Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

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Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro: Hayling Golf Club on the south coast of England has upgraded its machinery fleet with a significant investment in Toro.

Driving the decision was the club’s masterplan for course improvements created by renowned Golf Architect Tom Mackenzie to raise its profile as one of the top links courses on the south coast.

Hayling's masterplan includes Toro

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

“We have a clear blueprint to follow over the next few years and have our sights set on becoming a top 100 golf course,” says Course Manager Graeme Roberts. “We know success is reliant on having the right resources available and having worked with all the major turfcare machinery brands I knew Toro would be the choice to raise the bar and present a true links course for visitors to experience Hayling at its best.”

The purchase was structured by Toro distributor Reesink Turfcare and its financial partner, Novuna, to give the club control of its budget, forecasting every payment for the next five years.

Graeme continues: “When Steve Slinger, our new general manager, joined the club in February 2024, he was keen to prioritise what we needed to get the course where it needs to be. Once we’d put together the fleet list, we needed to safeguard that so other priorities didn’t delay or prevent us from getting the equipment, which can happen sometimes at golf clubs. The planned purchase and payment schedule suit our objectives.”

The Workman MDX Lithium, Toro’s latest addition to its hugely popular and successful utility vehicle range, headlines the new fleet and complements the heavy-duty HDX Workman, also included in the order.

“The MDX Lithium is ideal for a busy club like ours. There were 48,000 rounds of golf played here last year so maintenance has to happen while there is play going on and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest reduced noise pollution is a key objective of ours. The MDX Lithium is quiet and quick, meaning there’s little interruption for visitors or disruption to wildlife.

“This is our first time having a lithium-powered electric vehicle and in a way it’s a trial to see how we get on and if electric mowers should form part of our future. So far, it’s looking promising especially with the reliability and build quality of Toro.”

The fairways will be cut with Toro’s Reelmaster 3555-D mowers which Graeme chose for their light footprint, low centre of gravity and smooth, turf-friendly slick tyres. These are perfectly suited to Hayling as a links course, says Graeme.

“The course is built on shingle, and we want to promote fine grasses, which can be challenging for a site with limited water resources which dries out quickly. It’s like these mowers were specifically designed with these conditions in mind, delivering a delicate cut with no turf damage.”

The greens have been taken good care of by the Greensmaster TriFlex Hybrid 3420 for 13 years and there was no intention to change that, and for the surrounds, the Reelmaster 3550-D joins the club, chosen for its wide cut for enhanced efficiencies.

Peter Cornwall, Area Sales – Turfcare Equipment for the Reesink South East branch, comments: “It’s a priviledge to be working with and supporting Hayling with the machinery they need to improve the course and raise their profile. This is a comprehensive package deal and all the choices Graeme and the team made will make a valuable contribution to that.”

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Makita’s new tabless XGT delivers improved performance

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Makita’s new tabless XGT delivers improved performance: Makita has launched an innovative new battery for its 40VMax XGT range of high-performance tools.

The 4.0Ah BL4040F battery is the first Makita battery to include cutting-edge tabless technology, which allows more efficient power delivery, better runtimes, and cooler running. As the latest Makita F-Type battery, it is engineered for performance on the very highest demand applications.

Makita's new tabless XGT delivers improved performance

Makita’s new tabless XGT delivers improved performance

The tabless lithium-ion cells in the new BL4040F eliminates the bottleneck caused by current concentration by connecting the entire end of the electrode to the end of the cell, instead of connecting to tabs at each end.

With a larger connection area inside the cell, heat generation is minimised. This means that even under high load, the cell temperature is reduced compared to standard designs, which has a positive effect on the overall service life of the battery. A further benefit is that the battery can be charged immediately after intense use, with no need for a cooling phase, meaning shorter overall charging times. The tabless 4.0Ah BL4040F battery delivers up to 36% longer runtimes and operates 32% cooler compared to the standard 4.0Ah BL4040.

Like all Makita F-Type batteries, the BL4040F is a high-output battery designed for enhanced performance and better runtimes on higher drain tools such as chainsaws, breakers and demolition hammers. The new 4.0Ah BL4040F delivers the same 2.1kw maximum output as the 5.0Ah BL4050F. This means customers now have the choice of the larger, higher capacity 5.0Ah battery or the smaller, lighter 4.0Ah battery to achieve the high output that demanding tasks require. In fact, the BL4040F is 34% more compact and 28% lighter than the BL4050F.

As with all Makita’s XGT 40VMax batteries, the BL4040F is built for the toughest environments with an impact resistant and shock absorbing casing to protect the battery cells, as well as a triple layer structure to protect against water and dust ingress. XGT batteries also feature Makita’s digital communication system that connects the tool and battery to actively protect against overload, over-discharge and overheating.

