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Overhauling golf course roughs

August 19, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Overhauling golf course roughs: When it comes to rough management, Dave Lowe, Head Greenkeeper at Bawtry Golf Club, Austerfield, Doncaster has his work cut out. Bawtry Golf Club is a superb, 18 hole parkland course covering around 150 acres and measuring nearly 7,000 yards off the championship tees. The club is undergoing a huge development […]

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal

August 19, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal: Autumn is a time of transformation for golf courses, sports grounds and other green spaces, but the season brings its own set of challenges. The good news? Reesink Turfcare has a host of innovative solutions from Toro and AgriMetal that will transform your autumn renovation routine, making […]

Overhauling golf course roughs

August 19, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal

August 19, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Overhauling golf course roughs

August 19, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Overhauling golf course roughs: When it comes to rough management, Dave Lowe, Head Greenkeeper at Bawtry Golf Club, Austerfield, Doncaster has his work cut out. Bawtry Golf Club is a superb, 18 hole parkland course covering around 150 acres and measuring nearly 7,000 yards off the championship tees.

The club is undergoing a huge development plan, building a large, 64 bedroom hotel on site as well as a driving range, spa, fitness suite and new 6 hole pitch and putt course. Soil types vary massively across the course from light sand to heavy clay, with many greens falling into the latter. Dave goes on to explain ‘The heavier soils mean the ground is particularly good at holding onto nutrients and so fertiliser usage here is very lean as, with the clay, the greens don’t need much encouragement to stay green’. When coming to the rough, this can be a challenge as the rich clay soils can quickly accelerate growth. ‘By cutting and dropping, the mower can increase this effect as well as resulting in a grass mat, creating a thick sward where golf balls disappear instantly’ Dave goes on to add.

Overhauling golf course roughs

Over the last 6 years the rough has seen major changes with the adoption of a new rough thinning management strategy utilising both an AMAZONE Profihopper and a Groundkeeper. Dave comments “In the rough we used to have 6’ – 8’ weeds, getting thicker and thicker year on year”, once a ball landed in the rough it was almost guaranteed to be lost. This was simply due to it being unmanaged and being too thick’.

Implemented 6 years ago, Dave and his team of 4 changed their approach to rough management, aiming to keep the rough thin and wispy, working to eliminate those thicker grasses. During the winter, the Groundkeeper will be working 6 weeks straight cutting all the rough back down to a very short length, almost scalping it off down to nothing, to try to promote thinner grasses and knocking back the thicker sward. ‘The members comment that they wish the course was like this all-year round, of course, but once it starts to grow back, it makes a really nice rough where the ball can be more easily found and yet there is still a penalty incurred’. During the summer months, however, the team let the rough grow, maintaining this structure of mainly thin grasses, meaning that even towards the end of the summer it’s still easy for members to find their balls. This has come with huge praise from members, saying it makes a massive difference – and Dave agrees “It’s a really important part of the course for us, so we want it to be very presentable as we’ve not got quite as many features as some courses have”.

Alex, the deputy head greenkeeper, is the primary Groundkeeper operator at the course, working long hours during those winter months to bring the rough back into check. He does several passes and loves the Groundkeeper saying, “If it was up to me, I’d have another one tomorrow!”. Even with its huge collection hopper capacity of 3,000 litres, Alex states that he can still easily manage to pick up over 25 loads a day.

Another key task for the Groundkeeper GHS 1800 Jumbo is leaf collection, replacing the need for yet another machine on the fleet. The Groundkeeper being described as “fantastic” for leaf collection, really saving the team time due its large, 1.8 metre working width. The Profihopper PH1250 being used predominantly for undulating terrain as well as scarifying and core collecting.

The Profihopper has been used extensively for scarifying and a lot of the collected material will be recycled during the development of the new 6 hole pitch and putt course coming in the future.

They found with the wet weather experienced this year, they’re still able to get on the course, ‘Because of this full mix of soils on the course, some areas such as the greens are fairly wet, but with the Profihopper we can get on and collect in most weathers. Over last few years we’ve had a lot of success mowing in the frost, getting exceptional collection quality and yet keeping the ground in good shape. For scarifying and mowing we’ve found the blades to be extremely hard-wearing, even though the machines have been hammered. You have to say that the Groundkeeper is pretty much bulletproof,’ concludes Alex.

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Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal

August 19, 2024/in News, Press Release/by Admin

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal: Autumn is a time of transformation for golf courses, sports grounds and other green spaces, but the season brings its own set of challenges. The good news? Reesink Turfcare has a host of innovative solutions from Toro and AgriMetal that will transform your autumn renovation routine, making leaf and debris clearance remarkably fast and easy.

