Advertise on podcast: Reel Turf Techs Podcast

Send us a text Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 160. Today Trent is talking with Bobby Medina, Equipment Manager at Snowmass Club in Snowmass Village, Colorado. Snowmass Club is a private 18-hole course supported by an approximately 8,000-square-foot maintenance facility, with a fleet that’s primarily Toro. Bobby shares his path into the turf industry, starting out as a snowcat operator in Mammoth Lakes before making the jump into golf course equipment management. They talk honestly about the transition from winter operations to turf, the steep learning curve, and the importance of keeping your cool while learning on the job. Bobby also reflects on finding balance in a mountain town, making time for snowboarding and golf, and how the support and community within the turf industry have played a big role in his growth as an equipment manager. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 159. This week we sit down with Bruce Alexander, Product Performance Manager at Ransomes Jacobsen in Ipswich, England. Bruce grew up on a farm and worked his way into the turf industry, and today he’s the guy helping make sure the machines being built actually work for the people using them every day. Bruce works across all departments at Ransomes Jacobsen, spending time with dealers, technicians, and end users to gather real feedback and bring it straight back to the product teams. We talk about why that loop matters, how good ideas make their way from the shop or the field into future machines, and what happens when manufacturers really listen. We also get into his role providing tournament support, including working at the Summer Games in France, and what it’s like supporting equipment when the eyes of the world are on the turf. From there, Bruce dives into cutting unit geometry, bedknife selection, and the small setup details that can make or break performance. It’s a down-to-earth conversation packed with practical insight, real-world experience, and plenty of takeaways for techs who care about doing the job right and getting the most out of their equipment. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Today we’re talking with Jake Teeter, Equipment Manager at Winding Creek Golf Club in Thomasville, North Carolina. Winding Creek is an 18-hole municipal course, and Jake is the lone technician keeping the operation rolling. After starting his career in automotive repair, Jake found his way into the turf industry, where he’s spent the last 15 years learning the ins and outs of golf course equipment and adapting to the unique challenges that come with a one-tech shop. Jake was recently named the TETAC Turf Tech of the Year, and he shares how continual learning, learning from mentors, and staying curious have shaped his approach to the job. We talk about what’s changed at Winding Creek over the years, what it takes to keep aging equipment reliable, and the realities of wearing every hat in the shop. Looking ahead, Jake reflects on what’s next, including his excitement about traveling in retirement with his wife and visiting his daughter as she serves and explores the world in the U.S. Navy. Settle in for honest conversation about pride in your work, building a long career, and enjoying the road ahead. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 157. Today we’re talking to Toby Christoun, Equipment & Shop Manager at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts — a 27-hole private club spread across 236 acres. Toby leads a team of two assistants in the shop, part-time during the season and full-time through the winter months. Toby shares his unconventional journey into the turf industry, starting in business management before finding his way to a friend’s golf course and eventually earning a turf degree. Along the way, he’s worn many hats — from sales to equipment management — and brings a perspective grounded in integrity, mentorship, and team culture. He talks about the lessons learned from every stop on his path, the importance of strong relationships, and a few funny stories from life in the shop. It’s an honest, engaging look at what it means to build a fulfilling career in turf and leadership. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Episode 156 of Reel Turf Techs heads to the backyard with member, friend, and turf addict Alex Gaddy – a homeowner who’s gone from a dusty California Trimmer in his father-in-law’s basement to a TifEagle putting green and a small fleet of John Deere reel mowers. Alex and Trent talk about how a simple reel mower turned into an obsession, why pushing a California Trimmer over 20,000 sq. ft. doesn’t scale, and what he learned moving from TifTuf to a short-lived bentgrass experiment and finally sprigging in TifEagle over 20 tons of sand. They also dig into the equipment side: a day in Trent’s shop watching reel grinding and backlapping, how topdressing chews up a freshly sharpened reel, and why the precision techs chase in the shop is what golfers feel on the greens. If you’re a homeowner dreaming of a backyard green or a tech who wants members to better understand what happens behind the scenes, Episode 155 is right in your wheelhouse. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text In this episode of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, we sit down with Tanner Knudsen, CTEM, Equipment Manager at North Oaks Golf Club in Minnesota. Tanner talks through his path from working on small engines to running the shop at a private 18-hole club, and how much of what he knows started in his grandpa’s garage. His grandpa was the first person to teach him engines, and Tanner still calls him whenever he hits a snag. We get into what it takes to keep things running smoothly with a seasonal crew, how Tanner approaches training without letting the stress get to him, and what winterizing looks like in a Minnesota shop. Tanner also shares what he learned during recent facility upgrades and through attaining his CETM designation, and why mentorship and technician education matter so much to him. It’s a practical, down-to-earth conversation packed with tips, stories, and lessons from Tanner’s time in the industry. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 154 Industry legend Jim Nedin returns to share his deep knowledge of the Toro ProCore 648 and how to get the most out of this aerifier. Jim walks us through setup, tine selection, and maintenance tips that make a real difference out on the turf. We also touch on sprayers and cutting units, exploring more of Jim’s time-tested insights into precision and performance. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or an industry newbie, this episode is packed with practical knowledge and advanced techniques from one of the brightest minds in the industry to help you achieve superior turf health and appearance. