It is safe to say that James Sanders made a favorable impression on Steve Gross when they worked together at Brookstone Golf and Country Club near Atlanta. When Gross moved on to become superintendent at nearby Mirror Lake Golf Club and eventually needed a new equipment manager, he called on his former tech to ask if he was interested in a new job.
"I went looking for him," Gross said. "We have a pretty tight budget, so I had to find some innovative ways to afford him. It all worked out eventually.
"I really can't say enough good things about my equipment technician, but as I think of what to say he really just performs his job like those people that are truly passionate about what they do."
That was two years and one management company ago. Since then, Sanders has been busy keeping Mirror Lake's aging equipment fleet in top condition every day. For that reason, Sanders has been named a finalist for the 2015 TurfNet Technician of the Year Award, presented by Toro.
Criteria on which nominees are judged include: crisis management; effective budgeting; environmental awareness; helping to further and promote the careers of colleagues and employees; interpersonal communications; inventory management and cost control; overall condition and dependability of rolling stock; shop safety; and work ethic.
The winner will receive the Golden Wrench Award (a real gold-plated wrench) from TurfNet and a slot in Toro's Service Training University at the company's headquarters in Bloomington, Minnesota.
Most of the rolling stock at Mirror Lake, Gross says, ranges from 12 to 15 years in age. Keeping that equipment ready for use on the golf course with a tight budget takes a skilled mechanic who also happens to be a frugal shopper.
"Jimmy, knowing that our budget is tight will take the time to find the best price on equipment parts," Gross said. "Just the other day, he called the distributor for a clutch assembly that was going to cost $ 1,300. Jimmy took the time and ended up getting the same new part on EBay for $300. He could have just bought the higher-priced part, but Jimmy sees the bigger picture. He operates the shop finances like (the money) was coming from his own personal checkbook."
The triplex greensmowers Gross and his crew use every day are at least 10 years old and each has more than 5,000 hours on it.
The triplex greensmowers Gross and his crew use every day are at least 10 years old and each has more than 5,000 hours on it.
His military work ethic also carried over to Mirror Lake.
"It was time to replace those probably 1,500 hours ago," Gross said. "Thanks to him, they're still going strong, and we cut at 0.120 consistently."
Even when Gross bought a refurbished fairway unit, Sanders, who received formal training as an aircraft mechanic in the U.S. Air Force, essentially rebuilt the unit so it met his standards.
"He is just passionate about what he does," Gross said.
"A lot of time in the summer, this job requires more than just an 8-hour day. And there are many nights when he's so busy during the day that he's here until 10, 10:30 or even 11:30 at night grinding and making sure reels are ready for the next day.
"That's a work ethic that only comes from a passionate employee."