Tim Johnson, also known as TJ, Equipment Manager at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton, Illinois, grew up on a farm. There was not enough on the farm to support him so he turned to factory work. It didn’t take him long to decide factory work was not for him. After a layoff, he found himself helping out at a golf course. 44 years later, he is still turning wrench at a golf course. TJ was one of the first members of the Chicagoland Technician Association.
Transcript
Trent Manning: 0:05
welcome to the reel turf techs podcast for the technician that wants to get reel follow along. As we talk to industry professionals and address hot topics that we all face along the way we’ll learn tips and tricks. I’m your host, Trent. Manning let’s have some Welcome to the real turf text podcast, episode 92. Today, we’re talking to Tim Johnson, equipment manager at Arrowhead golf club and Wheaton, Illinois. Arrowhead golf club is a 27 hole public facility. TJ has one assistant in the shop. Let’s talk to TJ. welcome, TJ to the Real Turf Text podcast. How you doing
Tim Johnson: 0:48
I’m doing real good. Trent, how are you doing?
Trent Manning: 0:50
I’m doing great. Thank you so much for being here and joining us. It’s gonna be a lot of fun.
Tim Johnson: 0:56
Thank you for having.
Trent Manning: 0:58
Yes, sir. Tell us how you got into the turf industry.
Tim Johnson: 1:01
well, I kind of stumbled into the turf industry by accident really. I was, uh, born and raised on a farm, and our farm wasn’t large enough to supplement all the, all the children and everything. So I went to work in the factory and found out pretty quick. I didn’t like the factory work. I worked at two different factories and then. Was laid off at one and was helping a guy out at a golf course doing some landscaping, and then working at the golf course in the morning. And, just kind of stumbled into it that way. And we were, we had equipment that was going down and I was helping him fix things up. And, a job came open and St. Charles at a golf course and my boss says, why don’t you go talk to him just to see what he’s got to say. And kind of the rest is history. I’ve been in the golf business ever.
Trent Manning: 1:50
Wow. And how many years?
Tim Johnson: 1:52
44.
Trent Manning: 1:54
44 years. Congratulations. That’s awesome. I love it. Yeah, that’s really good stuff. So did you do, uh, do some wrenching on the
Tim Johnson: 2:03
Oh yeah. We, yeah, I mean, we as, as much as we could fix ourselves, we fixed ourselves. That was just the way it was because, you know, small town farms, you didn’t, you couldn’t afford to have the local shop mechanic come out every time there was something wrong. So, We took care of everything that we had, and we had many bikes and go-karts and everything else. So, you know, you learn, you learn as you go.
Trent Manning: 2:26
that’s a lot of fun though. Mini bucks gotta be good. What’s your least favorite part of the job and why is that? Sand.
Tim Johnson: 2:36
Well, you know, it’s, it’s a necessary evil. We all know that. it’s just the, uh, You know, it’s, it’s frustrating for everybody that you have these cutting units that are cutting so perfectly and then throw sand out there, and the two days later they’re not cutting so good anymore. So you just go through it and re grind and do what you gotta do, you know?
Trent Manning: 2:57
So a follow up question to that, have you found anything in your experience that minimizes the effects of sand, like bed knife angles, or
Tim Johnson: 3:07
I haven’t really messed too much with bed knife angles. one of the things that I’ve tried off and on different places is depending on how much sand they put down, I’ll back the cutting units off one click or two clicks. just to run ’em, cuz I know they’re gonna pick sand up the first time and it seems to ease on the wear a little bit.
Trent Manning: 3:26
Okay. Yep.
Tim Johnson: 3:27
and I mean, it’s just, it’s just gonna happen. The sand’s gonna gonna tear apart. There’s no if sands or butts, you know,
Trent Manning: 3:35
Yep, that’s true. Very, very true. What’s your favorite tool?
