A new deal for Newquay Golf Club

A new deal for Newquay Golf Club: Dan Kendle, head greenkeeper at Newquay Golf Club, says it is great being back at work after lockdown with his full team, on a busy golf course, with the added bonus of using several new John Deere course maintenance machines supplied by local dealer Masons Kings at St Columb.

Newquay’s scenic seaside location on the Cornish coast overlooks the world famous surfing venue of Fistral Beach, with the golf links guarded by pot bunkers and fringed with marram grass dunes – so when the wind is up, as it often is, it’s a course to be reckoned with.

A new deal for Newquay Golf Club

A new deal for Newquay Golf Club

Dan managed the course on his own during lockdown before the club opened again for play in May, mainly cutting grass and doing a bit of spraying to keep the course as tidy as the pandemic restrictions allowed. Since the rest of the greenkeeping team returned to work, he reckons they were just about on top of everything again by early September.

“And we needed to be, as we’ve been getting twice as many visitors compared to a normal year, as well as picking up new members,” says Dan. “On some days the club’s taken double the usual amount of green fees, which seems crazy but the demand has been there from the off.”

The first of the club’s new John Deere machines, a 2500E hybrid electric triplex greens mower, was delivered in September last year, with the remaining machines arriving this spring and summer. These included a second 2500E plus a 7700A PrecisionCut fairway mower and a new 4049R compact tractor plus front loader.

The compact replaced a 30 year old John Deere 1550 utility tractor, and the club had bought a number of Gator utility vehicles from Masons Kings before, but this was Newquay’s first John Deere fleet deal. The mowers have been bought on a five-year John Deere Financial operating lease, while the tractor is on hire purchase, and all service and maintenance operations are carried out on-site.

“Our previous mowers were coming to the end of their lease period, and for this new deal we were looking at new options, particularly in terms of dealer support,” says Dan Kendle. “Masons Kings is a very local dealership with a good reputation for reliable service and back-up, so it made sense for us to speak to them and have some machines in on demonstration.

“Everyone in the team had a go on the new machines, and we were all impressed with their operator comfort and user-friendly features. The quality of cut in particular sealed the deal for me, and I like the password protected TechControl system on the 7700A, which allows me to set the mower to get the same consistent results whoever is operating, in all conditions.

“The hybrid electric 2500Es also come into their own when cutting the practice putting green and the greens closest to the houses that surround three sides of the course. Their quiet operation keeps the neighbours happy while also reducing fuel consumption and the chance of any hydraulic leaks.

“As with all new machines, there were a few issues during the initial set-up but they were all sorted out very quickly by John Deere and Masons Kings, which was important. We’ve continued to receive great support and back-up from the dealership’s salesman David Barnes and technician Gavin Hearne, even during lockdown, so we’re very pleased all round as it shows we made the right decision.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram 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.

GA Plant take first GreenMech EVO 165P SUB-750

GA Plant take first GreenMech EVO 165P SUB-750: GA Plant and Tool Hire in Swindon have become the first company to take delivery of a brand-new EVO 165P SUB-750 woodchipper from GreenMech.

Delivering the performance required by domestic and small commercial contractors, the EVO also meets the spec for Owner/Director Angus Lacy-Hulbert when it comes to ease of maintenance, ensuring the machine is serviced and ready for tight hire turnarounds.

GA Plant take first GreenMech EVO 165P SUB-750

GA Plant take first GreenMech EVO 165P SUB-750

With a 3” chipper on their hire fleet previously, Angus spotted the gap for a larger, road-tow machine and sought advice from local arborists on the options available. “We naturally gravitated to GreenMech. Being British engineered and backing up good product with local service and support is an ethos we like to follow ourselves” explains Angus, who established GA Plant and Tool Hire five years ago. A demonstration of the new 6” SUB-750kg EVO 165P sealed the deal and it was delivered by their local dealer, GA Groundcare, in September 2020.

