In this episode of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, we sit down with Chris Hyman, Equipment Manager at Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Victor, NY. Chris is the sole technician in the shop, overseeing all equipment maintenance.
Chris's journey in the turf industry is marked by diverse roles, from assistant to superintendent to sales and, eventually, Equipment Manager. He's also had experience in odd jobs like aerating fields and worked as a local dealer lawn & landscape technician. This diverse background gives him unique insights into the challenges faced in different facilities.
During our conversation, Chris shares a practical tip for Ventrac users, offering a method for removing the outside wheel efficiently. He also emphasizes the importance of routines in equipment checks.
Join us for a candid conversation with Chris Hyman, where we explore the intricacies of turf management, the challenges of varying turf environments, and the valuable lessons he's learned throughout his career. This episode offers a glimpse into the life of a dedicated turf technician and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps golf courses thriving.
In this episode of the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, we sit down with Chris Hyman, Equipment Manager at Cobblestone Creek Country Club in Victor, NY. Chris is the sole technician in the shop, overseeing all equipment maintenance.
Chris's journey in the turf industry is marked by diverse roles, from assistant to superintendent to sales and, eventually, Equipment Manager. He's also had experience in odd jobs like aerating fields and worked as a local dealer lawn & landscape technician. This diverse background gives him unique insights into the challenges faced in different facilities.
During our conversation, Chris shares a practical tip for Ventrac users, offering a method for removing the outside wheel efficiently. He also emphasizes the importance of routines in equipment checks.
Join us for a candid conversation with Chris Hyman, where we explore the intricacies of turf management, the challenges of varying turf environments, and the valuable lessons he's learned throughout his career. This episode offers a glimpse into the life of a dedicated turf technician and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps golf courses thriving.
I started out with a push mowing around trees with a, the old Jacobson,
Trent Manning:Oh,
Chris Hyman:commercial 20,
Trent Manning:the two stroke.
Chris Hyman:two stroke all cast aluminum offset tire
Trent Manning:Nice.
Chris Hyman:that when the lazy boys came or was it the lawn boys, lawn they, they came out, they were a little lighter, same thing, you know, same thing, just a little lighter, but that's how that's how we trimmed around trees.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah.
Chris Hyman:And we got a string trimmer, man. We thought we were golden.
Trent Manning:I bet. I
Chris Hyman:Now a guy, now you hand a guy a string trimmer and he's like, thanks.
Trent Manning:Right. Right. Yeah. He's got grunt work for the day. 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 Reel 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 Ready for play Welcome to the real turf techs podcast. Episode 1 0 5. Today, we're talking to Chris Hyman equipment manager. At cobblestone Creek country club and Victor New York. Cobblestone Creek is a private 18 hole. Golf course on 412 acres. Chris is the sole tech in the shop. Let's talk to Chris. Welcome Chris to the real turf text podcast. How are you doing today?
Chris Hyman:Doing great. How you doing?
Trent Manning:I'm great, man. Thanks so much for, uh, being on. Let's get right to it. How did you get into the turf industry? This is my favorite part. My
Chris Hyman:man. This, this could be an hour right here. I have had a lot of jobs. I was odd and end jobs when I was a kid. I always liked outdoors. That was the thing. Always tinkering, as you guys call it,
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:you know, and, uh, or piddling. Sorry.
Trent Manning:Piddling. right. We call Piddling. down
Chris Hyman:Up north, we call it tinkering. Uh, I was always the kid that took stuff apart. You know, I used to take CB radios and run an antenna to the barn and get a skip. And I'll talk to a guy in Kentucky from New York, know, but then now what, uh, around 14 local golf courses being built right through the snowmobile trail. So that was fun. And, uh, they started a program, a caddy program. So I rode my bike down with my friends and I was the, uh, because I was the second one that walked through the door, I was the second one hired. So, so I was the second caddy hired at this local country club. And, uh, that kind of got me an interest in golf. My brothers were already working at a golf course, another country club on the grounds crew. So I was already already in tune to it. But, from there, uh, worked that for a couple summers in, you know, 15, 16 years old. Once I got a car, then I, uh, I realized that shagging bags and... You know, clubhouse or pro shop. Wasn't really my gig. Uh, I'll just say, I saw some things that just made me shake my head when, uh, what the pro or assistant pro or would say to the members when I'm like, when it was a member's fault and I'm like, uh, yeah, I couldn't do
Trent Manning:Mm hmm. Mm hmm. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Chris Hyman:So then, uh, my one brother was leaving the country club. He was at, at Ontario. And he was going into surveying at Kodak here, which is our big. Company up here. So there was an opening, so that got me out on grounds crew and, uh, I just, it was a job for me at first and halfway through high school, you get that age old question in 11th grade, what do you do for the rest of your life? And the superintendent pulled me aside and he goes, you, you can do this. And I was like, all right. So I went Del High. And, uh, up here in the SUNY system, went to college, came back to the golf course that originally was a caddy at and worked as like kind of a, my internship slash foreman, I guess they would call it second assistant today's world. And, uh, that's when I kind of got into that. And from there, my buddy of mine, he became superintendent that I went to college with. He became a superintendent. He was looking for an assistant, a head assistant. So that became my first assistant job. And then, uh, Penfield country club. While I was there, I met my wife while she was going to a local college in town in Rochester. And she wanted to go to Cincinnati for her graduate work. So I followed
Trent Manning:mm hmm
Chris Hyman:and I ended up at Terrace Park Country Club down in Cincinnati, Ohio. And, uh, I did not like that. It was, uh, you guys can have it. It was,
Trent Manning:Yeah, so what was the deal it was just a little warmer and
Chris Hyman:warmer. It was like, you would start out and like. Carhartt's and by 9 a. m. you're stripped down to shorts and t shirt by four o'clock. There was an Armageddon storm coming through muggy you were spraying pithium like it was dollar spot up in North and You know, there was some Bent grass greens with Poha and then they had some zoysia Fairways, so it was kind of a interesting
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:Uh, of course then but yeah, it was in the valley there, right in Ohio. And, uh, there was a tornado that came through the course one time and I was like, yeah, yeah, the, the bathroom was the fallout shelter for tornadoes at the at the shop. And, uh, we had one get pretty close and I just said, yeah, I'll go back north. And, Once you got done with the program, I ended up going back north to Erie, Pennsylvania to Lakefield Country Club as an assistant there. And that's where I really met a guy there and, uh, became one of my mentors. We'll go over that later in the other questions, but really honed my skills there as an assistant and kind of got into that. By then, I'd been an assistant for seven years at three different clubs. And he just turned to me, he goes, you're ready. He goes, I'm not kicking you out, but you're ready. My wife and I always look to try and come back to Rochester, New York. was always, you know, bridesmaid in the interviews. Second, you know what I mean? And, uh, so then there was a job in Detroit, Michigan and, uh, St. Clair river country club at the time. And, it was the same parallel as Rochester for climate zone. So I thought, well, I'll go up there, did my interview. at the time, that's when like 200 guys would apply. I ended up getting, ended up getting the job, surprised myself. And that was my first superintendent's gig. And, uh, that's the route I thought I was going to go. You know, my goal was to be certified superintendent. But. You know, I was always, my toolbox was always at the shop because at every club I was at, you know, you worked on equipment in the winter, you it, every, it was all hands on decks in the winter
Trent Manning:Yep. Yep.
