Episode 144: Moe Rateb

Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 144.

Today we’re talking to Moe Rateb, Equipment Manager at Crowfield Golf Club, an 18-hole municipal course owned by the city of Goose Creek, SC. Moe is the lone tech in the shop, maintaining a mostly Toro fleet and managing it all with skill, heart, and a sense of humor.

We dive into Moe’s path into turf, from starting at a muni for the retirement benefits to learning the ropes of reel grinding and golf course equipment. He shares how his auto-mechanic stepdad inspired his mechanical mindset, and how he's found mentorship and fellowship within the equipment manager community.

Moe talks time management as a working dad and youth sports coach, and how he makes space for his own hobbies, including foraging, metal detecting, and creating healthy habits. Plus, we get into the importance of taking care of yourself in a role that often puts others first.

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Transcript

Trent Manning 0:56

Welcome to the reel turf techs podcast for the technician that wants to get reel follow along. As we talk to industry professionals and address hot topics that we all face along the way we'll learn tips and tricks. I'm your host, Trent. Manning let's have some Welcome to The Real Turf Techs Podcast, episode 1 44. Today we're talking to Mo Ratib, equipment Manager at Crow Field Golf Club and Goose Creek, South Carolina. Crow Field Golf Club is an 18 hole municipal course owned by the city of Goose Creek. Mo is the Lone Tech in the shop. He has mostly Toro equipment. Let's talk to Mo. welcome MO to the Real Turf Text podcast. Thanks for coming on.

Moe Rateb 1:46

Hey, thanks for having me.

Trent Manning 1:47

How you doing today? You hanging in

Moe Rateb 1:49

good. Oh yeah,

Trent Manning 1:52

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 1:52

trying to get off of work, deal with kids and practices and all that.

Trent Manning 1:58

Well, I appreciate you taking some time outta your schedule to be a guest today.

Moe Rateb 2:04

Yeah. What's funny is not my first time we did.

Trent Manning 2:09

yeah. We did we, we did a little thing in Myrtle Beach. Hopefully we'll do one again if Chad will let us come over and hang out. That was a lot of fun.

Moe Rateb 2:16

Yeah. It was,

Trent Manning 2:17

Yeah, that was I don't, Myrtle Beach is such a good time and all the ttac, I mean, TT a's really fortunate to have such a good group of technicians and so many people show up. I mean, it's just, it's really awesome.

Moe Rateb 2:32

yeah. Yeah. I'm glad that Tacs around. I found you in the beginning. It was just like, I'm the only tech. So, at some point I was like, man, this sucks doing it all by myself. But then when I went to the first Myrtle Beach show and met you guys, then things started picking up

Trent Manning 2:52

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 2:53

and.

Trent Manning 2:53

met Brian Harper. Did you

Moe Rateb 2:56

Yes.

Trent Manning 2:57

It was, I don't remember when this was. It was like right after the podcast started. Probably, yeah.'cause we started in the spring, I think, of 21. So it was that fall. I met Brian Harper for the first time he come up to me and he's man, your podcast changed my life. I'm like, what? Really? But it was like the same story. Like he said, he felt so alone and so isolated. Being in the shop by himself and listening to the podcast, he knew he wasn't alone. So, I mean, that's awesome. I never dreamed that it would turn into something like that, but here we are.

Moe Rateb 3:37

Yeah. I, oh,

Trent Manning 3:39

it. Tell us how you got into the turf industry.

Moe Rateb 3:43

so I was a facilities guy at a youth sports complex. You know it by the song. But

Trent Manning 3:51

The old YMCA.

Moe Rateb 3:52

yeah, I know if I can bring that up or not.

Trent Manning 3:56

Sure. I don't, it don't matter.

Moe Rateb 3:57

And then this opportunity came along to work for the city of Go Goose Creek is where Crow Field Golf Club is. 18 hole municipal course. And he said, yeah, you get to participate in the state retirement program. And I went, it's a state job, so you get all the benefits and all that. So I was like, yeah, sign me up.

Trent Manning 4:19

Yeah, that sounds like a good deal.

Moe Rateb 4:21

Not knowing anything about turf equipment other than maybe a rotary mower.

Trent Manning 4:26

But as a facility, guys you know, a guy, excuse me. Facility guy, you had a basic understanding of some of that stuff, or not really?

Moe Rateb 4:36

not really working on the equipment like I did. I made baseball field, soccer fields, fixed toilets, stuff like that. So a general overall aptitude, mechanically. So, and then my stepdad was a mechanic, so summers I would work with him. And you know, just in general I like learning and have that aptitude. So it worked out,

Trent Manning 5:05

Yeah. So how long have you been there?

Moe Rateb 5:08

Two and a half years now.

Trent Manning 5:10

Okay. Awesome. good. Are you getting more comfortable

Moe Rateb 5:14

Oh yeah, like today, we talked to, yeah, today we talked about how big the bur should be and.

Trent Manning 5:21

yeah. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 5:22

Yeah, I just do it now where I can just start feeling it and I take, I will use Bernhard. So I take 10 off each time. And that seems to be enough for what I do.

Trent Manning 5:33

Yeah. Yeah. I don't

Moe Rateb 5:36

I,

Trent Manning 5:36

it in the WhatsApp group, but just so everybody bring everybody up to speed. What your question was is how big a bur do you need on the reel after you have ground the reel? And I think Tay came back with you know, the more bur you have, it doesn't mean it's any sharper or something like that.

Moe Rateb 5:55

right.

Trent Manning 5:56

Skip Hines telling me years ago that the bigger the bur, that's the more material you wasted on that reel.

Moe Rateb 6:04

Yeah.

Trent Manning 6:04

thought about it that way, but it does make total sense.

Moe Rateb 6:09

Yeah. When I first started, it was demonstrated to me. I. Like it had a curl to it, and I was like, okay, this is the way it's done. Then we started talking about cut line and no contact, and I'm like, there's probably not that much going on there. And then relief, grinding and all that, I don't have that part of the equipment, so we just spin grind. So after you spin, grind a little, you feel it, see where you're at, but I've gotten it to where I can get it set up, take the tent off, and I'm good to go. No contact. It's nice the first time. And then after they go hit the sand, you know,

Trent Manning 6:50

Yeah. Yeah. We

Moe Rateb 6:51

We're getting there. I was thinking about that today. I was like, I'm coming on the interview when everything's just popping off.

