TETAC member spotlight- Know your HCC Equipment Technician!

Our Equipment Tech, the man who keeps us up and running is being featured in the TETAC (Turfgrass Equipment Technicians Association of the Carolinas) newsletter.  If you don't know Paul, he is a tremendous asset to the club and one you need to stop by and meet.  Caring for over $1 million worth of mowing equipment, with reels and blades that need sharpened daily, is no easy task.  Once again, we are blessed to be able to retain such talent at HCC.  Furthermore, I am honored to consider Paul a great friend, not just my coworker.  I often times bounce ideas off of him because next to my Mom and Dad, I never could ask or a better sounding board.  Not only a damn fine mechanic, he serves part time as my psychologist.  We are blessed with one of the rarest super-mechanic relationships in the business.  Enjoy getting to know Paul!

TETAC Tech Spotlight Winter 2016

The purpose of the tech spotlight is to let us get to know a little more about some of our members that we may recognize but not know much about them as a person. This first edition of the Tech Spotlight will shine upon one of our members from the mountains of North Carolina.

Paul Dalton is the equipment manager at Highlands CC located in Highlands, NC and was our Turf Tech of the Year in 2012. Paul was born and raised in the NC Mountains where he currently lives as a true native.  He attended Catawba Community College located in Hickory, NC where he received his Associates Degree in Turfgrass Management in 1996. This is not where he ended up, but his turf education has a special place in our jobs, particularly in the current market of equipment managers.

One of his first jobs out of college was the Assistant Superintendent at Trillium GC in Cashiers, NC. Paul took this job during the construction of the golf course and grow-in, which is also where he began his start in the technician side of his career.  Bill Ledford, with Jacobsen, was instrumental in getting Paul established as a technician and he is appreciative of people like Bill in the business. This part of the job came pretty naturally since he enjoyed building and racing motorcycles. His turf degree benefitted work on the golf course and helped out when equipment problems arose. Paul had the skills to operate heavy equipment when needed as well. He said that after the course grow-in, and all that comes with it, the turf side was not what he wanted to do.  This is when Paul decided on a career path change.  Bo Alexander hired Paul at his next job, where he was the equipment manager at Wade Hampton GC, a Tom Fazio design that has steadily been ranked by Golf Digest as a top 100 course. During the five years Paul was at Wade Hampton, they were ranked 18^th and when he left, they were ranked 15^th. This was a great accomplishment, we all know that it takes a team but we also know that it took equipment that was in top shape to make it all happen. It was great to be a part of that team.

In 2004, Paul felt a career move was smart and he left for Highlands CC, where he has been employed for the last 12 years.  Paul says that he really enjoys working there and has a good Superintendent, Brian Stiehler, that communicates well with him. This is a wonderful thing when your boss has a respect for what you do, and respects your time enough to talk with you and let you in on what is going on and what plans are for the future. And another great thing is as a technician, you have a turf background and you to can relate with the Superintendent on the day to day issues that may arise on the golf course.  Paul and Brian have a great relationship, one where Paul is a constant sounding board for Brian and has input on all agronomic programs at the Club.  When asked, Brian said, "Paul is a tremendous asset to the Club and me, personally.  I couldn't imagine not having him here as my go to person for advice.  In fact, apart from my parents, I've never had someone so capable of understanding the big picture.  Golf Course Equipment Techs are some of the most creative and articulate people I know and Paul is the epitome of the business." He currently has a great assistant, Kevin Earp, one of several who Paul has trained and set up for a successful career in our business.

Paul is married to his wife of 18 years, Heather and has two children, a son, Russell who is 11 and a daughter, Camren who is 13 years old. I asked him the same question that I ask all spotlight techs. What do you like to do when not at work? His reply was the same as most, he enjoys the outdoors, hunting and fishing. The other thing he really enjoys as we all do is spending time with his family. This brings up a very good point for me that we really need to stay focused on our family and to stay in touch with them, because they are the ones waiting at home for us. After giving 40+ hours to our jobs, make sure to give them what they want and deserve. And finally when asked what TETAC has done for you, he said that the unbelievable friends and all the networking that comes from being part of the Association. And not forgetting all of the knowledge that we have had to lead us, teach us and share work and life experiences with us. That is a great summary to me of what TETAC is and will continue to be in the future.