GKB Machines to make GroundsFest debut in 2026

GKB Machines to make GroundsFest debut in 2026

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GKB Machines to make GroundsFest debut in 2026

GKB Machines are set to make their GroundsFest debut this September, promising a showcase of robust maintenance solutions for natural and artificial surfaces on stand OSA80. Visitors can expect to see the newest addition to the aeration portfolio – the Deep Tine Aerator High Speed (HS) – alongside a selection of brushing and cleaning equipment trusted by facilities around the country to keep synthetic surfaces in first-rate condition.

GKB Machines to make GroundsFest debut in 2026

GKB Machines to make GroundsFest debut in 2026

The Deep Tine Aerator HS combines the very best of GKB precision engineering with simplicity of use and significantly enhanced speed of operation, helping turf managers to deliver all-important compaction relief while reducing surface downtime. Ideal for those working to increasingly time-sensitive schedules, the Deep Tine Aerator HS is available in 1.2m, 1.6m and 2.0m working widths and features a two-speed gearbox to effortlessly switch between slower, deep aeration to depths of 250mm (10”) and fast, shallow aeration in the top 100mm (4”) of the profile.

As with the regular Deep Tine Aerator, the High Speed model features front and rear rollers, optional hold-down plates for enhanced control and performance even on undulating terrain and a range of tine options to suit surface requirements around the maintenance calendar.

From the artificial portfolio, the recently redesigned GKB Deep Clean promises to be another stand highlight. The next generation synthetic cleaner was introduced in direct response to growing concern around microplastic pollution, featuring different sieve options and effective dust extraction system to suit different infill types and collect even the smallest contaminants and particles from artificial pitches.

As the name suggests, the Deep Clean penetrates deep into the infill layer to lift and return cleaned infill back into the surface – restoring the technical characteristics and delivering a cleaner, safer and more presentable pitch in just one pass.

With autumn renovations and preparations for winter on the cards, the GKB Technical Team will be on hand to answer all of your maintenance and machinery questions, so be sure to say hello when GroundsFest returns to Warwickshire’s Stoneleigh Park this September.

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OAS delivers precision irrigation and better water efficiency

OAS delivers precision irrigation and better water efficiency

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OAS delivers precision irrigation and better water efficiency

For Head Greenkeeper Stephen Leighton, the installation of a new Rain Bird irrigation system provided by Origin Amenity Solutions (OAS) has been transformative! Part of a course-wide redevelopment programme, the system is delivering unprecedented control over applications resulting in significant reductions in overall water usage and improvements in plant health.

OAS delivers precision irrigation and better water efficiency

OAS delivers precision irrigation and better water efficiency

The heathland-parkland course sits on a free-draining sandy soil, presenting challenges for Stephen and the team of five when it comes to maintaining turf quality through increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. This made the replacement of an aging and progressively unreliable irrigation system a priority. “I was racking up the hours monitoring the system in the evenings and found myself constantly battling breakdowns” he explains. “We evaluated the options and opted for a new Rain Bird system based on the reliability and flexibility it offered and the fantastic support and advice of Origin’s Greg Milton, Peter Robin and Angus Finlayson.”

Stephen continues, “One of the most significant differences and improvements has been the move from an outdated block system on the greens and single-row fairways, to valve in head Rain Bird 752IC and a double row of 952IC on fairways. This enables us to be much more precise with every application, adapting to wind strength and direction and limiting the amount of water thrown into heather and long roughs.”

“In numbers, this system and more efficient control has resulted in around a 50% reduction in our water usage. This is incredibly important for us not just from a sustainability standpoint but also in terms of plant health and the condition of our heather which is improving now that we can control the water more effectively and ensure it is not being overwatered.”

Making life even easier for Stephen and the team is the Rain Bird CirrusPro app, putting total control of the irrigation system in the palm of their hands. “OAS were selling this as the best software in the irrigation market and, having worked with it, I’d say that’s absolutely true! It makes monitoring so much quicker and easier, with any identified dry areas overcome with the touch of a button.”

