Gleneagles And John Deere Sign Supplier Agreement

/in , /by

Gleneagles And John Deere Sign Supplier Agreement: Gleneagles has signed an exclusive contract with John Deere for the supply of golf course maintenance equipment and related technology to the three championship golf courses at the award winning hotel and golf resort in Perthshire, Scotland.

Gleneagles And John Deere Sign Supplier Agreement

The resort’s Director of Golf Gary Silcock and John Deere’s worldwide Agriculture and Turf Division President James M Field officially confirmed the agreement at the John Deere Financial headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, in mid-August. This took place just before Gary Silcock’s visit to The 2017 Solheim Cup matches that were held at the nearby Des Moines Golf and Country Club, where John Deere equipment was used to prepare and maintain the tournament course.

Gleneagles is the venue for The 2019 Solheim Cup, the biggest event in women’s professional golf, which will take place on the Jack Nicklaus-designed PGA Centenary Course that also hosted the 2014 Ryder Cup. The inaugural European Golf Team Championships are being held on the same course at Gleneagles in 2018.

Known as ‘the glorious playground’, the 850-acre Perthshire estate was recently voted Best Golf Resort in the World for an unprecedented sixth successive year by readers of Ultratravel, the Telegraph’s luxury travel magazine, and was also named Scotland’s Best Hotel/Resort in the Today’s Golfer Travel Awards 2017, retaining this title for the fourth consecutive year.

“Following completion of recent renovation work on the King’s & Queen’s courses to bring them back more in line with James Braid’s original design vision, our courses continue to provide customers with a world class experience that is second to none,” said Gary Silcock. “With three critically-acclaimed 18-hole championship courses to choose from, Gleneagles remains, quite simply, a golfer’s paradise.

“This new agreement with John Deere will see our two worldwide brands working together to further increase quality and productivity on the courses, through the adoption of innovative, market leading technology. We are going through an exciting period for the greenkeeping industry, as we see the introduction of satellite guidance and telematics fleet management systems dedicated to turfcare.

“As part of our ongoing investment programme, we look forward to working alongside John Deere and local dealer Double A Trading to help develop these systems and keep Gleneagles at the forefront of European and world golf.”

Tim Merrett, John Deere’s Vice President, Agriculture and Turf Division, said: “Gleneagles and John Deere both owe much of their success to a heritage of great performance and strong values, and both organisations are dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. Like Gleneagles, we have built a reputation on quality – not only in our products and dealer support, but also for the way in which we treat our customers and do business.

“John Deere equipment helps to maintain many of the world’s greatest golf courses. We are delighted and honoured to now see our mowers, tractors and utility vehicles at work on The King’s, The Queen’s and The PGA Centenary courses at Gleneagles.”

Brian D’Arcy, John Deere Limited’s UK & Ireland strategic account manager who has worked closely with Gleneagles to tailor the agreement to the estate’s requirements, added: “We see this as a first step towards building a long lasting and productive relationship, so that Gleneagles can become a leading strategic partner with John Deere in the golf industry not only in the UK & Ireland, but across Europe and beyond.”

For more information, visit: www.JohnDeere.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Versatile Ventrac for Carden Park, Cheshire’s Country Estate

/in , /by

Versatile Ventrac for Carden Park, Cheshire’s Country Estate: Peter Pattenden, the Golf Courses and Estates Manager at Carden Park, is the latest groundscare professional to appreciate the benefits of the Ventrac 4500 compact tractor.

Versatile Ventrac for Carden Park, Cheshire’s Country Estate

Purchased from one of Ventrac’s newest dealers, Cheshire Turf Machinery, the versatile machine was delivered with a selection of accessories including Contour deck, Tough Cut deck, Stump Grinder, Edger, Blower and Power Broom.

Peter Pattenden is an experienced turf manager having begun his career at Glenaeagles back in 1991, moving on to Bonnyton Golf Club in East Kilbride for three years, before being invited back to Gleneagles by Jimmy Kidd in 1999. In 2006 he moved south to take up his current position at Carden Park.

