PRO 34R Tops Warwick Wish-List

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PRO 34R Tops Warwick Wish-List: Duncan Toon, Grounds Manager for Warwick Independent Schools Foundation, says that when he heard rumours about the new Dennis PRO 34R rotary mower, he instantly added it to his wish-list.

Warwick School, Warwick Junior School, King’s High School and Warwick Preparatory School are justly proud of their sporting success, including national awards, and the ability to provide all its pupils the opportunity to play their chosen sport.  Essential to their achievements are high quality and well-maintained sports pitches.  Therefore, the Foundation has recently made additional investments in its grounds in a bid to ensure the very finest sporting facilities.

PRO 34R Tops Warwick Wish-List

After joining the Foundation from Birmingham City FC nine months ago, Duncan’s first port of call was to acquire a new fleet of machinery which would help him to maintain the sports surfaces to the highest standards. It was while he was researching an extensive list of equipment that he first caught wind of the news Dennis was bringing out a new product.

“I had heard rumours about this new machine which was set to be a game changer and Dennis was always on my wish-list because I know they manufacture reliable machinery. I arranged a demonstration as soon as I could and based on what I saw I knew I just had to have one. I was amazed with how well built it was – it was robust and the finish was fantastic.”

As Duncan says, the rumours started to mount after the PRO 34R was first introduced to the industry at SALTEX 2017 with the sole purpose of gathering feedback from potential end users. Over the course of the next twelve months, the mower was refined and developed based on the input from the groundsmen who would eventually be using it. With no stone left unturned, the all new PRO 34R was unveiled at SALTEX 2018.

The Dennis PRO 34R is a 34” (860mm) rotary mower which has been designed to help groundsmen achieve an aesthetically pleasing appearance and desired playing surface. It is ideal for sports pitches and lawns producing the enviable ‘Dennis Stripes’ while a powerful vacuum flow collects debris quickly and efficiently.

The angle of the cutting deck and twin blades can be easily adjusted using a single ‘click adjuster’ ensuring the mower is suitable for changing conditions and meeting groundsmen’s requirements.

“The best feature about the PRO 34R is the presentation and the incredibly fast clean-ups. We use it to clean the pitch up after rugby matches and also after training sessions and the brush on the front is a big bonus as it enables you to really get into the sward.

“You’re achieving two key maintenance tasks with it – you are cleaning up all the debris and you are also getting that amazing finish. I’m really impressed with it.

“It is also incredibly simple to use, especially if you have previously used a Dennis G860 cylinder mower. The handlebars are similar and it is just like riding a bike – you never forget.

“In fact, I’m seriously considering ordering more because of the speed of the clean-ups. We just haven’t got the staffing levels to use our other rotary mowers but because the PRO 34R’s are so much bigger, it would enable us to get the task done in no time at all.”

Based on the success of his PRO 34R, Duncan did indeed order more and is now the proud owner of four Dennis PRO 34R rotary mowers.

For further information or a no obligation demonstration, please contact Dennis 01332 824 777 or visit www.dennisuk.com

For more news, reviews and insightful views, you can follow Dennis on Twitter or Instagram @DennisMowers and like the company’s Facebook page – www.facebook.com/DennisMowersUK. You can also view the latest Dennis videos by visiting www.youtube.com/DennisMowers

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Driving Force In Zero-Turn Mowers

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Driving Force In Zero-Turn Mowers: For the professional operator, a machine that does the work in half the time of a conventional lawn tractor has to be a major consideration. This potential to increase productivity is one of the driving forces behind the growth in popularity of zero-turn mowers in the UK. The Zenith 60 is the latest zero-turn in the Ariens range. A performance machine, it’s packed with commercial features and built for durability and strength.

Powered by the reliable Kawasaki FX730V 726cc engine, the Zenith has a forward speed of 8.5mph (13.7kph) for fast mowing. Cutting the grass at speed combined with total manoeuvrability gets you through the job faster, without compromising a quality finish. Easy steering levers are all you need to drive, brake, steer and spin on the spot. Negotiating around objects has never been easier. At the end of the mowing row you can effortlessly turn 180º, saving you more time and without going over already cut grass.

Driving Force In Zero-Turn Mowers

The Zenith’s large 152cm (60”) cutting deck makes another contribution to greater productivity. Built with 10-gauge steel its 14cm (5.5”) depth provides optimal airflow in all mowing conditions. The foot-operated deck lift system provides effortless adjustments between 15 cutting positions in 6.35mm (¼”) increments with a vertical pin selection. The Constant Belt Tension System ensures the correct tension, minimising wear and heat while providing enhanced belt life with minimal adjustments. The Zenith features an industry-leading frame design with large tubular frame rails as a backbone to support the machine loads. The frame is fitted with a Rollover Protection System (ROPS) as standard.

