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Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

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Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine: Slaley Hall Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort in the Northumberland countryside became a first-time Otterbine customer ready for the Matchroom Tour Championship last October, with one of the brand’s most popular products on full display.

The club invested in a 1HP Sunburst aerating fountain to fix the weed and algae problem, add a decorative display to the lake at the fifteenth hole and complement the beauty of the famous tree-lined fairways on the Hunting course, one of its two PGA-standard 18-hole courses.

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

Slaley Hall turns to Otterbine

With a brief to find a product to solve a problem and bring beauty to his waterscape, course manager Neil Smith didn’t hesitate to turn to distributor Reesink Turfcare: “I’d used Reesink in the past and get on well with Pete Newton from the water division, who recommended the product and helped a lot getting the fountain in time for the event and making sure everything was right.

“I knew about the brand and knew they were very good, reliable products,” he continues. “Slaley Hall already had a full fleet of Toro machines and Toro irrigation from Reesink so it seemed like the sensible choice to make, going back to them for this. I told Pete exactly what I was looking for and he recommended this model. It has served us very well.”

The Sunburst is one of Otterbine’s most sought-after fountains, not only for its classical spray pattern that suits most venues, but also for its impressive oxygen transfer rates and pumping power (up to 237 cubic metres per hour in as little as 75cm of water), which are some of the highest in the industry.

“The lake is definitely clear from weeds, which has helped with the visual aspect,” says Neil. “The shape of the fountain is exactly what we wanted and provides a very striking display for golfers, adding to the whole experience. We’ve had very nice comments from guests about the way it looks so it’s a great addition to the course.

“I’d done some research beforehand and it does everything it says on the tin, it’s a good line,” he claims. “The timing system, especially, is very useful – we don’t have it on 24/7, which saves on running costs and water and helps us stay sustainable. We haven’t had any issues with it, it’s all gone very smoothly. And I know from working with Reesink in the past that if needed their back-up is great and they respond quickly, so we’re never worried.”

Now that he has tried Otterbine and experienced the benefits, Neil already has plans for more additions to the club. But for now, he and the team will have their hands full preparing for the season and the 2022 PGA Professional Championship in June.

“I’m interested in adding more Otterbine products to the course in the future as I find it’s an important aspect to consider in the business,” Neil continues. “The pH levels of the water can change quickly so you need that maintenance and extra step to keep everything balanced. The fact that they’re aesthetically pleasing is a big bonus and helps maintain a professional, put-together image. We’ll be progressing that after the tournament.”

To find out more about the Otterbine range of aerators and fountains, contact Reesink on 01480 226800, email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk

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Bury St Edmunds on course with Toro

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Bury St Edmunds on course with Toro: Bury St Edmunds Golf Club in Suffolk is approaching its centenary and has enlisted the help of Toro and Reesink Turfcare to ensure the courses are in an immaculate condition in time for the celebrations.

Both the 18-hole championship course, host to many prestigious events over the decades, and the nine-hole Pay-and-Play course needed to be kept in the highest standard all-year round, but special care was required now for such a notable occasion.

Bury St Edmunds on course with Toro

Bury St Edmunds on course with Toro

Course manager Tom Smart, who manages the nine-strong greenkeeping team on site, was already familiar with Toro and knew only it could do the job he required.

“It has always been my preferred manufacturer and given the choice, I’d always go for Toro,” he explains. “I’ve used many Toro machines in the past and was never let down. The ones we got from Reesink were all bought for specific purposes, and each has a role to play in producing the highest standards possible on the courses. Everyone can already see the difference these machines have made on the course, and we couldn’t be more pleased.”

Having been let down by previous manufacturers and with such an important date coming up, no risks could be taken. So, the club opted for Reesink’s five-year finance package deal, and invested in four Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420 riding greensmowers, two Reelmaster 3575-D fairway mowers, a Groundsmaster 3500-D rotary mower, a Groundsmaster 4500-D rotary mower, a Multi Pro 5800-D sprayer and a ProCore 648 pedestrian aerator for the ultimate peace of mind.

“I find Toro machines are more reliable than others in the market and have better build quality,” Tom continues. “We had a lot of issues with bits of kit from other brands, even with new machines, which weren’t quite right in the first place. This pushed us away from our previous manufacturers and made us turn to Toro and Reesink.

“Reesink has been very good during the whole process,” he says. “They are just down the road from us, so it makes it quite easy. When we had some very minor settling in issues with a couple of the machines, which was nothing out of the ordinary, Reesink East Anglia were quick to come as soon as we called them and it was all covered under the Toro comprehensive warranty.”

Not only was it important to have the best performing machines to withstand the pressure and demands of such a vital job under deadline, but also to make sure the team was happy while operating and maintaining them.

“The comfort Toro provides was a massive factor for us as well,” Tom explains. “When you’re using a machine for up to eight hours a day, operator comfort is vital. And the usability is just unbeatable – they are very user-friendly. Having an almost all-Toro fleet now has greatly helped our mechanic too, as parts can be interchanged and the machines are much easier to service and maintain.”

To talk to someone about how the Toro range could suit your course, call 01480 226800.

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MM seed ensures great start for Wycliffe

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MM seed ensures great start for Wycliffe: With a new season just around the corner, the green at Wycliffe Bowls Club has never been in such good condition, and greenkeeper Keith Freakley believes that is thanks to MM Sports Seed.

Formed in 1956 and located on the outskirts of Lutterworth in Leicestershire, Wycliffe Bowls Club is very much a friendly members club. It has something to offer players of all ages and abilities and the excellent club house often brings together the local community.