“One of the major plus points was the ease of maintenance – the EVO has centralised greasing points which keeps the ongoing maintenance quick and simple. We also purchased the blade sharpening unit which means we can sharpen the blades as and when required, in-house, dramatically reducing downtime between hires. Being sub-750kg was critical for our largely domestic client base, delivering powerful performance in a package that can be towed on a standard car license.”

Within a week of delivery, the EVO 165P SUB-750 was out on its first hire – a domestic customer with 12 conifers to process. “Incredibly, the client completed the whole job in under an hour! They returned the machine with the biggest grin, complimenting it not just on performance but how simple and user-friendly it was to operate.”

The GreenMech EVO series sets a new standard for torque, bite and throughput to deliver exactly what is demanded by today’s industry professionals. Originally launched in road-tow format, the EVO 165D was joined by the fixed-track EVO 165DT in Autumn 2019 and then by a higher 45hp Limited-Edition option. The newest SUB-750 machine combines all of the proven EVO performance with a powerful yet economic 37hp B&S Vanguard petrol engine.

Angus concludes, “Together with performance, back up support is also incredibly important for us – our machines ultimately make no money if they’re out of service. Ashley at GA Groundcare is just down the road and is always on the end of the phone, even at weekends, with helpful support and advice if we need it.”

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram 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.

Polaris People initiative launched

Polaris People initiative launched: Since its founding in 1954, Polaris has been inviting people to Think Outside and discover the joy of being outdoors.

The innovation, performance and growth that has allowed Polaris to become a global leader in off-road vehicles have been driven by the diversity and passion of its customers, staff, dealers and stakeholders across the world. To celebrate the people behind the brand, Polaris has launched a new initiative, called Polaris People, to showcase how, for many people, Polaris isn’t just a brand but a life choice.

Polaris People initiative launched

Polaris People initiative launched

Polaris People is a video series documenting the stories of individuals across Europe, Middle East and Africa, where Polaris plays an essential role in their lives, all united by a thirst for the outdoors.

EP.1: Lukasz Zaremba

Despite its deep American roots, Polaris is a global brand that serves over 100 countries across the world. From the very first plant in Roseau, Minnesota to its first-ever European factory in Opole, Poland, Polaris prides its manufacturing process on first-class quality and constant innovation, thanks to the thousands of dedicated and skilled employees who engineer, design and build its off-road vehicles.

The first episode of Polaris People introduces Lukasz Zaremba – a Polaris Off Road employee who works as a Validation Engineer at the Opole facility in Poland – who has invested his passion for off-roading into building his career. For Lukasz, working for Polaris is more than just a job.

It’s not just a case of lifting and shifting the Polaris models from the US and using them in Europe. The Opole factory plays a significant role in product development, making sure each model meets the varying homologations, legal requirements and customer needs across the different markets. For Lukasz and the dedicated team of Polaris test riders, this means it’s important to fully test every aspect of each model in a range of different environments, to make sure they deliver in every scenario.

Check out the first episode of Polaris People to join Lukasz and the test riders in Poland as they give you an exclusive preview of the manufacturing process at the Opole factory and test the new 2021 Sportsman 570. Available to watch on the Polaris Off-Road International YouTube channel here.

For further media information on Polaris ORV products, please contact the Polaris ORV Media Office on +44 (0) 1525 270100 or email us at press@polaris-orv.media.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram 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.

Reliable and Robust tractors from Case IH

Reliable and Robust tractors from Case IH: Case IH understand that operator safety is your top priority. As a trusted brand that has been producing tractors for over 175 years, we offer easy-to-operate machines for every application from 55 to 620 horsepower – all built with safety and operator comfort in mind.

Choose a Luxxum

Reliable and Robust tractors from Case IH

Reliable and Robust tractors from Case IH

The Luxxum is a compact tractor that ticks all the boxes. Built to be stable on slopes and manoeuvrable in tight spaces, it offers operators more visibility than any other Case IH tractor of this size and has the added advantage of being loader compatible.

Powered by an efficient FPT engine, the Luxxum provides the operator with the best possible specification in a mid-range tractor and is a popular choice for the municipal, groundcare and landscaping sectors. Find out more.

