Instagram

Monday, December 14, 2015

Richmond Irrigation Service School

Well even though Christmas is just over a week away, it's been feeling a little more like Christmas in July with the weather we've been having. I'm sure many of you are ready to shut it down for the year, but I know everyone is happy to see the extra rounds being played this time of year.

I just wanted to go ahead & get the date on everyone's calendar for our Irrigation Service School that we will be hosting in Richmond on February 17 (Wednesday). Brandon Proctor will be leading the class, & it will be a great opportunity for hands-on troubleshooting practice. We had a full class of almost 50 last year, & I hope we can get the same turnout again this year. As soon as we have more information & fliers going out I will be sure to let everyone know, but I wanted to go ahead & get the date on your calendar.

        

I hope all of you have a great Christmas & a Happy New Year! I look forward to hitting the ground running in January, so please let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

Monday, November 30, 2015

Irrigation Early Order

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving & got to spend some time with your families. Today I will be starting an Early Order Irrigation Program to give you a discounted option to stock up on sprinklers, parts, & TDR's that you would probably purchase throughout the year anyway. I know many of you take advantage of Early Order programs with your chemicals for the year, so I wanted to offer a similar deal. This will be available for the months of December (2015) & January (2016).
Please contact me (phone, text or email) to order anything from this list. Have a great week & let me know if I can help!

Monday, November 16, 2015

Carolinas Show

I will be heading down to Myrtle Beach this week for the Carolinas GCSA Trade Show. I know many of you travel down from VA to this show, so if you will be at the show please come by the STI booth. We will have Lynx demos set up, along with Turf Guard, Infinity sprinklers, & plenty of new Toro equipment. Travel safe & I look forward to seeing you down there!

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Lynx Mobile Apps

Today is the official start of our new fiscal year, & we're starting off with some exciting news...Lynx Mobile Apps are now available. There has been a lot of talk and anticipation for the release of these apps, and you can now download & purchase plans through NSN. Here is all the info on a release from Toro:

If you have questions on how these apps will work with your Lynx system or need help signing up with NSN, let me know & I'll be happy to help. I know many of you have been waiting on these apps for a while now & I know that these apps will only help to make your Lynx Central Control even better than it already is.

Have a great week & let me know how I can help!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Thank You!

The end of our fiscal year is this coming Saturday, October 31. As we come to the end of my first full year at STI, I just want to take a minute to say Thank You For Your Business! I have enjoyed working with all of you & look forward to many more. This has been a great year & hopefully we can make this next one even better. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know! Thanks!

Monday, October 12, 2015

Toro Marketing Programs Ending

Hopefully everyone is cleaned up from the rain & storms from the past few weeks. We got pretty lucky here in VA compared to what the early projections were, and compared to what the people of SC are dealing with. Everything is starting to slow down for the year & we might even have our first frost in the near future based on upcoming forecasts. Today I just want to remind everyone of the deadlines for Toro's Marketing Programs for the year.

These deadlines have already been extended a few times this year, but since our fiscal year ends at the end of October, this will be the final deadline of the year. There is always the hope that some of these marketing programs will be run again next year, but there are never guarantees. The deadline to take advantage of these programs is Friday, October 16. Here are a list of the programs still available through the end of this week:


  • Radio Interface (RIU) Program: Special list price for OSMAC users who upgrade their base station to the new RIU **This is the best deal by far & I doubt it will be available next year**
  • Control System Upgrade Program (Full Satellites): Buy 10 Satellites, Get 1 Free
  • Control System Upgrade Program (LTC+ to VP): Buy 2 Satellite Upgrade Kits, Get 1 Free
  • TouchNet Upgrade Program: Upgrade to Lynx for 50% off list price
  • TurfGuard Program: Buy 2 Sensors, Get 1 Free
  • Interest Free Financing Programs: 36 Month Interest Free Financing on Toro Golf Irrigation Products
If you have any questions or would like to take advantage of any of these great deals, please contact me. Have a great week & let me know if I can help!

Monday, September 14, 2015

Golf Course Irrigation Auditor Class & Exam

Fall is very near! Football has started, aerification is either in the rearview mirror or coming up shortly, and the mornings are getting chilly. I hope that all of you made it through the summer & I know everyone is ready for things to slow down.