Tim Johnson: 3:40
I would, I’ve thought about this quite a bit, I think. I think, I think your cell phone. But the reason that I say the cell phone is because I have so many wonderful mechanics in the area and mechanics that I can talk to. I think that’s what I find more useful than the phone itself is being able to call these guys. And I, I truly, I believe I could pick up the phone and call just about anybody and they would answer.
Trent Manning: 4:08
Oh yeah. No. Uh
Tim Johnson: 4:09
you know, a and such a change from 40 years ago, you know, 40 years ago, other guys didn’t want to talk to each other because they were afraid you were after their job, you know?
Trent Manning: 4:20
ah. Wow. Okay. Well that’s a, that’s a positive spin for the industry.
Tim Johnson: 4:26
Absolutely.
Trent Manning: 4:27
for sure. And I mean, everybody I’ve run across, they’re more than happy to answer the phone and help you out any way they
Tim Johnson: 4:34
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 4:36
So we’re, the way I look at it is we’re all in this air, in this together. I mean, if we can help somebody, why not? I had a guy call me today from the WhatsApp group, and he was working on a Dennis Mower, which I’ve never even seen one up close. I’ve heard about him or whatever. And, uh, talking about bed knife angles, but just that easy. I mean, he found me through WhatsApp, called me and I talked to him for 15 minutes and helped him out the best I
Tim Johnson: 5:05
Yeah. Yeah,
Trent Manning: 5:07
I mean,
Tim Johnson: 5:08
yeah. Makes a big difference to be able to
Trent Manning: 5:11
I’m not saying that to toot my own horn. I think everybody else is the same way. Give them a call. What do you do to relax or find your balance?
Tim Johnson: 5:20
I don’t, I, I like to play golf. I don’t play enough. I work too much like everybody. but I, I like to get on my mower. I, I have a house on an acre, so it takes me a little over an hour to mow my lawn. I like to put my headphones in, sit on the lawnmower and go out there and just mow grass and, you know,
Trent Manning: 5:40
Okay. No, that’s good. That’s good. So I wonder, this would be a question for the industry. Anybody in the turf industry, golf industry, do they play enough golf? And I bet the answer is
Tim Johnson: 5:52
No, never.
Trent Manning: 5:54
Yeah, never. Yeah. That’s kinda, I guess, been my thing. Not that I play, but when when I’m done working, I’m kind of ready to go somewhere else, see something different. What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Tim Johnson: 6:06
my biggest challenge actually just came in the last five months. I’ve been a sole technician in my shop for 43 and a half years, and five months ago they hired me an assistant.
Trent Manning: 6:20
Oh wow.
Tim Johnson: 6:21
So I am learning all over again how to try to delegate some things and try to inform him why I do things and what I. On a daily basis, which, you know, we do automatically, we don’t even think about it. And now I have somebody else that I have to think about. So it’s kind of a, a new experience for me as well.
Trent Manning: 6:45
Oh, I’m sure, yeah, that’s, uh, yeah. Learning curve for both of you.
Tim Johnson: 6:49
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 6:50
So tell me about this person you hired younger
Tim Johnson: 6:53
Uh, he’s younger, he’s, good kitty. You had an automotive background. Had not touched any reels, had not done anything with reels. So, so he came in this fall, October, November, and I went through the setup and grinding and had him grind every single mower This winter.
Trent Manning: 7:10
Awesome. Well that’s a good practice. Good start
Tim Johnson: 7:12
it was the most, hands in the pockets thing I’ve ever had to deal with. Cuz I, you know, I like to be more hands on and to allow him to do that, you know, to
Trent Manning: 7:22
Mm-hmm.
Tim Johnson: 7:23
was really tough. We’re getting through it.
Trent Manning: 7:27
That’s awesome. No, I think, yeah, it’s really challenging because I find myself doing the same thing. I just wanna jump in and start, you know, doing whatever the job is instead of just like you’re saying, put your hands in your pocket. And let them work through it,
Tim Johnson: 7:43
If they have a question, they’ll come and ask you.