Chris Hyman:now and say, low budget, but not luxurious budget, but medium budget clubs that I was at. And, uh, the economy tank there with the housing market around 08 and, uh, myself and other department heads were laid off and our assistants were hired. So we part of the, we were part of a cut, a few years later, I heard the club didn't do too well and it changed names now and it's, uh, it's doing much better now. So that kind of set my wife and I aside to say, what do we want to do? And her grandmother was in Long Island where she grew up. And she needed some help. So we said, well, let's just take this opportunity. We had one kid at the time and we said, let's go to Long Island. Gave it a try. Got out there. I said with 144, I think 140 or 144 golf courses between two counties on Long Island, find, I'll find a job.
Trent Manning:All right. Yeah. Yeah,
Chris Hyman:You know, so I ran out there and sold the house, got out there. And, uh, there was a job for UAP at the time, which I. I think it's Nutri in today's world, you, you as Verticon at one time, just, we always joke, wait five minutes, they'll change your name.
Trent Manning:okay
Chris Hyman:but I sold, uh, I got into sales and I sold fertilizer and pesticides. And that was a fun gig. I got to step on all those big courses on Long Island, you know, Long Island national. Shinnecock, to, you know, Savonic, Bridgehampton, that's the, that's a cool place. You ever, if you've ever been to Bridgehampton.
Trent Manning:Yep. did to go, when I went to visit jr.
Chris Hyman:yeah, that, that place was cool. Yeah. His place. I've been to his place all I've been on every course out there. And that was really cool to see the dynamics of that level all the way down to the municipalities out there. About 10 months into that, the local Toro dealer reached out to me. They were looking for someone to help out and a UAP was in transition at the time. I kind of sensed something was up and they're being sold. so I went over for just a conversation for lunch, which then turned into dinner, which then turned into the next day. Hey, we could use you as a branch manager on our Ronkonkoma store in Long Island you know, with the Toro. So originally, so I made the transition to equipment as a branch manager. And, uh, kind of after a couple of months, it was like. These people don't need a, they're good. It was a satellite location. They're doing great. And, uh, said there's a couple of changes and we made those changes and a sales position opened up for municipality sales. And, uh, so I got into equipment sales. I threw a Buffalo blower in the back of my truck, went to a government lab, the guy saw it, went there to handle an issue with some biodiesel stuff, you know, the guy saw what it was, toted it around a little bit, came back. gave me a purchase order. Long story short there. And, uh, that kind of got me hooked on sales. I went out with the Buffalo blower that morning, came back without it. The other sale guy goes, I need to blow her for a demo. I'm like, I sold it. He what do you mean? I sold right out of the back of my truck. He goes, that's, he goes, that's crazy. So, so that got me hooked in the equipment sales. And with that and Toro and, and store tractor down there, great training. And that kind of really like really got my equipment itch going. We were there for a couple of years uh, we were pretty much staying there until either grandma passed away or grandma kicked us out. And grandma was kind of kicking us out and, uh, type of thing. And so we actually went back to Detroit and I got hooked up with a company, selling the Hustler golf equipment back in the Hustler turf.
Trent Manning:Mm-hmm.
Chris Hyman:And, that was interesting being a part of that and working with some of those people and, and that was going pretty well. And then the dealer guy kind of just wanted to get out and I was part of that. And he got out and I was out and, and, uh, it was almost went and worked for Hustler Direct, but that fell through. And, uh, so I was kind of sitting there doing odd jobs. I had a guy that picked me up. I went and aerated fields for a while, deep time with Weideman and stuff, just some side jobs and a friend of mine said there was a local dealership that was looking for a mechanic and, uh, it was a lawn and landscape shop. So from there I went in and said, well, we're looking for a guy to just handle the rental fleet. You just gonna sharpen blades, change oils. That's your said, all right, it's a job.
Trent Manning:Yeah.
Chris Hyman:It was, it was about an hour away from the house, but you know, it was a job. And, uh, before I knew it, I was. Within about six months, I was tearing down engines. I was tearing down hydraulic pumps. I was, any type of golf related or spray pumps that came into our branch, it was in my bench. And I did that for about four years. And that really is where I honed my mechanical skills, got certified in the dealership, uh, you know, or like the engine manufacturers, like that. by then my wife and I, we were homeschooling a couple of kids at that point. And we were thinking, uh, we could never get back to New York because New York had some kind of tough regulations. At least what we felt. And one day she turned to me, she read them, and she goes, we're already doing most of the stuff. And, uh, we just have to file it. So that kind of got, they like, well, let's look to go back to Rochester, New York. And she Googled, and at the time, uh, there was a job that said golf equipment sales. In Rochester, New York. That was it. And a phone number. so I did a reverse search on the phone number, found out it was the local John Deere golf dealership. And the main reason we wanted someone in Rochester was because of Oak Hill.
Trent Manning:Okay. Yep.
Chris Hyman:wanted someone here to make sure we took, cause that's a Deere account. And so that got me back into equipment sales, really enjoyed that for a while. Caught wind that the dealership was looking to get out. Then I went over to the Jacobson dealership and did municipal sales again.
