, we joke about it beinggrass.
(27:41):
And not that our job isn'timportant and.
Those things, but it isn't lifeand death,
Chris Snyder (27:47):
right.
Trent Manning (27:48):
you know?
So,
Chris Snyder (27:49):
It's a lot easier to take these days than what it
used to be
Trent Manning (27:52):
yeah.
Oh yeah.
Chris Snyder (27:53):
By far.
Trent Manning (27:54):
Yep, for sure.
Yeah.
And with parts availability, andI mean, all you know, you never
know what
Chris Snyder (28:01):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (28:02):
you know, and you know, it's like dealing with a
budget.
I'm like, I don't know what'sgonna break today or tomorrow or
this month.
You know, I'll try to staywithin budget, but you know, if
this piece breaks, do you wannafix it?
You know, this is your call.
Chris Snyder (28:18):
Either gets fixed or don.
Trent Manning (28:19):
yep, that's right.
Well, how do you deal with thatperson?
You got that person on yourcrew.
I,
Chris Snyder (28:26):
Oh, gosh, actually we've got a pretty darn good
crew right now.
Trent Manning (28:30):
that's good.
Yeah.
Awesome.
Chris Snyder (28:32):
I don't know what our seasonal help's gonna look
like right now, but right nowour staff you know, they're they
can follow directions and.
In most cases, if they don'tunderstand, they're gonna come
to you and be like, Hey, is thisthe right way?
Is this the wrong way?
Which way do we really need tobe doing this?
Because I wanna make sure I getthis right.
(28:53):
But I really, I don't reallyhave any complaints about this
crew that we have right now.
Trent Manning (28:59):
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No, good.
Good for you.
Chris Snyder (29:02):
Yeah, exactly.
No, I'm.
Trent Manning (29:05):
I mean, I could kinda say the same thing now.
We just got our H two B laborback in town, and it's the same
crew that we had last year.
Chris Snyder (29:16):
Okay.
Trent Manning (29:17):
so that is awesome.
I mean, it's like
Chris Snyder (29:19):
a lot.
Trent Manning (29:20):
I think we have one new guy out of, I mean
there's 10 there, so one, onenew guy out of 10.
So I mean that's, that isawesome.
And
Chris Snyder (29:33):
to start,
Trent Manning (29:35):
that crew, even last year.
It was the first time they hadbeen with us at our club, but
they'd worked at another clubthe previous year.
So I mean, they got it, youknow, a lot of the things they
already understood and we got acouple of'em that speak really
good English.
So, I mean, it's just, it'sawesome.
Chris Snyder (29:54):
Yep.
Trent Manning (29:55):
And I don't, I mean, it's really a godsend that
program for us, because thoseguys really like to work.
They don't mind working, youknow?
Chris Snyder (30:05):
Yes they
Trent Manning (30:06):
And the, a lot of the labor we hire, you know, in
our area, most of them don'treally like to work.
You know, it's just the way theywere brought up and that kind
of, you know, more of
Chris Snyder (30:18):
also.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (30:19):
more city type kids and nothing there's wrong
with that, but they just don'tquite like to work the same.
Chris Snyder (30:29):
Nope.
It's totally different nowadays,
Trent Manning (30:31):
Yes, it is.
Get ready for tips and tricks.
What kind of tips and tricks yougot, you wanna share with us?
Chris Snyder (30:38):
Oh, tips and tricks.
Well, I know one thing I like todo I get a new piece of
equipment in the shop.
Have it be a used piece or.
Whatever it may be.
New to me, new to us at thecourse.
You know, the first thing ithits is the lift.
(30:59):
I put it on the lift.
I'm looking through it, youknow, make sure wires are ran
correctly.
Make sure especially hydrauliclines are ran correctly.
Try to correct as much as youcan.
Obviously you can't see it all,but, I like to go through and.
Some of the fuse panels aregenerally just right there in
the open, you know, collectingdust and moisture.
(31:20):
I like to go through and putjust a dab of dielectric grease
on'em.
Try to keep that corrosion to aminimum.
And, Anything preventative
Trent Manning (31:31):
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (31:33):
as much as possible.
That's kind of how I like tostart out anyway.
Trent Manning (31:37):
No, that's really good.
And I'm kind of thinking maybeyou picked that up from your
dad.
Chris Snyder (31:42):
Oh, maybe a
Trent Manning (31:42):
Yeah.
Maybe a little bit of that.
That's awesome though.
And I mean, it's a really goodpoint.
I'm glad you bring it up.
I do think that there's othertechnicians that do that, but I
know there's a lot of newerpeople in the industry and.
They might not ever thoughtlike, Hey, let's get this brand
new piece of equipment on thelift and look it over.
Chris Snyder (32:05):
Flick it over.
You gotta get to know it.
Trent Manning (32:07):
Yep.
Get to know it.
Because the person at thefactory that was putting that
piece of equipment together, youknow, is a factory worker and
nothing wrong with factoryworkers, but they make mistakes
just like me and you makemistakes every day.
So, you know, look it over.
Chris Snyder (32:26):
Yep.
Nothing wrong with doublechecking.
Trent Manning (32:27):
Yep.
Nothing at all.
Yeah, and like the guy markingall the fittings with the paint
pen, you know, he can have a badday too, and not get a fitting
tight.
And he marked it.
Chris Snyder (32:39):
Or it could be a Friday at five o'clock.
Who
Trent Manning (32:41):
yeah, you're right.
You never know any other tipsand tricks.
Chris Snyder (32:46):
Something else I like to do.
I, you know, one of my favoritetools is in my pocket all the
time.
It's my phone.
I.
I go out on the course and asyou know, we spoke before going
out there and checking the cut.
The after cut I got my prismwith me.
I go out there and checkeverything with my prism from
(33:07):
greens to tee to fairways.
I also get my phone out thereand get the best picture I
possibly can of, you know, theleaf blade and the quality.
You cut to that leaf blade.
Trent Manning (33:20):
Oh yeah, that's a good one.
Chris Snyder (33:22):
I bring my phone in, hook it up to my computer,
pull that picture up.
You know, sometimes they're goodpictures, sometimes they're not.
But you know, it gives you someidea of, you know, are we mowing
too fast?
Are the reels not cutting quiteas good as they possibly should?
You know, we ripping, tearingjust trying to stay ahead of any
problems that might come along.
Trent Manning (33:44):
Yeah, no, that's really good.
And so, Jim Ned's episode justdropped the first of February
and he brought up there in, inthe episode, and he had talked
about it before.
He always carried a microscopewith him,
Chris Snyder (34:01):
Oh yeah.
Trent Manning (34:01):
A 10 power, 15 power microscope.
And then he even, he said he hada really nice one that he could
hook up to his computer and, youknow, all this cool stuff that
he'd done for years when he wason site and visiting people.
And, but now he has his cellphone and a little piece of two
by four.
(34:22):
And he uses the piece of two byfour and lays it on the ground
and lays the cell phone on topof the two by four.
And that way he keeps thedistance the same on all his
pitchers and uses it that way.
And you almost don't need the,you know, the microscope
Chris Snyder (34:36):
Right, right.
Trent Manning (34:38):
'cause Yeah, you can really zoom in there.
But yeah, I thought that was a,an excellent idea that he passed
along.
Yeah.
What all are you looking forwhen you're looking in the
prism?
Chris Snyder (34:50):
Evenness, you know, from real to real.
Make sure that's true.
I'm trying to see how many leafblades are left behind.
How hairy is it?
Trent Manning (35:03):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yep.
I mean, stragglers are there.
Chris Snyder (35:06):
is it a fine cut?
Is it kind of a rough cut?
Do we need to speed the reelsup?
Speed'em, you know, slow'em downthe unit itself too.
Or maybe I need to go in andgrind one or the other, you
know?
Trent Manning (35:20):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (35:21):
Just trying to get the best playability out of the
greens, mainly, you know, thatwe can without you know, having
to go down to 110 or 90 orwhatever,
Trent Manning (35:35):
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (35:35):
Trying to keep the height up as high as we can
without impacting ball speed andplayability.
Trent Manning (35:42):
Yeah, I think a lot of people too get caught up
in that number and they justwant to go as low as they can,
and it's not necessarilynecessary.