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 152. Today we’re talking to friend of the pod John Borsos, about his experience volunteering at the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. John shares what it was like to be part of the crew at one of the toughest courses in the world with long days, high standards, and the kind of camaraderie you only find when everyone’s working toward the same goal. From precision mowing lines to the unique challenges Oakmont brings, John and Trent share a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep a major championship running smoothly. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 151! Today we’re talking with Andrzej Strzepek, Equipment Manager at Belmont Country Club in Belmont, MA, a private 18-hole course just outside of Boston. Andrzej shares his journey from mowing lawns for hockey goalie gear to maintaining his high school baseball field, studying turfgrass, and even working for the Boston Red Sox during a World Series run. A turn in the shop with his first toolbox set him on the equipment manager path, and he hasn’t looked back since. We cover everything from shop organization with a paint pen, relief grinding, and turf art, to smoking meat, zamboni mishaps, and flooded backpack blowers - you know, EM stuff! Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to Episode 150 of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast! Today we’re catching up with Taylor Cairns, Equipment Manager at London Hunt and Golf Club in London, Ontario, Canada. Taylor first joined us back in July 2021, and this time he shares how his journey has evolved from splitting time between the shop and the course while earning a turf management degree and working as a spray technician and assistant superintendent, to ultimately focusing fully on the equipment side. At London Hunt, a true parkland course, Taylor manages a Toro fleet with one assistant in the shop. We dive into how he got started in the industry, the strength of the Canadian equipment manager network, and why he believes in keeping it simple when it comes to diagnostics. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Back in September 2021, we interviewed Matt Leis, and in Episode 149 we’re catching up with him again to hear about his transition from the golf course to sports fields. Matt is now the Manager of Fleet & Irrigation at the Papago Baseball Complex for the San Francisco Giants Baseball Club in Phoenix, AZ. The 40-acre complex is home to player development and Minor League operations, featuring six full fields, auxiliary surfaces, and a 15,000 sq. ft. facility. As the solo technician in the shop, Matt oversees a Toro fleet, preventive maintenance, and the RainBird irrigation and pump systems while supporting the Field Operations team. We dive into the unique challenges of sports fields—precision grading, grooming artificial turf, finding cleats in mowers—and how the players’ calendar drives cultural practices. Matt also shares how refereeing college football fits into his busy schedule, along with his professional growth through the GCSAA EMCP and CTEM programs and the Toro Grounds Leadership Academy. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to Episode 148 of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast! Today we’re talking with Brad Bailey, Equipment Manager at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club in Orlando, Florida, an 18-hole course serving both resort guests and private members. Brad leads a team of three technicians and works primarily with John Deere equipment. With a background in chemistry and a hands-on upbringing working with his dad, Brad found his way into the turf industry during college and never looked back. He shares his expertise in small engines, his thoughts on the less glamorous office side of the job, and his experience managing a team in Florida’s year-round golf climate. Trent and Brad dig into everything Stihl, explore his work with Husqvarna autonomous mowers, and chat about his favorite ways to unwind - fishing, Disney, and building with Lego. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text On this episode of Reel Turf Techs, we’re talking with Tyler Bradshaw, CTEM, Equipment Manager at Lakewood Country Club in Dallas, Texas. From forklift operator to auto tech to golf course wrench, Tyler’s 21-year journey into turf began when he was asked to fill in for a vacationing mechanic and never left. Now overseeing two assistants and a wide fleet including Toro, Deere, Stihl, Baroness, Jacobsen, and Kubota, Tyler shares how his ASE certification and fab skills help keep his shop running smooth. We talk welding setups, EMCP exams, earning his CTEM, and what it’s like transitioning from municipal golf to a Top 50 private club hosting a Korn Ferry Tour Championship. Bonus: fab talk, chop saw praise, and guitars. Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 146! Today we’re talking to James Breeze, Machinery Technician at Huddersfield Golf Club in Yorkshire, England, one of the oldest and most celebrated golf courses in the North of England. James is the lone tech in the shop, managing a fleet of mostly Toro equipment, and he’s also the recipient of the inaugural Bernhard Academy technician volunteer opportunity for the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club. We caught up with James at the 125th U.S. Open after a string of 4 a.m. volunteer shifts alongside a seasoned team of equipment managers. He shares insights on the camaraderie and precision it takes to keep things running smoothly at a major tournament. James talks about his roots in sports field greenkeeping, teaching himself the mechanical side of the job, and the pivotal people who supported his transition. He reflects on the importance of learning from mistakes, the value of staying curious even at a high level, and how hiking and photography in the Yorkshire countryside help him reset outside the shop. Also: he tries to explain Yorkshire pudding to Trent. (It doesn’t go great.) Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel

Send us a text Today we’re talking to Jeff Rockhold, Equipment Manager at Stone Canyon Golf Club in Blue Springs, MO, and his son, Jacob Rockhold, CGCS, Director of Agronomy. Stone Canyon is a public 18-hole course with mostly John Deere and Toro equipment. After a long career in HVAC (and one too many crawl spaces), Jeff made the switch to turf when Jacob hired him on to mow fairways in a semi-retired gig. We talk about what Jeff has discovered in his second career, how turning wrenches on the course compares to HVAC work, what he enjoys about the golf industry, and how this father-son duo makes it work (at quitting time, roles go right back to normal)! Tweet us @ReelTurfTechs and @MTrentManning Email us at [email protected] Check out our YouTube Channel