Trent Manning 6:58

yeah. It's a good timing, I guess. Luckily. For you, you have grass? I do not. I'm still waiting. I never thought I would say, man, I really want some grass to be growing,

Moe Rateb 7:10

Our rest started growing about two weeks ago. Not fast, but this week it's coming in. So yeah, it's starting to pick up real good.

Trent Manning 7:19

when, so we're under renovation, so we don't have any grass

Moe Rateb 7:24

Oh, okay.

Trent Manning 7:24

We're still waiting to get some, hopefully

Moe Rateb 7:27

Yeah. Most of our course is Bermuda, so it's for this area a good choice.

Trent Manning 7:34

Oh yeah. Well, and even for us, we have, or we will, we had, and we'll have again, Bermuda Greens, Bermuda rough, but we're going zoia fairways,

Moe Rateb 7:46

Oh, okay.

Trent Manning 7:47

that'll be a little bit of learning curve for me. But I do have zoia fairways at the other course I. That I'm not at all the time. So I got a good resource down there.

Moe Rateb 8:00

Oh, okay.

Trent Manning 8:01

Joel's got it figured out how to make 15 to 16 cuts on Georgia fairways between grinds, and

Moe Rateb 8:11

After,

Trent Manning 8:11

a long time to figure that out.

Moe Rateb 8:15

yeah, after last year and getting pretty decent with the grind. My fairway units, when I went to go check'em, I don't know, March, see where they were at, they were still cutting paper,

Trent Manning 8:29

Wow. Okay. That's good.

Moe Rateb 8:32

so I was like, okay, I guess we're moving in the right direction.

Trent Manning 8:35

Yeah. Yeah. Nothing wrong with that. Well, what's your least favorite part of the job? Is it sand?

Moe Rateb 8:42

No, you need that for the grass to grow bid. Well, but least favorite. I don't know. It's a job and you know, there's gonna be okay. Things to do and not okay. Things to do. Oh. Least favorite. I do have one. The decaying dead animals. You gotta pick up off the course, not my, no,

Trent Manning 9:07

You can't find someone else to do that. That falls under equipment manager.

Moe Rateb 9:13

sometimes it does. Yeah.

Trent Manning 9:14

it does. Yeah. It's amazing what falls under equipment manager.

Moe Rateb 9:18

Yeah.

Trent Manning 9:20

Yeah. I was tasked with putting was, what was, it was like a 12 inch Yeah. 12 inch HDPE pipe over eight inch a DS pipe. To get water in our reservoir. That was I don't. What day was that? That was end of last week. Maybe Thursday or something. You know, I mean, it's is this really mechanic work? But honestly, I enjoy it because it's something different. You know, it gets you outta the shop for a little while. Some, something different.

Moe Rateb 9:51

Oh yeah. Cutting fairways on Friday in the summer that,

Trent Manning 9:55

Yep. Always a fun chore.

Moe Rateb 10:00

yeah. And like you said, you were doing the pipe thing. We've got, I don't know, like six, eight guys. They don't work all at the same time. But when I hear about some of these crews and. I've seen some of those garages with 60 walk mowers and all that. I'm just like,

Trent Manning 10:19

yeah,

Moe Rateb 10:22

I think we're doing good for what we got.

Trent Manning 10:25

yeah. No it's crazy. There's definitely some high level operations like TPC Sawgrass. they have the players. It's, I mean, it's a machine down there.

Moe Rateb 10:36

Yeah,

Trent Manning 10:37

they have and their shot. I mean, it is crazy. All the walk mowers they have. Yeah. I don't see how they do it. And I mean, they never slow down either. I mean, there is

Moe Rateb 10:47

no.

Trent Manning 10:47

off season in Florida. All those guys in Florida just wide open. Well, I don't, yeah, I seen John Michael was talking about they're getting ready to shut it down, you know, for the summer. Well that might be nice, but then they're doing all their airification and, you know, verica and top dressing and all that stuff. So I don't think it's much of a break for those guys. They might not have golfers on the course, but

Moe Rateb 11:15

Yeah, they're out there doing work,

Trent Manning 11:17

Yep. They're staying busy. Tell us what your favorite tool is.

Moe Rateb 11:21

probably the internet as far as using it as a tool. I'm an information guy, so you know, I use it to, you know, look up diagrams and parts and crossovers and all that stuff. And then, you know, social media meeting you guys, you know, that has been immensely helpful. And then I do appreciate a good sharp blade. I am surprised at how many times throughout the day you have to cut something or scrape something off,

Trent Manning 11:52

Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Always. Do you

Moe Rateb 11:56

and then.

Trent Manning 11:58

particular blade that you carry?

Moe Rateb 12:01

Yeah, I had, I got a new Cutco folding knife. I saw it and I was like, I've got Cutco in my kitchen lifetime warranty. I mean, how come they don't have a pocket knife that is out there? Everybody talks about the different brands and Gerber bench made and all that good stuff. And Cutco was just cream of the crop to me.

Trent Manning 12:25

Okay, you've been happy with it?

Moe Rateb 12:28

Oh yeah. The other day I had to fix a deadbolt with it. It was getting stuck because the hole was the bolt was running up against the hole in the, so I just carved it with the knife and carved off the hole. Works perfect.

Trent Manning 12:42

Yep.

Moe Rateb 12:43

And I did break the tip off, so,

Trent Manning 12:46

Amazing everything that a pocket knife can be used for when you put your

Moe Rateb 12:50

but yeah, like. All the gadgets and stuff that we talk about and you know, just mechanic gearhead guys in general. All those things that you can have a million dollars worth of stuff that you might use at one time, but it makes your life easy. but what I really like about the tools is like a cheater bar, for example, this could be a pipe on the end of your ratchet and it gives you super human strength and you feel like a genius being able to use it.

