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Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul

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Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul: One of the UK’s most revered golfing destinations, Woodhall Spa Golf Club, has completely overhauled its machinery fleet by switching brands to John Deere.

Technology, reliability and dealer service drove the decision for the home of England Golf to remove its existing machines and invest in new cutting units, Gator utility vehicles, GPS sprayers and a compact tractor.

Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul

Golf course switches brands in huge machinery overhaul

Embracing cloud-based software, the greenkeeping team responsible for maintaining the iconic Hotchkin and Bracken courses will now use John Deere’s new Operations Centre PRO-Golf platform to allocate daily tasks, track input costs, schedule servicing and generate reports.

John Deere dealer Ripon Ground Care delivered the 26 pieces of machinery on 19 February and will now lead a programme of staff training and optimisation to ensure maximum efficiency and performance from the fleet.

Peter Moore, Course Director at Woodhall Spa Golf Club, said: “We were impressed with the build quality and the GPS technology during the intensive demonstration period. All the team were involved in the decision giving feedback on each item of equipment.”

The purchase has been structured by John Deere Financial, allowing the club to spread payments while it also invests a new clubhouse and facilities.

“The flexible finance option presented to us allowed us to maximise our budget and deliver a payment schedule that suited our business,” Peter added.

Woodhall Spa Golf Club is close to Lincoln and boasts two 18-hole championship courses, one of which – Hotchkin – ranks 58th best in the world.

Greens and tees will now be cut with 2750E riding mowers and 260SL walk-behinds, while fairways will be maintained by four 6700A E-cuts.

A total of 10 electric and diesel gators will be used for transporting staff and materials around the course, and two satellite-steered HD200 precision sprayers will take care of weeds and diseases with unrivalled accuracy.

A 4066R compact tractor is on hand for heavy work and towing.

Chris Meacock, John Deere Division Sales Manager for Golf and Turf, said: “With a fully connected fleet the team at Woodhall Spa will not only see the benefit of the latest technology on our cutting units and sprayer, but will also be able to account for every second of machinery use.

“This brings a whole new dimension to course management resulting in greater efficiency and accuracy for the whole operation.”

Scott Trestrail, Area Sales Manager at Ripon Ground Care, said: “It’s great that Woodhall Spa Golf Club recognises the whole package available, from seamless equipment integration, cutting-edge technology plus the reliability and back-up. We look forward to working with and supporting the club going forwards.”

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Tyler Barrett Promoted to North American Sales Manager

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Tyler Barrett Promoted to North American Sales Manager: Foley Company, a global leader in precision reel and bedknife grinders, is pleased to announce the promotion of Tyler Barrett to North America Sales Manager.

In this expanded role, Tyler will oversee sales operations across North America for both Foley Company and Salsco Inc., driving strategic growth, strengthening dealer networks, and enhancing customer engagement.

Tyler Barrett Promoted to North American Sales Manager

Tyler Barrett Promoted to North American Sales Manager

Tyler’s leadership at Foley has been instrumental in reinforcing the company’s position as an industry leader. With this new dual responsibility, he will now extend his expertise to Salsco Inc., a recognized manufacturer of quality turf equipment, paving, and construction solutions. His role will include overseeing sales leadership duties for both organizations, ensuring alignment in market strategies and customer support excellence.

“I am excited to take on this new role and represent two outstanding companies known for their commitment to quality and innovation,” said Tyler. “This is an incredible opportunity to work with our dealer network, grow our market presence, and continue providing best-in-class solutions to our customers.”

Paul Rauker, President & CEO of Foley Company, expressed confidence in Tyler’s ability to lead sales efforts across both brands. “Tyler’s promotion is a testament to his leadership, deep industry knowledge, and customer-first approach. His expanded role with both Foley and Salsco strengthens our ability to serve our customers at the highest level.”

For more information about Foley Company’s industry-leading grinding solutions, visit www.foleyco.com. To learn more about Salsco Inc.’s innovative turf and paving equipment, visit www.salsco.com.

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New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers

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New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers: GreenMech’s ongoing commitment to product enhancement has seen an exciting upgrade on two popular petrol models.

From 20th January 2025, production of the EVO 165P Sub-750 and Arborist 150P will feature a new Briggs and Stratton Vanguard EFI 40HP engine, delivering even greater power, productivity and efficiency.

New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers

New year, new higher horsepower petrol woodchippers

Originally launched to meet the requirements of modern arborists and landscapers looking for powerful bite, torque and throughput in a sub-750kg package, the EVO165P Sub-750 has gone on to cement its position as one of the most capable woodchippers in the 6” category. The key features of the series including wide infeed chute, twin horizontal rollers, all steel bonnet and heavy-duty flywheel are now combined with a higher horsepower engine, taking proven performance to new heights.