Trent Manning: 7:46
Yep. That’s right. That’s right. Yeah. No, that’s a good one. But I think that’s a good problem to have. Are you training this guy up to take your spot?
Tim Johnson: 7:54
I eventually, eventually, yeah. I don’t have any immediate plans or anything on retiring. I’m still, I still like what I do.
Trent Manning: 8:02
Mm-hmm. You must have you 44 years. You must like it.
Tim Johnson: 8:07
Well, it’s like I, every day that I go to work, something gets better, you know? That’s the outlook I have. I get
Trent Manning: 8:14
Oh, that’s
Tim Johnson: 8:14
in early and it’s, you know, something gets better.
Trent Manning: 8:20
Nah, that’s, that’s a good outlook to have. I love that. What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen in 44 years?
Tim Johnson: 8:27
Oh, there’s been a few.
Trent Manning: 8:29
I bet.
Tim Johnson: 8:31
We had, uh, we had a guy put a tractor in a, in a, uh, spreader in the pond
Trent Manning: 8:39
Mm-hmm.
Tim Johnson: 8:39
of an event. Uh,
Trent Manning: 8:41
Of course.
Tim Johnson: 8:42
tractor and all you can see was the air conditioner on the top of the cab.
Trent Manning: 8:47
Dang.
Tim Johnson: 8:48
course it went in running.
Trent Manning: 8:50
Mm-hmm.
Tim Johnson: 8:50
So it hydro lock the engine.
Trent Manning: 8:53
There been a rod.
Tim Johnson: 8:54
Yep. Only one though, so
Trent Manning: 8:57
Mm-hmm. Well, that’s good. Out out of four. Only one out
Tim Johnson: 9:01
out of four. Yeah.
Trent Manning: 9:03
Yeah, I, I believe all the stuff I’ve seen, diesels, anyway, going into a pond running, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen one, not bend to rod,
Tim Johnson: 9:12
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 9:13
I guess just a higher compression or
Tim Johnson: 9:15
Well, yeah. Sucks the water in there and there’s nowhere to go.
Trent Manning: 9:19
Yep. Yeah, that’s a, a hard lesson to learn that water does not compress.
Tim Johnson: 9:24
Yeah,
Trent Manning: 9:25
You can’t compress it no matter how hard you try not having it. Uh, it’s a good physics rule there. Do you have a mentor in the industry?
Tim Johnson: 9:34
I’ve actually had, I’ve been lucky enough to have a few in the industry. We’ve got, we have some great distributor techs, uh, in our area. Joe Husler with j w Turf is Revels Turf and Tractor Now, he’s been in the industry longer than I have.
Trent Manning: 9:50
Oh
Tim Johnson: 9:51
I was lucky enough to meet him early on and. He’s, he was their road service tech for years and years and years. And I was actually got the opportunity to go for, go with him for a day. And what a eye-opening experience.
Trent Manning: 10:10
Oh yeah, I
Tim Johnson: 10:11
You know, it’s, it’s, uh, to drive all over for a few little jobs, just, it blows your mind,
Trent Manning: 10:21
Mm-hmm. Why don’t, yeah. How did that work out? I mean, how’d you get that lined
Tim Johnson: 10:26
I just asked him one day, I said, you know, I said, someday when you’re, when you’re going, if, if I can, I would really like to ride along just to see how, how you worked through things like this on the road. And it, it, it was kind of an interesting thing because he was headed out to TPC at the Quad Cities that day. So I met him at three 30 in the morning up at their shop and away we.
Trent Manning: 10:51
Oh, that’s awesome.
Tim Johnson: 10:52
great cuz we got to talk about a lot of different things in the industry and stuff, and spent the day, you know, doing what he does.
