Growing up in rural Missouri with a golf course as the only employer closer than a 45-minute drive, Shelby Dubois started out on the crew raking bunkers and walk-mowing greens. After attending Ranken Technical College for high-performance racing technology, Shelby found her way to the equipment side of the golf course. Shelby is the assistant technician at the Talisker Club at Tuhaye in Utah with dreams of heading to Florida. Find Shelby 4-wheeling, at the dragstrip or watching YouTubes about electrical (who doesn’t?!) in her free time. Shelby and Trent talk trucks and more in this week’s episode.
Transcript
Trent Manning:
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 This episode are real turf techs on golf course industries. Superintendent radio network is presented by Foley county, a strong supporter of equipment technicians and golf course maintenance departments everywhere. Foley county offers a proven solution for above and below the turf for turf professionals. To learn more about Foley company’s line of real grinders bed, knife, grinders, and the air to G2 family of products, or to find a distributor visit www dot Foley, C o.com. Foley. Ready for play. welcome to the real turf text podcast, episode 62. Today, we’re talking to Shelby Dubois. Assistant technician. At Talisker club at two. Hey. And hot out Utah. Talisker is an 18 hole private course. The sets at 7,000 feet. Shelby as the assistant technician in our shop, Oregon for equipment manager. BRAC crouch. Who was featured in episode 38. If you want to check that out. It was another great episode. Brock’s another, another good one. Let’s talk to Shelby. welcome Shelby to the real turf text podcast. How you doing today?
Shelby DuBois:
Not too bad.
Trent Manning:
I’m doing pretty good. I’m doing pretty good. The weather’s nice here. It’s fixing to get hot and I saw you just had snow yesterday.
Shelby DuBois:
Oh, yeah, a little bit of in frost delay,
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah. It looked like a big process delay.
Shelby DuBois:
about five hours.
Trent Manning:
Nice. Well, tell us how you got into the turf industry.
Shelby DuBois:
I grew up in a rural area. And one of the only jobs I could get near me was a golf course, which I saw on a local ad. So decided to go there, you know, do some grounds, keeping had no clue what that was at the time. Sure. Learned quickly spent, uh, spent a lot of time in the bunkers. A lot of time walk mowing. didn’t really get to use a whole lot of machines other than the walk mowers for my first five or six years of my career.
Trent Manning:
Awesome. So what kind of led you to the golf course? That was the only place in Missouri to work.
Shelby DuBois:
it was the only place that wasn’t a 30, 45 minute drive. It was, it was only about 15 minutes each way. So it sounded like fun.
Trent Manning:
Okay. Yeah. Did you have any interest in golf or anything like that
Shelby DuBois:
Nope. I still don’t really have too much interest in golf. I would like to be better at it just because I work at a golf course. I feel like I should, I should probably know more than I should, but. It’s not really a too high of a priority of mine. It’s just mainly a good way to get out and see the course.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Being outside in nature. That’s what I enjoy about it. Not the aspect of playing golf. I enjoy the game of golf and I respect the game, but I found out a long time ago. I don’t need to participate in the game of golf.
Shelby DuBois:
I respect the game, but I don’t have patience for the game.
Trent Manning:
That’s me too. I must rather be fishing. That’s my speed. Do you relief Grande or not?
Shelby DuBois:
Absolutely. not? every time, but as long as there is a decent amount of relief left on the real, that’s fine with me. But if it’s starting to go away, it’s time to come relief grind. Usually about every three or four days.
Trent Manning:
Do you laugh at.
Shelby DuBois:
No.
Trent Manning:
No. Okay.
Shelby DuBois:
if it’s time to backlash, it’s time to just throw it on the grinder.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yep. Very good. Tell us how you fabricated lately.