The XGT range has over 125 40VMax and 80VMax (2x 40VMax) products including drills, impact drivers and wrenches, angle grinders, nailers, dust extractors, and circular, mitre and reciprocating saws. There is also a wide range of XGT garden and grounds maintenance machines including mowers, chain saws, blowers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers and earth augers.

Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita said: “The new tabless BL4040F is specifically designed for the most demanding applications and will deliver superior performance and runtimes as well as the long service life that customers expect from Makita products. The launch of this cutting edge, next generation battery is just the latest part of our ongoing drive to ensure professionals have the high-performance products they need.”

To find out more about our tabless batteries and the XGT range visit www.makitauk.com/tabless-technology

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Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

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Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet: Mar Hall Golf and Spa Resort near Glasgow is continuing its investment in its 18-hole championship golf course with a significant fleet update from Toro and Reesink Scotland.

Head Greenkeeper Andrew Eckford, who joined the club last year in a senior management recruitment drive alongside a new Head of Golf, had a focus on multi-functional machinery as he planned the new additions to join in the multi-million-pound course renovation.

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

Bringing with him 13 years’ experience and countless tournament credentials to the job, the initial projects requiring focus were building back grass coverage on the greens and repairs to all bunkers with a total sand replacement.

Andrew explains: “When I first started, nearly half of the greens were covered in moss. We’ve been steadily reducing that and implementing a structured maintenance plan with regular aeration, seeding, and top-dressing to restore both the greens and fairways to their former glory.”

The Toro ProCore 648s aerator, Workman HDX utility vehicle with ProPass topdresser and sprayer and a selection of trusted greens mowers will be instrumental in this recovery work.

“Efficiency is key,” says Andrew. “I wanted a versatile utility vehicle that could handle multiple turf maintenance jobs throughout the month, rather than investing in a separate Multi Pro sprayer or a top dresser that would only be used occasionally. This solution delivers exceptional value and ensures our greens are maintained to the highest standard.”

The same thought process applied to his decision to bring in the Toro Outcross. This powerhouse of a product also does the work of a tractor, and its functionality and versatility give it the ability to replace two or three pieces of equipment and is what most appealed to Andrew.

“The Outcross will be at the heart of our day-to-day operations and ensures we’re future-proofing essential tasks,” Andrew explains. “Its programmable attachment parameters mean we can add blowers and verti-drainers, yet our seasonal staff only need to be trained on one machine rather than multiple pieces of equipment. It’s a smarter, more efficient way of working.”

Also, part of the investment is the Sand Pro bunker rake, a game-changer for bunker maintenance. “I wanted to bring the same high standards we had at The Carrick, where we raked bunkers daily, something I believe should be the norm,” says Andrew. “But with the scale of our course, hand-raking would take six of us an entire day. With the Sand Pro, one operator can get the job done efficiently, even after adding 1,400 tons of new sand.”

When it came to who to partner with was it always going to be Toro? “Always,” confirms Andrew. “We’re focused on elevating Mar Hall’s golf course and putting it back on the Scottish golfing map. That means using the best equipment available. Most greenkeepers have a go-to brand, and for me, that’s always been Toro, it’s simply a step above. I’m fortunate to have the full support of the management and owners in selecting what we need to do the job right, and with Toro, we also have the added benefit of working with Reesink Scotland.”

Discover how choosing Toro could benefit your course by calling distributor Reesink Turfcare at 01480 226800, emailing info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk or visiting reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

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EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*: *A recent report by the Welsh government has found that EcoBunker synthetically revetted bunkers have a significantly lower environmental impact than naturally turfed revetted bunkers.

The report specifically cites EcoBunker’s promotion of a circular economy alongside the consumption of vast resources including water, chemicals, fertilisers, and energy associated with turf farming.

EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

“People often ask what is ‘Eco’ about synthetic revetting,” said EcoBunker founder Richard Allen upon the release of the report by the Welsh government. “We start with the fact that an average EcoBunker saves two tons of waste astroturf from landfill. All our turf is recycled so nothing new is created. Then there’s virtually zero maintenance in comparison with natural turf revetting, so no emissions or chemicals needed for upkeep. We eliminate contamination from bunker wall erosion, reducing the need for replacement sand which brings its own environmental impact, and this is all before you consider the negative impact of turf farming.”

The report measured the use of fertilisers, pesticides, weed-killers and disease-controlling chemicals[1] in the production of farmed turf. One Hectare typically (depending on geography, soil and climate) requires 89kg Nitrogen, 12kg Phosphorous, 40kg Potassium[2] and 92kg Lime[3]. This often washes off into nearby water courses contributing to “algal blooms” and a reduction in marine bio-diversity.