Trent Manning: 11:01
No, that is really, really cool. And I don’t know why I’ve hadn’t really thought about it. You know, I’m always, uh, pushing people to go visit their neighbor or, you know, get to know your neighbor, go to another course, all that stuff. But that’s a great idea to get in the van or truck with a road
Tim Johnson: 11:19
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 11:20
And I’ll be honest, I learned more in two years being a road tech for Jerry Pay Toro company than I did probably 10 years of the golf course. Just cuz I mean, every day was a new problem. And you were expecting to, you know, figure it out if, I mean, we had with Toro had good resources to call the tac. In Minnesota and talked to those guys and gals and I mean, they really help you a lot too. But yeah, it was just amazing how much I learned in those two years. So, I mean, just, and like you’re saying, you do have some windshield time and just, you know, shooting the breeze and talking about this or that or whatever. that’s really, really
Tim Johnson: 12:01
yeah, yeah. It was good.
Trent Manning: 12:03
glad, glad you got to experience that for sure. What would be your dream job or opportu.
Tim Johnson: 12:09
I think I’m there. I think I’m there. I’ve been there. I just finished 19 years this last week, so working on year 20 going now, so,
Trent Manning: 12:20
All right. Awesome. Congratulations. That’s so how many other courses have you worked at?
Tim Johnson: 12:27
well I worked, I started, at a small little nine hole course out in Sugar Grove, called Golf Club, and I just worked there part. And then I went to St. Charles Country Club where I worked for 15 years. left St. Charles Country Club, went to Royal Fox, which was only about four miles away.
Trent Manning: 12:46
Yeah.
Tim Johnson: 12:47
there for eight years, and then I’ve been at at Arrowhead in Wheaton for 19 years now.
Trent Manning: 12:54
Awesome. And is it relatively close to the other
Tim Johnson: 12:58
Um, no, Wheaton is, Wheaton is, off 88. it’s about, I live out in Yorkville, so it’s about a 30, 35 minute drive in the morning
Trent Manning: 13:08
Okay.
Tim Johnson: 13:08
to work.
Trent Manning: 13:10
I’m not the end of the world. I think Too bad that’s manageable. I don’t, when you get 45 minutes to an hour, I don’t. That starts
Tim Johnson: 13:17
yeah, yeah. That’s
Trent Manning: 13:18
when you’re doing it every day and early in the mornings and all those things.
Tim Johnson: 13:24
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 13:25
What technician would you like to work with for a day that you hadn’t already?
Tim Johnson: 13:29
Boy, I, I, I don’t know. I think I’d, I think I’d like to go, like you say, I’d like to go visit some of these guys and I know a lot of guys in our area that would say, come on over, you know, but I just have never had the opportunities. I would like to volunteer for a tournament or two.
Trent Manning: 13:47
Yeah.
Tim Johnson: 13:48
because, now that I have the opportunity where there’s another guy in the shop, I think it would be easier. so, you know, maybe something like that.
Trent Manning: 13:57
Yeah, for sure. And I mean, there’s a lot of golf in Chicago land. Yeah. A lot of golf, a lot of tournaments too.
Tim Johnson: 14:05
yeah,
Trent Manning: 14:06
I mean, even if you did a member guest at Medina somewhere, I mean that would,
Tim Johnson: 14:12
And Chicago Golf has a to, has tournaments too. And that’s five minutes from my shop, so,
Trent Manning: 14:18
Oh, that’s right. Yeah, I know. I’m so bummed. I didn’t realize, you know, how close you were. Wasn’t even thinking about it when I stopped by and seen, uh, Tony on my way up to Wisconsin. But I would’ve definitely stopped by. But I hope, I hope to put another trip together back up that way sometime. I’ve had so much fun and I mean, met so many people, good people, traveling around and seeing these different shops and stuff. I mean, it’s just amazing. And every shop you walk in, no matter how, you know. Nice. It is. There’s always something you can pick up and learn.
Tim Johnson: 14:57
sure. Absolutely.
Trent Manning: 15:00
it is not just the high end facilities that have all the great ideas. I mean, the low end facilities, they got just as many if not
Tim Johnson: 15:07
Well, because you have to do with what you have, you know?