Trent Manning 13:22

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 13:23

But,

Trent Manning 13:23

if that's not enough leverage, you can take a pry bar and stick it in that piece of pipe that you got your ratchet and really try to break something. You know, you never know.

Moe Rateb 13:34

and if you have a snap on one and you do break it, you were prying something with it.

Trent Manning 13:39

yes. But they don't care. You can just it, take it back to the truck and there you go.

Moe Rateb 13:46

Yep.

Trent Manning 13:47

fix it right up for you. I mean, yeah, I won't get started. Snap-on is very expensive, but I am a snap-on guy. I like my snap-on stuff.

Moe Rateb 13:57

I'm a craftsman guy. It just, back when Sears was around, my stepdad used to take broken sockets and stuff, walk right into the Sears, and they were like, okay, just go get you one

Trent Manning 14:09

Yep. No, and I mean there's nothing wrong with the craftsman, but issue that I had like, I had a ratchet one time that broke and I took it into Sears and they didn't have that exact model ratchet, so they're like, sorry for your luck, you know, try to come back sometime,

Moe Rateb 14:31

really.

Trent Manning 14:32

yeah. Yeah. I'm like, okay, this is not really what all it's cracked up to be. But yeah, I mean, I've got sockets changed out and that kind of stuff, and I'm sure now, I don't know if you just mail it in since there's no more series around I'm, I don't know what

Moe Rateb 14:46

No, you go to Lowe's.

Trent Manning 14:48

Oh, you can get it done at Lowe's now. Okay, nice. Awesome. That's good stuff. But like Mac tools, I got a good bit of Mac stuff that you know, is forever old. got on a Mac tool truck. This was, you know, last year or something with some broken items, and the guy on the truck said, just mail those in. And he wouldn't change'em out for me. I'm like, really?

Moe Rateb 15:16

Yeah.

Trent Manning 15:17

you know? And I mean, it wasn't like oddball stuff. I mean, it was, you know, sockets that he should have

Moe Rateb 15:22

Yeah.

Trent Manning 15:22

on his truck, but he didn't wanna mess with it. So there's a lot to be said for your your dealer too.

Moe Rateb 15:30

Yes. I.

Trent Manning 15:32

What do you do to relax or find your balance?

Moe Rateb 15:35

I like to take long walks in the woods. I, well, I started out like metal detecting and then, you know, here in Charleston, civil War, revolutionary War I mean, I even find stuff from thirties, forties, fifties, sixties,

Trent Manning 15:53

Yeah. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 15:54

bottles, like people trash and stuff. And then I got into foraging, mushrooms, plants, and now that everything's starting to turn green, you know, it's just like you walk out and you can find something to eat or something that you can use medicinally. But yeah, I just like being outside. And the worst part is when I go out on the course and, you know, you're just driving your MDX around looking at everything I. So it takes a little bit longer to get to where you need to be.

Trent Manning 16:25

Oh, well, yeah. You gotta check it out. See? See what else you can find. Nothing wrong. Nothing wrong with that. That's good. I don't How bad are the mosquitoes in Charleston?

Moe Rateb 16:35

August

Trent Manning 16:36

Okay. August. August is the month. I don't wanna be there.

Moe Rateb 16:40

Yeah. The bugs are starting to come out now, but they're not too bad yet. But on the beach, the no seas,

Trent Manning 16:50

Oh,

Moe Rateb 16:51

doesn't matter. Yeah.

Trent Manning 16:52

yeah. No CM since, yeah. Is there a good time of year for No cms?

Moe Rateb 16:57

December,

Trent Manning 16:59

December Okay. Is

Moe Rateb 17:00

January.

Trent Manning 17:01

Yeah. don't, so Kelly and I were there last November, and it was really nice weather-wise, and Yeah. The bugs were not bad. I mean, and it was right at Thanksgiving too, so that's almost December. It, it was beautiful.

Moe Rateb 17:18

Yeah, it's still good up until the end of December and then January it starts getting cold. January, February, March and April are still chilly, but not,

Trent Manning 17:29

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 17:30

now, yeah, it's beautiful.

Trent Manning 17:32

what's been one of your biggest challenges?

Moe Rateb 17:35

My biggest challenge in life in general, time management, trying to do everything that two kids, they do their sports. My wife does sports. We both coach at various times of the year. You know, I like being outdoors, so, you know, I try to do that, get some exercise that way. Yeah, just, you know, doing everything. It is that I'm at that point in my life where it's going,

Trent Manning 18:03

No, that's good. Yeah. Yep. No. Downtime,

Moe Rateb 18:07

no, very little. Yeah.

Trent Manning 18:09

yeah, for sure. What's one of the strangest things you've seen out there on the course?

Moe Rateb 18:15

when I first started watching them cut the grass in the dark with little headlamps I'm like how do you know that you're cutting it the way it's supposed to be? You know, when you watch golf on tv, everything is smooth and flat and perfect. They did figure it out somehow.

Trent Manning 18:36

Yeah, that's funny. I remember. and this was early on in my, I career at the golf course, but it was 95. So like the year I started that fall, we had the Nike Tour Championship, which you know, is kind of like minor league of the PGA. I don't even know what it is now. I guess it's Korn Ferry now. but back then it was the Nike tour. So anyway this guy, we had bent grass greens and we had a fringe. So a fringe is a cut, just a little higher around the perimeter of the green. this guy was mowing and he was definitely the really nervous type. I'm holding a flashlight walking next to him we don't have lights on the mowers, any of that stuff. And he's man, don't let me scalp the fringe. Don't let me scalp the fringe. And he said that every pass for all five greens. I'm like, dude it's gonna be okay. I got you. We're, it is gonna be all right. But yeah, just his stress level of mowing the fringe. I don't know why. Maybe think of that fun

Moe Rateb 19:47

Oh yeah. Some of those operators, you know, they're anxious like that and they're stressful and whatever, and then you get that guy in the crew that doesn't care and just will cut a stripe right through the rough.