The report goes on to show that intensive farming of turf removes the nutritional layer of topsoil and the soil organisms (fungi, earthworms, bacteria) leaving it largely barren. Repeated use of the land this way necessitates intensive artificial fertilising.

The various advantages of EcoBunker synthetic revetting detailed in the report align with the most recent advice from golf’s governing bodies and environmental experts. Golf Wales, England Golf and the GEO Foundation for Sustainable Golf all highlight recycling, reducing waste and reducing the use of chemicals as key targets to help bring down emissions[4].

“Turf farming does provide a vital resource to the landscaping industry, and not all natural revetted turf is intensively farmed. Where large areas of turf coverage is needed there are some superb examples of turf suppliers using sustainable practices, and quickly solving urgent landscaping challenges,” added Richard. “But with thick cut revetting turf, the evidence is clear. Not only do EcoBunkers use 100% recycled materials, the ongoing maintenance burden with the associated cost and resources, are slashed. Finally, all but the top layer of naturally turfed revetted bunkers just don’t have enough access to light and soil to maintain a root structure. So, they gradually disintegrate and, on average, have to be replaced every 5 years. The evidence for the sustainability of one EcoBunker is convincing. When you have to re-build a natural turf bunker four times in our minimum guaranteed 20 year lifespan, it really is overwhelming.”

The sustainability credentials of EcoBunker were recently highlighted when the company completed a project at Royal Ostend Golf Club. With stringent environmental regulations in place designed to protect the natural environment in coastal areas, EcoBunker was chosen as the most sustainable solution, preferred to natural revetting and surpassing all standards for use of new resources and harmful chemicals.

For more information on EcoBunker please visit www.ecobunker.co.uk

[1] Cornell University Turfgrass Program, study on cool climate turf management practices, https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/environment/
[2] Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from turf management of two Swedish golf courses, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.11.009
[3] https://www.horticulture.com.au/globalassets/hort-innovation/resource-assets/tu16000-lifecycle-assessment—goal-and-scope.pdf
[4] https://www.walesgolf.org/sustainability, https://www.englandgolf.org/sustainability, https://sustainable.golf/developments/

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‘Crouchy’ features on the cover of Your Course

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‘Crouchy’ features on the cover of Your Course: The Spring edition of Your Course magazine will this week appear in golf courses across the country and there’s a somewhat prominent star gracing the cover.

Standing at 6ft 7in tall, Peter Crouch made a name for himself as an outstanding striker for the England Men’s football team, Liverpool FC, Tottenham Hotspurs FC and others, but since retirement has turned his attention to broadcasting, podcasting and golf.

‘Crouchy’ features on the cover of Your Course

‘Crouchy’ features on the cover of Your Course

In the latest edition of Your Course, the twice-yearly publication from the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), ‘Crouchy’ talks about his appreciation for the hard work of greenkeepers and groundsmen, who enable elite sportspeople such as himself to perform, whether on the football pitch or the putting surface.

“Without greenkeepers and groundsmen, certainly at grassroots level, we wouldn’t have anything to play on,” Crouch says in the magazine’s lead feature. “It’s a great job they do and they make it incredibly enjoyable for the rest of us.”

Your Course is an in-print magazine distributed twice a year to golf clubs across the United Kingdom alongside National Club Golfer. The magazine is produced by 18Players in collaboration with BIGGA and is supported by a growing array of online features, able to view on the BIGGA website.

Also featured in the magazine are conversations with the course management teams at The Belfry and St Andrews Links Trust, as well as extended sections looking at greens maintenance and the growing use of autonomous technology on golf courses.

Jim Croxton, BIGGA CEO, said: “At BIGGA, we’re big on spotlighting the incredible work of our members and the entire greenkeeping profession. That’s why we produce Your Course, a magazine and online resource designed to help golfers appreciate the skill, dedication and innovation that go into maintaining their courses.

“This latest edition is packed with fascinating insights, from Peter Crouch’s love of the game to the cutting-edge technology shaping its future, including autonomous mowing. Whether you’re a weekend golfer or a club captain, Your Course will give you a fresh perspective on the people and practices that make the sport we love possible.”

Your Course is intended to raise awareness of the greenkeeping profession and the vital role greenkeepers play in the ongoing success of the game of golf. In highlighting the expertise, training and ability of today’s course professionals, BIGGA seeks to redress the balance that has often seen greenkeepers overlooked within the sport, from major championships through to grassroots levels.

The Your Course resource library including previous editions of the magazine is available to view on the BIGGA website.

For more information about BIGGA and its various activities including how to become a member, visit www.bigga.org.uk.

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