May 15, 2023 - Turf Matters

Overseeder pivotal in post-drought programme: A Redexim Overseeder 1575 3D proved a timely purchase for the team at Malone Golf Club as, like many venues across the country, overseeding work was high on the autumn agenda to recover the damage from the summer-time drought.

Delivered in August 2022, the new disc-seeder was out and in use immediately across the 27-hole complex and according to Workshop Manager Chris Walsh, the results of the operation have been very impressive.

Overseeder pivotal in post-drought programme

A championship parkland course situated on 330 acres of undulating ground close to Belfast city centre, Malone proves a challenge for players and greens staff alike. “Our profile is sandy meaning that in the summer we burn up fast. With the long dry spell of weather we had last year we really struggled with coverage in areas such as fairways and tee boxes which aren’t covered by the irrigation system” explains Chris, who forms part of a ten-strong maintenance team.

“Previously we would call in contractors to carry out overseeding, but you find yourself limited by their availability so we decided to purchase our own machine so that we can overseed precisely when and where we need to.” Redexim Regional Partners Cyril Johnston demonstrated the 1.5m wide disc seeder which, suited to a range of ground conditions and featuring easily adjustable delivery rates, ticked all of the boxes.

“This Overseeder 3D is really well built and super simple to set-up and operate” Chris explains. “One thing in particular we noticed was the accuracy of seed delivery which is ever more critical as the cost of seed continues to go up. The strike rate we got from the work we conducted across the site was fantastic and, while we were concerned about the slits opening up in the continued hot conditions, we didn’t get any of that. The rear roller helps to ensure that the seed remains exactly where it needs to be and seals the groove up to bring the course back into play almost immediately.”

The service, from both Cyril Johnston and Redexim’s Ian Lauder also impressed the team. “Everything from the demonstration and advice, through to the delivery and training we received was first-class.” He continues, “Now that we’re not waiting on contractors, we can really push ahead with overseeding, fitting it in and around our packed golf programme to build on course improvements and cope with the challenges that mother nature throws at us. This machine will pay for itself in no time.”

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STIHL launches new range of water pumps: STIHL has launched its first range of petrol 4-stroke water pumps, specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of agricultural, construction and hire markets.

The new range consists of two models, the WP 300 and WP 600. The WP 600 boasts a robust cast iron impeller, a powerful 4.4 kW engine and 3” hose connections for the delivery of large volumes of water up to 63 m3/h, and comes complete with an integrated suction filter to protect the pump from dirt particles.

STIHL launches new range of water pumps

With a similar design, its counterpart the WP 300 includes the same features as the WP 600 except for 2” hose connections and a lower 37 m3/h delivery capacity for smaller jobs.

The WP 300 and WP 600 can be fuelled by STIHL’s Moto4Plus, a high quality alkylate fuel specifically designed for small 4-stroke engines. Compared to forecourt fuel, Moto4Plus has a significantly longer shelf life, less harmful emissions and no tank drainage requirement when in storage.

Both pumps offer intuitive technology including low oil protection, meaning the engine switches off when the engine oil level falls below the safe operation threshold. An anti-vibration system also helps to reduces mechanical stress.

Designed with user comfort in mind, the WP 300 and WP 600 offer a sturdy frame for excellent stability and easy transportation, simple controls and toolless access to the air filter for easy maintenance.

All STIHL tools, including both water pumps, are compatible with the STIHL Connected fleet management system. Installing a STIHL Smart Connector allows the runtime to be recorded and sent to the user’s smartphone via Bluetooth for accurate usage and maintenance records.

For more information on STIHL’s new petrol water pumps, please visit www.stihl.co.uk