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Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

April 8, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB: A fleet of natural and artificial maintenance equipment from GKB Machines is being championed by specialist sportsground contractors Bancroft Amenities. Built up over a number of years, a Quick-Brush, Rotobrush and Deep-Clean are out daily servicing the requirements of synthetic pitches, while a Sandfiller, Combiseeder and pair of […]

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

April 7, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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 […]

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

April 8, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

April 7, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

April 8, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB: A fleet of natural and artificial maintenance equipment from GKB Machines is being championed by specialist sportsground contractors Bancroft Amenities.

Built up over a number of years, a Quick-Brush, Rotobrush and Deep-Clean are out daily servicing the requirements of synthetic pitches, while a Sandfiller, Combiseeder and pair of V-Strong scarifiers are preparing for a busy renovation season on a range of fine and sports turf surfaces.

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

In addition to delivering all aspects of renovation and maintenance for sports facilities in and around the northwest, Bancroft Amenities also offer a comprehensive hire fleet – with GKB playing a key role in both sides of the business. “Our relationship with GKB Machines is a longstanding one, starting initially with the brushes and cleaning systems for artificial turf pitches” explains Director Stuart Thompson. “We have one operative permanently on synthetic maintenance and our GKB fleet allows us to offer everything from a quick, routine brush to a deeper clean and decompaction of the infill.”

“The main thing about GKB is the build quality and back up support we receive from their UK Operations Manager Tom Shinkins. The kit is put through its paces with us, and even more so when it goes out to customers on hire so it’s critical for us that equipment is robust enough to cope with demand. With GKB, we have no concerns.”

This confidence in build quality quickly saw the addition of machines for natural turf to the fleet, including a Sandfiller and GKB Combiseeder. “The Sandfiller is unique on the market and does an incredible job of removing thatch and backfiling with sand in a single pass. As a specialist tool, we conduct this operation for golf clubs who just can’t believe the speed and cleanliness of the process and the dramatic improvements it brings to the growing environment.” He continues, “The Combiseeder is one of our most popular hire machines – user friendly and versatile, delivering reliable results on both golf courses and football pitches.”

The most recent delivery was a second GKB V-Strong, to come to the rescue of the original unit which is in high demand! “This scarifier does a bit of everything – an important piece of equipment for all of our renovation work and another popular machine on hire. With the weather now picking up, we’re booking the V-Strong in for spring projects on fine turf, before coming into play with winter sports renovations.”

Stuart adds, “Tom also understands the inconvenience of downtime and is quick to respond to any queries we have to ensure our schedule stays on track. The customer service is as good as the machinery itself, with GKB it’s the complete package.”

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Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

April 7, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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

“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.”

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)

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB

Bancroft Amenities get renovation ready with GKB: A fleet of natural and artificial maintenance equipment from GKB Machines is being championed by specialist sportsground contractors Bancroft Amenities.

Hayling’s masterplan includes Toro

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.

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