Trent Manning 20:05

Oh yeah. Yep. Definitely. That happen, I don't, the one of the funniest things I'm, I need to get the picture and I don't know if. I think I might have shared it on Twitter back in the day,'cause it's been a bunch of years ago, an operator was mowing for green and for green to the left side of the green, there's a river and the mower, is going on the green. It went, I think, I'm trying to remember. Yeah, we had a collar. So it went straight through the collar, straight through the rough down all, it didn't quite go in the river but close. And it got hung up. So it's like, what is this operator doing? And this was yeah, before the bale system, so you know, operator presence and all that

Moe Rateb 20:50

Oh yeah.

Trent Manning 20:51

I think he just let go. I don't know if he was on his phone or what, but he just, it just kept going. Yeah,

Moe Rateb 20:59

Yeah. I mean, there's nothing you can do after that.

Trent Manning 21:02

Now well, do you have a mentor in the industry? Somebody you look up to, you got a bunch of mentors. Everybody in the

Moe Rateb 21:11

it.

Trent Manning 21:12

group.

Moe Rateb 21:13

Yeah, all you guys. But I mean, as far as like the mechanicing wrenching, probably my stepdad is my biggest influence. You know, working with him in the summer, you know, during high school really paid off for, you know, one of those things I didn't know would pop up again in my life when he's like, when you need to stay in school, so you're not doing this when you're my age. But here I am almost his age.

Trent Manning 21:39

That's funny how that works out, but yeah. Did was, so I'm assuming he was pretty handy. Did he work on cars or

Moe Rateb 21:47

Yeah. He was an auto mechanic for 50 years.

Trent Manning 21:50

oh wow, okay. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 21:51

I remember him being like. 65 under a car, one handing a transmission, trying to line it up. And I'm just like, this is nuts. I'm in my mid twenties and I'm like, I don't even think I can do that.

Trent Manning 22:05

That's cool though. Yep. Good stuff.

Moe Rateb 22:09

But yeah, as far as mentors, like all you guys, like you've been doing it forever. And John Bozos, he's like a, he reminds me of a buddy of mine that, you know, all the car work that he does and everything and him, Kayla and her safety talks.

Trent Manning 22:30

Yep. Safety first. No, that's good stuff. Yeah. John's something else because, yeah, I mean, at the course all day long and then he goes home and he just keeps doing it. Can't,

Moe Rateb 22:41

Yeah.

Trent Manning 22:42

enough, I guess. But taught itself body work. I mean, it's pretty impressive. And I do think that's fun aspect when you kind of go down different rabbit holes, whether it's, you know, auto body or cutting units or you know, whatever it is, wherever your passion leads

Moe Rateb 23:00

Oh yeah,

Trent Manning 23:00

And you start learning new things and it makes it interesting. it fun anyway.

Moe Rateb 23:07

yeah. For me, lately it's just been getting into the plant aspect of just being in Charleston is a tropical subtropical area and just all the plants and native stuff and trying to be healthier in general. And you're like, more plants in you the better. Right.

Trent Manning 23:28

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. What would be your dream job or opportunity?

Moe Rateb 23:33

Probably something right now, baseball turf related being a crew, like managing a crew at a minor league field or even major league,

Trent Manning 23:46

Oh

Moe Rateb 23:46

whenever I go to baseball games, whether it's, we got Charleston RiverDogs here in Charleston, I went to Yankees preseason in Tampa, and they all use the same equipment,

Trent Manning 23:59

Right, right, right. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 24:01

sand pros and yeah,

Trent Manning 24:04

Yep. All the same things.

Moe Rateb 24:07

I just need to find a city job so it'll continue my retirement years

Trent Manning 24:12

Well, surely the city has some parks and wrecks and,

Moe Rateb 24:17

that, yeah, there is one near me. I just don't know if the situation would be better than what I've gotten now. I like being in sports, whether it's golf, because I'm not a big golfer, but baseball is like my jam. And

Trent Manning 24:32

Yeah,

Moe Rateb 24:33

I like that. But yeah, golf's not bad either.

Trent Manning 24:37

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 24:37

I,

Trent Manning 24:37

if you gotta pick a sport, I mean, it's not too far from baseball. I heard the swing's a lot different.

Moe Rateb 24:44

it is.

Trent Manning 24:45

Yeah. That's what I've heard. I wouldn't know'cause I would've sucked at baseball and I really sucked at golf, so it didn't really matter

Moe Rateb 24:54

I play golf September, October, and then tournament in November.

Trent Manning 24:58

Okay. That's, I mean, nothing wrong with that. I don't, honestly, I've been thinking about that because the T tac guys, like maybe I should just buy a cheap set of clubs. I. just go play when, you know, at the tournament, like the one for Eric Duncanson memorial, I was at it last year, and then y'all have the one before the conference there at Myrtle Beach. Maybe that would be fine. I don't know. I mean, y'all seem to really have a good time doing it,

Moe Rateb 25:29

Oh, it is fun and everybody is not awesome as you think they are.

Trent Manning 25:33

Well, no, I mean, and I mean honestly I've I've seen some of them place. kind of makes me think, well, hey, maybe, you know, maybe I could sink a pot here or there, you know,

Moe Rateb 25:44

Yeah. All it takes is one. And you're the hero.

Trent Manning 25:46

right, right. Yeah. Just one. So I mean, that, that could be cool. Do you have a technician you'd like to work with for a day?

Moe Rateb 25:56

Yes. Christopher from Canada.

Trent Manning 26:00

Oh yeah, for sure. Yeah. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 26:02

Yeah, he laughs at all my WhatsApp posts. So yeah, I definitely would want him around.