Today I want to invite anyone interested to attend the Golf Course Irrigation Auditor Class & Exam on October 13 & 14 at Salisbury CC in Midlothian, VA. STI worked with the Irrigation Association to bring this educational session to Richmond to provide a local opportunity for individuals to become certified as a golf course irrigation auditor (CGIA). Increasing the number of CGIA's in the area will help promote a greater understanding of water management & conservation.

Information on the class can be found HERE, and you can register for the class & the exam (must sign up separately for each) on the IA's website. Registration deadline for the class is September 29, so sign up early to reserve your spot. STI will have several guys attending (including me) & we hope that many of you take advantage of this opportunity as well.

If you have any questions, please let me know & I'll be happy to help. Have a great week & I hope to see everyone soon!

Monday, August 10, 2015

NSN - Lynx & SitePro Classes

I want to remind everyone about the Lynx & SitePro classes from NSN that we will be hosting in Richmond this fall. We will have the Intermediate SitePro class November 3-4 & the Lynx Level 1 class November 5-6. Spaces are limited for each class so please sign up soon! Many of you have been asking for these classes to be hosted in Richmond (particularly the Lynx class) & we expect full classes for both two-day sessions. If any of you have questions as to whether you have prepaid tuitions from your NSN plans, please let me know & I will check for you.

 Have a great week & let me know if I can help in any way!

Monday, July 20, 2015

Tying the Knot

I know many of you will be doing anything you can to catch some of the final round of the British Open this Monday, and trust me I will too. This week will be a short one for me, as I am getting married this weekend. I will be off this Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, August 2 for the wedding & honeymoon. Obviously, I'll be trying to wrap up everything I can early this week before I take off. So if you know there's anything you need from me, please let me know early this week. While I'm gone, you can contact Mark Rodriguez at (804) 382-9470 and Todd Armstrong at (704) 512-9134 or our customer service desk at (804) 355-6404

I hope all of you have a great couple weeks and I will see you when I get back!

Monday, July 6, 2015

Toro Marketing Programs: Deadline Extensions

I spent last week volunteering at The Greenbrier Classic, & had a great experience getting the course ready for the tournament. Kelly Shumate, Josh Pope, & the whole staff had the course in great shape & put on a great event with the PGA.


I wanted to let everyone know that Toro has extended the deadline for several of their Marketing Programs through July 24, 2015. The most notable is the TurfGuard Program, offering the Buy 2 Sensors Get 1 Free. Many of you took advantage of TurfGuard Starter Kit this spring, & this is a great way to continue to build your TurfGuard system. Adding more sensors will allow you a larger sample size, whether you add them to more greens or possibly extend your system to cover fairways & tees. The more data you can collect & monitor, the better decisions you can make with your irrigation & your entire agronomic plan.

The other programs that have been extended from their original deadline are:
  • Radio Interface Unit (RIU) Program - OSMAC users only
    • Upgrade to the new RIU-02 for $4,445 (normally $10,200)
    • Also get discounts on Lynx upgrades
  • Control System Upgrade Program
    • Buy 10 Satellites Get 1 Free
  • Network LTC + to Network VP Satellite Upgrade Kits
    • Buy 2 Satellite Upgrade Kits Get 1 Free
  • TouchNet Upgrade Program
    • Upgrade to Lynx or SitePro for 50% off list price
I hope everyone has a great week & let me know if there's anything I can help with!

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Greenbrier Classic

It's not quite July yet and we've already had summer weather for the last several weeks. Hot & dry then getting some severe storms. I hope everyone is making it through without too many issues so far & ready for whatever the rest of summer has in store.

I'll be at The Greenbrier volunteering on the maintenance staff this week for the PGA event. I always enjoy working tournaments & I'm looking forward to working this one for the first time. Their Toro irrigation has helped them keep this place dialed in & looking great going into the week. I may be tough to get ahold of this week but if you leave a message, text, or email I'll get back to you as soon as I can. 

Have a great week & a great 4th of July weekend!

Monday, June 8, 2015

It's Hand-watering Season...

After not having any rain for the month of May, we all got our fill this past week. I know many of you went from chasing wilt to just hoping to see a glimpse of sunshine. Regardless of how last week went, it is hand-watering season & I want to make sure everyone is aware of the hose options we can offer at STI.

