Vestavia Country Club Maintenance Facility

There is a lot that goes into keeping a great golf course in great shape that most golfers never get to see. Wellington Golf Co. recently got a look behind the curtain at Vestavia Country Club in Birmingham with Director of Agronomy Hunter Salts and his sidekick, Brooks the Boykin Spaniel.

I started the day by playing Vestavia with Hunter. VCC has always stood out as one of the best-conditioned courses in the Southeast, so it was especially fun to loop it with the guy responsible for keeping it dialed in every day. Playing with Hunter also gives you a different perspective on the course. Things most golfers probably never think twice about are exactly the things he is paying attention to throughout the round.

After golf, Hunter took us over to VCC's maintenance facility for a behind-the-scenes tour of the operation.

The first thing that stands out is just how much equipment it takes to maintain a golf course at this level. The building is packed with John Deere equipment, from walking greens mowers and specialized cutting units to larger fairway mowers and utility vehicles. There seems to be a machine for just about every job on the property.

Even more impressive was how well everything is maintained. These machines get used constantly, but the shop and equipment were incredibly organized and kept in great shape. When you are cutting greens at extremely low heights and trying to produce consistent conditions every morning, keeping the equipment sharp and properly adjusted is a huge part of the job.

It was a cool reminder of just how much work happens before most of us ever show up at the first tee. By the time golfers arrive, Hunter and his crew have already been out mowing, rolling, setting pins, preparing bunkers and getting the course ready for another day.

And, of course, Brooks was there to help supervise the whole operation. Hunter's Boykin is right at home around the maintenance facility and made the tour even better. Golf courses, a room full of cool equipment and a Boykin wandering around is a pretty good combination for WGC.

Getting to play Vestavia with Hunter and then see what goes on behind the scenes made for a great day. We all appreciate a golf course in great condition, but it is easy to overlook the people, equipment and early mornings that make it happen.

At VCC, Hunter and his team keep the place dialed, with Brooks keeping a close eye on things along the way.

Read our full interview with Hunter Salts we did a few months back!