Beyond the technology itself, Stephen credits the OAS team for making sure the project ran smoothly from concept to completion and beyond. “While I designed the system myself, Greg, Peter and Angus have all been fantastic at helping us to get the maximum out of the system.” He adds, “I must also give huge credit to my team here at Holme Hall for getting the system installed. It’s been a massive team effort and it’s great to already be reaping the rewards of all the hard work.”

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Wildwood Machinery adds another prestigious manufacturer to its portfolio

Wildwood Machinery adds another prestigious manufacturer to its portfolio

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Wildwood Machinery adds another prestigious manufacturer to its portfolio

Wildwood Machinery – the groundcare arm of the Bastian Group, which comprises commercial property, sports, leisure and hospitality businesses across Hampshire – has added another prestigious manufacturer to its growing portfolio of brands.

Wildwood Machinery adds another prestigious manufacturer to its portfolio

Wildwood Machinery adds another prestigious manufacturer to its portfolio

Wildwood is now the exclusive dealer for Tru-Turf Golf & Sports Turf Rollers in London, Surrey and West Sussex.

Australian brand Tru-Turf set out to create a roller unlike any other and their golf and sports turf rollers are used on golf courses and in sporting stadiums worldwide.

Wildwood Machinery Managing Director, James Bastian, says that representing Tru-Turf in London, Surrey and West Sussex is a unique opportunity to bring truly innovative products to the region, and to build the brand by supporting it with outstanding service back-up.

“As a groundcare specialist in the south of England, we’ve set out our stall to represent and support the world’s best turfcare products, and to ensure we offer our customers the optimum solution for their specific tasks and challenges. The opportunity to work with Tru-Turf in this region is a perfect fit for that strategy, particularly with the success of their market-leading electric rollers. We’re very much looking forward to working with Tru-Turf.”

Tru-Turf General Manager, Nick Thornton, commented: “We are very excited to bring the team at WildWood Machinery on as one of our dealers in the UK,” said Thornton.  “Wildwood is surrounded by a superb golfing region in England, and the region is home to some of the world’s best courses. We know that this new partnership will provide them with great sales and service expertise. At Tru-Turf we’re all about delivering rolling perfection and we’re looking forward to doing just that as part of this partnership with the team at Wildwood Machinery.”

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The Cambridgeshire Golf Club raises standards

The Cambridgeshire Golf Club raises standards

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The Cambridgeshire Golf Club raises standards

When Steve Pateman joined The Cambridgeshire Golf Club in 2023, he inherited a course with huge potential, but a machinery fleet which was holding the club back. Together with support and a major equipment upgrade from George Browns, Course Manager Steve and his team now have the reliability, confidence and foundations to elevate course standards to new heights.

The Cambridgeshire Golf Club raises standards

The Cambridgeshire Golf Club raises standards

Set among 160 acres of Cambridgeshire parkland, The Cambridgeshire combines a busy members’ club with a thriving hospitality business. With all eyes firmly set on growth and expansion, for Steve, the problem was clear from the outset. “The club hadn’t had any machinery upgrades for 20 years, so an audit of the equipment showed that much of it was no longer fit for purpose. With outstanding support from my Golf Director, we knew that investment was long-overdue and well-needed.”

“I immediately got in contact with George Browns as, in my opinion, they stock the best range of franchises and machines in the country and from the off, the support we’ve received from the team has been amazing.” Within a matter of months, Steve and the team of five had taken delivery of a suite of equipment including a Kubota L2622 compact tractor and RTV, and AgriMetal roller from Baroness.

“I’d used Kubota in my previous role and knew without doubt, it’s what we needed here.” He explains, “The reliability you get from Kubota is incredible. They are machines that are built to work and will tackle every task and all terrain without hesitation. The AgriMetal roller, again, is the best roller in the market by a country mile. The comfort, the ease of hitching and unhitching and the quality of the roller itself leaves a finish that no other roller comes close to.”

Another standout addition to Steve’s armoury has been the Trimax Snake Rotary mower. “It’s another unbelievable machine which has made a huge difference to our productivity. Where we would previously lose a member of staff for the entire week to cut fairways twice over, we can now do the same task in under two days.” He adds, “This machine alone has effectively gained us an extra member of staff.”

