Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission

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Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission: Royal Cromer Golf Club, ranked in England’s Top 100, has doubled down on its commitment to sustainability with the help of Toro and Reesink Turfcare, expanding its fleet with three new Toro eTriFlex 3370 electric mowers and an upgraded Toro irrigation system.

Under the leadership of Course Manager Mark Heveran, who joined the club in 2010, Royal Cromer in Norfolk has already made impressive strides in terms of sustainability, working in collaboration with the R&A’s sustainable agronomy team, and reducing herbicide, pesticide, fungicide, and water use across its maritime, clifftop course.

Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission

Royal Cromer supercharges sustainability mission

Additionally, Royal Cromer has cut nitrogen inputs by over two-thirds and transformed the botanical composition of its turf, favouring bents and fescues for their improved resistance to drought, disease, erosion, and compaction.

As Mark explains, the next step on Royal Cromer’s green mission had to be investing in three new powerful Toro eTriFlex 3370 all-electric mowers, supplied by Reesink: “Being a Top 100 English club, we have more eyes on us than ever, so there’s never been a better time to upgrade our existing fleet. 

“Two of the mowers are eight-bladed and set up for tees and surrounds, while the other is eleven-bladed and perfect for greens,” he continues. “And the benefit with this setup is that they’re fully interchangeable. 

“We can easily swap the different units from one machine to another, giving us real versatility on the course. Each eTriFlex 3370 comes fully loaded with grooming brushes, which allow us to tiller the turf, removing any debris and preparing the grass leaf for the perfect cut. These mowers have been excellent so far, and the advancement in quality of cut is truly phenomenal.”

Given the course’s challenging clifftop terrain, safety is a key consideration for Royal Cromer, and one Mark takes seriously. “All our new Toro mowers are equipped with three-wheel drive kits,” he reveals. “For our coastal course, with its ranging undulations, these are perfect; the machines stick to the ground, so there are no sliding issues – which gives me peace of mind.”

In addition to the mowers, Royal Cromer has upgraded its existing Toro irrigation system. As part of the club’s mission to improve its biodiversity, Mark and the team are replacing artificial walkways with new natural alternatives, which will, of course, require irrigation. 

“Although we’ve added more sprinkler heads, we’re using the most up-to-date Lynx software from Toro to monitor and optimise our water usage,” explains Mark. “For the last 10 years, it has helped us reduce our water outputs significantly, monitoring and delivering our irrigation, right down to the millimetre.”

Indeed, Royal Cromer’s commitment to sustainability is part of a broader vision for the club’s promising future. “We’re setting up Royal Cromer for hundreds of years to come,” says Mark. “I see myself and my dedicated team as the custodians of this golf course, following in the footsteps of greats like Old Tom Morris, who played an important role in designing our course. And our goal is to take people on a journey, through a historic coastal golf course, while ensuring we operate as sustainably as possible.”

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Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

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Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings: Ticking the boxes for build quality and ease of use is a Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck for the team at Newmarket Racecourse.

Not only that, the new delivery by Vanmac in June 2024 complements a pair of Progressive TDR-15’s and – at 50% wider – has contributed to significant savings in both labour and fuel-usage according to Estates Manager Alan Hatherley.

Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

Progressive TDR-22/6 tri-deck presents savings

An iconic stop on the equine circuit, Newmarket Racecourse comprises of two courses – The July Course and Rowley Mile – which, between them, play host to 37 race meets between April and the end of October. Alan has been working on the site for 20 years, and for the last 12 of those, has been using solutions from Progressive for mowing the 28-hectares of racing surface.

“We’ve always been really impressed with the build quality and the aftersales service we get with Progressive, but with managing challenges with the weather and ever-tightening mowing windows, the time was right to add something wider” explains Alan, who heads-up a team of nine grounds staff. “We went straight to Vanmac and spoke with Jeremy Vincent about the TDR-22/6 tri-deck.”

The TDR-22/6 tri-deck roller finishing mower from Progressive combines productivity with performance – its 22 foot (6.7m) combined width, and front and rear rollers, and unique 6 blade rotors per deck deliver a precise and balanced cut, outstanding presentation and unbeatable contour following ability. “This, like our previous mowers, is well-built, not over-engineered and easy to maintain which, in practical terms, gives us a mower that’s user-friendly to operate and generally means fewer things to go wrong!”

Alan continues, “As soon as the TDR-22/6 tri-deck arrived at the end of June we were out with it straight away, to make the most of the time saving element. Where it used to take us nine hours to mow all areas of the two tracks, we can now complete the job in six. That doesn’t just reduce labour and give us a better chance to mow ahead of forecasted rainfall, it presents a significant reduction in fuel usage which is a big step towards reducing our environmental footprint.”

“We don’t cut when it’s wet but will mow as and when required throughout the year so, a mild winter for example, will see us continuing to mow in December. With the TDR-22/6 tri-deck, we know we can confidently get the job done quickly and effectively, no matter the ground conditions.”

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Makita trimmer stands poles apart

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Makita trimmer stands poles apart: The new cordless 40VMax XGT UN001G Brushless Pole Hedge Trimmer from Makita provides a lightweight and powerful option for cutting thick branches. Its performance capability comes from its 40Vmax XGT Li-ion battery and thick shear 600mm blade. In addition, professionals will appreciate smart, practical features that include an adjustable blade angle as well as a reverse function to clear jams.

One of the latest additions to Makita’s growing and reliable outdoor range, the XGT UN001G Pole Hedge Trimmer has been specifically designed for heavier load applications. Featuring a sharper three-facet obliquely ground blade (double sided rough cut type), the UN001G provides up to 4,000 cutting strokes per minute. With its 3-speed design, the trimmer offers an impressive maximum cutting diameter of 20mm. The angle of the head can be adjusted in six steps between 45o upward and 70o downwards. A new lock-off lever mechanism has been added as an additional safety feature and the machine also features an auto power off function to prevent accidental start-up if is left unused for a period of time.

Furthermore, the tool is significantly lighter than other trimmers currently available on the market at just 4.7 – 5.9kg, which means cutting thick branches overhead is made easier and more convenient. The inclusion of a grease nipple and the fact that oil can be supplied with a grease gun, without removing the bolt on the oil supply port, makes maintenance hassle free. Finally, when not in use, it can be folded down for easy transport and storage.

“The UN001G Brushless Cordless Pole Trimmer represents everything Makita is known for: performance and quality,” explained Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK. “It is IPX4 compatible and has been designed to help professional landscapers and grounds maintenance teams to tackle thick branches, even at height, with ease from ground level. Efficient and effective, it’s another high-performance addition to our expanding 40VMax XGT range.”

To find out more about the UN001G 40VMax XGT Brushless Cordless Pole Trimmer and other Makita products visit: www.makitauk.com.

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