Trent Manning: 15:10
That’s exactly right. What do you know now you wish you’d known on day one?
Tim Johnson: 15:13
I don’t know. The technology has changed so much. I, I, that’s a, that’s a tough one because I, I feel like. I feel like every day’s kind of a learning experience. So you, you, I wouldn’t want to go back. I wouldn’t want to go back and start over knowing everything because I think it would be boring if you knew everything right off the beginning. And so the learning curve is all still there and it’s still going. So, you know, that’s what I like about this job. You, you’re always learning.
Trent Manning: 15:44
Oh, I agree a hundred percent and I’ve said it once. I’ll say it again. The day I go in and don’t learn something, I probably ain’t going
Tim Johnson: 15:51
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 15:53
I mean, but I don’t, I don’t ever, you know, see it coming to that because you can learn
Tim Johnson: 15:57
always something going in.
Trent Manning: 15:58
Yeah. Always something every day. Yeah. I want to tell you about a great product that I’ve been using task tracker. I know what you’re thinking. Task trackers for labor. But I’m here to tell you is also an easy to use equipment maintenance platform. Employees can scan QR code and send notes about the condition of equipment. And the equipment can be assigned to employees. Making the more accountable. I encourage you to reach out to Jamie and Gerald. The founders of ASB task tracker. At ASB task, tracker.com to schedule a demo and see how easy the platform is to use. Again, That’s ASB task tracker.com. Let’s get back to the episode. how do you deal with that person?
Tim Johnson: 16:50
I have kind of a unique thing that I started a long time ago. I have my own service card at the golf course that I set up and, if I’m having an issue with somebody, I don’t like to talk to them about it in front of anybody else, so I will take ’em for a ride on my golf cart out in the golf. Away from everybody else, and we’ll find a spot out there and we’ll just sit and talk about it and then make the trip back into the shop.
Trent Manning: 17:18
Okay. Yeah.
Tim Johnson: 17:19
it kinda, it kinda clears the air with them. It clears the air with me and you know, then it’s over.
Trent Manning: 17:26
I think that’s a great idea. That’s really, really good
Tim Johnson: 17:30
I just feel like that if you talk to people in front of other people, it tends to make them bristle a little bit and you. You don’t need that with people jumping on 80, 90, a hundred thousand dollars pieces of equipment. You don’t need somebody going out there angry, you know? So,
Trent Manning: 17:45
No. Very true. No, that’s a, that was a great idea. I, I really like that. Yeah. Nobody likes to be called out in front of their peers or friends or any of that stuff, so, yeah. No, I think, I think it’s, uh, a good way, and I do think that that person is, you know, something that we struggle with at every
Tim Johnson: 18:06
Oh sure. Yeah.
Trent Manning: 18:08
Everybody has that person. Finding ways to address that. I mean, I think this is a great, uh, question. I think it come from, uh, John Barroso. I put out, I put out an email or I put it in our WhatsApp group. Some, I wanted some fresh questions and this is, uh, one, one of ’em that, uh, came back and that’s a good one. What kinda tips and tricks do you wanna share with.
Tim Johnson: 18:36
I don’t know. I think, I think my, my biggest tip that I. It’s just more prioritizing how things get done. you know, my priorities are the greens first and then tees and fairways and everything after that is kinda, you know, you just make sure the greens are your number one priority. That’s, you know, and equipment wise, it’s greens, mowers, sprayers, you know,
Trent Manning: 19:02
Mm-hmm. Yep.
Tim Johnson: 19:03
you know.
Trent Manning: 19:05
Yeah. Anytime I get a newer person coming in the shop, I’ve explained all that, you know, and I’ll, I’ll, I’ll ask the question. What do you think the most important piece of equipment. Out of this whole facility, what’s the most important? And you know, most people say, oh, the fairway mower, you know, cuz it’s the most expensive or
Tim Johnson: 19:24
No, the most important part is actually the superintendent’s cart.