Shelby DuBois:
we got a, one of those little roller lift cart things that’s looks like a little forklift and well, we got it to lift cutting units up and down and around the shop, you know, mainly just to bring them from out in the main space, you know, off of the tractor unit, into the back end of the grinding room. But, Um, there’s no way for the reels to stay on there, the cutting unit. So I made a hook out of a bed knife, of course. And, uh, it just hooks right into the front roller. And now the cutting-edge secure enough to be pushed around or whatever, without it just rolling off being five feet near.
Trent Manning:
Right, right. Cool. Cool. What brand of Lyft is this then you’re talking about,
Shelby DuBois:
it’s
Trent Manning:
do you know?
Shelby DuBois:
just some Chinese specialty we got from one of our local distributors.
Trent Manning:
Okay. I was just curious because I’ve been thinking about getting one and hadn’t pulled the trigger yet.
Shelby DuBois:
I’ve seen quite a few on YouTube of just various different, you know, just slightly different things, but they seem to be pretty common, not just in golf course equipment, but any shopping.
Trent Manning:
Yeah, I had a think it was Brandon ho maybe anyway, past guests. I’m a super good, how does, cause I can remember every single person’s name, but I can’t remember what they told me. So anyway, they all run together, but uh, Somebody that was on the podcast, said that they had a mobile table, so it was kind of a small table and they would put their, uh, you know, fairway unit or whatever on a lift and roll the table laundry and take the cutting unit off on that table. And the
Shelby DuBois:
I think, I think it was kind of advertised as that, but it doesn’t really work that way because it really only has two forks. You’d have to fabricate your own.
Trent Manning:
Okay. I gotcha. I gotcha. What’s your favorite tool?
Shelby DuBois:
I would have to say the internet between WhatsApp and Twitter and GCSA website and my turf. It’s probably most important tool in the shop today, not just for, you know, Um, I’m sure you’re familiar with the WhatsApp group or Twitter. Just fire off a question, get an answer back five minutes later, or, you know, continuing education on the GCSA website,
Trent Manning:
What would make you think that I’m familiar with WhatsApp?
Shelby DuBois:
the, a real turf text, uh, real
Trent Manning:
Oh, yeah. Yeah. That real turf tax WhatsApp group. Okay. Yes. I remember that one.
Shelby DuBois:
I see you in there once or twice a year,
Trent Manning:
Yeah, every now and again. Um, yes, I don’t y’all go and go and go. And it just was my mind. I’m like, how, how did they get anything done? I’m busy. Work it over here.
Shelby DuBois:
some of us are either less busy or better at multitasking than others.
Trent Manning:
Yeah, that’s true. I like to, uh, start on a task and just stay right there. And nobody talked to me and don’t look over my shoulder. I was willing to get it done, but, you know,
Shelby DuBois:
I’m the exact opposite. I love talking to someone while I’m doing something. It actually helps me concentrate.
Trent Manning:
huh. That’s definitely different. What do you do to relax or find your balance?
Shelby DuBois:
usually, uh, either go for Whelan or go to the drags. Watch YouTube. Usually work-related on YouTube.
Trent Manning:
Yeah.
Shelby DuBois:
Maybe, maybe not directly with golfer equipment management, but you know, electrical or HVAC or something like that.
Trent Manning:
Yeah, That’s I’m saying, well, there’s such good stuff on YouTube and there’s some bad stuff on there too. A lot of good stuff. So when you say four-wheeling, is that an ATV or is that a
Shelby DuBois:
Uh, my truck, usually, luckily it’s in the state of Utah. I can get away with that whenever I moved to Florida, I don’t think I’ll be quite so lucky with all those trees down there.
Trent Manning:
What was a missions or what are we talking about?
Shelby DuBois:
Just trying to fit my truck through there.
Trent Manning:
Uh, I got.
Shelby DuBois:
up to 50,
Trent Manning:
Gotcha. Of what year?
Shelby DuBois:
uh, 99.
Trent Manning:
99. 7.3.
Shelby DuBois:
Yep. Sure. Is.
