New Sandspreader for Kingfishers GC

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New Sandspreader for Kingfishers GC: Home to a picturesque 18-hole golf course set in 120 acres of rural Suffolk, Kingfishers Golf Club has recently purchased a GKB Sandspreader SP100 to maintain their impressive grounds, through GKB’s distributor Ernest Doe.

“Finding a machine that‘s compatible with our Jacobsen Truckster was essential to us and a main factor when choosing the GKB Sandspreader SP100,” explains Matthew Thacker, Managing Director of Kingfishers.  Matthew also comments on the quality of customer service and the product range offered by GKB and its distributor Ernest Doe saying, “GKB machines are extremely well designed and built.”

New Sandspreader for Kingfishers GC

Developed and produced in GKB Machines’ Dutch energy neutral industrial plant the GKB Sandspreader SP100 showcases premium quality with industrial durability. Available in four different designs with several options, Kingfishers Golf Club will mostly be sanding their greens with the GKB Sandspreader SP100. Accurately applying sand and in varying quantities to keep golf courses in prime condition, this machine is ideal for both construction and maintenance.

For more on GKB Machines and their reliable and robust range of machinery for natural, hybrid and synthetic turf, please visit www.gkbmachines.com or contact Tom Shinkins on 07495 883617.

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TYM Tractors for Southampton

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TYM Tractors for Southampton: After taking on the maintenance of an additional stadium, Southampton Football Club is continuing its 16-year relationship with TYM Tractors and has invested in a new T503 tractor to help with the extra workload.

A new partnership between Southampton Football Club and AFC Totton has seen the Saints’ women’s team play their home games and train at AFC Totton’s Testwood Stadium this year, and as a result Southampton FC’s grounds team has taken on the site’s maintenance.

Andy Gray, Southampton FC’s grounds manager, explains: “Taking over maintenance of the new stadium, alongside our own St Mary’s Stadium and Staplewood training ground is certainly a challenge, which is why we’ve invested in a new TYM Tractor to help take on the task.”

The new T503 joins three other T503 mid-duty tractors which have recently been replaced like-for-like, and added three new T293 compact utility tractors, says Andy: “Over the past three years we’ve been updating our fleet and most recently added a T503 for the Testwood Stadium, which brings our fleet of TYM tractors up to seven.

“We updated the fleet with a mix of like-for-like upgrades and new additions because we’ve been using TYM Tractors since 2003 and they’ve never let us down. The T503 is easy to use and as we know from experience, reliable, and the T293 is great because of its compact size – we use it for the smaller daily jobs to reduce the stress on the turf. We’ve definitely seen a big improvement to the grounds because of that.”

And it seems the use of TYM at the club has created somewhat of a buzz locally, says Andy. “Word of mouth has already spread about the quality of the pitch at AFC Totton; we’ve had other clubs in the same league asking us how we maintain it to such a high standard! Of course the answer is always: hard work combined with high quality machinery.”

“Despite the challenge the extra work provides, the whole team are behind the partnership with AFC Totton,” says Andy. “Partly because Testwood Stadium is also used by local community groups and giving them, as well as the women’s team, the best pitch possible is a great way to give back.”

With the Staplewood training ground and Testwood Stadium needing maintenance on a near-daily basis, the TYM tractors are in constant use carrying out a variety of jobs.

“The TYM tractors work perfectly for the jobs we need them to do, from seeding and aerating to moving equipment,” says Andy. “The icing on the cake is the service from Reesink Turfcare. They only deal with the best machinery brands and are always able to get us what we need. As well as TYM, we’ve been using Toro – which Reesink distributes in the UK – for 20 years, and that’s not likely to change.”

Scott Turner, TYM regional sales manager from Reesink, adds: “We are very proud to have a long-term working partnership with Andy and his team, in addition to DJ Scott Garden Machinery who first supplied TYM to the club and, since Reesink took over distribution, have provided them excellent servicing and maintenance. The TYM fleet Southampton FC has invested in has proved to be a great benefit to their multiple sites and we look forward to continuing this relationship and providing support in the future.”

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The total solution from Toro

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The total solution from Toro: Stratford-On-Avon Golf Club in Warwickshire has chosen Toro for its new irrigation system, adding to its full fleet of Toro machinery and becoming a Total Solutions customer.

Having spent years building up a complete Toro fleet to maintain its 18-hole parkland course, Stratford-On-Avon Golf Club knows the value of investing in the brand, which is why course manager Chris Bromley opted for Toro again when it came to club’s irrigation needs.

The total solution from Toro

“We’ve had Toro Infinity sprinklers installed across the course on the fairways, greens, surrounds, approaches and the larger tees, as well as T5 sprinklers for the smaller tees and then the Lynx control system with weather station to top it off,” says Chris.

