Toro Longevity At Bedfordshire GC

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Toro Longevity At Bedfordshire GC: Bedfordshire Golf Club has been a Toro customer for 18 years, and much of this relationship longevity has been put down to the service received from Reesink Turfcare.

Part-way through its third five-year agreement with Toro and Reesink course manager John Gubb says he’s remained loyal because “Reesink gives you the premier service you’d expect for a brand like Toro.”

Toro Longevity At Bedfordshire GC

He elaborates: “We’ve been using Toro for quite some time because reliable and hardwearing machines are vital for this course. However, when you sign an agreement with Toro and Reesink it’s not just high-quality machines you’re getting, it’s the whole package.

“It’s every aspect of the experience and service,” says John. “From dealing with the Reesink rep, Julian Copping, to everyone on the parts and servicing team. We have a really good working relationship with them all, which is what you expect when you’re working with the best.”

But it’s not just that, Toro and Reesink have proven to go above and beyond to help the club when it needed it most. Since the club’s relocation eighteen years ago, major floods in 2000, 2007 and two in 2008 hit the course, but with Toro came a helping hand.

“They lent us utility vehicles and pedestrian mowers to help get the course back on track, as our equipment sheds were inaccessible because of the flood water,” John explains. “The loaned machines helped enormously in the turf’s subsequent recovery.”

The most recent addition to the fleet is a replacement Groundsmaster 4100-D for use on the roughs. John says: “We’ve actually sold on our older model to another local club. It’s been an incredibly reliable machine for the last 13 years and still has life in it yet, but for us, the new model means we can stay up to date with Toro’s latest technology.”

With its SmartPower system, the Groundsmaster 4100-D is the perfect combination of power and performance, and better for the environment. For John, there’s no question the hardwearing machine fits the requirements of the club’s 150-acres, made up of an 18 hole course and 9 hole academy course.

“With a large area to cover, having robust and durable equipment is an absolute must,” he says. “We’ve only had the new Groundsmaster for a short time, but already you can see how the new features have improved the machine.”

Looking at how the course has progressed since introducing Toro, John reflects: “We have over 600 playing members in total, and they all expect a high-quality playing surface. And let’s just say that there are no complaints from them when it comes to the course and the greenkeeping equipment.”

He concludes: “There’s nothing out there that beats Toro. So, it’s a no-brainer to keep updating the fleet. With Toro, we’re safe in the knowledge the machines will last, but we can also make use of updates in their technology to keep the club at the top of its game.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Toro Reliability At Rookery Park

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Toro Reliability At Rookery Park: Rookery Park Golf Club in Suffolk has recently purchased three Toro machines because “reliability is key” for course manager Neil Davey.

Neil explains: “We’re gradually replacing all of our old machines and the time had come to update two of our fairway mowers. They were continuously breaking down and we were putting money into repairs for machines that just weren’t dependable, and we couldn’t rely on to deliver what we needed. So, to replace them, we turned to Toro and bought two Reelmaster 3575-D mowers at the start of the year, and more recently we invested in another Greensmaster TriFlex 3400.”

Toro Reliability At Rookery Park

Even though Toro already makes up 90 percent of the greenkeeping equipment at the club, each machinery purchase is done on a case-by-case basis and Toro has been chosen again, predominantly for its reliability but also for the results it produces. “It’s not a given we’ll go with Toro the next time we update the fleet but from my experience it’s highly likely! We base ourselves on hard work, so what we need are trustworthy machines. Everywhere I’ve worked throughout my career, there’s been Toro, and for good reason. It consistently provides high-quality for a good price, and that allows us to do the best job possible with the budget we have.”

After contacting Julian Copping from Reesink Turfcare who set up a demonstration, Neil and the team put the machines to the test. With the features of the Reelmaster 3575-D including a powerful 24.8hp diesel engine as well as smooth turf-friendly tyres to reduce compaction and damage, it was no wonder Neil and the team were impressed.

He enthuses: “I particularly liked the three-wheel-drive system on the Reelmaster, it allows for tight turns easily and the handling in general was great. In fact, the whole team loves to use Toro, it’s easy to operate and whenever there have been any issues, they get sorted immediately. The service from Reesink is great.”

