Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder

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Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder: Auchterarder Golf Club in the heart of Penrithshire, Scotland, has chosen Toro again for straight replacements of two of its pivotal mowers.

The club needed to update its frontline cutting equipment and decided there was no comparison on the market for the Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 hybrid for the greens and Toro’s Groundsmaster 3500-D for the tee banks at its parkland course.

Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder

Nothing compares to Toro for Auchterarder

Shaun McNaugton, Head Greenkeeper, says: “We’ve tried other brands over the years but always come back to Toro.”

The reasons for this are quite straightforward, he says: “The club has used Toro since before my time and I’ve worked here for 21 years. Every piece of equipment we buy must earn its keep and deliver a return on our investment. I expect longevity, value, performance, and reliability.”

Shaun moved away from his usual diesel greens mower last year, opting instead for the Greensmaster TriFlex 3420 hybrid model and he’s been so impressed with the savings in fuel with no compromise on performance that he ordered another.

“I haven’t done any number crunching on the diesel savings but they’re certainly obvious and significant’” he says. “It operates so efficiently in energy savings mode, representing impressive value.”

Another key selling point is the machine’s reduction in hydraulic components, says Shaun: “Reducing the risk of hydraulic leaks on the greens was equally as important as the savings in fuel consumption,” he confirms.

The Groundsmaster 3500-D that Shaun is replacing is 17 years old. He says: “That kind of longevity is important to us, but the technology in this machine is equally as important.

“It’s as if the Groundsmaster with Sidewinder was designed specifically for our course,” he continues. “In a parkland setting with an undulating landscape and sloping tee banks, the technology behind this machine comes into its own. Its easy manoeuvring and shifting cutting units deliver a close cut around the trees, on the bankings, and along hedgerows saving an unbelievable amount of effort and delivering a superb aesthetic.”

Add to that the fact that Toro machines are, according to Shaun, “easy to maintain, incur minimal downtime and a firm favourite with all the full- and part-time staff who use them as well as the local mechanic” and it makes sense that Auchterarder Golf Club is a repeat customer for distributor Reesink Scotland, the Scottish service branch of Reesink Turfcare based in Livingston.

John Rankin, Area Sales for Reesink Scotland, says: “Anyone who has the pleasure of playing or visiting Auchterarder Golf Club will know it is maintained with the utmost pride. Shaun is a loyal customer who trusts Toro implicitly to support him and the team as they endeavour to present the course in the best order possible.”

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EGO introduces professional backpack sprayer

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EGO introduces professional backpack sprayer: Battery-powered outdoor power equipment specialist, EGO Power+, has launched its first backpack sprayer, designed for precise, comfortable, and efficient spraying within the garden.

With a 15L capacity, the battery-powered BSP3500E Backpack Sprayer features onboard variable flow control of up to 24 bar to deliver the pressure required for a variety of jobs around the garden. Designed for spraying pesticides during the spring to late summer seasons, the sprayer is also powerful enough for light cleaning jobs in the garden.

EGO introduces professional backpack sprayer

EGO introduces professional backpack sprayer

Featuring four nozzles, a stainless-steel wand and a double filtration system, the backpack sprayer provides the versatility to tackle a wide range of jobs. Clog-free performance within the nozzles and heavy-duty rubber hose ensures long-lasting performance, while a translucent tank maximises ease of use.

As well as this, the durable harness is designed for comfortable operation, while the lance handle allows users to intuitively control the spray, ensuring efficient coverage and reduced fatigue during extended work sessions.

Andrew Frohock, Product Manager for EGO, said: “We are proud to have built a reputation for delivering high-performance battery-powered gardening equipment, so our first backpack sprayer feels like a natural addition to our range and we’re proud to be launching it in 2025.

“We are always thinking of how we can use our battery technology to further aid customers with their work, and with this product, they can expect to find the same level of power, comfort and durability that they experience with our landscaping tools.”

Powered by EGO’s 56V ARC LithiumTM battery technology and a brushless motor, the BSP3500E works with any portable battery from the EGO range, the 5.0Ah battery is particularly recommended as it delivers up to 120 minutes of use. To protect the battery when in use, the tool has an integrated cover ensuring moisture cannot reach it.

