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NEWS ARTICLES

Take The Rough With The Smooth

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Polaris has announced the introduction of the latest Ranger Diesel UTV with new features to complement its durability and practicality. The 2017 Ranger Diesel HD comes with more torque, more towing power and a significantly longer lifespan than petrol-powered counterparts. This is a real workhorse with its Active Descent Control for controlled hill descents, automatic four-wheel braking on steep inclines and Electronic Power Steering. A new 7-pin trailer socket now comes fitted as standard and comfort is ensured with the Lock & Ride Pro-Fit cab system and a whole range of accessories.

The new 2017 Ranger Diesel HD is built for purpose with a 1028cc Kohler 3-cylinder overhead cam liquid cooled engine. This proven, high performance diesel engine utilizes indirect injection and delivers smooth power with reduced combustion noise. The compact, heavy-duty design has a cast iron crankcase for durability and an aluminium cylinder head for weight reduction. It is also EPA/CARB Tier 4 compliant. To make life really comfortable, the industry exclusive Lock & Ride Pro-Fit cab system provides a new standard in accessory integration. The highly modular design offers options from robust canvas doors and a poly windscreen, to premium automotive glass tip-out windscreens and electric windows. The roof and rear panel on the 2017 Ranger Diesel come as standard. The ideal seat height combines with wide foot clearance for easy entry and exit. There’s a full ten inches of tilt steering adjustment and room for three adults. The payload capacity on this latest Diesel is 680.4 kg, with a gas-assisted rear dump box that can handle a hefty 454 kg of materials and a full-sized pallet.

When it comes to towing there’s 907kg of class-leading towing capacity on tap and when the going gets rough the on-demand all-wheel drive kicks in for more forward traction when its needed, reverting back to 2WD when the terrain smoothes out. And smooth is what this 2017 Polaris Ranger Diesel HD is all about, from the ride and handling to the descent down steep inclines, the 30.5cm ground clearance, power steering and VersaTrac Turf Mode that unlocks the rear differential for easier, tighter turns that won’t tear up the lawn.

Golf Club Bring In Year-Round Aeration With Air2G2

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It is well known that aeration is one of the most important practices carried out by greenkeepers, and that fact is why Woodhall Spa Golf Club has acquired an Air2G2 from Campey Turf Care Systems, via the dealer Burdens.

The sprawling 36-hole complex includes the world renowned Hotchkin Course, and is home to the National Golf Centre. It is located on the rare Lincolnshire heathland, giving a fantastic setting for the many amateur Championships held at the venue over the years.

The vast site is managed by course manager, Sam Rhodes, where he and his 17-staff work to keep the courses at a standard befitting of the tournaments they host, with the Air2G2 now an integral part of the maintenance operation.

The importance of the machine comes from the expectations of golfers. Gone are the days when winter golf is seen as a bonus, and in are the demands for perfect putting surfaces all year round. This expectation is managed by Sam and is the reason the Air2G2 is an exciting addition.

“The reason the machine gets me excited is because aeration is one of the most important things you can do on a golf course,” Sam explains. “A lot of the aeration machinery out there works very well but causes a lot of surface disturbance.

“In modern day golf the condition of the greens is important throughout the year. Years ago, winter golf was a bonus, now there is a lot more pressure on turf professionals to maintain good quality playing surfaces 12 months a year.

“The beauty of the Air2G2 is I can go out there now, I can do the work on a green to break up any compacted layer underneath and help with the drainage, come off, cut the green and you wouldn’t know I’d been on it.

“Even taking it a stage further, we are a championship golf course and we host several national amateur events every year, and if I’ve got a tournament on and know there’s a massive amount of rain coming I can go out mid-tournament and aerate the greens.

“We’ve seen it this winter when there’s been heavy rain the day after we’ve done the work, and the greens have been absolutely fine, so it does give you that option. The lack of disturbance means you can aerate 12 months of the year and do it when you really need to.”

Sam first witnessed what the machine could do two-years ago at a Campey demonstration, which prompted him to use a contractor to aerate his greens with the product. But the more he saw the results the more he realised the benefits of having one of his own.

Because the size of the site it was only possible to have each green aerated once in a season, but having only had his machine since December it became apparent that other areas of the course can also benefit.

Time has been taken to figure out exactly where the pan layer is, and then with the three varying size of tines Sam has cracked that layer and experimented with depth to reduce compaction as much as possible.

By doing this he now has well-draining greens with the added ability of reacting to any heavy rain fall before or during tournaments, giving him a 12-months a year aeration operation.