Trent Manning:Okay. We got, we covered the big three here.
Chris Hyman:I know, so, so I've been involved with all major brands. And, after doing that for about four years I did. Mostly K 12 and, uh, municipality, uh, equipment, did training, started up a track with the local school associations about in their, they'd have their custodial days, but they had nothing for grounds. so I taught a class on synthetic turf maintenance and baseball skin maintenance, as well as equipment. small engine preventative maintenance.
Trent Manning:Mm-hmm.
Chris Hyman:it was kind of like, you know, related to what I was selling, but you know, it was what we, they needed a track. So it kind of guys in the door, which was really nice.
Trent Manning:Yeah.
Chris Hyman:After a while things start shifting there. And then, another, when the John Deere dealership shifted, uh, that other dealership opened up a branch near where I lived and, uh, they were looking for someone to manage that branch. So I jumped ship from the Jake, went back to Deere and became what they call the branch coordinator. So basically, but I had a little bit additional responsibilities than a traditional guy were because of my background. I, uh, would manage the branch, track inventory for parts, whole goods, make sure all the stuff were ready for the orders once, and then I did the quality control, but I also had, once again, always had my tools with me. So I had a workstation. So I would fill in as a tech when needed. I would fill out on the road for the mobile tech. I would do, dealer support for the, uh, sales rep, like the installs.
Trent Manning:Mm-hmm.
Chris Hyman:if they sold something, you know, the sprayers, I was really good at sprayers. So I would travel out, help them, help them on demos, uh, things like that. and if anything that couldn't get figured out. I always said if there's a crack in the system or the, you know, the unit that wasn't working right, it was my job to fill that crack and use the resources within our company or within deer or whatever manufacturer. And then, uh, they had a. shift in their management, which eliminated my position along with the other guys that had the title of branch coordinator. And I came home and it was one of those things that hit me like a lead brick and, uh, bosses came in or like, Hey, we're eliminating your position. I'm like, great, what am I going to do now? And they're like, there's an Uber coming in about an hour.
Trent Manning:Wow.
Chris Hyman:I'm like,
Trent Manning:Wow.
Chris Hyman:okay. So it was eliminated. So called the wife and told her what was going on. And I kid you not, a couple of friends of mine reached out to me and said, Hey, you know, one guy said you could be my assistant if you want to move. I'm like, nah, I appreciate it. But, and then like two days later, that golf course I originally caddied at. Superintendent's position opened up.
Trent Manning:No way.
Chris Hyman:So it was my third time. Yeah, it's crazy. It was really, yeah. So through my resume at it, met with the owners or the people that were managing it, and it came down to it as, you know, season was getting, coming around the corner here and I said, well, I need a job and you need a superintendent, you know, I at least have a job for a year. Let's see how it goes.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Chris Hyman:then after that year it just wasn't working out. I'll just at that. And this current position that I'm in now, here we are to today, opens up as an equipment manager position at Cobblestone Creek Country Club. And it's, uh, it's back to private clubs. And the course that I was at before, originally it was private, was now public. It went through the whole transition of stuff and it changed names probably three, four times I think. I can't remember. And then the public life, that wasn't, that was the other thing too. That just wasn't for me. That's, that's a whole, i I give those guys credit, man, that's a whole an that's a different animal of how to manage turf on a public venue of just revenue based. And, uh, that, that becomes more important than turf sometimes.
Trent Manning:Well, a good buddy of mine, he works at a public course and it is almost every day they have some kind of outing and they'll have, you know, 120 person shotgun, days, six days a week. And how do you maintain anything with that going on?
Chris Hyman:Well, yeah, I know. And we had leagues every night. And I got lucky because they did, I did talk to the pro and they were able to shut the tee down, the first tee at around 1. 30, 2 o'clock to get ready for the 4 or 5 o'clock league. So that gave me a little bit of a gap to throw some water or jump in and spray. But even then that was tough because then you get people that would see some open holes and they would jump out.
Trent Manning:Uh, yeah,
Chris Hyman:The pro would, you know, or whoever's in the... Pro shop would be like, Hey, you can go play a couple of holes. You just gotta be off the course by four.
Trent Manning:Uh huh.
Chris Hyman:So they play four or five holes or six holes. And I'm like, Hey man, I'm trying to water.
Trent Manning:Oh, okay.
Chris Hyman:So here I am now at a private club again. That's where I like to be in equipment manager. And it's kind of funny the other day I was talking to the superintendent I work for now. And he goes, you know, when I was. You were interviewing and talking to guys, they all said that, you know, the equipment manager position is where Chris should be. He just needs to figure it out.
Trent Manning:yeah,
Chris Hyman:like, cause so that's where I'm at now. And then, uh, a friend of mine that helped me out when I was a superintendent last year, he needed a mechanic. At Eaglevale golf course, and I kind of work part time in the afternoons there.
Trent Manning:Okay.
Chris Hyman:for him, so that kind of, that is how I got into it and I'll tell you, finishing up my first year right now is the, the equipment manager and kind of reflecting back and I'm like, I really like this. It's a type of job that I think we have the best job. I've, I've done all positions.
Trent Manning:Yeah, yeah, yeah. You can speak for it.
Chris Hyman:Yeah. I mean, I like, I'm a half deaf in my right ear from string trimming bunkers cause I didn't wear ear protection, uh, to, I've held every position now officially on the ground screw. And uh, I'll tell you, I think we got the right ones.
Trent Manning:Oh, I agree. A hundred, a hundred percent. And I'm glad you're here on the mechanic side of things now. And nothing against the superintendents. We love them,
Chris Hyman:Nope. I, once I get the itch once in a while, then I watch and I go, nah, I'm good.
Trent Manning:yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. I mean, and what they have to go through, I don't, I mean, I don't, I don't want to be part of that without, especially in what I see in a private club with all the politics that go on. And that's not my deal. I I don't play politics.
Chris Hyman:Well, and that's the thing is today's board that hired you ain't going to be the board four years or five years from now and they might have a different vision and I've seen that happen, you know, where guys are there and then they're gone.
Trent Manning:we, I've heard story after story of a superintendent that made a kid mad. And then 25 years later, this kid is club president,
Chris Hyman:Exactly.