Driving Force In Zero-Turn Mowers

To keep the operator comfortable through the day the high backed, ergonomically designed, padded seat not only reduces user fatigue, it also helps to absorb the impact on uneven surfaces. The Zenith 60 comes with a two-year commercial warranty or three-year residential warranty. For more information contact Ariens on 01844 278800 or visit www.ariens-uk.com

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Royal Portrush Prepare With Toro

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Royal Portrush Prepare With Toro: On 18-21 July 2019, The Open makes an historic return to Northern Ireland for the first time in 68 years and bringing golf’s oldest international Championship back again is Royal Portrush in County Antrim. As the club prepares to host the 148th event Toro is honoured to play a role in helping prepare the course.

As expected, preparations for The Open are years in the making and Toro has not only been there every step of the way since the news broke in 2015 that Royal Portrush would be the 2019 host, but for the last 25 years.

Royal Portrush Prepare With Toro

Course manager, Graeme Beatt, who joined the club in 2014, comments: “The relationship between Royal Portrush and Toro is a quarter of century old and for us there is no better machinery partner to ensure the optimum conditions for the players as well as the eyes of the sporting world.”

Preparing the all-important course, crews are using Toro’s Flex 2120 pedestrian mowers for the greens, Reelmaster 3550-D and 3555-D mowers on the fairways, approaches and surrounds, Greensmaster 1000 and TriFlex 3400 on the tees, Reelmaster 3100-D with Sidewinder system on semi-roughs and Groundsmaster 4500-D on the roughs. In addition, the team uses the Greensmaster 3250-D and GR1000 on the practice area and the ProCore 648 for aerating the courses. 25 additional Toro machines from Reesink Turfcare, the sole Toro distributor in the UK for golf and sports fields equipment and irrigation products, have joined the 50-strong Toro fleet already at the club in the run-up to and during the Championship.

But it’s not just a successful partnership with Toro machinery, Reesink and Lairds Grass Machinery that ensures the course will be tournament ready, but Toro irrigation too. In 2017, the irrigation system was upgraded to a Lynx central control system and Toro Infinity, Flex and B-Series sprinklers irrigate the rugged links course situated on the Atlantic coast.

“The location of the club is generally something of a challenge for an irrigation system, especially for the sprinklers,” says Graeme. “It’s quite a feat to deliver accurate spray in our unpredictable, windy and exposed conditions, but this has been no problem for Toro. We’ve been really impressed with the overall performance of the control system and sprinklers, but worthy of note are the B-Series sprinkler heads on the tees. They’ve really been put to the test and withstand all sorts.”

Of course, it’s not just an irrigation system that’s new for The Open. The world-famous Dunluce course has been extended from 6,867 yards to just over 7,300 yards and every hole has had some work in varying degrees, none so much as the 17th and 18th holes which have become the tented village areas and two new holes created at seventh and eighth.

22 miles of fibre optic cable has been installed with 12 miles of fibre ducts, 2,200 artic lorries-worth of equipment will have been used for the build and de-rig, 24 greenkeeping volunteers have been selected and a record-breaking number of tickets have been sold.

In fact, it’s this last fact that’s caused the only hiccup in the journey to being tournament-ready Graeme explains: “No Open Championship has ever sold out and when this one did, and in record time, the decision was made to release a further 15,000 tickets – that means we could have up to 230,000 spectators come through our gates! At that point we knew we needed to revisit the already established catering areas and extend them to accommodate this, which involved a lot of extra work. Let’s just say the Toro Workman MDX-D and HDX utility vehicles were really put to the test over this time moving kit around the course and aiding the team in construction work!”

Doug Reid from Reesink, who has worked with Royal Portrush for almost half of its 25-year relationship, says: “Royal Portrush has been nothing but consistent in its machinery purchasing over the years, but as expected in the last five years things ramped up and some fundamental replacements and changes to the fleet took place. The biggest change was the switch from the four-wheel Reelmaster 6700-D to the three-wheel Reelmaster 3550-D for a lighter tread on the fairways. The RM3550-D also happens to be ideal for a links course.

“The way we work with Graeme and the team is a definite partnership, and we’re glad that Toro remains the brand Royal Portrush has relied on for the last 25 years, and for its second Open Championship. Having the right equipment is vital in the preparation and performance for an event such as this, and we have worked closely with Royal Portrush to ensure all the tournament support needed from us is in place.”

It takes a tremendous amount of teamwork and coordination to prepare for an international event but as Graeme says: “I feel lucky to have been chosen for the job; it’s been such an honour to be involved. Probably the biggest achievement is that we’ve managed to do all the preparations we have with minimal disruption to our members. We’ve had their unwaivering support, and I’m sure that it will all be worth it to see their course presented on the world stage, challenging the world’s best golfers for golf’s greatest Championship!”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Toro Update At Sherborne GC

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Toro Update At Sherborne GC: 2019 brings plenty to celebrate for Sherborne Golf Club. A 125-year anniversary, a Toro machinery fleet update and recognition for the club’s young greenkeeping talent.