“I manage a team of 23 staff here and at Carden Hall, which includes one forester, one mechanic, two estate workers, three seasonals, six gardeners, and 10 greenkeepers,” he said. “That might sound a large number of staff to many, but we manage over 1400 acres; 800 acres of Carden Park including the two championship golf courses and a further 600 acres comprising owner Steve Morgan’s house and grounds and the tenant farms dotted around the estate.

“Every piece of equipment we buy has to earn its keep and this Ventrac certainly falls into this category. I’ve been operating equipment since 1991 and buying machinery since 1996, when I first took up my position at Bonnyton, and I can honestly say this is one of the best machines I have ever bought! Summed up in three words, it’s exceptional, versatile and robust.”

“The Contour deck is great out on the golf courses, especially on sloping tee banks, the Tough Cut deck is superb for land management as it can cut through saplings, bracken and gorse, helping to maintain the areas that consume man-hours and the Edger has saved hours of labour. We have a 1.1 mile drive leading up to the hotel and we can keep this looking pristine all year at a fraction of the time and cost we previously incurred.

“We invested over £400,000 in new cart paths over the past five years and since then we have had a series of storms that have taken down trees, some close by the paths. We can’t send in an excavator to remove the stumps and roots for fear of damaging the paths and that’s where the Stump Grinder has come into its own.

“It’s the perfect size, not too heavy, so we ca use it in the winter months and not too light that it can’t handle the implements. It has uplifted the presentation of the estate in the short time that we’ve had it; it’s simply a no-brainer purchase for any golf course or estate manager.”

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Jacobsen and E-Z-GO Take Over Ibiza

/in , /by

Jacobsen and E-Z-GO Take Over Ibiza: Golf Ibiza by azuLinehotels, the only golf course on the Spanish island of Ibiza has taken delivery of a fleet of Jacobsen equipment and E-Z-GO golf cars with Textron Fleet Management GPS (TFM GPS); the first to be sold in Spain. Local Jacobsen and E-Z-GO dealer, Greenmowers, made the delivery.Jacobsen and E-Z-GO Take Over Ibiza

The equipment delivered at the beginning of the season included three GP400 riding greens mowers, one AR522 rough mower, one Fairway 305 mower, one Jacobsen Truckster XD, one Smithco roller, and 20 E-Z-GO RXV golf cars with TFM GPS.

Managing Director Sr. Cachón decided to purchase equipment from Jacobsen and E-Z-GO after owning an old E-Z-GO RXV for more than 15 years himself. The new equipment is replacing the old models on the golf course, as the club looks to further enhance the quality of the course and the golfer’s overall experience.

“We are very happy with the new equipment,” Sr. Cachón said. “E-Z-GO and Jacobsen are very reliable suppliers, and we have always been able to count on Greenmowers for superb service. I play a lot of golf myself, and whenever I have rented an E-Z-GO golf car in the past, I have always been very happy; they have never let me down.”

The 20 E-Z-GO RXV golf cars with TFM GPS are the first to be sold to a golf course in Spain, and Sr. Cachón and Golf Director Juan Lebrón are enthused about the new possibilities available to players on the course. Lebrón explained the benefits of the new technology:

“The TFM GPS on the golf cars will revolutionise the golfing experience for our customers. They will be able to see the layout and yardage of each hole, record scores, and order food and beverage when required out on the golf course.

“From our point of view, we are able to geofence areas to keep vehicles in specified boundaries, which will protect both the course, and the players. It is an exciting prospect for us, and the combination of the quality of cut on the Jacobsen machines and the technology on the E-Z-GO golf cars will help us to attain higher standards, attracting more golfers to Ibiza.”

