Summer time is here and the entire team is on deck and ready to make Gold Mountain the best course for our golfers.

As a mechanic, this means I need to get the equipment ready for the intense labor done throughout the season.

I need to make sure the welder is dialed in, spare parts are on the shelf, and so much more that goes into making Gold Mountain Golf Club the amazing facility that it is.

A lot of prep work goes into ordering parts and being ready for the call to come fix equipment at a moment’s notice.

During the summer month my assistant and I focus on keeping the reels sharp and cutting well on all machinery.

Of course, it’s not always that easy seeing this is not the only thing we have to focus on.

With a full staff running around our 36-hole facility, we have our phones on and tools ready for the “I’m stuck” calls or the “My mower just stopped running” cries.

We have a lot of equipment that has been around for more than 20 years, and keeping it going is a task in-and-of itself.

There is always something happening to keep us busy, not to mention a golf course full of golfers.

Maintaining our equipment properly is a requirement to make sure we are not wasting precious time fixing something that could have been avoided, or leaving a team member stranded out on the course.

Regular services and making sure our team members inform us of any funny sounds can save us the embarrassment of that ugly turf repair or hydraulic burn on the course.

Don’t be fooled however, this is the reason we love our jobs as mechanics!

There is always something new, challenging, and unexpected happening here at Gold Mountain Golf Club.

Not many golfers know what goes into making their favorite course so amazing, and we are so proud of the product we are able to produce every day here in Bremerton, Washington.

Andrew Goodell
Equipment Manager
Gold Mountain Golf Club

We all know that aerification is a sensitive subject for golfers but, I feel with the proper information and education there can be a better understanding of why we do it and how it benefits the playing experience throughout the season.
This year, we tried something different at Gold Mountain.
In the past, we would punch a few small holes and then topdress the greens with a light layer of sand about a week later.
This season the whole process changed and we have seen great results.
We started with a heavy layer of sand, about as much as we typically use in the fall.
Followed then by punch the greens with 60 3/8″ solid tines, which is twice as many tines as normal.
After the punch, we waited for the sand to dry, which is a lot like watching paint dry.
It is essential to make sure the sand is completely dry, otherwise when we drag the greens the sand will seal off the holes and we won’t get sand into the profile.
Now is when the race begins.

First, we send a steel drag mat out to do an initial once over drag.
After that, we send our verticutting units set at 1/8″ to help work the sand into the profile.
Next, the brush drag mats make two or three laps around each green, which helps move even more sand into the profile.
Lastly, we take our heavy greens roller over them to smooth out any lumps or imperfections.
After this process is done the greens are ready for play.
They are not in mid-season form directly following this process, however they are in great shape considering everything we put them through over the day.

One day removed from aerification, I would say our greens are at least at 85% and should be back to 100% roughly seven to 10 days following.
This process is very important to producing the best possible playing conditions throughout the season.
It will allow us to provide fast, firm, fair, and true greens because it allows for gas exchange and water movement within our greens.
So, when you look back at the week following aerification when you are playing in July and the greens are perfect, remember to say thanks for punching them in May!

Patrick McKenzie
Superintendent
Gold Mountain Golf Club