Chris Snyder (35:51):
I am, I'm a firm believer, at least at our course
anyway, you know, other courseswith different style greens may
play different.
You maybe need to go a littlelower, whatever.
I'm definitely a firm believerif we're at like one 20 right
now.
I don't like it at one 20.
I like it around 1 25, 1 30.
That's not my call.
Trent Manning (36:13):
Right.
Chris Snyder (36:14):
But we're trucking along pretty good right now.
We, you know, we have acombination of mowing and
rolling, so, I think we have apretty good program going right
now that we're maintaining thesame ball speed.
On a normal day outside of humiddays and rain and whatnot.
But I think it's working outpretty good right now.
And you know, obviously thehigher the cut, the easier and
(36:38):
better it's gonna be on theequipment.
It's gonna be a little healthieron the greens.
So that's I've always been,well, I won't say I've always
been, but.
The last several yearsdefinitely promote higher cuts.
Trent Manning (36:55):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yep.
No, that's good.
Good stuff.
Any other ones?
Chris Snyder (37:01):
I can't think of anything right off the top of my
head.
Trent Manning (37:04):
Okay.
No, that's good.
That's, both of those areexcellent.
And I appreciate you sharingthem with our audience.
What else do you want to talkabout?
Anything else come to mind?
Chris Snyder (37:16):
You know, the one thing.
That I, I really look back on isback in 96 when we did our
course renovation.
You know, if you're in theindustry, you have to go through
some kind of renovation in orderto appreciate, you know, what
you have and what it takes toget to that point.
(37:39):
As far as a, a constant goodplaying course and.
When you start seeing bulldozersand scrapers and backhoes and
semi trucks coming in and outtayour place and all you see is
dirt, it's like this place isover.
We're never gonna be a golfcourse again.
Trent Manning (37:59):
Huh.
Chris Snyder (38:01):
but as time goes on, you know, you start slowly
seeing the progress and.
Again, kind of with theequipment, you kind of get to
know your course a little bitbetter and, you know, as far as
the irrigation and wiring andwhy is this mount here?
You know, what kind of drainageare we gonna put here, you know,
(38:24):
and you start seeing that stuffand it all just kind of, you
know, starts going together.
Kind of like an erector set and,before you know it, you got
green grass and a few monthslater you got people out playing
on it and it's just like, wow,this is really cool.
Trent Manning (38:43):
pretty quick transformation, isn't it?
Chris Snyder (38:45):
Yes.
Yeah it's pretty impressive.
And I do know one thing that I'dnever want to do again and
that's lay another roll of, so.
Trent Manning (38:53):
Okay.
Didn't enjoy that, huh?
Chris Snyder (38:56):
No, that was probably the worst part of it.
Trent Manning (38:59):
Yeah,
Chris Snyder (39:00):
You get done with one semi and then comes another.
It's like, oh no,
Trent Manning (39:04):
so did y'all lay a lot of the sod in house
Chris Snyder (39:07):
We did do, they had their crew laying side, but
our crew, well, we have four orfive people working at the time.
We jumped into kind of speed upthe process, some.
Trent Manning (39:20):
Yeah.
Gotcha.
Yeah, my course, we're under afull renovation right now.
We closed Labor Day and we'resupposed to reopen this Labor
Day
Chris Snyder (39:29):
Oh,
Trent Manning (39:30):
and everything.
Seems to be going pretty goodright now, but yeah, I mean, all
I'm looking at is dirt.
There's just dirt and dirt andmud and mud after it rains.
And the Georgia Red Clay I'msick of all that already.
yeah, I mean, I got yeah a layerof dust on everything in the
(39:51):
shop
Chris Snyder (39:51):
Oh gosh
Trent Manning (39:52):
it's not fun.
And then we end up doing a lotof stuff in-house too.
Even though we have aconstruction company in there
doing the renovation, we'vealready put in 700 feet of 30
inch drain pipe.
Chris Snyder (40:07):
Okay.
Trent Manning (40:08):
We, I don't know if it's good or bad, but I got a
John Deere one 60 D excavator.
So, I mean, it's like, I guess a20,000 pound machine.
I mean, it's a big excavator.
It's, you know, it's not a miniexcavator.
It's a few sizes up.
So anyway, we got that and youknow, they're digging the
(40:28):
ditches and now we're putting inmore drainage.
And I don't remember how manyfeet of this drainage we're
putting in.
I'm like, how is this notincluded in the project?
But anyway we're doing it inhouse and then we're doing all
the seating too.
So we'll have a lot of.
Chris Snyder (40:46):
we did do some of the hydro seeding and seeding on
the greens.
We did do that in house.
Trent Manning (40:52):
Yeah, we will have a lot of native areas.
So we're doing all the seed forthe native areas, and then our
greens will be Bermuda.
So we'll spring those, hopefullyin
Chris Snyder (41:02):
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (41:05):
Then we can start mowing some grass.
Chris Snyder (41:07):
There you
Trent Manning (41:07):
ready to mow some grass.
I didn't know if I would eversay that, but.
Chris Snyder (41:12):
Well, it's it becomes a point where it's like,
gosh, I just wanna mow grass.
Come
Trent Manning (41:17):
Yep.
Yeah.
And then the other thing I'mconcerned about is what all are
we gonna mow that's not grass.
You know, how many sod, staples,and irrigation flags?
And that's gonna be the funpart,
Chris Snyder (41:30):
definitely gonna find side staples,
Trent Manning (41:31):
Oh yeah, for sure.
Chris Snyder (41:33):
a given.
I.
That is a given.
Trent Manning (41:40):
Are you ready to do some rapid fire?
Chris Snyder (41:42):
Absolutely.
Let's do it.
Trent Manning (41:44):
What's your favorite movie,
Chris Snyder (41:46):
Favorite movie?
I'm gonna have to say Rocky.
Trent Manning (41:48):
ra?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
That's a good one.
Yes.
Awesome.
The first one.
Chris Snyder (41:55):
I like the first and second one.
Yeah.
Yep.
But the first one's probably myfavorite.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (42:00):
Yeah.
Good stuff.
What would be your last meal?
Chris Snyder (42:03):
Last meal.
Probably a smoked brisket.
Trent Manning (42:06):
Oh, okay.
Chris Snyder (42:08):
Yep.
Trent Manning (42:08):
Are you smoking it or somebody else?
Chris Snyder (42:11):
I've done a few.
Yes.
I wouldn't say I'm an expert atit but they turned out okay.
At least for my taste.
But yeah I enjoy using thesmoker.
I don't use it to the extent Iwould like to, but it's
enjoyable.
Trent Manning (42:25):
Awesome.
What kind of smoke do you got?
Chris Snyder (42:27):
It's a you would ask me, and I'm gonna draw a
blank on the
Trent Manning (42:30):
That's okay.
Chris Snyder (42:31):
It's, it is, it's gold.
I know that.
Trent Manning (42:34):
It's gold.
All right.
Chris Snyder (42:35):
I can't think of the name of it right off
Trent Manning (42:37):
Tagger, tiger.
I can't, I don't even rememberwhat that is.
Chris Snyder (42:41):
It's a pellet.
Trent Manning (42:42):
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (42:42):
Yep.
Trent Manning (42:43):
Traeger.
That's it.
Traeger, are they gold?
Chris Snyder (42:46):
I don't know if those are gold, but that's not
it.
Trent Manning (42:48):
Okay.
That's
Chris Snyder (42:49):
This is the Walmart.
You know, you get'em at Walmartor whatever, but
Trent Manning (42:52):
Oklahoma Joe or something?
Chris Snyder (42:54):
something.
Yeah.
Pit boss.
Is
Trent Manning (42:57):
Pit boss.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Pit boss is a, yeah.
That's a nice,
Chris Snyder (43:00):
think that's what it is.
Yep.
Trent Manning (43:01):
Okay.
Awesome.
No I used to do a good bit ofbarbecuing but I fell off the
wagon, just
Chris Snyder (43:08):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (43:09):
got out of it, you know.
I still really enjoy eating it.
Chris Snyder (43:12):
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (43:14):
it.
Chris Snyder (43:15):
The best part.
