Keeping mechanized equipment tuned and ready to go at a moment's notice is important at every golf course. It is especially important at a facility with seven golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus.
Doug DeVore is the man in charge of doing just that on two of Desert Mountain's seven golf courses - the Geronimo and Cochise layouts. Even with a staff of four mechanics - two for each course - that is no small feat, says his superintendent.
The inventory in that shop includes 25 walk mowers and more than 30 other pieces of mechanized equipment, including utility vehicles, and an armada of triplex, fairway, tee and rough mowers.
Despite what many might think about Desert Mountain, there is no bottomless budget at this 8,000-acre golf and luxury residential community in Scottsdale.
"That is definitely not the case. We have a budget, just like everybody else," Terry Negen, superintendent of the Geronimo Course, said with a wry laugh.
"When there is a crisis situation anywhere on the mountain, Doug is one of the first employees that jumps in to assist to make sure the crisis is averted. . . . Managing a fleet as large as Desert Mountain's takes careful planning and execution to make sure things are where they need to be at all times.
"He always has equipment ready to go, and if something does break down, he always has it back up and running right away."
The way DeVore is able to manage so many balls in the air at once at such a massive operation was good enough to earn him a spot as a finalist for this year's TurfNet Technician of the Year Award, presented by John Deere.
Being budget conscious at a place this big means keeping all the commonly used parts on hand in an ultra clean and tidy shop and ordering everything else when needed.
Doug is very innovative and has a knack for fabricating parts when the situation arises. He has fabricated special tools for the golf courses, and is always willing to take on a new challenge. He's real handy.
"Doug is really good about keeping just the necessary parts," negen said. "We can get the other stuff we need pretty timelys, so we don't spend money on a lot of excess"
"When one steps into the shops at Desert Mountain, you can see that we strive for cleanliness and organization. Safety is our top priority, so Doug keeps the shops very clean. Everything has a place, and when you go to look for something it is always where it should be."
DeVore is equally skilled at one of a golf course equipment manager's most sought-after traits, welding and fabricating tools, gadgets and attachments to fill a need where no solution currently exists.
He has fashioned countless specialized tools that have helped Negen save money and helped his team work more efficiently.
Among the tools he has devised include a rack that attaches to the back of a utility vehicle and raises fertilizer spreaders off the ground for easy transport around the golf course.
"Doug is very innovative and has a knack for fabricating parts when the situation arises," Negen said. "He has fabricated special tools for the golf courses, and is always willing to take on a new challenge. He's real handy."