When it came to the Greensmaster TriFlex 3400, Neil didn’t need much convincing. “It’s definitely one of the best machines I’ve ever used,” he comments. “It has such good flexibility; the quick-change units make servicing the cutting units fast and easy. We’ve purchased a new model but we’re keeping the old one. Toro is known to keep its residual value and this machine is proof of that, it’s still in great condition with plenty of life yet.”

The 27-hole course set as it is in parkland, provides not only a challenging game for its 700 members, but a challenge for Neil and the team to keep in top condition too, but with Toro in the shed Neil says: “Our members have all seen an improvement in the course since we’ve brought in more Toro machines, the results are clear and prove we made the right decision. I know I’m doing my job right by going with Toro and I can know I can trust them not to let us down.”

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Toro Instrumental For Golf Course Reinvention

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Toro Instrumental For Golf Course Reinvention: Toro machinery has been instrumental in the reinvention of two municipal golf clubs located in the South Liverpool and Merseyside areas.

Managed by golf operators Green Circles Estates, there has been a heavy investment in the vision to create two venues providing accessible, affordable golf for all. As a result, Allerton Manor Golf Club in South Liverpool and Sherdley Park Golf Course in St Helens, Merseyside have both undergone significant transformations in recent years.

Toro Instrumental For Golf Course Reinvention

When Green Circle Estates became the Operating Partner with Liverpool City Council in 2015 for Allerton Manor Golf Course, it was an easy decision to purchase a fleet of Toro machinery to maintain the greens. Confidence in Toro was confirmed when Green Circle Estates became the Operating Partner of St Helens Council in May 2018 for Sherdley Park Golf Course and additional Toro machinery was purchased.

Significant investment has gone into the leisure facilities at Allerton Manor Golf Club, there is The Old Stables Restaurant, The Hay Loft Function Room and Fletcher’s Bar. There are plans in place for a new clubhouse at Sherdley Park Golf Course and both have benefitted from substantial investment to the golf courses.

Bryan Joelson-Mulhall, director of golf says: “The investment and redevelopment of each is in a bid to provide an affordable and accessible golf offering true to the courses’ pay and play roots, but with the kind of facilities and standards expected at private members’ golf clubs. We support public access and welcome anyone to play and enjoy the facilities at either of these fantastic golfing locations.”

Allerton Manor Golf Club has benefitted from new Championship tees, bunkers and reshaped fairways, and Bryan says: “The investment in state-of-the-art Toro greenkeeping machinery will now improve the playability of the course, focusing on raising the standard and improving the quality of the turf across the site. Only Toro was ever considered for this role.”

Toro is used exclusively at both clubs and Richie Shields, as Allerton Manor’s new head greenkeeper explains: “I’ve used all the brands in my career and I always revert back to Toro thanks to its exceptional track record for performance and for, time and again, delivering a good result. It has been great to join Allerton Manor Golf Club at this exciting stage in its development, with investment being made, plans being realised and a brand-new fleet of machinery, to ensure we achieve the objectives for the course.”

The fleet deal includes the Reelmaster 3100-D, two Greensmaster 1600 and two Greensmaster 1000 pedestrian mowers, a Greensmaster TriFlex 3400, a Reelmaster 5510-D, Groundsmaster 3500-D and two Groundsmaster 4000-D machines. These are joined by two aerators in the ProCore 648 and SR48, the ProPass 200 topdresser, two Workman HDX utility vehicles, a debris blower 600 and a TYM T353 compact tractor, all supplied by dealer Cheshire Turf Machinery and Reesink Turfcare, a UK distributor of Toro and TYM Tractors.

It’s the pedestrian mowers Richie is so pleased to see arrive: “I’m very much in favour of hand-cutting the greens, there’s less disruption, you can get a faster pace on the greens and it improves presentation.”

Allerton Manor Golf Club is the first municipal pay and play golf course in the UK to undergo this kind of high-level refurbishment. Alongside the work being done to reinvent the Manor House and put the newly refurbished leisure and dining facilities on the South Liverpool map, are plans for lengthening the par 67 18-hole course to a par 72 Championship course.

The next course operated by Green Circle Estates to benefit from similar refurbishment is Sherdley Park Golf Course. Aiding the large-scale improvement works there are a new Reelmaster 6700-D fairway mower, Groundsmaster 4000-D for cutting roughs and surrounds, Greensmaster TriFlex 3400 for pristine tees and greens and the durable Workman HDX utility vehicle.