Trent Manning: 19:27
yeah, there you go. Yes, yes. Gotta have that thing running at all times. And then right behind that is the sprayer I think. And then the grains mowers for sure.
Tim Johnson: 19:38
yeah.
Trent Manning: 19:39
I don’t, do y’all do a lot of.
Tim Johnson: 19:41
we have three, 300 gallon sprayers. all toros, we got 2 58 hundreds and a 5,700.
Trent Manning: 19:48
Mm-hmm.
Tim Johnson: 19:49
but we’re spraying with 27 holes. We’re spraying quite a bit, so,
Trent Manning: 19:55
Yeah, it’s, I got two sprayers and 18 holes and it seems like they go every day spraying something somewhere. You know, it’s just crazy. And I think we are, or we have been, uh, Putting out all our fertilizer,
Tim Johnson: 20:12
Okay.
Trent Manning: 20:12
foliar. So that’s a lot more spraying. Well, tell me why you’re so passionate about the golf industry that you’ve spent 44 years.
Tim Johnson: 20:23
I just like it. It’s a, it’s a close-knit group of people. you’re always learning something. I got involved early on in the, in the technician’s group up here in Chicago, back in the early eighties. and was very heavily involved for quite a while. And, and, uh, I just, I just like the direction everything’s going. I think, I think every year the golf courses get better. Is it necessarily the best thing? I don’t know. But they’re always getting better and that draws more people. And the more people that play golf, the better it is for.
Trent Manning: 21:00
Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah. What’s, what’s some of the advancements you’ve seen in equipment wise?
Tim Johnson: 21:07
Oh my goodness. When, when I first started, we were mowing fairways with a Jake, F 10,
Trent Manning: 21:14
Okay. Yep.
Tim Johnson: 21:16
then, uh, and we were mowing greens at, you know, 200, 220 thousands there. There was nothing like what we’re mowing at now. We mowed all our banks with locks. I dunno if you’ve ever heard of lock. The lock reel mowers.
Trent Manning: 21:32
Yeah. I’ve heard
Tim Johnson: 21:34
the walk behind real mowers. That’s how we mowed our, yeah,
Trent Manning: 21:39
That’s crazy. That was a different time. Yeah, for sure. Did you work on a Toro two 16 ever?
Tim Johnson: 21:46
Yes, I did.
Trent Manning: 21:48
Yeah. I don’t, I was not, not a big fan. of, of that unit? Yes. No.
Tim Johnson: 21:53
We had a turf Pro 84.
Trent Manning: 21:56
Okay. Yep. And that was, was that the same as a national
Tim Johnson: 22:01
That was the bigger, that was the bigger, that was the one that you sat up on top of the engine,
Trent Manning: 22:07
Okay.
Tim Johnson: 22:08
that would overheat and stop every once in a while.
Trent Manning: 22:13
Yeah, no equipment has, has come a long way. So, and I, I know I fuss about some of the equipment and engineering ideas and like, why are they doing this? But yeah, we’ve came so far
Tim Johnson: 22:26
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 22:27
and I mean, you’ve seen a whole lot more than I have, but since the min nineties we’ve come a long way. Yeah. When do you think. You started seeing lower heights of cuts on greens.
Tim Johnson: 22:40
I would say probably. Probably mid nineties. We were, we were getting down there starting to creep down a little bit. I think the difference earlier then was the different type of grasses and stuff. Now they’re getting a little more aggressive with the grasses that they use, so you can cut ’em a little tighter. but, you know, everybody’s looking to improve, so that’s, that’s what you do,
Trent Manning: 23:02
Not right. Yeah. Yeah. No, we’re trying, like you said, we’re trying to get better every day
Tim Johnson: 23:06
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 23:07
and hopefully we do.
Tim Johnson: 23:08
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 23:09
Well, you got anything else you wanna talk about? Chat about?
Tim Johnson: 23:14
no. I just, I just think, uh, I just think that the, uh, the golf show is a great thing for everybody and everybody that can, should go.