Trent Manning:And. You know, I don't know if that's legend or not, but I've, I've heard these stories,
Chris Hyman:It's probably legend because I heard the same story too.
Trent Manning:Well, right. Yeah. Yeah.
Chris Hyman:purposely became president to fire you.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah. Something like that. All right. Well, all right. On to question number two, which is what is your least favorite part of the job? And why is that sand?
Chris Hyman:we need to do it, and you know, and it just gives me a reason to get behind the grinders, too. Uh, ha ha
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah. Cause we always need an extra reason to get
Chris Hyman:Yeah, exactly, exactly, to see if we can do. You know, People that waste my time. That's, that's the thing that, I don't know if that's more of a pet peeve, or just a thing that just, uh, Yeah, things like that, just, yeah, I can't really think of, I don't
Trent Manning:Yeah, no, I
Chris Hyman:maybe I'm still in the honeymoon phase, and I haven't gotten there yet.
Trent Manning:no. And I think that is a good one. Yeah. People that Waste your time
Chris Hyman:Yeah. Well, you know, when the sales guys come in, the nuts and bolt guy come in, try, selling you same nut and bolt that you've already got on the shelf.
Trent Manning:yeah, yeah, I don't, I pretty much went to, uh, make an appointment if you want to come talk to me
Chris Hyman:Yeah. Well,
Trent Manning:sell something.
Chris Hyman:you know, when I tell him that I go, you just got to tell me you're coming, dude. And then like, just don't walk away. I'm like, I walk away.
Trent Manning:Yeah, yeah,
Chris Hyman:they kind of throw a huff and I'm like, then I don't see him again. And that's okay.
Trent Manning:yeah, that right. Yeah. Got my point across. If they don't come back.
Chris Hyman:Yeah.
Trent Manning:Well, what is your favorite tool?
Chris Hyman:Ooh, I made a list here. Oh, I'll list them and then I'll see which one I can think of as my favorite. So I got my, my Honda carburetor, jet cleaner set.
Trent Manning:Okay.
Chris Hyman:got that when I went to Honda engine school and that was like the free gift you got. That thing has gotten me out of jams with carburetors. To just get in there and clean them out, take the nozzles out, really get in there and just drop it in the tank and just pull it out and clean it. And I find I'm using it in other places too, like in hydraulics, cleaning out orifices and things like that debris in it. Leak down kit. That down kit, man, I'll tell you so much in an engine. When I was at the dealership, I, my initial job, like I said, it was set up, but I also did, uh, where you had to diagnose, we had a zero downtime program where if we couldn't figure it out, you get a loaner within hour, we had an hour, so you learned how to diagnose quick and, and the guy was engine wasn't running right, man, I got to the point where I could tell if it was a cracked head or a bad valve just by how much leakage and where I was hearing it from.
Trent Manning:Oh, yeah.
Chris Hyman:Don't really run it that much now. But it was mostly on the twin gas engines on the zero turns. my headlamp, I know you like your flashlight. So do I,
Trent Manning:yeah.
Chris Hyman:but, I got a headlamp from Delphi. It was like 30 bucks off of Amazon. It's an led headlamp
Trent Manning:Mm
Chris Hyman:goes all the way across and you just wave your hand by it. And it turns it on, turns it off. So if your hands are greasy,
Trent Manning:Okay. That's pretty cool.
Chris Hyman:The problem is when you get in something, it shuts it off when you go past the mower or
Trent Manning:Uh huh. Right.
Chris Hyman:But and then, uh, I would say my pneumatic fluid extractor, that saved me a couple of times. Uh, guy put in gas in a diesel. I said, don't start it. I sucked it dry. We got it going. I had another one where guy came in with a walk more. He goes, man, he goes, I got halfway through the green and it just stalled. Few seconds later, I let it sit and started right back up. Well, I opened up the gas tank. There's grass in there and I just sucked it up. Like I'm cleaning the bottom of the pool
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:and, uh, that worked out really great. And then I think. Kind of my prism.
Trent Manning:Okay.
Chris Hyman:you know, that's a tool that tells us so much.
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:And, uh, so my favorite one out of there, that's just hard to pick. I mean, I would say on my day to day that I use in today's world of what I do, the prism,
Trent Manning:Okay. Yeah. good one.
Chris Hyman:so, but yeah, that's, that's what I would say. I just, like I said, it just tells you so much and how to set up your mowers where you're at. It gives you. Uh, data that you can turn to the superintendent and say, this is what you're actually cutting, you know, do want, where do you want to go from here? Okay. The grass, you know, around here in August, the grass puffs up a little bit.
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:So we can get scalping or something like that and all right, we're getting a little too aggressive here. So we're going to adjust bench height if needed.
Trent Manning:Okay. Yeah. Yeah. We have the same thing here in the South in August, grass tends to puff up a little bit and we start scalping and on Bermuda, we end up at my club. Anyway, we just kind of bump the height up, you know, 8th inch 3 16th and the rough as we go through. What do you do to relax or find your balance?
Chris Hyman:Woof. Uh,
Trent Manning:With six kids.
Chris Hyman:six kids,
Trent Manning:of time
Chris Hyman:well, I mean, uh, I do enjoy them, but you know, I mean, but if it's just me time, I got, uh, I would, I used to say, ride my motorcycle, but that's been sitting for eight years because I got six kids, uh, and, uh, I used to call it psychotherapy. Uh, but anyway, uh, what I do now is I just, you know, grab a good cup of coffee, sit out on the back deck on a Sunday morning or a Saturday morning when I'm not working. And just enjoy the morning, listen to the animals wake up per se.
Trent Manning:Mm.
Chris Hyman:almost like being on a golf course, except not waiting for the guy to call me saying a mower's down,
Trent Manning:right. Yeah. Yeah, no,
Chris Hyman:but yeah, I've, I've always liked outdoors and, uh, you know, I used to tent camp was in scouts when I was a kid and camped with my parents when we were kids and stuff.
Trent Manning:very good.
Chris Hyman:yeah.
Trent Manning:What is the strangest thing you've seen at work?