Trent Manning (43:16):
just hadn't been cooking as much
Chris Snyder (43:18):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (43:19):
you most proud of besides your family?
Chris Snyder (43:21):
Oh boy.
Just the fact that I've beenable to hold out this long, 30
years in one p, actually 30 plusyears in one spot and just been
able to.
You know, grow with the place, Iguess, you know, it's pretty
rewarding to, to see theprogress through the years.
Not only the course myself andobviously some of the people
(43:43):
that I work with, it's like Isaid, just rewarding to just
kinda look back and be like,this is where we started.
This is where we're at now, and.
I think we've done a good job.
Trent Manning (43:56):
No, that's awesome.
That's really good.
Yeah, and I'm sure you've hadsome younger people come through
there and move on in
Chris Snyder (44:03):
yeah.
Yeah.
We've we've been very fortunate,especially in our assistants.
Some of our assistants, they, Iwould say probably I.
80% of'em have moved on tosuperintendent jobs right
outside, right out of the, youknow, from leaving us.
Trent Manning (44:20):
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No,
Chris Snyder (44:21):
So, so it's been a pretty good turnout, I would
say.
Trent Manning (44:24):
That's awesome.
Yep.
Passing it on to the nextgeneration.
Chris Snyder (44:27):
absolutely.
Trent Manning (44:28):
I love it.
That's good stuff, man.
Well, I really appreciate youdoing this and your time.
You wanna tell the listeners anemail address?
You got a social media
Chris Snyder (44:40):
Most of the time I'm on Facebook, but I'm also on
some of those, oh, equipmentmaintenance, golf course
maintenance, you know, Facebookpages.
Trent Manning (44:49):
okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (44:50):
I don't really, I wouldn't say I contribute a lot,
but.
Usually when someone has aproblem on there, there's, by
the time I get on there,somebody's already got the
answer on there.
Trent Manning (44:59):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (45:00):
generally beat me to the punch.
But email is equip techchris@live.com.
Trent Manning (45:09):
Okay.
Chris Snyder (45:10):
I'd be more than happy to help anybody out, you
know, whatever I can help outwith.
But.
Preventative maintenance.
Preventative maintenance.
Trent Manning (45:18):
There you go.
Preventive maintenance.
I love it.
Well, thank you again, Chris, somuch for being on the podcast.
I've thoroughly enjoyed this andI appreciate your time and we'll
see you round.
Chris Snyder (45:31):
Alright, I appreciate it.
Thank you very much, Trent.
Trent Manning (45:40):
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 Welcometo The Real Turf Text Podcast,
(00:27):
episode 1 42.
Today we're talking to ChrisSnyder, equipment manager at
Mount Hawley Country Club inPeoria, Illinois.
Mount.
Hawley is a private 18 holecourse.
That sits on 110 acres next toPeoria Lake.
Chris got a new shop in 2009.
(00:47):
He is the Lone Tech in the shopin the summertime.
He has mostly Toro equipmentwith easy go carts.
Let's talk to Chris.
Welcome Chris to the Real TurfText podcast.
Thanks for coming on.
Chris Snyder (01:00):
Well, thanks for having me.
Trent Manning (01:01):
Yep.
We're gonna have fun.
We'll start right off.
Tell us how you got into theturf industry.
Chris Snyder (01:07):
My whole mechanic background, I guess, kinda
started with motorcycles backwhen I was a teenager.
And then that kinda grew intolove with automobiles right
after that.
So I did some automotivecourses.
We were fortunate enough to havea couple classes given to us at
high school,
Trent Manning (01:26):
Okay.
Chris Snyder (01:26):
went through that.
I was like, okay this is lookingpretty good.
So ended up going to college gota degree in applied science in
the automotive industry.
And while I was going throughcollege, you know, we have our
internships and that ended upbeing at the Peoria Park
(01:48):
District.
Trent Manning (01:50):
Okay.
Chris Snyder (01:51):
So my internship was spent there and that was
just.
Basically the park side of itafter graduation, from
graduating from college, wentto, went back to Pere Park
District worked with their parksfor a while and they had, at the
(02:12):
time five golf courses they tookcare of.
Trent Manning (02:15):
Oh wow.
Chris Snyder (02:15):
And one of the guys retired.
There was two guys.
Taking care of those five golfcourses.
And one of the guys retired andthey said, Hey Chris, you wanna
come over to this department?
And I was like, okay, well I'llgive it a try.
So I worked there for about, Idon't know, about a year and a
half or so worked on golfequipment.
(02:38):
Then a job happened to come openat Mount Holly.
And ended up getting that job asthe mechanic there.
That was in, I believe it was92.
Trent Manning (02:52):
Oh wow.
Okay.
Chris Snyder (02:54):
And obviously still there.
So you know, through.
Through the years it's reallygrown on me and you know, the
first few years it's like, okay,I'm turning wrenches and stuff
like this.
as the whole industry started tokind of change and, you know,
people were, I guess moredemands on the equipment, more
(03:17):
demands, you know, as far asplayability of the golf course
and stuff.
And a lot of that started tointrigue me a little bit more.
'cause I really wasn't planningon staying there.
I had like, I had a three yearplan.
Trent Manning (03:31):
Uhhuh.
Chris Snyder (03:32):
It turned into a 30 year plan,
Trent Manning (03:34):
Yeah.
Yep.
Chris Snyder (03:35):
but
Trent Manning (03:36):
You're not the only one man.
There.
There's a lot of people outthere.
I remember John Patterson, Imean, he said the same thing.
He is like, ah I'll try this fora little while and then I'll
find something better.
Chris Snyder (03:46):
Yeah, exactly.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (03:47):
We got a guy on our crew he's a super good
operator, and he he said that,he was kind of in between jobs
and he seen the ad and thenewspaper, whatever.
He's like, oh I'll work thereuntil I can find something
better.
You know, over the winter, youknow, he's been in construction
work his whole life.
He's like, I'll work the winter.
You know, construction's kindaslow anyway.
(04:10):
I'll find something in thespring, and he's been there 11
years, you know, just hooked himin.
Chris Snyder (04:16):
yep.
Exactly.
Yeah, my first impression was,well, I'm gonna be working on
weed eaters and push mowers allday long.
And well, it's nothing of thesort, you know, you're
definitely a lot more in depththan just your regular yard
mower and weed eater.
You know, it's, you know,getting mowers to cut at, you
(04:39):
know, 1 10, 1 20, and.
Getting everything even and trueand it's kind of fun and at the
same time rewarding when you goout and take a look at your
green and be like, oh, yeah,
Trent Manning (04:53):
Oh yeah.
Yeah, very much so.
Yeah.
And that's awesome.
How have you been able to keepthe passion?
That I see you have, you know,about setting mowers up and
mowing grass and after doing itfor this many years
Chris Snyder (05:10):
I mean, there's definitely times you kinda
scratch your head and be like,gosh, do I really want to do
this another five, six years?
You know?
And then I mean, just likeopportunities, like right now,
you know, I.
Really kind of perks yourinterest up.
Again, you know, it's it's kindof a, an emotional lift, I
guess, of sorts, you know?
(05:31):
So it's like, oh yeah, hey, thisis bigger than just me, you
know?
So,
Trent Manning (05:35):
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (05:36):
really makes me want to dig in a little bit
more.
So there, there's definitelytimes that, you know.
I don't know if I want to dothis tomorrow, you know?
But then, you know, it all comesin round in a circle and it's
like, okay, I'm back.
Here we go.
Trent Manning (05:51):
Right?
Yep.
Yeah, I mean, we all have thosedays for sure.
Like, wow, do I wanna do thisagain tomorrow?
And then, you know, tomorrow's anew day.
So, so, yeah.
You never know what tomorrow'sgonna bring.
Well, I'm glad you've stuck withit this long.
That's awesome.
That's
Chris Snyder (06:08):
me too.
I'm.
I'm I really enjoy the job.
Like I said it's reallyrewarding when you go out there
and take a tour of the courseand like everything's clicked in
and it's like, all right we didit today.
Let's do it again tomorrow.
Trent Manning (06:25):
What's been some of your challenges?
You know, you kinda let in tohigher expectations.
Chris Snyder (06:33):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (06:34):
What's been some of the challenges with that?