A lot of you probably already have your hoses & nozzles for the season, and many have gotten them from me. The hoses I'm promoting this year are from Kochek & Underhill. The most popular ones from what I've seen so far this year have been the Kochek GH Series Hose & the new UltraMax Blue Hose from Underhill. Both models are available in 3/4" or 1" at standard 50', 75', or 100' lengths as well as being available in custom lengths or bulk rolls.

Along with the GH Series, Kochek also offers the Dura Flow & the Ultralite High Pressure Hoses. All of you have varying wants & needs when it comes to hand-watering, & I'm happy to say that we can fill just about any of those wants & needs. We also carry a wide range of nozzles from Kochek & Underhill. I have demo kits for both, so just let me know if you'd like to get your hands on them or try them out for yourself.

I am on my way to Keswick for the 2015 NGCOA Mid-Atlantic - VGCSA - CMAA VA Joint Event. I hope to see many of you there & as always, let me know if I can do anything to help!

Monday, June 1, 2015

Help Us Celebrate 90 Years!

Well we officially went straight from winter to summer with only a few days of spring in between. April was cool & wet while May was hot & dry dry dry. I'm sure everybody is in full 'go-mode' at this point & running irrigation daily & nightly with plenty of hand-watering mixed in. I will go through several of our hose options next week for any of you who are still looking for hand-watering tools.

This week, STI invites you to join us in celebrating our 90th year. Tuesday, June 2 through Friday, June 5, we will be having customer appreciation events at each of our branches. We will be having amazing in-store specials all week long, factory representatives, & demos so be sure to stop by our nearest branch to check it out! You can find the entire schedule of events here: Help Us Celebrate Turning 90!

I plan to be at several of our Virginia branches this week, so I hope to see many of you there! In the meantime, give me a call if there's anything I can help with. Have a great week!

Monday, May 11, 2015

Pipe, Wire, Fittings, & Drainage

We're finally seeing some warm weather & I'm sure many of you saw growth & green-up in the past week. I want to thank everyone who came out to Two Rivers Country Club for the Tollie Quinn Tournament last week. We had a great turnout & I think everyone had a great time. Thanks to Brent Graham & his crew for having the course in fantastic shape.

This week I just want to remind everyone that STI is not only your source for Toro products & parts, but also for all your pipe, wire, fittings, & drainage needs. Whether it is day-to-day repair jobs or for a project going on at the course, keep us in mind next time you have a need for any of these products. For pipe orders, we provide FREE DELIVERY on our trucks. For smaller orders, we can usually get your fittings to you in a day or two, or you can just come pick it up at one of our locations. While our Richmond location carries all of our products, you can also go to one of our stores in Chesapeake, Yorktown, or Chesterfield for pipe, wire, fittings, & drainage.

We can also help out with any of your landscape projects or lighting needs. We want to be your source for all your golf course's needs! We appreciate your business & look forward to helping you in any way we can. Have a great week!

Monday, May 4, 2015

Tollie Quinn Tournament

This Monday, May 4th, STI will be helping to host the ODGCSA Tollie Quinn Tournament at Two Rivers Country Club. We're hoping for a great turnout for the tournament & the weather looks great. We will be having several contests in addition to the Two-Man Best Ball Tournament. I will be at the Infinity Challenge located near the putting green, so come by & see if you can change out a solenoid quicker than any of your peers. Almost everyone was able to change the solenoid out in less than a minute last year, so come give it a shot. You won't even have to worry about getting your pants dirty since there's no digging necessary!

I hope to see a lot of you at Two Rivers & I hope that all of you have a good week. We might even see some bermuda start growing this week! Let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

Monday, April 27, 2015

Toro Sprinkler Market Programs

After the rain we had the last week or so, I'm sure the last thing most of you are worried about is your irrigation. So, nothing deep & no information overload this week. I just want to remind everyone that Toro Golf Sprinklers (Infinity & Flex Series) are Buy 3 Get 1 Free. Conversion Assemblies (guts, drives, risers...whatever you want to call them) are Buy 4 Get 1 Free. I know this is the time of year where you're having to replace sprinklers that have gone bad or just getting a few extra on the shelves, so keep these deals in mind as you decide how many to order.

I also want to remind everyone that you can follow me on Twitter (@MPoundSTI) or Instagram (@mpoundsti). You can also follow STI on Twitter (@smithturf) or Instagram (@smithturf). We're always looking for cool pictures & videos of guys working on their courses.

