Kubota Performance Helps Premier Lakes Grow with Linder Turf & Tractor

Founded in late 2022 out of Fort Myers, Fla., Premier Lakes Inc. has quickly grown from a couple of trucks and employees into a family-owned operation focused on pond and lake management. With decades of experience in the industry, President Alex Kurth and his father, Bill Kurth, who now serves as Vice President, wanted to build their own company focused on quality maintenance services.

“We started from the ground up with no outside financing — just the two of us building relationships and going after clients,” recalled Alex. “Since then, we’ve grown into a very successful business. We’re excited by how fast we’ve been able to scale while still providing a high level of service.”

Alex, who earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from Florida Gulf Coast University, chose to enter the same industry that shaped his father’s career.

“I grew up in Florida, so I always had an interest in anything water-based and a passion for taking care of our planet,” shared Alex. “This industry is unique and niche, and it allows me to be outdoors while also serving a purpose. We get to help maintain these ponds in an environmentally responsible way.”

Premier Lakes now works across much of South Florida, ranging from Naples to Tampa on the western side and from Boca Raton to Vero Beach on the eastern side, while also serving parts of Central Florida, including the Orlando market. Its customer base ranges from single-family homeowners to large HOA and CDD communities, including premier golf course properties and expansive wetland systems.

“We service everybody, and we treat all our clients the same,” said Alex. “Our largest community has 57 miles of shoreline and hundreds of acres of wetlands. We’re proud to work in some of the premier communities in the state and provide a very high level of service.”

The company focuses on managing stormwater ponds, lakes, wetlands, fountains and aeration systems.

“Most of the work we do is ongoing maintenance,” explained Alex. “We’re making sure ponds stay clean, shorelines stay maintained, fountains keep running and aeration systems support better water quality. We also do shoreline restoration and conservation-area work to keep invasive species under control.”

To efficiently handle each task, Premier Lakes recently hired its 30th employee. Alex believes the quality of the field team is what clients notice most.

“In a service business, you’re only as good as the people you put in the field,” stated Alex. “We’ve invested heavily in experienced employees. That gives clients confidence that the person maintaining their property really knows what they’re doing.”

Invested in Kubota

That philosophy carries directly into equipment decisions. Premier Lakes has built a fleet around Kubota RTV-X utility vehicles, using them as mobile platforms for custom spray rigs. The company recently added its 21st RTV-X and expects to continue expanding the fleet as demand grows.

“The Kubota RTV-X series has really been a game changer for us,” declared Alex. “It’s more rugged and capable than systems we used in the past, and it has allowed us to get into areas we typically couldn’t. That efficiency has helped us achieve more than we thought was possible from our vehicles.”

The Kubota RTV-X utility vehicles play a central role in daily operations because they allow technicians to move quickly from pond to pond without the delays that come with launching a boat at every stop. On steep or uneven embankments, that mobility becomes even more important, especially when crews are working around new construction, muddy access points or washed-out shorelines.

“Previous equipment might have gotten stuck or slid out in those conditions,” remarked Alex. “With this system, especially the hydraulic transmission, we’ve been able to get through a lot of places where other equipment would have failed. That saves time, and time matters in every part of our business.”

Senior Aquatic Technician Mitchell Hartwig sees those benefits in the field every day. With about a decade of experience in the industry, Mitchell handles algae, invasive weeds, shoreline growth and general pond conditions across multiple properties. He added that the RTV-X stands out because it gives operators comfort and confidence on the kind of terrain the job demands.

“I’ve used other brands, and out of all of them, I enjoy the Kubota the most,” commented Mitchell. “I feel a lot less concerned about getting stuck, and the four-wheel drive has been very useful for the terrain we deal with. It’s a strong machine for the type of work we do. I also enjoy the seat comfort and the way it handles compared to bench-seat machines I’ve used before. You’re not sliding all over the place on slopes, and the storage is useful too. When you’re in the machine all day, those details matter.”

Premier Lakes separates itself from the competition with the spray systems mounted on each machine, which are designed and built in-house. The rigs include a 100-gallon setup with a 70-30 baffle split that allows crews to carry separate mixes at the same time, supporting faster application and fewer interruptions in the field.

“It’s a unique design for our industry,” noted Alex. “We can operate an algaecide and a grass mix at the same time, which helps us stay efficient. At the end of the day, everybody is spraying herbicides, but we want to do it in the most efficient manner possible.”

The equipment strategy also supports Premier Lakes’ environmental goals. While herbicides and algaecides remain part of the work, Alex said the company actively searches for ways to reduce chemical use through dyes, bacteria and other nonchemical treatments that improve water quality over time.

“We want to be environmentally friendly and reduce our footprint where we can, so we’re trying to be proactive and use less herbicide,” emphasized Alex. 

Timely support

Premier Lakes pairs its equipment investment with strong distributor support from Linder Turf & Tractor. The relationship started at a critical time, when supply chain issues still affected equipment availability after COVID-19. 

“When we were a new company, Linder stepped up tremendously,” said Alex. “They got us equipment three times faster than anybody else was willing to do, and that got us rolling. Since then, the support from sales, service and administration has been exactly what we need from a partner.”

That responsiveness remains a major reason why Premier Lakes continues buying equipment from Linder Turf & Tractor. According to Alex, recent purchases have been turned around in less than 48 hours, with delivery made directly to the company’s property, so crews can stay in the field instead of losing productive time on pickups.

“That convenience for us and that service means a lot,” Alex emphasized. “Linder has been phenomenal.”

Alex also highlighted Regional Sales Manager Cory Kukral as a key part of the relationship. From fast replies to help with Kubota financing, Alex said Cory has worked as an advocate for the business and helped make each purchase process smooth. 

Continued growth

As Premier Lakes looks ahead, Alex wants the company to keep growing without losing its family culture or service standards.