Chris Snyder (06:36):
probably the biggest challenge was I probably
went, I don't know,approximately 10 years without a
grinder.
Trent Manning (06:44):
Oh wow.
Yeah.
Yep.
Chris Snyder (06:45):
So I.
Spent a lot of time back lappingAnd obviously that's, you know,
a bandaid of sorts and you know,we always send our reels off in
the winter to get ground and,you know, always start to season
off great.
And as it goes along in your topdressing and all this, you know,
(07:06):
it, it is, everything just goesdownhill after that.
Fortunately one of ourdistributors our Touro
distributor during thistimeframe came up with the idea
of some mobile grinding.
Trent Manning (07:18):
Oh, okay.
Chris Snyder (07:19):
So, so that definitely helped us out.
We had have'em about mid-seasoncome in and grind everything.
So then we were good for anothermonth or so, you know, but still
had that.
Need for some sharp reels andbed knives.
'cause, you know, lapping onlygets you so far.
Trent Manning (07:38):
Right, right.
Chris Snyder (07:39):
So we ended up, fortunately we were able to get
a new maintenance buildingbuilt.
And in that process we were ableto purchase some grinders.
Trent Manning (07:52):
Oh, nice.
Chris Snyder (07:53):
So, that really, that was a huge relief.
And just being able to keepeverything true and sharp and at
its peak, you know, was really aload off my shoulders.
Trent Manning (08:08):
Oh yeah.
No, that's awesome.
Yep.
Very good.
Can we pause one minute?
I'm sorry to do this, but mydaughter just called me.
And she never calls me, so
Chris Snyder (08:23):
no.
Trent Manning (08:23):
I just wanna make sure everything's okay.
Chris Snyder (08:25):
You better take that.
Trent Manning (08:27):
yeah.
So I'm gonna send her a text andjust make sure, let her know
what I'm doing.
Yeah, she's 17 and she'ssupposed to be working right
now.
Chris Snyder (08:35):
Oh.
Trent Manning (08:36):
So, let's see what she says.
Alright.
What's your least favorite partof the job?
Chris Snyder (08:42):
The least favorite getting up at four o'clock in
the morning.
Trent Manning (08:45):
Yeah, the early mornings.
Chris Snyder (08:46):
Yeah, those early mornings like that can be a bit
rough, but you know, you do itlong enough, you kind of get
adjusted and get used to it, butyou know, it's still four
o'clock in the morning no matterwhat.
Trent Manning (08:57):
Yep.
Yep.
And then you do the same thingon the weekends.
You can't sleep in probably.
Chris Snyder (09:02):
Right?
Yep.
Yep.
Usually up by five anyway, andit's like, oh gosh, come on.
Trent Manning (09:08):
Uhhuh.
Chris Snyder (09:08):
I want to sleep.
Trent Manning (09:09):
Yep.
Yep.
Yeah, that makes it tough forsure.
Chris Snyder (09:12):
And it does.
Trent Manning (09:13):
What's your favorite tool?
Chris Snyder (09:15):
Our favorite tool.
Boy, that's, I put a lot ofthought into this, and it's
like, I walked around the shop,opened up some drawers, and I'm
just like, I like this, youknow?
And right now.
I would have to say it'sprobably my Milwaukee grease
gun.
Trent Manning (09:29):
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (09:31):
I love that thing.
You know, I had some pneumaticsand then of course the old hand
pumps a couple other cordlessones.
But the Milwaukee is really agame changer for me when it
comes tore.
You know, it's got the littleshoulder strap so you can hold
it right there on your side andyou can have your hands
Trent Manning (09:47):
Oh, nice.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (09:49):
whatever.
It's got a long hose on it, soyou're not trying to adjust your
grease gun all at the same timetrying to get in there to exert
it's tucked away.
But yeah.
Yeah, I think the the old greasegun I really enjoy here lately.
Trent Manning (10:04):
That's awesome.
Do you have the lock and lubecoupler on the end?
Chris Snyder (10:10):
No, I do not.
Trent Manning (10:12):
Are you familiar with it?
Chris Snyder (10:13):
yes I am.
Yes, I am.
Trent Manning (10:15):
I'm a big fan of the lock and lube.
I,
Chris Snyder (10:18):
I've seen'em and I've kind of considered'em, but
I just haven't bit the bulletyet.
Trent Manning (10:23):
yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah, e Every grease gun I got,it's got the lock and bluebe on
it now.
I, yeah, I just, I fell in lovewith it.
It does a good job of holding iton there.
And so in our WhatsApp group,Chris Hyman actually asked the
question'cause he had a littlemoney in his budget to spend and
wanted to get a cordless greasegun.
(10:46):
And hands down, the Milwaukeewon the.
Yeah, everybody chimed inMilwaukee.
Milwaukee.
There was a few people that hadthe DeWalt and I think the main
reason they had the DeWalt isthey already had some of the
DeWalt batteries and stuff, sothey went and that makes sense.
Chris Snyder (11:01):
Yeah,
Trent Manning (11:02):
But yeah, I'm big Milwaukee fan.
Hope to reach out and see ifthey wanna sponsor this podcast,
Chris Snyder (11:08):
you go.
Trent Manning (11:09):
you know?
Chris Snyder (11:09):
awesome.
Trent Manning (11:10):
Yep.
That would be be very cool.
What do you do to relax or findyour balance?
Chris Snyder (11:15):
Oh, to relax.
Trent Manning (11:17):
Is there such thing?
Do you relax ever?
Chris Snyder (11:20):
I mean, to an extent, you know, outside of
spending time with the kidswatching tv, movies and stuff
like that, you know, I like toplay video games.
Trent Manning (11:31):
Hey, no, nothing wrong with that.
Chris Snyder (11:32):
Yeah.
Little Rainbows, six Siege, andI'm rejuvenated.
Trent Manning (11:38):
Okay.
Nice.
That's awesome.
I don't, I mean, video games isdefinitely a way just to, you
know, check out,
Chris Snyder (11:45):
You do?
Trent Manning (11:46):
you know, you can just, yeah.
Get so in, focused in on whatyou're doing and Yeah, forget
all the world problems.
Chris Snyder (11:52):
Yep.
Yep.
Trent Manning (11:53):
Yep.
That's good stuff.
What's been one of your biggestchallenges to date?
Chris Snyder (12:00):
Biggest challenges, gosh.
Probably keeping the sand offthe greens.
Trent Manning (12:05):
Have you figured out how to do that?
Let everybody in on your secretthere.
Chris Snyder (12:10):
Nope.
That's that's an ongoing battle.
Gosh dang.
You know, probably communicationtrying to keep communication
between the staff and me.
Getting them to be able to cometo me and say, Hey, this broke,
you know, instead of justparking it and walking it,
walking away from it, and thenthe next day we're like, oh
(12:30):
gosh, what happened?
Just trying to get those guysto, you know, your accidents
happen, things break, Gonnahappen.
Just trying to get thatmentality into some of'em is,
has been a challenge.
I don't know, they feel likethey're gonna get in big trouble
or what, but you know, if it'ssomething big, you know, like
(12:51):
they're playing bumper cars withgolf carts out there, then yeah,
it's gonna be a problem.
But, you know.
Accidents happen and, you know,I try to keep that mentality as
long as I can.
You know, obviously if it keepson happening then there's
something else that we need todig a little deeper into What's
going on.
But just trying to keep thatcommunication open to the
(13:13):
employees that let's communicatethis stuff.
You know, let me know.
Something's broke, something'snot running right.
Just let me know and we'll gofrom there.
Trent Manning (13:24):
Yeah, because it's one of the most frustrating
things when.
You know, you just findsomething broke in the back of
the shop or small equipment roomor whatever it is,
Chris Snyder (13:35):
Yep.
Trent Manning (13:35):
And that's the last time we want to be working
on something is when we actuallyneed it.
You know, let it let us know.
But before,
Chris Snyder (13:44):
Yeah, you try to be proactive and that kind of
sets you back,
Trent Manning (13:49):
yeah, for sure.
And I mean, it's something Ithink everybody struggles with,
you know, no matter how youhandle it.
