Andy,
My first experience using the brush on bermuda was at a 36 hole course in northern AL - 18 bent greens and 18 bermuda greens. I had already demoed and sold a number of brushes in the north, but this was my first time to try it on bermuda. This particular course did not color the greens - they played on dormant bermuda during the winter months. The supt was blown away when he saw how much of the dormant tissue could be brushed out of the canopy which made for much smoother and faster putting conditions. The supt and I discussed what effect this surface prep would make IF he were coloring the greens - his comment was that yes, it did thin the canopy of that dormant bermuda, but his thought (and mine) was that instead of applying paint to that dense mat of dormant tissue which impeded deep penetration, he would get a deeper penetration and a more thorough coverage of the leaf blade, so the overall effect would be a much better and longer lasting paint application with the added benefit of thinning that canopy which would provide a better ball roll. Thinking about it more, this was not an ultradwarf variety, so perhaps the surface prep there would not be as beneficial. I can see how you would probably not want to thin that tight turf that isn't growing - as usual, every situation presents it's own unique best management practices.
I also ran it on his bent greens which had recently been topdressed - I knew from past experience that he would be impressed with how the brush was able to put the sand deeper into the canopy and below the mowing range, saving the edges of bedknives and reels. He bought the brush on the spot. I ended up selling 5 more brushes on that trip through AL - with persistence in marketing this tool and the diligence of some GREAT distributors, the TB 200 is bound to be successful and a great addition to the maintenance equipment fleet. Not a lot we can do about the golf economy so sales will lag until the supts have more capital funds available - you cannot believe the number of supts that have told us this could be one of the best equipment investments they have ever made.
By the way, did you receive the email that I sent you about the Sharpshooter sprayer technology from Capstan?
Smithco has signed an agreement with them to be factory installing the system on Smithco sprayers. There are a lot of knockout demos being done recently!! I have been introducing the technology for the past 2 years in the upper midwest. You can mark my words...there will come a day when most turf spraying is done this way - it's evident by what has occured in ag over the last 12 or 13 years. This would happen faster if the supts had any $$$$ to spend!! see
www.capstanag.comJeff Scott, CGCS retired
Midwest Turf Specialties,LLC
630-688-5192