MM seed ensures great start for Wycliffe

MM seed ensures great start for Wycliffe

Wycliffe is managed and run solely by volunteer members, who deeply care about the club. One look at the green will underline the dedication of the members.

For an incredible 12 years, Keith Freakley has been looking after the greens in his spare time. He, along with two other members, carry out regular maintenance throughout the year but have relied on outside contractors for the end of season renovation. Last year Keith made a bold decision to put a stop to that.

“Rather than use a contractor we thought we would have a go ourselves,” he said. “It was expensive, and I wasn’t entirely satisfied with the work. Personally, I don’t think enough seed was used, or it was not of a great quality because it didn’t cover the green – there were lots of patches.”

While Keith began to put plans in place for the club’s first in-house renovation, he didn’t have to look far to find a solution to his seed dilemma. In association with Dennis and SISIS, Wycliffe Bowls Club hosted a bowling green maintenance seminar, and it was at this event that he met Matt Gresty, MM and Designer Sales and Brand Manager for DLF UK.

“We had a really good chat and discussed what the best seed to use would be,” said Keith.

“Matt had a close look at the green, identified what was growing naturally on the green and then matched a mix which he thought would be most suitable.”

The mix Matt recommended was MM10 grass seed – which is perfect for construction, overseeding, renovating and repairing high quality greens. Part of the renowned MM range of seed mixtures, MM10 produces a fine, dense sward, is tolerant to close mowing and as well as providing all year-round colour it is also disease resistant and hard wearing.

MM seed ensures great start for Wycliffe

MM seed ensures great start for Wycliffe

Keith incorporated the MM10 mixture into the renovation work in September last year and believes he has never seen the green in such good condition.

“It germinated very quickly, even in fairly dry weather,” said Keith. “The comments have been unbelievable. It has never been so green in colour, not just in places but all over. It gave us a very uniformed germination, and I think it will bowl incredibly well.

“It’s great to have Matt on board and we will continue to use the MM seed. We’re in a strong position and I’m looking forward to the season ahead.”

Commenting on the success of the seed, Matt said: “The green at Wycliffe has an excellent population of fescues and bents, and the amount of annual meadow-grass as a percentage is low. There is a very happy sward of desirable grasses – it is healthy, it is green, and it is growing well, which will ultimately provide a great surface for when the season starts.

“Keith and his team’s hard work and dedication is paying off.”

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s new website www.mm-seeds.co.uk. You can also follow the company on Twitter: @MM_Seed

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New irrigation manager for Panks

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New irrigation manager for Panks: Panks has appointed Cevan Edwards as Irrigation Manager to lead the company’s Irrigation department as it continues to grow and develop.

Cevan brings a wealth of technical and practical industry experience to the Irrigation Manager role, with a background in irrigation equipment manufacturing and service, with particular expertise in the sports and leisure sector.

New irrigation manager for Panks

New irrigation manager for Panks

Panks provides irrigation services for agriculture, commercial horticulture, nurseries and garden centres, equestrian facilities, many sports and leisure providers, landscapers and home owners.

Managing Director Chris Pank explains how Cevan’s appointment to this new role helps secure the company’s next steps in the market: “It’s been 12 years since Panks entered the irrigation market in a meaningful way, and we’ve seen a lot of success. With Cevan’s extensive engineering skills and experience in the irrigation industry, he is well placed to take our expansion to the next level in the sports industry, supported by Tom Selby in the commercial horticulture market and Mike Ward on installations.”

Cevan Edwards says: “Panks has a great reputation for providing high quality solutions with technical support that’s second to none. This is a really exciting time to join as we build on the success of the irrigation department. I’m looking forward to developing sports turf further as well as getting to grips with all other aspects of the irrigation market.”

Norwich-based Panks operates primarily across East Anglia. Its irrigation services are an important part of its wider operations as water engineers, covering all aspects of moving, pumping and using fluids, across many sectors, with a core focus on delivering efficiency savings.

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Atco’s new cordless roller mowers

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Atco’s new cordless roller mowers: The trend for cordless mowing with battery powered machines is growing all the time as environmentally conscious gardeners take up arms in the battle against climate change. 

Atco, are proud to announce that they have launched two new battery powered mowers for lawn lovers who not only enjoy producing beautiful stripes, but also want to do their bit for the environment.

Atco's new cordless roller mowers

Atco’s new cordless roller mowers

These cordless roller lawnmowers have all the power of petrol but the convenience of cordless. Although much quieter than petrol machines, it does not mean that power has been lost!  The motors drive the rear roller and cutting blades to produce that wonderful striped finish. With no fumes and easy push button start these mowers are a real pleasure to use as well as being incredibly energy efficient.

Both of the mowers below have batteries which can also be used in all in the STIGA 48V battery handheld tools.

The Liner 16s Li Rear Roller Lawnmower is a 48V-battery, ‘green dream’ and represents the future of domestic lawn-care!  Due to innovative low maintenance and ‘intelligent’ motor technology, this mower is very efficient and runs for up to 60 minutes.  It also has more features such as a stripe producing roller, effort saving self-drive, 41cm (16”) cut and single-point cutting height adjustment. It is supplied with a 55-litre collector and batteries and charger.

The Liner 18S LI Kit has the larger 46cm (16”) cut option and all of the other superb features that the Liner 16s Li boasts too! They are both also fitted with ergonomic soft-grip handlebars for comfort and also have anti-gouge skid plates.  These plates enable multi-terrain transitions without harming the turf, whilst producing a classic striped finish.

Clean, no-fuss, quick-start accessibility and virtually maintenance free – just pop in the batteries and go for the finest cordless cut of all!

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