Partnering with Green Circle has enabled Liverpool City Council and St Helen’s Council to bring to an end to the uncertainty over the sites’ futures, breathing life back into the community surrounding each and creating leisure resorts and golfing facilities for all to access and enjoy.

There are exciting future plans for both clubs, both on and off the course and Toro will play a key part in on-course developments across the Green Circle Estates portfolio.

For more information, visit: reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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ECHO’s New 58V Battery Chainsaw

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ECHO’s New 58V Battery Chainsaw: ECHO has launched an all-new 58V battery chainsaw to their growing range of lithium ion outdoor power equipment. The CS-58V4AH has the cutting performance of its petrol counterparts, with the additional benefits of battery power.  Low noise and low vibration are immediately evident in this effortless yet powerful product. It makes little noise when running, while the lack of vibration compared to a petrol model greatly reduces stress and fatigue for the user. What also makes a real difference to the working environment is the fact that with battery power you have no emissions, no fuel filling with two-stroke and there is no need to store petrol.

The CS-58V4AH is easy to use. With battery power you just charge up and go! The chainsaw uses a 4Ah battery which gives you plenty of run time for logging and felling small trees, and the quick charger will have it rapidly charged to reduce downtime. The lithium ion battery also fits other 58V battery products in the range so you can run a trimmer, hedge trimmer, lawn mower and power blower using the same battery. Additional batteries can be purchased as a back-up for when you need to get on with bigger jobs without interruption.

ECHO's New 58V Battery Chainsaw

Using the chainsaw you’ll find the 0.043 gauge cutting bar gives a sharp and smooth cut and the automatic oiler gives the chain optimum oiling for longer life. There is easy side access to the chain tensioner to allow quick chain adjustment, and the oil tank is translucent for easy level checks. The power comes from the long-lasting brushless motor which requires minimal maintenance due to non-wearing parts, which means you save on servicing costs as well as petrol bills.

For the home owner and semi-professional it’s hard to see why you wouldn’t choose the benefits of the CS-58V4AH. The chainsaw comes with a two-year domestic or one-year professional warranty and the 58V battery carries a two-year warranty for added peace of mind.

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Clean Sweep For Greentech And GKB

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Clean Sweep For Greentech And GKB: St Andrew’s’ University Park is well known for its grass pitches being among the finest in Scotland, winning high praise from visiting professionals. With such a reputation to live up to it’s vital the synthetic pitches are maintained to equally high standards.

University Park called on the specialist services of Throsk based Greentech Sportsturf and their GKB equipment for that purpose. The 3G rubbercrumb pitch, constructed in 2012, is a full size, floodlit, FIFA 2 Star World Rugby approved Third Generation synthetic pitch, used for rugby, football, ultimate Frisbee and lacrosse as well as a venue for regular club fixtures. The Park’s sand dressed pitch is used as a training and match venue for a number of sports clubs, including hockey and football, and is home to a number of community sports programes and weekly sports leagues.

Clean Sweep For Greentech And GKB

A programme of consistent high quality pre-season maintenance is essential and Greentech undertook decompaction and deep cleaning of the surfaces using a GKB Quick Clean for powerful in-depth cleaning and removal of coarse dirt, small stone particles and loose fibres. The synthetic turf brush casts contaminated infill material onto a vibrating screen for removal to a collection container, while dust and fibres are absorbed by a suction unit to a dust bag.

“We use, in conjunction with the Quick Clean, a GKB Rotobrush with its extra rigid bristles for deep compaction and that loosens up the infill for us.” Says Ewan Peddie, Greentech Synthetic Turf Manager. “Then we run our Quick Clean over the surface, taking out any contamination from the playing surface, as well as extracting any loose fibres.” Moss and algae settlements are often most persistent around the edges of synthetic sports pitches. These pose the danger of a slippery surface for players and the Rotobrush also tackles the problem extremely effectively.

Clean Sweep For Greentech And GKB

“We were pleased to be called in by St Andrews for their maintenance programme,” add Ewan, “and equally so for Dundee United FC, where we carried out similar treatment for their 3G rubber crumb training pitch in October, to get it to a standard ready for FIFA approval.”

For more information, visit: www.gkbmachines.com

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