The right tools for the job

Clearing fallen leaves and debris during this busy period is more than a matter of keeping the grounds looking tidy.

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal

According to Jon Cole, Divisional Business Manager at Reesink Turfcare, “Autumn is all about preparing the surface so it can get through the winter without too much damage and be ready to go in the spring. Removing fallen leaves from golf courses, sports grounds or other green spaces is a critical job that goes beyond aesthetic concerns. Indeed, left unchecked, this kind of buildup can smother even healthy, resilient turf in a matter of weeks.”

To avoid this outcome — and the risk of moss growth and disease — turfcare professionals must clear excess leaves at least once a week, but the handheld solutions traditionally used can be extremely time-consuming. However, with the right equipment, this daunting task becomes significantly easier, allowing your teams to focus on the finer details of course maintenance.

Toro and AgriMetal: The perfect partners for autumn renovations

Leader in the turfcare industry Reesink knows what it takes to tackle these autumn jobs effectively, simplifying and streamlining the process. That’s why the distributor offers the best solutions for leaf clearance available on the market, engineered by renowned brands Toro and AgriMetal. These machines are designed to meet, and exceed, the demands of today’s turfcare professionals, ensuring that your green spaces remain in top condition throughout the autumn and winter months.

Toro ProLine H800: Efficiency redefined

The Toro ProLine H800 stands out as a top choice for those looking to streamline their autumn renovations. This direct collect rotary mower is engineered for efficiency. Its Smart AirFlow system ensures that leaves and debris are vacuumed up quickly into an 810-litre hopper, allowing for longer collection times without the need for frequent emptying.

With a 41-litre fuel tank, the ProLine H800 provides the freedom needed to complete a full day’s work without interruption. As Jon notes, “The ProLine H800 is all about maximising productivity. It’s a machine that allows groundskeepers to focus on getting the job done.”

Toro Pro Force: Power meets precision

When it comes to clearing grass clippings and other debris from fairways, clubhouse grounds, or paved areas, the Toro Pro Force is your go-to machine. Towed by a Toro Workman MD Series or a similar utility vehicle, this turbine-style debris blower is both powerful and precise. Operated by wireless control, the Pro Force generates a strong airflow capable of shifting even the wettest, heaviest leaves in no time. This machine is all about delivering results quickly, allowing you to maintain large areas with minimal effort.

AgriMetal: Quietly versatile

For those seeking a tractor-mounted solution, AgriMetal offers some of the most powerful and quiet options available. The B35 and B50 blower models are perfect for tractors with 35hp and 50hp at the PTO, respectively. These machines are equipped with an impeller that increases airflow by 25 percent compared to similar models, making them some of the most efficient on the market. And because they require less energy at full throttle, they’re as economical as they are powerful.

AgriMetal’s collectors include the Multi Vac – pulled and powered by any 50hp+ tractor – and the Tuff Vac 4000, coming in two variants: PTO driven for use with a 35hp+ tractor or with its own 27hp engine. Both deliver a simple but effective proposition with a large exhaust area for more powerful vacuuming and less clogging, turf-sensitive design and a lightweight aluminium impeller for welcomed quieter use.

Preparing for autumn with Reesink Turfcare

As the unpredictable autumn season approaches, equipping your team with the right tools is essential for maintaining uptime in an industry that never stops. With Toro and AgriMetal’s advanced solutions, you can be confident that your grounds will be well-prepared for whatever the season throws at them.

Jon adds, “The key to successful autumn renovations is having the right equipment. With the machines we distribute at Reesink, there’s no reason why leaf and debris clearance shouldn’t be straightforward.”

To learn more about how Reesink Turfcare can support your autumn renovation plans, visit reesinkturfcare.co.uk, call 01480 226800 or email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk. Whether you’re managing a golf course, sports ground or any other green space, Reesink has the tools you need to keep your turf in top shape all season long.

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)

Overhauling golf course roughs

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal

Overhauling golf course roughs

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Overhauling golf course roughs

Overhauling golf course roughs: When it comes to rough management, Dave Lowe, Head Greenkeeper at Bawtry Golf Club, Austerfield, Doncaster has his work cut out. Bawtry Golf Club is a superb, 18 hole parkland course covering around 150 acres and measuring nearly 7,000 yards off the championship tees.

Power through autumn maintenance with Toro and AgriMetal

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