Export Regional Sales Manager for Jacobsen Goncalo Carneiro commented on the delivery of the machines. He said,

“We are delighted that Golf Ibiza by azuLinehotels have taken delivery of the very first E-Z-GO golf cars with TFM GPS in Spain. A special thanks must go to Antonio Marcer and the staff at Greenmowers for providing fantastic service and support once again. I am confident that the Jacobsen machines will provide the course with superior surfaces, and the attraction of the innovative golf cars helps the club to become one of the big names in Spanish golf.”

For more information, visit: www.jacobsen.com/europe

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

GKB Sandfillers And Sandspreaders

/in , /by

GKB Sandfillers and Sandspreaders: The new GKB Sandfiller and SP100 Sandspreader are both from the GKB range of equipment specifically designed for the maintenance and renovation of golf courses and sports pitches.GKB Sandfillers And Sandspreaders

The SP100 has been developed on the back of the success of GKB’s trailed versions and to meet customer needs with easy mounting onto turf trucks, such as the John Deere Gator and Toro Workman. Mounting is straightforward with a simple bolt-on system and stand legs allow the SP100 to be quickly set up or removed. With its 1m3 hopper capacity the machine suits a variety of purposes, evenly distributing materials, such as sand and mulch on sports pitches, with variable spread widths and depths. It’s easily fitted with electro-hydraulic controls and runs directly off the hydraulics of the chosen turf truck.

The GKB Sandfiller is built to tackle the problems of surface drainage and aeration, especially on golf course greens. The Sandfiller simultaneously aerates and fills the topsoil with sand, creating the right conditions for excellent root growth. To allow the machine to properly foll

GKB Sandfillers And Sandspreaders

ow the contours of the ground, three adjustable depth rollers are used while a slitting rotor, situated between conveyor rollers, operates the aerating and slitting actions. Two conveyor rollers are pivoted to distribute weight efficiently and material removed from the top layer by verticutting is immediately collected in a sideways tipping container. The sand flow is controlled hydraulically by means of an adjustable valve situated on the side of the machine.

In areas on the golf course where surface water and moss formation are a problem, the Sandfiller offers a fast solution for drainage and intensive aeration. Aeration of the top layer is economically and environmentally friendly, being cost-effective through the all-in-one combination of aeration and sand filling. Intensive aeration of the grass leads to quicker recovery, greater green longevity and faster drainage of surface water, without the need for complete renovation.

To find out more, visit www.gkbmachines.com or call 07495883617

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Först Woodchipper Distribution Expands Into Belgium 

/in , /by

Först Woodchipper Distribution Expands Into Belgium: Redwood Global, manufacturer of Först woodchippers, has now expanded distribution of its market leading range of high performance and robust woodchippers into Belgium following a period of significant growth.  Först Woodchipper Distribution Expands Into Belgium 

After recently setting up strategic dealer partnerships with industry experts in Germany, France, Norway and Denmark, Först has agreed a new deal with Espritt bvba that will see arboricultural sales specialists solely distribute the manufacturers machines throughout Belgium.

Espritt bvba will distribute Först’s premium range of 6” and 8” wheeled, tracked and PTO woodchippers, all of which have a three year warranty as standard, offering tree surgeons, arborists and contractors complete peace of mind. The machines distributed will include Först’s new sub 750kg ST6P petrol powered woodchipper that complies with the Stage V emissions regulations coming into force in 2019.

Doug Ghinn, Director at Först, commented: “Since the introduction of the Först brand over four years ago, we have worked very hard to develop a reputation for manufacturing and supplying products that produce outstanding chipping performance and reliability, backed up by a first class service offering.

“This hard worked has paid off and has helped us cement our position in the UK as a leading manufacturer of fast and aggressive woodchippers, and its great to see demand for our machinery beginning to grow throughout Europe.

“We are very excited to be distributing Först woodchippers throughout Belgium and we are already starting to see a positive impact on the markets, which will only help our business to continue to grow.”

For the latest industry news visit turfnews.co.uk

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.