Winner Ray Harmon, Superintendent of Fox Run Golf Centre (seated). Standing: Jay Van Camp, Sales Representative of Utica Golf & Turf, Rhonda Flanery, Manager of Sales and Marketing, JDC Golf & Turf , Brian Kerry, Owner, Utica Golf & Turf, and Neil Smith, John Deere Golf & Turf Territory Manager.

Ontario Course Superintendent Wins John Deere™ Gator Utility Vehicle

Last fall, Ray Harman took a few minutes to fill out the survey and enter the drawing in the John Deere Credit First to Know Campaign. It was definitely worth the time, because last month Harman learned he’d won the grand prize, a John Deere Gator™ Utility Vehicle.

“We can definitely use it,” said Harman, partner and superintendent of the Fox Run Golf Centre in Ajax, Ontario. “It’ll go right into the fleet and see light duty at first, mostly around the driving range.”

As a small practice course, Fox Run doesn’t require a huge fleet of equipment. But Harman noted that the 15 pieces in the fleet are John Deere for a reason: quality.

“The Gators we have are good and reliable,” he said, “and since they’re light on the turf we don’t have to worry about ground compaction.”

Fox Run acquires most of its equipment on a lease-to-own basis, mainly because they make every effort to take care of it. “We’re fussy about our equipment,” said Harman, “so it works out for us to use the dollar buyout and hang on to it.”

Harman’s John Deere distributor is Utica Golf and Turf, just 15 minutes away in Port Perry, and Harman says their commitment to service nicely complements the John Deere commitment to quality equipment. “They’re there when we need them, and even though we’re a smaller course, they treat us like we’re a 36-hole championship resort.”

Other Winners

• $2,000 parts/service credit (1st Prize) - Glencoe Golf & Country Club, Medicine, AB
  Distributor is Martin Equipment Ltd (73-3021).
• $1,000 parts/service credit (2nd Prize) - Loch March Golf & Country Club, Kanata, ON
  Distributor is Utica Farm Equipment (73-3007).