Chris Hyman:I would say when I was, uh, first starting out. At that first private club at Ontario golf club. And, uh, we had this guy, he was an older gentleman living life in his probably twenties, you know, elevator probably didn't go all the way up to the stop floor with this guy, but, uh, one day he was out there with a string trimmer. And he threw it in the cart, spark plug must've gotten cracked, he overfilled the fuel, and he's string trimming, and I'm on the other side of the pond, and I just see this flame going up the backside of him, and we're yelling at him, it's hard, me and my we're yelling at him, and we're telling him, I think his name was Jim, that seems to stick in my head, but anyway, we're just screaming. Dude, looks up and finally sees us, because we're throwing like golf balls in the water, trying to get his attention, and he realizes it, and he kind of had like that, uh, kind of like that Kramer like, oh, whatever, or a Doc Brown type thing from, uh, back to the future. And he just started taking that thing and started smashing it on the ground, thinking he was going to put it out, which he burst the tank. And then he freaked out and he chucked it into the pond. And all you see is a string trimmer whipping around and then fuel flying all around. And that was. That, that was probably the strangest thing that I saw. And I mean, obviously it was back 35 years ago when I first got into the industry and it still in my head as one of the craziest things. And the same guy ended up taking a Cushman, thought he could drive a stick and, uh, he dropped it into third gear and, uh, full throttle and dropped the clutch and he ended up crashing into a tree.
Trent Manning:Oh, wow.
Chris Hyman:so we're like, yeah, you, you get the easy go,
Trent Manning:Uh, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Chris Hyman:but yeah, that string trimmer one, that was probably the strangest thing I ever saw and it just. And then afterwards when nobody was hurt, we just laughed.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah, yeah. But that's definitely something, something you're never gonna forget
Chris Hyman:Yeah. It's one of those things like, are you okay? Are you okay? Yeah. Yeah. I'm fine. I'm like, that was so cool.
Trent Manning:Right. That's good. Do you have a mentor in the industry somebody you wanna shout out?
Chris Hyman:I got a couple of guys. Well, the course that we were just talking about, Buzzy Cox, he's retired now. Great superintendent and a carefree guy, knew his stuff, knew the game of golf. he taught me, learn the game of golf. If you're going to be doing this side of the business
Trent Manning:Mm-hmm.
Chris Hyman:you got to understand what they want, you know? So that's one thing I've always learned is, and enjoy the beauty that you're working in. And just, we'd be driving, going out to a, an irrigation head blown out of the ground. And all of a sudden he would see a deer, he would lock the brake up, put his hand across, like, shhh, look, look, look. beautiful? I'm like, yeah, Buzzy, but the sprinkler. And he's like, yeah, but look at the deer. Isn't that He was like, all right, let's go get the water. You know?
Trent Manning:yeah. cool though. That's a good way to live life.
Chris Hyman:yeah. And then, uh, I would say that another guy would be Dan Cocuzzi. He was a mechanic at Penfield that, uh, when I was an assistant and now it's kind of funny, he's right down the road for me. At a neighboring course and we communicate and like, I part the other day, I called him up and he's like,
Trent Manning:Okay.
Chris Hyman:I'll order it and you'll get it in two days. Uh, he, he, he's the kind of one that kind of got me into the mechanic side of things. Uh, even back then, because the clubs I worked at, you were, you were wrenching in the winter. It's just what you did. It's everybody had their role, whether you're tearing a reel down or you were grinding. Uh, I was mostly bed knife grinding and fell asleep one time, got my hand stuck on the stone on the old manual near ease going back where I still have the scar on my hand and, burned stones right down to the bone and, uh, took about eight years for that to grow out.
Trent Manning:Wow.
Chris Hyman:uh, yeah, so that was my job there for there. And then even that superintendent there, Eric, uh, he's the guy he told me, he goes, learn every position before you become a superintendent, because you're going to have to teach every position. So that's why he always, he goes in the summer, you're my assistant in the winter, you're the assistant mechanic.
Trent Manning:Yeah, yeah, no,
Chris Hyman:pretty cool. And then, one guy, Gordon, when I was an assistant up in Erie, Pennsylvania, Gordon Saliga, Lakeview country club, that guy. He's the one that kind of like made it okay for me to be okay with my OCD.
Trent Manning:Okay.
Chris Hyman:the attention to detail and the precision trying to stretch that nickel into a dollar
Trent Manning:Mm
Chris Hyman:Just trying to push the edge of the limits. You know, uh, it's the first course I ever worked at where we, you know, let's get 12s on the greens. Why? Why? Because we can,
Trent Manning:Yeah.
Chris Hyman:you know, and let's, let's give them what they give them more what they're paying for type thing. And,
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:and he gave me an opportunity to manage a tournament. It was the West Penn or something, or it was one of the terms, one that Arnold Palmer had won several times. And this kid was going to break his record or something of winning it. And, uh, he gave me that tournament to just manage it for two weeks. And that was cool. And,
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:and I, I didn't even say like my current superintendent, he's, uh, He's a great guy and one thing he said to me when I first got hired there, he goes, stay, you know, we're going to stay in our lane, you're going to see things to clubhouse, you're going to see things in a pro shop and you're going to see things everywhere else. Just, just, if everybody stays in their lane, you do your job, I do my we'll be good.
Trent Manning:Yeah. No, that's a good way to
Chris Hyman:being a, being a former superintendent, I got to catch myself.
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:You know, and the agronomy side, and you're like, you know what? And it's funny though. Sometimes when I see things, he already knows about it. Cause I'll, I'll go up to him like, Hey, do you see it? Yeah, I know about that. I'm like, all right, I just stopped doing that. Like, all right, Do your job, stay in your lane. And, uh, it's been great. And then you guys and a whole, this whole turf tech thing, like I'm listening to the podcasts. I learn every time I listened to one of those.
Trent Manning:that's awesome. That's so good to hear
Chris Hyman:My second job that I go to, I have the shop to myself. I turn on the Bluetooth speaker, listen to one podcasts a day, trying catch, trying to catch up, trying to get all a hundred whatever in.
Trent Manning:yeah, yeah, I think I don't remember this 104 or 5
Chris Hyman:something like that.
