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Aphrodite Hills upgrades Club Car fleet

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Aphrodite Hills upgrades Club Car fleet: Aphrodite Hills Resort has received 72 new Club Car golf vehicles, replacing a fleet that has clocked up around 1.8 million kilometres since 2010.

The 5-star Cyprus venue estimates a ten-fold return on investment for the Club Car Precedents bought 14 years ago, with each of the 72 cars having between 25,000 – 30,000km on the clock.

Aphrodite Hills upgrades Club Car fleet

Aphrodite Hills upgrades Club Car fleet

Andrew Darker, Aphrodite Hills’ Director of Golf, explained: “Lots of venues lease their buggies but we decided to purchase ours all those years ago and it has proved a very shrewd move.

“The cars have delivered exceptional longevity. We are buggy-mandatory here as it’s a very hilly course on tough terrain. We’ve always had our own mechanic on site who does all the servicing and preventative maintenance, and it has been an excellent investment.”

Aphrodite Hills Resort is a PGA Partner venue and the first and only golf, leisure and real estate development in Cyprus. It is built on two plateaux, separated by a dramatic ravine with stunning views over the Mediterranean.

A staggering 130-metre gorge separates the signature seventh hole, meaning the golf cars have to navigate an exceptionally steep descent before climbing back up the other side to the green.

After driving the equivalent of 45 times around the globe, the old fleet has been replaced by Club Car’s state-of-the-art Lithium-Ion Tempo model complete with Visage GPS technology.

“The new fleet is enhancing the experience for our golfers,” continued Darker. “As a big resort the geo-fencing function is a great asset to have, and the lithium batteries are making a huge difference with shorter charging time, lasting longer and being more powerful, which is a big plus on our terrain.

“It was a no-brainer to buy rather than lease the new vehicles again and to stick with Club Car because we know how reliable and durable they are.”

Tony Swinnerton, Club Car’s EMEA Sales Director, said: “To have a fleet drive 1.8 million cumulative kilometres is phenomenal and just demonstrates the quality of our vehicles.”

Club Car’s highly-acclaimed Tempo model comes with 3.3hp motor and 375 Amp controller as standard to deliver outstanding hill-climbing power and acceleration. It also has many customisable options including colour, seats, storage, wheels and three programmable drive modes to maximise performance.

The Lithium-Ion-powered model is more efficient than standard batteries, with shorter charging time, longer lifespan and zero maintenance. It is also lighter, resulting in less impact on turf.

For more information on Club Car visit: www.clubcar.com

For more information on Aphrodite Hills Resort visit: www.aphroditehills.com

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Yamaha announce new partnership

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Yamaha announce new partnership: Yamaha Motor Europe (YME) and Leading Courses, Europe’s largest community platform for golf course tee times and golf course reviews, have announced a new partnership with the golf car manufacturer sponsoring the ‘Best Facilities’ category of Leading Courses’ Golfers’ Choice Rankings.

The Golfers’ Choice Rankings are an overview of the best golf courses in Europe and beyond. The rankings are decided by reviews given by the Leading Courses community, which make them one of the most transparent golf course rankings in the world of golf. The Golfers’ Choice Rankings not only include Golf Courses, but also rankings for the Best Golf Clubs Overall, Maintenance, Price and Quality, Hospitality and Facilities.

Yamaha announce new partnership

Yamaha announce new partnership

Central to the partnership is Yamaha’s exclusive sponsorship of the Best Facilities category in the Golfers’ Choice Rankings 2024. The facility which tops this category at the end of 2024 will be presented with a Drive² Lithium-Ion golf car fully equipped with the YamaTrack GPS software to use for one year. In pursuing this partnership, Yamaha seeks to further align its brand and range of golf cars with the development of best-in-class golfing facilities across Europe.

This agreement continues to demonstrate Yamaha’s support for the development of best-in-class facilities across the golf courses of Europe and align its leading products with delivering the best experience for golfers at the best courses the region has to offer.

Commenting on the new partnership Matt Taylerson, Divisional Manager, Marketing, Yamaha Motor Europe N.V., Branch UK, said,

“The partnership with Leading Courses allows us to align our premium products with Europe’s best golf courses as seen through the eyes of the golfers themselves. As a truly customer-centric brand, the fact that Leading Courses makes golfers the heart of its offering is very important to us.

“At Yamaha we want to become even more widely recognised as the brand of choice for premium golf cars and to share our innovations more widely with both the golfing industry and the players themselves. The high quality of the Leading Courses platform and its role as the independent voice of real golfers aligns perfectly with Yamaha’s customer-centricity.”