The Arborist 150P is already the top selling chipper in Europe in its class, but by installing a high-output 40hp petrol engine, GreenMech can now offer close to similar performance to the diesel-engined Arborist 150D, but at a lower cost.

Together with delivering close to 8% more processing power for brash and woody waste, the newly upgraded models also feature a yellow idle/run button to quickly and easily increase or decrease throttle power to operating speed. The simplicity of button operation and electronic throttle now aligns with GreenMech’s diesel offerings, facilitating the chippers to go from idle to full power with one touch. They also feature a second hour meter, mounted directly to the engine, and an upgraded ignition barrel.

As standard, all models in the EVO and Arborist ranges feature GreenMech’s unique disc blade chipping system. In operation, only 30% of the blade’s circumference comes into contact with the waste material, reducing the blades vulnerability to contaminant damage and enabling the blade to be turned to a new sharp section when edges get worn. This equates to 600% more blade life and significantly more hours of chipping before the need to re-sharpen.

The new EVO 165P Sub-750 and Arborist 150P are also backed-up by GreenMech’s no-quibble, three-year parts and labour warranty. For more information visit www.greenmech.co.uk

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Bernhard and Company partners with Golf Turf Shop

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Bernhard and Company partners with Golf Turf Shop: Bernhard and Company, industry leader in grinding solutions and turf care technology, has announced a new partnership with Golf Turf Shop as its exclusive distributor in Finland and Estonia.

This strategic partnership will see Golf Turf Shop distributing Bernhard and Company’s precision grinding products, alongside a range of additional turf care machinery and solutions, to golf courses and sports facilities in both countries.

Bernhard and Company partners with Golf Turf Shop

Bernhard and Company partners with Golf Turf Shop

With a continuous commitment to exceptional customer service and expertise in turf care, Golf Turf Shop is a natural fit to represent Bernhard and Company’s innovative products in Finland and Estonia. This partnership further strengthens Bernhard and Company’s extensive distributor network across Europe and around the world, reinforcing its commitment to providing world-class turf care solutions to professionals globally.

Steven Nixon, Managing Director of Bernhard and Company, said: “We are delighted to welcome Golf Turf Shop to the Bernhard and Company network. Finland and Estonia open up interesting markets for us, and we are confident that the team at Golf Turf Shop will ensure our products reach turf care professionals who demand the very best. This partnership is another step in expanding our global footprint and delivering the sharpest, most precise turf care solutions worldwide.”

CEO of Golf Turf Shop, Emil Helenius, added: “Partnering with Bernhard and Company is a great opportunity for us and the Finnish market. We are excited to bring their innovative grinding technology and comprehensive turf care solutions to our customers, helping them achieve the highest standards in turf maintenance. This collaboration reflects our commitment to delivering cutting-edge products and exceptional service.”

For more information about Bernhard and Company and its distributor network, visit www.bernhard.co.uk.

To contact Golf Turf Shop, Finland, call +358 401 645409 or send an email to: info@golfturfshop.com

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Makita launches new spring redemption offer

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Makita launches new spring redemption offer: Leading power tool manufacturer Makita UK is offering end users the chance to get their hands on a FREE LXT battery with the purchase of selected cordless garden machines, with its latest redemption offer.

Makita’s latest spring garden machinery redemption offer gives end users the chance to claim a 5.0Ah 18V BL1850B Lithium-ion Battery with every purchase and registration of selected LXT outdoor products – including blowers, pole saws, hedge trimmers, linetrimmers, brush cutters, split shafts, lawnmowers, grass shears and chainsaws.

Makita launches new spring redemption offer

Makita launches new spring redemption offer

Makita’s 18V batteries fit all 18V LXT and Twin 18V LXT cordless products – which means that they can be used interchangeably across over 300 products. The free 5.0Ah LXT battery that is available on qualifying purchases can be charged in just 45 minutes, minimising downtime and maximising user productivity, making this an attractive offer for professionals looking to start or expand their existing Makita cordless range.

The spring redemption promotion launches on 1st February and will run until 30th June 2025. End users looking to take advantage of this exciting offer can purchase any of the qualifying models in this period from an authorised dealer and must register their new product online with proof purchase within 28 days. Once the application is confirmed, their free gift will arrive 30 days after claims have been validated.

For more information on the promotion, a full list of qualifying products and terms and conditions, visit www.makitauk.com/redemption

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