Snow plowing responsibilities Cancel The title field is required!

1. Matt Henkel

   

   0 posts
   
   1/2/2014 11:01 AM

   Just curious how other courses structure their snow plow duties. More curious to here how other municipal courses handle the responsibilities. Are they shared with other departments within the city, park district, forest preserve, etc??? Is your crew responsible for maintaining other facilities?
   
   Yes, you can read between the lines that I think my crew does more than our fair share and I am looking to change that. I am a team player and have no problem with us helping out with more than just the course, but I also don't think I would be doing my job if I didn't lobby on behalf of my guys. Thanks for help!
   
   Matt Henkel
   PrairieView Golf Club
   Byron, IL

   
   
   
   
2. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   1/2/2014 11:01 AM

   Matt,
   
   We are just responsible for our parking lot and areas. Granted we only have a make shift plow mounted on our old tractor and we can use our backhoe if needed.
   
   I do know our park system has vehicles drive around town to plow other facilities that might not have the equipment.
   
   I honestly do not know who plows the park across the street from us, the tree crew is there and botanical center, I wouldn't be suprised if they didn't have their own equipment, but I'm not sure.
   
   If we did have a truck and plow, I wouldn't mind us helping some other parks that are near us, just because it would keep our full time guys busy, the winter has been so bad for us, we are almost done with the non mechanical inside work.
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
3. Matt Henkel

   

   0 posts
   
   1/2/2014 1:01 PM

   Thanks Mel! Ya, we are getting a workout so far this winter. Now for record cold to arrive! Cheers!
   
   Matt

   
   
   
   
4. Rosenthal Gregg

   
   1/2/2014 7:01 PM

   Matt,
   
   At our club it is my responsibility as Assistant and the one who lives the closest to be the plow master. I arrive early or as required when the snow falls this crazy season and plow as required. Today for instance I was there at 3:30 am to begin the battle with over a foot of new snow after plowing early Jan. 1 as 6 inches had fallen. The club is closed (some members do walk their dogs or cross country ski) but no way it could be allowed to build up and go too deep, so plow and plow again is required when this kind of intense snowfall occurs. I spent 4 hours on the 1st doing a moderate clean up when the snow restarted and I went home to wait it out. Of course it never stopped from there on into this morning as Lake effect snow came on with an extra 4 inches plus. We plowed and bobcat moved some big piles up till about 10 am this morning, it was still Lake effect snowing some but as our clubhouse is closed now we stopped. The lot was clean to just a dusting of new snow, so just waiting until a morning clean up is our final for this round. I do believe more coming this weekend along with minus digit temperatures, thank you Canada my friends there! have no issues with doing this and even enjoy it, when doing it on weekends or odd times it adds up to time off when not snowing, so we do or job now as in season and get paid for it! Besides variety is the spice of life!
   
   GreggR

   
   
   
   
5. Andrew Cross

   

   5 posts
   
   1/2/2014 9:01 PM

   Matt,
   
   We are responsible for our parking lot and the road that leads to the Director's house as that is on our property. We don't touch any parks. We are an enterprise fund (self funded through golf and restaurant revenues), so it would be irresponsible to use us for the parks, without Parks paying us for it. Anything Parks does for us we get billed for. We are a team but this keeps the costs proper in each department.
   
   We also maintain a cross country ski trail so we are plenty busy now.

   
   
   
   
6. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   1/3/2014 6:01 AM

   I plow all of the snow here with my personal vehicle.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
7. Garrett Schultz

   

   0 posts
   
   1/3/2014 7:01 AM

   Two courses (27 holes, municipal, opposite sides of town), and we are responsible for snow removal at both golf course parking lots, a series of Parks department bike paths, and two walking paths across major bridges in town. In addition to that, this year we have taken up cross country skiing, grooming trails at one of our courses as well as a natural area site by the river that is on State Parks & Rec land, maintained by the county in the summer, and groomed for cross country skiing by the local park district golf course superintendent in the winter.
   
   We manage just fine (3 total employees), and I do actually enjoy both plowing and grooming ski trails, but I am starting to get a little behind on the golf course items I need to get done this winter.

   
   
   
   
8. Keith Lamb

   

   3 posts
   
   1/3/2014 8:01 AM

   Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: I plow all of the snow here with my personal vehicle.
   
   Regards,
   
   Steve

   
   
   Does Miss Lacie Underall help you? Give her a scratch behind the ear for me.

   
   
   
   
9. Matt Henkel

   

   0 posts
   
   1/3/2014 11:01 AM

   Good info guys, thanks! Andrew, we are setup as an enterprise fund as well. I've never really thought of it that way but it makes a lot of sense. I would be very curious to see the differences if all activities were accounted for in the proper manner.
   
   Matt Henkel
   PrairieView Golf Club
   Byron, IL

   
   
   
   
10. Timothy Johansen

    

    0 posts
    
    1/3/2014 11:01 AM

    Matt- We have our lots and drives at the course along with a City owned fitness center, Library and our Children's Museum. Three trucks and at best a 3 hour gig. The Parks department has had miles of separated trails added the last few years and have had those added to their workload of City buildings, fire stations, and other facilities. I have no problem helping out since they have been very good to us when it comes to equipment sharing. If there is a downfall it is the fact that our days start at 5 during most of the year, and we have to have the fitness center done by 4:30 a.m. Nice to be able to sleep in that extra hour in the winter, and this year, we were plowing snow 4 days after closing the course.

    
    
    
    
11. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    1/3/2014 3:01 PM

    Keith Lamb said:

    Steven Huffstutler, CGCS said: I plow all of the snow here with my personal vehicle.
    
    Regards,
    
    Steve

    
    
    Does Miss Lacie Underall help you? Give her a scratch behind the ear for me.

    
    Miss Lacey is a southern girl and does not understand the concept of snow.

    
    
    
    
12. Matt Henkel

    

    0 posts
    
    1/4/2014 11:01 AM

    Thanks for the info Tim. Bet your glad to see that winter storm "Ion" is hopefully sliding to the south and east of you. Gotta love the weather channel and now naming snow storms.
    
    Matt Henkel
    PrairieView Golf Club
    Byron, IL

    
    
    
    
13. Tim Gravert

    

    0 posts
    
    1/4/2014 2:01 PM

    Tim,
    
    Can you just swing by and plow the parking lot over here so I don't have to get out of bed at all!!!! I suppose if I asked Matt he would say it's too far for him to drive.....

    
    
    
    
14. Matt Henkel

    

    0 posts
    
    1/5/2014 9:01 AM

    Tim Gravert said: I suppose if I asked Matt he would say it's too far for him to drive.....

    
    
    Mix us up some bloody marys or two for when I am done and I might consider it.

    
    
    
    
15. Timothy Johansen

    

    0 posts
    
    1/6/2014 7:01 AM

    The way that the last month has gone, I am hoping for a March like 2012 !