Autumn Deals

As a reputable brand, Case IH machines hold their value well, an important factor when considering total cost of ownership. This season, there are competitive offers available across the Case IH range, with package deals available when buying selected tractors and loaders at the same time. Speak to your local Case IH dealer to find out more, or for fleet enquiries, please contact: Andy Whiley – andrew.whiley@caseih.com 07802 903364.

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram 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.

Reesink adds more specialist machinery

Reesink adds more specialist machinery: Reesink is the new distributor for AgriMetal blowers and collectors in the UK. A range of three low decibel three-point linkage mounted debris blowers and two high capacity collectors, recognised for their safe, efficient and reliable performance for sports, grounds and other turf customers, are now available from the agricultural and turfcare distributor in time for Autumn.

AgriMetal is a familiar brand for Reesink’s managing director David Cole: “I’ve worked with AgriMetal before and recognise it as a popular blower line with great reliability and features, so when the opportunity arose recently to bring it in under our newly formed Agricultural division here at Reesink we didn’t hesitate. Customers responded to the brand’s performance, build quality and competitive pricing in the past and I am sure will do so again.”

Reesink adds more specialist machinery

Reesink adds more specialist machinery

There are three leaf and debris blowers available. All are tractor mounted with the BW2500 requiring 25hp at the PTO, BW3500 35hp and BW4500, 45hp respectively. They have an aluminium rather than steel impellor which, because it requires less energy at full throttle, delivers a quieter, smoother and vibration free operation. This will have sure-fire appeal to golf courses and urban sports ground, for example, where it is important to keep noise pollution to a minimum.

The lightweight construction reduces the sudden loading on the driveline and helps reduce belt wear as the PTO is engaged. The large roller on which the blower rides lets you work in the worst conditions without marking or compacting the turf, particularly useful for sports surfaces, especially on turns. In fact, in contrast to the competition, the roller will often repair imperfections on the turf.

This low decibel series of tractor-drawn blowers has been designed for maximum productivity and minimum maintenance and are a worthy addition to any golf course, sports ground, paddock and orchard and the option to fit caster wheels, which allows the machine to switch to hard surface application, makes them a good option for public schools, colleges, universities and large estates for driveway clearing too.

Joining the blowers are two collectors, the Tuff Vac and Multi Vac. The Tuff Vac comes in two variants, PTO driven for use with a a 35hp+ tractor, or with its own 27hp engine allowing it to be towed by a smaller tractor or larger utility vehicle. The Multi Vac is pulled and powered by any 50hp or higher tractor.

The Tuff Vac delivers a simple but effective proposition in either version. A hydraulic counter rotating brush or rubber ‘finger’ rotor provides superior performance on hard to pick up materials such as straw and a whopping 50 percent more exhaust area than some competitive models means more vacuum and less clogging.

The addition of a wander hose kit for awkward areas and the standard heavy duty ‘finger’ rotor which can be optionally changed to a nylon bristle brush for hard surfaces means it’s a versatile little number.

Meanwhile, the Multi Vac has a large format design, greater holding capacity and a new brush system that is second to none in sweeping leaves and branch debris. The impeller RPM is reduced for a quieter operating level, reducing noise pollution, and two rotary blades turn at high speed to shred leaves and branches. A third rotary blade is located inside the pick-up head throat so preventing clogging. This exclusive internal shredder greatly increases the volume of debris that is packed into the hopper and prevents dust to deliver a cleaner job.

The pickup head rides on four large rollers to eliminate marking, compacting and scuffing of the surface and the new brush freely pivots so as not to damage the turf while throwing leaves and branches into the intake.

Steven Haynes, sales manager Reesink Agriculture, continues: “For those looking for a debris blower or collector, this range is competitive and worth a look. The products deliver high performance, excellent air flow and are not too noisy, while Reesink and its dealers brings customer support and finance to the party.”

For further information on the range, call Reesink Agriculture on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk, or visit reesinkagriculture.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

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

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram 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.