Featuring a three-plunger pump and supplied with an adjustable cone, fan, shower, and foaming nozzles, the BSP3500E retails at £349, batteries are available separately.

To learn more visit: https://egopowerplus.co.uk/products/lifestyle/bsp3500E-15l-backback-sprayer

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Trump International trust Consolidate Products

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Trump International trust Consolidate Products: Maintaining world-class playing conditions on a rugged coastal Links course is no easy task. At Trump International, Scotland, Course Manager Eddie Irvine and his team face the relentless challenge of keeping their renowned course pristine year-round, all while preparing for the grand opening of the New Course in the Summer
of 2025.

The new New Course joins the existing 18-hole Old Course, which stretches along the dramatic Aberdeenshire coastline. With breathtaking views of the North Sea on nearly every hole, the course demands playing surfaces that match its striking scenery. For over 12 years, Head Greenkeeper of the Old Course Eddie Irvine and his team of 14 have been committed to delivering exceptional Links conditions while preserving the course’s natural beauty.

Trump International trust Consolidate Products

Trump International trust Consolidate Products

Achieving the perfect balance of firmness, speed, and healthy colour is a constant challenge in Links golf. Eddie first explored Consolidate products through the Scottish distributor GroGreen Ltd, working closely with Kenny Liddell to trial Consolidate Links to see how well the product could penetrate the plant during cooler temperatures, which is a vital factor in Scotland’s climate.

“The initial trial was a success,” Eddie explains. “We saw immediate improvements in colour and turf health using Consolidate Links, and from there, we expanded to using Consolidate Plus+ and Fairway. We’ve now integrated them into our annual agronomy programme across the entire Old Course and our grow-in plan for the New Course.

“Getting that colour and the surfaces to still be firm and fast is a great achievement. We were looking for the colour to be right. Obviously, we’re a Links course, but we still want to maintain the healthy colour on the surfaces, and that’s why we spoke with Kenny and trialled Consolidate.

“Our overall experience with GroGreen and Consolidate made using their products on the New Course an easy decision. Construction of the new course started in May last year, and we’ve been using Consolidate products on it since the end of 2024.”

At Trump International, Scotland, the entire course needs to be immaculate all year round, including the walkways. For Eddie, one of the key strengths of working with Consolidate products is the ability to have custom mixes.

To keep their extensive network of ultra-fine rye walkways pristine all year round, Consolidate formulated a bespoke mixture which could help elevate quality despite the harsh conditions and high foot traffic.

“The guys from Consolidate came up with a bespoke mix for our walkways to help us maintain them to the highest standards and keep their colour and the plant growth,” Eddie explains.

“We are impressed with how it’s worked and the speed at which they can provide us with the product. Generally, we’re able to receive new products within a couple of days, and that’s really important for us.”

Head Greenkeeper for the New Course Luke Ebersold and his team plan to continue to use Consolidate’s range of products to uphold their high standards and work to provide what Trump International, Scotland, claims will be ‘the greatest 36 holes in golf’.

Optimising Turf Health with Consolidate at Highwoods Golf Club

With a career spanning 20 years, Jamie Melham, Head Greenkeeper at one of the finest in Sussex, Highwoods Golf Club, brings his experience and collaboration with specialist for Consolidate Turf, Rob Welford, to enhance the health and aesthetics of the golf course. He is keen to understand the science behind turf health and to implement the means to maintain it. e is the fact that the club.

Jamie began his greenkeeping journey two decades ago, accruing experience at Dale Hill Golf Club and Lamberhurst Golf Club before joining Highwoods Golf Club, where he has been for over eight years leading a team of six greens staff. His role involves not just maintaining the course but also continuously experimenting with and refining turf management practices.

Jamie’s partnership with Rob Welford from Consolidate Turf www.consolidateturf.com started 3 years ago and has been instrumental in transforming the nutrient management approach at Highwoods. Rob’s expertise and responsiveness have provided Jamie with confidence and reliable support, and the use of consolidate products played a big part in the presentation of the course, when the club celebrated its centenary year in 2024.