Have a great week & let me know if I can help!

Monday, April 20, 2015

New Valve Insertion Tool for Infinity Sprinklers

I hope everyone is doing well & getting back into the groove at this point. This week I just want to remind/make everyone aware of the new valve insertion tool for Toro golf sprinklers. For those of you with Infinity sprinklers, you will need this tool, available in 1" or 1.5". The old tool will not work on the Infinity sprinklers, but the new tool will work on your older sprinkler models.



These new tools are cheaper ($19.) and easier (in my opinion). You simply place the snap ring & valve on the tool, line up the tube using the notches, and push down until you hear it 'click'. Then flip the lever up & lift the tool out.



Hopefully you won't have to worry about changing out foot valves on any of your new Infinity heads yet, but it's still a good idea to have a few of these on hand. Since they are backwards compatible, you can keep one in your cart to use on any of your Toro sprinklers, not just Infinity. If you need a few for your golf course,  please let me know & I will get them ordered for you.

Have a great week & let me know if I can help!

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Pump Stations

I hope everyone had a Happy Easter & hopefully got to spend some time with family. We're starting to see buds on the trees & some color in the bermudagrass, so spring is definitely here. This week I just want to briefly touch on pump stations & the new technologies available. I will be traveling with Mike Bartley of Flowtronex on Monday & Tuesday of this week, and will be visiting several of you that I know are in the market for new pumps. If you would be interested in having us stop by your course, give me a call & we will try to fit you in our schedule. While I will be traveling with Mike this week, I do want to make sure everyone knows that STI can work with any pump manufacturer (Flowtronex, Watertronics, MCI) to get you a new pump station or an upgrade for your current station.

The pump station is the heart of your irrigation system, so it is important to make sure your pumps are capable of doing what you need them to in regards to pressure & GPM. You can have 1000 sprinklers & the best control system, but if your pumps (and pipe sizes) don't allow you to run more than a couple heads at a time, you won't be able to take advantage of that great system & shorten your water window to be as efficient as possible.

The technologies in pump stations have also come a long way. For those of you still using constant speed or hydraulic (Cla-valve) pump stations, a VFD (variable frequency drive) pump station uses 20-24% less energy. That's a lot of savings on your electric bill! VFD also reduces water hammer by slowly ramping up instead of all at once. This will help your piping system last much longer. VFD's also have the benefit of being able to Auto-Restart, such as when power to the station is interrupted. This would allow the system to start at the current line pressure & then slowly ramp the system back up to operating pressure automatically. In addition to all the features listed above, there is simply less maintenance involved with a VFD compared to a hydraulic station. VFD's do not require control valves & have fewer mechanical parts that require servicing.

Another important benefit of newer pump stations is the technology to get you more data & information. The PLC of a pump station can provide flow totals, motor hours, fault history, & more. The PLC can also be interfaced with your central control systems to give you all this information in the same place as your irrigation controls. With the technology available now (with Lynx or independently), you can monitor or even control your pumps remotely.

If you're thinking about upgrading your irrigation system, take a hard look at your pumps to make sure they can deliver the results you're looking for. Have a great week & let me know if I can help in any way!
 

Monday, March 30, 2015

Turf Guard Sensors "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" Ends April 30

It looks like we've got a great week of weather ahead of us, so hopefully everybody can catch up on projects that have been pushed back. This week I just want to give everyone the heads-up that some of Toro's Marketing Programs are coming to an end. The one that will affect the most courses is the "Buy 2 Sensors Get 1 Free" program for Toro's Turf Guard Soil Monitoring System. I have previously discussed the benefits of Turf Guard & how it will help you make better decisions when it comes to your irrigation, which will ultimately help you save water.

Many of you are taking advantage of the Turf Guard Starter Kit or already have Turf Guard set up at your course. This program is a great opportunity to expand your system to get more data from more areas & make even more educated decisions with your irrigation. In addition to soil moisture, you will also be able to track soil temperature & salinity. All the data & trends recorded from these sensors will not only help you make better decisions with your irrigation, but will also help you with your entire agronomic plan. The more information we can gather, the better decisions we can make.

