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Turfnet's Golden Wrench Named
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- Category: Industry
- Published: Tuesday, 03 May 2011 14:37
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“Look at his face. Is he pissed?” someone asked director of grounds Mark Fuller, CGCS.
“Yes; he’s upset,” was Fuller’s reply.
“He doesn’t like being the center of attention,” said Kilgallon’s wife, Kathi. “He’s very dedicated and serious, and he works hard. But he always says he doesn’t need anything extra for that.”
Regardless of his disdain for notoriety, Kilgallon 45, recently was given his moment in the sun when he was named winner of the Golden Wrench Award, symbolic of the technician of the year.
“I just try to do a good job each and every day,” Kilgallon said. “There are a lot of good guys out there, and I don’t feel like I’m a standout guy.
“I guess it was the way I was brought up.”
Most in attendance indeed consider that Kilgallon stands apart from other equipment techs. Attending the event were other members of the grounds crew, club president and a host of past green chairmen, all of whom recognized Kilgallon’s contributions toward course conditioning. “The job he does with the equipment allows these guys to keep our greens in pristine condition,” said club president Randy Johnson, who also was green chairman when Fuller hired Kilgallon from Westchester Country Club in 2001. “When other courses in this area are losing greens, we’re not.”
This year was the third straight in which Fuller nominated Kilgallon for the award. He was nominated for his diagnostic skills, preventive maintenance program, ability to fabricate parts, training skills and knack for keeping an aging fleet in top shape.
“It all starts with Jimmy,” Fuller said. “He makes me look good.”
Along with the Golden Wrench, Kilgallon also receives a weeklong training session at Toro’s Service Training University at the company’s headquarters in Bloomington, Minn., where he will receive intensive instruction about hydraulics and electronics and see new product technology being tested.
"Equipment managers are the people who actually have to work with our equipment," said Dave Dynowski, district sales manager for Toro's commercial products division. "As technology changes and improves, we are committed to helping them further their knowledge and their careers."
The award is presented annually to a golf course equipment manager who exhibits exceptional aptitude in a combination of the following criteria: crisis management, effective budgeting, inventory and cost control, dependability of rolling stock, overall condition of equipment, helping further the education and careers of colleagues and coworkers, shop safety and work ethic. Kilgallon was selected by a panel of judges from a field of three finalists that included Pedro Briseno of Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club and Allen Williams of The Homestead and Fox Hollow golf courses in Lakewood, Colo. “
Kilgallon also was singled out for his ability to manage a Spartan budget. That included rebuilding an old grinder that was due to be replaced. He has the old machine in such good condition that Fuller no longer can justify replacing it.
He has done the same with countless other pieces of equipment throughout the shop.
“We can’t get new all the time. He’s very good at keeping older machines in great condition, and we have a lot of equipment that is well beyond its normal life cycle,” Johnson said. “We’re a small men’s club, and we run lean. He’s a key component of that formula.”
For Kilgallon it’s all just another day at the office.
“If we don’t do the job right in here, then they can’t do it right out there,” Kilgallon said. “The equipment that goes out reflects on me and it reflects on Mark.”
Previous winners include Herb Berg, Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club (2010); Doug Johnson, TPC at Las Colinas, Irving, Texas (2009); Jim Stuart, Stone Mountain (Ga.) Golf Club (2007); Fred Peck, Fox Hollow and The Homestead, Lakewood, Colo. (2006); Jesus Olivas, Heritage Highlands at Dove Mountain, Marana, Ariz. (2005); Henry Heinz, Kalamazoo (Mich.) Country Club (2004); Eric Kulaas, Marriott Vinoy Renaissance Resort, St. Petersburg, Fla. (2003). No award was given in 2008.