Trent Manning:
Yes. I love it. Yeah. I drove a F five 50 for that was an O one and I drove it till probably oh seven or something. It’s a good truck. Really good truck.
Shelby DuBois:
I happened to also have a one at five 50 as well.
Trent Manning:
Awesome. Yes, I’m very familiar with that truck. A little too familiar, took naps in, it, slept in it. Sometimes what’s the strangest thing you’ve seen at work.
Shelby DuBois:
Ah, strangest thing I’ve seen at work. Well, I’ve now heard of in both seen a, uh, Wheel bearing on a Kawasaki mule will fail five times within a year after three different people fix it. So
Trent Manning:
W what do you, what do you think caused that?
Shelby DuBois:
I have no, well, I do know that a lot of it is. But at the same time, it’s, you know, the original one lasted 3,500 hours and nobody can seem to get the replacement. So last more than a couple hundred.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. That’s pretty strange makes you say, Hmm, what’s going on here? What about a Procor 6 48. Rolling down a hill.
Shelby DuBois:
I didn’t witness that personally, but I did come into the aftermath of That There was a, well, actually during my interview for my current job was it was sitting there and I asked about it and like, yeah, that got rolled down 17 hill. I’m like, huh, that’s going to be fun.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So were you involved in putting Humpty Dumpty back together?
Shelby DuBois:
I sure was I, I D I did most of that. Uh, Brad reminded me of a couple of the finer points of it, but luckily it wasn’t too bad and, you know, just change the oil, make sure there’s no oil in the cylinder. And, uh, it fired right up and well, That’s a different story for a different time, but, uh, it’s had a couple problems since, but so far it’s been good since we’d finally released out into the wild
Trent Manning:
Awesome. What’s one of your pet peeves around the shop?
Shelby DuBois:
quit parking in front of my door.
Trent Manning:
Yes, it has been said multiple times and is probably number one on my list. I cannot stand it.
Shelby DuBois:
I’m hoping that, uh, we might get some signs here shortly, but I don’t think that, uh, they’ll do much good.
Trent Manning:
Can the people on your crew not read.
Shelby DuBois:
Well, even if we were to get it in English and Spanish and we could get it in 18 different languages, it’s. They won’t,
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah. So do you have any, what, what do you do when somebody parks in front of the door?
Shelby DuBois:
I take the Frank approach and drive it or move it as far away as I feel like walking.
Trent Manning:
Yup. Yup. It was a good one. I do the same thing. Do you have a mentor in the industry?
Shelby DuBois:
Not so much a mentor, but a someone That’s really taught me a lot of the finer points. Brett crouch. He taught me a lot about, uh, not only. Reels and real theory, but, why a deep time aerifier goes out and how it works and stuff like that.
Trent Manning:
That’s awesome. And you’re not saying that because you still work with him.
Shelby DuBois:
No,
Trent Manning:
Okay. He hadn’t paid you anything. Right. Okay. All right. At least you’re not telling us for sure. Now I love BRAC. He’s a good dude.
Shelby DuBois:
yeah, he’s, he’s, he’s great to work.
Trent Manning:
Yeah, that’s awesome. So what kind of got you into the mechanic side?
Shelby DuBois:
Well, I’ve always been into auto mechanics. I started with a three and a half horse to come see many bike engine when I was 10 years old and kind of worked my way up from there and went to a tech school rank and technical college for high-performance racing technology. And. Got quite a bit more into race cars, and now I’m doing the equipment management So I can afford a race car one day.
Trent Manning:
So this race car, will it be a drag car?
Shelby DuBois:
Yeah, I’m hoping to find a decent third gen Camaro, Iraq to, make into a. Probably a nine second car? I think is probably about as fast as I want to go on a third gen Camaro.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah, that is so cool. That is awesome. Good for you. Cool. What would be your dream job or opportunity, or did we just talk about it?