On another note, I will be drawing for the 32" LED TV out of all my current Lynx customers on Wednesday, April 1. Since I announced the drawing last month, 4 more courses have switched over to Lynx. I've talked with a lot of you about upgrading to Lynx, so I hope the trend continues. I think any of the superintendents operating their irrigation on Lynx will tell you how much they like it & how it allows them to be more efficient.

I hope everyone has a great week & let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Free Shipping w/ a Case of Infinity Heads *THIS WEEK ONLY*

March Madness is underway, most of our brackets are already busted, & spring is officially here, even if the weather will keep playing games with us for another month or so. I know this means aerification, fertilizer, pre-emergent, & firing up irrigation systems. Some of you may have already been through all of this & some may be holding off a little while longer. Either way, it is time to stock up your inventory of sprinklers & irrigation parts.

This week only (March 23-27), I am offering Free Shipping for anyone ordering at least one full case of Infinity sprinkler heads. In order to take advantage of this offer, you must call or email your order to me (not customer service) and mention that you heard about the deal on the blog. As a reminder, all Infinity models are eligible for Buy 3 Sprinklers, Get 1 Free. It's also important to remember that the Infinity sprinklers come in ACME threaded inlets only (1" & 1.5"). For more info on the Infinity, visit www.toroinfinity.com.

Also remember that we are hosting our Irrigation Renovation Seminar in Richmond this Wednesday, March 25 from 9:30-1:00. I hope to see several of you there & I invite you to bring someone with you. Have a great week & let me know if I can help you in any way!

Monday, March 16, 2015

PondHawk Solar-Powered Pond Aeration

I hope everyone is drying out & enjoying these warmer temperatures. I know some of you are getting your aerification started & probably firing up your irrigation systems. Be sure to keep me in your speed dials as you fix all your problem areas & leaks that will come up as you begin using your systems again.

This week I just want to let everyone know that Smith Turf & Irrigation will be your contact & distributor for PondHawk Solar-Powered Pond Aeration Systems. Aeration is a very important part of pond health, & also keeps the ponds on your golf courses looking clean & beautiful. The PondHawk system uses subsurface diffused aeration to keep your ponds healthy & helps control algae without chemical treatments. By using solar energy, these aeration systems can be installed anywhere on your course without the need to run wires to an electrical source, making them ideal for ponds in remote areas of your golf course. They also have minimal operating & maintenance costs and are designed to operate year-round, even in cloudy conditions!


You all may have seen PondHawk at different events over the past year, such as the VGCSA Joe Saylor Tournament at The Federal Club, the VTC Trade Show in Fredericksburg, & the GIS in San Antonio. A few courses in the area have already installed PondHawk aeration systems on their courses, including Hermitage Country Club & The Federal Club, both in the Richmond area. If you would like to find out more about PondHawk & how it can benefit your golf course, visit their website or give me a call.



Have a great week & let me know if I can help you in any way!

Monday, March 9, 2015

NSN Lynx & SitePro Classes

Hopefully we've seen the last of the snow & warmer temperatures are on the way! I will be sending out this information to everyone by email as well, but I want to go ahead & let everyone know about the NSN classes we will be hosting in Richmond later this year. We will have a SitePro Intermediate class November 3 & 4, and a Lynx Level 1 class November 5 & 6. I know this is a long way off & everyone is more worried about the upcoming season, but we have to schedule these classes well in advance. I have gotten a lot of requests to have these classes in Richmond, so I hope we can fill both classes. Each class will hold a max of 16 people, so reserve your spot early. Cost for the 2-day class is $595 per person (not per golf course), unless you have credits available from NSN. The credits are based on what NSN contract you currently have & you can contact me to find out if your course has available credits.
 
Everyone that has been to these classes in the past will agree that they are very beneficial, even for those that have a decent grasp of their system. There are always new tips you can pick up that can help you be more efficient. Look for the email with sign-up information that I will be sending out. I hope you all will jump on this opportunity! Let me know if there's anything I can do to help!

 

Monday, March 2, 2015

Golf Course Irrigation Renovation

First, it was great seeing several of you down in San Antonio for the GIS last week. I know the week was very beneficial for me & I hope that everyone that went felt the same way. It was a great week (minus the weather & flight issues), but I'm glad to be back in VA.

