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Welcome to the Reel Turf Techs Podcast, Episode 174.

Today we’re talking with Bryan Epland, CTEM, Equipment Manager at Luling Sport in Luling, Texas. Bryan originally joined us back while he was at Arbor Links in Nebraska. Now he’s taken on a much bigger operation at Luling Sport, a new private 36-hole club set on an 1,100-acre ranch. Bryan leads a shop team of three assistants and a fleet manager while keeping a large and growing fleet moving.

Bryan shares his path from the Army and automotive work into the turf industry after an unexpected conversation at a local barbecue restaurant. He also talks about making the decision to leave Arbor Links after nearly 10 years and take on the challenge of helping build something new from the ground up.

They catch up on what it's like working in a fast-moving new-build environment, managing a larger team with different personalities, and finding technicians in a small oilfield town. Bryan talks about the long mowing routes and travel demands that come with an 1,100-acre property, the challenges of different soil types, and the differences he's found between equipment brands.

The conversation also gets into Luling Sport’s plans for a new climate-controlled maintenance facility, along with reel and bedknife setup, maintaining consistent cut quality, and working with Zoysia greens in a year-round growing environment.

And because this is a catch-up with a returning guest, Bryan reflects on what's changed since in the past four years, what he's learned along the way, and the importance of communicating with your team, especially when the day isn't going according to plan.

It’s a great look at what happens when an equipment manager leaves an established operation and takes on the challenge of building something from the ground up.

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