Shelby DuBois:
Really I would like to be working at a, like a 36 or a 54 hole somewhere down in Florida and have. Several other women working under me, you know, kind of mentoring them into the industry. You know, maybe someone just out of high school or someone who just got out of another industry and is looking for a fresh start,
Trent Manning:
That’d be so awesome. So cool. Are you involved with the women in turf?
Shelby DuBois:
Starting to be, I just recently got on Twitter. You know, we just had the, equipment manager task group meeting, and I got to hang out with Kayla quite a bit. And now, I’m currently, I was too late to go to the, ladies open this year, but, next year pebble beach. It’s looking like I will be there. So that’s going to be, it’s going to be awesome because not only am I gonna get to work with a bunch of other women that, you know, either do what I do or also work on a golf course, but I get to visit pebble beach.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah,
Shelby DuBois:
Everyone’s heard of pebble beach, everyone, you know, even if you don’t play golf, it’s quarterly.
Trent Manning:
yeah, for sure. That’s so cool. Yeah, this year, I believe it’s at pioneer. And Southern Pines, North Carolina. So what technician would you like to work with for a day?
Shelby DuBois:
I’m going to have to say Kayla, just because. Yeah. she knows a bunch about John gear that I don’t, and it’d be awesome to, you know, make fun of the guys for eight hours while making fun of, uh, John Deere as well.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah, no, that’d be awesome. That’d be so cool. Yup. Kayla, she’s something else. So yes. I love her. She’s my little sister. I’ll tell her that too.
Shelby DuBois:
She’s good.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah. No, she is very, very good people. What do you know now? You wish you’d known that.
Shelby DuBois:
About the GCSA and that it exists, not just for superintendents. obviously. You know, 15 years ago, GCSA, wasn’t quite
Trent Manning:
Uh,
Shelby DuBois:
in that. I think it was still IgE SEMA at that time, but same, same difference.
Trent Manning:
Yeah, no, it’s
Shelby DuBois:
networking is invaluable.
Trent Manning:
for sure. And that’s what I love about the WhatsApp group, DCS, a Twitter. There’s just so many opportunities to network in this industry. And if you’re not networking, you’re really backing up. And not that you always gotta be moving ahead, but just talking to other people. I don’t really know how to explain it, but just talking to people that experienced the same experiences you do makes you feel better and it makes life a little bit easier knowing you’re not the only one beating your head against the wall, or you’re the only one just like, I think it was today. I saw John John Patterson posted a picture of a yellow steak and these yellow steaks are my Nimitz. So here in the south, we have Bermuda greens and we have to cover them with tarps when the temperature gets so low in the wintertime and they use these brick and yellow steaks. And the only way you can find a yellow steak that was left out there is with. the only way you’re going to find it. So he posted a picture of the bent yellow steak, and I knew, yeah, immediately, I’ve been there multiple times, every spring. It’s crazy. And so every time I find one in a card or anything like that, I collect them in a bucket. And I told the superintendent, I was going to sell them back to him for $10 a piece. That was my way of handling it. It was a joke, but
Shelby DuBois:
That would be a, it could be a nice market.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I’m going to go to other courses, start getting the stakes for them. What’s some of the tips and tricks you’d like to share with us.
Shelby DuBois:
I’m going to have to say one that Brad showed me on Twitter. It’s a take some memory cloth and put it in a Cotter pin. I actually used that, twice today and just throw that in a drill. And now you have a way to easily sand the inside bore
Trent Manning:
Yeah, no, that is, that’s a really good one. And I think Ben beer chair. He’s in another one in the real turf tax community. This love this community and we have such smart people and always willing to share and learn any other tips or tricks you got up your sleeve.
Shelby DuBois:
Diesel field treatment. If you own your quiz, Especially with all this tier four stuff or, you know, just high hour stuff. Diesel fuel treatment will really help you out a lot. That’ll cut down on your smoke. It’ll help you with your starting. Last course I worked at, they couldn’t get a mower to start at all without ether, and I really hate seeing those little Kubota diesels get either. Luckily they had a case of diesel fuel treatment sitting in the corner. Well, you know, with the C chain booster and, started using that. And it’s still far and up to this day. No problem. Doesn’t matter what happens.