This week I wanted to let everyone know that we are going to be hosting a Golf Course Renovation Seminar on Wednesday, March 25 at our Richmond STI location. Our goal is to focus on how the latest irrigation technologies can help maximize your Return On Irrigation Investment. Advances in control systems, sprinklers, & pump stations can help manage resources more effectively & efficiently, and in turn save you money. The article below from the American Society of Golf Course Architects goes more in depth on how to approach an Irrigation System Renovation:

Making Your Case For An Irrigation Renovation, by Kenne James, Senior Marketing Manager, Golf Irrigation International Business, The Toro Company

Everything on the golf course has a finite life span, & you need to plan ahead to renovate or upgrade. The ASGCA also compiled this list of Expected Life Cycles for Golf Course Items:
For our seminar, we will be touching on all facets of an irrigation system renovation, including central control systems, sprinklers, pump stations, pond health, & financing. If you feel like this seminar would be beneficial for your golf course, I encourage you to attend & to bring your owner, general manager, or board members with you. For more information or to sign up, contact me at (804) 382-9551 or matt.pound@smithturf.com.

Monday, February 23, 2015

GIS in San Antonio

I think I speak for everyone when I say I'm tired of the snow! Winter really hit VA hard this week, which I'm sure is keeping everyone from getting much done on the golf course. Well, for those headed to San Antonio this week for the GIS, hopefully we're going to get some warmer temperatures & get a break from the snow.

I will be attending the show & helping to man the Toro booth on Wednesday & Thursday. I encourage all the guys in my territory attending to set up a time to come by the Toro booth & meet with me. I would love to show any of you demos on Lynx, with the upcoming Version 4.0 & Mobile Apps being shown at the GIS. I wrote on Lynx last week, & this would be a great opportunity to come by & see it firsthand. While you're there, be sure to check out the rest of the Toro Irrigation Products & anything new that may be coming out soon!

In addition to the Toro products, make a point to go by the booths of some of our allied vendors such as Spectrum, Kochek, Flowtronex, Watertronics, Otterbine, & PondHawk. Many will have new products they are releasing & it's always good to see what these companies have coming out.

This will be my first time attending the GIS & my first time in San Antonio, so I'm definitely looking forward to everything. I hope to see all of you that are attending at some point during the week. Safe travels!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Toro Lynx Central Control

I hope everyone enjoyed the nice weather while it lasted as it looks like winter may hit hard this week. I want to first thank everyone who attended the Golf Irrigation Service School in Richmond last week. We had a great turnout of over 40 guys & I hope everyone found the day to be beneficial.

Last week I posted that I will be giving away a 32" LED TV screen to one of our Lynx customers to allow them to view the map on a separate screen from the Lynx controls. This week, I want to briefly touch on some of the features & benefits in Lynx.

One of the first things you will notice when looking at Lynx is that everything is presented in a very user-friendly way where you can quickly see what is & isn't going to water, how long you watered last time, and how long you are going to water this time. It is also very simple to move between screens to different reports or functions, especially when you set them up in your 'Favorites' tab.



My personal favorite feature in Lynx is that it allows you to water in inches (precipitation rate) as opposed to minutes. In the past when watering based on minutes, you could be getting a wide range of actual amounts being applied based on arc, type of head, nozzle, etc. Now with Lynx, once you have set up all your sprinklers in the system, you can put out the exact amount of water you want & every head will run a different length of time to get that amount. This feature will obviously lead to water savings, but more importantly, you will be getting the amount you want where you want based on the needs of your golf course.


Another of the features that many guys are high on is the 'Instant Program.' Now, building a program is as easy as giving the program a name, picking the stations you want in the program either from the list or from the map, and saving it. The program will then show up on your 'Watering Plan' with the rest of your programs. You can also build 'Sequential Programs' if you want to dictate the order that stations in a program turn on.

Lynx also gives you the ability to make adjustments or manually water from your mobile devices. Whether from your phone or tablet, Mobile Lynx can be used in the field or remotely to control your irrigation. No more driving back to the golf course at 10 PM to shut off the irrigation because a late night storm popped up!

Lynx will help you to be more efficient with you water usage, shorten your water window & reduce your electricity consumption, and also be more efficient with your time. Go to www.Toro.com/Lynx to learn even more about the features & benefits of Lynx Central Control.