Jeroen Korving, founder of Leading Courses, added,

“Our platform has been specifically designed to support golfers in discovering and playing the best courses, leveraging hundreds of thousands of reviews and information on over 25,000 facilities worldwide. Golfers can obtain information on the best golf destinations, select the right courses using the reviews and the Golfers’ Choice Rankings, and even book tee times at 3,000 courses spread across 20 countries.

“Leading Courses is very proud to welcome Yamaha as the sponsor of the ‘Best Facilities’ category of our Golfers’ Choice 2024 rankings. It’s a testament to our shared commitment to elevating the overall golfing experience. Together, we drive innovation and set new standards, elevating every swing and moment on the course.”

About Yamaha Golf Cars

Yamaha has a long established and exemplary reputation for engineering golf cars that offer the perfect blend of reliability, comfort and performance. Course owners and managers choose Yamaha golf cars because they are an easy way to meet the needs of golfers, enhance their enjoyment of the game, and make fleet management simple and cost effective.

Yamaha’s first golf car, the YG-292, was launched in 1975, followed by the legendary G1-A in 1979. The G1-A leveraged customer feedback on the YG-292 and was built with what would become Yamaha’s trademarks of innovative engineering, durability and reliability. In fact, there are still G1-A models in active service on golf courses today.

In the decades that followed, Yamaha racked up an impressive series of world-firsts for golf cars, from the first four-stroke engine to the first 360-degree body protection system, to the first use of electronic fuel injection. Recent innovations include the introduction of Lithium-Ion battery powered models.

Today Yamaha’s range of golf cars spans 13 different models across the Golf Car Fleet, Personal Transportation and Commercial segments, and the company produces an average of 60,000 new golf cars every year, worth approximately £360 million in sales globally.

About Leading Courses

Leading Courses has been helping golfers find and play the best and most suitable golf courses with the help of hundreds of thousands of reviews for over 10 years. The website and app provide information on more than 25,000 golf courses worldwide. Leading Courses has over 400,000 website visitors per month and offers tee times for over 3,000 golf clubs in more than 20 countries.

This makes it Europe’s largest community platform for golf course tee times and golf course reviews. For golf courses, Leading Courses provides increased (national and international) reach and revenue, valuable insights (trends/reviews) and opportunities for digital and ecommerce solutions.

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Bernhard and Company launches ‘Race across the World’

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Bernhard and Company launches ‘Race across the World’: Bernhard and Company has launched a new company-wide challenge to raise funds for Crohn’s and Colitis UK, by taking on the ‘Race across the World’, in March, April, and May.

The Race across the World challenge encourages Bernhard team members to cover the furthest distance possible over the next three months, ending May 31st, 2024. Anyone in the company can take part, and in pursuit of covering the most kilometres, staff can choose to either walk, run, or cycle. There are no limits on the distance that can be travelled, so Bernhard team members will be able to rack up kilometres right up until the end of May, in the hope of raising as much money as possible.

Bernhard and Company launches ‘Race across the World’

Bernhard and Company launches ‘Race across the World’

Steven Nixon, Managing Director for Bernhard and Company, said: “We’re really proud to be launching another charity fundraising challenge. As a team, we’re committed to supporting great causes, and by launching this challenge, everyone in the business will come together to do their very best to raise crucial funds.

“Living with Crohn’s disease can be tough, as anxieties caused by the disease can have negative effects on mental health. So, we’re excited to work as hard as we can during these few months to keep moving and help to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by those affected.”

Crohn’s and Colitis UK provides support and information for the 300,000 UK citizens that are diagnosed with the disease, which affects gut health and leads to inflammatory bowel disorder. The charity aims to provide support and up-to-date information on the diseases for anyone who needs it, as well as breaking the taboo on these unpleasant disorders.

After taking on the Three Peaks Challenge in 2018, Bernhard and Company launched its virtual challenge in 2020: Bernhard5500, which raised over £1,000 for Parkinson’s UK. Bernhard recognised that a virtual challenge would allow them to unite employees located around the world. This time, utilising a variety of fitness disciplines – walking, running, and cycling – allows Bernhard and Company to build on previous charity success, and enables its staff to contribute to the cause in whichever way they wish to.

The Race across the World is a team effort for all at Bernhard and Company, as a global business – and distance updates can be tracked throughout the challenge, by visiting: https://www.challengehound.com/challenge/e92cce40-d26d-11ee-929d-51f49388a738

Bernhard and Company will be raising funds for ‘Crohn’s & Colitis UK’, which affects over 300,000 people in the UK. To find out more about this disease and those affected by it, visit: https://crohnsandcolitis.org.uk/our-work/about-us

To visit the Just Giving page, and support Bernhard and Company’s charity effort: https://www.justgiving.com/page/bernhard-raceacrosstheworld?utm_term=paw3yD2n9

For more information on Bernhard and Company, head online to: https://bernhard.co.uk/

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Kubota adds FC3-221E to its growing range

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Kubota adds FC3-221E to its growing range: Kubota is broadening its FC mower range by introducing the FC3-221E, a smaller, agile and adaptable centre-collect machine ideal for various applications, including residential gardens, schools, recreational areas, as well as large-scale sports facilities.