Reform Dealer Customers Get Product Updates

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Reform specialist tractors recently welcomed a number of A J Scambler dealership customers to their Wels (Austria) headquarters for a two day product update event.

Simon Richard, UK Agent for the Reform range said, “Reform’s policy is to invest in provision of the best possible back-up service to both dealers and their customers. This trip was to highlight recent updates and innovations introduced across the company’s range which includes the Reform Metrac and Mounty specialist tractors for safe working at up to forty five degree angles and the Muli multi-purpose transport vehicle”

Jacobsen & GEO Celebrate 10 Years of Partnership

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Jacobsen announces the continuation of its support to the Golf Environment Organization

Jacobsen, a Textron Specialized Vehicles brand, has announced the renewal of its long standing global partnership to advance sustainability across golf with GEO (Golf Environment Organization).

GEO, the international not-for-profit organisation dedicated to sustainability in golf, provides practical tools and expert support to help golf unlock and celebrate its social and environmental value.

“As a Founding Partner in the highly valuable work GEO undertakes, we are thrilled to be able to demonstrate 10 years of commitment to golf and sustainability,” said Andre Andrade, director, international golf sales for Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc., which designs and manufactures Jacobsen equipment.

“As the only international supplier of turf equipment to hold the coveted ISO 14001 standard for our Environmental Management System, and as a leader in fuel-efficient and hybrid machinery coupled with our efforts to prioritise recycling on-site, we are extremely proud to be able to demonstrate our commitment to the environment as well as having our name alongside GEO,” Andrade said.

“As a direct result of this we know just how important a sustainable business approach is to our customer’s reputations and profitability, as well as long term industry growth,” he said.

“From the start, Jacobsen have shown truly unique and outstanding leadership and commitment to support golf, and other sports and amenity sectors in this field,” said GEO CEO Jonathan Smith. “It continually goes above and beyond, whether it’s in its own internal operations and innovation, or in education, capacity building and solutions. We are very proud to be able to represent them as a founding partner, and look forward to continuing to drive sustainability results with them on the ground around the world of golf.”

The announcement was made at the BTME in Harrogate in January which both Jacobsen and GEO attended.

Fleet Finance Package Suits Dunstable Downs

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Founded in 1906, with the current 18-hole course designed by the great golf course architect James Braid in 1931, Dunstable Downs Golf Club is a classic natural chalk downland course that can offer golf almost 365 days a year, because of its excellent drainage. At 800ft above sea level on the Chiltern Hills, it is one of the highest inland courses in the UK, with fantastic views over the Downs and on into Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.

The club’s new course maintenance equipment fleet, delivered by John Deere dealer P Tuckwell Ltd, was bought on a rolling five year programme using a John Deere Financial package including PowerGard maintenance. The deal included three John Deere 2500E hybrid electric greens triplex mowers, one of which is used for tees and approaches, and a 7700A PrecisionCut fairway mower.

“It was probably the biggest machinery deal this golf course has ever signed, and a substantial investment for a club of this size,” says general manager Duncan Mutton, who together with ex-greens chairman Mark Smith conducted a full maintenance and equipment review. “We wanted to enhance the quality and appearance of the golf course, and felt that the best way to do that was to put a fleet deal together, rather than simply change one or two individual machines each year.

“We had worked with Tuckwell for many years, and John Deere and its bespoke finance package proved to be the most appropriate for our requirements. The dealer team was very professional, and Neil Peachey in particular opened our eyes to a new way of budgeting for a full replacement programme that would meet our needs.

“The key for us was that it would give us the chance to adopt the latest new technology, such as John Deere’s E-Cut hybrid electric mowers, and greatly reduce the costs of maintenance and repair associated with running older equipment.

“Neil and his colleagues took us through every stage of a very careful and comprehensive process, looking at our future maintenance requirements, and made a number of recommendations. Our head greenkeeper Frank Scullion then requested a slightly different set-up, and they answered all his questions more than satisfactorily.

“At a series of successful demonstrations, the greens staff loved the new machines and their versatility as soon as they tried them, and straight away said the greens mowers gave a better cut. The whole deal was very good, including the trade-in value on our old machines, and there was really no downside to it at all.

“Not only do we get great back-up service from Tuckwell, John Deere Financial were also extremely helpful and gave us some sound advice when putting the package together – this was a very advantageous part of the whole deal. There were no surprises either, and in the current financial climate that’s exactly what we needed.”