The theme of durability extends to the final piece of the puzzle, The Cambridgeshire’s new Redexim Verti-Drain 7416. “This will make a huge difference to course condition, handling our tree-lined layout well, particularly during wet periods and intensive seasonal work.” He jokes, “You could use this thing on a motorway and it’d still poke holes in the ground!”

It’s not just been the equipment that has impressed, the support from Luke Farrow and the team at George Browns has provided the team with a complete, ‘turn-key’ solution. “Whether it’s health and safety training, parts or just general advice, nothing is too much trouble.”

Steve concludes, “The impact this equipment has had has been immediate. Players are noticing the improvements in condition to the point where, at a recent golf day, we signed up six new members in a day! The return on our investment is evident and everyone involved with the club couldn’t be happier. We’re not standing still either – with the Lithium Sand Pro and Baroness greens mower now firmly on our radar, we’re excited about continuing to build on the progress we’ve made with the support of George Browns.”

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Dunblane GC drives course excellence with move to Toro

Dunblane GC drives course excellence with move to Toro

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Dunblane GC drives course excellence with move to Toro

Dunblane Golf Club has taken an exciting step forward in its commitment to course excellence, announcing a major investment in Toro equipment through a new fleet agreement with Reesink Scotland.

Dunblane GC drives course excellence with move to Toro

Dunblane GC drives course excellence with move to Toro

The decision follows a comprehensive evaluation process conducted alongside Reesink carefully assessing the latest turfcare technology available. Driven by a commitment to continually enhance playing conditions and maintain exceptional standards throughout a busy schedule of competitions, events, and charity days, the club identified Toro as the ideal partner for its future ambitions.

Extensive discussions between Course Manager Grant Donaldson and Reesink Scotland Area Sales Manager John Rankin focused on ensuring the chosen machinery would deliver the performance, reliability, and long-term value required by the club.

“Making a change from machinery you’ve relied on for many years is a significant decision,” says Grant. “There are many stakeholders involved, including the board and management committee, and it’s important that everyone is aligned. Toro demonstrated that it could meet a range of objectives while supporting our long-term vision for the course.”

A key element of the decision-making process was gathering hands-on feedback from the greenkeeping team. Multiple demonstrations were conducted, with particular attention given to the Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 electric mowers. The response from operators was overwhelmingly positive, with the team highlighting its comfort, ease of use, and overall performance.

“The team’s input was incredibly important,” Grant explains. “They work with the equipment every day, and their reaction to Toro, particularly the electric units, was extremely encouraging. The enthusiasm they showed gave us real confidence in the decision.”

The club was also attracted by Reesink’s ReeAssure maintenance package, which provides fixed servicing costs and dependable support throughout the agreement. The package offers greater budget certainty while helping ensure the fleet continues to operate at peak performance.

“Having clarity around maintenance costs is a real benefit,” says Grant. “It removes uncertainty and gives us confidence that we’ll continue to receive a high level of support”.

Introducing electric machinery to the fleet for the first time is an exciting milestone for the club. The new fleet includes two all-electric Toro Greensmaster eTriFlex 3370 mowers dedicated to greens and tees, alongside a Reelmaster 5610 for fairways and a Groundsmaster 4500 for rough and semi-rough areas. The club is already looking ahead, with plans to further expand the Toro fleet in the years to come.

Sustainability and operational efficiency were also key considerations. By incorporating electric technology into its maintenance programme, the club expects to reduce fuel consumption while delivering both environmental and financial benefits, supporting its broader sustainability objectives.

Throughout the process, Reesink Scotland’s commitment and customer support played an important role in building confidence in the transition.

“The support has been outstanding,” says Grant. “The team has been readily available whenever we’ve needed advice, and they’ve maintained regular contact throughout. Their professionalism and commitment have been excellent.”

Grant highlighted the value of trusted industry relationships, noting his long-standing connections with Reesink service specialists Rab Wilson and Gordon Graham. “Working with people you know and trust makes a real difference. The team worked in partnership with us from day one, taking the time to understand our vision and helping us build a package that aligned perfectly with our ambitions. Their support, expertise and commitment throughout the process have been outstanding, and we’re excited to see the benefits this investment will bring.”

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