Trent Manning:That we're recording right now. So that's
Chris Hyman:Yeah. So
Trent Manning:Well, what do you know now? You wish you'd known on day one? Mm
Chris Hyman:don't overthink it. get out of your own head. If I could give any advice, I mean, I'm turning 50 next week. Or next month, sorry, next
Trent Manning:hmm. Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:And, uh, if I went back to my 18 year old self, which who probably wouldn't listen to me,
Trent Manning:no, definitely
Chris Hyman:I'd be like, dude, you just, it's not always about you, you know, look at the bigger picture, slow down.
Trent Manning:It's easier said than done
Chris Hyman:It is. I, I, I fight with it today.
Trent Manning:Yeah,
Chris Hyman:You know, a superintendent goes by or somebody comes by and like, wow, he didn't talk to me. What the heck? Did I do something? What did I do? I'm like, find out it was nothing.
Trent Manning:Yeah.
Chris Hyman:know, the pro shop called or something.
Trent Manning:Yeah.
Chris Hyman:So
Trent Manning:No, that's, that's really good advice. It Thank you for sharing that.
Get ready for tips and tricks.
Trent Manning:What kind of tips and tricks
Chris Hyman:Oof,
Trent Manning:for us?
Chris Hyman:oof, got a couple of those. Let me think here. Ventrac owners that have the dual wheels you put a 4x4 underneath the inner wheels and after you've loosened up the, the draw bolt, you slam it in, take a six foot toe strap with loops at the end of it, wrap it around that tire, slide the handle of a flat headed shovel through it, And use that leverage to break it free.
Trent Manning:Ah, okay. Mm-hmm.
Chris Hyman:there was, I was on a sales gig selling those things one time. And, I had to take tires off to go from one demo to the next and I'm fighting it, fighting it, fighting it, trying to grab it. And, uh, I just grabbed YouTube, some guy from Louisiana,
Trent Manning:huh?
Chris Hyman:I just saw like how to take it off. I wish I could remember the guy's name. I credit him, but he just, he just, and he looked like he was from the bayou. And this guy was just up there and full accent and everything. And I just, I saw him take that flathead shovel. First thing I did, I said, well, I went right to the hardware store, bought a flathead shovel. And ironically on that tow strap that I bought from tractor supply, uh, it was a picture of a Ventrac pulling an engine out. So, yeah, I was like, that's weird. But, um, but yeah, that's one of them. What was the other one? Have a routine, uh, when checking your equipment, how many times do we get the phone rings or guy comes in and asks a question? And, uh, I have a routine of even just checking quality and height of cut. And when I, wherever I leave off, I hang the wrench there. come back, okay, the wrench is hanging there. All right. I know where to pick up and continue on.
Trent Manning:yeah. a good one.
Chris Hyman:you know, or even I'll put a piece of cut paper. If I'm checking quality of cut and I get to the third reel, I'll throw that paper in there, knowing that that done, I got two more to go. And then sometimes you come back a half hour later and like, did I do these? Well, the other one, I mean, if, if you got a Toro 43 or 4, 500, I learned one the hard way when changing heights. the decks as you're moving that pin up through. I don't know if you ever dealt
Trent Manning:hmm. Yeah. Yeah.
Chris Hyman:I take screwdrivers and I walk it up and then I set, so I'll throw a screwdriver in, take the bolt out and that way I can clean that back bar, you know, chase the threads if I have to, if I'm going to a different hole and then I'll walk it and throw that screwdriver in there. I had the front of one drop on me one time and almost caught my head.
Trent Manning:Oh, yeah.
Chris Hyman:paying attention. I'd always do it on the ground. And,
Trent Manning:hmm.
Chris Hyman:and I just recently figured this out. If you set the decks down, then put it up on the lift and, you know, and not have it in full float, but you can pull one deck down and the other deck, push the other deck up. Now that you can get to that middle one. Which is
Trent Manning:hmm Okay.
Chris Hyman:inside ones and the middle ones? So now you can work on that one individual deck down below all the other decks. And, uh, I've gotten that job down to about an hour.
Trent Manning:Oh, well, yeah,
Chris Hyman:So that's pretty good, so. I don't know, there's a couple tips and tricks there.
Trent Manning:Yeah, I don't I guess I've always just done them on the ground
Chris Hyman:Yeah, do
Trent Manning:I thought it was easier to mess with. Yeah. So, do you loosen? All three of them and one at a time.
Chris Hyman:so what I'll do is I'll take the breaker bar with the 916 socket and just give it one spin around because it'll just break free quicker.
Trent Manning:Mm
Chris Hyman:And then I get my service cart next to me with my... Makita, uh, impact and, two screwdrivers, my tap, if I need it to clean out the threads. And then, uh, I'll go and do the center one, the one in front first. I learned that one time when I had to change like three quarters of an inch. One time we were changing and messing around with stuff. You move that front one. And then I would take my screwdriver, throw it in Makita, spin it out. And I leave that screwdriver in there, clean up the bolt, whatever, then walk it up with the two screwdrivers, get that one in, not fully tight, but snug, then go to one side, then the other side, and then you're done. And then once it's all done, I would hit it with the Makita all around, and then just take that breaker bar and just go around and make sure they're all snug.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Awesome.
Chris Hyman:the, you know, use the German torque wrench. Good enough.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, I always heard good and tight.
Chris Hyman:Good and tight. Yeah, I heard that
Trent Manning:Good. Good and tight. That's, that's what, that's what I learned. That's good stuff. Well, let's talk about volunteering at the LPGA championship.
Chris Hyman:Yeah, it was back in, 2014, I was a sales rep for John Deere. Or the John Deere dealership, uh, at the time. It was the LPGA championship held up here in Rochester. It was the last one this year that was held up here. And, uh, it was before PGA bought them. So LPGA doesn't get probably as much of the perks as the PGA's did at that time of mowers showing up for tournaments manufacturers throwing stuff at you and going there. So we had the local dealers support the tournament. Now the guy at the course had two Toros. I think there were 54 10s at the time. And I brought in my deer equipment. One had seven inch reels, one had five inch reels. inch roller, two inch roller, two and a half all different groomers and one, no groomers. And then, uh, then the, the Jake guy brought in his five inch reel unit. And then the Toro dealer brought in the newer 18 inch reels on, the three wheel view. I think it was, uh,
Trent Manning:Yeah. yeah, 35 30
Chris Hyman:30 or something like that. So, so we ended up using that one for cleanup, but the challenge was heights of cut from bench to effective and I kind of picked up on this and I went to the superintendent and I said, Hey, you know, you got your one mechanic there. Uh, he's probably going to have his head busy with, you know, the greens tees or other stuff. I'd like to help you out. And I go, the challenge you're going to have is none of these fairway mowers are going to match if we bench them the same because of just. Everything. So, I went out the week before the tournament to his practice facility, and I said, what do you want me to set him to, and he says, well, whatever my mowers cut, I want the others cutting the same.
