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Plain sailing with Toro

August 25, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Plain sailing with Toro: As a prestige club with a proud history of hosting international tournaments, Nairn Golf Club, situated in the Highlands of Scotland, has yet again renewed its lease agreement with Toro, taking its fleet of machines to 22. Nestled on the shore of the Moray Firth, the club is well versed in […]

New recruits join amenity team

August 25, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Ellie Parry

New recruits join amenity team: Grass seed breeder and producer Barenbrug UK has boosted its amenity team with the appointment of David Howells and Joshua Thomason. David Howells is Regional Sales Manager responsible for the North of England and North Wales. A keen gardener and Leeds United supporter, David began his career in the British […]

Plain sailing with Toro

August 25, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

New recruits join amenity team

August 25, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Ellie Parry

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Plain sailing with Toro

August 25, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Rosie Duckworth

Plain sailing with Toro: As a prestige club with a proud history of hosting international tournaments, Nairn Golf Club, situated in the Highlands of Scotland, has yet again renewed its lease agreement with Toro, taking its fleet of machines to 22.

Nestled on the shore of the Moray Firth, the club is well versed in maintaining immaculate playing surfaces and requires an extensive fleet of mowers to support the work of its 14-strong greenkeeping team.

Plain sailing with Toro

As well as having various pieces of Toro grass cutting machinery to maintain different cutting heights around the two courses, the fleet contains Workman MDX utility vehicles, sprayers, turf-irons and Pro-Core 648 aerators. Nairn is also one of the first Scottish clubs to take delivery of Toro’s Greensmaster e-Triflex 3370 riding greens mower, the industry’s first and all-electric ride-on mower.

Course manager, Richie Ewan, comments: “The performance and quality of the Toro mowers is second to none, but we are especially impressed with the electric ride-on. The cut is tremendous; as good if not better than a cut with a pedestrian mower. Plus making that step towards electric is a big environmental statement by the club.

“The machines are in daily use over both courses – our 18-hole Championship Course and the 9-hole Cameron Course – and both must be in pristine condition at all times. We have our own micro-climate in the Moray Firth, but the extreme challenges of the weather are definitely increasing and we know the Toro machinery is very reliable and user-friendly, making them a dream for our team to work with.

“Last year, 34,000 rounds of golf were played over our Championship Course despite intermittent lockdowns, and 39,000 rounds were played in 2019. We are busy with member and visitor play and we need a suite of machinery we can trust.”

As well as having hosted a raft of prestigious tournaments including the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup, Nairn Golf Club has just played host to The British Amateur Championship for the second time, the first being in 1994. The Greensmaster e-Triflex 3370 mowers were in operation during the tournament, a first for this prestigious event and successful in producing the highest quality of cut.

During and in preparation for these events the club relies on the Toro equipment more than ever, as Richie explains: “We depend on quality machines to prepare and present the playing surfaces to the highest standard and it’s important that our members and visitors see the fleet in action to understand our commitment to high standards.

“Golf is most definitely growing in popularity after the experiences of the pandemic, with more people keen to take up outdoor pursuits. Plus flexible working hours has provided an opportunity to squeeze a game of golf into your working day. There was a time when courses were quiet over winter but now there is demand for playable surfaces all year-round, whatever the weather. It’s booming and our Toro fleet continues to grow with us.”

As part of the agreement, Nairn Golf Club is supported with back-up care from Reesink Turfcare’s Scotland branch.

Speaking of the relationship, Richie concludes: “With Toro you always have confidence that there’s nothing that can’t be resolved. You’re never on your own with the product and the back-up care and tournament support over many years has been excellent. We have been using Toro since the early 90s and we are delighted to have signed yet another renewal agreement.”

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New recruits join amenity team

August 25, 2021/in News, Press Release/by Ellie Parry

New recruits join amenity team: Grass seed breeder and producer Barenbrug UK has boosted its amenity team with the appointment of David Howells and Joshua Thomason.

David Howells is Regional Sales Manager responsible for the North of England and North Wales.

New recruits join amenity team

A keen gardener and Leeds United supporter, David began his career in the British Army, completing his greenkeeper training at Askham Bryan College and working as a greenkeeper and course manager at Harrogate and Shropshire Golf Clubs, including responsibility for the construction and grow-in of a 27-hole golf course, before moving into technical and sales support. He joins Barenbrug after his most recent role at Headland Amenity where he provided technical, sales and agronomic support to course managers and head groundsmen at golf courses, premier football venues and training grounds in the North of England.

He comments: “The increasingly high expectations for quality sports surfaces, environmental restrictions for part or full withdrawal of amenity products and climate change have compounded abiotic and biotic stresses within the grass plant. For turf managers, introducing high quality grass species and cultivars has never been as important. Barenbrug has been a major grass seed producer backed by extensive investment in research and development and is renowned for high-quality products that meet the challenges that greenkeepers and groundsman face. A focus on sustainability has also resulted in over two thirds of its seed grown in the UK. Whether golf course, winter sports pitch or turf grower, I’m looking forward to meeting customers, helping them improving their sward composition and tackle disease, wear, or specific issues in particular locations. My invitation is to get in touch and see what Barenbrug can offer from both a professional technical advice and support perspective”.

David can be contacted on 07887 503796 or by email at dhowells@barenbrug.co.uk.

Joshua Thomason is Regional Sales Manager covering South England and South Wales.

A recipient of the prestigious R&A Greenkeeping Scholarship and Myerscough College graduate, Joshua’s career has included course manager and greenkeeper roles, with major tournament experience at exclusive golf venues in the UK, Austria, USA and Australia including the new West London Links opening in 2023, Roehampton and Royal Wimbledon Golf Clubs. With significant international expertise in modern agronomic techniques, experience in differing climates and with warm and cool season grasses, he also looks forward to supporting greenkeeping teams to further improve their playing surfaces.

New recruits join amenity team

He comments: “I’m looking forward to creating long-lasting relationships that will, through use of Barenbrug products, enable end-users to create exemplary turfgrass surfaces that deliver superior performance while reducing inputs and enhancing the environment“.

Joshua can be contacted on 07818 206757 or email at jthomason@barenbrug.co.uk

For the latest industry news visit turfmatters.co.uk/news

Get all of the big headlines, pictures, opinions and videos on stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for fun, fresh and engaging content.

You can also find us on Facebook for more of your must-see news, features, videos and pictures from Turf Matters.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

Half Sized Blog Element (Multi Author Style)

Plain sailing with Toro

New recruits join amenity team

Plain sailing with Toro

New recruits join amenity team

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Plain sailing with Toro

Plain sailing with Toro: As a prestige club with a proud history of hosting international tournaments, Nairn Golf Club, situated in the Highlands of Scotland, has yet again renewed its lease agreement with Toro, taking its fleet of machines to 22.

New recruits join amenity team

New recruits join amenity team: Grass seed breeder and producer Barenbrug UK has boosted its amenity team with the appointment of David Howells and Joshua Thomason.

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