Sherborne Golf Club on the border of Dorset and Somerset has long been a Toro customer, a situation well illustrated by the Toro red shed. In fact, the relationship goes as far back as the arrival of course manager Chris Watson 16 years ago: “I signed the club’s first five-year agreement ten years ago and we’re now into our third!

Toro Update At Sherborne GC

“Toro fulfils the needs of the club. We have a tricky course to maintain and it’s hard work all year round. The free draining soil means there’s a lot of play in winter and no temporary greens. Throughout we expect reliability, a great cut and performance in the face of seemingly endless work, and Toro delivers time and again.”

Plus, there has been a major ongoing landscaping project. 375,000 tons of soil have been delivered over the last seven years, three holes have been redesigned, the practice ground has been increased, the course has been lengthened and new tees have been generated. Chris says: “We’re a forward-thinking club with a supportive management committee. The way we see it, there’s always room for improvement.

“Throughout the years, I’ve remained pleased with our Toro machinery upgrades and the technological advances it demonstrates in the new models we choose, and there’s been no need to change that. The service has been consistent and good, and maintenance is easy. Our Groundsmaster 4000-D, for example, can clock over 2000 hours of work without needing a hydraulic oil change!”

The celebrations for the 125th anniversary are year-long and jammed full of hosting duties including the Dorset County Championship, South England Boys Open and a Pro-Am, to name but a few. “The preparation work we’ve done in recent years has ensured we’re in great shape for all these events,” says Chris.

An unexpected bonus for the club’s 125th year is the news that one of the greenkeeping team has been selected to proceed to the regional interview stage in the Toro Young Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards.

Chris says: “Throughout my career I’ve always been keen to encourage the younger generation into the industry and feel proud that four of my trainees now hold positions as head greenkeepers. When I first met Sam Richards, I knew he’d make a great apprentice and could see he had potential. To have this recognised, and supported, by his Myerscough College lecturer who nominated Sam and to see him progress into the next round of the Young Award is testament to his promise.

“Even being shortlisted in Toro’s Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards is a huge achievement, it’s a competition which has identified some of the country’s brightest and most promising talent.”

All that’s left for us to say is happy anniversary to Sherborne Golf Club and good luck to Sam – and all those progressing into the regional interviews for both Toro Student Greenkeeper of the Year Awards this summer!

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Charterhouse Double At Beedles Lakes

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Charterhouse Double At Beedles Lakes: A Rink DS800 from Charterhouse Turf Machinery is helping to make light work of topdressing the 27 greens of Leicestershire’s Beedles Lakes Golf Club. This, together with a Verti-Drain® 7316 are the latest tools in the armoury of Head Greenkeeper Sam Shuttlewood, who is delighted with the versatility he now has at his disposal for the tasks of topdressing and course-wide aeration.

Time is of the essence for Sam and his team of six, with an 18-hole parkland course and 9-hole par 3 to maintain, along with a 16-bay driving range and 32-acre fishing lake. “Topdressing was one of those tasks we wanted to carry out more frequently, but the drop dresser we had would only cover a small area per pass meaning that we would have to go over each green 10 or 15 times to get adequate coverage. Not only that, but it would fit on the back of one of our Gator’s which meant we would have to unmount our sprayer from the back each time we wanted to go out – all of this made it a time-consuming task.”

Charterhouse Double At Beedles Lakes

The Rink DS800, in trailed form, immediately impressed Sam on his demonstration with local dealer Platts Harris. “The beauty of the Rink was that you simply hitched it on the tractor, plugged in the hydraulics and you were on your way. It was quick and easy to set-up and, unlike a lot of machinery these days, didn’t feature an unnecessary amount of technology needed to complete the task at hand!”

“Another reason we went for the Rink was the fact it is a disc-spreader which will enable us to conduct more frequent light dressings and, thanks to it’s impressive spreading width, we can cover a whole green in two or three passes.” Toward the smaller end of the Rink Disc Spreader range, the DS800 has a 0.8m3 hopper and is highly adjustable, offering a spreading width of up to 12m and a thickness of up to 15mm. It is available in both a trailed or mounted option.

With the Rink bringing new flexibility to topdressing, Sam’s other purchase made in May 2019 was a Verti-Drain® 7316.“This will be a true multi-purpose aerator that we can use on greens, tees, approaches and fairways thanks to the range of tine options available.” He concluded, “On the day of the demonstrations the decision was easy – we saw two machines, we loved two machines, so we bought two machines!”

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