Trent Manning: 23:23
Oh yeah, for sure.
Tim Johnson: 23:24
to, gosh, I don’t know, probably 18 or 19 or 20 of ’em, at least.
Trent Manning: 23:30
Mm-hmm.
Tim Johnson: 23:31
and it’s, it’s wonderful the, the connections that you make and when you walk in the trade show floor and see the, the, the people that you only see once or twice, and they recognize you when you walk up, that gives you a really good feeling, you know?
Trent Manning: 23:46
Oh yeah. Yeah, for sure. So for someone that finds it a challenge to talk to their supervisor, their superintendent, What do you think the best way to address that and, uh, advocate for yourself to go to show.
Tim Johnson: 24:07
well, I think, I think everybody, most of the companies up until the last couple of years with the shortage of equipment and everything else, that’s when they show their new equipment. And my, my thing has always been that’s, that’s when the new equipment comes out and my superintendent doesn’t look at it with the same eyes that I do.
Trent Manning: 24:28
Oh, right.
Tim Johnson: 24:29
So why not? Why not take your tech with you and let him put his eyes on it and he may see something that you’ll go, Hmm, this could be a problem. But,
Trent Manning: 24:39
Yeah, yeah, for sure.
Tim Johnson: 24:40
but I’ve been pretty fortunate. Most, most all the superintendents that I’ve worked for, Very courteous and allowed me to go.
Trent Manning: 24:49
No, that’s, that’s really, really good. And hopefully more superintendents will, uh, start leaning that way. And I heard that we had, I think 170 EM members in Orlando this year, and I believe that’s the biggest number they’ve ever had of EM members.
Tim Johnson: 25:08
Good.
Trent Manning: 25:08
Which is just great. I love it. I’m, yeah, I’m so excited. but you do have to advocate for yourself
Tim Johnson: 25:15
Oh, absolutely.
Trent Manning: 25:16
tell, tell your superintendent how important it is that you go to this event. yeah. It is a huge networking event and you can meet a lot of good people. You can see new equipment, the latest, greatest things. Yeah. And walk around with your superintendent cuz just like you’re saying, Two sets of eyes that see things totally different.
Tim Johnson: 25:37
yeah.
Trent Manning: 25:38
So that’s, that’s a really, really good point. what was some of your favorite education
Tim Johnson: 25:44
I like, I love round table stuff.
Trent Manning: 25:47
Okay.
Tim Johnson: 25:47
discussions. that’s, it’s nice that you just walk in, sit down at a table with eight guys. You don’t know,
Trent Manning: 25:55
Mm-hmm.
Tim Johnson: 25:55
it’s all a common thing when you sit down at that table, you know?
Trent Manning: 26:00
Yeah.
Tim Johnson: 26:01
has the same issues. Everybody sees things through a little bit different eyes, but you know, everybody kinda is there for the same thing, you know?
Trent Manning: 26:11
Oh yeah, for sure. And as far as I know, the G C S A will continue to do the round table because, I mean, it is a really great event and I’m glad that you sat down with somebody or with a group you don’t know. And whenever I’m hosting that, I always encourage to set with people you don’t know because it’s one thing to set with your buddies and that’s fine, but you know them, you know what they do, how they do things. So set, yeah, set at a different table and you’ll get a lot more ideas
Tim Johnson: 26:44
Yeah.
Trent Manning: 26:45
that could help you down the road. We ready to wrap this up and do some rapid fire
Tim Johnson: 26:54
Sure.
Trent Manning: 26:55
Let’s do it. What is your favorite movie?
Tim Johnson: 26:58
I’ve got two I, I call ’em Mike or the con control drops, mic drop movies, forest Gump, and The Green Mile.
Trent Manning: 27:07
Oh, wow. Yeah. Both Tom Hanks, right?
Tim Johnson: 27:10
Pardon?
Trent Manning: 27:10
Tom Hanks and both of
Tim Johnson: 27:12
Uh, yeah.
