Three Easy Ways to Select Your Next Replacement Parts Supplier

Day in and day out, golf course maintenance crews and superintendents just like you are burdened with an overload of service needs and must rely on creative solutions based on very limited resources. In today’s fast-paced business environment, it’s more important than ever to team up with a supplier who understands your pain points and is willing to work with you so that you get the biggest bang for your buck.

When it comes to picking a supplier, a little pre-planning can help guide you to the best provider based on the needs of your course. Before selecting a supplier, it is important to understand what you need first. A great starting point is to set a list of criteria so that when the time comes to talk to potential suppliers, you will know who will be best suited to your needs. We know the process can be a little overwhelming, so here are 3 areas to consider:

1. Supplier Reputation. One of the best ways to tell if a supplier is trustworthy is by their reputation in the industry. A supplier known for their following of loyal customers is a great indication of their ability to meet your needs. You should want to work with a company who others want to work with. Reading up on a company on the internet, such as industry blogs and association websites will help you determine reputable suppliers, as well as discussing various contenders with colleagues.

Look for suppliers who have superior Customer Service and Tech Support. As simple as it sounds, having a helpful and knowledgeable staff to back you up is priceless. It is also critical to have convenient service hours, easy ordering and fast order processing. Look for a supplier who offers a variety of ordering methods, such as web, phone and fax. Additionally, some suppliers feature parts warranties and will even assist in warranty claim processing. This helps alleviate the burden of dealing with confusing paperwork and tricky processes, making your job much easier.

2. Ability to minimize risk. Not only should your supplier serve as your business partner, but they should recognize the daily obstacles you deal with and work to generate concrete solutions to your challenges. Through benefits such as product and delivery guarantees, budget-friendly pricing, warranty processing or friendly return policies, a supplier can be a tremendous relief to your risk worries. Put your stock in a supplier who will work with you and has the capacity to help your business run better.

One of the most important factors that will put your mind at ease is product availability. This is a two-fold benefit: high fill rate and vast product applications both mean you will have the parts you need, when you need them. Pair that up with guaranteed on-time delivery and you’re all set.

3. Maximizes your equipment maintenance budget. It’s common knowledge that pricing is a huge factor in making the most of your maintenance budget. However, the tricky part is finding a supplier that understands their role in your budget consumption. This leads to our next point: Partnership Programs. Choose a supplier who recognizes and encourages your loyalty. You will certainly benefit from supplier programs that feature tiered pricing structures. These programs deliver greater savings as you reach greater purchase levels. This means the more you buy with your supplier, the more you will save. Thus extending your equipment maintenance budget!

Picking a replacement parts supplier can be a surprisingly easy process as long as preliminary research and planning is a part of your selection process. By identifying your own needs ahead of time, you will be well equipped in selecting the best supplier suited to those very needs.

Life Fitness Embraces “Golf Fitness”

Whether your players are PGA professionals or weekend warriors on the golf course, one thing is certain: you must be fit to play the game. Public and private golf courses are seeing a generation of baby boomers playing fewer rounds of golf due in part by a decreased level of fitness. The newest generation of golfers are setting themselves apart by working to stay fit; they have access to better training facilities and fitness professionals who know how to help them prepare for this challenging rotary sport.

Working in part with Life Fitness, the PGA aims to increase awareness to its membership by enhancing its fitness center in Port St. Lucy, FL, under David Donatucci, Director of Fitness for the PGA.. Life Fitness, the PGA and key partners are working together to assemble a team to certify trainers, golf professionals, and medical professionals globally, to work with golfers who want to improve their fitness as a means to improve their game.

To support fitness for golf, Life Fitness worked with industry leaders to create a workout system based years of research, that would provide year-round golf fitness programming, assessment and training for golfers of all ages. Life Fitness works closely with country club partners to provide unique golf fitness knowledge for owners that want to enhance their membership offering and turn profit by include a properly developed fitness program. Space creation and planning, design, product selection, programming content and skilled staffing selection drive the Life Fitness Golf program.

Leaders in golf and fitness industries are investing heavily in the sport, through research, testing, and analysis of those organizations that have embraced the golf fitness concept. The PGA and Life Fitness lead the way to improve the game of golf for enthusiasts in a way that will create new adoption by next generations.

Through the Life Fitness partnership with VGM Club, members are offered special pricing on all cardiovascular and strength training equipment regardless of the quantity ordered. For more information, contact Marc Berry at (email) marc.berry@lifefitness.com; (phone) 253-946-4225.

Golf Car Service and Maintenance Tips from Club Car

Properly servicing and maintaining their golf car fleet is one of the smartest ways golf course owners and managers can protect their investment in one of their most important assets. Club Car Manager of Technical Services Randal Crook answers some basic questions about golf car service and maintenance. 

Q: How do most courses service and maintain their cars?

It varies from course to course. Some courses split service and maintenance between their own staff for routine jobs and a dealer or distributor with whom they have a service agreement. Lately we’ve seen more courses bring service and maintenance in-house to try and save money. The risk is that their own staff might not have the experience to service cars properly.

Q: How do golf car manufacturers interface with service providers?

Club Car has regional technical representatives who interface with authorized dealers and distributors in their areas.  We also offer preventive maintenance schools for dealers and distributors as well as a technical hotline.

Q: How can the course make sure it gets the best service from its service provider?

We recommend having a service agreement with a reputable service provider. That takes the burden of regular maintenance off the course and ensures ongoing communication with the service provider. It’s also a good idea to spend some time with the service provider when he is at the course to understand what work is being done, what work is scheduled next and to stay abreast of the current condition of the fleet.

Q: What should owners do if they feel they’re not getting the service they need and deserve?

The best approach is to talk directly to the technician providing the service to make sure he is aware of your expectations and the areas where you feel his service is not meeting expectations.