Trent Manning 26:08

Chris Whitaker yeah, one of the nicest guys you'll ever And he works. I hadn't been to his course personally, but I first met him in Canmore, which is just outside I'm going to go blank on the name of that, but it's in Alberta, Canada Calgary. So I flew into Calgary. I drove over, I drove past Canmore and went to Banff. And that's the Rocky Mountains in Canada. And it is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. And since then I've been to Yellowstone. And Yellowstone is really beautiful, but I don't know. There, there's just something about area there where Whitaker's at, that it's something else. It's I just couldn't believe it, you know, seeing mountains that tall and I'd never seen anything like that in my life. So maybe that was, had something to do with it, but really beautiful place and I'm sure if he wanted to go, he'd be more than happy to host you. I,

Moe Rateb 27:11

but yeah, as far as. Like people to work with. When I first listened to your podcast, you had JR Wilson on and he was talking about doing something with Arduinos and all that, and I went to school for math and electronics and I was like, yeah, that's what I like doing, but I haven't figured out how to integrate it yet. But you know, stuff like that. I was like, yeah, that'd be cool to, you know, see how they do it. And then you guys, with the 3D printing and the CNC stuff that's cool. Kayla is pretty chill, I imagine she'd be fun and safe.

Trent Manning 27:51

Fun and safe.

Moe Rateb 27:54

so yeah, I mean most I feel like most of us get along well enough where if we worked together and you had a tag team in the shop, I mean, it would just be cake job.

Trent Manning 28:07

oh, yeah. Yeah. No, it would it would be a lot of fun. Me, and we hadn't talked about this in forever, but skip Hines brought it up and trying to remember, yeah, it was Monster Garage, right? You remember that show? Garage, Jesse James, you know, they just like Frankenstein some kind of something. but Skip Hines, his idea was to have a monster garage. Yeah. And have it at Hector's shop in Michigan just like a whole group of us go up there and see what we could build in a week.

Moe Rateb 28:46

Oh yeah.

Trent Manning 28:46

Just something outrageous. And that would be so much fun. That'd be, you know, super cool if we could do that. And just the comradery, you know, I mean, that's what's great about the T tac together in Myrtle Beach and the National Golf Show, you know, for the G-C-S-A-A just getting like-minded people in the same room and who knows what you're gonna end up talking about. It's a lot of fun.

Moe Rateb 29:14

Yeah, I wanna try to make it down to Orlando this year or next year. Just coming up here.

Trent Manning 29:21

What do you know now you wish you'd known on day one?

Moe Rateb 29:25

I had to set up a reel when I first got there. Our then assistant superintendent who was the mechanic for eight months before I got there he played golf in high school, but setting up a mower was not his jam. So, I mean, it got me started, but as far as, you know, getting the bed bar even, and I thought light contact meant like. You can still hear it rubbing the reel and the bed knife. And now I know after going through cut line a couple times, you can get it to cut without even touching.

Trent Manning 30:12

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 30:13

you, you won't even hear it. But yeah, Mike's helped out a lot with that. Being able to change the angles and getting that cut line going across the bed knife, that's been a big but yeah from now to back then, I mean a million percent better as far as being able to keep the equipment running decently, not spending more money than you have to on bed knives and reels and replacing'em and all that. You know, I went on to some of the John Deere training and some of those guys are like, yeah, I've had this set of reels for seven years and I'm like. They last that long, you know, because I mean, you're using them every day and just beating up grass and you know, that stuff just takes a beating.

Trent Manning 31:06

Oh, yeah. Yeah. For sure. So how did you come about figuring out how to set up a cutting unit?

Moe Rateb 31:15

a lot of cut line. And then just the WhatsApp group, the guys talking about the different things, sometimes arguing about it. But you know, you pick out what you need and then you go back and you tinker and you see what works for you and what doesn't work for you. And great example was the other day. I had a bed knife that was not lining up with the reel and you guys were talking about the compression spring on the QA five. So I got, I put a new spring in, it only moved it like a 16th of an inch and I was just like, okay. But you know, I couldn't move it over with a pry bar to even make it work that way. So I just went and I got a whole new set of bearings and races and put it in and then like miraculously it fixed itself.

Trent Manning 32:09

Yeah, I don't know. Yeah. Maybe one of those races was misaligned a little bit or offset something, you know? Who

Moe Rateb 32:17

I'm just glad it worked.

Trent Manning 32:18

you? Yeah, right. Yeah, exactly. What have you noticed with your bed knife angles, did you make a change that has helped you like

Moe Rateb 32:32

yeah,

Trent Manning 32:33

Yeah, go ahead.

Moe Rateb 32:34

when I started it was 10 on the top, five on the front. And I would get these, I would get where, from the front to the back of the bed knife, you know, and then it hits the valley. I mean, it would be scraped all the way. And then I go see Mike do his presentation and he's talking about this little line and I'm like, okay, what do I do? And then they're talking about messing with the angles, and then I'm like, I don't know yet. You know,'cause I'm just new to this, but I did it. I'm like 15 five for me. I can get a nice thin line across. But yeah, it

Trent Manning 33:18

on the top.

Moe Rateb 33:19

yeah, 15 on the top

Trent Manning 33:21

Okay.

Moe Rateb 33:22

on, yeah, five on the front. So it's steeper down than it is on the front.

Trent Manning 33:27

Yeah. Yeah. Yep. Interesting.

Moe Rateb 33:29

even on Bernhard on the back of the, the bed knife grinder, you know, it's got a sticker and it tells you like what you should do and all that. It's a good starting point, but I don't think it works for a lot of guys. So you have to be able to take that leap of faith and try something new.

Trent Manning 33:49

yeah. Yeah. And I mean, I think it's, I think that's the way we learn, right? Is we try it and it either works or it doesn't. Or maybe

Moe Rateb 33:58

And,

Trent Manning 33:59

result

Moe Rateb 34:00

but for the longest time I was hooked up on it being a science.'cause you know, it's a mechanical thing. It should be a certain way, everything should be set up and it would just work. And then when everybody talks about it, they got their own view of how it should be done and you know, you just kind of go with it.

Trent Manning 34:23

Yeah. I don't I guess it's probably more of an art, if you will, than a science,

Moe Rateb 34:30

Yeah. I hate saying that, but yeah.

Trent Manning 34:32

Yeah. Well, and I mean, it sounds like you're kind of a number guy, and I'm a number guy too. I like hard cold facts,

Moe Rateb 34:40

Yeah.