Trent Manning:
That’s awesome. That’s really cool. I don’t, I’ve tried it, but honestly, I didn’t really notice anything here in the south, so, you know, it doesn’t get that cold here.
Shelby DuBois:
It’s one of those things that you don’t really notice it unless it’s under a heavy load all the time, or, you know, if you’re really sitting there watching your, Ash levels and your, or your sleep levels and your DPF.
Trent Manning:
Well, and I’m sure with tier four, that definitely makes sense. Oh, no more than we need and those things, jeez. Well, what else do you want to talk about?
Shelby DuBois:
Oh boy.
Trent Manning:
The floor is yours long as you keep it PG. Yes, we can talk about throwing things in a lake.
Shelby DuBois:
Well, I have always wanted to throw something in a lake and it sounds like, Mike and Kayla might have a fine candidate for an excavator throwing.
Trent Manning:
Uh, well, do tail only here. This.
Shelby DuBois:
I believe it’s Kayla’s bed knife, grinder that she hates and, Luckily, she’s getting it all fixed up. But, uh, Mike said that if she wasn’t able to do that, then it definitely belongs in the lake. And I think, well, Mike might, might be mad at me saying this on the air, but if Mike says that an sip grinder belongs in lake, I believe that it definitely doesn’t belong in a workshop.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. True. True. And what else? Better place than a lake Mount as well.
Shelby DuBois:
well it’s always something I’ve wanted to do. Never had the fortune of doing so either accidentally or on purpose. But it’s one of those go to your happy place. Whenever something comes in that you really don’t want to work on. Just go to your happy place, just picture it in a lake and drive through it and you’ll be fine.
Trent Manning:
well to catch the listeners up on what we’re talking about here. Every time someone has a problem with a piece of equipment. Shelby is quick to say, put it in them, like just put it in the bottom of the lake. So as has been a running joke for probably a couple of weeks there. And anyway, I still laugh every time I see it because I got thrown into the lake.
Shelby DuBois:
So
Trent Manning:
Yes.
Shelby DuBois:
pick your
Trent Manning:
right, Frank McWiggin he prefers C4. To like, so whatever it is, and how much fun would that be to destroy a piece of equipment?
Shelby DuBois:
Well, what would be better is put C4 on it, then put it in a lake and then explode it.
Trent Manning:
There you go. That’s the, yeah. You and Frank, I’m going to watch LT.
Shelby DuBois:
We could be dangerous together.
Trent Manning:
Yes. Y’all could definitely be dangerous together. Tell me a little bit about going to Lawrence and the task group. And I know we can’t get into the details that was discussed there, but what has that meant to you?
Shelby DuBois:
It’s really meant the world to me. you know, coming up, I always thought that I’d be a nobody. And here I am. One of the, apparently one of the top people in our industry now.
Trent Manning:
That’s awesome. It’s so cool.
Shelby DuBois:
It was awesome meeting with everyone there and, you know, getting to pick their brains for a little bit and, you know, just shoot the shit with everyone and hopefully, uh, do some cool. things at the show this year. I think everyone will like it
Trent Manning:
Yeah.
Shelby DuBois:
obviously at every show will be better than the last, but I think this year is going to be really something.
Trent Manning:
Yeah, I’m really excited about this year and I don’t even know what y’all talked about, but just with it being in Florida, and COVID just kinda out of the picture now, I think we’ll have a huge attendance and everybody’s just ready to get there. Good away from their course for a few days and have a good time and have some good education and have a lot of networking. So
Shelby DuBois:
can’t, I can’t wait to go to the show. I haven’t got to go yet. And so been like this year is going to be my first year.