“To put it simply, Toro irrigation provides everything we need. The sprinklers are easy to maintain and easy to use, particularly the Infinity sprinklers. They’re top accessible which makes any maintenance simple, plus changing the arcs, nozzles and trajectory is all quick and easy to do.

“With Lynx, everything you need is all on one screen. With the click of a button you can set up the irrigation for your whole golf course and control watering to the second which has had a big effect on water savings. We also opted for the weather station, which is great, because it allows us to monitor the course more accurately and irrigate precisely.”

With the club’s previous system coming to the end of its life, the new irrigation system was a welcome addition.

“Our old system was 20 years old and not having the latest technology to hand was made all the more evident in the heatwave of 2018,” says Chris. “The weather was so severe the fairways burned up and we were doing lots of hand watering. Trying to do that across a 160-acre course is hard work, so it was vital we got a new system in place as soon as possible.”

Despite the need for a new system, for Chris it was important that thorough research was undertaken before making a decision on which brand and system to go with.

“We visited distributor Reesink Turfcare on stand at SALTEX and Harrogate to talk through the benefits of the Lynx system as well as going along to Toro roadshows and visiting other golf clubs to see it in action. The club was investing a large amount, so it had to be absolutely right.”

Since the quick and seamless installation by Full Circle Irrigation completed in May this year, it seems Toro has more than proved itself to be the right system for the club.

“From start to finish it’s been great. The installation and service from both Full Circle Irrigation and Reesink have been very good and the course has massively improved. Previously it could take up to half an hour to set up a sprinkler programme, with Toro that takes seconds, and the water coverage we’ve seen is superb,” concludes Chris.

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Bluebird back in the UK

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Bluebird back in the UK: Bluebird is back in the UK, with its new 125v Lithium-ion battery and petrol-powered ranges of turf care equipment.

Now supported by E.P Barrus; Bluebird, launching at BTME on stand 264, provides commercial, rental and residential users with some of the most reliable turf care power equipment in the industry- including aerators, power rakes, overseeders, sod cutters, stump grinders and hover mowers.

Bluebird back in the UK

Leading the future of turf care equipment is Bluebird’s new and innovative range of 125v battery powered machines, for electric performance equal to petrol – designed and built for professionals. The range includes an 18” and 22” power rake, a 17.5” and 19” aerator and a 20” hover mower.

The lower noise level allows you to continue to work during noise restricted times and in noise restricted areas.

Other key advantages include no exhaust fumes or odour when operating, no fuel costs, low maintenance, reduced downtime, significantly improved productivity and profitability and more environmentally friendly.

Bluebird back in the UK

For more information on our products go to bluebirdturf.com

Bluebird. Tough. Rugged. Dependable

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Lochemse raise standards with Jacobsen

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Lochemse raise standards with Jacobsen: After greenkeepers and members became frustrated with the quality of cut and condition of the fairways at Lochemse Golf Club, head greenkeeper, Geert Olthuis, switched brands to Jacobsen and has used a Fairway 305 to turn things around.

No stone was left unturned by Geert in his search for a new fairway mower. He trialled five machines from different suppliers before the cut quality, and simplicity of the Jacobsen 305 was picked to elevate the fairways aesthetics and performance.

Lochemse raise standards with Jacobsen

Initially, Geert was sceptical about the mower specification compared to the machine he had been using, but he explains how his opinion was soon changed.

“When we saw the cutting finish, we couldn’t believe it because it was so good. I was unsure of the Fairway 305 when I first saw it because it only had seven blades and no groomers, but it cut better than our mower that had groomers and 11 blades.

“We were looking for a simple machine with a better quality of cut and higher capacity. We had demos of four other mowers but the 2.94m cutting width, cut quality and simplicity of the 305 really impressed us.

“Nicely cut fairways make a course better, but our members, and us as greenkeepers, weren’t happy with the results of our old machine, even when we were mowing three times a week. Now, we as greenkeepers and our members are very happy with our fairways again.”

The success of the 305 stems from its simplicity. It’s a machine that’s built to be reliable and gives operators unsurpassed productivity while providing an unrivalled quality of cut.

This cut quality comes from the five 66cm floating head cutting units that follow all contours and undulations to ensure an even cut on all areas. The floating head system works with the four-wheel-drive – provided as standard – which provides greater traction and causes reduced turf compaction.

Productivity is increased across the machine in several areas, including the cutting units that don’t require any tools to adjust the reel to bedknife. Quick changes from collection to rear discharge can be easily made using the adjustable grass discharge section, and for prolonged use, the radiator pack and hood have been optimised to increase airflow in hot, dusty conditions, preventing downtime due to overheating.

Because of the increased productivity of the 305, operators spend less time cutting the course, but operator comfort remains a priority. An arm-rest mounted joystick is used for all mower lift and lower functions, and a deluxe adjustable high-back suspension seat has been fitted for optimum operator comfort.

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