And yeah, we, a lot of mechanicshave over the years, definitely
has got a bad bad name for theirself, you know, getting angry
with people and all that stuff.
And I mean, I'm not condoningit, but I definitely understand
(14:11):
it because we're getting badnews all day long.
You know, it's like, bring mesome good news for once, you
know, tell me something worksreally good for a change.
Instead of telling me I run oversomething and I broke this, or I
broke that, or I definitely, oneof my pet peeves is working on
(14:31):
shop tools.
So like, you know, whether it bethe grinder or you know,
whatever in the shop that, youknow, I need this tool to do
this job and the tool broke.
Like, you know, I don't wannawork on that.
Chris Snyder (14:44):
That's my pet peeves as far as.
Tool usage and putting stuffback, you know, if you need to
borrow something, lemme know.
Trent Manning (14:54):
Yeah.
Yep.
Chris Snyder (14:56):
I don't mind you.
If you borrow, gotta borrow ahammer wrench, whatever, you
know, that's fine.
But let me know if you don'tknow where it goes.
Say I set it on the work bench,I don't know where it went.
Just letting you know it's back,
Trent Manning (15:09):
Yeah, exactly.
Because when they put it in thewrong drawer, it's lost until
you happen to see it again.
Chris Snyder (15:17):
Yep.
Yep.
Trent Manning (15:18):
It's definitely misplaced and you'll be looking
all over for it and, yeah.
I don't, I'm very fortunatewhere I'm at'cause I do have a
couple guys that help me in theshop.
But on the other hand, it can beextremely frustrating because
we, you know, I have a spot thatI want everything and it's not
(15:40):
the same spot.
They want everything.
Chris Snyder (15:42):
Right,
Trent Manning (15:42):
And that can be kind of frustrating too.
And like, who used this last,who put it in this drawer?
It's never been in
Chris Snyder (15:50):
Why would you put it there?
Think it goes up here.
Trent Manning (15:53):
Right.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yep.
So anyway it's a good problem tohave.
Chris Snyder (15:57):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (15:58):
What's one of the strangest things you've seen at
work?
Chris Snyder (16:02):
Oh gosh.
Don't, I'll go with the frogone.
I got we had a seasonal guy whomowed fairways and in one week
he put the fairway mower in thelake twice.
Trent Manning (16:14):
Oh, in one week.
Chris Snyder (16:15):
Yes.
And it was two different lakes.
The first lake.
Has a pretty big embankment.
So he kind of backed up, hadsome do on there and he slid and
he went in, you know, I getthat.
That's fine.
Later in the week, he got stuckin another pond and it was a
(16:35):
pond that really wasn't anywherehe should have been.
Trent Manning (16:39):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Not close to a fairway.
Chris Snyder (16:41):
like, what are you doing over here?
He is like, well, you're notgonna believe it, but.
I'm driving along and lookingdown and I see these frogs.
So I'm just kind of drivingalong watching these frogs, and
before I know it, I'm in thelake and I'm just like,
Trent Manning (16:58):
Yeah, you can't make that up.
Chris Snyder (17:00):
No I had nothing.
I had nothing.
I'm just like, well, let's notlook at frogs anymore and
Trent Manning (17:06):
Oh boy.
Chris Snyder (17:07):
a little bit more attention to job at hand.
Trent Manning (17:10):
How do you keep a straight face when you say that?
Chris Snyder (17:13):
Even get mad at him, so it was okay.
Trent Manning (17:16):
yeah, that's pretty funny.
Chris Snyder (17:18):
I unfortunately, you know, the engine wasn't
submerged or anything like that.
He had two wheels in and one ofthe outside reels was down in
the water.
But beyond that, you know, it'slike, okay,
Trent Manning (17:28):
No major damage.
Chris Snyder (17:30):
no more frog watching for
Trent Manning (17:31):
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's.
The Frog Watcher.
Oh, that's a good one.
That's one of the better ones Ithink we've heard on the
podcast.
And it reminds me, I don't, areyou familiar with the four 50 D,
the Toro four 50 D.
All right, so we had a four 50 Dback in the day, this, like mid
nineties.
And we had this operator weused, that was our fairway
(17:54):
mower, one of our fairwaymowers.
And we had the, this operatorthat drove it into a tree.
On the car path or you know,next to the car path or
Chris Snyder (18:04):
Right.
Trent Manning (18:06):
And you know, ripped, almost ripped one of the
side units off.
And so anyway, they asked himwhat happened and he said a
rabbit ran out in front of him.
So he swerved to miss therabbit, you know, with this four
50, I mean, and yeah, for thelisteners, if you don't know
what a four 50 D is, look it up.
It later changed to 4,500 d.
(18:28):
A five gang fairway mower at,with 20, I think 27 inch reels.
I mean, they were big
Chris Snyder (18:35):
big ones.
Trent Manning (18:36):
And if you've never adjusted the center
cutting unit on a four 50 or4,500, can you really say you're
a golf course technician?
Chris Snyder (18:46):
Exactly.
Trent Manning (18:47):
You know,
Chris Snyder (18:47):
Exactly.
Trent Manning (18:48):
because man, that was no fun.
Oh, those things are a beast.
That was one, one machine.
I was not disappointed to see itgo.
Chris Snyder (18:58):
How about that?
Trent Manning (18:59):
Do you have any mentors in the industry
Chris Snyder (19:02):
Mentors in the industry?
Gosh.
Trent Manning (19:05):
Or maybe in your personal life growing up?
Chris Snyder (19:07):
well, I mean, I would have to definitely, I
mean, the guy that got me goingon all this was probably my dad.
Trent Manning (19:13):
Okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (19:14):
You know, through the years, through my teen years
and well, for as long as I canremember, you know, my dad
always was.
A preventative maintenance guy.
Preventative maintenance was hisnumber one go-to every time we
were ever working on anything.
From the Volkswagen Beetle up tomy motorcycles, up to, you know,
(19:37):
vans and trucks.
And you know, he preachedchanging oil, changing plugs
keeping it clean on and on, and.
Obviously through my youngeryears, I just kind of, whatever,
you know, whatever dad.
Trent Manning (19:53):
Right, right, right.
Chris Snyder (19:54):
But you know, as time goes and you're working on
stuff, you know, it that 10, 15minute job of preventive
maintenance, you know, save youtwo, three hours later on down
the road.
So that's something that, that'sreally stuck with me through the
years is, you know, take care ofit.
Change your oil, fluids,filters, grease it stay on top
(20:19):
of it, and you treat it right,it's gonna treat you right.
Trent Manning (20:23):
Yeah.
No, that's good.
Good.
Great stuff to live by.
For sure.
Chris Snyder (20:27):
Yep.
This is also coming from a manwho built an airplane in his
garage.
So
Trent Manning (20:33):
Oh wow.
How cool is that?
Chris Snyder (20:36):
he him and my uncle did that.
It took him.
About four and a half years, butthey got it done and we, I
wouldn't say I really took partin it, but I kind of did.
But no, nothing in thestructural integrity or anything
like that in the airplane, youknow?
But it was quite an experienceto live through.
That's for sure.
Trent Manning (20:57):
Oh no, that sounds like, yeah, a super cool
experience.
So, I mean, was it, you know,every night or every, you know,
few nights and on the weekends
Chris Snyder (21:07):
Well, mostly weekends a few nights here and
there.
But a lot of weekends wereconsumed by the family getting
together, working on theairplane.
So yeah, there was about four,four and a half years of nothing
but airplane.
Trent Manning (21:19):
Wow.
Okay.
And so I'm assuming they did itJohnny Cash style one piece at a
time and
Chris Snyder (21:26):
piece at a time.
Trent Manning (21:27):
Yeah.
I love it, man.
That's, yep.
I've lived my life that way forquite a while.
One piece at a time, you know,
Chris Snyder (21:33):
Yep.
Trent Manning (21:35):
Save your money up so you can afford this or
that, and yeah,
Chris Snyder (21:38):
Exactly.
Trent Manning (21:39):
Yeah.
So did you did you get to flyingit?
Chris Snyder (21:43):
Yeah, I have flown it.
Yeah.
Yep.
Trent Manning (21:45):
Awesome.
Chris Snyder (21:46):
was, let's see, I think they finished it in the
early eighties.