Trent Manning:
That’s awesome. Well, you definitely let me know and we have to hang out sometime.
Shelby DuBois:
I’ll catch you there.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. First year. I don’t know you got anything else?
Shelby DuBois:
Not really,
Trent Manning:
Not really.
Shelby DuBois:
it’s been fun.
Trent Manning:
I no, no, no. It’s been a blast. Been a blast. And thank you so much for, uh, for coming on, but back to, uh, being on the task group. You’re right. That’s one of the, I mean, that’s a privilege to be there on the task group. And how cool is that? Yeah, you’ve been in the industry for a long time, but you think about the people that’s been in the industry for 30, 40, 50 years, and they’re not setting on the task. And you’re there. So you said that, you know, people are saying maybe Shelby, isn’t going to grow up to be anything. Well, you have, you’ve made it. And it was, uh, Roland MacPherson said it, and I’m still in it from him, but I really liked what he said. He said this industry so small, you have a lot better chance of succeeding or being at the top of the game. Because it is smaller.
Shelby DuBois:
Absolutely. Absolutely.
Trent Manning:
So I’ll tell you in any way I can get, you know, let’s do it. Yeah. That’s awesome.
Shelby DuBois:
Let’s go grind. Some reels.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. That’s it grounding rails. Well, thank you again so much for coming on.
Shelby DuBois:
Of course. Thanks for having me.
Trent Manning:
Tell the listeners, oh, I’m off my game tonight. This is yeah.
Shelby DuBois:
That’s okay. It’s Tuesday.
Trent Manning:
Yes Tuesday. Well, so this is the other thing between me and you. When, I mean, I don’t care if anybody knows whatever, but, uh, so I fish Monday night, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. So I don’t get home and yeah, 11:00 PM. So I don’t get home until like 1230, because we got way in all that crap. And I live almost. Well, that’s a good 45 minutes from the lake. So anyway, time I get in bed, it’s like one o’clock and then I got to get up at five 15. So I’m, I’m feeling my age. That’s what I’m trying to say. That lack of sleep is a tougher, the older you get.
Shelby DuBois:
That’s for sure.
Trent Manning:
So I forgot the whole rapid fire questions.
Shelby DuBois:
Oh shit.
Trent Manning:
Yeah. Are you ready for some rapid fire question?
Shelby DuBois:
I assure him
Trent Manning:
What’s your favorite movie?
Shelby DuBois:
dress a park.
Trent Manning:
Great. What would be your last meal?
Shelby DuBois:
Triple all the way hash Browns from Micah or a waffle.
Trent Manning:
Waffle house? Yes, I didn’t know. Do y’all even have a wobble house in Utah.
Shelby DuBois:
Nope. The closest one is in Las Vegas,
Trent Manning:
Okay. Okay. What are you most proud of?
Shelby DuBois:
myself, how far I’ve come in my life and where I’m at in this industry and where I’m headed hopefully to Florida soon.
Trent Manning:
Awesome. I love it. Well, thank you again for coming on. This has been great. It’s been
Shelby DuBois:
Of course, thanks for having me,
Trent Manning:
Absolutely. Tell the listeners how they can get ahold of you.
Shelby DuBois:
On Twitter, at S Y 91 as do U B O I S.
Trent Manning:
Very good. Well, thank you. And I will see you in the WhatsApp group soon.
Shelby DuBois:
Awesome.
Trent Manning:
Hope you enjoyed hearing from Shelby. Isn’t it great that she’s proud of herself. I think we could all look at ourselves. And be proud of where we’re at. Does that back? Take a minute. Recognize how far you’ve come. And any area of your life. That you’ve struggled with. Or you felt discouraged at times. I got a funny feeling. The Shelby. I was going to see her dreams come true. And I think you can see your dreams come true too. We have an awesome community here. And we look out for each other. And we help each other out. One thing that makes us industry so great. Until next time. See you. Bye. thank you so much for listening to the real 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 real turf techs.