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:And, uh, I think he was at 425, which then got like around 300. Uh, it was about that where we were at. So I went, mowed out there and said, okay, this mower set it 325, but it cut it 350. All right, we got to go 50 less. And then I put a sticker or a piece of tape on each fairway mower. And then, uh, I matched them and we were doing the, was it the half and half, you know, fairways striping. So you would notice it. You know, if, if one was off, there is no way of hiding it. And, uh, so that I, I volunteered to do that and throughout the whole tournament, I was there for the morning and afternoon cut. And then on top of that, I helped mow the fairways and I was always the last one out so I could check. And if I saw one that was off, I would drive up to them. I would switch them with my mower, pull that one back to the shop and then go catch up with the guys wherever they were. That was fun. I mean, that was probably the closest I've gotten to a big event volunteering at an, a
Trent Manning:no, it's cool though.
Chris Hyman:And, uh, and that, that was a lot of fun, but that was really cool. And how I did that was with the prism, you know, like we talked about earlier. And just without that tool, there's no way I could accomplish that. So,
Trent Manning:Yeah. So when you were traveling the road and things, did you always keep that in
Chris Hyman:oh yeah.
Trent Manning:truck? Yeah.
Chris Hyman:Yeah. I always had tools in the truck. I was that sales guy that would, I got a problem. All right. Let's look at it. And it always funny though, is I would see the superintendent and they would talk about an issue. And next thing you know, I'm in with the mechanic longer. I am with the superintendent,
Trent Manning:Yeah.
Chris Hyman:you know what I mean? And we're working on next thing, you know, I'm looking at a non deer product or whatever I'm selling. I'm looking at the other competitor product
Trent Manning:Right, right,
Chris Hyman:because, Oh, you used to sell that brand, right? Yeah. What's wrong with that? I ain't doing nothing wrong. It's just, you know, how are you using it? And
Trent Manning:right,
Chris Hyman:you know, a lot of time, I mean, 90 percent of issues is set up.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah. No, I definitely agree with that. And I think, uh, I mean, that, that makes for a good salesperson too. are willing to do other things and help people out here, there, you know, I mean, I was the same way when I was working for the Toro distributor, I would go to do a warranty claim on whatever, but I'd be talking to the mechanic and if he was having an issue with this, yeah, let's, let's look at it, let's see what we can figure out,
Chris Hyman:Yeah, when I was at branch coordinator and I'd be out with the mobile tech, helping him in with stuff or going out and same thing, you know, Hey, what about this? All right, let's go over here and take a look at it.
Trent Manning:you know, wasn't even like we were a Toro distributor, but we worked on John Deere, Jake, or, I mean, we didn't care,
Chris Hyman:Yeah, we, we actually had a contract when I was with the, uh, with the deer, uh, dealership where we did a, uh, a maintenance program or a contract where we go in and check cut you know, twice a week or something. Superintendent was in his final year, the mechanic got injured. So, uh, he wasn't going to hire someone, let the new guy hire him.
Trent Manning:Mm
Chris Hyman:uh, so we went in there that summer and he had no deer product, you know, but we were checking Toro's and Jake's all summer long,
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:you know, and helping them out when I think a Sampro went down with a blown engine and we fixed it.
Trent Manning:Right. Yeah. Yeah. That's one of the great things I think about this industry and especially mechanics or equipment managers is we just like to help however we can. And we like being that go to person when you're in a bind and you need help.
Chris Hyman:yeah, I say that's probably my downfall sometimes. I don't know when to say no.
Trent Manning:That's something I've, I've been working on a lot lately and I have got better, but, uh, I still got some work to do.
Chris Hyman:Yeah, I got, I got two little leagues that I help out as well when I used to be in sales
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:they know that I'm, they're right around the corner from me and they know that I have the service background. Then they heard I was, Oh, you're the, you're the mechanic over at the country club. Oh, yeah. Hey, we'll pay you, you know, and stuff. And I'm like, all right, you guys friends. And now I'm getting to the point where like, all right. And then there's some guy that found me, owns a green at his house.
Trent Manning:Mm
Chris Hyman:he got his claws into me and I'm like,
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah.
Chris Hyman:my wife's like, you got to say no.
Trent Manning:Right. Well, so I had a kid working for me. He was with me. I don't go almost two years or whatever. And he left and he went to work at Home Depot as a rental service tech. So he travels around to the different stores and he makes, you know, site visits or whatever. And I guess, I don't know what this guy had rented, but he gets to talking to him. He found out he worked at a golf course and he says, Oh, I got a Toro mower, a reel mower, and I need you to sharpen it. So he's calling me. He's like, can I come over there and grind this thing? I'm like, yeah, come on, whatever. Yeah, so you got to really watch out you say and who you're talking
Chris Hyman:Yeah. I got a couple of members that are, I'm at right now. I helped one guy, actually one guy was kind of cool. He had a old it was a lock and, uh, from like the 1960s. And, uh, I hooked up with a guy out and I think it was Connecticut or something. Who refurbishes things and, uh, start talking to him about it. And man, I was grinding the reel and I gave him the diameter. And, uh, and he's like, yeah, you're right at the limit. Be really careful on that cone and getting it out. And he's like, man. And so I was like, I was on top of that grinder more than any other thing I've grounded in my life.
Trent Manning:Oh, I bet.
Chris Hyman:You know, and, uh, and the guys, I drive past his house coming into the club every day, his lawn looks striped and beautiful, and he gives me a thumbs up, and
Trent Manning:Nice.
Chris Hyman:he's like, I'm adjusting it the way you told me to, it works great.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Is that the one where the reel normally gets like hourglass shaped.
Chris Hyman:yes, no, wait, no, no, this one will,
Trent Manning:opposite of that, where bigger in the middle and
Chris Hyman:yeah, yeah, and, and it's funny as the bed knife, the guy, I got just a flat piece of stock steel.