So, I mean, he still has theplane.
But yeah, I mean, I've neverdone takeoffs or landings, but
up in the sky.
Yeah.
Flown around a little bit.
Trent Manning (21:59):
That's so cool.
So cool For something.
Yeah.
That was built right there inthe backyard.
Chris Snyder (22:04):
yep.
Exactly.
Trent Manning (22:06):
That is super cool.
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Let's get back to the episode.
Well, what would be your dreamjob or opportunity?
Chris Snyder (22:45):
Dream job.
Gosh, I, you know, I've alwayswanted to have my own shop,
Trent Manning (22:49):
Okay.
What would you be working on inthis shop?
Chris Snyder (22:54):
Basically whatever anybody wanted me to, I mean,
it, it would be more of abenefit for friends and family
and friends of friends.
Obviously it's a process that Iwould probably have to win the
lottery to do.
cause it would be like, Hey, youbuy the part, bring it in, let's
do this
Trent Manning (23:11):
Okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (23:12):
kind of thing.
You know, I guess it.
It sounds like fun to me.
You know, if even down to thesingle parent, you know, Hey, I
got this car.
I gotta get it fixed.
I ain't got the money.
Well bring it in, we'll fix it,
Trent Manning (23:25):
Yeah.
No, that would
Chris Snyder (23:26):
of attitude and experience.
But like I said, I'd have to winthe lottery in order to fund
something like that.
But I think there'd be a lot ofsatisfaction to come out of
that.
Trent Manning (23:37):
Yeah.
I mean, definitely you'rehelping others, right?
Chris Snyder (23:39):
Right.
Trent Manning (23:40):
Yeah.
And that is so rewarding.
Yeah, no, that would be supercool and something Yeah.
Very valuable to do with yourtime.
Chris Snyder (23:50):
Yeah, I think
Trent Manning (23:51):
Yeah.
That, yeah.
No, that's a good one.
Do you have a technician youwould like to work with for a
day?
Chris Snyder (23:59):
I suppose Hector would probably be one of the
guys I'd like to work
Trent Manning (24:02):
Okay, awesome.
Chris Snyder (24:04):
He a few years back he was doing a, oh, I don't
remember what he called it.
He would come to guys' shops andrecord and kind of do what we're
doing right now, interview the,you know, the mechanic and
superintendent and stuff, andkind of do a walkthrough of the
shop and.
(24:24):
Well, he was speaking to mysuperintendent at the time and
he was just happened to bepassing through, so he ended up
stopping at the shop
Trent Manning (24:34):
Okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (24:35):
and, I don't know, it was like the first or second
episode or something that he wasdoing and had his camera guy,
which I believe was his boy, andthey're filming us and, like I
said, just kind of doing whatwe're doing right now, but we're
walking through the shop andshowing him around all at the
same time.
So, it was kind of, it waspretty cool to meet him and have
(24:56):
him there at the shop and beable to speak to him one-on-one
for the most part.
so, yeah, I
Trent Manning (25:04):
super cool.
Yeah.
Was it Hector's shop on tour orsomething like that?
Chris Snyder (25:08):
Yeah.
I mean, I think that's what itwas.
Trent Manning (25:10):
Yeah.
No, that was so cool when he wasdoing that.
Yeah.
I was, and I don't remember, Ibrought it come up the other day
I was talking to somebody and hehad I think eight kids
Chris Snyder (25:23):
Yeah, he had quite a
Trent Manning (25:24):
he was doing that.
And I Man, how do you do that?
You know?
That had to
Chris Snyder (25:28):
I know
Trent Manning (25:29):
so stressful, I would think at times.
You know, especially with littlekids and stuff.
Chris Snyder (25:34):
are a full-time job in themselves.
Trent Manning (25:36):
Right.
But more power to him.
No, that, that was super coolthat he is doing that.
And I think he's still doingsome tech training and stuff
like that.
Yeah.
So, yeah.
No, that's super cool.
What do you know now you wishyou'd known on day one?
Chris Snyder (25:50):
Oh boy.
A lot.
A lot.
Probably I.
Kind of a generic answer, Iguess would be kind of patience
and mostly patience, you know,because it, I've had
superintendents, you know, that,Hey, we gotta get this going
now.
We gotta get going now, we gottaget it going now.
(26:12):
And it's like, well, you hearthat three or four times and it,
you know, it kind of builds uplike, okay, I gotta get going.
And you may not have the part onhand at that time.
And, You know, they're on you.
Hey, how long is this part gonnatake?
Well, I don't know when they getit shipped out and get it here,
Trent Manning (26:30):
Right?
Chris Snyder (26:31):
but you, you know, you, you try to work around some
of that stuff the best you can.
And.
Anymore.
I don't wanna say I, I ignorethat stuff'cause that's the
furthest thing from it.
But I'm able to deal with it alot better than what I used to
because it would really stressme out, you know, a lot.
Like, oh my gosh, I can't getthis going.
(26:52):
What?
You know, I'm gonna lose my job.
Trent Manning (26:55):
Right, right, right.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (26:57):
So
Trent Manning (26:58):
I think we can definitely put too much pressure
on ourself really easily in, insituations like that.
And, you know, don't get mewrong, a lot of times our
supervisors or managers can putthat stress on us too.
And I mean, I'm guilty.
I put stress on people beforefor no reason.
(27:19):
You know, I don't know, youknow, I tend to put more stress
on myself than most people wouldput on me.
But definitely something to beaware we aware of.
And I do think with age, some ofthat gets easier.
Like, this is not the end of theworld.
Nobody's gonna die, It is justgrass.
I mean, we joke about it beinggrass.
(27:41):
And not that our job isn'timportant and.
Those things, but it isn't lifeand death,
Chris Snyder (27:47):
right.
Trent Manning (27:48):
you know?
So,
Chris Snyder (27:49):
It's a lot easier to take these days than what it
used to be
Trent Manning (27:52):
yeah.
Oh yeah.
Chris Snyder (27:53):
By far.
Trent Manning (27:54):
Yep, for sure.
Yeah.
And with parts availability, andI mean, all you know, you never
know what
Chris Snyder (28:01):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (28:02):
you know, and you know, it's like dealing with a
budget.
I'm like, I don't know what'sgonna break today or tomorrow or
this month.
You know, I'll try to staywithin budget, but you know, if
this piece breaks, do you wannafix it?
You know, this is your call.
Chris Snyder (28:18):
Either gets fixed or don.
Trent Manning (28:19):
yep, that's right.
Well, how do you deal with thatperson?
You got that person on yourcrew.
I,
Chris Snyder (28:26):
Oh, gosh, actually we've got a pretty darn good
crew right now.
Trent Manning (28:30):
that's good.
Yeah.
Awesome.
Chris Snyder (28:32):
I don't know what our seasonal help's gonna look
like right now, but right nowour staff you know, they're they
can follow directions and.
In most cases, if they don'tunderstand, they're gonna come
to you and be like, Hey, is thisthe right way?
Is this the wrong way?
Which way do we really need tobe doing this?
Because I wanna make sure I getthis right.
(28:53):
But I really, I don't reallyhave any complaints about this
crew that we have right now.
Trent Manning (28:59):
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No, good.
Good for you.
Chris Snyder (29:02):
Yeah, exactly.
No, I'm.
Trent Manning (29:05):
I mean, I could kinda say the same thing now.
We just got our H two B laborback in town, and it's the same
crew that we had last year.
Chris Snyder (29:16):
Okay.
Trent Manning (29:17):
so that is awesome.
I mean, it's like
Chris Snyder (29:19):
a lot.
Trent Manning (29:20):
I think we have one new guy out of, I mean
there's 10 there, so one, onenew guy out of 10.
So I mean that's, that isawesome.
And
Chris Snyder (29:33):
to start,
Trent Manning (29:35):
that crew, even last year.
It was the first time they hadbeen with us at our club, but
they'd worked at another clubthe previous year.
So I mean, they got it, youknow, a lot of the things they
already understood and we got acouple of'em that speak really
good English.
So, I mean, it's just, it'sawesome.
Chris Snyder (29:54):
Yep.
Trent Manning (29:55):
And I don't, I mean, it's really a godsend that
program for us, because thoseguys really like to work.