Trent Manning 34:40

things should be, and maybe we can get there one day, but there's this, it goes back to the old saying there's more than one way to skin a cat too. You know, a lot of different ways

Moe Rateb 34:56

Oh yeah.

Trent Manning 34:56

of doing what we do. it's, you know, you have the guys and gals that are grind only, no contact. And then you have another group is contact. They grind, they relief, grind, and they lap. And some of'em lap daily, or not daily, but every time they cut,

Moe Rateb 35:24

oh yeah.

Trent Manning 35:25

and they're both able to put out a really good product. So it isn't like you can say, well, that group is wrong. They're doing it wrong. But there is people in the industry that like to say that, or like to think that they

Moe Rateb 35:42

Yes,

Trent Manning 35:43

do it like me, Mo, you're doing it wrong. And say that?

Moe Rateb 35:48

I've seen them say it directly.

Trent Manning 35:51

Well, right. Yeah. People people get pretty passionate about these things.

Moe Rateb 35:56

Yeah. I mean,

Trent Manning 35:57

camp of if it works for you, just keep doing it.

Moe Rateb 36:01

yeah, that falls under the category of giving yourself grace. I mean, you know, if it works for you, great. If it, you know, if I try something and it doesn't work, which happens a lot in life in general, you know, you just gotta, you know, not be so hard on yourself. Just like you talked about, you know, the operator that was anxious about cutting the grass. He just wants to do a good job.

Trent Manning 36:25

Well, right, right, right. Yep.

Moe Rateb 36:27

And, you know, as long as you talk nice to the grass, it'll come back.

Trent Manning 36:32

Yes. Yes. Just gotta sweet talk it. Come right, come by right back around. Supercharged course maintenance with Task Tracker, the leading golf course maintenance software in the industry. Built for precision and efficiency, Task Tracker simplifies daily operations, optimizes water usage, and keeps your team on track. With real time updates and streamlined workflows, It's the essential tool for modern superintendents. Learn more at www. clubessentials. com backslash task tracker. Let's get back to the episode. Get ready for tips and tricks. Let's do

Moe Rateb 37:19

Yeah.

Trent Manning 37:19

and tricks. What tips and tricks you wanna share with us.

Moe Rateb 37:22

Tips and tricks. Where did I wrote'em down. Oh. I. So in preparing for this you gave me a set of questions and I typed them up and started answering them. And in Microsoft Word, I learned that if you scroll your mouse up to the top and then run the scroll wheel, it'll flip through all the ribbons.

Trent Manning 37:47

No

Moe Rateb 37:47

I know you do. Yeah. See.

Trent Manning 37:49

knew that. Learn something new every day, man. That's good stuff.

Moe Rateb 37:54

But I mean, as far as tips and tricks in the shop, I mean, it is just all those weird, like using a socket to align the screw in by flipping it backwards and stuff like that. You know, all that stuff I appreciate and you just kinda put it in your mental toolbox. There's just so many that it's hard to pick one that's your favorite to talk about. But it makes life easier.

Trent Manning 38:24

we can we can talk about as many as you want. Seriously.

Moe Rateb 38:30

But yeah, that one really stood out when I was doing this. I was like, you can do that,

Trent Manning 38:35

All right. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 38:36

but

Trent Manning 38:36

One of my favorite shortcuts on the keyboard control shift V. You know, control V is paste,

Moe Rateb 38:46

right.

Trent Manning 38:47

in Google, if you're in a Google Doc or a do a Google sheet, you do control shift V and it only paste the text, not the format. Because sometimes if

Moe Rateb 39:04

okay.

Trent Manning 39:05

something, you know, off a website or whatever, it's in whatever format, and you don't want to copy that into your, or I don't want to copy that into my spreadsheet because it really drives me crazy if all my fonts aren't the same.

Moe Rateb 39:18

Oh yeah.

Trent Manning 39:19

all got these weird quirks, right? Just being vulnerable with you and the listeners

Moe Rateb 39:26

Oh yeah. No, I,

Trent Manning 39:27

my fonts and size is the same spreadsheets.

Moe Rateb 39:32

and another tip, since I was using Word a lot this morning, the Windows key and period. You can put emojis in your text now.

Trent Manning 39:45

Oh, that's hot tip there. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 39:48

Yeah, that one I like.

Trent Manning 39:50

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 39:51

But yeah, that was,'cause I was on the computer a lot longer than I wanted to be this morning.

Trent Manning 39:56

Okay. Well, I'm sorry the.

Moe Rateb 39:58

No, that's okay.

Trent Manning 39:59

you to be on the computer more than you wanted to, but hey, at least you pick up some new new tricks

Moe Rateb 40:04

Yeah. But yeah, it's the tips and tricks are those things that you pick up, you know, throughout your years of being on this planet, whether it's working or living or, you know, those life hacks, you know, those are great too.

Trent Manning 40:19

Yeah. Yeah. Gotta have some of those.

Moe Rateb 40:23

Yeah.

Trent Manning 40:23

about some mental health and mental, you said physical wellbeing, I think.

Moe Rateb 40:30

Yeah. So, I guess my first TTAC, Tim Krieger comes up and he is talking about his heart attack, you know? Okay. That's his thing. And then I guess two Christmases ago now, Michael Henderson from Pebble Beach, you know, he kind of put it out there. And I think that really kicked it off for the group. Like all the guys were, once you get to be a certain age you've had people die and weird stuff happen to you and you've made bad decisions and Yeah, it some people get in a bad way, but, you just gotta work through it. But, being mentally healthy and physically healthy, it puts you in a lot better position to deal with adversity where, you'll get through it and things like that. And the longer you live, the more something horrible is gonna happen in your life that you're gonna have to deal with

Trent Manning 41:29

Yeah, for sure. No, it's,

Moe Rateb 41:31

and

Trent Manning 41:32

it's tough. It is. Li Life's

Moe Rateb 41:34

a lot. Yeah. And we work in the sports industry so there's, it's entertainment. And people are so wound up about doing a job of, I don't wanna say it's just cutting grass, but you're trying to provide, the best product for the people playing and Yeah. Things aren't gonna work your go your way all the time. So, you're just gonna have to chalk it up, fix it, and move on

Trent Manning 42:02

That's I think a lot easier said than done depending on, you know, where you're at,

Moe Rateb 42:08

it. Yeah. It's, yeah, it's tough.