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:he goes, and you gribe a five degree positive because the bed knife is so far behind center. And it's, it's, I mean, it's way back and I'm just sitting there. My head is just blowing up on the bed knife grinder going this is, this better work. Cause this is an 80 piece of metal that if I screw this up, I I'm owning it, you know? And, uh, but yeah, no, we ground that real, we put it together and it was funny that I backlapped it in to match it cause it was really hard to, to get it. I had to weld a nut onto the sprocket to backlap it because there was nowhere to grab the reel because it was it was all chain driven,
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:know, from the engine to the drive to the reel.
Trent Manning:Yeah, yeah,
Chris Hyman:but it's the coolest thing. It's got these big handles way out wide and, you know, you could get a seat back in the day, you could get a seat with them. and ride Yeah, there's baskets and all this stuff and it's uh, I mean it's like great grandpa's mower type looking.
Trent Manning:Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. So you didn't have to push it. It was self propelled. Well, good stuff. You ready to do some rapid fire questions?
Chris Hyman:go ahead.
Trent Manning:What's your favorite movie?
Chris Hyman:Oh, I got two. I, I throw between them. Caddyshack. Just, it was like. The Holy Grail and Turf School. we watch we watch that every weekend. And before
Trent Manning:Cannonball coming. Cannonball.
Chris Hyman:Yeah, yeah, exactly. And then, uh, and, and, and the movie that really gets me, even though I own it, uh, is The Hunt for Red October.
Trent Manning:Oh yeah. That's a really good
Chris Hyman:That one, I'll, even if it's on television, I'll still watch it. Even though I over and grab the DVD, I'll sit through the commercials.
Trent Manning:Yeah.
Chris Hyman:But the hunt for Red October is probably, I probably put that number one over Caddyshack, but
Trent Manning:Mm. Hmm. Yeah. What would be your last meal?
Chris Hyman:Oh, I got it. I thought about this one and being that I moved around a lot, I was able to taste some meals around so, I would start out with a slice of pepperoni pizza from Tony's Pizzeria in Medford, New York.
Trent Manning:Okay.
Chris Hyman:They made their dough fresh every morning. They made their sauce every morning. It was like, basically like how Mama made it coming over from the boat.
Trent Manning:Mm hmm.
Chris Hyman:it was a, and they used boar heads meat.
Trent Manning:Okay.
Chris Hyman:best slice. And then I would go into, for my main course, would be the sliced steak gorgonzola sandwich that my wife makes.
Trent Manning:Oh, okay.
Chris Hyman:And she's a vegetarian.
Trent Manning:All right.
Chris Hyman:well, she eats chicken now, but into time and she made this, she goes, I hope it tastes good in it. And I don't know, she got some recipe and she that I like steak. And then I would finish it up with a slice of chocolate tiramisu tort. An Italian, uh, uh, was it the Italian expresso there? It's a mocha, mocha expresso from the Phillips European bakery here in Rochester, New York. It's an Italian bakery. And
Trent Manning:You've really put some thought
Chris Hyman:some thought into that one. If I was.
Trent Manning:it. I
Chris Hyman:I mean, that would be my meal. I told that to my wife and she goes, really? My steak gorgonzola sandwich? I'm like, that is good. She goes,
Trent Manning:No, that sounds awesome. You're
Chris Hyman:go, you got to make it again. You haven't made it in a couple of years. She goes, nah, that's all right.
Trent Manning:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah, I hope we can get you a steak sandwich out of the steel
Chris Hyman:Yeah, we'll see. We'll see.
Trent Manning:What are you most proud of besides your family and your six kids?
Chris Hyman:Yeah, that's a, that's tough to beat there.
Trent Manning:right, right.
Chris Hyman:probably I would say, I, I. Started out of my journey in life in, uh, I would say like in a sex, drugs and rock and roll type lifestyle. And I would, you know, I'm really proud of my faith of, uh, coming to Jesus and later in my life and getting baptized and really trying to walk that walk. That's, you know, that's an everyday walk and, uh, it's been a long journey and going from there. So that, that's, that's, you know, I didn't even think about that question until just now, like I had so many things in my head and that's, that's the one that kind of came up front right now.
Trent Manning:That's awesome though. That's awesome. Yeah. Very good stuff. Very good. Well, thank you so much, Chris, for being on this has been a blast as it always is. Thank the listeners for listening and thank you for being in the WhatsApp group. I noticed you've been participating in there and hopefully you're getting some stuff out of it. And I know you're helping some others
Chris Hyman:Yeah, I am. And that's a, that's such a welcoming group and, uh, and it's, it's kind of a who's, who's out there and, and it's kind of cool
Trent Manning:yet. Now there's a lot, a lot of good texts in there and that's what I love about it is everybody's there to help.
Chris Hyman:yeah,
Trent Manning:it doesn't matter if you're day one on the job and you have a one on one question. Nobody's going to beat you down because they've all been there too. And they didn't forget that they've been there too. of these
Chris Hyman:mean, that, and that's what I, that's what I like about it too. Like, you know, even like the guy today was like, Oh, I gotta, you know, change this tire and I'm like, Oh, I use the engine hoist at the one course. He goes, I don't have an engine noise. Well, I use my lift. This, I don't have a lift either. I'm like, all right, I'm out.
Trent Manning:Yeah, yeah, yeah. Throw the Jack under there.
Chris Hyman:Just put an old jacket with couple stans and there you go. But yeah, that is awesome and I, uh, that's, I like being a part about
Trent Manning:Oh yeah. Well, welcome to the RealTurfTex WhatsApp community. And anybody else that wants to join, just reach out to me. You can DM me on Twitter, send me an email at RealTurfTex at gmail. com. We'll see you next time. Thank you, Chris.
Chris Hyman:right. Thank you. You can get me out on Twitter as well. Oh
Trent Manning:Oh yeah. And your Twitter is
Chris Hyman:gosh. What is it? It's,
Trent Manning:I got it at C Heineman underscore G.
Chris Hyman:yeah, it's my middle initial. Yeah.
Trent Manning:Yeah, you go.
Chris Hyman:or you can email me at c. hyman9900 at gmail. com.
Trent Manning: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.