There are also plenty of videos on YouTube that I encourage you to check out that go in depth on the features as well as testimonials from Lynx customers:
There are far too many features to Lynx than I can go over in one blog post, and as with anything, it's better to actually see it for yourself. I would love to come to your course & give you a demo to let you see how Lynx can benefit your irrigation program. Have a great week & stay warm!

Monday, February 9, 2015

TV Giveaway for All Lynx Users

I don't know about y'all, but I wouldn't be upset if the rest of our February weekends were like this one (not holding my breath though). Hopefully everybody had a good amount of play at your courses & got to enjoy the spring-feeling weather.

This week I want to let everyone know that I am going to be giving away a 32" LED TV to one of our Lynx users in the spring. All current Lynx users will be eligible, as well as all courses that upgrade to Lynx by March 31st. We will do the drawing for the TV on April 1 (I promise not to involve any April Fools Day jokes).
 
Lynx has the option to 'Float the Map' which allows you to view the map in a separate window. If you have two monitors set up, you can keep your Lynx databases & controls open on one screen & then have your map up on the second screen (the benefit of this TV giveaway). Whether you use this feature to turn on stations in manual irrigation or if you simply use it as a map to show your crew where you want them to go, the ability to float the map to a separate monitor is a very beneficial feature.

I have discussed the features & benefits of upgrading from SitePro to Lynx with many of you already, especially those of you eligible for just the Lynx Software upgrade. I will continue to discuss & demo Lynx for those of you interested, & I will also have a full post on Lynx & its features next week. If you are interested in learning more about Lynx or having me come to show you how everything works, please let me know. And be sure to check back next week for my full post on Lynx!
 
I'm also looking forward to seeing many of you this week at our Golf Irrigation Service School on Wednesday at our Richmond location. We reached our full capacity & had to cut off registrations last week, so thanks to everyone who signed up! It's exciting to see that much interest & participation & we appreciate your attendance!



Monday, February 2, 2015

Warehouse Clean-Out Sale

I would like to start off by thanking everyone who came by the STI booth at the VTC Trade Show last week. It was a great turnout & I enjoyed talking with all of you that came by.

 
As for the Warehouse Clean-Out Sale, there are a number of products that we have in stock in Richmond that are either obsolete or that we have an excess of. The beneficiary of our overstock you, the customer, as I will be selling these items at discounted prices. All of these items are still new in the box, but have been discontinued by the manufacturers or just need to be off our shelves. Quantities on some are very limited, so act quickly! In order to get these items at the listed discount price, you will need to call or email me (not customer service). My cell number is (804) 382-9551 & my email is matt.pound@smithturf.com.  
 

I hope that some of you will be able to find some products that will be beneficial to you, especially as we get ready to start the new season (Spring is right around the corner!). Have a great week & please let me know if I can help in any way. Thanks for your business!

Monday, January 26, 2015

VTC Conference & Trade Show

This week we will be heading to the VTC Conference & Trade Show in Fredericksburg. The trade show will be Tuesday & Wednesday and, as always, Smith Turf & Irrigation will be well represented on the floor. Be sure to come by & see us to check out all the latest in Toro Irrigation, as well as some of our other allied product lines. We will have a computer set up with a Lynx demo that I encourage all of you to come check out. For those of you who have not used it yet, it will be a great opportunity for you to get a chance to work with it on your own & see all the features. We will also have a Turf Guard demo set up for you to see all the different data you can have access to with SiteVision after installing Turf Guard sensors on your golf course. In addition to our demos, we will have all our golf sprinkler models, along with E-OSMAC & Network VP Satellites.

The STI booth will also be your stop to see all of the newest developments & technology for Toro equipment. We will have several machines set up & our guys will be happy to answer any questions you might have. While you're there, make sure to check out all of our landscaping products, especially our landscape lighting, that STI can be your #1 source for.

We're hoping for a great turnout this year, and I hope to see all of you at the trade show! I will also be attending the VGCSA Annual Meeting on Tuesday evening, so I hope to see all of you there as well. As a quick reminder, you can subscribe to this blog & receive the posts in email form by simply filling out your email address in the "Follow by Email" section. I appreciate all of your business & look forward to continuing to work with all of you. Safe travels & see you this week!



Monday, January 19, 2015

STI & Kochek

The STI sales team spent last week in Charlotte going through some of the new product lines that we are taking on. One of those product groups I am excited to tell you about today is the Kochek line of hoses, nozzles, & fittings. I know that hoses are one of the most important tools to have on a golf course, & we feel that we can now offer the best & most reliable products in the market.