Trent Manning 42:12

I think another thing that you're kinda leading to there is I think they kinda work hand in hand.

Moe Rateb 42:19

They do. I mean, yeah. The better you feel physically, mentally, you're gonna feel better.

Trent Manning 42:26

Yeah, for sure. Well, and so the episode that just dropped David Gummo was basically talking about that because he was super depressed, he was way overweight, he was depressed, so he would eat, you know, and I mean, it was just kept a never ending circle. And I've noticed if I do set aside some time and go for a walk, yeah, normally outside, in the woods like you're saying somewhere, and, you know, just get some exercise. I mean, that, that helps. you know, I'm not the best at eating the right foods, but you know, the more I try. And lose a pound or two, I feel a whole lot better.

Moe Rateb 43:18

Oh yeah. So since the last time you saw me, I have lost about 30 pounds.

Trent Manning 43:24

Oh, wow. That's awesome. Congratulations.

Moe Rateb 43:28

I, what really kicked it off for me was this year I had to get a colonoscopy'cause I'm that old. And I was like, you know, once you go through that, you're like, I'm clean. I got a clean slate here. And then that's when, you know, spring started to roll around. So then you're thinking about gardening and vegetables and, you know, doing all that and getting out. And I started eating a lot better. You know, the talking about, you know, eating and. I didn't, I'll have a confession. I haven't listened to the last couple podcasts'cause I didn't wanna have that influence my talk with you.

Trent Manning 44:10

that's all good, man. Yeah, it's all good.

Moe Rateb 44:12

But yeah, I mean, you know, that kind of stuff. It, you know, it falls under addiction and I mean, it tastes so good. Food tastes good and

Trent Manning 44:24

me some food.

Moe Rateb 44:26

yeah. And

Trent Manning 44:27

eat.

Moe Rateb 44:28

you know, there comes a point where it starts affecting you adversely and you're just like I gotta do something. And yeah. So I've been lucky that with my position that we get real good health benefits and all that, that it's provided me the tools to be better in that way because I know it it's hard.

Trent Manning 44:46

Yeah, definitely hard.

Moe Rateb 44:48

But yeah, it's just, you know, hearing everybody talk about, you know, their struggles at one point, or whether it is at work or family, or, you know, something that they're willing to share it. You just realize that everybody's human and, you know, you, you just gotta be, I guess, nice to each other, more community. You know, Myrtle Beach is a great opportunity for, in, in short, I guess fellowship, like you say. Yeah. You know, it's just, I don't know, like a lot of us are introvert in our personalities in general. So just to be around a bunch of people that are, you know, like you that really helps a lot.

Trent Manning 45:36

yeah, for sure. You know, you're not alone, you know?

Moe Rateb 45:40

Yeah. And the big thing for me is you know, I'm older now, you know, and seeing some of these young guys go through some of that stuff, you know, just hang on bud.

Trent Manning 45:51

Yeah. Yep. Because you never know when it's going to affect you either.

Moe Rateb 45:58

Right. It,

Trent Manning 45:59

I was, you know, and not that I'd been like perfect mental mindset. I was way far from it. But I didn't realize I was struggling until, let's see, probably years ago, nine years ago, something like that. It was like, you know, I kind of hit rock Guam, and I'm like, okay, I gotta do something. Oh, I did a little something and rocked on for a while, and then I'm like, nah, still isn't right. You know what I mean? It's just, it's life's a journey, right?

Moe Rateb 46:36

Yeah.

Trent Manning 46:37

and it's full of ups and downs and we all know that. But it's one thing to, to know it, and I think it's another thing to be able to really think about it and process this is just a low point, or this is an a, a high point. and the thing that I, that's hard to get used to. Is the duration between the lows and the highs.'cause you know they're coming, right?

Moe Rateb 47:08

Right.

Trent Manning 47:08

They're more frequent and sometimes they're further spread out.

Moe Rateb 47:14

Yeah. For me low point was in 2007. My brother died in Iraq, and that's kind of where like my mental health journey started. His death was mental health related and, you know, that just kind of, I've always been an anxious person and it just kind of set it off really bad. And then, you know, you're talking about weight. I got up to 300 pounds and that was ridiculous. But you know, going to therapy, working it out, you know, now that I've got kids on my own, you know, you pay attention to that a lot more. My daughter, smart kid, good athlete, she's got a DHD and man, she can't get outta her way sometimes, but, you know, luckily my wife and I are able to provide or have access to the resources to help her. She, you know, she's 12 slash 1321 and, you know, they know everything. But yeah, it is just, you know, to be able to provide for your kids. In a way that you feel is well enough, you know, that makes you feel better. Where I know a lot of people struggle with, you know, it might not be financially or just, you know, in the relationships with their kids. And yes, kids are tough to deal with sometimes, but you know, everybody is dealing with everything all at the same time.

Trent Manning 48:48

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I

Moe Rateb 48:50

So

Trent Manning 48:50

some of it too, or, I mean, one thing I think about when you're talking about that is, and for me

Moe Rateb 48:58

I,

Trent Manning 48:58

is breaking the cycle of which I grew up with a lot of dysfunction,

Moe Rateb 49:07

too.

Trent Manning 49:07

unbe, you know, I did not know that at the time. but I. It took me, you know, 45 years to figure out that it was pretty dysfunctional. how did I parent my kids? Well, exactly the way I was parented, right? Because I, that's all I knew. I didn't know any better, you know, and, you know, it's, I mean, it's a shame, I'm glad I know what I know now after being in therapy you know, going to recovery stuff with the a CA, it's, it really is eye opening.

Moe Rateb 49:49

Yeah, I mean, you have to live long enough to do that though. And I'm fortunate enough that my wife, who has been a nurse forever, she's an amateur psychologist and will point that out to me every single time that I'm like, these kids are so soft these days, but you know, she's well, that's not how we do it here.