They don't mind working, youknow?
Chris Snyder (30:05):
Yes they
Trent Manning (30:06):
And the, a lot of the labor we hire, you know, in
our area, most of them don'treally like to work.
You know, it's just the way theywere brought up and that kind
of, you know, more of
Chris Snyder (30:18):
also.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (30:19):
more city type kids and nothing there's wrong
with that, but they just don'tquite like to work the same.
Chris Snyder (30:29):
Nope.
It's totally different nowadays,
Trent Manning (30:31):
Yes, it is.
Get ready for tips and tricks.
What kind of tips and tricks yougot, you wanna share with us?
Chris Snyder (30:38):
Oh, tips and tricks.
Well, I know one thing I like todo I get a new piece of
equipment in the shop.
Have it be a used piece or.
Whatever it may be.
New to me, new to us at thecourse.
You know, the first thing ithits is the lift.
(30:59):
I put it on the lift.
I'm looking through it, youknow, make sure wires are ran
correctly.
Make sure especially hydrauliclines are ran correctly.
Try to correct as much as youcan.
Obviously you can't see it all,but, I like to go through and.
Some of the fuse panels aregenerally just right there in
the open, you know, collectingdust and moisture.
(31:20):
I like to go through and putjust a dab of dielectric grease
on'em.
Try to keep that corrosion to aminimum.
And, Anything preventative
Trent Manning (31:31):
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (31:33):
as much as possible.
That's kind of how I like tostart out anyway.
Trent Manning (31:37):
No, that's really good.
And I'm kind of thinking maybeyou picked that up from your
dad.
Chris Snyder (31:42):
Oh, maybe a
Trent Manning (31:42):
Yeah.
Maybe a little bit of that.
That's awesome though.
And I mean, it's a really goodpoint.
I'm glad you bring it up.
I do think that there's othertechnicians that do that, but I
know there's a lot of newerpeople in the industry and.
They might not ever thoughtlike, Hey, let's get this brand
new piece of equipment on thelift and look it over.
Chris Snyder (32:05):
Flick it over.
You gotta get to know it.
Trent Manning (32:07):
Yep.
Get to know it.
Because the person at thefactory that was putting that
piece of equipment together, youknow, is a factory worker and
nothing wrong with factoryworkers, but they make mistakes
just like me and you makemistakes every day.
So, you know, look it over.
Chris Snyder (32:26):
Yep.
Nothing wrong with doublechecking.
Trent Manning (32:27):
Yep.
Nothing at all.
Yeah, and like the guy markingall the fittings with the paint
pen, you know, he can have a badday too, and not get a fitting
tight.
And he marked it.
Chris Snyder (32:39):
Or it could be a Friday at five o'clock.
Who
Trent Manning (32:41):
yeah, you're right.
You never know any other tipsand tricks.
Chris Snyder (32:46):
Something else I like to do.
I, you know, one of my favoritetools is in my pocket all the
time.
It's my phone.
I.
I go out on the course and asyou know, we spoke before going
out there and checking the cut.
The after cut I got my prismwith me.
I go out there and checkeverything with my prism from
(33:07):
greens to tee to fairways.
I also get my phone out thereand get the best picture I
possibly can of, you know, theleaf blade and the quality.
You cut to that leaf blade.
Trent Manning (33:20):
Oh yeah, that's a good one.
Chris Snyder (33:22):
I bring my phone in, hook it up to my computer,
pull that picture up.
You know, sometimes they're goodpictures, sometimes they're not.
But you know, it gives you someidea of, you know, are we mowing
too fast?
Are the reels not cutting quiteas good as they possibly should?
You know, we ripping, tearingjust trying to stay ahead of any
problems that might come along.
Trent Manning (33:44):
Yeah, no, that's really good.
And so, Jim Ned's episode justdropped the first of February
and he brought up there in, inthe episode, and he had talked
about it before.
He always carried a microscopewith him,
Chris Snyder (34:01):
Oh yeah.
Trent Manning (34:01):
A 10 power, 15 power microscope.
And then he even, he said he hada really nice one that he could
hook up to his computer and, youknow, all this cool stuff that
he'd done for years when he wason site and visiting people.
And, but now he has his cellphone and a little piece of two
by four.
(34:22):
And he uses the piece of two byfour and lays it on the ground
and lays the cell phone on topof the two by four.
And that way he keeps thedistance the same on all his
pitchers and uses it that way.
And you almost don't need the,you know, the microscope
Chris Snyder (34:36):
Right, right.
Trent Manning (34:38):
'cause Yeah, you can really zoom in there.
But yeah, I thought that was a,an excellent idea that he passed
along.
Yeah.
What all are you looking forwhen you're looking in the
prism?
Chris Snyder (34:50):
Evenness, you know, from real to real.
Make sure that's true.
I'm trying to see how many leafblades are left behind.
How hairy is it?
Trent Manning (35:03):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yep.
I mean, stragglers are there.
Chris Snyder (35:06):
is it a fine cut?
Is it kind of a rough cut?
Do we need to speed the reelsup?
Speed'em, you know, slow'em downthe unit itself too.
Or maybe I need to go in andgrind one or the other, you
know?
Trent Manning (35:20):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (35:21):
Just trying to get the best playability out of the
greens, mainly, you know, thatwe can without you know, having
to go down to 110 or 90 orwhatever,
Trent Manning (35:35):
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (35:35):
Trying to keep the height up as high as we can
without impacting ball speed andplayability.
Trent Manning (35:42):
Yeah, I think a lot of people too get caught up
in that number and they justwant to go as low as they can,
and it's not necessarilynecessary.
Chris Snyder (35:51):
I am, I'm a firm believer, at least at our course
anyway, you know, other courseswith different style greens may
play different.
You maybe need to go a littlelower, whatever.
I'm definitely a firm believerif we're at like one 20 right
now.
I don't like it at one 20.
I like it around 1 25, 1 30.
That's not my call.
Trent Manning (36:13):
Right.
Chris Snyder (36:14):
But we're trucking along pretty good right now.
We, you know, we have acombination of mowing and
rolling, so, I think we have apretty good program going right
now that we're maintaining thesame ball speed.
On a normal day outside of humiddays and rain and whatnot.
But I think it's working outpretty good right now.
And you know, obviously thehigher the cut, the easier and
(36:38):
better it's gonna be on theequipment.
It's gonna be a little healthieron the greens.
So that's I've always been,well, I won't say I've always
been, but.
The last several yearsdefinitely promote higher cuts.
Trent Manning (36:55):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yep.
No, that's good.
Good stuff.
Any other ones?
Chris Snyder (37:01):
I can't think of anything right off the top of my
head.
Trent Manning (37:04):
Okay.
No, that's good.
That's, both of those areexcellent.
And I appreciate you sharingthem with our audience.
What else do you want to talkabout?
Anything else come to mind?
Chris Snyder (37:16):
You know, the one thing.
That I, I really look back on isback in 96 when we did our
course renovation.
You know, if you're in theindustry, you have to go through
some kind of renovation in orderto appreciate, you know, what
you have and what it takes toget to that point.
(37:39):
As far as a, a constant goodplaying course and.
When you start seeing bulldozersand scrapers and backhoes and
semi trucks coming in and outtayour place and all you see is
dirt, it's like this place isover.
We're never gonna be a golfcourse again.
Trent Manning (37:59):
Huh.
Chris Snyder (38:01):
but as time goes on, you know, you start slowly
seeing the progress and.
Again, kind of with theequipment, you kind of get to
know your course a little bitbetter and, you know, as far as
the irrigation and wiring andwhy is this mount here?
You know, what kind of drainageare we gonna put here, you know,
(38:24):
and you start seeing that stuffand it all just kind of, you
know, starts going together.
Kind of like an erector set and,before you know it, you got
green grass and a few monthslater you got people out playing
on it and it's just like, wow,this is really cool.
Trent Manning (38:43):
pretty quick transformation, isn't it?
Chris Snyder (38:45):
Yes.
Yeah it's pretty impressive.
And I do know one thing that I'dnever want to do again and
that's lay another roll of, so.
Trent Manning (38:53):
Okay.
Didn't enjoy that, huh?