I know some of you may already be using Kochek products & know the quality they offer. I personally used several Kochek hoses & nozzles while working on the golf course, which makes me even more comfortable in offering these products to my customers. While best known for their high quality & durable hoses, Kochek also supplies many different nozzles & hose taps to fit your exact needs. CHECK OUT ALL THEIR IRRIGATION PRODUCTS ON THEIR WEBSITE & be sure to contact me when you're getting ready to make your hose order going into the new season.

I also want to invite all of you to take a quick look at our 2015 STI Product & Resource Guide. As we celebrate our 90th year, we hope that you will continue to look to Smith Turf & Irrigation as your resource not only for golf irrigation products, but for all your turf maintenance & landscape products.

2015 STI Product & Resource Guide

Monday, January 12, 2015

Winter Inventory & Organization

I don't want to discuss anything too in depth this week, so I'm just going to quickly remind everyone that during all this nasty winter weather is the perfect time to organize & take inventory of your irrigation parts. I know how an irrigation shelf/corner/room can look after a long summer, so take the time to figure out what you have before we get back to full speed this spring. It is always a good idea to have some spare parts on the shelf so that you're prepared if & when you need them. We all know how hectic things can get during the season, & nobody wants to have to wait to fix a problem. It's a good idea to have a few extra of the following at all times:
  • Complete Sprinklers
  • Conversion/Drive Assemblies
  • Solenoids
  • Pilot Valves
  • Foot Valves
  • Flag Keys (I know how they always seem to disappear)
  • Repair Couplers
  • DBR/Y Kits
  • Swing Joints
  • Various Satellite Components (8-Station Cards, etc.)
    • I will touch on this more in the spring, but I want to remind all of you that the Board Exchange Program requires that you send your faulty parts in, & then Toro will send us a repaired/refurbished part to replace it. The whole process can take a few weeks, but it allows you to order your satellite components much cheaper than the cost of new ones. If you have some spare parts ready, you can easily use those as immediate replacements & then send off the ones in need of repair. When you get your repaired board back after a few weeks, put it on the shelf as your next replacement. This keeps you from ever having to be without satellite control, but also keeps you from having to continuously buy new satellite parts in order to have them the next day.
I appreciate all of your business & please let me know any way that I can help get you ready for the upcoming season. Warm weather will be here before we know it!

Monday, January 5, 2015

Turf Guard Soil Monitoring System

Well it's time to get back in a routine again now that the holiday season is over. This week I want to talk about Toro's Turf Guard Soil Monitoring Sensors. The Turf Guard sensors instantly & continuously track soil moisture, temperature, & salinity. All of the data is available to you on SiteVision, which you can access anywhere you have internet.

Installation of Turf Guard is a quick, simple process. The sensors can be installed simply by taking a cup cutter & removing a plug before dropping the sensors in & filling in the soil around them. The sensors sit 2" below the surface & have two levels of sensors (2" & 6" depth) to give you data at an upper & lower range. Along with the sensors, we will install a base station either in your shop or clubhouse (anywhere with an internet connection) & a repeater(s) in or on your irrigation control boxes. These sensors & repeaters can be installed on any type of irrigation system, regardless of whether you have Toro controllers or not. With SiteVision, not only will you be able to monitor current conditions, but you will also have the ability to track & study trends daily, weekly, or for any specific range of dates.

The best part of the Turf Guard Soil Monitoring System is that each person will find a different aspect that they find most useful. Some may find the greatest benefit from tracking soil moisture to prevent the turf from becoming too wet or dry. Others may prefer it to track soil temperature, so that they know exactly when they should apply pre-emergents, fungicides, or pesticides. Some of you on the coast may even benefit most from the salinity data to know when a full flush is needed. No matter which feature you find most beneficial, Turf Guard is a great tool to help you maintain your golf course & use resources most effectively.


I have already discussed Turf Guard with many of you & I am seeing a lot of interest of guys wanting to install these in the upcoming months. With the Turf Guard Starter Kit that Toro is offering, this is a great opportunity to install 3 sensors & see how Turf Guard can benefit you. For more details on this deal or to set up an installation, please give me a call!

I hope everyone has a great week & as always, thank you for your business!