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Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

April 4, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

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 […]

EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

April 4, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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 […]

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

April 4, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

April 4, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

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Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

April 4, 2025/in Machinery, News, Press Release/by Admin

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

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.

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

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EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

April 4, 2025/in News, Press Release/by Admin

**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*

“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/

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)

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Mar Hall elevates course standards with Toro fleet

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.

EcoBunker Synthetic Revetting More Sustainable than Natural Turf*

**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.

[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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