GTE Partners acquires Global Turf Equipment

GTE Partners purchased Global Turf Equipment (GTE), an independent seller and exporter of pre-owned golf course equipment, and sister company Turf Equipment Rental.

Davis Sezna will now assume the role of chief executive officer, Will Sezna will serve as president and Walt McMahon will become the chief operations officer within the new organization. The prior co-owners of GTE and Turf Equipment Rental, CEO Jim Sartain and President Pat Yarbrough, will remain with the company as consultants.

“We are pleased to announce the sale of Global Turf Equipment and Turf Equipment Rental to GTE Partners, LLC, which is focused on expanding those companies across the United States,” said Jim Sartain, chief executive officer of GTE. “Pat and I look forward to continuing on as consultants to make the transition as seamless as possible.”

“Having spent our entire lives around the game of golf and in the hospitality business, we have tremendous respect for those who work so diligently to care for our courses and facilities,” said Davis Sezna, CEO of GTE Partners, LLC. “Our mission is to provide a best in class option for our superintendents and their teams.”

Davis Sezna brings nearly 40 years of experience and a proven track record of success in both the golf and food service industries. He has led several companies including 1492 Hospitality Group and Tandem Hospitality, La Quinta Resort and PGA West and The Cliffs Communities. Sezna’s experience at these companies extended to restaurants, golf courses, private clubs, master planning and development.

Based outside Tampa, GTE showcases 400-600 “like new” machines across several warehouses totaling more than 35,000 sq. ft. Offering savings of up to 50 percent on products from brand leaders like Toro, John Deere, Jacobsen and Club Car, its inventory includes fairway green and rough mowers; top dressers and spreaders; trim mowers; turf aerators, sprayers, vacuums and blowers; utility vehicles and more.

Servicing golf facilities in all 50 states and more than 80 countries, GTE carries high quality, low hour, off-lease equipment. All machines purchased from GTE have received a thorough inspection of the engine, drive train, electrical system, hydraulic system and cutting units. They also come with a minimum of 50 percent of reel and tire life remaining, as well as new oil and oil filters, fuel and fuel filters, spark plugs, hydraulic fluid and hydraulic filters, rotary blades, bedknives and more.