Chris Snyder (38:56):
No, that was probably the worst part of it.
Trent Manning (38:59):
Yeah,
Chris Snyder (39:00):
You get done with one semi and then comes another.
It's like, oh no,
Trent Manning (39:04):
so did y'all lay a lot of the sod in house
Chris Snyder (39:07):
We did do, they had their crew laying side, but
our crew, well, we have four orfive people working at the time.
We jumped into kind of speed upthe process, some.
Trent Manning (39:20):
Yeah.
Gotcha.
Yeah, my course, we're under afull renovation right now.
We closed Labor Day and we'resupposed to reopen this Labor
Day
Chris Snyder (39:29):
Oh,
Trent Manning (39:30):
and everything.
Seems to be going pretty goodright now, but yeah, I mean, all
I'm looking at is dirt.
There's just dirt and dirt andmud and mud after it rains.
And the Georgia Red Clay I'msick of all that already.
yeah, I mean, I got yeah a layerof dust on everything in the
(39:51):
shop
Chris Snyder (39:51):
Oh gosh
Trent Manning (39:52):
it's not fun.
And then we end up doing a lotof stuff in-house too.
Even though we have aconstruction company in there
doing the renovation, we'vealready put in 700 feet of 30
inch drain pipe.
Chris Snyder (40:07):
Okay.
Trent Manning (40:08):
We, I don't know if it's good or bad, but I got a
John Deere one 60 D excavator.
So, I mean, it's like, I guess a20,000 pound machine.
I mean, it's a big excavator.
It's, you know, it's not a miniexcavator.
It's a few sizes up.
So anyway, we got that and youknow, they're digging the
(40:28):
ditches and now we're putting inmore drainage.
And I don't remember how manyfeet of this drainage we're
putting in.
I'm like, how is this notincluded in the project?
But anyway we're doing it inhouse and then we're doing all
the seating too.
So we'll have a lot of.
Chris Snyder (40:46):
we did do some of the hydro seeding and seeding on
the greens.
We did do that in house.
Trent Manning (40:52):
Yeah, we will have a lot of native areas.
So we're doing all the seed forthe native areas, and then our
greens will be Bermuda.
So we'll spring those, hopefullyin
Chris Snyder (41:02):
Oh, okay.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (41:05):
Then we can start mowing some grass.
Chris Snyder (41:07):
There you
Trent Manning (41:07):
ready to mow some grass.
I didn't know if I would eversay that, but.
Chris Snyder (41:12):
Well, it's it becomes a point where it's like,
gosh, I just wanna mow grass.
Come
Trent Manning (41:17):
Yep.
Yeah.
And then the other thing I'mconcerned about is what all are
we gonna mow that's not grass.
You know, how many sod, staples,and irrigation flags?
And that's gonna be the funpart,
Chris Snyder (41:30):
definitely gonna find side staples,
Trent Manning (41:31):
Oh yeah, for sure.
Chris Snyder (41:33):
a given.
I.
That is a given.
Trent Manning (41:40):
Are you ready to do some rapid fire?
Chris Snyder (41:42):
Absolutely.
Let's do it.
Trent Manning (41:44):
What's your favorite movie,
Chris Snyder (41:46):
Favorite movie?
I'm gonna have to say Rocky.
Trent Manning (41:48):
ra?
Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
That's a good one.
Yes.
Awesome.
The first one.
Chris Snyder (41:55):
I like the first and second one.
Yeah.
Yep.
But the first one's probably myfavorite.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (42:00):
Yeah.
Good stuff.
What would be your last meal?
Chris Snyder (42:03):
Last meal.
Probably a smoked brisket.
Trent Manning (42:06):
Oh, okay.
Chris Snyder (42:08):
Yep.
Trent Manning (42:08):
Are you smoking it or somebody else?
Chris Snyder (42:11):
I've done a few.
Yes.
I wouldn't say I'm an expert atit but they turned out okay.
At least for my taste.
But yeah I enjoy using thesmoker.
I don't use it to the extent Iwould like to, but it's
enjoyable.
Trent Manning (42:25):
Awesome.
What kind of smoke do you got?
Chris Snyder (42:27):
It's a you would ask me, and I'm gonna draw a
blank on the
Trent Manning (42:30):
That's okay.
Chris Snyder (42:31):
It's, it is, it's gold.
I know that.
Trent Manning (42:34):
It's gold.
All right.
Chris Snyder (42:35):
I can't think of the name of it right off
Trent Manning (42:37):
Tagger, tiger.
I can't, I don't even rememberwhat that is.
Chris Snyder (42:41):
It's a pellet.
Trent Manning (42:42):
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (42:42):
Yep.
Trent Manning (42:43):
Traeger.
That's it.
Traeger, are they gold?
Chris Snyder (42:46):
I don't know if those are gold, but that's not
it.
Trent Manning (42:48):
Okay.
That's
Chris Snyder (42:49):
This is the Walmart.
You know, you get'em at Walmartor whatever, but
Trent Manning (42:52):
Oklahoma Joe or something?
Chris Snyder (42:54):
something.
Yeah.
Pit boss.
Is
Trent Manning (42:57):
Pit boss.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Pit boss is a, yeah.
That's a nice,
Chris Snyder (43:00):
think that's what it is.
Yep.
Trent Manning (43:01):
Okay.
Awesome.
No I used to do a good bit ofbarbecuing but I fell off the
wagon, just
Chris Snyder (43:08):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (43:09):
got out of it, you know.
I still really enjoy eating it.
Chris Snyder (43:12):
Oh yeah.
Yeah.
Trent Manning (43:14):
it.
Chris Snyder (43:15):
The best part.
Trent Manning (43:16):
just hadn't been cooking as much
Chris Snyder (43:18):
Yeah.
Trent Manning (43:19):
you most proud of besides your family?
Chris Snyder (43:21):
Oh boy.
Just the fact that I've beenable to hold out this long, 30
years in one p, actually 30 plusyears in one spot and just been
able to.
You know, grow with the place, Iguess, you know, it's pretty
rewarding to, to see theprogress through the years.
Not only the course myself andobviously some of the people
(43:43):
that I work with, it's like Isaid, just rewarding to just
kinda look back and be like,this is where we started.
This is where we're at now, and.
I think we've done a good job.
Trent Manning (43:56):
No, that's awesome.
That's really good.
Yeah, and I'm sure you've hadsome younger people come through
there and move on in
Chris Snyder (44:03):
yeah.
Yeah.
We've we've been very fortunate,especially in our assistants.
Some of our assistants, they, Iwould say probably I.
80% of'em have moved on tosuperintendent jobs right
outside, right out of the, youknow, from leaving us.
Trent Manning (44:20):
Okay.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No,
Chris Snyder (44:21):
So, so it's been a pretty good turnout, I would
say.
Trent Manning (44:24):
That's awesome.
Yep.
Passing it on to the nextgeneration.
Chris Snyder (44:27):
absolutely.
Trent Manning (44:28):
I love it.
That's good stuff, man.
Well, I really appreciate youdoing this and your time.
You wanna tell the listeners anemail address?
You got a social media
Chris Snyder (44:40):
Most of the time I'm on Facebook, but I'm also on
some of those, oh, equipmentmaintenance, golf course
maintenance, you know, Facebookpages.
Trent Manning (44:49):
okay.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (44:50):
I don't really, I wouldn't say I contribute a lot,
but.
Usually when someone has aproblem on there, there's, by
the time I get on there,somebody's already got the
answer on there.
Trent Manning (44:59):
Yeah.
Yeah.
Chris Snyder (45:00):
generally beat me to the punch.
But email is equip techchris@live.com.
Trent Manning (45:09):
Okay.
Chris Snyder (45:10):
I'd be more than happy to help anybody out, you
know, whatever I can help outwith.
But.
Preventative maintenance.
Preventative maintenance.
Trent Manning (45:18):
There you go.
Preventive maintenance.
I love it.
Well, thank you again, Chris, somuch for being on the podcast.
I've thoroughly enjoyed this andI appreciate your time and we'll
see you round.
Chris Snyder (45:31):
Alright, I appreciate it.
Thank you very much, Trent.
Trent Manning (45:40):
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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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.