The new 2WD FC3-221E boasts superb accessibility, with a seating position that provides operators with full visibility of the mower deck, giving increased control and precision for every operation. In addition to the ergonomic design, the mower comes equipped with a state-of-the-art digital instrument display. This advanced feature provides real-time access to vital operating information, allowing for informed decision-making and optimised performance.

Kubota adds FC3-221E to its growing range

Kubota adds FC3-221E to its growing range

Exceptional ‘cut and collect’ performance

Engineered with precision, the mounting and positioning of the mower deck are meticulously crafted to follow the contours of the ground. The front-mounted deck configuration further adds to the performance, by generating optimal air pressure beneath the housing.

This approach guarantees a smoother cut and facilitates the seamless flow of grass cuttings to the collector turbine, which lies at the heart of the machine’s functionality. This patented design element significantly reduces the distance travelled by the cut grass, enabling rapid and efficient grass collection.

Additionally, the FC3-221E features an expansive 600-litre grass collector, meaning operators can cover significant areas before it requires emptying.

Power

The 22hp FC3-221E is powered by the efficient Kubota D902 engine, providing the necessary power and torque to drive the hydrostatic transmission and hydraulic system with ease. Paired with hydraulic power steering, a soft-grip steering wheel and a steering knob, this setup guarantees exceptional manoeuvrability. Enhanced by a deluxe padded suspension seat, adjustable armrests and a high backrest, all tasks can be comfortably managed.

The front mower decks are equipped with two pairs of blades per rotor, offering distinct advantages over mid-mount configurations. By eliminating grass traversal before cutting, the two-wheel drive configuration offers greater manoeuvrability and precision in areas inaccessible to mid-mount setups. Available in 1.12m (44”) and 1.26m (50”) wide deck variants, this new Kubota mower guarantees a finer cut and accelerated mowing. The machine’s versatility is further improved by the option to attach either a flail mower, a snow blade or even a vacuum hose.

The FC3-221E is well-suited for extensive mowing duties yet remains compact and agile for smaller spaces. Its thorough cut-and-collect system makes it suitable for all grass maintenance requirements, providing outstanding results. The FC3-221E is also homologated for driving on public roads, facilitating transfer from one work site to another.

Accessible Maintenance

Maintenance access is a crucial aspect to ensure longevity and reliability and on the FC3-221E it is prioritised. By lifting the high-tip collector and the operator platform, access to the engine compartment becomes easily reachable. All routine maintenance tasks can be conducted safely and efficiently, with ample space to access and service components.

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Green-tech Shortlisted for ‘Employer of the Year’

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Green-tech Shortlisted for ‘Employer of the Year’: Green-tech, the UK’s leading supplier of landscaping and forestry materials is delighted to announce its selection as a finalist in the prestigious Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2024.

The company has been shortlisted in the esteemed ‘Employer of the Year’ category, recognising its commitment to implementing and encouraging a supportive and balanced workplace environment.

Green-tech Shortlisted for ‘Employer of the Year’

Green-tech Shortlisted for ‘Employer of the Year’

Green-tech is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, marking three decades of service to the landscaping industry. Established in October 1994 the company has grown to become a trusted supplier and partner for landscapers, contractors, and architects, offering a comprehensive range of products and solutions to enhance outdoor spaces.

The Pro Landscaper Business Awards celebrate excellence and innovation within the landscaping industry, highlighting companies that demonstrate outstanding achievements and contributions to the field. Being shortlisted for the ‘Employer of the Year’ category is a testament to Green-tech’s dedication to nurturing talent, promoting professional development, and prioritising employee well-being.

“We are honoured to be recognised as a finalist in the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2024,” said Kris Nellist, Managing Director of Green-tech. “This achievement, especially in our 30th anniversary year, reflects our ongoing commitment to creating a positive and empowering workplace culture where our employees can thrive and reach their full potential. We are incredibly proud of our team and grateful for their hard work and dedication.”

The winners of the Pro Landscaper Business Awards 2024 will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday, 19th April 2024, at the prestigious Old Billingsgate in London. The event promises to bring together industry leaders, innovators, and influencers to celebrate and network with peers.

“We are eagerly anticipating the awards ceremony and looking forward to celebrating the achievements of our fellow finalists,” added Kris. “This recognition reinforces our resolve to continue leading the standard for excellence in the landscaping industry and to drive positive change within our organisation and beyond.”

For more information about Green-tech visit www.green-tech.co.uk or speak to the Green-tech team on 01423 332100.

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