One specific challenge Jamie faced was the inconsistency in fertilizer prill size from a different supplier. Initially, Rob assessed the golf course’s overall plant health, leading to the transition from granular to liquid fertilizers for more consistent results, using Consolidate Plus to kickstart the greens early in the season. This approach has proven successful for three consecutive seasons.

Jamie explains “I began by applying Consolidate products to the approach areas and soon extended their use to the greens. I am now on a full annual package of Consolidate liquids, including seaweed, potassium, magnesium, and other nutrients, which are customised yearly to meet the specific needs for growth, colour and overall turf health.”

“Like all our customers we have a bespoke programme for Jamie,” explains Rob “The use of the Consolidate nitrogen source gives the turf an efficient food source to make the building blocks of proteins and amino acids to deliver healthy results on the greens without any of the associated drawbacks of conventional nitrogen sources. The liquids provide the control needed to deliver the correct dosage. We do leaf analysis to check the plant is receiving everything it needs. This is coupled with a programme for approaches and fairways, tailored for his individual needs and requirements in these different areas.

For the approaches, Jamie maintains a treatment schedule of every three weeks, a practice he also applies during the winter to prevent disease. “The results speak for themselves” said Jamie “With consistent progress across every area treated. Improvements in colour, grass strength and wearability, less disease and faster recovery.” This has led to expanding these practices to the fairways, using Consolidate products across all key areas of the course and making ongoing adjustments based on Rob’s recommendations.

In addition to using Consolidate products, Jamie incorporates feedback from the Sports Turf Research Institute (STRI) into his maintenance program. STRI provides annual soil analysis, which Jamie, and Rob review to adjust the nutrient program, as necessary. This collaboration ensures that the turf management practices are continuously optimized based on scientific data.

The structured and scientifically backed approach to turf management, combined with Rob’s products and STRI’s analysis, provides reassurance to the club’s board, allowing Jamie to focus on maintaining his own ambitious standards.

For further information visit www.consolidateturf.com

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Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course

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Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course: The milestone of the ‘1000th installation’ of Hydrowick greens drainage is on the horizon for specialist sports turf contractors Djuke, and ensuring they get there is a trio of tractors from Kubota.

Djuke Managing Director Cameron McMillan is no stranger to Kubota reliability having been loyal to the brand for over 30 years, with his latest purchase of an M5-112 and L2-522 from Lister Wilder providing the dependable power to tackle every task and every terrain with ease.

Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course

Kubota reliability keeps contractors Djuke on course

Starting at the world-renowned Sunningdale Golf Club, Cameron went on to continue his course management career at Queenwood Golf Club before establishing Djuke in 2013. The contractors have gone on to become the UK’s leading specialists in Hydrowick Drainage – a patented ‘wick’ system providing the fast and effective drainage of golf greens. With more intense and prolonged periods of rainfall, Cameron explains that demand is ever-increasing meaning that reliability is pivotal to keeping the whole contracting schedule on track.

“Together with new clubs, a lot of our work is repeat custom who find that the wettest green on the course becomes the driest with Hydrowick and want to replicate that site-wide” he explains. “Our schedule is tight so we have no margin for error, and certainly no time for machinery breakdowns!”

“Kubota, for me, has always been super reliable, comfortable and capable of everything you need from a tractor.” That confidence was reaffirmed with the recent addition of the M5-112 and L2-522 in December 2024. The two new machines joined their existing L2-501, which continues to deliver exceptional performance after more than 2,500 hours of service. “Every job and every green is different so we now have machines to suit all terrain and all ground types – lightweight tractors with good pulling power for the greens, together with our new M5-112 with greater lift capacity for operating bigger equipment on fairways and sports surfaces.”

“One feature the team really like is the creeper gearbox, giving complete control over the operation of some of our bespoke and precision-based implements” he adds. “In addition the heated and air-conditioned cabs are a popular choice, keeping us comfortable in all conditions.”

With routine maintenance simple enough to conduct in-house, further servicing and support is delivered by Lister Wilder, whom Cameron has also worked alongside for more than three decades. “Everything with Lister’s is reliable and professional. You know they understand the machines inside and out which provides added peace of mind with every purchase.”

“Kubota’s brilliant build quality combined with the regular maintenance means that in over 10 years of business, we’ve never missed a job and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”

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