Trent Manning 50:10

Yeah, you're right. Right, right, right. That's so funny. That's good stuff.

Moe Rateb 50:14

But yeah, I'm lucky to have a wife that I have and the kids that I've got and all that and yes, they get on my nerves sometimes, but, you know, I love'em.

Trent Manning 50:23

Well, I do think that on a lighter note, family can irritate you a lot faster than anyone else in the world.

Moe Rateb 50:34

Oh yeah. You should interview my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law one day. Love her to death, but man.

Trent Manning 50:41

there. We won't go there. No thanks. Oh, that's good stuff. You ready to do some rapid fire questions?

Moe Rateb 50:54

Oh yeah.

Trent Manning 50:55

All right. Let's do this. What's your favorite movie?

Moe Rateb 50:59

I don't really have a movie, but I like documentaries about nature and serial killers. Like what? You know, in nature, how things work, and then serial killers, like what makes them tick. And then you're just like, how does somebody go to that extreme? But then you don't wanna really know that answer, do you?

Trent Manning 51:24

No. Prob probably not. What?

Moe Rateb 51:27

But yeah, I'm,

Trent Manning 51:29

go ahead.

Moe Rateb 51:30

oh, I was gonna say, I'm a lifelong learner, so just how things work, whether it's people or machines, you know, totally interest me.

Trent Manning 51:39

All about it. I understand that. I'm Zach. Same way. Always learning every day. What would be your last meal?

Moe Rateb 51:47

All you can eat buffet lobster and steak.

Trent Manning 51:50

yeah. That's so good. Y'all have some really good food down there in Charleston too, I might add.

Moe Rateb 51:57

You know, we do, but when you live here, you're like, man, can we get something new?

Trent Manning 52:03

yeah. I mean, I guess, I guess I, I

Moe Rateb 52:07

I'll tell you one thing. We went to Tampa for spring break this year, and I was probably like 15 minutes away from Mike Rollins. And we, I tried to get up with him, but he had something going on and didn't get up with him, but we went to this restaurant that was like it was like all about fresh food and it wasn't like vegetarian or vegan, but they had interesting choices. I mean, it was really good. And it was just like fresh food, not like here in the south you get a lot of fried food. Which is great, but you can't eat that all the time.

Trent Manning 52:45

Yep.

Moe Rateb 52:46

But yeah.

Trent Manning 52:47

I don't, yeah. Somebody asked me one time said, what kind of food do you like? I said, fried, you know, I mean

Moe Rateb 52:53

Yeah. I,

Trent Manning 52:54

and fried up. What are you most proud of besides your family?

Moe Rateb 52:59

my last blood work that I had

Trent Manning 53:03

Do share.

Moe Rateb 53:04

a lot of my medications were cut in half. Cholesterol was like rock bottom. The doctor wondered what I was doing. Yeah, it was just like, like I said, after that colonoscopy, it was like a clean slate and then you know, just working on it and, you know, getting the exercise and everything it was like, you can do it. You might need some tools to help you, you know, whether medications or a lot of these insurance programs you know, they have programs where, you know, you have a coach or somebody you can talk to. For a lot of people, you know, that's all it takes. Some people are militant enough to stick to something and those guys that run 10 miles a day at three in the morning, I wonder what they run from. But, you know, more power to'em.

Trent Manning 53:55

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 53:55

That's not my thing.

Trent Manning 53:57

Well, congratulations. I mean, that's awesome. And that's just due to the exercise and diet.

Moe Rateb 54:04

Yeah. Exercise, diet, I got some medication, you know, but I mean, the medication helps, but yeah, you still have to, you know, eat right and you can't just be taking it and then going and having the fried food.

Trent Manning 54:19

No, that's awesome, man. Good stuff. Well, thank you so much for being a guest. I've thoroughly enjoyed this. You got any last remarks?

Moe Rateb 54:30

no, I'm just like, it took about two years to get here, and when you asked me to be on, I was like, all, finally I made it.

Trent Manning 54:38

no. That's awesome, man. Yeah. I kind of feel bad. You've been in the WhatsApp group so long and I hadn't reached out, but here we are. We

Moe Rateb 54:46

yeah. you've always said, you've always said, if you want to be on, I'm like, eh, I don't know, what I have to offer. But with the mental health thing coming up so much, you know, the young guys, you know, just hang in there. It gets better. The older guys, you know, eat better, you'll be better.

Trent Manning 55:05

yeah. Yeah.

Moe Rateb 55:06

You know, it, it works. Doing better in general for everyone always helps.

Trent Manning 55:12

Yeah.

Moe Rateb 55:13

And the what the WhatsApp group is great for you know, just getting together and the camaraderie and everything.

Trent Manning 55:21

yeah, no it's been way better than I ever imagined. The, our community, the real turf tech community and the WhatsApp group and all that stuff. I never dreamed that it would turn into what it has, but I'm glad it has and I'm glad we're here. And if there is anybody that would like to be a guest, don't hesitate. You can do it. just did it. do it

Moe Rateb 55:46

Yeah.

Trent Manning 55:46

right? I mean, but I understand it's way out of most people's comfort zone, including Min, including mine. I, you know, three years ago I was nervous as a cat on a tin roof, right. doing this, but here we are. The more you get outta your comfort, the zone the easier it becomes.

Moe Rateb 56:08

Yeah, the more you'll grow, man. We all appreciate what you've done for this group. I

Trent Manning 56:14

thanks. Yeah, no, it's, I mean, I'll do it for the group, you know, that's what it's about. It's about the people. Well, thank you. I hope you have a good evening and we will see you around in the WhatsApp group.

Moe Rateb 56:26

all right. You too, Trent. It was great being on.

Trent Manning 56:33

thank you so much for listening to the Reel turf techs podcast. I hope you learned something today. Don't forget to subscribe. If you have any topics you'd like to discuss, or you'd like to be a guest, find us on Twitter at Reel turf techs.