Trent Manning: 27:14
Yeah. That’s awesome. Yeah. Both really, really good movies. What would be your last meal?
Tim Johnson: 27:19
big old steak and a baked potato with everything on it.
Trent Manning: 27:22
You’re my man. I love it.
Tim Johnson: 27:24
I’m, I’m, I’m a farmer. We raise, we raise cattle. That’s, that was, that’s your favorite meal right there?
Trent Manning: 27:31
that’s right. Yeah. If I ever have a waiter or waitress say, you want that baked potato load in them, I’m like, yeah. You know, like that’s a dumb question.
Tim Johnson: 27:41
No, no
Trent Manning: 27:42
Put everything you can on there. Right. What are you most proud of besides your family?
Tim Johnson: 27:49
besides my family. I would have to say the network of people in our business.
Trent Manning: 27:56
Very
Tim Johnson: 27:57
I think that’s, I think we have a fantastic group of people.
Trent Manning: 28:02
Yeah? Yep. Do you want to shout out any of those people?
Tim Johnson: 28:05
There’s too many names.
Trent Manning: 28:06
Okay. All right. Yeah.
Tim Johnson: 28:08
mean, I have, I have great neighbor guys. I have, well you, you obviously did the thing with Kevin Bauer, he used to be at, in our local group.
Trent Manning: 28:18
Okay. Yep. Mm-hmm.
Tim Johnson: 28:20
you know, they move all over the country and you still keep in touch with him. So I think that’s great. You know,
Trent Manning: 28:25
Yeah. Yeah. Kevin, he, he is a really good one. And Glen, I know y’all are friends and Yeah. They’re lot, lot of good people. Is that association still going?
Tim Johnson: 28:35
it’s still going. It’s in with the, uh, the Midwest Golf Course Superintendent’s Association, so it’s kinda affiliated in with them.
Trent Manning: 28:42
Gotcha.
Tim Johnson: 28:43
so, but yeah.
Trent Manning: 28:44
Yeah. Who, uh, do you know who started it?
Tim Johnson: 28:47
the Chicago, it was the Chicagoland Golf Course Mechanics Association. John McGuire was one of the original guys that started it.
Trent Manning: 28:55
Okay. Very cool. Is he still around?
Tim Johnson: 28:59
is, he is, he’s a salesman now,
Trent Manning: 29:02
All right.
Tim Johnson: 29:03
that was back in 81 or 82 maybe.
Trent Manning: 29:07
Wow. That’s awesome though. Yeah, y’all were definitely way ahead of the curve back then. Starting something like that. We’ll, tell the listeners how they can get ahold of you.
Tim Johnson: 29:17
well, they can email me. I have my own personal email is tj o fixit comcast.net. I’m on Twitter at Tim John 5 9 3 8 1 1 9 2.
Trent Manning: 29:32
All right.
Tim Johnson: 29:33
and I have a work email too, but my personal one’s the easiest way to get ahold.
Trent Manning: 29:39
Sounds great. Well, thank you so much tj. I really appreciate you, uh, coming on. It was good catching up with you in Orlando and I really enjoyed seeing you and, uh, Glen, uh, in Wisconsin too, which is not a super long drive for y’all, but long
Tim Johnson: 29:57
An hour and a half or so. Yeah.
Trent Manning: 29:59
Yeah, yeah.
Tim Johnson: 30:00
but that’s, that’s, we do, we do a lot of local things like that in the wintertime, and guys are not afraid to drive to. You know, share ideas and, and get together and, you know, talk about everything. You know.
Trent Manning: 30:14
Yeah. No, it’s good stuff. Well, thanks again for, uh, being on and I really appreciate it.
Tim Johnson: 30:21
a problem. Give me a call anytime.
Trent Manning: 30:27
thank you so much for listening to the Reel turf techs podcast. I hope you learned something today. Don’t forget to subscribe. If you have any topics you’d like to discuss, or you’d like to be a guest, find us on Twitter at Reel turf techs.